This year, The Hawk will profile some of the truly special students in the Class of 2026. Each issue, we’ll ask several seniors about their Hanover High School experience to get to know a little bit more about them before they head off into the world. The chosen seniors showcase excellence, whether as a team captain, award winner, club leader, or academic achiever. In our last article, we covered Leo Galvin, Abigail Kajunski, and Ireland Cronin, so go show those incredible seniors some love by reading our first article in this series! Now, these next seniors are certainly worth the wait, so let’s read about them!
Abigail Minasi
Abby moved to Hanover in July of 2013, entering kindergarten at Center School. Starting in first grade, she played baseball/softball. This spring, Abby will play Varsity Softball for her fourth year; she has served as captain for two!
In high school, Abby started playing field hockey. She describes it as ” one of the best decisions I have made going into high school.” This is because she had so much fun learning a new sport and playing with her friends. Upon entering high school, Abby had to let go of soccer. She says, “. . .at times, I do miss it.” But she is happy having gotten the opportunity to try new things.
Her favorite class at HHS has been AP Precalculus with Ms. Mathisen. She recalls, “I loved her class because she was such a nice teacher, always there when you needed a hand. She is also so easy to talk to and get extra help when needed.” Abby’s favorite high school activity was the District 1 DECA conference in junior year. She said she “had so much fun staying overnight at Quincy Marriott and participating in the role plays.”
After high school, Abby plans to go to college and become a nurse, “specifically,” she says, “a pediatric nurse.” She has always loved her science courses like AP Biology and Anatomy and Physiology. She found an appreciation for working with kids after taking Early Childhood Education, which influenced her interest in pediatric health.
Abby is most proud of making it into the National Honor Society, racking up many hours of community service, and maintaining a GPA above 4.0. Outside of school, Abby has worked at Dunkin’ for 3 years! “I started as a sophomore in 2022.”
Looking back, Abby believes junior year was her favorite year of high school. “I enjoyed the classes I took and had fun being a softball captain.” If given the chance to do high school over again, “I would take my freshman year a little more seriously and work harder to get better grades.” She wishes she had learned how to study in her freshman year. And she also wishes she had gone to more football games throughout the years.
The biggest lesson she takes away from high school? “Time flies by.” She suggests that students “make the most out of the little time you have.” Her four years of high school have gone by so fast, and she wishes she could go back and have more time.
Damaris Mejia-Miller
If you’ve been at Hanover long enough, you probably know Damaris Mejia-Miller. “I’ve lived in Hanover my whole life,” she says. “So I’ve been enrolled since kindergarten.”
From day one, sports have been a huge part of Damaris’ life. In elementary school, it was softball. In middle school, she switched to soccer. And now, she just wrapped up her last season of Varsity Volleyball, which has become one of her favorite parts of high school. “It’s such a good community and space where I feel comfortable enough to be myself,” Damaris says. “The energy in the games is just so fun and engaging.”
Something new she picked up in high school was getting more involved in clubs, something she didn’t really do in middle school. But while she’s grown a lot since then, she still misses some of those childhood moments. “In elementary school, I used to go out with my neighbors, and we’d all rollerblade and play around,” she says. “I definitely miss it since most of them have moved away or we grew apart.”
When it comes to classes, Damaris says her favorites have been Spanish, U.S. History, and Art. She especially appreciates teachers who make learning fun and engaging. “Mrs. Gately is my favorite because her class was always engaging, and she’s super understanding and easy to talk to,” she says. “I also like Mr. File because his classes are fun and really inclusive. There’s no set idea of what ‘good art’ is, and I love how he emphasizes that.”
Looking back at all four years, Damaris says sophomore year was her favorite. “My classes were really fun, and I made a lot of new friends who I’m still really close with.” But the year she’s most proud of is junior year, just because of how tough it was. “Everyone says it’s the hardest year, and I totally agree,” she says. “I took more challenging classes, and it was a lot. But I’m proud that I tried my best and got through it.”
If she could do high school all over again, she says she’d focus less on what other people think and more on just being herself. “I’d try to take freshman year more seriously, but I’d also just have fun and not stress so much.”
And if there’s one big lesson she’s learned from all of it, it’s this: “Don’t stress about what you can’t control. If you get a bad grade, accept it and try to do better next time. Staying positive helps you learn from mistakes without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged.”
From kindergarten to senior year, Damaris has grown up with Hanover and it’s clear she’s leaving behind a legacy of kindness, resilience, and authenticity.
