The Catamount December 2022 - Vol. 11 No. 3

our nation’s HER ES

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by Briceida Bellon

Veterans Day celebration sparks rememberance, appreciation of selflessness of military service

Elisabeth Stewart and Cheyenne Clark Editor-in-Chief and Editor

Upon seeing “U.S. ARMY” stitched in bright yellow across the brim of a hat or a camouflage uniform among a crowd of civilians, a common courtesy is to thank a veteran for his or her service with a handshake or polite nod, or more officially on Nov. 11 with red, white and blue streamers at Veterans Day parades.

But for all that our veterans sacrifice, a simple thanks can “feel superficial in a lot of ways,” said English teacher Virginia Babcock, whose husband served two deployments in Afghanistan.

“[Veterans Day] has to be more than thanking them for their service,” she said. “We can reflect on what [veterans] have done for us and the sacrifices that they have made: not just giving their lives, but time away from family and even losing a piece of themselves and their sanity.”

Between moving across the globe and the fear of the un-

known, families, alongside their veterans, share those sacrifices. As a child, her father’s military career took content mastery teacher Janel Skrabanek to Great Britain. Years later, she would marry a military man, too.

“I swore to never marry anyone in the military because I hated moving,” she said. “That didn’t really happen.”

Due to her husband’s Army career, she and her son and daughter, senior Emily Skrabanek, have lived internationally in Japan, Italy and in six U.S. states.

“I still hate moving, but I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have had and the friendships that we’ve made along the way,” she said.

Before retiring in 2018, history teacher William Vause served in the Air Force for 24 years and raised his two oldest children in Okinawa, Japan, where they built a community among service families.

“While we went overseas and were constantly moving, we were a very tight-knit microcosm of the rest of the United States because everyone we served with was going through

Graphics

Veterans uphold values of compassion, courage, sacrifice

Desert Storm (1990-1991)

Civil War (1861-1865)

Korean War (1950-1953)

World War II (1939-1945)

World War I (1914-1918)

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Mexican War (1846-1848)

French & Indian War (1753-1763)

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

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the same struggles as we were,” Vause said.

Vause said that his family “took a little piece of America” overseas to wherever he was stationed and his children found a love for adventure. Likewise, Emily Skrabanek attributes her love of traveling to her military family.

“It’s scary to have to go to a new place,” she said. “You have to put yourself out there on the first day of school. It can be very difficult when you don’t know anyone and you’re leaving behind all the friends you’ve made.”

Her father served three deployments, each over a year in duration, beginning when she was one year old.

“You keep living life like normal and you get calls from your dad and it’s all great,” she said. “But you never know when it could not be a good call.”

Janel Skrabanek recalled one of those moments of uncertainty while her husband was deployed.

“The news was on, and they said something about a bomb in Kabul, [Afghanistan], and I wasn’t paying any attention and I didn’t know that [my son] was paying attention,” she said. “All of a sudden he looked at me and he had tears in his eyes and was like, ‘Is that where Dad is?’ And of course, I had no idea where [my husband] was. I heard he had landed in Kabul, but I didn’t know if he was still there. That was a really scary time.”

Skrabanek said that she never “su-

Total

U.S. Service Men and Women

Branches of the U.S. Military

Source: Veterans Affair

garcoated” the danger of military service to her kids.

“I never told them, ‘Oh, Daddy’s coming back,’ because I didn’t know if he was coming back,” she said. “We’d simply tell [the kids] that he’s going to fight for our country, and we pray that he comes back, but if he doesn’t, we know that God’s taking care of him.”

Once home, the fight continues as veterans return changed by service and combat.

“We’ve gone to family counseling every time he has deployed and come back,” Janel Skrabanek said. “It’s really hard for him to come back in our world because it’s not the same as when he left. He’s not the same as when he left.”

Babcock met her husband nearly a year after he returned from his second tour in Afghanistan and had sought therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“It was important for me to remember how patient I needed to be and to remember that this was attributable to the fact that he had seen combat and had scary experiences,” Babcock said. “The thing we can do to support those who serve is to be patient with them and extend them the courtesy of knowing that they are now different people.”

As family members change, so does the entire household’s dynamic. Senior Cole Sloan’s father served overseas in Iraq .

“It was a hard adjustment to have just three people in our house--just me, my brother and my mom--and the kind of

U.S. Army

Motto: “This We’ll Defend”

Established: June 14, 1775

U.S. Coast Guard Motto: “Semper Paratus” (“Always Ready”) Established: Jan. 28, 1915

U.S. Marine Corps

Motto: “Semper Fidelis” (“Always Faithful”) Established: July 11, 1798

Source: USA.gov

family dynamic that entailed me becoming the man of the house,” he said. “Whenever my dad gets back, I’m relinquishing that kind of stress and being able to welcome him back.”

Sloan said that his dad’s involvement in the Army has “elevated [his] sense of selfless service.”

“That’s something that’s been drilled into my head since I was little, that it’s not always about what you can get out of something, but it’s about what you can give,” he said.

Sloan hopes to have a political career in policy making to improve services for veterans. English teacher Shelby Klett said her father, who served as the Pentagon’s lead missile launch officer during the Cold War, instilled the same value of service in her.

“The biggest thing I took away from his experience was that you should do something for your country in whatever way that is,” Klett said. “It doesn’t have to be the military, but anything service ori-

U.S. Navy

Motto: “Non sibi sed patriae” (“Not self, but country”)

Established: March 27, 1794

U.S. Air Force

Motto: “Aim High, Fly-Fight-Win” Established: Sept. 18, 1947

U.S. Space Force

Motto: “Semper Supra” (“Always Above”) Established: Dec. 20, 2019

ented to express gratitude to the country that you’re in.”

Klett’s act of service was teaching in an underprivileged community through AmeriCorps “Teach for America” program.

“My first year teaching was probably similar to his first year in the Air Force in that it was the hardest thing that I’ve done,” she said. “[My dad] instilled in us that we don’t quit. I made a pledge to be of service. I couldn’t walk away from that sense of duty I had.”

Babcock mentioned that across countries and time periods, “the experience of serving during wartime or experiencing combat is universal.”

“There’s a large portion of our population that is involved in the military, and because it touches all of them, it then touches all of our families that are connected to those servicemen and women,” she said. “I think it’s important to help society understand these experiences are so different from what the rest of us experience on a day to day basis.”

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Graphics by Briceida Bellon

Early graduates work to earn diplomas, look to future

Lauren Byerly Editor

With the end of the calendar year on its way, graduation is also coming for a few students. There are three types of early graduation: December graduation, May graduation a year ahead and August graduation.

“Usually if a student wants to graduate early, they’ll meet with their counselor, and they’ll figure out a plan. There’s some required credits that everybody has to fit into their schedule. In addition, we also look at what they’re trying to do after high school,” counselor Maryam Ahmed said.

Summer school and night school are two ways to earn credits for required classes.

“[My counselor] made [early graduation] possible,” senior Ty’Asia Jackson said. “In the summer I had to take two summer classes, and I just finished my night school. [The extra work] was definitely worth it.”

Regular May graduation requires 26 credits with an endorsement, but depending on the after graduation plan for students graduating early, they may be able to graduate with less.

“There’s a different number of credits that you would need to do at either [community college or a university]. If you’re going directly to a four-year college, you have to have a minimum of 26 credits when you graduate with an endorsement,” Ahmed said. “Whereas if you’re applying to Blinn or another twoyear program or a technical school, a lot of times you can just get the basic 22 credit diploma.”

While most students are graduating with 26 credits, junior Whitney Chapman is taking an alternate route.

