The Canine Chronicle MBMS October 2019

INSIDETHISEDITION:

Sarah Anderson5

Leah Barracoso7

Lily Barton8

Naomi Cho13

AuroraDirkx14

CadeHuffman17

Asher Maier19

MarissaMcLean18

JaymeSingh20

Gwen Teodoro28

FRONT COVER : Student reporters learn the tools of journalism by writing their classmates defining moments. These express their triumphs, challenges, and tragedies. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY E. KANG

BACKCOVER : The CanineChroniclepublishes six edtions throughout the year, online and in print. Print copies are distributed in ELA classes, but readers can find these on the Classroom page too.

EDITORS NOTE

GreetingsBulldogs!

"AsI sit hereand writemy last column asa sportswriter, I seenow how that [one] moment changed my life,"acclaimed sportsjournalist Rick Reilly wrotein hisfinal column for ESPN in 2014.

He reflected upon and described a moment where he realized he needed to grow up and become a better human being.

A journalist's job is to tell stories. In this special online edition, new journalists from The Canine Chronicleset out to tell each other'sdefiningmoments, just likeReilly.TCCreporterstold their own to start the2019-20220 school year.

In his final published article, Reilly used his defining moment to thank the people in sports and journalism that taught him so many valuablelessons, likeSuper Bowl champion quarterback John Elway, basketball superstar Michael Jordan (six time NBA champion), and runner Ben Comen (a high school athletewith cerebral palsy).

Reilly described thelessonshelearned from afellowjournalist Jim Murray.

"[Murray] would get up out of hischair in thepressbox to greet each of thedozensof peoplewho just wanted to shake the great sports writer's hand, even though he could hardly see his chair, much less their hands,"Reilly wrote,"From him,I learned humility."

Journalistsserveasthe microphone for their communities, which requireshumility. So readersunderstand the diversepointsof view on the VolumeX staff, they wrote 27 unique storiesof their personal triumphs,tragedies,and challenges.

Stay tuned throughout theyear asTCCreporterstell your storiesin six print and/or onlineeditionsof TheCanineChronicle.

Sincerely,

BY T. HOLDEN

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

MOUNTBAKERMIDDLESCHOOL

62037THAVENUESOUTHEAST AUBURN,WASHINGTON98002

STAFF

REPORTERS

Joon Ahn

Rebeca

Alvarez-Flores

Sarah Anderson

Jhettah Baker

Leah Barracoso

Lily Barton

Kylah Braack

Jaylah Brown

Peyton Burrell

TheCanineChronicle

EDITORS

REPORTERS

Hailey Caswell

Naomi Cho

AuroraDirkx

KeiraGan

Mark Gato

CadeHuffman

EricaKang

Asher Maier

MarissaMcLean

MISSION

REPORTERS

Rory Murry

JennaNutter

KeiraPierce

AndrewShrader

JaymeSingh

Gwen Teodoro

Alex Toth

Kendyll Webb

GraceWheeler

ADVISER

Peter Warring

PRINCIPAL

GregBrown

The MBMSJournalism II-III class produced this open public forum student newspaper with intent to ethically report eventsaccurately, without bias. Asan open public forum for students, all decisionsmadeon content aremadeby studentsunder theguidanceof the adviser, with intent to uphold students?First Amendment rights. The opinions presented in articles are provided to represent the views and perspectives of students and individuals in our diverse student population, not necessarily the whole of the adviser, faculty, and administrators. Any material that would cause a disruption to the educational process like libel, invasion of privacy, or copyright infringement will not bepublished. TheCanineChroniclehad adopted theSPJCodeof Ethics: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accurate and transparent. The Canine Chronicle is produced using LucidPress. Photographs not taken by students havebeen utilized through aCreativeCommonsand Microsoft license. School portraits arelicensed through Dorian Photography.

Student LearnsLifeLessonsFromDog

SeventhGrader'sLifeChangesAfterAdoptingPuppy

KeiraPierce

Seventh grader Joon Ahn's life changed forever after adoptinghisdog, Cookie. Helearned valuable life lessons while taking care of his pet through trialsand tough decisions. It was July 2017, and after suddenly getting an offer accepted on anewpuppy, Ahn and his family had to take a three-hour road trip to a city in northern Washington topick her up. "I wasexcited,tired,and hungry."Ahn said. When they got back home, thedog immediately peed on the floor the second she was set down.

