The Catamount - December 2019 Vol. 8 No. 3

C

College Station High School

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Vol. 8 No. 3

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

the CATAMOUNT

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Art by

Kylie V e

rnon

Dressember raises awareness of human trafficking

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Female wrestler finds community in sport

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Complex immigration laws create controversy, confusion Kylie Vernon Senior Editor

Adrenaline junkies pursue high intensity activites

INDEX

News Opinions People Sports Health & Rec. Entertainment Etc.

2-5 6-8 9-13 14-16 17 18-19 20

Images of thousands of people holding vivid and colorful signs. The chant “home is here” resounds throughout the streets of D.C. The topic of immigration in the United States has given rise to some of the massive protests frequently viewed on the news, but it is hardly a recent development.

The argument over immigration and its extent is as old as the country itself. However, new changes to the immigration process have made the already complex situation, even more complicated.

Senior Sniya Chirayath told her story of her immigration experience as the daughter of two Indian immigrants.

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“I came here when I was about 5 years old and we had a couple problems initially,” Chirayath said. “My mom couldn’t work because of our visa, and then on our way back from India, they denied our visa so we had to stay there a couple months until we could get our visa to go back.”

The immigration process has changed greatly, especially under the current presidential administration, leaving many confused and concerned about the new laws and procedures.

Mary Campbell, board president of the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network (BIIN) described the legal complexity facing immigrants in the United States as well as the current changes facing the system.

“Right now we have people who are signed up for our citizenship class not because they need citizenship urgently

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2 News The Catamount What’s

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

What's

PAST PAST Teachers receive grants The CSISD Education Foundation awarded teacher grants on Nov. 6.

The following teachers were selected: Tori Bailey, Margaret Kendrick, Denise Rothrock, Bryce Brunner, Barbara Tsao and Amelia Bush for A New Wave of Learning, Kayla Poe and Patti Garrett for Etiquette Education, Jill Conlin and Anne Sellers for Visual Reality in STEAM and Chad Lehrmann and Jeremy Dockan for LEADS Ambassador.

FFA students advance to state FFA members competed Area on Saturday, Nov. 23 and will proceed to compete at state today and tomorrow. The Skills team members include sophomores Hayden Bennett and Karli Kaase and seniors Cassie Brown and Meagan McMurray. Quiz team members include senior Kyle Hudson, junior Nicole Graham and sophomores Aubrey Pettit and Braden Stutts.

Student athletes commit to college Seniors Zoe Kelton, Nicole Goggin, Hannah Paul, Jalen Perez, Jessi Carreon, Hannah Schnettler, Brionna Warren, Hailey Hudson, Dillon Janac, Zac Childers. Kate Georgiades, Kaylyn Dujka and Katelyn Kolodziejczyk committed to play college sports on National Signing Day, Nov. 14.

NEW Finals begin Dec. 14 Exemption cards will be available Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 Tuesday Dec. 14 - exams for periods 5,6,7 Wednesday Dec. 15 - exams for periods 3,2,1 Thursday Dec. 16 - exam for period 4 and early release

Fine Arts set holiday performances Orchestra concert - Dec. 6 Choir concert - Dec. 12 Theater C3 show - Dec. 13 Band concert - Dec. 16

Seniors order graduation gear Senior graduation cap and gown orders will be taken on Jan. 21-22 from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

Breakfast Lunch and Pie! 4344 State Highway 6 S Towerpoint

Text MAX to 484848 to participate in promotions and giveaways

4150 Hwy 6 at Barron Rd. 12677 FM 2154 at Rock Prairie 14725 FM in Wellborn

Follow us on Social Media @cshscatamountnewspaper Cougar Media-College Station High School

The Catamount

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

News

3

Misconceptions towards immigration confronted, challenged continued from page 1 but because they’re worried about what might happen, right now they’re eligible but next year, what if that gets taken away?” Campbell said.

The BIIN serves as an advocacy for the legal, educational and social betterment of immigrants within Brazos county. Among connecting immigrants with agencies and attorneys, the BIIN helps update immigrants on the many legal changes happening that may affect the community.

“This uncertainty means we talk to a lot of people who are very afraid to access any government agency in any way because they don’t know what will happen or if the things they do now will affect them later because they aren’t told about it now,” Campbell said.

There are three main options that are the most common basis for immigration, according to the American Immigration Council: employment, family reunification, or humanitarian reasons. Though these categories sound general and wide ranging, the more specific restrictions reduce the potentially large amount of immigrants to a limited few.

A prevalent example of immigration restrictions would be the Public Charge Rule.

“For a long time in the United States we have accepted immigrants of all economic statuses, but there were certain restrictions that said you couldn’t enter the United States with no plan of how you were going to support

yourself,” Campbell said. “What was specified is that you wouldn’t become a public charge or dependent on the state to take care of you.”

However, this rule, like many others, has recently been modified.

“The administration is making all these restrictions that say that you can’t apply for permanent legal resident if you’ve ever had food stamps or if you’ve ever used any government program. One of the problems with this is that many, many immigrants have citizen children who are eligible for all those programs and we want those children to have those programs,” Campbell said. “But now there are families who are afraid to access food stamps for their kids because they’re worried it will keep them from becoming legal permanent residents further in the future because they were once a ‘public charge.’”

While immigration restrictions may be deemed unfair, many believe that the exclusive regulations are necessary for American improvement among other restrictions.

“By not allowing everyone to illegally enter our borders, we are not turning a blind eye to them and not ‘not helping them,’” junior Gavin Lehde said. “We can still provide humanitarian aid to these people, but allowing them all to come to America will move many of the same problems that they are escaping here.”

The social and political peace as well as the economic opportunity have made the United States an immigrant haven, since the colonization of America to the days of Ellis Island and beyond. The prosperity in the nation that more than 330 million people call home is a driving force to the massive one million people who immigrate to the U.S. each year according to the Pew Research Center.

“There is a common misconception that we live in this new, modern, perfect utopia and that wars and conflict don’t happen,” Lehde said. “People forget that world borders and international tensions still exist.”

Many misconceptions are likewise held towards those within the immigration system.

“Understanding the pathway to legal citizenship is so misunderstood. There’s a lot of people who think ‘get in line like everyone else,’ but people don’t understand what that line is or how long that line takes and who’s eligible to get in that line,” BIIN coordinator Jaimi Washburn said.

The controversial topic of the adoption of immigrants into the United States hardly has a clear solution.

And while a one-size-fits-all solution may not be easily accessible, an abundance of information online is readily available to correct the variety of misconceptions held towards the immigration process and increase empathy and understanding towards the complex issue. •

Changes in policies Temporar y s Protection Statu

Defer red Acti on for Childhood Ar rivals

n nationWhat: Allowed ne nitU e arly 700,000 th in ay st to als the ability young foreign nationals the ab they were here ilied States if while ty to stay in the U n ited States with residency betheir country of delayed conse quences and w returning, they ithcame unsafe and out fear of dep ortation. of harm. would be at risk Change: The pre artment of sidential ep D e Th : e g Chan administration has put forth e rity has extended fHomeland Secu fo rt s to end DACA n tio ta . en S docum the validity of TP ican countries. to six South Amer

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Source: Department of Homeland Security

Art by Kylie Vernon

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News

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Early graduation gives students head start on higher education Loredana Pearlstein Staff Reporter Graduation is one of the most eventful nights for students, the culmination of four years and a symbol of one’s first steps into adulthood. Although the typical graduation is imagined as a loud celebration, filled by classmates and family, for some highschoolers--those graduating early--graduation is a little different.

There are a multitude of unique reasons as to why one may graduate early, varying from scholarships and job opportunities to family.

“Some students graduate earlier to begin college early--sometimes a year or half a year early,” counselor Maria Crayton Haliburton said. “Some students need to work.

Some students want to enroll early for athletic purposes so they can begin practicing with their team during spring practice and get accustomed to college life early.”

Even so, graduating early can also be an option for those who choose to further themselves outside of school, but do not want to fall behind in their education.

“I heard about a mission trip that was five months long, and I figured that if I wanted to go, I’d either have to graduate early or go to college late,” junior Emmalee Orr said. “So I decided to graduate early.”

