Northwood High School • Pittsboro, N.C.
www.nhsomniscient.com
OMNISCIENT - THE NORTHWOOD -
(om-nish-ent) adj.: having infinite knowledge and awareness April 19, 2013 • Volume 6 • Issue 5
What’s Inside...
Art Classes
Art teachers and students discuss why they think art classes are vital to schools.
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Prom? The Omniscient looks at different ways Northwood students have asked their dates to prom.
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Baseball off to strong start
With 11 seniors, the boys’ baseball team has high hopes for this season.
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Coming Out:
Struggling to show your true colors By A lly D eJong C o -Editor
it,” Scott said. Behind a locked door Scott’s mother was in the room texting him but wouldn’t speak with him face to face. She “couldn’t handle it at the moment.” “You’re going to hell. This isn’t right and it’s not natural.” These were the words that Scott read when he told his mom he was gay. Scott, which is not his real name, first knew he was gay in eighth grade, but kept it a secret. “The signs were there that I liked the same sex as me, but I had been denying it for a long
time. When I finally realized who I was, I was scared, honestly,” Scott said. Drew Scott rode in the car Everywith his mom with a lot on his one’s “commind. ing out” “Would you love me no matter experiences what?” he asked. are different, “Yeah, of course, what is this some easier about?” than othScared at the moment, Scott ers, but the replied, “Never mind, I’ll save feelings are it for tomorrow.” pretty much But his mom persisted and the same: kept questioning him over text fear. Fear that people won’t when they got home. be accepting and bullying will “I think she knew for awhile, begin or increase. she just didn’t want to accept “I saw that people weren’t really accepting of gay people, and I didn’t want it to be like that. I wanted to have my same group of friends. I didn’t want anybody’s thoughts or opinions of me to change so I just kept it a secret,” Scott said. Unlike his original expectations, “coming out,” was a big relief for Scott. “I knew my mom’s opinion already, so I had braced myself for that for a really long Ally DeJong/The Omniscient time. As soon as I MANY GAY STUDENTS are afraid to face society’s outlook on homotold her, a weight was sexuality. lifted off my shoul-
ders. I went to sleep happy because now everyone knew and I didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore,” Scott said. Scott said that telling his friends, who he told first, was a whole different experience. “When I told my friends, it was a lot easier. My closest friends, I didn’t even have to tell, they just knew,” he said. Lying and deceiving others was something Scott didn’t wish to do any longer. “Nothing was worse than being in the closet because you knew who you were and that was really hard to deal with, not telling anybody. If you come out the worst thing that can happen to you is ridicule, which can hurt a lot, but you will get over it,” Scott said. Scott has not yet had any relationships with the same sex but says it’s impossible not to know if you’re gay. His sister even asked if this was just a possible “phase” he was going through. “If you see a girl you are either not attracted to them or
“You’re going to hell. This isn’t right and it’s not natural.”
see COMING OUT page 5
Standardized Testing: “A necessary evil?” B y J essica C layton Co -Editor
Standardized testing. Another year brings the promise of scantrons, sharpened number two lead pencils and hours of sitting in silence. There is a growing debate on the worth of these tests. While standardized testing such as the ACT and SAT may benefit some students, some believe the tests are an unfair way to test individual students on their knowledge. “No one likes standardized testing obviously, but it’s something that you have to do,” junior Hannah Holloway said. Testing can be a struggle because while some make good grades, others are anxious in testing atmospheres. “I’m not a good tester, but I make really good grades in school, so I just don’t think it is fair. It is really nerve racking,” said junior Savannah Castor, who has taken the SAT as well as the ACT. Standardized testing is mainly a given because there really is no alternative to fairly test a large group of people’s knowledge, but some believe it to be biased towards people who are able to afford multiple test prep classes or have testing skills. “I sort of view [testing] as a necessary evil,” said social studies teacher Roddy Story, who used to work for Princeton Review and currently teaches the SAT prep
classes. “I do think there needs to be some the information on the ACT. way to compare students across the state “I was prepared for the SAT. I took the and country. I think they could do a better prep class, which prepared me and raised my job with the test.” score a lot. But the ACT, I feel like it was Although standardized testing is good just thrown at me,” junior Lane Poag said. for testing large groups of people fairly, it The ACT and the SAT are known to doesn’t test on certain people’s strengths. word questions in a way that is meant to While there are some who excel at texttrick students. This leads to picking certain book knowledge, others excel creatively. incorrect answers unknowingly. “Some people aren’t good at math “I don’t think it’s fair testing students and science and they express themselves on trying to trick them and make them through the arts,” Holloway said. “If choose one thing when they should really you’re not good at math and science, you choose another,” Holloway said. “I think should be able to express your knowledge it’s ridiculous; I don’t think it tests your in some other way.” knowledge at all.” Some believe the most tedious part of standardized testing such as the ACT and the SAT is the length of the tests, which can be anywhere from four to five hours. “There’s very few times in high school or college or even in your career you have to be focusing that much for that period of time,” Story said. All juniors in North Carolina had to take the ACT on March 5. Most people believe that the ACT was harder than the SAT. While there were numerous prep classes for the SAT, the ACT was more of a surprise to Jessica Clayton/The Omniscient students because of the lack of STUDENTS question if tests such as the ACT and SAT prep classes and knowledge of are a fair test of knowledge.
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The Omniscient
Briefs
Quinn Kerscher/The Omniscient
Roddy Story wins Teacher of the Year Social Studies teacher Roddy Story was named Northwood’s teacher of the year on the morning of April 5. Story was chosen for this honor because of his deep involvement in the school and connections with students. Story says he has “enjoyed [teaching] from day one.” See www.nhsomniscient.com for a complete story.
April 19, 2013
Poetry group visits NHS
The creative writing club, the Northwood Inklings, hosted a spoken word poetry workshop April 15. The workshop featured a member of the Sacrificial Poets, a spoken-word poetry group in Chapel Hill. Students were given an opportunity to work on their writing and share some of their own poetic works. See www.nhsomniscient.com for more.
Northwood student body elects new representatives 2013-14 Student Council
Nija Burnette, President
“As far as what I want to do for the student body, I definitely want to get more students involved within student council, as in running for positions and just seeing what the student body wants to see as far as changes in the school and try to make those things happen. I want to make kids enjoy coming to school. I really want to try to have more fundraisers and a fun day at the end of the school year, [such as] an all day event.”
What the students want
“[I want student council] to be a little more involved with the student body and actually make things happen.” — Rob Hamlet, junior
“I want the school days to be a little more fun; for example, the no shoe day last year. I want the school to be more welcoming because Northwood is not a welcoming place at all.” — Manon MacAllister, junior
Jeremiah Hartsock, Vice President “My main priority is to make sure that everything goes well and there are no problems. As long as people aren’t unhappy at school, I’ll be fine. I’d like to make Northwood a better place.”
“Probably friendliness, because Diane did a really good job of talking to everyone she sees. Also, making sure they’re acquainted with everyone.” — Jacqueline Helgans, freshman
Frances Beroset, Treasurer “Someone that is a good leader and organized. Maybe they could have more sports clubs where they do different types of sports outside.” — Peyton Walker, sophomore
“I would really like to get more groups of people involved in what the school is doing. I want there to be more fun things that people can do.” —Compiled by Jessica Clayton & Dana Walker
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By Becca Heilman Staff Writer
The Omniscient
The arts: necessary or an “accessory”?
