MyDSHSNews December 2016

DECEMBER/2016

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Seniors Commit!

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Photo from www.intelligencer.ca

DSHS students share impact of “vape culture” on and off campus IN THIS ISSUE OPINION

Column: America needs to educate Page 3

CREATIVE

Making Pictures: Comics & Puzzle Page 13

FEATURES

Artist Spotlight: Local artist’s small business Page 6

Willie Johnson

Contributing Writer The practice is banned on school campuses, illegal for minors, and considered a health risk by many, yet statistically, one in four students use electronic cigarettes regularly.

Most people interviewed believed these devices to be generally healthier than traditional tobacco cigarettes, but still a substantial danger; others held the two in equal regard or based

their opinion on the specific liquids being inhaled.

“Vaping was meant to be an alternative to smoking, but actually turned out to be worse in some ways,” sophomore Carsten Brennan said. “I think this caused it to become more popular amongst the younger generation.”

Young people make up most ‘vapers’ today, and it is most certainly reflected in the testimo-

nials received. Both at Dripping Springs High School and among the general public, those who oppose vaping now find its popularity soaring despite federal regulations.

“While vaping is certainly a ‘thing’ (it’s not hard to find someone who vapes). It’s a very small population of the kids who vape on a regular basis, although there may be statistics out there...

Feature >> Page 8

OPINION

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December, 2016

WANT TO VOICE YOUR OPINION? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/contribute to submit your writing.

My Testimony: Suerte Liliana Reyes Staff Writer

As a junior, it feels like I’m constantly filling out applications or background questions for jobs, clubs, and standardized tests.

After about my tenth one this year, I complained to my friend but what she said threw me off. She proclaimed that I shouldn’t complain because I’m “lucky” I get to put a check in the Latino box, making me more desirable for scholarships.

What she didn’t know is for years I felt trapped in that box, to the point where I limited everything from how I expressed myself to even how I spoke.

It’s no secret Dripping Springs isn’t a very diverse town. In fact, in elementary school, I could count the number of Hispanic kids in

my grade on one hand.

However, I’ve lived here my entire life so when I was young I didn’t know anything different. It wasn’t until I was in fourth or fifth grade when I saw the distinct separation between the Hispanic kids and the rest of the school.

This became apparent when I was sleeping over at my friend’s house and she described the Founders Day Festival as fun despite there being a lot of “Mexicans” there.

It was the first time I witnessed someone blatantly refer to the Hispanic population as less than or other.

I remember feeling angry and ashamed, wondering if everyone saw us like that, saw me like that.

The worse part was, I

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knew she didn’t feel that way about me. At 10 years old, I realized I was given a pass because I didn’t speak Spanish and my parents didn’t speak broken English.

Her words stayed with me for a long time and although I didn’t notice at the time, it was then I started to separate myself from that part of my identity.

In middle school, instead of just worrying about acne and my body changing like everyone else, I also was hyper aware of the way people viewed me and the “Mexican kids” at our school.

For example, as ridiculous as it sounds, I specifically never wore eyeliner in fear I’d look like one of the “trashy Mexican girls” portrayed on TV. I hung out with the country/preppy kids in my class, pretending I love the idea of fishing and hunting in an effort to distance myself

from the Hispanic label.

I must’ve driven my parents crazy, intentionally accentuating my southern accent and religiously listening to country music. I completely submerged myself in a culture that wasn’t mine, because I was embarrassed of my own.

That’s not to say I didn’t love my family or the amazing pan dulce my grandpa would bring me, but my heritage became a joke between my friends and I. They’d make fun of me when talked to another Hispanic kid, saying I’m with my “own kind,” and tell me I’m a fake Mexican if I did poorly on my Spanish homework.

After a while I didn’t recognize myself, it took all of freshman year to reevaluate my beliefs and what was important to me.

Looking back now, I’m sad I spent so much time hating one of the most

Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Jaxson Thornton ‘18 Opinion Editor Nifa Kaniga & JT Dahill

Features Editor Jaxson Thornton ‘18

Sports Editor Jillian Shepperd ‘17

Entertainment Editor Nifa Kaniga ‘17

Online Editor Grayson Ruiz ‘18

News Editor JT Dahill ‘17

Staff Writers Emily Curran, Olivia Fletcher, Camryn Horst, Giselle Galletti, Liliana Reyes, Clara Comparan

beautiful and special parts of who I am.

It took years for me to truly love and appreciate the sense of home I feel when someone speaks to me in Spanish, or when I smell fallejo on the stove. It’s still hard hearing peers or even adults lower their voice to a whisper when describing a student as “Mexican” as if it’s an indicator of their character.

It makes me wonder how in 2016 there are still people wary of those different than them. I have white passing privilege that allows me to seem unique to colleges but also escape the hatred grown from that fear.

Unfortunately, a lot of kids aren’t that “lucky” and are whispered about, labeled, and abused.

I just hope they love themselves like I have learned to.

Opinion

MyDSHS welcomes reader viewpoints through letters to the editor and guest columns. Opinions expressed in myDSHSnews are not necessarily those of the Dripping Springs High School or Dripping Springs ISD administration.

Editorials, Columns & Letters

Editorials express the opinions of the writers.

Letters and columns are the opinions of an individual and not myDSHS.

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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.

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

COLUMN

America needs to educate, do not hate

Rylee Matousek Contributing Writer

On November 9, the people of the United States woke up to the news that Donald J. Trump, a reality TV star and billionaire businessman, was the new president-elect. Although this was not the result that many expected, we must face the realization that the United States is divided. Here is some advice to anyone who is concerned, confused, or curious.

To those who support Donald Trump: I respect your opinions. This is America, after all. However, I have one request: I want you to be educated, willing, and prepared to explain to your friends of minorities why they shouldn’t be afraid.

