MyDSHSNews December 2017

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December/2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Basketball Begins Page 15

@MyDSHSSnaps

Letter from the editor: Column: Mass Shootings, Mental Health and Gun Control Page 16

Features:

Profile: Injuries Affect Football Page 15

Creative: Illustration by Jade Howe

Lifestyle: Recipe for the Holidays Page 13

news

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December, 2017

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Dripping Welcomes Youth Men’s Service League If you are a high school sophomore or freshman, you are currently eligible to join the new Young Men’s Service League. The Young Men’s Service League, or YMSL, is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in the hopes of teaching young boys important life lessons and values, help the local community through philanthropy and leadership, and strengthening the bond between club members and their mothers. Recently, a branch of this organization was opened in Dripping Springs by local parent Shawn Wolff who wanted to be able to spend time with her son while making a difference in their community.

“I had heard about the nationally recognized organization from other friends who are participants in Austin,” President Wolff said. “We all feel blessed to have found this amazing organization where we can spend more time with our sons and also teach them the importance of helping others and serving our community and build leadership among them.”

Since their kick-off meeting on Aug. 13, the organization has gained 48 members and their mothers, and they hope to recruit more young men in the future to help the community grow and learn.

“We do wish for the kids that join to have a good heart, someone who is compassionate and respectful as well as has the desire to serve,” Wolff said. “It’s a

Jade Berry

News and Entertainment Editor privilege to do what we do, not a chore- and that’s the type of attitude we hope our members will encompass.”

The organization is currently holding their meetings at the Foundry at the Methodist Church in Dripping Springs where they discuss future activities like the 2018 Membership Drive they plan on hosting

“It’s a privilege to do what we do, not a chore-”

in the spring to recruit incoming freshmen.

“Each meeting, there is a speaker who targets a specific subject and the boys’ different committees have individual responsibilities as well,” Wolff said.

“It’s a great development and leadership building experience for the boys.”

Each branch of the YMSL organization focuses its projects and activities around a set of nine

The YMSL Boys Board of Directors at the opening of the Dripping Springs Chapter in August.

philanthropies given by the head of the organization.

“Our approved philanthropies for 2017-2018 are the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas, DS Community Mission Partnership, Hill Country Thrift Store, Pedernales Falls State Parks, Schools Out Foods In, Service Dogs Inc., Southside Community Center, Texas Ramp Project, and the Burke Center for Youth.,” Wolff said.

While the organization in Dripping Springs was just started earlier this year, they have already begun their mission to help the community by volunteering with a group of 20 at the Burke Center for Youth in October. The Center was very appreciative of the help and interest and the YMSL members have said they look forward to returning for future opportunities and to make a difference.

“I truly feel this experience of being a member of YMSL will start a lifelong pattern of giving back,” Wolff said. “Teenage boys - regardless of what they would have us think - are still very impressionable.

When they see the positive impacts of their efforts and learn what it feel like to help others - and by that I mean a personal connection with an organization, group or individual who is grateful for what you have done for them- that’s a great life lesson. This world needs more of that.”

The YMSL organization members and their mothers at the Sevice Dog Inc. for one of their service projects.

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Dressing for the Cause Tessa Stigler Staff Writer

The Critical Mass club will be participating in a fundraiser this December to raise money for a foundation called Dressember that was created to help put a stop to sex trafficking.

“Sex trafficking is, of course, a major issue, and Critical Mass is working to make an impact within our community,” club historian Cassie Martin said.

Dressember was founded in 2013 and has raised over $3 million since to spread awareness and

end slavery and sex trafficking around the world.

“Dressember is a physical representation of the fight against modern day slavery and sex trafficking,” club member Katie Haberman said.

Dressember prides itself on rescuing victims of sex trafficking, serving justice against traffickers, and restoring the lives of sex trafficking victims.

“Sex trafficking is a global issue that is still sensitive for some to talk about,” Martin said. “It is happening to women and many young girls across the world and is an issue that we need to work towards ending.”

Students within the Critical Mass club are pledging to wear a dress every day of December to raise awareness and donations for this cause.

“Usually a dress symbolizes feminine fragility, which is a stereotype the foundation is working towards breaking by reclaiming the dress,” Martin said.

Members of the Dripping Springs community can contribute to the cause by either donating to or joining the dressember movement.

“All you need to do is wear a dress,” Haberman said. “It doesn’t matter what length, color, or style, as long as it stands for freedom amongst those who have lost theirs.”

Young adult literature class covers mental illnesses

DSHS to introduce new mental health class

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Tessa Stigler

The young adult literature course has recently been touching on subjects involving mental health.

“This began with a lit circle that Megan Batson did last year,” Chrissy Hinkle, young adult literature teacher, said.

“We started off by analyzing some poetry that centered around mental health. We both looked at it from a personal point of view since they are firstperson poems.”

Currently, freshman students in this class are reading the novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, and it deals with substance abuse and depression.

“The novel is from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy,” Hinkle said.

“Whenever he talks about the depression and substance abuse in his family, he’s very straightforward.”

Hinkle hopes to transition the

students to creating their own blackout poems with a mental health theme in mind.

“This was the first time we have done poetry with mental health in this course,” Hinkle said.

“This is only the second time this course has ever been offered. I had a list of things to touch on, but the way it went, it got very personal for a lot of kids.”

Next semester, students in this class will be placed in literary circles and book clubs, reading novels surrounding issues of mental health and intellectual disabilities like anxiety, depression, OCD, and Asperger’s syndrome.

“Hopefully, by opening up the dialogue in this space,” Hinkle said, “they feel like they can open up the dialogue in other spaces and not be concerned about being judged or do something that they will regret later in life like self-harm and suicide.”

