acorn: may 2012 issue

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ACORN

May 2012

Acorn

Table of Contents

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25.House of Ruth - A potential comfort care home at harley

Flight 1141. Destination: Belize - by Yisel Ruiz

Mandala Dismantling - Collage by Ken Carlson

Model UN: A Club with A Global Purpose - by Katherine Phillips

New York City - by Rose Holden Vacanti-Gilroy

Little Women - by Carly Straubing

Photography - Featuring Mackenzie Williams, haakon Sheffield, Brooklyn Bianchi, and Meghan Frost

Francesca Pennino ‘05: Associate Director of the Center For Mindfulness And Emphathy Education - interviewed by Eddy Wang

Fashion: Alexa Jamieson - interviewed by Eddy Wang

Interview with Dr. Cottrell

An Interview with Dr. Mary Anne Evans- interviewed by Zoe Rankin

Dungeons And Dragons: Yes, It’s Still Around - by Chris Duffy

Life At Harley vs. Life At My Old School - by Tian Yue

Being Concussed- by the formerly concussed Caitlin Richard, featuring Graffiti by Shayne Hollands

How To Maximize Your Score On A Test Without Actually Knowing Anything - by Ben Kurchin

The Hunger Games Poem - by Sarah Fink

The Hunger Games - by Zach Palumbo

Restaurant Recommendations - by Anna Barbano

The Dress Code - by Jamir Avery

Ray’s-ism- by Ray Chang

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ACORN

Editor-in-chief: Eddy Wang’12

Executive editors: Madeleine Laitz’12

Rosie Gilroy’13Zoe Rankin’14Sarah Fink’15

Advisor:JAM

Artistic Advisor: Ms. O

Facebook: Harley Acorn

Twitter: HarleyAcorn

Email: [email protected]

Online:issuu.com/harleyacorn

Blog: harleyacorn.tumblr.com

The Harley School1981 Clover Street

Rochester, NY 14618

On the Cover: Photo by Brooklyn Bianchi,

Layout design by Ms. O

We care about you!

If you have an article, experience, or event you want to share, submit it!

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Dear Acorn readers, This is my last issue as Editor-in-Chief. Over the past two years, I have had a wonderful ride, from reading creative and original articles and learning things about people that I didn’t know before, to forg-ing relationships and building a network of awesome writers and staff. When I first began the Acorn, I did not know what it would become. And here we are now. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to and supported the Acorn! Starting from the next issue, Rosie Gilroy will be Editor-in-Chief. If you haven’t had the chance to meet her, do so! She is kind, dedicated, and humble. I can’t think of a better person to continue publishing the Acorn. this issue is our biggest issue ever. I’m confident there is something in here for everyone.

Enjoy!-Eddy Wang ‘12

Acorn

NORTH ELEVATION - RIGHT SIDESCALE: 1/4" 1'-0"

PROPOSED

WEST ELEVATIONSCALE: 1/4" 1'-0"

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2. UTILITY LINES SHALL BE SIZED ANDINSTALLED TO MEET THE MINIMUMREQUIRMENTS FOR THE USE PER RESIDENTIALCODE OR NEW YORK STATE.LICENSED PLUMBERS AND HVAC INSTALLERSSHALL BE USED IN ALL UTILITY CONNECTIONSAND INSTALLS.3. ELECTRICAL SHALL BE COORDINATED WITHTHE OWNER PRIOR TO INSTALLATION MEETINGNATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE STANDARDS PER NYSLICENSED ELECTRICIAN.4. DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS LINES ANDLOCATIONS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THEOWNER. CONTRACTOR SHALL INSTALL ALLJACKS AND OUTLETS AS PER OWNERREQUIREMENTS.5. ALL WORK SHALL BE EXECUTED IN AACCORDIINACE WITH THE BEST STANDARDS OFTHE TRADE. FINISHES SHALL BE PROVIDEDTHROUGHOUT AS PER A COMPLETE AND PROPERINSTALLATION.6. PAINT GYPSUM WALLBOARD AND/OR WOODTRIM AND WALLS WITH ONE COAT PRIMER ANDTWO COATS FINISH.

SPECIFICATION and NOTES1. ALL WORK SHALL CONFORM TO THE NEWYORK STATE FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDINGCODE. RESIDENTIAL CODE OF NYS.CONSTRUCTION, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL ANDPLUMBING SHALL COMPLY WITH ALLREQUIREMENTS OF STATE REGULATIONSRELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL CODE OF NEWYORK STATE. CONTRACTOR SHALL CONFORM TOALL LOCAL ORIDNANCES AND MAINTAIN THE JOBSITE IN A SAFE CONDITION AT ALL TIMES.

7. EXTERIOR WALLS ON THE PLANS SHALL BEMIN. 2x6 STUD AT 16" O.C. WITH 1/2" PLYWOODSHEATHING. PROVIDE BLDG. INFILTRATIONWRAP, VAPOR BARRIER, R-19 INSUALTION ANDVINYL EXTERIOR TO MATCH EXISTING WITH MIN.1/2" PAINTED GYP. BD. AT INTERIOR FOR ALLEXTERIOR WALLS. iNTERIOR WALLS SHALL BE2x FRAMED WITH STUDS AT 16" O.C. AND MIN.1/2" PAINTED GYP. BD. EACH SIDE. PROVIDEWATER RESISTANT GYP. BD., BACKER BD., ORFIBER BD. IN ALL AREAS PRONE TO MOISTURE.

8. INSULATION:R-19 IN EXTERIOR WALLSR-30 ALL CANTILEVER JST. CONDITIONSR-30 ROOF INSUL. WITH VENTILATION BAFFLESR-10 RIGID INSULATION FULL DEPTH OF BSMT.

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HOUSE OF RUTHJB STERL ING CONSTRUCTION

The House of Ruth

In 2010, while Chuck Eblacker was shaping stone walls from chaos, an idea was floated to the Harley School administration to enrich its hospice program by providing a site for a comfort care home next to its campus. A Comfort Care Home? These are unique homes for the dying – a home-setting for those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and cannot find adequate support to die at home. These homes can accommodate only two residents at a time and care is provided for the most part by trained volunteers. Each house is overseen by a medical director and supported by the two hospice agencies: Lifetime Care and Visitng Nurse Service. These homes are at the heart of the hospice move-ment and are a key element in Harley’s Hospice curriculum. The original idea was to access the vacant building lot on Clover Street that lies just north of the athletic fields which border Clover. At the time, this didn’t seem possible. However, the house at 25 Emmons Drive was offered as a possible alternative, and so a Board of Directors was formed with Mr. Kane as President/Chairman. Tenants were moved and plans were drawn up for The House of Ruth, a two bed comfort care home in Brighton. There are nine such homes for the dying in and around Rochester. And each home provides Harley students with a rich experience in caring for the dying and their loved ones. However, the nearest comfort care home to Harley are in Mendon or center city. J. B. Sterling was selected to design the changes to the house at Emmons and to provide the construction necessary. Meetings were set with the local neighbors to present plans for this venture and to invite questions, as well as to elicit support. The Town of Brighton set a meeting for November of 2011 to hear the request for a variance to the code. Unfortunately, the request was denied due to Brighton viewing it necessary to create a special provision within its code for Comfort Care Homes. At this point, it felt as if those stone walls were transported right in front of us. Back to the drawing board with the Board. Mr. Kane approached Dr. Cottrell once again about the parcel of land north of the athletic fields on Clover. The revisitation proved a good thing, and plans for building on a residential lot next to The Harley School were underway. Since all comfort care homes in New York State are considered residences, the hope was that, by building within code on a lot zoned residential, The House of Ruth could become a reality without any need for a code change by the Town. A beautiful stone cottage with private gardens was designed to provide comfort care to two residents at a time. However, this was not to be the case. The Town stood firm on its standing by the need to change their Code. Finished? No more House of Ruth? A loss? An opportunity. On the Thursday before February break, former Brighton Town Supervisor San-dra Frankel met with Mr. Kane and board member Dr. Daniel Mendelson. She provided keen insight into the Town’s point of view on this matter. According to Ms. Frankel, the Town was not opposed to having a comfort care home in Brighton. Indeed, she claimed, they were very much in favor of such a service. The problem, apparently, was in the details of codification. The Town wanted to do this in such a way that the Code would provide clear guidelines for the successful launch of said service. In March, a meeting was arranged with various members of the Town of Brighton staff with respect to how to proceed with this endeavor. Mr. Kane was present, as was Jeff Seidel of J.B. Sterling and John Burgdorf of Nixon Peabody. Although the meeting began with an uncomfortable formality, it didn’t take long before discussion turned to humanity. Although

