By Charlotte Sveinsson ’29

Roughly 5,000,000 gallons of water per day, 365 days a year, adds up to 202,000,000,000 gallons of water a year in order to cool AI data centers. “Data centers for AI are not the same as they used to be; now they are enormous facilities that are going 24/7, and they often use energy equal to that of a whole city.”(McGrath). The risks of AI are endless, whether it be extreme water waste, getting your job stolen, people getting much easier access to creating weapons of mass destruction, or deepfakes being created and spread across the internet, and the list goes on. There is already a 12% chance that AI will enable weapons, cyberattacks, or other mass-harm capabilities in the next 5 years, which could potentially have extremely devastating consequences on humanity and all living things. This is happening because of the race to be the most advanced country, primarily between America and China. Both countries are trying to rapidly create and apply new AI systems to maximize their economic and technological advantages, which leads to their AI systems becoming more and more prone to error. 

A very common fear amongst people is that of not being able to get a job because of AI. “It is estimated that by 2030 92,000,000 jobs will be displaced globally by AI”(Wong). This shows how AI can affect people directly, as it might for other people who have irreplaceable jobs such as a registered nurse, plumber, electrician, and physical therapist, which all require the manual labor and intelligence of a real human being. We need money to survive, and without jobs, we will not be able to get the money we need to buy food, water, a house, and many other necessities. “Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.”(The Lorax, 1972). We can not live without the world we have built, but the world can very easily live without us.

By Addy Madsen ’29

Artificial intelligence is something humans can’t fully understand or agree on. AI can be a tool that we can use in everyday life, but that’s not the kind of artificial intelligence I want to talk about. I want to talk about the kind that goes beyond the day-to-day basis; I want to talk about the type that can change the world for the better. 

10 million people die each year from cancer. 10 million. Cancer has, in some way, affected you or the ones you love. Mankind still does not have a secure cure for it. However, doctors and medical researchers are using artificial intelligence to help end cancer. One article I read talked about how, “All of these computer algorithms use data such as investigations performed, scans conducted, patients’ medical histories, and other information to forecast or diagnose a cancerous condition.” (Press). What could take humans months to years to find out, AI finds in seconds. Not only is AI finding patterns through the data, but it is also offering economic stability and job opportunities. 

There has been a lot of fear that “AI is replacing jobs.” But in fact, it’s finding new ones. Farrel remarked that AI is bringing in 17.1 trillion dollars in the next 5 years. This is not because it’s taking jobs; it’s because it’s opening up new job opportunities in many different fields. In an article about AI affecting the workforce, “AI is expected to create 20-50 million new jobs globally by 2030. These new jobs will be in a range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and finance”. (Farrel). This shows that AI is positively affecting us with new job opportunities and economic stability. 

One major downside of AI is its effects on the environment; in fact, it impacts climate change. Climate change has been something we humans have started to care more about in the past decade. With the rise of artificial intelligence, people are noticing what is happening to climate change due to AI. However, many researchers and scientists are trying to mitigate its effects, and machine learning (the bedrock of AI) can do just that. AI could be the solution to global warming; in fact, “An AI system could, for example, play a role in developing and making the most of new green and renewable energy systems, or finding ways to minimize carbon emissions to improve decision-making processes for governments across the globe.” (Press). This suggests that artificial intelligence can have its downsides, but it can find innovative ways to redirect its effects and make it into something that reverses climate change. 

In conclusion, Artificial intelligence is still something that mankind grapples with functionally and socially. While there are some downsides, ultimately, AI will innovate the world as we know it for the better. When AI is used as a proper tool, we can solve economic problems, climate change, and medical difficulties that we as humans struggle collectively to solve.

By Sage Joyce ’29

Imagine having a homework question at 10 p.m. and not knowing who to ask. For many high school students, ChatGPT has become an easy way to get help or understand a question. Whether students are struggling with an essay, trying to understand math, or just looking for ideas, ChatGPT can give them answers in seconds. But while it can be useful, it also comes with some problems.

One major benefit of ChatGPT is that it can make schoolwork easier to understand. If a student doesn’t understand something their teacher explained in class, they can ask ChatGPT to explain it differently. It can also help students brainstorm ideas, organize their thoughts, or find mistakes in their writing. Instead of giving up when an assignment gets difficult, students have another resource they can use.

However, ChatGPT can also become a problem when students depend on it too much. Some students might use it to write an entire essay or finish an assignment without actually learning anything or doing the work. This can make school easier in the moment, but it can hurt students in the long run. If students always let AI think for them, they may have a harder time developing their own writing, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. Students using ChatGPT to cheat has been a very common issue throughout high school these days. 

