GENEVA QUARTERLY vol. 6 iss. 3
control and composure
Spring 2019 | Geneva School of Boerne
BEHINd the cover To capture our theme of control, we used the imagery of a car for the cover of Issue Three. Freshman Ainsley Plesko posed with the Vaught family’s Triumph TR6 while Braden Hall took the captivating image. In a car, there is only one place where you are in control: the drivers seat. Plesko is seen outside of the car on the front, representing someone who has no control of their situation. With a hand on the steering wheel, the back cover gives the illusion of more control; however, she is sitting in the passenger seat. This alludes to the fact that we are never fully in control of our life. Design Anna Riedlinger Photo Braden Hall
control and composure mission statement Geneva Quarterly, a student-led publication of Rhetoric School, serves to provide Geneva and the surrounding community with relevant and accurate news, opinions and entertainment centered around our student culture. Our staff strives to instill boldness, creativity, and exellence through our published work. We aim to discover truth laced into our community with integrity and to write all pieces from a Biblical worldview to the glory of Jesus Christ.
COVER 2
This is a publication for: Geneva School of Boerne 113 Cascade Caverns Road Boerne, TX 78015
school info The Geneva School of Boerne exists to provide a classical education from a Biblical worldview, to equip students for a lifetime of learning, service and leadership to the glory of Jesus Christ. RHETORIC SCHOOL POPULATION: 227 RHETORIC FACULTY: 31
colophon All verbal and visual content is solicited and selected by the quarterly staff. Approval is garnered from our adviser, Becky Ryden, and from our Headmaster, Rob Shelton. All bylined writers are held accountable for their work.
Contact To purchase a subscription or advertise, contact: danielgrover@gsbtx.com To complain or for any other inquires, contact: rryden@genevaschooltx.org
affiliations We are proud to announce our five year membership with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, where we have won the Crown Award the last three years and received a Gold Medalist rating. We are also members of the Texas Interscholastic Press Association, where we have been awarded the highest rating of distinguished merit for the last five years. In addition, we have been members of the National Scholastic Press Association the past two years and were named a Pacemaker Award finalist.
magazine specs Created in InDesign and printed by SchoolPrinting.com. Font families: Bebas Neue, Emmeline and Helvetica Neue.
FOR OUR READERS dear reader
While there are still some of us who have yet to memorize our schedule, most of us have our routine down by this time in the year. We go to class at the same time with the same people everyday. However, even though we have this set routine, every once in a while something happens that disrupts it. Usually, this disruption is something out of our control, as many of us would prefer to remain in the routine we have “control� over. The amazing GQ staff has tackled the concept of control for Issue Three, focusing our articles around either the loss of control or the ability to be in control. For the Executive Editors, this theme hits extremely close to home. Just as the sun sets on the back cover, so does our time as part of the GQ staff. This being our final issue as we hand over the magazine to the new editors, we also have had to hand over our control. However, we know that our time has come and gone and it is time for someone else to take the reins. I would like to take this opportunity to not only thank you as the reader but also the talented magazine staff I have had the privilege of leading. This year has been more than I could have asked for, making it even harder for me to picture not spending my days in the J-room come August. It is with a heart full of appreciation that I address you for the final time.
from our hands to yours Jacqueline Knox, with Nathan Young, Aisling Ayers, and Anna Riedlinger LETTER 3
100 56 13 10
what’s inside culture
competition
023
056
STRUGGLES BEHIND THE SPLIT Divorce is a huge problem but not everyone has experienced its harsh reality
COMPETE THROUGH CHRIST When does competition conflict with your faith?
campus
coNSECUTIVES
039
084
THE GREAT EXPANSION Both the faculty and students have suggestions for Geneva’s new acreage
CONTENTS 4
HAVE A CHAT WITH RICK, PAUL, SHAWN AND DIRK A conversation with the men of history and literature on campus
39 98 48 010 CONSUMPTION CONTROL
066 HIS AIRNESS VS THE KING
013 ART AROUND TOWN
068 LOOKIN’ SHARP, SHOOTERS
017 ROTTEN REVIEW
076 SHAKE IT UP
020 MISSING MEMORIES
078 DO I SAY HI?
027 UNPLANNED PARENTHOOD
080 TERRIFIC TALL TALES
030 POPULAR PODCASTS
082 GENEVA JAMS
036 SPILL THE TEA
088 EDITOR’S CHOICE
042 THINK FAST
090 STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
044 WHAT DO YOU MEME
091 THE TALON
045 FIRST DATE FLUTTERS
093 UNDER THE BOARDWALK
048 EUROPE TRIP TIPS
CREATIVITY
050 PLANNING TO PROCRASTINATE
096 LOOK AROUND YOU
060 WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LOSSES
097 THE BIG PICTURE
062 TRADING TRAITORS
098 TAKE A HIKE
064 MAURICE RACES TO GENEVA
100 GRANDPA’S PHOTOS
CONTENTS 5
01 culture
EXPLORING EVERYTHING FROM THE SMALL TOWN OF BOERNE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE
SECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
010 CONSUMPTION CONTROL
013 ART AROUND TOWN
023 STRUGGLES BEHIND THE SPLIT
news
Words and Photos Ashton Landis
HERFF FARM GARDENING
Lend a hand in the Teaching Garden at the Historic Herff Farm. The crops produced are sold at the farmers market they host from 9 a.m.1 p.m. on Saturdays. Volunteers help with planting, watering, harvesting, weeding and mulching. All are welcome. Bring gloves, sunglasses and water. Herff Farm, 33 Herff Road 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. February through November
KIDS CAN AFTER SCHOOL
Kids Can provides students with an hour of one-on-one tutoring and enrichment time (snacks, games and music). High school volunteers are needed to help with homework and activities. Come when you can after school. All student volunteers will earn service hours. 208 W Bandera Road, Family Life Building 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
CULTURE 8
RAINBOW SENIOR CENTER
In partnership with Meals on Wheels, the Rainbow Senior Center provides meals to senior citizens, allowing them to continue living independently. Volunteers use their own cars and follow a set delivery course. A background check and a short training to ensure the safety of the seniors is required by all volunteers. Saturdays and Sundays 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 17 Old San Antonio Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
POP-UP COMMUNITY DINNERS
Love Boerne Families is a program that hosts a monthly dinner for preschoolers attending the Head Start program as well as their families. Volunteers are asked to sign up to provide a portion of the meal. The receiving families enjoy wonderful, home-cooked meals together. 316 W Highland Drive, Head Start Kitchen / Third Tuesday of the month at 5:00 p.m.
CULTURE 9
consumption control
DRAWING A LINE BETWEEN HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND OBSESSION Words Aisling Ayers
CULTURE 10
Funky playlists, trendy athletic wear and personalized diets are among the few attractive things about exercising and staying fit. Even if spending time in the gym isn’t your thing, there are hundreds of avenues to take when it comes to focusing on fitness. As healthspecialized restaurants and juice bars spring up around the nation, it’s easier than ever to stay healthy and have fun doing it. But does this health-conscious movement benefit everyone? Is it possible to over-do it? As a teenager, your weight is almost guaranteed to fluctuate as you undergo hormonal changes. Eating right and exercising regularly are proven to benefit your emotional and physical health. For some, however, taking control of your food intake and exercising opens up the dangerous potential for obsessive thoughts and actions regarding their health. Kimberly Ahrens, Certified Nutritionist and Geneva parent, speaks on the potential dangers of attractive health options for certain personality types. “If you struggle with perfectionism and self-imposed control, these traits may manifest themselves through how you control your health,” Ahrens said. Ahrens reported that after a particularly turbulent day, it’s natural for teenagers who feel anxious to return to the things that they do have control over. And for some, this includes regaining control over everything they put into their body. Despite the recent surge of national movements dedicated to glorifying all body shapes and sizes, the pressure to fit a certain societal standard has deeply embedded itself in the culture. And for many teenagers, it’s not leaving any time soon. CULTURE 11
Ahrens testified that the real problem with selfimage does not lie with the media: “Until each parent stops putting pressure on their children for their weight and until each person accepts that you don’t have to weigh a certain amount to be accepted, we won’t see a real change in the cultural standards.” As trendy, health-conscious options make their way into the public eye, parents are bringing home extreme diets to their family as well. As evidence of this, Niall McCarthy, a contributor for Forbes, reports that over 2.5 million people avoid gluten for non-medical reasons.
“By controlling food, you’re also taking on all of these other side effects that negatively impact not only your physical health, but your mental health and relationships as well,” Ahrens said. Without realizing the implications of her actions, the anonymous student prioritized her habits until they became integrated into her daily routine. The occasional calorie count quickly progressed into a full-blown eating disorder. “You’re trying to take control of something when it’s taking control of you,” she said.
Ahrens offered caution to parents who wish to impose a strict diet upon their entire family, including their children: “If you believe that going gluten-free is truly best for your family, then that’s great. But it’s important to realize that the more rigid and extreme you are with the diet, the more damage you could be doing to both your children’s mental and physical health.”
YOU’RE TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL OF SOMETHING WHEN IT’S TAKING CONTROL OF YOU.
An anonymous high school student personally speaks to the struggle of attempting to control her own health and weight: “The root of controlling calorie intake, over-exercising and following strenuous diets is a control issue, and a lot of people have trouble admitting to that.”
And by that time, she had turned a blind eye to her own self-deprecating actions. She said, “As friends began to leave me notes saying that they were worried about me, I was in complete denial. I would deflect their concerns because I tend to numb out the feelings that I don’t like.”
Naturally ambitious, she realized she could play off controlling her health as simply being determined. “It was about having a goal and then wanting to achieve more. And then it snowballed into having bigger and bigger goals, and that can push you over the edge,” she said.
Having recovered from her previous unhealthy state of mind, she spoke about the importance of recognizing the problem in others, speaking up to friends and ending the cycle before it takes control.
There are so many aspects of life as a high school student that reach beyond our control. For many, physical health offers the perfect avenue to regain control over one’s body. Maintaining this rigid practice of over-exercising and calorie-counting takes a lot of time and effort.
“It definitely is a chain reaction, and if you ever notice anyone beginning to prioritize their physical health over everything else, it’s your responsibility to step in,” she said. Design Aisling Ayers Photo Ashton Landis Graphics Anson Eggerss
CULTURE 12
Spending the day at the San Antonio Museum of Art is an enlightening way to explore the Arts District of the Riverwalk in downtown.
art
Around Town
REVIEWING THE THREE GREAT ART MUSEUMS IN SAN ANTONIO Words Gracyn Freiling
Have you ever been in a room filled to the brim with stories? Stories of trials and tribulations, war and peace, love and heartbreak? If you’ve ever visited a good art museum, your answer should be a resounding “yes.” Art has the inexplicable ability to convey meaning and emotions where words can fall short. Our community is especially blessed by having a multitude of fantastic art museums at our fingertips. Art simply abounds in San Antonio. Driving downtown, nearly every other corner is covered in vibrant street art, but it doesn’t end there. If you follow the art indoors, you’ll see a transition to more sophisticated, traditional types of artistry. I recently visited three different San Antonio art museums, each unique in their own style: The Briscoe Western Art Museum, The McNay and The San Antonio Museum of Art. After exploring the ins and outs of all three, I have compiled my thoughts on each.
CULTURE 13
The Briscoe
Photos taken at The Briscoe and the San Antonio Museum of Art showcase the diverse display of art and antiques.
My first destination was the Briscoe, located in downtown SA near The Riverwalk. I walked into a warm environment and was immediately welcomed by the friendly staff. The museum is filled with unique western art in all different forms. It is a great projection of some of the rich culture that San Antonio has to offer with an emphasis on the city’s roots. It is worth mentioning, however, that finding parking downtown is a hassle and a half. After driving up and down the streets looking for an open lot, I ended up having to park a good walk away and pay $20 to park (on top of museum admission price). The museum experience was wonderful, but future visitors should be prepared for this on a busy day. They also display the winning artwork for the San Antonio Rodeo Art Contest competition, which our own students participate in. The Geneva Quarterly’s own Nathan Zuniga’s collage, “Fragments of the Farm” is featured there as well. It’s overall a nice experience, so if you are interested in art rich in local history and culture, you may want to check out the Briscoe. 210 W. Market St San Antonio, TX 78205
CULTURE 14
San Antonio Museum of Art The second stop on the art museum adventure was the San Antonio Museum of Art. Here, I was greeted with bright white walls and tall ceilings, quite a contrast from the Briscoe. SAMA was the biggest museum of the three and had the greatest variety of types of art and time periods. From GrecoRoman classics to modern art, SAMA has it all. Mrs. Jennifer Blackstone, a former Rhetoric teacher, used to be an intern there in the antiquities wing. She talked all about how amazing the experience was, “I loved being with history. It was right there with me for me to absorb.” SAMA is truly incredible for their collection of ancient art. You won’t be able to see anything like it anywhere else in South Texas. 200 W Jones Ave San Antonio, TX 78215
CULTURE 15
The McNay displays an ecclectic collection of art and sculpture in a unique architectural setting.
The McNay
The final stop was the McNay. Combining the small, warm environment of the Briscoe with the spacious and modern element of SAMA, The McNay was a happy medium. Before even entering the building, you are greeted by dozens of statues scattered on the lawn of their large property. Inside, there is a lot of beautiful art to look at and places to sit. There is even a cute little courtyard out back with a fish pond and lush plant life. The McNay is a fun place for a picnic or an art tour—for art lovers and inexperienced visitors alike. 6000 N New Braunfels Ave San Antonio, TX 78209
don’t have to go looking for it,” Blackstone said. There is so much effort that goes into every detail in a museum. Visitors don’t realize how many people have worked hard to get every painting, every sculpture and every little coin or jewel on display exactly where it is. Art museums will also have different exhibits that come for brief times but are soon replaced. Something new is always coming, so there is always something for everyone to enjoy. These museums make it possible for you to see world class art right where you are. You don’t have to travel around the globe to be filled with mankind’s stories and creation.