This year, The Hawk will profile some of the truly special students in the Class of 2026. Each issue, we’ll ask several seniors about their Hanover High School experience to get to know a little bit more about them before they head off into the world. The chosen seniors showcase excellence, whether as a team captain, award winner, club leader or academic achiever. This senior class is packed with incredible people with bright futures, so without further ado, let’s meet the seniors featured in our first Senior Spotlight!
Leo Galvin
Leo came to Hanover in the summer of 2016, starting third grade in Hanover schools. From elementary school to high school, Leo says he has maintained a consistent morning routine. In high school, Leo began to appreciate the little things rather than obsessing over them. One thing Leo misses now that he’s in high school is spending ample time with his family and friends, “which, with the busy schedule of a high schooler,” he says, “is extremely difficult to do.”
His favorite classes that he’s taken have been United States, World, and European History. Leo says he’s “always been interested in studying history, so the material within these courses was very intriguing.” All of Leo’s teachers have made a positive impact on him; he can’t choose a favorite! As far as high school activities go, Leo’s favorite has been participating in sports like Cross Country and Track and Field.
After graduating from HHS, Leo plans on attending college. He believes that taking those history classes, as well as AP Government and Politics in his senior year, has influenced his decision to pursue higher education in Political Science or Homeland Security. Leo is not only an accomplished student, but also an accomplished athlete. He is most proud of having the opportunity to be a captain for three Varsity sports at HHS! Outside of school, Leo works at Marathon Sports in Norwell.
Out of all four years in high school, Leo considers Junior year his favorite. If he could start high school over again, he says he “would’ve tried to invest more time in activities both in school and out of school.” If there is one lesson Leo has learned at HHS, he says, it’s to, “not to stress the little things, and to strive to be a positive influence every day.”
Abigail Kajunski
Abby has been a Hanover resident her whole life! She has played soccer from the time she was a little elementary schooler all the way to now, serving as a captain of this year’s Girls Varsity team. Since she’s been in high school, she’s joined several clubs and started working a job. Upon entering high school, Abby let go of doing gymnastics and playing basketball, but she doesn’t miss them too much as she’s contented by the activities she participated in now!
Her favorite class was sophomore year chemistry with Mr. Mitchell! She enjoyed the freedom and comfort she was granted while exploring this new subject. She recalls enjoying “being able to work at our own pace.” Despite her incredible academic record, Abby’s favorite activity, by far, has been getting to play her favorite sport: soccer!
After high school, Abby plans to become a nurse, or work in the healthcare field. Thanks to her time spent at HHS, she realized she’s more interested in the sciences than English or history. Her proudest accomplishment to date has been being inducted into the National Honor Society! Beyond school and besides playing soccer, Abby babysits and holds another job.
If forced to choose a favorite year at HHS, she would assert that her sophomore year has been her favorite. If she had the opportunity to repeat high school, Abby would “take freshman and junior year more seriously.” Carrying one lesson away from high school, above all, Abby says, “to not procrastinate and get (your) work done on time.”
Ireland Cronin
Since transferring to Hanover Schools during sixth grade, Ireland has packed her life with dedication, energy, and balance. With athletics, school and three jobs combined, she is a master of staying active and satisfied.
Ireland began playing lacrosse during middle school and learned field hockey as an HHS freshman. “Field hockey is my favorite thing, for sure,” she says. “Every season has been so much fun, and I love all the players.” She did Irish dance for 10 years prior to high school, something she still misses today, though giving it up left her with more time to explore other things.
In the classroom, Ireland has enjoyed Accounting and Marketing the most, and has made some favorite teachers: Mrs. Pereira, Mr. Perry, and Mrs. Curtis. “They’re not just great teachers,” she says. “They’re also so funny and easy to talk to.”
Those courses also have influenced her career path. She was initially interested in the medical profession, but Ireland changed direction after she enrolled in an accounting course and now plans to major in Accounting in college. “High school definitely impacted my career,” she says.
Outside of class, Ireland juggles three jobs! She works as a barista, hostess, and babysitter, while still keeping up with school and sports. “One accomplishment I’m proud of is balancing it all and still getting everything done,” she shares.
Her finest year to date? Junior year. Looking back, she says she’d do a few things differently, if she could: “I’d be more involved in clubs and be more serious about school as a freshman.” Taking inventory, Ireland offers one simple lesson to underclassmen: “The effort you put in is what you get out, and your grades don’t make you who you are.”
