S the standard blue valley southwest volume 5 | issue 7
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CONTENTS 34
may 2015 vol. 5 | issue 7 overland park, ks
05
beyoutiful
08
keeping in balance
11
from home to the hallway
14
fashion foward
16
on the right track
20
the KC summer experience
22
the secret behind the stroke
24
dominating the diamond
27
fostering families
30
a week and a walk
34
the road ahead
36
sweet statistics
36
05
27 08
editor’s note
Front cover: Sprinting to finish the race, junior Zach Keeling perseveres on his last lap. Keeling competed in the 3200-meter race during the JV track meet at Shawnee Mission North on April 9. Cover photo by Donna Armstrong. Graphic by Riley Martin.
A
ll things considered, I think we’ve had a pretty good year. I’ve watched each of my fellow staff members grow leaps and bounds, both in regard to their storytelling
abilities and simply as people. Each issue of the paper this year has been better than the last in at least one aspect, which made it especially chaotic to find something worthy of our last, and hopefully best, issue together as a staff. We all struggled this issue — some of us feeling like we were on the verge of a story that we just didn’t know how to tell, and others of us having to resort to the Google search bar to find inspiration — but we picked ourselves up in the end because we knew that this was our last shot at creating something great. Obviously, the newspaper isn’t going anywhere, but no two staffs are ever the same. At the beginning of the year, I was unsure of my abilities as a design coach — just look to any issue from last year to understand my apprehensions. I was unsure of what kind of a leader Ananda would be, what changes would be made to our daily time in class and what support systems would be in place within the staff. Everything all worked out, but it was vastly different from last year, just like I know that next year will be vastly different from this year. It’s the circle of newspaper life, I guess. So yes, this issue was a challenge to put together. If we didn’t hit rock bottom, we got pretty close. But in the end, it was worth it because those times of crisis led to times of triumph, and if this is our last issue together as this staff, then at least we’re going out
| designcoach
with a bang.
ONLINE
10 percent off film and paper with student ID
what should you do this summer? Take a quiz to find out what your summer plans should be
| katebowling photographer
side by side
the ones who never stop
Students share what it’s like to participate in the same sport or activity as their sibling.
Student athletes explain how they use the off-season to prepare for the upcoming sports season.
| lilliehoffart staff writer
| brocputnam staff writer
To view these stories and more, visit bvswnews.com.
| thesouthweststandard editor-in-chief ananda bhatia managing editor margo johnson web editor nicole becker writing coaches nicole becker michael magyar
design coaches lauren stone lexi tarter copy editor ellie augustine photographers donna armstrong kate bowling riley martin delaney oliver abby yi
staff writers sneha bhavanasi blake gustafson lillie hoffart madison leighty katie lucas broc putnam adviser heather lawrenz
4 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads
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.
Letters should be submitted to room 118 emailed to bvswnews@gmail.com or mailed: The Southwest Standard c/o Blue Valley Southwest High School 17600 Quivira Overland Park, KS 66085 The Southwest Standard also encourages guest photography.
BE YoU TI FUL
Meetings Tuesday Mornings at 7:00 in Room 314 Goal to change the definition of beauty and health
Sponsor Lindsey Hogan
Leaders Kobi Miller & Jamie Rickert
I have been in REbeL for three years now, and there are weeks when I go and I’m like, ‘I love myself so much.’ Then there’s that one bad day that sets you off forever. It’s the biggest love story of your life if you can love yourself. Every day it’s definitely a toss up of whether or not you will.” | seniorkobimiller
5 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay
"Every single person is beautiful for who they are. They don't have to be what the media defines or what the society defines as beautiful to be considered beautiful because each person is who they are and they mean something to everyone. Everyone means something to someone, so we want to play off that and how each person is beautiful in their own way, not just in terms of body shape, but in terms of personality." | seniorjamierickert
“I think we all sometimes aren’t comfortable in our own skin. We all kind of have thoughts that you shouldn’t have. REbeL has made me see that you don’t have to feel bad about yourself. Everyone is perfect in their own way. REbeL has opened my eyes to see that the way that some people view beauty is not always the right way to do the things.” | juniordevinbratkiv
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"I grew up in this area, and I feel like there is a lot of pressure on girls to fit into that mold. It is really important for people to know there are all different shapes and sizes and become comfortable with who they are." | sponsorlindseyhogan
WHAT IS REBEL? The goal of REbeL club is to change the definition of health and beauty. Junior Devin Bratkiv said the message is to embrace “who you really are and not [give] in to the social standards that are set for today.” REbeL is also a place where one may express themselves and their insecurities. “REbeL is what really got it going for me,” senior Kobi Miller said. “If I wouldn’t have been able to voice my fears of myself or my insecurities, I think It would have just eaten me alive and gotten really really bad.” Students are welcome to attend REbeL meetings anytime for whatever reason. Members meet on Tuesday mornings at 7 a.m. in room 314 to discuss ways to help the community and activities the club can do to reach out. “We will identify times throughout the year that we think people will need a boost or they might be vulnerable,” sponsor Lindsey Hogan said. Walk to REbeL is one of REbeL’s upcoming events. The walk is dedicated to rebeling against unrealistic standards, negative body image, bullying and “being anyone but yourself.” Aside from the bigger events, Miller said people tell her that even the small messages that are in the random places around the school really mean a lot to them. “I know what it is like to wake up and look in mirror and not like what you see, and compare yourself everyday to other people, whether it be in the halls or on TV and just feel like you don’t add up.’ Miller said. “I was motivated to help myself [by joining REbeL] feel like there was more and to help other girls and women to be like be ‘ok, I’m ok with what I have’ and ‘I know I’m beautiful even if I don’t look like other people.’” | delaneyoliver
“I relate to them [the messages REbeL tries to send] because a lot of times the media tells you how you are supposed to be and how you are supposed to look. With REbeL, it is really just coming together and realizing that you are so much more than just what society’s standards want you to be, and it helps you to love yourself and love the people around you.“
| sophomoresarahallison
|7
keeping in
balance
students discover the benefits of practicing yoga
enior Shannon Black glanced uncertainly at the other people around her and tried to mimic their poses as she attended her first yoga class in seventh grade. She went through the motions of the exercise without connecting to it and didn’t understand the meaning of the practice. Shannon hated yoga, and it wasn’t until she made a second attempt at it her sophomore year that she began to delve into the practice and form an appreciation for it. “The first class that I came back to try again was hot yoga vinyasa,” Shannon said. “It was hard, but it was a good hard, and it was really empowering. I listened more, and I tried to focus more on my breathing and taking it internally.” Shannon decided four months ago that she wanted to pursue earning her yoga in-
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structor certification alongside her mom, Caprice Black, so that she could teach yoga classes in college or anywhere that she wanted. Starting in June, Shannon will work toward attending 200 hours of classes in order to complete her certification. When she starts college in August, Shannon plans to return home every other weekend until November, when she will have reached the required number of hours of classes. “I’m supporting her with her training because I think that’ll be really beneficial in the long term, not just for herself but as a source of income,” Caprice said. “She’ll be able to do it anywhere in the world if she wants.” Although it is uncertain exactly when it started, historians can trace the first development of yoga to India around
3000 B.C., according to Yoga Basics. It’s a worldwide practice. Regardless of the country, the heart of yoga focuses on revealing the deepest nature of an individual and self awareness through its movement and emphasis on breathing. Many different types classes branch off the fundamental concepts to create the opportunity for nearly anybody to practice. However, with the various options of practice, yoga instructor Susan Doerr still finds it difficult to keep students coming back to classes and continuing with the practice. Some students become intimidated by its unique culture or conclude that yoga is too hard for them. Doerr encourages students to try a private lesson to become accustomed to some of the main poses without the presence of other students.
