May 29th, 2014: Underclassmen Issue by MHS Focus

AARON MEALEY | PAGE 10

SUMMER JOBS | PAGE 11

SISCO | PAGES 6-7

THE

FOCUS

TEST DRUGS| PAGE 4

Midland High School | May 29, 2014 | Volume 36, Issue 9

Motocross mayhem Junior Alex Reinke expresses his adoration for an award in the alernative sport of motorcross. Page 9

SPECIAL REPORT: The community remembers the life and impact of beloved teacher Mrs. Sisco. Natalie Schwartz | Photo

O P I N I O N

CORRECTIONS

Keratin, kreatine, creatine

OP/ED columns

We did a correction last issue for the body builders; in that correction was an error. Kreatine wasn’t the word we were looking for. The real word is creatine. Becuase they are so embarrased by this mistake, Scout Parsch and Jack Duly have decided to step down as Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor.

A déjà vu was most likely happening for those who read page 7 of the columns last issue. They were the same from last month, and Scout and Maddy were columnless. This is not our fault, however. We have the printer to thank for that. Classic.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

When I first heard some of my friends poking fun at Nate Fisher’s opinion article “Not so fast, ladies” from last month’s Focus, my first instinct was to stand up for the piece and its author. From the way they were speaking, it seemed like my friends had convinced themselves that girls have more challenges, no matter what evidence they had seen. As a supporter of the Men’s Rights Movement, I believe that there is legitimate support for the case that guys are faced with social challenges that women are not. However, after reading the article, I have to concur with my friends that the reasons Nate described were far from real issues. I expected to read about true injustices that men are often faced with; instead, concerns about underwear choices and shaving were brought to my attention. If I had written an editorial about ways that society discriminates against men, here are the facts I would have included: 1. The suicide rate for men is about four times higher than that of women. 2. On average, men receive 63% longer jail sentences than females convicted of the same crime 3. An overwhelming majority—84%— of mothers win custody instead of fathers. 4. Sexual assault is often treated as a joke when a man is the victim. There are around 1,500 “shelters for battered women” in the USA but only a handful which provide the same services to men. 5. Men are typically raised under the belief that it is wrong to hit a woman under any circumstances while women who assault men are sometimes praised or glorified for their “bravery.” 6. Female genital mutilation is recognized as a violation of human rights by the World Health Organization while male circumcision is often considered standard even though it provides no benefit and could even be considered detrimental to the child’s sexual well-being. I hope that these facts bring some legitimacy to the argument for men’s rights. Misandry is out there and, contrary to popular belief, there truly are cases where life is more difficult for men. Cara Mitrano, Junior

3 THINGS

Tweet OF THE Month

you don’t have to worry about this month

your date leave you last 1 Having minute at Prom stealing lunch money 2 Seniors Surving the Godzilla attack of 2014 3 and one thing you still do...

Figuring out the best way to say goodbye to your favorite seniors

I’m thankful for all the different ways I can eat potatoes

Follow THIS User @ClaireBooth2

It is a truth universally acknowledged (in the eyes of a woman) that the life of a guy is much easier than the life of a girl. Women often say that they would love to be a guy. Now maybe this is because of more superficial points as Nate Fisher mentioned in his column last month. And yes, Nate, I understand that you were trying to be funny. I am not blaming you. I just want to let you know why this column made me so upset. I still want to be friends. I just tend to get a little defensive about this topic. I am upset when boys complain about their “guy problems” because we live in a patriarchal society where women still make less than men for doing the same job, and where women are taught submit to men. Every day, women are made to feel inferior. But I guess chafing is pretty bad too. Here are a few things Nate could have considered when complaining about how hard it is to identify with the male gender: 6) At the end of this point, you bring up a very good question: boxers or briefs? I know how difficult this decision can be for you. But you should see the wide array of options we women have! We can wear a lacy thong and get called a slut, or comfortable briefs and be called a prude. 5) The harsh reality for women is that whether we are looking bad in the morning or not, we are expected to paint our faces. You said we can “hide” our insecurities behind expensive creams and colors. In fact, as far as society is concerned, we need to. Generally, men do not wear makeup because they are not expected to. According to Western culture, men do not need makeup to look good. Girls need to keep their imperfections covered up. 4) Nate, have you ever shaved your legs? I can’t say I’ve shaved my face, so maybe I’m not qualified to argue, but I can tell you exactly why it is “such a big deal.” First of all, you pointed out that men grow hair

Not so fast, Nate everywhere. We do too. Girls are just often shaved and waxed to near-hairless perfection. And dude, that takes a lot of commitment. Wax your eyebrows and then let’s talk about who has it worse. Also, keep in mind the expectations set for each gender. If men decide not to shave their faces, that’s cool. You can work a beard and be okay. In fact, you have an entire month dedicated to it. No Shave November is a time for you and your razor to take a little break. What if a girl decided to participate in this cause? 3) You’re completely right when you say that men are held to a double standard. It’s a problem that needs to be fixed, and my proposition for repair is something you could probably guess: feminism. When boys really want to insult each other, they call each other feminine adjectives. This is reinforcing the idea that being a woman is the worst thing you can be. Stop being afraid to be called girly. Destroy the gender norms a little bit. It’s okay to be the person who doesn’t need to hit someone in the face to feel manly. If you equate violence with masculinity, you are only strengthening the acceptance of violence in the household. 2) Okay, this point is the one that sparked me to write this column. The reason that men are still relied on to initiate conversations and romance in this world is because many of you want that power. Different girls “draw different lines between flattering and creepy” because we are taught to accept harassment as a gift from the time we are young. In order to “swoon a babe,” you should ask questions. You should constantly be inquiring her about what she feels comfortable with. Spontaneity is overrated. It’s okay to ask questions that sound stupid to make sure you both feel safe. 1) It was very enticing to hear your description on why it hurts so badly to be hit in the groin. Because I do not have the “equipment” to tell you if you are right or not, I’m not the one to be telling you how awful or not awful it is. It probably hurts pretty badly, but so does childbirth. I guess we’ll never really know what’s worse. But I would take a kick in the balls any day over the constant hoops I have to jump through in life because of my gender.

