April 28th issue

THE

FOCUS Midland High School | April 28, 2017 | Volume 39, Issue 8

Softball The varsity softball team began the season ranked 1st in the state. pages 12-13

Sexual Assault

6-7

Graduating Early

8

Environmental Club

16

Fischer Genau | Photo

CONTENTS OPINION

volume 39 issue 8

3 Graduating Early:

The Focus discusses students graduating earlier than usual.

24 Sushi Reviews:

The Focus rates sushi from three different spots in Midland.

NEWS

FEATURES 14

Missionary Family: Abigail Krohn lived in China in order to spread her faith.

5 Tuna Drive:

15 Gender Identity:

6-7 Sexual Assault

16 Environmental Club:

Both student council and leadership have been raising tuna cans.

Several students share their experience being sexually assaulted.

8 Students Graduating Early:

Students with an alternative plan to graduate ahead of time.

SPORTS

Organizations in the tri-city area are helping the LGBTQ+ community.

The club started this year and has taken measures to fix the school’s recycling system.

A&E

17 Sydney Lewandowski:

Freshman Sydney Lewandowski sang at Rhapsody this year.

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18 Karalyn Jobe:

11 Baseball:

Cara Spencer: Senior Cara Spencer teaches dance classes for elementary students.

Sarah Maschino: Senior Sarah Maschino has hopes of going to states in track this year for her hurdling events and relays.

The boy’s baseball team was ranked fifth in the state going into season.

Junior Karalyn Jobe is writing a novel complete with her own drawings.

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ON THE COVER Softball

Going into the season, the girl’s varsity softball team was ranked first in the state. Last year, the team made it to semi-finals, where they lost to Macomb Dakota High School. This year, the team has high hopes for their season.

EDITORS

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F

OUR MISSION

ocus, established in 1977, previously Editor-in-Chief Ella Colbert the Vic Tribune, established in 1936, is Managing Editor Maddy O’Callaghan the official school newspaper for Midland Photo & Design Editor Kayla Graham High. Focus is published monthly by the Features Editor Sonja Anderson journalism classes at Midland High and is News Editor Gwynne Özkan distributed free of charge. It is a member Sports Editor Kady Volmering of the Michigan Interscholastic Press A&E Editor Hope O’Dell Association (MIPA). Adviser membership Opinion Editor Ellie Jensen also includes the Journalism Education Ads Coordinator Hailey Surbrook Association (JEA). Focus is designed Exchange Editor Hayley Russell as a forum for student expression and Web Editor-in-Chief Jonah Dykhuizen as a realistic lab experience. Focus, Managing Web Editor Josh Danielson however, reserves the right to contest Web Photo & Design Fischer Genau the challenge of an administrator who Adviser Jim Woehrle attempts to censor and/or remove an Printer Midland Daily News article or graphic element.

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3

16

Editorial

OP/ED

Students should be able to graduate early

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fter four years of homework, tests, and exams, sudents recieve their diploma and graduate high school, but some students have been able to reach that goal earlier. This year, a few students at Midland High have been allowed to graduate early. Most students who graduate early are seniors who graduate at semester, but there are some rare cases in which juniors that earned all of their required credits are allowed to graduate a year early for various reasons.

Midland Public Schools has a policy where students have to earn 22 credits, have at least a six-hour day, and attend school for four years.

Students are encouraged to stay in school all four years, but students are allowed to graduate early if they have a reason, and they have enough credits. Before they are able to graduate early, students have to meet with their counselors by the end of their junior year. With their counselor, they discuss their plan for after they graduate early, and give their reason for graduating early.

Some reasons for students graduating early are: attending classes at Delta, family reasons, and opportunities

offered by the school they plan to attend. If the counselor allows the student to graduate early, they then set up a schedule that enables the student to graduate early.

The Focus believes that students should be able to graduate early as long as they have a reason for graduating early, and they have a plan for after high school. For instance, a student should not be able to graduate early with no plan for the future just because they have enough credits and they do not want to go to school anymore.

Graduating early allows students to get a head start on their college education and their future career. If a student is going into a profession such as law or medicine that requires several years of schooling, graduating early allows the student to start their college education earlier. Graduating earlier also helps students gain a sense of independence and it makes the transition to college easier on the them.

Graduating earlier also allows students to get a job and work if needed. If a student needs to get a job because they need to help support

their family, or their family cannot pay for college tuition, the student can do so.

The Focus recognizes that graduating early can be hard on students as well. They can miss things such as prom, commencement, and other opportunities to mature socially. However, we believe that getting a head start on the future outweighs the ability to socialize, which can be done at college anyway.

It can also be a problem if students abuse the power and graduate early just so that they do not have to attend school anymore. However, the numerous steps needed to be taken to graduate early could drive away anyone that would want to abuse the privilege.

To prevent issues of graduating early, the Focus staff believes that students should be able to graduate early, but they should have a solid plan for the future. For example, they should have a steady job or they should already be accepted into a college or university. They should also have a legitimate reason for graduating early.

A good reason and a clear plan will ensure that the system is not abused.

Student Opinions

Senior Cassie Rammidi “Yes. If you have all the credits, you should be able to graduate early.”

Senior Greg Landis “Yes, because if they have all the requirements they need and feel they have nothing else to gain from being in high school, then it’s their choice for their own benefit.”

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THE BULLETIN @jenna_byron “Don’t go breakin my heart”

“my life goal is to wake up in my beach house in hawaii looking at the sun rise with my dog next to me” @lexawild35

5 THINGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL SMART

Album: Biking Artist: Frank Ocean, Jay Z, and Tyler the Creator Date Released: April 8 Rating: The trio of unique artists collab to create a diverse beat with catchy lyrics to match.

NEWS BRIEF:

via Instagram

1. There are more ways to shuffle a deck of cards than there are atoms on Earth.

2. Shakespeare and Pocahontas were alive at the same time.

3. When you yawn and stretch at the time, you are “pandiculating.”

4. Cambridge University is older than the Aztec and Inca empires.

Teacher Melissa Toner (middle) won the SVL 5. Ketchup used to be Teacher of the Year award and seniors Ella Colbert sold as medicine. (right) and Greg Landis (left) are recognized as SVL scholar athletes. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo 4 | FOCUS | April 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

Song: Sign of the Times Artist: Harry Styles Date Released: March 10 Rating: After departing One Direction, Harry Styles releases his first solo embodying an alternative sound with strong vocals

NEWS

HELPING THE HUNGRY

Midland High students raised tuna cans to help with the Filling Midland’s Cup food drive on April 21 and 22. Families came from the Great Lakes Bay Region to get food and other necessities.

Hayley Russell|Exchange Editor & Alli Grumbley|Staff Writer & Theo Rammidi|Staff Writer

Junior Caleb Wolfe places food in a car to be donated. Around 80 families came to get food on April 22. Maddy O’Callaghan| Photo

P

eanut butter or tuna? This was the decision that the Student Council had to make after Filling Midland’s Cup (FMC) asked to have the school be the next host for the food drive.

Filling Midland’s Cup is an organization that provides food and necessities for the Great Lakes Bay Region through the Eastern Michigan food bank. Juniors Caleb Wolfe and Melissa Draves are on student leadership and have helped plan for this event.

“We figured tuna would be easier to collect because it is cheaper, and it is a household food that people could just bring in,” Wolfe said. “We decided to raise 2,500 cans of tuna to help these families.”

Students were asked to bring in tuna to reach the goal of 2,500 cans. When the goal was reached everyone received an ice cream party in eyeball. At the end of the tuna drive, Midland High raised 2,348 cans.

“We focused on one item because it was easier to get more people excited about one product,” Draves said. “We put all of our effort into one item and bringing it in.”

The food drive began on April 21.

Pallets of food were dropped and students who volunteered helped organize the food into each type around the cafeteria. On April 22, more than 80 families came by and volunteers filled grocery bags with a large variety of foods.

“Everyone will take home food,” Draves said. “It is not a first come first serve basis. There is a certain amount of

families that come each month so they can plan for it. There will be enough food for every single family.”

Every month, FMC has a food drive for those who need food and supplies.

The organization always brings their own group of volunteers. The more volunteers, the quicker it goes.

