CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL ISSUE 07 MAY 2015 9450 RAY WHITE RD, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76244
ILLUMINATOR
MAY 2015
ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 12-24
& STUDENT LIFE PAGES 4-10
& Features
PAGES 11, 18
Senior Farewells PAGES 26-31
CONTENTS
002
INSIDE THE ILLUMINATOR MAY 2015
4 5 8
11 14 16 17 23 24
student life FCCLA How to Adult CFC: Sports Recap
6-7 Column:
Cool Kids
Entertainment An American Journey Things to do Over the Summer Movies/Books Coming This Summer Recipe: DIY Juice for Dummies Dorm Checklist Bitterness and Grace
MISCELLANEOUS 25 26
Pulitzer
Prize Winners Senior Farewells
12-13
Cupcake Connoisseur
On the cover: Felicia Murray Photography by: Leah Kappayil
18-19 Feature: Mr. Ballentine
CONTENTS
003
LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rachel Murray
EMAIL: Rachel.Murray4696@gmail.com
Your years in high school are so important as they are the years where you will make memories that will last a lifetime. It's your chance to meet so many new people, to learn so many new things, and to find yourself. Whether you're a senior or a freshman, don't take these four years for granted. In the blink of an eye you'll be walking across the stage with a cap on your head and a diploma in your hand. It's not until you become a senior that you realize how fast it truly all goes by. Some people say "I'll never miss high school," but then they'll find themselves lost in the real world, trying to live and pay for their college education. We don't realize the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to graduate from college.
We're only just conquering the easy stuff. We're only in high school. As the year comes to an end, students become accepted into college, receive scholarships, and finally get the diploma that grants them into adulthood. It's the feeling of accomplishment that fills the heart with happiness. The Illuminator has accomplished so many great things this year, and as it is our last issue of 2015 I'd like to take the time to tell you all about it. Three news magazines were published this year. The Illuminator received the Distinguished Achievement Award at ILPC. Without all of the hard work from our staff, advisor, publisher, and ad buyers, we would not have been able to print these fabulous, full color issues. We have learned how to bring text to life,
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rachel Murray rachel.murray4696@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Abby Goodman abbyg619 @gmail.com ONLINE EDITOR: Emily Mitchell emily.mitchell 8 @yahoo.com DESIGN EDITOR: Mary Clark maryclark907@yahoo.com ADVISER: Mrs. Natalie Brown
contributing artists Sarah Robinson Akira Munguia
We hope you enjoy this years last issue of the Illuminator, Rachel Murray Editor In Chief
illuminator
magazine contacts editorial board
and hope you have enjoyed reading the varied columns, features, and news stories that we have all contributed. Thank you from the Illuminator and I, for giving us something to write about, to photograph, or to share our opinion about. Most importantly thank you for picking up one of our issues and reading it. It means so much to know that our print is not dead, and that people care about what we have to say. Central, don't ever stop making memories. Text lives on forever.
Published by: Greater Dallas Press, 601 Shephard Dr. Garland, TX 75042
staff writers Zach Aguayo Steven Colaianni Brady Dunn Joanne Hershon Raygan Janowski Leah Kappayil Alexis Karpenko Connor Kirkwood Jonathan Mitchell John Molhoek Felicia Murray Madeena Payenda Samantha Reed Aaron Spivey Ambriehl Turrentine Amy Woods
Not Pictured: Mary Clark, Amy Woods, Mrs. Natalie Brown
ENTERTAINMENT
004
artwork by: Akira Munguia
How to Adult
Abby Goodman, Opinion Writer Doctors Appointments: The first step is to find a doctor that you trust. When you do and find yourself sick, call their phone number and listen carefully to their instructions. Typically, you press 0 or 1 to schedule an appointment. You should have your insurance card out, along with the knowledge of when you come in. Keep in mind that you need to be f lexible so you can be seen in a timely fashion. Once you have your appointment set up, put the time in your phone right away. Prior to going to your appointment, come up with good questions to ask your doctor about whatever your experiencing and clarify what you are going to describe it as. When your appointment time comes, bring your insurance card and your debit card so you can pay your co-pay. While you’re in the waiting room, be careful to not touch anything. You might want to bring your own pen to sign in with. Don’t forget to be patient.
Getting Your Oil Changed: When you head over to somewhere like Jiffylube or Pep Boys to get your oil changed, expect to pay somewhere from 30 dollars to 80 dollars. This depends on whether or not you get regular oil, which is cheaper and more traditional, or totally synthetic. You can also get a blend of both. You simply check in and wait, but keep in mind that they can offer you unnecessary things. In reality, you can go to the auto parts ship and get whatever you need for 15 dollars and install it by you, a family member, or a friend. Building Up Good Credit: You spend a small amount of money on your credit card consistently. After you have bought the thing, pay it off as soon as possible. If you keep this up, along with saving big purchases for your debit card, always pay your bills on time, and keep a stable paying job, good credit will come your way.
Other Tips and Tricks: Start making the painful transition from a Disney night light to a neutral color. Stop shopping at Hot Topic. Find a new excuse when you don’t want to hang out because “my mom says no” doesn’t really work anymore. Maybe get used to sleeping with just one stuffed animal. Do not sign up for credit cards. Don’t do drugs. Stop wearing your Aeropostle shirts from seventh grade. Just because you can fit in them, doesn’t mean you should wear them. Know that it’s all okay
STUDENT LIFE
FccLa Is (w)in
By: Felicia Murray, Staff Writer The Texas state competition for FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) for STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events was held in Corpus Christi April 7th through the 11th. Students in FCCLA participated in many competitive events and leadership conferences throughout the weekend, while also getting the chance to tour the city and relax at the beach. 14 students competed in STAR events that had up to 30 people in their categories. Only the top two competitors at State competition move onto the National Competition. Eight students are advancing to Nationals, which will be held in Washington, D.C. from July 3rd-July 10th. Jessica Furniss (12) and Sydney Davis (12) competed in the Advocacy category. Their project included creating awareness for dyslexia and explaining that it is not just mixing up your A’s and B’s. They received 2nd place and will move onto the National Competition. Felicia Murray (12) compet-
ed in the Fashion Design category. Her project included designing and creating a beaded ball gown for her high school prom. She received 1st place and is moving on to Nationals. Nick Castillo (11) competed in the Career Investigations category. His project included researching the career of a camp director. He received 1st place and will continue onto the National level. Makayla Calloway (12) and Morgan Vise (12) competed in the Interpersonal Communications Senior category. Their project included helping girls feel more confident through mentoring and exercises. Emily Vowels (11) and Katelynn Rowton (11) competed in the Interpersonal Communications Occupational category. Their project consisted of increasing effective communication between highly functioning autistic students and others in the elementary school environment. They received 1st place and will be continuing onto the national level in Washington D.C. Two students placed in the
top six and received recognition. Keke Randle (11) competed in the Fashion Design category and received 6th place. Her project included sketching a collection and designing and creating one of the looks. Katlynn Nichols (12) competed in the Job Interview category and received 4th place. Her category included participating in a mock job interview. Other competitors that did not place in the top six but received recognition for their hard work include Dakota Lewis (12) competing in the Teach and Train category, Hope Coleman (11) and Erika Simmons (11) in the Life Event Planning Senior category, and Victoria Teixeira (11) in the Life Event Planning Occupational category. While not competing, the students had a chance to relax on the beach, go shopping, and eat out at restaurants. The students took this opportunity to become closer friends as a FCCLA family.
