The Catamount - Dec. 2018 - Vol. 7 No. 3

C

College Station High School

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Vol. 7 No. 3

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

World on Fire

the CATAMOUNT

12

“Nutcracker” production stars several CSHS students.

14

Girls basketball bonds through shared goal.

19

New research on climate change raises concerns about environmental issues

Cosmic Lemonade produces alternative music.

Dru Peacock Editor-in-Chief

INDEX

News Opinions People Sports Health & Rec. Entertainment Etc.

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

Every day our planet is changing. According to NASA, glaciers are melting, animals are changing their ranges and the world is gradually warming.

The United States, along with only four other countries, is responsible for more than 50% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. As CO2 is produced and the sun’s rays continue to heat Earth’s surface, our atmosphere absorbs the heat and traps the warmth inside, otherwise known as climate change.

“Research shows that our climate is getting warmer. Depending on how you read the graphs, some say it’s natural causes; some say it’s man-made. But based on the scientific stuff that I’ve seen, I would say that we, humans, are having an effect,” Environmental Science teacher Robert Ondrasek said.

Those effects would include changes in precipitation patterns, increased heat waves and droughts, stronger hurricanes and higher sea levels, which increases flooding according to NASA. If our environment continues in this pattern, those effects could be impacting us quite quickly.

continued on page 3

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2 News The Catamount What’s

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

What's

PAST PAST Robotics Team to compete in nationals Nov. 13: Team Quantum A placed first out of 15 teams at the VEX Cy Woods Competition and will now compete at the U.S. Open VEX national competition in April.

Senior Strutters perform in Macy’s Parade Nov. 22: Five senior members of the dance team traveled to New York City over Thanksgiving Break to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Student Council hosts Warrior Walk Dec. 1: To raise money for Aggie Shields, Student Council held a relay at the track. The event also included a silent auction and food trucks.

FFA members compete at state competition Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Eight FFA students traveled to Sam Houston State University to compete at the state competition in Senior Skills and Greenhand Quiz. Neither teams advanced past the preliminary round.

NEW Band hosts holiday concert Dec. 17: Four ensembles will perform holidaymusic next Monday in the auditorium. Admission is free and the first group begins at 6:30 p.m.

Fall semester final exam schedule Dec. 19: 5th, 6th, Open Campus Lunch, 7th Dec. 20: 3rd, 2nd, Open Campus Lunch, 1st Dec. 21: 4th, early release

Winter Break approaching Dec. 22-Jan. 6 5 Days until Finals 8 Days until Break 16 Days of Break

2019-20 Course Registration Class Meetings During advocate, counselors will host meetings about upcoming course registration.

Jan. 9: Current juniors Jan. 10: Current sophomores Jan. 11: Current freshmen

The Catamount

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

News

3

New initiatives to combat global warming become widely accepted continued from page 1 how you can help the environment

“I do think [climate change] is really serious and something more people should be paying attention to,” said junior Jace Cortez, who is co-chair of the Student Council committee Environment and Energy.

“It’s changing the temperature across the world and the environments that we live in.”

To counteract these potential effects, some cities and companies have taken measures to prevent waste, which in turn helps reduce carbon emissions. Starbucks has promised to replace plastic straws by 2020 with recyclable lids, and Hilton Hotels will remove plastic straws from 650 properties in 2018.

“I think [the straw ban] is a right step forward.

There are other things like plastic bag bans that could be effective as well, but I do think it’s a right step forward that we’re making as a society,” Cortez said.

In addition to the city’s plastic bag ban, Austin, Texas recently passed a law that aims to prevent food waste as well. The new ordinance went into effect on Oct. 1 and requires restaurants to either donate unconsumed food or send the scraps to farms or compost them.

Locally, groups at the school are doing their own projects to help turn our environmental situation around as well.

“Every other Wednesday we do recycling after school. We sort paper, plastics and aluminum, and after that we put them into bins and place them outside for the city to come and pick up,” said junior Myra

Dharani, who is a member of the Student Council committee Environment and Energy. “That’s really fun because you can directly see how much our school goes through [and] how many resources we use.”

The committee is also trying to create a school compost. Composting is the process of turning organic scraps such as food and leaves into fuel for soil to create better produce. Other local initiatives include teachers who actively try and conserve paper and resources they use in their classrooms.

“I am very worried about our current environmental system. I see so much waste and so much that could be reused, reduced or recycled.” said Spanish teacher Michelle Vizquerra, who conserves paper as much as possible in her classroom. “I am also grateful to live in a town where we have recycling. In other countries such as Guatemala, where I used to live, there were very few opportunities to recycle.”

Small things such as choosing not to use a straw, bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and simply being conscious of the waste we produce daily can help combat climate change and make the world cleaner.

“Be informed, be aware,” Ondrasek said. “Just understand what it is and what you can do to help. Every little bit helps, it’s not going to be just one thing.

Your generation is going to solve it. We have the technology already, somebody’s just going to have to put their foot forward.”•

Use refillable water bottles •

Landfills are overflowing with water bottles alone. Pack a reusable bottle and skip the plastic.

Reduce meat consumption •

Red meat is responsible for 10-40 times as many greenhouse emissions as common vegetables.

Bring your own bag

• Plastic bags are a huge threat to marine life. Use a reusable bag next time (there are some pretty cute designs out there too).

Reduce your paper use •

40% of the world’s cut timber is used for paper. This uses tons of water and endangers natural habitats.

Source: naturespath.com

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News

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

The Catamount

Student Council promotes school unity through projects Aliza Ali Staff Reporter The Student Council has been growing ever since the opening of the school, giving back to the community and refining the school and the lives of students. Their focus is to find ways to help the school and the community. The Texas Association of Student Councils recognizes the council as an Outstanding Student Council.

Student Body President, senior Halle Fouch, started participating in the Student Council as a general member during her sophomore year, and continued as a secretary junior year.

“I moved here my freshman year from Miami, and I really have a heart for service. I wanted to help others, so I decided Student Council was probably the best outlet for that,” Fouch said.

Student Body Vice President, junior Jensen McMurray, has been a council member since her freshman year and has been an executive member since.

“I have always had a desire to organize something bigger than myself. Being able to create projects to drive the school forward was a great way to do that,” McMurray said.

Council members are responsible for setting up approximately 90 to 100 events at the school every year, including large events such as Homecoming and Prom.

“We do a lot more than people understand. All of the school dances, pretty much every single activity that goes on within the school, we organize or help promote,” Fouch said.

A new sponsor, English and AP US History teacher Jonathan Brady, recalls seeing how much the council makes the school better.

“As I observed our Student Council throughout the years, I

witnessed how much they did for our school and our community.

I jumped at the chance to be a part of positively impacting our community with the amazing students in the StuCo,” Brady said.

Spanish teacher April Todd has enjoyed sponsoring the council and meeting students who she wouldn’t have met otherwise.

“I love working with students with servant hearts and want to reach out to help and serve others,” Todd said.

Council members strive to be learn leadership skills to represent the student body.

“Being a part of StuCo is being part of a team, and even a family,” McMurray said.

English teacher Mindi Cameron once served as a Student Council president and knows how much the organization impacts the community and helps the school grow.

“As a current sponsor, I now have an opportunity to cultivate those same skills within the next generation of difference-makers,” Cameron said.

