March / 2019
The Paw Print MY DSHS STUDENT MEDIA - DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX - VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 5
ing Spr Online this month:
Giselle Galletti Co-Editor-in-Chief
Track With Grey Patterson
Plus more stories, podcasts, and updates
In this issue: NEWS May the Speech be With You pg. 2
LIFESTYLE & THE ARTS
The Dripping Springs wrestling team added girls to the team for the 2018-19 wrestling season. This was the first time girls have had their own program with three girls added this season. “[It’s] something new, something cool [and I’m] glad they got a chance to wrestle for Dripping Springs High School,” sophomore wrestler Zach Eveleth said. The girls were a total part of the team when it came to anything, even practicing at the same time in the same place. While an individual sport, the wrestling team practice on each other and relies on a lot of team chemistry. “I think there will be a lot of talk about it,” Eveleth said about the team chemistry being affected. One of the new female wrestlers had an older brother who graduated last year on the team, and most of the wrestlers say that helped the transition. “It’s good - a little bit of diversity,” Eveleth said. The team always sets goals before the season starts and this year, the goal was pretty simple, Evelth said. “Win state.” In her first year, sophomore Catalina Miller won district and placed 4th at regionals in the 5A-119 lbs. division and qualified for state. The boys team finished 8th overall in 5A with Chase Warden winning the state title in an undefeated season -only the third wrestler to bring home a title.
ng pru ss
Collin Spires Staff Writer
Luke Norton Contributing Writer
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Students and “The Pursuit of Happiness”
Wrestling Team Adds Girls to the Squad
Photo by Kira Dyer
Eight Albums coming out this month that you’ll want to hear pg. 3
FEATURE
Little Green Men? pg. 5
CREATIVE
The Love for Art pg. 6
OPINION
Check out mydshsnews.com for more state results.
Why You Should be a Camp Counselor pg. 7
SPORTS
This Madness About Cinderella pg. 8 SNAPCHAT MYDSHSSNAPS
Chase Warden wins his division in the Black and Blue Invitational earlier in the season. photo by Kira Dyer
ONLINE WWW.MYDSHS.COM
Front cover design Giselle Galletti Co-Editor-in-Chief
TWITTER @MYDSHSNEWS
NEWS
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What It’s Like to Apply for Different Clubs
Evelyn Peterson Staff Writer
In the Dripping Springs school district, there are a wide variety of clubs that require various applications, and some applications are more intensive than others that are just safety precautions. “You have to fill out a five to six page application,” senior Drew Pare said. “It’s pretty much about who you are and how you would be for Pals.” Clubs, such as Pals, can seem very competitive, and its application process requires a more carefully planned out and written process. “It’s really exclusive, especially for guys, because typically more girls apply than guys,” Pare said. “The competition is insane. I believe, last year, over 100 people applied, but only 22 people got in, with only three or four being guys.” While some clubs have students competing with each other to have a better application to get in, other clubs require an application but will allow anyone in who wants to join: however, they have other requirements the students have to meet before joining.
“HOSA just wants to know what you’re doing with your life and what your interests are,” sophomore Logan Stankard said. “But you do have to pay money to get in, and it can be pretty pricey, because we go on a lot of field trips.” There is a good amount of clubs that require some sort of application, however there are still clubs that require no application at all, and they allow anyone interested to join. “There are no applications for aviation club, but there is a membership fee of $20,” sophomore Sam Olson explains. Even though some clubs like aviation do not ask students to fill out any applications, there are still things to watch out for. “We are building and cutting stuff, so we have to be safe with that and wear things like eye protection,” Olson adds. All the clubs of Dripping Springs have their own unique application process and requirements whether it be a competitive field or a financial contribution, they are worth applying for and giving it a try.
May the Speech Be With You
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Evelyn Peterson Staff Writer
For many of the students, speech and debate is a time consuming class. It takes in-school time as well as nights and weekends outside of class to prepare for speeches and debates and to participate in the events. “Preparation time depends on the event; it’s really fast, intense speeds, so a lot of times, you’re pulling like 40 pieces of evidence, and sometimes that’s research and reading a lot of books just so I can have a better understanding of the materials and arguments I will be making,” Verma said. Speech and Debate includes a lot of researching, studying, and memorization while also providing skills in other areas of life. “With debate I have been able to articulate much better than I ever have, and it has also changed my perspective on a lot of different parts about politics and understanding life and social dynamics,” Verma said. Debate takes time and patience, and as a result, in
The Speech and Debate is a class full of students who are looking to further their communication and speaking skills as well as learn how to see both sides of an argument. “My friends have always spent so much time in the debate room that I started to wonder what was I missing out on,” senior Varun Verma said. Debate is much more than arguing with each other; speech and debate gives students certain skills that others classes could not. “I do have an interest in politics and philosophy, and I thought that the communication skills I could get out of it could help me a lot,” Verma said. Before jumping right into planning and writing arguments for a competition, there is a process of learning in speech and debate. “Debate I [class] is learning the different types of debate and speech events,” Verma said. “Once you’re in Debate II and beyond that, you’re spending your time preparing for the upcoming competitions.” This class requires students to dive deep into various news articles, books, and other areas to receive information about their speech or debate topic. “The kind of preparation you do depends on the events that you participate in,” Verma said. “For example, I am doing a lot of research and getting a lot of evidence, I am writing blocks, and researching the other teams to see what kind of speeches they may make.”