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Tessa Stigler

The school administrators are considering offering a new course for the next school year that will focus on mental health and how to handle the stresses of high school.

“I would probably benefit from a mental health class, as school can be extremely stressful and make pre-existing anxiety a lot worse,” sophomore Abby Michener said.

A similar ACC course is already offered but this new course will be open to all students, not just students enrolled in the ACC dual credit program.

“A lot of my friends and people I meet have anxiety or a mental health problem of some sort, which is clearly very common amongst teenagers,” Michener said.

The course would teach students positive study habits, notetaking strategies, time and stress management, how to manage technology, and principles of socialemotional learning.

“Learning new study habits would really help, and getting

into a better mental space would really help because a lot of people overload themselves,” freshman Helena Bjeletich said.

Some staff members feel that technology and social media have recently created a negative influence on students’ lives, and they hope to help the students manage the online world better through this course.

“The use of social media and the immediacy of all information is having an impact on our students’ mental and physical health,” Principal Joe Burns said. “The added pressure to constantly be ‘on’ can be more than some students can effectively handle.”

They are also considering making this course a required elective for all incoming freshmen.

“I think it would be useful to require freshmen to take this class, especially for the time management portion, since they are transitioning into high school,” sophomore Cassie Martin said.

Opinion

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December, 2017

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Mentally, eleven is the new fifteen Kyndal Miethke

Contributing Opinion Writer Many kids today rush through their childhood.

More and more tweens and elementary students are presenting teenager behaviors.

Ninth and tenth grade used to be the primary grade where you would start seeing risky teenage behaviors, but now even that stigma has changed.

As a result, this is increasing the threat of emotional and mental issues, stress, and frustration between the child, their peers, and their family members. Kids experience early or premature exposure to activities, objects, habits, and ways of life meant for and more acceptable to adults.

When these things are advertised everywhere in TV, movies, music and especially by their “role models”, it persuades these children to start acting and making decisions exactly like the figures they see in movies or television. We all know kids’ susceptibility to influence is at an extreme high in this day and age.

Therefore, when one person begins to do it, they want to do it. It’s all about fitting in.

Children from 8-12 years old (the tween stage) are especially trying to act like teenagers. Their older brothers and sisters can easily become influenced or educated about sex, drugs, parties, drinking etc.

Once one kid adapts to the environment their older siblings or peers are a part of, they believe that certain things are acceptable solely because the people around them are participating in those specific activities.

A recent struggle for parents of kids younger than eight has been finding clothes that are appropriate. As stated in an article called “Whatever Happened to Childhood?” by Rebecca Sweat, these clothes are described as “shrunk teenage clothes and styles to fit little girls”. Our society is oddly supporting this, maybe unknowingly, through advertising, music,

movies and so much more.

William Doherty pointed out how there is a tremendous pressure for kids in this day and age to become ‘sexually precocious’. This can lead to drug

use and other adult activities at an early age. Over time parents have found out about their tweens and teens getting into these activities, and some will attempt to crack down on their child. However, at

this point in time, these children already rebel, have a certain confidence, feel entitled, and believe they can do what they want. Many parents start getting concerned and become “helicopter parents”. This has the potential to make matters worse.

When kids are told not to do something, sometimes it makes them want to do it even more.

Parents may automatically think, ‘My kid is doing something wrong, I taught them better than this and it’s my job to raise them. I need to fix this because of my responsibility as a parent.’

Nevertheless, from a teenager’s point of view, beating down on your kid, constantly bringing up the bad, and giving them a ton of punishments and ultimatums doesn’t help, and teenagers can become stressed and emotionally overwhelmed when parents continue these habits. This can cause unnecessary stress and anger in certain aspects of their life.

As a teenager, I see how it’s difficult.

But sometimes just telling kids what the possible consequences could be or examples of outcomes from what happened when someone else made the same decision as them, is enough to change an adolescent’s point of view. Sometimes kids have to experience something unsatisfactory to truly change for the better.

We only get one childhood. Play with friends. Let the biggest worry be what to have for lunch tomorrow. We can only experience that once before you have to grow up and be an adult.

Kids need to slow down, take a step back, a deep breath and just simply enjoy being a kid. **Source for “Teen Peer Pressure by the Numbers” is provided at the bottom of the image.**

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

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The Real Truth Behind Fake Psychics Grayson Ruiz

Opinion & Lifestyle Editor I have always been an avid reader of horoscopes - whether that’s through the Daily Horoscope App on my phone, newspaper clippings, or magazine articles. Truthfully, I admit that I believe them 99% of the time, because most of the time they are scary accurate. Sometimes I wonder to myself, how come every person born between the late part of November and early December feel the same way as me? Or have the same situation happening? However, being a believer in these things, I looked passed it.

I told my parents that I wanted to go see a psychic at some point in my life, because I believed that seeing a psychic held the key to my future. Maybe they would predict great successes, or tell me a hardship I would face next year when I’m in college.

Either way, I wanted to believe that there was someone who would be able to tell me what I had in

store, mostly because I hate the element of surprise.

However, upon further research, I realized that most of these so-called “fortune tellers” only were telling people what they wanted to hear. After reading excerpts from Mark Edward’s book “Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium”, I began to understand the tricks and trades of psychic “abilities” and how they are able to supposedly see your future.

Fake psychics are reading your body language, facial expressions, even the rapid motions of your blinking to bring up certain memories, statements, or events that have happened to a person, or to describe the feelings that you’ve been having in your life. They use your expressions when asking about a certain subject, a family member, an object, a relationship gone wrong, etc. None of this is “seeing your future”, it’s all just a mind game to try and heighten your sense of belief so that you can continue to come back.

