The Catamount Vol. 2 No. 4 March 28, 2014 issue

Catamount

the

Vol. 2 No. 4 Friday, March 28, 2014

College Station High School

Sophomore Dani Guzman practices her floor routine for the district gymanstics meet today. See more on page 16.

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Dream On

Sleep deprivation forces students to prioritize activities

by Zoë de Beurs Staff Reporter

The soft snoring of a classmate in the background is becoming increasingly common in high schools, and College Station High School is no exception. How many more battles do we have to fight over sleep?

“I feel really stressed out all the time,” sophomore Chloe Harrison said. “I feel like I’m a spider web, and I have to be pulled in all these directions.”

Harrison gets five to seven hours of sleep. Like her, many students experience pressure to perform in school, sports, clubs, jobs and other extracurricular activities. All this pressure has decreased sleep and increased stress.

“If I have two hours of sleep and something not so stressful happens, it feels really stressful,” sophomore Jonathan Armstrong said. “I will break down right there.”

Immense stress and anxiety can lead to sleep deprivation, said Ashley Yaugher, Texas A&M psychology graduate student who researches sleep.

“If you don’t sleep enough, especially in adolescence, you are more likely to be anxious and depressed,” Yaugher said. “If you are more anxious and depressed, you are more likely to not sleep enough.

There’s a relationship that goes both ways there.”

Less sleep negatively impacts health. Twenty percent of students who go to the nurse, go for sleep-related issues, school nurse Lisa Sicilio said.

“[Sleep deprivation] can make you ill,” Sicilio said. “You can get nauseated. Migraines may be triggered by sleep deprivation.

There are a lot of health consequences.”

Lack of sleep affects focus in class. Some students even struggle to keep their eyes open during tests.

“If I’m really tired, I have to take breaks and naps for five minutes,” Harrison said. “I get so exhausted; I can’t read the questions. I can’t stay awake.”

continued on page 3

Index News

pages 2-5

Opinions

pages 6-8

People

pages 9-13

Sports

pages 14-17

Entertainment

pages 18-20

Photo by Zoë de Beurs

Junior Katie Roderick answers calls during her shift at Scott and White.

Roderick volunteers there with Helping Hands. See more on page 13.

Junior Riley Park makes a dress using trashbags. Park will present her creation at the state FFCLA competition on April 10-12. See more on page 12.

2 News ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

Cougar News Academic teams win district championships

The UIL academic teams competed in the District 18-3A competiton on March 21 at the Brenham Blinn campus and in Navasota on March 18. The combined team score added to 567 points, placing CSHS 180 points above the closest competitior. The first place teams included accounting, calculator, computer science, current issues, literary criticism, mathematics, number sense, science and spelling and vocabulary. Competitors who placed first through third in individual events and the first place teams will advance to the regional competition held at Blinn's Brenham campus on May 3.●

Juniors graduate from Junior Leadership Brazos

Seventeen juniors graduated from the 2014 Junior Leadership Brazos, a program designed to teach high school juniors about the local economy, medical services, government, criminal justice, banking and finance and arts and culture. Graduates include Meghan Bauman, Dakota Brown, Jesse Dale, Sebastian de Beurs, Ethan Desai, Reed Gorzycki, Abby Hagen, Jayme Holden, Christopher Hutcherson, Derek Lemons, Collin Littlefield, Katherine McDougall, Aidan Parsi, Alexandra Pratt, Brendan Ray, Chandler Richard and Courtney Sumlin.●

Science and math competitiors take third at state ▲ Sophomore Kayla Kurmaskie and junior Kailee Kema portray the historical duo of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, respectively, in the theatre department's UIL One Act Play "The Miracle Worker."

The company competed on the district level yesterday against Navasota, Rockdale, Madisonville, Caldwell and Taylor. Photo by Rachel Grant ●

Twelve students competed in the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) on March 15. Each of the CSHS students placed in the top 10 in their grade in at least one of the contests. The students that placed in the top 10 were juniors Jiatao Liang and Will Chollett, sophomore Woody Wang and freshmen BJ Kim, Hongsen Qin, Jason Tan, Eugene Tian, Tony Li, Annie Liang, Merusha Mukherjee, Pablo Villalobos and Yutae Lee. Overall, the science team came in second, and the math and number sense teams placed third. CSHS placed third among all of the schools.●

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Friday, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

● News 3

Late nights challenge academic focus How to get beTter rest Avoid drinking caffeine after noon. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 14 hours Exercising a few hours before sleep will make you more tired Take brief naps, but limit your nap to 30 minutes Source: Popular Science Magazine

continued from page 1 Sophomore Jonathan Armstrong has trouble sleeping the night before a test.

“I have quizzes and tests back to back,” Armstrong said. “I’ll study a bit more and then try to go to sleep. It usually impacts me somehow. I’ll maybe get an hour [of sleep].”

Armstrong uses natural lavender oil to help him get a good night of rest. Quality becomes as important as quantity to help students function, chemistry teacher Casey Akin said.

“Everyone has limits. Some students can function just fine every day with four hours of sleep, and some students who sleep nine hours a night and still feel tired.

There is a big difference between six hours of terrible sleep and six hours of deep fulfilling sleep,” Akin said.

Akin also believes students should prepare themselves for the future.

Junior Ariel Salas doesn’t have trouble sleeping, but while working for 43 hours a week, she still only sleeps between

three and four hours a night.

“Usually, I’m out like a light. I’m just so tired and so stressed that my body is like, ‘We’re done, we need to go, we need to sleep,’” Salas said.

Harrison and Salas work late. Salas starts her work at five and is supposed to be done at twelve, but she said that seldom happens. She usually starts her homework at two in the morning. Other states have laws restricting sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds from working after ten on a school night, but Texas does not.

“It’s like nobody is protecting the sanctity of sleep,” Yaugher said.

Sophomore Kyle Miller has other pressures such as tennis contributing to his sleep deprivation.

“Lack of sleep can mess up my growth and development, but at the same time, I think ‘I need to get this done.’ I don’t really think about the consequences of it overall,” Miller said.

Yaugher said not sleeping enough leads to physical and mental disorders. “[Lack of sleep] can cause health

problems down the road, usually stress-related problems like ulcers,” Yaugher said.

“If people don’t have enough sleep, it causes them to have poorer coping and emotion regulation skills.”

Teachers also endure sleep deprivatiation and high levels of stress, Akin said.

“Adults find the same levels of stress.

As long as we all realize that there are days that teachers and students are on edge, we just have to work around each other,” she said.

Some students admit they put most of the pressure on themselves.

“Getting this job and doing all these things was my choice,” Harrison said. “I don’t think there’s anyone to blame. I took these classes, so I can challenge myself because I do love to learn.”

Roberman believes time management could prevent loss of sleep.

“Especially this past year has been really hard,” Roberman said. “I always had to do my best. There’s no other way to do it. But hopefully I’ll get better with time management.”●

4 News ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

Students enjoy social aspects of UIL

by Rachel Grant Senior Editor It’s six in the morning on a Saturday. Members of the UIL academic team drowsily limp onto the bus and prepare for a trip to compete all day. After taking time to wake up, students begin to practice or study for their events. Some people may wonder why they would sacrifice a weekend just to compete and study.

Junior Jamie Roberman, who competes in social studies and news writing, devotes so much time to UIL because she loves competing against others, and she really wants to compete in state this year, she said.

“This is the last year being 3A. If I want to go to state it’s going to be this year,” Roberman said. “Last year I had a good shot of making it to state, but I sacrificed it for something that I was not successful at. Coming into it this year, I know I have to do better than last year, go through the whole process and not just quit for something else.”

Unlike Roberman, junior Tessa Johnson, who competes in science, ready writing, literary criticism and social studies, was not driven to participate in UIL through a personal reason.

“A lot of my teachers approached me about being a part of their team and that influenced my decision to join,” Johnson said.

Junior Sebastian de Beurs, who competed in speech and debate, but now competes in current issues and events, joined UIL through the Speech and Debate club.

