The Catamount Vol 2 No 1 2013

Catamount

the

Vol. 2 No. 1 Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

College Station High School

Junior and quarterback Cole Whittlesey prepares to throw the football during the first football game of the season. See story on page14.

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Multiple injuries impact futures of student athletes

by Fiona Cohen and Julie Potrykus Staff Reporter and Executive Editor

In their sophomore year, juniors Donny Hair, Sydni Freeman and Keaton Schrank all sustained injuries that landed them on the bench instead of on the court or field. By looking at them, one might have no indication that any of them were truly hurt.

“These injuries have made me more humble about the game and myself because you can’t take anything for granted,” Hair said. “You never know when it could all be over.”

During football season, Hair describes hearing a popping noise when he tore his shoulder labrum. During volleyball season, Schrank’s knee gave a “pop” and she collapsed onto the hardwood of the volleyball court.

During volleyball seaon, Freeman was dodging an opposing player when she felt a pop in her ankle. continued on page 3

Photo Illustrationof Keaton Schrank, Donny Hair and Sydni Freeman by Fiona Cohen and Julie Potrykus

Index News

pages 2-5

Opinions

pages 6-8

People

pages 9-13

Sports

pages 14-17

Entertainment

pages 18-20

During her exchange trip to Japan, junior Megan Clark-Tchen poses in front of a Japanese magazine board that says hello in Japanese slang.

See more on page 9.

Sophomore Kayla Kurmaskie blows glitter on the audience during her performance as Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

See more on page 19.

2 News ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

CougarNews

Cougar Band places second overall at marching competition Cougar Band earned the 3A championship and placed second overall at the Waco Midway competition. Out of the five other 3A schools participating, the Cougar Band took the top ranking, earning them a spot

in the finals against mostly 4A and 5A high schools. The band also won best marching, best color guard, best music and best percussion in the preliminary round of the competition.●

RECD Club takes home double wins at Brazos Bark & Build The RECD Club won “Greenest Paw” and “Best in Show” at the Brazos Bark and Build engineering and construction competition on Oct. 5. Of the 30 teams competing, 20 were comprised of college students. The

members of the club worked for more than a month to create environmentally-friendly and sustainable doghouses. The engineering team won “Greenest Paw” and the construction team won “Best in Show.” ●

Choir members earn all-region, qualify for all-area Abigail Kellstedt and Clarissa Parulian earned all-region choir honors at the recent competiton held at Belton High School. Parulian placed in the top 15 per-

formers, earning her the option to audition for all-area choir. The all-region choir will rehearse and perform at the Waco Midway High School Fine Arts Theater on Nov. 9.●

Homecoming Week 2013

▲ Cheering wildly, the freshman class receives the spirit stick from a Duck Dynasty Si look-alike at the pep rally on Sept. 27. The class that is the loudest throughout the pep rally earns the honor of most spirited.

With almost 100 more students in the freshman class compared to the sophomore and junior class, the fish are often louder than their peers. Photo by Courtney Wellmann ●

Monday

Mismatch Day

Tuesday

Decades Day: Dress like the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s

Wednesday

Grandma and Grandpa Day: Dress like a senior citizen

Thursday

Jersey Day

Purple Pride Day Spirit Banner Contest Pep Rally at 3:15 p.m.

Friday

Club Tailgate 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Football game vs.

Westbury Christian 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Homecoming Dance Under the Sea at the Brazos Center 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Petal Patch Florist 3808 S. Texas Ave. Ste. A Bryan, Texas 77802 979-696-6713 petalpatchflorist@gmail.com “Let us help you make someone smile!”

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

● News 3

continued from page 1

Athletes recover from injuries with stronger drive to play For these athletes, there were no dramatic cracked of bone to reveal their injuries, only a small “pop.” This was all it took to land each of them a spot on the bench. Freeman and Schrank each came off the court limping, and Hair clutched his shoulder, but to the naked eye they looked perfectly healthy. In fact, Freeman describes that her injury would have been less severe had it been a fracture rather than the “pop” of a torn ligament.

“One second, I was perfectly fine [and] helping my team; the next, all I could do was cheer from the sidelines,” Freeman said.

Despite the altering effects of the injuries, the athletes all appreciate that they can overcome them. Under more severe circumstances, Hair’s injury might have required a stretcher to carry him off the field. Hair hopes to recover from his injury to play football next season as an improved player. Like Hair, Schrank recognizes her fortune that she will recover from her injuries.

“You have to be thankful that you can still play,” Schrank said. “It may take a few weeks, or a month or six months, but some people don’t get that opportunity.”

In order to work their way off of the bench, each the injured athletes pushed

their way through grueling physical therapy sessions. Through the repetition of hundreds of different exercises and daily workouts, Schrank, Freeman and Hair rebuilt their torn ligaments to beyond their original strength.

would cheer their team on the sidelines.

“When I was on the bench, I tried to encourage [the team] the way they encouraged me,” Schrank said. “Even when you’re on the bench, you’re still a part of the team. You can still help the team.”

“When I was on the bench, I tried to encourage [the team] the way they encouraged me.”

“Even when you’re on the bench, you’re still a part of the team.”

Keaton Schrank, Junior

“As [physical therapy] went on, it progressively got harder to strengthen [my muscles] more,” Freeman said.

During recovery in physical therapy, the athletes benefited from the continuous support of family, friends and teammates. Their team would cheer them on from their bedsides, and the athletes

Thanks to encouragement and physical therapy, all three athletes returned from their injuries to begin their junior year on their varsity teams. Freeman returned to a team and adapted her skills to fill the gap that she left when she was injured. Both Schrank and Hair started their seasons on their varsity teams be-

College Station Drama Presents

William Shakespeare’s Magical Comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream

October 17-21, 2013 Thursday, Saturday, Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Special Matinee on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets and more information: www.CollegeStationDRAMA.com

fore being injured again. Schrank played through discomfort in her shoulder, which ended up temporarily dislocating her shoulder, and Hair tore his ACL. Schrank recently returned to play her season after her shoulder healed, but Hair will not play for the rest of the season.

He hopes to return for his senior year improved his recovery.

“I feel like after the surgery, all it’s going to do is make me even more stronger than I already have been,” Hair said. “I have something to prove, and I’ll prove it next year when it really counts. I’m going to come back from these injuries faster, stronger and that much better.”

Despite the constant threat of injury, the athletes do not quiver in fear of another injuries. Instead they continue playing the sports they love. Unfortunately for Schrank, she has endured too many to qualify for college sports. Her volleyball career will end after high school, but her love for the sport will not waver. Schrank, like Freeman and Hair, has learned from her injuries and will continue to play. “[My injuries] taught me a lot about staying strong,” Schrank said. “I just have to push a lot harder. I might not be at the level I was before, but I’m still going to play.” ●

Homecoming Dance - “Under the Sea” Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Brazos Center 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Pre-sale tickets: $8/individual, $15/couple $10 each at the door

4 News ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct.18, 2013

Foreign students adjust to new campus, country, culture

by Lisa Liu Features Editor

Of the mixed group of students at CSHS that come from foreign countries, some have now spent years in America, while others have only just arrived. Some blend in well, while others are given away by their accents or actions, and some have adjusted to life here, while others still feel strange in a country that they do not yet call their own. Whatever their cases may be, though, all of them gained unique experiences in the countries they hailed from, especially in the area of education.

Sophomore Zoe de Beurs, who came from Holland, is one such student who was educated in a vastly different way. After moving in August, she soon found that her schooling in Holland had not been as demanding in comparison to her schooling now in America.

“In two weeks of taking Latin here, I had the amount of homework that I would have gotten in two months in Holland,” de Beurs said. “And there, teachers weren’t allowed to give homework less than a week ahead of time. Here, you sometimes only get it a day or two ahead.”

Holland’s educational system also differs from America’s in other aspects; for example, a more basic grading scale is employed, ranging from 1 to 10 with a 5.5 as the passing score. Additionally, all students take a test at the age of twelve and are then sorted into three levels that determine the intensity of their courses.

“Since [the students] are already separated, that means that if the highest level passes their classes, they can go to college,” de Beurs said. “If you get 5.5s everywhere,

you can go. It’s a little more relaxed because people aren’t afraid that they won’t get into college, since they’re already on the college path.”

However, this more reserved attitude does create certain problems. The standards for students in Holland are sometimes too low, resulting in only mediocre efforts from them.

“There, people will often do just

can school and you’d had a B, it turned to an A—[your grade] went up [about] ten points because it was a lot harder in those schools.”

Education in Korea is more rigorous than in America as well. For sophomore Jina Kim, school days used to last thirteen hours, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m.

According to her, both the pressure on students to excel academically and the amount of stress placed on education are increased

“On the test day, the planes stop, the cars stop, all transportation stops to make it quiet.”

Jina Kim, sophomore enough, but they won’t go for the full scores because that isn’t such a necessity,” de Beurs said. “It’s kind of bad because they aren’t motivated to work hard, while [in America] people are more serious.”