WHERE’S VIC HIDING?

This year the Focus is trying something new. Similar to Where’s Waldo?, Vic will be hidden anywhere throughout the paper each month. The first person to find Vic, take a picture, and tweet it at @MHSFocus1 wins a free 44 oz. Speedway slurpee. Make sure to tweet it with a flavor and your 5th hour teacher. Happy hunting, and may the odds be ever in your favor. 02 | FOCUS | MAY 29, 2014

*the Vic on this page does not count

O P I N I O N

Great expectations

We are a culture of expected reward and perpetual excuses. We cry and pout if we are not rewarded for accomplishing the simplest of tasks. We lower the expectations of others so they will be apt to giving us more praise than what we deserve. Where does this get us? How does it aid in our success? The truth is that being glorified for minor accomplishments takes away from the situations we should be celebrating. We should do things for the right reason, not for what we may or may not get out of it. For example, young kids today are rewarded for brushing their teeth before bed, or putting their dirty socks in the laundry. It’s even gotten to the point where parents create “behavior charts” where they place a sticker in one of the several boxes leading to a prize every time their child accomplishes a simple task. Every time the child says “Please” or “Thank you,” another sticker is put on the chart. They should be expected to use their manners, not be rewarded for the few times they actually do. When the kids grow older, they are asked to do chores around the house – loading and unloading the dishwasher, cleaning their room, or taking out the trash. Not only do they have to be asked to do these things, they are paid for it in return. What I find to be the most ridiculous is when parents pay their kids for getting good grades. Congratulations! You completed a semester of ninth grade, here’s $50 for every A on your report card. Or, here, I know taking the trash to the end of the driveway was super difficult, here’s a new car. Playing basketball in fourth and fifth grade was both a learning experience and completely embarassing considering I didn’t know how to play. Given the fact that no one on my team had had any previous basketball experience, we never won a single game in our elementary career. However; we were given trophies at the end of the season to celebrate our “achievements.” Everyone is guilty of expecting something they know they don’t really deserve. Obviously, when you’re a five year old on a co-ed sports team, getting awarded a trophy at the end of the season seems totally deserving. When we are raised to expect a reward - in the form of money, a compliment, or maybe something as simple as a toy - it only diminishes the affect of bigger achievements.

Netflix Summer Shows

If you find yourself bored during the summer, here are some choices for binge watching on Netflix. Kevin Sharpe | Staff Writer & Colton Dexter I Staff Writer

A ground breaking show, The Wonder Years pushed the boundaries of sitcom format. Using new modes of storytelling, the show kick started the career of actor Fred Savage when he was only thirteen. It ran for six seasons in the late 80s and early 90s. This comedy and drama mix of a show certainly did have quite a bit going for it. Kevin Arnold is an average kid growing up in the turbulent late 1960s and early 70s. His supporting family includes his father, John “Jack” Arnold, his housewife mother, Norma,

his older hippie sister, Karen, and his older brother Wayne. They seem to be the average family that is trying to cope with the multiple confusing changes the United States was going through during the time period. Kevin’s best friend, Paul Pfeiffer, and his crush Gwendolyn “Winnie” Cooper are typical kids growing up trying to understand the world and coping with changes in their lives. The story line is as simple as it could be. It’s the basic coming-of-age story, but it is done better. For example, Kevin is the observer of most of the events in the series and not the focus. Most of the focus is on the world around him and the changes he must to face. For positives, the show does give a decent portrayal of what life was like for the average family in the time period, but it also throws in the facts of life that every kid had to go through at least once in life. However, it

doesn’t shy away from the harsh truths that are later revealed. A few things in this series will, if you have a weak constitution, make you either laugh or tear up. Despite this, there are negative aspects. For example, there are a few clichés that were tired and almost dead even when the show came out. There are also plot points that seem obvious to anyone, and some parts of the growing up sections of the story line can be considered a little corny and could’ve been done better.. All in all, The Wonder Years is a good and honest show. The idea of cramming a comedy, documentary, drama, and comingto-age story together into one makes up for the flaws. The characters are decent when you get to know them, the other plot points will grab your attention. This show is definitely one of the best. (KS)

For nine seasons Scrubs gained a reputation as an interesting mix of both hilarity and drama, but mostly packing in the laughs. Scrubs is told by Dr. John Michael Dorian, but other characters get their own episodes with their own narrations as they go about their surreal lives. Most episodes feature multiple story lines linked via voice overs as well as daydreams of the main character. John may be the focus for the first season, but he later becomes just the observer. The episodes don’t follow a specific plot, so its easy to start watching from any episode. On the upside, the show helped bring back the parody genre. Whenever viewers think of a hospital show, they think of something serious, but this is one of the few shows that actually makes a hospital story funny. On the downside, the drama aspect of the show is rather hard to spot in most cases, and it considers itself as a comedic drama. Some of the jokes may run sour in certain tastes, but these jokes are really rare. The drama aspect may be hard to see, but it’s good for a laugh. Most of the jokes will probably make anyone laugh, and the characters can be enjoyable. When the typical hospital story line gets boring, check this out. (KS)

