The Anvil - February 2021 - Memorial High School, Houston, TX

the

ANVIL February 2020 Vol. 59, Issue No. 3

11An Apple a Day.

Body perception and food relationships affect teens

Memorial High School

Houston, Texas 77024

WITH LESSONS ON...

• • • • • • •

Guitar Drums Voice Bass Ukulele Banjo Mandolin

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Piano Violin Viola Clarinet Saxophone Flute Harmonica

WE OFFER IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL LESSONS STARTING AT $135/ MONTH!

www.memorialmusic.com 12649 MEMORIAL DRIVE SUITE E HOUSTON, TX 77024

713-461-1060

NEWS 04 06 07

Noteworthy New Hollywood,new vaccines, new President

Music Moments All-state choir members, theater prepares for new musical season

Unseen on the Screen Exploring the unequal representation of people of color in Hollywood

COVER External pressures push teens to eating disorders

SPORTS 13

16

Happening Hallways

17

Double Sided

18

The Cupid Shuffle

20

Trending

Students share their Orange Hall favorites Staff, students compare the strengths of their generations

Valentine’s-themed interviews, recipe, quiz and more

Houston Hotspots, Ask the Anvil, Fast Food Secrets, Overheard

22

Bittersweet Valentine

23

Mustang Market

NEHS members submit creative writing pieces in honor of the day of love Senior Jerry Chen produces lofi music on streaming station, Spotify

Ready to Rumble A preview of the upcoming soccer and baseball season

OPINION 14

Birthday for the Books

15

‘Bring Back Manly Men’

09

Photo by Megan Benz

Editor Megan Benz shares her story of a most UNhappy birthday

Viral photo, phrase bring up questions of society’s expectation of men

08 Cover photo by Zarmin Shah

CONTENTS

09

An Apple a Day

FEATURE

news

Noteworthy

By Cameron Bowman, Reporter and Bo Espey, Reporter and Chandler Gartner, Reporter

US Politics Capitol Crisis

A CROWD STORMED the US Capitol on Jan. 6 in protest of the 2020 presidential election results. U.S. Senators and House

The Biden Administration

Inauguration Information

• • • • •

Photo by Tribune Media

COVID Coverage National

As of Feb. 5, 2021:

MOVIEGOING IS SOMETHING that

perspective as to how it would look until now.

Mortal

MHS: 209 total cases 28 active cases

682 students quarantined since Sept.

and e. Chains such as AMC Theaters also did not respond

TEXAS: 2.5 M cases 38,910 deaths US: 26.8 M total cases 460 K total deaths

and

and

Sources: New York Times, SBISD website

.

Global

LATEST NEWS Jan. 19: U.S. reaches 400,000 COVID deaths Jan. 21: The Biden Administration releases their COVID-19 plan.

COVID-19 vaccination process begins worldwide with slower than expected start

Feb 2: San Francisco sues its own districts to reopen schools Feb. 3: 2021 Houston Livestock and Rodeo canceled

had received at least one dose. The U.S.

FROM THE SOURCE on the state.

”

Cars wait in line at the vaccination site at NRG Stadium. Photo courtesy of Julie Pasha

The way you stop those mutations: get vaccinated and follow public health measures.

WITH OVER 100 MILLION cases

”

nine vaccines.

-Dr. Anthony Fauci Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have allowed teachers to receive a vaccine.

Anvil

05

Musical Moments Choir earns tops in state, student directs UIL play

By Chandler Gartner, Reporter

CHOIR CREDS VARSITY TREBLE CHOIR students nervously lined

” good. My friend and I made sort of a vow that she and I would both make it to AllState Choir, and we did. That was the best feeling.

-Jason Park, 12

”

up in rows on the auditorium bleachers and prepared for one of the most important performances of their high school music careers. They were recording a piece for the Texas Music Educators Association Convention (TMEA).

The treble choir was one of two choirs chosen from approximately 100 other middle school, high school and collegiate choirs to perform for the 30,000 TMEA convention attendees. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the convention was switched to a virtual event, so there the choir stood, in an empty auditorium, singing for a video camera.

“It was an amazing experience,” senior Sarah Lootens said, “but it was strange to wear masks while singing in front of no one. I am still glad I got the chance to perform at such an esteemed competition.”

The choir also boasts six students who were selected for the 2021 Texas All-State Choirs: seniors Aiden

in San Antonio but, due to COVID, the performance has been canceled.

by COVID-19. The rehearsal room has been rearranged and students can only sing for 30 minutes at a time before moving to another room. and each area is well ventilated, with the use of open The choirs sing in masks and face shields to protect each other, and if anyone feels sick, they stay home to rehearse over zoom.