As you walk out of your math class, the stress of the day is heavy on your shoulders. You can’t stop thinking about that huge project you still have to do and that five-page paper you have to finish for tomorrow. As you reach your arts class, these feelings melt away. Perhaps it is guitar or dance. Maybe it is art or band. Regardless, it is a place where the pressure subsides. You can let go of all your worries and get into your creative flow. Many students find solace in their arts classes. Some say that, without the arts, their day wouldn’t be worthwhile. “I think the arts are really necessary, especially for keeping kids happy, because kids do better when they’re happy,” junior Allory Bors said. “It can be kind of crushing to have all these classes that you’re not really interested in.” Arts teachers such as drama teacher Lori Major Carlin know the many benefits of the arts. “[The arts] enable our students to explore themselves and explore various topics in a way that they don’t get with multiple-choice tests or in an essay,” Carlin said. “They provide our students with many opportunities for careers and for a happy life.” Many students, like junior Danielle Santos, like the arts classes because of their creative aspects and openness. “I like the art classes because they expand my imagination and I’m not forced to learn anything,” Santos said. “I’m not forced to memorize any vocabulary or take quizzes. I’m not limited in [arts] classes.” The arts classes allow students to express themselves and have fun. In other classes, students might not get to do these types of things, which is why they turn to the arts. “As I’ve gone to high school, I’ve found that, more so than middle school or elemen-
tary school, it’s really boring,” Bors said. “It really crushes your mind, almost.” This is where the arts come into play. They allow students to have fun and find a creative outlet. “I like guitar class because I get to compose music and perform in front of the class,” junior Shea Wood said. “I can express myself a lot easier than I would in a core class.” Some schools are more supportive of the arts than others. Northwood seems to be in the group that favors the arts. “Northwood seems like it revolves around the arts,” freshman Lilly Neal said. Some of the arts teachers here, like dance teacher Leah Smith, agree. “I think people understand how great the arts are here in Chatham County, especially at Northwood,” Smith said. “People have started to wake up and notice that the students that are involved are involved for a reason and that it’s helping them out each day. It’s getting them to school and keeping them at school.” Still, some say that the arts are a waste of time or are “joke” classes. “I’ve noticed a lot of the really smart kids saying, ‘Oh, well you take arts classes, so you’re not motivated,’ or something like that, and I think that’s not fair,” Bors said. There is some controversy over whether arts classes are as important as core classes such as math and science. This might be due to the lack of standardized tests for arts classes. “We’re not measured [grade-wise] the way that other classes are measured, and schools are held accountable to those measurements,” Carlin said. “Since we’re not included in the measurements, we’re looked at as an accessory.” Many teachers and students believe that the arts are of the same importance as the core subjects. “There is a lot of research out currently
about how businesses and employers are feeling like creativity is the number one thing they’re looking for in the workforce, and it’s certainly lacking at this point,” Carlin said. “Students need that knowledge base, but then they need to know how to apply it, and you need to be creative to do that.” One of the struggles of art programs everywhere is how to change the mindset of arts being less important. “The easy answer would be to measure the arts the way that you measure other classes and to hold them accountable, but I’ve served on state committees trying to develop those tests and the arts just don’t translate to a standardized test,” Carlin said. “I think that we have to find meaningful ways to figure out if the arts are making the gains we say
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that we are, and there has to be some kind of assessment. I think that we have to find a way to hold the arts accountable the way that we hold other subjects accountable.” Smith, however, doesn’t know if this problem is big enough to need a change. “You can’t convince everybody that the arts are important, especially if they’re not an artistic-minded person,” Smith said. “When I first started teaching, I was very big on convincing everyone that my job was valid and it was worth something. But I learned that not everyone is going to agree with you. I just have to make sure that my students are convinced that what they’re doing is valuable and worthwhile, and if they’re convinced and if they feel good when they leave my class, that’s what’s important.”
Becca Heilman/The Omniscient
JUNIOR HANNAH HOLLOWAY works outside painting a canvas during her art class. This is her fourth art class at Northwood.
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The Omniscient
On the clock: Teens and their jobs
By T aylor Maloch Co -Editor
and Country Hardware for about two months before she quit her job. “They scheduled me to work every Senior Maria Vanderford was at work weekend from 7:45 in the morning until as a lifeguard watching the pool. One six in the afternoon. I didn’t like that day, a kid with a backpack on fell in the because I didn’t have any free time,” pool and didn’t know how to swim. Maynor said. “I jumped in and got him out. He was Starting a job can be a new experience scared so he ran away, but he came back for most teenagers. Junior Devonte Seland thanked me later,” Vanderford said. lars had an interesting experience when Saving lives is part of Vanderford’s he first started working at Food Lion. summer job at a recreation area called “When I first started working [at The Farm in Chapel Hill. Other students Food Lion], there was this one guy that have jobs at many different places in and had a huge attitude with me because I around Pittsboro. was new and I didn’t know what I was During the school year, some students doing,” Sellars said. work a few days during the week after Another grocery store employee, school. Others who are involved in after junior Spencer Roberson, has worked at school activities and sports work on Harris Teeter for about two months and weekends or during the summer. has already had an unusual experience on Senior Gaby Mehringer, an employee the job. at Oakleaf restaurant in Chatham Market“An employee backed up into a fire place, works on Saturdays as a hostess. extinguisher and it fell and exploded in “I bus tables when people are done; the bathroom; there was a huge cloud of I sit people at their tables, I get them dust; it was everywhere, it was hilariwater and bread… It’s mainly bussing ous,” Roberson said. tables and seating people,” Mehringer With a job comes the long awaited said. paycheck; Balancing everyone has schoolwork and different spenda job during the ing and saving week is hard for habits. most students “Most of to adjust to. In the time I’ll put the workplace, 75 percent of student shifts it in the bank can be difficult because I know to deal with if I keep it and because they can cash it then it be stressful and will be gone create a work just like that,” Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient Vanderford overload. Senior JUNIOR DEVONTE SELLARS is an employee said. Jordyn Maynor worked at Town at Food Lion. As a teen
April 19, 2013
employee, there is always a boss or manager that is in charge of the business. Allison Stokley, who is a senior and an employee at Hollister, enjoys working with her manager. “[My boss] came from Boston to be a manager at our store; he’s really passionate about his job,” Stokley said. “I kind of look up to him. Not only is he my boss, but my friend Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient too. I can always talk to SENIOR ALLISON STOKLEY is an employee at Holhim about anything.” lister as a store model. Junior Evan Seagroves, a new employee at Allen and Son Bar-B-Que, says he likes his boss as well. “[I want to] cre“I’ve known him since I was a kid. ate characters in an He is really polite to everyone and treats everyone with a lot of respect,” animated movie for Seagroves said. Disney or Pixar.” Other employees who students have —Katharina Rudy, to cooperate with might be difficult or junior easy to work with. The employees could range from teens to older adults, so there “To travel around is a wide variety. different countries “I’m the youngest there, [other emand get to meet the ployees] call me baby and stuff like that, they’re all really nice. We all just laugh different people.” about anything,” Mehringer said. —Jesse Womble, Vanderford enjoys working with her senior other co-workers as well. “A veterinarian, I like “That’s probably my favorite part of my job because most of [my coworkers] working with animals are older than I am and they come back and I have always from college during the summer,” she wanted to do it since I said. “The relationships that you form was younger.” with them is what makes the job fun be—Emma Johnson, cause sitting in a chair all day would not be fun if it wasn’t for the people that I’m freshman working with.”
