February 11th Issue

THE

FOCUS

Midland High School | February 11, 2016 | Volume 38, Issue 5

Tricked Out

Junior Ben Franjione has practiced magic since he was five years old, and now performs many of his own tricks.

11

Inside this month:

19 21-23

Minorities in Midland

Girls hockey

Special Report: The music of Midland Ian Andridge | Photo

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: TRICKED OUT

Junior Ben Franjione gained his love for card tricks from his father at the age of five. Inspired, he spent hours attempting to learn new tricks from YouTube videos. After mastering several tricks, Franjione started to create his own, unique card tricks to present to family and friends (Page 15).

OPINION

3: Prescription drug editorial

The Focus evaluates the issue of abusing prescription drugs, specifically Adderall.

NEWS

SPORTS

16-17: Sports zone

The Focus features the best athletes of the month, the leadership of Jacob Coffey, and assorted sports statistics.

18: Ping pong

Senior Josh Hentschel continues to expand the ping pong club his brother Some students take this prescription drug created in 2012. for ADHD, others for recreation. Often, they don’t understand the potential risks.

Junior Kelly Kadlec, senior Hannah Fowler, and freshman Allison Haney play hockey Concerns rise as Dow announces an for the Midland Hornets, along with 16 acquisition of Dow Corning and a merger other girls from the mid-Michigan area. with DuPont.

8-9: Adderall

10: DowDupont merger

11: Minorities in Midland Minorities speak about their experiences living in a community that is primarily Caucasian.

FEATURES

12-13: The GSA

The Gay-Straight Alliance provides a safe environment for students, where they can be open about their experiences and teach about different sexualities and gender identities.

14: Mr. Camilleri

After 30 years of teaching, science teacher Mark Camilleri has decided to retire.

15: Ben the magician

After mastering the basics, junior Ben Franjione has begun to create original card tricks.

19

19: Girls hockey

A&E

21: Sarah Evans

Sophomore Sarah Evans has been singing since she saw “The Phantom of the Opera” as a child, and plans to pursue singing as a career.

22: M4

Mark Shelley started the band M4 four years ago, consisting of senior Mitchell Kent, juniors Matthew Olenczuk and Mark Minardi, and sophomore Mathew Anderson.

22 EDITORS

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

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

23: Jazz band

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

24: Coffee shop reviews

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

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

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

Under direction of Chris O’Connell, the jazz band has begun to play more music and perform more shows.

The Focus reviews coffee shops and their atmosphere in the tri-cities.

The Focus addresses the issue of ...

T

he new addictive drug teens are turning to is closer than you may think: your own medicine cabinet. Prescription drug abuse is becoming a prevalent issue across America, and Midland High is no exception. Recent statistics from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (drugfree. org) show that 52 million people over the age of 12 have misused prescription medication. Although more students have been consuming prescription pills, such as Adderall, there has been no additional education to teach students about the dangers coinciding with these drugs. Without knowledge on prescription treatments, students are not aware of the risks they are subjecting themselves to, and are more vulnerable to the abuse of prescription drugs.

The recreational abuse of prescription medication is not being treated as seriously as other recreational drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana, so students are not given proper education on the dangers that arise from abusing pharmaceuticals. The number of prescription medications has increased significantly since the early 1990s, making them more accessible than ever to high school students. According to drugfree.org, 5 percent of the U.S. population consumes 75 percent of the world’s prescription medication, making prescription pills much easier to obtain than other illegal drugs. About 54 percent of prescription drugs acquired are given for free from a friend or relative. It is harder for police to control and limit the amount of prescription pills, since they are legal when taken properly.

Prescription medication is meant to help people, so most people don’t consider it ‘real’ drug abuse. Therefore, it is hard for students to see the danger in using them without a doctor’s prescription. However, prescriptions like Adderall have very powerful side-

OPINION

prescription drug awareness

Julia Quinn | Illustration effects. Abusers of Adderall report that they have unhealthy weight loss and feelings of irritability. There are also potentially dangerous cardiac issues that can arise from taking Adderall, which are more likely for those who are taking it without a prescription.

Some people consume prescription drugs while on other medication, which can be detrimental when the two are mixed. Also, abusing Adderall and other prescription medications can cause serious withdrawals, making it hard for people to be efficient or feel alert while not under the influence of the drug. Pharmaceuticals are expensive, and if

addicts cannot obtain prescription pills, they will turn to other, more dangerous drugs in order to fix the problem.

Some argue that it is not the school’s job to teach about the dangers of prescription drugs, and that it should be the responsibility of the students and their parents. However, we believe most parents are not aware of the dangers of having prescription drugs in their household, since they are more commonly used to benefit one’s health. Often, parents don’t realize the importance of supervision and proper storage of prescription drugs. The proper disposal of prescription medication is

crucial in ending prescription drug abuse, as it ensures that the pills have not been taken by children or given to friends.

Schools already factors the dangers of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse into their curriculum. Therefore, since prescription drug abuse is just as dangerous, it should be added as an additional component in the Health and Wellness classes that students are required to take during high school. Raising awareness will lead to proper storage, disposal, and consumption of prescription drugs and help prevent another teen from subjecting themselves to these harmful substances.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Does Midland High provide enough education on prescription drugs?

Freshman Noah Adamcik “Yes. If the information doesn’t stick in D.A.R.E. or Health and Wellness, then you’re probably just not going to get it.”

Sophomore Kristy Srodawa “No. They need to show us the difference between using a prescription drug to be helpful and abusing it.”

Junior James Gustin ”No. The school needs to talk about it more than the little bit they do in Health and Wellness.”

Senior Melissa Henning “No. We really only get taught about recreational drugs, we never really talk about prescription drugs.”

3 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

TIDBITS Photo OF THE Month

OPINION

Tweet of the Month “The hardest part about second semester is going to be staying under the 10 absence limit.”

233 likes marbring5 So excited to be a Chippewa

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3 THINGS

CORRECTIONS

@marbring5

you don’t have to worry about this month into the library for exam 1 Moving week.

2 3 Writing 2015 instead of 2016.

How you would spend the Powerball jackpot money.

and one thing you still do...

Snagging a date for Valentine’s Day. 4 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

@zo_stir

1. On the table of contents, we said that Elizabeth Parsons was a senior. She is actually a junior.

2. Zach Donoghue’s last name was spelled Donaghue on page 17.

3. Our military families story reported that Jeremy Ricketts wasn’t coming home for Christmas.

However, he did, surprising his family with the visit.

T

he first time I fell in love, I was at the ripe age of seven, and in the first grade.

It all comes back very vividly. I was in multiage—a kind of mini school inside Plymouth Elementary, which grouped a bunch of first through third graders together and taught them as a whole. It was a weird concept and it’s since been discontinued, but I thought it was okay. The only issue that I had with multiage was that I was in it, and Alex Anganis was not.

Alex Anganis. The blonde haired, blue eyed first grader who I’d developed a huge crush on over the past few months. I don’t remember how I came in touch with him, but I do remember being absolutely smitten.

Now, this was the first grade. I had no idea what I was doing, and this was all new to me.

All I knew was that I wanted to hang out with Alex. So I tried. And hereby began the longest trail of rejection I’ve ever experienced.

I started small, on the playground. It’s a little creepy, but I would discreetly follow him around the jungle gym, hoping to join any game he might start (which I did try to do several times). In one instance in particular, I remember approaching him and some other kids who were playing a game of “house” that he was clearly orchestrating. I asked if I could play, politely, and Alex told me, very sternly, that they didn’t have room for a single addition. No parts left to play in his family. But I asked again, several times, and eventually he reconsidered.

I would be allowed to play the part of the family dog.

I knew then that the feeling wasn’t mutual, but I persisted. He would learn to love me.

Alex’s family owned a restaurant called YaYa’s, and I forced my family to take me there very frequently. Not for the food, though. The only thing on the menu that I liked was pita bread. I went in hopes of seeing Alex. But he was never there, so I chatted with his father, asking him if Alex ever mentioned me. The answer was always a polite negative.

When I was in the second grade, my mother told me that she wanted to take my brother and me to the pool the next day, and I could invite a friend if I wanted. I selected Alex, naturally, and asked my mom to call his house. She did, and I waited.

When she told me that his mother had said yes, I was delighted. I remember playing this one Jessica Simpson song over and over again while lying on my bed and thinking about the

Sonja Anderson Philip Pirrip lives in me day that Alex and I were about to share at the Plymouth Pool. The song was called “With you” and it was off of one of my mother’s old CDs. The daydream involved Alex and me swimming and splashing, and then becoming best friends and never leaving each other’s presence and getting married and owning a house and ten horses together and eventually looking through photo albums as adults, where we would find a picture of us at the pool, where it all started.

The next morning, though, my mother received a call. From Alex’s mom.

Alex had “bumped his head,” so his mother is very sorry, but he can’t come to the pool today.

I knew it was a phony excuse. I mean really? He bumped his head? I’d seen him nearly break a bone on the playground and never even frown.

Jessica Simpson’s songs held no meaning to me that morning. My Cheerios tasted like a Smiths song, and the Plymouth pool was deromanticized into a simple bucket of chlorine and urine.

I was Pip from Great Expectations, and Alex was my Estella.

That wasn’t even the end though.

I was in the third grade, and I wanted to have a play-date with Alex. So I called his mother and asked if he could get together at three o’clock. She gave me their address and my dad dropped me off at precisely 3:01. I was ecstatic.

Alex’s mother greeted me upon arrival, took me inside, and offered me a drink.

Lemonade. Then she went to retrieve Alex from his room.

Except Alex wasn’t in his room. Also, Alex wasn’t in the bathroom, or the living room, or the kitchen, or outside, or anywhere, it seemed. His mom and I searched the house for 15 minutes, and eventually, we did find him.

In the basement, in the very back of the laundry room, hiding behind an old couch, so that he wouldn’t have to play with me.

We endured several hours of awkward Wii bowling until I went home, and after that I didn’t try any more advances, besides some small things at school. I’d accepted my fate, and I’d also discovered unrequited love, which isn’t always entirely bad.

So now, every Valentine’s season, I don’t think about actual, romantic, star-crossed love stories. I am reminded of this.

Thanks, Alex.

OPINION

Maddy O’Callaghan

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

Luck of the Irish

Lexa Wild

I

“

One of the biggest changes in my life was switching to

Midland High from Dow. It was a long, five month process with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of thinking about the outcome. When my first day at Midland High finally came, I was very nervous. Being a new girl is something that I’ve experienced before, but at a younger age. This is high school, so it is a bigger difference. The first day was the best school day I have ever had in my life. Everyone here is so welcoming, and the environment is so stress free and chill. When I came home the first day, my parents noticed that I’m overall a happier person now that I’ve moved. I believe this change in my life has been for the better and something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

”

’ve gotten comments on my last name my entire life. It’s extremely (and quite obviously) Irish. Whether it be roll call on the first day of school or showing my photo ID, people always take a look at my last name and say “Wow, you must be Irish.”

I’ve always considered myself Irish, but as I grew older and more people began to ask me questions about the origin of my last name, I started to question why I do so. I’ve never set foot in Ireland, and my great-grandfather who immigrated to America, lives only in my very distant memories and through stories told at dinner. But, reflecting on how I was raised, I’ve realized that my family heritage played a large role in the life lessons and values that I was taught and continue to live by.

The first, and perhaps the most Irish, lesson is that tall tales are the best kind. The Irish are notorious for possessing the ability to stretch a story, and my family has never proven to be an exception. I grew up on stories that were one percent true, but that made it all the more fun. Some of my favorites include that my great-great-grandmother was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s mistress during her short visit to America, which I always considered absurd and frankly disrespectful to FDR’s ghost, but it was funny none the less. I was also told that my great-grandpa’s top secret root beer recipe was stolen by his roommate, who then used it to create A&W. This resulted in a tradition of flipping off A&W whenever we passed it while driving. Even though most of the tales I was told weren’t true, I never really cared.

The next lesson, the one very important to my great-grandfather, is ‘don’t waste your kindness on those who don’t deserve it.’ I think a lot of kids are raised with the kind of bubble-gum morals of always being kind to everyone, but my great-grandpa, who was raised by a member of the IRA, believed that kindness was a luxury that shouldn’t be freely given to those you don’t want to have it. He was a mean guy, no one sugar coats it.

