The Standard - Volume 8 Issue 7

Triggered

students and staff react to recent school gun violence feature pages 25-27

standard the

blue valley southwest | volume 8 | issue 7

2 | contents / the standard / april 2018

contents features 04 | dear future...

30 | the purpose of poetry 32 | fortnite fanatics

news 25 | triggered

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opinion 06 | the problem with PE

sports 28 | race to finish

senior section

senior section

on the cover students discuss gun violence graphic design by jonah mccormick

10 | growing out of senior year 12 | senior superlatives 14 | senior columns 16 | coast to coast 18 | performing arts signings 19 | sports signings 20 | adulting 22 | then vs now volume 8 / issue 7 www.bvswnews.com

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editor’s note

After four years of attending Blue Valley Southwest, the class of 2018 has finally come to the end of our time here. We’ve persevered through many challenges high school presents, spent the time to get to know the members of this community, and now it is our time to leave to start again.

And after two years on the staff of The Standard, I can say that I am proud of how we, too, have persevered through the many challenges that the past year has presented. In all honesty, this last issue presented our staff with the most challenges we have faced all year. From late interviews and incorrect formatting to missing photos and struggles with design elements, this has been a roller coaster of an issue.

Despite all of this, our staff has come together and put countless hours into completing this last issue. All of our hard work over the past year has had its payoffs, and we have had a lot of success as a staff. From the first issue to this last one, we have persevered and I am proud of how this staff has continually proved its ability to overcome adversity.

Though the newspaper may not always be read by every student at our school, the hard work and effort that we’ve put in and the final product that results is worth it.

Next year, though I won’t be on staff, I can confidently say I trust this staff to continue to produce the quality work we have always striven to create.

the standard editor-in-chief arielle singer online editor emma olinger writing coaches megan flood summer lyon social media manager elianna oliver staff writers samrina acharya aubrey birk victoria palmer isha patel lauren urschel graphic designers jonah mccormick isaiah tarwater adviser rachel chushuk

The Southwest Standard is published seven times a year for students, faculty and surrounding community of Blue Valley Southwest. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration of Blue Valley Unified School District #229.

Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Southwest Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. All letters must be signed and names will be published.

| editor-in-chief

The Standard 17600 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66221 Website: bvswnews.com Email: bvswnews@gmail.com

4 | feature / the standard / april 2018

dear future... students and staff give advice to current and future students Dear future sophomores, Pay attention in class. It makes it a lot easier when you have to study for a class, since you don’t have to cram. If you can fit it in your schedule, take cooking. You can use the skills from the class at home and in the real world, since everyone needs food at some point. Don’t stress out over tests. If you’ve done the homework and you’ve kept up with the class, you’ll be fine. Find the good friends, the ones that are quality over quantity. Even if you don’t play a sport, join one. It helps you get connected with people, and it helps get you involved in the school.

You’ll be here for a while, anyways.

Sincerely, sophomore Adisen Allen

Dear future freshman, The first piece of advice I have is to be respectful to the seniors and the upperclassmen, or else you’ll get on their bad side really fast. The second thing I would say to do is to use Timber Time wisely. Use it to get your homework done, but use it to take a break when you need it. Finally, be respectful to your teachers. They literally decide your grades.

Sincerely, freshman Hannah Ginsberg

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Dear future freshmen (in college),

Dear future juniors, One of the most important things you can have is time management, because you’re gonna have a lot going on at once. If you’re going to take one class, I’d say that you should take beginning acting. It might not seem like your type of thing, but it’s a fun class that gets you out of your comfort zone. Don’t let standardized tests take over your life.

Find good friends, don’t stress out over the quantity, focus on the quality. Finally, take classes that you’re interested in.

Don’t let AP classes take over your life.

Sincerely, junior McKinley Barr

Dear future seniors, Even though I learned how to procrastinate to the last possible minute and still get an A, it’s not something I would recommend often.

Don’t stress yourself over the ACT, you’re gonna get your grades, and there are plenty of chances to retake it. Stick with the friends you know will have your back, especially during the hard times. Don’t take everything to heart; you’re only going to be here for 4 years. It’s not the end of the world.

You never really understand why your English teachers make you write outlines for papers, but when you have to write a 20-page English paper, you’ll suddenly understand why they’re really important. Get in the habit of visiting your professors during their office hours. Not only will it help your grade then, but if you’re trying to get into medical school or something, having that connection will really, really help you. Everyone isn’t going to have the same story as you. Not everyone is going to be from south Johnson County, not everyone has their parents paying for college and not everyone is going to have the same views as you. Don’t be the person that goes home every weekend to see their parents. The first week of college is so, so important. Keep your door propped open when you’re in the room and try to meet as many new people as possible. And yes, I know you’ve been with your high school sweetheart for 3 years, but if longdistance isn’t going to work, don’t force it. You’ll meet plenty of new people during your time at college.

Sincerely, math teacher Neal Doolin

Sincerely, senior Shelby Matchette

| victoriapalmer

6 | opinion / the standard / april 2018

PROBLEM WITH PE. physical education in schools needs to be reformed

t’s 80 degrees outside, and the sun is blazing down on panting students drenched in sweat jogging on a track.

When one of them stops to walk, a teacher quickly approaches them, whistling and yelling at them to pick up the pace. The students drudge on until the teachers finally allow them to stop and release them to change, just a few minutes before the bell rings for their next class.

This is the narrative of thousands of students in the Blue Valley district — among millions of American students — who grew up being forced to take Physical Education (P.E.) in school. For many elementary, middle and high school students, P.E. was the class of the day that

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caused exhausting anxiety and painful trepidation. For junior Nicole Barber, her hatred of P.E. began in grade school.

