Jack Komasinski - La Porte Community School Corporation

Reflections Magazine 2024: open for submissions

Jack Komasinski

The Reflections Magazine for 2024—11:59 P.M.—has sprung open for submissions. The magazine itself is how it sounds: a magazine that hosts the thoughts and works of LPHS’ own creative minds in the form of any and all artwork. This includes original writing of any kind—short stories, poetry, and prose—and also art and photography.

Reflections has been going on since the early 1970’s, and the concept began with a few English teachers wishing to showcase student talents. Ever since then, the magazine has taken off and spread throughout the school like wildfire each year. Student-funded, each hand-drawn cover holds a myriad of pieces that hold a part of each author and artist’s self, and it’s easy to tell how well-loved Reflections is by its students.

“There are several reasons students should submit their work to Reflections. It’s a great way for students to get published and recognized for their writing or artwork. We have so many gifted writers here at La Porte High School, the magazine is just one more avenue to recognize their talents and to show the rest of the community what our students are capable of,” Brenda Cooper, the main coordinator of the Reflections team, said.

The parameters for submissions are few and far between. There’s no length requirement, and as long as it’s considered “school-appropriate”, it’s pretty much good to go for review. Submissions go to Mrs. Cooper in J.15, or email them to her at bcooper@lpcsc.k12.in.us.

The deadline is April 22nd, so be sure to send your submissions soon. Good luck! The Reflections team looks forward to seeing what’ll be sent their way.

Fall Out Boy live: a review

Jack Komasinski

Alright, if you know anything about me—and I mean anything, bare bones basics and all—you know how much I love Fall Out Boy as a band. Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz defined my childhood as much as Elton John did (which is, to emphasize, a lot), and I can place detailed memories to specific songs of theirs.

For instance, the first time I listened to “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up)” was around 2 a.m. while my mom was busy dragging my brother and me out of bed to see a Blood Moon. We drove all the way out into the farm fields, and we blasted the radio as we waited for the clouds to clear up, and for the moon, in all its glory, to light up.

I would bet money on that being the time I fell in love with this band. So it was only a matter of time before I managed to see them live, right? Right. I say this as if this wasn’t my fourth time seeing them in concert, but also I am insanely lucky to have experienced this at all.

During LPHS’ spring break, my family and I meandered our way down to the dredges of Kentucky. It was a long and beautiful week in a place I’d never expected to call beautiful, and at the end of it, we drove an hour to Lexington in order to see Fall Out Boy at the Rupp Arena. Gorgeous city, in my opinion, but I’ve always been fond of bustling streets and vendors wherever the eye could see. Rupp Arena in and of itself was a whole other story. It was packed—beyond the busy streets and people waving you down as you flitted store to store. I mean every single seat was taken, and everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs.

Let this be a reminder to my future self that I probably would not be able to stand the sheer overstimulation of this if said concert was not highlighting one of my favorite bands of all time. Now, the openers were fantastic as well. Carr, Hot Mulligan, and Jimmy Eat World were absolutely phenomenal performers, and they set the stage (quite literally) for an out-of-this-world show. I never thought I’d have the brief, confusing experience of wondering if I had epilepsy, but hey! That’s what makes it fun.

And then there was Fall Out Boy. With a killer opening of Ethan Hawke’s The Pink Seashell, Fall Out Boy blasts off with an insane show littered with pyrotechnics (imagine a flamethrower attached to a guitar—yeah, buddy) and bright, flashing lights that held the beat of Andy Hurley’s drums. There are no other words in my mind, even looking back on it, than awesome. It feels a little silly, but that’s exactly how I felt the entirety of the concert: in voice-losing awe.

Plus, they played one of my favorite songs of all time: Bang the Doldrums. Do you understand how hyped I was to hear those first notes? My God. The thing is, too, I wasn’t expecting it. Usually every concert has a setlist of the songs they plan to play so you can prepare yourself beforehand. Fall Out Boy likes to switch it up last minute to keep everyone on their toes, so I didn’t even bother to check. But bam! Those first few notes? Wild. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

To add icing on the cake: Patrick Stump was recovering from being sick, too. I couldn’t even tell, and, no, it’s not like I’ve formed a buddy-buddy relationship with a rockstar, but I feel like you can usually tell when a performer is sick or recovering from said sickness. It’s crazy! Especially with the fact that he decided he was going to sing a cover of Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen right after announcing that he wasn’t feeling tip-top. Hello? Power move. I about lost my mind.

All in all, the concert was fan-freaking-tastic, and a bunch of other words I can’t say because this is still a school newspaper, and I am not that favored by the administration. A wonderful show, and I hope I can see them again (yes, for a fifth time), because jeez. It never gets old, now does it?