“I’m actually only graduating with 22 credits opposed to getting an endorsement,” said Chapman, who is graduating a year early this May.

Many early graduates have different reasons for ending their high school career ahead of their original time. For senior Marquise Collins, he is going to Duke University for spring football on Jan. 6.

“My dream is playing football and I wanted to go play early,” senior Marquise Collins said. “I get to learn more and experience the spring season and where I stand in it.”

Following one’s dreams are important, as well as opportunities in life.

“[My brother] decided to graduate early, and he kind of opened my eyes. But I really never considered it until he did it. There’s a lot of unique opportunities

that you can do with that extra semester,” said senior Kelsey Strohmeyer who will finish in December, a semester earlier than other seniors.

Similar to Strohmeyer graduating early for opportunities, senior Ashlyn Pruitt is graduating early due to opportunities at her job.

“I started working at a real estate office like two and a half years ago, and I’m getting my real estate license right now. So when I graduate, I can start doing that as a career,” Pruitt said.

With the graduates’ future quickly approaching, Chapman, among others, have thought about their upcoming plans.

“I want to go to A&M and get a degree in entomology, which is the study of insects. Then with that degree, I would most likely be working in a research lab of some sort, but also at my time while I’m at it and I want to join the Corps of Cadets,” Chapman said.

Senior Danny Matías Guzmán said he might save money and then go back to Guatemala for college. But for other students, college isn’t the choice they are taking to proceed in their career.

“I never really wanted to go to college, but if I did go to college it’d be Blinn. But when I got into real estate you don’t really need unless you’re starting your own reality brokerage,” Pruitt said. “I have a whole year until I am supposed to go to college. For me, if I did decide I wanted to go to college, I’d have a full year of working in real estate to pay for college.”

Leaving the school ahead of their peers, early graduates have varied emotions.

“It’s like a family to be here, the teachers and the friends. It’s kind of sad [to leave],” Matías Guzmán said.

Jackson has found a bright side to combat the emotions of leaving.

“[I have mixed emotions about early graduation] but I know that I can always come back for prom and my senior trips,” Jackson said.

But for Strohmeyer, the future has more to look forward to than high school.

“I’m more excited about looking to the future and having those moments in college. So, I feel like college is just going to be better, and I’m going to enjoy it and make it important, memories instead of high school,” Strohmeyer said.

And for Collins, the future brings excitement.

“I get to get started with my life and what I want to do,” Collins said. •

December Graduates:

- Not required to attend in spring, but also have the option to attend the senior trip or senior prom by working with their corresponding counselor.

- On their transcript they have graduated, but they do not receive their diploma until May. They can also walk the stage in May with the rest of the graduates.

Early May Graduates:

- Walk the stage with the rest of the graduates in May.

august Graduates:

- Graduate in August after summer school, depending on their schedule.

Art by Rhyan Kalke

I’m more excited about looking to the future and having those moments in college

-Kelsey Strohmeyer senior

Source: Counselor Maryam Ahmed

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

staff editorial

Early graduation can provide headstart for future careers, education, lives

High school seniors look forward to the day when they will walk across the stage with their peers, donned in purple caps and gowns to celebrate four years of hard work. Some students, however, pave their own paths a whole semester or more early, long before crossing the stage in May. While not the traditional path for completing secondary school, early graduation is a viable alternative that schools should promote as an option for motivated students.

Graduating a semester or entire year early allows students to jump-start their careers, educations and lives. Instead of trudging through a final semester of “senioritis,” graduates can earn money with a full-time job, collect core credits at local community colleges, start university studies early, pursue apprenticeships or learn a trade. Early graduation multiplies the opportunities available to graduates in the spring semester. High school is not for everyone, and students who feel prepared to enter the workforce or start their education should be able to do so.

However, this option does require maturity, motivation and the ability to plan ahead. Early graduates must fulfill the same Foundation High School Program as May graduates but in less time. They must take summer classes or night school, study early for college, trade school and military readiness tests and have more developed career goals. These requirements naturally attract the most motivated students. To aid students’ ambitions, high schools should present early graduation as an option from the beginning of high school so that students can plan ahead.

As high school’s primary goal is to prepare students for the future, schools can best accomplish this by making early graduation, and its resulting opportunities, accessible to students years before they walk the stage.

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Staffer reflects on immersive language courses

Taking language courses through school provides an opportunity for students to experience different cultures and creates an opportunity to become more open minded. I enjoyed this experience while I was enrolled in both Mandarin and Spanish at the International Leadership of Texas middle school.

Rhyan Kalke

Being enrolled in both of these classes at the same time allowed me to experience different cultures and helped me to change my mindset to be more open and curious about other places and societies. Unlike at my previous school where we hadimmersive activities centered around Día de Los Muertos or the Chinese Lunar New Year, classes at CSHS focus mostly on book education and are generally taken because they are required and not because students want to experience new cultures.

My Mandarin class in eighth grade gave me more meaningful interactions with others. Through conversations with my teacher and class work, I had

the opportunity to see lives that were different from mine. Throughout the year, we learned Chinese characters and Mandarin pronunciation, and I saw the difference between the world I’d experienced and the lives other people lived. Not only did this give me a greater sense of cultural awareness, the experience allowed me to connect with my teacher and classmates who spoke Mandarin fluently.

I was looking forward to being able to make more connections in high school. However, only three on-site language courses are offered at CSHS: Spanish, German and French. I decided not to continue Mandarin in this form because it is only offered online, which does not offer much cultural impact. There also isn’t a lot of cultural impact in taking the two required years of language courses if there’s not an actual desire to learn.

I’ve heard students complain about a French project or Spanish homework, not realizing that they’re not required to learn a language to graduate. All of the course material being learned comes from a rich culture, and these classes should be valued more for what they offer.

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NO YES View of the Pride:

“If

-Matthew Rivas, sophomore

“If students graduate a semester early, then they will have time to prepare for college or whatever career they are headed off to.”

-Sebastian Jiminez, junior

-Maddie MacDonald, sophomore

“Students who graduate early are rushing their careers and will miss the high school experience.”

-Ashley Silvey, senior

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, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as well as their Silver Star Award in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

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.

2022-2023 Newspaper Staff

The Catamount Newspaper

“I feel like it takes away those classic high school experiences that shape you into the adult you become.”

students feel comfortable enough and have the skills and grades, they should be allowed to graduate early.”

Elisabeth Stewart Briceida Bellon Emily Borham, Lauren Byerly, Cheyenne Clark, Dean Crick, Claire Guo, Rhyan Kalke, Emily Ko, Sonya Lin, Amari Rutherford, Sadie Rigby, Joi Speck William Crick Courtney Wellmann Mindi Cameron-Green

Should students be allowed to graduate early?

Moving provides perspective on fear of change

As the year wraps up, 2022 will mark my sixth anniversary of living in Texas.

in fact, it’s been my greatest enemy, the one I’ve spent my life running from, instead of confronting.

Briceida Bellon

Most days it means just that: six years of confusing Texas Avenue with University Drive, sweating during fall months, and walking my dog at Lick Creek Park.

Some days, though, it means six years since living in Montana. Six years since I’ve breathed in pine scent, plundered through 12 inches of snow and plucked huckleberries from bushes spanning miles up a mountain as we move into a new house in town.

Recently, I’ve been reminded of Montana because of my family’s decisions to move. The U-Haul truck that traveled almost 2,000 miles across the country will only be heading up the main road and taking a left turn.

Just like the first time, I’m left with an indescribable emptiness. For a while, I pondered why--I won’t be in the middle of a group hug, listening to my friends’ pleas to not go. In fact, I’m going to experience my senior year with the few friends I’ve cultivated over the years.