“I heard on the announcements, ‘Join the speech and debate team.’ After I joined the club, [Mr. Lehrmann] said this is how it works; ‘We do this thing called UIL. This is

the invitation meet that we go to on the weekend. Come join for the new experience.’ He led me through the process. I joined speech and debate and that led me to UIL. My initial motivation was not necessarily external, but internal.”

After competing in an event, Roberman immediately calls her parents.

“When I get the results, my parents are always the first to know how well I did,” Roberman said. “I love making them proud and showing myself I can do it. I love it, I can’t say it more. I love it so much.”

Although Johnson doesn’t have as much pressure from her parents, she feels that her peers are the ones to push her and encourage her. She also feels pressure to keep up the school’s reputation.

“When I’m competing against my peers, they want me to do well, and I want them to do well, so we pressure each other,” Johnson said. “At district I feel a lot more pressure because that is the [meet] that our school gets known for, but at the invitational it’s much more relaxed and free.”

For de Beurs, he feels that he needs to win at every meet, no matter how important it is. “[After winning] I felt astounded. I didn’t know why I won, I surprised myself,” de Beurs said. [When I lose] I hold grudges against myself, I don’t like it.”

Going to every meet causes him to have to be more

alert and engaged with the news in order to be successful in his event.

“I can reproduce things that I learn in the news, and I’m always inclined to keep myself aware of the news. I’m motivated by UIL to be involved in the news, for personal good and UIL good. Competing itself is rewarding but winning is also rewarding,” de Beurs said.

Although there are down sides to UIL, the students who are involved in it love it wholeheartedly and each have favorite parts of it. “[My favorite parts are] the meets, the games and the food,” Roberman said. “It’s where I’ve met a lot of my friends. After we get our results, it’s like all our hard work has paid off. I just love it.”

UIL is something close to their hearts and something they care about.

“I like the experiences I get from going to meets,” Johnson said, “and meeting all these incredibly gifted and intelligent people from our school and other schools.” ●

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The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

● News 5

Grieving process eventually leads to healing

by Kayla Kurmaskie Managing Editor Coming home from another normal day at school, junior Marshall Palmer went about his evening routine, playing his Xbox and settling into the weekend. When the phone rang and Palmer’s little brother picked it up, Palmer sensed nothing out of the ordinary. After a few reassurances to the caller, the younger Palmer hung up the phone and looked at his elder brother with distress stating, “I think something’s happened to dad.”

“I literally just sat in the same place for an hour,” Palmer said. “It didn’t feel like real life.”

Junior Bri White describes experiencing a similar feeling when she leaned of her mother’s death to cancer five years ago.

“You just keep thinking that you’re going to wake up, and it’s going to be different,” White said.

This disbelief is a new phenomenon for freshman Lauren Klaus since her father passed away in October of 2013.

“He was more like a best friend than he was a father,” Klaus said, “so it was weird to experience losing a father and a best friend.”

Klaus and Palmer received many

well-wishes and condolences from their peers and teachers, but they have still faced challenges with communicating their situation to friends.

“You can’t mentally grasp it no matter how much you try to describe it to them,” Klaus said.

Palmer has at times struggled with the taboo nature of his father’s suicide.

“If he died from cancer or a heart attack, it’d be easier,” Palmer said. “I feel like I can’t even talk about it without everyone getting quiet.”

Klaus has also experienced the social awkwardness of people being unable to handle a grieving individual.

“For the first week or so, tons of people drew close to me,” Klaus said.

“After that, everyone goes away because nobody understands that the first week isn’t grief, it’s shock, and then the grief comes after.”

Though all of the students say they were initially in shock, they have gone on to deal with the tragedy of losing a parent in various ways.

“Of course, I was sad, and I mourned,” Palmer said, “but then I was like, ‘well, mourning’s not gonna do anything, so I’ve got to move on with my life.’”

One of the ways White has found the strength to move on is though her athletic pursuits.

“I do things [powerlifting and

wrestling] for her, so when she looks down, she sees I’m doing things that are good,” White said. “It feels like a guardian angel.”

Despite keeping a positive outlook on their situation, Klaus still struggles to find meaning in her daily life, particularly when sitting in class.

“I get that feeling of ‘is it really worth it?’” Klaus said. “You don’t know why you feel like that, [but] you just do.”

Klaus and the rest of her immediate family have gone through extensive grief counseling. She explained that this helped her understand why she was feeling the way she did, but it did not dull the emotional pain.

With more time, and further counseling, Klaus believes she will come to accept her father’s death, but until then, she feels she has gained further appreciation for life and time.

“You can be thankful for the times you did have instead of grieving for the times you didn’t,” Klaus said.

Palmer and White also expressed their increased gratitude for the time they have been given with loved ones.

“You can’t look back and think, ‘maybe I could have done this to help,’ and you can’t really accuse yourself of being the reason why it happened,” White said. “You’ve got to keep moving forward.”● The Stages of Gri

7

The 7 of

Stages

Grief

1. Shock and Denial- This is the refusal to accept the fact that the loved one is gone.

2. Pain and Guilt- This is the wearing off of

shock and realization that the loved one is gone.

3. Anger and Bargaining- This is the redirection and defletion of suppressed emotions.

4. Depression- Depression, Refflection, Loneliness- During this phase a person realizes the full magnitude of their loss.

5. The Upward Turn- Feelings of depression lessen and begin to adjust to life without the person they lost.

6. Reconstruction and Working ThroughThe person who sustained the loss begins to tackle daily life.

7. Acceptance- This is the understanding and ability to deal with the reality of the situation.

http://www.recover-from-grief.com/

Prom When: May 17; 8 pm- Midnight Where: Bethancourt Family Grand BallroomMemorial Student Center Theme: Bright Lights, Big City

Available for catering, private parties, and special events For more information contact Catherine Parsi M. Ed.

phone: 979-694-5800 email: cparsi@csisd.org

6 News ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

Acceptance of new school brings personal fullfillment

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW staff editorial Disorganized priorities, poor time management cause lack of sleep The average teenager needs nine and a half hours of sleep every night. However, studies have shown that only around 15 percent of teenagers get the minimum eight and a half hours.

Though the temptation to blame the lack of sleep on school activities and homework is strong, many of the causes for sleep deprivation can be contributed to the teenagers themselves.

With the technology easily accessible to our generation, the opportunities to become distracted have been broadened. What starts as a quick tweet before bed, soon becomes an hour long Twitter binge with any hope of a full night’s sleep being stolen by cyberspace. This lack of self-control is often reflected in other demonstrations of poor time management.

Students often stay up into the early hours of the morning in order to finish papers, projects and to study. While this drive for academic excellence is admirable, school should not stand in the way of sleep. Well-rested students have been shown to perform better on tests and in sports. Often times, these same students are compelled to stay up in order to finish the work that they have been putting off until the day before the due date. Time management skills and priorities for students must be improved.

The sleep-deprived students need to take the initiative to make sure they get enough sleep. Though this task may seem impossible when work and activities demand time, success in

Megan Paradowski My freshman year at Consol was perfect. I loved my friends, my teachers and my school. When they announced the opening of a new high school, I felt terrible for anyone who would have to leave Consol to go there. And then I found out that it was me. I was leaving.

Our school was torn down the middle.

What girl wants to go to a school where there are no upperclassmen? Where half of the classrooms will be empty? Where the school color is purple and not maroon?

When sophomore year began at CSHS, I was not happy. The walls were white and the hallways empty.

I missed my friends

View of the Pride:

YES

from the other school. I missed seeing upperclassmen keep the lowerclassmen in check.

Then it hit me. My life wasn’t going to change.

I wasn’t going back to Consol. Freshman year was great, but it was over. The only way to be happy at CSHS was to appreciate it.

As junior year began, my eyes were opened. I realized how beautiful the building is and how wonderful our teachers are. I began to appreciate the friends I have here, and I realized that I would never trade them for anything in the world. I even began going to all the sporting events I was available to attend.

