Issue 1 | Nov. 2017 | Volume 9
Livewire.
CONTENTS 4 Finding Confidence 5 And Now We’re Stressed Out 7 New Faces from Different Places ACADEMICS: 9 One Year Down 10 Cash to College Ready 11 The Leaders of Charger Nation SPORTS: 13 General of the Basketball Court 15 From Bullitt East to the NBA FEATURE: 18 Moments To Remember POLITICAL: 19 Trump’s First Year 21 Head-to-Head: Trump’s Connections to Russia OPINION: 23 Women of America 25 Movie Reviews 26 Distinguished or Disappointed? THEME: 27 Pursue Your Best You: A High-Schooler’s Guide to
STUDENT LIFE:
Mental Health
29 To Those Who Make Teenager’s Lives Miserable
Issue Theme: Mental Illness Nearly everyone suffers from some form of mental illness. From anxiety to schizophrenia, mental health is a spectrum. Everyone deals with these situations differently and the Livewire wants to help you gain control.
Read more at belivewire.com
Keeping the Promise Plan
adviser Larry Steinmetz editor-in-chief Kim Houchin executive editor Sarah Allen website editor Ainsley Gordon website editor Zach Combest creative editor Haylie Jenkins junior creative editor Cassidy Cardwell sports editor Tyler Mozingo business editor Meredith Bass social media editor Olivia Coke copy editor Lilly Whitley copy editor Olivia Armstrong copy editor Jaydrien Jarrett copy editor Ryley Ortega copy editor Haley Grether staff writers Tyler Steinmetz Nick Jackson Morgan Harbolt Morgan Renneisen Carissa Kimball Kelsi Sego Hunter Brogan Ahna Cates Katie Huffman Isaiah Jenner Bryant Miles Ethan Neutz Montrell Page Emmy Ralph T.C. Etherton
Inside the Pages of Rupi Kaur Scan this to check out what else we’re covering.
Livewire was re-founded in 2001 by journalism teacher, Larry Steinmetz. In the past, the Livewire has been a weekly newspaper, and a traditional newspaper, but recently moved to a newsmagazine published four times a year. The staff remains committed to bringing the Bullitt East community the most up to date news in a quality format and timely manner. The staff appreciates your patronage and, as a public forum, encourages any feedback you care to offer. Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted via e-mail, to Mr. Steinmetz’s mailbox, or directly to room 324 within one week of the publication to which you are responding. Letters will not be censored, but must be deemed appropriate by the editor and adviser in order to be published. In order to be eligible to appear in the paper, all letters must be signed and verifiable. Names can be withheld upon request, but must be submitted with the original letter. Livewire is published by the students and for the students of Bullitt East High School. The Livewire is printed by aPrintis Printing Company. Bullitt East High School 11450 Highway 44 East, Mount Washington, Kentucky, 40047. (502) 869-6400.
The Faces of the Livewire Kim Houchin Editor-in-Chief Haylie Jenkins Creative Editor
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Sarah Allen Executive Editor Zach Combest Website Editor
Ainsley Gordon Website Editor
Olivia Armstrong Copy Editor
Haley Grether Copy Editor
Ryley Ortega Copy Editor
Jaydrien Jarrett Copy Editor
Lilly Whitley Copy Editor
Meredith Bass Business Editor
Tyler Mozingo Sports Editor
Olivia Coke Social Media Editor
Cassidy Cardwell Junior Creative Editor
Morgan Harbolt Staff Writer
Hunter Brogan Staff Writer
Ahna Cates Staff Writer
T.C. Etherton Staff Writer
Katie Huffman Staff Writer
Nick Jackson Staff Writer
Isaiah Jenner Staff Writer
Carissa Kimball Staff Writer
Bryant Miles Staff Writer
Ethan Neutz Staff Writer
Montrell Page Staff Writer
Emmy Ralph Staff Writer
Morgan Renneisen Staff Writer
Kelsi Sego Staff Writer
Tyler Steinmetz Staff Writer
Layout: Kim Houchin
Finding Confidence by Haley Grether
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e are all perfectly imperfect in our own way.
Self confidence is something that is extremely important in many aspects of life. As a huge factor to success, one would hope that achieving such confidence would be an easy task. Though what we all hope isn’t always what we all get. Finding self confidence is something that many people struggle with. For teens in this day and age, self confidence is something that very few people have mastered. With the internet, the window to a whole new world is unleashed. Oh so many judgements with unbelievable yet seemingly unachievable, expectations are all right there in the convenience of our pockets, making the journey to achieving self confidence an even harder struggle. It’s not a quick fix or a five minute solution, but it can be learned and built on. There are two main things that contribute to self confidence: self esteem and self efficacy. We gain a sense of self-efficacy when achieving goals and mastering skills. This also ties in with self esteem as it is important to have confidence in one’s ability and worth. Playing a major role in how one might approach a task, challenge, or goal, self efficacy coupled with self esteem are vital parts in the process of achieving self confidence. A huge factor for low self confidence among teens is social media. Many people praise social medias as they are a way to communicate and express oneself from the convenience of a couch. But what is overlooked is how vulnerable social media makes the minds of influential teens. Pushing them to be more like this person, and have more followers than that person. Just because this post isn’t hip enough it automatically makes you a loser. There are endless amounts of negative aspects to social media, most of which contribute to the lack of self confidence among teens. With immense amount of peer pressure and the need to be more like another person, social media really puts a damper on the state of mind of teens. Shown in many ways, the level of self confidence one has can be noticed by body language, behavior, how you speak, ect. One key thing to keep in mind when trying to boost ones own self confidence is that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. As long as you work hard enough and push yourself, you can achieve your goals. Staying positive is key, optimists rule the world of self confidence. Negativity will get you nowhere in life and quitting is not a good option. It is imperative to be optimistic and to apply yourself when in search of self confidence. Everyone has the ability to be confident, it’s all about one’s mindset. Surrounding yourself with people who are positive is just as important as being positive yourself. Negativity travels, and if one is around it, they’re likely to pick it up. You have to want it. No one ever was confident who didn’t care to be. Keeping up self efficiency, self esteem, being positive and essentially knowing one’s self worth are all factors that would aid one on the journey of discovering one’s self confidence. Layout: Sarah Allen
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And Now We’re Stressed Out by Sarah Allen
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With stress, the want or need for that interaction is cut off. Social situations can actually become even more stressful. The lack of exercise can make things worse keeping in mind that for the majority of people, sleep patterns and eating habits are changed as well.
Many people brush off this issue as it just being something small, but stress can have tremendous impacts. The impacts are minor to very severe and there are a wide variety of them. There are some remedies for being stressed out.
Acute Stress disorder seems more like a “shell shock” situation. The main feeling associated with this is guilt. Many people who are suffering from this disorder think about all of the ways they could have prevented the trauma and how they could’ve helped the other people involved. Because of the stress caused by this trauma (dreams, memories, surroundings) many victims feel like they can’t escape from it, making it last much longer.
he ‘good ole days’ are strongly reminisced on by the stressed out minds of many people today.
Stress can be a severe issue and have a negative effect on many lives.
There is a big difference between becoming stressed over a math test and having Acute Stress Disorder. This is not to be brushed to the side, though. Having everyday stress over things are to be worried about as well. Acute Stress Disorder actually falls under the topic of an anxiety disorder in medical records. There are many signs that can pop up. The headache, upset stomach, chest pain, rapid heartbeat and insomnia is not the signs of becoming sick on the day before the big test (even though that might be a lucky thing to some people), it’s the body’s natural response to stress. Acute Stress Disorder is typically paired with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These two disorders occur after a specific event in someone’s life. This can last from just a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Acute Stress usually follows something like death of a loved one, threats to the individual, sexual assault (or assault of any kind) or any other thing that personally impacts the victim in a strong way. A major symptom of being stressed out is the lack of interest to do anything. Fatigue sets in, and motivation flies out the door. The feeling of being overwhelmed can lead to many different moods including anger and sometimes even rage. Stress can mess with eating habits, leaving people to undereat or overeat. With the anger and rage, outbursts can be associated as well. People who are not usually violent can become a new person with all of their violent thoughts and actions. Some people can not handle what stress brings and want to find a way to manage it.Drugs and alcohol are seen as an easy way out and are used in a lot of situations to help the victim deal with it.