But because of this, he surrounded himself with people who truly cared about him, not in a fake or obligated kind of way, because it took a lot of time and effort to get to know him. Even though he always came across as angry, with a cigar constantly hanging out of his mouth, he was one of the happiest people because of this ideology.

The last lesson, which is the earliest and simplest, is to always eat the cookie dough.

I remember learning this at my great-aunt’s house when I was 6 years old. Out of the seemingly bazillion relative’s houses, my Great-Aunt Nora’s house is my favorite. This is largely due to the bowl of caramel she always has sitting out and her collection of Disney movies, but also because of her warm hearted nature. One night, when it was far past my bedtime (something that she never revered), we decided it would be a brilliant idea to make cookies. Break-and-bake cookies are considered a sin by my family, so we made the dough from scratch, sifting through flower and pouring far too much sugar into bowls in her dimly lit kitchen. After we were through giggling and making messes for a solid twenty minutes, the dough was finally done.

As a kid, you always want to eat the cookie dough, but your parents quickly fill your brain with horror stories of salmonella and tummy aches that make you too scared to try. I remember looking at the cookie dough with a sort of longing, like I was missing something I hadn’t even had, when my Great-Aunt Nora took a large scoop out with her fingertips and plopped it in her mouth.

I stared at her with a sense of amazement in her ability to take what she wanted, but also concern that she was going to get worms.

When I asked her why she did that, she told me, “You always eat the cookie dough.” Her statement took me by surprise, because I grew up thinking all adults live by the same, correct set of rules, but I realized she was right. Why deny yourself something as simple as eating freshly made cookie dough? I mean, we all know it’s better than baked cookies, and the chance of getting sick is basically slim to none, so what’s the point of letting fear prevent you from enjoying the best part of baking? Why let fear get in the way of anything? Ever since, I always eat the cookie dough.

These lessons and values are ones that I never would have held, had it not been for my wonderful Irish family. I’ve come to realize that being Irish doesn’t have anything to do with how far back your ancestry goes, or how many times you’ve been to Ireland. Being Irish is being in touch with the headstrong values that have been passed on for generations.

5 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Spencer Patrell

W

OPINION

Late night deep talk

hen the sun hangs in the sky be around the same age as my grandparents, and light cascades through the somewhere in his 60s or maybe late fifties. atmosphere, a barrier of some He had a wrinkled face, played guitar, and sort is constructed in the mind. Light begets would occasionally go outside for a smoke. darkness, an ignorance to the entirety of the Jaime, Rick and I spent hours sitting in lawn brain’s thought. chairs outside their house, watching the rare When the sun goes down and the lunar automobile pass through the asphalt between ruled time of shadow comes to fruition, this the corn fields. mysterious force enters the souls of all those Even though Rick had seen many more within the darkest hours of the night. This days than I had, LNDT transcended our ancient magic has many labels, but I know it differences. In the groggiest time of the night, by the name of Late Night Deep Talk (LNDT). we talked politics and religion for something LNDT is the event in which a gathering that seemed like hours. Although I had only of friend, foe, family, or stranger happen to just met the man, sharing a living room to be awake at a certain point, when the night sleep in with the stranger spurred deeper rewrites the logic and physics that govern the conversation, the likes of which not even time of light. At one moment, simple banter some of my friends and I have discussed. or conversation may be the focus of language, Perhaps the origins of this ritual has its but without any roots in those lonely form of warning, nights spent by one’s LNDT takes self, staring at the control. Political ceiling of their room.

“Light begets darkness, ideologies, religious Wondering why an ignorance to the entirety beliefs, and even they exist, if there is of the brain’s thought.” one’s viewpoints some sort of deity or on existence itself creator and what their bubble from their intentions were in mind’s deepest pits. creating such a bizarre I have always acknowledged the presence world, or simply what the future may hold. of this stage of conversation, but am only LNDT could simply be this mental process now realizing the beauty within the dialogue taking hold across multiple different minds, of dark. The earliest memories of Late Night further convoluting the event. Maybe it is a Deep Talk that I have are from when I was a dreamlike state, in which the lack of focus young lad growing up in East Tawas. I was among varying amounts of people creates a at my friend Brad’s house, and after a long vacuum of every day topics. Conversation is night of watching bad movies (they seemed then prone to subjects not usually touched in good then, but I was also no more than 10 the light of day. years old) we went to his room to fall asleep.

Whatever its reason, there can be no debate All of a sudden, conversation shifted from as to its power and prevalence within the how awesome Halo was, to the serious issues world. Just this New Year’s Eve, a session of our time. The deep talk was more mild, of Late Night Deep Talk brought up some considering we were kids, but the topics were unusual discussion. Even though the age a huge deal at the time. The darkness-fueled of those participating in this particular insight was soon replaced with remarks on session was limited to 17 years, the weight how cool his talking Yoda figurine was. of the dialogue was very keenly felt. Life One of the best examples of LNDT’s was dissected in attempt to find meaning. extraordinary power took place a few Past depressions that had plagued us were summers ago, when I was visiting my uncovered. A multitude of unanswerable grandma (who I call Mo, saying grandmother questions were asked. Never before did I was too hard for my two year old self) and know my friends were tormented to trials as grandfather (who I call Jaime, because his harsh as those they described. But, with the name is Jaime). I was not the only guest at nature of LNDT, the serious tone wavered their boondocks house, however; they had after the moment was gone. In the void of opened their doors to their friend Rick, a man conversation that followed, sleep took over who was down on his luck. He appeared to my body. Until next time, you unknown beast, until next time.

6 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Ella Colbert

F

or the first time in my life, I recently read the Sunday newspaper. It was more of skimming than actually reading.

I flipped quickly through stories about the Clinton email scandal, and the water crisis in Flint, but paused at the obituary page.

Although I didn’t recognize the faces on the page, I felt obligated to read their brief life summaries, curious of the life they lived. I found most to be bland and impersonal, their entire life condensed into the limited space of the local newspaper. I felt that a lifetime of memories were missed, trivial facts printed in their place. Facts, hobbies, but not enough to really know the person. The exclusion of personal details on their last chance to be remembered made me wonder about my own obituary: what it would include, what it would leave out. Most likely, mine would be the same.

My obituary would never tell the story of Booboo, my stuffed sheep and best friend through the sixth grade, a stuffed animal I had taken anywhere and everywhere. So much so that my third grade teacher banned him from the classroom. So much so that Booboo had his own stocking at our family Christmas gatherings, usually receiving a bag of coal.

My sister won him in a claw machine at the airport. Booboo was grey, with two plastic eyes and a red string mouth. Now his fur is worn down around his neck, where I usually held him. One eyeball is missing, after a mishap involving my putting him in the bathtub. The parts of his fur which were previously a peach color are now an unfortunate grey brown shade from countless adventures. Booboo was more than just a toy to me. He was a friend, one who was always by my side and couldn’t judge. For ten years, I lived through the actions of a small, stuffed toy, but that would not make it into my obituary.

Nor would the time I stood outside of my neighbor’s house for an hour, staring into the blank expanse of the sky. For several weeks of the summer, I had been contracted to water my neighbor’s flowers. I had no experience watering flowers in the past, and I’m still not quite sure whether or not her flowers wilted away on my account. One day, it was grey out and seemed much later than midday. My neighborhood was completely silent, as if everyone had packed up and

My forgotten legacy left. After I finished watering, I stood on my neighbor’s back porch and looked up. The clouds blanketed the sky almost entirely, and in certain spots, a ray of light could be seen.

It was so dark, yet so beautiful, that I couldn’t bring myself to look away and walk back home.

For almost nearly an hour, I stood, entranced, thinking about how utterly small I was, and how large the world must be.

Time seemed to have lost all relevance, and everything felt unreal. I thought about things that I had never had time to think about before, too busy being busy and distracted.

I’m not sure if what I was doing was meditation, but it was spiritual for sure. And when I stepped off that porch, everything had changed, yet really nothing had changed. I gained a sense of self relativity, and thought about what was truly important to me. It was an inner self revelation that I know would not make it into my obituary.

My obituary would also omit my first cross country race. It would miss my feeling of pure pain, but appreciation, and how nervous I was before, lined up next to all the other uniformed girls. Their faces showed dread for the ensuing 3.1 miles, yet determination to run their hardest. I felt unprepared. It wasn’t my first 5K, but it was the first one I ran competitively at a high school level.

Maybe I was intimidated. But, as soon as the official shot the gun, I forgot everything I was nervous about. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, and evening my breathing. I took the first mile too fast, and each mile after that only got slower. It was one of my worst times, but it was over.

Since then I’ve grown, not only in my appreciation for the race, but in my abilities.

I needed that time, that first experience, in order to build from it, and become the best runner I could be. A few years after that initial race, I now run nearly every day. I push myself so I don’t have to feel unprepared or too slow ever again. Racing has made me more adept to success in everything I do. I understand now that success is measured by the amount in which it is desired. Nowhere in my obituary would this fact be added, despite the impact it had on my life.

So many aspects of my life, moments that shaped me and defined me, would never be printed under my name; just my picture, a few important dates, and the cold facts.

Suzannah Koop

OPINION

articles titled, “10 Beauty Trends that Men Hate!” Even though I know they’re completely irrelevant, I somehow still feel compelled to read them. I worry about politics, and how Donald Trump would most likely destroy America as we know it. I spend many of my days filling out scholarship applications so that I don’t end up in mountains of debt for the rest of my life. I work nearly every weekend to earn my own money and depend upon myself, not my rowing up is weird. parents.

Having completed the first half of I also spend a very large portion of my time my senior year, I now spend a lot of thinking about the future. I want it to be my time thinking. I compare things I have done 18th birthday, so I can get into bars to see gigs to what others my age have done, specifically I couldn’t have before. I want to be 22, so that to characters from 80s teen-comedy movies.

I’m out of college and can maybe be taken Was I ever as fearless as Ferris Bueller? Who seriously as an actual adult. I want to be 25, would I have been in the Breakfast Club? I try working in my first career, and hopefully in to figure out if I’ve done everything right, or a stable, committed relationship. And just if I have exponentially screwed up. I suppose like that, it goes on and on. I’m afraid that I I won’t really know until I’m super old and spend so much time looking ahead that I may lying on my death bed. Maybe even then I forget to appreciate where I am and all the still won’t know. wonderful things I have right now—aside It’s so crazy how fast I’ve gone from tracing from a battered videotape of Shrek. dotted lines to make letters, to graduating So instead, I’ll look at my life in the present. high school. I The first half of the remember when year is done, and I can there was a space now proudly claim in our house the title of a “second “Planning for the future is designated as semester senior.” “the computer important, but valuing the present The connotation of room.” I would this title swings both is what matters most.” only end up ways, depending using the on whether you’re a computer for teacher or a student.

Microsoft paint or Roller Coaster Tycoon. I Teachers see us as slack-off kids who don’t remember every day that I was home sick turn in homework and skip class whenever from school, I’d lie in my parents’ bed and put we want to, because we’re already accepted in our VHS copy of Shrek. Every single sick into college, so why not? I personally see it day. as an accomplishment. I’ve been in public I miss the simplicity of youth. And I know education for 13 years, and I feel as if this is that sounds pretentious of me to say since a break that has been well-earned. Now is a I am only 17 years old and, therefore, still a time to take it slow, easy, and enjoy it. child. But I really do mean it. I miss wearing I don’t want to take for granted everything bright, mismatched clothing to school without I have in front of me. I plan on enjoying every worrying about others judging me. I prefer moment of being a second semester senior. I solid, dark colors now, but it would be nice to am going to spend more time with the people have that freedom. I miss not having to worry I care about, and not stress out over what about my grades or how much I weighed. others may think. I will still use coloring Numbers like that don’t really matter when books, and make blanket forts. After all, I you’re a kid. don’t get to be a kid forever, so I might as I miss not having to worry about reading well embrace it.

Julia Quinn

Live in the moment

G

16 weeks until high school is over

7 months until college begins

163 days

until my 18th birthday

227 days until I can vote in my first election

Awake and afraid

D

ark, human figures are creepily pacing around my room. I can’t see their faces. I can’t scream. Other than my eyes that are scanning my bedroom, I can’t move an inch of my body. I’m frozen and can’t budge, no matter how hard I try. The only thing I feel is fear, the most fear I have ever felt in my life.