She couldn't go upstairs because of her size, so gettingaround her newhomewasadifficult task. When Ahn'sfather tried to feed her some chicken,shewent crazy about it.

"My mom took awhileto get used to thedog,

but my dad got used to it really quickly." Ahn said. "Sincemy doglovesmy dad,my dad loves her."

Ahn's parents were not available for comment at timeof publication.

Eventually, Ahn fell into a phase that he called his"puppy blues." Puppy blues, Ahn explained, is a point in time when someone learnshowmuch work apuppy will beand regretstheir decision toget adog.

"Why did weget thisdog?Why isit so much work?Why do I haveto get up at likeseven in the morning to walk this dog?" is only a few questionsthat Ahn said heasked himself duringthisperiod of time.

Ahn was slowly getting tired of having to take care of his new dog. He didn?t have the energy that hispuppy had.

?I don?t want to run around the house all

day.?Ahn said.

Theday hewasgoing to tell hisparentsthat he wanted to get rid of his dog, he sat down and watched her.

?I realized she was an amazing dog,? Ahn wrotein aclassproject.

Ahn learned many important lessons from having to take care of his puppy. He said he would not bewho heistoday without that experiencefrom thosepuppy bluesdays.

?She taught me how to be responsible, and howtopersevere.?Ahn said.

Ahn also learned work ethicand howto improvefrom newchallenges.

?Taking care of her changed me and how I work forever.? Ahn wrote.

Ahn'spuppy, Cookie, napsafter getting homefrom a long road trip to pick her up. Ahn recalled that sheslept for most of theday. PHOTO COURTESY OF J. AHN

Nerves of Going to New School

Experience of Rebeca Alvarez-Flores Moving ToTerminal Park

KylahBraack

Moving to a new school is nerve-racking. In early October of 2017, Rebeca Alvarez-Flores moved from Ilako Elementary to Terminal Park Elementary. Rebeca had many struggles but alsomany successes.

Rebecastarted at Terminal Park Elementary in early October of 2017 as a fifth-grader. Alvarez-Flores experienced like most new students the nerves of arriving at the classroom on the first day, learning thein and outs of the class, the teacher, and the trickiness of that first recess. Alvarez-Flores said, "All the kids were really nice, but they already had their friend groups so there wassomeawkwardness."

When Alvarez- Floreswalked in at first no one noticed her. She was shown to her seat by her teacher and then wasrequested to introduceherself.

Thefirst thing theclassdid was a vocab test on the book "The Phantom Tollbooth" to which Alvarez-Floreshadn't read. Then, after a short math lesson, there was one more thing that she was not lookingforward to...recess.

Theteacher Mrs.McIntyreasked a girl in Rebeca's class to show Alvarez-Flores around. After her classmate showed her around, Rebeca was introduced to her classmate's friends. Her classmate and her friends enjoyed playing "Harry Potter" at recess. Rebeca said, ¨It was kinda fun but that's what they wanted to play every day. I like the Harry Potter franchise but not enough to play it every day."

So Alvarez-Flores decided to branch out and try to hang out with some other people at recess. Eventually, Rebeca found a group of girls who were in her class. Rebeca said "Wewereall weird in agood way."

Rebeca and her friend group of

eight often played four-square and sometimes soccer. Alvarez-Flores said, ¨I felt as if I had finally found my place in a newschool.¨

The next Monday Rebeca figured out that theclasswould be handed a spelling list on Fridays and then have weekly spelling testsevery Monday.

"I'venever been a good speller."

Rebecasaid

If a student ever got a hundred percent on aspellingtest, it would be hung on ¨the wall¨ for everyone to see. Rebeca thought she would never make it on the wall. Rebeca remembers thinking how isshe going to compete with that, Rebeca came to make it on thewall around six times.

So after all Rebeca AlvarezFloressurvived fifth-grade.

Rebeca said ¨Eventually I became used to the new way of doing things and it actually turned out tobereally easy.¨.