Started in 1998, That ‘70s Show was introduced by Mark Brazil, Bonnie and Terry Turner. What seemed like a bunch of teenagers doing activities like riding in their friend’s Volkswagen and upsetting an old Vietnam veteran turned out to be a really popular show during its run. This show is hysterical to the modern viewer and has every right to be. The show revolves around a group of teenagers in 1976 looking to have some fun before heading off to college. In each episode, best friends Eric Foreman, Steven Hyde, Michael Kelso, and Fez hang out in Eric’s basement and laugh about the events of that day. Most of a teenager’s humor is a smart aleck response to one another that will have the viewer in either a “oh no you didn’t” stare or dying of laughter. The parents of Eric are seen as a funny couple to be with through the group of friends time at the Foreman’s house with Vietnam War veteran, Reginald Foreman, or “Red” and lovable housewife, Kitty Foreman. Red can often be found yelling at the teens and being a stereotypical cranky father. When Eric screws up, he combats him with a mean sense of humor. Generally, the show has a little bit of something for almost everyone. (CD)

What do you get when combine a time lord, a T.A.R.D.I.S, and humans? Doctor Who. Doctor Who is a science fiction television show that first aired in 1963. The original series had a long lasting run of 26 years, but in 2005 the series was started up again. The show has a lot of great qualities, but also has a couple of bad ones as well. The words said by the Doctor are ones that stick with the viewers, such as “fantastic,” “allon-sy,” and “geronimo,” due to the fact that the Doctor says these in most episodes. The background of cities, typically London, could be a lot better, because you can pick out the Doctor and the T.A.R.D.I.S out from everything in its surroundings. The viewer would be closely attached to the character due to the highly confusing logic of space and time or referred to as “Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey.” The words start to make sense, though, but the expression could be put to a halt, if the show would be able to impact some logic into it. Doctor Who is an excellent choice to watch on a long rainy day. The show has kept its comedic tone over the years and would be fantastic to watch over the summer. (CD)

mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 03

Educational

addiction

As final exams approach, students are taking prescription medication in order to boost their test scores. Mercedes Hussein | Design Editor & Michael Adams | A&E Editor & Jordan Dekker | Staff Writer

unior Logan Munro looked down at the pill in front of him, knowing he had a

choice. Thinking about his uncle’s negative experience with Adderall, he ignored these potential consequences and took the pill anyway, with hopes that the benefits would outweigh the risks. “I put [Adderall] towards school,” Munro said. “Anything I did while on the pill, I did successfully.” Taking medication that is not prescribed is becoming a growing trend among high school students. The pills allow students to stay awake at night and study in prep for exams. Coming to school under the influence of marijuana or alcohol can be obvious to others; however, coming to school on prescription pills can be

selling their prescription pills makes them a drug dealer,” Davis said. Senior Haley Ranck was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight and prescribed to Vyvanse, a stimulant similar to Adderall, which is used to control attention span, focus, and fidgeting. After taking the medication, Ranck’s grades, as well as her relationship with her family, improved drastically. “Students [who are not prescribed to the drug] feel pressured to take pills to help them focus and succeed because of all the things they have to deal with in their day to day lives,” Ranck said. Adderall is prescribed to people with ADHD to stimulate the brain, calming the hyperactive nerve cells. The pill has opposite effects on the body of those who take it for

“STUDENTS FEEL PRESSURED TO TAKE PILLS TO HELP THEM FOCUS AND SUCCEED BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES.” SENIOR HALEY RANCK completely unnoticeable. The only way to test if a student has a drug like this in their system is by taking a blood sample. Officer Jeremy Davis agrees that administration as well as parents can be blind to the use of pills because of how easy it is to hide. Davis notes that he has only had a handful of incidents involving the possession or selling of prescription pills. “What students need to understand is that

Prescription Pills Statistics Facts gathered about the abuse on prescription pills reveal the popularity of the drugs.

04 | FOCUS | MAY 29, 2014

recreational purposes, causing the brain to become hyperactive. Adderall is particularly attractive to students because of its ability to act as a strong substitute for caffeine, allowing them to stay up later and longer to study for upcoming exams. Similar to Munro, an student who wished to remain anonymous also has experienced the effects of prescription pill abuse. The anonymous source’s experimenting began sophomore year when she was

26 million

Americans have taken prescription pills that they are not prescribed to.

year olds and under who abuse prescription pills are twice as likely to use illegal drugs.

Vyvanse, similar to Adderall, restores the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, which allows people with ADHD to be more focused. Mercedes Hussein | Photo Illustration introduced to the drug by a group of her friends. Being familiar with the drug because of her sister’s previous addiction, she knew what she was getting herself into. She had seen the negative effects of taking pills, but got involved anyway. “At first I thought it was great. I got a job, my grades were looking up, and my room was always tidy,” she said. “I never slept because I knew if I was sleeping I wasn’t being productive.” Soon, the effects she had seen with her sister’s addiction caught up to her. “I remember one day my sister sat me down in the garage to tell me I needed to stop,” the anonymous source said. “I felt guilty and decided I would take her advice.” As of today, the anonymous source has not used Adderall since her decision to quit taking the pill that day in the garage. Though it seemed to be harmless at first, she realized the dangers of getting caught up in taking pills that were not her own. Doctor Michael Chen agrees that taking pills

50%

Average price students pay for one pill

Of teenagers

Said that they take pills because they think that it is not as harmful as other illegal drugs (cocaine or heroine).

that are not your own is a detrimental choice. “Taking these pills in high school or college is very popular for students,” Chen said. “It is their way of making it through school.” Side effects of Adderall include severe agitation, suppressed appetite, and major weight loss. Although Chen noted that they do not see many cases of Adderall overdoses, the drug can be overused. Ranck is aware of the amount of students who are abusing the pill she is prescribed to. Though Adderall has had a positive effect on her schooling, the same is not said for those who choose to take the drug without a prescription. “Students feel pressured to take pills to help them focus and succeed because of all the things they have to deal with in their day to day lives,” Ranck said. “In today’s society, some high school students feel that they need to always be competing to be the better person. Some even feel that in order to achieve this, pills are the only answer.”

