PLATINUM Mike Kelemen Erin Pasha Tristyn Accomazzo Chance Addis Judy Agnew Ariana Amini Jessica Anthony Evan Auchard Emily Auchard Sherri Auchard Cynthia Bahmani Karen Stead-Baigrie Robert Barsky Emma Barsky Jonathan Barsky Patrick Donohew & Catherine Bartlett Dana Bauer Jean Francois Bergeron Pascale Bergeron Robyn Berry Nancy Biegel John Botti Melissa Bradley Bill Brastow Tracy Herman Broome Alison Brower Shana Bruner Piper Bruner Madeleine Butler Jack Calderon Jackie Cardwell Warenne & Joseph Casano Mary and Paul Casano Beth Cederstrom Liz Chambers Erika Chapman Bridget Coombs Evan Cope Lucia Cortright Meghan Cosentino Joshua Darr Melanie Deitch Hadley Dettmer Elizabeth Dorfman Cathy Dow Al Eisenwinter Margaret Elkins Margot Enbom The Shroeder Family Tzortzis Family Karen Fry Ava Gaughan Carolyn Gencarella Robin & Doug Giffin Jackie & Jim Giffin Katherine Grubb Ellen Gustafson Gary Gustafson Dominic Haggard Bruce/Emily/Grace Hanavan Jennifer Hanley Camille Hedouin Laura Heinrich Jack Heppner June Holmberg Vlad Iojica Mary-Jane Jones Mike Keleman Alyson Knightly Bruce Koren Margaret Krauss Kimberly Lam-Hamilton Carey Lando Susan Lewis Kestler Lloyd Rose Malloy Evan & Laura Marquit Fred Martikan Owen Martikan Theresa Martin Barbara Martinelli Sheldon Matthys Barbara McVeigh Nicholas Migilore Rich Miller Rick Mollenkopf Nicole Mollison Francesca Moynihan Davina Murray Marcella Murray Scott Murray Paul Nave John Neal Tess Neal Deb Nelson The Jolly Roger | June 2020 SILVER Kristina Riemer Barbara Martinelli Robyn Berry SUBSCRIBERS Donna Nudd Greg Nudd Lisa O’Callaghan Leah Parman Tamara Parr John Pasha Mary Jane Pasha George Pasha Kelley Podboy Meegan Potter Joe Powers Bill Powers Kristin Radasch Dylan Ramirez Katherine Reuter William Reuter Tricia Reuter Nora Reuter Kim Richards Marlene Riemer Kristina Riemer Susie Rosenberg Karyn Rozenoff Danielle Salk Waynn Sarran Katherine Schock Eric & Susan Schroeder Margaret Simenstad Anna Simmons Bill and Jan Snell Monica Snell Shannon Snyder Lisa Solway Diana Sottile Marika Spielman Scott Stitham Justin Taub Suzanne Taunt Amy Torgeson Akiko Trohan Laurie Trombla Cleary Vaughan-Lee Judy Walker Susan Walter Bernice West Chris & Terri Wright Collin & Emily Wright Gina Wyatt Tanja Zeise STAFF ADVISER Jonathan Weller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stefanie Iojica DESIGN DIRECTOR Emma Rose Neal COPY EDITOR Lucie Martikan ASS’T. COPY EDITOR Kyla Seeley BUSINESS Ella Granelli WEB/SOCIAL Fiona Nudd NEWS EDITOR Natalie Agnew FEATURE EDITORS Sarah Barsky Alexandra Fry OPINION EDITOR Sarah Barsky SATIRE EDITOR Alexandra Fry SPORTS EDITOR Jack Reuter A&E EDITOR Nick Anthony ILLUSTRATOR Pace Buchan REPORTERS Melissa Auchard Kaden Brastow Emily Cardwell Aler Giffin Samantha Parr
2020 Stefanie Iojica Editor-in-Chief D ear Reader, It is with great pleasure and pride that I present the final issue of the year. This issue, pulled together over Zoom meetings and (all too often) in our pajamas, proved to be the greatest challenge we’ve faced as a staff yet. It probably would’ve been far easier to stick to online news, and we seriously considered doing just that. But to do so would be to fail in our mission as student journalists of the Jolly Roger: to “amplify student voice, showcase important issues and events, and inspire Drake Community involvement.” So, here we are! We dedicate this issue to the Class of 2020: to the bold revolutionaries, the determined athletes, the meticulous academics and artists. I understand all too well the disappointment of losing not only the most coveted months of high school, but also the loss of events designed to honor seniors and their accomplishments. Here’s to us! Our editorial, “Dear Class of 2020,” addresses seniors’ heartache and proposes a way to move on. THE SENIOR ISSUE Kaden Brastow’s News article, “Gap years provide opportunities to avoid online school,” explores the growing pattern of graduating seniors electing to take gap years to avoid distance learning. In Sports, Jack Reuter spotlights five Pirates continuing their excellence in sports in “Athletes rewarded with collegiate sports opportunities.” And of course, seniors’ plans following graduation are featured in the “Senior Map.” One last thing. As you may know, the Tam District Board of Trustees recently voted to cut release periods for journalism teachers across the district, making the production of the print issue incredibly difficult. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to support the continuing production of this magazine. It’s been my greatest pleasure to serve as Editor-in-Chief, and I cannot wait to see the fantastic things next year’s staff will accomplish. Peace out and rock on, Pirates! Sincerely, Stefanie Iojica, Editor-in-Chief
TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE NEWS 02 Gap year Celebrating graduates 17 19 OPINION Dear class of 2020 College prestiege 21Immigrant parents 03 05 Graduation 07 11 09 23 25 Senior profiles Paths after high school Senior confessions SPORTS Recruited student athletes Drake eSports 27 28 A&E Talk shows Animal crossing 29 Valorant Art by Ella Crock 14 15 MAP California United States
Students use gap year to avoid online school By Kaden Brastow A fter struggling through online school for most of their second semester, the prospect of more virtual learning can be unappealing decided to to graduating seniors, causing many to reconsider their plans for the upcoming academic year. Some students defer admission and take a gap year, a simple solution to the stress of online learning. Generally taken as a break from school or as an opportunity for self-discovery before entering adulthood, deferral in 2020 offers an opportunity to wait out the pandemic and resume college in person one or two semesters down the road. “I was weighing the pros and cons and just decided late one night that there’s no way I could possibly do the first part of college online,” Drake senior Marina McPhail said, who will be attending Georgetown University but is deferring admission until next year. She said she had always thought a gap year could be cool but never seriously considered it until now. “I realized I was so excited for my school that there was no way I could validate to myself missing even one semester,” said McPhail. Julia Pelletier, another Drake Senior, ultimately decided to defer because of what she would be missing out on in her first semester. “I decided to go to Michigan in part the culture because of and how vibrant life on campus is, and I was going to be paying way too much money for out of state tuition to lose all of that and do work online [therefore] losing the chance to work “I realized I was so excited for my school that there was no way I could validate to myself missing even one semester,” with some world-class professors and get the full college education experience.” She said it was difficult to let go of “the notion that I was going to school in the fall,” but that she made the decision anyway. Most schools are still waiting to see what the state of the pandemic will permit as the fall semester approaches, but not all of them traditionally accept deferrals. For example, The University of California system usually has a no deferral policy. They are now taking in requests on a case by case basis, so one can’t simply defer until next semester or year without a good reason. There is also an incentive for schools not to accept deferral requests. Many schools c om pe nsa t e d students because of their inability to provide room and board during the pandemic. This is not to mention massive financial losses caused by the economy’s downturn. If schools allow their 2020 freshman class to shrink too much, their revenue could dive, causing even more problems like widespread cuts and higher tuition. For better or worse, pandemicrelated deferrals could have a massive impact on colleges and their class of 2024. 2