Despite setbacks, the choir hopes to host its annual

students make up the largest number of All-State Choir members selected at once from the Memorial would perform at the TMEA Clinic and Convention

THEATER THRILLS

Lawrence Johnson

BROOKLYN NORTON is the Student

MUSICAL

Once Upon a Mattress

WHAT

Based on the fairytale “Princess and the Pea,” a queen looks for a princess to marry her son, the prince. She gives the candidates a list of impossible tests to see if they are worthy to marry the prince.

WHERE WHEN

MHS Auditorium

Director for the 2021 UIL play Eurydice.

This play takes a 1950’s spin on the classic Greek mythology love tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Brooklyn hopes to place in the top three for the first UIL competition on Mar. 10 in order to advance to future competitions.

Why did you want to be the student director?

May 6th - 8th Catherine McRae, Mae Prator and Maha Quaddoura read lines while rehearsing for the musical, Once Upon a Mattress. Photo

06 Feb

Choir students sing six feet apart while rehearsing for an upcoming performance. Photo courtesy of

by Brooklyn Norton.

I wanted to be student director because I am really interested in the behind the scenes process that puts together a good show. I thought it would be cool to spend my last show of high school in a position that would make me very involved in every detail of the show.

What have you learned from being the student director?

I have learned that coming up with ideas and putting a show together is harder than it looks. I’ve also learned that it’s important to work with the actors and help them discover their character motives, rather than just telling them what to do.

Unseen on the Screen

Disproportionate representation in media negatively impacts people of color

By Clara Carrabba, Design Editor and Ariana Mehdizadeh, Reporter

THE UNITED STATES is often referred

to as a ‘melting pot,’ or even more accurately, a ‘salad bowl’: a diverse mix of people from

disproportionate representation of Oscar and

every ten lead actors were people of color, a would feel more comfortable and accepted in However, some people of color feel

for implementing more diversity into

Essential for Black History Month

Family Favorites

Trending Now

to improve, casting decisions are not up to

of a more diverse Hollywood can support

to a National , two in every

Anvil

07

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AN APPLE a DAY Photo by Zarmin Shah

Teenagers struggle with food relationships in a new age of technology

By Megan Benz, Editor-In-Chief and Meah Matherne, Ads Editor/Reporter

The Social Shackles Open Instagram. Scroll, scroll, scroll. That girl is so skinny. Scroll. He is so ripped. Scroll.

Close out of the app. Look in the mirror.

Realize that your body looks nothing like your screen. Your body isn’t quite as small or muscular or as curvy or skinny. You quickly come to believe that bodies are supposed to be impossibly perfect looking and that yours just does not measure up.

This is not an uncommon thought process for many teens as they interact on social media sites.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), 90 percent of teens are active social media users. As they scroll, they are able to peer into the seemingly perfect lives of others with just a few clicks.

However, with easier access comes greater risk to users’ mental and physical health. The constant engagement exposes teens to the lavish lifestyles and habits of hundreds of

beauty standards, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recorded nearly 250,000 more plastic surgeries performed in 2018 than in 2017. That same year, the phrase growing number of young adults who request plastic surgery to make their faces and bodies Snapchat photos.

At some point, you get so used to seeing overedited photos that you don’t remember what a real body should look like.

”

- Caroline Sneed*

Many online personalities lead lives marked by extremes: constant travel and little work, decadent meals and punishing workout schedules.

In addition to leading unrealistic lifes, social media stars often have unattainably perfect begin to think that extreme proportions and supernaturally smooth skin are the norm.

“My friends would tell me I was beautiful, and “Social media only showed pictures of girls that were super edited. At some point, you get so used to seeing their over edited photos that you don’t remember what a real body should A 2019 survey by Censuswide found that nearly 50 percent of social media users edit their photos before posting them. Celebrities like the Kardashians have often been called out for editing their photos, and recently, Gigi Hadid was bashed for photoshopping childhood pictures of herself in order to appear more like her current self. diet and exercise resources, as well as plastic

*Names have been changed to protect students’ identities

10 Feb

down or use methods to lose weight, I feel guilty about not doing anything to be skinnier. I also feel like the ideal body type is constantly changing, and I

The Eating Epidemic Many teens struggle to

”

academic pressures, societal expectations and having fun. Although this may seem a minor inconvenience to an outsider, these stressors along with the feeling of not having control can easily fuel dangerous, and possibly lethal relationships. That is,

food relationships.

striving for the perfect body, grades or college admittance, students often overexert themselves and can fall into the murky, deceptive waters of EDs. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, “Eating disorders are not a choice.