Q&A Clubs on Campus senior Adeline Furlow, Broadcast Journalism
Why did you want to be involved in broadcast? “I had been the editor of my newspaper at my old school and when I moved here I wanted to try something different but still be involved with journalism. So I took broadcast.” What’s your favorite part about broadcast? “I really enjoy it because we have such a small class I’m able to learn a lot and be more hands on” What do you do in it? “We record a podcast weekly and also work on more long term projects where we record, put together, and do voiceovers for videos.”
senior Abigail Wilkinson, NHS
What’s your favorite part about being in NHS? “Probably the self awareness it brings upon you to always be a model student and to be able to be more involved with the school and community service projects.” What do you do in the club? “We run the blood drive every semester. We do various flood and need based collection drives and we go out and help the community in various projects, like volunteering for the thanksgiving 5k at high pointe.” Why would you recommend people to join NHS? “It’s a great way to meet people, have fund in your community, and it’s a great resume builder.”
Return of the Quotes Jade Berry
News & Entertainment Editor The topic of senior quotes has been an area of discussion for several months following the senior quote issues from the two previous graduating classes. The yearbook staff received word from administration and their adviser that several inappropriate and offensive senior quotes that were submitted to the staff had slipped through the screening process. Because of those mishaps, issues with copyright, and the time consuming verification process, it was decided by adviser Jessica Stamp that senior quotes would be eliminated from the yearbook. Now the graduating class of 2019 will be submitting senior quotes to insert later in the yearbook through a student action committee separate from school publications, and senior Mckayla Cothern, a select few students, and an administrator will be checking them all for quality, clean content. The deadline to submit senior quotes is Monday, March 22, and if students don’t submit their own quote, the reviewing team will submit a replacement quote for them. Read the full story at mydshs.com
“The quotes seem like such a small thing, but they’re a fun part of high school culture.” Seniors Adeline Furlow, Alex Lunn and junior Robbie Lopez interview senior Alex Hay about FFA during clubs photo day. photo by Jessica Stamp
National Honors Society on clubs photo day. photo by PhotoTexas
- Senior Mckayla Cothern
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Timeline of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe Below you will find a list of the Marvel movies in chronological order of events. This list will not include the Marvel films that are in partnership with Sony, Fox etc. This list also focuses on the timeline of The Avengers and time stones, as that is where most of the confusion is. So without further ado, here it is, all the Marvel movies in order.
1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) 12. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) 2. Iron Man (2008) 3. The Incredible Hulk (2008) 13. Ant-Man (2015) 4. Iron Man 2 (2010) 14. Captain America (2016) 5. Thor (2011) 15. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) 6. The Avengers (2012) 16. Doctor Strange (2016) 7. Iron Man 3 (2013) 17. Thor: Ragnarok(2017) 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013) 18. Black Panther (2018) 19. Avengers: Infinity 9. Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) War(2018) 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) 20. Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018) 21. Captain Marvel (2019) 11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Andrew Spiegel Staff Writer
visit mydshs.com to read
room & dorm decor, organization tips, & more!
Story by Camryn Horst Co-Editor & Lifestyle Editor
March Music
Eight Albums coming out this month that you’ll want to hear
The Good Falling The Japanese House March 1 Wasteland, Baby! Hozier March 1 sucker punch Sigrid March 1 The Black Album Weezer March 1 Mystic Truth Bad Suns March 22 Our Endless numbered days Iron & Wine March 22 When We Fall Asleep, Where Do we Go? Billie Eilish March 29 Nothing Happens Wallows March 22
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Spring Break Entertainment 7 Activities to Keep Everyone Busy Jami Holms, Staff Writer
Barton Creek Greenbelt:
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is an Austin staple and a must do during the break! It is a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors at the same time. You can choose to make your hike as long or short as you want by choosing which part you enter. The greatest part is finishing your hike off by cooling down in the water and playing with all the dogs!
Austin! Get personalized popsicles at Steel City Pops, ice cream at Amy’s Ice Creams, or find a dessert at Sugar Mama’s.
Jacob’s Well: Amy’s Ice Creams on Congress Avenue.
Secluded hollow within the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
Mural Scavenger Hunt:
This is a great, money-saving option for those of us always trying to capture pictures. Go around Austin and find all your favorite murals. Austin is such a fun city to drive through, plus you get the added thrill of searching for signs like “You’re my butter half”, “I Love You So Much”, or “Willie for President”.