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The Omniscient
Coming Out
you are attracted to them, and you see a guy and you’re either attracted to them or not attracted to them,” Scott said. “I don’t see growing out of this. I can see you growing out of liking Ke$ha or Britney Spears but this is so much more than a silly trend, it’s who you are. It’s like saying to a straight person it’s just a phase that they like the opposite sex.” Being gay will affect a student’s life. While physical abuse is less common, verbal abuse is a daily struggle. According to a recent study in “Gay Lesbian Straight Educator’s Network,” students hear anti-gay epithets 25 times a day, and teachers fail to respond to these comments 97 percent of the time. “One time, I was standing in the lunch line and I was looking over a guy’s shoulder to see what there was for lunch and I might have been a little close to him. He turns around and sees me so I step back a few steps and he turns to his friend and says, ‘I’m about to punch this faggot in the face,’” Scott said. Although the guy in the lunch line didn’t know Scott was gay, it was the casual use of the word that is the most frustrating to him. “I would just get really sad. It just ruins your day when somebody says that. You just replay it in your mind over and over again and can’t get it out of your head,” Scott said. “I don’t see how it’s a valid insult. People think that calling someone gay should hurt their feelings and put them down when really it shouldn’t.” Since “coming out” to people, Scott
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
says he has received less bullying. “Now that I came out, I’m more comfortable. People who are harsh towards gay people, I see them and I hear them still, but it’s not as bad,” Scott said. “I would probably stand up for myself now when back then I would just lay down and complain to my friends, feel really bad, go home and sleep the rest of the day away, come back to school and be depressed.” Familiar names like Tyler Clementi and Jamie Hubley, are just two examples of bullying leading to the worst outcome: suicide. “It makes me feel really grateful that my situation isn’t so severe. I also wonder how it could get so bad that someone could even consider doing that, but then I go to school the next day, and it answers my question. Teenagers can just be so mean sometimes,” Scott said. Unlike other gay students who have awful memories from high school, Scott says things have been okay at Northwood, and has mixed feelings about the future. “In some ways [I think it will get better after high school]. I will have more freedom and I won’t be forced to be around people who don’t accept me,” Scott said. “But my life isn’t so bad in high school. I’ll be on my own, I won’t be able to have teachers to protect me. I won’t be able to call someone out for bullying and send them to [school administrators].” Scott shared advice to lesbian, gay or transgender students who struggle with
“Generations from now, we will look back and laugh because it’s so stupid to discriminate people for something they can’t control.”
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the decision of when to come out. “Anybody who is in the closet, don’t come out because you feel pressured to. Come out when you feel it’s safe for you. You should never be rushed to do it,” Scott said. “You know who you are, and your safety is more important than people knowing that your sexuality is different from others. I would rather you be alive than out.” Still, the hardships of not being accepted don’t stop with bullying; only nine states in the U.S. have legalized gay marriage. “I don’t see why anybody should have unequal rights, on anything. Why should anyone have fewer rights because of who they’re attracted to?” Scott said. “I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon, but to see other people who
really want to and can’t because of the government, makes me upset. Marriage should be defined as people who are in love with each other and share that special kind of interest, regardless of sex.” Many argue that the Bible says marriage is defined between a man and a woman. “It doesn’t affect them and this isn’t their life, so who are they to tell people who they can be with?” Scott said. But Scott is optimistic about the country eventually legalizing gay marriage. “Now it’s sexuality, years ago, it was race. You look into the history books and [our country] overcame those things. Generations from now we will look back and laugh because it’s so stupid to discriminate against people for something they can’t control.”
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REVIEWS
MUSIC
Artist: Tyga Album: Hotel California Go Download: “Molly” Michael Stevenson, who goes by his stage name Tyga, released his third studio album April 9. His aggressive style, coupled with his involved beats, creates a good atmosphere for the listener, until he starts singing. Hotel California has a few notable songs, but Tyga still has not grasped the ability to use lyrics to tell a story or add emotion. His verses tend to feel lifeless, despite how much character he has. The good songs on his album feature other people, like “Molly,” which features Wiz Khalifa. He would not have much of an album if not for the help of artists like 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa or Rick Ross. — Ryan Millis
FILM
The Croods The Croods is a twist of animation, adventure and comedy that features the voices of big names such as Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds. The film is about a prehistoric family who lives strictly by the rules of survival and rarely ever leaves their cave. But when their home is destroyed, they are forced to explore the realms of a new world with an inventive boy who has strange ideas. At the crack of the first joke, the fun, loving family known as the Croods immediately stole my heart. This movie is a must for anyone looking for a good laugh and a fun family movie. — Lauren Merrill
TV
The Walking Dead The crazed zombie apocalypse show The Walking Dead wrapped up its third season a few weeks ago with fans dying for more details. Main character Rick (a police officer in a small town) wakes up in a hospital after being shot, only to realize he’s in the middle of a zombie invasion. Throughout the past three seasons Rick and other survivors have fought for their lives, or become one of the “walkers.” Even though I don’t believe in a zombie apocalypse, this show feels realistic and is always surprising. If you don’t watch this show, catch up before season four starts later this year. — Taylor Maloch
Entertainment
Club Update: SADD preps for prom, Olympiad to States B y T ori N othnagel Co -Editor We’ve all heard the various announcements encouraging students to come to clubs’ interest meetings and saying when the next meeting is, but what do these acronyms stand for, and what do these clubs actually do? Science Olympiad Last year was the first time that Science Olympiad made it to states. Regionals this year were held March 16 at Campbell University and the team advanced to states, which will be hosted by N.C. State April 26 and 27. After a miscount, the team ended up in fifth, meaning they would not advance to states. After a recount, the team ended up eight points higher than the now fifth place team and ended up in fourth qualifying for states. “I felt robbed at first because I thought we did well,” said science teacher and Science Olympiad advisor Victoria Raymond. “I knew we were close.” Science Olympiad is a team competition where students compete in various events ranging from knowledge tests to building events. The material
can include any science related subject like earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. When Raymond came to Northwood there was not a team, though there had been one previously. She revived it and has continued it for the past four years. “I like to get science out of the classroom,” Raymond said. “I like for kids that like science and enjoy this kind of challenge to see that there’s other folks out there that enjoy doing science too. It gets us out of Northwood, and yes it’s competitive. We love to win.” There are 18 students on the team who split into groups of two and compete in a couple of events. Teams can take on knowledge events, building events or general science events. Raymond’s husband Bruce, an engineer, helps with the building teams. The team is now preparing for states next weekend. FFA FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, a club that was made to support agricultural education where students learn about food, fiber and natural
Photo courtesy of Victoria Raymond
PEDRO BECQUER-RAMOS competed at regionals on March 16.
industries with science, business and technology along with production agriculture. The FFA at Northwood is currently working on career development Photo courtesy of Gale Brickhouse events. SOPHOMORE COLIN MARTIN is a member of FFA Club advi- and works with the group’s chickens. sor Gale Brickhouse free tickets to prom. Whoever says they are doing a lot of made the best poster showing events right now. drugs aren’t the normal thing to “We just got done doing the do, won the tickets. It is called safety hunter’s skill contest, a normalcy campaign used to the poultry contest and the tool stress that most kids don’t do ID contest,” Brickhouse said. drugs after prom. “[They] look at power points, SADD stands for Students practice tests and if it’s a hands- Against Destructive Decisions. on contest, like the poultry The club was originally against contest where you have to idenkids drinking and driving, but tify parts of meat, we go ahead has expanded to the issues of and get those parts of meats drinking, drugs, dangerous that they have to ID and get the driving and other “destructive chickens and they practice the decisions.” present and past production on “Last year SADD club chickens.” didn’t actually get a lot of things They competed March 15 in done,” said president Danielle the poultry contest, coming in Van der Lelie. “We had a whole second in their federation and skit last year with prom, but seventh in the region. this year we wanted kids to reThe next event for FFA is ally participate, rather than just equine. Coming in fourth last watch.” year, they competed April 12 and Next for SADD is the 13 in Laurinburg, placing fifth in “Would you be proud?” project, the region and 29th in the state. getting kids to reflect and ask They judge horses, their conthemselves if their younger self formation and different breeds. would be proud of the decisions They also have to give oral reathey’re making now. soning as to why they chose to Van der Lelie encouraged judge one animal over another. members to attend conferences in the beginning of the year to SADD Club come up with ideas for the year SADD club met on March ahead and now their “ideas are 21 to start the competition for coming to life.”
