Volume 70, Issue 4	December 2020

The Ghosts of Indian Hill Chieftain Managing Staff

As students rush out ofthehalls ofIndian Hill High School, a hush fills the once-bustling school. Everyone’s favorite time ofyear has arrived:holidaybreak. While many students enjoythis time,what they may not know iswhat happens when they are gone. Specifically, many students are unaware that on every Christmas eve, IndianHill HighSchoolis visitedby three specters: the Ghosts ofIndian HillPast, Present,and Future! In this article, our investigative teamis revealing secrets never revealed before. So sit back, grab some hot chocolate, and enjoy our exclusive interviewwith the Ghosts ofIndian Hill!
The first Ghostwe spoke with was the Ghost ofIndianHill Past, responsible for remembering the history ofthosewho came before us. The Ghost toldus that he had been talkingwitha variety of IndianHill alumni about what theyare most looking forward to about the holiday season:
Q: Hello,how are you?
A: I’m doing pretty well… it’s been a pretty busy year for ghosts - lots of businessexecutives to haunt,but… yeah, it’s been good.
Q: Now, how has COVIDimpacted the ghost community?
A: Well,ghosts are fortunately immune to COVID, so it hasn’t hindered us as much. Of course, my favorite places to haunt are ones with large gatherings, so adjusting tothe
new normal has beena bitrough.
Q: I’m sorry to hear that. So, whathave you beendoing to pass the time?
A: Well,I actuallywent tospeak with some ofthe past students of IndianHill.
Q: Oh, great -- who’d you speakto?
A: Well, the first person Italkedto was Rena Lenchitz, class of 2019.
Q: Oh, wow.She wasactually the former Editor-in-Chief of this very newspaper. What is shedoing thisholiday season?
A: Well, she’s lookingforward to having time toperfect her craft of knitting and mixing sick beats on her amateur DJ controller. She’salso looking forward to celebrating Hanukkah with herparents.
Q: Well,that’s wonderful! Did you speakto any other former Chieftainmembers?
A: Yeah, I also spoke toone of Rena’s co-EIC’s, Lena Bruscato. She’s looking forward togetting to slow down and enjoytime with her family!
Q: Aren’t we all…
A: We certainly are. Infact, I alsospoke withtwoalumni who are lookingforwardto relaxingand being withfamily.
Q: Oh, who?
A: Marjona Ashurova and Kathy Ning, both graduates from last year!
Q: Well,that’s great. Thank youso much for speaking with us today!

learn more:
Q: Obviously, studentsare no longer on campus. Howdo you feelthis semesterwent?
A: You know,I think this year was a huge
success. Everyone -from the administration totheteachers to the students - reallycontributed to make it a great year. I meanwe won championships, hadsuccessful seasons, and were able to stay in school for quitea while.
Q: Now,you’ve been busy this past week?
A: Oh, of course! There’sno time like the present. Q: Nice one. Couldyougo aheadand tellus who you
spoke toand what they hadto say?
A: Sure. The first person Ispoke with was a senior at IndianHill, Vandita Rastogi. She is looking forward to being done with college applicationsand being able to enjoy the festivities with her family.
Q: That’s reallynice. Whoelse did you talk to?
A: We alsotalked tosomeother students who were passionateabout spending time withtheir family.
Q: Oh, really. Who?
A: Sarika Singh,a sophomore. She is lookingforward to spendingtime withher family, getting to sleepin every day, and having free time to do the things thatsheloves. I also talked
to sophomoreElsa Zhou.
Q: What did shehave tosay?
A: She said that sheis primarily looking forward to watching Wonder Woman 1984, but that he is also looking forward to spending time with family, decorating the tree, and giving
her friends some prank gifts. Q: That’s great.
A: It really is. We also talked toone last student - Annie Joy, a junior at IndianHill. She’s looking forwardto picking out a Christmas tree.
Q: Well,that’s great. Thanks for talking with us!

Finally, we spoke withtheGhost ofIndian Hill Future. They couldn’t speakfor long because they were workingon ensuring the best second semester oftheschool year, but they left us with the following message: Ashard as this semester hasbeen, wewill always have ourcommunity to supportus! Have a happy holiday season and get
ready for a wonderfulsecond semester!∎

News Updates on the vac-
cine on page 3 of this issue!

Editorials Read about the
“twindemic” on page 4!

Features
Get exclusive footage of Chieftain Chews on pg 6!

Senior Spotlights Celebrate our seniors on pages 9-11!

Crossword on page 12!

After speakingwiththe Ghost of Indian Hill Past, we Zoomed with the Ghost of Christmas Present. While the ghostwas obviouslyupset that students are no longer on campus, she told us that shehadbeencheckingin withvariousstudentsabout what they are looking forwardto during the holidayseason. Read on to

NEWS

2	December 2020

December This & That Arjun Verma ;24

CDC Guideline Updates

The Center of Disease Control has issued new guidelines for people who have come into contact, or have contracted COVID-19.. For those who came into close contact, within 6 feet for 15 minutes, the length of quaran-tine has now been reduced to 10 days without a test. The goal of this is to reduce the effects of quarantine on the economy. However, this can lead to some potential coronavirus cases being found after the 10 day quaran-
tine. ∎

Amazon Alexa’s Privacy Concerns

The popular electronic assistant, Alexa, has come over with another wave of privacy concerns. Recently, Amazon released a new feature called Sidewalk, which allows Alexa devices to connect to other nearby Alexa devices and create a
shared network between them. Amazon believes this will allow devices to work better, however they have received severe backlash since this could potentially give user’s data to other devices in the area. ∎

The Lost City of Pompeii

Right outside the city of Pompeii, archeologists have discovered two more people frozen in time. Archaeologists believe one of the recovered is a wealthy landowner, and the other is a young slave. Along with the bodies, there were two horses found nearby, indicating that the victims were flee-
ing from Pompeii after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. ∎

New Gaming Consoles

The release of the new gen consoles started off with a dis-appointing launch. The con-soles introduced a new level of gaming with high performance and quality while maintaining low prices. However, many people could not get these new consoles due to scalpers.
Scalpers buy high demand items and resell them for extremely high prices. Scalpers obtain large amounts of these items by using bots. This system ruins everyone else’s opportunity and spoils the gaming

New Cabinet

After being announced as the official president elect, Biden has begun his search to fill in positions for his administration. President elect Joe Biden offered Dr. Anthony Fauci the position of Chief Medical Adviser and asked Fauci to continue his role as director of the National institute of health. Doctor Fauci’s response was, “Absolutely, I said yes right on the spot.” ∎

Airpods Max

Apple has debuted their new over-ear, noise cancelling headphones called the Airpods Max. They feature Ap-ple’s iconic sleek and minimalist design and all of their “revolutionary” features to improve the audio experience. However, all of this comes at a large price
of $549. ∎

Light-Based Quantum Computer

On December 3rd, a Chinese based quantum computer achieved quan-tum supremacy. Unlike
Google’s quantum comput-er, which was made out of superconductors, this quan-tum computer uses a light based qubit system. To prove its quantum suprema-cy, this computer performs a calculation in 200 seconds,
something that would have taken a classical computer half a billion years to complete. This project has given way to more research into photonic based quantum computing, and the development of program-
mable quantum computers. ∎

1st Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine

The long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine has finally arrived, and the first dos-es are being used for the most at-risk patients. One of these patients was a 90-year-old grandmother from the U.K. After receiving the vaccine she said, “I felt so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19. It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and
friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year.” ∎

NEWS

December 2020

Modified Christmas Celebration Sophie Sawyers ‘21

3

COVID Vaccine: Next Steps Pranav Rastogi ‘23

This year, many have had toadjust their holidayplans on account ofthe COVID-19 pandemic. Among these holidayplans is Queen Elizabeth II'sannual walk toSan-dringhamHouseinNorfolk, England, which hasbeen a part ofthe royal holiday festivities every year since 1988 (withthe only exceptionbeing in 2016 when the Queenand the Duke of Edinburgh were suffering from extreme colds). Instead,
"Having considered all the appropriate advice,the Queen and the Duke of Edin-burgh have decided that thisyear theywillspendChristmas quietly in Windsor", as confirmed by a BuckinghamPalace spokesperson. Seeing as the celebrations at San-dringhamHouse are usuallyattended by many members of the Queen'sextended family, itcomes asno surprise that the monarch has decided tocancel the event for the royalfamily's safety.

