February 6th Issue

MILLAGE | PAGE 10

SINGING VALENTINES| PAGES 12-13

focus

ANXIETY| PAGES 14-15

JO KELINGOS | PAGE 24

the

Midland High School | February 06, 2015| Volume 37. Issue 5

A new kind of girl power

With three girls in Building Trades this year, the class learns what it’s like to really build like a woman Page 17

SPECIAL REPORT: looking back at the legendary athletes of MHS past, and the records they set Natalie Schwartz | Illustration

Go online to MHSFocus.com or to issuu.com/mhsfocus to read every issue since May 2012!

Volume 37, Issue 5

Re-read Past Issues

Contents N

E

W

08-09

RSVP

10

NEW MILLAGE

23

C-MONEY

11

CO-OP

24

JO KELLINGOS

F E A T U R E S 14 -15

18-20 REMEMBERING THE LEGENDS GREAT AT THE GAME Over the years, many great athletes have attended and played at Midland High. The Focus recognizes MHS Alumni who continue to hold records and love their sport.

18-19

GRADUATED PLAYERS

20

SPORTS RECORDS

21

SPORTS ZONE

A & E

S

ANXIETY

16

HEMOPHILIA

17

BUILDING TRADES

12-13

SINGING VALENTINES

E D I T O R S Maddy Wheelock Editor in Chief Michelle Demo Managing Editor Aelish Shay News Editor Sarah Wontorcik Features Editor Will Hackbarth A&E Editor Emily Fisher Sports & Photo Editor Dylan Rocha Opinion Editor Natalie Schwartz Design Editor Mercedes Hussein Ad Coordinator Noah Surbrook Exchange Editor Ella Colbert Web Editor in Chief Megan Nylund Web Assistant Editor Jim Woehrle Adviser Midland Daily News Printer

O U R M I Sto SIO N away S T A Twith E M Estuff NT Disclaimer get Focus, established in 1977, previously the Vic Tribune established in 1936, is the official school sponsored 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 Inter scholastic Press Association(MIPA),andQuillandScroll.AdvisermembershipalsoincludestheJournalism 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.

Creating the change

WHAT DO YOU THINK? How do you feel about the RSVP program?

“It’s a good way to get kids to say what they feel would be good for the school.”

Freshman Colton Kaminski

Michelle Demo | Illustration

While the RSVP program was a good start, it has a few problems that keep it from reaching its full potential.

T

he administration. For many students, these two words hold very little meaning, other than representing a group that controls the school. Many feel they have they have minimal say or influence on the administration’s decisions. The Raising Student Voice Participation (RSVP) program was implemented this year in an attempt to eliminate this separation between student and administration.

The Focus believes that destroying the barriers between students and administration is a noble goal, and the RSVP program could be the perfect program to achieve it. Student council’s effort to make every kid’s voice be heard, and find out the most prevalent issues they feel need to be fixed, was impressive.

It gave students hope for a more important role in creating the ideal school environment.

Many were eager to make the alterations they felt were necessary to fulfill their vision of a better school.

Unfortunately, as the proctors stood in front of their respective classes during the third summit, reading off a script full of reasons why the administration or state law said they could not achieve some ideas, like longer lunch periods and neglecting exams for A students, just yet, it seemed like they could not change much.

We understand there are an incredible amount of logistics, politics, and overall complexity in attempting to change school policy, especially with large changes like the time allotted for lunch. We know it will take a long time to get things done. We also understand that it’s the program’s first year and it still has time to work out the inevitable

problems that any program has when beginning.

Therefore, the Focus believes that, if student council can figure out how to make improvements like the following, RSVP can be an amazing tool through which students can get their voice heard and implement meaningful change.

First, there needs to be better selection of proctors. Asking each third hour teacher to recommend two proctors is a good start to the selection process, but it is not perfect.

Good students in the classroom don’t always make great leaders or competent informers.

Inversely, students who go unnoticed by the teachers, or who are not in their top two, could be great proctors. We understand that, with the sheer number of proctors needed, it would be incredibly hard for all proctors to be passionate about the program. However, the addition of a short application process would allow some students who were not picked to try out, and help determine who is really willing to make this program great and who is in it for the free pizza.

Once the proctors are picked, there needs to be streamlined and informative training in place. An all day excursion with two men no one has ever seen before going through tedious power points results in confusion and lost attention. Instead, there should be an efficient briefing on the programs goals and how to properly speak to a class, with subsequent, mandatory meetings before every summit where the script is gone over in detail. We understand attempts were made to have more informative meetings, but communication with proctors through more

than the school email, perhaps a Remind 101, would greatly increase the attendance.

Lastly, there should be a longer time between the second and third summit, or there should be an additional summit, so the students know what progress or changes have been made as a result of the program. RSVP has already done a lot, and is working to do much more, but that is not the impression it gave much of the school. Many of the proctors read directly from the script, which made the whole program feel official and distant, which is the opposite of its intent. In addition, the way the script was worded and delivered often made people think that their ideas for change could not be achieved. More emphasis should be placed on how hard student council is working on turning students’ ideas into realities, and the progress they have already made, like cleaning up the girl’s locker rooms.

There could possibly be a fourth summit that states what the student council has achieved, to ensure students know that they are making a difference.

Finally, if one of the top ten student ideas is practically impossible, given state law, the idea with the next highest votes should take its place.

Overall, the RSVP program has a great foundation and promising potential to give the students an important voice in running their school. If student council can manage to work out the program’s few flaws, the Focus believes it could be a very powerful instrument to construct channels of communication between students and administration and pave the way for change. F

“It’s good for our school in that it really helps out and will change our school for the better.”

Sophmore Danielle Pickens

“People are expecting too much from it; a lot of things people ask for aren’t achievable.”

Junior Griffin Marsh

“It’s useful to some extent, but a lot of things students want, it can’t help.”

Senior Shelby Burhans

editorial | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 03

TIDBITS Random pieces of information told in less

Upcoming

than 50 words

Inches of snow that has fallen in Michigan this year according to Michigan Tech

3 THINGS you don’t have to worry about this month

Passing your first semester exams

Tweet of the Month O fficially decided I’m making it a life goal of mine to learn the Carlton dance #noshame

Planning your Super Bowl XLIX party

FEB

There is no school on this day for the students. It’s the day before Valentines Day, so this gives you one last chance to find the right gift for your Valentine, or simply find your Valentine.

FEB

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is celebrated today. It’s a day of parades, beads, parties, and funky masks.

13 16

Seeing your significant others best friends on snapchat

Finding the right Valentines gift for your special someone

Follow THIS User

@Zac_Schneider10

H

ERE

?V I

’S

and one thing you still do...

FEB

14 24 FEB

Valentines Day. That one day of the year when you can show the people you love how much you care about them.

This day is what those bright orange signs have been referencing to. It’s voting day for the millage.

CORRECTIONS

Last issue we ran a story about A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Michelle Demo tried to tell us senior Nick Wolf was a sophomore. She as wrong and we are judging her. Thanks Michelle.

W

1 2 3

BY THE NUMBERS

C

115

M r. Root ’s name was spelled “Kenall ” instead of “Kendall” in the math club story.

We know that he is not a place for dogs to relax in. We may need to start a spelling club.

Vic will be hidden anywhere throughout the paper each month. Anyone wishing to submit themselves in the competition must tweet at The Focus with their fifth hour teacher, a photo, and the location of Vic. Whoever does this first with the correct location of Vic is the winner.

Last Issues Winner

Photo OF THE Month 66 likes jrdhhman H2 Oh my gerd

4 | FOCUS | 1/6/2015 | op/ed

Follow THIS User @jrdhhman

Senior Emily Long

Will Hackbarth

Maddy Wheelock

The God Column

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could never put so much trust in someone else. Especially someone so abstract to me.

The other day, I saw a video about idolatry. A few very religious people were interviewed, all sharing their story about how God saved them. One woman explained that she wanted to be a boy when she was little, and then discovered that God didn’t make “mistakes” and forced herself to embrace her femininity.

I understand why people turn to religion when they feel helpless. But she pushed away a huge part of her identity. The things we’re forced into believing are sins make life seem so limited, like experimenting with what makes us happy or helps us feel better is wrong if the bible didn’t suggest it. When the girl in the video talked about recovering after her sexual assault, didn’t give any credit to herself. God didn’t help her, he did it for her.

He saved her and made her better. How can you ever love yourself when you give God the credit for every good thing you’ve ever done?

I’ve been yelled at by religious people enough times to know that God will not be there for me unless I give my life over to him. Sometimes when I really need something, I pray “just in case.” But I have been told, and begun to believe, that this is cheating. My mom and I don’t go to church anymore, and I don’t thank him when miracles happen. So I don’t deserve to ask him for help. If I celebrate alone, I must also suffer alone.

I’ve been invited to enough uncomfortable youth group events to know that I will be judged (and I will judge) no matter where I show up. Church is too political to be a community that I feel comfortable in. I’ve read enough stories about people killing each other in the name of their religion to see that it is corrupt. I see why people find comfort in following God, but I know I could never convince myself to join them. Bringing up The God Topic is just as uncomfortable now as it was when I was seven.

How can you ever love yourself when you give God the credit for every good thing you’ve ever done?

W

hen I was little, sports were everything to me. I would spend days thinking up imaginary rosters for various pretend sports teams and play against myself for hours in the backyard. I would wake up early every morning to watch Sports Center and catch all the games I could during the day. I often went down to Detroit to watch the Tigers and played baseball or kickball with my friends in the street. I also played all sorts of organized sports, from soccer to football, and loved participating in all of them. There was only one problem: I was terrible at every sport I tried.

In soccer I was content to stand and watch the ball go by me as I stood shivering midfield. In the three years I played, I almost got a goal, once. In basketball I couldn’t really shoot, or rebound, or play defense.

Essentially, all I could do was run around after the ball. In baseball I was lucky if my batting average was in the two hundreds, and I prayed for a walk or a bean each time I was up to bat.

Football I was by far the worst at. I had neither the size nor the mentality that would allow me to tackle a person, so I just kind of stood and let kids bulldoze over me. They usually fell down, though, and all I had to do was get back up and do it again. I also couldn’t catch or run well with all my football pads on, which rendered my quite an ineffective wide receiver.

But I was decently athletic, I worked hard and went to all the practices, I had passion for each sport, and I wanted nothing more than to be good at one. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t be any better than adequate at any sport. Especially after I got cut from the Northeast boys basketball team,

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which I had no chance of making, I was turned away from sports. I was convinced it was not my thing.

Then my dad told me I should try curling.

I had no idea what it was, other than it involved throwing big rocks down sheets of ice and sweeping brooms. But I had seen it on the Olympics once and it looked interesting, so I decided to try it out. After the first practice, I was hooked. It became clear it was not an easy sport like so many people say, but rather something more like bowling or golf that required honed technique. In addition, there was an element of strategy that made the sport even more complex and appealing.

More importantly, I knew that, after enough time, I could actually become passingly good at it. I had found my sport.

Oh, and since, for some reason, people tend to get up in arms about what is and what is not a sport, as if it makes any difference whatsoever, I’m calling it a sport because it’s in the Olympics and Wikipedia says so, so there.

I have curled for five years since that day, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Not only is it a sport that exercises you mentally and physically, it is a sport you can always get better at and play for almost the entirety of your life. I also get to travel to Canada and different states to compete, and meet all sorts of people. There are funny older gentlemen who have played for decades and absolutely love the game, ten-year-old Canadians that can beat you like its nothing, and guys who just come to get drunk after the game.

So even if it seems like there is no sport you could ever enjoy, or be good at, maybe try something weird, like curling. It could become a lifelong hobby.