In contrast, sophomore Jordan Matthews, who lived in countries including Kuwait, Thailand, and Oman before coming to America, encountered more challenging school systems.

“One of the schools I went to, a Lebanese school, was actually really hard,” Matthews said. “If you transferred to an Ameri-

in Korea.

“We have a test like the SAT, but it’s more important,” explained Kim, who moved from her home country a year ago.

“We can take this test once a year. On the test day, the planes stop, the cars stop, all transportation stops to make it quiet.”

Besides the longer school hours and the heightened emphasis on education, Kim’s schooling experiences were also different in other ways.

“Class size is much bigger in Korea,” Kim said. “I had about forty other students

in one class. And we didn’t switch classes or move. The teachers rotated. We stayed in the same class all day long.”

Junior Santiago Gilligan, who came from Argentina to America just this August, was also familiar with this approach to class rotation before moving. Gilligan, whose family left Argentina so that his father could study at Texas A&M University, had to adjust to the change in the way classes were switched and various other differences as well.

“In Argentina, you stay in one class and teachers come in, and here it’s not like that.

You have to move around,” Gilligan said.

“Also, we started [school] at 8:20, like [we do] here, but we stayed to 4:20.”

Unlike Gilligan, who transitioned from spending more time at school to less after his move, de Beurs had to adjust in the opposite direction. She enjoyed shorter school hours in Holland, as she did not have one set schedule there—some school days would last until 3 p.m., others until only 2 p.m.

In addition to that, the classes she attended each day changed as well.

“At my old school, every day would be different,” de Beurs said. “On Mondays, you might have English, but then Tuesdays, you wouldn’t have English. It’s not the same subjects every day.”

However, despite having to adapt to the changes in schooling systems, de Beurs noticed other differences between the two countries as well.

“There is a cultural difference, of course,” de Beurs said. “A lot of European countries are Americanized, but people still have a certain way of doing things. [Holland and America] are just both really different from each other.”●

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Friday, Oct. 18 2013

The Catamount

● News 5

Cultural pressures to succeed affect academic mentality

by Brianna Aguilar and Kayla Kurmaskie

Staff Reporter and Managing Editor

GPA. Class rank. Test scores.

Each statistic defines a student academically. These numbers can become life consuming, and the drive to exceed the standards sometimes is overpowering. But what is the real force driving students to achieve excellence?

Could cultural differences at home and in school be the propellants for students of different ethnicities to succeed in school?

“In the end, it doesn’t matter if you have a 5.0 GPA and graduate valedictorian or [if] you’re ranked 50,” said Woodrow Wang, son of Chinese immigrants and a top performing sophomore. “If you have the right work ethic and work hard the rest of your life, no one cares what your high school transcript says.”

Wang contributes the idea that all Asian-Americans are intelligent beyond the standard capacity to skewed views on immigration and his ethnicity as a whole. Instead, he believes this stereotype formed over time.

“The stereotypes exist, but they’re more of a joke,” Wang said.

Junior Srujan Kancharla, a student of Indian ethnicity, agrees with Wang about cultural stereotypes.

“A lot of people just assume that I’m smart because I’m brown.

It’s irritating,” Kancharla said.

Peer Pressure Because he is Indian, many peers put pressure on him to take challenging and rigorous courses too, and on top of that, to do well in those classes.

“I am taking the challenging courses [but] there’s a lot I [still] don’t know,” Kancharla said.

However, even with all the

peer pressure, he admits he does relatively well in all his classes, even receiving top grades in chemistry on most tests throughout his sophomore year.

Another student in our school and the daughter of Indian immigrants, sophomoreSandhiya Ravichandran, feels most of the academic pressure to succeed comes not from her family but from her Indian peers.

achiever in a sense or if don’t get A’s [I] feel pretty negatively about myself,” Nam said.

The pressure to excel in her upper level AP classes, to achieve only A’s, and to get everything done perfectly and pristinely causes her already high stress level to skyrocket. This results in many nights with little sleep, only to have to wake up early the next day worrying about grades, tests and

Ravichandran, Kancharla feels the most pressure to succeed academically from his family. “[I have] a lot of expectations from [my] parents, and they are always expecting me to do well.

Most times [they’re] understanding, but there’s still that requirement,” Kancharla said.

Although he has many expectations, he receives some leeway in his academics thanks to his

“[There are] certain expectations [of] what peers and [what] modern society says about what Asian-Americans should be.”

Becky Nam, junior “They don’t want me to be ahead of them because I’m a girl and I’m Indian,” Ravichandran explained.

She said that the Indian culture views women as inferior, and this idea has given her peers a sense of entitlement to make fun of her for the grades she makes.

“I’m over here making 90s, and they’re telling me how stupid I am,” Ravichandran said.

This bullying has taken a toll on Ravichandran emotionally. She recalled breaking down multiple times while studying for tests because the pressure of trying to keep up with her tormenters became too much.

Junior and Asian-American, Becky Nam, can relate to Ravichandran as the expectations for herself and the pressure of others produce immense amount of stress, producing an emotional toll on Nam. “[Peers] put pressure on me…to take difficult courses, and if I don’t, I feel like an under-

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homework. “[There are] certain expectations [of] what other people put on me, not my parents necessarily, but like peers and [what] modern society says about what Asian-Americans should be,” Nam said.

Pressures from Home However, even with all of the stress, requirements, and pressure, these students work hard to achieve the expectations set for themselves.

In fact, Wang views having a strong work ethic as the key to success. He said he learned this skill at an early age from his parents. They do not push him but they made sure Wang’s childhood was structured and driven enough so he could continue good habits into adolescence.

Ravichandran experienced a similar self-motivated upbringing. “[My mom will] push me as much as she thinks I need to be pushed,” Ravichandran said.

However, unlike Wang and

brother. “[My brother] slacked a lot in high school [and] mainly focused on debate, and I’m not like that [which] gives me a lot of room for error,” Kancharla said.

Nonetheless, if he is not doing well in his classes, his parents will talk to him and if he needs will help him to do better in any way possible.

Due to the loving support of his family, Kancharla made the decision to go into the medical field on his own.

Coping with Stress Nam finds ways to relieve stress through dance.

“Dance is a way I can express myself through movement. It’s a place where I can just be free,” Nam said.

Due to her high stress level of dealing with pressure from her peers and family to succeed in school, Nam feels this as a stress reliever to her hectic and demanding school life.

“I definitely strive for excellence in it, [but] I don’t have a set standard or don’t get upset at myself for not meeting it,” Nam said.

Even though she tries her best to hold this mentality, Nam’s attitude can be challenged as she follows the footsteps of her older sister.

“My sister I feel like got the hard end of the stick. They were so strict with her. If she forgot her homework one day, [there were] huge consequences,” Nam said.

But Nam and her older sibling have a strong relationship where her sister can assure, comfort and provide advice and wisdom to Nam about the stress of high school academics- just as Ravichandran finds solace in talking about the issues with her mother during moments of self-doubt in her academic career.

However, not only did her sister have consequences but Nam as well as she balances her school life and dance life. Between these two time-consuming activities, a hectic schedule results in requiring great time management. “[My parents] kind of know my stress level, my stress tolerance. [But] I do have consequences. If I don’t get an A on my report cards, I have to drop a dance class,” Nam said.

Nevertheless, Nam contains a positive, uplifting and encouraging attitude for her efforts, trials and struggles.

And not only Nam. Kancharla, Wang and Ravichandran all strive and excel in their efforts to reach their goals in the present and dreams for the future.

“I do go hard on myself. Not every day am I going to reach every possible expectation that I set for myself. That’s just not humanly possible,” Nam said. “I’m learning to have more grace. I’m trying to tell myself it doesn’t define who I am as a person.” ●

6 News ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

States should move to legalize marijuana

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW staff editorial Studying abroad offers valuable experiences, broadens views of world As we mature into adults, it is important for us to have exposure from other cultures to learn more about the world around us.

Sometimes, when we live in a small city, it is easy to forget that there are hundreds of other cultures left to be experienced.

There are many opportunities within the public education system for students to study abroad. These programs provide students with a chance to stay in a foreign country while learning more about the history, culture and the people of that country.

Students will typically stay with a host family, who may in turn send one of their children to America. Not only are these programs good for college and job resumes, they also provide the student with a unique and indescribable experience that will enrich and expand their horizons.

While studying abroad, students’ activities will vary depending on the program. Some examples could be but are not limited to going to school, working, meeting new people, or visiting exotic places. Students can also apply for specific programs. For instance students interested in learning another language could visit a country for a certain amount of time and take language classes.

These opportunities can be costly. However, there are many scholarships available. One College Station High school student won an award from FCCLA, where she was able to travel to Japan for the summer through a program called Youth for Understanding. There are many other ways for students to win scholarships to participate in these experiences.