This year, council members emphasized developing and creating stronger bonds, while also focusing on mental health and improving the school, the community and the world.

“This year, we really focused on building relationships and growing. We’ve made sure our council is like a family and we all have these strong bonds within our executives and our general members,” Fouch said.

Overall, members have been doing more to serve the community and getting involved with projects that will make the school better.

“It truly teaches students how to lead and to create projects with others. It encourages service and sacrifice and how to enjoy doing these things. I can’t think of a better way to prepare young adults for the world,” Brady said.•

student council committees Energy and Environment: Conducts projects related to environment conservation Service: Responsible for general volunteering and community service

Health and Safety: Conducts projects related to drug and alcohol education

Pride and Patriotism: Conducts projects concerning proudness of an individual, school and community Stattitude: Boosts student attitude and morale

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

News

The Catamount

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Speaking multiple languages enhances life opportunities, perspectives Loredana Pearlstein Staff Reporter Most schools require two years of foreign language, and many students find themselves trudging through those four semesters, forgetting everything except “hola” by graduation. The value of bilingualism is often forgotten, yet the several students who possess this skill find a pride in their culture and expanded opportunities for communication.

“I mainly speak Russian other than English,”junior Sasha Koustova said. “My first language at age three or four was Russian, since I was raised around Russian parents that spoke it all the time.”

While for the most part the diversity of languages at CSHS are a result of these diverse cultures, they can also be a result of years of practice and learning.

“The main language that I speak is Arabic, since I was born in an Arabic country,” junior Naomi Quntar said. “Later at the age of three I started learning English. It was the secondary language that [Jordanian schools] taught us in Kindergarten. When I was five, they started teaching French in the first grade. And now

I’m learning Spanish.”

However, for the most part, languages are diverse expressions of culture and allow for people—a far ways away from the homelands of their culture—to connect with their heritage and express themselves differently than in their daily lives.

“I watch a lot of Bollywood movies at home and at Cinemark, and those are obviously in Hindi,” junior Shreya Majeti said.

“When calling my cousins in India or talking to my little sister at home, I often find proverbs in Hindi express my thoughts more.”

The ability to speak in several tongues is an incredibly helpful tool for the future as well.

“I think it is really helpful for my future.

Nowadays whenever [Human Resources] sees that there are multiple languages on a resume,” junior Naomi Quntar said, “the chances of getting the job would be higher. Also, I’m planning on living in Spain when I get older, and I’m pretty sure that I need to know how to speak Spanish if I want to live there.”

Languages also hold value for present students in their immediate lives.

“Spanish is applied to my daily life,” sophomore

I often find proverbs in hindi express my thoughts more.

-shreya majeti

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source: Texas Tribune Marianna Arteaga said. “I speak mostly English in school and Spanish at home. Speaking more than one language has so many advantages. I can easily communicate in places where only Spanish is spoken. I can also translate to people that need help in English, which I often do.”

Languages and culture can be an integral part of the school community and a vital part of the lives of multilingual students. “[My favorite part of being bilingual is that] I get to be unique at College Station High School for my ability to speak Russian since it is one of the rarer cultural backgrounds present,” Koustova said. “[However] the most important thing about speaking another language is my ability to talk and spend time with my other family members.”•

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6

Opinions

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

staff editorial

Communication key to resolving conflicts with others The way we deal with conflict, especially in professional settings such as school and work, can define our relationships with those around us. In newspaper, if an editorial or story or page is turned in late, another person is affected. Without communicating, it’s difficult to be productive and have healthy relationships with others on staff. In any relationship, professional or personal, communication is key. Working out issues, especially sensitive ones, calls for mature communication and discussion so that the problem can be resolved as quickly as possible.

With social media, it’s easy to misunderstand “ghosting” or “subtweeting” as healthy communication or potential conflict resolution. Instead of being passive aggressive or vague, it’s better to be honest and real about how we feel about a problem. In doing this, the problem is out in the open. There’s no beating around the bush, and we can get started on fixing the problem right away.

Instead of being afraid of hurting someone’s feelings or making someone angry, approach it in a way that is concerned and ask for a way you can help. On staff, if someone can’t turn a story in on time or take photos for an article, they should communicate it to the rest of the staff so that we can work out a solution as a team. Someone can volunteer to take the photos, the page editor understands why the story is going to be late and the production of the paper as a whole runs much more smoothly.

Communicating effectively allows us to avoid frustration and hard feelings towards those we work with. Without it, how would we ever know how someone feels or what they’re going through? No matter the issue, the best solution is to simply express your feelings and work your way to better conflict resolution.•

Staff Reporters

Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

Newspaper offers opportunities within journalism The beginning of freshman year was probably one of the most Ayden Woods i n t e r e s t i n g points in my life. It was when I discovered journalism and the incredible opportunity that it gives people.

Through Newspaper we are able to express opinions freely and share student stories that would otherwise go unknown to the rest of the school. We make amazing friendships and bonds with the other staff members that make working fun. For instance, a senior staffer in the 2017-2018 school year was my mentor, but that developed into a friendship through our love of memes and the ability to make each other

laugh.

We are also able to do things most students can’t, like taking photos on the sideline of the football field or basketball court.

When I take photos at football games, I am able to experience the game from a closer point of view than the stands are able to

Art by Grace Costenbader provide. There is a sense of gency and action when I see players running past me to water or to substitute in.

We always have a lot of in Newspaper, whether we

urthe get fun are

playing a game or creating the paper. We have a late night where we eat good food while also finishing designs for the pages of the paper. At one late night we had a griddle, and we cooked animal shaped pancakes and created food combinations that were surprisingly good.

Newspaper is a great way for us to improve our writing skills.

We learn how to write all types of stories and develop skills in design and page layouts. We learn how to take good photos that capture emotion and action and to find the moments that may not seem like much, but then we turn them into something fantastic.

If you discover that you do like writing stories and having fun, but also getting experience as a journalist, you should consider joining Newspaper.•

View of the Pride: Do you deal with confrontation?

YES “I address the issue with the person, but I think about it before I do it so I can make an argument about it.”

-Julia Lee, senior “When there is a problem, I like to confront it. I can’t let things sit.”

-Brianna Reyes, junior

NO “I don’t deal with confrontation.

I stay blocking out the haters.”

-Michelle Bowie, junior

“I get sweaty and don’t want to talk to them.”

-Angel Castro, senior

The Catamount Newspaper

2018-2019 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor Opinions Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Assistant Editor

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

The Catamount

Dru Peacock Grace Costenbader Katie Guye Makayla Fox Kylie Vernon Catie Sikes Ethan Cohen Melanie Evans Jaycie Robinson Ayden Woods Aliza Ali Loredana Pearlstein Jayci Tawney Grace Costenbader Sloan Peacock 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 and 2016, 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. 14, 2018

The Catamount

Suppression of emotions harms health, relationships with others Oh no. You let it loose. It wasn’t your intention, but you couldn’t help it. You let it fly, a grenade just soaring through the air, the pin falling from your shaking hand. For a moment, everything stands still. Next thing you know, you’re lying in the fallout Grace of your own destruction. These are Costenbader the consequences of suppressing emotions.