I had neither the size nor the mentality that would allow me to tackle a person, so I just kind of stood and let kids bulldoze over me.

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O

ne of my earliest memories is asking my mom if she loved me more than she loved God. I don’t remember what she said, but I remember knowing that was a question I wasn’t supposed to ask. Soon after this, my mom and I moved to Midland and began The Great Church Hunt. Since my family is mainly Catholic, I took a year of catechism and was confirmed in the catholic church.

Then, almost every month came with a new worship experience. I was never excited to go; I was an elementary schooler, I would sit on the kneelers and use the benches as a coloring table. I knew church wasn’t supposed to be exciting. I said my prayers at night, though I thought “If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take” was more scary than it was comforting. God was confusing. I was supposed to think about him, but if I talked about him at school, I’d be met with arguments.

Even at seven, God was a touchy subject.

At that age, I was told I was going to hell for the first time. And that’s where my relationship with religion got rocky.

As I outgrew the coloring books and started turning around and paying attention in church, my opinions grew stronger and my questions more frequent. If God loved me so much, why did I have to be afraid that he would send me to hell? Why would he make people gay if he was just going to damn them for being with who they loved? If God was supposed to be comfort, why did people yell about him so much? And why couldn’t we always talk about him freely?

Religion has always been fascinating to me and I try my very best to respect it, but I have never truly felt comfortable with it.

When I think of people who put all of their trust in God, it scares me a little. It took me a long time to learn how to trust myself; I

A Sport of Champions

op/ed | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 5

‘‘

Michaela Carpenter

Aelish Shay

A changed life

I

’m not good at sending thank you notes. I Good bye and thankyou for your have dozens of them in several varieties, endorsement in linkedn. I have same job in pretty and unmarked and sealed in embassy and everything is fine. little boxes that collect dust on my desk. I ONCE AGAIN MISS YOU FROM ALL ALL forget, I put them off and in the end they MY FAMILY AND KIDS. are never written on paper. But there is MUSHTAQ” one “thank you” in particular, that cannot go For a number of reasons, I was only able unrecognized. to talk to my dad about trivial things while Two years ago, my dad (referred to as Jim he was there. I learned about things from below) met and befriended a Bahraini man Bahrain’s weather and gas prices to local and his family while serving overseas as cricket teams. I didn’t learn about this man Deputy Chief of Military Cooperation in the and his family until he got home carrying American embassy in Manama; two weeks gifts from them in his luggage - perfumes for ago, he received the following email from each of the members of my family. More than him: scent, more than material culture, it had a “Sir from all my family -powerful effect on me, just like their letter.

How are you doing. I know i don’t keep in Too often, foreigners see Americans in touch and thats my fault CUZ ALL - I MEAN the news for the wrong reasons, ones that ALL MY FAMILY MISSES YOU. My mom say appear to spit on other as i am writing religions and support this email ‘tell mr in the guise The Mushtaq’s family bloodshed jim he is a VERY of nationalism.

NICE MAN made Too often, we hear treated my dad like he was

by God and we hate speech and broad a part of it. They ate and generalizations, all like you. My things wife is saying’ talked together and in the like Rupert Murdoch we all miss you end, found more similarities tweeting “Maybe most and if there is a Moslems peaceful, but than differences. guest comming until they recognize to our house, the and destroy their kids say - is it growing jihadist cancer uncle jim mom, they must be held responsible.”In yet another where is he, why is he not comming. WE ARE war that transcends frontlines to media, and ALL OK. My mom is saying how is your the generation of our parents to ourselves, wife this family, the Mushtaq’s wonderful family, daughter treated my dad like he was a part of it. They son ate together and talked together and in the and cousins. end, found more similarities than differences.

Once again sir, LET ME TAKE SOME I hope they do move here. I hope that I can PICTURES AND I WILL SEND YOU A finally meet the people behind the stories.

BUNCH. My wife says ‘do people like this Mostly I hope that I can be as special as they live all over US or he was special’ thought he was, by being one less vessel of LOVE YOU SIR FROM ME AND ALL hatred and one more person that shows them FAMILY, that our families are just like their families.

By the way we are all going to come to US So, to Safiya, Atiba, Juveria, Ali, Hadej, and immigrate over there permanently but in Ruquiya, Imrn, Abdulrahaman, and Mr. next 8-10 years.

Mushtaq- I owe you more than thanks. A My sister is saying we are going to stay, more appropriate phrase that comes to mind sleep and live with MR JIM. is one that you taught my dad the meaning of;

6 | FOCUS | 1/6/2015 | op/ed

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As-salamu alaykum. Peace be upon you.

S

ometimes I wonder why people make of the chance for something better ahead, New Year’s resolutions. Why wait until a new life filled with promises of love and January to make a change for the better? forgiveness and joy and eternal life brings If something in your life isn’t how you want hope beyond compare. If a New Year’s it to be, it would make sense to start changing resolution creates camaraderie because things right away, and yet so many of us wait other people are doing the same thing, the to do anything until the New Year. It seems promise of a loving and all-powerful God strange to me, and yet it makes sense. A new who will never leave you or forsake you, plus year is full of hope, because the old one is the added bonus of the people around the completely over and done with, and the new world who follow him too and are now your one could bring anything. A resolution made brothers and sisters in Christ, well, that makes in the beginning of a new year connects you loneliness disappear completely. to others; you know you’re not alone because It’s not an easy decision, and I won’t countless other people are taking steps to pretend that it is. Just like some people’s New change their lives too. You’re in it together. A Year’s resolutions seem a little over-the-top New Year’s resolution means starting fresh to their friends, this decision might seem like and having a clean slate on which you can a pretty big commitment to you. And it is. It write whatever you choose. So people make means completely changing your focus and resolutions. your priorities, it means saying no to yourself I’m really and yes to Christ, and it no different means following where I’m forgiven and I’m loved, than everyone he leads you every day even though he knows all else. I make for the rest of your life. So New Year’s yes, it might seem crazy. of my mistakes and all of resolutions it’s the best decision I the things I try to hide from But almost every have ever made. Because everyone else. year, and I’m despite the challenges slowly getting it may bring, having a better at keeping relationship with my them. My resolution this year is already savior Jesus Christ has changed my life for proving to be beneficial, and I can’t wait to the better--and it continues to change me. see how it plays out throughout the rest of I’m forgiven and I’m loved, even though he 2015. But is this year going to bring about a knows all of my mistakes and all of the things new me? Nope. The truth is, I’ve already been I try to hide from everyone else. Even when made new. Several years ago I was given a I distance myself from other people or feel second chance at life, and I took it. I’ve never rejected by those around me, I know that I been the same since. am never alone. No matter what my future The most important decision I ever made may bring, I don’t have to fear; I don’t know was one that might seem strange to you. Most what will happen to me in this life, but I know resolutions are about self-empowerment; where I’ll be in the next. they’re about taking control of your life and Please understand, I’m not saying that I am doing whatever you need to do to make perfect. I mess up just like everyone else, and your life better. This decision wasn’t about I’m sure I’ll always have some New Year’s what I could do, but what God had already resolution that I decide to try each year; some done for me. It didn’t give me a sense of I’ll continue to do and some won’t last long empowerment, but instead showed me how at all. My decision to follow Christ, though, important it was to give up the tight hold I is one decision that I will never take back had on my life. I didn’t decide to work harder or turn away from. I may have made the to achieve success and forge my own path resolution to surrender my life to Jesus many through life--I decided to follow Jesus. years ago, but I’ve held to that resolution, and If a new year brings some hope because I always will.

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As-salamu alaykum

Noah Surbrook

I

was just sitting in English class one day, people. 8.5 million of those people watched at minding my own business when a big the same time. tough 5’8” hockey benchwarmer tries to Let’s put that into perspective. tell me that I don’t play a real sport. All right Super Bowl XLIX (2015) between the New maybe it wasn’t completely unprovoked, but England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks it gets my goat when people try to tell me that was the most watched game in NFL history what I do isn’t a sport. I try not to let it bother with 114.5 million viewers. The 2006 FIFA me, and it usually doesn’t. No matter what World Cup Final was one of the most watched anyone else says, swim is an excruciatingly events in television history. It raked in with difficult sport, and like any other sport, not an unbelievable 715.1 million views. anyone can do it.

I was pretty blown away to see that a But what makes a sport? Kind of a hot video game competition could bring in such topic, especially for athletes with their sports viewership. 32 million is about the population in question. I’ve heard different criteria for of Cuba, Belgium, and Portugal combined. I what was equally surprised to makes a see that the winning team sport and took away a 1,000,000 I was pretty blown away I’ve seen USD prize. to see that a video game people This surprisingly defend popular sport is growing competition could bring in their rapidly due to the the combined population of views on increased availability sports like of viewing major Cuba, Belgium, and Potugal. their lives competitions, largely from depended Twitch, the most popular on it. I don’t want to be hypocritical and say viewing platform for esports. that something isn’t a sport, but at a certain The International, which is the largest Dota point I draw a line. Let it be known that I 2 competition in the world, had a prize pot of think pom pon, cheer, swim, and organized 10,000,000USD, the largest prize pot in esport running are all sports. history. It was even broadcast by ESPN. I started thinking heavily on the topic when The more I read, the more esports began to I heard of something new. I heard a video look like real sports. It had huge competitions, game referred to as an “Electronic sport”. high stakes, and surprisingly well paid I figured it was just some obscure group of teams and players. I think it’s a really cool serious gamers but a little research showed activity. As someone who’s only good at one that I was very wrong. Electronic sports or videogame (Pokemon) I think it’s pretty cool “esports” are very popular and growing. that someone can earn millions of dollars by Esports are defined as “organized video playing a videogame. Esports are so unique game competitions, especially between in the fact that there is so little limitation professionals”. It can be basically any video compared to most sports. You don’t have to game but the most common and popular be tall or fast or have a huge vertical to be able games for electronic athletes are League to succeed in esports which I really like. of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Just like any sport, it still takes hard work Offensive, and StarCraft II. and dedication to become someone who ranks I didn’t even know that this existed. among the best in the world. To compete That the videogame community classified seriously in esports it’s no different, but it’s their hobby/pastime as a sport. I was very a talent that you don’t necessarily have to be surprised to find out just how big esports are born with, which is the case with most sports. around the world. The League of Legends Esports have changed my view of sports Season 3 World Championship was broadcast just a little bit and I think I’ll be paying more over Twitch and watched by 32 million attention to a broader world of sports.

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My perfect day

M

idland can be boring, we all know I would be stopping into every single bakery that. Now imagine if you had all the to stock up on their French pastries and bread money in the world and could get for later in the day. out of here for a day. I know exactly what I 2:00pm-2:30pm: Another super speedy flight would do: over to Alberta, Canada. (Remember, it’s 11:00pm (night before): Get on my private jet mega fast) and fly to Hawaii. (Sleep on the way there) 2:30pm: Hike. Here I would pack all my gear Sunrise: Wake up in Hawaii in a huge bed on into a hiking backpack: Hammock (double), the beach covered with white comforters and granola bars, water, camera, swim suit, book, watch the sunrise, just relaxing. etc.) I would hike up to the most beautiful 8:30am: Throw my suit on and grab my waterfall that crashes into a small turquoise snorkel gear. I would plunge into the ocean lake. First, I would swim in the waterfall pool and snorkel to my yacht that would be and then mock while reading my book and located off the shores of where I woke up. As enjoying the sounds of nature.

