April 29th Issue

THE

FOCUS

Midland High School | April 29, 2016 | Volume 38, Issue 8

Topping Charts After placing eleventh at states last year, junior Top Kamnark pushes himself to place in the top three in his last season playing for Midland High.

10

Inside this month:

12 -15

Jonathan Haynes

17

Special Report: Stress of school

Boys basketball Julia Quinn | Photo

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: TOPPING CHARTS

Since he was two years old, junior Top Kamnark has practiced golf under the instruction of his father, a professional golfer in Thailand. In his last season playing for Midland High, Kamnark, who placed eleventh in the state as a sophomore, hopes to place in the top three at states (page 16).

OPINION

SPORTS

3: Standardized testing editorial

16: Top Kamnark

FEATURES

17: Boys basketball

The Focus discusses the pros and cons of the way in which students and teachers are evaluated.

8: Adopted kids

Juniors Arik and AnneMarie Hotopp discuss the difficulties and benefits of being adopted, and why they think their parents made the right choice.

9: Rawleigh Arthur

As building manager Rawleigh Arthur plans to retire, he shares his favorite memories of working at Midland High.

Junior Top Kamnark placed eleventh in the state golf competition last year, and now hopes to place in the top three before moving to South Carolina.

After falling short of their final four goal by one game, coach Eric Krause and the senior team members discuss their journey through one of the best basketball seasons in MHS history.

18-19: Sports zone

The Focus features the athletes of the month, including gymnast Carson Clark, and assorted sports statistics.

10: Jonathan Haynes

20: Diane Sugnet

11: Carol Neff

A&E

Senior Jonathan Haynes has been involved in many organizations and leadership positions over the past four years, which led to his true passions.

With her retirement approaching, social studies teacher and IB coordinator Carol Neff shares her experiences.

NEWS

12-13: Cost of college

With the cost of college tuition at an all-time high, students are finding ways to reduce the costs.

14: Sleep deprivation

Students and teachers discuss the effects of a lack of sleep on students, as they sacrifice rest to be more involved.

15: Standardized testing

With recent changes in testing, many are worried that assessments are not truly in students' best interests.

16

Since track coach Diane Sugnet became the head coach of the girls track team in 1992, the team has been undefeated in dual and tri meets.

21: The Danielsons

Senior Elia Danielson and sophomore Josh Danielson are both heavily involved in the arts. Josh talks about following in his sister's footsteps and how he differs.

22-23: Behind-the-scenes of a play production A behind-the-scenes look at the drama club's newest play - the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - with assorted members of the crew.

24: Ice cream reviews

With summer approaching fast, The Focus reviews various ice cream shops around Midland, including Heather & Holly, Cottage Creamery, and Great Lakes Ice Cream.

17 EDITORS

Will Hackbarth Editor-in-Chief Megan Nylund Managing Editor Ella Colbert Features Editor Katherine Vernier News Editor Maddy Pasche A&E Editor Kayla Graham Sports Editor Kirstyn Cotton Opinion Editor

22-23 Zach Noel Website Editor Julia Quinn Photo Editor Hannah McAtamney Design Editor Lexi Costley Ads Coordinator Anna Schultheis Exchange Editor Jim Woehrle Adviser Midland Daily News Printer

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Focus, established in 1977, previously the Vic Tribune, established in 1936, is the official school newspaper for Midland High. Focus is published monthly by the journalism classes at Midland High and is distributed free of charge. It is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA), and Quill and Scroll. Adviser membership also includes the Journalism Education Association (JEA).

Focus is designed as a forum for student expression and as a realistic lab experience.

Focus, however, reserves the right to contest the challenge of an administrator who attempts to censor and/or remove an article or graphic element.

The Focus addresses the issue of ...

OPINION

standardized testing

S.A.T. = Stressed And Tired Kieran Murphy | Illustration

Pro:

A

s standardized testing becomes an increasingly popular method for the evaluation of students, schools, and teachers, many debate the validity of standardized testing as a primary method for college placement and such assessments.

Despite these misgivings, standardized testing is important because it offers a clear representation of the success and knowledge of individuals on a whole spectrum of subjects, from reading and writing to science and math. In addition, these tests offer statistical information for the educational evaluation of school districts, teachers, and states.

While some say that the amount of testing is unnecessary, tests like the SAT, ACT, and M-STEP hold the students and teachers to high standards. By standardizing these tests, the state and country can ensure all teachers and students are teaching and learning the

same material.

Furthermore, standardized testing helps solve complicated issues, such as the content of the standard curriculum and college placement. This aspect of testing ensures that all students have taken all the classes they need in order to graduate, be accepted into college, and have a successful future.

In addition to ensuring that students comprehend the basic materials needed to earn their high school diplomas, standardized tests helps teachers identify the areas in which their students need to improve. Teachers can then focus on helping the students be ready for the subject areas they struggle with most.

Without this feedback, students would be at a disadvantage.

Although testing can be a long and arduous process, it is necessary because it helps students, teachers, schools, and states to improve their quality of education.

Con:

T

he plague of standardized testing is damaging students' learning. With the increasing amount and frequency of standardized testing, as well as its role in determining college entrance, school districts around the country are placing too much importance and stress on students to do well on these tests. There are several aspects of testing that render the time spent taking these assessments useless and detrimental to the students.

First, standardized testing often measures trivial test-taking skills, as opposed to actual knowledge of subjects. The additional component of the tests being timed limits students' ability to fully concentrate and comprehend each question. As a result, test scores are an inadequate representation of most students' true cognitive ability.

In addition, standardized testing can also take away from what a teacher actually needs

to teach for a particular class. Often times, they have to pause their lessons to prepare their students for their upcoming tests.

Standardized testing takes from valuable class time to prepare students for a state-wide test. Rather than teaching the material they typically teach, teachers spend time discussing test-taking skills, and focus on the content that will be covered on the particular tests.

With the importance of material that is often removed from teachers' individual curricula, valuable learning time is wasted on needless assessments. As a result, teachers have less direct involvement in what they teach, because they are forced to teach for tests made by companies that are far removed from the realities of the education system.

In moderation, standardized tests can be useful, but the current emphasis and frequency of the assessments is detrimental to students.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should standardized testing be necessary for college placement?

Sophomore Corinne Dunsmore “Yes, I feel that getting into college shouldn’t just be dictated by grades because testing may show different abilities that students have.”

Freshman Tim Hackbarth “No, I think it is important because a lot of schools, like Midland, have standards set high. A lot of the time, grades aren’t everything because a teacher could have really high standards. It's still important for colleges to consider, but I don’t think it should be the only thing to consider.”

3 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Ella Colbert

Julia Quinn

OPINION

The beast known as Allergy

Our generation

M

any in my generation have grown up with almost everything. We have technology readily at our disposal, medicine and healthcare at its peak, and education is a priority. Almost every aspect of life is better than ever. So, why is this generation so harshly criticized by others?

I often hear adults complaining about this generation, saying, “When I was growing up, we didn’t have cellphones. We actually talked to each other in person.”

Sometimes I hear teenagers say, “I wish I lived in the ‘50s, it seemed so much simpler back then.”

These statements glorify the past for its good qualities, but often don’t acknowledge the negatives: the ignorance, prejudice, and narrow-minded thinking that were common then.

What makes the generations growing up in the 1950’s (or any time before the 2000s) any better than this generation? Segregation?

Lynchings? Political corruption? Wars?

Maybe we shouldn’t be envious of a time when a woman’s sole duty was to be an obedient housewife or when schools were separated by race. Older generations fail to remember all that was wrong when they were younger.

What is often missing is an appreciation for what has been made better. With time, vast improvements in many areas have been reached.

This generation has done a great deal to recognize what is wrong from right. We pride ourselves on having more tolerance for others.

Although discrimination still exists, it is much less extensive than in the past. This generation has created opportunities for people regardless of race, religion, sexuality, etc.

People with purple hair and tattoos covering their entire body don’t even receive a second glance when walking down the street.

This generation has made many

Our generation:

technological advances and discoveries that are often disregarded by older generations, who instead choose to criticize the amount of time teenagers spend on their cellphones.

Technology is convenient, but it is also productive and a game changer. Not only for communication on a national and international level, but also for education.

I use my phone for almost everything. I read the news, I watch crash course history videos, and I communicate with my friends.

I could spend hours on the internet watching YouTube tutorials on how to build a miniature catapult, or a million different ways to shape my eyebrows.

This generation has been more vocal with their opinions. We question authority, and we fight injustices. We petitioned Governor Rick Snyder for the Flint Water Crisis and called out police brutality on several occasions.

With more social media, there are countless different outlets for personal opinions on every subject matter. Entire movements are spread through internet trends, like #blacklivesmatter and #yesallwomen.

Contrary to the opinions of older generations, the internet actually brings us together.

What also goes unnoticed is the vast improvement in education; the availability of knowledge and resources that has led to a more intelligent population. Not only is public education guaranteed in the U.S., but the students’ drive to learn has also increased.

Schools are more rigorous and are offered greater areas of study. There is even a college major on the history of The Beatles.

This generation has embraced change well, adapting to advances in technology and new discoveries. We value the diversity of thought and are accepting of it. We do not judge people based on race, gender, sexuality, etc.

We have great potential to continue to move the world further than ever before.

So, don’t criticize us, encourage us.

Past generations:

- iPhones

- Landline phones

- Same-sex marriage

- Socially acceptable homophobia

- Beyoncé

- Lynching

4 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

W

hile most romantics view spring as detrimental Allergy to hide; the walk inside, the time for renewal, rejuvenation, breezes through open windows, and no near and fresh air, people like me, view medication. spring as haunting. There is darkness behind My eyes are doing well until about halfway every corner, evil eyes stalking us from to the front doors, when the most irresistible behind, ready to attack. The well-known itch creeps into the inside of my left eye. One Allergy has come out to play. The spring itch won’t hurt, right? 15 itches later and I’m time Allergy tortures its victims with red, sitting in my first hour class – World Lit 1 puffy eyes, rashes covering almost every inch with Mrs. Murphy. She notices my red eyes of their bodies, and a never ending runny and asks about my allergies with pitiful eyes, nose. While everyone is throwing on shorts like every other teacher. and t-shirts, I turn into a walking Zyrtec Progressively, they get worse, growing commercial. into the size of two swollen ping pong balls. I My allergies hit my body like a train. can hardly see out of my itchy, swollen, pink, As my eyes flutter open on what is going and crusty eyes. Mrs. Murphy again asks to be a warm spring day, I can feel a thick, about my allergies and allows me to leave for honey-like liquid slowly drip down my sinus Walgreens on an emergency eye drops run. cavity into my throat. From here on out, I Bless her heart. wake up every day and hack a loogie the size Filled with relief and the prescription of Kansas strength drops on out of my my side, I sprint tiny throat, past the patch of

and make “While everyone is throwing on dandelions like I my mornings had just conquered shorts and t-shirts, I turn into a memorable the beast from the walking Zyrtec commercial.” with my netty very last parking pot. The nose spot. The rest of my is where it day is spotted with always begins. a runny nose one When I open the door to make the hour and stuffed nose the next. Itches under treacherous journey to my car, the fresh air my skin attack me here and there and my fills my lungs and the first drip of snot hovers nose is raw from blowing it so many times. over my upper lip. This is an emergency, and I always look forward to resting my head I have two options. I could let this booger run at the end of the day, even though sleep down my face, leaving for a dry and painful means gunk in my lungs, making coughing nose blow later. Or, I could sprint to my car through the night unbearable. My nebulizer and shove the nearest, non-absorbent Jimmy treatments every four hours turn into my best Johns napkin up my nose for the entire ride to friend through my struggle with worsened school. Option two always wins. asthma, but the medication makes me so Seeing as the school is a giant cement shaky that I can hardly sleep. building with a large lack of foliage, you Everyone who can relate understands the would think there would not be a huge nightmare in facing this dreaded creature. So population of the Allergy. But in reality, stay alert, don’t forget to take your meds, and MHS has every suitable nook for the remember that spring doesn’t last forever.

Memorable Encounters with the Allergy

MIPA Summer Camp:

The Allergy attacked me in the dorms of MSU. First, my scalp started to itch uncontrollably. I felt small bumps start to rise on my forehead; they continued to trickle down neck onto my back. It felt like spiders walking down across my hair line. I ran to the bathroom to assess the situation - my entire back was covered in welts the size of tennis balls.

A picnic with dandelions:

A picnic in a patch of “flowers” is every child’s dream. I thought it was a beautiful day to make some flower crowns out of dandelions. Ten minutes in to beautifying my hair with the pretty yellow weeds, my eyes were swollen. I couldn’t see more than 2 feet in front of my face. Our picnic was cut short, as an emergency trip to eye doctor replaced it.

OPINION

@HumansofMidlandHigh A brief feature of students who have a story to tell. Follow the Focus on Instagram to see more.