Life doesn’t always work out the way that I’ve mapped it out in my head. In fact, it rarely ever does.

Changes are going to happen, big and small, whether I want them to or not.

Constantly wishing that I was still at Consol did nothing other than blind me to the beauty of CSHS. Now, the hallways look bright and filled with students, and my friends and teachers are so wonderful that I have forgotten what I missed so much about Consol.● art by Becky Nam

Do you sacrifice sleep for school?

“Yes, I do when I really need to study, especially during finals week.”

-Sam Beal, 10 “All day every day. Homework, studying and extracurricular activities are impossible to finish up before 11p.m.” -Dan Hung, 9

the classroom and proper sleep health can be achieved. This may mean making social sacrifices in order to preserve overall well-being. Though the idea of giving up a bit of social time for school seems like the end of the world at the time, the improved health and grades will be worth the sacrifice.● 2013-2014 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Senior Editor Executive Editor Opinions Editor Features Editor Assistant Editors Staff Reporters Graphic Artists Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

Megan Paradowski Kayla Kurmaskie Rachel Grant Julie Potrykus Lily Parsi Lisa Liu Brianna Aguilar and Fiona Cohen Alex Miller and Zoe de Beurs Becky Nam and David Rambo Courtney Wellmann Teresa Laffin

“No! I like my sleep. I get grumpy if I don’t get enough sleep.”

-Jaclyn Miller, 11 “I try not to stay up too late. Some of my friends stay up until three or four, which I think is insane.” -Diana Hajali, 11

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. 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, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

Near loss leads to new appreciation for life

Brianna Aguilar It started out as a normal day.

I woke up with my alarm clock blaring “Kiss You” by One Direction, and as usual, it took several minutes to conjure enough will to get out of bed and face another day of school. After being dropped off at school, my day got even better due to an exciting text about a very exciting event—I had a doctor’s appointment.

Later, when I was leaving school for it, I walked down the familiar set of stairs for my mom to pick me up. I was surprised to see her sitting down in the commons chair with her hand on her forehead, looking dangerously ill. My mom never got sick.

As she rose up to greet me, she asked me to drive, since she wasn’t feeling well. But my plans to go to the doctor quickly changed, as I had to pull over numerous times when I was driving in order to check on her.

At home, she assumed she had just probably ate something bad and went to lie down for a while. I went to check on her. When I stepped into her room, she was standing against her bed with her robe on, but she looked unhurt, fine.

Yet, an elongated blood red gash ran across her forehead.

As I ran up to her, she had enough barely strength to say, “My head. My head. It hurts. I think… I hurt it,” before she slipped down to the ground. My mom, who never got sick, my mom, who never let her weakness show, my mom, who I thought was invincible, fell down, and in that moment it seemed like she would never be able to get back up.

In that moment, I realized everything could change.

I wouldn’t have my mom shower me with kisses and hugs as I walked out the door to and from school. I wouldn’t have her there to comfort me with strokes of my hair. I wouldn’t have her there to ask me how my day was, if my were friends nice, and just how I was feeling. I wouldn’t have her there to worry about me when no one else seemed to. I wouldn’t have her to stay up late hours, waiting until I finished my homework or got home late from a night out with friends. I wouldn’t have her there for all the little things, like sending a good luck text before an important test that I didn’t even think she knew about—all these little things I took for granted. Before this experience, the thought of losing my mom was absurd. My mom was invincible.

As I ran out of the bedroom and into the kitchen to call 9-1-1 for help, I cherished all the times we spent together, realizing how fragile life is and how quickly it can be taken away. I learned the importance of treasuring joy and happiness and each of life’s everyday moments. I learned to be grateful for true friends who offer support during hard times, like my good friend who dropped everything to come help me take my mom to the hospital right when my dad called her.

Now that I look back, in that moment, I realized everything changed for the better. ●

QUESTION of the ISSUE: How much sleep do you get on average?

Z=25 students

ZZZ ZZZ

ZZZZZ ZZZZ

Z

>7 hours

4-6 hours

<3 hours 395 students surveyed

● Opinions 7

OVERHEARD What is the worst movie adaptation of a book?

“Twilight. The books were terrible, but the movie was worse.”

Jillian Volkmar, junior

“Eragon. It missed a lot of key plot points.”

Woody Wang, sophomore

“Percy Jackson. They completely changed the storyline and didn’t leave it open for the next movies.”

Mark Wagner, freshman

“The Great Gatsby. There was no dubstep or Jay-Z in the book.”

Sebastian de Beurs, junior

DAILY GRIND

By: David Rambo

8 Opinions ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28. 2014

Siblings bond through difficulties of life together

Fiona Cohen One of my proudest moments as a big sister was seeing my brother Ethan take the field in his first football game this year, sporting the jersey he had dreamed of throughout the years leading up to middle school. Another similar moment occurred just the other day, when he consumed an entire scoop of ice cream in one whopping mouthful.

This is life with a twelve-year-old boy.

As a sister I have the opportunity to witness both the memorable and more noteworthy moments of my brother’s life and those that are exclusively significant to our relationship. I know that I will remember his graduation ceremony as vividly as I can recall the day he first picked up a guitar. I know that his wedding ceremony will be

just as important a memory to me as the day he chose to talk to me about his seventh grade crush. Each of these instances strengthens our turbulent relationship as siblings.

I will be the first to admit that being a big sister is far from a simple role. When Ethan and I fight, d o o r- s l a m m i n g and hurled insults are only the beginning.

We hold grudges with clenched fists and concrete hearts until one of us manages to make the other smile.

We give and take in a fickle form of fundamental love that can exist only between brother and sister.

In recent months I have become more and more aware of the looming transition that will occur when I leave for college. I want nothing more to be able to attend his

high school football games. But even more so I will miss the conversations we have when we’re the only ones in the house awake. I’m terribly afraid of losing the opportunity to get to know the person he is growing up to be.

However, I am certain that no matter how long we are apart, despite any circumstances, we will remain to our cores the same people. Underneath the football jersey, behind the sarcastic smirk he wears around his friends, I can still see the kid that watched Pokémon cartoons for years, who could never build anything with his Lego set, who only eats pancakes with chocolate chips.

This is the brother that I know and will always be thankful to have.

“ We give and take

in a form of [love] that can exist only between brother and sister.”

Balance key to social, academic success

Lily Parsi With upcoming SATs and ACTs, many of us have begun cramming for these exams. The only problem, aside from having to remember all of your years of education at once, is organizing your time so that you can do everything you want and still get the grades you need for the college of your choice. This is close to impossible with tests of this caliber; therefore, sacrifices must be made for only a month or so. I’ve found making a mini schedule helps when organizing time in the day, so once you’re done studying, you can still hang out with friends or catch up on your favorite T.V. show.

Cutting down the time you spend with friends is probably the hardest action you will take preparing for your exam. You most likely see your friends within the school day, so the time outside of school should be primarily for reviewing important subjects.

Limit yourself to 2-4 times a week max outside of school for purely social meetings.

Group study dates with friends are a great way to make studying fun and an easy way to keep you on track.

Procrastinating is the worst thing to do when studying. Exams are closer than you think and skipping a day or saying you’ll do it in a few hours, will not work out well for you in the long run. This is due to two reasons. First, you won’t be exercising your brain, and by studying, your brain will get used to working intensively.

When the exams come, you won’t get tired within the first few hours.

Secondly, leaving work at the last minute gives way to a whole load of issues.

There are a multitude of scenarios that can take place, which takes away from your time to study.

Lastly, the worst thing to have around you during this study period is your phone.

Although you may tell yourself it is there in case you need to quickly look something up, or to listen to music, the minute you

pick up your phone, you will be sucked into playing hours upon hours of Candy Crush.