Barton Springs Pool:
Another must do in Austin as soon as the weather heats up is to visit Barton Springs Pool. This natural spring stays super cold and is a great way to escape the looming heat of the summer. Lay out and tan on hills or try to bear the cold water. Just remember that every Thursday the pool is closed for cleaning.
Go Thrifting:
If you get bored and decide you need a new summer wardrobe, Austin has some of the trendiest thrift shops to check out and find a new staple piece. It will keep you busy and is a great way to waste away the day. Some of the best shops include Treasure City, Austin Cheapskate, Buffalo Exchange, and Monkies Vintage & Thrift.
Located just a town over in Wimberley is another great location to hide from the heat. This spring brings many visitors because of its super deep clear blue waters. If you are a bit more of a thrill seeker, make sure to jump off the cliff or opt out and chill on the sides.
SXSW:
Although this festival ends soon after the break starts, there is still time to enjoy South by Southwest. This is a great festival for going downtown and just hanging out. It is also a rather inexpensive opportunity to go see a bunch of bands live scattered around Austin at trendy places.
Paddle Boarding:
Spend an hour or two out on Lake Austin and enjoy the view of the city on a paddle board. This is a perfect opportunity to get the summer tan going and get in an arm workout. Many paddle boarding places are scattered throughout Austin such as SUP atx or Austin Paddle Shack.
Paddleboarders on Lake Austin.
Hunt Down the Best Sweet Treats:
Desserts, especially the cold ones, are best served when it is a hot lazy day. So, add on to your day by ending it with something sweet. Austin has many unique dessert places, and most of them are local to
Little Green Men? Student and Staff Opinions on Alien Life Forms Katie Haberman, Feature Editor
Extraterrestrial. The word itself evokes a feeling of curiosity, of fear, of awe, even. The swirling expanses of space hold many theories of life and civilization, and the staff and students of DSHS have varying views on these very beliefs. Each year on March 20, the conspiracy theorists of the world come together to celebrate Extraterrestrial Abduction Day and share their many opinions on the holiday’s subject matter. Though DSHS itself isn’t
necessarily full of these types of revelers, most of the student body and staff members still have their own theories on all things alien. “I do believe extraterrestrials are out there,” junior Lilly Fletcher said. “I think since the universe is so vast and expansive that I think it’s pretty much impossible to say that there’s not the possibility of anything else being out there.” Each interviewee agreed with the possibility
of extraterrestrial life forms, but their answers differed in terms of explanation. “I feel like, if you are a religious person, and you subscribe to some sort of religious belief, are we that cocky to just be like he only made us?” Travis Crain, creative writing teacher said. “Or did he go, you know what, I did that, didn’t go well, maybe I should try it again.” Though the belief in extraterrestrials is widespread, student
The Snow Child :
A Review
Madeline Tredway, Staff Writer
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The Snow Child’s world is one of magic and majesty; the remote winter scene of Alaska serves as a fitting backdrop to a tale of wonder. But The Snow Child’s crowning moments are not defined by the vastness of the world. Instead, the brilliance of the novel is marked by scenes of vacant interactions between a husband and wife, something colder and more haunting than the glossy landscapes of ice and snow. Although at times weighed down by tedious exposition and over-explanation, The Snow Child is a love letter to the beauty of small talk (or lack of it), towing the line between fable & naturalism ever so gracefully. The novel starts out with a barren scene: it’s the 1920s, and middle-aged couple Mabel and Jack have fled their suburban life to homestead in Alaska territory. Mabel envisioned a life of beautiful minimalism for them, but two years later, the couple are struggling to make ends meet. Mabel is but a specter of herself, and the bleakness reminds both Mabel and Jack of their stillborn child that was once their last chance for happiness. Fearful of guns, Mabel goes into the lake to drown herself, but the ice thwarts that plan. What follows are several haunting pages of a couple fading in on themselves, with the distance between the two just as palpable as frost. Yet, one day, out of mere snow and ice, Faina appears like a phantom at their doorstep. The pale eight year old girl is the remedy to Mabel & Jack’s loneliness, but highlights the differences between the two. The clashes between the two (often based on food supply, Jack’s tendency to stay out too long in the cold, and Faina’s ability to survive on her own) are a stark contrast to the emptiness their relationship once held, but complement it perfectly. The Snow Child is, on surface level, a mythologybased book laden with beautiful scenes of landscape and magic; at its core, however, is a ghostly tale that leaves readers aching.
