December 18th Issue

THE

FOCUS Midland High School | December 18, 2015| Volume 38, Issue 4

Ramped Up

Junior Parker Genau and friends go to extreme lengths to pursue their passion for skiing.

9 16-19

Inside this month:

Varsity wrestling

Special Report: The season of family

23

Closing of the library Ian Andridge | Photo

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: RAMPED UP

Juniors Ben Robertson, Tanner Bartos, and Parker Genau began to practice for the skiing season in October. Their passion for skiing pushes them to create their own, homemade rails and set-ups to resemble the mountains they will visit in the winter, like Boyne Mountain and Nub’s Nob (Page 8).

OPINION

FEATURES

3: Library Editorial

16-17: Military families

SPORTS

18: Celebrating Hanukkah

The Focus evaluates the decision to close Families discuss their experiences celebrating Christmas without their loved off the library to students during lunch. ones, who are in the military.

8: Skiing

In preparation of the skiing season, juniors Parker Genau, Tanner Bartos, and Ben Robertson create practice courses.

9: Wrestling

With more athletes and experience, varsity wrestling is confident in their upcoming season.

10-11: Sports Zone

The Focus features the best athletes of the month, the leadership of Payton Dewildt, and assorted sports statistics.

A&E

As a religious minority in a primarily Christian community, Jewish observance of Hanukkah often goes unnoticed.

19: A passion for charity

For the past 19 years, the White family has dedicated their lives to charity and the serving of others.

NEWS

21: School safety

Teachers and administration explain the changes made to improve security.

22: The end of Parkdale

The destruction of Parkdale is scheduled to be done by January 15. Alumni and former teachers reflect on their The Focus reviews the best entertainment experiences at the school. of the year.

12-13: Best of 2015

14: Elizabeth Parsons

Senior Elizabeth Parsons has played the trombone for six years, and works every day to improve her musical abilities.

15: The Heart of a Dancer Senior Allie Williams and sophomore Madisyn Danner were cast in a local movie, entitled “The Heart of a Dancer,” coming to DVD next fall.

18

23: Closing the library

The recent decision to close the library during lunch, to all students without passes, has sparked school wide debate.

A&E

24: Christmas tidbits

Midland High’s favorite Christmas movies, songs, New Year’s resolutions, and more.

11 EDITORS

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

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

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

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

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

The Focus addresses the issue of ...

R

OPINION

closing the media center at lunch

ecently, school administration made the decision to close the media center during both lunch hours. Students who need to use the media center to do homework or use the printer now must get a pass from either a teacher or one of the media paraprofessionals in order to enter.

Those who used to work in the media center during lunches are struggling to comply with this new rule.

In the past, the media center has been open during lunch periods for students to work. Students were allowed to have food and drinks at the tables in the back of the room, but not by the computers. Media paraprofessionals monitored the area to reprimand students who were being too loud or distracting, and to reinforce the ban on food or drinks by the computers. After the school policy was issued, prohibiting students from eating in the media center without a pass, many students took action. A petition to reopen the media center received four hundred signatures. We agree with the concerns that these students have with this new policy.

Some students do not have access to a computer or printer at home and rely on printing or typing their assignments at lunchtime. It is inconvenient for a student to have to get a pass in order to do so. Requiring them to receive a pass every day is an unnecessary and ineffective system.

Many students now struggle to find a quiet spot to eat lunch. The options for a calm, work-friendly environment are very limited.

The only alternatives are Eyeball Alley and the cafeteria. Eyeball Alley is crowded, and offers no tables. The cafeteria is usually noisy and too distracting for students to concentrate.

Some have taken to eating in a teacher’s

classroom, which can be an inconvenience for the teacher, especially if they have students who come in during lunch to make up assignments. The media center offers a quiet alternative for students who have anxiety and need a calm, quiet place to eat lunch. Students viewed the media center as a safe space, because it was quiet and less crowded than other places.

Also, forcing students to find an alternative place to spend the lunch period creates more noise than it seeks to stop. Students are still walking through the hallways to eat lunch in a teacher’s classroom.

It is not fair for administration to punish

all students for the actions of a few. Because a small group of people were disruptive to the media center’s peaceful environment, the entire student body has had to suffer the consequences. Administration is taking the problem to an extreme measure by shutting down the media center, rather than dealing with each individual issue.

We acknowledge that having students eat in the media center raises the overall noise level, which impairs students working on homework and teachers who have brought classes in to work on the computers. However, we believe that there are better options to fix this problem than closing off the library

Lillian Mohr | Drawing completely.

Students should have the option to eat in the media center at lunch, as long as specific, well-enforced rules are followed. Students who eat or drink by the computers, or are asked more than once to quiet down, should be subject to individual consequence. One option for punishment would be to give the student a closed lunch the next day, or, if the issue occurs multiple times, to ban them from the media center during lunch for an extended period of time. There are less severe options to eliminate the noise issue in the media center than shutting the doors to those who want the freedom to work in peace.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should the media center be closed during lunch?

Freshman Katlin Adams “No, because it is a great way to study before class, and finish last minute homework. ”

Sophomore Melissa Draves “No, because students need that outlet to study and work at anytime.”

Junior Spencer Parsch “Yes, because it is a library, not a lunchroom.”

Senior Taylor Fegan “No, because some students need that time to work on homework throughout the day, and closing the library eliminates that opportunity for students.”

3 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

TIDBITS Photo OF THE Month

OPINION

Tweet of the Month “Doesn’t feel like Christmas time when there’s no snow on the ground”

50 likes s a ra h re n e e 2 0 1 7 A l l I w a n t fo r Christmas is... food

Follow THIS User @sarahrenee2017

@Laura3Alexander

3 THINGS

CORRECTIONS

you don’t have to worry about this month

1

Follow THIS User

Being cold. Shoutout to El Niño for weakening those tradewinds.

tickets to the premiere 2 Getting of Mockingjay Part II. with your family on 3 Dealing Thanksgiving.

and one thing you still do...

Last-minute Christmas shopping.

4 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

1. The Rhapsody page

claimed “Ain’t No Cover,” was performed by Regina George, which is false.

What we meant was Regina Spektor, who can’t sit with us.

2. On the cover, we said

that page 8 was about Tony the trainer. It was actually a story about girls basketball.

T

Sonja Anderson Kafka’s truth

he meaning of life is that it ends.” growing old was a part of growing, I probably When I was in middle school, my never would have started. grandfather started getting really sick.

The funeral was in November. It was small I swear to God, there wasn’t one part and long, and they said things that are always of his body that wasn’t fighting something. said at funerals. He was a good man, and he Probably because as he aged, he didn’t keep loved his family. And he was, and he did, and a healthy lifestyle. He’d always been very I know that because my mom knows, and outdoorsy. He used to run his own saw mill, because I saw how much she wished he were and worked long days hauling lumber. But still there. But I wasn’t thinking about the fact in his sixties, he stopped exercising for the that he was a good man or that he loved his most part, and Diet Pepsi practically ran in his family when I was at that funeral. All I could veins. He was okay, though. He was happy, think about was that if I had to approach that I think. podium, I wouldn’t know what to say.

When I was in the ninth grade, the sickness All my life, he’d lived seven hours away. became impatient. And it wasn’t just sickness I saw him maybe twice a year, and those anymore. He was dying. We went to visit meetings were short, filled with small him in October of 2013. A 7-hour drive north. conversation. He asked me how school The hospital felt strange to me, but it was was, and I told him okay. I asked him how the same as any other. Languid, filled with the weather was, and he told me it’d been heavy air and overwhelming cleanliness. The cold. But I never knew what his mother’s lights were always either too bright or too name was, or what his favorite band was, dim, and the white walls and floors reminded or how he felt about the President. I didn’t me of a slow dream. His room was on the know anything. And it was only when I was third floor, and its contents met the typical sitting there in a pew, dressed in black, that I patient requirements: a tiny coat closet, a realized this. counter and sink, I think that’s why a small table, even I didn’t cry. smaller chairs, and I wanted to cry.

“I didn’t know anything. And it was a large window I wanted to cry so which overlooked only when I was sitting there in a pew, badly, but no tears the parking lot. ever came. Not dressed in black, that I realized this.”

The white, because I didn’t love plastic hospital him. I did. I loved bed stood with him because he was its headboard against the wall. The kind my family. But we were more like distant that can incline or recline at a button’s cousins than grandfather and granddaughter. press. Machines surrounded it, blinking So, while his daughter sobbed and his and beeping incessently, rhythmically. And neighbors cried and even his church friends there he was, lying quite peacefully in the shed tears, his granddaughter could not. It bed, covered partially in hospital blankets made me feel heartless. and wearing a white hospital gown, sleeping I regret not realizing the importance of soundly. If he was in pain, I wouldn’t have regret not approaching those twice-a-year known. He breathed through a tube. Loud, meetings with more intent on getting to know but weak and strangled. him. I wish I would’ve set aside meaningless I remembered then, seeing a picture of him entertainment, and asked questions. I wish I when he was just a young boy, surrounded would’ve told him about the classes I enjoyed by his family and a scenic background, and when he asked about school, instead of just I could not seem to grasp that the kid in that saying that things were “pretty good.” I wish picture was also the old man in front of me.

I’d have taken the time to care.

My mother told us about his routine, which But I hadn’t. was to sleep and eat crushed ice mostly, and I think that when Franz Kafka says, “the the nurses told us more about his condition, meaning of life is that it ends,” he doesn’t which was that he was had multiple illnesses just mean that life is short. He means that that I can’t remember the names of. They it’s valuable, that it’s precious, and that you were consequences for surviving into his late shouldn’t take it for granted. So, especially in seventies, I suppose. If I had known that the spirit of the holidays, don’t.

OPINION

@HumansofMidlandHigh

Fun with floors

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

Parth Patel

“

My parents have had the strongest impact on my life. They are from

India. My mom came to America when she was 16 and my dad came when he was 22. They met a few years after they came to America. They influence me because they own a motel and are really hard workers. They teach me that everything you earn is a gift and don’t take stuff for granted. It was first grade and it was 5:30 on Christmas morning and I was sleeping. My mom and dad went up around 3 o’clock to go get my gifts because they hid them at the office where they work. So they wake me up at 5:30am and my dad is dressed up as Santa. I’m jumping around, screaming, and so excited, but then my dad’s beard falls off. I see it’s my dad so I start crying and I’m so upset. Then my dad is like, ‘Santa couldn’t see you this year, but he wanted

”

me to give these gifts to you because he had other kids to give gifts to.’ I really appreciated that.

Spencer Patrell

M

y father and I install a wide assortment of flooring, and even more diverse than the variants of floor are the people we’ve worked for. From old men who get drunk, step in the glue that’s responsible for keeping the floor on the floor, and give you a sweatshirt from his time working at GM, to rednecks who don a jacket with their favorite NASCAR driver’s number, and leave old, 80’s, VHS pornos lying around, we’ve worked for everyone. Here’s what I’ve learned from all these fine people: Lesson 1: After the ripe old age of 12 or so, you are no longer treated like a child.

This lesson was not learned immediately, but rather after a brief moment of retrospection about an encounter with two of these many characters. My dad and I were putting in cerulean carpet for an elderly couple in the small town of Au Gres, and everything was normal. That was, until the resident began to make brownies.

“Would you like some?” she asked my father and I. My dad taught me that whenever a resident asked if they could do anything, I should always say no at first.