Here is what I advise. Lock your smartphone on Airplane mode or the Do Not Disturb feature as it will stem the constant feed of Instagram, Vines, texts, tweets and emails. Another option is to place your phone into another room so that the possibility of playing Flappy Bird or Quiz Up doesn’t weaken your stride. Those who enjoy playing music while revising should buy a Bluetooth speaker so your phone could be out of sight while still playing your favorite songs to study to.

Always utilize 10 minute breaks art by Becky Nam when cramming for your next exam and make sure you organize your time well. The college entrance exams (ACT and SAT) are some of the most important tests you will take in your lifetime.

Make sure you have prepared yourself to the fullest.

Voices What food could you not live without?

“Nutella, peanut butter, and honey waffles.”

Rebecca Mwarabu, junior

“My favorite dessert in the world, ice cream.”

Shelby Sumlin, sophomore

“Chicken; I eat it every day.”

Jay Payton, junior

“Noodles, because I’m Chinese.”

Kelly Zhang, junior

“Bacon and Girl Scout cookies.”

Jessica Brown, junior h

“Eggo chocolate chip waffles because I eat them every morning.”

Hunter WIlson, sophomore

The Catamount ● People

Friday, March 28, 2014

9

Showmen raise farm animals for competition, sale

by Julie Potrykus Executive Editor

Mud cakes the soles of boots. The laughter of little kids rings from the aisles. Crowds of people lean over rails to watch to preceedings. Everyone waits to see the competitors demonstrate all of their efforts. In one moment, months of work end when students compete in the Brazos County Youth Livestock Show at the Brazos County Exposition Complex continuing today and tomorrow.

“The entire program is just a very big learning experience,” sophomore Keelie Wendt said. “It helps me meet a lot of new people and just really get out there. It’s a lot of friends and family coming together to have a good time doing what they love.”

These events allow everyone to gather together to aprreciate the students and animals. Wendt presents rabbits. Freshman Aaron Zavala and junior Mason Kaase also show rabbits. Kaase also shows pigs. Freshman Elizabeth Schroeder also shows multiple animals including pigs, chickens and turkeys. The audience and judges appreciate the quality of animals and sportsmanship these students demonstrate on show day.

“I’m looking forward to a good challenge,” Zavala said. “I know there are kids out here who try their best to make and show the greatest animals they can get, so it’s going to be competition. I’m just hoping to have a great time, make great memories and also meet new people.”

Wendt, Schroeder and Kaase have known their competitors from years of interaction. These friendships make show day more difficult because of the mutual respect for

One of sophomore Elizabeth Schroeder’s chickens enjoys the new shavings in the coop. This chicken is in the pen that Schroeder will present. Photo by Julie Potrykus.

their competition, but this also adds to the ease because their friends understand their challenges.

“It really brings us all together because we all have the same thing in common,” Wendt said. “We are all friends. When it comes to show day, we [still] talk to each other. It’s just friendly competition.”

Judging Criteria Pigs

Muscle Content Structural Correctness Balance/ Eye Appeal

Turkey

Uniformity General Appearance Fleshing

Uniformity General Appearance Fleshing

Grand Champion Source: Iowa State University

Chickens

Rabbits

Grooming Muscle Condition Holding

The shared interest connects the students through the mutual emotions of the competition: the struggle of keeping the animals healthy before show day, the anxiety during the competition when the scrutinizing judge inspects the animals and the pain of final parting from the animals after the sale.

Sophomore Elizabeth Schroeder holds her chicken to ensure the chicken remains calm when she presents to her judge. Photo by Julie Potrykus.

Freshman Aaron Zavala bonds with his rabbit by cradling the rabbit during his afternoon caretaking. Photo by Julie Potrykus.

“[When I was younger], I was so attached and then at the end, they would be taken away to a truck and killed,” Kaase said. “That was really hard for me when I was younger, but I had so much fun showing [despite the sadness of parting with the animals], so I wanted to keep doing it. My parents would tell me that I was giving them the best life they had. [Now], I just take care of them like I should because I don’t want to get attached again, [but] I still tear up at the end of every show.”

Zavala and Schroeder also develop an emotional connection to their show animals during the months of care.

Schroeder tries to separate her affection as the reality of separation looms closer. “[My animals] develop as my pets,” Schroeder said.

“I have a very close relationship with them, but as soon as it is the week of the show, [my affection] cuts off.”

All of the sadness of parting the animals is forgotten during competition as these students ignore the pain and the chaos to enjoy their hard work.

“I think [the chaos] adds to the excitement,” Kaase said. “I get super hyped up to go into the arena. It makes me feel more ready for what I’m about to do.”

Despite the overwhelming chaos, the thrills of show day contribute to the atmosphere of excitment during the friendly competition that entice the competitiors to continue showing. “[BCYLS is] a great opportunity to show you skills and dedication to what you believe in,” Zavala said. “I’m very excited and blessed to have this opportunity. I’m just going to take every moment along the way and try my best to succeed.”●

Sophomore Elizabeth Schroeder makes chippy noises since her turkeys do not respond to traditional gobbles or clucking sounds. Photo

by Julie Potrykus.

Turkeys are captivated by shiny or colorful objects around the room such as the colors on the wall since turkeys have short attention spans.

Photo by Julie Potrykus.

10 Student Life

Living the Green Life The Catamount

by Lisa Liu Features Editor

Friday, March 28, 2014

Sophomore Peyton McCutchen had already stopped eating pork for two years—pigs were her favorite animal.

Still, she had no qualms about eating other types of meat.

Then, last July, she had a dream—about a pig and a chicken.

“The chicken was saying, ‘How come you’re not going to eat the pig, but it’s okay for you to eat me?’” McCutchen said. “I was like, ‘I’m being unfair to the chickens!’”

And so, she decided to join the millions of people worldwide who had made the switch to vegetarianism.

Vegetarian Variations After McCutchen’s revelation, she researched ways to stay healthy while not eating meat and learned about different sources of iron, protein, and other nutrients. However, her hypoglycemia, which required much protein to stabilize the sugar imbalance it caused her, kept her from becoming fully vegetarian. She stopped at pescetarianism instead, a form of vegetarianism that excludes all meats except fish.

Though McCutchen eats fish occasionally, she does so only because of her condition and does not understand the large following this type of diet has garnered.

“I guess that some people think [fish] aren’t as smart as other animals, but to me, it doesn’t make sense,” she said.

“If you’re not going to eat other meats, why would you eat fish?”

Others seem to feel the same way—sophomore Melissa Wood has been a complete vegetarian since the beginning of this school year, and would even consider turning to veganism, a lifestyle which strives to avoid all animal products.

“I actually praise vegans,” Wood said. “I don’t know how they do it.”

Pescetarian: Excludes all meat except for fish. Sometimes will still eat eggs and dairy.

"As a hypoglycemic, I have to have a lot of protein, so I chose fish as opposed to any other animal."

-Peyton McCutchen, sophomore

Nutritious and Delicious Wood’s transition to vegetarianism was not easy. Her parents strongly disapproved in the beginning, requesting that she eat meat twice a week, and were worried about her health when she lost some weight after cutting most of it out. However, they slowly became used to the idea of her new diet, and so did she. Wood even began to experience some side benefits.

“When I ate meat, I became more tired and didn’t want to do much,” Wood said. “But, if I ate more vegetables instead, I became a lot more energized, and even happier. It was a lot more nutritious.”

Freshman Jonathan Beikrich also found similar advantages to a vegetarian lifestyle. In addition to making him appreciate the taste of vegetables more by increasing his intake of them, he discovered that it caused him to have better eating habits overall.

“I find it a lot healthier,” he said. “The food is cleaner, better for you. I enjoy it more.”

Not the Same Aims Despite the various health benefits that accompany vegetarianism, Wood focused more on her original, ethical reasons to combat the difficulty she initially had with sticking to it. According to her, adhering to vegetarianism for these reasons was easier than adhering to it for nutritional reasons.

For junior Kinsey Rhome, the opposite was true. After watching a video for a culinary class about how meat was produced, she was disgusted by the chemicals and hormones that went into it and stopped eating it entirely. Ethical concerns about animals played no part in this choice.