They commonly co-occur with other mental health conditions like major depression, anxiety, social phobia and Commonly overlooked in the eating disorder conversations are men. Put on the back burner because of stigmas and double standards around male mental health, men often face late diagnosis. According to the American Addiction centers, about 25 percent of those diagnosed with an eating disorder are male.

Male EDs are found primarily in male athletes who compete in sports that place repetitive and forceful stress on their bodies, leading athletes to overwork and over exert their bodies, sometimes with or purging are all decisions, they are less conscious and more pre-wired, making these ED and deceitful to outsiders who believe it is simply a deliberate choice.

“I knew a friend that was diagnosed with bulimia and because of that, I frequently said. “I skip meals a lot now because I had unconsciously trained myself not to eat around

romanticized on social media, eating disorders (EDs) come in all forms and hide behind a common mask: control.

“I met a friend in group therapy who had an “She talked about how it was like a claw in her mind and thoughts of not eating were obsessive and overtook The need for control over one’s life is not a new nor foreign someone has control of their life, they are usually perceived as organized, polished and successful in the most judgeful of praised, this trait, if left unchecked, can often begin consuming one’s everyday life.

By constantly

36%

of students skip breakfast

75% 55%

of students feel unsatisfied with their body of students credit social media for lack of body confidence

Abstract Competition

many, though, is that this is just one form of restriction associated with EDs. Although skipping meals is the most traditional form of restriction, commonly associated with teenage

function, bodies need the energy and nutrients food provides to both the body and the brain.

Opposite to its intended purpose, skipping meals can actually increase the chance of obesity.

Essentially, people who often skip meals have a higher likelihood of obesity than those that don’t skip meals. Deciding to not eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner doesn’t mean that the body will just stop craving energy. Skipping meals is statistically proven to increase the chances of binge eating later in the day to make up for skipped meals.

or obsessively exercising to lose weight or gain Stuck with Food muscle, these are not as Everyone will have a commonly discussed forms relationship with food for of restriction associated their entire life. It is essential with EDs according to BC to one’s mental and physical Children’s Hospital. well being. Humans must These obsessive habits, eat. Eating habits learned while fueled by feeling out early in life and especially with of control or comparison to others, are often honed person’s life. For some, their excessively in high school, relationship with food is one collegiate and they struggle with for professional sports. a lifetime.

MD Anderson Nutritionist “For some sports, you In today’s tech-obsessed world, teens are bombarded with direct–and not so direct–

OUT IN THE OPEN Talking to a friend with a suspected ED can be intimidating, but can be a lifesaving conversation to have.

Below are tips on how to approach the conversation:

1

Educate yourself:

Learn about what it means to have an eating disorder and how it can present itself. Talk to trusted adults and experts on how best to specifically approach your situation.

”

Every time we eat is an opportunity to care for ourselves.

Standards for sports contradict and confuse

the standards change. As a gymnast, you must be strong, short, and agile. The same contradicting standards apply for boys. They are often told to they can on the line, only to be told two months later to slim down and work on muscle toning their physique and dedication to being physically detrimental to student athletes as social media can be.

“Seeing athletes I aspire to be online makes me feel like my body isn’t as good as it could be and

been repeatedly ingrained in the minds of elementary school students through dancing veggies and breakfast cartoons, vain. A Kellogg’s survey found that only 64 percent of American teens eat breakfast every morning. Many also consistently skip other meals due to their busy schedules or stress.

For growing teens, skipping meals can create considerable challenges in maintaining energy throughout the day. In order to

constant pressure teens face to look and do things in a certain way makes a healthy relationship with food immensely challenging. Because of social almost conditioned to doubt every bite.

It is important to understand that while eating healthy and working out is a positive thing, everything must be done in moderation to be sustainable. Teens’ bodies are constantly because of a multitude of other, healthy, normal body functions.

“I started eating the correct amount of calories I need to function in a day because I thought it

is as unique as the person himself.

“I wish everyone knew how much what we put in our bodies impacts our health, energy levels,

Make sure its clear you’re coming from a place of sincerity and care.

3

Choose the right environment:

Pick a neutral place, away from food, exercise, or whatever is their form of control. Find a place where you can have a one-onone, personal, and genuine conversation

Approach:

See them as your friend, not their eating disorder.

It’s one of those situations you don’t want it to be shoulda, coulda, woulda.

”

-Summer Williams and Melody Hall Wellness Counselors

120 students polled.

Drawing by Kristina Pham

4

FROM THE SOURCE

“Every time we eat is an opportunity to care

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or other types of body dysmorphia, please reach out to a school wellness counselor or another trusted individual.