Love in 2nd period: Dating at NHS By Meredith Norman Staff Writer
Relationships are a delicate topic with any age group, but especially during the teenage years. People’s views differ when it comes to the topic of dating in high school. The question that lingers in mind though is this: Is being in a high school relationship worth it? “I think [high school relationships] are pointless because they are a huge distraction from what you are really here to do at school, which is learn,” senior Brooke Jackson said. “I turned in 15 late assignments when I had a boyfriend and I had never done that in my life, and I don’t know anyone else that has done that. I find [relationships] really distracting.” Dating in high school is a welldebated topic because it happens during a point in time where the adolescent brain is still developing. During these important teenage years, people’s opinions differ on if being in a relationship in high school is more of an important experience, or a distraction to more important things like school
and grades. “I do not think teenagers are too immature for relationships,” said guidance counselor Stephanie Blake. “However, I think during the teenage years, your first priority should be getting great grades and focusing on getting into a four-year college.” People believe that adolescents aren’t capable of forming long-lasting relationships, and that teenage dating is pointless because it isn’t going to last. Asking parents or teachers,
people who have the perspective of age, dating as a teenager seems more of a good experience in their opinion rather than a distraction and something fleeting. “I can’t necessarily say - Brooke all relationships worked well for me,” said distance learning facilitator Shannon Wolfgang. “But I think having [relationships] was a worthwhile
experience because it helped me to discover who I am, and what I wanted out of future relationships.” The teenagers who agree that having relationships in high school are worthwhile and Jackson, Sr. good experiences focus on the importance of making memories during a time in your life you’re going to look back on. They also focus on the importance of not taking relationships too seriously, and trying to use them as a good experience for the future in helping them figure out what they would want in future relationships. “[High school relationships] can be enjoyable and help you make more valuable memories,” junior Hannah Boaz said. “I don’t think it is a matter of whether or not teens are mature enough for a relationship, because not everyone seeks the same things in a relationship. It’s important to figure out what you want, and I believe if it is the right person at the right time, anything is possible with dedication and good intentions.”
“I turned in 15 late assignments when I had a boyfriend.”
Ally DeJong/The Omniscient
JAKE SKUMPIJA and HEATHER HAWKINS are a happy couple.
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The Omniscient
April 19, 2013
Springing the Question
Compiled by Lauren Merrill and Taylor Maloch
Students share how they creatively asked their dates to prom and their reactions “We were going to the Art Extravaganza and he asked me if I could pick him up, so I drove to his house and there was a sign on his door that said ‘Drive to the clubhouse.’ So I drove to the clubhouse and there was a sign on that door that said ‘Drive to Rachel’s [junior Rachel Boyle] house,’ and I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ then I drove to her house and there was another sign that said ‘Come back to my house,’ so I go around the corner and he’s on his porch with a sign that said ‘Prom with me?’”
Meredith Lewis and Josh Carver “There was the Art Extravaganza and she was going to pick me up for that. I decided that I was going to spring the question when she got there. I took a bunch of papers and made signs. I put the first one on my door and it said ‘Meredith... go to the front door of the clubhouse.’ She went to the clubhouse and the next sign said ‘Meredith… go to Rachel’s front door,’ (junior Rachel Boyle). The sign on Rachel’s door said ‘Go to my front door…’ When she got to my door I was standing there, I was dressed to the nines. [We have] a sentimental inside joke where I make flowers for her, I take sticks and make flowers. I was holding the flowers and I was holding a sign that said ‘Go to prom with me?’”
Nathan Stephenson and Diane Thompson
“Me and my friend Drew got some candles and set them up outside her driveway and put them in the shape of the letters of prom. We lit them up and I told her to come outside.”
“I was about to go to sleep and he texted me and said come outside, and I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ I was in bed and the lights were off; I was about to fall asleep. So I went outside and I couldn’t see anything and I went down the driveway and on the road he had lit 100 candles that spelled out ‘Prom?’ and he was standing out there with a rose.” “I don’t know if it was his idea or not, but he got a friend to help him light all the candles. He must have worked hard; it was really good.”
Briana Green and Cody Norris “He told me to text him when I got to school and I was walking toward him and I saw the chocolates and teddy bear... so we walked around the school and he said, ‘Wait, there is one more thing’ then he gave me the chocolates and teddy bear and took off his hoodie and I saw the shirt that said ‘Bri prom? yes or no’ and he gave me a marker.”
“I was thinking about ways I could [ask her] because she wanted to be asked in a big way and I was thinking of a t-shirt idea…. The day I [asked her] was Valentine’s Day and she told me, ‘Don’t be that guy who is ordinary and gets me a bear,’ so I got her a bear. I had the shirt under my sweatshirt so I gave her the bear and I said ‘Wait, I have one more thing’ and I started feeling around for something and I took off my sweatshirt and got a marker, and I was like, ‘Will you go to prom with me?’She was really surprised; her jaw dropped. She checked yes of course.”
Pete Lowe and Hailey Pister “Basically I searched a bunch of ideas online and I know how she loves food so I figured that one would be the best one. After her game was over I walked up and had her open the box and then the whole team saw it. It said: ‘I know this is cheesy, but will you go to prom with me?’”
“[Lowe] and my mom went to Domino’s and he wrote on the back of the pizza lid ‘I know this is cheesy, but will you go to prom with me?’ He was at my soccer game and he got it delivered to the game, so after the game he came up to me and opened it.”
Arts after hours: Student musicians at Northwood B y K asey J enkins S taff W riter Music is life for many people at Northwood. It is a means of expression and sometimes an escape from reality. While Northwood has a successful arts program, some students take it upon themselves to continue their musical education outside of school. “Music means everything to me. I couldn’t live in a world without music,” senior Michael Phillips said. Phillips started playing four years ago when he was searching for a new hobby. After trying several new activities, he decided that playing the guitar was for him. He has been playing since then and he is glad that he learned to play. He wishes that more people would learn. “If more people played, then I think they would have more respect for musi‘Purple Bird Aircraft,’” Wood said. cians. Most people have little or no Wood also performs covers of other understanding of the difficulty of being artists’ songs such as ‘Hey Jude,’ ‘Day a musician, and they think that music is Tripper’ and ‘Good Riddance.’ easier than it really is,” Phillips said. “To me music means something to Junior Shea Wood plays guitar, piano, help you escape. It helps you relax. It bass guitar, mandolin, helps you feel better. harmonica, trumpet, It’s a safer and better baritone and tuba. way to keep yourself Most of Northwood, at happy and entertained some point, has heard than doing drugs or him playing in differdrinking alcohol,” ent places around the Wood said. school before classes Junior Jake Marstart. Wood was inlowe was inspired to spired by The Beatles play guitar through to begin learning listening to music. He — Kelly Reiter, “I Fold” works with Wood to music when he was in the seventh grade. He write original songs has written some original songs. and perform some covers. “I don’t have names for any of them “The best thing about playing guitar yet. I have a temporary name for one is that what you make is your own creof my songs until I add lyrics to it. ation. With a little bit of music theory Then I can come up with a real name and practice, it can sometimes be simple for it. Right now the temporary name is to come up with a new great idea for a
“I used to be the queen of kings and my hands full of hearts, Way too smart to go all in, so I split my bets apart.”