Despite the fact that at first thought graduating early seems fun or reliving, it can actually be very taxing on those who chose to do it.

“[Graduating early] is definitely not going to be very chill, because going from highschool to college is going to be very stressful,” said senior Kate Georgiades, who is graduating in December to begin college where she’ll be playing volleyball. “That’s one of the main reasons I’m doing this: to figure [college] out. It’s not going to be easy it’s going to take a lot of work to figure it out.”

Yet, that does not mean that it is impossible to do so, just so long as the plan is considerate and realistic.

“I think that most people think that it’s hard to graduate early or people only do it if they want to go to college early,” Orr said. “But you can do it for a lot of different reasons, like working or if you want to take time before you go [to college]. So, I think people don’t realize how easy it is and that if you talk to your counselor, they will work something out with you.”

More to consider, however, is that graduating alters the typical school timeline, shaving time off of time to spend with friends and in activities. “[Graduating early] definitely made me appreciate everything more and know that I have to take everything in more because I only have [a couple] weeks left,” Georgiades said.

Nonetheless, graduation, whenever it may be, will always represent student’s chances to learn from their experiences in high school and restart.

“I’m just ready to start a new chapter in my life,” said Georgiades. •

Graduating Early:

Pros VS. cons May get ahead on college work/ career More opportunities to earn scholarships Able to begin classes that more closely meet interests Avoid senioritis Opportunity to set own schedule Source: Vittana.org

May not be able to enter workforce depending on age May not be academically or mentally prepared Missing out on traditional aspects of senior year May not be ready for college coursework

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

News

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Terroristic threats result in serious consequences for perpetrators Calla Duffield Assistant Editor So far in the 2019-2020 school year alone, CSHS has seen two terroristic threats made by students at school, and it is no surprise that this can be alarming to parents, staff and students. But this word has also become the subject of many so-called “jokes” that have resulted in serious consequences. Questions arise, such as what is a terroristic threat, why are they taken this seriously and what is the protocol for dealing with perceived threats.

The Texas Penal Code defines a terroristic threat as placing people in fear of serious bodily injury, preventing or interrupting the use of a public place or conveyance, and influencing the activities of emergency workers or a public servant or a government agency.

CSHS Principal Tiffany Parkerson notes that the threats don’t always come from a serious thought process, but that doesn’t mean they are taken any less seriously.

“For something to be classified as a terroristic threat, there doesn’t have to be an intent to commit the act, but the intent to incite panic in others,” school principal Tiffany Parkerson said.

Parkerson revealed that “the investigation[s] [at CSHS have] concluded that the threat is made from a place of intent to be a jokester,” but these “jokes” have serious consequences, she said.

According to Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons, who’s office covers justice, including juvenile crime, these consequences can include anything “from deferred prosecution if you’re a juvenile [or] up to possibly 10 years in prison if you’re an adult.”

These threats could go on record and have affects far into the future.

“Something that they think is funny and think they’re sharing it with their friends, then it becomes something bigger very rapidly,” Parkerson said.

Parkerson said that when a threat is made, a team comprised of assistant principals and the school resource deputy work to gather information and then convene a threat assessment committee

with at least one counselor and even law enforcement entities, depending on the circumstances and the scope.

The team also talks to the target(s) of the threat.

“We have to affirm with them their feelings and how that impacted them and determine whether or not it caused a large enough ripple effect to be classified as a terroristic threat,” Parkerson said.

This past summer, state legislature enacted Senate Bill 11, a new bill regarding the response measures for schools when dealing with a threat.

“With our new reporting require-

People joke around about this stuff way too often, and it’s not a joke at all.

-zaid rawandoozi Sophomore ments, if it’s qualified as a terroristic threat, it may not be against the entire school, it may be for one person, then with Senate Bill 11 we still report that out to families,” Parkerson said. “[It] generally [is reported to families] within 24 hours. It may be the next day by the time it gets reported.”

Students have disagreed with this policy, saying that they should also receive information for their safety.

“I think they should inform people as soon as it happens. [Parents] can take the kids home if [they] genuinely feel like they need to go home,” said sophomore Zaid Rawandoozi, who stayed home last year due to a terroristic threat.

He added that his mom let him go to school when threats happened this year because she didn’t know about them until the day after.

Still, Parsons said that reporting to

students could cause more damage than not.

Threats cause a reaction in which “people can get hurt or hurt others in trying to escape from a threat,” he said.

With the addition of social media, there is no taking back anything that is put out.

Parkerson said that “social media has given these threats a wider audience and enabled those threats to spread more rapidly.”

“The jokes could be funny if they’re used only within your friend group and not posted on social media,” said Rawandoozi, but added that “people joke around about this stuff way too often and it’s not a joke at all.”

Parkerson warned that “if something is posted on social media it does not take long for it to be screenshotted and then shared rampantly.”

The P3 Online website to report threats is similar to the “Safe2Tell” website that arose in the aftermath of the Columbine school shooting, and is a tool for students to anonymously report information about threats.

“We have things that get reported through our anonymous tip service, P3 online,” Parkerson said. “We are very fortunate to live in a community that speaks up when something doesn’t seem quite right.”

Overall, threats have serious repercussions on the whole school community, and the administration has taken a finetooth comb to all possible threats of violence in order to prevent tragic situations which Parsons said seem to be more and more commonplace.

“I think that it is important for us to realize that in post-Parkland, postSante Fe America, we no longer live in a day and age where something can be dismissed as a teenage prank or taken lightly,” Parkerson said. “We certainly don’t want to ever find ourselves in a position where we look back at a situation and dismiss something when it really was a cry for help or someone who really did need other services. We have to take this seriously, because we have to take care of our kids.”•

81% of violent incidents in US schools, someone other than the attacker knew it was going to happen, but failed to report it.

Most Common Reports - Suicide threats - Bullying/cyberbulling - Drugs on campus Source: p3campus.com

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Opinions

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

staff editorial

Cultures should be appreciated, not ridiculed by appropriation Last May, a senior named Keziah Daum wore a traditional Chinese dress called a qipao to prom and posted her photos to Twitter; after, things blew up. Daum received much backlash some people called her decision to wear another culture’s dress disrespectful, and others claimed that her decision was an example of cultural appropriation.

There is a fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, but where do we draw the line?

As a staff we feel that cultural appreciation is the act of bringing a positive light to culture through representation

Gratefulness follows in middle of chaos I scribbled “sunsets and fire,” into my phone before collapsing into the abyss of sleep.

Those were the words etched inside my mind when I thought of the events that had transpired Kylie Vernon over the past 11 hours.

I had woken up that morning ready for a planned adventure. Two of my best friends and I had planned to take the drive to Round Rock to take pictures of the cross country state meet. It was hardly a long drive, but we had made sure we would have plenty of time once we arrived to get situated so we could take the best photos. But, on that clear November morning, life decided to be a little bit funny.

The engine light came on halfway there. This began the spiral of events that included five towns, nine hours behind the wheel, two vehicles, six nice men, one pug, and zero pictures. Needless to say, everything that could’ve gone wrong, went wrong. Not one goal on our agenda was completed.

But we did spend 9 hours adventuring across the golden roads of Texas. We did get to explore the heart

that is positive and affirming and not intended to be mali-

of Georgetown and laugh at ridiculous “Congratulations on your Divorce” cards. We did spend hours talking about personality tests, God, Mount Rushmore, Mozambique and marriage, to name a few. And it was so good.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to find that those happenstance, spontaneous situations are such a gift.

That day, Nov. 9, is a golden, autumn-tinged memory of the day when everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, and it was wonderful. It’s taken a long time to learn how to be grateful in all situations but on Nov. 9, it was a little easier to raise a hallelujah. In all circumstances, I’m learning to be grateful; grateful for friends who make it easy to smile, grateful for the opportunities that have been graciously laid before me, grateful for a steadfast God who reminds me every day that he has a plan and a purpose and a love for me that transcends all understanding.