Alvise Inchistro

“

The happiest moment in my life is when I came to America. When I first left Italy, I was so sad to leave my family and I didn’t know what to expect in America. But, as soon as I got off the plane, I knew I was going to love it here. Everything was so different. The sun was shining and everything looked so cool. I met my host family and they were so nice to me. Their family was bigger than mine back in Italy, though. Then school started and I tried out for soccer. I was so happy to continue playing soccer in the United States.

”

O

Maddy O’Callaghan Coffee shop blues

ver the summer, I started working at about bartender’s being like therapists applies a coffee shop. I really needed a job, to the job of being a barista, except most of the and the horror stories of working at customers are sober. fast food chains and movie theaters made I’m on a first name basis with most of me apprehensive to apply anywhere. I was them. Last month, we got a woman a birthday making good money babysitting, but it wasn’t cake. In return, she gave me a lovely drawing consistent, and quite honestly, I hate most of a lion that I still have hanging in my room. children. And while I can only hope that There’s also a regular who is obsessed with Bernie Sanders helps pay for my college, I beans. He has this huge catalogue of all the realized that I needed to buckle down and different types, and always gets really excited start saving up for my future. So when my to show me when he’s added more to his mom and I went to get coffee at Journey’s and collection. He’s invited us to the National I saw they were hiring, I decided to go ahead Bean Conference several times. and apply, figuring it would be an easy way One of my favorite customers is an old to make cash. conspiracy theory fanatic. While most of The beginning of training was way harder my life I was convinced it was the Russians than I ever imagined it would be. My who killed JFK, a long (and slightly heated) ignorance towards coffee was embarrassing conversation with conspiracy-theory guy and the most difficult thing to work through. persuaded me that it was, in fact, the I didn’t know the difference between a latte American government. I’m not completely and drip coffee, I thought espresso was just sure what I’ll do with that information. I something they had in Italy, and I was still have yet to convince him that President Bush using Starbucks’s lingo when discussing had prior knowledge of 9/11, but he’s slowly sizing. I had no idea so much went into warming up to the idea. making coffee, and it immediately made me Our most interesting customer is Ray. He’s feel bad about all the times I felt irritated a writer, and often shares his short stories waiting in line for my mocha at Bigby. that he scribbles on notebook paper with While I love where I work, it wouldn’t me. He loves to talk about the news and the truly be the high school experience if it didn’t current state of the fruit market, and enjoys have its drawbacks. At times, it feels like the showering the employees with small gifts that job description is just burning my hands on hold significant meaning to us, like gloves or the espresso machine and getting hit on by juice. Once while I was working, he came in harmless old men- every girl’s dream job. hauling a bunch of bags that contained shoes My favorite is when small, evil children put for each of the female employees. I can’t say their grimy, chocolate-covered hands all over I’ve ever worn them, but it’s the thought that the glass door that I almost broke my back counts. cleaning. It’s awesome.

I also have gained insane memory skills It’s especially fun when I spill a drink I’ve when it comes to making people their regular been working on for the past 5 minutes all drinks. Just by looking at a face, I know over my brand new pants. I really, really wish who gets tea with three ice cubes, who gets a I could say that only happened once. But regular decaf with a shot of white chocolate, constantly burning my hands isn’t even the and who gets the mocha frappe with a little most dangerous part. I have also seen the face creme de mint. It’s unfortunate that these of death carrying floor mats up and down the memorization skills don’t extend outside of steep stairs. My hand eye coordination has coffee, because then I would do a lot better on never existed, and I constantly manage to fall my history tests. down the stairs, even when I’m not carrying But the best part of working at a coffee something that’s practically equal to my body shop is the amazing people I meet and the weight, so it’s always a colossal disaster that awesome experience I gain. I’ll miss the little ends with me falling on my butt. family that I made more than anything.

But with the closing of Journey’s in June, I’m going to miss the way I smell once I get all the little things that made me upset seem back from work, like a blend of coffee beans so insignificant compared to all the absolutely and bleach, which is a surprisingly good wonderful aspects that make up each and combination. I’m going to miss giving myself every shift I work.

3rd degree burns when pouring freshly made Perhaps the best part of the job is meeting coffee. I’ll miss talking to the quirky and the people who sit up at the bar. Most of diverse group of people I’ve met. I’ll miss the them are regulars, and after I get them their kindness that all the customers showed to me. preferred drink, they share their life stories Most of all, I’ll miss being a barista. or daily updates with me. The whole thing 5 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Sonja Anderson

I

Thanks for the memories

OPINION

wasn’t really raised religious. I remember blue water on my left, glowing with light. going to church on Sundays for a couple of We’re driving fast and turning. And in the years, before switching to only-on-holidays memory, we never get around the curve. We attendance, and then not at all by the time I just keep turning. was eight or so. I wouldn’t say I ever held I don’t even like Sheryl Crow. But I like any faith, and I didn’t have a lot of interest in that song. the scripture.

It’s the same with books. I still pick up The And yet, one of my favorite movies on this BFG by Roald Dahl every summer, or Matilda, Earth is a Bible story. or George’s Marvellous Medicine. I remember It’s called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor myself in the third grade, at some Roald Dahl Dreamcoat, and it’s about a man who event in the Center for the Arts where my dad interprets dreams and has a colorful robe and had just bought me a new book. The book is does a lot of singing. The story is a musical pink with a hard cover, a drawing on the face that went on Broadway before becoming a and a photo on the back. film, and the whole of it is kind of cheesy, Still, I sometimes read The Giving Tree by really. The kind of movie that I wouldn’t Shel Silverstein, and I cry. like, the kind that I might only sit through to And still, I occasionally find Where the Wild please my incredibly religious grandmother.

Things Are, and remember when my brother But I feel the exact opposite. I love it. and I requested it every night as a bedtime I first saw that film when I was five. I story. How strange I found the story, how think. Maybe six. it almost scared And I don’t know “It’s like the innocence and magic of me.As a child, why, at five years old, I became so I loved these childhood are tethered to these obsessed with it. things, so I’ll movies and books and songs But I did, so now never stop loving somehow, and continually cherishing them. They I am. Because every time I see are the only them reminds me of that.” it, I get put into things that can some weird kind resurface those of trance, and I don’t feel like a teenager memories, those small moments in the car anymore. I feel five, and I’m wearing some seats or the sleepiness of my old bedtime kind of corduroy overalls, and I’m watching stories. I never want to lose those. It’s kind of it in my living room in 2004 on a television like they’ve left an invisible, permanent mark that’s three feet long from front to back. It’s on my conscious. I love them against my like being underwater. will; against my beliefs, against my musical That’s why I still watch it, since I didn’t preferences. first see it at my current age. I first saw it Even though I don’t like Sheryl Crow, I like as a child, and that makes all the difference. that song, and even though I’m not religious, Because every time I see it, I can remember I still like that Bible story. They first made me what it’s like to be a child. happy when I was young, so they will always I think that everyone is this way. Certain make me feel young. It’s like the innocence things from when we were kids–songs, and magic of childhood are tethered to these movies, objects–they resurface memories. movies and books and songs somehow, and Like how when I listen to the soundtrack continually cherishing them reminds me to “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” I’m in a car of that. It’s why I can still enjoy children’s seat, and everything is dark except the light stories at seventeen years old, and why my from the radio on the dashboard. My brother mother still listens to Bryan Adams. is next to me, and my mother is driving, and Some things you just never grow out of. we’re going home. I remember we were And that is why I know that throughout the going home. over expanse of time, a smaller, blonde sevenAnd when I hear “Soaking Up the Sun” by year-old named Sonja is reading The BFG. Sheryl Crow, I’m in the same car seat. But That right now she’s 17, and she’s holding the now, it’s bright outside, and the sun cuts same book. And that somewhere else, she’s in through the windows and makes everything her thirties, and she has a job and a schedule warm and soft. Trees are on my right side, and a life, and she’s reading it too.

6 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Spencer Patrell

You aren’t special

Y

ou are not special. I apologize if this news is debilitating or was unknown to you before, but I guarantee it is true. Whether you are nerdy and brag about it, if you are so super awkward in social scenarios and make sure everyone knows it, or you are a self-proclaimed “social justice warrior”, you are the same as everyone else and are looking for ways to set yourself apart, in order to fulfill some intrinsic need to exist outside the perceived norms of society. Those who believe this to be false, or are unaware of the fact that it is true, are currently afflicted with a most acute case of Special Snowflake Syndrome.

Now, I get it, I am not special either. No matter what I do, I forever will be ordinary and will continue to do so until I happen to stop breathing. I am amazingly dull and I accept this truth. Those thinking they are a “special snowflake”, on the other hand, believe themselves to be different from the majority of the populace and undergo a narcissistic parade of entitlement. Whether it be sexuality, religion, race, or simply what a person likes (I’m looking at the vinyllistening, “out-of-the-way-coffee-shop” frequenting, beanie wearers out there), special snowflakes will assure the outside observer that they are in some way deserving of special or unique treatment due to these traits.

The first group of people who I will point my finger at who consider themselves “special” are those who see themselves outside the circle of society’s norms, when in reality they simply fall in being a cliché.

More specifically, I’m looking at the people who think they are “nerds” because they like superheroes or enjoy reading as opposed to going out with friends, and then tell everyone about this “craaazy” fact. Those people who believe since they like obscure media, be it songs or TV, and insists that their preferred media is somehow more mature or of a higher quality than the mainstream. We all have unique opinions, so don’t act like you are the only person to exhibit this trait.

The second group are the people who believe that, since they inhabit some minority, niche group, or simply a certain demographic, they deserve special treatment. No one does, so please calm down. I am not saying that people who belong to a mistreated minority should stop complaining. Not at all. However, when

one belongs to a group and feels that group deserves to have better than usual treatment, it is plain rude and stupid. Free bleeding third-wave feminists, please stop. You are insane. Gay pride throwers, please stop. We don’t need to have a parade for what is, well, a pretty normal thing. These occurrences where groups go out of their way to find something to either complain about or blow up are perfect cases of Special Snowflake Syndrome.

A passage from the all-knowing Urban Dictionary gives deeper insight into the snowflake syndrome: “the subject believes that because he/she occupies a subculture mildly different to the mainstream, he/she is inherently better, and above them.” This excerpt embodies the personality of someone we all know, if not many different people.

Due to their infatuation with something slightly outside of “standard” practice, many will deem others as either a.) below them or b.) bigots. This depends mostly on the scenario, but is, nonetheless, true.

No one, unless impaired with economic or medical afflictions, deserves special treatment.

Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Simple as that, it applies to everyone.

Personally, I blame those participation trophies handed to kids for “doing their best,” regardless of whether they actually ever did something. I sucked at soccer as a kid, but guess who accumulated a vast amount of soccer trophies when he was young: this guy.

The real world has losers. People lose their jobs, get hurt, and life isn’t fair. Telling children they are always winners feeds a developing mind fallacies that turns it sour.

Today’s society has a mentality that no one should ever be sad, avoiding what can be important life lessons. If everyone was a winner, I wouldn’t have service at Taco Bell, public transportation would have to be autonomous, and Cops would be a lot more boring.

It is not healthy nor productive to lie and bend to the whim of those who feel entitled to certain things simply because they are them.

People get things by earning them, you need to work in order to get where and what you want in life. Nobody should have to do it for you. Special treatment only removes incentive for this process.

We all have different tastes and personalities, but that doesn’t make us inherently special. In the end, you are different, just like everyone else. Accept it.

OPINION

Suzannah Koop

now. My real self wakes up twenty minutes before I have to leave for school, and I hardly ever eat breakfast. I get out of breath walking up the stairs and I have the artistic talent of a rock. I am someone who can barely commit to reading what’s required in my English class, let alone reading some completely random book just for the fun of it.

I complain about everything in my life before, during, and after it happens. I can’t pierce my nose because I’d have to put a Band-Aid over it for work and I don’t want think it’s interesting how we choose to to look stupid in front of people. I raise my represent ourselves to others. We change hand to speak in class about once a semester how we behave around different groups because my face gets red whenever I talk in of people based off of the impression we front of many people. want to give. I know personally, I’m a lot I know all this “ideal-self” stuff could be quieter around some people, and much more possible, but it’s a lot of effort to get from outgoing around others. I noticed myself point A to point B, because I am very lazy. It’s taking on different personalities, and it made also an extremely scary thought, the attempt me wonder which one is the real me. to change nearly everything about yourself, In psychology, we learned about physically and mentally. the concepts of our “real self” and our Knowing that I have, sort of, two sides to “ideal self.” Our real self is based on our me, it makes me wonder about the people experiences, things we have done, and who around me, and who we actually their ideal selves are. are. Our ideal There could be a shy and self is based off quiet girl whose ultimate of our hopes “I believe the world would be a dream is to shave her and wishes; much more exciting and interesting head and join some the person we wish we were or place if people stopped conforming alternative punk band.