song that expresses how you feel about something,” Marlowe said. Not all music is instrumental. Instead of playing an instrument, sophomore Kelly Reiter sings. She got started when she auditioned for a professional children’s choir at age seven, and has been singing ever since then. She is currently in a vocal music class in addition to her work outside of school. She records her own original songs, some of which include “It’s My Heart Anyway” and “I Fold.” Many have also seen her music video for her song “Rednecks & Gangsta’s” on Youtube. “Music makes me happy. It sounds lame, but it’s true,” Reiter said. “It’s something that’s free and can help any situation. It’s a means of expression.” Junior Jeremiah Hartsock has performed in Northwood’s musicals and in concerts with the vocal program, but he also plays guitar, ukulele and bass. He has been playing for about eight years. He says he plays
Kasey Jenkins/The Omniscient
because his grandfather played. “[My favorite thing about playing is] being able to listen to the music and let the emotions flow. I let my guitar speak for me,” Hartsock said. The talent and love for music that these students have makes some people ask if it would be their field of choice for a career. Wood says a definite yes. “I do plan on making a career out of music. I want to be a performer on stage and record music in a studio. If I can’t do any of that, then I would like to teach students about music,” Wood said. Reiter loves music, but she does not know if it would be the right career choice for her. “My career is completely up in the air. I love to act and to sing and perform. I also am a really serious student,” Reiter said. “Entertainment is a fickle industry. People rise and fall quickly, and most never make a living, so I’m realistic and careful.”
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Does high school stifle student creativity?
Staff Editorial The definition of creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas. But there is one problem: the use of creativity is dwindling due to strict lesson plans, too much focus on exams, preparations for college and more. Let’s start with basic learning and prepping in the classroom. In almost every class teachers will tell you to take notes in order to study for future quizzes and tests. Maybe some students find basic note taking helpful, but if students are not taught how to properly retain the information or how to effectively take notes, then how will this work to their advantage when it comes to test taking? This sets the stage for information to go in one ear and then out the other. Students will take basic notes, study the information and after the test, simply forget most of what they had learned. This is because students no longer feel that this information is necessary to know. As students, we are mostly learning how to get around the system. If all teachers want us to know is how to pass tests, then they could be glossing over vital information. Students may realize that a teacher will skip over chapters in the textbook because they don’t feel like that information is important or relevant to future exams. But what if it is? Teachers are mostly concerned that you pass
their class, pass the exam and move on to the next subject. That just isn’t fair to students’ learning and hinders the expansion of ideas and creativity. Core classes are overpowering creative classes. Students are so concerned with taking all of their core classes and getting prepared for college, that they don’t have any time to explore their creativity in many of the arts classes that are offered. Also, many students do not take classes they enjoy because they say they need the honors credit or AP credit to improve class rank. Some schools may even have fewer creative classes because they want students to focus on what they think are the “important” classes. According to Americans for the Arts, about 10,000 arts organizations, or 10 percent of the U.S. total, are at risk of folding. But this could initially hinder a student’s creative way of thinking and imagination. So what if teachers tried a creative approach to learning? Very few teachers will tell you to make up songs or use other methods to learn better and be a creative in thinker. If a student uses their own creative methods, they will better remember all of the information for the test and retain this information for future use as well. Along with this, students should be encouraged to take creative classes and classes that relate to real life in order to promote creative thinking and leadership. Students should be exposed to every way of learning to benefit themselves for the future.
Editorial Cartoon
Opinion
Too much for teens?: School work causes breakdowns Dana Walker Hearing that loud, obnoxious, beeping alarm noise go off at 6 a.m. every weekday morning never fails to remind me just how tired I am from staying up late the night before, working on hours of homework. Too often, high school students end up having emotional meltdowns due to the amount of stress school causes and the stacks of homework teachers give out on a nightly basis. For most of us, these breakdowns consist of wanting to curl up in a ball and cry until we think we feel better, only to repeat it. I prefer not to count the number of meltdowns I personally have had throughout my high school career due to homework, stress and the hours spent on it. Students who have taken similar courses say the same thing. Sometimes it seems as if teachers do not know that many of us have outside activities such as sports, clubs, or volunteer work that tend to occur every day and take up many hours. Or, they are aware of it and still decide to assign hours of homework each night. Depending on the activities in which students are involved, it can take anywhere from two to four hours after school; then, they must go home and start on their homework, which could take as much as six hours. While the amount of homework you have does depend on the type of classes you take in high school, many of us sign up for AP and honors classes because, in addition to personal satisfaction, it has basically become a requirement to get into top colleges.
It is my choice to take AP classes, and, yes, I know that I am signing up for a college-level course, but I also know that in college, while the work is harder, you have several days or sometimes even a week to complete the assignment. Piling on honors, as well as AP class work, all in one night can be a major overload, especially when that is the case almost every night. Daily homework should be a review of what we studied in class that day, not something to be slaved over for hours. I am fortunate in having been taught by a teacher at Northwood who believes in time management. This teacher will assign a fair amount of homework, but we are given around a week to complete it all. This teaching technique is one that I love because it allows me to plan and manage my time wisely, without it all feeling like an overload. High school is supposed to be preparing us for our lives ahead, whether we choose going straight to college or getting an early jump start on our career. A key tool that counters stress is time management, which teachers do not always make so easy. Teenagers today are under so much pressure to make outstanding grades, get into the top colleges and be perfect in today’s society that many of us feel like we’re about to crack. We want to receive that A + on our homework; therefore we spend hours on it each night trying to perfect it. I believe that if teachers were to incorporate time management into their teaching style and spread the workload over several days, students would do better and show an improvement in grades. If students are to be held accountable for completing all homework every night, teachers should be held accountable for realizing the total workload that students have to deal with and the time and effort that goes along with it.
When teaching styles clash, students struggle
feel the most comfortable with, and disregard the preference of students. Not being a visual learner, I learn more during class discussions, and struggle in the classes where notes are the main form of learning. Some teachers either don’t understand that taking notes the entire period often doesn’t work well, or they simply want to Some teachers, who will of course stick to their old ways. remain nameless, have certain styles of Students have to adapt to their new teachteaching that make it difficult for students ers each year, but it should be the other way to relate. Whether it around. Teachers should “Students have to is because they were find the strengths and adapt to their new taught this way, the difweaknesses of the students ficulty of the material, teachers each year, and teach accordingly. This or it is their preference, does not mean teaching to but it should be the each student separately, students struggle to other way around. relate to them. Some rather keeping the preferteachers make you Teachers should find ences of students in mind take notes the entire when teaching. Not only the strengths and class, while others have will it please the students, thought-provoking class weaknesses of the it will better the grades of discussions. the students. students and teach ac- This solution will not As a student, I learn cordingly.” more from having class always work, however. discussions than takThere are many different ing notes. When teachers teach entirely on styles of teaching that students prefer and it the computer, it is easy to get distracted, would be difficult to please the entire class. even though some teachers can watch your All I am interested in is seeing teachers computer. make an effort. All it takes is to find out a My preference, however, has little impact general consensus from their students and on teachers. Teachers teach the way they alter their teaching methods accordingly.
