The award-winning voice of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Chant
The award-winning voice of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Chant
The award-winning voice of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Chant
Amber Roldan

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief

Amber Roldan, an eager senior at NC, joined the newspaper staff in 2019 to pursue her dream career in the journalism field. Fueled by her faith and coffee addiction, she loves surrounding herself with friends and family.

If Roldan isn’t behind the screen writing or editing articles, she can usually be found on stage. Roldan indulges herself in the realm of theatrics and serves as NC’s Standing Ovation Drama Board President. In her limited free time, she loves exploring new coffee shops, blasting Taylor Swift, thrifting, and attending Mass on Sundays. 

Honored to serve as The Chant’s Editor-in-Chief, Roldan remains ecstatic to see what senior year holds. She looks forward to embarking on this journey and sharing it with The Chant’s readers.

 

 

All content by Amber Roldan
I love you guys, thanks for eveything

Goodbye besties: last article dedicated to my favorite people!

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
May 13, 2022
With pressure to have the perfect summer before starting college, the beauty of the simplicity and impulsivity of summer vacation can quickly fade. Spending carefree time with friends and family will allow seniors to fully enjoy and appreciate their post-graduation summer. Purchasing a disposable camera can help permanently capture and encapsulate the memories created this summer.

Senior year summer: one last hurrah

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
May 11, 2022
With lifted mask mandates across America, children and adults alike leave their houses without grabbing a face covering. With the return to a portion of normalcy, COVID-19 no longer crosses the minds of numerous Americans. Despite this small taste of freedom, children still cope with the continuation of the pandemic’s lingering effects.

Unmasked, but not unfazed: children face the brunt of COVID-19’s aftermath 

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
May 10, 2022
After graduation this May, senior Joniel Lewis will pack her bags as she prepares to move to Maryland to attend John Hopkins University. After falling in love with the campus at a young age, Lewis always kept John Hopkins in the back of her mind as she visualized her college years. “After researching schools, I learned that John Hopkins is the number one institution for producing doctors so I kept that in mind when applying to schools and decided to go ahead and apply, but I didn't think I would get in, so I was very amazed when I actually got in,” Lewis said.

Johns Hopkins’ newest Blue Jay: Joniel Lewis

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief
April 20, 2022
NC welcomes a new state-of-the-art aquatic center to its humble Kennesaw campus. The idea manifested from a rumor passed around by students and became a reality thanks to donor Micheal Phelps. The rooftop pool will attract swimmers from around the country, inevitably increasing the student population at NC

Swimming into a new era: NC breaks ground on rooftop pool

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
March 31, 2022
NC Standing Ovation brought the plot of the famous Disney movie, “High School Musical” to life this weekend in their beloved Performing Arts Center. Their performance of the well-known storyline thrilled audience members with flashy dance numbers and unique costumes. “Hearing the audience's reactions, applauding and cheering really did boost my confidence because I felt like I was giving them a great performance and it helped to push me to give it my all during each show. Even if I may have been tired, I wanted to give the audience a show worth watching,” senior Erica Igwedibie said.

From Warriors to Wildcats: NC Standing Ovation performs “High School Musical On Stage” 

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
March 31, 2022
During the four years that one attends high school, striving to achieve popularity often crosses the mind. With trends constantly evolving, maintaining one's popularity can quickly become exhausting. In 2022 alone, teenagers begin to conform to five unique trends. “I think changing trends makes it harder because if a specific style is trending and people go out to buy all the clothes for that style, then it stops trending and a completely different thing is trending. Those people are still stuck with all these things they’ll never wear or use again,” freshman Zaria Jordan said.

Top 5 2022 trends

Amber Roldan and Callie Kinsinger
March 28, 2022
Masie Peters visited Atlanta, Georgia, on March 14 as she graced The Loft’s stage and audience with her impressive musical abilities and an optimistic attitude. Attracting mostly female young adults, the concert venue’s personable vibe and layout created the perfect atmosphere for Peter’s performance.

Atlanta, “You Signed Up For This”

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
March 18, 2022
While parents and teachers love to blame poor grades on too much social media usage and a lack of motivation, students struggling with academic burnout can quickly fall behind due to other issues. Since students cannot drive themselves to the pharmacy and purchase an academic burnout prevention pill, they must come to terms with the realities of academic burnout and learn how to cure themselves.

