Defying Boundaries by Featherduster Westlake

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Austin

Volume 42

Issue 4

Defying boundaries

May 19, 2011 4100 Westbank Drive Austin, Texas 78746

The Featherduster, the newsmagazine of Westlake High School, attempts to inform and entertain in a broad, fair and accurate manner on subjects which concern the readers. The publication also seeks to provide a forum of ideas and opinions between the staff of the newsmagazine, the faculty, the student body and the local community about issues presented. All material produced and published by The Featherduster staff is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without the writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consent or that of the editors. Content decisions rest in the hands of the staff,

despite the Supreme Courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling in the case of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. Opinions expressed in the columns that appear in The Featherduster do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire staff, the school administration or the adviser. The staff encourages letters to the editor as an avenue for expressing the opinions of the readers. All letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Due to space limitations, not all letters will be published, and the editorial board reserves the right to edit them for purposes of placement. No material will be printed that is libelous,

May

{contents}

Brains + Brawn

On the fast track

Student trains in motocross, plans for professional career

People + Places

34 Trends + Traditions 42 Rants + Raves 58

Spurs of the moment

Former football players take part in long-standing college tradition

Big shoes to fill

Westlake parents represent TOMS, invest time in beneficial cause

Mamma mia

Italian treasures around Austin cater to our pasta cravings

cover art by Emily Mitchell and Michelle Ling photo by Sidney Hollingsworth

Dodgeball team King Coterie member junior Holden Penn prepares to launch the ball at his opponents. The dodgeball tournament, sponsored by Student Council, took place on April 18. King Coterie consisted of juniors Cole Norton, Coleman Jackson, Holden Penn, John Morledge, Gabe Kesler and Tyler Gibson. Making it through several rounds, the junior team eventually lost to the winning team, Flight Brothers.

Editors-in-Chief Hannah Kunz Lizzie Friedman

Managing Editor Hirrah Barlas

Copy Editors Caroline Hunt Christina Shin

Brains + Brawn

Becca Burt Selah Maya Zighelboim Asst. Marco Scarasso Hillary Hurst Cody Crutchfield Asst. Breck Spencer Asst. Ben Wallace

People + Places

Jenny Messer Julie Dorland Asst. Anika Hattangadi Asst. Catherine Mear

Trends + Traditions Hailey Cunningham Zelda Mayer Asst. Jessica Stenglein Asst. Josh Willis

Rants + Raves Danielle Brown Asst. Camille Lewis Asst. Monica Tan

Art Directors Brad Dunn Emily Mitchell

Web Master Nikki Roop

Web Photographer Shea Wendlandt

Photo Editors Barrett Wilson Asst. Karen Scott

Business Manager Emily Cohen Asst. Abby Mosing

Photographers Allie Carlisle Austin Hix Izzy de la Luz Laura Brewster Mackenzie Franklin Tanner Thompson Taylor Cloyd Theo Doucet

Divine Beings

Anisha Ganguly Jake Bitting Lauren Nelson Matt Frank Matthew Chang Michelle Ling Nathan Kallison Sidney Hollingsworth Sofie Seiden Zach Wasfi

Reporters Abby Bost Alex Gieb Alli Anderson

Andy Brown Annie Valliant Austin Callegari Blake Bond Chandler McCollough Elizabeth Emery Elizabeth Petersen Enrique Gomez-Leos Erin Armstrong Haley Green Hetty Borinstein Jaimie Pitts Jared Schroeder Jesse Denier Jono Krawczyk Laura Doolittle Laura Hatcher Luci Ortiz Madison Scott Madeline Nick Madison Goll Mariah Stevens-Ross McKenna Wilbur Mia Cavazos Olivia Lee Rubie Hays Sofia Mitre Steven Campbell Taylor Kidd Taylor Ross

Adviser

Deanne Brown

A specialty group presents “Find a Cure” to the song “Fix You” about supporting a loved one with cancer. The song was dedicated to the Brocklehurst family. This year, Zenith’s theme was “Make a Difference.”

Michelle Ling

Junior Kylie Brewer is lifted as Dance 3-4 performs to “Up to the Mountain” as a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shea Wendlandt

Hyline officer senior Sheridan McDowell dances at the Friday night performance of Zenith. Sheridan plans to dance with the Kilgore Rangerettes this fall. At this year’s performance of Zenith April 15-17, the Jazz Co. performs to “Falling.” TEC coordinated the lighting and video. Accompanied by senior Jordan Ruiz, Hyline member junior Ashlyn Brandenburg sings “Yesterday.”

“I honestly don’t remember performing any of my solo. I was frantic. I had 30 seconds to change in the hall next to the stage wing. I was scared they’d start the song without me.” —Sheridan McDowell

“‘Yesterday’ is very special to me. It’s a direct reflection of how I feel about things that have happened in my life.” Sidney Hollingsworth

Sidney Hollingsworth

—Ashlyn Brandenburg

Sidney Hollingsworth

Front and center, captain senior Madelyn Wilson leads her team in their contest jazz piece “Le Jazz Hot.” This year marked the 41st anniversary of Zenith.

Casey Simmons

In perfect synchronization, the Hyline officers leap to “Heavenly Day.” This number was their lyrical award-winning dance during this spring’s competition season. This year marked the first time that Hyline received Best in Show recognition for both the Dallas Show Stoppers and the Westwood competitions.

Shea Wendlandt

At their first performance as New News, the newest additions to Hyline dance to “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.

Senior Gyline member Walker Ligon uses his skills acquired from his role in the musical as he grooves to a mix of popular dance tunes.

“Gyline is a one-of-a-kind experience. You can act like a fool and the audience loves you for it. The uniforms are interesting, to say the least. The tights are a bit itchy, but in actuality they aren’t that bad.” —Walker Ligon

Becca Burt Becca Burt

Star Stepper sophomore Katie Call takes the stage for “Hallelujah.”

Senior Kyndra Steeg, junior Meredith Trank, senior Emily Snouffer and junior Alex Faglie kick it up during “Last Dance,” the traditional end to each year’s show. Becca Burt

After months of preparation, dance department brings to life its traditional end-of-year performance { westlakefeatherduster.com }

brains + brawn

Spring

ling f

Hannah Kunz

Joining Mickey and his friends for some thrills, juniors Hillary Hurst and Camille Lewis ride the Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Disneyland. They, along with 22 other journalism students, attended the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association annual convention April 13-17 in Anaheim. In the Best of Show competition, The Featherduster won first for newsmagazines, The Final Draft took second for literary magazines and El Paisano received sixth place in large yearbooks. For individual results go to www.westlakefeatherduster.com.

Leading his team in British antics, squad leader senior Michael Knight holds the British flag as his team cheers before loading the buses to Harambe April 20.

Sidney Hollingsworth Sidney Hollingsworth

Anticipating the crowds in the College and Career Center, seniors Grace Jesse, Garrett Ochoa, Amy Wattinger and Grace Nowstrup were first to reserve their spot on the college banner for their schools.

Snouffer family takes performing to new heights

he Snouffers have been known around the Westlake community for their talent and involvement in the fine arts. Over the course of her high school career, senior Emily Snouffer has had the opportunity to further immerse herself in her greatest passion — dance. But, aside from her participation in Hyline, Emily has also pursued the vocal realms of music, with head choir director Ed Snouffer guiding her not only as her teacher, but also as her father.

The Featherduster: What is it like to have your dad as a teacher? Emily Snouffer: I really like having him at Westlake because if there are times when I’m just having a rough day and need to talk to somebody, I can run up to the choir hall to go talk to him. Or, if I suddenly don’t feel well, I can call him and he can take me home. FD: What inspires you every day to teach? Why high school? Why Westlake? Ed Snouffer: I feel like I have found my niche: it’s with high school students. I love singing. I love experiencing music and I love being able to share that with students.

Beyond that, I also think it is the personal side of getting to know the students and enjoying them for who they are. At the time I was offered an assistant teaching job at Westlake, I was at a 3A school and turned down the head of the department there. I was very interested in having my daughters educated in Eanes, and one way that I could afford that for them was to teach here. FD: You can sing and dance, so has Broadway ever been a thought in your mind for the future? Emily Snouffer: It’s something that I would want to do eventually in my life, or to at least try and see what happens. I made a promise to myself that I would try out for So You Think You Can Dance and something Broadwayrelated before I die. I want to definitely keep singing and dancing so that if something Broadway-related were to happen, I could take it up and do it. FD: What are your career highlights so far in dance? Emily Snouffer: The biggest reward was after Zenith this year with the responses about how my solo really affected people. Some people even told me that it made them cry. It’s really humbling that people appreciate what you do and how you do it. People came up to me in the lobby

and told me how my performance was really special to them and that they enjoyed watching me dance. To me, that is the most gratifying thing about my dancing. —Sidney Hollingsworth For the extended interview and more pictures, visit www. westlakefeatherduster.com

Sidney Hollingsworth

Not just desserts

Annual art festival showcases work of visual arts students

ad you walked into either of the libraries on the night to junior Sarah Clarke for her unique ceramic pot. The award for Best of April 11, you would have felt as if you were walking into in Show 2-D was awarded to senior Sofia Proffitt for her black and a museum or gallery. With art coverwhite chalk drawing of a girl in front of a mirror ing the walls and shelves, music provided by in a gym bathroom. Swagger and harpist senior Addie Pierce, and “That picture helped me get out of my all the baked goods your heart could desire, the comfort zone,” Sofia said. “The human anatomy annual Don’t Dessert the Arts festival provided alone is a big challenge for me. I wanted to do a gorgeous and peaceful setting for visual arts something challenging because if you do not students to display their work. push yourself as an artist, you will never prog“The purpose of Don’t Dessert the Arts is to ress.” showcase what [the visual arts students] have Along with these awards, each visual arts completed and worked on the entire year,” teacher selected three of their most hardelectronic arts teacher and department chair working and talented students to receive the Dale Baker said. “We display all of the artwork Teacher’s Choice Award. Twenty-four students for photography, electronic media, painting and received this award, including Sofia and junior drawing, sculpture, ceramics and all of the work Chase Grammer. we’ve done all year long.” “Art is the visual or audio translation from The festival was held in both the Ninth Grade what we imagine to what we create,” Chase said. Center library and the Research Center. In the “It can be the simplest thing, like a shade of Research Center, auction tables were set up for blue crossing with a shade of grey, but it is that people to buy some of the pieces the students simple idea that we as thinkers expound on. The have worked on and a booth was set up with possibilities are endless, but only a few are truly Don’t Dessert the Arts t-shirts and sweatshirts. grasped by a mind first and then shared with the In the Ninth Grade Center library, a table was world so that the rest can see one’s vision.” set up with sweets. So next year, try to mark your calendar and Shea Wendlandt “People purchase desserts from different Junior Sarah Clarke receives the Best in Show 3-D award at Don’t clear your plans for the night of the Don’t Desspecialty stores around Austin and some parents Dessert the Arts April 11 in the libraries. In addition to student art sert the Arts festival. You wouldn’t want to miss will make stuff,” Baker said. “It started out as out on this festival of visions that your peers and work, guests were treated to gourmet sweets at the reception. kind of a festival to try out different gourmet classmates have proudly displayed for you to see desserts from different restaurants. We still have some of that, but or the delicious desserts and refreshments prepared for your enjoymost of the desserts are made by the parents.” ment. First, second and third place medals were awarded in different “People always ask me, ‘What is your favorite media?’” Sofia said. “I categories, such as sculpture, photography and animation. The biggest can never choose. Art has so many infinite possibilities to express your honor, however, was to receive the award for Best in Show 2-D or Best creativity.” in Show 3-D. This year, the award for Best in Show 3-D was awarded —Jaimie Pitts

Relay for Life

Preparing to take a spin on the Screamin’ Demon, senior Matt Ferguson takes part in the first-ever carnival at Westlake’s annual Relay for Life April 30-May 1.

Team Queso raised the most money of any group at $10,334.20. This group of sophomore and junior girls has been teaming up for four years. More money was raised this year for the American Cancer Society than in the previous eight years that Westlake has hosted the event. The total raised over the course of nine years exceeds $1,000,000. “This year’s relay was Westlake’s biggest ever,” youth development chair junior Steven Wilbanks said. “With over 800 participants on nearly 90 teams, it raised an impressive $183,000 by the end of the event and even more continues to pour in afterwards. Relay was a little different this year with the carnival and the ending time of 2 a.m. However, we are extremely pleased with how it turned out. The carnival, which was completely new, raised over $7,000, and the teams did an excellent job coming up with and running their own booths. Relay, which was immediately after the carnival, was filled with spirit and fun, as always. Thank you so much to everyone who participated — you guys are the ones making a difference.” Sidney Hollingsworth

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

brains + brawn

A method to the

madness Every spring, students fill out their choice sheets for the next year. But before schedules simply appear in students’ hands every fall, counselors and administrators work for months to create the perfect master schedule.

Assistant principal Steve Ramsey makes adjustments to the schedule blocks for next year’s classes. It takes the the entire summer for Ramsey and the counselors to complete this task.

First students fill out choice sheets which are then entered into the computer. “We ask the students what they want to take, and they tell us what they want to sign up for,” counselor Carol Neimann said. “Based on that, [assistant principal Steve Ramsey] takes the number of kids and he builds that many classes. So in other words, if 30 people sign up, that’s one class, or section, but if 50 people sign up, that’s two classes. The schedule is dependent on lots of factors: how many students sign up for a class and what teachers you have, etc.”

Then, the students’ selections are analyzed. Sections, or class periods, are made by Ramsey and department heads. “I take all the kids who have registered and what classes they want, and based on these numbers, create the number of ‘sections’ we’re going to allow,” Ramsey said. “Let’s take U.S. History, for example. We look at how many to put in each class and that tells me how many sections. Then I get a list of sections from every single subject, and I meet with each department head. I also get their list of sections, and they also see the total number of students taking classes in that subject area. As long as they have the number of teachers that are necessary to do it, they have the latitude to say, ‘I want to make Pre-AP Algebra II a little bit bigger because there are usually kids who drop into regular Algebra II more, at first.’ Then they go ahead and start making their schedule for their department. I get those, and Ms. [Sandy] Brown, our data processor, puts in teachers’ schedules. Then we run the schedule the first time, and we either go, ‘Hey, this is looking good,’ or, ‘This is going to be a difficult experience.’” After Ramsey tests the schedule, changes are made until it is perfected. This process continues all summer. “If somebody retires and they’re the soccer coach and the World History teacher, then Ramsey has to find that combination and has to juggle everything around to make it work,” Neimann said. “That’s what’s happening right now — Ramsey is juggling, trying to make all the pieces fit together.”

After the master schedule is completed, the counselors, by hand, add in all students to classes who don’t have a functioning schedule. “At the end of July, in the past — this may change since we were a little earlier this year — the administration releases the schedule to us,” Neimann said. “Basically, they are tweaking all this time, trying to figure out which gets the most students with a do-able schedule. Usually, they’re somewhere in the 80th percentile when they give it to us, so that means there are 20 percent of students who don’t have working schedules.” When counselors return to work the first week of August, their focus immediately returns to the individual schedule complications. “I’ll work 12 hours a day trying to make schedules work,” Neimann said. “I’ll call students to say, ‘Band and choir or whatever is scheduled for the same period. Which do you want more? What else do you want in place?’ I try very hard, before anybody ever sees the schedule, to make sure that everybody has a working schedule because I don’t mind saying no if it’s your choice to change something, but I have a very hard time if it’s not your fault. If you change your mind, you get what you get, but if it’s something else, everybody deserves a good schedule. My job really is to make sure everybody has a working schedule by the time we publish them.”

After months of changes, schedules continue to be adjusted all year based on students’ requests. “Then, we change the schedule,” Neimann said. “We probably did 3,000 schedule changes at the beginning of [this] year — before and up until 10 days after the semester starts. And that’s how you get a schedule.” —Hailey Cunningham

photo by Chris Bull

Congratulations to our friends on the El Paisano staff on your biggest and best yearbook ever. It has been a great year! â&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Featherduster staff

(Students interested in purchasing a copy of this invaluable keepsake should visit room 285. Now.)

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

To The Featherduster senior editors: Lorem ipsum et vel illa Iduisl ut feui te te magnibh. (sentimental comment)

A worthwhile project Parent volunteers’ work for Project Graduation draws to an end

or seniors, Project Graduation is the final goodbye to had to decide on which activiWestlake — a last bit of fun squeezed out of the high school ties and attractions they would experience. Seniors get to enjoy different games, entertainment and organize for Project Graduation Project Graduation chairs Betsy Kirksey, Tami giveaways without having to do anything except pay their dues for this year. Johnston and Kaye Kelley (not pictured) take a attending. Seniors embrace the last few hours of being with all their “We have to have a variety of break from working to play with dodgeballs. This high school friends at a fabulous gathering, but not all of them know activities that seniors will enjoy, year’s Project Graduation will feature a dodgeball how Project Graduation is planned and how much work is put into it. food to keep them going all night tournament for the first time. Behind the scenes, parents work for months to perfect the last night of long, prizes for them to win and Emily Cohen the seniors’ year. maintain a safe atmosphere,” Three volunteers hold the position of co-chair for Project GraduaJohnston said. “The activities and entertainment for the night changes tion 2011. Tami Johnston, mother of senior Andrew Johnston, Betsy a little every year to keep up with what is popular with the current Kirksey, mother of senior students. We try to keep the Haley Kirksey, and Kaye activities secret so that the Kelley, mother of senior students are surprised when Ryan Kelley, have devoted they arrive, but there will themselves for two years to be games of competition, How to sign up: When you pick up your cap and gown, there is making Project Graduation music, relaxing activities, a night to remember. tons of food and lots of great a form attached for registering. Fill out that form and make sure “An event for 600-plus prizes. Our goal is for every you turn it in before Project Graduation. students takes a lot of student to win something coordination and planning,” that night.” Kelley said. “For the three Seniors are looking forSpecifics: Teams need to comprise of six people — three boys of us it has been a two-year ward to Project Graduation project. We started in Fall as a time for final goodbyes. and three girls. The winning team receives prize and bragging 2009, observing Project “I am really excited rights. Graduation 2010 and filling about hanging out with my our committee spots with friends for the last time all the great volunteers that are making Project Graduation 2011 happen together since we are going to different colleges,” senior Jackie Manfor this year’s senior class.” zano said. “I have mixed feelings; I am happy about going to college, Finding the other committee members for this year’s Project but I am sad that some of my friends are going to different colleges. Graduation was an easy task for the trio. They were able to combine Project Graduation is going to be a fun time to laugh with my friends the help of new recruits with returning vets. and make those memories that are going to last and celebrate the “We were fortunate that many of our committee members came beginning of new chapters of our lives.” to us and asked to serve on the committee,” After all the months of preparation for Johnston said. “They had either worked on Project Graduation, it comes down to “crunch Project Graduation in the past with their time” during the final weeks before the event. older kids or they had heard about the event “We will have a total of 165 junior parent and wanted to help. The other recruits were volunteers and 350 senior parent volunteers recommended by members of the committee. that will be on campus starting Friday mornUpon arrival you will be given three We also tried to have representatives from the ing to decorate the areas, accept student duffle tickets. You have the choice to put various parent organizations already in place bags, welcome the seniors off the bus after the each of those in for a drawing for in the high school to help us get the word out ceremony, run games, serve food and mainabout the event.” tain security,” Kelley said. “It’s a huge job, but a prize of your choice. The grand In planning for the actual event, the comour volunteer coordinator, Marybeth Hunt, prizes are two iPads, a Jon Hart lugmittee has to keep many things in mind, inwill have everyone assigned to a shift and a cluding the budget. Even though the economy gage set, an Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle location. Our job is to make sure that everyone is going through a recession, Project Graduknows what to do and has a smile on their face and a Nikon DLR camera. ation is fortunately not affected. There are when the seniors arrive.” generous parent donors who have given their After all the work that these ladies have money to the event. done, they hope to leave an impact on the “Surprisingly, our fundraising is on track with prior years,” Kirksey future generations of Project Graduation. said. “We feel this is because this event is predominately funded by the “Historically at Westlake, over 95 percent of the class attends Projparents of the senior class and they realize the importance of having ect Graduation because it is a great way to end your high school years the students together in a safe environment on this important night. with your best friends,” Kelley said. “We hope to continue that tradiWe start with setting a budget and then [we] identify ways to raise the tion and have planned lots of great activities to keep everyone busy and money required to have the event.” entertained.” Johnston, Kirksey, Kelley and the other committee members then —Hannah Kunz

Project Graduation Dodgeball Tournament

Door Prizes

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Junior McKenna Wilbur lines up for a putt at the Regional tournament. The girls Regional tournament took place in Waco April 21. Results of State play were unavailable at press time.