A program known as Sister Cities recruits local 9th and 10th grade high school students for a two-week youth exchange trip to our Sister City in Greifswald, Germany. This cultural exchange program is a person-to-person ambassadorship opportunity where participants represent the Bryan-College Station community. The German students and their accompanying chaperone will visit the BCS area as one where they will also experience a home-stay with the family of their American counterpart.

Through multiple opportunities available in school, teens have a way to visit other countries, a crucial experience to expand their knowledge of the world outside of where they live.. ● 2013-2014 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Senior Editor Executive Editor Opinions Editor Features Editor Staff Reporters Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

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

Research shows this black market is becoming more and more popular for teenagers. Now numbers estimate that around 20% of twelfth graders have smoked pot in the past, according to teens.drugabuse. gov.

If marijuana were to be legalized, limitations and regulations would have to be implemented, but Kayla Kurmaskie similar rules are already in place for alcohol and cigarettes. Once in effect, drug-related crimes would In recent years political debate over the legal- drastically decrease, and the “forbidden fruit” draw ization of marijuana has been a hot topic. Though of pot would be diminished, thus reducing its use the White House stands firm on its position of not overall. legalizing the substance on a national level, they did The general public’s perception of marijuana and announce that states could take the necesits effects has become skewed and one-sided sary steps to legalize medical due to the government’s poor publicity on marijuana. the matter. Yes, pot can become Now, states such as Washaddictive when consumed in ington and Colorado are takexcess. So can alcohol and ing their laws one step further nicotine. in order to legalize the use of Even then the Nationmarijuana entirely. I personalal Institutes of Health’s rely see no harm in this. search shows that only about This debate harkens back 9% of frequent users form a to the 20s and early 30s during dependency on the contraprohibition. Alcohol was band. banned but that did not stop Yes, marijuana does have art by Becky Nam individuals from finding ways to quench their negative symptoms in correlation to a person’s overthirst. Now we have replaced the black mar- all health and well-being. ket for alcohol with a black market for pot, a huge But let us not forget the kidney damage that source of crime in the country. comes with drinking or the elevated chance of getting Many believe that legalizing marijuana would lung cancer that walks hand-in-hand with smoking in increase crime rates in America due to easy access of general. drugs. The opposite would occur. There would be one Legalizing marijuana would ultimately allow the less illicit item people could get caught with and, as a government to focus its attention on more pressing result, less arrests in total. matters. ●

View of the Pride: Is the dress code reasonable?

YES

“I think it is [reasonable] because it’s helping us by not dressing crazy,

therefore, preparing us for the future. You can’t be an engineer and wear a crop top.” -Alicia McCallay “There could be possible amendments, but overall it’s fair.” -Lillian Ford

“For the girls, it’s worse than the guys. They practically can’t wear anything without being dresscoded. Dress length not shorter than fingertips is reasonable, but not showing sholders? That’s ridiculous. A shoulder is a normal body part body part, and it doesn’t mean anything.” -Dylan Flasowski

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 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

Transferring puts problems in perspective

Lisa Liu If you ever see me in the halls and I appear to be staring intently at the floor or admiring a light fixture, then I probably am. See, the floors here, amazingly enough, are actually clean, and the lights somehow don’t all emit the same unflattering yellow glow. Sorry, but I just can’t help marveling at all of this.

Hold on, though—I promise I’m not nearly as crazy as I sound. In fact, I actually have a valid reason for this behavior: I spent all of last year at AMCHS, and that’s what my point of comparison is.

Now, I don’t have the exact numbers, but AMCHS is somewhere around five centuries older than CSHS, so it’s slightly lacking in functionality. I may have only spent one year there, but that was more than enough time to make me deeply appreciate luxuries now that would be unheard of at AMCHS, such as “actual windows in classrooms” and “working air conditioning.”

Still, I must admit that while our school does boast the advantages of clean floors and quality lighting, it also possesses less desirable characteristics that bring back memories of Consol. In these cases, though, I have found that my experiences at AMCHS have actually prepared me for dealing with any inconveniences.

For example, fighting my way through the packed stairwells (because come on, who actually remembers to use the empty ones at the ends of the halls?) does not bother me in the slightest, because that was already part of my daily routine for a whole year—trust me, after having to avoid being trampled becomes the norm, it doesn’t even annoy you anymore. I’ve heard other students complain about the crowded stairs, though, and if you’re one of them, I want you to know that unless you also went to Consol at some point—that leaves out freshmen and most sophomores— you don’t even know what crowded is.

At AMCHS we had to deal with masses of people too, except that our school wasn’t as spacious, and we didn’t have classrooms with wall-to-wall stretches of windows to help ease the pain. Our classrooms offered only depressingly boring expanses of off-white bricks for us to stare at. Think prison walls, only covered in motivational posters that remind you that 40 years from now it won’t matter what your jeans looked like in high school and that Sometimes the best decision is not always the most popular. You know which posters I’m talking about.

Okay, okay. I know that my opinions of AMCHS may sound harsh, but I must admit, I actually owe my ability to cope with certain difficulties to my time there. Consol, I might have hated you then, but you were training me to endure future hardships all along.

Now if only the drinking fountains here would spout tepid water. Then I’d really feel at home. ●

“I actually owe

my ability to cope with certain difficulties to my time there.”

QUESTION of the ISSUE: Do you feel the pressure to succeed academically?

Yes, from my family

OVERHEARD How were you asked to homecoming?

“He got a bear that had a bandage on its knee, and his poster said ‘I’ll be broken without you at homecoming.’”

Sully Strohmeyer, sophomore

“He hid behind the cash register at Whataburger, popped up when I ordered, and said ‘Whata-bout homecoming?’”

Katie Roderick, junior

“He gave me a five-pound bag of Tootsie Rolls and said, ‘Hey Tootsie, will you roll to homecoming with me?’”

Paige Bielamowicz, freshman

“Katherine, will you go to homecoming with me?”

Aidan Parsi, junior

DAILY GRIND

By: David Rambo

Yes, from my peers

6%

49%

37% 8% No, I don’t feel it

362 students surveyed

Yes, from myself

● Opinions 7

“COURAGEOUS COUGARS”

8 Opinions ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

Growing up, maturing brings many life lessons

Rachel Grant It seems like just yesterday I was walking through the CSMS halls as an eighth grader. I remember seeing the high school students and thinking that they were so much older and more grown up than I was. I never thought I would reach that point in my life.

Then I blinked.

The past two years of my life have flown by faster than a car on the freeway.

Now I am one of the people who the eighth graders look up to. It is so crazy to think that all of those days are gone from me. I have to live up to the expectations of those around me; I have to be how I want others to see me.

I am expected to be more mature, grown up, and responsible. I can almost see the years slipping away from around me.

As they slip away, things enter into my life

that are different. The things that are regularly in my life change into things I can’t name.

My family gets older, my friends change, and my classes get harder. I have to learn to adapt to my new surroundings, and become a more well rounded person. The people I once knew well changed into unrecognizable faces.

Our generation is forced to start the sprint to become a stereotypical “adult.”

But I do not want to be what the world sees as an adult.

I want to be kind and caring to those around me. I started having experiences that make me feel older, getting a bank account, taking higher level classes, and having to organize my own schedule.

I do not want it to go so fast. I want my life to slow down and I want to watch what’s going on around me.

It makes me wonder, where did the time go?

Now, I am trying to absorb in whats happening around me and

live life to the fullest.

In my English class, we talked about how the author of “Our Town,” made the characters realize how great the things were after they lost them.

I want to know how blessed I am now, and how many good things I have.

My English teacher, Mr. Graham, said that Thornton Wiler, the author, wanted to give others advice about loving what they have now and to not take anything for granted.

I have to be able to be prepared for the future, and learn to take in all of the great things that I have now.

I can only hope that all my previous experiences and the things that I have learned will make me ready for whatever things God wants me to do, no matter fast it may come or how responsible, mature, or grown up I have to be. ● art by Becky Nam

Self respect should be valued before attention from boys

Megan Paradowski Every girl wants to be treated like a princess. We all fantasize about the perfect boyfriend who opens doors for us and tries to make us laugh when we cry. Girls know how they want to be treated by a boy, but how do we treat ourselves?

Women are typically very critical of themselves. Often times we are not satisfied with our weight, hair or makeup. We want to be more popular and have more friends. More often than not, these insecurities stem from comparing ourselves to other girls.

We compensate for these harsh feminine feelings by wearing our shorts too short, our shirts too low or our dresses too tight.

Dropping to the floor at a dance is another thing that a girl will do for a guy’s attention. Then, girls often think they will feel better about themselves. It’s all about attention. Catching a guy’s eye will make the insecurities vanish for a few short moments.

And then we expect boys to treat us like princesses? After we’ve teased and tempted them to make ourselves feel better? As women, we must think about it from a boy’s perspective also.