Noguchi writing contest

By: Jack Komasinski

Isamu Noguchi was a critically acclaimed artist and landscape architect who specialized in sculptures and public artworks. He created a variety of lamps and furniture pieces as well as designed stage sets for several productions choreographed by Martha Graham—an American modern dancer. To celebrate his art and life, the Noguchi Writing Contest is being offered to LPHS students.

The two categories are poetry and short stories. Each submission must be inspired by, in some capacity, a piece of Noguchi’s artwork. The prize for each of the winning entries will be $500 awarded by Friends of Noguchi, who have dedicated their program to educating kids and students on Noguchi’s life.

“It’s a great way to appreciate a local artist that has international fame, and to showcase writing skills and highlighting this important person. It just seems like the perfect storm. Equation. Moment,” Brenda Cooper, the organizer and contact for the contest, said.

Submission entries should be turned into Mrs. Cooper in room J.15 or e-mailed to bcooper@lpcsc.k12.in.us by April 12th. Only one entry per section should be submitted. Good luck to every student entering!

True Detective: Night Country; I was wrong

By: Jack Komasinski

Ah, the update I’m sure everyone was waiting for with bated breath. Sorry about that. I was absolutely distraught after the finale, and so it took me a moment to try and gather my thoughts and wrestle them to the ground.

Not that the finale was bad—I actually really enjoyed it—I was just confident that I was right. Now look at me. Hubris gets you nothing, folks. Remember that.

Once more, before I get into the thick of it: This contains spoilers for the final episode(s) of True Detective: Night Country. Don’t like, don’t read, blah blah blah, etcetera. Don’t care? Wonderful. You may pass and hence witness the replicated, absolute breakdown I had while staring wide-eyed and teary at the screen.

The final episode goes exactly how I expected it to: the main suspect is found plausibly guilty as our main characters traverse through underground tunnels that lead back to the murder scene. He’s questioned—tortured, even, if you want to call it such—and his story matches pretty resolutely to my theory at hand.

Scientists find something that’s going to save the world, and they do find it, only for Annie K. to run in and crash it all to smithereens. In a fit of rage, the scientists (except, notably, the main suspect who is the only one alive at this point) murder Annie with their own tools before hiding the body.

So! The theory of this “world-saving specimen” actually being an organism bringing Annie K. back from the dead is like a puzzle piece fitting together within the entire picture. But that’s the thing—it’s a puzzle piece that doesn’t exactly fit. It’s loose. Wiggly. There’s no nice snap or slide of cardboard against another, instead a weird resistance in its stead. Rather than a nice feeling of satisfaction, there’s confusion and frustration.

Question is: Why? What’s not sliding into place?

Well, a little earlier in the show—which is having me realize that I should have done a mid-show review, but, hey, whatever—Night Country brings in the mines again. If you remember anything about the mines, you’ll know that they were the biggest thing Annie K. was protesting: they were poisoning the water, destroying the ecosystem, and tearing a mostly indigenous town to shreds for money. The mines were providing the scientists with the funds to continue their research—which doesn’t make sense in the grand scheme of things.

Why would the mines fund a research project that could potentially grant their downfall? And why would the scientists accept the money from the very business that’s causing such pollution to the land and experiments at hand?

The second question can easily be answered as greed, but what about the first one?

The final episode grants that answer with ease. Apparently, the scientists and mines were in cahoots: intentionally poisoning the land’s water to gain greater and faster results in the ice and the promise of money when their research paid off, but when Annie K. destroyed the samples, years and years of research were lost to the waters. Not to mention, it was stated Annie’s body was recovered rather than missing. And so, my theory falls apart. Not in a tumble—I did hold out hope a bit further in—but more like string by string.

So who—or what—really killed the scientists?

Our main characters discover that it was not in fact a ghost or revenant but rather the lab’s cleaning ladies in revenge for Annie’s death. The cleaning ladies were briefly introduced in Episode 1 and later on a few episodes later. The ladies tell them of what happened in the form of a “story,” the main message being this: They loved Annie, and they took matters into their own hands when they deduced who killed her because they could not trust the police, which is fair! It’s revealed that one of the cops in the town actually moved Annie’s body and covered for her murder.

Rather than shooting the scientists—since bullets can easily be traced back to guns, and hence a quick work-around rather than a giant mystery—the cleaning ladies lead the scientists back out onto the ice. Their reasoning was that if the environment or ocean didn’t take them, then the scientists could come back and find their clothes ready and waiting for them. They did not force them to wander the ice until they died, but the scientists did not come back either: full circle for their guilt, and the ice leading them to their deaths.

“What about the tongue?” Sure, I hear you, but the more you watch Night Country, the more you understand that the directors do a phenomenal job of tying in reality and unreality; the waking world and dreamscape; the breathing and the spirits. The tongue could easily be symbolized as a sign from Annie herself trying to tell the detectives that her death was linked to the scientists’.

