Have you ever picked up a history book and gone: Wow, this would make a great rap album? No? Me neither.
For Lin Manuel Miranda, on the other hand, it seemed like a no-brainer. To him, the life of our first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton was modern music just waiting to happen. With songs like Guns and Ships, Right Hand Man, and My Shot, Miranda gave us a way to connect to our American roots in an unconventional and frankly genius way. By bringing it to the stage, he pulled the characters from the pages of dusty old volumes and made them new and exciting once again. His masterpiece? Hamilton: An American Musical. Before listening to Hamilton, I knew what everyone else knew about the Revolutionary War. I knew about “no taxation without representation” and General George Washington. I knew about The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, The Boston Tea Party, the redcoats. However, I never really thought much about it. The founding of our country never interested me because I could never connect to it. Hamilton changes all of this. Through 46 songs, the story of our country is illustrated in a way that appeals to a larger audience while still remaining true to the majority of the facts. This is highlighted by the fact that Hamilton is, as of January 6th, number 8 on iTunes list of most sold albums of 2016, over a year after the album was released. The new Hamilton mixtape, a collection of Hamilton themed songs and covers by famous hip hop artists, is number 25 on the same list. As more proof of its popularity, the musical won 11 different Tony Awards, which is just short of a record amount. One record it did break, however, was the amount of Tony nominations the musical had, which was a mind blowing 16! The tale of America’s early years is accessible and relatable in the retelling that is Hamilton. One reason for it being such a popular phenomenon is the fact that the cast is made up of people of all different races. In Lin’s words, it’s “America then played by America now.” This allows us to see the founders of our country in a different way because instead of white men in wigs, we see people that we could pass on the street. The musical also addresses themes that are important in today’s world as well as in Alexander Hamilton’s. For one thing, mortality is a heavier theme that takes its place in the musical, as evidenced by the repetition of the line “I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.” This theme will always be relevant, because it is an unavoidable truth that all things eventually die, and we as a species will always view the subject with some sort of foreboding. Whether we wonder about it as often as Hamilton did or never really think about it, it is an inevitable fact of life. Another related topic, and perhaps one explored more in depth, is the idea of legacy. Alexander Hamilton was obsessed with what he would leave behind in the world once he had departed from it. To him, it was important above almost all else. A line from the song The Room Where it Happens evidences this. “God help and forgive me, I want to build something that’s gonna outlive me.” Hamilton was an ambitious man. What people thought of him, especially when he was gone, mattered greatly to him. Throughout the show, he proved this over and over. He also proved that anyone can make their way in the world. Hamilton did this by being “non-stop.” He was completely relentless in his pursuit to “rise up” in the world. He did this through writing, fighting, and often a combination of both. They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, but for Hamilton, having one wasn’t enough. He fought under George Washington during the war, took his part in quite a few duels, and wrote about practically everything all the time. This was very true to historical facts. The real Alexander Hamilton left us novels and novels worth of essays, letters, and other documents. Hamilton: an American Musical showcases our country’s story, spanning the years and creating a bridge between then and now. It gives us insight into the lives of our forefathers in a creative and inventive way that is enjoyable for all listeners. By: Sarah Hayward -- Staff Writer As a part of Marlborough High School’s Early College Pathways program, students enrolled in Quinsigamond Community College’s English Composition & Literature I course went on a field trip to QCC. On Thursday, Nov. 17, over 60 students in Mrs. Bento’s, Mr. Henry’s, and Mrs. Johnson’s classes filed into Hebert Auditorium to listen to a keynote address by award-winning Haitian-American author, Edwidge Danticat. Danticat’s memoir, Brother, I’m Dying, was this year’s One Book Project for all QCC students. The memoir poignantly touched upon themes of family, perseverance, and love. During her address, Danticat spoke eloquently about the events that moved her to write her memoir, specifically about her uncle’s tragic death at the hands of U.S. immigration authorities. She also incorporated Haitian proverbs, such as “words have wings,” to emphasize the impact words have on individuals to promote change in our world. After her address, students Tatiana Gaudet and Keven Melo each had the opportunity to ask Danticat questions. Gaudet asked Danticat how she was able to recall, with vivid detail, events that took place when her uncle was ailing. Melo asked Danticat if she was ever able to go back to Haiti to fulfill her uncle’s dream of building up his community. Danticat graciously responded to over 25 student questions before the afternoon was over. Text and photos: Karen Bento, Newspaper Club Advisor MHS students pose in front of QCC's Supranent Hall after keynote address. Award winning author, Edwidge Danticat, speaks with the audience. Students Tatiana Gaudet (left photo) and Keven Melo (right photo, center) ask Danticat questions after the keynote address.