Another swing at it Boys, girls golf look to repeat success at State Championship Chuck Nowland

Woodlands to win the Championship. This year the Chaps are the favorites. “The two teams that will be our toughest competition at this year’s tournament would have to be either Allen or The Woodlands,” Nowland said. “Allen, because they have a lot of college-level talent and are a very complete team. And The Woodlands, just because we beat them last year.” After being founded in 1969, Westlake underwent an 11-year golf drought and had to focus on working its way up to a respectable level. The year 1980 was significant in terms of the golf program because it was the first boys golf State Championship. By owning the District Championship every year since 1980 except for ‘88, ‘04 and ‘06, it is clear that the boys haven’t looked back. They continued on to win State six times, and are looking to be the first team to win State three times in a row since Abilene Cooper did from 19821984. The players and coaches have utilized the renovated weight room, the new strength coach Brad Womack and even the new “play to your strength” philosophy effectively. “The Womack workouts have really helped out my game,” senior Brenden Redfern said. “I’ve gotten stronger and noticed my drives are going a little farther now.” Brenden, the Chap’s No. 1 player, finished first place in the District tournament, shooting a 72 on the first round and finishing with a

Girls State Championship Title

Shea Wendlandt

Boys State Championship Titles

Senior Brenden Redfern

1980, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2010 Brad Dunn

total of 145. He then went on to shoot a 148 at Regionals, despite difficult weather conditions including high winds. Westlake finished first, 21 strokes ahead of McKinney Boyd, largely due to the second place individual finish of freshman Matthew Perrine. The players credit a lot of their success to their coaches for their support and advice. “The coaches’ new philosophy is great because it allows us to just play to our strengths and not worry about playing clubs we are uncomfortable with,” Brenden said. “If my strength was driving, I’d work on using my driver as much as possible, and not have to worry about laying up and using a wedge. It all comes down to whatever you feel good about, and just playing how you like.” Boys coach Callan Nokes is proud of the dedication and work ethic of this year’s team. “Our strength is that we have multiple great players and don’t rely on only a few players to help us be successful,” Nokes said. With State in their sites, Mariana looks to the future with optimism. “It would be so exciting and fun to win two championships in a row,” Mariana said. “All of us would just feel so honored to be a part of Westlake history and be the girls golf team that won not only the first, but also the second State Championship, all in a row. It’s something we could talk about for years.” —Jared Schroeder

Sophomore Christine Campbell

Chuck Nowland

The boys and girls varsity golf teams made Chap history last year when they took home the State trophies. This marked only the 12th time in University Interscholastic League history, in any classification, that a school won the State Championship in boys and girls golf in the same year. Add back-to-back men’s championships to that achievement and Westlake has something really special happening in the golf department. “This year we are successful because everyone has realized they love playing golf,” junior Mariana Sims said. “When we go out to the golf course we focus on getting better.” The girls Westlake I and Westlake II teams finished first and second in the District 5A Tournament on April 5 and almost swept the individual top 10, leaving Del Valle the lone placeholder from another school in third. Then, Mariana and her sister, sophomore Sierra Sims, put together an impressive 36hole total of 144 and 142 to claim the top two individual spots at the girls Regional Tournament in Waco on April 21. “Sierra has really stood out to me this year,” girls golf coach Chuck Nowland said. “She’s been so consistent and exceptional at the same time.” On May 12-13, the girls will get the chance to prove to everyone at Jimmy Clay golf course why they deserve the championship. At State last spring, Westlake had to beat The

2010

Strong work ethic, leadership not enough for Chaps

he downtrodden Austin High Maroon trudged sorrowfully toward his dugout, engulfed in the shame of being the last out of a game in which his team was

job much easier. “This was one of the easiest teams to coach,” Darilek said. “They came out each day and tried to improve and the team kept getting better and winning.” Pitcher and infielder

mercy-ruled by its archrivals. He turned back around and saw the Westlake varsity baseball team celebrating yet another victory. So it was to the surprise of almost everyone when the Chaps were eliminated prematurely by the Pflugerville Panthers. After two hard-fought one -run games on May 5-6, the Chaps, who finished the season as District Champs, fell short and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. “We were really good this year and had a really fun team,” catcher junior Jack Jones said. “I wish we could’ve gone further, but there’s always next year.” Although they were sent home early, the success of this season is not to be undervalued. In the 37-game season, the Chaps outscored their opponents by 161 runs. They also averaged about eight runs per game, while their foes only averaged four. With a 30-7 final record, the Chaps racked up one of the best winning percentages in school history. Coach Jim Darilek noticed a significant change in mentality from last year’s team that provided all the difference on the field and made his

junior Carson Viglione attributes the great success to working better as a team. “We really came together as a whole,” Carson said. “We all worked hard in practice and we played hard.” It’s natural to expect the team to have been carried by a few leaders, but according to Carson, that was not the case. “There were a couple of stars like [catcher senior] Robert Baldwin and [outfielder and pitcher senior] Collin Shaw who are going to Yale and Texas, but for the most part everybody just carried the load,” Carson said. Robert also cited the team’s depth and mutual input from every player as a key factor for success. “We trusted everybody in our lineup,” Robert said. “One through nine, we had everybody contributing positively this year. We could really count on everybody to get the job done.” Darilek views the early loss as a learning experience. “We well know what happens when you allow a team extra outs due to defensive mistakes,” Darilek said. “Hopefully, the returning players will remember this in

Stopped short

In between batters, senior Robert Baldwin stretches his legs during the game against Del Valle April 19. Next year Robert will be catching for the Yale Bulldogs. Although the Chaps won District, they lost in the first round of playoffs. Sidney Hollingsworth

At this

stage of the

To quote Charlie Sheen’s signature phrase, this team is “winning.” They prepared all year to try and make it deep into the playoffs and finish well in District play. Playing well in the Westlake Tournament, the A&M Consolidated Tournament and placing third at the San Marcos Tournament, the Chaps were set up for a playoff spot and a second place finish in District. After a year of great success, they came up short in the playoffs against Pflugerville, losing two games out of three to be eliminated from play April 30. The Chaps finished with a record of 24-10. —Cody Crutchfield & Lauren Nelson

Softball finishes 2nd in District, celebrates season

Shea Wendlandt

Outfielder senior Maisie Gwynne

Started playing: Age 5 Favorite thing about softball: “We don’t have any stars. We have some really strong players but we don’t have any stars — I’m not playing in college. I’m ending softball, which is kind of sad. I’ve played it my whole life, but it’s a good year to go out because it’s been such a fun season.”

Infielder junior Rosie Maddox

Favorite way to warm up: Play hacky sack Why this year stands out: “I feel relaxed this year because our seniors are more relaxed this year and are really motivating for everyone. Last year I was really quiet because I was just getting to know people. Now I am more vocal and am friends with everyone.”

Pitcher/utility sophomore Elizabeth Carter

Started playing: Age 8 Unique aspect: “I definitely bring competitiveness to the team. I like to go out there and improve my game every time.”

Outfielder senior Amanda Webb

Why this year stands out: “In the past we had some drama, but this year everyone is really close and we all get along together and respect each other. I feel like it’s helped us a lot.” Westlake’s representation of softball: “I remember my freshman year I was talking about softball and someone asked me, ‘Oh, we have a softball team?’ I feel like it just doesn’t get talked about enough.”

Utility junior Jordan Hunter

Started playing: Age 6. “My sister played so my dad got me into the softball system as soon as he could.” Unique aspect: “I make them laugh. I’m the jokester.”

Catcher junior Kathy Dzienkowski

Started playing: “I started playing in 1st grade. All of my friends did it and I wanted to try something new. I did it and it stuck.” Unique aspect: “I think I bring fun and optimism to the team. I try to be really positive and not focus on negative things.”

Infielder sophomore Stephanie Wong

Favorite way to warm up: “We usually play hacky a little bit and mess around with each other. It gives us energy and makes us feel good before the game.” Unique aspect: “I bring a lot of energy and try to make sure we are all pumped up for the game.”

Utility junior Xavia Gamboa

Favorite thing about softball: “My favorite part about softball is the intensity that every game brings and meeting new people.” Why this year stands out: “I am playing with brand new girls, and I’m bonding with a whole new team so it’s definitely been a good experience for me this year.”

Pitcher sophmore Lauren McLeod

Started playing: Age 4 Favorite thing about softball: “I am pitcher so I like improving myself while working on the sport at the same time.”

Utility freshman Janelle Turnquest

Favorite thing about softball: “My favorite part in softball is when I get a good hit for my team and everyone’s excited.” Unique aspect: “I’m proud to say that I’m the only freshman on the team.”

Infielder/Catcher sophomore Cedar Slovacek

Started playing: Age 4 Favorite thing about softball: ”I like hitting the best. It’s my favorite part of the game.”

Infielder junior Clara Navarro

Why this year stands out: “I think we are a lot more bonded this year. We hang out more after school, which I think brings good energy because we all get along and we trust each other more.” Favorite thing about softball: “It has given me a group of friends to hang out with a lot. It’s kind of a different world. It gets me away from academics and gives me the opportunity to unwind at the end of the day.”

{ opinion }

Letting Go Trapeze lesson helps grounded girl learn to fly

My assignment was simple: I was there to interview the owner for a newspaper story. I had no idea my mom had actually signed me up for a lesson. Thoughts of running away rushed through my head as I was strapped into the trapeze harness. “I’m just here to observe!” I tried to convince the instructor that there had been a mistake, that I wasn’t really there to actually try it, just to watch and maybe ask a few questions. Little did I know, my mom and the owner of Trapeze Austin (the man who also happened to be one of my instructors), Russell Codona Toretto, were in cahoots. Again, I tried persuading my mom to let me just watch, but it didn’t work. The helping instructor, Jay-Bird, tried to calm me down, but all I could think about was me, the bar and a long fall to the ground. “No need to be nervous,” Jay-Bird said. “Don’t think about it too hard; you’ll be fine.” High up on the platform, I was shaking with fear. I tried convincing the platform manager, Kris, that I had no strength, and she should probably let me down the ladder before I fell off. “You’ll be fine,” Kris said. I’ll be fine? Did they see my lack of arm muscles? How was I going to pull myself up onto the bar and hang onto it by my knees, all while swinging across the room 35 feet in the air? Oh sure, this was going to work out great. Pushing back thoughts of falling into the large net spanning out across the room, I jumped. “QUICK! Bring your knees up! Hook your legs onto the bar! Go, now!” Kris barked.

I scrambled to swing my legs, first under the bar, then over. “Great! Now let go with your hands.” “Wait, excuse me?” “Come on, let go! Just let go of the bar!” Kris yelled. Anxiously, I let go of the bar, one hand after the other. My head and torso immediately fell backwards, making me hang upside down only by my knees. Still swinging at a fast pace, I arched my back, making the swinging easier. After going back and forth three more times, Jay-Bird yelled up at me to put my hands back up to the bar. My abs cramped in pain as I pulled my chest level to my legs. “Nice! Now drop your legs!” Jay-Bird instructed. I complied and let my legs fall loose. Kris allowed me to swing once until she shouted to let go, but to tilt my head backwards as I did. While falling, my body followed my head, and I did a back flip onto the rope net below me. Shakily, I stood up and waited for instructions. Toretto, down by the end of the net, started clapping. Soon, the other eight people in my class joined along. By the end of the class, people congratulated me on my progress throughout the twoand-a-half hours we were there. “And you’re what, a senior in high school?”

Freshman Madi Goll hangs from a bar by her knees as a part of her training for a trapeze routine. Trapeze Austin, which is open to the public, is located at Soccerzone, behind O’Reilly’s and AutoZone, at 9501 Manchaca Road. Hannah Kunz

Jay-Bird asked. “Freshman, actually…” I said, embarrassed. My main fear was that they’d make me fly without a harness. Luckily in your first class, nobody expects you to take off your harness until you leave. While talking to a couple in their 50s, I learned they had been doing trapeze for years. At the beginning of practice, they still work with a harness until they feel comfortable enough to take it off and swing without it. Their favorite part of trapeze is the adrenaline rush as they’re swinging through the air. Trapeze is something I would have never thought of doing for fun. Before this whole experience, I hardly even knew what trapeze consisted of. Although I’d never admit it to her face, my mom actually did me a favor by forcing me to try it out. Trapeze has helped me learn to be more adventurous and give new things a try. “Once you’re up there, it’s just you and the bar,” Toretto said. “You forget about everything except the task at hand. The fear of falling, the fear of throwing yourself out there, the fear of not getting it right, they fade away. When you’re in the air, your fears fade away.” Thanks, Mom. —Madi Goll

Fast and furious

Shea Wendlandt

He lines up at the start of a dirt trail. Riders on either side of him sit on heavy, colorful bikes, the loud hum of engines vibrating through the earth. Then, suddenly, they’re off — speeding, turning and jumping. This is motocross, and senior Auston Litton lives for it. “People think it’s not a hard sport and anyone can do it, but it takes years and years to get reasonably good,” Auston said. “I heard once that a motocross rider’s heart beats faster, harder and longer than an Olympic track runner’s.” When Auston was in eighth grade, his grandfather presented him with a 250cc four wheeler for Christmas. At first, he would just go out to the ATV trails with his father, who would teach him the basics of how to shift and brake. But soon, the thrill of riding a four wheeler was not enough for Auston. “I tried my dad’s bike,” Auston said. “I noticed how much more I enjoyed it because I always wanted to ride it. His bike soon turned into my first, a Yamaha 250. My dad bought another bike so we could both ride one.” Auston’s father, Jason Litton, raced motorcycles for a large portion of his life. When Auston was young, his father did street races and drag raced sport bikes. He gave up racing for the most part, as other priorities took over in his life. Now, riding with Auston gives him a way to return to that. “If [my dad] hadn’t done what he did, I don’t think I would be riding motocross at all,” Auston said. “He’s the one that pushed me towards riding a bike.” For a while, Auston and his father rode technical trails together, traveling to amusement parks throughout Texas. Eventually, they started going to a local motocross park, Austin Del Valle Motocross. “I like tracks better because of the jumps,” Auston said. “I love trail riding too, but the track is like a

Rider finds joy in extreme sport

personal roller coaster and I can really push myself on the track.” About a year and half ago, Auston outgrew the Yamaha 250 and got a new, bigger 450 Suzuki. Motocross bikes require constant maintenance. The oil needs to be changed, the air filter cleaned and the general condition of the vehicle monitored. “I grease the chain before each ride,” Auston said. “I make sure the tires aren’t missing any rubber or the knobs on the tires aren’t tearing off. Also, I check that the tires have the right air pressure and the spokes on the rims aren’t loose. I make sure none of the shocks are blown. About every other ride, I do a good onceover to make sure no bolts are loose.” Along with the efforts of actually managing the vehicle, motocross presents other difficulties. Injuries aren’t uncommon; Auston has broken his ankle twice and a rib once, along with the usual scratches and bruises. “The hardest part is just learning to be comfortable and trusting the bike and yourself,” Auston said. Despite the challenges, for Auston, motocross is worth it. “Ever since I [can] remember, I’ve raced something,” Auston said. “It’s in my blood. Motocross gets the adrenaline and the heart rate up to its natural high. When you hit a jump, it just feels awesome. It’s the next best thing to being able to fly.” As time passes and Auston’s senior year draws to a close, he has to make a decision on whether to continue motocross after high school. “I plan on having a career in motosport,” he said. “[I’m] trying to focus on sport bike racing mostly. I’ll still ride dirt bikes, but just as a hobby.” —Selah Maya Zighelboim

Not your typical biker

otocross brings to mind helmeted men atop powerful bikes, skidding around corners on rocky terrain. It makes one think of strength and speed and masculinity, not of sophomore Kit Baldree. “People think that it’s a guys’ sport,” Kit said. “You can get hurt doing it, so I guess girls think, ‘I don’t want to get hurt or dirty.’ It is a dirty sport.” It’s probably hard to picture Kit’s narrow frame splattered in mud and riding a motorcycle. It’s even difficult for other racers. “When I show up, people are like, ‘Oh, you’re a girl,’” she said. “They underestimate me and think I won’t win, and then if I do, it’s pretty cool.” Kit’s experience in motocross began with her father. He had done motocross as a young adult and decided it would be a good activity for Kit’s brother to get involved in. The sport eventually caught Kit’s interest too. “Motocross is something that’s different,” Kit said. “If somebody asks, ‘What do you do outside of school?’ It could be, ‘I play tennis.’ But it’s motocrossing. It’s different. It catches people’s attention.” Now, Kit is more involved in motocross than her brother, practicing almost every weekend during the colder months. She doesn’t compete in too many races, but that’s not what matters to her. “I think the best thing is the fact that I’m out there, doing it and not scared of it,” Kit said.

