Viking Longboat January 29th, 2016 by Viking Longboat

Longboat VIKING

1.29.16 Volume 21 Issue 5

Haslett High School Student-Produced Newspaper

More than just a feeling p. 6-7

ILLUSTRATION: MADDY NEZ

News

#BLM

Students voice concern in protests page 3

Opinion

New in 2016: Virtual reality and more page 4

Feature

Adoption story opens new chapter page 8

Sports

A take on senior star Brandon Allen page 11

CJ says ‘see ya’

KATELYN LEE | Staff Writer

“I play Gracie Stanley in the musical,” Ziegler said. “I promise The Haslett Middle School presents everyone that I can get this ‘big’ rock its spring musical, “The Nifty Fifties.” star Ziggy Springer to come to the It takes place at Louise’s Luncheonette, dance, even though I haven’t asked him a teenage hangout set in 1950. “The yet.” Nifty Fifties” gives insight into what Ziegler’s character is determined it would be like to be not to fail. If she does a teen in the era of fail, her rival, snooty Marilyn Monroe and Muffin Mansfield, will Elvis Presley. be there ready to let Middle school math everyone know. teacher Jennifer Brooks Friday Feb. 19 “To get things done does the make-up and I have to go to his 7:30 p.m. costumes for middle concert and convince school plays. Ziggy to come, but Saturday Feb. 20 “We have our first then his secretary tells show on Feb. 15 which Gracie that they don’t 2 p.m. is preview day,” Brooks want Ziggy doing it for said. “The dates open to no pay. So they call the public are Friday, me and tell me that he Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. has laryngitis even though he doesn’t,” 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold online Ziegler said. and seats will be assigned.” To find out whether or not Ziggy Eighth-grader Olivia Ziegler is makes an appearance, come to Haslett cast as the leading lady in the musical. High School to watch HMS students This is her first lead in a musical at the perform “The Nifty Fifties.” middle school.

Showtimes

Scholarship deadlines Scholarship season is upon us and deadlines for many of them are quickly approaching. The Capital Area College Access Network, a community network for increasing college attendance in the Lansing area, has compiled a list of local, state and national scholarships. Future college attendees can use this to identify available scholarships. According to the Imagine America Foundation, another college advocacy institution, one of the five reasons kids

do not attend college is “they think they can’t afford college.” Though some deadlines have passed, many others are still available for students. Additional information, including a database of scholarships, can be found at http://www.capitalareacan.org/ financial-aid-and-scholarships. It is recommended by the website applicants focus primarily on local and state scholarships, as national scholarships have a larger pool of applicants.

The Viking Longboat

CONNOR FRANK The Viking Longboat is the student newspaper of Haslett High School, 5450 Marsh Road, Haslett, MI 48840 and publishes about every four weeks of the school year. It is published by the fifth hour Journalism class. The Longboat is established as a student run public forum circulated within the school, the community and outside the school district. The Longboat is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, National

Scholastic Press Association and Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. The publication is an 11-time Spartan award winner and CSPA gold medalist. Letters to the editor are accepted at the discretion of the editorial board. Forms of speech not protected by the First Amendment will not be published. Letters must be signed by the author and may be edited for grammar, spelling and style. Direct all questions to the Publications Room, Room 411.

Haslett video store closes down due to more virtual movie rental JJ MILLER | Staff Writer A lonesome building stands in the middle of the Village Square plaza. On this abandoned building is a sign displaying the name CJ Video. For the past 27 years, CJ video has been providing video rental services to many greater Lansing residents. However, the store will not be serving residents by the end of 2016. The decision to close the store was made due to low sales as a result of competition from internet streaming. “(There was) not enough business coming in, with things like Netflix,

The Staff

Editor in Chief Kelsey Johnson Copy Editor Hailey Pecic Feature Editor Molly Gadola Opinion Editor Molly Brady News Editor Ben Hampton

NEWS

Hulu, and Redbox,” store manager Sunny Havens said, “We were making $50 a day.” The Havens family purchased the store in September 2015. “They were talking about it (moving) before we took over,” Havens said. “But then the original owner decided that he wasn’t going to because he wanted to close anyway.” With the closing it has left people looking for new jobs, including senior Collin Brink. Even though Brink started working there in August of 2015, he had a deep connection to the

Sports Editor Brodee Gillam Photo Editors Ashley Dyer Rachel Hamilton Advisers Julie Price Cody Harrell

Staff Writers Derek Choma Madison Nez Kenzie Adler Hannah Alverson Christine Awuor Leona Blosser Hunter Dawson Austin Eveland Connor Frank Conner Heinz

Empty shelves at CJ Video. PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER

store that preceded his employment. “CJ Video had been such a big part of my childhood and I thought it would be fun. I loved working there,” Brink said. “Getting to know all the regulars. Meeting all of the people who loved CJ as much as me, and realizing how special CJ was to so many people of the Haslett community, and the communities around us. “I appreciate all the people who ever came in to see me,” Brink said. “I appreciate all the people who were truly sad to see her go.”

Katelyn Lee Khonnor Longendyke Kyle Looney JJ Miller Caleb Newport Alex Sadler Mia Salvador Kylie Stornant Cody Thelen

1.29.16

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

Together, students advocate for change KENZIE ADLER | Staff Writer

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peaceful.” Reed said she attended because she is invested in making sure her future has a voice. “I am proud to be a woman, a feminist and of color,” she said. “I have to set the example for my generation and show that there is power in unity as well as having your own opinion. Society needs more leaders and more unity among leaders. Also, my university’s Black Student Union, which I am a part of, invited me to come to the event. I wanted to stand with my peers.”

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I have to set the example for my generation and show that there is power in unity as well as having your own opinion. GABBY REED

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On Dec. 31, 2015, senior Hannah Kempel witnessed the Chicago protest over the shooting of Laquan McDonald. She was in a taxi cab heading down the Magnificent Mile when the ride was cut short by a massive group of people covering the road, holding brightly colored signs and surrounded by police officers. With the taxi cab unable to go any farther, Kempel and her family were forced to wait it out in a store. According to the driver, the people had been holding these protests every couple of days, either by blocking the road or holding sit-ins in stores. “My parents were worried something bad was going to happen because the police were advancing towards them,” Kempel said. “I figured that nothing was likely to happen in broad daylight in front of all of the shoppers. “I fully support the protests. I didn’t get to see much of it, but from what I saw it was a peaceful protest,” Kempel said. “The only thing it was really interfering with was traffic.” A few days later, on Jan. 4, Gabby Reed, a 2015 Haslett alumna, partook in a Black Lives Matter Protest in Dearborn. It was held in the aftermath of the shooting of Kevin Matthews, 35, by a police officer in Detroit. The peaceful protest began at a nearby Kroger’s, and headed down Michigan Avenue, the protesters calling for justice and carrying banners and signs. “As a young person who is very interested in social justice, I thought the protest offered me a great experience,” Reed said. “It made me feel empowered. I was actually fighting for my rights like those before me. I was glad that people of different racial background and sexual orientations were there. It showed unity. Overall, the protest was well-organized and

Black Lives Matter was started primarily because of the shooting of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old man from Sanford, Fla. On Feb. 26, 2012, he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Martin was unarmed, yet Zimmerman’s claim to self-defense carried through until June 10, 2013, when Zimmerman was brought to court under the charge of murder. The trial went on for more than a month before the court declared that, “there was not enough evidence for a federal hate crime prosecution,” and he was not held accountable.

