Park Hill Trojan Issue 3 November 2014

TROJAN the

Evaluation Proclamation With the upcoming mid-term elections, some students will have their first chance to participate in the election process.

The Digital Mask Various anonymous twitter accounts used to harass students have recently surfaced.

Stars and Stripes Students ponder their decision to join the armed forces.

Park Hill High School Kansas City, MO November 2014 Issue 3

TROJAN

4

An in-depth look at PHHS’ fall musical “Once on This Island”.

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As seniors turn 18, they gain the new ability to vote in the upcoming midterm election.

With graduation just around the corner, many students look into future career options, including the military.

Amanda Battmer

16 Humans of PHHS

1

We spotlight those people making a difference here at PHHS.

Reporters:

CONTENTS

Voting

14 Stars and Stripes

Copy Editor:

2

Drinking

A new look at the under-appreciated team members who don’t see as much playing time as their counterparts.

Matt Eblen

Jerron Archer Delaney Noland Andrea Tenney Keeley Myszka Hattie Saltzman Pierce Klempnauer

Students at PHHS discuss the new rash of cyberbulling that has recently taken over social media.

12 Benchwarmers

Editor-in-Chief:

Ally Buchberg

Cyberbullying

After a breakout of on-campus drinking, PHHS takes steps to avoid the trend becoming permanent.

the14-15 STAFF

Photo + Design Editor:

Musical

ABOUT THE COVER

Photo by Amanda Battmer In the PHHS talent show, senior Lauren Handley performed the dance from the seminal classic “Napoleon Dynamite” with senior Madeline Smith.

They placed third in dance. First place winners were: Micah and Mason Marrs in singing, Ryan Decker in instrumental, and Chris Atkins in dancing.

The Trojan, published monthly during the regular school year, is the official publication of Park Hill High School, and is printed by Antioch Printers in Kansas City, MO. All unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Trojan staff. Editorials do not necessarily represent the opinion of the faculty or administration including the adviser. The student body receives this paper free of charge to encourage readership, promote awareness of school and community events, and issues, and to showcase student journalistic work. The Trojan welcomes letters to the editors. All letters must be signed to be published, but may be anonymous if the author chooses. Letters may be no more than 350 words and must be delivered to room 350 ten days prior to publication. The Trojan staff welcomes comments, questions and opinions. Send comments to berans@parkhill.k12.mo.us 7701 Barry Road, Kansas City, Mo 64153, or call 816-359-6238.

ABOUT THE BACK COVER

Photo by Jerron Archer The PHHS cheer team took the state title competing against Staley and the rest of their division. Their hard work paid off.

1- Photo By Gabi Welsh, 2- Photo By Amanda Battmer, 3- Photo by Sierrah Gaines 4-photo By Hayli Brown, 5photo by Keeley Myszka 6- Photo By Matt Eblen

LETTER FROM

THE EAR READERS EDITOR

D

Everyone loves getting older, well up to a certain point that is...

Between the personal victories gained like later curfews and checking accounts to the legal rights awarded by the government such as being able to drive when you turn 16 or legally partake in whatever debauchery may happen on that fateful 21st birthday, with every year older those small personal freedoms become a slightly clearer vision. Yet, people of our generation tend to disregard a few of these given rights. People tend to associate their 18th with being able to finally inhale black tar while ignoring the chance to change the political system around them. In 2012, the most recent presidential election, only 45 percent of people ages 18-29 years of age voted. Less than half. Political apathy is plaguing the often criticized millennials.

No one can be expected to watch hours of C-Span, but maybe watching one less episode of whatever is currently the most captivating thing on Netflix and read an article or two about the current political state of our country.

Become informed, no political standings should be informed by a cleverly composed tweet. It’s a sad day when finally reaching the senior government, or for those who enjoy extra work and college credit AP government, and the political parties are a mystery.

Just because voting is not currently an option for those who fall under the age cutoff, an inability to currently participate in the political system does not constitute an excuse. And, no, being able to regurgitate your father’s opinion does not count as your own, agreeing with those who by which you were raised is not an inherent sin. It is however extremely lazy if looking out of the small worldview in which you have been programmed is simply too overwhelming.

Complaining about every single decision the government makes if understanding how that decision came to be is too difficult for comprehension is, honestly, annoying. Do some research, don’t let your political decisions be easily influenced by any random piece of information that can’t easily be verified. Become politically literate even if it means logging off of twitter and on to C-Span.

