Livewire Vol 9 Issue 4 May 2018 by Livewire

Issue 4 | June 2018 | Volume 9

Livewire.

CONTENTS

3 Teacher of the Year 4 What’s in Store for Future Graduates 5 Job Hunting ACADEMICS: 7 AP vs JCTC 8 Advice from the Pros for the Class of 2019 9 One Scholarship at a Time 11 My Last Year as Editor 12 My Home Away from Home SPORTS: 13 Kruse Causing a Racquet 14 They Still Got It 15 Getting Their Heads in the Game 16 Soccer With a Twist POLITICAL: 17 Recent Resignations and Firings in the White House 18 Pulling the Trigger on the NRA 19 How Parkland, America Changed America 21 What’s Wrong with the Electoral College? OPINION: 23 Fortnite Taking Over 24 The Power of Protests 25 We Are the Future THEME: 27 Grasping Your Self Identity 29 Define Career Ready 30 Does High School Force You into Cliques?

STUDENT LIFE:

Issue Theme: Self-Identity

Throughout middle and high school, all students struggle to find how they define themselves, their fashion, their music, their interests and their opinions. Discovering exactly who you are is difficult for every teenager.

Our cover idea was chosen to highlight the identity issues that many teens face in their high school years.

Read more at belivewire.com

Teacher Appreciation Week at East

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 photo editor Morgan Harbolt 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 Renneisen Carissa Kimball Kelsi Sego Hunter Brogan Ahna Cates Katie Huffman Isaiah Jenner Bryant Miles Ethan Neutz Montrell Page Emmy Ralph T.C. Etherton

Governor’s Scholar 2018

Another Step to the End of the School Year Scan this with Snapchat 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.

Livewire Teacher of the Year by Olivia Coke

Algebra 2 student. “Mrs. Pitcock is great. She always pushes me to the best of my abilities,” said Knieriem. Knieriem has loved learning new math problems and having Pitcock help her after school with any help needed.

Teaching endless hours of math, Debbie Pitcock has inspired students inside and outside of school. Although her schedule is busy, she manages to take time out to work to give students their best understanding on the subject of math.

Overall, Pitcock has inspired many students throughout her career.

eaching minds and touching hearts.

Math teacher Debbie Pitcock is awarded Teacher of the Year by student votes.

Students appreciate her caring personality and positive mindset. Teaching for 24 years, Debbie Pitcock has always admired the subject of math. She teaches all four high school grade levels. Pitcock was also interested in social studies, but her love for the content of math made it the dominant class to teach. “The thing I like most about math is how it follows pattern and structure. I like that there is always a right answer,” said Pitcock. Other than just teaching the logical side of math, she builds a relationship with the students she teaches. “I always try to be positive and make math fun. I want students to know I do care about them,” said Pitcock. Her hopes are to teach students to have a mindset to keep trying their hardest. When students are confused or frustrated, she tries to explain the topic in the best way possible so they can feel more comfortable with their work. One of Pitcock’s students, sophomore Shelby Knieriem, has built a connection with Pitcock this year. Knieriem is a Pre-Ap

Layout: Olivia Coke

Students never let her work and efforts go unnoticed. “I hope everyone gets the chance to be in class with Mrs. Pitcock and see how awesome she is,” said Knieriem. Pitcock hopes to help more students in the future, giving them the best understanding and education possible. Aside from teaching math, Pitcock is a member of the Site-Base Council Department. She is one of the chair members. The council helps decide rules and regulations for policies like the handbook and curriculum. Outside of school, she enjoys reading books, spending time with her family, and watching her daughter play sports. Overall, Pitcock has inspired many students throughout her career. Students never let her work and efforts go unnoticed. “I hope everyone gets the chance to be in class with Mrs. Pitcock and see how awesome she is,” said Knieriem. Pitcock hopes to help more students in the future, giving them the best understanding and education possible.

What’s in Store for Future Over My Head Graduates E by Meredith Bass

chosmith’s ‘Over my Head’ was released last month. It is their first big hit since ‘Cool Kids’ in 2013.

by Hunter Brogan

nding the year with a bang.

There are lots of fun stuff to do when you finish your senior year. All these activities to make sure your senior year ends on a good note. It is important to attend these events because you never know if you will get to see some of these people ever again. Some of these activities include senior dance, project graduation and senior soakers. The first of these events is the senior dance and it is May 21. The dance will be at The Frazier Museum Rooftop Garden from 7pm-10pm. Parking for this will be five dollars per car. Proper attire for the event will be sundress or dress pants for ladies. For the men, khakis or dress pants with a button down or polo. This event is obviously just for seniors. Another exciting event going on is project graduation. This is on the night of graduation and it’s a good time for everyone to get together for the last time of their high school career. There is plenty of food and drinks for everyone. Seniors Luke Ezell and Julia Poole both said they were most excited for project graduation. “I will get to spend a fun night with all of the people I just graduated with. You never know if you’ll ever see some of these people again, so a night like project grad will definitely be one to remember,” said Ezell. This is an event where students will stay all night at school and is over early in the morning.

It is a part of their second studio album, Inside a Dream, which is having great success. The song is upbeat and about the frustration and confusion of not being on the same page as your significant other. This seems to be a relevant problem in high school students, making the song relatable for many. “I relate to the confusion in it, how you just want to understand what’s going on,” said sophomore Carly Druien. The song goes on to address communication and its importance in relationships. Sophomore Madison Withers also found it relatable. “I feel like a lot of me and my friends relate a lot to it, most high schoolers in relationships probably do.” Echosmith was first composed of three Sierota siblings, with the lead singer being sister Sydney Sierota. Now, the group consists of her and her brothers, Jamie, Noah, and Graham, and added Breanne Düren in 2017. The group first performed cover songs. They then started to write their own songs. The group wrote ‘Cool Kids’ and it slowly rose to the top. They became more known through Youtube, eventually getting noticed and signed by Warner Bro. records.

The final senior activity is senior soakers. Sign ups were April 1013 and the five dollar general fee was due by April 13 at 2:10pm. The first round of senior soakers began on April 16 at 12:01am. The first round of targets were supposed to be eliminated by 11:59 pm on April 23. If the target is not eliminated by then you will have a permanent bounty on you eliminate them. The game will come to an end May 18. The first place winner will receive 70 percent of the money, second place will get 20 percent, and the person with the most eliminations will receive ten percent. The money will be handed out at senior dance.

Layout: Hunter Brogan and Meredith Bass

Job Hunting Kayla Nutgrass (11) Kroger, Ashley Goins (11) Taco Bell, Meredith Thornsberry (12) Valu Market, Kaleigh Foster (12) Chick-Fil-A, Hunter Ryan (10) McDonalds, Jacob Mitchell (11) Arbys.

by Haley Grether

hen looking for a job, there are many things to consider.

The overall goal is to have fun and enjoy oneself inside of a workplace, though this can sometimes be challenging. In high school, teens finally reach the age to when they are able to get their first jobs. Making one’s own money is a big step towards adulthood and a huge milestone in one’s life. Finding a job close to home that is enjoyable yet still pays a decent amount can sometimes be difficult. Most first jobs are temporary, and not meant to last forever, which is great for teens who just need enough money to go get fast food on occasion and fill up their gas tank each week. Going into a workplace at age 16, one can’t expect to get paid ‘bank’. In reality most teens who work, will be making around minimum wage, which is a whooping $7.25 an hour. Living in a small town like Mount Washington, it can sometimes be hard to find a job close by. For students who want to work in fast food, there are a variety of options in Mount Washington. Places like McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Burger King seem to hire a lot throughout the year. Working in fast food isn’t what most would say ‘ideal’ but as a student, without bills to pay, just needing a little bit of pocket money, this is a nice choice. The starting salary of crew members at McDonald’s is $8.50 at the Mount Washington Location. Crew members working there would be expected to prepare and take food orders, ensure restaurant cleanliness and guarantee that items are well stocked. Working at a company like this can sometimes be frustrating, but in the end the job can pay off. “QUOTE,” said senior and manager of McDonald’s Haley Chisholm. Similar job requirements would apply to most any fast food chain. When in a workplace one must have a lot of patience for those customers who themselves, are impatient and rude. Greeting customers with a smile and an exceptional attitude is imperative, even though this may come as difficult for some. Straying away from the up pace fast food industries, places hiring at the age of 18 might include; the Valu Market Deli, Dollar Tree, and Sun Tan City. The starting hourly pay for the Valu Market Deli is $7.75 an

Layout: Haley Grether

hour. While still working with food, the Valu Market Deli, is less busy and requires less of a rush for the employee. Working there though, one must still maintain the smile and nice attitude towards customers. Benefits of working at the Valu Market establishment might include, flexible hours, and 10% discounts on Best Choice and Always save Products in the store. “At Valu work around 16 to 20 hours a week. Working here helps prepare me for my future job, because I work eight to twelve hours a day. The benefits that Valu has gave me are my hours, and the kindness into letting me learn about myself and others,” said senior Mason Williams, employee at Valu Market. The Dollar Tree, also a more slow paced working environment requires a minimum age of 18 for hire. Working at a place like this one could expect to have, stock, price items, operate a register, assist customers and general maintenance of the store. Benefits might include, competitive pay and flexible scheduling. Starting off as a Tanning Consultant, employees are paid around $8 an hour at Sun Tan City. Working there is a nice pick for those who want to keep a tan year round. Benefits from working at this establishment are free sunbed and spray tanning for all employees, and product discounts. One could expect to consult clients, Meet sales expectations, clean salon tanning rooms, lobby area, restrooms, and storage room, and enter client information and data into the computers. As of restaurant working, places around town that are hiring are the New China Buffet, Lights On and Half Times. Waiters and Waitresses, in a restaurant, also known as servers make a minimum wage required form the American federal government of $2.13 an hour plus tips. Job requirements for a server might include; greeting customers, taking food orders, bringing food and drinks to the tables, ect. Working at a restaurant one must be efficient and friendly in their job. There are a variety of options for jobs around town. But the number one thing to keep in mind when searching for one, is to make sure it is enjoyable, it is a lot easier to hate a job if there is no fun involved. Wherever one decides to start a job, being positive and having confidence is key. And always be sure to give a firm handshake in the case of an interview, first impressions stick.