This process was put into place so that they knew they did not have to do anything. The woman didn’t listen, she forced the brownies upon us. This wasn’t enough, she made me sit down in her mechanical massage chair while I ate the brownies. Even with all this, she still felt the need to ask what my favorite television channel was, I informed her that the History Channel was no doubt the best thing to happen to Earth since vanilla ice cream. As a result, I watched Ancient Aliens for the rest of the day, with brownies and the massaging chair set to its highest setting to keep things interesting.

This is an overt example of not being treated like an adult, but it also reaffirms my argument. I was around the age of twelve when this happened, still being asked if I wanted a kid’s menu at some restaurants.

After this, I was never been babied at work again. I now live within the realm of hardcore flooring, and it’s a wild ride.

Lesson 2: Boredom is easily solved with healthy dose of imagination.

As soon as I started working with my dad, I learned that, contrary to popular belief, putting in floors is not always the most enthralling of jobs.

Most of the time was spent prepping sites, spreading glue with a headache-inducing

odor or putting down rolls of felt to reduce noise from hardwood rubbing against the base floor. All this before finally laying down the flooring and cleaning up. Such glamourous tasks can become tiresome.

Considering I started working with my old man when I was a kid, my young mind was extremely prone to the over looming threat of boredom. Exiled from the hyperstimulated world of electronics, TV, and food that my house provided, I was placed into an environment where I literally had to watch glue dry. My brain was in a severe state of chronic boredom, my life deprived of any stimulus other than the floor.

In response to this impending threat of not being able to have fun 24/7, I simply refuted the fact that work could not be fun. This once again allowed for the non-stop party of my life to continue. I would take strips of scrap carpet and pretend like they were snakes with cloaking capabilities that would allow them to blend in with the rest of the carpet and avoid being thrown away. This kept my boredom at bay until I realized how lame and childish it all was.

So I conceived a much more mature concept. I theorized that when my Pa and I were done installing the floor, the floorboards, carpet, and tile would become a part of a vast network of alien communication centers.

We were facilitating the flow of information between a transdimensional race of silicon based beings that, by sheer coincidence, resembled scraps of carpet.

Lesson 3: People are awesome.

This is the most prevalent lesson of them all, as it affects me every day. Often times, I find myself astounded by the fact that every person that I have ever seen, and that I will ever see, has their own life story which is extremely complex and unique to that individual.

Being able to go into peoples’ homes to put down some wood, tile, or carpet can seem like a very dull task, but meeting an old Russian man who told me how he saved all of his money to get his extravagant home, or learning something new about yoga and astrology from an eccentric woman who had an ever present sense of energy, were truly amazing experiences. Getting to meet some of humanity’s gems really is a blessing, even if it does mean I have to destroy my back while hunched over a hardwood nailer.

Lesson 4: I love my dad.

5 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Gwynne Özkan

OPINION

Ella Colbert

Judgment

H

e’s a bad kid.” deprived of the time it takes to mature and “She’s an awful person.” learn from inevitable mistakes. A person who What irks me the most is hearing has not yet figured out who they are. Bad either of these said in any context or being merely too categorical to slap onto one combination. Phrases like these leave person. We all have concepts of the lives we the mouths of people who are arrogant and wish to lead and the marks we want to leave entitled. They come from of those who feel behind. We’re fed ideas of what’s good and they have the right to label others and write what’s not, but the years we are given are them off due to vague rumors or transparent opportunities for us to see for ourselves. information. We all have the right to our own The privilege to flaunt arrogant opinions opinions and the ability to formulate them, shouldn’t be justified by one person traveling but I see no value in these opinions if they’re a path different from you, fighting their based off what you heard in fourth period or own battles, and making their own mistakes. from a friend of a friend.

You have no way of knowing the pains felt Each human being’s thinking is unique to by the one you’ve targeted with malice. them. From the way they piece together the Things you classify as bad decisions could gibberish imprinted stem from extreme on their Algebra book circumstances in to how they lace up “We’re fed ideas of what’s good and which you have no their shoes, thoughts knowledge of. If you what’s not, but the years we are have no business are original. These differences complicate knowing of these, given are opportunities for the morals of what’s you have no business us to see for ourselves.” ” “right” and what’s identifying this adolescent as a ‘bad “wrong.” There is no definite of either, person.’ thus creating planes of gray area. Your Who are you to judge? We are all going viewpoints and judgments in no way reign through things. Rather than attacking one above this gray area. To discredit a person another and competing to make people with arbitrary distinctions, like ‘bad kid,’ is look worse, we should unify as kids with shameful and disappointing. a generalized focal point: to grow into My anger mostly derives from why these the adults we aspire to be. No teenager opinions develop. The majority of which are is equivalent to the next. Each of us has a based off one measly piece of information; different head on our shoulders. as if that one experience or pair of decisions Comparing teenagers is like comparing defines a person. That reasoning is unsettling. apples to oranges: both fruits, both satisfying, Everyone makes mistakes. In no way does yet one brings a crunch and one leaves you one mistake brand you or tag you as a bad with sticky hands. Whether it’s the core or the person. One fragment of a sentence is passed peel, you’re left with something to dispose of, through the hall in a hushed whisper and not a bad piece of fruit. Stress the enjoyment labels naturally begin to generate. Slut. gained rather than exaggerating the distaste Cheater. Drug Addict. Stupid. Irrelevant. on what gets thrown away. Treat your peers Fake. All of these supposedly synonymous as so. We handicap our senses down to tunnel for a ‘bad kid.’ vision, seeing only the vices and darkness This is high school. Throughout these four every person possesses. Instead, broaden years, you’re worlds away from the person your spectrum. Let in the light others bring you were when you took your seat freshman and turn your cheek to the actions that don’t year. The people you spend your day with settle with you. Let this light fill your void of can shift from semester to semester. How free judgment with looks of open-mindedness. time is spent drastically changes. Youth is the Grant them the privilege to carve their own time to change and to grow up. Personally, paths. In doing so, you will begin to see the I don’t believe there is one person in their good in everyone rather than the cliché labels teenage years you can deem as a bad kid picked for him or her. In doing so you offer because the label contradicts itself. A bad the rare gift of acceptance. This is a beautiful kid. Kid, as in a human being in their youth, thing; something the world we wander doesn’t have enough of.

6 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

I’ll fight the bear

W

“Men can’t marry men,” one of them said, hen I was younger, I was brave. Not matter-of-factly. so much anymore.

“Yes they can,” I said. And then began an I was four years old when I made a promise that I clearly couldn’t keep. I was in argument.

After a particularly homophobic comment the back seat of a car, squeezed between my was made, I stood on my seat and said, “Well, sister and my aunt. We were driving home from a wedding in upper Michigan and it was I’m gay.”

The bus was completely silent for a couple late at night. A tunnel of pine trees lined the beats. I waited to gauge the reaction on my road, all else was black. My uncle joked that neighbor’s faces before they turned towards there could be bears in the forest. Without a each other, laughed, and continued on with a moment’s hesitation, I leaned forward as far different conversation. as the seatbelt would allow, and said, “I’ll I was in kindergarten, I was four years fight the bear.” I was probably 40 pounds old, and my neighbors were a couple years soaking wet and barely reached 3-feet-8; I older than me. was no match I saw them for a bear. But, nearly everyday somehow, this “Nothing in the world scared me because and knew they didn’t scare me. would tease I was brave.

I was confident in myself. I didn’t let the me for what When I was little voice inside my head stop me. I wasn’t I said. But, in six, my family that moment, I and I traveled ignorant, I was brave.” didn’t care what to Angkor Wat,

they thought. I in Cambodia. didn’t overthink There was a the situation, or section of an weigh the consequences. I spoke up for what I ancient temple that visitors were allowed believed in. I wasn’t gay, I was brave. to climb. The structure was steep, several Not anymore. Now I’m scared of almost hundred feet up, with unstable pieces of everything. I’m scared of making mistakes, of brick and rubble. Immediately, I grabbed my being wrong. I’m scared of speaking up and father and we began to scale the wall. After a standing out. I get nervous to raise my hand couple minutes, my father froze from fear of in class because I care too much about what the height. I remained unfazed and continued up on my own while my mother took pictures other people think. I can’t even ask the waiter for ketchup at a restaurant. I lose out on so from below. Nothing in the world scared me many opportunities because I’m too scared because I was confident in myself. I didn’t of being embarrassed or judged. I’ve lost the let the little voice inside my head stop me. I voice that stood up for what I believe in and wasn’t ignorant, I was brave. the confidence to try new things.

I rode the bus in elementary school.

In part, I think it’s due to experience. As The driver pulled up to the corner of my I’ve grown older, I’m more aware of other street, where I, as well as five or six other people’s cruelty. I know the consequences of neighborhood kids, would board. I always speaking my mind and how it can make me a raced the neighbors to the stop, carrying victim of criticism. I know how quick others my lunch box and not much else. I usually are to judge. slipped into a seat in the middle and waited I don’t try potentially dangerous or for my best friend to join me at the next stop. challenging things anymore because I have Everyone on the bus sat near each other, seen other people get injured or fail. And, carrying on conversation amongst ourselves most importantly, I don’t have the confidence until the bus driver gave us “the look” through the mirror and told us to settle down. in myself that I used to, because I’ve been told what people can and cannot do.

One day, one of my neighbors started I want to be brave again, to have that same talking about Mackinac Island. My sister, sense of self-assurance and confidence that I father, and I had just been there with my used to have. Right now, I wouldn’t fight the dad’s college roommate and his husband. So, bear.

I told that to the neighborhood kids.

Suzannah Koop Fight the bullet

A

142 of the

894 mass

Source: Washington Post

shootings since Sandy Hook were in schools

Maddy O’Callaghan

OPINION

dismiss the fact that the second amendment was created when it was only possible to load and shoot one bullet at a time. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest a modernization of the amendment, or at least a few stricter laws on obtaining guns.

With that said, let me clarify: I am not proposing to ban guns. Banning things never results in a favorable outcome, like prohibition in the early 1900’s, for example.

No one is trying to strip anyone of their s of December 3, we have had 352 deserved freedoms, they just want things mass shootings in the U.S.A. This to be a little safer. There is currently a includes school shootings, movie congressional ban backed by the NRA on theater shootings, church shootings, and so government-funded gun violence research. many more. Every time a big, publicized A literal ban on research. I don’t understand shooting happens, there is an immediate how our country can make any legitimate outrage and a call for change. This seems progress with a law like that. to last approximately a week before it dies One of the biggest problems when it comes down, and nothing happens. Everyone to gun violence and mass shootings are the forgets until the next shooting occurs. We shooters themselves. Even though they may need to take action and prevent more damage have the right to do so, there are definitely from happening. All I know is that doing individuals who should not own guns. Most nothing hasn’t worked in the past, and it’s guns used in shootings are obtained legally, obviously not going to work in the future. which is a blatant red flag that something Let’s start with the facts. Though there is wrong. It’s unbelievably easy for an is no widely individual to arrive accepted at a gun show and definition of purchase a weapon, what a mass while avoiding shooting is, “There have been more mass background checks one common entirely. Enforcing shootings than days this year, description is background checks and that terrifies me. ” “when four or isn’t going to more people, eliminate one’s

including the freedom to purchase gunman, are and own guns for killed or injured by gunfire.” In 2015, so far, protection. There’s so much more we could there have been more than 12,000 people be doing. killed and more than 24,000 injured in gun I’m sick and tired of the United States related incidents. The most prominent putting gun control issues on the back weapon used is a semi-automatic handgun. burner. There have been more mass shootings Of the 12 deadliest shootings in the United than days we’ve had this year, and that States, six have happened from 2007 onward. terrifies me. I want to know how many more Shootings do not tend to substantially affect shootings and deaths it’s going to take before views on gun control. This is what we know. we use some common sense to make some We need to do something now. In fact, I changes. I want to feel protected and safe, just think we should’ve done something a long like everyone else, and keeping things as they time ago. One of the main debates regarding are isn’t going to ease my fear. I don’t want gun violence is the second amendment. to be afraid to walk into school or the movie Looking at it from a pro-gun stance, I theater because there might be someone with understand the reasoning. People want a gun trying to kill innocent people. I just protection and freedom. However, I can’t want to feel safe.