While Queen Elizabeth andPrince Philiphave includedthe walk toSandringham House in their holidaycelebrations every year since 1988, there have been years be-fore 1988 whenthe monarch decided toforgo this part of the tradition. In 1953, for instance, the Queen andthe Duke ofEdinburgh were occupied on a royal tour of NewZealand during the holidays, butthe Queen still presented herChristmas speech. Additionally, for a fewChristmases inthe 1960's, the monarch and her hus-band remainedin WindsorCastle for the holidays as their children were too young for the walk. Although the Queenmay have cancelled the annual stroll over to San-dringhamthis year, there is still hope for her televised Christmas speech, whichhas also beena part ofthe holiday tradition since herChristmas message was first tele-vised in1957. And, beforeher speeches were televised, they were distributed over the radio.However the royal family chooses to celebrate the holidayseasonthis year, we wish them a MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year!∎

It’s theholiday season and Pfizer, along with BioNTech, have given us another present —a potential vaccinetothevexatious coronavirus.Earlierthis month, Pfizerand BioNTech, re-leased astatement announcinga vaccinewith 95%efficacy in clinical trials. In a desperate attempt to end this chaos, Britain andCanada quicklyapproved the vaccineand administered it to it’sfirst patients,includinga 90-year oldwoman inNorthern Ireland.

However, this new vaccinehascaused much concern and increase in knowledge aboutthis vaccinein the United States and abroad. For one,companieslike Moderna had made thisvac-cineall the waybackin January as aChinese scientist, Yong-Zhen Zhang,had revealed it’s genetic sequence. This development came almosta week before the first case was confirmed in the United States and even before China hadreported thatit could be transmitted from human to human. Sowhy couldn’t we save the250,000+people who have fallen prey to this horrible disease? Inshort, thevaccinehad to gothrough three phases includingclinicaltrials to prove it’seffectiveness, and even with Operation Warp Speed, these phases tookquite awhile to carry out. Fortunately, wecan now hope that inthe future, government agencies will take less time toapprove such vaccines.

Second, this vaccineisn’tperfect. In fact, Operation Warp Speed meant runningtheclinical trialswhile simultaneouslymanufacturingthevaccine. Patients in GreatBritain have seen the repercussionsof this as thisvaccinehas triggered severe allergic reactionsin several patients who are proneto such reactions.

Third, thevaccine’s outreach in Britain has shown one salientdiscovery, that these vaccines are most effective when administered in two doses,thesecond one coming21-28 days after theinitial vaccination.Although this second dose isn’tnecessary, it will help everyonearound theworld especiallywhen there is sucha high risk of infection.

When wethink about frontline workers, weoften thinkabout thedoctors, firstresponders, and essential workers,but along with them, there were thousandsupon thousandsof scien-tists,bioengineers, biochemists, andimmunologists who were tirelessly workingto provide us with a safe and effective vaccine. ∎

A Jaded Education System Ethan Marx ‘21

In March of 2019, an FBI investigation into a college admissions cabal called	majority of her peers used similar means to gain access to top educational insti-Operation Varsity Blues was made public. Among the various perpetrators	tutions). Yet, Jade clearly had a pattern of being flippant -- beginning with a were celebrities such as Felicity Huffman, Lori Laughlin, and Olivia Giannulli YouTube video stating that she did not care about her school and that she (better known by her YouTube profile name, “Olivia Jade”). The case was the sought to party in college, rather than learn. While Jade certainly should not largest of its nature to be prosecuted by the United States Justice Department be punished forever, what is troubling is potentially giving this uneducated, and has been lauded as a step in the right direction for combating corruption in ignorant, oblivious girl a platform. Take for example, Entertainment To-
the college admissions process. While many students may view the squabbles night’s “Olvia Jade on Red Table Talk: 7 MUST-SEE Moments”, focusing on between students over making it into elite institutions a bit Shakespearean at	clips on her parents and their rationale (e.g. clips on their parent’s support, times, the process is truly important to ensure educational equity to all Ameri- their parents arrest, her shame) rather than on the very important discussions cans. This investigation raised questions into the inherent fairness of the inves- on the societal implications of such a scandal.
tigation. For many seniors at Indian Hill, this issue really hits at the zeitgeist as
we embark on our college admissions journey.                                            Banfield-Norris expressed similar concerns to Jade, stating that “there’s so much… inequality and inequity that when you come to The Table will some-
After Jade’s mother began her two-month prison sentence, Jade broke her	thing like this, it’s like child, please.” While Olivia certainly seems apologetic year-long silence on Red Table Talk, a web television series hosted by Willow and states that she does not want “pity”, the interview makes it clear that she Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Jade sought under- certainly wants a platform. As a society, it's up to us to choose whether or not
standing and was generally apologetic, but was met with hostility from Ban-	she deserves one. ∎ field-Norris. In fact, one of the most interesting moments was the discussion

between the show’s hosts before Jade emerged, in her most tone-deaf moment of the interview, smirking and laughing about feeling “nervous.” Banfield-Norris noted that she did not initially want Jade on the show, feeling that it was “ironic that she chose three black women to reach out to for her redemp-tion story.” She continues that “white women [are] coming to black women for support when we don’t get the same from them… her being here is the epitome of white privilege to me.” Throughout the interview, Banfield-Norris expressed that she thought Olivia Jade would be able to still succeed and that it was not their responsibility toforgive her.

Throughout the interview, Jade was apologetic and did not try to excuse her or her family’s actions. However, what Jade seeks throughout the interview is a “second chance.” She emphasizes her youth and that she simply did not know that this was wrong (a troubling proposition in its own right, implying that the

EDITORIALS

4	December 2020

Health Matters:Twindemic Amitesh Verma ‘21

With the influenza season underway, the public mustcarefully considerhealth precautions of the so-called “twindemic” — a combination ofthe current coronaviruspandemicand the seasonal fluendemic. What can thecommunityexpectwhen both COVID-19 and the flu intersect?

Perhaps what makesa “twindemic” dangerousis thedifficulty in differentiating both res-piratory diseases— fever, cough, shortness of breath,and a runny orstuffynose are symptoms that exist inboth, with a fewnotableexceptions, includingthe lossof smelland taste in anda largersymptomatic periodof 14days in COVID-19. As aresult, there’s no definitive wayto tellCOVID-19 and theflu apart withouta test.

