December 16th Issue

THE

FOCUS

Midland High School | December 16, 2016 | Volume 39, Issue 4

45th Parallel

As members of the band graduate, new members join.

pg. 14

New Math Curriculum

Best of 2016

6-7 12-13

IB Art Students

15

Fischer Genau | Photo

CONTENTS OPINION

volume 39 issue 4

3 Math Program Revisions:

The Focus discusses the school’s new math program.

11

24 Christmas Hotspots:

The focus reviews some of the best spots for holiday celebrations.

Adopt A Family: Student Council is running Adopt-AChemic Family, where students can buy gifts for less fortunate families.

NEWS

5 Testifying the FDA:

A&E

12-13 Best of 2016:

Junior Meghan Rohn testified in front of the FDA to get Scenesse approved.

6-7 New Curriculum:

The math program has changed in order to increase test scores. All students now must take Algebra 1.

8 Xanax:

More students have been abusing the anxiety drug with dangerous effects.

FEATURES

9 Holidays Away From Home:

Exchange Students explain the different holiday traditions in their home countries.

10 Holiday Restrictions:

Students with dietary restrictions have difficulties during the holidays.

The Focus reviews some of the highlights of the year, including music, movies, and books.

15 IB Art Students:

A closer look at some of the students in the IB Art Program

SPORTS

16-17 Speed Skating:

Grace Trosin has been speed skating for four years.

18 Hockey:

This year, the team has a new coach with big goals for a successful season.

19 Girls Basketball:

The girls basketball team has an unusually low number of players.

ON THE COVER 45th Parallel The band, currently made up of a blend of MHS students and graduates, has

continued to add and replace members as some graduate. Recently, the group performed in Rhapsody Rendezvous, playing “Puzzle Pieces” by Saint Motel.

EDITORS

19

F

OUR MISSION

ocus, established in 1977, previously Editor-in-Chief Ella Colbert the Vic Tribune, established in 1936, is Managing Editor Maddy O’Callaghan the official school newspaper for Midland Photo & Design Editor Kayla Graham High. Focus is published monthly by the Features Editor Sonja Anderson journalism classes at Midland High and is News Editor Gwynne Ozkan distributed free of charge. It is a member Sports Editor Kady Volmering of the Michigan Interscholastic Press A&E Editor Hope O’Dell Association (MIPA). Adviser membership Opinion Editor Ellie Jensen also includes the Journalism Education Ads Coordinator Hailey Surbrook Association (JEA). Focus is designed as Exchange Editor Hayley Russell Adviser Jim Woehrle a forum for student expression and as a Printer Midland Daily News 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.

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18

6-7

9

Editorial

OP/ED

Putting students back on track

S

This year marked the start of a significant change to the math curriculum, coinciding with recent unsatisfactory test scores in mathematics. Previously, the math course options for freshmen were either Integrated math, Algebra 1 (9.2), Geometry (10.3), or Geometry .4. This year, with the curriculum changes, Integrated math has been removed from those choices, and instead, freshmen who would have taken it went directly into .2 Geometry.

Since Integrated math for freshmen and sophomores is technically .2 Geometry spread out over two years, the course has also been made unavailable to sophomores.

This change has caused some disagreement among students, especially in those who feel that integrated math is their best option. The Focus, however, is in support of the curriculum changes, and believes that the elimination of integrated math from freshmen and sophomore course options is beneficial for students.

Primarily, the newly renovated curriculum will eliminate some of the stigma surrounding integrated math.

Being the lowest level math course,

integrated math is looked down upon by other students in higher level classes, who believe that integrated students are lesser. Placing those students directly into a .2 class with help relieve this.

The stigma will also be improved among the integrated students, who may be conditioned by being in a lower level math class to believe that they’re of lower intelligence, and are therefore less confident in themselves. This lack of confidence can cause a lower motivation to succeed in the class, so they shouldn’t even attempt to work hard.

Integrated math is often seen as a “blow-off” class for this reason: some students use the lower point level as an excuse to not work hard.

Furthermore, the Focus believes that placing these students directly in a leveled-up class will benefit them because of the higher quality learning that the new courses offer. In .2 freshman geometry, the students are required to not only complete more work, but explain the processes as they perform them. In a higher point level, the students become more engaged and learn more, as the standards they have to meet are higher. The higher level course is also more focused on preparing students for

Student Opinions

college and careers than Integrated was.

Also, some new courses of .2 geometry will be co-taught, increasing the amount of help students will have available to them and therefore improving their learning experience.

Some could argue that students who receive special services or have historically done poorly in math need an integrated math course, and that Senior Sam Luzar the curriculum change would hurt those students’ learning experience by "I don’t think it’s a great idea because not meeting their needs. However, the some people need integrated math Focus believes that the new curriculum because it goes at the pace that the is still the most beneficial path, due to people need to go at." the ample help that will be offered to those students if they struggle, especially attributed to the addition of second teachers. As for the students who find that they are struggling with the changes during their freshman and sophomore year, the option still currently remains to drop down to integrated math for their junior and senior years.

Because of the better learning Senior Garrett May experience, elimination of stigma, “I think they should get rid of it and possibility of higher test scores, The Focus believes that this change because a lot of people take the class in curriculum should continue on in because it’s easy and they don’t want future years, eventually eliminating all to ever have to do work." integrated courses in every grade level.

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THE BULLETIN

Posts of the Month

Letter to the Editor FOCUS editorial board, Thank you for your November 18th, 206 article, “Private Account, Public Outcomes.” Ella Colbert, Kady Volmering, and Devin Alexander researched, interviewed, and wrote in a professional manner. The article serves as an excellent reminder for some (and a complete eye-opener for others) about the risks of social media behavior. In the same edition of The FOCUS, the editorial board addressed concerns they have with the athletic training rules contract and made suggestions for improvements.

The purpose of my letter is to: A. clarify some issues raised by the article and editorial.

B. inform you of actions the athletic department has taken.

1. No student was guilty of an athletic training rules violation based solely on a post to a social media outlet. Any post that was given to an MHS administrator triggered an investigation which included interviews with individuals who may have been pictured, commented, or was the source of the posting. Those interviews may provide additional evidence of use or possession of marijuana, alcohol, etc. Additionally an investigation may not uncover any additional evidence resulting in no violation.

Do not confuse social media behavior with behavior.

2. Ignorantia juris non excusat (Latin for “ignorance of the law excuses not”) is a legal principle holding that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely because he or she was unaware of its content. Every athlete and parent indicates on their online registration form that they have read and understand the athletic training rules – including the clear stipulation that training rules are in effect all year. We take them at their word that they have read and understand the rules. The rule reads: Training rules specifically prohibit drinking or possession of alcoholic beverages, abuse or possession of harmful narcotics and/or drugs, the use of any substance included on the NCAA list of banned substances, the use or possession of tobacco in any form (including vapor or e-cigarettes), or any socially unacceptable behavior such as failure to obey the civil laws of our society or the

serious or habitual violation of the Board of Education’s Code of Student Conduct. These training rules are to be observed throughout the year.

3. Efforts by students and/or their parents to deflect attention away from the behavior that led to a violation toward the method by which the MHS administration learned of the transgression or the time of year the incident’s occurrence are misplaced. Student-athletes agree to avoid specific behaviors as a condition of participation and agree to consequences when breaking the agreement. Schools should continue to reinforce the value of honoring commitments and acting with integrity.

4. The athletic department is providing some reminders this winter in response to a few high profile instances of inappropriate social media behavior and athletic training rules violations. The excerpt below is from an email I sent to our winter coaches in preparation for their seasons.

Chemics, As you prepare for your preseason parent meetings I have a few requests that need to be addressed by either you or me. a. Remind parents that the athletic training rules to which they agreed during their online registration are applicable year round. They do not take a summer vacation. We expect athletes to honor their word. Any questions they might have can be directed to the athletic director. b. I know you all have some version of the “social media warning” speech to your athletes. Please encourage your parents to have a conversation with their kids about the potential impact one bad decision can make.

Lastly, let’s not forget that the vast majority of Chemics use social media as a creative outlet to connect with each other by using humor, compassion, and pure entertainment. Our athletes support each other after a tough loss and celebrate their many individual and team successes through a variety of social media posts. Please continue to promote and highlight these types of positive social media posts in future.

@peytg5 “if I’ve learned anything from having this chromebook its how to type my username and password in very fast before the box disappears”

Respectfully, Mr. Eric Albright Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Midland High School

Song of the Month Song: Make Me (Cry) Artist: Noah Cyrus Ft. Labrinth Date Released: November 11 Rating: Channeling Lana Del Rey, Cyrus creates a song with upbeat and low tempos mixing in EDM starting her music career off strong

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@sneezymike “Thank you everybody for coming out to see this wonderful show!

Everyone did an amazing job!”

NEWS

TAKING A STAND J

unior Meghan Rohn recalls the nervous feeling in her stomach as she stood in front of a board of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) members on October 24 in Springfield, Maryland. At 17 years old, she testified to get a drug approved to treat her rare metabolic illness, Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.

“I was really scared, there were a lot of people there and it was a really big deal,” Rohn said. “But when I actually got on the panel and in front of everyone in the whole room, I did start crying because it was a really big thing for me because my life has just always been like this.”

Rohn was first diagnosed with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, EPP, when she was three. The disease creates a low level of enzymes in the body, making it difficult to create hemoglobin.

This results in a hypersensitivity to the sun.

Before she was diagnosed, Rohn had been complaining of a pain in her hands. Mother Debbie Rohn took her to a doctor, who found it difficult to locate the source of Meghan’s pain.

“There was no symptoms of (EPP) at all,” Debbie said. “First the doctors were thinking she was allergic to a certain kind of grass or maybe there were chemicals from the farm around us. They just couldn’t figure out quite exactly what the story was with it.”

After being in the sun caused the blood vessels in her hand to burst, Meghan was finally taken to a doctor who was able to diagnose her with EPP. She has found that her life is extremely restricted.