and staff opinions differ in terms of what form an otherworldly being might take. “It’s very arrogant of pop culture to think extraterrestrials look anything like us,” Tracy Cooper, physics teacher, said. “I don’t know the atmosphere on other planets, but research says maybe a silicon-based life form, or carbon.” Some students’ imaginations have no limit when it comes to the physical properties of alien life forms. “What shape it takes place is up to a debate,” Maximillian Hodsden said. “But I know that life is out there, whether it be in the form of single-celled organisms or maybe even secret alien empires that we have no idea about.” In some students’ opinions, conspiracy theories concerning extraterrestrials might actually hold a relative amount of substance. “With Area 51 I think that maybe the government does, you know, do stuff with that and do research and stuff with that,” Fletcher said. “I don’t think it’s to the extent in extreme things people say about it.” Others have thought up theories that even experts haven’t yet considered. “I once had a thought, what if space is full of vampires,” Hodsden said. “We would never know because our telescopes are made of mirrors, and so we’d never see the vampires up there.” However, some opinions have more of a basis in scientific evidence than fantasy. “The alien environments that they have to survive in, maybe instead of ingesting oxygen or carbon like plant life or human life does, maybe they ingest nitrogen,” Hodsden said. “Or maybe there’s some unknown element out there that we have no idea exists that they ingest and live off, and thus they can take any shape.” According to some students, alien civilizations themselves might even
have a Earthen scientific basis. “I think everything needs organization,” Fletcher said. “If you look at the animal kingdom and see stuff there’s obviously like hierarchy and forms of that just to keep everything organized, so maybe something like that, because I think that’s really the only way to keep everyone organized and sane.” In terms of actual extraterrestrial abductions, there were no adamant believers amongst the pool of those interviewed. However, when asked if he had ever experienced an abduction, one respondent had an interesting answer. “Classified,” Crain said. Though most of the DSHS community has never heard of Extraterrestrial Abduction Day, some began to plan for the holiday upon learning of it. “If I had to celebrate it I would find a way to probably escape my own reality,” Cooper said. “Maybe go off and do something that I wouldn’t normally do, something unusual that’s not in my realm of normal things to do.” With March 20th right around the corner, it’s about time to dust off the decorations. Who knows what extraterrestrials might show up at DSHS? And according to one interviewee, only one question needs to be answered for a proper abduction. “Can we get Whataburger first?” Crain said. “I’m all for whatever this is, but we gotta eat first.”
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FEATURES March/2019
Preparation is Key Wimberley Tips for a Successful Senior Year UIL Invitational 1.
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Hannah Gaither, Staff Writer
Ella Johnson, Contributing Writer
On February 9, a group of students traveled to Wimberley High School to compete in events ranging from math to English-based topics. They took home many awards, but the process was a long and difficult one. Pictured below is an in-depth timeline of these students’ tough day of hard work and dedication.
A Grander Entrance
The stairs at the front entrance of Wimberley High School students walk up to begin the invitational. The day of the event was a cold and rainy one, so most students were happy to be welcomed by these stairs on the warm interior of the school.
Take the SAT and ACT tests multiple times. And study. Lots. Since you get to send the college your highest score, make sure that you get the opportunity to take the absolute best score and send it to colleges. ~ Gaither
4. Join clubs. Clubs look good on your
application and will definitely set you apart as an involved student. Colleges want to see a well-rounded student that is involved in their school, and joining clubs just projects that. ~Gaither
2. Get college applications in early.
5. Get a job. Since your
Procrastination is not the best idea when it comes to college applications. Most of the time, the earlier you get your application in, the earlier you get a decision back, which can ease lots of stress during your senior year. ~ Senior Margaret Marable
3. Get recommendation letters from teachers during your junior year. Because most of the deadlines for applications and documents such as recommendation letters are pretty early into senior year, you will not have time to get to know your senior year teachers well enough to get a great letter from them. The earlier the better when it comes to anything having to do with college applications. ~Gaither
college application will include your resume, having a job will reflect maturity and responsibility and will prepare you for work in the future. ~Gaither
Margaret Marable, photo by Sadie Cunningham
sends to your colleges has the class rank and GPA that you receive junior year. Do not underestimate the power of studying and turning in your homework. ~Gaither
7. If you want to be in the top 25 percentile, take AP classes and do not take any regular classes. It is better for your GPA to make lower grades in an AP class than to make straight A’s in regular classes. AP classes will really do wonders for your GPA. ~Gaither 8. A 4.0 GPA is very common at our school. Just having a 4.0 GPA will not separate you from the rest of the students at our school, so make sure to join clubs and stay active in the school. ~Gaither
6. Your junior year class rank and GPA is what colleges will see. The first semester of junior year is arguably the most important semester of your high school career because the transcript that the high school
Year’s Best Weird Fiction, Volume 5: A Review Madeline Tredway, Staff Writer Hardly Working
Some students take much-needed naps in the waiting area between events. The invitational began at 8 a.m., and many schools had to drive close to 2 hours just to get there.
Working Hard
A student unwinds on the floor during a brief break from events. The invitational lasted until well into the afternoon, with many events one after another in the morning, so many students were rightfully resting at any chance they got.
A for Art
A student draws on her tablet in the cafeteria while winners of events are being announced. Due to the invitational being held on a Saturday, many students were working on projects and homework after their events finished.