It was because of this incident that the organization began to call for action. The organization stands to remind society of the contributions of African Americans to communities and the country as a whole. It also stands to bring national attention to the fact that African Americans are facing police violence at disproportional odds, and violence in general. “The organization has a pretty clear message; there is an entire faction of this country that doesn’t feel safe around the police,” said senior Christine Awuor, president of Black Student Union. “That’s sad because the police are there to protect people. The organization isn’t saying that all police officers are bad; it’s saying there seems to be a systematic problem, and it would be beneficial to everyone if we addressed that problem, talked it out, find where things went wrong and acknowledge that there isn’t total equality in America.” The message of Black Lives Matter spreads beyond the protests, though, due simply to the fact of the diversity in communities, including Haslett. “Haslett is becoming more and more diverse as years go by,” Reed said. “Therefore, it needs to be aware of what is going on in the world in order for it to grow. “I want to state that the Black Lives Matter movement, or any movement that promotes racial and social equality, is not just aimed towards people of color. It is meant to include everyone who believes in justice,” Reed said. “Anyone who shares that belief needs to get involved; attend the Haslett Black Student Union, Feminism, and Gay Straight Alliance club meetings. Stay on top of current events. And just be open to learning about what social diversity is.”

NEWS

Being black in America means staying strong, resilient despite adversity I remember it like it was five minutes ago, although it’s been at least four years. After making an offhand comment about fellow classmates who refused to say the word “black” in my presence, a friend asked me if a black kid’s upbringing was really any different than a white kid’s. I was so taken back by his question and nonchalant tone CHRISTINE AWUOR | Staff Writer that the only answer I could provide was “Yeah, there is.” However, in light Being black means your mom will of the current racial atmosphere, I find sit you down at some point in your myself wishing I could travel back in childhood and tell you the sky’s the time to elaborate my point. limit, but there are hunters who will For me, being black in America has shoot you down mid-flight if you’re meant never forgetting the history of not careful. It means realizing from an my people. Even on days when the color early age racism didn’t end just because of my skin is the last thing on my mind, Martin Luther King Jr had a dream. I’m subconsciously aware it affects the It means never sagging your pants too way people interact with me. Like it or low, always talking with your proper not, my dark complexion gives rise to a English, getting the best grades and feeling of distrust and discomfort that being the most polite so no one can follows me everywhere. I hear it in the mark you as evil. Olivia Pope’s dad on hushed uttering of words like ‘nigga’ “Scandal” couldn’t have said it better: whenever my white classmates realize black kids have to be twice as good as that I can hear them. I see it in the the white kids in order to get half of suspicious glares my brother and I get what they’ve got. sometimes when we walk into a store. But the thing is, no matter how I feel it in the collective suspension hard you try to be the model black of breath whenever police brutality kid, your efforts are never enough. My is brought up in a conversation and experiences in middle school taught me a brave soul angrily demands, “What that. By the time I was 13, I’d lost track about all lives mattering? Why is it only of how many times I’d been referred significant when it happens to black to as an Oreo or as the ugly dark people?” skinned girl. I was numb to comments For the record, all lives do matter. like “she’s pretty for a black girl, but I That being said, a quick peek at history couldn’t date her” or “she’s pretty smart will prove more often than not, that for a black girl, not ratchet and ghetto ideology has proven less effective in like the others.” practice. Every breaking news headline However, nothing could prepare about a police shooting of an unarmed me for the barbaric insensitivity my black person, every instance of violence classmates displayed when we watched committed against people like me has “Roots.” Kids were laughing as Kunta weighed heavily on my mind. What if Kinte was chained and sold, ogling it’s me next? Or worse, what if, one day, the excess of naked breasts, jeering at I get a phone call informing me that Fiddler’s broken English. Tears rolled one of my brothers has been killed for down my face as I realized for the first existing? How do we live in a society time how alienating it is to be the sole that conditions millions of people to black kid in a sea of white faces, to bear believe they don’t matter? the grief without the consoling embrace Society poisons us against ourselves of someone who gets it. from the moment black people are Being black is not always as “cool” born. Society feeds us lies that we aren’t or “fun” as some people would believe. smart enough, that we don’t work Trust us when we say it isn’t an endless hard enough, that we aren’t beautiful parade of fried chicken and dancing. enough. Ultimately, from infancy That having been said, I can understand onwards, they trick us into believing why people are so enamored with us. we aren’t good enough. From there, it’s We are a group of resilient people, like stealing candy from a baby. They a group that has managed to create, can take our cornrows, our slang, our progress and inspire despite the hip-hop, our culture away from us with incredible adversity we have faced. the slightest of ease and twist it anyway In fact, I think that is the most they like. They can degrade us mentally, important aspect of blackness-our physically, emotionally and know that strength. Even now, as we struggle to no one will question it. They can shoot have our lives validated by the world, us in the middle of the street, even we continue to reach for the stars, be when our hands are up, and rest assured it as athletes, scientists, musicians, or they’ll get away scott free. activists. In spite of everything, we rise.

What to watch in 2016 MOLLY BRADY | Opinion Editor

HUNTER DAWSON| Staff Writer

World news

The civil war in Syria probably isn’t going anywhere. And, with the Islamic State continuing to expand, it could be a bad year for countries on its current borders.

Biggest Movies

Biggest TV Shows

1. Batman v Superman 2. Deadpool 3. Captain America: Civil War 4. Star Trek: Beyond 5. Star Wars: Rogue One

1. Legends of Tomorrow 2. Daredevil 3. Preacher 4. Lucifer 5. The Magicians

China’s economy is leveling out, and the situation in Europe is only getting worse, while at the same time, the stock market has begun to fall. All signs lead to a potential global recession in 2016. After quarterback Cam Newton obliterated the Arizona defense last Sunday, he has the challenge of the Denver Broncos defense Feb. 7. The Panthers will pounce, with a 28-17 victory in Super Bowl 50.

Social media Don’t expect to see too much change in your social media habits this year. Even though the big two, Twitter and Facebook, lost some ground to Instagram in 2015, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. While there is still room for smaller platforms like Instagram to gain popularity, most new platforms will be eaten by the big fishes and disappear. The biggest difference you can expect is more of those dreaded ads peppering your pages. That, and much longer tweets, now that the limit is being removed.

“Rogue One” is a spin off of the main movies about a group of rebels who try to steal the plans for the Death Star. Plans are to make this a new stand alone series that can lessen the wait between main movies. But why try to lessen the wait with a movie that will most likely fail to deliver?

States now have marijuana legal in some form

In 2016, California and other states are going to be looking to reform previously harsh laws, while some states are going to be putting the legality question on the ballots. By the time the year ends, the number of states with lax marijuana laws should be a lot higher.

Music Drake’s new album “Views from the 6” has been hinted at being dropped sometime in February. The ‘6’ in the title comes from a combination of zip codes for Toronto, 416 and 647.