Ryan Millis
-Bailey Miller
- THE NORTHWOOD -
OMNISCIENT
- EDITORS Jessica Clayton Ally DeJong Quinn Kerscher Taylor Maloch Tori Nothnagel
The Northwood Omniscient is published monthly by journalism students at Northwood High School. It aims to present accurate coverage of events of interest to our readers, as well as provide an open forum for the opinions of - STAFF students, faculty and the community. Becca Heilman We welcome letters to the editor, which can Kasey Jenkins be delivered to the advisor in Room 914 or sent to the school’s address. Letters must be signed, Lauren Merrill and the staff reserves the right to reject any Ryan Millis letter containing libelous statements, to edit Meredith Norman for length and to ascertain the truthfulness of Dana Walker the content. Letters should be limited to 250 Tyler White words. Unsigned editorials represent the majority -ADVISORview of the editorial board. Columns, letNeal Morgan ters and cartoons represent the views of the nmorgan@chatham.k12.nc.us authors.
April 19, 2013
The Omniscient
I have better places to be than high school Jessica Clayton
Most of what we learn in high school seems to be either useless or forgotten within a couple of months of studying it. We are in almost a robotic pattern of memorizing information, taking a test on it and then moving on to a new topic completely different from what came before. My teachers then expect me to recall information that we may not have studied since seventh grade. My question is: How are we supposed to remember five years worth of “useful” information and have it on file ready to be used? In my opinion, high school doesn’t work. We are fed countless books of information that are meant to make us well rounded. But, depending on what type of career path a student may choose, most of the things they learn in high school won’t be relevant to their choice. Having required classes is not beneficial to the average student, and that is why there is a lack of motivation amongst high school students, because the information isn’t relevant to their lives. Classes should become more student specific as soon as you enter high school. Students should receive information that will benefit their career and adult life. This would limit the amount of years a student would have to go to college and it would be cheaper. It would also eliminate classroom
boredom because students would be taking classes specific to their interests. We are rarely taught in high school how to be adults. Things such as how to balance a checkbook, how to write a resume, or even ultimately to live on our own go untaught in high school. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how a calculus problem will help me when I’m a broke college student, trying to build a resume for a future job. We are not taught the basic essentials of living on our own. We are expected to act as responsible adults, but are not taught how to do such a thing. So when it comes time for us to become parents, balance a checkbook and run a business, most of us will have no idea. I want to be more prepared for my future rather than learn useless things I’m not going to use, remember, or even pay attention to. High school is that awkward stage between the basic things you need to know about different subjects and what you are truly interested in doing for the rest of your life. It takes up four years of your life and most of that information will be forgotten by the time you start your freshman year of college. In a 2006 release, the advocacy group Alliance for Excellent Education cited statistics that showed math to be the most in-demand remedial class, with 35 percent of all remedial students taking it. Another 23 percent took writing classes, and 20 percent were doing remedial work in reading (http://education-portal.com). I don’t think those four essential years should be wasted on information that will be soon forgotten.
A judgemental society: tattoos and piercings
crazy people. People are allowed to have their judgments, but get to know me before you put me in your stereotype. Fox News reported that what was once one in seven between the age of 18-29 have a piercing other than the ear lobe has now risen to one in three people between that age group. So if it’s becoming such a popular thing to see, If you’ve ever seen me around Northwhy do we still get judged and stared at? wood or know me, you know I have my The most common question I get when eyebrow pierced. And if you don’t know people first meet me or see me is, “Did that me, but were to take a first glance at me, hurt?” They don’t look at me as a person, I’m sure you would probably first look at they look at my my eyebrow ring. piercing. It’s fine You would most with me that people likely come up with ask, but they just your judgment that leave it at that and I’m some rebellious don’t get to know teen that does crazy me really. things. Those of Or worse, you who do know people just stare at me, know that I’m me or my piercprobably completeing. I’m not a ly the opposite. At different person my soccer camp than I was before last summer I had I got my piercing, one girl see me, and neither is any and she said, “Oh other person with you’re the one with piercings. We are the eyebrow ring.” normal people; we I know not many just have another people around have hole through our their eyebrows skin. pierced, but I do I admit I have have a name; I’m Compiled by The Omniscient staff seen some guys not just a person GENERATION by generation, people are with horns in their with jewelry on my becoming more accepting of piercings. head, big gauges face. and lots of tattoos, and I have judged to Just because someone has piercings some point, but they are at that extreme or tattoos doesn’t mean they are a bad side of tattoos and piercings to the point person or make wrong decisions. I chose where I think, “Wow they are so intense, to get my eyebrow pierced not to rebel I could never do that.” I still don’t have against my parents or go on a rampage a right to do that; they are a human being and get more piercings or tattoos; I got it because I liked the look and I just liked it. just like me and made choices to alter their bodies, just like me. We need to I don’t let my piercing define who I am; move away from society’s stereotypes and it’s just a part of who I am. stop judging people so hard just for havSociety has put it into our heads that ing a piercing or tattoo. people with piercings or tattoos are bad or
Tori Nothnagel
How obsessed is too obsessed?
Page 9
a separate Twitter account for Justin Bieber and Scotty McCreery; I think my friends got tired of seeing all my tweets about them,” senior Tia Cerdena said. It’s normal to want to show your love for someone you admire, or its fun to imagine dating them. That’s the whole In this day and age, it’s easy to gain point of being a fan in the first place, is information on a celebrity. Standing in to have fun. the checkout line at the grocery store, At the same time though, there is your eyes are more likely to land on a a level in which being an obsessed fan glossy cover of a celebrity or entertaincan go too far. If you’re in love with a ment magazine instead of a real news famous male celebrity and you’re willmagazine or newspaper. ing to jump on Twitter and attack their We can go online and click on headgirlfriend or send them death threats, lines to see what our favorite celebrities that’s not normal. It’s okay not to like are up to on gossip websites, or we can a person a celebrity dates, but if you’re just log on to Twitter to see their latest willing to seriously threaten someone tweet. In a time where all this informayou don’t even know, I think it’s time tion is easily accessible, it can easily you stepped back and looked at your turn into an obsession. Have people’s life choices. obsession with celebrities become unThe same thing goes for that entire healthy? “cutforbieber” episode. “I have a cardboard cutout of Ian Back in January, after pictures of Somerhalder from The Vampire Diaries,” Justin Bieber smoking marijuana sursenior Danielle Van der Lelie said. “I faced on the internet, the twitter hashtag don’t think that’s going too far. If you “#cutforbieber” began to surface alongwant to wake up every morning and say side pictures of teens with cut arms and ‘Hey babe,’ I think that’s a perfectly wrists. A lot of people took this as a joke, okay thing to do.” and personally I find that sick. Self-harm Yes, I believe that’s a perfectly okay is a serious issue and should not be taken thing to do. I myself am not afraid to lightly. You should never be in a position admit that I have my own cardboard where you think hurting yourself over cutout in my room (Niall Horan of One someone Direcelse’s tion), and actions is having okay. cardboard If cutouts, you’re in pictures a situaon your tion like walls, or that, you followjust need ing said to take a celebrity step back, on Twitand I feel ter is a like you perfectly need to normal evaluthing to do. Meredith Norman/The Omniscient ate some of your “I TEENAGERS easily become obsessed with celebrities and choices. made take their obsessions to extreme measures.