I snorkeled, I would take tons of underwater 4:30pm-5:00pm: Another super speedy flight photos of the over to Colorado. vibrantly colored 5:00pm: In Colorado, I fish and sea would meet all of my Midland can be boring, creatures. shredder buddies to we all know that. Now 9:00am: Reach the ski at Aspen (Inspired yacht. My best by the movie: Aspen imagine if you had friends would be Extreme). The day all the money in the meeting me at my would turn into night ship via helicopter here with a beautiful world and could get for breakfast. Of sunset. We would spend out of here for a day. course we would approximately 2 hours be having french skiing with no breaks toast, fruit salad, but the chairlift rides and orange juice. up. On these rides, we After breakfast and overlooking the ocean for would meet so many interesting people and an hour, we would head to the sun deck for chat with them about the most random, funny some morning yoga. things. My time here would be filled with 10:30: After snorkeling back to shore, my falls, great runs, and uncontrollable laughter friends and I would head over to the local with our new chair lift friends. farmers market. I would be wearing a sweet 7:00pm: Dinner. After skiing, I would head up Hawaiian maxi dress and one of those huge to my giant log cabin that would be wedged sunhats while we would stroll around talking into the side of the mountain so my view from to the locals and purchase homemade jewelry every window would be the mountains. I and fresh fruit. would prepare a huge Italian meal with pizza, 11:30am-12:00pm: Super speedy flight over to cheese raviolis, bread I bought from France, Paris for lunch. (It’s a mega fast jet) and the fruit from Hawaii. After dinner with 12:00: Lunch. I would dine at some beautiful my view of the moonlit mountains, I would balcony in the older parts of Paris that relax in my hot tub while stargazing on my overlooked a garden and there was a view of huge porch. the Eiffel tower in the distance. After having 10:00pm: Bed. After reminiscing on my entire a lunch of my Big Apple Bagel sandwich on day, I would cuddle up on a huge couch in a cheddar herb bagel, I would go to the heart my living room next to a lit fireplace, drink of Paris and visit all of the shops and take a some hot cocoa, and doze off while watching quick stop at the Louvre to view some art and Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix. history. Through my entire journey of Paris,

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Electronic sport

Julia Quinn

op/ed | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 7

Giving students a voice This year, students participated in the newly implemented RSVP program. The RSVP program is a nationwide program that has been implemented hopes of Raising Student Voice and Participation.

Ella Colbert | Web Editor-in- Chief & Maddy Pasche | Staff Writer & Zach Streitmatter| Staff Writer

F

or three days this school year, students participated in the newly implemented RSVP program.

RSVP, which is an abbreviation for Raising Student Voice and Participation, is a nationally recognized student-led program that aims to promote positive change in schools.

Teacher Monique Albright wanted to bring the program to the school to ensure that student’s voices are heard, give them an opportunity to practice participating in the democratic process, as well as giving them an opportunity to improve their school. Albright believes in the RSVP program because of its ability to empower students.

“RSVP is meant to empower every single member of the school,” Albright said. “It’s not just The Focus saying what they think is important, it’s not just NHS [National Honors Society] , it’s not just student council, it’s every member of the school having their voice heard.”

The program empowers student facilitators by putting them in a potentially uncomfortable position of authority in an unfamiliar classroom. Student facilitators were selected by recommendation of third hour teachers and were expected to run RSVP discussions in a different third hour classroom. Since the program emphasizes a great diversity of facilitators in classrooms, pairs were matched by opposite gender and differing grades.

“One of the big parts of the program is giving students an opportunity to lead,” Albright said. “One-hundred-fifteen students got the opportunity to be leaders that might not have had that opportunity to do that before.”

The facilitators participated in an all-day training session that was run by Midland Association of Student Council (MASC) official Matt Alley. To train these students, Alley led the facilitators in an activity where they unknowingly modeled the first summit. The student facilitators also did

8| FOCUS | 2/6/2015 | news

In summit one students participated in RSVP by voicing their opinions and concerns about Midland High and how they feel the school could be improved. Summit one took place on November 12, 2014 in third hour classrooms across the school. Maddy Pasche| Photo Illustration

some problem solving to figure out the best High School and the student body. way to get unwilling students involved.

Alley believes that every aspect of the Following this, they brainstormed and program is vital for supporting the overall voted on the most effective ways to goal of the program. promote the program to students. These “[The goal of the program] is to activities were used as a way to acclimate uncover student perceived issues, and the students to the situations they would create an environment for student body encounter as facilitators. involvement,” Alley said.

“It was Albright has a g r e a t been working experience for four to RSVP is meant to empower to work with five years every single member of the MHS. I had to get RSVP a great time to Midland school... It’s every member of during the High in hopes workshop that it would the school having their voice and felt very p r o m o t e heard. comfortable p o s i t i ve knowing that change and Teacher Monique Albright the program increase was in excellent s t u d e n t hands,” Alley said. “The student leaders at participation.

MHS are some of the top in the state, and “Research has shown that 52 percent I am excited to hear the civic action plans of students who participate in no school that will be put into place by the years end.” activities drop out. But the RSVP program Based on information gathered through could be that one activity for them,” a survey given to facilitators after the Albright said. completion of all three summits, 84 percent It was a lengthy process to implement of facilitators strongly agreed that RSVP the program at Midland High and do it has been a valuable process for Midland in collaboration with Dow High’s student

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union. Albright proposed the program in front of the Midland Public Schools Curriculum Development Committee in order to get funding.

RSVP is a nationwide program that is being used in 40 states. The program aims to identify student concerns and needs in a productive way.

“Not very many schools in Michigan have done this,” Albright said. “We are the only school in the last five years to implement this program to a school this size.”

The program consists of three summits.

The purpose of the first summit is to hear the concerns of the students and brainstorm a master list in every third hour classroom.

From there the steering team, which consists of two students from each grade, counted the votes and made a list of the top ten ideas. Steering team leaders Mary Andridge and Alex Jewell then brought those ideas to Principal Janet Greif to hear her feedback.

“It takes a special patience, but it’s rewarding and I’m super excited that this program came to MHS,” Andridge said.

After hearing some of the student’s concerns brought to light by the RSVP program, MHS administration has taken

Quick Facts about RSVP Goals of RSVP 1. To provide a forum for the many voices in the school 2 . To i n c r e a s e s t u d e n t involvement by working on issues that really matter to students 3. To involve students in the school decision-making process 4. To make changes in our school and communities that students believe in 5. To increase student interest interest in civic issues and involvement steps towards improvement by ordering locks for the girl’s locker room and looking into new drinking fountains for the school.

During summit two, the student facilitators went back into third hour classrooms and presented the top ten ideas for more voting in order to further narrow down the ideas into the top four most voted ideas. RSVP was then able to look further into these four ideas and talk to administration about their action plan.

During summit three, the top four ideas were finalized and presented to students, along with any information regarding their progress on these ideas thus far. The top four ideas for Midland High were longer lunch periods, bathroom and locker room repairs, cheaper parking passes, and the option to not take exams if the student has an A in the class.

RSVP leaders want students to know that they may not see change right away because most of the ideas involve a lengthy process and various hoops to jump through. This is due to the fact that many of the issues have to be approved on a district level or a state level and coordinated with all of the other schools in the district.

Another issue that Albright brought up was that it is in the middle of the school year, so ideas are more difficult to implement so far into the year.

Top 4 ideas at Midland High

Student Poll Did you feel that the RSVP program was successful?

42% Agree

28% Agree

45% Disagree

27% Neutral

30%

Disagree

28% Neutral

Would you like to participate in the program again?

*Out of 142 students “Like every good thing, it’s a process,” Jewell said.

Jewell and Andridge explained that some issues, such as longer lunch periods and cheaper parking passes, are longer processes that are more complicated.

Due to the fact that RSVP occurred in the middle of the school year, changes to the lunch schedule are not feasible this year.

These changes would also have to be made uniform with Dow High School on account of traveling teachers and students.

Since the lunch period is not included in the instructional day, additional instructional time must be added to the school day in order to meet the state requirements. This would then change all the busing schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools.

“This one issue that was raised by the student body is completely district based.”Andridge said. “Everything has to be changed because of the timing of the school day.”

Along with longer lunch periods, cheaper parking passes is also an issue that has many conflicts to take in consideration before making changes. The majority of the money students pay for parking passes goes to the security company that employs Midland High’s current parking security guard. By paying less for parking

passes new means of income would have to be created in order to pay the security company.

Other issues, such as, students not taking an exam if they have an A in the class, and fixing the bathrooms and locker rooms, are shorter term processes. These issues require less oversight from the district.

Andridge assured that these issues will be figured out and done within a reasonable amount of time.

Senior Zach Purtill voiced some concerns with the RSVP program after participating in all three of the summits in his third hour class. His main concern is that the students ideas and input for change were not relevant or plausible .

“I don’t think a lot of students took it as seriously as they should have,” Purtill said.

“Tossing out ideas that quite frankly were not doable.”

Purtill feels that the program has potential to be a strong asset to the school in the future after students and teachers have already had experience with the program.

“I think it could be a very effective way of bringing student ideas to fruition,” Purtill said.

Albright also believes that this program is an effective way for the administration and teachers to hear the concerns of students that they wouldn’t usually hear.

Bathroom & Locker room repairs Longer lunch periods

Cheaper

parking passes

No exams for students with an A in the class Since teachers use different facilities than the students, they were not aware of the issues students faced until they were brought up in summit one of the RSVP program.

“Without this process, these discussions would have never happened,” Albright said.

The credibility of the program depends on the quality of the ideas students choose to voice.

“It’s only as good as the students that want to participate and it’s giving every single individual the opportunity to say what they want, what they need, what they like, what they don’t like,” Albright said.

Andridge said that if the program is implemented in the future, there will be few changes made. After already having experienced the training day, she believes that Midland High students will be able to lead and run the program themselves, so money would not be spent on trainers.

Jewell and Andridge hope to see more students appreciate the process and realize the positive impact it will bring to Midland High.

“A lot of students don’t understand the sense of all the work that has gone into RSVP,” Jewell said. “Maybe not as much for the seniors, but for the lower classmen, you will see things being done.” F

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Million dollar gamble

Bright orange signs posted throughout the MPS facilities inform students of what changes will be implemented if the upcoming millage, that will be voted on later this month, is passed. With this millage, administrators are hoping to see the making of building improvements along with many other district-wide changes within all Midland Public Schools’ buildings. Hannah McAtamney | Staff Writer & Evie Wagner | Staff Writer

Superintendent Michael Sharrow stands amongst many changes that are being planned on within the Midland Public School district if this new millage passes. Hannah McAtamney | Photo Illustration

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t’s hard to miss the newest addition to Midland High scenery: bright, neonorange signs appear plastered to walls, windows, and classroom doors at every turn.

The bright signs foreshadow the district-wide transformations Midland Public Schools hope to see actualized within the coming years.

They represent plans that will become reality if the upcoming millage proposal, which hopes to raise $121.4 million to be used on schools throughout the district, is passed on Feb. 24.

The new signs have been strategically positioned in every building in the district that will be affected in the event of the millage’s passage. They list the modifications intended for the specific area of the school or department, in order to inform students of the expected use of the potential funds. Alterations are intended to increase the safety, efficiency, and stability of MPS as a whole.

The proposed changes to the school will include many modifications to classroom equipment throughout the building. Science teacher Brian Edelbrock said that the prospective changes are necessary updates, amounting to $13.8 million for Midland High alone, will make his and other departments more efficient and secure for all MHS students and educators.

“The chemistry lab is terrible; half of the faucets don’t work, and therefore half of the stations in the lab are without water,” Edelbrock

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said. “The way that everything is built now MPS staff, but as a parent and taxpayer, has makes the area overcrowded and unsafe.” three different perspectives from which to view The district plans to address conditions the issue. like those in Midland High’s chemistry lab in “Paying off this millage is paying less than classrooms throughout various MPS facilities a dollar a day more on your taxes,” Mulvaney in effort to modernize the facilities and increase said. their overall safety.

