Catamount
the
Vol. 3 No. 4 Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
College Station High School
Junior Mason Ouren, member of the new mountain biking club, rides during practice at the Millican Reserve. Read more on page 14 ●
4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845
MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE MIND
Stereotypes about introverts, extroverts prove inaccurate by Fiona Cohen Entertainment Editor For years, societal misconceptions about the true definitions of the terms “introvert” and “extrovert” have caused widespread mislabeling of various behaviors and traits. The meanings of these words have been lost behind the symptoms we associate them with, such as shyness or aggression. Millions of people are either completely unaware or simply do not understand how they identify on this psychological spectrum.
Index News Opinions
pages 2-6 pages 7-10
People
pages 11-17
Sports
pages 18-21
Entertainment
pages 22-2
“It’s a scale,” AP Psychology teacher Jessica Kouba said. “Typically introverts just get more reenergized or more reward out of being by themselves or more independent, whereas your extroverts tend to like being more social. They feel more reward being around people and doing things in groups.” The identifying clue of a person’s innate introversion or extroversion is expressed in their relationships with other people. These two polar personality traits favor opposite scenarios for social interactions. One’s preference is the other’s poison.
Freshman Emma Krajicek and senior Baylor Rowlett make their acting debuts in the musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” See story on page 11 ●
“I feed off of people’s energy,” said freshman and extrovert Erin Blume. “More people, more fun.” Blume is a textbook extrovert. Like many who fall under this category, Blume’s interactions with other people increase her own energy and give her a higher sense of reward than she would find in independent activity. This ability to absorb and generate a sense of happiness from others is what makes extroverts true to their name.
continued on page 3
Senior and district champ Carter Clouston pins his opponent at a wrestling meet at CSHS on Jan. 17. See story on page 20 ●
2 News ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Cougar News Junior Leadership Brazos chooses students for program Twenty-one juniors were recently selected to be a part of the 2015 Junior Leadership Brazos program. Students chosen are Alexis Bullard, Joanna Chambers, Madelyn Dudley, Priscilla Fang, Dominique Foght, Morgan Hill, Taylor Holland, Sadiq Iqbal, Cassie Lewis, Amy Scott, Yash Singh, Anna Solcher, Hope Spacek, Hannah Spacek, Lauren Steines, Sullivan Strohmeyer, Rohen Sukkawala, Shelby Sumlin, Matthew Wilke, Garret Wilson, and Esther Yi. Junior Leadership Brazos is sponsored by the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce for area high school juniors and is designed to give students an inside look at how local government, banks, law enforcement and other local entities operate. It provides both an awareness of local history and resources that will interest students hoping to become future community leaders.
Engraved bricks offer chance to commemorate seniors For the class of 2015, the opportunity to purchase an engraved brick commemorating the student’s name and graduating year will be available for all seniors starting the month of February. Each 4”x8” brick costs $100 and needs to be ordered by March 6, via the online form at http://tinyurl.com/cshsbricks
Restaurant management and culinary advance to state
▲ Senior Tre Cole performs the song “I Want You” by Luke James for the talent portion of the Mr. CSHS pageant that he won on Feb. 5. Contestants were also judged in formal attire, casual attire and interview categories. Photo by Rachel Grant
Award Winning CSHS Culinary Program Available for catering, private parties, and special events For more information contact Catherine Parsi M. Ed. phone: 979-694-5800 email: cparsi@csisd.org
▲ Junior Woody Wang finishes a performance involving both his regular violin and an electric violin for the talent portion of the Mr. CSHS competition. Wang won the title of Junior Mr. CSHS on Feb. 5. The event was a fundraiser for the senior class. Photo by Rachel Grant
College Station Culinary Club won fourth place out of 22 teams at the regional competition and will now advance to state in Waco for their skills of cooking a three-course meal on two butane burners in one hour for 20 industry leader judges. The culinary club members are Kiahna Butterfield, Jayme Holden, Megan Clark Tchen, Emma Hanks and Ashley Ramirez. The Restaurant Management Team also placed fourth and will advance to state. For this competition, Katherine Osburn, Skylar Bryan, Traes Hogan, Hanna Ledyard and Charlie Walters designed and voiced their restaurant concept to judges who are industry leaders in hospitality and management.
CSHS musicians honored with All-state recognition
Junior Paige Hook was selected as First Chair Contra - Clarinet in the Texas All State 5A Band. Senior Clarissa Parulian made the All Women’s Choir as tenth chair.
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
The Catamount
● News 3
Common misconceptions surround personality types continued from page 1 “It’s based less on your behavior and more on your reaction to certain situations,” sophomore Elmira Adili said. “If you’re extroverted, you know you need to be around people to be happier. And if you’re introverted, you know to lay off the group settings to make yourself happier.” As an extrovert, Adili has found fulfillment through competitive speech and debate. However, this form of competition is not limited to those who identify as extroverted. In fact, Adili claims that after a draining day of debate, she recharges in the company of her friends and teammates on the bus ride home more so than she does during her individual speaking contest. “An extrovert will go find a group of people because they don’t like being lonely,” Blume said. “During Strutters, I’m re-
ally out there and really myself. It’s easier for others to accept me as a person because I’m willing to talk and be myself.” For an extrovert, participation in team sports is far simpler than it is for an introvert. For the individual who prefers privacy and solitude, a team can be overwhelming. While extroverts thrive in large group settings, introverts must adapt their own natural behavior to participate. Senior Becky Nam, like many introverts, has adapted to and accepted the behaviors expected of introverts in an extroverted society. “The reality is we’re social people, and we need one another. That’s just healthy,” Nam said. Extroverted habits and expectations have become the societal norm because extroverts are willing to convey their opinions or beliefs more so than introverts.
SOMEWHERE ON THE SPECTRUM EXTROVERTS
Extroverts gain energy from social settings. However, the idea that they don’t need alone time is a myth; they do enjoy quietness, just in smaller doses.
These standards have changed the way that introverts are commonly viewed. “Introversion is different from shyness, though a lot of times they are mistaken for each other,” Nam said. “Introversion is simply when a person gets their energy primarily from themselves. Shyness stems from a fear of talking with people.” In school, students of both personalities face challenges in finding stimulating classroom environments. For the introvert who does not enjoy group assignments, an individual project may be a more ideal creative outlet. In the same way, confining an extrovert to his or her own task may be extremely limiting. “When it comes to assignments, my extroverted students tend to enjoy group assignments and working with others and tend to be chatty when working together, whereas my introverted students are more
likely to finish the assignment really quickly when we have group work and move on to do something different,” English teacher Teresa Laffin said. “I think it’s important for teachers to consider how to give introverted and extroverted students opportunities to feel comfortable.” The Myers-Briggs personality test has helped people identify themselves along the introvert-extrovert scale. The exam is one of many ways that modern psychologists and researchers are aiming to increase equality and comprehension of introverts and extroverts. This transition is helping the collective groups of introverts and extroverts truly understand one another and relate more effectively. “We need both in the world to have good balance,” Nam said. “Whether we’re introverted or extroverted, it’s important to be aware of one another.” ●
While we often categorize ourselves as either introverts or extroverts, in reality, most people fall somewhere in between.
AMBIVERTS Ambiverts are more neutral about being in social situations. They fall into neither extreme.
Introverts gain energy from time spent alone. They are not necessarily shy—shyness is a behavior, not a personality trait as many would think.