“I’ll still go hunting any day,” Rhome said. “I just thought it was gross.”

While Rhome’s reasons for going vegetarian were purely health-related, and McCutchen and Wood’s were

mostly ethical, Beikrich’s reasons fell into neither category.

Although he was aware of the health improvements, he became vegetarian partly out of curiosity.

“I was reading up on vegetarianism for fun, and I decided I wanted to try it,” Beikrich said. “It started off as a challenge—I was just going to go a month as a vegetarian, but I ended up enjoying it and stuck with it.”

Minority Group Beikrich did have some trouble with staying vegetarian at first, but for the most part, the shift went well. Others had more problems with it, mostly when eating at restaurants or with friends.

“It was a struggle, because every now and then my friends wanted to go to Chick-fil-A,” McCutchen said. “It’s difficult to tell people ‘No, I’m not going to eat this,’ so I did slip a few times because I didn’t want to be rude. But, once you get the confidence to explain to people why you don’t eat meat, it’s easier to say no.”

McCutchen eventually found out that several of her friends were vegetarian, and her “support system” helped with this significantly. Now that she has adjusted, living in a world of mostly omnivores does not cause her problems.

Eating with her non-vegetarian friends does not cause her discomfort, either; their choices do not bother her.

“They have their own lives. I don’t mess with them,” McCutchen said. “Everyone has their own beliefs. I don’t try to push what I believe on anyone else.”

Beikrich says that he, too, does not try to convert his friends to vegetarianism, as he believes that they are entitled to their own opinions. Despite the differences between them, he does not mind his peers’ views—so long as he can still have his own as well.

“They call me insane. They call me crazy. They don’t know why I do it,” Beikrich said. “It doesn’t phase me. I just don’t eat what they’re eating, and I like it better.”●

The Catamount

Ovo-lacto vegetarian: Does not consume meat, but will consume both dairy products and and egg products.

Fruitarian: Only eats fruits that fall freely—not fruits that will kill the plant once harvested, like carrots.

Lauren Brammer

Fruit and yogurt plate, chocolate chip cookies

Zoë de Beurs

Baby carrots, olive bread sandwich with cheese, spinach, cucumber

Peyton McCutchen

Veggie burger with Muenster cheese, grapes, juice

"I'm vegetarian because it's easier to get all of the vitamins you need."

-Jonathan Beikrich, freshman

Source: eatocracy.cnn.com

Vegan: Does not eat or use any animal products, such as honey or garments made from animal fur. Also does not use products that undergo animal testing.

"I'm vegan for health reasons and the animals."

-Julia Lawrence, sophomore

11

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

Vegetarian Varieties Lacto-vegetarian: Still consumes milk products, such as cheese, milk, chocolate, and ice cream.

Some will eat eggs.

Student Life

Becky Nam

Fruit salad, Kashi bar, mandarin oranges, almonds

Jonathan Beikrich

PB&J, strawberries, Babybel cheese, raw vegetables, Doritos

FOR THE FOR THEFUTURE FUTURE

12 People

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

Leadership group develops skills, prepares for careers

NOW THAT’S EVENT UL TF EN EVTH ’S EVEN ’S AT NOW THATN OW ULof TF offersEN a wide variety ’S EV NOW THATFCCLA competitive events, including: Participants select a used item to recycle. They create a new item, using other embellishments.

nT itly

erzian

Pa rk

Recycle & Redesign

Ka

Junior

ey Ril

Life Event Planning Individuals or teams prepare a portfolio and budget a life event, or any occasion that brings change.

Competitors produce a plate with a serving each of protein, starch and vegetables. They must plan out their time and own menu.

ger s

Mystery Basket

Ro

we wished we would have had [in our studio].”

While Harris carried out the majority of the necJunior Riley Park has spent the last several essary paperwork and legal planning to finalize their months constructing a colorful, flowing dress... outline, Christensen used construction programs in the Out of trash. school’s computer labs to design the studio’s architecAs a member of FCCLA (Family, Career and tural blueprint.

Community Leaders of America), Park has devoted “You really get into the nitty-gritty aspects of an hours to the completion of her project. business that most people might not think about, “Recycle and Redesign is exactly what it sounds like budgeting,” Christensen said. “We had to know like,” Park said of her event. “I did a lot of research enough about what we were doing to be comfortable about recycling before I picked my materials and going into an interview and answering questions.” started working.”

The two spent eight weeks finalizing their studio Using a fusion of plastic bags as a substituted outline. On the opposite end of the spectrum was fabric, Park spent hours sewing and crafting her gar- junior Matthew Rogers, who competed in a culinary bage garment. She was then able to present it at event called Mystery Basket, much like the Food a regional competition on Feb. 13-15 alongside her Network show Chopped. fellow students, placing second out of a “We’re given three ingredients that we have large pool of competitors. to have in our finished product. Then we Junior Kaitlyn Terzian have a pantry on the side to use. We have “FCCLA showed the same commitment, an hour to use those ingredients and helps you but to a very different projcome up with a dish,” Rogers said. learn a lot about ect: the Life Event Planning Unlike his fellow competitors, event.

Rogers was not able to prepare to leadership and “I planned a Cavalry the extent he might have wished to being a positive Ball,” Terzian said, “which because of the element of surprise in role model.” is a military event. The idea his competition. Unfortunately, Rogis pretty straightforward: ers just missed the cut-off placing to -junior Kaitlyn Terzian You take any sort of life event, move on to the state FCCLA competiwhether it’s moving into a dorm, or tion in Corpus Christi this April. throwing a prom or even a family vacaHowever, Terzian, Park and the team of tion, and you plan it.”

Christensen and Harris all placed in the top six in Terzian’s project consisted of a complex port- their contests, and all will be moving on to comfolio of budgets and expenses, all a part of the plan- pete once more. Each member noted that their ning process. In order to have accurate and detailed experiences, from which they are now reaping information, Terzian even contacted a military offi- the rewards, have been enormously helpful in cer for advice on her event. the development of important life skills.

“FCCLA helps you learn a lot about leadership “You’re learning these valuable skills and and being a positive role model. It also doesn’t look then you get to go present them at competitoo bad on a college application,” Terzian said. tion,” Park said. “It’s probably boosted my Sophomore Schyler Christensen and junior confidence level to be a part of [FCCLA].”

Kourtney Harris obtained similar skills through the From speaking skills to general profescreation of their Entrepreneurship assignment. sionalism, members of this organization are “Basically, you have to complete a business learning what they need to find success in their plan,” said Harris, who made her plan for a dance future careers. studio. “[Schyler and I] both grew up dancing, so “It’s a great organization,” Park said. we got to add lots of personal touches and things “The name says it all.” ●

J un ior

by Fiona Cohen Assistant Editor

tt h e Junior Ma

w

Helping The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

2

● People 13

Hands

Volunteering inspires medical career path began and named the Helping Hands program

by Megan Paradowski at the old Scott and White clinic in September Editor-In-Chief of 2009.

“I just thought Helping Hands sort of fit While many high school students

3 1 Junior Katie Roderick stands in the nursery with her mom, Lori Roderick. Lori is the head nurse at Scott and White.

2 Roderick smiles in front of the concierge desk where she spends most of her volunteer time.

1

3 Roderick answers the phone from behind the desk.

Photos by Megan Paradowski ●

and

grubburgerbar.com 980 University Dr East, Ste 400 | College Station, TX 77840 FB GrubBurgerBar TW GrubBurgerBar

are unsure of what they want to be when they grow up, junior Katie Roderick knows exactly what she wants to do, and she is currently making big preparations for her future.

“I want to be a nurse because I like to help others,” she said. “I’m sensitive to how other people are feeling.”

Katie’s mom, Lori Roderick, works as the head nurse at the new Scott and White hospital off of Highway 6. Lori informed Katie about the volunteer program there called Helping Hands, where Katie now works four hours a week.

“I joined the program because I wanted to experience nursing to see if I like it before I major in it in college,” Katie said.