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Layout: Sarah Allen
There are ways to manage stress. For things like stressing out over a test, exercise can help to relax the mind and body. Food logs can also help to make sure you are getting the proper nutrients if there is a change in appetite. Setting watches and clocks 5 to 10 minutes ahead will allow someone to get to places early and gain an accomplished feeling. Along with that, taking 10-15 minutes to sit down and not do anything will help the mind to slow down and have a break. It can help to relieve the stress and calm the victim of stress down, making it easier to get all of the tasks at hand done. The most successful way to deal with Acute Stress Disorder is cognitive therapy. It is met with the most results from people with this disorder. This is not just for people who have already been diagnosed. This therapy can also help to prevent this disorder from either happening again or happening at all for some people. Support groups are also a popular way to help get rid of Acute Stress. Hearing from people who have been through the same thing eases the mind and can slowly change the minds way of thinking. In some cases, medication is needed to help with the major health issues that can come with this disorder. The body needs sleep and proper nutrients, so medication can help get the body back into it’s natural circadian rhythm as well as back on track to a healthy diet. Everyone deals with stress in their lives, some having a more severe case of it than others.
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New Faces from Different Places by Meredith Bass
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f they aren’t foreign, they’re boring!
The new school year comes with many changes for students and the school itself, including an entirely new, diverse bunch of foreign exchange students that are eager to experience the American lifestyle. Before their journey overseas, students had to undergo the long and uncertain process of becoming a foreign exchange student. These students have already begun to form unbreakable bonds with their host families and new friends at school. As the school year goes on, they are getting a real taste of what life here is like.
Coming to America doesn’t just happen overnight. In the months before, both host families and foreign students have lots of preparation to do. The first thing for both sides is to fill out tons of paperwork. Some student’s even had to shoot a video about themselves and their lives in their home countries. Students were not given a choice of where they would be attending, but the host families choose students that they think would be a good fit in their home. Once everything is approved and set in stone, the families are matched with each other and can begin communicating. Tiffany Shirley is a host parent who is new to the exchange program. Her family decided to get involved and was matched with 16-year-old exchange student Jette Dahlmeier from Berlin, Germany. After finding out who they would be hosting, they were able to start communicating via Skype. The communication through social media available beforehand is one thing that made the transition easier on both parties. Even still, once the students got to the US, they were faced with the challenge of talking to new people. 16-year-old Marie Spartzenegger is an exchange student from Vienna, Austria, who adapted to the change pretty easily. “All of my experiences talking to new people have been positive so far,” she said, “those people made me feel like I have been a part of their life my whole life and that made me feel very much like home, which it is now for me.” In addition to her new friends at school, Spartzenegger also created a close bond with her host family right off the bat. “They are like my real family and I call them like they are related to me,” she said. She also said that she was able to be herself around them after only a week, which was a big deal to her. “They had me welcomed right in the first moment and I love them just as much as I love my family back home,” said Spartzenegger.
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Layout: Morgan Harbolt
Sixteen-year-old Lewis Rose, an exchange student from Bremen, Germany, is another student who has formed a close bond with his host family. Rose refers to his host parents as second parents and said that they have become very close to him. At home, these students are fitting in and being treated as if they are part of the family, which is how many host parents feel about them. “Jette being in our family has been a huge blessing and has brought a lot of excitement to our home, the kids have really enjoyed having her,” said Shirley. With such a change in environment and culture, these students are adapting to a whole new way of life. “I think what I like most about the US is how people interact with each other. It’s difficult to explain, but all the people are so nice and friendly and open-minded,” Dahlmeier said. Open-minded is also how Spartzenegger described it. She said, “I have never had any bad experiences with kids in our school, they are all very open-minded.” One big difference for these students is the schooling. Rose likes the difference in teachers, saying that they are friendly and helpful. Rasmus Andreassen, an exchange student from Denmark, said, “the biggest difference is probably how structured the lessons are.” He also noticed that the teachers are much more respected. Another thing that exchange students are fascinated with is the school spirit. “Since I’ve never experienced something like this before, it still fascinates me how everyone comes to football games and cheers.” said Spartzenegger. She was also impressed with the pep rally, calling it an awesome experience. The first indicator of school spirit was our sporting events, which are much different than those in their home countries. “At home we don’t have any school sporting events or games since we have no sports teams. Our school spirit here is amazing, everyone is for our teams and no one elses,” said Spartzenegger. She also loves how we carry that spirit into the school day, dressing for the theme at school as well as to the game. Students will finish out the school year and graduation, but will be headed back home shortly after.
435 N Bardstown Rd Mt Washington, KY (502)836-1532 Dawn Daugherty Felizia Rosales Nicole White 268 N Bardstown Rd, Mt Washington, KY 40047
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One Year Down:
Mason Adjusts to New Role by Ainsley Gordon
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The new school year has started and Bullitt East’s principal, Chris Mason, has completed his first full year in this prestigious job.
Mason enjoys supporting his students inside of the school and he also finds delight in supporting them in the extracurricular activities. “Some of favorite things to do are go to band concerts, go to choir concerts, go to ball games, go to different athletic events,” said Mason.
Through Mason’s first year, he feels as if this year was used to finish the actions that had been set forth from the previous year. Mason has had very positive reviews from the staff, faculty and students. Mason has high hopes for Bullitt East in the years to come.
The students and staff can see the dedication and passion that is imbedded in Mason. “His strengths are that he truly cares about our staff and students, and so I think he has kinda brought that warm and fuzzy feel to our building,” said counselor Savannah Richardson.
appy one year anniversary!
Because Mason was hired towards the end of July 2016, only a few weeks before the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the faculty was behind on many of the start of school requirements. Towards the end of the 2015-16 school year, former principal, Willie Foster began discussing the idea to set a new dress code in place with the site based council. Because Foster left the school to take a job at the board before the dress code had physically been set in place, Mason had the honor to announce the new rule to all of the students. “A lot of kids thank me all of the time for relaxing the dress code, but I didn’t really input,” said Mason. While there wasn’t much change in the school, Mason faced a lot of personal changes from assistant principal to head principal. “It’s a lot different. As an assistant principal, it seemed like I got to deal with students a whole lot more. Maybe not always good stuff, maybe some bad stuff too, but there was more time to get to talk to students and try to help students. I still get to do some of that, just not as much as I did when I was an assistant principal,” said Mason. As he faced the changes, Mason found his favorite things to do around the school. “My favorite thing, and I don’t get to do enough of it, is to get out in the hallways and converse with students and check on kids and see how kids are doing. I usually get so wrapped up and caught up in paperwork and things like that, that I don’t get to really do as much of the things that I would really like to do,” said Mason.
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Layout: Morgan Harbolt
With a new principal normally comes a rough transition period to which the new leader of administration has to become familiar with the school and its policies. However, because Mason was formerly an assistant principal at Bullitt East, it was an easy transition. “There wasn’t a huge transition… Because Mr. Mason worked with Mr. Foster, I think he kinda knew some of the routines that we were in and was able just to continue the normal routine around here and just add his little spin on it,” said Richardson. Mason’s first year in the principal’s office has taught him a lot and in the next few years he plans on improving the school. He plans on focusing on instruction, distinction and involvement. “I want to make sure we continue to move forward as a distinguished school. That’s always our goal. Every year, we like to win. It’s kinda like the old rap song, ‘All I Do Is Win.’ That’s what we pride ourself in at Bullitt East. We want to win, we want compete, we want to be the best,” said Mason. Bullitt East is constantly growing, changing and advancing and many of the teachers believe that he will continue to grow with the school to maintain its evolvement. “I think and hope that he will just continue to advance Bullitt East. We’ve got a really good thing going here and so I hope they don’t discontinue to build on that and keep us moving in the right direction,” said Richardson.
Hidden Gem Scholarships by Carissa Kimball
M
aking college cheaper one scholarship at a time.
