Towodi 2018 by Mill Creek High School Journalism

-LITTOWODI 2018

VOL.13 MCHS

-TOWODI-

The Mill Creek Academic Journal Volume 13: LIT Spring 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS ART

Featured: cecelia Mosley

Featured: Bae Hyunju

Featured: Rachel Park

Featured: Tess Davenport

CORE

The Permian Mass Extinction

Human Nature

Here.

The Economic Effects of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

PHOTOGRAPHY

27 29

Featured: Micayla Hamilton-nannie

POETRY Featured: Reagan H. RodrÃ&#x192;-guez

33 35

Blink

A Kingdom

Colophon

Featured: Madelina Polk

Art. Featuring: Cecelia Mosley Bae Hyunju Rachel Park Tess Davenport 7

Featured Artist: Fashion Sketches by Cecelia Mosley

featured artist: Bae Hyunju

“Rain”

“Slaughter House”

“Fish”

“Silence”

Featured Artist: Rachel Park

“Reminisce”

“All Hands Deck”

“Head in Clouds”

FEATURED ARTIST: Tess Davenport

“Drool”

“Primary Converse”

“Puppy Eyes”

Core. Featuring: Kaitlyn Wilson Candice Sossa 17

The Permain Mass Extinction Kaitlyn Wilson

The Permian Mass Extinction, also known as The Great Dying Event, was the biggest extinction known to man. Two hundred fifty two million years ago, the catastrophe wiped out up to 96% of living things on earth. Mostly pinpointing the marine life. The extinction formed a boundary between Permian and Triassic geological periods. The causes of this event targeted the marine life. It is not sure what exactly wiped out these creatures, but scientists have made a hypothesis on what has happened. Gradual changes include sea-level change, increasing anoxia, increasing aridity, and a shift in ocean circulation driven by climate change. This had an effect on the inlands too, however not as great of an effect as it had on ocean creatures. Some also say it was caused by acid rain following a massive release of volcanic gases. These were so deadly because most things breathed oxygen. Exposing a new gas to them was toxic to their lungs. Also the acid rain would poison the water therefor killing most of what was in the water. Some scientist believe that there was a series of volcanic eruptions and it pumped so much ash into the air that it cover the sun. due to the sun being covered, thus caused a temperature drop and plants were not able to do photosynthesis. Others say that there was a release of methane gas stored under the seabed, triggered by earthquakes,global warming, and a massive asteroid impact. It will always be unclear on how the climate changed this time period

considering how long ago it was. However scientists do have a good grasp on some thoughts. This horrific event wiped out 90% of marine life and 70% of land life. Remains of fungi were found in the italian alps which shows plants were also affected by the great dying period. In the marine area the trilobites, rugose and tabulate w, and the two large groups of echinoderms,. Those groups of invertebrates show the greatest losses during the Permian extinction. A plant that went extinct is the Glossopteris. It had tongue shaped leaves to capture prey. Not only did plants and sea animals go extinct, but also insects. If plant life started decreasing, so would the insects. The Hemipterans and the Meganeuropsis were insects that were around at the time of the permian era. Even the most dominating animals went extinct . the synapsids and the sauropods were the two important types of animals during this time era. Unfortunately, they were wiped out. Although majority of the living animals got wiped out, few did service though. Only 2 groups of animals survived the extinction. The therapsids, which were mammal like reptiles, and the more reptilian archosaurs. In the early stages of the Triassic period, the therapsids rose to power and were the dominant species

of this area. These animals ended up evolving into the reptiles we know today. Mass extinctions donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just happen is a few years. It takes a series of many many years to conclude. Most of the time it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the climate change or the volcanic eruptions that wiped everything out. Its adapting and the food chains that take the amount of time to wipe out species. The permian extinction took less than

200,00 years to take full effect. Environmental deterioration is a long process, but when its beyond the tolerance of the ecosystems, the ecosystems will collapse in a rapid way. With one thing becoming extinct, it causes a chain reaction that wipes out that population. Thus meaning it takes more than just a few years for a mass extinction to conclude.

WIll I See You Again Sarah Jackson

AMBER PRESLAR

Human Nature Reagan H. RodrÃ-guez

What makes a bad person a bad person? I guess this is the universal question, because good people do make mistakes and bad choices, so what is the difference between a good person that makes mistakes, and a bad person? I guess that is the difference. Everyone makes mistakes, but a bad person will purposely make mistakes to harm something or someone. Sounds like a definition to me. About every novel or movie or story has a good v.s. evil complex, because that is just the way of the world. So what are you? Are you a good person or a bad person? Or are you torn down the middle? It’s complicated,

and I know I am torn between deciding who I am, and I so wish the world was simple. Of course, it isn’t, really, but if you look at it in a black and white picture, all complications vanish. But of course, the world is full of many colors, and not just the basic colors of the rainbow. Go deeper. Is that turquoise? Or is it green? Is that dark blue? No it’s more of a purple. Or violet. It’s complicated. Human beings always make everything more complicated than it has to be, but then that’s what makes them human beings. 21

Cry me a River Morgan Buschman

Here.