AP VS. JCTC by Ahna Cates

hen scheduling season rolls around high-achieving students are faced with one major question: AP or JCTC?

Both AP (Advanced Placement) and JCTC (Jefferson Community and Technical College) classes are offered at high schools in Kentucky and have similar benefits, making the decision a difficult one without the right information. With high college acceptance competition and student debt, a large portion of today’s high schoolers want to get ahead academically and financially. AP and JCTC classes can give students early college credit and set them apart from others in college applications and prepare them for college. The main differences between the two lie in the difficulty and credit received from the classes.

The AP program was created in 1955 by the College Board organization.The classes offer college-level curriculum in high school and are made for students who are ready to take on a more difficult workload. Depending on the course, students can start taking AP as early as freshman year. Subjects: There are over 30 courses available through the AP program, but not every course is offered at particular schools. At Bullitt East specifically, AP courses are offered in the core subjects of english, math, social studies and science, as well as in Art and Foreign Languages. Difficulty: AP differs from regular classes because of the difficulty level and the content of the courses. The classes are designed to be reflective of classes that are taken at typical 4-year colleges, making them more challenging for a high school student. College Credit: For those interested in taking classes that include college credit, AP classes don’t guarantee that you’ll receive college credit. In order to receive the credit, the student must pass the AP exam for that class. Much like the classes in general, the success that the student will have all depends on the individual’s strengths and abilities. College Applications: All types of colleges are impressed by

Layout: Ahna Cates

high grades in AP classes on a transcript because it shows that the student can handle a college-level workload. “Taking these AP classes looks good for colleges, making it more likely that I’ll be accepted to where I want to go. What the colleges say is that it shows determination to work, and you understand the content,” said AP student sophomore Caleb Strobel.

JCTC

The Jefferson Community and Technical College located in Louisville, Kentucky offers classes at Bullitt East that can be taken on or off campus at their Shepherdsville location. Juniors can possibly apply for JCTC classes depending on the resources available during that school year. Seniors are always eligible to apply, but freshmen and sophomores aren’t. Getting into a class depends on the student’s ACT score and application. Subjects: JCTC classes are also offered for a variety of subjects . Some of these classes are available to be taken on-campus at BE. However, this is only a select few, and the rest are taken off-campus at the JCTC college during the school day. Difficulty: While JCTC may be similar to AP, the major differences lie in the difficulty. “JCTC classes are community college classes. They’re designed in a program that’s supposed to be for 2-year degrees. So, the content and the rigor and the curriculum isn’t going to be as much as compared to a 4-year college,” said English teacher Laura Pierce-Foster. While JCTC students are held to a higher standard than those of regular students, the workload and difficulty isn’t as much as in an AP class. College Credit: The purpose of taking these classes as a high schooler is to gain early college credit, which can be less expensive in the long-run. One of the biggest advantages of taking JCTC is that college credit is guaranteed to students who pass the class. Unlike AP, there is no exam to take to determine whether you get the credit or not. College Applications: Colleges look less for JCTC classes on a transcript than AP classes, due to JCTC classes being particular to the area of Kentucky. Prestigious colleges tend to look more for AP because they typically have a higher difficulty level. However, JCTC can still be helpful in impressing colleges. “I already wanted to have college hours when I went into college. Some colleges think very highly of that. They’re like ‘Oh, well this student took college classes before they were even in college. They must have a good academic ethic,” said junior and JCTC student Haley Cox.

Advice from the Pros for the Class of 2019

by Zach Combest

s the Class of 2018 is gearing closer to graduation day; they have advice for the upcoming seniors. Senior year is full of events such as senior skip day, tux and drape pictures, senior project, prom, senior dance, Baccalaureate and Project Grad. Senior year is also a time for celebration and hard work as it is the final stretch before hitting the books in college or joining the workforce.

The students pictured below were chosen to complete a Q&A about advice they would give to the Class of 2019 as they get ready to start their senior year. Each senior was asked three questions and this is what they had to say. are doing on the weekends. This is your final year for you to get everything together.”

2. What do you wish you would

have known coming into your senior year? “I don’t have any regrets about senior year. I got into everything I wanted to try. I probably should have got another job.”

3. What senior event or activity

Sean Woods Senior 1. What advice would you give to the upcoming seniors? “Don’t get into complacency; cherish your time with your friends, but also make sure you are preparing yourself for the transition. Enjoy it. It’s your senior year.”

would you recommend to the upcoming seniors and why? “Even if you don’t think prom would be your thing, I would go to prom just for the experience. Even if you don’t have a date you can go with friends. I think senior dance might be interesting. I would also try to get into some sporting events, try a little of everything.”

Autumn Garrett Senior 1. What advice would you give

to the upcoming seniors? “I would tell them to keep up with everything that they’re doing academically and to not worry about money and to not worry about what their friends

2. What do you wish you would have known coming into your senior year? “Trying harder on the ACT and being more into testing and more studying options. My lack of studying and preparing for the ACT resulted in me being in trans math.”

1. What advice would you give

to the upcoming seniors? “Advice for the upcoming seniors would be no matter how easy your senior year is don’t slack off because eventually it

3. What senior event or activity would you recommend to the upcoming seniors and why? “Either senior dance or senior prom, it’s that one last time where everyone gets to be together.”

3. What senior event or activity would you recommend to the upcoming seniors and why? “Prom and Baccalaureate because it is really traditional. It’s bonding for you and your teachers and any parents that come.”

2. What do you wish you would have known coming into your senior year? “I wish I would have known how quickly May 1 approaches (the deadline to accept scholarships). Narrowng your college choices and understanding the opportunities early would create a lot less stress on yourself in the long run.”

will catch up with you and you’ll be stuck and you won’t know how to get out of it.”

Avery Pack Senior

2. What do you wish you would have known coming into your senior year? “I would say to test out of the classes that you don’t really need. The classes that you can work further than. I am in trans math because I didn’t want to take the ACT again to test out of it. Now I have to take remedial math in college and I know I could have taken like Pre-Calculus or just Algebra 3.”

3. What senior event or activity

Luke Ezell Senior 1. What advice would you give to the upcoming seniors? “I would advise you to get as involved as you can in clubs and sports. You never know who you will meet in these activites and those friends could last a lifetime.”

would you recommend to the upcoming seniors and why? “I would recommend everyone go to prom their senior year if they haven’t already gone. It could be one of the last big opportunities that you will get to hang out with your high school friends before you have to make a big step towards college or the work force.”

Layout: Zach Combest

Seniors Sean Woods and William Smith at the University of Louisville in August of 2017.

One Scholarship at a Time by Lilly Whitley

ne small step with a scholarship, one giant leap for the future.

Senior Sean Woods has been offered a scholarship to the University of Louisville where he plans to attend school next year. As a result of Woods hard work and excelling in academics, he has received a full ride scholarship. He earned the Brown Fellows Scholarship from the University of Louisville. Support from many people in and out of the school helped him achieve so much over his four years at Bullitt East. The University of Louisville accepts ten kids every year as Brown Fellows. There were over 300 applicants that met the initial criteria to apply. “It’s an extremely hard scholarship to get. Its very competitive and most students don’t meet the criteria to apply,” said counselor, Crystal Barr. The scholarship covers everything from tuition to books. “The Browns Fellows is considered a “Full-Ride Plus” scholarship, meaning that it covers all of my tuition, room, board, books, provides a small stipend for miscellaneous expenses and also includes a fully-funded summer study abroad experience after my freshman year. It also includes up to ten-thousand dollars for individual enrichment projects for the summers after his sophomore and junior years,” said Woods. The process of applying and getting the scholarship was long and extensive. “To be a Brown Fellow, I had to apply to the University and complete a separate application for the Honors Program, which required a resume and an essay. In addition to that, I also had to write another 700-800 word essay specific to the Brown Fellows Program and submit both additional letters of recommendation and a supplemental application. After completing the application, I was selected as one of the thirty-two finalists to come up to the university and compete in interviews for one of ten spots in the program,” said Woods. Woods received a letter on March 3, announcing that he was selected for the scholarship. “I was really excited. I called my whole family and let them know, and they were also very excited for me. I think this is a big accomplishment, but it’s more of an opportunity I’d say. It’s the start of something that is going

Layout: Lilly Whitley

to be incredible and allow me to do amazing things in college,” said Woods. Many people feel that Woods is very deserving of the scholarship. “Sean takes advantage of opportunities no matter what which opens up many doors for him. As he goes through life he leaves no stone unturned. He is also a very hardworking individual who is always pushing himself to think about the next step and then the step after that,” said science and SLAM teacher, Amanda Bohnert. Woods’s academic skills aren’t the only thing that set him apart from other students that applied. “I think Sean is very diverse and intelligent. He is a National Merit Scholar and Governor’s Scholar. He’s very well rounded, well spoken, involved in the community and in his church. He’s the overall package that excels in all areas,” said Barr. In addition to receiving the scholarship, Woods was also accepted into the Guaranteed Entrance to Medical School (GEMS) program. “I was one out of ten students who were selected as early acceptances into the University of Louisville School of Medicine. As part of the program, the ten of us will complete monthly activities in the hospital preparing for medical school and the medical profession,” said Woods. Woods’s character is one of many things that makes him well liked by many teachers around the school. “Sean’s has a pleasant and enthusiastic demeanor which is unmatched. He’s happy to participate, lead, step into any role when it presents itself. He sets the bar very high and sets a good example. He also creates opportunities for others which is very impressive for his age,” said Bohnert. Woods plans to do great things with the scholarships he has received. “I’m very proud to have received such amazing scholarships and acceptances. I know that I will use them to the best of my ability and truly enjoy my college experience at the University of Louisville,” said Woods. Teachers and peers are excited to see where these great opportunities take him throughout the next few years.