Singers and actors dominate pop culture. They are praised for their talents in the music, TV and film industries. What may come as a surprise is that some of our favorite stars actually got their start in theater. While some may consider theater small-time compared to stadium tours, TV shows and movie theaters, it has propelled many performers to stardom. Is your favorite artist or actor among the stars that started as thespians?
Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter is best known for her pop music career, specifically her 2024 album Short and Sweet, and her acting career, especially her role in the spinoff of Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World. Carpenter’s career was propelled into the stratosphere when she toured with Taylor Swift in the South American leg of the Eras Tour. Since then, Carpenter has become one of the many iconic pop girls of the decade. Carpenter’s talents do not only stop at pop music and film acting, however. In 2020, she made her Broadway debut as Cady in Mean Girls the musical. Unfortunately, her run was cut short due to pandemic lockdowns. Still, our favorite pop girly knows her way around a Broadway stage!
Ryan Gosling
Most recently known for his role as Ken in Barbie, a 2023 movie about the Mattel doll starring Margot Robbie, Gosling went viral with the iconic “I’m Just Ken” musical number. This performance, though, was not the first time Gosling had danced on stage. Circa 1992, Gosling was part of a jazz dance group. This style of dance is the basis for much of the musical theater dance style, making Gosling fully prepared for his future musical number in Barbie.
Hugh Jackman
Jackman is an Australian actor known for his role as Wolverine in Logan and X-Men. Unlike others whose acting career is separate from their theater background, Jackman has tied his theatrical nature into his film work. In 2012, Jackman starred as Jean Valjean in the film adaptation of Broadway show Les Misérables. He is also recognized for his portrayal of P.T. Barnum in the movie musical The Greatest Showman (2018). In 2022, Jackman appeared on Broadway itself in the revival of The Music Man with Sutton Foster, a talented Broadway star, who he is now rumoured to be dating. Seems like even professionals can’t escape ‘showmances’!
Andrew Garfield
Best known for playing Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man films in 2012 and 2014, Garfield has numerous on-stage experiences. His portrayal of Prior Walter in Angels in America earned him a Tony Award, the highest accolade for theater performances. He also notably played Bill Loffman in the revival of Death of a Salesman, which also garnered him a Tony Award. Garfield’s film career reflected his theater roots in the 2021 movie musical, Tick, Tick… Boom!, a film detailing the life of Jonathan Larson, the troubled composer of the Tony-award winning musical Rent. Who knew Spider-Man could sing!?
Anna Kendrick
Most recently recognized for her leading role in Netflix’s original movie Woman of the Hour, Kendrick is not shy about her theater background. At age 12, she made her Tony-nominated Broadway debut in High Society as Dinah Lord. Since then, Kendrick has been in several movie musical adaptations and originals, including Into The Woods (Cinderella), Trolls (Poppy), Pitch Perfect (Beca), and The Last Five Years (Cathy) alongside Broadway superstar Jeremy Jordan who played Jamie.
Nick Jonas
Jonas is best known for his participation in the Jonas Brothers band with his brothers Joe and Kevin. Pop singing isn’t the only trick this Jonas brother has up his sleeve, however. Jonas appeared in the 2010 25th anniversary special of the musical Les Misérables singing as Marius. Now, Jonas is starring on Broadway as Jamie in The Last Five Years. While the musical theater community has attacked Jonas for his vocal abilities not being ‘theater appropriate,’ that hasn’t stopped him from working on musical theater projects thus far.
Reneé Rapp
Rapp is one of the youngest people to star in a Broadway show. While she is widely known for her 2023 pop music album, Snow Angel, she was originally discovered when she won the Jimmy Awards in 2018. The Jimmy Awards is a prestigious nationwide competition and recognition event for high school students in musical theater. Rapp won “Best Performance by an Actress,” granting her a $10,000 scholarship. At just 19 years old, she was cast as Regina George in the Mean Girls musical on Broadway and later reprised the role in the 2024 movie musical adaptation.
Mike Faist
Faist is known to most as Art Donaldson in Challengers, a movie about a tennis love triangle, also starring Zendaya and Josh O’Connor. Faist originated the role of Connor in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. Before that, Faist worked as a Jack Kelley understudy in the Broadway musical Newsies. He is also recognized as Riff in the West Side Story (2021) remake. Overall, Faist is a talented theater kid at heart, dabbling in the film industry. Movie audiences hope to see more of him in the future!
Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo has been performing on stage since she was very young, as you can see in various videos of her belting her heart out circulating on the Internet. She played Gertrude McFuzz in her elementary school’s production of Seussical the musical. She gained popularity for her roles in Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Now, Rodrigo is a world-famous pop star with two studio albums, Sour (2021) and Guts (2023). Through her pop songs, her theater roots shine as much of her music is vocally challenging and requires theatrical technique to sustain vocal health. Another decade-defining pop girly to make theater kids proud!
Ariana Grande
Grande, a pop artist, is not secretive when it comes to her love for theater. As a child, Grande worked with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater, for which she played Annie in Annie, and other roles in Beauty and the Beast and the Wizard of Oz. At 15, she made her Broadway debut in 13: The Musical as Charlotte, earning her a National Youth Theater Association Award. For years, Grande has outwardly expressed her love for the Broadway show Wicked. When she was a little girl, she and her mother won a backstage experience at Wicked on Broadway, allowing her to meet Kristen Chenoweth, the show’s original Glinda. Ever since, Grande has aspired to play Glinda and made fans proud and excited when she portrayed the role in the Wicked movie musical that was released this past fall.
Timotheé Chalamet
Chalamet, the star of A Complete Unknown, made his Broadway debut in 2016 in the play Prodigal Son. Chalamet was destined for the stage as he attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, allowing him to participate in theater arts daily. In 2011 he appeared in a stage play called The Talls at Second Stage Uptown. Recently he was featured in the movie musical prequel to Roald Dahl’s fantastical world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory titled Wonka. In this film, he showcased his triple-threat theater talent, truly bringing his character to life with his own theatrical charm.
Sebastian Stan
SStan is a Romanian-born actor who recently won a Golden Globe for his work in A Different Man. He also notably portrayed Donald Trump in the 2024 film The Apprentice, Bucky Barnes in theMarvel Cinematic Universe’s Captain America franchise, and Tommy Lee in Pam & Tommy. While Stan has had an extensive film career, he’s also had his fair share of time on the stage. In 2007 he was in Talk Radio on Broadway, and he appeared on Broadway again in 2012’s Picnic. Stan went to college at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and he studied at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London for a year.
Jonathan Bailey
Bailey is best known for his portrayal of Anthony Bridgerton in the Netflix series Bridgerton, based on the books by Julia Quinn. He also starred as Fiyero in last fall’s movie musical Wicked. In 2018, Bailey played Jamie in the West End revival of the musical Company. This part was originally written as a female role named Amy, who sings a hysterical song titled “I Am Not Getting Married Today” in which parts of the song require roughly six words to be sung every second. Being a stunning actor, Bailey was selected for the role. Additionally, Bailey made appearances in The York Realist and King Lear. In 2017, he played Jamie in The Last Five Years in London. You can see him live on stage now at the Bridge Theater in London where he’s playing Richard II in William Shakespeare’s Richard II!
Chris Evans
Captain America himself, Evans, is not a stranger to the stage. As a child, Evans participated in productions with the Concord Youth Theater company. Since his professional career took off, he’s been a philanthropist of the company and helped them secure a permanent location in Concord, Mass. In 2017, Evans was persuaded by Mckenna Grace and Ellen Degeneres to show off his tap dancing skills while on the Ellen show during a press tour for the film Gifted. Turns out, Evans grew up tap dancing, a hallmark dance style of musical theater.
Rachel Zegler
How does one become more of a theater kid than Zegler? When she was just a senior in high school, she was cast as Maria in the 2021 remake of the West Side Story movie musical. At the time, Zegler was playing the role of Fiona in her high school’s production of Shrek: The Musical. Supposedly, she asked West Side Story director Steven Spielberg if she could delay filming so she could finish her senior musical — now that is commitment! Zegler is also known for playing Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Recently, Zegler played Snow White in the movie musical reimagining of the 1937 classic fairytale, Snow White. Though the film did not receive good reviews, it is certainly not for Zegler’s lack of trying or talent. She made her Broadway debut in Romeo and Juliet in 2024 at the Circle in the Square Theater, which shares a building with the famous Wicked theater, the Gershwin. In this revival of William Shakespeare’s timeless play, Jack Antonoff wrote music specifically for Zegler to sing as an addition to the original story. Romeo + Juliet received glowing reviews from critics and is nominated for “Best Revival of a Play” by the Outer Critics Circle.
