The event was held amid what the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has named one of the most violent times for American Jews in recent years. According to the ADL’s 2025 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, antisemitic assaults involving a deadly weapon jumped 39 percent in 2025 compared to the year before.
2025 was also the year that saw the first murders of Jews in antisemitic attacks in the U.S. since 2019.
This grim context set the stage for the gathering of Christian and Jewish leaders in Beachwood, where Lischinsky arrived to share his story.
The program, sponsored by the Cleveland Joseph Project and Harvest Leadership Alliance, was part of a global initiative called Love Your Jewish Neighbor Month, which encourages Christians to express solidarity with Jewish communities.
Lischinksky recalled how he felt the day he learned of the attack.
“Your world is falling apart, and you don’t know, because it’s something you can never be prepared for,” he said. “You never imagine something like this.”
Local Christian leaders and rabbis also spoke, sharing messages of unity. The event was followed by a brief Q&A session and reception.
Lischinsky’s son, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky, and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed as they were leaving an American Jewish Committee event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The two were about to travel to Israel, where they would have gotten engaged.
He described his understanding of the attack pieced together from officials and witnesses.
“This terrorist came from the other direction when they were going out, before crossing the street,” he said. “He saw them, identified them, face to face. They crossed one another, then he turned, and he shot them … He shot Yaron first, and then Sarah. I thought Yaron went down by the first shooting, but somebody told us later that he emptied a whole clip on Yaron.”
Lischinsky and his family are Messianic Jews. Messianic Jews identify as Jewish while maintaining the belief that Jesus is the Messiah—a core Christian belief.
Frank Amedia, CEO of Total Christian Television and host of the program “Frankly Speaking,” also spoke at the event, sharing a similar story from his own time with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States.
Leiter had lost his own son, Major Moshe Leiter, during a military operation in Gaza.
Amedia recalled the ambassador pointing to a photo of Yaron and Sarah on his office wall.
“He looked at that, and he said to me, ‘Frank, that to me was as difficult as when they told me about my son,” he said, describing tears in Leiter’s eyes.
Dr. Jerry A. Dehart, pastor of Chesterland Baptist Church, also spoke at the event.
Reflecting on his years teaching in Japan, he argued that people often misjudge those from other cultures because of their limited perspectives.
“There’s a phrase I’ll share with you in Japanese: the frog in the well doesn’t know the ocean,” DeHart said. “That well only gives the perspective of just the sky above, but they can’t see beyond it. And that’s where our limited perception … comes to bring hope to trauma, to violence, to hatred.”
Following the others’ remarks, Lischinsky rose up to share his son’s story.
He described his son as a peacemaker who treated everyone with warmth.
“He was a person who liked to connect with the human being in you,” he said. “He would sit with you, and it didn’t matter if you were a journalist, a diplomat, [or] an ambassador from any country. He would ask you about you.”
Lischinsky described Yaron’s life from his childhood in Jerusalem to the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Yaron grew up partly in Germany with his family before returning to Israel, where he served in the military police, studied international relations at Hebrew University, and later pursued a Master’s degree in diplomacy.
Then, recommended by his professors, he was invited to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
It was at the embassy where Yaron met Milgrim.
Lischinsky explained how the two had met.
“He worked in the Middle East Department of the Israeli Embassy, and after his job there, he volunteered to the emergency room, where he met Sarah,” he said. “There was born this love between them … the people that know them, they say they were the poster couple of the embassy. Everybody liked them.”
The couple had planned to travel to Israel together just days after the attack, with Yaron intending to propose.
“They had the tickets and everything prepared, but they couldn’t come,” he said. “[Instead,] they brought him around in a coffin.”
Since his son’s tragic death, Lischinsky has become a public advocate. Traveling across the country, he aims to share Yaron and Sarah’s story and speak out against the antisemitism that took their lives.
At Beachwood, Lischinsky’s message centered on breaking down fear between the Christian and Jewish communities.
“I want to encourage the Christian people to be friendly, and to support the Jewish community everywhere that suffers antisemitism,” he said. “And I want to encourage the Jewish community, in these difficult times, not to hide.”
When asked why he chose to bring his message to Beachwood specifically, Lischinsky pointed to the relationships that made the visit possible.
“We have good friends here that invited us,” he said. “I thank [them] for welcoming us here in Ohio.”
He concluded his remarks with a message about shared humanity.
