Nexus Volume 9, Number 2 (January 2013) by David Winter

www.nexusmagazineonline.com

NEXUS

Henry W. Grady High School January 2013

The JROTC team undergoes an inspection by an officer from the US Army. For the full scoop, check out our website:

Gra y Uncovering Gradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Identity

Rachel Klika, a junior photographer in two senses of the phrase, shares some of her naturecentered shots in this issue’s Photo section.

Photo.

p. 4 The death-defying antics of Cirque du Soleil returned again last month with a unique and exotic twist. Totem tells the story of evolution with cross-cultural choreographing and vibrant reptilian and tribal garb.

Visual.

p. 7

We may be Inside the Perimeter but these Grady Knights still know how to keep it country. The Audio section features All-American playlists from some of our country connoisseurs.

Audio.

p. 10

Got spirit? The plans are in the works to give the Grady Knights a school spirit booster with the addition of an official Grey Knight Mascot.

Arena.

p. 12

Individually we are different, together we are Grady. It’s cliché, but whether you’re walking through the parking lot or reading a class roster, it doesn’t take long to realize how much diversity our student body possesses. This issue, our feature focuses on what Knights do to flaunt their individuality.

Feature.

p. 14

These Grady moms mean business, culinary business to be exact. Owning a restaurant is no piece of cake, but three Mama Knights pull it off with style. The Cuisine section features articles on Avalon Catering, Babette’s Cafe, and Cake Cafe.

. p. 22

Cuisine.

Kottavei Williams, Grady’s new fashion teacher, has finally arrived, and has a great deal to tell about the journey she took to get here.

Couture.

p. 26

The amount of students waiting in line for morning tardy passes has reached record highs. But what prompted administrators to crack down on an average of 300 late students per day?

Rostrum.

p. 28 All Grady alums graduate with at least 75 hours of community service, but Victoria Dragstedt believes it’s not the number that counts.

Menagerie.

p. 30

Board Editorial Every parent believes that his or her child will make a difference in the world, but once we enter high school, we seem to lose sight of who we are. It becomes easier to fade into the background and become invisible than to try to be extraordinary. Still we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t given up hope. Whether it is bright orange hats, blue hair or fancy cell phone cases, we all are searching for recognition for the things that make us unique. In this issue of Nexus, in order to recognize, all the quirks that makes us different. We decided to become Gradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal paparazzi. We studied handwriting, found duplicate identities and peered into lunch boxes, just to figure out what makes you you. So turn the page and enter the Grady Identity Issue.

Nexus 2013 Staff: Tia Borrego, Amelia Christopher, Victoria

Dragstedt, Jakara Griffin, Claire Hasson, Mallory Hazell, Jordan Holiman, Alexander Jones, Devina Jones-Vargas, April King, Sarah Lanham, Valentina Makrides, Courtney Marshall, Tamara Mason, Peter Mastin, Mallory Mcfarlin, Sanjida Mowla, James Moy, Abby Orlansky, Nara Smith, Laura Streib, Kate Taber, Mckenzie Taylor, Lily Trapkin, Luke Webster and Kelsey Woods. Editor-in-Chief: Kate Taber Managing Editors: Valentina Makrides and Tamara Mason Adviser: Dave Winter Printer: Florida Sun Printing Advertising: Nexus is a nonprofit organization that relies on advertising and the generous support of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction to cover printing and maintenance costs. If you would like to advertise with and/or distribute Nexus, please contact us at nexusghs@gmail.com Submissions: Nexus accepts and welcome submissions of stories and photos. Submissions should be submitted to Mr. Winter in room E106, or to any Nexus staffer. They can also be e-mailed to us at nexusghs@gmail.com.

Nexus is a bimonthly publication of: Henry W. Grady High School 929 Charles Allen Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30309

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“I mostly photograph things in nature. I like to take pictures that show things in a way that you wouldn’t usually look at them.” Rachel Klika, junior

IGHT CLUB F CAT IN THE & BEST THE WORST SILVER SCREEN

Capote

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Beloved

DUNE OF THE

HAT WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Hollywood loves trying to transform literary masterpieces into magnificent movies, but for every scintillating cinematic success there is a film fraught with all-too-frequent failure. Children’s Book

BEST — Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory tops our list. It’s simply a classic movie. With a delightfully odd Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, the musical film of Charlie’s journey through the magical candy land is an endearing story that stays loyal to Roald Dahl’s book while also standing wholly on its own. Readers and nonreaders of the book can both see and love this film. The later adaptation starring Johnny Depp is good, but not quite the enchanting tale told in the 1971 version. – M.H. Honorable mention: Beauty & The Beast, Tangled, Hugo, Coraline. WORST — On the long list of terribly disappointing children book adaptations, The Cat In The Hat is the absolute worst. The Dr. Seuss book of the same name is one of the most beloved children’s books of all time, but the movie version completely falls flat. Mike Myers suffers noticeably as a creepy, uncomfortable Cat in the Hat. The humor, or lack thereof, is borderline raunchy for a PG movie, but not even in a way that makes parents quietly chuckle. The plotline is a stretch and the visuals are almost nauseating. The movie is so bad that it even prompted the president of Dr. Suess Enterprises to prohibit live-action Dr. Suess films from being made in the future. Well, at least something good came from it. – M.H. Dishonorable mention: Where The Wild Things Are, The Lorax, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Classic Literature

BEST — Despite some stiff competetion, our vote goes to director Bennett Miller’s Capote, the 2005 film that tells the story of Truman Capote as he was writing In Cold Blood. The nonfiction novel is a chilling and harrowing tale of the random and bloody murders of the Clutter family in a small Kansas town. The perpetrators, Dick Hickcock and Perry Smith, are intricate, cruel, multidimensional, and best of all, real. Capote follows Truman Capote’s unconventional friendship with Smith and the battles the author faced in his life. Phillip Seymour Hoffman delivers a terrific performance as Capote (one that earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor), and the complexities of his relationship with Smith keeps you intrigued minute after minute. Though the film is a loose interpretation of a book adaptation, the pairing of the two is unbeatable and well worth both a read and a watch. – M.H. Honorable mention: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Color Purple. 6

WORST — Oprah Winfrey’s 1998 effort to bring Toni Morrison’s Beloved to the silver screen succeeds at being our pick for worst classic lit adaptation even though it fails in every other capacity. The movie proves that magical realism is not transferable to film. In her earnest, wellmeaning effort to keep the movie true to Morrison’s book, Winfrey’s film flattens the novel, loses its poetic language, and renders it utterly unintelligible to any unfortunate viewers who watch the movie not having read the book. It is possible for a film producer (and lead actress) to love a book so much that she kills the movie based on it. . Winfrey squeezes all of the magical life out of Morrison’s 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner. – D.W. Dishonorable mention: The Scarlet Letter, Love In The Time of Cholera. Popular Fiction

BEST — Amid a deep list of strong contenders, Fight Club gets the nod for best popular-fiction adaptation. It’s a dark but transfixing story of one seriously messed up man and the absurdity he encounters with his newfound friend, Tyler Durden. The movie stars Edward Norton as the wonderfully insane unnamed narrator and Brad Pitt as the equally as brilliant Tyler. Some say the movie actually surpasses Chuck Palahniuk’s book, but we won’t go that far. The movie is, however, a masterfully done film that does cinematic justice to a terrific novel. – M.H. Honorable mention: Harry Potter series, The Help, The Godfather, Princess Bride, The Perks of Being a Wallflower WORST — Frank Hebert’s Dune, is a Hugo-award winning 1965 science-fiction novel that has been hailed as the best science-fiction novel of the 1960s and among the best American post-World War II novels of any kind. The children of the ‘80s who loved this book worshipped the novel’s noble protagonist, his strange new homeland, and his heroic journey against despotic evil. Summarizing a 544-page book in this synopsis is not really possible but then neither was the project to convert it into a hugebudget movie worth seeing. Successful film adaptations require first a simplification of plot, character, and theme, and when a filmmaker (in this case David Lynch) fails to meet these requirements, the result is a muddied, contextless wreck of a film that disappoints two generations of devout fans who waited almost 20 years for their favorite sci-fi novel to be brought to cinematic life. – D.W. Dishonorable mention: The Lovely Bones,The Davinci Code. -Mallory Hazell & Dave Winter

(Hatha)way Better than Expected

Christmas Day brought a unique gift to many Broadway fans with the release of the 2012 screen adaption of Les Miserables, one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Though directed by Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper through Working Title Films and Universal Pictures, the motion picture was spearheaded by British musical theater producer Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of the original English-language musical version of Les Miserables, which in turn was based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 French novel of the same name. Mackintosh’s production opened on stage in London’s West End in 1985 and has since become near and dear to many theatrical hearts as one of the longest running shows in history. Mackintosh’s decision to bring the musical to the big screen evoked mixed feelings among fans across the globe, many uneasy about the film living up to the global stage sensation. Grady AP U.S. History and musical theater teacher, Roderick Pope, was one of those nervous about the film. “When I first heard about the movie, I was really horrified,” Pope said. “I thought I’d seen so many bad productions of [the musical] that I didn’t want to see it immortalized on film badly.” This was not an uncommon fear amongst other critics and enthusiasts. Mackintosh, Hooper, and their team, however, had a few surprises up their sleeves.