Kristen Bell
Bell, known by the younger generation as the voice of Anna in Frozen (2013) is recognized by others for The Good Place (2016-2020), When in Rome (2010), and Nobody Wants This (since 2024). She began her theater career as Dorothy in her high school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. After graduating from high school, Bell went on to study at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. In 2001, Bell made her Broadway debut in the musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The following year she appeared in The Crucible on Broadway. Later, she starred in an off-Broadway musical called Reefer Madness in 2003.
Amanda Seyfried
Seyfried became a household name after her hilarious performance as Karen Smith in Mean Girls (2004). In 2015, she made her off-Broadway debut in The Way We Get By by Neil LaBute. Through her film career, Seyfried has showcased her theater talent. She first sang on-camera in Mamma Mia!, a film adaptation of the ABBA jukebox musical. She also appeared in the Mamma Mia! film sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018. In 2012, she played the role of adult Cosette in the movie musical Les Miserables with costars Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne, and others.
Eddie Redmayne
The Oscar-winning actor from The Theory of Everything, Redmayne has had an extensive stage career. Most recently, he played Emcee in the Broadway revival of the musical Cabaret. Also on stage, he won an Olivier Award for his performance in the play Red at the Donmar Warehouse. He was also in Richard II in 2011-2012 and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? in 2004. Bringing his theater roots to the screen, Redmayne portrayed Marius in the 2012 Les Miserables movie musical along with two others on this list: Amanda Seyfried and Hugh Jackman.
Christian Slater
The star of Heathers (1988), Slater has built up his career with theater credits on and off-Broadway. Slater originated the character Clifford in the 1998 Broadway play Side Man. Later, in 2005, he played Tom Wingfield in the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie. This past winter, Slater debuted in his first off-Broadway play called The Curse of the Starving Class as the character Weston.
Taylor Swift
The world-famous pop star is most recently known for her theatrical interpretation of her musical discography in the Eras Tour. As a child, it is known that Swift wrote music, but she also participated in local theater. She played Maria in The Sound of Music at the Berks Youth Theater Company. At that company, she was also in productions of Grease, Annie, and Bye Bye Birdie. While on the Graham Norton show, Swift admitted to auditioning for the Les Miserables movie, but she did not get a role in the film. However, she did get a role in the 2019 movie musical of the Andrew-Lloyd Webber musical Cats as Bombalurina. Fans thought this role suited her, considering the love she’s expressed for her pet cats. Swift is a prime example of how participating in theater can hone the skills necessary for a successful career!
On August 20, 1989, José and Kitty Menendez were murdered in their Beverly Hills, Calif., home. Their sons, Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez, were hysterical and devastated. As police began to investigate, what they found was astonishing. On March 8, 1990, Lyle Menendez was arrested for the murder of his parents, and days later, so was Erik.
The brothers’ family hired Leslie Abramson, one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the area. She got a story out of the boys that no one had ever heard before; a story of betrayal and tragedy. Erik admitted to Abramson that his father had been molesting him from the time he was a child until the week before he killed him. And worse, according to Erik, his mother knew the whole time and didn’t do anything to stop it. This, Abramson argued, is what pushed 18-year-old Erik and 21-year-old Lyle to murder their parents.
The original trials took place back in the 1990s, and the brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But some recent events have gotten conversations about the case and the brothers stirring again. Los Angeles County’s former District Attorney, George Gascón, released a statement in October recommending that the brothers be eligible for parole immediately. This is an effect of new evidence and the press’s reinvigorated interest in the case due to shining Tinseltown herself: Hollywood.
A true-crime drama series released on Netflix in October called Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story may have been a catalyst for these new developments. The show received massive amounts of attention for its incredible costumes, set, script, and, most importantly, impressive actors. Cooper Kotch, who took on the role of playing Erik, emulated the character’s pain and emotion in a one-take 45 minute episode titled “The Hurt Man,” which captured and stunned audiences nationwide. Due to the theatrically impressive nature of the 9-episode sequence, it commanded attention from the press and social media. In the ’90s when the case was first being publicized, the public’s attention on the event and the brothers swayed the atmosphere in court. The media lost interest in the case after the first trial was declared a mistrial; that is thought to be one factor that may have impacted the brothers’ ultimate sentence. Now that the brothers are back in the public eye, general feelings of sympathy, hope, and justice are igniting in the people, which could mean good things are to come for them both.