2

”

”

-Lindsey Wohlford

Don’t be judgmental:

Anvil

11

sports

Ready To Rumble

Varsity girls soccer, boys basketball teams aim to dominate district and beyond

By Rachel Lee, Sports Editor

Take It Back talent of freshman defender Cara

regional tournament board.

and beat them 2-1 in the second half after being

on their own and in the classroom to achieve this goal,” head coach

taught me to trust my teammates and to allow my teammates to trust me.” district game against Jersey Village on Jan. 26 was unforgettable because both of the goalies

Junior Sarah Shields and senior Morgan Odum watch after school.” teammates play from the sidelines. Photo by Audrey Hwang

“We got some good goals that came from us

LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS has left the

girl’s varsity soccer team with resolved determination. With returning seniors Kate Conner and Morgan Odum as forwards, Abigail

Woodlands and the I-10 Shoot-Out. At the Woodlands tournament, the girls won -

We’ve Got a Court Date UNDER THE DIRECTION of Coach Dave

this season.

their dream come true.”

Stratford on Jan. 25, the boys beat the a better communicator.”

the very end. of,” senior Ben Clanton. “I believe that we got the win because of our hustle on

with nine schools in the district, who are all

got good shots near the end and made dent in the boys’ success

Senior Gaston Ellie holds the ball and prepares to shoot. Photo by Ben Dodson

Anvil

13

column

Birthdays for the Books Senior staffer romanticizes her worst birthday

By Megan Benz, Co-Editor in Chief

TO SAY MY birthday is not my favorite holiday is an understatement at best; it is not because I dislike planning a party or even the attention. It just seems that every year life throws something, well, unexpected at me when all I want is to live out a perfect fairy tale day.

So, here is a tale of my most unfortunate birthday, reimagined.

To start my teenage

”

I was whisked away in a “white box” of a

this damsel in semi-distress. After much poking, prodding, tests and scans, I was sent up to prep for surgery. Before going under, the same doctors who were once dressed in

of my seventh-grade studies.

While the doctors never discovered what was wrong with me or how I got these potentially deadly masses on my neck, after

now came into my room hidden under the armor of hazmat suits to tell me no one knew what was going on with me, so precautions needed to be taken.

After a few more tests, the doctors found that whatever it was that had taken up residence in my neck was also “leaking” into my heart. With that slightly terrifying news, I was quickly swept away to the sterilized ballroom for a quarantine surgery.

I was crowned with a mask, and with a brisk three, two, one, I fell into a sleep that rivaled Sleeping Beauty’s. Let’s just say I didn’t wake up as gracefully as she did. The doctors failed to mention prior to my surgery that redheads don’t react well to anesthesia. Not well at all.

I felt terrible, and acted even worse. My poor parents were trapped in my tiny, quarantined room with this raging tween, turned teen.

I spent the next week isolated from my friends and family, trying desperately not to fall too far behind on the all-important business

enough to go home and resume my daily life. So back to the real world went this groggy princess, and here I have stayed ever since. That is until my 17th birthday.

For the second time, I spent my birthday in quarantine, but this time joined by thousands of other people worldwide celebrating on their own because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This time I was lucky enough to have my immediate family at home and skip the theatrics of my teenage

The same doctors that were once dressed in bright polyester outfits now came into my room hidden under the armor of a hazmat suit.

red and white lights: an ambulance. What I thought was going to be a quick trip to the doctor before getting pizza and watching a cheesy rom-com turned into something much more.

I had come back from Spring Break the week prior and noticed a lump on my neck, and while I wasn’t too concerned, it was rather checked out. Hence my doctor’s visit. After a few negative tests, and a few concerned looks, it was decided the matter was too serious for a clinic. I needed X-rays and was sent to the closest hospital. There, they found a more critical issue: another lump pressing on my spinal cord. Cue the light-up carriage. I won’t even lie, the ambulance ride was kind attempt to bring me to the place where all the magic happens, the Memorial Hermann Hospital emergency room. *Romantic sigh*

of the ER, I sat in a shared space on a bed more uncomfortable than Cinderella’s. Princes and princesses waltzed in and out in scrubs of the brightest colors, promising to rescue

”

Escalantes’ queso, fajitas and Zoom calls.

While it is obvious I can’t seem to catch a birthday break, I am excited, and a little nervous, to see what my next birthday will bring. It seems unlikely that a future birthday can top a trip to the hospital or a pandemic celebration, but I often test the fates and am always up for a good challenge!