Cheap and college are not two words you would usually use in the same sentence, but simple scholarships can change that. Great scholarships are everywhere, students just have to look for those that apply to them. Every year, thousands of scholarships are given out to students to provide financial aid. These scholarships can be found through the senior newsletter or by talking to your counselor. The scholarships students can obtain are endless. Just a little bit of research can get up to 10 thousand dollars just from one scholarship. “There are scholarships for anything and everything; students just have to find the ones that apply to them,” said Crystal Barr, college counselor at Bullitt East. There are also plenty of scholarships given for talent. Most other scholarships require an essay, but now, more and more scholarships are allowing students to showcase their talent and creativity. Over the past few years, scholarships for STEM fields - science, technology, engineering, and math - have been on the rise. It’s easy to find scholarships that apply, because there are so many. Search factors to use when finding scholarships that apply are your majors, gender, GPA, religion or talents. “Spend time researching options; it’s not much fun, but it will be worth it in the long term,” said Derek Rogers, Bullitt East alumni.
Filling out scholarship applications may be a lot of work, but it will increase chances of receiving the financial help you may need. Having a high GPA and ACT score will also increase the chances of colleges giving a scholarship. To get attention from lots of good colleges, the Governor’s Scholar Program is also a great option. The Governor’s Scholar Program is open to all students that complete an application and are chosen to attend free of charge. It provides academic as well as personal growth and is a great experience to have. GSP itself is not a scholarship, however in-state colleges offer scholarships for having completed the five-week program. At an in state college like the University of Louisville, the total annual cost comes out to be $24,259. Depending on what kind of education you want, that money can rack up fast. Most college graduates are still paying college tuition long after graduation. With the help of scholarships and grants based off of the family’s income, the yearly cost to attend the University of Louisville can be taken down to $17,700. In a four year education, those savings can make a big difference for the bank account. “My scholarships made it to where I don’t have to borrow too much money which, in the long run, decreases my student debt,” said Kaleb Perdew, Bullitt East alumni, who is currently attending Western Kentucky University. The senior newsletter is a great outlet for finding scholarships each year. “Most students find and apply to scholarships that are on the senior newsletter, it’s a great place to look for good ones that are easy to get,” said Barr. Layout: Morgan Harbolt
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The Leaders of Charger Nation by Zach Combest
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tudent Leaders in Action and Mentoring (SLAM) is the newest leadership class at Bullitt East and is taking the place of Congress.
SLAM is a leadership class that will focus on building school spirit and getting other students involved in school activities such as pep rallies, sporting events, and house events like Greek Games and houses for the holidays. SLAM is led by Amanda Bohnert, science teacher, and other teachers around the school will assist throughout the year such as science teacher, Lauren Battcher, english teacher Erica Capito, social studies teacher April Walker, and Jo Perkins. SLAM students will be organizing school events and mentoring underclassmen throughout the 2017-18 school year. SLAM is composed of sophomores, juniors, and seniors that have shown teachers and faculty that they are leaders in their classes and around school. Students that wanted to apply for SLAM had to go through a long process to see if they would be accepted into the elite class. 55 students applied, but only 40 were invited to interview in front of the panel of teachers and Perkins. Those teachers included: Battcher, Capito, Walker, and Bohnert. Only 31 students were accepted after the interviews and they were determined as the best student leaders to represent the school. The goal of SLAM is to create more student involvement throughout the school and strengthen the school spirit. SLAM students will also be mentoring underclassmen that may be struggling with classwork, organization, or homework. The administration, teachers and SLAM students believe that a student would go to another student to talk to about problems they may have before they go talk to a teacher or counselor.
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Layout: Morgan Harbolt
Peer mentoring will help build the SLAM students’ leadership skills and help the students they are mentoring by giving them support and guidance when they are in need of help in school. “SLAM has been really awesome but also it has been overwhelming as there has been a lot of things to do and a lot of really great ideas. Logistically it has been interesting to see how everything is coming into place, but the student group have been great,” said Bohnert. “I think just their creative ingenuity and their willingness to be brave, to stand up, to walk into random classrooms and say silly stuff, and to put themselves out there has been the most impressive thing,” said Bohnert. SLAMBUSH is the classes new way of surprising teachers and staff members on their birthdays. SLAM students will go into their classroom and sing them a happy birthday chant and give them a sign that says you’ve been birthday slambushed. The teachers have had a show of appreciation to SLAMBUSHES. Congress started last year and only lasted one year because of poor involvement from students. “Congress in and enjoins itself had too many chiefs in the kitchen, for say, the idea was good to try to involve as many people, but when it came down to decision making it was hard with 80 people, on top of that it is hard to be that with people who are fluctuating, because meeting after school was very hard, everyone is so involved so it’s hard to have a consistent group of people. The goal of SLAM and why I wanted it as a class period because now we have 31 students who are consistently meeting on a daily basis,” said Bohnert. SLAM meets everyday during fifth period. Bohnert was asked to teach this class and she really enjoys working with students
in this capacity and she believes there’s a lot of power to mold students and she hopes to be apart of that process of building leaders and growing students skills. She believes SLAM is a needed program at Bullitt East and will serve a lot of different functions and fill different missing pieces we have when it comes to school involvement and school pride. “I also think this group can do a lot to change around school culture and build it to even more than we have now. So when I was asked to be a part of this group of course I comped at the bit to do it because it’s like a teacher’s dream to have this roster. It’s an all star cast of a roster,” said Bohnert. Four SLAM students had to opportunity to attend the Jostens Renaissance National Conference in July with Bohnert and principal Chris Mason. The Jostens Renaissance National Conference is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings all types of educators together with the sole focus of creating a positive culture and climate. It is a premier educational conference in sharing ideas by making connections, hearing new ways to promote and build character for students, staff, and faculty, and a celebration of the best educators and students in the nation. Seniors Lexie Fisher, Zach Combest, Avery Pack, and sophomore Cole Stewart attended the trip to Scottsdale, Arizona. “The biggest thing I brought back from Arizona was recognition and finding ways to recognize everybody and I want to find ways to recognize everybody and I think that is a overarching theme for the class,” said Bohnert. In Arizona the students had the chance to attend different sessions and learn about how to be a better leader and how to build school culture and climate in their school. Teachers, principals, and motivational speakers talked in each session and gave real life examples of how their school grew and became a renaissance school. Jostens Renaissance moto is respect, recognize, reward, reinforce, and results and SLAM hopes to follow that moto too.
The four students were selected to go on the trip based on their interviews, application quality, best fit based on what each person said and indicated during their interview, their interests in building positive change, and kids that Bohnert thought would be very good “pillars” in the classroom. “The atmosphere of SLAM is unlike any that we have ever seen before. It’s filled with this positive and spirited vibe. Which in turn promotes progress,” said Stewart. SLAM has many events planned for the school year such as a special needs prom, homecoming dance, homecoming weeks, and pep rallies to recognize and award students for all their hard work. The class is also planning a trip to Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, KY on Nov. 27 to attend a Jostens Renaissance Find your Grind conference. This conference will be a day long event filled with quest speakers and hands on learning about school culture and climate. SLAM students are excited to learn and meet other students that have the same passion and motivation for building school spirit and student leadership. SLAM is the student voice for Bullitt East and hopes to make new strides in Charger Nation that leaves a lasting positive legacy for years to come.
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General of the Basketball Court: Ezell Calls the Shots
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Layout: Olivia Armstrong
by Tyler Steinmetz
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uke Ezell runs the floor for the Chargers.
Senior, Luke Ezell, is expected to be a key player in this upcoming season. Ezell is one of four seniors on our basketball team. He has been on the varsity team for all four years of his high school career. Ezell is well prepared for his last season.
other team that has come through Bullitt East and we would do anything for eachother and I think that will get us far this year,” said Ezell Ezell’s dribbling ability stands out among his different skills. They are considered “ungodly” by his teammates junior, Thomas Wiseheart and senior, Sean Johnson. Junior Rece Watson states that they are, “Nothing like I have ever seen.”