10.

My Last Year as Editor by Kim Houchin

s my final year on the Livewire staff wraps up, I can’t help but feel sad and happy at the same time. I’m sad that my four years of high school are coming to an end. I’m sad that I’m leaving Room 324. I’m sad that I won’t be able to see my staff every day. At the same time, I’m happy that I got to experience being a part of something bigger than I am. I’m happy that I was able to watch my mostly new staff grow and become amazing writers. I’m happy that I know I am leaving this class in the capable hands of Ainsley Gordon. When I first joined Intro to Journalism, I was an awkward kid who didn’t want to talk to anyone I didn’t know. I was determined to fly under the radar all four years of high school and never really do anything extraordinary. I didn’t want to stay after and never wanted to join any clubs. Every article that we were given to write in Intro, I would interview my friends because I knew them and that was my comfort zone. My first year on the Livewire, I was put into Isaac Shelton’s tribe. This was probably one of the best things that could have happened to me. Without Isaac, I definitely would not be where I am today. I originally did not want to be a copy editor for my junior year, I wanted to be a staff writer and then possibly a copy editor for my senior year. Without my knowledge, he filled out a copy editor application and somehow I got the position. A large part of my junior year would definitely be my tribe. Jeremy Antle, Haley Grether, Dustin Douglas, Grant Skaggs and our adopted member, Matt Childress. Every single day, my tribe made me smile and laugh. Grant was definitely one of the funniest people I have ever met and mix him with Matt and it was utter chaos. I yelled at Jeremy Antle in like the second week of class and he never lets me forget about it, even to this day. Haley was always willing to put her heart and soul into every single thing she wrote. Dustin was the sweetest soul anyone could ever meet. It was extremely nerve-racking having that many new and old faces looking up at you and expecting something certain. I still wasn’t used to talking to groups of people so to say that I was terrified is an understatement. This class, while a drastic difference from the one we had my sophomore year, was one of the most fun years I’ve had. My staff this year has definitely made an imprint on me and to think that I won’t be walking into room 324 every day after this year absolutely breaks my heart. I hate to think I won’t see Steiner’s dumb $60 flip flops, or as he calls them “flippies”, every day or hear Olivia Armstrong’s outstanding ideas on how to improve our magazine or

11.

Layout: Kim Houchin

talking about Black Mirror with Morgan Harbolt or hear T.C. Etherton argue over something about the Celtics. I’m gonna miss yelling at Ethan Neutz to sit at his table, calming Haley Grether down when she stretches herself way too thin, listening to Montrell Page, Hunter Brogan and Jaydrien Jarrett seemingly only talk about sports and Fortnite, being able to rely on Zach to get any job done, reading Olivia Coke, Lilly Whitley and Carissa Kimball’s brilliant articles, talking to the ever so sweet Emmy Ralph and Ahna Cates, being blown away every time I read an article by Morgan Renneisen or Tyler Mozingo because they always seem to top their previous articles, hearing Nick Jackson and Tyler Steinmetz’s hilarious arguments with JJ, ranting to Cassidy Cardwell about how Jeremy Antle still gets mad at me that I yelled at him last year and even apologized for it too, stressing with Meredith Bass about ad money, and reading fantastic articles from Ryley Ortega, Isaiah Jenner and Bryant Miles. And last, but most definitely not least, I will forever miss the laughs, the tears, the stories, the jokes and the hilarious Vine references shared between Ainsley Gordon, Katie Huffman, Sarah Allen, Haylie Jenkins, Kelsi Sego and myself. You guys have been there for me at the best of times and the worst of times. You have been there when I stretched myself too thin to sit me down and help me figure things out. You have been there when I needed you all the most and for that, I am more thankful than anything on this Earth. All of these little things have made this year one of the most memorable. I love every single one of you more than you all know. Even if, at times, I seemed irritated or angry with some of you, I still loved all of you like my children. To Larry, you have made these four years in high school the most unforgettable. Any time I have told my family or friends about you, they always say, “I wish I had a teacher like that.” This kind of statement makes me realize just how lucky I am to have, not only a teacher, but a mentor and a best friend like you. You have constantly pushed me and forced me to grow out of my comfort zone, which has made me more social and more happy than ever. Without you, I definitely don’t think that I would be where I am now. Even if you called me an ugly trash bag on February 25 at 11:13 a.m., you hav still made the most positive impact on my life that one could make. So, it is with a heavy heart that I give my last goodbye to Larry, my memorable staff, and room 324. You’ve made these years unforgettable.

My Home Away From Home by Sarah Allen

went in to high school thinking that i’d take the easiest classes I could just to get my diploma. During my eighth grade year I thought that i’d keep my head down and stay this shy girl who didn’t have much self confidence. Then, I stepped foot inside of Larry Steinmetz’s room not knowing that my life was about to be changed forever. Hundreds of people pass room 324 without a second glance every day. There are tons people who have never even stepped foot inside of the room. To some, this is another room with typical boring classes and shouldn’t go noticed. For a high schooler with anxiety, nervousness before walking in to my first class and an extreme case of being the most awkward person to walk the halls at times, a safe place was not only a want, but a need. Room 324 was that safe place for me. It is a room full of open hearts, some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and friendships that you never knew you needed. You know those laughs that slowly turn in to silent knee slapping because something is so funny it’s hard to breathe? I couldn’t begin to explain all of the times that I’ve had that experience in this class. It is hard work and dedication, but it’s fun. I was forced to step out of my comfort zone and let loose, something you wouldn’t expect from a typical class. I can’t begin to thank every single one of you that has ever been in this class at the same time I was. I am so thankful for the friendships and strong bonds that have flourished from Journalism. My journey from Staff Writer to Photo Editor to Executive Editor was a long one, but i wouldn’t trade one single second of it. This class has helped to shape me in to the person I am today. If i’m being honest with myself, I will never be an extrovert. I am the poster child for being introverted. However, I have grown to be comfortable with myself as well as comfortable with new people. Without this class I wouldn’t be able to go to job interviews with my head held high, or go in to interviews without a care in the world. I walk away with social skills, better writing, too many inside jokes to count, and better dance moves thanks to the pre-prom dance classes with Steinmetz. I can’t imagine how my life would be today

without walking through room 324 everyday (well, everyday I got the motivation to show up). Some staff members may read this and not have a second thought. Even if you think you didn’t have an impact on my life, I am telling you that you did. I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for putting up with my dirty looks, frustration, and hassle. I did my best to help better all of you when it came to writing and other skills, but honestly most of you don’t need it. You are all amazing people. Keep bettering yourself and realizing how important you all are, you are the voice of the future. To Kim Houchin, the Editor-in-Chief who saw potential in me, thank you. You were my rock this year, and I couldn’t have done it without you. You are one of the strongest people I know and I will always look up to you. Our friendship means the world to me, and I know as we leave this room with tears in our eyes, you will always be someone who I cherish having in my life. You’re more than an editor. You are a kind soul who will move mountains. People in your life will love you endlessly because of the person you are. Being selfless has allowed you to better so many people in the class and because of that, we thank you. To Steinmetz, I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. You are an amazing teacher and I have learned so much from you. You pushed me, and even when I seemed like I was about to break, you pushed me more. You made me a strong, independent young adult. I had heard stories about teachers who would change lives, but I never knew it could happen to me until I met you. My heart hurts even though I know this isn’t an official goodbye. When you find people as influential and motivational as you have been with me the last 4 years, you don’t let go that easy. Who would have thought that a man who makes the concious decision to wear flip flops in freezing weather and khakis would end up being one of my favorite people in this world. I leave with a broken heart as my time in 324 is coming to an end. I will never forget all of the laughs, the cries, the hard work, the friendships and the arguments. We are a family, and will continue to be as all of our lives take us in different directions. Never forget the things you have learned, because this class will stick with you forever. With sadness, and all the heavy sighs in the world, goodbye room 324. I will miss you dearly.

Layout: Sarah Allen

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Kruse Causing a Racquet by Ryley Ortega

cing her way through junior year.