“I kind of just dreaded it every single day,” Barber said. “That was the one class I was like, ‘Ugh!’ For reading and math and everything it was fine, but P.E. was really just the worst.”

While it’s true that many students begin to despise P.E. at a young age, people rarely dig into why that is. Of course, the immediate, surface-level assumption made is that students who don’t like P.E. are simply lazy and don’t like exercise, but this can’t be the case for every student who finds themself in a state of loathing when it’s time to head to P.E. class. It’s far more likely that students hate the type of exercise they are doing in P.E., not just exercise in general.

Junior Crandall Blake said she never liked P.E., but she still enjoyed sports growing up.

“I always hated [P.E.] because I just don’t like running,” Blake said. “I never really

liked running. I didn’t mind running if it was for a sport or anything, but overall, because my P.E. teachers were always very strict and very much by the book, like, ‘You have to run for so long every day,’ it just wasn’t fun.”

In addition, Blake said that while she learned “silly little games like dodgeball” in P.E. when she was younger, she would have liked to learn more about how to play different sports. Blake’s experience with P.E. proves that someone who doesn’t enjoy P.E. can still enjoy exercise. It cannot always be the exercise students are turned off by; in most cases it is the sheer amount of one type of exercise that students experience in P.E. that leads to P.E.’s overall bad reputation.

The reason that P.E. is so unpopular is not at all the students’ fault, but how the class itself is structured. Along with the issue of its structure, P.E.’s curriculum is not flexible for students at all skill levels. For example, one student may be a competitive soccer player or cheerleader, and find the games played in class far too easy, while another student who barely exercises may find the games played far too difficult.

A large problem with P.E. is that one portion of the class is bored, while another portion may be on the verge of tears over not being able to do something. Junior Matt McCabe, who has worked on the Special Olympics — an organization that gives children with intellectual disabilities a chance to experience sports according to special olympics.org — said P.E. could be improved by being more individualized.

“Everything about health is all relative because everyone is at different starting points and end points,” McCabe said. “You have to set individual goals. That applies to P.E. as well. Having one teacher doing the same thing for the entire class maybe doesn’t reach as far or as far out to those students, because they may get challenged too hard by something, and for others it may be too easy and not challenged enough.”

In addition to P.E. being too generalized, seeing as P.E. is a required credit, we should spend the class doing something other than running trying to get our heart rates up. said that her experience with P.E. kind of felt like “a joke,” and oftentimes found herself walking around the gym the entire hour.

| 7| 7 “I feel like the heart rate monitors are a good thing to have just so they can monitor who is actually participating and doing things, but I feel like if we did them less frequently, that would be good,” Barber said. “If we just had off-days, and we didn’t have to wear them every single day. They are exhausting to have on.”

While most of the time spent in P.E. has something to do with running or the use of heart rate monitors and a lot of times that type of activity is beneficial, there are plenty of other forms of exercise that are just as helpful. Although other types of exercise are included in the P.E. curriculum, it is not in proportion to the amount of time spent on running or football. If students were more exposed to more types of exercise — weight lifting, crossfit, dance, cycling, etc. — then they would not only get more physical benefits and gains, but they might also find a type of exercise they truly enjoy. Additionally, while exercise is a very important aspect of a healthy life, there are other things that contribute as well. Blake said P.E. should be altered to explore more than just exercise.

“I would change it so it’s not just about physical activity but about how to eat right, because it is physical health and it includes your body,” Blake said. “Having more stuff about what you should eat ... while you’re working out — like healthy ways to work out and stuff — because there are a lot of people in high school that develop unhealthy ways for both of those.”

By emphasizing that over-exercising is not the way to be healthy, and eating the right amount of healthy food and mental health are just as important as activity, schools may actually be able to prevent the development of eating disorders or body dysmorphia in teenagers, while educating the generation on how to maintain a truly healthy lifestyle.

All this being said, perhaps the most important issue with P.E. in high school is its disregard for students who are already active outside of school. Student athletes ­— whether they be soccer players, karatekas, football players, dancers, ice skaters or many others — are doing an hour of unnecessary exercise in P.E. class as they are all already having hours of practice weekly.

For a majority of these students, they are exceeding the amount of activity level recommended by doctors, even without the extra hours of P.E. per week. Blake said her sister — a competitive soccer player — experienced the difficulty of managing P.E. and soccer practice while enrolled in the

class.

“I never had to take P.E. at Blue Valley Southwest, but my little sister did, and she is a competitive soccer player and she has two hour practices every day, but she’s also here running in P.E. for an hour, so by the time she gets home from soccer practice and school she’s exhausted because she’s had three hours of workouts,” Blake said.

“I think she should just be able to do her soccer training because that counts enough.”

If the point of P.E. is to make sure high school students are getting enough exercise, then students who are already incredibly active should not have to take the class. An active student should be able to have their doctor or coach inform the school that the student is meeting the necessary activity level and does not need to take P.E. McCabe said this is a good idea.

“I do a lot of physically-exerting things throughout the day — and of course that’s not the same as a sport — but the point is having to do it again in a class format overlooks what you do already in your free time,” McCabe said. “I think, obviously, athletes can prove that they’re into the whole working out thing and they do it enough on their own so that they shouldn’t have to do that in the class setting. I think that P.E. should just be required for those who otherwise wouldn’t be into doing sports.”

While some may argue that students may try to lie about their activity level in order to get out of P.E., there is a simple solution to this: create a system where the student’s doctor, parent and coach or instructor all sign off on a form saying that the student is exercising enough. Opposers to this proposition may also say that it may seem shameful to those students who aren’t getting enough exercise.