Sapphire Brooks What is this darkness? When did it come? Why didn’t I notice? How come I’m here? The world was bliss Filled with light Sealed by a kiss Hidden from night. Light brown filled my skies Round lips told no lies. But then the cracks came. And I thought I wouldn’t be the same. Alone and floating in a pool of black I looked for a line Filled with love to give and wanting none back.

Someone who’s heart Teasing words and could rebuild mine. lovely company But I want to be closer Then the sky shifted you see Black turned back to Yet my wax wings won’t brown let me. And I was no longer sinking down I rush too quickly My gentle soul lifted Quick to judge Doubt too early From the tattered Love too much ground Her few words found So, I’ll stay flying around My scarred heart my sun And tore its walls Until our delightful time apart. is done. Basking in its light But I don’t deserve Both Losing and gaining this. with each flight. This gentle girl and all her bliss. What is this light? For I am Icarus When did it come? And she my sun. Why didn’t I notice? I’m glad she’s here. I don’t want to ruin our humble fun 23

the economic effects of affirmative action in college admissions Candace Sossa Historically, majority groups in power enjoyed greater success and opportunities due in part to their racial background. In the United States, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s fought to address inequalities based on race. Although there was much progress, many people feel there is still a large amount of work to be done. Institutions and large companies have begun engaging themselves in helping minority groups attain equal opportunities, as to make up for past discrimination. One way that colleges and universities have added to this effort, is by implementing affirmative action (AA) programs into their admissions policies. AA in college admissions can be summed up as, “admission policies that provide equal access to education for those groups that have been historically excluded or underrepresented, such as women and minorities” (NCSL). These policies have birthed several debates that have brought increased attention to the issue. These heated discussions have posed the research question, “To what extent does affirmative action in college admission impact the success of universities and their students’ ?” An economic analysis of the success of these parties can be used to address this question. Research has shown that colleges and universities benefit economically as a result of AA policies. Many colleges and universities are federal contractors, meaning they do business with the government. According to a journal published by ADP TotalSource and Jackson Lewis, two well-trusted businesses that work in providing strategies for other companies, “doing business with the government can be lucrative, but it requires compliance with a litany of complex laws and regulations impacting your dayto-day business operations. Among other things, the federal government expects federal contractors to hold themselves to the highest standard of equaldents who enrolled in college was not significantly

employment opportunity (“EEO”)”( ADP Totalsource & Lewis 1). In observance of the EEO, many colleges and universities who want to be eligible to be federal contractors, set into place AA policies. Thus, they enable themselves to be federal contractors, gain grants from the government, and successfully benefit economically. Additionally, colleges and universities can use AA policies to their advantage in order to gain student interest. According to a 2004 study conducted by Julie J. Park, an assistant professor of education at the University of Maryland, more than half of minority groups including Blacks, Latinos, and Asian-Americans, disagree with the statement that ‘‘Affirmative action in college admissions ought to be abolished’’. Furthermore, approximately 46% of White students also disagreed with the statement above (Park 678). These statistics show that there is still a strong backing of AA policies, and thus it can be inferred that many students want to go to a college or university that has an AA program. Given the number of students who support AA, colleges and universities who have such policies would attract more students to their campuses. With more students interested in the university, these post secondary education institutions can benefit economically from increased enrollment. Therefore, AA positively affects the economic success of colleges and universities, as it similarly does the economic success of minority groups. When further analyzing the economic success of different student groups, the positive effects for minority students was strongly evident. According to Ou Lydia Liu, a Senior Research Director at Educational Testing Service, “The percentage of high school graduates who enrolled in a degree-granting institution in the same year was 56% for Black students, 62% for Hispanic students, and 72% for White Students in 2008” (Liu 3). Although the percentage of White stu-