Now that was a lot of information in so few pages, so I’m encouraging you to watch True Detective: Night Country. Overall, the story was witty and full of twists, and I did enjoy watching it. The ending—though it didn’t meet my own theory—was well done and frankly a good close to the story. But again: that’s only my opinion.

If you have seen Night Country and want to throw your two cents in, be my guest, but know that I probably won’t respond.

Ciao!

True Detective: Night Country: a theory

Jack Komasinski

HBO’s True Detective is a television series wrapped around two rival detectives banding together to solve a series of oddly supernatural-esque murders. There are four seasons in total, but if you were to ask me, I’d focus on Season 1 and 4. Why, you may ask? There’s a lot of reasons, but in my opinion, Season 1 and 4 are the most interconnected. Before I go into the thick of it, I do need to preface that this entire article is going to contain spoilers on Season 4 and honestly, a bit on Season 1. They’re connected. Everything I say on Season 4 will be, somehow and some way, connected to the first. So if you're interested in watching any of True Detective—and I mean any of it—click out of this article and save yourself some surprises.Skipped over that paragraph? Your eyes get all dim and weary with all those big, scary words? Let me say it again for the crowd: SPOILERS. Be warned.Glad to know we’re on the same page.The premise of Night Country is as follows: There’s a group of scientists in the middle of Alaska who suddenly go missing right as the region begins its state of polar night. They’re taking ice samples and looking for an old, extinct organism that, in their eyes, could be the key to life itself. However, that isn’t all: one scientist—right before they all miraculously vanish, mind you—says, “She’s awake,” right after having what appears to be a seizure. And as much as anyone can play that off as “crazy,” the viewers are shown a glimpse of a shadow whisking down the halls and a cut off tongue laying right below the table.The scientists are later found in the ice—yes, in the ice, collapsed in a pile of frozen gore and fear. Their bodies were damaged from themselves, the environment, and what looked to be foul play: clawing at their own eyes and face, burned corneas, frostbite, and looking as if they were frozen mid-scream. They were found completely naked with their clothes folded neatly beside them.Wonderful, right?Along with this mystery unfolding underneath our fingertips, Night Country also does a frankly fantastic job on focusing on the indigenous people of Alaska. A large focus point on the show is how racism and unethical work practices affect their land, their culture, and their people. In fact, a protester nicknamed Annie K. had spoken out against it time and time again until her eventual murder: over 20 or so star-shaped stab wounds and a cut out tongue that was never recovered.See where this is heading? No? Read it again. The whole article. Read it again. Then come back and continue. Thanks.Also, fun little side note, the only movie in the scientist’s little hub that is shown face-forward is The Thing 1982. If you haven’t seen it, the premise is similar to this. A creature of unknown origin takes the shape of different organic lifeforms, and guess what, it’s with a group of scientists estranged in the frosty region of Antarctica. This was in the first five minutes of Episode 1, by the way. Fun little Easter egg. Now, because HBO hates me—and because it needs to keep viewers engaged, sure—it only releases one episode each week. Right now, there are only three episodes in total available, so if my theory ends up being wrong, don’t look at me, don’t speak to me, because trust me: I’ll know. There’s nothing worse than thinking you connected all the right dots, only for the picture to be a cute little picture of a castle and not, in fact, Einstein.Anyway, for a show hinting strongly at ghosts and a spirit world, I don’t think that’s the case at all. If there’s one thing about True Detective, it’s that yes, there is something weird going on, something unexplainable, but it’s never what you originally think. And with the death of Annie K., The Thing 1982 making an appearance, and even a character witnessing the ghost of her dead husband, I have a feeling this is what Night Country wants us to think.Are ghosts in this? Absolutely. Ghosts can be a million different things after all: spirits, hallucinations, and most of all, memories. But I don’t believe that anything supernatural or spirit-like murdered those scientists. Take the fact that these were scientists trying to find what they called, “the origin of life.” They spent days and nights studying ice samples to simply discover a remnant of this extinct organism. The question—or questions–in this case are: What was their end goal when they did find it? And if that involved experiments or testing, as all scientists are wont to do, what—or who—would be the subject?Let’s circle back to Annie K.: an indigenous protester who appeared to be murdered for being outspoken against injustices. A tongue cut and a body stabbed; a culprit and vital piece of evidence unable to be recovered. Seems to fit the part, yeah? A woman practically despised by a part of her community—majorly white, might I add—then found dead and the case kept oddly hush-hush. Who would’ve said anything if, per se, her body disappeared after an autopsy report was done? Rather: who would’ve believed, or want to believe, anyone if they said that was exactly what happened?But then there raises the question of why. Why Annie? Well, Night Country answers that exact hypothetical question. Remember that scientist? The one that says, “She’s here,” before everything goes on the fritz? Yeah, so turns out he and Annie were in a relationship.You heard me. Or read me. Whatever. They were romantically involved is what I’m getting at. Even to the point where the man gets a copy of a tattoo of Annie’s placed right over his heart. But it doesn’t end there because of course, it doesn’t. Annie dies, and the detectives and audience combined find a trailer that the man and Annie used to…well…do unspeakable things in. This is a school article, guys. Gotta keep it PG. But hey, that aside, of course it isn’t a regular trailer! With, you know, house-made items and stuff. No! It’s weird and creepy because Mr. Scientist over here decides to build a shrine to Annie in the trailer.Not just a shrine of pictures. That’d be too easy. No, the man makes a whole life-sized straw doll, and places it in their once-shared bed. Yeah. There are also animal bones scattered around, scribbled pictures on the cabinets, pictures, and lights, and—oh, yeah, a carving of the tattoo they both shared on the ceiling. Like the man took a hunting knife and just went to town. It’s weird! It is awfully, disgustingly weird, and this is why we can’t have nice things.So, things are connecting bit by bit. A scientist trying to find the source of life ends up doing exactly that. Hellbent on trying to bring her back, he uses the corpse of his brutally murdered lover without his colleague’s knowledge—she’s put on ice, they’re in Alaska, it explains why it doesn’t rot, bear with me here—and it miraculously works. Glorious news to the scientist! Complete and utterly awful news to every other man there who wasn’t expecting a dead woman to come back to life. Right, almost forgot to mention: Mr. Scientist? Yeah, his body wasn’t found with the others in the ice. His body wasn’t found period. There’s a good chance this man is still alive. And doesn’t it make sense that if, per se, a dead woman—a probably furious dead woman at being murdered, that is—only spares the life of her lover? Or, if she didn’t kill them and the scientists ran out into the cold, scared witless, doesn’t it make sense for the only person to not do that be the man who loved her more than life itself?Honestly, this theory probably raises a lot more questions than answers, but I’m confident I got at least part of the plot right. Part of it. (See, I say this, and watch me be wrong the moment Episode 4 drops this Sunday night, February 4th. I never said I was a genius.)If you’ve read this far and are interested in Night Country: watch Season 1 first. You’ll understand a lot more of the Easter eggs scattered around in every episode. If you decide to ignore me and go watch Season 4 anyway, then fine. It’s not like I can tell you what to do. I can only strongly—very, very strongly—suggest otherwise. Now, that aside, there’s a high probability I missed a few details, or I even got some things slightly wrong. I will rightfully admit that I did not watch the show as I was typing out this article. So if you see discrepancies or little add-ons that I forgot to mention, don’t worry: I’ll probably realize it a day after posting and wallow in the misery of being a “fake fan.”Anyway, if you’ve read this far and have seen up to Episode 3 in True Detective: Night Country, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. If you have read this far knowing nothing about True Detective and are since interested, then I applaud you. Have fun, and try your best to not freak out like I did. Ciao.