INTROVERTS
(source: washingtontimes.com)
CSHS DRAMA
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Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
4 News ● The Catamount
Cross Examination debaters strive for success in district meet by Brianna Aguilar News Editor This was the first year. The first year for all the cross examination spots to be filled and for College Station High School to fight for success in CX. Each team brought something invaluable and different to this year’s debate team—wit, humor, passion, intensity. Yet, what made these unique teams unite even further and develop a love for the hard and demanding realm of CX was perseverance, perseverance to keep succeeding. “We would see the CX kids walk by with their boxes and cases, in slow motion, and wind blowing in their hair, and know they are the cool kids, the elite kids. But now we get to leave with a laptop and our cases, we get to do that slow motion walk, and we’re the elite” sophomore Ariel Simien said. Due to the amount of work and effort it takes to prepare for this type of debate, the unknown for new incomers was exciting and intimidating. “Before my first round I was very nervous because I didn’t know how well the other teams would be and even how well we would be against other teams. But once you get into it, you sort of forget all that and all you’re thinking about is your case and why it matters,” sophomore Danna Bader said. Consequently, in order to feel prepared and ready for such a competition, cross examination requires effort, energy and time to do
well and succeed. “You don’t want to come across as someone who is completely unprepared,” senior Sebastian DeBeurs said. “Knowing all the issues and knowing your topic very well [is needed].” However, each CX team has a different way of handling their preparations for such intense debates. For junior Rohit Madhav and Sebastian DeBeurs, they began at the start of the year and met each Friday to prepare. For seniors Collin Littlefield and Mason Klemm, they relied on their natural speaking and arguing skills along with preparation. “In total, we put in five or six hours before that first meet and after that, we realized we’re much better just going in there and improving and seeing what happened. We kind of took on that strategy. It worked,” Littlefield said. Along with being prepared for such meets, another important factor is the ability to speak well and hold a confident demeanor for the debate and for the judge. “You have to be logical, well-reasoned, and have evidence to support your arguments, but there’s always a subjective factor the judge is grading you on, such as how confident you are, the tone you are speaking in and the speed of delivery,” DeBeurs said. Yet, the most important thing all the CX’ers agreed on was the necessity for having a good partner to work with through the
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successes and failures of CX debate. “It’s easier if you have a good partner because if one of you is a really good speaker but the other one is really clever, then you’re good,” Littlefield said. “We both mess up, it’s not like either one of us are perfect, but we both bounce back pretty quick.” With the intensity of CX, each team has learned the value of debating in such a high level of debate and can reflect back on an intense, successful and memorable year. “It feels really good to be someone who is so well-respected in something like speech and debate,” Simien said. ●
▲ Sophomores Danna Bader and Ariel Simien consult with one another about their opponent’s negative case after their first debate at the district meet on Jan. 31. This is the first year for College Station’s cross examination debate team to have the full amount of CX teams to compete in district. Photo by Brianna Aguilar
Results Cameron Invitational Meet 11/15 Zoe de Beurs- 2nd, poetry Sebastian de Beurs and Rohit Madhav- 2nd, CX Julie Potrykus- 3rd, persuasive extemp Belton Invitational Meet 12/6 Danna Bader- 1st, overall speaking points; 3rd, poetry interpretation, and 6th, persuasive extemp Julie Potrykus- 1st, persuasive extemp Ariel Simien- 2nd, poetry Brianna Aguilar- 1st, informative extemp Sebastian de Beurs and Rohit Madhav- 4th, CX CX District Meet 1/31 Collin Littlefield and Mason Klemm- 4th, CX Danna Bader and Ariel Simien5th, CX Sebastian de Beurs and Rohit Madhav- 6th, CX
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
The Catamount
● News 5
Athletes commit to colleges on signing day by Lily Parsi Feature Editor National Signing Day, Feb. 4th, has astronomical meaning to a select few at our school. Their entire athletic career has built to this one day, a day for them to commit themselves and their college days to a team of their choice. Most of these athletes have almost prepared their whole lives to have this experience. Senior Jeremiah Booker can attest to this. “In elementary school, I played football during recess with the older kids, and I began watching it on TV,” Booker said. “That’s when I fell in love with the game.” Senior Jaylen Hinckley’s interest in soccer was sparked at an early age as well. “I’ve always enjoyed playing since the age of four, but I didn’t realize I wanted to pursue it in college until my junior year when I started hearing from other schools,” Hinckley said. “When my other teammates began committing at this time, I realized I didn’t want to stop playing it.” For University of Florida commit and senior Macgregor Hines, his love for his future school began at a quite different origin. “Florida has always had a special place in my heart because my sister played softball there,” he said. “It has always been my dream.” Along with Hines, five other members of the baseball team signed to schools in November: Walker Davis and Jaxxon Grisham to Sam Houston State; Ryan Johnson to TCU; Baylor Rowlett to Oklahoma State; and Cody Staab to Rice. Senior Kelsie Warren also signed to run track and
cross country at Texas A&M. Hinckley’s love for her school spurs from family ties as well as other factors. “Both my parents went to Utah State and my brother is currently going to school there too,” she said, “So Utah State has always been a top choice for me.” For Booker, college football did not become a reality for him until his junior year. “When I started getting recruited, it was a relief because I was finally getting exposure,” Booker said. “I thought, ‘this is where my career finally starts’ and it gave me motivation to work harder.” His final visit with The University of Kansas proved to be the right school for him, and he committed the day after he met with the head receiver coach. “The coach and I had a great relationship,” he said. “I visited [the school] with an open mind, and just seeing the facilities, all the coaches and players, and the atmosphere, I just fell in love with the campus and everything felt comfortable and the right place for me to go.” Booker describes his decision as one of the best days of his life. “Every day after I spoke with the coach, I kept praying and hoping this would be the school for me,” Booker said. “Once [the coach] gave me a full scholarship, I started crying. I was relieved and happy and glad at once. This whole recruiting process has been stressful and I knew it was finally over.” Hinckley’s decision to commit to Utah State can be ▲ Seniors Jeremiah Booker and Jaylen Hinckley celebrate after described with similar feelings as well. signing their National Letters of Intent on Feb 4. Booker signed to play “It was very relieving because I knew I made the right football at Kansas and Hinckley signed to play soccer at Utah State. decision and that I would be happy there,” Hinckley said.● Photo by Alex Miller●
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6 News ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Availability of fast food impacts student eating habits By Alina Dhanani Staff Reporter
Nationwide, fast food has become a bad habit that can affects one’s health, energy levels, and money, yet many underestimate its impact on lives because of how portions have grown four times larger since 1950s. “Fast foods are not adequate enough because portions are too big, the nutritional value is poor, but they’re cheap and there’s a lot of it,” Coach Robert Ondrasek said. These dead calories, artificial ingredients, sugar, fat, and salt are the reason why people are drawn to fast foods. One simply cannot receive enough nutritional value from them, so if one does not put enough nutrition in, then one’s brain will not work as well, which can affect other organs. However, time is also another constant that should be a factor in the debate of whether fast food is a pro or a con because fast food is convenient. “Eating healthy requires
more time to cook, and it’s also more expensive. I mean, you go to buy healthy food and that’s very unfortunate because our social economic population probably cannot afford to eat healthy,” Nurse Sicilio said. Within this society, people want things fast, easy, and cheap because it seems very efficient. “Most of the fast food addictions come from teenagers. They get hungry quickly and make up a good majority of customers,” Taco Bell employee Michelle Castro said. Additionally, teenagers are likely to work at such places and may get a discount. From this, they may find it convenient and cheaper. This relates also to how the social economic population may not be able to afford to eat healthy and thus unhealthy behaviors are more prominent. “The portion distortion is also a massive factor and is just not good. You’re getting a lot of calories and not a whole lot of nutritional benefits,” Ondrasek said. People do not realize that
when people increase portion size and consumption, they also dramatically increase body size, and thus portion size is a major component in the obesity epidemic. Similarly, portion sizes increase the fat and sodium content. The global population must change their eating habits, before it affects them in the future. “With any dietary habit, you can’t just give up something, so you have to limit and especially stay away from the field foods. Once you fry something, you change it chemically. Limit how many times you eat out,” Ondrasek said. To prevent unhealthy food habits, teenagers can educate themselves on the nutritional components of what they are eating. Knowledge is power and the more students know about the food that they are eating, the healthier choices they can make. “Fast food is a balancing act and everyone has a choice on what they’re putting in their body,” Sicilio said. ●
Calorie Count
Fast Food’s Most Popular Dishes McDonald’s:
Large French Fries- 500 Calories Big Mac- 530 Calories 6 piece Chicken Nuggets- 280 Calories
Taco Bell:
Doritos Locos Taco- 170 Calories Soft Taco- 190 Calories 7-Layer Burrito- 430 Calories