The suppression of emotions is detrimental to one’s health and the health of surrounding loved ones. Suppressing emotions is essentially sensing the presence of an emotion and choosing to shove it away, out of sight and out of mind. We think that since we no longer notice the emotion, it must be gone. However, inhibiting ourselves from feeling emotions often results in changes in behavior and mood. According to psychology scholar Art by Grace Hanan Parvez, mood swings and depression are directly linked to emotions buried in the subconscious mind. While they seem safely stowed away, they are just waiting for the right moment to resurface. Slowly, the weight increases.

In my own life, I’ve only experienced the negative effects of suppressing my emotions (and I’d venture to say that there are no positive effects). It’s so easy for us to

assume that everyone else is doing way better than we are, but truthfully, we all have something that we could slump down onto the floor and sob over. Hiding our feelings, even everyday blues, creates wounds that are difficult to heal. In the moment, it seems like a good way to shove past how I’m feeling so that I can continue to function at my seemingly normal and healthy pace. Unfortunately, my “sensible” decision is the one to gently knock over the first domino, ultimately resulting in wreckage and hurt.

Honesty is the foundation of healthy relationships and emotions shouldn’t be an exception to that rule. Relationships with loved ones can only go so far when emotions aren’t conveyed or felt. Eventually the weight of those unfelt emotions becomes so unbearable that they unleash themselves on the world, most of the time producing conflict and the generation of barriers in relationships. You’ll find yourself sitting Costenbader in the midst of the ashes of your emotions and begin to wonder how they became so aggressive.

Emotions are meant to be felt. Felt emotions deny the grenade’s creation and in turn deny the effects of its inevitable detonation. It is better to hear the comforting words of a friend than the excruciating ringing from an explosion you can’t take back.•

??? QUESTION issue OF THE

What is your level of language comprehension? bilingual

13.5%

monolingual 61% monolingual with some foreign language education

20.2%

multilingual

5.4%

223 people polled

Opinions

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HUMANS of CSHS

Navy Neidig freshman

“I would say I’m an old soul who is passionate about everything I do. I strive to be a better version of myself, and I always look for opportunities to grow.

I find it most admirable when a person is truly honest with you.”

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

COUGAR UNVEILED by sloan peacock

8 Opinions The Catamount Music provides solace, peace amid chaos within life I’m one of those people who almost always listens to music.

I absolutely love everything about music.

It just Aliza Ali helps me stress out less with all of the school work and studying I have to do. Music is truly one of the finest forms of art.

Music is shown to be linked to our emotions, so it can help with stress and make us relax. It always makes schoolwork more tolerable and, in my opinion, really takes the “dying” part out of studying.

The pressure of finals week always gets to me, especially for my harder classes. I like listening to music to help me forget about the stress. I also turn on some piano or instrumental music while I’m studying because it helps me focus better and the music is beautiful to listen to. It’s essentially a form of self care for me.

Certain songs bring back some of the fondest memories of my life and I think

it is an amazing feeling. Old Disney songs remind me of my childhood while boy bands like One Direction make me think of elementary and middle school. Some songs that I was obsessed with a few years ago remind me of certain vacations and some other memories that just make me happy.

Art by Grace Costenbader Music also brings people together in so many ways. We can all ignore differences and come together through our love

for music. I’ve been playing the clarinet since sixth grade, and the past four years would have been so different if I had not been in band. The experience helped me make some amazing friends that I’m still friends with today, even though we live in different states.

When I moved to College Station last summer, I was extremely terrified because I would be leaving all of my friends behind to start all over. However, because of band, I made some more amazing friends, and it made starting high school much less scary. I have a new family now.

Additionally, playing music enhances our brains. It improves mood, memory and brain function. Music always helps boost my

creativity and helps me deal with the anxiety that comes with assignments, presentations, projects, homework and tests.

Finally, there is a song for almost every life situation, which helps me feel less lonely. Whenever I am lost in life, there is always something that describes my feelings perfectly. Music is truly my life.•

Pressured assignments from school found unbearable It is not a secret that junior year is When I hang out with friends, we either watch movies to the hardest year in high school. I have regain our mental health, or we study. Nothing else. known that since midI feel like all of the homework and the dle school, maybe studying blocks me from doing things that even before, and make me feel better. yet I was not preI love reading. If you saw me, I probapared for junior bly had my face in a book, and the next day Jayci Tawney year at all.

I’d have a new book to read. I remember The first week went two of my teachers liked to always count smoothly, but then suddenly it was like a tsunathe amount of books I would go through mi of work hit me. It feels like I might not even during a month. The last time I was able to get through the weeks with my sanity intact. My read for fun was during the summer before I freshman and sophomore year I would be in bed had to do my summer readings. asleep at 8 p.m. sharp, but now I’m lucky to get I know that school is important, and in bed at 11.

I enjoy the majority of the classes I’m takThe homework for many of my classes reing, but sometimes the stacks of paper I requires a lot of time and thought processing, and ceive everyday tears me down. I just feel like sometimes I feel like I am completely off-topic. teachers don’t understand how much presThe tests cover so much material, and it feels sure their students go through or the work we like all of my tests are scheduled on the same have in other classes as well. Sometimes we Art by Grace Costenbader just need to relax and breathe.• days. With no days off, the stress is just eating me away.

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Voices What’s your favorite form of self-care?

“I take bubble baths and play some jams... consisting of Cardi B.” Kendall Hinson, senior “When I’m kinda sad, I go to the pantry, get a little Hershey bar, and I eat it, and then I’m happy.”

Andrew Batenhorst, freshman “Painting and writing, I also enjoy singing and makeup as a way to get myself more focused on the blessings I have.”

Hudson Cody, sophomore

“I highly value the ‘treat-yoself’ lifestyle. It’s rewarding to buy a good meal or enjoy a night out.“ Audrey Clendenin, junior

“Sitting on the couch, with my laptop, doing and thinking about nothing else.”

Kaylie Scheffler, junior “I love to eat crusty bread with brie and to read books.”

Randi Costenbader, testing coordinator

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

The Catamount

treat yourself

People

9

Self-care practices encourage healthy mental, physical habits SELF-CARE TIPS 1. Find something you can control and do that thing.

2. Move your body in ways that make you feel good, safe and powerful.

3. If everything gets to be too much, know that there are resources out there that can help. Use them.

4. If you don’t feel like talking, journal.

5. Talk to people who make you feel better, and feel free to avoid conversations that you know will only further your rage or sadness.

Source: self.com

Makayla Fox Senior Editor Going through the motions of everyday life is often so heavy that we forget to value the one who is getting us through our days: ourself.

“If you’re someone like me, I’m sort of the person that helps others and makes sure everyone else is okay,” senior Malia Nimocks said. “I definitely think that it’s really important to help other people, but in order to do that you have to help yourself first.”

The practice of self care is used to better oneself through focusing on what matters most to the individual.

“The most valuable takeaway from practicing self care is the confidence it gives you and the mentality that you’re constantly improving yourself,” senior Sebastian Perez said.

Not only does the practice improve the life of the individual, but many suggest that it helps the individual with socialization.

“Self care is important because keeping your body healthy will help you feel better overall. How you treat yourself reflects how you treat others,” freshman Mary Claire Simpson said.

As a common reminder to the individual, af-

firmations can be read or spoken to encourage the individual.

“I see [affirmations] on my timeline, or I post them on my wall in my room. They always remind me ‘hey, I need to take care of myself and not worry about little things’ and ‘do not let my anxiety overwhelm me,’” Nimocks said.