On the go

Last week, LPHS German and Spanish Clubs drove to Chicago to immerse themselves within the cultures they’re studying. Chicago isn’t Germany, nor is it Spain; however, the trip offered a multitude of experiences that stuck with students and teachers alike.

Before exploring Lincoln Park Square, the German Club first stopped at Dank Haus, a cultural museum chock full of artifacts and documents dating back to WWI. They stopped by bookstores, a German apothecary, and a European grocery store. Then, they made their final stop at the Christkindl market—buying authentic, home-made treats as well as Christmas decorations.

The Spanish Club, on the other hand, had split off to go to eat at an authentic Mexican restaurant called El Gallo Bravo. Here, students practiced their Spanish skills while delving into fresh food. They then stopped by a panadería—a bakery known for its sweet breads—before diving headfirst into Chicago’s Field Museum.

Both groups took a royal excursion branded bus back to La Porte, and they arrived at the high school at exactly 5:00 p.m. Both groups had a fulfilling trip to and from Chicago, and many students are excited to do it again next year.

Get Smart: play in review

By: Jack Komasinski

Slicer thespians gave it their all while presenting a riveting story about secret agents, a Scandinavian princess, and an evil organization called ‘Chaos.’ Get Smart was an all-around adventure filled with a hilarious cast and a unique set.

Get Smart is a story about two agents, 86 and 99 (respectively played by Ryker Russel and Anna Donnelly), on a mission to save the Scandinavian princess Ingrid (played by Kirstyn Mosier) from the group Chaos, whose mission is to destroy the Statue of Liberty. It’s witty and intriguing, keeping the audience easily hooked, and a two-hour show passes in what feels like only minutes.

The play itself was wonderfully constructed thanks to La Porte’s very own Hansons, who not only directed the play but put their talents to use in set design and costuming. With a circular, moving platform, scene-by-scene changes were fluid, and the props were beautifully portrayed. The effort that was put in by the actors and technician crew alike was obvious, and it paid off tremendously. Though this wasn’t a Broadway show, there were definitely elements that made Get Smart feel similar to one.