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6 5 6

MATT EBLEN

2 3

4 CAMPUS

CHANGING COLORS

Junior Gabby Sweeny went

By Delaney Noland to St. Pius her and Matt Eblen freshman Moving to a new place can be exciting, but it can year. It was also be difficult. Transferring schools brings many hard for her challenges from finding classrooms to making new to leave her Sophomore Michael Adams moved from Staley friends. PHHS tries to make every new student that familiar school his sophomore year. The different academic walks through these halls feel at home. However, and friends policies between the two school districts every school has traditions and differences that set for a different made moving to Park Hill an uneasy process them apart. Here are some students that have seen atmosphere. for Adams. outside of the Trojan territory.

“The hardest “[The hardest part about switching part of switching schools] was transferring the work I did at schools mainly was, Staley to Park Hill,” said Adams. to leave all having Once school started and he became of my closest friends, more acquainted with students, Adams and moving to a school began to enjoy his new school even I hardly knew where more than his previous one. anyone,” said junior “I like Park Hill better than my Sophomore Kelsey Warren moved from PHS Gabby Sweeny. old school mainly because the this year. She had, however, already seen parts of Sweeny quickly people that go here are generally Trojan territory and now finds since she went to adjusted Congress Middle more open to new and different School when she was in seventh grade.

PHHS to be the best place types of people. The kids are “The hardest part about switching schools was for her to spend her high nicer,” said Adams. probably trying to make new career. friends.

I had school friends Along with the regular on both sides because I went to middle school half “I for sure love Park Hill expected changes that come the time at Congress and half at Lakeview but I way more in comparison to with changing schools, definitely lost a lot of friends that I did have I think this is because I just Pius.

Adams noticed a slight because we haven’t communicated in a long time. have become so close with such a difference in how the Finding my way around the school was really hard wide variety of people here at Park school ran outside of just too,” said Warren. and have been given learning Hill academics.

Despite the general awkwardness that were never given of starting opportunities “Staley has early a new school and reacquainting with her previous to me at St. Pius,” said Sweeny. release Thursdays acquaintances Warren has found PHHS to be Sweeny says that she finds instead of late start beneficial when it comes to her social life. at PHHS to be more education the Wednesdays. The “Honestly I probably like Park Hill better just beneficial to her than the curriculum at lunches are a lot because the people here are a lot nicer not just different because St. Pius. friendly, and at South people are friendly I guess everyone has “The major differences between the but they’re also really stuck up and kind of twolunch at the would mainly be the education. schools faced.

With people here, when you have a friend same time at At Park Hill my teachers care, they focus you know that they’re a genuine friend and also Staley,” said on individual learning so much more and everyone was really welcoming,” said Warren.

Adams. s think the curriculum is harder, but so I While finding the social transition between much more beneficial. Also the programs and restis dest the two schools easier than expected, the jump extracurricular things are a lot more out there between the academics of the sister schools proved vero at St. Pius, unlike at Pius people welcome than to be rockier. Due to different academic standards molend you and encourage you to join the groups at Park and credits that may not transfer, the change to Hill,” said Sweeny.

PHHS provided an interesting educational path Education is not the only major difference “It was really hard because they basically said between the two schools. Traditions are an that they had no room for me and that all of their important factor that make up every school and classes were full. A lot of my classes got jumbled up because here you have to take a history credit shape the entire high school experience. sophomore year and at South you don’t have to, “The only tradition that I remember from Pius that and it’s not required but it is really recommended Park Hill does not have is the girl’s powder-puff game, that you take two math classes and at South you is the only thing I can recall. The one thing I love which don’t have to take two math classes each year at Park Hill is singing the school fight song with the whole so even though I’m on the accelerated track I’m volleyball team coming home from every away game, those still behind because I’m taking Algebra II when I the moments I will never forget about Park Hill,” said are should be in Trig,” said Warren.

Sweeny.

STALEY

SOUTH

ST PIUS

NOT YOUR AVERAGE SHOWTUNE

By Delaney Noland

The season of fall brings a warm welcome complete with colorful leaves and football. For some it is a time to relax and enjoy the season, but for the Park Hill Drama Department, autumn is anything but peaceful and relaxing. It is a stressful time filled with lengthy rehearsals, backstage work, and the ever important cast party all in preparation of the fall musical.

This year’s fall musical, “Once on This Island” is a highly original one-act musical with a Caribbean spin on the famous story, “The Little Mermaid”.

The musicals for Park Hill are chosen

by Choir Director Dr. Keith Currington and Drama teacher Jennifer Sandau.

“We thought that “Once on This Island” had a lot of really fun music, an interesting plot line, and it had the right characters for the students that we had audition. It’s a show that isn’t done very often so it’s fun for people to see something new,” said Sandau.