Savannah Kruse, team captain of the girls tennis team is starting off her junior season right. Her record is currently 2-0 and she plans to beat her last season record of 7-4. She is looking forward to this upcoming season with her team. Kruse recently competed in regionals and placed third, qualifying her for state. Kruse has been playing on the Bullitt East tennis team for six years and has been a varsity player since 5th grade. She first started playing when she was 8 years old. Her dad took her out to hit one day and she instantly fell in love with the game. As she gained experience over the years, she has learned her strengths, one being her serve, and her weaknesses. During matches, she prefers to play singles over doubles.“I like that I don’t have to depend on anyone when I play singles,” said Kruse. Kruse’s strengths don’t just end at her deadly serves, she also has a great attitude on and off the court. “ She is always really optimistic and I think that has a huge effect on the outcome of her matches, sometimes she gets in a bad position but she always recovers from that,” said sophomore player Lexi Lutz. “Winning drives her like any other athlete. She is gracious after victory and humble if defeated,” said Coach Chris Marsh Being a team captain means you must be a good leader. Kruse certainly fills those shoes. “If I ask her to help me with something she will gladly say yes,” said Sophomore Kaitlyn Reynolds. Reynolds has been playing with Kruse for almost two years now and likes to think of her as a role model. “ With 16 players on the roster this year I was unable to give a lot of individual attention to younger players. She leads practice drills and helps the underclassmen hone their potential,” said Marsh. Since she is an older player, Kruse has many people who look up to her and go to her for help. “She’s got so much experience that I know I can always come to her for any advice or questions if i’m in a rough spot,” said Lutz“I really look up to her as a person and a player and I think many of the younger players do too,” says Reynolds.

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Layout: Ryley Ortega and T.C. Etherton

Coming Soon:

There’s A New King in Town by T.C. Etherton

he King will have some competition.

Dunkin’ Donuts will be setting up shop in Mt. Washington soon. There isn’t many breakfast places in Mt. Washington, but of the few, Donut King has always been the go to, being packed for hours after opening each day. Things could be changing though, as Dunkin Donuts will opening its doors in the Mount soon. The store will be on Bardstown road, by the recently opened Dollar Tree. The shop will be on a strip of stores, the other stores on the strip have yet to be announced. Bullitt East students are excited to see a little change. Sophomore Lexi Lutz has her mind on something else other than donuts, “I really like their coffee, they have my favorite kind.” Freshman Andrew Jenkins thinks it’s nice to have another option, “I feel like there was only one place to go for a long time, it’ll be nice to have a different place to try.¨ said Jenkins. The Dunkin Donuts will be opening soon this year.

They Still Got It by Nick Jackson

undreds of years later and they’re still on top.

teachers at Bullitt East are still perfecting and playing their sport. These teachers have been playing sports for years. They all got into multiple sports at a young age, they have all been playing their entire life and they all have many different reasons why they still play and enjoy their sport. English teacher, Leo Craven has been playing sports his entire life. He played baseball, football, basketball and he did a lot of skateboarding. Today, he only sticks to basketball. “I was probably best at baseball, but liked basketball more. Once I got older, basketball was the easiest to play and organize,” said Craven.

Renaissance man Larry Steinmetz does a little bit of everything at Bullitt East. He teaches AP English, he is the adviser for journalism and yearbook classes and is also a CPR certified teacher. Steinmetz plays a few sports; basketball and golf. “I’ve been playing (basketball) for as long as I can remember. We’ve (his team, including Craven) been playing in this league for 14 to 15 years. I also played high school basketball at Desales and I’ve played ever since,” said Steinmetz. Steinmetz didn’t just quit playing after college, he played against the best players during his college years, “I got to play against good players at UK. My favorite to play with was Derek Anderson (UK basketball team player), He was at Doss while I was at Desales so I already knew him a little bit,” said Steinmetz. Drama and English teacher, Daniel Barrett has been running without looking back for five years now. The 55 year old Barrett ran the Kentucky Derby Festival mini marathon on April 28. Barrett started running later in his life, “I took up running after turning 50 (I’m 55 now) to stave off mortality. “I took up running after turning 50 (I’m 55 now) to stave off mortality,” said Barrett. Barrett finished 58 out of 650 runners aged 50 and up. Barrett enjoys time to think while running, “ My favorite thing about running is that I can use that time to think. I lose myself in precious memories, I plan out my travels and activities, and I pray for everyone. Meanwhile, the miles roll by,” said Barrett.

After high school, Craven liked to play at his college. “I started playing almost everyday in college as a way to exercise and then I kept playing since to stay active,” said Craven. Today Craven plays with students, staff and friends after school, “(I would) Sometimes (play) after school with faculty and students, or at church leagues,” said Craven. Today, Craven still plays for some of the same reasons as he did while in college, “I still play to try and stay fit and young. It is something I enjoy playing and try and stay young. It makes me still feel like a kid, let the stress of being an adult go and just enjoy something in the moment for no reason other than it is fun,” said Craven. For Steinmetz, he continues to play basketball and golf. “I just love it. I’m certainly at the twilight of being able to do it. Especially the league we play in is an 18 and over league. But I love it. It keeps me young, I enjoy it,” said Steinmetz. Steinmetz is making sure to play as often as he can because he realizes that he won’t be able to play forever, “I hate that one day I’m not going to be playing anymore because playingasketball has always pretty much been my favorite thing to do,” said Steinmetz. Determined to continue improving, Barrett wants to keep getting faster, “ My goal now is to better my time just a little. When I was in high school I ran the half-marathon in 1 hour, 28 minutes. If I keep improving by just 2 minutes per year, I can beat my time from age 16 when I’m 65,” said Barrett. Steinmetz will continue running as it makes her feel carefree. “I love running because it gives me energy, it keeps me in shape and it lets me escape from my stress and problems for an hour or so while I just listen to music and enjoy the run. It just makes me happy,” said Steinmetz. Steinmetz has been running for 21 years and continues to keep running as long as possible.

Counselor Dana Steinmetz also competed in the Kentucky Derby Festival mini marathon. Steinmetz has been running since she went to college. “I started running in college because my dad was a runner and it was something we could do together. He ran marathons and used to run almost every day, and he encouraged me to try it because it’s so good for you and it’s something you can do, even when you’re old,” said Steinmetz. Steinmetz enjoys running for multiple reasons. “My favorite thing about running is that it makes you mentally strong. No run is the same; each mile is different. There are some that are hilly, some that are hot, some that feel like your shoes have concrete in them because you aren’t hydrated enough so you want to die. But during each run, you find a way to be mentally strong,” said Steinmetz.

Dana Steinmetz after competing in the Kentucky Derby Festival mini marathon with daughter Haley.

Layout: Nick Jackson

14.

Getting Their Heads in the Game

Photos submitted by Zak Perdew and Peyton Meredith

by Tyler Mozingo and Montrell Page

t never stops.

Sports for most people never end, it’s a year round thing nowadays.

People playing sports hardly get a break this day in age. Whether it is there high school team or their AAU travel team, they are going almost 365 days a year. It isn’t always a bad thing though. Most sports have an “offseason”, but that doesn’t mean the players are in their “offseason”. With high school sports, their season obviously will come to an end at some point. The players on that team, though, often find AAU teams to play for. For example, the baseball season ends around June, and that is just the beginning for many baseball players as some will play over the summer, with their high school team starting back up in the fall through the winter. For basketball, the boys and girls high school teams end around February, and then AAU will play into spring and some of summer. Those are just a few of the sports that are year round. Zak Perdew is a sophomore who plays basketball for Bullitt East. He also plays on an AAU team with the Louisville Prospects. They started up right around when the Bullitt East season ended. Perdew also plays football and soccer, so he, literally, is going 365 days of the school year. “I love playing basketball so I enjoy playing year round. It doesn’t bother me at all and soccer and football just make it more fun,” said Perdew. Peyton Meredith, who is a senior, plays baseball for Bullitt East and plays AAU for Kentucky Sports Academy (KSA). Meredith went from Razorbacks Baseball Club last summer into fall practice and winter workouts into the actual season for Bullitt East, and will play more this summer for KSA. Meredith is committed and signed with Kentucky Wesleyan, where he will also play baseball. He will transition from his summer season right into the college game. “It is definitely a grind, but it’s always a good time,” said Meredith. Savannah Kruse is a junior volleyball player who plays for Bullitt East. She also plays Club volleyball for Legacy. With playing for her high school team and club team, Kruse is playing year round. On top of that, she is also a tennis player for Bullitt East. “It is very time consuming, especially since I play tennis too. Most of your weekends are filled up with club ball tournaments, so you honestly don’t have a social life,” said Kruse. Managing your time while playing two sports in high school and playing club ball definitely got tough.

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Layout: Montrell Page

“Freshman year kicked my butt because it was hard to deal with tennis, club ball, and school work. There have been times where I’ve had to bring my school work to Club tournaments with me since they are an all day thing,but I haven’t had any troubles recently,” said Kruse. Freshman Josiah Morris also plays basketball year round. Morris plays for an AAU basketball team called the Louisville Magic. “Our team is sponsored by Adidas and that is cool to be sponsored by a company that big.” said Morris. He also mentioned that playing for this AAU team will make his game go to the next level. “We travel a lot, but it’s worth it because i get college coaches coming to the tournaments we play in.” Sophomore Chloe Holt plays for the club soccer team called Javanon. Holt likes playing for javanon but likes playing for the school better. “Playing for Javanon makes me a better player but i like the playing for the school team better because all of my friends play for the school and its more fun,” said Holt. “One of the main reasons i play for Javanon is so I can get college looks.” Sports in this day in age are non stop all the time. Whether it be your high school team or your AAU team, you’re playing that sport just around 365 days a year.

Soccer With a Twist

Poppin’ Tags

by Cassidy Cardwell

Futsal is an indoor soccer league open to anyone that wants to play.