Not to mention, the entire mood of the play was lighthearted and humorous. With colorful expressions and jokes, Get Smart kept the audience laughing from beginning to end. Even in more of the serious, tense scenes, the actors kept the audience grinning with well-timed cues and quips.

When asked about her favorite part of Get Smart, lead actress Anna Donnelly goes into depth about how she loved almost every part with how ecstatic she was.

“Anytime an actor took creative liberties was one of my favorite parts. It made the show so much more comedic, where even everyone off stage was struggling not to laugh. My favorite character, though? Had to be Garth,” said Donnelly.

Personally, my favorite part of the play was when the underling Garth (played by Felix Goff) started keeping tabs on agents 86 and 99, only to get “shot” in the head and dragged off stage. The entire scene was hilarious, and it was funnier when the character came back on stage with only a bandage wrapped around his head.

Leon wins Lilly Scholarship

Jack Komasinski

La Porte High School’s very own Stephanie Leon received a surprise on December 5th: She was named a winner of the Lilly Endowment Scholarship.

The Lilly provides four-year, full-tuition scholarships to the selected winners in each Indiana county. Leon was one of three of LPHS’ finalists, and her dedication and ambition were what pushed her to one of the winning spots.

Leon spent hours of hard work throughout her educational career, and she had been both cheery and sentimental when it had finally paid off.

“It's truly an indescribable feeling! Oftentimes, I would feel overwhelmed by the multiple things I’d have to do and want them all to be perfect. I could’ve never imagined that all those previous emotions and struggles would lead to this. And the fact that I got to do all of it alongside Megan was a bonus that brought nothing but joy,” Leon said.

Leon has a total of 13 AP classes under her belt—including AP Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology—while also having participated in eight different extracurriculars. She has been president of the LPHS French Club, an active member in cross country and soccer, and a part of the National Honors Society.

Teachers have noticed her neverending resolve as well.

“Stephanie is an individual driven to reach beyond the ordinary to the stars. This award is going to allow her to go to her dreams and is well deserved,” LPHS Chemistry teacher Starr Rice said.

Leon, having always migrated toward the STEM field, plans to go to Purdue University for college. That doesn’t mean she isn’t lenient, however, as she has adapted the mindset of “wherever life takes you, it will work out.”

Finally, Leon goes a bit further on how the Lilly application process was and how it affected her specifically.

“The application process really wasn’t as bad as you would expect. It definitely made me reflect on the past years of my life and all the factors and obstacles I encountered. It also helped me assess what goals and aspirations I have and what things I’ve done to accomplish them, whether intentionally or subconsciously,” Leon said.

Hardworking and driven, Leon goes above and beyond in everything that she does. It’s no wonder she received a winning spot. Congratulations, Stephanie Leon; LPHS is proud to have you as a student.

Importance of college visits

By: Jack Komasinski

With the heavy promise of graduation and new beginnings, it can be difficult for seniors and juniors alike to tackle not only the idea of college but, for some, the reality of it. The questions are endless. Where do you go? What’s the best college? What’s the major you’d like to study? Private or public? Does it matter?

I’m a senior myself, and I’m going through the same thing. I would love to major in linguistics while minoring in creative writing, and finding a university that fits not only that criteria but for me as a person is a certain kind of torture. The college process is hellish. There’s no other word for it. A million different websites, a thousand repetitive emails, and the mounds of junk mail stuffed into a mailbox are exhausting. Not just to sift through, but to shoulder the pressure of taking that next step towards the future.

First thing first: No matter what students want to study or what career they’d like to pursue, they need to visit colleges. Not just the one they’re dead set on, either, but a variety. What can seem like the best college in the area may not be the best fit, and a student might not realize this until they’ve already gone all in.

I experienced this firsthand. As someone who wanted full-heartedly to go to college in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I was surprised to realize that I didn’t like the campus, and that alone saw my excitement for the school dwindle. The same happened for Purdue, which was number two on my list until I landed on IU-Bloomington. While a great deal of students aren’t overly fond of the stretching distances the IU campus has to offer, I fell in love with it. It reminded me of the hikes my family and I would take whenever we camped, and the buildings themselves had already sparked inspiration for a project I’d been working on. A college once close to the near end of my list, it skyrocketed to number one.