Being one of only four seniors, Ezell has a lot of pressure on him. He has been one of the top players for a while but has never had expectations this big leading an inexperienced team. “Luke will have a lot on his shoulders because we can’t be successful without him having a great year, but he is so talented and mentally tough that I am confident that he’s up to the challenge,” said head coach Jason Couch.
He had the game of his life in a tournament in Ashland, KY against Bracken County scoring 42 points including 10 threes, a new school record. This contributed to Ezell’s 14.7 points and 5.2 assists he averaged per game during the 2016-17 season.
He has much faith in himself not only making himself better at the varsity level, but his teammates as well. “I feel that my role is to be a leader of the team and to make my teammates better,” said Ezell.
High school basketball has had a lasting impact on Ezell’s life. “Basketball gives you so many life skills to walk away with and a sense of leadership that no other sport will really give you,” Ezell stated.
Having the opportunity to play varsity since freshman year, Luke has grown as a leader with his experience on the team and has helped make him the player he is today. “The environment of a varsity basketball game is much more hectic and being apart of that every year has me ready for senior year,” said Ezell
Ezell comes from a family of sports. His brother Garrett who is now a sophomore in college, played football and basketball.
This years varsity team is especially young. The bright side of this is that the team is closer than usual because they have played together for a while. The bond is much stronger which should make this team live up to their potential. “I feel like we are much closer than any
With only five guys on the floor, basketball creates a bond that no other sport really has.
His two sisters that also attend Bullitt East, sophomore, Sarah Ezell and sophomore, Emily Ezell, both play soccer and basketball. It is a natural ability for an Ezell to have athletic talents so it is no surprise that Luke has his own. Clearly Ezell has a heavy impact on the team and is expected by many to have a breakout season. His talents will be put up to a test November 28 as the Chargers face off against the state competitor Trinity Shamrocks for the season opener at home.
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From Bullitt East to the NBA: The Journey of Derek Willis
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Layout: Haylie Jenkins
by Morgan Harbolt and Tyler Mozingo
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he NBA, that’s so Bullitt County.
Derek Willis: Bullitt East Alumni who completed four years in the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball program and is now preparing for his first NBA (National Basketball Association) season with the Detroit Pistons and their G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive. Willis worked his way to the NBA through his commitment to the game and the support from the people around him. He went from a kid in highschool who couldn’t look anyone in the eye to a man who proposed to his now fiancé on national television. However, he’s found that big time basketball doesn’t leave a lot of time for family and friends. Basketball was always Willis’s choice, playing since he was a little kid. Willis grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. “My dad was my biggest influence playing basketball. He kept me active and always made sure I was working on my craft,” said Willis. Willis came to Bullitt East before he began his sophomore year. He was a transfer from Louisville Male High School. “I transferred to Bullitt East because I didn’t get along with Male’s basketball coach very well, and I knew BE had a good sophomore class with Rusty Troutman and Trey Rakes and some others. Based off the class I knew we would have a good team and I could help them out and make my game better,” said Willis. It was nerve wracking coming to Bullitt East, but it was an easy transition for Willis. “I knew one person at Bullitt East and that was my friend who transferred with me, Hunter Gillis. Once I started playing basketball I was cool with everything and from there on it was an easy process,” said Willis. Willis didn’t notice a level up in his game until his junior season. “At the start of my junior year, coaches began to notice a standout type of play, and people would be like ‘we have to deal with Derek tonight’ and they could recognize that I could play and I was good,” said Willis. During his junior year, Willis experienced one of the best moments that he had during high school. “We were playing PRP in the region championship and it was tied with about six seconds left and we inbounded it to Trey. He ran down and hit a half-court buzzer beater to win the region and we went on to go to state and played at Rupp,” said Willis. Troy Barr, who was Willis’s coach at Bullitt East and now the Athletic Director at BE, had nothing but positive words about Willis. “Coaches knew he was good, but it was hard to stop him. He was 6’9 with an even bigger wingspan who could play all five positions on the floor and shot the ball as good as anyone on the team,” said Barr. Nobody knows what would’ve happened if he were to stay at Louisville Male, but everything turned out for the best for him coming to Bullitt East.
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photo: uk athletics
photo: uk athletics
Willis originally committed to Purdue University at the age of 15, as they were his first Division One college offer. After his commitment, he started getting other looks from other colleges, like the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. Louisville coach Rick Pitino attended multiple practices. Kentucky coach John Calipari attended a few practices and wanted Willis immediately. “It was big for the community because you’re getting that notice because of coach Cal and coach Pitino coming to your school to watch Derek play,” said Barr. Once Willis received an offer from Kentucky, he rethought his decision to attend Purdue. After a lot of thought, he decided to decommit from Purdue University and announce his commitment to the University of Kentucky. It all boiled down to him playing for John Calipari and getting the best opportunity to play at the highest level. It was a different change going from the high school to college level for Willis. His roommate during his career at Kentucky was fellow UK basketball player, Dominique Hawkins, who was a part of the same recruiting class as Willis. “I was nervous at first, I wasn’t sure if I would be good enough to play with those guys. Once I got my body prepared for what was necessary to play at Kentucky I knew I could play with them and it gave me things that I needed to work on,” said Willis. Hawkins had a huge impact on Willis’s time at Kentucky. “Dom was my guy. He was another Kentucky kid like me and he had a good personality. He kinda helped me break out of my shell because when you’re at UK, you don’t know a lot of people. He was one of those guys that would start the conversation,” said Willis. At Kentucky, Willis averaged 5.4 points per game, a 47.3 percent career field goal percentage, and shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range. Willis’s senior year, though, was his ‘breakout’ year. “I just felt that senior year, I shot the ball better, I saw a lot more playing time, and I played a bigger role on the team,” said Willis. John Calipari made Willis a better player and an even better human being. “Coach Cal impacted me huge because I was being coached by him for four years. Just everything he’s taught me, not just on the court but off the court as well. He taught me how to embody life, helped me through a lot of things, he made me a whole lot better of a basketball player, even though it’s very tough playing for him and I just can’t thank him enough for that,” said Willis. Willis came into the NBA as an undrafted free agent. The Detroit Pistons signed him to play for their summer league team. Willis played beyond their expectations and he earned himself
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photo: yearbook staff
his first NBA contract. He is currently in the Pistons G-League affiliate organization: the Grand Rapids Drive. After the summer league performances and what he’s been able to show since, Willis received some good news from the organization. “Every time I get called up from the G-League to the NBA, I get an X amount of a money bonus. They told me that they like what I’m doing and they think that I won’t be in the G-League very long,” said Willis. Taylor Willis is Willis’s younger sister. She is a senior at Bullitt East. Most people would think it’s really special to have a brother in the NBA. “I guess it’s cool, I’m not really close with him though.” said Taylor. “We were close his junior year, than his senior year he kind of stuck to himself.” Willis’s family and him have had trouble staying in touch with his busy schedule. Willis said, “I would say not as close as we have been in the past or whatever, I really just try to stay up with my dad.” Willis proposed to his now fiancé on his senior night at Kentucky. ¨I just felt like it was the right time and going ahead and doing that, it’s a really big moment and you wanna make it really special for someone.” Their wedding is scheduled for the middle of June.
Where Are They Now? Derek Willis is not the only Charger to go on to stand out in college. His supporting cast also wrapped up their careers. Elliott Young graduated from Campbellsville University and was an NAIA scholar athlete two straight years. He scored 1084 points and was the 30th Tiger to reach the 1000 point mark for a career. He is currently working for Kentuckiana Concrete Construction.
Trey Rakes finished his career at Pikeville with 799 career
points, 203 assists and 201 rebounds. He joined the Coastal Carolina University basketball staff this season as a graduate assistant.
Rusty Troutman averaged 13.2 points in his career at
Bellarmine. He was named an All-American his junior year and honorable mention as a senior. He scored 1715 career points, had 613 rebounds, 337 assists and hit 220 3 pointers. He is working in packaging sales for Victory Packaging and is engaged to former Bullitt East and Northern Kentucky standout Kayla Thacker.