I’m also no stranger to change --

This tendency to run away translates into my real life. Ten-yearold Briceida never broke the news of her move to her best friend until that friend found out after seeing the “FOR SALE” sign in front of her mobile home.

Twilight Sparkle rightfully earns her title as princess, and my parents finally open their food business in Texas after 20 years of dreaming.

Change is necessary--I know this. Change is also permanent, despite people telling you otherwise. I can purchase a plane ticket to Montana any time, but instead of being greeted with nature, I’ll be met with new shops and unfamiliar faces.

I come home from school to my room with the knowledge that the contents of my sister’s room are boxed. Soon, only fragments of the cozy environment will be left. And although I’m swamped with five AP classes, I know I can set aside study time to purge the outgrown shirts in the closet and to store my current wardrobe into cardboard boxes.

Eight-year-old Briceida lost interest in her favorite show about ponies because the main character relocated to a grand castle, leaving her small library behind. Netflix kept “The Office” on my “Continue Watching” list, even though I swore to never watch an episode without Michael Scott as Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin.

By no means are these bad changes--Michael eventually gets the girl,

I wish I could say I’ll begin the moving process today, but I won’t. Not yet, at least. I’ll cherish this home a little longer.

A majority of our furniture will end up on Craigslist, but I am comforted with the fact that memoryof my family squished together on our 11-year-old beige couches from Montana or sitting around our IKEA wooden table will follow me to my new house and anywhere I go. •

Luisa Ross soph0more

“I am studying and practicing to become a pilot. I’m involved with the Soaring Clubs of Houston where I get to fly gliders--a plane without an engine.

I am set to fly solo without an instructor soon. It’s a very big part of my life and I enjoy it a lot.”

by William Crick

Watching old movies provides welcome distraction, escape

For the past few years on Thanksgiving break, my family and I have gone to Matrix,” “Terminator” and “Alien” (this year we saw “The Godfather”). These were not the first classic movies that I had seen, but they were some of the most famous ones and the ones that started my appreci ation for old movies.

I could spend this editorial talking about the brilliant stories these movies tell, the important lessons they teach us, their originality, the good acting, how no one sees them anymore, so on and so forth. Certainly, the movies have these aspects and are important to any film, but the movies I love the most are the stupid ones. What I mean by “stupid” is when the

movie takes a break from reality and random things happen to advance the plot,

nowhere as evident as in Sean Connery’s role as James Bond, the brilliant spy who wanders around, gets captured, pushes the self-destruct button on a device that does some vaguely evil thing and escapes back to a Britain that still has an empire with no plot holes whatsoever.

Of course, I also watch other, more serious movies as well (the more serious ones do tell better stories overall and are definitely enjoyable as well) but these do not provide the same relaxing effect as the stupid ones.

I enjoy watching these movies on Friday at the end of a long week (or on Sunday at the start of one) before going to bed.

Other than that, these movies, like all movies, do not provide much benefits other than a distraction from the unceasing march of time that pushes us all toward an inevitable death.

“My family is Italian, so our tradition is to mainly cook certain foods like panettone and pizzelle.”

Elizabeth Latham, freshman

Art by Amari Rutherford

Oh, yeah! And they are an escape from watching an eternity of Marvel movies and

Christmas season evokes different feelings for everyone

What is the meaning of Christmas?

The Oxford dictionary defines Christmas as the annual Christian festival celebratingChrist’s birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church, but I think there is not a true definition to Christmas.

the year falls. Even though Christianity spread widely around Europe Priests could not suppress Pagan customs and since no one knew Jesus’s birth date, Priests adapted Pagan and Roman cultures into a day of celebration of Jesus’s birthday.

Sonya Lin

Christmas has evolved over time taking on a different meaning for everyone. The meaning of words are altered all the time through semantic change. As people’s lives mutate, words evolve along with us. Christmas has its origins from both Pagan and Roman cultures.

On December 25th, Romans celebrated the birth of their sun god, Mirthra and in Pagan culture they lit bonfires and candles to keep the darkness at bay since December is when the darkest day of

Many people ‘till this day still view Christmas as solely a religious holiday devoted to celebrating the birth of Christ but for many others Christmas has taken on a new meaning. For kids Christmas usually means a vacation from school and lots of gifts, others Christmas can be a celebration of Christs’s teachings, a time to buy and receive gifts, or a time to give to charity.

To me Christmas is just a time where everyone can be happy. These can all mean Christmas but no matter what meaning Christmas holds for you it is a time full of joyous laughter and cheery smiles. •

“A tiger because it’s fierce and free in the wild. It describes who I am.”

Meghan Miles,

“I like to go look at the Christmas lights with my family. I get to spend more time with my parents and my brother who is attending college at UT so I don’t see him often.”

“An E-boy. I’ll wear chains, rings, a striped shirt with a long-sleeved black shirt underneath.”

Iman Manzoor, sophomore

“I love getting together with my family and enjoying Christman movies and hot chocolate on Chrsitmans with our new Christmas PJs.”

Arden Duffield, junior

“The scariest thing I can think of: a responsible adult.”

Kirstin Sikes, junior

Bre Wallen, senior

“I like just gathering with family. We all gather at a family member’s house, and we all wear matching pajamas and bake cookies.”

“Tigger, because my group of friends decided I was high-key too energetic.”

Alexis Alvarado, senior

Paula Bernal, junior

“A mean, old teacher.”

Mrs. Rothrock, Astronomy teacher

“I love taking my family to Central Park to look at the Christmas lights when it’s not busy and reminisce about living in a place with snow.”

Kelli Noel, English teacher

What are you looking forward to after the “A Sasquatch costume to scare children.”

Sam W,

Dean Crick

What is your favorite winter holiday tradition?

Gettin’ down to business

CTE courses emphasize value in life experiences, business skills

Emily Borham, Rhyan Khalke and Joi Speck Editors

From learning how to conjugate French verbs to baking cupcakes in class, students are given countless opportunities to constantly grow. Out of the many provided, CTE courses allow students to gain not only real-life experience, but also long-lasting friendships.

Cougar Den

The Cougar Den was started in 2014 by business teacher Kelly Yates and former teacher Chris Fox after researching that a school store provides real-world experience at running a business.

“The goal was to allow the students to understand how to start a business, what it takes to create a product for a business, how to price the product, who’s your market, how to sell it and so on,” Yates said.

Earlier this year, the Cougar Den presented its designs for Cougar merchandise to Principal Justin Grimes for approval before production.

“As a business, we received those comments from our customers, and we adjusted some things and brought out some really great products,” Yates said. “There are so many factors to the school store other than just going down at lunch and selling sweatshirts.”

As for generating ideas for merchandise, senior Gabe Montelongo says it’s “a lot of trial and error.”

“There’s designs that we know will sell, but we’re confident in everything that we design,” he said. “That’s business in general, and there is always that risk of it not going the way you want.”

The goal of the Cougar Den is to provide students with affordable and stylish school spiritwear.

“We don’t do this to make money for the school store,” Yates said. “Any money that we make when we sell those products, we put back into creating more products. We are then able to give back to the school. For example, we’re going to do an ornament sales blitz to raise money for our counseling office, who at the end of the semester, will give money to Cougar families to assist with Christmas [expenses].”

At the end of the day, for Montelongo, the Cougar Den is an opportunity to “work with your friends during the longest period of the day,” he said.

Yates emphasizes the real-world experience students gain.

“This particular class is not driven by curriculum. It’s driven by experience, and that to me is what makes it special,” Yates said.