Art museums are a beautiful thing to experience whether you’re an art fanatic or just someone looking for a way to spend a rainy Saturday. G. K. Chesterton said, “Art is the signature of man.” It’s what mankind has done all around the world in the pursuit of beauty. Museums just compile it and make it easily accessible for us. “God put it in us to create and gather all the beauty that we can find. These places make it easy because you
So, the next time you find yourself sitting around with nothing to do, consider taking a trip to visit one of these amazing museums. All three are excellent in their own ways and you can’t go wrong with any of them. There are also many other beautiful ways to experience art locally; just go explore and you might be surprised by what you find. Design Jayne Goodman Photos Ashton Landis
CULTURE 16
rotten review
OPINION
LOOKING AT THE ONE-STAR PRODUCTS TO APPRECIATE THE GOOD Words Luke Bower
You might have heard it said that in order for bad to exist, there must be good; good sets the standard for bad. Knowing what a five-star reviewed restaurant is like helps you know when you’ve stumbled into a one-star establishment. The converse is also true. That is to say, you can’t have good without bad. The bad and truly disappointing experiences in life are what make us value and appreciate the good. To test this theory, I looked at some products that truly deserve a one-star review.
The first thing I would rate onestar is my personal nemesis, candy corn. I hate candy corn. This utter disappointment of a candy is usually only seen around Halloween. I guess this has something to do with the fact that there is orange on it? Perhaps the most unsatisfactory thing about candy corn is that the different colors are not even different flavors. As a child, my first experience with candy corn was finding it all alone. Candy corn seems to never be in a package—it is either sadly lying around on the carpeted floor of a childhood Halloween party or in one of those decorative bowls that seem to remain untouched indefinitely. Upon finding my first candy corn, I ate it in the way that seemed to make sense. First, the tip of the completely random triangle shape, then the next layer and then the next. Instead of the expected vanilla then orange then lemon, all I tasted was wax. That’s right. The only flavor I could glean from my first candy corn experience can only be described as “chapstickesque,” which makes candy corn the most anti-climactic candy ever to exist. Now, whenever I see candy corn’s enticing colors, I run the other direction because I know that the only purpose of candy corn is to disappoint innocent children and make us even more grateful for the Hershey’s, Reese’s and Snickers in our trick-or-treat bags.
The next one-star item up for review comes courtesy of Burger King. It is none other than BK Chicken Fries. I hated them from the beginning. Call me a chicken strip purist, but you can eat a fry or you can eat chicken. You can’t eat both—not at the same time. To my relief, these terrible glorified breadsticks disappeared from stores at one point. However, a horrifying commercial documented their return only a few months later. I resolved to try them. Maybe something had changed. Maybe it was my hardened heart that was unwilling to give them a chance. So, I tried them, and guess what? My change of heart was met with a mouthful of soggy, barelychicken flavored bread. I am still struggling to find the reason they are called Chicken Fries, because when my teeth crossed the soggy crust, all I tasted or saw was bread. Burger King claims that its Chicken Fries are made with “premium white meat chicken.” Uh…ok. There is not anything resembling chicken meat in the Chicken Fries I ate. It’s no wonder that the little chicken on the side of the box looks so sad. I’m not mad, Burger King, just disappointed. Yet, despite my disillusionment and true to our theory, the Chicken Fry has made me appreciate all the chicken goodness I get at places like Cane’s and Chick-fil-a.
Another disastrous product that still has me shaking my head in disbelief is Listerine PocketPaks breath fresheners. I haven’t seen these in a very long time and would not be surprised if it has been discontinued since my first and last use of it around 2015. It was just an ordinary day. I was heading to school, excited to start my day, watching the sunrise out of the car window when my brother stretched out his hand to me. In hindsight, I should have been skeptical—I suspected nothing when he placed in my hand the very product that would destroy our brotherly bond (dramatized for effect). “Here’s a breath mint. Trust me you need it,” he said. But this was no mint. I took from the plastic container a green, wafer-thin sheet of plastic about the size of the insert for a thumb drive. “Just put it on your tongue,” instructed the traitor. I unwittingly did as I was told and before I knew it the overwhelming taste of hand sanitizer mixed with a medicinal mint flavoring filled my mouth. My eyes began to water and as I tried to take it out, I realized that it had disintegrated and morphed into a gel-like substance, which was glued to the roof of my mouth. As the flavor developed, my mouth began to burn and I began to use my fingernail to scrape the thick paste from the roof of my mouth. Never have I been in greater discomfort because of a breath mint. The only question I can think to formulate when I think of Listerine PocketPaks is, “Why?” I have no answers.
My final one-star item is Pibb Xtra. First of all, it is hard to even locate this soda (I have only seen it at Subway and Spurs games). One would think that such a rare commodity would offer something special. This is not so in the case of Pibb Xtra; it is basically a flat Dr. Pepper, but with less flavor. Interestingly enough, no matter how cold you get Pibb Xtra, it always seems slightly warm. It’s just wrong. All it does is make us thankful for that amazing Texan creation itself: Dr. Pepper.
SO, THE BAD ISN’T ALL BAD— it points us to the good. It is because of these experiences that I know how refreshing a Dr. Pepper tastes or how to appreciate a candy dish filled with fun-size Snickers. Because I’ve experienced the bottom of the barrel, a big, juicy, real chicken tender is raised to new heights and a simple Tic Tac can make me smile. Our bad experiences shape the good, which means that all bad things are good for experience’s sake. So, the next time you experience something utterly terrible, embrace it and I promise you the next good thing will be even better than it already was. Design Sydney Griffey Graphics Anna Riedlinger
MISSING MEMORIES DEMENTIA AFFECTS EVERYONE IT TOUCHES—TAKING MEMORIES WITH IT Words Pauline Rahal
There is a disease afflicting families and communities throughout the world. Every year, the number of people affected grows. Dementia is a chronic or persistent disorder caused by brain disease or injury that targets mental processes (memory, thinking and reasoning). One in 14 people over the age of 65 are affected by it and the probability of suffering from it increases the older you get. The most common form of dementia (60-70%) is Alzheimer’s. Although there is no current cure for dementia, it can be prevented by looking after your general health. But why does dementia matter? Alzheimer’s isn’t just the fifth leading cause of death worldwide;
it’s a disease that affects millions of people, families and communities. Even in our own community, many families have experienced a loved one going through dementia. The Young family recently lost former Geneva admissions director Gay Young to dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s. Gay was the mother of Kevin Young and grandmother to Nathan (12th), Jackson (10th), Whitney (‘13) and Delaney (‘16) Young. They first started noticing signs of dementia when Gay was about 72. “Gay was a big personality—talking all the time and dominating the conversation. When we began to realize
there is a disease afflicting families and communities throughout the world. CULTURE 20
she had this disease, she just slowly got quieter,” daughter-in-law Cindy Young said. Dementia affects every person differently. The most common trait is memory loss, but personality changes and mobility loss also play a large role. As it progresses, the person begins to lose the ability to do things for themselves, and usually requires the attention of a caregiver or hospice. However, when dementia hits, many of these families begin to alienate themselves from their community—choosing instead to deal with the disease in silence.
“People tend to be private and protective of the person with dementia,” Young said. “They want to protect their dignity and the person that they were. You feel for the person that has it and you want them to be the way they always were. You just want things to be the same.” Because of this, they sometimes choose not to place their loved ones in a nursing home; the thought of institutionalizing them being too much to bear. But ignoring a disease won’t cure it. “Dementia isn’t something to be embarrassed or ashamed about,” Young said. “We should take advantage of what our community has to
Dementia isn’t something to be embarrassed or ashamed about.
CULTURE 21
offer and reach out for help. It’s so easy to get closed up about it and try to handle it on your own—not leaning on the people who really love you and want to help.”
even if it may not appear like it. Young said, “Treat them like you remember them. Who knows what they understand or comprehend.”
Getting help is hard, but sometimes placing a loved one in a nursing home is the most loving course of action. Nursing homes and hospices have 24-hour vigilance and memory care resources that can’t be provided anywhere else. Currently, they use things like music, art and other tools to help their patients access memories and emotions. Young recounts how Gay—even after losing her speech—would still mouth words to hymns she’d been singing since she was little. It’s small events like this that remind us that the person inside is still there,
2 Corinthians 4:16, one of the passages that helped Young throughout the process, says, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Dementia is a personal subject that affects millions, but by opening up and talking about it with our communities and loved ones, we get closer and closer to a cure. Design Sydney Griffey Graphics Anson Eggerss
Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. CULTURE 22
Struggles Behind the
split
DIVORCE’S HARSH REALITY CAN BE CHALLENGING Words Lydia duPerier
23
A boy, 15, sits alone in his upstairs bedroom. He listens to music at full volume through headphones. The music muffles the faint sounds of arguing downstairs. The voices grow louder. The boy slowly takes out the headphones to try and understand the conversation. He can only hear the last few words before the front door slams shut. He sits in shock for a few minutes. The noise of his mother’s slippers dragging up the stairs breaks the silence. She enters his room and forces a smile. The mother asks, “Have you started your homework yet honey?” He looks up at her and sees the tears falling down her cheeks. He wraps his arms around her. After a few minutes, the mother tells her son that his father has left…left for good this time. The boy nods his head and says, “Everything will be alright momma, don’t worry.” Loyalty, love and unity. These are a few of the many components of a family. Loyalty is being faithful to all members of the family and standing by them no matter what. All families face trials but supporting one another through it all is what brings them together. The loyalty
that a father and mother show to one another sets an example for their children of how a relationship should be. Loyalty is the first step of showing love. Love is a family element that is essential to one’s well-being. The love that parents share with each other and with their children is different than any other type of love. Families spend the majority of their lives together. Because of this, the bond between them continuously grows. Where an unconditional and growing love is present, so is the feeling of belonging. And where there is belonging, there is union. A family functions best as a whole. It is when a family is broken into parts that loyalty, love and unity are shaken. The separation of a mother and father can drastically change the life of the children. Divorce affects half of all marriages, making it an unfortunate part of life that is all too common. While parents bear the burden of trying to navigate life with the legal and social issues of divorce, it is sometimes the child who ends up bearing the brunt of the emotional cost. It is important to talk to those people around you for support and to realize
CULTURE 24
that what occurred is not your fault. It may feel like the end of the world, but it is something that can be overcome and will heal in time. When a mother or father leaves a family, there is bound to be a feeling of distrust from the child. When someone as close as a parent leaves their own child, it is going to impact the way that child trusts others. This child may develop serious trust issues which could eventually affect how he or she relates with others. Love within the family is also altered. Depending on how the divorce ended, the child can now feel like he or she has lost the love from the parent that left. This can lead to a feeling of loneliness. It is hard for a child to transition from having the love and support from two parents to just one. The love in a family is special, so when trust and love are lost in a family, it can seriously affect the child. Loneliness is one of the main effects divorce has on people with divorced parents. Some feel as though, when a parent leaves, the unity of the family is lost. Children of divorced families all react and feel differently depending
on how the parents split. Some families go through long and rough divorces that greatly affect everyone involved. Others experience a clean, mutual split where the recovery is smooth. In either case, most will agree divorce is something that will change a child’s life in one way or another.
divorce is something that will change a child’s life. Even though divorce can negatively change
CULTURE 25
one’s life, in time it will heal. As time goes by, the child will eventually see and understand that divorce is something that happens. It is a part of life that can teach a child, even though it is difficult. The Christian worldview is that divorce shouldn’t “just happen.” Society seems to just accept divorce and overlook the damage that is done. In reality, divorce is something that should be taken more seriously. Marriage is supposed to be a vow of love through all troubles of life. This vow is something serious and when broken leads to despair and brokenness. The child will eventually see that divorce is something that—though it can be painful and unfair—is out of their control. Through divorce, a child will learn to understand that even when things appear to be spinning out of control, there is always a positive outcome to be found.
relationships built on trust and love. A female student whose parents divorced at the age of nine said, “You learn to appreciate close relationships you make with people now because you understand how hard they are to make but how important they are.”
The same boy, now 18, sits alongside his classmates in a beautiful church. It’s graduation day. He looks out into the crowd. His mother is the first face he sees. She’s smiling a smile that says, “I’m proud of you son.” Through every tear, heartache and trial, the mother and son were there for each other. And in the end, everything was alright— just like the boy told his mother three years ago. Even though this story is a compilation of different experiences from various people, it emulates the stories of many.
Through divorce, a child can learn the importance of interacting and forming real
Design Jayne Goodman Graphics Anson Eggerss
This is an important lesson: relationships are important. They require trust and love. Divorce can alter how people view these two things; when you have them, appreciate them.
Relationships are important... They require trust and love. CULTURE 26
UNPlanned parenthood TEEN PREGNANCY IS ONE OF TODAY’S MOST CHALLENGING OBSTACLES Words Braden Hall
I write this in the hopes that as a society we can learn to be more understanding of those in less fortunate situations. I am writing this story through the lens of “YoungLives,” an arm of the Young Life organization that reaches out to young teen mothers in need of God and financial assistance by being a part of their lives and providing a role model to walk alongside them. As I walk down the aisle, I am confronted with a variety of looks that range from shocked to pitiful. Disgusted to heartbroken. Uncomfortable to accepting. They are intense and focused and seem to follow me as I make my way to the counter. I can’t seem to escape the scrutiny of these gazes. All I am doing is making a purchase. All I am doing is purchasing a pregnancy test… Society today has developed what is known as the “hook-up culture” where sleeping around is deemed acceptable, if not praised—that is until you get pregnant; then the tables turn. YoungLives works alongside teen moms to share the gospel with them. Courtney Garrison, CULTURE 27
a Geneva mom and an active member in the YoungLives community compares the girls who are part of this ministry to the Israelites who suffered through generations and “forgot how to be free as a people group.” She has seen this as a common theme for her girls, who were born into generational poverty.
these women are strong and brave.
