Bear Facts: Vol. 49 #1

ALIEF HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL

4410 COOK ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77082

NOVEMBER 2021

www.BearFactsMedia.com

VOL. 49 ISSUE #1

Find the fall finals schedule planned for December inside this issue.

Page 2

Photo by Aniya didley

Freshman football players collide on the field in early September. Inside, we dive deep into the unseen risks of playing high school football.

Page 4

Photo by Juanita Omeje

Students gather in the courtyard before school begins on a September morning. The courtyard between the north and south buildings is one of the designated locations for students to spend time before the first bell.

Back to a different world

By Juanita Omeje

Walking through the courtyard of Hastings High School in the morning, one is surrounded by the din of voices and hysterical laughter. This is a sound that for some, still takes time getting used to.

For Alief area schools, buzz and chatter has been long in coming. Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus in late 2019 and its rapid growth in Texas beginning March 2020, schools in Houston and all over Alief closed down to combat the virus, which is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through the nose and mouth. Due to its severity, schools did not reopen for the rest of the 20192020 school year, or even for much of the 2020-2021 school year. During this time, students had to attend school remotely through video calls.

This past August marked the beginning of the first truly in-person school

year in almost two years. “It feels good [to be back],” junior Jessica Hernandez said. “I like in-person more...online you could get easily distracted.”

But although the spread of the disease has flattened since its beginning, its presence is still felt. Since the first day of the school year, Alief ISD has kept track of how many new cases have been reported in the district by students and staff--including breakdowns per week and by school--on a webpage known as the Alief COVID Dashboard. Currently, the district cases sit at a total of 1,336 since the beginning of the school year. Cases are especially rising in Hastings, which has reported a total of 111 cases since school began, a higher number than any other school in the district.

Given these facts, there has been talk of another potential district-wide school shutdown and a return to online schooling. This possibility

has generated mixed reviews from students. Hernandez, for one, would be okay with that possibility. “It’s for our safety,” she said. “Freshman Ruth Tucho was ambivalent about the matter, saying she “wouldn’t really mind”.

“But I feel like some things would change,” she added. “The way you interact with people [would change] because you’d get used to not seeing them for a while.”

Others, however, are strongly opposed to the idea. “I would be pissed,” said Zainab Shodeke, a senior. “I don’t want them to go back to online… it’s like setting us up for failure. Even being in person, I know that’s also bad because of the virus, but how about they make it mandatory for all the kids to wear their masks?”

Shodeke asks a relevant question.

Currently, Alief as part of its Safe continued on page 6

Photo by Maritza Ramos

Take a peak into the veterinary science program offered at the CTE center.

Page 8

Inside this issue: Opinions ................. Page 2, 3 Features ................. Page 4, 5 Features ................. Page 6, 7 Campus ...................... Page 8 Visit Bear Facts Media online for events, sports scores, digital content and more.

Publications Staff Bear Facts Editor-in-Chief: Bear Tracks Editor-in-Chief: Digital Media Editors: Assistant Editors: Managing Editor: Sports Editors: Photo Editors:

Mya Bourgeois Kendra Chavez-Lozoya Emani Jackson Julissa Marcos Maritza Ramos Juanita Omeje Kam’ryn Anderson Reyna Duarte Aniya Didley Tay Ray Naomi Akinlami

Staff Reporters Jay Christopher Liani Cruz Sonia Diaz Herrera Lola Oladimeji Denis Vasquez Maria Hernandez Pordomo Se’Rayia Clarke Dynasty Daniel Anh Dao Dayana Figueroa Kim Nguyen Desiree Oladipo Photo Staff:

Sonia Salazar Zitlali Alvarado Hernandez Naomi Akinlami Zata Dizadare Michelle Flores Litzy Gonzalez-Garcia Janacia Jackson Samantha Lopez Matthew Marte Dayana Martinez Fidel Martinez Cristian Wilmore Tana Agbabi Ashley Corona Nuvy Garcia Leny Garcia Romero David Garza Brayan Guillen Zaldivar Ileana Hernandez Zayra Hernandez Kimberly Hernandez Dominguez Nashaly Herrera Orozco

Business Managers: Aaliyah Bouwell Nyia Ramsey Adviser: Tiffany Fitzpatrick Principal:

Lynette Miller

Bear Facts, a public forum for student opinion, is published at Alief Hastings High School, 4410 Cook Rd., Houston, TX 77072.