The millage bond would add about a $25 Senior Keegan tax per month on M c G u i r e a property with a agrees that $100,000, which “If you want to come to school, the potential would be increasing you’re going to perform better improvements property taxes by 83 to the building cents per day. than if you’re hating every will make it an Mulvaney would environment say to parents and minute of it because of a more conducive voters that to keep letdown by the facility.” to students’ best Midland at its best, educational t a x p a ye r s m u s t Senior Keegan McGuire experience. make investments “These changes would make everyone’s life in the community. Investments that will help easier,” McGuire said. “If you want to come to build the community, such as education. school, you’re going to perform better than if Investing in education is a “great birthday every you’re hating every minute of it because of a day [the students] are sitting in school.” letdown by the facility, all of the distractions “It’s not even a Starbucks coffee a day,” you can remove will just make it easier for Mulvaney said, speaking about how little taxes you to understand what you’re trying to learn, will increase. which is why we’re here in the first place.”

Senior Callie Meath has taken notice to the History teacher John Mulvaney knows that millage signs and hopes that the bond will not there are many angles to take into account only make teaching and learning easier, but when casting his vote for this upcoming bond will help make Midland High safer for her and proposal. Mulvaney, not only as a member of her peers.

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“I know they talked about putting lights in the parking lot, which is helpful,” Meath said.

“Especially for athletes when we get back from events in the middle of the night and we’re trying to get back to our cars.”

Meath admits she has yet to research the proposal enough to decide how she would cast her vote if she were eligible. She does, however, believe that anyone able to vote in this decision should not take the responsibility lightly.

“I don’t think that you should let people tell you whether or not to vote for it because you’re a student,” Meath said. “But I definitely think that you should research it enough and not just say ‘I’m a student and this is supposedly going to benefit the school, so I’m going to vote for it,’ I think that you need to be an informed voter, like you should be for any time that you vote, and know that you’re smart enough to form your own opinions and exercise your right to vote.”

With the millage vote quickly approaching, MPS administration hope for the support of any students eligible to vote.

Principal Janet Greif says the investment in education is the most important investment in the entire community.

“With anything that you’re ever voting on when you’re 18 years old,” Greif said. “You have to be informed about it and be an informed decision maker.” F

Co-opportunity

Seniors Haylee Diment and Brittany Bauer take the initiative to get experience in a work environment to better understand a work field they have an interest in by co-oping. Megan Nylund | Assistant Website Editor & Kayla Graham | Staff Writer & Kevin Sharpe | Staff Writer

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or senior Brittany Bauer, the idea of a hands-on job has always sounded more interesting than a typical cubical office job. So when she decided she wanted to co-op her senior year, a job in the medical field was at the top of her list. Last year, when Bauer made this decision, she was interviewed for a position at the hospital and was placed in maternity to match her spirited personality.

“The best is whenever I’m having a bad day, holding an infant makes everything better,” Bauer said. “It’s like nothing else in the world matters when I’m looking into a baby’s eyes.

The feeling is nothing I could even describe, but that aspect of my job is what makes it all worth it.”

For students to co-op there is a process that must be carried out starting in freshman year by maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher. By junior year, students must attend a co-op meeting to get paperwork; this year, the meeting was held on January 21.

“You need to have fewer than 15 full day absences throughout your high school career,” Director of Co-op program Elizabeth Marsh said. “That attendance is really important because we are giving those names out to potential employers, and that’s what they are looking for.”

Senior Haylee Diment works at Health Enhancement Systems and performs a variety of office tasks like writing down tracking numbers for the packages that are shipped, recording the information, and helping her co-workers with their jobs.

Alternately, Bauer’s tasks range from covering the secretary to taking care of the babies.

“On a busier day, I do hearing screens on babies, newborn pictures, and babysit the babies when mom and dad want to take a nap before they go home,” Bauer said. “[I also] clean triage beds, or watch a birth if I get the chance.”

Both Diment and Bauer took classes to prepare for their co-op jobs they have now.

Bauer had other requirements to meet to co-op, which include passing the Compass test. This enables Bauer to work at the hospital and take

the second class of health care. Meanwhile, Diment took classes that would prepare her for her business job in both her junior and senior year. Diment took both Marketing and Sales and Merchandising in her junior year to learn the basics for her co-op job.

“During your co-op year, you have to take one math class, an English class, and a co-op related class,” Diment said. “I have my advanced business class, which is my co-op related class.”

Marsh also encourages students to seek out jobs during the summer that fit their interests rather than being placed where they won’t have an enjoyable experience.

Once students are placed in their position, they are faced with the transition between learning about their career while actually working in the field.

“You get more financial freedom and [have to be] responsible with your money,” Diment said.

“This year I’ve had my first credit and debit card, so I have to make sure there’s money in my account and watch things as I go. It gives me a lot more independence from my parents as well.

It really helps me prepare for college because I’m not leaning on them as much.”

Bauer has also learned a lot from co-oping, not necessarily financially, but in a way that affects her maturity and views on life.

“Co-oping has forced me to grow up, fast,” Bauer said. “And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because being thrown into a situation without knowing what to do has bettered me.

Most of all, I’ve learned that life is so precious.

I don’t take anything for granted anymore.

Seeing the things I’ve seen has made me so humble.”

Bauer finds this feeling because she realizes not everyone is as fortunate as she is to be able to see the gift of life and see how easily it can be taken away.

“There are times that make me feels so humble like seeing a baby get resuscitated and live,” Bauer said. “The relief in the parents eyes bring me back to reality if I’m having a bad day because it’s the simplest thing that’s so important.”

Along with change that comes with the

Available

co-op jobs

Students get the opportunity not only to be able to co-op, but also get to pick where they would like to work. There are a variety of jobs that are available that range from the hospital, to businesses, to customer services.

Megan Nylund & Kayla Graham | Infographic

Senior Haylee Diment finishes her daily computer work at her business job at Health Enhancement Center.

Diment does a variety of different tasks, like packaging items that need to be shipped out, calculating the prices of the shipped items, printing labels, and recording all of the information. Megan Nylund | Photo transition between high school and a job, both Bauer and Diment have had to adjust themselves to working with professionals. “[My co-workers] appreciate the fact that we’re taking time to actually gain the knowledge that we learn in school and apply it to the job,” Diment said. “It just shows them the level of responsibility that we take upon ourselves and it shows that we are learning things in high school that we can use.”

An important aspect of co-oping is seeing whether students find a passion in their career or not. Both Bauer and Diment have seen this opportunity as positive and a way to explore options of future careers. Bauer plans on continuing studying nursing; however, Diment has realized that she would enjoy a hands on job rather than an office job.

“When I first started out, I was really interested in business,” Diment said. “Then I was in geoscience and I really liked learning about the earth processes, so right now my plans are to major in earth sciences and then minor in business. I like that I do know what a business environment is like now versus taking four years in college, graduating, and then finding out and thinking maybe I don’t want to sit at a desk all day. I just like the fact that co-oping helped me figure that out earlier.” F

Hospital

Physical Therapy

Requires Health Technology & Care

Requires Computer Technology 1 and 2

Requires Sales and Merchandising or Marketing

Senior Brittany Bauer works in the hospital’s maternity wing. Her role is to babysit the babies while their parents take naps and to check on babies’ vitals. Brittany Bauer | Photo Courtesy

Requires Sales and Merchandising or Marketing

Requires Computer Technology 1 and 2 news | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 11

Meisters reflect on past years, and pr Managing Editor & Sydnie Meath | S

T

The songs listed above are the songs that Meisters are currently selling as Singing Valentines this year for 10 dollars. Michelle Demo| Photos & Illustrations

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he mood changes instantly as the girls walked into the hospital. As staff members gathered around, the Mesitersingers deliver a compelling performance for a woman with little time to live.

Meister teacher Jennifer Brenneman shares this heartwarming experience.

“A few years ago, one of our music parents bought a Singing Valentine for a friend who was in the hospital and wasn’t expected to live much longer,” Brenneman said. “I happened to be driving the girls group that was doing the delivery. The woman’s family was there, and all the nurses. She was so touched that the girls sang her another song and she asked to hug each one of them. It was really beautiful, there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere. That’s why we do what we do - those connections are what make music so special.”

Singing Valentines, as Brenneman described, have been an ongoing tradition that started long before she began teaching at MHS. This popularity is because of the Singing Valentines unique way to express love and appreciation.

“Basically they are a singing telegram,” Brenneman said. “The Meistersingers split up into groups of guys and groups of, and girls.

All the groups prepare three songs. There are songs you can send to someone of a romantic nature and songs that you can send to friends, grandparents etc.”

Junior Meistersinger Elia Danielson was first introduced to Singing Valentines after her mother received one as a gift while Danielson was in middle school.

“The first Singing Valentine I saw was when [my brother ] Noah sent one to my mom,” Danielson said. “The group came to our house and sang in our kitchen. I was in 7th grade, and was taken away by their lovely voices – and how cute high school boys were compared to middle schoolers.”

The Meistersingers spend two days performing the Singing Valentines. When Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, like this year, they split delivery into two days. A school delivery day, then a business delivery day for people that are outside of school or at a business. For senior Meistersinger Emily Long, this time can be very stressful.

“We have a limited amount of time to perfect a song and choreography to sing numerous times in front of many people,” Long said. “It’s usually fun and rather upbeat working with the ladies and working through the songs, but everyone has those days where we need to buckle down, drop the chitchat, and work. Those are the most stressful moments.”

While the preparation can be overbearing at times, Long admits that in the long run, Singing Valentines are a memorable experience for her.

“Yes, it takes an awful major load of work,” Long said. “But what’s better than doing what

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repare for their annual Singing Valentines fund-raiser Michelle Demo | Staff Writer & Kaitlyn Stymeist | Staff Writer & Claire Booth | Staff Writer you love for a couple days with people that you love and share the same passion with? Especially when the people you’re singing for are totally into it. There’s nothing better.”

Long believes that the Meisters’ Singing Valentines do more that just fund-raise at MHS. “It brings the Meisters to many groups of people we may not normally go to. The other kids get to experience what we do and prepare so hard for first hand,” Long said. “I know that when I was a freshman, seeing these Singing Valentines intrigued me so much that it brought me this much closer to becoming a part of this family I love.”

On average, the Meisters gain around $2,500 for their Singing Valentines. This money goes towards their annual end-of-the-year trip.

“This year we plan to go to Nashville, Tennessee,” senior Meistersinger Sam Nowak said. “It is a fund-raiser, so the more money we get the better. A lot and the leftover money we have from our trip goes towards the rest of the vocal program at Midland High as well. Next

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Yes, it takes an awful major load of work, but, what’s better than doing what you love for a couple of days with people that you love and share the same passion with?

Senior Emily Long

year we plan on receiving new uniforms because the ones we have now are getting kind of old.”

This year, the male Meistersingers will be performing “Lean On Me,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” and “500 Miles.” The female’s songs are “Dream a Little Dream,” “I’ll Be There for You,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

The songs that the Meisters pick are hopefully as great a variety as the people who purchase them.

“The people that buy Singing Valentines can range anywhere from a kid getting his mom a cute gift or an old man buying his wife a song,” Nowak said. “There isn’t really one group of people that buys more of them.”

Along with the variety in buyers, the Meistersingers may receive various requests to correlate with the Singing Valentine.

“We can deliver notes, from anonymous, flowers, poems, anything is possible, we can even substitute the person’s name into the song if it is appropriate for that song,” Danielson said.

While these requests are expected, the Meisters have had unique requests to coincide with a Singing Valentine along the years.

However, the Meisters do not need a request in order to make a Signing Valentine special.