Additionally, eithervirus hasthe potential to makeone quite sick, possibly becoming fatal — the flu,last yearalone,led to morethan 35,000 deathsand thecoronavirushas already claimed morethan 280,000 lives in theUnitedStates. What would happen ifyou got both at the sametime? Biologically, it’s possible,and getting them together could makeone extremely sick.

Typically, to prevent theseasonal flu, avaccinemay begiven that protects againstthe strains of thevirus that’s most prevalent ina given year.Unfortunately, aflu vaccine will not providespecificprotection against thecoronavirus.However, it’s important forthe public to receive thisvaccinenow more than ever,especially when thenation’shealthcare system is alreadyoverloadedby the pandemic. Theflu, last year alone,led tonearly 500,000 hospitalizations. Hence, fewerpeoplesick atthe same time willinevitablybenefit the community.

The good news isthat thehealth measures wehave been taking against thecoronavirus will be effective against theflu. After all,the fluseasonin the southern hemispherewas milder this yearbecauseof these measures. So, wearmasks, wash yourhands, carryhand sanitizer, and social distance to stay safeduring this “twindemic.” ∎

Foraging Memrie Harness ‘22

The column for this month is about a pretty uncommon topic. Staying environ-mentally conscious requires trying new things, so I urge you to keep an open mind when reading this article. It is commonly known that the food industry has a large effect on the carbon footprint and environment in general. There is also huge controversy on mass killing and consuming animals. Scavenging or incorporating a hunter-gatherer mindset has been a popular way of life for years. This lifestyle includes living off the land in every way possible: individu-ally catching/finding food, acquiring necessary nutrients in nature… Foraging encourages less food waste, as you will only keep and eat the food that you find, instead of buying in bulk and throwing away quantities of perfectly fine leftovers. There are somany benefits tothis lifestyle so before youbecome skeptical, here are a couple of reasons why foraging is a wonderful, sustainable option.

There are about 50,000 to 80,000 edible plant species in the world, but only 30 plants produce 95% of what humans eat. In fact, about half of our diet relies on four plant species: rice, maize, wheat, and potato. By foraging and collect-ing different edible plants, not only are you expanding your palate and feeding your body new nutrients, but you are also supporting biodiverse entities such as forests over toxic, large-scale, and out-of-balance entities like corn fields. Some may think that by collecting and consuming less common plants from the wild would decrease biodiversity and encourage extinction, but in moderation, foraging increases biodiversity and leads to more habitats for many species. Al-so, many invasive plant species which can be extremely harmful to other living organisms are actually great for you and super yummy. Some examples of these weeds include garlic mustard, autumn olive, wild parsnip, and kudzu. More invasive and delicious species would be dandelion, burdock, wildcarrot, and lamb’s quarters. Consuming these plants and therefore lessening the amount present in the wild in turn increases biodiversity and leaves more surface area for native plants to grow and thrive.

Happy New Year Braves! Libby Hoicowitz ‘24

As 2020 comes toan abruptand welcome end, 2021 is rapidly approaching. New Year’s Daycelebrations willbe occurring December 31st at midnight around the world. January 1st means one thing: time to make your resolution. Or, ifyouare reallyambitious, resolutions.This year, due to COVID-19 it is even moreimportant to have a New Year’s resolution. Coronavirus might have changed your resolution or forced youto look at the past year differently.It may even change future resolutions. A resolution requiresus to look positivelyinto the future. Theyare limitlessand their time frame usually lasts until the following NewYear. Most resolutions are goals, whether for a particular sport, something tobetteryourself or justa dream youwant to achieve.

I polleda few IndianHillHigh SchoolBraves. I askedthem what their New Year's resolutions are for this upcoming year.

One high achieving freshman saidshe, “would like tokeep getting closer tohergoals and tokeepworkinghard”.

Another active Brave, currently a junior, saidshe“would like to stay healthyand to have fun”.

In addition, a few Braves had no resolutions at all,which is perfectly fine.After all, many of usfindresolution hard to keepthroughout theyear.

A Classof 2021 Brave saidthat he hasn’t thoughtof a resolution becausehe hasn’t thought that farin advance. This made me think.Resolutions can be easyor hard but they are extremelypersonal. Your 2021 resolutions are amazing Braves! Maythe upcoming yearbring youcontentment! We at Chieftain, hope theyare achieved.
∎

and grow crops. This action takes up plenty of land that could have other-wise been habitats for wildlife and can really damage the soil. Since there is such a slow rate of topsoil renewal, “Each year, an estimated 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil are lost due to erosion. That’s 3.4 tonnes lost every year for every person on the planet…” Also, the Global Report states, “the Glob-al Assessment of Human-induced Soil Degradation (GLASOD) showed that soil degradation in one form or another occurs in virtually all countries of the world. About 2,000 million hectares are affected by soil degradation. Water and wind erosion accounted for 84% of these damages, most of which were the result of inappropriate land management in various agricultural systems, both subsistence and mechanized”. Once soil is damaged, it takes awhile to return to normal, so choosing to eat locally instead of buying from super-markets is extremely helpful.

Healing the planet and becoming more sustainable requires systemic change, and sometimes the only way to do this is by trying new things that may be out of your comfort zone. Without being forceful, I think spreading aware-ness is the best way to show people how beneficial their actions are to the environment. Not only does foraging help the world, but it may bring you closer to nature. While finding things to eat, you can take a moment to ap-preciate Mother Earth and the beauty around you! Happy foraging!
∎

To satisfy people's agricultural needs, lots and lots of fields are needed to plant

EDITORIALS

December 2020

Biden’s Cabinet Is The First Battleground For His Presidency Anonymous

It’s the standardcourse for most aspiringand established career politicians: run to thecenter ofyour party, andonce you’ve won your nomination fora particular posi-tion, you play theroleof the‘unifier’. Despite PresidentTrump’s absolute refusalto act as a unifyingfigurefortheAmerican people anda unifyingRepublican figure duringthe2016 primary,President-Elect Joe Biden’s thirdcampaignforthepresidency shows that thestrat-egy is well andalive. His campaign centered around notionsof unitingand healingAmerica, one“who seeks notto dividebut to unite”. Heseems keen toat leastappearto follow through with his promise,establishing a policy commission with Sandersand considering Republicans for cabinetpositions. At a first look, onewould think we were on the right track.

Maybein oldertimesthis would work. But thepolitical landscape of 2020 isn’tonewhich is too friendly toBiden’sattempts to doso -and the firstsign oftrouble isin the cabinet. Pro-gressive Democrats haveassailed the president-elect for hisdecision to draftAlejandro Mayorkas to be the Secretaryof Homeland Security, citing his role in the mass deportations of undocumented immigrants under theObama Administration asdisqualifying. They have also attacked Biden for his choice of NeeraTanden fortheDirector oftheOffice ofManage-ment and Budget, claimingthat herappointment gave her vehement opposition toSocial Security in 2010 and2012 as asnub totheir beliefs. TheRepublican Party isgearingupfor their own fight against Biden’s picks as well,with someRepublican senatorsclaiming that his nominees are ‘too radical’.