Katie has many jobs to perform when she volunteers at the hospital. She usually works as the concierge, helping people from the waiting room to get to their appointments and looking up patients’ room numbers for guests.

Other tasks include answering the phone, taking around tea and coffee carts and dispatching patients from their rooms.

Director of guest services Kendall Parker

because that’s what we’re doing,” she said.

“We are providing those extra hands for our team members here at the hospital.”

At the clinic, the most volunteers that the program ever had was 56. Today there are over 250 with the opening of the new hospital.

Katie encounters a different aspect than the rest of the volunteers, working with her mom.

“It makes our relationship stronger because I now understand what she goes through every day,” Katie said.

Mrs. Roderick also appreciates being able to work with her daughter.

“Katie is a valuable member of our team,” she said.

In addition to working concierge, Katie sometimes stands in the delivery room while deliveries are being made.

“I hold the patient’s hand because the dad usually faints,” she said. “It’s really stressful, but whenever the baby comes out you feel good because you just brought a miracle into the world.”●

Want to work in the medical field?

1 2 3

Visit www.bcs.sw.org and print out the application. Then fill it out and return it to Kendall Parker at Scott and White.

Volunteers must work a minimum of four hours per week.

Volunteer jobs include retrieving ice, water and linens, restocking rooms, assisting visitors, etc.

14 Sports

The Catamount

Eat. Sleep. Lift.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Technique, hard work helps freshman get to state

by Alex Miller Staff Reporter Lifting weights is something that many athletes do to improve themselves, but for Braden Tschirhart, lifting is his sport.

“I am pretty good at it, and it is really fun to me,” Tschirhart said.

Technique is a factor that is stressed to the fullest extent since one false move forward or not holding the bar the proper way can result in a scratch or missed lift.

“If you don’t have the right technique, you can’t lift as much, and you could hurt yourself,” Tschirhart said.

One key to Tschirhart’s success is his hard work.

Powerlifting coach, Gregg Frashure, has praised his diligence to the sport.

“He worked hard all summer, he was at camp all summer, and he’s been in the weight room non-stop since he has been going to school here,” Frashure said.

Tschirhart competes in the 132 weight class, which means he must weigh between 124-132 pounds when he goes to a meet.

“If you weigh more, then you go up to the next weight class, which has stronger people, so you want to keep your weight low so that doesn’t happen,” Tschirhart said.

“He is built for it,” Frashure said. “He has the body type that is really advantageous as far as powerlifting goes.”

Tschirhart and his fellow powerlifters work out each morning during the week, except Wednesdays.

From squats and benching, to incline and hang clean, each lift has a different purpose to make the athletes better lifters all around.

Tschirhart has had a great season, but his best performance came in the Region III Meet where he totaled 1,005 pounds. His goal was achieved when he qualified for the state powerlifting meet on March 22 in Abilene, claiming the regional title in his weight class.

“Hopefully he will get a top five finish [at state] which will give us points as a team,” Frashure said.

“He’s going to have to have his best day to do it, and I think he can.”

Achieveing so much during his freshman year gives Tschirhart optimism for the rest of his high school years.

“It makes me feel excited for the future,” Tschirhart said. “I am already first in the region.”

Frashure believes Tschirhart’s early success is important as well for his future in powerlifting.

“Anytime you have the experience competing at state as a freshman, that’s a huge advantage,” Frashure said. “Later on down the road you aren’t going to have the butterflies and all the nervousness that goes all together with big time competitions.”

The grueling workouts in these past four months have helped Tschirhart become stronger all around. This in turn will help in the two other sports he competes in.

“It has helped me gained more muscle, strength and speed,” Tschirhart said.

Tschirhart joined junior Desmond Payton as the two members of the Cougar Powerlifting team who attended the state meet.●

Bringing Home the Gold Ashley Troutman

Cory Nutall

Juniors Ashley Troutman and Cory Nutall medaled in the state girls powerlifting meet in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 15. Troutman won first

▲ Freshman Braden Tschirhart works out in the field house on March 20.

Tschirhart competed at the state meet on March 22. Photo by Alex Miller ●

Boys State

When: March 22 Where: Abilene, Texas Who: Desmond Payton won first

place in the 123-weight class,

place in the 198-weight class,

and Nutall placed first in the

squatting 700 pounds, the new state

114-weight class, setting a state record in squat at 370 lbs. The

record. Braden Tschirhart placed

girls placed fourth as a team.

11th in the 132-weight class.

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

● Sports 15

Swinging int Action

Sophomore improves golf skills to compete at next level

by Alex Miller Staff Reporter Some people take up the sport of golf as a fun hobby that they can do on the side. For Will Hughes however, golf is his life a sport in which he is all in for. “[I have been playing] since I was five,” Hughes said. “[Golf] is enjoyable. It gives me time to clear my mind and just get outside.”

Golf is an extremely strategic game. One false move of the club, and the ball can go flying in the wrong direction. It is important to focus on all aspects of the game.

Muscle memory is important in order to maintain a perfect swing. Some days a golfer may experience a slight hook or slice, but having many days to prepare for the next tournament helps develop consistency.

“I go through pre-shot routines I would do when I hit an actual shot, and it I see there is a something wrong with the shots I am hitting, I work on it to fix it and fix the problem I am having,” Hughes said.

Golf professionals are excellent teachers of the game. With experience at the professional level, they may be the best to learn from. “[My golf coach] is better at diagnosing what is wrong with my swing or fixing a problem with my swing than I would be,” Hughes said. “He is able to see it and watch it instead of me guessing what is wrong with my swing.”

With 14 clubs allowed in a set, a golfer tends to favor one in their collection.

“My 52 degree wedge [is my favorite] because I never really mess up hitting with it, and I can hit many different shots with it,” Hughes said.

Golfers also tend to have strengths in their game.

Whether they can drive the ball exceptionally far, or they can beat competitors in putting, these strengths give them an advantage.

“My long-iron play [is my best],” Hughes said. “I usually hit them straight, and I don’t pull them to the right or push them to the left because my swing has gotten better over the past year.”

Golf can be a satisfying sport as well. “[It feels good] after hitting a shot that you have been thinking over, hitting it how you want to, and it goes where you want it to go,” Hughes said.

Will Hughes Putts into Place Source: Coach Davis and Coach Edwards

For the cougars, the golf team is a complete opposite of what it was last season. With only five members last season, everyone was included. However, the addition of over fifteen players this season has increased Hughes’ desire to compete.

“The talent has gotten better since last year,” Hughes said. “Last year our team was not as competitive, and this year our team will compete better in our district.”

The recruitment of guys and girls has been key in the process of becoming a better team as a whole. For the girls coach, Brian Edwards, he has seen differences in Hughes’ play.

“He has been more dedicated to the game,” Edwards said. “Being a freshman last year and maturing more as a sophomore, his game should just improve based off his more maturity.”

Having more kids has increased the will to score lower when qualifying for tournaments. Instead of everyone getting to go, there are a limited number of spots available.

“Competition is good no matter what sport you are in,” Edwards said. “If you have someone who is pushing you to make you better, it is obviously going to make you better, which in return will make the entire team better.”

Hughes’ hard work has placed him into the number one golfer spot. He has had his ups and downs, but overall he has been having a great season.

“An 87 has been my best performance this year at Pecan Lakes,” Hughes said.

The Cougar golf team, which consisted of only freshmen last season, finished sixth place out of seven teams last year at the 18-3A district tournament. Hughes believes with a little more dedication out of the top golfers, they can compete for a top three finish, which would advance the team to the regional tournament. Coach Edwards has high hopes for Hughes as well.

“[Hughes] will probably continue to be our number one boy’s player,” Edwards said. “I think that if he can cut down on some of the small mistakes and play real consistent, he may have a good chance to get out of district.”