Unlike any movie musical in the past, Les Miserables broke new ground by live recording all the songs rather than prerecording them in a studio. The actors sang live on set to piano accompaniment, and a live orchestra was added later behind their voices. Drama teacher Jake Dreiling explains the drastic difference the live recording method has on a scene compared to the way these musicals were recorded in the past. “You would record it, and then you have another three months, and after that you have to act and sort of lip sync to the stuff you already recorded,” Dreiling said. “Just being able to be in the moment and sing while its happening as opposed to singing into sort of a vacuum and waiting to act it out makes a huge difference.” Grady junior Annelise Hooper starred as Fantine in the 2011 production of Les Miserables at Cobb Children’s Theater and knows firsthand the freedom an actor has when able to perform a song live. “I think it was the best choice they could have made to put the actors in a situation where they are forcing themselves to feel what they should be portraying,” Hooper said. “[Recording live singing] allows them to act immediately on a certain phrase rather than having to stick to one track and a limited time space.” Hooper was initially skeptical of the

movie, but warmed to the film after learning about the production team’s groundbreaking ideas. The film finally opened in theaters in the United States on Dec. 25, attracting viewers across all demographics and breaking the record for the highest opening-day gross for a musical film. It received favorable reviews for the most part, critics most often singling out Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Anne Hathaway as Fantine for their performances. “I think that there are some things that can be done on screen that can’t be done on stage and vice versa; there are things they can’t do on screen,” Pope said. “For instance, I thought Anne Hathaway was brilliant. You could never get the intimacy of ‘I dreamed a dream’ like she had it on stage because it just doesn’t play across the lights. The audience isn’t there with her, and there’s so much emotion. I thought that it was great in that sense.” Les Miserables won three 2013 Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 13 and has been nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Hathaway) and Best Actor (Jackman). The film continues to attract viewers with its timeless tale of redemption, sacrifice, hope and love interwoven into music and history that brought the musical to such a high regard over the years. -Claire Hasson

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Samantha Barks (left), Hugh Jackman (top right and center), Anne Hathaway (bottom center), Amanda Seyfreid (bottom right), and Eddie Redmayne (bottom right) star as 19th-century French revolutionaries in the screen adaption of Les Miserables.

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Cirque Du Soleil stages one shell of a show

Two acrobats showcase their skills by combining strength and balance in a intricately choreographed foot juggling routine.

Canadian circus troupe puts on a stunning performance, wowing Atlantic Station audiences

irque Du Soleil, the popular Canadian entertainment company known for its dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment, returned to Big Top in Atlantic Station this past holiday season. Totem, the show that visited through Dec. 30, traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. Before the audience members’ eyes the characters evolve on a stage resembling a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations. Totem manages to shift between science and legend exploring the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential. It truly is a show that everyone must experience at least once. The company’s employees and artists represent more than 50 nationalities and speak 25 different languages, making the Quebec-based company a truly international one. Cirque Du Soleil seeks to evoke the imagination, invoke the senses and provoke the emotions of people around the world. With more than 20 shows to choose from you are sure to find a show that leaves you in awe as you depart from the “Big Top.” The Totem show has 12 unique acts including “The Scientist” inside his “laboratory.” As he steps into a transparent cone he juggles luminous balls, which represent planets chasing after each other in spiral orbits. After seeing this particular act I felt excited and amazed by the performers’ skill and dedication to create such an amazing show. Another act that left me awestruck was the fixed trapeze duo where two lovebirds play and sulk in an innocent game of seduction and eventually intertwine their bodies in a lighthearted vertical dance of fresh, unusual movements and lifts. Other acts include roller skaters that spin and whirl at heart-stopping speeds atop a tiny platform. There are Russian bars, a circus act which combines the gymnastic skills of the balance beam and the skills of the trampoline and the swing handstands skills of the uneven bars and the parallel bars, where artists display their strength, balance and acrobatic movements as they are launched into the air and fly weightlessly across one bar to another. Lastly, there is an act that incorporates unicycles and bowls, foot juggling, hoops dancers, devil sticks, and bars which will all leave you thrilled and wanting to go home and try it out for yourself. Depending on where you want to sit during the show, ticket prices can range anywhere from $40 to $140. The closer you are to the stage the better the experience will be because you the show envelopes you more the closer you are. The stage is set up so almost everyone is close enough to see the detail of the makeup of the performers and the intricacy of the costumes. The turtle shell that is on the stage when the show begins represents the earth and carries the entire weight of the world on its shell. At times during the show, the shell is raised to the top of the tent or opened at an angle like an enormous shell. The structure serves as decorative framework but also as acrobatic equipment for the performers. While Cirque Du Soleil just left Atlanta it comes almost every year for about two months, it is a show I would encourage everyone to go see. The performance is amazing and worth every cent that you spend. The performers work ridiculously hard to create a show that leaves the audience wanting more while telling a story that is unique and intriguing. It is a show you will never forget and will want to catch every time they are in town. -Valentina Makrides Photos courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil.

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Young Rapunxel lets down her hair Upcoming Harlem artist Azealia Banks redefines hip hop

Stepping on the scene with a strut of confidence, Azealia Banks has taken the hip-hop world by storm. Born and raised in Harlem, this diva, or self-proclaimed “Yung Rapunxel” brings a new flavor of urban high fashion to the game. Under the stage name Miss Bank$, she began recording and releasing tracks on the Internet in 2009. Banks later moved to Montreal, continuing her music pursuits by uploading demos for her YouTube audience. With the release of her single “212”, Banks established herself as an internation star on the rise. After leaving a permanent mark on the charts of the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands, Banks released her mixtape, Fantasea, which displays a cartoon of Banks in mermaid form. She also released her EP, 1991, which features “212” as well as her most popular single, “Van Vogue.” Banks offers a different type of

new-school rap accompanied by her lightly soulful voice. Banks seizes her listeners attention by her rapid speech and unforgiving use of profanity. With the street smarts of Nicki Minaj and fashionable class of Lady GaGa, Banks is sure to dominate

the charts for the considerable future. Already pushing her career forward, Banks has recorded two songs, “Ratchet” and “Red Flame”, with Lady GaGa that may be featured on Gaga’s expected album, ARTPOP. Banks has also collaborated with Kanye West on a track that did not make the final edition of G.O.O.D. Music’s album, Cruel Summer. Bank’s upcoming album, Broke With Expensive Taste, is due to drop on Feb. 12. The album will include a B-side, entitled “Miss Camaraderie,” and also her first single of the year, “Miss Amor.” Banks released a new single, “BBD” on Dec. 31, which is supposed to give her fans a “taste” of the approaching album. With one mixtape, one extended play and an upcoming album, Banks, on the verge of a breakout, is forcing herself into the music scene and commanding our attention. -Courtney Marshall

Macklemore takes a stand

Rapper’s recent single putting the rap on gay discrimination in America stirs up controversey The Seattle-based rapper Macklemore surprised the music industry by taking an unlikely stand. With the release of the single “Same Love” last year, he took a radical and controversial pro-gay-marriage stance and has addressed the cultural discrimination surrounding homosexuality. The song’s lyrics portray the experiences Macklemore has had surrounding homosexuality. In a web of masterfully concocted and well-formulated rhymes, he takes you through his insecure childhood of questioning his sexuality and his discovery that his two uncles had a gay relationship and suffered discrimination because of it. He addresses the preconceived notion that many religious affiliations have regarding the matter, saying that homosexuality is not a matter of choice, but rather something that is woven genetically into a person’s identity. The forward thinking behind this song is something the hip-hop industry has not seen in a long time. The resurgence of this style and a way of thinking is a throwback to past names in the industry like Andre 3000 and KRS-One. Macklemore has ingeniously expressed his political and moral opinions through a medium that will reach a wide audience seldom exposed to a tolerant point of view on this subject. Leading by example, Macklemore is changing the rap genre by using it as a universal tool of social change that can express radical ideas and opinions. And people will actually listen. Unfortunately, radical new ideas often face the 10 resistance of old ones. A Michigan schoolteacher

was suspended for playing the song for her students during class. I could not view the article to learn more, however, because the Atlanta Public Schools Internet server blocked the page, specifically citing one keyword on the page for the censorship: “gay.” Grady is located very near Midtown, a predominantly gay neighborhood in the city of Atlanta. Being so close to such acceptance has undoubtably dimmed discrimination at Grady, but because of this proximity, we sometimes fail to recognize the extreme tension this issue has caused elsewhere. Macklemore addresses America’s homophobia as an issue that that has left an entire nation apprehensive. He specifically describes the paradox of freedom in our society, a society that preaches free will and the ability to live out the American dream while so many still live under the shadow of social discrimination. The beauty of his song is the effect it has on people;s ways of thinking about an idea, which is what I firmly believe is the reason for making and listening to music. He is pushing for steps toward social tolerance for homosexuality, starting with a Constitutional Amendment legalizing gay marriage so that gay couples like his two uncles can get married. Acts of social activism like these facilitate the changes our country needs to make. “Same Love” is a melodic cry for marriage equality in the United States that questions the morals of our society. In one of the last verses of the song, Macklemore boldly and bluntly states his opinion, “No freedom ‘til we’re equal, damn right I support it.” -Luke Webster

Shows

Punch Brothers Jan. 31, Variety Playhouse Big Gigantic Feb. 1, Masquerade Big Head Todd and the Monsters Feb. 2, Buckhead Theatre Toro Y Moi Feb. 6, Masquerade Flogging Molly Feb. 9, The Tabernacle Fun. Feb. 15, The Tabernalce Dropkick Murphys March 4, The Tabernacle The Rocketboys March 6, Center Stage Aaron Carter March 13, Eddie’s Attic

