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With her deep dedication to music and theater, as well as hobbies of photography, composition, and writing, Vera Grace Menafee ’20 truly considers the arts to be an integral part of her identity. Menafee started singing at a young age, with Alicia Keys as her very first musical idol. Beginning from childhood, both her father’s interest in jazz music as well as various artists, such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Amy Winehouse, played a key role in influencing her personal music style. Her first experience with music composition was in the first grade but began officially writing songs during her 9th-grade year at Deerfield. Being an auditory learner, Menafee initially taught herself to play the guitar by writing chord progressions and organizing songs by sound. Her guitar accompanied her in a multitude of outstanding performances throughout her Deerfield career, ranging from TedxDeerfield to School Meeting with her band, Antics.  In addition to these performances, Menafee identified KFC as one of the most important events of the year for her. “It is one of the few times when I can really feel connected with music and share it with people in that way.” Each KFC, she works hard to perform a song that is meaningful to her, typically choosing artists who are black women, some of the biggest inspirations in her musical career.  One of these artists in Menafee’s life is Nina Simone. As an aspiring musician, Simone auditioned for the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music; however, she was denied entry due to racial discrimination. “She didn’t let this setback get in the way of her path to becoming one of the most renowned pianists and vocalists ever,” said Menafee. “This has always resonated with me, and I look to her for strength.” However, aside from the Large Auditorium and Concert Hall stage, you can find Menafee in the Blackbox Theater, acting in plays or working behind the scenes. Menafee began acting in 7th grade, and has appeared in Deerfield shows since her 10th-grade year, such as You Can’t Take It with You, Antigone, and the 2018 Spring Musical Revue.  As Director of Theater Ms. Catriona Hynds said, “Her range is extensive. From the hilarious Duchess Olga and batty Mrs. Peacock, to the swaggering Captain Braidbeard, and finally to the agonizing titular role in Antigone.” Menafee has brought a warm and inspiring presence to the theater program. “Getting to act with Vera is an experience like no other,” said fellow actress Emma Haddock ‘21 “ It is like working with your best friend, a comedian, a teacher, an artist, and overall a great person. She’s super talented and is always looking to make sure everyone is having a good time at rehearsal. Vera keeps everyone laughing and in awe of her extraordinary performances.” Hynds added, “Her greatest asset is her fearlessness. Unassuming, and humble in the rehearsal room, Vera digs deep and her performances are fierce and unapologetic.” Before the outbreak of COVID-19, Menafee planned to travel to Scotland this summer with the cast of How I Became a Pirate to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival. She felt crushed by the cancellation of the event. She does, however, feel gratitude for the opportunity to have performed this musical for young kids. “Working with how theater and education can intersect is something that has always interested me.” Menafee’s true passion lies in being able to share her interests and talents with others. She reminisced on memories such as the Deerfield-chaperoned China trip in 2018, in which she put on an impromptu show for the customers of a music store. Singing her original song Flying Free and playing the guitar, surrounded by awestruck people and encouraged by the drum beats of a stranger, she felt even more rooted in her desire to continue playing music. Menafee will attend the Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music in the fall. There, she hopes to participate in some sort of theatrical therapy, especially in rehabilitation and incarceration facilities. “It sounds incredible to be able to combine my passions by pursuing social justice using theater as a vehicle,” she said. To Menafee, art means freedom. She appreciates its role in society not only for its entertainment but also for its ability to make statements and promote expression. “It releases us from our labels and personal boxes, or even encourages us to embrace them. It’s such a place of exploration and I feel most like myself when I am able to create.”  Menafee’s talent and genuine appreciation for her art is one that is rare to find. Ms. Hynds said, “I have loved working with Vera because she is so down to earth, and receptive to direction. Unfailingly kind and supportive to her peers, Vera has represented the very best of Deerfield Academy’s Theater Program and she leaves a gaping hole now that she is headed to college.” From killer Fleetwood Mac performances to starring in Antigone , composing songs to contributing poetry for Albany Road, Menafee’s artistic legacy is a great one, and she will surely be missed by the Deerfield community