Bean

Dexies

Pep

Pills

Street names for Adderall

Addy

ers

p Up

Mercedes Hussein | Infographic Recovery Connection | Source

Summer help wanted N

As summer vacation approaches, students of MHS begin their searches for the perfect summer job, but many still need help finding the right one. Michelle Demo | Web Editor & Christiana Haight | Staff Writer Do: keep your phone

Do: Make your resume

stand out from the crowd. Don’t format it

like an English essay. What to Do

Do: put your experience first. As a high school student, you do not have a degree. Because of that, your experience and references need to be clear and at the top of your resume.

Looking for a job?

Resume Tips

Interview Tips

Summer Jobs

What Not to Do

Places Hiring

Big Boy

Little Chef

Michelle Demo | Photos & Illustrations

and on topic while going through the interview. You are there to get a job, not to tweet. Don’t risk your job over the latest update.

Don’t: wear regular clothing to an interview. You are trying to market your skills as a professional for a summer job. The first thing an employer sees is how you are dressed.

reference requirements are. If the job does not ask for references, do not list them. Instead, keep a copy with you when you turn it into the employers.

Don’t: forget to format your resume. Research the way to format and present your resume professionally.

Do: make sure that you stay focused

Bob Evans

Don’t: forget to look at what the

Do: give your resume a clear and interesting title. Don’t just label your resume as an ‘Application Resume’. Instead, narrow down the topic. This will show an employer what job you want at a glance.

What to Do

off. Better yet, keep it in the car. Any twitter notifications can wait until you get the job.

“Have a decent resume. What we look for in our interview is: do they have good posture - have they thought about their interview before coming in.”

Senior Hunter Marsh

Marsh works as a supervisor at the summer day camp, SHARE

“Look for [a job] that you could be committed to and something that you can’t take too many off days of.”

Junior Jared Lane

Lane currently works as a Fun Flock member at the Dow Diamond

Do: maintain eye contact. This shows your employer that you are only focused on the task at hand, and this will show that the interview means a lot to you, and you aren’t just wasting their time interviewing you.

Don’t: get over excited or nervous. The more energetic you get, the faster you talk. Which will mean your employer won’t be able to understand.

mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 05

Staying Sisco strong F E AT U R E S

1. Students release 800 rainbow-colored balloons in memory of math teacher Jenifer Sisco. The release happened just after the memorial service that was held on Wednesday May 7, 2014. 2. Amy Hutchinson and Kandis Pritchett take shelter from the rain under a plastic bag before the balloon release. 3. Students prepare to release their balloons. The theme of rainbows was carried from a story Sisco once read about a young boy who, after having a near-death experience,prayed for a rainbow on a clear day and saw one. At the memorial service, Sisco’s sister, Suzanne Rielle, said there was a time when Sisco asked, “Where’s my rainbow?” The next day Sisco saw a rainbow in a cloudless sky. Michelle Demo | Photos

Although math teacher Jenifer Sisco recently lost her three-year battle with breast cancer, she has brought together an entire community. Casey LaValley | Staff Writer & Sarah Wontorcik | Photo Editor

efore Elaine Mahabir started teaching in 2000, she had a very different definition of the word “strong.” After working with math teacher Jenifer Sisco for 14 years, her outlook on strength changed. “If someone would have asked me five years ago to name the five strongest people at Midland High School, [Sisco] wouldn’t have been anywhere in my forecast of names,” Mahabir said. “Yet, watching her and seeing her not only go through such a fight, but do it with such poise, elegance, and take each step with stride, gave me a different measure of what strength really is. All of a sudden my [definition of] ‘strong people’ took a different direction.” During the past three years, Sisco had been battling breast cancer. On May 2, 2014 she lost her battle. Although she was sick, Sisco still made an effort to come to school as much as she could, always wanting to provide her students with the best education possible. Math teacher Mary Hillman believes that this perseverance encouraged students to stay determined in their daily lives.

6 | FOCUS | MAY 29, 2014

“It was tough,” Hillman said. “She was a cancer patient really working her butt off; it was amazing how much she really did. She never stopped; it was always go go go. She aimed for the best, even if she didn’t feel well, she was always [saying], ‘Nope we’ve got to aim to this higher standard level.’ She really worked hard the last three years to make every moment

Sisco avoided bringing negativity into the classroom. Hillman also thinks that this positive attitude gave students a reason to look up to Sisco. “Think of how many times we get a headache and think ‘I don’t want to go to school today,’” Hillman said. “She was doing chemo, and yet there she was. I think her being at school was

“THIS LITTLE MOTIVATIONAL SLOGAN THAT WE HAD CREATED TURNED INTO A SORT OF BATTLE CRY.” MATH TEACHER ELAINE MAHABIR count. I think that was a huge philosophy of hers and [it was] something that I learned as a result of her passing, [you shouldn’t] wait for tomorrow for what can be done today, make every moment count.” Along with Sisco’s dedication to her students, she also welcomed each day with a smile. Although she often had reason to be unhappy,

huge for all of us, number one as a positive role model. Students seeing that she didn’t give up [showed them that they] shouldn’t give up either. I truly believe that she was happy in her life because of her students. Some people just give up; they get the cancer card and that’s it. But I think her family and her students helped in terms of her having a positive outlook on life.”