higher than other minority groups. Because minority groups tend to have enrollment rates, affirmative action can have a big impact on their economic success for the rest of their lives. This is because a college makes huge economic differences in student success. According to Mary Ann Fox, the Director of the National and International Statistics Practice Area, and Angelina Kewalramani, a principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research, “ in 2008, the unemployment rate was higher for Hispanics (8 percent), Blacks (9 percent), American Indians/Alaska Natives (10 percent), and persons of two or more races (10 percent), than it was for Whites and Asians (4 percent each). In general, lower unemployment rates were associated with higher levels of education for each racial/ethnic group” (Fox & Kewalramani vi). Evidently, minority groups tend to have higher unemployment rates, and education also plays a factor in these reports. Higher education tends to lower the chances of being unemployed, which is why AA could help minority groups significantly. Since AA helps minority students get into colleges and universities, the chances of earning a college degree therefore increase. Moreover, unemployment is also likely to decrease. While getting a job is a significant economic benefit, AA programs could also help minority students even further. According to Liu, “in 1990, college graduates on average were paid more than high school graduates, by $11,145 (in 2008 dollars), and the difference increased to $22,720 in 2008”( Liu 1). College degrees are now associated directly with higher salaries and better jobs. Therefore, since AA assists minority students with getting into college, it gives these students a chance to prosper economically by having a well-paid occupation. Colleges, universities, and minority students benefit economically from AA. On the other hand, non-minority students, may somewhat benefit economically but not in all cases. Research has shown that AA can sometimes also benefit non-minority students. Corey Ciocchetti and John Holcomb, professors of Business Ethics and Legal Studies, have claimed that employers have begun recruitmenting students who have been in diverse educational environments. Colleges that implement AA policies diversify their university much more than colleges that do not have AA policies in place . Therefore, non-minority students who attend universities with AA programs would be

immersed in a diverse setting and since “businesses tie their future economic successes, at least partially, to the ability of the nation’s educational institutions to train students to handle a diverse environment” (Ciocchetti & Holcomb 324). These non-minority students would have a better chance at securing a good job, thus allowing them to be more economically successful. Colleges and universities, minority students, and non-minority students can all become economically successful as a result of AA programs helping to diversify college admissions. Unlike the other parties, non-minority students may be economically hurt by AA in some cases. For example, minority students, while not necessarily smarter, could get into a college and take the places of nonminority students. This could be especially detrimental when AA operates at the most elite colleges and universities because when non-minority students do not get accepted into their top-rated first pick because of AA, they are truly hurt economically. According to the article “Does an Ivy League Education Make a Difference?”, published by Crimson Education, a well-trusted, unbiased source specialized in college admission information, Ivy League education can greatly impact economic successes of students. According to the article, a study conducted by the US Department of Education in 2015 revealed that a decade after enrolling in a four-year college degree, the average income of a typical student is $40,500 USD a year but at Harvard University the average is about $87,000 a year and at Princeton University the average is $77,900 a year. This research shows that Ivy League schools and other competitive, high-level schools truly do have an impact on the economic success of the student. Therefore, AA can prove to negatively affect the economic success of a non-minority student due to the fact that minority students could take their place at a university. This negative affect is unique as it does not impact the colleges and universities nor minority students rather only the non-minority ones. Through detailed research and numerous examples of the impacts that AA policies have on colleges and universities, minority students, and non-minority students, it can be concluded that AA affects the economic success of these parties in different ways.

Photography. Featuring: Madelina Polk Micayla Hamilton-Nannie 27

Featured Artist: Madelainia Polk

“Froze”

“Life Sustaining”

“Salute” 29

Featured Artist: Micayla Hamilton-Nannie “Hello Yellow”

“Bold & Beautiful “

“Up Up Up”

“Colors”

Poetry. Featuring: Reagan H. RodrĂ&#x192;-guez

Featured artist: Reagan H. Rodri A-guez Her She articulates her speech so fondly. She does it in a manner to slightly dramatize her sayings, but in a subtle way, just enough to keep you worried. She keeps her words simple and short, but she makes it in a way to where those words leave you speechless. She always wanted the last laugh. I thought this as she told me, our hearts pounding, “I won’t let go, but I don’t want to hold on.”

relief It was a giggle at first. One little chuckle, but suddenly, the whole room broke into into one big, loud laughter. It cut through the tension, like a blade through an apple, as everyone eased and relaxed. It was a great laugh, now dying down, expressions of happiness flying across the room. For once, for a few, beautiful moments, no one worried about the world revolving around them.