“My favorite part of the trip was eating fancy ice cream with Pitbull.” Erika Simmons (11)
“If you put in hard work and dedication it will pay off.”
“My favorite part of the trip was making shadow puppets with Felicia at midnight” Jessica Furniss (12)
“My favorite part about competing was getting to tell people about redefining beautiful.” Morgan Vise (12)
005
“My favorite part of the trip was making new friends and getting closer with people.” Victoria Teixeira (11)
Nick Castillo (11)
“I learned a lot about successful ways to communicate in the classroom.” Katelynn Rowton (12)
OPINION
006
Cause all the
cool kids They seem to fIT in Rachel Murray, Editor-in-chief Back in middle school, I was the quiet girl. The girl with her headphones in, the girl doing her school-work so she could keep her number one spot, but the girl who was also counting down every second until she heard the final bell of the day so that she could finally leave the place she dreaded going to each day. She quickly mastered the art of people-watching, learning about each and every clique, group and person in the rowdy lunch room, which was mostly blocked out by a girly Taylor Swift song. She’d wonder about what everyone was thinking, doing and feeling that day. This became a daily routine as the year went on. The “jocks,” the “smart kids,” the “gamers,” and the “misfits,” all
became categorized yet stereotypical groups that she referred to in her head as she gazed around the cafeteria. It became crystal clear to who was considered “popular” and who was not, not only to her, but to also the whole school. It wasn’t long until I was a freshman in high school, and my life changed drastically as I became the new girl who moved from Maine, transitioning from a class of 82 kids to a class of almost 700. Puberty finally arrived; I was a decent soccer player, and I found my love for writing and expressing myself through journalism and the school newspaper. I was quiet but confident. It sounds paradoxical, but I guess you could say
I’ve seen my share of the popularity landscape. One of the things that didn’t change over my move and transition was my intelligence. I’d like to believe that I am smart, and although the rigor of the curriculum grew harder, I still felt like what people would call these days: a “nerd.” I’m the type of girl to say no to my friends when they ask to hangout, to study for an exam. I’m the type of girl who would be up all night to finish that extra credit project, when I already had an A+ in the class. And there I was, alone at an uncategorized lunch table, left with a high IQ, but a low self esteem. I began to sense a correlation between being smart and popular, and it was shown to me that
OPINION
007 being smart seems to make you “unpopular.” That statement replayed in my mind and overwhelmed me. Being smart doesn’t make you a misfit in elementary school, and sure does not harm you in the real world, so why did being smart seem to make my life so difficult in high school? I saw the jocks and cheerleaders on homecoming court, the pretty girls getting asked to prom in front of the whole school, and the National Merit Scholarship winners getting their name written in a tiny box on the unchecked and obsolete school website. Thinking about my past three years drives me crazy as I was so fed up with trying to be popular. Looking back as a sen-
ior now, I’ve seemed to find an answer to the haunting question that I asked myself every day. I realized the answer to my question was that the smart kids don’t really desire or even want to be popular. If someone had told me that at the time, I would have laughed in their face. It wasn’t until this year that I stopped worrying about being popular. I just focused on being smart. Not just to get good grades in school, but to learn something new every day, and to be able to rant to people about things they’ve never heard of. If your only goal in high school is to become “mainstream,” you aren’t going to do so well in the future. High school is supposed to prep us for college, and for when we live on
our own. Don’t get too caught up in your grades, but don’t slack off either. Trust me when I say that your hard work will pay off in the end. You can’t write on your college application that you were homecoming queen, or that you won a superlative for having the best hair. I’ve learned that colleges appreciate more the effort you put into your schoolwork, clubs, and community service. If you were to give me an offer to be the most popular girl in the school, but to only have average intelligence, I would never take that offer. I now know my priorities, because what are four years in high school compared to the dozens of years I have left in the rest of my life?
A meaningful life is not all about being popular. It’s not all about being the center of attention, or being the captain of your sports team. It’s not all about having the latest trends, making the wrong choices, or having the most friends. A meaningful life is all about being humble. It’s all about being honest & being respectful. It’s all about being yourself, making the right choices & having courage in everything that you do no matter the judgments, opinions, or risks. Make your life meaningful.
Entertainment
006
Road Trip Playlist
ROAD TRIP
PLAYLIST
By: Madeena Payenda
Madeena Payenda, Staff Writer
TRACK 1
TRACK 4
Released in 1961 and was first written as an a cappella demo, but after Ray Charles recorded it, it hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.
This “oldie,” which was released in 1979 was a part of the last album recorded by the Australian hard rock band before the lead singer, Bon Scott died the following year from alcohol over-consumption.
“Hit the Road Jack” RAY CHARLES
“Highway to Hell” ACDC
TRACK 8
“Route 66” THE ROLLING STONES Released in 1946, the lyrics follow the path of U.S. Route 66, which makes it a great road trip jam.
TRACK 11
“Smooth Criminal” MICHAEL JACKSON This is a song that will be remembered forever. Released in 1988.
TRACK 5 TRACK 2
“One for the Road” ARCTIC MONKEYS This pop rock song was released in 2013, by the English band’s album “AM.” This single is also available in vinyl format.
“West Coast” COCONUT RECORDS This indie/rock singer Jason Schwartzman began his career in 2006.
TRACK 6
“Home” “SWEET HOME ALABAMA” EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROES Released in 2009.
TRACK 3
“Shut up and Drive” RIHANNA Who doesn’t remember this throwback from 2007?
TRACK 9
TRACK 7
“Life is a Highway” TOM COCHRANE If you’ve never sang your heart out to this song, you’re missing out on a great road trip experience.
TRACK 10
“Seaside” THE KOOKS The Kooks are an indie rock/ pop band which began in 2004. “Seaside” is the perfect British pop song to make your trip worthwhile. Many people say that The Kooks remind them of the popular band “Arctic Monkeys.”
TRACK 12
“American Idiot” GREEN DAY This song, which was released in 2004, is a pop punk song that will wake you up on that boring, long drive.
SPORTS RECAP CFC
Brady Dunn Staff Writer
The boys soccer team wrapped up their season on Friday, April 3rd in the second round of playoffs with a 3-2 loss to Grand Prairie in double overtime. They ended their season with a record of 13-4-6, finishing as the District 5-6A runner up and as Bi- District champions. This year’s team has made a lot of memories for Central to remember. They defeated Byron Nelson 1-0 with a last minute penalty kick scored by Abraham Deanda. Byron Nelson was also a team who went to states last year. One of the best things about CFC is their student section. With the amount of people, chants and overall spirit, you would think you were at a USA world cup match. This year’s team has a lot to be proud of as 13 players from the team received either honorable mention awards
or all district awards. It probably was one of the most exciting soccer seasons in a long time for Central High school. No need to hang our heads down because even though CFC lost they still had a great season. The spirit at the CFC games were unreal because the student section would have so many different chants which boosted the boy’s spirits even when the outcome wasn’t what they wanted. ‘’ We had a great team chemistry which helped us through a lot and I’m going to miss playing for this team because I loved always being the underdog against are opponents and winning our games and shocking players and coaches,” said Harlan Adame (12). In only his second full season as head coach at Central, Coach Cottrell has been in the playoffs for both of them. The fans and players are excited for what awaits them this coming year.