A memorial service was held for Sisco on May 7. Students, staff, and Sisco’s family members gathered together in the gym to celebrate her life and battle. The service began with a slideshow that contained various photos taken throughout Sisco’s lifetime with “You Raise Me Up” playing in the background. Afterwards, several individuals, including Mahabir and Hillman, took to the podium to give speeches about their thoughts and memories relating to Sisco. Hillman’s speech was a positive nod to some of Sisco’s best qualities, which were arranged to spell her name. A member of each class, as well as a staff member, held up signs at the same time. “Because I went to the funeral, I had a chance to mourn for her,” Hillman said. “To me, the memorial was a celebration, which is what [the staff] wanted. When I wrote my speech, I wanted it to be uplifting. Mrs. Hutchinson wanted me to speak first in order to start it on an upbeat note.” At the end of the memorial, students and staff took to the football field to release 800

F E AT U R E S

ri e mo Me s

balloons into the sky to create a rainbow. This was inspired by the book “Heaven is for Real”, which Sisco had previously read. Each individual was given one balloon to hold, and every color had its own group on the field. After the fight song was played, the balloons were released into the air, color by color to create a rainbow shape. Prior to Sisco’s passing, there was no shortage of support. In the three years Sisco was fighting breast cancer, she gained a lot of support from her friends and colleagues. For example, the staff would get together once a year to take care of Sisco’s lawn in the spring and would sign up to provide meals twice a week for her and her family. On top of this, Sisco’s support system reached beyond the walls of Midland High and into the community. InMotion Dance Academy recently dedicated a dance recital to Sisco. Among those involved were Junior Sophia Bagnall and Sisco’s youngest daughter, Rachel Sisco. “When we all went on for bows, we pinned the pink cancer ribbons for breast cancer to our jackets or our costumes,” Bagnall said. “A couple of the girls that were sitting around me in my class started crying because it was pretty emotional. We had all seen Mrs. Sisco come in the dance studio and drop off her daughter and she always said hi to everyone. She was so

friendly.” Another symbol of Sisco’s support was the pink “All In” T-shirts started by the varsity girls’ basketball team. What originally started as a way to bring the team together soon spread to the staff as a way of expressing their support. Staff members would wear the shirts on every Friday that Sisco had chemotherapy. One Friday, senior Alyssa Westphal suggested to Mahabir that the basketball team dedicate a game to Sisco to raise money for The American Cancer Society. Despite having chemotherapy that day, Sisco made sure she was able to attend the game. “I remember asking Alyssa if she had [Sisco] as a teacher,” Mahabir said. “And she said ‘No, but I’m very moved by who she is and what she stands for as a person.’ I think that was even more powerful because Alyssa wasn’t impacted by her directly. I was surprised [that Sisco came to the game] because I know that she had been feeling sick. She said that there was usually a three hour window after where she would feel fine and I thought, ‘Who would want to spend that time at a basketball game?’ When she walked in and was wearing a bandana, I was very touched. It was a sign of her strength. She just had chemo and spent hours in the hospital, but she still came. Actually, she bought the kids a gift for doing that. It was so selfless. This was

supposed to be for her, not the kids.” Mahabir was then contacted by Siebert Elementary, where Sisco’s two youngest children attend, saying they wanted to show that they were behind the Sisco family by wearing the shirts every Wednesday. “We wore our shirts for the last time on the date of Mrs. Sisco’s memorial service,” Siebert Elementary principal Susan Johnson said. “One of our teachers is looking into [other ways] to use the T-shirts, such as using them to make quilts that could be raffled for Relay for Life.” Johnson’s participation in the support towards Sisco’s battle showed the dedication the community had towards helping her fight. This widespread movement began with the girls’ basketball T-shirts, but soon spread far past Midland High. “This little motivational slogan that we had created turned into a sort of battle cry,” Mahabir said. “It’s hard to explain Chemic Pride to people. You know what it is if you are here, but trying to define it is difficult. Something like ‘All In’ has a direct message that can give us something to represent our Chemic Pride. When you looked around the room in the gymnasium and saw our community coming together or when someone is struggling in the hallway and there are four people helping them out, it shows those two words. It doesn’t matter the

Sarah Wontorcik | Infographic Additional reporting by Megan Nylund, Kayla Graham, and Hannah White depth of the situation—we all come together to do whatever needs to be done. That always seems really prevalent to me. Although it has a special meaning because it brought the staff together for Mrs. Sisco, I think that it is a good way of putting into words what Chemic Pride feels like. Regardless of what happens, we’re all in this together and no matter if it’s positive or negative, we’re going to be okay.”