Senior Shannon Black and her mom, Caprice Black, flow into the downward dog position together as they work on their practice. Photos by Delaney Oliver.
8 | may 2015 | southwest | bvswnews.com | feature
She says that the yoga practice can be applied to everybody. “I think that people are so hard on themselves, but if they just give it a chance, and not just once but maybe a couple of times, they might enjoy it more,” Doerr said. “I think that there’s a pose for everybody, and there’s a class for everybody. It may not be an athletic vigorous class, but you could find a yin class that’s a little bit more gentle. I think that everybody should at least give it a try.” Yoga offers a multitude of health benefits: lower blood pressure, decreased inflammation and reduced body weight or fat. Yoga builds strength and flexibility, which brings many athletes to take yoga classes to coincide with their sport. Junior Jenna Phelps decided to start yoga her sophomore year to help her with volleyball. Prior to starting, Phelps could barely even reach past her knees when trying to stretch her hamstrings and touch her toes. She started with private lessons with
24.3 million people in the United States practice yoga
the main goal of improving her flexibility, and now Phelps can touch her toes with ease. ”It’s definitely important to be flexible so that you don’t get injured,” Phelps said. “I’ve always kind of been afraid that I was going to tear my ACL or something because I wasn’t flexible, and I definitely have a reassurance now that I’m more flexible [because] I have less of a chance of it happening.” Yoga offers not only improvement of health for students but also encourages patience and self-awareness. Before taking yoga classes, Shannon struggled with dealing with the pressure of school. Her mother accused her of being a “worry wart,” and Shannon would get occasional migraines or stomachaches from the stress. With yoga as such a large part of her life now, Shannon has learned to value what’s important and become more spiritually involved with herself. “If you can play sports and you’re great at school, that’s great,” Shannon said. “But I think there’s always something missing,
and that’s people not experiencing their internal self and listening to their mind. It’s just made me be more appreciative and be more mindful. I honestly think that it’s just made me an all-around better person.” Shannon and her mom have tried to get some of Shannon’s sisters and friends to join them with their practice, but they find it difficult to get other people to continue with it. Shannon admits that it’s a weird concept for teenagers to just focus on their breathing, but she encourages others to keep trying to practice it and get something out of it. “I hope that I always do it and that it’ll always be a part of my life,” Shannon said. “I don’t really have a set goal or a set position that I want to accomplish. I think that I just want to be able to always have yoga be a part of my life and have it to teach me through everything I do.”
| nicolebecker
$27spent billion on yoga products in the United States annually 8 percent
of the population in the United States practices yoga
20 percent
of the population in India practices yoga
Facts by yogitimes.com.
|9
ANY SIZE SMOOTHIE
10 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads
From
Home Hallway
To The
students explain the effect of home school on their high school experience
feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | may 2015 | 11
O
While her video lessons enabled Victoria to work at n her first day of eighth grade, senior Vicher own pace as she completed her schoolwork, there toria Clark introduced herself to two of were certain classes and activities typically found in a her classmates as they began to work on public school that she couldn’t participate in. a short group assignment. She completed her portion “There are definitely things that we couldn’t do of the work, but when it was time for her partner to while home schooling that would have been benefipresent the information to the class, she struggled to cial,” Victoria said. “For instance, Spanish class beread Victoria’s handwriting because it was in cursive. cause my mom took German, so she couldn’t teach me Victoria, who had been copying Bible verses into curSpanish, and science labs, which are costly so it would sive ever since the second grade as a part of her home be silly to buy a microscope for a family to use in a school curriculum, just shrugged and decided to read home school setting.” the information instead. Once Victoria completed the seventh grade, she Victoria began home schooling shortly before her and her parents made the decision to put both her and fourth birthday and continued all the way through sevher sister into the Blue Valley School District. Victoria enth grade before attending Pleasant Ridge Middle entered Pleasant Ridge as an eighth grader and AlexSchool as an eighth grader. Clark’s mother, Marianne andria was a sixth grader. Clark, instructed Victoria and her sister, sophomore “It took us a long time to make the decision,” Alexandria Clark, using the A Beka curriculum, Marianne said. “We weighed public school, private which provides comprehensive and continuing in home school, lessons on all main school subjects “I remember at school but the biggest factor, for me, was that with a Christian perspective. OrigI didn’t want her first time on her own first it was a big inally, Marianne began instructing to be when she went to college. We just Victoria using the K4 (kindergarshock for me to thought that it would give her a good ten for four year olds) curriculum chance to just start getting out among look around and see after a friend who used A Beka other kids and still be under our roof at to instruct her own children gave hundreds of people, night.” Marianne the curriculum. but I didn’t know Because Victoria had been taught a “I was a stay at home mom,” ahead of her peers, she didn’t have Marianne said. “Victoria was my them.” year to catch up on her academics to prefirst child and she was eager, so we pare for her first year in public school. started in on that curriculum. By Instead, she repeated eighth grade bethe time that she would have gone | seniorvictoriaclark cause there were differences between into kindergarten in public school, the Blue Valley and A Beka curricushe was already in first grade in lums, and also because it would give her a “full year the A Beka curriculum. I had her so far ahead that I to experience public school without having the stress” thought, ‘What am I going to do here? She can read. of high school, when “the grades counted.” She did, She can write. She’s going to be bored in school.’ Then, however, take a tour with her family of Pleasant Ridge knowing that the public schools [in Mississippi] were so that she and Alexandria could become familiar with already not what they are here, I thought, ‘You know the new environment. Despite being familiar with her what? We’re going to just keep doing what we’re dosurroundings and having her sister to share the experiing.’” ence with, Victoria had some concerns on her first day. By the time Victoria had reached the fourth grade, “I remember at first it was as big shock for me to her family had switched over from the A Beka book look around and see hundreds of people, but I didn’t curriculum and was now using the company’s pre-reknow them,” Victoria said. “Like anyone who goes to corded video lessons for her classes. These videos school where they don’t know anyone at all, I found helped Victoria to stay on track with her education as that to be a bit hard. I had friends from church and her family moved twice over the course of the year, from dance class, but they went to different schools or first from Mississippi to Arkansas, then from Arkansas were in a different grade.” to Kansas. Aside from the social differences between home “Had she been in a public school situation, she school and public school, another experience that Vicwould have been lost,” Marianne said. “But we were toria had to adjust to was due dates on her assignments. able to just keep going with our lessons wherever we were.”