SPORTS
009
Photo Courtesy: @CFC_Soccer
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FEATURE
Where in the World are Central Students from?
010
Riam Daniel, (11) Luton, England Demetri Suttle, (11) Minnesota
Melanie Murray, (11) Levant, Maine
Winston Lin, (9) Los Angeles, California
Krishma Bandekar, (12) Mumbai, India
Kayne Fedor, (12) Adelaide, Australia
FEATURE
Be Good to Those You Meet on Your Way Up: An American Journey 011
Steven Colaianni, Staff Writer As the writers of the famous Lion King movie once penned, “We are all connected in the great circle of life.” Bassey Obot, father of Walter Obot (11), shares his story of gaining American citizenship after moving from Nigeria to raise his family. For many who were born away from their current home, adaptation is a must when it comes to survival and simple acts of kindness and sincere friendships can shape you for a lifetime. “It was a beautiful Wednesday, October 29, 2003. Perhaps there was nothing spectacular about that day for millions around the world.” Bassey Obot knew his life was about to change, shifting locations from Nigeria to America with his wife to raise a family stateside. “My dad knows his heritage,” said Walter. “He has taught me to be a self reliant, humble individual. When he was growing up he had it rough. He really wanted to provide his family with the best and he taught me to never shoot for mediocrity.” Many families across America start with humble beginnings and rise to successes and happiness overseas, and everyone can take away from the Obot family story. In a time of turmoil and political distress and several other poor conditions surrounding Nigeria, Bassey and his wife Barbara made the decision to move to America where it would be “safer” and in a more sustainable location to raise a family providing more security, a parable to the
American dream in itself. “Friends, culture and everything else that you had gotten used to over the years you have to leave behind,” said Barbara. “Being with my husband made everything much easier, but the transition was difficult nonetheless.”
“The hardest thing about assimilating into this new culture was trying to not stick out. Keep an open mind and be humble.” Nigeria in itself is a federal republic of 36 states and a capital territory and has its fair share of political violence and social upheaval. Human rights violations during 2009 included the abridgement of citizen’s rights to change their government entirely, as well as politically motivated and extra-judicial killings by security forces leaving the republic jaded from corruption and crooked politics and practices. Militant groups in Nigeria were responsible for numerous killing rampages, kidnappings and pervasive violence overall rampant. The United States Bureau of Democracy reports that over 20,000 Nigerians in 2009 alone f led to America amidst the struggle between militant groups and extremist violence alone. Several Families are still missing since then. Bassey recalled his life before
America at a young age as a food runner for his family growing up in an impoverished society. “Although our circumstances were not the best, my parents still managed to share the little that we had with others in my village and their families.” Given the rough start, Bassey and Barbara instil these values into Walter and the rest of his family. “My dad is a provider, a friend, a guardian,” said Walter. “He is a wise voice in the midst of a confusion and is always there for comedic relief.” For millions like the Obots who have gone through the passage of rights to citizenship and entrance to America, extemporaneous planning and f leeing from poor conditions is not uncommon. UN statistics report that 14,000 people since early January alone have assimilated into American culture seeking new perspective and security. “You should always remember that this country also owes you nothing,” said Barbara. “The hardest thing about assimilating into this new culture was trying to not stick out. Keep an open mind and be humble.” Through thick and thin, thousands around the world have shared their stories of transitions and overcoming the hardships it encompasses, perhaps proving that we were born for this sort of adversity. Whether it is the quest for the singular privilege of American citizenship or something much larger in scale, we are all connected in the circle of life.
Leah Kappayil, Staff Photographer/Writer
Cupcake
Connoisseur
Cupcakes are hip. That sentence was not. They’re mini cakes topped with enough frosting to increase your cholesterol nearly ten-fold! Yay! Only kidding. Cupcakes are practically the perfect treat; (several) bite-sized, cute and they come in all different f lavors. You can bake them yourself, pick one up at a cupcake ATM near you- Sprinkles in Dallas, for those wondering-or find them at nearly any local bakery. While I’m all for DIY and homemade cupcakes, sometimes it’s nice to put the batter, spare yourself the messy kitchen and hit up the nearest bakery. If you find yourself in such a situation, we have some tried and true local (and not-so-local) bakeries that are worth checking out.
Pic tu
: Red Velvet d re
Sweet Spot Bakery
2912 Texas Sage Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76177 (Alliance Town Center)
Pricing: $2.95 Rating:
The Sweet Spot Bakery in Alliance Town Center is a local favorite of many and has been awarded a number of accolades in the past few years for its outstanding cupcakes. Having tried their cupcakes, I myself am finding it easy to agree with the general public and say that the cupcakes here are truly delicious. The quirky names to go along with the different f lavors were a nice touch, too. Service here was exceptional and the staff was very helpful. The frosting was whipped to perfection and laid perfectly over the sponge-like, textured cake. I, personally, will be returning for another in the near future.
The Cupcakery
132 E 4th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102 (Sundance Square)
Pricing: $3.75 Rating:
Pictu red
:B
Right across the street from Bass Performance Hall in Downtown Fort Worth is where The Cupcakery is located. The shop is small and tucked off to the side, away from all the action in Sundance Square, but the cupcakes are absolutely phenomenal. It’s a bit of a drive- 30 minutes with moderate traffic, but their cupcakes were so good I found myself driving back just two days after reviewing the shop just to try it one more time. The consistency of the cake itself is perfect and may just be my favorite part. Many of their cupcakes are chilled which keeps the cake from getting too soggy and allows the icing to stay nice on top. The cupcake wasn’t too rich and provided just enough sugar for a sweet tooth, but was not too overwhelming. The frosting was pretty sweet, but did not overpower the taste of the cake. The only negative thing I have to say about this shop is that their customer service is lacking. I was waiting a good five minutes at the register before someone came out of the kitchen to place my order. Nevertheless, for this review, The Cupcakery takes the(cup)cake!
sy ug
900 S Main Street Apt. 351, Keller, TX 76248 (Old Keller)
Pricing: $2.95 Rating:
Lemon
Cupcake Loco, located further north up Denton Highway nearing Old Town Keller, is a fairly new bakery that has recently been catching some attention for its wide array of cupcakes. I decided to see for myself if these cupcakes were really worth trying. I found that while there are quite a few f lavors to choose from each day, the cupcakes themselves were fairly mediocre. The frosting was too thick and reminded me of the heavy frosting one might find atop a Wal-Mart bakery cupcake. The cake itself was dry and crumbly. All in all, Cupcake Loco would be fine for a quick, sugary treat, but if you’re looking for a gourmet cupcake, I recommend setting your sights on one of the other bakeries on our list.
Pict ur
: ed
Cupcake Loco
Hot Day Hobbies Samantha Reed, Opinion Writer
Taking a three month break from school is wonderful for stress. You get to sleep in, no worries about deadlines and tests to study for, but what do you do with all that extra time? Here are ten low-cost and low-skill hobbies you can pick up over the summer!