Choosing a better life for her child can look different for each mother. For Garrison’s oldest child who was adopted from a teen mother, the mother was able to give her child a better life by giving him to the Garrisons who would love and support him. In our position as high school students who go to a school with amazing opportunities, it seems hard to fathom their circumstances. I had the privilege of attending a YoungLives camp as a volunteer who took care of some of the babies while the moms experienced being at camp. I saw first-hand what Garrison said: these girls who were my age had a maturity and responsibility that they took seriously and strove to uphold. They cared for their babies as any mother would and they had gratefulness for those who did the same. It was there I saw God working first-hand through amazing leaders like Garrison and Williams as they ministered to these girls who longed to be loved and to not believe the lies the world tells them.
Generational poverty is something that is quite prevalent in the lives of these teen moms. Claire Williams (’17) works with the YoungLives ministry as a Sophomore at Texas A&M. “Most of the teen moms that come to YoungLives Club come from very broken and povertystricken homes,” Williams said. Teenage pregnancy seemingly ruins your chance for a bright future, but these teen moms disagree with that assumption. Society as a whole does not acknowledge that being a mother is something these women cling to. It is not a burden to them to be a mother, it is something they hold dear and will fight for. Garrison said, “Teen moms fiercely, fiercely love their kids. They are obsessively passionate about giving their babies a better life than they had.” Williams agreed, “Teen moms are some of the bravest people in the world… all of the girls I have met have such a deep love for their babies. They chose life for their babies and that is something to be celebrated.”
Society tells these young women constant lies: “You are worthless,” “You are not loved,” “You are a waste of space,” “You don’t have to keep the baby,” “Take control of your own body.” “Overcoming these struggles is not an easy fix. It’s definitely a process, especially because they are constantly surrounded by a very challenging environment,” Williams said. YoungLives is an amazing ministry that strives to bring God to those in our generation who have the difficult task of raising the next one. They diligently point to God and not to the faults our society has a tendency to focus on. Working through the ministry has been a humbling experience for Williams: “The Lord has taught me how important it is to never define another person based solely on sins or actions in his or her past.” This ministry works hard to love and care for these young women who have believed the lies of the world. The leaders of YoungLives patiently walk beside these women and their babies to show God’s marvelous plan for their future. It is not easy to guide these mothers to
CULTURE 28
dream for a better future for them and their children when what they have is what they already consider to be all that will come in the future. Garrison told the story of a young woman she was working with—helping her come up with goals for her future. She was told that this young mother hoped her son would be a teen father. This woman had been raised in “crisis pregnancy situations” and that is all she knew. It was difficult for this woman to dream of a future that she had never experienced or could not hope to experience. “Asking someone [to dream] who lives in stressed-out poverty and an abuse-ridden environment is hard. They don’t know how to dream for themselves,” Garrison explained. These YoungLives leaders actively integrate themselves into these mothers’ lives and walk alongside them all year—not just for a couple of camps. You can see the trust and respect they have for each other. Garrison said her most rewarding experience is when she encounters women finally meeting the Lord, who have previously had all the joy in life drained out of their eyes: “The light comes on in their soul and you can see their ability to dream for their own future.” I can honestly say that seeing these strong girls who are my age stand up and declare that they have followed the Lord and will raise their babies to do the same—watching their leaders embrace them and praise God for bringing them home—is one of the most emotional things I have witnessed and it brought tears to my eyes. Society has it wrong. It believes that these women should be pushed down and considered lesser, but as Garrison and Williams said, these women are strong and brave and passionate moms who deserved to be treated as such.
Design Jayne Goodman Photos Braden Hall
CULTURE 29
They Don’t know how to dream for themselves.
Popular podcasts PODCASTS ARE ON THE UP AND UP; HERE ARE THE ONES WE RECOMMEND Words Sydney Griffey Podcasts were first started in 2004, but became really popular around 2015. Podcasts tell stories, discuss, debate and inform people of popular topics. They are the newest and hottest way to spice up your commute or down time. Here are a few channels I recommend to start your podcast journey.
“99% INVISIBLE” Everything has a design and a purpose that has far too often gone unnoticed. Roman Mars explores the purposes for these designs and how they influence our lives in his podcast, “99% Invisible.” Mars digs into the struggles for perfecting design and architecture. He talks about the little things that an everyday person would never think about, know the use for or know how much thought was put into it. “99% Invisible” is a fascinating podcast that informs the average person about the little things in life with over 330 episodes.
“REVISIONIST HISTORY” In this channel Malcom Gladwell explains events and people that may have been misunderstood in order to see the truth about what really happened. “Revisionist History” was started in 2016 and has aired three seasons with 10 episodes each. He takes a second look at things that that people remember but have misinterpreted. Gladwell says he will “correct the record” and set people straight on the facts. Gladwell’s unique method makes the channel intriguing and very entertaining to listen to.
CULTURE 30
“THE REWATCHABLES” “The Rewatchables” is hosted by Bill Simmons and others from “The Ringer,” a sports and pop culture news website. “The Rewatchables” reviews the best movies off all time that are worth replaying. Simmons talks about the parts of movies like “The Godfather” that make them so iconic and what makes them truly re-watchable material. He reviews movies from many genres such as dramas, comedies, thrillers and mysteries. This channel has 57 episodes: 57 great movies being put under great scrutiny. Why not take a look at Simmons views of these movies?
“THE DAILY” If you are looking for a podcast channel to update you on the hot topics concerning America, then “The Daily” is the perfect channel for you. It is created by The New York Times newspaper and is hosted by journalist Michael Barbaro. New podcasts are out by 6 a.m. every morning, Monday through Friday. You can listen to this on your way to work or school each morning to catch you up on what is happening in the world around you.
“SERIAL” This podcast takes you into the mind of a killer. It is filled with recordings of interviews with eyewitnesses, suspects and convicted murders that will put you on the edge of your seat. “Serial,” hosted by Sarah Koenig, follows the storylines of the suspects and victims. Season one leads up to the murder of high school student Hae Min Lee in 1999. The podcast has three seasons with 9-12 episodes that explore all of the loose ends or unexplained details of different mysterious crimes.
Design Sydney Griffey Graphic Anson Eggerss
CULTURE 31
02 campus
UNCOVERING THE PLACE WE CALL HOME 34 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR
SECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
036 SPILL THE TEA
039 THE GREAT EXPANSION
045 FIRST DATE FLUTTERS
news Words and Photos Nicolas Siller BATTLING WITH THE X-WING CLUB Mr. Steven Tye defines the X-Wing Club as, “an excuse, as an adult, to play with Star Wars toys.” For years, he has loved playing this strategic board game, and now hosts the X-Wing Club on Fridays at lunch with Mr. Shawn Harrild and Mr. Scott Milam. The game requires a lot of strategy, lucky dice rolling and a good game piece to win. In fact, Tye currently owns around 50 X-Wing ships, each costing $15-$100. They say money can’t but happiness, but $750 has bought this Star Wars lover the pieces he needs to enjoy his board game hobby with his dedicated club members.
DIPPING INTO SPANISH CLUB
Celebrating Spanish culture and food, the Spanish Club meets in Mrs. Debbie Georgelos’ room every second Wednesday. Club members enjoy great food such as fajitas, chips and guacamole while making cool crafts like piñatas. They have even been involved
in donating to Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief fund for those in need due to poverty or a natural disaster. Anyone can come, but there is a requirement of a small deposit of only $10. You too can have a share of the food all year.
CAMPUS 34
DREAMING THROUGH THE DISNEY CLUB
What better way to relax from the stress of school than to go and watch some Disney classics? From “Finding Nemo” to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Mr. Shawn Harrild’s classroom is always packed with students enjoying movies during Fridays at lunch. They try to
watch all kinds of Disney movies, and most of the time Harrild is open to suggestions, allowing students to vote for them. This club is a great way to unwind a little bit on a Friday afternoon and enjoy some great Disney productions.
PADDLING WITH THE PING-PONG CLUB Early before school or during lunch, you might look into Dr. John Rosheger’s room and see a large group of competitive students battling it out over a Ping-Pong table. The Ping-Pong table is set up in the middle of Rosheger’s classroom and is always open for students to play. The club started around two years ago when students began playing Ping-Pong out on the boardwalk. When Rosheger saw their dilemma, he offered to keep a table in his classroom and host the Ping-Pong club during the week. He has a good set of paddles ready to use, so next time you walk by Chaucer 3, go in and give it a shot!
CAMPUS 35
SPILL THE TEA LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE TEAS Words Jayne Goodman
Legend has it that one day Chinese Emperor Shen Nung sat down underneath a blooming tree and began to boil the water he had collected to drink. While he was resting, the wind began to blow and carried with it several of the tree leaves into the water. The water changed to a golden hue but the Emperor did not realize this until he drank. Delighted by what he had just tasted, the Emperor soon found the source to be the seemingly insignificant leaves that flavored the water in such a pleasing way. From that day on, the Emperor insisted on drinking only this—bringing about the birth of tea. Regardless of whether this story is true or not, the discovery and eager acceptance of tea soon became a worldwide phenomenon with each country wanting to cultivate its own distinct flavor. Because of this, every tea has a unique history as well as a long list of health benefits. Here are four popular teas that have special histories, health benefits and a delicious taste. Enjoy!
CAMPUS 36
Green Tea
Earl Grey This black tea, flavored with the oil of Bergamot Oranges (or sometimes the orange peels themselves), has a bold flavor and is delicious hot or cold. Named after the English aristocrat, Charles Grey, it is very popular throughout Europe. Earl Grey has a high caffeine count and can help aid in digestion, making it a great tea for finals week.
Green Tea is made using the leaves of the Camellia sinesis tree, giving it a very fresh and earthy taste. It is currently popular worldwide, but has been a staple Asian drink for a very long time. In fact, it’s the very tea mentioned in the legend. One of the reasons people like Green Tea so much is because of its many health benefits. Not only does it act as a fatburning supplement, but the antioxidants from Green Tea lower the risk of certain cancers and improve cognitive abilities. What can’t this tea do?
Oolong Tea
Chamomile Tea With its herbal and mellow notes, a cup of Chamomile tea is what many people drink when they want to relax and wind down. This tea’s history goes all the way back to ancient Egypt where it was used to cure colds. It is now known for its ability to induce restful sleep, calm stomach aches and boost your immune system.
CAMPUS 37
This tea has a woody and floral flavor, similar to the full-body taste you would get with an Earl Grey Tea. Oolong originates from the Fujian region in China. The tea producers there improved the flavor of the Camellia sinensis (used to make Green Tea) by processing the leaves a different way. Oolong Tea is great for relieving stress and strengthening your bones.
steeping guide: Black teas: Bring fresh, cold water to a boil. Have about 2 teaspoons of the loose tea leaves ready in a tea infuser or a tea bag. Since black teas are made from strong leaves, they can brew for longer without the leaves cooking which can ruin the flavor. For loose tea leaves and tea bags, brew for 3-5 minutes. Add sugar or cream if you like and enjoy.
Green teas: The water used for tea brewing is very important because old or metallic water can affect the flavor of the tea. So be sure to use fresh, cold water and bring it just short of boiling. The general rule for green teas is 2 teaspoons of loose tea leaves or a tea bag. Brew this for 1-3 minutes so as not to cook the tea leaves. Drink plainly or add sugar if you like. Kanpai!
Chamomile (Herbal) teas: Fill your tea infuser with the loose leaf Chamomile or have a tea bag ready. Bring the fresh water to first boil (when the first bubbles appear) and pour the water over the tea infuser or bag. Steep for 5 minutes. Chamomile is a great tea to add milk, sweetener or honey to.
Oolong tea: Since Oolong has been around a long time, there are many methods to brewing it, but this is the most traditional way. Bring fresh water to a boil and let it sit for 2 minutes. Have 2 teaspoons of the loose tea leaves or a tea bag ready. Rinse the leaves with the boiling water to unfurl the leaves and then discard of that water. Place the tea infuser or tea bag into your chosen cup and pour in the boiling water. Let the leaves steep for 4-6 minutes. Add sweetener if you like and take a break with your relaxing cup of tea. Design Jayne Goodman Photos Braden Hall
CAMPUS 38
The great expansion THE REAL PLANS FOR THE NEW LAND WITH SOME STUDENT/FACULTY SUGGESTIONS Words Anson Eggerss
When the Geneva School of Boerne first moved to Cascade Caverns Road in 2004, its property spanned 32 acres. This last November, an additional 19 acres were added, giving us a total of 51. Because of this, Geneva’s campus will be drastically changing over the next few decades. According to Mr. Brad Ryden, the Head of School, the first of six phases could begin in the next couple of years. “Phase one will begin when the funds are raised to own the property outright and the funds are available to build the road,” Ryden said. “We would love for that to happen as soon as fall of 2020.”
Phase 1
Adds access from I-10 and additional parking to the backside of the campus.
Phase 2
Opens a drive on the backside of the campus and adds the dining hall, library and main administration building.
Phase 3
Includes development of structures around a new athletic field as well as the addition of competition and practice fields on the new property.
Phase 4
Includes the addition of a second gym next to the main one.