These psychics will even try a free reading at first, only to explain that there is something dark and dangerous that will happen in your future, or something fabulous, but you have to pay them $500 dollars first to really learn the truth.

The whole process is to try and get people addicted to these readings, and ultimately to become obsessed with obtaining the truth in order to gain more money, until the client realizes they’ve been fooled all along.

Ultimately, it’s not about psychic powers. It’s about mind games, and throwing random questions onto a person hoping that their answer will apply to the question, or be “relatable”.

This takes practice, skill, and training, and it’s something that psychics have to learn over time.

This being said, I do still have an inclination to see a psychic at some

point in my life, but only to gain real life exposure to these types of things. If you’re like me, be careful to not wear any jewelry or clothing that could give away your social status or events that have actually happened to you.

Remember to control what you say, and to try and to focus on what the psychic is telling you.

If it’s vague, there is a very large possibility it’s a scam, and if the psychic tries to manipulate you into paying more money, or talks about an accident or a death, that can also be a big indicator the psychic is a phony. It’s not wrong to try and figure out your path if you’re feeling lost, but always recall being careful with your words and who you’re seeing or talking to over the phone or computer.

Creative

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December, 2017

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT . . .

Art by Sydney Hetherington

Dallas Johnson Creative Editor

Mental health illustrations

by Jade Howe

by Jade Howe

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Art Has Feelings Too Angelina Lepe-Silva Contributing Writer

In the echoey art room of Mr. Bates’ 3rd period class sits a variety of teenagers - some aspiring to be artists while others do it for fun. Despite the reasons, art has others connect with one another on an emotional level.

“Art is a way to escape into my own world,” sophomore Sydney Hetherington said.

Art helps others express themselves.

It’s a way to have others put emotion into what they label as their “getaway”.

For millions of years, art has been used to show one’s struggle or tell a story.

“I mainly portray happiness in my art,” senior Payton Berry said. “I use my art to express my crazy-out-of-the-norm ideas that make no sense when you use words.”

Art pieces are not always easy to depict. The color scheme, however, is a way to understand the mood of one’s piece. The blues in Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” is an example of

Lily Perfect I saw you eyes glance.

I saw your foot tick.

I saw your hand shutter.

I saw your heart hover.

You made a mistake, A false step, A faux pas.

And we don’t allow those here.

Only ironed with Moral, And pressed blue Speech.

You don’t belong here, You’ve hhis long enough.

understanding one’s emotions.

“You typically can tell what the person likes and dislikes based on their art,” Berry said.

Her recent pieces have included food in abstract forms: pineapple set to fire and a cake.

Art pieces aren’t only based on certain moods. Both artists have stated that their inspiration is based on the environment around them.

“I gain inspiration through my life experiences and other artists,” Hetherington said.

“My typical art inspiration comes from my surroundings or the words I hear in conversations happening around me when I’m brainstorming,” Berry said.

The two have different styles when it comes to art, but both agree that art helps them express their feelings on a white canvas.

A hopless managerie, An attempt to belong.

To be a thread In the tapestry.

But you have unraveled.

We’ve found you out.

You’re a mistake.

An error.

A blunder.

A typo.

Let go of our dream.

Your knuckes are white, Taught and drawn, And they’re starting to bleed.

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Momma Don’t Know

by Ana Krueger

Momma didn’t know all the answers Like baby once profusely believed Not then, not now Standing over his seizing body, yelling At her, asking what they should do Baby stared at the crucifix on The back wall, eyes glazed with glorious wonder. “What if God doesn’t exist?”

Baby asked. Momma screamed in savage terror, ripping sleeves of her precious sweater off their knotted joints.

“How do I get to Heaven too?”

Momma shook until the ground Rose to meet her shriveling bones Sinking so her cracking shoulders touched his twitching nerves “Do angels live on earth?”

Blood in fragile veins paired out in Harmony with desperate tears And baby turned to see “Momma please tell me now” “Momma please tell me”

My smile is sparkling, My laugh is twinkling, My words are shimmering.

Look at, See, My voice is pure.

I...

I...

I’m...

Perfect.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Look at my hair, See? Not a strand out of place.

Look, See, I’m sweet.

Everything is, Ah, It’s

Perfect.

Perfect.

See, I’m good.

Perfect.

Look at my scores, See? Nothing below an ace.

Perfect.

So let go.

You don’t belong here.

Look at my writing, See? It’s wonderful.

But I do, I swear.

Perfect.

Look, I’m pretty.

Perfect.

Look at.

Me. Perfect.

Perfect Perfect Perfec Perfe Perf Per Pe P

FEATURES

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December, 2017

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Let’s Talk About Stress, Baby Giselle Galletti Features Editor

When you’re stressing about homework, grades, a huge test, a relationship, or even just trying to remember if you signed into ACC on Friday, it can get overwhelming really quickly and even start to take a toll on your health.

Getting stressed out affects your mental health along with your physical health. And while your physical health is easier to repair, recovering from attacks on your mental health is a much, much longer process.

“There is no shame in asking for help”

Before every test, no matter how prepared they are for it, my friends still make the comments about how stressed they are. And that’s perfectly fine because our junior year is so incredibly important when applying to colleges next year.

Thing is, that stress lasts through the test, and then during the entire period of waiting to get the grades back. It’s so incredibly nerve-racking.

Stressing also leads to second guessing your answers, which can lead to you choosing the wrong answer even though your first thought was correct.

Standardized test prep books specifically say that when in doubt go with your first choice, because there’s a pretty good chance that you’re right. It’s the over thinking that screws you over.

It also tires you out, prohibits sleeping, messes with your hormones, mood, feelings, and even the dreaded skin issues. People make the comments about how they got a pimple from an essay deadline, and they’re totally right. Stress causes your skin to freak out as much as you are.