Then try to understand why they are afraid. If you truly believe that Trump’s plans for the country will not affect the millions of innocent Muslims, Hispanics, Latinos, LGBTQ+, women, etc., explain to them why. However, be respectful of the fear that others are feeling.

Do not discredit people’s emotions and thoughts. If you believe deep down that Trump will be a successful president, then listen to the cries of those who are hurting and try to understand.

If you can’t do this, then try to be an ally. It is okay if you are Trump’s number one fan, that is your choice, but you need to understand and acknowledge that people, specifically minorities,

are terrified, and they are terrified for a reason. Your candidate won; I hope for the sake of the country that he will be a good leader, but until he proves to be, listen, educate yourself, and understand the reason for people’s concerns. Even though you personally might not be facing discrimination, it is immoral to ignore the mistreatment of others. If you personally haven’t seen it or heard it, you can’t pretend like discrimination isn’t happening.

To those who are fearful: recognize that you are NOT alone. It is okay to peacefully protest, it is okay to cry, it is okay to mourn. Most importantly, it is okay to speak your mind. I urge you to tell the world of the discrimination you have faced and what you believe can be done to put an end to it.

With that being said, if we expect respect from others, we must respect others in turn. Do not fuel hatred and ignorance by spreading negativity. Educate your peers and don’t stop until they listen. Find comfort in numbers, and recognize the amount of people that are on your side. Do not give up and do not give in. Spread love and positivity until people join you. Now is not the time to cower in fear, but rather provide as much truth and knowledge to as many people as possible.

It is imperative that we talk about the election.

Talk about the election as much as you can. Ignoring

the results is taking an easy road out. Especially as young people, it is imperative that we educate ourselves as much as possible before the next election. Talk to as many people as you can and face the next four years head on. If you choose to share your opinions, do so in the most open-minded and peaceful way. Do not cower in fear of embarrassment for showing that you care about the future of our country and the people living in it. We can’t look at this election as an uncomfortable situation that is better left unsaid.

We need to talk about what happens now.

We need to educate. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone needs to spend some time getting to know Donald Trump, his policies, and his administration. Educate yourself about what he believes in and what his plans are for the future.

Learn about the government and how it works. Expose yourself to the trials that people are facing and the perspective of Americans now that Trump is in office. Investigate; not everything covered on the news is accurate. If you feel called to help those who are being discriminated against, find an organization that can give you this opportunity. If you voted in the last election, you can’t choose to move on now that it’s over. Simply deciding that you don’t care anymore is a disappointment to every

person who is still fighting for their civil liberties. It is pretty important to know facts and knowledge about a topic before you defend an opinion to someone. Do not repeat things you see on Twitter or hear from your parents. Learn for yourself what the truth is.

Most importantly, we need to love. Whether you supported Trump or Hillary or you simply chose not to get involved, you can’t deny that there is negativity and hatred circulating the world. Hate crimes are still happening. Minorities are still discriminated against.

People are still scared. If you have absolutely no idea what to do or how to react to this election, make it public that you are a friend and ally to anyone in need.

Do not partake in any bullying or prejudice and shut it down immediately if you see or hear it. Do not be a bystander and watch awful things happen to your country. “Thoughts and prayers” are not enough to save the country from hate. Spread positivity everywhere you go. Understand that people are anxious for the future and do what you can to comfort anyone who needs it. Educate yourself about every social and political issue that you can. Do not sit down and wait for the next election. No matter what race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender you are, it is easy and possible to show compassion. Do not lose hope.

3

Burgers?

Katie Haberman

Contributing Writer Walking into P. Terry’s, a customer’s senses are immediately hit with a wave of smells. Freshly-made burgers and crispy fries sit at every table occupied by friendly laughter and smiling faces.

The atmosphere is light, the vicinity clean, and the workers welcoming and helpful. When I walked into the restaurant, I was able to order without waiting in line, and I got the cheeseburger with fries. I then seated myself and only waited for around five minutes for my order to be called. The burger itself was delicious topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and P. Terry’s ‘special sauce’. Its flavors exploded in my mouth and made the meal worthwhile. The fries, which had a fairly good taste, were a little on the salty side and not completely to my liking.

All together, the restaurant served extremely satisfactory food and had an awesome interior design.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fries P. Terry’s Burger Stand 3311 Ranch Rd 620 S. Austin, TX 78738 (512) 263-9433

NEWS

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December, 2016

KNOW OF AN EVENT WE SHOULD COVER? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/contact to submit news tips.

Debate Soars to the Top

Olivia Fletcher Staff Writer

Dripping Springs High School junior Dylan Farr competed at the UIL Regional Congressional Debate contest on November 2, 2016 and will be representing our school at the state competition in January.

“The students write legislation, they write bills and resolutions, and they submit those and then they are chosen and put on a docket. And then our students look at the docket and write speeches either for or against those bills and resolutions,” Debate teacher and coach Christy Trussell said.

In preparation for the regional contest, Farr and fellow competitors sophomore Max Bibeau, who finished fourth and is the first state alternate, and sophomore Mason Mohon, who placed fifth and is second alternate to state, wrote multi

ple speeches and studied the docket closely so as to be ready for any eventuality.

“They’re never guaranteed to give a speech,” Trussell explained.

“There’s things like recency and precedence that come into play based on how they get called on.

So even if they have a speech on a certain bill, but they’ve already given a speech recently, they won’t get called on.”

Placing second in the 5A Congressional debate contest, Farr will compete at the state tournament on January 10 and 11 at the University of Texas. The finals, however, will take place at the capital on the 11th, offering Farr the opportunity to debate in the Texas State Capitol.

“For the past four years we’ve made it to state for that same competition, so it’s good to be consistent and help my school and team do that every year,” Farr said.

Although the contest isn’t until early January, Trussell explained how Farr will be preparing him-

self for such a high caliber event.

“He [Farr] hasn’t actually received the docket yet. It hasn’t been released,” Trussell explained. “He’ll probably spend all his holiday break writing speeches.”

