October 2018 In living memory

CENTRAL focus francis howell central high school volume 22, issue 2

in living

memory Remembering loved ones helps in processing grief

Table of Contents 2 CONTENT

DISCOVER

Living in literature ... 4

Alex London talks about how he expresses himself and finds fulfillment in writing.

Emerging electorate ... 5

Introducing the young voters who will be voting for the first time in the midterms this November.

Inbetweener ... 6-7

The who, what, when, where and why on the midterm elections.

Fake vs. real ... 9

How to discern real from fake news.

FEATURE

Exchange students ... 10

Foreign exchange students from Germany share their experiences in America.

Recognizing art ... 12

Students get recognition for the art pieces displayed in classrooms and hanging in hallways.

MOVE

VOICE

Childhood sports ... 22-23

Mini editorials ... 28

How growing up playing sports affects the daily lives and performance of student-athletes.

High spirits ... 24-25

Diving deeper into the effect morale has on how a team carries itself, and their mentality after loss.

Energy drink effects ... 26 A look at the statistics behind the energy drinks students consume everyday.

Staff speak their mind on the little things that bother them day-to-day.

Plus the editorial from our staff on the feeling of loss.

Unrequited love ... 30

Seth Wilcox laments about unrequited love, and tells of how to get over it.

Woebegone workers ... 31

Megan Percy asks teachers and students alike to be kinder to student workers.

RUNNING LINES: Rachel Vrazel and Isaiah Henry perform lines from an opening scene during rehearsal in October. They practiced their blocking to prepare for the show "Arsenic and Old Lace" which runs this week. PHOTO BY CORINNE VORDERSTRASSE

C

Dear Readers

Staff

hances are that everyone in this school has, at one point or another, lost someone close to them. They had to reconcile the hole that

the absence left and grieve in their own time. For Liz Baker

Editor-in-Chief

this issue, we spoke with students and examined the events and feelings which took place when their world changed forever- to this point in time when

things may be getting better, or at least a little easier. These articles explore how losing someone at different times can affect people differently. We look at what the lasting effects of that loss are, the emotions that remain and how they're coped with by the people left behind. While the subject matter seems (and at times is) very dark, it is there to help. To show that the people in these stories are not stuck and have found something positive in a bad situation. To show that there is life after death.

Sincerely,

About The Cover Stories Right Here, Right Now: High school is tough, but these students are coping with its' ups and downs alongside the aftermath of losing someone they're close to.

Just a Kid: For some, the struggle of grief is a battle they've been

fighting since childhood. They've learned how to confront the daily hardships.

The Reason Why: All emotions are manufactured inside the brain, including those related to death, like grief and despair.

Feeling Valid: Pain felt over losing a close friend is just as valid as that felt over the loss of a family member.

14 16 18 20

Look Out Look for these stories on FHCToday.com now!

There's tons of stories about your favorite school sports team, concerts nearby like BTS, and the newest edition of 'Explore', where they delve into untraditonal family layouts and what impacts they have on the children inside.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Central Focus: Liz Baker FHCToday: Lanie Sanders Photo: Gracie Kruep DISCOVER EDITOR: Megan Percy FEATURE EDITOR: Jessica Fults MOVE EDITOR: Kana Chung VOICE EDITOR: Chloe Bockhorst ENTERTAIN EDITOR: Craig Eddy BEATS EDITOR: PJ Sheehan PHOTO EDITOR: Payton Amlong VIDEO EDITOR: Grant Boehne LIVESTREAM EDITOR: Zach Jones SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS: Kierston Fisher and Whitney Klein COPY EDITOR: Gabby Buchholz STAFF REPORTERS: Breanna Epperson, Marc Falcomata, Madison Fuller, Ruthann Kimbrel, Kierigan McEvoy, Kayla Reyes, Isaiah Salin, George Schlotzhauer, Natalie Walsh, Holly Whaley, Seth Wilcox, Margaret Wilkerson, Robyn Ziegemeier STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Faith Carter, Savannah Drnec, Paige Fann, Olivia Fong, Samantha Gnuse, Vincent Graczyk, Andrea Hake, Allison Huffman, Zoe Lentz, Sarah Skelly, Abigail Tarleton, Amelia Vohsen, Doug West, Meghan Zadell

THOUGHTS?

Have a letter for the editor or a question for us?

If something we wrote demands your voice, please e-mail us at fhcpub@gmail. com or drop your handwritten letter off with Mr. Schott in Room 139. The Central Focus staff will print the entirety of your letter, providing it meets the standards of publication laid out in the FHC Publications editorial policy, which is available in Room 139 or at www.fhctoday.com for your perusal.

Connect With Us Instagram: @FHCToday

Spotify: @FHCPublications

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Snapchat: FHCToday

ABOUT 3

Imagination and inspiration Author shares how he finds satisfaction through writing

LEARNING FROM LONDON: Alex London speaks to students in the Learning Commons about how he finds inspiration in the younger generations and how that influences his writing. “You’ve got teens all over the world fighting to change the world. Teens are doing that constantly. I want to celebrate that.”

PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

Alex London on writing “Take your own dreams seriously.

“I found in books … an escape.”

“Books can show us paths we didn’t know possible.”

“Great books leave room for the reader to find exactly what they need.”

“Write a lot, be kind to yourself.

And read a lot.

Writers read.”

“Research is a really fun thing.

One of the great things about the writing is I get to follow my curiosity.”

4 DISCOVER

By Lanie Sanders

FHCToday Editor-in-Chief 10:07 on the morning of Sept. 25, in the Learning Commons. Plastic chairs were set up in perfect rows, all pointed towards a stage. It was silent except for the buzz of the overhead lights, and in the corner, author Alex London prepared for his presentation about why he writes.

He published his first book, “We are Not Eaten by Yaks” in 2011, but that took time, patience and resilience.

“I started writing [my first book] when I was 21, I didn’t finish what I thought was the final draft until I was 25,” London said. “And then it wasn’t published until I was 27. I think we got 37 rejections from 36 different publishers. One publisher rejected it twice.”

Despite the rejection, London was able to stay positive, and his favorite word — ballyhoo — encapsulates that.

“A ballyhoo is a celebratory sound,” London said. “It comes from the carnival world. So a carnival barker who [says] ‘Step right up and come inside’, that’s a ballyhoo. So it’s a sort of overly cheerful hype word. I think that sums me up, I’m overly cheerful and overly enthusiastic, and overly caffeinated and I feel like ballyhoo captures that.”

Up until 2013, London had written strictly children’s books, but with the release of “Proxy,” he successfully published a book in a new genre. He made this switch because of the amount of potential young people have.

“I truly believe young people have the power and capacity to change the world in a way that adults can’t even imagine,” London said. “It’s always the next generation that find [they’re] going to inherit the world.”

One of the goals he has is to give teens access to the inspiration they need to do great things.

“I hope that my books can give the tools to young people to change the world, to change their views, or change their ideas

of each other to think of something new,” getting out of control.”

London said. “I love celebrating young Success is not something authors expect people and entertaining young people.” when they’re first starting out. In fact, authors He also believes writing for teenagers is a like London are very critical of their work. way for them to feel represented.

“You can’t write well without writing “Have you ever read something and felt badly first,” London said. “I feel so lucky every seen?” London said. “I didn’t really fit in at day that anyone gives a damn about the high school, I was changing my hair, my stories I have to tell. I wake up every day and personality. I didn’t want anyone to see I daydream stories that mean something the real me. If [a story can] make them to me, and the fact that they would mean laugh on a sad day or give them a few anything to anyone else, let alone hundreds hours to escape or in a larger sense feel of thousands of people, it blows my mind. the humanity or feeling seen or less alone, There’s nothing humans have that are more if I get to do that, as sacred than shared a job, that’s fantastic.” stories.”

One of the many N e n n i n g e r teens he inspired explained that is junior Amelia she was excited to Nenninger.

She meet him and for introduced him at the release of his the presentation and book. was very excited to “He was nice,” do so.

Nenninger said.

“I was shaking, “He was shorter I was so nervous,” than I thought Nenninger said. “I though, but [I got was emailing him a signed copy], awhile beforehand I’m excited for the and we were talking second [book] to and he remembered come out too.” me. I was like, ‘Oh my Despite all the goodness,’ I didn’t months of stress, think that was going tears, and hard to happen.” work, London feels Inspiration is writing will always Amelia Nenninger, something that be worth it because junior who introduced Alex cannot be forced. it helps teenagers London For London, he pulls feel included. ideas from all around.

“Books did a lot for me when I was “I get ideas from staring out windows, I younger, I felt seen,” London said. “You read get ideas from daydreams. I get ideas from a book and you see yourself in it. It can kind video games, and TV shows, and books, of cure you of that loneliness that it is to be and art and people,” London said. “I got human and alive. We’re trapped in these the idea for my first young adult novel, limited failing bodies, dreaming of bigger, “Proxy,” from buying socks on the internet but we’re still limited in ourselves. Books are and realizing that I was being tracked a way of breaking through that and getting across the internet by a sock company. [I into another mind and realizing we’re not was] thinking, ‘Whoa,’ technology is kind of as alone as we thought ourselves to be.”