I can personally attest to the fact that stress isn’t avoidable in its entirety. It’s almost always going to be part of your life in one way or another.

But there are things you can do to minimize it, or learn how to deal with the stress in a better and healthier way.

Among all of the other side effects, stress also causes you to be unproductive and have a lack of motivation.

The last thing you want while being stressed is to not do the work, but that’s usually what

happens. Learn how to stop that from happening.

There are tons of websites with tips and tricks on how to help limit the damage done on your body from stress.

The first step is admitting how stressed you are and finding the source of it. There’s a good chance that the reason will be school, and that is OK; you

might want to rethink your time management skills. And if absolutely needed, look into tutoring, talk to someone, or sit down with adults whom you trust and find a solution.

There is no shame in asking for help with your mental health.

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

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Ecuador: Unfiltered

Clara Comparan Online Editor

Standing on the side of a mountain, a lookout unveils a green blanket. The only things interrupting the landscape are quaint, clay-built homes and the occasional cow or goat.

I had the opportunity this summer to travel to Ecuador with a group called The Road Less Traveled. I spent 24 days with people from all over the United States, none of whom I knew. We met up in Miami, and forfeited any and all connection to life as we knew it.

Day one was hard. It was tough not to feel lonely when the connection to home was freshly shattered.

We were used to constantly being in contact with everyone we know, but our phones were no longer part of the equation.

The trip had three main focuses: Spanishlanguage immersion, community service, and expanding cultural awareness. The first half consisted of community service in a small community in the Andes mountains. This was a milk community. The entire town’s income was reliant on milk collection and distribution. We slept in tents just outside of the small community center. Nights were cold, and we slept holding water bottles filled with hot water because otherwise our hands would go numb from the cold.

The daily routine was simple: wake up early to prep for breakfast, eat, and then work until lunch on our construction project. We mixed cement day after day, hearts beating fast and breathing hard

in the high altitude. We were gathering materials to build a community bathroom. We would have a quick lunch, and then get back to work until it was time for evening activities.

Some days we taught English, and the language was funny to the natives. We stumbled along with them, trying to explain the odd sounds and structures in a language which we ourselves were clumsy. At first, the locals were wary of us, the bumbling American teenagers, communication was at a minimum. However, as time went on and as the days got easier, they began to accept us. We told stories and jokes, and some days, they would come help us work. These were a hard-working people. Every person had a job and if that job was not done, everyone would suffer and so they began to instill this work ethic in us.

There were mornings where my arms felt like cold lead, and frost stole the heat from my feet as we walked. These were the hard days. I learned a lot in those times about myself and about the strangers who worked along with me. There were also mornings where I would wake up early and see the sky paint itself blue as the sunlight peeked over the mountain tops. We hiked miles away and watched the wind ripple through the grass on the mountains like waves, and along the way we would befriend the stray dogs that wandered onto our path. These days were something special and these people quickly became very important to me.

We stood there together, tiny in the vast expanse of nature. We became a family in those 24 days, relying on only each other. Those people picked me up on those long days, and I did the same for them.

We rely so much on the luxury of having a smartphone in our back pocket. Achieving positive mental health should not take a backseat to social goals. A large portion of daily life revolves around analysing what’s been posted online, and the digital escape can become more of a cage. I used to be someone who believed that happiness came from the number of likes on a picture; I was constantly in communication with other people online, but that was before this trip.

I learned that my own happiness comes from inside myself. I know it’s cheesy and ridiculous, but it really is true. I spent these days unattached to technology, and I had never been more joyful.

My life didn’t stop the moment I chose to look away from my screen; in fact, that’s when it began. It was crucial for me to learn that true, unadulterated joy comes from experiences: unfiltered moments, laughing with friends, iced coffees on hot days, and discovering a new song that you love. These are the moments that we need to give top priority.

I think my generation would be much happier if they started to realize this for themselves.

FEATURES

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December, 2017

Reaching Out: Bullying and the LGBTQ+ Community Samantha Moore Contirbuitng Writer

Imagine walking down the halls of our school feeling unsafe. Five days a week you’ll hear people call you names, just because you are brave enough to embrace who you are.

The LGBT community in the high school is treated many different ways, and there are also people who seek to improve the environment in regards to making it a safer place for these students.

“I’d have to say that the majority of bullying that I’ve seen has been more passive than direct,” freshman Jean-Luc Elmore said. “It’s the casual use of slurs or derogatory terms that I think has a greater effect than anything else.”

According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider committing suicide almost three times more than heterosexual youth.

“I feel that only half of the LGBTQ+ members at our school have had the courage to say it,”

freshman Gracie Johnson said. “I also think it’s through no fault of their own; there are tons of people who won’t talk about their sexuality and gender just because society condemns it as wrong.”

While some kids feel perfectly comfortable coming out to their friends and family, others do not. On top of this, coming out to the entire school brings a whole other world of possible judgment and harassment, but also possible acceptance by peers.

“I believe there is a large majority of LGBTQ+ members at our school,” sophomore Matthew Culbertson said, “as I have seen and know more than I can count.”

A new study by the J. Walter Innovation Group found that only 48% of people ages 13-20 years old identify as solely heterosexual.

“There isn’t much we can do about changing other people’s opinions,

but one thing we can do is make staff members more aware of what’s going on around them,” Johnson said.

In 2015, according to a national youth risk behavior survey, 34% of LGBTQ+ teens were bullied on school property, and 10% were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property nationwide.

“I think we could make our school a better place by educating our students and making them more aware of the harmful things they may not know they are doing,” Elmore said. “I’d probably have to say education is the answer to a lot of ending discrimination.”