Moments You’ll Remember by Haley Grether
O
ne’s teenage years are always something to look forward to and to look back on.
Youth and freedom, coupled with friends and relationships are what it’s all about. Children wish to be teenagers so they can have fun and do more, while adults wish they could go back to those year’s of prime and fun times without responsibility. You’re only young once, so live life while you can. Time is the one thing we are all losing and can never get back. For one to be wild and live life without worries. The time in your life to do those off the wall things that as an adult, you probably wouldn’t do. High school is the ideal time to make those crazy, unforgettable memories before you turn 20. Make these years of freedom and friends count. Live life to the fullest, make a teenage bucket list, and be sure to check off all of those boxes. Go bungee jumping off of a cliff. Not only would you be able to admire the view from way up high, you get to experience the pure adrenaline and excitement of falling. But if heights are a fear of yours maybe bungee jumping isn’t your cup of tea. Another aspect to consider when living life, is that staying in a little protective bubble, you’ll never actually live. Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone is exciting, so try something new. Like visiting five different amusement parks and riding all of the roller coasters. Roller coasters are designed to thrill, excite and in many instances scare. But that is all of what makes them fun. Getting out and seeing things, the world, and all of its beauty is another thing that should be high up on your bucket list. So try to visit at least six different states. Go exploring and make some memories. There are so many natural beauties in this world, and just looking at them on the tv screen doesn’t nearly justify its actual beauty. Seeing it with your own eyes will change your perspective on it all. Try looking at the world from the view of a bird and hike a mountain. Once you reach the top make sure to take some super awesome pictures of the view. Living life to the fullest is all about doing things that may scare you. In the end you might find yourself glad that you did it. It’s all about the experience. Get up, get out and be sure to take advantage of every second because you will never get it back. Time is going to keep on moving whether you’re sitting at home or you’re out making memories. Layout: Cassidy Cardwell
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Trump’s First Year Jan. 25, 2017 Trump signs executive orders on border wall.
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Feb. 22, 2017
March 21, 2017
April 22, 2017
Trump reverses Obama administration’s guidelines on transgender bathroom use.
Trump signs bill authorizing NASA funding, Mars exploration.
Trump awards purple heart to injured soldier.
President-elect Donald Trump takes oath of Office.
Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser.
Republicans unveil bill to repeal Obamacare.
Neil Gorsuch is sworn in as Supreme Court justice.
North Korea launches first ballistic missile.
Jan. 20. , 2017
Feb. 13, 2017
March 6, 2017
April 10, 2017
May 14, 2017
Layout: Olivia Armstrong
by Kim Houchin
T
he first year of a presidency is one of the most crucial and defining years for the president. This timeline holds key moments out of the first year under Donald Trump’s presidency. The timeline covers from January, when Trump took the oath of office, to the current month of November. June 12, 2017
July 02, 2017
Sept. 05, 2017
Oct. 04, 2017
Appeals court rules against Trump’s travel ban.
Trump blasted over tweeting edited video of him beating up CNN
Trump rescinds Obama-era DACA policy
Trump speaks on bravery of the Las Vegas shooting survivors
Obamacare repeal is set to leave 23 million uninsured.
New York Times print “all of Trump’s files” since taking office.
Trump states that there is violence on “many sides” after Charlottesville riots.
ESPN reporter tweets that Trump is a “white supremacist,” sparking controversy.
May 24, 2017
June 25, 2017
Aug. 12, 2017
Sept. 15, 2017
US Government releases 2,800 files related to the Kennedy assassination. Oct. 26, 2017
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20.
Trump and Russia: Head-to-Head by Cassidy Cardwell
P
ossible Russian invasion brings speculation.
Recurring rumors of President Trump having ties to Russia, and possible influence in the 2016 presidential election have been floating around the media since Trump announced his campaign. The Democratic Party has built up a list of accusations against the Russian government of hacking the voting system, along with computer systems-and they are determined to get to the bottom of it. There is no doubt that connections between Trump-secret meetings, team associations, etc.- have brought on the alleged hackings of the election. The suspicion started when it became known that Trump, along with his son and team, were very well connected to Russian government. Many theorists began to think that the connection may cause a bias within Russia, and possibly lead to them favoring Trump more so than Clinton. The real suspicion began in September of 2015 when the FBI warned the Democratic National Party that at least one computer had been compromised by Russian hackers. This had happened more than once, and the second time the FBI warned the DNC that their information is being transmitted back to Russia. In April of 2016, CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity system, was put to action and used the Falcon system to detect if there were any breaches in the DNC computers. “Almost immediately, Falcon started lighting up with a number of indications of breaches of the DNC network,” Dmitri Alperovitch, worker of
CrowdStrike, tells Wired Magazine. With further investigation, it was discovered that the hacker’s IP address behind the breach were traced back to Moscow, Russia’s time zone. Investigators in Illinois became aware of widespread breaches when they discovered that the software used by poll workers on Election Day had been intruded. The investigators claimed that data had been compromised in attempt to delete or alter voter ballots. In this instance, authorities discovered Russian hackers partaking in strategies, such as scanning the system, in order to alter the voting ballots. The forensic evidence showed attempts to alter voter names and addresses on ballots. The Department of Homeland Security believes that Russia had attacked a total of 39 states in the US. Swing states like Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania were involved in the hacking. These are crucial states in the electoral college because they can swing the election turnout. The New York Times investigation, and research from the FireEye cybersecurity system, revealed that the Russian government had been creating fake accounts to spread anti-Clinton messages. Facebook officials have shut down hundreds of accounts that they believe were linked to Russia. On Twitter, Russia has been linked to thousands of automated “bot” Twitter accounts. These accounts were tweeting indistinguishable messages, sometimes even seconds apart. FireEye researchers revealed that the messages that were tweeted were tweeted in the alphabetical order of the made up usernames created. The power of social media had also driven Russia to buy nearly $100,000 of ads that would help further their agenda of ideas on American social media users. Authorities consider Russia to have a “hit list” which includes countries that they have tried to compromise. According to an unreleased digital hit list from the Associated Press, Ukraine government officials have spoke up about their experiences with Russia hacking their email systems. The accusations of Russian ties and influence in the 2016 presidential election are something that should be taken seriously.
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Layout: Kim Houchin
by Ethan Neutz
D
sian Ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. This in fact did occur but yet again the media came in and tried to tie up the Trump Administration in lies. The meeting was used to provide details to the Russians regarding ISIS threats in their area but the media said that Trump was divulging critical information to the Russians.
There are a series of events that could lead people to believe that Trump is connected but they are simply asinine. Yes, Trump communicates with people in and from Russia but these are nothing serious and most definitely should not be worried about. Both parties involved have shot down the allegations and have said that nothing of the sort happened in the meetings or calls.
Later in the month, Robert Mueller was appointed to lead the special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into Russia’s alleged influence on the election on May 17. Mueller soon expanded the investigation following an outcry by the democrats for someone not in the justice department to lead the investigation. Mueller has supposedly created a grand jury of sorts to assist in the investigation and is able to subpoena anything it needs to come to a conclusion. The team has not came up with anything and that further proves Trump is not guilty of meddling with Russia.
onald Trump is not a cheater nor a con.
Donald Trump may have ties to Russia but none are negative and most certainly could not be damning for the 45th President.
The Kremlin, which is the presidential party of Russia headed by Vladimir Putin has also denied the allegations and even despite this, many still pursue this idea that they are connected. This all started when Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. along with Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, and Jared Kushner had a meeting with Russian Lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya. The meeting was set up in order to receive crucial, incriminating information about the democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton that Veselnitskaya said she knew. The meeting actually did nothing of the sort said Trump Jr., it covered other matters than the upcoming election. Veselnitskaya added that she would have also met with Clinton if the opportunity arose, she would have done this in order to help with sanctions set against Russia by the Obama Administration. Another part of the investigation is the firing of FBI Director, James Comey on May 9. The question arising from this was: Was Trump trying to get out of the Russian investigation? Trump quickly came to show that the reason for the firing was due to his handling of the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure of secretary of state. Many claimed that Trump ousted the commissioner in order to save himself from being investigated but even Comey stated, in front of the senate intelligence committee that Trump was not being investigated in any way.