“ I was shaking, I was so nervous. I was emailing him awhile beforehand

and we were talking and

he remembered me. I was like ‘Oh my goodness.’

I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

-

Looking Forward

I plan to

Vote

Oct. 25-27 “Arsenic and Old Lace” School auditorium

for the first time

Show starts at 6:30/7 p.m.

DETAILS: The story of Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who goes to visit his elderly aunts in Brooklyn.

While there, he realizes they’re not as sweet as they seem.

Oct. 31 The Haunted Trail Legacy Park in Cottleville 6-10 p.m.

DETAILS: Explore an outdoor gravel trail, which is full of plenty of scares. It’s a 20 minute walk, and tickets are $15. There will also be food trucks and a bonfire for the full autumn effect.

Nov. 13 Group Photo Day Small gym PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN PERCY

Of-age seniors get first chance to vote in midterms

By Breana Epperson

Staff reporter Senior year for Emma Zemcuznikov means making big decisions and doing things as an adultincluding registering to vote for the first time. This means knowing who she wants to vote for and where to get current and accurate information about the candidates.

Zemcuznikov feels daunted by this part of becoming an adult and having to vote in midterm elections.

“I’m kind of nervous, because that’s a responsibility I’ve always attributed to being a fullblown adult, but I’m definitely nowhere near that status,” Zemcuznikov said. “It’s more nerves from an existential crisis and actually realizing how young and old I am at the same time than from the actual act of voting.”

The first time voting can be stressful, but having a say in who gets elected is very important.

Senior Hannah Rodecap thinks it’s important to vote due to it being the only say in politics as a voter.

“I think it’s important to vote, because unless you’re going to run for political office, it’s really the only say you have in politics at all,” Rodecap said.

Preparing for midterm elections can be difficult if you don’t know where to find accurate information. But Rodecap is educating herself

on who she wants to vote for by working on a campaign.

“I’m actually working on a campaign for Josh Hawley, so I already have some knowledge of the election. But there are some websites out there that give you a basic rundown,” Rodecap said.

On the other hand, senior Joe Burke is making sure he knows each of the candidates and does his research to make sure he votes for the right candidate.

“Getting to know each candidate and making sure I understand what they plan to do if they do get elected [is important],” Burke said. “You want to make sure you are voting for the right person.”

To add to the stress, there are many different emotions going through teens before they vote.

For example, Rodecap is scared and excited.

“Honestly the only scary part is just you need to know what you’re voting for and make sure its policies and things that you stand for and believe in and just making sure you do all the research,” Rodecap said.

“I think it’s important to vote because, even though it’s unlikely, one vote has the potential to turn the election one way or the other,” Zemcuznikov said. “The overall decisions of each candidate is going to be what shapes the future of our society and I think that that’s important to be a part of.”

Need to know your polling place? Visit sccmo.org/410/ElectionAuthority

1st-3rd hours, 5th-7th hours DETAILS: Get your t-shirts ready! FHC Publications will be taking photos of all the organizations for inclusion on the yearbook in mid-November.

Nov. 16 Arete Breakfast Cafeteria Second hour DETAILS: An annual celebration of the scholars, athletes and active community members at school, this pancake breakfast celebrates student success.

Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving break Your house All day DETAILS: Take this five-day break to celebrate this thankful festivity. Spend time with family playing football, playing in the beautiful late- autumn weather, and eating turkey.

DISCOVER 5

Democrats, Republicans struggle for

Control OF CONGRESS

Results in Missouri midterms could have

By PJ Sheehan

Beats editor nocking on doors, making phone calls, and carrying pamphlets, senior Nick Cummings is out and about trying to rouse support for Attorney General Josh Hawley’s Senate campaign against Claire McCaskill.

With the Nov. 6 midterm elections so close at hand, it is now crunch time for Hawley’s campaign.

The midterm elections this year have special importance for the country as a whole, because both Representatives and Senators are running campaigns to win seats for their parties. This could change the face of Congress, flipping the House and Senate to a potential Democrat majority. This predicted flip is being called a “blue wave” due to the backlash against the Trump administration; however, Cummings believes Congress will stay with

K Hawley on key issues

On tax reform: Keep local tax reduction.

On gun control: Stronger background checks.

On education: Excluding people from choosing religious schools amounts to discrimination.

6 DISCOVER

the Republican majority.

“I think there’s going to be a big “red wave” among states,” Cummings said. “I believe that the Democrats keep pushing for things that they want, and there’s a huge silent majority that is going to push back.”

Although the silent majority may be out there, the polls predict a 77.2 percent chance of Democrats taking the house majority with many normally Republican states in a bitter battle with Democratic candidates looking to secure these seats. AP Government teacher, Nicholas Beckmann has been keeping an eye on some of the closest races in the country.

“I think Missouri is a really close one, and Florida has a close one too,” Mr. Beckman said. “Indiana has Joe Donnelly and Mike Braun, in Texas there’s Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke. The general trend is for the party out of power to gain seats. ”The 2016 presidential election has

“ Research your candidates. Figure out what policies you like and don’t like and go from there.”

-Mr. Nicholas Beckmann, AP Government and Contemporary Issues teacher

ILLUSTRATION BY SAVANNAH DRNEC

nationwide impact on balance of Congress also created a more divisive political environment, pushing some moderates to other parties and causing Republican states to start changing.”

In Missouri, the race is close — not because of divisive rhetoric — but because of Claire McCaskill’s time in office going on 12 years. Running against her is Missouri’s Attorney General, Josh Hawley. He was recently endorsed by President Donald Trump. Junior Kaleb Foster predicts a change in the Senate this midterm.

“I think they’ll lean right based specifically on the 2016 election and the election we had for Governor Greitens before he resigned,” Foster said. “I feel like we’re still going to lean right, especially with McCaskill having 2 consecutive terms. I feel like Missouri as a whole is going to lean towards something a little bit different.”

Both Republicans and Democrats are struggling to maintain their seats in

the Senate and House. With new faces becoming more mainstream, the fight for seats continues to escalate.

“There’s a lot of important elections: Missouri has Claire McCaskill versus Josh Hawley, and in Texas right now with Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke. That one’s pretty interesting, considering how popular Beto is in such a conservative state,” Cummings said.

With so many elections, many students voting for the first time could be caught up in the hype of the elections. However, it is important that voters closely examine each candidate to make sure they have their best interests in mind.

“Research your candidates,” Mr. Beckmann said. “Figure out what policies you like and don’t like and go from there.”

Midterm elections are Nov. 6. The results of the elections and what they could mean will be posted on FHCToday.com.

McCaskill on key issues

On tax reform: Minimum of 30percent taxes on those earning over $1 million.

On gun control: Voted yes on a bill banning high capacity magazines.

On education: Voted yes on a bill that gave $10.2 billion for federal education.

SOURCES: realclearpolitics.com ontheissues.org

DISCOVER 7

a

Checking for...

FAKE NEWS

How to

FACT CHECK

By Natalie Walsh

Staff reporter Social studies teacher Mrs. Jane Kelley defines fake news as, “a strategy used by the president to discredit legitimate journalism… [that] is coming from the current administration.”

She suggest that students use .orgs and .edus before .coms because “generally speaking, your .orgs and .edus will be far more credible than your .coms.”

Check the URL Trustworthy URL’s: .org, .edu, .gov

Check comments They will show any doubts of credibility.

Trump says CNN is fake news

Battle of the networks continues

Searching the image will show any other articles on the same topic with that related image to check your article’s credibility with.

63%

“About Us” tab

of people do not “know how to tell good journalism from rumor or falsehood.” (CNBC)

10% of people fear that fake news may be used as a weapon against them (CNBC).

Allows readers to know who is responsible for the words they are reading to check credibility.

Sanders counters news report

Clinton on “epidemic of fake news”

75% of countries surveyed have noticed a decrease in trust in their media (CNBC).

Check quotes A fair, truthful article will have a handful of quotes by well known and knowledgable individuals.

SNAP OUT OF IT: An iPhone open on snapchat displays multiple stories recounting denials of “fake news”. “Fake news” has become a popular phrase to describe reporting that has been falsified and is a major point of controversy in many political and news-related discussions. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIE WALSH

Sites to check sources with: Allsides.com: “Don’t be fooled by media bias and fake news” All sides shows media articles from the far left to the far right, making sure to showcase the media from the center as well.