Food Processing

One of many CTE courses offered at CSHS, taught by

Erin Stutts, teaches students the business of processing meat, problem solving, safe manufacturing practices and food safety, and provides a reasonably priced food processing service for members of the CSHS community.

“We focus mostly on meat processing, but we do some other products,” Stutts said. “With our profit, we buy additional products for us to learn, so [profit] goes right back into the class. Not everything turns out perfect to be able to sell right away, so there’s a product development process and a learning process.”

The class not only teaches students about food processing, but also skills that will be used throughout students’ lives.

“It’s definitely given me more knowledge about meat and meat science,” junior Kyler Wendt said. “[We learn] about the industry in general. It’s helped me learn a lot about food safety and safe food manufacturing practices.”

Additionally, the small class size allows for an increased opportunity to learn and enjoy the experiences.

“Having a small class is great because it gives us all a chance to ask different questions and allows us all to get the help we need,” junior Katy Anderson said. “I’ve learned how to work with people and [how to] problem solve.”

Students sell their product to the public and teachers, primarily working through their class website, and customers come pick up the product they order after school in the classroom.

“Because of the child nutrition rules, we can’t sell products during the day,” Stutts said. “We sell to the public, but if it’s something we only have 15 or 20 of, I’ll send an email to the teachers and they’ll buy it all. They put their order in on the website, and we email what their total is, then they come pick it up. We’re careful about when we push out products for sale.”

Selling the products processed in not only benefits the community and the class itself, but it also spreads information about the course and its purpose.

“Selling the meat we process helps people to know about the course,” Anderson said. “I’ve found that a lot of people don’t know about it, and it also helps [the business] to grow and become bigger. [The class] will help me in my life generally.”

Graphic Design

Last spring, graphic design teacher Kimberly Muñoz applied for a grant allowing her class to purchase the equipment to start their own print shop.

“I like to call it a ‘student-run print shop’ because the graphics and work mostly comes from students,” Muñoz said. “There are times I step in to help, especially when we have a large order, but it is mainly run by stu-

dents and is [similar to] the school store.”

As magical as the process of imprinting digital, 2D graphics onto real world objects may sound, there’s some pretty solid mechanics behind it that senior Palmer Barrum, a seasoned graphic design student of three years, is well-versed in.

“There’s a few different methods for [design transfer],” Barrum said. “Mainly, for products like mugs, socks and keychains there’s a special type of printer and paper that allows the ink to get heat transferred onto our different products.”

It is through this fascinating process that the print shop creates its plethora of products.

“So far we have offered [to faculty and staff] vinyl banners up to 24x63 inches, keychains, mouse pads, t-shirt designs, socks and coffee mugs,” Muñoz said. “[Soon] we will have some Christmas products [available], with anything that we have pre-made open for anyone to buy. We likely won’t start taking custom orders until the spring.”

The print shop has proven to be a ground-breaking step for aspiring graphic designers to showcase their talents and pick up real-life skills along the way, indulging in what they love.

“Overall, I’d say the whole purpose of this print shop was to give students in my graphic design class real-world skills in taking graphics they’d created on their computer screens with Illustrator or Photoshop and [transferring] them onto actual products that can be sold,” Muñoz said.

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▲Junior Carly Janac helps senior Katey Pappas with her order at the Cougar Den during lunch on Dec. 6. PHOTO BY ELISABETH STEWART

Graphics by Emily Ko

JaMM N’ UT

Briceida Bellon and Emily Ko Managing Editor and Editor

On weekends when the homework pile isn’t high or when allowance money is deposited in bank accounts, some CSHS music lovers make the hour-long trip to Houston or other nearby big cities to hear their favorite artists perform songs they’ve listened to on repeat.

From all the way to the back of the venue to the general admission pit, concert-goers relish the raw vocals, live instrumentals and artists’ stage presence. When it comes to live music, CSHS stu-

songs and songs that people don’t always know the words to,” Walker said. “It was really memorable because I was in the same spot I saw him when I was nine years old. When he played ‘What Makes You Beautiful,’ I sobbed a tiny bit.”

Walker’s concert record has extended to other artists, such as Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainer, and soon, Taylor Swift. She’s not alone in her love for concerts, about 50 percent of CSHS students have reported attending at least one concert, with some like junior Lena Abdelwahed jumping on the trend.

“Mentally, it was hard to fathom the fact that I was going to see these people

Avid concert-goers, teen musicians soak up energy from live music, support from fans

Despite the challenges, the overall experience was “fun, energetic and hyperactive,” she said.

Experienced concert-go-ers have formulated strategies to earn seats close enough to receive the attention of their favorite artists.

“Have your Ticketmaster profile saved, like for Taylor Swift’s [upcoming] concert, I already have my card information saved,” said Armaan Gilani, who attended Olivia Rodrigo’s sold out concert.

A front-row seat alters the entire experience, according to sophomore Cassidy Keller.

want to drive to the concert itself, so we decided to take a cycle rickshaw instead,” Block said.

For concert go-ers who opt for a different concert experience, the popularity of foreign concerts, such as K-pop, is spreading rapidly among fans. Senior Sophia Gharaibeh, who attended K-pop boy group TXT’s concert, is one fan who opted for this experience.

“I’ve noticed that some concerts tend to be more fan orientated. [The artists will] talk to their fans more,” Garaibeh said. “[At] K-pop concerts, customs are different. I saw people bring posters, their light sticks and scream fan chants.”

However, despite both the differences in concert customs and language, Garaibeh’s experience wasn’t limited.

“When COVID was happening, we had the idea [of forming a band] because we were stuck at home and I started getting into producing at that time,” Hawkins said. “We were talking and sent some stuff to each other. She has a way better voice than I do, so I thought that maybe we could put our skills together.”

Their passion for music developed through extracurriculars, but formed from inspiration from music itself.

“Music [is] a way for us to connect to other people’s life stories and hear the thoughts of people we’ve never known,” Bailey said. “Telling your story [and] expressing your emotions without explaining to everyone what you’re going through is a form of letting people see [your] vulnerabilities.”

This form of expression is especially evident when composing lyrics.

“I wait until I feel something so strong that I want to say it out loud. The thing is, I don’t say it out loud--I write it on paper,” Bailey said. “Later, I just go back and analyze it.”

▲Harry Styles sings “Canyon Moon” during his concert in Dallas on Sept. 11, 2021. His ongoing “Love on Tour” features his albums “Fine Line” and “Harry’s House” and will run until July 2023. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANAMARIE WALKER

A Guide to Concert-Going

Navigating tickets:

▶Sophomore Tyler Bailey plays his electric guitar during practice for his band the Antibodies. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ANTIBODIES

Graphics by Elisabeth Stewart

ing tickets is one struggle, another common obstacle concert enthusiasts face is funding their hobby.

“My mom pays and drives me to all of them. But there’s definitely going to be a day where I’m gonna have to pay for them myself and find my own way there,” Walker said. “I plan on having a decent job when I’m out of high school so I can go see my favorite

Along with tight budgets, many students find limits in transportation and parking. Sophomore Addison Block who attended the Hella Mega tour last year opted for a creative form of transport.

“We drove to Houston, but we didn’t

“It was so surreal [seeing] them in the flesh,” Garaibeh said. “I was just screaming the lyrics to my favorite songs when I didn’t know Korean at all.”

Student Performers

Inspired by performers they’ve also viewed themselves, those with a similar passion for music gather together and form their own groups of musical diversity. Motivated by COVID “antibodies” and quarantine boredom, sophomores Juno Gerdes and Tyler Bailey along with Allen Academy freshman Henry Arledge utilized their previous or blooming music experience skills and formed a rock band called the Antibodies.