It all came to a head when Trump met with Russian President, Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The meeting quickly started with Tump aiming questions towards the investigation. Putin denied the allegations, making this investigation even more unbelievable. The two soon started talks on cybersecurity and counterterrorism. They agreed to further working together and bettering relations between the U.S. and Russia. After the meeting, Putin made sure that he made clear that Russia had not meddled with the election and Trump accepted his assurances. As more information is released it will become increasingly clearer that Donald Trump and his administration are not connected with Russia and did not meddle in the election.
On May 15, multiple news sources reported that Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the then, Rus-
22.
Women of America Unite by Katie Huffman
T
he fight for women’s rights.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, women of America were empowered to altercate against their previous treatment, speak up for themselves and eventually gain the same legal rights as men. Throughout time, America has taken many important steps leading to the women’s rights our country currently has. America now celebrates women’s rights and has prominent female icons helping preserve these rights. Compared to countries in the middle east, America leads far ahead when it comes to the matter of women’s rights. In colonial America, women in the cities sometimes had positions as seamstresses, midwives, nurses or other related positions. This backbreaking work from women helped shape America into what it is today. Around the early 1830s, publisher Sarah Hale spread her strong beliefs of how a woman should act and where the woman’s place is in the home. The book A History of Women in America states, “A true woman, she [Hale] wrote, was ‘delicate and timid’; ‘required protection’; ‘possessed a sweet dependency’; ‘was above all things modest’; and had ‘charming and insinuating manners’.” On the contrary, five women, with opposite beliefs than Hale, who played important roles in the initiation of the women’s rights movement, were Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carrie Chapman Catt, Lucretia Mott and Lucy Stone. They all helped conduct several events promoting women’s rights, more specifically their suffrage. The first women’s rights convention in the world and was organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This key event was the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, held in New York. Three-hundred women gathered for this event and concluded with signing the Declaration of Sentiments, which was a plea to end all discrimination towards women. Mott and Stanton were two of the prime voices for both the abolitionist movement and the women’s rights movement. These two women became familiar with each other at the World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London, and they were later able to set off the women’s rights movement together. Moving along, in 1869, the very first law for women’s suffrage
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Layout: Olivia Armstrong
was passed in the state of Wyoming. Their state legislators were motivated to sign this bill for a multitude of reasons, from being persuaded by their wives to selfishly thinking more unmarried women would move to the area. The 15th Amendment was passed shortly after in 1870. It states, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This altercation to the constitution served to be very controversial, and women did not gain the right to vote until half a century later. Anthony illegally voted in the election of 1872 as a form of protest. Two weeks after casting her ballot, she was arrested and fined $100. Anthony stated, “I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty,” and so she never owned up to the fine. Anthony helped form the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) February 18, 1890 with help from four other women mentioned before, Stanton, Catt and Stone. This organization played a leading role in the later passing of the 19th amendment. On August 18, 1920 women gained the right to vote after the 19th amendment was passed by Congress. Merely three months later, over 8 million women voted legally for the first time. This was the advancement that women had been working towards dating back long before women starting to speak and stand up for their rights. The next significant change in women’s rights was the Equal Pay Act. This was passed in 1963 and guaranteed the same wages for the same work regardless of sex, religion or ethnicity. For science teacher Jonathan Huether, some of the most influential women in his life have been his female college professors; specifically his research advisor Doctor Derting who played a key role in his exploration of the subject he know teaches. “Women are a large majority of our work force. They are the mothers of our children,” said Huether. English teacher Laura Smythe has a different perspective than Huether. Her mom has been the most inspirational woman in her life and has helped mold Smythe into the woman she is today. “I grew up in a single family household so she taught me a lot about perseverance and the hardships that specifical-
ly single women go through that men never experience,” said Smythe. Some women who have marked their place in history include Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sally Ride, Amelia Earhart and Harriet Tubman.
Today, America celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, Women’s Equality Day on August 26 and Women’s History Month in March. It is important to acknowledge these holidays dedicated to women to be appreciative of the freedom Americans currently have compared to other countries.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave and became a strong abolitionist as she grew older. She is known for escaping slavery and leading the Underground Railroad with intentions of helping others out of slavery. “Slavery is the next thing to hell,” is one of Tubman’s well known quotes.
Women currently in Arab countries struggle with domestic violence, not having an education, individual rights and more important issues daily. Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan has spoken out about her experiences with the Taliban.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to travel across the Atlantic Ocean alone in 1928. Pushing her limits, Earhart attempted to fly across the world in 1937 but did not complete her goal after disappearing on her journey. Her sense of bravery inspired many females after her.
Yousafzai is a twenty-year-old activist for women’s rights and children’s education who was born in Mingora, Pakistan. After the Taliban began to invade schools around where she lived, she began to speak up for what she believed in and still voices her opinion on.
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first woman in space. Ride attended Stanford University and earned her degree in physics. She became a part of NASA in 1976 and after her time as an astronaut, she began to teach at the University of California. Ride remained a prominent figure for young girls who had dreams of traveling in space just as she did. Smythe believes that women did not have the amount of representation in certain areas of the workforce that men did. “Especially in the areas of math and science, it’s super important to have woman figures represented and celebrated because those areas don’t really promote women going into them,” said Smythe. Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981 by Ronald Reagan. She had the last say in many important cases and after retiring in 2006, she serves as an example to those proceeding her. Madeleine Albright was selected as the first female U.S. Secretary of State by Bill Clinton in 1996. Albright was born in Czechoslovakia and believes becoming an American was the best thing to ever happen to her. Twelve years after Albright was appointed, former First Lady Hillary Clinton was chosen by Barack Obama to become a U.S. Secretary of State in 2009 and served until 2013. Hillary Clinton also became a part of the U.S. Senate in 2001. In the election of 2016, she was the closest a woman has ever been to becoming President of the United States and was the first woman in history to be nominated by a major political party. Before, in between and after the time of these ladies listed, there are a countless number of women who did remarkable things, but the women listed serve as prominent examples of how important women are in today’s advancing society.
As a result of Yousafzai voicing her activist views, she was shortly after handed a death threat by the Taliban. In 2012 when she was riding a bus on her way home from school, a Taliban gunman shot Malala in the head, leaving her in critical condition. A helicopter transferred her to a military hospital and for advanced care after that, she was taken to Birmingham, England. Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She is an important figure and role model for those struggling for their rights in foreign countries. “In Saudi Arabia they just passed a law allowing women to drive in 2017, so that really puts things into perspective,” said Smythe. Given that America is a somewhat fully developed country, Smythe believes that it is important for us to set an example for the developing countries in the west. Over the years, America has experienced its own struggles but nothing amounting to the violence and situations people in the Middle East are placed in now. Various women have led our country to the idealistic state we’re in today.
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Movie Reviews:
What You Should Check Out Geostorm:
Jigsaw:
Geostorm is a movie about a giant space station that orbits the earth called “Dutch Boy.” The station is supposed the control the earth’s weather and prevent natural disasters from happening. Although when something bad happens something called a geostorm occurs and ends up risking the lives of everyone on earth. The movie is a basic disaster movie that seems to be very predictable. Everything you would expect to happen in a disaster movie pretty much ends up happening in this one. The flow of the movie is nice and is very entertaining throughout the entire movie. The movie follows a genius scientist played by Gerard Butler that invents the space station. The movie also follows his brother played by Jim Sturgess. The movie tries to create an emotional storyline between the two characters but is kind of corny and it ends up being not very believable. Although the overall effects and intensity of the movie stays the same and keeps the movie watchable.
The Saw franchise has been rebooted once more. After a 7 year absence, the movie “Jigsaw” keeps the games alive. For fans of the Saw franchise, this movie is another good installment in the franchise, for regular movie goers it provides an interesting story with some surprising plot twists (what Saw fans are used to). The police found a body of unknown person dead, but something on the victim brought up a question; a puzzle piece taken out of the neck. The puzzle piece is a representation of the Jigsaw killer. But John Kramer was pronounced dead years ago… right? The hunt is on to find out the killer, all the while games are being played by subjects in an unknown location. Jigsaw was a good film that can be recommend to anyone who likes scary movies. It has made $25.6 M at the box office already.