Perhaps there’s a boy wish to become. to what others think.” who spends all his free I’ve spent a time studying, and all he lot of time wants to do is get out of considering things I could do to change his house and travel to the biggest cities in myself that could make people perceive me the world, taking pictures of the locals. the way I want them to.

I believe the world would be a much I think my ideal self is a free-spirit, hippie, more exciting and interesting place if people plant-growing, painter lady with messy, stopped conforming to what others think. bobbed hair living in a studio apartment in I want to know what it would be like if Southern France. My ideal self wears huge glasses and shares my home with one to three everybody committed to becoming their ideal selves. I wonder how many people would adopted cats. I’d go on jogs in the morning, quit their current jobs and move across the consistently drink the daily recommend country, or even the world, to pursue what amount of water, go to the farmer’s market they love. I can imagine crowds of people every Saturday morning, and take lots of cutting or dying their hair and spending pictures of the sunrise. hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe.

My ideal self spends a lot of time at the Some people probably have no idea of who library, researching different topics just for the heck of it. I am not addicted to my iPhone. their ideal self is, and they would take the time to discover it.

I travel around Western Europe in my free I just want everyone to be comfortable and time, visiting various beaches and museums confident with who they are currently, and I around the continent. I make my money want them to embrace it. Who knows, maybe working at a small flower shop in the middle someday I will be my ideal self and things of town. I play the ukulele will be okay.

Obviously, this isn’t the person I am right

I

Ideal self

Real self -Good with puns -Can’t do math -Owner of a used bike lock

VS

Ideal self -Athletic -Fluent in french -Owner of a small flower shop

Gwynne Özkan Love for the 989

M

idland’s so boring,” is often a phrase that’s heard or shows up in tweets accumulating attention. Group chats are posed with the insoluble question, “What are we doing tonight?” followed by groans and predictable replies of I-don’t-knows, maybe the occasional irate comment resenting the fact they happened to grow up in such a tiresome town. Complaints about Midland are plentiful, though easily combatted.

In a town hosting two rival high schools, sliced by the Titabawassee River, and home to the as-close-to-famous-as-you-can-expectsomething-in-Midland-to-be Tridge, 42,000 residents often overlook Midland’s unique aspects.

Living in a “small town” paves the way for misgivings about inadequate shopping options, subpar restaurant variety, and boring Friday nights. However, Midland’s size is quite the blessing in disguise. Choose to see it in a brighter light.

A small city ultimately means smaller facilities. No, midland mall doesn’t have three stories and 180+ stores; try 60 (one of the more roomy of the bunch being The Vapor House).

Although, if our low population promises low-theft/violence rates, little to no traffic, and good parking, I can accept the fact that Sleeping Tiger has brought scrunches/drug rugs back into style and the majority of my wardrobe is bought online.

Small cities do struggle in satisfying a topic important to many: food. Sadly, there’s no Chick-Fil-A or Five Guys in the 989.

American’s love to eat, and a town covering 37 miles can only fit so many food chains with slogans that burn in your brain.

However, Midland makes up for its lack of Red Lobster with our classic Applebee’s.

HAPPS, a.k.a. half off appetizers at Applebee’s, a.k.a. a place to go after football games to order fresh-from-the-freezer honey BBQ wings at meager prices. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, though it has become sort of a Midland thing. You’ll find cliques

clamoring for their favorite booths which only adds to the lively buzz.

Personally, I’ll pass on the excess of pollution and lack of greenery that is paired with big city life if it means workers at Tropical Smoothie know my order without it being given. I can live without a Master Blaster from Sonic every day if, in turn, the Applebee’s wait staff continues to turn a blind eye to my monthly birthday, or the Starbucks baristas spell my name right. The intimacy that comes with a small town is a virtue I wouldn’t trade.

Streets aren’t littered with taxicabs, but rather sidewalks worn by shoe soles and paw prints. Dow Diamond may be no Yankee Stadium, but we have not only one, but two mascots (one being an inconspicuous Camel, but two nonetheless).

Midland offers yard space, allowing leaf piles to be raked and scattered in the fall.

Seatbelts are buckled on road trips to Baynes, and though our pumpkins may be Meijer bought, worries of crime committed on Devil’s Night are kept at a minimum.

As winter sets into motion, so does ice skating at the civic arena and meeting at city forest to vicariously re-live our childhoods through the sport that will never not be fun: sledding. We’re banging on boards at Hockey games and dragging a friend on skis behind our cars, weaving through back roads and dodging mailboxes; something that could never be done in the city.

With spring comes the butterfly house and the MSC flooding with people. Lacrosse games provide a healthy consensus for WODs and Chemics; a break from butting heads.

And my personal favorite, we’re surrounded by flowers and weeping willows, not concrete and construction. It’s healthy.

Summer brings promises of out-the-door lines at Cottage Creamery, drives to Redneck Runoff, and an invite to the cursed form of entertainment known as the fair. Midland even releases adrenaline through leaps of faith off the Tridge into the Tit. The risks of getting ticketed or somehow becoming a mutant from the chemical infested water really give a rush.

To the rest of the world, Midland is but a dot on a map. It is no more than an exit off the highway. But it’s more than that. Within every niche, there’s a past memory or one to be had. Midland may be a small town, but it is one bound together with my childhood and the people who mean the most to me. And if that’s all it ever is, it’s all I’ll ever need.

Midland Favorites -Jumping off the Tridge -Crepes Et Amis -Hammocking at The Nest -Breadsticks at Pizza Sam’s -CCL Games at the MCC -The Bailey Bridge

-Ice Skating at the Civic Arena -Dow Diamond Dippin’ Dots -Rollerblading the Rail Trail -Heather ’n Holly’s -Midland Center for the Arts 7 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A chance at a better life FEATURES

The Hotopp family has adopted four children from India and Russia, including juniors AnneMarie and Arik Hotopp.

The two openly discuss their experiences with adoption.

Ella Colbert | Features Editor & Kalie Dornbos | Staff Writer & Gypsy Worrall | Staff Writer

W

hen AnneMarie Hotopp was four years old, she was living in an orphanage in Russia, spending most days cleaning while her two older sisters were away at school. At age seven, the three girls were adopted by the Hotopp family and moved to the United States. The girls didn’t speak English, and so were forced to adapt quickly to a new country and a new living situation.

“My parents, they were both alcoholics, so they couldn’t take care of us,” said AnneMarie, now a junior. “They got told several times that they need to start, and they never did.”

AnneMarie and her sisters-Julia and Natalielived in an orphanage in Russia for three years, after being removed from their birth parents.

AnneMarie recalls those years as a negative experience.

“In the orphanage, they would say some negative things, like ‘Don’t smile’ or ‘Don’t show your teeth when you smile,’” AnneMarie said. “But here, smiling is good and you can be who you are. For schooling, you don’t get scolded or hit for doing something wrong.”

Having been adopted into her family, AnneMarie said she is now in a more loving and supportive home.

“It feels good to be part of a family,” AnneMarie said.

Junior Arik Hotopp was adopted by his parents at seven months old from Calcutta, India. He was adopted first, and remembers when his parents began searching for his sisters when he was around five years old. The family had discussed adopting more siblings, and considered looking at both Africa and Russia.

“Originally, we were only going to get one, my sister AnneMarie,” Arik said. “My sisters, Julia and Natalie, actually somehow ended up coming into that as a three-in-one deal. It was a good deal.”

When looking to adopt children from Russia, father David Hotopp and his wife traveled there with the intention of visiting the area near the orphanage where the girls were staying. They

8 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Juniors AnneMarie and Arik Hotopp sit around the table on their back porch and play a card game together.

The two have lived together since AnneMarie entered the family in 2004. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

When junior Arik Hotopp was seven months old, his parents adopted him from Calcutta, India.

Following his arrival in the United States, the Midland Daily News ran an article covering the recent adoption. Arik Hotopp | Photo Courtesy

have since adopted four children and highly sisters, and to be able to grow up with them is a real privilege.” encourage others to do the same.

Because he was adopted at an early age, Arik “We just wanted a larger family,” David said. “We were really interested in looking at does not notice any differences growing up in an adoptive home. It is normal to him. international adoption.”

“It’s more of growing up like a normal Although his adoption was not kept a secret, Arik is not entirely sure why his biological kid,” Arik said. “My sisters went through more traumatic problems, AnneMarie was mother put him up for adoption.

“My birth mother, as far as I’m aware, wasn’t malnourished, that’s why she’s so small. She has some back issues married,” Arik as a result of that, said. “Especially just not being in that culture “I don’t always have the highest self-esteem and fed properly.” in India, it just AnneMarie wa s n ’ t s o c i a l l y in school. But everyone is always telling me acceptable. She not to beat myself up because I had to go a n d h e r s i s t e r s entered the gave me up, with through a lot more than most people.”

American school a chance to live system almost a g o o d l i f e b y immediately after putting me in an Junior AnneMarie Hotopp their adoption, adoption agency.”

Arik is grateful that his parents adopted him and became fluent in English a year and a half 6-7 months later. He feels that he is in a safer and later. Because of this, and the lack of schooling more encouraging environment, where he has she had in Russia, AnneMarie faced struggles in keeping up with her classwork. the opportunity to live a better life.

“I worked slower than everyone else,” “Just the joy of [adoption], it’s really a special thing,” Arik said. “It’s not for everybody, but AnneMarie said. “Math and certain subjects I’m obviously very grateful my parents decided come really hard for me. I work really hard to do that. It is actually unlikely I would be though.”

Both at home and in school, AnneMarie is alive, had they not adopted me. If I had grown up in India, it is pretty likely that I would live surrounded with supportive people that help in a factory, or a very poor situation, or die on her remain confident in her academic success.

“I don’t always have the highest self-esteem the streets. I am very fortunate to be able to go through that process again with my three in school,” AnneMarie said. “But everyone is

always telling me not to beat myself up because I had to go through a lot more than most people.”

Despite issues with a language barrier, David said that the girls had no trouble fitting into the family dynamic.

“They’re doing wonderful,” David said.

“They have great relationships with us and with their other siblings.”

David said that some parents have concerns that they wouldn’t love their adopted kid as much as their biological child, but for him, that is not an issue.

“The moment I met Arik [and] the moment I met the girls, that was the same feeling I had when Bryson and Mallory-my biological kids-were born,” David said. “There was no difference.”

Arik views adoption as an opportunity for a better life and appreciates his parents adopting him.

“Adoption is a really cool thing,” Arik said. “I definitely am blessed to be able to be adopted.”

Similarly, David said he has recommended adoption to many other people because he feels so strongly about its benefits, not only for the child, but for the parent as well.

“I’d do it in a heartbeat,” David said. “I know there’s a lot of people that go, ‘Wow, I don’t know if I would have the time or the resources’, but I would never do it any other way. I’ve just been so blessed with the whole experience.

We’ve been very fortunate that things have turned out the way they have turned out.”

FEATURES

Irreplaceable

A day in the life A look at the many tasks Mr. Arthur does to keep the school running.

6:30 Responds to requests made by teachers and staff, fixing broken lights and desks

12:00

Leaves the school to work on his building job for other staff members

Arrives at school to ensure everything is safe and clean

8:00

Building Manager Rawleigh Arthur, in his last year at work, continues to work hard maintaining a safe facility for the staff and students. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

In light of Building Manager Rawleigh Arthur’s retirement next year, many reflect on his important role in the high school. Maddy O’Callaghan | Staff Writer & Gabriel Severson | Staff Writer

W Makes sure the lunchroom is clean and assists with setting up school events

3:00

ith the gymnasium in pristine condition, hundreds of giddy seniors walked across the stage to receive the their diplomas, while their families and teachers cheered from the chairs. The graduated students weren’t the only ones who felt joy. Building Manager Rawleigh Arthur could help but take pride in the hard work he had put into creating the successful ceremony: cleaning and setting up the stage, assembling chairs into organized rows, and painting over chips in the wall.

“Every day sticks out in my memory,” Arthur said. “I think graduation is the best part of [the job] though. I really do. I think we have a lot of hype there and it’s really a fantastic moment that I get to be a part of.”

Arthur has been the building manager at Midland High for fourteen years. His career began as a custodian, where he worked cleaning school buildings for five years. Through a step program, he became Building Manager at Chestnut Hill. When the opportunity arose, Arthur decided he wanted to work at the high school.

“I’ve always wanted to work with the staff and the kids,” Arthur said. “I’ve had an amazing experience here.”

Arthur was first a welder, obtaining his certificate after high school. He first worked as a roofer, and then spent several years at Bechtel Nuclear Plant. He always gravitated towards mechanical labor, and after the closing of Bechtel, chose to expand his career to custodial work.

“There was more security, better pay, and stable hours,” Arthur said. “But most of all, I wanted the chance to work with the students.