12 |
“When I was home schooled, I didn’t really have any set due dates,” Victoria said. “If a project was due one day, since I am kind of a perfectionist, I might literally take a whole day to finish that project. Then, when I went to public school, I had to learn to be done with something and go, ‘Well, this is good enough for the time I had,’ and just turn it in.” Unlike Victoria, sophomore Butch Clemons was only home-schooled during third and sixth grade, so rather than having to adjust to a large public school environment, he had to become accustomed to being instructed in his own home. “My mom told me about [being home-schooled] halfway through the summer and I held that grudge,” Clemons said. “I heard about all the exciting stuff with everyone starting middle school, but for me it was like, ‘Oh, just kidding.’ I was heated about it.” While he was home schooled, Clemons had a tutor for math and used Rosetta Stone for his Spanish lessons, but his mother was responsible for teaching his other courses. Even though home school allowed Clemons to be instructed ahead of his peers, he found it “weird to not have other classmates” learning beside him every day. “I honestly prefer public school because of the social aspect and getting to see my friends all the time,” Clemons said. “Also because when I was home schooled, we didn’t have electives, so here I can try lots of different things that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.” Although Clemons returned to public school for good in the seventh grade, he said that the experience, although brief, was not without its benefits. “I actually learned a lot more at home,” Clemons said. “And I got to have a broader view so that I can better relate to people who have experience with being home-schooled.” To Marianne, the advantage of starting her children in home school and switching them to public school was that it allowed them to have the “best of both” learning environments. Home schooling allowed her to ground her children in a Christian curriculum, while public school allowed for more extracurricular activities, competition in the classroom and the chance to choose a steady friend group. “I think that being home schooled definitely made me independent in terms of my schoolwork,” Victoria said. “I had a sort of self-motivation, so that was something good about it. I also think that it strengthened my beliefs in my faith because I had a Bible class and there was the faith aspect in each part of my schooling. Still, I really enjoy being able to work with other people on school assignments, and I value the friendships that I have because of [public] school.”
senate bill 60
| laurenstone
A
new piece of legislation in the Kansas Senate, Senate Bill 60, may allow home-school students to participate in public school sports and other activities. The bill would allow students to participate for four consecutive school years, up to the age of 20. Supporters of the bill say that it would be beneficial to Western Kansas, where some rural schools struggle to have enough students for teams, and home-school students often have to travel hundreds of miles to play in designated home-school leagues. There is, however, opposition against the bill, saying that allowing any homeschooled student to simply walk in to play on a public school sports team would diminish the value of what it means to wear the uniform. “When I was home-schooled, this wasn’t as big of a deal because all of my sports weren’t through the school and I could play on club teams,” sophomore Butch Clemons said. “But I think home-school students would be really affected and appreciate this a lot more because they’d have a chance for bonding with other students.”
| 13
Fashion
| sophomore travishampton
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he usually strays away from normal stores because it’s hard for her to find clothes that have personality there. Her favorite store is a warehouse of damaged clothing. She never goes there with the intention of finding anything specific; she just scrolls through the racks until something stands out. A great solid color tee or a denim vest excites her; the possibilities from there are endless. She also thrifts at antique stores and finds the clothing sections tucked in the corners. She believes clothing should be fun to acquire and wear, always. “People don’t inspire my clothes — feelings and events do,” junior Lauren Browning said. “Sometimes I wake up and I want to feel like I can take on the world, so I roll up the sleeves on a blazer and throw it on over my favorite tee. Other days I’m sick of the 21st century and feel like dressing from the ‘50s. I don’t use blogs, Tumblr or Pinterest for inspiration because it feels too forced for me.” Browning tends to shy away from what
| junior laurenbrowning
seems to be “in” for most teens, whether that be via social media or from what she observes in the halls of school. However, trends — especially from past decades — ultimately influence her personal style. Trends are constantly being recycled throughout time periods. The latest trends of 2015 can be compared to distinguished looks that were popular in previous generations. “Trends cycle through,” Browning said. “When something is new and bold, people are all over it. But eventually, it becomes typical and people get bored. Once it has been out of style long enough to be “vintage,” people will be all over it again. People don’t realize how vastly our clothes are impacted by fashion of other centuries. It’s pretty easy to see the patterns from the ‘20s on, but even the necklines, hairstyles and patterns of the early 1900s are influencing clothes today.” Rummaging through a parent’s closet to look for clothes from previous decades or going thrifting has become a common method
14 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature
| senior elisepierce
of shopping. For senior Elise Pierce, this is the only way she finds her favorite pieces of clothes. “I hate shopping,” Pierce said. “Most of my clothes come from other places. For example, my favorite flannel belonged to my grandfather before it was mine, and my big cozy sweaters usually come from my dad’s closet. My most comfortable pair of jeans are three sizes too big and were my mom’s when she was in college. Those are the things that I like the most.” Aside from new methods of thrifting, the time period itself also inspires fashion choices. For Browning, this is the ‘40s and ‘70s specifically. Browning says her style doesn’t pertain to a normal category like “edgy” or “bohemian” because she changes her mind every day. She describes her style as adaptable and unique, yet classic and traditional. “Last year, I fell in love with neck scarves and went thrifting all the time,” Browning said.
Forward.
| senior romarickeuwo
“I now own about a dozen neck scarves or head scarves. Sometimes when I don’t want to completely dress from the past, I will tie one in my pony tail, as a headband, or around a purse strap. The ‘70s are my go-to inspiration for warm-weather clothes. Last year, I went through my mom’s cedar chest and took all her shirts from elementary school; I wear them as ‘crop tops’ with high waisted skirts or flare jeans. If I’m really digging the oldies, I throw on my moccasins and heart shades and pretend I wasn’t born in ‘97.” Culture impacts aspects of determining personal style. Senior Romaric Keuwo would describe his style as “African meets hipster.” He says he loves his Cameroonian culture, but he also loves the hipster trend. For that reason, he wears a combination of both. “My style portrays the classic ‘90s style with a little modern twist,” Keuwo said. “I have a thing for jean jackets — both long sleeve and cut. I also really like rolling up my pants and color co-
ordinating. And sometimes I need an over-sized sweater just to remind people what decade I was born in. I think the majority of my outfits are just a combination of modern and ‘90s style.” Not only is style is inspired by trends from the past, but it is also influenced by the present. Social media as well as advertising are on the rise for shaping personal style. The more the media covers a particular style, the more popular it becomes. When the media covers a trend, it spreads faster to teenagers who are still attempting to figure out their sense of style. “I think high school trends are largely impacted by environment and what is available and considered popular,” Browning said. “Sometimes trends start because someone made a bold choice and the other kids decided to follow. Usually though, trends emerge in high school as an attempt to replicate the runway looks in a safe way. Once all the mall windows are decked out with the latest trend, everyone assumes that is what is cute, and thus the trend cycle is born.” Although trends impact fashion choices, per-
| sophomore libbielouis
sonal style is used to express originality. Trends are used to guide style choices, but as Browning, Pierce and Keuwo would suggest, style has to be authentic. Personal style is not only impacted by different cultures and time periods, but instead is a combination of both. Trends are constantly being recycled but it’s what a person does with the trend that shows his or her individuality. “I love the diversity at Southwest,” Pierce said. “It’s hard to say that there are specific trends because I think most people embrace their individuality pretty comfortably. The most important thing is to choose styles that make you comfortable and fit your personality. There’s no such thing as having a ‘wrong’ style, as long as it’s what makes you feel good. Sometimes you have to stop and ask yourself if you like it because it suits your personality or if you only like it because society tells you to.”
| lexitarter Photos by Delaney Oliver. | 15
On the right track
students compete in track and field events | donnaarmstrong
16 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay
1
2
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(1) Passing the baton off, sophomore Butch Clemons finishes running 400 meters. Clemons ran the second leg in the 4X4 on April 9 with freshman JD Espenmiller and juniors Connor Eksi and Jacob Woolworth. (2) Running in a 400-meter dash at Shawnee Mission North, junior Jonathan Cook focuses on his running form. Cook is followed by junior Josh Wu. (3) Jumping the hurdle, senior Andy Vietti concentrates on sticking her landing. Vietti competed in the JV meet on April 9 at SM North. (4) Casting himself over the pole vault bar, senior Owen Dahm successfully makes it over without hitting the bar. Dahm competed in the JV division at SM North on April 9.