While in prison, it is my belief that Lyle and Erik have proven that they rebuke the title of the Netflix series; they are not monsters. Both brothers have worked for over 30 years to better themselves, others, and their community. Erik received an Associate’s Degree in Sociology and Social and Behavioral Sciences from UC Irvine, started a meditation group in prison, and he and Lyle started several support groups for inmates, including a group for inmates with physical disabilities and a general group therapy program. Meanwhile, Lyle received a Bachelor of Arts degree, also from UC Irvine, founded the Adverse Child Rehabilitation program in 2016, and founded the Greenspace Project, in which inmates had the opportunity to paint murals, which raised $250,000. Furthermore, the brothers’s family asks to bring them home. Their aunt, Joan Vandermolen stated in an AP News post, “They have grown, they have changed, and they have become better men, despite everything that they’ve been through. It’s time to give them the opportunity to live the rest of their lives free from the shadow of their past.” In addition, prison guards and fellow inmates express that Lyle and Erik are far from dangerous criminals, and instead are more like friendly neighbors. Cooper Kotch, the aforementioned star of the TV series about the brothers, visited Erik in prison and spoke on the experience in a press-tour interview promoting the show. He explained how he felt the same way as almost everyone who knows the brothers personally, and he believes they should be given a second chance.
If the brothers were so innocent the first time, why were they convicted and sentenced to life? To that, I answer that they weren’t so innocent. They certainly didn’t seem very innocent. While the prosecution maintained their charge of first-degree murder throughout the court proceedings, the brothers’ defense changed. At first, the brothers pleaded not guilty when their lawyer was Robert Shapiro, whose name you may recognize from his defense of OJ Simpson in his murder trial. The family eventually fired Shapiro and, instead, hired Leslie Abramson. When their lawyers switched, so did their plea, which the prosecution used to their advantage. On top of that, the brothers lied throughout the months following their parents deaths. Their family’s therapist recorded them confessing to everything except the whole base of their defense: the sexual abuse. Furthermore, not a single man on the jury voted in favor of the brothers’ story, leading to the conclusion that most men would not be sympathetic to their tragic tale of sexual abuse. In court, the question arose that if the brothers were being truthful about the sexual abuse, why didn’t they speak up sooner? Why didn’t they admit to the abuse while confessing to their therapist? Why lie about the murders in the first place? Why never tell anyone? These questions eventually resulted in the defense team losing the second trial and the brothers just narrowly avoiding the death penalty.
The 1990s were a very different time from now. Social, psychological, and scientific studies have been conducted to provide us with answers to not only this case, but all those that resemble this one as well. Why did they do it? The answer is in your head–literally. “Childhood is a pivotal time for brain development,” writes the Integrative Life Center, “The effects of physical abuse and neglect can disrupt this development.” The ILC goes on to describe all the ways in which an individual’s brain is affected developmentally when that individual experiences abuse in any form during childhood. Teenagers and young adults are known for being reckless, irrational, and irresponsible, and this is completely developmentally appropriate. The parts of the brain responsible for processing emotions and making decisions, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, are not fully formed until a person is around 25 years old. When childhood abuse is added to the equation, the growth of these crucial parts of the brain is stunted and brain maturity is reached much later in life. Taking this into account, not only were Lyle and Erik younger than the typical age for brain maturity, but their abuse further affected their ability to process emotions and make rational decisions. The Los Angeles Times wrote in a 1993 article, when the case was being tried, “By age 18, traumatized severely by 12 years of abuse, Erik Menendez was racked by overriding feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, helplessness and fear . . . when he and his brother sensed violence on the night of Aug. 20, 1989, it was as if he was on autopilot when they blasted away at their parents.”
Despite new understanding about the impact of abuse on children, the brothers are still serving time in Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Calif. After over 30 years, they may get a second chance. The brothers maintain their defense that they were sexually and emotionally abused their whole lives, which leads to the belief that this story of tragedy and betrayal is the truth. While murder is unacceptable, so is manipulation, molestation, and abuse of a child. Lyle and Erik spent their whole childhoods feeling trapped and afraid in the place they were supposed to feel comfortable and relaxed. Given modern knowledge and the time since the whole cascade of events occured, it is within the realm of possibility for the brothers to see freedom again. Is justice imprisoning abuse victims, or is it setting murderers free? The situation begs the question that every individual must ask themselves: are the Menendez brothers the villains of the story, or have they been victims all along?