Before I turned off the light that night, I finished writing down the fading memories of the colorful day I had lived: “Cheerful hearts and the long road before us. Hours of laughing, singing, and silence and it was oh so good.” •

View of the Pride: Should cultural appropriation be taken seriously?

cious. Wearing a cultural dress to a school dance is a form of appreciation for that culture’s traditional beauty and grace.

YES

Appropriation is taking the stereotypes of that culture and sharing them through costumes or making fun of the

“Yes, because it can be offensive if a cultural custom is taken in a different light from its original meaning.”

-Shrin Sattarova, junior

culture. Even if it is supposed to be taken as nothing more than a joke, making fun of someone’s culture through the use

NO

“I don’t think so, because I think it’s good to appreciate other cultures. I don’t think it’s appropriation, but appreciation.”

- Edgar Zabaleta, sophomore

of stereotypical costumes or actions is insensitive and unfair.

“Yes because I think it’s important to educate ourselves on other cultures respectfully.”

-Aless Guedea, senior

In order to avoid appropriating cultures, people should not focus on stereotypes meant to insult that culture but should be mindful and respectful of cultural differences.•

The Catamount Newspaper

2019-2020 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Assistant Editor Staff Reporter Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

“Unless used in an insulting way, I feel we shouldn’t [call] everyone [out] for it” -Asia Vielma, senior

Makayla Fox Catie Sikes Lauren Gomulka Kylie Vernon Jayci Tawney Erin Park Lauren Gomulka Ayden Woods Aliza Ali Calla Duffield Loredana Pearlstein Sophia Amstalden Esther Tong Jenny Langhoff Courtney Wellmann Teresa Laffin

The newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Production class at College Station High

School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District.

Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor

reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff.

The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) and a winner of their Bronze

Star award in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019, as well as their Silver Star Award in 2017 and 2018.

College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in

providing education services. Monica James, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Molley Perry, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Family Christmas traditions prove more cherished than gifts Mountains of dirty dishes sit in tree in the morning. Christmas cookies are left on a plate the sink, the fridge overflows with for Santa accompanied by a tall glass of milk and not once leftovers, the men of the family pass have we forgotten to leave carrots for the reindeer. When out on the couch, and as soon as the everything is in place for the big man to make a visit, my sweet potatoes settle in my stomsister and I finish the night reading “The Night Before ach, I know Christmas.” it’s time.

Christmas morning is a Lauren Gomulka Time to dream. Stockings are stuffed to b l a s t the brim with candy and gift cards Mariah Carey. Time to pull and movies. Presents are not the 75 boxes of decorations only under the tree but down from the attic. Time piled almost as high as for the “most wonderthe tree, and my whole ful time of the year.” family is together and Time… for Christmas! happy.

The days leading As a child, up to Christmas in my Christmas was about household are filled with one thing: presents. bundles of holiday tradiI knew that Christmas is tions that my sister and I about Jesus and family, but as carry out compulsively, as if much as I tried to wrap my head Christmas will not come without around the concept, presents were the focus of them. Every favorite Christmas movmy little mind. But as I have grown older, it Art by Makayla Fox is not having the most presents that I look ie is watched, every Christmas song is sung, every one of our 500 Christmas ornaments is hung on the forward to so much. It is picking up my sister from the tree, every Christmas cookie is decorated, and every presairport. It is quoting every line from “A Christmas Story” ent is wrapped. with my dad. It is singing and dancing to Christmas music All of these traditions lead up to the big night, Christwith my mom. It is eating way more Christmas cookies mas Eve. Still to this day, my sister and I write a letter to than I can handle with my cousin. And most importantly, Santa, although our letters have definitely developed from it is being surrounded by the people I love the most, celea list of the top 50 things we want to see sitting under the brating the “most wonderful time of the year.” •

??? QUESTION issue OF THE

How many pets do you have?

30.8%

0 Pets

50.0%

19.2%

1-3 Pets

4+ pets 558 people polled

Opinions

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HUMANS of CSHS

Andaisa Richardson Senior

“I love cheer so much. I love the bond that my cheermates and I create, Friday Night Lights, pep rallies and getting everybody going and excited for the games.”

“Cheerleading is like a puzzle. We need each other and the team effort. If one person isn’t here, then we can’t go full out on our routine.

We need every single piece.”

Check out our Instagram to learn more about the Humans of CSHS @cshscatamountnewspaper

COUGAR UNVEILED by Jenny Langhoff

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Opinions

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Happiness found from embracing lifelong love, childhood interest I love watching Disney movies over and over again. I will blast the songs on repeat. I get overly excited about meeting characters. I wear my sparkly Minnie ears with pride. I’m proud to say that I have Disney fever at 16.

Art by Esther Tong I’ve been Aliza Ali watching Disney movies since I was little, and they just never disappoint. Every time I watch one, I feel a sense of happiness and contentment. I also get to feel like a 5 year old again, and it’s one of my favorite feelings.

In addition to all of the nostalgia from my childhood, there’s so much to learn from the characters in Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies. Mulan taught me to be independent and not care about what others think. Peter Pan taught me to embrace my inner child. Tiana taught me to work hard. Lilo and Stitch taught me about family.

Buzz and Woody taught me about friendship. Merida taught me to decide my own fate. Nemo taught me to never touch the butt, or else I will be caught by a scuba diver and put in a fish tank.

Steve Rogers taught me about perseverance and fighting for what’s right. Tony Stark taught me to follow my dreams and have a sense of humor. Natasha Romanoff taught me that m y past does not define me. Carol Danvers taught me that I have nothing to prove to anyone. All of the Avengers taught me about the importance of teamwork.

I went to Disneyland for the first time in 2010, and I’ve been in love with the Disney parks ever since. Going to all six of them is at the top of my bucket list. Walking into a Disney park is like entering a whole new world where you can forget about reality.

Something about the sights and smells of walking down Main Street is so magical and amazing. I love riding Space Mountain and Expedition Everest, and I also like smaller rides like Mad Tea Party and It’s A Small World. The fireworks, parades and nighttime spectaculars are always enchanting. But my favorite part of Disney World is definitely Epcot. It doesn’t have as many rides as the other parks, but there’s a lot to explore, whether it’s experiencing other cultures in World Showcase or learning about the future in Future World.

If magic is real, it’s found in Disney. If anyone needs me, I’ll be binge watching everything on Disney+. •

Passion, dedication triumphs over uncertainty of future Throughout the years, I’ve met a multitude of people who find enjoyment through all sorts of creative expression: writing, music, theatre; the list goes on. However, many of these people I come across have other Loredana Pearlstein plans and other passions and view their creative expression more as a secondary thing.

For me personally, art is where I feel like can most easily express myself. More than words, or performance, or any other unique form of expression, art helps me process the world: the good, the bad, all those uncomfortable moments that I’d prefer not to look back on. Art helps me create my own private bubble where I can feel safe and unafraid to reflect.

Yet, unlike others, unabashedly passionate about their love for the arts and their willingness to pursue it in the future, I fear a future in the arts. I fear that if I walk a path of passion, I may accidentally forsake my ability to have a prosperous future. For a long time, I struggled with which college major to choose, balancing alone the pros and cons of countless subjects for hours on end, without the consultation of others; it felt relentless. The constant balancing made getting a further

education, something I had looked forward to, become an ominous deadline for the beginning of a laborious life riddled in a lack of passion (a bit extreme, I know).

But, for my fortune, I have friends and family who are extremely supportive, and with whom I should have discussed my college plans. I remember bringing up the subject, much as a joke, that I wanted to go to a design school one day at dinner, and my sister looking me dead in the eye said: “you should do it.” It was surprising, yet she talked to me calmly, helping me research what I could do in the arts: it was surprisingly more than I expected. This is not to say that it is not risky--I acknowledge the fact that fine arts are riskier than many other majors.

Eventually, I began to consider the arts again, comforted by both the information I had found and the support of my sister (which eventually turned out to be commonplace among my friends and family), I started writing applications for art and design schools. It felt good not to consider the future alone and to have people around me who value my happiness and safety.