Danielson remembers a moment from her first Singing Valentine trip where the Meistersingers were able to brighten the day of multiple people

by simply singing numerous songs.

“Our group went to visit a former Meister who was in the hospital,” Danielson said. “It was a surprise visit. The ladies at the front desk wouldn’t let us go up until we sang them a song.

We sang “You Raise Me Up” and the volunteers were crying. They let us go up, but we couldn’t see our friend. Anyway, we came back two other times trying to deliver the valentine, each time we sang a different song for the front desk. It was cool that we had a reputation, because by the time we sang our third song a crowd had gathered. I looked into the balcony above the front desk and it was filled with smiling faces as we sang “Say a Little Prayer for You.” Those faces and the excitement we could bring to patients day was superb. It is the best feeling to love on other people.”

Danielson and Long both have Singing Valentine memories involving the song “Say a Little Prayer for You;” however, Long’s was memorable for the comedic property of it rather than the sentimental.

“We were performing for Michael Adams in his first hour English I believe, and we were singing “Say a Little Prayer for You. We were all ready for it because this was our favorite song; we practiced it a lot, made sure the choreography was correct and everything, we were set. Then we actually started singing,” Long said. “We got through most of it before all 6 girls in my group had a mini brain-blank and forgot the next part. We just sang what we did know until we could jump back into the actual song. Everyone in the room loved it, mainly because they couldn’t tell we messed up, but afterwards all of us were laughing at our mistake. Regan Danner said to me, ‘good thing we knew him!’ It made it slightly less embarrassing, but never the less. At least we all knew the song after that!’

While junior Meistersigner Allie Williams’ favorite memory of Singing Valentines does not incorporate the same song as Long and Danielson, it does encompass the family-like bond that the groups grow when rehearsing.

Due to their individual rehearsing schedules and locations, the Meisters don’t get to see each other perform their routines before distributing the valentines.

Williams believes that the moment she was able to finally see the rest of the Meisters perfom was her favorite memory from last year.

“All the groups met [at the Riverside Retirement Home] and we all sang something, so each group sang a different song and we performed in front of all the people in the retirement home,” Williams said. It was adorable. I hadn’t seen everybody sing all the different songs before, like all the groups together and all there black dresses.

The guys were seriously so cute, and all the girls were fabulous. I hadn’t seen all the choreography yet so it was really cool to see everything put together, and everybody really enjoyed it.” F

(Top) Left to right: Senior Emily Long, junior Allie Williams, and senior Megan O’Connor practice their group’s Singing Valentine songs in front of a freshman English class. (Middle) Juniors Elia Danielson and Taylor Winslow finish their song ‘I’ll be there For You’ by forming a heart symbol with their heands. (Bottom) Left to right: Senior Natalie Schwartz; juniors Emma Longoria, Elia Danielson, Taylor Winslow, and Jamie Dwyer insert poses into their choreography of their Singing Valentines routine. Michelle Demo| Photos

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An anxious atmosphere

For junior Jacob Sinclair and senior Amelia Gullo, anxiety is more than an occasional nervous feeling. It is a constant threat, both socially and academically. Both Jacob and Amelia work hard to live through anxiety and panic attacks with the added stress of high school. They find help through medication and therapy. Maddy Wheelock | Editor in Chief & Sarah Wontorcik| Features Editor & Aelish Shay | News Editor

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ore than 50 television screens and noisy customers surrounded junior Jacob Sinclair as he sat in his chair, feeling the anxiety set in. He had never been to Buffalo Wild Wings before, and the atmosphere felt suffocating. This was a familiar feeling for Jacob. Since he was young, he has experienced anxiety and panic attacks.

“Some of my triggers are being in a place that I haven’t really been before and eating in public,” Jacob said. “That’s a loud, testosteronefilled place, and I had to eat in public. So that was a set up, I think.”

Triggers are the things that make Jacob feel anxious and can lead to an anxiety or panic attack. In third grade, Jacob was diagnosed with generalized anxiety. Registered Nurse Danae Graves stresses that there is a big difference between someone experiencing anxiety and someone with an anxiety disorder.

“Anxiety is a normal part of life that occurs for many in stressful situations,” Graves said.

“Individuals that have an anxiety disorder experience anxiety in a more pronounced way that interferes with their daily routine.”

For Jacob, his diagnosis helped him to understand what was going on and lead him in the direction to get help for his anxiety.

Though this may seem like a very young age for a diagnosis, Graves says that anxiety can occur in both childhood and adulthood. When Jacob was diagnosed, his mother Sarah Sinclair became as involved as she could be.

“Things improved for a bit, and then increased in high school,” Sinclair said. “We knew we had to get him to a doctor when it began interfering more and more with his daily life. When he is struggling more with anxiety, we try to reassure him that he will be okay, and that he has gotten through situations like this before, and that he can do it again. We try to encourage him to focus on taking deep, slow breaths, and that the feelings will pass. We tell him that we love him.”

Another one of his triggers is school. In freshman year, he had an especially hard time adjusting with his anxiety. At first, he was afraid to tell his teachers why he was missing so much class.

“I was afraid that they thought I would just make up [anxiety attacks] because I was just a teen who didn’t want to go to school,” Jacob said, “but they were actually really cool about it.”

Now when Jacob has a panic or anxiety attack at school, he is allowed to go to the counseling center and take as much time as he needs to

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Junior Jacob Sinclair plays the banjo, an activity which distracts him from his anxiety. He especially likes to play catfish blues and Avett Brothers, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and Mumford and Sons covers. His mother, Sarah Sinclair, says that this new hobby has been a great outlet for him. Sarah Wontorcik | Photo calm down. Since freshman year, Jacob has also been diagnosed with social anxiety and panic disorder. He is now on medication to help him cope with these diagnoses.

“The decision to try medication with Jacob was not one that we took lightly,” Sarah said.

“It was a very difficult decision for us to make.

We saw his issues getting more and more difficult, so we went to his doctor. We wanted to make sure he was under the care of a doctor who we truly trusted, and who understood that medication was to be sort of a last resort for us… He works with a therapist that he has a very good relationship with, and I think that

has made the biggest difference. Medication alone will not treat issues like this. Talk therapy is very, very important.”

Graves sees cases similar to Jacob’s regularly, and says there are many ways to deal with the disorder.

“Individuals with anxiety disorders often benefit from seeing their health care provider, psychotherapy/counseling, stress management, prescription medications, exercise, relaxation, good sleeping habits and eating healthy,” Graves said.

Jacob experiences both anxiety attacks and panic attacks, which have distinct differences.

For Jacob, his anxiety occurs more regularly.

However when his panic attacks occur, it is much more intense.

“With panic attacks it’s all of a sudden like, oh, you’re dying,” Jacob said. “It’s like your mind forgot to tell you you’re dying, right now. So lots of times they’re pretty sudden. My body goes into panic mode. One thing I’ve been trying to be better at is when I’m having them to convince myself that I’m not actually dying, which is hard to do in that situation.”

His anxiety attacks are also stressful, though not as severe. The incident at Buffalo Wild Wings was anxiety– Jacob has experienced

much worse than that before.

“With anxiety attacks you don’t think you’re about to die, you’re just freaking out,” Jacob said. “Anxiety attacks are more constant. I don’t have constant panic attacks, because then everything would be terrifying.”

Graves agrees that although both kinds of attacks are difficult to deal with, panic attacks are much more severe.

“Panic attack is the term used when an individual experiences intense anxiety that comes on suddenly and without warning,” Graves said. “Individuals will often have sensations of impending doom, fear of losing control, chest pain, heart palpitations, and hyperventilation.”

Senior Amelia Gullo also knows the feeling of panic and anxiety well, and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety in elementary school.

“I was always a really anxious and shy little kid, but the big event that showed my parents that we needed to take care of it was probably in fifth grade,” Amelia said. “I was so anxious that I wouldn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t eat, I was freaking out about everything. I was terrified to even leave my bedroom.”

Though Amelia experiences anxiety attacks and panic attacks, she says her medication, Lexipro, helps to reduce them.

Jacob says his medication, Zoloft, helps him as well. They both take small doses to subside the symptoms of anxiety they experience. However, both of them know medication alone won’t fix the problem. They also need to learn to cope with their anxiety and know how to stop one from coming on.

“It was a weekly to daily thing in elementary school before I was on medicine and before I knew how to control it,” Amelia said. “Now I get anxious without an attack a couple times a month. I get myself busy with something and it goes away. An anxiety attack probably happens two or three times a year.”

Amelia’s mother, Lisa Gullo, helped her daughter work through her anxiety in any way she could. Lisa has a background in mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy, and had worked with people who had anxiety and panic attacks before. This was very familiar to her.

“At first I just educated Amelia about what anxiety was,” Lisa said. “Later I did what any parent does when their child needs them: listen and help as best I could. Amelia’s anxiety has changed as she has grown and developed, but it is most likely something she will always have.”

Jacob also says his parents try their best to help him work through his disorder.

‘‘{

“Being assured that I’m fine is the last thing I want to hear sometimes. If you thought you were dying and someone just says ‘nah, you’re fine,’ you would get frustrated. It’s cool how much my parents care about it, because they could easily just tell me this was all in my head.”

Especially in elementary school, Jacob and Amelia’s parents saw how anxiety affected them daily. A few years after her first diagnosis, Amelia was also diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This furthered her dayto-day struggle.

“I was washing my hands every couple of minutes, to the point where my hands would get so dry that they would not just crack, but split open,” Amelia said. “I would count the steps on the stairs, and I would freak out about little things like if my pencil wasn’t perfectly sharpened to write cursive. Little things like that.”

Amelia’s medicine also helps with her OCD, and she has learned to live with it as well as her anxiety. Often, she hears people making comments about being “OCD” when they are strictly organizing their books or pencils, and she says it bothers her a little.

“When people say that, I’m like no, you don’t understand what OCD is,” Amelia said. “I understand what OCD is. OCD is washing your hands to the point w h e r e they start bleeding when you’re washing them. Counting the steps and if you get up the stairs and you aren’t sure how many stairs there are you have to go back down and count them again. Making sure you lock the door a certain amount of times.

Brushing each stroke of hair a certain amount of times. They’re ticks that you get extremely freaked out and anxious if you can’t stop. You have to have it happen.”

Though her medication helps with these ticks and with her anxiety, Amelia still experiences the feelings she often had in elementary school.

Now, she knows what she needs to do to help stop her attacks from happening.

“Back then, sometimes I wouldn’t be able to go to school,” Amelia said. “Sometimes I’d have to go to school crying. Now if I feel an anxiety attack coming on or if I feel anxious, I can usually calm myself down. But if it’s getting really intense I just try to keep myself busy. I’ll talk to a friend or my mom or my dad.”

When these things don’t work, Amelia has a last resort to make sure she doesn’t reach the point where she feels like she’s going to die.

“If it gets really horrible to the point where I can’t control it, I have medicine I can take

}

It’s not like other issues where you can put a band-aid on a cut, or give some Tylenol for a headache. It’s not something we can fix, they have to get through it and learn how to cope with it.

Sarah Sinclair

that can help calm me down. It’s an extremely sedating medicine, so it kind of sucks when I have an anxiety or panic attack and have to go to school because I’m falling asleep all day. But it’s better than not being able to go to school or going there panicky.”

Like Amelia, Jacob has a few coping techniques for when he’s feeling particularly anxious. During an anxiety attack, he likes to have someone he knows there to keep him calm. If he doesn’t, he will try to step outside and call his house to know that everything isn’t chaotic there.