There are a lot of personalities. It’s fun at times.

The kids here make me feel comfortable.”

When Arthur found out he had the opportunity to retire, the familiar faces at Midland High made him apprehensive to leave. But after his wife retired two years ago, he decided he was ready to open a new chapter in his life.

“It’s been amazing working here, but it’s time to move on to do better things,” Arthur said. “[My wife and I] are going camping, hunting, fishing, and just taking life easier.”

Student Council Adviser Monique Albright has worked side-by-side with Arthur on many school events since she began her career, and recognizes that his knowledge and understanding of the building will be difficult to replace.

“He often anticipates things that we need if I forget to ask because he’s done it for so long,” Albright said. “He would do anything if he could help you. He’s such a good guy, and you just can’t replace that much knowledge.

This building is his. He takes a lot of pride in it.”

Albright also feels that people often don’t realize the difficulty of Arthur’s job. Whether it’s coming in early to shovel, fixing a busted valve, or quickly replacing a broken desk, Arthur dedicates much of his time and energy to keeping the school safe and clean for students and staff, often times without any thanks.

“I think we tend to be demanding, and kids can be messy,” Albright said. “We aren’t always easy, and to keep a positive attitude and to be able to do everything he does is outstanding.”

Senior Owen Ripke also respects the amount of dedication Arthur has put into his work. Ripke has had the opportunity to work and learn from Arthur, after taking up the responsibility of cleaning the recycling bins in his freshman year, in order to alleviate some of Arthur’s work.

“He thought it was a great idea, so he showed me the ropes,” Ripke said. “He showed me where to get the containers and how to use the elevator. He taught me to learn as much as I can, and to never stop learning.”

Ripke, who wants to go into heating and cooling himself, found it beneficial to learn from someone so knowledgeable. He notices the seemingly unrecognized amount of work that Arthur’s job demands.

“The hardest part is having to do so much, when it is pretty much just himself,” Ripke said. “He is the only one who is here full time, and he occasionally calls in a plumber or electrician, but he is the go-to guy for anything else. If somebody throws up, he cleans it. If somebody breaks a door, he fixes it. If it all happened at the same time, he would have to do it all.”

Despite the hectic days that Arthur has experienced, he continues to find his work with the staff and students extremely rewarding.

With the old condition of the building, Arthur has been impressed with the care that the students and staff have shown as he prepare for his bitter sweet goodbye.

“With fourteen hundred kids here, it’s crazy that we don’t have that many disruptions,” Arthur said. “It’s really been such a good experience. I just want to see everybody do good and graduate, that’s really important.”

9 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Overcoming obstacles FEATURES

Senior Jonathan Haynes has been an influential leader over his high school career. He reflects on how his involvement in various clubs and programs have affected his mental health.

Maddy Pasche | A&E editor & Kirsten Warner | Staff Writer

S

enior Jonathan Haynes has spent many late nights working on assignments, studying for tests, and preparing for the overwhelming amount of leadership positions that he accepted. The pressure of these activities ultimately became too much, when he ended up hospitalized for an extreme panic attack.

“I took on a lot more roles than I could logistically handle,” Haynes said. “Combining this stress with the pressures of preparing for the ACT and getting grades in order for college proved too much for me physically.”

Haynes felt most of this pressure his junior year when the stress of the clubs he was involved in, on top of school and the depression he struggled with since his 8th grade year, became overwhelming to an unhealthy amount.

Haynes said that the combination of outside pressures and stress that he put on himself created an intense environment. Haynes gained a false perception of control in his life by seeing how long he could go without eating, and then eating in an excessive amount.

“I had an unhealthy, incorrect view of leadership. I perceived that I had to say yes to everything, that I had to always be there for others, that I was supposed to give advice and not ask for it,” Haynes said. “This intense environment that I created for myself took away from my eating disorder and [put me] into a deep depression.”

Haynes has since been able to deal with his depression in a more healthy way. Haynes learned to focus on the clubs that are important to him and help him give back. He has also created specific goals for himself, which allow him to not take on too many responsibilities.

“Since then, I have been working on saying no more and being much more intentional with how I spend my time,” Haynes said. “Focusing on this goal allows me to continue to pursue my academic and extracurricular passions, while ensuring that I also take some time for myself.”

Haynes mom, Ayana Haynes, agrees that the pressure Jonathan put on himself could be tough at times, but attributes Jonathan’s heavy involvement to his growth and development as a leader and person. “[Being involved] has helped him to grow into the person that he is today,” Ayana said.

“It has helped him balance what is important and prioritize what he needs to do first. It helped him see what he is really interested in and passionate about and overall helped him grow as a person.”

Jonathan agrees that his involvement in many clubs and activities had an overall positive

10 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

impact on him. He found Business Professionals of America (BPA) and KIVA to be the most rewarding to him. He said that, through BPA, he has grown as a leader and become much more confident in his skills and the effect he can have on those around him. He also said his involvement as BPA President of Michigan has been rewarding by giving him the opportunity to plan state-wide initiatives for BPA students to enjoy.

BPA advisor Andrea Jozwiak said that she has seen Jonathan grow through his involvement of BPA, at both the local and state levels. Jozwiak met Jonathan when he was a sophomore in BPA, and has watched him enhance the club through advertising, fundraisers, increasing membership, increasing awareness, and being a role model for other students.

“He has helped the current BPA members realize the importance of leadership,” Jozwiak said. “Where we have students within BPA that you normally wouldn’t see as leaders, they have stepped up the to plate looking to him as a role model.”

Jonathan said that, although the environment and pressure that he previously had put on himself caused unhealthy strain in his life, his involvement in these clubs is something he would not change. He said the clubs helped him find who he was as a person and what he was truly passionate about.

“My involvement has also encouraged me to grow as a person and challenge myself in future opportunities,” Jonathan said. “Without the organizations I have surrounded myself with the last four years, I would not have had the opportunities and experiences that have made me the person I am today. For that, I am forever grateful.”

Jonathan hopes to advocate for mental health and illnesses through sharing his experience with others and educating them on the effects of depression.

“I want people to understand that mental diseases are more prevalent than they think, but they don’t define the person,” Jonathan said.

While Jonathan continues to struggle with depression in day-to-day life, he has been able to positively use his involvement with clubs, his friends, his family, and his faith to cope with it. Haynes hopes to be able to continue to talk about his depression to others and spread awareness of the mental illness.

“My view on depression is that it is a journey in and it’s a journey out,” Jonathan said. “Now, thanks to God, my family, and my support system, I am in a very good place.”

Julia Quinn | Photo

An unexpected blessing FEATURES

After devoting 25 years to teaching in the Midland Public Schools district as a social studies teacher and IB coordinator, Carol Neff is retiring. Her story is a collection of lessons that she learned throughout her teaching career, including how to focus on students.

Hannah McAtamney | Design Editor & Hayley Russell | Staff Writer

S

ocial studies teacher and IB coordinator Carol Neff’s teaching career started as a fallback option. She initially planned on teaching for a few years, in order to save up enough money to pay for law school.

Her plans changed when the school year began, and she ended up falling in love with teaching.

“As a young person, I had the idea in my head that I needed to make a lot of money, and a lawyer sounded pretty prestigious,” Neff said. “I like law and I had fantastic government and math teachers, so my majors ended up being social studies and math, in large part because of those two people.”

What started as a backup plan became a career lasting 25 years in a variety of different environments. She began teaching math in Dallas, Texas. Then, she transferred to a school in Vestaburg, Michigan, and eventually took a job at Midland Public Schools, where she currently teaches social studies and serves as the IB coordinator. Neff said there weren’t many differences between these school environments, because students should always be the focus.

“Teaching there wasn’t that different,” Neff said. “It was just the obstacles that the kids faced. Dallas faced significantly different obstacles than the kids in Vestaburg, but the kids in Vestaburg still had obstacles. The kids in Midland have obstacles, but they are vastly different than the ones for the kids in Dallas or Vestaburg.”

Neff said the transition of teaching in different environments wasn’t hard due to her teaching philosophy, which places the emphasis on her students.

“I believe that you teach kids,” Neff said.

“I don’t believe that you teach content. The content is just the means of getting there, to get them to be a better person, a better learner.

To me, it doesn’t matter how or what I teach, it matters who I teach. It’s all about the kids. If you can’t help them deal with their obstacles, then you’re not going to be successful.”

Many students have been impacted by this philosophy, and say that Neff is set apart as a teacher because of how much she cares about her students. Senior Taylor Fegan has been greatly appreciative of Neff and how much time she spends getting to know her students.

“In the time I have known her, she has

not only been one of the best teachers I have ever had, but she was a counselor, a shoulder to cry on, a source of inspiration, and a great motivator,” Fegan said. “The insight that she has provided me with, in a variety of situations, has helped me to become a better student and person. She pushed me to be a better person by simply showing me that she cared and that she believed in me.”

Fegan also believes that Neff is set apart because she appreciates teaching for the sake of learning, and it is not about the paycheck for her.

Neff has not only had an impact on the students; she has also had a large influence among the teaching staff. English teacher Katy Stearns describes Neff as a great teacher.

“When I was student teaching with Ms. Neff, a student had complained to her about me due to a lack of preparation on my end,” Stearns said. “Ms. Neff pulled me aside, shared the student’s concerns, but then went on to tell me that I was going to be a great teacher one day. She told me I was going to have students complain, challenge, and say hurtful things, but that would only make me better, push me harder and help me grow.”

Social studies teacher John Mulvaney also student taught under Neff. Mulvaney said that Neff has been an integral part of the atmosphere at Midland High.

“I’ll miss that person that everyone can always agree with and that is a leader,” Mulvaney said. “As her student teacher, she has always been that mentor to me, ever since I first started.”

Mulvaney said that, without Neff, Midland High wouldn’t be the place it is today. He believes that she has played an important role in creating a comfortable atmosphere for students and staff.

“She’s one of the pillars of the school, academically especially,” Mulvaney said.

“She’s one of those true leaders of the school.

When she’s gone, there will be maneuvering and shifting, in order to keep the school strong.”

Even though it isn’t the career that she first wanted to pursue, Neff said teaching has been a blessing.

“I don’t regret any of the steps I took to get here,” Neff said.“I certainly found a home when I got here.”

Teacher Carol Neff stands with Amy Langhorst (left) and Gabby Mott (right), who were among Midland High’s first IB diploma candidates in the class of 2009. This was Neff’s first year as the IB coordinator. She has held this position for the past eight years and is now deciding to retire. Carol Neff | Photo Courtesy

Lessons Neff taught us...

“I had the honor of teaching humanities with Ms. Neff for a year. I learned so much from watching her teach, not only about the craft of teaching, but about American History as well. I have great memories of that class because she is so phenomenal at teaching history. I remember wishing I had a teacher like her in high school; I was quite jealous of my husband who did have her as a teacher.”

English teacher Kelly Murphy “I would never have made it through the IB program without her. She taught me to see the good and bad in all situations and how to make educated, mature decisions by seeing all sides to a situation. She has been instrumental in my growth as a junior and senior in high school.

She is the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. “ Senior Taylor Fegan “My favorite, most influential thing Ms. Neff taught me was this: ‘what did the students do today’. Not what did I do in the class, not what information I ‘handed over’ , but what did the students do. Still today, 21 years later, when planning, I’ll stop and ask myself that question and sometimes, the plans go in the trash and I start again.”

English teacher Katy Stearns “I love that she is so down to earth and caring about every single one of her students. I know that I could come to her for anything. She’s a mentor and a role model to me.”

Junior Selena McCray 11 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Tuition troubles NEWS

Under pressure

Students and alumni discuss the high price of college, and how students can take advantage of scholarships and financial aid, in order to devise a plan to pay for their education. Katherine Vernier | News Editor & Kady Volmering | Staff Writer

D

uring her last spring break of high school, senior Alexes Ouderkirk did not get to go on vacation. Instead, she worked as a waitress at a local restaurant and applied for scholarships in preparation for college. To pay for her schooling, Ouderkirk has been working about 20 hours a week at Big Boy since she was 16 years old and at the Midland Community Center summer camps. Although she uses her money to pay for her car expenses, she is mostly putting her paycheck towards savings for college.

“On top of work and school, I barely have any free time,” Ouderkirk said. “I go to work, I come home and do homework, and I try to do at least a scholarship a night. Also, I try not to go out to eat all the time and I try not to spend my money on things that I don’t really need, because it all just adds up eventually.”

Ouderkirk will be attending Central Michigan University in the fall, where she obtained many merit-based scholarships.

Between financial aid and the scholarships, Ouderkirk predicts she will only have to pay for about half of her college. She estimates that she will take out around $6,000-$10,000 student loans per year. Ouderkirk, like many other seniors, is responsible for paying for her own college.

“Having to pay for college has helped teach me the value of money, so it’s easier now to know that things are expensive and you have to save money for the things that you want,” Ouderkirk said. “Education is no different.”