Academic burnout: the plague in American highschools

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief
March 11, 2022
Every year, NC’s thespians look forward to traveling to Columbus State University to attend Thescon. The impressive three-day convention allows participants to strengthen their theatrical resumes as they attend seven workshops and watch live shows. Although exhausting, the eventful weekend allows NC’s thespians to surround themselves with 4,000 other Georgia high schoolers who share similar talents and passions.

NC thespians travel to Columbus to “live in color”

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
February 9, 2022
Kennesaw locals enjoy the one-of-a-kind environment cultivated at Kennesaw Coffee Company and Desktop Coworking Community. Housed under the same roof, the two complementary businesses allow Kennesaw residents to escape the distractions of everyday life to increase productivity and enjoy a cup of coffee. "I love that Desktop Coworking Community provides a space to work from home away from home,” Kennesaw Mountain senior Daniela Binns said.

Coffee and Coworking: a creative solution to increase productivity

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief
February 4, 2022
With the combination of social media coverage and word of mouth, an unorthodox gas station has stolen the hearts of Americans with numerous unusual attractions not typically found at a gas station. Buc-ee’s attracts the eye with an overwhelming amount of gas pumps lining the exterior of the multi-faceted gas station.

Buc-ee’s: the unlikely road trip destination

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief
February 2, 2022
Kennesaw locals and officials celebrated the opening of the city's new recreational center Tuesday morning before the annual State of the City address. The admirable facility impressed guests as they reveled at the grand interior during the first KBA luncheon of 2022. The success of Tuesday’s opening created networking opportunities and allowed guests to strengthen and establish relationships. “Networking is not about what you can do for me and what I can do for you necessarily in a direct sales. It is about your personal sphere of influence. The mayor said it earlier at the ribbon-cutting: it's about relationships. That's what our businesses and community are built on,” Mike Everhart of Great Gig Dance Company said.

City of Kennesaw kicks off a bigger, better, brighter year with ribbon cutting and KBA luncheon

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
January 21, 2022
NC Standing Ovation cultivated holiday cheer with their Christmas show Thursday evening. The 7 pm show cost $3 to attend showcasing the talent of 10 of NC’s finest thespians. The fast-paced comedy enthralled audience members, easily evoking laughter and compounding the holiday spirit.

NC Standing Ovation embraces holiday season with the festive performance

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
December 10, 2021
NC Standing Ovation invites students in all grade levels to Audition for their annual musical on December 13 and 14. This year, NC's theater department decided to put on the iconic musical: High School Musical. Auditions next week will allow Director Candice Corcoran to perfectly cast the musical. Students planning to audition should prepare a one-minute monologue and one-minute excerpt of a song.

Audition for High School Musical December 13 & 14!

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
December 7, 2021
Despite boasting a free and equal environment, America has turned her back on Asian Americans one too many times. Since the COVID-19 outbreak the spread of anti-Asian sentiment and racist rhetoric dramatically spiked. Professionals link this rise with the negative connotation between Asians and the COVID-19 disease. Inaccurate assumptions about America’s Asian communities single-handedly destroy the American dream.

Hate crimes in Atlanta cultivate Anti-Asian sentiment

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
December 3, 2021
After five long months of teasing fans with strategic easter eggs, Taylor Swift dropped her highly-anticipated re-recorded album: “Red (Taylor’s Version)” on Friday, November 12. The 30 track album exemplified Swift’s talent and exhibited her matured voice as she sang songs originally released in 2012. Alongside of the album itself, Swift released a short film in addition to a music video.

A lot going on at the moment: Taylor Swift re-enters Red era

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
November 17, 2021
NC culinary, chorus, orchestra, JROTC, and ASL students joined forces on Thursday morning to honor local servicemen and women in the observance of Veterans Day. The collaboration from these students paid off and provided local veterans with an honorable service genuinely thanking them for upholding America’s freedom.

NC celebrates honored veterans

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
November 12, 2021
Enthusiasm and applause filled Harrison High School's Performing Arts Center on Saturday as the home of the Hoyas hosted the annual One-Act competition. Saturday’s competition allowed actors and actresses from five different local schools to bond over a common love of theatre. “My first One-act was so memorable because of how much fun we had. I loved being with my friends and watching amazing shows, as well as getting on stage and doing what we love. One-Act was so much fun and something I will never forget,” sophomore Savannah Tighe said.