If you thought that thechaos was finallyover,justlook at thecabinet. We’re not on the road for unification - thefight is justbeginning. ∎

5

In Remembrance of Diego Maradona Eshaan Gandhi‘24

On November 25th, 2020,the legendary soccer playerfrom Argentina, who played on FC Barcelona, suffered a heart attackwhichkilled him. This triggered mourning around the world, but nowhere was it felt more impactfully than in the country which saw him as a national hero. Some considerMaradona as the greatest soccer playerof all time.Maradona’s personality, performance,and success will alwaysbe remembered throughout the world forever. He truly is not onlyone ofthe greatest soccer players of all time, but one of the best entertainers of all time.

Diego Maradona’s best moments...

1976 - At just 15 years old, Diego Maradona was already bound forsuccess. He made his debut on the Under-20 Argentina national team. This is the start of this legendary player's career inentertainment and soccer. They say that the rest is histo-ry…

March 26, 1983 - Itwastruly spectacular whenDiego Maradona —a player on FC Barcelona —would go on to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans. The two teams have a verystrong rivalry, but when Maradona scored an almost impossi-ble goal, the Real Madrid fans had no choice. This rareoccurrence would nothap-pen for another 21 years.

1986 - Almost a decade after Diego Maradona turnedpro, he hadalready won the World Cup. An unforgettable experience for Maradona proved the world thathe was the best of the best withhis 3-2winagainst West Germany. He won the Golden Ball for beingthe bestplayer in the tournament; no one had any complaints. He was now an undisputed legend.

“To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiestman in the world.” Diego’s skills, personality, and entertainmenthave proved to the world that he is the great-est. He will never be forgotten. ∎

Fashion in Politics: Insignificant or Noteworthy?

Tacey Hutten ‘22

Fashion is something so often deemed frivolous, unimportant, and shallow. Although it certainly takes a backseat to other means of expression and advo-cacy, fashion can be a subtle yet provocative tool in the political world. Throughout history, especially in recent decades, clothing has been used to honor and allude to events that have passed, comment on things happening in the present, and make a statement about what is to come.

Especially among female leaders, countless examples come to mind. Most re-cently, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris took the stage for her victory speechwearing awhite suit, white blouse, and shoes tomatch. Throughout her speech, she reflected on the strength and vision of women who came be-fore her and noted that she “stands on their shoulders.” Her words weren’t the only things that paid homage to her predecessors, however. The white suit carries with it generations worth of history. In the early twentieth century, the suffragettes adopted white as a symbol of women’s rights. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, wore all white when she was sworn in. Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party’s tick-et, wore all white when she accepted her role. And Hillary Clinton wore a white pantsuit to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. Harris’s outfit was just a coincidence - it was a tribute to the women who paved the way for her and a promise that more women will follow.

Accessories and make-up can make a point too. Over the last few years, we’ve all noticed Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s iconic gold hoops and redlipstick. She first wore the bold accessories to be swornin as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and, after it earned much attention, Ocasio-Cortez explained that the look was inspired by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Not only has the pairing (and red lip especially) become a symbol of her boldness and ferocity in the political arena, it also serves as a means of representation. Ocasio-Cortez herself tweeted, “Next time someone tells Bronx girls to take off their hoops, they can just say they’re dressing like a

Congresswoman.” Considering that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has made it her goal to uplift other women and make government feel more accessible to the ‘non-elites’, it’s clear that the way she presents herself is chosen thoughtfully and with the intent to inspire.

Finally, even seemingly minor details can send a big message. During the Democratic primaries, Elizabeth Warren built a brand focusing on her work-ing class background and eagerness to create “an America that works for eve-ryone.” Contributing to this image, Warren often wore her jacket sleeves rolled up, painting her as someone ready to jump into the ring. Looking back alittle further, during her time as First Lady, Michelle Obama paid special attention to wear clothing from American brands and designers of color. Ka-mala Harris (among many others) has followed suit, featuring American de-signers and advancing Biden’s “Build Back Better” campaign. Throughout the pandemic, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has earned a reputation for wearing bold face masks that compliment her outfits perfectly. In doing so, she stands out against her colleagues and sends a clear message:wear a damn mask. Additionally, many of the masks were made by small companies with a focus on giving back to their communities. Nuanced decisions like these show an intentionality with which many political leaders live their lives.

Overall, fashion is an opportunity to make a statement without saying any-thing at all. Considering that it is something so often addressed by the press, on social media, gossip magazines, and even individuals directly, it’s no sur-prise that female leaders have found ways to use it to their advantage.∎

FEATURES

6	December 2020

Chieftain Chews: Kung FuTea Joseph Kayne, Min-Jae Kim, and Elsa Zhou ‘23

At 7:30on a Friday, noneof us expected to besomentallyand physicallyexhausted.But, $100 worth ofKungFu Tea can do that toyou.

3 hours earlier, we drew oddstaresfromothermall-goers as Michellerang up 20drinks (since we’d chosen to spend an exorbitant amount ofmoney on thisChieftain Chews segment, a decisionnone of uscame to regret).We carried four bagsof bubbletea tothe carand giddilyanticipated a test of our corevalues,which would surelycome intoques-tion aswe tried allof these drinks. Crazy and common combinations of tea, milktea, slushies,and varioustoppings like boba, jelly, and even pudding jostled around inthecar and we headed towards whatwas eithergoing to beheaven or absolute doom.

The tasting processwas interesting, to say theleast. We split up each drink into 3 glasses, attemptingsomewhat todivvy up the toppingaswell asthedrink itselfequally. Michelle (our fabulous guest star!),who had accompanied usfromKung Fu Tea,sat into remind us what each drink was andto offer her professional opinionon several drinks. Tasting them was much harderthanany of us had guessed…not even half our drinks were downed when weall felt woozy and spent, butforyou (ourwonderful viewers),we trooped on.

At theend,we each chose ourtop andworstthreedrinks that we decided stood out from therest.In general, we cameto the con-
clusion thattheslushieswere the best choice at KungFuTea. Thetop three drinks:Mango slush with mango popping bubbles, strawberry slush with nata jelly, and sunshine pineapple tea with mango jelly.

Also, if you were wonderingyou can watch our full review andentertaining journey exploring thedrinks by scanning this QRcode.∎

Streaming Movies Elsa Zhou ‘23

As the second wave of COVID-19 begins torush the nation, one ofthe many in-dustries struggling toadapt to the restrictions broughtabout bythe virus is the movie theater business. Recent years have alreadyseena major uptick in stream-ing services such as Netflix, seen by 2011’s roughly 21.5million subscribers to around 73.1 million subscribers as of2020 in the USalone. However, because of the confined and indoornature of movie theaters (among a multitude ofother risk factors), movie theater companiesare barelyscrapingby. AMC, forexample, has asked for 800 million dollars to stay alive. Studios such as Disney have attempted to reroute their movies to streamingservices already,such as the release ofthe highlyanticipated remake Mulan onDisney+.Disney askedfansfora $30 “Premier Access” fee to watchthe movie in the traditionalmovie-theater windowbutlifted the price on Dec 4 forfanswishing to watch the remake after the initialfew months.