NEWS Community celebrates graduates in new, innovative ways by Samantha Parr
Throughout high school, students anticipate the coveted second semester of senior year. College applications have ceased and seniors can finally relax, spend time with their peers, and fully embrace “senioritis.” Despite the cancellation of this year’s long-awaited alternative celebrations senior graduation, will take place in the community to honor the seniors’ completion of high school. “In mid-March when the lockdown started, I never would have thought that senior year would end so abruptly, obviously, but I think what bummed us out the most was that these were supposed to be and were going to be the best three months of high school,” senior Agatha Vance said. Due to the unanimous disappointment expressed by the senior class, principal Liz Seabury said that it was challenging to plan a graduation that would meet their expectations. She gathered a team of 15 parent volunteers, ten teachers, and some students to help plan the alternative graduation events. “Initially, it was really hard. I met with the seniors in ASB a couple times, and they had ideas, but they just kept getting to that brick wall like ‘we don’t really want to talk about it,’” Seabury said. The seniors wanted a normal graduation, but county and statewide restrictions include staying restrictions made traditional graduations impossible at this time. These home, only traveling for essential matters, practicing social distancing, and wearing face masks in public. According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, mass gatherings are “not in the cards” until the state achieves herd immunity or develops a vaccine. With this in mind, Seabury knew she had to plan something for the students on June 12, the original day of graduation. “I don’t care if it’s a video, I don’t care if it’s honking the horns, we are going to do something on June 12 to say congratulations,” Seabury said. Other local schools, like Marin Catholic and Novato High School, have already announced their formal graduation ceremonies to occur in late July and early August. However, according to Newsom’s predictions, these ceremonies may not be able to happen. Knowing this, the Drake graduation planning committee’s plan remained consistent in honoring the seniors on June 12. If Marin County receives clearance to have larger group gatherings in August, there may be an additional celebration for Drake seniors. In the meantime, the graduation planning “They’re the ones that kind of got to set the legacy.” committee met weekly for the past month to plan the best possible endof-high-school celebration for the seniors. According to Seabury, three main events will occur from June 1 to 12. The first event, the public-oriented portion of the overarching plan, started on June 1. Seabury and the parent committee ordered four thousand Drake flags for community members and grocery store owners to display in front of their buildings. The committee encourages all community members to decorate their garage doors, mailboxes, storefronts, flagpoles, and cars green during the weeks leading up to graduation. The goal of this overarching idea is to, quite literally, “paint the community green and white” and show ubiquitous support for the graduates. “We’re pretty geeky out here about how much we love our community and our school, so I think people are going to get pretty into this,” Seabury said. The second event that occured on June 1 was Senior Pick-Up Day, where the seniors deposited their textbooks and library books and picked up their caps, gowns, and decoration kits to adorn their cars and bikes for the day of graduation. The last event, on June 12, was graduation, in which seniors received their diplomas and bike or drive through the campus. Later that night, at six o’clock, the seniors’ completion of high school became official. Joined by fire truck sirens, church bells, and car horns, people from West Marin, Fairfax, and San Anselmo cheered in unison to celebrate the seniors. “I think we’re a very unique school in general, and we always kind of stand out with our community, and our spirit, and our love for each other, and just to be a pirate. I think that’s really shining through,” Vance said. Despite this year being the first in recent Drake history not to have a traditional graduation, the planning committee hoped to honor the seniors as well as possible given the unusual circumstances. Seabury hopes that the public will express even more support for the seniors, given the circumstances. She also hopes that some of this year’s traditions, like the “paint the community” and neighborhood cheer, will occur in future years. “They can be the ones to say that they did it first and they did it the best, whatever ‘it’ is - the community cheer, the car graduation, all the other weird things that we’re planning,” Seabury said, “They’re the ones that kind of got to set the legacy.” 4
Graduation 2020 Farewell to Pirates 5 The Jolly Roger | June 2020
Photos by Toby Gibbons 6
Their eyes were watching zoom; Senior year at a distance By Alexandra Fry ith the academic school year coming to a close, seniors have been carving out ways to celebrate the silver linings despite what was lost. With events and social contact relegated to the realm of technology, many struggle to balance mourning the loss of senior experiences with celebrating the next step of their futures. Justine McOuat was looking forward to her (now cancelled) final season of mountain biking. “Biking alone just isn’t the same. I need human contact!” Human contact now consists of scheduled zoom classes. Classes often overlapped before the implementation of a schedule. This made tardiness still possible. “In quarantine... a normal day W looks like getting up at 10:25-five minutes before zoom class-, and barely making the class on time... when I do make it on time.” McOuat. said McOuat reasons that one small benefit of online school is the money saved on gas and lunches. “I find myself being able to focus better in a [physical] school environment,” McOuat said. Motivation isn’t easy when everything is self directed, especially with stereotypical teenagers’ sleep schedules. “I know that for the past three and a half years, I’ve been looking forward to this specific semester,” she said, frustrated. She looks forward to the senior class having a goodbye. “Obviously, this is not the biggest issue at hand, but we can still feel cheated. Even though we know there are bigger issues happening in the world right now, our feelings are still valid.” Even activities that hypothetically work on digital platforms, are still lacking without the benefit of in person interaction, such as senior Sydney Thompson’s AP art class. “It is my favorite class this year, as it was last year, and it’s a very creative and interesting community.” Thomson said. Thomson mostly misses AP art nights, an after school event in which students work in an open studio. AP art nights fostered a creative environment for anyone interested, including Thomson who only got to attend a handful before the shelter