NC makes an impressive first impression at One Act

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
October 27, 2021
As a female small business owner, Amina Sahovic fearlessly sets the business world on fire with her local small business: Glossy and Bossy. G&B celebrated its second birthday and two years of trials and triumphs on September 13th.

Amina Sahovic: the girl boss behind Glossy and Bossy

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
October 20, 2021
NC Students spent hours Saturday afternoon preparing for the 2021 homecoming dance. Numerous students splurged on luxuries to feel confident in their appearances. From acrylic nails to professional hairdos and makeup, students dressed their best and danced the night away.

NC homecoming dance enchants all in attendance

Amber Roldan, Editor-In-Chief
October 11, 2021
Senior varsity volleyball player Khemille Brown served as team Stacked’s student coach. Her volleyball expertise and positive outlook on the game boosted the team’s spirit as she offered courtside advice.

Volleyball tournament sets homecoming week up for success

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
October 7, 2021
NC’s enthusiastic welcome of Big Shanty Elementary students proves the important value of unity within a community that the Acworth area highly boasts. Despite an unusual school day, the Big Shanty staff and administrators conducted a successful agenda and praised NC’s quick accommodations. Big Shanty hopes to resume classes as normal within the week but forever knows a supportive school family surrounds them.

BREAKING NEWS: NC welcomes eager elementary school students 

Amber Roldan and Peyton Stack
October 6, 2021
Frequent dress code debates spark controversy in NC’s halls as teachers target young females, forcing them to hide their bodies. Covering innocent body parts to protect male students hurts females’ body images and teaches them that their bodies exist to please others.

School sponsored sexulization: demolish dress dictation

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
August 26, 2021
In an effort to unite locals through the power of authentic home-cooked salsa while simultaneously fighting for underprivileged families in Colombia, the Alarcons started their esteemed small business: Hola Salsa. “We created Hola Salsa to spread the deliciousness of mom's cooking while spreading some love along the way,” Esteban Alarcon said.

Alarcons wave hola to building kitchens in rural Colombia

Amber Roldan, Editor in Chief
August 26, 2021
For the first time since March 13, 2020, NC boasts a full student population. A highly anticipated return to face-to-face learning came with a learning curve for a multitude of students. To achieve a productive school year students must adapt to the realities of in-person learning once again. Staying organized, remaining positive, studying, and having fun will ensure success and allow teenagers to look back on their high school careers with nothing but admiration.

How to have a “hot girl” school year

Amber Roldan, Editor-in-Chief
August 19, 2021
Instead of having a spring musical the Standing Ovation formed three one-act shows. Shows named Rest In Peace, 100 Dresses, and Twitch make up the different shows performed on May 18th, 19th, and 21st. For seniors this will resemble the last shows they will perform. Even though they will act one last time together, their friendships will build and never go back down.

NC’s Standing Ovation hosts a series of one act performances

Amber Roldan and Marissa Amorose
May 14, 2021
Offering a variety of unique flavors every week, Crumbl Cookies’ rotating menu thrills the taste buds of everyone who walks through the doors. With affordable prices and delicious dessert, Crumbl Cookies quickly climbs the ranks becoming one of America’s top dessert destinations.

Crumbl Cookies: Kennesaw’s newest dessert destination

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
May 4, 2021
College consists of a time of independence for the first time from parents, most importantly reliance on financial help from parents. Options exist to help college students afford living expenses, such as part-time campus jobs and federal work study programs.

[Photo] Adulting: How to pay for college

Elyssa Abbott, Editor-in-chief
May 1, 2021
Downtown Kennesaw embraced its esteemed Civil War history this weekend as locals emerged themselves in downtown Kennesaw’s rich heritage amid festival activities. With food appealing to everyone’s unique taste buds and products for varying interests, the Big Shanty Festival constitutes an eagerly anticipated event every year.

2021’s Big Shanty Festival celebrates community through the union of Kennesaw locals

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
April 19, 2021
Fans continue to play Fearless (Taylors Version) on repeat since its release on April 9th. The 26 track album tells stories of heartbreak, love, and moving on. “My favorite track [on Fearless (Taylors Version) is ‘Forever & Always (Piano Version)’. I’ve had a lot of failed friendships where they’d say they won’t forget about me and they won’t leave but that’s obviously not the case. I’m also a sucker for ballads so I like the piano version more,” NC junior Caroline Anglin said.