If you didn’t work at the library, where would you want to work? At the United Nations What’s your favorite Deerfield meal? Mac and cheese with stewed tomatoes What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Take a chance; you have nothing to lose If you could trade lives with someone for one day, who would it be? Dolly Parton What’s your biggest pet peeve? Willful damage to property What’s your fondest Deerfield memory? Seeing students support each other in all venues of school life Would you rather be able to see the future or read people’s minds? Neither—I like living in the present What’s your favorite Deerfield tradition? Singing the Evensong If you were given a plane ticket to go anywhere, where would you go? New Zealand What is something you would like to be remembered for? Being kind and helpful to others

Joe Wang ’20: a music lover, leader of the Orchestra’s viola section, distinguished soloist on the Concert Hall stage, and inspiring presence in the Deerfield music program. Having grown up surrounded by music, Wang attributes his artistic beginnings to his older sister, who is a professional musician. He particularly found himself drawn to string instruments when listening to her practice; in the third grade, he begged his parents for a violin, and in the eighth grade, he switched to the viola. These were the beginnings of a long and accomplished musical journey. Throughout his three years as a Deerfield student, Wang has participated in the Music Service co-curricular every term but one. He has taken many courses in the music discipline, ranging from Advanced Chamber Music to Bands: Winds/Rock/Jazz to Advanced Music Composition and Analysis. Director of Chamber Music and Orchestra Thomas Bergeron commented on Wang’s open-minded nature and willingness to embrace challenges. “Since Joe first arrived on campus, he has said ‘yes’ to every performance or creative musical opportunity put in front of his. This dedication to become the best and most well-rounded version of his musical self sets the bar for all Deerfield musicians,” he said. Wang’s interest in expanding his musical horizons can also be seen through his pursuits of playing the electric viola, singing in a baritone quartet, and composing and arranging as a hobby. These activities were all done concurrently with his diligent viola practice, a schedule that may consist of 2-5 hours of practice a day.  Violin and Viola Instructor Anthony Berner said, “His interpretive maturity and his consistent probing of the musical intentions of the composer are unusual gifts in any musician and are particularly rare in someone so young.” “Joe is a constant reminder that music is an expansive form of expression and should be approached as such,” said Britney Cheung ‘19, a close friend of Wang. “He cares deeply about his craft and recognizes that playing the viola is more than just practicing — he is constantly looking for ways to innovate and understand music.” This deep appreciation for music has only developed since his time at boarding school. Wang described his Deerfield experiences as having opened his eyes to all that music can offer, having been immersed in a place with top-notch facilities and accomplished peers. “Before, music was just something I did. But at Deerfield, I’ve learned there’s a kind of complex, mystical side to it where it’s very soul-based,” Wang said. Wang continues to admire the way art transcends beyond a rudimentary basis of life. “You don’t need art to survive, you don’t need music to live, but these aspects of life create culture. They progress humanity,” said Wang. “What inspires me about music is the idea of going beyond the surface level of things and pouring your effort and soul and time into something that has the power to affect someone’s emotions and the overall quality of the world.” Next fall, Wang will attend Yale University. As a science enthusiast, he is considering pursuing a path of medicine; however, he also hopes to continue playing music for the rest of his life, and he plans to eventually apply to the Yale School of Music graduate program, an institution offering one of the most globally elite educations in music.  Wang described the uncertainties of the current COVID-19 crisis as a significant factor in determining his future. It is difficult to predict how the professional music world will emerge from the pandemic; he knows for certain, however, that both academics and music mean the world to him. “My hope is to not let either one go until the very last second.”

1:00 PM: Wake Up 1:02 PM: Check Tik Tok 1:46 PM: Put down your phone, go back to bed 2:30 PM: Actually get up, morning routine (Optional: do a Chloe Ting Workout) 2:45 PM: Shower 3:00 PM: Kitchen for the first snack of the day 3:07 PM: See if there’s anything new on Netflix (I highly recommend Never Have I Ever or Hollywood ) 3:23 PM: Check TikTok 3:56 PM: First mandatory family walk 4:30 PM: Pre-Dinner Snack 4:45 PM: Cry then post about it on your private story 6:00 PM: Dinner 6:30 PM: Dessert  6:45 PM: Second mandatory family walk 7:30 PM: Facetime friends because social distancing 8:00 PM: Cry a bit more 8:15 PM: Post-dinner snack 8:30 PM: Watch a movie 10:30 PM: Annoy your siblings or play with pets (if you have neither, just pace around your room) 11:00 PM: Start a new show on Netflix 4:30 AM: Finish the show 4:45 AM: Bedtime routine 5:00 AM: Bedtime!

