I did not expect one of my sources of daily entertainment during the quarantine to come from a homework assignment.
	One such assignment involved watching Menahem Pressler’s interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major via the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall. Little did I know that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Berlin Philharmonic provided anyone a voucher for free full access to the Digital Concert Hall for a month until April 30. What a wonderful gesture for one of the world’s top orchestras to share its artistry during a difficult time!
	The Digital Concert Hall has been a welcome source of entertainment for me as a musician throughout the past month. A few of my friends from PHS Orchestra joined me in taking advantage of the resource, and together we’ve made it a custom to watch a concert while video-calling each night. I’m grateful to be able to spend time, albeit virtually, with my friends and fellow musicians. We’ve marveled at the incredible performances of soloists like Yuja Wang and Daniel Barenboim and have enjoyed seeing the Berlin Phil under the baton of a range of conductors, from Simon Rattle to Kiril Petrenko to Herbert von Karajan to Gustavo Dudamel. The sounds of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Dvořák — the list goes on and on — fill my ears for two hours every night. I’ve found listening to music on a daily basis to be incredibly calming during this difficult time and a wonderful means of social interaction. 
	Although the offer for the voucher will soon go away, the music at the digital concert hall is definitely worth checking out either way.

Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall

Lauren Cimorelli’s debut EP, “Orange,” is a tasteful blend of impressive vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and deep emotions. Cimorelli is more famously known for working alongside her sisters in the indie band “Cimorelli,” but her individual capabilities as both a singer and songwriter are highlighted in this solo debut. Released in July 2019, “Orange” is a timeless testament to the all-too-familiar feelings of heartbreak, pressure, and longing. 
“When I listen to all of these songs together, I get a distinct feeling. A feeling of nostalgia and excitement. A feeling of pain and disappointment. A bit of a bittersweet feeling. Sometimes I see feelings as colors, and this feeling is the color orange,” Cimorelli wrote in her Instagram announcement of the EP. 
	“Orange” features four tracks — “Brown-Eyed Boys,” “Pressure,” “Flames,” and “Running” — each of which presents themes that are common to any high schooler’s life. “Brown-Eyed Boys,” the first track of the EP, shows an example of falling into the temptation of personal weaknesses. Personally, I’ve found “Pressure” to be a perfect depiction of the staggering pressure to measure up to high expectations, as high school is often a time of heightened anxiety and stress. It is the stand-out of the track, with a culmination of overwhelming emotions that are also present in the next two songs. Illustrating a similar feeling of uncertainty, “Flames” focuses on the dangerous longing for something you can’t have. “Running” offers a glimpse into Cimorelli’s teenage self, who was caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty over her identity and a relationship. 
Musically, each song shares similar pop-like structures, with electronic backing tracks, heavy beats, and the showcasing of a wide vocal range. However, “Orange” also includes variations to this general structure. For example, “Running” includes a lyrical rap interlude performed by Cimorelli herself, and “Brown-Eyed Boys” features a backing track based on music from the 1980s, providing an interesting contrast with the rest of the EP. 
With its depth of musicality, “Orange” is so much more than a collection of generic pop songs. After multiple replays, “Orange” has become my solace of heavy, relatable emotions. Its brilliant appeal to teenage experiences has secured “Orange” as an EP to be remembered.

“Orange” by Lauren Cimorelli

Small, pitted dents litter the end cap of Gautam Chawla ’20’s bat, numbering the times it has hit the packed infield dirt. From a foam bat to a Louisville composite, Chawla has turned his childhood pastime into a decade-long journey.
“I started because my dad had some foam bats and balls lying around the house. … My parents are supportive in pretty much everything I do, [but] it was mostly my coaches who encouraged me to start practicing on my own and taking lessons,” Chawla said. 
Even with the support of his parents and coaches, Chawla had to work hard to rise to the top. Smaller and weaker than most of his teammates, Chawla’s stature proved an inherent disadvantage, yet set the stage for a career defined by perseverance and hard work. By pushing himself to lift weights and practice his sprints, Chawla increased his strength and built endurance to improve his on-field performance. 
“I realized that although talent can take you far, unless you’re some naturally born Olympic athlete, … if you want to continue to be a competitive player, you’re going to have to put in some work,” Chawla said.
With hard work came success, and with success came increased pressure. Chawla’s increased responsibility prompted an increased focus on the scores, leading to disappointment when not every game ended with a victory. This unhealthy mindset led him to get distracted from the present, but Chawla has been able to mature and reflect upon himself to stay grounded in the moment. 
“I used to be very emotional playing baseball, mainly because you have very few opportunities to contribute, at least on offense, and it is important to make the most of them. But over the years I realized that I focused too much on what couldn’t be changed, and I try to focus on the current play,” Chawla said.
Applying what he learned from playing competitive baseball to PHS, Chawla proved to be a valuable player, and was the only underclassman to make the varsity team during his sophomore year. Being one of the younger players on the team, Chawla initially wasn’t given many opportunities to play, but over time Head Coach Dominic Capuano has seen him develop his leadership skills as one of the team’s co-captains.
“Right away, you saw a kid who was just special. … He's always had the talent. He was always very passionate and committed and I think it's only grown since his freshman year now,” said Capuano. “Last year he really evolved into an important role player on the team, … and then this year, he took the captain's lead.”
Organizing summer workouts and offseason training, Chawla emphasizes the importance of conditioning and dedication to consistent self-improvement. On the flip side, Chawla also recognizes the importance of team bonding as baseball requires close coordination between all positions and roles. By holding team activities, like the traditional dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, Chawla hopes to instill the importance of teamwork and being a team player.
“It's really fun [having] him [as] the captain — [he] likes to make sure we're doing what we need to do so [we] can be a better team,” said teammate Aiden Castillo ’22. “Not just skills-wise a better team, but also being together [and] having those bonds and relationships with each other.”
After all of the time and effort he has dedicated toward growing PHS’s baseball team, Chawla plans to continue his baseball career in the fall at the California Institute of Technology, where he can enjoy and improve at the sport he started at such a young age.
“Ultimately, if you don’t enjoy what you do, is there a point in doing it?” said Chawla. “I think the biggest thing with baseball is just enjoying the game.”