“It’s the basic thing, that all of us are human beings,” he said. “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, the religion you practice, or your past. We all need to be respected because we are human beings created by our Almighty God.”
Rabbi Dr. Eric David Lakatos, president and founder of the Cleveland Joseph Project, explained the organization’s purpose.
He discussed the Jewish households the organization tracks: a quarter have children in need and a fifth are seniors, many twice below the federal poverty line.
In an interview, Lakatos further elaborated the organization’s mission.
“Our mission is simple but deeply significant: to make a tangible difference in the lives of Jewish individuals and families, especially the most vulnerable, through practical aid, compassionate partnership, and genuine friendship,” he said.
Lakatos said the idea for the organization came from noticing a divide between Cleveland’s Christian and Jewish communities.
“I noticed when I came here in 2008 that the Christian community did their thing, and the Jewish community [did] their thing, and the two never talk to each other,” he said. “I think Messianic Jews were the glue between the two communities … So that’s what gave birth to the idea of the Cleveland Joseph Project.”
Lakatos revealed that he modeled the organization on Joseph Project International, a larger humanitarian aid group in Israel.
“I was inspired by the Joseph Project International, so I even asked them, ‘Can I use the name Joseph Project?’” he said. “They said, go for it. So I came back to Cleveland and I decided, ‘Let’s do it here.’”
The partnership between the Jewish Family Service Association and the Cleveland Joseph Project was also on display.
Linus Vysnionis, chief philanthropy officer at the Jewish Family Service Association, spoke about the visible impact of the partnership between the two organizations.
His organization, founded in 1875, cares for about 400 Holocaust survivors across Northeast Ohio alongside a wide range of other services for the Jewish community.
Vysnionis described a food pantry at the organization’s headquarters which is stocked in part through efforts from the Cleveland Joseph Project that gives customers (including people with mental illness living on government assistance or those fleeing domestic violence) a few days’ worth of food when they need it.
“This support has been critical for that pantry,” he said. “We really couldn’t do it without the support of the Cleveland Joseph Project. The foods and the funds that they provide for us are really important, and it really impacts lives directly.”
Looking ahead, Lakatos explained that the Cleveland Joseph Project plans to help local churches run kosher food drives and produce educational materials for Christians on Jewish dietary practices. He said the broader goal is to build an army of supporters for the Jewish people, combating both antisemitism and replacement theology, a belief that the church has replaced the Jewish people as God’s chosen people.
Lakatos described Lischinsky’s role in the broader movement of Christian and Jewish unity.
“He [Lischinsky] is a Jew. He’s an Israeli. Unfortunately thrown into the international spotlight by the death of his son and his son’s fiancée,” he said. “But Messianic Jews are positioned for such a time as this. He can bring the Jews and Christians together like nobody else.”
Adding to that mission, Lakatos also had a direct message for young people to get involved.
“Anybody can just call us,” he said. “We could always use people who would like to volunteer and deliver food, help us get churches to do food drives. And also support us online … we could use younger people who could help us get the message out on social media.”
Beyond the organizations’ leaders, several attendees also shared what brought them to the event.
Cheryl Sanger-Morrison, who attended with her husband Reverend Dr. Larry Morrison, said the couple learned about the event through their rabbi and wanted to hear Lischinsky speak firsthand.
She described the security measures now established at their synagogue as a sign of how much antisemitism has escalated in recent years.
“Our synagogue, we have police, we have guards … every time the doors are open,” she said. “… It would be easy for someone to just come in and do something terrible. So we have to, anytime we meet, have all this protection.”
She recalled witnessing antisemitism directly once.
“We were with our rabbi in a restaurant, and some guy went by, and he had his kippah on, and he said, ‘Filthy Jew,’ very loudly as he walked by,” she said. “I just thought, ‘Oh my, what hatred? For what reason?’”
Sanger-Morrison said she sees education as the way forward.
“There have been people that I’ve said something about the Holocaust to that said, ‘What’s that?’ she said. “I think people need to know.”
Reverend Dr. Larry Morrison, who said he has served as pastor for 40 years, argued that events like this deserve wider attention across religious communities.
“Events like this should be publicized throughout all expressions of faith, so that people can learn,” he said.
Laurie Scibona, who said she is not from Beachwood but traveled to attend, described being deeply affected by news coverage of the shooting before coming to hear Lischinsky speak.