Chick-Fil-A:
Chicken Sandwich- 490 Calories 8-count Chicken Nuggets-270 Calories Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich- 440 Calories
Whataburger:
Whataburger- 630 Calories Bacon & Cheese Whataburger- 780 Calories Patty Melt- 1050 Calories
Arby’s:
Beef n’ cheddar classic- 450 calories Reuben- 640 calories Jr. Roast beef- 210 calories
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Opinions
THE CAT’S EYE VIEW
Teenage relationships merit respect
staff editorial
Popular culture masks cultural appropriation misconceptions Sometimes, we commit cultural appropriation without even knowing or thinking about it. Tribal print clothing, dream catchers, and henna are all common examples. For those who wish to celebrate holidays or engage in traditions belonging to cultures that they are not from, the line between cultural appropriation and respectful celebration is often hard to determine. Some would suggest that emulating another culture’s habits is disrespectful regardless of good intentions and background knowledge. The theft of Native American culture often occurs when people dress in a distorted image of traditional Native American attire, donning feather headdresses and moccasins for costume parties, Halloween, or other occasions. Acts like these are undeniably cultural appropriation. Yet, others believe that partaking in cultural activities does not always have to be offensive. Some celebrate religious holidays like the Hindu day of Holi, a holiday about equality, despite not being Hindu themselves. However, the religious aspect raises additional concerns. Celebrating Christmas as a non-Christian is sometimes criticized as cultural appropriation, while others defend the practice with the idea that the holiday has become engrained in American culture as a whole. In the end, respecting the feelings of those who do belong to a culture is the most immediate factor that should shape our decisions. Thoughtful judgment, along with erring on the side of caution, is always preferable to offending an entire people and their ways. ●
2014-2015 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor Opinions Editor Entertainment Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Assistant Editors Staff Reporters Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser
Megan Paradowski Lisa Liu Julie Potrykus Rachel Grant Kayla Kurmaskie Fiona Cohen Lily Parsi Brianna Aguilar Alex Miller AJ Jones and Amelia Kurk Clarissa Parulian,Courtney Sumlin, Derek Witzenman, Alina Dhanani, Anna Solcher, and Emelie Gulde Becky Nam David Rambo Courtney Wellmann Teresa Laffin
● The Catamount 7
Kayla Kurmaskie I always get overwhelmingly annoyed when I am in a situation where adults try to minimize my emotions or struggles because I am a teenager. Sure, I’m young. Sure, these problems probably won’t even be relevant to my life in a year, let alone into adulthood, but that does not mean my tribulations can be brushed off with a smile and semi-sympathetic pat on the back. The relationships we as high schoolers form now are exceedingly important to the development of ourselves for the future. The friendships I have made and detached myself from within the past five years have shown me how I want to be treated, as well as giving me invaluable knowledge about how others should be treated. The combination of these experiences has revealed what it feels like to be in a healthy and un-
healthy friendship with peers. With this knowlege in my emotional toolbelt I feel more prepared for what adult relationships will bring. If these relationships are so important, why do adults feel the need to brush them off as a part of the carefree and often overdramatized events of youth? Heartbreak is almost a rite of passage for high school; even I have not been able to escape its cool sting. Though at the time I felt like my world was ending and I would never be the same again, I came out of the experience stronger and more knowledgeable than before. My parents were by far the most helpful individuals not only during this time, but during other times of friendship drama. Instead of flippantly giving me the “there are other fish in the sea” speech they acknowledged that the pain I was feeling was real and that yes, the situation was indeed really miserable. This validation of my emotions, not just calling me a silly teenage girl, made emotional recovery a much easier and quicker experience. We are young. We are foolish, and we will make stupid mistakes and decisions that will probably cause tears, but that does not mean that we, the youth of the world, are not human too.●
View of the Pride: Do you consider yourself an introvert?
YES
“I enjoy time by myself and have a bent towards introspection, but I also love to spend time around close friends and family.”-Lauren Spohn, 11
“No, I like to talk a lot.”-Kayli Childers, 9 “I am often competitive and egotistical, so I like to get encouragement and feedback from others.”-Chase Zamulinski, 12
NO
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), the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Glynn Walker, 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. Catherine George, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
8 Opinions ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Two jobs create organizational challenges organized in order to have time for school work, two jobs, my family, boyfriend and friends. After syncing my calendar with my moms,’ organizing my schedule and setting up work hours for that week, I felt very accomplished. The next week was nowhere nearly as organized. I now just take it a day at a time and make sure my job schedules don’t overlap. This has proven to be a challenge for me, yet also pushes me to become more organized and responsible. I have learned from having two jobs that it takes patience, organization and a lot of willingness to learn from my mistakes. In the end, hopefully it will all pay off when I am finally able to buy my own car for which I have worked so hard.●
Rachel Grant Recently, after I started working for a local store in the mall, my job consumed most of my time, causing me to wonder if minimum wage is worth it. What also complicates my situation is that I have a second job working for a private employer as her personal assistant (I basically do random chores for her). I still have a hard time finding a balance between my two jobs. The dynamic between them is completely different. Having to transition from either job, sometimes in the same day, is very difficult for me because I follow the instructions of my manager at one, and can work on my own terms at the other. A few weeks ago, I started feeling extremely overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. I realized that I needed to get
OVERHEARD What is the worst date you have ever been on?
“We went to the park, he went to kiss me and my head slammed against the playground [equipment].” Emily Smith, sophomore
“I had a broken leg and the guy made me sit alone in the handicapped seats.” Meghan Griggs, senior
“I watched a movie with my best friend and this guy. It turns out he thought he was on a date with both of us.” Taran Stupka, senior
art by Becky Nam
QUESTION of the ISSUE: How many times a week do you eat fast food?
0 times
1-2
3-4
5+
16%
50%
23%
11% 757 students surveyed
DAILY GRIND
By: David Rambo
Opinions
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Individuals need originality for happiness
Anna Solcher When thinking of originality, I thought back to a specific poster in elementary with a school of blue fish going one way with one bright red fish going the other way that said “be unique.” Elementary schools seem to encourage individuality, but recently I have felt that everyone around me seems to
be on a fast-paced track to the same place. Do well in high school, go to college, get married, have kids and die. That is what is expected, at least for me, to be considered “successful” in my life. With no room for originality, we are expected to follow social norms. Conforming to the expectations set in place before I was born sickens me. It is important to think for myself and make the decisions that will make me happy, not the original ones that are expected of me. Expectations from society are different for each person, but regardless, the fact that a plan is already in place creates a false sense of security. In addition, our own plans will not always work out. I believe
we cannot plan our lives. People try to plan each detail of their lives when in reality, life never works out in the way we want it to. No matter how hard we try, we cannot control everything that happens to us. That is what makes life so interesting. The tough thing for many people, including me, is rolling with it. When life takes a turn, we want to backtrack and go down the other path even when we know we are unable to do so. If we do not meet the expectations we set in place or society has set in place for us, we feel that we have failed in life. This is not the case. Happiness cannot be found in the things we accomplish but in the journey and being happy with where we end up.●
Printed books hold value over electronic versions senal is that reading ebooks saves trees. Not that I don’t care for the environment, but can holding a 6 ounce metal and glass rectangle really replace the nostalgia of a bonafide paperback? Not exactly, because according to a test run by (bear with me) The University of Texas, subjects who read off a screen read slower and find it harder to recall the exact order of events in the story. Now we can talk about Kindles in the classroom. In my experience, English teachers discourage the use of Kindles in their classrooms. While it’s true that ebooks are cheaper and maybe Emelie Gulde even free on an ereader, they are not the best choice. On a tablet, About two years ago, I bought a Kindle. Like most people, I there is no fail-safe way to keep track of where you are in the thought it could save me some time, money and space. So, why is book. Sure, you can bookmark and skip to the chapter through the it gathering dust in a corner of my room right now? Ereaders cer- index, but there’s nothing like flipping through pages to reach the tainly have their advantages. They’re light, portable, and can store bookmark. Plus, there is no easy way to annotate. During literature more than one book at a time, for a lower price than paper books. circles or group discussions, it’s extremely hard to keep up when What if I told you that the disadvantages everyone else is flipping through their Half Price Books of reading from a screen outnumbered the copy. advantages? Anne Mangen of Norway’s People, and even books themselves, Stavanger University concluded talk about a time when the bound story that the, “Feedback of a Kindle will be