AoM: Gautam Chawla

“I wanted to do everything she did,” said Jordan Guidi ’20. 
At five years old, Guidi had already found her ambitious side. Following in the footsteps of her sister, Bianca Guidi ’18, Guidi started softball as a form of sibling rivalry. Now, as she nears the end of her senior year, Guidi’s dedication has left its mark on PHS’s softball program. 
Given Cranbury’s small team, Guidi was confronted with few opportunities to pursue her interest in softball. Unfazed by such limitations, Guidi turned her focus from the performance of the team to her own self-improvement.
	“I just think about myself, as weird as it is. I think about [how] no matter how else anyone is playing, I'm going to play my best and do my best,” Guidi said.
	By appreciating the individual aspect of the game, Guidi is able to excel and establish herself as a powerhouse on the field.
	“She's a very good hitter,” said Head Coach Marissa Soprano. “She's had multiple home runs which is not something all the girls are strong enough to do. … You can also see her competitiveness come out when she's at bat. She really likes to hit, and just wants to do well and drive her teammates in to score a few runs.”
Guidi has also filled numerous other roles on the team. During her freshman year, she split her time between both the JV and varsity programs, proving her dedication and versatility.
	“She has been someone that has been able to perform at all levels,” said Soprano. “Her first position is not pitching. She doesn't love it, but she knows that it's one of the necessary parts of the game. So over the course of her career at PHS, I've asked her to pitch in different games and she has done it really without complaining. She has been there for the team when I know she probably preferred to play somewhere else.”
	Guidi attributes her success and team spirit to the guidance of her sister. Having played together for 12 years until her sister’s graduation in 2018, Guidi was able to have a two-year overlap with her sister where she saw the way her sister built the team up.
	“When we were on the team together, she always talked to me when I was having problems or when I was upset about something and she would always handle things really well. … So I guess I always looked up to her [for] how she handled things,” Guidi said.
	Even as Guidi has shown her skill as a player, she recalls certain memories and games that have taught her the importance of teamwork over individual success.
	“[My sister and I] played a game and we [were] on the same team, but the whole time, … we would just push each other over and fight to get the ball instead of working together to get it,” Guidi said.
	Participating in team workouts over Zoom and leading small group discussions in order to encourage bonding as a team, Guidi still looks for opportunities despite the team’s softball season being suspended due to school closure. Although her actions are voluntary, Guidi’s contributions don’t go unnoticed.
	“We are both pitchers, so we kind of have to lean on each other. If I can’t pitch a game, I can count on Jordan to be ready to get there in the game, she makes me feel more secure,” said teammate Kylee Tucholski ’21.
After spending so many years in the sport, Guidi reflects back on what made her stay for so long.
“I'm just here because I like playing the sport. … Have fun. Make friends. Don't let it be a bad memory. Make it a good memory,” Guidi said.