And even though I still fear a future in the arts and the uncertainties that it brings, I realize now that I fear more never doing what I love, and that if I truly fail, I always have a group of people who will believe in me and help me set up the pathway to a future where I will be happy. •

I fear more never doing what I love.

Voices

What fandoms are you a part of?

“Legend of Zelda, Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure, Doom, Attack on Titan, and Yu-Gi-Oh.” Nathaniel Laffin, freshman

“I don’t really have any interest in one particular thing. My interests change a lot.”

Derek Dotson, sophomore

“The Harry Potter fandom. I first got into the series in 3rd grade and have enjoyed keeping up with it” Abigail Franklin, junior

“The Star Trek fandom, mainly the Next Generation. I enjoy the emphasis on discovery and equality.”

Jillian Skaggs, senior

“The Red Queen fandom. The series is similar to some prejudices people have considering race and popularity.”

Celia Cergogli, freshman

“Batman’s fandom.

His duality, detective skills and imperfect flaws draw people in.”

Jonathan Brady, English and History teacher

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

power of the dress

People

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Advocates raise awareness for human trafficking through challenge Aliza Ali Photography Editor In an effort to eliminate human trafficking globally, the Dressember campaign challenges individuals to wear a dress or a tie everyday in December, a challenge that seniors Annabel Klemm and Elisabeth Leftwich and juniors Sophia Amstalden and Ben Crockett have decided to take on.

“Dressember is this opportunity to wear dresses throughout December to try to advocate, through social media, and through it, you try to encourage people to donate to your page on the Dressember foundation website,” Amstalden said. “It’s a charity that’s trying to stop human trafficking and slavery around the world.”

The Dressember campaign recognizes the dress as a symbol of power, freedom and dignity. The dresses and ties mainly serve as conversation starters to raise awareness about human trafficking.

“Sex trafficking is something that isn’t talked about. Obviously wearing a dress in December is uncomfortable, but it’s not nearly as bad as what human trafficking victims are going through,” Klemm said.

“It’s a reminder to us personally that there are people going through much worse than wearing a dress every single day in December.”

Human trafficking is defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as exploitation through force, fraud or coercion. It can happen to anybody, regardless of gender, age, race or status, and it happens everywhere, including in the United States.

Multiple interstates cross through Texas, connecting Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston, with Bryan, College Station and Waco in the middle. This forms the Texas Triangle, and it’s one of the worst regions for human trafficking in the nation. The Department of Justice reports that Houston is one of the worst cities in the country for trafficking, and the worst

in Texas. Over 200 brothels are active in Houston, and two more open every month. “[Dressember] will help our generation notice that not everybody’s like them and that there’s more to life than the little bubble that they’re stuck in at College Station,” Leftwich said. “Literally an hour away from us is the capital of human trafficking. I think that it will help our generation realize that there are some people that struggle with things that they are unaware of.”

Human trafficking is a crime that is well hidden and often goes unnoticed. As a result, victims may be afraid to get help, along with fear of their traffickers.

“By me wearing a tie, it raises awareness and that compels people to come forward,” Crockett said. “If I can help, I should help.”

Human trafficking takes many forms.

Domestic servitude is where victims are forced to work in hotels or homes. Sex trafficking includes being forced to sell sex.

Forced labor victims are forced to work in factories or farms for little to no pay.

“It’s an issue that I’m really passionate about,” Crockett said. “We’re part of the Texas Triangle. You have Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, but we’re smack dab in the middle, and because of that, a lot of times, traffickers will come through our town.”

Roughly 8,000 supporters of the campaign wore a dress or a tie in December 2018 and raised over $2.4 million. Since its founding in 2013, Dressember has raised more than $7.5 million. The money raised goes towards rescuing and providing holistic aftercare for victims, as well as prevention of human trafficking.

“I like Dressember because it’s nonprofit, so 100 percent of the proceeds go to human trafficking refugees, so it’s a great thing to committ to,” Klemm said. “Also, if you’re a guy, you can wear a bowtie every day, which I think is cool and also another thing that will bring up conversations. It’s a wonderful cause, and I’m so happy to be part of it.” •

▲ Seniors Claire Gatlin, Annabel Klemm and Elisabeth Leftwich and junior Sophia Amstalden and senior Makayla Fox wear their dresses for their Dressember challenge on Dec. 2. PHOTO BY KYLIE VERNON

Where the money goes $17 $24 $48 $94

provides one week of vocational education for a survivor provides counseling and mental health treatment for one child sends nutrition and medical care to survivors after being rescued covers trial fees for survivors in court

To support cshs students fundrasing for dressember:

10

Student Life

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

The Catamount

Student Life

11

Furends Furever

Relationships with pets offer deep connections with animals Lauren Gomulka Executive Editor Life is so inconsistent. People change. Friends come and go. We all have our ups and downs, but the one thing that we can consistently count on is the unconditional love of our pets. “[Pets provide] a loving relationship with no faults,” junior Brook Ragan said. “They won’t judge you or put you down. They just love you.”

Adopting a dog is a huge commitment and is often incredibly demanding, but the relationship that is formed between pet and owner is beyond worth the work.

“In addition to basic supplies (food, bowls, litter boxes for cats, etc), families need to be prepared to invest significant time to bond with and train the new pet,” veterinarian Dr. Laura Bay-Williams said.

“Bringing home a pet should never be an impulse decision.”

For many families, adopting a pet is more than just taking on another responsibility. It is welcoming them into the family. “[Pets] become another family member,” senior Lauren Bernshausen said. “When [our dog, Hope] got really sick and had to go to the vet for a week, I realized how much our routine revolves around her. You don’t realize it until they’re gone.”

Bernshausen has had Hope for the past eight

Senior Lauren Bernshausen chose the name Hope for her dog due to her family friend’s dog named Miracle.

PHOTO BY LAUREN GOMULKA

▲

▲

Senior Matthew Lomon’s mother chose the name Belle for his bird.

PHOTO BY LAUREN GOMULKA

years. Recently, Hope was diagnosed with diabetes and lost her sight soon after the diagnosis.

“She finished elementary, intermediate, middle and hopefully high school with me,” Bernshausen said. “She’s a fighter. She has to get shots everyday, but she’s living her best life even though she hits walls sometimes.”

Along with their unconditional love, pets also provide us with unending companionship. Senior Kelsey Beasley shares this companionship with her cat, Toast, and her dog, Comiskey. “[Toast] comes and cuddles with me every single night. She wakes me up every single morning when my alarm goes off. She waits for me at the door when I leave, and she’s still waiting when I get home after school,” Beasley said.

Along with snuggling and sharing ice cream with Toast, Beasley also has jam sessions with her dog, Comiskey. “[Comiskey] thinks he’s supposed to sing anytime I play an instrument,” Beasley said. “We used to think it hurt his head, so he would howl. But I really think he just wants to sing. He won’t sing unless I sing.”

While cats and dogs are the most common household pets, some families find companionship in other animals. Senior Matthew Lomon has had his bird, Belle, for 11 years.

“Taking care of a bird is not too much different than taking care of a dog, but it does involve more

caution and more effort,” Lomon said. “Belle has a different type of food, we have LED lights (because UV rays are in their visible spectrum and distract them from feather plucking, mood swings, etc.), and a huge cage with toys for her to climb around on.”

Like other pets, birds provide companionship, just in a different way.

“My favorite thing to do with Belle isn’t very climactic,” Lomon said. “Sometimes it’s just peaceful to watch her climb around or take her outside, like birdwatching, literally.”

Dog or cat, bird or fish, the loss of a pet is always difficult to deal with for families and even veterinarians. Pets become such a crucial role in many families, and letting them go often means losing a family member.

“While I never look forward to euthanizing a pet, I generally see it as a release from pain and suffering,” Dr. Bay-Williams said. “We can’t explain to pets why they feel badly, and when they reach a point where their quality of life is no longer present, being able to let them go in a controlled setting with loved ones around them gives me comfort.”

Good day or bad, we can always count on our pets to be there for us, whether that means cheering us up or simply being there to snuggle with.