dead. Logically, it makes sense. does not provide the same support In a time where technology is boomfor mental reconstruction of a story ing, I understand why people could say as a printed pocket book does.” As books will be gone within the centuthe human brain was not originalry. However, research says otherwise. ly wired for reading, it took decades Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Bosand a series of evolutionary process ton made the groundbreaking disto develop the physical ability covery that artificial light before to recognize letters. The reading bed disrupts sleep patterns. Artificial light from screens, brain reconstructs the book inside your mind, LED’s and florescent lighting suppresses the production art by Becky Nam noting where the page is inside it, and the words on the of melatonin, a hormone that controls someone’s sleep page. Ereaders, not having pages, tamper with the brains and wake cycles. Granted, this only applies in that small amount method of reading. of time that you are reading before you fall asleep. In addition, You could compare paper books with “old fashioned” items: artificial lights in tablets, computers, Kindles, Nooks, and smart- CDs, along with vinyl records, pagers, and VCRs. But books have phones not only make it harder to sleep, but cause you to feel been around longer, and have a history. They have made their way drowsier in the morning. And you know you want to be awake to the 21st century all the way from ancient Egypt. In my opinion, during that chem test. books are tangible and satisfying. You can see the ink, feel the Reading on an electronic device doesn’t just mess with your paper, and feel the weight of words. I’m not counting on books beauty sleep. A common argument ebook lovers store in their ar- going vintage anytime soon. ●
● The Catamount 9
Voices What is your favorite song lyric? “We’re just a million little gods causing rainstorms turning everything too fast.” Becky Nam, senior
“In these bodies, we will live; in these bodies, we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life.” Caleb Phillips, English teacher
“Sometimes to stay alive you gotta kill your mind.” Kathryn Cole, sophomore
“Let’s pray we stay young, stay made of lightning.” Ethan Desai, senior
“When you’re young, you just run, but you come back to what you need.” Taylor Hollland, junior
“There is a crack in the door filled with light, and it’s all I need to get by.” Kyle Nugent, senior
10 Opinions ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Childhood abandonment damages sense of security
AJ Jones December 30, 2002, was the most important day of my life. That was the day I was adopted by the Jones family. I was two years old and leaving my grandparents whom I had been living with during the adoption process and it was hard to transition into what the rest of the world considered normal. The memories I have from that time have become jumbled and confusing. I do not know what a 100% is true or what my mind has made up over the years. My adopted family only knows so much, and I only see my real grandparents a couple times a year, if I’m lucky. Trying to figure out what’s true and what’s not, or where my birth parents are, or other questions like that cross my mind almost every day. For a long time, I ignored my adoption and pretended
that it did not happen. I was ashamed of it. I didn’t want to think about the neglect and abuse I encountered while with my birth parents. It was something that I just wouldn’t talk about, and my adopted family seemed to avoid the subject. I was so scared of being neglected and abused again that it was hard for me to go an hour without my mom. Fear of being left kept me up at night, and fear of being abused again made it where people that surrounded me had to be extremely careful with the way they talked to me or even touched me. When I got to the age when I was old enough to stay home alone, my mom decided to start small and just run to McDonalds. I remember screaming and crying on the living room floor before she even got out of the garage. I was truly afraid she wasn’t going to come back. I also remember waking up screaming from nightmares of my family leaving. My mom had to sleep in my room with me, or I would often come to her in the middle of the night. As time went on, these thoughts and memories started to control me and questions fought to be asked. I finally realized that I was going to have to come to terms with this part of my life so it would stop controlling me. When I finally started to ask questions, my parents were hesitant at first because they didn’t know if I was
ready to hear it. However, time had proven that if I didn’t get the answers and the help I needed, it would only continue to control me. I didn’t want to live in fear anymore There were countless late night conversations and tears, but I came to accept my past. It’s something I will always struggle with and continue to think about. I had to talk through my fears and let down my walls. I still have a lot of issues with it, and I still have the fear of being neglected again and struggle to trust people. Many people have experienced neglect and abuse and its forever going to be a scar they have on their heart. I’ve become open about my scars because I want to help others who are feeling the same things as me I also have learned to look at what I’ve gained. Being adopted has taught me a lot. It’s taught me that blood does not make a family, love does. It has taught me what it means to be blessed and have a second chance. I will forever be grateful for that. I still live in fear but I’ve stopped letting it control me. I am truly proud of my adoption and the things I faced. It’s something that makes me unique and has built me. I may not be able to trust and live without some fear, but I can say that I found the family to which I truly belong.●
Realization of anxiety leads to self discovery, change
Amelia Kurk When I was little, I loved the rain. I found pleasure in the cold water splashing my face, and the sound that resonated as it hit the ground around me. In the rain, I felt at peace. My problems didn’t feel as big because the rain connected me to something more powerful. I used to talk to the rain. I would sit outside for hours telling stories and working things out. As I grew up, that feeling that I always had in the rain, that feeling of serenity, that feeling that’s not supposed to go away, went away. I no longer had that something inside of me that kept me at ease. I no longer had the rain to talk to. I grew up. I grew apart from the comfort rain represented and grew closer to anxiety. Things that I used to leap toward became a slow drag of the feet. Things that used to make me smile caused me to stay up all
night worrying. Things that I used to be the answers. The feeling of never being open to try made me so nervous I lost my good enough rushed through my body appetite for weeks. at all times. Thoughts of questionable The accepting voice in my head that value and the consistent want to feel made everything seem okay turned accepted hurt deep in my bones. into a mocking tone that found I was living a constant battle, something negative about every ignoring any help offered because situation. The worst part was, I I thought only I could fix it. I knew the voice was probably believed that I was the only lying, but every fiber of person who felt this way. my being disagreed with After years of this, I realized that fact. I felt like that I was wrong. I accepted I was walking in a help and found people who straight line with actually did understand. my eyes fixed I began to open up and on the ground, share—with my mom and intentionally with a counselor who m i s s i n g specializes in teens everything good with anxiety. I learned around me that one in five teens for fear that it experience anxiety might spark an that is severe enough to anxiety attack. affect their lives. For me, I spent nights anxiety manifested itself staring at the in an inability to sleep or ceiling asking eat for days at a time. I had to myself an infinite work harder to overcome the amount of questions, fogginess this created. Working and then debating whether harder created more anxiety, which or not I actually wanted to know art by Becky Nam made my heart race, my
head hurt, and my brain feel paralyzed. This, I discovered, was not normal. Psychologists agree that the rates of anxiety disorders among teenagers are on the rise. They blame significant societal shifts that have happened in the last couple of decades. The divorce rate has risen steadily, creating stressful family lives for many. I’ve noticed technology has ushered in a 24/7 culture where we are never unplugged or fully relaxed. School pressure has been magnified through achievement testing and competition for college placement. For me, downtime has become almost non-existent, and for many teens who maintain school work, jobs, and hectic extracurricular schedules, this is true as well. It’s no wonder anxiety disorders are at an all-time high. If you’re consumed with constant worry and the physical sensations, like panic, which come with overwhelming anxiety, there is help available. I found it myself, and I am learning how to cope and overcome. The day that I came to terms with the help I needed, it rained. So, I stepped outside and welcomed back my old friend.●
duet for the show The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
● People 11
Leads in musical hit stage for first time
by Kayla Kurmaskie Opinions Editor
O
n opening night of “Annie Get Your Gun,” the dressing rooms were a flurry with excitement. Voices buzzed, music blared and actors applied the stacks of makeup necessary for the stage. Among the commotion of backstage, freshman and female lead of the musical Emma Krajicek went through the motions of mentally preparing herself for her first stage performance in high school. “You better know your lines or Stanley will scream at you. Emma don’t screw this up. Don’t mess up the names. Don’t laugh when I’m not supposed to,” said Krajicek to herself. Just across the room senior and male lead Baylor Rowlett made similar mental preparations for his first performance in front of a live audience. “It wasn’t as much nervousness as it was ‘it’s finally here.’ You finally get to do it for people and not blank audience that you’ve been practicing for,” Rowlett said. When the curtain finally rose and the show began, the true excitement that accompanies theatre became apparent to the newcomers. “I kept telling people backstage: you didn’t tell me it was this fun. You made it seem like it was the most stress-
ful thing in the world,” Rowlett said. The green performers started their journey to the performance over two months ago at the school wide auditions for the musical Wild West adventure.