8 DISCOVER

Reverse image search

The Poynter Institute: “A global leader in journalism” Poynter helps to sift through illigitamate journalism and provides training for individuals to learn where to discover truthful articles.

a

DISCOVER 9

Abroad but not estranged German exchange students adapt to high school life in America

By Kana Chung

With her classes, Jansen’s English III teacher, Move editor Mrs. Patricia Shockley, commends her host Klara Kumpfel takes a deep breath, sinking family for their dedication and helpfulness. lower into her seat as she exhales. Out of the “[Jansen’s] host family has been very supportive window to her right, the sky is a vibrant blue, and of her, and they [even] got her the German the clouds look almost as if they could cushion version of ‘The Crucible’ to read [for class],” Mrs. a serious fall. Her heart begins to race at the Shockley said. thought of the new experiences that awaited her Although the transition has been comfortable after the plane landed on American soil. for the two, that doesn’t mean it was always The young girl flying nearly 5,000 miles from smooth sailing. During the holidays, both agree Germany to the United States is an exchange that getting homesick is a very realistic possibility. student. Having never visited the U.S. prior to her “I don’t feel homesick, but it [might] come participation in the exchange program, Kumpfel during Christmas,” Kumpfel said. experienced several different emotions upon her Not only emotionally, but transitioning arrival in America, but ultimately found comfort. physically has been another hurdle for them to “I was a bit afraid because I avoid. One of the biggest being was alone, but as I met my host the food. family, I wasn’t worried about it “I’ve had to get used to the at all,” Kumpfel said. food,” Jansen said, “[Here] it’s Junior Julia Jansen, another [more] unhealthy. [In Germany] German exchange student, was we cook a lot for ourselves, so it’s also able to have a enjoyable more fresh.” experience in America due to the Despite these hardships, they support of her host family, as well always made it a priority to Klara Kumpfel, as new friends she’s made during remember why they had come in junior her stay. the first place.

“My host family makes “I want to improve my English,” [adapting to the new environment] very easy for Jansen said. “[It’s a] new experience, new friends.” me, and I’ve found friends [that also help me],” And according to Shockley, Jansen’s wish is Jansen said. coming true.

Kumpfel found that not only her host family, “I think that her English is improving just by but almost everyone around her, treated her with being immersed daily, I have seen that,” Mrs. kindness and respect.

Shockley said. “[All of the people are] very polite here,” Even though Shockley has never taught Kumpfel explained, “Everyone has helped me an exchange student before, and wasn’t sure [throughout my journey], and everyone is super what to expect this school year, she has yet to polite.” experience much struggle with it during class.

“ Don’t be afraid, and go on new adventures!”

-

10 FEATURE

TRAVEL TIME: The journey from Germany to Missouri is just aroud 5,000 miles. That distance can take up to 19 hours to travel on a direct flight. GRAPHIC BY WHITNEY KLEIN

MAKING MEMORIES: Klara Kumpfel is a member of the Spartan Regiment’s clarinet section. She can be seen in this photo rehearsing with her fellow bandmates, just before their competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma. PHOTO BY BRIANNA LATOUR

“I have to keep reminding myself that school is the most different,” Kumpfel said, “you “[Jansen] was accepted really well [on] the sometimes she may not understand what I’m can choose your lessons, and… it’s crazy. [In first day of school by the other kids in the class,” saying, but when I ask her if she understands Germany] we have to take every subject.” she said. things, she she says she does,” Mrs. Shockley Before actually visiting America, the only Not only the school itself, but also its says, “I thought maybe that I would be spending knowledge Jansen had was that the school additional events are an exciting part of the a little bit more time with her, and maybe I system was different. culture switch for the girls. should be, but I ask her [if she needs help, and “I [only knew] the school [was] different here “I’m excited for homecoming and prom,” she says] she’s fine. I keep telling her, ‘Come up than in Germany,” Jansen said. “In Germany I Kumpfel said prior to the homecoming and ask me if you need dance, “[In Germany] we have anything’, and she seems something like prom, but we to get through it okay.” don’t have homecoming.”

Kumpfel had similar Jansen was also able to motives to Jansen, but enjoy the homecoming dance they were all her own.

“I did see her at “I wanted to make a homecoming, and she was new experience and get having a great time, she even to know another culture,” said that. So I know that she Kumpfel said. doesn’t feel on the outside of Keeping these motives things,” Mrs. Shockley said. in mind, Jansen has Overall, both Jansen and been able to face these Kumpfel can agree that challenges with a smile, their experience has been a and Shockley commends pleasurable one. Kumpfel as the courage it takes. enjoyed the school especially.

“I can’t imagine what “School [has been my it would be like to be favorite part]. I love school so immersed into a culture far,” said Kumpfel. where it was my second Jansen has also found her language, and I was just own set of joys since making learning it and then having the transition from Germany COMMON GROUND: German exchange students Klara Kumpfel (left) and Julia Jansen (right) stand back to go to school on top of it, to back. Both students will be attending Francis Howell Central until the end of the school year. PHOTO to America.

BY SARAH SKELLY and do the assignments “[I’ve loved] making new and she’s doing really well friends in another country, so I in that aspect,” Mrs. Shockley said. have school until 1:00. Here it’s until 2:20. [And can come back home and say I have friends in Since coming to America they’ve been able here we] can choose our classes, so we can get America,” Jansen said. to participate in activities, find new friends, and [more variety].”

If there’s one thing Kumpfel has learned from experience a new culture. One thing that both Her limited knowledge and expectations for her exchange experience so far, it’s that you found interesting is how different the education her time in America led Jansen to be nervous have to take risks to make gains. system was. about making friends, but Mrs. Shockley hasn’t “Don’t be afraid, and go on new adventures,” “Everything [in America] is very different. Your seen problems related to this.

Kumpfel said.

FEATURE 11

SHOWING THEIR WORK

CREATIVE PROCESS: Freshman Jacob Hacker consults with art teacher Elizabeth Sprick during Ceramics class. Each of the art teachers in the Fine Arts Department displays student work in the hallways as a way to honor and showcase the hard work of their students. PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

Hallway displays allows artists chance to shine

By Robyn Ziegemeier

Staff reporter It was just another day when senior Olivia Convery spotted a painting she had made hanging above the lockers. It features a bird, a turtle, and a squirrel on a purple background.

She didn’t know that hers would be displayed, as her art teacher said only a few of them would be going up.

Her piece was just a workshop she did before their upcoming project. Workshops are the first two weeks of an assigned theme and method of media that are used to hone the skills needed to complete the final project. The prompt was to do a collage and she opted to paint a nature themed piece.

“I thought that was pretty cool. I never, until this year, had anything up on the wall, so I was pretty excited,” Convery said.

Anybody that walks through the upstairs hallway can look up and see the artwork made by fellow students brightening up the hallway, but the process deciding which pieces go up is more or less unknown to the majority of students, including those who have their work up.

12 FEATURE

The flatworks often hang above their respective class area, as well as anywhere there is room for them.

The art teachers all have different methods to showcasing their students’ artwork. Mrs. Judy Switzer says that she displays students’ art mainly for their improvement over time, among other things.

“Sometimes I look for what I consider aesthetically to be the best piece, but mostly what I’m looking for is growth. So if I have a student who started out even at a very low level, and they’ve increased their skills, I’m going to really want to make sure that I put it in the hallway because it encourages them to continue,” Mrs. Switzer said.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sprick has her TAs put up the work.

“The TAs do a great job. I tell them just to split it up and for one week, a whole bunch, however many will fit will go up and then the next week they’ll rotate kind of through them because I wish we had more room to hang them everywhere, but eventually they all go up.”

Mrs. Sprick, as well as the other art teachers,

makes sure that all of her students get showcased at some point, whether by rotating the pieces or having different students’ work up to display different skills they excel at.

Mr. Jeremy Winingham also does his best to make sure all of his students have a chance to get their artwork in the hallway.

“I try to get everybody, if I notice maybe the same students constantly are getting their work displayed, I may choose another student over that [one] student, because I want to give as many students exposure as possible,” Mr. Winningham said.

As for why the art teachers put up their students’ work, they all have differing philosophies, but ultimately want to give their students the recognition they deserve. Mrs. Sprick displays her students’ work because she believes the school needs to showcase students’ individuality.

“My students all interpret the idea that we’re working on differently, so I think it’s really needed for the school to see how everyone can interpret one idea differently,” she said. “We all work within one big idea, but everyone’s piece ends up looking differently because there’s

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Also remember the year everyone wore a Scream mask for halloween?

“The Addams Family” features a quirky family that has the audience laughing from start to finish. Not only is one of the characters a hand named Thing, but there’s Cousin It with hair that covers them entirely and touches the floor.

TALKING IT THROUGH: As a sketch sits between her and a student, art teacher Judy Switzer discusses the next steps for a project during a class.

PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

different interpretations,” Mrs. Sprick said.

Mrs. Switzer hangs up her students’ artwork because she wants everybody to be able to participate in art in some way.

“It’s important for me and my students to advocate for the arts, and the best way to do that is to get everybody involved. Even if their involvement is being the lookers,” Mrs. Switzer said.

The art that goes up isn’t always big projects.

Convery’s piece that went up was a workshop. All of the art classes have four main ideas per semester.

Each main idea takes four weeks, with the first two weeks being about three workshops.

There are typically twelve works assigned every semester, meaning every student taking an art classes has twelve chances to get showcased per semester.

Flatworks, such as paintings and drawings, aren’t the only types of art being placed in the hallway.

Ceramic pieces also get displayed in the cabinets by the stairs closest to the library. The ceramic works also get rotated through and have twelve assignments every semester.