The feeling of gloom
The feeling of depression The villains’ top favorite The coal from mines The night sky The ash spread all over The fur color of an animal The hair of a human The eyes of a human The symbol of gothism The darkness The symbol of evil The seduction The rich and wealthy Death’s cloak The atmosphere of horror Most common for funerals The symbol for Halloween
The week before April vacation, Marlborough High School students were excited about the upcoming break. But they were also excited about something else. The week of April 11-15 was Kindness Week at MHS, hosted by the MHS Student Council. “Students were talking during one of our meetings, and they really wanted to change the culture around the school,” said Ms. Wheeler, StuCo advisor. Recently, Student Council members attended a leadership conference in Hyannis where they listened to leadership consultant Houston Kraft speak about love and kindness. StuCo members felt that Kraft’s message was one they wanted to bring back to MHS, and developed Kindness Week as a means of spreading that message. The week prior to Kindness Week, StuCo members visited homerooms and showed students a video produced by Kraft called “Perspectacles”. (To watch the video, click on the link below.) The video follows an insensitive teen as he walks throughout his high school and insults or is rude to everyone he passes. That is, until he finds the “Perspectacles”. When the student puts them on, he is able to see what others are going through and how they view themselves. As he passes one girl for example, he learns that her father passed away. With the help of the “perspectacles”, he develops an attitude of kindness and learns the importance of considering another’s point of view. After showing students this video, StuCo members explained the events and the purpose of Kindness Week. They stressed that “you never know what somebody’s going through. Giving them a compliment or helping them or saying hi can completely change their day.”
The next week was Kindness Week. On Monday, students walking in the door received lollipops from smiling Stuco members with positive sayings attached. Tuesday was “Be Kind, Be Bright” day. Everyone, even the administrators, wore neon or bright clothing. Wednesday was Random Act of Kindness Day, Thursday was Appreciation Day, and Friday was MHS Spirit Day and High-Five Friday. By the end of the week, the lockers and hallways were covered with quotes about kindness, and many students had swapped cookies and candy. Some students thought the week was cheesy, but others thought it was about time. Many students said, “we shouldn’t be dedicating one week to kindness, it should be every week.” And for Stuco, that was the point. “Perspectacles” Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-vHSXo23TE By: Jennie O’Leary -Staff Writer Photos: Courtney Wheeler, StuCo Advisor On March 25, seven students went to the library to meet with author Ozge Samanci to discuss her memoir Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey. There was no woman wearing a visitor’s tag, however. Instead, Samanci answered the students’ questions over Skype from her home in Chicago. This opportunity was arranged by MHS School Librarian Alyson Cox, who originally discovered Samanci’s memoir while reading on a snow day. “I knew reading it that students would really identify with this book,” Cox said. She started sharing the book’s trailer with students and classes visiting the LMC. Soon, a group of about ten students was reading the book.
Samanci grew up in Turkey during the 1980s and 1990s. In her memoir, Samanci reveals how she followed her dream of becoming an artist and a writer against the wishes of her parents and the restrictive expectations of Turkish society. An artsy, creative, and outspoken girl, she did not fit into a culture where women were expected to live in subservience to men. In Turkey, teenagers took intelligence tests that determined whether or not they qualified for college and placed them on career tracks based on their scores. Samanci’s test results placed her on a science and math track, and she was expected to become a teacher or an engineer. But she knew in her heart she could never be happy doing either of those things. Samanci went to college to become an artist and now teaches art at a college in Chicago. Samanci tells her story in the form of a graphic novel, which made it a quick read for the students in the MHS book group. Her comedic, honest style of writing adds a touch of humor to what she told MHS students was a painful topic to write about. She told the students over Skype that she was afraid of two things while writing the memoir. She painted her family as very harsh, unsupportive and overbearing, and was afraid of how they would react the book. She was also afraid of how other Turks would treat her family once the book was out, for now other Turks would know her family had a dissenting, disappointing daughter. Cox said the students strongly identified with Samanci’s experience, and asked her many questions about how she dealt with wanting something completely different than what her parents wanted for her. Samanci told students the best thing to do was to “follow your hearts”, and everything will eventually come together. She also told them they can blend their interests: “you don’t just have to pick one,” she said. Cox was thrilled about the event. “Ozge was a great author to start out with. She was so funny, warm and friendly. She was inspiring. And the kids really want to do this again!” Cox has already confirmed a second Skype call with Lance Rubin, author of Denton Little’s Death Date. The book takes place in a world where every child knows his death date from the day he is born. Denton Little’s death date is tomorrow: the day of the prom. “It’s filled with tons of dark humor,” Cox says. Students interested in the book group can speak to Mrs. Cox in the LMC. By: Jennie O’Leary Staff Writer Photo credit of Ms. Cox
