Jake Spruance ’19

In the late spring of 2013, an intoxicated sixteen-year-old boy named Ethan Couch drove into a group of people, killing four and injuring nine. When brought to court, his defense team described him as having a mental disorder called “affluenza,” characterizing his lack of control for his own actions because of his parents’ appalling tolerance. At the age of thirteen, Couch was driving himself to school. His parents pretended not to notice his underage drinking. His judge sentenced him to ten years of probation, virtually nothing in comparison to the charges he could have faced for driving under the influence and killing four people. Ethan then violated the terms of his probation when a video of him playing beer pong was uploaded to Twitter. His mother then hosted a farewell party for her son, proceeding to dye his hair a dark brown and sending him off to Mexico, so he could avoid his arrest. Every parent strives to help their children in whatever way possible, but a mother that disrupts the police and molds her son into a fugitive crosses a line. Today, this event serves as a classic reminder of the impact unruly parenting has on children, sparking the creation of the hippo worm. Continue reading “Hauntingly Infectious Behavior” →

Jake Spruance ’19

The floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he walked onto the deck. Sam gazed out over the expansive ocean, beautiful, but deadly. He lit his kerosene lamp; it was dark, save the moon’s faint glow. All of a sudden, the boat pitched violently, knocking him against the wall. It was never a good idea to walk on deck at night, he remembered; if a person was swept overboard, no one would ever know. Luciano Fernandez, the famous Italian captain, supposedly died that way. He gathered himself and hurried back down to his ward. Continue reading “Sail Away With Me” →

Simi Olurin ’19

On March 1st, the battle of the original American sport began, and girls’ lacrosse looked to continue their impressive legacy. They march away from the American flag, ready to represent their homeland with their netted weapons in hand. Passing the gravel lot, they realize there is no way to flee in a time of war. They hike the mountain, over the roads that are emblematic of the fast paced lifestyle of Tower Hill, and they enter a world of serenity clad in the artificial grasses of legend. This year, lacrosse has perhaps the strongest group of seniors in years. The captains are Abby Manning and Sophie Peipher. I had a chance to ask them a few questions about how life is over on the Richardson field. Continue reading “Girl’s Lacrosse Update” →

Brianna Niemoeller ’17

Special thanks to Blair Isken, Brianna McCoy, and Abby Carpenter

Note: If you submitted a quote and do not see it in the initial article, you can find it at the bottom under “Additional Quotes.”

…

With the final chapter of the 2016-2017 school year coming to an end, it’s now time to say goodbye to our amazing seniors. Whether we’ve grown up with them or just met them this year, the seniors have affected our lives in so many different ways. Many even consider them family, making this moment bittersweet; we’re thrilled to send them off to college, but at the same time, we all secretly want them stay. It’s hard to watch some of our best friends venture off into the world, leaving us behind at Tower Hill, but, because we know it’s for the best, we put on our bravest faces, wishing them luck as they take this next step in their lives. As cliché as it sounds, while we remember all the laughter and memories shared with the Class of 2016, we find ourselves sad, maybe even tearing up, to watch them go, but we also know that they are excited for what’s ahead, which forces us to try to share their eagerness.  As the seniors prepare to put on their graduation dresses and suits, we, the students and faculty of Tower Hill, would like to formally thank them for their contributions, wishing each individual one last goodbye before they head off to their new lives. Continue reading “A Farewell to the Senior Class” →

Matt Santos ’17

Welcome to the 1st article of the new Rubble article series, “Athlete of the Month.” The criteria for the winners was based on the following characteristics: dedicated leadership, outstanding performance, demonstrating sportsmanship, and being a great teammate. A special thanks to the coaches for making this article possible, and congratulations to the winners! Continue reading “Athlete of the Month- April 2016” →

Janie Mitchell ’17 and Priya Shah ’17

These past few weeks Tower Hill has had the opportunity to host both Australian and French students, thanks to our global initiatives program! As the THS community welcomed the exchange students earlier this week, we decided to ask one of our own to reflect upon her experiences from studying and living abroad. We chatted with Señora Folmar, one of Tower Hill’s beloved Spanish teachers, not only about her trips abroad, but also her favorite memories from right here at Tower Hill. Señora Folmar will be leaving Tower Hill after this school year to return to Virginia with her husband. Continue reading “Saying Adiós to Señora Folmar” →

Matt Santos ’17

“What’s the Deal with Airline Food?”

This joke has been told, and heard, so many times it has become cliche.  However, not everybody knows its origin.  When it was first introduced by renowned comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, it was hilarious for its originality and truth, an example of a new kind of comedy–observational humor–that everyone related to.  But now, everybody knows the punchline: airline food sucks; unless, of course, you fly Emirates, where every passenger gets at least five courses of delicious food, plus seven courses if they fly first class.  But seriously, why do so many people hate airline food?  What makes it different?   Continue reading “What’s the Deal with Airline Food?” →