“When I saw that couple shot, I was just so shocked and so upset,” she said. “Here they were gonna go to Israel, get engaged, and I just was so upset about the whole thing. I was upset for months.”
Hearing Lischinsky speak brought her a sense of peace.
“I really did, I felt this at peace, just listening to him speak,” she said.
Scibona said she has noticed a shift in attitudes toward Israel in recent years, which greatly concerns her.
“I would say I’ve never, in my entire life, ever seen or felt antisemitism like I have in the last several years,” she said. “And I am shocked by it.”
Throughout the event, Lakatos and other speakers repeatedly emphasized that combating antisemitism depends on building relationships between communities that have historically not interacted very closely.
“We want to help educate Christians,” Lakatos said. “We want to break down the walls with the Jewish community. We want to build bridges.”
Organizers closed the evening by encouraging attendees to get involved with the Cleveland Joseph Project through their website, whether by volunteering, donating, or spreading the event’s message on social media.
Lischinsky’s visit to Beachwood was one stop among many as he continues to speak publicly about his son’s story.
When asked what he hoped the evening could change, he offered a hopeful answer.
“The Lord will speak to somebody in his heart, according to his needs … These things, meetings like this, they’re going to help,” he said.
]]>“It feels great getting wins on Friday nights,” said freshman Reggie Stearns, who plays defensive end and tackle.
Freshman Jack Burkons, who plays quarterback and linebacker, agrees.
“All the work we put in is paying off,” he said.
The team plays at Fairport Harding tonight at 7:30.
Photos from Aug. 28 game against Waterloo, which the Bison won 44-38.
The doubles teams of Ari Synenberg and Joseph Mo as well as Ido Rub and David Hong advanced from the Medina sectional meet, along with Daniel Chen, who advanced in singles.
“This is probably the most district qualifiers we’ve had in boys tennis in 10 years,” Athletic Director Ryan Peters said.
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Sophomores Meena Abdul-Basser, K’din Harris-Tate, Kyrsten Ginn and junior Marley Readance are headed to the state tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus on June 4-6.
The girls won regional championship trophies in the 4×200 and 4×400 relays; Abdul-Basser won first in the 200m dash and 400m; Harris-Tate won first in the 100m and runner-up in the 200; Marley Readance third place in the 100m.
The boys team also performed well at Regionals on May 30, with five athletes advancing to states in three different events.
The 4×400 relay team of seniors Peter Adobamen, Highley Devine, Tristan Brown and junior Braylen Moultrie finished fifth and will be advancing to states; Adobamen will also be advancing to the state tournament, finishing second in the 800m as well as junior Luke Warner, who finished fourth in the 200m.
Earlier in the season, Coach Willie Smith emphasized the importance of success, keeping his team at a high standard and a positive attitude.
“Winning is important during this phase of our season, but growth and development takes a higher priority,” Smith said.
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Both BHS indoor teams also performed well at the OATCCC State Meet March 6-7 at Spire Institute in Geneva.
The girls team won the 2026 Indoor Track and Field state Championship scoring 52 points.
The boys overall finish was sixth place with 20 points.
The indoor track team also sent both male and female athletes to the Nike Nationals on March 12-15 in New York City.
The nationals girls team consists of Juniors Marley Readance, Kyrsten Ginn, K’Dyn Harris-Tate, Meena Adbul, while the nationals boys team includes Seniors Tristan Brown, Peter Adobamen and Highly Devine as well as Junior Luke Warner.
At Nike Nationals, the girls team competed in the 4 x 200 meter relay, spread medley relay, 400 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and the 60 meter dash. Harris-Tate, Readance, Ginn, and Abdul Basser received second team all American honors in 4 x 200 meter relay.
The boys competed in the sprint medley relay and 4 x 200 meter relay. Adobamen, Brown, Devine, and Warner finished top 25 in the country in both of those relay events.
In an email interview, Adobamen explained his mindset for the national competition.
“The mindset going in was to compete well and don’t take it for granted,” Adobamen said “[I wanted] to enjoy the moment.”
Warner explained his mixed emotions going into the nationals.
“[I was] confident in my skills and abilities” Warner said. “But worried about competing at such a higher level than I ever have before.”
Coach Smith explained his pride and gratitude as the coach of the BHS track team.
“This is my 28th year as head coach of the Beachwood track program,” Smith said. “I am grateful to have had fantastic athletes and people and parents connected to our program.”
Adobamen expressed how he feels about being on the team.