“The Magicians” plot line - a bunch of students learning magic at a special boarding school - sounds a lot like something from “Harry Potter” and would probably appeal to the whole Potter generation, if the characters were around 12. Instead, the students are all in their mid20s and the whole show is just awkward.

Virtual reality Virtual reality gaming is no longer a thing of dreams. On March 28, Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset with controllers, will be shipped to those who have pre-ordered it. Oculus Rift has unlocked a new world of gaming, by allowing you to actually be part of the game. Virtual reality allows you to go first person in the game and be fully submersed in it. But I think that it has potential to help advance society in a number of ways. With virtual reality, doctors could practice real surgeries, and drivers could learn without being on the road. The possibilities are endless. We already try and implement virtual reality with simulators, but if the trainee could “actually” be there first person it would be almost real.

ILLUSTRATION: KENZIE ADLER

OPINION

1.29.16

A Staff Editorial

America the land of ‘equality’ Our generation needs to step up and support each other “The Atlantic Slave trade brought millions of workers from Africa to the southern United States to work on agricultural plantations,” says a modern McGraw-Hill geography textbook, speaking as though the slaves were simply paid farmers who came willingly. All over the country, textbooks are downplaying the horrendous acts of slavery. In fact, a recent Texas ruling has declared Slavery is a secondary aspect that doesn’t need to be taught in depth. Texas state officials decided lessons on the KKK and Jim Crow laws won’t be taught at all. Besides being inaccurate and terribly offensive, the cleansing of history has a second impact: Don’t teach a child about hundreds of years of oppression, and they’ll assume there isn’t any. So far, it seems to be working. We grew up in a world where the Civil Rights Movement was just a story, and the effects were

part of everyday life. We forget it took place only 50 years ago. Not even a full generation has passed and yet we all pretend like discrimination is a thing of the past. When you live in an area that’s made up of predominantly white people, it’s easy to forget the privileges white people have. It’s not always about the big facts like the wage gap. Sometimes it’s the subtle things, like the fact as white Americans we can leave the house without our mothers worrying we might never come back. Most of us are told we can trust the police, and can go to them if something is wrong without having to worry that a toy or even a bag of candy in the wrong place will lead to our death. Most of us don’t have to worry at all. Meanwhile, it seems every week brings a new black face to the TV, another person whose actions were punished by death while the officer responsible suffers only a

paid leave of absence. According to the Guardian newspaper, 32 percent of black people killed by police had no weapon whatsoever. It’s no wonder demonstrations have started cropping up all over the country. Nobody else is fighting. It seems the majority of the population doesn’t even care. And instead of standing up for their fellow people, they call the peaceful protests riots and get mad at the phrasing of black lives matter. As if they don’t. As our generation rises, leaving the Civil Rights era half a century behind us, it’s easy to pretend we achieved equality those 50 years ago. Rarely do we remember to look forward and realize we still have a long ways to go. Contrary to popular belief, we have not reached equality yet. Just look around us: People are dying from police shootings and hate crimes while everyone else gets mad at them for being

Sex in Society

upset about the deaths. Groups are still insisting we need a white history month while failing to see that our curriculum’s focus on purely white history makes every social studies class a white history class. There are still people who are angry other ethnicities have some college seats reserved for them, while failing to realize that the systematic racism ingrained in this country makes it so a white student will almost always get picked over a black child with the same credentials. Often times the diversity laws are the only thing people have that will ensure a college accepts them. Racism is far from over. Just because we’ve made huge strides in past generations doesn’t mean our generation is allowed to sit and pretend everything is OK. It is our job to step up and work for change.

Openness cheapens human experience

Openness enhances human experience

CONNOR FRANK | Staff Writer

HAILEY PECIC | Copy Editor

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Intercourse was once a mysterious experience that was not regularly had and only rarely enjoyed. When sex is pressed into our minds from a young age, it creates a selfish society in which getting laid is more important than curbing gang violence and reversing climate change. It puts every person in a position to think only one step, one night ahead and doesn’t enable us to give our best effort to the greater good of the human race. Reproduction is critical to the survival of humanity, granted. But sex is not the reason we exist. Perhaps the most uncomfortable part of the sexualization of the world is that people have become rich and powerful off of manipulating our natural sexual tendencies. People like Hugh Hefner and Kim Kardashian have made fortunes from exploiting men and women who want to see naked women. The moment sex became a commercialized, multimillion dollar industry was the moment it lost all sense of dignity.

People have become rich and powerful off of manipulating our natural sexual tendencies.

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Write a letter to the editor! Let your voice be heard! Have something to say? Angry, frustrated or downright upset about what we’ve written? Want to tell us how well we’re doing? Write a letter to us! Drop the finished product off in the Publications Room, room 411, for consideration to run in the next issue of the newspaper. We do NOT accept annonymous letters. Thank you. Letters to the Editor are here to help! We know that you all have issues with different things around the school and in our community. We want to hear what YOU have to say.

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Forty years ago, to have premarital sex was considered social suicide. It happened of course, like it has since the beginning of humanity, but it wasn’t discussed. As though it was some magic trigger for Satan himself, the topic of sex was simply off limits. But now, just step outside and you’ll see that modern society isn’t scared of the devil anymore. We’ve invited him to dance. As an “uh oh” baby myself from two parents who had zero intentions of procreating, especially not with each other, I can safely say sex is for pleasure. Period. Anyone who’s ever stepped outside, clicked the wrong link, or attended a public school, would say the same. The acceptance of sexuality on social media, TV shows, and from our peers, allows expression of what’s always been stored away in the human mind. People have always wanted sexual expression, but now, they can admit it without feeling ashamed, at least in comparison to previous generations. And with that opens a new door of resources full of essential education - lessons our grandparents, even our parents, could have greatly benefited from. Sex is a deeply personal experience. For some, that means waiting until they have a ring on their finger. For others, it means finding the closest willing and available human to help fill the urge. Either way, that’s a choice left up to each individual and, thanks to changing

attitudes, particularly towards women, there is a freedom to choose either pathway. Now that sex is openly talked about, so are contraceptives and STD protection, and increasingly now, consent. According to the Office of Health and Human Services, teen pregnancy rates in the US have been continuously decreasing since 1991 and are currently at their lowest point. But teens are most definitely having sex. The difference between our generation and past ones is the available resources to prevent accidents and encourage healthy, happy sex lives. It’s no coincidence that the states with the highest teen pregnancy rates also tend to have abstinence only sexual education (I’m looking at you Mississippi). With an education, or lack thereof, like the one being given in Mississippi, it leads to miscommunication and ignorance. Educating people on sex doesn’t lead to a selfish society. Knowledge leads to a giving one - a society where sex isn’t a chore to reproduce, but an experience to share with another human being. What could possibly be better than making another soul feel good? And that, in the end is the ultimate goal of sexuality - to share a human experience. There is nothing less selfish than that.

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Educating people on sex doesn’t lead to a selfish society.