“A lot of our jobs are going to be when the food gets dropped off,” Draves said, “Move the food into the cafeteria, and then organize it by type of food. Saturday

“I think it is amazing that we have these opportunities to volunteer in our community.”

Senior Ben Perz

is the day that the families will come to pick it up, and we go around with a shopping bag and take one of each item and bring the bags to the their car.”

Senior Ben Perz volunteered on Friday and Saturday. He volunteered because he thought it was a good way to give back to Midland’s community.

“I think it is amazing that we have these opportunities to volunteer in our community because it gives you a perspective that not everyone lives like you do, and sometimes people need help with what others consider basic survival,” Perz said. “New or even different perspectives can help everyone become a better person.”

Librarian Patsy Hickman belongs to Filling Midland’s Cup committee that runs through Messiah Lutheran Church. She gave the idea to the student leadership class. “ M y f i r s t r e a c t i o n wa s w h a t a wonderful bunch of students we have here at MHS,” Hickman said. “I contacted Mrs. Albright last year about it and she was very excited.”

Wolfe and Draves enjoy seeing the community come together to help the low income families. Wolfe said it is cool to see people from different areas of school all coming together just for this one cause.

“Doing this at Midland High gives us the opportunity to help out the community,” Wolfe said.

For Draves, volunteering for Filling Midland’s Cup is about new experiences as well.

“For some people it can be a new type of volunteering because sometimes you get stuck in a comfort zone of volunteering and trying a new type event/activity can help get you out of your comfort zone and experience so many new things,” Draves said. “That’s my favorite part.”

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NEWS

SILENCE IS NOT CONSENT

High school parties have become an excuse for sexual assault. Several students share their experiences with the issue. Ella Colbert|Editor-in-Chief & Maddy O’Callaghan|Managing Editor

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ose could not stop replaying the graphic images of her attack in her head. The night was constantly racing through her head and she needed to tell someone.

After three days of feeling helpless, Rose confided in her friends about what happened.

On February 26, Rose, a senior whose name has been changed to protect her identity because of the sensitive nature of her story, was raped at a party that she attended with a few of her friends. She didn’t know anyone at the party and her attacker was a man she met that night.

“The thing that was the most hard was that I was embarrassed,” Rose said. “It wasn’t even really that I was uncomfortable with it, it was just that I was straight up embarrassed and ashamed that it happened to me. That’s what made it hard to tell my friends.”

Rose was assaulted after becoming ill from drinking. Though the law states that an intoxicated person cannot legally consent, Rose still feels as if some of the

assault was her fault.

“It’s almost like I put blame on myself, kind of,” Rose said. “Just because I put myself into a situation. I went to a party, I didn’t know people there, I was drinking underage, so I just felt guilty myself. I was embarrassed that I put myself into that situation to let that happen.”

Although Rose opened up to her friends about the attack, she is fearful to tell the authorities because she doesn't know what to do.

“I don’t know who I should call," Rose said. "I don’t know what I should say.

I don’t know what is going to happen after. And it's hard. It’s hard to go up to the police and say, ‘Yeah, I was underage

drinking.’ It’s an awkward situation, and that makes it really hard to tell someone.”

Although some sexual assault victims are apprehensive to come forward, Police Officer Jeremy Davis urges them to contact the authorities i f t h e y a r e e ve r raped. However, he also feels that many cases go unreported due to the fear that victims will face negative repercussions.

“Many of them think, additionally, because sometimes it happens to underage kids,” Davis said. “They’re at a party, they’re drinking, so they know they’re in the wrong. They’re not 21, they’re drinking, getting drunk, and then this happens to them and in the back of their mind

"No matter what the circumstances are, rape is never okay."

Senior Riley Maksymiu

thinking, ‘Well, they’re going to blame me because I put myself in this situation and I was drunk and maybe I’m going to get in trouble.’ So then they don’t want to say anything, they don’t want to do anything. Ultimately the decision lies with the victim and how they want to pursue it.”

Senior Riley Maksymiu was also sexually assaulted, and found it difficult to press charges against her attacker.

“I felt I was already going through enough, and I didn't want to deal with the stress of going through legal things,” Maksymiu said.

Maksymiu was raped when she was 14 by a close friend at a small gathering. She considered her attacker to be someone she trusted, and found it hard to believe that the assault occurred.

“It sucked because after it happened I didn't really have any idea what happened to me because when it happened I was unconscious,” Maksymiu said. “He told everyone about it, so all of my friends knew about it but

The use of alcohol at high school parties increases the likelihood of sexual assault. One in four women are sexually abused before the age of 18. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo Illustration 6 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

me. I didn't particularly know who even assaulted me because there were a few other boys there. I get flashbacks here and there and I figured out it was him because I could remember seeing him.”

At first, Maksymiu did not seek any sort of counseling, and as a result, developed mild depression and anxiety.

She said that the attack affected her in more ways than she could have imagined.

“I have just liked to keep it in the very back of my mind and try not to think about it but I have noticed that doesn't work and it still affects me,” Maksymiu said.

Maksymiu has only recently started seeing a counselor on the advice of her parents in order to face the issues that come with the trauma of sexual assault. She agreed to speak on the record because she said that coming forward to share her story would encourage others to do the same.

Audra Johnson, Counseling Services Coordinator at the Shelterhouse, advises anyone who has experienced sexual assault to seek counseling.

“Sexual assault can impact different parts of a person’s life and counseling can help a survivor work through those issues,” Johnson said. “We work with the survivor to identify how the sexual assault is affecting a person and walk beside them on their journey.”

80 percent of the services at Shelter House are non-residential visits, and Johnson says young girls make up many of these services. She feels that aspects of our society encourage these kinds of crimes.

“Some parts of our society promote and glorify sexual violence which leads to sexual assault in parties,” Johnson said. “Society promotes this idea of what we are supposed to behave like and creates norms that lead to the belief that sexual violence is a normal part of life. It is up to us to recognize rape culture and change it.”

Madison (a senior whose name has been changed to respect her anonymity) was a freshman when she was sexually assaulted at a gathering with several of her close friends. She considered her attacker to be a close friend as well. After the attack, Madison felt guilty that she had put herself in a situation in which it could have happened.

“I couldn’t move, I was just too scared to,” Madison said. “It was hard because I didn’t say no, but I didn’t say yes either.”

Davis said it’s important for people to take precautions if they go to a party,

NEWS

The Assaulting Numbers

like staying in groups and watching one another’s beverages. While it’s important for students to protect themselves, certain values should be instilled to boys.

“Because for whatever reason in our society, everybody wants to say, ‘Boys will be boys,’” Davis said. “That’s ridiculous, the whole thought that boys will be boys and that boys are just so sexually driven. No. Parents need to teach their boys to be respectful and responsible young men. And that in a situation like that, it’s not just, ‘Well she didn’t say no’ or ‘She’s too drunk.’”

Madison said that there is sometimes confusion about whether or not someone is willing to consent, especially when alcohol and other mind-altering substances are being used.

“Another problem is that a lot of guys don’t even realize that that’s what it is,” Madison said. “I don’t think the guy realized that what he did affected me so much. When you think about the guy’s point of view, if she didn’t say no and

Source: University of Washington

she’s just sitting there, they might not know she doesn’t want to.”

However, sources interviewed for this story feel that rape shouldn’t be excusable because of drinking.

“No matter what the circumstances are, rape is never okay,” Maksymiu said. “Just because someone is drunk or unconscious and can’t say no or yes, doesn’t give anyone the right to take advantage of them. I think this needs to be emphasized more than putting emphasis on any other factor like clothes or alcohol consumption.”

Because she could not prove her charges, Madison chose not to press charges against her attacker.

“It would just make a huge mess of everything, and everyone would know," Madison said. "It just feels like there’s no point to it.”

For this reason, many victims choose to never take their case to the police.

Davis said that it is often difficult to prove in court because it turns into a

he-said, she-said situation. Davis finds that this is a frustrating aspect of his job.

“It’s completely disheartening, as an investigator, to a few of these [cases] when you know what happened, you know this dude raped her, and you can’t prove it,” Davis said.

According to the National Library of Medicine, 10.5 percent of girls in high school report being forced to have sex against their will.

“Do I feel like it’s definitely happening? Yes, there’s definitely things that are happening," Davis said. "Does it go under-reported? Absolutely it goes under-reported.”