Sydney Thomson Izzie Whitchel Justine McOuat in place was ordered. But Thomson will continue work even without the benefit of the school’s supplies. “I miss having access to all the art supplies available at Drake, because I do not have [them] at home.” Drake Drama’s spring musical offers a final performance opportunity for many. Isabel Witchel was one of the few students to be in Drake Drama for four years. She enjoyed the camaraderie and social element as well as performing. “I miss my friends and my boyfriend, I’m holding out hope for being able to see them before I leave for college.” Witchel said. The timing of the show unfortunately coincided with the spread of COVID-19 on the West Coast. “I remember talking to Jasper before that final rehearsal about the inevitability, which we’d been discussing for a couple weeks before then wondering how bad it might get,” said drama teacher and Spamalot co-director Peter Parish. “It was devastating, a quick stab to the heart to start this whole thing rolling.” The production held a cast party over zoom. “We’d all worked super hard on it and we were really proud of where we were in the process,” Witchel said. “I hated having to say goodbye.” Despite setbacks, the administration worked hard on memorializing the end of the year with creative events. pick up day, paint the community green, senior slideshows, a drive “Festivities include senior through car graduation, live streaming through Community Media Center of Marin, senior videos and a community wide cheer for our seniors on the evening of graduation,” vice principal Nate Severin said. Although this year may differ from tradition, the administration strives to maintain the core message. “Our hope is that although different, our seniors will still feel celebrated, honored and recognized during this special time in their lives.” Severin said. While this may not be the end to senior year anyone would have chosen, seniors, with the help of the Drake community, have found the best goodbyes possible while remembering that the future will be what they make of it.
FEATURE The many alternatives to college after high school By Melissa Auchard A 9 The Jolly Roger | June 2020 fter drudging along for nearly thirteen years at school, the prospect of a four year university after high school sounds dreadful to some. While societal pressure deems a college education necessary to excel in life, it is not the only option after high school. A gap year, travelling, the military, or an internship or job remain popular alternatives among graduates. Bea Lazar, a 2019 Drake graduate, took a gap year before heading to the University of Edinburgh for the next four years. Lazar decided to take a gap year to travel and meet
new people, claiming that gap years provide valuable opportunities for discovering passions and revealing career paths. “I met a girl this year who’d just spent two months working at school in Tanzania and she’s now planning on being a full time paid teacher there starting in September,” Lazar said. She also believed that she should take advantage of her youth and travel. “It’s honestly one of the only times that you’ll really be able to travel so freely, I think because after college people always say, ‘I’m gonna travel after college. I’m gonna start college right off the bat.’ But I think like right after college that’s when you’re getting offered jobs and internships and stuff and I feel like you’re parents aren’t going to be as willing to help pay for you to go travel when they want you to go into the real world,” Lazar said. Lazar traveled to Madagascar for a marine conservation program and Cape Town for a teaching and surf outreach program. She would have continued to a third program but her trip was cut short due to COVID-19. She found these programs through placement company a volunteer called International are home Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ), which offers programs in over forty countries. Some stays where volunteers live with a local of the city in which they are travelling and others are in volunteer houses where program volunteers board together. Lazar lived in volunteer houses both trips. Lazar acknowledged that not all gap years have to include travelling abroad. However, she maintains that her experience overseas prepared her for college. “I feel a lot more independent and self-sufficient now that I’ve been able to travel by myself. It’s kind of the same experience as college where you’re like meeting new people and having to learn how to be by yourself. I feel way more prepared going into college next year,” Lazar said. “[My gap year] was the best decision I’ve made.” Lazar also noticed a difference in her ability to make friends from her first program to her second. She learned uncomfortable to be okay introductions me up to go to a four year next if I want but also give me a jumpstart in the fire service, like I just finished my EMT and almost all my classes needed to transfer.” However, he does feel like ever he’s missed out on the college experience. He would’ve loved to go out with his friends at night, be in a fraternity, and attend sporting events. After taking classes at COM, Morgan still has the choice to leave Marin for college. Eric Betz, father of a current with and situations in order to get to make close friends. “My gap year was the best decision I’ve ever made.” Jayden Morgan, a 2018 Drake graduate, decided to get a jumpstart in the firefighting service rather than immediately attending a four year. Morgan knew coming out of high school that firefighting was the only job he felt, and still feels, would be the one he wanted to do for the rest of his life. “It was definitely my goal to end up doing something that is helping people and staying active versus sitting at a desk all day,” Morgan said. Morgan began his career as a firefighter while attending College of Marin (COM). “The choice not to go to a four year I think was the smartest choice, at least speaking for myself because I got to take classes that have set Drake student and Drake graduate, joined the air force after graduating high school. “I decided to go into the Air Force to learn a trade- I was an electrician and radar repairman- and to earn money for college,” Betz said. While serving in the air force, Betz had the opportunity to travel. He met people of many cultures, allowing him to get a better sense of what he may want to do as a career. Depending on rank and years of service in the air force, monthly salaries range from 1,733 dollars to 3,114 dollars, according to the US Air Force. Other jobs in the military also range based on rank and years served. However, the marine corps has the highest pay out of all other US military services, ranging from 1,166 dollars to 6,166 dollars a month. College is a formative experience for education, indepence, and personal growth. Some discover these adventures by going off the beaten path. Life after high school doesn’t have to look like a four year university. It could be a gap year, travelling, work, or the military, each alternative providing opportunities to graduates that may not be available to them in college. 10