Fantasies I asked my mom to drive me to her house. It’s February 14th, a day of celebrating love and romance. I didn’t know how I was going to hand this flower to my “girlfriend” without my mom raising any suspicion. She didn’t know I was in love with my best friend. A girl. I’m a girl. Do you see the issue here. I did love Phoebe very much, so I worked up the courage to walk up to her front door and ring the doorbell. No answer. My heart pounded. Please answer. I rang again. Nothing. I felt my heart sink to my feet. Finally, after what seemed like two lifetimes, the door opened, revealing the beauty I fell in love with. I smiled, her face giving me much comfort, and my anxiety melted away. I pulled out the flower and held it up to her. She smiled. I gave a soft, romantic look. “Happy Valentines day.” She smiled again. I leaned in a gave her a soft, steady kiss on the cheek. I knew she wasn’t very comfortable with having a full-on romantic relationship, so I made sure my pace was very slow. She stared at me, shocked. And as I am writing this in the car, I don’t know how to end this love story, because I haven’t gotten there yet.

Light and flowers Bree Withrow

blink

Bree Withrow I sit in class staring at my paper. I glance at the clock, Seeing almost an hour has passed. Time goes by so fast now. There's no way to slow down. Feeling like I'm stuck On some out of control ride. I'm afraid that in a blink, Everything will have changed. I take a rare chance. I blink. I'm transported to year book day. What should have been three months away. I'm just a spectator but I see myself. Laughing and smiling, Wiping away happy tears. Signing your yearbook. I give you hug, whisper something to you. Then I realize it's not this year, This is tenth grade. Hazed and confused, I blink. Now it's senior year.

The tears are flowing now. Everyone in cap and gown. We promise the future, Won't keep us apart. Hugging and crying Not bothering to wipe away tears. I see myself and all my friends I turn to you and we collide. All sense of 'just friends' gone. If only to clear my head, I blink again. Now the moments are faster. I see shaved heads. Camouflage and guns. And I realize, This is war. I see brightly stained uniforms And oh the sight of it. And I see myself at the grave. With your name printed upon it And the scars that never heal. The ones on my heart Have been reopened. I'm screaming out loud my voice growing hoarse

I blink yet again. I open my eyes and look around. I'm shuddering from pure fear. You're looking at me with worried eyes. The clock says, Less than a minute has passed. But oh I know so much more. It was just a daydream, But now I know. My days are precious commodity. I give you a smile That suggest knowledge. And then I take a chance, I blink.

beware the kraken Abbie Herrin

a kingdom

Tunmise Ogungbesan We all move so collectively, so gracelessly, so quietly, because we have nothing better to do. We love the lyrics and hate the updates, but we watch them anyways, we sing songs that remind of our happiest days. We can't stay here, we're not welcome, because we're young, and stupid. But perhaps, we aren't a band of fools. We search for a kingdom, one that we aren't sure that exists, a kingdom ruled by a queen, a Queen of Grace, we search for a kingdom, a kingdom ruled by a king, a King of Space. Our kingdom opens and closes like a flower, the sun rises and sets on our faces, we’re all royalty here. We’re on fire, we’ve won wars we’ve never even fought. We start with nothing. and end with everything

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re funny Atlanta Smith

i walk in the shadows Katyn Page

I am the girl who walks in the puddles of the streets and sidewalks. But I am no ordinary child. You see, I was taken by deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unruly grip. I perished young and bright. On rainy days, you could find my shadow darkening the water within which I walk. It frightens people, especially when I speak to them. Because any soul, young or old, would find it odd to see a shadow not their own, staring back up at them, let alone hear a voice to match it. I, a lonely soul, find myself often wishing to have a bit of color in the absence of life. Or at least a piece of this world to brighten the ever pres-

ent days in the dark of my own. And so, I found it. A pair of shoes that seemed to match my own. As I stepped onto their outer soles, I could tell they would have been a perfect fit, if yet I lived in the world of light. However, I cannot take them into my shadow, and therefore, I left my only piece of happiness behind me. But if they stay there, I would come back to them as long as they remained. And then I walked on, not forgetting the pleasant memory of the days when I might have worn those very shoes.

Colophon Towodi publications began in 2005 with the first Mill Creek literary magazine. Thirteen volumes later, the Towodi members created an academic journal to incorporate all of the different talents in this school. Towodi: Lit was created with Adobe InDesign CS5. Selections were curated from contributions from over 100 students. The edition was printed by Greater Atlanta Printers in Crawford, GA and was sold for $10 per magazine. Mill Creek journalism is a member of GSPA, SIPA, NSPA, and CSPA. The 2017 edition, Towodi: Geared In recieved ratings of Superior from the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and Excellent from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. The editors would like to thank the staff for their hard work and diligence. May volume 13 fufill and enchance the Towodi legacy.

FRONT: Jane Berry, Micayla Hamilton, Jordan Skeete, Bree Withrow BACK:Andre Beverly, Madison Wilson, Madison Neither, Sarah Chisom, Jeffrey Muillins

Nothing Can Dim Your

Light