Phases 5 and 6
A master plan has already been developed and allows for the phasing in of new buildings with as little interruption to campus life as possible. Future additions to the campus include over 600 new parking spaces, a new football field, a track, a designated Fine Arts facility, tennis courts, practice fields, a cafeteria, a library, concession stands, a nature center, a trivium lawn, new Logic and Rhetoric School campuses and a gym expansion building. Perhaps the biggest benefit will be the new entrance with direct access to I-10. The changes are planned to develop in the next 30 years and beyond. As the school has evolved, the property around the school has developed and caused traffic to back up on mornings and afternoons. The additional land will not only allow for permanent structures and additional sports complexes but will give us another entrance to the school—readying the campus for the future. The additions to the campus will convenience a lot of the students, parents and faculty. Tennis and track teams won’t have to practice offcampus anymore. Grammar School students will enjoy a cafeteria instead of separated lunchtimes in the MPB. Having a library space will allow students of all grades to access materials rather than just Grammar School. There is much anticipation about the project. Ryden even showcased the blueprint which revealed the entire layout of the property in his State of the School address in January. However, the students and teachers have their own ideas about what the new acreage should be used for. Here are some of the brightest ones...
Adds permanent classroom buildings for Logic and Rhetoric as well as a fine arts building.
CAMPUS 39
legend
PARKING LOT
phase 1 phase 2 phase 3 phase 4
STADIUM
ph ase 5 phase 6
2
PRACTICE FIELD
1 PARKING LOT
SOFTBALL FIELD
PRACTICE FIELD
Easton Myrick (11): A “Dusty Divot” and a Lululemon
Students:
Liam Bell (9): A giant TV screen that plays nothing but Jimmy Neutron Kaitlyn Cates (9): A Chick-fil-A and an iFly Travis Ratteree (11): A “horseshoe stadium”
3
2
Brock Ambelang (10): A room that clones Phil Ackermanns Sarah Coultress (9): Go Karts and mini golf Sam Patti (10): A “shoe vending machine”
1
Matthew Schroder (12): A light house so you can find your way at night Daniel Grover (12): A dry dock CAMPUS 40
4
PARKING LOT
RIC ETO RH OOL SCH
3 EXISTING BASEBALL FIELD
GYM EXPANSION
PARKING LOT
RHETORIC SCHOOL
4
GYM
IN
M AD
LOGIC SCHO OL
5
UM
CE LY
MPB
IC LOG OL O H C S RY
FINE ARTS
RA
LIB
ING
IN
M
AD
DIN
PARKING LOT
GR
AM
M
AR
GRAM MAR
Mr. Paul Johnson: A six-story library
GRAMMAR
PARKING LOT
5
faculty:
Mr. Rick Poole: A statue of Nebuchadnezzar with iron & clay toes Mr. Royal Brown: Gordon Ramsey’s newest restaurant Mr. Shawn Harrild: “Nothing athletic” Mrs. Emily Benz: A Cheesecake Factory Mr. Ben Vis: A waffle bar Mrs. Christina Jeffcoat: A Target Mrs. Becky Ryden: A Journalism wing CAMPUS 41
Design Pauline Rahal Graphic Anna Riedlinger
Think fast
SHELTON IS FAMOUS FOR CATCHING STUDENTS OFF GUARD WITH HIS WALKIE TALKIE Words Nicolas Siller
To know headmaster Rob Shelton is to know how much he despises constantly being within reach of the administration team walkie talkie. No one really remembers how it started, but Shelton loves ending his day by throwing his communication device at unsuspecting students. Suprisingly, his walkie talkie is still intact. Catching these faces in suprise sheds a little light on why this is the best part of his day.
Design Gracyn Freiling Photos Nicolas Siller
CAMPUS 42
(from top left) Mr Shelton suprises junior Zach Flly, sophomore Hannah Pratt (top), junior Maddie Chandler (middle), sophomore Audrey Davis and junior Luke Bower (bottom) with his afternoon walkie talkie bombardment.
CAMPUS 43
“When you hear Fefe play at hoco” - Mackenzie Fitzgerald (11th) “When you get your third tardy to a study hall”- Katie Styles (10th) “When you get a 100 on a math test”- Matthew Renfroe (10th)
Sophomore Judah Dillard and junior, I mean Rhetoric teacher Steven Tye bring out their inner tree hugger.
What Do You
meme
STUDENTS ADD CAPTIONS TO THESE GENEVA MEMES Words Ainsley Plesko
You sink into your bed after a seemingly never-ending day of school. Out of habit, you open Instagram and scroll through the home page. Amidst the photos of familiar faces, a meme appears. You laugh and suddenly your mind is distracted from thinking about your bad day. This may be a dramatic take on a simple meme, but it’s a common occurrence for many Geneva meme lovers. In this edition of “What Do You Meme,” we matched captions with a picture—Geneva style.
“Gentle giant meets gentle sheep” - Chloe Higgs (9th) “When Mr. Tye revs his Honda” - Emmy Hamilton (9th) “When you get wide-ruled paper instead of college-ruled” - Gwyn Lewellyn (9th)
Photos Taylor Tippit Design Gracyn Freiling
Junior Travis Ratteree smiles absent-mindedly into the distance.
CAMPUS 44
first date flutters TIPS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE AWKWARD FIRST DATE Words Matthew Schroder If you’re like me, you’re most likely an awkward teenager; but the one thing you’re not is alone. Everyone has gone through awkward situations, even our very own Geneva teachers. In the spirit of giving, I have collected a few pro tips from teachers who have gone through awkward relationships to help you control your dating life.
Tip One: What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.
mr. shawn harrild
Back in the day, all the ladies were pining after Mr. Shawn Harrild. After he finally settled on his girlfriend (now wife), Alicia Conley, he had to let the disappointed masses know that he was definitely taken. One night, Shawn and Alicia went on a date. They knew that his ex-girlfriend worked at the restaurant, but Alicia really wanted to eat there. Shawn had warned her about a possible encounter but didn’t see her car in the parking lot. However, it just so happened that her car was parked on the other side. When they were seated, Shawn’s ex-girlfriend asked to be moved to their table so she could be “with friends.” When it was clear that she wasn’t there for purely amicable reasons, Harrild began to “mess” with her a little, doing things like downing his water quickly and asking for lots of refills. At the end though, he did tip her well. Once all the ladies got the hint that Shawn was off the menu, he and Alicia continued to grow stronger, and the rest is history.
CAMPUS 45
tip two: Love is worth the risk!
mr. royal brown When Morgan Little and Royal Brown went on their first date, they weren’t supposed to be dating. They worked for a Christian summer camp in Medina, TX, which had a rule stating that camp counselors could not date while working there. On their day off the couple came up with the plan to sneak off to have dinner and see a movie, “Dinner for Schmucks” (you know, the classics). After having lunch with a bunch of coworkers, they said they were leaving when a girl shouted, “Ooooo, where are y’all going together?!” The couple just stared at her and then left. Getting into the car to drive to San Antonio, Brown was nervous because he hadn’t really said it was a date but he now realized it had all the makings of one. After going back and forth in his head about if it was a date or not, he started to ask Little what she thought when she bursted out, “Ok. Is this a date or not?!” Brown looked at her shocked and said “Well, I was just about to ask you the same thing. I would like it to be.” “Me too because I’m not trying to waste my time,” Little responded. The couple went to the movie and had dinner and lived happily ever after. Amen.
CAMPUS 46
Tip three: Bad first dates sometimes work.
mr. paul johnson Mr. Paul Johnson first saw Erica Bjugstad at her school banquet. It was one of those conservative schools that didn’t allow dancing but it did allow live music for entertainment, and Johnson was in the band. The school organizers seated the band at Erica’s table because she and her friends didn’t have dates. Fast forward a couple of years, Erica asked a mutual friend if Johnson would want to go to a banquet with her. Her best friend gave Erica his number (which she still has to this day). She called his house when he wasn’t home, so his sister picked up the phone and assured her that young Paul would love to go with her. Paul was a little unsure but agreed nonetheless. They worked out a time to hang out before the banquet so it wouldn’t be so awkward. He picked her up to go to look at record stores. However, only Paul was into records— Erica, not so much. After they were done watching Paul flip through records, they decided that they might want to get some food. But Erica had already eaten so Paul just got some noodles and left Erica to buy herself a donut. In the end, while the first date may not have seemed stellar or romantic, the couple started hanging out and eventually dating.
Design Jacqueline Knox Graphics Sydney Dennis
CAMPUS 47
europe trip tips THE SENIORS RELAY WORDS OF EUROPEAN WISDOM Words Jacqueline Knox
9. 20.
17.
10. 2.
16. 18. 13.
do:
7.
3.
1. Know your pin number so you can get cash at the ATM. 2. Download lots of music for the plane and ALL the bus rides. 3. Bring a portable charger, it will save your (or your phone’s) life. 4. Bring an adapter, unless you want your hair dryer to blow up. 5. Listen to Mr. Russell’s Mars Hill talk (he is too pure for this earth). 6. If you see something you like, buy it (even if they tell you there will be time to go back—because there won’t). 7. Wear shoes to run in because you are going to have to catch the subway—function over fashion ladies. 8. Find a good back alley restaurant in Assisi, you won’t be disappointed. 9. Keep a journal (yes, even you boys). 10. Get Fanta. It’s different and better across the pond. 11. Be picky about your leather. You want the real deal. 12. Keep all arms and legs inside the hotel at all times—um, no comment. 13. Take selfies with all your teachers—you’re going to want them later. 14. When you have free time in Florence, be sure to check out the Boboli Gardens. 15. Mimic the statues in all your pictures. 16. Buy the strawberries in the Greek markets. 17. Bring pictures of your friends who couldn’t make it so they can be there in spirit. 18. Bring some Vitamin C to ward off sickness…you don’t want to be stuck in the hotel room while everyone else is off eating gelato and meeting the Pope. 19. Use the bathroom at every opportunity (don’t get dubbed the pee-pee group)!! 20. Check the weather before you begin packing so you have all the right clothes! CAMPUS 48
2. 11.
8. 13. 4.
12.
3.
6.
16.
don’t:
9. Design Aisling Ayers Photos Jacqueline Knox Graphics Anna Riedlinger
1. Make friends with the Italian boys three balconies down. They will come knocking on your door. 2. Bring a big pillow. A small one will do, or simply none at all. 3. Take flowers from the gypsies unless you are intending to pay for them. 4. Try to snipe people with laser pointers in the middle of the night from your balcony. You will learn some Greek cuss words. 5. Buy male body part pasta ... or male body part key chains … or male body part anything. 6. Throw up on the plane (@Andrew). 7. Break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend on the plane (you can figure this one out). 8. Eat street chestnuts. They are not as good as that Christmas song makes them sound. 9. Eat at the most famous restaurants, GO EXPLORE! 10. Buy something for the original price. Bargaining is totally the way to go! 11. Worry about sleep; you can get some when you get back. 12. Try and bring oranges back into the US; you will get quarantined in the airport. 13. Pierce your ears. This one goes for both genders, but especially the boys. 14. Stand on the edge of the cliff by the Parthenon; you will have a security guard following you around for the remainder of your time. 15. Ogle at passionate European couples. 16. Be alarmed if the cats in Delphi wag their tails at you. 17. Leave gaps in the line—“Close the gap!”
planning to procrastinate PROCRASTINATION MAY BE MORE USEFUL THAN YOU THINK Words Alexa Georgelos
CAMPUS 50
Almost everyone has struggled with this thing called procrastination. Of course, most people don’t mean to do it on purpose; it’s just something that comes naturally. Most people have good reasons to have a negative outlook on procrastination. When people hear the word procrastinate, they immediately associate it with spending time on their phones, being lazy, watching TV shows and most commonly: putting off work until the last minute. College Counselor Shelly Ward explained, “When you procrastinate, you are making an assumption that you know exactly what’s going to happen. You decide that you can wait to do something because you assume that it will turn out fine. It’s making an assumption about things you don’t have control over. External and unforeseen circumstances, or misestimating what it would take to get something done, affects your plan.” People tend to procrastinate on big projects because they are either stressing out about it, dreading to do it or simply don’t know where to start. Some say the solution would be to start right away on the project. But is there more to it? Every great achievement comes with a great plan. By continually thinking about your project and figuring things out in your head over a long period of time, you’ll have more original thoughts and successful outcomes, with fewer mistakes in the process. This is the better way to procrastinate. Spanish teacher Debbie Georgelos said, “Procrastinating gives me time to formulate things in my mind. Although I am putting things off, I am thinking through them. Also, I just work better under pressure. I focus on my task and get it done well, even at the last minute.” Writing down thoughts and ideas as you’re planning things out in your head will help in the overall process. Don’t forget that you’re in control of your time as well. Plan homework and activities on certain days and schedule around it. People tend to forget that doing things actually takes up time and that they’ll have to account for it. Everyone studies and gets things done a certain way and there are many different ways people study and work. For some, procrastinating may not be the best option. But for others, being under the pressure of a deadline is a motivation to plan and get things done. Design Gracyn Freiling Graphic Sydney Dennis
CAMPUS 51
03 competition
HIGHLIGHTING THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS AND ARTS
SECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
056 COMPETE THROUGH CHRIST
064 MAURICE RACES TO GENEVA
068 LOOKIN’ SHARP, SHOOTERS
news Words and Photos Taylor Tippit
THE IRON OF CHAMPIONS A new form of competition has come to the Geneva boys’ basketball team. Coach Boenitz gives out the coveted “Iron Award” to the player who works the hardest and hustles the most during the game. At the next practice, this lucky player then gets to pick one of his teammates to carry around the weight until the next game. Throughout the season, it became an ongoing joke to give the iron to sophomore Soren Burkholder every time. After three weeks of this, Burkholder finally won the award for himself and was able to pass it on to another teammate … until the following week when someone gave it to him again.