3 | 17
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(5) Leaping over the finish line, freshman Noah Green wins first for his team. Green ran in the 4X4 at Blue Valley Relays on April 10 with junior Colin Webber, sophomore Konrad Marshall and freshman Cameron Fasenmyer. (6) Pulling ahead, freshman Jared Lefert manages to maneuver in front of senior David Jacobson and an opponent from Shawnee Mission South. (7) Using all her strength, freshman Jourdan Dunlap launches her javelin 78 feet and six inches at Blue Valley Relays on April 10. (8) Pushing past opponents, sophomore Beau Constant gains a lead during the twomile race. Constant competed in the 3200-meter run at Blue Valley Relays.
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SENIOR SECTION
Senior Superlatives Most likely to change the world
Charlotte Davis & Cole Kedney
Best bromance
Brant Millerborg & Austin Hoegerl
Most likely to become Tumblr famous
Worst case of “senioritis�
Cole Nyffler & Anna Dickerson
Rachel Mealy & Jack Tobin
Most likely to be seen taking a #selfie
Payton Fahler & Steven Andersen
Most likely to be featured on SNL
Taylor Wagner & Caleb Jenkins p 2 | may 2015 | southwest | bvswnews.com | superlatives p
Biggest germaphobe
Holly Long & Jordan Scharnhorst
Best school spirit
Best person to be stranded on a desert island with
Brant Millerborg & Molly Menefee
Ty Constant & Lauren York
Most likely to make you smile
Most likely to become president
Paige Salts & Romaric Keuwo
Alex Ghekas & Hannah Huffman
Most changed since frehshman year
Attached at the hip
Chelsea Schupp & Quenten King
Abby Pelfery & Elizabeth Davis
p3
Sports Signings Baseball Andrew Gillett Austin Hoegerl Miller Hogan Brant Millerborg Blake Shinkle Brendan Stanek David Tudhope
Johnson County CC St. Louis University Barton County CC University of Kansas University of Arkansas Hutchinson CC
Soccer Max Baum Charlotte Davis Lauren Lambrecht Taylor Wagner
Baker University
Lauren York
“I really couldn’t see myself ending this year. I couldn’t see these next four years without playing. It is such a big part of me; I feel like I would kind of be giving up if I didn’t continue playing.”
| senioranamcmullen
Harvard University Johnson County CC Iowa State University
basketball Taylor Westrom
Warming up his arm, senior Brendan Stanek prepares for practice. Stanek pitches for the varsity team and will play for the Arkansas Razorbacks next year.
Highland CC
Colorado Christian University St. Louis CC
Senior Taylor Wagner dribbles the ball toward the goal. The game against Blue Valley Northwest marked the first loss of the girls soccer season after a sixgame winning streak.
golf Nikki McCurdy
Northwest Missouri State University
swimming Andrew Goode Jacqueline Leonard
West Virginia Wesleyan University William Jewell College
“I’m going to miss all of my teammates because they are amazing, just helping me in practice and supporting me. But I’m excited for that atmosphere in college.”
Volleyball Ana McMullen
Rhodes College
football Ryan Peroo
Washburn University
Sam Randall
Pittsburg State University
Calon Tharet
Garden City CC
Seth Thomas
University of Northern Iowa
cross country Megan Paule
| seniorjacquelineleonard
Creighton University
p 4 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | sports signings p
Senior Sam Randall stands on the sidelines and waits to enter into the game against Blue Valley North. The Timberwolves came out victorious in the first game of the season with a score 26-19.
performing arts signings debate While singing “Blood in the Water” in the musical “Legally Blonde,” senior Caleb Jenkins’s character instructs his students on how to be ruthless lawyers.
Chris Fry
University of Kansas
Jacob Hegna
University of Kansas
Lainey Schrag
University of Kansas
theatre
Erica Christie Caleb Jenkins
Emma Lucas Amanda Miller Hannah Tymosko “As my debate career in high school wrapped up, I realized there was a lot more I wish I could have done, and college debate gave me that opportunity to pursue those things in the future.”
| seniorlaineyschrag
Kenyon College Chapman University University of Tulsa Oklahoma City University Columbia College Chicago
orchestra
Sydney Carnes
Pittsburg State University
Ellen Long
Cottey College
Holly Long
Cottey College
band
Senior Ciara Murphy plays her flute in a duet during “Sure on This Shining Night,” the ballad section of the marching show.
Sean Bennett
Kansas State University
Katie Craven
University of Arkansas
Owen Dahm
Kansas State University
Mikala Grosse
University of Central Missouri
Ellen Long
Cottey College
Holly Long
Cottey College
Kyle Mersch
Iowa State University
Ciara Murphy
Santa Clara University
Parker Stoops
Kansas State University
“[Playing my saxophone] is a good way for me to get involved in college, and I put a lot of effort into my playing — about seven or eight years of private lessons.”
| seniorkylemersch
|abbyyi | lilliehoffart Photos by Donna Armstrong, Madison Leighty, Lily Snow, Cassidy Winsor and Abby Yi. All information from Dan Schmidt, Ed Protzman, Jared Zuckerman, Diane Murdock and Adam Keda.
p5
Celebrating 15 photos that sum up
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(1) At EKL Art Day, Madeline Fines replicates “Starry Night� on a piece of cardboard for the wearable sculpture competition. (2) Leading the rest of the team, Luke Wilmes and Calon Tharet rush on the football field for the first game of the year. (3) John Hacker hoists Cole Kedney during their performance at Wolfgong. (4) As a member of the ultimate frisbee club, Ty Constant leaps behind three defenders to catch the frisbee.(5) Madi Dombrowski snaps a photo of her client for her growing photography business. (6) With outstretched arms, Lauren York holds her defensive stance to stop her opponent from reaching the basket. (7) Nikki McCurdy takes a swing at the golf ball at the top of a hill on hole 17, which overlooks downtown Kansas City. Photos by Donna Armstrong, Nicole Becker, Kate Bowling, Delaney Oliver and Lauren York.
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(8) Dressed as the school mascot, Grant Wernicke helps pump up the crowd during an assembly. (9) During the annual fundraiser, Hoops for Hope, Katie Kraven stares at her teammate as she keeps the ball out of reach of Zach Tolar. (10) Payton Fahler and Johnny Dunlap cheer on the school at a baskeball game. (11) Paige Salts takes a touch backward and looks for a player to pass to in the game against Blue Valley Northwest. (12) Hannah Tymosko portrays Serena in the musical “Legally Blonde.” (13) Practicing for the next halftime performance, Jillian Lewis spins her flag. (14) Romaric Keuwo sings “That’s Life” for the annual Wolfgong talent show. (15) At Relay for Life, Justin Hicklin struts down the runway for the “Mr. Relay” pagent competition. Photos by Donna Armstrong, Kate Bowling and Delaney Oliver.
p photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | may 2015 | 9 p
senior columns M
oving to Southwest my freshman year was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I would’ve laughed if anyone had told me before the move that I would be able to run more than a mile, let alone join a real sports team, and I’d never dreamed of falling in love with newspaper the way I did. Four years later, the parts of my life that mean the most to me still have a connection to Southwest. But because I invested so much emotion into the school, high school felt like my entire world, and I managed to take the things I loved too seriously. My nerves have helped me earn the second-lowest score possible on my vocal solo and cry before a cross-country meet when Applebee’s ran out of salmon. But most of all, my worrying made it hard to enjoy what should’ve been my best memories. I’d been told “it’s just high school, not the end of the world” many times, but it didn’t sink in until senioritis hit this year (which I said would never happen to me). All at once, everything I ever worried about over the last four years seemed unimport-
ant in the grand scheme of things. I don’t think there are any experiences I regret or things I would’ve done differently. The friends and staff members I’ve met have honestly helped me see the world from new perspectives and helped me discover who I am and who I want to be. Southwest has given me stories that I’ll be able to tell for the rest of my life. But if I had known freshman year that it was okay to have fun and not be under pressure all of the time, I would’ve taken more risks. I wish I had taken more study breaks, spent more time with my favorite people that I’m going to miss now and run more 4x4 relays, even though I can’t sprint. I’m certainly not saying to treat all of high school like a joke. Working hard and getting as involved as possible are what really made my experience worthwhile. I just wish I would have had a little more perspective. Give what you care about 100 percent, but not because you’re worried about impressing a coach or getting into college or even proving yourself. Just do what you love because you love it.