“I like being able to talk to people that I know,” Jacob said. “When I [had an anxiety attack] at Buffalo Wild Wings, I stepped out and called my house just to talk to people. It gets me distracted because during it, it feels like everything is going wrong. When you realize that at home everything is fine, it kind of gets your brain in a calmer spot. Usually start by discussing how I’m feeling.”

Though Jacob uses this method while he is having an anxiety attack, he also always keeps a few things with him that help him prevent the attacks from happening in the first place.

“I always have a water bottle with me, which is kind of funny because I really don’t drink that much of it. It’s more of a blanket, because sometimes during panic attacks my mouth will feel dry. I also have my inhaler with me at all times. I have asthma, and one of the feelings I feel during panic attacks is that I can’t breathe that well. If something was happening, I’d have my inhaler.”

Over the years, Learning how to deal with their own anxiety has helped Jacob, Amelia, and their families to understand the disorder and what someone should do if they are struggling with anxiety.

“Education on what something is and what its effects may be is crucial,” Lisa said.

“Therapy and/or medication can make a big difference. All people at some point in their lives experience anxiety, but when it is affecting your sleep or eating or you are unable to do things you normally would do, then it is time to get professional help.”

Like Lisa, Sarah has learned how to raise a child with anxiety. This has helped her gain a better understanding of the disorder and of her son.

“The hardest part of having a child with anxiety issues is watching them struggle and suffer with it,” Sarah said. “You just wish you could take it away by simply saying the right thing, or giving them a hug. It’s not like other issues where you can put a band-aid on a cut, or give some Tylenol for a headache. It’s hard to see school be such a struggle. Unfortunately, it’s not something we can fix, they have to get through it and learn how to cope with it. Some days are much better than others. He is just such an awesome kid. He’s funny, smart, kind, loves music. We just wish he did not have to struggle with this.” F

WAYS TO COPE WITH ANXIETY EXERCISE

CALL A FRIEND

SLEEP

TAKE A BATH

BREATHE

features | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 15

Stronger than blood

Senior Matt Tascarella has a blood disorder known as hemophilia. This has been a part of his life since he was diagnosed at six weeks old, and he has learned how to adjust and manage its effects so he has a healthier life. Michaela Carpenter | Staff Writer & Kirstyn Cotton | Staff Writer

F

or most kids, cuts and bruises are just a and has been doing so ever since. This helps normal part of growing up, and breaking keep Tascarella’s joints healthy and results in a bone is an inconvenience that provides an overall higher quality of life. an entertaining story to laugh about later in life, “My mom’s brother, Art, had hemophilia but but for senior Matt Tascarella, injuries like these he died at a young age because medications are treated much more seriously. for hemophilia at the time weren’t as good or Tascarella has hemophilia, a blood disorder as sanitary,” Tascarella said. “He ended up that results from a deficiency in a clotting contracting AIDS from unsanitary medication. factor in the blood. One form of this is acquired There’s nobody in the world I wish I could’ve hemophilia, which is a non-inherited condition. met more than him.”

The more common form of the disorder is Even though Tascarella’s medication helps known as congenital hemophilia; this form is him live a fairly normal life, hemophilia does one that a person is born with. make certain aspects more complicated.

According to Family Nurse Practitioner When he wants to do something active, such Anne-Marie Wiggins, congenital hemophilia has as snowboarding or autocross racing, he an X-linked recessive simply injects himself pattern of inheritance. with an extra dose of This means that since medication to decrease Matthew is the bravest young females have two X the risk of an internal man I know because he knows chromosomes, they injury. Contact sports, he isn’t invincible. are merely carriers of however, are out of the Melissa Kato the trait while males question. Even after display the effects of the a dose of medicine, trait because they only have one X chromosome. Tascarella is still far from healthy when it In Tascarella’s case, this is seen on his comes to blood clotting. The amount of extra mother’s side of the family. Tascarella’s maternal medicine that it would take for him to be safe grandmother is a carrier of hemophilia, and playing contact sports would cost hundreds of his maternal uncle had hemophilia. Since it thousands of dollars. Tascarella also has to be was known to run in the family, Tascarella’s careful about any over-the-counter medication mother Melissa Kato was tested as a teen and that he takes; he can’t use anything that acts like discovered that she was a carrier of hemophilia. aspirin in his blood because it would mask the Kato had both Tascarella and his brother tested symptoms and make it difficult for him to know at six weeks old to determine if they had the when to infuse himself with more factor VIII. disorder; Tascarella’s tests were positive. Since Hemophilia is also something that Tascarella his hemophilia was discovered at such a young must take into account when making plans for age, the disorder has become something that is the future, such as what he will do next year just a part of life for Tascarella and for his family. after he graduates.

“We didn’t raise Matt to see his hemophilia as “In addition to the normal concerns, he also a good or bad thing,” Kato said. “It is just part of has to consider nearby hospitals, the availability who he is and something we had to learn about of his factor VIII, roommates he can trust with to take good care of him as parents.” all of the medical paraphernalia, and making As part of Tascarella’s treatment, he injects sure the people around him know what to do himself three mornings a week with a dose of for him in case of a serious injury,” Kato said. medication, known as factor VIII, which helps For Tascarella, the most important thing is to his blood clot faster than it does on its own. This just be careful. Hemophilia does affect his daily process is something that Kato once did for him, life, but he has learned how to manage it safely. but he learned to do it himself when he was 11 In case something does happen, Tascarella

{‘‘

Types Of

Hemophilia 16 | FOCUS | 2/6/2015 | features

}

Senior Matt Tascarella always wears his Medical Alert bracelet so that others are aware of his condition in case something happens and he needs immediate medical assistance. Hannah McAtamney | Photo always wears a Medical Alert bracelet so that people will be aware of his condition and can respond appropriately.

Even though there are numerous ways in which hemophilia has affected his life, and there have been many difficulties it has presented, Tascarella is thankful because it has not completely taken away his freedom.

“I consider myself to be extremely lucky considering the condition I have, because there are many kids my age with the same type of hemophilia that cannot walk, can’t use their arms normally, or have any physical handicap

Congenital

Hemophilia

Type A Type B

Acquired

Severe

due to insufficient medication,” Tascarella said.

Hemophilia has presented many different challenges to Tascarella throughout the years, and it will continue to do so, but it has not been allowed to define him or completely control his life.

“Matthew is the bravest young man I know because he knows he isn’t invincible; that he can get hurt,” Kato said. “Instead of feeling sorry for himself or worse, asking anyone to feel sorry for him, he accepts and deals with his disorder appropriately and is a stronger, healthier, wellrounded person for it.” F

About 80% of people with hemophilia have type A

Moderate

Mild About 20% of people with hemophilia have type B

Women of the

rade

T h i s y e a r, t h e t h r e e g i r l s par ticipating in the Building Trades class are some of the most hardworking that instructor Kevin Dodick has seen in the program.

Christiana Haight | Staff Writer & Lydia Dornbos | Staff Writer

Paraprofessional Windi Rice helps Breezy Brownell cut out a piece of drywall to line a closet in the house they are building. Christiana Haight | Photo

hen Senior Breezy Brownell got ready to start set building for Yellow Boat, last year’s drama competition show, she thought that she would hate it. A 10-hour requirement seemed impossible. But once she started, she began to look forward to set building more than the actual rehearsal.

Since then, Brownell has made the transition into building trades, a class she would’ve never considered before.

“Building trades makes me feel really good about myself because I have the opportunity to do something that most high school students don’t do,” Brownell said.

Building trades has been a program in Midland Public Schools since the mid 1970s, and in the past nine years, students involved in the program have built six houses and duplexes customized for those with special needs, in partnership with the ARC of Midland, the City of Midland, and the Reece Endeavor. The program has also built two spec houses - houses that are built before actually having buyers - in those nine years, and is currently working on their third.

“These are definitely skills that you can take with you after high school - and being out in the field working hands on really offers a unique learning experience,” said Bob Brown, a City of Midland employee who oversees the group.

The program’s instructor, Kevin Dodick, has a passion for trades, and over the summer he actually runs his own construction business.

“You don’t have to want to be a construction worker to take this class,” Dodick said. The class offers many practical life skills, and will open plenty of doors in student’s futures.

“Really, you can only take so much sitting around in a classroom,” senior Megan O’Connor said, talking about why she joined the program.

“I’m definitely a hands on learner, and building trades offers me that.”

Even though O’Connor doesn’t plan on going

into the field in her future, she knows that she will be able to use the skills the has acquired for the rest of her life.

This year, along with O’Connor and Brownell, Building Trades has a third young woman enrolled in the program, senior Fiona Gisch.

Gisch loves the program, and because she lives on a farm, it gives her even more experience with working hands on so that she can help out with things to be done on the farm.

“Now, if my parents need something fixed, I can help out and actually know what I’m doing,” Gisch said.

She explains that her parents were encouraging from the beginning of her decision to take the course. However, not all of the girls’ parents started out with such supportive attitudes for their daughters.

“My parents were worried at first, and my mom was concerned that I wouldn’t get all my class credits in if I took on Building Trades,” O’Connor said, “But we found out that the program actually counts as my senior math credit, which is amazing.”

Dodick was pleasantly surprised this year that he had this many girls in the class. Some years he doesn’t have any in the program, and he thinks that they are some of the most hardworking students.

“This year’s group of girls is one of the best we’ve ever had in the program,” Brown said.

“They are hard workers, and they really keep the boys in line.”

Brown feels that the program isn’t the same when there aren’t girls enrolled, and he says that they ask the questions that the boys often don’t, and that when they work on something, they are much more focused.

“If they make a mistake, they aren’t afraid to ‘fess up and get help. I think the boys could learn from them there,” Brown said.

Brown also thinks that they make the boys want to do better in a way, because they don’t

W

want to be shown up by a girl in an activity that is widely viewed as a ‘man’s profession’.

Dodick agrees, saying that the girls add a lot of fun to the class.

“I love that the girls this year are not afraid to get dirty,” Dodick said.

One of his favorite memories of the girls so far of this year is a moment when Megan was using her hands to glue down drywall, which would take up to four days to come off her hands.

The paraprofessional this year, Windi Rice, is a huge part of the girls’ success. Leaving her normal job running Chemic Corner, Rice heads out to the building site every day at fifth hour and oversees the work, making sure that all of the students are safe as well as performing the tasks correctly.

“We have learned so many useful life skills in this class and how to follow through and taking pride in your work,” Rice said. “These are skills that you can use the rest of your life.”

O’Connor says that she enjoys every moment that Rice is there at the site with them. She is strict when it comes to safety, but at the end of the day, she is one of the funniest and lighthearted members of the team.

“I can’t believe how much I have enjoyed this class,” Rice said, “I am truly blessed.” F

Senior Fiona Gisch works on this years spec house, at 1000 W. Collins St. Christiana Haight | Photo

46.6% Only 1 in 10 construction workers are women.

Queen Elizabeth II was a truck mechanic.

of the entire U.S. work force is made up by women

features | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 17

Remembering the legends Paving the way

S

tepping onto the court at assembly at Indiana University for the first time, freshman at Jess Walter realized she was living her dream. The fans shape the atmosphere, leaving her feeling that the experience is surreal.

“My favorite part [about playing for Indiana] is getting the opportunity to play in Assembly Hall and building relationships with the team and other athletes,” said Walter, a 2014 graduate of MHS. One aspect of playing at MHS that stuck with Walter as she moved onto collegiate level was the quotes that Varsity basketball coach Elaine Mahabir used to tell the team before each game. Mahabir would share these quotes to inspire the team and to have the team all is on the same page and get them focused for the game. Walter would apply each individual quote to each aspect of the game it pertained to.