With what feels like all of my strength, I jolt and the feeling is brought back to my entire body. I sprint out of my room screaming and crying for my parents. My dad frantically checks my room and comes back, confused at my panic. There was obviously no one in our house and I was clearly not tied down to my bed. Yet, I questioned why everything had felt so real; it wasn’t like a bad dream that you forget about the next morning.

Even though I was 14 years old, they let me sleep in their bed that night, right in between them, just like I did when I was 5 and had scary dreams. This night was my first episode of what I would later come to know as sleep paralysis.

For the longest time, I would tell my friends about the experience and blame it on this “cursed” figurine I had bought from a Hindu Temple in Chicago the day before. My friends thought it was hilarious and wanted to take it into their homes to test its “power”. I was glad to give it away, thinking that it really had caused the terror of that night.

About two months later, it occurred again.

I had just fallen asleep when the unbearable force struck me. This time, I had not seen any figures, but still couldn’t budge. I was then filled with the same sense of fear and anxiety.

My eyes were wide open, staring into my room and observing what looked like my legs slowly moving upward and across my bed. It terrified me because I could not feel them, let alone move them, but right there in

Sleep Paralysis occurs between the ages of

13

Up to

front my very own eyes, my legs seemed to be levitating off my bed. After what felt like 10 minutes, my body jerked and I lay there, breathing heavily with relief that it was over.

This event began to occur more and more frequently. About one night of each week, I was bound to wake up in a paralyzed panic, sometimes hallucinating, sometimes feeling as if my limbs were floating upward. It would happen right as I was drifting asleep, especially if I was sleeping on my back. I had reached a point where I dreaded going to sleep, in fear that it would happen again.

I decided I had to do something; I researched sleep disorders and came across what is known as sleep paralysis, commonly misinterpreted as evil spirits or work of demons. According to sleepeducation.org, this disorder occurs between a person’s teen years and age thirty, often when first falling asleep or first waking up. Normally, the brain causes the muscles to relax and be still as we sleep, which is called “atonia.” Sleep paralysis is when this atonia occurs while a person is still awake.

An episode of paralysis may cause an inability to speak, or an inability to move the arms, legs, body and head. Breathing is normal and the victim are fully aware of what is happening. It can last from a few seconds to minutes. These episodes usually end on their own, or by making an intense effort to move, which is what I typically try to do.

Some people also hallucinate during episodes. They may see, hear, or feel things that are not there. They may even think that another person is in the room with them, just like when I saw the shadowed figures in my room on that first night. The feeling of levitation is an out-of-body experience that is also very common with people who experience sleep paralysis.

Ever since freshman year, my sleep paralysis has calmed down quite a bit and only occurs every few months or so. I’ve become very familiar with the feeling when it starts to happen, but I still feel terrified every time.

I look forward to the day that I grow out of this nightmare. That day may not come for many year. For now, I constantly remind myself that it will be over soon and that it won’t last forever.

People with Sleep Paralysis may...

40%

of people will experience Sleep Paralysis in their lifetime

•

Types of Sleep Paralysis

•

Hypnagogic: Occurs when falling asleep Hypnopompic: Occurs when waking up from sleep.

•

&

30

Source http://www.sleepeducation.org/

Be unable to move their arms and legs, body, and head when falling asleep or waking up Have episodes that last from only seconds to a few minutes Undergo what feels like levitation or floating

7 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

NEWS

The

NEWS

J

unior Riley Maksymiu swallows her daily prescribed dosage of Adderall. About three or four hours after consuming the drug, it starts wearing off, and she goes from cheerful and chatty to angry and sensitive. Not wanting to undergo the negative emotions anymore, Maksymiu takes another pill. This becomes an ongoing cycle of the drug wearing off and taking more pills, until she has taken three a day, more than the correct dosage.

“It started making me really angry and really tired, since when you take it you can’t sleep at night,” Maksymiu said. “So I would wake up in the morning and be super sleep-deprived, which would make me want to take another one. I just felt like I had to keep getting my prescription bumped up more and more, because it would start wearing off really fast and it made me really angry, act like a baby, and hate everyone.”

Maksymiu was first prescribed Adderall at the end of her freshman year and took it all throughout her sophomore year. The end of her sophomore year, she started experiencing the negative effects of the drug, especially when she began abusing it. Maksymiu is one of the many teens prescribed to the d r u g

“I feel more focused and I can get stuff done easier instead of putting it off,” Jenna said.

“It helps with procrastination. Once I get to a really bad point, I’ll take it to give myself a fresh start so I’m not behind.”

Senior Maria Marcellis has not abused the drug, but was diagnosed with ADHD in seventh grade and has been taking Adderall since her eighth grade year. Marcellis, as well as her friends, have noticed that when she does not take her dosage of Adderall, she is a much happier and lively person.

“I’m a lot more focused when I have taken my Adderall,” Marcellis said. “But I’m also a lot more straight forward, and I’m more loopy [without the drug]. So the cheerful, loopy part of me isn’t there anymore. I want to focus and get things done, so I take it.”

Adderall, like other stimulants, works by releasing the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain. These chemicals activate or excite the brain, and the drug blocks the destruction of these chemicals, making them last longer.

According to Scott Ross, Faculty Physician at MidMichigan Family Medicine Residency Program,the misuse of stimulants can lead to addiction, elevated b l o o d pressure, “Students abusing this drug are putting insomnia, themselves at risk for serious health problems, w e i g h t l o s s , serious legal problems, and addiction.” abdominal

p a i n , increased

Faculty Physician Scott Ross risk for suicide, The use of Adderall and other ADHD medications has been an Adderall, a medication used and even sudden cardiac death. Ross says to help treat ADHD (attention that it is extremely important that patients increasing trend among students as they’re attracted to it to deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and taking stimulants, like Adderall, are correctly narcolepsy. This drug is becoming screened and monitored by their physician. increase their academic performance. Many are uniformed about increasingly popular amongst Teenagers have a higher risk of experiencing the toll the drug can take on a person both psychologically and teenagers and young adults, as they negative side effects of the drugs in comparison use it to concentrate and stay awake to other abusers. This is due to the fact that physically. Maddy Pasche | A&E Editor & Claire Booth | Staff Writer longer for academic purposes.

Adderall affects the developing, adolescent Students abusing the drug are brain differently than the fully developed attracted to it through the false perception adult brain. Ross says that the use of prescribed that it will increase their academic medication can be fatal in overdose, even to performance and motivation. Senior patients who are taking a prescribed amount Jenna (a pseudonym given to protect the regularly. source’s identity) took ADHD and ADD “Students abusing this drug are putting (Attention deficit disorder) medication themselves at risk for serious health problems, without a prescription throughout junior serious legal problems, and addiction,” Ross year to assist her in school. Jenna would said. “If they believe that they suffer from use non prescribed Vyvanse, another ADHD ADHD, then they should be evaluated by a medication, two to three times a month to help medical professional to determine the correct with her heavy class load and stress levels, treatment for them.” saying that they helped give her an extra push.

Police Officer Jeremy Davis has dealt with

Study drug

cases of Adderall abuse at school in the past.

Possession of a controlled substance, like ADHD medication, is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2500 fine. However, manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance is a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Often, students who are prescribed to Adderall are the main suppliers for non-prescribed students seeking the drug, and illegally sell or give it away.

“Many times, kids with prescriptions of Adderall or other ADHD medications, don’t think of it as a drug,” Davis said. “By them giving it to somebody else or selling it to somebody else, they don’t consider themselves to be a drug dealer or possession with intent, which is a huge felony.”

Davis recognizes the increase in prescription drug abuse and the problems teenagers face from it. Prescription drugs, like Adderall, have an extremely addictive nature and are known as both physically and psychologically demanding. This can be a gateway to much more dangerous drugs, such as heroin. Davis said that often those abusing heroin can trace their addiction back to prescription drugs.

“Being in the system that I am in, I see many people with those patterns at young ages where they think taking pill after pill fixes everything,” Davis said. “Maybe they put off studying until last minute, they take a pill so they can stay up all night and cram. Everyone thinks they can cure their problems with a pill.”

At first, Maksymiu noticed the drug at work and felt as if she had an increased amount of energy and focus when it came to certain tasks and schoolwork. Eventually, she became dependant on the drug, taking up to three a day.

“I had to take it to be pleasant and even be able to function,” Maksymiu said. “I just felt like I needed it. I think I was addicted to it at one point.”

Maksymiu began to experience the negative side effects of Adderall one month into taking it, and used to for nearly a year before she quit.

Once Maksymiu quit taking Adderall, she noticed a significant positive difference in her personality and grades.

“You take a pill and it’s magic and it’ll work so well for you, but that’s not what it’s like at all,” Maksymiu said. “It might be like that your first couple times or might seem like it, but it’s really not. I think that people talk it up way too much. I feel like it’s the people that don’t actually have a prescription that talk it up and say that it’s some kind of magic drug, but it’s really not.”

Full-time college and high school students are twice as likely to abuse Adderall than their peers.

8 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Adderall’s long-term effects on the brain

PSYCHOLOGICALLY

PERSONALITY

DEPRESSION

IRRITABILITY FATIGUE

MOOD SWINGS

MANIA

PSYCHOSIS

SCHIZOPHRENIA

BEHAVIOR PARANOIA

HOSTILITY

VIOLENCE

AGGRESSION

NERVOUS SYSTEM IMPAIRED SPEECH

IMPAIRED MOTOR SKILL

INSOMNIA

www.addictioncenter.com

9 | FOCUS |FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Merger of the giants NEWS

Dow will merge with DuPont within the next 18 to 24 months, following Dow’s acquisition of Dow Corning. The lack of released information is causing stress to employees. Megan Nylund | Managing Editor & Cara Spencer | Staff Writer & Gypsy Worrall | Staff Writer the company’s evolution to drive higher, more becomes more prosperous. stable earnings, deliver strong cash flows, “I think in [the DowDupont] merger, from and release value for our shareholders. Dow what I’ve read and what I’ve seen, Midland’s Corning’s silicone business is fully aligned going to be the stronger community that to our portfolio strategy, and the addition of will keep most of the [employment], and their low-cost silicone position will expand our Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia are product offerings across multiple businesses.” going to lose a little more of the [business],” As the buyout of Dow Corning seems to take Mulvaney said. “Bad news for them, but better precedence in 2016, Dow also plans to merge news for us.” equally with DuPont, forming DowDupont.

In the case of job reductions from both the Within the next 18 to 24 months, the merge will merger and the Dow Corning transaction, be completed M i d l a n d and create Public Schools three separate Superintendent “I’m not willing to bail on them. I hope companies: Michael Sharrow Agriculture, expects student they’re not willing to bail on us.”

M a t e r i a l enrollment to Sciences, and decrease slightly Global Process Specialist Julie DeCaire within the next school Specialty Products. year, in alignment “ T h e with the downsizing agreement between Dow and DuPont will bring of employees. However, he anticipates class size together two powerful innovation and material increasing as Dow plans to rehire employees in science leaders in a transaction that will create future years. strong, focused businesses, and differentiated “Midland Public Schools will potentially see a growth strategies,” Ellis said. slight decrease in enrollment over the next few Economics teacher John Mulvaney predicts years and a stabilization soon after,” Sharrow the results of the merge will be similar to the said. “We will be prepared and run a balanced effects of mergers in the past. He believes budget and continue to provide our students the jobs will be reduced initially, in order to [with] a great educational experience.” increase efficiency and appeal to stockholders.

While the predictions made by Dow include Regardless, more jobs will be available in the the rehiring of jobs after the initial merge, long-term, when the company stabilizes and DeCaire is one of the many Dow Corning

Building for the future

Agriculture

Crop Protection, pipelines, Increase Product Offering

Goals:expand

packaging innovation, Revenue: $19B Costs: $1.3B improve cost position, develop new technology Expected to be #1 in agriculture

10 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Material Science

Goals:

employees still worried about the current possibility of unemployment.