“From happy to stressful days, [coming home to my pet] always ends my day in a positive way,” Lomon said. •

Top three popular household pets in the U.S. ▲

(Top) Senior Kelsey Beasley chose the name Toast for her cat because she said her fur looks like a toasted marshmallow. PHOTO

BY LAUREN GOMULKA ▲

(Above) Junior Brook Ragan’s dog was named Jake when they first adopted him.

PHOTO BY LAUREN GOMULKA

Fish

Dog

Cat

142 million

88.3 million

74.8 million Source: livescience.com

12 People

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Bundles of JOy

Teen mother finds purpose, responsibility in raising child Makalya Fox Editor-in-Cheif Josey Martinez is one year and two months old. On September 9, 2018, she changed the life of senior Sara Martinez, who became a mother to a healthy baby girl. That brought a lot of new experiences into her life. She was nervous in her situation as a teen mother, but truly excited to start a new life with her baby.

“My daughter has changed my life completely. I have a whole new outlook on how everything is,” Martinez said.

Martinez took a year off from school to care for her newborn daughter because she didn’t want to place her in daycare immediately. She came back to school this year to finish her senior year.

“It worked out great. My grades are better than they’ve ever been before,” she said.

However, teen pregnancy can carry a stigma that can lead to bullying and a harmful environment for the teen mothers.

“People were always super nice to my face, but when I found out that what they were saying wasn’t their true reaction [to my pregnancy], it hurt a lot,” Martinez said. “They would talk behind my back and to other people, but I chose not to care [about what they were saying].”

Having a child brings new, challenging responsibilities and changes to the parent’s per-

spective and daily routine.

“I take her life into consideration with every single decision I make like who I get in a car with, where I go, what I eat,” Martinez said. “She impacts everything.”

Martinez is expecting her second daughter on May 10, 2020. “[This pregnancy] is so much different because I’m actually able to enjoy it,” Martinez said. “I have a family that supports me, a fiance, a place to live, and I have the money for it. It’s completely different.”

Martinez said she recognizes that from the outside, she looks very put together, but her reality is a very different story.

“Pregnancy is a very hard thing to go through,” Martinez said. “I know it looks easy for me because I’m always smiling and my grades are good, but I’m constantly sleep deprived from staying up late to finish homework and being woken up by a crying baby at 3 a.m. everyday.”

Although Martinez has factors in her life that many of her peers can not relate to, she accepts that her life is right for her and may not bring benefits to other teens.

“Being a mother has changed my life for the better and completely changed how I see things,” Martinez said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I really don’t recommend it to someone who has ‘baby fever’ at a young age.” •

▲Senior Sara Martinez plays with her daughter Josey Martinez who was born on Sept. 9, 2018. Martinez is expecting another girl due on May 10, 2020.

PHOTO BY MAKAYLA FOX

STATISTICS ABOUT TEEN PREGNANCY

• Three in 10 American teenage girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20. That’s nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year.

• In 2011, the teen birth rate in the United States fell to the lowest level recorded in nearly 70 years of tracking teen childbearing.

• About 25% of teen moms have a second child within 24 months of their first baby.

• Teens had fewer babies in 2010 than in any year since the mid-1940s.

• Parenthood is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. More than 50% of teen mothers never graduate from high school.

• The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western industrialized world.

Source: DoSomething.org

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

People

13

SPARK: Students discuss cultural appreciation vs. appropriation Erin Park Opinions Editor Maintaining our focus on culture from the previous issue, our third Spark will explore the topic of cultural appropriation.

We invited senior Amaka Okonkwo, junior Sunshine Leeuwon, sophomores Junior Carreon and Isabelle Wong and freshman Shashan Fernando to discuss the prevalence and significance of cultural appropriation among our diverse community.

What is cultural appropriation to you?

Amaka: Cultural appropriation to me is when people adorn a culture or take part in one when they don’t understand and don’t respect the heritage behind it.

Isabelle: To me, cultural appropriation revolves around people’s ideas. If someone genuinely studied the culture and came to learn about what [cultural items] mean to certain people, I wouldn’t mind as much as someone who does something for fun.

Shashan: I do agree with both of you guys.

When people wear saris, it hasn’t mattered to me all that much because I know they aren’t trying to disrespect the culture that I was raised in. It’s just how they choose to dress and want to dress.

Isabelle: To what you were saying, I don’t think I necessarily mind if someone is wearing something that I feel like is a part of my Asian culture, but it really does come down to whether or not they genuinely respect the culture or they like the idea.

Amaka: It’s the intention that really matters.

Isabelle: It really is the intention. For example, that girl who wore a traditional Chinese dress to prom — people on Twitter came at her for it. She wasn’t trying to do anything bad, but people felt like her intentions were bad. I feel like that’s where the problem lies -- whether people are being intentional about it or not.

Amaka: Sometimes people think that the culture is beautiful, and I almost think that people should take it as an honor if somebody wants to wear their culture.

Shashan: I think you’re on the appreciation side of culture. There’s definitely an important line to draw between appreciation and appropriation.

Is there a difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation? If so, how?

Isabelle: There’s really not a fine definition between it other than the fact that it’s whether or not people are doing something out of respect or not.

Amaka: I think that appropriation comes when people are wearing it as a joke or costume, especially on Halloween, like when people wear Day of the Dead or Native American tribe costumes. When people are wearing my culture as a costume, that means they’re thinking that the culture is a joke, a prop, or a set.

Junior: I understand where you are coming from, but I feel like not necessarily every time they [wear it as a costume] it’s for an attack on the other culture. When people wear a Day of the Dead costume, I don’t take that as an insult. Unless they’re disrespecting the costume by ripping it up or something like that, I don’t see it as disrespectful.

Amaka: The reason I brought that up is because there was this Hispanic Snapchat story talking about outrageous Halloween costumes, and that was on there. I didn’t see a problem with it — I’m not Hispanic so I can’t speak for the Hispanic community — but they said that those people are not honoring the Day of the Dead. I think some people are offended by that, but I definitely see where you are coming from.

Is cultural appropriation a serious issue? Why or why not?

Shashan: It’s an issue we should definitely grapple with.

Amaka: I agree, but sometimes, people just get offended too easily. I get people’s reservations about this but at the same time, I don’t think some people intended it to become a problem.

Sunshine: A thing about Asia is that the population is incredibly homogenous, so cultural appropriation doesn’t really exist there. They might not understand that they’re appropriating other cultures because they have no recognition of the possibility of offending others.

Isabelle: Also, a lot of Asian people don’t get the media from the country they are within but from America. They see certain things that other people have done

and think it’s okay. So, I think cultural appropriation is a serious issue that requires educating and forgiving people, teaching them why it’s wrong.

What is the extent to which cultural appropriation is acceptable?

Isabelle: The line is with appreciation.

Shashan: But can you say that it’s cultural appropriation when it’s appreciation? It’s only appropriation when culture is not appreciated.

Amaka: I think if people are appropriating a culture unknowingly, we need to forgive them and educate them, like Isabelle said.

But if they’re just appropriating culture, people should call them out for it. They know better than that and should not be doing that kind of stuff.

Why is it important to respect other cultures?

Amaka: Because we want to respect people.

We need to respect everyone’s heritage.

Shashan: You’re right. For a lot of people, their culture is a big part of who they are, and if they try to disrespect who they are, then people aren’t going to react kindly to that.

Isabelle: When people forget about people’s cultural backgrounds, they’re forgetting the fact that people have different problems.

Junior: I feel like when people disrespect a culture, it makes them feel self conscious about what they’re doing, because they start to think, ‘Is it really that different that you have to call me out on it?’ I feel like people may start losing their culture because it becomes a norm to not do that.

Sunshine: I also feel like the main problem about disrespecting a culture is the majority and minority cultures. As a part of the majority culture, people can not see from the point of view of the minority culture, so they’re more prone to disrespecting other cultures even if they may not understand that they’re disrespecting them.

Isabelle: Also, a lot of people just genuinely don’t know about other cultures. Here, in the United States, history is so badly taught. People don’t take the time to understand why certain cultures have it the way they do.

Amaka: If people want to call America a cultural mixing pot, then other cultures

need to be a part of our academic curriculum. In America, where there are a bunch of different people from many different cultures, people have to have that understanding of other cultures.