Taylor Swift fearlessly begins the process of re-recording her discography

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
April 19, 2021
The NC Warrior varsity tennis team defeated the Campbell Spartans Thursday afternoon and secured their spot in the second round of the GHSA state tournament. The team of 7 boys eagerly awaits to compete in the second round of state later this week. “Campbell is respectably a tough opponent, but I always see my team getting better and better, I am so grateful to be a part of this team,” Alarcon said.

Warriors trample Spartans with 3-1 state win

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
April 19, 2021
Menstruation serves as a natural process experienced by women throughout the world. Menstruation products remain essential goods purchased by women across the world. Despite the necessity of these products America’s government profits from feminine products through the enforcement of the pink and tampon taxes.

Patriarchal Periods?

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
April 13, 2021
NC magnet senior, Kacy Handzel leaves her mark on NC through the creation of Blissful Boxes. Handzel juxtaposed generosity with business skills to create her nonprofit charity. Blissful Boxes constitutes a prominent community outreach program aiming to provide women in need with basic hygiene products.

Blissful Boxes inspires change throughout community

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
April 1, 2021
NC’s Tik Tok House: The Warrior Nation Cave racks up a following of 135.3M people after its first month on the app. The house continues to explore the possibilities of the Tik Tok realm as members embrace their second month as a Tik Tok content creator house participant. “This past month has been so eventful and rewarding, I have met so many friends through the Warrior Nation Cave,” WNC senior Addie Ray said.

NC embraces the Warrior Nation Cave

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 31, 2021
Dino Dudes a club at NCdatesback to 1970; the club immerses itself in the realm of paleontology on a daily basis. As members learned the news of a dinosaur bone discovery on NC’s Robert Mathias home field thrilled the ancient club. “The T-rex horn was the first tangible dinosaur bone that I have seen. It was so exciting to see an actual bone instead of just looking at pictures,” Dino Dudes secretary, Ellie Razo said.

NC soccer team stumbles upon dino discovery

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 31, 2021
NC teachers joined educators across the county on Friday when they received the COVID-19 vaccinations at Jim R. Miller Park. The mass vaccination site effectively allowed teachers to receive vaccines to prioritize their health as they continue to open their classrooms to face-to-face students eager to learn. 100% of NC teachers polled received the COVID-19 vaccination when presented with the option. 80% of these teachers received the Moderna vaccine, while the remaining 20% received Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccination.

GA teachers embrace COVID-19 vaccination eligibility

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 22, 2021
With the multitude of pathways available to invest, teenagers can put their money to good use as soon as they turn 18. No matter how small the amount, spending money to receive money in the long run can provide teenagers with a general understanding of investing in the future.

[Photo] Adulting: Investing for Teens

Elyssa Abbott, Editor-in-chief
March 22, 2021
March 13th marks the one-year anniversary of when COVID-19 took over the world. Looking back, numerous changes occurred last year, but many aspects regarding the virus remain the same.

Happy First Birthday, COVID-19!

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 12, 2021
NC’s esteemed theater department spent numerous hours rehearsing and perfecting their inaugural virtual performance. The talent of cast and crew members combined with hard work and dedication resulted in a successful show that viewers can access on March 11th and 12th. “Virtually rehearsing was strange, I’m so used to being on a stage or being backstage that being in my own home was a new experience. It was still very fun and I felt less anxious and pressured because instead of performing in front of an audience, I got to perform in front of my friends and I had a lot of fun,” Tonge said.

NC Standing Ovation virtually presents: Oh What A Tangled Web

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 8, 2021
Air fryers continue to sweep the nation thanks to their user-friendly convenience. Instant Pot’s detachable air frying lid allows users to easily convert their beloved Instant Pots into air fyers. This convenient $80 lid allows Instant Pot users to experience the best of both world and jump on the air fryer bandwagon.

Air fryers: the unlikely kitchen appliance on the rise

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
March 7, 2021
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The second month of 2021 began last week. With COVID-19 skyrocketing, coming up with goals and new year resolutions may place too much stress on people. Many people put New Year’s resolutions on hold this year.