Releases

Feb. 5—Josh Groban, All that Echoes Feb. 5—Jim James, Regions of Light and Sound of God Feb. 5—Unknown Mortal Orchestra, II Feb. 12—Azaelia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste Feb. 12—LL Cool J, Authentic Hip Hop Feb. 19—Beach Fossils, Clash the Truth March 5—Son Volt, Honkey Tonk March 12—Devendra Banhart, Mala

Truck full of country tracks Grady students flaunt their southern roots with their favorite country tunes

Carson Fleming, freshman

Olivia Veira, senior

“Cruise” -Florida Georgia Line “22” -Taylor Swift “I Almost Do” -Taylor Swift “I Ain’t In No Hurry” -Zac Brown Band

“Take a Back Road” -Rodney Atkins “Our Song” -Taylor Swift “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” -Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg “Toes” -Zac Brown Band

Sawyer Folks, senior “Feel That Again” -Jason Aldean “Springsteen” -Eric Church “These Are My People” -Rodney Atkins “Transcendental Blues” -Steve Earle

Kalyn Levens, sophomore

Zac Garrett, senior

Graham Ruder, junior

“Angel Eyes” -Love and Theft “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” -Luke Bryan “Hard to Love” -Lee Brice “Cowboys and Angels” -Dustin Lynch

“Country Boy” -Alan Jackson “Shiftwork” -Kenny Chesney “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” -Taylor Swift “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” -Alan Jackson

“Angels Fall Sometimes” -Josh Turner “Whiskey Lullaby” -Josh Turner feat. Grace Potter “Someone Else Callin’ You Baby” -Luke Bryan “Copperhead Road” -Steve Earl

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GK, GK, where’s our mascot?

Students believe the low levels of school spirit can be traced back to the lack of a costumed character to bring us together It’s Friday night and it’s 53 degrees outside; the stadium stairs are filled with anxious faces. The fans eagerly anticipate the next quarter of action and enjoy the pageantry of the halftime show. Halftime at a Friday night football game is school spirit at its finest: crowds cheering, cheerleaders boosting morale, band musicians playing their instruments and dancers pouring everything they’ve got into their routine. But at Grady on this and every Friday night, something is missing: the school mascot. Nothing can hype the crowd like a school mascot. “When I first came to Grady, we didn’t have any school spirit,” senior Abrahana James said. “I slowly started to see that change, but we still have a long way to go. We need a school mascot badly.” Certainly, pep rallies, announcements and promos can help to increase student support, but none of these promotional efforts offers the visual appeal a mascot would provide. A mascot could unify students of all grade levels and backgrounds with the common purpose of supporting the school. A mascot would singlehandedly spark school spirit and entice more students and community members to attend sporting events. “As a whole, I think our school could use a little help in the spirit department,” sophomore Chloe Irene said. “What better way to gain fans at a game than to have a mascot of our own?” For years a school mascot has been an unrealized dream for students who aspire to see increased school spirit. Students have implored school officials to establish a Grey Knight mascot. It has been a long and strenuous struggle, but the students and teachers have come closer than ever to obtaining a personalized Grady mascot. There, however, are still a few obstacles that stand in the way of Grady and finally creating a school mascot. Students have been working with Mr. Brandhorst to get a mascot for Grady. They are currently working on projects to raise funds for the mascot, which appears to be one of the largest obstacles at this time. They have $500 in waiting which they have received from the PSTA, but they are still in need of $1,000 to create the mascot. Mr. Brandhorst has left the task of raising the funds up to the seniors. It is critical to raise these funds because without them the school will not be able to afford the costs of creating the mascot. Raising funds, however, is only part of the problem. After the school has obtained the money necessary for the creation of the mascot, the school will still need a credible volunteer to perform as the school mascot. The school needs a dedicated committee to work on creating the mascot. These people can also help raise the money to buy the necessary materials, but they can not do it alone. Whether it is through donating money, contributing time to the cause, providing ideas or helping in other ways, students need to become active in the mascot-creating process if Grady expects to set precedence with their Knight mascot. A mascot is just what Grady needs to be the best that it can be, but students, teachers and administration need to step it up for the school to achieve this goal. 12 -Tia Borrego ©Real Characters,

One of four potential designs created by Tom Sapp of Real Characters for the Grady Knight mascot.

Inc.

A year of living dangerously close to a title For Atlanta sports fans, 2012 was a year of hope. The hope that the Braves would go deep into the playoffs, the hope that the Dirty Birds would stay perfect and the hope that the Bulldogs could sneak into the BCS championship. The difference last year was that hope. The chance of an Atlanta team going all the way makes the average citizens rise up and creates a stir in our city. Nobody cares about second place in the division but when playoffs are mentioned, Atlanta fans suddenly pop up wearing shiny new player jerseys. Give them a mirror and these “fans” may be able to tell you the player’s number and last name, but they have no clue what position he plays. Dedicated fans call these newbies bandwagon fans but in their defense, who wants to watch a bunch of losers? On the night of the National League wild card game, Atlanta fans at Turner Field displayed their passion for the Braves. The infamous infield fly call that extinguished any hope of a Braves win pushed fans to throw bottles on to the field. As a witness to the game that night, I can attest that it was the most passionate reaction I have ever seen from a Braves crowd. Chipper Jones would say after the game that he has never seen so much “fire” from an Atlanta crowd but didn’t blame the loss on the call. The fans did though. To them it was an unfair end to a great season. The game was delayed 19 minutes as fans threw bottles on the field in open revolt. Many people around the country looked down on Atlanta fans for their behavior. Braves fans acted like “New York Fans,” Buck Belue of 680 AM lamented. Baseball fans are not used to playoff series being reduced to one game. With an entire season and Chipper Jones’ career on the line, what did they expect, “Good game Cardinals. Hope you win the World Series again.”? While the Braves descended, the Falcons soared. Led by Matt Ryan, the Falcons started off 2012 with eight straight wins. The commentators on ESPN SportsCenter refused to give the Atlanta football team any credit for how they played at the start of the season, claiming the Falcons

had not played any talented teams. That tune changed however on Dec. 16 when the Falcons shut out Eli Manning and the Giants. Crushing the defending champions 34-0 was plenty for Atlanta fans to rally behind. Also, in 2012, voters approved the construction of a new Falcons stadium by 2017. With the Dirty Birds nesting in the No. 1 playoff seed, there could not be a better time to ask Atlanta to support a new nest for the Falcons. Excitement over the winning season could drive the project along. The Falcons current home was the site of the SEC championship between Georgia and Alabama. The University of Georgia football team, while not based in the city, has a loyal following in Atlanta. During the 2012 season the Bulldogs won every game between the hedges in Athens. The hard-fought game against Alabama was one of the best in SEC history. Even though the Crimson Tide prevailed on the game’s final play, there is no denying how well the Dawgs played in 2012. In fact, some question the BCS rankings and suggest Georgia should have been ranked higher than Notre Dame due to the superior competition the Dawgs faced during the season. Without a doubt, the team provided yet another team for Atlanta to celebrate. Grady alumn Damian Swann starts on defense for UGA and ended a strong season with two interceptions in the Capital One Bowl win over Nebraska. Many Grady students watch Georgia games to see how Swann plays at the next level. The Hawks, Georgia Tech or the Silverbacks (Atlanta’s pro soccer team) were not forgotten, but the Braves, Falcons and Bulldogs created the biggest stir in 2012. Atlanta teams have been pretty dormant since the Braves took it all in 1995, and Falcons almost did in 1998, but 2012 was different. Atlanta enters 2013 hungry for more playoffs success. With passionate fans behind them, the hometown teams have a fighting chance next season. -Peter Mastin

Uncovering Gradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Identity

Individually we are different, we know. But how are we different? Nexus strives to find out in this issue.

Justin s

me a n r a l u p t po s o m s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; y Grad Pictured in photo illustration: Abby Orlansky, Troy Hightower, Lauren Ogg, Lauren Meadows, Emily Ferris, Mary Condolora, Ronnie Perez, Chris Williams, Luke Paddock, Eli Jordan, Sawyer Folks, Zachary Garrett, J.D. Capelouto

Photo illustration by Kate Taber

Gra y

Jasmine

James

Christopher

We bst er

Morgan

Malik

Photo by Luke

Brianna

Robert

Ashley

David

Grace

Alexander

William

Taylor

Where there’s a Will, there’s a Zack Coming-of-age tales are told again and again, mostly because coming of age is something that everyone experiences, but each one of these tales makes the same thing clear; all teenagers want is to find themselves. And, what’s the one thing that is designed to differentiate you from everyone else: your name. Sadly names often fail in this important task, merging people with shared names into a shared identity that is neither unique nor accurate. Many have experienced this particular brand of mistaken identity (some more than others): you hear your name called but when you respond they say, “No, the other one,” or you get a, “Hey, I heard you…” but it wasn’t you they were addressing; it was the other one. Though the days of John and Sally, and mob movies where everyone is named Michael seem to be mostly over, some first names are still ubiquitous, and it’s still just as confusing. To determine what’s in a name at Grady Ms. Holland, in the registrars office, provided Nexus a complete first-name roster of the entire school. The list is not entirely accurate as students who live with one parent and have a sibling (who also attends Grady) who lives with their other parent appear twice. This discrepancy would cause some names to appear repeated that really only belong to one student, but the number is small out of the total so the data provided is relatively accurate.