While this has merit, and is true, the issue behind this lies in the problems of P.E. previously addressed. If P.E. were made more educational, and altered to be something that students may actually want to be a part of, then students who take P.E. would not feel so ashamed. P.E. is vital for those students who don’t understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that is balanced with exercise, relaxation, and healthy food.

Barber said physical activity is something that every person

needs in their life.

“It’s such a good thing to be physically active and to do things,” Barber said.

“I totally get it if people don’t want to participate in sports, I get it, I don’t participate in sports so it’s fine, but I feel like it gives students a good opportunity to get exercise.”

Additionally, by altering the system of P.E. as proposed earlier, those who take P.E. will truly learn to appreciate exercise, while learning that they can do things they never thought they could do. The current curriculum is not beneficial to the growth of a healthy lifestyle, as students are learning to hate being active. Students need to understand that anyone can be physically active, and everyone has great potential to live their life in the healthiest way possible. McCabe said exercise is important for every person, no matter who they are or their background.

“Even if you’re just not healthy, or you are healthy, everyone’s body is designed differently,” McCabe said. “You can be healthy, and just be really not into exercise.

Of course there are other ways of staying healthy, like just dieting or eating right. It doesn’t all depend on doing fifty pushups.”

| laurenurschel

Dr. Lauren Kyle

8 | ads / the standard / april 2018

BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri: 7:30AM – 4:30PM

Dr. Lauren Kyle Phone: 913.871.8221

Fax: 913.273.0337 BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

scheduling@bluevalleydermatology.com

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Fax: 913.273.0337 Mon - Fri: 7:30AM – 4:30PM scheduling@bluevalleydermatology.com 7840W 165TH ST, SUITEMon 260, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66223 - Fri: 7:30AM – 4:30PM scheduling@bluevalleydermatology.com Phone: 913.871.8221 Phone: 913.871.8221 Fax: 913.273.0337 (Located at Shawnee Mission Health in BluHawk) NOW SCHEDULING PATIENTS! NOW SCHEDULING PATIENTS! ACCEPTING ALL INSURANCE POLICIES Fax: 913.273.0337 scheduling@bluevalleydermatology.com NOW SCHEDULING PATIENTS!

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(Located at Shawnee Mission Health in BluHawk) (Located at Shawnee Mission Health in BluHawk)

YEARBOOK DISTRIBUTION DAY MAY 4

Seniors: pick up your book at the senior picnic.

Freshmen-juniors will be dismissed to pick up their books during 7th hour.

Haven’t bought a book? A limited number of extra books will be available on distribution day for $70 check or cash.

the

class of

2018

Senior issue

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10 / the standard 2018/ april 2018 10| |ads senior section / the/ april standard

Growing out of Senior Year

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14 8 (1) Ethan Witt prepares to shoot the ball as Crystal Rathburn attempts to block his shot during Hoops for Hope. (2) Ethan Diedel kicks the soccer ball in the air during a game.

(3) Dalio Mercado and Hannah Stoughton explain the traditional dishes at their culture festival table to Faith Meier. (4) Maggie Fornelli and Jake Swickard wave posters in support of the football team from the stands during a game. (5) Amanda Wombold dribbles around Maya Quijano during a Hoops for Hope match to try to score. (6) Samantha Gabler performs with the glitter girls during an assembly. (7) Cordell Duhart and Evan Ludwig dance during their post-season performance at the winter sports assembly.

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(8) Laryssa Sutton and Tiffany Pan take in the sight of all the different clubs at the freshman activities fair. (9) Cameron Townsend supports his football teammates despite being unable to participate due to injury. (10) Jake Glass takes off running to kick the ball to a teammate. (11) Nick Arend joins the wrestling team in a choreographed

routine during the winter sports assembly.

(12) Matthew Weaver sprints after the ball during a soccer game pursued by members of the opposing team. (13) Hailey Jacobson laughs as she prepares to pass the basketball to a teammate during Hoops for Hope. (14) Rene Ramos gets in position to pitch the baseball at a teammate during practice. | samrinaacharya | isaiahtarwater

12 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

SENIOR SUPERLATIVES Worst case of senioritis

Mera Hassan & Chris Jumps Attached at the hip

Attached at the hip

Makenzie Heffernon & Alyssa Gembala

Trey Haden & Alex Haden

best friends forever

Class clown

Jourdan Dunlap & Cordell Duhart Most likely to never come back to Kansas

Most outspoken

Ariel e Singer & Stephen Lowe

Rachel Holzer & Ahmed Shabbir Most likely to cheer you up

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place going

Mahrukh Jamal & Alec Augustine

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Most likely to be a meme

Victoria Palmer

Most changed

Maggie Fornelli & Jake Glass

Most likely to be famous

Maggie Gallaway & Joe Ayres

Best dressed

Tiffany Pan & Marcus Hedstrom

14 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

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editor-in-chief | ariellesinger

Senior

fter nearly four years of high school, I never would have imagined anything but pure bliss at the thought of leaving Kansas. But as I get closer to graduation, and subsequently actually leaving Overland Park for Tulane University in New Orleans, I realize how much I have benefited from this community and grown as an individual.

When I first walked through the doors of Southwest as a freshman, I was involved in absolutely nothing and had no intention of changing that fact.

However, at the beginning of junior year, I decided to join the staff of The Standard — a decision that undeniably changed the trajectory of my high school experience. When I joined The Standard, I knew nothing about journalistic writing, photography or graphic design (and it’s honestly debatable that I do now). Being on this staff has forced me to leave my comfort zone constantly.

From interviewing people I’d never spoken to before to attending games and taking photos from the sidelines, I was actually able to become an active part of the Southwest community.