Rebeca Alvarez-FloresAgeEleven In Fifth-Grade. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY TERMINAL PARK ELEMENTARY

Terminal Park Elementary. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Student GainsLifeLessonsfromSTEP

EighthGrader SharesDefiningMoment

MarissaMcLean

In third-grade,Sarah Anderson (current eighth-grader) was burned with the decision of joining STEP to advance her intelligenceor stay behind and strengthen her friendships. Thechoicewasin her hands.

?Joining the STEP Program would be good for my educational growth, but I would be ripped away from my friends,? Anderson said.

STEP (Student-Teacher Enrichment Program) is a program for highly capable studentsthat needed higher education than their normal classesprovided

?I was bored [in my classes] becausein third gradeI do remember when the others were doingmultiplication and division I was doing Khan Academy,?shesaid.

She had felt more willing to join STEP with the comfort of her best friend coming with her. She?d know somebody and they could fall back on each other if they ever needed help.

Anderson was devastated when her friend decided she would stay at Lakeland Hills Elementary to watch over her little brother, who wascoming into Kindergarten the followingyear.

Anderson decided that even though they were drifting apart and she?d havenobody at STEP, she wouldn?t let it stop her from improvingherself.

?I just needed to toughen up and be prepared for what was tocome,?shesaid.

The change in schools was

difficult for her,shedidn?t know anybody and felt like she didn?t belong.

?The kids were really different, they had away different atmosphere, it seemed kind of more intimidating,? Anderson said.

Anderson?s fourth-grade year was not as good as it could?ve been,but when fifth-gradecame, she had finally become comfortableand madefriends.

?[In] fifth grade, I think [my classmates and I] were more close, rather than fourth grade because fourth grade was newer tome,?shesaid.

When Anderson arrived at MBMS in sixth-grade, it was nostalgic and new again. Seeing her old friendsfrom third-grade wasexcitingfor her, but they all had their own groups of friends again.

?...It took acoupleof weeksor something[for them to warm up to me] because my friends from third-gradekind of grewexcited,

but they didn?t hang out with methat much,?shesaid.

Going through another big changewasnot an easy feat, but her friends she made in STEP wereby her side.

?...I?m closer to [my friends from STEP] now than the other peoplefrom third-gradebecause

I waswith them,?Anderson said. ?They just stayed with me for thelater years.?

Though the decisions and changes she went through were tough, it shaped her personality and theperson sheistoday.

?I have been impacted by the experiencein so many ways,and the place I once thought was a burden turned out to have helped me deal with the later repercussions.?

Sarah Anderson and her friendsshemadein theSTEP Program celebratetheholidays at a Christmasparty. PHOTO COURTESY OF S. ANDERSON

I had a past experienceunder my belt, and I wasready to conquer it."

-SARAHANDERSON

Student Meets Online Friend that Changes Life

Eighth Grader Describes Defining Moment

RoryMurry

Eighth grader Jhettah Baker met a friend online and since then he has helped her through many hard times. An unsurpassed friendship and bond was found in May, 2019 that has continued and been significantly helpful for Baker these past few months. After meeting a boy named Andrew Brown online, Baker knew he was different.

Andrew Brown was not available for comment at the time of publication.

?He was just trying to make me happy.? ?It just made me think keeping him around

would make me a lot happier.? Baker said. In her written nonfiction narrative she stated that Brown has shaped her into a new person. Baker said he made her more positive and happy in life, teaching her to stand up for herself.

?He?s helped me.." Baker said. "Not only to be kind but also to stick up for myself.? Baker stated.

She also believed it was necessary and important for Brown to stay in her life because they depended on each other for help and support.

?I am so very grateful for meeting him let alone having him stay in my life.? Baker said,

?Not only was I learning from him but he was learning from me in away.?

Baker also brought up the fact that in her generation, people are more attracted to society online.

?You may be more social at school, but I feel like at home, there?s a lot more people online than we think.? She said.

Baker also stated that many must be going through similar problems and tough times as her and no one would know because of the society her generation has created. Baker states that meeting people online is a ?50/50? gamble. She stated that it?s nice to meet

people who you may not see normally but you must know people can be dangerous.