According to the Nationwide Children’s Organization, teenagers need around seven hours of sleep, but suggest around nine. However, many fail to get enough rest. “[Getting enough sleep] helps you with your grades and being able to stay on top of things.

You have enough energy to get through your day,” sophomore AJ Salwen said. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll eventually fall apart.”

Lack of sleep can cause change in mood, behavior, cognitive ability and academic performance.

“I make sleep my priority and ignore any homework I have due,” Perez said. “I believe sleep and health should be held to a higher regard than homework unless it’s really important.”

Nimocks suggests regular self care practices. “[Making] sure you’re eating, taking your medicine, drinking water, getting sleep. Take care of yourself. It’s important,” Nimocks said.•

6. Have some go-to joy-makers in your phone for when things get real and you need to distract yourself quickly.

7. Take note of where you’re holding tension and anger in your body. Then, consciously let it go.

8. Try diaphragmatic breathing or deep belly breaths.

Graphics by Makayla Fox

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Student Life

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

The Catamount

mYERS-BRIGGS The Myers-Briggs (16 personalities test) sorts people into 16 different groups based on how they perceive and interact with the world. Your personality type is comprised of four of eight characteristics: Introvert/Extrovert, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, Perceiving/Judging.

ISTJ iSTp

ISfJ ISfp

InfJ Infp

InTJ InTp

eSTp eSfp enfp entp eSTJ eSfJ enfj entj

TAKE THE TESTS Scan to find out more about your personality!

Source: 16personalities.com Graphics by Grace Costenbader

Myers-Briggs

The Enneagram

KNown Personality tests allow for empathy among students, teachers Grace Costenbader Managing Editor

O

ne of the hardest aspects of life is attempting to live in harmony and understanding with ourselves and those around us. What makes this task even more daunting is that we often don’t take the time to understand our own strengths or analyze the complex ways in which everyone is created differently. A tool that can help with this broken understanding is personality tests.

“By using personality tests as a tool to learn more about how other people see the world, we can become more understanding of their actions,” Enneagram enthusiast and junior Claire Gatlin said.

The Enneagram is a personality test that categorizes people into nine groups, each with its own respective title. People are sorted into these nine groups after taking a test with a series of short yes or no questions.

“My favorite personality test is the Enneagram test because it is easy to understand, and I feel like people really connect to it,” Gatlin said. “I’ve heard lots of stories of how many people have connected with their enneagram number, and how it’s helped them better understand themselves.”

In addition to helping people better understand themselves, personality tests also assist people in understanding those around them. The Myers-Briggs personality test also categorizes people into groups and allows them to read extensively on their own personality type as well as that of others.

“Reading about the other personalities after you become fascinated and read about yourself can help you understand the deeper motivations behind the way people behave,” English teacher Teresa Laffin said. “I think it can help you. Instead

of saying ‘Why aren’t they handling this the way I do?’ you can understand what’s behind the way they’re handling it.”

Regardless of which test each person prefers, every test provides the opportunity for the development of empathy.

“These tests can help us accomplish [empa-

These tests can help us accomplish empathy by showing us that each person has a very different set of characteristics.

-Ethan hanks Senior thy] by showing us that each person, even siblings, has a very different set of characteristics,” former AP Psychology student and senior Ethan Hanks said. “By understanding that, we can then translate that knowledge into empathy by recognizing the differences in individuals around us and not being so harsh when they do not think or act the

same way that we do.”

Understanding the motives behind others’ actions opens up the opportunity for a deeper, truer knowledge of what drives each person. Through this understanding, forming bonds and genuine connections with others becomes infinitely more achievable.

“In addition to having empathy and understanding people’s motives, I think [personality tests] can help you communicate and accomplish things with people because life is a big group project,” Laffin said. “There are people who don’t like doing group projects but it never ends. You have to work with people all the time and the more you understand about what makes other people tick, the less stressful it is to work with them.”

Working with others becomes not only more manageable, but also more enjoyable when each person is given a task that is suited to their strengths. Personality tests make these strengths clear and allow for harmonious group work.

“The valuable part of knowing what types of personalities you’re surrounded by is being able to put each person in their most suitable position,” Hanks said. “Not understanding each person’s strengths or habits can actually be detrimental in a group setting because it prevents individuals from being in their niche.”

Obviously, taking a personality test will not solve all the problems. People still choose to be stubborn and unaccommodating every day. However, when put to use, these tools can be life-altering and have the potential to change communication in today’s society.

“People are complex, and one number or word cannot begin to completely describe someone,” Gatlin said. “However, personality tests can give a good overview of a person’s personality.”•

Student Life

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11

THE

ENNeagram

The Enneagram is a personality test that categorizes people into nine groups, each with its own respective title and character traits.

The diagram below illustrates how each type behaves in relation to the others.

4 5 6

The Individualist

1 2 3

The Reformer

The Investigator

The Helper

The Challenger

The Loyalist

The Achiever

7 8 9

The Enthusiast

The Peacemaker

9

8

7

1

2

Direction of Integration (Growth) 1-7-5-8-2-4-1 9-3-6-9 Direction of Disintegration (Stress) 1-4-2-8-5-7-1 9-6-3-9

6

Source: enneagraminstitute.com

3 5

4

12 People

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Passion for dance leads to holiday ballet Kylie Vernon Opinions Editor The lights dim, the curtain opens, Tchaikovsky echoes through the auditorium.

The first performance of the Nutcracker ballet was in 1869 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since then, it has been reprised all over the world, especially in North America and especially around Christmas time. College Station is no exception. Put on by Ballet Brazos on Dec. 8 at Rudder Auditorium, students from CSHS participated in this year’s Nutcracker production.

“When I was little I would go see the Nutcracker,” said senior Natalie Lancaster, who danced in the recent production. “Now I get to be a part of it and am up to be the Snow Queen, which was my dream role. It’s cool to see the progression, and that’s what makes it so magical.”

Although the ballerinas may look effortless and elegant, the strict choreography holds each dancer to perfection.

“You have to keep the adrenaline and excitement going, and you can’t let your face down and lose the fun,” said junior Lindy Weisman, who played in the Snow Corp as a flower fairy and a lead Spanish dancer in this year’s rendition.

“Yes, it’s a lot of commitment but it’s worth it because of the love and support you get from the cast.”

Though the roles may be strict, the directors attend to every dancers strength to make the show truly magical.

“Last year I fractured my foot two days before the show,” Lancaster said. “So, I met with the artistic director the day before dress rehearsal, and we redid a bunch of the choreography because it was a solo, and I was the lead part.”

The directors were able to adjust and tweak the specific details and turned the tragedy into something beautiful.

“They really want it to look good and fit each dancer. There’s never set choreography, especially with the leads. It’s very flexible to each dancers’ strengths,” Lancaster said.

This method works together to create a captivating show that becomes a center of the holiday season for children and adults everywhere.

“I love creating that magic. When you see all those little girls who want to take pictures with you after, that reminds you why you’re really doing it,” said sophomore Camille Chiu who plays lead Marzipan.

The Nutcracker ballet truly sets the tone for having a dreamy, holiday and winter season.•

Nutcracker synopsis Act I

Act II

After a Christmas party, Clara falls asleep on the sofa with her new toy Nutcracker. When she wakes up, she notices that the tree has grown and the mice are the same size as her.