As I leave Southwest and end my time on this staff and as editor-in-chief, I know that through the experiences I have had, I have grown. I have learned valuable lessons that I will carry with me as I move onto the next chapter of my life in New Orleans. Despite winning the “most likely to never come back to Kansas” superlative, I know I will always be grateful for the four years that I’ve spent here. Thank you, Southwest, for helping me grow, and thank you to this staff for being there every step of my journey.

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went into newspaper thinking it would be an easy class where I could write some stuff and chill, maybe pick up a few things about design and photography. I didn’t expect to be stressed that I wouldn’t be able to find someone to interview on time or to have to redo page designs five times before being happy with it, but I also didn’t expect to grow so close to everyone on staff. Newspaper was more difficult than anticipated for sure (selling ads never happened) but the fun we had at reads would always cancel out any stress. As I’m not pursuing anything related to journalism in college, I’ll miss it and I’ll look back at my time on The Standard with fond memories. I’ll think of Arielle every time I make microwave popcorn and always judge the fonts people choose. Newspaper was more than I bargained for in the best way possible.

Although I’m anxious to graduate, it will be difficult to say goodbye to all the friends I have here. I’d like to say I’m used to it after moving many times throughout my life, but it never really gets any easier. I know some days will be tough and I’ll miss how “stressed” I thought I was in newspaper as well as all of the support from them and my other friends any time I was feeling down. I appreciate all of you, even if you didn’t heed my suggestion to join newspaper, and hope college and beyond is everything you want it to be.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who bothered to pick up a paper during advisory and take a look. We often feel as if the majority of the school couldn’t care less if the next issue came out or not, so it means the world when you take a look, however brief, at the work we put forward. You make every late night and working lunch worth it.

writing coach | meganflood

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hen I walked into the doors of Southwest, I was afraid. I was terrified of all of the changes that were happening around me; changes in my family, in myself, and in my friends left me in a state of emptiness and confusion. With the fresh pain of a divorce, and the open wound from losing interest in everything I enjoyed, my life felt pointless.

One thing that has always kept me going has been writing. Whether I wrote about myself or something fictional, it always served as an escape for me. It taught me how to be passionate, and how to express myself in ways that weren’t harmful or counterproductive. Without writing, I don’t know where I would be today.

Along this journey of self discovery, I stumbled upon The Standard. Though I intended on pursuing a career in journalism upon joining the newspaper

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hen I signed up to take 21st Century Journalism in the first semester of my junior year, I had expected to take it with one of my close friends. However, walking into the class and seeing only four other people sitting there, with me being the oldest one, I knew that I was in for a ride. I had taken no graphic design classes, and I honestly thought that some of the things I first designed were topquality (spoiler alert: they were pretty bad). I took digital imaging as an alternate technology credit, and took journalism just for the kicks.

Little did I know, I would be joining newspaper my senior year, and having a great time in room 118.

Newspaper allowed me to grow into the

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staff, this class taught me far more than how to design a news page or write an article. I met people in this class who broadened my writing skills, though I was incredibly bad at taking constructive criticism (sorry guys). My classmates helped me realize that I’m valued, and I finally felt as though I belonged somewhere.

As I begin the next chapter of my life, I know that I will forever look back at my experience of being on the newspaper staff. I would really encourage all high school students to get involved with something that brings you joy. You’re going to blink and realize that your days as a high schooler are over, and I hope that you create the positive memories you need to in order to look back on your high school career as a time of growth and discovery. Best of luck.

person I am today. When Churbs told me that I’d need to get three interviews from people I didn’t previously know, I nearly stressed myself out into an anxiety attack and considered dropping the class. Now, I can easily approach people in order to conduct an interview (even though I usually procrastinate until the last second).

Being a part of newspaper has made me more involved in the school, and has helped me to see what truly goes on behind the scenes of student publications. I know I’m going to use the things I learned here for the rest of my life, and they will help me grow. Thank you, Southwest, for helping me discover who I truly wanted to be, and thank you to room 118 for pushing me out of my comfort zone to get there.

hen I joined newspaper in my senior year of high school, it was under a false sense of security. I enjoyed photography, writing and graphic design separately in the classes I had taken and it seemed like a safe way to fill in the opening in my schedule.

However, when it came time to actually start coming up with original ideas, getting interviews and making a final product worthy to publish and share with the entirety of the school, I suddenly became overwhelmed. The task seemed impossible and the ever-present thought of the deadline looming ahead clouded my mind. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before it dawned on me that I was never truly alone

in the class. From the feedback offered during newspaper reads to asking others for help when I needed it, the entire staff supported and encouraged me to make my best possible work.

It allowed me to learn and grow as a writer, graphic designer and photographer at my own speed until eventually I was able to produce something I would look forward to seeing in print when the issue came out. Above all else, newspaper provided me with a unique ability I never could foresee myself gaining as an introverted individual: a platform in which I had a voice. It was there for the taking all along and I only had to find the courage within myself to let that voice be heard.

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Zeke Sarvis

Arizona

Nick Arend Lauren Drimmel

University of Arkansas

Marcus Hedstrom

John Brown University

Riley Minard

Arkansas State University

Ben Divelbiss Gabby Ochoa

Drake University

Aaron Campbell

Cedarville University

Garrett Bates

Buena Vista University

Iowa

Ethan Diedel

Arkansas

Melissa Franano

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis Abby Drinkwater Cole Edwards Gianna Epps Becca Garretson Liz Garretson McKenna Gilhaus Drew Hill Zach Huey Will Jost Lauren Kaiser Zach Kemp Mesa Khalil Kaci Knoche Jared Lefert

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Sam Hoggatt Rachel Humbert Hailey Jacobson Chris Jumps Colten Kays Quinlyn La Fon Jason Leonard Jared Long Ally Lovsky Rachel Martin Jonathan McNett Carter Nab Victoria Palmer Connor Peak Megan Potts Crystal Rathburn