Going the distance

Former swimmer finds passion in cross country, track, excels as sophomore

“L

Macke nzie Fra n

klin

ast call for the varsity girls 1600 meter race. Last call for check in.” Sophomore Ali Franklin laces up her track waffle shoes, preparing for what she hopes to be the fastest five minutes of her life. It’s dark; the mile is the second-to-last race on the meet schedule. Energies are wearing thin and butterflies are multiplying in stomachs. Ali makes her way toward the starting line. She stands in her lane. Eyes focused. Feet poised. Mind set. “Runners to your mark, set, go!” The gun goes off along with all the runners with Ali in the lead. Ali didn’t start out as a runner. Throughout her childhood, she practiced an array of sports including dance, karate, soccer, tennis, tball, volleyball and golf. Ever since eighth grade, she spent at least two hours a day, six days a week in the water as a competitive swimmer. But with the help of swimming and Cooper, a furry canine friend, Ali discovered her running talent. “My crazy dog actually helped me start running,” Ali said. “He could open locked doors in our house and get loose almost every day. I would have to chase him for miles on the golf course and in the woods behind our house in order to catch him and bring him home. Swimming [also] helped me get started with running. We would run before we swam every day. The other swimmers hated this part of swim practice, but I really enjoyed it. Then I decided to try out for the cross country team at my school [in Florida].” When she moved to Austin as a freshman, she enrolled in Westlake and participated in track and swimming. As a sophomore, Ali tried out for the cross country team during the second meet of the season, the Unicorn Invitational at New Braunfels. Ali ran for JV, and beat the fastest runner by minutes. Her potential was discovered, and she was promoted to varsity. Ali’s speed was unmatchable, and in order to run competitively, her practice routines have become a little unorthodox. During the morning practices at Town Lake, one can see the boys team running in a pack. But take a closer look. One of the runners has a bronze ponytail. Ali runs with the boys. “Ali is one of the fastest girl runners at our school, which has led her to running with the boys cross country team a lot,” senior Will Ferguson said. “We figured we’d give her a boy name. It started off with Aaron, which could be a girl’s name too, so we changed it to Andrew and now it is Allan Franklin. We cheer [her] through all the races she wins, screaming ‘Let’s go Allan!’” Ali says running with the boys proves to be quite a different experience than running with the girls. “Practicing with the guys team was intimidating at first, but I grew to like the chal-

Girls 15-5A District results

lenge of trying to keep up with them,” Ali said. Despite being the fastest distance runner on the team and holding last season’s cross country MVP position, Ali believes in the team as a unit working together to achieve its goals. “It was a really big honor to be MVP last cross country season,” Ali said. “I hope I can continue to improve and do my part to help our team advance past the Regional meet, which is our goal for next cross country season. I also like running with the girl’s team because they are my good friends as well as teammates, and we are one big family.” Ali’s speed may put her leagues ahead of the rest of her teammates and competition, but it is what makes the experience richer and all the more memorable. “Being the fastest on the team is nice, but having awesome teammates to run with and motivate me is what I really enjoy,” Ali said. “We have a great team and everyone pushes each other to do their best.” Despite balancing her coursework and practice timetable, there are sacrifices that Ali has had to make in order to continue running. Swimming is no longer an option for her because she can’t fit it into her schedule. “In order to fully dedicate my time to running I made a decision to stop competitively swimming,” Ali said. “This allowed me to have more time to focus on track and cross country. My decision to no longer swim was a very difficult choice to make. I made so many lifelong friends on both club and school swim teams and I really did enjoy that sport too.” Giving up swimming allowed Ali to concentrate her efforts on running. She hopes to go far with her skill by taking it to college. “I plan on continuing running both track and cross country for the rest of my time at Westlake,” Ali said. “After high school I also plan on running in college and it’s a goal of mine to run for a Division 1 school.” Exactly five minutes and 24 seconds later, Ali crosses the finish line first, leagues ahead of the rest of the competition. She staggers off the track and onto the field toward the water buffalo (a cart with water for the runners), out of breath and energy. As she unlaces her waffles, she thinks about what she has gained: 10 points for the varsity girls track team, another medal, her coach and team’s pride and the sense of satisfaction of finishing another race well run. —Mekala Keshu and Elizabeth Petersen For boys and girls track Regional results, visit www.westlakefeatherduster.com

Sophomore Casey Simmons, senior Emma Yee, sophomore Ali Franklin and senior Hannah Mallios celebrate scoring 12th in the distance medley at Texas Relays.

Westlake Bowie Austin High Akins Del Valle Anderson

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{ opinion }

Holding up his 12-gauge shotgun he uses for sporting clays, senior Alex Gieb demonstrates the proper shooting position.

Straight

shooter

Senior shares fascination with firearms Shooting sporting clays has been a big part of my life for the past seven years. For me, it started out as something my dad and I could do together on the weekends after I moved away from him and my west Texas home in fifth grade. I have come a long way in the sport since then, moving from just going out and shooting on the weekends to competing at a high level both statewide and nationally. Though shooting sporting clays is a large aspect of my life, I have yet to enjoy explaining the game to other people, but I’ll give it a try. Sporting clays is shot in rounds, much like golf. A typical round consists of 100 targets, known as birds. A bird is a clay disk colored either orange or black. It is launched into the air by a thrower called a trap. The shooter stands in a designated area, or station, with his or her shotgun, where two targets are thrown. Every pair of targets is launched at the shooter’s ready when he calls “pull.” Each station consists of a number of pairs depending on the number of stations on the course. Scoring is based upon the number of targets hit out of the total number thrown. What separates sporting clays from more traditional shotgun sports, such as trap and skeet, is that the targets can be thrown at whatever angle, speed or direction that the target setter desires. Games like trap and skeet have targets that are thrown the same way every time, no matter where you go. The sport is regulated by the National Sporting Clays Association, which keeps a count of all tournament targets shot by registered shooters. The NSCA divides shooters into classes ranging from D class through AA class, and master class, representing the best of the best. New shooters start out in D and can go up classes by winning tournaments. This allows everyone to compete with people on their own skill level regardless of age or sex. Top shooters can make money by winning tournaments or by coaching shooting techniques to others. Regardless of one’s experience and skill, sporting clays can be fun for anyone. Almost everyone who I have met shooting has been very friendly, and most are eager to help out people who are struggling with their shooting technique. It takes a lot of practice and a little bit of natural ability to be able to shoot well. And just like golf, you can never be satisfied with how well you are doing. That quality is what drives shooters to spend countless hours on the range trying to be better than the next guy, and until they become the best, they aren’t going to stop. —Alex Gieb

Barrett Wilson

Tools of the trade Gun:

Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II 12 Gauge 32-inch barrels

Choke Tubes:

Pure Gold Sporting Clay Series Extended chokes Ported

Shot shells:

Rio Target Load 1 ounce 7 ½ shot

Where to shoot: Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club 8707 Lindell Ln Austin, Texas 78724 (512) 272-4707

Boys and their toys

Junior Claude Barker adjusts the Speak & Spell he rewired. After circuit bending toys and electronics, Claude incorporates their new altered sounds into his music, which you can find on his SoundCloud account, clod B.

Barrett Wilson

he dull red plastic head of a miniature guitar rests on top of the small hill of primarily colored children’s electronic toys that bulges under junior Claude Barker’s bed. It’s uncommon for a 17-year-old to collect toddlers’ toys — let alone play with them. Claude grabs the handle of a toy with an “age 1-3” label on it and presses start. “Spell ‘ton’,” an electric voice demands. “T-O-N.” “That is…” Before the voice can say “correct,” Claude flips a switch he circuited to the top of the toy. The voice catches, then stutters and repeats “cor, cor, cor” over and over. Although the toy sounds broken, this alteration is intentional. Claude records it, flips the switch back and gathers other sound samples for a song. Claude’s dad, Paul Barker, made a name for himself in the music industry as the bassist of the industrial metal band Ministry. Claude’s father helped introduce him to music and find a genre of music he wanted to create. “Since my dad is a musician, I’ve been exposed to musical instruments, and he’s influenced what I believe is good music,” Claude said. “Every instrument I have was acquired through my dad.” After listening to house and dubstep artists like Daft Punk, Justice, Boyz Noize and Datsik, Claude began to experiment and create his own music. “When I started listening to dubstep I thought it would be cool to make it, so I started looking up how to online,” Claude said. “I saw someone using Reason 4 [software] and it just looked like it made a lot of sense. Reason 4 gives you a virtual ‘rack,’ like a series of modules with a mixer and a synthesizer in descending order. I started using it and figured out how to make music with it.” When creating a song, Claude finds uncopyrighted samples of drum and basslines online and layers the sound elements in Reason 4. “I usually start with the drumline — it’s a basic part of most songs,” Claude said. “From there I usually go straight to the bassline because I think it’s the most fun. Then if it sounds okay, I’ll play around with adding different leads or choruses. Making a song on Reason 4 is really fun and super easy.”

Musician alters electronics to create unique sound samples

Composing music electronically online is something that many online artists do. To distinguish his sound, Claude combined his circuit-bending and music-making skills. “Taking kids’ toys and making them sound different is kind of a nerdy thing to do, but I like the samples they create,” Claude said. “It’s a lot cooler if you have an actual toy versus creating these sounds online because you can actually take it apart and mess with it. It’s more tactile. I usually make a song using the basic structure and just incorporate the toys’ samples in the song like after a buildup or whatever sounds good.” After learning from his dad how to solder, Claude taught himself how to circuit bend — to rewire connections in electronics to produce different sounds — by reading Reed Ghazala’s Circuit-Bending: Build Your Own Alien Instruments. “I discovered how to solder working for my dad,” Claude said. “He has a company that makes guitar pedals. He got the book on circuit bending from a friend he used to work with. I found it and started reading it because it seemed really cool and interested me. The book has diagrams on how to circuit bend electronics, like where to place the switches and dial.” Using the leftover switches and potentiometers from his dad’s guitar pedal business, Claude began practicing circuit bending on keyboards, alternating tempo and causing the sound to “jam” and repeat itself. Claude collected electronic toys like the Alphabet Desk at thrift stores around Austin and started experimenting with circuit bending on them. “The Savers in Austin has a lot of electronic toys, so that’s where most of my toys came from,” Claude said. “Most of the toys are like $3. The point is to just get interesting sounds — they don’t always sound musical. To get a sample from the toys I just take something apart and then start bridging points on the circuit board, and depending on whether or not that sounds good to me I will solder it to a switch. If I really like it and want to put it in a song, I take a sample of it and incorporate it somewhere.” Claude’s favorite toy to collect samples from is his original 1978 Speak & Spell which he received for Christmas. “My dad tracked it down for me on eBay —

it’s pretty rare,” Claude said. “A Speak & Spell is a really desirable thing for circuit bending because it sounds really cool. There’s a lot you can do with it. The way a Speak & Spell works is it will say words and ask you to spell things. I made a remix of a song and used some samples from a Speak & Spell. I think it’s cool to make it start saying random noises.” As he creates songs, Claude publishes them on his SoundCloud account clod B. For now he plans to keep making music and circuit bending as an outlet, while continuing to explore what he can create. “I think it would be really cool to learn how to make synthesizers,” Claude said. “I guess that’s where I can go from circuit bending — creating my own circuit. I see myself continuing with circuit bending and creating music because it’s my hobby. I like interesting sounds and interesting music, and that’s what you get when you modify a kid’s toy or a keyboard. It’s fun and I can do it in my free time. It’s my escape.” —Lauren Nelson

Claude’s top toys

Of Claude’s collection of toys and keyboards his favorite sound samples come from his Speak & Spell, Talking Professor and Cassio keyboard.

Pitch dial:

Turning dial alters pitch up and down while sound is play-

Switches:

Flipping switches causes the sound to loop,

photos by Karen Scott

Shorty supports the Featherduster!

The Okapi supports the Featherduster!

Caught in her

b b e W

English teacher plans to retire; reflects on 30-year career

Monica Tan

The Featherduster: What are you most looking forward to about retiring? Connie Webb: Travel. [My husband and I] have both traveled a lot of the world, but there are still places we want to go, like Alaska, Australia and South America. We’ve even talked about a cruise where you literally go around the world in two or three months. FD: Is it going to be hard for you to leave Westlake? CW: Every time I do something, I think to myself, “That’s the last time I’m going to do that.” It’s going to be very bittersweet because I’ve been here [at Westlake] for 25 years which is a long time for a teacher. But I’ve psyched myself into it. I’m ready for it. FD: Why did you decide to retire after this year? CW: Well, I was thinking about retiring last year, but my students told me to stay. But my daughter just had a baby, I just got married and my son is graduating from Rice. All of this is happening in one year. So it’s just a really opportune time for me to retire. And 30 years [of teaching] is a nice round number. FD: Is there a certain environment you tried to create in your classroom for your students? CW: I really like for there to be energy in a classroom. If a teacher is up at the front of the room and everyone’s quiet, it’s boring. I like for them to have that energy that is fun and also helps with learning. FD: Besides celebrating the end of the book with a food fair, what kinds of activities do you do while reading To Kill a Mockingbird? CW: We annotate the text, especially for local color references, character development and Atticus’ wisdom. We do a Socratic circle discussion after the first half of the book. The going is slow at the beginning of the book, as Harper Lee is a master at layering the text. Things speed up after a while, and we finish the book in about six weeks. I use a “train” analogy: the wheels go slowly at first, then the train speeds through the countryside; it slows down for some “towns,” and finally it slows and stops at the end. FD: What contact have your students had with Harper Lee?

CW: We already had the autographed pictures, and a few years ago there was a phone conversation. This year, one of my students, Madison Huff, got a letter from Harper Lee on her actual embossed stationary which a lot of people tell her will be very valuable. FD: Did you ever play any pranks? CW: Mrs. [Kitty] Mellenbruch and I used to play pranks on other teachers. We would get balloons and blow them up for teachers’ birthdays and cram them into their car. Once, we put pictures of men in bikinis from catalogues around an assistant principal’s room, and we put one on the back of her door. When she was in a meeting with a parent she closed the door and saw the picture of the man in the Speedo and was scared to death that the parent would turn around and see it and think that she put it there. But Mrs. Mellenbruch is the main instigator— I’m a follower, not a leader. I’m more of her sidekick as the pranks go because she has the more wild and crazy personality out of the two of us. FD: What is the craziest thing that has happened to one of your students? CW: I used to have students build a model of the Globe Theater. A boy was cutting a bundle of Popsicle sticks with a radial saw, and he sawed off his finger. Dr. Davis, a community doctor, had to reattach it with seven hours of microsurgery. I went to visit him in the hospital and he had his hand in a Styrofoam [cast] and could barely move it. But then I saw him about 15 years later in a pet shop and he said, “Look, I can move my finger!” FD: What would you do differently if you were teaching next year? CW: If I were to teach another year, I would love for the kids who had smartphones to play Words with Friends in class because it’s so good for your vocabulary. Every Friday I would probably spend about 15 minutes of class doing that. FD: How will you remember your teaching career? CW: I considered other careers when I entered college but I’m so glad I decided to teach. In addition to a great retirement income, I’ve had 30 years of having fun and making a difference in students’ lives. —Laura Hatcher

“Every time I do something, I think to myself, ‘That’s the last time I’m going to do that.’” —English teacher Connie Webb

Hittin’ the Spice up boring college visits with fun side trips

road

There comes a time when even the most anxiously-anticipated summer can become boring. Maybe it’s the heat or the lack of schoolwork hanging over them, but many students find themselves running out of things to do in Austin during the summer. Even worse is being dragged by parents to a college visit, traipsing along the sidewalks, campus map in hand, of yet another tree-lined university. Who wants to be stuck inside on a summer day, listening to an admission officer drone on about how many AP credits his college accepts and how much demonstrated financial aid it meets? With experiences like these, all the colleges seem to run together. Make the trip more memorable by convincing agenda-obsessed parents to stop at fun places along the way. Whether en route to a college visit or just bored out of his mind, a smart Chap knows that day trips are the best way to enjoy the break, and this guide is here to help those who wish to journey out of the “Westlake bubble.” —Julie Dorland

Floating in Gruene When planning a college visit, we don’t normally picture bobbing along a cool river with an ice chest chock full of cold sodas in its own tube alongside the family. With a trip to Texas State University, however, this could be possible. The town of Gruene is located only 47 minutes from Austin, near San Marcos, home of Texas State. Gruene includes many shops and even the historic dance hall, conveniently located close to the Gristmill, which serves amazing burgers and todie-for chicken-fried steak. One of the best activities to do in Gruene is to enjoy both the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers. Several companies including Gruene River Company (830-625-2800) and Rockin ‘R’ River Rides (830-629-9999) offer tubing, canoeing, kayaking and even “scenic whitewater rafting.” Guides are also available for those who request them. This activity is ideal for those scorching days and is very close to home. Source: www.gruenetexas.com

School may be out, but economics is still in session at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco. But don’t let this dissuade you from visiting it; this museum is just as fun as it is carbonated, linking economics and soda in a new way. The museum displays soft-drink memorabilia while teaching about the American system of business. A drive of one hour and 45 minutes north to Waco, admission is only $7. It’s the place able to reconcile the differences between parents obsessed with that silly idea of “learning” over the summer and kids who just want to have fun. The museum also offers a traditional soda fountain serving delicious Dr Pepper floats and a gift shop offering Dr Pepper shirts, mugs, clocks and even stools. Located close to Baylor University, this museum is the perfect pit stop between a campus tour and admissions information session. Open all week long, the museum offers shorter hours on Sundays. While in Waco, those interested in history should also check out the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Source: www.drpeppermuseum.com

Art by Emily Mitchell

Dr Pepper Museum in Waco

Blue Bell Ice Cream Tour in Brenham Picture being stuck in the back of your parents’ car with sweaty siblings for two hours on the way to visit Texas A&M. Then picture making a detour through Brenham, closing your eyes and letting the sweet flavor of vanilla melt in your mouth as you savor the taste of a scoop of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Touring an ice cream factory is the ultimate activity for those long, over-100-degree-days. An hour and 40 minute drive from Austin, admission is only $5 and includes a 45-minute tour as well as a scoop of ice cream. Tours are only Monday through Friday at certain times, and there is limited parking. However, these inconveniences are well-worth the experience of touring the production facility and watching a video about how Blue Bell makes ice cream. Source: www.bluebell.com

Medieval Times in Dallas While quite a drive away, three hours and 15 minutes from Austin, this show is worthy of the road trip, especially for those already heading north to Dallas to visit Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University or The University of Texas at Arlington. Visitors to Medieval Times can enjoy a feast fit for a king and cheer for jousting knights, all within a large castle including a moat. The show begins as a play, with regal commencement speeches by the royal court. If that’s not enticing enough, each party is given a hat with a color corresponding to one of the knights and sits in that knight’s section, cheering for him throughout the tournament. A few lucky ladies even receive roses thrown to them by their knight. Throughout the summer, the show runs almost every night, with multiple shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The only drawback to this fantastic show is the steep price: tickets can be purchased online for $59. Source: www.medievaltimes.com

By the

numbers

Austin is a truly quirky city, from the people who live here to the restaurants and sporting events. Even though our city ranks number one as Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine’s best place to live over the next 10 years, it isn’t without its flaws. On this page, we have compiled a few statistics that both showcase our outstanding city as well as draw a bit of attention to our less-than-admirable qualities. —Madison Scott

1,500,000

34.7

Average age of a person living in Austin (www.austin360. com).

150

Different food venues that have been in the space currently occupied by My Fit Foods and Bountiful Bakery and Café in the Westwoods Shopping Center. Most recently, this list includes Time Out For Burgers, Who’s on First, Holiday House, Sonic and Tin Star.

Bats live under the Congress Avenue bridge, creating one of the city’s most popular summer attractions. The city boasts the largest urban bat population in the country (www.austin360.com).

Students on average go to Texas Honey Ham Company for lunch on a school day, according to an employee.

22 100,199

Starbucks shops in the Austin area (www.yelp. com).

Banks exist on Bee Caves Road, which is approximately 12 miles in length. That averages out to be about two banks per mile (www.maps.google.com).

Official seating capacity of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. This makes it the largest collegiate stadium in the southwest (www.texassport.com). In contrast, the Chaparral stadium seats 10,000.

Austin’s rank on the list of the drunkest cities in the country. The city achieved this rank based on state laws, number of drinkers, number of heavy drinkers, number of binge drinkers and alcoholics (www.forbes.com).

Cars added to Austin’s roads each day due to the high population growth rate (www.impactnews.com).

Art by Bra

d Du

Self-serve frozen yogurt shops in the city (www.yelp.com).