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this meeting was not a public hearing, and therefore could not provide any further decisions regarding whether or not the code would be changed to allow for comfort care homes in Brighton, there was a genu-ine exchange across the table about the needs of the dying and the community’s obligation to provide their members the means for a dignified end to life. Questions were answered, education on comfort care homes, their mission, and their requirements – all were addressed. Most important, we spoke as one at this meeting, and it is now clear that The House of Ruth will play a critical role in helping to change the Code of Brighton so that comfort care homes can flourish in this township. Construction on the house is at least a year away, and there is no guarantee that it will rise from the chaos. However, whenever one finds inhumanity in his community’s body of law, one must stand fast to rectify the injustice. There is no disagreement that the dying in Brighton deserve the same support and lov-ing kindness as in any other community. And, whether it truly requires a code change or not is a matter of debate. However, if it truly is this code that impedes caring for our terminally ill in this gentle fashion, then we are on the absolute right track by fighting tirelessly to change it. And, together, as a community, we will.


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Acorn

Being part of the Hospice program and having the opportunity to travel to a third world country, Belize, was an experience I will never forget. From the moment Mr. Kane announced: “The Belize trip is happening March 24th, 2012. who is inter-ested?” my eyes sparkled. They carried the shine of a shooting star in the dark sky. I could finally seize an opportunity I’ve always wanted to do but always thought I wouldn’t be able to conquer. It was going to be the first time I went out of the country and my first time living and experiencing a new lifestyle. On this trip, I realized what life is and what it truly means to live. I learned that the life we live is nothing compared to theirs (the Belizeans). Our lives are not worth all the complaints we yell and get frus-trated over. The Belizeans have less than us and live happier than us. Everything they own is handmade. Some things may take them days to make, but with great honor and pride they do it. Belizean kids run, play, jump in the rivers, and enjoy what they have. They don’t live the competitive life we live here. I observed that many families live together, with the first generation, second, and even third gen-eration under one roof. In Belizean culture, unity and family is key; family is the most important thing. Both dads and moms work, and there isn’t as much difference in status as we Americans carry here. Usually, the Belizean moms go out and sell the crafts made, and the Belizean dads go out and get material to remodel and build homes.

Flight 1141. Destination: Belize.by Yisel Ruiz

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Flight 1141. Destination: Belize.

Many may be questioning: How was the food; how hard was it to adjust? The food was similar to what I normal-ly eat. Most of the Hispanic families eat a lot of rice, beans, and chicken, and that’s what I eat at home on a regular basis. One night, we did have Garifuna food. Garifunas are the natives of Belize, of Jamaican roots, and their food was different. It consisted mainly of fish and different styles of banana, like fried banana and banana squash, which looked like stuffing.

Interesting Facts According to Belizean custom, as I witnessed myself, when a loved one dies, a wake is held for 24 hours with music, family gatherings, and drum playing. While we were in Belize, a young girl died, and the entire village attended the wake, with loud music playing all night until the following day. Another interesting fact is that Belize is a big orange producer. On the roads, very often you can see one, two, and even three trucks completely filled with oranges ready to be processed. Thirdly, similar to trying to avoid hitting a deer at night in Rochester, Beliz-ean people try not to hit dogs at night. Dogs are all over the streets of Belize, but they are wild dogs. Keep in mind that there aren’t any animal hospitals in Belize; the dogs just reproduce and reproduce.

Acorn

March, 2012

Buddhist Monk Tenzin Yignyen has come to the Harley School annually for the past 6 years to construct and deconstruct a sand Mandala. Depicted above is the Mandala of Compassion. As the Mandala was constructed over the three week period, Tenzin allowed students and teachers to give the tools a try and even contribute to it. During the construc-tion process, Tenzin would share wisdom and many of the things he has learned of people and society since his entry into the monastery in 1969.

March 2012

Buddhist Monk Tenzin Yignyen has come to the Harley School annually for the past six years to construct and deconstruct a sand Mandala. Depicted above is the Mandala of Compassion. As the Mandala was constructed over a three week period, Tenzin allowed students and teach-ers to give the tools a try and even contribute to it. During the construction process, Tenzin would share wisdom and many of the things he has learned of people and society since his entry into the monastery in 1969.

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“And this resolution passes!” As these words were spoken, a loud cheer went up from the captive audience of delegates. We had just voted to pass a resolution stating that refugee camps would be reconstructed and countries housing refugees would be given incentives to give more land for refugee camps in an effort to prevent overcrowding. After several hours of debate, our ideas were condensed into a resolution in the hopes that refugee camps, currently plagued with sanitation issues, overcrowding, low food, and water supply, could be improved. This is what I love about Model UN. I can go to a conference for several days and meet interesting people who are interested in global issues. We debate topics that are discussed in the real United Nations and try to find solutions for them. At Model UN events, everyone has a good time and is very supportive of one another. Model UN has a topic for everyone and it is fun to try out new committees. I am more of a human rights person and usually am the first to grab a “Human Rights Committee,” but in the Hilton conference I tried the “Special Political” committee. We discussed topics like The Internal Conflict in Bermuda and The Role of Illicit Drug Trafficking in the Financing of Terrorism. Despite my hesitations in participating in a non-human rights committee, I really enjoyed this committee. It was really fun to branch out into a new part of Model UN that I had never explored before. Before I came to Harley, I always wanted to participate in Model UN and was planning on signing up last year. Unfortunately, Model UN was not offered here last year, so I asked to join the Allendale club, facilitated by Dr. Evans. With Dr. Evans at Harley this year, I asked her and Mr. Frye if it would be possible to start a Model UN club here at Harley. Both agreed, and so the Model UN club is now at Harley, and here to stay!!! If you want more information you can contact me (Katherine Phillips) or Dr. Evans or go to the Model UN website http://www.unausa.org/modelun!!!

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Model UN: A Club

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by Katherine Phillips

Acorn

It was still dark out on March 14 when we set out at 6:15 a.m. on the Junior trip to New York City, but we were all so excited the ungodly hour didn’t seem to faze us. After a seven hour drive with a quick stop for a picnic lunch, we arrived in the city at 2:15 p.m. Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art. While it was a bit of a challenge to maneuver the bus down MoMA’s narrow street, we finally made it and piled on out. Excited to be in New York (and to stretch our legs af-ter a long ride), we happily toured the museum and took in all the great art. We saw lots of different art, from a giant suit hanging on the wall to van Gogh’s Starry Night. After visiting MoMA, we split into small groups. I went to Rockefeller Center with one group, and there were two other groups as well, one at the United Nations, and one touring subway art. It was a beautiful day in New York and we all enjoyed getting to walk around. We all met for dinner at The Flame and then took the bus to Lincoln Center to see War Horse. War Horse was one of the best plays I have ever seen. the puppets were incredible! When the play was over, we took the bus to our hotel in New Jersey and all fell sound asleep after our long day. On our second day in New York, we got up and had breakfast together at our hotel before taking the bus back into the city for a tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. On our tour, we discussed rights and respon-sibilities and got to see what it was like to be an immigrant family living