K butt and a waist the size of a toothpick, guys are expected to have biceps the size of a small child and washboard abs. Calvin Klein underwear models are everywhere, shirtless Justin Bieber is all over music stores, and Captain America’s body, which has the shoulder-to-waist ratio of a Dorito chip, covers children’s lunchboxes. Men’s magazine covers advertise ways to ‘beef yourself up’, and how to become every girl’s dream by transforming a scrawny figure into a rockin’ don’t like my body. I think very few body. Men of color are especially held to people actually like their body. It’s just this an expectation of hyper masculinity and stupid human characteristic that a lot of us European beauty standards. have because of the fact that our role models Guys are surrounded by harmful ideals are basically Greek Gods. It’s fine. Whatever. just as much as women are, but they don’t get It happens. Male or female, there are going the support that’s needed to end the cycle of to be little things about your body that you self-hate. don’t like, because they don’t meet the high Boys need to be taught that they don’t have expectations that movies and magazines have to have abs in order to get a girl, and the size set for us. The difference is, I get constant of their arms by no means measures their support for my insecurities. character or their self-worth. But instead, When I’m at Walgreens, buying my 3rd tub they’re told to man up. They’re taught they of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream that week, and can’t cry, they can’t be insecure, and they I see Jennifer Lawrence effortlessly rocking can’t be emotional. They have to act as if these a red bikini things don’t bug them, on the cover because self-image of Vogue, my issues are ‘for girls.’ self-esteem When they look in the definitely mirror and don’t like “Guys are surrounded by harmful gets a stab to what they see because the gut. But ideals just as much as women are, it doesn’t resemble when I get but they don’t get the support that’s Ryan Gosling, they home, I’m aren’t told that this is needed to end the cycle of self-hate.” okay. They aren’t told bombarded with Dove that they’re perfectly Soap fine just the way they commercials, body-confidence Arie ads, and are.

Beyoncé songs that remind me I’m flawless, Men actually have higher rates of suicide even if I don’t look like Jennifer Lawrence. than women, but not because they are Boys are raised differently. Patriarchal biologically more prone to depression or values tell them from a very young age that other mental health issues. It’s because they they can’t be emotional, because this shows feel as if they can’t tell people when they’re weakness. They can’t pity themselves or have having issues, for fear that they’ll be seen as insecurities, because that’s girly. They’re less of a man. taught that masculinity means being stoic, At the end of the day, we’re all human. strong and aggressive, and anything else We’re all insecure, and that’s okay. That’s means you’re a failure of a man. Because of even normal. And guys, that is not something this, they can’t deal with body image issues in you should ever feel bad about. It’s not this the same way girls can. They really can’t deal deep dark secret that you should feel the with them at all. need to hide. Just like I have the right to be We’re all still set to the same expectations. strong and confident, you have the right to be Just like girls are expected to have a Kim emotional and insecure.

It’s not a girl thing

I

Gun ownership rate per 100 residents United States 88.8 Yemen 54.8 Switzerland 45.7 Finland 45.3

18% 1 in 4 eating disorders occur in men Source:

of adolescent boys dislike their body

Men are 3x more likely to commit suicide 7 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Shredding into winter

SPORTS

The skiers behind the goggles An inside look to these skiers favorite tricks and how they are performed.

Name: Parker Genau Grade: Junior Favorite trick: Lip on two blind two out How it is performed: “When you’re coming up to the rail, you get on the opposite side of the Juniors Parker Genau and Tanner Bartos ride a rail together at Boyne Highlands Resort this ski season. To prepare for the season, the friends constructed a homemade rail to imitate the ones that are found at resorts, such as Boyne Mountain and Nubs Nob, out of a PVC pipe and spare wood. Ian Andridge | Photo

rail that you’re normally comfortable getting on

Three junior riders, still waiting for the first snowfall, have spent the last two months preparing for this year’s ski season in an original way. Julia Quinn | Photo Editor & Claire Booth | Staff Writer

turning. Then, once you get towards the end of the

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hen skiers talk about the sport they love, it might sound like a foreign language to the average ear.

“A spin off can be done two ways,” junior Parker Genau said. “You can do a pretzel or you can do it blind. If you spin off the rail, it’s normally a 270, unless you do another 180, it would then be a 450. So you can do blind twos, front twos, a 270 on, because you have to land sideways onto the rail. So it’s all based on a full spin minus 90 degrees.”

For Genau and his friends, ski lingo such as this, is more than just a language.

Genau, along with juniors Tanner Bartos and Ben Robertson, spent the past few months preparing for the upcoming ski season despite the lack of snow.

“The lack of snow is pushing the season back quite a bit,” Genau said. “Normally, mountains would be open by now and they’re currently only open on the weekends instead of all week.“ The three, along with some other friends, spent much of fall preparing a “ski set-up”.

After many failed attempts, they created an imitation rail, which mimics the rails that can be found at most ski resort terrain parks, by attaching a PVC pipe to a frame of spare wood.

The group started making rails about two years ago in Robertson’s backyard and have since transitioned to the Fun Zone hill. Snow

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can be very unpredictable, but the moment that the weather reaches about 40 degrees, they know that their man-made snow will last on the ground for a few hours.

“I have a trailer, so we put a tarp on the bottom and the Zamboni takes a bunch of ice shavings from the Civic Arena’s hockey rink and they dump it outside,” Genau said. “We shovel all of those ice shavings into the back of the trailer and then drive the trailer to the hill.”

The boys typically start practicing for the upcoming season in October. They spend almost every Friday and Saturday ‘shredding the gnar,’ which means to ski to your full potential on difficult or challenging terrain. Because Midland is relatively flat, which results in a lack of speed, Bartos practices jumps by flipping on the trampoline and flipping into the pool.

“If you want to be really nerdy, you could use a curb and hop onto it like it’s a rail and jump off,” Bartos said.

Their set-up allows for them to work on rail techniques, rather than jumps. Genau was inspired by the many rails Dow High senior Andrew Pumford had in his yard last year, and decided to create his own. They frequently get together with Pumford and a large group of other skiers to practice on their homemade rails. Genau, Robertson, and Bartos all agree that being with their friends is the best part about skiing.

“When you’re with your friends, they push you and dare you to do stuff,” Robertson said.

“It’s kind of stupid sometimes but it makes you better for the most part. Sometimes, when you go up north, there are people up there that you don’t normally see unless you’re there skiing.

So it’s good seeing those people.”

Parker’s mother, Sue Genau, introduced skiing to her son when he was five. Sue said that it can be worrisome having them on the high platforms, but believes that they are all safe, smart kids.

“I think it’s crazy, but I think it’s great,” Sue said. “I’d rather have them outside doing those kinds of activities than inside watching television. It really seems that they have grown to love the outdoors, and I think it is awesome.

[If] you live in Michigan, you might as well embrace the winter.”

After all of the pre-season practice, the boys will be skiing this winter in Harbor Springs, Boyne Valley at Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, and Nubs Nob. With the winter season beginning, the three boys are excited to hit the slopes.

“I’m looking forward to riding with the homies and shredding some big mountains,” Parker said. “I’m also looking forward to meeting new people. A lot of times when I ski up north, I meet a bunch of new people that I never knew before.”

to. Then you jump backwards onto the rail while rail, you turn yourself as if you’re continuing the spin that you started when you first got on. Then you do a 270 degree spin to get off so you land forward.”

Name: Tanner Bartos Grade: Junior Favorite trick: 360 off a jump How it is performed: “You go in, skis about shoulder width apart. You get up to where you’re going off the jump, but your skis haven’t left yet and you wind up. You bend down a little, and when the front of your skis go off, your boots are still on, you push up, which pushes you higher. Then you spin as you go off the jump.”

Bigger team, bigger goals SPORTS

Common wrestling moves

1) Double Leg: Drop down to knees, and place arm in between their opponent’s legs. Then grab the back of their knees, push hips, lift and drive them to the ground.

Junior Logan Walko and sophomore Mateo Diaz work on some of their wrestling attacks during practice. One of the main goals during team practice is to focus on self improvement, as coach Michael Donovan thinks this leads to overall team improvement and success in meeting team goals. Julia Quinn | Photo

The varsity wrestling team works hard to improve for the District Championship, hoping to become champions two years in a row. Spencer Patrell | Staff Writer & Kady Volmering | Staff Writer

L 2) High Crotch: Drop down and lean into opponent. Lock hands behind legs, and you can end with multiple finishes.

3) Single Leg: Sweep to the outside of the leg, lock hands and push forward, then, pull the leg up to armpit. From there, there are multiple finishes.

ast year, as a freshmen on varsity but only to themselves. together a lot of good practices that are tough, wrestling, Mateo Diaz was six seconds The team’s primary goal is to win the District because practices are physically and mentally away from losing an important match. title for the second year in a row. tiring, you really feel accomplished.”

Instead, he escaped, pinned the other wrestler, “I’m expecting this year’s team to take a little Waier has been wrestling for Midland High and won the match. It was a turning point bit of a step forward from last year,” Donovan since his freshman year, where he would go in his season, during which he eventually said. on to have ten of his matches be at the varsity became the only member of the team to qualify Donovan believes the team will win more level. for states. dual meets and have more kids qualify for “I didn’t do very well, but I learned from After six years of wrestling, Diaz recalls that,” Waier said. this moment as one of his favorite memories Waier thinks that this year’s team will in the sport. Last year, he wrestled for the benefit greatly from the increased number varsity team and earned second place at of players, but not only because points the Regional competition, qualifying him “We’re trying to make that next step forward will no longer be lost for voids. With the for the State meet. This year, he hopes that, larger pool of wrestlers on the team, Waier to be an overall team to compete with.” along with the rest of the team, he will believes that the new members on the

qualify for States. He is confident that this JV team will be able to watch the varsity Coach Michael Donovan players and learn from them. year’s team will do well in the upcoming season.

“Having more numbers helps because “We have more guys and the guys that you can develop the younger guys with came back improved,” Diaz said.

States now that they have more wrestlers. He the experience of the older guys and you can The amount of wrestlers has nearly doubled, also aims to be one the top three teams at the have the younger guys work with the older jumping from under 20 boys last year to Saginaw Valley League meet by the end of the guys,” Waier said. almost 30 on the current roster. This leap in season. More experienced seniors and juniors He said this variation on the team will help numbers will allow the team to have a full will help contribute to the team’s success. acquaint the new members of the team to the lineup, meaning that points lost in past years, “Our main goal, above wins and losses, is faster, more skilled wrestling that is practiced due to voids – lack of wrestlers in a certain to better ourselves everyday,” Donovan said. at the high school level. weight classes – are now available to the “We’re trying to make that next step forward With the focus on building skills and team. Head wrestling coach Michael Donovan to be an overall team to compete with.” techniques through tough practices and the said that concentrating on what wrestlers can Senior David Waier shares this goal, heightened number of athletes on the team, control instead of what they can’t control, such and strives to improve his overall skills in the team is very confident going in their as personal effort and skill, will also help lead wrestling. upcoming season. the team to overall success. Another important “You can see yourself improving, either from “It is going to be a tough districts, but as a thing he wants his players to remember is to where you were previous years or even from team, at team meets and at individual meets, not compare personal performance to others week to week,” Waier said. “When you string we will do very well,” Waier said.