DAVID HIME . DDS, MS & NICK SALOME . DDS, MSD 5718 Balcones Drive | Austin, Texas 78731

512.458.4103

www. AustinOrthodonticArts.com

From photo by Shea Wendlandt

e k a w to ake w

Thrill-seeker engages in his favorite pastime

he very first time he tried it, senior Hayden McEntire knew he loved to wakeboard. After his family bought their first boat, Hayden decided to try wakeboarding, and from then on, he completely immersed himself in the sport. “I got up on the first try and fell in love with it,” Hayden said. “My best friend, [senior] Ross Barrett, started to get into it as well. We became really competitive and rode all the time trying to be better than each other.” After learning to wakeboard, Hayden began taking lessons, riding with local professionals and competing during the summers. “These small local competitions are easily the most fun,” Hayden said. “You get to ride with friends you’ve made in the industry.” When Hayden was 15, he began to learn professional tricks and started riding with instructor Greg Lawrence at Lakelessons, his favorite wakeboard school on Lake Austin. After his freshman year, Hayden began to work there during the summer and rode three times a day, which helped his wakeboarding skills immensely. “I started competing in bigger competitions and ended up going to the International Amateur Waterski, Wakeboard & Kneeboard U.S. Tour Nationals in California where I competed in the outlaw division, [one level below pro],” Hayden said. While he didn’t win, leaving his expectations unfulfilled, he continued competing in Sail and Ski and INT competitions throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas the summer afterwards. At the end of the summer, he received a sponsorship from Texas professional Keith Holley for Connelly Wakeboards. Through this sponsorship, the company sends him wakeboards and in return Hayden helps the business get

their name out. “It is a huge honor to ride for one of the biggest names in the industry,” Hayden said. “They’re a great company and I love riding for them.” As he improved his wakeboarding skills, he began entering in bigger competitions including the Riptank Open and the Pro Wakeboard Tour in Fort Worth. “I’m most proud of winning outlaw in the Arkansas INT competition and landing a topside 720 [two spins],” Hayden said. For Hayden, wakeboarding isn’t just about competing; it’s also about enjoying himself and having fun. “What I love about wakeboarding is the calmness and solitude of it,” he said. “Riding by yourself in the early mornings is awesome; you can really focus on yourself and perfecting your riding.” After he broke his knee snow skiing junior year, Hayden’s riding was hindered, but he is now fully recovered. In the summers he rides every day and during the school year he rides three times a week, driven by his dad or local riders. “This summer I’m looking forward to competing in big name and local contests and really pushing wakeboarding around Texas,” Hayden said. Although Hayden will soon graduate from high school and begin a new chapter of his life in college, he doesn’t plan to stop wakeboarding. “I look forward to continuing competing, progressing my riding level and working at Lakelessons,” Hayden said. “If I attend the University of Texas I will look into competing at the collegiate level on the Texas Wake Wakeboard Team.” —Daisy Burgess and Jessica Stenglein

“Riding by yourself in the early mornings is awesome; you can really focus on yourself and perfecting your riding.” —senior Hayden McEntire

BEVO boys I Former Chaps’ football bond remains after trio is inducted into UT student organization

t’s 105 degrees Fahrenheit. During another unbearably hot two-a-day practice, three varsity football players anticipate the touch of their hands to the sun-baked turf while dropping into a three-point stance, waiting for the ball to be snapped. This is only day 15 and the three players are aware that there will be plenty more practices to come before the summer ends. Little did they know that the bond forged by countless hours of hard work in Westlake football would remain strong when 2008 graduates Ross Cooper, Jay Messer and Gerrit Van De Graaf were inducted into the Silver Spurs at the University of Texas. For 73 years, the Silver Spurs has been a student-run honors organization at UT. Its job involves transporting and caring for BEVO, one of the nation’s most recognized college mascots. “The Silver Spurs is an elite organization that only allows members of the university who have demonstrated leadership in both the classroom and around campus [to participate,]” Messer said. Out of approximately 38,000 undergraduates at UT, only about 24 new members are initiated into Silver Spurs each semester. Because only 82 students from Westlake enrolled in UT in 2008, the odds were very slim for three football players from the same high school graduating class to become active Spurs at the same time. “[The Silver Spurs] have an application process that starts at the beginning of every semester,” Van De Graaf said. “Any student can apply after they have 42 credit hours at UT, [which is typically around their junior year]. After submitting an application, each individual must go through an interview process. All the people the Spurs accept have proven to be leaders in other organizations on campus and the

and the

majority of applicants they take have been nominated by other Spurs in their organization.” The Spurs who are responsible for the overall care of BEVO are called Handlers. There are four members selected each year to become the Handlers and they hold that position for one year. Primarily seniors, they are determined by the active Spur chapter through a vote. Even though none of the Westlake alumni are Handlers at the moment, they look forward to having the chance to do it in the future. “These men are in charge of actually driving out to Sunrise Ranch, [which is] home to BEVO,” Messer said. “[Driving out there] takes an hour, then loading BEVO onto the trailer probably takes another hour or two because they have to find him, round him up, prepare the trailer, put him in the trailer and then lock the trailer up. Then they finally drive him to the UT football stadium, away games or even to events like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. There are about 50 events that BEVO attends each year, which makes being a Handler essentially a full time job.” While the Handlers are looking after BEVO, the other Spurs help run the Neighborhood Longhorns Program, which offers tutoring to elementary and middle school children in the Austin area. “Tutoring is a great way to give back to the community because you can help the kids make math and other subjects fun,” Messer said. “They really get a kick out of being taught by ‘cool’ college students. I try to be a role model while I am tutoring to help in a more meaningful way.” In addition to the tutoring program, the new members known as the Rowels have to take on some unwanted tasks. They have to make sure that BEVO’s living conditions are optimal at all times because the health department gives out tickets for an untidy trailer. “As new members this past semester, we had the privilege of cleaning out BEVO’s trailer after football games,” Cooper said. “BEVO is

2008 Westlake graduates Gerrit Van De Graaf, Jay Messer and Ross Cooper are members of the Silver Spurs, a student-run honors organization at UT. All three men say they would be honored to be a Handler, whose main responsibility is taking care of and transporting BEVO. They must drive to everything he attends, even events at the White House. The current mascot, BEVO XIV, weighs approximately 1,800 pounds, stands 5’8’’ tall, and his horns measure 72’’ from tip to tip. To learn how BEVO got his name, visit www.westlakefeatherduster.com.

photos by Karen Scott

a 2,000 pound animal who eats about 50 pounds of food a day, and “He got first place which is a huge honor and means he is probably when he’s cooped up in a trailer for several hours a day, it gets, shall the best longhorn steer in Texas,” Messer said. “Rightfully so, because we say, messy. It’s a smelly job, but somebody has to do it.” what other longhorn would UT want to be its mascot?” Despite this undesirable duty, being a Spur has changed Cooper’s However, BEVO isn’t perfect all the time, and when something goes perspective on the Texan lifestyle. wrong, all the Spurs need to know how to handle it. “Being a Silver Spur, I definitely feel more like a Texan than I ever “A few weeks ago I helped take BEVO to the University Co-op in have,” Cooper said. “I’m the proud owner of my first and probably San Antonio and he went a little nuts,” Van De Graaf said. “We had last cowboy hat, which we all wear on game days. Our shirts are made him standing on an Astroturf mat and at one point the wind picked by Gassane Tailors who have made suits for Lyndon B. Johnson and up and the turf moved and somehow slapped him on the butt. He George W. Bush, among other took off running for about 10 famous Texans.” yards towards a line of people Not only do they feel fortutaking pictures. I had his lead “During a pep rally, Ross ran out onto the court and did nate to be a part of the Silver rope wrapped around my hand a back flip with the cheerleaders. We all thought he was Spurs, but the Spurs organizaand tried to stop him from tion as a whole feels privileged to running into the crowd. He going to break his neck and so did coach [Derek] Long. I be able to serve their university. saw Coach Long standing in the corner and his eyes were yanked me harder than I have “I feel very honored to be a ever been pulled in my life. It wide open. You could tell he wasn’t very pleased and he Silver Spur because it means my definitely got my heart rate up peers respect me,” Messer said. and I thought he was going to made sure to let us know he wasn’t happy at practice “I try to work my hardest at any tear off my hand. He ended up that afternoon.” task I am given, and being a part calming down again after we —2008 graduate Gerrit Van De Graaf walked him around for a little of Silver Spurs shows me that people have noticed my work while.” ethic, and I am proud of that. I also think people respect Silver Spurs The bond that began when they were Chap football players and [in general] very much because people know that you have to show a continues as they are Silver Spurs is one that Cooper, Messer and Van great deal of leadership to even get considered for the organization. De Graaf will always cherish. Every student at UT loves BEVO, so it is only natural that they respect “Being a part of Silver Spurs has definitely reminded me of the the people who take care of him as well.” brotherhood of Westlake football because they are both composed of In addition to BEVO appearing at every UT game, he also particiextremely hard-working men who strive for excellence,” Messer said. pates in competitions. At the 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Ro“They also are all great guys who I have a fun time hanging out with deo, BEVO was entered and named the Grand Champion Trophy Steer. and who I’m sure will be my friends for many more years.”

Business

as usual

Student uses success from yard business to create own charity, give back to community

Photos by Karen Scott

Junior Jackson Kothe donates 10 percent of his Cuts4Passes earnings to Safeplace, a place for families and children to stay after sexual abuse or domestic violence.

Seven years ago, junior Jackson Kothe decided to start a lawn mowing business in order to earn enough money to purchase a new truck. Since then, his small mowing business has exploded into a full-blown company. With 25 satisfied clients in his neighborhood, Barton Creek West, Jackson has added various services to his original lawn-care venture, Cuts4Passes. But what makes Jackson unique from most other student entrepreneurs is that he uses his success to give back to the community. “Ten percent of what I earn, [I use] to buy footballs and I take them to Austin Safeplace,” Jackson said. “It is basically a place for families and children to stay after domestic violence or sexual abuse. Typically, they have about 30 kids there, and I bring them footballs and put on a little clinic for them. Dick’s Sporting Goods normally gives me a discount, so I can buy a bunch of footballs that normally cost $30 each at the price of $7 each and give every kid a football to keep. There are kids ages 5 to 13 who come [to our clinic], and they think we are professional football players.” Jackson decided to create his own charity with the same name as his business, Cuts4Passes, rather than just donating money to a cause. “My dad was the one who motivated me to start Cuts4Passes,” Jackson said. “Once I got started, I realized I really enjoyed it and it’s good for me and the kids. When you’re just giving money to a charity, you’re not really interacting with anyone. Giving money is great, but when you get to do something this specialized and actually see the results, it’s amazing. I was told that for months after we had been [at Safeplace], the kids were still talking about the football clinic.” Seeing what his donations and charitable work have done for the kids, Jackson is looking to help other organizations and people in need in other countries. “My original idea was to help build wells in Africa,” Jackson said. “I’ve been thinking about adding that to my charity because it’s terrible that not everybody can get clean water. I would also love to help the kids in Africa get some enjoyment, whether it be through soccer goals or balls, books or DVDs that I donate. One of my clients works at Mobile Loaves and Fishes, so I’ve been thinking about helping that out, too.” Owning his own business and seeing how effective his charitable actions are has inspired Jackson and has given him the opportunity to create a foundation for a company in the near future. “I really want to expand [my charity] and I want to emphasize that anyone can do it,” Jackson said. “If you can work, you can donate. You can’t be selfish. I definitely believe that everyone should — to some degree — donate. Whatever you’re passionate about, you can donate to that cause.” —Taylor Kidd

Senior artist makes jewelry that’s good enough to eat

Oranges. Ice cream. Strawberries. Cupcakes. Sushi. Although one might think this is a grocery list, these items are not for eating. They’re actually meant to be accessories. Senior Alice Liu’s hobby is to make clay jewelry items that resemble food with faces on them. “I started making clay charms for fun with my friend [senior] Paul Zuker during freshman year,” Alice said. “That soon morphed into making clay jewelry during sophomore year. After I started wearing my own creations and posting pictures of them on Facebook, my friends would ask me to make them earrings or bracelets.” These trinkets are not easy to make. It requires time and skill to perfect them into cute accessories. “I start by molding the clay into whatever is requested and then I bake it,” Alice said. “Once the clay cools enough for me to handle it, I paint decorations and quirky little faces on the earrings or charms. Then I put a few coats of gloss on the finished product, just to give it a nice finish. I personalize every bracelet and every pair of earrings that I make, so it usually takes me a few hours just to mold a pair of earrings,

and to make a bracelet takes an entire day. Since it is a time consuming process, I charge a small fee as low as $1 and as high as $10, but it really depends on what I make. It's mostly to cover the cost of the clay, paint, gloss, and time I put into making the charms.” Alice got her influence from other creators of food art. “I’m mostly inspired by artists that make mini-food art,” Alice said. “They render these incredibly life-like miniatures that are just so adorable. My own creations are more cartoon-styled, and I really like making them over-the-top cutesy. I usually get requests for certain types of charms, whether they're cupcakes and cookies, or Toad from Super Mario Bros. I don't really limit myself on what kinds of charms I make, but the dessert charms are the most popular.” Although she doesn’t run an official business, Alice will continue to pursue her hobby. “As long as I think it’s fun and as long as people still want clay jewelry, I will continue making clay trinkets,” Alice said. —Christina Shin

Up and comers With a first order of 50 shirts, juniors Brad Dunn, Mehul Mehta and Tanmay Gaglani have created a T-shirt business, dubbed Lonely Sheep Shirts, that has turned “developed doodles” into a legitimate enterprise. “We just thought it’d be a cool way to get Brad’s unbelievable art work out there on T-shirts,” Tanmay said. “We’re taking a small loan for the first round of production, but if everything goes according to plan, we should be able to start funding ourselves from here on out. People are always asking for shirts with Brad’s art on them, but we’re almost there, and we should have shirts in a couple weeks.” In order to make such a business function, each person must be responsible for certain tasks. Brad is the artist, creating T-shirt

designs that span from a turtle exploring space to a simple logo of “got swag?” and many more. Mehul and Tanmay, on the other hand, focus more on the business side of the company. “So far we have all just been collaborating on finding suitable printing costs, learning about the market and trying to make connections,” Mehul said. “I have been doing a lot of research on trying to understand how to be the most economical.” With a bulk of their first orders coming in during the next few weeks, the boys look optimistically to the future of Lonely Sheep Shirts. “I think it’s a great way for us to tap into pop culture,” Mehul said. “People get to experience art in a new way.” —Hillary Hurst

Other entrepreneurs start new companies, aspire to sell to student body

Senior Sidney Hollingsworth has been serious about her photography career since she got her first digital single lens reflex camera two years ago. It was not until her senior year, however, that she decided to take her hobby to a professional level. “At the beginning of the school year, I started my SmugMug account,” Sidney said. “[SmugMug] is a website service for photographers where people can pay to print out or download your photos. I did this to dabble in the photography industry and see if that was what I wanted to do.” As of now, Sidney is using the profits to buy materials to help further her photography career. “The initial purpose of me having my SmugMug was to try to support my photography financially,” Sidney said. “There are things I need. I’m running out of memory space on my computer, so I need an external hard drive. “I hope to continue my student life photography at Southern Methodist Universtiy with one of their publications. After college my hope is to work part time in photography while maintaining a more financially stable job. I’d like eventually to move back to Austin to do creative photo shoots for the Tribeza.” —Sofie Seiden

{

It’s the little things in life that allow for the bigger things to be possible...

}

THE FINEST IN HIGH SCHOOL TRAVEL PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD

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Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homeless- ness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy.Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Nuclear Disaster. Riots. Homelessness. Poverty. Disease. Drug cartels. Illiteracy. Helplessness. Abuse. War. Oppression. Flooding. Earthquake. Disaster.

We are all part of the

solution. { westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 39

Oct.

Aug.

The U.S. received its last reparations from Germany for World War I. Two days prior, Epicosity held the first techno dance.

The last U.S. combat forces returned from Iraq. Four days later, the 201011 school year began.

Olive Kabila, the first lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo, led a march of thousands against sexual violence. A week later, the annual homecoming game was held, where seniors Joseph Jarke and Carly Jones were crowned king and queen Oct. 29.

[

Oct.

Nathan Kallison

Westlake and

world

the

As we spent our days in the classroom worrying about homework and our social lives, the global spectrum was marked both by triumphs and tragedies. While we were concerned with finals and our homecoming plans, others around the world were caught between natural disasters and political turmoil. This year, many global events paralleled our own, and it is essential to be aware of their continuous effect on many lives.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jessica Stenglein and Monica Tan

General elections were held, and the Republican party gained back many seats lost in the previous election. The next day, inductees were welcomed into the National Honor Society during a ceremony in the Performing Arts Center.

Nov.

Jan.

25 Jan.

Jan.

While giving a speech, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman. Her attacker killed six and wounded 19 others. That Tuesday, students returned for the second semester of school.

March

Due to flooding, 420 people were killed in Brazil. At the same time, the course selection fair was taking place.

Feb.

Civilians in Libya began protesting against Gaddafiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies. Almost two weeks earlier, the choir performed Bye Bye Birdie Emily Cohen for its annual musical. Senior Shivani Morrison played Rosie, the secretary of a music producer. Japan was hit by an earthquake that measured 9.0 on the Richter Scale, causing a tsunami. This natural disaster destabilized the nuclear reactors at Fukushima. Students began spring break on the same day.

In a White House press release, President Obama revealed that Osama bin Laden had been killed during a U.S. raid on a compound in Islamabad. That same day, the Westlake community raised more than $183,000 through Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

May

In Egypt, the revolution started when citizens protested President Mubarak. On Jan. 29, orchestra students competed in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.

Feb.

NASA was supposed to launch their space shuttle Endeavor, but the launch was pushed back. Two days later, Student Council sponsored a blood drive.

art by Michelle Ling

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 41

[one for one [

people gathering shoes, just shoes, to take to a stores, I tell the employees, ‘When somebody village,” Jay Letemendia said. “He went with buys a pair of shoes, you don’t say have a nice them and thought, ‘Why can’t we give shoes, day, you tell them they just bought someone new shoes, and keep giving?’ People thought in need a pair of new shoes.’” he was crazy at first.” While working for TOMS, Fernando The company was not created as a nonLetemendia has realized that just profit because this type of organization by doing his job, he can ensure m co usually struggles with financial issues, that children around the S. year, t and Mycoskie wanted to ensure that world will have new shoes. s r fi In its nated he would be able to keep giving no He knows that with those o d S TOM matter what. shoes, they are protected “[Mycoskie] wanted to make from infection and rocky sure that it was for a profit, but his terrain, they can attend main mission is to give shoes away,” school and they can take f o s pair s Fernando Letemendia said. “Every their lives in a different dishoe last cent of the marketing budget goes rection. Most of all, he feels to giving away. Instead of running cominspired. mercials and stuff like that, they donate.” “I am a salesman,” he said. “I Working for TOMS, Jay and Fernando want to sell. That is what drives me. At the Letemendia have been introduced to someend of the day, I [usually] sit there and look thing totally unlike the other companies they at the ledger and see what we did, and I’m represent — they’re making a difference. always like, ‘Oh, we had a big day,’ or ‘We “It’s like a breath of fresh air,” Jay need to push more,’ but with TOMS it is so Letemendia said. “We have been repping for a different. I look at the ledger at the end of the long time, just kind of going through the moday, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, we gave away tions, but this company is different. It makes 5,000 pairs of shoes today just by doing our you feel really good every day.” jobs, which is selling.’ I didn’t do anything This process makes buying from TOMS other than my job, and I took care of thousomething more. It’s not about getting a new sands of people. It’s so weird how good it pair of shoes to throw in a closet — it’s about makes you feel. Somebody like me has never a simple act that directly impacts someone done anything like this. All of a sudden, I’m else’s life. like, ‘Wow, what else can I do?’” “People love the simplicity of the business Jay and Fernando Letemendia believe that model, One for One,” Fernando Letemendia TOMS is changing the preconceived idea of said. “When they check people out at the who “the cool kids” are. They say that having www.T OM

In March 2009, the lives of Jay and Fernando Letemendia, parents of junior Devan and 2010 graduate Jillian, changed forever. They had been representing clothing brands, such as Billabong, for 23 years, but when they started working for TOMS Shoes, they realized their jobs could mean more than just selling products. “Working with Billabong has given us a great lifestyle, but TOMS has opened our eyes,” Jay Letemendia said. “It has made our lives much more meaningful.” It is Jay and Fernando Letemendia’s job as representatives to show all of their accounts, or stores that sell TOMS products, the new items and guide them through ordering and sales. “With other brands, you have to push the marketing on them, but with TOMS, it has a life of its own,” Fernando Letemendia said. “Everybody loves the mission, and everyone wants to be a part of it.” There is something about TOMS that gets customers excited to purchase its products, and that is the company’s distinctive undertaking. TOMS is all about using the power of individuals to benefit the greater good. The company was created and based on one ingenious idea: One for One. Every time someone buys a pair of TOMS shoes, another pair gets donated to a child in need. Founder Blake Mycoskie thought of the concept while traveling in South America. “While in Argentina, he saw a group of

Parent duo finds satisfaction in working for TOMS, touching lives

0 0 0 , 0 1

TOMS’ One Day Without Shoes

250,000 In 2010, about 250,000 people went barefoot to spread awareness of the TOMS mission.