After three years as Deerfield’s Sustainability Education Coordinator, Dr. Beth Hooker will be moving on to a position at Ceres, a Boston-based nonprofit organization committed to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Deerfield community remembers Dr. Hooker for her passion for the environment, her unquenchable joy, and the donuts she often brought to class.  According to Dr. Hooker, her role as Sustainability Education Coordinator “was envisioned to work closely with the faculty and student body [and] with Facilities on-campus sustainability projects,” some of which include the Think 80/20 initiative and an on-site solar project. Additionally, Dr. Hooker served on the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee and was the assistant director of the Center for Service and Global Citizenship (CSGC).  As a member of the science department, Dr. Hooker taught Research in Sustainability, AP Environmental Science, AP Seminar: Global H 2 O, and an elective titled Sustainable Deerfield. Angélique Alexos ‘20, a member of Dr. Hooker’s Research in Sustainability class, greatly valued the course, saying, “Throughout the projects and experiments that we conducted, I was always in awe of her passion and interest in understanding the natural world.”  Arthur Yao ‘20, another member of the class, similarly valued the care she put into his group project experimenting with biochar. “Dr. Hooker went above and beyond providing the materials and guiding us through the whole process,” he said.  Evidently, Dr. Hooker’s classroom environment is one where enthusiasm for sustainability is contagious. When reflecting on a time the Deerfield community inspired her, Dr. Hooker cited the biochar project as well. She recalled that when the students initially came to her with the idea, she told them it would be a massive undertaking, but that she would help them do it. Once the materials came and the project was underway, “they just kept at it and didn’t give up. They just owned it.” She added, “That’s what I like about students at Deerfield.” Her fellow faculty members also admire her equal enthusiasm for helping students and protecting the environment. Dr. Mary Ellen Friends, who co-taught AP Seminar with Dr. Hooker, said, “The field trip Dr. Hooker planned was both academically meaningful and was important to the bonding of the class. I’ll remember that beautiful day with a valuable colleague and a terrific group of students for the rest of my DA career.”  Through the Eco-Rep program she revitalized, students worked with Dr. Hooker on a variety of sustainability projects specific to the Deerfield community. Yao, a member of the Eco-Rep program, notes that “she has motivated all the members to be active contributors and models of sustainable living,” and that through Dr. Hooker’s leadership, “we became a close-knit community that shared a common passion for improving the carbon footprint of Deerfield.” Whether through her efforts to make Deerfield a more sustainable place or simply through her unfailingly positive presence, Dr. Hooker’s impact on the Deerfield community cannot be understated. Ms. Baltazar, the Program Coordinator for the CSGC, said that “Dr. Hooker has been a supportive, encouraging colleague, but most importantly she has been a good friend.” Izzy Hamlen ‘20, another Eco-Rep and one of Dr. Hooker’s students, added to this sentiment and said, “Dr. Hooker has definitely helped me learn how to advocate for what I believe in.”  Dr. Hooker will continue to pursue environmental stewardship as she begins her new position at Ceres this fall. There, she will be using her background in freshwater science to work “with other NGOs, such as the World Wildlife Fund, to advance agricultural stewardship.” Undoubtedly, she will continue to spread enthusiasm for the environment and joy for life in her role as Senior Program Manager in Agriculture and Water Resilience there. Deerfield will be forever grateful for all that Dr. Hooker has contributed to the community and wishes her all the best in her future.

“Among the biggest victims of the coronavirus pandemic is the fiction of amicable U.S.- China relations,” wrote Michael Auslin, a research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Auslin’s statement represents the growing pessimism surrounding the future of harmonious Sino-American co-existence. While some argue that China is a threat, mindless propagation of such sentiments in a time of crisis and economic uncertainty creates a recipe for mass ignorance and misdirected animosity. Antagonizing China so far has been a mistake, but continuing to do so could lead to war. As you likely know, the U.S. has experienced personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage for the past two months. This shortage initially happened because the Chinese government shut down its economy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, causing supply chains to collapse. China supplies 48% of the U.S.’s imported PPE, according to the Japan Times.  Chinese factories reopened in mid-to-late February and immediately began supplying medical equipment to Europe and the United States again. But news reports describing masks with no straps and test kits with brownish chemicals created concern about substandard supplies. Some of these reports were fair and holistic, but many misrepresent the situation to play into growing anti-China suspicion.  The two most cited examples of defective Chinese medical equipment are Spain’s recall of 340,000 test kits and Holland’s demand for a refund on 600,000 KN95 masks. Most reports on these stories don’t address the fact that both the Spanish and Dutch governments purchased the masks and test kits from private companies, unauthorized to provide these supplies even in China.  Beijing responded to these reports by implementing harsh export regulations. These restrictions prohibited companies that were not authorized to produce medical equipment in China from exporting medical supplies elsewhere. They have been completely inflexible, with no exceptions given to American companies that have approval from the FDA, but not the CCP. This policy became the real cause of our PPE shortage in mid-April, rather than an actual scarcity of supplies. Business Insider reported on April 18 that 1.4 million test kits and 2.4 million face masks are stuck in Chinese warehouses, unable to reach the U.S. because of this policy. Unfortunately, we are bound to play Beijing’s game when it comes to PPE supply right now, as altering our reliance on Chinese manufacturing is unlikely in the short term.  