The Nutcracker and Clara enter into the Land of Sweets and are introduced to the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.

The toy Nutcracker then proceeds to fight the mice.

Clara throws her shoe to distract the mouse king and then the Nutcracker turns into a handsome prince.

The Nutcracker Prince then escorts Clara into a beautiful forest where snowflakes dance a waltz.

Everyone dances for Clara and the Nutcracker: Hot Chocolate from Spain, Chinese Tea, Coffee from Arabia, the Candy Canes, the Marzipan Shepherdesses, and Mother Ginger, with her eight children.

Then comes the Waltz of the Flowers, with Dewdrops dancing, the Sugar Plum Fairy performs a majestic dance. Clara and the Nutcracker say goodbye.

Source: New York City Ballet

▲ Senior Natalie Lancaster plays the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker performance on Dec. 7.

PHOTO BY KYLIE VERNON

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

People

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The power of communication First radio broadcast aired

Telegraph invented

Printing press invented

Telephone invented

Graphics by Makayla Fox

13

Smart phones created

First social media networking cite created Source: eagle.edu

Conveying thoughts becomes misleading through social media Katie Guye Executive Editor Scroll through Twitter or converse with a member of the Baby Boomer generation for any extended period of time, and you’re sure to encounter some comment regarding the manner in which the latest generation communicates. For better or for worse, technology and social media have rapidly transformed teen relationships, allowing for instantaneous contact and anonymous confrontation.

“Through social media it’s hard to have clear communication versus talking in person because if you had a conflict and just tackled it out with the person face to face, a lot of problems would be solved and solutions would occur,” senior Kelsey Shao said.

The faceless anonymity of technology has led to an increase in cyberbullying and intense criticism.

“With social media there’s the good ole mob mentality that happens. If [something] shows up on the internet, it catches traction and continues to build up and build up,” junior Sean Dudo said. “That is kinda scary in the sense that it is less rational and just emotions, and

as soon as we read it, we believe it. There’s less being right about stuff because it’s short term, and we forget about it two days later, and no one brings it up again.”

While in some ways confrontation has become more intense, the rise of ghosting (abruptly ceasing all contact with a partner) reflects an uneasiness with conflict and a dangerous communication habit.

“Because of the internet, we find it easier to separate from people, and so ghosting is an easy out for yourself, but then it hurts the other person deeply because of the disregard of their emotions,” Dudo said.

The internet does not allow for context or explanations, leading to even more conflicts and hard feelings.

“Even with all the emoji’s, gifs, memes, etc., it can be difficult to really understand someone through social media,” school counselor Anne Hoffman said. “Also, I believe that people are getting a skewed image of what is true. As a counselor, we spend time learning the importance of truly listening, watching non-verbal cues and focusing completely on the person who is talking.”

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of online communication is its anonymity. You no longer need to look into someone’s eyes when speaking to them, which holds the potential for online abuse.

“It’s just so easy to attack people online because you’re behind a screen and sometimes you reach people with opinions that you normally wouldn’t talk to, causing a lot of conflicts,” Shao said.

And yet despite its drawbacks, people are now able to contact anyone, anywhere, at any time, opening the door for countless more relationships and connections.

“You can always meet people online because you may not be in your environment. Like in College Station, there might not be a big sculpture art group, but if you find the right place online, there can be an entire community that can help you with anything you need,” Dudo said.

The increase in social media has certainly complicated the ways teens communicate and handle confrontation, but every problem can be solved with an increase in empathy.

“We either need to be more aware or understanding,” Dudo said. “We have to understand that those people [on the internet] are people too, which the internet can sometimes separate from. We’re just people behind a screen, but if we understand the other person, we will be more [reluctant] to say things brashly.”•

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Sports

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Girls basketball team plays selflessly Jaycie Robinson Assistant Editor The girls basketball team is more than just a group of girls united by the same sport. It is a sisterhood that supports each other no matter the win or loss. Gearing up before a game is always a process that requires a headspace that can only be nurtured by the team and support by the coaches.

Currently, the team has many wins just in the first few weeks of the season due to the incredible coaching and dedicated team, said senior Alexus King who serves as a point guard.

“I have been in the sport since I was six years old, and I’m very happy with where I am now in College Station. The season is going very well, and I am surrounded by a great group of girls,” King said.

Not only is the team working hard to have their hours of practice show in their games, but many of the girls have personal goals they wish to accomplish throughout the season, pushing each one of them to do their best on and off the court.

“One of my goals this season is to take district champs and keep building from there on out,” King said.

Each year the team changes and beloved teammates graduate. However, junior Mia Rivers accepts the change and is excited about the competing season.

“I am most excited about competing this season.

We have a totally different team than last year, lots of new things and styles of play, and I really want to see how far we go,” Rivers said.

Being a part of the team holds a value to the girls in and out of school. Through practices, games and long bus rides, they have created an air-tight bond with each other.

“As a group we talked at the beginning of the year, and our saying is ‘Bigger than Me.’ To us we are playing, working and doing things for our team and our program, not mainly for ourselves,” Rivers said.

Not only is the team ecstatic about the games won and the rest of the season, but also how the coaches are supporting the girls. Coach Megan Symank has the utmost respect and faith in her team this basketball season.

“We have a really talented team this year, and they are very unselfish,” Symank said. “I am really excited for my girls, and the chemistry they have is very refreshing. Our fan support is also a huge part of the sport. We have district in less than a month and we are preparing everyday for district play.”

Already records have been broken and shattered

▲Junior Audrey Whitley dribbles the ball past a Cy-Fair defender at home on Nov. 13.

The Lady Cougars throttled the visiting Bobcats 78-27 and will play their next home game tonight at 6:30 against the visiting Brenham Lady Cubs. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MADDIE GUYE in just one game. Both single player and team records have been beaten and revamped.

“Senior Rebekah Hailey on the varsity team broke the record for six 3-pointers in a single game. The team as a whole broke the record for eleven 3-pointers in the same game,” Symank said.

Overall, the unity of the team is inspiring them to set themselves on the rewarding path towards a district championship and more.

The Lady Cougars 2017-2018 eason was cut short in the playoffs by the Lady Lions of Ennis High school last year, but their strong start this year has proved that they are a new team with a strong work ethic. The Lady Cougars are currently ranked third in district behind Waller and A&M Consolidated, and they are set to begin district play at 6:30 tonight at home against the visiting Lady Cubs of Brenham.•

High school football coming to the national stage It is indisputable that there is no state that makes high school football as grand of a spectacle as Texas. From entire towns shutting down to watch Ethan Cohen games, to drawing in tens of thousands to Cowboy Stadium for championships, high school football will always be bigger in Texas. That being said, teams outside the great state of Texas have begun bringing high school football to the national stage.

Every week of the season, MaxPreps has updated their list of the top 25 teams in the nation, and for the second straight season the Mater Dei Monarchs finished on top. The Monarchs are among several California schools that have received intense media attention for the slew of Division 1 prospects they have playing or produce. Other notable teams include St. John Bosco, Calabasas, Corona Centennial and Oaks Christian. These 5 programs have become so talked about due to their success and star athletes that their games are constantly being shared on a plethora of recruiting websites or famed sports Youtube channels like Overtime and Under the Radar. In one instance, a game Mater Dei played was so big that it was talked about in the LA Times, USA Today and was featured on CBS Sports. Calabasas’ team was featured on the NFL Network’s weekly Football Town program.