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171

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Coast to Coast

Arizona State University

Brooke Dempster

Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington

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University of Alabama

Alabama

List as of April 18

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Evan Ludwig Faith Meier Matthew Fabrizius Jon Melau Dalio Mercado Dylan Miller Jack Miller Quynh Nguyen Ariana Novicoff Austin Ogren Tiffany Pan Ethan Pate Jacob Peterson Cole Petri Maya Quijano Emily Rayburn Makenna Ruffalo

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Kolbi Gonzales Eli Pieper Jarrett Westfall

Missouri State University

Riley McCall

Drury University

Cordel Duhart Tyler Martines

University of Missouri

Cade Forrest Tracey Forster Samantha Gabler Tyler Huffstutler Cam Townsend

University of Central Missouri

Alex Perry

Samrina Acharya Davis Bloom Maggie Gallaway Joey Heinen

Undecided

Sarah Weiner

Virginia Tech University

Maverick Edwards

Liberty University

Virginia

Max McCarty

University of Texas at Dallas

Reagan Mueller

Texas State University

Adam Wells

Texas A&M University

map of the destinations of this year’s seniors

Missouri Welding Institute

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16 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

Kansas

Dalton Thomas

University of Northern Iowa

JD Espenmiller Sam Krone

Iowa State University

Megan Cathey Annelisa Willoughby

Blue Valley / ACCESS

Dillon Lehr Josiah Lopez Christian McArthur Jordan McDermott Austin Meschwitz Brielle Milner Isabelle Nazareva Jack Palecki Zach Palecki Jake Putnam Margaret Raming Cindy Reilly Jack Ruf Jared Skaggs Kyle Stander Kyle Unkel Jake Urness Paola Venegas-Santini Brittany Wallace Jason Wilmes

Stephen Lowe

Northwestern University

Joe Ayres

Loyola Univerisity Chicago

Illinois

Makenna Peterson

Brigham Young University - Idaho

Idaho

Nic Brickman Trae Johnsen

Florida Atlantic University

Florida

Meagan Walker

Feji Abraham Alec Augustine Dawson Babb Adnan Bayazid Tom Berg Aubrey Birk Brannoc Borowiak-Miller Julia Butler Aubrey Dearth Houda Derbas

Johnson County Community College

Frankie Carver

Haskell Indian Nations University

Lily Johnson

Fort Scott Community College

Jillian Patton Annie Runkle

Beau Bezanson Meghan Buchanan Colie Casey Rana Cheveru Rachel Chong Will Dalton Wallace Daniel Mariana Donnelly-Vasquez Jourdan Dunlap Nathan Faltermeier Meggie Fowler Alyssa Gembala Drew Gianino Tayler Everard Cheyenne Greathouse Deacon Grubbs Ben Harms Makenzie Heffernon Sam Heise Deandra Horner

University of Cowley County Colorado - Colorado Community College Kansas State Springs Grant Wilson University Greta Forney Emporia State Nick Allen Western State University Griffin Beer Colorado University Alaina Lopez

Caroline Strebb

Colorado School of Mines

Chris Logan

Colorado

Benedictine College

Lukas Rich

Sumaya Hussaini Danish Khan

University of Southern California Allen County Rachel Holzer Community College

California

Kira Higgins Reed Holland Katie Kudrna Evie Peterson Laryssa Sutton Juliana Swartz

Will Beaman Helene Bechtel Bryce Beck Mackenzie Beeton Lainey Birnbaum Taylor Birnbaum Clay Craft Tyler Crank Taylor DeMoss Haley Eksi Cameron Fasenmyer Jake Glass Arnav Goel Camryn Grosse Alex Haden Trey Haden Mera Hassan Payden Hart Hunter Hartman Amelia Head Cam Kersey

University of Kansas

Dane Cross Brooklynn Holt Stu Wright

Pittsburg State University

Nick Parker

Ottowa University

Justin Williams

Neosho County Community College

Ethan Renner Alex Roth Brooklyn Rutledge Matt Stack Jake Swickard Justin Tinkler Michael Walker Levi West Jeremy Wood Justin Wright Caden Yancey

Brent Shinkle

College of the Ozarks

Missouri

Greer Kollman

Augsburg University

Minnesota

Arielle Singer

Tulane University

Will Hocker

Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana

Weston Evans Maggie Fornelli Houston Gonzales Braiden Langley Hannah Peterson Connor Roberts Darby Rolf Jared Sharp Brooke Stoneman

Washburn University

Leo Ruhnke Cassie Schmidt Ahmed Shabir Megan Schulfer Hannah Stoughton Lauren Stroder Elyssa Swenson Max Trees Emma Tyrrell Amanda Wambold Matthew Weaver Joe Weidner Luke Willson Sierra Wilson Ethan Witt Rachel Wolf

Saketh Bhavanasi

Baylor University

Texas

Madeline Conigliaro

University of Pittsburg

Allison Mershon

Chatham University

Pennsylvania

Nick Castle Shelby Matchette Rene Ramos

Oklahoma University

Claire Boomer

Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma

Megan Flood

Miami University

Ohio

Jarod Vitha Madi Fritz

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Hayden Hitchcock Julie McKinsey

Creighton University

Nebraska

Harrison Porter

William Jewell College

Mahrukh Jamal Elaina Prock

University of Missouri Kansas City

Chris Wilson

Grant Amsberry Shannon Baird Noah Hanny Kain O’Keefe Calvin Ricks Nathan Webb

Other

Elena Vanzella

International

Seth Bryant Mitchel Conner Jon Cook

Military

Nick Modrcin Malerie Moore Caden Mueller Connor Peterson Ashley Schumacher Raaham Sheikh Brandon Simmons Jack Spitler Matt Walsh Max Williams

| 17

18 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

PERFO RMING ARTS SIGNINGS

THEATRE: Maggie Gallaway

Columbia College

DEBATE: Maverick Edwards Eli Pieper Stephen Lowe Danish Khan Rachel Holzer Sumaya Hussaini Max McCarty