“Well in one class there are three Zack’s* and Mr. Cramer knows it, so he just yells Zack, and we all have to look up. It’s kind of annoying.” senior Zachary Caldwell said. There are six Zachary’s enrolled here, so having three in one class is unlikely but clearly possible. Even if your name isn’t Zachary, there is a chance that you have been stuck with your alter ego once or twice. Even Montavious can’t escape the possibility of a mistaken identity because there is a Montavius at Grady, too. What is a regular Joe (or Montavious) to do when confronted with his peer by the same name? “Back sophomore year, I hung out with a bunch of different David’s so there was a black David, a skinny David, a tall David and a fat David.” senior David Carlock said. While short physical identifiers may help distinguish name sharers, there are probably only a few adjectives that people would wish to have placed forever in front of their names. “I’m just awesome so I always stand out,” junior William Starr said. That’s good for him because there are eight Williams, one Will, and one Willy enrolled at Grady. Perhaps it isn’t that unpleasant to be one of three or four, but how about being one of nine as is the case with the Christopher’s, Malik’s and Morgan’s at Grady. Maybe we could all go by our social security number. There would be no overlap, and we would get to scoff at those old-school foreigners who still have letters in their names. To avoid

the serious safety concerns of that method, some parents just add one or two letters in front of a common name. Anthony became D’Anthony for example, but any simple solution to name overlap is thwarted once it becomes a trend. There are already four Deandre’s at Grady. Using names already in existence has left many Grady students with more alternates than they would like. So some parents invented names in the hope that no one else would have the same moniker. There is even one student at Grady named Iamunique. Creating names allows their owner to avoid blending in, but first name ingenuity comes with its own unique problems, like frequent mispronunciation and awkward introductions and interviews. “I don’t think I’ve ever met another person my own age named Leslie, and sometimes I feel like it’s kind of outdated, but I think its cool that it’s unique without being crazy.” junior Leslie Lang said. “I’m the only Lana at the three schools I’ve been to,” senior Lana Lovette said. When Lovette made this statement, her voice emitted happiness and even got a little high-pitched. She clearly thought that never being told “No, the other one” was a desired outcome. The consensus among the unique appears to be to be that those with common names are just missing out. -Laura Streib *or maybe their names are Zac or Zach

Do you go according to script ? When you sign your name, you’re doing more than just giving your authorization or agreeing to terms. You are writing down an encrypted code that can unlock all the characteristics that make up your personality. Our signatures develop through years of practice, technique and form. Our elementary school teachers help us to write letters in cursive and connect them together to form words and names; however, they never teach us the importance of our cursive handwriting. Why can we not just write in print? Or use Times New Roman stamps just to mark our names? What they neglect to tell you is that the way you write says a lot about you as an individual. It can tell about your reliability, your comfort level, your social activity, how you operate, who you fit in with, and more than you are trying to express. In my AP Psychology class, one of the first things we learned about was graphology, the study of handwriting. We were asked to write a statement in cursive and then ask another classmate to analyze and “grade” our handwriting, basically coming up with a personality profile based on our script. Little did I know that someone could tell whay my insecurity level was just by how hard I press my pen on the paper. Who would have thought that just by the way I space my lines betrays approach my life? It’s important to understand how your handwriting reveals your personality. Though only few companies still ask for hand-written resumes, those companies get the sample. What you don’t say in your interview may be revealed in your handwriting. You should do a self analysis of your own handwriting. The analysis works best when you write in cursive. How long has it been since we’ve all written in cursive? Try writing the alphabet once or twice just to brush up on your cursive, then, write this statement: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” Write the whole statement in cursive and use the rubric to complete your evaluation. If you still aren’t that good with cursive, try just writing a moderate signature. If all else fails, write in print. Have fun with this; even though what you find out may not be the most positive, chances are, there is some truth in it. So learn from this experience of really understanding yourself. It can be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. It may make you look at certain people or yourself in a whole new light. -Courtney Marshall 16

Your face here

Christina Conner

The omitted dot above your “j” shows that you can be careless and forgetful. The dot above your “i” is dotted, indicating you’re are a very thoughtful person. Your lowercase central letters are rounded which suggest you are interested in the lives of other people. Your letters have no slant, and they are drawn upright, which indicates your personality is not motivated by the people around you. Your complete written sentence sags downward on the right, which suggests mental or physical weariness. Your words are evenly and regularly spaced, which shows an artistic spatially aware person.

“I agree with my analysis; I think it describes me very well.”

Aliyah Dumas

Do-it-yourself Handwriting Analysis Write the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” in cursive in the space provided above. Use the rubric below to analyze what your handwriting says about you.

Size

Pen Pressure

Small handwriting usually suggests the writer is a scholar or a detailed, technical thinker. If the writing is small and delicate, the writer probably communicates well only with people who share her interests and disciplines. Writers with small handwriting do not generally find it easy to break new ground socially.

Light pressure shows sensitivity to atmosphere and empathy to people. Uneven pressure, however, may convey a lack of vitality. These writers may also exhibit close-mindedness or stubbornness.

Large handwriting can indicate an outgoing personality, or it can mean that the writer acts confidently in front of friends in a way that she doesn’t act in front of strangers or when alone. Large rounded and dominant letters indicate that the writer is friendly and sociable.

Slant

A right slant indicates the writer may wish to be friendly, manipulative, responsive, intrusive, persuasive, controlling, loving or supportive. A forward slant reveals that the writer is very social. Letters with no slant and upright strokes convey independence. The writer of upright letters is motivated by factors other than the people around her.

When you wrote the words “quick” and “jumps,” you omitted the dots on your “i,” and “j,” which means you can be forgetful and careless. You consistently close your “e’s” and other central letters, which indicates secrecy. In the word “jumps” your “s” is noticeably spaced from the rest of the word, which suggests independence. The overall body of the sentence slightly raises on the right which says you are a cheerful and optimistic. Your handwriting is relatively small, which shows evidence of a technical personality. Your letters, therefore your words, have a slight forward stroke which show an extraverted personality.

“I agree with the analysis. I felt surprised that it was accurate. I didn’t expect it to be close to how I am.”

A left slant indicates that the writer is sensitive and reserved. She is true to herself first and can be resentful if others demand more commitment from her. A backwards slant may indicate the writer is shy and reclusive.

Word Spacing

Wide spaces between words indicate the writer needs space and prefers time alone. She is comfortable alone and may even distrust others. Narrow spaces between words indicate a wish to be with others, but such writers may also crowd people and interject themselves into unwelcoming social groups or scenes. Regular spacing between words Indicates artistic talent and awareness. This writer also is equally comfortable alone or in the presence of others.

Line Slope

If the slope of the handwriting rises from left to right, the writer is most likely optimistic and cheerful. If the slope of the handwriting sinks from left to right, the writer may be physically or mentally fatigued.

Heavy pressure on paper can indicate commitment and seriousness of purpose; however, if the pressure is excessive, the writer may be stressed out or overly sensitive to criticism, even where she is not being criticized. These writers frequently react first and ask questions afterwards.

Other Handwriting Indicators:

 If the writer pulls her lower loops (the loops on descenders like p’s, q’s and y’s) to the right, then she is interested in the welfare of others.  If she pulls her uppercase letters to the left, then she has a strong sense of nostalgia.  If she pulls her lower loops to the left, then she has a strong sense of physical fulfillment.  If she closes the loops on her e’s tightly, then the writer prefers secrecy.  If she writes her s’s so that they stand alone and are fully formed, then she is independent.  If she fails to connect her case letters (letters without ascenders or descenders like a, c, e, m, n, o) or leaves them unfinished, then she has a casual nature or is prone to gossip. If she rounds out the edges of her central case letters, then she is interested in the welfare of others.  If she composes her loops with harsh angles, then she is potentially a difficult character.  If she crosses multiple t’s with a single line, then she is a quick thinker.  If she neglects to dot her i’s or to cross her t’s, then she is forgetful or careless.  The way she dots her i’s can also reveal a lot about her. A dot directly above or close to the i Indicates she is exacting. A dot ahead of the i means she has an active mind. A flicked dot indicates she has a highly developed sense of humor. A dot placed behind the i indicates she is thoughtful. Sources consulted: Bart A. Baggett “Quick Reference Guide for Beginners” http://www. streamingvideotutorials.com/101media/pdf_files/reference.pdf Elaine Quigley “Graphology- handwriting analysis” http://www. businessballs.com/graphologyhandwritinganalysis.htm

Your face here

Christina Conner

“I agree with my analysis; I think it describes me very well.”

Aliyah Dumas

Size

Pen Pressure

Light pressure shows sensitivity to atmosphere and empathy to people. Uneven pressure, however, may convey a lack of vitality. These writers may also exhibit close-mindedness or stubbornness.

Slant

“I agree with the analysis. I felt surprised that it was accurate. I didn’t expect it to be close to how I am.”