Warner Bros’ momentous decision to release allof its2021 blockbusters via the streaming service HBO Max could lead to great repercussions for movie theaters. Already, people have gravitated towards streaming movies on their phones, tab-lets, or computers simply because ofthe ease. A yearlysubscription, no need to go out,and the wide array of choice tips the scales for many against the traditional moviegoingexperience. Now, withCOVIDattached,going tomovie theaters is not onlya dangerousrisk totake butsomething manyare notinclined to do in the first place. By switching and relyingon a streamingservice for their movies, Warner Bros has drawn plenty of criticism from theater companies and top Holly-wood executives because the move seems to roll over the close relationship be-tween studios and producers. However, in the eyes of a consumer, Warner Bros has just brought major blockbusters likeWonder Woman,SuicideSquad, and Dune closer to home than ever. ∎

Renaissance Man and Woman of the Month Vandita Rastogi and Ethan Marx ‘21

For themost astuteEuropean history scholars,you already knowwhat a “renaissance man” is. A “renaissance man”is someonewho is well-rounded inevery element of life. While we frequently commend those with artistic, academic, orathletic success, this section has been revived to highlight well-rounded students atIndianHill. This month weare happyto honor Sophie Sawyers andLuis Vega-Torresas theRenaissance Manand Woman oftheMonth.

You may knowheras thePresident of various clubsat Indian Hill or theactivist and cam-paigner outsideschool. Sophiehas portrayed many qualities that make her well fitforthis
month’sarticle.

While Sophie isn’t just merely involved in extracurricu-lars,she happens tohave reached greatsuccess in herac-tivities. Awell-known face atIndian Hill, she serves as class treasurerforstudentgovernment, VicePresidentfor DECA,chaptersecretary forJSA, Layout Editor for Chieftain,President ofPERIOD @ Indian Hill,andasa BoardMemberforIH Serves.She’s alsoaTSL Officer, NHS FundraisingCo-Chair, and participateson thesoccer and track teams.But that’s notall. Outside of school, she is avoice in the JSA RacialJustice Task Force, anactivism specialist for theOhio RiverValley JSA,aYouth Juror, an internforthecongressionalcampaign,and an employ-ee at theMariemont Theatre.Needless to say, Sophie is very well-rounded andcertainly excels in every leader-ship role.

Beyond her participationin and outside ofschool, Sophie is committed tobuildingacommunity atIndianHill andde-stigmatizingtopics such as period poverty. She saysher most fulfilling experience has been “founding thePERIOD@ Indian Hill club” and organized a GoFundMe this past summer to donate over 250 packs of feminine hygiene products to localnonprofits.Together with her team, Sophie is, “excited to imple-ment [events andfundraisers]this yearto raise awarenessaround an important issue.”

even placed for Internationalsin Florida!

Like any othersenior,Sophie is busy with thecollege application processthis year. Shestarted researchingpotential schools her sophomore yearand was lucky enough to attendsome cam-pus tours. She spends most of her weekends and study hallscompleting supplemental essays. While Sophie does exemplify academicexcellence, what sets her apartfromthecrowd is her personality.Her compassion,altruism, and responsivenesstowardsher peershasmade hera light in our IH community. Her commitment to communityengagement and kindnesswill definitely leave a lastinglegacy long after she leaves. Iknowthat whichever college is lucky to have her next year will get atrulygifted, versatile, and empathetic individual witha passion for change.

Luis Vega-Torresis this month’s Renaissance Man and the first underclassman selected for this title. Thereis noquestion why Luis was chosen by hispeers for thishonor. Luisis involved with many extracurriculars at Indian Hill, includingPowWow, DramaClub, HonorBand, French Club, and baseball. His most fulfillingexperience at Indian Hill was “participatingin… The Phantom of The Opera asamember of the pit orchestra. It wasan incredibly rewarding experience with a lotof awesome people,” he states. When asked togiveadvice to otherstudentsabout getting involved, Luis recommends reachingoutto club mem-bers andofficers. He notes that “thelarge majority ofclubs are always lookingfor new members andnew people to fill different important positions”and advises studentsto “justask!”

In the upcomingyear, Luisis lookingforwardto beingable to play baseball. Lastyear,hedid not think he was going tobeable to play dueto schedulingconflicts, buthe was. But, dueto COVID-19, theseasonwas unfortunately cancelled. ∎

Sophie advises younger students tolet go of“anyreservationsyou haveabout puttingyourself out thereand just go for it”. She never thought she’d participate in DECA,but aftertakinga marketing class hersophomore year, she made many memories throughthecompetition and

FEATURES

December 2020

The Bachelorette Mady Kahn ‘22

I thinkthat I can confidently say that this has been one of the strongest seasons of The Bachelorette yet with two bachelorettes in one season and the entire showtaking place in one resort (because they can’t travel). Buteven with all the abnormalities of this season, it is still full of all the entertaining drama that we love! I’m going to share my opinions on Tayshia’s past few episodes (up until week 9) and my pre-dictions for the finale.

Dates
This season has been one of the heaviest seasons that I have seen. So many of these contestants have opened up with deep and personal issues, from battling racism to overcoming addiction, to dealing with mental healthissues. BothZac and Ben had one-on-one dates where they talked about some very serious topics from their pasts. Additionally, even more, men opened up after the art class and lie de-tector group dates. Overall I think that Tayshia has a really great group of men who have dealt with some heavy pasts.

Noah vs. Bennet
Before I even get started on the Noah vs. Bennettdrama, let me warn you, I absolutely cannot stand Bennett. To begin, let’s take a lookbackat the wrestling date (whichwas Tayshia’s very first group date). After Ed forfeited his wrestling match, Chris Harrison asked the men, “Is there anybody here that wants to fight for Tayshia’s heart?” Noah decided to take advantage of this opportunity and hopped the fence to take Ed’s place - which considering that they are on the showfor the sole purpose of “fighting for Tayshia’s heart,” I find veryfair. Noah lost the match, but put up an extremely good fight. Before the men who were initially chosen to go on the group date left for the cocktail party, Tayshia said “honestly Noah, you jumped a fence for meand were willing to get in the ring and fight for me, I’d really like you there tonight if you’d like to join us.” Obviously, Noah accepted this offer (personally I thinkhe would be stupid not to - I mean he’s there to get to knowTayshia so why would he turn down the offer to spend more time withher?), but of course, this made a lot of the other men mad, which really kicked off the drama surrounding Noah. Noah certainly isn’tmy favorite contestant, butI really don’t think that he did anything wrong there; had any of the other contestants jumped the fence (which was fair since Chris prompted it),they would’ve done the same. Fastforward a few epi-sodes and now almost all of the Noah drama is between him and Bennett. At the group date, Bennett made Noah move so that he could be next to Tayshia, and then the two went back and forthmaking rude remarks at each other. Eventually, Tayshia had enough of the drama and decided it was time to

7

settle it by giving one of them a rose (like a mini 2-on-1 date). Of course, Bennettshowed up with a “present” for Noah, including a pair of mustache socks, a bandana, and a book about emotional intelli-gence. Real mature, Bennett. And of course, Bennetthad to include the emotional intelligence book -it’s all he ever talks about! We get it,you went to Harvard, nowmove on! I seriously cannot stand listening to Bennett talk - he is just so insanely arrogant it drives me crazy. Tayshia ended up sending Bennetthome (woohoo!), but also did not give Noah the rose because she was still unsure as to how she felt.Even though I personally can’t stand Bennett, I thinkthat Tayshia was definitely more attract-ed to him butsaw some red flags. Again, I’m not really a huge fan of Noah and in the end, I don’t think they are going to end up together, but I definitely preferred him over Bennettand I think she might keep him around a little bitlonger. Unfortunately, after the cocktail party, Tayshia was greeted with a surprise visit from the one and only Bennett. Obviously, I was not happy withthis, but the episode ended withTayshia saying she had to think about whether or not she would let him back on the show. As much as I hope she doesn’t, I thinkthat she still has feelings forhim so I wouldn’t be surprised if she lets him on for a little bitlonger.