Perhaps Chinese officials would have implemented these restrictions anyways, but acts of antagonism from the U.S. did little to convince them to help us. The U.S. government should have negotiated a temporary agreement to lift the regulations, but instead, we escalated our accusatory attacks on China.  On April 21, the State of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the People’s Republic of China. Time Magazine called this act a symbolic measure rather than a legitimate legislative move, given that “lawsuits against other countries typically don’t go anywhere because U.S. law generally prohibits them.”  Actions like this beg the questions: what kind of message do we hope to send through this symbol, what good does it create, and is it really necessary? Blaming China has become a political strategy. The Washington Post reports that a 57-page Republican strategy memo, sent by party leaders, advises “Senate candidates to blame China for the coronavirus outbreak [and] link Democrats to the Chinese government.” Although no such document has emerged from the Democratic Party, they have likewise attempted to monger public agitation against China. For example, the Biden Campaign released an advertisement accusing President Trump of sending China seventeen tons of PPE in January. “The focus for some very powerful political figures is not how to return this country to a way of life that people in countries like China and South Korea are now living,” said Anna Fu ’20, President of Deerfield’s Asian Student Alliance. “Rather, they are focused on promoting their own political agendas and finding someone to place blame on for everything that is happening.” History Teacher Mary Ellen Friends, who will teach “U.S. China Relations” next year , echoed Fu’s sentiment. “I think we would do well to look forward to a unified solution rather than backwards to the question of culpability. Let’s put our energy solving the problem at hand,” she said. Not only is the blame game counter-productive, but it is also dangerous for global peace. Many people who typically pay little attention to U.S.-China relations don’t realize that there is a substantial probability for a Sino-American war in the 21st century. Such was the argument of Graham Allison, Founding Dean of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School, in his 2017 book Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap. The ‘Thucydides Trap’ is a concept in International Relations theory, which suggests that when a growing power threatens to surpass an established world power, the most likely outcome is war. In the past 500 years, global powers have been caught in the ‘Thucydides Trap’ sixteen times. Twelve of these resulted in war. Furthermore, “The four cases that avoided this outcome did so only because of huge, painful adjustments in attitudes and actions on the part of the challenger and challenged alike,” wrote Allison. As the ‘established power’ in the U.S.- China rendition of an age-old international drama, we have displayed the symptoms of ‘ruling power syndrome,’ a term coined by Allison to characterize the mindset of ruling/established powers when the Thucydides Trap is sprung. “The established power exhibit[s] an enlarged sense of fear and insecurity as it faces intimidations of decline,” it states. “The established power views the upstart’s assertiveness as disrespectful, ungrateful, and even provocative or dangerous.” The past century, which historians have called the ‘American Century,’ has created an expectation of American primacy both in the global economy and the domain of international politics. Our shared history has ingrained these ideals into the salt of American identity, yet the rise of China threatens both. Current expert consensus expects China to surpass the U.S. in GDP by 2030. China’s economic power has expanded its sphere of influence in the Asia-Pacific region. China’s Belt and Road Initiative will continue to bolster its power there and subsequently in Africa, Eastern Europe, and eventually Western Europe by making the transportation of goods from Europe to Asia more efficient. China’s greater control of commerce will afford it more diplomatic leverage over the beneficiaries of their Belt and Road, which will be most of Eurasia. Of course, Washington has not sat idly by– we began a Trade War. Washington raised tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, which prompted Beijing to retaliate with similar measures. Experts agree that the Trade War provided little improvement for working-class Americans. However, it soured our relationship with China, created distrust between our governments, and diminished Beijing’s likeliness to seek future collaboration.  “Trade wars have no winners,” wrote the World Economic Forum, but we are content with losing as long as China does as well. In the past, our competitive spirit drove us to build the greatest country in the history of the world. Today, it threatens to rip apart the world order. We have more tendencies for kamikaze-like behavior than we would like to believe.  There are, however, measures both the U.S. and China can take to reduce the risk of war. Recognition of the risk itself is one of them. “Ongoing scholarly, professional, and public conversations catalyzed by Graham Allison and other top scholars in the field have, in a not insignificant way, shifted the likely trajectory of current events further away from rather than towards the likelihood of a U.S.-China war,” explained Dr. Friends. We must continue to increase the level of vigilance with which we address the risk of war. “Some U.S. government departments related to U.S.-China diplomacy are understaffed and/or do not have the depth of expertise in China-specific policy or sinology to ensure continuity of a strong and cohesive foreign relations policy,” said Dr. Friends. “This is not at all to say that those who have dedicated their careers to U.S.-China policy are not competent. It is, rather, that the U.S.