42% of people in the LGBTQ+ community feel like they are living in an unwelcoming environment, as reported by DoSomething.org. Trans students have also been bullied on campus, according to one freshman.

“I’ve seen a lot of gay kids get called names in the hall. I feel like,

even with the bullying, you can still be open with who you are without fear. [The] teachers and staff are very accepting,” he said.

“We should talk about these issues more in classrooms,” sophomore Corryn Scharff said. “It would be cool if we had a class where we talked about that kind of stuff.”

Bullying is bullying - whether it’s meant towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, cyber bullying, physical bullying, mental bullying, or it’s just a rude comment.

“I think if we took a stand as a school together,” math teacher Mrs. Ortmann said, “in a way where we say [that] not only do we not tolerate bullying [of the LGBTQ+ community], but that we don’t tolerate bullying of any people.”

Students bond with classmates at in-school retreats newly promoted by the high school staff this year. Photo by Marcel Acosta

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December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Engage Turbo Mode: Robotics Team on to Abu Dhabi

Katie Haberman Staff Writer

A group of high school boys stand in front of an award-winning car, smiles lighting up their faces as their progression to the World Robotic Competition is announced. They personally designed a remote-controlled car that made it possible for the team to leave Nationals at Circuit of the Americas with a ticket to Abu Dhabi, and a chance to compete against the world’s finest in robotics.

The Turbo Tigers robotics team recently competed at Nationals in June, and the group will soon arrive at World in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to bring the heat. The Turbo Tigers count as one of many different robotics teams sponsored at DSHS, others including the Best Robotics, First Robotics, and FRC Robotics teams. Students participating in robotics use classes like programming and computer aid design (CAD) to help prepare them for tournaments. These consist of different trials that robots or cars, depending on the competition, need to complete in order to score points.

“The one I worked on just recently with the Best Robotics team goes and fights a simulated fire,” sophomore Johnny Dollard said. “The one I built last year with the First Robotics team plays a game with placing gears on pegs and climbing a rope.”

In terms of many of the teams, robotics counts as a competitive event that students can participate in to learn more about engineering and programming in more of a real life setting. Depending on the specific event, robotics competitions may have other students cheering on the sidelines, or just consist of the teams competing interacting with each other.

“We’ll generally go in and we’ll check in the robot, and before matches start there’s usually a little bit of practice time, which you either go and practice on the field or if we haven’t finished the robot yet, which is often the case, we’ll go and frantically try to add more stuff onto the robot to make it work,” Dollard said. “Eventually we’ll get into matches, and so we’ll go and we’ll play a game and then we’ll come back and we’ll figure out what went wrong, what do we want to do better, and fix any problems with the robot.”

The Turbo Tigers, however, have the added effect of working with a robotic car. The five members of the team started by designing the car with CAD software, a process that allowed for the consistent modification of the car.

According to team members, the car was almost completely remodeled in the time after Nationals in order to prepare them for success as best as possible.

“We have a four by four RC car that we have to reconvert into four-wheelsteering,” senior Dallas Hudson, design engineer of Turbo Tigers, said.

“We’re 3D printing a chassis, wheels, and different parts of the suspension so that it’ll be able to take a course better, and then we’re also gonna have stuff like a raspberry pi and sensors so that it can take the course not only better, but smarter.”

The team consists of five students: senior Dallas Hudson, sophomore Cole Scott, junior Ben Marson, sophomore Bryce Fitzpatrick, and sophomore Jason Fitzpatrick. Each member has a specific job concerning the design, manufacturing, overseeing, and marketing of the car, cumulating in an entirely cohesive team that works to make their car the pinnacle of perfection.

“We had a lot of off-the-shelf parts, we bought springs, and we just kind of threw stuff together, made presentations, did all that stuff, [and] programmed it,” sophomore Jason Fitzpatrick, manufacturing engineer and resource manager, said. “Since June, we’ve been able to do a lot more with it.”

Aside from the actual designing, programming, and manufacturing of the car, competitions actually consist of a few parts. The first piece includes a competition of driving, in which team members show off their cars in an effort to gain points from judges.

Next comes a presentation, during which teams individually describe their car and their process to the same overseers of the tournament. Lastly is the marketing section, or a time for teams to check out other cars and talk to different people from all over.

“We have these big booths that we transport over there, a marketing booth, and that’s just a gallery walk basically,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ll go to a different team and ask them what they did, what makes their car special, and then you talk to different people.”

In terms of marketing, the Turbo Tigers show up on many platforms of the web. People can keep up to date with their tournament season through Instagram, @dsturbotigers, Twitter, @ds_turbotigers, their website, dsturbotigers.us, and a fundraising account at gofundme.com/turbotigers.

The World competition consists of 17 countries, 22 teams, and around three international teams, which are basically multiple teams collaborating on one car. The Turbo Tigers have some competition, but their perseverance throughout the season so far is likely to set the team apart during the world competition.

“Maybe we’ll talk to some translators,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve never been to a national competition before, or international competition.”

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December, 2017

Entertainment

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Importance of Mental Health in the Media Jade Berry

Show of hands how many of you have at one point or another had a mental breakdown, suffered from anxiety, or fought against depression? Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone; statistically speaking, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the U.S., an estimated 1 in 5 youth or 21.4% (aged 13-18) have experienced a mental disorder in their life. Mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of. So you’re a little messed up in your head, That’s okay. You’re still a person. The stigma surrounding mental health issues is one of the leading reasons it is so important to have accurate representation in media and entertainment. When we watch movies or shows we tend to find pieces of ourselves and our internal problems in the plot and characters as they address their own challenges and issues.