Illustration by Megan Benz

14 Feb

opinion

Tackling Toxic Masculinity With society evolving, gender roles become heated topic of debate

By Giselle Tabibi, Reporter

YOU CANNOT ESCAPE IT. The

idea that men need to be “manly” to function in society has been ingrained into our minds since birth. Going back to elementary school, teachers would ask for “strong boys” to move a desk or chair while girls sat and watched.

When girls were picked on as a form of “boys will be boys.”

Why is it that when a boy shows interest in something remotely “girly” they are labeled too feminine? The notion that everyone in the male species has to be a strong, masculine leader has become toxic to the point that anyone who dares to cross the line of societal norms risks criticism or ostracization. This reinforces the stereotype that men cannot physically or mentally express themselves in their own ways. masculinity” as men condemning nontraditional male gender roles and suppressing their inner emotions, instead using physical violence to prove their dominance.

This does not mean that every single man is guilty of these actions, but everyone should be held accountable for misogynistic behavior that could potentially harm the people around them.

Recently, Harry Styles made social media headlines for being featured on the cover of Vogue magazine wearing a ballgown. This prompted conservative commentator Candice Owens to tweet the phrase “bring back manly men,” which trended across social media platforms.

Thousands of people were outraged that they would let a man wear a dress in a high-fashion photo shoot, let alone splash him across the cover of a worldrenowned magazine.

This brought more attention masculinity, leading teenage boys to post videos of themselves in feminine clothing and makeup.

Harry Styles himself posted a picture from the photo shoot, sarcastically captioning it with the same phrase that sparked the controversy.

In 1985, Australian sociologist Raewyn Connell introduced the concept of hegemonic masculinity. She theorized that gender is based on people’s actions and personalities rather than their outer appearances. There is a level of ideals that every man wants to achieve in order to be considered a “real man.’ For some, that means being muscular and burly; for others it is being looked up to in society. The inability to reach that standard often leads to increased anxiety and insecurity.

Since some men feel they have no outlet to express their emotions, they often

emotionally distance themselves from others or resort to physical force and violence to express their thoughts and feelings.

Although society has attempted to shift into the mindset that men do not always need to uphold a facade of being tough, there are still a lot of people who do not agree with this new reinvention of masculinity. Why is it such an issue for a man to cry or talk about their feelings when it is acceptable for a woman to do so?

According to the Pan American Health the age of 50 because of stress induced from societal expectations. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has found that men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide.

This stigma has perpetuated over time, but new generations are growing tired of these through, men have been changing the norm by posting content outside of their comfort zone to prove that clothes do not Prince spoke out about these issues for years before his untimely death in 2016. Throughout his career, he sported crop tops, heels and Although he was praised by many, he still received his fair share of backlash. People were unhappy with the feminine way he presented himself and thought that he was future generations into becoming “soft.”

In reality, it is nobody’s business what a person chooses to wear. It should not matter how a man dresses or presents himself..

Society needs to normalize men being true to themselves and not conforming to outdated societal expectations.

Happening Hallways

Orange Hallway’s occupants share their favorite memories, books, teacher tidbits

By Sarah Chirapurath, Editor-in-Chief and Chandler Gartner, Reporter

OUTSTANDING ORANGE

GUESS WHO?

w

Which Orange Hall teachers

Students share their favorite things about Orange Hall

1.

2.

3.

Charlotte Fairfield, 12

Tyler Kaneda, 11

Marco Ferrier, 10

in the Orange hall

english class.

1. Mrs. Smith 2. Mrs. Kohlmaier and Ms. Shelley 3. Mrs. Cullen

charities).”

National Beta Honor Society

BOOK WORM

PUBLISHED series

1.

William Shakespeare

“Great Expectations”

2.

3.

Romeo and Juliet

Charles Dickens

Illustrated Man Ray Bradbury

76 students surveyed

16 Feb

How have English class and the English teachers supported you?

Did you always know you wanted to be an author?

What is the hardest part about writing a book?

feature

Double-Sided

Teachers and a student debate the merits of each generation

By Meah Matherne, Ads Manager/Reporter

GENERATIONAL DEBATES have long taken place: which is the strongest? Which age group had the best childhoods? Which generation overcame the biggest world events and traumatic collective experiences? Which has the better music? All is settled in this discussion of the pros and cons of each generation.

Mr. Smith “Baby boomers are the greatest generation because we are a creative, resourceful and disciplined generation. Rules are important, but we are not afraid to step outside of the rules or bend them to reach our goals. We aren’t afraid to put in a hard day of work. However, I think the GI generation is better than the Boomers because

Mr. Harter

Mr. Cooprider

Philip Soh, 12

“Honestly, I think every generation has positives and negatives, but I think Gen X has the best and most enduring music.