Word Spacing

Line Slope

Other Handwriting Indicators:

Grady grad goes around the globe From Europe to South America, a 2001 Grady alum travels the world teaching the English language to school children

Eleven years after he walked the halls of Grady High School Jeremy Senterfitt, 29, wakes up every morning in the tropical city of Arequipa, Peru, to teach English at local private schools. Peru has been only one of his many international destinations where his exciting job has taken him. “I decided to work abroad because I have always loved to travel and see different places,” Senterfitt said. After passing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course, the class of 2001 alum has worked for private schools in Greece, Sudan, Ethiopia and Peru teaching English to school-age children, from third-graders to 12th-graders with a few college-age students thrown in for good measure. Senterfitt has realized that people all over the world generally exhibit the same behaviors. “Whether in Africa, Europe, South America or the USA, my experience is that most people just want to live a normal life, get a good job, spend time with friends and family and enjoy life,” Senterfitt said. While the cultures are essentially similar, they also have their fair share of differences. While he was in Sudan, he lived under Sharia, or Islamic

Senterfitt takes a snapshot in Peru with Lake Titicaca in the background.

law, meaning alcohol was illegal, and all secular activity stopped multiple times per day for prayer time. In other developing countries he visited, it was very common to see livestock such as cows and sheep wandering through busy streets of major cities. Public transportation in many developing countries has also proven to be very different, making Senterfitt long for the familiar MARTA buses of Atlanta. Since Senterfitt does not drive a car, he has found himself packed into buses filled to the brim with people and animals. “There have also been some scary moments, as traffic laws aren’t really enforced, so people drive like maniacs, but thank God, I haven’t been in any accidents,” he said. He has experienced some mechanical issues with the bus system, once getting stranded in the middle of the barren Sahara Desert. But not all of the cultural differences have been for the worse. Senterfitt’s favorite country so far has been Ethiopia. “The Ethiopian people are very hospitable, and I even spent one Easter in a small mountain town with one of my Ethiopian friends.” On Easter morning, the family slaughtered, cleaned and cooked one of its finest sheep. He had the rare chance to try raw sheep heart, considered an Ethiopian delicacy. “It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible, and you can’t say no when you’re in another person’s home.” Senterfitt’s experience at Grady prepared him for his new lifestyle. Not only did he work on the GNN staff as an anchor, but he made friends with different people from many different backgrounds and places around the city. “Grady taught me to

accept and appreciate people different than me and that has certainly helped [me] as I have traveled around the world.” Experiencing many different cultures has shaped Senterfitt as a person. By learning so much about how people live in other parts of the world, he has gained a new appreciation for American life. “It has helped me realize how fortunate we are in the USA and how much better our standard of living is than most of the world.” What is next for the global traveler? Currently, Senterfitt is in Arequipa, Peru, balancing Spanish lessons and his English teaching job at a neighborhood private school during the week and going out with friends and traveling on weekends. Whatever he does next, he looks to continue exploring the world and helping others. “I have learned so much about how people live in different parts of the world, which has really made my life more interesting.” -Luke Webster

The Grady grad poses at Balos, a beautiful beach on Crete, a Greek island.

In northern Sudan, Senterfitt visits an ancient temple from the Kush Empire with his friend Amar. Senterfitt stands before Nechisar National Park in southern Ethiopia.

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Senterfitt

One part barista F

In his senior year, Davies became inspired or the past few years, senior from a family member who had been brewing on their Cole Davies has been continuously experimenting in the own for years. He also gives recognition to Jimmy Carter, field of culinary arts. He has developed a passion for who made it legal during his presidency. making edible treats and likes to venture into new ways The entire brewing process takes up to three hours. of cooking, baking and brewing when he has the time. Brewers, like Davies and his relatives, His practice began in eighth grade take malted barley, which is germinated with an apprenticeship at Steady cereal grain that has been dried out in Hand Pour House, a coffee and tea a kilning process, and they grind it and shop in Emory Village. He learned steep it in hot water to create wort. Wort how to make tea and coffee drinks is a sweet liquid precursor to beer. The and quickly became interested in wort is then boiled in a kettle for about making them visually pleasing for an hour, with hops, a flavoring plant used the customer. in all beer, added at different intervals. Latte art is the act of pouring The liquid is cooled as quickly as steamed milk into a shot of possible, then added to a fermentor with espresso, or coffee and creating yeast. The yeast turns the fermentable delicate patterns or images in the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide drink. Davies enjoys making new over the course of about a week. designs for customers while at Once the beer is ready, Davies spends work on the weekends but doesn’t several days bottling the raw liquid take the time to make coffee for his family members at home. Davies holds up a bag of peach-spiced hops which adding sugar along the way. Once is added during the brewing process to add flavor. the bottles are capped, the yeast Instead, Davies indulges in a carbonates the brew. It is up to the more eccentric hobby: brewing brewer to decide what malts, hops and yeast to use, and distilling his own beer. He follows the careful process among other variables. under the company of his older family members but “My favorite part of brewing is being done, watching the enjoys doing most of the work on his own. beer bubble away in the fermentor, and writing up new “To find the right measurements for the perfect brews recipes,” Davies said. of coffee and beer alike, I follow the same “Making a career out of this would be systematic measurements.” nice,” Davies said. “The craft beer The flavor and strength of industry is really blowing up a brew depend on the right now, and Atlanta is amount of water mixed home to many creative in, the temperature of brewers and beer the mixture while geeks.” brewing, and the -Nara Smith amount of time you let it steep.

part brew e n er O

Davies photo by Nara Smith

Present and future go hand in hand: What does your palm say about you?

The distant future may seem, well, distant, but chirologists and career planners alike would have you believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the palms of your hands. Chirology, generally considered a much more esoteric pastime than career planning, is also known as chiromancy, palmistry or palm reading. This ancient art of divination was already old news by the time of Alexander the Great, who was rumored to have read the palms of his officers to determine his odds before sending them off to battle. The early history and lore of palmistry touches on several cultures, from East Asia, to the Middle East, and all the way into Europe, but it is believed to have originated in India. The techniques of palmistry have evolved and diverged over the course of millennia, but the following is a simple guide to divining your future using a common approach. James Moy Instructions via WikiHow

Lateral

Hand Shape:

Traits of the hand itself can tell you about your own personality. Hands with long, wide-knuckled fingers and low-set thumbs belong to the witty, abstract and sociable. Elongated palms with tapered fingers characterize perceptive and creative introverts. Shorter fingers on a rectangular palm accompany impulsiveness, extroversion and energy. Wide, rough and square palms often belong to steadfast, practical and responsible individuals.

The Head Line indicates

the ways you tend to learn, think and communicate. A straight line points toward someone who is structured, organized and logical, whereas a line with more waves characterizes someone who is spontaneous and creative. People with longer head lines place a high value on intellectual achievements, and a deeper line indicates someone who is clear and focused.

The Heart Line tells you about the role your emotions play in your life. If the line is straight and distinct, it indicates a person with a strong handle on his or her feelings and love life. A wavier line points to someone who is open and affectionate. The farther toward your index finger the line stretches, the more consistent and stable you are.

The Life Line

does not indicate how long you will live, but the way it behaves can indicate certain things about your lifestyle. A line that runs closer to the thumb may characterize someone who is cautious and patient, while a wider arc indicates enthusiasm. Deep, wavy or extra concentric life lines point toward vivacity. Breaks or changes in the line may coincide with sudden lifestyle changes or meaningful events.

Are you right-handed or left-handed? If you are right-handed, divining your right hand will tell you about your past and present, and divining your left hand will tell you about your future. If you are left-handed, it is the other way around.

The Fate Line can tell you how much your destiny is subject to forces beyond your control. Not everyone has this line, and its presence and clarity means your life may be more shaped by outside forces. Its proximity to your life line could indicate someone with strong convictions or aspirations, and waves or changes in direction correspond to a life with different twists and turns. Illustrations and design by James Moy

II I I II I I II III I I I IIIIIIIIIII

Grady Drivers Education: What does your car say about you? E

Mar’Quel West, senior

Tucker Lancaster, junior 1997 Ford Ranger “It may not be the hottest rod on the lot, but it gets the job done. It runs like a dream, gets pretty good mileage and has plenty of cargo space. Also because when you drive up, people know it’s you.”

“I like my car because of the bass, and it reflects how I’m very sophisticated.”

2003 Mercedes Benz E320 AMG

Charlie Menefee, junior 1991 Chevy 20 van “I like my car because it is unique and it works well for my life. It has a lot of room so I can fit all my friends in it. I like creeping on people and it’s perfect for that. It makes building various things easier. I also hope to go on road trips with it one day.”

Ciena Leshley, senior 2005 Volkswagon convertible Beetle “People say that my car shows that I’m not afraid to show my inner personality.”

Emily Ferris, junior 1997 Chevrolet Suburban “I like my car because everyone can fit in it and it’s different from everyone else’s.” Interviews and photos by Mallory McFarlin and Kelsey Woods

cu is in e

GRADY

Chef Cathy Conway and daughter Lily Trapkin

For constant caterer, all you need is food love A mother of two and owner of Avalon Catering, Cathy Conway is a busy woman on a mission. Grady students and friends of senior Lily Trapkin are familiar with her mother Cathy, most associating her with her amazing catered meals for Grady proms and other events such as “A Taste of Grady.” At 12 years old, Conway baked her first cake by herself, sparking her lifelong interest in cooking and her love for food. She began to finish preparing meals for her mother because her mother worked a lot, and soon she just began cooking full meals from scratch. After she earned a bachelor’s degree in food science, Conway began Avalon Catering in 1992, when her first daughter Madison was about 5 months old. She was working for another catering company at the time, but wanted more freedom. On average, Avalon caters around 8-10 events a week, most often weddings. Cathy is all about locally grown foods and that’s what makes her catering and food so unique. Her fresh and local ingredients make an appearance in every meal. The carefully prepared meals and beautiful presentations make every event or home-cooked dinner feel special. “She has this constant drive to explore everything: new food, new hiking trails, new travel destinations, new everything,” said her daughter Madison, 20. “I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed her pass up an opportunity to do something spontaneous.” There is always something to Cathy’s cooking that makes it personal and tasty. “She could be cooking pho for dinner or whipping up some butternut squash risotto, and I’d still know she made it as soon as I tasted it.” Cathy works 60 hours a week, and despite her busy hours, she still finds time to cook dinner most every night for her family, which includes her husband Steve and daughter Lily. Madison mentioned that as a high school student she would get frustrated when dinners weren’t ready after 8:30 p.m., a little later than the typical family dinner, but now she realizes it’s because of the time her mother puts into each meal. “My mom’s style of cooking is best described as food love,” she said. “I’m not kidding when I say she cares about every dish she makes, and I like to think that’s because she genuinely cares about everyone she’s cooking it for.” -Abby Orlansky

Left: Conway sets up freshly cooked greens for tasting table at an outdoor food event. Middle: Daughter Lily and sister Elaine help Conway prepare a Thanksgiving feast. Right: After a day of work, Conway comes home to make a home-cooked dinner for her family.