12
The Senior Map
Key STATE UC Humboldt STATE Emery Huebner Santa Rosa JC Gavin Dow (then fire academy) Greg Finn Eric Helbig Gavrie Seybold Winter Snell Adrienne Weiskopf University of California California State University School logo, seal, or emblem : UC : CSU : Private : Junior/Community Sonoma STATE Joleen Clark Poets Aida Hernandez Ruby Burmeo Estelle Alwitt Christian Antonini Diana Aranda Matthew Banse Noah Baskin-Monk Pace Buchan Lucas Burkhart Sophia Calderon Ailani Campbell Denzel Castillo Jonah Cirillo Aidan Costello Ethan Coulier Josh Darr Ashton Estes Alexandra Fry William Guild Estela Hernandez Ellie Hersh College of Marin Otis Hixon Jasmine Hughes Kailah Kerr Asa Klein Enno Klotz Katherine Lam Catherine Lizarraga Kai Lozaw Jayden Maurer Michael Matteucci Adelina Merrell Owen Mosley Aidan Nelson Sean O’Connor Arianna Ortiz Elly Padilla Sterling Perry Leo Plymale Lucia Plymale Nick Prosch Nikko Raffael Connor Riecken Jack Simon Abby Shultz Will Statz Annabelle - Stephens Alex Toy Luca Velatzos Jeanette West Marielle Wilson Ellie Wooster Ethan Yurke Chico Luke Baker Ella Granelli Caj Holt Annika Honig STATE Phoenix Lynch Becca Sibbett Molly Soloday Ethan Zanghi Sierra College Ren Jenks-Gaul Dominican University Isa Ferris Jasmyn Jansen UC Davis Julia Hagg Kate Harges Tea Kaiser Lindsay Nash Skylar LaRoche Kat Radtke Shayna Thurston Nico Colloredo-Mansfeld University of the Pacific Michael Robertson INSET: Bay Area SF STATE Camila Diaz Matthew Martinez Cian Moon-Howe John Warne Gigi Yore Santa Clara University Kira Lipson Liyara Senadheera UC Santa Cruz Amalia Bostian Alexander Colloredo-Mansfeld Michael Kelly Justine McOuat Clara Murphy Emerson Reed Gina Schneider Kailah Wood Cabrillo CC Roya Loll Bella Griggs Cal Maritime Will Burkhart Micah Frisch UC Berkeley Setfanie Iojica Iona Normandi Tom Skyvara Los Medanos College Ysella Rojas UC Santa Barbara Sonya Adler Danielle Baker Emma Burke Joshua Condry Sierra Cusick Cece Hunt Nate Hamilton Ray Holmberg Anna Jay Payton Wilson Berkeley City College Nic Hagan Fresno STATE Griffin Herz UC Merced Alexia Azucena Stefan Werba Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Tatum Bugas Molly Dengler Liam Dolan Isa Fitsmaurice Ben Gallagher Caleb Krick Lars Matthys Nico McIntosh Fiona Nudd Grace Reilly Juliana Romano-Silverstein Santa Barbara City College Lucy Baker Anekah Calderon Leila Ghanbari Ruby Gleason Ryder Gleason Ajai Fliessbach Tori Saavedra INSET: Los Angeles California Institute of the Arts Piet Broms UC Los Angeles Natalie Agnew Lea Baskin-Monk Kaden Brastow Gemma Brown Carson Cox Noah Gardner Isabella Spillane Agatha Vance Whittier College Sam Pinto Occidental College Amir Barkan Myles Cohen Chapman University Jessie Cohen Aylo Corshen UC Irvine David Cho University of San Diego Henry Sutro UC San Diego Jack Bohner Ariana Brisco-Schofield San Diego STATE Maddie Fitzpatrick Sylvia Potovsky Maddie Scherr Issac Silverstein Kyra Smith-Stewart Sophie Sorenson
Western Washington University of Puget Sound Abigail Bredow University Samantha Garriott University of Washington Logan Smith Sydney Thomson Seattle University Rowan Hatch Gonzaga University Jack Reuter Connor Whyte Oregon State Erin Armstrong Riley Evans Paul Kelemen Sarah Barsky Max Martin Kyle O’Heidhin Washington State John Mohun Lewis and Clark Joseph Hawley Lola Palladini Linfield College Ryan Suckle University of Oregon Brynli Nelson Lucia Shafer* Julian Whiteduck-Bobb Mason Barnes Mac Bihn Stephanie Coghlan Kai Cooper Lane Community College Carsten MacKillop Colorado School of Mines Ceci Hellman Mitchell Holtzer-Steiner University of Nevada Reno Milo Braun Turn back a page to look at schools in California. Northern Arizona University Nic Migliore Antonio Sagaral Isabel Slade University of Arizona Alex Scherotter U A Colorado State Oryah Chittick CU Boulder Ellie Barber Petra Boyd Ethan Laursen Owen Wolford Boise State Savannah Wandzilak Marquette Unive Neav Healy St. Olaf College Mia Lacy Daisy DickInternational - Durham University Ryder LeVieux - Paris College of Art Lucie Martikan - University of St. Andrews Sasha Plichta Kyler Wernick - University of Victoria Skye Wright Griffin Waite Lola Arthur* - University of Leiden - University of St. Andrews - University of British Colombia - Yonsei University Washington University in St. Louis Sydney West Colorado College Zianah Griffin Anna Wooster In Lu M University of Hawai’i at Manoa Marina Alicke *Student is taking a gap year before attending this college
University of Vermont Pierre Beaurang Maddie Leitch Sierra Sabec Rochester Institute of Technology Nicholas Anthony Smith College Mia Eisenberg Tufts University VT Audrey Fehlhaber Amanda Lipari-Maxson Bowdoin College Seamus Goulden Dahlia Siegel-Zigmund Penn State University Aidan Hutchinson ersity NY Colgate University Erik Henzl Culinary Institute of America Reed Martel Chris Newman* PA Fordham University Max Hamblin Julie Trohan Michigan State Henry Mason Julia Pelletier* University of Michigan Knox College Zomina Peterson Georgetown University Marina McPhail* Purdue University Toren Frank Indiana University Lukas Bachmann Mason Ball University of Tennessee Matt Forrest Kaianne Segura University of Alabama Natalie Parker Merritt Stovall University of West Georgia Chloe Hogg Savannah College of Art and Design Ami Bluestone Military Haiden Blomendale Ian Christie Andre Lopez Max Wilson Jack Wyatt Eckerd College Izzie Witchel William & Mary Nicholas Scheer Berklee College of Music Aidan Ng MA Boston University Jacob Alwitt Caroline Cain Harrison Sears Alexa Woodrow University of Rhode Island Ella Crock Columbia University Matilda Darragh-Ford Sam Gregiore Parsons School of Design Charlotte Horton Camila Killion INSET: Northeast - U.S. Army - Air Force West Point - U.S. Military Academy - Air Force - Virginia Military Institute Gap Year Lola Arthur Brendan Coe Augustin Fitipaldi Cielo Gonzalez Mariele Healy Jack Houlihan Dominic Maculay Gaelen McKee Marina McPhail Emma Rose Neal Chris Newman Sam Pinto Julia Pelletier Jourge Romero Lucia Schafer Robin Stranton Alex Toy Tomas Young