“I will have something... that will always give me
hope
that I can do this in life.” Emma Krajicek, freshman Despite the performers’ age and inexperience, director Gregory Stanley and musical director had complete confidence in their casting decisions. “Emma started as a really confident vocal performer; Baylor has a natural likability and charm,” Stanley said. “So Baylor’s journey from my perspective was gaining confidence as a singer and Emma grew more confident in her acting.” “At first I could tell everyone was wary about [me being cast] and a little scared,” Krajicek said. Baylor described feeling equally as intimidated by his more seasoned peers. “I felt like there was a lot of pressure on me because here are all these theatre kids that have been doing this for three or four years, if not more, and then I’m just fresh bait,” Rowlett said. Despite some social awkwardness at first, both performers said the cast welcomed them readily into the “the-
atre family.” Krajicek and Rowlett both described needing this peer support when struggling to overcome the challenges that come with inexperience. “Trying to be this big character [was the most challenging part of the process] because I’m kind of meek and small when you first get to know me,” Krajicek said. “I had to rise up to this huge character.” Rowlett’s involvement with baseball also helped him deal with the stress of carrying a show. “The theatre is more family close than competitive close, but it’s just like baseball,” Rowlett said. “You have to take criticism, do good from it, not crash from it.” By the final curtain, Krajicek said she truly felt the personal growth that came with the role. “I feel like now that I have something to go off of that will always give me hope that I can do this in life,” Krajicek said. ● Photos of Emma Krajicek and Baylor Rowlett by Rachel Grant
12 Student Life
The Catamount
The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Play that funky
music
by Julie Potrykus and Amelia Kurk Executive Editor and Assistant Editor
Music fanatics explore world of shows, performances
Photo of ACL 2014 provided by Taran Stupka
Bright lights beckon the crowd. The entire area silences before the noise erupts. Then everything amplifies. The screams. The writhing dances. The chaotic energy of being there. With these people. With this band. With this energy. Lost in the music of this moment. Despite the distance or the cost, that magic of a concert captivates people to immerse themselves in the concert scene. “I absolutely love the energy,” said sophomore Scout Hartlage, who enjoys concerts featuring artists such as One Direction and 5 Seconds Of Summer, said. “There is nothing in the world like the feeling you get when the artist or band is about to come on stage. When you take a moment to look around at all the people, it just makes you happy. We all love this band or person, and we’re all here jamming out together.” The dynamic pull inspires music listeners to embrace the concert scene, which includes music festivals like the famed Austin City Limits (ACL) festival featuring more than 130 artists. “If you go to something like ACL, it’s definitely not intimate,” senior Taran Stupka said. “It’s very crowded and a lot of people. It’s hectic, but in a good way. It exhausts you physically so much, but it’s entirely worth it. The experience is what you go for.” The tantalizing invigoration caused by the atmosphere enthralls the audience to return. “I try and go to as many concerts as I can,” senior Ethan Desai said. “I definitely take every advantage I can because I don’t
think anything beats live music. I like the ambiance and all the lights and everybody enjoying the same thing. It’s so much more alive than the studio version of anything.” The heavy breaths and voice breaks from feelings that are edited out for the radio are on full display at concerts where both the performances and the artists visit this raw atmosphere of emotional truth that resonates in the venues. “I remember going there and being blown away by the performance because it had so much energy,” senior Bailey Payne said on attending the Warped Tour. “There is something about that that is almost a break from reality. eality. I think of that as the reason why people go to concerts instead of listening ing to their MP3 all day.” day. Stupka shares the same s enthusiasm about the intensity and emotion a concert provides for both the audience and the performers. “Seeing someone live either confirms how much you like them or makes you like them more because you see them as a person as well,” Stupka said. “When they are performing, they make little comments and say stuf stuff about how they appreciate their fans. You can tell when they really like a song.” Performers such as sophomore Courtnie Ramirez try to invoke that connection when sharing her Christian and blues-like music. Ramirez, who started singing on stage when she was 5 years old, will soon be singing in several music festivals and has plans to record her first EP. “I’m just trying to get my music out there,” Ramirez said. “Singing is everything
to me. It’s been there for me through the thick and thin times and has impacted my life so much.” That appreciation these performers have for their gifts infuse in their music to create something unique and worthy to share their experiences and emotions. “When I’m writing songs, I end up just tying together elements of what’s happening to me and the music becomes a combination of that,” sophomore psychedelic pop artist Samuel Moore said. “I guess it’s less of how the music makes me feel and more of how I can express to the world what I’m feeling.” Both Moore and Ramirez say that music, in one form or another, will be an important part of their lives forever because it’s what brings meaning to them. Even if music careers don’t come immediately, they will continue pursuing the art that has changed their lives. “Music is less of a career and more of a life,” Moore said. “It’s kind of a hobby, but it’s more of a hobby of pain—one that’s frustrating and makes me really annoyed, but it’s so beautiful when I’m done with it that it’s all worth it.”●
Student Life
13
d a o R e h t f o s Rule untain biking club
14 People ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb 13, 2015
o m h c n u la ts s ia s u th n e Cycling by Lisa Liu Managing Editor
At a grand total of four members, the mountain biking club is, by all standards, small. Most of its members haven't biked competitively before this year. However, the newly-founded club is not letting that deter them. “I think it’s kind of cool to be the first generation of College Station High School’s mountain bike team,” junior Mason Ouren said. “I like the fact that we, as a team, are getting this started for years [afterward].” Since the club is just getting started and is mainly comprised of relatively new bikers, the upcoming competitions will be a challenge. But, the thrill of a challenge is why some of them enjoy biking so much. “Regular biking is just on the road, so that’s boring to me,” Ouren said. “[Mountain biking] is a lot more fun. I like going fast, and I like the risk and danger.” Junior Nathaniel Foster, who convinced Ouren to try mountain biking this past summer, also appreciates the speed and other unique perks of mountain biking. Unfortunately, this comes at a steep price—that of the bikes themselves. Foster paid $1200 for one that had all of the necessary adjustments, like wider tires. “You’d pop your tires on a road bike, no doubt, if you tried riding off the road,” Foster said. “They make [mountain bikes] out of carbon fiber, which is a heck of a lot more expensive and a whole lot lighter. You can also do a lot more to the bike, like change out parts.” Still, the cost is worth it to the bikers. Junior Julia Lawrence’s favorite part of the sport is the chance for being outdoors. “I enjoy getting out there and being in nature,” Lawrence said. “Our society is so tech-oriented, and sometimes that’s fun, but sometimes I just need to be out in the wild.” O t h e r
members, like Ouren and freshman Ben Worley, also like taking the opportunity to just be outside. “It’s kind of liberating to get on the trails and just go riding for a little while with your friends,” Ouren said. “It really helps me get my mind off of things.” But it’s not always smooth riding for the bikers. For example, they have to accept the frequent falls that naturally occur on rough terrain and obstacles. “There are definitely injuries involved, but I feel like that’s standard in most sports,” Lawrence said. “The more you ride, the more experienced you are on your bike, and the less of a chance of injury you have.” Experience does make a difference, as Ouren has found. In the case of a certain large hill at the Millican Reserve, where the club sometimes practices, persistence has paid off for him. “The first time, I just went around it, because it’s super steep, and you have to go really fast to get up,” Ouren said. “In subsequent visits, I tried it. I fell a lot. [I’d get] about three-fourths of the way up and then crash back down. But, I’ve since been able to do it, and it’s awesome.” As with any group of people who share a passion, the mountain bikers often form bonds with each other. “The people in the club are really chill,” Foster said. “Just going out there and meeting new people is fun.” Lawrence, who has attended a mountain b i k i n g camp in
(Left) Juniors Mason Ouren and Nathaniel Foster prepare to ride together at Millican Reserve on Jan. 31. The club practices as a group to strengthen team bonding. (Right) Freshman Ben Worley races down a hill during practice at Millican Reserve on Jan. 31. Worley has biked since the age of five.
Colorado before, agrees on this point. During the camp, she met other bikers who she considered friendly and helpful. They were, she said, the kind of people who would help you out if you got a spare tire during a race. “[The camp] was really fun. Everybody got along,” Lawrence said. “Mountain biking people are the best people you can find, by far.” Lawrence does not plan on racing in college, but will continue to do it as a hobby, just like the club’s coaches currently do. Ouren plans to do the same. “[I’ll] definitely [race] throughout high school. After that, I’ll still hit the trails every now and then,” Ouren
The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
● People 15
SCOUT’S HONOR
Girl Scouts volunteer in leadership organization
by AJ Jones Assistant Editor When people think about the Girl Scouts, the first things that usually come to mind are cookies and badges. However, Girl Scouts is about more than selling cookies or earning badges. It’s an organization for young ladies to learn leadership skills while serving their community. “When you’re older it turns into more than just earning silly little badges,” junior Grace Donovan said. Another misconception about girl scouts is that it is only for younger girls. However, it’s offered until senior year of high school. Donovan has been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten, which makes this her twelfth year as a scout. Since Donovan joined Girl Scouts, she has earned many badges and experienced a lot. She is now currently an ambassador, the level of scouts for high school junior and senior girls. Donovan expressed how much girl scouts was about giving back to the community and how her troop does so. A tradition of her troop is to go to the food bank on the last day of the winter semester and make lunches for kids in the free lunch program. Donovan also made lifelong friendships she has made with the girls in her troop. Like Donovan, senior Jessica Brown talked about the friends she’s made during her 11 years as a scout. Brown joined Girl Scouts because she was new to the area and wanted to met new people. Brown has earned many badges but also was awarded the bronze award for 12 hours of community service to help another girl scout achieve the gold award.