Short stories are, at their core, unnerving. Even a story about something as simple as a woman opening an umbrella in reaction to rain can be unsettling, because it is but a fraction of that woman’s life. The reader will never come to know what happened to that woman after she opened the umbrella and, as far as the reader knows, that umbrellaopening was the most important event of that woman’s life. It was the only thing worth writing about. This sentiment comes to fruition beautifully in the fifth and final publication of Year’s Best Fiction. Each story is but a snapshot of the subject’s life, and these snapshots are interwoven with hidden worlds, allegories of heartbreak, and, often, situations that are simply strange. The first thing to understand about this anthology is
that none of the stories are connected in any way except for their genre. Even so, the tales can be classified as different types of “weird”: for instance, a haunting allegory about a family losing their father is in many ways a stark contrast to a horror story about an inhuman creature trapped in a hotel room. What all these stories have in common, though, are their tendencies to leave the reader gripping their book in anticipation. The suspense is palpable in each story, which marks the anthology as one of the best in the series. As the editor says in the foreword, the anthology is ending at five volumes, which is truly a shame. The series has undergone a tremendous growth in quality since its first volume, and volume five is undoubtedly the rightful peak of the series.
Helping Hands Two Brothers Gather Items for Donation in Mexico Cady Russell, Staff Writer
Computation Wins
The Computer Science team celebrates their first place team win at the conclusion of the event. Jason Oliphant placed first while Jacob Cohen, Collin Boes, and Kyston Brown place third, fourth, and sixth respectively.
A Critical Success
Junior Caitlin Rinehart and sophomores Gabrielle Avena and Ella Johnson celebrate their first place team win in Literary criticism following the announcement of the rankings. Rinehart placed 6th while Johnson and Avena placed second and first, respectively.
In a rural town in Mexico, two brothers hand out items of every use and size. Children hug soccer balls in their packaging and teachers grasp half-used pencils - pencils desperately needed for their classrooms. Junior brothers Gustavo and Eduardo Maldonado bring items collected from the community to communities in Mexico every year. “We’re just trying to help people, other families who need it,” Gustavo said. “We’re trying to show all the students how [they] can help without using money, but just the things we are not using.” The brothers are adamant about how anything can help, from half a pencil without an eraser to a notebook worn with use. “We used to help in Mexico like that, and we moved here, and we see a lot of people throw their things away, so we can recycle them [for] other families,” Gustavo said. The brothers were featured in a video that promotes the new DSHS Service Day that is happening for the first time this March. “It is important to me because we
can, as the students, we can see how [we] always help, somehow, some way,” Gustavo said. The brothers collect both items and money to buy new things for the communities they donate to.
donations are often in desperate need of the items brought to them, whether school supplies or toys for children. “They just are surprised,” Gustavo said. “We don’t know them. We can help them. We don’t know who they are or anything else like that, [and] they are very thankful for that.” While the program is very small right now, the brothers hope it will continue after they graduate and move away. “We’re planning, even if we graduate, [that] someone takes that responsibility and keep doing it, and not just in Mexico but everywhere, even here in school or community, [to] just keep doing it,” Gustavo said. While the brothers do help in Mexico, they hope their Screencap from video provided by the Maldonados. work will spill out into the community and inspire people “We’re just anyone who wants to to help even after the service day has help. We don’t ask anyone to help. We ended. are just open hands, and we receive “We have to love others and we anything we that can help,” Gustavo always can help,” Gustavo said. “That’s said. “So, that’s how you can help us.” the main point, the idea: We can always The communities that do get these help somehow. It’s easy to help.”
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The Love for Art
Photography by: Makayla Banton
By Cady Russell
The inspiration for a pattern comes like a light bulb. Bright colors flash across a page. The love for art is prevalent within her happy demeanor, and it’s evident how much she enjoys herself, immersed in what she does. Sophomore Melissa Richardson won the Permanent School Fund (PSF) Logo Contest on Feb. 1. Richardson, however, values more than just winning, bur rather her love for everything she does. “Honestly, I was just so thankful and grateful, and it just made me so happy,” Richardson said. Richardson heard about the contest from her art teacher, Jay Bates. “I read this article about how so many people fail to enter things because they’re afraid,” Richardson said. “So I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to get over that fear and just going to go for it.’” Richardson’s mother is her inspiration, since she is a graphic designer. “Since I was really young, she’s always been like, ‘Oh my gosh, Melissa, you have to try this,’ and I’ve always been interested to see what she does,” Richardson said. “So, you know, I’ll be learning Illustrator and she’d be like, ‘Do this. Change this.’ We work together.” Graphic design is different from art, something Richardson is also adept in. Graphic design is mostly computer-based, and Richardson uses Adobe Illustrator to do her work. “It’s the idea of taking an image in your head and really getting it out there, and it’s not just a drawing, it’s something that you can manipulate and you can change however you want,” Richardson said. “If you need to make something bigger or smaller, you don’t just have to make a whole new image. You can just alter them right there.” Richardson’s beginnings lay in art. She takes Pre-AP Art III at the high school and is constantly seen with some type of art project in her hands. “It’s just my favorite thing to do,” Richardson said. “I guess, color is a really big thing in my mind because it just triggers something that just makes me happy, and it forces me to work on patience but also work on getting my ideas out there because my mind is very crazy.” Richardson is also involved in plenty of extracurricular activities, including sports and clubs she helped found. “I play soccer, and I’m actually a part of the Lend a Hand club where we’re building prosthetic hands for people who need them,” Richardson said. “Book club, great club, love it. I’m in National Art Honor Society. That one is really cool. The people are great. And, I’m in Kindness club. I just love the name. I joined it because I thought there needs to be more kindness in this world.” Richardson is also incredibly passionate about girl power, along with everything else she does. “I’m part of the Empowering Women club, because that’s so important to me, inspiring people,” Richardson said. “I know we live in Dripping Springs but women around the world, especially in countries in the Middle East, or girls that don’t feel as confident as we do.” Though Richardson participates in many extracurriculars, her greatest passion lies in elements of art and design. “I love making patterns and colors and looking at the positive and negative space,” Richardson said. “I just love it.”