in a tenement during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. After our great tour we again split into small groups: Most of us went to Chelsea and the Highline, but some chose Chinatown. In Chelsea, we went into lots of little art galleries and saw some cool, but rather bizarre, art. I liked the gallery, where there were paintings that spread from the floor to the ceiling; I was less impressed by the gallery with the single piece of white paper stuck to the wall. After visiting a whole row of gal-leries, we headed to one of my favorite places in New York, the Highline. The Highline is a former elevated railroad track that has been converted into a park. There are great views of the Em-pire State Building and the New York skyline from the Highline, and it’s really beautiful up there. For lunch, we went to Chelsea Market where we had lots of different food to choose from. Most of us got gelato for des-sert and it was delicious! We met up with the Chinatown group after lunch and took the bus back to Lincoln Center for a back-stage tour of the Metropolitan Opera. I loved the tour! We got to go back-stage and see the theater from there; it was cool to see all the sets as well. We visited the prop-making room and got to see people sewing costumes. We were even able to watch some of the opera stars rehearsing for the per-formance. I am so glad we took the tour; it helped me to appreciate the op-era way more than I ever would have without the tour. For dinner we went to Carmine’s, where we were served tons of food and left stuffed. Next, it was back to Lincoln Center to see Macbeth at the

ew ork ityby Rose Holden Vacanti-Gilroy

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Metropolitan Opera. The opera singers’ voic-es were incredible; we could hear them per-fectly even from the very top of the the-ater. Lady Macbeth’s performance brought the house down. After the opera, we headed back to the hotel com-pletely exhausted. On Friday morn-ing, after breakfast, we checked out from the hotel and headed into New York for the last time. Some of us went to the Metro-politan Museum of Art, and some went to the Natural History Mu-seum. We saw lots of cool art at the Metro-politan, from Matisse to the Temple of Den-dur. Our last stop was Bryant Park where we went into the New York Public Library to see the reading room; it was huge! Then we split up to find lunch before we departed. A group of us went to Grand Cen-tral Station where we had lunch and then cupcakes from Mag-nolia Bakery; yum! We met back at the Public Library and then de-parted for home. The junior class trip was a fantastic success. Thank you so much JAM, Floret, Colosimo, Parsons, Thorley, and Olivier for making it such fun!

Class of 2013 At the Metropolitan Opera

Acorn

I have been performing since I was nine years old, and my first musical took place at The Harley School. After apologizing to the director for my lack of experience on the stage, I auditioned for Beauty and the Beast in front of too many people. It turns out I had a voice that I never knew existed and was cast as Belle, a Disney princess whose voice was so sweet it charmed woodland creatures. After opening that show at nine years old, I was “bitten by the bug,” as they say. I ended up devoting my entire life to the stage and after twelve shows at The Harley School, my journey on that particular stage is over. I was cast as Jo March in the Broadway musical Little Women in the winter of my senior year, thanks to Maria Scipione and Ben Burroughs. It was an incred-ibly emotional experience performing in my last show at the place where I began a journey that will hopefully last a lifetime. It was even more difficult saying goodbye to a character that has a dream as big as mine. Jo March latched onto a dream at a young age and never gave up, much like myself, but the thing that tied Jo and me together more than any-

thing was her sister Beth. My best friend, Amelia, played Jo’s younger sister Beth. Jo loves Beth more than anything else in the world, and it was very hard to watch the person I love most in the world die every night on stage right in front of my face. And at the last performance of Little Women, I knew I would never again perform on the same stage as my best friend. In the last scene of Little Women on closing night, my eyes began to water and it turned into a sob after the curtain call, causing a domino effect. Everyone began crying. I had never felt like some-thing was bittersweet before, but this was extremely bittersweet and I did not much care for the feeling. I can’t wait to go to Boston Conservatory, but leaving the place I began will be difficult. After everyone had vacated the theatre, I found myself staring at the ceiling, feeling the red seats, and groping at the railings until Amelia ran to get to me for the cast party. If she hadn’t come to find me, I may have never taken the next step out of the double doors.

by Carly Straubing

Little Women

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4 Harley students recently had their photography featured at Image City Photography Gallery

Mackenzie Williams p.14 Haakon Sheffield p.15 Brooklyn Bianchi p.16 Meghan Frost p.17

Acorn

When I first stopped by the English Office cove to introduce myself to Francesca, I couldn’t have received a warmer smile in return. Later, as I talked with her, I was struck by her combination of gentle-ness and passion. I became in awe of the scope and extent of her experiences. Here is an excerpt of our conversation:

1. What is your role in the Center for Mindfulness and Emphathy Education, and what kinds of work have you done already? My role in the Center for Mindfulness and Empathy Education (CMEE) is being the Assistant Di-rector. Up to this point in time, the job has consisted of researching other empathy/mindfulness based programs throughout the country to see how they line up with ours. I have also started communicating with said programs in the hopes of collaborating with them. Within the Harley school, I have spent time working with Kane and Dr. Cottrell to get the groundwork laid for a book/guide/website on Empathy Education, planning a Summer Symposium, and conversing with our very own teachers on how they already incorporate empathy and mindfulness into their lives and classrooms. It is a gift to be here working with educators who, just in the people they are, exude the values we are trying to promote and create through the Center. The hope is for the Center to be a resource, local and nationally, on

why and how to place these values at the center of education.

2. What prompted you to go to Honduras after college? I knew that after graduating (from college) I wanted to spend a few years as an international volunteer. Service work is not something I see as separate from my daily life, but rather an intrinsic part of the person I hope to be. Therefore, going to Honduras was an opportunity to serve in a very direct way. I also wanted the chance to live abroad for an extended period of time and had always loved the Spanish language. I was led to Honduras because of an undergraduate service program at Notre Dame, The Farm of the Child, through which I spent two months in Honduras as a “summer volunteer.” I fell in love with the place, the people, and the work there. So, when it was time to graduate, I decided to go back for the long-term program of 27 months.

3. What was your experience like? I think it would be a great injustice to my time there to try and sum it up in a few sentences…but I also recognize the limited space of this article, so I will try my best! My experience in Honduras was incredible, something that will forever be a part of the person I am. During my time there I served as a Social Worker at the Farm of the Child, a home for children on the Northeastern coast. I lived with 45

Francesca Pennino ’05: Associate Director of

the Center for Mindfulness and

Empathy EducationInterviewed by Eddy Wang

Acorn

kids, 22-25 volunteers, and 3 Franciscan nuns. My “job” was being a Social Worker for 8 little boys, ages 5 to 9, and 13 girls, ages 5 to 18. We lived in the “campo” or the country, with river water for showers, wood-burning stoves for cooking, no in-ternet, TV, or phones, a concrete basin for washing clothes, the ocean for our front yard, and moun-tains for the back yard. It was a physically challeng-ing place to live: mosquitoes, sunburn, parasites, lice, dirt everywhere, 3 hours to cook a meal, 2 or more hours to wash clothes. It was, in a way, camping for 2+ years in rural Honduras. Emotionally it was equally as challenging. The children with whom I worked come from life experiences that no human should ever face: abuse, neglect, homelessness, gangs, sexual violence. And living in one house with 22-25 other volunteers was, to say the least, challenging as well. All that being said: they were, by far some of the best years of my life. I came to know some of the most talented, life-giving individuals I have ever known. I was gifted in so many ways from so many different people and places. The Honduran culture came to be my “normal,” with its funny way of speaking Spanish, making food, dancing, singing, and celebrating. I came to know the many, many faces that “poverty” has and have left still wondering what that word is. I held, touched, smelled, saw, danced, played, swam, tasted, and joined in the pains, delights, heartbreaks, and con-

fusions of a country fraught with corruption and violence, yet one that still holds on to its values of family and hospitality.