The purposes of Bear Facts are to inform, entertain and to provide both a catalyst and forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of staff leadership. Bear Facts encourages letters to its staff and editors. Letters, which may be edited for length and clarity, should be brought to room 108N. Opinions expressed by those of the collective staff or individuals within do not necessarily represent the views of the adviser, administration or the Alief School Board of Trustees.

Bear Facts is a member of the Interscholastic Press Conference, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Student dress Restricted code policies are biased against girls Staff Editorial

Alief ISD has restrictions on what students can wear due to the fact that it supposedly distracts other students and staff in school, which is not the case “I think it’s unfair and outdated, I come to school in a sweater everyday to prevent them trying to say I’m out of dress code,” said Junior, JaDymond Armstrong.

The Texas Tribune reports that ACLU is asking nearly 500 school districts across the state to revise dress code policies that it says are “unconstitutional and discriminatory.” Race-based discrimination is still forced upon many dress code policies, where black students are not allowed to wear their natural hair.

“Dress code is unnecessary, we should be able to wear whatever we want without ‘distracting’ others.” said Freshman, Angelina Melchor.

A recent article in the New York Times stated that a 2020 study found most dress codes that were

analyzed targeted female clothing choices more often than male ones.

Certain clothing had been prohibited simply because it was seen as “sexy”.

How is dress code more important than a student’s education? They take valuable learning time away from students because a shoulder is showing, or because they’re shorts are “too short.” Administrators pick and choose who they do and don’t dress code. They target students that have a curvier body figure rather than those who appear more petite.

Boys walk around the hallways sagging their pants, will wear muscle shirts, wear really short shorts, and don’t get told anything about it.

Why? Because the administrators seem to identify dress code violations more readily in girls.

“Do my shoulders provoke you?

Does my chest? Am I my stomach?

My hips? The body I was born with?”- Billie Eilish

Cancel it: End vaccine resistance Many people are still not vaccinated and that is a serious problem.

COVID-19 vaccines are made for protecting us from the virus Cristian Wilmore and people are not taking it.

The reason why there’s more cases it’s because people around the world are not getting the shot when the government is only trying to help us get out of the predicament that started in 2019.

“Vaccines are important to get,” said junior Kiara Griffin “Because the vaccine gives you a chance to not be fully affected by the virus” According to CNN’s world Covid19 tracker, the disease has hit the United States hard. About 43.5 million cases have been reported in the country and 698,992 patients have died.

“I think the problem with the unvaccinated is the privilege they have,” said junior Aaliyah Noil.

“Some can’t afford to take any chances getting sick, and taking time off from work. I think the government has provided enough resources about the vaccine and they choose to ignore it.”

CDC recommends people who are not fully vaccinated maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet away from other people who do not live in their household.

“Urging individuals to get vaccinated means protection for the vaccinated and potential protection for the unvaccinated data proves that vaccinations lower the risk and destruction that COVID may cause for anyone who may catch COVID and lessens the chances to spread the virus,” English teacher Nijah Lastrapes said.

Overall, unvaccinated people should get the vaccination to prevent future causes, and to help the world improve the chances of not being fully affected with COVID-19.

In utero: The pursuit of individual liberties My first experience with teenage pregnancy was roaming the halls of the ninth grade center.

Where young women smaller than me hurled homework and babies.

They all looked similar in my eyes, about thirteen years old, four feet eleven inches, and breakable.

Naomi Akinlami

I never approached or asked any of them the million questions I had. Some beginning with why because I knew the loud halls already did enough. In the midst of these struggles they endured, I often saw them laugh, hold tight their bellies, and walk with friends.

volved individuals such as the uber driver for giving a ride” The New York Times.

Not only has a ban being placed on abortions a civilian report system has been enabled, essentially placing a bounty on a woman’s head for an abortion. Texas has put the faith of many women in the hands of imperfect and judging civilians.

In hindsight this creates an opening for many misunderstandings, or grudges leading to accusations of abortions. Sadly this flawed system is not the worst part, the worst of it is that even in cases of rape and incest abortions are not allowed.

The right to choice and a life of individual liberties is being taken away from Texan women which is highly unconstitutional and biased. This bias lies in the fact that one’s’ belief system about abortion comes from their religious and by enforcing the dominant party’s religious beliefs on the citizens there is no separation of church and state.