9 | FOCUS | DEC , 2015 | mhsfocus.com

SPORTS

THE SPORTS ZONE

Statistics and player profiles of the season’s prominent athletes, along with future sporting events and a sports column. Anna Schultheis | Exchange Editor & Madelyn Groulx | Staff Writer

Anna Schultheis

game.

These random spurts of emotion caused me to question my well-being and mental health.

I find I’m not usually the type of person to cry at funerals or weddings. I hardly ever shed a tear when the main character in a movie dies tragically. I don’t often get enraged very easily and usually try to make light of hostile situations. So how could a losing a game, which I didn’t play in at all, affect my emotions so much?

After multiple outbursts and Web MD searches, I have finally come to the conclusion that I am a full-blown sports fanatic.

Compared to a typical sports fan, a sports fanatic is someone who is obsessive and displays an unbalanced behavior about a sport. According to research, that would be me. From the articles I’ve read, the reason why we as fans become so invested in the sports we are watching is because the sport becomes a part of us. The brain translates the success the team achieves into personal success. The same goes for the team’s failure, we feel the team’s devastation.

Sports also offer a sense of belonging for fans and an escape from the life’s daily responsibilities. They allow people to feel a deep, emotional connection to something that has no real-world consequences. The emotions that we feel after our favorite team wins, boost our self-esteem, and give us immense pride. Sports are an outlet to blow off steam and are something that people can pour their heart and soul into.

So, if you are showing symptoms of extreme sports fandom, and your friends and family are starting to become concerned, just know there are other people out there like you, who understand your dedication to the sports you love. Realize that it’s natural for one to become so invested in a game.

Meanwhile, I am trying to cope with my craziness and channel my inner fanatic into something positive, instead of screaming at the referees and visiting teams for making us lose.

Selfdiagnosed sports fanatic

I

remember that cold Friday night in late October. My breath hung in the air a couple seconds before it disappeared.

The stadium lights shone brightly on each defeated Midland High player’s face and the student section stood silent. All the shakers had been cast aside, and the last of the baby powder settled in the scalps of the students.

I remember the blue and gold paint on my cheeks began to drip as tears silently slid down my face. The scoreboard flashed the red numbers: 35 (DOW) and 17 (MIDLAND).

This crushing defeat caused my to cry, about football. A sport I don’t even know how to play and that I don’t even know the rules of. I sobbed over a game that in the future would have no effect on my life whatsoever. Looking back on the night, this sudden attack of emotion shocks me.

Throughout my high school career, I have been plagued with a vast array of emotions, each varying in size and intensity. Yet each of these bizarre episodes seem to be triggered because of a loss of a game.

For example, when we lost the varsity hockey game last season against Dow High, I went on a cussing rampage, muttering every vulgar word I could think of under my breath. I even flipped off an innocent Dow High student when leaving the arena parking lot.

After our loss to the Dow basketball team, I was so angry that I could barely open my mouth to speak. I sped home, teeth clenched, blaring Drake and Jay-Z as loud as my car would go and went straight to bed, trying to forget the heartbreaking events of that night’s

Anna’s levels of anger 1

Content

3

4

Yelling offensive language

Flipping the bird

2

Blood pressure rising

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Athletes of the Month Zach Donaghue

Grade: Senior Sport: Varsity wrestling Statistics: 36-7 record last year Proudest Moment: “Winning districts with a team of scrappy first years, with all odds against us.”

Key to Success: “The key is hard work. You know quitting isn’t an option when you’re tired, hurting, dehydrated, and bleeding all at the same time.”

Owen Postma | Staff Writer

Grade: Junior

Coach’s Take: “Zach is our hardest working kid on the team. He’s the first ready for every drill, and he’s a great team leader that picks people up when they need it and encourages them to be better. You can look at Zach and tell that he is always giving 100%, and embodies everything the coaching staff preaches.”-Mike Donavan

Molly Sanford

Sport: Varsity cheer Statistics: Placed first in a competition during her freshman year Proudest Moment: “My proudest moment is when I did a new skill well during a competition and my coach tackled me to the ground. She was so excited.”

Key to Success: “Never giving up, no matter how hard it gets. As a captain, I have to set an example for the rest of the team and I push everyone to their limits.”

5

Keying a car

Coach’s Take: “Molly is a hard worker, a team leader, and tries to always keep the team moving in a positive direction.”

-Jenifer Hallman Hailey Werth | Staff Writer

SPORTS

to realize the value in how the team performs versus just how he individually performs.”

Krause instills in his players the idea that teamwork is more important than personal success. This mentality has taught DeWildt the value of working together.

DeWildt’s leadership skills have impacted players on the football and basketball teams.

Senior Virgil Walker, a friend and teammate, has worked closely with DeWildt and respects him as a player.

“He takes charge and makes sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to,” Walker said.

DeWildt’s role as captain in both sports allows him to teach upcoming athletes his leadership skills. Sophomore Garrett Willis has played alongside DeWildt through football and on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year. He turns to DeWildt to seek advice and encouragement throughout the season.

“Coming in as a freshman last year, he was a good role model because I didn’t really know what to expect,” Willis said. “I always knew I could look up to him if I had question or needed to know how to help the team. He’s a great person for people to look up to.”

Throughout the season, DeWildt hopes to continue growing as an athlete, and lead his team to victory.

“My teammates look up to me, especially the younger ones, because I have the most experience,” DeWildt said. “I challenge them to be the best they can be.”

Girls’ varsity basketball: Dec. 18 at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.

Girls’ varsity cheerleading Dec. 19 at Shepherd, 10 a.m.

Boys’ varsity swim: Dec. 22 at Heritage, 6 p.m.

Boys’ varsity hockey: Dec. 18 at Cheboygan

SPORTS

“The only reason MHS has a swim team...to get bods like @evan_haase #TheTimeIsNow” @WaskevichL

Tweet of the

Month What winter sporting event are you looking forward to attending most this season?

48%

34%

7%

Based on a survey of 186 students

11% Swim

A

s starting quarterback in football, point guard in basketball, team leader, and mentor, senior Payton DeWildt has taken on many leadership roles throughout his high school career. Being the captain of both the varsity football and basketball teams, DeWildt balances his time between practices, training in the weight room, and juggling school work.

In addition to the physical demands of his sports, DeWildt feels the mental pressure of his teams’ success weighing on his shoulders.

Being a key player on two varsity teams, DeWildt must perform at his best to ensure the team has a chance to win.

‘There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s what I live for,” DeWildt said. “I try not to think about it.”

DeWildt plays and practices both his sports throughout the off-season. He often has football practice before school and trains regularly during the summer for both basketball and football.

In the future, he plans to pursue either collegiate basketball or football. At the moment, DeWildt has received an offer from Lawrence Technological University to play basketball, but has not decided where he wants to go to college. Ideally, he would like to follow his basketball dreams.

Eric Krause has coached DeWildt on the varsity basketball team for the past four years.

He is impressed with DeWildt’s worth ethic and dedication to helping the team improve.

“Payton has grown into more of a player and coach role,” Krause said. “He is starting

Boys’ varsity wrestling: Dec. 19 at Chippewa Hills

Hockey

Senior varsity athlete Payton DeWildt transitions leadership roles from football to basketball, and prepares for this upcoming basketball season. Madelyn Groulx | Staff Writer & Anna Schultheis | Exchange Editor

Boys’ varsity basketball: Dec. 18 at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.

Wrestling

Senior Payton DeWildt prepares for their the varsity basketball team’s first game. Ian Andridge | Photo

Upcoming Events

Basketball

Leading by example

11| FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

2015 A&E

BEST OF Best Movie

Straight Outta Compton

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traight Outta Compton tells the story of the iconic rap group, N.W.A., whose harsh music exhibiting themes of drugs and violence reflected the reality that the group members experienced every day growing up in Compton, California. The film focuses on group members Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O’shea Jackson Jr.), MC Ren (Aldis Hodge), and DJ Yella (Neil Brown), who channel their racial frustration and troubled surroundings into powerful music that speaks to millions.

The film opens with a dark atmosphere, showing Eazy-E getting chased out of a crack house, as police enter with a tank and battering ram. It continues this dangerous

tone as Ice Cube’s bus gets raided from gang members on his way home from school.

These suspenseful scenes instantly hook the audience and depict the truth of life in Compton. Frustrated with the irrelevant popular music that filled their daily lives, the group decides to produce, “Boyz-in-theHood,” which gains them the attention of music manager Jerry Heller. With the help of Heller, the group produces the record Straight Outta Compton, which included controversial songs that the F.B.I.requested to stop being played live. The group refuses to back down, showing the audience the passion they held for conveying the truth of the streets. This allowed them to shine light on problems such

Best Breakout Artist: Fetty Wap 12 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

as police brutality, which remains relevant to events happening today. Their songs gave a voice to those who previously had been silenced.

As the group continues to gain more popularity, tension builds between Ice Cube and Heller, which leads to the start of Ice Cube’s solo career. Dr. Dre follows Ice Cube and leaves N.W.A., causing the group to fall apart in his absence. Watching the rise of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s careers connects the audience to the legacy this group of rappers left on pop culture.

Years later, after rekindling their friendship, Ice Cube and Eazy-E decide to re-form N.W.A. without Heller. Eazy, Ren, and

Best App: VSCO Cam

Yella begin working on new material for the reinvented N.W.A. when Eazy collapses and is sent to the hospital, where he is diagnosed with HIV/AIDs. This heartbreaking news reveals the truth on the dangers of his lifestyle and exposes the unfortunate reality that thousands of people faced during AIDS epidemic.

The movie ends with highlights of N.W.A.’s career as well as the careers, of both Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, reading: “In loving memory of Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright”.This heart-pounding film opens viewers eyes to an unknown world. With its motivating characters and surprising plot-twists, this inspirational story is just as ground-breaking as the music itself.

Best Actress: Anne Hathaway

A&E

From the comedy Inside Out to the much-awaited release of Adele’s new album, 2015 was an exciting year for pop culture.

Here is the Focus’ opinion of the best in entertainment this year. Maddy Pasche | A&E Editor & Katherine Vernier | News Editor

Best Album

A

fter a 3-year hiatus from music, Justin Bieber returned tastefully with a fresh outlook on fame. His new album, Purpose, is laced with up-tempo beats and mature lyrics that show fans a new side of the singer. Bieber opens the album dramatically, with the songs, “Mark My Words,” and “I’ll Show You”. These two laid-back melodies serve as an open apology to all of his fans, where Bieber passionately sings within the song, “Sometime it’s hard do the right thing,” and pleads for forgiveness. The album still incorporates plenty of exciting, bass-filled, dance songs, such as, “Children”, and “Company”, that will capture the heart of any true. From start to finish, the album caters to a wide-variety of music tastes, with collaborations from Big Sean and Ed Sheeran.