Though these West Coast teams have set this standard, they are far from the first to receive attention on the national level. In 2016 Las Vegas team Bishop Gorman constantly made headlines for their star-studded list of Division 1 caliber players, and Gorman players like Tate Martell and Bookie Radley-Hiles created absolute media fervor. In Florida, the now legendary IMG Academy has become the subject of many ESPN and Youtube segments, all eager to see how the program trains its army of prospects. When IMG played Mater Dei in California, the game (which recorded well over a million views on Youtube) included nearly 50 Division 1 commits, including six five-star players. To put that into perspective, there are currently only 19 fivestar players in the nation in the 2019 class, and seven in the class of 2020. Though the setting of the game wasn’t nearly as impressive as that of games in Texas, the national implications of the game certainly were.

High school sports are quickly emerging into the national spotlight as televised games occurring between state powerhouses have begun to be more common. Due to the exploits of teams like Bishop Gorman and the fascination surrounding teams like IMG, the popularity of high school football will only increase.•

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Sports

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Boys basketball team begins new district play atop standings Ayden Woods Assistant Editor The 2018-2019 Boys Varsity basketball team is preparing for a new district with a new team.

“The new district is going to be tough,” Boys Varsity coach J.D. Sullivan said. “[But] it won’t be as good top to bottom as it has been the past few years.”

Facing many new teams, the group is working hard to improve their skill set.

“We have a lot of new players, and it is kind of hard to get everybody to learn the new system,” senior varsity member Cade Kortan said. “We’re working on getting everyone on the same page with our offense and defense.”

Kortan and the rest of the team are working together to prepare their team scheme. For the season, the new members are working to fit in with the gameplay of the team as a whole.

“We’ve done a lot of drills,” new senior varsity member Carson White said. “Ball shooting, dribbling,

JAN. 4

defense, offense, to give us the best possible look for our upcoming games” Preseason focused on learning new ways to get past the opponent’s defenses.

“For the most part, we’re at our core with members,” senior varsity member Matthew White said. “We are senior heavy, so they all know what to expect. We have a freshman, but he knows the program pretty well.”

Even with the team’s varied membership, they are still consistent with their gameplay and team strategies.

“It’s exciting to get a fresh look at the sport,” Kortan said, “because we’ve been playing the same few teams for the past few years now.”

The Cougars are ranked for the first time in program history, and currently sit with only one loss and first in their new district. Recently, they went undefeated in a tournament in Midlothian, and several Cougar players received honors, Kortan going home with the tournament MVP. With playoffs a long way away, the team is focusing on playing one game at a time.•

A&M Consolidated (11-1)

jan.

8

Rudder (11-4)

feb.

6

@ magnolia West (7-6)

Dec. 21

jan.

18 jan.

15

Cougar Basketball Stats: State Rank: 17 National Rank: 233 Overall record: 16-1 Win %: .941 Points Scored: 959 Points allowed: 731

The Cougars biggest rivals have had a solid start to the season, dropping only 1 game and winning several straight since. The Tigers are led by senior guard Jordan Gray and junior guard Nate Floyd.

Despite losing several games in a row, Rudder remains one of the best teams in the state.

The Rangers hope to continue their tradition of success on the hardwood under the leadership of a team of mostly seniors.

@ Waller (5-6)

Magnolia West had a solid 2017-2018 season, finishing with an even 14-14 record. The Mustangs will look to improve from last season and the playoffs in 2019. Mag West will rely on senior Cody Leonard to lead them.

The Bulldogs have already won more games this season than they did in the previous, finishing the 2017-2018 season 4-22. Recording 5 wins already, it seems as though the work the Bulldogs put in during the offseason is paying off.

brenham (3-7) Katy paetow (2-9)

Jared Daniels and Yann Tousom head a Cub group who will try to rebound from finishing 9-20 the previous season. The Cubs have had a sluggish start to the season, but there is still plenty of basketball left to play.

Paetow has had a rather ignominious start to the season. The Panthers have a team of primarily juniors, and so far have only won a single game.

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Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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New football division results in challenging season Ethan Cohen Sports Editor The Cougar Football team finished their season with a 20-28 loss to the Highland Park Scots at Waco ISD Stadium in Waco on Saturday, Nov. 24. The 2018 season marked the Cougars’ first in 5A Division 1, and though the season may not have ended on a high note, the team’s overall success helped to further establish College Station as a state powerhouse.

Non-district Games Non-district play for the team began in wild fashion, as the Cougars had one of the toughest non-district schedules in the state, first facing the talented Richmond Foster Falcons at home. In a highly contested shootout, the Cougs scored 7 touchdowns and came out on top defeating the visiting Falcons 42-38. The following week the team traveled to Huntsville to face the Hornets at Sam Houston State in a game featuring two of the best defenses in the state. With the help of two touchdowns from Austin Sosa, and a rushing score from Brandon Williams, the Cougars swatted the Hornets 20-7.

The third and final non-district game of the season came against Mexico team Nuevo Leon. In a game that got ugly on more than one occasion, the Cougars were able defeat the Tigres 42-19, making them undefeated heading into district play. Currently, Richmond Foster has gone on to shock the Texas Football world by upsetting the Hutto Hippos by 10 points in the third round. Foster fell to Shadow Creek 25-21 the next week to cap off a stellar season. The Hornets had a fantastic playoff run including a throttling of the Manvel Mavericks, and an incredibly exciting but heartbreaking loss to Fort Bend Marshall in the fourth round.

district Games The team opened their district schedule by hosting the Caney Creek Panthers on Homecoming night. The team looked dominant, pitching a shutout and scoring 10 touchdowns to cruise to an easy 70-0 victory. Following their big win at home, the Cougs continued their momentum by defeating the Waller Bulldogs 49-7 on the road. After two sol-

id district wins, the #6 ranked Cougars faced the #5 Lufkin Panthers at home in what was dubbed the state’s game of the week. In their first loss of the season, it seemed as though nothing could go right for the Cougars. Several turnovers and a wild touchdown play for the Panthers proved to be too much, and Lufkin rolled to a 35-3 win. Next up on the schedule was the Magnolia Bulldogs, and in a game where it seemed like the Cougars were all but out of the contest, a phenomenal fourth quarter comeback and defensive stand in overtime lifted the Cougars over the Bulldogs 41-38. Using the momentum gained from beating Magnolia, the team defeated the Willis Wildkats and Tomball Cougars to cap off their final two games at home. After these two wins at home, the Cougars traveled back to Magnolia to square off with the Magnolia West Mustangs. In their second loss of the season, the team was unable to cap another fourth quarter comeback against the Mustangs, and finished the regular season third in district with an overall record of 8-2.