4. How has it changed your life and worldview? How has it changed me? Good question. I do not know that I have the answer to that yet. I know there are a few teachers here at Harley (and perhaps students as well) who have lived abroad and also served abroad. I wonder if they have discovered yet how it has changed them? I know this for sure: I am forever changed. It is not the type of experience you leave behind when you step on the plane to come home. My fellow volunteers and I have a joke that Honduras has “ruined us for life.” Never again will I walk into Wegmans without a bit of heartache and thought to the families I saw go without food. Never again will I watch the news and not think of how our decisions here affect the life of every Honduran I came to meet in my time there. I wonder if I will ever stop converting dollars to Lempiras (Honduran money) when I’m in the store to try and see if the families I met could afford the items I am buying. The words “need” and “want” are forever different in my mind and heart. I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy eating white rice again (we ate it almost every day), but hope that I am always excited that I can eat at all. Watch-ing men, women, and children give the last of what

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they had has changed for me the meaning of what it really means “to give” to others. Hot showers will, forever, put a huge smile on my face. Stove tops, ovens, and washing machines still kind of amaze me, but I imagine their glitz and glam will fade with time. My heart has been changed, opened in a way to the people I encounter. I’m not sure that I have a better answer than that right now.

5. What do you remember about your ex-perience at Harley? I remember it as a place in which I was accept-ed and embraced for the person I am. I was encour-aged to try lots of different things (from sports to theater to Hospice to Forensics). I found friends in classmates, coaches, and teachers. I remember volleyball practices with Coach Colosimo in which she’d explain to me that smiling on the court wasn’t very “aggressive.” I can see Foster’s face coaching me through a Forensics speech or pleading with me just to finish my Senior internship essay, “So you can graduate, Fran!”. I will forever have an image of Mr. Gilbert frantically writing history notes across the board as he tried to teach us world history, the life of Gandhi, and HOW to take notes all at once. I picture Mr. Kane and the ways my hands were opened to a world of touch and being present to those most in need through classroom discussions, meditation, and reflection. I have memories of Spanish and Latin

classes, in which I learned about foreign cultures and different, often confusing, tongues. And of course, bribing Schara with Wegmans’ chocolate dome cake… “History homework, Schara? I’m sorry, I thought you meant chocolate…” At the time, I loved Harley, had great friends, and a lot of fun. I can look at it now though and appreciate and be thank-ful for the incredible gifts it gave me, mainly the gift of freedom to be who I am.

6. What would you recommend to people who are on the fence about studying abroad? For anyone on the fence about going abroad, I’d say…think about your reasons for wanting/not wanting to go. I loved it, but I know it is not for everyone. The best thing I can say is this: find what makes your heart burst, beat, and be joyful. Even if it seems silly, do it. I can’t tell you how many people thought I was crazy to graduate with a degree from Notre Dame and head to rural Honduras for 2+ years, unpaid, and in the middle of nowhere. It was, by far, the best thing I have done so far in life. That was because I love working with kids, speaking Spanish, and being somewhere new. My heart felt joy in what I was doing because it felt at home in its environment. Just figure out what gets you up in the morning, what really, truly gets your feet skipping and your face smiling. And then, do it.

Acorn

1. What is your first fashion-related memory? Throughout my childhood, I participated in numerous plays, includ-ing Guys and Dolls. During one of the scenes, I wore a beautiful, black, off-the-shoulder, ruffled dress in which I tangoed to “Tango of Roses” from the opera Carmen. It was my favorite outfit out of all the production outfits and I loved dancing in that dress. That dress, along with other cos-tumes, sparked my interest in fashion, and I knew that I wanted to design and create garments.

2. Could you walk through the steps to making a piece of clothing, from the initial design to sewing and everything else? Once you buy or create the pattern for the garment, you cut out the appropriate pieces and lay the pattern pieces out on the fabric. Make sure you have enough fabric or you will be making an extra small version! Cut out the pattern pieces and follow the directions to create darts and seams. Sew with the “wrong sides” together so when you are done and you

An Interview with Alexa JamiesonFashion

Inside Alexa’s notebook...

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flip the garment inside out, the raw edges will be on the inside, hidden from view. Then you can embellish your design by adding ruffles along the collar or a flounce along the bottom of a skirt.

3. What made you decide to go into fashion and what do you hope to achieve? I have always been interested in the arts, and since wearing the black tango dress in Guys and Dolls, I have been interested in fashion. When it came down to choosing a major, I was torn between Fashion Design and Interior Design. It all came down to what I saw myself doing in 10 years, and what I would be most happy with. I chose Fashion Design because I want to be a part of what shapes our culture; I want to help people express them-selves through my designs. I think it would be fun and interesting to work as a fashion trend forecaster because you can travel around studying the different trends. My long term goal would be to become a successful fashion designer and be able to create pieces of art about which people can say “that’s so me.”

4. Who are your inspirations? My favorite fashion designer is the late Alexander McQueen because his designs were so unique and unexpected. I saw his Sav-age Beauty exhibit in New York and was in awe of his designs. He drew his inspiration from darkness and mixed bold colors such as red and gold and textures such as feathers and delicate lace. His combination of the mystery of darkness infused with unexpected pops of colors and original shapes was magnificent to see.

5. What do you think is the most important quality an aspiring fashion designer needs? I think the most important quality to have for aspiring designers is to be open to all possibilities and to be unique. You need to be able to think outside of the box in order to come up with new fashion forward designs. Never shut down an idea. even if it is very out there, you can adapt that idea into something great. Perseverance is another key aspect to have because the fashion world is full of competition from other designers as well as other design students fighting to be at the top. You have to be able to push your limits as a designer in order to find your style and your true voice. interviewed by Eddy Wang

Alexa designed and made this piece herself!

Acorn

1. Why are you leaving? Everyone’s life is a series of opportuni-ties, challenges, and change. Seeking these things and embracing them is something I believe in and is a way in which I, and my wife, wish to live our lives and also model for our children. Moving to Hawaii and becoming Head of School at ‘Iolani School is a great opportunity, full of challenges, and there will be a tremendous amount of change in our lives because of it.

2. What is your first memory of Harley? Interviewing for the position is where things started. As part of the process, I had to give a presentation in the theater. That’s the most memorable part of my introduction to the school.

3. How has your relationship with the Harley community changed over the years? There are two sides to relationships. I think the community has come to trust me more as a school leader over the years. In terms of my relationship to the school, I certainly know what I am doing more than when I started and this makes for more consistency and evenness on a day to day basis.

4. What are you most proud of achieving for Harley? A number of things. Helping to expand the Hospice program to create The Center for Mindfulness and Empa-thy Education and helping to create The Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association, a consortium of institutions now offering summer programs based on our Horizons program. Stewarding the reputation and perception of the value of a Harley education within our region is also high on the list.

5. What will you always remember about Harley? All the times that I’ve watched the joy come out in my children. “Teaching” precalculus.

6. What are you looking forward to accomplishing at the ‘Iolani School in Hono-lulu, Hawaii? ‘Iolani is building a new center that is very similar in conception to the Chesonis Commons, although about four times as large. Helping the school become a world leader in project-based learning, design thinking, systems thinking, and collaborative problem solving is the area in which I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work. There are also great opportunities to grow the school’s service learning programs and partner with the emerging world of Asian schools.

After Dr. Cottrell, Head of the Harley School, an-nounced his decision to leave Harley at the end of the 2011-12 academic year to become Head of School at ‘Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Acorn was able to ask him a couple of questions about his departure and his memorable years at Harley.

Interview with Dr. Cottrell

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What was your favorite part of high school? I loved doing tech in the dramatic and musi-cal productions. I always did the sound effects, curtains, etc. If things got really bad, I would just turn up the sound effects so you couldn’t hear the prompter. If an actor “froze,” we would play happy music and close the curtains. no one noticed, and the parents would applaud anyway. I also liked the foreign exchange visits. London was a hot spot for overseas visitors, and we were paired up with several overseas schools. We would host French or German students in our homes, and they would come to school with us. Some of our teachers would do part of the lessons in the language of the visitors. (Calculus in German is really scary!) It was also fun to go to their home towns and explore teenage life in another culture.