Ouderkirk said that money was one of the factors that determined where she would go

to college. decided that the quality of education at NU “I wanted to go to University of Michigan was worth extra money. because I want to pursue a medical career,” “As Northwestern’s reputation was Ouderkirk said. “At CMU, it is less competitive outstanding compared to Michigan’s, I had and less expensive. So to do that, versus decided there,” Kim said. “If financial aid is paying $10,000 more a year to have the same the only factor holding you down from going education, is just unreasonable. If you have the to a college you want, don’t let it stop you. money, go for it, go to University of Michigan, There are many resources and scholarships but I’m not bummed about not going there.” that you can apply for that may help toward MHS Alumnus Sam Bork went through your tuition. Go after your dreams, but you a similar experience last year. He had been better be willing to work hard.” accepted to Senior Evan University of Granda had a Michigan, but different mind“If financial aid is the only factor holding decided to set that lead him go to Central you down from going to a college you want, to choose a local Michigan don’t let it stop you. Go after your dreams, community college University after instead of a bigger, but you better be willing to work hard.” receiving a full 4-year university. scholarship.

Granda said that he “Central made his decision was the right Alumni Andrew Kim mostly due to choice for me, financial reasons. at the end of He plans to attend Delta Community College the day,” Bork said. “I really appreciate the next year, and then transfer to Michigan variety of courses offered there that can match State University after two years. He choose other schools like Michigan State University Michigan State because they accept the most or University of Michigan. Money did have credits when the student transfers. an influence on my decision, but I find that “Your best bet is starting off small and going CMU offers much better scholarships, while big later,” Granda said. “I plan on taking as also guaranteeing the same high quality many credits as possible at Delta.” education.”

Delta College Financial Aid Advisor Elvina Andrew Kim, another 2015 graduate, had Sika works with incoming students to help a similar decision process last year, when he them complete financial aid. Sika says that was deciding whether to go to Northwestern the first step to receiving financial aid is to fill University or the University of Michigan. Kim out the Free Federal Application for Student

Loans [FASFA]. Sika said that this year, the FASFA is more complicated than in previous years, because the government made the pin numbers obsolete. Additionally, there is the FSAID, which can be very complex. “[The FSAID] is very complicated because it requires an e-mail, username, and password,” Sika said. “Where we’re finding the difficulty is people think that they remember things so they don’t write it down. It’s really critical for parents and students to make sure, when you are completing that FSAID, that you write your information down and put it in a secure location, because you’re going to need to use it again. You’re also going to need that information if you’re applying for federal direct student loans, federal plus loans for parents; so that FSAID is not once and done, it’s there for life.”

Furthermore, Sika wants students to understand that it is important for students to reach out for help when needed. She says that if financial circumstances change, colleges are willing to work with students to help accommodate.

“It is harder at the university to sit down with someone one-on-one for financial aid, but it’s always important if anything comes up,” Sika said. “If there are changes in income or any changes in a student’s circumstance, it’s always good to go to the financial aid office and ask questions. Some parents are retiring and I know there are some issues with Dow Chemical and Dow Corning, where parents’ jobs are up in the air so, if anything happens, the colleges can work with the students and

Facing the cost Seniors give advice to underclassmen on how to start planning and managing for the high cost of college.

12 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Conor Babin

“Applying for scholarships gives you the opportunity to lower student loans. Midland Community offers many scholarships that go unclaimed and it is money in your pocket.”

Zoe Stirn

“Getting a job taught me responsibility and work ethic, and it’s a good way to save money for college. I suggest all the underclassman get a job because it helped me grow as a person.”

Mandy Brock

“AP and IB tests are a great way to save money on college courses. Just make sure you check with your school about how many credits you can actually get and what scores you need.”

NEWS

College $101

An in-depth look at how much the expenses of college have changed for the average student.

2016

College cost has increased nearly in 30 years

500% 1986

$10,000

$59,800

the parents to adjust income.”

Sika also recommends that students remain proactive while completing the FASFA. She says that seniors have a lot of obligations in their last year of high school, and it can all add up quickly.

“All of this overlaps with the senior year,” Sika said. “If you take a little bit of time then, it’s easier for you and not as stressful if you wait until July or August to take care of your business.”

Sika also says it is crucial to take advantage of all the scholarship opportunities available to high school students, not just their graduating year, but every year after that. In addition to scholarships, she recommends both the students and their parents save as much as possible to prepare for college.

Ouderkirk says that, by saving and applying for scholarships in high school, students can be better prepared for the future. By getting better grades they will be eligible for more meritbased scholarships, she added.

“Most of the scholarships out there are focused on your academic records,” Ouderkirk said. “Just by getting good grades, you’re already setting yourself up for success. Also, get a job when you turn 16 and save whatever money that you can, and then you won’t have to freak out when it comes time to pay for college.”

Bork also recommends researching all potential schools and looking into the majors they offer. He said that environment is important, but overall, academics is the reason everyone is going to college.

“There is always so much advice around college selection,” Bork said. “At the end of the day, it’s your life and you need to be happy at your new school. College is expensive, so be sure to consider which school is offering you the best value for your education.”

Ouderkirk agrees, saying that college is expensive, but it is all what you make of the experience.

“If you use it to your full advantage, then it is worth however much you are going to pay,” Ouderkirk said. “I think that if you make the most out of [college] then it’s definitely worth it.”

Sika acknowledges the fact that college is expensive, and realizes that financial aid has not kept up with the increasing cost of tuition.

However, Sika still thinks that college is an important step in a student’s future.

“Even though you have a lot of up-front costs, the earning potential once you do complete your degree and enter into the workforce outweighs what that initial cost is,” Sika said. “I know there is always that debate, ‘Should I just go get a job right now or should I go to school and take out loans and accumulate debt?,’ But all the studies show that your earning potential is $1,000,000, plus more. So go all the way.”

2 in 3

graduates will take out student loans

57%

of seniors can’t afford their top choice college

Community Colleges

Public Universities

Private Colleges

per year

per year

per year

$9,410 $32,405 $3,260 average cost of tuition average cost of tuition average cost of tuition Typically non-residential

Offer a large variety of majors

Offer more financial aid and scholarships to lower cost

Offer two to three year courses

Typically costs less than private colleges

Tend to be smaller and have less students

Students can receive their associates degree or transfer

Cost reduced for in-state students

Often specialize in specific subject areas Source:bigfuture.collegeboard.org

13 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Under pressure

Sleepless in school

NEWS

Counting on sleep

Studies show teenagers perform better with more sleep, so districts are exploring later start times.

Pe rce nt a g e o f p u b l i c schools with start times before 8:30 A.M. by state

Students and teachers discuss the choice students make to sacrifice sleep to participate in extracurriculars and maintain their grades, along with the effects of sleep deprivation.

Megan Nylund | Managing Editor & Spencer Patrell | Staff Writer & Lillian Mohr | Staff Writer

S

enior Katie Wenban looks down at her homework checklist, ranging from her IB organic chemistry lab to her self-made AP computer science review session. With the clock reading midnight and only having half of her list completed, she begins to panic as she expects to stay up until 2 a.m.

“I’m a very high stressed individual so I’m generally stressed out about anything, even if it is a 5 point quiz,” Wenban said. “Being super stressed, it makes me less productive at times, because there are times when I have to physically calm myself down, because I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh! I have this to do.’ I’ve had to learn to mentally calm myself down, otherwise that stress adds time to the time that I already don’t have. That’s definitely a huge issue that I run into sometimes.”

Wenban gets five to six hours of sleep on a typical school night, but has found herself going to bed even later recently. The approaching AP and IB exams have added an extra two hours of preparation per night. Consequently, the next day, she has an abnormal appetite and feels unmotivated.

“Sometimes I can be super tired, [so] that I’m super slap happy with crazy, off the wall, random energy; then other times I feel like my eyes are super heavy and I can’t focus on anything,” Wenban said. “That’s the biggest thing that frustrates me, because I can’t focus and be motivated.”

Wenban drinks Mountain Dew at least twice a day, in order to wake herself up and have the ability to focus in class.

Sleep educator Tonya Kreuger, who works at Midland Sleep Central, advises against such

14 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

drinks as methods to stay alert, including coffee acknowledges high school students’ struggles and energy drinks. She also urges students to with sleep deprivation. She finds the students sleep between eight to ten hours per night. in her AP/IB Biology class lacking patience and “You’re still in the growing phase where struggling with the specific questions on the unit your body and brain still need to excrete a tests that require their ability to sort through the growth hormone, and that is excreted when details. Kerr credits the root of the problem to you are sleeping,” Kreuger said. “That’s not just students being too involved. physical growth, but mental growth as well. If “I think, in many ways, some of our students you don’t have adequate sleep, it affects your are busier than the adults,” Kerr said. “You cognitive reasoning, just as if you were to have have a tendency to overcommit. It’s hard for two or three beers.” high school kids to say no because they have In addition, Kreuger says a lack of sleep so many interests and so much opportunity causes slow to be involved. I reaction times think that’s good, “You have a tendency to overcommit. It’s but then they also and confused coordination. want to do well in hard for high school students to say no This makes school. So sleep because they have so many interests and is the thing that students who are driving unfortunately so much opportunity to be involved.” ve h i c l e s a t a falls to the greater risk of a Science teacher Angie Kerr wayside.” car accident.

As a drum S l e e p major, a member deprivation can also cause poor grades, due to of Solo Ensemble, clarinet choir, and church the lack of cognitive ability students have when activities, all while enrolled in IB, honors, the information is being taught, according to and AP classes, Wenban agrees that she is Kreuger. overly committed. Subsequently, she has had Junior Selena McCray, who typically sleeps to prioritize, giving up her piano lessons and six hours a night, sees no effects on her grades, dropping her psychology class, as she couldn’t but agrees that she struggles to understand the manage five AP classes. Similarly, McCray, material being taught to her. being an IB candidate, a member of the varsity “If I’m tired, I’m more likely to zone out and tennis team, and a representative on student not focus,” McCray said. “I’ve never fallen council, has had to limit her activities. asleep in class, but I never feel fully awake and “I wanted to join Key Club this year, which fully engaged in class.” would be helpful for CAS (Creativity, Activity, With many of her students having similar Service), but with student council volunteering, problems focusing, science teacher Angie Kerr I couldn’t find time to sign up to volunteer,”

50%-74% 25%-49% <25%

3% Senior Katie Wenban finishes her calculus homework so she can review for her four AP and IB tests. She gets five to six hours of sleep per night, which is four hours less than the recommended amount. Consequently, Wenban lacks motivation and has an unusual appetite the next day. Julia Quinn | Photo Illustration

75%-100%

23%

of teenagers think they get enough sleep on school nights of high schoolers’ bodies start to feel tired between 11 - 12 P.M.

Sources: CDC, University of Minnesota

McCray said. “I [also] try to go to a lot [of sporting events], but if a hockey game is on Wednesday, I feel like I can’t go unless it’s on the weekend because I have so much homework to do.”

With McCray and Wenban being only two examples of how busy students are, Kerr and other teachers take into consideration the amount of homework they give each night. For Kerr, she attempts to pace her AP/IB Biology classes in their reading guides so they don’t fall behind, but she is understanding of the situation in the cases of due dates. “ M a n y o f m y s t u d e n t s h a ve a l o t o f responsibilities to Midland High, and they give a lot to this building, and to clubs, groups, and teams, so as I get to know my students and as the year progresses, I find I can be more wiggly with accepting things late if the reason is a good reason,” Kerr said. “I try not to let people slide on deadlines early on in the year, just because we need to build that good habit of turning things in on time.”

Using her experiences from high school, Wenban hopes to better manage her time and sleep schedule in college next year. However, being heavily concerned with grades, she worries her college experience will be similar to high school.

“I’m a little nervous for next year, because I am going to have more time on my hands, so I’m going to have to learn to manage my homework time better,” Wenban said. “Hopefully my sleep will be regulated, but I’m worried that my perfectionist self is going to want to put more time into studying. I feel like the stress could either multiply, or I could tone it down.”

NEWS

Under pressure

Standardized stress Standardized testing has increased both in volume and frequency in recent years, and many debate its importance.

Suzannah Koop | Staff Writer and Sonja Anderson | Staff Writer Midland High School students spend the month of April taking various standardized tests: the M-Step and SAT for juniors, and the practice SAT for sophomores and freshmen. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo Illustration

I

t’s 7:40 on a cloudy spring morning, and more than 200 sleep-deprived, anxious, caffeine-driven students are already at school, pencils in hand. They’re about to take the SAT, the nationally recognized college admissions test that will help determine their future.

The SAT is just one of the many standardized tests administered throughout the state in the spring. In the month of April, juniors are required to take the SAT, WorkKeys, and two M-Step tests, while 8th-10th graders take the PSAT. These tests are targeted to certain subjects: the SAT measuring English and mathematics, the M-Step measuring social studies and science, and the WorkKeys measuring career and job skills. According to Principal Jeff Jaster, the test results are used in many ways.