p 10 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | columns p
Ananda Bhatia
editor-in-chief
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he last four years of my life have been nothing like “High School Musical.” Not once did I stand on a table singing about how much I love to bake, nor did I ever make the choice between being an amazing athlete or an amazing actress. And as for the search for the Troy to my Gabriella… Well, let’s just say that didn’t go so well. But there’s one other thing that Disney Channel got wrong, which is saying that high school is the best part of your life. TV and movies always portray our high school years as our socalled “glory days,” filled with friends, drama and shenanigans. And sure, high school may have all of those things, but Hollywood always seems to forget the daily stresses that school can bring, as well as how downright uncomfortable many of us can be during these years. In that respect it’s actually kind of relieving to know that the best still lies ahead of us. After all, if we all peaked between the ages of 14 to 18, most
lauren stone
design coach
of us would be doomed to horribly awkward adult lives. If you’re just starting out, don’t be discouraged if high school isn’t all it was cracked up to be. There will be days, and sometimes weeks, that are tough to get through. There will be classes that make your brain hurt and classes that put you to sleep. Thankfully, all of the bad things about high school make all of the good things seem all the more worthwhile. You will have teachers who inspire you, and make friends who have souls that match your own. You will laugh until you cry, and you will make memories that make every bad day worth the struggle. And to my fellow seniors, it doesn’t matter what kind of high school experience you had — good, bad or somewhere in
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Madison Leighty staff writer
between — because there’s so much more out there for us to learn and experience. We’re getting ready to take on the world, which is just as exhilarating as it is horrifying. But even if we make mistakes — because we will make mistakes— each of us has the potential to do something great. You could even say that there’s not a star in heaven that we can’t reach. Maybe I’m only saying this because I’m hopelessly hopeful, but I truly believe that high
never saw myself as someone who would be nominated for a senior superlative, so it was a shock to me when my friends on staff told me there was a good chance I might win the “most changed since freshman year” title. Although I didn’t win the superlative, the nomination did send me into a week-long existential crisis about who I am and who I have been. Freshman year Madison was awkward and reclusive and all too defined by others’ expectations. My first year of high school, put bluntly, was one of the hardest years of my life. I struggled with the move to a new school with new people and new ideas of who I was supposed to be. And I didn’t deal with it well — even through my junior year, I had trouble with my perception of my own identity —Who exactly was I? What activities did I want to participate in? What did I believe in? What did I enjoy? What kinds of people did I want to surround myself with? What did I stand for? While I wish I could tell those asking themselves the same questions that there’s a quick and easy fix to this internal struggle, it’s probably better to just be honest. It took a lot of work and a lot of difficulty to become the person I am this year. The past four years have shown me that finding yourself can sometimes mean rejecting the parts of yourself you
school is just our starting off point. Ten years from now, we’re going to be doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers and so much more. In that time, we may come to look at our time in high school through rose-colored glasses, seeing our time here as if it were some made-for-TV movie. But even if not everyone comes to look at high school that optimistically, it is still a starting point for all of us as we venture on our journey from point A to point B — wherever that might be.
thought meant the most to you. I lost friends, I lost passions and I definitely lost my way a few times. But along that journey, I discovered things about myself I never would have imagined. I found and embraced my identity, my talents and my voice. My journey through high school wasn’t about grades, as my parents or teachers thought. It wasn’t about activities, as my friends thought. It wasn’t even about the relationships I made with those around me, as I thought. While I value and love all of those things, it’s clear to me that the past four years have been about my own metamorphosis from a timid, uncertain freshman to a knowledgeable, confident senior. Knowing that I will graduate with a sense of who I am is what gives me assurance that I will spend the coming years becoming who I want to be. So to any freshmen — and even those who aren’t freshmen — who are unsure of who you are and where you stand: you may not know now, but the next few years will give you experiences that will allow you to understand yourself better than you ever have before. I won’t lie and tell you that it’s the easiest journey, but it’s one that is necessary and worthwhile. And you’ll come out on the other side with the comfort and strength that comes from knowing who you are.
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class of 2015
ads | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | may 2015 | 19
The kc Summer
Experience Tons of galleries and shops await in the Crossroads Art District Art Walk on the first Friday of every month from 6-9 p.m.
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GLOW RUN5K
The Glow Run allows participants to make their way through a late-night neon 5K course that features black lights and a “Light Em’ Up” after party experience, starting at 9 p.m. at Kemper Arena. “A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America celebrates art” made by “self-taught or minimally trained artists and artisans working between 1800 and 1925.” The collection begins at 7 p.m. in gallery 214 at the Nelson Atkins.
FOLK ART
in AMERICA
Student Nights for the Kansas City Royals offer live local bands and happy hour specials to those with a college or high school ID or youth under age 14 who are accompanied by an adult.
Student Night
ONE DIRECTION
One Direction hits the road again for their 2015 world tour — but this time, Zayn Malik won’t be accompanying the band. They will be performing on 7 p.m. on July 28 at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Buzz Beach Ball by 96.5 The Buzz features a multitude of artists, including Alt-J and Glass Animals, on July 25 with Sporting Park as the venue.
Although all races begin and end at Crown Center Square, the Hospital Hill Run is known for its atrociously steep inclines. The 5K run/walk will take place at 7 p.m. on June 5 and the half marathon and 10K races start at 7 a.m. on June 6. The Crown Center Antique Festival features “pottery, china, toys, linens, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, books, and much more,” with more than 100 booths from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 13 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. The Roasterie tours allow the public to experience how the company air-roasts, tastes and packages the coffee. Ongoing tours are available at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Events at Starlight Theater include two Broadway musicals; “Annie” from June 19 through 21 and “Mary Poppins” from July 24 to August 1. Both start at 8 p.m.
| ellieaugustine
Graphics by Riley Martin.
Information from www.visitkc.com
20 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | special sections
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The Secret Behind a Stroke golfers share their thoughts on the mental side of the game
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he task would appear simple. Hit a small white ball into a cup. The apparel would assume as unathletic, better suited for Sunday morning church or any formal activity. The equipment: an oblong head attached to a simple iron rod. Not too complicated. The basics of the game of golf and how to succeed at it are straightfoward. So why is golf a sport where so many fail miserably in their attempts to flourish?