It is sometimes hard for guys to control their thoughts. We don’t make it any easier by dressing and acting in such a manner as to attract their attention. Therefore, if you don’t want a boy to see you as skimpy or desperate every time he looks at you, don’t act that way. Don’t expect a guy to never pressure you into anything if you’re acting towards him as if that’s what you want. Boys are not gods; they cannot act perfectly towards you if you do not make the same effort in return.

So, in respect for boys, wear modest clothing. Dance appropriately. Don’t act desperate for their attention by saying things you don’t mean. It will make a statement. The boys may not notice you at first. They may be paying attention to the girl dropping it to the floor at homecoming. But eventually boys will be tired of her. They will be tired of her high expectations and risqué behavior. Then, the girl with high standards for herself and a clean attitude to back it up will look the most appealing.

Don’t let just any guy have a chance at your heart. Choose your options carefully, for heartbreaks are nothing to be taken lightly. Before talking with a guy, think about why he is talking to you. Did he notice your low cut shirt, or your cute personality? While the guy who notices low cut shirts may be fun for a little while because of his attention, he will have much less respect for you. Talk to the boys who stay away from girls with low cut shirts. Those are the ones who will make you feel worthy of being treated like royalty, and those are the ones who will eventually make great husbands.

Never forget that dating is intended to prepare you for marriage. If you couldn’t see yourself marrying a guy, don’t date him. Granted marriage is a long time away, but you don’t want to waste your time with mediocre boyfriends.

Attaching yourself to someone like this could in turn make you miss out on meeting your perfect match.

So, girls, let’s keep our standards high, dancing clean and attitudes in check. Then, we will meet a boy who will make us truly happy, and we will do the same for him in return. ● art by Becky

Voices Students and staff share their plans for Halloween costumes “A minion from Despicable Me.”

Sri Darbha, freshman

“A supermodel, so I don’t have to dress up.”

Sam Morris, junior

“The scariest person in the whole world, Miley Cyrus.”

Steven Smith, juniorh

“Flo from the Progressive commercials.”

Kayla VanDeFlier, junior

“Si from Duck Dynasty.”

Tristan Roberts, sophomore

“Mustard, so my kids can be a hot dog and ketchup.”

Valarie Reed, counselor

“An exploding platypus.”

Noah Sharp, freshman

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

奨学金で日本に留学した本校生

The Catamount

● People 9

Exchange program offers opportunity to study in Japan

by Kayla Kurmaskie Managing Editor After checking her mail for weeks without any luck, junior Megan Clark-Tchen was beginning to lose hope. However, in April she dragged herself to the mailbox to find what she had been waiting for: the letter informing her that she won the opportunity with YFU, Youth for Understanding, to become a foreign exchange student in Japan.

This was made possible by a full scholarship from Kikkoman.

“I looked like a maniac when I found out,” Clark-Tchen said.

Clark-Tchen looked into an exchange program to Japan in eighth grade because of her fascination with Japanese culture. She decided to apply for YFU over the winter break of 2012, a process that included an application, essays and an interview. “[The application process] might be grueling, but the outcome and benefit of winning doesn’t compare,” Clark-Tchen said.

In June, Clark-Tchen flew to San Francisco, where the exchange students stayed for a three-day culture assimilation seminar.

When her time was over in San Francisco, Clark-Tchen left for Japan.

Her first few days with her host family were awkward because they spoke spoke little to no English. Soon, after bonding with the children that Clark-Tchen said loved her from the moment they met her, Clark-Tchen began to feel at home.

“After three days, it felt like we were a family,” Clark-Tchen said.

Clark-Tchen found fellowship and family at school with her peers. After a seven-hour school day, Clark-Tchen would go to judo practice for three to four hours.

Clark-Tchen said going to a Japanese school came with some culture shock.

“They’d be like, okay, it’s P.E. time and all the guys would strip,” Clark-Tchen said.

Clark-Tchen said the girls were like quick-change-artists with how fast they were able to change. She said that the Japanese are far more comfortable with nakedness than Americans.

Despite not being a fluent Japanese speaker Clark-Tchen was expected to keep up with all of the standard Japanese classes such as Japanese History, Japanese language, and Algebra II. “They would get another teacher to come by me to make sure I was doing the work,” Clark-Tchen said.

Clark-Tchen felt like she was going to normal school, the only difference being she failed a lot due to the language barrier.

Despite academic stuggles, Clark-Tchen said that making friends was extremely easy due to the welcoming culture the Japanese people provide towards foreigners. She said that judo helped her open and strengthen her relationships with her peers.

Clark-Tchen was also able to get in touch with her religion. She said that beforehand she was not quite sure how to practice Buddhism, but after visiting some of the ancient shrines with her host family, Clark-Tchen now has a clearer image of how to practice Buddhism.

Clark-Tchen’s two-month stay in Japan only cemented her love of the culture and people. She keeps in touch with her Japanese friends via email and text, and she hopes to return next year.

“Be genuine with your relationships and always try to be better with people,” Clark-Tchen said. “I feel like that’s what Japan is.” ●

▲ Megan Clark-Tchen takes a photo of the tem- ▲ Clark-Tchen poses in front of barrels of sake. ▲ Clark-Tchen writes her hopes for her family’s ▲ Clark-Tchen cleanses herself before she enters ple’s architecture. Her photos of her trip will go into an online collection for Clark-Tchen to share her experience with others. Photo by Julie Potrykus●

Sake brewers donate the barrels to respect the souls of the Emperor and Empress of Japan from the Meiji Era. Photo by Julie Potrykus●

health and safety in English. Clark-Tchen’s paper wish ends up in a wooden box with the aspirations of other temple visitors. Photo by Julie Potrykus ●

the temple as a form of respect. Before entereing a temple, one is expected to rinse their hands and mouth with holy water. Photo by Julie Potrykus●

10 Student Life

The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

Raised in a Barn Chickens

Some students raise animals as pets, while others raise them for profit. Junior Evan Maraist, on the other hand, raises his chickens for food. After months of feedings, puncture marks from protective hens, and chickens swimming in his neighbor’s pool, Maraist finds the result of his hard work: fresh eggs.

“You get to learn more about cooking,” Maraist said. “You get free eggs. We just keep about four dozen eggs in the fridge. We have more eggs than we need.”

Maraist prefers his eggs scrambled and his chicken hickory smoked.

Maraist enjoys watching his “stupid little animals” because of their funny little habits such as when the chickens bob their heads. “[Raising chickens] is really egg-cellent,” Maraist said.

Maraist plans to raise chickens when he is older and settled down, but he has no plans to do so in college. The inconvenience of having a poultry coop in the back of his dorm outweighs the benefits of having chicks in his room all the time.

11

Lambs Due to the constant threat of losing animals after showing them, sophomore Trew Adams maintains a distance from his lambs, so the loss will not affect him.

“It’s not a pet. It’s a show animal,” Adams said.

Even though Adams must keep an emotional detachment from his animals, he indulged by naming one of his lambs Wiz after Wiz Khalifa because both are from California. Unfortunately, Adams will part from Wiz soon. His lambs are show animals destined to be separated from him.

Adams is accustomed to losing the animals he cares for days in and days out.

“It becomes part of life,” Adams said.

Animals, livestock becomes way of life

by Lisa Liu and Julie Potrykus Features Editor and Executive Editor

Student Life

Horses She’s been stepped on, kicked, and almost broke her hip—all while doing what she loves. For junior Darby Merritt, raising and riding horses is a passion worth the risks and time sacrifices as she balances playing volleyball, serving as vice president of FFA, and raising steers.

“The hardest part is that [raising horses] takes a lot of your time,” Merritt said. “As a teenager, you want to hang out with your friends, but you have to go feed or go ride.

But I like riding, so it’s not a bother to me.”

For Merritt, who has essentially been around animals her entire life, taking care of them has taught her responsibility.

“You’re taking care of something other than yourself, so it reminds you, ‘I have to go feed,’ or ‘I have to ride this many horses today so they don’t get out of shape,’” Merritt said. “It’s a big commitment. But if it’s what you love to do, then obviously, you’re going to have fun doing it.”

▲ Junior Evan Maraist's chickens walk around "the Ritz" on Oct.

8. He and his father named the chicken coop after the hotel. Photo

by Julie Potrykus ●

◄ Junior Darby Merritt rides her favorite horse on Oct. 10. She rides at Equifitness almost every day after school. Photo by Lisa Liu ●

Goats Freshman Cade Garner may raise goats, but unlike other students who have livestock, he does not take part in FFA or show them. Nor does he participate in 4-H, or any other such organization that would involve selling animals. Instead, Garner’s plans for his chickens, turkeys, goats, and ducks are simply to keep enjoying the experience of raising them.

“The only reason that we have animals in the first place is to have them as regular pets,” Garner said. “We don’t eat them or sell them. We just want to raise them.”

Although Garner does not sell his own animals, he has seen others doing so and finds the practice hard to imagine.