Café success has been no cake walk As I approached the canary yellow and plum purple house, the sweet smell of cakes, flavored popcorn and brownies wafted to my nose. I entered the sweet shop and was immediately greeted by the warm smile of Ardra Tippet, the owner of Cake Café and the mother of senior Nia Tippet. Originally from the Midwest, Tippet began baking when she was in her seventhgrade cooking class in school, but she did not intend to follow the culinary path. Prior to opening Cake Café in 2008, the St. Louis native owned several businesses, including a tax and accounting office, a Sprint dealership, a real estate company and a travel agency. “When I got older and frustrated with not being fulfilled, I decided to do something I had been doing for free, and I had been baking for free all of my life,” Tippet said. “So, I turned my hobby into a career.” Tippet believes the success of her business was due to her magnanimous character and superior customer service. The original café is located in Decatur. There is a second location on Peachtree Street in Buckhead and a sub-location in The Atlanta Museum Bar. The sweet shop is also gaining popularity through an upcoming reality TV show focusing on the challenges Tippet experiences as a single African-American mother and an entrepreneur. Although the show has not been picked up yet, TV1 and Bounce TV are showing great interest in it. “This [the TV show] is about caring for people and being somewhat of a role model because grownups need role models, too,” Tippet said. Cake Café has catered for several well-known people including President Barack Obama, Georgia representatives Hank Johnson and Stan Watson, rappers Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Wacka Flacka, Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kandi Buruss, and Mayor Kasim Reed, just to name a few. The road to success has not been easy for Tippet. Her greatest challenge has been finding and then leading loyal employees. “Leading is not befriending,” Tippet said. “It’s like being a parent. You can be friendly with your child, but you can’t be their friend. You have to be loving but firm, and there are boundaries.” Tippet’s future plans for Cake Café include owning a chain of dessert/sweet shops as well as a dessert and jazz café. She also plans to be an author and a motivational speaker. “I want to encourage people to be fulfilled and satisfied with where they are,” Tippet said. “People are worried about dreams and destinations and don’t enjoy the journey. I want people to enjoy the journey.” -Jakara Griffin Photos by Jakara Griffin Left: The canary and purple house transformed into a bakery stands proudly as the headquarters of Cake Café. Middle: St. Loius native, Adra Tippet, preparing to sell her famous gormet popcorn to a customer. Right: Imitation of cupcakes are displayed for customers to chose their favorite flavor.

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GRADY

Cafe brings European Highlands to our’s, minus the cows

Quaintly situated between Freedom Park and North Avenue, Babette’s Cafe has enjoyed a steady flow of Atlantans through its doors for 20 years. The rustic European eatery may seem out of place among its company on the block: a gas station, a dry cleaners and an eclectic book store, but having served countless Atlantans, Babette’s menu has certainly earned its place among the city’s finest cuisine. The historic bungalow, incidentally, belongs not to Babette, but to Marla Adams. Although raised in Turkey and Iraq, Adams grew fond of the versatile classic French culinary technique during her visits to Europe. After working in bakeries, hotels and restaurants of varying sizes, and reaching a glass ceiling, Adams decided to incorporate her experience in the food service industry with the flavors of her worldly childhood by opening her own restaurant. “I wanted to create food that you would have in someone’s home in the European countryside,” Adams said, “something casual, delicious and local.” From years of experience, she has found the small restaurants to be the most rewarding. Not far from the cafe’s current location, she purchased a small storefront. Her inspiration for the name and unique

style of the café came from a 1987 Danish film. “Babette’s Feast was a film and a short story of the power and grace of a meal that can bring together a group of people,” Adams said. The preexisting feel of the storefront fit well with the style of Babette’s Feast, which was set in 19th-century Denmark. Adams reflects that the intimacy of a small restaurant is what has attracted many of her clientele. “They come to be taken care of, served comfortable food that is delicious and with a medium price point,” she said. While the rustic façade may clash with the buzzing neon signs of Manuel’s Tavern, located across North Highland, the location has been like a second home for senior Mona Adams. Daughter to Marla Adams, Mona long ago grew acustomed to spending late nights at the restaurant. “It made me grow up really fast,” Adams said. “I was around a lot of adults throughout my childhood.” Although independent now that she is in high school,

Adams still returns to the café to help out by hostessing or bussing tables. The flexible hours have helped her squeeze time to work into her busy schedule of dance rehearsals, homework and college applications. The job pays wages of a different kind as it returns her to a part of her childhood. “My mom is lenient with students because school should always come first,” Adams said. The cafe has become something more than simply a job for her mother as well. “Babette’s has become her own person within the community,” Marla Adams said. “She is a business which employs people, pays taxes, cleans up the park. But she also takes out the trash, donates to causes, buys things, changes light bulbs and goes to neighborhood events. And of course, welcomes people into her home.” -James Moy

Photos courtesy of Marla Adams and Mona Adams

Left: Marla enjoys a day in Venice with her daughter Mona. It is through her European travels that Adams cultivated the culinary style and decor of Babette’s. Center: Babette’s recently celebrated its 20th anniversary by creating a special logo to commenorate the occasion. For the new year it was redesigned to prepare for another 20 years. Right: With its rustic European style, Babette’s Cafe doesn’t fit in with the other businesses on the street. It looks like its neighbors should be quaint European homes instead of a dry cleaners and a gas station. 24

Two Urban Licks worthy of countless urban likes

All photos by Kelsey Woods

Hidden in Old Fourth Ward, along the BeltLine is one of the hippest restaurants in Atlanta. When you walk through the doors, you are immediately overcome by the aroma of the open kitchen and the dark intimate setting of the restaurant. Perfect for private receptions, a family dinner or a fun night out, Two Urban Licks caters to any event. In addition to an intimate indoor atmosphere, the restauant also features an open outdoor seating area, right off the BeltLine, that includes a beautiful view of the city. As soon as I was seated, I was introduced to my friendly waiter. He brought over some delicious bread accompanied with a savory chili sauce. The menu contained a variety of delicious appetizers and entrees. The prices ranged anywhere from $10 to $30, but

the food was worth every penny. I decided to order the brisket empanadas which I would highly recommend. They were topped with feta cheese and salsa and filled with delicious brisket and cheese. Another great choice is The Big Ass Burger, covered with cheese and bacon and served with three huge onion rings. As soon as you bite into it, juices fill your mouth and you immediately taste the smoky burger. Other menu items included salmon chips, a BBQ sandwich or a steak. Two Urban Licks is one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. With a great atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong eating here. Also, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just end your meal with a check; you also get lollipops where the restaurant derives its name: Two Urban Licks. -Kelsey Woods

Urban

TWO

Clockise from top left: The ambient lighting and natural decor welcome hungry customers; aprropriately named, the Big Ass Burger contains so much beef, bacon, and cheddar cheese that a skewer is needed to hold it together; these empanadas are filled with hearty brisket and topped with fresh pico de gallo and feta cheese; warm bread starts off each table with a sneak peek at the delicious food.

LICKS

820 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE Atlanta, GA 30306 404-522-4622

820 Ralph McGill Blvd NE Atlanta, GA 30306 404-522-4622

re tu co u

No farewell for UrbanCouture

A senior fashion design student and the new fashion teacher share the paths that led them to the same destination Life’s journey brings Williams to Grady

New fashion mentor is sew amazing When I walked into the fashion room on the first day of school this year, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My schedule told me that my Fibers 3 teacher was a “Ms. Wright.” I soon discovered that there was no teacher by the name of Ms. Wright, but a substitute named Ms. Wilson. She, just like everyone else in the class, had no information about the fashion program or the teacher. Mr. Brandhorst informed students in the fashion class that he was working on interviewing teachers, but there was not a confirmed date when a permanent teacher would arrive to replace Mr. Martinez. Meanwhile, we tried to tackle the daunting task of cleaning the fashion room, which was filled with all sorts of patterns, fabric and strange miscellaneous items from the past 10 years. Some of us started sketching out our collections but met a stopping point when we had no materials to begin construction of our garments. After weeks without a teacher, there was a rumor among the senior designers that the school had finally hired someone to fill the position. We did have a teacher; she even came to the model casting, but a few days after meeting her we found out that human resources had denied her transfer from another school. A few weeks later, a woman by

the name of Ms. Williams was hired. Ms. Williams has had a smile on her face since I met her, and she has been extremely helpful in the process of creating my collection. She always has an answer to my questions and knows how to execute any garment that any of the senior designers has sketched. She knows about everything, from costume design to fabric manipulation. Although our new mentor has high standards for the senior design class, I know that she will be there every step of the way to help us. There was a lot of doubt at the beginning of the year of not having an UrbanCouture fashion show in May, but I am ecstatic to say that students can look forward to one this year. I was upset to see Mr. Martinez resign last year, because I thought his departure meant the end of UrbanCouture and the senior design program. I am more than delighted that my dream has come true and that I can say, “I’m a designer, not just a model, in UrbanCouture.” Senior design holds a lot of challenges for me this year, but I feel prepared after having gone through three years of fibers classes and having Ms. Williams as a mentor. I know that there will be times when I will just want to give up and chuck my sewing machine out the window; however, I know I will make it through and produce the collection I have envisioned for the past three years. Senior design, ready or not, here I come. -Mckenzie Taylor