“I feel very proud to be on the team,” Adobamen said. ”We have a very good track program.”
]]>The tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already creating conversations about culture, identity and national pride among young fans.
The 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup hosted by three countries and the first to feature 48 teams instead of 32, according to FIFA.
The expanded tournament is expected to attract millions of fans from around the world and become one of the largest sporting events in history. Cities across North America are preparing for massive crowds, international media coverage and celebrations surrounding the monthlong competition.
At school, students have already begun discussing predictions for the tournament months before the opening match. During lunch periods, study halls and after-school activities, conversations about soccer have become more common as students debate which nations have the best chance to win the championship.
For some students, the World Cup is more than just soccer.
Jordan Uria, whose parents were born in South Africa, said supporting the South African national team helps him stay connected to his family’s heritage and traditions.
“I’ve always supported South Africa because my parents were born there, so watching them qualify for the World Cup means a lot to my family,” Uria said. “The energy and passion South African fans bring is unbelievable, and I think they can surprise people at this tournament.”
Uria said his family often watches international matches together and follows South African soccer closely whenever major tournaments take place. He added that seeing fans from different countries celebrate together is one of his favorite parts of the World Cup.
Daniel Park, whose family is from South Korea, said the tournament allows him to celebrate both soccer and his cultural background.
“Even though I live in the United States, South Korea has always felt like home because of my family,” Park said. “I’ve watched Korean soccer since I was little, and seeing them on the world stage again is exciting. Their speed and teamwork make them really dangerous.”
Park said South Korea’s recent international success has made him more confident heading into the tournament. He also said the World Cup creates a sense of unity among Korean fans around the world.
The World Cup also brings excitement to students who were born outside the United States. David Kyatt, who was born in Brazil, said soccer has always been an important part of his life.
“Brazilian soccer is part of who I am,” Kyatt said. “Growing up, soccer was everywhere, in the streets, on TV, with family. Every World Cup feels personal to me, and I truly believe Brazil has the talent to win it all this year.”
Kyatt said Brazil’s history and tradition in soccer make every tournament meaningful for Brazilian fans. He added that players such as Neymar inspired many younger fans to follow the sport more closely.
The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled to take place July 19, 2026, with preliminary matches hosted across major cities in North America.
The tournament is expected to increase international tourism, television viewership and youth participation in soccer worldwide.
Students said the tournament’s location in North America makes this World Cup feel even more important because games will be played closer to home and easier to watch live. Many fans are already hoping to attend matches if tickets become available.
The World Cup’s global impact continues to unite fans from different cultures and backgrounds, proving that soccer remains one of the world’s most powerful international sports.
]]>Michael Beck- Tennis
Jose Agudelo- Track
Braylon Moultrie- Track
Amaya Brown- Softball
Jack Rinsberg- Baseball
In this episode: hacky sack, Summer Fridays and current television shows.
]]>For years, Saks served as a prime destination for designer shopping and served as an anchor tenant at Beachwood Place.
Its reputation for luxury and elegance attracted a wide range of shoppers eager to find something special.
Beachwood resident Jamie Feuerman explains why the local Saks location was so popular.
“From a Beachwood shopping perspective, it was always a unique place to shop because they had high-end brands that no one else carried around the area,” she said.
Saks featured prominent designer labels such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Burberry, Chanel and Jo Malone London, which helped draw a substantial consumer base to the mall.
The assortment of brands not only enhanced Saks’s business but also benefited surrounding stores by increasing overall foot traffic.
In recent years, many businesses have experienced a decline in in-person sales as consumers have increasingly shifted to online shopping.
Izzie Mintz, a junior at Ohio University, highlights key differences between these two shopping methods, emphasizing the unique experiences in-store shopping offers.
“On the website, it’s harder to get feedback; you can’t interact with employees about sizing or get their opinions,” she said. “Whereas in person, you can try stuff on immediately and get that instant gratification.”
Despite these disadvantages, the convenience of online shopping continues to draw consumers in.
While it has always been an easier way to shop, online shopping has grown significantly over the last few years, changing the role of brick and mortar stores.
“Businesses declined because they turned into giant return centers,” Feuerman said. “As online shopping grew for convenience, the stores changed; even now, when you walk into a big retailer, you mainly see people showing up with boxes of stuff to send back.”
Cathy Bieterman, the Director of Economic Development for the City of Beachwood, discussed what the loss of the retailer means for the city.
