BLM

Allison Wernick ’21

‘Black Lives Matter’ – a statement that many of us see plastered throughout social media. We see the post, like it, share it, and then feel like we’ve done everything we can. I felt that way too for a little bit. But after a while, I began feeling like that wasn’t enough. I knew that there had to be more I could do to help than simply sharing a post online. I began researching my options. I saw that I could sign petitions, email police departments, or even donate money to help protests. Yet, even after doing all of those things, I still felt like my voice had yet to be heard. Instead of donating money to protests, I wanted to actually participate in one. I wanted the entire world to hear my voice and the voice of thousands of other people uniting against racism. 

One night, as I was looking at Snapchat, I saw that one of my friends posted a PSA about a protest that would be happening in my area. Many emotions floated throughout my mind. I instantly became excited, knowing that I would actually get the chance to show how infuriated I am with the world. However, I also felt scared. I had seen so many videos of the police throwing tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at peaceful protesters. But there was no way I would let those fears stop me. I knew that the racism in our country and in many parts of the world is so disgustingly unacceptable and I had to do something. I had to fight for what I truly believe in; equality for all and the end of prejudice towards black people. 

An action shot from the protest in New York

A few days after I saw the PSA, I arrived at the Monroe Ponds – the place where the protest would happen. I became nervous after seeing multiple police cars, but I stood my ground. My mom had accompanied me to the protest, and after seeing thousands of people there, we both became teary-eyed. We knew we had made the right decision in protesting. We had to stand up for people that had been oppressed for so many years. Everyone gathered at one end of the pond and my eyes couldn’t stop scanning the crowd. It was so diverse and there were so many amazing signs. One of the most powerful signs read “If you think your mask makes it hard to breathe, imagine being black in America.” This statement really tells it like it is, black people are so oppressed that they can barely breathe. The entire group started walking around the pond and chanting things like “I can’t breathe!” or “No justice, no peace!” After circling the entire pond, we all gathered in one area and listened to people make inspiring speeches about the unacceptable racism in America. 

Going to this protest was such an eye-opening experience. It showed me thousands of people who also believe that racism in this country is unacceptable and change is needed. It was amazing to feel unified with so many other people all fighting for such an amazing cause. If you’re unsure about whether you should protest, I say, definitely do it! Use your voice to make a change!

The Importance of Staying Informed

By Nola Goodwin ’23

In this time, with technology growing and evolving at an almost constant rate, it has become easier than ever for people around the world to access details about current events. And not only is this information right at the tips of our fingertips, but it can be found in many different forms; from online articles and videos to social media. Staying informed becomes even more important as we get older and as voting age gets closer and closer. When exercising your right to vote, does it not make sense to know what, exactly, you are voting for? The only way to prepare for this is to stay informed about politics and current events, both locally and at a national level. But staying up to date is important even before you reach eighteen. By reading about global events you teach yourself important skills, such as empathy, that will be valuable throughout your life. 

However, as students, we often have very little free time on our hands, making staying well informed more challenging than it seems. With homework, studying, and athletics taking up a great deal of time, reading or watching the news isn’t generally our first priority. Though, with technology at our sides almost 24/7 now, there are simple and easy ways to stay up to speed with the world without taking up too much time. Here are a few suggestions:

#1: Stay Connected Through Social Media

A majority of news platforms have some form of social media, making it extremely easy to stay 

updated about world events. By following one, or multiple, you can stay caught up without any extra effort.

#2: Download a News App

Although news apps release many different articles every day, trying to read just one or two every few days can still keep you informed. However, before trying this, it’s important to find a source you trust to supply you with accurate and unbiased information.

#3: Subscribe to a Newsletter

Many companies release a news recap daily or weekly, which can be a good way to stay informed without having to read multiple articles a day. This will enable you to get the rundown without taking too much time out of your day.

Hebron Ski Team

By Emmett Grover ’21

The Hebron Academy Ski Team had a strong performance at the New England Class C Championships last Wednesday, with the Varsity Girls finishing second and the Varsity Boys finishing third. Hopes were high leading up to the race, as the boys team looked to win back to back championships and the girls team aimed to improve on their hard earned second place performance from last year. Led by strong runs from Maja Mulley ‘24, Sophie Simard ‘25, and Thekla Jubinville ‘20, the girls were in the lead after the giant slalom portion of the race. Unfortunately, the boys team had a hard time finishing, but consistent runs by Brody Hathorne ‘21, Wesley Gilpin ‘21, and Calvin Grover ‘22 kept them in the race. 