Predictions
Honestly, I thinkthat a lot of the men this season are great, but I’m notcompletely sure who I see Tayshia with. I feel like by this time in the season I would have one or two pretty confident guesses (or at least preferences) regarding who will end up together, but I really can’t say that I do. I think that Zac and Ben are going to make it pretty far, and I also feel pretty confident about Riley. I feel like I still don’t know a ton aboutIvan, but I thinkthat he seems like a good guy and I could see him making it pretty far. As much as I hope it doesn’thappen, I could see Bennett coming back and moving on, but I really don’t see her choosing him. As for who I thinkis going to “win,” I’m not really sure. I think Tayshia has a lot of really strong connections, but I’m not quite sure who I really see hergetting mar-ried to in the end.∎

Athlete of the Month: Jenny Zhang Elsa Zhou ‘23

Jenny Zhang. At first glance, those who knowher in school may think ofherimpres-sive Mock Trialrecord, herinvolvement and awards ina multitude ofScience Olympiadevents, or her laudable contributions toIndian Hill’s state-qualifying Ro-botics team, perhaps even her love for blobfish, overwhelmingskill inMinecraft, or undoubted skillon the violin. However, todaywe atChieftainhighlight another as-pect of her multitalentedpersonage: her athleticism.

Jenny, who has played tennis for 6 years, has a numberof accoladesto her name: she has earned4 varsity letters,doubles victories in Finalfour State teammatches twice, doubles victories towards runner-up atState lastyear, and this season’s OHSAA quarterfinals (individuals) with freshmanLexiLarsen,just to name a few. She noted that the 2020 season was “amazing” and shefeltthat the teamwas “especiallyclose and that we made unforgettable experiences that I’ll hold dear for the rest ofmy life.” In an interview, Jenny gave specialthanks to IH’s new coachWade for his “endless inspirationfor ustobe competitive and work hard” and the new AD Mr. Phelps’s “encouragement and engagementwiththeteam by going the extra mile and coming to somany ofour matches.” She also thanks herteachers for being lenient with deadlines and tests to accommodate a demanding state tennis schedule.Howev-er, Jenny’s previous athletic undertakings also include volleyball, soccer, swimming, and track, but shecontinued ontotennis in highschool, something boththe tennis team and school are gratefulfor.

A true representative of Indian Hill’s core values, Jenny Zhang continuesto leadin academics, athletics, and more. She plans to playintramural tennisin college and is grateful fornot only the physical rigor of tennis buthowtennis allowed her to broadenherhorizonsand meet somany people ofvarying backgrounds. We here at Chieftain can’twaitto follow herin her futureendeavors! ∎

Teacher of the Month: Mr. Clark Joseph Kayne ‘23

With COVID-19 picking up again aswe move into 2021, teachers are continuing to adapt to the guidelines presented bytheschool. Recently, IndianHill has gone all online, whichfurther affects teachers.Here at Chieftain, we feel that oneteacher, in particular, Jeff Clark, has adapted and overcomethesechallenges, despitehaving one of the hardest jobs to do so: teach-ing music.

Why did you decide to become a music teacher?
I had a very influential high school teacher,Mr.Gradel (who was able tocome tosee the Phantom of the Opera lastyear!).I found myself ALWAYS thinking about music,especially organizing and creating innovative performances. Show Choir became a big part of my life as I lovedhow it merged choral singing and musical theatre, andthat startedwith Mr.Gradel. My highschool choir family became a huge social network for me, and I try to create that for my students.

What is it that you enjoy most about teaching?
There's a certainglow, or "lightbulb" moment that occurs withstudents when theyhavethe satisfaction of a job well done, or of a concept that suddenlyclicks. It's that reward that comes from arduous effort that makes it all worthwhile.

This past school yearhas been a challenging year for all teachers, especiallymu-sic teachers. Howhas the pandemic affected you and howhave you adapted? To put it in perspective, it's been sort of liketelling a math teacherthey can only tell their students HOW to dothe problem, but not allow the studentsto actually complete it! At IHHS, wethrive on innovation.Nowherehas that been more ofa challengethan in music education. Small group activities, projects, and lots of student collaboration have been our focusfor the time being.We are planting the seeds now forharvest later.

You are definitely considered tobe oneof the better teachers when it comes to adapting to the coronaguidelines even though singing is oneof thehardest things to adapt. How do you get your ideas forlesson plans and special events during this pandemic?
Thankyouso much! Honestly, it's likeyear one of teaching forso many of us.We are just trying tothrowsomething out there andseewhatsticks.Whencreating content, I always go backto student choice and alsoask myself 'whatwould Ienjoydoing during this time?'. I also am thetype of person to look 3 months down the road,so there's always a sense of what's next rather than beingstuck in the now. Ihaveseveral teachercolleaguesthathavehelped with the brainstorming aswell!

Is there anything else youwould like to add?
I couldn't imagine what it would be like as a high school student going throughthis. Education as a whole will be forever changed, andI am so proud of our students and their efforts to per-severe.We have a waysto go, but I'm confident better times are ahead. To quote The Lion King musical, "I know that thenight mustend and that the sunwill rise!"∎

FEATURES

8

Spotify Wrapped Annie Joy ‘22

December 2020

Gift Guide Charlotte McNair ‘21

Another year, anotherSpotifyWrapped. Even those withoutthestreaming serviceare probably familiar with theconcept from theannual bombardingof screenshots posted onto classmates’ Instagram andSnapchat storiesrevealingtheir favoriteartists,genres, and songs. Butforthose still confused as toexactly whatSpotify Wrappedis,let me ex-plain. As theyear comesto an end, Spotify examinesitslisteners streamingfrequency of podcasts and music for thepast 12 months, then compilesthis data into aquick, personal slide-showto displaytheir topstreamedcontent.

Global trendsarealso released, and2020 hadsome interesting streaming habits according to Spotify’scompilation of data in their “The Trends That Shaped Steaming In2020”post. The most-streamed artist globallywasPuertoRicanrapper,Bad Bunny,claimingthetop spot with more than 8.3billion streams justthis year. He is followed by artistsDrake,J Balvin, the late Juice WRLD,and The Weeknd. BillieEilish holds her spot as themost-streamedfemaleartistfor both 2019 and2020, and she is followed by TaylorSwift and Ariana Grande, who claim spots two andthree. Thetop three songs were“Blinding Lights” byThe Weeknd,“Dance Monkey” byTones And I, and “The Box” byRoddy Rich, and podcasts wereThe JoeRogan Experience, TED TalksDaily, and The Daily.Spotifyalso claimed there was asharp increasein nostalgia-themedplaylists, increasing 54% from April1–7 (which continued to rise throughout the year), aswellas a 1,400%increase inwork-from-home themed playlists.2020 amplified Black voices through songs and podcasts as the Black Lives Matter movementsweptthe country, withover 64 million streamsofSpotify’s Black Lives Matter playlist, and 65,000 playlists created titled “BLM” or“Black LivesMatter”.