“Once On This Island” is a drastically different show than the fall 2013 musical, “Hairspray”.

“For a musical like “Hairspray”, people have it set in their minds about what the characters should look like, how they should dress, what the songs and sets should be. A lot of people already have a preconceived idea of what it should look and feel like when they watch it. But when you do a show that a lot of people don’t know, then I think it gives you a little more freedom as far as you can be more creative with some stuff and make it your own. We can have a unique set that doesn’t have to look a certain way, and we can have costumes the way you envision them. The students get to be more of designers for everything because there’s not a, this is what Tracy Turnblad has to look like,” said Sandau.

Although having a far from classic musical allows more room for creativity, it does have its difficulties.

“A lot of people didn’t know what [Once on This Island] was when we auditioned, but I think we

might have a bigger audience because people are curious about what it is. I like this musical because it’s not the classic big show numbers that most people are expecting.

I know that some people are finding some of the choreography to be harder because it is so different than what we are used to,” said sophomore Eleanor Panico.

While many aspects of this musical are different from shows in the past, the amount of hard work in preparations for this production is not unlike previous performances. Everyone from the leading role to lighting technician must pull their own weight and give the show every drop of talent they have to ensure a successful show.

The work that goes into this may sometimes go unnoticed by spectators, but it does make for a wonderful show.

Eleanor Panico is a featured ensemble member for “Once on This Island” and is also the production’s props master.

“I have to find all of the props and they aren’t listed so I have to go through the entire script to see what is needed. I also have to find ways of how to make them. The props have to work for the character using it, so if it doesn’t work well for them I have to remake it. The hardest part of being props mistress is finding the time to do all of that and also people to help me with the props,” said Panico.

Every show has its difficulties, and for the drama department, they find all of the stress and long rehearsals to be worth it when it comes down to finally performing in front of an audience. “[Being in theatre] is a lot of work and it is really stressful, but on show night it all comes together and it’s an awesome moment to see that we really did all of this ourselves,” said Panico.

6 FEATURE

THE

DIGITAL

Trends - change #Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once. #81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person. #90% of teens who have seen social-media bullying say they have ignored it. #Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse. #Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying. #Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide. #About 75% of students admit they have visited a website bashing another student. #Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying #About 1 in 5 teens have sent sexually suggestive or nude pictures of themselves to others #1 in 10 adolescents or teens have had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of themselves without their permission.

MASK

by Keeley Myszka

Every year, 4500 teenagers commit suicide every year due to cyberbullying. Whether it’s on Twitter, Facebook, or other social networks, teens are participating more and more in cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying is something that we’ll never be able to control. We will always have those people that love to do those things without a true identity. You can do and say what you want,” said technology specialist Barbara Rhodes.

Teens have found an easier way to bully others without the person knowing who it really is. Social networks don’t require true identification so anyone can go online and pose as someone they’re not or pose as no one at all. Anonymous accounts have become an issue over Twitter regarding PHHS. Students using anonymous accounts are trying to humiliate others, but sophomore Cayli Beer isn’t letting the anonymous accounts get to her.

“I’m really controversial and as a whole I don’t exactly follow the flock. I tweet things that can be extremely upsetting to people and they get really uncomfortable about it,” said Beer. “I think that cyberbullying is pathetic and it’s becoming too big of an issue. People think it’s comical. All their friends find it really funny like ‘oh, let’s gang up on this person because they’re different or they’re weird.’ The school doesn’t handle cyberbullying well at all.

I haven’t reported anything because I don’t let it get to me but I think someone did take it to the administrative office but they didn’t do anything because it’s outside of school. I understand that because they can’t control what we do outside of school but it kind of gets brought into school when it’s upsetting the kid so much that they come to school bawling.”

Along with the rise in cyberbullying a new subsection of the phenomena has sprung out.

In 2010 the documentary Catfish was released.

The movie told a story of a man who had started a relationship with a girl online, and the girl turned out to be an entirely different person.

The movie even spun off an MTV series. The catfisher tricks people over social media into emotional or romantic relationships.

CYBER BULLYING GOOD PULL QOUTE THAT IS AWSOME BeatBullying @BeatBullying

About eight years ago in the state of Missouri, Megan Meier was cyberbullied so often that she completed suicide at the age of 13. The boy online she was talking to turned out to be the mom of one of her middle school friends who had recently had a falling out.

Her mom, Tina Meier, created the Megan Meier Foundation, to help spread awareness, education and promote positive change regarding surround bullying and cyberbullying.