What is your favorite British phrase? “On your bike, sunshine.” It means “go away,” with appropriate scorn and derision. It implies that you know he doesn’t have a Porsche waiting outside.

Do you enjoy Harley? Yes, it’s a place where you can be yourself, and there are so many interesting people to talk to. The culture of respect helps new people feel welcome. There is always something fun or thought-provoking happening in our community.

What is your favorite color? Green, as in our organic beans, and the forests of Jasper National Park. And prussian blue, like potassium ferricyanide. And the blue/green color in between, which is the shade of nickel (II) in aqueous solution. I love the blue-green spectrum you get in the first row transition elements.

Do you have a favorite sport? In our household, it is required that base-ball is our favorite sport. At school I played field hockey and badminton, which we play with “shuttle-cocks,” not “birdies.” We still play badminton with my family in England in the barn.

Why did you come to the U.S? Kodak Research in London sent me to Rochester on an assignment for a year, and I met my husband here. He is a Jersey City boy, so we decided to stay in the U.S when we got married. I moved to Xerox because it would be weird working all day with a spouse in the same research group. It turned out to be a good plan. Otherwise, what do you talk about over dinner if you were both in the same workgroup all day? We go to visit my family in England every summer, so I don’t get homesick.

What is your favorite time of the year? Whatever season is coming along next. There is always something ahead to look forward to! Each season has its bright points. But you can’t beat Elf Day; that’s a new high point of the year.

What is your favorite element? Mithril. We think it is titanium. Strong, light, non-corrosive, extremely valuable. Does anyone have other ideas?

Do you have a favorite TV show? Spongebob, The Big Bang Theory, BBC News on WXXI, Downton Abbey, Volcano documentaries, Project Runway. Seriously, if you are stressed, watch one of the reality TV shows where people are given impossible things to do, then are cut. It makes our lives seem very easy! Just a few math tests, history papers, who cares? You’re not in front of millions of viewers feeling humiliated about your tasteless outfit which makes a size 0 model look fat. Now THAT is pressure.

What is your favorite movie?Some Like it Hot: its a black and white classic about love, prohibition, and jazz. What could be more exciting? The music is amazing.The other is Steamboat Willie, the first ever animated cartoon, introducing Mickey Mouse.

Interviewed by Zoe Rankin

An Interview with Dr. Mary Anne Evans

Acorn

Dungeons and Dragons, D&D, that weird dice game. Just about everyone has heard of it in some form or other. And just about everyone thinks of it as a pastime for the nerds and outcasts seeking a different existence from their own. But in recent years, the game has been gaining momentum, and is once again expanding. Even now, writers are chugging out supplements and expansions to the basic Core Rulebook, the Player’s Handbook, and the Dungeon Master’s handbook. Dungeons and Dragons is now in its fifth edition since its first, released in 1977, and the sixth edition is right around the cor-ner. How could such a pariah of a game be making a comeback? “I think it’s because now, more than ever, people are surrounded by impossibility and imagination,” says my DM (Dungeon Master) and friend, Grant Marthinsen. “It’s no longer just the nerds, geeks, and dorks. Everyone is exposed to these amazing, impossible things, and many people want to be like the people they see on TV or the silver screen. Dungeons and Dragons is an outlet for that frustration.” Indeed, even some of the people we see in the movies have that frustration and use D&D to solve it. “Vin Diesel, Steven Colbert, Matt Damon,” reports my party’s resident psy-chopathic wizard, Ben Seefeldt,”all play Dungeons and Dragons, and that’s because it’s awesome!” At the local hobby store, you can really see that Dungeons and Dragons players fit no set stereotype. From sophomores in high school like my friends and I, to elementary children whose mothers help them do the mental math of dice games, to a gang of guys coming in to unwind after a day’s work, you probably know more than one person who plays. I personally enjoy the game because you really can do whatever you want in a world that can be brought down by a group of determined adven-turers. Even as a DM, it’s very enjoyable, as you are essentially playing God and running a world that’s out to get the adventur-ing party you play with. “A video game with more freedom and friends” is how one of my party’s two Dragonborn fighters puts it. Even if we liken D&D to a video game, my friends and I believe that video games sales are, in fact, hurting D&D. Also, role-play-ing video games are generally single-player and discourage the socialness that is a necessity in D&D. Nevertheless, Dungeons and Dragons is coming back, whether the world likes it or not. But it looks to me like the world is as excited for this as I am.

Dungeons and Dragons: Yes, It’s Still Around

My Adventuring Party:Adam- My DM’s little brother, Adam plays an almost brain-dead Dragon-born fighter, but he makes up for it with the second highest strength and the most health of the party.Sam- One of Adam’s friends, he plays a halfling (a hobbit) avenger, a person blessed by some God or other to go forth and destroy the God’s enemies, in a very broad, very gory, sense of the term.Ben- A lifelong friend of mine, he plays the smartest and most magically oriented character in the party. He has summoned a ten-meter tall chain golem and lied about being the party’s arch-enemy, and his antics bring life (and death) to every session.Phil- The second Dragonborn fighter in the party, he is a bit smarter than Adam, and also has higher strength, but of course less health. He plays an action-oriented character in every meaning of the word. Me- I play a half-elf paladin, another divine-oriented character that acts in a support role. With the highest wisdom and insight, I’ve had a share of the glory. I also play Grant’s old character, a tiefling warlord. His race being a cross between devil and human, it’s somewhat ironic that he has the highest charisma in the party, and has saved us numerous times from fights caused by the less intelligent party-members.Grant- He is our dungeon master, and is a good one. Spontaneous and witty, he balances the game between a serious quest to vanquish our foes and a fun adventure to come into our destinies.

By Chris Duffy

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It has been almost four months since I came to Harley, this big family. I remember my first school day was a disaster. Life at Harley is totally different from life at my old school. On the first day, I couldn’t find my way to the cafeteria, I didn’t know how to use my locker, and I felt uncomfortable expressing myself freely during history class. The transition was not that easy. Fortunately, the kids and teachers at Harley are really nice and helpful. With their help, I feel more and more comfortable and excited about school life here. Though I’m not an exchange student, I’m willing to learn more about American culture and share some of my experiences at my old school with you.

Academics: At my old school in Shanghai, there were no individual schedules; everyone had the same schedule. Unlike Harley, there were 400 students per grade and we were divided into 10 classes, and each class had a class teacher. At my old school, the teachers always talked and the students always listened. I can’t imagine students at my old school talking and joking freely in class, but that’s what we do here at Harley. The small student body here enables students in each grade to gather together at homeroom every morning. Personally, the math and science courses taught here are not as difficult as those at my old school. But at the same time, they are taught more comprehensively and thoroughly. Other courses such as English and history are even more different. I was shocked when reading Hamlet for the first time. I can’t even read it aloud coherently! To some of you, reading 30 pages of history in one day is a piece of cake, but to me it’s the most horrible experi-ence ever.

Activities: I remember at my old school, the weekend usually meant there was a good chance teachers would assign huge amounts of homework. Since teachers here are so nice and regard weekends and holidays as real days off, I have many more opportu-nities to do outside-of-school or outdoor activities over the weekend. When I first came, they said that ski club was full. It was sad news for me because I enjoyed skiing very much, even though there’s only one small in-door skiing site in Shanghai. However, I did find some time to ski with friends at Bristol Mountain over the weekends. Although I can only do the gentle slopes right now, I enjoy skiing and have a lot of fun. Next year I will surely join ski club. Another notable activity was the February instrumental concert. I stopped playing violin for almost two years and restarted it once I came to Harley. To my great surprise, I finally played well at the concert. The fact is, I couldn’t match the pace of the other ensemble members’ playing until the real performance.