Trussell believes that there are important lessons to be learned from competing in Congressional debate competitions, both academically and in personal life.

“This type of debate helps students academically because it teaches them about research and writing and advocacy,” Trussell said. “In their personal lives, it teaches them a lot of those same lessons, but more so, I think it teaches them personal advocacy, it teaches them how to take a stand on an issue, and how to be able to persuade others to see it their way.”

Farr said that his participation has had a great effect on him as well.

“It’s definitely changed my views, as far as politically,” Farr said. “It’s affected my future and college stance as well as helping me through high school.”

Pflugerville Pfall Pfling rocked by UIL On Saturday, November 5, the UIL academic team traveled to Pflugerville to compete in the annual Pflugerville Pfall Pfling Invitational. The coaches, Todd Raimond, Sara Freeman, Sarah Betack, Brenna Albracht, and John Adams, helped the students during the event.

Alex Yount placed 2nd in Current Events, and Current Events placed 2nd as a team (Alex Yount, Josh King, Nikhil Clayton, and JT Dahill).

Henri Brink placed 5th in Literary Criticism.

Accounting placed 2nd as a team (Varun Verma, Hailey Hodsden, Giselle Galletti, Priscilla Benitez).

The next invitational meet will be early next semester in January. The district meet will occur in late March. Students interested in competing should talk with each event’s sponsor for more information.

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

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In Honor of Veterans Duty, Service Olivia Fletcher Staff Writer

Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day has been a day of recognition and honor for U.S. Armed Forces since 1919 and a national holiday since 1938. Dripping Springs High School celebrated Veterans Day with a special ceremony on Friday, November 11.

“Veterans Day is the celebration of the brave men and women that are alive and either have served or are still serving this great country,” Staff Sergeant Jeremy Hornback explained.

For many, Veterans Day serves as a day to thank and celebrate the men and women that dedicate their lives to protecting our nation, but for veterans themselves, the day is also one of comraderie and love.

“I celebrate the great friends I acquired throughout my time in the service as well as the many he-

roic and selfless deeds I witnessed firsthand,” SSG Hornback explained. “Veterans are a different breed of people all around.”

When asked why they chose to serve and what motivated their decisions at such a young age to dedicate their lives to service in the military, there was a wide variety of responses, from family history to college to personal motivation.

“Ultimately, my brother, who went before me, gave me the courage to follow the path to service,” Major Chris Sanders explained.

“I thought I could make a difference,” Staff Sergeant Candy Greer said.

“I joined the Army primarily for the College Fund and GI Bill, but also because I wanted to separate myself from the crutch I had depended on my entire life, my parents, to see if I had what it took to survive on my own,” Hornback said.

No matter what the reasoning was behind choosing to serve, all the veterans agreed that they would

choose to serve again if given the chance to do it all over.

“I absolutely would serve again,” Sergeant First Class Anthea Onufrak said. “I loved being in the Army and from time to time regret getting out.”

“The best thing in the life I have today is because of the military. There have been some difficult times for myself and for women,” SSG Greer said. “But, in retrospect, I would do it again.”

Veterans Day, not only at DSHS but all across the United States, is a day to honor veterans and thank the brave men and women who continue working to protect our country and the freedoms we, as a nation, idealize and defend them from threats both at home and abroad.

“It’s made me more aware of what’s happening in the world and how it affects us here at home,” First Sergeant Chris Onufrak said. “It’s also allowed me the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.”

Pep Rally Brings End to Regular Season Camryn Horst Staff Writer

Despite the varsity football team going to playoffs, the pep rally on November 4 was the official last pep rally of the regular season. Multiple school organizations were recognized during the event such as cross country and robotics. The varsity cheerleaders performed a Purge themed routine, and the Hi-Steppers treated the crowd by performing alongside guys of their choice in their routine for the week.

The Hi-Steppers surprised the crowd by having their dance partner come from their seats in the bleachers.

“It’s entertaining to watch the guys try to kick,” Hi Stepper Sadie Cunningham said. “I think that the dance was entertaining for the crowd to watch someone new. I think it was a nice change.”

Sophomore Bailey Sandoval, Cunningham’s partner, stated that his opinions of the Hi-Steppers changed after participating in the pep rally alongside them.

“I respect the Hi-Steppers more now after practic-

ing with them,” Sandoval said. “I think they deserve more respect. They put in so much effort that I don’t believe is always recognized.”

A lot of behind-the-scenes effort went into the guys’ dance.

“It takes a lot more skill than I originally anticipated, and it’s a lot fun, and I wish it wasn’t over,” senior Dru Barkis said.

Barkis, often referred to as the “star of the show,” also believed the pep rally was a good change.

“It went really good,” Barkis said. “I thought that it was a lot more entertaining than other pep rallies and that the crowd was a lot more into it. I was definitely really into it. I definitely think it is a great honor that everyone thinks so highly of my performance.”

Many of the guys who were a part of the dance are enrolled in dance for athletes this year, which is taught by the Hi-Stepper director Mrs. Neef.

“Being in dance for athletes helped a lot because my high kicks were really high. I am flexible now thanks to Chief Neef,” sophomore Price Siemering said. “Dance for athletes should continue through all of high school.”

Sophomore Bryson Waggle also said that his background in dance for athletes made learning the dance more simple.

“I had a little butterflies at first, but my background in dance for athletes helped,” Waggle said.

“When I got out there though, I saw my boys and all the Hi-Steppers, and I felt more confident. Also, Georgia Peyton killed it. She was an amazing partner, and I respect her a lot.”

The cheerleaders also participated in switching things up for the last pep rally.

“The music was really cool and fit with our Purge theme,” varsity cheerleader Alyssa Hoyer said.

Cross country was also recognized for having some individuals advance to State.