“I wouldn’t say I was cyberbullied but I was just looking for someone, like a friend, so I started poking around on Tinder and stuff,” said senior Joey Gorombey. “We had plans to hang out. We went to the movies and had a good time. I later found out that she was a 12 year old that had done herself up to look about my age. It wasn’t like a date or anything; we were just friends. What scares me most is what trouble could’ve come from it. Overall it was just something I should have been looking out for. I could’ve avoided the whole mess if I was careful. I didn’t think she would lie. It made me more careful, I don’t trust as many people online now as I used to.”

Cyberbullying mostly affects adolescents around the ages of 12-17. Out of the youth on social networks, 81 percent say that it’s easier to get away with bullying over the Internet than it is to physically bully one another. New programs have been made trying to put an end to cyberbullying like ‘StopBullying’ and ‘StompOutBullying.’ These programs go around to schools and talk to the students while also having information and videos on their websites.

“Cyberbullying is a big thing now. You can get on the Internet and say anything to anybody,” said Rhodes.

Cyberbullying can happen any day at any time and the news spreads fast. Once you post something on the Internet, it’s going to be nearly impossible to delete.

MeganMeierFoundation @MeganMeierFndn

CybersmileFoundation @CybersmileHQ

8 COMMUNITY

SCHOOL

by Jerron Archer and Matt Eblen

SPIRITS

Recently, PHHS has discovered a new rash of on campus drinking. Whether while cheering on whichever sports team goes best with vodka or using the liquid courage to be just a little bit better on the dance floor, a new light has been shown on the ever present issue of teen drinking.

“I just feel like it’s idiotic that someone would consider drinking in general, but especially coming to school grounds drunk. It just doesn’t make sense. If you’re going to get intoxicated, just stay where you are and get drunk. Don’t come to school grounds and risk getting in trouble for being drunk.” said senior Colston Diblasi.

The desire for a temporary pleasure along with peer acception has been around for generations. Teen drinking, unlike many problems currently facing the millennials, is not new. Yet, the decision to bring it onto school grounds has caused some interesting side effects, a notable addition to the football team’s winning season.

“It mainly happens at football. I think people think they are going to have more fun if they’re drunk. I go sober and I still have lots of fun, so I don’t see the point. A lot of people drink before the game and leave it in their cars,” said senior Christian Bosmediano.

PHHS is not the first school to have this conflict, however. A high school in Perrysburg, Ohio currently conducts random alcohol tests, and has done so consistently throughout this football season. Students don’t know if they will get tested; instead they choose an object upon entering the stadium. Some objects indicate that the student will undergo a breath-analyzer to assure administration that they are sober. According to the school, students have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting tested per game.

They do this to give students yet another reason to ‘just say no’ to underage drinking.

“I would hope we don’t get to that point. Schools who have those precautions most likely have had multiple problems with it, which rendered them to do those random checks. Obviously [PHHS is] not in a position that I feel we need to do that at this point in time. I hope that students understand the severity of that, in order to avoid further issues from occurring,” said assistant principle Dr. Corey Willich.

The facts behind teen drinking are overwhelming. The likelihood of a teenager at least trying alcohol before they graduate into their early twenties is extremely high, and the tendency for adults to rage against this behavior is just as likely.

“We follow the school handbook, and it specifically outlines in there what the processes are if a student were to be either under the influence or in possession of alcohol. It warrants in the handbook, as well as the website, the number of days for that suspension. The possession itself may be rendered differently than that of being under the influence,” said Willich.

Some students don’t think the drinking epidemic is as big of a deal as some make it out to be, however.

“Teenagers have been drinking forever, its not a problem with our generation. I don’t see why people are suddenly freaking out about it,” said senior Sara Dedic.

“

If you’re going to get intoxicated, just stay where you are and get drunk.

Don’t come to school grounds and risk getting in trouble for being drunk.

-Colston Diblasi

”

72% of students drink alcohol while in high school

2

billion people across the world consume alcoholic drinks

1 in 2 13 year olds have consumed alcohol

16

average age of first consumption

N O

N O

Missouri students who are eighteen or older will be able to vote on a topic that is close to home. A Constitutional amendment to Article IX has been suggested to base a teacher’s salary on student performance.

Administrators of the school would evaluate the results of the students, which would mostly be from standardized tests.

Teachers could get a raise if their students’ scores improved and potentially lose their job if the scores dropped. Another consequence of low scores could be that the affected school district would lose state and local funding. The Missouri government believes this will save money, but several people disagree with the amendment.