In the past couple months, so many people have asked me whether I like Harley or not. My answer is definitely yes! After writing the above, I realize that I still cannot express myself thorough-ly and clearly using English, and that most of the time, I was still thinking in Chinese. Nevertheless, my English did somehow improve, and I should thank all those who have helped me with it. Though I have tried, I still do not feel very confident in expressing my ideas and opinions in class. There are so many things that I can improve on and there are so many exciting things waiting for me to explore both at Harley and in America. I can’t wait.

By Tian Yue

Life at Harley vs.

Life at my old school

Acorn

Being Concussed

Graffiti By Shayne Hollands

by the formerly concussed Caitlin Richard

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There I was, on the basketball court. There were 3 seconds left in the game, and we were down by two. I was passed the ball and I went to shoot a three-pointer. Just as this was happening, an enormous-ly large girl from the other team hacked me in despera-tion and sent me flying into the air and back onto the ground, where I landed on my head. Just as everything started to turn black, I saw that my shot had gone in and we had won the game… Okay, this is what really happened: It all started on a nice day over winter break. I was go-ing ice-skating with some of my friends and, oddly enough, I managed to survive without falling once. But later, while most of us were sitting inside, waiting for our parents, two of these friends decided to go back outside and take absurd amounts of pictures of themselves. Everyone was staring at them and, being the good friend that I am, I decided to go outside and tell them that they were drawing unwanted attention. But, just as I walked outside and started to say, “You’re embarrassing your-” BOOM. I hit the ground. I’ll assume that I slipped on black ice or something because I’m not that much of a klutz, but you never know. In any case, one of these charming friends of mine came up to me and said, “Look who’s embarrassing themselves now!” Thanks for that. I tried to get up, but I felt like I couldn’t, so my friend had to help me. While I was walking back inside, I had this awful feeling that I was going to faint, and I tried as hard as I could to focus on one thing so that I didn’t. When I finally got inside and sat down, I felt nau-seous and still faint, and I started to sweat a lot (more than usual). Many people came up to me and told me to call my mom, and even though that was the completely logical decision, I decided it could wait. Later, I did tell my mom about what happened, but neither one of us thought that I had had a bad concussion. She suggested that I take it easy, so, of course, I did the opposite. I went right back to practic-ing basketball the next day and school the next week.

But, I didn’t feel quite right the whole time. The big-gest clue that I wasn’t functioning properly happened during a basketball game that week. Contrary to what happened in the beginning of this article, I passed the ball all the way down the court to someone on the other team, twice. I’ll admit that basketball is not my best sport, but usually I can manage to get the ball to people wearing the same color jersey as me. This, along with some other examples and the fact that I was having headaches, led my lovely neurologist mother to conclude that I could be experiencing side effects from a concussion. It only took the brain doctor a week to realize this! Anyway, we decided that I needed to take it easy for a while. Unfortunately, because I am not a normal teenager, that is something very hard for me to do. I had to stop playing basketball for a few weeks, and I became the lovely water girl. I also had to stop taking tests and quizzes, both because I wasn’t thinking clearly and because it wasn’t good for me to overex-ert my brain. I know, it sounds nice to be able to go to school without having any tests, but I knew I would have to make them all up in the end. That time was very

stressful for me because I knew I wasn’t thinking right. I would miss obvious things and I would also act on impulses. For example, I thought that it was a good idea to light my straw wrap-per on fire in a restaurant

and to slap my sister in the face with a bag of biscuits. I would also say things without thinking, and a lot of people heard what Caitlin actually thought about things… This period of time lasted for about a month, and then I slowly started coming back into both basketball and school. My first game back was a little rough, with a lot of airballs (more than usual). I started to make up some of my seven quizzes and two tests that I missed, and the start to those was also rough. For example, I said that 12 * 2 was 12 on my first math quiz…But now I’m no longer concussed and have caught up on all my back work. I’m finally normal again (even though some people would say that I’ve never been truly normal…).

I thought that it was a good idea to light my straw wrap-per on fire in a restaurant and to slap my sister in the face with a bag of biscuits.

Acorn

How to maximize your score on a test without actually knowing anythingby Ben Kurchin

I’ve tried generally to avoid redundancies in this. That is, I’m not going to tell you tips like “answer every question on which you can’t lose points,” because that is the kind of novice tip you can find easily elsewhere, such as in an SAT prep book. The point of this is to help you maximize your score on a test without actually knowing any of the material on the test. Some of these tips still may be obvious to you. Some of them you may notice while you’re taking the test, as I often do. Still, I thought I’d share my knowledge. At the least, you will think more about these strategies during tests than you did before (assuming you already knew these) and will never miss an opportunity to scrape up some points in a seem-ingly hopeless situation.

•Which of the following is/are true regarding water? 1. It is safe to drink. 2. It is spelled W-A-T-E-R 3. It is unsafe to drink. a. 1 and 2 b. 1 and 3 c. 3 only d. 2 and 3

e. 1, 2, and 3

o Firstly, the first and third potential truths are direct contradictions of each other. Since the question asks for which of the three options is/are true, you know that if 1 is true, 3 can-not be and vice versa. o Another nice thing about a qustion like this is that a small bit of knowledge can go a long way. If you know that 3 is not true, you can eliminate all but answer a. This is an exaggerated instance of this, as the intelligent test-writer would never allow a small bit of knowledge such as the aforementioned to allow the student to eliminate all but one of the multiple choice answers. Surely, you, the intelligent stu-dent, would’ve already known to do this, but I am just such a fan of it that I felt like pointing it out. If anything, you will now know always to think about this particu-lar strategy in this particular circumstance. o A similar strategy can be applied to questions that have multiple choice answers such as “all/none of the above” (that is, none of the other possible answers are the answer to the

question). If you know positively that two or more of the other an-swers are correct, you can circle all of the above (assuming there’s no answer such as “a and b are correct”). Likewise, if you know at least 1 of the answers to be correct, you can know that “none of the above” is not the correct answer.

•Which of the following is the full name of the author of Romeo and Juliet? a. William Henry Shakespeare b. William John Shakespeare c. Benjamin Isaac Kurchin d. William John Kurchin e. Benjamin Henry Smith

o This type of question is actually the same as the previous type but in a different format. Forgetting for the sake of this question that Shakespeare didn’t have a middle name, each of the three parts of the answer can be a different name. Of the first part, “William” is the most com-mon. Ergo, we eliminate the an-swers that start with “Benjamin.” But wait! We must first check if either of the last two parts of the

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answer has a commonality. That is, if, for example, “John” came up in three of the answers as the middle name, that would lead us to eliminate the answers that don’t have “John” as the middle name, and we would first have to check if the eliminated answers would be the same as the ones we were about to eliminate earlier, the an-swers starting with “Benjamin.” If the two sets of the two eliminated answers are not identical, we can-not use this tactic, unless doing the same procedure on the last part of the answer would lead to eliminating two answers that were identical to one of the sets. In that case, we could eliminate those two answers, the set of two that would be eliminated in the majority of the executions of the previously explained procedure. o Anyway, luckily for us, there is no overwhelming pres-ence of a certain name in any of the parts of the answer besides the first part. Thus, we eliminate c and e. However, we now run into the scenario exhaustively ex-plained in the previous paragraph wherein focusing on the minority in the second part of the answer would lead us to eliminate a, but doing the same to the last part

of the answer would lead us to eliminate d. Now, we must employ common sense and knowledge to answer this question correctly. Technically, it is unanswerable, as Shakespeare never had a middle name (he was sometimes called William of John Shakespeare, be-cause his father was named John), but that is beside the point. o We assumed that the answers that have less common “traits” are by nature incorrect, and that is because, statisti-cally, they are. I’ve taken many tests of various kinds (for a class, AP, SAT, ACT, etc.), and I’ve found that, overwhelmingly, the answers that have traits in the mi-nority are incorrect. That doesn’t mean that this is always the case, but if you have no actual knowl-edge about what the question is asking and need to employ these tactics, just do as I say.