Badge Shape Leaf- Daisy (Grades K-1) Triangle- Brownie (Grades 2-3 Circle- Junior (Grades 4-5) Diamond- Cadet (Grades 6-8) Rectangle- Senior (Grades 9-10) Square with invert rounded corners- Ambassadors (Grades 11-12) Source: girlscouts.org
Over the years Brown has been a volunteer aide at a Girl Scout camp. As an aide, she helps the leader take care of the other girls. Brown is also an ambassador and has developed money making skills and people skills that she will use for the rest of her life. “Scouting has helped me grow as a young woman,” Brown said. “My social skills have blossomed, and I have a maturity level far beyond some of my peers because scouting has taught me how to be a grown woman.” Like Brown, sophomore Kennedi Whittenton has been a volunteer aide at the same camp she went to as a young scout. Whittenton has been a girl scout for seven years, she joined when she moved to College Station so she could meet some girls in the area. She is currently a cadet. Something that has stood out to her over the years is zip lining. “I’m more outgoing and open to new things. [Zip lining] made me face a fear I never thought I would,” Whittenton said. Senior Madeleine Ackerman has been a girl scout for 13 years and is currently an ambassador. Ackerman expressed similiar sentiment as the other girls such as her appreciation for learning lifelong skills and making friends. She’s participated in volunteer projects and been a volunteer aide as well. What stood out about Ackerman was her acceptance for a destination trip. Ackerman will be traveling to Spain with the organization. “It’s another great way to be involved in the community, and it’s given me lifelong friendships,” Donovan said. ●
Badges
16 People ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Ready, set, teach!
Future teachers learn to manage classrooms, teach lessons by Megan Paradowski Editor-in-Chief Although classes are typically taught by teachers, there is one class that allows the students to be in charge. Run by Jennifer Gosselin, Ready Set Teach instructs students on how to become teachers. “[Ready Set Teach] is an opportunity to learn what teachers do and a chance to work in the classroom with students,” Gosselin said. There are four students currently enrolled in the class, and they meet every day during first and second period. “I like it because you can experience teaching hands on before you go into college, so you know if it’s something you really want to do or not,” senior Jordie Wells said. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the students get to intern at one of 12 different CSISD campuses. Although the students did not have any teacher preferences, they did preference what
school, grade and subject they wanted. They also sent in their resume, a teaching plan and a letter. In addition, Gosselin wrote the principals. All of the girls were accepted. “[The internships] really put you in the mindset of a teacher,” Gosselin said. At the internships, the students observe the class and tutor students as necessary. Towards the end of the program, they get to teach a lesson to the class. For junior Leah Lewis, her responsibilities include singing and dancing with the kindergartners at Forest Ridge, helping them read their bellwork and assisting the teacher with the morning calendar activity, which includes adding money, saying the date and working on counting. “Last week there was a substitute, so I was the one teaching the calendar activity,” Lewis said. “It was really fun.” Lewis also works with four students during their learning stations. “I’ve learned a lot about how to manage the classroom,” Lewis said. Senior Sierra Lamb has also learned new things from the experience. “You look at things differently because you know more about the classroom,” senior Sierra Lamb said. Lewis would agree. “Sculpting different people’s minds is so interesting to me,” Lewis said. “It’s really rewarding.”● ◄Junior Leah Lewis plays a color game with kindergarten students at Forest Ridge Elementary School on Feb. 10. Lewis interns with teacher Caitlin Hollar. Photo by Megan Paradowski●
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▲Senior Sierra Lamb assists social studies students in Liz Roberts’s eighth grade class at College Station Middle School on Feb. 10. Lamb instructed on how to locate cities on a map. Photo by Megan Paradowski●
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“[This] is an opportunity to learn what teachers do and a chance to inches in the classroom with students.”
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Jennifer Gosselin, Ready, Set, Teach Instructor
The Catamount ● People 17
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Spikeball
Freshmen participate in transportable ball spiking game by Rachel Grant Senior Editor They may not be the biggest or the most impressive, but four freshmen know how to make themselves stand out in a crowd of college kids by playing Spikeball. “Basically, it’s like a hula hoop on small stilts, with a net hung over it tightly,” said freshman Brendon Olson. “There is a small orange sized, yellow rubber ball, and you spike the ball by hitting it with an open hand on to the net. The objective is to get it on the net, then back off the net, like an inverse volleyball.” Recently, the group competed in a Texas A&M hosted Spikeball tournament where they were considered an average team when compared to their competition. “The college players said we would be really good by the time we are their age because we were matching up with them pretty well,” freshman Joe Liu said. Many people question the boys as to why they spend so much time playing this seemingly complex game. “It is a pretty simple game,” freshman JT Eppes said. “The rules aren’t too confusing, it’s a lot of fun, it’s competitive, and it all comes apart. You put it in a bag, and you can bring it wherever you are.” This group loves this game so much that they have even traveled in order to compete with other players. “I’ve traveled to and competed in Houston,” Grant said. “It was entertaining, there were a lot of good guys there
Define Spikeball
who did very well, and they thought we were good for our age.” The boys consider the game to be laid back, yet they are not afraid to become aggressive in order to beat each other. “Hanging out with my friends while playing is fun,” Liu said. “Sometimes it gets a little heated. There are some rivalries within our group, but it’s all good competition.” Olsen agrees that Spikeball can become a tense situation between the friends, but is easy to get over after the game. “It’s pretty relaxed, but it can get competitive,” Olson said. “My friends and I play it a lot, and we’ve gotten to the point where we’ve created our own hits and special styles, and it’s fun to play and compete with them.” This whole game started with the boys youth leader from Grace Bible Church. “My youth leader pulled it out of his trunk one day,” Grant said. “Then he asked if I wanted to show the guys inside how to play. After asking what it was, he said Spikeball. It’s like volleyball, but instead of hitting it over the net, you have to hit it on the net, it’s two on two, and there are three sets, just like volleyball.” The introduction to the game left the boys a little different after they left their leader’s house that day. The game has influenced their lives and caused them to grow closer as friends. “I like playing it because it builds up friendships,” Olson said, “and it forces us to rely on each other.”●
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4. Photos by Rachel Grant during the TAMU competition on Dec. 21.
3.
1. Brendon 2. Joe
3. Nathan
4. JT
“A game to be played where the rules shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”
“It’s like volleyball, but instead of hitting it over the net, you have to hit it on the net. It’s 2 on 2, and there are three sets just like volleyball.”
“It is a 2-on-2 game that is a combination of four square and volleyball. It’s competitive, it’s fun and anyone can play.”
“Volleyball, but with the net on the ground.”