The vote for president in the United States has never once been determined by the true popular vote but rather by the Electoral College system. When the topic of presidential elections is reinvigorated around Election Day, many Americans wonder why our president is not determined by our votes. Some even choose not to exercise their voting rights because they don’t believe their vote actually counts or matters. In some respects, they’re right.
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention came to the compromise known as the Electoral College. The issue was that nobody could agree on the best way to elect the president. Some wanted Congress to elect the president, and others wanted the people to choose the president directly. So the Electoral College system was born as an odd compromise between delegates from 237 years ago. In this system, a board of 535 electors each cast a ballot in accordance with the majority votes from the state they represent. To win the presidency, a candidate must win 270 of them. Additionally, in 48 states, all of the electoral votes go to only one candidate. For example, if the majority of Ohio votes Republican, all electoral votes would be given to the Republican candidate. This happens even if a decent amount of the state voted Democratic. Only Maine and Nebraska allow the electoral votes to be split.
The number of electors a state is allowed is determined by population. Heavily populated states such as California and Texas have more Electoral College votes than less populated states like Vermont and Wyoming. If you remember back to U.S. history class, this is why the Three-Fifths Compromise in 1787 was so significant. The vast majority of the southern states’ population was comprised of slaves, meaning if the slaves counted as people, the southern states would have more say in the Electoral College and have more representatives in Congress. The Fourteenth Amendment abolished the three-fifths compromise in 1868, which begs the question why do we still need the Electoral College?
In short, we don’t. It’s an antiquated system that deters people from voting and takes the voices away from millions of American voters. The foundation of our country is built on the principle that the people get to control the government. What we have with the Electoral College is a facade of a government elected by the people. According to the Pew Research Center, “More than six-in-ten Americans (63%) would instead prefer to see the winner of the presidential election be the person who wins the most votes nationally,” showing that the majority of Americans also wish to abolish the Electoral College to make their voices heard. Additionally, every other governmental election is determined by popular votes, even the election for the Senate and the House of Representatives, so we know that deciding an election by popular vote works. Why don’t we switch over?
In reality, it’s not so simple. The Electoral College is a part of the United States Constitution, which means we would have to move for an amendment to abolish it. For an amendment to be added to the Constitution, it must go through Congress, both the Senate and House of Representatives. With our Congress significantly divided, lawmakers have tried and failed to pass many bills in recent years. If a movement were made to make an amendment to abolish the Electoral College, it is likely that it would never make it through both chambers of Congress. USA Today writes, “There have been more than 700 federal proposals to change or abolish the Electoral College in U.S. history. . . But getting the remaining states to drop the Electoral College system in favor of the popular vote may be prohibitively difficult, as it would require buy-in from states that benefit from the system.” In all the years the Electoral College has been questioned, very little has been accomplished to change it.
In the past, some candidates have won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote. The most notorious example was the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, but Trump won the Electoral College and became president. This is an example of how this system fails the American people. In total, 62,985,106 Americans voted for Trump that year while 65,853,625 voted for Clinton as reported by a New York Times post, a difference of 3 million American voters. Although I disagree with the policies and morals of President Trump, this is not a complaint about him; this is a fault of the system. More people living in the country wanted a certain candidate, and were denied that victory because of the Electoral College, and that statement could go for any candidate that has ever won the popular vote and lost the electoral vote. It’s not only unfair and unjust, it’s un-American and unpatriotic.
The year is not 1787. It is 2024. The world has changed, and we as people have changed. We need to remember the values and ideologies that the United States was originally founded upon: a government for the people, of the people, and by the people. No more Electoral College failures; it’s time for us to make a change and take our country, and our leaders, back into our hands. It is the only way to ensure our democracy will last for years to come. As former President Barack Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person at some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” We are the ones that have the power to make a change for the betterment of our government and our country.
With this year’s presidential election being at the forefront of news media nationwide, it’s important to remember what this really means. We, as a nation, are voting to put the best representation of what the United States is and what the United States stands for into our highest executive seat. We are giving that person the power to control policies that touch every aspect of our lives. This person needs to be reasonable, intelligent, honest, and most importantly, strong. The two major candidates are Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. Both candidates certainly have characteristics of a good leader, and, of course, they both have their flaws. So how do you decide which one to support?