On the slalom course, Simard and Mulley once again recorded top times, finishing fourth and fifth respectively, setting up the girls in a prime position to take the championship. Just as the trophy seemed in reach, disaster struck, with Jubinville disqualifying on a potentially blistering run and Megan Siepp ‘22 crashing right after. Cova Galindo ‘22 came through with a consistent run, securing the back to back second place finish for the girls team. Fortunately for the boys, slalom provided an opportunity to make up for lost time, and Joe Godomsky ‘20 took full advantage, finishing in first place individually on the slalom course. Philip Ernst ‘22 also came through with a clutch pair of runs that put him at sixth overall, followed by a fluke mistake that placed Hathorne at ninth in the slalom competition. Backed by these top finishes, the boys took third, once again placing on the podium. Both teams plan on continuing their success at the upcoming MAISAD championships on February 24th.   

Ice Climbing

By Calvin Grover ’22

To me, ice climbing has always been an “extreme” sport. Relegated to bucket lists, pipe dreams and watching youtube videos, it always seemed like something I would enjoy, but not something I would be able to do for awhile, without extensive research and preparation. This assumption was turned on its head when Mr. Tholen announced in a school meeting that there would be an ice climbing trip coming up on a weekend. I immediately turned to my friend Jacob and told him; “Oh yeah. We’re gonna do that.” Luckily, he was just as enthusiastic as I was, because we both share a passion for trying new things, and especially filming ourselves trying those new things. His face lit up, and his response was immediate; “It’s going to be an epic video.” 

A week and a half later, we stood in deep snow, with crampons strapped to our feet and sharp ice tools in our hands, in front of a looming ice slab. Jacob and I looked foolish, two buffoons with GoPro cameras gorilla taped to our helmets. We felt cool as we repeatedly completed the beginner climb, only stopping for lunch or to let someone else have a turn. Ice chips flew as we dug into the slanted face with sharpened steel, as our hands and toes went numb. Over the course of the day, we improved significantly, each climb making us more precise when we swung the ice tools, or kicked in our crampon front points. Our group was of a large range of climbing backgrounds, from experienced mountaineers to beginners who didn’t wear snowpants. We all had fun climbing, even though we were not able to progress onto any of the vertical challenging faces that surrounded us, because it was a crowded spot. I think we all went home tired, pushing ourselves in a sport that most of us, myself included, have never had the opportunity to try. For those of us who wanted to try more difficult stuff, there has been discussions of another, more advanced trip, likely next year!

The Creation of “Word Wednesday”

Written by Alice Dang ’20

“Word Wednesday” has officially become the new representation of Hebron’s enthusiasm for creative writing, more specifically, poetry. Being the initiator of this new program has brought me incredible joy as well as great responsibility. It all started with my love for poetry itself and the desire to bring it along wherever I go. Seeing Hebron had a specific “tradition” everyday like  Music Monday or Lumbergames, I noticed that a slot for Wednesdays was empty and an idea instantly came to my head! Spoken poetry performed well could really impact some conventional perspectives on poetry. I personally believe that poetry should not only be read, but also be heard; so it was a great opportunity for other poets to share their words out loud. After getting approval from the teachers and encouragement from friends, I was even more determined to bring this idea to life.

Clearly, there was hesitation and fear that the program would not work out or no one would be interested in joining. However, after introducing “Word Wednesday” and sharing a poem of mine, a lot of people were curious about this new “tradition”. Soon, one after another, more students and teachers started signing up for a spot; within a short period of time, we had the list filled up until the end of winter term! It was then that I’d realized the power of words, how they could bring people together within minutes and gather such an amazing community. The first few weeks of the program went surprisingly well, with readers performing their own work or a favorite of theirs. Aarti Singh was not familiar with the world of poetry, but knowing about “Word Wednesday”, she had volunteered to share her first poem. Christian Quinones also read a heartwarming poem for his sister, Eliza Quinones, on her birthday. I cannot be more thankful for all the people who have signed up to be the “poet of the week”! Poetry can sound intimidating or even tedious at first, but there are various categories and expressions that you never thought you would enjoy until you read (or hear) a really good poem. I would like to quote a saying I found on Tumblr that conveys my feelings for poetry. “I fell in love with you the way paperbacks fall down on shelves; slowly, and then all at once”. I do not expect every single member in Hebron to love poetry instantly, but it is my wish to gradually change people’s view on poetry and help them acknowledge how beautiful yet powerful words can be.

Due to the different schedules in each term, a new name will replace “Word Wednesday”. Stay tuned!

Update: It is now called “Pocket Poetry”!