Baker also said that people aren't always who they say they are online. When you get to know them they can show who they really are and this is when the situation becomes dangerous.

Baker stated that before she met Brown her life had ?darkness? but he has shown her that he cared about her and wanted to help. She considered him alife changer.

?Since then, I became a lot more positive and a lot happier.?

Social media isa great way to meet many new peopleonlinebut can also bea dangerous way of communication. Thepictureshowsthemany social media platforms theworld has to offer. PHOTO COURTESY OF SITES.PSU.EDU

Second GradeWriting Competition Changes Life

Eighth Grader Explains Defining Moment

CadeHuffman

In second grade,Leah Barracoso (current eighth-grader) attempted the Lakeland Hills PTA (ParentTeacher Association) writing competition hoping for a challenge and improvement in readingand writing.

Leah has always had a passion for reading and writing and she tries to read as much as she can. Her defining moment states, ?What I enjoy about reading and writingisthat it hastheability to takeyou placeswithout you havingtoleaveyour seat,?Leah said.

When Leah was very little, around theageof 3, shemet a librarian named Mrs. Robin, who

affected Leah greatly. ?There was a librarian, she was really nice. Her name was Mrs. Robin? And shetold usto read moreand I listened. And then I eventually ended up enjoying reading myself.?

When Leah was a child, she started to read, and read, and read. Books changed her life. So when she heard about this competition, she knew what she was goingtowriteabout.

In her Defining Moment, she said, ?Since I was a tiny child, I wasinspired by books. So that was what I decided towriteabout.? While attempting this competition, Leah learned many valuable life lessons. ?I learned not to

complete assignments at the last minute and to believe in myself [and others who believe in me]," Leah said. "Even more importantly, I learned to step out of my comfort zone.?

Today, Leah continues to read all thetimeand hopesto pursuea career involving it. ?I would love to have a career in reading and writing or at least a high paying career that involves reading and writing,?shesaid.

Of the many books Leah has read, her favorite is ?The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle? by Stuart Turton. ?It?s a really good book,? she stated. ?It?s a murder mystery. The same person died each night and you?re trying to

figure out how to get out of this. It?slikeatimeloop.?

Reading thisbook affected Leah and madeher moreawareof what she wanted to read about. ?It made me want to find booksthat aredeeper,?shesaid.

Reading, to Leah,wasmorethan just skimming through the words and trying to get done with the book asfast asyou can. To her, it wasexciting,and sheloved it. ?Without thisevent, I would not bewhereI am today??Leah said.

Leah Barracoso's 4 awardsfrom multiplePTA writing competitions, including her 1st placemedal from thesecond gradecompetition

PHOTO COURTESY OF L. BARRACOSO

Grader Lives LifeWithAlopecia

Student's Defining Moment Explains Life Changing Disease

AuroraDirkx

At the very young age of 18 months old, eighth-grader Lily Barton was diagnosed with a hair loss disease called Alopecia. This disease had shocked her and also changed her lifeforever.

Barton had struggled with her self confidence as she grew up with Alopecia, but luckily her family and friends were always by her side.

?My family has been very supportive, they let me pick and choose which medicine I want, if I wanted to stop a certain medication, or talk to someone,?shesaid.

She had dealt with many people asking and questioning her condition, but one person stood out to her. Barton told a story in her defining moment about a person in third period during sixth grade repeatedly ask her daily if she had cancer. But thiskid hadn?t brought her down. Eventually, she could just laugh at them.

?There were many times I thought about just telling them the truth, and I realized that I could tell anyone for that matter, with the help of their annoyance,?shesaid.

Another struggle Barton had in sixth gradewaspeoplegiving her unwanted or fakesympathy without knowingthefull story. ?Peoplewould go talk to others or my friends about me in a rude way and be standoffish, and then come up to me and tell me I wasso nice, and other sympatheticthings.?

Although middle school had been a challenge, elementary was a bit different. For her, she felt comfortable, but of coursestill faced struggles.

Barton claimed in her

defining moment ?Luckily everyone already knew me sinceI?vebeen therefor so long and they were used to it after six years. I was almost normal, no one treated me differently or avoided me.?