Maksymiu believes there is only one solution to ending the high rate of sexual assault among high school students.

“I think that the only thing that could stop sexual assault from happening, is for people to stop sexually assaulting people,” Maksymiu said. “It sounds that simple because it is that simple.”

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NEWS Seniors Gypsy Worrall and Jake Waltz discuss the challenges and reasons for graduating before their classmates. Kady Volmering |Sports Editor & Annaliese Hohner |Staff Writer & Olivia Barber |Staff Writer

A STEP AHEAD

Senior Gypsy Worrall works on her homework. She completes several hours of homework each night, in which she has to balance between her work schedule. Worrall is graduating a year early in order to get a jump start in her schooling in her pursuit for a law degree, in which she hopes to obtain by the age of 24. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

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y the time senior Gypsy Worrall was in eighth grade, she was already planning ahead to the end of her high school career. Influenced by her friend’s sister and the opportunity for extra time to save for college, Worrall had decided that she was going to graduate high school a year early.

“I realized I wanted to be a lawyer, and I knew that was going to take seven or eight years or so,” Worrall said. “I figured I could use that extra year I’m not in high school to my advantage.”

In anticipation of graduating early, Worrall started planning out her schedule beginning in ninth grade.

Worrall met with her counselor in order to make sure that her schedule was set up in a way that would allow her to meet her goal. She has had a seventh hour since she started high school, and had to double up on English classes last year, and math classes this year. In addition to this, Worrall also took two online elective classes last summer in order to meet the 22 credit requirement to graduate.

“My counselor tried to kind of discourage me from graduating a whole year early,” Worrall said. “She thought maybe at semester would be better.

In her mind she was thinking about prom stuff like that, and that I would be missing. But to me I didn’t see it that I would be missing it, I’ll have my senior year and I’d still be able to do all those things.”

Assistant principal Amy Hutchinson said that the first step for a student seeking to graduate either a year or semester early is to notify their counselor towards the end of junior year.

“The counselor usually wants to hear what the reason is for the early

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graduation,” Hutchinson said. “We’re not going to approve early graduations just because.”

Hutchinson said that the MPS school board sets a policy of 22 credits in a six hour day for four years, and believes that there is good reason for it.

She said that the school will accommodate for students and their requests to graduate early, but encourage the value of all four years of high school.

“I think that being in this environment you have more opportunity to learn things not just in the classroom, but socially.”

Assistant Principal Amy Hutchinson “I think that being in this environment you have more opportunity to learn things not just in the classroom, but socially,” Hutchinson said. “I think if you have that right in front of you, to take advantage, to enjoy life, than you ought to take advantage.”

Worrall plans to attend Delta for her first two years of college, and then hopefully transfer to either Purdue University or UCLA. From there, her next step is to get her law degree.

Similarly to Worrall, senior Jake Waltz graduated at semester. He originally missed the request deadline to graduate early, but set up a meeting with assistant

principal Kandis Pritchett in order to be able to graduate.

“It was a very last-minute thing for me,” Waltz said. “But I just had to e-mail my counselor and tell her that I wanted to graduate early, and then we just set up a time to meet and decide what I was going to do.”

Along with the stress of seven hours of school, and doubling up some classes, Worrall also works to support herself.

She has been working at McDonald’s for about seven months, and works about 3-4 hours a day. Worrall has made and saved enough money that she was able to pay for her first semester of college at Delta next year, but has had to cut out a lot of her involvement in extracurricular activities.

“I knew with these extra hours on my schedule there was not going to be any time for [sports],” Worrall said. “So I kind of threw all that out the window for my academics.”

Overall, Worrall and Waltz said that there are many benefits to graduating a year early. Waltz said that he is able to spend a lot more time with his parents as well as work for his dad a few times a week.

Worrall said that she has learned time management skills, how to put up with a lot of stress, and to take on rather big responsibilities. She feels that her hard work over the past three years will pay off.

“I’ll be 16 when I graduate, so that I means I’ll still have two more years before I can get a job that’s not for minors, so I’ve got time,” Worrall said.

“That sacrifice of time during these past three years is definitely worth that extra year that I’ll get.”

The Sports Zone Baseball Fever Hannah Smith

S

pring. The majority of people think green grass, flowers, and warmth when they hear spring.

But for my family, when March 20 appears on the calendar our minds go straight towards baseball.

Whether it’s going to watch the spring training in Florida, making it to opening day at Comerica Park, or catching the games on ESPN, my family and I always find a way to cheer on the Detroit Tigers.

On spring break a few years ago, my

family and I were headed home from vacation and we decided to swing by Tiger's stadium to watch opening day against the Red Sox. The stadium was packed with fans decked out in their Tiger apparel. This game was especially exciting because it was the first year Prince Fielder was a member of the Tigers.

I remember soaking in all of the atmosphere at the game: the fans, the players, the field, and the scoreboard.

This particular game was quite

Upcoming Events Boys' Lacrosse

April 28 @ Omaha vs.

Omaha High School, 5:30 p.m.

April 29 @ home vs.

De La Salle Collegiate High School, 7 p.m.

Boys' Golf

April 29 @ Bedford Valley Open, 10 a.m.

May 1 @ Davison CC vs. SVL Jamboree 9 a.m.

Girls' Soccer

May 1 @ Troy vs. Troy Athens, 7:00 p.m.

May 3 @ Bay City Central vs. BCC, 4:30 p.m.

Girls' Tennis

April 29 @ Flushing, Flushing Quad 9 p.m.

May 4 @ home vs.

Dow, 4 p.m.

eventful. The most vivid memory I have about the game was the fact that there were so many home runs.

Whether it was a Cabrera home run or a Fielder home run, the crowd was constantly going wild like a bunch of wolves feasting within their pack.

At one point in the game, the ball started to fly near our seat.

We were sitting down the third base line and as I looked over, my dad had snagged a foul ball off the bat of a Red Sox player.

That day, my family and I liked to think that the Tigers were victorious because of our constant cheering and presence at the game.

The ride home was constant conversation about the game and we all listed our favorite part of the whole

experience. My favorite part was being able to see Justin Verlander pitch an excellent game.

I’ve come to know a lot about the team due to my 15 year old cousin knowing any stat possible about every single player on the team. If I want to know the batting average of a certain player or however many home runs someone has, my cousin Matt is the first person I ask.

And that is the best part about Detroit Tigers baseball, it is something that my family has bonded over for many years.

"Whether it was a Cabrera home run or a Fielder home run, the crowd was constantly going wild like a bunch of wolves feasting within their pack. "

Follow Hannah Smith on Twitter @HanSmith24

Athlete of the Month Ryan Sisitki Grade: 10 Season Highlight: "Scoring 38 goals last year."

Favorite Memory: "Last year in the Heritage game when Zach Donoghue scored.”

Goal for the Season: “To come together as a team and upset a Lacrosse power house."

Coach’s Take: “Ryan is one of the hardest working and dedicated athletes I have ever come across. He is one of those athletes that comes from a great genetic family and yet he works harder than everyone to improve his game" - Joe Stadelmaier

9 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

Preparing for States

Senior Sarah Maschino has competed at states in hurdling for the past two years. Sonja Anderson| Features Editor & Bitsy Mammel| Staff Writer & Matt Olenczuk| Staff Writer

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LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Senior Sarah Maschino competing at a track meet. Fischer Genau|Photo 10 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

efore Sarah Maschino became one expectations, Sugnet also expects a lot of the top hurdlers in the state, she from her, and wants her to return to the was a nervous beginner in middle state competitions for four events: the school.

100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, “There was a point where I really 4-by-100 meter relay, and the 4-bypsyched myself out, and I couldn’t even 400 meter relay. Along with returning hurdle,” Maschino said. “It’s gotten to states, Sugnet wants Maschino to better since freshman year. I was really continue to be a leader for the other track nervous at the meets and stuff, so athletes by setting an example. sometimes I would freak myself out.

“She’s quiet but has become a very But the more you work at it, the better good leader,” Sugnet said. “The younger you get at the mental game.” athletes see how hard she works.”

