guidance update: seniors, get COLLEGE APPLICATIONs In; also, learn of counselor system
By Athalia Adouko and Enoma Omwanor
Commentary Editors
After a tumultuous year, the guidance counselors’ offices have been flooded with a relatively new guidance system, a surplus of students, and an unparalleled college application season.
Mr. Poulter, one of the five guidance counselors of four selective programs at Kennedy, gave insight into the college application season and a new guidance system by answering questions in his office Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, emphasizing seniors' college applications.
“I encourage all my seniors to create their common application as early as possible,” Poulter said.
After having guided seniors through their college application process for seven years, Poulter believes seniors should also choose between five and eight colleges so that students don’t become too overwhelmed with the admission process. He recommends upcoming seniors curate their college list during the summer so that they will come into the new school year with questions about the application process that he can answer. In lieu of the college application process, Poulter prepares for the season ahead of time.
“I try to prepare at the end of their junior year. We hold meetings for them at the end of their junior year where they would come with questions. We discuss the Common App, CollegeBoard, etc,” said Poulter.
Along with preparing for the college application season, Poulter keeps in mind different deadlines pertaining to college that may arise.
“I usually tell students to look out for the FAFSA application that opens Oct. 1-- there’s not really a deadline for it but I recommend Feb. 15 for priority consideration,” he said.
Poulter also emphasizes the Early Action and Early Decision date this year which is Nov. 1, 2021. What advice does Poulter have for seniors right now?
“Seniors should prioritize time management and staying organized for this school year,” he said.
On top of college applications, Poulter recommends seniors keep a look out for upcoming scholarships.
“College Opportunity Scholarships are available. Seniors should go on Big Future,” said Poulter.
In addition to Poulter, there are four other guidance counselors who share duties: Dr. Tagrid “Terry” Mikaiel who works with seniors, Ms. Moutinho who works with juniors, Ms. Jacobs who works with sophomores, and Mrs. Stellmach who works with freshmen. Students aren’t the only ones with tasks to complete during the college application season; counselors also have challenging amounts of work to do.
“Monitoring to make sure students follow through with their responsibilities of the college application process and handling the number of letters of recommendations can be a challenge,” said Poulter.
But what are some tips Poulter has for students when it comes to making a good college list?
“Understanding where you fit, size of school, student to staff ratio. Don’t go off of the name of the school and research as much as you can. Have some reach schools and safety schools,” he said.
With this new school year, comes a relatively new guidance system. In 2019, Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin suggested a new guidance counselor organization system: instead of guidance being assigned to students by alphabet (last name), they would now be organized by their graduation year. As of August 2019, the new system was implemented. The thought behind this is that each guidance counselor would have a balanced case load as well as 'follow' or stay with a student for four years.
“The problem is now that if students fail or if they don’t have enough credits (retained), they get a different counselor,” said Poulter.
MEET YOUR COUNSELORS: Guidance counselor Mr. Poulter is seen in his office Monday, Sept. 13, 2021. Other counselors include senior year counselor Dr. Terry, junior year counselor Ms. Moutinho, sophomore year counselor Ms. Jacobs, and freshmen year counselor Mrs. Stellmach. Poulter is the counselor for students in separate programs such as SOAR and Allied Health.
RAD OR BAD: WHAT EMERGES WITH NEW NBA2K22 VIDEO GAME?
By Jaikwon Frances/Correspondent
If you liked it before, you’ll love it now.
Basketball and video game fans alike are enjoying 2K Games’ latest release, NBA 2K22 for the Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was released for a price of $59.99 for current-gen consoles and $69.99 for next-gen Sept. 10, 2021.
What’s new?
“NBA 2K22 makes some welcome changes to its on-court action,” according to Imagine Games Network (IGN), an American video game website that provides video games reviews.
Unlike its precursor NBA 2K21 and many other 2K games, 2K22’s introduces a “dunk meter” which gives players the ability to time dunks as well as layups. The “My Career” game mode has changed to provide players with more freedom and a sense of creation. You now have “Hidden Talents” during your career, which side quests and ventures such as making hip-hop music or fashion.
It's hard to keep customers satisfied for years, but 2K has won over the hearts of many. The next-gen version of NBA 2K22 has completely different and more realistic graphics and animations compared to the current-gen. Player models have more emotion and animations run more smoothly.
“The player models look incredible and lifelike (if not perfect) and the gamevplay animations appear smooth and realistic-looking,” according to an article from www.gamespot.com/.
One of the best changes that NBA 2K22 installed was the new Neighborhood/MyPark setting. It takes place on a cruise ship with more courts than ever. Fans are fond of this new look, as many were disappointed with 2K21’s neighborhood. The online portion of the game this year seemingly looks promising.
What about the WNBA?
The WNBA and its players were made playable in NBA 2K20 for the first time and have since been improved over the last two games. NBA 2K22 continues this improvement.