After soccer season comes futsal season, a league that both students and teachers can look forward to. Futsal keeps soccer players with a ball at their feet and improving communication skills.

Whether locally or in the city, fashion is a much loved concept. Keeping up with trends can get expensive, but thrift stores have wardrobe staples for a fraction of the cost. The reduce-reuse-recycle concept of thrifting keeps customers coming back.

It’s a league for fun, but when it comes tournament time it can be competitive.

Why Thrifting?

by Carissa Kimball

ullitt East kicked off their annual futsal season this winter.

Futsal is a variation of soccer that is played indoors with a heavier ball, and a smaller field. The futsal league at Bullitt East is open to both students and teachers. “It’s a really fun thing to do in the off-season,” said senior Justin Alden. The league gives Bullitt East a taste of European sports. It’s ultimately a mix of basketball and soccer, being played inside. “It’s really different than regular soccer, I wish it was more than just a recreational league here,” said Alden. “I’ve played soccer since I was little and when Mr. Brangers gave me the opportunity I was excited to play,” said Chris Kunkel, the athletic director at Bullitt East. The league opens up the chance for teachers to show off their soccer skills and bond with students. The league helps soccer players keep a ball at their feet. Playing with new people allows them to brush up on communication skills as well. “Getting those extra touches in the off season keeps the players in shape and improving,” said Kunkel.

acklemore might have been onto something.

Hidden finds at local thrift stores are all the craze as thrift shopping comes back in style.

No two pieces are alike, so thrifting allows a unique wardrobe. Second hand clothing is also priced at a lower rate so you get the best bang for your buck. “Thrifting itself is a really cool way of recycling, giving clothes a “rebirth” and to be worn at their full potential,” said Jay Moert. Also, many trends from past decades are found at thrift stores and exposes people to past fashion.

Local Thrifting

Many of these trends can be found locally. Freshman Alyssa Eddington enjoys the Mount Washington goodwill for cheap finds. Moert along with sophomore Maddie Gonzales ventures into the heart of Louisville in the Highlands to find unique clothing in an environment that is one of a kind.

Thrifted Finds

Diversity is very prevalent in second hand stores and you rarely see the same two items at different thrift stores. “Vintage Bananda off Bardstown road is probably my favorite... the store has a range of different types of clothing from graphic tees to designer jackets,” said Moert. Vintage Banana is selective on what they display on their racks to ensure you get your money’s worth. “I can find anything from the 70’s to 40’s and they’re all unique in their own way,” said Gonzales.

For most players, futsal serves as a learning opportunity for new abilities on the outdoor field. “It’s a fun way to get prepared and improve for next season,” said sophomore Tayler Mahoney. Playing futsal can introduce new friends and skills. For incoming freshmen or players new to the sport, futsal offers a preview of what it’s like to play during the regular season. “Meeting and playing with new people can give you a taste of soccer if you’re scared to play for the outdoor season,” said Mahoney. Futsal is played league style, with regular season games and a tournament at the end. The members of the winning team were Ian Powell, Harrison Glauber, Taylor Mahoney, Emma Kate Wright, Zane Payton, and Corbin Webb. The next season of futsal starts next winter. Sign-ups are in mid January, teachers and students are already looking forward to another great season. Layout: Carissa Kimball and Cassidy Cardwell

16.

Recent Firings and Resignations in White House by Ainsley Gordon

he firing squad has taken aim.

These last few months of the Donald Trump presidency has proved to be a time where many favored political figures have either stepped down or been fired. Many of Trump’s closest figures in his administration had fled the White House or has been fired from their position. The number of original members of the Trump campaign is dwindling. According to Chris Cillizza, the CNN Editor-at-Large, “The pace of resignations, firings, and other assorted departures from the Trump White House is twice what it was in George W. Bush’s first year as president and triple of Barack Obama’s first year in office.”

Hope Hicks Once Trump’s communication director and aide for many years, 29-year-old Hicks is now no longer a part of Trump’s administration. Hicks and Trump had worked closely together during the years leading up to his presidency and once the position was awarded to Trump, Hicks’ was never too far away from the president. According to the New York Times, “Her small office is within earshot of the president’s office.”

Tillerson technically remained in his position until midnight of March 31, but after March 13, he handed over his authority to the deputy secretary of state, John J. Sullivan. He administered a speech on March 22 to the State Department employees where he stated, “This can be a very mean-spirited town. But you don’t have to choose to participate in that. Each of us get to choose the person we want to be, and the way we want to be treated, and the way we will treat others.”

H.R. McMaster Already the second national security advisor in the course of about a year, H.R. McMaster announced his resignation on March 22.

However, when she was called up to testify in a House Intelligence Committee session, “Hicks said that her job sometimes required her to tell ‘white lies’ on behalf of the president,” said Katie Rogers and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times.

Trump’s first national security advisor was Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Coming into office with Trump, Flynn only spent 23 days in his position until he resigned on Feb. 13. McMaster took over the position once Flynn resigned.

Shortly after that, Hicks announced that in the upcoming weeks or months she would resign from her position on Feb. 28. Holding true to her word, Hicks finally cut her ties from the White House on March 29. Many contribute her resignation to the vigorous lifestyle of a political figure in the White House. Trump and Hicks parted ways with a final kiss on the cheek.

After a little over a year as the national security advisor, McMaster resigned and Trump tweeted, “I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton (John Bolton) will be my new National Security Advisor. I am very thankful for the service of General H.R. McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend. There will be an official contact handover on 4/19.”

As of now, it is unknown who will be certainly taking over her empty position, but at this moment, Dan Scavino the director of social media is sitting in the office. According to Rogers and Haberman, “(Scavino is) the only remaining Trump campaign original still in the White House.”

Rex Tillerson On March 13, secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, was fired from his position and his firing was all but ordinary. According to the New York Times, on March 9, Tillerson got

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a call from White House chief of staff to inform him “to cut short a trip to Africa and advised him ‘you may get a tweet.’” And just four days later, the call struck true. The tweet from the president stated, “Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job. Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service. Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all.” Tillerson soon after received a call from Trump where the president confirmed the tweet.

Layout: Ainsley Gordon

McMaster said in a White House released statement, ““I am thankful to President Donald J. Trump for the opportunity to serve him and our nation as national security advisor. I am grateful for the friendship and support of the members of the National Security Council who worked together to provide the President with the best options to protect and advance our national interests.” A former U.S. Ambassador, Bolton was set to take over the role on April 9. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this choice. With possible meetings with North Korea in the near future, many were concerned of Bolton’s well known standpoints on issues with North Korea, Syria and Iraq.

Pulling the Trigger on the NRA by Ethan Neutz

ven if you’re able to bear arms, you might not be able to bear having to pay more.

After multiple mass shootings in the United States, many of them at schools, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has come under fire and many companies are cutting ties. With so many people dying, many of them students, there has to be something to stop it all. All around America, people are calling for stricter gun laws so that events like this never happen again. But the question is: will this really stop a person from getting a gun and going in to a school or someplace else and killing people?

The NRA has stood with their second amendment rights and with this they have received much scrutiny from not only people but businesses as a whole. From banks to major airline companies, some here in Kentucky, they’re cutting ties with the 5 million member association. Airlines and other travel companies have taken to Twitter and also spoke publicly to denounce discounted rates and special offers that were once easily obtainable for any member of the NRA.

passed legislations to fully get rid of tax exemptions that Delta used in their home state of Georgia on jet fuel used by the company at their main hub in Atlanta. Other companies that are also in Kentucky are the multiple car rental companies that have taken to the public their displeasure with the current debate. Enterprise is the biggest car rental service in the Louisville area and their main branch is at Louisville-International. Enterprise is not the only rental company that has come forward as Hertz, Alamo, Avis and Budget have also announced an end to special NRA offers. It may sound weird that it’s mostly travel companies that are ending their partnerships but it actually makes a lot of sense. People are always traveling, especially if you’re in an organization that has meetings all over the United States. So by doing this they are able to actual create an impact and possibly spark change. According to CNN, as more and more companies abandoned their partnerships, the NRA responded with, “it’s a shameful display of political and civic cowardice.”

Kentucky members of the NRA will of course be affected with hunInstead of trying to dreds of flights by both reconcile differences Delta and American in opinions between Companies all across the state have cut ties with the pro-second amendement organization. Airlines coming out of themselves and the Louisville-International everyday. companies, the NRA wants to fully throw them out and assume new partnerships with, “others who recognize that patrioAccording to Time magazine, Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian sent a tism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms company wide memo on March 2 stating that the company are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to was breaking off in order to not show a side in the gun control serve.” debate. State legislatures in Georgia later retaliated by having since

Layout: Ethan Neutz

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How Parkland, Florida Changed America by Morgan Harbolt

he lasting impact of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles.