I think of her sweet innocence
I think of her awful silliness I think of her chewing bubble gum I think of her near nature I think of her picking flowers I think of her standing in the sunrise I think of her love for bunnies I think of her wearing ribbons I think of her feeling for hope I think of her wearing spring dresses But mostly I think of her as a princess -- Meg McCabe Staff Writer The perfect girl color
The feel of hope The flaws of silliness and immaturity The soul of innocence The thoughts of bunnies The color of the sky at sunset and sunrise The other kind of lemonade The other symbol for nature The accessories, jewelry and makeup The strawberry and kiwi ice cream The bubble gum The flowers in the fields The pigs and flamingos The symbol for princesses The common girly crown The ribbons of a girl The ballet shoes The skin of a baby The perfect heart The symbol for Valentines Day -- Meg McCabe Staff Writer The blood of a human
The first color of the rainbow The cherries, strawberries and apples The leaves of autumn The peppers, tomatoes and watermelon slices The roses of the garden The candy that people enjoy The common lipstick The color of flags The feeling of rage and embarrassment The skin pigment from the sun The fire and passion The “Stop” sign in traffic Satan’s favorite The rubies of underground mines The color of somebody’s hair The planet of Mars The eyes of evil people The birds, fish, and fox The ladybugs The crabs and starfish The symbol for Christmas and Valentine’s Day
It’s that time again: the holidays are over and a new year has begun. Everyone is formulating plans and setting goals because this year is going to be THE year. New Year’s resolutions are great to set, but when it comes to keeping them, many lose their January 1 enthusiasm. A survey conducted by the University of Scranton shows that of the 45% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, only about 8% fully achieve what they set out to do. But don’t let these statistics disappoint you. Look instead at the stories behind the statistics. Marlborough High School Guidance Counselor Erika Bailey is living proof that it is not impossible to set and keep far-reaching goals. Although not done because of a New Year’s Resolution, Ms. Bailey ran the Boston Marathon in 2015, her first marathon. Ms. Bailey had not always been a long-distance runner. She competed in track in high school, but was always a sprinter. She found her love of long distance running later in life through a group of runner friends. “For me,” Ms. Bailey says, “running is how I stay grounded. It’s uninterrupted time just to think. No matter what else is going on in my life, I always get my answers when I run.” She enjoys the individual nature of the sport because “it’s just you against yourself.” Ms. Bailey ran her first half-marathon in Oct. 2014. When she crossed the finish line, she wanted more. “I wanted Boston,” she said. After the atrocities of the 2013 Boston Marathon, she realized how much people take their freedom for granted. “I don’t like it when someone’s freedom is taken away. People don’t know what they’re capable of, and no one should deny them the opportunity to reach their potential.” Because she had never run a marathon before signing up for Boston, Ms. Bailey couldn’t run unless she joined a charity team. She was denied by three separate teams for not having any previous marathon experience. “But my charity found me on Christmas Eve,” Bailey said, tears in her eyes. The charity she ran for, Technology for Autism Now, provides educational technology for children with learning disabilities. The cause was very close to her heart, being a guidance counselor, but she would have to train on her own. “That just fueled the fire for me even more,” she said. In order to prepare for the marathon, Ms. Bailey ran four days a week and cross-trained one day a week, with long runs on the weekends. Training for the marathon on top of a busy job and taking care of her son was made even more difficult by the arrival of “Snowmeggedon” in February. “I hate the treadmill,” Bailey said, “so I did all my runs except two outside even if it was in the negatives.” But training for her 26.2 was tough, even before the snow. One of the most vital parts of her training was taking rest days and listening to her body. Marathons are also mentally challenging to train for. Bailey thought about each run in three mile chunks to make the distances more bearable. She also listened to music and played mind games. “Anything to make it fun!” she said. Running a marathon is obviously not a goal everyone wants to achieve, but the thought process surrounding it is the same that goes into setting any long-term goal. Ms. Bailey’s number one piece of advice is to “never compare yourself. It’s just not fair to yourself. No two people are the same. Achieving a goal is about being the best version of you.” She noticed throughout her training, as she heard stories from other runners among the MHS faculty, that the people who enjoy running the most and finish races healthfully are not those who worry about time or speed, but those who do it because they enjoy it. And a close second piece of advice is to have patience: “the good stuff takes time,” Ms. Bailey says. By: Jennie O’Leary -Staff Writer Photo from Ms. Bailey |
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June 2019
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