Seeing this brought me assurance because I could A healthcare procedure with many layers to it should infer that when it gets difficult they can fall back on the be judged by science, philosophy, and the individual, comfort of knowing it was their decision. not God, the State, and the Governor. In the current This comfort is no longer the case in Texas. As the state of Texas, regardless of one’s circumstance their Texas government has passed a near total ban on aborright to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness could tion. For Texan women this means that “after six weeks be taken away from them at any moment. Which begs of pregnancy, they are no longer able to get a legal the question, Should the comfort of decision making be abortion. If they did, the consequences for this include left to the government? a civil lawsuit, jail time, and consequences for unin-

Unmasked: A

dance with stupidity

Students are back on campuses across the world and, while some schools have mask enforcement, some, including Texas schools, do not.

“Whether people like it or not, they wouldn’t want to give someone covid and Matthew Marte possibly ruin their life,” junior Maxwell Alfaro said.

According to the latest data, there have been 125,390 students who have tested positive for COVID-19 so far this school year in Texas schools.

Schools not mandating masks schools is a big red flag for students’ health and should be changed.

“Keeping a mask on will benefit students a lot by keeping everyone safe and preventing anyone from getting sick,” sophomore Habeeb Jimoh said.

In a series of back-and-forth decisions, the Texas Education Agency has said it would temporarily stop enforcing Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in, the State Supreme Court issued a rul-

ing allowing school districts to require face-coverings, and, most recently, a federal judge ruling that the Texas ban on mandates violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. While continuing legal battles are predicted, as of Nov. 10, schools and districts in Texas have the right to create their own rules and regulations on masking up on campus.

Students should be required to wear a mask to prevent themselves from getting sick and spreading the virus.

December Testing Monday, Dec. 6 No testing Regular schedule

Tuesday, Dec. 7 English I EOC

Wednesday, Dec. 8 Algebra I EOC

Thursday, Dec. 9 English II EOC

Friday, Dec. 10 Biology EOC US History EOC

Monday, Dec. 13* No testing. Last regular day of the fall semester.

Tuesday, Dec. 14* 1st-3rd: Regular Schedule 4th: 10:08-10:45 5th: 10:51-12:25 Lunches: A: 10:45-11:15 B: 11:20-11:50 C: 11:55-12:25 th 7 Exam: 12:30-2:35

Wednesday, Dec. 15* 1st Exam: 7:20-9:35 2nd Exam: 9:45-12:00 NO LUNCH SERVED

Thursday, Dec. 16*

“I think in order for schools to prevent the spreading of covid they should take in consideration going back to virtual or enforce the use of mask & sanitizing,” sophomore Jenifer Solis said.

3rd Exam: 7:20-9:35 4th Exam: 9:45-12:00 NO LUNCH SERVED

At least 45 districts shut down in-person classes due to COVID-19 cases that grew rapidly, affecting more than 40,000 students for the 2021-2022 school year.

Friday, Dec. 17*

Mask enforcement is very important to people’s lives, without mask enforcement, it’ll just end hurting more people and getting them affected. No one wants anyone to die or face the consequences of Covid-19.

So as anyone who wants to stay safe would say, “WEAR YOUR MASK!!!!!”

5th Exam: 7:20-9:35 6th Exam: 9:45-12:00 NO LUNCH SERVED Missed your yearbook picture day? Makeups will happen Nov. 30 from 10:00-12:00. * The original print edition incorrectly stated final exams were the week of Dec. 6-10. This version has been updated with the correct dates.

The Impact: Exploring the risks in Texas’

By Juanita Omeje

FWEET! At the shrill blast of the whistle, the players begin another afternoon of drills. They pass, catch, sprint, and go over specific plays for the next day’s upcoming game.

The weather is almost perfect— sunny but not hot, windy but not cold. For hours they practice, their black, yellow, and white uniforms becoming damp with sweat while the players perfect their skill and love of the game.

Football is almost a culture in Texas. According to USA Today, Texas is home to some of the largest and most expensive high school football stadiums in the United States, with passionate players, dedicated fans, and youth football associations which instill a love for the game in young boys.

At Hastings it is no different.

Football is omnipresent at school and the object of many notable celebrations, from homecoming to pep rallies.

But with all the hype comes a significant risk that the majority of football fans fail to consider. Today, more and more research is revealing the level of danger players face on the field, specifically when it comes to head injuries.

A concussion, which is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head that causes rapid movement of the brain, can create chemical changes in the brain that have the potential to damage brain cells. Though they can happen in other popular contact sports like hockey and soccer, they are more prevalent in football both in practice and during football games. In fact, according to the Brain Injury Research Institute (BIRI), football accounts for more than 60% of concussions in organized high school sports.