Liberty University Missouri State University Northwestern University University of Southern California University of Southern California University of Southern California University of Texas at Dallas

MUSIC: Levi West Brittany Wallace Houston Gonzales Michael Walker Crystal Rathburn Lauren Stroder Zeke Sarvis

Kansas State University Johnson County Community College Washburn University Kansas State University Kansas State University University of Kansas Indiana University-Bloomington

SPORTS SIGNINGS FOOTBALL: Nick Allen Chris Logan BOYS SOCCER: Ethan Diedel CROSS COUNTRY: Conner Roberts Dylan Miller GIRLS GOLF: Lily Johnson BOYS BASKETBALL: Nick Parker WERESTLING: Justin Williams Riley McCall Cordel Duhart BASEBALL: Lukas Rich Grant Wilson Brent Shinkle Jared Sharp Cameron Townsend Rene Ramos GIRLS SOCCER: Maggie Fornelli Kolbi Gonzales Riley Minard Jillian Patton GIRLS ROWING: Cheyenne Greathouse Hailey Jacobson

Kansas State University Benedictine College Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis Washburn University University of Kansas Fort Scott Community College Ottawa University Neosho County Community College Drury University University of Missouri Allen County Community College Cowley Community College College of the Ozarks Washburn University University of Central Missouri Oklahoma University Washburn University Missouri State University Arkansas State University Emporia State University Kansas State University Kansas State University

| 19

20 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

Adulting 104 senors surveyed on whether they’re ready for the real world Jobs held in high school

25% 31%

8%

0 1 2 3 4

13% 23%

80% don’t know how to file taxes

12.5%

pay for their own car insurance

61% are old enough to vote 25%

of those old enough are registered to vote

| 21

59% 2018

keep a planner or calendar updated with their schedule

81% know how to cook

73%

do their own laundry

| meganflood

27% do not make their own doctor/dentist appointments

22 | senior section / the standard / april 2018

then vs now

seniors describe how they have changed since freshman year

A

mera hassan

s a freshman, for my senior self I thought that I would have a lot of different friends, I thought that I would be super involved in school, everyone would probably know me and I think I thought I would have a mental state where I was happy and not stressed all of the time. But as a senior, I think I’ve realized that senior year is pretty stressful because you’re trying to figure out where to go to college, what you want to do in your life. My level of confidence has changed a lot since freshman year because I used to be really shy when I was younger, I was only speaking when needed. Because I’ve been able to talk more and be more outgoing, I think that’s given me more opportunities this year and throughout high school, and I think that will benefit me in my career. Don’t hold onto the idea that you’re not going to change. You will change. You’re going to find different friends. Go into different activities and be open minded. Be friends with everyone, and that’s how you’ll get through high school.

2014/15

2017/18

I

alec augustine

2014/15

D

darby rolf

| 23

’ve always just tried to be a good person. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I’d say that I still strive for that; to be nice to everyone, to brighten people’s day. As a freshman, I didn’t really think about my career.

I’m in broadcast now, and I’ve really found a love in that, so I’d say I want to pursue a career in broadcast. When I was a freshman, I was super introverted. I didn’t hang out with people. But nowadays I just want to build relationships and be around other people. I want to share people’s experiences. As time goes on, you have to take a step back and chill out.

Things will happen, you will make mistakes.

2017/18

uring freshman year, I really wanted a career in art, but for various reasons I didn’t think that was an option. I looked into teaching and even nursing, but I knew that those weren’t really my passions. It wasn’t until sophomore year that I realized I could have an entirely successful career in art, and it was ridiculous to think otherwise. Throughout high school, I started standing up for myself and I learned to communicate my thoughts and needs in a mature way, and I think that’s a skill I’ll use for my whole life. Change can be scary, but it’s so great. Don’t resist it. Allow yourself to grow and develop. You can’t really know that vanilla ice cream is your favorite unless you try other flavors first.

2014/15

2017/18 |aubreybirk

thanks

SENIORS

news / the standard / april 2017 | 25

TRIGGERED TRIGGERED TRIGGERED TRIGGERED TRIGGERED TRIGGERED students and staff react to recent school gun violence

B

ang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. As of March 20, 2018, 17 school shootings had ravaged the country and left students afraid and angry. Not only has this affected young people of America, but it has also left schools scrambling for answers on how to protect students.

Some are outraged, others are terrified.

A shooting in Parkland, Florida, caused widespread fear amongst those attending school. Briefly after this event, assistant principal and activities director Erica Warren said she reviewed the school’s safety plan and decided to improve it. She said she made plans with the Overland Park Police Department and held a meeting on a school in-service day with teachers.

“We had to come together and have a really hard conversation as a group and I had to explain to them that this is our reality,” Warren said. “It was a hard conversation to have because school is supposed to be a safe place and it’s really hard to think about if this were to happen in my school … We had that conversation as a whole staff and there were a couple of teachers who had to get up and leave. There were a couple of visually upset teachers, I mean, it really makes you stop and think about where we are at.”

The following day, the news of the drill was shared with every class by their teacher, and reminded again over the PA by principal Scott Roberts. The drill itself lasted approximately two to three minutes — much shorter than a normal Code Red Lights Out drill. Warren said the length of the drill had a lot to do with the amount of preparation by the entire school.

| 26

“This time we had police officers, we had six extra police officers and we had — you guys weren’t on this side of it — but we didn’t know when the drill was going to happen except during Timber Time,” Warren said.