Over a month since the mass school shooting that killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida, America has not moved on. What was the factor that made this school shooting different from the other 17 this year? Who is the voice behind the students? Has anything been put into action to ensure this never happens again? February 14 will no longer be known as just Valentines Day. For many it will always be remembered as the 3rd deadliest school shooting in U.S. History. Student journalist, David Hogg, is one main reason why this school shooting isn’t being forgotten. He was one of the many students whose life was put on line that day. But, instead of just hiding and freaking out, Hogg kept calm. He decided to pull out his phone and start recording himself explaining what was going on and interviewing other students, while the gunman was in the building. Hogg told CNN, “I want to show these people exactly what’s going on when these children are facing bullets flying through classrooms and students are dying trying to get an education. That’s not ok, and that’s not acceptable and we need to fix that.” Because of the videos Hogg took, people all over America are seeing first hand how terrifying it is to be caught in a school shooting. That is what made this school shooting stand out. Those videos stuck in people’s minds. It’s not just another school shooting that Americans see on the news and forget about an hour later. Other students took videos also, they even showed their fellow classmates ,who had been shot, laying on the ground. Some think the videos were too much and other think it’s just what the world needed to see. Either way everyone has seen them and no one if forgetting about it. Now Hogg is the student leader in the #NeverAgain movement against gun violence and has appeared all over talk shows, news channels, and social media. Another student voice is Emma González, also a survivor of the shooting. She gave a speech just 3 days after the massacre happened. She said, “Since he was in middle school, it was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter. Those talking about how we should have not ostracized him, you didn’t know this kid. OK, we did. We know that

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Layout: Morgan Harbolt

they are claiming mental health issues, and I am not a psychologist, but we need to pay attention to the fact that this was not just a mental health issue. He would not have harmed that many students with a knife.” Referring to Nikolas Cruz, the gunman of this mass shooting. Everyone always tell kids to speak up. Speak up if you have a reason to believe someone around you is a threat. But what does speaking up do if no one ever does anything about it. “Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities again and again. We did, time and time again,” said González. All that was ever done is expulsion. González is another activist in the #NeverAgain movement. On March 14th they organized a National Walkout Day where students all over America were encouraged to walk out of class at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes, one for every victim in the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Nearly 3,000 schools took part in this event. Students, such as Hogg, from Stoneman Douglas went to Washington, D.C. for the walk out. Along with students from local schools and from all over they stood outside of the white house, demanding for gun control. Students were holding signs that said things like, “Girls clothing in school is more regulated than guns in america!,” and “Schools are for learning, not for lockdowns.” The #NeverAgain movement has reached many people all over america. Stars like Zac Efron and Demi Lovato have used their platforms to support the movement. The Stoneman Douglas students were even featured on the cover of Time magazine. On March 26, they held the March For Our Lives protest. This was also in Washington D.C. and had students participating from all over the country, including Manual High School here in Louisville. Quintez Brown is a part of the journalist staff at manual. He was one of the students who went down to Washington for the march. He said, “Our reason for going to D.C. was to tell the story of those students at MSD (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) and also follow their lead in student activism. We were interviewed by professional journalists, we planned our own coverage, and we marched in the nation’s capital demanding gun reform.” The students at DuPont Manual High School have been featured on news channels talking about how they’re making a difference. Brown said, “Our school is making a difference because we are not silent. We organized a walkout and we

These are some of the phrases activists put on their signs at the March For Our Lives event.

marched locally and nationally. We are letting our local, state, and federal representatives know that we want change and we’ll do whatever it takes to bring the change our nation deserves.” Other cities also held their own marches all across the country including Louisville. Freshman Molly Shannon went to the Louisville march. She said, “I feel like being apart of the March For Our Lives event in Louisville has helped me make a difference because several other young people including me made an appearance. I think that will make a change because we are the students, we are the victims. In comparison to other protests I have been to, so many other people in my age range have spoke out and demanded for change, so now its the governments turn to take action.” Again, these students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas are the highlight of every news channel, talk show, and social media. Stars such as Nina Dobrev and Halsey have praised the young activists. Dobrev actually went to the march in D.C. herself. She made a post to her instagram page and said, “...Children are being robbed... of their lives. How many more kids need to die before something changes?...” Nothing is stopping these kids from getting the change they want. A few states have already changed some laws. In Rhode Island they now have a “red flag” policy that keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to public safety. Florida passed a bill that requires a 3-day waiting period when buying a gun and you have to be 21 to buy a rifle.

School Shooting Statistics:

- 17 weeks into 2018 and there has been 20 school shooting where someone has been injured or hurt - According to CampusSafetyMagazine.com there has been an average of 1 school shooting every week this year - According to CampusSafetyMagazine.com 98% of the school shooters since 2015 experienced a major loss prior to the attack -According to CampusSafetyMagazine.com 71% of the school shooters since 2015 felt bullied or threatened by other prior to the shooting - According to CampusSafetyMagazine.com in 2016, 90% of public schools had a written plan for a school shooting - According to CampusSafetyMagazine.com of the 90% about 70% had students practice for a school shooter plan

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wrong with the Electoral College?

by Morgan Renneisen

individuals vote when it comes to electing a new president.

The Electoral College is a system of voting used by The United States but many citizens have different outlooks on the process.

This is usually the problem when a presidential candidate is elected that the majority of the United States did not want to win the race.

The Electoral College is a way of counting and collecting votes that is used during presidential elections.

Although it may seem that states with a lower population are at a disadvantage, it is proven that they are quite important in process of electing a new president and they can seriously impact the outcome of the election.

very vote counts, or so they say.

This structure of voting is used to prevent a presidential candidate from winning the popular vote and to try and keep everything fair. The United States adopted this way of voting in 1787 at the constitutional convention and it has been used ever since. Many people have their own opinions on the Electoral college, both good and bad. Some say that this way of counting votes takes away the importance of each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual vote, while others bring up the argument that it keeps the complicated voting process fair and under control.

This means that states with a lower number of electoral votes are capable of having more electoral votes for every voter, which makes them very crucial to the process. It is sometimes believed that the Electoral College is unfair because of the fact that the electoral votes outweigh the popular vote under any and all circumstances.

Although everyone has their own point of view, the Electoral College has been used for a very long period of time and will continue to be used as a system for voting in our country.

In the 2016 presidential election, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but was still not elected into office because her opponent Donald Trump received the most electoral votes. This is all due to the Electoral College and the way that it operates.

Each state is allowed a certain number of electoral votes. The number of votes that each state has is based on the population and the size of the particular state.

There is a various amount of good and also bad things and situations that come along with the electoral college and the voting process as a whole.

For example, California has a very large population so they are allowed 55 electoral votes, while North Dakota only has three.

Not everyone agrees with it, but it is always important to know and understand the ways of voting in the United States when it comes to electing a new presidential candidate into office.

The electoral votes go to the presidential candidate who is the most popular in each state. Some citizens will bring up the argument that the Electoral College has the ability to take away the importance of every

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Every state, no matter the size or population, has at least three electoral votes.

Layout: Morgan Renneisen

Even though individual votes might not seem important, in the long run every single persons vote is crucial and taking part in presidential elections is important.

435 N Bardstown Rd Mt Washington, KY (502)836-1532

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Fortnite Taking Over by Jaydrien Jarret

ortnite is sweeping the gaming world.

Fortnite is a very popular battle royale game that has been getting alot of attention this year. It seems that everyone has been spending a fair share of their time on Fortnite as people seem to never stop talking about or playing it. The game is highly popular and as of right now it seems as the hype for it will never end. The game is a battle royale style game which features 100 players per-game playing each other. The amount of people playing Fortnite is ridiculous, especially now with the recent launch of the mobile version which allows you to play the game virtually anywhere. “Yeah people should definitely take a break from the game. I couldn’t imagine constantly being attached to a video game and always thinking about it. You can tell a lot of people need to because it’s always talked about,” said sophomore Cameron Payne. The game continues to grow and add new things which could add to the issue of people spending too much time on the game. The popularity to Fortnite seemingly will never end. With the game developers, Epic Games, seemingly adding something new to the game every week, there is always a new reason to hop on the game and play even more with the new features. Even celebrities like Drake and Travis Scott are hoping on and playing. “I think it’s crazy how a free game like fortnite can have everyone playing it and leave games like 2k and COD with hardly any people playing,” said Junior, Mason Kelly.

Fortnite is seemingly the most popular game of the year, and with the game being free it opens up to a higher range of people than most games do. Battle royale style games feature a certain amount of players that face each other in one game. In Fortnite 100 players are dropped onto one map and fight each other in certain areas as the map gets smaller as a storm comes along. In the game you can play in solo, duo, or squad mode and there are promo events that Epic Games add in every couple of weeks. They also feature skins that are put into the game shop everyday in which you can buy different costumes for your character. Fortnite has blown up alot this year, the game is streamed on things like Twitch and Youtube at all hours of the day. Many gamers who have excelled at the game have grown to be put in the spotlight and make tons of money off of the game. Streamers like Ninja who has played with multiple celebrities has gained a lot of fame and is known by many players of the Fortnite community.

Jaydrien Jarrett 23. Layout: and Montrell Page

Movie Review:

Avengers: Infinity War by Montrell Page

he Avengers: Infinity War movie scored the biggest opening week of all time in the box office with 250 million dollars across North America, according to Hollywood Reporter.

Infinity War is all of your favorite Marvel movies in one. With action throughout the whole movie and with major characters dying, I liked this movie because it kept my attention the entire time. When I saw the trailer to this Infinity War movie I expected some important characters to die but it was disappointing to see all who died. The end of the movie was shocking, it ended on a cliffhanger that has many people, as well as myself, angry and anxious. Only bad thing is you have to watch all of the Marvel movies to understand what is going on in this movie because they all come together for this movie. I think this is a good movie it’s a must-watch for Marvel and comic fans, there are two parts to this movie, because the second part release May 3, 2019.

Infinity War gets a 10/10.

The Power of Protests by Kelsi Sego

e’re gonna fight the power.