“I don’t feel like I know a whole lot more than what the general citizens of Midland know,” DeCaire said. “I think we’re going with the assumption that 20-25% of the Dow Corning population will be reduced in some way, shape, or form. I don’t know if it will be at the end of 2016 or at mid-2018, when this 18-24 months would be done.”

Despite the concern over the potential cuts in jobs, Ellis is optimistic about the future for both DowDupont and Dow-Dow Corning.

In the end, she hopes that both mergers will have a positive impact on Midland and the surrounding community.

“Dow Chemical and Dow Corning are already strong community partners and have a vested interest in the region,” Ellis said. “This transaction is a game-changer for the industry, creating significant value for our stakeholders, including the local community.”

With all of the possible effects being unknown at this time, DeCaire continues to stay positive with the possibility of having to leave the area.

She has heard about management warning their departments to be prepared, but she is choosing to ride the situation out as long as she can.

“They have not told us much other than to stay the course and try to stay focused on safety and on your job,” DeCaire said. “It’s all out of your hands right now, so try not to let it worry you or stress you out.”

Once the DowDuPont merge is finalized, the company will split into three synergies.

Revenue: $51B Costs:$1.5B Expected To Be #2 in Material Science

Goals:

Technological Development, Global Leadership in Biomaterials and safety/ Protection

Revenue: $13B Costs: $0.3B

Specialty Products

S

ince Dow’s announcement of the acquisition of Dow Corning, the past two months have been stressful for everyone in the community. Employees of both companies struggle to balance their daily routines with the growing possibility of losing their jobs.

However, workers like Global Process Specialist Julie DeCaire do their best to push aside their worries and stay loyal to their employer. “[My husband] Rick and I had the opportunity to move to Greensboro, North Carolina years ago, but we’ve always stuck to our guns to say we are loyal to Dow Corning,” DeCaire said.

“They’ve been good to us. We’re going to be as good to them as what we can be for as long as we can be. Ultimately, if one of us or both of us lost our jobs, we probably would have to move from the Midland area. I’m not willing to bail on them. I hope they’re not willing to bail on us.”

Because there are duplicate jobs within both companies, employees have begun to prepare for the worst. Dow has not released information concerning job loss, as the acquisition was recently made. Issues surrounding the buyout will be determined soon, due to the transaction being planned for the first half of 2016.

“The Dow Chemical Company’s Board of Directors unanimously agreed to two transactions,” Media Relations Manager Jamie Ellis said. “The first is the strategic realignment of Dow’s ownership in Dow Corning. For Dow, owning one-hundred percent of Dow Corning’s silicone business is the next step in

Led by Dupont chairman Edward Breen

Source: DowDuPont

Standing

NEWSW NEWS

The various challenges minorities face from living in a predominantly white community. Katherine Vernier | News Editor & Maddy O’Callaghan | Staff Writer

Alone

Decoding Diversity

A closer look at the people who make up Midland High

3%

are African American

2% are Asian

93%

are Caucasian

2%

are Latino/ Hispanic

American Junior Maya G. Peltier, an exchange student from Antigua, says she feels underrepresented as a minority. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photo Illustration

J

unior Maya G. Peltier was sitting in her US history class when she was handed a piece of paper depicting the subject of that day’s lesson: the Klu Klux Klan. She then heard girls around her jokingly say “squad goals” while laughing at the photograph that represented a wicked part of American history, in which African Americans were treated as second class citizens.

“I said to them, ‘I take offense to that, I am black’, and they said ‘Oh, we were just joking,” Peltier said. “But you don’t joke about the KKK. They killed a lot of people. It was serious and it was awful.”

This lack of empathy is one of the many differences that Peltier has noticed since moving to Midland, a predominantly white community. This year, Peltier is an exchange student from Antigua, a primarily black environment. “[Another difference I’ve noticed is] the lack of black culture around me,” Peltier said. “It feels like our culture isn’t acknowledged. I feel underrepresented.”

Sophomore Terak Attal has had similar experiences being a minority in Midland.

Attal was born and raised in Midland, but his parents come from eastern Jerusalem.

“It is kind of weird, because you look around and see a lot of people that have a lighter skin tone than you,” Attal said.

Attal feels that recent news coverage of Islamic terrorist attacks is to blame for a lot of the prejudice against minorities, and could be the source for subconscious prejudice existing in some citizens of Midland.

“Nowadays, whenever people hear things on the news, most commonly it has to do with people who have dark skin,” Attal said.

“What is weird is the media, and how they to Midland. He recalls the day his sixth-grade make people with darker skin tone look scary son came home, exclaiming to him the number because of what’s going on.” of girls who wanted to hug him.

Although Attal criticizes the media for “I had to sit down and explain to my their misrepresentation of minorities, he finds son, who was an African American boy in that Midland High tends to be a welcoming a predominately white environment, that community.

I don’t want you to allow girls to hug you,” “There are a lot of exchange students who Chatman said. “I just had to become conscious come here, and it helps me knowing I’m not of what he was going to deal with as a young the only person who originally comes from man. Right now, girls think you’re cute. But somewhere else,” Attal said. “I have not the older you get, and the bigger you get, then experienced anything bad or uncomfortable.” you become a ‘big, black man’. I never know Junior Rachel Cosey has had similar positive what the girl’s mother or father is like, and experiences. She feels that she’s has never if there’s prejudice on their behalf. It’s just a been treated differently because of her race, question of always being conscious.” although she knows of others who have.

One of Chapman’s sons had a negative “I think [racism] experience as happens,” Cosey early as his “There are always going to be those few e l e m e n t a r y said. “I’ve just never experienced it. And school years. people who just have hate in their I’m glad about His son and hearts and use that to hurt that.” another African somebody in a really bad way.”

Math teacher American friend Johnny Chatman Sophomore Terak Attal were playing has had many outside when negative experiences throughout his life due a student went in between them and said, to his race. He feels that he has a different “None of that, blackies. You can’t be fighting.” perspective of prejudice in Midland, due to his Chatman was distraught by the event, but age and background of teaching in Saginaw. after several weeks they received a letter from “Racism is a hard thing for someone to the boy, apologizing for his behavior. define,” Chatman said. “If someone was “When we hear these things and when we openly racist towards me, I can put my don’t respond to them, our silence is really hands on that. But now we live in a day of condoning it. In this case, we didn’t become political correctness, so people who harbor silent,” Chatman said. “I don’t think, on the maliciousness towards me just because of the whole, anyone can make me feel comfortable color of my skin, they know not to say or do when I’m the only one in any environment. certain things. But yet, that doesn’t mean that But Midland Public Schools made it clear to prejudice isn’t all around us.” me there is no tolerance for racism.”

Chatman also recognizes that he had to raise Attal agrees that it is impossible to make his sons differently after their family moved a minority feel completely comfortable in a

mostly white environment, and also feels that prejudice is inevitable in American society today.

“I think you can minimize prejudice, but can’t end it,” Attal said. “There are always going to be those few people who just have hate in their hearts and use that to hurt somebody in a really bad way.”

Peltier feels that the source of prejudice that exists in Midland is due to a lack of education and understanding, and while prejudice can never be completely eradicated, there are steps that can be taken to make minorities feel more comfortable at Midland High.

“Midland High needs to embrace black culture. Don’t just teach a black history unit, teach it all the time, because black history is the history of this country,” Peltier said. “It’s not like we can bring in more black people to the city to make minorities feel comfortable, we just have to make people more aware.”

Along with a lack of understanding, there is also the issue of offensive things being said behind closed doors. Often times, in a predominantly white community, individuals believe that if something offensive is said, like a stereotype or racial slur, it isn’t offensive if a minority isn’t in their presence. Chatman feels that racism ends when people start to speak up against these silent acts of prejudice.

“What makes things better is when students speak up,” Chatman said. “So when you articulate in a way that is not threatening to a person that is harboring racial attitudes, and you help them understand that their stereotypes of other people are inappropriate and help them understand that they need to grow beyond that, that’s what make the environment better. That’s what begins to help students feel comfortable.”

11| FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

FEATURES

Gay Pride

Lesbian

Intersex

Transgender

Straight Alliance 12 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A safe

space

Midland High’s Gay-Straight Alliance has gained substantial popularity as a club since its start in 2013. Julia Quinn | Photo Editor & Sonja Anderson | Staff Writer & Kirsten Warner | Staff Writer

S

enior Ae Alexander does not remember responsibilities that come along with that middle school fondly. title. He also wrote a constitution for the club, He remembers walking down the outlining rules, regulations, and how people hallway with tears streaming down his face, can enter positions of power. His dedication teachers standing outside their doors and none and care for the members has even helped of them even noticing his sobs. He remembers them discover their identities. Every meeting, being constantly bullied.

He remembers Alexander will ask if any kids have questions wishing that there was some place he could go about terms they’ve heard, and explains them to get answers, to understand himself. to the best of his ability. He’s had thirteen or “I had heard about GSA clubs. They were fourteen kids tell him that he’s helped them these cool clubs where students could get figure out who they are just by doing this. together and figure it out, and it would be GSA Meetings are generally very a safe space,” Alexander said. “The middle educational. Alexander or another member school I went to didn’t really have a safe space. will typically have a presentation prepared, I was picked on for everything, all the time.” meant to explain a certain sexuality or gender.

Alexander eventually found a GSA, or Senior Emma Vanderlinden recently taught Gay-Straight Alliance, in his sophomore year, club members about lesbianism, and senior when students started one at Midland High Kayla Bartz did a presentation on bisexuality. with the help of Spanish teacher Ana Geib. A In addition to educating members, the GSA, according to club provides a place gsanetwork.org, is for students to build “When you’re in GSA, you’re in a a student-run club lasting friendship and that provides a safe trust. community that supports each other place for students to “After I go over and wants to learn, so they can better meet, support each business stuff and understand others and themselves.” other, talk about have some type of Senior Ae Alexander education, we basically issues related to sexual orientation, just break off and chat gender identity, and with each other and expression, and work to end homophobia and have a good time, because it’s the only place transphobia. we can really be safe in the school,” Alexander When Geib started the club in 2013, she said. “We all counsel each other, get one-onhad a vision for what she wanted the GSA to one and talk, because that’s what friends do.” become.

Aviles agrees that much of GSA is about “We wanted to give kids a safe space to meet talking to each other and being sociable. The and talk if they were being bullied or had any basic human interaction involved in GSA is problems because of their sexual orientation,” what makes the club so strong and united.

Geib said.

“You learn a lot and you make good friends,” In 2013, after Geib left the GSA, Spanish Aviles said. “A lot of the rest of the time is teacher Heather Aviles took over the club as mainly socialization. The kids need that time head advisor. Aviles supports a club where to socialize with other kids who are open and students can learn, socialize, and feel safe. supportive, a true ally.”

This year, the club has experienced much MHS Alumnus Sam Bork was a member of higher attendance than in previous years. GSA GSA during his junior and senior year, and started out as a five-member club, and has now the club continues to be helpful in his life. He grown to about 40 kids. said that every meeting had a different focus.

The club owes its growth to people like Lessons ranged from LGBTQ+ historical Alexander, who truly cares about making figures to gay stereotypes. a difference in the school. He is currently “I learned about other sexualities and the president of GSA and handles all of the gender identities,” Bork said. “GSA taught me

By the Numbers LGBT youth are

2X

more likely to say they ’ve been physically assaulted, k icked, or shoved at school

L G B T Q a basic diagram of the many different sexualities and gender identities that fall under the LGBTQ+ acronym

4

Gay

10

LGBT kids say they live in an unaccepting community

Queer & Questioning

Transgender

homosexual Transmasculine

80%

of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation

Bisexual

Lesbian

25%

of students in schools with GSAs say they’re less likely to be verbally harassed because of the GSA

out of

LGBTQ+ Flags

FEATURES

Non binary Transfeminine

two-spirit

usually assigned female at birth

genderqueer

gender fluid

other

usually assigned male at birth

GSAday.org, hrc.org, dosomething.org

a lot, and has also allowed me to be a better advocate for LGBTQ+ people. I now feel comfortable speaking out and making sure all people feel accepted.”

These clubs exist all over the nation.

Alexander didn’t have one at his middle school, and many middle schools are still lacking, but GSAs are very common in high schools and colleges. Bork is currently an active participant in a club called Spectrum at Central Michigan University, which acts in the same way that a GSA does.