-China relationship is so multifaceted as to make it important to have a robust, diversified, well-funded staff that can respond nimbly and with professionalism to both expected and unexpected events.” The threat of war can also be reduced through cultural understanding. Britain and the U.S. were formerly engaged in the Thucydides Trap from the late 19th to the turn of the 20th. Although disgruntled by their waning supremacy, Britain was able to reassure itself that American dominance would at least not threaten their values and way of life. The U.S. and China will become less inclined towards conflict if they can accept their cultural differences and not be intimidated by them. To understand China fairly, we must divorce the oversimplified capitalist-versus-communist dichotomy that suggests one is good while the other is inherently evil. As a Chinese-American who understands certain aspects of China’s vast culture and appreciates American democracy, here are my two cents.  First, China is a 5,000-year-old civilization with a rich cultural history that has flourished in numerous Golden Ages, never once attempting the experiment of democracy. Second, China has a population five times the population of the U.S., which poses a serious challenge to the viability of democratic republicanism.  While I believe we ought to urge greater respect for free speech and individual liberties, we simultaneously must shake the assumption that their unwillingness to engage our set of liberal ideals is tyrannical; rather, it is a result of foundational differences. Whereas the U.S. has an individualist society that idealizes self-reliance and independence, China leans towards a culture of collectivism, in which devotion to the state is not fascist but morally admirable. While this is certainly a generalization, numerous experts in the field of comparative cultural studies have documented and qualified it.  The modern manifestations of these differences derive from millennia of dissimilarity between the East’s and the West’s philosophies and experienced histories. Projecting Western expectations on Eastern behavior without recognizing certain incompatibilities will position us for diplomatic failure. More futile attempts to force square pegs into round holes will create further frustration and fracture an already fragile pegboard.  Some experts, like Michael Auslin, argue that the U.S. and China are already in a Cold War, which seems far-fetched – but so did social-distancing two months ago. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is also to be cautious about disasters you don’t expect. Our relationship with China will become increasingly difficult and complex in the post-COVID world. Such a challenge will require our government to spend an enormous effort balancing the carrot and stick of U.S.-China policy. As citizens, we must question surface-level narratives, whether they originate from the CCP or our own media, and strive to develop detailed and nuanced understandings of the situation at hand.

During a time of unprecedented circumstances, it can be difficult to find the motivation to stay active. Without a team, coach, or friends to go to the gym with, it can be difficult to stay driven; however, these individuals of Deerfield Athletics are finding ways at home to continue to push themselves regardless of the obstacles they face. Emma Theriault, head strength & conditioning coach, stresses the importance of daily physical exertion. “Maintaining a regular exercise routine is pivotal in our overall well being,” said Ms. Theriault. Using Zoom to enlist in cycling classes every weekend with a group of women living all across the world, Ms. Theriault has been especially creative with her time in quarantine. Aside from her own personal training during quarantine, Ms. Theriault has also been essential to aiding Deerfield’s students and faculty with their own quarantine workouts. Alongside strength and condition coach Thomas Reynolds, Ms. Theriault has been running an Instagram account named @deerfield_strength. Ms. Theriault and Mr. Reynolds have frequently posted workouts for the entire Deerfield community to use. They have also been able to facilitate students and faculty with individualized plans custom to the home equipment each person possesses.  Tri-sport varsity captain Christina Halloran ’20 has been utilizing her family and the internet to make sure exercise is a part of her quarantine daily routine. “I go for runs with my sister, lift, bike, and do some exercise/challenge videos too!” said Halloran. “I’ve also been going for lots of walks when it’s nice out.” John O’Loughlin ’21, a member of both Deerfield boys’ swim and lacrosse teams, would have been transitioning from one season of athletics to the next. He has chosen to look at quarantine time as an opportunity.  O’Loughlin said, “We have all the time in the world so might as well use it.” Similar to Halloran, O’Loughlin has used exercise as a way to connect with family. In his house, he and his father have found a workout machine, and his entire family is starting to use it.  Perhaps one of Deerfield’s most determined teams for the spring term has been the Deerfield girls’ varsity crew team. When their Florida pre-season trip was canceled and school was initially postponed, they chose to not ruminate over what could not be controlled and directed their energy on what they could.  With the help of Head Coach Melanie Onufrieff, the team created a game in order to stay motivated. Members were placed into virtual sub-teams to aid in easier communication. These sub-teams competed with one another to see which could log the most amount of exercise. These smaller, virtual teams also allowed the team to build chemistry even without being physically together as they were constantly sending messages of encouragement to one another. Girls’ varsity crew captain Claire Cummings ’21 is continuing to motivate herself even after her team’s activities. “Personally, as events, camps, and races are being canceled left and right in the rowing world, and in general, I have found it really helpful to focus on micro-goals,” said Cummings. “I think about getting on the erg or working out one day or one stroke at a time.”  Whether it be from family motivation, a text from a friend, or their own initiative, all of these members of the Deerfield Athletics program have stayed driven during these challenging times. They act as models of what Deerfield’s Athletic programs truly stand for. It is not composed of nice equipment, fields, or gear, but rather, it is constituted by heart, dedication, and the desire for excellence.