In 2018 people have decided to fight back against opression and injustices in form of protests. Protests have been used as a way to encourage civic engagement and active roles in government through time. There have been various protests fostering societal change. While some may think protests are violent and unproductive they have actually made a positive impact on society. Protests have been used as an agent of change since the beginning of our nation’s history and long before. Our founding fathers knew how important it was to maintain our right to petition the government and our right to assemble. The first amendment guaranteed us these rights as well as the right to freedom of speech too. The birth of the United States of America as an independent nation essentially started as a protest. The American colonists were displeased with the way that England was treating the colonist therefore these men decided to do something about it. It started with some men throwing tea into the Boston Harbor and some nearly 244 years ago. Now here we are in the year 2018, where civic engagement is encouraged and we are free to speak our mind without fear of being jailed or killed by the government.

Other influential protests have been the women’s right movement - both past and present - Ghandi’s Salt March and the Monday Demonstrations. One major protests going on locally is the teacher protests in Frankfort. These have been over public education funding and pension. Thousands of teacher, students, and advocates for public education gathered in Frankfort on Friday, April 13 to protests budget cuts to education. The Kentucky Education Association, a union of state educators, rallied to encourage legislatures to override Bevin’s vetoes of the state budget and tax bills. Many teacher requested absences to attend this which resulted in many school cancellations including Jefferson and Bullitt county. There are a few students at BE who believe in the power protesting. “I think that protesting has a positive impact on society. I feel like it gives people a sense of belonging because there has never been a protest where I have felt out of place. Protesting also motivates other people to publicly speak out about what they believe in.” said freshman Molly Shannon who attended the March for Our Lives event in Louisville, the 2017-18 Women’s Marches and a health care rally in July.

Some people believe that protests are often violent and lead to rioting, however this is not the case. A majority of protests are actually quite peaceful and don’t result in any violent actions. Another common misconProtests have been a ception about protests is that driving factor in the develthey are unproductive and are opment of human rights used to get out of doing things. Two Bullitt county public school teachers hold protest signs outside Roby Elementary School. On Friday April, 13 a rally was held outside of Roby Elementary for Public education in light of recent legislative events.”Protesting motavates in the United States. One While this may be true for some other people to publicy speak out for what they believe in” said Molly Shannon. of the most influential people many protest goers are protests in the history of the United States was the civil rights often very passionate about what they believe in. movement. This was a social justice movement promoting equal rights for African Americans. Even though slavery was Because if these misconceptions some people believe that proabolished after the civil war, prejudice was all too real for Afritests don’t make any impact on society. The protest of the past can Americans. The 1950s and 1960s brought about unprecespeak for themselves. After and during the civil rights movedented change to America. ment African Americans gained more rights, after the women’s suffrage movement women gained the right to vote. Protests These brave men and women fought against the oppression have been a force to create change in this country. However of their people. Jim Crow laws was one of the ways white protests are not always impactful. Some protests have resulted people marginalized blacks. The fourteenth and fifteenth in little to no change. Shannon said “It depends, I think they amendments brought about rights for black Americans. While [protests] definitely can [impact society] if the government the fifteenth amendment gave rights for blacks to vote some recognizes how many people are fighting for change all across white people particularly in the south searched for a way to the country but at the same time I haven’t noticed that much keep black people oppressed, thus the birth of Jim Crow laws. change ever since I’ve been protesting”. These laws made it difficult for blacks to vote because many of them couldn’t pass the literacy test given to them. Interracial Even though some protesters may not always bring about marriage was made illegal and segregation became prominent change, it still brings awareness to topics that may not have in society as a result of these laws. been discussed otherwise. Getting people talking about issues is the first step to making change.

Layout: Kelsi Sego

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We are the Future

by Olivia Armstrong

However, the bill fell short 47-45. The more interesting point about this failed bill is some of the legislators that voted against it. Two that did so previously worked in the public school system as administrators.

Student voice has been a controversial topic in the media as of late. On March 14, students had the chance to use their voice, and their feet, to make a positive change in the community. Here locally, students are looking for ways to use their voice and speak up.

The even more interesting point about those who voted against it was their reasoning for doing so. Rep. Tony Cook said that this bill had the potential to “erode the principal’s authority.” Rep. Wendy McNamara also stated that school-aged children “lack the basica brain development” to have such constitutional rights as the first amendment.

tudent voice or no voice.

Our generation is what matters in ensuring that the future is bright.

Student voice has always been an important issue, especially in the world of journalism. In 1987, a school newspaper in Missouri published two controversial articles on teen pregnancy and divorce. The principal of the school at the time became unhappy with these topics, and immediately removed them from the newspaper. This caused the students to sue the school, but a low court at first sided with the school. However, the students were not ready to give up quite yet, and the ruling was eventually overturned by an appeals court. The case eventually made it to the Supreme Court, but the students lost 5-3. The Supreme Court ruled that the school has the right to regulate speech if there seems to be a legitimate concern. More recently, and more close to home, the state of Indiana has been dealing with some pretty important student voice issues of their own. These issues have stemmed from an important bill called “New Voices.” The New Voices law in Indiana would help protect student journalists’ first amendment rights. It was taken to legislators early this year, with a positive outlook of being passed.

25. Layout: Olivia Armstrong

This, however, hasn’t seemed to phase journalists all around the country. This same bill has passed in 13 other states, and is still pending in six others. Away from the world of journalism, an increasing amount of students are beginning to find their voice in prevalent issues. So far in 2018, there have been 17 school shootings, according to CNN. CNN averaged this number at around one school shooting per every week in the year thus far. Before February 14, this number was 16. However, on Valentine’s Day, Florida experienced one of the worst, and most impactful, school shootings of modern day history. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was just like any other high school in America: full of bright kids with passionate desires to learn and do well. But this was cut short when a shooter walked in the freshman building and opened fire, leaving 17 dead and 16 others injured. While the students mourned, they also realized what a pivotal point this was for them. It seemed that many stopped and asked themselves: “How can I stop this?” And from there they worked towards that goal with no end in sight.

One star in this race to school safety, and an avid believer in adolescent voice in general, much less student, is Emma Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a victim of the Parkland school shooting, and is now an activist for gun reform and school safety. Gonzalez was a leader of forming Never Again MSD, a student-led gun control organization that was formed only one day after the fatal shooting. The group can also be known by the hashtags #neveragain and #enoughisenough. Since the formation of this group, they seem to have taken the United States by storm. In March of this year, five of these students were featured on the cover of Time magazine. They have organized countless rallies, written pieces for important magazines like Teen Vogue and CNN, and spent their days advocating for their beliefs. This group truly has become the epitome of modern day student voice, especially after organizing their most recent campaign: March for Our Lives. This campaign, with help from Everytown for Gun Safety, is now the second largest protest in modern day history. An estimated two million people marched for gun control and student safety, with celebrity performances and speeches from activists. One of the most powerful speeches on this day was from Gonzalez. She started by naming off the Parkland victims, and then stood silent for four minutes. When the four minutes was up, she ended with a moving sentence to impact both the world of student voice and politics. “Since the time that I came out here, it has been 6 minutes and 20 seconds, The shooter has ceased shooting, and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape, and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.” At Bullitt East, some students were just as eager to participate in such an event. Even though the March for Our Lives protest wasn’t huge in Louisville, many still showed their support. Sophomore Beth Woods was very happy with how the event turned out. While she isn’t a big supporter of the idea of “gun control,” she still is an advocate of the first amendment and peacefully protesting. “I like the idea of young individuals expressing what they believe, and as long as it’s done civilly, I see no problem with it,” said Woods. Senior William Smith also stood on middle ground about the March for Our Lives demonstrations. He noted that it was a

productive protest, and was glad to see his peers participating in the event. “My only request would be to see less meme signs,” said Smith. Both Woods and Smith noted how it was important to keep going past just a march or a protest. They both agreed that while these events raise awareness, actual change lies in many other actions. “Have productive conversation with your peers, write your representatives, and don’t back down from challenge in the face of an awkward encounter,” said Smith. Some students, however, aren’t as big of advocators for such events. This often falls in the category of people who are supporters of organizations like the NRA and the second amendment. Senior Andy Lutz is one of these students. In the recent months, Lutz has begun to find his voice in the world of politics, and isn’t afraid to share his opinions, especially on Twitter. His bio reads “Republican #2A #MAGA,” and upon entering his twitter you find yourself engulfed in a world of opinionated commentary. In one tweet he writes, “Stop slamming the NRA and its supporters who had no involvement with this massacre [the Parkland shooting].” In another he says that the “Left” are often misinformed. “Instead of teaching kids to slam the NRA and guns, the Left should’ve been trying to educate the students to make an informed opinion for themselves.” Lutz also wasn’t a huge advocator for the school assembly on March 14. “I think it’s a useless way to waste time and disrupts learning, while accomplishing nothing.” Lutz, if allowed, would not have participated in a walkout. “Even if it was pro #2A and pro-gun,” said Lutz. Many agreed with him, stating that they wouldn’t have participated in a potential walkout. “I just don’t see what it would really accomplish,” said Woods. Smith also agreed. Regardless of viewpoint, it seemed that most students at the end of the day believed that differences did need to be made. Whether that means more gun control, mental health help, better background checks, etc., one thing is clear: students and the youth are the key to making this change happen.

Many students, country-wide, are choosing to meet with government officials. Calling, emailing, and sending a letter to your local offices are great ways to get your voice heard.

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Grasping Your Self Identity by Katie Huffman

ho are you?