“It’s stressful to think that the amount of standardized tests that we already have is going to continue to increase so that teachers can keep their jobs,” said senior Kaity Hodge. “It’s like learning is becoming more and more on the back burner. They’re taking the focus off making sure we get our education.”

Teachers that run classes without standardized tests - like photojournalism, PE, and art courses - will lack a base to be evaluated on, which is what many view as the main obstacle in passing this amendment. Some

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wonder if the Missouri government would spend money to put together tests for these classes or if the classes - and thus the teachers - would be removed altogether.

“Teachers could receive lower pay than they deserve if it is passed,” said senior Lynn Tran.

With many seniors reaching eighteen, some are deciding that it’s time to learn more about politics.

“Now that I am old enough to make a difference, I have been trying to make sure I know about the things that are going to be on the ballot,” said Hodge. “Before I was old enough to vote I just figured it wasn’t my problem.”

Hodge was not alone in this belief that politics are not a concern of young people, but this belief leads many students to being unaware of the changes occurring around them. The changes they are aware of are often the extremely controversial or are the new policies made at the executive level - like health care, abortion, and gun control.

“Because I can’t vote, I’m not interested in [politics] yet. I want to know what I’m voting for before I do,” said junior Taryn Huffer. “Voting is more than picking a name for your party or whoever has the best commercial. With the little I know about politics, I’m not sure I should vote, but I’d still want to.”

Teenagers tend to show interest only in topics that affect them directly, which isn’t unexpected. Students are very aware, for example, of the laws that affect their paycheck. In 2015, minimum wage will be raised 15 cents to $7.65, which has caught some attention from teenagers. Students understand that politics are important when it affects them directly, but many assume that most changes won’t make life any different for them.

“I would vote if the matter was important to me,” said Tran.

What upsets some, however, is when people don’t vote and then complain about the state of the country.

“Voting is one of the most important things because it’s how you contribute to the country,” said Hodge. “If you don’t vote the decisions are made for you, so if you aren’t going to vote, you don’t get to complain.”

By

10 FEATURE

Teacher Evaluations: Based on Student Performance?

Missouri Voting Issues 1

The measure would allow relevant evidence of prior criminal acts, also known as propensity evidence, to be admissible in court in prosecutions of sexual crimes involving a victim under 18 years old.

2

This measure would implement teacher performance evaluations that would be used to determine whether a teacher should be dismissed, retained, demoted or promoted.

3

This measure would permit voters, in years when the legislature provides funding, an early voting period of six business days prior to and including the Wednesday before Election Day to cast a ballot in all general elections.

4

The measure, upon voter approval, would prohibit the governor from estimating available state revenues when making budget recommendations to the legislature in situations where estimated available state revenues are determined from proposed, but not yet approved, legislation.

“Before I was old enough to vote I just figured it wasn’t my problem.�

- Kaity Hodge

E R O M E S ’ IT N TH A TH AME G

12 SPORTS

e c i f ri t c a s o n s e e t l t l i e i l p w h At e des they tim ing if ench b w e o h kn ave t le

By Matt Eblen and Pierce Klempnauer

From the countless hours spent at practices to the exhausting process of conditioning, the life of an athlete often revolves around their sport. However, this complete dedication doesn’t always result in playing time. Many student athletes will spend hours practicing while spending only a fraction of that time playing in the actual game. Benchwarmer, originated in 1892, has been used for years to describe a team member that is dedicated, despite the fact that they are rarely in the game.

Some sports easily allow players to regularly come in and out of the game. Other sports, however, do not. This year the seniors on the Lady Trojans tennis team were put in an unusual situation.

Due to a rule, seniors who play tennis but are not on varsity receive no playing time. Since tennis only has six varsity spots, those seniors who did not make the cut created a ‘senior team’.

Senior Alexis Shokere was not a part of varsity this year, she did however continue to participate in the newly created senior team.

“If you are not on varsity by the time you are a senior, you do not play. For tennis we had a lot of senior girls this year and a lot of us were not on varsity. So we formed what was called a senior team. The team was between junior varsity and varsity and we did not have a lot of playing time. The only time we got to play a lot was at practice. As far as meets and tournaments go we did not play very much,” said Shokere.

Despite the knowledge that they were not going to receive much playing time, especially in the hectic senior year, this group of girls continued on.

“I am not a quitter. Every time I start something I will not quit it. I knew that playing tennis was more of a bond between me and my friends, a new way to meet people and get to know other people another way other than just in the classroom,” said Shokere.