“Probably most likely football, you’re more likely to get a concussion there just because that’s the nature of the game--you’re actually running into each other on purpose,” Hastings athletic trainer Nicki Lane said. “In other sports, you’re not trying to run into each other.”

Players collide on the field at the varsity game against Strake Jesuit.

Fellow athletic trainer John Mayes agrees. “They’ve done impact studies on force collision with those helmets,” he said.

“You’re talking about sometimes over 200 pounds of pressure being applied when athletes run and they clash together… the brain bounces around in the head [and] so it bangs up against the cranium.

That’s what basically causes the injuries.”

As Hastings’s only licensed athletic trainers, Lane and Mayes are prepared to treat whatever injuries may occur in all sports on campus.

Around this time of the year, however, they treat more football players than players of any other sport.

“We see everything, from concussions [to] sprained knees, sprained ankles, hairline fractures, dislocations,” Mayes said. “We see it all in football.”

But suffering multiple head injuries can have an even more dire effect. According to the Brain Injury Research Institute, a player who has been concussed multiple times can eventually develop an illness known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a

progressive disease that gradually causes the brain to deteriorate.

CTE among football players is a relatively novel discovery, first diagnosed in professional football player Mike Webster by doctors Bennet Omalu and Julian Bailes in 2002. Since then, the illness has been found in numerous other NFL legends--including Andre Waters and Dave Duerson-through post-mortem studies of their brains.

As a matter of fact, a 2017 study conducted by researchers at Boston University found that CTE existed in 99% of the brains obtained from late NFL players, as well as in 91% percent of college football players and 21% of high school football players.

But young people today don’t seem bothered by these facts.

“At this level a lot of kids think that they’re okay once they receive a concussion,” Mayes said. “But… if we suspect or [a student athlete] shows any signs that he may be concussed....we [are required to] pull them from the activity and they have to be evaluated by doctors.”

Photo by Aniya Didley

Junior varsity player Christopher Elekwa said he doesn’t like to think about the risks. “When you play,” Elekwa said, “you don’t even want to worry about [getting hurt] because… it disturbs you from doing what you are supposed to do.”

Hastings varsity football player Agbolahan “Michael” Owolabi agrees. “The coaches… coach us in a way [where] we shouldn’t be in a position to hurt ourselves,” Owolabi said. “I trust [them] and how they coach.”

The coaches and athletic trainers at school do take precautions to prevent severe damage or trauma in football players.

Mayes says players who show symptoms of being concussed must be pulled from playing and be examined. “They would have to sit out and be evaluated by a doctor before they can return to play, to be sure that they don’t suffer anything as far as post-trauma,” Mayes said.

“We treat a concussion like any other injury,” Lane added. “Until [the players] get well and they’re better, we don’t allow them to

favorite sport return to play at all. We take it very serious here…because your brain is one of the most important organs in your body. Without that, nothing functions.”

Regardless of these safety measures, it is still important for athletes to count the cost before going into football. “They should really be informed about the health risks… because some people don’t find out… until it’s already happened to them,” Elekwa said. “Now it’s too late to reverse that. So I truly think that we should do a way, way better job.”

Mayes acknowledged that danger comes with all sports.

“There’s a certain level of assumption of risks that you take [with any sport],” he said.

“You know if you’re out here in football, and you got a helmet, you got shoulder pads and you’re running into each other tackling and blocking… there’s a possibility that you may sustain an injury. So basically, it [depends] on them.”

“I’m never really that worried about being hurt,” Owolabi said.

“My mom always tells me to play smart, not hard… if you know you are going to get seriously injured from this, don’t do it.

Because your life isn’t worth an amazing play. Your whole football career is not worth that tackle that you get in the backfield.

You’ve got to think about your future while being in the present.”

Overall, football is an enjoyable sport for millions of students across America, but more of them must grasp the risks that come with devoting themselves to the game. There needs to be greater awareness across the sport for those going into it.

In the end, it just depends on how much one is willing to risk to do what they enjoy.

As Elekwa said, football requires faith. “Everything I do, I do it with God,” he said. “When I’m playing football, I don’t really think about the bad side of it because I know that if I play with God, God has me all the way.”

Photo by Zata Dizadare

The dress code divide

By Naomi Akinlami

The student dress code contains regulations for both male and female students with restrictions ranging from no facial piercings to no ripped jeans and hats.

“A majority of our dress code violations are from the girls,” Associate Principal of Instruction Bryan Brown said, confirming the regulation’s preference for male students.