Shehad also told astory in her definingmoment of aman who had overcomecancer which had a scar on his chest that he showed Barton. He asked her how she was doing and although Barton told him that she only had Alopecia. He continued to support her and told her to stay strong. Which

had brought her confidenceup. ?Now, if someoneasked meif I had cancer, I would have no problem telling them, ?No, I have Alopecia,?and explain the meaning.? her defining moment stated.

Kindergarten is when most people found out about Barton?sAlopecia.

?My parents would come to school and come to my classroom, and just announceit to the class. Of course, the kids were young so they didn?t understand what it meant, but they did know about it.?Barton

explained.

Elementary didn't seem to phase Barton, and making friends didn't appeal as difficult. "I came to kindergarten with one friend, then I mademorefriends, and I just kept them. Middle school was worse, however. I thought that it would be more difficult tomakefriends."

Barton has faced many challenges with Alopecia along theway, but assheputsit, ?I?m for sure better now and there?s always room for improvement, but I do sometimes feel somewhat different from everyoneelse.?

She no longer breaks down when someone else says something, and she won?t take any rude remarks or questions by any chance. She is finally able to explain her condition and as her defining moment said: ?I?m not a flimsy daisy in thefield of tall sunflowers.?

What isAlopecia?

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss that cannot be cured. There are more than 200,000 cases of Alopecia per year. For some people, Alopecia can be related to cancer, but for people like Barton, it is not related.

Barton trieson wigswith her mother after her hair fallout. PHOTO COURTESY OF L. BARTON

From Being Bullied To School MVP

Eighth Grader Shares Defining Moment

RebecaAlvarez-Flores

Kylah Braack was only nine yearsold when shestarted playing the sport that she would eventually learn and lovetoplay.

Braack might have faced many challenges along the way but she made it out as one of the most valuableplayerson her team.

?I decided to join softball because my dad and sister play.? said Braack.

When she began playing it was fun but also really hard. Since Braack had just started to play the gamefor thefirst timeshedid not knowwhat shewasdoing.

?At nine,arookie,and unsureof myself, I learned to deal with somediscouragingteammates.?

Braack's teamates discouraged her instead of helping her succeed.

During tryouts, Braack was really nervous since the other girls had been playing long before she had started.

"I distinctly recall my more advanced peersyellingcommandsat me on multiple occasions,? admitted Braack.

Braack's defining moment was not dealing with thebulliesbut it was learning how to shine while playingthegame.

After ayear playingwith alittle leagueteam,Braack decided to try out for Allstars.

It was a big step for Braack, she had only began playingayear before, but that did not stop her

from makingtheteam.

Braack wasmostly on thebench but at least she had tried and joined theteam.

Kylah Barack's father played softball so that allowed her to get morepractice.

During her second year in Allstars she actually met her best friend, eighth grader Aurora Dirkx. "Dirkx was not available for comment at the time of the publication."

Barack's older sister also played softball. Her sister played in the same team with Braack on her third year of Allstars

A few years into the softball world, Braack started to outperform the people that used to discourageand bully her.

Moving forward to last school softball season, Braack was awarded Most ValuablePlayer.

?It felt really good because all the people, like they didn't get MVP so it?s kind of like ha-ha in your face,?responded Braack after being asked how did it feel winning school MVP after all the hard work sheput in.

The girls that discouraged Braack actually tried to befriend her after everythingthey had said to her in the past but Braack decided not to associate with them becausewhy would she.

Kylah Braack learned to understand, "People aren't always the nicest because they expect you to knoweverything.?

Kylah Braack showsoff her first placemedal during her first year of playing softball with a littleleagueteam. PHOTO COURTESY OF T. BRAACK

Game Winning Basketball Shot

ChangesLifeForever

Eighth Grader Shares Her Athletic Defining Moment

AndrewShrader

As Jaylah Brown headed into Sunday?s basketball game against the Enumclaw Hornets she knew the game wasn?t going to be easy, but she wouldn?t have expected thedramaticendingof that game.

Twelve-year-old Jaylah Brown and her team, the Northwest Allstars, found themselves winning gamesand goingto the Championship game, where they would facetheEnumclawHornets.