18 Sports ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Raising the Roof
Freshman powerlifter takes first at second meet by Emelie Gulde Staff Reporter
▲Freshman Camryn Riggins practices on Feb. 9 for her next powerlifting meet. She is considered a very talented lifter because of her light weight, said coach Gregg Frashure. ►Riggins bench presses on Feb. 10 as part of practice. Her next meet is on Feb. 21 at Rice University.● Photos by Emelie Gulde
Strength in Numbers
Cameron Meet Belton Meet Elgin Meet Reicher Meet Jan. 10 Jan. 24 Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Boys: 1st Place Boys: 1st Place Boys: 1st Place Girls: 1st Place Girls: 1st Place Girls: 1st Place Girls: 1st Place
Powerlifting is a sport that is often overlooked and categorized as a filler for off-season athletes, but no one should underestimate the power of a lifter. Camryn Riggins is a freshman, and based off at her placement at her first two meets, already she is a winner. “Camryn is focused on what she needs to do to achieve her goals,” said Julie Riggins, Camryn's mom. Powerlifting is its own kind of sport, because athletes are competing against themselves and trying to lift their absolute maximum. Individual scores do not affect the entire team as they do in other sports. “It's a different dynamic where you are not depending on people directly to impact your performance,” powerlifting coach Gregg Frashure said. For a sport that does not revolve around team spirit and group encouragement, the Cougar powerlifters sure have a lot of it this year. Everyone takes care and looks out for one another, and the teams are a tight-knit group. “They're your family, and you've just got to accept that. I feel like all sports programs are like that, but I feel like power lifting is more of a really tight bond,” sophomore Jordan Seymore said. Riggins, who is also a volleyball player, placed second in her first powerlifting meet of the year, and took first at her second. Even though she is the lightest powerlifter at CSHS, weighing only 97 pounds, Riggins is not afraid to fight for the win. “I'm kind of the newbie because I'm a freshman and I'm the smallest, but everyone is like my older sister, and they all take care of me,” freshman Camryn Riggins said. Like most of the other sports at the school, powerlifting was affected by the switch to a 5A district. The only competitions that have changed are the regional and state meets. Other than those events, the teams can compete with any school, no matter the size. “That's going to make it a little more difficult because we're dealing with larger schools, but I think we're up for the challenge,” Frashure said. The competitions are divided into three events: the deadlift, the benchpress, and the squat. The lifter has three tries at each event, and the total amount of weight they lift for all three events is the powerlifter's score for that meet. “It really makes you try, because it puts you through stress a lot. It helps you cope with it. It puts you in a situation where you might not want to do something, but you have to,” Seymore said. All the powerlifters have different ways to motivate themselves, but Riggins' family is her main source of encouragement. “My mom and my brothers come to my meets. My grandparents will text me, and tell me good luck and ask me how I did,” Riggins said. The Cougar powerlifting teams are successful, and the teams are full of athletes like Riggins, who try hard and push through regardless of their stature or experience.●
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
The Catamount
Shooting for gold
● Sports 19
Senior leads team charge into basketball playoffs by Alex Miller Sports Editor Senior Collin Lawson may not be the star of the boys basketball team, but he knows that his role on the team is essential to their ongoing success. “I’m more of a role player, I go and do the jobs my coaches ask of me,” Lawson said. “I’m not going to go out and try to prove a point. I just go and do what I’m told.” Lawson’s different roles have shown in many ways this year, as he does almost everything while on the court. “He is always left with the task to defend people taller than him because he is our tallest player,” assistant coach Kenny Boren said. “That is always a challenge for him and he usually succeeds at it.” Listed at 6’4”, Lawson is a natural shooter on offense, where he plays guard. On defense, however, he has to adapt to playing down low to help the team with his height. “I definitely help get rebounds down low,” Lawson said. “I have to guard bigger guys on defense to free up the guards.” Lawson may not lead the team in scoring or rebounds, but by leading the team in charges drawn with 43 for the season, he helps provide pivotal momentum swings in games. “We call [charges] Purple Hearts,” Boren said. “If you go in the locker room, you can see a big poster for them, and if
you look up at it, Collin has the most Purple Hearts across the board.” Lawson has made many improvements to his game in his three years at CSHS, which has led to his current success on the court. “I have seen a drastic change in him,” head coach JD Sullivan said. “He bought into the system, changed his shooting mechanics, and made the greatest progress in his shooting percentage.” Going from a valuable backup on varsity his sophomore year, Lawson knew his hard work would soon pay off as he became a starter his junior year and even received all-district votes. “When I was at Consol, I hardly ever played,” Lawson said. “Then I came here and began doing more drills with Coach Sullivan, and I became better allaround especially with my decision making and feel for the game just by playing so much more basketball.” Following the loss at Bryan, Lawson said the team made a pact to not lose another game. So far, their plan has gone almost perfectly as the team has rallied off a 6-2 record since then, which has set them up to finish as high as second and as low as third in district. With one last run for Lawson and the rest of the seniors, it seems they have their game plan to keep their high school careers going a little longer. “We’re going to take it one step at a time and see how far we can make it into the playoffs.” Lawson said.●
Lawson’s Logistics
Field Goal Percentage: 41% 3-Point Percentage:
29%
Points per Game:
5.7
Rebounds per Game: 3.2
▲ Senior Collin Lawson looks to pass the ball in the game against Consol on Feb. 3. The Cougars won the close game 50-48, eliminating the Tigers from playoff contention. The Cougars face Willis tonight at 6:30 P.M. Seniors will be honored before the game. Photo by Alex Miller●
20 Sports ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Let’s Roll ◄ Junior Tell Ward competes against a Waller wrestler at the Cougar 6-Way Tournament on Jan. 24. Ward went 3-1 in the home meet. Photo by Clarissa Parulian●
Wrestlers advance to regional tournament by Clarissa Parulian Staff Reporter
Giant mats cover the floor, and the room releases an energy filled with determination, intensity and sweat. Teammates from all around shout pointers and encouragement to the wrestlers, and each match is followed by the classic raised hand of victory. Wrestling at CSHS started small, yet with each year, its numbers and experience grows. Senior Brianna White joined the team her freshman year before track season. “You’ll never run enough to be fit for wrestling,” White said. “Wrestling is a whole new type of fitness. It takes more of your whole body than just different parts. We definitely sweat a lot.” White joined through recommendation of a friend, yet she has grown to enjoy it and is one of the seniors that are helping to build the legacy of wrestling for CSHS. “Our first year wrestling team was definitely a challenge, starting from kids who didn’t even know what wrestling was to now having fourth year wrestlers that are determined in helping the younger kids succeed in what they want to become,” White said. Senior Carter Clouston has helped in this process too, now wrestling with family on the team.
“I like [having my brother on the team],” Clouston said. “I don’t have a problem with it. He’s pretty good.” Both challenge each other to get better. As the team dynamic has changed and grown, White has seen a trend in less girls joining than guys. “People see [wrestling], and they don’t understand the pureness of the sport and what it’s really about,” White said. “Once you get out on the mat, the first time you get thrown, you just go, ‘man,’ this isn’t about being touchy, it’s about trying to win and be more up on your game than the other opponent, more physically fit. It’s more of a strategy.” Junior Tell Ward agrees. “A lot of girls probably don’t wrestle because they think it’s too like manly, or too guyish, but I mean, it’s really not,” Ward said. “There’s a lot of girls in wrestling in other places, at other schools, just not really here.” Most of the team acknowledges that wrestling is much more than just the physical aspect of it. “It really makes you a more mentally tough person, especially going through things throughout life, and once you get out of high school as well,” White said. Senior Esmerelda Salazar has seen this in her life. Sophomore year, she went through a lot of trouble, and wrestling became her one option in the realm of sports. Although she first joined solely for this reason, wrestling
has shaped her and she now treasures it. “You can’t be a trouble maker and still want to be something good. You know, you’ve got to leave one of those things behind, and leaving trouble is one of those,” Salazar said. “What’s wrestling to me? Everything. It’s not like any other sport I’ve played.” Through this change in her life, wrestling has increasingly blended with her future plans. “I’m still kind of iffy about [the future],” Salazar said. “I’m between going to the military [and pursuing wrestling].” Either way, Salazar is getting training through wrestling. For military life, she is accustomed to constantly training with guys, and her mental toughness stems from the sport. “I like that fact that it pays for school, and that I wouldn’t start my life out in debt,” Salazar said. “I don’t want to owe anybody anything; I want to work for everything that I have.” This determination and strong will is shared throughout the wrestling team, as each works towards his or her goals. “Definitely in life [wrestling] humbles you a lot,” Ward said. “Whenever you see people brag, you just don’t feel like you need to do that because you’ve already put in your work.”●
The Catamount ● Sports
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
21
Senior post player unites girls basketball team by Courtney Sumlin Staff Reporter She’s been called the glue that holds the girls basketball team together. At 5-10, senior Alex Bowden is formidable on the court. Off the court, she’s the kind of person who makes a difference in the lives of her teammates. “Alex is the type of player that every coach dreams of having,” said Allison Rackley, girls basketball assistant varsity coach. “She’s always positive, always hungry to practice and a real team player.” Bowden is a role model for her peers. After winning both a defensive player of the year award and a Coach’s choice award, it’s no wonder she is praised by her teammates. “She’s a neutralizer; she mellows everybody out,” senior Sydni Freeman said. “Her energy brings everybody together.” Alex’s high energy and constant good attitude are the qualities that are brought up often when her teammates and peers are asked about her. “She’s really positive on the bench and in the game,” senior Savannah Lawrence said. “She keeps everybody’s spirits up, no matter what the score is.” Bowden’s positive vibes are what hold the team together through the hard-fought wins and the tough losses. “Her energy brings everybody together,” senior Jordie Wells said. But this mellow vibe does not keep her from getting the job done on the court. As the current Defensive MVP, Alex is any-
thing but complacent when she hits the gym. “She’s really strong and her power shows in games,” Lawrence said. This attitude impacts her teammates in all the right ways. Bowden makes a point to encourage other players to reach for more, both in practices and in games. “She’s helped me a lot with becoming more aggressive when we work against each other every day in practice,” Freeman said. Bowden’s ability to channel aggression on the court assists with her defensive efforts. “My favorite part of basketball is playing defense because it’s 99 percent heart and 1 percent talent,” Bowden said. “You really have to dig deep playing defense no matter what the score is.” This heart and ability to dig deep are what scored her the unique chance to play at the next level. “I decided to play college basketball because I have a passion for the game. I am not ready to stop playing the game I love,” Bowden said on her choice to continue playing at the collegiate level at Concordia College next fall. “I’m going to miss playing for my teammates and coaches,” Bowden said. “I know this will be the last year we will all be together.” As the “glue” of the department, she will undoubtedly be missed at CSHS. “Alex is irreplaceable in her effort, positivity and leadership on this team,” Rackley said.●
1
First Play Off Game in Program History
Bi-District Game Lady Cougars vs. Hutto Hippos at Hearne High school Monday, Feb. 16 6:30 p.m.