“It’s always kind of embarrassing walking in front of the whole school, but it feels good to be recognized for something that I love,” sophomore Madeline McCraw, varsity cross country runner, said.

This year, girls cross country finished 14th in state.

“It’s really cool getting to walk in a pep rally,” sophomore Camille Corona said. “It gets you really pumped up for doing your thing.”

FEATURES

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December, 2016

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All of the above images are taken directly from Ashley Dangtran’s artist Instagram account, which can be found @ashfarts on social media.

Local Austin artist thrives in the world of small business Jade Howe

Contributing Writer Once an avid anime watcher and Final Fantasy fan, Ashley Dangtran is now creating inspired art of her own here in Austin. Ashley began drawing in middle school in the 6th grade specifically. She found inspiration in the works of Toonami, Gundam Wing, and character designer Tetsuya Nomura’s art style.

“It was colorful and bold and I wanted to design characters just like him one day,” Dangtran said.

“I love characters from companies like Sanrio and San-X, with the characters from Sumikko Gurashi being one of my absolute favorites. I’m also heavily inspired by Japanese manga and Doujinshi especially the chibi art styles.”

Dangtran now runs her own small business making art inspired by her life and four cats. She creates washi tape, buttons and shirts that show a very distinct style all her own. She also has a rather large following on Instagram with 10.5k followers.

“I work from home, so I don’t have coworkers or classmates/teachers to help give me feedback on what I’m doing. Even though I don’t get much criticism on Instagram, it helps me to see when something I’m doing is well received or not,” she said.

Dangtran said in regards of social media: “It’s been a great way for me to track my growth and to feel like I am a part of an art community. In my experience, Instagram is a great place for artists to share their work and has a very supportive community.”

Social Media is shown to be an effective platform for many artists trying to share their art to a wider audience. Creating her own small business may not have always been Ashley’s plan, but she found lots of support from her family and Instagram community.

“I was more interested in teaching art than I was in running my own small business, but life led me to where I am today, and I’m happy with how things turned out,“ Dangtran said.

Of course, there were some things that have

caused her art career to take some steps backwards.

“In college, I was happy with doing whatever needed to be done to achieve high grades, but this was setting me up for failure because my style would change based on the professor I was trying to please.

It took me years to relearn how to draw for myself and find my passion in art again,” Dangtran said.

“I find it to be very damaging to young artists when people they look up to (teachers, parents, etc...) tell them that something they are doing ‘isn’t art.’ I was told at a young age that the Japanese art style I was very fond of ‘wasn’t art’ and it lead me down a very unhappy road, and I wasted many years of my life that could have been spent doing what I love.”

Dangtran’s passion for art won over her doubt, and she now is doing what she loves and has big plans for the future for her business and art.

“I’m currently really into experimenting with more comic-like storytelling. I’m starting by making my own art zines that I hope to compile into a book

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

some day. Smaller projects include making my own washi tape, stickers and stationery. I get very excited about the thought of making new products. Making an enamel pin is on the list of ‘to do’s’ as well.”

Her project list for the future may be “endless” but I know fans are excited to see whatever she comes up with in this new year.

“The biggest regret I have as an artist is letting other people tell me how/what to draw,” Dangtran said. “My advice is to always draw for yourself because, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

Update from APES Did you know???

OCEAN POLLUTION EDITION • Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land. One of the biggest sources is called nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint source pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, and boats, plus larger sources, such as farms, ranches, and forest areas.

• Nonpoint source pollution can make river and ocean water unsafe for humans and wildlife.

In some areas, this pollution is so bad that it causes beaches to be closed after rainstorms. In many parts of the world, sewage flows untreated, or under-treated, into the ocean. For example, 80% of urban sewage discharged into the Mediterranean Sea is untreated.

• Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are essential elements for plant growth. However, if they are overabundant in a body of water, they

7

can stimulate an overgrowth of algae called an algal bloom. Some algal blooms are considered to be harmful algal blooms because they can have a negative effect on living organisms. An excess of nutrients entering a body of water, either through natural or human activities, can also result in hypoxic or dead zones.

• Pollution is not always physical. In large bodies of water, sound waves can carry undiminished for miles. The increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships, sonar devices, oil rigs, and even from natural sources like earthquakes can disrupt the migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns of many marine animals, particularly aquatic mammals like whales and dolphins.

• Correcting the harmful effects of nonpoint source pollution is costly. Each year, millions of dollars are spent to restore and protect areas damaged or endangered by nonpoint source pollutants.

NOAA works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and other federal and state agencies to develop ways to control nonpoint source pollution. These agencies work together to monitor, assess, and limit nonpoint source pollution that may result naturally and by human actions.

FEATURES

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December, 2016

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Feature >> From Page 1

...there stating otherwise,” sophomore Christian Pundt said.

Laws against the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors are already in place, but the defiance and often open use of them by this demographic illustrates the feeling of many on the role governments should play in the personal decisions of their people.

“The government shouldn’t tell us what to do with our bodies,” sophomore Mason Mohon said. “By this principle, there shouldn’t be restrictive laws for [traditional] cigarettes either.”

As with any views held upon a group of people, variations of opinion were quite sharp when it came to what interviewees thought of fellow students who vape. Contempt was often felt toward what is seen as a stupid decision, but also present was a respect for personal choice.

“It’s completely ludicrous that a culture so bad for you and with only social benefit - still only held by a small portion of people - has become so popular across a generation,” sophomore Nicholas Pannes said.

Finally, solving this problem within our own campus was addressed; past experiences and personal connections had greater bearing in their answers here. Memories of crowded, vapor filled bathrooms and oppressive odors emerged to sway most in the direction of taking greater measures against underage use of E-cigarettes.

“We definitely need to crack down on vaping more than we currently are,” sophomore Scott Boyer said.

“Rules should be put in place against the use of ‘vapes’ by people under age 18.”