Comics by: Jade Howe
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OPINION March/2019
How Social Media Tessa Stigler Opinion Editor Distances and Connects Us 2.271 billion users
one billion users
326 million users
186 million daily users
STATS FROM https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/ amazing-social-mEdia-statistics-and-facts/#section-2
Tessa Stigler Opinion Editor
Social media has an undeniable impact on teenagers today. Almost every second of our lives is spent scrolling through feeds, posting our favorite pictures, or tweeting about every nuisance that enters our world. Social media gives people the opportunity to connect with others in ways that we hesitate to in the real world. But with every innovation, there is controversy. The presence of social media provides teenagers with an online platform to speak their minds freely and express themselves in ways that we often water-down in the real world. The pressure to say the right thing with the right tone with the right body language is rendered useless when it comes to online platforms. Already insecure, young adults don’t have to worry about how they are being
Why You Should be Hanna Gaither a Camp Counselor Staff Writer Summer is only a few short months away, and with that in mind, camps are starting to hire camp counselors. The opportunity to work is offered by many different summer and day camps to high schoolers. Being a camp counselor is a life-changing experience, even if you don’t plan on working with kids in the future. As long as you like having fun, camp is an awesome experience. Take the chance to be a positive impact on the lives of children in our community. I have had the opportunity to both volunteer at a summer camp and work at a summer camp; both were incredible opportunities that absolutely changed my life and I would recommend to anyone and everyone to at least try to be a camp counselor because I do not think anyone could regret it. Below is a list of camps that I have either had the pleasure of working at, or have heard good things about: 1. DSISD Camp VentureJunior Camp Counselor. The perfect day camp experience right in our own home town. This will truly be an unforgettable experience as you get to have fun with kids all summer long. I had the pleasure of working at this camp last summer, and it was the most incredible experience. It’s like a party every day.
2. We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym (Austin)- Play coach. The perfect job for someone who has a passion for kids with special needs. This summer camp is all summer long and is tons of fun. I have worked multiple camps at this gym, and it is the most life-changing organization to be a part of. They advocate inclusion and embrace fun. Find the contact info for the gym here: WeRocktheSpectrumAustin. com 3. Kidventure- Summer Camp Counselor. Kidventure is talked about all around Austin and well known as an amazing summer camp. Get the chance to lead and be a role model for kids as well as have lots of fun all summer. Find more at Kidventure.com>jobs 4. Austin Sunshine CampsCamp Counselor. Austin Sunshine Camps is a non-profit organization that empowers youth in Austin. Working with this camp would be such an enriching experience to give back to the community while also making bank. Find more info here: SunshineCamps. org>seasonal-employment
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perceived for once, and with this comes the confidence to speak online. Online, you can present yourself however you wish. You have the power to choose how you look, where you appear, how you speak, and how you act. Because of this, social media offers the perfect common ground to connect with others with similar or opposing views. Apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat that are popular among teenagers, provide a basis to connect with people nearby or make new friends. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 67% of Americans using social media, use it to stay in touch with current friends. Keeping up with and interacting with friends online shows the people in your life that you care about and think of them when they are not around. Yes, social media can be dividing when it comes to controversies, but what isn’t? Social media provides teenagers with the chance to further connections
The Uphill Battle for Women in Rap