Whether you got his first CD for your thirteenth birthday, or are just tuning now, you can appreciate the hard work and passion Bieber put into his new album.

Purpose

Best Song

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Hotline Bling

ith an electric beat and seductive, passionate lyrics, hip-hop singer Drake’s newest single, “Hotline Bling,” is an addictive song you cannot resist.

Paired with unforgettable dance moves and countless internet memes, the song left a huge mark on 2015. “Hotline Bling” has quickly become Drake’s most successful single, after spending three weeks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. The song starts with a soft repetitive rhythm as Drake’s voice drifts in, conveying his woes and regrets to his ex-lovers singing, “You used to call me on my cellphone.” The beat instantly picks up, drawing in anyone who is looking for a perfect party song, yet maintains a sorrowful tone with Drake’s, melancholy lyrics, as he graciously pours his heart out. People who have found themselves lusting for the past, or anyone who is looking for a one of a kind melody, can relate to these heart felt lyrics.

Best TV Show

Parks and Rec F

inishing its seventh and final season in the beginning of 2015, NBC’s hit TV show Parks and Recreation is a light hearted comedy, filled with dynamic characters that draw in viewers of all ages. The shows set in Pawnee, Indiana and follows the overly enthusiastic local government employee, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). Knope’s passion for her work takes her and her co-workersturned-family on wild adventures in almost every episode. Head writers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur flawlessly bring strong-willed and powerful characters to life with distinct personality traits executed perfectly through the actor’s portrayal. Tom Haverford’s (Aziz Ansari) charm, Donna Meagle’s (Retta) sass, Ron Swanson’s (Nick Offerman) tough exterior, and Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) loyal love for her best friend all tie together to create an optimistic sitcom.

The show embodies how friendship, hard work, and a miniature horse can bring everyone together. Parks and Recreation is the perfect balance between humor and sentiment that will have you endlessly quoting witty one-liners and reaching for the tissues.

Best Actor

Chris Pratt C

hris Pratt continued to rule the box office in 2015, following the success of his 2014 hit Guardians of the Galaxy.

Pratt’s Hollywood debut began when he starred in the hit NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation as Andy Dwyer, an animated musician whose goofy comments added a sense of youthfulness to the show. Pratt began the show as a recurring guest star in 2009, and has continued to play a character full of spontaneity until the series finale this past February. Pratt also played Owen Grady, a tough dinosaur trainer whose passion for his work drove the audience through the allconsuming action movie, Jurassic World. Pratt’s lively spirit enables him to bring even the most outlandish characters to life. His quick wit and charm paired with his rugged looks makes every movie he is featured in a must-see.

Having already been cast as the leading role in the movie Passengers with actress Jennifer Lawrence, 2016 should be another exciting year for Pratt as he continues to dominate Hollywood.

Photo Courtesy MCT Campus

Best Band: Twenty One Pilots

Best Book: Eleanor & Park

Best Artist: Adele 13| FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Talent across nations A&E

Junior Elizabeth Parsons has played the trombone for six years. The summer after her freshman year, Parsons participated in Blue Lake’s International program, and she will participate in it again this summer. Cara Spencer | Staff Writer & Kirsten Warner | Staff Writer

D

uring her 5th grade year, Elizabeth Parsons stared down in confusion at the huge, brass instrument handed to her by band director Bill Monroe. Following his instructions, she shakily squeaked out a few notes for the first time.

Now a junior, Parsons continues to play the same instrument she picked up six years ago.

“I liked [music] a lot, and I’m pretty good at it, so I thought I might stick with it and get better,” Parsons said.

As, Parsons has grown as a trombone player, she has taken music more seriously. She practices at least fifteen minutes a day at home.

Also, rather than bringing her trombone home and back each day, Parsons choose to buy one for herself to keep at home, leaving her with a school rented instrument and a silver trombone for concerts and daily practicing. Parsons has a second, more used trombone at home as well.

“I have three trombones,” Parsons said. “The one I have at school, is named Zeus. The one I have [at home], which is silver and really pretty, is named Tina. The other one I have, he’s a little more beaten up, and his name is Tim.” Parsons is a member of the school’s symphonic band and takes weekly private lessons, ranging from thirty to forty-five minutes. Lessons are taught by Sue Gessford, who has been teaching private music lessons for nearly 18 years.

Junior Elizabeth Parsons has been playing the trombone since elementary school. In addition to marching in the school’s symphonic band, Parsons practices at least fifteen minutes a day at home, as well as attending weekly private lessons taught by Sue Gessford. Julia Quinn | Photo “Lizzie is a dynamic player with a superior range, a great attitude, and she is very musical,” Gessford said. “She is a good musician who cares about details and playing correctly. She is always willing to try something new.”

Gessford often pushes Parsons to perform in extracurricular music events, including the Solo and Ensemble festival, which Parsons will be participating in again this year.

“Her solo for this winter is a college level piece, as was last year’s, which earned her a superior rating at District and State Festivals,” Gessford said.

Gessford also encouraged Parsons to audition for the CMU Honor Band Weekend earlier this school year.

“There were a bunch of really good people all in one band,” Parsons said. “We practiced all weekend and had a concert Sunday night. It was cool to play with really good players.”

Parsons pushed herself further in music by

attending Blue Lake International two summers ago. The summer after her freshman year, Parsons, along with roughly 50 other students, were sent to Europe on a musical program, from the beginning of June to the middle of July.

“The first week was an intensive week where we practiced music for hours, and then we went to Europe,”Parsons said. “We traveled to France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

We would play a concert in every place that we went, and we’d get a host family in every country. One day, we would have a concert and then we would tour the city we were staying in for the rest of the time. For a week in France, we did Blue Lake program there, which was a week-long camp with French kids where we stayed in dorm rooms. I still talk to [the people I went with] all the time. I made one of my best friends there.”

Parson’s Blue Lake experience was unique in the fact that she didn’t audition to get in.

Blue Lake by the numbers Only 7 MHS students are going this year

14 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

They played 18 concerts in 26 days

“I didn’t have to audition the first time because Mr. Monroe asked me [to go], because they didn’t have a trombone going,” Parsons said. “And because he knows me, I don’t have to audition again. He recommended me, which was really nice.”

Monroe had his own reasons for encouraging Parsons to travel with the program. “[I] invited her last year to go to Blue Lake because she was number one, and a neat kid who could play her instrument very well,” Monroe said. “The Blue Lake International Program is very picky in who they take to Europe. You have to be a good player, but you also have to be someone who is a person of integrity.”

Music will also continue to play an important role in Parson’s life in the future. ”I love music and it’s ability to be both fun and beautiful,” Parsons said. “I love being able to create music for other people to enjoy.”

The whole trip T h e p r o g r a m was roughly 8,904 lasted 36 days miles

A&E

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2.

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For the love of dance Senior Allie Williams and Sophomore Madisyn Danner debut in “The Heart of a Dancer”. Paige Murphy | Staff Writer & Sonja Anderson | Staff Writer

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t was February of 2015 when Senior Allie Williams stood inside the lecture hall of the Midland Center for the Arts, a tiny, round, carpeted room, and was instructed to convincingly say “I love you.” With a camera ten inches from her face.

She experienced this while auditioning for a film called “The Heart of a Dancer”. Her director, John Wayne Bosley, assessed her acting skills by telling her to say “I love you” in three different ways: angry, sentimental, and sad. The audition won her the role of Amy, a college student and the main character’s best friend. The movie is about the art of dance and how it can impact people’s lives, and the idea was conceived by Bosley two years ago, around Christmas time.

Bosley classifies “The Heart of a Dancer” as a dance drama. The main character, Claire, is a college-age dancer who puts her dreams on hold to come home and help her mother, who is dying of cancer. In the process, she starts working at the local dance studio, taking the focus off of herself and, as a result, becoming a better dancer.

Williams didn’t have enough experience with

dance to be a dancer in the film, so she mainly acted. Her skill as an actress has interested Bosley, and he’s already asked her to be in future productions of his, starting next year.

“Allie is probably one of your best actors in the area,” Bosley said. “When you see a performance on stage or on the screen, every word, every motion, everything that they do has to look like there was thought put into it as it’s happening. I can tell when I look at an actor that that person is living, breathing, and thinking as the character, and I could tell that with her.

She’s dead on.”

Williams has been acting since she was ten years old and has performed in 24 major productions since then, mostly on-stage work.

“The Heart of a Dancer” is the first movie she has ever done. Through this experience, she has learned about the many differences between theater and film.

“On stage, you have to make all your gestures and all your expressions super big, so that people two hundred yards away can see exactly what you’re doing,” Williams said. “On film, they get right up in your face, so you have to act very, very naturally. It’s something you

really have to embrace your character to do.

Everything you do on camera is captured.

Everybody sees every little movement that you do, and every little twitch your face makes.”

Sophomore Madisyn Danner was also a part of the “Heart of a Dancer” cast, and, like Williams, has participated in multiple Midland High drama productions. This was her first experience in film as well, and she enjoyed the opportunity.

“My favorite part about being in ‘The Heart of a Dancer’ is that I can say that I’ve been in a movie. Not many people can say that,” Danner said. “Also, it allowed me to get my feet wet in the industry, and see if I liked it or not.”

Danner’s role in the production was a soloist dancer. She’s had three years of experience with dancing, and currently dances at Miss Lore’s Studio of Performing Arts in Bay City.

In addition to her acting, Williams contributed to other aspects of the production. She helped with the crew, which included assisting in direction, sound, and camera work. Working on the movie, she learned just how much effort and meticulousness is put into film production.

The crew would sometimes shoot for up to

seventeen hours in one day.

“One scene we did had eight lines in it,” Williams said. “In the film, the clip is probably going to take up 30 seconds, or maybe a minute.

It should’ve taken us no time at all to film, but by the time we got it, we’d spent two hours and recorded 32 takes.”

“The Heart of a Dancer” is set to release next fall, in either October or November. It will be distributed on DVD and premiered in specific locations in the Tri-City area. As all of the actors and crew were volunteers, the movie didn’t require a large budget. This is Bosley’s third film, and it’s the one he’s most proud of. As a father to two young dancers, his main goal was to create a movie about dancing that is appropriate for older audiences, but also appealing to children.

“Usually a dance movie in Hollywood is about winning,” Bosley said. “I thought, what if we take dancing, and made it about giving back to other people? Using it more as an art form to encourage and inspire, rather than showing people being mean and overly competitive.

I wanted to show dancers having a positive impact on the world around them.”

1. Sophomore Madisyn Danner dances at the Newman School of Dance in Clare, MI, while Director John Bosley films. 2. Senior Allie Williams films a scene in Saginaw, at the house of the main character, Claire. “The Heart of a Dancer” is Williams’ first experience in film. 3. Danner earned the role of a soloist dancer in the movie. She has previously danced on stage in Midland High drama productions. John Bosley | Photo Courtesy

Boom

Decibel Reader

Monitors the sound and noise level when shooting

A long pole with a microphone attached to the end, used for recording the actors’ voices without being seen in the shot

Gadgets of the industry

Headset

Earphones with a microphone attached, used to listen to the actors’ voices more closely Broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial during a scene lights used to light the scene

Floodlights

15 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

The season of family

FEATURES

Home for the holidays

S

enior Mariah Rubenacker felt a pang of sadness as she looked beneath the Christmas tree at presents left unopened, a stocking labeled “Kyle” left full; untouched. Her half-brother, Kyle Rubenacker, would not be joining her family for Christmas. He was deployed, working as a missile technician in the Navy.