Sunshine: If people are not aware that they have to respect it, they’re not going to respect it, and not going to understand that they’re disrespecting it.

Isabelle: It’s also just really hard to call out people who we know, or have a certain place.

Sunshine: But it’s really easy [to call people out] on the internet. The thing about the internet is that there’s a lot of people who are not a part of the culture that’s being appropriated, and I would think to myself, ‘It’s not your culture, you cannot talk for those people.’

How can society prevent cultural appropriation, or the tensions that arise from it?

Everyone: Education.

Shashan: It’s the only real way to solve this issue. Cancel culture doesn’t work.

Amaka: Also, before wearing a cultural item, do some research and know the history and heritage behind it. Wear it to the appropriate events and makes sure it’s not taken as a joke.

Shashan: People need to make sure they make others understand the why to a culture.

Amaka: As an African-American myself, I want to say to the people who are African-American, I know they take pride in their culture especially after Black Panther came out. But they have to understand where they’re coming from. Don’t just wear the Dashiki. Know that it’s a cultural print that comes from Ghana. Know the history, because if they don’t, they’re basically appropriating their own culture and that is the most pitiful thing in the world.

Shashan: I’ve seen that happen so many times. People try to say, ‘Hey, you’re appropriating my culture’ when they don’t understand their own culture. It’s important that people educate themselves first; people have to understand where they are coming from and then they can educate other people.•

14

Sports

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Senior athlete finds accepting community in wrestling Ayden Woods Sports Editor

▲ Senior Allison Abbey wrestling with a team mate in the mat room on Dec. 3. PHOTO BY AYDEN WOODS

As most high school students know, finding friendships and finding a group of people you can count on can be difficult. Senior Allison Abbey found her group with the girls wrestling team.

“They are the most welcoming people I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Abbey said.

Abbey said that the team has been one of the biggest positive impacts on her life as a high school student.

“Allison works hard. She’s gotten better every year,” head wrestling coach Mincher said.

“She’s only going to continue getting better, and I expect big things out of her this year.”

Abbey said she initially was doubtful about joining the wrestling team.

“I completely fell in love with the sport,” Abbey said. “The community completely accepted me into the group.”

As a member of the team Abbey must stay physically and mentaly prepared.

“She’s athletic and she does a good job with her feet,” Mincher said. “She does her best when she’s on her feet.”

As Abbey became more acquainted with the team, they grew from just teammates to becoming best friends, she said.

“Wrestling is like a second family for me,” Abbey said. “When I came to this school, I didn’t really have anyone to lean on or be apart of.”

On Abbey’s first day on the team, she said the girls welcomed her and instantly showed her

friendship and nothing but kindness.

“The girls on the team just accepted me with open arms and truly became someone I can always go to and receive open arms,” Abbey said.

“She came to us as a sophomore,” Mincher said. “She came out to us really green, but decided she wanted to be a wrestler.”

Abbey joined the team and initially struggled with wrestling, but then she began to work harder and began to become more effective as a player.

“She works hard all the time, and she will continue to work hard all the time,” Mincher said.

Abbey also said that the sport has been a great way for her to meet people with similar interests as her.

“I take a lot of pride in the sport, because it’s a newer sport for women to be apart of.

It’s a hard sport and I’m constantly reminded of how tough the sport is,” Abby said.

Abby spends almost 30 hours a week wrestling and training to stay in peak physical fitness, but she said that having consistent practice has helped her find a rhythm in her high school life.

“The people are my favorite part of wrestling,” Abbey said. “Getting to meet other female wrestlers and compete against them is such an amazing opportunity.”

Abbey has set her goals for this year.

“My biggest goal right now is to place at district,” Abbey said, “And eventually place at state.” •

Wrestling December Schedule Dec. Maverick Stampede - Day 1 and 2 6-7 Morton Ranch High School

Dec. Consol Duals 14 A&M Consolidated High School

Dec. Tri-Meet 11 KingWood High School

Dec. Christmas Practice 31 A&M Consolidated High School

Dec. New Waverly Duals 13 New Waverly Duals

Jan. Cy-Fair 3-4 Berry Center

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

People

15

Boys basketball team strives for victory in new season Ayden Woods Sports Editor

▲ Junior Aiden Green practices on Nov. 22. The season began on Nov. 15 with a win against Onalaska. PHOTO BY AYDEN WOODS

The 2019-2020 boys basketball team is preparing for a new district season with a new team and a rekindled desire to win.

“The biggest challenge this year will be understanding the highs and lows of the varsity season and the pressure that comes with varsity instead of JV,” head boys basketball coach JD Sullivan said.

Coming off the previous season of 36-3, the new season brings high hopes and expectations for the team.

“Our team is a little young, a little inexperienced, but they are very hardworking and have very good chemistry, with a lot of growth in leadership,” Sullivan said.

The team works tirelessly to bring out the best in each of its players, and to develop a smooth and fluid team dynamic, Sullivan said, but the team still faces small challenges in their new season.

“We lost 8 out 9 varsity players from last year, so we have a bunch of guys that have moved up from JV and have really grown a lot over the last year,” Sullivan said.

With so many previous varsity players gone the team fills the roster with fresh faces that are ready to prove themselves as capable players.

“We play hard, practice hard, and we’re committed to [basketball],” Sullivan said. “I think that is one of our strengths.”

The team defeated their first district line up against Onalaska High School 84-26 on Nov. 11.

“They have high hopes for what we can accomplish this year,” Sullivan said. “On a nightly basis, the competition is going to be really tough, but we hope to surprise some people after losing so many players of last year’s team.”

The team is eager for a chance to show that they are capable and prepared to take on the court.

“I’ve been really pleased by the amount of work that they have put in this summer, and I’ve been really pleased with their growth and effort and have enjoyed this off season,” Sullivan said. “I’m excited for the opportunity for these guys to get a chance to prove themselves when there are so many people who have doubt.”

The first home game was on Nov. 11. •

Girls basketball team exerts teamwork to succeed in upcoming season Ayden Woods Sports Editor The 2020 Lady Cougar basketball team is working to find its playstyle and team dynamic as they train hard for this upcoming district season.

“We’ve brought a lot of new pieces in and so right now were still trying to figure out our identity,” head girls basketball coach Megan Symank said.

The team is in the early stages of finding the dynamic that works for them and is effective.

“Every year when we bring in new personnel and have a brand new team, you can carry over experiences that will groom us from one year to the next,” Symank said. “But at the same time, each team has their own personality, their own character and a new identity as a team.”

The team is comprised of experienced varsity players with various strengths and capabilities.

“We have players who can really shoot the ball, and play defence, and have a lot of experience as well,” Symank said.

The team has new varsity members but also players who have been on the team before.

“We have players with lots of playoff experience, that keeps the hunger alive,” Symank said.

The district lineup this season is strong and capable, Symank said, with new teams to rival our own and new players with wide ranges of skill sets.

“We have a very stout district, we have lots of teams coming in with lots of division one players in it and our kids know that,” Symank said. “The experience we bring to the table going in to our district ball games in December and January, [the team] know’s that were going to have to compete hard every single night and our team is willing to do that.”

Though the team faces challenges on the court, some of the biggest will be the ones they have to face off the court.

“Our greatest challenge for the team will be coming off a 34-3 season where the expectations are really, really high, and with lots of new players coming in we may struggle with adversity early on while we’re trying to figure out who we are,” Symank said.

The next home game will be on Dec. 16 against Katy Paetow.•

▲ The Lady Cougars practice on Nov. 21. The first varsity home game was on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. against Round Rock. PHOTO BY AYDEN WOODS

16

Health and Rec

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Adrenaline Junkies

Life of thrilling, exciting experiences motivate students

Jayci Tawney News Editor It’s rare to fully experience a life with multiple thrilling activities but adrenaline junkies, those who live for the adrenaline rush, find ways to do just that.

“I would consider myself an adrenaline junkie because I enjoy the rush that I experience with each activity I do,” senior Kersten Hester said.

When adrenaline is produced into the bloodstream, it increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and makes an individual more energetic and allows the senses to become more sensitive.