Jigsaw gets an 8/10
Geostorm gets a 7/10.
Happy Death Day:
Thor: Ragnarok:
When Happy Death Day hit the theatres on friday the 13, it was an instant hit. With it being the number one movie in America, people really enjoyed it with ticket sales up $26.5 million. The movie was a horror film with a little bit of thrill sprinkled on top, the fact that it was on friday the 13 made it even better. It gave you that rush that all horror films give you. Definitely one of the better horror films out right now. The movie was about this girl they called Tree. She wakes up on her birthday and it’s just a regular day on campus, or so she thought. At the end of the day a masked killer finds and kills her on her birthday. Then once she dies she relives that day over and over until she can figure out how to stop it. It won’t be an easy journey for her, she will need some help. Her friend Carter helps her through the situation gives her ideas on how to stop it. It won’t be easy, adversity will be faced and you have to problem solve. Overall a great horror film. Highly recommended for you to watch.
Thor Ragnarok is a highly anticipated movie which seemed to have one of the best trailers of all time. In this movie Thor is imprisoned and forced to fight the Incredible Hulk in a giant stadium. Hela, the Goddess of Death, threatens to take down all of asgard in the process. This movie boosted the Thor movie ten-fold and gives a knew likeable feel to Thor. The movie evenly distributes all of the characters and none of them seem to have major flaws or fall behind one another. This movie is arguably the best Thor movie to be made to date. The movie is very action packed and very well created. The movie gives a lot of comedy and will make you laugh. The action scenes in the movie are mesmerizing and genius and deserves the title of “badass” they seem to keep you at the edge of you seat the entire time. This movie seems to draw you in at every second and makes you feel part of the movie.
Happy Death Day gets a 9/10.
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Layout: Cassidy Cardwell
Thor: Ragnarok gets a 10/10. by Jaydrien Jarrett, Hunter Brogan and T.C. Etherton
Distinguished or Disappointed? by Olivia Coke
S
tudents, staff members, and parents share their experience at one of the top schools of distinction.
2017 alumni reflect on their high school experience, aiming for an open route to a future filled with success. The staff members contribute their time by ensuring that their school is a safe environment. Parents of the students put their trust into the school to give their child the best education possible. Over the years, Bullitt East has thrived as not only a school, but also as a community. The test scores and employment have detrimentally improved. New buildings, such as the College and Career Center, have been added to give the students a glimpse into their future life outside of school. Many electives have been updated and advanced, broadening the spectrum of opportunities and possibilities for the students. New changes come up every year, helping the school to be greater every year. Two graduates of the class of 2017, Kelsey Coke and Claire Feldhaus, are now pursuing their majors in college. The girls are guiding their path to the future through the lessons that Bullitt East has taught them. Even though they are rivals in their college schools, the high school of Bullitt East has helped them build a never-ending friendship and has filled their hearts with many memories to cherish. They are at just the beginning step of accomplishing their goals, thanks to the education of Bullitt East. Coke is attending the University of Louisville. She is majoring in nursing and works for the UPS Metropolitan Program. She still lives at home, right in the heart of Bullitt County. Starting her education at a Catholic elementary and middle school, Coke was unsure about being a student at a public high school. “To be honest, my expectations weren’t very high and I didn’t know how I would feel making such a drastic change. I can
now look back and say it’s the best decision I ever made,” said Coke. Coke was involved in high school through volleyball and extra curricular activities like BETA Club and NHS. Coke’s appreciation goes out to her teachers and classmates that made every year at school a delight. On the other end of town, Feldhaus is living in Lexington attending the University of Kentucky. Feldhaus is a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and is a pre-nursing major. For freshmen year, Feldhaus attended high school at Russell County, but transfered her sophomore year to Bullitt East. “I was terrified to move schools. Russell County was the only place I had ever known. By the time I graduated, Bullitt East felt like my home,” said Feldhaus. Feldhaus believes the only improvement that could be made would be the student involvement at pep rallies. Along with the students outcome at Bullitt East, the staff and parents are pleased as well with the school. Savannah Richardson has placed a major role in shaping the school into a better place. Whether it’s from teaching or guiding others as a counselor, she helps ensure the safety and well-being of all students. “The strengths of Bullitt East are definitely the community itself. Everyone truly supports each other and is a friend to one another,” said Richardson. Overall, Bullitt East IS as great as it seems. From the students to the staff, Bullitt East is a well-rounded community. They have thrived in sports such as cheerleading, baseball, etc. The extra curricular activities have definitely grown and have given students the opportunity to let their voices be heard. Without the help of principals, teachers, counselors, and many more, this school would not be where it is today. Thankfully, the students at Bullitt East can wake up knowing that they are going into a building that is safe and welcoming.
Layout: Cassidy Cardwell
26.
Pursue Your Best You:
A High-Schoolers Guide to Mental Health by Olivia Armstrong
YOURSELF Self-Care Self-care seems to be the new wave in the social media world, and you might as well try to surf it, because it’s here to stay for some important reasons. Self-care comes in all shapes and sizes and it isn’t cut and dry. It’s all about finding what works best for your lifestyle and making sure you can always relax yourself back from a stressful or eventful time. Self-care can look like going to bed at a decent time every night, taking a bath every weekend, or going to therapy a few times a month to talk out problems with a professional. Professionals themselves stress the importance of taking care of yourself both physically and mentally, because it reduces stress, avoids burnout, and helps you to remain focused. Keeping a journal is one good idea for practicing self-care: a study from the Advances in Psychiatric Treatment showed that journaling for just 20 minutes or less a day helped participants sort out any stressful or worrisome events. Keeping a balanced schedule, with both time for work and rest, is also important. Research from John Pencavel of Stanford University found that after 50 hours of work a week, employee productiveness rates plummeted. Eating healthy and working out also plays a huge role in self-care, as doing so keeps you both mentally and physically in shape. The World Health Organization stated that at least 80 percent of all heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes, and up to 40 percent of cancer could be prevented if people regularly exercised and ate healthy.
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Layout: Kim Houchin
yourself rack up mindfulness as time continues. Try decluttering your room, doing some yoga, getting homework done as soon as you can, or taking a power nap (10-20 minutes).
Recognizing Signs Sometimes self-care can’t prevent a mental illness. But what causes a mental illness to begin with? The American Psychiatric Association defines mental illness as “health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these).” It’s also important to know that a mental illness is nothing to ever be ashamed of. It’s way more common than you probably think, and it’s the same as any other medical problem. The American Psychiatric Association also found that 50 percent of mental illness cases begin by the age of 14, so it’s important to take anything you may think is wrong seriously and get help. Some basic signs that something may be up are withdrawal, dramatic mood changes, apathy, concentration problems, and changes in sleeping habits. Symptoms of mental illnesses also include confusion, suicidal thoughts, dramatic changes in school performance, and frequent outbursts of anger. It is important to note, however, that experiencing one of these symptoms every now and then is not what a mental illness is, that’s just simply a bad day. Start considering a mental illness when you begin to experience these symptoms and others often, and when it begins to affect your ability to perform your daily routines. Pay attention to you, you know yourself best, and you know when something isn’t right.
Opening Up It isn’t as difficult as you think. If you have noticed a change in your life, and think something more serious is going on, it’s important to reach out and get help as soon as possible. Holding these negative and potentially harmful feelings in will never do any good, and can lead to making irrational choices like self-harm or suicide. According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death in teenagers ages 15-24. It’s important to find an adult in your life that you trust. This could be a teacher, parent, family member, or school counselor. And if you feel like talking isn’t something that you can face alone, confide in a friend for help. Sometimes having someone there with you that you have a deep bond with can make things much easier.
sonal and clinical, and personality disorders encompass illnesses like antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. Living with a mental illness might be more common than you think, according to the National Alliance of Mental Health, one in five children ages 13 to 18 have or will develop a mental illness sometime in their life. To break that down even further, 11 percent of youth have a mood disorder, 10 percent a behavior/conduct disorder, and 8 percent have an anxiety disorder. But how are these illnesses treated? It all depends on you and what works best for you. Everyone is different; there is no cut and dry help for a mental illness.