“After all the work they’ve put into [their animals], I think that they’ve got to have some sort of friendship,” Garner said. “They spend a year or two raising them and then just give them away—I don’t know how they do that. That just tears at me because I picture it with my own goats, and I can’t see that happening.”

Garner’s connection with his goats makes the idea of parting with his animals difficult. Having taken care of some of his goats since they were very young, Garner has bonded with them and, over time, grown attached to them.

“With goats, it’s hard for them to get used to you, but when you finally reach that moment where you become friends and accept each other, the fun starts,” Garner said. “As soon as you achieve that trust, it’s amazing. It’s taught me that animals are sometimes better friends than humans.” ►Freshman Cade Garner feeds his goat Pepe at his house in Navasota on Oct. 6. He has raised Pepe since he was a baby, and it was his first goat to ever have. Photo by Lisa Liu ●

▲ Sophomore Trew Adams and his lamb walk through a pasture at his house on Oct. 11. He walks his lambs frequently to prepare them for shows. Photo by Julie Potrykus ●

Cows Raising animals has left its scars on sophomore Kaley Kelley as she tries to overcome hardships such as selling her steers and hogs.

“You get used to [having to give up the animals you raise],” Kelley said. “The first year, it’s kinda sad. From then on, it’s okay.”

Kelley still faces challenges when she loses a steer that was particularly good in show, but she trades her time and effort for prize money from shows which contributes to buying her next animal or her college fund.

Beyond the pain of losing an animal, Kelley also endures the mockery of others who view her as a redneck as if raising steers and hogs automatically makes her an unintelligent country hick.

“You get to the point where you don’t care anymore,” Kelley said. “People will say stuff about your accents. You just laugh about it and move on. It doesn’t really matter.” ►Sophomore Kaley Kelley brushes her cows' fur on Oct. 11. She also fed them and allowed them to graze in a pasture. Photo by Julie Potrykus●

12 People

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

THE YOUNG LIFE LIFE Youth group unifies members with shared experiences

by Fiona Cohen Staff Reporter At 7:57 on a Monday night, a group of College Station High School students is gathered around The Exit, a tiny building adjacent to Southwood Park on Rock Prairie Road. Every parking spot is occupied, every available spot on the sidewalk is filled, and the excitement from the group of teens waiting outside is tangible. When the doors open, they pour into the building, quickly filling a small back room where leaders await their arrival.

This is College Station High School Young Life—or at least a part of it. Young Life is a national organization whose goals consist of four “C’s.” The first of thesestands for Club.

Club “If you show up to Club knowing nothing about Young Life, it just looks like a big party,” junior Meghan Griggs said. Club is Young Life’s weekly meeting, where leaders and students gather as one.

“We do a lot of singing,” Griggs said.

Between renditions of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A,” teens play games and enjoy skits put on by leaders.

“After the skit, it dials down,

and the leaders give a talk where they tie a personal story to a passage from the Bible,” Griggs said.

Leaders present an experience of their own that they have connected to a verse. The leader then closes with a prayer and dismisses the students for post-Club dinner at Whataburger.

Life as a mentoring ministry, but I don’t know if I would call it that exactly,” Davis said. “My favorite word for what we do is friend.”

talked about at Club.”

On a predetermined day. teens gather at their leader’s house and talk.

“I like how Club is crazy, Campaigners but that’s all some people see of Eventually, the small groups Young Life. I love how it can also that have gotten to know each be deep and help you get to know other through both their Young yourself,” Griggs said.

Life leader and through Contact Unlike the high-energy atContact Work Work turn into a Campaigners mosphere of Club, Campaigners However, Young Life involves a quiet, in-depth is much more than these LOCATIONS OF YOUNG LIFE discussion directed by meetings at Club. that relates to the CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES leaders Most days Young Bible.

Life leaders can be “Campaigners is seen wandering around where I learn a lot lunch tables, talking and take more out of animatedly to CSHS it,” Desai said. students. This is one Campaigners alpart of the next C, lows leaders to openly Contact Work. discuss things that might “It’s called not fit into club activities. ‘work,’ but it usually Davis describes it simply feels like playtime,” as an opportunity “for peoYoung Life leader JC Daple who want to know more vis said. about this guy named Jesus.”

The goal of Contact Work is By the time a group has simply for students to get to know group.

Camexperienced Club every week each other and the leader a little paigners is a small group and spent hours getting to better. Leaders spend extra time activity that consists of a discus- know their leaders, Campaigners with students outside of school sion between one leader and ap- will feel like a much more familin smaller groups, establishing proximately seven students. iar environment. It allows people common ground between students “[Campaigners] is a place who have never had experience in who may have never met previ- where everybody feels comfort- a Bible study to explore an unfaously. The leaders’ roles in Con- able saying whatever’s on their miliar part of themselves. tact Work are simply to become a mind,” junior Ethan Desai said. part of the social network of the “Club is a really good basis for Camp students they meet.

Campaigners, and Campaigners Camp is the fourth C of “Some people refer to Young allows us to reflect on what we Young Life. Campaigners groups ◄Group leaders lift up junior Sam Morris as part of an activity at Club on Monday, Sept. 23 at The Exit. The leaders managed and organized the meetings, as they do for every weekly Club meeting. Photo by Fiona Cohen ●

travel together with their leader on a summer trip to Young Life Camp. When asked to describe this experience, junior Peter Williams gave a simple, five-word response: “Best week of my life.”

Campers are able to ride horses through the mountains of Colorado, complete a ropes course and even take a ride on what they call the “Claim Jumper,” a giant swing attached to the side of a mountain.

“We had all kinds of different activities during the day and then Club every night,” Griggs said.

This is yet another experience that allows Young Life members to grow closer to one another.

Impact CSHS Young Life has become a strong network of students that grows with each passing week. The impact that Young Life has had at CSHS can be seen in the hallways, the cafeteria, and even on Monday mornings when leaders pass out donuts in front of the school. Young Life is a network open to anyone and everyone.

“People of any culture or religion can come and enjoy Young Life,” junior Arrott Smith said.

An early member of CSHS Young Life, Smith has seen the group expand drastically from week to week.

“Young Life really will change your life if you let it,” Smith said. “It is for everyone.” ● ◄Junior Ashlyn Miller cracks an egg over junior Ethan Desai’s head during a game at Club on Monday, Sept. 23 at The Exit. The games played at Club let the Young Life members get to know each other better and establish relationships.

Photo by Fiona Cohen ●

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

●

ou ble Dou Double

Aguilar y Brianna Photos b

Seeing

● Sports 13

Twins express positive feelings towards their unique lifestyles

by Rachel Grant Senior Editor

◄Twin

brothers Brian and Brandon Henry strike the Johnny Manziel Superman pose.

Both agreed that having each other as a twin makes it nearly impossible to be alone, but they still appreciate having each other to hang out with when they are bored. Photo by Rachel Grant●

►Aidan

Parsi holds his twin sister, Lily Parsi, in his arms for a cute twin picture. Although Aidan and Lily are different in many ways, they said they both enjoy having a twin to relate and talk to. Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

Match the twin

Match who participates in what activities 1. Newspaper

A. Brandon

2. Paintball

B. Mr. Phillips

3. Soccer

C. Lily

4. Football

D. Brian

5. Traveling/Concert-going

E. Aidan

Answers: 1-C 2-D 3-E 4-A 5-B

While many believe that it would be frustrating to be a twin, getting mixed up and confused for the other, it can actually be fun and adventurous. Twins have certain priviledges that other siblings do not have such as always having a friend for comfort and support. While some do not even know it, many sets of twins walk the halls of the school every day. One twin may even be your teacher.

Junior twins Aidan and Lily Parsi both agree that they enjoy having a twin.

Aidan’s favorite thing about having a twin is that he has someone that he can relate to and talk to.

“A benefit of having a twin is that he’s always there for me,” Lily said. “[If there are] any family problems or if our parents are being really harsh on us or whatever happens we can always look towards each other for guidance, support and assurance.”

Sophomore twins Brandon and Brian Henry both think that having a twin is similar to having a good friend at home.

“You always have a friend to talk to,” Brian said. “[A benefit is] having someone to hang out with most of the time.”

Brandon agrees with his brother.

“Having a twin makes it possible for me to never be alone,” Brandon said. “He’s like a best friend to me. If I am bored, I have my brother to hang out with.”

English 1 honors and English 3 teacher Caleb Phillips is also a twin.

“My favorite part is having someone in my own family that is my own age [and] that I can share birthdays and life with,” Phillips said, “kind of like a builtin best friend.”

Some people wonder if there is an unspoken connection between twins.

“We joke sometimes and say that we have twin telepathy, but who knows if we do, or if that’s really a real thing,” Aidan said. “There was one incident where I was looking for her, and she was looking

for me, and we turned around at the same time and found each other.”

Lily Parsi shared the same story.

The Henry twins have experienced something similar.