“The results are analyzed by the school districts to make changes about the curriculum and the classes,” Jaster said. “We can find out if there are key concepts being missed in certain subject areas. If we find that the majority of our kids are struggling with those questions, we can reflect on that and decide what to do differently to make sure that these kids are better prepared the next time around.”

The scores aren’t only used to alter the curriculum; they’re also examined to evaluate the performance of teachers, according to Jaster. Currently, 25 percent of a teacher's evaluation is based on “student growth”,

which includes standardized test scores, while the big standardized testing movement, and 75 percent of the evaluation is based on in- we’ve swung a bit too far. And now there’s a class observation. Come the 2017-2018 school movement that’s saying we’ve done too much, year, the evaluation system will transition to so it will swing back.” being based 40 percent on student growth and Hutchinson said that the original intent of 60 percent on in-class observation. the testing was to help schools improve, and This raises some controversy, as evaluating give colleges a measure for college admissions. teachers based on standardized test scores is She worries that the original intent for not a completely standardized accepted practice. testing has been Senior Griffin “Teachers are being taught to teach lost.

Marsh believes “ S t u d e n t the test instead of teaching the subject education that this method has is unfair. become very itself.”

“There are political," students who Hutchinson said.

Senior Griffin Marsh just put zero "Legislators are effort in,” Marsh trying to say and said. “Those kids, they just write their names do the right thing, and often I don’t think that on tests and then turn them in without even those making the decisions think through taking it. So tests should absolutely not impact the drawbacks. I think that the use of tests evaluations, because there are some kids that to measure as much as the state wants to is you can’t do anything about. They can’t be probably too much. Do I think we need to have inspired to do well. They just don’t care.” some standardized testing? Yes. Do I think it’s Assistant Principal Amy Hutchinson notices gone a little too far? Absolutely.” students’ concern about standardized tests, Marsh agrees that standardized testing and is aware of the flaws in the testing system. takes up too much time, and deters from the She says they are excessive, in that they take too more valuable curriculum that students would much time out of in-class learning. However, normally be studying. she also sees hope for how the district deals “Teachers are being taught to teach the test with testing in the future. instead of teaching the subject itself,” Marsh “It’s a pendulum,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve said. “It’s all about prepping.” been in education long enough, and here is Junior Megan Greer sees both positives

Examining the facts 22 was the average ACT score at

and negatives to standardized testing. On one hand, she agrees that it’s a good way to efficiently target what students are struggling with. But, on the other hand, she acknowledges the large amount of stress that comes with it.

“I know one of my friends does not do well on tests,” Greer said. “She’s always really nervous and she always shakes because she has anxiety.”

Hutchinson agrees that standardized tests can be very stressful for the students, and the entire education system in general.

“If you think of it kind of as a trickle down, you’ve got the state and legislator saying, ‘You will do this and this is how your school will be measured,’ and that puts pressure on the central office,” Hutchinson said. “And they put pressure on the building administrators, then that is pushed to the teachers, and obviously all the pressure ends up on the student, who is the one who has to perform.”

Despite all of the challenges that come with standardized testing, students at Midland High typically earn 10-15 percent higher scores than the state average. Jaster said that the new implementation of the PSAT for underclassmen will hopefully increase scores even more.

“We do better than the state on average, and that’s true in almost every test you can think of: MEAP, M-Step, the ACT,” Jaster said.

“We’re really having good results here, we just want to continue that.”

In 2008, annual state spending 3 out of 4 parents say on standardized tests rose from standardized tests are a solid a numerical breakdown of America's of their 19 was Michigan's average ACT $423 million to $1.1 billion measure standardized testing movement children’s abilities score in 2015 Midland High in 2015

Source: www.apnorc.com

15 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Staying on top

SPORTS

Junior Top Kamnark prepares for the upcoming golf season after a record breaking performance last year. Kamnark aims for the top three in the state this year before moving with the Babins to a new school in South Carolina. Despite the circumstances, Kamnark looks to improve his game before making the tough transition. Kirstyn Cotton | Opinion Editor & Jacob Presson | Staff Writer

Drew Gandy

Lowest Score: 71

Favorite Golf Memory: “The first time I beat Top last year and he congratulated me. It meant a lot.”

Favorite course: The Kingsley Club Junior Top Kamnark focuses as he lines up his next shot. This is the strongest part of his golf game due to his tough mental approach. Julia Quinn | Photo

F

eeling his heart pound, junior Top Kamnark closes his eyes and envisions his next move. If he sinks the putt, he takes home the record for Midland High. If he misses, he has to deal with coming so close and failing to make history. Carefully controlling his mind and emotions, Kamnark makes the putt and erases the previous 18-hole record of 68 replacing it with an awe-inspiring 67 at Forest Akers.

Golf has been a part of Kamnark’s life for as long as he can remember. After picking up a club when he was just two years old, he fell in love and has continued to improve his game.

Kamnark finished 11th in the state last year and aims to place higher this year. He plans to pursue a professional career in the future.

“My goal for the team is to go to states again,” Kamnark said. “Personally, I want to try to finish top three. I’d be happy with top five, but my goal is top three as an individual.”

The key to Kamnark’s success has been practicing hard and staying focused, as well as working closely with his father on his swing.

He regularly sends videos of his swing to his father, a professional golfer in Thailand and the man who first exposed him to the game, for pointers. Kamnark credits his love for the game to his father. “[When I was younger ], my dad wanted me to love the game first,” Kamnark said. “He didn’t push me at two years old to grip the club a certain way or to look at the ball or anything like that, but he made me love the game.”

Varsity golf coach Jeff Babin has known Kamnark since he first moved to the United

16 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

States the summer before his freshman year, and has enjoyed coaching him for the last three years. “[Kamnark’s] entire game is powerful, accurate, and confident,” Babin said. “I feel his mental game is in the elite category. He always sees the positive and he’s not afraid to go low.”

Kamnark’s mental toughness has not only impressed his coach, but also his teammates.

Senior Mitchell Gardner, who has had Kamnark as a teammate for the past three years, credits much of Kamnark’s success to his grit and ability to get through a rough patch, along with his willingness to put in hours of practice.

“I have a lot of friends here and it will be weird going to a new school as a senior, but I am still excited for the experience”.

Junior Top Kamnark “[Kamnark] is so successful because the mental side of his game is so strong,” Gardner said. “He can get angry or quiet and you might think he’s off his game, but he is always so focused and is much smarter on the course than he might seem.”

Despite the impression that he leaves on his teammates and coach, Kamnark admits that he is not immune to pre-tournament nerves. He is not always as cool on the inside as he seems on the outside.

“Even though I’ve played in so many

tournaments, I am always nervous for the first few holes,” Kamnark said.

Golf also played a role in helping Kamnark gain friends in his transition from Thailand to the United States, as well as from middle school to high school “I was very scared [when I came to America],” said Kamnark. “I didn’t speak English that well and I knew high school was going to be a lot different than middle school. I was worried about which friend group I would be in, but golf helped me get involved with other people, as well as soccer and the ping pong club.”

Now, just a few years after moving to Midland, Kamnark faces another challenge as he plans to make yet another move to South Carolina with the Babin family.

“Top has met so many awesome friends here at MHS,” Babin said. “Kids have been so welcoming of him. He is easy to love, but it was a transition moving to the United States.

Moving his senior year is not ideal, and the team he will transition to is not an elite program.

The upside for him is golf year round and he’ll be closer to Chaz and Conor, his adopted brothers.”

Looking at the road ahead, Kamnark is sad to leave his Chemic golf family behind, as they have grown so close over the years; However, he knows that South Carolina will bring him new experiences.

“I will miss the guys in our golf group because we get along so well with each other,” Kamnark said. “I have a lot of friends here and it will be weird going to a new school as a senior, but I am still excited for the experience.”

Mitchell Gardner Lowest Score: 72 Favorite Golf Memory: “Going to states last year as a team” Favorite course: The Fortress

Jorden Miller

Lowest Score: 73

Favorite Golf Memory: “Winning the Valley last year.”

Favorite course: Tullymore

Leaving a legacy SPORTS

Varsity basketball recently won the Regional Championship for the first time in 37 years. Despite many injuries and other obstacles, the team never once doubted that they would win. Will Hackbarth | Editor-in-Chief & Kayla Graham | Sports Editor

V

arsity basketball coach Eric Krause has never been angrier after a loss than when his team was defeated by Flint Southwestern on January 5. Frustrated at his players for not reaching their full potential, he furiously lectured them in locker room. For the team, this marked the lowest part of the season.

“I felt they were balking at how hard they had to be pushed in order to realize the goal,” Krause said. “I still get angry thinking about it. In retrospect, it was probably a galvanizing force for the rest of the year. It showed them that I wasn’t screwing around and that they needed to increase their focus and intensity at practice.”

For seniors Virgil Walker, Payton DeWildt, and Cam Wing, this loss to Flint Southwestern was a sign that the team needed to take their efforts more seriously. In subsequent practices and games, Krause saw an increase in the level of tenacity, energy, and passion from his players. The result was one of the most successful seasons in the school’s history.

“It was a low part of our season,” DeWildt said of the loss to Flint Southwestern. “We just had to regroup as a team and pick each other back up. That’s what we did and it showed.

We competed harder at practice. We started realizing that we need to put more heart into the game.”

Although Midland High had not won a Regional Championship since 1979, the varsity team expected victory. At the second practice of the season, they made it their goal to make it to the state final four. Even when players were out due to injuries or suspension, Krause and the rest of the team never doubted that their goal was attainable.

“When you haven’t done something in 37 years, it sounds crazy, but that was our goal,” Krause said. “My mantra throughout the year was I don’t care who’s been hurt, I don’t care who’s not here, I don’t care what’s happening, you are going to do what has to be done to win this game.”

To achieve such a difficult goal, the team worked harder than ever. Through this process, Krause saw Walker turn into a strong leader, which had a positive impact on the team.

DeWildt and Wing agree that Walker’s actions helped set the tone and inspire others to put in the maximum effort.

“Virgil was one of the most hardworking, but also the most fun to have in practice,” Wing said. “We would get in little fights, but it would always be fun because we could throw dunks or alley oops to him. That would definitely keep the practices light and easy. The ability to go between working hard and having fun was definitely a key.”

However, Walker does not see himself as a

Senior Virgil Walker tips off in the state quarterfinal game. Despite losing to Macomb Dakota, Walker is proud of their season. Hannah McAtamney | Photo leader, as much as someone who helps everyone thrown on the court. This atmosphere will long I won’t forget rushing the court with all the become a successful player. be remembered for its intensity that bordered Midland High fans.” “[I’m] more of a guy who picks up everybody violent and insane.

In the final game of the season, the team lost else,” Walker said. “I’m trying to make sure “That was the craziest game in the state,” to Macomb Dakota in the state quarterfinals, one everybody else is playing their game, and when DeWildt said. “But our guys accepted it and we game away from the final four which was what everybody else is playing their game then we rose to the occasion. Those are the games that we their goal was from the start. play well.” dream of playing “We started off strong, but later it felt like it The team experienced in, and there’s no was slipping away from us,” Walker said. “We great success better feeling.” all really feel like we could have played better.

“When you haven’t done throughout the rest of T h e a t h l e t e s To walk away from a game like that, knowing the regular season, and w e r e a b l e t o that you could have played better, and if you something in 37 years, it sounds they seemed well on c o n t r o l t h e i r had a second chance, the outcome might have crazy, but that was our goal.” their way to achieving emotions and play been different, is painful.” their goal when, in competitively, Despite the disappointment of losing the the third-to-last game, Coach Eric Krause d e s p i t e t h e game before their goal game, and their high DeWildt severely tension between school basketball careers ending, the players still dislocated his shoulder. The team continued the student sections and the coaches. The enjoyed the game and were able to play one last without DeWildt until, against the doctors’ players’ performance under these circumstances time with their team. initial predictions, he returned in the first game showed Krause the transformation they had “Being right there, that was amazing,” Walker of the district tournament. made over the course of the season. said. “Knowing our goal and then almost “I thought my high school career was over, “It got about as close to the brink as you could being there. We were a game away, which is an and that hurt, because I love the game so much,” get,” Krause said. “But they kept their focus and amazing thing, because some people make goals DeWildt said. “But I told myself that I can really that was far different from the fourth game of like that and don’t even come close.” recover from anything, and that I needed to help the year. Like 180 degrees different.”

The team is proud of what they had out my team. I couldn’t let my team down.”