Scan this code to contribute to a memorial fund supporting either Sisco’s three children or MHS math students. mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 7

S P O R T S

Two of a kind Identical twins Julia and Tara Gross have been two of the top players in three sports throughout the year. Kaitlyn Stymiest & Noah Surbrook | Staff Writers

Freshman Julia and Tara Gross are both starting members of the varsity girls softball team. They occupy the positions of center and left field and contribute to the teams record of 24-6 Varsity softball coach Robin Allen says that they are as capable as the upperclassmen on the midland high team and competing teams Noah Surbrook | Photo

he clock ticked away during freshmen Julia and Tara Gross’s first varsity basketball game against Traverse City East. The twins raced up and down the home court as the ball was passed to Julia. She shot and the ball soared into the net, landing Julia her first points as member of the girls’ varsity basketball team. “They continue to bring a level of quickness and a fight not all players bring to the table,” basketball coach Elaine Mahabir said. “They’re very passionate, and when they’re doing something, they do it one hundred percent.” Julia and Tara Gross are both three-season athletes. Their hard work has helped them earn spots on the freshman volleyball team, varsity basketball team, and starting spots on the varsity softball team. Coaches say the twins have factored their talent and hard work into every sport they participate in. The girls are only freshmen and have managed to take on three sports, while being praised by all three of their coaches. “The twins brought a ton of energy to the team, especially early in the season,” Mahabir said. “They brought a level of competitiveness to the gym that was lacking when they weren’t there. I really appreciated that about them.” The majority of the time, it is rare and difficult for freshman to make varsity teams, Mahabir said. “Traditionally it is something that is very rare,” she said. “But when it does happen it, it is usually only one or two people. It’s not

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something that happens every year.” Tara plays left field and Julia plays center on the varsity softball team. Despite their age, both Julia and Tara are starters and key players on the team. The girls are very competitive and their coaches say that they bring a high level of energy. “They’re very mature for their age and grade,” varsity softball coach Robin Allen said. “They perform just as well as the upperclassmen on our team and the competing teams. They’re very competitive with them.” Just like in all of their sports, the twins give one hundred percent at softball. The twins have greatly contributed to the team’s record of 24-6. Their talent and selflessness has helped the team in countless ways, Allen said. “They’re absolute team players. They never complain, they’ll do anything for the team, and they can play pretty much any position,” Allen said. “They’re just really good people and they’re really good at softball.” The twins’ athletic careers began when they were young, with softball in the first grade. They’ve played on the same team their whole lives and love competing against one another. Julia and Tara learn from each other and use each other to improve. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so we can help each other,” Julia said. “And when we’re new on a team we already have a friend. We also make each other better because we always want to beat each other.”

Although Julia and Tara have been involved with softball for many years, they both agree that softball presents many obstacles for them. They both say that they have improved over the years, but each game processes the same challenge. “The mental aspect is the hardest part. You can’t get down on yourself when you make a mistake,” Tara said. “You have to know when to do the right thing on the field and there’s so much pressure, especially with our parents there.” The twins have been largely influenced by their parents and credit much of their success to their father. They say that he has been extremely helpful throughout the girls’ athletic careers. “He’s been with us in every game and works with us almost every night in our pole barn and batting cages to help us get better,” Tara said. Julia and Tara’s coaches believe that the girls have the ability to extend their athletic careers into college. “They’ve got a future in softball past high school,” Allen said. “If they continue to improve and continue to be coachable and work hard, I think they can play beyond high school for sure.” Julia and Tara hope to improve their skills and continue their softball career for as long as possible. “I’m just looking forward to playing ball for as long as I can because I love the game,” Tara said. “I’m also excited to meet new people.”

WHO’S WHO? JULIA GROSS center field Batting average of

.464

steals this year

TARA GROSS left field Batting average of

.368

steals this year

S P O R T S

At the starting line

Junior Alex Reinke has been riding motocross for the past nine years. He recently qualified for his first regional race. This involves states from all around the Midwest. Reinke plans on racing motocross for as long he can, preferably as a profession. Dylan Rocha | Staff Writer & Natalie Schwartz I Staff Writer

hile at the starting line, all nerves are high. With his adrenaline pumping, junior Alex Reinke realizes all eyes around the track are on him. The hope that this could be his future career is strong. This happens every time he steps up to his motor bike before a race. For the past nine years, Reinke has been participating in the sport of motocross. His cousin rode motocross while living in Michigan, which sparked Reinke’s initial interest. When his cousin moved to Nevada, he left his bike behind. Reinke started riding and began competing a year later. Now, Reinke has more bikes to race and ride. Reinke has his own track in his yard, and puts in about eighteen hours of motocross practice a week, calling all to the fact that he is dedicated. “My track is pretty big,” Reinke said. “It’s nothing like what I race on though, but it’s good for putting in laps and riding for fun at home. It’s a really fun sport”

Reinke has encountered many influential people that have pushed him to be his best. One of his influences is his trainer Ross Kershner. Kershner was a professional motocross rider in his twenties, but had an accident, preventing him from continuing with motocross. But such an incident didn’t rob him of the sport. He has been training with Reinke for a little over two years, and has big plans for him. “My personal goal for him is to win,” Kershner said. “I want him to one day win the national competition.” Another huge influence is Reinke’s grandfather. His grandfather, mother and father have motivated Reinke to compete to his fullest potential and they push him to get serious about motocross. “[Motocross] is great because it is high energy and an exciting sport to participate in,” Reinke’s mother, Tammie Luty, said. “Alex is a very talented rider and has a good chance of getting to nationals. We hope he can stay injury free

“I WILL KEEP RIDING UNTIL I’M BROKEN.”