I can name 40 songs written from 1965-1980, and my kids know them too, but I can play a big hit from 1991 and not a single person in my family even knows the lyrics.”

“I feel like it’s too early to say, but I’m really hopeful that millennials will be more openminded and more clear-eyed. We aren’t in positions of power right now, but I think we’re going to do a lot of good things. It was super cool growing up as a millennial because I remember getting the Internet. We would go down into the basement, hook up the Internet and download AOL. I was super obsessed with Penn State, so my AOL username was ‘nlion44.’”

“Personally, I think our generation is too soft to be the best. Everyone complains and gets upset about little things and they don’t know how to just deal with it. I am excited though to see the capabilities of all the technology that’s been invented during our life time and what has yet to be invented. I’m pretty interested to see where we will go with electric cars and if they’ll become what everyone drives.”

12

19 97 -2 0

1-9 6

198

80

XYZ 196 5-

1946-64

BOOMER

Great Depression and WWII.”

Anvil

17

The Cupid Shuffle

Students explore first dates, celebrity crushes, Anvil recommendations

By Zarmin Shah, Asst. Editor-in-Chief, Delaney Polocheck, Reporter and Lauren Wall, Reporter

Disaster Dates Students discuss their most memorable dates “He got out of the car and ran around the parking lot to prove that he could run fast.”

“We couldn’t see the ratedR movie because no one was 18.”

Sabine Waldron, 12

Drake Brown, 11

“He brought his friend, and they ended up talking the whole time. It was very awkward.”

“She backed into someone’s car and then made me drive her car home.”

Juliana Lips, 12

Seamus Carragher, 12

Romantic Movie Recs The Notebook Commemorates the story of two estranged lovers finding their way back to one another.

Pride and Prejudice

A Walk to Remember

Explores the relationship between a wealthy aristocrat and the daughter of a country gentleman.

Accompanies an adrift man falling in love with a genuine woman who his friends once bullied.

Celeb Sweethearts

33%

23%

RUNNER-UPS 21% Megan Fox 21% Ariana Grande 12% Kendall Jenner

RUNNER-UPS 20% Michael B. Jordan 17% Harry Styles 17% Dylan O’Brien

of students voted Zendaya Coleman as their female crush

18 Feb

of students voted Tom Holland as their male crush

Anvil-Certified Gift Guide Our picks for last minute Valentines gifts Fujifilm Disposable Camera

The Adventure Challenge

Store: Amazon Cost: $39.99

Store: Target Cost: $15.99

$$

$

Out of interesting date ideas? This journal is filled with 50 scratch-off mystery challenges that will allow “you and your significant other to grow your relationship through adventures and experiences you will never forget.”

Throw it back to the ‘90s with the vintage Valentine’s gift that keeps on giving.

Fujifilm’s camera provides a cheap way to capture priceless memories with your S/O, which you can develop at your local CVS to get prints in a retro style.

Brookstone Friendship Lamps

Store: Urban Outfitters Cost: $89.95

$$$

For senior couples heading to different colleges next fall, or friends separated in quarantine, these touch lamps are a great way to stay connected over long distance. The lamps come as a pair, so whenever you’re thinking of your partner, simply tap your lamp, and theirs will light up too!

Red Velvet Mocha Milkshake 1.

Combine ice cream, half & half, cream cheese, cocoa powder, ground coffee, and food coloring in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

2. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

3. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 c.

1/2 c.

2 tbsp.

1 tsp.

1/2 tsp.

1/2 tsp.

Vanilla Ice Cream Half and Half Cream Cheese Cocoa Powder Finely Ground Dark Roast Coffee Red Food Coloring Whipped Cream Sprinkles

Couple Crossover 1.

Pam and Jim

3.

“The next time you forget you’re _, remember I’m _, and I love you.”

2.- “But I don’t understand.

I’m supposed to be beautiful.”

- “You are beautiful.”

“When you’re a kid, you assume your parents are soulmates. My kids are gonna be right about that.”

Blair and Chuck

Patrick and Kat

4.

“But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close. Not even a little bit.

Not even at all.”

Shrek and Fiona Anvil

19

Answers: 1. Blair and Chuck 2. Shrek and Fiona 3. Pam and Jim 4. Patrick and Kat

Trending

By Zainab Siddiqui, Reporter and Giselle Tabibi, Reporter

Houston Hotspots Anvil’s must see H-town spots The Seismique

Cistern

Interactive Art Museum

Buffalo Bayou Park

2306 S Texas 6 Want an escape from reality? The Seismique art museum is an interactive and mind-blowing experience with more than 40 immersive exhibits.

The Seismique displays a variety of art through optical illusions, holograms, and projections. Visitors not only observe the art, but also experience it.