Playoff Games Post-season play began in Mesquite, and the Cougars were involved again in one of the best games in the state, facing off against the Poteet Pirates. Undeterred by their loss the previous week, the team was dominant in the first half. Poteet opened the game with a scoring drive, but Brandon Joseph instantly responded by returning a kickoff for a touchdown, tying the score at 7-7. The Cougars were dominant for the rest of the half, scoring two more touchdowns and holding Poteet’s offense to a field goal, making it 20-10 at the half. The Cougars started the half with a defensive stop and then continued to add on to the momentum by returning a Poteet punt for a touchdown. Poteet answered with a score of their own, but on the following drive, Cougar receiver Ryan Stapp took a pass from Brandon Williams 74 yards to the house. Down 34-17, Poteet scored two unanswered touchdowns to make the game a contest at 34-31. In the final few minutes of the game, the Cougars drove down the field, and a rushing touchdown from Kolbe Cashion on 4th down made the score 41-31. Poteet responded several plays later, scoring on a long pass to receiver Evan Spivey. The score was 41-38

▲ Defensive players Garrett Draper (12), Truce Tumlinson (94) and Jordon Bellows (11) celebrate Zach Sacky’s (40) fumble recovery in the playoff game against Highland Park on Nov. 24 in Waco. The Cougars lost the 5-A Division II area round game to the Scots 28-20 to end the season with a 9-3 record. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELISE DRAPER as time drew out, and the Pirates went for the onside kick, but Brandon Joseph recovered the ball, and the Cougars knelt the ball to seal the game.

Final Game The final game of the year came against the undefeated Highland Park Scots in Waco. The team began by stopping the Scots’ offense on fourth down, but the Cougars’ first play on offense resulted in an interception. The Scots capitalized on the turnover by driving down the field and scoring, but the Cougars evened the odds with a score of their own several drives later. A rushing touchdown from Brandon Williams put the Cougars on top 13-7 early in the second quarter, and neither team found the endzone for the rest of the half. Highland Park took the lead back in the third quarter by scoring back to back touchdowns, and then Scots quarterback Chandler Morris rushed for a touchdown early in the fourth, making the game 28-13 Scots.

The Cougars held the Scots for the re-

mainder of the game, and the offense was able to find the end zone in the final minute, but the team was unable to recover the onside kick in the final 30 seconds, and Highland Park emerged victorious 28-20. The Scots have moved on and continued their playoff run and winning streak, defeating Mansfield Timberview, and mounting a truly incredible fourth quarter comeback against John Tyler. The Scots look well on their way to capturing a third straight state title, but standing in the way is Denton Ryan, who is indisputably one of the strongest teams the state has to offer.

The 2018 season marked another highly successful showing for the College Station Cougars, and the beginning of competition in a new division. Though this was their earliest finish in recent years, the team faced some of the best competition the state had to offer, and all of their losses came to teams ranked in the top 10 in the state. The Cougars will continue their journey in 5A D1 next year, and will look to build on all they learned this year.•

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Health & Rec

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Hunting teaches valuable life lessons about intention Catie Sikes Entertainment Editor The anticipation of the prize at the end of the hunt keeps a hunter’s feet moving through the dark wood. They finally reach their destination and are blinded by the beauty of the rising sun as it exposes the plentiful scene of nature’s splendor. This is what they came for: the beautiful scenery and the opportunity to bond with those around them while hunting.

“Hunting has taught me a greater appreciation for nature and how it can develop and strengthen family bonds,” Outdoor Education Teacher and Tennis Coach Ed Stricker said.

Hunting is commonly misunderstood as aimless killing, but is actually so much more than that, includeing game management and social interaction.

Junior Jason Perry said that the most valuable lesson he has learned while hunting is to “never kill something unless you have a reason to.”

The sport of hunting can be a way to bond and spend quality time with family and friends.

“I started hunting as a way to bond with my father figure, Charlie” junior Sydney Huhnke said.

Even for those who don’t hunt, they can bond with those who do. Stricker said that his wife’s family enjoys an annual cookout at the start of hunting season.

“My wife and daughter don’t hunt. However, my wife and daughter do enjoy the fellowship of family hunting events and the chance to reconnect with extended family,” Stricker said.

There are different types of hunting based on

what type of animal is being hunted. Big game hunting includes elk, moose, deer, and boar hunting as well as many other large animals. The most common birds that are hunted are quail and doves.

However, hunting is not all about what people shoot and bring home. There are some very good life lessons that hunting is able to teach.

“The most important lesson I have learned from hunting is patience because sometimes you can go out and you will see a bunch of deer, or whatever you hunt, but then other days you can go out and see nothing,” Huhnke said “My favorite aspect of hunting is that moment when you finally get the chance to take a shot and after you take it you see the deer go down and you know all the time you have put in has finally paid off.”

Similarly, Perry enjoys the thrill of getting to finally make the shot.

“The calmest part of hunting that transitions into the thrilling action of getting to fire at your target is my favorite aspect of hunting,” Perry said.

Hunting can provide a thrilling, action packed experience, but it takes a true hunter to appreciate the humbling, magnificent experience that one can find. “[The best part of hunting is] the excitement and anticipation of the hunt while you are making your way out to your hunting location while it is still dark,” Stricker said “Then, watching the sun come up and enjoying all that nature has to provide from the birds and squirrels chasing each other through the trees, to the appearance of that prize buck that you have been waiting for,” Stricker said.•

tEXAS hUNTING SEASONS Quail Season Statewide: Oct. 27, 2018 - Feb. 24, 2019

Dove Season North Zone: Sep. 1 - Nov. 4, 2018 & Dec. 21, 2018 - Jan. 14, 2019 Central Zone: Sep. 1 - Nov. 4, 2018 & Dec. 21, 2018 - Jan. 14, 2019

Deer Season North Zone: Nov. 3, 2018 - Jan. 6, 2019 South Zone: Nov. 3, 2018 - Jan. 20, 2019

Source: tpwd.texas.gov

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Entertainment

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Staffers review classic holiday films

“Christmas Vacation” Katie Guye Executive Editor As Christmas Break rapidly approaches and Hobby Lobby has long since broken out the overpriced ornaments and Michael Buble, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” brings a full 97 minutes of pure holiday entertainment, filled with camp and good intentions.

Few protagonists possess more spirit than Clark Griswold, and his quest for the “fun, old-fashioned, family Christmas” results in an over-crowded home of relatives, a few power outages and two thoroughly perturbed children. Whether it be via 25,000 lights, an excessively-greased sled or trapping himself in the attic, Chevy Chase’s character allows for simultaneous laughter and second-hand

embarrassment while providing a classic and heartwarming holiday film.

Although Clark’s accident-prone tendencies are hilarious by themselves, the Griswold extended family, all crammed under one overly-decorated roof, truly make the movie. After all, an electrocuted cat, Aunt Bethany’s performance of the national anthem and highly flammable, neon green sewage are all qualities Hallmark simply cannot top.

There is absolutely no doubt about it: “Christmas Vacation” is a ridiculous movie, complete with 80’s fashion and slapstick comedy, yet it remains a holiday staple and serves as a reminder to never take yourself too seriously. Now excuse me while I go find my best turtleneck and drink eggnog out of a glass moose mug.•

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” brings a full 97 minutes of pure holiday entertainment.

“A Christmas Story” Jaycie Robinson Assistant Editor No matter what television channels are available or whether the holiday special bundle movie package is on Hulu or Amazon, at a point one has inevitably stumbled upon the classic and hilarious movie “A Christmas Story.” It has been one of the more recognized faces of the heap of holiday movies, becoming part of many Christmas traditions.

Filmed in 1983 but set in the 1940’s, the film stays true to the white Christmas dream of a young boy, Ralphie Parker, who is in dire need of a very important commodity: a Red Ryder Air Rifle. But his mother, school teacher, and even Santa himself say he will simply, “shoot his eye out if he gets one.” In Ralphie’s eyes, this Christmas could only be truly complete with a new addition of red plastic ammunition.