Student opinion on the dress code is divided but general opinion is that it heavily focuses on female students.

“I would say it’s fair...boys can’t really sag, they can’t really wear piercings or earrings...I would say most of it is the girls.” said Senior Mianna Ramirez.

While some students believe it’s fair citing some foul play others disagree.

“I think it’s crackerjacks, instead of telling people what to wear, teach boys not to look at us that way...although people shouldn’t be coming to school naked.” said Senior Zainab Shodeke With student opinion differing, it’s not a surprise administrator opinion differs as well making it difficult to determine who breaks the dress code more often and whether or not your breaking the dress code is based on the administration’s interpretation.

“It’s pretty even, for girls it’s shirts, and for boys it’s hats and both genders are ripped jeans,” said Assistant Principal Brian Light.

Just as student opinion differs, so does administrator opinion.

When considering the dress code it is important to note that all the rules were created for students to follow.

“I agree with some students about the dress code for the most part but not all of it,” Assistant Principal Shannon Wesley said.

The dress code is important as it defines what is acceptable and unacceptable at school but it is also disagreeable depending on the individual interpreting it.

The reality is, the student dress code exists and it contains regulations for both male and female students. Public opinion on the dress code might differ but the dress code is a part of student life everywhere.

Sex ed: Why is the topic so uncomfortable? their transmission(Obstetrics and At our school, sex education is not Gynecology Journal). Sex education doesn’t just teach about sex an established curriculum. There is no set sex education class where and having sex as it is commonly presumed to, but it teaches about a specific module is dedicated understanding your own body and to teaching teenagers about their your own gender. Sex education bodies, protection, and Sexually can encompass a curriculum from Transmitted Infections. Instead, something that should be essential periods to protection to underis left to the Word of mouth. Word standing the social, economic, and emotional gravity of engagof mouth means students explaining it to other students and creating ing in sex unprepared. Time and time again it has been proven that this misinformation cycle that is never fixed because the adults who silence towards a topic such as sex education does not eliminate sex are aware do not step in and proand abstinence is not something vide the proper education.

Many students claim their last sex that can be enforced by a lack of education class offer by the school information.

“Some parents view teaching it as was in middle school where they a gateway to their children engagwere taken to a computer lab and ing in it,” said Andril Ruben, who showed 40-minute video during teaches with the Pregnancy and class.

“Yeah my last sex-ed class was in Parenthood program.

7th or 8th grade I think and I think Some parents view their children learning about sex with their peers we were in this computer lab and and in a public setting to be somewe watch that video and normalthing that will act as a catalyst to ly talk about it after that,” said, engaging in sex essentially equatSenior Zainab Oduloju ing knowing about it to doing it.

The effect of teaching sex educathat logic is coming from a pertion as it is now is most notably sonal place and it cannot be disreteenage pregnancies, untreated garded as their fears are also valid STDs among the teenage popubut it also presents the question lation, and misinformation about of whether or not learning about things such as STDs, STIs, and

sex means participating in sex.

Considering knowing about drugs and alcohol does not mean that a teenager will begin to take drugs and alcohol yet it is not frowned upon to learn about drugs and alcohol at school.

“Adults are weird about that stuff, they don’t want to think about teens having sex,” senior Treasure Amusat said. “It’s weird,” No knowledge can be equated to being lethal but the perspective of those who believe this should also not be ignored. Some students could say that because they know how to protect themselves and because they know the proper things to do they can safely engage in it now or perhaps recklessly engage in it and the consequences of that would fall back on what if they hadn’t begun with but that is simply a hypothetical.

“It’s pretty weird, I know this stuff but I’m happy to know it,” Amusat said. “To know my options, and the proper way to protect myself, but not only that. To know that you can get STIs and STDs if you’re not careful, that certain contraceptives only prevent pregnancy and not those diseases and I’m sad that

some of these kids don’t know that.”

It’s important to note that sex education is not the antagonist nor is it the cause. It should not and cannot be treated as a catalyst to something that cannot be predicted. Knowing or not knowing about sex does not mean that one’s decisions or the consequences of their actions can be predicted.

Knowledge is an essential - one that word of mouth can only pollute - and perhaps by spreading the proper knowledge and creating an openness about the human body and its functions, more teenagers can feel in control of their reproductive organs, while avoiding the shame that many do when they first go through puberty. As long as we remember that sex is real, it’s happening and it won’t stop, the human race needs to populate, and stay aware of the opportunities that surround us and the limitations our bodies hold, we can reduce the unwanted consequences of sex while also maintaining bodily autonomy in a social-emotional and economic sense. It is also important to note that sex education is not only for teenagers but for everyone.