The concept that stuck with Walter to inspire her most was the concept of 212 degrees that Mahabir once shared with the team. The idea behind the 212 degrees is that at 211 degrees, water is hot, but at 212 degrees water boils and steam is able to power a train. The concept gets at the idea that if that one-degree does make a large difference, then among the elite basketball programs, a team needs that one degree to come out on top. This concept not only stuck with Walter, but that season the

‘‘{

Not just because a university is a lot bigger, but also because you represent so much more,” Blake said. “On top of that, around 8,000 people are watching me play live. At Midland High I knew everyone and their parents.”

Walter found that the biggest difference with collegiate sports is the toughness of the competition and her ability to shoot mid-court range shots. Because the girls playing Division I basketball alongside her are larger in stature and more knowledgeable of the game and their position, she finds it more difficult to get open shots. This challenge has allowed her to develop a better mid-range shooting game, improving that skill has helped her overall performance.

Amanda Walko, a freshman cheerleader who is a base, co-ed flyer, and a all-girl flyer at Central Michigan University, sees a different aspect between high school and collegiate level sports.

“MHS cheer is less competitive. You have more than one competition [at Midland High] and you only have one team,” Walko said. “At Central there is a large coed, small coed, and all girl team and when we compete, we only compete at nationals, which is one competition a year.”

Over the three years that Blake spent on the Midland High varsity team, she was able to build her leadership capabilities. These traits are what carried over to playing in college.

In high school I learned a lot about leadership, but I would say it was more important for me to dream. The dreaming and the long-term goals are what got me here.

varsity team made the concept of 212 degrees their team motto.

Walter is one of many MHS alumni playing sports at the collegiate level. Tori Blake, sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, played Varsity volleyball for Midland High for three years, and played one season on JV. Blake played middle blocker for both Wisconsin and Midland High. Blake (MHS class of 2013) comments that there is a large difference in the audience watching her play.

“I would say that the biggest different is size.

18 | FOCUS | 2/6/2015 | sports

Recent Chemic graduates have found continued success in their var ying college spor ts. Emily Fisher | Sports and Photo & Dylan Rocha | Opinion Editor & Luke White | Staff Writer

Alumna Tori Blake

}

“In high school I learned a lot about leadership, but I would say it was more important for me to dream. The dreaming and the long-term goals are what got me here,” Blake said. “Midland High was a great environment that pushed me to be figure out who I was before college athletics. Being comfortable with who I was enabled me to do more.”

Like Blake, Walter comments that in high school she learned how to work efficiently and knew going into college what drills to do at the

Sophomore at Wisconsin University, Tori Blake (10) graduated early from Midland High in January of 2012 in order to start practicing with Wisconsin’s volleyball team. Above, Tori spikes the ball against Rutger’s University, she hit .556 against them, on October 10. Wisconsin University | Photo Courtesy right time to improve her game.

Another graduate of Midland High who moved on to college athletics is girl’s soccer player, Hollie Koning. After four years of playing varsity soccer, Koning committed to playing soccer at Northern Michigan University and plays left defense, but she wouldn’t have gotten to that point without the help of a valued coach.

“Coach Ramzey always pushed me to do my absolute best,” Koning said. “He was the one who believed in me when nobody else did and he definitely made a big impact on me and my soccer career. Senior year wasn’t the same without him.”

Koning found the difference between high school and collegiate soccer was the pace of the game.

“The biggest difference is the level of play.

In college, the pace is much faster and you’re expected to keep up with it. Also, in college

you’re at the same level as everybody else on your team, unlike in high school soccer,” Koning said.

Another difference that Walko sees between collegiate and high school cheer is the amount of time commitment and the conditioning that the team does. The team does cardio, strength and conditioning exercises, but also stunt reps in order to increase their endurance.

Time commitment for the team is a big factor in continuing on with a sport in college; they team practices three days a week during the fall time and the basketball, volleyball, and football season. During Christmas break, they start preparing more for their one competition, when they would start practicing two times a day to prepare for Nationals.

A few weeks ago, all the conditioning paid off for Walko and her team. Traveling to Orlando, Florida to compete in Nationals, the large co-ed team placed 15th after finals and the

Former MHS athletes that are currently playing sports in college Softball

Paige Barber Alyssa Westphal Kaely Simmons Brianna Collins Jenni Wontorcik

1.

Girls Basketball

Aleigha Wylie Dani Blake Maura McAfee

Running

Emily Riley Track Anthony Ells Cross Country Courtney Rouse Cross Country Michael Curtis Cross Country Ben Reed Track Aaron Chatman Track Lex Hollenbeck Track Knute Hoffman Track Ben Hutter Cross Country

2.

1. Freshman at Northern Michigan University Hollie Koning controls and takes the ball up the side of the field. Northern Michigan University | Photo Courtesy 2. Sophomore at University of Dame Steve Elmer blocks on the offensive line. University of Notre Dame | Photo Courtesy 3. Freshman at Indiana University Jessica Walter takes a jump shot. Luke White | Photo

all-girl team placed 5 .

Walko said the first time she stepped into the CMU field to cheer for the first time.

“It was so surreal,” Walko said. “I had dreamt of cheering in college and even though it isn’t the biggest school out there, it was amazing. The stadium is so much bigger and being able to cheer on the field was amazing.

It’s just the usual routine now but the first game cheering it was so cool walking out onto the field. I had so much adrenaline at first and it all happened so fast.”

The immense time commitment has paid off well for Blake and her team. In her two years on the team, they have been in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament both years. This past year they were Big Ten Champions and went all the way to the Final Four in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

Another Midland High alumni that th

Football

3. has moved on to division one athletics is sophomore Steve Elmer at the University of Notre Dame. He is the starting right tackle on the offensive line for the football team. Elmer began starting for Notre Dame at the end of his freshman year. Playing Midland High varsity football for three years and starting each year, he was able to develop core skills that he took to college.

“The most important thing that I learned in my years at Midland High is how to work— whether it was time in the weight room or out conditioning, I developed good habits that really helped me out when I got to college,” Elmer said.

Varsity football coach, Eric Methner said that when Elmer came into the Midland High program, his size and strength were already an advantage he had over competitors.

Over the years, Methner watched Elmer

develop and improve his footwork and technique by having a good work ethic and practicing offensive linemen drills with the coaches. Elmer led by example, and he constantly showed pride in not only himself, but in his team.

Another trait that Methner stressed about Elmer was his intelligence both on and off the field. Methner comments that Elmer is a once in a career player for his coaching career.

While Elmer feels fortunate to be able to play football in college, he remember how important the academic aspect of college is.

“While there are many cool things about playing college football, the best thing to me is that I get to attend the University of Notre Dame for free,” Elmer said.

“Without sounding too cliché, football does not last forever, and the most important thing is to take advantage of your situation and get a good education.” F

Alec Moulton Andrew Wylie Michael Alexander Joe Vieau Avery Chatman David Walter

Pom-Pon

Kaylie Quimby Scout Parsch

Baseball

Jonathan Hentschel Tanner Gross Alex Goodwin sports | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 19

Alumni Jeff Meath, Erin Hartley, and Gary Jozwiak share their stories of record holding and how their athletic career has impacted their lives. Allie Smith | Staff Writer & Sam Robinson | Staff Writer

Remembering the legends T

Reliving the records

hroughout the years hundreds of student athletes have left their mark at Midland High, but a select few have been able to leave their imprint in the record books as well. Many of the men and women whose names can still be seen in the halls of Midland High created an experience through their sport that not only impacted the school, but impacted their lives as well.

One of those people whose name can still can be spotted among Midland High’s records is former basketball player Jeff Meath, a member of the Midland High Class of 1977. Not only did Meath contribute 40 points in a single game, but he also did it in a time when the 3 point shot was still nonexistent in high school basketball.

“I was a jump shooter,” Meath said. “That’s what we did back then.”

In 1977, when Meath was a senior, the game of basketball was much different than what we see from today’s game. Besides not having the ability to shoot from beyond the arch, basketball in the 70s put an emphasis on quality midrange shooting; one of Meath’s most refined skills.

Meath made 18 out of his 27 shots from the field in his record shattering scoring performance against the Mount Pleasant team, which was yet to be a member of the Saginaw Valley League.

“I didn’t realize until after the game when [Tom] Hursey told me that I had broken the record,” Meath said. Meath scored the final two points at the free throw line.

Tom Hursey, who was the head coach of the Chemics for 22 years, was credited by Meath for always letting him play his game.

“He stressed the fundamentals,” Meath said.

“He prepared us in every aspect of the game.”

Meath ended his career as the 3rd all-time leading scorer in Chemic history with 697 career points. His 38-year-old record for most points in a single game has yet to be broken.

Nearly 18 years after Meath pulled off his record setting performance, Erin Hartley, a member of the class of 1998, was setting records of her own.

After reaching quarter-finals in her junior year in volleyball and being an All-State basketball player the same year, Hartley let go of the game of basketball to focus entirely on volleyball, which earned her a scholarship to Michigan State University.

“I had always wanted to play basketball,” Hartley said. “I grew up playing basketball, and both my parents coached me since I was really young.”

Being an All-State basketball player the year before as well as the daughter of a former Ferris

20 | FOCUS | 2/6/2015 | sports

State Men’s basketball player, many people were surprised by Hartely’s decision to leave basketball.

“My parents supported my decision to focus on volleyball and leaving basketball,” Hartley said.

Before her sophomore year, when Hartley was offered a scholarship to play volleyball at Michigan State University, she saw herself focusing more on volleyball through her time playing for the Valley Volleyball Elite Club.

“In 8th and 9th grade, after playing on club teams, I fell in love with volleyball,” Hartley said.

Hartley won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) State Championship in 1996 and 1997 where she was discovered by Michigan State scouts. She was also member of the Kalamizuno Frogs in 1998, which placed fifth at the U.S. Junior National Championships.

In high school, Hartley was named a Volleyball magazine Fab 50 selection and firstteam All-State as a senior. She was awarded Saginaw Valley League MVP and first-team pick as a junior and a senior and holds volleyball school records including 710 attack kills and 5.3 kills per game.

“I had wonderful experiences playing at MHS because of coaches and how they interacted with the girls on the team,” Hartley said. “They really created an environment where we were encouraged to have fun, and that to me was the most important thing about high school sports.”

On the football field, Gary Jozwiak, member of the class of 1957, helped shape the program for the Chemics. After playing football, Jozwiak moved on to play division I college football as a running back at the University of Wyoming.

After his college career, Jozwiak had experience assistant coaching in Wyoming and California.

He then got an offer to return to Midland High as a head coach, and he knew it was what he wanted to do.

“It was where I wanted to be to raise my family, for one thing,” Jozwiak said. “Through my previous experience at Midland High, I knew that it was a great program to be a part of.”

Jozwiak knew he wanted to be a coach and teacher from a young age. His love for football carried him to his goal.

“People would ask me what I wanted to do and I would just say ‘I’m going to play college football,’” Jozwiak said. “They would then tell me I had to do something other than that in life, so I told them I wanted to be a math teacher and a coach.”

Jozwiak is credited with a variety of accomplishments with his career at Midland High. As a student athlete, he earned varsity

Jeff Meath adds 2 points in his record game against Mount Pleasant in ‘77. Jeff Meath | Photo Courtesy letters for football and track. Jozwiak was AllConference on offense and defense in his high school career. In addition, he was a high jumper and sprinter for the track team.

As a coach at MHS, Jozwiak led his team to nine league championships and four undefeated seasons. Jozwiak was recognized as “Regional Coach of the Year” six times, and the “League Coach of the Year” two times. Jozwiak earned the title of the most winningest coach both at MHS and in the entire Saginaw Valley League.

Towards the end of his career, Jozwiak was inducted into the High School Football Hall of Fame.