After learning the skills they need for their piece, students in art classes get to express themselves freely as long as they follow their prompt. For example,

senior Madyson Arnel always puts a lot of thought into her pieces.

“I think I usually try and have a lot of thought behind my art,” she said. “Usually that conveys a deeper meaning that’s not usually apparent to the current eye, and then after that I sort of just put the piece to life,” Arnel said.

When she first found out that something she had made was on display, she was really pumped after seeing it.

“I was really excited, like especially when I do a piece that’s like really good and I’m really proud of it. I like pointing it out to my friends,” Arnel said.

Convery and Arnel both reported that certain teachers would tell them when their art was being displayed, while others would let their students discover their art being displayed. Mrs. Sprick is one of the teachers that lets her students find out their art is displayed on their own.

“I like seeing them notice when their work is up, and, like I said, it’s mostly up to TAs hanging the artwork up, so I mostly just enjoy when the students realize that their work is hanging out in the hallway,” Mrs. Sprick said.

“Monster House” made the list because it was the first scary movie I watched as a child. Although it is an animation it truly terrified me, but I also couldn't stop watching it because of the entertaining characters.

“Interview With a Vampire” is a cinematic masterpiece, although it is not as fast-paced as the other movies.

Although the title is misleading, “Scary Movie” is the perfect choice for another funny Halloween film. “ H o t e l Transylvania” is super cheesy and really entertaining, the perfect movie for families.

How could I not include the “Nightmare Before Christmas?” The classic movie merges together Halloween and Christmas “Halloweentown” is about a family of witches who fight together to save the world from evil. Finding out you're a witch?

Sign me up!

Who you gonna call?

“Ghostbusters!”

A classic almost anyone can appreciate, and who doesn't love a bop?

FEATURE 13

Finding a new path Learning to live with loss in high school

By Gabby Buchholz

Copy editor On Nov. 15, 2017, senior Mackenzie Daiber expected her Seminar to be like any other before it. She was getting coffee from a teacher’s room, and chatting with friends.

But then she was called down the office, and everything in her life would suddenly, and drastically change.

“My parents came up to the school and they were bawling their eyes out,” Daiber recalls.

At first, she didn’t comprehend exactly what was happening. She hadn’t realized the full magnitude of why her parents and sister came to pick her up.

“My mom and dad just told me, ‘Josh [her brother] was in an accident.’ And I thought, ‘So we’re going to go see him?’”

But Daiber’s parents had to tell her that her brother’s car accident was fatal. Due to his epilepsy, he had died of a seizure while at the wheel.

Her reaction was similar to others who learn of the sudden death of a close relative

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or friend: complete and utter shock.

“I just kind of sat there. I was like, ‘This isn’t real.’ Even to this day, there are days when I think, ‘It’s not real, he’s going to come home at three, I’ll see him after school,’” Daiber said.

Riley Jamieson, another senior, understands the sudden loss of a sibling. It was late at night on Easter this year that she found out her sister, Paige, had died, of a car accident as well.

“I heard my mom screaming, and I was asked her, ‘What’s going on?’ She told me and my brother, ‘It’s your sister. She’s dead.’”

Not only was Jamieson shocked, but at first she tried to imagine it wasn’t true.

“It was April Fools Day. We all knew she wouldn’t go that far. But you just wanted to believe it. You wanted to believe that it wasn’t possible,” Jamieson said.

Because of the significant loss of an immediate family member, their lives were forever altered. How they viewed that person, how people now viewed them, and the overall dynamic of

SMILE WIDE: Sydney Aleksick and her family pose for a photo. Her dad was heavily involved in her and her siblings lives. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SYDNEY ALEKSICK

their families was changed completely.

For Daiber, she has reflected on the time she spent with her brother, Josh — the good and the bad.

“I think about all of the times that we fought like brother and sister, and I kind of wish I could make it up, but that’s what we did,” she said.

Even more, she reflects on what her brother will not be apart of now that he’s gone. “He’s not here for my graduation. He should be here for my 18th birthday.”

For junior Sydney Aleksick, significant moments in her life are also lacking, ever since the death of her father, John Aleksick, last school year.

On Feb. 6, he died at home due to health complications.

She was on her way home from Nationals with the Sensations varsity dance team.

But before prom this past year, her sister was able to give her one final gift from their dad.

“He was supposed to get a kidney transplant, so he wrote me a letter for if he didn’t make it through the surgery,” Aleksick said. “He was so intelligent. [In the letter] he wrote, ‘Always prepare for the worst,’ because everyone jokes that the Aleksicks have the worst luck.”

It’s in moments like that when all three reflect on what they ultimately miss most about their brother, sister, or father: talking to them.

Whether it be asking them random questions they thought of through the day, advice on what to wear, or advice about difficult things in life, Aleksick, Daiber, and Jamieson all agree one more conversation is all they could ever ask for.

While they cannot talk with them again, they can talk about them to others.

For Jamieson, she noticed a large number of people reached out to her after her sister’s death. She garnered a lot of attention on social media and received tons of messages on her phone.

“I was contacted by almost every person on my contacts list. I got random texts from like, friends of friends,” Jamieson said. “I got Instagram follow requests from people that have graduated like, one, two, three years ago.”

However, at times, it is difficult to talk about. Sometimes Aleksick will also avoid the subject to not make things awkward for others. But she’s still open to talking about who she lost, and how he died.

“If people want to learn about how [my father] passed away, that’s not so upsetting.

Because that’s just part of the human anatomy and not taking care of your body,” Aleksick said.

All three have experienced outpourings of support from friends, teachers, and even complete strangers. Despite all of the pain that they have faced this past year, they’ve also been able to find light in this darkness.

For Daiber, her family has plans on the one year anniversary of her brother’s death to keep his memory alive.

“There’s a park in Wentzville where you can buy stones for mothers who lost their

ABRUPT CHANGE: Mackenzie Daiber has gone almost a year without her brother. Discussing her loss is taxing but it helps her to talk about it and she wants to ensure his memory is kept alive. PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

children, and we got him a stone. There’s a cute little waterfall over it. We’re actually going to spread his ashes over it on the 15th [of November],” Daiber said.

Likewise, herself and her mother have gotten tattoos as reminders to themselves of Josh and his life. For Daiber, she has a purple ribbon for epilepsy with her brother’s birthday, and his initials. For her mother, it’s a peace sign with his initials.

To memorialize Mackenzie Paige, Jamieson senior and her family have done similar things. Her and some of her family share necklaces with Paige’s thumbprint on the front and her name on the back. They also purchased a Buddy Bench in her honor at Becky David Elementary School.

“My mom works there and they donated a

Buddy Bench. They put it out at recess and if you don’t have a friend you go sit on it,” Jamieson explained.

Aleksick has found that while she is still dealing with the loss of her father, she’s grown into a stronger person because of it.

“I’ve become more of an adult and more responsible,” Daiber said.

“Trying to figure out my own path without him hasn’t been a blessing.

But it’s helped me figure out what I like for myself.”

Ultimately, Daiber has been able to take what happened to her brother Daiber, and apply it to her life.

She’s been able to take on new challenges and hardships with the mindset, “Dying hurts worse.”

“I have ‘Dying hurts worse’ on my shoes for soccer,” Daiber said. “So with everything I do, I think, ‘Would it hurt worse if I was dying?’

So I know I just have to push through it.”

“ I just kind of sat there.I was like,‘This isn’t real.’

Even to this day,there are days when think, ‘It’s not real ,’” -

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FINDNG THE GOOD: Being so close to her grandmother made losing her at a young age that much harder for Madisyn French. She depended on her close friends and parents to help her through the time. PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

Learning from grief

Using childhood loss as a growing experience

By Kayla Reyes

Staff reporter At age 13, sophomore Madisyn French lost her grandmother, Loretta, who was one of her closest friends. French clearly recalls the passing of her grandmother, and though several years have gone by, it is still hard for French.

Being so close with her grandmother, it was hard for French to get through her passing. She struggled to get through each day without her. However, two people helped French to get past her grandmother’s death: her father and her best friend.

“My dad helped me, and we got closer over it because when she passed away we needed someone to lean on. And then also my best friend Olivia Anderson,”

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French said.

French’s father was also close with his mother and it helped French to talk to him about their mutual loss. Going through her grandmother’s death with her father by her side allowed French to get past their loss while not forgetting the time they had spent together.

Though French had people in her life to help her, she still struggled with losing her grandmother. French had a hard time seeing the good in life without her grandmother by her side.

“Life just went downhill and I thought life wasn’t fair anymore. I felt I wasn’t as happy anymore because she used to be like my best friend and I’d do a lot with her,” French said.

French’s grandmother had a very

positive influence on her life during the time she was still alive. Before her grandmother’s passing, French lived by her example, and still does so today.

“She was always happy and saw the best in everything. So I try to live by her and live up to her expectations,” French said.

At some point in life, each person will deal with loss, but this can be especially difficult to deal with as a child.

According to Huff Post, the normal process of grief differs from children to adults. This can make it even more difficult for children to get past a loved one’s death. When a person dies, a child sometimes does not understand that this person is truly gone and does not always react as they are expected to.