“NBA 2K22 is promising new features and a greater depth for the series’ WNBA career suite, The W, whose inaugural effort last year was a laudable and distinct women’s basketball experience,” according to www.polygon.com/. There is now a playable My Career game mode specifically for the WNBA, which was never implemented before.
So, is it worth the buy?
NBA 2K22 offers new and improved mechanics and game play for players to enjoy. With many different customizable options and the brand new look to “The City,” this game is looking forward to a promising year. The expectations were met for most and the game will only continue to improve and keep players hooked. Is it worth it? The decision is yours. Copies of the game are available online or in-store.
Photo by Justin Montanez, Assistant Features Editor
poetry
A skateboard at a skatepark
By Rilind Sela
A skateboard at a skatepark,
Is like a boat in the ocean...
Under a storm:
Up,
Down...
Left,
Right...
Jump,
Land!
And some times you crash...
Today is Okay
By Vivian Bunker Class of 2021
There is no right way, yet I cannot write this poem
without thinking about what I’m not doing,
not pursuing.
Who am I fooling?
Can't quit dueling with what is in my head.
Only in my head.
My energy is dead, but then you blink two times and you separate
what appears to be reality
with what really surrounds you.
And then you’re at peace
after proving the fallacy that what comes may come
because it only really comes if that bell is rung.
But do not hesitate to ring it.
Do not stick your head inside and look side to side and get caught in the vibration that causes the incorrect sound to cloud your judgment.
To settle for the dull sound made with too much of your head.
Instead of overthinking, create the untuned sound of your heart.
With your head out from under,
you can hear your song, feel the thunder
getting farther away as the storm cloud that
clouded your judgment gets farther
from the you that only became you because the rain saturated the truth.
And hit the tin roof of the home that held your soul in.
Now the soul is out, took a couple detours
but never went south.
Just became super involved in providing rather than refining oneself.
No feeling of regret, just a little upset.
Not there yet.
But here now so cannot forget.
There is no right way.
With a destination, delay does not cause decay,
but rather reminds the being that being in today is okay.
Time Flies
By Sophia Gaspard Class of 2021
On the first day you walk in
with a smile on your face.
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been,
The old you is without a trace.
Out with the old and in with the new,
At those Friday night games,
You got a new crew.
Beaming smiles fill the frames,
But not every day was quite that great.
In fact, some days would be described with hate.
Pushing the boundaries of what your mind can take,
Will the homework ever end, for goodness sake?
Longing for weekends to be with your friends,
Making videos to the latest Tik Tok trends.
You wonder, “What’s the point?”
Why was it all so stressful?
Do what you’re told, do not disappoint.
Get an education, to be rich and successful.
That is the grandest lie across the nation.
Make your mark, there is not one way.
Triumph does not lie in just one occupation.
What matters is that you're happy at the end of the day.
Time flies by when you’re having fun.
How do you feel?
The best four years of your life are almost done.
Stepping into the world, it's about to get real.
When you look back, don’t be sad,
those bonds are not broken.
Think of the places you’ve been and the times you’ve had,
And close the yearbook, the most valuable token.
An Athlete's Final Word
By Vivian Bunker Class of 2021
This is difficult because letting go of a feeling is different than letting go of something physical. Like when you lose someone you love, you understand they’re gone, but it does not always resonate with your being until you think about it more cautiously. I think about never wearing a Kennedy jersey again. About knowing how my chances to be All NVL and break school records are gone. I am leaving it all to the underclassmen. My teams. My babies. A piece of my heart left behind that has now seeped into the court where our Eagle stands proud and expresses how we’re #1. It feels like I am ripping tendons from my heart in order to let go of something I will never get back. I am not dramatic. I am hurt. I could play basketball or volleyball or other sports in college, with my friends, and in adult leagues in the future, but I know nothing will feel the same. The pressure when you’re carrying your school on your shoulders as they scream for you from the bleachers. The ability to celebrate for and with your teammates as we improve each practice, each game. I am going to miss when the whole world stopped as the stop clock kept ticking while the continuation of the world’s rotation was determined by the outcome of the game. Finding out that the world actually did not end just because we lost, taught you that even in failure you have to keep moving, or the world will leave you behind. I am not losing my love for the game, but rather losing the way the high school environment made sports feel. I am going to miss it. How it made me play. How I ended up with bruises in random spots. How I would walk around school sore only to go to practice again right after. How teachers and friends would constantly ask when’s your next game? Seeing their faces when you win. How you know the reason you fought so hard to win was for them. Now it’s all about how I will transition into my next phase of life and next phase of sports. Although I have handed back my uniforms, I will never let go of who I was and how I felt wearing them. I hope athletes just as dedicated and just as passionate about the game come to drench them in sweat once more.
Farewell, high school sports.