Due to the COVID -19 outbreak, students and faculty have had to come up with alternatives to Deerfield’s old birthday traditions – singing during sit-down lunches, dorm hall celebrations, and more. Recently, the news of schools and public facilities closing has left many people disappointed. But thanks to the efforts of family and friends, people are not singing happy birthday alone.  Although this spring term has been quite different, many students have found other ways to celebrate their birthdays. Gabriella Hu ’21, who just celebrated her birthday on the 24th of April, said that despite all the restrictions, she was able to “make the best” of the situation “by trying to do everything as close to usual as possible.” Instead of the normal Deerfield birthday parties thrown by friends and teachers, “some friends set up a Zoom birthday party” for her seventeenth birthday. She also seemed to enjoy activities that she did not have the chance to do in past years while at Deerfield, such as baking delicious desserts and making her favorite Chinese dish with her family.  In New York, Maddalena Honablue ’23 also celebrated her birthday this past month. Honablue said that there were a lot of hardships in her area since the city  “was a few days into being placed under lockdown.” Her usual birthday routine included “a dinner trip to a nice restaurant and meeting up with friends in Manhattan”, but this year for her sweet 15,  she could only manage to order food and cakes and enjoy a night of movies. But she was happy to be able to go over to her neighbor’s house and celebrate together in lieu of a day in the hub of New York.  In the midst of all the fear and haziness around COVID-19, the Deerfield community seems to come up with various alternatives to traditional birthday celebrations. Although it was devastating to miss out on having a birthday in the sunny campus of Deerfield, students have still kept their spirits high with the essentials: time with their loved ones, a sweet cake, and blowing out their candles.

On April 10th, the Deerfield official Instagram posted a video of several Deerfield students performing the John Lennon hit, “Let it Be.” Though they were physically separated by miles and oceans apart, the video managed to capture a sense of togetherness. In a time when physical interaction is rare, the video was well received by students, teachers, parents, and alumni alike.  The video was directed and produced by campus Production Service Technician Samuel Watson. For Mr. Watson, this project was unprecedented. Faced with the challenge of orchestrating a musical production asynchronously, he went through a number of steps to create a strong final product.  First, Mr. Watson sent out a backing karaoke track consisting of a piano, bass, and metronome for the musicians to follow along with as they played their parts. He also distributed the appropriate sheet music to each musician. Then, after the students had recorded their parts, they sent them to Mr. Watson who received the collection of recordings, extracted the audio, and then lined them up with the videos and the original backing track. Lastly, he mixed them all into the program FinalCut and put together the final product of the video.  For most of the musicians involved, this method of musical collaboration was unfamiliar. As singer Kate Landino ‘20 said, “To me, music is about sharing an experience and listening to other people and being vulnerable. Now, you can’t do that at all. The entire experience of musically connecting with other people has been taken away from us at the moment.” From a technical standpoint, Mr. Watson noted a similar challenge to the process. “It’s hard to give feedback instantaneously. Performance is a feedback loop for musicians. [When creating asynchronously], there’s no rehearsal. There’s just doing your part in a vacuum and it can feel kind of foreign unless you come from a recording background,” he said. Despite these challenges in the artistic process, Landino noted that this new process of music-making reminded her of her first years of creating music. She recalled that during her ninth-grade year, she would write music with her guitar for two hours every day after school. This more rudimentary form of music-making was a reflection of her motivation for creating her art at the time.  “People turn to music for comfort in times of anxiety. That’s why I got into music; to get away from stuff. At a time where things feel so uncertain and terrifying, we can turn on a record player, turn on Spotify and listen to someone tell us that everything will be okay,” Landino said.  Outside of the Deerfield artistic community, musical artists have found that listening and playing music plays a special role in healing. The World Health Organization, in collaboration with Global Citizen, organized a televised concert with several big-name artists and helped raise over $127 million for healthcare workers during the current coronavirus pandemic. Though it was not a typical concert by any means, it was reminiscent of various relief concerts of the past.  For artists, just like many other professions, the current pandemic has impacted their typical ways of life and sources of income. Landino noted the intimate connection that artists have with audiences as a unique implication of the situation. She encourages members of the Deerfield community to consider donating to various artist relief funds, such as those for Broadway actors.  While we may only be able to connect through our screens at this point in time, music can be a source of unity and joy. The future of the world is uncertain, but, as John Lennon urges, “There will be an answer, let it be.”