Speaking with a child about their feelings toward someone’s death can help them grieve in a healthy way and feel supported and loved in their time of struggle. This can also help a child remember their loved one in a positive light, allowing them to get past the grief they once felt.

Sophomore Katie White lost her aunt after a long battle with cancer. She still feels the effects of her passing today. During White’s time with her aunt, the two of them were very close, so White had a hard time getting past her death.

The feelings caused by a loved one’s death are perhaps the hardest thing to deal with when experiencing loss. The absence of a loved one can leave a deep emotional void within a person. This is a difficult burden to carry, especially as a child.

It was hard for White to get over this burden, but with the help of people in her life, she was able to move past her aunt’s death.

Having people to support her during the time after her aunt’s death helped White move on from her passing. The people in White’s life made the loss of her aunt more bearable than it would have been had she went through it alone.

People that have experienced childhood loss often found easier to cope when they had someone to talk to. Having a person to talk to about a loved one’s death can help a person move on from this person’s passing.

White recalls that talking about about her aunt’s death helped her get through it.

“My best friend, Madi Tierney, helped me get through it, mostly just, like, eating SNAPSHOT: Emma Clasen, a baby, being held in the arms of her paternal grandmother. Since her death, Clasen has adjusted to and learned from the death, it taught her to spend as much time as possible with those she loves. chocolate and talking about it and my uncle PHOTO BY LIZ BAKER and my cousin helped because not only did I lose an aunt, they lost her too,” White said. remember them in a way that doesn’t bring shutting her out rather than spending time Bottling up the emotions surrounding on sadness. However, people can find comfort with her. Although Clasen didn’t spend as a loved one’s death can leave feelings in thinking of a loved one and can eventually much time with her grandmother as she of sadness present after the time of this get past the sadness once associated with wanted, she did take something positive out person’s passing. this person. of her passing.

Having a support Sophomore Emma Clasen learned to appreciate the people system helped White Clasen lost her greatshe loves while they’re still here and since understand the grandmother at age ten. her grandmother’s death, Clasen no longer emotions she was She remarks on moving takes her loved ones for granted. Clasen now feeling during the on from her passing by spends as much time as she can with the time around her aunt’s thinking of the good people she cares about. death. Expressing her times she spent with her.

“You’ll never get as much time with a emotions and sharing “It’s still hard to talk person as you want, so spend as much time her feelings with other about her, but it’s good to as you can with them,” Clasen said. people helped White honor her and remember Clasen let her grandmother’s death teach move past her aunt’s her,” Clasen said. her to appreciate each moment she has with passing and gave her a Though Clasen finds the people she loves, and she’s learned to way to remember her comfort in talking about cherish the time she has with her loved ones aunt without thinking her great-grandmother, and not take anyone for granted. about the sadness that thinking about her It can be incredibly difficult to move on she once experienced. grandmother’s death after a loved one’s death, and as a child this is Madisyn French, Talking to people that still brings on feelings of even harder to get past. With the right group sophomore had also lost her aunt sadness at times. Clasen of people and the right mindset, a child can helped her feel less loved her grandmother, get past the death of a loved one and honor alone in the time after her aunt’s passing. but wishes she spent more time with her. them well after their passing.

Having people that understood what she “We were close, but not as close as I wish Allowing and encouraging a child to was going through helped White move past we were,” Clasen said. express their emotions after a loved one’s her loss.

Clasen feels she pushed her grandmother passing can help them grieve in a healthy way After a loved one’s death, it can be hard to away shortly before her passing, and regrets and learn to get past other loss later in life.

“ We got closer over it because when she passed away we needed someone to lean on.”

-

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*Source: Psychologytools.org

Mourning Maintenance

Understanding science behind grief can help deal with it

By Kierigan McEvoy

Staff reporter Loss of a family member is an unfathomable feeling and differs from person to person in depth and grief.

Supporting students going through family loss is an imperative part of what mental health coordinator for Francis Howell School District, Cherie Magueja, does. She provides a comprehensive continuum of mental health services at all levels of education in the district, whether it be due to stress over an essay or grief of a parent who passed away.

Science states that there are five stages associated with behavior during the grieving process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These five stages branch from the work of Elisabeth Kubler, a famous psychiatrist in the world of psychology and treatment for grief.

“Really as human beings, we go through a cycle of these different stages of how we deal with grief and how we deal with loss,” said Magueja.

This cycle does not have to continue in a circular pattern, going through the same process over and over again, like the water cycle. There is no guarantee that once a person has moved past the anger stage that they will never feel angry over that loss again. That is unrealistic.

“You could bounce all over or you could stay in one space; you could deny forever,” Magueja said.

However, these five behaviors are not random emotions caused by nothing. The limbic system; made up of the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus all located in the brain; is what controls the body’s response to the environment and produces emotions. Emotional responses to loss or stress, like anger and fear, are due to the prefrontal cortex in the brain.

Licensed psychiatrist, Dr. Courtney Baker, shed some light on this remarkable process.

“Stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, release to get the body

ready to take on the perceived threat (traumas are perceived as threats to our body). This leads to a ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ response, and is necessary for survival, but if the brain is bathed in these hormones continually, there can be negative effects on the brain,” Baker said.

It is all about cortisol. Sensing stress, the amygdala sends a message to the hypothalamus which then sends a message to the adrenal and pituitary gland to release cortisol. The cortisol makes it way throughout the entire body to tell it how to respond to stress or trauma it is experiencing.

A person’s emotions and actions are directly correlated by what hormones their hypothalamus is releasing and what emotions are resulting from the hormones interaction with the rest of the body. Thus, the releasing of hormones is directly correlated to the stress, or lack thereof, from the environment outside of the body.

Educational support counselor, Shannon Harting, explains how the effects of grief are different in everyone.

“The reaction [to grief] is going to depend on the connection and their experience of loss,” Harting said. “Their own coping skills, their own ability to express emotionally, their own support system; all of that is going to impact their ability to process that loss.”

Mrs. Harting compared grieving to a wave, explaining that when the wave initially hits, a person is overwhelmed by emotions and questioning. But like a wave, the grief slowly subsides back into the sea of emotions and the storm calms, if only for a short time.

“There’s just kind of no perfect way to manage it. But it’s like riding the wave... go up with it and go down with it, and don’t try to fight it. Don’t try to block it,” Harting said.

For students going through grief some helpful activities to manage grief, according to Harting, include journaling, hot baths, seeing friends, and exercise. The most important thing is to create an environment that

is self-caring and utilizing any type of expressive work as an emotional outlet.

“Young people will do better emotionally if they continue to be well taken care of, if their questions are answered, and if they are allowed to feel and express their emotions,” Dr. Baker said.

Luckily, there is a place for students, teens, and children to go if they are facing this overwhelming grief. It is called Annie’s Hope; a St. Louis based organization created to provide comprehensive services to children grieving a death.

“They have camps, they have support groups, they’ve got education for parents, team retreats … just anything you can imagine. This is the place for St. Louis, if you have a parent that passes, this is an agency that will help you,” Magueja said.

“ People [can overcome grief ] if their support system provides empathy.”

-

Dr. Courtney Baker, Licensed psychiatrist Grief is hard. It is hard to process, hard to confront, and hard to manage.

It comes and goes as it pleases. But with the right support system, the right mindset, the right emotional outlet; grief can be overcome.

“People [can overcome grief] if their support system provides empathy and does not minimize or pressure the grieving person to “rush” through the process, and if they are able to feel a connection with their loved one, despite the physical loss,” Dr. Baker said.

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BONDING:Liv Hritzkowin, Paige Jamieson, and friends enjoy an escape room at a friend’s birthday party. Though her and Jamieson were not extremely close, Hritzkowin still felt the loss of Jamieson when she passed. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY LIV HRITZKOWIN

searching for peace Finding validity amongst grief, pain and denial

By Holly Whaley

Staff reporter Senior Liv Hritzkown was hanging out in her room with friends the day she found out about the death of her friend. When someone came in the room and broke the news, she thought it was a joke at first. How could someone so young be gone? When one of her other friends reassured her that it was true, she broke down.

“I just couldn’t handle it,” she said.

Hritzkowin’s friend, Paige Jamieson, who had graduated the year before, had passed away in a car accident on Easter. Her death had an impact on nearly everybody she knew in her life, both family and non-family.

Tangible tragedy

Senior Fletcher Zieman lost his close friend Scott Hoepfner to suicide last year.

Hoepfner was a junior at the time, and was on the football team. The two had been best friends since childhood.

“He made me a lot more social. I would never have gotten to go to any parties or anything if it wasn’t for him. He would call

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me at like one in the morning and ask me ‘You wanna go to a party?’ and I would say ‘No,’ but go anyways,” laughed Zieman as he reminisced.

“ I think it’s students voices we need to listen to. We need to hear feelings.”

-Mrs. Christina Pesti, counselour

Most every high schooler has lost a family member at some point or another in life.