Around the same time, seniors Peyton Faulkner and Casey Hawkins formed the Waterskiing club, a pop duo band.

The dedication and hard work that goes into composing, leading up to the day of music being released, felt “surreal,” according to Faulkner.

“I was with my friends, when we had recently released a song, and the platform had just told us that our song probably wasn’t going to be on any major platforms for weeks,” Faulkner said. “That night though, around 20 people texted me and they were like, ‘Oh, this is amazing.’ It felt unreal that people were listening to our song, and the fact that they liked it.”

However, the blood, sweat and tears put into writing creative lyrics and making unique beats do not encompass the entire band experience. After numerous practices in the garage, the Antibodies finally performed their first show at CSHS’s Jungle Jam in May.

“[The Jungle Jam] performance was really fun. The LED stage lights made [getting over stage fright] easy because we were just blinded,” Gerdes said. “But I

• Create an account on a ticket purchasing website (Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, etc)

• Check any updates from your artist on presale codes

• Make sure your artist has a date near you

Before the concert:

• Have a plan for transportation

• Dress according to the weather and your comfort zone

• Make sure your devices are charged

Checklist: • Portable charger • Water & snacks

• Sweater

• Clear bag • Pocket money

At the concert:

• Arrive an hour early to pass through the ticket line fast

• Have your ticket reader to scan on your phone

• Stay hydrated

• Have fun!

think having higher schoolers as our first audience made [gaining confidence on stage] easier.”

Now, the Antibodies perform at bars and events in the Bryan-College Station area because they seized the opportunity to create music.

“Find people who share the same in-

Source: Buzzfeed, By the Byline

terests as you,” Gerdes said. “Even if you only know a few chords or barely know how to play drums, just do it. If you love it, do it. Take initiative.”

•

Music [is] a way for us to connect to other people’s life stories and hear the thoughts of people we’ve never known -Tyler Bailey Sophomore

Winter Wonderland

Local attraction offers fun, helpful job for busy students

Amari Rutherford Editor

As the weather gets colder and College Station welcomes the winter spirit, Santa’s Wonderland opens its gates for the 25th time and in come the applications, many from CSHS students and staff.

English teacher Joey Medlin’s parents and brother opened Santa’s Wonderland 25 years ago after many visits to a similar place outside of Tyler. She said they wanted to bring that same feel to the Bryan/ College Station area. In addition, Medlin helps at the park every year.

“I’ve always been the decorator, I remember the first couple of years wrapping lollipops way back when [we opened],” Medlin said. “ I’m decorating the front scenes of windows that you see with all of the animation and stuff. That’s how I’ve helped out a lot in the preseason, and when I’ve worked there, I’ve been a cashier in the main store.”

Santa’s Wonderland opened this year on Nov. 11.

“I think that it’s perfect because it opens the second weekend in November and closes Dec. 30. It’s toward the end of the academic and athletic season,” Medlin said.

Junior Jackie Diamond is involved in marching band, so when the season was nearing its end, she applied for a job at Santa’s Wonderland. She also worked there last year.

“I definitely like this seasonal job because [it’s at] the end of the year,” Diamond said. “The first two six weeks are super hectic, and it’s a lot of work, so I would not want to be working [around that time] and then [Santa’s Wonderland opens] around Christmas time, which means I can save up money for Christmas.”

Santa’s Wonderland has become a hotspot for teens and young adults for many different reasons.

“It was mostly that I knew most of my friends would work there, [so] it helps me balance work, school and also social life by allowing me to set my time and schedule,” junior Brandon Garcia-Melendez said.

Santa’s Wonderland also gives employees a new experience and working environment.

“It’s definitely a good starter,” senior Avery Barrett said. “It’s rough [and] very demanding, but it’ll teach you how to stay on top of your [work] and be efficient.”

This is also Barrett’s second time working at Santa’s Wonderland, but she also keeps a job year-round at a dance studio and works at the park when in season.

“Because I keep a full time job while I [work at the

park], it can be an added stressor. But last year when I did, it was very helpful, and I got money saved up at the [end] of the year,” Barrett said.

Students like senior Marcella Deer have overcome challenges with the motivating factors of the uniqueness of the job.

“I will admit it is a pretty intense time constraint since my department is low on employees, but I thought this was a cool opportunity to have a job that is very unique,” Deer said.

Deer works as a character in the park.

“There’s nothing else like my specific job at Santa’s Wonderland because we as characters bring the magic to the land. Getting to see kids’ eyes light up to meet you is the best, [it makes us] feel like heroes,” Deer said.

Medlin emphasizes the benefit of working at the park.

“It’s a good first job,” Medlin said. “I love the way it gives purpose for kids to be able to buy into something. We teach them how to greet customers, how to make people feel special and feel wanted. There’s so much on personal development, on how to engage with a guest.

Medlin believes the skills learned at Santa’s Wonderland translate past the job.

“When they practice their job description [and] really understand it and then they’re able to carry it out, it’s almost like having a really good first encounter in the job world because you’ve got so much support in helping you be successful,” Medlin said. •

▲Senior Marcella Deer takes on a role as one of Santa’s elves, Tinsel, who tells kids whether they are are on Santa’s naughty or nice list. She is located in Santa’s Station at Santa’s Wonderland.

PHOTO BY CLAIRE GUO

Graphics by Lauren Byerly

Working towards common goal strengthens team bonds

Sadie Rigby Editor

It’s December, meaning that basketball is officially in season. While the first game of this year was Nov. 11 against Waco High School, starting Oct. 26, the players had their first official practice, but that only means the team could practice before and after school. In reality, practice starts the first day of school during the off season.

Coach Jerron Reese believes these efforts lead his team to success.

“It’s being ready, being prepared,” Reese said. “Having a plan, game plans, practicing plans, so the kids know exactly what to expect on a day-to-day basis. When it comes to practice, when it comes to games, they know exactly how the coach is going to be prepared. I think it makes an environment that is conditional to our success.”

Before the official practices and games of the season, players are enrolled in the basketball athletic period, a requirement for most players, to be on the team.

Now that the season has started, players have practice starting at 6:25 in the morning, and during fourth period. The team also has weight room on Wednesdays and

Saturdays while in season.

Although they had a rocky start last year, senior Joey Toussaint is hopeful for a great season this year.

“I think our team chemistry is a lot better,” senior Joey Toussaint said. “We’ve all worked hard this summer. We push each other and work hard in the off-season. We look a lot better because we all care about each other and care about one common goal, which is to have a good season.”

The team is led by Reese and Coach Jeff McMillan, who “are both great leaders and set a really good example,” Toussaint said. “It also helps that they’re really smart when it comes to basketball.”

One strength of the boy’s basketball team this year is the experience of the players.

“The experience is a strength, for sure, as well as senior leadership,” Reese said.

The feeling of unity and playing for each other builds a bond among players.

“I think the main thing that makes our team good is we’re all really close on the team,” Toussaint said. “We play for each other and have one common goal that we all work towards.”•

Girl basketball team shoots for state championship

Sadie Rigby Editor

The girls’ basketball team is entering the beginning of its season, but preseason started at the beginning of the year.

“We are spending lots of time working on us,” Coach Deanna Doles said. “We are practicing, watching film, and just trying to get better each day. We play lots of pre-season games and tournaments to get us ready for what matters most and that is district play.”

Last year, the season started rough, Vivaldi explained. However, the team was able to get some players back, which helped them go deeper into the playoffs.

each year,” Vivaldi said.

Some of this progress can be attributed to the returning experienced varsity players.

“We pretty much are returning the same team,” Vivaldi said, “so I’m excited to see what we can do this year.”