DEAR CLASS OF 2020 A s this issue is the senior issue, the senior staff thought it necessary to address what’s been on our minds recently. On March 12, we went to school like any other normal day. Yes, some people were concerned about school closures in light worsening pandemic, but of others didn’t even consider it a possibility. We didn’t know we wouldn’t be back at school the next day, or that we wouldn’t return at all. We had our last day of high school and didn’t even know it. Our class has been diligent. Whether applying to college or planning our futures, our class handled these challenges with grace. We spent time studying, working part-time, training for sports, participating in extracurriculars. For many of us, our last semester should be the reward for all this hard work. It’s supposed to be all worth it in the end. Our class has gone through together. hardships experienced multiple We protests and movements, major fires, and the PG&E power outages. The last few months were supposed to be a time for our class to come together to celebrate us pushing through and overcoming these hardships. From the moment we enter the high school, we are inundated with tradition. The rallies, the games, the dances, grad night, last chapter dinner, prom, and graduation. We envisioning ourselves on those days one, two, even three years in advance. We never thought that it would be stripped away from us in just one day. So it hurts. That’s the only way to put it. It hurts to see something that other have experienced, been that is a rite of passage for many high schoolers, robbed without any control over it. We’ve trying to cope. Taking up a new hobby, trying to get outside more often, trying to see this as an opportunity. But it’s not. Nothing will replace what could have been. No matter how you try to twist it, we are isolated from normalcy, left without something that we earned and worked hard for. It’s okay to be sad. Inevitably, people will try to undermine your despair and tell you that others students something remember are worse off. While this is true, there’s no doubt that this is still a loss. So be upset, be frustrated, and be disappointed. No one has the right to take that from you. It’s okay. However, we are unique in that we’re one of the only classes that have gone through this. Everywhere, the class of 2020 is having a huge chapter of our life, the one where we say goodbye to our childhoods, taken away from us with no control over it. So at some point, we have to realize that we aren’t in this alone. Not only is the class of 2020 sharing this experience worldwide, but also our class at Drake. We were all looking forward to the same honored and loved traditions that are now being taken away from us. We’re experiencing this sense of loss together. We start high school full of firsts but in our minds, we know that there will also be lasts. We had our first day of school, first rally, first dance, and many more of these firsts. We may have not knowingly gotten the last of these memories, but we should focus
on what we did have. We did get a last homecoming dance, winter formal. We started off our year with the senior sunrise and spent it with our class, even if it was cut far too short. There is a sad irony in that just a couple months before the pandemic cut our senior year short, the senior tree itself was cut. But just as the senior tree has begun to regrow and recover, so must our class grow stronger despite our collective loss. Eventually, we will bloom and provide, as the senior tree was, a comfortable place where others can rest beneath our shade. Although we all know that our senior year wasn’t the same, we have recognition for the hard taken away in an email. Despite this, we will become stronger. We will march on, resilient, and make a difference in the world Our misfortune this year, work we’ve put in even though it’s not what we envisioned. Despite a global pandemic, our students and teachers have worked hard for us to get what our class deserves. So we will learn from this because we now know how much can change within a week. That something we’ve been looking forward too for years can be Sincerely, The Jolly Roger seniors eventually, will impact us in a positive way. Hopefully, there will be a time where we can look back and say it was worth it. That everything taken away from us taught us to take advantage of the time we do have. Because the class of 2020 really does know how fast it can all be taken away. Art by Ella Crock
OPINION Love bowl a is of fruit 19 The Jolly Roger | June 2020
Navigating college admissions as children of immigrants By Sarah Barsky and Stefanie Iojica t’s close I to midnight on a typical school day night, and the stress of the UC personal insight questions, Common App essay, or an upcoming deadline isn’t only overwhelming; it’s all-consuming, sucking me down into a downward spiral of stress, loneliness, and hopelessness. I barely even notice the opening of the door behind me until the clink of a bowl placed next to me. By the time I’ve looked up, my mom’s already left the room, and a bowl of carefully cut fruit sits on my desk. For a brief moment I can escape college application stress with the sweetness of peaches and strawberries on my tongue. Most seniors undertake the daunting process of college admissions. Beyond even the application process, the experience of college has been romanticized through throughout high school and college, and didn’t undergo the same liberalarts based curriculum present in most U.S. high schools and undergraduate colleges. Sarah’s mother grew up in French Quebec, where only annual tests and grades decide admissions. Neither had extracurriculars evaluated as a required part of an application, and in both countries, students often attended the college nearest to their parents and lived at home. So when we began the admissions hands-off in the slightest. Instead, they showed their support through acts of service. No, they often couldn’t help with our essays. But when we struggled with math late on the night before a test, they sat with us and patiently reviewed trigonometry and logarithms. They reminded us to take breaks and recharge. They carefully cut us fruit as we struggled to finish a paper. We learned self-advocacy from an “For our parents, this country represents not only a place of opportunity for themselves, but a place where their children could achieve something greater than was possible back home.” countless movies, books, and TV shows. We grow up with stories of our parents’ college days and dream about the days we would create our own memories. But for those of us with parents that never went through the same process, or went through a vastly different one, the college admissions process seems foreign at best. Stefanie’s parents attended college in Romania, where a single three-day exam decided college admissions, and students could only apply to a single school. Students focused on a specific subject area process, our parents could only apply their experiences to a system totally unlike experienced. When Stefanie approached her parents about signing up for the PSAT, or studying for AP exams, or filling out the FAFSA, they stared at her in bafflement at the nonsensical acronyms. Most of the time they adopted a stance of “I don’t know, but I trust you to do the right thing” when it came to extracurriculars, essays, and college lists. But as many second-generation Americans can attest, that doesn’t mean that immigrant parents are the one they had early age; if we ever needed help, they would find a way to offer it. But we needed to speak up for ourselves when we did. While we often joke that immigrant parents govern under the doctrine of “tough love,” that comes from a position of legitimately wanting the best for us. For our parents, this country represents not only a place of opportunity for themselves, but a place where their children could achieve something greater than was possible back home. As we conclude this admissions process and prepare to begin college, we thought back to the four years that lay behind us. At times, we felt frustrated and overwhelmed with the enormity and complexity of college admissions, and the fact so many other families seemed to have it down easy. But the support that our parents provided taught us self-reliance and determination. And we do enjoy a bowl of cut fruit once in a while. 20