Reading
You don’t have to buy a mountain of books to pick up on reading; all you need is a library card. As long as you make sure to turn your books in on time you can read to your heart’s content and keep your mind sharp over the summer!
Drawing
All you need to learn to draw is paper, a pencil, and patience. Drawing (or any form of art) is a great way to relax and put your feelings on paper, not to mention when you’re done you have something you could admire or even frame!
Writing
Putting your thoughts onto paper can be very relaxing and rewarding. Writing allows you to enter a different world, or vividly describe the world you’re in.
Play Cards
A deck of cards is only a couple of dollars and you can play a ton of games with them. You can waste hours and hours of time playing single player games or multiplayer games, just look up the rules online.
Netf lix
This one isn’t much of a hobby but it’s a great way to kill some time. With three months of spare time you’ll be able to catch up on your shows and maybe pick up on some new shows!
Gardening
A fun and rewarding hobby, all you have to do is poke some seeds into soil and water them daily to see plants grow right in your backyard!
Origami
All you need is paper and instructions that you can find online to make amazing creations!
Knitting/Crochet
This may seem like a hobby more geared towards the older crowd, but crochet and knitting can be easily learned and they are very rewarding hobbies! You can buy needles and yarn for under $10 at your local craft store.
Swimming Photo courtesy of wallpapers.wiki
Picture courtesy of blurrycolours.blogspot.com
Summer is the perfect time to swim . You can get tan and work out at the same time, and you can go with friends!
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Summer Jobs
015
Raygan Janowski, Opinion Writer As the school days begin to end, summer is right around the corner and finding activities or hobbies is hard to do with no money. This is where a summer job would come in handy. With many different possibilities and businesses looking for young enthusiastic people, your chance is high for employment.
1.
Fast food
Most teens would look at this position and turn away. However, with competitive pay and free food this is a wise employment option.
2. Amusement parks/water parks From Six Flags to a lifeguard at Hurricane Harbor. This job can be very fun and entertaining.
5.
4. Retail What teen doesn’t like clothes and discounts that come with them?
3. Receptionist If you enjoy talking on the phone, playing on the computer and are tech savvy, this is the way to go.
Baby sitting
As easy as this one sounds, a good payout can come with hard work.
Brooke Barnett (12)
QuRon Simmons (12)
Noel Marzullo (11)
“One time at McDonalds I accidentally put ketchup on someone’s ice cream when I totally was not paying attention.”
“Two people started wrestling on the table during my shift at Smashburger and we had to kick them out.”
“Someone brought a keg into the Babe’s in Roanoke and drank the whole thing during my shift.”
Summer Debuts
ENTERTAINMENT
016 Alexis Karpenko, Staff Writer
Avengers: The Age of Ultron Released May 1 When Toy Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.
Pitch Perfect 2 Released May 15 A collegiate acappella group called the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition that no American team has ever won before.
Jurassic World Coming out June 12 Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammon. After ten years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly.
Ted 2 Coming out June 26 Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law.
Paper Towns Coming out July 24 A young man and his friends embark on the road trip of their lives to find the missing girl next door.
Entertainment
007
ENTERTAINMENT
DIY: Juicing for dummies
017
Rachel Murray,Editor-in-chief
Ingredients: 6 Leaves of kale 4 Stalks of celery Half of a lemon 1 Cucumber 2 Apples
Step One:
In order for you to fit the ingredients into the juicer, a little prep is needed. Cut the apple into slices, excluding the core, & cut the cucumber into thin slices. Cut the stalks of celery and the lemon in halves. Break up the kale into smaller leaves.
Step Two:
Place a large cup underneath the juicer & process your ingredients by placing them in the hole on the top. You may have to use a large pitcher to collect the juice. CAUTION: The juice will come out very fast, so make sure you have a cup to catch it.
Step Three: Place juice into your preferred cup & enjoy!
Materials: Juicer Knife Cutting board Cup
FEATURE
018
Tales that I can Tell
Abby Goodman, Staff Writer
47,359 hostile deaths and 10,797 non-hostile deaths. 58,156 men did not return home, including the 2,338 who are still missing. The Vietnam War stole away lives from men who signed up to fight it, and civilians who were caught in the fire, with as many as 2 million civilians from both North Vietnam and South Vietnam dying. Those who survived have carried around stories of war in their book bags, where guns or bottles of water in hot ‘Nam days used to hang. Substitute Burt Ballentine is one of them. Serving from the end of 1969 to the beginning of 1971, Ballentine fought in Cam Ranh Bay in what was then South Vietnam. 8,797 miles away from Fort Worth, he served a tour at the Royal Thai Air Force base in Ubon, Thailand. His decision to f ly airplanes over a muddy trail was not a complicated one, as he elaborated, “I didn’t really decide [to go]. It was just, I felt, my turn. Every generation has had its war. My father was a World War 2 sailor. My grandfather was a part of the World War 1 Navy.” He shrugged with a smile and said, “It was just my turn.” Before he was a substitute, he was a mud-mover. “I went out loaded with bombs and our job was to intercept truck traffic on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Occasionally I f lew with troops in contact missions in South Vietnam. I had a few air-to-air missions. They were mostly called CAP [Combat Air Patrol], where you orbit the borders and form a bit of a shield to protect the forces who are doing some kind of mission.” While in Vietnam, Ballentine and his buddies used to spend time
singing songs or creating extravagant scenarios where a singing telegram, played by one of the pilot, would have to break it to a soldier’s mother, also played a pilot, that her son was shot over “Uncle Ho’s highway”. While recalling his memories, Ballentine said, “I have good memories in that the friendships I made over there still exist. You’re bonded forever with people that you fight with.” Returning from home was not how to used to be. Due to the government holding secrets from civilians and situations like the My Lai Massacre, where US soldiers shot down a village of unarmed Vietnamese with some women being gang-raped before mutilated, Vietnam War veterans came home to not only protests of the war, but protests of them. “If you watch old movies from the fifties and the sixties, the soldiers are heroes. In my childhood, soldiers were the villains,” said Kyle Huston, Pre-AP World Geography and AP Human Geography teacher. “That didn’t change until 1990. Suddenly, once again, soldiers are heroes. Once the war on terror started they are heroes again. That whole era doesn’t associate the military with good things. They took it out on the troops.” Ballentine said, “The war was so unpopular. The American people took it out on the soldiers. Instead of rioting on the front steps of the White House, which they did basically, but when the soldiers came home, they took it out on us. We were called “baby-killers”, “Yankee Air Pirates”, spit at, thrown rocks at. Shunned, basically.”
75,000 American soldiers received some sort of disability. 23,214 were classified 100% disabled. 5,283 lost limbs. Amputations or cripplingly wounds were 300% higher than World War 2. Almost a quarter of the soldiers required psychological help. What was then known as shell shock, now known as PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], was coped with in a variety of ways. Men like Dick Jonas, whose lyrics are the title alongside Ballentine’s story, wrote of their experiences and tangled them up with music. Ballentine himself wrote for newspapers over how the war changed him and society. Coupled with his good memories of singing telegrams and belly-f lopping games are the ones that thrived amongst shell shock. “The sad memories,” Ballentine said, “are the people who didn’t come home – families not raised. Children left without fathers. Widows.” The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war, according to Encyclopedia Britannia. Ballentine noted, “When I talk about the tragedy of the loss of life, I mean both sides. The enemy was the enemy. But they were also just soldiers like us.” According to mrfa.org, 91% of the veterans who saw actual combat claim to be proud of the fact that they served. Ballentine admitted, “I wish it had never happened, because I think the Vietnam War was a total waste of time, treasure, and people, but it did. But I survived. I raised my family.” He sighed and smiled, declaring, “I’m back.”