Doles shared there are a variety of strengths that will aid the team this year.

“I think that we are a better defensive team than we have been in the past. We are not allowing as many points throughout the season. I think we also have kids that know how to win, and once we get everyone on the same page, we will be competing with the top teams in the state,” Doles said.

BY SADIE RIGBY

“I feel like it’s getting better and better each year. I’ve been to state two years out of the four years I’ve been here, and we’ve made some deep playoff runs

With a returning team of experienced varsity players, the team is hopeful to go far into the playoffs.

“I want to get a ring this year,” Vivaldi said, “so hopefully state champions is the goal.”

PHOTO

BY SADIE RIGBY

Cougar football team advances to state semifinal game

Rhyan Kalke Editor

With the stadium lights illuminating them, the Cougar defense made a goalline stand as time expired in their playoff game against Smithson Valley on Dec. 3 in Pflugerville.

Advancing to the state semifinals in football for the fourth time in the school’s 11-year history, the Cougars will face Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Alamadome in San Antonio.

“It’s a blessing being able to play,” junior Arrington Maiden said. “Not everyone can.”

In fact, only four teams remain in the 5A Division 1 playoffs, and a win would propel the Cougars to the state finals for a second consecutive year. As the season nears a close, the players reflect on what they’ve learned from this opportunity to play.

“The rewarding parts are the relationships you get out of it,” senior defensive back Zach Proffit said. “[We] fight for the people around us, It teaches us disci-

pline, integrity and perseverance. Those are lifelong skills [we’ll] have forever. We learn to fight not only for ourselves but for [those] around us.”

While balancing other aspects of their lives, athletes have shown commitment and integrity as they’ve had to stay focused on their team and to the game.

“You’ve got to find time to do what you love,” Proffit said. “We have some really good players. We have a lot of really good people on our team that [got] the job done. I’m happy with us.”

Despite the challenges that came this season due to the loss of several coaches, players on the team were optimistic about the upcoming season. In the end, the football team defied the skepticism surrounding the new season.

“Cougar football is the same even with the faces of the program changing,” Maiden said. “It [was] a new era of Cougar football. Playing for each other instead of playing for ourselves put us in a really good spot. [This season] was a really big learning curve for some of the younger guys. We’re very talented and can go a long way.” •

Girls cross country places at state

Joi Speck Editor

The girls cross country team emerged victorious Nov. 11 with a third place finish at the UIL State Championship meet in Round Rock.

“Our girls cross country team is made up of a tremendous group of young ladies, [especially] our senior leaders,” head coach Josh Munson said. “We had goals at the beginning of the season to win a district championship and regional championship, [both] of which proved successful. [Even] at the state cham-

pionship, we found ourselves on a podium with a third place state finish, the second highest finish [the team] has ever had.”

Seventh place finisher at the state meet, senior Megan Roberts explains how she wards off weariness during such a long season.

“Mental strength is [important] once you hit your [weakest] points. You [must] keep the finish line and your friends in mind, and [persevere] for them,” Roberts said.

This strenuous contest of stamina attracts many who seek a worthy chal-

lenge and competition.

“With the race distance being a little over three miles, we obviously have to [invest] an immense amount of work,” Munson said. “This is often what scares people away from the sport but makes me respect it even more.”

Despite the trials and tribulations, the end result has been worth its while.

“The smiles and the joys that we got to experience at the state meet came with some hardships and pain from previous years-just seeing that work be rewarded was really gratifying,” Munson said. •

▲ Senior defensive lineman Korbin Johnson (94) sacks Consol’s quarterback on Oct. 28. The Cougars won 38-28 against their hometown rival to earn a share of the district title.

Volleyball team reaches playoffs

Emily Borham Editor

The volleyball team advanced to theplayoffs after finishing third in district. Winning both the bi-district and area rounds, the team fell to district foe Montgomery Lake Creek in the region quarterfinals on Nov. 8 in Anderson-Shiro, 25-18, 25-10, 25-23.

Senior Marcella Deer reflected that despite the loss in round three, the season was her favorite one.

“The season was kind of an upward slope because we started out good and just kept improving until we really started to click after the first round of district,” Deer said.

Adjusting to a new coaching staff, the team faced challenging opponents all season, but didn’t let the odds scare them, as-

sistant coach Keisha Thiebaud said.

“It was fun being the underdog sometimes, being able to compete with teams that physically were very imposing,” she said, “but we were able to beat them, especially in our playoff run.”

As the season progressed, the team built strengths together.

“We grew an understanding of the makeup of our team and then connected with one another to trust one another, especially defensively,” Thiebaud said.

As the season came to an end, Thiebaud said it was a privilege “having a front row seat to see them pursue their dreams alongside their teammates.”

“They just really worked hard every day for the goals that we put before them and trusted us as a new staff and came together,” Thiebaud said. “The expectation of achieving was a neat experience for us.”

•

After four wins in the playoffs, including a defensive stand against Smithson Valley in the last seconds of the game last week, the team will play in the state semifinal game against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Alamadome in San Antonio.

PHOTO BY COURTNEY WELLMANN

November’s National Novel Writing Month inspires creativity, imagination

Claire Guo Editor

With the return of November comes the revival of autumn spirit and fall traditions. Like the leaves that descend during this season, writers across the country are diving into their stories. In 2021, 427,653 writers participated in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, a month where authors are encouraged to write 50,000 words in the span of 30 days, including students here at CSHS.

“I was drawn by the exhilarating aspect of creating a story that has a word limit that I have never personally reached before in the time span of a month,” senior and Creative Writing Club president Krisha Dhaduk said. “I wanted to do something to challenge myself, so this activity definitely was a good idea for me.”

The month of November has been prominent to authors for quite some time, with NaNoWriMo officially starting in 1999. English teacher and Creating Writing Club sponsor Krystle Lopez first encountered the activity in her college years.

“[I participated in] something called a SCRIMO. It was where you wrote a script for 30 days in April,” Lopez said. “The following November, I did NaNoWriMo.”

is] to get it out of your head,” Lopez said. “You actually accomplish the goal of writing a novel.”

Lopez enjoys dystopian stories and realistic fiction. For this year’s NaNoWriMo however, she is stepping outside her comfort zone.

“I think that’s good because I’m not focusing on something that I’ve already written,” Lopez said. “I know it’s new, so there’s no right or wrong way right now.”

In contrast, Novosad plans to stick to what she normally writes, which is contemporary. As someone who’s participated previously, she hopes to succeed in writing more.

“That’s always gonna be what I’m striving towards,” Novosad said. “[NaNoWriMo] gives you more practice. It pushes you to work past things that you struggle with.”

A writer may have trouble deciding between whether to stay within their area of expertise or challenge themselves.

▲English teacher and yearbook advisor Krystle Lopez motivates herself during the month with a planner that lists a series of goals encouraging herself to reach the end target of 50,000 words.

PHOTO BY CLAIRE GUO

-laurenparrinGrabowski

junior

“I believe it’s their choice,” Dhaduk said. “Even if they stick in their comfort zone, the other parts of this activity are challenging enough for students. So, they will inevitably challenge themselves one way or another.”

Successful NaNoWriMo Books

“The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern

Junior Emma Novosad, who’s also the Creative Writing Club’s vice president, has also been familiar with NaNoWriMo, through her own experience of engaging with writers.

“I’ve known about [NaNoWriMo] for a while since I follow authors, but I’ve never participated until last year,” Novosad said. “It gives me an opportunity to strive towards a bigger goal than I usually would.”

Others, like junior and Creative Writing Club secretary Lauren Parrin Grabowski, only recently discovered this monthly project.