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE After five years of having only a baseball team, softball is officially coming back to Geneva. A new team has been formed under the leadership of Coach Nick Champion. Freshman Sarah Coultress played softball in eighth grade and is excited to be a part of the upcoming season and this newly formed team. The team will be made up of primarily freshman who have played for a few years and are ready to step up to the plate to begin a program that will continue for years to come. Coultress said she loves the spirit and competitiveness of the game and she can’t wait for the new adventure that awaits the Geneva softball team.
COMPETITION 54
THIS CHEER IS FOR YOU Congratulations to the Geneva cheerleading squad who placed fourth in the TAPPS state competition this year! The Geneva cheerleaders have not only excelled in this competition but have also rallied our teams on the football field and basketball court all year long. Senior cheerleader Avery Baggs said this is a very special group because they are all very close and it shows in their teamwork; they bring out the best in each other by building each other up with honesty and openness. They also bring out the best in Geneva’s teams with their support and encouragement.
BEHIND THE LENS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cinematography is thriving at Geneva. Recently, the class has branched out with various film projects. Not only does the cinematography class create high-quality, entertaining and informative videos for Geneva assemblies, but they have also made some hit commercials like the ones for Geneva’s Mr. Christmas
Pageant. They have their own YouTube channel now and this spring they will be producing films that the Geneva business office will utilize. The TAPPS cinematography competition is soon approaching and they plan to enter a project in each category: animation, narrative and documentary.
COMPETITION 55
COMPETE through
Christ
WHEN DOES COMPETITION CONFLICT WITH FAITH? Words Charlotte Walker
If you have sat in the stadium of any athletic competition, you’ve heard the swell of cheers that compels people to get on their feet and chant. “Go Fight Win,” “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y,” “Go for Gold.” Everyone’s voice becomes one—cheering for the same end goal. Competition arises in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s in fighting for the State Championship, aiming for Fine Arts student of the year, battling it out for Valedictorian, beating that guy to asking the girl to prom or wearing the best shoes. However, as Christians, how do we reconcile our desire to be the best of the best with Philippians 2:3 which commands, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves”? There is no mandate from the Bible that says you should be the best, or win at all costs. Perhaps competition isn’t the thing that is bad, but a catalyst for another kind of sin. “People have trouble with competition because it can lead to pride, pride is a sin but competition is not,” Headmaster Rob Shelton said.
COMPETITION 56
Dr. Rosheger points out that some of us voluntarily participate in games or sport competition for entertainment or pleasure, but we all participate in the unavoidable and involuntary competition of real life. “To not compete in life would be to slight the talents that God gives us,” Rosheger said. In one sense, competition encourages people to perform to the best of their abilities and produces perseverance as well as a strong work ethic. It provides a sense of accomplishment and confidence in one’s abilities. On the other hand, it leads people to unhealthy comparison and believing lies about themselves. Ultimately, from a Christian worldview, competition is only healthy if it makes us more like Christ. As believers, we should be willing to question our motives and ask: how does this competition make me more like Jesus? This year’s valedictorian Eleanor Galbreath— no stranger to competition—noted that her
class dynamics are more often collaborative than competitive. However, their highly driven personalities naturally create a lot of pressure to “one up” each other, even when sometimes they only want to better themselves. Similarly, college counselor Shelly Ward has noticed how far students have come from collaboratively helping each other with college applications, to now keeping their applications under lock and key, away from all others’ eyes. Competition that drives the mentality of “your success is my loss” results in a zero sum game. No one wins in the end. While competition has many positive outcomes, the result can be skewed when used incorrectly. “The breakdown comes when it has a defining fact on who you are and if it causes you to act in a way that doesn’t glorify God,” Ward said. Inward focus is a double-edge sword when it comes to competition. On one hand, competition
COMPETITION 57
produces an inward focus to improve yourself in order to help others. On the other, the inner goal of self-improvement can be merely to defeat others. As Coach Julius Scott reminds his players, God looks at the heart while man looks at the exterior. In the case of competition, we must be willing to do the same. Rosheger said, in preparation for his interview, “I had to do a lot of introspection—sort of moral inventory— because I am a highly competitive person and have more or less assumed it’s appropriate. But upon further reflection, I can actually think of many instances where it’s been very unhealthy and actually spiritually debilitating.” While being valedictorian or salutatorian is an incredible accomplishment, it hasn’t come without its fair share of cutthroat competition which has increased
COMPETITION 58
throughout the years. Ward explained how freshmen and sophomores have opted out of a class they enjoy after calculating that an extra elective with no AP bump could negatively impact their GPA. In doing so, they lose sight of the true enjoyment and reason for learning in the midst of the competition. When students begin to compete to the point of personal deprivation for the sake of winning, the pursuit of the prize becomes more detrimental than beneficial. Likewise, Rosheger commented that while a quarterly honor roll can be positive, it can also cause students to compete for the wrong reasons, thinking “Look at me I have this grade point average.” Students can get too wrapped up in the grade rather than what they have achieved. “I have seen students be
overly anxious on a clinical level and go into tailspins because so much emphasis is being placed on certain grades in a class or school,” Rosheger said. Ward sums up the biblical perspective by reminding us that God is sovereign and that His plan will be fulfilled no matter what. Competing in and finishing the race well doesn’t mean it has to be in competition with others. “God made us all individually unique and gifted in our own ways and never meant for the measure of ourself to be in comparison to the next person,” Ward said. In all competition, our goal should ultimately be to become more like Christ and to glorify Him. Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” In the end, God uses the way we compete to mold us into His ambassador—living for the cause of Christ.
Design Charlotte Walker Photos Taylor Tippit
COMPETITION 59
GOD MADE US ALL INDIVIDUALLY UNIQUE AND GIFTED IN OUR OWN WAYS AND NEVER MEANT FOR THE MEASURE OF OURSELF TO BE IN COMPARISON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
When life gives you losses HOW TO APPROACH THE PAINS OF LOSING THAT EVERYONE EXPERIENCES Words Gabi Griffey
“i didn’t fail 1,000 times; the light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” -thomas edison
“You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” “Mistakes are proof that you’re trying.” “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” If you use the internet at all, then you will understand what I mean when I say there are millions of cheesy self-help quotes about never giving up, the road to success, hard work beating talent, etc. Amidst the cheesiness of these sayings, a bitter truth reveals itself: everyone experiences failure. When you were little, I guarantee you played some sort of sport (yes, four-square counts). Even for kids, sports can be intense and require lots of physical and mental exertion; the competitive spirit is developing from day one. Everyone has a desire to win and losing can be devastating. During their 2017 season, Geneva’s football team made it deep into the playoffs; they were just one win away from the state game. It was alumnus Will Langenbahn’s senior year and he wanted nothing more than the title of “State Champion.” He and the team had been preparing for this game since the end of their previous season—they did everything right. They suffered through the heat of the summer, Coach Wright’s weight room training and early film sessions before school. But they loved every minute of it, knowing it would pay off. Yet, it didn’t pay off in the way anyone had hoped for. The team lost and was unable to continue to the state game. “When the last whistle blew, signifying the end of my football career, it really messed me up,” Langenbahn said. “Nobody likes to lose, especially if it’s the last game you’ll ever play.” It was many of the players’ senior year and they had poured themselves into perfecting their game, only to be left with this heartbreaking outcome. A year after this loss, Langenbahn has gained a perspective on the valuable lessons that sports teach you that expand throughout so many aspects of life. “There were so many more positive memories that came out of that season than the moment
that it ended,” he said. “There were bonds between the teammates and coaches that couldn’t be replaced.” Sometimes, there is more to be learned from losing than winning. Christian Counselor, Christine Miller noted, “Working hard is not a guarantee for instant success. There will be failures and there will always be someone working just as hard as you.”
Losing creates a fire and drive towards improvement. “Trusting the process” isn’t just some emptyheaded cliche that coaches repeat to their players. It is one of the many lessons sports teach that apply to everything. Miller also pointed out one of her favorite quotes is from Thomas Edison: “I didn’t fail 1,000 times; the light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” “Think about the good times and the feeling of bitterness or even grief won’t be long term,” Miller said. If you won every competition, there would be no growth because there would be no necessity to be better. Losing creates a fire and drive towards improvement. No one is saying that just because failure is inevitable it should be tolerated. It should be recognized but then built upon. In the words of Christine Miller: “Don’t give up, you may be on the 999th step.” Design Gillian Loflin Photo Nicolas Siller Graphic Corban Fikes
62
TRADING TRAITORS
FANS REACT TO THE MISSING PLAYERS OF THE SPURS EVER CHANGING LINEUP Words Jackson Young
On Kawhi Lenoard’s first trip to the AT&T Center since leaving the San Antonio Spurs, he was greeted with a chorus of boos. Over the past summer, the now Toronto Raptor, Leonard requested a trade from the Spurs because he wasn’t content with how his injury was being treated by the organization. In response to the uneasiness between the two parties and because their franchise player’s contract was already expiring, the Spurs decided to trade Leonard, along with teammate Danny Green, to the Toronto Raptors. In return, they received several players including the four-time All Star, Demar DeRozan. Meanwhile, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were also on their way out the door. Ginobili retired after 16 seasons and four championships with the Spurs and will go down in Spurs history as one of the greats. Tony Parker, on the other hand, was offered a deal for more money with the Charlotte Hornets and accepted it. To his credit though, he did say that he meant no disrespect toward the Spurs. Clearly, this off-season greatly changed the identity of the Spurs and some fans are angry at the decisions of the players that left the Spurs—specifically, Parker, Green and Leonard.
KAWHI LEONARD 60% of people said they would
have booed Leonard when he made his return to the AT&T Center.
“PEOPLE FORGET THAT KAWHI BROUGHT US A CHAMPIONSHIP.”
- Mr. Royal Brown, admin
“KAWHI NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE SPURS.” -Mrs. Shelly Ward, admin
TONY PARKER 55% of people said Tony Parker
was their favorite of these ex-spurs when he was on the team.
“TONY PARKER SHOULD HAVE RETIRED.” - Luke Bower, junior
danny green 40% of people wished Danny Green
well in the future, while the other two each only got 20% of “well-wishes.”
A poll of 25 Geneva students and teachers showed some intereresting results:
“IT WASN’T DANNY GREEN’S FAULT, HE DIDN’T ASK TO BE TRADED.”
Design Jacqueline Knox Graphic Ainsley Plesko
-Judah Diller, sophomore
COMPETITION 63
Maurice Races to Geneva FORMER OLYMPIC RUNNER BRINGS HIS PASSION FOR RUNNING TO GENEVA Words Nicolas Siller
Coach Maurice Mitchell is ready to take our Geneva track team to the next level. Through an advertisement and a Geneva family, Mitchell found out about the track coach opening at Geneva and chose to apply. While he has seen success at every level—from high school to the Olympics— he is ready to put his efforts into our program. His wife, Tiara, also ran track at Florida State where she earned two All-American plaques in the triple-jump. With more than enough experience, Coach Mitchell can’t wait to head the coaching for the track team. How did you find your passion in track? I’ve been running since I was eight years old and training hard ever since. During high school, I began to see the fruits of my labor as I started to excel in Missouri. What kind of success did you have in high school? By the end of my high school years I held, and still hold, the state track records for the 200m and 100m dashes in Missouri. I became the fastest runner in the state of Missouri, posting a 19.99 second 200m dash time and a 10.4 second 100m dash. Did you run in college? Coming out of high school, I took a track scholarship
to Florida State University. For the most part, I had great success in my college career as I won Athlete of the Year awards, 16 All American plaques, three NCAA Championships (two in the 200m and one in the 100m dash) and I racked up 15 ACC Championships. Have you always been successful, or did you ever fail? Despite my success in college, there was a time in which I really doubted myself. After coming in last place at the NCAA tournament one year, I really was thinking of walking away from track. However, my family always had my back and they helped me see that I shouldn’t just discard my gift of speed after one disappointing performance. I put my trust in God and continued with grit in my training and finished my college career strong. How did you decide to train for the Olympics? After I finished college, I was one of the fastest runners in the nation so naturally I decided to train for The Games. What was your training routine? Usually, I would train for two hours a day— spending some time in the weight room and hours upon hours trying to perfect my starts and mechanics. I would train, eat
COMPETITION 64
healthy (no sodas) and sleep well day after day. Finally, I qualified for the 2012 London Olympics.
called MMNextLevel which will help any athlete obtain more speed and agility for any sport.
What was that experience like? My experience at the Olympics was a dream come true. I just couldn’t believe that I was actually there until I set foot in the stadium. I loved every minute of it and it is something I will always cherish (Note: only 137,000 people have ever made it to the Olympics and the odds that a young track and field athlete has of making it to the Olympics is 1 in 8,778).
Have you ever coached at a school before? I coached at Great Hearts (a classical charter school) for a couple of years and in that time I took a girls relay team to the regional championships. I even coached at UTSA and helped some runners qualify to compete in Big East/West regional meets. Recently, I created my own youth track team called San Antonio Sprinters Elite and through that team I’ve taken eight runners to the Junior Olympics.