Aviles said that it is typically easier for kids to feel accepted in their college years if they joined a GSA club, or something like it, in high school.

“I have had kids come back and say ‘I only came to one or two meetings but the existence of the group helped me,’” Aviles said. “Some of the research says that just the existence of the club is strengthening your kids, kids that you may not ever meet or realize that it touches them at all. It’s great for all kids and it strengthens the whole school.”

Bartz said that Gay-Straight Alliances are a necessity in every school.

“I think a GSA is essential for any high school because teenagers should be educated, so they don’t mindlessly spread hate or are misinformed,” Bartz said. “A lot of teenagers

just believe what their parents tell them, and with GSAs, they can find out more than what their environment has perpetuated. Also, for LGBTQ+ students, a Gay-Straight Alliance can be a safe space for them to go if they live in a hateful home situation, and questioning youth can ask questions without being judged.”

GSAs aren’t able to gain traction in all schools because there are often many misconceptions about what the GSA is and what its goal is as a club. Members are often faced with prejudice from the community and students. Aviles said that some people think that GSA is just “a gay club,” when that’s really not the case. A GSA is an alliance. Members don’t have to be gay.

“It’s automatically assumed that if you’re in GSA, you’re queer. And that’s not the truth,” Alexander said. “When you’re in GSA, you’re in a community that supports each other and wants to learn, so that they can better understand others and themselves.”

Aviles said that the majority of GSAs are made up of allies, while the minority are members of the LGBTQ+ community; Midland High’s GSA is the other way around.

“It’s a gay straight alliance,” Aviles said. “There are gay kids; there are straight kids; there are people from all over the spectrum.”

Moving forward, after Alexander and many

of the original members graduate, the club will continue to educate its members and the school, while working to involve new people The thing that makes me the most proud is coming back every meeting and seeing that there are so many kids there now,” Alexander said. “For the last two years there just weren’t that many, and since we were all on the same page, there was nothing to teach them, no give and take. This year, there are so many kids that don’t know these things. I’ve literally heard people go, ‘Holy crap, I just figured out who I am,’ in the middle of a meeting. And then they’re crying and I’m crying, and I just think, ‘this is a beautiful moment’.”

Aviles shares Alexander’s pride in the GSA club. When the kids marched in the homecoming parade last year and this year, she said it was great that they were confident enough to be visible in front of the whole school and community.

“All of the kids inspire me, those who are brave enough to come in the first place and be who they are and not care what other people think,” Aviles said. “It’s tough being a high school kid, it doesn’t matter what you are; gay, straight, purple. High school is hard, and to go through it with an added stigma attached, you have to be pretty brave.”

13 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Teacher of many trades FEATURES

Memories of Mr. Cam Freshman Carley Perry

“My favorite memory of Mr. Cam would have to be when he told us about the squirrel and how it makes us a better person and better in relationships.”

Sophomore Olivia Nielson

“One of them would be when we went on the wetlands trip last year. Lots of people fell in the water and he made us all laugh.”

Junior Brendan Witt

“One of the funnier moments of the year was when we were taking a unit test and everyone was pretty confused because we didn’t feel like we learned any of it, but he was pretty adamant that he taught it to us. We got halfway through it and then he decided to tell us that it was the AP Bio test, not our .2 anatomy test.”

Senior Mason Dominowski

Mark Camilleri holds two models of the human body during one of his biology classes, while his students laugh and enjoy the lesson. Ian Andridge | Photo

After teaching for 30 years, Mark Camilleri is retiring at the end of the school year to travel and to focus on his taxidermy business. Suzannah Koop | Staff Writer & Ian Andridge | Staff Writer

H

andcrafted posters about human anatomy and wetlands hang around the walls of the classroom. Animal carcasses and hides line the shelves and fill the cabinets. As students sit in the lab, focused on their assignments, teacher Mark Camilleri instructs them. This is one of the last times he will be in the classroom. After 30 years of teaching, his time has come to retire.

Coming out of college with a degree in biology, Camilleri initially had a passion for the outdoors and was interested in the forestry program. However, jobs were being cut, and he had to choose another path. The demand for teachers at this time was rising significantly, so he decided to try it.

“I absolutely love teaching,” Camilleri said. “I think it’s the greatest career ever. You are doing more for humanity as a teacher than anything else.”

Entering Midland High School, Camilleri brought new ideas to the environment. At the time, most biology teachers taught almost exclusively from textbooks. Having a strong passion for hands-on learning, he did what he found to work best.

Bringing over hundreds of labs, work to do with microscopes, and chemicals to mix and create reactions with, he changed the way biology was taught. Since then, Camilleri has

14 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

equally shared and received different techniques said. “Be more open to everyone, whether it and ideas from the other biology teachers. seems they want to be here or not, just be more “We’ve got a great staff here,” Camilleri said, open.”

“I absolutely love the science staff, they’re all top Not only is his connection with his co-workers notch, and we all share, learn, and get something strong, but the love for his students is constantly from each other.” revealed to those around him. Camilleri is wellScience teacher Bonita Johnston became known throughout the school for bringing in his classroom neighbors with Camilleri when guitar on ”Folk Friday.” Though it is not every he was moved single Friday, he to the basement enjoys occasionally a few years ago. taking the 10 Though their minutes out of class “I think it’s the greatest career ever. personalities to have fun and play You are doing more for humanity as a are on nearsome guitar. teacher than anything else.” opposite ends of “He brings life the spectrum, the into what he teaches two have grown and makes learning Teacher Mark Camilleri about more than just very close to each other. Camilleri the information,” has joked around junior Anna Wright with Johnston on many occasions, even to the said. extent of hiding dead crickets in her trash can.

Camilleri also invests time in his student’s “There are not many people like him,” personal lives. He tries to go to their sporting Johnston said. “He is absolutely crazy, but a events, plays, and other activities. Over the fabulous teacher.” years, he has gone squirrel hunting with his Johnston has gained much insight over students, and attended important events in the past 15 years from her colleague. She sees their lives.

Camilleri as someone who knows how to laugh “My favorite memory of Mr. Cam was when and works incredibly with kids. he came to my baptism,” Wright said. “It’s crazy “He believes you’ve gotta have fun,” Johnston what teachers do for their students, but Mr. Cam

“My favorite memory of Mr. Camilleri was when he showed us how a sump pump works in the middle of class, and ultimately, it resulted in him spraying water over everyone within 10 feet.” has remembered my name and made a lasting impact on my life.”

The decision to retire spawned around five years ago, when Camilleri began to grow ill from all the stress of the job. It started when the school district merged the AP and IB programs into one biology class.

The class originally ran two hours per day, making the preparation too much for one person to handle. After administration realized the impact this had on Camilleri and other teachers, they rearranged the schedule. After that change, his motivation for teaching has been progressively increasing.

“I can honestly say that the last five years of my career have been the absolute best,” Camilleri said. “I’ve been at peace, I’m very healthy, I’m very stable, I’m going to go out on the top of my game.”

In his free time, Camilleri plans to pursue his taxidermy business, and travel around North America to hunt various animals. For him, taxidermy started as just a hobby, but now has evolved into a future career.

“I’ll be busy. I’ve still got lots of things I want to do,” Camilleri said. “I’ve been blessed every day. This career, even though you’re never going to get rich doing it, it’s the best experience that anybody could have because it makes a difference in a lot of kids lives.”

Magic in the making FEATURES

How to do a card trick: Make a chosen card appear face up in the middle of the deck.

Step 1 Junior Ben Franjione holds up a card, the Ace of Spades, that he usually uses as the main card in many of his magic tricks. Hannah McAtamney | Photo

Junior Ben Franjione loved card tricks since he was very young. As he grew older and learned more about magic, he became inspired and began to create new, original ideas to show and impress his friends and family. Hannah McAtamney | Design Editor & Gabe Severson | Staff Writer

T

he noise of shuffling cards echoed through the rooms of his home as junior Ben Franjione prepared to present his first card trick to his mother. As simple as the trick was, it would spark a lifelong passion for card tricks inside of him.

“I’d show each individual member of my family, and even though the tricks were terrible, they still acted amazed and that was what kept me going,” Franjione said. “It gave me a boost to make myself better and better, until I started doing tricks that actually amazed them.”

Franjione started learning card tricks when he was five years old, but became truly passionate about them when he was eleven. His father, Gregg Franjione, was the one to spark Ben’s interest.

“My dad first showed me one, and I was hooked so I tried figuring them out for myself,” Ben said.

Gregg said that his own interest in magic began when he was a younger, just like Ben. “I’ve always been fascinated with magicians since I was a kid,” Gregg said. “My twin brother and I would mess around with a few card tricks here and there, and were halfway decent at it.

When Ben and his brothers were little, I’d show them the few tricks I knew just to fool around and amaze them. It was easy when they were so young.”

After his father showed him a few illusions, Ben spent many hours watching old YouTube videos of magicians doing card tricks to try and figure out what they did. Then, he would try to

replicate their techniques.

After Ben learned as many tricks as he could from the internet, he began to compile his own card tricks.

“I make up tricks by random ideas that I have,” Ben said. “I try to take my ideas and work them into a card trick. It makes me think in a different way, like how to make something work in a way that looks like magic, but really isn’t.”

Ben said that he has always had a creative mind and believes that it is a part of the key to success in making up his new tricks.

“New ideas for tricks pop into my head at the weirdest times and I quickly write ideas in my notes on my phone,” Ben said. “Later, I’ll look at it and think about how to make that idea that I had a reality.”

According to Ben, creating a trick takes a lot of mental energy, focused on the task at hand.

It takes time to figure out how to perfect the trick, to make something that might not be exact magic look like it is magic.

Ben’s favorite trick is called “The Ambitious card”. This is when a particular card, picked by a member of the audience, always ends up on the top of the deck due to the snapping of fingers near the top of the deck.

“I think about it until I make the trick better, until it’s perfect,” Ben said. “Once I feel I have practiced it enough, I go and show people.”

Because he is constantly practicing and trying new tricks, his family has eventually grown tired of watching new tricks.

“He’s always inventing new tricks, and shows

his mom and I to see what we think of them,” Gregg said. “We’ve gotten so used to him doing these great magic tricks, it’s hard for us to be impressed anymore. Ben could make one of our cars disappear, and if he asked me what I thought of the trick, I’d probably just say, ‘That’s nice Ben, can I get back to what I was doing now?’”

Ben’s girlfriend, Jenna Byron, has thoroughly enjoyed watching Ben perform card tricks, and thinks it is a very interesting talent and skill that not many people possess.

“The most interesting part is that he is so good at something that is so unique and that not a lot of people are good at,” Byron said. “Also, the magic tricks he does are executed very well.”

Byron said that Ben’s talent has grown from the first time she watched him perform a trick.

“I first saw him perform a trick two years ago,” Byron said. “We weren’t that close then and I didn’t even know he did magic tricks. He was doing them for people at Rhapsody while we were waiting for band to perform. He was doing really simplistic tricks compared to what he’s doing now.”

Ben has fun sharing his passion with others, and he especially enjoys when he can amaze people with what appears to be magic. He loves to perform for friends and family rather than big public performances.

“Watching people be amazed by something I created is very gratifying,” Ben said. “It makes me feel so great, and also that I’ve accomplished something.”

Flip the card on the bottom of the deck before starting. Have the spectator pick a card, but do not let them see the bottom of the deck.

Step 2 Have the spectator focus on the card they picked, then flip the deck upside down, making it look as if the cards are face down.

Step 3 Put the card in the middle of the deck face down. Distract the audience and flip the deck back over. Say the card has flipped over, find the card in the middle, and show it to them.

15 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

SPORTS

THE SPORTS ZONE

Statistics and player profiles of the season’s prominent athletes, along with future sporting events, a sports column, and a sports poll. Lexi Costley | Ads Editor & Kady Volmering | Staff Writer

Anna Schultheis

Beach body blues

S

enior year spring break. Often it finds itself hidden in the shadows behind the many other milestones 18 year olds go through. For example, graduating, being able to vote, and gambling at Soaring Eagle. But for many teenage girls, we have been planning and preparing for this week ever since September. As the week inches closer, a panic begins to set in. Suddenly, I can feel all the Christmas cookies and half-off appetizers start to settle right below by belly button, where my 6 pack abs should be. For me, eating healthy and working out have always been something I have wanted to do, but I’ve never had the ambition to do it. So with approximately 3 months between my New Year’s resolution, and spring break. I set a goal to have the beach body I want by March 25th. If you do the math, that’s approximately 90 days for me to bail on the whole eating healthy thing and go back to eating left over Asian Express for breakfast.