“I found out about it last year during Creative Writing Club because they thought it would be a fun activity to include,” Parrin Grabowski said. “[Writing] means putting your thoughts onto paper that you can’t really express in other ways.”

Many authors are intrigued by NaNoWriMo since it pushes writers to write continuously. Since the ultimate goal is a novel, writers are encouraged not to get caught up on perfectionism.

“NaNoWriMo was the ability to write without editing. The point is not to write and do it well; [the point

Every writer has their strengths and weaknesses. For many, the issue lies with consistency.

“It’s hard to be consistent about something when you always come up with new ideas about who the characters can be and the way the world works,” Parrin Grabowski said.

Dhaduk, who excels at creative imagery said she struggles with incorporating thoughts into her stories. However, she believes that participating in NaNoWriMo will aid her improvement in these areas.

“NaNoWriMo makes you write constantly in order to reach your goal, so you are forced to keep writing, which helps to develop your writing skills, as you don’t let perfectionism stop you,” Dhaduk said. “By the end of this month, I hope to achieve a completed story that I will be proud of sharing.”

Each day through November is an opportunity to grow as an author.

“[NaNoWriMo] is a good opportunity to try to get as many words out as possible,” Parrin Grabowski said. “Instead of focusing on what it is, [it’s about] focusing on getting it out and building it up.”

•

Two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to duel each other behind the scenes at the circus, will fall in love depsite the fate they face.

“Water For Elephants” by Sara Gruen

In the early part of the Great Depression, young vet student Jacob, who finds himself in charge of circus animals, befriends beautiful equestrian star Marlena, and through love and trust with an untrainable elephant, they fight to survive.

Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA during the day in Atlanta and then at night she uses magic weapons to battle monstrous creatures in the dark realm known as Wonderland.

Graphics by Sonya Lin

Source: company.overdrive.com

“A Blade So Black” by L.L. McKinney

[writing] means putting your thoughts onto paper that you can’t really express in other ways

Winter Shuffle

Holiday music brings festive spirit throughout joyous season

YouTube “Swinging Christmas”

Elisabeth Stewart Editor-in-Chief

I have to make a confession, one that I hope doesn’t land me on Santa’s “Naughty List”: I rarely listen to Christmas music, even during the holiday season. In the flurry of coordinating gift exchanges and managing relative vs. relative disputes, music simply gets lost in the holiday shuffle, at least until Christmas Eve, when my grandmother uncovers her dusty CD collection for background noise while we open gifts. As such, I was skeptical that YouTube Music’s featured playlists could transport me to a winter wonderland.

I went in search of songs other than the mainstream, modern holiday pop on

Spotify “Rock Christmas”

Claire Guo Editor

The winter puzzle is never finished without that last piece of holiday music. Though Christmas music is known for its joyous melodies, the category encapsulates a broad range of genres. This season, I began to immerse myself in the winter spirit with a play on typical Christmas music, by listening to the playlist “Rock Christmas.” Created by Spotify itself, this holiday playlist consists of five hours and 28 minutes of over 100 Christmas songs, and as the title suggests, with a rocking plot twist.

Initially, I was a bit wary of the length. While I enjoy rock music, I wouldn’t label myself a rock fanatic; therefore, the number of songs intimidated me. No matter how good a genre, listening to five hours of the same sounds was not my choice of pastime. However, I quickly realized that I had no reason to fear repetition.

The first song played was My Chemical Romance’s cover of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The song started slow, but the

YouTube Music, a free streaming platform that taps into all of the content on YouTube to curate featured playlists, and I clicked on the “Swingin’ Christmas” playlist, which claimed to “set the perfect Christmas party mood” with “swinging holiday classics from the 1950s to today” through 60 songs spanning two hours and 51 minutes.

Perry Como’s baritone voice washed away my skepticism with the first bar of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Shuffling through the playlist, I soon found myself humming along to Frank Sinatra’s “Jingle Bells” and Louis Armstrong’s “Cool Yule.” I had heard all of these classic Christmas songs before, but the vintage rendition was a nice change from the radio and made me desperately

pace immediately quickened into an intense beat with powerful vocals. “12 Days of Christmas” cover by Relient K was similar. The true love presented their eccentric gifts just like the original, but unlike the origina’s subtle happy instrument, the singing was paired with fast-paced electric guitar.

Some songs started with a relaxing beat and then briskly whisked the listener into its breakneck instrumentals and fierce vocals, such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” from Bad Religion. Others like “Feliz Navidad” from El Vez and “Christmas Song” by Escape the Fate immediately introduced its brisk tempo. The playlist includes loud, harsh songs like Halestorm’s “Mistress for Christmas,” and more melodic, slow ones such as Coldplay’s “Christmas Lights” and This Wild Life’s “Sleigh Ride.”

For those wanting to indulge in the hearty atmosphere of Christmas music, but are a bit bored of the usual jolly tunes that bombard the radio, I recommend listening to “Rock Christmas” on Spotify. What better way to delve into the holiday spirit than with some rock n’ roll music?•

miss my grandparents’ scratchy CDs. Most of the playlist’s songs shared the rich voices and smooth, jazzy touch of the 1950s, which lulled me into a holiday calm.

While listening, I enjoyed the feature that allows listeners to watch the music video along with the song. Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” played alongside an animated short of children exploring Santa’s workshop, as did Ella Fitzgerald’s “Frosty The Snowman.” I felt like I was watching a holiday TV special on loop.

Nearing the end of the playlist, “Swingin’ Christmas” surprised me with more modern renditions by John Legend and Micheal Bublé. The upbeat, modern tunes of Legend’s “Bring Me Love” felt out of place among the older tunes, so I

Apple Music “Navidad Latina”

Briceida Bellon Managing Editor

Judging from the climb of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on the charts every November, I wouldn’t be the only person agreeing that the holiday season begins early November rather than December. In fact, Apple Music’s Browse Tab knowingly suggests the “Get Merry” category a collection of holiday playlists in early November. Although all spread holiday cheer, I opted to listen to “Navidad Latina” and connect with the holiday spirit and my Hispanic heritage.

The first song I blasted “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano a classic I’m confident everyone has heard in their own holiday playlists. A good amount of tunes that followed matched its popularity because they were Spanish covers of common songs. Although I appreciated the familiarity, I worried the covers would outshine original Spanish songs. Thankfully, the Apple employee who handpicked songs did not disappoint once I heard Juan Gabriel’s

returned to the playlist’s start for the smooth tones of Sinatra.

“Swingin’ Christmas” closely resembled the “Vintage Christmas Crooners” and “Fun Christmas Oldies” playlists. However, there were a few unique selections that I browsed, including “A Sunny Brazilian Christmas,” “French Christmas Songs” and “Today’s R&B Christmas.”

While most of YouTube Music’s playlists contain classic holiday songs, the vintage take and modern viewing features were enough to put even a music-Scrooge like me in the holiday spirit. Anyone with a YouTube account can access the service for free and save songs while listening to allow the platform to keep curating music to each person’s taste long after the holiday season. •

angelic voice thanking his love for another holiday spent together on “24 de Diciembre” (24th of December).

Juan Gabriel wasn’t the only recognizable name on the playlist voices of other famous Spanish artists along with strings, piano chords and chimes filled my AirPods as they remembered past Christmases.

Besides featuring Spanish artists and their songs, “Navidad Latina” included other aspects of Hispanic culture, like Mariachi music.“Navidad en America” (Christmas in America) performed by Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, a five minute arrangement of popular Christmas songs alternating between Spanish and English grabbed my attention not because of the song’s festive spirit, but because of the language switches I found myself singing along with.