“There have been multiple times when we would be thinking the same thing,” Brian said. “We sometimes say the same thing at the same time and sing the same song the other had just had in his head. Even what we do is sometimes exactly the same at the same time.”

Brandon also said that they would do the same actions at the same time or think the thing the other was saying.

Phillips said that he and his sister Cara are not telepathic but can read each other’s emotions very well.

“We can’t read each other’s minds,” Phillips said. “When we’re around each other, we can detect moods, sensitivities and feelings.”

Being a twin and having other siblings can be a challenge. Twins can be confused for each other and for their siblings as well.

Brandon and Brian have a older sister who favors Brandon.

“I am her favorite,” Brandon said.

“We get along better and have more fun.”

Aidan and Lily have a seven year old brother, who loves both of them for separate reasons.

“Aidan always likes to pretend that he is seven also, so they get in a lot of little fights,” Lily said. “I’m kind of like his second mom because I don’t really play with him necessarily; I’m there more for comfort for him.”

Sometimes it can be difficult for others to distinguish twins.

“My football coaches would always yell the wrong name across the field and usually we were both playing so we would get confused,” Brandon said.

Being a twin can have disadvantages.

“My least favorite part is the fact that my twin is a girl, I had to identify a little more, and share a little more.” Phillips said. “I think I got ‘jipped’ out of a few presents because people were buying for two.”

14 Sports

The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

Making the PlAy PlAy A

Junior balances varsity football with straight A’s in classes

by Megan Paradowski Editor-in-chief Demonstrating leadership and making great plays on the football field are not the only accomplishments of junior Cole Whittlesey.

He is also a straight A student. “[My parents] expect it out of me, and I expect it out of myself to make good grades,” he said. “I just work my hardest at it.”

Whittlesey’s chemistry teacher Casey Akin enjoys his attitude in the classroom.

“I really enjoy him because he is very enthusiastic and sarcastic in a fun way,” she said.

She also added that he almost Cole Whittlesey, scored the highest grade on their last chemistry test, and he is fun to have in class.

“He is really encouraging to everyone, which can be a challenge when you’re very good at sports,” she said.

Akin also mentioned that Whittlesey is a natural leader. Head football coach Steve Huff would agree.

“He is a leader by example,” Huff said.

“He has a desire to win and be successful.”

Whittlesey’s favorite aspect of football

is winning.

“It feels good to make a name for our school and give our fans a win,” he said.

Whittlesey said that he doesn’t feel pressure on the field, but being the quarterback, he has to take the good and the bad criticism of how the team played.

“I just play my game, and that’s all I can worry about,” he said. “I do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Whittlesey doesn’t have a fear of failing in school or football.

“The only thing you can expect out of a person is their best,” he said.

W h i t t l e s e y ’s friend is able to depend on him on and off the football field.

“He always does junior what he is supposed to do,” junior Drake Carnes said. “He leads our football team because he is the quarterback.”

Carnes also added that Whittlesey shows the younger players what to do as well.

Whittlesey predicts that the rest of the season will be favorable.

“I think if we continue to practice and work like we have been, then it should pan out in our favor,” he said ●

“The only thing you

can expect out of a person is their best.”

▲ Sprinting down the field, junior Cole Whittlesey charges toward the Cougar end zone in the game against Gonzalez on Sept. 27. Whittlesey lead the team into overtime during the last few minutes of regulation, but the Cougars lost 43-37 in overtime. Photo by Megan Paradowski ●

Passing to Success: Cole Whittlesey’s Path to Quarterback Second Grade: Played tackle football as running back and receiver for the College Station Tigers

Fourth Grade: Played for the College Station Raiders

Seventh Grade: Played quarterback in middle school football

Freshman Year: played on freshman B team at Consol as quarterback Sophomore Year: played on varsity CSHS team as quarterback

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

Spikes

The Catamount

● Sports 15

n the Court

Sophomore, team set themselves apart from competitors something that all the student athletes have to do. You just have to find time and be proactive.”

Dudley said the support of her parents and coaches help her balance volleyball and school.

The first time that sophomore Maddie Dudley “My parents are super supportive. They always stepped onto the volleyball court, she was in the encourage me to do better. They don’t hesitate to tell fourth grade. She loved the game so much, she felt me when I’m doing things wrong,” Dudley said. modivated to continue and start playing club volleyDudley’s parents enjoy watching her succeed on ball when she was eleven. and off the court.

“It’s a really fun sport, and I enjoy it,” Dudley “We are very proud of Maddie,” Mrs. said. “It’s a lot of team work, and you have to talk all Dudley said. “She is extremely goal oriented. the time. I think that it’s a good way to get to know Maddie is open to constructive criticism, and people, and it’s competitive.” is always looking for ways to improve. She is a Dudley’s mom Rachelle hard worker and strives to do Dudley first noticed that Dudley better in everything she does.” loved volleyball and was good Although Dudley is very at it when she started playing. close with her family, she is “When she was 11, she also extremely close to her played on a city league team,” team. She loves how everyone Ms. Dudley said. “Every mornhas to work together in order ing she would get ready earto make something great haply so she could go outside and pen. serve the ball on the side of the “Everybody on our team house.” is so good. We push each Playing on multiple volother to be better because evMaddie Dudley, leyball teams restricted Dudley erybody wants to be on the from doing other things that she sophomore court,” Dudley said with enwanted to pursue at the same thusiasm. “But at the same time. time you don’t want to be on the court because your “This year I’m missing field trips, and I give up teammate’s being bad. You want to be on the court things that I do outside of school,” Dudley said. “I because you’re better than their best.” miss a lot of StucCo meetings. I was going to show Being part of a team is very important to Dudley. heifers this year, but a tournament fell on the day that She thinks that the team looks up to the captains as they were going to be shown, so I couldn’t show heif- leaders, and then others step up to be leaders if necesers.” sary.

Dudley is willing to give up all these things be“We don’t really get cliquish on the team, so we cause of her love of volleyball. don’t necessarily have groups. We are all closer to one “[I love] the feeling of winning and beating person or another. But we are all close [as a team],” someone,” Dudley said. “Especially last year when- Dudley said. “Everyone’s reaching for the same goal ever we were all underclassmen, and we would beat a so we all support each other.” team of seniors and juniors, it felt really good.”

Dudley and her teammates give their best effort In order to be able to participate in volleyball, so that they can achieve their goals.

Dudley had to use her passion of the sport to push her “As a team, we all work really hard,” Dudley to stay on top of her school work. said. “We all strive to do a good job of getting better “As far as school work goes,” Dudley said, “it’s every day.”●

By Rachel Grant Senior Editor

“[I love] the feeling of

winning and

beating someone.”

▲During a Thursday practice, sophomore Maddie Dudley practices a variety of drills.

She practices after school almost every day. Dudley has played volleyball for four years. Photo by Rachel Grant●

Volleyball Team Statistics 23-16-2

Star Player Statistics Maddie Dudley 69 Ace serves

▲Sophomore Maddie Dudley bumps the ball in order to prepare to set and spike the ball to the other side of the court. Photo by Rachel Grant●

114 Killed Attacks

94 Receptions

Brady Gillum

31 Ace serves

7 Killed Attacks

98 Receptions

Haley Wagner

27 Ace serves

40 Killed Attacks

95 Receptions

16 Sports ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

START to F I N I S H

Runner strives to qualify for state through dedication, hard work

by Brianna Aguilar The Catamount Staff Run. Breathe. Run. Breathe. Tick tock. Tick tock. 18:00.17:30. 17:15. 17:00 flat. Waking up at 5:00 in the morning.

Meets. Practice. Pressure. College Station High School. Cross country. This is the life of the team’s top runner-Jon Bishop. “[He is our best runner because] his dedication to the sport.

He breathes and lives it. He does everything he’s supposed to. He does extra. He is motivated,” Rodney Wellmann said. “He wants to do well. I mean the whole package is there. He’s talented.”

Bishop began this exhilarating and eventful sport in seventh grade due to his friends joining the team, and, so, he decided to try it out as well. Now into his sophomore year, his records, times, meets, and practices show exponential growth in three short years. Especially, when Bishop ran a 4:30 mile in track as only a freshman, proving he has the talent and the ability t o thrive in the sport.

“He has a lot of gifts that he has been given,” teammate Hogan Daughters said, “but he also works nonstop to become the best that he can be.”

Bishop just doesn’t just assume that his talent for running

will make him the best, he also puts in the necessary hard work, dedication, and perseverance that it takes to make sure he reaches his goals.

“He was on our varsity team when he came here [and] was probably our fourth or fifth runner,” Daughters said. “[But] I don’t think he was

past experiences and for the team. I feel like it’s worth it,” Bishop said.

This positive attitude affects not only himself but also the others on his team as they look up to Bishop as a motivator for the team.

“He’s one of the leaders on our team,” Daughters said. “He’s one of the guys that gets us all together and says, ‘Hey let’s go’. Always there [and] always trying to get us happy.”