Student spotlight: Peace Oderinde

Back in ctnd. from page 1

whether or not you’re vaccinated. “I’m vaccinated and I’ve still got my mask on.”

Only about a month and a half into the school year, about 2% of students have caught the virus. Since sick students must stay home from school, there have been cases where students have been absent from school for weeks at a time. For Hernandez, who was quarantined in her room for two weeks because of COVID, the time was not too bad. “I didn’t have any bad symptoms, just cough, runny nose...over that time I was able to do [school]work,” she said. “I didn’t really feel behind [when I came back].”

There’s still a great possibility that Alief ISD schools could close down once more.

But for now, the laughter and chatter that can be heard in the courtyard, cafeterias, and hallways show that students are enjoying being back in school, Coronavirus or not.

By Naomi Akinlami

By Litzy Gonzalez-Garcia

Peace Oderinde started her jewelry business on July 19, 2021.

Before the lockdowns began, she had sold around 300 dollars worth of jewelry.

She creates all her jewelry by herself, at home. Peace sells all types of silver jewelry, including zodiac sign necklaces, friendship bracelets, customized charm bracelets, and more.

Oderinde claims that her unproductivity inspired the business.

“I don’t do anything in this COVID time,” Oderinde said.

So, she decided to be productive and start a jewelry business

with some help from her sister.

She stopped selling jewelry up until the end of August because she wanted to get used to her schedule and plan how she could manage her time with school back in session.

Oderinde strives to make sure jewelry is affordable. Since she’s a student as well, she knew that some students can’t afford expensive jewelry. Another important part about Peace’s jewelry is that she offers a one-month warranty.

“I do a one month warranty because sometimes I have a friend, she plays too much,...she breaks necklaces everytime,” Oderinde said.

Return to School Plan has put in place precautions for all schools, such as regular hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer “after all common contacts”, and refraining from attending school when sick.

But in all this it states that face coverings, although encouraged, are not a requirement due to prohibition by the Texas governor.

According to Shodeke, the lack of a mask mandate could be a large contributor to the rising cases. “Every time I walk down this hallway, I see everybody’s not wearing their masks, and you could hear them coughing, sneezing, all that stuff and they don’t have their mask on. You don’t know what they have,” she said. “First [off]...what they should do is with the mask.... they have to make sure everybody’s wearing their mask like they used to.” She believes it doesn’t matter

Peer pressure: The

By Litzy Gonzalez-Garcia

“Kids, in general, organically want to fit in with groups and society. This is the time where yall are finding yourselves and so you tend to gravitate towards a certain trend or idea, whether it’s good sometimes it’s bad,” Lead Counselor Amy Johnson said.

Twenty-eight percent of teenagers agreed that giving in to peer pressure improved their social standing. In fact, nearly half of those surveyed admitted to picking on someone only after a friend picked on that person.

Drug and alcohol use is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to peer pressure. One of the biggest excuses was “Well my friends smoke” or “ I thought it looked cool” teens often start smoking between the ages of 12 and 17.

Two-thirds of 10th graders and two-fifths of 8th graders have tried alcohol. Teens with friends who do drugs and drink alcohol are more likely to follow their footsteps.

Stealing and bullying may also happen when being influenced by peer pressure. Maybe it happens on a dare—a challenge to “Do this, or you’re not one of us.” Stealing can

have an immediate impact, including strong feelings of remorse once the rush of adrenaline wears off.

Over time, guilt worries about getting caught, and concerns about the possible damage to their reputation can pursue a person’s thoughts after stealing. Many people do not think of themselves as bullies. However the “playground persecutor” is just one version of a bully, and bullying behavior can be developed in small doses. If a group of friends begins to bully someone else, cheering each other on, it can lead to a conundrum for the student who recognizes what’s happening. If they stand aside and resist taking part, they may be treated as an outcast. If they do join in, they can face the negative feelings accompanied by becoming a bully themselves.

Teenagers are also trying to find their identity and their roles in life.