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Sex was never meant to be a lunchroom topic. It used to be kept quiet, only referred to in hushed, indirect forms and never to be broadcasted for the world to know of. However, today we are at a point where sex is ingrained in children’s toys and forced on viewers of every single movie made. Our culture is focused on sex, having a lot of it and making sure the entire world knows how amazing we are at it. This fixation with sex has cheapened what it means to partake in a spiritual, physical bond. Diamonds are valuable to us because they’re incredibly rare and difficult to obtain. Initially, diamonds were mined by burly men in Sub-Saharan Africa, with scores of them dying for a single gem to be plucked from the dirt and shipped off to England. If diamonds were as common and easy to get as the dirt they were harvested from, none of us would be wearing diamonds. The same truth rings true for sex.

Letter to the editor

To the Editor, Thank you to the students and teachers who donated gifts and food to the Haslett Christmas Project. Strong community support made it possible to provide gifts for 2013 children in 90 Haslett district families. Each child also recieved a “stocking” of fun items and the families recieved holiday dinner supplies and groceries to make meals for several days. We also appreciate staff and student leadership who coordinate the contributions from students, teachers and families. Thanks again to everyone. Ruth Linneman, Haslett Christmas Project Coordinator

OPINION

More than just a

feeling Students recount struggles with depression, anxiety While camping with her family, sophomore Linsey Nichols suddenly feels her chest start to tighten. Breathing becomes nearly impossible and her body shakes uncontrollably. As her condition worsens, her family assumes she’s experiencing an asthma attack. Two years later, they find out that what she was and has been experiencing isn’t asthma, but depression and anxiety. “It kept happening and happening (the anxiety attacks) and I would have to breathe into a paper bag,” Nichols said. “Finally, the doctors started asking me a lot of questions and they said, ‘Oh yeah, you definitely have textbook anxiety.’” After two years of misdiagnosis Nichols’ doctors finally concluded she had long-term depression and anxiety. “It (depression) literally hit me like a bus,” Nichols said. She recalls her first major break down as the day she found out she did not make the select women’s ensemble. Looking up to her older sister, who is currently a choir teacher, Nichols felt she was a failure. She spent every moment possible laying in bed and thinking about how worthless she felt. As she continued to ponder her mistakes, Nichols was haunted by a picture hanging on her bedroom wall. The picture read “Dream Big Little One” and was given to her years ago by her older sister.

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It (depression) literally hit me like a bus.

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LINSEY NICHOLS

Uncontrollable thoughts do not control a life

KELSEY JOHNSON | Editor-in-Chief

“I just remember looking at that picture and thinking I had failed her. I had failed myself, I had failed my friends, I had failed my family,” Nichols said. These feelings of rejection and self hatred resonated in Nichols for months. “I was in that

pit of depression until I would say about January the next year,” Nichols said. “I didn’t want to do anything ever. I felt so helpless and my energy was down. I was eating very poorly, sometimes I wouldn’t eat at all.” This lack of energy and feelings of helplessness, quickly began affecting her relationships with family and friends. “I was trying to stay happy for my family and friends, but while I was trying to do that I had journals filled with stories of suicide and bandage wrappers in my drawers,” Nichols said. In an attempt to make things easier for her, Nichols’s doctors prescribed more medicine and suggested going to see a therapist. Despite their efforts, nothing was working. “It seemed like nothing was helping. It’s sad to say, but I have self harmed and I have attempted suicide,” Nichols said. “At times it’s felt like nothing was going to get better, I would tell myself this is what the real world is, I’m going to fail at everything, and this is going to be my life.” After months and even years of this, Nichols started finding ways to climb out of the pit she was in. Drinking water, listening to music, writing in her journal and breathing deeply are just a few effective methods she uses to calm herself down. Although the topic of depression and anxiety is not often discussed, Nichols’ experiences are not uncommon. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five teens will be diagnosed with depression. And according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, and affect roughly 18 percent of the population. Loads of homework, pressure to maintain perfect grades, and staying active in high school often times reveals students struggles with mental health. Senior Macy Lydigsen admits her depression and anxiety have made school very difficult. “Some days I just don’t want to do anything,” Lydigsen said. “I’ll get a bad grade on a paper

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It’s not a broken bone, I can’t be fixed. MACY LYDIGSEN

Early in the afternoon, curled up in a ball, I lay on my bed shaking uncontrollably. A demon has taken over and I am no longer myself. Mascara has smeared down my face and tears stream down my chin. My eyelids are so swollen I can barely open them. Uncontrollable thoughts consume my mind. “I hate myself. I can’t do anything right. I’m such a burden. I need to do everyone a favor and just die.” I try to muster up the energy to roll over and grab tissues from my bedside table, but I can’t move. The pain has paralyzed me. Not physical pain, but an overwhelming emotional pain in my chest from the feelings of self hatred filling me. It’s boiling the blood in my veins. I want to explode. The demons I’ve been battling my entire life, have finally won the battle. I decide tonight’s the night I’m going to kill myself. This idea calms me, it gives me a sense of relief, knowing that this fight will be over. I no longer have to deal with this monster living inside me. It will be all over soon. I wipe my tears away and compose myself. I have everything planned out. I’m home alone and I know exactly how it is going to happen. Just as I begin heading down the stairs, I get a text from my boyfriend. I figure he deserves a goodbye before I go, so I respond. I don’t tell him goodbye right away, but I say certain things to give him a hint of what my plans hold. In the laundry room is the bleach bottle I will use. I am going to drink as much bleach as I can and hope it will do the trick. I get to the laundry room and a sense of panic washes over me. I didn’t see the bleach bottle anywhere. I’m not going to be able to do this. I’m going to have to live a life that I don’t want to live. Suddenly, I remember my mom has a spray bottle under the kitchen sink with bleach that is mixed with water. Smiling, I head to the kitchen. This was the first time in months I truly felt excited for something. Who would ever have thought the one time I would be excited, would be just moments before I end my own life? Butterflies flutter in my stomach. Not because I’m nervous about committing suicide, but because I’m so excited. I get so excited to the point where I just want to skip around in the kitchen. I come back to my senses and focus on the task on hand.

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KYLIE STORNANT | Staff Writer

that I worked really hard on and I’ll just shut down. I know that’s not the attitude I should have, but sometimes I can’t help it.” School affects students who struggle with depression and anxiety not only academically but socially. Lydigsen recalls multiple times in class where she would do things a certain way because her anxiety led her to believe she was constantly being watched and judged. “I know it’s irrational and it sounds so dumb, but in my mind I always think that everyone’s watching me and judging me,” Lydigsen said. “It’s not a broken bone, I can’t be fixed.” According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, psychological problems among adolescents are rapidly rising and school is a large contributor. Research from the same association shows untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school and miss out on important social experiences. Lisa Laughman, an emotional wellness consultant at Michigan State University, said the most common mental health concerns of students is anxiety, depression, suicidal thinking, disordered eating and addiction. “Lack of sleep is a main factor in depression and anxiety,” Laughman said. “It is critically important to maintain healthy sleep habits.” Laughman encourages students to work on increasing emotional resilience and psychological flexibility, especially before entering college. “This can help you not only navigate your own emotional challenges but can also help you be that wise, steady, friend when you are needed the most,” Laughman said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any mental health issues here are some people you can talk to: National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1(800)-273-8255 (for anxiety issues as well) Ok2Say Contact Information: email OK2SAY@mi.gov, text 652729, call 8-555-OK2SAY Michigan State Counseling Center: 517-355-8737