?...we had played the [Enumclaw Hornets] last year and got demolished by them, so we went into that gamevery aggressive," Brown said,

Brown startingat left wing,des cribed how her team and the Hornetsbattled throughout the game,?Both usand our opponents weregoingback and forth,scoring points", she said,? when we were losing you wanted to quit, but when you were winning, it motivated you tokeep on going?.

As halftime emerged, the score was13 to 10,theHornetswereup, and both sides were very tired, due to few substitute players. But asthecoach gavetheteam inspiringwordsfor them tokeep on going, Brown?steam soon cameback just as aggressive as the first half. So did the Hornets. As the game went on, it resembled the first half of thegame,back and forth.

As the Hornets quickly took the lead,Brown's team slowly lost confidence"...westarted to hang our heads and doubted that we could come out with the vic-

tory,?Brown said. But theNorthwest All-Starsquickly scored back the points and found themselves down by one point. As the final seconds wound down, Brown received a pass and went up for a layup that would win the game. Shewasfouled, and wasgiven two freethrows.

?Our coach always prepared us for shooting freethrows,?shesaid, ??but beforeI went to theline, my coach pulled me over and said,??

We?ve shot these 100 times. It?s just another free throw, you got this.?

She stepped up to the line praying, whileperformingher pre-free throwdribbleroutine.Butterflies filled her stomach assheshot the first shot,it went in, thegamewas nowtied. Shefelt moreat easeafter making the first free throw,?... the first shot gave me so much confidence to make the second

shot,?shesaid.

Repeating her dribble routine, shelooked up shot theball it went in and won the game. Brown was instantly surrounded by a pile of hugs from players from her team and her coach.

"That moment, that game changed my life and perspective for basketball, shesaid,"I wouldn?t havechanged anythingabout it?

Jaylah Brown and her basketball team theNorthwest All-Stars, celebrateafter their victory against theEnumclaw Hornets, winning theChampionship. PHOTO COURTESY TO S. BROWN

SportMakesPositiveImpactonStudent'sLife

EighthGrader SharesHer DefiningMoment fromSeventhGrade

KeiraGan

Thefast pitch coach encouraged seventh grade Peyton Burrell, current eighth grader, during orientation to join the girls fast pitch team. A decision that has positively impacted Burrell?slife. She added in her defining moment.

?We start to practice batting and I can?t even get a piece of it but that won?t stop me.?

Although she was unable to make impact with the ball while batting,shedoesn?t giveup. Burrell rather works harder and knows that extra practice would benefit her.

Burrell also described extra practice in her Defining moment, ?The rest of the week goes by and everyday after practice I head straight to the batting cages.?

Batting cages are cages that have a machine pitch balls to you while you practice hitting them. Being willing to go to the batting cages to improve her skills let Burrell learn that results don?t happen by itself. She had to work hard to achieve her goalsand never giveup.

?I didn?t think about [fast pitch] that much until I went to orientation to get our pictures,?Burrell said. ?And then the coach talked to me and thought I?d be great, so I did it.?

From not knowing much about fast pitch tobeingon the school team, fast pitch taught Burrell to try new things. She knew that it wouldn?t be easy, but she persevered through and nowBurrell enjoysplaying fast pitch.

?I don?t think I would have some skills that I do now.?Bur-

rell said.

She gained skillsthat she would otherwise lack if she did not join fast pitch. Knowing how to work in a team, being ableto pick herself up again after failing, and working hard were all skills that she picked up while participating in thefast pitch team.

?I havereally good hand-eyecoordination,? Burrell said. ?I used to be terrible with hand-eye coordination.?

Adding to her skills, gaining hand-eye coordination is a positive impact. Learning from participation with thefast pitch team helped Burrell gain the skillsthat she wouldn?t have if she had not joined fast pitch.

?? I met a girl who was on my team and also my first period, and to this day we are very good friends,?Burrell said.

Her friend was unavailable for interview.

Fast pitch had connected her with people she probably would never be close friends with. She was able to share her interests with peopleher agethat also have thesameinterests.

?I would have more free time, that?sfor sure.?Burrell said.

With fast pitch practice almost everyday, ending at around 4:30 PM, she learned how to manage her timemoreefficiently. Shehad to know how to balance sports, other outside of school activities, seeing friends, and keeping her gradesup.