“When one of the officers called it randomly, they told us ‘The suspect is in...’ and they gave us a location.

So we have to react differently based on where the suspect is. They threw that at us so we didn’t know what was going to happen either.”

Some students were critical about the preparation for the drill, however, Warren said the school needed to try it out first before anything officially happened.

“We needed to not have anybody freak out because there was another shooting the day before we did that drill,” Warren said. “We didn’t want anybody to be terrified when it happened — and we know that if we had to do it for real there’s going to be chaos. It’s going to be scary. But we needed everyone to just practice this just so they have on their mind, ‘OK, we go from here to there.’ We wanted it on everyone’s mind so that when people go through their day, they think about it in the back of their head: ‘What if it was now, where would I go?’” Warren said. “We didn’t want anybody to be terrified when it happened — and we know that if we

had to do it for real there’s going to be chaos. It’s going to be scary. But we needed everyone to just practice this just so they have on their mind, ‘OK, we go from here to there.’ We wanted it on everyone’s mind so that when people go through their day, they think about it in the back of their head: ‘What if it was now, where

"If this were to happen and I'm in charge of everyone in a room filled with someone's most precious possession, how am I going to protect them? How are we going protect all of them?" | assistantpricipal ericawarren would I go?’”

After much discussion and discourse in advisory that day following the drill, students had the opportunity to share their opinions on how to make the drill even better for the future. Sophomore Maddie Huwe said she worries people at the school don’t take these events seriously.

“I think BVSW definitely tries to be safe by having drills and an [school resource officer], but a shooting can happen anywhere,” Huwe said. “A lot of people don’t think it can happen here but shootings can happen anywhere and gun violence has affected this community. We’re supposedly in this bubble but the shootings at the Jewish Community Center and Austin’s Bar still happened here.”

The school’s reaction to these recent shootings involved better planning, more realistic drills and new safety products that had the potential to save lives. However, students like senior Ariana Novicoff have different ideas on how to make change in the community. Novicoff, along with senior Mahrukh Jamal are a part of a team in the Blue Valley School District that planned out the entirety of the walkout on April 20.

“The planning for the walkout was fun,” Novicoff said. “We had to pick a location where we could see all the students and also plan what we will be doing for the 17 minutes.

We also had to spread the word of the walkout and make sure that the whole student body at Southwest would feel included.”

Despite the national walkout lasting from 10:30 until the end of the day, the team decided to let the walkout last 17 minutes — representative of

| 27

representative of the 17 school shootings that have already happened in 2018. Huwe said a lot of her peers are feeling “iffy” on the walkout as they would have to miss class. However, she said that is the point.

“I think the walkout is a great idea and it’s cool that young people are using their voices,” Huwe said. “I know a lot of people oppose it because they think it takes away from education or they won’t want to miss class, but I think our message is bigger than just one school day or even the 17 minutes. I think that because so many shootings happen at school, a protest during school is just a great way to get the message of the movement across.”

Safety is an item that has been up in the air during the last few months, and with school almost out for summer, people are beginning to forget the potential dangers that lurk in their hallway. Warren said she feels confident about the school’s safety plan, but doesn’t want to instil a false sense of hope in anybody.

“I really wanna say that if there’s a safety level, one to ten, that we’re up there in the eight or nine category,” Warren said. “But I’m also realistic enough to know that if someone is unhealthy enough to come in and make something happen, they will make it happen. I feel like we are safe and prepared — but are we really ever?” | emmaolinger

28 10 || sports ads / the / the standard standard / april / april 2018 2018

Race to finish freshman Emily Ervin excels on the track and in the Junior Olympics

S

printing down the track, passing the baton on to the next runner freshman Emily Ervin focuses on a strong finish.

Since the age of six Ervin said she has been involved in running track.

“My brother used to run track and so I would always have to go to his practices and watch,” Ervin said.

Her brother junior Arriginton Ervin said he was involved in the sport for about two years before Emily found out she was interested in joining too. At the time he said he was running for a club at JCCC where other kids from different schools all around came together and ran. This is Ervin’s first year running on the school’s track team, making the varsity team this year.

“I’m not surprised at all, over the summer she definitely put in [the] work so the results would be just as significant as her work [now],” Arrington said. “I know that during the summer she never stopped working ­— that’s all she focused on was tennis and track and she excelled on it.”

She said her events for the year are the 100, 200, and 400 meter run, along with the 4x400 meter relay.

Running track for the school has allowed Emily to make new friends including junior Hannah Turner who is also a part of

Ervin’s 4x400 relay team.

“She can be very shy at first but she is the person that you want to get to know and be around all the time,” Turner said.

“Emily is extremely hard working. She puts in 110 percent effort into everything she does. She is very coachable and is a team player.”

In addition, Turner said the relay team has a goal of qualifying for state this year and placing in the top three in the 5A school category. “[Emily] is so talented she is an amazing teammate to run with she is always positive and is a great addition to the 4x400,” Turner said.

Ervin said when she’s not running for the school she is normally running for the track club, KC Elite outside of school.

“I’ve ran [with them] since I was in 5th grade I really enjoy going to the practices [and] it’s not like I hate going, [but] the coaches really help me make sure I don’t get any injuries and are really supportive,” Ervin said.

During her running career Ervin said she has made some pretty big accomplishments such as participating in the last four Junior Olympics.

| 29 |7

“It’s an annual event that you run with your individual age group and it [includes] the best in the country they have regionals beforehand and if you qualify for regionals then you qualify for nationals,” Emily said. “It’s pretty competitive; I am actually really surprised that I’ve [done] so well.”