Before you reach out it’s important to really come to terms and accept what’s changed in your life. Today, a lot of society has placed harsh stigmas and stereotypes around people with mental illnesses, saying things like “it’s all in their head,” or “they just want attention.” But know that these are just uneducated opinions, and the way you may feel is legitimate.
Common treatments for teenagers today place emphasis on therapy and being able to talk out your feelings with a trained professional. A doctor may also prescribe you medicine, like an antidepressant. Some may also recommend you to participate in a support group for positive reinforcement, because you aren’t alone.
When you decide to tell someone, know what you want to say. Practice, even, if needed. And if you think face-to-face conversation may be too much, try texting someone or even writing a letter. Know that things could be a little uncomfortable or awkward at first, especially if this is something completely new to the person that you’re confiding in. Be prepared to answer questions and potentially seek help from a healthcare professional, like a therapist or doctor.
OTHERS
What Treatment Looks Like for Common Mental Illnesses Pasadena Villa found that mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, and phobias were the five most common mental illnesses. Mood disorders include depression, which can be both sea-
Recognizing Signs Recognizing signs of a mental illness in others looks very similar to signs you may see in yourself. You know your own friends and family better than most other people. What does their day to day life look like? Their habits, schedules, hobbies? Chances are, if something is not quite right, these things will begin to change overtime. If you think something is wrong with one of your friends or family members, look for a change in their productivity and outlook towards their daily life. If they were once almost always hardworking and productive, but now seem to lack drive, motivation and have stopped caring, it may be time to express your concern.
Hotlines National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255) SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline – 1‑877‑SAMHSA7 Mental Health America 800-969-NMHA National Eating Disorders Association Information and Referral Helpline – 800-931-2237 S.A.F.E. Alternatives 800-DON-TCUT Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance 800-826-3632 National Alliance on Mental Illness – 800-950-NAMI
To Those Who Make Our Teenagers’ Lives Miserable Staff Editorial
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Teenagers struggle daily to keep up with school, extracurricular activities, sports and their social lives, but mental disorders make those everyday activities that much harder.
From a high schooler’s perspective, you make stress or mental disorders ten times worse for many reasons. In high school, you’re supposed to find yourself and who you want to be, but mental illnesses including anxiety, depression and ADHD can hinder that.
Below lies a list of letters to those who take a toll on teenager’s lives. However, not all struggles in life have to be permanent. Teachers, faculty and staff have a chance to truly make an impact of these young impressionable minds.
With homework, extracurriculars, sports, jobs, scholarships and standardized testing, it’s hard for students to keep track of grades, colleges, positions in clubs or sports, community service hours and socializing. You have taken over their lives.
Dear Mental Disorders
With so much on their plates, teens tend to lack the recommended amount of sleep. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), teens sleep an average 7.4 hours on school nights while the recommended time is 8.5 to 9.25 hours. They stated that about one in five teens are more stressed when they do not have enough sleep.
h, the wonderful disorders of the mind!
,
You make human’s lives horrible. You make them feel sad, anxious, helpless, paranoid, worthless, inferior, unworthy or imperfect. You make everyday tasks difficult. From talking to friends and teachers to trying to focus in class, teens struggle to live fully without feeling useless or awkward. You basically set teens up for failure. ADHD hampers someone’s ability to pay attention to one thing at a time, so a teen with this disorder would suffer in a lecture classroom setting which is apparent in most high schools nowadays. Teens with depression easily lose interest with things they once enjoyed and don’t have the energy to come to school. This would ultimately negatively affect their grades. Having anxiety, specifically social anxiety, could be hard for teens in high school. Trying to find friends and make lasting memories with those in high school would be difficult. Also, presenting in front of class is already difficult for the average high schooler, but adding the extra obstacle of anxiety would make it even harder to stand in front of tens of judgmental students. So all in all, you make all lives horrible and when combined with being in high school, you make it that much worse.
Dear High School,
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Layout: Haylie Jenkins
“It is alarming that the teen stress experience is so similar to that of adults. It is even more concerning that they seem to underestimate the potential impact that stress has on their physical and mental health,” said Norman B. Anderson, CEO of the APA. The stress of the current high school generation is combined with the pressure of social media. Constantly striving for more followers or more likes can disintegrate a person’s self esteem. Teenagers constantly struggle with body image. They see photoshopped instagram models and think that this is the ideal body that they will do anything to get. So, many have struggled through eating disorders to try to lose weight. “In the past three years, hospital admissions for teenagers with eating disorders have also almost doubled,” according to Independent magazine. Then, there’s the added opportunity of cyberbullying. Social media gives an easier way for teenagers to hide behind their phones and verbally abuse their peers. According to Independent magazine, “rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers have increased by 70 percent in the past 25 years. The number of children and young people
turning up in A&E (accident and emergency department in Britain) with a psychiatric condition has more than doubled since 2009.”
No, teens do not open up to others quickly and they will hide their problems to the best of their abilities. But all hope is not lost. Here is how you can help.
Honestly, mental disorders and suicide are plastered over the current culture. However that may be, it is widely relevant to our youth. Multiple songs, t.v. shows and movies shed light on the subject.
One of the best things you could do for the students is to genuinely pay attention to them. While the warning signs are miniscule, it is still evident when a student’s behavior changes in unhealthy ways. By looking for these subtle cues that they may be struggling with a mental disorder, you can get the students help before it’s too late and they’re in over their heads.
There are so many mental disorders in today’s teenagers that it frightens me. ADHD, OCD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression, bulimia and anorexia are just to name a few. “We are investing in having a sick adult population: 75 percent of adult mental illness emerges before the age of 25 and only 50 percent of young people are getting any kind of care,” said Sarah Brennan, chief executive of Young Minds, a British charity that focuses on the youth’s mental health. Not only have rates of teenage mental illness increased but so have rates of teenage suicide. According to a study done by Vanderbilt University the suicide rate of children from the ages of 10 to 14 doubled from the years of 2007 to 2014. They also found that there was the highest rates of child suicide in the fall while adults had the highest rates in the spring and summer. It seems quite coincidental that the highest rates of child suicide is in the same season that school starts. Depression runs in my family and it scares me so much that I have a high chance of becoming depressed in the future. It frightens me that my current optimistic outlook in life could be threatened by a psychiatric disorder that would make me feel worthless. But what truly terrifies me is that teenagers all across the world are dealing with these heartbreaking disorders and are not getting the help they need. Also, not only do they have to deal with these obstacles, but common activities including school can possibly make it worse.
Dear Teachers and Staff, You were teens once, so you know what these kids are going through, but only to a certain point.
By providing a safe space where students feel comfortable to speak about their problems to adults they trust, they won’t feel as though they have to express their issues. However, if this isn’t working for some students because they don’t have staff members they trust, schools should implement an anonymous out where they express their problems without mentioning their names. This could be a box, an envelope or an online forum. Once students begin to drop their papers into the box or envelope or their comments into the website, the staff can pull together a presentation or another media form to get the message out there that the students are not alone. By bringing this issue to the entire school population, it could possibly accommodate for other students who were too scared to drop a note in the box, but are still struggling with that problem. “In order to break this cycle of stress and unhealthy behaviors as a nation, we need to provide teens with better support and health education at school and home, at the community level and in their interactions with healthcare professionals,” said Anderson. As I said before, students like to build up walls between themselves and teachers they don’t fully trust. It is so important yet easily forgotten that students need a person to go to that they completely trust if they’re ever going to speak of their problems. A strong rapport must be built between student and teacher to help those struggling with mental illnesses. Creating stronger bonds between our students and staff would not only bring our community closer, but will also give the students a safe place to go to express their troubles. Mental illnesses have become very common and we cannot let our students fight through these struggles alone.
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