On April 5, TOMS encouraged the world to go barefoot on the 4th annual One Day Without Shoes in the hope of inspiring others to join the TOMS mission. “Not wearing shoes has changed my perspective on how hard it is to get from place to place even in surroundings as well-built as our school is,” sophomore Lily Pipkin said.

Last year, more than 250,000 people went shoeless all over the world; this year TOMS wanted an even bigger outcome. Those who participated at Westlake put themselves in the shoes of the less fortunate. “Towards the end of the day, my feet hurt really badly,” sophomore Ashlyn Henry said. “But you can’t really compare that to the

children of Africa because they don’t get the privilege to walk on tile, and they are barefoot all day, everyday.” TOMS hoped to make bystanders aware that those going barefoot did it to make a statement: for others in the world, it’s not a choice; it’s a burden they carry every day. “It’s really the premise of

Shoes was founded on a one-to-one basis. For every [ ] TOMS pair of shoes purchased, another goes to a child in need. Periodically, TOMS releases new lines of shoes including a variety of styles, designs and colors.

family shows off their collection of TOMS [ ] Theshoes.Letemendia After repping different clothing companies, suchs Barrett Wilson

the best clothes or awesome taste in music is great, but being humble and helping others is of upmost importance; kids are acknowledging their surroundings and devoting time to bettering the lives of others by finding self-sustaining ways to give back to the global community. “I love how TOMS has made it ‘hip’ to be a good, giving person,” Fernando Letemendia said. “I think it’s a great way to inspire high-school students to lead a more complete life by helping others become successful while becoming successful themselves.” TOMS will be introducing the new One for One company June 7. It is the same group and same product, but the organization will be called One for One to emphasize the whole premise that the company was built on. “TOMS will be introducing the next chapter of One for One,” Jay Letemendia said. “We will continue to sell shoes and give new shoes, but TOMS will no longer be just a shoe company. It will be more than that. [Mycoskie] said that he travels to all these countries, and he sees needs for other things besides shoes, but he still wants to keep this ‘One for One’ model.” This summer, TOMS will put “mystery boxes” in stores around the country that will contain a new line of undisclosed items. “On June 7, they are going to open them up and reveal what will be inside,” Jay said. “[The reps] don’t even know. It is going to be a surprise for everybody.”

[

Shea Wendlant

Devan says her parents’ involvement in the company has broadened her own horizons. When looking to the future, she hopes to be involved in TOMS. “Before TOMS, I was not really that involved in anything,” Devan said. “It has made me grow a lot more as a person, and I feel a lot worldlier. I care more about things that I should care about, and I feel like more things other than the ‘bubble of Westlake’ are becoming apparent to me. I have started to think about going into TOMS Shoes to continue [my parents’] legacy. I actually want to go and be a part of it, maybe at the TOMS headquarters in California, and I want to get more involved in world organizations and branch out to other areas.” Devan’s parents are extremley proud that they have instilled a great sense of humility in their daughters and have inspired Devan to pursue a gracious cause later in her life. “It’s impossible to describe with words how proud you are when you see that,” Fernando Letemendia said. “As parents, you always want to get your kids to follow you, but of course they don’t want to do that. But with this, Devan has embraced the whole mission. We are just part of it. It’s bigger than us.” —Hirrah Barlas For more information on businesses giving back to the community, visit www.westlakefeatherduster.com

Why

shoes?

They benefit children who must walk barefoot around the house, to and from school or even to seek medical help. Not having shoes increases the risk of infection, intestinal worms and cold weather For some children it is mandatory to wear shoes to school.

Where TOMS donates Mongolia Nicaragua Guatemala Rwanda Swaziland Uganda United States Zambia Niger Haiti Mali South Africa

Argentina Armenia Burundi Cambodia China El Salvador Ethiopia Peru Honduras Lesotho Malawi

as Billabong, for 23 years, the duo began working for TOMS in 2009.

Did you

know? millionth

In September 2010, TOMS gave its pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Element Skateboard has partnered with TOMS shoes to create TOMS + Element shoes and a One for One skateboard. That means with every skateboard purchased a child at the Indigo Skate Camp in Durban, South Africa will be given one. Last year, TOMS shoes and Tyler’s partnered for the Style your Soul event, where Westlake students voted on their favorite design of TOMS shoe, hand painted by local artists. Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes, is from Arlington, Texas.

How to get

involved

Buy a pair of TOMS shoes and a

pair

in need.

new

of shoes will be given to a child

Spread the word!

Go to www.toms.com/our-movement-shoedrops to volunteer to visit South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia or the United States and experience the impact of placing shoes on a child’s feet and immersing yourself in a .

new culture

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 43

LINKING LANGUAGES

Do you want to improve your grades in Spanish or French? Do you think learning a new language canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fun? If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get results with traditional approaches, Accelerated Learning Methodology offers you the solution! 512-263-1465 www.linkinglanguages.com Spanish

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exas T

Gone to

situations become less of a surprise to han those living among it all. More t “Threatening phone calls weren’t a big deal,” Guillermo e d in th ie d said. “Kidnapping and things like e v ha ue that never happened to people ears d y r u o f really close to me, but you defipast ted vio la e nitely heard stories.” r g to dru The stories coming from ico in Mex e c n teenagers who have heard and seen le it all never cease to amaze people who could not imagine such events ever happening. “My friends were at a party,” Valeria said. “When they left in a smaller group to go somewhere else, people with the cartel followed them and shot at them. They were all okay, though.” After taking on a large school in an unfamiliar place, these students are now a part of Westlake. They may not be decked out in Chap apparel, but they have pride for their new high school. “People here act different,” junior Maria Barrantes said. “But I really do like it here.” Despite Westlake’s student body being inclusive of new students, some of the Mexican transfers have found the American experience overwhelming. “I think that the school here is really big,” Valeria said. “It was big in Monterrey too, but it was easier to get along with everybody.” While some think only about the present, others are already looking to the future to see whether or not they will return to their homes and friends in Mexico. “I do plan on returning home,” Marianna said. “But honestly, I don’t know when.” While these students now live in a peaceful community, they will always remember their homes, friends and families that they left behind. —Josh Willis

30,000

e lin

[ ]

BBC Ne ws

Northern Mexico there is only one rule to abide by: stay out of the way. For students who have relocated to Westlake recently, this was the frightening reality. As they walked to school, they would receive threatening calls on their cell phones or hear rumors about classmates getting kidnapped. At the end of each day they would return home lucky, without being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The increasing levels of violence sparked by the growing drug cartels have driven families, with the privilege of escaping, out of Mexico to areas of the United States. While they move to different places, many seek asylum in Texas. “I came here for college and to get away from the crime,” senior Guillermo Cruz said. “My father is working in Mexico City right now. He sent my family here so that nothing would happen to us.” Many of these new students have moved from the Monterrey area, a region in Northern Mexico which is said to have some of the worst crimes and violence of any place in the country. “I came here from Monterrey because of the danger from the drug lords,” junior Marianna Palermo said. “It is very dangerous there.” In their quest for safety, these dozen or so new students were forced to leave friends, families and places that they called home. “I like Austin, but Monterrey is the place where I grew up and it’s where all of my friends are,” Marianna said. As the students reminisce about their friends and family from home, they recall memories about why they left for America in the first place. Some of the stories that they remember and find minor and relatively unimportant would be featured as the lead story on the 6 p.m. news if they occurred in Austin. “My mom would get calls while I was in school that were of a girl screaming,” sophomore Valeria Pena said. “She would imagine that it was me and be very scared.” With heavy violence and a tense atmosphere, those who lived in the dangerous areas lived with one rule that was meant to keep them out of harm. “You just have to stay out of their way,” Valeria said. “The people with the cartels aren’t out to kill everyone.” With kidnappings and threatening phone calls so prevalent, these

Students escape violence in Mexico, enroll at Westlake

How to help Mexico:

Donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Visit www.icrc.org to help out. Go to www.onetownatatime.org to donate to One Town At a Time. This organization visits towns to set up projects designed to help lift them from poverty. Visit www.mexonline.com/noprofit.htm for organizations that need help and donations.

[ ]

Taylor Cloyd

Escaping the dangers that currently plague Mexico, senior Guillermo Cruz and junior Maria Barrantes get used to their new lives as Westlake students.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 45

Keeping Schools Safer Across Texas

www.salientsys.com Follow us on Twitter!

Simple.Scalable.Security â&#x201E;˘

{ staff editorial }

We are the world

[

Westlake students get involved, reach out to global community

Ernest Hemingway once referred to his hometown as a place with “wide lawns and narrow minds.” Similarly, Westlake students are often stereotyped as spoiled, self-centered, rich kids who have no global empathy. While there are students who fit this generalization, some of us have proven otherwise. Because of the power of individuals in our student body, our contribution to the world around us is substantial and continuing to grow. Primarily driven by religion, health or family factors, many students involve themselves in local and global causes. By studying abroad, taking mission trips or in some cases, adopting children from foreign countries, we have observed that small steps of Westlake families are making an impact on the global spectrum. That is to say, students devote time to things such as feeding the homeless, working for Coats for Kids, participating in Relay for Life and working for other beneficial organizations. These are just some of the many ways that we work towards bettering the lives of others. However, there is even a more select group of people who go beyond making a difference locally by devoting time to national and global causes. Last year, with the Student Council sales of Drew Brees shirts, we donated thousands of dollars to the Brees Dream Foundation to help continue the rebuilding effort after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. By participating in this fundraiser, we made a direct impact on an important cause. Whether the amount of donations we collected was large or not, we went out of our way to help others and that is what matters. This year, our sister school, Mahiga Hope High School in Kenya, greatly benefitted from our generosity. From running book and movie drives to writing letters to the students at the school, Westlake helped change the lives of those attending Mahiga Hope. Once again, we’re doing what we can to help students in Kenya that we have never even met, and probably never will. While we don’t know them personally, there is a certain connection that we can share with them — and this connection is formed by just simply reaching out and touching lives. Three students alone have affected change with actions such as raising $30,000 to get clean drinking water in Ethiopia, traveling to the Dominican Republic to aid children or even journeying to the Middle East to help others. This is the impact of only a handful of students. Imagine what our global capability could be as an entire student body of around 2,500 powerful people. Yes, some Westlake students already go the extra mile and make a difference in our local communities — but we can go beyond that. This fighting-for-a-cause attitude can go beyond Westlake; it can go global. And little by little, we can make a difference. Little by little, we can change the world.

]

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{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 47

[W]

all got to know each other,” Madeline said. “We didn’t [see] Mia until hether remembered or not, a dream has significance. A dream can uncover an inafter [our arrival], and then we were in a big room and they had all the babies with them. They took them out and called our name, the Broyles dividual’s deepest thoughts, and by analyzing and interpreting the involuntary succession of family. My mom came up and got Mia and we all started crying.” Meeting Mia for the first time was especially powerful for images, emotions and ideas can change Madeline’s mom. one’s life. For junior Madeline Broyles’s mother, Anne Broyles, “I was overwhelmed with joy, extremely emotional and Total a cried because I had been waiting nine months to see my a dream did just that. doptio daughter,” Anne Broyles said. “Waiting to be called out “After having my dream of God telling me that the wo ns around rld from to receive her felt like forever, and the minute I held I had another daughter waiting for me in another 1 9 99-201 her, I realized that there is no true difference between country, I was nervous but I felt strongly convicted,” 0: giving birth and adoption. The first time I met her, I Anne Broyles said. Madeline’s father, Tommy Broyles, had always knew she had been created to be my daughter.” After their trip, they returned home with Mia so wanted to adopt, and immediately, he and his wife she and her new family could continue adjusting to discovered China was where they wanted to find their do their new life. After experiencing the positive change and third child. Once they made sure their two daughters p ti on.s strong impact Mia made on their family, Madeline’s parents would be ready for the change and the lengthy process tate.gov ahead of them, they began organizing their plans. felt they needed to adopt a second child from China. “When we first got Mia, [my younger sister] Christian and I were so “We had to have someone come to our house and talk to us and excited, but the second time I was more nervous about getting a boy,” get to know our personalities,” Madeline said. “We had to write about Madeline said. “I think that I always thought it would be three girls [in what we like to do and who we are. Then they matched us with Mia, our family], but then I was so happy to get him. Colin was considered which took about eight months.” special because he had a cleft lip. We chose out of the special group.” The duration of the waiting time in any adoption is not ideal, and the Broyles family had to endure many months as they anticipated Not only was Madeline’s immediate reaction to the second adoption different, but also numerous aspects of Colin’s 2009 adoption into the their trip to China. On May 4, 2005, the Broyleses flew overseas. Broyles family varied from their first encounter. “[While] getting Mia, we were in a huge group [of families] so we a w.

224,615

Junior Madeline Broyles and biological sister Christian stand with their adopted siblings, Colin and Mia. Both Mia and Colin were adopted from China and the Broyles family continues to integrate Chinese culture into their lives.

Dream come true

Broyles family adopts from China, finds passion in global endeavors

“The adjustment with Mia was significantly easier than the adjustment with Colin,” Anne Broyles said. “She was 9 months old, whereas Colin was 3 years old, spoke a different language and had a deep bond with his caregivers.” Now that Colin is used to his family, other obstacles have presented themselves to the family of six. As the children grow older, new sets of challenges arise. “There is a lot more stress,” Madeline said. “It is harder because my mom has more kids to take care of. Whenever we go out, people kind of stare. I think Colin still doesn’t really understand it. Mia has recently started to realize it, and she asks my parents questions like, ‘Why was I not in your tummy?’ She knows she is adopted, but I don’t think she really wants to be. It’s been really hard for her because she used to be the one that got all the attention. Colin is really outgoing and when we hang out with other people, people usually go to him. There is still sibling rivalry where they just fight, but she loves him.” Tommy Broyles is thrilled with the family’s decision and remembers to always balance the positive aspects of adoption with the more taxing components. “Our family dynamic has changed, and while certainly not perfect, all of our relationships are stronger,” Tommy Broyles said. “When asked what the hardest part is, I always think of Steven Curtis Chapman’s response to this same question: ‘I am only scared when I think that we could have missed this wonderful blessing.’ Mia and Colin have brought us so much joy, and it is not them who are lucky to have us, but we who are lucky to have them.” In order to persist through any difficulties, the Broyles family is grateful to those who lend a hand whenever they need one. “My dad reads a lot of books and a lot of our friends have adopted, so that’s really helpful,” Madeline said. “Our next-door neighbors adopted a little girl, and she is Mia’s best friend. Going through it with other people helps a lot.” Despite the challenges, Madeline is proud of her family and finds it hard to recall a time before she had Mia and Colin. “Once you get them, [you] cannot remember life before them,” Madeline said. “Mia and Colin have impacted our lives in so many ways. I cannot imagine the countless times there would be an absence of laughter. Personally, they showed me a new life outside of our sheltered Westlake in which I have developed my passion for wanting to help orphans and underprivileged kids. My whole perspective of life has changed.” Madeline is also extremely thankful to her parents for their wise decisions that have completely altered the way she sees the world and those around her. “I think it has changed all of us because we went to Colin’s orphanage,” Madeline said. “We didn’t go to Mia’s because hers was far away [in Ning Du in Jiangxi province], whereas Colin’s was in Shenyang in Liaoning province. We were there for a day, and we played with the kids that he was with and we met the teachers. His orphanage was actually really

Q& A:

sophomore Meghan Gomillion

Featherduster: Can you talk about your sister before she was adopted? MG: She was found in a sugarcane field by a farmer when she was one month old. Then she went into an orphanage for a little while, and then she went to live with a foster family for a few years in China. We adopted her when I was in fifth grade. She was 2 about to turn 3. Her Chinese name was Lu Yang Bo. FD: Why did your parents decide to adopt and how has it affected you personally? MG: They felt called by God to adopt from China. I was the only girl, so when they first said it I was like, “Oh no! I’m not going to be the princess anymore.” But now I love her so much and she’s a part of me and so much a part of our family. I feel more aware of that part of the world and more of a connection to that

part of the world. FD: Do you think your parents look at her as one of their own? MG: Completely. She likes to talk about it and talk about her other mom, but my mom will be like, “We are your family now and we love you so much and you are a part of this family, but we always want you to be proud of where you come from.”

Shea Wendlandt

Sophomore Meghan Gomillion poses with her adopted sister Macy. Meghan also has two younger brothers, but she feels she and Macy share a special bond. “Even though we were born far apart, we will be sisters the rest of our lives,” Meghan said.

nice compared to other Chinese orphanages. My dad has been to China multiple times, and to Mia’s orphanage, and hers was not good at all. I think it has given us an insight into the rest of the world. If we didn’t have them, I wouldn’t know about orphans. I would just not even realize about how bad it is over there.” Not only has Madeline broadened her perspective through comprehending the influence of adoption, but she has also begun to make an international impact. “As a family, we have been to China three times,” Madeline said. “The first, to get Mia, the second time we worked in a special needs orphanage as well as a church called The Bridge and the third to get Colin. I [also] worked in a school in Kenya in one of the largest slums in Africa. I’m going again this summer and I am learning Chinese. I plan to study abroad when I go to college.” Madeline also plans to bring adopted children into her own home when the time comes. “I want to adopt for sure,” she said. “I want to adopt from Africa, China and I’m not really sure where else. People don’t really understand how bad it is for orphans. If they actually think about it, there are people who don’t have families and who grow up without being loved. They don’t understand the [magnitude] of that and how bad it is. I’ve seen things like that and I really just want to help. Many people do not understand the depth of the fact that there are 162 million orphans, 162 million kids who can’t say they have a home, 162 million kids who didn’t have a mother to hold them when they were young and 162 million kids who don’t know the feeling of love.” —Lizzie Friedman

How to get involved Shea Wendlandt

www.adoptioninstitute.org www.adoption.state.gov

www.miraclefoundation.org www.childwelfare.gov www.statistics.adoption.gov

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 51

[ awesome Operation: don’t forget to be

I am a Nerdfighter. This is not a title I take on casually, or, in fact, that I chose at all. I discovered my inner Nerdfighter the day I watched my first Vlogbrothers YouTube video. In exactly four minutes, my life was changed. I became a part of an incredibly inclusive community of people who believe that intelligence, humor and globallyminded thinking can connect through technology to better the world. Nerdfighters, (collectively referred to as Nerdfighteria), don’t fight nerds; we are nerds who fight, using our words, our mathematical ability or whatever other skills at which we excel, to “decrease world suck.” Author John Green and songwriter Hank Green created this community YOU TUBE over the course of their Brotherhood 2.0 project: an attempt to stay in communication with each other, despite living far from one another. Their plan was more than successful. In fact, their joint channel has become one of the most popular on YouTube, probably because of its wide-spread appeal. Although the brothers identify themselves as nerds (often challenging their audience to feats of mathematical and scientific calculations and determining whether moonpasta is more efficient than earth-cows), they vlog about everything, from important world events, such as the distressing nuclear disaster in Japan or how America is subsidizing Latin American cotton, to more heart-warming topics, including their personal lives or the threat of corn-eating zombies. They discuss problems facing teenagers, the fascinating lives of conjoined twins and even explain the particulars of the French Revolution. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I find myself in front of the computer, watching one of the Green brothers as they educate me about the world. But the thing about Nerdfighters is that they aren’t

to e w Ho com the be art of teria y h a prdfig unit Ne omm c

]

Two brothers take on world issues, form online community for the geeky

content to sit around making funny, educational videos. They have to get involved. Once a year, the Green brothers host Project for Awesome to raise awareness and money for worthy charities. They marshal the forces of nerdy goodness to spam YouTube with videos, made by hundreds of their followers and friends. With live skits, special videos and prizes, they encourage people to get more involved. More recently, Hank Green traveled to Savann Tabak. Like in many villages in Africa, the people had no well and were forced to gather water from a dirty spring several miles from their village. In typical Nerdfighter style, Hank Green decided to take action. He organized a fundraising project to supply the village not only a working well, but a means of infrastructure which will ensure that these people have the resources to keep the well in working order and sustain themselves. Isn’t that what the Internet, the technological revolution of our generation, is supposed to be about? Connecting with people, lending a helping hand and cheering each other up. Educating each other with our own knowledge and learning from those who have much to teach. With little more than good ideas and two cameras, John and Brad Dunn Hank Green have become the leaders of a grass roots revolution. Instead of using the power of protest, weaponry or large-scale diplomacy, they’ve brandished the might of laughter and good will. Nerdfighting has become a lifestyle, a way of enjoying all the awesome in your life and of trying to increase the amount of awesome in the lives of others. So tonight, when you’re avoiding your homework by playing Farmville on Facebook, stop. Take the time to hunt down the Green brothers, hit play and brace yourself: you’re about to achieve nerd nirvana. —Hetty Borinstein

Since you’re obviously now wondering what you can do to stop forgetting how to be awesome, these sites will restore your memory. Whether you want to donate, contribute or just accept the fact that you are, in fact, a Nerdfighter, one of these links will satisfy your thirst.