Now, Maschino has qualified for the Sophomore Haley Samborn hurdles state meet for two years in a row, and this with Maschino and said that she has could be her third. She is the top hurdler been helpful with the other hurdlers. on the girl’s track team, and specializes She pushes her teammates to do their in the 100-meter hurdles, for which best and offers critiques to them if they her personal record are doing something helped her become wrong. ranked fourth in the “In training she’s state. always trying her “When I got that best,” Samborn said.

“Sarah has high PR and I beat my “It really motivates expectations for mom’s time, I thought you to work your that was super cool hardest as well herself... She knows because she hurdled,” because you know Maschino said. “She that you have her she has to work to wasn’t like, ‘Oh I competing next to reach those.” don’t want you to you.” beat my best time.’

Samborn said that Coach Diane Sugnet She was really excited the fact that Maschino for me because she can three-step (only wanted me to be even take three steps better than she was.” between hurdles Even though she instead of the usual has succeeded as a hurdler, Maschino four steps) is one reason why she has still continues to work hard and maintain been able to succeed. Yet, she still had to focus. She said the most difficult part of work hard to achieve such a feat. hurdling is getting the technique right.

“I look up to her confidence,” Samborn “When you’re supposed to go over the said. “She knows who she is and what hurdle, coming down, and your form,” she wants and what she needs to do to Maschino said. “Trying to not hit the get that.” hurdle every time with your knee, so Despite her success in high school, you don’t get scars all over your knees.” Maschino doesn’t plan on continuing Track coach Diane Sugnet helps the hurdling or track in college or her hurdlers a lot with these issues. later life. She views it as more of a fun “Sarah has high expectations for experience of high school. herself, but it’s not just that she has high “I’ve thought about [college track],” expectations, she knows she has to work Maschino said. “I could, but as of now to reach those, and did work to reach I’m not planning on doing it. If I went those, and continues to work to reach to school and I really loved the coach, those,” Sugnet said. maybe I would do it. I would be really In addition to Maschino’s own high late in the game though.”

Preparing for States

SPORTS

Chance Freed swings the bat in their home opener against Mt. Pleasant. The team lost the first game and won the second. Fischer Genau | Photo

SWINGING FOR STATES

The baseball team is ranked fifth in the state with high hopes of winning the Saginaw Valley League.

Kayla Graham|Photo & Design Editor & Hannah Smith|Staff Writer & Devin Alexander |Staff Writer

I

t was the top of the tenth inning. The game was tied at two and Bay City Western was up to bat. An RBI triple drove in the go-head run, giving the Chemics had one last chance to tie or pull ahead for the District Championship. Leaving a runner stranded at second base, the Chemics fell just short.

Entering the season ranked fifth in the state, the Chemics also are motivated by last year’s close loss to Bay City Western, according to coach Eric Albright.

“The team’s success will d e p e n d o n e a c h p l a ye r o n the roster fulfilling a job and completing a role needed,” Albright said. “We certainly have some key players, but all players will help to make the team better over the course of the season.”

Senior Jordan Patty is a key player and has been playing baseball for 14 years. He will continue to play at Central Michigan University. Being a four year varsity player, Patty has learned a lot about the game as well as lifelong takeaways. “ [Albright] has taught me how to deal with adversity,” Patty said. “It’s not all about a baseball

game, it’s about learning to help you later in life.”

Junior Garrett Willis, a pitcher and returning varsity player, has played a lot of baseball in his life; but his friends, coaches, and family have impacted him the most throughout his career.

“My favorite part of baseball is just focusing on every little detail that can win and lose you a big ball game,” Willis said. “My favorite memories are from hanging with the boys throughout weekend tournaments.”

Albright pushes the players to work hard at practice and expects them to be ready to play tough when difficult competition is brought to the field.

“We stress on players and coaches controlling what we can control,” Albright said. “You can not control umpires, weather, etc., so don’t stress about those things. Instead, you can bring a positive attitude, proper perspective, and maximum effort every day.”

Willis has goals for getting closer to his team members and having more opportunities with playing the game.

“My overall goal is to win the state championship,” Willis said. “I feel that we could truly have something special this year. Our whole team has great chemistry and talent. When a team has good chemistry, it goes a lot farther than the average person realizes.”

Patty said staying focused and having the right mindset at practice will be a key component to a successful season.

“I’m confident that our team can win the Saginaw Valley League (SVL), we just have to stay focused in the double headers,” Patty said.

As for this upcoming season, everyone is a lot more focused on the final goal of winning. All the players feel they are getting better at practice each day.

“Our strength is definitely hitting,” Willis said. “You could put anyone on our team in the batter's box and I would be confident that they would reach a base.”

Patty amongst the rest of the seniors lead the team in practice and in games.

Whether it’s instructing new varsity players in drills or leading the team in stretching, the seniors are the go-to’s.

“A l l t h e s e n i o r s t a k e o n m a n y leadership roles,” Albright said. “It’s understood that they are in charge. It doesn’t take a formal ‘C’ on their jersey or a vote from the team to know that they are leading the team.”

The team is on-board with the plan to accomplish their post-season goals.

“They are focused on being the best that they can be,” Albright said. “The coaches are happy to be coaching hard working players that have high hopes in progressing further in the season.”

Junior Garrett Willis pitches against Mt. Pleasant for the win of 4-2. Fischer Genau | Photo

PITCHER

Jordan Patty Senior

Future Plans: Signed with Central Michigan University

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Preparing for states

SPORTS

AN EMPHASIS

The varsity softball team has eight seniors.

(From bottom center clockwise.) Julia Gross, Paige Murphy, Sydney Coppens, Olivia Chritz, Kady Volmering, Maya Kipfmiller, Jillian Elmer, and Tara Gross.

Fischer Genau |Photo

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SPORTS

ON CHARACTER

The Varsity softball team has become a unified group of young athletes, ready to continue their pursuit of excellence. Lauren Curtis| Staff Writer & Josh Danielson|Managing Web Editor & Kaylee Zariski| Staff Writer

B

efore the team started the physical training for the season, they came together and brainstormed four words to build focus and communication on. Respect. Unity. Determination.

Excellence.

These a r e the character traits required for a

successful t e a m , according to the varsity softball team.

Since 2013, the team has advanced further in the state playoffs. There are currently eight seniors on the team and four of them have been on varsity since freshman year In 2014 the team lost in districts, in 2015 they advanced to quarterfinals, and last year they made it to the semifinals. This year, they were ranked number one in the pre-season and have set a goal of winning the state championship.

Throughout the training process, they have been working on much more than physical fitness and technique. They believe that success is also developed through good character.

All softball teams are practicing the same aspects of their physical game, and Midland High also has a team covenant. At the beginning of the season, the players gathered together and brainstormed character traits they want to commit to both on and off the field.

"The physical mistakes will happen, we just need to stop making the mental ones." Senior Julia Gross said. Gross started playing softball in the third grade, and has been on the team since her freshman year.

“At the beginning of the season we wanted to set ourselves apart from every other team,” Gross said. “Every team is practicing the same things but we wanted everyone to know that if someone walks into our practices, they could see that they are really

determined and they are showing respect for the game, their teammates, and their coaches. They are unified and trying to show excellence. We are really trying to set ourselves apart.”

They also attribute their success to the team chemistry that has developed over time. “[We are successful] because of our trust,” Gross said. “We are very familiar with each other. Trust and unity is a big thing. ” By spending so much time together, the players have increased their skill set and work as one unified team.

Much of this success is due to Varsity Coach Robin Allen. Allen has encouraged the players to become a close knit team, as opposed to 15 individual players.

“If we all make decisions with the covenants in mind, we will be more focused and unified. ” Allen said.

After reaching the state semifinals at Michigan State, and with everyone returning this year, there is an expectation that they will win the state championship. However, the team is more focused on playing their best, rather than winning the state title.

“We have a lot of pressure on ourselves because of the ranking,” Gross said. “No team is perfect and we will always make mistakes, but we will also always try our best.”

Senior Jillian Elmer agrees with

Gross.

“We can’t get too caught up in all the pressure that’s been put on our team, "Engle said. "We have to take it day by day and work really hard because it’s not just going to happen overnight.”

Team mom, Kelly Kipfmiller has noticed how much the players appreciate each other.

“They are happy to see each other do well - it is about the team and not individual accomplishments.”

Kipfmiller said. Being one of the organizers for events like team activities, banquets and fundraising, Kipfmiller has seen them connect over things like photo scavenger hunts and Wii tennis tournaments.