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3
1) Senior Alex Bowden, number 42, prepares herself with her teammates for their upcoming game against rivals Consol on Feb. 3. The Cougars lost 58-40. Photo by Fiona Cohen ● 2) Bowden takes a shot from the outside during a warm up before playing the Bryan Vikings on Feb. 6. Photo by Courtney Sumlin ● 3) Bowden defends a fellow teammate in a warm up drill before playing the Bryan Vikings who the team defeated 46-42 on Feb. 6 allowing them to advance to the playoffs. Photo by Courtney Sumlin ●
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
22 Entertainment ● The Catamount
Friendly Competition
Gamers unite through unique online networks by Derek Witzenman Staff Reporter
As the turn of the century brought about new innovations in technology, the home entertainment industry evolved drastically. A new entertainment system known as a video game console swept the world and took control of the living rooms of millions. The gaming industry now caters to a more social gaming experience, giving people the chance to connect with other cultures over an internet connection. “You’ll find so many different people on here,” senior Gabriel Sabljic said. “The PlayStation platform immerses you in so many cultures quite different from our own.” Sabljic has been enjoying what the gaming industry has to offer for the better part of his childhood, playing PC, and XBox and now PS4. Sabljic stated that out of all the three
systems his favorite aspect was the ability to communicate and share with fellow gamers in the community. With the release of the next Generation PlayStation system, the PS4, Sabljic has been able to enjoy the video capture mechanic. “I can be in the middle of an intense gunfight in [my favorite FPS] and start streaming immediately,” he said. “And when I feel the clip is done, I can share it with all of my friends.” For some, the social aspect of the gaming industry is the gemstone of the abilities a console has to offer. For senior Daniel Schulien, the messaging, video share and multiple other social platforms give the gaming industry a way to not only make money, but to make friends. “I live out in the middle of nowhere,” Schulien said, “so when I couldn’t hang out with my friends, I’d log into Xbox, plug in my mic and play with them online.”
Though the communities of the PS4 and Xbox One are separate, they both utilize most of the same social aspects. “I love that I can be in the middle of a game and look something up, or reply to a message,” Schulien said, “all without having to quit the game session or restart the system.” The ease of use in newer consoles have also made sharing clips, making group conversations or joining friendgames much smoother, and much more rapid. “The moment I turn on my Xbox, I can start a party chat while the game boots up,” Schulien said, “so that I can be talking to my friends while I wait for my game to load.” Although PC gaming has been going strong for over 25 years now, console gaming has the added convenience of lower cost, and no real need for upkeep. “Sometimes, PC gaming can be a hassle,” senior Aric Ziegelmann said.
“The servers can be run by donations, so the quality isn’t the best.” However, Ziegelmann stated that having a community that both is run by, and relies on, the players can make the experience that much more rewarding. “The platform I use to play my PC games is primarily Steam,” Ziegelmann said. “I love the company because it not only listens to its players, it also allows them to change and add to the system to benefit us all.” The only major problem with social gaming is that though there are many platforms to play with, they aren’t interconnected. This makes choosing a platform hard and communities wary of one another. “Everyone’s arguing over which is better: is PS4 better than Xbox? Is Xbox better than PC?” Ziegelmann said. “I don’t think it should be about which one is better, but which one delivers a better gaming experience fitted to you.” ●
MowMasters
Supports the
Cougars
It’s easy to spot a Harley’s man 520 University Drive East College Station
Lawn Service Brian Bland TAMU ‘93
(979) 777-7390
The Catamount ● Entertainment
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Cupid’s Choice $
$$
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Planning a date on a budget
$$ $
Eating In
À La Mode
Fine Dining
Try cooking a meal for your date from home! This compromise is both thoughtful and personal.
College Station’s abundance of quality restaurants can provide the perfect setting for your ideal date.
The finest dining establishments in town will cater to the needs of any couple on a more serious date.
Simple pasta options can be made into a wide range of different meals, from alfredo to carbonara. Add tomatoes, squash, zucchini or mushrooms to pasta for extra flavor. Fresh vegetables run only a few dollars per pound.
Grub Burger offers a range of burgers with a drink and a side starting at $9.50. See their special for two free milkshakes. Check out 40 Tempura, one of the top sushi restaurants in town, for a twist on the traditional Valentine’s date. Sushi rolls range from $8-12.
Visit Madden’s Casual Gourmet in downtown Bryan for the restaurant’s romantic ambiance. Meals start at $24.
On a Dime
For a more relaxed date, you and your significant other can find fun in these inexpensive activities. From comedies to classics, Netflix will have a romantic movie for your evening in. Netflix charges users $8 each month. Find a craft activity, like painting or mug decorating, to make a gift for your sweetheart.
On the Town
Try Amico Nave, a high quality Italian restaurant with a variety of menu options with entrées at roughly $15 each.
Dream Date
Local businesses and venues are hosting an assortment of activities for couples this Valentine’s.
Find time for these unique and extravagant ventures to make your date the one you’ve been imagining.
Stick with a winter theme and visit Spirit Ice Arena for a two hour public ice skate for only $22 per couple.
Your fantasy evening will be complete with a carriage ride from Hidden Oasis Carriage Company in Bryan. A couple’s ride is $40. Stop by the Chocolate Gallery for a tasty dessert to end a luxury outing. Pastries, gelato, truffles and cupcakes are all roughly $10.
Bryan Theatre Company’s production of “Kiss Me Kate” can be the romantic highlight of your night out on the town. Tickets are $20.
24 Etc ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
the art of
henna
Traditional form of body art bears cultural significance by Anna Solcher Staff Reporter The intricate patterns curl up the arm in an array of designs. It stains the skin a dark reddish brown color, but also does more than that. Henna is a form of beauty and confidence. “Henna is graffiti for the Middle Eastern people; it’s a way of art and expression,” sophomore Anjali Dhanani said. Henna, also known as mehndi, is a type of paste made from crushing the leaves of a henna tree. Dating back over 5,000 years, it originated in the Middle East. First used as a cooling method, it became a form of art after people saw the wonderful stains it left. Within India’s culture, henna is prominent. “Tattoo artists line the streets of India. A lot of people do it. There are always lines,” junior Sandhiya Ravichandran said. Henna is used on special occasions such as Eid and Diwali and is not exclusive to certain religions. Henna placed on palms and hands shows that the person is receptive of blessings and gifts, while henna on the feet shows that their body and mind is connected to the earth. Furthermore, henna is a common ritual in Indian weddings. Women dye their arms and feet to be
beautiful and have good luck. “It’s like jewelry. You wear it to look beautiful,” Dhanani said. Before the wedding, the women have a mehndi night, which is when an artist comes and paints a design for all the women in the wedding. The bride receives the most designs, and the best of them, while the bridesmaids receive more simple designs. “It’s a ceremonial art, an indication of coming of age,” Ravichandran said. “It signifies that you are growing into a woman.” Each design has an important meaning. “The peacock means independence, flowers mean happiness and joy, and the sun means light and good fortune,” freshman Kanwal Bhimani said. Some people use henna as a form of enjoyment simply because they want to. “Last year I got it done for a wedding,” freshman Kalindi Desai said. “I wore it to school to flaunt it to everyone. People would ask me questions about it and I felt super cool.” Henna can be applied by the wearer or another person. Michaels and the gas station Zip and Chill on Northgate both sell henna kits. Henna is a form of beauty and artistic expression. Whether it is to express coming of age or simply for apperance, henna is an exquisite form of art that should be appreciated by those who use it. ● ◄ Freshman Kalindi Desai wears henna on her hands for a wedding she attended in India. Though henna has gained a following for its aesthetic value, the cultural importance of applying it at events like weddings has not been lost. Photo provided by Kalindi Desai