“75 employees have lost their jobs,” she said. “With the loss of employees, this will result in a loss of income tax revenue for the city.”
This reduction in employment not only affects the individuals who worked at the store but also creates a broader financial impact on the city.
The store’s closure could potentially impact the school district as well.
“School districts also receive property taxes from any commercial property within the city, so with the closure of this property, the tax may decline over time if it remains vacant,” Bieterman said.
Bieterman emphasized that the city tried to support workers during the transition period as the store began closing operations.
“The city did a rapid response to support the employees who were within that location,” Bieterman said. “They reached out […] to ensure that the employees had the resources that they needed to find other opportunities within our area.”
Despite these immediate challenges, Bieterman says the long-term effects of this closure will largely depend on how quickly Trademart Properties, the company that manages Beachwood place, is able to resolve debts from the bankruptcy of Saks Global.
“Trademark properties are still working through the bankruptcy,” Beterman said. “They need to finish working through the bankruptcy before the property owner can find a new tenant.”
As the future of the space remains uncertain, Mintz and Feuerman hope that another high-profile tenant could move in.
“I’d love to see another department store, like Bloomingdale’s, replace the area, because we have never had [this business] in Cleveland.”
While Saks’ closure is seen as a loss for shoppers who regularly visited the store, Nordstrom continues to operate as another anchor tenant catering to shoppers seeking luxury brands.
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With acceptances to Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Northwestern, Cornell, Ohio State, the U.S. Naval Academy and many other schools, as well as numerous full scholarships, many juniors are beginning to worry about whether they can match these accomplishments.
For several students, the scale of seniors’ success has quickly turned into pressure for their own prospects.
“I guess there are some big shoes to fill with the class above me,” junior Sam Park said. “I think they set a good example. I don’t necessarily feel heaps of pressure from the people themselves, I think more so that their achievements speak for themselves, and maybe that’s just a little bit of extra pressure.”
Student Activities Coordinator Craig Alexander said the senior class’s accomplishments are exceptional but not unusual in the district.
“In most of our senior classes, the level of academic intellect of our students is always remarkable to me,” Alexander said. “As they become seniors and start to apply for college or scholarships, they’re showing their greatness to the world.”
However, Alexander pointed out that while high accomplishment can motivate underclassmen, it may also unintentionally create unrealistic expectations.
“If they see this year’s senior class with all of the ACT scores or merit recognition they received, it creates an environment where juniors and underclassmen think, ‘Okay, I have to do that too because that’s what BHS seniors do,'” Alexander said. “I hope students realize they don’t have to be perfect. They just need to be themselves.”
Park rated his current level of pressure as an eight out of ten and said that it has increased as his junior year progressed.
“I do feel a good amount of pressure to succeed at school,” Park said. “I think a lot of it comes from myself, because I know there’s a lot of ways to do well in the future, but doing well in school is definitely an outlet to open doors now and later on down the road.”
Junior So Eun Kang said that while outside factors play a role, much of the pressure students feel is self-imposed.
“I do often feel a need to succeed at school, but it mostly comes from pressure that I impose upon myself,” Kang said. “I always had some kind of ambition since I was young, and I never liked to lose good opportunities, so I feel that this ties into why I feel this pressure.”
Other students described similar pressures, though not always from the same sources.
Junior Maria Harris stated that her personal ambitions keep her grounded, even as she observes increased stress among her friends.
“I don’t feel pressured to succeed, only because I feel like I’ve had the same goal [throughout] high school, which is going to Ohio State,” she said. “However, I do know that around me there’s a lot of people who are trying to find internships or stressing about SAT and ACT scores to get into college just because of things imposed on us by older [students].”
Harris estimated that pressure among her peers is around a seven out of ten, and she noted an increase in efforts to match previous performances.
“I will say, I do see a lot more people looking for summer programs and hiring tutors or early college counselors in order to get these results that other people have,” she said.
That pressure, she said, often comes from within.
“I think it’s a mixture of [self-imposed], and [sometimes] parental,” Harris said. “But it’s mostly [self-imposed].”
Junior Maya Katz described the pressure as more intense and constant.
“Honestly, I feel really pressured to succeed in school,” Katz said. “Seeing all the seniors on the wall, it makes you want to succeed more.”
When asked to rate that pressure, she responded simply.
“20 out of 10,” she said.
Katz said the pressure comes from multiple directions.