“It was pretty sad, thinking about the fact that there is a family member who is usually [home], and then he’s not,” Mariah said. “You can’t talk to him, and you can’t call him.”

After graduating from Midland High in 2011, Kyle underwent a series of schooling and training in order to join the Navy. He went to boot camp for three to four months, where he received the majority of his training. From there, he went to Sea School and A School.

Currently, he is on base in Georgia.

“I joined the military because I felt it was in my blood,” Kyle said. “I wanted to serve my country and be proud of what I was doing.”

In joining the military, he was faced with many difficulties, such as being away from his family during the holidays. This Christmas, Kyle has requested for leave, but last year he was deployed over the holiday and was not able to see his family.

“The hardest part about missing a holiday is being away from family and loved ones who you would usually spend the holidays with and having very little contact with them,” Kyle said. “My first deployment, I was gone for my birthday, Christmas, and New Years.

1.

1.

Kyle Rubenacker, a seaman in the Navy, is coming home this year for Christmas, after being gone last year. Conversely, Marine Jeremy Ricketts will be on base in California during the holidays for the first time. Ella Colbert | Features Editor & Kayla Graham | Sports Editor & Arianna Gibson | Staff Writer

The only contact I had while I was gone was “I haven’t seen him since June or July,” through emails, which we received every now Mariah said. “It is going to be nice having him and then.” home for Christmas and being able to give him When Kyle is on base he is able to call his his gift in person, rather than waiting for him family whenever he wants, but on deployment to be home.” he can only communicate through email, Kyle also awaits the time he will spend at which takes a few weeks. home over the holiday.

“There are three levels,” Mariah said.

“I’m looking forward to just spending “There’s him being home. Then there is him on time with my family and catching up with base, where we can call each other every once everybody,” Kyle said. “To be able to have in a while. Then, when he’s actually deployed, a great time with the people who care about we don’t get to talk to him hardly at all, unless me most that I miss every day, it’s very it’s over email.” bittersweet.”

Although Jeremy Ricketts, she has been who will be a 0311 in consistent “Many conversations, sleepless nights, and Infantryman in communication prayers, but I wouldn’t trade their happiness the Marines, is with her also anticipating in their decisions for anything. At the end of the next time he brother, Mariah the day, that is what makes them happy.” will see his family. has noticed a change in their Mother Kelly Ricketts He graduated last relationship. year and began “We were boot camp shortly super close when we were younger, but since afterwards. This year will be his first Christmas he’s joined the Navy, we’ve drifted a little not spent at home with his family. bit,” Mariah said. “I don’t talk to him as much Although Ricketts will not be deployed over when he’s not here, but when he does come the holidays, he will be on base in California. home, things are normal. When he’s not here, There, Ricketts will get liberty (time off), and a and we’re on the phone or texting, it can be special meal to celebrate Christmas. He is sad different because we’re not in each other’s lives that he will not be with his family, but remains constantly.” positive, knowing that he will still be able to Because of the distance from her brother, bond with his Marine brothers during the Mariah looks forward to seeing him this holidays.

Christmas.

“Holidays are hard being away from family

2.

and friends,” Ricketts said. “I’m not able to have the traditional family Christmas that most people get, due to the fact that I will be away in California. Although, I have my brothers all around me.”

Similar to Kyle, Ricketts has very specific times when he is able to communicate with his family.

“Now that he is Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), they are in the field during the week training, and on the weekends, they get phone privileges, so I look forward to my ‘Phone call Friday’,” Mother Kelly Ricketts said. “I sent a letter and care package to him and his friend as well.”

Like Mariah with her brother, Kelly looks forward to talking to Jeremy whenever she is able to. For Kelly, the hardest parts of having a son in the Marines are the little things when they communicate.

“Saying our ‘see you later’, and ending my calls with ‘be safe, I love you’, living with a cell phone on 24/7, waiting for the ‘next unknown call’,” Kelly said. “When I’m online, the first thing I’m doing is looking for the ‘green light’, and lastly, waiting for the words, ‘I am okay Mom’.”

Even though Jeremy’s older brother is an Army Veteran, Kelly still struggles with the situation.

“The truth is, it never gets easier,” Kelly said. “You still feel the same. The saying is: your son or daughter enlists and parents are drafted. I have become a strong military mom

3.

1. Jeremy’s troop marching in uniform on base in California, after graduating from their boot camp that lasted three months. 2. Jeremy stands proud in his uniform, after completing three months of difficult, intense training to prepare him for the Marines. 3. Jeremy and his Marine friends stand in uniform on a wall structure in California, while on Liberty (free time) during the weekend. Kelly Ricketts | Photo Courtesy

16 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

FEATURES over the years and it comes with a price too.

Many conversations, sleepless nights, and prayers, but I wouldn’t trade their happiness in their decisions for anything. At the end of the day, that is what makes me happy.”

Although phone calls and hand-written letters make up for part of the distance between Kyle, Jeremy, and their families, the two are provided with other things to bring them closer to home. Such things include care packages, which are filled with various food and hygiene products, to let soldiers know that others are thinking of them.

Aaron’s Gifts from Home, a local non-profit organization, has sent out packages to all branches of the military for the past three and a half years. President and CEO, Debi Ullom, started the company after their son, Aaron Ullom (a 2009 graduate of MHS), was killed in action in Afghanistan.

“We, as a family, wanted to keep his memory alive somehow,” Debi said. “One night, a year after Aaron died, my husband Kevin and I remembered him always calling home or through Facebook. He would ask us to send him extra goodies because many of the men and women were not receiving care packages.

So we thought, ‘What better way to honor Aaron than to send care packages overseas to his brothers and sisters in the military’.”

Since then, the organization has grown to send more than 2,000 packages this year. In this holiday season alone they have sent 260.

Along with the typical care package items, they sent special items to celebrate the Christmas season, including a stocking filled with toys, candy, homemade cookies, and cards from the community.

“If we can lift the spirits of someone who is missing their family, if for only a moment, that would mean so much to us, and we know

Mariah’s brother Kyle Rubenacker surprises his mother last year by coming home to visit after being away in The Navy. Mariah Rubenacker | Photo Courtesy Aaron would appreciate the love and care to his fellow service members,” Debi said.

Similar to the idea behind the care packages, The Army has established events in an attempt to make the separation from families over the holidays less apparent, and to create that moment of happiness.

“On deployment, we have special holiday dinners to still give us that taste of home and to keep morale up while we’re gone,” Kyle said.

During Christmas, the military will send people home or will accommodate those who

Jeremy Ricketts Age: 18 (graduated in 2015)

are unable to go home with special activities, as well as getting a nice meal to make them feel like they are at home. Despite the effort to make the men and women feel more at home while away, nothing surpasses the relief and joy of actually being there.

“The first time Kyle came home for Christmas, it was right after he graduated from boot camp, the Christmas of 2013,” Mariah said. “It was the first time we picked him up from the airport and when we hugged, both of us just busted out crying because we hadn’t

Military intelligence

Students who have a family Position: 0311 Infantryman member in the military Why he decided to join: He wanted to be dedicated to something bigger than himself Favorite memory: “Realizing that no matter how much you dislike someone, or how much they dislike you, they’re going to have your back because we’re all brothers. No matter skin, rank, hair everybody’s the same.”

36%

Jeremy in his Marines graduation picture, wearing his Dress Blues. Kelly Ricketts | Photo Courtesy

seen each other in so long.”

Both Kyle and Jeremy agreed that being away from family and friends during the holidays is difficult, but they have be able to find ways to cope, through communication and savoring their time together while they are at home.

“The hardest thing to do every time I come home, is to leave and say goodbye to everyone,” Kyle said. “Being in the military, you definitely learn to appreciate the time you’re given with loved ones because you have so little.”

From a survey of 214 students

16% Of students with a family member in the military, will not have them at home during holidays 17| FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

The season of family

The miracle of eternal lights FEATURES

While most students prepare for Christmas, a few are celebrating a Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday that often goes unnoticed in a predominantly Christian community. Will Hackbarth | Editor-in-Chief & Gypsy Worrall | Staff Writer & Jacob Presson | Staff Writer

J

unior Isabelle Levinson walked through the aisles of Target, surrounded by the multitudes of red and green decorations that plastered the store with Christmas cheer, which signified a faith that she did not share. Past the vast array of ornaments, legions of Christmas trees, and stockpiles of stocking stuffers, she finally found a few shelves dedicated to the menorahs and dreidels of Hanukkah.

Growing up Jewish in a predominantly Christian environment, she has often seen Hanukkah overshadowed by Christmas, but she never feels ostracized because of it.

“Generally people have been pretty accepting of it,” Levinson said. “It’s not difficult, it’s just funny, that people talk about Christianity in class, and are like, ‘Oh, I’m sure you all know what this is’, but I never grew up with that.”

Junior Ellianna Olken, who was also raised Jewish, agrees that people have been welcoming and accepting of her religion, even though many do not know much about it. She is not bothered by the fact that Hanukkah receives less attention than Christmas, nor does she feel unaccepted because she celebrates a different holiday than most people in the community. To Olken and Levinson, Hanukkah is a personal holiday, and they derive much appreciation from the festivities and the religious values they represent.

“Growing up with my faith, I knew I was different from a lot of other people, but it’s never bothered me,” Olken said. “I’ve always liked being Jewish and I’m proud of my heritage. Usually when people find out that I’m Jewish, they seem interested and ask me questions about our culture and traditions. I’ve never really felt left out around Christmas time.

Other people have their own special holidays and so do we.”

Although Hanukkah falls during the same season as Christmas, it does not share the same respective religious significance. Hanukkah is a prominent holiday for many Jewish families, but there are many more important Jewish celebrations. Because of the holiday’s relative insignificance within Judaism, she does not feel that it is underrepresented in society.

“Hanukkah is probably the best known

The story of Hanukkah 18 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Junior Isabelle Levinson spins the dreidel as part of a Jewish game. Next to her, the Menorah is lit with three candles to represent the three days of Hanukkah that have passed. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo Jewish holiday in the United States because you’re of the same religion,” Olken said. “The it falls around the same time as Christmas Jewish population in this area is very, small, and and is a joyous family-oriented holiday and I think it’s important for our Jewish community the kids get presents,” Olken said. “From a to celebrate holidays and traditions together.” religious perspective, Hanukkah is actually a Levinson’s favorite part of Jewish holidays is very minor Jewish this sense of unity, holiday. Shabbat when her whole [the Sabbath], Yom family celebrates Kippur [Day of H a n u k k a h “Growing up with my faith, I knew I was together. Because Atonement], and different from a lot of other people, but Rosh Hashanah her mother is [the Jewish new Catholic and it’s never bothered me. I’m proud of year] are the most her father is my heritage” important Jewish Jewish, Levinson holidays.”

Junior Ellianna Olken p a r t i c i p a t e s i n In general, both Christmas Olken feels and Hanukkah, accepted in the community. However, she but Hanukkah is of greater importance because recognizes that the small size of the Jewish of its significance to her faith. She is glad her community can create challenges. Since they parents made the decision to have her assume have so little representation, their faith can be her father’s religion, because she identifies most easily overlooked. with the culture and values of Judaism.

“It’s hard being a religious minority in a very “I feel more accepted in that faith,” Levinson Christian area because most people assume that said. “You’re not judged if you don’t go to

everything. [The best part of Judaism is] the acceptance of people and the centering around helping others. I don’t think I’ve been to a service where the rabbi hasn’t talked about different charities that could help people during her speeches.”