Bishop not only instills excitement in his team but also drives a When in the a lot of things go through force in his teammates to make their miles, time, and effort count your head head. You don’t want to let during the race.

“When in the meet, a lot down, and you don’t want to let of things go through your head.

You’re thinking about [how] you down.” just have to push yourself so that you can do well in the end,” BishJonathan Bishop, sophomore op said. “Because if you know you could have gone harder for the rest satisfied with being the fourth or “You have to have a good mentality. [of] the meet, there’s all eternity to regret fifth runner; he wanted to be If you don’t, it really affects you [and] you not going hard enough in that 18 minutes. our number one. So, he just have to be confident. Not arrogant. ConfiFor yourself and for the team. You don’t nonstop, worked hard.” dent,” Bishop said. want to let them down and you don’t want By running 10 miles And he exhibits exactly this as he to let yourself down.” the weekend, running holds a great outlook towards cross And in no way has Bishop let himself miles a week, training country and portrays the attribute of down or any of his teammates. With his lifting weights, and runhumbleness when talking about his abiloutstanding progress, Wellmann hopes he more mileage than his ities in cross country or perfect examwill place in the top ten at region and then teammates, all push him ple of a humble athlete who admits his qualify for state as only a sophomore. Then ress in cross country and weaknesses. next year as a junior, build upon that, Wellin the sport, Bishop said.

“I think that I have room to improve in mann said. think he’s definitely the most aspects. There’s always room to improve, “This year, he’s on track to run the icated person we have on so I just keep working at it,” Bishop said. times he needs to run. He’s on track to do team. Everything I ask “When I’m training I enjoy it. So I what he’s supposed to do to be successful. him and then more, think it’s fun. [Even] when you start feelHe’s definitely headed down that road,” gives and h e ing pain, I just feel like the hard work pays Wellmann said. ● the off in the end. It always has for me in my

meet,

“

team]

o n 5 0 core, n i n g other to progexcel “I dedour o f h e brings to

table,” Wellmann said.

However by participating in cross country, Bishop has to give up things other teenagers may take for granted such as junk food, especially at parties he goes to, and of course sleeping in, Bishop said. But even with the sacrifices, Bishop emphasizes the need for a good attitude and mindset.

[your

yourself

Boys Cross Country Stats 9/20 UTSA Invite Varsity

▲ Junior Jon Bishop drinks from a cold water bottle after running during practice.

Although the weather can be unbearable as the sun beats down on him, he said still maintains a good attitude as he knows this running will help him to excel in the sport.

Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

5th Place Team Top Finisher Jon Bishop 22nd

9/27 Giddings Invite

Varsity 7th Place Team Top Finisher Jon Bishop 19th

10/4 DelValle Invite Varsity

1st Place Team Top Finsiher Jon Bishop 1st

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

The Catamount

● Sports 17

All the Right Steps Cross country champion pursues state ranking

by Lily Parsi The Catamount Staff Fifty meters away from the finish line and far ahead of any girl racing against her, sophomore Kelsie Warren pushes her body beyond its limits. Sweat pours down her face in the Texas heat.

Warren feels her legs growing heavy. Suddenly, her legs give out beneath her, and she falls to the ground. Warren struggles to get back up, but her effort is fruitless, and she falls again.

She realizes she cannot push herself to a standing position so she crawls across the finish line.

Warren was racing in the state cross country meet last November when she collapsed near the finish line, going from first to 30th.

While this was a tragic event, Warren said she learned a valuable lesson about race strategies and how to run safely, including correct carb load before races.

Warren’s interest for running initially sparked when she joined a runner’s club in fourth grade, and from the age of nine, Warren participated in summer track camps. She has never missed a cross country practice since the summer before tenth grade.

Averaging eight miles per day, Warren runs approximately 56 miles a week, with such rigorous physical activity, so Warren watches her diet to stay healthy.

“I make sure to eat healthy foods,” Warren said. “I don’t feel

good when I run if I don’t. I also always stay hydrated.”

Warren explained that her parents play a large role in her success.

“My parents want me to do my best, and they encourage me to run as long as I’m encouraging myself,” Warren said. “They don’t force me. They help me do the best that I can do.”

Josh Munson, the girl’s head cross country coach, has been impressed by Warren since her freshman year at A&M Consolidated.

“My first impression was that she was naturally talented, and she was a hard worker who was willing to do whatever she needed to be successful,” Munson said. “I later learned that what I perceived as natural talent was years of running and hard work she has put towards running, which is definitely what we see now.”

Despite all her practice, Warren still has to work to stay motivated in races.

“There will be certain points in races where you set a point and you tell yourself ‘I need to get to that point’,” Warren said. “I also mentally tell myself that somebody is chasing me, which is stupid,” Warren said. “But it makes me go faster.”

The hardest times to push herself in races are when nobody is around, but she has to stay focused on each step and keep up with the rhythm of her feet.

Munson says Warren could be considered a role model to other girls.

“I just think that she’s the embodiment of what this team is,” Munson said. “She is someone who maybe doesn’t have a lot of natural ability, but her success comes from what she is willing to do, and I think that’s what we want for all of the girls on the team. She’s the leader of the team, and the other girls follow her.”

Warren’s hard work ethic has influenced other members of the cross country team as well.

“She is always encouraging and motivating the team,” junior Bethanny Dennis said. “She is very dedicated and knows what she needs to get done and does it.”

The most rewarding feeling in Warren’s eyes is when she knows all of her hard work has paid off.

“It’s that feeling that you get whenever you know you’ve worked really hard and for me that feeling comes whenever I run,” she said. “It’s that accomplishment that you feel every single time.”

Warren won cross country regionals and earned first place in the mile and two- mile race at the state meet last year, but her goals do not stop there.

“My biggest goal for my team is to win state,” Warren said.

“I will do whatever it’s going to take to get not only myself there, but the whole team.” ●

Kelsie’s Best

Record mile time: 5:06 Record two-mile time: 10:53 Third Place at Nike South First place overall ranking in 3-A girl’s track 3140 miles run as of October 11, 2013 495 consecutive days of running as of October 11, 2013

Photo by Lily Parsi

18 Entertainment ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

Cupcakes Galore

Catamount staff reviews small dessert treats at local eateries

Cake Junkie

Cupcakes Couture

Review by Brianna Aguilar

Review by Fiona Cohen College Station’s Cupcakes Couture, located at 900 Harvey Road, has the feel of a bakery and a coffee shop meshed into one tiny, wonderful shop. It is as girly and chic as the name itself suggests. Their trademark turquoise color can be seen in all aspects of the shop’s design, including the walls. Their counters are nearly always stocked with sweets – cupcakes and cookies and candies alike. But be careful – arrive too late in the day and the best of the batch will be gone. When I visited in the afternoon, the broad display case was nearly empty, with only three or four cupcake flavors left.

Cupcakes Couture serves several signature cupcake flavors, including Salted Caramel, Chocolate Mint and Carrot. I tried a simple chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing, and was satisfied with the rich flavor of the icing and the texture of the cake.The frosting design and overall presentation makes these cupcakes worth the $3.25 price. These treats would make the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth and make an excellent addition to parties or meetings. Cupcakes Couture provides seating both inside the restaurant itself and outside under the sun. Either way a customer can enjoy the unique ambiance of the store.

Whatever your preferance, Cupcakes Couture is well worth the visit. ●

Crush Cupcakes Review by Julie Potrykus Crush Cupcakes is located in a little coffee shop on Texas Avenue called Muldoon’s. The combination of Crush and Muldoon’s is a tad awkward. The bubbly pinks and blues of Crush Cupcakes would fit better in a nursery than the cozy living room vibe of the coffee shop. Despite the jumbled ambiance of the room, I would definitely recommend Muldoon’s as a nice coffee shop to hang out with friends due to their comfy lounge chairs and calming atmosphere.

The first time I went to Muldoon’s, I ordered a lemon cupcake and a white chocolate

As I took my first bite into a delicious, moist, and rich cupcake, my taste buds instantly applauded me for the opportunity to savor such an amazing treat. Cake Junkie is located in Bryan, Texas and not only specializes in jumbo cupcakes, but also in beautiful cakes and goodies that not only look stunning but taste phenomenal as well. Having eaten at Cake Junkie a number of times, I’ve tried nearly everything at their store and never once been disappointed in the taste and quality. They provide flavors of White Almond, Butter Pecan, Italian crème and many rich flavors. My personal favorite that I have purchased numerous times is the Butter Pecan. It holds just the right consistency of creaminess and amount of sweetness along with the perfect texture of cake.