Zach Aguayo, Opinion Writer
Selfless
A big thing that has happened in my life, that I struggled with and continue to struggle with is the loss of my cousin in Iraq. My cousin, Johnathan, was in the 1st Calvary unit in the U.S. Army. He was in his mid 20s, a new father, and a newlywed when terrorists took him away from his family. To this day I still really don’t know why this happened, or how to deal with it. I have found myself thinking about him and how much different my life could be if he was still here. I wonder how close we would be, if we would still be getting along, and the things he would teach me in my life. This situation is a terrible thing that happens to so many families in our country who don’t deserve this pain. Many times people don’t ever mention it because of the pain it causes them, but I have found that many times I feel a lot better
talking to my family about him and the good he did while he was here. With the new movie, “American Sniper”, coming out I have spent a lot of time really thinking about Johnathan and his mental state as he was overseas. I know what he had to do wasn’t easy and had probably changed him in many ways but I also know that he knew what he was getting himself into and was completely self less when he enlisted in the Army. “American Sniper,” really opened my eyes and answered many questions I had in my life about my cousin and what his life was like in the war. I now understand the things our soldiers have to go through each and every day of their lives. Now that I have learned that, even though his passing brought much grief, he left a legacy for me and the rest of my family to do good in our world. I have an entirely new
perspective on the way our country is built and about the sacrifice our soldiers give to keep us safe. At times I still struggle with the passing of Johnathan but I have also overcome it in a way he would be proud of. I have started to really honor our countrymen and women in the war. The things they have to do to keep us safe is something I don’t have the courage to do and that is something to be thankful for. Without their sacrifice, we would have nothing in our world, so be grateful for our soldiers and appreciate them for what they have done for you.
The price to pay for college By: Leah Kappayil, Opinion Writer $26,000. That is the average yearly tuition cost for a student attending a four-year public university in America. Multiply that by four years and what do you get? More than $100,000 of student loan debt, not including interest. That’s enough to buy a decent first home. Now, let’s compare these atrocious numbers to those of the average European student; €950 is the yearly tuition rate for most Europeans seeking a degree at a four-year public university. That’s 1,043.43 in U.S. dollars. The price gap between these two is astonishing. Why is the cost of higher education so high in the U.S.? Shouldn’t we, as a nation, be encouraging our students to attend college and receive higher education for the sake of our country’s future? Does our government really care so little about education beyond primary schooling? In Europe, most universities not only offer lower tuition fees, but nearly all nations belonging to the EU offer their students subsidized loans to take out which can be paid back over time after leaving university. If the amount is not paid back after a certain amount of time…nothing happens. They don’t come after you! Shocker, right? The amount loaned to the student that has not been paid back is forgiven and both parties each go on their merry way. Unlike most EU member governments, the U.S. government (oh so generously) offers its students loans to take out that come attached with nearly the same interest rates of most student loans from third parties. There’s really not
much incentive there. But if you’re lucky and qualify for some tangible FAFSA aid, then you will be able to receive some sort of grant or scholarship that does not need to be paid back. The problem with this, though, is that in order to qualify for this type of aid, your parent or parents must make below a certain amount of money or have other financial burdens of some sort. This is all well and fine, but what about the students with parents who make decent livings, but are expecting their children to pay for their own schooling? How will FAFSA or other programs then determine these students’ ability to pay back loans? The answer is: they can’t. If the government put more money
1 Euro equals about 1.14 US Dollar as of 4/2015
towards helping fund college students’ education and making attendance costs cheaper, and less money on our military or other heavily-funded programs that could stand to be cut back on a little, this could become a real possibility. Even loosening up a little bit on some of the tax breaks that the government allows could free up large pockets of money that could then be distributed in the form of more grants and financial aid for college students in the U.S.. There is a problem here that needs to be solved. We shouldn’t be charging so much just to convey knowledge to those who ear-
nestly seek it.
STUDENT LIFE
Life After Central
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Aaron Spivey, Opinion Writer The end of the school year is different for seniors. For seniors, it’s the start of a new chapter. It is a time to make the decisions that will impact the rest of your life. Change is coming and each and every graduate will begin to forge his or her own unique and individual path. Some will begin in this town, while some will begin on the other side of the country. Each student has a different dream that they are chasing and each dream begins somewhere. From community college to major universities, working jobs to the military, our lives are changing. The months following May 30th will begin a new life for everyone. Many students will soon be living in a new town for the first time in their life. This summer will be the biggest transformation for the future college freshman. After twelve long years of following the system, grade by grade, next year brings a year of moving on and moving forward. And where everyone will be next year is now completely up to them.
“I’m going to Arkansas and I am going to be an equipment manager for the football team. I plan on majoring in photography.” Sam Helsley (12)
“I am attending Carnegie Mellon for set design in the fall in Pittsburg.” Jamie Phanekham (12)
“I am playing football for University of North Texas and plan on majoring in engineering or business.” Taylor Robinson (12)
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STUDENT LIFE
022
Amy Woods, Opinion Writer
Bedding
Microwave & Mini Fridge
Most dorms have size twin XL bedding, and one or two laundry rooms in the building. To make washing easier, it’s smarter to get a duvet cover instead of the traditional bedding. Also, you can change out the duvet cover so it’s cheaper than buying multiple bedding sets for however long you live in the dorms. You can find duvet covers at almost any place that sells bedding.
Every school has a meal plan, but it’s good to have an alternative for if you want a light snack or if you don’t want school food. At some universities, they give you the option to rent them out for the year, but in most cases it’s cheaper to buy. For a reasonable price, they can be found at Target, Wal-Mart, and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Closet Organizers
Air Mattress
When you move into a dorm, you have to learn how to fit all of your clothes into a closet about 1/4th of the size of the one you had at home, along with making space for essentials like shoes, coats, umbrellas, and jewelry. Closet Organizers can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond and the Container store, but try and find out the dimensions of your dorm closet before you go and buy it.
Your dorm is going to be small, and you will have friends that will want to spend the night at your dorm. If your bed is a twin XL and you have a roommate, you most likely won’t have room anywhere other than the f loor. You can find reasonably priced air mattresses on Amazon, and you will use it a lot more than you think.