Despite 2020’s unique challenges, streaming stayed a part of so many people’s lives, help-ingthem harness thecomfort,creativity, and connection which comes fromthemost dynamicaudio:music. ∎

There is nodoubt thattheholiday season isoneof themoststressfultimes of theyearand buying gifts for loved ones onlyaddsto thatstress.Never fear, Iamhere to give you the ultimate gift guide for almost every person in your life.

What yourmom actuallywants:

While coupons for back rubs and hugs were cute when you were five, wehave aged out ofit, and it's time to put in a little moreeffort. Whileshe maysayall she wants is ahandmade gift,that’s probablya lie becausewhat she reallywants is tobeappreciated. The best gift toget your mom is amassage giftcertificate oragift card tosome sortof spatreatment place or even a salon. Oth-er ideasinclude aframed picture or anything from the brandlululemon.

For any guy inyour life:

The guys in my life are always hard to shopfor because they are constantly saying they don’t need anything orsomething that I can’t afford like a golf club. Some ideas include, asports jersey, men’s lululemon shortsor joggers, asweatshirtorhat fromany cool local shops and restaurants like Delmere and Hopkins orFifty west Brewery.

For theperson who has anything:

This person sucks to shopforbecause it feelslike there isnothingthey don’t haveand when that’sthecase I headto Etsy or Instagram shops for something unique or customizable.

The person that“doesn’tlike gifts”:

I highly recommend makingthem a funsentimental video orwrite them a letter. Ialsorecom-mend getting a notebookand filling it with pictures andmemories you guys sharetogetherand then leaving some pages blankso you can continueto fillit out. ∎

Hillbilly Elegy Film Review Ethan Marx ‘21

With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic came the fall of the movie theatre in-dustry. With many movie theatres across the globe closed, the movie industry has been plummeting. Luckily for modern citizens, movies are more accessible than ever before. Through streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, and Disney+, cinephiles have access to content at the touch of a screen. Further, with streaming services announcing digital releases of their 2021 slates, many have speculated about a shift in the movie-going experience forever. While I hold out hope for the film industry, I am also excited about the new possibilities of virtual movie consumption. While Netflix is facing more competition than ever in the streaming industry, they seem to have little competition in the avenue of most interest to me: the Academy Awards. With new titles like Mank, The Trial of The Chicago 7, MaRainey’s Black Bottom, andmore, Netflix may snag its first coveted Best Picture award. However, one film that did not make the mark for Netflix was Hillbilly Elegy.

Hillbilly Elegy is a problematic film based on a controversial novel. Re-
leased in 2016, many affluent elites used Hillbilly Elegy as a way to comprehend the absurdity of a Trump victory. The novel follows the life of J.D. Vance, a Yale-educated attorney who grew up in central Ohio with his mother. His fami-ly suffers with poverty and drug addiction and J.D. struggles with his educa-tion. Through the aid of his grandmother (portrayed by Glenn Close), J.D. is able to overcome this cycle and achieve success. However, many have criticized the novel for its stance on poverty and, more accurately, the ability to escape poverty. Critics have also pointed out that Vance didn’t grow up in Appalachia-- he grew up in Middletown, Ohio. Some argue that Vance’s central claim --that those who work hard can escape poverty -- is flawed. Aside from your thoughts on Vance’s novel, there remainsome problems withthe film. First of
all, everything that made the book a sensation -- the socio-political commentary -- is stripped from the film. Second, its depiction of Appalachian culture has been regarded as inaccurate. From the opening shots of the film, we see the director’s perspective on Appalachia. The shots focus on the flora and fauna of the town, eerily reminiscent of a nature documentary. Then, after a few shots of rough-housing, we cut to an older Vance at a dinner with law partners at Yale. When

asked where he grew up, Vance replies with Kentucky and a hush falls over the table. While only a small portion of the
film, this interaction is a perfect analogy of the film’s perspective: Appalachia is an exotic place that consists of a single sto-ry. Another cringeworthy example comes towards the end of the film when Vance’s girlfriend mocks him for the way he pronounces syrup (he says “sur-up” as opposed to “see-rup”). Finally, the film doesn’t have much build. The story is just arepetition of fights betweenVance, his mother, and his grandmother. Unlike the book, the result is told to us in the first ten minutes, leaving us with few ques-tions. While there are many problems with the film, there are some benefits, mainly in the performances by Close and Adams. Yet even with these stellar ac-tors, the performances feel flat or mean-
ingless. The film shows constant fighting without giving the characters much room to build. Thus, even though the film had highly acclaimed directors, ac-tors, writers, and source material, it still fell surprisingly short.∎

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

December 2020	9

Ben Starkey John Kushman ‘21

Anytime you hear the name, Ben Stark-ey, it will never be with a bad connota-tion. I have known Ben for practically my whole life and am happy to say he is still the same as the kid I met when I was 5. Ben comes into any challenge he faces with a positive attitude, something that has captivated me and many others throughout the years. Ben, along with being a two sport varsity athlete, has always taken pride in creating high qual-ity work, whether it be in school or oth-er aspects of his life. His work ethic and attitude has set him up for a very suc-cessful and fulfilling life ahead of him. I am very thankful to have met Ben and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in the future. ∎

Graham Pierce David Kholodenko ‘21

I've known Graham for a long while now, and it goes without saying that he is a mad lad. He's quirky, funny, well-loved, and boasts a near-photographic memory, mak-ing him great at the many things he does. From leading the Trivia Team to memo-rizing practically all of history, he's cer-tainly a knowledgeable person and very fun to debate. I can still remember the thousands of questions he asked in AP World while the rest of the class egged him on in an effort to derail the class. Graham Pierce is a most interesting fel-low, and someone I am happy to call a friend. Thanks to him, classes are funnier,
the Wikipedia page for Orangutans is more accurate, and the world is a brighter place. ∎

Connor Roehrig Sophie Sawyers ‘21

Connor Roehrig and I have been friends since the fifth grade, possibly even before that when we played rec-reational soccer together. Over the years, I have learned that Connor is incredibly responsible, hard-working, smart, grounded, and optimistic. She has cheered me up after long days of school and has provided the encour-agement that I needed as a teammate on the soccer and track teams. We have participated in Chieftain togeth-er since freshman year, and we have both served as TSL's during our jun-ior and senior years. I am so glad that I have gotten to spend time with Con-nor through these extracurriculars, and I've enjoyed having classes like
AP Lang with her as well. Connor and I also have frequent breakfasts with friends at Toast and Berry along with occasional dinners at Bones Burgers, always filled with laughs and smiles. It was after one of these dinners that Connor bravely volunteered to get a stink bug out of my car and used my UDF ice cream cup to slowly scrape it off of my windshield (after I got so scared that I had to pull over). Connor has also been one of the few people to tolerate my need to listen to The Beatles in the car (for those wondering, her favorite song is "Twist and Shout") and I will truly miss seeing her eve-ryday after we graduate. Without a doubt, Connor is one of my best friends and I am so excited to see the things she accomplishes in the future!∎

Grace Galloway Sophie Sawyers ‘21

I have had the pleasure of knowing Grace Galloway since the fifth grade. While she may seem relatively shy and reserved to those who don't know her, her friends know that she is humorous, hard-working, smart, and dependable. Grace and I have participated in many extra-curriculars together, includ-ing DECA and Latin Club. It would be hard to forget our experience in Troy, Alabama at National Latin Conven-tion, when our dorm room flooded and we only ate Domino's Pizza for three days in a row. I will always re-member our first DECA
State competition as well, filled with Starbucks trips and stress about our role-play events. Our breakfasts at Toast and Berry have been filled with hilarious stories and delicious food, one of the things I will miss most after leaving high school. While our time at Indian Hill may be coming to a close, I am confident that Grace and I will remain friends for many years to come and I can't wait to see the amazing things that she will accomplish in the future! ∎