Teens may feel pressured for their growing sexual desires. Seeing friends hooking up can make it seem as though sex is what everyone does. A perception can easily lead a person to tamp down their misgivings or hesitation and go further than they wanted to with a sexual partner. This pressure

bane of adolescence often begins in high school or even earlier. Studies have shown that 33 percent of teenage boys felt pressured to have sex, while 23 percent of girls in the same age group felt the same way. It can be tough to put on the brakes in the heat of the moment, but in addition to making a person feel uneasy about crossing their personal boundaries, having sex under pressure often means having sex without thinking it through or planning for it. That can lead to serious consequences, such as sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy.

Entering teenage years is notably the most stressful period in life. The adolescent years are filled with emotions, changes, and added responsibilities. Many teenagers have an overwhelming pressure to succeed, and one out of ten teens feel like they must cheat to win.

Forty-four percent of teens say they feel strong pressure to succeed and the pressure is felt more often by girls than boys. Eight in ten students feel that success is important, no matter what the cost and that it does not improve once someone gets out of school and into the workforce. Unfortunately, that pressure to succeed leads to

dishonesty and unethical behavior, such as cheating on tests, plagiarizing, stealing, or behaving violently toward another person. Nearly four in 10 teens feel that there are times that felt this pressure, although thankfully, the vast majority knew that it was ethically unacceptable and only 185 admitted to succumbing to the pressure and cheating on a test.

However, not all pressure is bad.

Stress is often given a bad rep, but it can be extremely positive because it helps us get stuff done.

It galvanises our resourcefulness, helps us focus on a task and meet deadlines. Being challenged mentally and emotionally helps us learn and grow, develop new skills and strengthen our capabilities. Where stress can negatively impact us is when it is prolonged and unrelenting. Pressure is different, though.

There really isn’t ‘good pressure’ and ‘bad pressure’, it’s just pressure because important things matter to us, we can’t insulate or protect ourselves from pressure. We can, however, easily over-emphasise or exaggerate the importance of a moment and create unnecessary pressure for ourselves.

Cyberbulling: It goes beyond the Internet

By Cristian Wilmore

Cyberbullying happens throughout the world and teens often find themselves the victims. Bullies can send hurtful messages to other kids and post embarrassing pictures of their peers on social media.

“I believe it happens everyday,” sophomore Kash Thomas said. “Around the world with the increased use of social media.

Cyberbullying is badly affecting teens, and sometimes people don’t know how to handle being bullied and wouldn’t know what to do or expect.”

Lots of cyberbullying victims don’t know how to reach out for help. Many pretend everything will go away and they try to look the other way. Others recognize the potential for harm.

“I would first not spread whatever they’re doing or like it,” junior Christian Calvillo said. “I would just call the person doing it ignorant and stupid for it and then tell whoever is getting bullied that they shouldn’t listen and should block the person out.”

Parents are often concerned about their kid’s safety. Teens go places by themselves, have social media, and have strong privacy settings on their phones. Some parents check their child’s phone daily to see who they’re texting, what they are doing, when something is happening, and what problems they might be having. Kids sometimes don’t know how to explain it to their parents if they are being bullied.

“If I saw cyberbullying happening right in front of me I would try

to confront the person that is being bullied and help them get through their situation.” Said sophomore Katelyn Nguyen.

Sophomore Dylan Jolivette says that confronting the person about them being bullied and talking to them to get through their situation might help them feel better.

Thomas offers advice along the same lines.

“Block the person cyberbullying you,” Thomas said. “Leave the internet for a short period of time, stop using the apps you’re being bullied on.”

Kids who are suffering from being bullied without parental knowledge and guidance can face increasing problems at school and at home. Some parents won’t take it seriously. They tell teens to “ignore the person.” For many, it’s not that

easy to ignore a person who is tormenting you every hour of the day.

“That cyberbullying can hurt people very badly,” Jolivette said.

“It can drive people’s sanity low and it can be very hard to talk about it. Some kids will fall under depression and may even think about suicide.”

Kids start to talk more, opening up to others, and explaining their situations of being bullied. Because of this, many kids now have the opportunity to go on about their day knowing someone cares and they are willing to help.

“Since cyberbullying causes death because some people can’t handle it I’ll say you can get a fine or get your account terminated throughout all social media because of it.” Jolivette said.

Looking ahead: Seniors make plans for the future Others already have a specific plan of what major to take or what As the seniors approach the last they are most likely to do even year of high school life, they have after HCC. to make plans for their future.