Knowing who you are is essential when trying to understand your purpose, but how you would describe yourself in this way to others sometimes isn’t that simple. Self identity is how someone sees themselves and the relationship they have with the rest of the world. This can be determined by a wide range of things, from the role they play in society now to the person they want to become as an adult. Being aware of who you are has some benefits, which revolve ultimately around having self awareness. If someone asked you to describe yourself, would you know what to say? If you are unsure, a few things to decide that can help are: your relationship with the rest of the world, the person you want to become as an adult, what makes you different from others, how you express yourself and your values. After deciding these things, understanding who you are and your importance will be easier. Whether you are a student, pursuing a career or are not sure of the path you’re on in life, everyone’s life has meaning. The things people take part in during their everyday lives makes up their identity, but seeing the importance their everyday actions sometimes isn’t that clear. Different people contribute different things to humanity. The lives of average people would be different without the men and women working at gas stations, daycares, grocery stores, restaurants and other classified occupations. Looking past these positions without seeing their importance may be easy, but these workers help make the world work. These workers play an important role in society, just as doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professions such as these do.

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Layout: Katie Huffman

Sophomore Tara Alexander said, “There are common jobs that we overlook, but there always has to be someone to do them in order for us to function normally. Bus drivers are the reason a large percentage of kids even make it to school every day, including myself. Daycare workers make it possible for hard working parents to do their jobs, which can also really make an impact on our community and world as well. It’s just things that go unnoticed until people ask us to think about them more in depth.” Although not all teenagers have a job, they still can contribute to the working world around them. “As a teenager, it’s hard to understand your exact potential and it’s even more difficult to gauge what you’re capable of doing to impact the world in the future. However, I always have been and always will be a daughter, a sister and a friend. I always do my best, I try to make people laugh and make them feel comfortable. I make an impact by being the best person I can be, by listening and supporting others,” said Alexander. Sophomore Mason Petri said, “what leaves a mark on people is when you have a good attitude and work ethic, your smile can make someone’s day and do a lot as well as your ability to listen and understand people.” Besides the roles people play in the present, the people they are planning to be can also say something about the person they are now. The things that you currently take part in and prioritize should outline who you want your future self to be. If you commit yourself sports, maybe you plan on pursuing sports in college or if you devote yourself to your school work, you could be working towards going to college with the least amount of expense possible.

Sophomore Victoria Savino said, “without self identity and recognizing who you are, you wouldn’t be able to have plans for yourself in the future. I hope to become like my mom because she’s successful and independent.” Idolizing the adults in our life may be easy for some people, but wanting to lead a life different from your parents is acceptable.

potential. Your strength might be someone else’s weakness, and that’s where you can help them to better that part of their life, or vice versa.” Being different from others comes with the ability to express those differences. School talent shows are a prime example of students showcasing their different abilities, which not every-

Petri plans to become a United States Marine and to retire into the Kentucky State Police. “My future plans play into my willingness to not give in or give up without giving my all in most situations. I try my hardest in almost everything I do whether I like it or not,” said Petri.

“If people didn’t express themselves through a medium that is good, they may lean towards violent ways of expressing themselves,” said Zirnheld.

Along with playing different roles in the world, everyone has something unique about them, a different set of skills than the next person. It’s important to know these differences and understand what makes you special. Alexander said, “I hate to say anything makes me unique, because I feel like there are so many people that are just as good as me, but I think my love of history is more than just a love, it’s a real passion. The most textbook thingsnd can make me emotional. I think I’m much more humble than a good majority of people as well, and hard working.” Petri claimed that his drive to accomplish tasks makes him unique, and Savino said her open mindedness makes her unique. These differences and varied strengths among people are important, so that everyone can contribute something different to the people around them. “Differences are the basis of diversity and it’s what makes life interesting,” said Petri.

one can achieve. Some people express themselves through art, writing, music and other things similar to these.

Knowing your personal values can also help you understand who you are. If you dedicate yourself to one thing and make it a priority, that will become a part of your identity. This could be school, spending time with your family, a job, a sport or a hobby. Savino said, “I don’t really do anything, but I prioritize spending time with my family and friends.” On the other hand, Zirnheld prioritizes tennis, which has become a large part of her life now. After taking a look at these five things that impact your self identity and set you apart from others, describing who you are to other people may be easier. The most important thing to consider when identifying yourself are the things you associate yourself with and how you impact the lives of other people. So, who are you?

Alexander said, “we all have strengths and weaknesses, but without collaborating with others that have a variety of other strengths and weaknesses, you aren’t working to your full

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Define Career Ready by Emmy Ralph

areer pathways are meant for career readiness.

By choosing a career pathway as an incoming freshman and finishing as a senior, students are supposed to be “ready” to take on their career. Choosing classes to plan for your future can be tough for some, but easy for most. Many already have a set plan for their future careers. Choosing a pathway will hopefully help increase their readiness to take on their career as they graduate.

Bullitt East offers pathway classes. Meaning, students have the choice of several classes of their career choice. Though we don’t have every career choice possible, but we offer plenty of choices; such as, Early Childhood Education, Culinary, JROTC, Engineering, Pre-nursing and more. If a student isn’t career ready, then they have to be college ready. Meaning, the student has to meet each benchmark on the ACT. Students can either be career ready or college ready, better yet both. It would be convenient to actually be “career ready” but it is not. When you graduate, you are not ready to take on your career immediately. For instance, you couldn’t get a job as a nurse right after high school. You have to complete multiple classes in college. Therefore, the saying of being “career ready” is not necessarily true. If you have completed a pathway, you are a few steps closer to your career, but yet so far away. Though pathways may not immediately prepare you for your job, but it does help lead you towards it. “With my experience, pathways haven’t really helped me because I have had to take so many other classes with the pathway that rather than other options. But pathways are very beneficial because they prepare you for the real world and you learn content you are actually going to need in real life. Also, I do feel better equipped for the medical field, I have learned so much in all of my nursing classes that will help prepare me for my future job,” said junior Allie Rae Thompson. Some tend to say that Bullitt East does not offer enough pathway options. It would be near impossible to have classes for every single job that students are interested in, even though it would be convenient. “I want to be an eye doctor but that isn’t offered at BE, so I will have to wait and may be behind some students who are able to take classes in their pathway now,” said junior Mason Kelley. On the brighter side, they recently just added a law enforcement pathway. “This pathway is great for people who want to do something in the future with the law, in which it will give them a head start,” said sophomore Emily Ezell. Hopefully in the future, East will gradually start to offer new pathway classes. Overall, pathways are very helpful in the career aspect, but don’t quite immediately make you ready to take on your career.

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Layout: Emmy Ralph

Charger student wearing graduation cap as she wears her future job uniform.

Does High School Force You Into Cliques? Staff Editorial

orry, you can’t sit with us.

Just like the classic Mean Girls movie, high school is full of cliques. Kids in high school just want to belong somewhere. Not everyone feels like they have to be labeled to a certain group. Cliques affect more people than you think. Going into high school there’s one thing that every kid worries about. Who am I going to sit with at lunch? Who am I walking to class with? Who will I sit by in class? It’s that undenying fear of not having anyone to talk to or make you look like you belong. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most popular kid in school or if you are the quiet one who sits in the back everyone experiences this. Cliques are definitely not always about liking everyone in their group. There are cliques who put up a front of loving who they are and who they hang out with, but in reality it’s the opposite. So why would people still stay in the clique? Because they are afraid of not looking like they are apart of something. FOMO (fear of missing out) is a disease that every high schooler deals with. Every kid just wants to be included in whatever is going on around them.

Cliques can even have more cliques inside of them. Usually in a big group there are certain kids in that group who get along better than others. Cliques are everywhere. Kids in high school need to realize the power of the words they use. When you’re in your clique you might think that you can say anything and it be okay. But you should still watch what you say. Something you say can easily affect someone else who overhears or even someone in your group. No one should ever feel like being different will make them a social outcast. Cliques are not a totally bad thing either. It’s great when you find a group of people who share the same interest as you and you feel like you can be yourself around them. But it’s also perfectly fine to not be apart of a clique. High schoolers just need to realize that there is always someone else watching. That person who’s watching might need a friend. So, yes high school does force people into cliques but you don’t have to label yourself to one. You can be friends with all kinds of different people and still be happy. Don’t let high school tell you that you have to pick a group to feel apart of something.

Once some kids have been in high school for a while though, they start to worry less about who they belong with. These kids feel comfortable with those one or two people who they can count on. They don’t feel like they have to be in a big group of friends. On the other side of that there are kids who consider themselves to be friends with everyone. Some kids are able to move from every clique and have at least one person they know and can talk to in each one. are and who they hang out with, but in reality it’s the opposite. So why would people still stay in the clique? Because they are afraid of not looking like they are apart of something. FoMO (fear of missing out) is a disease that every high schooler deals with. Every kid just wants to be included in whatever is going on around them. Once some kids have been in high school for a while though, they start to worry less about who they belong with. These kids feel comfortable with those one or two people who they can count on. They don’t feel like they have to be in a big group of friends. On the other side of that there are kids who consider themselves to be friends with everyone. Some kids are able to move from every clique and have at least one person they know and can talk to in each one. High school cliques could literally be anything. Most kids could probably even consider themselves apart of multiple cliques. Whether you want to admit it or not, cliques are definitely a problem in high school. It doesn’t matter if you’re apart of the band clique, sports clique, popular clique, etc. Your clique has made fun of another one before. You might not think that your clique is affecting anyone else but it is. That person could be on the outside looking in or even apart of your clique. Layout: Morgan Harbolt

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