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS 10

Max Yanes Caleb Zender ‘21

December 2020

Sarah Motawi Ethan Marx ‘21

Intelligent, humorous, and god-tier CoD player are just a few words you could use to describe Max Yanes-Diehl. Max brings with him a lighthearted personality wherever he goes, instantly lighting up each and every room he enters. He manages to bring a bit of his rather iconic humor into every conversa-tion, bringing a smile to the face of anyone within earshot. Max excels academically and athletically, playing on both the soccer and basketball teams, and will undoubtedly attend a top-notch school for his college education. Over the past few years, I have enjoyed every last moment I have spent with Max. From forty-mile bike trips, to robotics, to movie
nights, he is a pleasure to be around all the time. Max has inspired me to grow as a student, as a person, and as a friend and I know, without a doubt, that I am a better person for knowing him, and will cherish the memories we’ve shared for the rest of my life. TL;DR: if you ever get a chance to mingle with Max, take it. You most definitely won’t regret it.∎

Katia Cristo Sydney Poffenberger ‘21

Where do I start? Katia Cristo is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet. She lights up every room she enters and can make anywhere she goes more fun. She never fails to make me laugh and can always have a great time, no matter where we are. She can also make a phenome-nal quesadilla, which is just one of her many skills! She is so deter-mined and passionate both in school and in her figure skating, which she is incredible at! She is truly one of the hardest workers I know, while still being such a humble and down to earth person, and I have no doubt that she will go on to do such amaz-
ing things after her time at Indian Hill. Knowing Katia throughout high school has been such an incredible blessing and i couldn’t ask for a better life
long friend.∎

Sarah is one of the most dedicated and kindest peo-ple at Indian Hill. I have had the pleasure of working with her in both Mock Trial and Courageous Con-versations over the past few years and can attest to her commitment to social justice and helping others. While Sarah is a fantastic student, she is also very funny. Between joking about terribly produced yet surprisingly entertaining Netflix shows, messing around at Mock Trial practice, or scouring 1920s Irish Census records, Sarah always brings energy, joy, and laughter to everything she does. I know that Sarah is going to go on to do wonderful things due to the kindness of her heart, the talent of her mind, and the energy she brings to everything she does!∎

Jessie Cleverly Reilly Grace ‘21

Ever since kindergarten, Jessie has always been an outgoing, caring, and awesome friend. Growing up, it was so nice knowing I had someone to de-pend on right down the street from me in Stur-bridge. Some of my fondest memories of us are playing badminton on your front lawn, going for drives in your car, and so much more. I also tend to do most school projects with her, like the TMP for Capstone and the Brain Book for Psychology. She is such a great partner to work with, we never not have fun while doing a project! Jessie, thank you for being such a great friend, and I am so proud of everything you have accomplished!∎

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

December 2020	11

Zoe Hindman Faye Hardek “21

It’s hard to believe that Zoe arrivedatIHonly four years ago;it feels like I’ve knownher forever. I’ll never forget the dayI was introducedto the shy goalie fresh out ofCalifor-nia. She seemed friendly right off the bat butlittle did I know we’d make unforgettable memories
together for the next four years. SeeingZoe blossom into the confidentand intelligentwoman she istoday has truly been a blessing. Whether it’s on the soccer field or inthe classroom, sheputs herwhole heart and soul intoeve-rything shedoes, and for that, shehas earned the respect of many. Zoe has the best taste in rom-coms of anyone I know and canalways be counted on to crack a joke to lightenthe mood, butabove all, she is a fierce friend. Thanks for stickingwith me, and I can’t waitto see what the futurehas in store for youZo! ∎

Jenny Zhang Vandita Rastogi ‘23

I met Jenny last year when we were seated together in AP Physics for the first quarter. I'm pretty sure we drove Mr. Debbink really crazy with our laughter over random
things because we were never as-signed the same table group again. In just one short year that was cut even shorter with the pandemic, I realized how much Jenny cares about the people around her. She lightens the atmosphere ineveryroom she en-ters, and she's always the first to crack a joke. She's been there to help with acceleration graphs to everyday life problems. I don't think I'll ever forget what happened in our pre-calc class last year, but it only proved how much Jenny values the people around her. Besides being a lively individual, Jenny is very hard-working. She has 4 varsity tennis let-
ters to her name, has doubles victories with her State team, and made it to the State quarterfinals this year with freshman Lexi Larsen. Not only that, she spends her time competing with the state-qualifying Sci-ence Olympiad and Robotics teams. Aside from her accolades, Jenny has proven to be a worthy friend, polished with humorous character andwarmth. I know that wherever her future endeavors lead her, she will be extremely successful, and I can't wait to hear all the amazing things she does. Good luck, Jenny! ∎

Meghan O’Brien Sydney Poffenberger ‘21

Even though I have only known Meghan for the short four years we’ve spent together in high school, I feel like I’ve known her for a lifetime. If it wasn’t for a fateful placement in Mrs Coultas' 3th period Freshman English class, I probably wouldn’t even be here writ-ing this. But thankfully, I am, and couldn’t be any happier to call Meghan one of my closest friends. Meghan has a personality and smile that instantly lights up a room the minute she walks in. Her grace and poise never cease to amaze me and her jokes never fail to make me laugh. Even though she is one of my best friends and we love hanging out with her, we know that come fall soccer season the chances of seeing Meghan out in public become slim. Meghan is an insanely talented soccer player and not a one time, but a TWO time state champ winner. So for those reasons we let her
perfect her craft and are totally stoked for the many months after, where we can have more crazy nights together. In addition, Meghan is so very intelligent and I know any college will be absurdly lucky to have her. We all love you very much, Meghan, and can’t wait to see the great things you will do in the future!∎

Saraus Anand Will Ford ‘21

Saraus Anand. A puzzling fellow - his digital prowess and remarkable intelli-gence were certainly a bit daunting when we first crossed paths. After strug-gling (or drowning, which ever is preferable) during a 200 yard butterfly at Princeton High School and enduring the perils of Coach Benson Spurling, Saraus quickly became a close acquaintance. I began to witness his witty sar-casm and nerdy jokes, and we soon became partners-in-crime - warm-down buddies in the most congested warm-down lanes, self-proclaimed masters of making the 500 yard freestyle somewhat tolerable, and most notably, great friends! I have determined, however, after sitting in Oxford for hours (in the freezing cold) staring at my mom’s burnt-out headlights (and proceeding to miss the pre-ACT the next morning...), Saraus epitomizes the virtue of em-pathy, lending a hand to me and those around him without hesitation. A un-faltering confidante. While we can all find him proudly gaming, using only the most cutting-edge technology, or trouncing his competitors in sprint freestyle events, I assure you that next year, he will be leaving his indelible mark on the world and changing the world for the better. You, my friend, have a bright future ahead of you. ∎

12	December 2020

IndianHill High
School
6865 Drake Road
Cincinnati,OH
45243
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Indian Hill High School Chieftain 2020 Volume 70, Issue 4

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