[Photo] New Year with a new normal

Ren Lloyd, Reporter
February 12, 2021
Insomnia Cookies continues to wow the world with their delicious desserts. The company derived its name from the infamous sleep disorder, insomnia. The bakery stays open until 3 am, providing the perfect late night snack for hungry customers.

Insomnia cookies combats cookie cravings

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
February 11, 2021
The new Adulting Series by The Chant will guide high school students through the complicated process of becoming an adult, through articles about credit cards, paying for college, and saving money. The first installment highlights the pros and cons of opening a credit card at a young age.

[Photo] How to adult: Credit cards

Elyssa Abbott, Editor in Chief
February 8, 2021
Prior to the 2020-2021 school year, various students worried about their future regarding college and specifically preparation for college. The CollegeBoard relieved part of this stress by altering changes to the AP exams and SAT test. “I was honestly really worried about receiving college credit and doing well on standardized tests before this year, but the CollegeBoard has done a great job of relieving these pressures,” NC senior Ryan Tuchmann said.

[Photo] AP Exams change due to COVID-19

Peyton Stack, Sports Editor
February 8, 2021
Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single, Drivers License, broke Spotify’s one-day stream record for a non-holiday song. The emotional song received 15.7 million songs the day of its release. Drivers License continues to rise in popularity and quickly became a fan favorite.

Drivers License sets the musical world on fire

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
January 19, 2021
Kennesaw’s mayor and NC’s Senior Naval Science Instructor: Lieutenant Derek Easterling spoke at the yearly State of the City address on Tuesday. He boasted of Kennesaw’s accomplishments and ability to adapt throughout the course of 2020 and revealed his ambitions for the upcoming year.

Kennesaw mayor shares hopes for 2021 at KBA’s State of the City luncheon

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
January 15, 2021
Taylor Swift saves 2020 for numerous fans by releasing two surprise albums, Folklore and Evermore. Each album proves Swift’s immense talent through her intertwined storytelling skills and powerful lyrics.

Swift’s 2020 projects brighten a dark year for fans across the globe

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 15, 2020
The long-running tradition of Shop with a Warrior teaches NC students the importance of charity while gifting underprivileged children with the experience of a memorable Christmas. NC students and staff members worked diligently to adhere to the CDC’s COVID-19 protocols in order to preserve this meaningful tradition.

Shop With A Warrior fosters holiday spirit within NC’s community

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 14, 2020
Over the past 28 years, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have perfected their elaborate Christmas light display. Their fine-tuned annual production takes over 2,000 hours of labor accumulated over the course of four months. The Taylor’s hard work produces exponential amounts of Joy throughout Kennesaw’s community as Lights of Joy sits at the top of many Georgians’ holiday bucket lists.

Lights of Joy illuminates Kennesaw 

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 9, 2020
Americans across the nation silently struggle with Dyslexia. The learning disability effects 43.5 million people across the globe making it harder for them to read and write.

Debunking Dyslexia

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 8, 2020
NC staff and students diligently work to incorporate COVID-19 protocols into the beloved SWAW tradition. Donations, student volunteers, social distancing, and holiday masks will allow 2020’s SWAW to continue to bring holiday cheer to underprivileged children across Kennesaw and Acworth.

Help Save Shop With A Warrior

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 7, 2020
Shop With A Warrior constitutes an ancient tradition that holds a special place in the hearts of NC’s community. This year, SWAW will look different with smaller teams and COVID-19 regulations. NC still needs SWAW student volunteers, sign up and pay today in Admin 1 to take place in this memorable event and foster change within your community.

Sign up to participate in SWAW!

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
December 4, 2020
Dear Teachers,

Dear Teachers,

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
November 22, 2020
Apotheos Roastery tears down stereotypes rooted in the coffee industry by specializing in cold brew coffee. Owner, Dale Hughes hopes to reconnect Kennesaw citizens by sharing his passion for cold brew coffee with his beloved community. “Cold brew is a new phase of coffee; it’s rising about 80% a year when looking at industry trends,” Hughes said.

Apotheos Roastery’s juxtaposition of simplicity and the sweet indulgence of caffeine creates the perfect can of coffee

Amber Roldan, Features Editor
October 27, 2020
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