“I can’t go camping with my friends in the summer, I can’t go to football games, I can’t do anything,” Meghan said. “I guess the only way to really cope is just to stay inside. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Debbie has also found it hard to cope.

“It’s kind of changed our whole life,” Debbie said. “You have in your mind how it’s going to be to as a parent and how your life is going to go, everyone has those dreams, right? We always intended for our family to be really involved in 4-H and outside stuff. So having someone who couldn’t be outside was really different.”

Meghan has had to shield herself from the sun since a young age, wearing gloves and sweaters in the summer and covering the car windows with sheets to protect herself. Even something as simple as walking to her car proves to be a challenge.

Debbie said that Meghan was lucky to have been diagnosed with EPP at such an early age, as many suffer for years before identifying the disorder. With only 500 people in the U.S. who suffer from it, Meghan joined a Facebook group, American Porphyria Foundation, with members who also have some form of Porphyria.

“I wanted to be in a place where there were

Junior Meghan Rohn testified in front of the FDA in attempt to get a drug approved to treat her EPP. Maddy O’Callaghan|Managing Editor & Annaliese Hohner | Staff Writer & Kaylee Zariski | Staff Writer.

Junior Meghan Rohn faced her fear of public speaking head on when she testified at the FDA in October, in the hopes to approve the mediaction required to help alleviate the effects of EPP. With the medication, Rohn will be able to safely go into sunlight without her skin reacting negatively. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo more people like me,” Meghan said.

It was in this Facebook group that Meghan was invited to join some of the other members in testifying in front of the FDA to get approval for a new drug, Scenesse. The drug was first passed in Australia in 2008, when Debbie was invited to have her daughter participate in the testing for the study in the USA, but declined.

“She was only eight, and didn’t feel like I could [enter her in the study],” Debbie said. “What if it does something terrible? It’s one thing to say, as an adult, I’m going to participate in this study because I want results.

But for me to say I’m going to put my kid into that situation, it’s different. What if there’s a bad side effect? I felt like I couldn’t do it. And now that she makes her own choices, she’s pretty excited about the possibility.”

The drug has been passed in Europe for several years, and it has proven to help those who suffer from EPP with minimal negative side effects. However, the FDA was apprehensive to pass the drug due to the low number of people with EPP in the United States.

Yvette Strange, an office administrator at the American Porphyria Foundation, said that it is extremely important for the drug to be available for US citizens.

“We have had three separate clinical trials which indicate that patients benefit greatly from the drug Scenesse,” Strange said. “It has been given to patients in Europe whose lives have been changed dramatically by this drug.

They were able to resume and enjoy activities outdoors that was quite impossible prior to taking Scenesse/Afamelanotide.”

Meghan decided to go to Maryland with forty other members of the American Porphyria Foundation to stress their need for the drug. Meghan’s family came in support.

“It was a big deal,” Debbie said. “It’s talking to a huge part of our government. It’s kind of intimidating that way. But to meet different people, and to have her in a room with people that have EPP was so important.”

Six people testified. Meghan’s account of her illness moved the crowd.

“When she got done speaking, the whole room stood up,” Debbie said. “Every person had tears that were there, the whole board of the FDA, and the people that came because they had EPP, and their families. Everybody gave her an ovation.”

The drug has since been fast tracked for approval by the FDA. Meghan and her mother are hopeful that she will be able to use the medication once she turns 18.

“The director of the Dermatology Products Division of the FDA came to Meghan after and talked about Meghan had touched them,” Debbie said. “They really really want to make it something that can happen.”

Meghan hopes that she is able to make an impact on the lives of others who suffer from EPP. “I know that people that do have it have never been able to do anything,” Meghan said.

“And I know that people are still going to end up having it in their life, and I know that I have had my life be so restricted, and I don’t want other people’s lives to be like that, I want them to be able to do anything, I want to be able to change that.”

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A look at EPP

5,000 - 10,000

people in the world have Erythropoetic Protoporphyria 500 people in the USA have Erythropoetic Protoporphyria The drug Scencess last for up to 2 months It is caused by a defective enzyme known as ferrochelatase

NEWS

CHANGING THE CURRICULUM Administration has implemented a new math plan this year by getting rid of Integrated Math one, and eventually integrated math two, in hopes of increasing standardized test scores and helping students be better prepared for college and future careers. Kady Volmering|Sports Editor & Hope O'Dell|A&E Editor & Quinlan Cox|Staff Writer

Teacher Elaine Mahabir explains a concept to her first hour 9.2 Algebra class which she co-teaches with Kendall Root. Having two teachers is a part of the new math curriculum. They are introducing interesting new techniques to engage students, encourage collaboration, and help the students grasp a deeper understanding of the material in a new and fun way. Kady Volmering | Photo

A

single loud clap can be heard coming from room 239, where Elaine Mahabir and Kendall Root are co-teaching their first hour, 9.2 Algebra. The clap is a celebration of knowledge used when students get the correct answer on a problem.

“The best thing about what we’ve got going on in 9.2 right now, is we’ve created a culture that learning is good,” Mahabir said. “Kids come into our class with the expectation that they want to learn, and that they’re willing to learn even though it’s hard for them.”

This 9.2 Algebra class is different compared to past years, because a pilot run of changes has been implemented in the integrated math program. These changes are a response to standardized test results showing a shortcoming in math proficiency throughout the school district.

Assistant principal Amy Hutchinson has been working alongside the rest of the administration to come up with the change that would meet the needs of students, and also blend well with scheduling.

“A f t e r t h a t e x a m i n a t i o n o f d a t a , we brainstormed an idea based on a similar program that Mr. Jaster had done at Northeast, and that he thought would work here,” Hutchinson said.

The program has gotten rid of the Integrated Math 1 class, which previously consisted of one semester of Algebra 1 spread across one year.

Instead, all incoming freshmen will now be placed into 9.2 Algebra.

In order to accommodate students with Independent Education Plan — which makes arrangements for students who receive special services — and those who struggle with math in general, administration has scheduled the classes to be

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smaller than usual. These classes will also be co-taught, with a special education and a general education teacher present in the classroom to help students. The plan is to then take away Integrated Math 2 next year, and have all sophomores take Geometry; then hopefully have juniors go onto Algebra 2 and Precalculus senior year.

“The idea then is to keep Integrated Math 3 and 4 because going from Algebra to Geometry and then Geometry to Algebra 2 [can be difficult],” Hutchinson said. “Algebra 2 can be a pretty tough class for students.”

In November of 2006, a program called the Michigan Merit Curriculum was implemented, requiring all high school students to take four years of math in order to

"Math is everywhere.

Polynomials make life better. We have to change the mindset."

Learning Coach Connie Beson-Steger

graduate: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and another unspecified math credit. This program caused concern over students passing Algebra 1 and graduating.

“The goal back then was graduation rates.

How do we get kids to graduate?” Hutchinson said. “As time went on, there was a shift in educational goals. Now there is more focus on careers, being college ready, student growth, and, according to standardized tests, reaching certain levels of proficiency.”

By eliminating the first Integrated Math course, Hutchinson believes these new educational objectives are achievable.

“The overall goal is for students to grow and be proficient in their skills so they can be prepared for their futures,” Hutchinson said.

“Students will rise to the occasion with support and good teaching.”

Math teacher-leader Brendan Smith said the teachers who are currently teaching the classes are trying different teaching styles in order for students to get more engaged during class time.

“Since students have the Chromebooks - and

more of the classes are co-taught - there are just more opportunities to try some different things,” Smith said.

The same material is being taught to the students, but in ways that will be more engaging and helpful; giving students a better understanding of what they are learning.

“I had a chance to watch Mr. Root and Mrs. Mahabir one day and there was just an incredible positive energy in the classroom,” Smith said. “The students were doing very well.

They were engaged, they were diving into story problems, and really thinking well about them, and working in groups together.”

In conjunction with the change in math curriculum, learning coach Connie Beson-Steger was hired to help the math teachers incorporate new techniques into lesson plans.

“We have phenomenal teachers here at Midland High and they have been super warm and welcoming, but one thing that I can bring is engagement strategies for at-risk learners, and new strategies to use in the classroom to help improve math education with low level learners,” Beson-Steger said.

Another aspect Beson-Steger helps with is SAT prep in the classroom, with the end goal of increasing scores throughout the math portion.

Beson-Steger focuses on exposure, practice tests, providing resources for teachers to use in class, and any other tools she believes teachers could benefit from.

“I've also been a part of, along with the 9.2 Algebra teachers, a consortium, and we found a PD for them called ‘Enhancing math instruction for students with learning difficulties’,” BesonSteger said. “These learning difficulties includes our special ed, but also our disadvantaged youth, at risk youth, and our disengaged math learners whom either struggle with literacy, or numeracy, or math literacy.”

Beson-Steger believes that a change in math illiteracy mindset is important in order for scores to change as well. She said that increasing rigor of the courses will help change students’ views on math.

“This is Midland, a Dow community, a STEM community, and we should all be embracing math and all we can do to increase rigor in math with enthusiasm, and engagement,” BesonSteger said. “Math is everywhere. Polynomials make life better. We have to change the mindset that math literacy matters.”

There has also been a big emphasis on collaborative work amongst the students this year, especially with the addition of Chromebooks. In addition to more group work, Mahabir hopes higher-level thinking will be brought into the classroom.

“We’ve been trying to do more studentcentered, student-led, teaching as opposed to the teacher being the locus of the control and the teacher telling,” Mahabir said. “We’ve tried to do more higher-level thinking, which is good.”

Another change that the math teachers have made to the curriculum is that they have decided to give an exam after each marking period. So in January, an exam will be given, but

NEWS

just covering the second marking period. Out of her two classes, Mahabir said a high percentage of students passed.

“In fact, our class average was around a C+ or a B-,” Mahabir said. “In comparison to Integrated 1 in the past, that’s really good.