News and Entertainment Editor

Recent shows and productions like Marti Noxon’s To the Bone and the T.V. hit This is Us that include or - in Noxon’s production - focus on the mental health issues the characters face and how they address those illnesses. In To the Bone,

viewers follow the lead actress on her journey through several recovery programs as she begins to work towards helping her eating disorder. This emotional production is one of the few films that openly portrays a character suffering with a mental disorder and their recovery and coping with the disorder.

In earlier years and even still today, mental illnesses are stigmatized and there is a sort of unspoken rule that we shouldn’t talk about our illnesses in public, like they’re something to be ashamed of; a bad decision we made that morning, like we chose to leave the house wearing our anxiety tied around our hearts.

This mindset only further embeds the problem facing mental health victims and youth. If society doesn’t talk about mental health and provide a source of understanding and familiarity, we will continue pushing our problems into the corner where they will only get worse. It is extremely important for media and entertainment channels to raise awareness about mental health disorders and illnesses so that we can remove the stigma surrounding these issues and maybe even work towards understanding these disorders and portray them accurately.

Mental Health Advocates in Entertainment

Carrie Fisher is one of the most well known actresses known for her role as Princess Leia in the iconic Star Wars series, and she was also one of the few leading advocates for mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. Sadly, Fisher passed away a year ago at the age of 60, but she left behind a legacy of sarcastic wit and unimaginable encouragement. The actress, herself, was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her mid-20’s, but she didn’t act on the diagnosis until in her late 20’s. Fisher was not simply a source of creative humor, she was a huge leader in the demystifying of mental health issues, and she openly talked about her experiences with recovery culture and her stay in rehab. In one of her last Guardian columns, she wrote to a young lady who was coming to terms with her own bipolar disorder saying, “You can let it all fall down and feel defeated and hopeless and that you’re done. Move through those feelings and meet me on the other side. As your bipolar sister, I’ll be watching.”

Carrie Fisher

Demi Lovato is well known for her roles in Demi Lovato films such as Camp Rock as well as launching her successful singing career, but she is also known for her contribution as a global advocate for mental health. The singer has talked about her earlier experiences with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia and how she struggled to work through them to reach the point where she is now. Lovato’s stories and personal experiences have helped countless others reach a place where they can know that they are not alone in their trials. This year, Global Citizen named Lovato the organization’s official mental health ambassador; this means that now Lovato has a special focus on the more vulnerable communities around the world.

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LIFESTYLE

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

How to make the perfect pie for the holidays Grayson Ruiz

Opinion & Lifestyle Editor INGREDIENTS 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust 1 (15 ounce) can of pumpking purée (about 2 cups) 1/2 cup of granulated sugar 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon of gorund salt 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves or allspice 3/4 cup of whole milk 3/4 cup of heavy cream 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract EQUIPMENT Food processor Pie plate Pie weights Saucepan Parchment paper Baking sheet Whisk Cooling Rack

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“Prepare the pie crust. Arrange a rack in the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 425°F. Roll out the pie crust and transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp the edges. Chill for 30 minutes while the oven heats.

Blind bake the crust. Line the pie crust with parchment or aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges just start to brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove the weights and lining, and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep near the stove.

Prepare the purée. Combine the pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and spices in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment or blender. Blend until the brown sugar is completely mixed in and the purée looks glossy.

Cook the purée mixture. Transfer the purée to a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir frequently until you see wisps of steam rising from the purée, then stir continuously until the mixture is very steamy and “plops” when you pause for a second. The mixture will also start to smell like spices and cooked pumpkin. Cook for no more than 5 minutes.

Whisk in the milk and eggs. Remove the pan from the heat. Whisk in the milk and cream. To warm the eggs and ensure that they don’t cook when you add them to the pumpkin mixture, whisk them together in a separate bowl, then whisk in a few spoonfuls of the warm pumpkin mixture. Slowly whisk the eggs into the saucepan with the pumpkin mixture. Whisk in the vanilla.

Fill the pie crust. Place the partially baked pie crust on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set it near the stove. Carefully pour the warm pumpkin mixture into the warm pie crust. If it looks like there’s too much filling for the crust, stop when you come close to the edge of the crust.

Bake the pie. Carefully transfer the baking sheet with the pie to the oven and immediately turn down the heat to 375°F. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes — until the pie is puffed in the middle, but still jiggles when you gently shake the pan. You’ll also see small cracks form in the outer part of the pie and some bubbling around the edge. Check the pie every 15 minutes or so and cover the crust with a ring of foil when it becomes deep brown. Cool the pie. Let the pie cool before serving — it will continue to set as it cools.”

Source Link: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-classic-pumpkin-pie-for-thanksgiving-197418

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Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Jaxson Thornton ‘18 Sports Editor Camryn Horst ‘19

Features Editor Giselle Galletti ‘19

Opinion & Lifestyle Editor Grayson Ruiz ‘18

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Creative Editor Dallas Johnson ‘18

Staff Writers Tessa Stigler, Katie Haberman, Jade Howe, Rigley Willis

Opinion

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To submit a letter, email DSHSstudentmedia@dsisdconnect.com. Letters should be a maxiumum of 400 words. The letter is not guaranteed to be published.

SPORTS

14 MYDSHSNEWS

December, 2017

WANT MORE SPORTS? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/sports for all the latest coverage.

Concussions in Focus Rigley Willis Staff Writer

Hard fouls, daring tackles, intense slides, they may all seem very entertaining to the common viewer but to the player, these certain plays may result in a horrible injury, also known as a concussion.

A concussion is described as a “violent shock to the head as from a heavy blow” (Merriam-Webster). Concussions often lead into transient loss of memory or consciousness and prolonged effects like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and seizures.

There are 79 former NFL players that say they suffer from daily symptoms including Brett Favre. There are also seven NFL players that have died due to CTE complications.