In order to force myself to stick with my New Year’s resolution and prevent hurting people’s eyes on Florida’s beaches, I put one of the Internet’s diet plans to the test in order to see if it really produced the results that it promised. Many celebrities and models claim their killer bodies come from eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and working out on a regular basis; so I thought if Jennifer Aniston can do it, so can I. The diet I decided to follow was called the GM 7-day diet plan. The diet consisted of mostly fruits and vegetables, eliminated meats, cheeses, and breads. Each day involved something different, but I knew

going from spaghetti to salad for dinner would definitely be a challenge.

Day one was fruit only. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, I had no choice but to eat everything from cantaloupe to apples, and try not to pull into Big Apple Bagel on my way home from school. The second day got better, even though the only thing on the menu was vegetables. But the day came with salads and a baked potato for dinner, which was a step up from the night before. The next day, both fruits and vegetables were acceptable, but by that time I was already starting to miss tacos, pasta, and pizza. My friends’ lunches with their PBJs and Cheez-Its looked a lot more appetizing than my lettuce.

The fourth day was by far the worst. I was only allowed to eat: bananas, milk, yogurt.

Though I was full, I still wasn’t satisfied with the day’s meal selection. But as time went on, the week improved. The fifth day, I was able to eat tomato soup and rice, and on the sixth day I had rice and vegetables. Finally, on the last day, I couldn’t help but start planning my extravagant meals to come.

After the final meal, of veggies and rice, images of cereal, bacon, and pancakes danced in my head. The devil and angel soon began to bicker on my shoulders on whether or not I should stick with it and continue with my new, healthy lifestyle, or binge on all the greasiest and fattiest foods possible.

Ultimately, the devil won the fist fight.

Though I didn’t lose the 10 pounds the diet claimed I’d lose, I’m sure the five pounds I did end up losing are probably ancient history by now. But even though I may not look like Kate Hudson, I did learn valuable lessons from this experiment.

1) Cutting out complete food groups from your diet is not healthy. Instead, you should slowly cut back on proportion size.

2) Your body isn’t Play-Doh, so you can just mold it into your ideal body shape.

3) Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.

Day The1GM 7-day Diet Plan

Only Fruits and Vegetables Vegetables

Jared Hohman

Grade: Senior Sport: Varsity swim Statistics: Best time: 1:09 on 100 butterfly Proudest Moment: “When the team is losing, we still cheer each other on, even when we know we’re not going to win.”

Key to Success: “Showing up to practice, bilateral breathing, and my teammates pushing me during practice.”

Olivia Barber | Staff Writer

Grade: Junior

Coach’s Take: “He’s a good guy, he works hard. My proudest moment of him was when he stood up and gave his speech about why he was the best captain of the swim team. His best stroke is butterfly.”

-Pat Welter

Alex VanSumeren

Sport: Varsity basketball Statistics: 13 points in a Dow game.

Proudest Moment: “Beating Dow High twice, plus beating them in Districts my freshmen year.”

Key to Success: “Work hard in practice and games and good things will happen.”

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Only Fruits

Athletes of the Month

Bananas and Milk

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

Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Tomato Soup Vegetables Vegetables and Rice and Rice and Rice

Coach’s Take: “It’s hard to find a kid that works harder than Alex. I think something that represents Alex is well done great than well said.”

-Elaine Mahabir Hannah Smith | Staff Writer

SPORTS

Skating to the top

Senior Jacob Coffey works hard in practice to prepare for the next game. Hannah McAtamney | Photo

Senior Jacob Coffey finds himself a new leadership roll on the hockey team, and learns how to help motivate fellow teammates for an overall successful season. Lexi Costley | Ads Editor & Kady Volmering | Staff Writer

W

hile many teenagers spent their summer vacation traveling or lounging by the pool, enjoying warm weather, senior Jacob Coffey dedicated his time to become the best hockey player he could be. All year, Coffey spent up to five days a week on the ice.

Coffey started playing hockey when he was four years old, on a travel team in Saginaw. He then played for the Midland Northstars until he got to high school. He said that his older brother, who also played hockey, inspired him to try the sport.

“My mom really liked watching my brother play and she knew it would be something I would like, so she set me up with the sport when she knew I was old enough,” Coffey said.

Coffey first made the varsity hockey team as a freshman, along with one other freshman and 13 seniors.

“Starting off on the team really young was intimidating, but it was a good experience to be around the seniors’ leadership,” Coffey said. “It was also nice to learn the ways of seniors and how their attitude really affects the rest of the team.”

Now a senior, Coffey finds himself in a place of leadership on the team. He provides high energy for them, on and off the ice, along with support to keep his teammates from feeling defeated.

“He can always cheer anyone up,”

sophomore Matthew Gross said. “He can keep everyone in a good mood, and he always pushes everyone to do their best.”

Coffey has taught Gross many things, from always giving his all during games and practices to knowing how to pick a teammate up when they’re down.

“He’s been with us for four years and he leads by example,” head coach Jeff Brown said.

Brown attributes Coffey’s success to his hard work in practice and focus during the games.

“He’s a hard worker,” Brown said. “He has good speed. He has a quick release on his shot, and he finds the openings on the ice. He has a really strong offensive game.”

Coffey is currently leading the team with 23 goals and 20 assists. He averages is about one goal per game.

He said that, to have a victorious season, team members need to work for overall team success. He tries hard to keep his teammates motivated throughout the season, so the whole team can work towards one central goal of continuously being positive.

“When you’re a freshman, you are at the bottom of the ladder, so it’s nice to be on the top now and see how much I influence everyone else on the team,” Coffey said. “My teammates really motivate me to work hard and always keep such a positive attitude on and off the ice.”

Upcoming Events Boys varsity basketball: Feb. 12 at home, Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.

Boys varsity swim: Feb. 16 at Dow High

Girls varsity basketball: Feb. 12 at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.

Girls varsity cheerleading: Feb. 11 at Dow High

Girls varsity bowling: Feb. 17 at Northern Lanes, 5:30 p.m

Boys varsity hockey: Feb. 19 at home, vs. Grand Haven, 7 p.m.

SPORTS

“Great win tonight, loved the student section, you guys were hype #majorkey” @Jordanpatty12

Tweet of the

Month MHS students predicted which team would win the Super Bowl: Carolina Panthers

54% Denver Broncos

46% Based on a survey of 126 students 17 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Hitting to win

SPORTS

Ping Pong is a winter club, created by Jonathan Hentschel in 2012 that allowed students to come together and have fun with their friends in a sport where tryouts and mandatory practices are not necessary, and no stress of competing against other schools. Kayla Graham | Sports Editor & Kalie Dornbos | Staff Writer

L

ooking down the length of the ping pong table, senior Josh Hentschel reads his opponent to prepare for his next serve.

When players talk about ping pong, it may sound easy, but building up the required skills takes time. Even for Hentschel, who is ranked as #1 in the club, there are still some difficulties that he deals with while playing.

Being a member of the ping pong club gives him a chance to improve his skills.

“In ping pong, there are different skill combinations, and the hardest skill is when a person can put a lot of spin on the ping pong ball, based on the type of serves that they use,” Hentschel said.

Hentschel started playing ping pong with his brother when he was young. Both the Hentschel brothers lived off of playing ping pong and they grew passionate about the sport. His brother, Jonathan Hentschel, started up the club in 2012 to encourage teenagers to get involved in ping pong and to have fun while playing against their friends.

“When he left and I started to play, it sounded like a good idea to keep the club going,” Hentschel said. “Kids really enjoyed it, and they would play on Friday or Saturday nights, so this kept kids out of trouble. Ping pong was a good way to have fun, but also interact with others.”

Along with Hentschel, seniors Jacob Gomez and Josiah Greiner are involved in the club as well. Greiner began playing in seventh grade with his dad and his church youth group.

Gomez started playing last year when he was automatically signed up to play in the club.

Hentschel, Gomez, and Greiner all play tennis, which gives them an advantage when playing against other opponents. Both sports revolve around the same concept: getting the ball over the net.

Meet the players 18 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

“Playing a lot of tennis helps because it’s about the same strategy of hitting it cross court or hitting it down the line,” Greiner said. “It’s also about keeping them moving and when you see that they have a strength or a weakness, you try to use that against them if possible.”

Because ping pong isn’t in the MHSAA [Midland High School Athletic Association], it cannot be considered as an official sport.

Even though ping pong is not in the MHSAA guideline requirements, it is still able to run as a winter club. This allows students to have fun and not worry about making a time commitment. Students can come to practice whatever day they want, in addition to signing up for the tournaments in which they would like to participate.

“With ping pong, it’s fun to hang out with the guys and play a sport that wasn’t meant to be intense, but can get pretty intense at times,” Gomez said.

Although the team lacks a coach to help train them, there is no pressure to beat other players. Instead, ping pong is meant to be fun and relaxed.

“Really, it’s just a bunch of guys messing around, but also taking it seriously during tournaments,” Gomez said. “Some people take it seriously and some do it for fun. Also, ping pong is just a school thing, so you don’t go out and compete against other schools like in other sports.”

In the absence of a coach, the students teach other players their skills.

“People coach the others how to hit strokes, but a lot of times people just do their thing,” Hentschel said. “Having a coach isn’t that big of a deal, but on the other hand, students have to try and learn for themselves or ask other players in the club for help.”

Ranking: 8th Best match: Against Korn last year

Why I joined the club:

“Every tournament there is a chance to pull off a huge upset, and it’s exciting.”

Senior Zac Schneider concentrates on his serve. He will read his opponent’s move, to decide what angle he will need to hit from, when he makes his next move to score the winning point. Megan Nylund | Photo Since ping pong is student-led, tournaments are coordinated by athletes. To sign up for the tournaments, a Remind 101 system is used, which sends messages to all members of the club. From there, senior Mason Dominowski sets up the brackets and formats them according to how many students are in each tournament.

Lastly, junior Jonathan Jardis helps run the tournaments and supervises matches, after making sure everything is set up properly on tournament day.

Students find that managing school, ping pong practices and tournaments, and other sports or activities can be challenging. Students find flexibility in the practices for ping pong, along with picking what tournaments they want to compete in, since it isn’t as strict of a schedule as other sports.

“There are always time conflicts,” Greiner said. “Having play rehearsal or another sports practice is always tough to go around. One

Kyle Taylor

Zac Schneider

tournament I had to drop out of because I had to go to rehearsal. It’s only a big time commitment if you make it one.”

The club has allowed students to compete against many other players that they might not have met otherwise. It also allows students to come and join a sport without having to worry about tryouts, the concept of getting cut, or even the stress of competing against other schools.

Student involvement has grown through the years from a little over 20 students to over 40, starting this year. Hentschel hopes the club keeps growing.

“The overall intention of starting the club at Midland High was to get more student involvement and teach students that they don’t have to be a good player to try, or be nervous that they aren’t good enough to play,” Hentschel said. “All you need is to be able to learn and make corrections on the way to become a better player overall.”

Ranking: 17th Best match: Against Gabe Eckerle, 28-26

Why I joined the club:

“All my friends joined and playing is my favorite thing to do during my free time.”

Girls with grit

SPORTS

2.

1. The Midland Hornets defend their goal against Alpena during their home game on January 16th.

2. The team huddles to celebrate their goal during the first period of the game. The girls had a close 1-0 win over Alpena. Maddy O’Callaghan | Photos

1.

Meet the players

The Midland Hornets girls hockey team has been improving their record as the season has progressed. The team is made up of players from all over the mid-Michigan area, and travels at least two hours for their games. Ella Colbert | Features Editor & Paige Murphy | Staff Writer

Several players on the team share their favorite aspect of hockey.

Defenseman

“They’re fast paced, they are hard, nobody lets up,” Kadlec said. “It is always a competition with girls, because they do get a lot of practice time, just like guys teams.”

Despite the intense competition, Haney does not feel nervous during the games.