Hank and John Green’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers How to get a village a well: www.my.water.org/vlogbrothers How to get involved with Project for Awesome: www.projectforawesome.com

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[

She is that girl

2001 graduate inspires movement, women’s

It started here. Ten years ago, 2001 Westlake Jones’ ideas for i am that girl blossomed when she saw a prograduate Alexis Jones sat in these desks, listened to these gressive play about women’s rights by Eve Ensler. teachers and became the girl who would start a revolution. “I realized that I was really passionate about women’s issues, With more than 15 chapters participating locally and 32,000 mainly because I just didn't know that all these atrocities were likes on Facebook, 27-year-old Jones has influenced millions going on with women around the world,” Jones said. with her female empowerment movement. She’s just one “Quite frankly, it really pissed me off because I girl who had a dream and who wanted to change the didn't know that things from child marriage to s world, one person at a time. acid burning were going on, and I remember a h ones J “Who I am is because Westlake has believed in thinking that I could wake up every day and is x Ale and supported me,” Jones said. “I credit so much fight [against] that.” of my success to having come from Westlake. [I From Ensler, Jones discovered how she knew] I made it in life when I got a phone call would spread her newfound message to the s e bsit from Westlake asking me to come and speak. I world. er we h n o ers think when people ask me what is the most im"Eve Ensler taught me to entertain first dia follow ial me g soc portant talk I’ve ever given, and having just been and educate second," Jones said. "Rather in d lu inc to the White House to speak, I still say speaking than come to a high school and say, 'I'm goat my high school. It meant so much to me to walk ing to talk to you about integrity,' I just want into those halls and get to have that conversation with a to entertain. I have all these stories —about being group of students whom I really care about.” on Survivor, about winning The Price is Right, hiking When Jones spoke to Westlake students Feb. 11, she had a Mount Everest and [losing] one of my very dear friends, Ashley, chance to reconnect with her teachers and come back to her in a car accident. I would much rather use my storytelling caroots. A large part of her success today can be traced back to pabilities, and have someone learn something within that story. the life lessons and ideals her teachers instilled in her. Through my stories, it allows me to have a more important con“I had the most incredible teachers at Westlake,” Jones versation. After having this crazy exciting story about Survivor, said. “They cared so I can say, 'By the way, let's talk about integrity. Let's talk about much about me as an how challenging it was for me to not sell out my best friend for individual, not just $1 million. Let's have a conversation about what integrity really as a student, and that looks like." really gave me conAlthough there have been many obstacles since she began fidence. When you her company, Jones persevered, relying on the gratification of Go to www.iamthat girl.com have teachers saying, impacting girls everywhere to keep her going. “I think it starts with the 'Hey kid, you've got “When things get hard, I have a file on my computer called individual,” 2001 graduate real potential,' that's ‘WHY’ [filled with emails girls have sent me],” Jones said. Alexis Jones said. “I could list all when it really starts. “They’re all these happy emails, and I called it ‘WHY’ because Ms. [Denise] DeMarevery time I wonder why I do this, I go back and read all these these ways to get involved in the tino, for me, really emails and all these notes. I think you have to know why you’re organization, but I would rather defined that smart doing what you’re doing because the moment you forget or lose set the challenge to be what is the new sexy. She track of why, you’re pretty much done.” we are preaching. Be that girl. I taught me it's cool to Out of the thousands of emails in her “WHY” folder, Jones know that sounds cheesy, but I be the smart girl.” was particularly moved when she received one from a model in Jones carries New York. mean it. Be the with her the concept “[One person who emailed me was] a model, and she had of yourself. That’s what I really ask.” of beauty that she just lost one of her best friends from anorexia,” Jones said. “She gained in high school wrote me one really late night, saying she had come across our as she shares her message through her company, i am that website and had seen clips of me speaking. She said she was girl. The name of this beauty message is Bellism. quitting the modeling industry and felt like I was the only per“Bellism is an idea, but ideas are what can change the son in the entire world who was going to understand that. She world,” Jones said. “While it’s easy to chalk it up as the 21stsaw her best friend die because they were telling the models, century women’s movement, it’s really so much bigger than 'You're too fat. You're too fat.' She said, 'I can't live like this that — it’s a human movement where we are all reminded anymore. I feel like I'm living a lie. I am struggling. I'm not eatof the preciousness, fragility, power and reverence women ing, and in work I'm being rewarded for it. Everyone thinks I'm deserve. The coolest part is I get to watch real men step up crazy for leaving, but [if I don’t] it will cost me my life.' It was to the plate and make this mission their own as much as any one of the more profound emails I will ever receive.” girl. I believe revolutions start with a single However, the most rewarding moment came to Jones during thought, but the vehicle of change are the a conversation she had in Florida. people who buy into that insane thought “I was hired to speak at three [Paul Mitchell beauty] schools and make it everyone else’s reality.” in Florida, and some of the owners took me out to eat,” Jones During her sophomore year of college said. “We're sitting there, eating this divine meal, and I look at the University of Southern California, over, and there's this older man with his daughter. He looks

how to get

[

involved

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empowerment over and says, 'Are those mashed potatoes good?' I was like, 'They’re so good. Here.' I make a bite for him, put it on a plate and take it over. We start chatting, and I say, 'I have this empowerment company. I'm actually speaking tomorrow. I think you should take off work, and you should come and listen to me speak.' I don't even know why I said this, but I [was] totally trying to get this guy to skip out on work to come hear me, some girl who runs an empowerment company for girls, speak. I wrote down all the details. I was like, 'I hope to see you there.'” Jones was surprised to find that simply sharing her mashed potatoes could lead to a memorable event that would impact both of their lives. “He showed up the next day, totally playing hooky at work,” Jones said. “So I give my little talk, and I actually talk about Ashley, my dear friend who passed away in a car accident. I use that story to talk about resilience. We get done, he shows up crying and little did I know, he had just lost his wife three days prior. He said, '[Last night while eating at her favorite restaurant] was one of the hardest nights in my entire life, and you, out of nowhere, came up to me. I got into my car to go to work, just like any other day, and it was just pulling on me to come. I was just going to stay for 15 minutes, but I stayed for the entire thing. I've never felt so much like God told me exactly what I wanted to hear through you. I'm just trying to be the best possible dad for my daughter. After listening to this, I want my daughter to be involved. This would have made my wife so proud. My wife would have wanted to be a part of something like this.' You never know who you're talking to. You never know what's going on in their lives. It was really special for me. We've stayed in touch ever since.” Although she has already touched many lives, Jones continues to look forward and set revolutionary goals for herself and her movement.

“I think when you invest in people and individuals specifically, it allows you to see the most beautiful side of why we’re here.” —Alexis Jones

photos by Theo Doucet

speaking to students at Westlake, 2001 graduate Alexis Jones encourages them to get involved. “How [ ] When many conversations do you have in a day?” Jones said. “Thousands? Donate one of them. Like at lunch, say, ‘By the way, do you know what Bellism is?’”

[ ]

What is Bellism?

“Bellism is our rendition of the 21st century battle cry for the women’s movement,” 2001 graduate Alexis Jones said. “Rather than deconstruct the negative stereotypes regarding ‘Feminism,’

we’ve coined a new word with a new mission. We are committed to

redefining our society’s narrow definition of beauty, to build

a powerful community for girls and to inspire authentic confidence in women everywhere. We are also determined to celebrate the

phenomenal men who love and support phenomenal women. We’re looking to make smart the

new sexy, inspire contribution over

consumption and collaboration over competition.”

While on a return trip to her alma mater Feb. 11, Jones (third from left) visits with Student Council members juniors Sarah Butler and Caroline Furst, sophomores Bril Flint, Thomas McNair, Kael Anderson, Spencer Flynn, Rusty Hutson and Tanner Thompson and freshman Grace Robertson. “The real mission statement of Bellism is to inspire authentic confidence in girls and women everywhere,” Jones said. “And that is a very, very bold goal. My goal for Bellism would be to build the most powerful community that our country has ever seen for women and including the powerful men who support them. [I would like to see a place] where girls are getting to come in and have a conversation about something bigger than themselves. That brings tears to my eyes to actually think about what that would look like.” Throughout her journey, Jones has found success and fame through publicizing her company. However, for her, the real satisfaction comes from connecting with individuals and touching their lives. “Recently [I was] personally invited by Michelle Obama to the White House to meet her and discuss i am that girl,” Jones said. “But it’s never about the Michelle Obama meetings. In all of those big moments, I can genuinely say none of that touches the individual conversations I have with girls after a talk. Nothing. There's always one person who comes up and says, 'What you've done has changed my life.' I get paid more in listening to those beautiful confessions than any dollar amount. Because that’s real. The TV shows, the glitz, the glam, the White House, it’s just icing. Sprinkles. But why I get up out of my bed every day is for the model in New York who had a revelation that she didn’t want to lose her life to anorexia just to be someone else’s standard of beauty. It’s for the dad who just lost his wife three days before. All these individual lives that I have the luxury of getting to play even the smallest role in, that’s where the magic is.” —Hailey Cunningham and Zelda Mayer

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 55

]

After working at teen dating abuse hotline, volunteer gains new perspective on issue

Want to know more?

Visit: www.thatsnotcool.com www.breakthecycle.org www.loveisrespect.org www.thesafespace.org

[

Spread the word: send a letter to your legislator about increasing legal resources for minors in abusive situations. To get a pre-written letter to send, go to www.breakthecycle.org/ content/take-action.

[ ]

respect

t was cold and damp, and I had failed. I fastened my seat belt, watching the windshield wipers swipe back and forth. Twenty four hours of training and twice that many volunteering, but at that moment I felt powerless. I couldn’t get this girl out of my head. I tried to help her, but I wondered if I had done enough. She said she loved her boyfriend and could never bear to be without him. All she wanted was for him to stop hurting her. I explained to her what dating abuse looks like, and we discussed her options. But I couldn’t tell her what she hoped to hear. She wanted me to tell her that it was just a phase, that soon he would stop, that it wasn’t abuse. She told me that she felt suicidal. “This isn’t helping,” she said a few minutes later, and disconnected. It was out of my control, and although I did my best to help her, I wished I could have done more. It was the hardest chat I had ever received. Every Saturday, I volunteer for

Izzy de la Luz

While volunteering, junior Zelda Mayer takes an online chat for the national dating abuse hotline Love is Respect. Zelda has worked there since October.

two hours as a peer advocate at exact outcome, her compassion Love is Respect, a national dating mattered more than she realized. abuse helpline based in Austin. I At the end of our conversation, take online chats from people who she thanked me again and again, have been affected by unhealthy with a final “God bless you” berelationships, and my job fore disconnecting. I felt relieved, is to listen to and but not just because I had guide the people helped her. By counwho contact us, seling this woman, providing reI finally found my sources and own answers. teens who have support. Helping people is been in a serious At first, not about fixing relationship have my voltheir lives or makunteering ing myself feel been physically position just good. I didn’t need hurt by their served as to solve all of the es partners. another item suicidal girl’s probpe ct.o on my college lems, and I couldn’t. rg resume. I knew But I was there for her, that dating abuse was listened to her and even if she an important issue, and Love is wasn’t ready at the time, I gave Respect sounded like an interesther options. ing opportunity. Other than that, Helping means being present I was primarily concerned with in the moment with another permyself and my future. I didn’t son, actively listening and letting understand what it really meant all thoughts focus on them and to volunteer or to help people. on their needs. It’s spending that This attitude changed as I time not thinking about myself experienced more chats. One and the end product. For two day, I talked to a woman who hours, it’s not just about me. was worried about her brother. When I got in my car the next She felt helpless watching him week, it was dark and chilly, and I go through an abusive situation felt satisfied. All that training, all without being able to step in. those hours of volunteering, and But being there, I told her, was I finally got it. I finally learned the best thing she could do. By to look beyond myself, not just simply listening to her brother in seeing the world around me, but a nonjudgmental and open way, knowing that I can make a differshe was providing the best supence in it. Just two hours a week, port she possibly could for him. and I see differently now. Although she couldn’t control the — Zelda Mayer

1 in 5

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How to get involved:

A little

Do you or someone you know need help? Love is Respect’s hotline: 1-866-331-9474 or live chat at www.loveisrespect.org

news Breaking the Being aware of fallacy in the media In the 1930s, people crowded around radios for news and entertainment. On Oct. 30, 1938 the masses tuned into a broadcast that many weren’t expecting. It was the day before Halloween when a small group of dramatists decided to put on air an interpretation of the book War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. What people heard that night was what they thought to be an actual news report of aliens invading New Jersey and that the aliens were obliterating people surrounding the crashed ship. Although there were several clarifications during the broadcast that it was just a story, people panicked. People didn’t question what they were hearing on the radio and were outraged when they found out the whole thing was conjured up in a studio. This incident was one of the most infamous miscommunications in modern day history. It just goes to show you that you can’t believe everything you hear. Today, with so many different sources for news, the media makes claims to get the attention of the audience that aren’t always correct. For example, when the Japanese nuclear crisis began, the media attacked the situation at Fukushima as quickly as possible. This left

room for some serious reporting errors. Dr. Josef Oehmen, a professor at MIT, wrote a response to the media’s coverage of the crisis clarifying the science behind the disaster. In his response, he stated that he read an entire three-page report from CNN in which every single paragraph had an error regarding the laws of physics and the science involved in dealing with nuclear reactors. This should keep us on our toes regarding how much we take from media to be true. We should know what the source’s bias is and be aware that the reporter’s opinions may slip into the story. Some of us have our go-to source for everything; this may be Yahoo, CNN or BBC — but we should try exploring multiple sources. Try talking to people who know a lot about what’s going on, like teachers, professionals or people who care about current events. If there’s a will to know what’s going on, there’s a way to know what’s going on. Whether it’s over nuclear meltdowns or supposed aliens invading New Jersey, the media will always have flaws in their coverage. We just have to be more aware of it. —Danielle Brown

A world of our own I love politics. I love the nitty-gritty system of Washington — the controversy, the scandals, the pinstripe suits and the ideology that these people in an elected position have the power to decide what happens in our country. I’m the kid whose favorite radio program is National Public Radio and whose favorite skits on Saturday Night Live are the Weekend Update and the scenes they create poking fun at the blunders of politicians. I’ve taken this love for the nature of politics itself and have studied it. I’ve taken my personal interest in the subject of political science and have engrained it into my daily life. Politics are something I care about, and as students we have the potential to take what we care about and use that to change our community. Someday, somehow, the knowledge I take with me will help me change something I want changed — whether I’m a politician or just a voter.

The slogan at the University of Texas is “What starts here changes the world.” If you think about it, as students, we are the most influential people in the country. We have a voice that people in power want to listen to. We are tomorrow’s voters, work force, tax payers and entrepreneurs. Students historically have shown their strengths in changing things socially and politically. Recently, students were a large driving force in the Egyptian riots and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. What we are taught in high school may not seem like it will carry us through the challenges of life, but this is the time when we should figure out what sparks our own interests. I like politics, you may like music, others may like science or economics. Whatever it is, we should devote a little more time for delving into the things that intrigue us. We can do this by getting involved. In

Getting involved

Taking an active interest in our community

the Westlake community, we have so many resources and opportunities at our disposal. Our rigorous education system means we have the ability to take what we learn and use it to benefit ourselves and our community. For example, if you’re interested in the environment, you have options of joining the Clean Up the Environment Club or getting a group together to clean up litter around your neighborhood. Basically, we need to find topics that intrigue us and use them to make us better people, better learners and better additions to society. As cliché as it sounds, we are the future and how we choose to act now will affect our society in years to come. We are the future politicians in the pinstripe suits. We are the future actors on SNL. We are Westlake students who will become alumni, and what we start here will change the world. —Danielle Brown

a letter to your senator or local representative. [ ] Write social media networks like Facebook or Twitter to [ ] Use connect to your favorite organizations. how to get involved in VH1’s Save the Music founda[ ] Learn tion which benefits music

art by Brad Du

[ ]

education programs at www. vhIsavethemusic.com. Visit www.avaaz.org to sign online petitions concerning current events and find out about local and world

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 57

Italian job

The

PARMESAN PASTA GARLIC BREAD TOMATOES PIZZA TORTELLINI RAVIOLI MOZZARELLA BRUSCHETTA PESTO Rounder’s Pizzeria Location: 1203 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703

Rounder’s Pizzeria, off of West Sixth Street, is known for its classic pepperoni “pie,” and for good reason. Even with tons of toppings choices, the classic pepperoni and cheese is still the most commonly ordered item on the menu. Nathan Kallison

On the early stretch of Sixth Street sits Rounder’s Pizzeria. A large neon sign draws the eye to an otherwise nondescript building, but inside, senior Nathan Kallison and I found one of the more memorable restaurant experiences in Austin. As we walked through the main door, (which we discovered to be on the side of the building), multiple aspects of the interior captured my attention. In the room we walked into, crazy wall art inspired by a vintage, sometimes verging on Vegas feel was illuminated by dim chandeliers, classic arcade game consoles and a large window in the main dining room. Our table was an old Frogger console, which made for top quality post-dinner entertainment. Within minutes of being seated by the friendly wait staff, we were provided with glasses and our personal bottle of water for self-serve convenience. A few minutes later, our waitress brought out garlic knots, or balls of pizza dough smothered in olive oil, garlic and Parmesan, among other seasonings. We were both absolutely blown

NoRTH Location: 11506 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 124 Austin, TX 78758

Price of meal: Garlic Knots (three per order) $2.00 Casino pizza with pepperoni $12.50

Price of meal: Zucca Chips $5.00 Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza $13.00 Chicken Parmesean $14.00

Rounder’s Pizzeria

away with their incredible flavor, and for a second, in a moment of weakness, I considered skipping the pizza and ordering more garlic knots. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Rounder’s is that aside from a Calzone and two very basic pizzas, the only entrée is the pizza pie, a standard cheese and sauce pizza. The idea is that your pizza is completely customized to your tastes. A staggering list of 26 toppings dominated the menu, allowing for endless combinations. Those with decision tremor be warned, as I too became overwhelmed with the many choices. After a lengthy discussion with our waitress we decided that the best way to truly judge a restaurant was by its pepperoni pizza, so naturally Nathan and I had to try it. As the pizza was placed on the dish by our waitress, something in my gut told me that this pizza would change everything. Or maybe it was just my stomach growling, but either way the pizza looked and smelled amazing.