These effects of concussions have touched some people in an alarming rate and manner. Multiple concussions are worse as they have all the same symptoms as a first time concussion except with the possibility of one more thing, the onset of CTE. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a condition in which proteins spread throughout the brain and destroy cells and tissue as a result of heavy head trauma.

Concussions are a true epidemic, but what approrpriate and longlasting precautions will be implemented in order to protect and improve a young athlete’s mind?

Column: Mental Health in Student Athletes Camryn Horst Sports Editior

A prominent struggle throughout the walls of Dripping Springs High School has been finding a balance between stress, extracurriculars, and schoolwork. Focusing more on the sports aspect of this issue, determining a proper list of priorities can be difficult.

Student-athletes have multiple weights on their shoulders at all times, such as the feeling of living up to standards, performing well in games and events, all while maintaining good grades in classes. In an article from AthleteNetwork. com called “The Prevalence of Mental Health in Student-Athletes,” it is stated that “Athletes are known for having the most packed schedule.”

This is extremely true for all students that participate in any sort of extra curricular activities, and that student’s health can be affected because of their busy schedules.

Some forms of mental health issues in athletes can be both physical and emotional. The physical stress on athletes is caused by multiple hits to the head or body, such as concussions and injuries.

According to StopSportsInjuries.org, “Injuries associated with participation in sports and recreational activities account for 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among children in the United States.” More precautions need to be in place to avoid and treat concussions and to steer clear from severe injuries.

This year alone, multiple players from the Dripping Springs varsity football team have suffered injuries that caused them to be unable to participate for the majority of the season. These injuries affect the body and also the mind, and can lead to players ultimately feeling depressed about not doing what they love. Choosing a positive outlook on these situations is the best thing to do.

Focusing on recovering to the best of their ability is also important.

Despite the obvious physical stress and occasional harm that athletes are at risk for during practices and games, there can also be feelings of doubt and insecurity in the back of student-athletes’ minds that need to be addressed.

Relating to emotional health and well-being, many athletes appear to struggle with always trying to do their best to impress family, friends, and coaches. This constant need for gratification must decrease to improve athlete’s mental health.

Always trying to please someone other than yourself will eventually take a toll on mental health.

Balancing sports and school is especially challenging as a high school athlete, as well.

Having played on varsity girls lacrosse for two years, I remember struggling to finish homework and test reviews in order to be successful in both lacrosse and academic courses. Finding the balance can take time, but it is necessary.

Junior Ryan Thomas, varsity lacrosse player, says that he thinks the most common mental health issue for students is balancing school with after school activities, such as lacrosse practice and clubs like FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

“It becomes problematic when the stress from school affects my performance on the field and vice versa,” Thomas said. “I am a part of many school clubs, such as the Cricket club and the Fly Fishing club. I think letting yourself have fun is a good way to relieve stress.”

Some athletes experience anxiety before games, which may become prominent as a team goes on to playoffs. Teams have potential to advance to state and that could lead to a player being anxious about whether or not their capabilities are enough.

In the end, focusing on organization and making a mental list of priorities is what allowed me to keep up with the work. This year, I have added more to my plate and have been struggling even more. What helps me and keeps me in good mental health is remembering that there is always an end goal, and that once you reach it, life goes on. The stress of it all can be so much, but it does get better.

December, 2017

MYDSHSNEWS

Basketball’s Expectations are Higher

Rigley Willis Staff Writer

Winter has fallen and with that the Dripping Springs basketball teams have begun their seasons. Both the boys and girls teams are coming off of very productive seasons and are looking to improve off of the past seasons’ accomplishments. Both teams ended up in the UIL state playoffs, and despite eventually losing, both teams provided strong showings that have successfully put Dripping Springs basketball on the map.

“It feels good to be a well-known program now,” senior Matthew McKiddie said. “People know who we are when we play them.”

Many seniors departed from the previous season, but incoming junior varsity players have had to fill their roles quickly and they have said they are ready for any and all competition.

“Last year on junior varsity I played a lot, and I think that helped prepare me for a bigger role this year on varsity,” junior Sam Beach said.

With an increase in roles comes an increase in responsibility, and the new varsity players have responded nicely.

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“We definitely understand that since we’re on varsity now, we have to pay attention in practice and in school a lot more and we represent the school whereever we are at all times,” junior Bryson Waggle said.

The Tigers pride themselves on many things, including a set of five core values but one value in particular has stood out this season.

“Arête, for us, basically stands for living up to your greatness or potential,” Head Coach Craig Swannack said. “The rest of the coaching staff and I have tried to drive this home in the past couple of weeks with our [team].”

Living up to one’s potential may be a daunting task but due to intense work ethic, some players believe they are already there.

“We work hard every day for two to three hours, and I think we’ll show off ‘achieving our arête’ in games this year,” senior Jordon Phillips said.

Expectations are definitely apparent for this basketball team, but the student-athletes in this program have set their bar even higher than before.

“This year, I want to be a state champion; I think it’s a true reality this year,” sophomore Xavier Phillips said.

The Dripping Springs Tigers basketball teams have begun their season with a multitude of tournaments and games and boys varsity will look ahead to Vandegrift on Dec. 5, Harker Heights on Dec. 11, and the first district game of the year against Lockhart on Dec. 19, while girls varsity will face San Marcos at home on Dec. 5, then Hendrickson away on Dec. 8 before district starts against Kerrville Tivy at home on Dec. 12.

Photos by Cy Bruni

16 MYDSHSNEWS

December, 2017

COMMUNITY

*Disclaimer* The following editorial is an opinion piece and should be read as such.