Benching is almost unavoidable when it comes to high school athletics. Teams are not recruited, they are chosen from a student body, and many people view these formative years as a chance to play the sport in spite of talent levels. The new JV girls soccer coach Callie Lucas is looking forward to experiencing the various challenges and rewards that come with being a coach. And in her experience of being an athlete, the values of the coach reign supreme.

“It’s all about the values of the coach. If the coach values winning more than anything, they are not going to care about the attitude of the player or how hard they work on and off the field, they are going to play the best players,” said Lucas. “Most of the time, especially in high school sports, it’s not all about everyone getting a chance to play, it’s about winning most of the time. But I still feel like the kids that work harder should still be on the field playing because they deserved it, rather than kids that have natural talent. If you have a bad attitude and don’t work hard on and off the field then I don’t think you deserve that playing time,” said Lucas.

In contrast, some believe that just like in the real world, ability

should trump all. The stars of any team have earned their playing time.

“The stars are the stars because they have been there for x number of years and have worked their butt off every day after school and during the summer. Most people don’t quite realize how much football takes. Coaches recognize those who come in and put in their time. There’s no special reward for just being a starter other than maybe some playing time,” said sophomore Christopher Swett.

Yet, not all students find this idea to be true. Some students believe that the attitude of the player is just as important as their physical ability.

“Playing a sport is not only about skill, it is about good sportsmanship. If you don’t have that, you are no better than a novice player,” said Shokere.

Greg Reynolds the current head baseball coach here at PHHS. During his time coaching Reynolds has developed various techniques to handle the benchwarmer stereotype.

“I don’t like the word benchwarmer,” said Reynolds.

“Benching happens in every sport but in a sport like baseball where you can’t come back into the game, you could go days or weeks before a kid gets a chance to play, but you have to be at your peak to perform when you get your chance. But in a sport like football or basketball you can come in and out as much as you want, so it is easier to give everyone an opportunity. We make sure everyone has a job, even if you’re not the guy hitting the home runs or making the tackles, your job is still as important as the next guy.”

The idea that benchwarmers do less than their star counterparts is often refuted. Junior Logan Chrinchlow views the so called benchwarmers as any ordinary member of the team.

“Most see the people that sit on the bench as not important to the team because they don’t get points or whatever you have to do to win. But when I see people that sit on the bench I see that they work as hard as they can and give everything they have to help the team win whenever they get into the game,” said Chrinchlow.

Benching is used for various reasons and at various skill levels. It does not stop at high school and it does not always mean its negative connotation.

“Being benched isn’t always a bad thing. Billy Butler was benched for about a two week stretch and people looked to him to see how he would react. And since he has been put back in the lineup, he is a vital part of our [Royals] team,” said Reynolds.

However benchwarmer is defined, some still believe that there is more to being an athlete than being the star of the game.

“You have to be more than a good athlete, you have to be a good person. You should have respect for the game that goes beyond any selfish interest,” said Shokere.

“You have to be more than a good athlete, you have to be a good person. You should have respect for the game that goes beyond any selfish interest,” - Shokere

14 LIFE

By: Amanda Battmer

STARS and STRIPES

Despite day-to-day differences and individual struggles, there is nothing better, perhaps, at uniting the people of a country than support for their nation’s troops. With Veteran’s Day quickly approaching, it’s only fitting to honor the people of Park Hill that are involved in the process of fighting for our country.

Senior Jacob Macan plans on joining the Marine Corps, and leaves in two months for boot camp in San Diego, California.

“I’ve always wanted to, since I was about fifteen. Just their core values - honor, courage, and commitment - really incited me to join it,” said Macan. “It means a lot to me. I get to protect and serve my country and follow in the footsteps of my ancestors before me that have done the same.”

Macan plans to join the Reserves. Marines in the Reserve go through the same 12 weeks of Recruit Training, work in the same Military Occupational Specialties as active-duty Marines, and are required to meet almost all the same eligibility requirements.

Senior Renee Smith has also considered joining the military, specifically the Army Reserves. In the Reserves, soldiers still have a civilian job, but train each month close to home and complete a two-week training exercise once a year. This way, they will be trained and ready if called.

“Right now I’m looking at the Reserves, because you’re away less, and for me one of the main reasons I haven’t signed yet is because I’ve never been away from my family for very long,” said Smith.

Park Hill alumnus Cody Young has wanted to join the Army since he was a little kid, and recently began basic training.

“I grew up in an area that wasn’t the best back when I lived in Michigan, and I always saw people doing wrong and wrong done to them. Starting at a young age I wanted to help people, and what other way than to serve this country? But my dad was my biggest influence on joining the army,” said Young.