Then I actually took a bite. My God. I’m not exaggerating when I say it might be the best pizza I’ve had in Austin. Attempting to describe its flavor would come across as a sub-par effort to employ the English language, so I’ll leave it at this: just get the pizza. That’s really all I can say. As mentioned earlier, we hung around after our meal to play a couple rounds of Frogger and chat with the waitress. She apparently took our good looks and sociable personalities as a form of weakness, and in a tacky attempt to get a good tip commented on how poor her wages are. This is my only complaint about the whole experience. All said, Rounder’s Pizzeria is awesome. The atmosphere is fun, cozy and casual, the wait staff (minus one small incident) is friendly and knowledgeable and the food is downright incredible. After I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about those garlic knots. Seriously. —Camille Lewis

It all starts with a small dish of olives or more specifically, an assortment of Callamatta, Greek and Mediterranean olives marinated in olive oil, rosemary and lemon zest. This attention to detail in the antipasti, as well as their authentic dishes, makes NoRTH, located in The Domain, a unique restaurant for those passionate about Italian food. NoRTH has an open floor plan — a homey-modern dining area that’s clean and upscale without feeling stiff. The floorto-ceiling glass walls around half of the building can be opened, creating an Italian atmosphere of dining al fresco. From the ceilings, hang large, orange cylindrical light fixtures that happen to complement the tint of the creamy sun-dried tomato butter that they serve with the house-made ciabatta bread. For our antipasti, we ordered the Zucca chips, which are paper thin zucchini slices

lightly covered in flour and flash fried. They are similar to warm, salty potato chips that fulfill the first hunger pangs. Be prepared to order multiple bowls because they are gone before you know it. For our main courses, we went the traditional route with our choices of Chicken Parmesan for Danielle and pepperoni and sausage pizza for Caroline. After waiting for a short 10 minutes, we spotted our waiter rounding the corner with the food. It looked delicious and after the very first bite, it proved to taste beyond that. It was as if the chefs were descendants of Roman cooking gods. The portion of the Chicken Parmesan is big enough to feed two. The breaded chicken breast is topped with melted white cheese, browned to perfection, and fresh chopped tomatoes. The chicken is also served with pasta in a butter cream sauce that perfectly complements the poultry. If

you don’t plan on splitting it, plan on taking a box home. On the other side of the table, the fairly large pizza came out with the dough warm and crisp, the tomato sauce fresh and not too thick and the mozzarella cheese flavorful and melted. The ground sausage and pepperoni added to the perfect balance of an exceptional Italian pizza. Similar to the Chicken Parmesan, it might be necessary to share or take home a few slices. The food generally comes in large portions, but is not too heavy on the stomach. You leave feeling perfectly satisfied, without an incredibly bulging food baby. Overall, NoRTH is an excellent choice to make your lunch or dinner upscale, yet not too pricey. The eclectic feel, friendly service and sense of Italian hospitality add to the ultimate dining experience. —Danielle Brown & Caroline Hunt

La Traviata The Zucca chips are one of the many mouth watering antipasti that NoRTH has to offer. Laura Brewster

La Traviata 314 Congress Ave Austin, TX 78701

Price of my meal: Chicken Parmesan $16.50 Crispy Polenta $7.00 Profiteroles $7.50

Laura Brewster

La Traviata’s Chicken Parmesean and Caeser salad are popular dishes that are stunning in presentation.

NoRTH

The wait staff and chefs at La Traviata really care about customer satisfaction. My friends and I were greeted immediately after entering the restaurant, and when our water arrived, I politely asked our waitress if I could drink my water in a wine glass (it makes me feel proper). She fulfilled my request happily and reacted very courteously to my highmaintenance demands. In terms of environment, La Traviata has a very cool, elegant atmosphere, but also has a tendency to get a little loud, and the dining area is quite cluttered. To start off the meal, I went with the Crispy Polenta which consisted of a Rosemary polenta served with an Italian Gorgonzola sauce. For those who, like me, don’t know what polenta or Gorgonzola are, it’s kind of like crispy cornmeal that comes with salty sauce stuff. I was pretty satisfied with the appetizer. Before we ordered our entrées, a bald man with a friendly face sitting at the table next to us recommended the Rigatoni with Spicy Lamb Meatballs. Even though I had heard good things about the dish from our waitress, the picky 5-year-old in me couldn’t bring herself to order spicy meatballs made of Mary’s little lamb. However, I took the waitress’ other recommendation and ordered the Chicken Parmesan. I figured I had to step out of my comfort zone (a little bit) and try a dish that I usually am not crazy for to get a good feel for the restaurant. According to numerous sources, this was a great dish and a La Traviata specialty.

Sadly, I was disappointed with my entrée. The noodles tasted like Lean Cuisine and the chicken was stiff, dry and stringy. I forced some of it down, as my friends enjoyed their rigatoni with olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese and politely declined my waitress’ offer to box it up for me to take home. But do note, I have dined at La Traviata multiple times and overall the food is delicious. It’s never too salty or too greasy but always has enough spice and flavor. Finally, for my favorite part of the meal, dessert, we ordered Profiteroles, which are puff pastries filled with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, served with warm chocolate sauce. We also ordered Granita, which is Italian shaved flavored fruit juice served with whipped cream and a biscotti. It tasted sort of like a snow cone, but much less sweet and very light. I really enjoyed the Granita because it was refreshing after the heavy meal. As for the Profiteroles, I would go back to La Traviata just to order them again. The cream puffs were the perfect consistency, not too soggy or too stiff, and the warm chocolate sauce really added a nice touch to the dessert. Looking back on my trip to La Traviata, I would definitely go back. I recommend it to anyone looking for a nice dinner, though pricey, who enjoys being treated well at restaurants and trying new types of food. My only word to the wise would be, beware of the infamous Chicken Parmesan. —Hirrah Barlas

Driving me cr az y Teen driver recalls dreadful incident at DPS

t has been 29 seconds since you last checked your watch. Don’t look again for 10 minutes — oops, too late. Surprise, surprise, it’s still 11:30. You look around the room and notice that everybody seated seems to be staring blankly at the bland wall. What are they looking at? Maybe if you look at the wall long enough, you will be enlightened and maybe all of those people have already found it and are lost in its glory. You try, but all you see is peeling wallpaper. Newsflash, it’s 11:31 now. This was totally not worth skipping class for. Yes, even school is better than this. Can it get much worse? You feel as if you are slowly festering away in your own boredom. Are you in Hell? Not yet. You’re in the Texas Department of Public Safety. You’ve lost track of how long it has been. An hour? Two hours? Who knows? Either way, your dad has been playing Brickbreaker on his Blackberry the whole time, with sound effects. Thanks, Dad. You try to remember how you got here. It seems like eons have passed. The DPS office is the place where cheery adolescents go to die. All the excitement of finally being able to drive yourself around, somewhat freeing yourself from the oppressive grasps of your parents, is painstakingly drained once you enter the building. “Come on,” you had thought, “it can’t be that bad.” You wish you could have told your past self what an utter buffoon you were. As you walked in the door, the monotone grey hue that covered everything in the office was a sheer contrast from the brightness of the sun outside. It took a few seconds for your eyes to adjust, but once they did, you saw the place for what it really was. You were star struck. This is

the place, you thought. A sharp voice yanked you out of your awe. “Sir! Next please!” The voice came from a plump woman behind a counter. You muttered an inaudible reply as your dad nudged you towards her. As she stared degradingly at you, she thrust out her hand towards you and snapped briskly. “Well? What are you here for? Learner’s permit? Driver’s license? Where are your forms?” “Driver’s license,” your dad said. You handed her the forms, took a number, and promptly plopped down in a seat eager with anticipation. And here you are. “604 to window four…306 to window three…..” Why are the numbers 3-1-1 so difficult to say? It’s as if there is a system conspiring to make you wait for so long. Then you laugh and remember that the DPS is government funded. It is an interesting phenomenon watching your parents’ tax dollars work, you think. You’re glad they’re being used so efficiently. You stare at your shoes for a while, continuously thinking of 311, praying that the power of telepathy will liberate you from this prison. “311 to window five.” Your fist breaks upward through the invisible barrier surrounding your chair, and you prance briskly to the desk. Why do they call it a window if it’s a desk? Oh well. You have more important things to contemplate. You are greeted with another grimacing face. “Alright, kid, driver’s license, huh? Let me just write up your information,” a slight, dumpy man says to you anticlimactically. He looks through your papers and starts to type on his computer. You awkwardly shift your weight from one foot to the other. Your dad has all of a sudden taken a keen interest in his right pointer finger. “It’s just another time-consuming interlude of waiting,” you

think. Then, the proverbial light bulb is screwed in above your head. You look again at the slender guy typing in trivial things like your social security number and your theory is confirmed. You turn to your dad. “You know, this isn’t really that bad,” you proclaim confidently. He chuckles and doesn’t take you seriously. But you have seen the light; these government employees have it much worse than we do. When you walked in today, you were jovial and thrilled to have finally reached the pinnacle of your independence. But you were greeted with crabbiness and disdain, because you weren’t an individual to them. You were 311. We’re not the ones festering in our own boredom — they are. In essence, we’re all climbing Mt. Everest and they’re the lowly souvenir vendors selling snow globes at the peak. (Except the view isn’t nearly as magnificent from behind a desk.) You may have

been sitting in the waiting room for two hours, but that pales in comparison to how long the man sitting opposite of you has been sitting in his chair, typing in the information of excited kids just like you. Yes, going to the DPS may be one of the worst experiences of your life, but the outcome of your trip is well worth the wait, you think. You are daydreaming lustfully of the places you’ll drive by yourself when your dad pulls you out of the clouds. “Alright, time for your test.” You puff out your torso like Popeye and stride broadly out the door to the testing vehicle. As you stroll by, other teenagers who have just walked in stare at you in longing admiration. “See, mom,” one of them says, “he’s having a good time. This isn’t going to be that bad.” You struggle to stifle a smirk as you think to yourself, he has no idea. —Andy Brown

Kenny Call

More than

a million

Emily Mitchell

New reality television show conveys importance of community involvement

must say, despite any amount of ridicule I may receive, I am not a fan of MTV’s Jersey Shore. Hate is a strong word, but by all means, my hatred grows as I stumble across this show when channel surfing during my moments of procrastination after school. It honestly doesn’t get more trashier than hook-ups, drunk clubbing and rating girls in hot tubs, exclaiming “We got grenades!” when heavier-set women enter the beer-tainted water. Snooki has even become a big-haired, reality TV goddess that many dressed up as on Halloween, and are now naming their pets after. One can only imagine how her fake tan will be holding up 50 years from now. I am ashamed to admit it, but at times I indulge in the slightest amount of reality TV, especially Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City. But when heading westward to The Real Housewives of Orange County and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, it is evident that the icebergs upon their wedded fingers become even more overwhelmingly large and the number of nannies per child exceeds the amount of cars they own. Many consider these people to be their celebrities and to some extent, their heroes. However, they are distorting our views of what it means to be an adequate role model through their abuse of the short-lived fame they attain. Shows like these leave a horrid taste in my mouth, and ever since the boom of reality television, I have been searching for something a little less ridiculous and a little more meaningful — and no, the Duggar family on 19 Kids and Counting doesn’t count. My wish finally came true one emotionally-draining Monday night after watching an episode of Brad Womack’s second go around at The Bachelor. It was right after a girl with vampire fangs voluntarily went home and tensions were rising between the seemingly hormonal women. The Bachelor is like a bag of potato chips — you can’t just eat one. It is incredibly addicting and you can’t stand the fact that commercials feel the need to interrupt every 10 or so minutes. However, that one evening I saw a life-altering commercial for a new show on ABC. It was for Secret Millionaire, and similar to those chilling ASPCA commercials with Sarah McLachlan, I knew it was for a good cause and couldn’t help but want to find out more. From what I understood about the commercial, the show would fly a millionaire in disguise as a charity worker to a destitute city in search of community service. In the end, they would reveal their true identity and give a share of their fortune to a select few who selflessly devote their lives to making a difference in the community and helping others. I was hooked. I thought it was an incredible idea. Thus began my addiction to Secret Millionaire as I popped open my laptop and decided to look for the show on Hulu. I was anxious to watch as I clicked on the first episode. The first millionaire was a woman from Texas named Dani Johnson, an inspirational speaker who traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee in search of dividing up thousands of dollars from her own pocket to give to the individuals she hoped to

meet. She lived in a small house in an incredibly neglected part of town and was provided with the same amount of money given to those on welfare — $40 for the entire week. After establishing her grounds, she set out in search of places where she could do some charity work. She stumbled across three non-profit organizations during the week, giving each a bit of her time without telling them of her personal success. The first stop was the Love Kitchen, where homeless people could seek meal-time shelter and receive “food and some lovin’.” It was run by elderly twin sisters who opened the kitchen in 1986, and since then have been serving approximately 2,000 people each week. Even though the challenged economy greatly threatened the organization, the two sisters, named Helen and Ellen, remained in high spirits and continued to do what they could to help the homeless. The story was incredibly inspirational and made me realize how much joy you can receive by helping others, even if you are financially unstable. Johnson then proceeded to two other organizations called The Joy of Music and Special Spaces. The Joy of Music was a non-profit music school that provided lessons for disadvantaged students free of cost. Some students even went on to receive music scholarships from colleges, when before college wasn’t even an option. Afterwards, Johnson discovered Special Spaces, another non-profit organization in which a group of volunteers would create incredible bedrooms for children with life-threatening illnesses. Johnson had the opportunity to create a dream bedroom for a little girl named Daisy who had leukemia. Each of these organizations altered Johnson’s perspective on life and the true definition of happiness. The peak of the show is when the secret millionaire gives individual checks to the organizations. With pride, I can say that tears were literally streaming down my face when Johnson presented a check for $25,000 to the Love Kitchen and Helen and Ellen excitingly exclaimed, “Do you know how many people this will help?” Overall, it is an emotionally moving show that spreads the meaning of good deeds and intentions that often go overlooked. Secret Millionaire has aired for a few weeks now each Sunday night at 7 p.m. and has featured various other millionaires who have each ventured to struggling cities across America. All go in with different outlooks on life and wealth, but each come out with a passionate desire to continue giving to the less fortunate. Although reality TV may be turning in a disastrous direction with Jersey Shore or the various Real Housewives series, shows like Secret Millionaire add hope that reality television will indeed portray what good people are doing to better our society. I now religiously watch the show every Sunday evening. You could say that I consider it to be my inspirational face lift for the week. I know that the stories of these people will follow me throughout my own life as I strive to make a difference in my community and even the world. Though some are more fortunate than others, everyone should be doing his or her part to contribute. Those who give selflessly to others should be recognized as the heroes of the world and that is precisely what Secret Millionaire has done and will continue to do. —Caroline Hunt

cow’s dream

Emily Mitchell

Junior treads into unchartered dietary plan of eating vegan

“I

can kill whatever I want and I don’t have to eat it.” These words sprang from my lips spontaneously, with vigor. My two-day-old vegan lifestyle did not in any way hinder my desire for the death of the giant roach lurking in my bathroom. Clearly, I did not become a vegan out of adherence to the respect for all living things. I felt that a change of diet in my life for a small amount of time would easily get me out of my comfort zone, and quite frankly, it was just what I needed. Veganism eschews all animal products. Yes, it’s not just beef, pork and poultry that we vegans avoid. Milk, cheese, eggs or any other animal by-product must be eliminated from the diet if one wants to attempt this lifestyle. So long frozen yogurt, breakfast tacos, Hershey bars and pizza, it was incredibly wonderful knowing you. Let me just jump in with a little honesty here: vegans are hungry. Well, at least I was. After just a few days of living the vegan life, I felt weary of carrots, apples and beans. I subsisted off of rice, but was concerned that even its days were numbered. Becoming a successful vegan requires research and a new awareness of food combinations. I discovered tofu, but eating it without some sort of flavor boost turned out to be a pretty bleak experience. My taste buds yearned for some zeal, some passion, a mixture of something so decadent and so delicious that the only thing that came to my mind at this point would have been a greasy, juicy, ready-to-microwave pizza. Yes, pizza is just as much an addiction to me as shopping is to a heavily in-debt woman vying for more fashionable clothing options. I felt as though I suffered through lunch as my friends poked fun at the “garden” I brought to school, and I could not help but feel my

cravings soar. My weight dropped around two to three pounds, and my parents were somewhat alarmed that I no longer devoured the processed factory food as I did previously. While I do tend to preach some negativity about this diet change, I can’t help but realize that I became more energetic, more awake and focused, and for the first time in almost a year, more or less excited to study and be proactive with schoolwork. I am lucky to live in a city that has “green-eats” all around. I ventured to Casa De Luz, a quaint restaurant with a homey, dining room atmosphere that sits strangers together, while volunteers happily served me and my family an all-organic, vegan and macrobiotic dinner of splendor. My quest for protein was fulfilled with the immense amount of lentils my mother seemed to be shoving down my throat, and if you are wondering whether I succumbed to the pressures of eating meat, I unfortunately did. I will say, to better this uncomfortable situation, that it was Chick-fil-A. What creature in their right mind would not devour a platter of succulent, tender chicken nuggets? The scent of the delicious peanut-oil as I walked into the fast-food chain for a meeting with my fellow Chaps was irresistible. My slip-up proved quite embarrassing, but I feel as though it makes this journey all the more real, and hopefully some may be able to understand that I am only human. All in all, my voyage to purify my body’s innards was one that pleasantly surprised me. I no longer cling to cookies and chocolate milk, but rather tossed collards and quinoa seeds. I am not knocking down the notion of ever returning to my animal-friendly diet again, but as a teenager, I will not sit alone on a Friday night while my friends and family enjoy a can’t-miss meal at Home Slice. —Chandler McCollough

Vegan-friendly delights and snacks, sold conveniently at a market near you: StarLite Soy Taquitos Glutino Snack Pack Pretzels Harvest Direct Soy Chicken Breast Style Dr. McDougall’s Light Sodium Soup Cups American Flatbread Vegan Harvest Pizza Fantastic World’s Foods Nature’s Burger Mix Dandies Vegan Marshmallows Nutrilicious Donut Holes Tofurky Vegan Roast

Organic Vegenaise Dairy-Free Mayo Viana Veggie Gyros Dr. Cow Macadamia Nut Cheese Vega Whole Food Energy Bars Tasty Eats Soy Jerky Stretch Island Fruit Leathers VeganSweets Jelly Beans Dr. McDougall’s Hot Cereal Cup Alternative Baking Company Vegan Cookies Art by Brad Dunn and Emily Mitchell

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Degrees of success College isn’t necessarily necessary

possibilities open up. As soon as you’re able to realize the fact, you’re not confined by the path society has drawn for you. Instead of following a thin passage through a forest, you’re standing in a clearing, with exits in all directions. There is one main reason to put off attending college: tuition is expensive, and attending just for the “college experience” is an irrational waste of money. If you don’t actually need a degree to live a comfortable life, consider spending that money on something else — starting a business, for example. Many “successful” people (if you measure success by net worth or fame) are college dropouts: Woody Allen, Julian Assange, Andre 3000, Bill Gates and Walt Disney (who dropped out of high school at 16), among others. These people did something far nobler than enrolling in a prestigious educational institution: they pursued something they were genuinely interested in, not only because they believed it could sustain them financially, but also because they loved it. They followed their passions, realizing that school was simply wasting their time, taking their money, and most importantly, squashing their creativity. Sir Ken Robinson, an authority on creativity and education, has said in his many talks

Brad Dunn

oday, a Westlake student is expected to graduate, attend a university, and then get a job. But despite what we’ve been told by society at large, it’s not entirely necessary to follow this supposedly traditional path into the workforce. In fact, this path isn’t that traditional at all. It’s relatively new. In the decades before 1950, universities were essentially restricted to a selected few applicants. Colleges were used to enter the world of academia itself, not as a transitional stage between school and work. This is why so many scientists — Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, etc.— worked at universities instead of in corporate labs (today, much of the world’s research and development is done by companies like Samsung, Intel and Google.) Most people didn’t actually attend college. Craftsmen (such as Henry Ford, who left home at 16) learned their trade as apprentices or were self-taught. Higher learning, as provided by a university, just wasn’t necessary for most people. Over time, this mindset disappeared and was replaced by the stigma of not having a college degree. We’ve been fooled. We have tricked ourselves into believing that college is an immediate and guaranteed gateway into living a good life. In some cases, it can even impede your pursuit of happiness by putting you massively in debt and crushing your creativity. This isn’t to say that college is a terrible thing. A bachelor’s degree will definitely increase the likelihood of getting hired at most companies, and if you can afford it and know you will use it, it is a smart decision. The terrible thing is that we have somehow deceived ourselves into thinking that going to college the fall after graduation is the only path to an enjoyable lifestyle. We’re no longer considering alternatives. Students imagine college as the great brick wall between high school and the adult life, but in fact, we’re nearly across that wall. As you turn 18, you’re legally an adult, and that’s that. You’re not an adult-in-training. You can formally, officially, “begin” your life. Instead of thinking of a college education as leading up to being a fully-prepared adult, think of it as enhancement of the adulthood you arrive at following high school. With a redefined idea of adulthood, the

and books that schools kill creativity by pressuring (verging on brainwashing) students into accepting only one path to success, and enforcing objective — as opposed to subjective — achievement, using an arbitrary system of measurement like salary or grades to gauge success. Don’t assume for a second that acquiring a college degree will guarantee your happiness. The first generation of computer programmers was self-taught, pursuing something they were actually passionate about, and are now among the richest people in the world.