22 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com| sports
“If there’s no pressure, then you aren’t doing well enough.” | juniorsethwingerter
When analyzing the golfer himself or herself, things get evident. The notorious difficulty of the game can be explained by examining the mental aspect. “You don’t have to run a 4.40 to be good,” junior Seth Wingerter said. “It’s a severely mental game.” Popularly known as a “gentlemen’s game,” the ancient sport of golf is unlike any other and puts an emphasis on certain aspects lacking in more admired sports. In a game where an adequate mental approach is emphasized as much as form and mechanics, not just everybody can succeed. “Most of golf is mental,” junior Joe Lienemann said. “You’ve got to take it one shot at a time; you can’t go thinking about your score on the first hole.” Professional golfers have had their careers go downhill after abrupt occurrences in their personal lives. Tiger Woods’s had won 14 majors going into 2009, when a scandal involving his marriage arose. Considered unanimously the most dominant golfer of the last decade, Woods’s ranking quickly plummeted. He has yet to win another major tournament. “Having a good mental approach is vital in golf,” senior Sam Dentinger said. “If you try to play a round with recurring bad thoughts, you will find it very difficult to score well.” Pressure. The strain of sinking a put is
able to cripple even the most determined golfer. Sports commonly demand the ability to perform under pressure. However, in golf, pressure-related stress can be exemplified. “If there’s no pressure, then you aren’t doing well enough,” Wingerter said. “In golf, it’s inevitable, and to be successful you really need to be able to thrive under it.” A truly individual sport in many senses, golf is a sport where success can be determined entirely on how one performs on his or her own. True, an opponent could always shank a shot of theirs, but the awareness of being at the tee with little to fall back on can be crippling. Being on a golf team, however, can add a new dimension to the game. “When you’re not having a good day, you can always think that ‘my team’s got my back’,” Wingerter said. Although golf is a solo affair, chemistry among teammates can prove incredibly beneficial. “Team chemistry is actually a lot more important of a success factor than you would think,” Wingerter said. “It’s an individual sport, of course, but you also have to play as a team. You play a lot better when you play for the team because you have a sense of duty to your teammates which makes you a lot more motivated.” No two golf courses are alike. The ev-
er-differing landscapes of playing courses can make each round a challenge for golfers. “You always have to be observant,” Lienemann said. “You’ve always got to worry about the speed of the green and how much it will break and you’ve gotta think about the wind and other factors as well.” Finding parallels between the basics of brilliance in basketball and the staples of success in golf is difficult. Athleticism, endurance, along with the ability to pass, shoot, and rebound are all tenants of a well rounded basketball pallet. The same is for a sport like football. Speed, strength and agility are all emphasized as a path to success in the sport. In golf, it appears to be much simpler. That’s why golf is so unique. No amount of weight lifting or agility training on can improve one’s golf game. Skill, technique, and the ability to clear one's head allows for one to be a leader on the links. “You’re are out there all by yourself,” Detinger said. “You’re not competing against other teams, you’re against yourself and the course.” |michaelmagyar
Photos by Kate Bowling.
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d e h t g n i t a n i T-Wolves balance fun and focus dom in their softball ca reers
5 (1) Sophomore Lauren Haught rounds third base before turning to home plate in a successful home run. “[Earlier last month] when practice began, after running we were put into groups and given a clue to start an egg hunt,” Haught said. “We ran around the whole school trying to find eggs and figure out the clues. The last clue told us to head to the art room, and when we got there, there were cupcakes and smiling coaches. It was a really strong team bonding experience and I enjoyed it so much.” (2) Sophomore Abby Pearch jets a ball to pitcher
freshman Helene Bechtel to attempt to get the opposite team out over home plate. “One time we got to play on the varsity field at West, and it was amazing,” Pearch said. “We were down three runs and I went up to bat, the bases were loaded, and I got a triple and tied the game. I loved it.” (3) Junior Lexi Thom tosses a ball back to her teammate during warms-ups before a game. “My dad inspires me to play softball,” Thom said. “Ever since I was four or five years old, he’s always pushed me to play sports. And he’s stuck with me this whole time through softball
and he keeps me confident and makes me feel like I can make it far and succeed in college sports.” (4) Sophomore Hannah Waddell gains momentum to launch the ball for a pitch. “I’ve been playing softball since I was little and I just love the game a lot,” Waddell said. “My favorite part is definitely being out there and working hard and putting effort into it because it makes me happy to work hard and see other people who love the game play it with me.” (5) Junior Maddie Lowry swings while up to bat. “Before you go up to the plate you get a feeling in your
24 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay
| katielucas
hands, and you can feel that you’re going to get a hit,” Lowry said. “You don’t know how hard it’s going to be or how far [it’s going], but you just know it’s going to go somewhere. [During my first home run] I remember I had that feeling in my hands and I swung, and it wasn’t much more than a regular hit, but it went over, and I ran around the bases.” (6) Junior Shayna Byers whips the bat to make a connection while warming up. “[My proudest softball memory is] making Gold Team at the age of 13,” Byers said.
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26 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads
fostering
FAMILY students adjust to their lives in foster homes
feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | may 2015 | 27
UNIQUE’S STORY
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hen junior Unique Brooks returns home every evening from her after-school job, she’s met with “how are you?”s and welcoming faces asking how her day went. If she had a difficult day at school or has exciting information to share, she knows she has a home that will listen. But this hasn’t always been Brooks’s life. Just a year and a half ago, Brooks entered foster care after being removed from an abusive home. Brooks grew up never knowing her father. Her mother gave birth to her as a teenager, and her parents split up a year later. Brooks spent her adolescent years switching between living with her grandmother in Las Vegas and her mother in Wyandotte County. In sixth grade, her mother passed away from the swine flu, and despite her mother’s family’s efforts, she was sent to live with her father in Olathe. Brooks never knew why her father wasn’t in her life, but shortly after moving into his home, she realized why. For four years, Brooks endured emotional, verbal and physical abuse. She never spoke out for fear that the abuse would only get worse. However, after Brooks realized that her father’s violent ways posed a threat to her life and to the lives of those in her household, she alerted a teacher about the years of abuse she had faced. That same day, the police were called, social workers were notified and Brooks was taken into the custody of foster care with her only possessions being the clothes on her back. Shortly after, Brooks was placed into a family and began attending Shawnee Mission North during the first semester of her sophomore year. Although she was initially reserved toward the idea adjusting to a new family and school, she eventually became more accepting of her new environment. “When I first got put into foster care, I was more ashamed,” Brooks said. “I felt like it was my fault, and I felt like I didn’t have any family. I didn’t talk to anybody, and I didn’t want to have a relationship with the family — I just had animosity toward everybody. It’s kind of hard to hold a grudge for that long, so I just accepted [the situation].” However, Brooks’s abusive past didn’t end once she entered foster care. As her time living with the family progressed, the physical abuse in the home worsened. In January, after a physical altercation between her foster father and foster sister, the police removed Brooks from the home. Brooks then joined Tim and Suzanne Gay’s family and soon had to adjust to a home vastly different than any she had experienced before. Her new family set expectations for Unique that she never had before
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— she was encouraged to become involved in school and to develop study habits in order to earn high grades. “Just because [Brooks] is a foster child, doesn’t mean that she has less benefits of being in our family or different expectations — we treat her as if she’s a member of our family,” Tim said. “That’s the only way we knew how to handle the situation because, otherwise, if you treat all your biological kids this way, and you have special expectations for the foster child, then you’re constantly treating them in a way that says, ‘I’m different,’ or, ‘I’m not part of this family.’”