“When you’re out on the ice, all you’re thinking about is [the game] and you have no worries about anything else,” Haney said.

Typically, the girls have two and a half hour practices twice a week, where they do off-ice cardio and strengthening, as well as on-ice drills and practicing plays. By practicing on the ice, the girls are able to work on their communication skills.

“They need to spread out and communicate better,” Howe said. “Communication on the ice is key to a successful team. Any team that communicates usually has very successful results. If you watch college games, you can hear everything. The girls on the college level are constantly calling out plays, and yelling at each other, and directing where the next play is going to be.”

This season, the Midland Hornets have won roughly one-third of their games. As the season has progressed, their record has greatly improved. Not only has the team gotten better as a whole, but the individual players have developed their skills throughout the year as well. Howe said that seeing this improvement in her athletes is one of the most rewarding feelings as a coach. “[It’s satisfying to] take a first year skater and see them develop as fast as they can,” Howe said. “It’s pretty rewarding when you have a skater who could barely stand on skates at the beginning of the season and then at the end, she’s right there with the rest of them.”

HANEY

“When you’re playing, there’s nothing that matters, and you have no worries. You’re stress free.”

Allison Haney

“I love that hockey has led to such great friendships.

Hockey is a competitive sport and when you get on the ice, nothing else matters.”

FOWLER

Right Wing

same interests as me and I can talk about hockey with them,” Kadlec said. “One of my favorite things is being able to talk about the NHL and not have someone look at me like, ‘What?

What’s that?’”

This aspect of getting to know her teammates was not something freshman Allison Haney experienced while playing on a boys hockey team three years ago.

“When I was on boys teams before, it was always really hard to bond,” Haney said. “On a girls team, it is a lot easier to bond.”

Not only are the relationships between teammates different in boys and girls hockey, but the manner in which they play is as well.

“In girls hockey, we’re not allowed to check,” Kadlec said. “It’s a no-checking league and you don’t get hit as hard. It’s a lot more strategic play because we can’t hit and can’t just take someone off the puck like that. You have to actually pass and get around each other and think of new ways to do that. Boys hit hard, very hard. But, girls are very catty and do say some words at each other, which is what we call ‘chirping’.

They talk smack.”

Howe attributes the competitiveness between the girls during games to their inability to check.

“The fundamentals and the systems are all the same,” Howe said. “The biggest thing is the physical aspect of the game. Girls tend to carry on the competitiveness from game to game. I think the boys get it out of their system because they are allowed to check. If girls were allowed to check, they’d get that out of their systems too.”

Kadlec said that the games are still intense, despite the lack of physical contact. The games are affected in different ways due to the way they are played, but still remain competitive.

Hannah Fowler

Defenseman

T

he girls huddled in a circle on the ice, hugging and raising their hockey sticks in the air to celebrate the goal that had just been scored. Their fans, bundled in winter jackets and blankets, yelled loudly and aggressively from the bleachers. The thick aroma of popcorn and smelly feet was quickly masked by the excitement from the Midland Hornets’ victory.

The hockey team consists of 19 girls from all over the mid-Michigan area, including Bay City and Saginaw, ranging from 11 to 19 years old.

Of those nineteen girls, almost half are new, and the initial part of the season was spent coming together as a team.

“Because we had ten returning girls and nine new girls to the team this year, the first third of the season was spent getting to know each other and figuring out who works well together, who has the team chemistry with their line mates,” coach Dina Howe said. “Right now, we’re clicking. We still have a few little things we need to tweak, but everyone is finally getting to know each other, and know each other’s habits. When you have girls who have skated together for four years and girls who have never played together before, it’s just about getting to know each other’s habits and skills and communication on the ice.”

Junior Kelly Kadlec said that the team underwent a series of bonding activities throughout the season, in order to get to know teammates they usually do not talk to. During Christmas, they built gingerbread houses and decorated each other with wrapping paper and bows. Kadlec feels it is important to grow closer as a team.

“It’s hard to get girl friends, and these are a bunch of girls who are all nice and have the

KADLEC

“My favorite part of hockey is the challenge of it and the rush you get from it.”

Kelly Kadlec

19 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

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You & me & all of the people

n this day and age, there are many and comforts, no amount of money can aspects of life that get discarded and furnish. kicked to the curb. One of these forgotten Despite the invaluable attributes of strong aspects is the idea of relationships. Think relationships, we often fall victim to ignorance outside the terms of 2-week anniversaries or and ungraciousness. Because we gain nothing friendships that don’t extend past texts on visible, the motivation to keep them strong a screen. Ponder past the popular girl you weakens. Many times, we realize friendships exchange glances with after 1st hour or the are drifting and we make the mistake of fetching boy who copies your English notes. letting them. In doing so, we place the Instead, ruminate on the connections you blame in dense phrases like, ‘We just grew hold with people that truly matter, and ask apart.’ In reality, one or both sides stopped yourself how blatantly appreciative you have putting forth the effort to sustain what was been of that relationship. Not just to yourself, once a lively relationship. Sadly, traditions but also to that person. The chances you have and routine plans fold into mere memories. given the recognition deserved while being Inside jokes fade and you go from knowing thankful and humbled by their presence in everything about each other, to nothing at all. your life is slim. It is not an easy task. We Though the process of growing up calls for have a nasty habit of getting so wrapped up in broken links and torn relations, seldom do our own lives that people who mean so much real friendships fold at the hands of time. to us fall in our list of priorities. We forget to In some cases, bridges must be burned. show our gratitude.

People make These relationships mistakes. On good “Preserve the friendships in which terms or bad, ultimately lose their sense of authenticity. judgment doesn’t lurk, and positivity bonds are broken.

It is no secret the Nonetheless, we reigns above bad energy.” people who hold should strive to places in our lives keep the severing mix with time. Some of ties minimal. We more than others, though it’s inevitable for all. must take in to account those who are happy However, this in no way serves as an excuse for our happiness and sympathetic for our to compromise your current relationships and sadness. Look towards the people who are do little to conserve them. There are many rooting for us no matter what, but aren’t important things in the world, but the sheer afraid to set us straight with honesty. Preserve value of the personal connections shared the friendships in which judgment doesn’t and irreplaceable memories made makes lurk, and positivity reigns above bad energy. relationships surpass almost all. Relationships Surround ourselves with people we aspire to held with others are not tangible. They are be, knowing fully it is our job to keep them in not something that can be seen or heard. They our lives. hold no value in money, but they are crucial The peculiar thing about relationships is when it comes to your happiness and health. that they are a two way street; something that A relationship provides benefits these feeds off of two people and gives out only others things cannot bring to the table. what is put in. The first step in maintaining Having another person in whom we trust, them is the realization of how important they love, and share a mutual effort is rare, though are, and establishing which are worthy of our it is also what defines the relationships we time and effort. Next comes the responsibility yearn for. Just knowing you have a person to perpetuate this relationship, knowing in your life who cares about your well-being the happiness it brings to our lives and our is enough to provide a sigh of relief. The dependence on it. In doing this, we can only recollection of the laughing fit you had with hope the person on the other end sees the your best friend over something you don’t importance of the connection you both hold, even remember makes a bad day not so bad. and are also willing to feed it. It isn’t cool, Something as effortless as a hug or a brief nor something to be proud of, to blow off knock on the shoulder from your brother and discredit the people who have made us diminishes any feelings of unimportance or who we are today. Be obvious. Be loving. Be sense of loneliness. These are consolations thankful.

Live and local

Channeling a passion A&E

Sarah Evans

Dream a Little Dream of Me || Mama Cass

“I’ve loved this song all my life and it’s a super lovely, feelgood song.”

Peachy Keen || Sarah Evans

With the help of her sister, sophomore Sarah Evans recently created her own YouTube channel that she uses to post covers of her favorite songs. Evans works with her vocal coach, Grace Marra, every week and hopes to continue to improve so she can pursue music as a career in the future. Ian Andridge | Photo

Sophomore Sarah Evans has been singing ever since she saw the Phantom of the Opera for the first time. Since then, she has developed a passion for music while taking vocal lessons and creating a YouTube channel. Kirstyn Cotton | Opinion Editor & Madelyn Groulx | Staff Writer

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ophomore Sarah Evans has been influenced by the Phantom of the Opera since she was four years old. As she watched it for the first time, the beauty and talent of the performers inspired her. Singing has been a part of Evans’ life ever since, and she continues to develop her Amy Winhouse-bluesy sound.

“When I was three or four, I watched the Phantom of the Opera for the first time,” Evans said. “I would walk around my house, trying to sing like they did, and ever since then, I have liked to sing.”

Now, as a teenager, Evans is taking her singing to the next level. She has received vocal lessons from vocal coach Grace Marra for the past two years, and has seen significant improvement.

“We really didn’t know anything about voice lessons, but Sarah came to us and said that she knew of kids who took lessons and asked if she could too,” Denise Evans, Sarah’s mother, said.

“Grace has been very supportive of Sarah and is encouraging her to take her singing to the next level.”

As Sarah’s teacher, Marra has enjoyed watching Sarah grow and progress as she works to improve her voice even further.

“Sarah has made wonderful progress as a singer. Her voice is stronger, and has a lovely, focused, ringing, round sound,” Marra said.

“As far as performing is concerned, Sarah is

comfortable in front of an audience. Making the voice stronger makes the student feel more secure. A student feels even more at ease with an audience, and can put more into their acting as they sing.”

One of Sarah’s first big performances was at Rhapsody Rendezvous last fall. Although she didn’t have nerves right away, they started to kick in as the performance got closer.

“I auditioned last minute and I picked the song 10 minutes before I left my house,” Sarah said. “When I found out that I got in, I wasn’t nervous about it, but by the week before [the performance] I was getting extremely nervous.

I’ve wanted to do Rhapsody since I was little, so it was fun.”

One of Denise’s proudest moments of Sarah was when she was performing at Rhapsody Rendezvous. She enjoyed seeing what Sarah and sophomore Fischer Genau, who played the cajón (a box-shaped percussion instrument) while Sarah sang, decided to do, because they kept the details of the performance a secret until the show. They performed “Ain’t No Cover” by Regina Spektor.

“We were most proud of Sarah when she was singing in Rhapsody, because we were blown away by her performance,” Denise said. “She was pretty quiet about what she and Fischer were going to do, so it was a total surprise when we saw them. Sarah is very comfortable singing

in large crowds, and loves doing it.”

With the help of her sister, Sarah recently created her own YouTube channel, where she posts covers of some of her favorite songs.

Through the channel, she hopes to spread her music to more people and gain attention. She has posted songs such as “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “The Way I Am”, and her Rhapsody performance of “Ain’t No Cover” .

In the future, Sarah hopes to pursue music as a career. Although she is unsure about exactly what she wants to do, she hopes to study music in college.

“Sarah would love to pursue a career in singing,” Denise said. “Right now, she is still deciding on which avenue to take. Recording, Broadway, and theater are all options that she is considering. Sarah loves all types of music and can sing anything from opera to soulful pop.”

Through her YouTube channel, vocal lessons, and more performances, Sarah continues to broaden her musical talents. She has taught herself to play the ukulele and looks forward to learning the guitar in the future. As she improves, her passion for music only grows stronger.

“My favorite part would probably be that it’s a stress reliever for me,” Sarah said. “Usually when I’m singing, I’m only thinking about that particular song, as well as the story and feeling behind it.”

“Hardly a song, but I made it up originally for a contest that I didn’t end up entering so I just posted it and thought why not.”

Monday Monday || The Mamas and The Papas

“I always listened to it growing up, but never actually tried singing it before so I decided to give it a shot.”

You Know I’m No Good || Amy Winehouse

“It’s a really fun song to sing and really shows the style of Amy Winehouse.”

21| FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Live and local

A&E

Rocking the classics

Senior Mitchell Kent, juniors Matt Olenczuk and Mark Minardi, and sophomore Matt Anderson perform their favorite classic rock songs locally, under the name M4. Will Hackbarth | Editor-in-Chief & Hayley Russell | Staff Writer & Spencer Patrell | Staff Writer

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t the beginning of last summer, senior Mitchell Kent set a goal for himself that he thought to be impossible. He sought to play “Eruption,” by Van Halen, on his electric guitar. The song was particularly challenging due to its fast lead licks and complicated patterns, so Kent practiced every day for two straight months.