LIFEBOAT

ILLUSTRATION BY JJ MILLER

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I find a straw and slide it and receive another text from my boyfriend. He can tell there is something wrong and asks me over and over again if everything is OK. I tell him nothing is OK. I say goodbye HANNAH ALVERSON and that I will miss Staff Writer him after tonight. The bleach burns my throat as I sip. This is the moment. This is when it ends. While I drink, my phone lights up with my boyfriend’s name. My phone continues buzzing until I finally answer his phone call. The voice on the other line is shaken, clearly crying. “Hannah don’t do it. You can’t do this. You don’t know what you’re doing. This is a huge mistake. You can’t undo it once it happens.” Instantly, I drop the bottle. We talk for 45 minutes and he is oblvious that he has just prevented me from dying. If it weren’t for that phone call, I wouldn’t be alive today. For the past three and a half years, I have been suffering from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, it took me awhile to reach out and get the help I needed. But I’m so glad I did. This past summer I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder which is being treated by a medication I take daily. As you can tell, depression has dramatically impacted my life. My suicide attempt isn’t my only regret. Every day for the rest of my life, I’m going to be reminded of the abyss I was once trapped in. Every time I look down at my wrist, I’ll always have a small yet permanent reminder. After visiting a therapist every week and taking medication, I have seen a tremendous difference. Although I’m not completely over my depression and anxiety, I am able to cope with it better. There are still times when I feel like the world is caving in, but I remind myself that I am stronger than my demons. But I know now, suicide and any type of self harm are not the answer. They never are. I regret everything I have done, but I am going to use my experiences to prevent me from making those types of mistakes in the future.

LIFEBOAT

Love not blood My family tells me the first time they met me I looked grumpy and serious. Apparently, being a 10-month-old baby flying for 20 hours can put a damper on your mood. A mood damper enough to where I was biting my dad my first night of knowing him. Dad tells me mom cried when she first held me. I was the last kid adopted into the Gadola family and I love them more than anyone in my life. I arrived in Michigan on July 4, 1998. I had a new beginning in a new country with a new loving family. I was left in an Indian orphanage for a month never to see my biological parents again. New Delhi, the capitol of India, is where my unwed-teenage biological parents had me. After I was born, they gave out fake names to protect their identity and ensure no one from their village knew a child was born out of wedlock. My biological mother put me in the orphanage and said goodbye to me forever. My birth mom saved my life and, without her, who knows where I’d be? Meanwhile in America, Michael and Preeti Gadola had been jumping through hoops to adopt their second child. After many months of interviews and background checks, the adoption agency sent a photo of me. My parents tell me they thought I was the most beautiful baby God had ever invented. Even though I was the unsmiling crabby looking baby in the photo. They also said they were excited to be my parents. My younger days in Haslett weren’t the brightest for me when it came to the topic. The younger I was, the less educated people were on adoption. I was teased for a couple years when I first told kids about my story. “Well, at least I know who my real parents are,” they teased. The taunts affected me. I would come home in tears and go directly to my room to sob over the jokes people made about me. I never told Michael and Preeti because they worked so hard to make me a part of this family. Why would I tell them the horrible things kids told me? Before I leave Haslett, let me set the record straight, my real parents are the people who put up with me on my worst and best days. They are the people I will love forever because as my mom says, family isn’t defined by blood. It’s defined by love.

Natalie’s Journey Senior reunites with biological family

Senior Natalie Bollman sits with her family in their living room. (From left to right) Stephanie, freshman Luke, Natalie, Delaney and Dan along with their dog Willow. PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER

MIA SALVADOR | Staff Writer

Senior Natalie Bollman sat in her bedroom “That was hard to hear, but I had grown up scrolling through twitter and texting friends knowing I had to be prepared for anything,” when her mom called her downstairs. After Bollman said. bounding down to the kitchen, her mom handed Details Bollman learned included that both her a letter. birth parents had live in Lansing, along with her She glanced at the return address on the two older brothers. One stayed in Webberville envelope and saw it was from St. Vincent while her mother moved to Indiana. Bollman’s Catholic Charities. Nervously, she walked back biological brothers, Greg and Travis, were raised to her room and ripped open the envelope. in Lansing. Several years later, after they had It read “Natalie Bollman born on November moved out, Bollman’s biological mom moved. 9” followed by a list of her biological parents’ “It’s crazy they lived so close for a while and names. Bollman ran downstairs shaking and I had no idea,” Bollman said. sobbing and handed her mother With the first and last names the letter then dropped to the of her biological family, Bollman floor. went online to track her family “It was the most down any way she could. After overwhelming feeling I have ever searching on Facebook, she found experienced,” Bollman said. “I’m her two older brothers. blessed my story turned out the “I sent them both a message way it did.” asking if they knew my birth Bollman was born at Sparrow NATALIE BOLLMAN mom by her old and new last Hospital. Because of the fear of name,” Bollman said. “Travis not having a stable home, her replied first super confused on mother decided to put Bollman up for adoption. how I knew her. I just went for it and was like, Her birth parents weren’t married, which caused ‘Well if I’m correct, we have the same mom.’” more uncertainty. Bollman was taken home to Bollman explained everything she knew Haslett in December by her parents Stephanie about her adoption. Travis was unaware of her and Dan Bollman. birth because she and the brothers had different Because her adoption was a closed case, fathers. At the time of her birth, both brothers Bollman wasn’t allowed to receive any files or lived with their father. information about her biological family prior to “They were both super excited to have a her 18th birthday. little sister. I was worried it would be weird since “It was so frustrating,” she said. “I have a they are 10 and nine years older than me,” she loving family and parents and siblings but that’s a said. “I did have a chance to meet with Greg that whole other family out there for me and I wanted weekend.I still do not know what to say since to have contact.” we had to catch up on 18 years of our lives. I did On her 18 birthday in November, Bollman get to speak to my birth mom for the first time, called St. Vincent Catholic Charities and which was emotional to say the least.” Bollman requested to have access to every file about her plans on meeting her birth mother and Travis in adoption. person soon. “They were super helpful,” she said. “They “Right now I would say that all I can feel is sent me paperwork to fill out about myself and blessed. God put me in my parents’ hands and I then did their job by accessing everything they had a wonderful loving stable family to grow up could.” in. That’s all my birth mother ever asked for,” Bollman soon learned her birth mother had Bollman said. “I am so excited to talk to my birth lived in Lansing, but St. Vincent workers were mother and my blood brothers’ families soon concerned that if the mother had moved out of because we have so much to catch up on.” state, she may not be willing to talk to her.

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I had grown up knowing I had to be prepared for anything.