Not as many, however, have lost a nonfamily member. At this fragile age, the

emotional strain of losing someone our age is heartbreaking. Zieman and Hritzkowin are two such students who have experienced this.

As teenagers, it is easy to feel a sense of invincibility. It is hard to fathom losing someone this young because it rarely happens, right? Despite young age, out of the 151,000 people that die every day, approximately 3,000 of them are teens, according to the World Health Organization.

It is difficult to think about how anybody can pass away at any given time. One moment, someone could be talking to their friends in class or meeting them at a party, when the next moment, they could be gone. Mortality is difficult for most young people to talk about, as it is usually not at the front of our minds.

Pondering with difficulty

Death, of course, is inevitable, but it doesn’t hurt any less when it makes its appearance.

When someone dies, it can take a while for their friends and family to truly realize that they will never talk, laugh, or cry with them

again. Realizing the permanence of death is terrifying, and incredibly overwhelming when grieving, but it’s all part of the process Counselor Christine Pesti spoke about the struggles of grieving a non-family member.

“The biggest struggle that people tend to have is that you don’t get to talk to them [before they die]. And you just don’t have that closure,” she said.

Whether it be by illness, suicide, or a tragic accident, teens pass away every day.

Whether it be a peer, co-worker, or best friend, losing a non-family member is very real and very upsetting. Zieman recalls how he felt upon Hoepfner’s death.

“In school, my grades started to drop. I started sleeping a lot more,” Zieman said.

“I just really didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to tell anyone how I felt.”

According to Mrs. Pesti, many people have a hard time talking about their grief, for it’s a very sensitive topic for most people.

“It’s not something that needs to be hidden,” Mrs. Pesti said. “I think it’s student’s voices that we need to listen to. We need to hear feelings. The biggest thing, I think, is asking people, sincerely, how they are doing, and then listening to what they have to say.”

Validity of the sensitivity Losing a non-family member is sometimes seen as “less-tragic” because they were not relatives.

People see the friends, peers, and co-workers of those who have passed away as somehow less valid, and that’s not right.

“She wasn’t like my best friend or anything, but I was still close with her. I wasn’t as close as some people were. But she still meant a lot to a lot of people,” Hritzkowin said. “I held back a lot of the sadness and anger I felt, because I thought it wasn’t in my place to be sad.”

She now understands the validity of her pain, but at the time felt frustrated with herself because she was not a family member of Jamieson.

Many people feel this when experiencing the loss of a friend.

Not only is it difficult to talk about, but it is common to feel as though the pain is not valid.

Losing someone in life is hard enough as it is; nobody should feel ashamed of themselves for feeling the impact of that loss.

someone’s life is suddenly taken from them is excruciating. Losing a friend to death is like losing a part of yourself, a part that you can never get back.

“I just feel like that person [that a nonfamily member loses] could be like a family member. It’s a very similar grieving process,” Mrs. Pesti said.

Senior Gabriel Alden said that though he didn’t know Jamieson that well, she has had an impact on his life, both in her life and after her passing.

“She inspired my love of art. A lot of my art is inspired by hers since she helped me out a lot in art class,” Alden said. “I think that her passing has definitely made me realize how precious life really is, and how fleeting it can be. It has taught me that it’s not shameful to tell your friends

that you love and care about them. Like, regardless of if they’re your best friend or just a close acquaintance, it’s important.”

Self permission

After losing a non-family member in your life, it is important to allow yourself to grieve.

Cherish the memories they gave you, and keep them in heart even long after they’re gone. The earlier on that you allow yourself to hurt, the earlier that you could heal.

That feeling of infinity and immortality in adolescence is common, but it is important to remember that life is incredibly unpredictable and finite. So as you go about your days, remember to hug your parents, tell your friends how much they mean to you, and take your dogs for a walk. This life is temporary, and it is important to make the best of it.

The hardships of loss

Whether it be a sibling or a friend, losing a loved one is a horrifying reality for anyone.

The pain felt when someone important and influential in

LEFT-BEHIND: Fletcher Zieman has had to deal with the sudden loss of one his close friends. Despite its hardships, Zieman has been able to look back on all of the good memories they shared. PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

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From the Beginning Three athletes share their experiences growing up playing sports FAST BREAK: Star basketball player Yaniah Curry steals the ball at the girl’s basketball team when they played against their rival Howell last year. Curry has been on the varsity basketball team since she was a freshman because of her talent on the court. PHOTO BY EMILY HALL

By Jessica Fults

Feature editor The time on the scoreboard reads 30 seconds; the team that scores next wins the game. Everyone in the crowd is sitting on the edge of their seats.

A team decides to use their last timeout. As the time starts again, the ball travels down the court and the crowd erupts into cheers as the winning basket is made by a star player on the girl’s basketball team. This is a likely scenario for senior Yaniah Curry, who at the age of five showed an interest in basketball and started to play. Since then she has consistently been one of the most dedicated players and a natural leader on the team. She made varsity as a freshman and is now committed to the University of Toledo.

One of Curry’s keys to success is setting a routine in order to balance school and practice, and she practices every day with the team. She enjoys the atmosphere and characteristics of the sport.

“I like playing basketball because of the camaraderie between the coaches and between the students. Basketball is very fast-paced, everything about it is fast-paced,” Curry said. “I wouldn’t say [basketball interferes with school], at least not for me. It helps that I have a set routine.”

Junior Mackenzie Jones also grew up playing sports, and her family has always been extremely supportive. She currently is on the soccer team and tennis team, both sports her older brother played as well.

“My parents never really focused on whether I

22 MOVE

was winning. I am always really competitive and I was always playing with my older brother and stuff but it was more about playing around than actually winning,” Jones said, “My older brother plays tennis and baseball and my younger brother also plays sports. My mom and dad played sports too, so basically everyone in my family.”

In the heat of the game Jones can become emotional, so her coaches help her decompress.

Now she can handle the stress better and work in a team atmosphere.

“The coaches always help me stay calm when it’s getting intense because I have trouble with handling my emotions, especially when I was younger, but now I have more control,” Jones said.

Her teammates have helped her realize that it’s acceptable if she is not always independent or flawless during games, it’s about working together as a team.

“I feel like I’m a very ‘do it myself’ type of person, I don’t want anybody else to have control. Being on a team has helped me realize I’m not this perfect person that can do everything, so it has been really helpful,” Jones said.

Junior Allen Butterfield plays 2nd and 3rd base and is inspired by a MLB player who also plays 2nd base.

“In baseball my favorite player is José Altuve, he plays for the Houston Astros. We both play the same position,” Butterfield said.

Butterfield also plays soccer, and although he enjoys the sport, he admits the game schedules

can make completing homework stressful.

“Sometimes it’s hard to handle school work because for soccer we’ll have games probably two or three times a week. I usually have to go home and do homework before the game because we get home really late,” Butterfield said.

Another issue that can arise in a team atmosphere is drama and other conflicts between team members or coaches.

“I guess with every sport comes politics, that would probably be one of the biggest things. No matter where you go you’re always going to find out that something is going on, like favoritism,” Curry said.

Along with consistently playing soccer, Jones has played a few other sports throughout her high school career. This has helped with her overall athleticism, and has been a positive experience. “[One of my most memorable moments] is tennis my freshman year because I was the new freshman and there were a bunch of seniors on the team. It was my first year playing tennis, too.

They were also very welcoming and helpful,” Jones said, “My freshman year I played basketball in the winter, my sophomore year I did swimming, and then in the spring I play soccer.”

Although a lot of people stick with the same sport since childhood, like Curry, there are also athletes who experiment with new sports, like Jones. Whatever the case may be, it is always important for a team to work together and support every teammate.

“ Growing up

playing sports has helped me become a better athlete now. I also like hanging out with the people on the team, it makes it really fun.”

-Mackenzie Jones, junior

SERVE IT UP: Junior Mackenzie Jones focuses on her toss during a match against Fort Zumwalt West game on Sept. 18. Jones qualified for state in doubles with senior Brynlee Hendricks. Each aspect of the sport helps with other sports she plays. PHOTO BY FAITH CARTER

“ In soccer

there’s no time off and you’re always doing something. In baseball there’s like only [a few] chances throughout the game and you have to make the best of that.”

-Allen Butterfield, junior

PINGING IT: Junior Allen Butterfield, pictured right, practices for an upcoming game with his team. Butterfield is looking forward to future events, like GAC’s and senior night. PHOTO BY GRACIE KRUEP

MOVE 23

Beating A Streak

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WINNING ATTITUDE: After defeating Holt 2-0, the girls volleyball team celebrates their victory over the conference rival. Senior outside hitter Hannah Goestenkors said beating big rivals can help a team change their attitudes and begin playing better.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GNUSE

Spartan athletes maintain a positive attitude when results haven’t been going their way

By Marcus Falcomata

Staff reporter Friday, September 28. The air is much colder than it has been since spring as the Spartans take the field against Howell North, their Homecoming opponent. Five games are under the Spartan’s belt, all losses, but this one feels different. The whiteout crowd is filled with a new energy as the Knights kicked off the game.

Athletes have losing streaks.