“I’m still angry at [my father] for what he did. But before, it was more anger and disgust — I couldn’t even look at him. Now I don’t want to hold all of that anger. You can’t just come from a normal home and be like that, so obviously something had to have happened to him that made him want do all that kind of stuff. I’m still in the process, but I l just want to learn how to forgive him for everything that he did.” | junioruniquebrooks
Brooks’s life with the Gays involved more than adapting to a new family and a new set of expectations. Brooks had to adjust to a new curriculum far more rigorous than what she had been taught in her previous schools, and, in addition, she had to adapt to a culturally different school. While Brooks was accustomed to going to racially diverse schools in urban settings, attending a school in an affluent, predominantly white suburb created some obstacles when learning the ways of a new school. Brooks said that she had difficulty finding students at Southwest who could relate to her culture and background, but she also found that the teachers at Southwest were more invested in their students’ futures than any of her teachers before. “If you come from a more city type of high school, and then you come to suburban South-
west, it is night and day,” counselor Kristi Dixon said. “You can walk around with your guard up at a more city type of school, and that’s necessary because you spend the day protecting yourself either physically and emotionally, and then you come to Southwest — that’s for kids who transfer regardless. Coming from a big city setting to small suburban high school is just mind-blowing.” Brooks said that Dixon was instrumental in her transition to Southwest. Brooks was designated as one of Dixon’s students because of her last name, but a bond grew between them that stemmed more from just a cultural connection. Dixon taught Brooks how to manage her aggression toward insensitive students and presented her office as a place to go when Brooks needed to talk about both the good and the bad in her life. Dixon also opened Brooks up to options for her future that she had never thought about before. For the first time, Brooks realized that she was capable of continuing her education past high school. “At Southwest, [the teachers] really strive for the future,” Brooks said. “When I went to SM North, I was like, ‘I’m not going to college,’ because that was never an option. Then when I came here, [the counselors] were like, ‘Your grades really aren’t that bad.’ They told me I could go to college, and that made me work even harder because I really want to go to college.” Switching high schools three times took a toll on Brooks’s grades. While she was used to earning grades in the A to B range, when she switched mid-semester to SM North, her grades suffered, as she wasn’t used to the curriculum. Brooks said that a combination of bullying and not being encouraged to focus on school by those around her further discouraged her to attend class. However, since starting at Southwest, Brooks has become more focused on her schoolwork and has received better grades than she has before. “With foster kids, there’s not always somebody there telling them, ‘You are smart. You can do this,’” Dixon said. “When you bounce around from school to school, sometimes your grades reflect your experience — not your ability. For a lot of kids, they can lose sight of the fact that they’re academically capable. They look at [a bad grade] as, ‘Oh, I got this bad grade. I must not be very smart,’ and pretty soon it’s, ‘I can’t go to college,’ instead of ‘I’ve had some major obstacles and I am working really hard to overcome them.’”
Brooks’s story continued on bvswnews.com
Makaila’s story
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hen Brooks moved in with the Gays, she met not only their six biological children, but also their adoptive daughter, senior Makaila Gay, who was in foster care before being adopted at the age of 17. Though Makaila said that she never forced Brooks to tell more of her story than she was comfortable with, Makaila soon found out that she and Brooks shared more similarities than they thought. Makaila and her two biological siblings were put up for adoption after their drug- and alcohol-addicted parents could no longer provide for them. A family from her church that was unable have children was willing to adopt all three siblings, which seemed to be a suitable fit for them. However, the parents took their mental stress out on Makaila and her siblings, especially her older brother. As Makaila aged and took on more responsibility, the physical abuse toward her and her siblings increased. Makaila and her siblings were taken out of their adoptive home, and after living in a temporary home, Makaila entered a foster placement with her best friend’s family. But similar to Brooks’s situation when moving in with a new family, this home was also abusive. While the family initially provided a stable home for Makaila, the parents placed the blame for their deteriorating marriage on Makaila. Makaila suffered emotional abuse for three years before deciding to leave the family. However, the struggles that Makaila faced allowed her to build closer relationships with those in her community and strengthen her faith in God. “If I was younger, I would have grown up believing that it was me [causing the problems] and that I wasn’t innocent, but I had a great system of people outside this family, so I was able to talk to them about what was going on,” Makaila said. “They just continued to encourage me and tell me that it wasn’t my fault. I knew in my heart that it wasn’t me, but it was hard to continually hear that, and I just kept fighting and persevering through the things that they were saying. My faith was a really big contributor in everything that I was going through — so just trusting God that He had something better for me and just to continue to live this life trying to glorify Him.” Makaila’s story continued to bvswnews.com.
| margojohnson Photos by Abby Yi.
When junior Unique Brooks joined the Gay family, she met senior Makaila Gay, freshman Maya Quijano 13-year-old Sydney, 10-year-old Mitchell and eight-year-old Sean. Gay’s father Tim Gay said that was he had intentended to adopt internationally after visiting Haiti on a mission trip, but once he learned of the need for adoption in Johnson County, he and his wife, Suzanne, decided to adopt a teenage girl. Tim and Suzanne said that they involved their kids in the whole adoption process and would often ask their opinion on the adoption. “[The kids] very much embraced [the adoption],” Tim said. “It goes back to just the value system that we try to teach. Hopefully they have learned the value that it’s good to help other people. We want our home to be a [place] where we invite people into our home and we build relationships with our neighbors.” | 29
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A Week and a Walk
students and faculty participate in the SevenDays challenge and faith walk 2
(1) Candles fill the once-pitch black sanctuary of the Church of the Resurrection Leawood campus. Participants raised their candles in the air to represent how the light and life of Reat Underwood, William Corporon and Terri LaManno spread among them. (2) A purple ribbon wrapped around a tree blows in the wind as participants walk north on Nall Avenue. The ribbon symbolizes faith, a central aspect of the walk.
30 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay
eople fill the lanes of the street. A helicopter from a news station overlooks the scene. National broadcasts show a community coming together after a tragedy. That’s how co-chair of the SevenDays challenge Mindy Corporon said she envisioned the SevenDays Faith Walk. As it turned out, she wasn’t wrong. In April 2013, a white supremacist shot and killed three people at the Kansas City Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom, a Jewish retirement center. The victims included Mindy’s father, William Corporon, and son, Reat Underwood. Shortly after the tragedy, Mindy founded the Faith Always Wins Foundation, and, according to faithalwayswins.org, its mission is to “engage others in a dialogue that will encourage Faith” and “celebrate the Good in our community, our nation and our world.” From that organization stemmed SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World. On April 7, the SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World week-long challenge started, and ended on April 13 with a Faith Walk. The challenge was to perform a random act of kindness every day to spread positivity. Each day had a theme: Tuesday was Love, Wednesday was Discover, Thursday was Others, Friday was Connect, Saturday was Go, Sunday was You and Monday was Onward. Through its website, givesevendays.org, and word-of-mouth, the organization encouraged people to perform acts of kindness and to attend events such as presentations by guest speakers inspiring listeners to spread positivity. According to givesevendays.org, SevenDays had three parts to it: Faith, Love & Song, Faith, Love & Kindness and Faith, Love & Walk. Faith, Love & Song was a songwriting competition held before the week of kindness. The organization awarded three scholarships of up to $5,000 to songwriters ages 14 to 21 for songs about racial, religious and cultural equality and acceptance. The winners were announced on April 13 during the celebration after the walk. Faith, Love & Kindness was the week-long challenge to spread kind acts and Faith, Love & Walk was the peace walk to embrace diversity and common values as a society.
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(3) Three walkers wearing matching shirts begin the trek from the Jewish Community Center. The foundation provided free t-shirts to the first 1,000 people who signed up for the event. (4) During the pre-walk event, BV High students take a selfie. Participants celebrated with music and snacks at the Jewish Community Center before they began their journey to the Church of the Resurrection. (5) An American Dance Center performer smiles as she dances to “Happy� by Pharrel Williams. She and other performers danced as part of a flash mob in front of the participants.