With scouts beginning to eye the young golfer, he hopes to continue his golf career into the collegiate level at either Louisiana-Monroe or the University of Arkansas, he said. His early success will help him carry on the passion for a game he can play for the rest of his life.●

Sept.26 at Bryan Sub-Varsity: 91 Nov. 18 at Willow Fork: 89 Jan. 31 at Navasota Invititational: 87 March 21-22 at Briarcrest: 97-107

Photo by Alex Miller

16 Sports ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28., 2014

Flipping for fun

Gymnasts share their passion for a unique sport

by Brianna Aguliar Assistant Editor

Hours of long, hard and grueling practice, hours of dedication, perseverance and hard work, hours of sweat, blood, and tears—all to make it or break it on the white-powdered gymnastics floor, accompanied by an intimidating set of spectators and judges.

Cold sweat runs down their perfectly placed hair and purple uniforms as they focus all their energy, strength, and confidence to excel in their events.

These unique gymnasts have one chance to make their mark. One chance to make every single hour of practice count. One chance for perfection.

“Only the top ten place and you’re going against sixty other girls at the meet. You barely move your foot and you’re out,” sophomore Dominique Fought said.

Not every athlete can put in the dedication to travel thirty minutes both ways for a three-hour practice, training the same drill over and over and over again to be flawless at a meet or to face fear as they perform jumps, drills, and twirls that can endanger their gymnast careers. This, and more, is just what our gymnasts do.

“This sport is really unique because not everyone can do it. A lot of it is played in your mind [and] is a very competitive sport,” Fought said. “Some people are just too scared or don’t have the ability.”

The gymnasts not only have the

ability, muscle, and strength to participate in gymnastics, but are committed and perseverant, which is essential to excel both in meets and in practice.

“It depends on how good you want to be in gymnastics,” sophomore Dani Guzman said. “You have to work to get a good score.”

These gymnasts put in their commitment to grow every hour, every day, and every week in practice, even if they have to sacrifice time with friends and family.

But after all their effort and hours of practice, the chance of making a mistake haunts them before, during, and after the meet as they have to learn to re-focus and have control under stressful situations at their meets.

“You’re going to get mad at yourself [if you mess up] but you’re going to have to get over it because if not, you’re other [event] is going to look bad too,” freshman Celestial Van Cleef said.

This growing process bonds the team as they help each other grow and improve, in turn, feeling like “all one big family,” Van Cleef said.

Even though this team may be

small, its size adds to the closeness of the team.

“I kind of wish we had a bigger team so that we can get the team awards,” sophomore Gabby Brooks said, “but I like the girls so much and I feel like I wouldn’t know all of [them] as well if there were thirty of us.”

Freshman Mic Brown also appreciates the size of the team, but for different reasons.

“It makes it easier to be good at the sport since there are not many people on the team,” Brown said.

However, the lack of members on the team means that the sport is often less-recognized than other high school sports. Sophomore Mason Ouren, though, sees this not as a negative, but as a positive.

“It’s kind of cool to do a sport that not everyone knows about,” Ouren said.

“I think it has a unique aspect and is a lot harder than other sports. I like the challenge of it, and the limits of it and how far I push myself. I enjoy my sport and I stand by it.”●

▼Sophomore Dani Guzman performs her ring jump during practice on the floor. Photo by Brianna Aguliar●

▼Freshman Mic Brown does a standing back tuck on the floor during practice. Photo by Briana Aguliar●

Turn Leap

▲Sophomore Dominique Fought sticks her landing after performing a stunt during practice. Photo by Briannaa Aguliar●

▲Sophomore Mason Ouren practices a scissor on the pommel horse during practice. Photo by Brianna Aguliar●

Tuck

Bend ▲Freshman Celestial Van Cleef performs a back walkover on the floor during practice.

Photo by Brianna Aguliar●

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

ORDER IN THE

COURT

Sophomore improves skills as tennis career progresses

by Rachel Grant Senior Editor

It was in eighth grade that sophomore Meera Vadali started playing tennis with some friends in her neighborhood. Soon after Vadali realized that she wanted this game to become more than a hobby, she wanted to play it at school. In ninth grade Vadali joined the high school tennis team and began to get more serious about the sport, even giving up violin because of all the time both activities consumed.

“Music is great, but I also think that tennis is really great. It makes you such a well-rounded person,” Vadali said. “Since I’m in singles, it really helps me work on the things I need to work on, like emotional control, and to rely only on myself and not on anyone else because only I can win the match, for myself. It also puts me out of my comfort zone because I’m traveling for tournaments, and it helps me a lot.”

Being forced out of her comfort zone has helped Vadali grow as a person and a player.

“Tennis teaches me how to bring my courage together and really want something and work for it. It’s like a ladder,” Vadali said. “You can keep getting better and reach your goals. It’s hard for me to keep promises; tennis is something really great because as I play in tournaments, it helps me get better. It helps me become a better person while having fun, and it’s also exercise.”

One person who Vadali credits for helping her become a better player is her coach, Coach Ed Stricker. She also believes that her teammates help her with her playing skills.

“Coach Stricker is great! He’s such a great influence, and he knows what it’s like to be a teammate and being alone on the court,” Vadali said.

“He teaches strategy to technique.

Vadali’s teammates keep her playing the game and improving all the time.

“The people on the tennis team are great. I know all of them. We are pretty close. I don’t feel out of place,” Vadali said. “I think tennis is so important because it was with people that I knew, and I really love it. I don’t think that I would give it up because I only have two more years to play it before college, and I’m not going to play in college.”

Although Vadali doesn’t plan on playing in college, she still plays her best in order to have fun now and continue to grow as a player.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that when I play tennis, I don’t care who’s on the other side [of the net],” Vadali said. “I still want to win, it doesn’t matter if they’re my friend or not. If I have to play a friend, [it] makes me feel more comfortable because I know that we can put it past us.”

The reason that she feels so comfortable and open with her teammates is all the time they have spent together.

“It’s because we all know each other and are part of our community,” Vadali said. “I have classes with at least everyone on the varsity team, so I know them, and the team is small.”

Vadali summed up her tennis team by saying, “I don’t think I could give that up, that feeling that people understand me.” ●

MEET THE ATHLETE PRACTICE PERIOD: 2-2.5 HOURS DAILY FAVORITE SWINGS: GROUNDSTROKE AND FOREHAND RACKET: BABOLAT SHOES: ASICS

▲ Sophomore Meera Vadali dives for a ball during her 7th period tennis

class. She and the team practice for both fall and spring tennis season to prepare for state-wide competitions. Photo by Rachel Grant ●

● Sports 17

18 Entertainment ● The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

From the Page to the Silver Screen Staff reviews movie adaptations of favorite books

Review by Julie Potrykus Vampire Academy is about vampires. Despite the mythology, Vampire Academy is not Twilight. Vampire Academy features a brave heroine Rose Hathaway who doesn’t demurely question how her world has drastically changed and how vampires can’t be real. Rose's story is one of action and strength that is needed amongst the unactive heronies in young adult.

Prior to viewing the movie, I read the young adult novel. Young adult literature straddles the line between being a child and adult, which we are all struggling to balance during this time in our life. Yes, she partakes in school dances and fawning over the wrong guy, but she understands the maturity needed to be an adult. All of her frivolous activities come second to her sense of duty. Unfortunately, the movie focuses on the high school drama that belittled all of Rose’s attempts for maturity. The story takes place in high school, but the experiences in the movie are not as juvenile as the movie would conclude. Throughout the movie, the audience outwardly laughed during the dramatic scenes for its poor attempts at suspense. My movie buddy stood up during the climax to leave because of the obscurity (I am still apologizing for the poor movie choice).

I went into the theater with high hopes despite the questionable movie trailers because of my appreciation of the book series, which captures the reality of being a young adult in a surreal plot. The books taught me themes of friendship and duty; the movie taught me to invent mind bleach. I wish the movie could capture the aspects I loved in the novel, but unfortunately, the movie captured every high school cliché .