Basic training is the process of taking in a civilian, breaking them down, and building them back up as a soldier ready for combat. Young’s training takes place in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and lasts about nine weeks. Young prepared to take on the task of gaining militaristic discipline by learning from his recruiters and enrolling in Future Soldier Training (FST)—a course that teaches all the basics and serves as a sort of pre-boot camp.

There are five military branches: The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Junior Jillian Roepe has been considering becoming a part of the military’s newest branch, the Air Force. Roepe was inspired to join this department by alumna Sydney Holtz, who has attended the ROTC program at KU. Roepe hopes to either follow in her footsteps or to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

“I would like to do linguistics or just stuff on the ground, and then geospatial intelligence. That’s just where you’re stationed somewhere, and it’s pretty top-secret. You look at a map and then you look for things that are out of the norm and you just kind of report it back up there,” said Roepe. “I think [being in the armed forces] is really important. Especially for women nowadays, it’s still not necessarily equal yet there, but I mean, I think that the more steps we take the better so I’m willing to try it out and see how it goes.”

Jobs in the military vary in responsibility, but all branches are essential in accomplishing the overall goal of defending the country.

“Being in the army means everything in the world to me. I’m beyond grateful that I am a part of something with so much rich history, so many values, and that’s bigger than myself. I wouldn’t give up the army lifestyle for anything,” said Young.

As you grow older, you take on more responsibility.

You have to let go of the days of playing with friends and watching cartoons and begin getting ready for the new chapter of your life.

In many high school students’ cases, this includes getting ready for college and adulthood.

Many teenagers attempt to hold on to their childhood as long as they can, hiding from the lurking shadow of reality.

Kids don’t miss a single Halloween. Little boys can dress up and be a superhero, cartoon character, or scary movie villain. For little girls it’s a night for them to dress up as something as cute as a lady bug, to being their dream of a Disney princess, dancer, or maybe a vampire.

Halloween is a very popular holiday as a child, but in the recent years, it has become a popular holiday for the high school age group as well.

Each year, more and more people between the ages of 13 to 19 are out on Halloween night, dressed up in costumes with their friends, and grab pillowcases full of candy from houses in multiple neighborhoods.

Senior Timmy Aranda is one of those many people that goes out on Halloween, carrying a candy bag and no shame.

“I go trick-or-treating every year. Every single year. I have been since I was little and I’m going to this year. I just like to be a kid. As a kid you have no worries. As a teenager you have all of these worries, but as a kid, you don’t,” said Aranda.

As you grow up, you tend to outgrow the days of trick-or-treating. Every year, there are kids getting older, hanging up their costumes for the last time. But, with those handing out candy instead of trick-or-treating, there are people that come to their door as old as, or even older than, the person handing out candy to them. Many people have their say as to whether or not there is an age when a teenager is “too old” for Halloween activities such as trick-or-treating. Though many people on Halloween do go out and actually trick-or-treat, there are others that decide their Halloween night should be filled with tricks instead of treats.

As a young child, you are told the tales of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. As a child gets older, the tales die out, learning that Santa and the Easter Bunny were simply your parents attempting to keep your childhood fantasies alive. To senior Victoria Handford, keeping her childhood alive is becoming more important as graduation day gets closer.

“High schoolers revert back to their childhood because, let’s face it, growing up is scary. Going to college is even scarier. The fact that us seniors will be on our own in the very near future is something that is kind of hard to handle, so it’s fun to enjoy being a kid while you can,” said Handford.

Handford likes to keep her childhood alive as much as she can by reverting back to simpler days of childhood. She attempts to enjoy what she has left of her younger years while she can.

“I try to keep my childhood alive by doing little things like going to the toy store, or watching Disney channel (on occasion), or playing with play-doh,” said Handford.

As teenagers are getting ready to enter adulthood, the inner child resurfaces, wanting one last go around before it turns into that box of childhood memories stuck in their parents’ attic. It has turned into a mid-life crisis, arriving 30 years early before they begin the never ending life that is adulthood.

The acts one does as a small child are brought out again in the late years of being a teenager, but some may be taking the childhood thing too far. There are adults that do channel their inner child, but know the limits of it.

“Childhood from a scientific standpoint ends at puberty. So for females that is around 10-12 years old, and for boys around 12-14.

With that being said, I think psychologically childhood ends when the ‘child’ is forced to take on adult responsibilities, whether they are prepared for them or not,” said psychology teacher Daniel Motta.

As the years pass, one must say goodbye to their years of juice boxes and playing on the playground with their friends.