AoM: Jordan Guidi

Brightly-lit faces, hunched backs, and frantic typing characterize the various members of PHS’s eSports club. First founded during the 2018–19 school year, the eSports club was created in order to establish a common ground where all gamers at PHS could congregate and work toward tearing down the stereotypes surrounding the gaming community. 
After building up a following of students, the eSports club faced a few hurdles with the banning of first-person shooter games by the Learning Commons at the start of the 2019–20 school year, and a parent voicing their concerns regarding their child’s participation in a club that sanctioned the playing of violent games. However, as the rest of PHS’s athletes have suffered due to the cancellation or rescheduling of all practices and games through May 15, the eSports club has been thriving. Taking advantage of this period of isolation, the club has further bonded and strengthened their team and looks forward to redefining what it means to be part of a gaming community.
 “We have a joke in our club [about] how … eSports wasn’t [considered] a sport [before quarantine], but now eSports [is] the only sport,” said Bill Zheng ’20, vice-president and manager of the eSports club. 
Although the playing fields remain manicured despite holding no games, this is not the case for popular streaming sites such as Twitch. With some of its members streaming their own games and a tight-knit Discord chat to follow, the eSports club has been able to increase the level of rapport among members.
“[I] think the attitude and our mindset change was definitely one of the biggest factors. 
Before the quarantine, everyone was thinking selfishly like, ‘I’ll carry this team.’ Everyone was on their solo missions,” said Anthony Momo ’21. “Once we started actually playing with each other, we decided to contribute [as a team] and everyone bonded because of that. In the end, everyone gained more respect for each other.”
	With the closure of school and the onset of remote learning, members have enjoyed the luxury of increased free time. Nyima Shawa ’21 and JP Kinney ’23 have performed especially well in their respective games — Minecraft and Super Smash Bros Ultimate — with Shawa placing as high as rank one on his server. 
	“Minecraft is a pretty mechanical game, and during the quarantine, I was given time to [get back into shape],” said Shawa. “During the school year I couldn’t really dedicate myself to consistently play and ‘sharpen’ my mechanics, but this past month I could do that.” 
	Aside from the improved performance of individual members, this increased free time has also granted teams within the club to really regroup and comb through some logistics to make sure that all operations are running smoothly.
“Before, each player didn’t have a specific role during [the game, but] now we’re able to give each player specific ‘jobs’ on a team, which would not be possible without massive team cooperation,” Zheng said.
With their original purpose being to break down some of the stereotypes associated with gaming, this time of quarantine has provided just that. Rather than being a breeding ground for the toxicity often found in competitive gaming groups, the eSports Club recognizes the usage of streaming as a way for people to come together in this time of separation.
“The good thing about streaming is you are able to find people from all over the world. People are in different situations and knowing that them watching you helps them make their lives better is important,” said Adam Lipschutz ’21. “We are definitely interacting with each other a lot more, and being together brings us funny moments and awesome plays. … Having a community that supports you makes everyone feel good, and [you] can have a good time even if [you] are down.”


As bleachers are left empty, PHS’s eSports club rises in the ranks

Charlotte Gilmore ’21
The good thing about running is that even without an organized practice, we can run every day. The team has been using an app called Strava where we can post our runs and see what other people have been doing. It is strange to be running and training without any races in the foreseeable future — that definitely diminished my motivation. Lately I’ve been focusing my training on running farther and building up mileage, and also just exploring trails, pausing to look around, and overall having more flexibility and fun! That’s not to say that I don’t miss the team or racing, though. Luckily for me, cross country is much preferable to track, so I can look forward to that in the fall (hopefully). Running also provides a sense of peace for me — it’s a constant amidst everything that is strange right now. I do know that some people are concerned about recruitment — most schools look at spring track times because they’re less variable than cross country ones. Overall, I’m enjoying exploring different aspects of running other than the normal training and racing schedule, but I miss running with the team every day. 

Anlin Kopf ’21
Dance in lockdown has been hard but not impossible. For me, dance is a team exercise where everybody learns together and practices together to create something really cool. Of course, this becomes substantially more difficult with the social isolation policies. But the dance clubs that I am part of have been solving this in different ways. For Dance Club, we have been having online Zoom calls. Most of the time we goof off, but we also use the calls to learn new dances together and maintain a sense of togetherness. Whoever is teaching the new dance has to learn it mirrored so that everybody else can copy the moves, which is difficult but really fun. For the Korean club, everybody has been taking videos of themselves doing their parts in the dances so that we can all be edited together later. I haven’t seen the final products yet, but I’m really excited to see them when they come out on our YouTube channel. I’m really glad that my dance groups are able to still meet and create something together, even though we are apart.

Dylan Parker ’21 
I’m a junior athlete who usually plays both club soccer and school tennis during the spring season, and I’ve been trying to stay active by exercising, but it can be hard to stay motivated when it still isn’t clear when we will be back or what we’re going to do about the missed sports. For our tennis team, we had just made the final cuts right before school and all sports were shut down. The new team wasn’t even given a chance to get to know each other before we were all sent home. As a junior, it feels terrible to miss out on the whole season that I’ve been working hard for, and I feel even worse for the seniors who aren’t able to play in their final year. It’s the same feeling for soccer as well, where we have so many committed players who are patiently waiting for the time when we are able to play again. Of course I would love to be able to play sports again as soon as possible, but I also acknowledge the fact that we all have to bide our time and wait until people can feel safer about this crazy time.

Jeshurun Reyen ’20
Quarantine and COVID-19 have had an adverse effect on all of us, especially swimmers. Sure, we can still do cardio and bodyweight exercises to keep in shape, but it is just so different from being in the pool, and it’s going to take so much time for me to refamiliarize myself with the feel of the water and get back into swimming shape. I personally don't have access to a gym or weights, and I can feel and see my muscles atrophying. COVID-19 also ended our swim season a month and a half short, thereby cancelling the most important meets that we spent months training for. It’s such a shame because not only did we lose the opportunity to finally put our best performances forward and see the results of our endless laps in the pool, but we’ve also lost the memories that could’ve been. This hurts especially for seniors like me who are graduating this year who didn’t get what was supposed to be our irreplaceable parting high school memories. It’s pretty depressing but there isn't really anything anyone can do about it. At the end of the day though, we should try to stay positive because many people are going through things far worse than not swimming. 

April, 2020 Archives