Wing said he will never forget the reaction accomplished together this year, and are going After a 1-point victory over Mt. Pleasant in of the crowd after they won, 60-56. For him, to miss playing on the court together. the District Championship, followed by two celebrating with peers after the win was one of “You’re sad to say goodbye, but you know more wins, the team entered the Regional the best moments of his athletic career. you have to, because it’s meant to be, they Championship, where they had lost the previous “My first reaction was, we’re still playing,” have to move on,” Krause said. “So it’s with year. The game against Saginaw High, which Wing said. “For us, it was back on the grind, mixed emotions, but it’s still more emotion of took place at Bay City Central, was frequently because we wanted to win that next game to get satisfaction and pride.” interrupted by several fights and drinks being to our goal, but we were definitely very excited. 17 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

SPORTS

THE SPORTS ZONE

Statistics and player profiles of the season’s prominent athletes, along with future sporting events, a sports column, and a sports poll. Chloe Gall | Staff Writer & Zach Noel | Web Editor

Anna Schultheis

E

“One Step Away From Hell”

veryone has people they look up to.

Their idols, heroes, and role models.

Whether it’s Franklin D. Roosevelt for saving America, or Batman for saving humanity, or even Kobe Bryant for being good at basketball, everyone has one. Over spring break, while stranded in the middle of the ocean on a tiny boat, I learned who the real heroes are: the Pilgrims.

If you think about it, they travelled thousands of miles on a rickety wooden boat, facing scurvy, malnutrition, and worst of all: sea sickness. They spent weeks vomiting over the edge of the ship and they are barely recognized, especially the ones who never made it because they puked their internal organs out. I believe they deserve a plaque bigger then Plymouth Rock, because, believe me, I would have never made it.

During spring break 2016, the Schultheis family traveled alongside the Moes to Florida in search of sunlight and warmth. When the family caravan finally came to a halt on the sandy shores of Daytona Beach, all of us were overjoyed. We spent a week burning/tanning our skin until it became crispy and our hair permanently smelled like salt water.

On one of the days of our vacation, our families put on our bathing suits and packed up to drive to Ponce Inlet, where we planned to go parasailing. I had never been before, but I wasn’t particularly afraid of heights, or sharks, so I was excited. The word seasickness didn’t even cross my mind. I had often driven my dad’s speedboat, so I wasn’t especially concerned.

As we rode out past the jetty and into the open waves, I still had a smile on my face; but as soon as the captain cut the motor and we were just a tiny speck repeatedly getting beat by the waves, I started to “trip”, as druggies call it. My friend Karina and I were the first of our family to go up in the chute, and thank the Lord we were. We had life jackets, along with a harness that strapped us into the sail.

Then the countdown began, and we slowly floated towards the open sky. No adrenaline rush. No fear. It was just me, Karina, and the wide open ocean.

While up 450 feet searching for dolphins, you can’t help but become a little existential.

But approximately 10 minutes later, you are slammed back on the little boat that just keeps rocking back and forth and back and forth.

Two other girls on the boat with us didn’t last very long, and were laying puking up their breakfast beside me. Soon, Karina’s mom joined them as my mom and dad began to ascend. At this point, I began to lose sense of what was real and what wasn’t, and all my focus went towards the horizon as I stared intently at a far-off ocean resort. I heard the motor of the boat get quieter and stop all together. I saw my Mom and Dad bobbing up and down in the water. The captain announced the boat had broken down and that we had to wait for rescue.

That is one of the last things I remember clearly, as I slowly begin to trip. I couldn’t feel my body. Everything became tingly.

My vision became darker, and the constant burp/cough/gag of vomiting echoed in my ears, making my stomach tie into at least a million knots. Two hours later, we finally rolled into the docks, and all of us looked as if we had seen a ghost. In my opinion, that 10 minutes of sheer excitement and joy was not worth the 1 hour and 50 minutes of hell.

After this experience I realize we always have our sport heroes who score goals and hit home runs, but in the end their achievements will never amount to anything the pilgrims accomplished.

Seasickness is Worse Than ...

• Childbirth • Ebola • War

• IOC’s • Cholera • ACT/SAT

18 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

• Limb Amputation • Pride and Prejudice • Death

Athletes of the Month Carlee Davis

Grade: Sophomore Sport: Varsity Soccer Statistics: 2 goals and 1 assist this season Proudest Moment: “Making it to the regional final and scoring my penalty kick in the shoot out.”

Key to Success: “Work hard. Not only should you practice like you play, but practice outside of practice.”

Coach’s Take: “As a sophomore, she is already so adaptable. She can adapt to multiple roles and that’s an advantage to the team.”

Richard Campbell

Gwynne Özkan | Staff Writer

Grade: Freshman

Ryan Sisitki

Sport: Varsity Lacrosse Statistics: 13 goals this season Proudest Moment: “In 8th grade, for travel, we beat Brother Rice, and that’s a big deal.”

Key to Success: “By making everything harder in practice, it makes us more prepared for the games.”

Coach’s Take: “Ryan is a very coachable young man with a lot of given talent, as well as a strong work ethic. He is a starter as a freshman and one of the leading scorers on the team.”

Joe Stadelmaier Hannah Smith | Staff Writer

SPORTS

Flipping through the finals

Upcoming Events Varsity Baseball: Saturday, April 30 at Canton High School 12:00 P.M. Varsity Soccer: Monday, May 2 at Mt. Pleasant High School 5:30 P.M.

Varsity Softball: Saturday, April 30 at the Charger Classic 9 A.M., 10 A.M., & 11 A.M. Varsity Tennis: Thursday, May 5 at home against Dow

SPORTS Junior Carson Clark has trained and competed in gymnastics since he was in the sixth grade, and has continually improved in his sport ever since. He has recently competed and placed at both the State and Regional championships. Zach Noel | Web Editor & Chloe Gall | Staff Writer

J

but he may not continue afterwards because of his late start in gymnastics, as most people start when they are younger.

However, with the help of his coach of three years, Tony Mason, Carson has been able to compete at the same level as his opponents.

“Carson has a great ability to push himself when he needs to, but sometimes it helps to have his coach giving him that occasional nudge,” Mason said.

With Mason’s training, Carson was able to place second at states. One of the events Carson placed first in was his favorite event: floor.

“It is the hardest event to get better on and I like to challenge myself to do better all the time; that is what floor does,” Clark said.

His placement at states earned Carson an invitation to Regionals in Columbus, Ohio, where he placed sixth on rings and tenth overall.

Even though Carson doesn’t plan to continue after his senior year, he is glad to have had the opportunity to participate.

“It challenges you to try and accomplish goals,” Carson said. “Even when it feels like something little, it can change the way you do gymnastics.”

Get invited to play Oakland Hills

Tweet

At the recent state meet, junior Carson Clark competed on the parallel bars. Amy Clark | Photo Courtesy

unior Carson Clark recently walked away from the USA Gymnastics level 8 State meet in Frankenmuth earlier this month with four 1st place medals in vault, rings, pommel horse, and floor exercise. He placed second overall at the meet with a score of 63.2.

“I was really surprised and astonished that I won not one event, but four,” Clark said. “I wasn’t expecting it. I thought I did bad.”

His mother, Amy Clark, said that he was worried he would not place at all.

“I was so happy for him,” Amy said. “He has been working hard all season for this.”

Carson’s participation in gymnastics dates back to when he was six years old, although he shortly dropped the sport to participate in others, such as football, soccer, baseball, track, and competitive swimming. It was not until later, at the age of 11, that Carson decided to return to gymnastics.

“After swimming for a few years, he started to get bored and lost interest in it,” Amy said. “We have always wanted our kids to be in sports or at least some type of physical activity, so I asked him what he wanted to do next.”

Carson said that his primary goal is to continue gymnastics until after his senior year,

“Break the school record

Break 80 in a tournament What a good day #Chemic Golf”

of the

@miller8981

Month Out of all of the spring sports, MHS students voted for their favorites. Here are the results: 32% 23% 14%

Baseball

Softball

16%

Lacrosse

15%

Soccer

Tennis

Out of a survey of 126 students

19 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Running to success SPORTS

Coach Diane Sugnet has been involved in track since she was 13 years old. With the her passion for the sport, she has coached the Midland High girls track team for 24 years, leading them to be undefeated in dual and tri meets.

Lexi Costley | Ads Coordinator & Paige Murphy | Staff Writer

At the Graves/Swayze track meet, Coach Sugnet writes down the times of her athletes after they complete their events. The girls team placed first overall at this competition. Maddy O'Callaghan | Photo

Fast facts about Sugnet: Sugnet has coached: Volleyball - Dow High and Northeast Middle School Boys Track and JV basketball - Central Middle school Basketball - Illinois Sugnet has played: Volleyball, Basketball, and Track Places Sugnet traveled while on Fleet Feet Track Club: California, Missouri, Canada, Ohio, and Pennsylvania 20 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

B

eing a girl on a boys track team for two years, junior Jayden Williams has been able to years is something not many individuals connect with her coach, and has also been able experience while in middle school. to witness Sugnet’s excitement first hand when However, coach Diane Sugnet would've done the athletes on the team do their best. anything to participate in the sport she loved.

“She holds everyone to the same standard,” “I grew up in Midland and ran on the Fleet Williams said. “She knows what everyone can Feet Track Club,” Sugnet said. “I was on the do, and she pushes those who can work harder team the second year the program began. Back and will work them harder, while still making then, there were no sports for girls, so I really sure everyone else is going to the best they can enjoyed being in this club.” do.”

Her father was her biggest influence growing Lawson and Williams agreed that, in order up. As a coach for the Fleet Feet club, he taught to have a good track team, the coach and Sugnet how to be a coach, and also influenced the players must have both confidence and her to take the position as the girls track assistant dedication. Consequently, Sugnet uses these coach in 1989, and later the head coach in 1997. strategies as she coaches.

For Sugnet, coaching was something that she “In my opinion, for a track team to do well, knew she always wanted to do. you need depth, commitment, and dedication, "I enjoy helping the athletes learn the sport along with talent," Sugnet said. "Team and improve, and I’m competitive," Sugnet said. cohesiveness really helps to make the season "I enjoy being around all sports," more fun."

The team has never lost a dual or tri meet in For Williams, Sugnet is a role model and she the 18 years that Sugnet has been head coach. has a positive influence on her in different ways.

Throughout her coaching years, Sugnet has not Sugnet has not only influenced Williams, but only helped the team as a whole to win, but she also the team as a whole. has also been able to improve many individual “She helps her athletes improve their mental athletes. toughness, along “Any athlete that with boosting places in the State “She respects track and field so much that their competitive meet is a huge confidence,” accomplishment, she gives 1000%. Anything less wouldn’t be Wi l l i a m s s a i d . as I know that “She [is] a positive an option for Sugnet.” these certain coaching role individuals have model for the Assistant Coach Kevin Lawson y o u n g f e m a l e worked so hard and their dreams athletes to learn came true,” Sugnet from. She always said. “Seeing their smile and the gleam in their makes time for athletes who want to get better.” eye after their event is something I won’t ever Williams and other team members are not forget.” the only ones who are influenced by Sugnet’s While coaching, Sugnet has been able to coaching ability. She has also influenced many identify different reasons to why she has a of the other coaches on the team. For Lawson, passion for her job. Along with why she has she has allowed him to see effective ways of continue coaching. coaching.

“My favorite part of coaching is the athletes “She has inspired me to not take this themselves," Sugnet said. "I enjoy getting to opportunity to coach teens lightly,” Lawson know the girls on a more personal level. It is said. “To pull every ounce of greatness out of rewarding, watching the athletes mature from the athlete so they can react and see their full their freshmen year to their senior year.” potential as a participant in the sport, as well as Assistant Coach Kevin Lawson has coached a student athlete.” alongside Sugnet for seven years. He has been In addition to being an influence on her able to witness Sugnet’s passion as a coach and athletes, Sugnet is also a friend and somebody love for her athletes. who people can go to for advice. Williams said “She is purely 24 hours a day when it comes to that she will miss Sugnet when she goes off to track and field; it’s not a hobby, it’s an obsession college. type of love,” Lawson said. “This is what makes "[What] I would miss most about her is her her a great coach; she respects track and field leadership, her being a mentor, her positive so much that she gives 1000%. Anything less coaching style, her wisdom, her ability to instill wouldn’t be an option for Sugnet.” confidence in her athletes, and her friendship," As one of Sugnet’s athletes for almost three Williams said.

Sharing the stage

A&E

Siblings sophomore Josh and senior Elia Danielson often share the spotlight on stage, as both have been heavily involved in the performing arts from an early age. Ian Andridge | Photo

Major Moments significant The events on

stage that have impacted Josh and Elia’s relationship.