Another issue is that ChatGPT is not always correct. It can give information that sounds convincing but is actually wrong. Because of this, students should not automatically trust everything it says. They should check important information and use reliable sources, especially for research assignments. There have been many instances where students use ChatGPT to cheat on tests and end up failing anyway. 

Overall, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for high school students if it is used responsibly. It should be used more like a tutor or study partner than a shortcut. AI is probably going to be a bigger part of education in the future, so learning how to use it correctly is just as important as learning the subjects themselves.

Clover Pross ’27

The evening before Prom 2026, I was sitting in my friend’s dorm wondering what to do with my evening on campus. Then my friends and I had an idea: “whimsy bomb!” We grabbed some multi-colored sticks of chalk that were on the bottom of a dresser drawer, and went outside! Colorful chalk and talk. This was my favorite moment on campus this year. It was the end of the school year and finals were rapidly approaching, stress was overflowing to every inch of campus. The best thing we thought to do was to sit outside and color. What I took away from that moment: Be spontaneous! Spread joy! That’s what it takes to suck the marrow out of life on campus! Now, there will definitely be some sidewalk chalk in my dorm…  

Casidhe Madsen ’26

The pieces below were written by students in response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. In class, students were asked to reflect on Dr. King’s message and create their own speeches inspired by his themes of justice, equality, and hope.

Each piece represents a personal interpretation of what a more just and unified future could look like today. While inspired by King’s structure and vision, these words are entirely the students’ own, shaped by their experiences, beliefs, and generation.

We are proud to publish their work as part of this classroom assignment and to continue sharing student voices that engage with history in meaningful and creative ways.

By: Trace B. Johnson ’26

My Mama

I love my mama. Ever since my first memory to every morning when I call her and hear her voice, I feel wrapped in love. I love everything about my mama, her smile, her beautiful deep blue eyes, her love for sports and our family. I’ll always cherish the warmth of her hugs and the way she makes me feel at home. There is no other person on earth like my mama, there is not a single person I look up to, respect, or love more. She has taught me to be me and I will love her forever.

By: Ceci Ross ’28

On Valentine’s Day, we take the time to celebrate with the ones we love. Most people call their Valentine their boyfriend or girlfriend. It is usually celebrated as a special, intimate day between two people’s growing relationship. A lot of people might find themselves being single or lonely on Valentine’s Day. But there is one thing I’ve discovered that can be just as special as having a date. It’s called Galentine’s! Galentine’s is a day to celebrate the girls around you, who lift you up, and to share a special celebration of your friendship.

I got to spend an awesome night with all my girlies + Oakley!  We had so much fun and thanks to our awesome hostess Clover Pross!  

As many say, guys come and go but friendship lasts a lifetime. So cherish the ones around you and ball your eyes out to the Notebook. Trust me, you won’t regret it 😉.

Special hugs to all my girlies!

Love, 

Ceci Ross.

By Riley Phillips ’27

Last Wednesday, the Girls Varsity Soccer (GVS) team faced off against Kents Hill in the MAISAD Semifinals. Just two Wednesdays ago, we played Kents Hill and lost with a final score of 4-6. After a rough season of losses, we arrived at Kents Hill ready to turn our season around. With a TWEET from the ref’s whistle, the game kicked off. Within the first 5 minutes, Kents Hill sunk one into the back of our net off of a corner kick. While this quick goal was demoralizing, we kept our heads up and continued to fight. With only 6 minutes left in the first half, Kents Hill scored yet another goal off of a penalty kick as a result of a foul within the 18-yard box. 

Going into the second half with a score of 0-2 was quite unencouraging, but in the 55th minute, Oda Maier ‘26 scored off a corner kick! Putting one on the board perked the whole team up and Evie Willer ‘26 scored another beautiful goal just over 15 minutes later. With the score now 2-2, it was anyone’s game. Unfortunately, Kents Hill scored again, making it 2-3 and putting Hebron in the losing position once more. We continued pushing offensively and were granted a direct kick just outside of their 18-yard box. Evie Willer took the kick and Riley Phillips ‘27 (me) tapped it into the goal, tying up the game once more to 3-3.  We ended regulation playing time as a tie, meaning we were heading into overtime! 

The whole team was brimming with excitement but also very exhausted from having already played 90 minutes of soccer and now being asked to play 20 minutes more. Hebron’s girls were looking strong in overtime though, getting off quite a few shots on goal. In the second 10-minute half of overtime, 3 or 4 Hebron girls collided with 2 Kents Hill girls within our box. It was all very confusing, but the ref granted Kents Hill another penalty kick. In the 103rd minute of playing time, the opposing team scored, making the score 4-3. That score would be the final score. The ref’s whistle blew one last time, marking the end of our soccer season and the end of one of the most exciting games of soccer in GVS history.