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MOLLY GADOLA| Feature Editor

FEATURES

Family supports search CHRISTINE AWUOR | Staff Writer When your adopted sister decides to find her birth family, a lot of questions can come to mind. Will she be successful in her search? Will they be good people or psycho killers? And most importantly of all, how will your sister react to meeting them? Freshmen Luke Bollman asked himself these questions, but he was also excited for his sister, senior Natalie Bollman, in her journey to find her biological roots. He understood finding her birth family was something she’d always desired “I felt pretty happy for her,” Luke said. “I know she’d wanted to meet them for a pretty long time.” Natalie’s parents shared Luke’s enthusiasm. Dan and Stephanie Bollman had long understood that their daughter would have questions about where she came from. When Natalie approached them about her birth family, they were ready with answers. “We’d been very open about it,” Stephanie Bollman said. “Her history is part of who she is and we encouraged it.” As soon as she turned 18, Natalie got to work contacting her adoption agency for basic info about her birth family. From there she used social media to contact them and set up a meeting. Stephanie was there when she met her half brother Greg. “He reminded me a lot of her,” Stephanie said. Naturally, the family had concerns when Natalie set out on her journey. Her parents were worried for her wellbeing. “I was concerned it wouldn’t be a positive experience for her,” Dan said. “I didn’t want her to be hurt if for some reason the family didn’t accept her willingly or if they didn’t match her expectations.” Though the Bollman family worried over how she would react to meeting her birth family, they never questioned if Natalie would begin to prioritize her birth family over her adoptive one. “She’s really loyal,” Luke said. “She always refers to me as her brother.” Natalie’s journey has shown her family that nothing can replace the loving support of people who are always there for you. “The people you grow up with, the people who are there day in day out, that’s who your family is,” Stephanie said. Throughout the process, the Bollmans have been happy to see Natalie learn more about her roots. Her parents hope she can develop a positive and rewarding relationship with her birth family, as well as be at peace with her personal story. “I hope she has a better understanding and appreciation of where she came from,” Dan said. “I hope she understands that her birth mother gave her up to ensure a better life for her.” Stephanie agrees. “I hope she finds another piece of herself.”

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From school to shining stars PHOTOS: COURTESY and ASHLEY DYER

Marlowe Teichman “

music for the rest of her life. “Music is the most important thing in my life and now I’m lucky enough to be completely surrounded by music 24/7,” Teichman said. After Teichman dropped her extended play “Marlowe” on iTunes, her popularity grew instantly. “I think I sold close to 200 online albums,” Teichman said. “It’s cool when someone tells me that they love to listen to my music.” Teichman has had a love for her Lanikai ukulele ever since the first day she got it. “My favorite songs to play are ‘Hey Soul Sister’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun,’” Teichman said. “I love strumming in different ways to make a song more rhythmic.”

“I was pretty much born into music,” Marlowe Teichman said. “My dad is a musician so I grew up around music.” Teichman, a 2015 HHS grad, found her love for music growing up in her dad’s studio, BPS Productions. She started co-producing music there. She is currently at McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, Minn. “I am a ukulele instrumentalist,” she said. “I am currently a music, business student with a double minor in bass performance and live sound.” It was during Teichman’s junior year at HHS while performing in the Got Taste Got Talent show, she realized she wanted to create

Jonah Gerry Senior Jonah Gerry stands in the front row on the risers. It was his first concert with the Michigan State Children’s Choir. Gerry was nervous standing in front of so many people. As time went on, he became more and more comfortable standing in front of the bright lights. He realized the stage is where he was meant to be. “I’ve always loved singing. (Being in the choir) as a child, I loved it,” Gerry said. Gerry’s uncle is a professional musician in the Detroit area, he has his own studio. “I had written a lot of stuff but I couldn’t do anything with it. I showed my uncle and he gave me full access to his studio,” Gerry said. Gerry has a lot of support from his friends and family. One of

his biggest supporters is senior Mike Hammontree. With Hammontree having previous fans from his Vine account, he was able to help Gerry get noticed and gain popularity. “(Hammontree) had connections and before I knew it, I was in the right circles and things started taking off,” Gerry said. Gerry finds it easier to express his words through music. Although he loves recording, he still finds it scary. “Sometimes it’s hard to express yourself, but it’s even harder when you know people are going to see it,” Gerry said. “It gives me more of a reason to produce.”

Liz Bissonette Liz Bissonette (2015 HHS grad) opens Garageband on her laptop and plugs in her microphone. She makes sure all of the background noises are tuned out of the mic, equals out the volume frequencies and picks up her guitar. She begins to record her original song, “Nice to Meet You.” Bissonette’s love for music has always been strong, but when she discovered Taylor Swift she quickly realized her love for music was a passion for life. “I’ve been writing since middle school. I always dreamed of sharing it, but I’ve always been too scared,” Bissonette said. “I’ve come to learn that it’s OK to share my

Toddlers to teens

feelings through music, because I’ve learned that I can help people through my music.” Bissonette knows listening to Taylor Swift has helped her through hard times. She figured her music could help other people the way Swift helped her. Bissonette looks forward to recording in a studio rather than an auditorium or her room. She also looks forward to more live recording sessions. “I think recording in a studio would be not only an amazing experience,” Bissonette said. “When you record live, it’s never going to be a perfect take, it’s going to be perfectly imperfect.”

Students share excitement about upcoming Disney sequels and revisions

LEIGH BLOSSER | Staff Writer

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VICTORIA BISHOP

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‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017) because I grew up watching it and I was in the musical.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ because I always loved that movie as a kid and I know it’ll look great in live action.

ZACK WHITLOCK

MADDIE MEMBIELLA

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AJ SALAZAR

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‘Finding Dory’ (in 2016) because Finding Nemo is one of my favorite movies.

FEATURE

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The trends

Senior and two graduates’ journey to fame

CALEB NEWPORT | Staff Writer

‘The Incredibles 2’ (in 2018) because I liked the first movie a lot.

Shoemologies:

KHONNOR LONGENDYKE and ALEX SADLER|Staff Writers If English teacher Jan Shoemaker were to be walking down the halls once again in high school as a teenager, she would have a nose piercing. “It would be a darling little stud,” Shoemaker said. She still would like to have one now, but her age is keeping her from being as comfortable with it as she would back in the day. She wouldn’t have gotten a tattoo just because they are for life and she wouldn’t want one forever. Shoemaker thinks the tattoo, piercing and hair trends are inevitable in a free society and is in favor of self expression and whimsy. “I enjoy the trends I see around the school. Piercings are fine,” Shoemaker said. “Some tattoos are very beautiful and some are not. But I don’t have a problem with them, it’s their personal taste,” Although she appreciates them, Shoemaker finds specific trends to be crossing the line, like the ones that make individuals look like they belong to a certain person. She once read an article about a girl who had her boyfriend’s name tattooed on her. “I thought that was degrading, because it made her look like a piece of property,” Shoemaker said. The tattoos, piercings and hair styles do not bother Shoemaker at all, as long as people don’t hurt themselves doing it. She just insists that people go to a professional place and do it legitimately. “I think people should go to a reputable place and make sure they get a clean needle when getting a tattoo.” Out of all the tattoos she’s seen, Shoemaker enjoys her daughter’s tattoo of the cover of her favorite book. “She got it while in art school in Chicago. It took me some time to get used to it, but I am happy with it being a literature tattoo,” Shoemaker said. She also liked the tattoo because it isn’t just black or grey with little to no meaning, but beautiful with blues and reds. The craziest hairstyle she has seen while being at Haslett is mohawks. “I really hate the mohawk,” Shoemaker said. “But I think people are entitled to have them if they want to. People can look all kinds of ways, I’m not the boss of the world.”