UC 26

Lily os by Phot

I aspire to inspire! At the end of the day that is my goal. Apparently somewhere there is a radical notion that doing what you love as a career is an outmoded idea. Having the gumption and audacity to pursue that thing or things you are passionate about is somehow cheating the system of 9-to-5’ers and whitepicket-fence seekers. My journey to Grady had been littered with stones that I continue to stub my toe on. I have been fortunate enough to always have careers I loved enough to do for free (but didn’t have to!). I can trace my paths as a costume designer for theatre and dance; a product designer; a college professor; a peace corps volunteer in Ghana, West Africa; a published author; a poet; a visual artist; a children’s book illustrator, and most important job of all, a mother to my sons. Often people ask me curiously what do I NOT do. I usually laugh and respond that I haven’t figured that out yet! I am not vain or pompous but passionately curious about life and all its lessons. When you seek to find knowledge it shows up along with the proper teacher. I will always be a student of the world and this pathway that has led me to Grady is allowing me to embark on a new journey. And though I am here to teach, I fully understand that through my students here, the lesson may just be mine. Sometimes to be the best teacher, you must learn to be the student first. In the words of cartoonist Scott Adams, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” -Ms. Valerie Williams

in Trapk

Senior Style Profiles

Rod Contreras

Jolie Jones

Do you have a style icon? “Mostly [my style icon] goes with my philosophy about how I want to be: different from others. And Hawaiian shirts look so awesome so…” What are your favorite stores to shop at? “Thrift stores and the Polo store.” What does your favorite outfit include? “My favorite red Hawaiian shirt, Polo socks, Polo shoes, Polo khaki pants and a straw hat.” What style do you hate the most? “Hipsters and people who follow other people’s [style].” Do you think your style stands out amongst your peers? How? “I think so, because no one else wears straw hats.”

Do you have a style icon? “My style icons are the Kardashian sisters and my own sister.” What are your favorite stores to shop at? “I shop at Last Chance thrift store and the mall.” What does your favorite outfit include? “Boots complete my outfit.” What style do you hate the most? “I hate high-water pants.” Do you think your style stands out amongst your peers? How? “I think my style stands out, but my friends and I usually end up wearing similar stuff because we spend so much time together.” Interviews and photos by Devina Jones-Vargas

DIY: Dip-Dye Hair

Materials:

Steps: 1) Figure out how many inches of hair you would like to dye, and then separate your hair into at least four sections. 2) If your hair is already a light blonde, skip this step, but if your hair is darker, use a bleaching kit to lighten the hair you would like to dip dye. (Follow the instructions for the bleaching kit you buy.) 3) After bleaching, separate your hair flat over your back. Put on your gloves and begin to squeeze the color dye into the palm of your hand. 4) Using the paintbrush, paint the dye onto your hair. 5) Make sure you cover every section to ensure that there are no blonde streaks. 6) After the color sits for about 20 minutes, wash it out. 7) For best results dry your hair with a hairdryer after you rinse it because the heat will make it last longer. 8) Depending on what type of dye you buy, the color will last anywhere from a week to six months.

-Hair band or clip -Bleaching kit (if your hair isn’t light blonde already) -Colored dye of your choice (found at Ulta or Sally’s Beauty) -Gloves -Paintbrush -Kelsey Woods 27

um ro st r

Better late than never New policy IDs students to enforce regulations of tardiness

It’s 8:16 a.m., and the cafeteria is overwhelmed by a tidal wave of anger and annoyance. The bell rings, and students begin to form a line in front of the attendance office, as those not quick enough to make it to class before the bell rings grudgingly slink down the stairs. You can pick out the students who are habitually late by the way they saunter around the cafeteria and continue to eat their breakfast seemingly immune to the bell and the shrill screeching of Dr. Propst’s whistle. So the struggle against crime and punishment begins. By the end of the morning the sign-in sheet is starstudded with names like Beyonce and 2 Chainz. Recently, however, the routine has changed as administrators have decided to crack down on morning tardiness and the abundance of celebrity aliases on the morning roll.

Students must now show a form of ID before they are allowed to sign the roll, and if students can provide no identification they must verify their name and birth dates with Mr. Wille Vincent, academy leader for the Business and Leadership Academy, who has a student roster printed from Infinite Campus. This new tardy policy may seem a tad extreme, but when students sign in with fake names or not at all, they are considered absent on the computer system, and Infinite Campus automatically calls their parents. Eventually, the absences add up. Ten absences prevent you from receiving a certificate of attendance, and in turn a driver’s permit and license. According to Ms. Jurea Harris, the attendance secretary, more than 300 students are late each day; it is usually the same students.

“School starts at 8 a.m. If you’re here at 8:15, you are late,” Ms. Harris said. She advises students to “get up and get out. If you’re riding MARTA and you’re usually late, wake up half an hour earlier.” “Being continually late is the first flag that signifies that you don’t live in the district,” Mr. Vincent said. “Once you’ve been flagged by the district, they investigate your address.” The new ID policy was also implemented as an extra security measure after three boys, who did not attend Grady, walked onto campus and received late passes under fake names. They almost made it up the stairs before Mr. Howard caught them. The police promptly escorted them off campus. “That is scary,” Mr. Vincent said, “because you don’t know what these boys were coming on campus to do.” -Tamara Mason

Senior garden terrace path paves legacy

Each senior class constructs a gift for the school before it graduates. Over the years these gifts have included a range of things, like the the podium used in the auditorium (1987) and the senior patio of last year (2012). Noticing that students seldom use the senior patio, seniors this year have decided to transform the upper courtyard. Their project, the Garden Terrace Path, will add sculptures, art, plants and seats to the patio. “Stopping erosion is the main reason why we’re building the path,” said Dominique Romeo, co-head of the project. “For us seniors, what we really want is to leave behind a sort of legacy, something we can come back to and say ‘I did that.’” ”We are planning to put plants circling the patio, with strong roots to prevent erosion,” said Danillo Kisser, the other co-head of the project. The plan calls for the creation of 16 cement stairs that will connect the senior patio to the upper courtyard sidewalk. Also according to the plan, the patio will gain three extended branches, like smaller versions of the already existing terraces on the courtyard hill. These will serve as additional places for students to sit and socialize during lunch. Work on the Garden Terrace Path began right after the Thanksgiving break and is still in progress. “We want to finish as soon as possible, but it probably won’t be until mid-April,” Romeo said. One stair has been completed and a second has been dug out and prepared. Construction, however. has come to a halt as winter has set in. “When concrete freezes, it cracks,” Kisser said. “And it takes about four or five days for it to 28 solidify, so we will have to wait until the weather

agrees with us.” To make the project personal to this year’s seniors, Kisser and Romeo plan to include a time capsule buried beneath a mosaic in the path. A sculpture at the bottom of the stairs is also planned, but that may not actually happen. Kisser asks anybody, not just seniors, to help with the project. “We have people signed up to help us build, and we need more to plan and organize,” he said. Students involved in the construction of the Garden Terrace Path encourage anyone to help them create the mosaic, the time capsule, and the sculpture. “I don’t know if we can complete the plan without more people helping,” Kisser said. “Anyone can help.” Students constructing the project encourage anybody to help them work on it, saying that anyone interested should talk to Kisser or Romeo. -Alex Jones

yS nb tio stra Illu uhm on

s bin Ro er

Neither here nor there

Dual enrollment exposes student to new experiences I was ready to leave high school, but there was only one problem: I still had a whole year left. This was not just any year; it was senior year, the one year I have been waiting for since I entered Grady in August of 2009. I did not want to skip out on it in any way because I still wanted to enjoy my last year as much as possible. So, why not leave and stay at the same time? Taking half of my classes at Grady and half at Georgia State University was exactly the compromise I was looking for. Although high school is important and necessary for basic skills, I didn’t feel like I was getting enough from it. Being enrolled in GHS and GSU has taught me the differences between high school and collegiate life. Wandering around the concrete campus of Georgia State, I felt so lost among the eager, bustling freshman starting their first day of classes. The same panic that I had as a freshman in high school suddenly arose in me, and passed the moment I realized that, although I was a year younger than everyone, they were all just as terrified as I was. Like me, they were fearful of being thrown into another crowd of strangers, yet excited for the almost limitless freedoms. Clad in my favorite shirt, I was ready to head to my firstever college class, English 1101. I was expecting to be put into a room where I would not even be able to see my teacher − a room with hundreds of others. To my surprise, my class was only made up of 20 people, and we were crammed into a closet-sized room. Throughout his first lecture, my teacher must have mentioned that college was nothing like high school at least 10 times, and I was able to confirm this myself throughout the next few months. I was surprised by the immense differences between college professors and high school teachers. The professors had the whole semester laid out for students, which allowed me to be prepared for test dates and homework assignments unlike being bombarded with test dates at the last minute. But while they gave plenty of advanced notice for exams and essays, professors were not there to remind students of deadlines; it was up to me to make sure to check the various resources and if I forgot, there was no one else to blame. Senioritis had taken a toll on me early in the year, and I crammed not only for my high school essays but also for the college ones. I learned