Body Worlds and Cycle of Life

Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Dr

105b Sabine St In this unique experience, you will be given an underground tour of the popular Buffalo Bayou Park. For only seven dollars, you can experience a light and music show that highlights the Cistern’s history. As you walk around the mysterious columns, you’ll learn more about its purpose and how it became Houston’s first underground water reservoir in 1926.

Bizarre but breathtaking is the best way to describe this new exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

More than 100 human bodies are preserved and displayed to show the inner workings of the body. This unique view shows the effects of good and poor health. The choices you make are on display for you to see and wonder. The exhibit is arranged to show each stage of the specimen’s body throughout their lifetime.

Ask the Anvil Why don’t my parents love me?

You don’t need anyone else’s love. Self-love is the best love. <3

Why is The Anvil called The Anvil?

“The Anvil” comes from the metalworking tool used to forge metal into various shapes, such as a horseshoe.

And even though you didn’t ask... the yearbook is called “Reata” because a reata is a type of lasso used to round up and tame wild Mustangs.

20 Feb

Who makes the surveys?

Well, you see, everybody on The Anvil staff collectively gets together to take part in a voodoo ritual, praying to the Google survey gods to pick the “chosen one.” Thus, one is bestowed the power to create the legendary surveys.

How do I do my taxes?

Okay, so in high school they taught us that in order to do taxes, we should... wait... never mind, that never happened.

Overheard

Fast Food Secrets

Ask for: Vanilla milkshake + Root Beer

Strawberry Peach Milkshake Looking for something berry sweet and peachy?

Blue Hall

A cool glass of deliciousness for that hot summer day.

Which sauce is best?

Red Hall

Root Beer Float

Chick-fil-A

Did you know?

Secret Menu

“I launched a pickle into an owl’s nest when I was 6.”

“It should be illegal to be famous and taken by someone.”

Breezeway

A closer look at three of the most popular fast food chains

“Why would they change the ABC’s?!?”

Polynesian Chick-fil-A None

Dwarf Grill was Chick-fil-A’s original name. Ironically, they served hamburgers and steaks. The Dwarf Grill, now named Dwarf House, is still open!

8%

21%

71%

Ask for: Peach milkshake + Strawberry ice cream

*100 students surveyed

Starbucks Did you know?

Skittles Frappuccino

Ferrero Rocher Frappuccino

Which drink is best?

Frappuccino Iced Coffee

There’s also a cup Looking for the perfect treat to give size off the books your valentine? named the “short.”

Double chocolate chip Ask for: It’s perfect for a quick frappuccino + Mocha syrup + shot of caffeine.

None

40%

28% 32%

Hazelnut syrup

*100 students surveyed

McDonald’s Secret Menu Monster Mac The “meatiest” burger you can get.

Ask for: A Big Mac with eight patties.

Did you know?

McDonald’s is the largest toy distributor in the world.

Orange Creamsicle A refreshing twist to vanilla ice cream.

Ask for: Fanta soda+Vanilla ice cream

McDonald’s started out serving BBQ.

Grey Hall

Starbucks’ name was inspired by the Strawberries & cream Ask for: novel Moby Dick. frappuccino + Vanilla syrup + Starbuck was the Raspberry syrup first mate of the ship.

Candy lover? This drink is for you.

“I’m in the red hall.”

Orange Hall

Secret Menu

“Food isn’t forever, Build-A-Bear is.”

Why is McDonald’s ice cream machine always broken?

“I think they lie about it. You didn’t hear it from me...” Nouha Anibou, 10 “Because someone is always bullying the ice cream machine.”

Mingyuan Li, 9 “When you are not looking, they stand underneath the machine and eat it all.” Phillip Chen, 10

Anvil

21

Bittersweet Valentine National English Honor Society chooses winners of short story contest

By Kristina Pham, Reporter

Anniversary

Love is Wine Tasting

By Madison Lou, 9

By Avantika Matele, 11

“Hi, welcome to Millie’s! Are you dining with us beautiful and weathered mahogany. A musty smell of long-forgotten dreams and heartache from the aging bottles carefully tucked away from your mind on racks along the wooden walls. Each sweet, but unknown until you’ve tried it.

Swirling each experience around on your cup, you breathe in the essences of the sorrows and joys, the beginnings and endings. Each taste your heart. The maroons and rust browns stain your lips a deep red, scratches left deep on your soul. Shivering on a bench in the train station, wondering whether that love took the train straight to the underworld. The heartache never leaves you, but turns into a dull ache over time.