"The girls all have their own paths for the future and it has been fun to watch," Kipfmiller said.

Most athletes on the team play softball in the offseason, and have private coaches, ensuring they will be at the peak of their game for the season.

Hitting coach, Rick Engle has been working with the players all winter.

“Our players are dedicated to the weight room in the off season” Engle said.

Elmer agrees with this. “Every year we come back and are stronger and better.”

Elmer said.

“No team is perfect and we will always make mistakes, but we will also always try our best.”

Senior Julia Gross

As they continue to train and practice for the rest of the season, one thing is constant among all of the players and coaches. They are determined to try their best, and work hard, regardless of the outcome.

“We are preparing in the same way that we have in the past, by trying to improve every day," Elmer said. We are not focusing on the end result. The process is what is important. If we continue to improve, we will have a successful season,” said Elmer.

Elmer, who has been in the team since her freshman year, said she and her teammates also learned a great deal of leaderhsip.

“We have gotten a lot more mature and leaders have emerged throughout the years,” Elmer said.

“Freshman year we followed the seniors, and now we are them. We’ve been taking over their roles and adapting.”

Coach Allen is devoted to making the team the best it can be, both on and off the field.

It is their philosophy to reaching their full potential.

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BREAKING THE BINARY FEATURES

Groups are helping to fight the stigma of being genderqueer in the community. Hope O’Dell|A&E Editor & Quinlan Cox|Staff Writer

0.3% of the adult population in the US identifies as t r a n s g e n d e r.

Quinlan Cox | Illustration

O

ne night when Tara, a pseudonym given to a sophomore to protect their identity, was looking online, they came across something called the gender binary, and more specifically, people who identify as gender nonbinary. Those who don’t identify with a specific gender binary title like male or female. Tara realized that this fit how they were feeling.

“I obviously dress very femininely, but [being gender non-binary] means that I don’t necessarily feel like I fit into either stereotype,” Tara said. “I don’t fit the norms; and, you know, people can go outside the norms. [Being gender nonbinary] is just a reach outside of that.”

Although breaking free of the gender binary can give the those who feel like they don’t fit in freedom to be themselves, society has not completely accepted these individuals yet. This lack of understanding, especially in older generations, has made Tara afraid to come out to their parents.

“I feel like they won’t understand,” Tara said. “I don’t think my parents will want to understand either.”

The stigma that surrounds transgender and gender non-binary people goes along with the lack of understanding.

These two put together can make it extremely difficult for genderqueer people to come out.

“The stigma adds to the unwillingness to come out,” Tara said. “And the stigma can make it unsafe for people to come out.”

Tara said that they believe education is the first step to understanding, and in turn, to fighting the stigma.

There are groups within the community that are trying to fight back the stigma with education and acceptance. The Gay-Straight Alliance, run by Advisor Heather Aviles, works to help anyone who is willing to learn about the LGBT+ community learn.

“The Gay-Straight Alliance is exactly that, and alliance between LGBT+ students and straight students, called allies,” Aviles said. “It is for anyone who

would like to learn more and help end homophobia and transphobia.”

At the start of every GSA meeting, students present on topics surrounding the LGBT+ community. Specific to gender, they have learned about being transgender, genderfluid, and genderqueer. Aviles said that these presentations help to create a dialogue between the students, which opens the door to understanding.

“Often part of the education on the topic is how to address people [using their preferred pronouns] and how to deal with other people when they say something insensitive and hurtful,” Aviles said. “In that way, the education aspect of the discussion has the capability of spreading through the school.”

Preferred pronouns are what the person would like to be referred to in regards to their pronouns. For example, a transgender man’s preferred pronouns would be he/him. Aviles often stresses the importance of preferred pronouns, and makes an effort to always address a student by their correct pronouns.

“Everyone has the right to be treated with respect,” Aviles said. “Using preferred pronouns is a way to show respect to people who are genderqueer.”

Aviles also stresses the importance of the difference between gender and their sex. While sex is biological, gender pertains more to culture and tradition, how the person feels inside.

Another group that is trying to educate is Perceptions, a non-profit group with a mission to “provide inclusive sexual orientation and gender identity/ expression (SOGIE) education, advocacy,

Someone who identifies as...

the gender assigned at birth

A gender other than assigned at birth

networking, and resources to individuals and organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region.” They have the Perceptions Transgender Support Group, that meets on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 pm.

Ellen Keeler, Perceptions Transgender Support Group Coordinator, has been working with the group for two years to educate people who come to the group.

The meetings are run by members of the group who sign up to run the meetings, and do research and present on a topic.

They also have speakers come to talk to the group as part of these presentations.

They also try to create a “safe space” for members of the LGBT+ community by normalizing asking about preferred Neither pronouns. exclusively “We start our meetings with a round male nor robin introduction,” Keeler said. “Where female everyone states their first name and their pronouns. Sometimes we will ask a question at the start of introductions, such as, ‘If you could change one thing in your life what would it be and how would it change your life?’”

Although stigma still surrounds the genderqueer community, groups like the GSA and Perceptions are helping to fight it by education and providing safe spaces for members of the LGBT+ community.

A gender that “Just remember that everyone has varies over their battles,” Aviles said. “And some are time a lot worse than we know about. As I’ve said before, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, or purple, being a teenager is a challenging period of your life. Why would we want to make it any harder for anyone else? Building others up makes you feel a whole lot better than tearing others down.”

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FEATURES

MAKING A CHANGE

The environmental club planting flowers around the school. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

Juniors Kayla Douglas (left) and Kait Gandy (right) formed the Environmental Club in hopes of getting involved with other environmental organizations. Danielle Julien | Photo

Kait Gandy and Kayla Douglas started the Environmental Club with teacher Allan Chapple. They strive to update Midland High to help improve the environment. Ellie Jensen | Opinion Editor & Danielle Julien| Staff Writer

J

unior Kait Gandy remembers her time spent in China clearly; from the days where they couldn’t go to school because the air was too bad to go outside, or to the dead pigs that would wash up on shores of polluted rivers because of factories. For Gandy, protecting the environment from abuse like this has always been a goal.

When she moved to Midland High from her school in China, Gandy was disappointed to see that there wasn’t an environmental club listed among the other various clubs.

“I have always been passionate about conservation issues,” Gandy said. “I’ve always been interested in ecosystems and preserving them, so when I moved here I was really looking forward to seeing what this school would do in terms of their environmental club.”

She hadn’t really considered working to start the club up for herself, until she witnessed behavior that made her change her mind.

“I lost it at lunch when a kid crumpled up his water bottle and I said ‘Hey what are you doing! Don’t throw that away!’”

Gandy said. “He said ‘I try to recycle when I can,’ and I was like, ‘Okay that’s it, I’m tired, we need to figure this schools recycling problems out’.”

After this occurrence, Gandy began communication with junior Kayla Douglas about the issues surrounding the school’s recycling program and other environmental issues. Together they decided to start the Environmental Club.

“We’re trying to raise awareness about environmental conservation in the school,” Douglas said. “Recycling

is our main point right now, I would say.

A lot of people are upset about how the recycling is formatted at the school but they don’t really know what to do about it, so we’re trying to figure that out.”

Besides taking action like this, Gandy and Douglas also hope that the club will be able to get more students involved in changing the recycling program.

“I feel what we really need to do is inspire people,” Gandy said. “There’s not going to be action if people don’t care; we need to make them care. We’re not going to put a gun to their heads and say ‘hey, you’re gonna recycle that’.”

As of now the club has had one meeting, but communication issues made it difficult for people to come.

Although there were complications, Douglas has gotten a lot people reaching out to her about the club.

“I’ve been contacted by at least a dozen people who couldn’t come or weren’t sure about the first meeting,” Douglas said. “When we have a better time period, like between play rehearsals and confusion, then we will definitely have more people.”

Club advisor Alan Chapple does his part in protecting the environment outside of school, and is working with the girls to help them achieve their goals.

“As far as we know, we only get one go round in life,” Chapple said. “I want my son and his son to be able to enjoy nature and live a higher quality of life because of our natural world.”