What did you do after the Olympics? God worked and still works a lot in my life. After my professional track career, I felt called to pour my gifts into the youth. I created a training business
Design Braden Hall Photo Taylor Tippit Graphic Ainsley Plesko
65
HIS AIRNESS VS THE KING TWO STAFFERS GIVE THEIR OPINION ON TWO OF THE GREATEST NBA STARS
JORDAN Words Daniel Grover
Last year, LeBron James came out to the public. No, not like that. He said on the show “Uninterrupted” that after he beat the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA finals, he knew he was the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). The sports world exploded. Not only is this sentence blasphemy to the true GOAT, it is also one of the boldest statements ever made in basketball history. The clear competition to James is Michael Jordan—the legendary Chicago Bulls player. Jordan has an impressive resume to give him this title: six NBA championships, five league MVPs, six Finals MVPs and much, much more. But what stands out to me the most is his drive to win. There has never been and will never be a player who wanted to win more than he did, and it showed in how he played. Sure, Jordan was not the most physically impressive player—he wasn’t the strongest, the fastest or the tallest. However, he was able to dominate those more physically gifted than him with his mental drive. We still talk about Jordan because nobody in the history of basketball has had more of a chip-on-their -shoulder mentality. But the title GOAT is about more than just the best oncourt basketball player of all time. If it was, it would just be the player with the most MVPs (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The GOAT incorporates more than just sheer basketball playing COMPETITION 66
abilities. Jordan’s Ability to build a team around him and recruit championship caliber teammates is unmatched. His brand is the most well-known basketball brand around the world, and even now—over 20 years after his retirement—it remains dominant. Dominant is the best word to describe Jordan: dominant in play, dominant in team building and dominant in brand. While he was still playing, Jordan was asked point blank if he believed himself to be the GOAT. He said that it was an unfair comparison to make because he never had the chance to play against the greats before him. This is in part what makes LeBron’s statement so abrasive. You just don’t hear people talk like that. And I think it’s a perfect example of his ignorance on the subject. The league has changed and so has its players, but what stays dominant is the desire to win. In that category, Jordan is dominant. In reality, we will never know who the true greatest player of all time is and it will forever remain a matter of opinion. For all we know, Zion Williamson will come to the NBA and dominate play in a way that has never been seen before. Regardless of how good a player is and how flashy his dunks are, new players will always come along and challenge the GOAT title. However, one name will forever remain at the top of basketball fame for all time: Jordan.
Let me begin by saying this: when I say that LeBron James is the greatest of all time, I mean that without regards to his character, sportsmanship or any other intangibles. Also keep in mind while reading this that LeBron is competing against the most challenging opponents the NBA has ever seen. While the other “Greats” were just that in their time, many of them wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s league. Now, on to the facts. What is perhaps James’ most impressive quality is his ability to perform under pressure. He has been under severe scrutiny since even before graduating high school but has never let this detract from his game. Now playing in his 15th season in the NBA at 34 years of age, LeBron is still getting better. In fact, last season was one of his best; he posted career-high stats in multiple categories. Further proving his consistency, Lebron is the only player in NBA history to average 25 points or more for 13 consecutive seasons. Taking a look back to the beginning of his career, LeBron entered the league right out of high school. A teenager competing against professional athletes, he did more than hold his own. During his first season in 2003-04, LeBron averaged over 20 points per game and became the youngest player ever to be named Rookie of the Year. LeBron is consistently able dominate when it counts: in the playoffs. He easily holds the record for most playoff points, and he will likely be ahead of the next-highest player (Michael Jordan) by 1,000 points at the end of the 2019 season.
He is also an incredibly versatile player. He can effectively play any position on the court—on offense or defense—which is something remarkably rare for NBA players. As talented as some of the “Greats” were, none of them could play with as much well-rounded efficiency as LeBron. LeBron is also remarkable for his performance in NBA finals series. No other player in NBA history has gone to five straight finals— LeBron went to six straight (2011-2017) and has been to seven total. He has been in the league for 15 years, which means that he has made it to the NBA finals 47% of the time. LeBron has made the most of his opportunities—leading many a team through the regular season and on to the finals that wouldn’t have gotten close without him. While other players like to recruit an elite team of superstars intent on winning a championship, James has earned his rings by leading ordinary teams to accomplish the extraordinary. A prime example of this was his 2016 season in which he carried a severely lacking team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a historic championship victory over the stacked Golden State Warriors. What he said after that game might have been a little prideful, but it was accurate: “That one right there made me the greatest player of all time.” LeBron has taken on many identities throughout his career: a Cavalier, a Heat, a Laker. But he has established himself as one thing above all these: the GOAT. Design Gillian Loflin Graphic Sydney Dennis
COMPETITION 67
LEBRON Words Nathan Young
Lookin’ Sharp, Shooters EXAMINING HOW THE NBA INFLUENCES FASHION Words Gillian Loflin
68
Basketball has always had a close relationship with fashion, starting with the players’ uniforms when the professional sport started in 1946. They wore the traditional tight polyester jerseys with short athletic shorts, pairing the look with tall tube socks and Chuck Taylor converse as their shoe of choice. Then, in the ’90s, the shorter shorts took a backseat to large, baggy shorts and loose jerseys, with the 76ers player Allen Iverson as the main influencer. As seen on the court, Iverson sported do-rags, tattoos, braids and chains, which in turn made these items and this aesthetic very popular. Also in the ’90s, Michael Jordan celebrated his fifth year in the league by making his own brand of basketball shoes, changing the sneaker industry forever. For those who pay attention, the different sneakers NBA players wear make all the difference. Aside from the claims advertisements make, the branded basketball shoes establish a connection between the pros and kids just playing street ball; it gives them a sense of “dreams becoming a reality.” However, the biggest change for the NBA came in 2005, when NBA commissioner Davis Stern instituted a mandatory dress code for NBA-sponsored events. The rule wasn’t strictly followed until Allen Iverson left the league in 2011, letting rookies and seasoned players express themselves through their off and on-court style. Fast forward to the rise of “Street Style,” and current players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are not only known for having a personal style with the use of arm sleeves, flavored mouth guards, headbands and sponsored shoes, but also for being acknowledged for what they choose to wear in daily life. The equipment players wear on the court is mimicked in culture directly. Russell Westbrook is probably the name that comes to mind when discussing NBA off-court fashion. Westbrook is known for his eccentric outfits, from wearing an all-denim outfit before taking on the trailblazers in March of 2018 to wearing oven mitts like a scarf for the Lakers vs. OKC game in early January of this year. His edgy style has really spilled into the world of fashion. In 2016, he wore a colorful Prada shirt and bright red, lens-less frames. The next
day, that same shirt was completely sold out. Most recently, his fondness of plaid pants and graphic tees has dominated the fashion forums; Vogue even named them a 2019 fall trend in Men’s wear. Westbrook loves attending New York and Paris Fashion Weeks to seek out the newest styles from top designers. Junior Josh Nate said he buys a lot of his basketball gear when he sees it on his favorite players: “I bought an arm sleeve after seeing Russell Westbrook wear one during a game and last year I got Stephen Curry 2’s for basketball.” Nate believes sneakers are the most important article of the athletic outfit. Sophomore Soren Burkholder takes major inspiration for his basketball shoes from his favorite player, Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell, a 22-year-old player for the Utah Jazz, just released his first pair of signature shoes in December of 2018. He is known for his brightly colored, low-top shoes, which became a popular basketball shoe style in 2017. In our culture, sneakers are the catalyst of any outfit; they can spice up a boring t-shirt and jeans combo or dress down a fancy ensemble. At Geneva especially, sneakers are one of the only ways of expression in our uniforms. Burkholder said, “I use my old basketball shoes as my Friday shoe of choice, usually just with a t-shirt, not anything crazy.” And Nate said, “I wear my NMD’s to make the whole jeans outfit look cleaner. You would never pair dress shoes with our Friday uniform, so the shoes really make and pull together the outfit.” NBA fashion has changed a lot since the days of baggy tees. It has completely flipped and morphed into a high-society, polished look. Youth and adults all around the world look to players for inspiration and respect the choices they make. The different clothes professional players wear affect society’s fashion trends. Over the years, one thing has become clear: play to win, but do it with style.
Design Gillian Loflin Photo Braden Hall Graphic Ainsley Plesko
COMPETITION 69
04 consecutives
YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM
SECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
076 SHAKE IT UP
080 TERRIFIC TALL TALES
084 HAVE A CHAT WITH RICK, PAUL, SHAWN AND DIRK
Words Jacqueline Knox
anson eggerss’ WORD OF THE ISSUE LABLAB:
A tropical Asian plant of the pea family.
Apple’s hot accessory When the iPhone 7 hit the market, Apple users across the country said goodbye to a dear friend: the headphone jack. Following the loss of the beloved jack, Apple introduced the infamous AirPods. While many are now sporting the hot new earwear, there are those who find the price astonishing and the product impractical. While AirPods seem to instantly make you richer, are they worth it?
mrs. sarah marsh
nathan masso, 11th
“[AirPods] are nice because when I am running I don’t have to deal with the wire like all the peasants. Also, it helps me drown out the sound of the plebeians… I mean I couldn’t have heard them anyways because now that I have AirPods I don’t speak poor.”
“My dad bought AirPods and he hasn’t talked to me since. They look ratchet and are utterly useless. I mean, if your phone drops, you don’t have a safety cord to grab.” Design Jacqueline Knox Photos Luke Bower Graphics Nathan Zuniga
MOST POPULAR PLATFORMS Tunes are a huge part of teenage culture and there are two main platforms for listening to your favorite artists: Spotify and Apple Music. But which one steals the crown? We hit the boardwalk and asked 100 students to find out.
paul johnson, owner of books and records
spotify 64%
apple music 36%
Dream Interpretations When you’re in your deepest sleep, do you sometimes find yourself in the Amazon jungle being chased by an angry, short-shorts wearing Steven Tye? People dream some weird stuff, but what exactly does that weird stuff mean?
How did you get the idea to start doing “Books and Records”? I was doing this exercise where I would write three pages everyday. I got to a certain point where I realized that I should write about something I want to write about instead of just spilling my guts on this journal page. So, I decided to review five records and five books every month and make it into a little magazine. Also, I wanted to have something to hand to my kids to read when they get older so they could know me better through the stuff I had written. Who works on it? Everyone in the family contributes. Erica usually writes a page about a book she is reading. Sven and Natalie have also been drawing stuff that I put in it. Do you have a favorite review you have written? Usually, I will impress myself with one line. I will write half a page and have one line that I really like, but I can’t remember any of them off the top of my head. It is usually some bloated sentence with a bunch of adjectives and adverbs in it. How can people subscribe? People usually subscribe through Instagram (@booksandrecords). If you send me your address, I will mail you a copy. I also hand them out to people if I remember; if I don’t have it written down, I always forget who wants one.
Dream: You and the kid that sits three seats to the left of you in math class are running screaming through a cornfield together as a giant husk of corn maliciously laughs at the two of you. Meaning: It’s time to floss. Last nights dinner is still up there somewhere. Dream: When you look in the mirror, your mom’s face stares back at you. It’s your worst nightmare… you have become your mother. Meaning: It’s about time to stop the “your mom” jokes. It’s gone over the line. Dream: Suddenly, Teletubbies surround you and start chanting in their language. You scream, “go away,” but they continue to chant in cult-like fashion. Meaning: You should probably start looking up the words Mr. Johnson says that you don’t understand.
x x
UNEXPECTED ERROR! MISSING YOUR ADVERTISMENT Want to advertise with the Geneva Quarterly? Contact us at rryden@genevaschooltx.org
SEND US YOUR AD
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE CALLIOPE NEW EDITION COMING SOON The Calliope is the literary and art magizine for the Geneva School of Boerne. Send the journalism department your art, poetry, short stories and photography inorder to be featured. Accepting submissions until March 25. Pick up a copy of the newest edition in early May.
2017
the calliope
the calliope {volume eight}
2O
15
2016
CALLIOPE volume seven 1
1
2018
KEVIN MEIER
#1 IN SALES 4 out of the last 5 years *SAB Journal
It’s no secret that Trip duPerier, the Texas Land Man, knows how to sell ranches.
TREY HALLMARK
IN THE TOP 3 7 YEARS RUNNING *SAB Journal
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 WINNERS
OVER $3 BILLION SOLD OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. Serving all of Texas with offices in Boerne, Bandera and Dallas.
It is no secret that Trip duPerier, the Texas Land Man, knows how to sell ranches. As part of the duPerier team, Kevin Meier and Trey Hallmark have worked with—and learned from—Trip, for more than a decade. Their professional relationship, built on shared knowledge and experience, has translated into ranch sales that consistently close over $300 million annually.
Top Farm & Ranch agents 7 years in a row Serving all of texas with offices in boerne, bandera and dallas
TexasLandMan.com | 830-755-5205 |
duPerierTexasLandMan
Shake it up REVIEWING THE BEST SHAKES IN BOERNE Words Anna Riedlinger
Approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. But nevertheless, here we are. To make sure that I am judging all milkshakes fairly, I have devised an extremely accurate and fool-proof test.The test works like this: a 1-10 rating is given for each category (the categories are: color, flavor, milk-to-ice ratio, aroma and consistency). Then all the ratings are added up and divided by the number of letters in the word milkshake (9). Then, I will convert that number into dollars and the amount of milkshakes I would have been able to purchase in the year 1955, is the final score that the milkshake deserves. I have chosen four establishments that will undergo this test in order to reveal the milkshake of the highest quality. If I am honest, Boerne does not impress me when it comes to the milkshake. It would be a better investment to just travel to San Antonio. But if you are not so fortunate as to be able to spend gas money on such frivolous things, Boerne does have some tolerable options. Sugar Shack has proven itself to be the best of the adequate options.