Some tips and tricks on what to do when trying to figure out if the college you’re visiting is the best fit for you, because “the one” might not be love at first sight:

1. Take the tours that are offered. Many colleges will offer a guided tour of the campus while describing the history, hotspots, and honorable mentions. There may be a secret or two depending on the tour guide, or there might just be some common “do’s” and “don’ts” to jot down. 2. Talk to a counselor. Whether in person or in an email, talking to a counselor about what the college offers in general and what it will offer you will make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things. Counselors can point you towards specific buildings, classes, and clubs, and even set you up to converse with professors and long-time students alike. 3. Wander the campus on your own time. Wonder what you’ll enjoy about the campus presented and what you won’t. Is the campus too close to a city? Are the buildings spaced too far apart, or are they clustered together? Are dorms offered, and if you’re thinking of living off-campus, are their apartments nearby? Finding out your general preferences will not only help scratch off potential colleges, but it will also help you add more if need be.

Finally, if students decide they want to go down for a college visit and will be missing school for it, then there are request forms down at the office. Juniors and seniors are offered up to three of their respective years. These forms will exempt students from any absences, and they won’t count toward their amount of excused and unexcused absences.

These tips aren’t just for show. They’re what helped me as well as many of my friends figure out where to go, and if that college is right for us. If I hadn’t followed through with any of these, there’s a good chance that I would be enrolled in a college I would end up hating. Or, worse, be bored with it. That shouldn’t be what the right college feels like. Hopefully, this helps those struggling with the options they’re being presented with. Know that wherever you end up, though, is simply the beginning of a larger adventure. I wish you all the best.

Community Poetry Night

By: Jack Komasinski

La Porte High School’s English teacher Benjamin Pitts is hosting a community poetry night on Friday the 17th.

Featuring LPHS students and local community members, the event will be filled with original poets baring their hearts and souls in ink. It’ll be a night to remember and certainly one to enjoy.

The poetry night will be held within the store Books & Whimsy and accompanied by Allen Street Roasters, a coffee company that is making an appearance for writers and audience members alike. Along with live readings, baristas will be on hand selling their own artisan beverages. The event begins at 6:00 p.m., and entry is free for everyone.

Students are excited to share their own poetry with the La Porte community. Some students haven’t been presented with an opportunity like this before, and so this will be a first for many people.

“I am ecstatic to be reading my poem. I have never done anything like this before, and this is such an amazing opportunity to share my words with other people around La Porte,” sophomore Evie Yeaney said.

We’re excited to see everyone support our very own budding poets.

LPHS Lilly Scholarship Finalists

By: Jack Komasinski

La Porte High School is proud to announce its three Lilly Scholarship finalists—Megan Lambert, Stephanie Leon, and Brayden Sobecki.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a program designed to help attain and raise educational fulfillment. Each Lilly Scholarship provides four-year, full-tuition scholarships to the selected winning students from each Indiana county.

“The Endowment believes that education at all levels is important to the personal, civic, and economic well-being of Indiana’s residents and communities. This program aims to encourage many of Indiana’s most talented students to attend one of the state’s higher education institutions and, ultimately, pursue careers in Indiana,” claimed the official website.

Lambert excels as both a student and a candidate. She has shouldered eight AP classes and 14 extracurricular activities, including being the #1Student for LPHS at Greatnews.life, a member of the National Honors Society, and being chief editor for LPHS’ official newspaper. Her pleasant personality, high grades, and valued attendance has also won Lambert a great deal of awards and honors.

Leon is both hardworking and ambitious in and out of the classroom. She has, and is continuing to, complete a total of 13 AP classes. But that isn’t all, seeing as how Leon is a part of eight extracurricular clubs–the most notable being her time as the president of LPHS’ French Club and a member of the National Honors Society. She’s also been selected for Principal’s Honor Roll several years in a row.

Sobecki is driven and studious in all he does. While balancing eight different AP classes in the classroom, he’s also involved in 10 different extracurriculars outside of it notably, teaching kids at Riley after school for STEM Club and working a job at a parks department during the summer. Sobecki is a three-time State qualifier for cross country, and he has also received four gold medals for ISSMA.

The Lilly Scholarship winners will be announced mid-December. The Slicer family hopes that one of our finalists receives the good news.

Christopher Iselman Writing Contest returns

Jack Komasinski

The annual Christopher Iselman Writing Contest begins February 1st, and all submissions must be in by 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 22nd, with winners announced in May.

The Christopher Iselman Writing Awards is a contest specific to LPHS students that promotes their original writings.

“Christopher Iselman was a student in the LPHS class of 1970. He had a passion for writing and was an excellent writer. When Christopher died during his senior year, his parents and teachers organized these awards to honor his love of writing. The LPHS English Department has presented the Iselman Awards every year since 1974,” the official Christopher Iselman information document stated.

The Iselman contest is split into four categories: short stories, poetry, personal narratives, and essays. Each category allows for two different submissions except poetry, which allows for three. Students can submit entries in all categories, and works must be submitted anonymously to any English teacher.

All written submissions are judged anonymously by the LPHS English department. Entries must be typed: double-spaced and in a 12-point font with the title of the piece before starting the first line. Students also need to attach a typed title page with the title of the original piece once more stated, the student’s name, and the category the entry falls within. The student’s name cannot appear on the first page.