Computer game design, a trade not taught at most universities, is a skill sought by hundreds of companies like Valve and Electronic Arts, and many of the people they hire have completely unrelated college degrees and are game programming autodidacts (one of the game designers at Valve has a degree in psychology, for example). These people are being hired for their skills, not a piece of paper saying they’ve graduated. There are several alternatives to pursuing college immediately after high school. If you’re not entirely ready for college — that is to say, you don’t know if a degree would be truly useful — you could take a year to figure it out. One of my friends from McCallum High School has recently taken his own education in a similar direction. Dropping out of McCallum, he enrolled at Garza, which offers a selfpaced curriculum, and he plans to graduate a couple weeks early. After that, he’s moving to Colorado, taking a gap year to be eligible for in-state tuition and then attending college. Gap years between high school and college are far too underrated. From my experience and observation, the majority of high school students aren’t ready for college upon graduation; they have no idea what they want to do, let alone why they’re actually going to college. A gap year is simply a chance to reevaluate. Another solution is simply not to get a college degree. My uncle dropped out of college and is now running one of the most successful catering companies in San Antonio with his wife. Not only are they catering nearly every weekend, but they actually enjoy it. Something most of our brains haven’t fully registered, or even considered, is the fact that you can actually be happy without attending college, and I think this is a vital thing to understand. Without knowing this, we can put ourselves in danger of a massive debt and a dulled sense of creativity. The truth is, you don’t need to go to college. Though living in Westlake, you most likely will. Your conscience, your parents, and societal pressure won’t let you edge out of this path. But consider, if only for a second, the alternatives. If you are going to attend college, make sure you do it for a good reason. If not, you could end up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, unhappy and afraid to chase your dreams. —Steven Campbell

Hot reads If you’re looking for something...INTRIGUING Try: The Other Boleyn Girl For a scintillating novel with a touch of sophistication, try The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Gregory is the “queen” of historical fiction, specifically in her Tudor series. The Other Boleyn Girl, further popularized by the movie with the same name, is the absorbing tale of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, and the lesser known Mary Boleyn, her younger sister, who also was, er, involved with the king. The rivalry between the two sisters, the daunting power of the king and the slight obstacle of his wife — oh yes, he’s married all the while — makes for an absorbing read. Gregory has a witty style that entertains and tantalizes with vivid description and candid emotion. The Other Boleyn Girl will hook you with the bad-girl charm of Anne and the crushing betrayal suffered by Mary, capturing your attention from cover to cover.

Five novels sure to satisfy your summer reading cravings

If you’re looking for something...DRAMATIC Try: A Time to Kill John Grisham invariably appeals to a primarily male audience with his standard archetypes of the hard-working lawyer protagonist and the idealized, ridiculously attractive love interest (who usually has a sharp legal mind). However, A Time to Kill tells the somewhat different intertwined stories of Carl Lee Hailey, an enraged African-American man whose daughter was raped by white racists, and Jake Brigance, a local lawyer in the city of Clanton, Mississippi. Grisham is the authority figure of the legal thriller, with paperback best-sellers such as The Firm, The Runaway Jury, The Testament and The Pelican Brief. A Time to Kill delves more into the ethical questions brought up in the case while still retaining Grisham’s signature flair for plot.

If you’re looking for something...INTELLECTUAL Try: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Haruki Murakami is arguably the most prevalent Japanese writer in the world at the present.The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his most widely acclaimed novel, combining elements of surrealism and fantasy to tell the story of Toru Okada, an ordinary young man who delves into a metaphysical plane of the extraordinary. What makes The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle so exceptional is Murakami’s unassuming yet flawless manner of writing, which takes commonplace events such as a cat running away or boiling pasta and turns them into existential experiences that hold significance in a separate realm of the subconscious. As a translated work, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is easy to understand, but difficult to wrap one’s head around. Be prepared for a book that will engross and teach you, but most of all, a book that will make you think. Brad Dunn

If you’re looking for something...CLASSIC Try: Catch-22 I know what you’re thinking. Written in the 1960s, Catch-22 reeks of required-reading English class literature (don’t confuse it with Catcher in the Rye). However, this novel by Joseph Heller is an enduring work of comedy, irony and perspective. Over the years, Catch-22 hasn’t lost its viciously sharp edge in its commentary of the American bureaucracy. The immortal characters of Captain Yossarian, Milo Minderbinder and Major Major Major Major tell the wistful story of becoming trapped in military life and the unavoidable control of the Establishment, fulfilling the requisite counterculture bend of ‘60s literature. Catch-22 is fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny and at times, surprisingly poignant. Heller accurately captures the mood of helplessness and anger of the post-World War II era and packages it in an entertaining and humorous novel.

If you’re looking for something...PASSIONATE Try: The Thorn Birds This 1970s best-selling saga is a timeless classic set in the rugged landscape of Australia. The novel revolves around Meggie Cleary, the youngest child and only daughter of the Cleary clan, who falls in love with the local Catholic priest, the brilliant and dashing Ralph de Bricassart, who struggles to discover his true love: the Church or Meggie. As the Cleary family fights to make a life for themselves in the remote Australian estate of Drogheda, family secrets unravel from the conflicts between Paddy, the father, and his eldest son, Frank, the hidden past of Fee, the mother, and the greed of Paddy’s poisonous sister, Mary Carson. The Thorn Birds is a page-turner in every essence with a great web of interrelated characters. Meggie and Ralph’s romance is a story of immense passion, and will enrapture all readers as it did when the novel was first released. —Anisha Ganguly

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Sweet Treets sells a variety of cake balls, including Mexican chocolate. One cake ball costs $1.75 or a dozen for $19.99.

Sweet and petite Catherine Mear

his new-age way to eat cake is fun and doesn’t even require a fork. To make cake balls, a cake is first baked, then mashed up and mixed with icing, and then covered in a variety of coatings and embellished with numerous toppings. In an attempt to satisfy our sweet craving, we searched from food trailers to mall vendors trying to find the place that locally sells the most tantalizing cake ball. But finding the best one wasn’t a piece of cake.

ra Brewster Lau

Holy Cacao

Our first stop was Barton Creek Square mall. As we approached the Holy Cacao kiosk, we were greeted by a friendly server. For $2 each or $5 for three, we walked away with change in our pockets, happy with the excellent customer service. Our happiness grew when we took a bite of the delicious cake balls. They were moist and sweet, had the perfect amount of chocolate coating and were fairly priced considering their size. They had five interesting flavors including the Diablo cake ball, in which the cake is mixed with a cayenne cream cheese frosting. While we were skeptical at first, it was delicious, with a little bit of spice to it. With such a convenient location, one can enjoy a scrumptious cake Laura Brewster ball while shopping, thanks to Laura Brewster the portability of the Popsicle A Holy Cacao trailer is located at 1311 South First street where they stick on the end. also serve different flavors of hot chocolate.

therine Mea r

Starbucks

Next we went to Starbucks in the Village of Westlake, which recently started selling what they call “cake pops” for $1.50. They offered three unique flavors: birthday cake, tiramisu and rocky road. We decided to try birthday cake and were unimpressed; the taste fell short of those at Holy Cacao. While Starbucks makes a mean latte, the “cake pops” were bland and didn’t keep the attention of our taste buds. The icing overpowered the taste of the cake, which had a coconut-like consistency. These treats may be ideal for those of us on a diet because each “cake pop” was about 170180 calories, but we personally feel that Starbucks should stick to making non-fat

ra Lau

Brewste r

Whole Foods

We then proceeded to Whole Foods on South Lamar, a business known for its delicious treats. With our mouths watering, we approached the counter. After a few minutes of searching for the desserts, we finally found the tiny treats. The size of a ping pong ball, these cake balls were about half the size of Holy Cacao’s and were not on a stick. For $2 each, these minuscule treats just screamed “rip-off.” On a closer look, we observed that the cake balls weren’t actually from Whole Foods, but rather from Austin Cake Balls. We tried German chocolate and salted caramel, which were mediocre. Though the cake balls were beautifully decorated, they didn’t have as much zest as we would have liked in the flavor of the cake. The drive to Whole Foods definitely wasn’t worth it.

ra Lau

Brewste r

Sweet Treets

The two of us then ventured into South Austin, still looking for the most delicious cake ball. We had heard about a small bakery called Sweet Treets on William Cannon, so we decided to give it a try. Walking into the bakery, we were confronted with a candycoated sweet aroma that made our stomachs growl, even though we had already eaten half a dozen cake balls. We walked over to the display case and saw a large variety of choices with a total of 11 flavors. They had some extraordinary choices including roasted banana, Andes mint and Mexican chocolate, along with several go-to flavors such as red velvet and vanilla. The treats were $1.75 and medium sized. We tried three different kinds: roasted banana, peanut butter and fudge. Each was special in its own way and simply delicious. For banana pudding lovers, roasted banana took the entire flavor and combined it into a tiny bite. The peanut butter cake ball had the flavor of a Reese’s peanut butter cup, with a moist inside and a perfect chocolate coating. Sweet Treets gave a classic homemade taste that left you wanting more and with so many flavors, it is sure to satisfy any cake-lover.

Eventually, the end to a perfect Saturday of justified pigging out had arrived. Each place we visited was unique in its own way, although some were better than others. If you’re willing to make the trip, Sweet Treets has the best cake balls by far. But for frequent shoppers, go ahead and stop by the Holy Cacao kiosk while at the Barton Creek mall. It’s a definite competitor in the wondrous and delicious world of cake balls.

Catherine Mear

—Anika Hattangadi and Catherine Mear

Make-it-yourself cake balls There are a variety of cake ball places to go, but there are times when the chef in you takes over. For those who feel like getting your hands dirty and cooking at home, junior Hannah Glaw has revealed her special cake ball recipe that will leave you indulging in these circular treats.

Ingredients: • 1 box cake mix, your choice of flavor • 1 package of dipping chocolate • 1 can of your choice of icing • sprinkles • wax paper Directions: 1. Make cake according to instructions on the box. 2. Take baked cake out of oven and let cool for 15 minutes. 3. Spread icing on cake. 4. With a tablespoon, scoop out a dollop of cake. 5. Compress the cake between your palms and mold it into a ball. (At this point, if your hands aren’t messy, you’ve done something wrong.) Repeat. 6. Take one package of dipping chocolate and microwave in a bowl for approximately 30 seconds in intervals until soft. Stir often. 7. Once the chocolate is completely melted, take each cake ball and dip in chocolate until coated. Place on wax paper. 8. Sprinkle and enjoy!

Laura Brewster

In her current role as Miss State Capital Teen, junior Olivia Lee will compete for the title of Miss Texas Teen in November.

Missed congeniality

Sidney Hollingsworth

Pageant girl reveals secrets of contestant life; dismisses stereotypes Some say to imagine the audience members in their underwear. Well, the audience was basically about to see me in mine. There’s nothing like being dressed to the minimum in front of thousands to make you self-conscious. But that’s where girls in pageants have to suck it up and work the runway like nobody’s business. I’m not a “veteran,” or what pageant coaches would call a professional, but having done two pageants within a year, I’m starting to figure things out. You have to know what you’re doing or you will have no chance at survival in this world — the brutally unforgiving, yet surprisingly rewarding, pageant world. There are tons of stereotypes out there about pageants. There is the “Toddlers and Tiaras” mindset in which pageant girls seem like mindless idiots who got started in the craft thanks to their attention-seeking-cheoreography-pantomiming-living-through-their-kids parents. But those little ones learn how to smile no matter what happens in life, and I think that is a good lesson to learn, even if it takes uncomfortable outfits and cheesy little dance routines. However, people still think these toddlers grow up to be full-fledged beauty queens that are superficial and lack intelligence. Fortunately, I have learned the lessons of Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality: this is simply not true. My first pageant was Miss Texas Teen in November 2010 and I was anything but prepared. During orientation, the director kept talking about the “tools in your toolbox” that you obtain from endless hours of training. But I didn’t have any tools in my toolbox. That pageant was a disaster. I took a chance thinking “Hey, it’s just a pageant, how hard can it be?” Apparently, really hard. I drove home with bleeding feet from the heels and a hopeless feeling in my stomach — a stomach that was about to be very upset with me for all the dieting that was coming its way over the next few months. Miss Austin Teen Pageant was Feb. 19, and this time, I would be ready. I was in it to win it. I ate nothing but green vegetables for a week to jump-start my diet and started working out twice a day, every day. I got an interview coach to work on questions and techniques with me. I had to be at the top of my game when answering the judges’ questions in the interview. I also met with a walking coach to teach me my walk, poses and French turns, which are continuous walk-twirl-hair flips. Now I cannot stop walking that way. Every Sunday the other contestants and I would have five to six hours of rehearsals to practice walking, staging, and the opening dance number. I made a lot of friends during the two months we spent rehearsing. These pageant girls are some of the sweetest and smartest out there. No one should ever judge a pageant girl for her perfect cover (besides the judges of course). After those long months of preparing and giving up most of my social life for training, the pageant was here. The night before, rehears-

als lasted until midnight. “Let’s go through the show one more time,” became the most repeated line of the evening. On the morning of the pageant, I woke up at 4:30 to get my hair perfect for the swimsuit preview. Swimsuit preview: the two scariest words in the world. This is when you go in the judges’ room and they stare at you and decide if your body is good enough. After the most awkward five minutes of my life, I quickly changed into my interview outfit. The pageant interview is misunderstood. The interview is where the judges get to see who the girls are as people. “World peace” doesn’t come up once, but if you don’t know what “gentrification” means, I suggest you look it up, because that was one of my questions. There is no hesitating in answering a question. Confidence, intelligence, past accomplishments and of course smiling are key to a successful interview. By the time I walked out of that room, I was confident that the judges were charmed by my presence. At least I hoped they were. Before the big night, we had a big day ahead of us. We had six hours of rehearsals and then only an hour-and-a-half to get our faces painted on and our hair perfectly plastered with hairspray. Pageant girls know how to move quickly under pressure. We appear on stage, poised and pretty, but back stage we are running in our high heels to get changed. Being “teen contestant number two,” I had to rush after our opening number to get in my swimsuit. To give you an idea of how badly my shoes hurt, I had 10 band-aids wrapped around four of my toes to try to keep my feet from bleeding on stage. Although it was difficult, I did it, and I was proud. The evening gown is always the best part. Everyone had such beautiful gowns and we all looked like royalty. Too bad there was only one crown. And it wasn’t mine. I didn’t even make the top five. Two of my other friends, who were obvious shoe-ins for the top five, didn’t make it either. The runner-up from last year didn’t even make it. But this is not my time to ramble about how unfair life can be. I didn’t do anything wrong at Miss Austin Teen. In fact, I did everything right, so I am still proud. I also won the “Butterfly Award,” which is given by the pageant directors to the girl who is the friendliest and most helpful to everyone around them. My experiences with pageants are something I wouldn’t trade for anything. I have met so many amazing girls, coaches, directors and titleholders who have all taught me something. I look forward to competing in Miss Texas Teen this November as Miss State Capital Teen. Pageants will help me in all my future endeavors and with anything I do in life. A pageant girl can rock any job interview and knows how to present herself in front of people in a poised and polite manner. I bring everything I have learned from competing into my everyday life. You can take the girl out of the pageant, but you can’t take the pageant out of the girl. —Olivia Lee

Morgan Freeman

When things get heated people often yell “Well, you’re not God!” But if this argument was with Morgan Freeman, they would be dead wrong. If Morgan Freeman wasn’t God, could he turn a documentary as terrible as March of the Penguins into a moderately interesting film? The answer is no. If Morgan Freeman wasn’t God, would they have given him his own show on the Science Channel called Morgan Freeman’s Through the Wormhole where he explains the mysteries of the universe? How does he know so much about the universe? Simple. He’s God.

Bra

Stuff we like Pennies

The penny has long been something of a reject amongst currency aficionados. As inspiring as the Lincoln Memorial is, it’s one of the most boring buildings in existence. Even the nickel has more street cred. Pennies were like the awkward kid who always got picked last at sports in school. But no longer! Like a Squirtle evolving into Blastoise while avoiding the turtle-machine monstrosity that was Wartortle, the penny is back. The reassuring silhouette of Honest Abe remains, but like a straight shot of patriotism right to the heart, the Lincoln Memorial has been replaced with a shield — a shield ready to dropkick a communist at the drop of a hat. The only thing that could make the new penny any better is if it shot lasers all the time.

unn

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Trix Rabbit

The Trix Rabbit is a particularly sad character in pop-culture history. In case you don’t remember, the poor bunny created a series of elaborate plans, disguises and plots all for the express purpose of obtaining brand name cereal from a group of selfish children. Throughout our childhood years, while watching this increasingly depressing series of blatantly rabbitist propaganda, we have asked ourselves: why can’t the rabbit just have some Trix? By way of explanation, each segment ended with several of the children chanting “Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!” And then at least one of these anti-rabbit hoodlums would take a huge bite of cereal, right in front of the mournful, defeated animal they had vanquished. It is time to take a stand for all that is good and true. We must join forces to seek retribution for this cereal offense; to fight for rabbit rights; to make sure this deserving rabbit finally gets his freaking Trix. It’s the least we can do.

n Dun

Wannabe Hipsters

Lucy Ellis

Hey you, yeah you with the Real 3-D glasses with the popped out lenses that you didn’t recycle after the last movie you saw. And you, with the shirt from a thrift store that no one else has ever heard of. Or you with the burned CDs of bands so underground that even your friend of a friend who has a friend who owns a record company wouldn’t know where to find it. Then there’s you, the person who thinks restaurants like P. Terry’s are too commercial. We see you and your wannabe hipsterdom. People like you are so mainstream.

Germany

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