There was a time when both Emily and her brother participated in the Junior Olympics together.

“At the time [we] signed up to get medals and placed in the top 20, later in the top 10,” Arrington said. “It was an experience to run and meet all of those people and we were on TV and everything it was a cool experience.”

Emily said the Junior Olympics usually occurs during the end of July each year lasting over a week long. She said last year the meet was held in Kansas, but rotates between cities each as she has traveled to California and North Carolina in the past to participate. Ervin also said this will be her first year running the 100, 200 and 400 at the Junior Olympics as she has also competed in the 800 meter run and 2 by 100 meter relay in the past too.

“I think she’s progressed tremendously, originally when she was out there she would love it at the time, but as I slowly drifted out of it and she got closer with her team, she got better and had a love for it that I never really had and I think she really benefited for me being there and not being there,” Arrington said. “I don’t think she has an intent of stopping.

I think she is trying to make it all the way.”

| ishapatel

Aditomni elmaionem poresen ditibus.

Xim quiatque nu s etum nis au erum rem cum utatia dolore the i purpose tistiur? hendipsunt e of poetry mni andiate uatibusciis sin 30 | feature / the standard / may 2018

student poets explain how poetry has impacted their lives

Tur? Utendelent T Iqui quunda inti quae.Imolor busciusda derro aspedic aborrume utectati doloruqui quund intia quae Imolori busciusd derror aspedi aborrumem atur | 31

o begin, a haiku: serves as an outlet for emotional as well as her choreography in her With a chance to look, expression, Palmer said poetry is dancing classes. One of her first In the eyes of someone else, “mostly ignored in this generation,” poems, a reverse poem titled “We Are

We may understand. and hopes it will gain more popularity The Change,” illustrated “how teens Writing her first poem in sixth as the years go by. nowadays actually do have more of a grade for an assignment in her English “I feel like we're so focused on our voice than we think.” class, senior Sarah Weiner said her phones and social media that we just “When I wrote that poem, it was love for poetry has only grown since. don't appreciate things like [poetry] for a dance assignment,” Harvell said.

As she continued on her journey anymore,” Palmer said. “I hope it's “I had to choreograph to it, so I was as a poet, with most of her work something that comes back because thinking of different ways to move concentrated eighth through ninth it's helped me, so I think it could help and, obviously, how to make it work grade, Weiner said she was able to other people.” one way and another way to have it gain new insight on the way poetry is With a lack of recognition, Weiner flow and keep its intended meaning used to grasp deeper meanings within said she agrees with Palmer’s view on … ‘How do I show we are teenagers writing. the its popularity, but believes that, and we are strong and we do have “The world is a lot more complicated with powerful voices, such as poets something to say here?’ So it's like, than anyone wants to think it is,” Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace, ‘How do I keep my theme coming Weiner said. “Poetry allows you to and an open audience, poetry has been through, but not just say it?’” step into the perspective of whoever revived in the past decade.

Participating in the slam poetry wrote it in a way that no other type of “I notice that a lot of people event during diversity week on March writing really does.”

28, Harvell said her main As a way to combat reasoning for presenting her anxiety and express her poem was for the herself, Weiner said poetry ability to express herself The world is a lot more complicated helped her the most in and her writing. middle school when she “It's given me a way to than anyone wants to think it is. Poetry needed to vent or find feel a sense of importance,” allows you to step into the perspective comfort.

Harvell said. “When I put of whoever wrote it in a way that “Middle school’s the my words on the paper and worst and I was just a really I got such a good response no other type of writing really does. quiet, introverted person to my reverse poem ‘We at that point in my life Are The Change,’ it made | seniorsarahweiner and, because that was also me feel like my opinion when I started showing was respected and it was a symptoms of anxiety, I was way to get my opinion out really struggling to express there.” myself,” Weiner said. “I Regarding the true found that being able to use words to don't like poetry because they purpose of poetry in society, Harvell explain what I was thinking in just a don't understand it, but they don't said she finds it to be simple: more beautiful way gave me comfort.” understand it because they don't take expressing emotions and relating Much like Weiner, freshman Olivia the time to understand it,” Weiner toward one another with writing.

Palmer said she finds comfort in said. “I do think it's interesting that “I think we can learn that there's a writing poetry and uses it as a “coping it’s made a kind of comeback … so I million and one ways in our world to mechanism” when it comes to working think there’s a lot of people that have express our feelings and emotions and through problems. opened up to it now that they have opinion,” Harvell said. “Something “It helps me get everything out,” something new to relate to and it's I've seen from reading different poets Palmer said. “I feel like it's important, not just all white men from the 1700s is I'm definitely not alone in the way in general, to kind of let everything complaining about women that don’t I'm feeling. There's a million different out so people can understand each like them back.” people out there; maybe you didn't other a little bit more and know where With a change in the dynamic of know how to voice what you feel, but [someone’s] coming from and know the social impact of poetry within the then you see [their poems] and you're how their experiences have affected past few years, sophomore Glenne like, ‘there it is in words; that’s it.’” the way they see different things.”

Harvell said she found poetry to Despite her belief that poetry be a voice for her political views, | summerlyon

“

”

32 | feature / the standard / april 2018

Fortnite fanatics 100 students surveyed about popular new game

Fun facts: Facts:

Best place PLace to drop: Pleasant Park: 13% Loot Lake: 4%

Anarchy Acres: 3%

Tilted Towers: 35%

52% of students have at least 50 wins

Retail Row: 16%

Shifty Shafts: 8%

Salty Springs: 21%

Popular game Game mode: Most popular Solos: 35%

Duos: 24%

Squads: 41%

71% of students play Fortnite at least an hour each day | jonahmccormick