Sadly however, one disappointment I’ve experienced is the bakery’s inability to fulfill customers’ requests. To elaborate, when I ordered my cake for my sixteenth birthday, I requested chevron pattern with a cute bow on the top. However once received the cake, the pattern was wrong and the bow not how I told the employee. Although the cake tasted heavenly, I would forewarn customers of this chance. Nonetheless, their cupcakes are to die for and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a spectacular snack. ●

mocha with raspberry. The barista helped me decide on a coffee out of the oddly named beverages. The coffee was the perfect combination of white mocha with a hint of raspberry and cheaper than a coffee at Starbucks.

Unfortunately, I had less success with the cupcakes. A lemon jellybean topped my cupcake, but the staleness of the jellybean made me think of those news stories where people discover a tooth in their food. The lemon cupcake tasted more like lemon-flavored sand candy than a cupcake. I couldn’t eat more than half before feeling like I consumed my yearly amount of sugar.

I have gone back to give the cupcakes a second shot, but I wasn’t impressed. The chocolate toffee cupcake was an unpleasant combination of textures: the icing grainy from sugar, the crunchy toffee, the soggy cupcake from what I think was caramel. Another disappointing cupcake. I would recommend Muldoon’s as a coffee shop, but I would only recommend the cupcakes for the biggest sugar enthusiasts. ●

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The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

● Entertainment 19

The Stars Behind the Show Tech crew brings magic to the production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

by Lily Parsi Opinions Editor

When going to see a play, most people do not give the stars behind the curtain a second thought. In reality, they’re the reason the show is in existence. Without these behind-the-scenes individuals, there would be no lighting, curtain cues, costumes, or set.

Assistant director Jillian Volkmar gushes about the exciting details in the play and what the students are looking forward to most.

“The technicians are doing so much rght now,” she said. “The set, the costumes, everything, is going to be beautiful. I think we’re all excited to play with the set and play with the costumes. Everyone is excited about the technical aspect as much as the acting.”

Junior Carson Beckman is the head of lights and is enjoying the challenge and support from Greg Stanley, the drama teacher and director. Beckman describes what it is like working with Stanley.

“He gives me a lot of freedom to work with, so I just put some things together and show him my ideas,” Beckman says. “He puts a lot of trust in me so I get to really explore what we have to offer and our full potential. We have some scenes that are just music, so I get to play around with effects and make it work with our music as well.”

Junior Kaitlin Terzian says what she enjoys the most about her position as head of costume, hair, and makeup.

“It’s very creative,” Terzian said. “Mr. Stanley gives me the ideas, but I’m the one that has to make it come to life, which I enjoy.”

Terzian shares that the hardest part about her job is creating a deadline for costumes, etc. and making sure the actors and

actresses make this deadline.

“Having everyone get their costumes and makeup and shoes in on time [is the most difficult] because everyone has their own schedule so it’s hard to just pick a date and say everyone needs to have it by then,” Terzian said.

Another challenge Terzian faces is blending the traditional fairy idea with a punk rock theme, and not go completely one way or the other.Terzian elaborates on how the costume team located each costume.

“The fairies went and found their own costume and then we decorated them or add our own touch. The main characters’ costumes we ordered, made, or rented, so it’s a little bit of everything,” Terzian said.

Stanley continues to describe different aspects of the play his students are incorporating into the product.

“We are really playing up the dream quality in Midsummer’s,” he says. “A lot of the play takes place in a forest, but we’re taking it very abstract and playing up the dream aspect of it. This is not a literal play, so that gives us a lot of room for creativity.”

Terzian says that the costumes from this play are very unique from past productions the theatre department has put on.

“When you say fairy, a typical image pops up in most people’s heads, so we’re trying to change that by adding a punk vibe,” she says. “I can’t wait to see the peoples’ reactions to these crazy costumes that are put on these traditional characters.”

Stanley said this play can be related to any time period and the themes of the play are transferrable to any high school student.

“It will be neat for our high school students who are not in the play to see how relevant Shakespeare is today,” Stanley said. ●

▲Junior Kaitlin Terzian adds a few finishing touches to the makeup of sophomore Brianna Soltis. Soltis plays the character of Tom Snout in the production. Photo by Lily Parsi●

▲Junior Carson Beckman controls the lights in the sound booth as he patiently waits for theatre teacher Greg Stanley’s instructions. “I’m really exploring our light board, so we can make lights go through loops and effects,” Beckman said. “I want to incorporate really cool lights to give it a dream feel.” Photo by Lily Parsi ●

Major Cast List Bottom/Pyramus- Marcus Nealy Lysander- Aidan Parsi Hermia- Kathleen Finch Demetrius- Dylan Flasowski Helena- Kailee Kema Titania- Courtney Sumlin Oberon - Alex Sanchez Puck- Kayla Kurmaskie

▲ As assistant director, junior Jillian Volkmar must take notes from theatre teacher Greg Stanley at the end of each rehearsal. Photo by Lily Parsi ●

Upcoming Shows Oct. 19 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 20 7:00 p.m Sunday matinee 3:00 p.m.

Oct. 21 7:00 p.m.

20 Cougars ● The Catamount

Friday, Oct. 18, 2013

Rocking&Rolling Guitar enthusiasts share their musical talent

By Megan Paradowski Editor-in-Chief Most would agree that high school presents the most opportune time to find your niche. Students often become friends given their commonalities: football, soccer, chemistry club, etc. The list of student groups and activities is infinite, but does everyone fit? Not exactly! Let us shine the spotlight on those who enjoy a hobby very different from those of sports and academics – Music.

Guitar, to be specific.

Junior David Rambo began playing the guitar a little over three years ago.

He started with classical but now plays electric and acoustic as well.

When he was six years old, Rambo began playing classical piano. When he wanted to start guitar, his parents were somewhat reluctant, so they agreed to let him play as long as it was classical.

Rambo isn’t the only one at school who has a passion for guitar. Sophomore Graeme Bryant and junior Jessica Brown also enjoy this hobby.

Bryant has been playing for four years now. Only taking lessons for about half a year, he is practically self-taught.

Born in the United States, Bryant lived in College Station until first grade, when his family moved to Doha, Qatar because of his dad’s job with A&M. The Bryant family just moved back this year.

Jessica Brown said that her ability to play the guitar runs in her family. Her father used to play in a band. Brown started playing the cello in the orchestra in fifth grade, and she decided to begin playing the guitar about four years ago.

“Sometimes I just go home and play my guitar because it calms me and keeps my brain off of negative energy,” she said.

Rambo has performed in the youth band at Grace Bible Church and in jazz band.

In Doha, Bryant participated in several guitar performances. The biggest one was the annual friendship festival in which 3,500 people attended.

“I have the worst stage fright ever,” Bryant said.

Although he gets nervous on stage, Bryant said that he has yet to mess up in a performance.

Rambo said that his favorite guitar is his acoustic, and he is conflicted on choosing his favorite style of music to play.

“The most fun is punk because of how fast it is,” he said.

Rambo also plays rock, singer-songwriter, and everything in between.

Bryant has four guitars, and his favorite type of music to play is alternative. Along with the guitar, he is able to play the bass, drums and piano as well.

Bryant also sings and writes music, though he does not enjoy singing.

“When the need arises, I do,” he said.

Brown said that her favorite genre of music to play is a tie between heavy metal and classical.

“The only genres of music I will not listen to or play is rap or anything with a banjo,” she said.

Along with playing guitar and piano, Rambo sings and writes music.

“It’s a good way to vent in a healthy way,” he said.

Brown also sings, however she does not enjoy writing music.

“I always feel the rhythm,” she said. “I’m more of a metronome than a composer.”

Rambo also enjoys playing music with his friends when they have free time, and he recently joined guitar club.

“I was just walking out of school, and I saw a bunch of people with guitars,” he said.

Stephen Green and Justin Grimes are the sponsors of guitar club. Green is in charge of the electric guitar students.

“People have been coming to learn,” he said. “Ideally, everyone would get together and play a song together.”

Green and Grimes hope to expand guitar club in the future.

“It’s possible that later in the year we will expand this to anyone that wants to sing, or play keyboard, base or drums,” he said. “It will also be a place for people to network and put bands together.”

Brown also participates in guitar club and continues to play the cello in the school’s orchestra.

Bryant is a member of the soccer team, and he enjoys playing video games in his free time. He would like to try to play guitar in the future, on the side of becoming a mechanical engineer.

“A lot of people play music on the side, and that’s what I’d like to do,” he said. ●

▲ During the regular Tuesday Guitar Club meeting, David Rambo practices playing his

guitar. He is one of five people on average, who play the acoustic guitar in the club. There is also an electric guitar group. Photo by Rachel Grant●

◄ In

the electric guitar group of Guitar Club, junior Jessica Brown plays on Stephen Green’s guitar.

Brown is one of approximately four people in the group. She said she decided she wanted to play the guitar about four years ago. Before that, she played the cello in fifth grade. Photo by Rachel Grant●

Guitar club Meets every Tuesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the commons

Show up with your guitar!

Sponsors: Justin Grimes and Stephen Green

Listen to Jessica Brown Listen to Graeme Bryant