ALEX REINKE

In a few weeks, Reinke will be participating in a regional competition that involves racers from all over Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. This year is the first year where he has qualified for such a competition. Competitions like these are where he meets the majority of his motocross loving friends. “I have friends all over the state. I have some that live in Europe, and a lot that live in Canada,” Reinke said. “The track is always a huge party. During his years within the motocross world,

R iding t h r ou gh t he years

Alex Reinke’s journey through motocross. Natalie Schwartz | Illustrations

and healthy.” A couple weeks ago, Reinke competed in Bloomingdale, Michigan and then in Birch Run a week later. These races were the first two regional qualifying races he has participated in. As of May 21, Reinke was ranked first in the state. Reinke is also ranked twenty-first in the nation. Kershner’s goal of Reinke winning nationals is just around the corner. “Alex is a very talented rider and has a good shot at making it to nationals,” Reinke’s father, Chris Luty said.

2005: Alex Reinke takes up motocross.

Junior Alex Reinke races around his backyard motocross track. Reinke practices eighteen hours a week in high hopes of perfecting his sport. Natalie Schwartz | Photo In Reinke’s eyes, the biggest misconception with motocross is that it isn’t physically demanding. There are many portions of motocross that cause your body to react in different ways. “On the start you have to deal with all the nerves and jitters and adrenaline,” Reinke said. “After my first couple laps, my fingers go numb because of the vibrations. Then on lap four or five my whole arm from my elbow down is numb,” During a motocross race, bikers experience feeling loss in their fingers, because of the motor vibrations. There are instruments to mask the shaking, but they can only do so much. Your hands are made up of a web of nerves that help you feel a hot stove, or a cold

drink. When a lot of pressure is applied, or when these sensitive nerves are consistently vibrated, numbness can occur from overstimulating the nerves. During his races, Reinke has to look down, to make sure his numb hands are doing what they are supposed to. What makes it all worse is that there is nothing you can do to combat the loss of feeling. “After the next two laps my upper body, toes, and legs lose feeling,” Reinke said. “By the end of the race there is snot running down my face. I’m breathing heavily. It’s ridiculous.” Reinke believes that the feeling of winning and triumph is what keeps him on his wheels. His determination, will keep him riding. “I will keep riding until I’m broken,” Reinke said.

2012: Begins training with Kershner

2006: Starts competing

2013: Ranked second in the state

2014: Ranked first in the state and twenty first in the nation

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erforming otential

A t t e n d t h e tale of Aaron M e a l e y W h o lear n ed to act and si ng so fr e e l y W h at h a ppened then, well tha t’s the pl a y A n d h e wouldn’t want us to gi ve i t a w a y. Will Hackbarth| Staff Writer & Aelish Shay| Staff Writer

he lights shine brightly and blare down upon sophomore Aaron Mealey as he boisterously sings, “Where’s the cheesecloth?” in front of a packed audience at the Central Middle School Auditorium for the MHS Drama production of Into the Woods. He has had many monologues during his recently adopted hobby of performing, but recalls this as one of his favorite lines he has shouted from the stage. “I don’t know why,” Mealey said. “I guess my character was looking for a cheesecloth; maybe to save the world from an anti-cheesecloth villain. I don’t know, but it was just an amusing line.” His acting career began when Mealey, then a freshman, decided to try something he had never done before: audition for a musical. He did not expect much besides a fun activity to try as he walked into the Aladdin auditions; because, although he knew he could sing, he had no idea if he would be able to act. “At first I was incredibly nervous,” he said. “Then I got extremely incredibly nervous. I ended up only reading about ten lines for Aladdin, so I assumed they just didn’t want to hear from me and I had no chance.” Therefore, Mealey was both surprised and elated when he received the lead role in his first ever performance. “I was ecstatic,” Mealey said. “It was incredible, especially as a freshman with all these other seniors and juniors and other people auditioning.” Before trying out for Aladdin, Mealey knew very little about performing. Although he had seen and enjoyed some popular musicals, for the most part he had not been involved with drama at all.

CENTER STAGE Mealey shares some of

his favorite lines and roles 10 | FOCUS | MAY 29, 2014

“It was kind of strange to be thrown into it, this new life of stuff,” Mealey said. “I didn’t really know any of these shows people were referencing and making jokes about. It was weird.” As well as not knowing much about drama, Mealey was new to the school and did not know anyone. As a result, fitting in presented some difficulties. Despite these challenges, Mealey says he has adapted well to the whole experience and feels that acting has been an important part of his life. “It helped me through some issues that I had,” Mealey said. “It was nice to have [something] to do, to keep my mind occupied on positive things. It has made me a more responsible person.” Now a sophomore, Mealey has been in a total of seven plays, during four of which he played a lead role. He said his acting is not only a hobby, but also something he would like to do in the future, especially the signing aspect. He is already taking strides towards this goal, as he is the youngest member of the Midland Center for the Arts adult choir, known as the Camerata Singers. Mealey would like to become a professional singer, but would not want to be exceedingly famous. “I don’t like all the big lights and stardom of big bands like One Direction and that kind of thing,” Mealey said. “I’d like a small, people know me, and I can make money off of this, kind of band experience.” Jim Hohmeyer, the Director of Choral Activities at the Midland Center for the Arts, comments that Mealey’s energy and singing talent are great assets to his performing ability. “He has an energetic approach to performing, which is contagious to all around, and a lovely

“At last my right arm is complete again!” ...Is what Aaron dreams of shouting from the stage, while playing Sweeney Todd