This insight into the range of what common young people think about the practice creates a mostly neg-

Photo from Commons.Wikimedia.org ative picture, but also shows depth in the issue. Despite differences in core beliefs, a common view on vaping exists between most students and school staff members, a relationship vital to future solutions.

Studies show that 1 in 4 teens “Vape”.

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

9

WWII veteran Maurice Clark recounts his military career JT Dahill

News Editor Inside Dripping Springs Hill Country Care, I found myself sitting in the board game area right by the main doors to the building. Sitting just on the other side of the table from me was an incredible man whose generation is rapidly declining. His generation was, and still is, considered the ‘greatest’. His name is Maurice Clark, and he is a WWII veteran.

Today, at 91-years-old, Clark has been through a lot during the course of his life. On his 18th birthday on January 22, 1943, Clark received the news that he had been drafted into the U.S. Army. Clark, who had aspired to be in the U.S. Army Air Force, was instead shipped off to tank school in Kentucky.

“I didn’t have any control over what I was supposed to do,” Clark said. “I was just told what to do.”

Clark, who didn’t want to be the crewmember in the lightly armored and armed M4 Sherman tank, somehow got the phone number of an Army Air Force full bird colonel. He decided to give the number a try.

“I introduced myself on the telephone to him and my predicament,” Clark said. “I was destined to leave soon and head to Europe in the tank corps.”

Clark asked the colonel if there was any way he could help him get into the Air Force. The colonel gave him an honest answer.

“He told me that he didn’t know the answer to that question but that he would try,” Clark said.

A few weeks later as he and some other tank crew were taking a break on their tanks, a man in a different uniform came rolling towards the tankers and asked for a Maurice Clark.

Maurice Clark and his squadron

“I told him that he had found one and that there weren’t many of us,” Clark said. “He then told me that I was in the Air Force now.”

After packing his things, Clark was shipped to Wisconsin to a girls’ college that had been closed down and given to the military for training purposes.

From there, he and the other trainees began to fly single-engine aircraft. That went on for four months until the day that the trainees were called into one of the auditoriums. That’s when he got word that they were to be taken out of the Air Force.

“They were going to wash us out for the convenience of the government and send us back to our old units. There were 46 of us at that time and within a week, all but me and one other guy were shipped out.”

Clark, hoping for a miracle, had wise words for himself and his peer: “I told him to keep his mouth shut. The next day he was shipped out and I then told myself to ‘Keep your mouth shut’.”

Clark waited, only moving about to get meals from the mess hall. He would do this for 6 weeks until his orders finally came through.

“My orders were to go on into the Air Force like I had been supposed to do,” Clark said. “I never have learned why I was allowed to stay in but I kind of figured that the full bird colonel had something to do with it.”

Clark was then sent to school in South Dakota where he took navigation training, medical training, and radio-operator training. He would continue to train there for about 3 months from July to October of 1943. After that, he was shipped off to another Air Force base to meet his crew.

“There I learned that my crew and I were to fly in the B-29 Superfortress. I ended up as the radio-operator, medic, and 2nd navigator on this airplane.”

The plane was named Lil’ Butch after the pilot’s newborn son whom he had yet to meet.

“He was kind of a short guy, but he was quite a pilot,” Clark said.

After meeting his crew, they shipped over to the Pacific island of Guam where he was put in the 20th Air Force, 19th Bomb Group, and the 93rd Bomb Squadron.

“Tokyo, which was one of the number one targets to bomb, was around 1,500 miles

from our runway,” Clark explained. “It was very dangerous, and we got hit quite a lot.”

In one instance, a Japanese fighter coming head on and firing cannon rounds nearly killed Clark and the rest of his crew. Firing 20mm cannons, a devastating weapon against bombers, a Japanese fighter managed to get one cannon shell into the aircraft.

The shell went through the nose of the aircraft, passing multiple crewmembers and Clark. The round didn’t explode until after it had passed Clark. The bad news: Clark sat in front of the bomb bay, the compartment that carried the bombs within the aircraft. The round went past Clark and into the wall right above his head next to the bomb bay where the bombs were armed and ready to drop. That’s when the round exploded.

“All that shrapnel went through that wall and out into the bomb bay where we had 4,500 lbs of bombs,” Clark said. “Thank the Lord that none of them went off, otherwise I wouldn’t be here today.”

The round did give Clark some minor flash burns but no scarring. The round actually did more damage to the navigator right across from him.

“The skin from his face was peeled down about six inches,” Clark said. “His feet were also badly injured, so I began to tend to him and had to cut off his boots.”

Clark and his crew would survive several missions like this one where their crippled aircraft was unable to return to Guam. Clark is still here today because of the small island of Iwo Jima. With the U.S. needing an airfield closer to Japan for crippled aircraft to reach, the U.S. military set its sights on the island.

The island was a strategic location, not just because of its proximity to mainland Japan, but also because the Japanese already had three airfields there. Before the island was even taken, Clark and his crew made an emergency landing on an airfield which had only recently been captured.

“We flew right over a portion of the island still controlled by the Japanese,” he said. “We watched the fighting pass below us while taking some small arms fire.”

Clark, who never got the chance to thank those who took part in the fight for the island, said that he is forever indebted to the Marines and sailors who took the island.

“Those Marines have a special place in my heart,” Clark said. “I am here speaking today because of the ultimate sacrifice that those 6,821 men made.”

Entertainment

10 MYDSHSNEWS

December, 2016

ALL THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/entertainment.

The Close of Marching Season in Bands of America Emily Curran Staff Writer

Bands of America is a marching band competition held across the U.S. from October to November. The Tiger Band competed on Saturday, November 5, placing 24th overall.

“Band is important to me because it’s a really big team building activity, and you make lots of friends. It’s like one big family and it’s really fun,” freshman Chris Gearing said. Band fills the lives of its students, but fills

their hearts as well. “Getting to talk to all the other band people around me is the most fun thing about Bands of America,” sophomore Samantha Foster said. Students enjoy BoA for its many social and competitive advantages.