Gandy and Douglas know that they have limited power in what really goes on within the school, but are going to push ideas like the change in recycling to the school and school board. Gandy

16 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

has taken a lot of her plans from her old school, Concordia International school in Shanghai. The entire school was plastic-free, meaning all the food available at the school was not packaged in plastic and students could not bring plastic into the school with the intent of throwing it away. Any waste from food and lunches was composted in order to save waste.

“We want to be realistic,” Gandy said. “Right now we’re focusing on the fundamentals and getting things set up, establishing the group. But, I know I personally have a lot of goals and plans.”

They hope to get community involvement, along with the student body. Douglas plans on reaching out to local businesses to get contributors to a school-wide recycling program, and they’re hoping to partner with environmental groups in Midland and around the country. “ We ’r e t r y i n g t o c o n t a c t t h i s organization, Climate Reality, to see if they can give a presentation to the school and the public,” Douglas said. “They [talk] about how climate change will affect us and what we can do about it.”

Gandy and Douglas believe that the hardest step they have to take is getting people the correct information. They fear that environmental issues have become a part of political banter and that there is too much misinformation being spread throughout the community.

“I’ve heard a lot of, I would say, ignorant conversations on the topic, and they’re not literate on the issue,” Gandy said. “I feel like [by] instituting a club like this we really need to be trying to educate the people.”

A&E

TAKING THE STAGE

Freshman Sydney Lewandowski made a name for herself in December when she was the only freshman to sing solo in Rhapsody Rendezvous. She has ambitious plans for her future. Hailey Surbrook | Ads Coordinator & Jasmin West | Staff Writer

F

rom singing along to “Jewel” at six years old to performing at Rhapsody, freshman Sydney Lewandowski has always had a passion for music.

“Singing is so important to me and it takes up most of my life,” Lewandowski said. “Singing is what I go to when I am stressed or when I am angry at something.

I use music to take away all the bad things in my life, for instance I will write about my problems then put them into a song.”

Lewandowski has been singing for several years and enjoys the feeling of performing in front of an audience.

“Performing in front of a crowd makes me very nervous,” Lewandowski said. “I always get butterflies in my stomach before I go on stage, but once I get on stage and start performing, I feel really calm. I love the feeling after I perform when everyone is clapping, it makes me so happy.”

Lewandowski gets most of her inspiration from music artists like, Ed Sheeran and Adele.

She is influenced by their slower sounding music.

This year, Lewandowski took the stage at Rhapsody Rendezvous, singing “Remedy”

by Adele, accompanied by freshman Jordan Deckrow on piano. Unsure whether or not she would make it into Rhapsody as a freshman, Lewandowski was surprised to learn that she did make it.

“I was so happy when I found out [that I got in], I couldn’t believe it,” Lewandowski said. “I actually started crying because I felt so lucky to get in with all the amazing people that tried out.”

Lewandowski was nervous for the performance because Rhapsody was the biggest crowd she’s performed for. Her mother, Christine Lewandowski was

anxious for the same reason.

“My anxiety was put to rest when she sang her first few notes,” Christine said. “She sang perfectly and I had goosebumps along with a few tears in my eyes by the end of the performance.

I couldn’t have been more proud of her than at that moment. It took a lot of courage for her to get up in [front of] such a big audience.”

During the process, Deckrow said that Sydney had interpreted the music well, picked up on the song fairly quickly, and performed well. “[When she was] backstage, she wasn’t freaking out,” Deckrow said.

“She was pretty chill throughout the whole process, and she sang [well] on stage. She didn’t have a shaky voice.

She didn’t really show that she was scared.”

Sydney was also content with how she had performed.

She was very proud of making it into rahpsody and enjoyed the experience of performing.

“I was on stage in the middle of singing, and I looked up and I saw the whole crowd, when I [looked] up into the crowd it [felt] amazing,” Sydney said. “I never thought I could actually get into Rhapsody, and at that moment I just thought, ‘Wow, I did it.’”

Sydney plans to pursue her passion for singing, by auditioning for other things in the future. She did Music Fest, and plans to audition for future Rhapsodys.

“Sydney is very headstrong,” Christine said. “When she puts her mind to something, there is nothing that is going to stop her.”

Hailey Surbrook| Photo

“When [Sydney] puts her mind to something, there is nothing that is going to stop her.”

Mother Christine Lewandowski

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A&E

ASPIRING AUTHOR

Junior Karalyn Jobe has not only been writing her own novels, novellas, and poetry for most of her life, but she has illustrated her work as well. In the future, she aspires to become a published writer.

Holly Stauffer | Staff Writer & Hadley Morden | Staff Writer & Hannah Kohtz | Staff Writer

Artificial Intelligence Two scientists are working on creating an Artificial Intelligence unit that is supposed to look and act exactly like a person. The story is in different points of view, partially in journal entires from the two scientists and partially in chapters which start off as code compiling from the Artificial Intelligence unit. As the story progresses, the AI unit becomes more and more intelligent to make the reader forget that it is not actually a human.

Karalyn’s Take:“I was inspired to write this story because

I am really passionate about programming and it’s what I want to do.

The idea of the story was to put those two worlds together and to play on the psyche of the reader and how easy it is to forget that [the AI unit] is not actually human.”

Meet the Author

Karalyn Jobe “With writing you can create something that nobody has ever seen before. It’s a way to express the feelings that you have in a very abstract way and it can also help other people to express their own feelings when they’re reading it. Because I know when I read stories that I really connect with it’s very inspiring. It’s a very comfortable kind of feeling, and I guess what I want is for other people to be able to feel that because of my writing.”

Garden of the Grim The story takes place in a fantasy world in which the sun can only touch certain parts of the Earth, called gardens, and every other part of the Earth is dead with no life. The main character is the guardian of a garden and is aware of the fact that his garden is dying.The story follows how the character reacts to an evil spirit and the depression brought on by the spirit. At the very end, he regains his resolve to keep this area alive because he learns that it is the very last garden on Earth.

Jobe’s own art work for her novel, “Artificial Intelligence.” Hadley Morden|Photo

Karalyn’s Take:“This story was based off a poem that I

wrote, which was basically a dark representation of a garden. The story itself for me kind of represents that there is good in even the worst of situations and even in the worst of people.”

Before My Eyes The first chapter begins with the main character throwing himself off of a building to commit suicide. The story plays off of the idea of one’s life flashing before their eyes. It goes through his memories and what led up to that point. In the last chapter, the story returns to him right before death where he decides he doesn’t actually want to jump because of all of the positive memories that came back to him.

Karalyn’s Take: “My idea for this story was that I have

been very depressed in the past, and I wanted to write something that represented to me that life is very much worth living.”

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Karalyn draws portraits of main characters in her stories. Hadley Morden|Photo

A&E

INSTRUCTING TO INSPIRE Senior Cara Spencer teaches a variety of different dance classes at Gina Beebe’s Dance Studio.

Shelly St. Louis|Staff Writer & Paige Murphy|Staff Writer & Emma McLaren|Staff Writer

Senior Cara Spencer teaches the preschool level ballet class. She has been assisting in teaching various dance lessons since she was eleven years old. Gina Beebe | Photo Courtesy

C

ara Spencer first started taking lessons at a dance studio called Standing Ovation when she was five years old. She was eleven years old when her teacher, Olga Mulvaney, asked if Spencer could help teach dance in a class for young girls.

“Teaching was actually something that I had never thought about doing,” Spencer said Spencer taught at Standing Ovation until it closed her fresman year. From there, Spencer switched to Gina Beebe’s Dance Studio, and had been dancing there for a year when Beebe asked her to be an assistant teacher. After seeing her success with assisting, Spencer later on started teaching a ballet preschool class by herself.

“She was positive in the classroom while working with students, was polite and respectful when speaking with parents, and was a very helpful, dedicated part of our staff,” Beebe said.

With the responsibility of teaching her own class, one thing that Spencer has learned is how to deal with the unpredictably of the lessons with the younger students.

“Some days everyone is super focused and you get a lot of things done,” Spencer said. “But then other weeks nobody wants to work or do anything. So you have to give in a little and compromise, let them know that they have to work really hard for the next five minutes or so and then they can have time to stretch and socialize.”

Cara’s mother, Emily Spencer, said that Cara is a good teacher because of

her love for dance, her patience with the younger students, and the way she gathers as much dance knowledge as she can through past teachers and research to make the classes run well.

