Horror and Tragedy Strikes Boston

By Sarah Corbishley '15

Monday, April 15, marked a huge tragedy for the Boston marathon when two bombs exploded at the finish-line, killing three and wounding over 180 spectators and runners. 

The tragedy left a dark cloud over one of Boston’s most celebrated days.

Bodies and dismembered limbs fell to the ground.

One of those killed was an eight year old boy. His sister lost a leg and his mother suffered brain damage.

Immediately after the massacre,  many sought to help those affected. Some ran into the street to help those wounded in the explosion. Some of the runners who had just completed the 26 mile race continued to run for an extra two miles to donate blood in a nearby hospital.

The day after the explosions Yankees stadium paid tribute to all the victims who were affected during the blast. They fallowed by playing “Sweet Caroline” in honor of the Boston tradition.

Tuesday morning saw an overwhelming amount of incorrect reports. CNN and many other news broadcasters reported that the man responsible had been apprehended. The afternoon was fallowed with the news teams backtracking from their statements as it was revealed that the authorities had no leads.

The police asked for any pictures taken at the race to help them find suspects and they soon discovered pictures of brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev leaving backpacks near the explosion sights. The police then began the task of tracking down the pair.

The brothers were Chechen and originally from Kyrgyzstan, near Russia. They were practicing Muslims who moved to America over ten years ago.

Older brother Tamerlan was a boxer who had once been quoted saying, “I have no American friends; I don’t understand them.”

The police’s first lead came late Thursday night when MIT police officer, Sean Collier, was found shot dead.

Later that night police cars chased a vehicle containing the suspects and a volley of gunfire left the older brother Tamerlan dead but his brother Dzhokhar escaped.

On Friday Boston policemen shut down Watertown, Massachusetts, during a citywide manhunt for surviving brother Dzhokhar.   They finally closed in on him, finding him hiding in a covered boat.

The captured suspect was found with neck and tongue wounds that will most likely prevent him from speaking for the rest of his life. Luckily, he can still write to communicate with the authorities.

Palmer Trinity Meditators

By Sofia Pedroso '14

Ms. Elena Amato teaches Buddhism, one of the three religion courses offered at Palmer Trinity. Her teaching methods include lecturing, discussion of material, harknesses...and meditation. 

She believes it is important to teach meditation in her Buddhism class because “it is the primary teaching of Buddhism and everyone can benefit from it.” 

“It’s relaxing and it teaches you how to calm down,” Susie Benitez ’14 says.

Sabrina Rodriguez ‘14 also benefits from it. “It teaches you how to concentrate” she says.

While the students usually regard the practice in a positive manner, other students do not. 

“It’s sometimes uncomfortable, but it’s easier when you lie down,” Amira Desir ’14 says. 

Galicia Rothe ’14 agrees. “When first starting meditation, your back hurts.” 

“It differs every day; it depends on how you feel,” Narissa Adside ’14 says. “If you’re in the mood.” 

Like Ms. Amato, the students say that practicing meditation is more interesting than just learning about it. They agree that it is a “good alternative.” 

Ms. Amato’s students will end the semester having meditated hundreds of times. She and the students hope that practicing meditation will make perfect. 

College Counseling Chats with The Falconer

The College Experience

By Jordan Figueredo '13

Every student, from their first day as a high school freshman, dreams of being a senior: the “kings and queens” of campus. 

When the seniors at Palmer Trinity get their senior polos, it is a surreal moment. 

With all the luxuries that come along with being a senior, such as the shirts, the senior chickee, personalized parking spots, and more, there are also several disadvantages to this monumental year.

Everyone always says junior year is the worst year of high school, and that is believable…until you are a senior. 

You have finally reached your goal of controlling campus but as soon as you begin filling out applications ,you realize you may never see very familiar faces ever again. 

Along with this melancholy feeling that is in the back of your mind at all times, you also become consumed with stress. 

Between applications, supplemental essays, college interviews, pressure from teachers, parents, and college counselors, along with re-taking the dreadful SAT and ACT exams a few more times to get the most impressive score possible, every senior wishes they were again an underclassman.  

A very opinionated senior Roberto Morean said “the juniors have it easy, it may be hard to believe at the time but, when you’re stuck with school work, applications, extracurricular activities, scholarship essays, and auditions, you barely want to even wake up in the morning.” 

My personal experience has been similar to the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This film is about invaders replacing human beings with duplicates that appear identical on the surface but are devoid of any emotion. 

I’m sure this has occurred for many other Palmer Trinity seniors. We aren’t ourselves; we have been taken over and are unrecognizable. The college process has consumed our beings and made us into monsters.

Every morning there are at least ten seniors with Starbucks coffee recovering from a all-nighter, trying to submit an application last minute, or catching up on homework.  

There is also a competition factor that for some consumes them. You want to go to school with your friends but you don’t want them taking your spot, and some people go to great lengths to ensure they get accepted. 

I constantly compete with friend and peer Preston Michelson, since we are applying to the same schools for the same major. There is friendliness to the competition, but in the end the college process has made us all self-absorbed and selfish. Some people thrive with competition while other simply fall apart. 

Now that it is second semester, the stress has eased up but now the waiting game has begun. Everyone wants to get an acceptance letter from his or her top school but that is not everyone’s reality. 

There are many days when I am overjoyed, but then moments later I am overwhelmed with tears. We try to keep in mind that there are other schools out there, but getting that letter that says “we’re sorry” is like a bullet to the head. 

We, as students, put too much importance on what college we go to, when in fact it won’t define us later in life, what we accomplish will define us. 

Seniors need to enjoy this incredible time in their lives and live in the moment because next year, it will only be a memory. 

My inspiration

By Karley Chynces '13

I was about six the first time I stood up for my sister Karina. We were at a costume party, and a boy about five years older than me called Karina stupid. I was so offended by his words that I pushed him off the top of the slide. Although the boy expressed repulsive and agonizing eyes, I did not care; no one messes with my sister. At the time, I was too young to understand that Karina had a disability. I thought she was like every other child in the world. What was so different about Karina?

When I was young, I did not understand Karina's disability. As I grew older, I began to comprehend that Karina was not like everyone else and would always need an extra hand. She embarrassed me. It bothered me how people would stare at her and then judge me because of how she was. It took a lot of maturity to come to realize that Karina was a gift. Not every person is blessed with such a special person in their life.

What hurts me the most is that people do not understand special needs children. These children have limitless love to give, and, when it is not reciprocated, it breaks my heart. They also have so many capabilities that are unknown to even the families. Recently, Karina learned how to ride a bicycle with only two wheels. She had ridden a bicycle with training wheels her entire life, and, since she is already eighteen she needed to learn. My parents and I kept convincing ourselves that she did not have the motor skills, strength, or balance to handle a two wheel bicycle. However, within twelve days, Karina learned how to ride a bike perfectly. When I saw her ride gracefully in a straight line, turn, and stop, it brought tears to my eyes. It made me think about all the other things that she could probably do. Karina enlightened me so much that day. I felt as if she were invincible.

Karina is my everything, and I can proudly say that she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She has made me the humble, warm-hearted person that I am today. The inspiration that Karina has given me throughout the years is impossible to verbalize, and I would not trade it for anything in the world. Every memory that I have shared with Karina is one that she and I treasure in our hearts. I could not picture my life without her and any separation between us would devastate me. I have learned to accept that Karina will never have the independence that my family and I have always hoped for her, but no matter where life takes me I will make sure that Karina is with me every step of the way. Karina is not an ordinary sister; she is extraordinary!