“We do it to get evaluated by a group of judges and to see what we are improving on and what we need to work on,” band director Keith Lancaster said. Bands of America provides an opportunity for the band to be judged

on a higher level and have fun with other bands from across the state and country. “I think that this group has been more willing to try new things, serving them well,” band director Derek Woods said. Each year, the band group changes, adding an interesting new twist to the show.

“I’ll definitely miss the thrill of waking up each morning to get better,” junior Chris Lee said. The early hours and late nights don’t stop the Tiger Band from persevering and

Open Mic Night Nifa Kaniga

Entertainment Editor On November 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the creative writing class of teacher and coach Travis Crain presented their second Open Mic Night of the year in the DSHS library. The purpose was to express the talents and creativity of the students to the greater community, which was successfully achieved.

“It was just to have a place where they can come in and take part in some form of free expression. Everyone seemed to have pieces that they were working on, and sometimes the only way to test out pieces is to read it in front of an audience. To be able to give students that opportunity is important and I'm proud that we were able to do it,” Crain said.

The library was filled with a variety of pieces from students. Poems, raps, haikus, short stories, songs about love, hate, depression, nature, death, pain, family, friends, and all the joy and displeasures of the world brought parents, siblings, and community members together to listen to what the students had to present.

The class was originally lead by teacher Katy Eyberg (who has left to

Photo by Vasi Bjeletich Matthew Lippi (12th grade) performed his hilarious piece “Obama, Bama My Love” with passion and sorrow, bringing laughs and hysteria from the audience. pursue graduate school) and is now run by Crain.

“The is my first year stepping into it, so everything has been such a new experience for me,” Crain said. “It's kind of been an exciting year because there's a freshness to it. Both class-

es have had such a great mentality towards everything and have been very open to embracing everything that I tried to do and because of that, it's just been a really cool fun experience.”

putting on great shows. “I’ll miss spending all of my time with my friends,” Foster said. Although the group is about to change again, this band will always be a family.

“I’m looking forward to having a new, super cool show next year. Maybe we’ll even place at Bands of America and make it to finals,” Gearing said. “I look forward to being a senior and having fun my senior year with band,” said Lee. The Tiger Band repeatedly puts on exceptional shows for the enjoyment of all people, and Bands of America is a great way to showcase their talents!

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

Teen Wolf season 6 impressions Giselle Galletti

enough talk about relationships, onto the good stuff. The Dread Doctors are gone, or so we’re assuming, and now they have to deal with the Ghost Riders, who are causing people to cease

ing threat. When Stiles sees one of the Ghost riders, he knows he’s going to be taken next. So he trusts Lydia to try to remember him, because he loves her, and oh the feels! Stiles is then taken.

Staff Writer

Dylan O’Brien isn’t dead! Alright, now that I’ve got your attention, onto more pressing matters. The much awaited 6th season of MTV’s Teen Wolf aired on November 15. We’ve lived the show since 2011 and have been in suspense since March of 2016 to finally have all of our questions answered, however it is still bittersweet. During Comic-Con 2016, the cast announced that this will be the final season.

Jeff Davis, the developer, was all on board, saying that 100 episodes was a good point to end the series. It will be the end of an era. I, for one, am going to be crushed. Davis has been teasing us with previews, trailers, and strategically staged pictures. At this point, we think we know everything, but really we don’t. ​Oh, the suspense!

It has already been confirmed that Stydia fans are going to be very pleased with the season. If you don’t already know, Stydia is a ship (a term used to describe fan fictions that take previously created characters and put them as a pair. It usually refers to romantic relationships, but it can refer platonic ones as well—as defined by Urban Dictionary). This pairing being Lydia Martin, a banshee played by Holland Roden, and Stiles Stilinski, a human, and so much more, played by Dylan O’Brien. The fandoms are going to riot, I assure you.

Now, O’Brien was in a stunt accident a little while back, and it was rumored that he wasn’t going to be able to come back for the final season. Don’t worry, he has fully recovered and was there for almost everything. They even set back the release date by months, just for him.

Kira is gone, and Scott is promised to be single this season. Alright,

Photo from ChattSportsNet Dylan O’Brien (Stiles Stilinski) returned to the set after his accident from his “Maze Runner 3” production. In a stunt, O’Brien was yanked to the ground and dragged by a vehicle he was tied to. O’Brien was rushed to emergency. existing. The best part is that the people are then erased from reality, and nobody remembers them. The plot appears to be the act of everyone trying to save Beacon Hills from being completely forgotten.

The first episode got right into it, three months later, and nothing has happened since the Dread Doctors.

We are introduced to the Ghost Riders and they take their first victims, a very non-important family. Liam and Aiden are more together than ever, and there is a hot new male teacher at the school. Malia still hasn’t learned any modesty, which is cool, and Lydia is as bossy and in charge as ever. Our favorite girls! Stiles and Scott are still paranoid about everything, but it ends up leading them to the next impend-

11

Unfortunately it appears that even she can’t break the pattern, and they end the show with her forgetting. And of course, we still have so many questions.

Is this pulling from the old legends of The Wild Hunt, which brings stuff back to the wolf hunt with Mr. Argent maybe? Will Allison appear again?

Personally, I hope not. What happened to Stiles? Is his jeep okay? Will Lydia remember? Is Kira a crazy sand warrior now? What about that dude in the glass tube? Where did Derek go? Is Scott going to be able to save everyone? And my mom wants to know if Scott’s mom (Mrs. McCall) and Stiles’s dad (Sheriff Stilinski) are ever going to make Scott and Stiles actual brothers, because really, we all see the chemistry there.

No matter who your favorite character is, what pack you identify with, if you support Stydia or Stalia, or if you just have a huge crush on Derek, this season is going to kick off and end the show whether we like it or not, so tune in and watch; you’ll get sucked in before you know it.