2013: Josh’s first performance in MCFTA’S “12 Dancing Princess” after being dared by his sister

2014: “Little Woman” is their first middle school show together

Senior Elia Danielson and her brother, sophomore Josh Danielson, often participate in local drama and music programs at the high school and around the community; and it all started with a bet. Cara Spencer | Staff Writer & Ian Andridge | Staff Writer

W

hen he was in fifth grade, Josh Danielson couldn’t let his older sister, Elia, win. Elia had previously bet him $20 that he wouldn’t try out for the “12 Dancing Princesses” drama production at the Center for the Arts. Proving her wrong, he not only auditioned for the play and made it, but also began his lifelong passion for drama. Now a sophomore, Josh has been in 16 different performances around the community.

“I enjoy the aspect of telling a story, and the emotion that is very raw within singing [that] allows you to express emotion more than just with words,” Josh said. “I enjoy getting that emotion across to audiences and to people who are listening.”

Prior to Josh’s first exposure to the performing arts, Elia became involved in the arts the previous year.

“I got started with music when I joined band,” Elia said. “I’d always loved music throughout elementary school and sang in the fifth grade choir, but I didn’t really start getting involved until sixth grade band. Throughout middle school, I sang at the Youth Honors Choir at the Center for the Arts, then I started taking private lessons for voice and flute. After that, it just kind of skyrocketed.”

Now a senior, Elia’s passion for the visual arts has grown from being a member of the middle school band to being a part of Midland High’s orchestra and choir, as well as playing the flute in the band.

Elia is also president of the Meister singers, a drum major, the jazz band singer, and has been in every spring musical since her freshman year.

With Josh’s first drama experience being acting in a play, and Elia’s becoming a member of her middle school band, it doesn’t come as a surprise to hear that they prefer different categories in the visual arts.

While both dedicate an equal amount of time to their passion, Elia favors music over performing. “[Josh] sings and he plays the saxophone, but he’s more of the drama person, and I’m more of the music person,” Elia said. “He really gets into a role or, ‘How do I say this line perfectly?’ while I’m more of, ‘I’ll just say

Winter 2016: Their first public duet at the Meistersingers Christmas Concert

the line, and then sing my song’ and it will be over. But he’s really intense about it.”

With both siblings dedicated to the visual arts, the Danielson household can get hectic, when Josh runs lines and Elia practices her music. Mother Merci Danielson says this is one of the things she enjoys most about their talents.

“I think my favorite part of the kids performing together is actually the work that goes into getting ready for the show,” Merci said. “It is so much fun listening to them practice singing their songs and running their lines. Elia and Josh often do it together and it is hilarious. They start out with good intentions and are serious for a while, but then they end up switching parts or reading the lines in various accents and impersonations. It adds so much fun to our family life when they are involved in production. We all get into it.”

With both Elia and Josh being involved in the same visual arts activities, it creates a bond between the siblings. However, Josh sometimes feel overshadowed by his older sister’s accomplishments.

“Sometimes, when I am not as good at some parts as she is, it can become frustrating,” Josh said. “Because she is so good, I can sometimes feel the pressure from teachers, family, and friends to follow in her footsteps and raise the bar even higher. Sometimes that pressure can be frustrating. But she is very good at encouraging me towards who I want to be and encouraging me in the way that I don’t have to be like her, but even if I am, that’s an okay thing. It’s not a bad thing to be similar to her at all.”

With Elia leaving home for college in the coming year to pursue a graduate degree in music therapy, the family’s continuation in the performing arts will fall to the responsibility of Josh and their younger sister, Grace. However, Elia will always treasure the impact sharing a common talent has had on her relationship with Josh.

“He’s my best friend, and sharing music is one of the best things that we can do together,” Elia said. “It’s so nice that we have it in common, because it’s a really special, nice bond that we share.”

Spring 2016: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is their last high school performance together

21 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A&E

The Drama Club just wrapped up their spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Catch a glimpse behind the curtain of lighting, sound, makeup and hair, costume, and stage crew. The new location at Bullock Creek High School created new obstacles for both the cast and crew. Anna Schultheis | Exchange Editor & Madelyn Groulx | Staff Writer Freshman, Spotlight Operator Bronwyn McCoy works on the lighting crew of the spring musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She is operating the spotlight, which illuminates and directs attention to certain areas on the stage.

McCoy is one of three students involved in the lights crew. Ian Andridge | Photo

rama Mom

Jeanenne Heye

Q: How do you help with the plays?

"I am co-secretary of the MHS drama parent board, and a parent of a student that is very active in MHS drama. As a board, we work closely with Mrs. Applegate to make sure the performances are well organized.

We supplement funding for costumes and sets, while finding parent volunteers to coordinate dessert fundraisers after the shows, set up dinners at rehearsals, help take pictures for programs, build sets, drive students to and from rehearsals, help get important information out to all the parents and students involved in the play, and so much more."

22 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Q: Explain what it is like to see all of the students working together?

"It’s like watching a whole family put a puzzle together, each person contributing their piece as needed. When rehearsals start, it’s organized chaos. Just as if the puzzle pieces are poured out of the box and spread onto the table. You spread them out and turn them over, to see the pieces and how they should fit into the puzzle. It is then clear how the details fit into the puzzle, as a whole. First the frame of the play is assembled and then the insides slowly fit together. By the time dress rehearsals happen, and the performance dates get closer, the chaos has subsided and organization prevails to uncover the finished product. It is wonderful to see all the students' hard work, talent, and cooperation pay off in the end performance dates. It’s inspiring, and I can only hope they remember how such hard work and cooperation will help them in their future endeavors. The student's hard work and dedication really has paid off. I am so proud of all our talented cast and crew."

A&E (Top) Freshman Haven Young applies makeup to sophomore Josh Danielson for his role in the production. The stage makeup for the spring play is fairly standard and used to mimic natural everyday wear. Ian Andridge | Photo (Bottom) Co-stage Manager Ethan Tuck looks through the script and preps the stage crew for the actors' lines and cues. This is Tuck's first year as stage manager. Julia Quinn | Photo

ostume Allie Williams Q: What is your role in costume crew?

tage

"For certain shows, for example in Phantom of the Opera, we had to get a bunch of pieces for the time period, like ball gowns and petticoats.

But there are a lot of shows where we, as students, have to bring in clothes. I actually brought all my clothes in when we did Next to Normal and we would find pieces from the costume closet downstairs. Sometimes we need to make costumes for certain people and our costume moms typically do that. It’s a lot of work, especially when you have a cast of 40 or more people. It’s a lot of pieces and a lot of searching. It's really trial and error in specific pieces, but it's kind of fun and creative and you can do a lot with costumes in a show.”

Ethan Tuck

Q: Can you explain what is involved with this play’s props and stage?

"We went with a low budget show, because without Central’s shop, we have to share one with Dow. It is pretty much just chairs, so we set it up and then we take it down. The stage is 2 sets of risers with chairs and then a table for judges. There also aren’t a lot of props that we have to take on and off stage. The props are usually outfit changes that we keep on stage, there are also some specific character pieces. It's all minimalistic. It’s a really low maintenance show that is low-budget and since we are still getting used to Bullock Creek

Q: How do you organize before the play?

"We have certain areas backstage where we label, so people have all their costumes in one area and all the costumes from one scene are all together. But if someone has a quick change, typically you have to have someone from backstage or costume crew help out to get them in and out of their costumes. It's really cool, exhilarating and fun. I think quick changes are the scariest to put together. If it doesn’t go well and they don’t get that character on stage fast enough, then the scene drags or comes to a slight halt with an awkward pause, so you must get all the little elements.”

ound Taylor Roberts

Q: How would you describe the role of head of sound?

"It's a lot of chaos, but it's calm when we're just marking the script and working. Once you're actually doing it, we have to make sure all of the microphones are plugged into the mic packs correctly while watching the stage intently. So really, it's organized chaos."

Q: As a stage manager, what do you do for the play?

Q: Do you like acting or sound better?

“I like sound because each show is different and you're always learning new techniques. I like trying to think my way out of a problem if something needs to be fixed. For acting, I love getting a new character and exploring how they would react to certain situations and people. Sometimes you can even make up your own backstory for a character by using what you know about them from the script.

They both have an adrenaline rush to them.

When you’re on stage, everyone can see you and it’s so important to get into character. But sound is also a huge adrenaline rush because everyone can tell if it’s too loud, if a mic pops, or especially if a mic stops working. I think they’re both really interesting in different ways.”

Quinlan Cox

“Well, before the show even starts, at rehearsals, I have the script in front of me and I do all the blocking, which is what the actors do on the stage, such as picking up a chair or just walking across the stage. During the show, I stand backstage and make sure that anything that needs to get moved is moved by stage crew. I also work with lights and sound to make sure they hit their cues. But most importantly, I call cues, which is telling the actors to go on stage. It's also important that I make sure all props are in their place during and before the show. And if anything goes wrong backstage, it's my job to make sure it gets fixed.”

“I think each production is different for lights. [For] each one you have to do different things. For this one, it is easier because it is a straightforward show, but there are definitely some twists and turns where we need some more dramatic lighting effects. But overall, it is a pretty normal show.”

“My favorite part is that I get to meet new people on lights crew. I get to train people who will take over once I leave. I like having a lot of fun with them. The spotlights can be really fun.

My least favorite part is if I don’t quite get the lights to my standards. I want to make it look as good as possible.”

ighting

Q: How does the lighting of this production differ from Q: What is your favorite and others? least favorite part of lights?

23 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A&E

Sin

g

Do u

The Focus reviews some of Midland’s best and well-known ice cream shops. Julia Quinn | Photo Editor & Claire Booth | Staff Writer yC ino Cherry aspberr hip Chees ountry R arasch C f r M e o e f c p o ake p op op Co co o f s c o e s bl le op

Heather ‘n Holly

Great Lakes Ice Cream

Cottage Creamery

W

hen you set foot inside Heather ‘n Holly’s, you are instantly transported into a real Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. Your eyes immediately dart between all of the candies and chocolates that climb the walls, while your nose detects the scents of the tasty treats.

This shop offers a wide range of sweets and a unique array of ice cream flavors, like Eskimo Kisses, O-O-Oreo, Tennessee Toffee, and Majestic Milky Way Bar that satisfy any sweet tooth. The Raspberry Chip Cheesecake ice cream has a great combination of creamy, chocolatey, and fruity flavors. The vanilla base is speckled with shards of chocolate and mixed with delectable raspberry swirls.

Although there is a lack of flavor options in comparison to other ice cream shops, Heather ‘n Holly offers very affordable prices for broke teenagers, with a large amount of ice cream per scoop. This tiny candy shop, located on Main Street, does not have many seating options, but serves as the perfect stop for those who enjoy strolling around downtown or need a treat after Tridge-gazing.

With the wide range of sweets and friendly staff, you won’t be disappointed with this one-of-a-kind ice cream shop.

his Midland favorite does not disappoint; with its simple green and purple decoration and extensive menu, the atmosphere basically screams summer.

Its covered porch and busy tables can be spotted nestled between houses on the corner of Washington and Ashman.

While walking into the shop, your inner child pops out as you gaze upon seats and booths shaped like boats. The staff wear contagious and sincere smiles. The smell of warm waffle cones and candies fill your nose. A shiny glass case covers a large variety of ice cream cakes that make everyone take a second glance at their pristine detail.

There are many variations of this homemade ice cream, ranging from giant sundaes, malts, and shakes to their famous ice cream cakes. Despite the high prices, your first bite into their delicious, original flavors like Copper Country, Salt Mine Detroit, and Peanut Butta Whateva, make it all worth it.

Great Lakes Ice Cream Company is great for anyone looking for a date night, family fun, or simply the perfect scoop of ice cream. Although the door can be a bit confusing, just remember to pull (not push) to reveal this shop’s endless ice cream opportunities.

228 E Main St // (989) 832-6460

T

901 E Ashman St // (989) 698-0173

Do

ub le

sc o

The scoop

5317 Saginaw Rd // (989) 486-9990

U

pon walking into The Cottage Creamery, customers enter the atmosphere of a vintage diner. The bright blue leather booths, checkerboard tile, and various paintings that cover the interior instantly transport you back in time to the 1950s. The Cottage Creamery is a quaint ice cream shop with entrances from Saginaw Rd. and the rail trail. It is the perfect location for anyone who enjoys summer bike rides.

The chalk-written menu provides a large spectrum of choices, ranging from malts, popcorn, hotdogs, soft serve ice cream, all the way to coffee. There are a large variety of homemade flavors like S’mores, Sea Salt Caramel, and Raspberry Sorbet. The Maraschino Cherry, which contains both sweet and tart flavors, has numerous cherry pieces and chunks of creamy chocolate to give it an even sweeter aspect.

The backyard has numerous chairs and a large lawn with bike racks that provides a spacious environment for children who love to play and get a little messy. The backyard also contains a few fire pits to sit around when the summer nights turn chilly. It’s great.

Atmosphere :

Atmosphere:

Atmosphere:

Taste: Overall experience:

Taste: Overall experience:

Taste: Overall experience:

24 | FOCUS | APRIL 29, 2016 | mhsfocus.com