The rap movement spawned from the 1978 Hip Hop movement in the Bronx. This movement opened a way to discuss issues and situations. Over the years, this message has diffused and rap (or hip hop) has become a way to speak on any facet of life. This movement has spread worldwide to establish a large industry, that has become one of the biggest genres in music today. However, even in this massive genre, there lies a vocal minority: the female rap sector. This group of women accounts for a small minority to the male-dominated industry; however vocal, these women are few in numbers compared to the men. Since 2000, just 17 female rappers have made it into the top 20 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, while more than 184 male rappers or rap acts have made it into the Top 20 since 2000 according to Newser- a true testament to the state of female rap. The continuation of glossing over the gap in women influence in the rap industry institutes a mentality that women are worthless and equal chance proves false. Accordingly, women as a whole are often seen as less of a rapper than men. The opportunity for a woman to achieve success as a rapper shows a severe decline just due to her gender. In 2017 rapper and record label owner Rick Ross spoke of never signing a woman due to fear that he will have intercourse with her. Glaring misogyny aside, dictating a woman’s success by requiring sexual acts in the response indicates the true state of the industry. Many rap artists are sexual in nature, yet, for women, sexual nuances and promiscuous dress are staples for the industry. Hence, critics tear apart a female rapper’s act for sexual elements, yet glorify a man’s. This double standard presents itself in nearly every aspect of life, but few examples are as glaring as the rap industry. Another attributed cause to the minority nature of the industry spearheads itself in the singular rapper
Features Editor Katie Haberman ‘20
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Women & music Tessa Stigler Opinion Editor
16.8% of artists were women
out of 2,767 songs 12.3% of songwriters credited were female out of 651 producers, only 2% were female
out of 899 grammy nominations in 2013, 9.3% were women
according to a report released by the USC annenberg school for communication and journalism
Ethan Everman Contributing Writer
nature. For the female rap industry, it is assumed that only one rapper can illustrate herself as its “Queen”, or industry leader. Mainstream society and rap culture have a singular mentality when it comes to female rap, only one can exist at one time. This becomes more clear when conflicts arise like the infamous Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj New York Fashion Week fight. The charged and competitive nature of the female industry illustrates itself in these conflicts. Female rappers are an important figurehead in the means of equality and feminism. These women powerfully make a stance to shrug off the competition and declare freedom from predisposed thoughts. These women, like Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj, have successfully navigated a male-dominated industry in order to create entire empires on the coattails of their talent. These women are true testaments to the power of being a woman and to creating something new and entirely your own. Importantly, these women have paved the road to allow other artists to follow and to create music. Flashback to 2009, when female rap as a whole was all but dead and the male rap industry was alive and thriving. Female rap demonstrates an ability to overcome misogyny and overall institutionalized racism. Female rappers deserve not only attention for what they do, but also respect for their hustle and ability to overcome their circumstances and become something great out of it.
OPINION
Editor-in-Chief Giselle Galletti ‘19 & Camryn Horst ‘19 Sports Editor Rigley Willis ‘20
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by developing online and real-world relationships, something that is important to a developing adult. One of the social media’s biggest critiques is that it is difficult to navigate an online world where you often can’t tell what is real and what is edited. A study conducted by TRUEPIC revealed that nearly two-thirds of Americans posting photos online Photoshop them prior, but this really isn’t surprising. Almost everything we surround ourselves with is advertised at least misleadingly. Advertisers often substitute glue for milk in cereal ads to keep the cereal from sinking, or spray deodorant on fruit so that it appears shinier and tastier. If we are force-fed idealistic images in real life, why wouldn’t that mirror into the virtual world? Social media has mastered the ability to simultaneously connect and divide communities, but either way, these communities are still interacting which is what really matters.
MEET THE STAFF
Creative Editor Jade Howe ‘19
@myDSHSnews @myDSHSsports
ThePAWPRINT
Opinion Editor Tessa Stigler ‘20
News & Entertainment Editor Jade Berry ‘19 Staff Writers Hanna Gaither, Jami Holms, Samantha Moore, Evelyn Peterson, Cady Russell, Andrew Spiegel, Collin Spires, Madeline Tredway, Mitchell Williams
The PawPrint welcomes reader viewpoints through letters to the editor and guest columns. Opinions expressed in PawPrint are not necessarily those of the Dripping Springs High School or Dripping Springs ISD administration
EDITORIALS, COLUMNS, & LETTERS
Editorials express the opinion of the writers. Letters and columns are the opinions of an individual and not PawPrint
LETTERS
To submit a letter, email DSHSstudentmedia@dsisdconnect. com. Letters should be a maximum of 400 words. The letter is not guaranteed to be published.