Captains, coaches guide team to success

Teams successful in midst of winter season BRODEE GILLAM| Sports Editor

KYLE LOONEY| Staff Writer

With the winter sports season in full swing, it’s time to talk about the rogue sports. The boys swim team is dominating the competition with its 6-0 record before Thursday’s meet with Okemos, Haslett’s biggest rival. Seniors Angus MacFarlane, McKain Williams, Will Miklavcic and Spencer Rice lead the way for the swimmers. Junior Kai Jeffery and freshman Ben Brittain help push the team over the top. After a 95-92 victory over DeWitt last Tuesday, the team is looking hopeful for a strong league showing. While the girls bowling team is struggling this season, the boys are excelling. The gymnastics team has also been tremendously successful. Boys bowling, which is 6-3, beat number one ranked Jackson on Dec. 15 and is led by senior Brock Pringle and junior Jake Tebedo. Pringle has a high score of 228 this season, while Tebedo surpassed Pringle’s season high with 257. Seniors also lead the undefeated Haslett/Williamston/ Bath gymnastics team through another great season. Seniors Brooke Allen and Cara Clarizio are continuing their trend from last season, leading the team in most events. Even if it isn’t basketball, the rogue sports show promise and success, and carry the Viking name with pride.

Can’t wait for!

Feb 7: Carolina Panthers take on Denver Broncos in Super Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Feb 26-27: Swimming League Meet @ Holt at 5 and 2 p.m.

As the wrestlers step onto the sweat drenched mat, captains and the team join in to start pre-match warm ups. Captains senior Cody Heniser and juniors Micah Williams and Nevin Brittain lead the team into pre-game chants of “Vikes on three. One, two, three, Vikes.” Each captain brings his own persona to inspire the team. Williams, the motivator, is always there to give extra encouragement. Heniser, the leader, shows how things should be done. And Brittain, the jokester, can always get a laugh to ease the mood. These three guys together help make the team flow well together and as they say, “bring the hammer.”

Son of a coach

Wrestling is a sport Heniser and his family have always loved. Being involved in that kind of family tradition is special and has given him the experience of a sport he now can excel at. “My family has always been into wrestling my whole life,” Heniser said. “I know how to wrestle, how to work my moves and execute the techniques that I’ve been practicing all these years.” Having a coach who is also your dad provides an extra push to perform. “The love is still there, but there’s a point where work needs to be done and he’s still my dad, and my coach so I have to listen to him,” Heniser said. As son of the coach, Heniser takes the part of being the lead example in practice with extra effort and time, and in meets by dominating his opponent. Wrestling, as hard as it is to see through two guys grappling, is a technique-based sport. If a wrestler misses a transition or even places a foot in the wrong spot, it can be the difference between easily winning and being on the mat pinned. The pressure is on to represent the team, but the athlete is alone on the mat. Heniser thrives under that pressure. “It’s an individual-team sport,” Heniser said. “You have to wrestle for you, but also earning the points for the team.”

Football

Brittain started his pursuit of wrestling in sixth grade because he was without a winter sport. Wrestling peaked his interest and being noseguard for the football team seemed to fit well with the constant push and pull of the grappling-style sport. “I saw it in the middle school and thought, ‘Wrestling seems pretty cool,’” Brittain said. After taking a liking to wrestling, Brittain realized it shared a similar physicality to football, which compared with basketball takes completely different skills. “To be honest, I can’t play basketball worth a quarter.” Brittain said. “If you got me at the three point line, I couldn’t make a shot to save my life.” At the end of his first season, he only won his last match. That win inspired Brittain to improve into the wrestler he is today, proving that with his 11-3 record this season. Continuing to wrestle over the years brings in the extra match experience and practice to help him improve. His determination, along with being a two sport athlete, helped Brittain practice fundamentals. “When you’re doing takedowns, it’s like tackling (on the field),” Brittain said. With the endurance required for wrestling, diet and making weight are major keys to staying in top condition. Brittain has, for more than a year, become a pescetarian, which is someone who eats fish but not meat. “I’ve been doing it for a year now, and I don’t eat greasy meat or anything like that. But I do eat eggs and fish,” Brittain said.

Grind: down to the bone

Williams has been wrestling since he was in eighth grade. He also took up the

Top, junior Nevin Brittain getting ready to grapple with senior Cody Heniser. Left, junior Micah Williams stays active during practice. Right, Heniser rests after wrestling in practice. All three wrestlers are captains of this year’s varsity team. PHOTOS: ASHLEY DYER

sport to help with football and staying in shape. “Originally, it was so I could get better at football and I saw Nevin, this weird kid in my grade, so I thought, maybe I should do that,” Williams said. Being a pretty short wrestler, it draws even more love for the sport out of Williams. “It just draws to me because someone my size can succeed in it,” Williams said. ”Being 5-foot, 4-inches and 112 pounds, (I) can still perform on that high level. In football, if you’re 6-foot and 300 pounds, you’re going to succeed.” For Williams, what really drives him to be a great wrestler and evolve as a person, is the grind. Williams defines that as, “The hard work it takes to

succeed and can’t blame anyone but yourself for your mistakes, just as you do throughout life.” The team has shown to be a great program, with a fantastic environment. Team leaders are seeking to guide themselves and the rookies throughout this season. “We’re a raw team with raw talent,” Brittain said. “And with raw talent you gotta mold it into something like a champion.” To this group of wrestlers, it’s more than just being a team, it’s about family. “Whenever you have a team of people willing to fight with you, it makes the experience all that more enjoyable,” Williams said.

Sports Ticker The Haslett/Williamston/Bath gymnastics team will travel to St. Johns, on Saturday for the St. Johns Invite, starting at 10 a.m.

The co-ed bowling team plays at home, at City Limis, against Everett at 3:15 this afternoon.

The Eastside Stars play Okemos Saturday at Surbuban Ice at 7 p.m.

Girls basketball is at Owosso tonight at 6 p.m. Wear your sleep attire, it’s a PJ out!

SPORTS

Boys basketball plays after the girls, at Owosso at 7 p.m. Wear your sleep attire, it’s a PJ out!

Wrestling has a tournament on Saturday at Okemos, starting at 9 a.m.