Letter from the Editor: Mass Shootings, Mental Health and Gun Control Jaxson Power-Thornton

Editor-in-Chief How could we not talk about it?

It seems so commonplace now... It’s almost as if I am surprised and relieved when the country goes a month without bullet holes riddled in our collective hearts... It’s as if peace is no longer orthodox.

My generation has never been afforded peace of mind. I am one of the oldest in my class, and I was born 49 days after the shooting at Columbine High School.

Since my first day of kindergarten, I’ve been prepped on what to do if there is a gunman on campus… a foreign idea to the generation of my parents - something they never had to think about.

I remember watching the news in my 7th grade English class, sitting restlessly as updates came out about the Sandy Hook shooting.

I remember not being allowed to turn on the TV for a week after the Virginia Tech shooting.

I remember watching in horror as news of Orlando hit the public.

Between Sandy Hook, and San Bernardino, and Fort Hood, and the hundreds of other shootings that have occurred in my lifetime...there has always been a necessity for preparedness for one of these events through all my years of schooling.

It has always been a possibility... lodged deep in the back of my mind... “Could it happen to us?”

And that brings me to the present. In October and November of this year, we as a nation experienced our two most deadly shootings. Together, they accounted for over 80 gravestones and hundreds of hospital beds.

And it leaves one bitter, brutal question on the minds of millions: Why? What is/has been happening in our country over the last 20 years to where this is just a part of life now? Why has it been getting so much worse over the last few years? Why is it beginning to all feel so numb?

According to Trump, the blame lies in mental illness.

“I think you have a mental health problem here,” Trump stated to a crowd of reporters days after the recent shooting in Sutherland Springs. “This isn’t a guns situation... fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction.”

Our president has had two opportunities in recent months to make his views on this issue very, very clear. To him, guns are not to blame for the deaths of 80+ innocent people... mental health problems are.

So let’s look at that from an apolitical standpoint.

Forget, for a moment, your own personal bias as to whether this is a guns issue, a mental health issue, or some other issue, and let’s analyze what

our president, who is arguably the only man in the country with the actual power to make a difference here, has done to help the situation.

(The situation being the fact that two of America’s five most deadly mass shootings have occurred in the last 70 days).

And, let’s play by his rules. Let’s put his federal money where his mouth is.

Again, regardless of whether or not you agree with the Affordable Care Act, Trump’s efforts to axe it would eliminate the requirement for insurance companies to cover mental health. It is predicted (by NPR health correspondent Alison Kodjak) that millions who rely on the ACA for mental health care would lose said care entirely.

And that’s only the surface. While Trump has been touting his war on mental health, he has proposed billions of dollars worth in cuts to Medicaid, which foots the bill for 27% of all health care services.

Regardless of your opinions on all these matters (guns, mental health, health care), and regardless of whether or not you support him or despise him, it is clear that he has contradicted himself.

He tells us that this is not a guns issue... Fine. That is to be expected with a Republican president. But to tell us that this is a mental health issue while in the midst of defunding mental health care programs, to me, is sick.

People have died, and our president is bold enough to look into the void and blame it on a mental health problem that he is doing absolutely nothing about.

Now, regardless of that, let us think under the assumption that Trump is correct about this being a purely mental health issue. I’m not saying whether he is or isn’t... and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that he isn’t... but for the sake of the thought experiment, let’s say he is.

Logically speaking, if the mass murders that have been so devastating in recent months are, in fact, a product of mental health issues, it would make sense to enact reasonable gun laws to keep military grade assault rifles (used in the recent shootings) out of the hands of the mentally impaired that may mean to do harm with them... right?

It would make sense. But unfortunately, we live in a time where sense is... well... unimportant.

After being inaugurated, one of the first things Trump did was to quietly pass a bill that rolled back an Obama era regulation that made it more difficult for people with mental illnesses to purchase guns.

So, if these deaths we are still freshly mourning are a product of mental illness, like Trump says they are, then why did he make it easier for the mentally ill to purchase guns?

This action of axing Obama’s mental health-related gun restrictions has been defended by conservatives under the line of thought that our government should not be able to restrict the second amendment right of anyone, not even the mentally impaired.

The matter of fact, though, is that the above stated is simply not the case.

Our constitution was written as a document that was supposed to be living and breathing. The second amendment was written in a time of muskets and musket balls, a time we have certainly evolved past technologically.

The second amendment was written to allow people to rise up against their government if it became to tyrannical, but in the modern day, if taken so literally, then I, as a citizen, should have the right to purchase and carry a suitcase nuke to defend myself against my government, and anything otherwise is an infringement against my second amendment right!

Obviously, that is not logical. And in this same vein, no civilian needs access to a military grade AR-15 assault rifle, especially not the deranged individuals who murdered 58 and 25 respectively in October and November.

And by no means am I saying we need to take away everyone’s guns, either. Because that, too, would be illogical. Do not write me off as some flaming head liberal trying to stomp on the rights of our nation.

All I am asking for is reasonable, tangible steps towards a safer society. The world is a different place than it was almost 250 years ago.

Stricter vetting for gun owners that takes into account things like a history of violence and potentially dangerous mental health disorders, bans on unnecessary military grade weapons, and a registry that is up to date and not impossible for gun sellers to use.

Side note: Don’t operate purely under the assumption that Trump is correct in pinning this issue as purely the fault of mental health, as multiple studies suggest that “neither guns nor people exist in isolation from social or historical influences”. I suggest the study “Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of American Firearms”, co-authored by two doctorate professors of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt University.

This is a complex and frightening time, and even as I typed the conclusion to this piece, I received a push notification of an active school shooting occurring in Tehama County, CA, at an elementary school. Nobody wants to see another Las Vegas, or Sutherland Springs, but with the way things are right now, it will happen again.