ArtWork By: Sarah robinson
STUDENT LIFE
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Bitterness and Grace Losing focus is easy. We can’t feel it, but the Earth is spinning on it’s axis right now. Its always going and so is life. Life is spinning out of control, sometimes upside down or in too many directions for you to hold any sort of balance. As I look around myself I am almost numb to what I see. I am not at all disillusioned when it comes to the horrors of the world. While there are many gloriously beautiful aspects there is a lot of terrible and awful going on existing at the same time. The horrors are just as vivid as the morning glories I see on my morning commute every day. I see an innumerable number of shades in the fallen leaves and a young boy having his life ripped away in a few stunning and confusing moments suspended in time. Only a few seconds, but half the nation was left holding their breaths while the other half was in utter turmoil. I see a rolling fog being carried by the wind with such grace I’ve never seen. And yet another young boy lose his valiant struggle to a cruelly unfair disease. I see a sky thick with a blue that is unfathomable deep and rich with beauty but again I see so much hurt playing out underneath it. People are hurting. People I knew. People I know. People I merely see in passing. And its heart wrenching to know that you can never fully make clear sense of these things. The beauty and pain are weirdly similar in that aspect. But I can smile and I can cry and I can feel my feelings, let them cascade across myself. I can be grateful for what I have and sad for what I don’t. Neither one lessens the sharpness of the other. I can live my life and maybe when I’m older and hopefully wiser the beauty and pain can coexist in a harmony far less bitter, but for now it’s okay to just feel them when they’re present. Emily Mitchell, Opinion Writer
COLUMN
024
Let’s Talk
Ambriehl Turrentine, Opinion Writer Muslims were killed at bias” the Ferguson Department held and Latinos. Chapel Hill, a possible lynching on minorities along with the over Anti-feminists or “meninoccurred in Mississippi. Sexual whelming amount of African-Amerists” boast that feminism is not assaults swept under a rug, racist icans being unfairly targeted by needed because of the progress chants from SAE. Throughout my police officers and authorities. that has already been made. Howexperiences, I have discovered that In 2014, multiple California ever, crimes and injustice against the act of discussing serious social mosques were vandalized along women continue to grow. A campus issues has become quite taboo with Muslim cemeteries. In February sexual assault study by the U.S. among teenagers if the issue has no 2015, Craig Hicks was indicted in Department of Justice revealed that direct relation to them. the slaying of three Muslim students 1 in 5 women are targets of attempt For example, Keller ISD near University of North Carolina – ed or completed sexual assaults as recently banned all “promposals.” Chapel Hill. The Justice Department students. This came about after a Timber and FBI are investigating whether A common argument is Creek student claimed that her the crime was motivated by hate, that these issues do not affect teens, “promposal” was shut down becontradicting what local authorities as they should focus on education. cause of her plan to ask another However, this is education and “With these female. Twitter exploded with the ignorance is not always bliss. Many hashtag #LetCaseyPromposal with teens will be eligible to vote in the incidents freshly students and strangers all tweeting lingering in our minds, let 2016 Presidential Election and many about equality for the two girls. of these issues will arise including us open a dialogue and However, very little was same-sex marriage, LGBT rights, spoken or sent from this age group laws relating to rights of women and keep it going. “ during the case of Ferguson, the gun control. kidnapping of hundreds of women claim was a simple “parking dis America’s anguish over and girls by Boko Haram, or the pute.” Anti-Muslim hate crimes are social issues is painfully real. With suicide of trans-gender teen Leelah now five times more common that these incidents freshly lingering in Alcorn. Because these events genthey were before 9/11. our minds, let us open a dialogue erally do not directly affect many, Leelah Alcorn, a trans-genand keep it going. Become edit is not spoken of. The truth is that der teen took her own life after ucated, form your own opinions, these do affect everyone – whether posting a final goodbye to her and make speaking out no longer a it is obvious or not. Tumblr page – blaming her sense of taboo. Expose inequality without “Racism is not a major issue inferiority and worthlessness on her fear of condemnation. anymore” is what many who feel parents and society. This brought Simply stopping the converuncomfortable by speak of injustice much attention to the LGBT commu- sation will not resolve the issues. claim, but this can easily be refutnity and the plight they constantly Sweeping dust underneath the rug ed. Slavery is illegal and blacks do face. A California lawyer recently may give an appearance of cleanlihave the right to vote, but racism proposed that homosexuals be “put ness. However, the filth still remains is still alive. While it may be up to death by bullets to the head.” FBI – accumulating until the time comes for debate on whether the Michael data has shown that LGBT people that the dust oozes out and soils the Brown killing was racially-motivated are one of the most targeted minori- seemingly clean surface. That time or not, the United States Department ty groups in America, along with is now. of Justice highlighted an “unlawful Jews, African-Americans, Muslims
#blacklivesmatter
ENTERTAINMENT
Pulitzer Publications Madeena Payenda, Staff Writer
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A riveting tale from an award-winning author, All the Light We Cannot See tells the story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose lives connect as they try to survive the rubble World War II left behind. (2015)
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Theo Decker, thirteen-yearsold, New Yorker, and survivor of an accident his mother did not survive. Abandoned by his father and taken in by a wealthy friend he clings to his mother by her painting, launching him into the world of art.(2014)
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
A web of loosely connected people living their lives over the span of forty years, the most linked and major characters are Bernie and Sasha, for the majority of the book Bernie works as a record producer and Sasha as his assistant. (2011)
Tinkers by Paul Harding
George Washington Crosby is dying, and on his deathbed in his dining room surrounded by his wife, daughters, sister, and grandchildren, his story is told from boyhood to his present situation. (2010)
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
The daily life of Olive Kitteridge living in the small town of Crosby, Maine is one of teaching high school students math. Olive, analytical, blunt, and f lawed, her mind outlined in 13 short stories. (2009)
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SENIOR FAREWELLS
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4 years 208 weeks 1,456 Days 34,944 hours 2,096,640 minutes 125,798,400 seconds
This is our Goodbye
Since we began...
Steven Colaianni
A Fresh Start I was never one for change. In fact, it used to frighten me so much that it would shake me to my core. I was acclimated to my comfortable situation in life and I was quite happy too. In comparison to who I am as a person, this was very paradoxical. I would see myself in euphoric dream situations and visions of great success where I would do what I want, when I want, and I was able to make everyone happy. I dream of writing novels, play-
ing music on stage for thousands, raising a happy family. I wanted and still wish I could have everything at once, but I can’t do these things without change. Those who were very familiar with me knew that outside of this hard exterior of snide humor and dark sarcasm knew I wasn’t too courageous, but my time spent here has changed that slowly and surely. I have met some of my best friends and have forged relationships with people here that I will never forget. With all of these good times come the bad times and the struggles, but I feel optimistic about the future. Four years ago or even a few months ago, I would have said otherwise. My friends and my teachers alike shaped me to be the person I have become and I am forever indebted to them. People like Mrs. Brown have inspired me to not only work harder towards my passion, but also to be a better person and human being. I remember last year when I was a little more naïve then
I am now, I was thinking about skipping out on newspaper. She would get on my back every day and finally “coerced” me into being here. Now that I have spent even more time with her and my peers in this class, I don’t know what I would have done with myself without this. Because of her, I feel ready for my future and for the colossal shift in a new direction in my life and no one can stop me. I have learned to put the struggles behind me and embrace going forward rather than backwards. Central has been a wild ride and my gratitude is endless for those who made it worth it. Perhaps this opportunity to start over with a clean slate far from what I now call home will prove itself fruitful and exciting. I owe this to myself and to those I met along the way up to this point. Thank you to all of my friends and my Central family for making me smile. One day, I will be able to live in my dreams because of what started here.