“If you set a goal, go achieve it,” Kent said.

“When I started Eruption, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to play this.’ But I kept working on it, and I was finally able to get most of the song done.”

Kent acquired the persistence and determination needed to master such a difficult song through nine years of guitar lessons at Fulkerson’s music studio downtown. He began his instruction during the summer before his third grade year, and has continued ever since.

“I was enthralled with the game of Guitar Hero, and I thought it would be so cool to actually play the instrument,” Kent said. “So I asked my mom if I could and we rented a guitar.”

Fulkerson’s music instructor, Mark Shelley, has taught Kent ever since he first picked up a guitar. Shelley started teaching music when he moved to Midland 16 years ago. He eventually expanded beyond simple instruction, and began to form his students into rock bands, which perform twice a year in his annual spring and winter recitals. Shelley enjoys seeing his new musicians form bands and grow, both as musicians and people. Seeing students that work hard to become talented players is one of his favorite parts about his job.

“Every new crop of musicians is like an exciting project to work on,” Shelley said.

“Every band is different. Every band has different strengths and weaknesses.”

When Kent reached seventh grade, Shelley decided he was ready to play in a band, and began uniting him with other musicians. After a lengthy formation process, he joined the current M4 lineup as a lead guitarist, along with rhythm/lead guitarist and singer Matthew Olenczuk, bass player Matthew Anderson, and drummer Mark Minardi. Since all of their first names began with M, they decided to call their band M4.

Olenczuk has also played guitar for nine years, and recently started singing as well.

Growing up, his greatest idols were guitar players, and he has always strove to achieve a similar level of ability. Through his lessons at Fulkerson’s, he has learned much about the nature of music. “[Shelley] always pushes me to do [the best

22 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

1.

Junior Matthew Olenczuk sings “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love,” by Van Halen, with M4. Senior Mitchell Kent and sophomore Matthew Anderson shred, while junior Mark Minardi drums. Will Hackbarth | Photo that] I can, which helps me a lot because I don’t do that to myself,” Olenczuk said. “He teaches me how to learn, it’s not just showing me what to do. [Music] is like a different language. You’re constantly learning and you add onto it, and make it your own. That’s something I really like, the individuality of it.”

Minardi has played music for nearly five years, primarily the drums. Anderson has played bass for four years, and guitar for a year. Together with M4, they have played many shows, including the Dow Renaissance fair, Rhapsody Rendezvous, and Crepes Et Amis.

Many of the band members’ best memories come from these performances.

“The best part of music is the rush you get when you play live,” Anderson said.

Shelley has been impressed with the progress that M4 has made in recent years, becoming a live band that can entertain a crowd for an entire set. Since many of his successful bands, such as Loose Change and Citation Needed, had strong vocals, he was worried when M4 didn’t sing during their performances. His favorite moment with M4 came in last winter’s recital, when the band showed that they could command a crowd’s attention and provide quality vocals. “[I] came into this year like, ‘Who’s going to be my headlining band? It’s going to be M4, but they’re just starting to sing. We’re not gonna have the high end vocals at the end, the product won’t be as good this year’,” Shelley said. “They proved me wrong. M4 filled that new spot. They’ve been pretty solid for years

now, but I didn’t think they would connect with the crowd that well. And they did, they really justified having that headlining spot.”

In the future, M4 hopes to play a few more gigs, as well as the spring recital, before Kent leaves for college. They are not certain what will happen to the band when Kent moves away.

“The band and I don’t really have many plans for the future, were kind of just taking things one step at a time,” Minardi said.

Although the musicians will eventually go their own separate ways, they all wish to continue their pursuit of music in some capacity while Olenczuk wishes to pursue it as a career.

“We’ll probably end after me and our drummer graduate, but I want to keep playing,” Olenczuk said. “That’s my plan in life, to keep playing music, and hopefully record one day and tour.”

Shelley’s one wish for his students is to keep practicing music, in some way or another, after they grow beyond his lessons. He attempts to teach them in such a way that they will not be reliant on anyone to instruct them, so they can continue playing and pursuing their passions.

“Sometimes I look on the Facebook pages of the kids that graduated years ago, and I just see what they’re up to,” Shelley said. “If I see them involved in music, that’s the most awesome thing. If you’re a good teacher, you want to teach people how to learn on their own. I try to get it so that they’re well-rounded, so that when they get out of here, they can play the rest of their lives.”

2.

1. Sophomore Matthew Anderson sings. 2. Senior Mitchell Kent practices a riff. Will Hackbarth | Photos

M4 Set List

These songs are typical of what one would hear at an M4 concert

“Black Betty”

-Ram Jam “Holiday”

-Green Day “Sultans of Swing”

-Dire Straits “Welcome to the Jungle”

-Guns N’ Roses “Rock and Roll Fantasy”

-Bad Company “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love”

-Van Halen

Live and local

Creating a different sound A&E

Why did you join jazz band?

Senior Allison Kiekhaefer

“It’s different from anything we play in symphonic band and I wanted to learn more upbeat and exciting music”

Sophomore Allyah Ramos

Freshman Jared Gondor plays the trombone during jazz practice on Tuesday night. Jazz features difficult key and time signatures that challenge musicians with a new genre of music. Their latest performances included “The Night of the Living Chili Pepper,” “You Make Me So Young,” and “Backatown. “ Julia Quinn | Photo

“I have my own trumpet and decided to join because jazz is so smooth and groovy, and I wanted to learn to play it.”

The jazz band is performing more as an ensemble this year, under the direction of Chris O’Connell. The unique style of jazz brings the skills of each musician to new heights. Zach Noel | Web Editor & Lillian Mohr | Staff Writer & Jacob Presson | Staff Writer

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hen tenor saxophonist Jordan Gonder stands up from his seat, the entirety of the jazz band stops playing, apart from the bass and drums. Gonder begins to play a solo. The fills that the bassist and drums provide and the measures written with guidelines help Gonder through his solo, as he plays swift and jazzy rhythms that can’t be found in typical sheet music. The improvised melody will never be quite the same; each time it’s played, it is slightly different. He sits back down in his seat after finishing his solo, and the jazz band roars back in to finish the piece.

“I started [jazz band] because I figured it would help me to expand my genre experience,” senior basist Jared Wanttaja said.

The jazz band has become a much more active group this year under it’s new director, Chris O’Connell. With a strong enthusiasm and love for jazz, he has been the driving force behind the band’s higher number of opportunities to show and perform as an ensemble.

“It is just fun,” O’Connell said. “It’s different from concert band and allows more advanced players a chance to play more advanced music.

It also allows them to try new styles and makes them an overall better musician.”

The band has already played three concerts this school year, performing at Bay City

State Theater, Central Middle School, and under the difficulty of limited practice times, Central Michigan University. Many more O’Connell still holds his students to a high have been scheduled to occur later this year, standard. such as the Alma Jazz Festival in April and “I realize it is very challenging to put the Northeast Spring Concert. Through these together a full program with only an hour concerts, the 25 musicians including–trombone, and a half to practice per week, but when you trumpet, saxophone, bass, and percussion – lower expectations, you get a lower product,” are continually O’Connell said. improving their The time abilities and factor is not the “It takes a lot more musical maturity than skills. only challenge “A lot of times the jazz band most people have. You have to have a w h e n y o u ’r e faces. Jazz often just-go-for-it attitude and see what happens.” features difficult doing jazz, t h e s t yl e a n d rhythms, rapid interpretation Senior Christian Clark r u n s t h r o u g h and exactly notes, and key how to play the signatures music is just so that differ different than concert band,” O’Connell said. “It substantially from typical symphonic band really is beneficial for everyone to hear how each music. other plays and that really gets things going.”

“It is more rhythm oriented,” Wanttaja said.

Aside from their performances, the jazz “It’s a completely different style of music.” band meets every Tuesday night for 90 minutes One of Wanttaja’s favorite jazz band pieces to to practice. The limited time to practice as play is “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra. an ensemble makes it very difficult for the He enjoys the vocals and how the song captured musicians to learn the music, and it requires the idea of swing in jazz. He also enjoys how extensive amounts of individual practicing to prevalent the bass is in jazz music. perfect the desired sound. Even while they’re “In jazz, the rhythm is more central to the

music. I play a more important role than in symphonic music, where I am in the background more,” Wanttaja said. “I like being in the spotlight for once.”

The most challenging aspect of jazz are the solos that players are tasked with playing. In most jazz pieces, there are unique improvisation opportunities for soloists to either play the guidelines provided in the music, or to put their own twist on the piece by creating a new melody on the spot. The variable of creativity allows players to leave their own mark on the song. In most cases, the improvisation will not be repeated.

“It takes a lot more musical maturity than most people have,” senior trombonist Christian Clark said. “You have to have a just-go-for-it attitude and see what happens.”

This year, there is a more energized mood around the jazz band and this is shown through their more active schedule. While their time is limited to prepare for the next concert, the band continues to improve and welcome the challenge.

“We want to improve because of the fact that we have improved so much already as a jazz band,” trumpet player Sammi Rice said. “That makes me want to keep going, because I know we will continue to get better.”

23 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

A&E

roast the

R e v i e ws o n t h e co f fe e a n d a t m o s p h e r e o f l o c a l co f f e e s h o p s. A n n a S c h u t h e i s | E xc h a n g e Ed i to r & C h l o e G a l l | St a f f Wr i te r Hannah McAtamey & Julia Quinn & Anna Schultheis | P h o t o s

Harless + Hugh

Harless + Hugh

Journeys Coffee House

1003 Washington Avenue, Bay City

201 E Main Street, Midland

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hen entering Harless and Hugh, you are bombarded with contrasts of black and white and rustic wood elements. This coffee shop is an urban twist on the traditional downtown Bay City.

With modern barstools, chalkboard walls, and vintage sofas, H + h is the perfect hideaway.

Up front, in the spacious window seats, people chat with the barista, while others are tucked away in the back room, staring blankly at their laptops. Something that they all have in common is the steaming cup and saucer in front of them. One of H + h’s specialty drinks this time of year is the Campfire. This sweet and spicy beverage consists of honey, vanilla, cinnamon-infused milk, and a shot of espresso. While sipping this decadent drink, you will be reminded of warm summer nights. H + h is a one of a kind experience that sets itself apart from the rest with its drip-brewed coffees, which captures oils and essence solely through the power of gravity, combined with their hand-crafted syrups.

With their friendly baristas and fast service, any line that you might have to wait in moves fast, and is worth the wait. While waiting, customers can investigate all the unique things H + h has to offer. On Sundays, they cater to early birds with specialty waffles and live music. After dark, they transform into a public house that serves cocktails and beers.

Overall, Harless and Hugh is the wearer of many hats, and provides Bay City with a hidden gem.

24 | FOCUS | FEB 11, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Kaya

Kaya

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eon lights glow, reading the word “OPEN” on the scrappy storefront of Kaya Coffee House on the corner of South University Drive, near the edge of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. When entering through the door, the scent of coffee beckons you to take a taste of the coffee house’s many specialty drinks. After looking at the colorful chalkboard menu, you will be intrigued to try one of their many soups, salads, sandwiches, or desserts. The dim lights, mossy green walls, and rugged couches and chairs attract everyone from studying college students to your average hipsters. Kaya Coffee House radiates a warm, safe atmosphere, while giving back to the community with their free book exchange. For entertainment, the house holds open mic nights for performers and local bands to showcase their talent. Though

Kaya Coffee House is out of the way, we highly recommend taking the journey.

1029 S University Avenue, Mt. Pleasant

Journeys

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f you are looking for a coffee shop that not only serves good drinks, but also helps your local community, then Journeys Coffee House off of Main Street in Midland is where you should head. This welcoming

shop is always bustling with different events and groups of people. Whether it is game night on Tuesdays or a local band playing on the stage, Journeys hums with excitement. This church-based coffee shop is all about encouragement, inspiration, and giving back to the community. Based out of Messiah Lutheran Church, the baristas’ tips are donated to a charity in Midland, the candy machine’s quarters go Children’s Cancer Society, and throughout the shop they are selling goods to help support local businesses. The coffee as well as the amount of profits that Journeys’ gives back to the community, will leave you caffeinated and connected.