that staying up late to write a college essay is not worth it because teachers actually read and critique essays from top to bottom. I have never had a class where the teacher made comments on my papers, telling me all the improvements I could make, as well as handing it back within a few class periods. I was shocked. I wasn’t used to getting actual feedback, which explained why I received the grade I had. I was finally getting informed on my weaknesses and strengths. I tell people all the time that the one thing I was most amazed about in college was the student body. Although Grady claims to be “racially diverse,” I realized at Georgia State that was not the case. I have never seen a more diverse, eclectic group of people until I stepped onto the urban campus. I was surrounded with the freedoms of college and being surrounded by adults. Walking among the crowds, I was frequently clouded with smoke from students and staff who were free to have a cigarette in hand. I thought it was normal to see Grady students sneaking around campus to smoke until I headed into the real world. The student smokers also donned short shorts and exposed their bellies and shoulders. I wasn’t surprised by collegiate apparel as much, but I did realize just how impractical our school’s rules are. I was easily accustomed to the large population of students, but a part of me longed for the familiarity of high school and the comfort of knowing everyone who passed by me, especially my former teachers. There’s nothing better than being able to wake up and step foot into my last year of high school with my friends and still be surrounded by adults in an enormous college campus by the end of the day. Lately, however, I have been feeling like an “inbetweener.” I know I’m graduating this year but also being a college freshman and a high school senior makes it seem as if I started something without finishing another. Dual enrolling has made my schedule complicated and longer than usual, but getting to experience college a year earlier has made it all worth it. I like that I am able to be challenged for once, to meet people who are not concerned about cliques or drama, and, most importantly, to get a feel for life after high school 29 -Sanjida Mowla

ge ri e en a m

Helping others can’t be counted in hours

In order for Grady students to graduate they are required to complete 75 hours of community service by the beginning of their senior year. As freshmen, that may sound like a thousand miles away but before precocious ninth graders know it, they’ll be seniors taking their cap and gown pictures and asking teachers for letters of recommendation. Time seems to pass slowly as high school unfolds but in the end it feels as if it happened in the blink of an eye. Procrastination turns community service into a graduation hurdle to be cleared as efficiently as possible. This warped perspective, for that matter the premise of requiring community service to graduate, completely undermines the purpose of community service. Yes, its great to volunteer at a food bank, bagging the necessary assortments for the hungry, but when you walk away with payment in the form of community-service hours, you fail to understand the real value of service: the gratitude and appreciation of others who benefit from your selfless service. The purpose of serving others is to bring us out of our own little worlds and truly understand the bigger world around us. Sometimes we forget that under all the materialistic wants and shows, we’re all the same and we all need to meet the same requirements in order to survive. In the past year I went on two trips to Harvest of Hope with my youth group. The point of the trips was to inform us of the seriousness of the No. 1 cause of death in the world: hunger. Far from demoralizing, the trips also taught us that hunger can be eradicated if we decide to solve the problem. The only thing preventing a permanent solution is aware individuals who care enough to help. Besides being educated, volunteers are supposed to glean (to gather fresh produce left behind by reapers) in the morning till late afternoon, then donate that barveit to local food banks and the community. Unfortunately, on the first trip we were unable to glean because of the weather. We were however, able to bag 9,000 pounds of green beans or 27,000 servings. About 40 of us on the trip were able to do this in about four hours. In order to further educate us, we had a hunger awareness meal. Before going into the dining room, everybody randomly picked out a piece of colored paper. Each color represented a seating area for dinner. As we got settled in our seats, we noticed a bowl of rice and beans sitting on our table. We glanced at everyone else’s tables and noticed that one of the tables had a completely different assortment; it was rather plentiful compared to ours. Another table didn’t have as much but still had way more than ours. Scott Briggs, the director explained the only two rules: No leaving the dining room and no stealing food. As our table started to dig in to the limited food, we noticed two women get up and distribute their leftover food. When one of the women got to us, we traded our beans for some mac and cheese. This redistribution continued until all the food had been consumed. After everybody had “stuffed” themselves, Briggs explained the purpose behind dividing everyone’s meal unequally. One group represented the top 15 percent that survives on $9,266 and more per year. The next group was the middle group that represent 25 percent of the world’s population that lives on $756-$9,266 per year. The last group is the poor, which is 60 percent of the world’s population that lives on less than $755 per year or $2 a day. That last 33 percent of the population is the working middle class. “The issue of hunger is often only represented in numbers. It is important to remember that each number is a person, a story, a struggle.” Briggs said. Before going on the Harvest of Hope trip, our youth group would just go to the food bank once a month, bagging, marking and serving the needy. We never truly understood how each hungry individual suffered physically, emotionally and physiologically while they waited for the first of the month and their next trip to the food bank. Now we make sure we remember each face, and the story and strength behind it. 30 -Victoria Dragstedt

Tips and tricks for the youngest of the school.

1. All of your grades matter, even in your freshman year. Grades from all of your core classes and foreign-language courses from all four years are calculated into your GPA that colleges will see. 2. Skipping class and hanging out in the bathroom when you have a substitute is not fun. Go to class. 3. Don’t leave your backpack or purse out of your sight, even for a second. Grady students are notorious for snatching cell phones, iPods and wallets, especially in the gym. 4. Do your community-service hours before you are a senior. On top of applying to college and handling your coursework, you don’t want to be scrambling around trying to finish those last couple of hours. 5. Take advantage of the College and Career Center; it’s not just for seniors. 6. Get involved in extracurricular activities, but don’t let them consume your life. 7. If you are having trouble writing essays, get help from your teachers now or take a visit to the Writing Center after school. If you don’t acquire the skill of essay writing now, you will only fall further behind in your high school classes, and when you hit college you will be completely lost. 8. Get published and let your voice be heard. All of Grady’s publications welcome submissions from students who are not on the staff. 9. Take the time to get to know your teachers. It comes in handy when you need those teacher recommendations for college applications. 10. The second step in the stairway near the discipline office is taller than the other stairs. Watch out, it is possible to trip up the stairs. -Kate Taber

The most ‘Pinteresting’ site on the Web climbs to the top Food

Pinterest, a relatively new and innovative social networking service, was launched in March of 2010. The website promotes using “boards,” theme-based image collections, on a variety of topics including Food, Do it Yourself, Clothes, Hobbies, Designs, and Weddings. “Pinterest’s mission is to connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting,” the founders of Pinterest, Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann write on the Pinterest website. To join Pinterest, you must be invited either by the site or by a friend. You can enter your email onto the home page of the site, and shortly after, whether it’s a matter of hours or days, you will receive an email inviting you to join the utterly addictive website. While joining, it is possible to connect the account with your Facebook account so that you automatically follow all of your friends who also have a Pinterest. After joining, you receive multiple suggestions of who to follow, what to name your boards and which of your friends are already on Pinterest. The website is user-friendly and

Style

easy to navigate, which makes it appealing not only to teens but also to adults. Pinterest has become a growing advertising outlet for multiple companies such as Sephora, Anthropologie and Tiffany & Co. “I loved the user interface and flow of the website,” said Bennett Travers, a third-year college student at the University of Georgia. “The ability to bookmark websites or simply beautiful pictures was so easy, fun and slightly addicting.” The website promotes the sharing of pictures, ideas and recipes. Pinterest users can upload, save and control media content known as “pins.” These pins are organized on pinboards, which are themed and displayed to other users. Multiple workouts and healthy eating recipes are posted all over Pinterest. Ideas for projects and events such as weddings and children’s birthday parties float all around the site, too. “I had somewhere to save and easily share design/layout elements that I liked with her [yearbook adviser] and other [yearbook] editors,” said Anasha Stevens, a

Do it Yourself (DIY)

senior at Decatur High School, who uses the website as an outlet and inspiration for yearbook designs on her school’s publication. Grady senior Christina Conner has been a Pinterest user for roughly a year. Her boards include fashion, beauty and food. “I like Pinterest because it’s a unique way to learn about new trends and offers users a way to share different ideas and websites, and I love pins with easy to follow directions on recipes, beauty tricks, and other DIY projects,” Conner said. Pinterest has flourished over the past two years with more than 11 million U.S. visitors. The release of the iPhone/Android app in early March 2011 brought in a larger number of downloads than expected. According to the 2012 comScore report, the company has grown to be one of the largest social networking sites on the web. Women between the ages of 35-44 comprise the largest group at 83 percent. As a whole, Pinterest has become a great way of sharing ideas and pictures in a unique way. -Lily Trapkin

cupcakes: http://bakedfromabox.blogspot.ca/2012/08/cake-batter-rice-krispie-cupcakes.html, cookies: http://quickfeetgoodeats.com/carrot-cake-sandwich-cookieswith-cream-cheese-frosting-filling-recipe/, mac & cheese: http://thecuttingedgeofordinary.blogspot.com/2010/10/gnocchi-mac-cheese.html, rolls: http://shopgirlmaria.blogspot.com/2012/09/raspberry-swirl-rolls.html, vest: http://us.shop.elementbrand.com/p/womens/jackets/alex-jacket?style=J742VALE&clr=FOR, earrings: http://www.etsy.com/listing/97334166/purple-druzy-stud-earrings-18k-gold?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest, bra: http:// ladybirdnest.blogspot.com/2012/09/bare-back.html, shoes: http://www.urbanog.com/Qupid-Kunis-10-Strappy-Open-Toe-Platform-Wedge_113_25020.html, shirt DIY: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects, glass DIY: http://www.sugarandcharmblog.com/2011/01/easy-and-beautiful-enamel-painted-vases.html, letters DIY: http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2011/08/p-is-for-personalize.html, shorts DIY: http://www.streetscenevintage.blogspot.com/2012/03/ vintage-diy-who-wears-short-shorts.html