“I think it’s important to recognize young writers. I think it gives them value and appreciation for their work, and that gives them confidence to explore other genres or try to perfect their own. It’s important for them to be recognized, and that the rest of the school sees what talented writers we have because we have so many. It’s truly amazing,” Mrs. Cooper, the contest coordinator, said.

Winners of the Iselman Writing Awards will receive certificates and plaques, and they will have their names engraved on a permanent plaque within the school.

Slicer Spotlight: Anna Donelly

By: Jack Komasinski

La Porte High School student actress Anna Donelly takes the stage with a vibrant presence and comedy that flows as natural talent.

Donelly has starred in almost every play LPHS has had to offer with roles such as The Wizard in Once Upon a Mattress and the upcoming lead of Agent 99 in Get Smart falling easy to her energetic, comical personality.

“It’s just really been that… I love being on the stage and just having fun. Sometimes, you know, you get stage fright, and that was the case for my freshman year. But then after that, you know, you go through this a few times and know: I’ve done this before. I can do it again; I know my lines, and I’ll put on a damn good show,” Donelly said.

Donelly recently passed an acting and modeling class for an agency in Chicago with flying colors. She will soon be signed in order to go out in the world to audition as a proud, working actress; however, rather than majoring in theater and acting, she will minor in it and focus her full attention on something else.

“[Acting] can be draining, sometimes. You see me coming out of theater rehearsal, and I just look like I’m about to fall over. Exhausted, you know? And it’s nice to have something else you like to go back to,” Donelly explained.

With acting, modeling, school, and work all piled right on her shoulders, Donelly does not shy away from the fact that her life is stressful, as exciting as it is. To combat this, she hangs out with her friends and family, works out, and rests often.

Donelly’s shoulders are broad enough to carry the busyness of her professional and personal endeavors.

If you haven’t already, go see Donelly in the upcoming play Get Smart on November 30 through December 2.

Amazing Devil rankings

If you’re familiar with The Witcher series on Netflix, then you most likely know the character Jaskier—a famous bard traversing the Continent with catchy songs and an overall upbeat attitude. His talent flows through each scene, connecting one plot point to another, and he leaves you wanting to hear more.

Well, his actor Joey Batey weaves his way through the music industry alongside actress Madeleine Hyland with a band of their own: The Amazing Devil. A folksy, alternative band that flows from powerful to soft within a click of the switch, each album paints a different, yet no less beautiful and haunting image. Here are two of my personal favorites from each album to, hopefully, convince you to give them a listen.

Album: Love Run

1. “King” is a song that begins slowly before blossoming in strings and drums. Hyland’s voice echoes, stretching like that of a storm on the oceanside. After a brief interlude, Batey swings inward with all the power of a thunderstorm. The story is this: They will protect the king from whatever darkness plagues him, and they will not fall into the waiting hands of Hell. There is madness there, in this adventure, but that can be held off as long as they have one another by their side.

Favorite lyric(s): You fumble through the dark / However wide and deep and far, my dear / The waves made of fingers and the madness that lingers / Rips into the bark of our bones.

2. “New York Torch Song” portrays two wedded lovers fighting. The anger grows, infects, and festers, and while their love is killing them, it is also simultaneously giving them a chance at rebirth. Hyland and Batey meet each other beat for beat, breath for breath, frustrated painting their words while playing the roles of their respective characters. They bring their talent in acting and weave it effortlessly into each lyric.

Favorite lyric(s): Are you god or devil, ghost disheveled? / Childhood friend or drunken revel? / I cannot stop, I’m bleeding out for you / You angel-heart, you monster, oh / Some godforsaken Prospero

Album: The Horror and the Wild

1. “Farewell Wanderlust” is a song in which a woman slips into a bar, haunted by the image of a past lover, of guilt, silence, and anxiety. She is prompted by men, and she leaves them with the remembrance of her strength. The song then fades to the man, the ghost, and the devil that follows as he fades into the woman’s fears and eventual confidence. With a soft start of a piano, the song becomes tense and sharp before finally cracking and revealing the contents within.

Favorite lyric(s): Goodbye to all my darkness, there’s nothing here but light / Adieu to all the faceless things that sleep with me at night / This here is not makeup, it’s a porcelain tomb / And this here is not singing, I’m just screaming in tune

2. “Battle Cries.” Two friends, two lovers, and a song that splits into two different perspectives. They have grown from their pasts and futures and anger. This is the end of a fight, whether it be for better or for worse. This is the beginning of something new. Hyland and Batey once more match each other, back to back, even as they sing different lyrics at the same time, shout and whisper, plead and scoff. They were gods. They were kids.