“This year, when she started teaching class on her own, she took what she had learned from previous dance instructors combined with doing research to make her class her own,” Emily said.

Cara’s main goal when teaching lessons and her favorite aspect of teaching is to make class fun for the kids. She hopes that by making class enjoyable, the students will continue to dance as they grow older.

“Last week one of the girls mentioned to me that Tuesday is her favorite day of the week because of dance class,” Cara said. “It made me really proud that I’ve succeeded most doing that, to some extent.”

While Cara is proud of herself for making class enjoyable for her students, Emily is proud of her for ability to learn from the dance classes that don’t go as smoothly as Cara would want and expect. “[I’m most proud of] Cara’s ability to have a not so good day teaching and then learn from that to make changes to make the next class better,” Emily said.

“This a difficult lesson to learn and will be helpful throughout her life.”

Beebe agreed that Cara works to make the class enjoyable for the kids but also adds that she is responsible.

“We can always count on her to do what she says, and to follow through to get things done well,” Beebe said.

Since Beebe has her own experience of teaching dance in high school, she can relate to Cara in that it’s a huge commitment. She appreciates her dedication and commitment to the studio.

“I know that it consumes her time, energy, and mind,” Beebe said. “She puts in countless hours at the studio and at home to prepare. It’s always tough to have balance in life, especially in high school, and Cara makes her choice to

make it all happen every day.

With senior year approaching and college this fall, dance is coming to an end for Cara.

Since Cara will be attending college at the University of Michigan, she will not be able to continue to teach dance lessons at Beebe’s studio.

“I would like to keep teaching, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to,” Cara said.

“I love working with the girls, though, there’s no question about that.”

Spencer has been doing dance since she was five years old. Gina Beebe|Photo Courtesy 19 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

OP/ED

I don’t know Ella Colbert

W

hen I was a little girl, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I decided that I wanted to be an alligator. At the time, I didn’t know that this dream would be impossible, I just wanted to be different than my other friends who dreamed of growing up to be a princess.

When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to be a teacher. My teacher retired that year and gave me and my neighbor all of her teaching supplies.

The entire summer was spent re-decorating my basement to mimic her classroom and holding classes to a group of imaginary students. I decided against teaching after a couple times babysitting and realizing I have little to no patience with children.

When I was in middle school, I had pretty much decided that I would be a psychiatrist. I had held several counseling sessions with my family members and thought it was my calling. This dream ended when I realized how bad I am at science and how many years I would spend at medical school.

Now, a senior in high school, I am less than two months away from graduation and I don’t know what I want to be. I don’t know if I missed the day where everyone

decided that they wanted to be an engineer or an occupational therapist or whatever else.

Or maybe some people took the career cruising sessions more seriously than I did (being a bus driver didn’t seem right for me, but maybe I’m wrong). I know what I want to major in, Political Science and Journalism, but beyond that I

“I knew exactly what I wanted to with my life until it actually mattered.”

am very unsure.

I have always assumed that by the time I reached my senior year, I would have everything figured out. I assumed that I would know exactly where I wanted to go to college, what I wanted to major in, and have a career already in mind. I figured I would have most of my life planned out by now. But I was very wrong. I actually just decided where I want to go to college, two weeks before decision day. In fact, for the

What I wanted to do: KindergartenAlligator

5th Grade- Teacher

2nd Grade- Lawyer 20 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

longest time, I didn’t even know if I wanted a large or small school. I toured Kenyon College, which has about 1,500 students in a city of about 2.5 buildings, and University of California Berkeley with about 40,000 students in a big city.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life until it actually mattered.

Throughout elementary and middle school, I had more of a plan for my future than I do now. Maybe because it’s actually real now and the reality has finally set in that it’s such an important decision. Or maybe it’s because I’m scared that if I don’t like the career I chose to pursue, I’ll suffer for the rest of my life. Or maybe it’s because I’m a Libra and I’m naturally indecisive.

I know that I can switch majors if I don’t like the one I chose, and I can even transfer universities if the one I chose is not the right fit for me. I know that these decisions are not truly permanent; the 10 plus college tours I’ve attended have taught me that much.

“College is where you find yourself,” each tour guide says after explaining how they switched from a business major to a political economist major or how they transferred to the school after a year at a university that was not the right fit for them.

Adults put such a heavy emphasis on deciding your future as early as possible and expect high school students to have the rest of their life entirely planned out. But that is not realistic. It’s okay not to know what you want to do. It’s okay to not want to rush any decisions that could determine the rest of your life. It’s okay to say I don’t know sometimes.

12th Grade- I don’t know

6-8th GradePsychiatrist

Take It or Leave It Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

TAKE IT MMidland High Drama Club put on a great performance of Shrek The Musical.

LEAVE IT A police officer died in Paris after a gunman opened fire at the Champs Elysee.

LEAVE IT

TAKE IT

Netflix released its bingeworthy show, 13 Reasons Why, on March 31.

The world’s oldest person, Emma Morano, died on April 15, at the age of 117.

If you would like to advertise here Contact Hailey Surbrook (989)708-6473 OR mhsfocusads@gmail.com Prices: $50 big(4x4) or $30 small(2x4)

@HumansofMidlandHigh

OP/ED

Past the Fences

I

shouldn’t be afraid to scroll through Twitter; I really shouldn’t. I suppose it’s my own fault.

It’s not like Twitter made me follow Bernie Sanders, or the official Women’s March Twitter, or the ACLU Twitter.

I chose to use social media to keep myself (somewhat) educated on current events.

But now every time I unlock my phone, I feel anxiety slither around in my chest and consume my thoughts.

At this point it’s getting a little ridiculous. It seems like every time I open the app, I get news that our country is one step closer to airing the first episode of “Celebrity Apprentice: World War Three Edition”.

It’s gotten to the point where I avoid any social media site where I follow anything remotely political.

I’m terrified that I’ll open Twitter and find out that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump went out on a romantic dinner date. Not to discuss politics, but because Russia is our only ally left.

I know this fear I feel is a problem that could be fixed; it would be so easy to just unfollow all of these accounts.

But if I may contradict myself, it isn’t easy. In this political climate, unfollowing these accounts is like shooting yourself in the foot and then trying to run a marathon.

In my mind, I liken this whole subject to a game of

Hope O’Dell Jenga.

Every time you unfollow an account like the ACLU, or Bernie Sanders, or any news outlet’s official account, no matter whether conservative or liberal, it’s like pulling a block out of the tower.

Changing the channel from MSNBC or Fox News to “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” another block.

Ignoring your friends

“No matter who is in charge, we need to educate ourselves while we still can.” when they try to discuss good ol’ Donnie’s plans to “Make America Great Again,” another block.

Every time you pull out a block, the tower is one step closer to toppling. If enough towers topple, then fascism will rise from the turmoil of a million scattered Jenga blocks.

If we allow the Cheeto Administration to do whatever it pleases without resistance, then we will live in an America where our individual rights consist of paying taxes and freedom of speech, as long as the speech is in favor of the administration. The press will

be shut down in an attempt to stop citizens from obtaining the truth. Even when a sliver of truth is brought to light, denouncing it as “fake news” will be a threat to those who want to take it as truth and use it as a weapon against those in power.

I know that it is hard for many of us to care about politics; it’s confusing and scary, and it doesn’t seem to touch the “Midland Bubble,” at all.

But one day the bubble will pop, and your middleclass dreams of getting out of Midland (only to come back to Midland) will be popped along with it by the smog that fills the air. All because Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency thought it was a better idea to allow billion-dollar companies to make an extra million here and there rather than to protect the lungs of American citizens. This is assuming, of course, that you don’t get drafted into the Syrian War before you can get into a college.

I know it may be a bit extreme to paint this ugly of a picture. I know I maybe be labelled a “sensitive liberal who just can’t deal with the fact that Donald Trump is our fearless leader,” but no matter who is in charge, we need to educate ourselves while we still can. We need to stand up for what we believe before it’s too late.

So I beg of you, educate yourself, form opinions and beliefs. Then use what you know to stand up for what you believe in.

Or don’t. But if you choose to ignore me, don’t be surprised when the tower topples.

Follow Hope O’Dell on Twitter @odell_hope and on Instagram

Best Political Accounts to Follow @womensmarch

@ACLU

@SenSanders

A feature of Chemics who have a story.