Ralphie bumps into many obstacles in achieving the perfect Christmas morning, such as schoolyard bullies, loud neighbors, overprotective parents, transitioning from a young boy to a very young man and the scandalously famous (fra-gee-lay) leg lamp his father won and prominently displayed at home in their front window.

Although the film has many nostalgic scenes and remembrances of Christmas back in the swing age, today we can relate almost too much to little Ralphie during the holidays, with the last minute gift buying, stocking searching in the cold attic, Christmas card misprints and forgetting to buy break and bake cookie dough before Christmas Eve. Although many blunders may accompany the well awaited holidays, we can all sit and laugh with the dysfunctional Parker family as they try to navigate the slippery slope that is a perfect American Christmas.•

“Home Alone” Ethan Cohen Sports Editor

With the exception of “Elf,” I can confidently say there are few holiday movies I find myself actually enjoying. However, the “Home Alone” movies have always been a notable exception. To revisit the series which I thoroughly enjoyed, I went back and watched the first “Home Alone” movie. For those who don’t know, the movie follows Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left at home by his family when they take a vacation to Paris.

While enjoying his time alone at the family’s house, two burglars try to rob the McCallister residence, and Kevin constructs a series of make-

shift traps and tricks to fend them off. It may just be sentimentality, but watching the movie again I somehow found myself enjoying it all the more. It relies on slapstick comedy, but it does so in a way that refrains from making the physical humor a tired trope. It’s full of hilarious moments and quotes, and the inherent rivalry between Kevin and the men who try to rob his house add to what makes the movie great. Capturing the era of the late 80’s and early 90’s, the movie was able to instill in me what I assume is Holiday Spirit. After watching the original, I couldn’t help myself but queue up the sequel, and do my best to forget they made a third.•

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

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Entertainment

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Musicians express themselves through production of alternative music

Cosmic Lemonade Facts Band Members: Raven Smoliklead guitarist Josie Perkinsonvocalist and bass guitar Isa Bernaldrummer

Instagram handle:

@cosmiclemonadeofficial

▲Isa Bernal (left), Raven Smolik (center), and Josie Perkinson (right) are the members of the band Cosmic Lemonade and practice two to three times a week at Smolik’s house. PHOTO BY MAKAYLA FOX

Jayci Tawney Staff Reporter Who doesn’t like music? Many musicians and artists have worked for most of their lives to not only entertain their fans, but to also express themselves in a new way and relate to those who feel alone.

“I like creating something that might help someone out if they are feeling a certain way,” said junior Raven Smolik of the band Cosmic lemonade. “Music is a big part of my life and it gets me through. It’s cool if I can help someone get through something.”

The band members of Cosmic lemonade consist of sophomore Isa Bernal on drums, sophomore Josie Perkinson who plays bass guitar and sings and Smolik, who is the lead guitarist.

“I just wanted to start [a band] and then I just asked [Isa] if she would play drums,” Smolik said.

Before the band formed, the girls were not familiar with each other; however, it didn’t stop them from becoming a band and essentially

friends.

“I was kind of friends with Isa, but I hadn’t known who Raven was,” Perkinson said.

The girls chose the band name to fit the style of music they wanted to make and perform.

“We are pretty much anything that is considered alternative. First, we started with sixties rock. Now we are starting to move more indie and into nineties alternative rock,” Bernal said.

Cosmic lemonade practiced in Bernal’s shed in her backyard but recently upgraded rehearsals to Smolik’s garage because it has more space.

“It was really small and cramped. I moved my drums to Raven’s, and now we practice there. It’s really fun. It’s warm and right next to the kitchen,” Bernal said.

Cosmic lemonade has started to write their own songs. They have planned to write a smooth indie song and are currently working on one that is more on the alternative side.

“We have this book that we just pass around. I would write for a little bit, then I would pass [the book] to Isa, and then to Josie,” Smolik said.

The girls work together to spontaneously create their songs while in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

“We just sit in a circle, and the people who aren’t writing will do their own thing,” Bernal said.

For the band, before they had even started on their music, merchandise was one of the main projects they really started on.

“I’ll just see people wearing our shirts every now and then, and it is pretty cool, especially when it’s people that I don’t know,” Bernal said.

Cosmic lemonade hopes to perform in the Jungle Jam, if possible, and during First Friday in downtown Bryan.

“Being in a band allows me to portray who I am through the lyrics, and expressing art is my passion. Being part of Cosmic lemonade has also given me the opportunity to have relationships with my bandmates that I can’t have with anyone else,” Bernal said.•

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Etc.

The Catamount

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Chow down

Students’ eating habits impacted by social, financial factors Melanie Evans Photography Editor

Popular Cuisine in College Station

Whataburger, Chick-fil-A, Blue Baker and similar restaurants have become a place for students to spend time with friends, eat, talk and study.

“I think there are a couple reasons [why students spend so much money on eating out],” Economics teacher Gregg Frashure said. “I think there’s a convenience factor to it because you don’t want to deal with the time it is going to take you to meal prep or to go home and cook something, I think that our culture, in general, not just kids, want things immediately. We don’t want to spend the time it takes to prepare a meal.”

Along with being a convenience, often times students opt for eating out to spend time with friends.

“I think teens eat out so much because it is a social outing, and also, you get to spend time with your friends,” senior Alan Guerrieri said.

In addition to the social aspect of eating out, accessibility and ease of not having to prepare food are other reasons many students choose eating out over staying home and cooking.

“Some things that cause me to eat out are it is a good date idea. It allows me to catch up with friends, and it’s easy and accessible to eat out when you are on the go,” junior Madelyn Russell said.

Eating out can be a great decision when wanting to connect with people.

However, issues such as eating when you are bored and consuming too many calories can arise.

“I think [the social aspect of going out to eat] is great,” Frashure said. “I

don’t think it’s any different than going bowling or going out to the movies.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. My question is, ‘how much money is getting spent eating when you’re not really hungry? How many calories are you consuming when you don’t really need to eat?’”

Along with not always being the healthiest option, dining out can also be expensive. Many of the less expensive options of fast food are unhealthy.

According to The New York Post, on average, Americans spend about $70,000 on takeout and delivery food in their lifetime.

“It is easy to spend a whole bunch of money on small purchases, like food, but then it adds up in the long haul,” senior Kallie Kurtz said. “It is very unhealthy and a lot of your money is gone.”

An alternative to eating out can be going to the grocery store and cooking food at home. This option is often cheaper and can be healthier.

“From a health standpoint, you don’t really know what’s going into the food because you are not preparing it,” Frashure said. “Typically, things that are quick service or fast food are not going to be very good for you. Of course, if you buy food from the grocery store and prepare it yourself, it is going to be significantly cheaper than eating out.”•

tacos:

1. Fuego 2. Mad Taco 3. Torchy’s

Burgers:

1. Whataburger 2. Grub Burger Bar 3. Freddy’s

chicken:

1. Chick-fil-A 2. Layne’s 3. Wings ‘n More

Burritos:

1. Freebird’s 2. Polly’s Cocina 3. La Familia

Fries: 1. Koppe Bridge 2. Arby’s 3. Mooyah information compiled by staff Graphics by Dru Peacock