Because the Jewish Calendar follows the moon, as opposed to the sun, the dates of their holidays on the Gregorian Calendar change every year. This year, Hanukkah began on Dec. 6 and continued through Dec. 14. During these eight days, there is a strong emphasis on celebrating as a family, lighting the menorah with an additional candle each night, and exchanging gifts with each other. They will also spin the dreidel, during a game in which players gamble for candy rewards.

“Each night, for eight nights in a row, we sing certain prayers and light candles to remind us of days long ago,” Mike Levinson, Isabelle’s father, said. “We are celebrating the concept of good over evil.”

Mike has celebrated Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays for the entirety of his life, first with his childhood household and then with a family of his own. Much like Olken and Isabelle, his favorite memories of Hanukkah consist of moments spent with their families.

“As a child, we got very simple gifts, but we got one each night,” Mike said. “My parents would hide them so we could search for them after lighting the candles. I remember things like crayons, pencils, coloring books, Pez, a set of postcards. Even though they seem not so exciting today, I loved it as a kid. Today, I like singing the same songs with my kids each night that my parents used to sing with me.”

The importance of family, charity, and acceptance are all central aspects of Judaism, which are reflected in their holidays. Both the Levinsons and the Olkens find these morals and values appealing, and find personal fulfillment in their faith.”

“The best parts of my faith are the morals that it teaches, the special traditions, the huge amount of culture that goes with it, and the diversity,” Olken said. “I like the Jewish holidays, the traditions, and I’m proud of my heritage.”

Syrian Oppression

Victory of Maccabees

Anomaly of the Oil

In second century BCE, the Jewish people were oppressed by the Seleucid Empire of Syria. Frustrated with their situation, they rebelled.

A small, Jewish army, called the Maccabees, retook their temple in Jerusalem. Inside, their religious lantern, the “Eternal Light”, was not lit.

There was only enough oil to light the lantern for one night, but it burned for eight days, until they were able to acquire more.

The season of family

FEATURES

Bloom where you are planted

The White family devote around 10-12 hours a week to serving others around Midland. They built their family around serving others and believe that this is the key to their happiness.

Hannah McAtamney | Design Editor & Ian Andridge | Staff Writer The White family enjoys doing various types of volunteering. During the Christmas season, one of their favorite organizations to volunteer with is The Salvation Army, through bell ringing. They enjoy their time together and enjoy the interactions with the people from around Midland with the community. They give a lot their time to charity so they can bring happiness to others, as well as themselves. Ian Andridge | Photo

N

ineteen years of immense happiness and joy. The White family believes that they have found the key to such a life: serving others. They said that volunteering is well worth it for the delight they receive in turn.

“I think if everyone found the joy that we find in volunteering, this would be a different world, a different place, and different community that we live in,” father Paul White said.

Paul, his wife, Kim, and their sons John, Adam, Eric, and Luke, see the importance and value in volunteering and giving time to the other people around them.

They decided to devote their lives to service many years ago, based on a quote written in a book that Paul was reading.

“For Kim [my wife] and I, it started before any of the kids were born,” Paul said. “It began with a quote from Zig Ziglar: ‘You can get everything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want.’”

Taking the words to heart, the Whites began to volunteer by visiting members of their church who were unable to come on Sunday mornings, so that they would still feel a part of the church body.

They thought they would try out this life of service and see how much it would benefit their lives as well.

“I love being a servant and having a servant’s heart, and that’s what we based our marriage on, our love for each other on; serving other people,” Paul said.

Through helping others in the way that “We try not to make [volunteer work] he has, Paul believes that he has found true seasonal,” Paul said. “If it’s that good of thing happiness. He found the way to fill the hole that to do, why do it for only 40 days? Why are we he believes most people are searching. not doing it year round?”

“So many of us are trying to find our own joy The Whites volunteer with several different and happiness, so we do things all of the time to organizations throughout the year such as, make ourselves Sharing Tree, happy, and Stars in the what I’ve Garden, and realized is that M i d l a n d “Lasting, consistent happiness comes from w h e n y o u ’r e Blooms. They pursuing also sponsor helping other people.” h a p p i n e s s , families by you rarely find bringing them it,” Paul said. Father, Paul White f o o d a n d “You may find presents. it temporarily, By training but it doesn’t last. Lasting, consistent happiness their kids to expect this as a part of daily life, comes from helping other people.” they have been very receptive of this life style.

After Paul and Kim realized the benefits of Kim said that they always follow along as if this volunteering and doing charity work, they knew was normal and every child’s life. that service would be something they passed on “The kids never complain about having to go to their children. volunteer,” Kim said. “It’s just a part of what we “We wanted them to know that their lives do. If I say we have to go build this or paint this, weren’t necessarily normal, not everyone got they’re right in it. They’re always ready to go. to live the lives that they were living,” Paul It’s just a way of life.” said. “There are a lot of people out there that Each member of the family has their own are suffering.” reasons behind why they love volunteering, They have made it a priority for their family but they all agree that it is so important and to give to others throughout the entire year, life-changing. not just the Christmas season. They want their “I really like putting smiles on people’s faces.” family and others to remember that people need Freshman John said, “It’s really cool to see love and support continuously. people react to when you are helping them out.

Or just doing something good in general. It’s fun to do this stuff, to see those reactions and to see people happy. That’s what makes it worth it, to see them gain what you gave them.”

One of the family’s favorite volunteering activities is to serve lunch at The Open Door, the homeless shelter in Midland.

They often devote time on the weekends to spend time with the people who are staying at the shelter. They prepare the menus, cook, serve, and clean up.

“The great part about it is that we take our family and we get to take other volunteers with us,” Kim said. “We’re training others up to volunteer as well.”

The White’s view their service as their mission field. They said that volunteering at places such as the Open Door is their way of being able to serve a community and to show the love they have for people.

“I can’t leave and go to Africa, I have my responsibilities here,” Kim said. “So I’m trying to change my world here, The Midland community is my world. This is my mission field.”

Paul and Kim said it is important to invest in the place they live and spend the most time.

They believe in making the world around them a better place, no matter how great or small the contribution.

“Once you’re where you are, get planted,” Paul said. “Bloom where you are planted and change the world where you are.”

19 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

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Julia Quinn

#goals vs. #reality

F

rom #lifegoals to #relationshipgoals fails to reveal are that the moments in between to #bodygoals, today’s social media is those photos of bliss and happiness are blowing up with the idea of #goals. We sometimes moments of heartache, arguments, are all guilty of seeing someone and wishing and stress. People should understand that to have what they have, based only on their my photos are meant to be a part of my life, photos. Often, we don’t personally know the rather than something to be a goal or aim for account owner and see their photos through someone else, because my life isn’t perfect. the eyes of an outsider.

We should focus more on being content with Instagram and other social media accounts our own lives. I, along with all Instagram are meant to share slices of life with the public, users, should not need those comments to but they can also make us stray from reality. feel good about life or relationships at all. Our Each letter we type and each photo we post, happiness and goals should come simply from is meant to portray ourselves in the specific loving the life that we live. way we want to be viewed. But that portrayal On the other hand, I often find myself of our lives is not exactly how we live. No scrolling through Instagram, diving deeper matter what the photo is, followers cannot and deeper into the social media tunnel and understand an accurate representation of who discovering lives that seem perfect to me in we are. every way. For example, the newly married So that brings us back to the idea of how we, couple that I’ve been following on Instagram as teenagers, desperately wish to be someone for a solid year or two. I have witnessed their we are not, when greatest moments, we have no true from the engagement “The sad thing is, not only are we understanding to the wedding of the life that comparing our lives to a romanticized to their worldly these people live. journeys, just by portrayal of random people, but we are scrolling through For example, you search their accounts for ten desiring lives that aren’t our own.” #relationshipgoals minutes. They travel and find over the world and take 1 million beautiful photos. photos pertaining to the topic. You follow They love Jesus and aren’t afraid to share it. a celebrity who posted a photo of her and Their lives seem to be surrounded by joy and her dog followed by 4,000 comments saying adventure all of the time. That’s the way I #doggoals. You scroll through a fitness want to live. account, each photo of girls with 8-packs I then wish their lives were my own and and guys with perfectly sculpted arms with focus on how sad my life is in comparison hundreds of comments saying #bodygoals. to theirs, living in Midland, Michigan and I understand what is like to have people spending 7+ hours at school. From those compliment my Instagram by commenting simple moments of scrolling, I look at others things like “#goals” and the overused heart and their lives and think to myself, ‘Wow, emoji; but I also am that person who will they have the perfect life and I wish I was like get lost in the world of Instagram for hours, them. They are #goals.’ finding more and more accounts that I view as The sad thing is, not only are we comparing perfect. Those accounts are #goals for me. our lives to a romanticized portrayal of It is flattering to me when people comment random people, but we are desiring lives that things like “relationship goals” or “this is aren’t our own. With each thought of #goals, where goals come from” on photos of my we can easily lose a piece of who we are. No boyfriend and me. It makes me feel good one can ever be completely satisfied with the about my relationship, but in reality my life they live. Sadly, it’s human nature. But photos fail to share the full story. And they human nature can change and we can work most definitely do not share the entirety of my harder to focus on the happiness that our life. own lives bring us, rather than comparing I’m not saying that my Instagram shows a ourselves to others through Instagram. “fake” version of life; every photo I post, I post As young people, we should make it a #goal with true joy and earnest. But what Instagram to be #ourselves.

Do you think the safety of Midland High needs to be improved?

Improving security NEWS

“Yes, because there are a lot of cars that have been violated recently in the parking lot, because there isn’t enough security there.”

Senior Grant Grenesko

“Yes, because we need more secuity in the parking lot so it’s monitored better.”

Junior Emily Hills

Resource Officer Corey Armstead patrols the school not only to help enforce rules, and laws, but to ensure the safety of the students. Kirstyn Cotton | Photo

There is a new face patrolling the halls and grounds of the school. Officer Corey Armstead has been filling in for Jeremy Davis while he is out on medical leave. Armstead, along with the new pass system, are working to make the school a safer environment. Kirstyn Cotton | Opinion Editor & Lillian Mohr | Staff Writer & Hayley Russell | Staff Writer

O “Yes, because there are many kids who are doing bad things and they aren’t all getting caught so teachers should pay more attention to things in the hallway.”

Sophomore Clarissa Zegelien

“No, because there are already cameras all over the school.”

Freshman Caleb Keegstra

fficer Corey Armstead has many of roles as the school resource officer. On top of providing support for students that need it, he also ensures the safety of the school.

Armstead patrols the school during lunch to monitor the students, leaving in vehicles, and leaving on foot. This is to cut down on complaints from neighboring areas and to ensure that students are staying safe.

“During lunch, for my short time being here, plus speaking with some of the administration and Officer [Jeremy] Davis, [I’ve learned that] a lot of the problems are exterior,” Armstead said. “Most of my patrols are on the outside just because the number of potential problems is greater outside than it is inside.”

Armstead’s presence is one of a few recent changes to improve school security. He takes the place of Davis, who is still out on medical leave. Armstead said he works closely with administration to keep the students, faculty, and campus as safe as possible.

For math teacher Mary Hillman, having an officer at school has definitely created a sense of security. Hillman, who has been teaching at MHS for 13 years, can remember times in her career when she would see fights, almost daily, between students.