“From myself, my teachers and I guess it’s mostly from my parents, but it’s also just school,” she said.
Still, she is aware of the seniors’ accomplishments.
“I’d say I’m pretty aware [of them],” Harris said. “I do know that a lot of seniors qualified for merit scholarships, and I think around seven people got into Ivy League schools.”
Katz added that knowledge of others’ success spreads quickly and contributes to stress.
“I’m very aware [of senior accomplishments],” Katz said. “We have people going to Harvard, we have people getting straight A’s in AP classes.”
“I’m very aware of all the seniors’ accomplishments because news spreads quickly,” she added.
Many students mentioned an atmosphere of comparison within the school. Park described the academic environment as highly competitive.
“I don’t think anyone likes to admit it, but I think BHS is almost like a big rat race,” Park said. “I think there is a lot of pushing each other down or trying to hide information and not having each other’s best interests in mind.”
According to Harris, comparison may take place in selecting classes and the judgments of academic rigor that come with it.
“It seems like at Beachwood, you have more validation when you take an AP class compared to an honors or a regular class,” she said.
Junior Nimisha Kasliwal offered a more balanced perspective, recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of a competitive school.
“I think Beachwood compared to other schools is very, very competitive,” Kasliwal said. “While that pressure can be a motivating thing for some, it can also discourage people or it might put unnecessary pressure on them.”
Kasliwal emphasized that while being around highly accomplished classmates may be intimidating, it can also be encouraging.
“When I see the people around me [who have accomplished a lot], I think it is motivating because I know them, I know what they did, and for me, it’s like if they can do it, then I have a shot too,” Kasliwal said.
Moreover, Park believes competition promotes a sense that there is a “right path” to follow.
“I feel like a lot of people at Beachwood do kind of follow a path,” Park said. “Especially the top kids, they always follow the same cookie-cutter blueprint. Especially depending on the major, like a lot of kids go into medicine, and they all do kind of the same thing. It works, but also I feel like it kind of creates a sacrifice of individuality.”
Social media has also amplified stress, according to several students.
“I’d say comparison is the thief of joy,” Park said. “I think that social media, and people willing to show off their achievements online or in person, the more outlets there are for that, the more often there is academic pressure.”
Harris pointed to college acceptance posts as a specific example.
“A lot of people do talk about them in school,” she said. “And they’re like, ‘oh, this person got accepted into this prestigious college,’ and they think that in seeing that, more people will strive to get that achievement.”
Balancing academics, extracurricular activities and personal time is still a difficulty for many students. While some rely on organization, others say they’re still trying to figure out what works best.
“I try to balance it as best as I can,” Park said. “But in the end, I do end up sacrificing a lot of personal time.”
Kang said she is still figuring out how to manage everything effectively.
“I usually make a to-do list or a comprehensive schedule for the week, but sometimes I feel that these methods don’t work well,” she said.
However, Kasliwal emphasized the importance of productivity and deliberate time use.
“I think the problem isn’t not having enough time, I think the problem most of the time is just not being efficient and not being intentional with your time,” she said.
Looking ahead, students said they would like to see changes in the school’s academic culture, particularly around collaboration and expectations.
“I would change the fact that you’re so pressured to take AP classes,” Harris said. “There’s not a lot of honors and regular class courses offered, not as much as APs, and so that kind of limits what you can do.”
Harris added that different choices should be respected.
“Not being in AP classes is just as important as being in it,” she said. “It shouldn’t be looked down upon because you don’t have a full schedule, or your schedule seems easy to other people. It’s just what’s best for you.”
Kasliwal said the constant comparison can take a toll on students.
“It might put unnecessary pressure on them and cause them to feel like they have to do more or that they’re not enough,” she said.
Kang added that more recognition of different interests might benefit the environment.
“I feel there could be greater acceptance of creativity and diverse interests among the student body,” she said.
Alexander acknowledged that students regularly compare themselves academically with their peers, particularly in a high-achieving environment such as Beachwood.
“Beachwood is a unique, six-square-mile space in the world where there are super-smart people,” he said. “It’s hard [for people] to see how amazing [they are] because they’re surrounded by so many students working on those same skills.”
He emphasized that students should understand failure is a regular part of the learning process, not something to be afraid of.
“The thing I would try to change about the academic culture is helping students realize it’s okay to fail,” he said. “It’s never the failure, it’s what you do after.”
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