Meredith Norman
Weird ways of the western world: Culture vs. Logic Quinn Kerscher
Do you, sir/ma’am, claim to operate by logic? If you do not, you are wrong. Logic is something you cannot escape. It is the driving force behind the large majority of your actions, and its presence in the human system has probably already saved your life thousands of times. Instinct may be why you keep breathing, but logic—learned reasoning—is why you don’t just casually toss yourself out of in front of speeding vehicles, or stick your hands on hot burners, or drive straight past the sign that says “BRIDGE OUT AHEAD.” Logic is what draws the lines that are nearly impossible to color outside of; it sets up the way in which we humans interact with the world around us, and each other. Logic is what keeps human society from slipping into an anarchic mess. Right? Well, yes. But there are cases in which logic has little power. Ever since humans started living in larger groups, there has been an opposing element, one that has constantly overridden the consistency that
logic has tried to instill in the human experience. This element is culture. Culture was conceived to bring order to societies already ordered, in their own way, by logic, and has been breeding disorder ever since. And, yes, you could argue that culture unites people, but if you think about the problems in the world today, it is also a huge part of what divides them. Culture is, at best, a conglomeration of ridiculous—and often unspoken—rules pretending to be logical. Here is an example of this in western culture (the one I am most fit to comment on): it is status quo for western women to shave their legs, but not their arms. Who decided that? Honestly, it could have been anybody. It could have been you or me or the president or the Duke of Whales. The point is, it was just somebody, just a normal human being with a little bit of influence who said “shave,” and we all shaved. What if they had also had a thing against eyebrows? You know we would be shaving those too. I’m not telling anybody to change the way they are doing anything—ever. Whether you shave, don’t shave, use antiperspirant, wax between your toes— that’s not what matters. I am only asking people to think, because if you don’t at least think about the absurdity of some of these practices, you forfeit, and culture wins.
10
Sports Briefs
Lacrosse stands at 2-9 The lacrosse team lost 5-4 in double overtime Monday night to Roxboro. This lost dropped the team’s record to 2-9. The Chargers are halfway through the season, and hoping to top last year’s win mark of four. The team played one of its best games in a loss at East Chapel Hill, one of the best teams in the state. “We contained them enough by the first half where it worried them. It was a spark, we came out strong, didn’t mess up and we put points on the board,” coach Kevin McDaniel said. Because the lacrosse program is relatively new at Northwood, McDaniel feels his players need to invest more time in the sport. “It’ll take dedication. These guys need to be more aggressive and realize [lacrosse has] become a year round sport, not a season sport,” McDaniel said. “They’re going to have to go to camps over the summer and participate in AAU leagues and play as many pick up games as possible.” Girls’ soccer 7-5-1 Girls’ soccer is currently 7-5-1 with just six games left in the regular season. Senior Gaby Mehringer scored three goals against Granville Central Monday night, helping lead the team to a 9-0 victory. “This season has been full of ups and downs; we have played well at times and struggled at times, but the girls are constantly improving and we are working toward making a run into the playoffs,” coach Kevin Tanceusz said.
Boys’ golf 2nd in conference The boys’ golf team is currently second in conference and has placed second in its last four matches. “We’ve made lots of improvements since last year, our new coaches are really great, and we have a really close knit team,” junior James Calhoun said. Six select golfers competed in a 18-hole match at South Granville Country Club on Monday. NHS finished second and lost by five strokes. — Compiled by Tyler White, Ryan Millis & Dana Walker
Sports
Senior-laden baseball has eye on playoffs
By D ana W alker S taff W riter
as four juniors and one sophomore. Players attribute their success to experienced pitching and “We all know what we’re hitting, as well as leadership on shooting for, but we’re not aland off the field. lowed to say it because we’ll jinx “Definitely our strength is it,” junior Zack Higgins said. our seniors and how close we are. Player after player refused We’re like brothers,” Higgins said. to talk about Senior the team’s Chase Golden “We’re just going to try ultimate goal, persuaded the to survive and advance entire baseball but with 11 seniors returnto shave each round. Our goal is team ing from a their heads for team that went to always improve more the VS Cancer to the fourth in the playoffs then we Foundation round last known as year, expectadid the previous year. BaseBald, tions are high. over We know where we raising The $2,000 for the Chargers are want to go and we’re fight against currently 12-4 cancer. on that course.” (8-0 in conferOver ence) with a — Coach Rick Parks spring break, team ERA of the Chargers 1.79, and will competed open post-season play in May. in a tournament in Wilmington, “We’re just going to try to N.C., facing top ranked 4A teams survive and advance each round. where they went 2-1, losing in the Our goal is to always improve championship game against Forest more in the playoffs than we did Park. But on the way to the title the previous year,” said head game, they defeated teams ranked coach Rick Parks. “We know fourth and sixth in the state. where we want to go and we’re “The competition was really on that course. Hopefully, we do good, we had some game preseverything right and the pieces sure situations, and it was nice to fall into place like they’re supsee some of the seniors step up in posed to.” those key areas,” Parks said. This year’s team is unique in With the early success, Parks that it includes 11 seniors as well knows what his biggest fear is.
Photo Courtesy of Lori Golden
BASEBALL PLAYERS shaved their heads at the beginning of the season to raise money for cancer. “Complacency,” Parks said. “Some of them may feel like we’ve already arrived, and there’s a tendency to coast your way. We play some teams that we can beat up on and if we aren’t striving each and every day to get better, somebody else is.” While Parks says he has not yet seen much complacency, he foresees
it as a possible problem in the future. With Northwood moving up to 3A in conference play next year, the pressure is on for all sports teams to do well this year. “Every year we beat our record, so we have to do better every year, and this year will be the toughest,” junior Cody Farrell said.
the sport; it’s fun and I always try to get better at it,” sophomore Bryant Gutierrez said. Skateboarding is an individual sport that gives skateboarders the freedom to do what they like and try new things. Learning tricks keeps you interested and attentive after you get comfortable with skateboarding. The freedom to do anything you want is what keeps people interested in the sport. “Being able to go where you want and do what you want is my favorite part,” Gutierrez said. Some students also find skateboarding a good way to release stress. “I love it because it’s a good stress reliever and an individual sport, so everything is on you,” senior Pedro Becquer-Ramos said. Sophomore Forest Batsche agrees with Becquer-Ramos. “It puts me in a good mood and clears my head,” Batsche said. Skating does not have to be an individual sport, however. Senior Christian Owens learned to skate with his dad. “I started skating at 15, and I started with my dad, before I found sports,” Owens said. Other things like music and pop culture also influenced Owens. Pop culture can have a large influence on people, and is the reason why junior Evan Seagroves began to skate. “I first started in fourth grade when I saw a television show with Tony Hawk and people looked up to him,” Sea-
groves said. Seagroves keeps skating because “it keeps me active and it is a good way for me to meet new people; it’s a good sport.” Seagroves also competes over the summer and has placed in two different competitions. “When I first went, I got first place in beginners level, then the next year I got second place in advanced level for mini-ramp and the whole park competition,” Seagroves said. Seagroves placed second in a whole park competition competing against skaters his age. “There’s a whole park competition that was five minutes and you skate around the whole park. There are judges at different spots in the park and you get judged on the difficulty of your tricks.” Seagroves also competed in a mini-ramp competition. “The mini-ramp is a half pipe that is four feet high and your goal is to do as many tricks as you can in two minutes,” Seagroves said. Other students choose to skate recreationally. “I started skating at the end of seventh grade when I was bored and didn’t have anything to do,” Batsche said. Batsche believes skateboarding does not have to be about competing, and for him it is simply for pleasure. Owens joins him in this belief. “It’s fun,” he said. “You can just ride, enjoy the wind and do tricks.”
Skateboarding: a sport to “do what you want” By R yan Millis S taff W riter
Skateboarding, a sport originally adopted by surfers to be able to surf on land, is gaining more and more popularity at
Northwood and around the world. Here at Northwood, more and more students are picking up the sport for the first time. “I’ve been skating for three years. My friends started before me and I just picked it up. I like
Photo courtesy of Blake Barnes
EVAN SEAGROVES landing a fingerflip over a gap near Cruizers.