The Hobbit

The Book Thief

Vampire Academy

Review by Kayla Kurmaskie

Review by Zoë de Beurs

The beauty of snow, the grimness of gray and the brightness of a deep red German SS flag form a living landscape in the film The Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival and based on the book by Marcus Zusak. In the midst of WWII, words are the keys to the joy in the characters’ lives.

“Words are life, Liesel,” Max said, “you will always be able to find me in your words.”

Max is a Jew who hides from the German Nazis in Hans and Rosa Hubermann’s dark and dusty basement.

Max loves books and shares this appetite for words with the young book-stealing Liesel, Rosa and Hans’ adopted daughter. The book and the movie both magnificently illustrate a German child’s experience of daily life during the war. Liesel and her best friend Rudy find joy in the simple excitement childhood has to offer, yet their innocence is lost quickly in the severity of the situation surrounding them.

The haunting narrator death played a bigger role in the book than the movie. Although the characters are still surrounded by death in the movie, death did not provide us with words. Fear and death are portrayed melodramatically in the movie. Sudden noises or movements startled me several times. However, in the book, death was portrayed more respectfully. The movie swings back and forth between ultimate happiness and horrific sadness or fear, while the book radiates a slightly changing balance between the two. Nevertheless, the book and movie both express an extraordinary admiration for the written word. Magnifying the character’s dreamy curiosity, books make them feel alive.

CA

I have been a die-hard Tolkien fan since elementary school. My excitement was overwhelming upon learning that after his triumphant adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, director Peter Jackson had returned to Middle Earth to make The Hobbit. However, my enthusiasm was slightly diminished upon learning that the 200-page children’s book would be stretched into three theatrical pieces; but I still kept my hopes up.

The films boasted all of their predecessors’ prowess, with stunning visuals and much of the star-studded cast from the first three movies returning to reprise their roles, including Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Orlando Bloom as Legolas and Andy Serkis as Gollum. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was, in a word, long.

Despite its visual magnificence, the plot itself seemed to drag on in a ridiculous exposition, climaxing with the expertly done first encounter with Gollum. Going into the second movie, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, I was hoping for dragon slaying of epic proportions.

Instead, I got an awkward interspecies love triangle between a dwarf and some elves, extreme deviation from the original plot in order to extend the running time and justify three movies, and a dragon that was still alive at the end of the movie despite the title’s promise that Smaug would be desolated.

Make no mistake, there were enjoyable moments.

But these gems were oftentimes overshadowed by convoluted and made-up subplots. In the end it felt like The Hobbit was becoming less and less about its title character and more about Jackson’s overzealous fan-fiction rendering of the world he used to have the perfectly in his grasp.

Craig G. Anderson D.D.S. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8-5 Friday 8-12

1615 Barak Lane Bryan, Texas 77802 979.846.1813

The Catamount

Friday, March 28, 2014

● Entertainment 19

SHOWCASE OF THE YEAR

Dance team prepares for springtime performance

by Lily Parsi Opinions Editor

The Strutters team is composed of many talented athletes who have come together to do what they love best; dance. A perfect event that showcases their versatile style and immense expertise is the Spring Show. Anyone looking for an enjoyable performance should clear their schedules for May 2 and 3 and come watch the Strutters perform a range of their dances in the auditorium.

The Spring Show will consist primarily of the dances the Strutters have competed with. They will also learn three to four Madison Cashion, dances a few weeks before the show to perform.

Junior Abby Hagen says the week before Spring Show can become really hectic, from after school practices to last minute rehearsals,

but the final outcome is well worth it.

“My favorite part of Spring Show is getting the opportunity to perform with my teammates,” Hagen said.

Madison Cashion, junior dance officer, agrees that her favorite aspect of the show is performing with her teammates and friends.

“I honestly just love being on stage and showing the audience how hard we have worked,” she said.

Cashion also described the preparation her and the rest of the team go through.

“We will start having seven a.m. practices soon, and the week of the show we will have after school practice until eight,” she said.

The Spring Show is a good break from the stress junior of competition season, said sophomore Taylor Kilpatrick.

“The performance is a lot less stressful because you aren’t being judged,” Kilpatricksaid ●

“I just love being

on stage

and

showing how hard we have worked.”

s e k a m e c Practi perfect Sophomore Taylor Kilpatrick (bottom left) and junior Abby Hagen (right) practice in costume for the Spring show that will take place on May 2 and 3. Photos by Lily Parsi ●

Photo by Lily Parsi

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Catamount

● Etc 20

{Flipping Book club offers social reading experiences the Page} I

by Lisa Liu Features Editor

▲During the March 3 Book Club meeting, ju-

nior Sarah Lennox listens intently as the group discusses the book Bind by Malcolm Gladwell. ▼ Sophomore Chloe Holmes, Hannah Murphy and freshman Eileen Bradway deliberate about the book Blind during the March 3 meeting.

Photos by Brianna Aguilar●

t’s like a party, but with an intellectual side to it.

That’s how sophomore Lauren Spohn describes the Book Club’s book-end celebration meetings. Once every six weeks, on a Friday afternoon, the club members congregate in the library to discuss a book after finishing it. There are juniors and freshmen, athletes and artists, and everyone in between.

All of them are the same in one aspect, though: they’re there to share a love for books.

“The goal of book club is to enjoy reading with other people who enjoy it too,” Spohn said. “It’s neat to know that you’re not alone when, in a world of technology, you still like to read.”

The club, which first opened at the beginning of last year, has a multitude of other goals as well. Some of these are achieved through the book discussions they hold, which allow them the chance to share their views on a book with others.

“When you read a book, you read it with your own history, your own values and your own point of view,” club sponsor and librarian Tina San Angelo said. “You don’t always see it from another person’s perspective.

So, I think it’s good for students because they get to hear from other people.”

The benefits of the discussions extend beyond that, though. According to junior Sarah Lenox, who has been a member of the club since it started, the analytical nature of them can even make members more interested in their surroundings.

“I’ve noticed that some of the other members have started asking more questions,” Lenox said. “They’re just slightly more curious, and I think being curious about your world is a good thing.”

She also adds that the meetings are advantageous in another surprising way—they actually provide practice for writing assignments in English class.

“You don’t necessarily have to analyze diction, or syntax, or the author’s purpose, but I think just talking about books can [help],” Lenox said.

While these end-of-book discussions are important, there’s more to the club than just that. As a group, members will occasionally watch a movie adaptation of a book, go on a field trip to a place such as a museum, and attend an author visit. The last is a yearly event in conjunction with Brazos Valley Reads, and last year, the club met with author Tayari Jones through this program.

“The coolest thing was just having one author and maybe fifteen students, so we really got to talk to her,” Spohn said. “It felt really personal and made writing professionally seem a lot more approachable, like something we could do one day.”

Other benefits that the club offers its members include that of being encouraged to read books they normally would not. Lenox says that they usually all enjoy the books picked, but even so, many have trouble finding the time to read. Having the whole group read a certain book helps ensure that they finish it.

“Sometimes, I’ll pick up a book, then put it down for a year until I pick it back up again,” Lenox said. “Book Club definitely is [motivational].”

In addition to letting students read books they otherwise would not, the club lets them meet people they usually would not either. Junior Noah Rodriguez initially joined because just one of his friends was in it, but now, after spending a year in the club, he sees it as “its own circle.”

“There’s unity,” Rodriguez said.

“If you’re in Book Club, pretty much everywhere you go in school, you’ll know someone.”

This network that Rodriguez describes has been growing, and is expected to continue to grow. The club began with just 15 members and is now at 25, and if even more people join, discussions may have to split into two groups to keep them at a size small enough size.

Even though it is expanding and changing, there’s still one constant that the club plans to keep.

“We want it to be a friendly place for students to discuss ideas and read good books,” San Angelo said. “I hope it always stays that way.” ●

{Perks of Being in Book Club} Photos by Lisa Liu Your very own Nook to carry around with you.

Being on a firstname basis with librarian Tina San Angelo. No joke.

VIP access to a quiet room in the library. How cool is that?

Free food at meetings. Free food. Free food.