So, we felt very good about our kids ability to perform at their marking period exam showing mastery of material.”

Freshmen Carter Hazen is in Root and Mahabir's first hour 9.2 class, and said he is not much of a math person, but is enjoying the class.

He says that the class feels more like talking to a friend because of the way the material is being taught. Hazen said that when students split into groups to work on problems, music is often playing, which makes the classroom a fun and positive environment to be in.

"The environment is different in that we're always doing group activities and always trying to get students involved in doing equations that they're not comfortable with," Hazen said.

Hazen is also appreciative of having a co-taught classroom. This allows for different methods to be brought in the class as well, and students can choose which methods work best for them.

Only three out of the freshman class of 319 failed the first marking period of Algebra, making the passing rate a whopping 99%.

Although administrators and teachers are aware of how much harder the class will be getting, they celebrate the positive changes they have seen so far.

“There’s a lot of excitement about what we’re trying,” Hutchinson said. “I think, if grades alone are an indication, we are off to a very good start.”

Freshmen students work together during Algebra class. Collaboration is being used more often to create a positive attitude towards math, and make the subject increasingly hands-on. Kady Volmering | Photo

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NEWS

DETRIMENTAL DRUG Xanax is a prescription medication used to treat psychiatric diseases such as anxiety and depression. However, the widespread abuse of the drug is not only illegal, but leads to dangerous side-effects. Gwynne Özkan|News Editor & Holly Stauffer|Staff Writer

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fter being kicked out of a party, Roger (a fake name given to protect the source’s identity) returned home and blacked out. He was asleep for hours and his mom couldn’t wake him. The ambulance was called.

He woke up in a hospital gown with no memory of the night before; and with the realization that he overdosed on 10 milligrams of Alprazolam, more commonly referred to as Xanax, and Klonopins.

“You lose control of your body,” Roger said.

“When you’re on Xanax it’s a good time, but you’ll end up not remembering anything.”

Xanax is categorized as a benzodiazepine: a class of psychoactive drugs. It is strong enough to qualify as a minor tranquilizer and is a highly addictive prescription drug. Xanax is used to treat short term anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders found in all ages.

Despite its appropriate use in treatment, the abuse and recreational use of the drug can lead to many dangerous effects.

Since it is a psychiatric drug, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Eric Özkan prescribes Xanax to many of his patients. The normal dose is anywhere from 0.25 milligrams to one milligram, depending on the severity of the disorder.

“Its an anti-anxiety medication and it slows down your heart rate and breathing,” Özkan said. “It relaxes you, but it is highly addictive and only meant to be taken short term. People commonly get addicted, so when they go off the drug they suffer from severe withdrawal.”

Symptoms of withdrawal give the opposite effects of what the drug is intended for; increased anxiety and paranoia. Özkan sees Xanax addiction as an issue for all ages.

“Xanax addiction is increasing in teenagers, but it’s always been a problem in adults,” Özkan said.

The user takes on a lethargic, ‘zombie-like’ appearance. Reaction time decreases, pupils dilate, and grogginess is induced. Speech is slurred, and vision becomes impaired. Xanax often mimics the symptoms of alcohol. When consumed together, Xanax and alcohol enhance

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the effects of each other, making for a potentially lethal combination.

“The combination could stop your heart, and a lot of people accidentally kill themselves,” Özkan said.

When a user overdoses, they lose consciousness, and fall asleep. Their heart rate and breathing slows, and they end up never waking up.

Any recreational use of Xanax is classified as a

“Xanax addiction is increasing in teenagers, but it’s always been a problem in adults.”

Psychologist Eric Özkan drug crime. Taking Xanax without a prescription is a direct violation of the Controlled Substance Act. The possession, consumption, or distribution without a proper license or prescription is categorized as a misdemeanor and a felony.

Police officer Jeremy Davis has had several run-ins with students misusing Xanax. His first concern is the safety of the students, and in extreme cases he will call the ambulance.

However, typically he questions them, telephones parents, and dictates penalties based on the situation at hand.

“Any time you start to abuse a substance, or feel the need to have to turn to a substance to fix your problems, you’re starting down a dangerous road,” Davis said.

Since drug crimes appear on permanent records, Xanax abuse ultimately affects far past the initial charge. Ultimately, job offers are affected, driver’s license access and financial aid acceptance are threatened. Regardless of the severe consequences, possession and use among students remains an issue.

Davis said that, like with any kind of substance abuse, people try to escape the sense of reality. Users feel that there needs to be a quick fix to their issues, which they find in drugs like Xanax.

Roger has taken Xanax on more than 60 different occasions. Each experience he describes himself as feeling ‘slumped,’ meaning he’s too tired to walk, talk, or do anything.

Aside from the high given, Roger takes Xanax because he feels peer pressured to, and uses it to combat other problems in his life also. If he believes that he can’t have a good time without it, he’ll take it.

Kevin (a fake name given to protect the source’s identity) has taken Xanax on over 100 occasions. Like Roger, he’s been through a disturbing experience as well. Also occurring at a party, Kevin was on a mix of alcohol and nine milligrams of Xanax. Due to the memory loss caused by the abused drug, Kevin was later informed by his friends what had happened. He suffered a seizure, threw up multiple times, and blacked out for many hours. He has no memory of the entire night.

Kevin said Xanax causes the surrounding environment to shape shift. His depth perception is weakened and he suffers from extreme dizziness. He feels peer pressure to take Xanax as well, and views the drug as alleviating to his personal problems.

“I’ve taken Xanax so many times just to try to make me feel good, but regardless it never lasts,” Kevin said. “I would never promote it or recommend them to anyone without an appropriate prescription.”

Alternative Holidays

FEATURES

AWAY FROM HOME

Junior Jose Paz is living with Senior Matt Gordon and his family during his foreign exchange. Gordon’s family lived in Bolivia for a few years Gordon’s family decorates their house differently than they do in Bolivia with a real Christmas tree and Christmas lights covering their house outside. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

J u n i o r J o s e Pa z f ro m B o l i v i a a n d J u n i o r V i nyet Pe r e l l o f ro m S p a i n are spending their school year away from home on foreign exchange, they look forward to experiencing the Holiday traditions in the United States.

Ellie Jensen| Opinion Editor & Paige Murphy| Staff Writer

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n the midst of summer, Sophomore foreign exchange student Jose Paz watches fireworks disperse into the sky to mark the annual celebration of gift opening on Christmas. Unlike in the United States, gift opening in Bolivia occurs at the strike of midnight within the first moments of Christmas Day. In addition to midnight gifts and fireworks in the streets, Bolivians also have a parade for the day of the Three Wise Men. It takes place on Jan 6 and is considered the end of the Christmas season.

“Three guys on horses are dressed up as the Three Wise Men and give out candy to the kids all around the main avenue,” Paz said.

Another difference of Christmas in Bolivia is that it is more widely-religiously oriented. In Bolivia, the dominant religion is Catholicism, and there is a lot less religious diversity than in the United States. There is not a great amount of decorating done for the holidays; it is very unlikely to see a house outlined by lights. Each family has their own manger in their house and decorations creating a nativity scene.

In Bolivia, Christmas occurs

during the summer, so Paz has never experienced snow at Christmas time.

“The idea of imagining myself next to the Christmas tree looking at the window and seeing the snowflakes and everything white outside is just perfect,” Paz said.

Paz said the thing that he will miss the most about not being home for the holidays is not being able to be with his family and have a big family get together.

Along with decorations and fireworks, the Christmas dinner is also different in Bolivia. The most common Christmas dinner is stuffed pig. For dessert, they eat panettone, which is a dry fruit bread.

Senior Matthew Gordon and his family are currently hosting Paz. Coincidently, Gordon spent one year living in Bolivia and is familiar with their holiday traditions.

While in Bolivia, Gordon found it difficult to find even a small fake Christmas tree to put in their home. Gordon’s family generally decorates their house with a lot of lights for the holidays, which is very different from what they experienced in Bolivia.

Junior Vinyet Perello is currently a another foreign exchange student, who is from Spain.

Perello said she is also going to miss her family back home, but looks forward to having the experience of these holidays in United States.

“What I’m going to miss the most from Spain is my family, having our Christmas dinner all together and s e e i n g t h e m h a p p y , ” Pe r e l l o s a i d .

Perello is used to having a celebration for the three kings in January. But the Spanish holiday differs in the sense that the kings come from East Europe and bring them presents during the night and also referring to them as the magic kings rather than wise.

One of the most popular traditions that happens in Spain occurs on New Year’s Eve, when everybody must wear something red to represent good luck for the new year.

“The last twelve seconds of the year, we eat a piece of grape for each second until the new year arrives,” Perello said.

Despite traditional differences, the holiday and the general meaning behind Christmas remains the same.

“It is the same holiday, ultimately celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ,” Gordon said. “Gifts are exchanged, and families get together to celebrate.”

CHRISTMAS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Average December temperature in Bolivia is 87.7 °F Elaborate nativities are a tradition in Spain Santa is “Papa Noel” in Spain and Bolivia 9 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

FEATURES

Alternative Holidays

DIETARY DILEMMA

Joshua Lang, Nate Miiller, and Isabelle Levinson; three MHS students with three different food restrictions. From eating with their families on holidays to eating with friends, they have many struggles involving their diet, chosen and diagnosed. Hadley Morden|Staff Writer & Josh Danielson|Staff Writer & Olivia Barber|Staff Writer

5

Age animal byproduct allergies start

$25 billion Economic cost of child food allergies per year

1-2%

of milk and egg allergies for children Source: www.foodallergy.org

F

or his entire life, Junior Joshua Lang has been allergic to all mammal products. If it comes from a mammal, he can’t consume any of it.

This includes milk, cheese, and meat such as ham.

“I have a deficiency in a certain protein, and so my body is not able to digest anything that comes from a mammal,” Lang said. “That’s anything from pork or beef, to anything dairy.”

During the holiday season, Lang experiences many difficulties with being unable to eat the “traditional” holiday meal.