Having a police officer at school for most of

the day has cut down on this these conflicts.

“I have loved the fact that there’s a police officer here,” Hillman said. “I think that it makes a big difference. I can remember, years and years ago, where I’d sit there and look out [the window] and there would be a fight out there all the time. Now, with the presence of a police officer, I feel like this isn’t going on.”

In addition to the police officer, a new pass system was recently implemented to increase the safety of the school by limiting the number of students in the hallways. Every teacher has only three classroom passes, each with a different meaning: red for the office, blue for the water fountain and the restroom, and white for lockers.

Hillman says that the new system has also helped kids to remember to sign out of the classroom before leaving, so that teachers know where all of their students are.

“Since we’ve had the new pass system, I feel like [the school] has been a lot more secure,” Hillman said. “I’m more aware of who’s coming and going and students aren’t going out more than one at a time. Students seem to be better about writing their name on the sign out sheet, which is also important for safety.”

For three hours of the day, paraprofessionals who aren’t assigned to students walk the halls.

Their job is to ensure that students are where they are supposed to be and not roaming the halls.

According to assistant principal Kandis Pritchett, the district has money that will be used in the future to help increase the school safety.

“With the bond that passed last winter, there are funds that, eventually, will help make the schools even more secure,” Pritchett said. “It could even be where you have to be ‘buzzed’ in like some schools have done.”

Armstead said one thing that needs to be improved is the fact that there are times where he finds some of the doors propped open, giving anyone access to the school.

“The doors are supposed to stay closed and locked during hours of school,” Armstead said.

“With doors being propped open, anyone can access the building unauthorized.”

Although there are still some improvements to be made, Hillman says that, overall, Midland High is very safe because of everyone surrounding her. “ We a r e o n l y a s s a f e a s t h e p e o p l e surrounding us,” Hillman said. “Any place can be unsafe, no matter where you’re at, so we’re very dependent on others around us. We are a lot safer because we are all Chemics and we are here for a common purpose.”

21 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

End of an era NEWS

With the closing of Parkdale Elementary, former Panthers were scattered among the community. The demolition of the school brings back memories from students and teachers. Lexi Costley | Ads Coordinator & Gabriel Severson | Staff Writer & Suzannah Koop | Staff Writer

W

ith anticipation stirring, Midland High.

“When I hear some of the students, former Parkdale teacher, John Volmering, sat in whether it’s basketball or football or front of the TV watching the school band, when I see them, many of them are board meeting. The year was 2009 and from Parkdale,” Volmering said. “So that the board was deciding which five connection, thinking back to Parkdale, and elementary schools would be closed being their teacher, definitely brings back good memories for me.” because of budget cuts.

Superintendent Michael Sharrow has Though Parkdale wasn’t initially on the docket to be cut, the meeting plans regarding the usage of Parkdale’s seemed to be suggesting otherwise. land and wants to make it a part of Midland As soon as the school was mentioned, High’s campus.

“We see athletics moving further back Volmering knew that it was going to over into the corner,” Sharrow said. “Maybe be closed the following year.

“That day will always stick in my lacrosse coming over here because they’re mind,” Volmering said. “I had a pit in losing Central. Parkdale will become part my stomach, and I turned to whoever of the parking lot. By January 15th, it’s probably was next to down and me and said gone.”

‘Parkdale Junior i s g o i n g t o “I had a pit in my stomach, and I turned to L u k e c l o s e . ’ I ’l l whoever was next to me and said ‘Parkdale Waskevich, never forget is going to close.’ I’ll never forget that.” a f o r m e r that. It was Parkdale j u s t o n e o f John Volmering tudent, the worst

former Parkdale teacher senjoyed his feelings that time at the I’ve ever had school, and is sad to see the school being about school.”

Volmering, currently a physical demolished.

“We go over there for soccer since education teacher at Chestnut Hill Elementary School, taught at Parkdale football uses the stadium,” Waskevich said. for eight years until it was shut down. “But it would be cool if it wasn’t shutting He taught one year of third grade and down. It wasn’t a bad school.”

Parkdale is respected and remembered seven years of fourth grade.

“Just the connections that I made vividly by former students, parents, with other teachers that I still see teachers, and administrators. Volmering around today, but don’t necessarily can not remember a specific incident t e a c h w i t h , ” h e s a i d . “ T h o s e that was important to him. nstead he connections, the friendships that remembers the experience as a whole.

“A s I l o o k b a c k a n d t h i n k a b o u t I’ve made are still there with some of the teachers, and I think that Parkdale, there really isn’t one moment it’s important. That’s one thing I that I remember, but just all the years of teaching there, the kids, and the parents,” remember.”

V o l m e r i n g a l s o r e c a l l s t h e Volmering said. “So there really wasn’t relationship between him and his one thing [that made it unique], there were former students, whenever he hears many things that made it such a unique the names of those who are now at school to me.”

22 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

What do you miss about Parkdale?

“I liked the fact that everyone was so close. You just knew everyone and were friends with everyone.”

Maddie Fordos senior

“I loved the people there and growing up in an environment that was so focused on us and fun.”

Zach Donoghue senior

“I am going to miss seeing the building but I’m going to tell my kids about Parkdale one day.”

Cade Methner sophomore

“It was an awesome place, everyone there felt like family.

When I had to switch schools in fourth grade because Parkdale closed it was a lot different.”

Tyler Fordos freshman Gabriel Severson | Photo

A change of plans

NEWS

Recent alterations made to the school library policy now requires all students to obtain a pass from teachers to access the library during lunch. Maddy O’Callaghan | Staff Writer & Zach Noel | Web Editor

I

n a n a t t e m p t t o s o l ve t r a f f i c i s s u e s Several students created petitions in attempt and disruptions on the third floor, the to try to alter the policy. Sophomore Emily administration has tightened policies to Rohn joined sophomore Emma Lillie to make address the usage of the library as a social a petition after hearing students voice their gathering place to eat. With these changes, concerns and dislike for the new policy. students are no longer allowed to eat in the “I think it’s kind of silly to need to get a pass library and are required to get a pass in order to go do homework during your lunch, which to access the library at lunch. is supposed to be an open campus,” Rohn said.

“We try to keep students near the front of “The big thing that made every one of us mad the building during lunch, and even down the was that, to us, it seems like we weren’t hurting hallways,” Principal Jeff Jaster said. “We don’t anything at all, and a lot of kids go to the library encourage students to wander freely around every single day because they don’t have the the halls during lunchtime. It does cause a time to go home and to have a safe and quiet disruption if there are classes going on and place to work.” doors open.”

The petition got more than 400 signatures With limited adults to monitor hallways, the from a variety of students. Rohn hopes that the issue of roaming students was difficult to solve. policy will be reversed after administration Jaster attempted different solutions to solve this, sees how passionate many of the students are. but finally settled on the pass system as being Junior Austin Cochran created an online the easiest solution. petition after seeing several others going “The students know the expectation for lunch around. Cochran supported the cause and is that you should eat closer to eyeball and the believed a unified online petition would be cafeteria,” Jaster said. “We’re just trying to more effective. He felt the policy didn’t solve enforce that a little bit better, and because we the problem, and created issues of its own for didn’t have a lot of people available to monitor students who want to use the library at lunch the stairwells, we felt like the only way to really for printing or computer needs, as this isn’t stop it was to go directly to the media center and available at home for some. try to require the pass there.”

“I don’t see the correlation [with the policy Teachers had and the hallway great difficulty monitoring], “They enjoyed coming up here. Lots of using the library because there during their are going to be students used this time for homework, fourth hours some students and it was a comfortable place.” because of wandering limited space Media Paraprofessional Jennifer Gay a r o u n d h a l l s and noise from regardless the students. i f y o u ’r e n o t Jaster hopes that the new pass system will allow closing down stairways and access to the students who use the space for homework and upper floor, and people who are legitimately printing to continue, while prohibiting students going to the library are not going to cause any from using the space for purely social aspects. disturbances to classes,” Cochran said. “The Media paraprofessional Patsy Hickman library is a valuable resource, and it should encourages students to get a pass from her if be used.” they wish to be in the library during lunch.

Media paraprofessional Jennifer Gay “They can still come up to do their work,” understands why the students created the Hickman said. “As long as they’re doing work, petition, as a lot of the students found the I would be glad to let them in” library to be the best option for them at lunch.

Students have received passes for the library “They enjoyed coming up here. Lots of to work on homework or read after they finish students used this time for homework, it was eating lunch, as well as for students who just a comfortable place,” Gay said. “Eyeball can want a quiet place during lunch. be intimidating, and the cafeteria isn’t a really “The directive was we don’t want students to conducive if they wanted to do homework.” eat there, and we would like to know that the Jaster also understands why the petitions students who are going there are going there for were created and is happy students have chosen legitimate purposes,” Jaster said. “So when we to voice their opinions, but hopes students try asked them to require students to get a pass, we to better understand the reasons for the policy. knew that would cause some problems for some “We weren’t saying that this was going to be kids, but we were trying to be very liberal with a perfect solution, we promised to revisit it in handing those passes out.”

December after we gave it a little time to see if it Many of the students at Midland High were helps,” Jaster said. “We felt like we had to start upset by the policy when it was first announced. somewhere, and this was our first attempt.”

Sophomore Lizzy Bott signs the petition to reopen the library at lunch. It was created by Sophomores Emma Lillie and Emily Rohn, has over 400 signatures, and continues to grow everyday. Both hope the petition will be successful, and plan to present it to administration. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo

Breaking down the facts Should the library be reopened for lunch?

8%

NO 92 %

Yes

Based on a survey of 120 students

Reasons for closing: 4th hour teachers had difficulty using the space due to noise

and limited space

A limited amount of adults monitor hallways, leading to roaming students during lunch

Food by the computers was unsafe 23 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Christmas with the Chemics A&E

“This place reminds me of Santa’s workshop. Except it

Buddy overhears Jovie singing in the shower and decides to turn it into a duet.

smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me.”

was voted the most popular Christmas movie. Here are some memorable scenes and quotes from the movie, in case you miss one of the 12 showings on ABC Family.

“We elves try to stick to the

Buddy has the wrong concept of a “special someone” and buys his father lingerie.

four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.”

Top New Year’s Resolutions Study More

17%

Eat Healthier Procrastinate Less Have a Relationship Graduate Lose Weight Be Nicer Work Out More

19%

12 Songs of Christmas

56%

of students have fake trees while

.....................

1) The student body ranked the best Christmas songs.

All I Want for Christmas is you Mariah Carey

44% of

students have real trees

2) Jingle Bell Rock

Bobby Helms

3) Jingle Bells

Bing Crosby

4) Silent Night

Elvis Presley

5) Christmas Shoes

5%

9%

NewSong

6) Frosty the Snowman

9%

10%

Gene Autry

7) Winter Wonderland

8% 23%

What is your

favorite part

of Christmas?

Jason Mraz

8) White Christmas Bing Crosby

9) Rudolph the Red Nosed

Reindeer Gene Autry

Presents Food

The Focus asked 150 students for their Christmas favorites.

Megan Nylund | Managing Editor & Kalie Dornbos | Staff Writer & Chloe Gall | Staff Writer

10) Mistletoe Seeing Family & Friends

Time off of school 24 | FOCUS | DEC 18, 2015 | mhsfocus.com

Justin Bieber

11) Last Christmas Wham!

12) Baby it’s Cold

Outside Michael Bublé