SENIOR FAREWELLS
027
Zach Aguayo
My time in high school is
Jonathan Mitchell
Retrospect
I will never forget this place. It’s interesting to think that my time here has already come to an end. It seems like just yesterday I had walked into the belly of the beast as an unprepared freshman. Now I emerge as an 18 year old headed off to college. As I walk through the halls I am reminded of all the memories that reside within them. Central served at times as a sanctuary other times a prison. I am bound to this place. I will never forget the experiences I’ve had here, and yet,
coming to a close and it is a bittersweet thing. I have had a great time in my four years at Central and have made a lot of great friends in the process. I am ready for college but don’t want to leave everything I have here behind. Growing up really is a hard thing to do, especially when it is all thrown at you in a matter of months. It is hard having to realize my time as a kid is ending and everything I do from here on has an effect on the rest of my life. Life isn’t easy but with a little faith you can get through it all.
All I can say to everybody is have fun and enjoy your time here or else it is all just a waste and you won’t get to enjoy your last few years as a kid. I will miss everything here, even the things I hated, but I will always have these memories, these friends, and my experiences and those things will make the rest of my life a little easier. I wouldn’t trade these past four years for anything and it’s sad to think that it is all over but every good thing has to come to end. Goodbye everybody!
that being said, I’m glad I can finally leave it. Four years of the same monotonous routine can wear, and going off to a new life is exciting. The future seems within reach and I am now one step closer to chasing my dreams. The things I leave behind will never be forgotten. The experiences, the people, the monuments, all will find a home in my heart where they will stay eternally. Central helped shape me, mold me into the man I am today. I won’t forget my time here, but neither will I dwell here. Central is a stepping-stone to be remembered, but in the end that’s all it is, a stepping-stone. It was a place for me to grow and mature, and now that I’ve done my time I embark on a brand new journey filled with uncertainties and unknowns. The world is a vast and frightening place, but thanks to this concrete palace I feel prepared for it. The thing I will miss the most without a doubt will be the people. I’ll miss the teachers who
showed me how to think for myself. I’ll miss the administrators who gave me a safe place to learn, and who made every PA announcement a comedic skit. I’ll miss my classmates, the ones I loved, and the ones I hated. They all served a purpose and helped me grow in unprecedented ways. To them I am eternally grateful. I owe everything I am to these walls and the people who like me called it home for four years. I will never be able to repay my debt. I have left destruction in my wake, and I will never be able to fix what I broke. It will remain, just like the concrete walls, forever. I only hope that my future aspirations and achievements will make it all worth it, that I can honor those people left behind, and the building whose inf luence on my life can’t be understated. Thank you Central. Your f laws and imperfections created my current self. I will always remember you, and you will always have a spot in my heart. I will never forget you. Goodbye.
SENIOR FAREWELLS
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Joanne Hershon
My high school journey has just about ended and although I constantly complained about how I wished I was graduating during the four years that I have been here, I
John Molhoek
Like everything I’ve ever written, this goodbye is a product of the last minute. For some reason, Mrs. Brown is under the impression that I’m in newspaper. Apparently, lying half asleep on her red couch shouting out non-sequiturs makes me a vital component of this publication. Makes sense, it’s enough to keep Kolton in yearbook. So I’m where I am most days, in Brown’s room hiding from some problem or another, when she asks if I could please
am now realizing how fast it all goes by and wish I could have another year at Central. The sporting events and dances that take place hold some of the greatest memories that I have from high school. The memories that I made will last forever and I’m so grateful to have been given such amazing friends and teammates to experience them with. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was a freshman and no matter how cliché it sounds it is the absolute truth. I remember walking through the doors of Central for the first time and struggling to find my classes while walking among other students who seemed ages older than me. I remember going to fish camp and
being nervous about meeting other new freshmen and especially the upper classmen. Now senior year, I became on of those upper classmen who helped the freshman transition into high school when I became a Charger Champion. As a senior, I now realize the importance of getting involved and I wish I could have come to the realization earlier. So here’s my one piece of advice: you can never get the time back from high school so make the most of it and fill the years with memories and experiences that you can look back on and say you had no regrets. I truly wish I had more time but my journey here has ended and a new one is about to begin.
actually write something for once. Now, under normal circumstances this appeal would probably not have worked. But it’s the end of the year and I’m going through that perennial bit of existentialism where I doubt every decision I’ve made or not made and so why not give it a shot. My application to UT basically hinged on one essay. The way I imagined it, the admissions counselor, finding me unsatisfactory in grades, volunteer work, and leadership ability, would be all set to discard my file. But then this one essay would call out to them, begging for a second chance. The essay basically boiled down to “Alright, I know I’m not what you want grades-wise, but let me in and maybe that’ll change?” I’m not sure I believed it, but after a brief stint on the wait list it looks like someone bought it. I’ve just got a talent for writing a whole lot about nothing I guess. I’m leaving. I’m going to Austin but more important is that I’m leaving. I had to leave. I’ve got this romantic
notion that things will change if I’m somewhere, anywhere else. It’s not about running away. You can run away from your problems without even leaving the building. My senior year’s one long testament to that fact. It’s about not being stagnant. There was a moment not too long ago where it felt like I’d finally looked up after seven years and realized I was unhappy with where I’d ended up. I won’t tell the same lie I told in my application, claiming I’d found some key to a better place and I can show you if you give me the chance. The truth is I’m still looking for whatever it is that’ll make me show off all that potential I keep hearing about. All I know is, it’s not here, so I’ve gotta leave. I’d say it’s been fun, this high school thing, but I’m starting to think it’s more like my writing. One long stretch of nothing, dressed up with f lowery language to give the illusion of substance. Smell ya later, nerds
SENIOR FAREWELLS
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Felicia murray
When I moved to the big state of Texas my freshman year, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was overwhelming, but I soon adapted, as the people here were so welcoming and friendly. Here I am now, a senior in high school, and I am proud to say that I have finally found myself. It’s crazy to think that in four
ambriehl turrentine
It’s been an interesting four years, I suppose. I’m still unsure about how I feel about high school, but I’m still unsure about most things in my life. Here is my attempt at explaining my feelings about my four years at Central High School: First day of school, I wore a pink top
months I will be in Savannah, Georgia attending the Savannah College of Art and Design. Freshman and sophomore year, I would have never thought that I would want to become the next big fashion designer, but after finding my passion junior year, I made a goal that I am working to achieve. Just this past year, people have been so supportive of my future fashion career. As I started my own line, Designs By Fe, I was blessed to get all of the feedback that I did. It makes me so happy to receive texts and comments from strangers, asking me to sew them clothing or simply telling me that they like what I have created. Although I may not have the time or money available to make clothes for everyone, simply knowing that people would trust me with a custom project makes me happier than ever.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me with my designs. Thank you Mrs. Nissen for re-sparking my interest in sewing, and for all of the college help. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you to all of my beautiful friends who have helped me with modeling in photo shoots, and to my photographer, Liz, for always making my designs shine. Lastly, thank you to my family for always supporting me in what I wanted to do, even if it might not have been what you wanted for me. You were always there to help me get the supplies that I needed, and you were there with me every step of the way. All of the memories that I have made throughout high school will be remembered forever and every person has left an everlasting impact. It’s sad to leave, but I am excited to start my life in Savannah doing what I love.