With various genres, “Navidad Latina” captures the holiday spirit in Hispanic culture. Whether you’re looking to get into the festive mood or practice your rusty Spanish-speaking skills, give “Navidad Latina” a listen on Apple Music.•

Mobile games offer entertainment, fun, engagement, distractions

Crick Editor

Most students at CSHS have a phone and most likely have games on that phone, and some of these students play these games with a passion.

“[Games are] very accessible, close and free to play. You don’t need to do much of anything,” junior Avery Cao said. “They’re really easy to play and they’re available.”

Popular mobile games include Cookie Run Kingdom, Colorful Stage, Genshin Impact and Angry Birds.

“The games are very vast, and you just have to find something that’s right for you,” Cao said. “But it’s going to be very hard unless you know exactly what you want.”

Though games can be distracting if played during class, there are free opportunities to play in school.

“[I was introduced to Cookie Run through] one of my friends, she played it and I was like ‘that game looks kind of slay,’” junior Jumana Alani said. “[I usually play] during advocate, and if I’m with my friends we’ll play it together.”

Studies such as one conducted at the University of London show that people who play games are able to be more decisive, but games can also provide relaxation and, obviously, the satisfaction of winning or completing an objective.

“It’s a way for me to pay attention while I’m doing something else,” Alani said. “I can’t really just sit there, so it’s a good way for me to do something that’s kind of mindless so that I actually absorb what I’m learning instead of not paying attention.”

But mobile games can have negative effects too. Having access to a game in your pocket at all times can be a distraction, and the game developers put many

ways for the player to spend money into their games as well.

“They always trick you into paying more and spending money,” Cao said. “That’s also because mobile games are usually free-to-play games, and their income is strongly based on users spending money on their game or ads.”

Developers also litter mobile games with psychological hooks to get players to constantly log back in.

“In the mobile game realm, it’s a very different market than Call Of Duty or FIFA, where the idea is that you’re probably going to play for thirty min utes or longer,” AV teacher Powell said. “In a mobile game it might be three minutes so, you have to have those psychologi cal elements built in to pull people back in.”

Features such

as loot boxes, log in rewards, or daily quests are common features in the mobile game market, and simpler games tend to be more addictive as well.

“There’s also a thing called the Fear Of Missing Out,” Powell said. “Where basical ly you have time gated content where there’s this super cool thing that will only be here for thirty hours and its going to cost a ridiculous amount of in-game currency or, of course, you can spend $40 on it.”

Often, the most important factor of mobile games for both the player and the developer is that the game is fun to play.

“It’s really more about the satisfaction that comes from the game, and that quite so strongly depends on the type of game and what rewards you get out from doing what they tell you to do,” Cao said.•

A rhythm-based game where the player has to tap, slide and flick notes falling towards the bottom of the screen

An open-world adventure game where the player journeys across a fantasy world to find a twin

A city-building game where players must upgrade buildings and acquire new cookies to battle enemies

A classic physics game where players shoot birds out of a slingshot into towers to destroy them

Source: Apple App Store

Dean

[games are] a good way for me to do something that’s kind of mindless so [i can] absorb what i’m learning -jumana alani junior

Art by Joi Speck

Variety of

winter traditions

December and January mark some of the most joyous, cheerful and magical times of the year. Many unique and jubilant holidays occur during these two months. Christmas is one of the most popular holidays celebrated during this time, but there are many other holidays besides Christmas that are set during this festive time of the year.

One popular winter holiday celebrated to welcome the coming of a new year and the arrival of spring is Lunar New Year. Senior Dat Ha spends his time on this particular day with his family to reconnect and pray.

“My family and I go to the Buddhist temple every year during Lunar New Year,” Ha said. “It’s very important to us because we don’t cel ebrate the other tradi tional holidays such as Christmas and Thanks giving, so celebrating Lu nar New Year [gives us] an ex cuse to visit [family].”

Another holiday celebrated during these two winter months is Chinese New Year. Similar to Lunar New Year, this holiday also celebrates the coming of a new year, but it is mainly centered around removing the bad and the old and welcoming the new and the good. Despite distance barriers, sophomore Kelly Ding, through the use of social network apps, breaks these barriers to cel ebrate Chinese New Year with family back home.

“We typically celebrate from afar but close by watching the CCTV New Year’s Gala. We’ll call our relatives for pretty much the entire day [using WeChat/ WeiXin], eat dumplings and cozy up inside,” Ding said. “Chinese New Year means a lot to me because time on New Year’s seems to just slow down when the adults are zapped out of work and the children from school. It really allows time for family to connect and have fun.”

Winter Solstice, another holiday celebrated in December, was created to recognize the return or birth of the Sun. During this time of darkness and bitter cold, sophomore Ella Ferguson finds warmth and comfort through celebrating traditions with family.

highlight array of cultures, iniate passage to new year

“My family and I call [Winter Solstice] Mørketid. It is the [coldest] and darkest day of the year because of the little light [we receive from the Sun]. It celebrates the coming of spring, nature and warmth,” Ferguson said. “We celebrate with Yule logs, an actual log we put spices on, and little wishes for the coming year, and then burn to appeal to the gods.”

For some, December marks a time for service and kindness. Sophomore David Paull, by celebrating Hanukkah, provides aid and kindness to others in need.

“We play the traditional game of spin the dreidel, occasionally give gifts, and my mom sometimes bakes Sufganiyot, which are Jewish donuts,” Paull said.

“The most important tradition of all, though, I believe is service. It’s part of the more spiritual side of Hanukkah.”

To many CSHS students, the holidays are a way to reconnect with their culture from afar. Ha views Lunar New Year as a way for him to connect back to his roots in Vietnam.

“I feel like the Lunar New Year is bigger to our family in America than it is in Vietnam, because for us, we feel like we’re preserving our culture,” Ha said. “I feel a little disconnected at times, for us first generation Asian Americans. Sometimes it feels like we’re too American for our people, but too ‘Asian’ for Americans.”

Chinese New Year helps bridge the gap between Ding and her family overseas, additionally providing a learning experience for Ding to learn about her culture.

“My parents grew up celebrating Chinese New Year and even though they’re far away from their hometowns, they still want to celebrate something that brought them joy in their childhoods. Chinese New Year helps connect me back to my family from far away,” Ding said. “There’s a [big] disparity between my parents’ knowledge [about Chinese New Year and the Chinese Culture versus] mine. I really wish I knew more about my culture.”

To Ferguson, Winter Solstice is a reminder of her roots, a way to keep from losing her heritage.

“[Celebrating Winter Solstice] helps connect me back to my roots. After moving to America, I worry that my family and I will forget our old Norwegian and Scandinavian traditions,” Ferguson said. “ We didn’t. Instead, we integrated [our traditions] into American

▲

▲Sophomore Kelly Ding makes Chinese New Year banners during 2021. The gold inscription is caligraphy representing good luck of the new year. PHOTO PROVIDED BY DING

▲Sophomore Ella Ferguson creates small flowers from tissue paper that decorate her family’s Yule Log during Winter Solstice, 2022. PHOTO PROVIDED

culture and brought that with us to [College Station].”

No matter how distant one feels from their culture, students can share their cultural differences with others as a learning experience.

“Everyone here is very friendly and accepting of my [cultural differences]. I feel very welcomed and that [CSHS] is somewhere I can [fit in],” Paull said.

•

Sonya Lin Editor

Sophomore David Paull, then three years old, shares latkes with applesauce with his dad during Hanukkah of December 2011.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAULL

BY FERGUSON

-dat ha senior

celebrating lunar new year [gives us] an excuse to visit [family]

Graphics by Claire Guo