OPINION Demystifying the importance of college prestige By Natalie Agnew I n a world obsessed with social status, a degree from a prestigious school is coveted as the next hot luxury item. High schoolers fixate on the idea that they need to go to a “good” school due to pressure from peers, adults, and societal standards. However, in reality, college prestige is relatively insignificant for most individuals. How important it is for you depends on what you want out of the college experience. Do you want the time of your life, to make money, to go to law school? Going to a prestigious college is not the ticket to a life of success; what you make out of your college experience is more important than the name of the school. When most people think of prestigious schools, they think of Ivy League schools and other elite private schools such as Northwestern, Duke, and Johns Hopkins. Many students think that schools like these hold the keys to a bright future. These schools demand total costs as high as eighty thousand dollars, but are the benefits worthy of the hefty price tag? There are also public universities that boast similar academic reputations at a fraction of the price for in-state students. However a degree from a prestigious school may have some benefits unavailable to other graduates. Many people point to the higher starting salaries of graduates from elite private schools to prove their worth. For instance, a graduate from Stanford makes $73 thousand as their starting salary, according to Business Insider. Comparatively, a graduate from the University of Alabama makes about $48 thousand, according to the school’s first employment destination survey. But the higher Stanford salary is partially inflated by the higher cost of living and wages in California and Stanford’s higher graduation rate. However, starting salaries aren’t the only indicator of job satisfaction or potential for growth. When you are looking for your first job where you got your college degree is more important, since there is less work experience on your resume. This is the time when college prestige is more significant. After you get some work experience, that is what employers will look at more closely, not which university you attended. Besides the higher starting salary and brand of the college name, you are also buying into their network of successful alumni and recruiting connections. In a 2017 study, economist Raj Chetty found that low-income students at elite private schools have a better chance of reaching the top one percent of the earning distribution compared to similar students at public schools. There are also some competitive industries like investment banking, where large firms draw mostly from a shortlist of elite schools. According to NBC News, while more than 40 percent of billionaires went to elite schools, there are also plenty of successful people who 21 The Jolly Roger | June 2020
went to less reputable schools. What do Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, Guy Fieri, Morgan Freeman all have in common? They all attended community college. Oprah went to Tennessee State University, which is ranked in the 300s by the US News and World Report. For the average student how successful you are depends on what you do in college, not where you go. For instance, graduate school admissions schools scores. usually leadership, These for a high GPA, involvement in extracurriculars, high test factors depend on the person and their level of effort, not the institution. For example, the Harvard Law School students from Arizona University, Fairleigh class of 2023 includes Christian Dickinson University, Gordon College, and Wagner College. These are a few of the less prestigious schools that make up the class. Top graduate schools pick the best students from across the country that excel at their school, not the bottom of the class from prestigious schools. Also the sole act of graduating from college can have a large impact on earning potential. By just graduating from college, men, on average, earn $900,000 more in a lifetime, while women make $630,000 more, according to data from the Social Security Administration. Also it is important to remember that there’s more to life than how much money you make. Higher earnings don’t necessarily correlate and with happiness. In 2018, a Purdue University amount, study found that $105,000 is the ideal income for life satisfaction in North America. Upwards of this the amount of income doesn’t increase the individual’s happiness. Someone’s happiness “Someone’s happiness and look what makes a good college is dependent upon the needs of the individual student and that is different for everyone.” what makes a good college is dependent upon the needs of the individual student and that is different for everyone. For some people, a smaller school with more individualized attention is what they need to be successful. For others, the competitive environment of a school like the Ivy Leagues might not be the best fit either. It’s all about finding the environment where you can grow the most as a student and a person, not the ranking and reputation of the school. This obsession with prestige is more of a product of a consumerist society, obsessed with marketing top colleges investment. have shifted from as a life-changing Colleges themselves prioritizing education to large firms competing to paint themselves as the best and only providers of the ideal college experience. incentive to Colleges have the advertise themselves this way and charge a higher tuition if consumers, or students, are willing to pay it. But no matter what these schools would like you to think, college is just another choice everyone has to make. Whether someone can get into or afford one of these prestigious schools will not determine their wealth or happiness. and 22