Bradan Bukaweski

“

I don’t like to talk about myself because I already feel as if I am one of the greatest people to grace the earth.

To brag about this and all of my accolades would be completely useless because my own self-esteem is already high enough to support my ego. If you scroll through my Snapchat Memories, you’d think it was a shrine to myself and to my cats. I love myself more than anyone else could as it is, so that’s why I don’t find interest in talking about myself.

”

21 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

Focused on Family

T

he music program at Midland High is like no other.

What I mean is this: all other courses at MHS are focused mainly, if not solely, on the subject matter that they are expected to teach. While the music classes all teach music, it’s not the main focus. The emphasis on family is what sets the music programs apart from all the other classes at MHS. All of the music classes focus on making sure that students have a place where they feel like they can belong.

For me, I felt that sense of belonging in both that in band and Meistersingers.

Let me take you through my journey.

As a freshman, I was very scared and childish. My older sister Elia was a big shot as a drum major, and I was quite honestly, a nobody. All of my friends had left me to pursue other social circles, and the only person I had was Eli. Even then, she had her own group. So needless to say, I was terrified.

Thankfully, during band camp, another drum major, Kyle Franson took me under his wing. He showed me how things ran at MHS, ate lunch with me, and he became my friend. As a freshman with no real friends, this was a godsend. Someone (other

Josh Danielson than my sister) cared enough to spend time with me, and genuinely appreciated me, the “scared freshman.”

Throughout that year, Kyle let me eat lunch with him daily, he helped me with my classes, and acted as my mentor.

“Life isn’t about your resume, your grades, or your status. It is about the relationships we build and the power we have to make everyone feel like they belong.”

OP/ED Meistersingers, I found my family of people. I suddenly had friends again, and I felt like I belonged. With more friends, my confidence soared, and I became a more fulfilled and joyful person. I poured myself into choir, trying my best to bring success to everyone. Choir became my place of sanctuary, and a place where I could truly excel.

Once I hit this year, my junior year, I once again had no one. Suddenly, Elia, my best friend, wasn’t with me anymore. This left a void in my life. But very quickly, Jordan Gonder (Boomer), and Zach Monica, who both served as drum majors this fall, stepped in and filled that void.

They grew to be like brothers to me. I remember vividly, after the last football game, walking up to Boomer, with tears in my eyes, giving him a hug and saying the words, “You’re like my brother.

Thank you.”

To me, the heart of the MHS music program is the family environment that everyone student and teacher is invested in. Inclusion for everyone. Love and acceptance. Relationships.

Life isn’t about your resume, your grades, or your status. It is about the relationships we build and the power we have to make everyone feel like they belong. For me, I found these relationships through a mutual love of music. That opportunity to love on the broken, scared, and lonely; like I have been loved on, is why I love being a part of the MHS music programs.

There are some things that simply cannot be taught through just the curriculum.

Follow Josh Danielson on Instagram @josh.danielson

@HumansofMidlandHigh A feature of Chemics who have a story.

Destiny Van Pelt

“A favorite place that I’ve

traveled to is Disney World. Disney is one of the things I believe you are never too old for.

For spring break I went to Disney World with the band. It is now one of my most cherished 5th grade 9th grade 10th grade memories that I hope L e a r n e d t o Joined the MHS Joined the MHS to never forget.

This inclusion had been a driving force in the band program, and because of this, everyone feels like they’ve found a place to belong through band. I was not the only one who felt this way; many other freshmen felt the same way, and band gave us a place to belong.

Once I had my feet under me, I thrived my sophomore year, and I was able to follow my sister’s example as that same sort of mentor for many other band and choir kids. In

read music and Marching band Meistersingers joined band 22 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

”

OP/ED

A Melodious Message

Lillian Mohr

A

s an avid music enthusiast, I always tune into the lyrics when listening to a song. To me, those lyrics play a very crucial role when it comes to telling the story.

Certain songs have lyrics relatable to a situation you’re in, which is why so many people listen to songs that have more of a melancholic undertone when they’re sad or just generally in a bad mood.

Those songs that seem relatable to a predicament listeners might be in can sound oddly soothing to them, because they feel like someone (or multiple people, depending on what the comments below the video say) understands them.

Instead of talking to your friends or an adult around you when you’re feeling down, listening to music can actually improve your mood.

Like many people, I listen to music or sing under my breath as a form of relaxation (much to my mom’s dismay) because it’s something familiar and comforting.

Doing this is actually a common trait I found among my classmates; many kids hum or sing under their breath while working on schoolwork and it seems to make them more focused on the work in front of them.

Music has always been a

unique form of expression and is something millions of people around the world cherish, because it’s a form of communication and connection. Even if it’s in a language that is not your mother tongue, it’s still a connection, which I think is incredible.

You don’t have to speak the

“Music, however, gives us a deeper glimpse into the soul of the people around us.” language in order to enjoy the music, you just have to see the deeper meaning within it, and I think that it is really cool when people listen to music in a language they don’t speak.

I always see posts on social media sites saying that we should pay close attention when listening to someone’s favorite song because it could reveal a lot about them.

For example, if a person listens to nothing but gloomy songs, they’re probably really laid back and chill, but they could probably use a hug from time to time. If they listen to

screech-into-the-microphone bands exclusively, they most likely still use middle school texting lingo and need to cut back on the monster energy drinks.

As human beings, we all have various ways of expressing ourselves from our tattoos to our hair color to our everyday sense of style.

Music, however, gives us a deeper glimpse into the souls of the people around us.

You can figure out a lot about a person by what songs they have filling their playlist and I think it’s a very important factor when figuring out who someone really is.

Besides using music to figure out others around you, it’s also a great way to tell them who you really are, especially when you don’t want to say anything at all.

It’s well known throughout the school that sometimes, kids will blast their music through the speakers attached to their bags, and although it’s annoying, it tells me a lot about them, like maybe I should stay away from them if they listen to really weird rap songs that have extremely explicit lyrics to them.

Despite all of this, it’s still a unique way of expression and is something we all should enjoy, because it’s the one thing that we can enjoy without worry and apprehension.

Music in itself can speak a thousand words, even if lyrics are not present. It is one of the greatest things life has to offer because it has so many benefits to it.

That’s the beauty of the entire thing, because no matter what language it’s in, or what genre it is, music will always be a form of connection between all of us and bring us together as one.

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23 | FOCUS | APRIL 28, 2017 | mhsfocus.com

OP/ED

Maru's open sushi bar.

Fischer Genau | Photo

sampling

SUSHI

A comprehensive review of Midland sushi. Jonah Dykhuizen|Web Editor-in-chief & Fischer Genau|Web Photo & Design Editor

maru sushi bar & grill

genji japanese steakhouse

fuji sushi

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

This chic, modern restaurant is a recent addition to Midland cuisine, arriving downtown less than two years ago, and has become a popular place to dine.

Known for its hibachi grill, Genji’s was one of the first restaurants to provide sushi in Midland after expanding from its origin in South Korea.

Blink and you’ll miss it: hidden next to a Verizon store, this subtle yet cozy sushi joint’s affordable prices keep diners coming back.

AMBIANCE

AMBIANCE

AMBIANCE

Floor-to-ceiling windows add to Maru’s open atmosphere, allowing natural light to illuminate the rustic wooden tables and bustling sushi bar, where workers can be seen preparing the delicate rolls.

Isolated from the mainstay atmosphere provided by the open grill, seating for sushi feels like somewhat of an afterthought, void of the sizzling excitement of the adjacent room.

Usually rather quiet, aside from the tinkling of bells on the way in, the dim lighting somewhat subdues the atmosphere, but is conducive to a personal experience.

SUSHI

SUSHI

SUSHI

Known for specialty rolls such as the Crouching Tiger, the restaurant’s plating has mouths watering before the first bite. Although at times the raw nature of the Japanese cuisine can be suffocated by colorful accents, the fish was firm and flavorful.

Despite an initial pang of regret upon discovering the fish was not as plump as desired, the roll followed through to the best of its ability, with satisfying and balanced flavor.

The somewhat understated presentation was followed by a flavorful, potent bite of fish, giving the impression of authenticity. Fuji relies on their sushi to do the talking.

Crouching Tiger Roll

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Atlantic Roll

Orange Roll