Some simply leave your lips a baby pink, and your something you both understood wasn’t meant to be. Sometimes you still catch up with that old friend. Some wines are a deep plum, reminding you of the wild, young times you had whizzing along those winding highways in that beat-up Toyota and dancing drunkenly under the golden street lamps.

Every past relationship lies in discarded, halfit stays in your hand, half-full. This one doesn’t leave a stain, because it waits with you till your liquid crystal that swirls gently in your cup as long as you promise your heart to never go back to the ones who stained your lips before. Uncorked and bottomless, because its love endures.

Love is wine tasting.

22 Feb

the same carbon-copy smile every waitress has. table, please.”

“Of course!” the hostess replied, gathering up some menus from behind the counter. “Have you been here before?”

As she spoke, she tucked dark brown curls behind her ear, revealing small gold hoop earrings that glimmered in the dim lighting. when she was young. She didn’t remember from where. They weren’t special; she’d probably just bought them at the drugstore, but she’d worn them every day throughout high school. Or was it college? Who knew? The days had started to blend together a long time ago.

fact,” she added, gesturing to the many couples when it was remodeled. Those chairs used to upset. Once he tried the vanilla sundae, though,

your husband, ma’am?” for a long time.” occasion then?” one, please.”

the

Mustang Market

Artist Jerry Chen produces lo-fi music for others to enjoy, relax, study

By Zarmin Shah, Assistant Co-Editor-In-Chief

What challenges have you faced while producing music?

I think probably the biggest challenge would be the monotonous and over saturated genre lowest bar out of all genres in terms of what sounds good because its main audience is built paying much attention to the actual music itself; whether you believe it or not, the fact is that it is relatively easy for a random person to

What is an opportunity that helped further your music career?

I would not necessarily say I have gotten an especially big opportunity, but I think something as understated as learning guitar has, and will, continue to help me further my career in music. In modern-day music, the two most widely-used instruments are undoubtedly the piano and guitar. Although I have played the piano for roughly 11 years, the composing and songwriting aspect is something that I am still extremely new to, but I know that learning guitar will help me develop those skills.

so far; nothing about it distinctly separates me What started your interest in music production?

Music has always been a big part of my life

What is your favorite thing about the music industry?

I think the best thing about the music industry when I picked up the violin the year after. In is that anyone can achieve success. I do not the months leading up to the summer of 2020, think people understand how simple it is; if you make really good music, and you make an artists (Tomppabeats and Kudasai). attempt to share/market it accordingly, then it I was really bored during this time, and will gain traction eventually. The hardest step is obviously making really good music, but I truly think that anyone can do it as long as they have What inspires you to create music? the passion and work ethic for learning music My biggest inspiration to continue making and songwriting. I think it is also extremely crucial to keep an open mind and accept own creative thought out into the world. To criticism/feedback as frequently as possible; criticism is the fastest way me, music is simply a universal language in which artists can translate their emotions to improve your music. into musical compositions and share them around the world for anyone to experience.

Some genres of music provide empathy for those that are hurting while other genres what inspires me to continue making music.

Anvil STAFF Megan Benz

Co-Editor-In-Chief

Sarah Chirapurath

Co -Editor-In-Chief

Zarmin Shah

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Clara Carrabba

Design Editor

Rachel Lee

Sports Editor

Meah Matherne

Business Manager/ Reporter

Cameron Bowman

Reporter

Bo Espey

Reporter

Chandler Gartner

Reporter

Ariana Mehdizadeh

Reporter

Kristina Pham

Reporter

Delaney Polocheck

Reporter

Zainab Siddiqui

Reporter

Giselle Tabibi

Reporter

Lauren Wall

Reporter

The Anvil Memorial High School 935 Echo Lane Houston, TX 77024 (713) 251-2500 Principal: Lisa Weir Questions? Comments?

Interested in buying a subscription or an ad for your business?

Contact: holly.hartman@springbranchisd.com The Anvil is published once every seven weeks by Memorial High School Publications and uses high school-appropriate advertising editorial board writes an unsigned editorial which represents the

Photo courtesy of Jerry Chen

Follow Jerry on his music journey! minzu

School District and MHS cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in its educational, career and technology education programs, cervices or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1973. The Anvil is copyright 2020-2021 by MHS Publications, all rights reserved.

No portion may be reproduced by any means without written consent from MHS Publications. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year. The Anvil is printed by Southern News Group and is designed by students using Apple Macintosh Computers, Abode InDesign CC2020, Abode Photoshop CC2020.

The Anvil is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, the Colombia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. The Anvil welcomes Letters to the Editor. Please enclose your full name (which we withhold upon request) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Please bring letters to R-206 or mail to the address above.

Roofing With Peace of Mind.

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