SPORTS Despite coronavirus, Drake goes forward with eSport team By Luke Murray and Jack Reuter Drake plans to implement an eSport team next year, but the current pandemic seems to have delayed action. The eSports industry’s popularity has exploded in the past decade, with nearly 200 colleges housing competitive video gaming leagues and offering $15 million worth of scholarships in the United States. Drake’s eSport team has been in the making for several years. Driven by the rising competitive gaming market, Interscholastic the the Federation California (CIF), governing body for high school partnered with the eSport contractor PlayVS to bring it to public California schools. Since he was Drake’s athletic director, a big proponent of eSports at Drake is Assistant Principal Nate Severin. “I think that based on conversations I’ve had with students about what games they’re playing in the excitement about a potential opportunity eSports... That’s why I think we should do it... and the way they do it in a school environment and compete as a school, as a pirate, I think would be awesome,” Severin said. 23 The Jolly Roger | June 2020 PlayVS provides schools the platform to build and manage eSport teams. Associated schools access three video games for competitive play: League Legends (LoL), Rocket League, and Smite. The company claims that eSports provides another option for student engagement, which leads to greater academic success. eSports also introduces students to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects due to the computational aspect of the games. Along with this, PlayVS’s website claims that “like any team sport, eSports requires roughly three weeks for the postseason. PlayVS charges $64 for each student. The fee covers the three base games (roughly $20-$40 each), and unlocks all characters for LoL and Smite. According to the website notagamer.net, a player competing in 10 regular LoL matches will unlock all champions in about a year. Students can link their existing accounts to PlayVS for potential college library, of recruitment. Both Smite and Rocket League require Steam, the cloud-based gaming The company claims unblocked from the school’s wifi. Besides an account for the game, students need a computer with a mouse and headset. While consoles aren’t allowed, students can plug in controllers into PCs. Severin assures that the school will provide students with computers. He also suggests Drake eSports could practice at the school’s computer labs. that eSports provides another option for student engagement, which leads to greater academic success. enormous amounts of communication, collaboration, and leadership among athletes.” The company outlines two seasons, one in the fall and one in the spring. Each season lasts eight weeks and playoffs, with each having two weeks for preseason and based LoL is a teamcompetitive strategy game with more than 115 million players in 2019. Players must destroy the enemy’s ‘Nexus’ at the opposite end of the field while protecting their own. By defeating other players and collecting computer-controlled minions, they earn points used to increase their team’s control of the game. Smite follows LoL’s game mechanics, with players defeating three subordinate bosses and then
a “Titan”, instead of the Nexus. Player control champions inspired from ancient mythology to achieve victory, with individual champions more suited for defense or offense. Both LoL and Smite offer players three lanes to attack and defend, akin to zones in traditional sports. LoL and Smite see teams of five compete for victory. Rocket League is like soccer with cars, with players using them to move the ball across the field and score against their opponents. The gameplay is incredibly fast-paced, and players must Rocket League team. The uniqueness of Rocket League lies in the in-game cars. Players can drive along the virtual stadium walls; flanking defenders or finding different scoring angles. They also receive ‘Boosts’ during the match, the other team to get a goal. Three players compose a competitive used to either increase the car’s speed or give it flight for a short time. Junior Juan Pablo Izquierdo Riascos is an avid Rocket League player, with 600 hours clocked The lockdown has made competitive gaming one of the few leagues still operating. outmaneuver in on Steam. His in-game rank is Champion 1, three steps away from Grand Champion, the expected level for professional eSport players. “The best way to rank up is [the] competitive [gamemode], as you’re matched with players with your skill level,” Izquierdo Riascos said. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on any plans. A proposed sport needs student interest meetings, school board approval, and budget meetings-among other considerations. The coronavirus puts all plans on hold. Competitive gaming is rising in popularity. The lockdown has made it one of the few leagues still operating. Professional athletes now play their virtual sport’s equivalent, like 16 National Basketball Association (NBA) players competing at a tournament in the video game NBA 2k20 for charity. Drake eSports didn’t happen this year, but the momentum is there. PlayVS created a secure system for schools to apply and chose competitive gaming titles that attract millions of viewers. Additionally, it has professional or collegiate applicability, incentivizing a generation of students to pick up eSports for the first time. 24
SPORTS Athletes rewarded with collegiate sports opportunities By Jack Reuter Mia Eisenberg Maddie Scherr 2020 was by no means a cakewalk for Drake sports. Athletes took the challenges of the October wildfires and ongoing pandemic in stride, resolving to continue their excellent seasons. Among those students, five will take the lessons of perseverance learned from these hardships at the collegiate level this fall. Mia Eisenberg started with the Marin Rowing Association (MRA) six years ago. Sculling since 8th grade, she began the tradition of steering her team to victory as a coxswain for the Novice Masters team in the East Bay. Eisenberg rose through the ranks quickly, coxswaining for the High School Novice Girls team as a freshman, joining the Varsity Girls team sophomore year, and finishing as a co-captain. Eisenberg remembers the Head of the American River race fondly. The course was five km long, with 18 boats contesting for the finish. For her first time, Eisenberg sat in the lead starboard seat. Despite her 25 The Jolly Roger | June 2020 unfamiliarity in that position, her team placed second, losing first by just 0.7 seconds. “Rowing is one of the only sports I have done; it’s so dependent on teamwork! I love that everyone is so dependent on their team and their boat because it requires a certain level of generosity and selflessness to support your teammates and be so competitive at the same time,” Eisenberg said. She will continue crew at Smith College, undaunted by the East Coast winters. Maddie Scherr has been rowing since her freshman year. Her favorite memory was the MRA National Championship, where Scherr and eight other girls trained for a grueling three months and received a well earned third place. “[I love] the friends I made and sense of community and family. The boathouse became my second home,” Sherr said. She will be rowing at San Diego State University this fall, and is looking forward to the 5:30 a.m. practices.