76
Whataburger
Longhorn Cafe
I think Whataburger’s busyness can really affect the quality of food you’re getting. Keep this in mind when judging how well the flavors are mixed. I also typically drink Whataburger’s milkshakes late at night which means that, because it is dark, my sense of smell and taste are heightened due to the lack of vision. So, with both of these bias’ in mind, the scores come out to be:
Longhorn Café has a good ambience. Sitting in a booth boosts environment points as well as flavor points. I included the milk-to-ice ratio in the testing process because I think it is central to a good milkshake. Longhorn is one of those places where the milkshake has more of an icey texture than a creamy one. This isn’t a bad thing; it is just a fact of life.
Color: 4 Flavor: 5 Milk-to-Ice: 4/6 Aroma: 4 Consistency: 4 = 1.96 Final score: 9.8 (shakes in the year 1955)
Color: 5 Flavor: 5 Milk to Ice: 4/6 Aroma: 6 Consistency: 4 = 2.29 Final score: 11.45 369 S Esser Rd, Boerne, TX 78006 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
621 W Bandera Rd, Boerne, TX 78006 Open 24 hours
The Sugar Shack
Sonic
The Sugar Shack feels a bit swankier because it is a building devoted solely to ice cream. This makes it feel much more like a special occasion upon arrival. That being said, you do feel a little bit guilty because you do not actually deserve this special occasion.
A woman named Debra works at Sonic and I feel as if she judges me and my orders. That has nothing to do with their milkshakes. This is just something that has been bothering me. I wish Debra the best.
Color: 4 Flavor: 6 Milk to Ice: 7/3 Aroma: 7 Consistency: 8 = 3.03 Final score: 15.15 103 N Main St, Boerne, TX 78006 Opened 11a.m.-9 p.m. Closed Sunday
Color: 5 Flavor: 7 Milk to Ice: 6/4 Aroma: 5 Consistency: 8 = 2.94 Final score: 14.7 121 W Bandera Rd, Boerne, TX 78006 Hours 6 a.m.-12 a.m. Design Alexa Georgelos Photo Luke Bower Graphic Nathan Zuniga
CONSECUTIVES 77
DO I SAY
hi?
TAKE THIS TEST TO CURE YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY Words Aisling Ayers
Design Aisling Ayers
CONSECUTIVES 78
DO YOU REMEMBER THE PERSON’S NAME?
NO
YES
YES
NO
Eye contact?
Talk Regularly?
IS THERE TIME TO FLEE?
YES
ever shared a snack?
YES
YES NO
NO
Run for it.
Don’t say hi. enemy or frenemy? are you in a convertible with rihanna?
YES
YES
Hello, doctor. What are my test results?
YES
NO could you pretend to get a phone call?
YES NO are you wearing sunglasses?
NO
YES
Don’t say hi.
Keep walking. Sorry, you’re out of luck.
are you robbing a bank?
YES
NO
Say hi.
NO Say hi.
Say hi. CONSECUTIVES 79
80
terrific tall tales
EXPLORING THE CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT WE ARE A PART OF ONE BIG SIMULATION Words Nathan Zuniga
Technology has only evolved over the years, and it is not too far-fetched to assume that we will eventually be able to create a computer that can simulate an entire universe. But why is this such an “unsettling” construct? Well, there’s only one dilemma. If we can assume that there is a possibility of creating simulated universes, how can we know it hasn’t already happened? What if the devastating reality of our existence is that we aren’t the creators, but instead, we are the creations of a future civilization. It is possible that we are all living in a simulation and we don’t even know it.
If we can assume that there is a possibility of creating simulated universes, how can we know it hasn’t already happened?
That is right. People believe that the Matrix is real. We are not actually physical beings walking in a physical world, but instead we are computer code being controlled outside of our own consciousness. Now, some of you might be thinking: “There’s no way to simulate an entire universe,” and you would be right. If our current understanding of physics is correct, it is literally impossible to simulate the whole universe with its countless moving parts. However, you don’t need to simulate the universe because you only need enough to fool the people in the simulation into thinking it’s reality; you would need to create a consciousness. If we assume that technology will continue to advance, we can also assume that in the future we could create a machine that will simulate consciousness. The only assumption that we can make is that technological progress won’t stop any time soon. The “Matrioshka Brain” is a theoretical megastructure that would have enough power to simulate thousands if not millions of humanities at the same time. So, if this structure is theoretically sound and could in the future be possible to create, then who’s to say that it hasn’t already been created and we are in one of millions of simulations right now? Although interesting, this theory is completely built upon assumptions. At the end of the day, if we are living in a simulation, we have absolutely no control over it. Whether or not it is true, it can neither be proven nor disproven. We may be on a tiny planet spinning through eternal nothingness, or in a program inside of some alien’s VR headset in the future. Either way, there is nothing we can do about it. We can only hope that, if we are simulations in a computer, nobody trips over the power cord. Design Alexa Georgelos Graphic Nathan Zuniga
CONSECUTIVES 81
82
BOPPIN’ BEATS JAM OUT TO THE BEST OF THE ‘90S Words Jackson Young The bell rings. After a long day of school, you’re ready to hop in your charcoal black Dodge Charger and speed your way home. You down a crystal Pepsi as you wait for your computer to warm up for 10 minutes. Once your Backstreet Boys screensaver finally pops up, you know it’s ready. You play some computer games. Before you leave to go hang out at your friend’s house, you stop by the video store. It’s movie night and you get to pick your favorite movie which is, without a doubt, “Pulp Fiction.” On your way over, you decide to crank up some of the best jams of the 90’s, and chances are these songs come on the radio.
“I Want It That Way” Backstreet Boys
“Achy Breaky Heart” Billy Ray Cyrus
“Black or White” Michael Jackson
“U Can’t Touch This” MC Hammer
“Gangsta’s Paradise” Coolio, LV
“All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun” Sheryl Crow
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana
“My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion
“Jump” Kris Kross
“MMMBop” Hanson
“All Star” Smashmouth
“Zombie” The Cranberries
“I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston
“Wannabe” Spice Girls
“Ice Ice Baby” Vanilla Ice
“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” Will Smith
“Purple Rain” Prince
“Otherside” Red Hot Chili Peppers Design Alexa Georgelos Graphic Corban Fikes
CONSECUTIVES 83
Have a Chat with Rick, Paul, Shawn and Dirk A CONVERSATION WITH THE MEN OF HISTORY AND LITERATURE ON CAMPUS
When you sit the four Humanities teachers down in one room to talk, you are bound to hear some pretty crazy and obscure stuff. All the different personalities get mixed together in this giant melting pot and you never know what you’ll end up with. Shawn Harrild has taught the freshmen about Ancient Greece at Geneva for six years now. Rick Poole is the newest member of the group, this being his first year to teach the sophomores about the Medieval Period. Paul Johnson has taught the juniors at Geneva for nine years; his class covers history from the Renaissance to early 20th century. Dirk Russell is in his 15th year of teaching the seniors about American history. These four Geneva legends sat down...just to talk. CONSECUTIVES 84
Words Jayne Goodman Harrild Oh, you are recording now. {The four were just debating why Bible isn’t considered a Humanities class. They ask if I have questions and I tell them to just talk and freestyle it.} Russell So Rick, as the newest member [of the Humanities family], are you regretting not being the drama teacher this year anymore? Poole No, I miss theatre but not the drama. If that makes sense. {Everyone laughs for awhile before Poole continues.} Poole I feel really excited to be able to get to do this because I’m teaching all the stuff I would be reading on my own anyway. I just like this stuff. Whether that makes me, well I guess that does make me a nerd…and other bad things. {Johnson laughs. I’m assuming that means he understands.} Poole I don’t regret it, I do think I’m going to have to do this a couple years before I consider myself mildly competent. Johnson {quietly mumbles} I guess. Poole One of the things that impresses me the most is that whenever I get to sit in other people’s classes, or when I watched Mr. Southwick, you can ask them questions and they can take six or seven left-hand turns and stay with you and then bring it back. I try to stay on the roads for the most part. {Russell laughs and Harrild slowly nods his head in agreement.} Poole Unless they want to talk about Tolkien and Lewis, then I’m all about the weeds. {A huge grin creeps up Johnsons face and he starts to giggle. I ask if they like the time period they are teaching.} Harrild Yes Poole Yes Russell No. I would rather teach any of the other time periods. I’m teaching the one that I’m… Poole …living in. {This gets quite a few chuckles. Russell further explains that he enjoys the discipleship opportunities he gets by teaching American Humanities.} Johnson Yeah, I guess I like my time period. I don’t love it. {Russell asks what he’d rather be teaching.} Johnson I don’t know. I guess this one. CONSECUTIVES 85
Russell Did you see how he got in the weeds and went full circle Rick? Poole If each of these time periods had action figures mine would be the coolest, and his (Harrild’s) would be the second coolest. No one would play with his (Johnson’s) and he wouldn’t even have an action figure (Russell). Russell Mine would be the Princess Leia of the “Star Wars” set. When I first got all the action figures, Leia and Obi Wan were kind of just there.
Up until this year, Rick Poole was the Theatre teacher for the last four years.
Poole You got to have her but…yeah. Her legs didn’t bend so it made it really hard for her to do stuff. {Poole gets on phone. Harrild tries to steer the conversation back to something more important.} Harrild I will say I really like my subject and if I was going to teach another subject I would probably want to teach American History and Literature just because I think the students care about it a lot more than the literature I teach. Russell No, It’s just the way I teach it. Poole {bursts out laughing} What a roast! Johnson Walked right into that one. Harrild Well, I guess it’s that kind of meeting.
Paul Johnson grew up with sidekick Steve Tye in California
Russell Aren’t they all like that kind of meeting? {A collective laugh. Harrild’s second attempt to steer the conversation into something more productive.} Harrild What about the age group? Do you enjoy teaching your age group? Russell Oh I absolutely love teaching the seniors because they are asking different questions. Now that they aren’t going to be at Geneva the next year, they start thinking differently about what they are doing and why they are doing it. {Poole finally gets off his phone. I guess he had been scrolling through old pictures because he shows Harrild a picture of him and his wife dressed as Han Solo and Princess Leia.} Johnson We should all just flip our classes and do everything backwards. Like instead of starting with the classics and ending it with American we should do it the other way around.
What student doesn’t love Dirk Russell, a teacher who treks with them all the way to Europe and lets them out early from class?
Russell I wonder what the pedagogical implications of that would be. Poole It’d be illegal. {Johnson laughs.} Johnson What do you mean? Russell Well you are going backwards. I guess it would still have everything. {Johnson rubs his chin and ponders for a few minutes.} Russell Alright so next year I’m teaching Harrild’s material. {Harrild laughs nervously Johnson jumps in on this idea again.} CONSECUTIVES 86
Shawn Harrild has also been the proud head of Cinematography for the past two years.
Johnson I think we should all switch so that all of us have taught each other’s Humanities classes and could do it, you know. Harrild I think that sounds great. You know Rick was saying it’s his first year and he can’t wait to have a few years in. I remember my first year, I was an incredibly easy grader and didn’t know my material half as well as I do now. {Poole does not like this idea and shakes his head in dissent.} Russell Well see this summer I led a reading group for incoming 9th graders, to go through “The Iliad,” and it was a blast being able to teach that. And things I didn’t understand I could just say, “That’s a good thing to ask Mr. Harrild next year. Johnson Hey, I taught Oedipus Rex to 7th graders once.
Harrild It’s interesting but true, we just finished Oedipus Rex and we just had our Mars Hill lecture and the discussions have been interesting. Johnson Even though it’s awkward, it opens up the door to talk about some controversial things. Harrild Although there are some freshman that are not getting anything like this at home and are very very uncomfortable. I’ve had one who tried to run out of the classroom. And I don’t think he was trying to be funny. He was just kinda “well.” I mean we are here to talk about ideas. Let’s talk about the central theme of this messed up book. Johnson Even bad ideas. Harrild Whose is that? Aristotle right? “The mark of an educated mind” right? Poole The Bible doesn’t shy away from any of those topics though.
Harrild What?! How?
Johnson It’s true! Poole It meets them head on and says this is what we think and feel about this subject.
WE SHOULD ALL JUST FLIP OUR CLASSES AND DO EVERYTHING BACKWARDS.
Johnson Yeah it’s how you interpret it. Harrild I quoted Dirk my first year here to the 6th graders. I was teaching OT to them and some of them would get a little uncomfortable when we would read Judges.
Johnson Yeah it was pretty crazy.
Russell I still get uncomfortable reading Judges.
Poole I did Oedipus Rex as a play with 9th graders.
Harrild But you know, I mean, you make [Judges] into a movie, give it a rating, and none of them, would be able to see it. I give you credit for what I just said Dirk. But yeah, we teach difficult things here and I think that makes it fun. Keeps the job interesting.
Harrild Did you get a lot of emails about that? Poole We had to do the TAPPS version of it which meant Oedipus Rex without incest or suicide. Harrild So it’s really not interesting. Russell It was short. {laughs} Poole Everyone kept dying by accident. {Confused faces paired with laughter.} Johnson You know there was one dad that came up and talked to me and he was like, “You know,” and I was ready to be yelled at, and he said, “I like this actually because you’re starting out with sex, drugs and rock and roll. This is what kids are exposed to now.” I mean you turn on TV and it’s nothing different. I think when anyone reads that play it makes you feel a revolting contempt. Russell Was that here or somewhere else? Johnson Nah, it was in California.
Cause you know, when you teach 6th grade Bible, there’s a lot of moments when you want to just let the parents’ explain things. There was this one 6th grader who asked, “What’s a harlot?” And thinking, your mom knows how to explain this, I said “Ask your mom.” {The group shakes with laughter.} Russell Context matters!