Although Jozwiak had multiple opportunities to coach college teams, he denied those offers to continue his career at MHS. “Since I had a family, I wasn’t interested in being that far away,” Jozwiak said. “Midland High is just an excellent place to be due the parents, facilities, and how safe the community

is compared to many other places.”

While being a head coach was a lot of time and effort, Jozwiak’s passion for football, his family, and Midland High made it all worth it. Jozwiak summed up his favorite part of his experiences at Midland High with simply, “Friday nights.”

Jozwiak continues to stay involved in the football program by volunteer coaching with the running backs. Having been a running back, Jozwiak can relate to the players and help them learn in ways they haven’t been taught before.

Jozwiak has left a legacy for his family, as they continue to live in the area. Being raised in Midland and raising his own kids in the same place has created a strong bond between him and the city.

“I’m really glad my family has been able to continue to grow in Midland,” Jozwiak said.“It’s amazing to be able to see your family line come up in a great city like this.” F

Chemic Accomplishments

Jeff Meath: Most points in a single game

Erin Hartley: Saginaw Valley MVP and two time first team All-State

Gary Jozwiak: Most winningest coach at MHS and in the SVL

Allie Smith | Infographic

THE SPORTS ZONE

Quick facts and statistics to know about this seasons winter sports at MHS. Will Hackbarth | A & E Editor

Athletes of the Month SPORTS Grade: Junior Sport: Ping Pong Stats: Won 21-0 against Evan Lile.

Coach’s Take: “Josh is one of the best in the club due to the amount of time he puts into the sport. He plays any match he can get and that really pays off.” -Jonathan Haynes Favorite Memory: Winning the Ping Pong Championship Series.

Josh Hentschel

Key to Success: Reading the opponents to figure out their weaknesses and constantly practicing throughout the summer.

Tweet of the Month

“I mean, I understand why, but let’s not make too many assumptions about the MidlandDow swim meet. #shocktheworld”

@JohReeves

Coach’s Take: “His overall rebounding and knowledge of defense while averaging 10 points a game has helped our team get off to a good start.” - Eric Krause

Grade: Junior Sport: Varsity Hockey Stats: Blocked 52 shots against Travis City Central.

Coach’s Take: “He has played well in the net and has been instrumental in our success.”

- Jeff Brown Favorite Memory: Shutting out Mount Pleasant during the pink out game.

Weondong Hwang

Key to Success: Staying focused the entire game and getting better every day in practice.

Emily Fisher & Will Hackbarth | Photos

Varsity Wrestling:

February 11, 6:00pm Auxiliary Gym

Girls Varsity Basketball: February 6, 6:00pm Main Gym February 10, 7:00pm Main Gym

Hockey:

February 21, 2:15pm Midland Civic Arena

Boys Swim:

February 7, 1:00pm Northern Lanes

Stats: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks against Bay City Western.

Matt Jarema

February 6, 7:30pm Main Gym February 20, 7:00pm Main Gym

Varsity Bowling

Sport: Boys Varsity Basketball

Key to Success: “In the offseason and the summer I have to work my butt off to get bigger and faster than last season.”

Boys Varsity Basketball:

February 10, 6:00pm Dow Pool

Grade: Junior

Favorite Memory: “My first varsity game when I scored my first ever varsity points.”

Upcoming Home Events

Sports Poll

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of Chemics snowboard.

of Chemics ski.

of Chemics have been to a hockey game.

of Chemics are playing a sport this Winter. sports | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 21

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Anyone interested in running indoor track during the winter.

A track club for this w i n t e r ’s i n d o o r season.

When:

Thursdays after 6th hour.

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Mr. Hollenbeck’s classroom (room 135).

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Hitting the charts

A

mong the musicians and singers here at Midland High, is an up and coming rapper who goes by the name C-Money, but is also known as junior Connor Legge.

Legge began rapping last year with some friends. He then started to gain a passion for rapping, making his own beats and lyrics. After months of rapping and creating his own music, Legge dropped his first single, “Debut”. Once his single dropped, Legge started working on an even bigger project—his first full album, Humble Beginnings. “[Rapping] was just a completely random idea,” Legge said. “I was talking to some of my friends about the rap game at lunch one day.

They were talking about making some mix tapes so I decided to craft my own song. It was a pretty fun time so I just kept going.”

At first Legge only made a few songs, not thinking that anything would come of them.

However, after working on those songs, Legge decided to make an album. Legge began working on his first full album September of that year. He had several friends help him Junior Connor Legge sits at his computer working on his music. His program of choice is Garage Band. create the album. Many of them were featured It’s easy to use and an affordable program that you can download online. Noah Surbrook | Photo on the tracks. his songs the most. Especially his biggest fans, The album featured several friends, including “I started messing around about halfway Spencer Houle and J.C. Pritchett.

Josiah Greiner, Connor Babin, Joh Reeves, Jared through the summer. Just making beats and “The fans keep me motivated. They keep me Holman, Will Hackbarth, Olivia Gandy, Evan thinking about maybe making a couple of songs wanting to improve my game, and my flow,” Haase, and Mitchell Kent. and eventually I decided I’d just go for the whole Legge said.

“Connor saw my talent when I performed album,” he said.

In December, Legge’s hard work and long with Buck Wylde and the Boyz and asked me Towards the end of summer, Legge began hours paid off when his album finally dropped. to feature on the track ‘Ladies,’” Greiner said. getting serious about his album. He became very “It felt really good when it was all done,” “I got involved because Connor and I are great determined to complete the album, and spent all Legge said, “Like a weight off my shoulders friends and I had a great time working on the of his energy toward completing it. a l m o s t . I h a d track.”

“For the first been working “It was so amazing getting to work with so couple of months on it for so long many talented artists and rappers, and working I’d just spend a Making the album was a lot of and when I was with C-Money was unreal. He is so professional few of hours a finally done it and works so hard,” Greiner said. fun and you get to be creative. week working was kind of nice Although a brand new album of Legge’s on it but then to just sit back. I is not coming out any time soon, Humble It was kind of a challenge but towards the got very excited Beginnings will not be his last album. end I’d started once I got the idea in my head when I was “I’ll most likely write another album but I working as soon finished.” have to be feeling inspired and feel that call back I just had to go for it. as I finished my Legge began to the studio before I can start to write again.” homework,” Junior Connor Legge selling his album Marty Legge, Connor’s mother, also agrees Legge said. “I for $4 and has that Connor is very serious and determined wouldn’t watch s i n c e m a d e about his rapping.

T.V. or anything. It was pretty sweet,” Legge upwards of $100. He plans to donate all of the “Connor becomes very passionate about said. money he makes off the album to his church, things and rapping has scratched his creative He created the album in his home, using Eagle Ridge Church of God, mission trip. itch. He enjoys coming up with some fun the program Garage Band on his computer.

However, profits were not Legge’s original and engaging rhymes and beats as well as A friend loaned him a microphone in order to intention when creating the album. For him, involving many friends in the process,” Marty record the album. He spent $60 to make Humble rapping has always been something fun that he said. “I believe he loves being with the ‘fellow Beginnings, which mostly included the CD’s could enjoy doing with his friends. rappers’ as much, if not more, than writing the and CD cases.

“It’s a lot of fun and you get to be creative. raps. He also loves putting the beats together Legge admits that the hardest part was Making the first album was kind of a challenge on the computer. He will sit for hours crafting finding inspiration to write his songs. He but once I got the idea in my head I just had to and compiling the music. To me, this is one expressed that is was challenging for him to go for it,” Legge said. “It’s also a lot of fun to of the best things to watch unfold. It’s about mask his emotions and put them into lyrics. get my friends involved in it too. I try to get as collaboration, creativity and challenging Legge claims that his fans are what inspire many people involved as I can.” himself.” F

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Junior Connor Legge is Midland High School’s newest up and coming rapper and has recently recorded an album.

Noah Surbrook | Exchange Editor & Aleisha Jones | Staff Editor & Ericka Reder | Staff Writer

Meet the fans “Connor really worked hard and was on that grind for a while. I think the album rose above the hype and really surprised us all.”

Spencer Houle “I liked Debut (his first single) so much that I needed a taste of it as quickly as possible. So I called him and then went over to get it and it did not disappoint.”

JC Pritchett “I’ve always been a supporter [of Connor’s] since the beginning.

His new album contains music that is great to jam to all the time while still having the comedic aspect.”

Jack Sommers Aleisha Jones | Infographic

a&e | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 23

Energy in art Jo Kelingos has been inspired to practice in all mediums and wants to capture the energy of the world in her art one brush stroke at a time. Natalie Schwartz| Photo

Since the age of five, Junior Jo Kelingos has been doing whatever she can to perfect her artistic skills. She loves the energy and beauty art brings. Natalie Schwartz | Design Editor & Lexi Costley | Staff Writer

W

hen junior Jo Kelingos is having a bad day she knows just what to do to cheer herself up. Whether it is painting or sketching, She captures the energy of the world around her on paper, and loves to vent to her sketch pad.

“I have always appreciated artists and museums ever since I was little. My mom always saw potential in me when I was drawing as a child,” Kelingos said. “My goal was to capture whatever I was feeling or processing at the time on paper” Jo’s creativity started with how she dressed and her opinion on how things should be arranged. Her art also helped bring out her creativity and how she interpreted different objects. In her mind she saw the way she wanted each shape to look. If she had a plan in her mind it would be put on paper.

“It’s hard to remember a specific age [when Jo’s creativity came] but more a blend of hearing how she put words together, creative outfits, and unique creations using simple materials,” Jo’s mother, Libbee Kelingos said.

Not only did Jo have creativity but she also had a great deal of confidence. She developed a “can do” attitude for anything she wanted to get done. She would spend hours drawing, determined to finish it the way she wanted.

24 | FOCUS | 2/6/2015 | a&e

Anything she imagined in her mind would soon be put on paper.

“My favorite thing about art is capturing energy. That is what intrigues me. Seeing something moving and vibrant and beautiful captured in a drawing,” Jo said. “My goal is to be able to make a drawing look just like a photo, like you can see it breathing through the page.”

Jo gained her artistic inspiration when she and her family members were struck with a hard loss. At the age of five Jo’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away two months after his diagnosis. When this happened her and her brother went to grief counseling and part of the therapy was to express their feelings through art. During this time Jo’s true feelings really started to come through and all of the emotions racing around in her mind appeared on the canvas.

“When you suffer a tragic loss, people don’t understand and never hope to,” Jo’s older brother Michael Kelingos said. “For my sister, it was hard for her to remember him and it seemed to always be that way. She is incredibly talented and I think anyone who sees her art and disagrees is wrong. She deserves the best and she will be the best.”

Jo’s family says that this life changing

incident does not stop Jo from continuing her hobby. All of her experiences throughout life now get put into everything she does. She is now able to show all her emotions through art.

“It changed everything and the pain is sometimes still there in different ways. But it makes you aware that there is both great beauty and pain in the world. I think I see that in Jo’s art,” Michael said. “She sees the detail and the way things are. She has her own lens she sees through but the death of our dad definitely shifted hers more drastically than most.”

Michael has always supported Jo in her art.

He has high hopes for her future, and sees her potential every day.

“A lot of the time my life seems pretty obscure and incomplete and I struggle with accepting how I fit into this world,” Jo said. “Up close [life] just looks like a lot of little splashes of color that aren’t much by themselves.

But when you step back and see them come together, they make something completely breathtaking. I try and paint as freely as I can.

One of these days I am going to step back and find all of those little spots come together to be something beyond beautiful. Art is a way for me to capture the beauty in this world and appreciate my own.” F

The sketch

challenge

Jo completed this in 10 minutes. Can you?

Freshman Michell Dominowski

Senior Maddie McClendon