Dealing with many losses requires the mental fortitude to forget what has already happened and a constant knowledge that it does not matter.

A prime example of a team on a losing streak at Central was seen early on in the Varsity football season.

The Spartans went to 0-5, with losses to Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt South, O’Fallon, Howell, and Holt.

The football team was becoming disheartened after coming halfway through the season with no ticks in the win column. Still they were able to find some optimism, according to senior Jaccob Schroeder.

“I think we have a good attitude going into the game right now because it’s a big game, homecoming,” Schroeder said. “I think we all truly believe we have a legitimate chance.”

Because of the strength of the opponent, and the importance of the game, the Spartan football program was buzzing with confidence. As they came rushing through the banner onto the sideline, emotions pouring out all over the field, there was a complete sense of belief in every soul at Don Muench Memorial Stadium that the Spartans would win the game.

Senior volleyball player Hannah Goestenkors remembers a time when she was in the same position.

“My freshman year, we went on a six-game losing streak. And that was pretty rough, going into high school and losing,” Goestenkors said. “So It

was scary. I wasn’t sure if we were ever going to win.

Goestenkors recalls the effect the streak had on the Central volleyball players in 2015, and how damaging such a long drawn out streak was to their lives on and off the court.

“We were getting stressed out, and so then I was getting stressed out. So we were all panicked and we weren’t really playing as a team. It was just overall stressful,” Goestenkors said. “[To end the streak we] got a really big win against a big rival and that really lit a spark. The team began to play together and then we went on a winning streak.”

From this experience Goestenkors knows that a positive attitude adjustment may be the only thing that can turn a losing streak around.

“The attitude that is required to end a losing streak is one of positivity and optimism because if you think you’re gonna win, then you always play better as a team,” Goestenkors said.

“But if you’re negative then things can go bad.”

Walking into the locker room, the football players are elated about their first half performance, currently winning 18-6, in a position they have seldom been in all season. In the first three games of the season, the spartans had held leads, but none as substantial as this. With the defense firing on all cylinders and no sign of any offensive production from the Knights, it was evident that it would take a miracle for anything less than the first victory of the season for Central.

A leader on the softball team, senior Jordan Floyd, talks about a losing streak her team was on in early October.

“Last week, we lost two games, then this week we lost to Lafayette and then we just lost to Zumwalt West and Holt,” Floyd said. “Right now it kind of brings everyone’s mood down, but we just have to keep

pushing, especially since the end of the season is so soon.”

Even in a rough rut like this one, Floyd knows that any given game could be the end of a bad streak or the beginning of a new one.

“You can just win any game, so it’s awful. Even if you lose, there’re always games [where] you can pick up a win and get that momentum going,” Floyd said.

If teams have a voice of positive leadership like Floyd, they can bounce back from anything in a big way. Since Floyd’s comments on their losing streak, the Spartans picked up a big win, 18-6 over Fort Zumwalt South on Oct. 1.

Just prior to Floyd’s comments, Spartan varsity softball went on a seven-game winning streak, which shows just how turbulent a season can be, and just how greatly momentum can affect results. Ranked first in their district, Spartan softball is on tract to have a very successul season.

In the second half of the homecoming game, the defense is prepared for anything the Knights can throw at them, and viciously makes every extra yard a struggle. The Knights fail to put up any points in the second half after many successive turnovers.

By the time the final whistle blows, Adam Lewis has 102 recieving yards to add to his 453 this season. The students storm the field, in the same fashion as 2013 after Ben Burns’ game-winning field goal against Timberland, FHC’s most recent Homecoming win.

Perhaps the Spartans heard advice like that given by Floyd, and were able to put five games behind them to focus on what they can accomplish in one game.

“You just need to be positive and kind of forget what happened in the past, and realize that you have the ability to play the game you know how to play,” Floyd said.

“ If you think you’re gonna win, then you always

play better as a team. But if you’re negative then things can go bad.”

-Hannah Goestenkors, senior volleyball player MOVE 25

Too much

EnergY

By Whitney Klein Social media editor

People may think energy drinks are their saving grace, but do they know the real effects?

83%

of teens drink caffeinated beverages regularly

In 2011, Kids between the ages of 12 and 18 should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine a day. An average energy drink contains 70 -200 mg.

over 20,000 people — mostly teenagers and young adults — went to the emergency room for problems associated with energy drinks.

33%

reported trying their first energy drink at the age of 12 or younger.

HEALTHIER OPTIONS Eat breakfast.

Skipping meals throws off metabolism, which can cause energy levels to plummet.

Snack throughout the day.

Keeping blood sugar levels steady prevents energy levels from spiking and dropping.

Drink your water!

Fatigue is often caused by dehydration, which can be caused by too much caffeine, the main additive in energy drinks.

There are more options to salvage your energy. Change your go-to energy saver and you’ll feel brand new.

26 MOVE

*Sources: Health.usnews.com/Wellness, www.sciencedaily.com, yourteenmag.com/health

STUDENTS! RECEIVE

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Some restrictions may apply. 50% off valid on classes, workshops, and photo walks. No age restrictions. Must be purchased in-store, nonrefundable, school ID must be shown, not valid on trips. Some restrictions may apply. Offers may not be combined. Call or visit stores for more details and to sign up. See our class schedule online at www.cccamera.com.

APPLY NOW!

Love what you’re reading? Stop by Room 139 and talk to Mr. Schott about becoming a part of FHC Publications.

move 27

CLUB QUESTIONS

Members of a club or sports team are asked a question relating to their goals for this year. This issue, we asked choir:

focal points Every issue, the Central Focus staff is asked what issues have been on ther mind as of late. The best are chosen to go on this page.

What songs do you like singing most?

Mason Eggert Concert choir “I like doing fast-paced [songs] because they’re really fun and you get into the music,” Eggert said.

Ryiah Camden Women’s chorale “I like when we do emotional pieces, because it makes [us all] feel more connected to the song and pulls better emotion,” Camden said.

BEST OF FALL: Fall is loved by many people, one of the reasons being the beauty it brings. Feature editor Jessica Fults describes her favorite parts of the season.

Fall season

Ethan White Chamber choir “Upbeat songs, because it feels like everyone’s able to get into them a bit more and we’re able to express more color,” White said.

Joshlyn Enochs Women’s chorale “I like to sing more flowy songs that have more feeling and a reason behind why it’s being sung,” Enochs said.

Jessica Fults

Roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, watching scary movies, wearing sweaters, fall break. These are some of the many enjoyable activities during fall that make it the best season. It’s not too rainy like spring, too hot like summer, or too cold like winter, the weather is perfectly in between.

Feature editor

Optimism

In this day and age, everyone is always thinking of the worst that could happen, or looking at things with a realist attitude and analyzing both situations. Optimism is not usually the first answer when asked about how people look through the glass half full or half empty. But optimism is an outlook that, is needed at least a little bit in order to stay happy and positive, rather than depressed and real. The world needs more optimists.

Gender equality

Whitney Klein

Social media editor

28 VOICE

Craig Eddy

Entertain editor

A young boy runs to his father crying over a bully. His father tells him “stop your crying,” “show them you’re strong,” “fight back.” The boy walks away and finishes his tears where no one can see because boys don’t cry. Crying is seen as a weakness in boys and a stereotypical thing when it comes to girls. This double standard is unfair to men. It causes anger issues and more pain than is needed. We need to stop invalidating guys’ feelings and start letting them be human. It’s okay for anyone to cry.

LOVED AND LOST

staff editorial: dealing with LOSS

LOST, NOT FORGOTTEN: Photos of families with their lost members. Remembering fondly the good times spent with them and the love shared in these moments help keep their families and friends going. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WHITNEY KLEIN

Abscence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder

A

bsence is cruel. It’s ironic to be able to feel something so much more deeply when it isn’t there; how much bigger a space seems when it isn’t occupied.

Sometimes such deep emptiness brings us to the pit of ourselves, where we feel so hollow we believe that there is nothing left.

At times, loss is so overwhelming we feel the pure emotion will implode inside and we will never stop erupting with fear, hatred, love, and sadness.

There is no end to it all. It’s like a weight of stones, sitting on your chest. It never goes away. But everyday, it’s there, just like the last, and eventually the weight is just part of the things we carry.

We continue on. Breathing, working, doing, because loss is a part of life. We have to keep moving forward without them because that’s what they would want us to do, what we need to do.

The loss of a family member, a person who is bound to you through blood, is something no can ever imagine. We are all born into a family, and when that base relationship of instinctive love and trust that existed before is gone, it’s hard to know how to move on without them.

The loss of a friend, whose bond with you is forged over time and built up from nothing, can feel like a bridge burning or a wall collapsing. You feel like you’re falling, you feel like there’s nothing left, because the relationship and person you spent so much time growing with has vanished too suddenly.

Loss in general. To be without is so frustrating and emotional that it feels like you’re all alone, that there is no one to understand you in the way the person no longer there could.

But you are not alone. For better or for worse, loss is a part of life, and so long as we all live, we will experience it, together.

From, The Editors

VOICE 29

Heart. broken.