12 MYDSHSNEWS

December, 2016

CREATIVE

WANT TO TELL A STORY? >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/contribute to submit your creative writing.

by Miranda McShan

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

13

The Dragon’s Challenger

H A P P Y

H O L I D A Y S

by Travis Myhand

The Black Knight came a’riding On a great brown steed It had taken his lover He was ready to make it bleed We hosted him for awhile Gave him food and ale Then we gave him our best wishes And cautioned to mind its tail It dropped his charred helmet on us Smack-dab in the town square We needed better help than that guy But who in the world would dare The Yellow Knight came out of nowhere Though his color was closer to gold He was a bitter old huntsman With a manner brazen and cold He didn’t stay with us too long He practically rode on through Six words were all he uttered “I’ll bring its head to you” We saw him two days later Dropped off from the mount His helmet was all that we could keep He was in too many pieces to count

A Collection

by Miranda McShan

Lovely ​Flowers on her dress They’re soft and light on pink silk But she can’t see that She sees violence and revenge And bruised knees and scars and lace.

Broadway, by Dylan Torres

SPORTS

14 MYDSHSNEWS

December, 2016

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

Varsity Lacrosse Teams prepare for the start of a new season Madison Sammon Staff Writer

Dripping Springs lacrosse teams are gearing up for the 2017 season. The practices are well underway as well as scrimmages.

Lacrosse is a unique blend of multiple sports; it is fast paced and action packed. The game requires agility, speed and coordination. The new season brings challenges and opportunities.

“Losing 13 players has affected us greatly,” junior Parker Riggs said. “We lost 13 seniors, the whole starting lineup. It’s good though because it’s a brand new start. We have bonded and established a tighter understanding of each other and move the ball a lot better.”

Although they have lost several players, the team is making every effort to make this a winning season.

“As a team, we are having Saturday morning practices dedicated to straight up conditioning,” sophomore Camryn Horst said. “We are hoping to build muscle, get stronger and quicker. It is an amazing way to stay active, build relationships and have an amazing group of people alongside you on the field. Also, we are still recruiting!”

The players have a goal of a winning season that they are working hard to achieve.

“I would say this year and the next years to follow are our best chance to win out in the playoffs,” sophomore Grayson Sanders said. “As a team, we prepare by going hard in practice. As an individual, I prepare by playing wall ball or keeping busy on honing my individual skill aside from team building. Our teams’ main goals are passing our classes, winning, and having fun.”

As one of the new players on the team, sophomore Kylee Ladner is learning a lot.

“Coming in as a new player, I was kind of scared, because I thought I was going to suck but after I practiced a lot with all of the girls, I realized that if

Photo by @tigers_lax you practice more, it’s easier, especially with a great forgiving team,” Ladner said. “They always forgive me when I don’t know what’s going on and they help me learn. I think we all just work really hard and we have a really close team; we all work amazing together. As a team, we’re doing Fall Play Day which is scrimmages to prep for the season along with practices 2-3 times a week.”

The Lacrosse Tigers are looking forward to growing as a team and competing this season.

“This season is going to be extremely different than last year,” Horst said. “We lost a lot of our seniors last year, and we have a lot of new players. It will be really interesting to see how we improve and how the new players do.”

December, 2016

MYDSHSNEWS

The conflict: sports and smarts

“[The staff] could send memos out to teachers, even though I tell the teachers when I’m going to be gone. They should send memos out saying that the kid will be missing and to not count anything as a zero, which will then lead to a more accurate representation of my grade,” Englehart said.

There are many moments that may make the student-athlete think it unfair and not worth it, but Rigley Willis one of the main advantages is the pride in being a Contributing Writer Dripping Springs Tiger.

The Tigers win! The Tigers win! After a win “You get to be a part of the school and support/ for Dripping Springs, the victors from the game represent Dripping Springs and gain wins for the conclude their day with numerous hours of home- teams,” freshman tennis player Ellyson Smith said. work and studying.

With the trouble that the average student-athlete The student-athletes at Dripping Springs High encounters, the teachers and staff have been helpful School are slammed with hours on hours of prac- towards the students. tices, games, homework, studying, and their own “I think the teachers are doing a good job helppersonal lives. How can this stop or be helped? The ing my son and his classmates,” Greg Willis, a parstudent-athletes speak out. ent of a student-athlete, This year at Dripping said. “Teaching is a very Springs High School, under-appreciated caathletes from the football, reer and I am happy with basketball, golf, swimming, teachers that are commitetc. programs have been ted and have patience and struggling with keeping up understand the uniquewith their grades along with ness of each student they their UIL sports. The stuhave. I appreciate the dent- athletes themselves teachers that take the have come out and said what time to fully understand can be fixed and how school how to best get through and sports could better comto a particular student to Photo by Marcel Acosta Junior Bryce Kalsu drives to the basket against Rouse help them achieve their plement each other.

“There are many diffi- during a scrimmage. goals.” culties and challenges to “[The teachers] are overcome; first of all, missing days due to golf tourna- usually very cooperative because they know that ments can always damper your intellectual ability to your class isn’t the only thing you ever do, so usually retain information, but I think the biggest problem they give you more time on assignments, especially is having to juggle [school and athletics] at the same if you try hard and go before school and see what you time,” freshman golfer Patrick Englehart said. have in that class,” Smith said.

Not only (as Englehart said) are you unable to No matter what type of student you are, at one receive the knowledge, but also time may not present point you may need help with your assignments itself to receive the teachings. and that’s when the students have to turn to their “Sometimes we have to wake up early, and we parents and guardians. don’t get enough sleep,” freshman varsity football “They always tell me what I need to get done and player Andrew Johnston said. “It’s hard to make tu- when it needs to be done. My dad will look over some torials, and we have practice after school that doesn’t of my essays and make sure the [material] is good so allow us to talk with the teachers after.”