April 19, 2013
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The Omniscient
Under 16 and overqualified: Freshmen playing varsity By T yler W hite S taff W riter
“I think I’m learning a lot on varsity, and it’s good to see people who are older and better, then you can know what to It’s not too often you see a freshman shoot for,” said Ellie Saksa, a freshman in high school playing on a varsity team. soccer player. Athletic greats like Michael Jordan, While seeing skillful upperclassmen Peyton Manning and Ted Williams were play can usually help with making freshnot even on varsity teams as freshmen. man athletes better, it can sometimes be Varsity freshmen are a rare breed, and a little overwhelming. play for many dif“It was kind ferent reasons. of scary at first Freshman because there Chaz Bailey has were a bunch of been playing basupperclassmen, ketball since fifth but you learn a lot grade and was not being with all the expecting to make older players who the varsity team are better,” said his first year in freshman softhigh school. ball player Kayli “[Coach] Blankenship. wants me to Despite the develop, which fact that they are might be why he younger, junior chose me for the lacrosse player team, to get up to Rob Hamlet feels [the upperclasslike it is necesmen’s] abilities. sary for some So when I do get freshmen to play to be a junior or varsity. a senior, I’ll de“I think it’s stroy everybody,” good that [freshBailey said. men] get the Bailey played experience with Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient playing with betanywhere from one to three quar- FRESHMAN ELLIE SAKSA defending ter competition. ters a game, and against Granville Central in a recent game. It’s a good thing felt it was a good way to get the needed we have seasoned players on the team practice to be a successful starter later in when some of the older guys leave,” high school. Hamlet said. “I got to be with the coach, and got Once the fear of playing with older some experience with him,” Bailey said. competition is conquered, there comes Playing on the varsity team makes the sense of responsibility to work hard. other freshmen feel like they are getting “You feel like you have to play betbetter as well. ter because you made the varsity team.
You’re supposed to play better than the other freshmen,” Blankenship said. Freshman Anna Jasper, who plays softball, agrees. “You have to work a lot harder than the older girls to keep your [varsity] spot,” Jasper said. Being a freshman can sometimes lead to different expectations from coaches and even teammates. “[The coaches] usually go harder on us because most of our freshmen are really good, and they expect a lot of us to keep up with the older girls,” Jasper said. Even though some freshmen may be less experienced than their upperclassman teammates, coaches usually have high expectations for the entire team. “They expect the most out of all of us, but they don’t expect as much for us
to have knowledge about the game as everybody else,” Blankenship said. Although there are definite hardships for freshmen on varsity, there are also many good things that come with playing. “I’ve met a bunch of good friends, and I think I’ve gotten a lot better [at softball] because you practice harder,” Blankenship said. Meeting new people is one of the many perks of any freshman’s varsity debut. One freshman from the golf team, Carter Denny, feels that being on varsity has helped him make many new friends. “I’ve hung out with these guys a lot, and they’ve really made me feel like family,” Denny said. “They help me with my game, as well as giving me a few friends here in high school.”
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Student Showcase
Every month we’ll showcase an individual and his/her achievements from an ongoing sport. In order to qualify, one must be nominated by his/her coach for athletic ability, outstanding leadership, work ethic and sportsmanship. — Compiled by Tyler White
Hailey Pister girls’ soccer
Wesley Meyer lacrosse “Wesley is a really consistent player, and always puts points on the board. He’s definitely a key part of our offense.” — Rob Hamlet, Jr.
“Hailey is a fantastic team player and she knows what to say and do to motivate the team.” — Kellsie Weiss, So.
Tyeshia Baldwin girls’ track “She is really motivated to run, and is one of our better sprinters.” – Savannah Jenkins, Fr.
Nitrel Evans boys’ track “Nitrel is a great sprinter and loves to get out there and run. He takes charge of our sprinters and helps them do better.” — Gabe Duff, Jr.
Dana Walker/The Omniscient
Kendall Atwater softball
Lauren Merrill/The Omniscient
“Kendall’s leadership is really motivating, and she is probably one of the best 2nd basemen I’ve seen.” – Shelby Kremer, Jr.
Seth Clark boys’ golf “Seth’s mental game has improved a lot this year. He really cares about the team and the game.“ — James Calhoun, Jr.
Jordan Riggsbee baseball
“He is so good and pretty chill. He’s really good in the field and he’s second on the line up.” — Trevor Hackney, Jr.
Chris Cole boys’ tennis “When Chris plays, he gives 100 percent. He definitely deserves the #1 spot on the team, and works hard every week.” — Ben Cross,
More Money, Fewer Problems: Wealth at NHS By Quinn Kerscher Co-Editor
High school students have little control over the economic statuses of their families. They find themselves in different situations, and because of this, some students have advantages over others. Sonia Logan, a counselor, believes that money affects high school students in many ways. “Students who come from a secure economic background have more opportunities to participate in many more sports, as well as leadership positions on campus and off campus,” Logan said. Senior Jordan McClamroch, Northwood’s top boys’ golfer, believes that money has given him a slight edge over the competition. McClamroch goes to see a personal coach—who has worked with professional golfers—every other week. He has also been golfing since the age of four. “I feel like [money has] given me a little bit of an advantage because [when you have money] you get to play at nicer places, and you get more opportunities to practice,” McClamroch said. In sports, a little extra practice can go a long way. This is true in the arts as well. Freshman Jacqueline Helgans is a singer and actress and is involved in many community activities. She performs and makes recordings with several local singing groups and is a participant in the Playmakers Summer Youth Conservatory,
a coveted local theater program. “[Money has] definitely been helpful,” Helgans said. In addition to the large fee for the Summer Youth Conservatory program, Helgans has two vocal teachers outside of school and sees each one every week. “I have an incredibly close relationship with [one of my teachers],” Helgans said. “She’s been so helpful, she’s given me all these different books… It’s really great [when] you can form [a bond] with someone and they have years of accumulated experience that you can take from them.” Logan believes that positive experiences outside of school—like those that McClamroch and Helgans are a part of— can benefit students academically. Logan says that seeing “themselves in something other than a student role” gives students “a sense of well-being and [they] then try harder.” In this way, many activities can become academic motivators for students—playing sports, participating in clubs and even traveling outside of school. “[Wealthy students are more likely to have] the resources to go to many places and see the things that they are studying. It becomes real life for them, it comes off of the pages,” Logan said. “And, for those who can’t [travel] if you don’t have a great imagination then it just becomes something that I read in a book.” This disconnection can be no fault of the student’s. In households with a low
economic status, where parents have to money—though a factor—is not what reworry about paying bills and feeding ally determines success in the end. children, there is often a greater amount “You don’t really have to have money of stress. Stress has been shown to hinder to get somewhere,” McClamroch said. the state of well-being a student needs to Logan believes it’s about making the successfully learn. Students can also be most of what you have. disadvantaged from an early age in house“I don’t know that it’s all economic holds where parents are not able to set status,” Logan said. “I think [student sucaside time to give their children a better cess] is in the way some students carry knowledge of reading, and help them with themselves.” other school work. In general, students from homes with low economic statuses score ten percent under the national average on national achievement tests in reading and mathematics. Junior Carter Smith is an example of how students can overcome the obstacles brought on by lack of money. “I don’t come from a wealthy family, but I know how to obtain scholarships and grants and how to raise money,” Smith said. “[Because of the money I raised] this summer I am going on a 10-day trip to Nicaragua to work with the local community and learn about the environment and the politics there.” Logan said that the discrepancy in opportunity that students face is “just the way of Quinn Kerscher/The Omniscient the world.” She, McClamroch WEALTH can influence a student’s success in and and Helgans all agreed that out of school.