The news media, as indifferent as it likes to appear, is always biased. It’s a known fact that Fox News tends to be “right-leaning” while CNN tends to sway to the “left.” Due to this, if you get your information solely from one of those sources, you cannot get a complete, honest picture. Furthermore, even if you watch both stations, it can get confusing. An action or event that is glorified by one news outlet could be condemned by the other. How do you tell which one is accurate, which one is skewed, and which one is closest to the truth? It seems as though people are willing to believe anything if it is presented by a well-known source, despite the questionable reliability of said source.
It is this willingness to believe anything a news outlet or a candidate says, no matter how absurd, that has doomed America, in my opinion. That is why I believe that education about politics should be encouraged. This has not always been supported in all public schools, however. Some argue that discussing topics such as politics or religion in school is indoctrination, which has caused many debates across the country in recent years. It is not indoctrination to be taught how the United States government works. It is not indoctrination to present a person with all the factual information, good and bad, and from there allow the person to develop their personal opinion, set of beliefs, and value system. I believe this education starts with parents.
I am fortunate that in my home, I am encouraged to speak openly about my beliefs. I don’t always agree with my parents. Sometimes family dinners turn into full-on debate sessions. I like this intellectual exercise, and although my parents don’t always agree with me, they always appreciate my willingness to make an argument for something in which I believe. In my home, individuality, education, and disagreement are valued and even encouraged. My social worker mother and registered nurse father believe this is how we grow. We have to be open to accepting the perspectives of others as valid and valuable even when we may disagree with every fiber of our being. That is the beauty of living in this country – we are ALL entitled to our [political] opinions. In many homes, politics is either taboo or not up for discussion; children must believe what their parents believe, becoming what could be perceived as carbon copies of their parents. This occurs at both extremes of the spectrum, and maybe I am also a product of my parents’ liberal views. I believe that no parent or adult should force their beliefs on children but rather encourage young people’s intellectual growth through open and raw discourse on controversial topics.
Let me give you a benign example of what I mean when I refer to involuntary indoctrination. I was sitting in the car with my mom one day, with the radio playing some random station. I didn’t recognize the song, but my mom did. It was Elton John. “Ugh, I hate Elton John,” my mom said, frustrated, and changed the station. In my head, that statement translated to Elton John is a bad artist. If my mom didn’t like him, then he obviously isn’t very good. I worship the ground my mother walks on and I value her opinion so much that I used to accept what she said as truth and fact. I’ve since learned that my mom’s opinions are not the only opinions out there, and just because she doesn’t like something doesn’t mean that I am not allowed to like it. I don’t think my mom was forcing me to also dislike Elton John, but children are impressionable, and children pick up on what their parents say. This is why I encourage people, regardless of what you believe or what values you have, to always be open to calm and respectful discussion so that young people can learn what cooperative discourse looks like.
In recent years, I have observed that politics is a continuing taboo in everyday life. Adults don’t want to discuss it with children and adolescents don’t want to discuss it with adults. This appears to be due to fear of confrontation or disagreement. In my opinion, this is the most dangerous fear in American society. We cannot be afraid to discuss controversial topics such as politics. We have to embrace the good and bad,learn and accept from what is, and move on stronger and smarter with a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves and others. It is of utmost importance to talk about politics for the sake of our country. Adolescents need to be educated on controversial topics so that when they become adults they can make informed and mature decisions about what they support and how they choose to exercise that right as Americans.
This country is special for so many reasons, the main one being that we are allowed to disagree with each other and our leaders. A government run by the people is one that is stronger than any other, which is why we cannot lose it. Nothing is accomplished by ignoring big topics or major problems because they make you uncomfortable. I am fortunate enough to have grown up in a household where I am free to formulate my own opinions, and that is valued. My parents challenge me to think critically about controversial topics and come to my own conclusions rather than accept their opinions as undeniable truth and fact. No matter which candidate you choose to support this upcoming election, I implore you to be open to acknowledging and accepting the opinions of others. Remember that it is because of our democratic society that we are able to formulate our own unique perspectives on every concept presented to us. To preserve what the United States is and what we stand for, educate yourself, educate your friends and family, and most importantly, educate your children. Your children will one day lead this country, so be mindful of your words and actions, as well as the criticisms you openly share in front of your children, because they are always listening. As composer Stephen Sondheim famously wrote in his musical masterpiece Into the Woods, “Be careful the things you say, children will listen. Be careful the things you do, children will see and learn. Children may not obey, but children will listen. Children will look to you for which way to turn to learn what to be. Careful before you say ‘listen to me,’ children will listen.”
The Hawk 