Hester has gone car and motorcycle racing and states that it makes her feel excited and invincible. On her 18th birthday she chose to skydive.

“I have been wanting to experience skydiving and dif-

ferent thrilling activities for a while,” Hester said.

Senior Asia Vielma has gone zip lining, bungee jumping, and rides the highest roller coasters at Sea World. Once she turns 18, Vielma and her mother plan on going skydiving at night.

“When I go to concerts, I like being in mosh pits,” Vielma said.

Although many believe that the need for adrenaline could be a biological aspect, Vielma was

not always fond of intense activities.

“Until [2013] I was so scared to go on roller coasters, but then one summer I went to Six Flags with my family, and I just fell in love with rush I got from feeling like I was going to fly out of my seat,” Vielma said.

Once finding a love for high intensity activities, Hester and Vielma have both fallen in love with the experiences they have had and plan to keep that feel-

ing in their lives. “[Bungee jumping] it feels like your falling and your going to die, but then you don't,” Vielma said.

Hester states that when she was skydiving, she fell in love with it because it brought her the feelings of excitement, invincibility and freedom that she has never felt before.•

Photo of Kersten Hester during her Skydive on Oct. 10.

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Dare to Date

The Catamount

Health & Rec.

17

Long-term commitments in high school prove challenging, educational Erin Park Opinions Editor To teenagers, coming across a soulmate and advancing into a relationship can prove difficult to fulfill due to the pressures that tag along with confessing that they like someone. Feelings play part in taking a friendship to the next level, and several students have been able to overcome that mountain.

“You always make time for love. It’s your top priority,” junior Maggie Li said.

Li has been dating Jack Toler, also a junior, since middle school. Recalling their memories before emerging into the dating status, Toler was quick to admit that confessing his feelings to Li was a risky ride due to the special friendship they shared initially.

“I was holding back when saying that I wanted to be with her because I didn’t want to mess up our friendship,” Toler said. “That made the exchange very awkward and slow.”

The air instantly shifts when one confesses feelings of love to another. Like Toler, many teenagers fear rejection and worry about the outcome of their confession, especially ruining a special friendship. Freshmen Ricardo Lopez, who started dating Avery Barrett just recently, shared how friendship and relationships are two different paths people will have to face choosing when confessing.

“Friendship is like a loophole, where the bond is like that between siblings. A relationship has that aspect where people would want to spend the rest of their life with their significant other,” Lopez said. “If you’re often having to question whether to confess or not, maybe a relationship is not the right path. Don’t rush a relationship since it can ruin a friendship.”

In addition to what Lopez said, Barrett mentioned

Maggie Li and Jack Toler Juniors Maggie Li and Jack Toler have been dating since freshman year.

that she had come out of a toxic relationship not so long ago and was determined not to indulge herself in another one during her high school career. However, getting to know Lopez at band camp held over the summer, her feelings came naturally, and the relationship followed. She said she wants readers to know that these bonds should come by nature, not by force.

“You shouldn’t be having any doubts,” Barrett said.

“If you think you like him or her but not completely sure, give it some time. If it is true, then the feelings will grow.

If it isn’t, the feelings will fade, and it isn’t meant to be.”

Some students take this notion very seriously, and this case goes for seniors Brianna Reyes and Luke Todd, who have been dating for nearly two years.

“We believe dating is a test for marriage,” Todd said.

“It’s a very far goal, but we’re working towards it. We aren’t going to break up after high school just because.”

To establish a smoother relationship, Reyes and Todd emphasized the necessity and significance in readdressing boundaries through efficient communication.

“Communication is important because there’s a lot of place for error in a relationship,” Reyes said. “If I were to assume that he meant something by something he said, that would be miscommunication. It’s easier to just talk about it and get it all on the table.”

Going into and staying in a relationship can be an emotional rollercoaster. However, the key solution to stability is through conversation and active interaction, and teenagers should ensure these components are being included in their relationships.

“In a relationship, it’s so important to always talk everything out and to never jump to conclusions,” Lopez said. “Feel free to talk about anything, because the other person should be supportive. Communication is, 100%, the key to a relationship. Don’t be afraid.”•

Brianna Reyes and Luke Todd

Seniors Brianna Reyes and Luke Todd have been dating since sophomore year.

How to tell someone you like them:

1.

Drop a few hints

2.

Give yourself a deadline

3.

Make sure you’re comfortable

4.

Consider how you would feel if you didn’t tell them

5.

Stay positive Source: Seventeen Magazine

Avery Barrett and Ricardo Lopez Freshmen Avery Barrett and Ricardo Lopez have been dating since August of this year.

PHOTOS BY ERIN PARK

18

Entertainment

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Recommended Reading for the Holiday Break

A Court of Thorns and Roses Catie Sikes Managing Editor The first book in the thrilling Trilogy by Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses follows a young girl through the world of the Fae and the mysteries beyond. I read this book towards the beginning of my junior year and instantly fell in love with the fantasy world that Maas built for her readers.

The story line and world development, the hidden meaning and the meticulous care she put into building this fantasy world make this book, and the series as a whole, one that I can read over and over again. One of my favorite aspects of a fictional novel is the characters and their development throughout the story. I am a firm believer in the theory that good characters make a bad story better.

I can’t say that I particularly liked the main character based on of her blatant negative outlook on life and her soemwhat dramatic and other times stupid decsions, but she greatly reseembles

the troubled protagonist who learns to love the big strong main male of the story. Or she’d be the first one to die in a horror story. It fluctuates throughout the novel.

While the main character and I did not vibe so well, I enjoyed reading about the supporting characters. Maas was able to create of diverse characters who give life to the world around them. Each and every character she introduced had something to do with the story, whether or not it was in this first book. None of them were based on over exhausted tropes or cliches.

Without spoiling too much of the plot, the main story line easily can stand alone, but this is the first book of a trilogy with a novella as well and I could easily see it being its own stand alone book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think it is an excellent introduction to a phenomenal trilogy and I absolutely recommend anyone who has a chance to read it. Sarah J. Maas is a wonderful author who has indescribable talent and her novels have never disappointed me.•

Silence Jayci Tawney News Editor Natasha Preston is a new British author who got her first break from a website called Wattpad. I have been an active reader of her work ever since 8th grade before she became a known author. In fact, I probably read so much because of her. I have read all of her published book short stories. However, there is one book that always stands out among her work.

Silence is the story of Oakley, a girl who feels like she has no voice after an experience she had with sexual assault, causing her to become selectively mute at 5 years old. Her family and friends start to worry because no one knows what is happening other than she has stopped talking.

Preston writes the novel from Oakley’s point of view to see how she reacts to her parents trying to get her appointments with specialists, how she reacts with highschool bullies, and upcoming feelings for a boy. More importantly, this gives the reader a chance to see how she has mentally

changed her mind set after the incident and see how cautious and independent she has become.

However, it isn’t until the possibility of encountering another sexual assault experience brings her to the realization of speaking for herself causing her to call her best friend breaking her silence of ten years.

Throughout the novel Oakley tries to develop her voice; however, after a self shattering time, she finally talks to her best friend for the first time in years. Preston decided to make Silence a series containing two more books and a short story.

Natasha Preston has developed an amazing storyline and character connection that I love. I am currently reading Silence for the 17th time. I always enjoy the way the characters are styled and how they connect with each other. She writes in a way that I feel as if I am standing in the same room with the characters. Although this book is considered to be a young adult, it does contain topics that could be sensitive to some readers.•

Love Does Makayla Fox Editor-in-Chief If I’m being honest, I usually cry at the endings of books. When I read Bob Goff’s Love Does, I sat wiping tears from my eyes after every page flip. Love Does includes a new story of Bob’s life in each chapter and shares how these stories have shaped the idea that love is shared through action, that “love is never stationary.”

When I first read Bob’s stories, I felt a little bit like I was a boring person. Bob has taken his kids to have ice cream with heads of states, pursued his wife for three years before she went on a date with him and made such good friends in Uganda that they made him the Ugandan Consul, among an array of other marvelous happenings.