“It’s hard, because the only real meat I can have is chicken or turkey, so it gets really old because I eat it all the time,” Lang said. “After having it all the time, it isn’t special, because it’s the only meat I can have.”

It is not only the meat that is a struggle however.

Lang also has to hurdle around many other traditional holiday dishes, including pies, and Christmas ham.

W

Nate Miiller

69%

of vegans chose their lifestyle due to the unfair treatment of animals

79%

of vegans in America are women

16 million

people in the U.S. do not consume any animal products Source: vbetweenthelines.com

hen Junior Nate Miiller suddenly had difficulty eating and retaining food, his family knew something was wrong, and immediately took him to the hospital.

“When it hurt to eat, I stopped eating, and I lost 30 or so pounds,” Miiller said. “ We went to the doctors, and she sent me to get a CAT scan at the Midland hospital, and then they sent me down to U of M. There, they did a CAT scan, an MRI, and a colonoscopy. It was the colonoscopy that confirmed that it was Crohn’s.”

Crohn’s disease is a genetic illness in which the digestive system is broken down, and many sufferers experience trouble eating and retaining food.

“Basically what it is is that the white blood cells are attacking the lining of my digestive system from the bottom of my stomach down and creates ulcers,” Miiller said.

S

enior Isabelle Levinson is seated amongst family during her Thanksgiving meal, and unlike most Americans she will not be pigging out on turkey, ham, stuffing or cheesy potatoes.

Levinson is a vegan, meaning that she will not eat animal products, including; dairy, meat and eggs.

“My grandma set aside potatoes for me so I have potatoes or rolls or anything like that,” Levinson said.

She started out as a vegetarian based off ethical reasons, but after she had done some research, she saw how cruelly animals were treated in the dairy and egg industries. Levinson has been a vegan for ten months, and her diet consists of beans, nuts, protein and greens. Going out to eat is difficult for her due to her dietary restrictions.

“A lot of people want to go out,” Levinson said. “I can go to Taco Bell and just take stuff off, but that is

10 | FOCUS |DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

“A lot of the side dishes have cheese or milk in it, so I can’t have any of those either.” Lang said.

Lang experiences many of these obstacles in his everyday life. Because of his deficiency, an entire food group is eliminated from his diet. Many foods he cannot eat because they contain even the smallest traces of mammal products. Instead of mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream, he eats potatoes with nothing on them.

“There’s a lot of weird things that have milk in it that you would never expect to have milk in it,” Lang said. “A lot of bread has milk in it, so I’m only able to have a certain type of bread, and it just makes my diet really restricted.”

Overall Lang is very positive about his allergies, but more than anything, he has one craving.

“I really want Pepperoni,” Lang said.

These ulcers make eating certain types of foods, such as foods with seeds and various spices very troublesome for people with Crohn’s and can be especially problematic around the holidays.

“When it flares up, there is a lot of stomach pain, and I have to constantly be near a bathroom,” Miiller said. “I have to avoid certain foods, because they could really upset me.” Miiller said.

He cannot eat green beans or any spicy foods.

Currently, Miiller goes to U of M twice a month to get an IV, as treatment for his Crohn’s. Eventually, he will only have to go once a month for treatment.

Although there is no cure, Miiller is optimistic about his diagnosis.

“My strength is slowly coming back, but other than that, I just keep moving on,” Miiller said.

Joshua Lang

700,000

Americans with Crohn’s

Higher Latitudes

People in higher latitudes are more likely to have Crohn’s

$18,932 Direct cost for those affected with Crohn’s

Source: healthline.com about it.”

During the holiday season, Levinson misses the ease of being able to eat anything she desires. Her family has a harder time than non-vegan families to find things for her to eat. While her family eats turkey with gravy, Isabelle eats vegan rolls and butter-free mashed potatoes.

“You just don’t realize how many things have butter or cheese in them,” Levinson said. “I can’t eat those, so we are going to have to make sure we don’t put butter in certain things so I can have it.”

Levinson said that even though her choice to be a vegan can be difficult during the holidays, she does not regret it.

“I wouldn’t give up being vegan for the world.”

Levinson said.

Isabelle Levinson

FEATURES

SANTA'S HELPERS

Student council secretary Melissa Draves and Student council member Emily Hills wrap gifts for Adopt-a-Chemic Family in the hallway. Lauren Curtis | Photo

Wrapping up the facts

Alternative Holidays

Counselors and students come together around the holidays to help Chemic families have a better Christmas. Hailey Surbrook|Staff Writer & Matt Olenczuk|Staff Writer & Theo Rammidi|Staff Writer

A

s the Christmas season drew closer, Counselor Misty Theisen brought a student into her office to inform her of a program that would assist in giving her and her family the Christmas they always wanted.

“Why did you call me in?,” The student said.

“Well we’re doing this Adopt-a-Family and I would like to know what you would like for Christmas,” Theisen said. “ I c a n ’ t b e l i e v e w e ’r e h a v i n g t h i s conversation," The student said. "I’ve never been asked what I would like for Christmas. This is so exciting; I actually get presents for Christmas?”

“Yeah, you do,” Theisen said. “And they get wrapped and you get to open presents.”

The student is one of the many Chemics that has been assisted by the organization Adopt-aChemic Family.

Student Council Secretary Melissa Draves has been involved with the Adopt-a-Chemic Family in the past, and continues to contribute to the program this year.

“It’s really nice, especially because we’re assisting families within our own school,” Draves said. “I believe it’s more inspiring to directly impact someone in your school community, rather than in a larger community.”

Student leadership is given an anonymous list of families, as well as what the families would like for Christmas, and from there they are able to determine which gifts to buy. This

year, student leadership is supporting eleven families that usually need basic household needs like clothes or laundry detergent. “[The list] just specifies [gender] and which items they would like to receive for Christmas,” Draves said. “We also have an electronic sharing tree where we have specific gifts to be filled.”

Generally, students in need are found by the counselors, and offered to get help from the Adopt -a-Chemic Family program.

“Sometimes they don’t [contact us],” Theisen said.

“We usually keep a list of students that are considered homeless or we just know by talking to them that their family is in need. So the relationship that we have with our students, [is how] we know that their families are in need of support. Other times, we may be interviewing one student, and they may tell another student like ‘my counselor met with me and said you know, we have this Adopt-afamily, I think your family would benefit from this’ so sometimes it’s word of mouth.”

Families that are adopted normally have four to five members, including parents. Each

member receives about two to three gifts, depending on how much money is donated.

Student Council Vice President Caleb Wolfe has experience collecting money, purchasing, and handling the gifts.

“We usually try to get everything they ask for based on a budget, and how much has been donated,” Wolfe said.

Student leadership tries to tend to the household necessities for families before filling out other gifts.

More often than not, the families are able to receive most or all of what they ask for.

Student Council Member Madylin S h e r m a n h a s contributed to the program, along with the rest of student leadership.

“We try and get them the necessities,” Sherman said. “A lot of the times, they ask for pants or jackets and it just depends on what people donate.”

Student leadership raises money for the organization by having students donate gifts online or participate in a competition in their

“It surprises me how much people are donating. You wouldn’t expect that from your average high school student” Student Council Vice President Caleb Wolfe

third hour classes to see who can donate the most money to the cause. Each class collects their donations in a box, and the class that donates the most money wins a prize.

“It surprises me how much people are donating. You wouldn’t expect that from your average high school student,” Wolfe said.

Fundraising ends with what they call flash collection, the final gathering of the donated money from each classroom.

Once fundraising is over, they will begin purchasing the gifts for the families, and then sort them by letter and number to preserve the families’ identities. From there the gifts will be delivered to the families by the counselors.

Student Leadership is glad to see so many students willing to help other Chemics that are struggling through the holiday season.

“My favorite part is seeing the classes be excited about collecting money for someone else and just getting everyone in the holiday spirit of giving,” Draves said. “It’s really cool see classes getting competitive about giving.”

Overall,Theisen said the program is about helping struggling Chemic families through the holidays and giving them the Christmas they may not be able to afford.

"I think [the best part of Adopt-a-Family] is the mere joy of being able to give back to people that are in need," Theisen said. "And knowing that they get to tell me what they want for Christmas and we can actually fulfill that."

11 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Best of 2016 A&E

From Star Wars: The Force Awakens breaking box office records to the recent release of J Cole's album, 4 Your Eyes Only, 2016 has been a big year for entertainment. The Focus reviews the best of this year. Ella Colbert | Editor-in-Chief & Hayley Russell |Exchange Editor & Lillian Mohr | Staff Writer

Best TV Show: Stranger Things

T

he sci-fi/horror show took Netflix Original series to a whole new level after its release in July. It seemed like nearly every group of friends dressed up as the cast of Stranger Things for Halloween. The show was created by the Duffer Brothers and is set in the 1980s. It follows a small town’s search for a young boy, named Will Byers, who goes missing one night after hanging out with his friends.

Will’s closest friends- Mike, Dustin, and Lucas- set out to help the rest of the town find him. However, things don’t go as expected when the crew finds a girl named Eleven, who isn’t what she appears to be.

The boys uncover an alternative, unearthly world that may be the key to finding their friend.

In the meantime, mother Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) frantically searches for signals that her son is still alive.

Eleven, a mysterious and out-of-theordinary girl, is played by 12-year-old Millie Bobby Brown. Both secretive and intimidating, Eleven's supernatural powers seem realistic and believable. Brown's relatable character quickly stole the hearts of viewers across the nation.

The show is modeled on Steven Spielberg and Stephen King-style films to give it a 1980s nostalgia. The series begins with a frightening and confusing episode that forces you to watch the next. And every episode after does the same.

This show is intriguing for anyone who enjoys mystery. The quirky, but likeable characters combined with the complex and surprising plot will have you binge-watching the entire season in one day. The second season will be premiering sometime in 2017.