Sophomore Aaron Mealey sings in Meisters during second hour. Also the youngest member of the Midland Center for the Arts adult choir, the Camerata Singers, Mealey wishes to make a career out of his singing as well as his acting. Jamie Dawson | Photo rich tenor voice that is perfect for the stage,” Hohmeyer said. Although singing is his priority, Mealey also aspires to be on Broadway and perform in musicals there. If he cannot make it to Broadway, he would like to do community theatre. Pennye Padgett, who has directed Mealey at the Center for the Arts, said Mealey has great potential for a future in acting. “I think if he wants to pursue a career in theater he has a very good chance,” Padgett said. “He has that special something. You don’t just become a star; you have to work very hard at it. I think Aaron has what it takes.” Drama teacher Megan Applegate said Mealey has significant stage presence, natural ability, dedication, and confidence. She agrees with Padgett that he has a good chance at a future in acting. “[He is] going wherever he wants to go,” Applegate said. “He has got the drive to get there. The sky is the limit.” Mealey feels that, in his two years of acting, he has developed more as a performer, stating he has become a lot more serious about drama. To Mealey, the show is what comes first; fun can

be had once everything is perfect. According to Padgett, Mealey’s talent increases with every show, and the effort he puts into it is clearly evident and contributes to his improvement. She believes his work ethic is among his best qualities as a performer. This characteristic is reinforced by the way he speaks of his acting. “I like the feeling you get after a long solo that you’ve worked on and worked on and worked on, and the appreciation you can get from that, with the applause,” Mealey said. Another thing that makes Mealey stand out as an actor is his willingness to step out of his comfort zone for the benefit of the show, which Padgett notes will take him far. “He’s a leader. He’s a great singer, good actor, he takes direction well. That’s the important thing; that he listens to the director and tries,” Padgett said. “Sometimes when you’re in a show, what a director might ask you to do is not in your comfort zone, but you can try because that’s what the director wanted. He’s a very good person to have on a cast.” Claire Booth & Lexi Costley | Additional reporting

The actor that inspires Aaron:

PATRICK STEWART

“He’s really chill, and has a lot of fun with what he does, but does it really well. Also he plays the captain in Star Trek, that would be awesome.”

The character that he has enjoyed playing the most so far is

The Baker from Into the Woods

Spanning the globe

This summer, students are planning to expand their horizons by traveling across the globe to learn more about the cultures around them. Emily Fisher | Ads Coordinator & Maddy Wheelock | Features Editor PLANE TIPS

Ally Jasin

Emma Herron

Caroline Mulvaney

Jamaica

Northern Ireland

New Zealand

Going with: First United Methodist Church. Decided to go because: “I have always enjoyed going on youth mission trips, so when our youth director brought up this trip I thought it would be a great opportunity to help and meet new people.” Most excited for: “Seeing the different culture and meeting new people. I’m excited to be able to serve in a different way than on my past mission trips.”

History: Herron was born in Wales and visits her family in Northern Ireland every other summer. Most excited for: “We’re probably going to visit some of our favorite places, like the Giant’s Causeway. One set of my grandparents owns a pick your own fruit farm, so we will go and help there.” Also seeing: Tollymore Forest Park, which CS Lewis used as the basis of Narnia. “It’s one of my favorite places; it’s got all these different nooks and crannies.”

Going with: Michigan State University’s study abroad program. She will receive three college credits for the trip. Going to: Wellington, Auckland, and Rotorua Most excited for: “The travel experience in general. I hope to see some epic waterfalls, mountains, and coastline. Also, I hope to see some cool animals other than sheep. I’m not nervous for anything, I’m excited to go on the opposite side of the world.”

BUY WIFI

Stash your laptop in your carry on and check out your airline’s website before your departure date. It is always fun to surf the net when you are surfing the clouds.

WEAR YOUR COMFIEST

Only the fuzziest sweatpants are appropriate for long airplane trips. Just because the seats are uncomfortable does not mean your attire needs to be.

UTILIZE SKYMALL

Pick up that sticky shopping magazine in the seat pouch and find the most ridiculous item in the book. Who would have thought that a flower-shaped neck pillow with squirrels on it was a necessary product for travel?

SLEEP

Anyone who can sleep on a plane without problem is at a great advantage. Snooze through the time changes and pray the jet lag won’t be too terrible.

Sam Bork Rio de Janeiro In planning: Bork worked with his mother to obtain the visa required to travel to Brazil as an American. Visiting: Former exchange student Carolina Castro. Most excited for: “Practicing my Portuguese. I’m just really excited for daily life, since I’m living in the house of someone who lives there.” Also seeing: Cristo Redentor, a statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms that stands at 98 feet Sarah Wontorcik, Maddy Wheelock & Emily Fisher | Illustrations Mary Wandor | Additional reporting

Melissa Henning

Nicole Meeks Eastern Europe Where and with who: Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland with Education First tours and a group of 10 MHS students. Most excited for: “The food and seeing everything, because I’ve heard that Germany is a very pretty country.” Most nervous for: “I’m nervous about being pick pocketed and losing all my stuff. Also I’m afraid I won’t be able to communicate with people [because of the language barrier].”

Germany When and with who: Leaving on the June 13 with mother, father, and sister. Experience in Germany: “I was born there, and have since been to Germany fourteen times. In the past years we have gone to Amsterdam, Paris, and around Germany.” Favorite part about Europe: “I like how different the people are over there, and it is very relaxed environment.”

BRING A CAMERA Pretend you are a photographer for a few hours and take pictures of the sky out the window. Bird-eye views of famous cites are the best way to maximize instagram likes.

SET A CHALLENGE

Reading the entire Divergent trilogy in six hours is totally possible. At least it is when there is nothing else to do. Once you finish, start on another mission, like a detailed to-do list.

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