SPORTS
March/2019
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ThePAWPRINT
Bouncing back Boys Soccer Captain Max Gonzales Remains Optimistic Following a Loss Mitchell Williams Staff Writer
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he stands empty out at the end of a tough loss at home for the Tigers. It was their first loss in Tiger stadium in the last two years. LBJ edged the Tigers 2-1. However, junior captain Max Gonzales left with shining hope. “We lost our first game at home in two years,” Gonzales said, “but I think we’ve learned from that, and, hopefully, we’ll be undefeated for the rest of the season and, hopefully, finish at the top of our district. We have pretty tough competition this year.” His admiration for the game of soccer goes deep. It’s not just about the game. “My favorite part is being able to spend time with my teammates and, as a captain, try to bring everyone together,” Gonzales said. As an individual, Gonzales has received attention from a few colleges for his talent level in the sport. “I have been talking to a few schools from around the area like Incarnate Word and
St. Edward’s,” Gonzales said. “I’ve gone to a few camps. Just looking at the programs and seeing if I like it or not. If I want to be in state or out of state.” The early blow in district play has not provided a hit to the hopes of the team. Gonzales believes that it will only help them grow as a unit, as there have been some moments of conflict amongst teammates. “That’s our biggest problem in games, when everyone turns on each other, and you know things start going badly for the whole team,” Gonzales said. That is where his role as a captain comes in. The athlete emphasized that his leadership is something that he needs to put more effort into as the year goes on when asked about things he wants to get better at. “Individually, as a captain, just trying to bring everyone together and just not let our team turn on each other,” he said. As for the regular season, there are a few schools with teams that present a good
challenge for the team that will help them prepare for post-season, he says. He also says that they are still getting a grasp of some new competition. “The best team so far, it’s been between multiple teams like McCallum and Lockhart, but we don’t know yet because we’re doing [well] on the road and we were undefeated at home until [recently],” Gonzales said. It seems that aspirations in the group of players are very high for this season. The program has been doing consistently well the past few years, and it’s embracing the challenge of a new district to conquer. Their dreams for this year do not stop at district, though. “Right now, hopefully, we’ll finish at the top of the district and make it pretty far in the playoffs,” Gonzales said. “I think, we have a good chance of winning state, because we played a few 6A teams in pre-season, and we beat a couple of them.” Playoffs start March 28.
Captain Max Gonzales (#14) attempts to gain leverage for a touch during the Dripping Springs Invitational. Photo by Jessica Stamp
This Madness About Cinderella Rigley Willis Sports Editor
Students give their Cinderella story predictions ahead of March Madness
Cinderella Story (Basketball) noun: A team that is projected as a first-round exit that goes on a crazy, unexpected run that makes them the story of March Madness (see FGCU; Dunk City) March Madness, oh what a time! The United States fills with anticipation, hope, and envy as the 80th champion of the world of collegiate basketball will be crowned by the beginning of April. There are the powerhouses like Tennessee, Duke, and Virginia just to name a few, but, never forget the Cinderella stories of the past that inspire smaller colleges to be great. George Mason (left), Maryland-Baltimore County and Florida Gulf Coast (right) have all shocked the world, so who will shock the world this year? Students around Dripping Springs give their insight.
Murray State University: Murray State (located in Murray, Kentucky) is a public school with approximately 8,600 students, one of those students being Ja Morant. “Obviously, they have Ja Morant,” senior West Weichert explained, “He’s a superstar that is projected to be drafted in the top three of the NBA Draft.” Morant is a 6’3” guard who is currently averaging 24.3 points, 10.2 assists, and 5.5 rebounds all while leading Murray State to a 21-4 record (as of February 20). If you don’t know basketball stats and how they work that well, here’s an explanation: it’s really good. “Morant is good and all, but if they want a chance at succeeding in the tournament, they’re going to need help from both their supporting class of players and their coaching staff. March Madness is a completely different beast [in comparison] to the regular season, and if Murray State can play more team-oriented basketball, they have a real chance at being this year’s Cinderella story,” Weichert said.
Syracuse University:
Every single year Syracuse makes the tournament as a lower seed and still is able to compete and contend. The team is centered around their patented 2-3 zone and the coaching of Jim Boeheim. “Any year we have Coach Boeheim running things, we’re [going to be able] contend,” sophomore Max Stewart said. “He’s a mastermind and outwits opposing coaches on a nightly basis.” This Syracuse Orange team is centered around a couple of star guards in Tyus Battle and Elijah Hughes who combine for an average of 31 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. They also have defensive contributors such as Frank Howard and Paschal Chukwu. “Every year, we have a couple of guys who can go out and score 20 whenever they want, combined with some defensive guys that usually don’t even shoot the ball,” Stewart said. The team is currently sitting at 17-8 (as of February 20) and will look to finish out the ACC strongly. “We’ve got Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia to end the year, and if we lose, it doesn’t really matter,” Stewart said. “I know that my Orange will [succeed] in the tournament.”
***A previous article titled Ausin, Texas Welcomes the MLS in the February 2019 issue incorrectly stated that public tazes would be a part of a new stadium development east of Austin for Austin FC.
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Iowa State University:
Currently ranked No. 19 in the nation (as of February 20), the Cyclones are one of the hottest teams in college basketball, however they are often forgotten in the title conversation. As of right now they are competing with Texas Tech and Kansas St. in an attempt to dethrone Kansas from the Big 12 title. “Kansas has held the Big 12 for over a decade, but this year, Iowa State has the fire power to take them down,” junior Hayden Shields said. The team has a mix of young guys and veterans, and this impacts them greatly. “They’ve got a grad-transfer in Marial Shayok and a true freshman in Talen HortonTucker,” Shields explained. “The mix of these two combined with their role players has led to [success] for the team so far.” Shooting and defensive abilities have proven their worth over the past couple of years in March Madness, and Iowa State leads amongst both of them. “Everyone can shoot, and they all hustle and rebound. They’re just too exciting to watch, especially on defense and when they run in transition,” Shields said. Who is your Cinderella story for this year’s March Madness? Let us know at one of our social media handles. (pictured bottom left)