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(6) Walkers wave to a drone camera flying overhead as they leave the Jewish Community Center. More than 3,000 people participated in the event. (7) Three candles, representing the three victims of the Jewish Community Center shooting, illuminate the Church of the Resurrection sanctuary. These candles were used to light the candles participants held around the room. “The candles before us remind us that our friends are still with us,� Church of the Resurrection pastor Adam Hamilton said in a speech given during the candle lighting. (8) Participants crowd the sidewalk and road of Nall Avenue as they travel north toward the Church of the Resurrection. Participants walked, ran, pushed strollers and wagons and rode scooters to complete the 3.4-mile journey.
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(9) Before the flash mob, American Dance Center performers gather in front of the stage. As BV North junior Brooks Brown live-mixed pop music, many participants sang and danced along. (10) The families of the Jewish Community Center shooting victims listen to Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick pray before the beginning of the walk. “They [the victims] threw in their lot with the Jewish people, and we will always honor their memories,� Rudnick said in his blessing. Photos by Madison Leighty.
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the road ahead S
ophomore Mikhale Johnson stares out the classroom window as his teacher drones on. With the exception of Spanish, every class looks the same — study for this test, take these notes, all for the purpose of getting into and doing well in college. But Johnson, who has known he wants to go into a wakeboarding profession since he was nine, has no plans of staying in school after high school, and so, for six of the seven classes a day, he daydreams about wakeboarding instead. “If you don’t go to college, it’s like the school prepared you for nothing,” Johnson said. “It just gave you pointless skills on how to take notes really well and learn about stuff that I don’t really care about a lot ...When I want to do something, I’ll do it well, but when I’m like, ‘You have to do this because you’re getting a grade,’ I just don’t really want to care that much.” Last year, 72 percent of the 253 Southwest graduates attended four-year universities and 17 percent attended two-year schools. For this
why u s succe ing college s t prepa s hurts stu o measure ring f or the dents future
reason, part of preparing students for the future usually means helping them get accepted into college. Unfortunately, college preparation is overemphasized to the point that every aspect of high school is treated as merely a stepping stone for getting into college. In order to prepare students for life after high school, the educational community needs to stop using college to define success. The school does offer some resources that would help all students, regardless of their future plans, prepare for life after high school, such as classes related to money management. However, many students don’t take advantage of them because they are more concerned about college admissions. Junior Swetha Jasti said if she wasn’t planning on going to college she would take accounting or personal finance, but since she has to focus on getting accepted, she doesn’t have room in her schedule. Furthermore, the material taught in all
34 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | opinion
classes, which should prepare students for the real world, is viewed only as a means to an end. Since admissions decisions are viewed as the main goal of high school, students are much less concerned with what they are learning than with the grades colleges will see on paper. “In general, as far as the courses, I think it would be more important to focus on the learning [if I weren’t going to college], just because I would know that I wouldn’t get any more after this — I wouldn’t have any more education,” Jasti said. “I would try to focus more on making sure I learned the information now and learned it well, because I know I won’t have another chance to review it when I’m older.”
Instead, students train themselves to figure out the easiest formula for making an “A” rather than the best way to learn and retain information. “It kind of sounds bad, but I would do whatever it takes to get a good grade in a class,” Jasti said. “I think personally, for me, I usually try to go through and learn things, but sometimes when you’ve missed a class period or you just have a lot of class work that’s hard to make up, it’s just less time-consuming to take the easy way out and kind of learn for each test and not overall gradually.” While high school classes teach useful information that simply isn’t being absorbed because of the focus on college, standardized testing, which serves little purpose in preparing students for the future, is overly exaggerated. Students have received shirts that say “I am an outlier” and “#beatfinland,” the faces of high test scorers are hung in the hallway and the #beatfinald initiative is listed on the Blue Valley website as being “what every child deserves.” “Standardized testing such as the PSAT, ACT [and] SAT are used to help students fulfill their post-secondary goals,” Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Tonya Merrigan said. “Standardized tests also allows the district important programmatic feedback on how we as a system are doing.” But after the district receives feedback and students are accepted at colleges, standardized testing offers virtually nothing to students as they continue with their lives. The stress on testing perpetuates the false idea that college admissions are the end goal,
leaving students feeling like they’re less capable after they graduate. “The danger is the overemphasis on a numerical scoring of people and the interpretation of what that means, because it can undermine a person’s confidence in themselves, especially in a school like ours where you have brilliant — literally brilliant — people,” counselor Kevin Halfmann said. “And so somebody who’s really bright might feel like ‘no, I’m not, I’m not very capable, because I have a 3.7 GPA and a 26 on the ACT — what chance do I have?’ ... The belief that it’s true, the self-fulfilling prophecy, can undermine some people’s ability to succeed.” Halfmann believes that a person’s confidence is more important that his or her skills, because people who are competent but unconfident “end up doing less than [they] could and serve humanity less than [they’re] capable.” While test scores can break down confidence, so can the college admissions process as a whole. If both the only purpose of going through high school and the only measure of a person’s success is through college, then students who don’t reach their college goal can graduate feeling defeated before they’ve started. Alumnus Meg Huwe, a junior at the University of Kansas, was set on attending Emory University her senior year of high school. KU was too close to home, and to her, going there would feel like “all of the hard work I put into high school wouldn’t pay off since I was just going somewhere to school where I could’ve been accepted for not working as hard or trying to get good SAT/ACT scores.” “It was pride,” Huwe said. “It wasn’t even necessarily what the school had to offer as much as it was the percentage of the students that they accepted.”
Blue Valley prepared Huwe to get the grades and test scores she needed to be accepted at her dream school. But despite getting accepted to Emory as part of their scholars program, Huwe ended up at KU because it was less expensive. What she wasn’t prepared for was the next several months of feeling like she was settling. It wasn’t until she arrived on campus and started school that she finally began to feel differently. “I realized I was grateful to be closer to home after all, and it’s cheesy, but college can be as close or far as you want it to be,” Huwe said. “I realized a lot of the people who were at KU were also very similar to me in their very motivated, driven ways, and I’ve found my own opportunities that I thought were only available at those smaller, more selective schools.” While Huwe found her way eventually, her story illustrates that with the way the system works now, college can determine whether a student’s entire high school experience feels worthwhile or worthless. Parents, teachers and students alike need to embrace the idea that getting into college is not the purpose of high school or the definition of success. After high school, Johnson hopes to become a professional wakeboarder or to coach wakeboarding. Even though he knows wakeboarding can only last for so long and that he’ll need to change paths eventually, he’s confident that he will be capable of figuring it out as he goes along. “Success is just doing something that makes me happy — doing what I want to do and having a lot of fun,” Johnson said. “If I’m going to get a job, I want to not be ‘ugh, I hate this job,’ every day. Even if I’m not making as much money as that job I hate, it’s something I like. I don’t want to waste my life doing stuff that I don’t like so 20 percent of the time I can do something I do like; I want to do something I like all the time.” | anandabhatia
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sweet statistics sugar affects the body more than one would think |abbyyi
SOurces of sugar
Stacking the Facts
19%
The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 10 teaspoons of sugar a day.
33%
other
soda
Sugar accelerates the aging process from wrinkles to deficiencies in memory
9%
sweetened dairy products
Sugar can have a similar toxic effect to the liver as alcohol does Sugar Increases the chance of developing heart diease aand diabetes
10%
fruit drinks
13%
baked goods
16%
candy and sweets
then and now In 1822, the average amount of sugar consumed WAS 45 grams every five days.
In the Halls “I don’t drink soda, and I don’t like to eat sugar. It makes me shaky and jittery and then I crash later.”
| juniormadisonruffalo
“I don’t really care about how much sugar I eat. I don’t see negative effects.”
Americans consume on average 765 grams of sugar every five days — 17 times the 1822 amount.
| seniornickfoulon 32 | may 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | infographic
Facts and information from alternet.org