The story that impacted me the most was Bob’s story from when he was in high school, and decided it wasn’t for him, so he packed up to journey to Yosemite. He was so sure of himself, like any high schooler tends to be. Like how I feel most of the time.

What he didn’t expect was his recent friend and YoungLife leader, Randy, to tag along with him unexpectedly. Randy dropped everything and stayed by Bob’s side, saying “I’m with you, Bob,” with every decision that Bob makes on the trip. After a chain of unfortunate events, Bob and Randy head back home from Yosemite. When they arrive back, it is revealed that Randy had tagged along with Bob on the early days of his marriage. Randy chose to be present and in Bob’s life because that’s what he needed most. Needless to say, there were a lot of tears for that story and yearning to be present in the lives around me. And that’s only chapter one.

Bob has an amazing way of loving people. He’s somehow found a way to do it through his words, too. If you’re looking to feel empowered by love and action, Love Does is the book for you. And when you’re finished reading and have any questions or need a little more love, you can find his phone number in the back of your book.•

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

The Catamount

Loyal Retainers

Entertainment

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Fandoms unify students with shared interests, passions for art Catie Sikes Managing Editor People from all around the world can come together under one shared interest, fandoms group of people who share an interest in the same form or piece of literature, film or music..

“It’s a very broad range of people because since [Game of Thrones] is a very popular TV show as well as the books, there is just so many people who are involved in it and love the show and the books, or just one or the other,” said senior Jaina Lara, who is a fan of Game of Thrones.

Some fandoms can spread worldwide and create a connection between people that would not be possible otherwise.

“It’s like a family. You can kind of tell a lot from people, just asking ‘what is your house?’

I think it’s really cool how that’s such a global thing,” said junior Abigail Skaggs, who has been a part of the Harry Potter fandom since she was in third grade.

There are many different spectrums to a fandom and how someone can be devoted to it.

Junior Demi Hu enjoys creating art for her fandom, the “Throne of Glass” series by Sarah J. Maas.

“I post my art sometimes for the fandom, and I get a lot of encouragement and support, which is really nice,” Hu said.

The ways fans are devoted to their fandoms is endless, whether they defend their fandom, represent them through merchandise, support the artists or authors, or even create art of their own in honor of their fandoms. There is no limit to the support and love a fan can have for their fandom.

“I’m pretty devoted to Game of Thrones, I ab-

solutely adore the fandom and I defend it pretty fiercely,” Lara said.

Not all fandoms are about shows and books.

Different music genres have fan followings as well. Junior Daisy Eager follows a K-Pop [Korean Pop] boy band called BTS. She first heard them in eighth grade and somewhat lost interest until her sophomore year when she got back into the band, “First, it started in 8th grade when I heard Mic Drop by BTS. Then last year it was a free day in choir, and then, Grace Stewart, Zemoni Hopkins and Abby Hartman played a dance practice of Go Go [Song by BTS] and then I was hooked from them,” Eager said.

Fandoms are a community that brings people together.

“My favorite part of the SJM fandom is how easy it is to talk to people and make friends. Since everyone shares similar interests, you can strike up a conversation with almost anyone in the fandom, so it’s a great way to meet new people,” Hu said.

The diversity of media that builds a following that is considered a fandom can be very influential and meaningful to its fans.

“I feel emotionally connected to the music, especially the lyrics because they can have a bunch of meanings,” Eager said.

While fandoms are considered amazing communities to share one’s interest with others, they too can be corrupted by negativity.

“The worst part of the fandom would probably be the drama. Whenever there’s drama, the negativity always dampens the mood in the whole fandom,” Hu said.

Still, the fandoms will always be a safe place for their fans too appreciate the art that they love.

“The best part of the fandom is the inclusivity. There are a lot of people involved in [Harry Potter], and even if someone is not a part of it, they know what it is,” Skaggs said. •

Graphics by Lauren Gomulka

FANDOM OVERVIEWS

Game of Thrones The 8 book, 8 season series, Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin and HBO follows the stories of the Stark, Targaryen and Lannister families through both battles of arms and of politics. With strong adult themes and graphic violence, Game of Thrones keep their viewers at the edge of their seat.

Harry Potter Between 7 books and 8 movies by JK Rowling, Harry Potter follows the story of the titular character Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they attend the wondrous school of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They test their magical abilities, will, and friendship in order to defeat the dark wizard Voldemort.

Throne of Glass The 10 book series Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas follows Celaena Sardothien, a trained assassin, whom at the beginning of the series is serving her life sentence for her crimes. Her life changes when she is offered a choice: her freedom in exchange for entering a dangerous tournament to become the king’s personal assassin. With a touch of romance, danger and supernatural elements, Celaena’s story is sure to thrill.

K-POP A form of pop music that first began in 1992 in South Korea but has become even more popular now with big hits like BTS, EXO and BLACKPINK. The music they put out is known for their deep and emotional lyrics that resonate deeply with their followers.

Complied by Catie Sikes

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The Catamount

‘Tis The Season

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

School community celebrates varied winter traditions, religious holidays

Lunar New Year Calla Duffield Assistant Editor In Texas, the winter holidays are a time of joy and celebration, even if there is no true winter. At CSHS, a variety of festivities and traditions ensue within the student body, including the Lunar New Year, Christmas and Hanukkah.

“In my family, we go to China and meet up with family members,” sophomore Shawn Gao said. “One night we go to a really large restaurant and eat a whole bunch of food and everybody drinks a lot and we stay there for the entire night.”

The Lunar New Year was traditionally a time to honor ancestors and household and heavenly deities, according to History.com. In Gao’s family, it is a time for feasting and presents in little red envelopes.

“Usually, traditional Chinese foods are dumplings, but there’s also some regular foods like meat and vegetables and a lot of fish,” he said.

The Lunar New Year has absorbed a lot of traditions, as some believe the holiday came about more than 3,500 years ago in the Shang Dynasty of China.

“My favorite tradition is when all the elders have to give you money in a red envelope,” Gao said.

The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck for the new year and is a token to ward off evil spirits.

“I feel like in a society that is very [diverse], it is important to express your own individual culture,” Gao said.

Christmas is the most widespread winter holiday in Texas. In fact, more than 53 percent of Texans celebrate

Christmas

Hannukah

Christmas, according to the Houston Press.

“It’s the story of Christ and how he came to be and it’s what I believe in. It’s more than presents to me.

It’s when the savior came, and it means a lot,” senior Hannah Reynolds said.

According to the Bible, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger. His birth was celebrated by choirs of angels and shepherds. Christmas festivities now vary

ents and time with family are a crucial part of the Reynolds’s celebrations.

“Spending quality time with family [is my favorite Christmas tradition]. It’s just a day where everyone’s together, and it’s really amazing,” Reynolds said.

As opposed to Christmas, less than one percent of Texans celebrate Hanukkah, according to WorldPopulationReview.

Hanukkah is celebrated in honor of when mistreated Jewish rebels revolted against a Greek tyrant and won.

“They only had one can of oil left [to light the menorah in their temple], and it lasted eight days when it was supposed to last eight minutes,” sophomore Samuel Paull said.

The Menorah, an eight pronged candelabra, is now lit every year by Jews for eight nights in celebration of the “miracle” of Hanukkah.

“It’s a family tradition that we do every year and it’s a part of my culture,” Paull said.

This holiday has evolved into festive celebrations with crispy potato pancakes called latkes and jelly-filled doughnuts, or sufganiyot.

“Every year, [another Jewish family] comes over, and we celebrate Hanukkah and give out gifts and compete to see who has the best latkes,” Paull said.

From the Lunar New Year to Christmas to Hanukkah, celebrations and superstitions have evolved to festive days of family fun and gifts to bring together cultures and pass down traditions from thousands of years ago. •

I feel like in a society that is very [diverse], it is important to express your own individual Culture.

-Shawn Gao sophomore from giving to charity to decorating fir trees with ornaments. “[Christmas in my house] is really relaxed, and we always watch Christmas movies and bake Christmas cookies,” Reynolds said.

Whether celebrated on Christmas eve or day, pres-

Graphics by Catie Sikes