• It’s been said that the most com-mon multiple choice answer is c. If you have no idea what the answer could be (hey, if you’re reading this, that’s probably a given) and can’t employ any other strategy, consider c. o BE WARY OF THIS: if any teachers see this, they may

choose c less often as the cor-rect answer. BE WARY, IN TURN, OF THIS: if any teachers see the previous statement, they may anticipate your avoidance of c by making MORE of the answers c!

• Know your teacher. think about whether or not he would try to trick you or whether he’s an “all/none of the above” type of guy and likes making those the correct answer. From a certain Upper School teacher, I’ve taken a good amount of tests/quizzes where, when I wasn’t sure of the answer and none/all of the above was an option and seemed viable, I chose none/all of the above, and it often paid off.

•True or false: is the United States of America a country in North America.•True or false: the United States of America is a country.

o Sometimes, you there will be two questions where know-ing the answer to one of them can yield that of the other. In the above two true/false questions, if you know that the first state-ment is true, you can say that the

Acorn

second statement is true, wheth-er or not you knew it to be true before. These related questions can be juxtaposed on the test or they can be pages apart, in which case you have to be vigilant.

•Consistency. Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in a situation in a test like this. You answer a question about which you were not sure. Later, a question about the same topic comes up about which you’re also unsure. Your understanding of the topic is minimal. You have two possible explanations of the topic (let’s call them “Concept A” and “Concept B”), but you don’t know which is true. You leaned towards Concept A in the first question but towards Concept B in the second question. However, does it not make more sense also to lean towards Concept A in the second question, since that’s how you answered the first question? Or should you answer with Con-cept B so that either way, you get one of them correct? o It’s kind of like when you’re gambling and need to make the decision to go “double or nothing.” You have a guaranteed point if you answer one question assuming Concept A is correct and the other assuming Concept B is correct. Do you want to gamble that point for a 50/50 chance at 2 points? You could lose it all and end up with 0! This is a decision you have to make. If you find yourself unable to make the decision, think about it and come back to the questions later. You may find yourself newly leaning altogether towards one of the concepts, in which case it’s much more beneficial (statistically) for you to lean toward that concept on both of them. If you’re still

precisely 50/50 about either concept, do whatever you want. If you’re trying to be safe and know you’re going to get a poor score on the test but don’t want it to be too bad, perhaps take the single point.

•?Quien habla en este poema? (translated: Who speaks in this poem?)•(Next question:) ?De quien habla el poeta? (translated: Of whom does the poet speak?)

o Sometimes, a question will have its answer hidden else-where in the test. That is, in the wording of another question. This above example is actually from an AP Spanish test I took. As you can hopefully see yourself, the sec-ond question reveals who is the speaker in the poem, thus answer-ing the first question.

•What year did Columbus sail the ocean blue? A.1492 B.1942 C. 9421 D. Indians

o Make sure the answer you choose (assuming a multiple choice question) is in the right units. If it’s looking for a mass, don’t choose an answer that has feet as its units. It will hardly ever be that simple a distinction, but the principle remains that one should always check that his answer has at least some corre-spondence to that for which the question asks. This isn’t only valid in sciences. It could be a history question like the one above (un-likely, but technically possible).

While the purpose of this article is to help you perform

better on tests when no prior studying occurred, it behooves to remember that the best way to do well on a test is to close Face-book and study! These tips are all the more effective empirically when you are prepared going into the test. Long story short: study and do your homework. Don’t do drugs, don’t drink and drive, and use protection.

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Whenever Katniss Everdeen traveled through the woods,The mockingjays fell silent in the trees where they stood.

Although the breeze was quiet, lacking her simple tune,In the birds’ minds, her presence was as immense as the moon.

She remembers her father, who was once company on this path.He taught her to hunt and to scale trees without a crash.

Without this great knowledge, the Everdeens would likely starve,But due to Katniss’s hunting, they have plenty of lard.

Whenever Katniss’s father traveled through the woods,The mockingjays fell silent in the trees where they stood.

For he was abroad long before Katniss’s figure,The mockingjays respected him, which is why, for Katniss Everdeen,

they linger.

T H E H U N G E R G A M E SPOEM

SARAH F INK

“It was slow-going at first, but I was determined to feed us.

I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed

to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew, and gathered the

various plants that sprung up beneath my feet. Plants are

tricky. Many are edible, but one false mouthful and you’re dead.

I checked and double-checked the plants I harvested with my

father’s pictures. I kept us alive.”

Acorn

If you are not currently living beneath a large rock, chances are you’ve heard of The Hunger Games. The series was already quite popular prior to these past few months (why else would Hollywood adapt it?), but anticipation for the film’s release caused the hype to reach a fever pitch. Those who had read the books eagerly awaited the adaption, while those who hadn’t didn’t waste any time getting started. I fell into the latter camp. Curious as to whether the profuse praise was warranted, I read the first book, The Hunger Games. And I enjoyed it thoroughly. Did I think it was brilliant? No. Worth the hype? Prob-ably not. The author, Suzanne Collins, is no J.K. Rowling. She writes in a straightforward manner that does little to tantalize the part of my mind that seeks literary sophistication. But the part of my mind that seeks to be entertained found The Hunger Games to be a more than satisfying experience. And I am happy to report that the film works very well on the same level. As an adaption of the book, it does an excellent job; it preserves the tone, it presents believable interpretations of the char-acters and locations, and it chooses what to cut

wisely so that the story does not suffer (barring the botched ending, which I will discuss later). As the film begins, we are introduced to

Katniss, the protago-nist of the series. Here she is portrayed by the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone). She perfectly em-bodies Katniss, imbuing the character with the commanding presence she needs while being consistently likable. In fact, I feel the film suc-ceeds with her charac-ter more than the book does; whereas Katniss of the book was almost too stoic, Lawrence lets Katniss show just the right amount of emo-tion without sacrific-ing the fortitude that defines her character. In fact, the casting is an all-around suc-cess. The adult actors all play their parts well (particularly Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, a brilliant fashion designer who befriends Katniss early on), but they are ultimately pe-

ripheral. Besides Katniss, the only characters who get a substantial chunk of screen time are 12-year-old Rue (played adorably by Amandla Stenberg) and Katniss’ fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta. Josh Hutcherson cannot touch Lawrence when it comes to acting. Still, he plays Peeta with a sort of charm and likability that makes it difficult to hold it against him. His performance doesn’t have Ph

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The Hunger GamesBy Zach Palumbo

35

much in the way of subtle nuances, but all he really needs to do here is endear himself to the audience, and he does so admirably. Like the characters, the book’s excellent pacing also makes the jump to the big screen intact. Even before Katniss enters the arena, the film does an excellent job of consistently enticing the audience with its smooth direc-tion and visually stimulating sets. In particular, the Capitol looks fantastic, full of people with bizarre and unique wardrobes and absurdly dyed skin. A lot of work obvi-ously went into bringing the book’s grotesque description of the Capitol’s residents to life. Once the film enters the arena, it finds just the right balance of action and dialogue so that neither feels overwhelming. While the film’s pacing and visuals mean that it succeeds entirely on a visceral level, it isn’t quite as strong on an emotional one. The relation-ship between Katniss and Peeta was not as strong as it should have been, in my opinion. In the book, there is a very interesting and somewhat tragic dynamic between the two, and it creates an emotional tension that serves largely as the book’s emotional hook. Though the dynamic is touched upon in the film, that tension is simply not present. We are rooting for Kat-niss and Peeta to get out alive because we like them, but we are never driven to root for them as a couple. The other element lost in translation is the ending. Unfortunately I cannot discuss it in-depth

as that would spoil things for those who have not yet seen it. What I will say is that the ending feels devoid of closure. Sure, the main plot is wrapped up, but nothing is settled between characters. The last 10 minutes of a film should make the audience feel something about what they’ve just seen, about the characters they’ve just spent two hours forming

bonds with. As it is, I only felt disappointed that the final moments were so rushed through. Despite these issues, I did not walk out of The Hunger Games disap-pointed. On the contrary, I felt that it served as an excellent adaption and a very enjoyable film in its own right. It didn’t

have any sort of profound emotional impact on me, but it entertained me completely during my time in the theatre. There’s not a dull moment to be found here, and even though they may not have stuck the land-ing, the flight there was a great time.