“I’m planning on going to HCC Many of them decide to continue to study dental hygiene after learning in colleges and universihigh school,” senior Yadira Lopez ties, with students choosing diverse said. “If the career that I’m going majors and programs. through goes successfully with me, Community colleges are always then obviously I will try to transfer a practical choice for seniors and to another university. So it might Houston Community College is take two or three more years after one of the best community colleges HCC. First of all, it’s because I was in the state. Many seniors shared signed to the dental system by my goals to attend HCC after high counselor. The other reason is my school to continue their dream. dentist. I have known him since I Although they aim to go to the was four or five, and I still talk to same school, most of the seniors him about my career in the future have different pursuits planned at now. He explains about the money HCC. Some want to try to figure he makes, and he’s happy how it out what career they should follow works out. So now it’s my passion.” in the future by being involved in Besides community colleges, more occupations related activities universities are also one of the top and courses in the community col- choices for the seniors. As unileges. versities have more opportunities, “I want to go to community certificates and networks to follow college and try to figure out my a specific career path, attending major,” senior Roland Gramajo these schools will have a lot of said. “Probably if I enjoy it I’ll go advantages for seniors. with it, if not then I think I’ll drop “I want to attend Texas A&M out and go straight to work. I’d pre- to study Forensic Science,” senior fer this choice because community Allison Hernandez said. “It’s like college is not as expensive. Since when you get out of school with a I don’t know what I really want to forensic degree, you can go to the do yet, I don’t want to waste money FBI or police, and then you will on a 4-year university while I can investigate crime scenes, homicide, spend a lot less at community coland you will collect evidence as lege.” well. I want to do this though it’s

By Anh Dao

Vet science: A

kinda dangerous since I want to help people to solve their family issues, because there are cases like in the movies, the family of the victims just don’t know what to do and where to go.”

However, there are seniors that have a dream job but who have not yet decided which route to take in order to activate their dreams.

“My plan is to go to college to study veterinary terminology because I love animals,” senior Joshua Phillips said. “But I haven’t decided on a school yet. I’m trying to do that right now.” There are seniors who have someone really special to depend on.

“Although I made this decision on my own, I know that my best friend will support me,” Gramajo said. “She’s studying in another district right now, but she has always been there for me in my darkest times.”

“The one who inspires me the most is my dentist, and he will obviously be the one who supports me the most with this career path,” Lopez said. “What’s more is that my sister will also encourage me a lot. Since she is the oldest child in my family, but she still hasn’t attended college yet, that drives me to become the first generation of my family to go to college. My sister will be happy with that.”

The others were affected a lot by their parents: “Since my dad was a part of the forensic team, he used to follow crimes and investigate corruption,” Hernandez said. “I watched him and admired him, so now I want to do that too. Moreover, I think that my parents will support me the most with my decision. There is no reason for that. Because they are my parents, so they will get my back no matter what.”

To prepare for a long future ahead, starting with their plans after high school, the seniors will definitely have to set up goals to finish in order to achieve their plans. The majority of seniors know that FAFSA, TASFA or scholarships are what they are supposed to do if they want to attend colleges, and most of them are ready to apply for these grants. Besides financial aid, GPA is one of the most important requirements that they have to meet to be able to attend colleges. Acknowledging this, a lot of the seniors are doing their best at catching up with school and keeping a good GPA. Finally, setting a strong mindset is also a key to success that the students are following. As long as they have a strong determination with the choice that they make, they are more likely than ever to be successful with their dreams.

peak into CTE

By Maritza Ramos

One of the many programs at CTE is veterinary science. It’s often overlooked by others and maybe even thought of as less than the other programs. Many assume they have a class with dogs and it’s all fun and games but it is much more than that.

The opportunities that this program offers are very unique and it stands out from the rest of the programs at CTE. The program is separated into two years.

Students would normally start their junior year to take full advantage of it. The first year shows all the basic terminology that is used in a typical veterinary clinic. In addition, students get the experience of working with animals and clients, just like at an actual veterinary clinic or hospital.

“My favorite thing would be just be to participate in the science lab and help the dogs

in any way I can,” Isabella Awitan, a current first year student in the program, said.

One of the many things the students get to do in the canine corner is interact with real clients. Customers call to make appointments with them so their pets get to pay them a visit to vet science and get any of their needs taken care of.

Being in any program at the CTE center helps to prepare the students for the career they choose to take but one unique aspect of the veterinary science program is that the student graduates with their high school diploma and their veterinary assistant certification on top of that.

“I think the program would give me a head start in my career path, while some people would be barely starting with certification,” Sofia Alcala said.

Photo by Maritza Ramos

Junior Kailah Harris dries off Stardust after her bath at the CTE center.