Katy Gilbert ’20, a recent Stanford University girls’ lacrosse commit, embodies a stellar Deerfield postgraduate. While Gilbert, along with the rest of girls varsity lacrosse, lost her spring season, she contributed greatly to the Deerfield community in the fall and winter.  Joining the girls’ varsity soccer and basketball teams, Gilbert quickly became a standout athlete. Annabel Gerber ’20, captain of girls’ varsity soccer, said, “We were so lucky to get Katy this year. While I know she must be awesome at lacrosse, she was a great soccer player and contributed greatly to our team dynamic. I know the team will miss her a lot next year.” Ruby Chase ’21, a fellow member of Deerfield girls’ varsity basketball, said, “Not only was Katy an outstanding player, [but she also] brought a positive energy every day whether that be practices, games, or bus rides.”   Although Gilbert was at Deerfield for a mere six months, she embodied the Deerfield spirit. She even said that “beating Choate three times in basketball season,” was her favorite memory. As a PG, it can be difficult to adjust to Deerfield; however, Gilbert feels that playing for Deerfield was a perfect choice. She said, “Deerfield gave me the opportunity to develop for another year and feel really prepared for college. It also gave me the opportunity to meet some amazing people and make memories that I’ll never forget.”  Not only was she a great presence on the field, but, living in Poc, she became great friends with those across all grades, bridging gaps as if she had been a Door since 9th grade. Teammate and hallmate, Ingrid Matteini ’21 could not imagine a Deerfield without Gilbert. “She is easily one of my best friends now,” said Matteini. “She is a loyal person who is always supportive on and off the field.” The Deerfield lacrosse team is sad that they never got to play alongside Gilbert, but Gilbert still made an impact even without playing a single lacrosse game. She attended captains’ practices, played lacrosse independently to maintain her skill set, and sought to make friends with her future teammates before the season began. Her teammates and coaches confirm that she would have been a vital member in the spring. Many of her Deerfield friends attended her virtual signing day to Stanford this past month. Gilbert epitomized the grace, benevolence, and passion that Deerfield Athletics aims to foster. She truly bleeds green in character and mind.  Although sad to leave the Pioneer Valley, Gilbert is looking forward to her future at Stanford. Competing for Stanford’s lacrosse team, forming strong friendships, and studying psychology are all on Gilber’s horizon.  Gilbert’s presence on campus may have been short-lived, but nonetheless, she was influential. Not only was she a key player on multiple teams, but also, a kind, steady friend to all. Her coaches, teammates, and friends are excited to see the amazing things she will do in her next chapter.

When I first came to Deerfield, I never thought I’d see myself as a leader. My reserved, quiet personality, I thought, would never be able to take on the roles I saw around campus; proctorship, alliance boards, and club leadership all seemed to require some form of natural skill, as well as a massive amount of time and effort. Fast forward three years, and we are all now in the same position as our former proctors, alliance leaders, and captains. With our final year at Deerfield looming ahead of us, it’s hard not to think about what the next few months have in store.  Normally, these next few weeks would be a time for us juniors to reflect on our time here and prepare to take on the responsibility as the new leaders on campus. Normally, this is an opportunity for us to connect with the senior class, learning from them the skills necessary to take on these roles. But, evidently, this year is anything but normal.  With the world coming to a halt, it may seem natural for us to slow down and step back from the work we are given and the responsibilities we are expected to embrace. While this may seem inconsequential at this point, these next few weeks are as important to our class as it has been to any other year. Regardless of the current circumstances, the next time we step foot on campus will be as seniors, and now is the time for us to step up. Junior spring is one of the most formative times for a student throughout their Deerfield career. This term is our first glimpse at the college process, one of the first times many of us truly begin to think about our plans beyond campus. It is also a time for us, as a class, to expand our service to our community as we take on the challenge of representing Deerfield as a whole. However, current circumstances have not only changed how we approach our classes, but also how we tackle the challenge of hosting club meetings, interviews, and service opportunities from the distance of our screens. Many aspects of campus have changed, and now we don’t know what to expect.  With the world approaching the rest of 2020 blindly, we are instinctively beginning to neglect the structure we were meant to build for the coming year. The unpredictability of the past few months has led to many taking on an “it is what it is” approach, embracing the fact that what happens around us at this point is uncontrollable. A class of juniors stuck at home can’t change the fate of a global pandemic, but what we can change is how it affects our final months together on campus. As a freshman, I always looked up to the senior class as a role model for the rest of us. They incentivized me to engage with the traditions I have come to embrace in the past three years and pushed me to uphold Deerfield’s values whenever I was able to. As seniors, this is now our responsibility, and we must take up this role in order to ensure a smooth transition back to campus. Despite the numerous barriers placed between all of us, our current circumstances have given us the rare opportunity to bring our initiative beyond campus. Such service is already evident — the numerous groups and fundraisers led by Deerfield juniors have not only continued to spur our class’ creativity and drive, but have also allowed us to spread positivity to those back home. With our current conditions requiring us to expand our viewpoints and the ways we can serve our communities, we might be inclined to let this momentum go as we return this fall. I ask that we remind ourselves that this is not a one-time responsibility. As much as what is happening right now seems out of our hands, the responsibilities we have taken on beyond what we find comfortable is the same drive we require as we return to Deerfield as the new senior class. Don’t let the experiences you have in the next few months go simply because you feel as though you won’t need them anymore. Find ways to transfer the determination our class has exemplified. It’s time to step up, 2021.