Best Album: Lemonade - Beyoncé 12 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Best Song: Closer- The Chainsmokers

D

A&E

Best Actor: Miles Teller

T

eller made his debut as a supporting actor in the 2011 Footloose, playing the role of Willard, the goofy best friend of the main character.

But Teller has long since grown out of that role, recently starring in Bleed for This as main character Vinny. In this film, Teller plays a world champion boxer who suffers from a serious head injury, but makes a miraculous recovery. Teller’s part is both convincing and authentic. For his role in this movie, Teller underwent a complete body transformationlosing 20 pounds of fat by cutting out all bread and alcohol from his diet.

The part was a break from his typical role as a high school or college student, like in Whiplash or 21 & Over. Other standout roles this year from Teller include his role as David Packouz in the recent Wardogs, and Peter in Allegiant. Teller is a dynamic, quirky actor who has won over hearts with his authentic charm and incredible skills.

Best Band: The Lumineers

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his year, The Lumineers released their second album, Cleopatra, which featured a different sound than they had four years ago with theirselftitled debut. Cleopatra is not as upbeat as the usual sound of their debut, and is very unlike their popular “Ho Hey.” The songs on the album are serious and have a deeper meaning than some of their earlier music, featuring guitar and piano often. They even feature “Patience,” which is a beautiful piano

instrumental. Standout songs from their most recent album include, “Sleep on the Floor,” “Angela,” and “Cleopatra.” The three songs, as well as their music videos, connect to tell the story of their favorite cab driver from Egypt. The songs on the album are short, making the album only 35 minutes, an easy listen.

The Lumineers sound is a folksy, pop blend that stands out among other alternative music.

Best Book: The Girl on the Train

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ritten by Paula Hawkins and recently adapted into a movie, this book follows Rachel, a 30-something hot mess, who gets herself involved in the murder investigation of a young woman.

Throughout the book, Rachel deals with a drinking problem, unemployment, and an attachment to her ex-husband. The book mixes realistic, relatable issues with entertaining subplots. The book has all the classic elements of a murdermystery; a frustrating period of minimal progress, an epic fight scene, and, of course, a huge plot twist. Although the book has some parallels to the recently popular Gone Girl, Hawkins has distinguished her book through her formatting of the novel, which splits between the three main characters of the book; Rachel, Anna, and Megan. This book will keep you up at night, either reading or being haunted by what you just read.

Best Actress: Margot Robbie

Best Movie: Deadpool

eemed by Kanye West as “the future,” Chance The Rapper has been gaining momentum in the music industry since his 2012 mixtape, 10 Day. This year, Chance came out with his third mixtape, Coloring Book. Most of his music mentions religion, but nothing compares to this album, which can only be described as a spiritual experience, featuring songs like “How Great” and “Angels.” Chance uses the perfect blend of faith and explicit rap that appeals to all people. Other standout songs are “Same Drugs” and “Mixtape.”

His most popular album, Acid Rap (2013), featuring some of his classic songs like “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” is both sentimental and eccentric. Other standout songs from this album include “Paranoia,” and “Juice.” But, Acid Rap is a far cry from his first mixtape, 10 Day, which was created after getting suspended from high school. The album is slower with more raw emotion. It features songs that emphasize his self-reflection like “Nostalgia,” and “Long Time II.” Chance's voice is raw and scratchy, but combined with his soulful, eccentric vocals, it works. And what is really amazing about Chance: he doesn’t sell his music, saying "I don't release my music for free, I release it for freedom." Chance has proved himself in the rap game, and at 23, will continue to do so.

Best Artist:

Chance The Rapper

Best App: Pokémon Go 13 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A&E

RANGE AND RHYTHM

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The band 45th Parallel, made up of both current Midland High students and alumni, has been gaining popularity in the community.

Sonja Anderson | Features Editor & Jasmin West | Staff Writer

he band 45th Parallel was playing at a fundraiser at St. Brigid’s church, and preparing to start their next song: “Puzzle Pieces” by Saint Motel, an electropop-rock track relying very heavily on a piano riff. But, they didn’t have a piano.

So, junior Alex McMath walked up to the microphone and announced that the quintet would be performing a partially acapella version of the song. They began to play it anyway, with McMath and another band member making “doo-do-doo-do-doo” vocal sounds in place of piano notes.

McMath recalls this performance as one of her favorite memories with the band, and it seems that it is the perfect example of the aura of this group; they are just having fun.

“That was just a blast,” McMath said. “It was an alcoholic event, so we had our own cooler with like mountain dews and little snacks in it and we bought our own pizza. [Performing there] is my favorite memory.”

45th Parallel is made up of three Midland High students and two graduates: juniors Emma Brown, Alex McMath, and Fischer Genau, and current Delta students Tyler Jean and Noah Schieber. What sets them apart from other high school bands is their changing, fluid membership.

The original group was started by alumnus Aaron Mealey and Schieber after Rhapsody Rendezvous last year, with Genau and Brown as the other two members. Over the summer, after the band took second place in Battle of the Bands, Mealey left

to attend Western Michigan University. With his “I think what we’re calling it right now is rock-pop,” departure, the band lost its lead singer and rhythm Brown said. “We have ‘What I like About You,’ some guitarist. McMath then joined as a singer and Jean of The Killers. We’re combining everyone’s music joined as a guitarist, filling in the gaps. Schieber tastes together.” said that the incorporation of new members wasn’t McMath said that with five people in the band, a problem. there are a lot of individual music interests, and “I feel pretty good about it,” Schieber said. “So far because of that, they’re able to have variety in their it’s been a pretty smooth transition. We already have sets. McMath said she prefers more acoustic, calmer had a couple gigs, and they went fantastic. We were songs, while Schieber is into 1980s classics or The sort of getting used to each other, Killers, and Genau will always but overall I don’t have a problem bring in “some obscure indie “You can have a lot of with new members at all.” band,” as Brown puts it.

Brown said that she hopes the people who have different “Everyone is a little different,” band can continue on this way, McMath said. “You can have a music tastes, but it takes lot of people who have different accepting new members as some leave, keeping the name and its music tastes, but it takes a lot of a lot of people who have music alive. open minds to make it so people who have open minds to The band’s name, 45th Parallel, make it so you can play.” you can play.” was chos en by the original McMath believes that the members purely for artistic experience with the band, and reasons. It wasn’t until afterwards Junior Alex McMath with Midland Hig h’s music that they found out the 45th programs - which all members parallel actually runs through of 45th Parallel have been a part Michigan on a map, two hours away from the band’s of - are important parts of high school. birthplace.

“It’s a really cool experience to have a high school “That is actually in Traverse City,” Brown said. “We band and to be a part of high school music,” McMath sort of just picked it because it sounded good, and said. “Where you’re figuring out how professionals then we discovered where it was.” would figure out harmonies, figuring out timing of As for their style of music, the group doesn’t really when a piano sounds good and a keyboard sounds stick to one genre. They enjoy playing acoustically, but good, what you like and what you don’t.” they also like playing upbeat rock songs.

Schieber, who plays guitar and some piano in the

band, also said he likes building and performing the music.

“It’s fun to have an outlet where I can use my guitar playing skills that isn’t church, and I actually get to rock out and do what I’m fully capable of doing,” Schieber said. “Plus, I get to write for it and write keys for it too, so it’s a great time.”

Both Brown and McMath agree that, although the music is fun, to them the most important benefits of 45th Parallel are the friendships among its members.

“I’m super close with most of the people here,” McMath said. “I even met a new friend. I didn’t know Tyler Jean and now I have a new friend. So I'd say gaining the closer friendship and making that tighter [is my favorite part].”

The band is looking forward to playing a lot more gigs, gaining experience, and performing new songs.

They recently performed at Rhapsody on December 3.

“We’ve had a lot more opportunities recently than we’ve had in the past,” Brown said. “I think that’s really, really good, to get our name out there.

Performance experience is super fun; it helps you learn a lot.”

McMath said that the prime time for bands is in the summer, and seems optimistic about the future of 45th Parallel.

“I’m super excited to see what comes up and what we're ready for, and to gain the experience, and keep doing things that are new,” McMath said. “Whatever’s next, we’re very excited to go there.”

45th Parallel practices twice a month to accommodate all members’ schedules. The band’s usual practice spot is at junior Emma Brown’s house, and sessions last two to three hours. Fischer Genau | Photos 14 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A&E

FREEDOM TO

CREATE

CARSON CLARK

Theme: Time Favorite Part of IB Art? “There are very loose guidelines and we get to choose everything we make.”

Clark’s sculpture “Mother Nature” which stands 7 inches tall. Lauren Curtis | Photo

IB Art students have their own styles, themes, and inspiration that drive them, yet are unified in their love for art. Lauren Curtis | Staff Writer & Danielle Julien |Staff Writer

MARIN TARNOWSKI Theme: Space

3 words to describe your artistic style?

“Cultural, dreamlike, architectural”

What is your favorite piece you’ve created in IB Art? “An aluminum sculpture of an astronaut that’s about an inch and a half, maybe two inches tall.”

What is your favorite piece you’ve created?

“Mother Nature, a bronze sculpture that represents peace, freedom, and empathy.”

Ta r n o w s k i ’ s a l u m i n u m astronaut Lauren Curtis | Photo

Theme: BEGINNINGS

3 words to describe your artistic style?

“Geometric, Surrealist, spacial” What is your inspiration?

“My inspiration would be my surroundings. Usually the cities and countries that I travel to. And just unique places that stand out to me, either because the experiences there or simply the aesthetic nature.”

What is your inspiration?

“It is cool to draw and create old architectural things and I love looking at how cultures change over time.”

MADELINE MORGAN

Favorite Part of IB Art? “The freedom that it affords to all the art students that take it. You just get to do a lot more than you normally would in another art class.”

Other Thoughts: “It’s anywhere from a coffee shop in Amsterdam to a subway station in New York, or even just my own house, really [its] just the space I inhabit that inspires most of my artwork.”