I was a different person No followers, many friends and not into pop Freshman year is a blur I’m not sure why Because it came to define me as the new Her I had the basketball mess But through that I learned forgiveness And then there is choir Which first made me smile But not as much as Mr. Patty’s teaching style What’s odd is that the following is true My best memories were outside of you. Like January 29, I slept on a cold ground it started off strange but a new home I found Later that year was VOC’s time Florida and Chicago were beautiful Traveling is now a goal of mine
2014 was fun because I got to see Lana and Gaga and twigs And two I got to meet Here it is, 2015 Better friends, new terms I stepped it up, honey I’m a new Ambriehl With hopes and dreams Of fame and love and many hotels Part of this poem may not make sense But that is my goal Being odd is fun - look at Gaga, Madge or Prince I love the new me And I can’t wait to grow Into some type of star I can’t wait to show What I am made of High school limited me I’m more than you know Goodbye CHS and Texas, soon I am free.
SENIOR FAREWELLS
030
aaron spivey
After four long years the
Raygan Janowski
Well, we’re finally
leah kappayil
end of high school has reached all us seniors. Soon we walk across the stage and begin a new life. So now it is time to begin saying goodbye and moving on. When I think of leaving high school Ill be reminded of the people. I wont remember any of the class projects or endless stack of worksheets. No, when I ref lect and remember, I will think of the people, of my friends. At times school can suck, of course. And there were times in this building when all the work and long hours started to wear me down like ev-
eryone else. But despite it all, I will always say that I loved high school because of my friends. Years I woke up and came to a place that I got to share with my favorite people. Leaving here was inevitable and in a matter of weeks it will be reality. Our lives will finally take us on different paths and of course, different places. Goodbyes are hard and there is a long list of people that I will miss, but I will forever look back with happiness. Because high school was exactly how I wanted it to be.
here class of 2015. We made it. There are approximately three weeks left until graduation and the anticipation on seniors is building. We have been waiting for this moment for thirteen years now and its finally here. So what now? Some will move on to much bigger and better things. College, work force, military. With many different options the limits are endless. Gone are the days of your parents waking you up for school and hassling you to get ready on time. Gone are the groundings, punishment and complaining heard on a daily basis.
You’re an adult now. Being responsible for yourself and doings. As fun as this may sound it can also be a very scary thing. They say every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Mentally thinking, this statement would mean everything you do can and will have a consequence. High school is just a stepping-stone into reality where this thought will be portrayed. There is so much world out there you haven’t explored yet. So much you don’t know. So don’t be sad for you are just starting the beginning to the rest of your life.
Central High School, I bid you adieu No longer will I wait in your lunch line queues Not once more will I walk your dreaded halls Or be trapped between these four bleak walls Nay, not one more day do I wish to spend In classes whose lessons I cannot comprehend This my last year in this 4-year bastille No longer will my disdain be concealed
“I will miss you,” I should say to the school as I leave But it would be a lie too hard to believe *Disclaimer This poem is a complete overstatement, and should not, in any way, be taken too seriously. I have made many positive memories during my high school career, and could have written about any or all of them, but chose instead to be sardonic, as sappy isn’t quite my style. (:
SENIOR FAREWELLS
031
Mary Clark
Four years ago I definitely did not see myself where I am today. Looking back, I was a completely different person. When I first walked through the front doors, I was a shy girl with glasses and fried hair from hundreds of times with the f lat iron. I didn’t think that I would be here - an editor on the Illuminator, outgoing (for the most part), and excited for the future. I definitely did not expect to be diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease
rachel murray
It feels like just yesterday I was that small freshman from Maine, not knowing about the
halfway through my senior year. Although it’s been rough, and I’ve had to miss the last few months of school, I’m glad that I could write this farewell letter without remorse. Of course, I have regrets of things that I could have done during my four years of high school, but I’m extremely grateful with the things that I have done. I’ve made so many friends from so many different walks of life. People I never thought that I would speak to have become very close to me and I have made some friendships for life - including a very best friend who has been there for me throughout it all. Through all the late night cram sessions before a test, all the failed assignments, all the times that I didn’t want to get out of bed and go - my friends have been there for me, and I have high school to thank for that. It hasn’t been easy, and definitely not always fun, but it was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Central gave me the opportunity to find a part of myself that I
didn’t know existed. Being here let me learn so much about myself and the people around me. Being on the Illuminator staff gave me a chance to put not only my own words out there, but those of others as well. I had the chance to show the side of stories that had previously gone untold and often ignored. Without being a part of such a great staff with a wonderful supervisor, I don’t think I would have become the person I am now. It taught me what I want to do with my life and how to start getting there. There will always be more lessons to learn - just like there will always be more memories made here every day. The class of 2015 will graduate and move on, and new students will come, but no one will be the same. We worked hard to make it here, and we did it. We’ve made our mark at Central and it’s time for us to grab our future’s by the horns and not to be afraid to embrace it.
amount of new memories and events that would happen throughout my four years of high school. Being a freshman….when you think you’re so cool because you’re a “high schooler,” but you don’t know the amount of hard work it’s going to take to make it through your pre-AP classes. But then you find yourself in what seems a couple months later, as an upperclassman, and you’ve come to find out the difficulty of AP classes, standardized tests, and trying to figure out your life after high school. And now I’m a senior, with a long 7 years of pharmacy school ahead of me. I’ll leave you with some tips for you underclassmen: Don’t get
caught up in school work, but don’t waste your time trying to fit in with the “popular” crowd. Be confident, take risks, and go to any and every school event, because the more memories you make in high school the better. You don’t want to look back on your high school years and be upset that you didn’t do something, that you didn’t voice your opinion, or that you didn’t get good grades, and you’re stuck trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life. The number one thing is to make your 4 years worthwhile. College and the real world is going to be tough, so have fun and make memories while everything is still quite simple.
It’s been real, Central.
Amy Woods
Brady dunn
I've spent 12 years and eight months in the public school system, and it's all coming to an end in a couple of weeks. I will be attending Oklahoma State University in the fall, a school four hours and 252 miles away from home. All throughout high school, I thought that saying goodbye to Keller would be easy, but now that I'm getting closer to graduation, I'm realizing just how hard it'll actually be. All the friends I've known
since the 5th grade will be going to schools states away, and the friends I'm closest with are staying in Texas while I'll be in Oklahoma. While I'm sad that I'm leaving, I'm thankful for Central High School, because it's one of the reasons I'm who I am today. But all good things must come to an end, so goodbye Central High School; you've treated me well.
It’s so crazy to think that my time in high school is coming to an end. These last four years have been so unbelievable. I have met some awesome people while being here at Central. I have made so many memories here. Going back to freshmen year I was so scared of going to high school because I moved up here back in the middle of my 5th grade year. All throughout middle school I really didn’t have a lot of friends but coming to high school was so different.
My biggest regret in high school is not doing my best. If I pushed myself like I have this year I could easily be a straight A student. Being in Mrs. Brown’s class these last two years have been so much fun because I want to be a sports journalist and she has taught me so much about writing. I will never forget you central high school.
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