Okay, I’m bored in the house and I’m in the house bored… Oftentimes, this TikTok phrase comes to mind when we think about self isolation. As we become more distant from friends, and our classes are online, we notice ourselves spending more time on the Internet and on our phones. Don’t worry, this article won’t be about TikTok. Instead, we will step away from our screens, and learn a few tips for how to stay artistically motivated and inspired from Lily Lin ’23, Greer Anderson ’22, Jean Jin ’22, Benny Yang ’21, Mark Chung ’21, Alex Leong ’20, and AP Studio Art Teacher Mercedes Taylor—just a few Deerfield artists creating pieces in their own homes.   Tip #1: Be creative with your materials  Don’t have art supplies? Don’t fret! Be creative! Like many others in her AP Studio Art Class,  Jin does not have her usual assortment of materials on hand, so she has been experimenting with stuff around the house. She recommends using materials such as “food and fruit juice as water color,” and she has used oatmeal juice as glue, saying “It worked! Very Sticky!”  If you don’t have any drawing paper, Anderson suggests using toned paper like cardboard boxes or anything else with color, which will make objects stand out easier. Lin also suggests to try mark making, which means making marks on paper using whatever things you can find.  The possibilities are endless! You can use anything in the house! Tip #2: How to find inspiration  Another challenge that may be stopping you from creating your first piece of art may be a lack of inspiration. We get it, we’ve all been there.  For Chung, he is inspired by the important aspects of his life, such as the Deerfield campus, which allows him to keep in touch with our school’s community.  Similarly, Leong finds inspiration from the world around him. Particularly passionate about the COVID-19 crisis, Leong has been doing his AP Sustained Investigation around different governments’ reactions to this pandemic. Lin also adds that inspiration can be as simple as the first word that pops into your head and then thinking of a similar word; thus, “branching out” your ideas until you get a whole page of topics that you can connect together through your artwork. If that doesn’t work, just start creating, and ideas will come to you as you go. Don’t let the lack of inspiration get in your way.  Tip #3: Music Everyone loves to listen to music, and it can certainly be used as a tool when you are drawing. For example, Yang prefers listening to sad music which helps him think wistfully of his past and identity.  On the other hand, Leong listens to rap music to get him hyped to be more attentive when he is drawing.  Of course, music is all up to personal opinion, so don’t let these artists’ preferences limit you.  Yang even warned he would “absolutely not recommend listening to sad music when you draw,” which is why we recommend you listen to a variety of different genres until you find one that best cultivates your creative thoughts.  If you think music is too much of a distraction, you can always listen to the sound of pencil on paper like Ms. Taylor occasionally does.  Tip #4: Technique When it comes to artistic technique, Ms. Taylor recognizes that we cannot all start with a wide array of skills. It all depends on the amount of time and energy you are willing to devote to that art form. In drawing, for example, she said, “We can all draw but some of us practice it more… When I go to the basketball court and I have a ball, I know exactly where it is supposed to go, but the chances that I get it in the basket are very low. But with time, I may get it to hit the board and with more time maybe the rim and then one day maybe I put it in the basket. Even professional players don’t make the basket every shot but they still continue playing and practicing.” One technique Leong has learned from Ms. Taylor is to  “push the darks in your drawings,” referring to the dark areas in your drawings which will make your objects more three dimensional and stand out.  Yang suggests practicing the basics over and over again, and he recounts where he only drew lines on a single page for a whole year just so he could feel comfortable drawing them.  Even now, Yang still watches drawing tutorial videos, so don’t be ashamed to look for help!  Tip #5: Send It! Now that you know all the tricks to start, just practice! Art is a very creative activity, so there are no right or wrong steps. Just take out a piece of paper and a pencil and begin!  Don’t judge your work. Ms. Taylor suggests thinking of yourself as a learner. Turn the page every time you finish drawing to stop yourself from criticizing your work. Similarly, Leong suggests not being too focused on one particular portion of the drawing because when you look at that one tiny detail without being in context with the greater piece, it may not look too good. You just have to have faith that it will always come together in the end.  Ms. Taylor says, “Your work is not going to get better from the moment you begin to the day you finish, it’s the practice of the skills and the practice of the drawings that will guarantee it gets better.”  So, keep practicing! Art is a journey we can all be a part of, so never give up on yourself. Remember, like Lin says, “Everyone has creativity, just not everyone can express it.”  Next time you are bored in the house and in the house bored, pick up a pencil instead of your phone. You won’t regret it.