Favorite Part of IB Art? “Just the availability of new mediums and the encouragement to try new mediums. I love really getting to delve into them and hone [my] skill.”

3 words to describe your artistic style?

“Impressionistic, fluid, direct” What is your inspiration?

“I always work with organic things. My focus is always something organic. I don’t like to paint the artificial. I prefer to paint the natural world.”

What is your favorite piece you’ve created in IB Art? “The First Raindrop”, an oil panting on canvas .”

Morgan and “The First Raindrop”. Lauren Curtis | Photo

Other Thoughts: “You have to be invested and willing to put in the time. IB Art is something you must commit to.”

15 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

The Sports Zone 10 Ways To Be A Good Teammate Hannah Smith

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major problem in any level of sports is the lack of good teammates among the group.

A key part of a team’s success is the ability to share the achievements with each other. Here are some of the qualities I believe someone should possess to be recognized as a good teammate.

1. The cliche phrase “there is no I in team” applies to any team sport. In order to be a good teammate you have to be able to give others an opportunity to shine, and not become selfish and try to do everything yourself. A selfless leader is someone that will always be portrayed as a team player.

2. Communication. A good teammate is someone who keeps people informed and voices their opinion at the right time. Communication is the basis for any

task.

3. Be trustworthy. If you’re someone that a teammate can come to for advice or a boost of confidence, you will be respected by your cohorts and your coach.

4. Have accountability for your actions and others. When you make a mistake in practice or a game, hold yourself accountable. It will get you very far in your sports career. Never cheat or take the easy way out. Finish every drill and never take a play off. Accept that you or your teammates aren’t perfect.

5. To posses competitiveness while still displaying good sportsmanship is another key component to being a good teammate. A good

Upcoming Games Boys’ Basketball Jan. 20 @ Home vs.

Heritage High Jan. 27 @ Bay City Western

Ice Hockey: Jan. 20 @ Home vs.

Heritage High Jan. 25 @ Lapeer High

Girls’ Basketball: Jan. 20 @ Heritage High Jan. 27 @ Home vs. Bay City Western

Boys’ Swimming: Jan 20 @ Home, BBC Dual Feb. 2 @ SVSU, Tri City Prelims

16 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

sportsman is someone that not only your team but other teams recognize and appreciate.

6. Be a role player. Someone who acknowledges their role on the team and plays their role shows that they respect the decisions of the coach, whether they agree with them or not.

7. Be invested in the program that you’re involved in. In basketball we talk about leaving the place

“To posses competitiveness while still displaying good sportsmanship is another key component to being a good teammate.” better than we found it. If you show that you care about your team and the program itself, you’ll be remembered in a positive light.

8. Display confidence, not arrogance. A team full of confident members will be a successful team, and

expressing confidence in your teammates shows you care for them. For example, it’s okay to you know you’re a good 3-point shooter, but you don’t have to celebrate extravagantly when you make a shot.

9. Be a goal-setter. Encourage your team to set goals in order to push yourself as a unit. Whether it’s a quantitative goal like winning 18 games or a moral goal like setting a better example for the school, goals are made to be strived for.

10. Last but not least HAVE FUN. If you’re having fun and enjoying yourself, the camaraderie of the team will increase, as well as the positive aesthetic.

Celebrate your team when you break the press and get an easy layup in transition.

Although it is hard to demonstrate all of these qualities at the same time, if you focus on becoming a better teammate, I promise you will realize the difference you’re making in the overall success of the team. Myself included, there is always room for improvement.

To all of you athletes out there, I challenge you to ponder your actions and reflect on how good of a job you’re doing. At the end of the day, your ability to stroke three-pointers is nothing compared to being able to uplift your teammates and display good sportsmanship.

Follow Hannah Smith on Twitter @HanSmith24 and on Instagram @Hannah_Smith2425

Athlete of the Month Matt Waier Grade: 11 Season Highlight: He went 3-0 last weekend to win the Hemlock Invitational.

Favorite Memory: “My favorite memory is beating Bay City Central in districts when I was a freshman.”

Goal for Upcoming Season: “My goal for this season is to make it to regionals.”

Coach’s Take: “Matt shows unparalled resiliency during each match and has won so many matches on sheer will alone with many last minute comeback victories.” -Michael Donovan

SPEEDING TO SUCCESS

Sophomore Grace Trosin has been speedskating for four years, and her passion for the spor t is only growing. Emma McLaren|Staff Writer & Alli Grumbley|Staff Writer

Grace Trosin practices speedskating at the Civic Arena. Lynn Shiel|Photo Courtesy

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s the competitors glide gracefully across the ice in a blur, sophomore Grace Trosin is putting her all into speeding around the rink while concentrating on keeping her balance. After years of figure skating, Trosin has spent the last four years speedskating.

“I was too fast for figure skating, so I decided to go with something quicker,” Trosin said.

Grace is a part of the Midland Speedskating Club.

Her father, Rick Trosin, is the president.

“As a parent, my favorite moments have been when I’ve seen a tactic or technique the girls have worked so hard on finally pay off in a race,” Rick said. “In all reality, the one thing I would tell anyone that makes me proudest of my girls is their graciousness. They have time and time again shown a level of graciousness, whether it be in winning or losing, that any parent would glow about.”

Throughout the time that Grace has been speed skating, she has grown both physically and mentally, despite obtaining a serious head injury last year at Junior Nationals. She fell face-first onto the ice, fracturing her two front teeth to the extent that she couldn’t eat solid foods for several months.

“I’ve learned from experience that falls can be really harsh,” Grace said. “Sometimes it’s just bumps and bruises, and sometimes you have to go to the hospital to make sure you’re okay. I fall, but I think part of falling is just learning to get better from it.

You wouldn’t get faster if you didn’t fall, because you have to learn from your mistakes.”

Despite the risks involved with the sport, Grace has continued on and has been able to grow in numerous ways since she first began. For the past two years at nationals, she has placed in the top seven within her age group. Coach Joseph Rohraff, who has been working with her for over five years, said that although she had a fall and injury, her attitude and perseverance led her to where she is today.

“Physically, from a skating perspective, she has gained a significant amount of strength and conditioning,” Rohraff said. “Mentally, she has grown a great deal. She has improved in her mental preparations and ability to overcome adversity.

Overall, I have watched Grace mature as a young adult and athlete.”

Grace said her favorite part about speed skating is that everyone becomes a family.

“It’s not like you’re just competing against each other,” Grace said. “ You know each other personally so it’s as much fun off the ice as it is on the ice.”

Grace’s training includes cross-training and going to speed skating camps during the summer. During the fall and winter months, she trains at the Midland Civic Arena. She said the hardest part of training is the conditioning- not only physically, but mentally as well.

“If you’re going to go out and race, you have to be able to tell yourself ‘I got this, I can race this, I can get this time,’ rather than going out and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh I’m going to fail’,” Grace said.

Taking a Look Back

Seniors Noah Lasky and Alex VanSumeren reflect on the girls’ basketball game that happened on Dec. 8

“Our third quarter coming out at half time, because in previous games those have been our worst quarters, but last night we came out with more energy and played well.”

Alex VanSumeren

“The girls dominated the game from tip-off, and they were feeding off my and Sam Luzar‘s obnoxiously loud cheering.”

Noah Lasky 17 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

SPORTS

STICKING TO A NEW PLAN Prior to the hockey season, there was a complete change in the coaching staff. New head coach Steve Witt and his new assistants are now leading the program, looking to bring diversity. Hannah Smith|Staff Writer & Bitsy Mammel|Staff Writer & Devin Alexander|Staff Writer

S

teve Witt was eight years old when he saw the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeat the heavily favored Soviets in 1980. Like hundreds of other children at the time, he fell in love with the sport and was inspired to try the game himself. Years later he is still involved with the sport as the head coach of the varsity hockey team.

A month after the position of head coach opened, the job was posted. Witt’s interview and qualified resume contributed to him earning the new position. Before the season started, Witt was nervous about the reaction and responses he’d get from the players and the parents, but was happily surprised with the acceptance of the group.

“The players and parents have welcomed me with far beyond what I had imagined, which has helped the transition,” Witt said.

Senior captain Luke Trombley said that Witt has brought a new perspective and practice layout to the team, which has helped the players focus more on teamwork than individual talent.

“We are working a lot harder than we were last year,” Trombley said. “We are giving that blue collar effort that Mr. Witt wants to see.”

Similar to Trombley’s views on the new coaching staff, senior captain Greg Landis said that Witt brings a new mind-set and is very motivating to the players, and has a good plan in place for the Chemic hockey players.

“I think he brings a lot of knowledge to the game and a lot of experience having been involved as a player and a coach in many different levels of hockey,” Landis said.

Senior captain Brendan Witt said he believes his uncle is doing a good job of developing the younger players and making them feel involved in the program. Although the coaching staff is new, Brendan said that it all comes down to

working hard in practices to get results in the game.

“No matter who the coach is, we still have the same expectations and goals to accomplish the same things,” Brendan said. “We have a completely different coaching staff this year but all the new coaches bring a new balance of skills.”

Not only is Steve trying to make an impact on the ice, he also stresses the importance in making a difference in the community.

Landis said that in the fall the team raked leaves for the elderly in town, had multiple fundraisers including drinking containers, and engaged especially with the younger hockey community.

“I think we’re doing a lot for them by giving them opportunities to hang out with us before the games,” Landis said. “And give them a role to play during the games to kind of draw some excitement from the young hockey player community.”

Steve’s coaching ideas include teaching leadership in all aspects of the player’s lives starting with school and the community, and hockey after those things. He also believes in strong communication between him and his players. He continues to ask for player’s feedback, and balances what the players want and what they need.

Communication is very important in my coaching philosophy,” Steve said. “Not only what they could develop but what they do well.”

With a strong start, the team plans on continuing the same effort throughout the rest of their season, each day striving to get better.