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DowntoEarth

Shooting into history

Family roots ground star, leading to success on basketball court

BRODEE GILLAM| Sports Editor Behind the basketball star that is senior Brandon Allen are roots grounded on a couple farms in small town Kansas, where his mom and dad grew up. He has the humility of a farmer, but the deadly shot of a hunter. Now in suburban Haslett, he averages the second most points in the Greater Lansing area, with 26.1 points per game and 31 three-pointers, good for third in the area. Brandon began his basketball career in Minnesota, where his dad, Tim Allen, was assistant athletic director for football operations at the University of Minnesota. Tim is now assistant athletic director and director of football operations at Michigan State University. Brandon began playing basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union in fourth grade with Division 1 athletes such as Minnesota commit, quarterback Seth Green. Before moving to Haslett in the fifth grade, Brandon led his team to the state title. Brandon credits establishing his passion for the game to his older brother Brett. “I definitely started playing because of my brother, he always played,” he said. “(Our games) always used to get pretty crazy, with foul calls and everything.” Tim agrees with his son on how chaotic the games were. “There were times it was like World War 3 out there, but I think it pushed him and made him tougher,” he said. “But I was worried at times that they would wake up the neighbors.” Brandon and his brother played two to three times a week, especially when he was coming back from an elbow injury freshman year. “When I started to heal up, I used to play with my brother all the time,” Brandon said. Along with his brother Brett, he also has an older sister Brianna, both former high school athletes. Twin sister Brooke is on the gymnastics team and was named to the CAAC Honor Roll for the sport last season. Behind the record numbers and the hype, Brandon is human and has his own insecurities. The biggest challenge is his stuttering, which has caused him problems throughout his life, including on the court communication with other players. He stopped going to speech therapy in eighth grade, but returned this year to improve his speech. “He has been quiet because of it. But I’m proud of him, he wanted to go back to speech therapy,” Tim said “He’s much better, he has made great progress…you really wouldn’t know the way he plays basketball.” Brandon overcame his struggles by excelling on the court, starting four years on varsity and being co-captain three years. Being coached by varsity coach Chris Smith for three years has also given him a sense of reassurement. “I have always led by example,” Brandon said. “When you have played for a coach as long I have, I definitely feel more comfortable (leading).” Brandon wants to be more of a vocal leader and encourage his teammates.

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“You don’t want to make a player feel like they aren’t a part of the team,” Brandon said. “Each player doesn’t want to be talked to the same way. So it has just been more of understanding people (this season).” It also helps having AAU teammate, senior Darek Wroblak, giving Allen a sense of comfort he otherwise wouldn’t have, “I’m used to him now. (And) he definitely knows what I like to do as a player,” Brandon said. “We have played so many games together.” Tim believes being around Division 1 athletes has done wonders for his son as a person. And now Brandon is the prospect being scouted by multiple mid-major Division 1 colleges and has gotten an offer from Long Beach State University. “I think it has had a huge impact on his life,” Tim said. “I always tell people, Brandon understands three things: Team, toughness and winning, because they are so important at (the Division 1) level.” Michigan State graduate and current Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of those Division 1 athletes who has had an influence on Brandon, “It has showed me the right way a person should act on and off the field,” he said. “Kirk always said ‘It’s about proving people wrong,’” Tim said. Brandon’s maturity and toughness are undeniable, even after three straight losses the team had a chance to win. In an interview with the Lansing State Journal after the team’s 56-55 loss to Waverly, he said, “I think it’s actually a very good thing for us,” Brandon said. “I think it builds character once you lose those close games because you know what it takes (to win).” Sitting at a 5-6 record going into tonight’s game against Owosso, there is still potential for this team to make a run for the district title, and more. With Brandon, who has scored 1455 career points and is closing in on the 1628 career points record, leading the offensive attack, there is always a chance to go on a stretch of really good basketball. This potential has been shown in games like a 90-80 win over St. Johns on Jan. 8. But when Brandon’s basketball career at Haslett is all said and done, his success, his talent, his demeanor, his support continue to root back to his family upbringing from small-town Kansas. “We are a very tight knit family,” Tim said. “We’re Kansas farm kids, and you are who you are.”

SPORTS

26.5

points per game, 2nd in the area

1455

career points, only second to Todd Jenks’ 1628, in Haslett boys basketball history

3PT’s made in a game against Portland in 2014-15, a school record

3PT’s made in the 2014-15 season, another school record

1st

district title in six years in the 2014-2015, Allen has 32 points to lead the team in the district final

Intern-views AUSTIN EVELAND | Staff Writer

What’s it like teaching before you’re official?

PHOTOS: Ashley Dyer and Rachel Hamilton

Bakara N-H

Laura Allen

Jenna Washburn

AE: “What is the process of becoming an intern?” AE: “Would you say you’re more involved than other interns here at the school?” BNH: “Well for me you have to major in music education. Then you take all of your education CH: “Not necessarily more involved. It’s just the classes and your music classes. And you have to program is set up differently. I think they (other pass all your juries, which are songs you have to interns) can be more intensely involved in the learn every semester. Then you perform them for short time that they’re here, but unfortunately, the voice faculty and they give you a grade. When every semester is different. What’s nice about you’re a sophomore, you have a barrier jury so being here a full year is that I get to see everyone you have to have a certain amount of languages, at the beginning and end of the year, and not and aria, and art songs. You have to sing it for what it’s like just to teach, but also how people the voice faculty and if you pass you can stay react at different times of the year. I get to see in the program. I had to do all my classes and all of the stages of student motivation, from the coursework and then you apply to student teach. beginning of the year to the middle of October You pick a school that you want to student teach and when we get back from winter break. All of in and they talk to the principal and the course that is just as valuable as all the content that I’m teacher and that’s about it.” teaching.”

AE: “What inspired you to become a teacher?”

AE: “How is interning beneficial?”

LA: “I actually didn’t decide to be a teacher until after high school. I took a year off between high school and college, and I went overseas. I was doing humanitarian work and I started thinking about my life and all the different things you prioritize like money and success and whatever you define success as. I started realizing that I had to find success as being proud of something I did at the end of the day and feeling that what I do is impacting another human being. I thought teaching was a really cool way to interact with people at such an important time in their life, because for me, high school was a very significant experience. I wanted to be here for kids that need it.”

JW: “It’s beneficial in so many ways. I’m just learning so much from (Mrs. Valla) and just seeing how the class operates and her relationship with the students. I’m learning so much about myself and how I work with students.”

AE: “What is your favorite activity to do outside the classroom?”

AE: “What do you like to do outside of the classroom?”

AE: “Do you have any hobbies outside of the classroom?”

BNH: “I really like to eat, and I like to go to movies. Like, I don’t care how expensive movies get, I’ll always want to go to an actual movie theater. There’s just something about it.”

CH: “I’ve got quite a few things that I do. One currently is that I am a winter runner so every morning I run, usually no matter the weather. I am training for a marathon in October. I like to sing too. I sing in a traveling barbershop quartet. I also directed a youth chorus so I am very involved in local music, and I edit books for a side job.”

LA: “I like to go to trivia nights with my friends. That’s the way I maintain relationships outside of school. I really enjoy going to trivia. I like playing euchre. We’re having a euchre tournament this weekend. I’m such a nerd when I put all this together, but I also really like to do yoga and dance.”

Choir

Cody Harrell

Journalism/English

English/French

Choir

AE: “What inspired you to become a teacher?” JW: “I was mostly inspired by my high school choir director. He instilled in me a love for music.” AE: “What is your favorite thing to do outside the classroom?” JW: “I love to sing opera and I also love to workout and hangout with friends.”

College Gameday visit The ESPN College Gameday bus came to the school parking lot after school Jan. 22. Students from the high school and middle school toured the bus. The bus was in town for Gameday last Saturday morning, before the Michigan State vs. Maryland basketball game. PHOTOS: Claire Cowan

BACK OF THE BOAT

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