Drake water polo has a history of producing college-bound stars, and this year is no exception. Ian Christie and Ray Holmberg have been athletes to watch, both playing polo for ten years. They started their careers as sea lions for the Sleepy Hollow Swim Team but soon joined its water polo counterpart, Sleepy Hollow Aquatics (SHAQ). They played water polo for all of high school and served as integral roles in winning Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) for all four years. Christie played for the North Coast Section (NCS) winning team in 2017, which remained his favorite memory. Holmberg was unfortunately injured from the prior season and couldn’t compete. The team ousted the NCS championship title from the East Bay, making it the subject of the book “Miracle at Sleepy Hollow” by Joe Sullivan. Christie found success as a left-handed player in the right-wing position and has never wanted to be anywhere else in the pool. Holmberg played goalie his whole career, despite his coach once saying he was too short. Christie will be playing polo at the United States Airforce Academy, and Holmberg is continuing the sport as a Gaucho at the University of California, Santa Barabara. Another polo superstar to keep an eye on is Liyara Senadheera, who has been playing since 7th grade. Like Cristie and Holmberg, she has played for SHAQ, followed by four years at Drake. Senadheera started in the field but shone playing goalie. As a junior, she made 3o7 saves, setting a record for the girls that year. In the summer before senior year, she made 89 saves, four within 5 meters, and 15 steals at the Junior Olympics Tournament. “My favorite part about the sport has to be the teamwork element. We all rely on each other and have to be on the same page. Each player brings a different skillset, and to put it all together and to learn how to work together is definitely a unique experience,” Senadheera said. Senadheera will become a Bronco at Santa Clara University this fall. Liyara Senadheera 26 Ray Holmberg
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT I n light of the national pandemic necessitating the temporary of in-person workplaces, end the entertainment industry innovates methods to continue creating content. While some take advantage of new conditions to expand their platform, however, others have seemingly lost the ability to make enjoyable entertainment. On platforms like Youtube, many continue their work with limited obstacles, while weekly shows with sets and large casts find ways to work with limited resources. Taking a look at one of these shows, “Saturday Night Live,” becomes apparent that the quality of their show has dropped. The skits dragged on for ten minutes for a mediocre joke that could’ve landed in 30 seconds. They did find a way to include every member of their cast and connect every segment with a causal flow, and that alone is impressive. That said, satisfactory content is out there. The Youtube channel “Some Good News,” hosted by John Krasinski, is a compilation of inspiring or uplifting videos and stories that remind us even in these challenging times there is still good. It supports active members of the workforce and what others are doing during this time, and reminds people that they are not alone; everyone is going through the same emotions. On cable, most can continue making the Entertainment manages without live audiences By Aler Giffin same intriguing segments that they were making in the past, and focus on the level of material and editing. Shows like “Late Night with Seth Myers” make the best of staying at home and using editing skills to put together a news like show involving pictures and discussing pressing matters while in the comfort of his home office. It is apparent the talk show industry is finding ways to work around difficulties and improve their content. Even though some titles have taken a dip from their standards, they are enjoyable to watch and help combat boredom. 27 The Jolly Roger | June 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons supplies carefree escape for growing audience By Emily Cardwell "Animal Crossing: New Horizons," released on March 20 this year, immediately captivated craft different items, decorate your home, and more. both returning and new players. "Animal Crossing" is a life simulation game that provides players a deserted island that they can then decorate and design however they desire. There are a multitude of quests as players construct their ideal island. Throughout the game, players are presented with new "villagers," and a multitude of new tasks. The villagers make up a large aspect of the game, as there are hundreds of different animals with varying personalities and cuteness that live on the island. The game, made for the Nintendo Switch, became wildly amongst a diverse audience shortly after release. The game catapulted in popularity in part due to its addictive nature as there are endless things to do in the game. As you perfect your island for your avatar, you can The game rose in popularity in part due to how adorable and relaxing it is. In a time plagued by a pandemic, the wholesome game came out at the perfect time. Those who suddenly found themselves with lots of time on their hands are now able to spend it lost in their own world. That is not to say that the game would not have become popular if circumstances were different, but quarantine has acted as the catalyst for people who may not have originally purchased a Nintendo popular Switch community and "New Horizons." "New Horizons" boasts a large online on Youtube, Reddit, and Twitch. Players share a plethora of advice, outlandish ideas, and jokes regarding the game. The game's online presence has certainly helped with its rise in popularity, even the most subscribed gaming YouTuber, Pewdiepie, published videos of him playing the game. The only complaint that has emerged regarding the game is that eventually, once all the quests are completed, there is nothing more to do. However, how quickly players finish the main story speaks to how fun the game is, considering it is estimated to take over 60 hours. "New Horizons" provides a haven of carefree fun in a time of uncertainty. I purchased the game after seeing numerous videos regarding the game, and I am very happy I did so. Because the characters are programmed to say the same thing whenever different situations occur, their sayings can get a bit redundant; however, the game never fails to put a smile on my face. The game manages to keep me engaged by offering many opportunities to better my island and the incentive of keeping the characters happy, whom I have grown so attached to. “New Horizons” provides a haven of carefree fun in a time of uncertainty. Art by Aler Giffin
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT “Valorant” is hell on earth by Nick Anthony I t’s difficult to form a strong opinion on Riot Games’ new first person 5v5 tactical shooter, “Valorant.” On one hand, it’s a fun, more whimsical version of “Counter Strike: Global Offensive” with fun twists added by the different agents and their abilities. On the other hand, it’s a hotbed of toxicity, bug exploitation, and imbalances. I spent a good amount of time playing this game, peaking at Diamond 1 rank during the closed beta. The main goal of “Valorant” is to either plant a bomb on a bomb site and defend it until it explodes, or defend the bomb sites and prevent a detonation. The five players have a variety of “agents” to choose from, each with their own signature abilities that impact gameplay. “Valorant” borrows elements heavily from other titles, so much so that the game feels recycled and old even after a few weeks of playing. The art style is similar to “Team Fortress 2,” movement and gunplay similar to “Counter Strike: Global Offensive,” and game variation similar to “Overwatch.” Thus, “Valorant” lacks the sense of wonder or freshness that it so desperately tries to evoke. “Valorant” also suffers from a disconnect and character maps, Haven, don’t seem to prevent Bind, be glitching and optimized Split, to through walls or exploits that, frankly, ruin the game. There are too many places in these maps where players can be that shouldn’t be possible and are patently unfair. Encountering a player who abuses these glitches to win matches heavily subtracts from the competitive nature of the game. Playing a game of “Valorant” can sometimes feel like you’ve jumped back in time to 2011 in a “Modern Warfare 2” post-game lobby. When players in “Valorant” are pissed, they’re pissed. like nothing. Sometimes “agent” in “Valorant” can be a hellscape, so consider yourself warned. While the function the game doesn’t create too much chaos and disrupt the purpose of “Valorant,” too often are between map design design. The three certain agents “required” in different situations. For example, on the map “Split,” one of the agents named Cypher can hold an entire site by himself, allowing the defenders to bolster defenses on other key points of the map. Having a Cypher on your team allows you to boost your chance of winning, which is absolutely not the case for games like “Overwatch” or “Counter Strike: Global Offensive.” In “Overwatch,” there are a great number of team compositions that will help pave the road to victory, while conversely in “Counter Strike,” the only thing that matters is skill. While trying out a new competitive game during quarantine may seem like an engaging and motivating way to spend your newfound free time, don’t pick up “Valorant” unless you’re a masochist. 29 Sportsmanship are lobbed is nonexistent, and insults of the highest degree they’re
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