Favorite lyric(s): With you, I could summon the gods and the stars (Come on love, please, don’t start) / Watch them dance out the plays that we wrote from the heart (Sing your notes, play your part) / And we’d laugh at the ghosts of our fears (Then we’ll leave) / We were gods, we were kids.

Album: Ruin

1. “The Calling.” A slow build of a song that only Hyland sings. She whispers and breathes, before shouting, howling, and calling as the music finally crescendos. Looking back on the person she once was, a woman stares at her reflection in the river and does not recognize the face reflected. She does not recognize, nor understand, the person she has become. She’s left someone behind, and though she still loves him, a part of her has since died waiting. She embraces it, even as the voice of the past whispers that it believes in her.

Favorite lyric(s): And I promise you I’ll write “I love you” / With my fingers on your sleeping hand / And when that fox howls, I’ll howl with it / In its cries I’ll find an end / And when I think I’m fine, you’ll visit / And then you happen to me, you happen to me all over again.

2. “Secret Worlds.” An immediate upbeat, powerful song that tells the story of two partners retelling stories of their own adventures while never abandoning the other. This is the conclusion of an argument long since had. This is the conclusion of a story foretold by the past two albums. This is the beginning of the end. And Batey and Hyland both portray this perfectly. They shout to the rooftops, their voices instruments of their own, and you are left listening to not just music, but a story told in three parts.

Favorite lyric(s): ‘Cause I will suffer silence for the strings you tune / And I’ll withstand what’s written for the writer in you / Write me well, my love, write me weird / Write me willing, write me well.

In conclusion, listen to The Amazing Devil—even if it’s only a song or two rather than the entire album. They tell stories, they act, they play a part in each song they write and portray, and I haven’t heard a band like them before.

Can I Get Your (Enneagram) Number?

By: Jack Komasinski

From something as simple as taking a What Color are You? quiz on Buzzfeed to the complex Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, personality quizzes are an entertaining and popular way to try and create an understanding of oneself. Even if, nine times out of ten, they’re only taken for quick and easy fun.

None seem to be as accurate, though, as the Enneagram Personality Test.

The Enneagram is an emotionally based personality test focused on understanding. It delves into the tested person’s core fears and motivations before fitting them into one of nine numbers. These numbers have their own strengths and weaknesses and their own drives about how the world works—all centered around core fears and desires led by either the heart, head, or gut. Some are more emotionally focused, others are intellectually based, and some are instinctual.

For instance, Type 2s would be focused emotionally. They are considered “The Giver;” people in this category find themselves wanting to be well-liked and to help anyone else in need. Meanwhile, Type 8s are their counterparts. 8s are “The Challenger,” following gut instinct to seek and stand up for what they believe in without caring if they are liked for it.

A resident 2 of La Porte High School, Miss Parker, explained why she finds the Enneagram test so important.

“I find [the Enneagram test] useful, because it tells me a lot about my students without the awkwardness of them presenting. If I get a 7, someone who’s chipper and fun, I know I sort of need to beat around the bush if things need correcting—so I don’t accidentally hurt them by being too direct,” Parker said. “But if I get a 1, a perfectionist, I know I need to be as blunt as possible since they won’t appreciate the hesitance.”

Of course, a personality test cannot pinpoint every little thing about someone, and some number types may be correct in one aspect and incorrect in another. An Enneagram can fluctuate just as it can change completely. But that’s not to say it isn’t interesting or entertaining to do in the first place.

Take the test here.

The numbers:

1. “The Perfectionist” — These are people who love to do things by the book, and they work hard to avoid mistakes. Their best is what they strive for, whether that be at home, work, or in relationships.

2. “The Giver” — 2s are naturally helpful, nurturing, and caring towards others. They want to belong and be loved by others, and so they’ll often put another person’s needs above their own.

3. “The Achiever” — People who are always driving to accomplish more. 3s are distinguished through their productivity and success, and they are confident and charismatic.

4. “The Individualist” — 4s are unique and creative, and they strive to be seen as who they are. They are deeply connected with their emotions, making them compassionate and original thinkers.

5. “The Investigator” — These people prioritize self-sustainability and value knowledge and information. They often see large issues with accuracy and clarity, making them precise and to the point.

6. “The Skeptic” — 6s seek security and facts in order to maintain safety; they are always alert and vigilant. Once trusting, these types of people are severely loyal and protective to those around them.

7. “The Enthusiast” — Relentlessly curious and optimistic, 7s are eager for adventure and exploration. They avoid negativity as much as they’re able to, focusing instead on excitement and thrill.

8. “The Challenger” — These people are not afraid to speak their minds or stand against injustice. They are assertive, protective, and they strongly believe in fighting for what they believe in.

9. “The Peacemaker” — Like the name suggests, these types of people strive to maintain harmony. They are able to diffuse major conflicts by being gentle, agreeable, and easy to be around.

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