Design Alexa Georgelos Photos Luke Bower Graphic Anson Eggerss
CONSECUTIVES 87
EDITOR’S CHOICE an album
THE QUARTERLY EDITORS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE THINGS
“signs of light,” the head and the heart
Words Aisling Ayers
I still remember the day this album was released in September of 2016. I have always liked The Head and the Heart, but “Signs of Light” is by far the album I listen to most. The Head and the Heart’s music is classified as “Indie Pop,” but I don’t think you have to like Indie or Pop to enjoy this album. Songs like “Library Magic” stream exposed vocals and dreamy instrumentals. Throughout the album, the tone is genuine and the emotion is real, especially in songs like “City of Angels” and “Signs of Light.” If you’re lacking creative inspiration, I would recommend hitting play on this album. As I sit listening, daydreams of clear lakes, exploring the forest with friends, and vibrant colors and shapes fill my head. A final word of advice: don’t listen to “Signs of Light” if you want to avoid fantasizing about the blissful days of spring.
a book
“the high house” by james stoddard
Words Nathan Young The first book in James Stoddard’s “Evenmere Chronicles,” “The High House” may be the most imaginative book I have ever read. The story follows Carter Anderson, a young man who must step into his role as Steward of Evenmere—an infinite expanse of buildings that controls just about everything in the world. Traveling between countries and subduing his enemies all within the High House, he must learn to balance all its components lest the world descend into chaos. When reading Stoddard’s descriptions of the vast Victorian mansion in which the story takes place, I had to periodically sit back and process their detail so that I wouldn’t miss out on any of his literary landscaping. His words create a rich world that I wanted to stay immersed in. If you chose to read this book, be prepared to encounter words you don’t even know exist, to exercise your imagination and to not want to put it down. CONSECUTIVES 88
a show
“vikings,” Michael Hirst
Words Anna Riedlinger “Vikings” is a historical drama that aired in 2013 for the History Channel. Shot and filmed in Ireland, this show is inspired by the sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok. The plot focuses around Ragnar, being one of the best-known, legendary Norse heroes famous for his successful raids upon England. Throughout the show, you continue to have a love-hate relationship with the majority of the characters as you follow them with all their failings and successes. It is rare that a work of fiction has you hoping that barbarians will resume robbing and killing innocent people, but somehow this show will fully convert you. “Vikings” is visually arresting and constantly establishes a sense that you’re visiting a culture. Vikings are a people that are so mysterious to so many. And now you’re seeing both the mundane and extraordinary aspects of what a Viking’s life may have been. While entertaining, it is not historically accurate and has been rated R for nudity and violence.
a film
“the sandlot,” David Mickey Evans
Words Jacqueline Knox For some reason, this movie always brings me back to my childhood (although it may not be that far off). It reminds me of how fond I am of the times I caught tadpoles in the ditch or rode my bike to school. This is one of those feel-good movies that is perfect for any age and will leave you reminiscing upon the simpler days. “The Sandlot” is a comingof-age story centered around Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry), the new kid in town. “Smalls,” as he is quickly nicknamed, becomes friends with a group of boys who spend their days in a dusty sandlot playing baseball. Director David Mickey Evans, does an excellent job of charming the audience with bright colors and fantastic shots while still capturing the best moments of young boys’ lives: telling horror stories, camping in a treehouse and even tricking the lifeguard into mouth-to-mouth. All in all, it is a beautifully told story about nine boys and their first love: baseball. CONSECUTIVES 89
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Random A FEW RANDOM AND USELESS FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW Words Matthew Schroder
What are stats? Just random numbers that people shove down your throat so they seem smart? What if they’re all made up? There’s literally no way of making sure the stats are correct except through looking at other stats…but what if those stats are fake?!? This is the confusion I am hoping to exploit. Please enjoy these entirely factual stats that have no chance of being fake.
2708
27% of lobsters have opposable thumbs on their legs
Cell phones will always explode when thrown from heights of over eight feet, even onto cushy objects
4 out of 5 people who own more than one pet also can’t spell their own name properly while brushing their teeth
People who cannot sing “Hotel California” from memory are often subject to more discrimination than those who can
4/5
40 million people in the United States are deathly afraid of the combination of the letter Y and the number 4
0.6
Only 0.6% of gorillas who can use sign language also know curse-words in sign-language
40 25 32 0.5
Over half of brunettes are ambidextrous yet cannot smell drift-wood
Words that are longer than 25 letters more often than not only take one syllable to say
32% of all world records are held by donkeys
Artwork done with crayons are 25% more likely to spontaneously combust than those done with magic-markers
Flower lengths only come in the half-sizes
25
I cannot use red scissors, only orange ones
The greatest common factor in determining whether someone will be a serial-arsonist is the lack of drapes over windows Design Alexa Georgelos
CONSECUTIVES 90
The
SINCE 2007
HEALTH ALERT
talon
Because it is a common virus on campuses across the nation, you need to be able to recognize:
S ENIOR ITIS This virus commonly strikes students in their final year of high school, generally commencing with Homecoming and reaching a peak just before Prom. It is normally accompanied by the following symptoms: •
•
• •
Increased laziness and sleepiness with attendant bouts of apathy and the goopy stuff in the corner of the eyes Inability to remember even the simplest directions; hence, frequent tardies and seemingly aimless wandering Inability to remove backpack from vehicle between 3:30pm and 8:00am Visceral reaction to the mere mention of “college essay” or “senior thesis”
The only known treatment is graduation, but this also comes with nasty side-effects like: • • • •
The assumption of real responsibility The disturbing realization that high school wasn’t that hard College debt The end of being able to blame bad habits on senioritis
DR. ROSHEGER’S OBSCURE LATIN PHRASE OF THE QUARTER
SATIRE
BY MR. ROBERT SHELTON
ESSAY HELP Given that students at Geneva must write a number of essays over their years in rhetoric school; and given that these essays are written in a number of classes with different teachers; and given that these teachers use different marks and means of editing, the teachers have gotten together and standardized a few oftenneeded marks and acronyms. So we proudly present the Geneva Essay Editing and Evaluation standardized marks. Look for these on future essays.
MOTO
means “Master of the Obvious”
means S.A.W.: “Strange And Wrong,” so cut it
LOL
means “Laugh Out Loud” (at you, not with you)
means “Reading this is killing me”
Z-Z-Z-Z
means “Delete. No one cares.”
means “How does your head not blow off from the internal contradictions in this section of the essay?”
TEHDMTLFANJ
means “This essay has driven me to look for a new job”
means that “There is a better chance of you being struck by lightning than of this essay receiving a passing grade”
“Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.” “I think some people in togas are plotting against me.”
Your teachers hope these standardized marks not only eliminate confusion, but help you to become better writers.
Geneva Teachers’ Motto:
“We grade because we care.” CONSECUTIVES 91
SATIRE
113
CASCADE CAVERNS boerne, tx 78015
21 - MARCH -18 Rick Poole
paul johnson
steven tye 92
under the
boardwalk
This issue, we revealed the suprising secrets you never saw coming. If you’re tired of the typical, fleeting gossip, check back every issue for quality content that is 100% accurate. Because even if it’s not talked about around campus, it’s definitely talked about Under the Boardwalk.
Geneva’s New Hire Geneva, known for its advanced academics and classical system, has taken it to the next level. But have they gone too far? It is a known fact that Geneva’s headmaster only accepts the best faculty for the school—but this time he’s given the job to a robot. Math teacher, Dr. Howard Short, is allegedly a machine handcrafted by genius scientists. He can even answer a question before it’s asked. All this intelligence can only lead to superman-like powers right? There are hints to this behavior like him leaving class for no reason and coming in straightening his tie. Is this robot doing more than teaching students? Could he be out saving lives? The good news is that Mrs. Short owns the handbook that controls him. So, if you are in class and he is just sitting there and staring, be sure to give Mrs. Short a call.
The Lewis building Band Rumor has it, Rick Poole, Steven Tye and Paul Johnson have created their own band. This may not come as a surprise, since all have a history of being in bands. Sophomore Jack Swanson caught the crew having a late Sunday evening jam session in the MPB. Other students have reported the teachers looking extremely tired Monday mornings. Maybe it is because they flew in late from an out-of-town gig. The real question isn’t why they are in a band, but rather when will their next single come out? The student crowds are dying to know.
Words Sydney Dennis
around the school with a smile, it seems she might be hiding something. Some believe she is on a secret mission to fill us up with nutritional food. While checking off names in the lunch line, she secretly gathers our information. Ever wonder how the whole-grain Pop Tarts made it into the vending machine? You guessed it! Jacobson has been watching what you eat and replacing our junk food with healthy things. While she may act sweet, she certainly doesn’t want us eating any sweets. What will it be next, kale chips?
GOLF CART DUDES Have you ever seen the golf cart skirt around campus? While you’re daydreaming in class—I mean listening intently—you hear the muted engine of a golf cart. But before you can even catch a glimpse, it disappears. Who are the strange people that drive the golf carts? Where do they go? What do they do? Turns out, they were hired to drive the golf carts throughout the day to make sure they work. Seems like a pretty good deal to me!
The Recruit Many people have speculated that Judah Diller has been recruited to be the bruiser of the school campus. He is tall, there’s no doubt about that. And having run through the forests of Portland, Oregon to increase his stamina and strength, he looks like a force to be reckoned with as he towers over you with his eight-foot tall presence. He has even been trained to have the calm, quiet scowl to intimidate you. However, this has all gone awry since Diller is one of the nicest people you will meet at Geneva. The recruiting team has been disbanded to prevent another tragic mistake. Meanwhile, we have them to thank for the gentlest of giants.
The Secret Nutritionist Miss Chelsie Jacobson is recognized as one of the sweetest faculty members. Always helping
SATIRE
Design Sydney Dennis
05 creativity
FULL OF GOODIES TO CHARM YOUR EYES AND CAPTIVATE YOUR MIND
SECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
096 LOOK AROUND YOU
098 TAKE A HIKE
100 GRANDPA’S PHOTOS
LOOK AROUND YOU
AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PLANTS ON CAMPUS
Words Anna Riedlinger
3 2
1 4 1: texas red oak
2: Bald Cypress
3: Crossvine
4: china rose
- Scientific name quercus buckley - Also called buckley oak or Spanish oak - A deciduous - Family beech
- Scientific name bignonia capreolata - When stem is cut a cross-shaped pattern is revealed - Family trumpet creeper
- Scientific name Taxodium distichum - A deciduous conifer - Family cupressaceae
- Scientific name rosa chinensis - Originally native to China, and now have spread throughout the U.S. - Family crosaceae Design Anna Riedlinger Graphic Anna Riedlinger
the big picture Words Aubrey Matson
Walking through a picture Walking through many different pictures Each one holding a different landscape Just as the brush swipes against the canvas So does God against his own The land being his masterpiece And the nations his intricate embellishments Walking through a hallway All the shapes and sizes on the walls We walk across the globe All shapes and sizes graze the earth Each piece of art is different But it gives something only it can provide
Take a
hike PEDERNALES STATE PARK Named after its main attraction, Pedernales Falls State Park features a river flowing through shallow limestone canyons and boulders. The park has diverse hiking trails, camping sites, swimming pools and sandy shores. Much like Enchanted Rock, it’s well worth the hour-long drive. Don’t forget your fishing pole! (10 miles east of Johnson City)
CIBOLO NATURE CENTER Cibolo Nature Center is more extensive than meets the eye. The trails encircle Boerne City park and then extend along the winding creek and towards the nature center itself. It is the perfect place for a laid back hike or even a morning run. Feel free to bring your horses, dogs or even your family. Best of all, it’s only five minutes from Main Street. (City Park Road in Boerne)
CREATIVITY 98
KREUTZBERG CANYON NATURAL AREA Kreutzberg Canyon Natural Area is one of Boerne’s best-kept secrets. The main trails all branch out alongside the river and have ranging levels of difficulty. Along with its trails, it has 2,000 feet of beautiful Guadalupe River frontage perfect for a warm sunny day of fishing, paddling, swimming and relaxing. It’s a quick fifteen-minute drive from Main Street. (143 Mark Twain Drive in Boerne)
ENCHANTED ROCK Climbing to the top of Enchanted Rock seems like a right of passage for the locals of Boerne. But if you venture off the main trail, you will find miles of winding trails with rock climbing and streams as well as a variety of wildlife. It’s only a scenic one-hour drive from Boerne. (North of Fredericksburg)
CREATIVITY 99
Grandpa’s photos A LOOK AT THE ARCHIVES
“Mountain view” PROVIDED BY MATTHEW SCHRODER
“bridging california”PROVIDED BY GILLIAN LOFLIN CREATIVITY 100
“tugboat haul”PROVIDED BY MATTHEW SCHRODER
“Car park” PROVIDED BY GILLIAN LOFLIN
“strolling”
PPROVIDED BY MATTHEW SCHRODER
101
quarterly comic DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF CONTROL Graphic Nathan Zuniga
COMIC 102
quarterlY STAFF Executives Editor-in-Chief: Jacqueline Knox Chief Editor of Design: Aisling Ayers Chief Editor of Content: Nathan Young Chief Managing Editor: Anna Riedlinger
Photography Braden Hall, Editor Luke Bower Taylor Tippit Ashton Landis Nicolas Siller
EDITORIAL Matthew Schroder, Editor Gabi Griffey Lydia duPerier Pauline Rahal Jackson Young
InDesign Jayne Goodman, Editor Gillian Loflin Sydney Griffey Alexa Georgelos Gracyn Freiling
photoshop Nathan Zuniga, Editor Anson Eggerss Ainsley Plesko Sydney Dennis Corban Fikes
marketing Daniel Grover, Director Charlotte Walker
adviser Becky Ryden
Photos Nicolas Siller
STAFF 103
GENEVA QUARTERLY A HIGH SCHOOL PUBLICATION www.genevaquarterly.com