Acorn

Restaurant Recommendationsby Anna Barbano

Mamasan’s2800 Monroe Ave Rochester, NY 14618(585) 461-3290

I’ll say it straight away: Mamasan’s is one of my favor-ite restaurants in Rochester. There are two locations, but I’m talking about the one on Monroe Avenue near Clover Lanes. I don’t even know how to begin to explain the food there, but I’ll definitely try. Mamasan’s serves Vietnamese and Thai food, and is paired with a swanky atmosphere including booths and those cool tables high off the floor that make you feel super tall. The service is sometimes slow, but every single staff member is friendly and welcoming. The only way to ap-proach this food is with prepped taste buds because each dish is an explosion of different but cohesive flavors. They give you a one-sheet menu, and on the front are all sorts of different appetizers (I highly recommend the spring roll… if you’ve never had Thai basil, the taste is like a hybrid of mint and basil. It’s simply delicious!), rice dishes, drinks (again, I recommend Thai iced tea… it’s not what you would expect: it’s chilly, creamy, and sweet, like a des-

Jembetat645 Park AvenueRochester, NY 14607(585) 442-8960

Jembetat used to be one of those places that I would constantly walk by on Park Ave and glance in the windows, but never go inside. In fact, I didn’t even really know what it was, just that it had pretty jewelry in the win-dow. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Wait, did this suddenly turn into a jewelry store review? What’s up with that?” Well, not so fast. You see, Jem-betat was an African art gal-lery. In fact, it still is. The only difference is that the owner decided to install a café, and instantly the place was hopping with customers. Jembetat is my go-to place for creamy, flavorful, genuine gelato. They have quite a few options to choose from, but as far as gelato goes, I’ve always been more up for chocolate, amaretto, or chocolate peanut butter. They do, however, have fruity flavors as well for those of you who crave that fresh taste. The mango gelato is su-perb, as is the raspberry. Be-ware, though… the flavors

California Rollin’274 North Goodman StreetRochester, NY 14607(585) 271-8990

If I were to make a “Best of Rochester” list, California Rol-lin’ would definitely be on there. Not only does it score in taste, but also its creativity knows no ends, bringing new and exciting flavor combinations to anything but traditional sushi. (Perhaps I’m also a little sentimentally at-tached… one of its owners was my nanny when I was a little kid!) If I had to pick only one word to describe California Rollin’, I would choose “innovative”. But since I don’t have to choose only one word, I would choose “inno-vative,” “surprising,” and “sen-sational.” Once you’ve grown to love sushi, this is your next stop. With catchy names and fresh ingredients, it’s impossible not to be intrigued by the long list of original specialty rolls. I’ve always loved the “Salmon Diablo” roll among many, but I’ve recent-ly been introduced to the “Levia-than” roll (shout-out to Morgan!) and have completely fallen in love. Be warned… it’s one of those giant rolls that gives you the classic sushi dilemma: it’s al-most too big to fit in your mouth, but not quite. You’ll look like a wimp cutting it in half and risk Ph

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37

separating the ingredients which make up the party of flavors, but eating the whole thing where you pretend you’re a snake and almost unhinge your jaw to cram it all in there is uncomfortable and awkward and often results in a one-sided conversation with your dinner partner (hint: you are not the one talking), but you don’t get the I’m-splitting-up-these-soulmate-flavors feeling. Unfor-tunately, I cannot give you advice on this problem without being a hypocrite. I guiltily admit… I’m the kind of person who cuts the roll in half strategically. If you are, however, one of those people who doesn’t mind the feeling of every inch of your mouth packed with rice and whatnot, go for it! It’s much better that way. Now, after that brief digression, I’ll return to the restaurant in the spotlight. Don’t pass up your chance to go to California Rollin’. Sushi fans who haven’t been there will be absolutely delighted when they glance at the expansive menu. And for a sweet finish… don’t forget the dessert section. I don’t par-ticularly like coconut, and even I recommend the “Albino” roll. Your sushi expectations will be changed forever.

switch around from week to week, so make sure you go a couple times to catch the real range of tasty Italian ice creams. Jembetat also serves other desserts. I have to say, as dessert connoisseur, an owner of a prominent sweet-tooth, and a firm believer that chocolate and peanut butter is one of the best food combinations known to mankind, their peanut but-ter chocolate cake makes me crazy. And, of course, no café can be complete without a multitude of delectable drinks. The first time I had their hot chocolate was after we bought my mother a necklace for Christmas last year at Jembetat. The owner said: “Let me get you guys cof-fee on the house.” I politely declined, unwilling to admit that although the smell is wonderful, I think coffee is quite foul-tasting. I guess I must have read like a book, because he quickly said, “Ah. How about a hot chocolate?” Let me tell you, this hot chocolate is possibly one of the best hot chocolates I’ve had in the States (though I’ve yet to try the famous chile-infused “Wicked” hot choco-late in the Chelsea Market). It’s rich and smooth and just all-around delicious, and I hope that someday you will all have the privilege of drinking this treat. Please go to Jembetat. Your stomach and mouth will thank you endlessly. But be warned… once you’ve had their gelato, you might keep going back.

sert drink), and certain soups and other delectable starters and meals. On the back side, their signature dishes lie wait-ing for curious taste buds. And curious they should be, for each dish has its own unique blend of textures, flavors, and flair. The great thing about these dishes besides all the praise I’ve already lavished upon them is that with each dish, you can choose your protein. Choices include beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, and tofu. I have to admit, I always order it with shrimp since I don’t eat poultry or red meat, but every single dish I’ve eaten has impressed me, and I can guarantee from family members’ and friends’ reviews that the other proteins are just as tasty. I dare say that those eager to expand their palate’s repertoire but are nervous to try certain types of Asian food could start at Mamasan’s. The food is accessible to timid but willing foodies and will hope-fully charm you as much as it has charmed me.

(Jembetat contd.) (Mamasan’s contd.) (california rollin’ contd.)

Acorn

The Dress Code

What is your favorite outfit? I don’t have a favorite out-fit, everything I wear is just swag!

You are always wearing hats, how many do you have? I have 5 hats.

Is there anyone whose style inspires your outfits/ anyone you like to dress like? I like to dress like that fa-mous kid Jamir Avery!

featuringJamir Avery

interviewed by Rosie Gilroy

39

Before I gave you your name,You’d been no more than a mere dramatic object #9574.

When I call your name for the first time,You grow up to be some kind of a Flower

Because I called you with the word Flower.

Just like I handed you your identity,Why can’t someone else come up with mine?I want a name that fits my color and scent.

But it can’t be another Flower since that name is already taken by the flower.

Well… I don’t really care whether you like me or dislike me.But I do care “one-hundo (backwards to Gina)” percent if you don’t care about me.

In conclusion, we all want to be something to someone.I, too, crave to be something more than an awkward gesture in this tiny world.

“Hey, do you really think that this world has abandoned you?No, it hasn’t. How could this world abandon you,

If it had not possessed you in the first place?”

This is how middle school drama begins in the Congress.What a shitgina moment.

Lol

Ray’s-ism

Middle School Drama is Soooo Fun!!!!!!!

By Ray Chang

Acorn

[email protected]

acorn: may 2012 issue

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