Steve said that he considers his group to be a blue collar team, meaning that every practice, period, and game they work hard and strive to

Coach Witt’s hockey through the years:

18 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Players listen to Coach Witt while he instructs the team in a drill at practice. While Witt has a lot of coaching experience, this is the first year he will be coaching at the varsity level. Jonah Dykhuizen | Photo get better. The varsity hockey team is playing Kalamazoo United tonight at 6:00 pm in the Alpena tournament.

Steve said they will be an entertaining team to watch throughout the rest of the season, and

is excited to see the growth in the players.

“People need to come out and support their school mates,” Steve said, “I think once people watch these guys once they’ll have a hard time not coming back.”

SPORTS

SHORT BENCH, HIGH HOPES

Despite having only ten players on their team this year, the girls varsity basketball team strives for success. Jonah Dykhuizen| Staff Writer & Shelly St. Louis | Staff Writer & Hannah Kohtz | Staff Writer

G

The girl’s varsity team only had seven eligible players at their home opener against Freeland on Nov 29. The team lost the game 44-33. Jonah Dykhuizen| Photo

asping for air—up by just one p o i n t — A l e x Va n S u m e r e n i s exhausted as the team tries to stay ahead for the last quarter of the girls varsity opener. But with only eight minutes left to play, she had no more to give. Unable to keep up with Freeland’s pressure, the girls basketball team dropped the game 33-44. With the short roster of only ten eligible players and two out with injuries, the odds are stacked against the girls varsity basketball team this season.

Senior captain Alex VanSumeren has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.

Despite the large amount of people out, she continues to work hard and play her best.

“Right now we are dealing with a lot of injuries so we are short-handed,”VanSumeren said, “I think we’re handling it very well, and when we get a big part of our team back, we’ll do really well this season.”

Currently two of the three varsity captains— Sadie Dewildt and Jayden Williams—are injured, and unable to play. Coach Elaine Mahabir is having to deal with the low head count ,unsure when the injured players will be back. At the home opener, only seven player were able to play.

“I would say our biggest challenge so far has simply been the unknown return time of our injured players,” Mahabir said.

Because of the injuries, the team members have had to play a variety of different positions.

“I think that [playing different positions] will really help us be a versatile team.” VanSumeren said. “With people able to play any position, we can handle any situation.”

Against a vey strong Freeland team, the cumulation of exhaustion and lack of experience in these new positions caused the team to falter in the final quarter.

“I think when Freeland pulled ahead at the start of the fourth, my team went into a little bit of a panic,” Mahabir said. “We have talked about things we can do better in the future and I am confident that my girls will make the necessary changes.”

To combat the low head count, Mahabir has changed the style of play to conserve the players’ energy.

“With a team with so many talented players, we’ve always focused on pushing the ball and transitioning fast,” VanSumeren said. “Right now we are trying to slow the game down a bit

so we don’t get too tired by the fourth quarter.”

VanSumeren agrees that the team succumbed to their nerves and went into a panic.

“We got tired with a short bench. At the Freeland game, we just had to stay calm under pressure,” VanSumeren said.

Senior Avery Jones recently left the varsity team because she felt that she couldn’t handle basketball on top of all her other responsibilities. Balancing school work, class president, and Kiva secretary, basketball wasn’t a priority for Jones. “ Va r s i t y b a s k e t b a l l i s a h u g e t i m e commitment and it’s really hard work especially for someone who is not getting an adequate amount of playtime.” Jones said.

Jones was one of five players to not come back for another season. Losing two seniors and having three more members leave, the varsity team experienced a tough loss.

“We lost key components to our team with Abby Fraser and Alex Jozwiak, and players like Jones and Junior Gwynne Ozkan,” VanSumeren said. ”They always brought energy to the game and work hard at practice which is tough.”

As the team has a short roster, they have asked three boys—Seniors Austin Phillips, Noah Lasky, and Chance Freed— to join their team as extras for practices.

Despite only being extras for practice, the boys feel integrated to the team Phillips and the other boys play several different roles in helping out the girls.

“We’re just there to act like another team.

Practices are a lot of situational drills, plays and scrimmages.” Phillips said. “We put pressure on the girls and emulate game like situations.”

“They bring energy,” VanSumeren said “They are always there to pick you up and bring a lot of energy to the practice. They’re always enthusiastic.”

With so few players, the energy that Phillips, Lasky and Freed bring are appreciated.

“Small things like talking a little trash to the girls, rolling around in chairs during water breaks, busting into the John Wall, and even an occasional jab at me have been great for our atmosphere,” Mahabir said.

Despite all of the challenges, the team is hopeful for the season.

“I feel like we still have a very good chance of being a very good team with the players we have,” VanSumeren said.

19 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

OP/ED

A divided nation Ella Colbert

I

have only ever seen my father cry a few times in my life: once when we dropped my sister off at college, once when Notre Dame lost a big game, and most recently, two weeks before the presidential election.

Some dads love football, or hunting, or cars. My dad loves the presidents. An entire room in our house is dedicated to his presidential collection: books, pictures, election posters, bobbleheads. When I was younger, he made me memorize every president and first lady in sequential order.

Nearly every family vacation has been planned strategically so that we can tour a president’s home.

He’s also an artist, and many of his pieces feature at least one president, if not more.

Two weeks before the election, we were sitting in the living room.

I don’t even remember what we were talking about, but it wasn’t the election.

“Donald Trump is going to win the presidency,” he said, very suddenly.

“He is going to have a place in history reserved for very few. I just don’t think I can put that man’s picture next to Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, or even Ronald Reagan.”

It was sad, to see my father lose his passion, one which he had dedicated so much of his life, because of an election. But others may fear losing much more.

The fear that President-elect Trump has created through his rhetoric is unprecedented. His

victory has made many in the country scared, and doubtful of their own system. A movement recently swept across the country, “Not My President,” where people who disagree with Trump are refusing to acknowledge him as their president.

This is not something that has happened before. In past elections, the opposition has never gone to

“In order for our democracy to survive over the next four years, all citizens must come together and support the president.” such extreme measures to show their disapproval of a presidential candidate. Some people have disliked the elected president, but never has such a large group of people disregarded the traditional democratic system, and refused to accept the outcome of the electoral vote.

Granted, after eight years in office, some people still do not acknowledge President Barack Obama as the leader of our country, but movements against his presidency were not so widespread or so violent. Proponents of the “Not

My President” movement feel that Trump is so unfit for the presidency that they are willing to abandon our democratic process.

The reactions on both sides are frightening. Some of Trump’s supporters have used his victory as means to exploit minorities. I have seen countless racist, homophobic, and sexist posts on Twitter by his supporters, who justify their words by saying things like, “There is a new president now.” Some of these racist comments have even reached the halls of our own school.

Although president-elect Trump has not explicitly called for such exploitation, some of his supporters believe it is acceptable under his leadership.

The reaction to Trump’s victory is perhaps more frightening than the prospect of what he will actually do while in office. But, it’s not completely the fault of radical supporters and the opposition. With the election of Trump, the standard of what is acceptable for people to say or do has been changed immeasurably. The example that he has set has led to the mindset that no matter what someone says or does, they can still become the leader of the country.

Admittedly, after the election results came in, even I was questioning whether I would acknowledge Trump’s presidency. I will. Because that is how democracy works. He was elected fairly. I may not believe that he is the best option for president (in fact, I happen to think he is the worst), but that doesn’t matter. In order for our democracy to survive over the next four years, all citizens must come together and support the president.

It is important that we listen to each other, have healthy debates on issues, and work as a unified body. Even my father told me he will display a portrait of President Trump in his collection room (right next to James Buchanan).

Follow Ella Colbert on Twitter and Instagram @ellacolbert9

Best & Worst Presidents in history: Warren Harding

Woodrow Wilson

20 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

George Washington

John F. Kennedy

Abraham Lincoln

Best

Worst

James Buchanan

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OP/ED

Greater than fear

O

n the 21st of February, I got the opportunity to participate in the global Women’s March. The experience was absolutely indescribable; I’ve never been involved in democracy in such a direct and powerful way. While there were plenty of issues I came to stand up against, the one that really had my blood boiling was the Trump Administration’s attitude towards Muslims; both American and foreign.

One week later, on January 27th, President Trump passed an executive order that put a temporary ban on people (more specifically, Muslims) from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the U.S for 90 days. Trump has expressed that this is just one step to ‘stopping terrorism,’ and an attempt to slam back at the events of 9/11, despite the fact that none of the members of the group that committed the atrocities are from the countries listed. Many of the people from these places are loved family members of Americans, people who have had green cards for decades, or suffering refugees.

While the ban is only temporary, Trump has alluded to a Muslim registration and more permanent ban in the future. With the last foreign attack being 9/11, and no recent event to warrant the ban, it’s hard to believe this isn’t the first step to something bigger. This caused thousands to protest in various airports around the country.

I empathize with the fear and uncertainty that terrorism brings, especially from the outside. But we have to deal with it based on facts, not fear.

None of the countries on the

Maddy O’Callaghan list have individuals who have committed terrorist attacks in the U.S. In addition, other countries are taking on the responsibility of harboring these refugees, who often have no where else to go.

As a Christian, I simply can’t turn my back on the millions of suffering refugees, often suffering at the hands of terrorists, who are desperate for sanction in the United

“We have to deal with it based on facts, not on fear.”

States. I hope that other Christian’s claiming to be ‘pro-life’ feel the same. People matter, including the ones that aren’t American or Christian.

The destruction of the twin towers was intended to weaken American moral, and our response to their actions was just what the terrorists wanted: to instill fear and hate in our hearts.

To make us turn against one another. To make us throw away our rights and values to accommodate for these attacks. And I understand the fear of a larger scale attack, but just how much are we willing to change to cater to that hypothetical? And how much will registration and banning prevent this?

Abraham Lincoln said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside.

If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

With the way Trump had addressed Muslims in the past, the country has to make sure it doesn’t go further than the travel ban. Registration of Muslim Americans is the first step to this self-destruction.