Dealing with unrequited love isn’t as difficult as you think

It’s the cliche of many romance novels and movies. It appears in films such as “Twilight,” “500 Days of Summer,” and “Forrest Gump.”

It’s also found in books like “The Great Gatsby,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” and “The Upside of Unrequited.”

But in real life, this problem is a completely different story, one full of heartbreak and pain.

I’m talking about unrequited love.

Unrequited love is

By Seth Wilcox love not returned or Staff reporter known by the admired.

This may because they openly reject any romantic attraction, or they are just really dense. In my case, it’s usually the rejection one.

During band camp, I came to the realization that I had romantic feelings for one of my friends. It was such a weird feeling, I couldn’t describe it. Whenever I would look at them I would feel so happy, whenever they would talk to me, I would stumble on my words because I didn’t know what to say. It gave me a reason to come to band camp, even when I felt depressed. But turns out, they told me they didn’t like me more than a friend, and I was devastated.

In any case, 98 percent of people don’t deal with something like out of a Sam Smith song.

Though dealing with unrequited love is difficult, it’s not impossible.

What you need to do first is deal with your immediate emotions; don’t bottle up your feelings. I have trouble doing this; I always think that I’m burdening my friends if I tell them how I feel. But what I’ve learned is being angry and distraught is a perfectly normal thing. Keeping your feelings to yourself is not a healthy thing. I now know doing that can cause detrimental effects

30 VOICE

to both your mental and physical health.

According to the American Psychology Association, rejection can be linked to quick onset of depression, development of eating disorders, and insecurity in other relationships.

With me, whenever I have to deal with unrequited love, I always get into a depressive state and get really insecure about myself. Even to this day, I get very concerned if I start liking someone, and I constantly question them about who they like, why, and overthink things to the maximum.

Considering this, when dealing with rejected feelings, it’s normal to feel the person you admire doesn’t like you because of your personality, looks, friends, etc. But in reality, nothing is wrong with you, it’s just the other person’s preference and opinion. People have “types” of qualities they find attractive.

Having a type just means that’s what they are more inclined towards being attracted to.

Though this isn’t always the case, considering I fell for a person taller and less sarcastic than the other people I liked. What I’m getting at here is just because your love interest has a type, doesn’t mean that’s the only type of person they will fall for.

Back to emotions, it would be stupid not to mention this but, becoming extremely depressed or feeling absolute hatred for the admired for not understanding your love is not good either. Granted, you should let out your feelings, but not in excess. I would always get into a deep depression because I thought something was wrong with me. I thought, “What could I change so they would like me?” or “If I do this differently, then they’ll surely like me.” This ideology is both unhealthy, and will only lead you down a dark path of self-loathing.

If you are dealing with these feelings, talk to a counselor or even a trusted adult. Trust me, I talk to a counselor every two weeks and it really helps me lay out all of my feelings on the table.

Ways of coping differ from person-to-person, but I’ll list mechanisms that usually work for

me. Granted, when looking for coping skills, find something that caters towards things you enjoy. For example, since I love my dogs, drawing, and memes, I usually find myself coping by petting my dachshunds, drawing things that relate to how I feel, and looking at memes that make me feel better.

One thing that always works for me that I didn’t mention is music. Though some people prefer to listen to sad violin music after being rejected, I find it makes me more sad than feeling better about myself. In these situations, I usually look for music I can’t become sad to.

I also journal my feelings in a notebook. I’ve recently started to become more consistent with my journaling by setting aside a few minutes out of my day dedicated towards it. If writing isn’t really your thing, there are plenty of journal apps out there. I usually write down what happened, feelings, or song lyrics that pertain to my life. For example, I wrote down the lyrics from “Someone Who Cares” by Three Days Grace: “Why is it so hard to find someone who can keep it together when you’ve come undone.”

Another thing I do is walk my dogs. I do this everyday, whenever I don’t have marching band or something after school, even if I’m not dealing with unrequited love. It gives me time to myself and to think about personal matters. I also like to sing whilst walking, even though my dogs don’t really appreciate my off-key singing and wrong lyrics.

Now here comes the hard part, dealing with the afterwards. If the person doesn’t know your feelings, this is more of a simple task, but if you were flat out rejected, this can be a complicated road to navigate.

What I like to focus on first is not overthinking things. All lt does is make me think of the “what if’s” and gets me more anxious. I visualize the process as a staircase or a constant line I need to follow so I don’t get off track. As cheesy as it sounds, it really helps me get focused on what I need to do.

Weighed down Students with jobs struggle to stay afloat and deserve compassion

Woebegone WORKERS SCHOOL BEFORE SLEEP: Many students struggle with completing their homework ­— both at home and school — after studying, working, and playing sports. Students’ jobs often add a pile of stress to their everyday experience. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE BOCKHORST

Your first job is an important milestone. It’s the first time you have a boss, the first time you get interviewed, the first time you have some real world responsibility.

When I got my first job, I couldn’t wait to start; to get paid, to get a taste of the adult reality I will be pushed into in a short two years. I felt so ready to be treated as more than

By Megan Percy a little kid, to finally earn Discover editor my seat at the grown-up table. I was ready.

At first, I managed. Juggling one AP course proved to be a challenge, as I expected. I thought it was a hurdle at the time, something I could jump over, get through and just move forward with. After starting work midsecond semester, I finished the year with fair grades and a three on the AP test. I was fine.

The trouble started this year; my adult immersion has been taken to another level along with my fellow high-achieving peers. College, sports, clubs and now multiple AP courses, something that is new to some of us, are now all up for rapid consideration.

Our futures are jetpacking at our faces, and in the midst of that, we, the working class, find our surroundings unforgiving.

Some teachers, for instance, just don’t seem to care. I have much respect for teachers, but when I see my fellow students falling asleep in classes, struggling to complete an overwhelming amount

of work, trying to tread the treacherous waters of their own lives, and see some staff members choose to turn the other cheek, I can’t help feeling like we have been forgotten.

Teachers are there to teach content, to make us understand, to enlighten us. I see a lack of knowledge being passed on; I see a harsh pattern emerging among our educators instead.

I find the inconsideration inclined towards student workers not only unfair, but hypocritical; after all, we are, like teachers, workers, who are just doing their jobs and trying to get through every day each hour at a time.

We all hate our jobs some days and love them on others. We experience difficulties with communications, superiors, coworkers, and other common complications. I will not pretend that student workers know what it is like to be teachers or adults. I will not compare our small-time high school jobs we may keep for two to four years to long term careers that may last upwards of 40, but there is a connection in the fact that we are all counted as employees of some kind; workers who may have very different jobs, but perhaps similar struggles.

So why is there this distrust in students? I admit, there will be students who simply procrastinate or just don’t care; those students are unavoidable.

But for the students spread so thin their brain is just sometimes too weak to perform at its highest level, choosing to be sympathetic may not be the worst thing in the world. They are not all slackers trying to weasel their way into a better grade than they deserve.

AP/Honors teachers, we were told these classes were tough. We knew that going in. But when you see students crying, when you can see the late

nights in the cups of coffee they chug and tired scribblings at the end of paragraphs, don’t write them off. Years of hundreds of faces may have desensitized you to the hearts and minds that sit and work and come and go inside the desks in your classroom, but they are all important and all worth your help and aide.

Fellow students should also begin taking into account the struggles of those they work beside who have jobs after school. In whatever form your peers may struggle, emotionally, mentally, etc., trying to size yourself up or look down upon them is probably one of the absolute worst things you can do.

I’ve been in class before and heard laughs because I had questions, because I tried to understand what I didn’t, because I was brave enough to raise my hand and admit I needed help.

And for those in general who question another student’s dedication to school or extracurriculars because said students has a job; think for one second about how dedicated you have to be at all to take classes that are challenging, period.

Now consider taking on the burden of a job, taking into account that both the grades and the job could affect your future, your careers, who you become in life.

All in all, be mindful of student workers. So much weight on such young shoulders is sometimes unexpectedly hard to take.

Take the high road, and instead of shaming us, ignoring us, or denying us the respect we have earned, try to help us in whatever capacity you feel comfortable with. It is always worth it to show another person compassion, especially when the cost may be just a few kind words or a couple minutes of your time.

VOICE 31

Introducing the

Tune in on:

Lanie & Craig vs. The World

The Science of Sports

Lanie Sanders and Craig Eddy put their unique minds together to produce interesting takes on everyday topics.

So far, Lanie & Craig have discussed school, horror stories, musicals, flat earthers and vegetarians

Podcast editor Zach Jones discusses sports injuries and various sporting events throughout history that effected modern sports. So far, Zach has talked about the importance of Jackie Robinson & concussions.

Are You Going to Finish That?

PREMIERING: Inside the 300

Love strange foods? Kana Chung and Megan Percy explore food in the St. Louis area. Megan and Kana have sampled pickle-flavored shaved ice and weighed in with their thoughts on all things pumpkin spice.

Inside the 300 features discussions with students, faculty and staff from around the FHC community.

Episodes will premiere every Friday beginning Nov. 2.

FOCUS 32