I can make good grades,” Englehart said.

With these disadvantages, students have tried Despite all the hardship of being a studentproposing ways to fix the issues. athlete, another advantage is learning other life “[The teachers] could give us our work in advance lessons. so that we can do it when we do have time,” Johnston “There are many life lessons that are learned in said. being an athlete,” Willis said, “such as teamwork, Another idea was proposed on what to do when overcoming challenges, and never giving up when they miss class: things get tough.”

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Wrestling Wins Camryn Horst Staff Writer

The wrestling team kicked off their season in a duel match against San Marcos on Wednesday, November 16 and won the match 45-30.

Despite his nerves in the beginning, sophomore Tony Quevedo was one of many Dripping Springs wrestlers to come out with a W. “I was really nervous going into the match,” Quevedo said. “I ended up pinning the guy in the second period.”

Quevedo enjoys the fast paced sport and realizes the strategic work that goes into it.

“The entire time you’re in a match, you have to choose what position, and be really fast,” Quevedo said. “I love wrestling. There is something about the rush that I get before a match that helps get me pumped.”

Coach Kirksey said that multiple wrestlers stuck out in his mind.

“Clayton Jetton beat a returning all stater,” Kirksey said. “The guy that he beat got fifth at state last year and Clayton pretty much controlled the whole match and wore the guy out.

Also Chase Warden, a freshman, pinned his guy and it was his first match.”

Depending on the outcome from each match, the team gets anywhere from 3 to 6 points.

“Basically, it’s their best guy in each weight class versus our best guy in each weight class,” Kirksey said. “There are 14 weight classes.”

Points are given based on the skills performed by each man in the match.

“Two points are given for a takedown,” Quevedo said. “Also, two points are given when you receive control, or when you pin the person on their back.”

Also, there’s a toss at the beginning of a match.

“The person who wins the toss gets to determine which weight class they want to wrestle first,” junior Ben Owens said.

Overall, wrestling comes down to being an individual sport.

“You can only rely on yourself,” Quevedo said.

“If you lose, you can’t put the blame on anyone else but yourself. But, when you catch a victory, it’s also all on you. It builds your confidence. You have to have the mentality to be a wrestler.”

16 MYDSHSNEWS

November, 2016

UP TO THE MINUTE SPORTS NEWS >> Follow @myDSHSsports on Twitter.

SPORTS

Seniors commit to next level Alex Smith reflects on her career Giselle Galletti Staff Writer

Volleyball is a pretty big deal here in Drip and Coach Kane has led his girls to do some great things, including a recent undefeated district season. The players are as tight as a family and are always there to push each other harder and harder. It’s a lifestyle, a time commitment, and a thing like no other.

Alex Smith is a senior here at Dripping Springs High School, and she just signed on to play volleyball as an outside/right side hitter for Schreiner University under the leadership of Coach Howard Wallace. She’s practically already a Mountaineer and hasn’t even graduated yet.

“I’m most excited just to be a part of the collegiate volleyball level,” Smith said. “That’s always been my dream, to play for a college. And it finally came true. I started in 6th grade, and I fell in love with it.”

Smith was a first-time varsity player this past season. She started from the beginning and helped the Tigers to win multiple district titles under the leadership of Coach Kane.

“I’m going to miss Coach Kane yelling at me,” Smith said. “I mean that might sound weird, but I’m going to miss him just yelling at me on the court to do better and to make my blocking better.”

Now, she didn’t get where she is today without hard work and sticking to it; Smith has always worked as hard

Photo by Taylor Arvidson, staff photographer Seniors Katelyn Jackson, Reese Johnson, Haley Odell, Lindsay Koppel, Kiele Miller, Karen Crews, and Alex Smith

as it took to achieve her goals.

“Well, see back in middle school, 7th and 8th grade, I made the ‘I’ team, which is the improvement team,” Smith said. “During the summer, I went to volleyball camps between 8th and 9th grade and just kept working and I made the freshman team that next school year. That was great; that was a big accomplishment for me, because I didn’t think I’d make it.”

Now she’s going to be playing college volleyball, and Smith could not be more excited and proud of herself.

“It’s been really hard to get where I am now. It takes constant hard work, and you have to keep working hard every single day in practice, and also just believing that you can do it,” Smith said.

That hard work doesn’t just end after practice. Having played club volleyball for six years, she has gained additional valuable experience.

“I spend about four days a week, outside of school, practicing,” Smith said.

She has balanced volleyball and school work so well that the school is also giving her an academic scholarship along with asking her to play for them. Smith is majoring in communication and graphic design.

“People kept telling me I wouldn’t make it, but look where I am now,” Smith said.

When asked what she would tell other kids who are experiencing the same struggles that she did, her response was very straightforward: “To never give up. Because I wanted to back in middle school, because I made ‘I’ team, and then I just didn’t give up because I fell in love with the sport. So what I would tell them is to keep going at it and always work hard and don’t give up on what you love,” Smith said.

She wasn’t alone on this journey and had many, many supporters.

“My whole entire family has been there to help me, all my friends, and especially Coach Kane,” Smith said.

“He’s been there throughout most of

it. When I graduate, it’s going to be pretty sad. I mean, I’m going to be away from everyone, and all my family and friends; I’ll have to make new ones. Oh man, I don’t want to think about it. But I’ll have the volleyball team there at Schreiner, and they’re pretty cool.”

Expressing her thanks to these people for continually pushing her, even when she didn’t want to, was very important to Smith.

“I want to thank the volleyball program, all of the assistant coaches, and Coach Kane. I want to thank all of my family and friends who have been there for me and supported me,” Smith said.

Smith is very excited to be starting the next chapter in her life, because of volleyball, something that she truly loves.

“It’s been the best experience of my life,” Smith said. “If I didn’t have volleyball, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”