Remember, more people die in America from gun violence in a year than all Muslim terrorist attacks combined.

Gun violence is an issue that affects our country in more realistic ways every single day.

I don’t believe in the Muslim ban and potential registration for the same exact reason that I don’t believe in strict gun control. Despite the fact that several depressed white kids have shot up schools and killed innocent children, the United States has chosen not to ban guns because the crazy minority doesn’t dictate the sane majority. Why let a few crazies ruin it for everyone else, right? Sure, gun control might make it slightly harder for criminals to obtain a gun, but they will still find a way, so why take rights from the good guys? Owning guns is our constitutional right, and as Americans, we shouldn’t give up those rights in the face of fear.

The same exact ideology should be used when discussing Muslim registration (especially considering gun violence kills more Americans). Why would we take away people’s constitutional right to privacy and freedom of religion in the face of fear? Why would we alter our values for hypotheticals? Why would we ban an entire group of people from entering our country, and why would we force Muslim Americans to register because of a terrorist group that doesn’t properly represent the majority of those practicing Islam? Just like gun control, it might make things slightly harder for criminals, but they’ll still find a way, so it’s counterproductive to make everyone else suffer.

In a time of unpredictable crisis, it’s important for all Americans, regardless of ethnicity or religion, to stay unified

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Athletic prodigy

T

he “sports mentality” has always confused me. What I mean by this is most of my life, the people around me who play sports have had the philosophy that they play sports to win. This seemed counter-intuitive to me, because I have always played sports solely for the purpose of having fun.

It was never about winning to me.

My freshman and sophomore year, I played JV tennis, under the coaching of Bill Greiner “The Rev.” What The Rev taught me is that when you play your best and have fun, winning is a happy result. At the same time, if you play your best and have fun, and you lose, then you have nothing to feel bad about.

He taught us to be competitive without feeling a need to win. In fact, the Rev would connect this with lessons that we can apply to real life. In anything, if we tried our best and gave it our best shot, that’s all anyone could ask for, and success or defeat is just the end result. What mattered was the effort that was put in.

I remember once during a match while I was losing terribly, and was becoming incredibly frustrated, he said to me, “Josh, play your game. Right now, you’re thinking about winning. Just play your game, give it your best, and if you win, you win, but if not, you at least had fun.”

But it was not only the coaching of The Rev that taught me to play for fun. In first grade, I played on a soccer team where I never got the chance to touch the ball, whether

Josh Danielson in practice or in an actual game. I learned to have a good time though, because I always went with a carefree spirit. The longest test of my enthusiasm, however, was while I played on my elementary school basketball team. We were terrible.

Now, when I say that we were terrible, I don’t mean that we were a bunch of odd, awkward little kids. I mean that we didn’t win a game for four years. Four years. Not a single game. If you work out the math,

“In fact, my basketball team didn’t win a game for four years, and it was the best time ever.”

that’s approximately 0 and 112.

Yeah. But it was the best time ever, because none of us cared about winning. And it was this mentality that made winning so much more sweet to us when it did happen.

When I look back on that basketball team, the lesson that I learned was how to deal with defeat. Although we lost for four straight years, we could always leave the court with our heads held high, knowing that we gave our all. For us, it was solely

0 0-112 The number of times I touched the Approximate four

about having fun.

While I think that there is no correct reason for playing sports, there are some clear differences between the “play to win” and “play for fun” mentalities.

People who play sports to win are often times much more competitive, and therefore better at their sport.

And from a health perspective, people who play sports much more competitively are more fit than students who don’t play for competition. But for me, playing for the purpose to win eliminates that aspect of fun in sports. When you put the pressure on yourself to win all the time, the feeling of defeat is overwhelming, even if you played your best, and gave all you had.

The play for fun mindset has its clear advantages and disadvantages as well. If you play for fun, there is less of the technical aspect of sports, and this sometimes can be a very large drawback, as knowing the ins and outs of a sport can be amazing and very fascinating. The huge advantage, however, is that with no pressure to win, there is no real disappointment in defeat. If you go out, play your best and have fun, then these players have nothing to feel bad about, which to me is much more valuable than winning the match.

Now, I don’t want you all reading this to think that I am just a loser who is trying to justify my losing habits. More so, it is that through my personal experiences, my view on sports has been shaped differently. From being taught by the Rev, to being on a team that had a losing record for four years, I have been molded by my experiences.

The words of The Rev that stick with me always, and sometimes I think it’s good for all high school athletes to remember that winning or losing isn’t what matters. It’s about giving it your all, and having a good time while doing it.

Follow Josh Danielson on Instagram @josh.danielson and on Snapchat @josh_danielson

0

The number of tennis matches I’ve year basketball won against Dow ball in my soccer season record

22 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

@HumansofMidlandHigh

OP/ED

A feature of Chemics who have a story. Follow our Instagram for more.

Jessica Krawczak

“

My favorite thing about myself is my obsession with recycling. I think it is an extremely important thing for everyone to do because it benefits us all. I try to recycle every possible thing. I even take my yogurt cups from lunch to class with me so I can rinse them out and recycle them. If a teacher doesn’t have a recycle bin, I’ll take whatever I need to home or to another classroom. Recently, I made my mom order a second large recycling can because I was filling our first can too quickly each month. She told the lady on the phone that her daughter was a recycling freak, which I can accept. It makes me feel like I’m making a big difference, even though I know that just me recycling isn’t going to save the planet I feel like I’m contributing to it.

”

Taking a stand

V

iolent words echoed within the hallways, freshmen and seniors alike spewing profanities at one another, daring the other to ‘hit as hard as you can’.

I kept close to the lockers, skimming my long nails along the chipped paint while listening to the vile words that were being exchanged between students. After the election on Nov 8, it seems as though bullying and hatred have been more common throughout schools across the nation.

The day after the election occurred, I witnessed both students and teachers tearing up or completely sobbing because they were distraught about what would happen to them or the people they care deeply about.

Others were celebrating Donald Trump’s victory, but personally I thought there was a red flag waving in the air when millions of Americans were horrified at the mere thought of going to work or school in fear of torment.

The days after were slow and tiresome as I scrolled through Twitter or tapped through Snapchat and saw many people of color, women, and members of the LGBT community react to the results. It was quite disheartening, to say the least.

There is something powerful about watching groups of people who had all the hope in the world suddenly deflate with defeat.

It feels as though there has been a complete and utter blanket of anxiety settling down over the nation since that day occured last month.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than pleased that the never-ending discussions about political subjects and whether or not someone

Lillian Mohr supported Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is over; what isn’t over, on the other hand, is the rivalry between each person who supported one candidate over the other.

The election was a month ago, yet I hear conversations about it on a daily basis. I simply put my headphones into my ears, crank up the volume to maximum, and drum my fingers to the beat and pretend I can’t hear a single thing going on around me.

“There is something powerful about watching groups of people who had all the hope in the world suddenly deflate with defeat.”

In this day and age, it can be very easy to make someone a victim of bullying due to social media and the fact that we can access anyone’s page at any time. Because of this, instances such as cyberbullying can occur at home or even on school property. There have been many cases in which I will see someone scroll through their classmate’s Instagram and make condescending remarks such as “he’s so ugly!” or “it’s so obvious she’s desperate for attention!” during lunch. It’s a dismal yet truthful reality—it’s becoming more of an issue.

Recently, there has been a spike of complaints throughout schools

OP/ED saying that the students are either being cyberbullied or bullied offline.

Sometimes, I would hear about how some of my classmates would purposely stay home just to avoid being tormented or harassed on school property.

As someone who has been the victim of harsh bullying and a witness to multiple, it really hurts when a classmate thinks they are so clever each time they make a rude remark towards someone next to them or across the room.

Half of the time, not a single person comments on it or reprimands the bully, even if it is appalling. The sheer acerbic comments that happen out of earshot of an adult are truly astounding.

Each year, one in four students report being bullied by a peer.

Despite being thrown in detention, or even getting suspended in severe cases, the statistics never lessen.

As the school year drones on and on, it’s becoming more of an issue that’s never wholly solved.

Simply giving a kid a slap on the wrist and saying “Don’t do this again!” isn’t going to insure that they won’t harass anyone for the rest of their high school career.

If these types of problems were taken seriously, kids across the nation and across the globe would not have to deal with these issues anymore.

However unsolvable these subjects are, they can be eradicated if we slowly tackle them day-byday. Just by doing something that could make someone’s day better, such as complimenting them or simply talking to them.

Instead of telling someone they look hideous, bite your tongue; compliment them on their hair or the doodle they’ve been working on all class period. Instead of giggling when they get a math problem wrong, give them a thumbs up for trying.

Not only will it boost their selfesteem, but it will also make you feel like a better person. It takes more effort to be rude to someone than to be kind. We live in a day and age where harassing someone is easier, but we also live during a time where we can completely change who we are as human beings for the better.

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OP/ED NEWS

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With Christmas break impending, these spirited destinations can provide a healthy dose of cheer with little time lost in the commute.

Kayla Graham|Photo & Design Editor & Fischer Genau|Staff Writer

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Fischer Genau | Photos

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the

HOME FOR

HOLIDAYS

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reeland Light Show

At first glance it may appear to be a haphazard display of color, but once the radio is turned on and tuned in, the holiday spirit is palpable. One song after another is played while the various light set ups are played to go along with the song. The show takes place every night in December from 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. in Tittabawassee Park in Freeland, and is free to the public.

24 | FOCUS | DECEMBER 16, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

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ronner’s Wonderland

As one of the top holiday destinations, Frankenmuth holds the record for largest Christmas shops in the area. A self-described Christmas wonderland, the 71-year-old institution is visited by over two million customers and holiday junkies annually. Prepare to be awestruck by the explosion of red and white as soon as you walk through the door.

­U pcoming ­E vents Detroit Zoo Lights

Zehnder’s Snowfest

Detroit, MI Frankenmuth, MI December 26-31 January 25-30 (5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)