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How old is too old for a kid to be a kid?

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HUMA of Park

16 SPOTLIGHT

Teacher of Park Hill Commonly found singing the blues after hours, custodian Greg Willis has been employed by PHHS for the past eight years.

“I basically needed the job and came here to apply for a job, got it, and I’ve been here ever since and loved it.”

Willis has not yet discovered a single comparison between his inner city high school and PHHS. He has noticed, however, the difference in opportunities available.

“Every sport you kids can play under the sun. If you want to start a club, you can find a teacher to do it. I think we had football, basketball, and wrestling. I honestly don’t remember us having a band. I’m sure we did, I just never saw them.

Because you didn’t stay after school. If you did, there’d be

By: Ally Buchberg and Hattie Saltzman

fifteen people outside waiting to jump you. It didn’t matter whether you were white, blue, black, or green.”

He also appreciates the hard work put into making sure the school is well run. The only thing he disagrees with is the unnecessary criticism from the students.

“I didn’t know what a good school district was until I came here. When I hear kids complaining at this school, I’m like ‘what do you got to complain about?’ You’ve got it made. If I had half this stuff at my school, I’d have thought I went to Heaven. Even as a custodian, I got no complaints. I have no complaints whatsoever about working here. I love it. I’ll work here until they throw me out or I can’t move anymore.”

“When I’m not working here, I’m just having fun.

I will never grow old. Just call me Peter Pan.”

ANS f Hill

By: Jerron Archer

Student of Park Hill

Senior Harim Lee is not your typical high school senior.

He hasn’t lived in the Park Hill district throughout his life, like a vast majority of students that attend Park Hill.

In fact, he has only been in the United States for a few years. Harim was born in South Korea, where he grew up. He then moved to Israel, where he lived until he was a sophomore in high school. That year he, along with the rest of his family, moved to America, where he started attending Park Hill.

“I was excited to move to America. I love the freedom I have here. The freedom to say whatever I want, and the freedom to express any religion I want. I didn’t have that much freedom in any other place I lived,” said Lee. Moving from place to place isn’t the only thing Harim is good at. He also speaks three different languages fluently: English, Arabic, and Korean.

Although he enjoys his life in America, he misses his

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old life in countries that aren’t so foreign to him.

“I really miss all my friends back in Israel. I love life there. The culture, the food, the people, the traditions, I even miss the tension that goes on there sometimes because I love Israel that much,” said Lee. Lee also misses playing soccer – something that has been a constant throughout his life. He decided to not play for Park Hill his senior year, although soccer has been a constant throughout his life.

“I’ve been playing soccer almost my whole life. I decided not to play senior year, because I want to focus on my academics. I really want to do well on the ACT and the SAT, while doing well in all my classes to get into college. That takes a lot of studying and time, so I need to focus on that instead of soccer,” said Lee.

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Park University 2014-15

CAMPUS VISIT DAYS

Discover and explore all we can offer you at an exciting Park University event or a personal campus experience.

SPRING PIRATE PREVIEWS

Get hooked. Stay hooked. Join us for one of our Spring Pirate Preview events.

Juniors starting college in Fall 2016 are invited to one of these special days to help you get a jump start on your college decision. The visit will begin with light refreshments along with an introduction and welcome to our campus. You will then have the opportunity to mingle with our devoted faculty and staff. We have representatives from every department eager to speak with you and help you decide where you fit in as a Park Pirate! Then, an admissions counselor will provide you with a fun and informative presentation about the admission process and the various scholarships Park offers. Following the presentation, you will receive a guided tour of our historical, charming campus from one of our Student Ambassadors. Please join us and take advantage of this opportunity to explore all things Park U! •

MARCH 21, 2015 • APRIL 25, 2015

1-ON-1 WEEKENDS

JUNIOR OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCE

These special weekend dates are for students looking to get details one-on-one with an admissions counselor.

RSVP early for these dates as space is limited.

• Jan. 17, 2015 • Dec. 13, 2014 • Feb. 21, 2015

PERSONAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

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Make any day your visit day. Tour the Parkville Campus, meet faculty, talk with current students and discover historic Parkville.

High school juniors are invited to experience the life of a Pirate during an overnight visit at Park U. During this visit you will spend the night on campus with Park student hosts and experience life on campus “after hours.” The overnight experience begins Friday afternoon and concludes Saturday after our Pirate Preview Day. • Apr. 24, 2015

To RSVP or for more information please contact Admissions: (816) 746-2533 or

parkvilleadmissions@park.edu. You can also visit us on the web at www.park.edu/visit

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