Fast pitch has let Burrell experience some things that she would otherwise miss out on if she had not joined fast pitch. Knowing that not everythingcomeseasy for her wasastrugglefor her to overcome. Yet, she tries her hardest and never givesup.

"I whisper to myself 'hard work paysoff,'"Burrell said.

Westart to practicebatting and I can't even get a pieceof it but that won't stop me"

-PEYTONBURRELL

Former seventh grader's, Peyton Burrell, fast pitch picturetaken during pictureday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF P. BURRELL

Student AffectedbyDeathof Pets

Hailey Caswell Tells Her Defining Moment About Pets

MarkGato

Throughout Hailey Caswell?s life, she?s experienced multiple deaths of her pets. Each of her pet?s death were caused by pets killing each other, or a natural death, where some of her petsdied of old age.

It started when she was born, when her family already had pets. One dog was named Pepper Bear, and one cat named Angel. Soon after, Angel gavebirth to 3 kittens, which soon grew up to attack Pepper Bear, and then soon enough,Angel began attackinghim too.

?I started to not like [Angel and kittens] anymore.?Caswell said.

After Angel and her kittens kept attacking Pepper Bear, Caswell soon got a new dog, named Dozer, to keep Pepper Bear company. But soon enough, all catsbegan to attack both dogs, so Caswell?s parents decided to give the

catsaway.

?I wasreally mad at [Angel and kittens] and I wassad, becausethough I didn?t like2 of the cats,but I did liketheother two.?Caswell said.

Later on, Caswell got new pets. Another dog named Reeses, and a hamster named Flash. However, when she was around the age of 7, her dog Dozer died because he snuck into Caswell?s neighbor?s house, which had aggressivepitbullsthat killed Dozer.

?First wethought [Dozer] ran away through the fence, because we saw him digging a hole near the neighbor?s fence.? Caswell said. ?My parentsfigured out about thenews, then sat us down at thedinner table,and told us.?

A year later, another death occurs. Caswell?s hamster, Flash, dies of old age. Later on, she getsanewhamster named Smokey.

?Wefigured out hewasdead,and I wasupset, because I used to play around with him with

my toys.?Caswell said.

A couple days later however, another death occurs. Her brand new hamster Smokey, dies because her dog ate him. A couple years later, Pepper Bear unfortunately dies of old age. Hailey soon getsfoster dogs, but givesaway all of them. Her dog'shavepuppiestwo timesand endsup keepingoneof them.

?I didn?t really get to know [Smokey] enough, so I was really shocked when it happened.? Caswell said.... ?I was really sad about [Pepper Bear?s] death, because she was my longest-lastingpet I ever had.?

In the present day, she currently has 3 dogs, Nemo,Reeses,and Hunter.

She says that her pets taught her responsibility and trust.

"Having petsmademegrow asa person, and I'm grateful for them."

Pepper Bear and 6 year-old Hailey takea photo outside. It isa snowy December morning, on her driveway. PHOTO COURTESY OF M. CASWELL

DrawingChangesSeventhGrader'sLife

Student SharesHowLearningToDrawHasDefinedHer

JaymeSingh

From being exposed to it since she was young, art and drawing would completely changeseventh grader Naomi Cho?slifefor the better.

Cho started drawing when she was really young for school art projects and coloring books, but when she was in fifth grade, her friends introduced her to other types of

drawing.

?In thebeginning,it wasjust likeschool projects,?Cho said. ?But actual art, actually learning how to do body proportions, how to actually do the proportions right, my friends introduced me to that sideof art and helped me start that.?

After her friends introduced her to drawing and helped her start, all Cho ever wanted to do

was draw. Cho didn?t enjoy doing her school/homework; she wanted to learn more about art and drawing.

?Right when I went home after school, I wouldn?t do my homework and go straight to drawing,?Cho said. ?I always wanted to learn new techniques and new ways to stroke my brush sothelineseemed softer.?

Cho'sfriendswerenot availabletocomment.

An art community at school wasintroduced to Cho. Thecommunity of peoplearestudents that shehad met at school that cometogether to help each other and giveeach other tipsso everyonecan becomean even better artist.

?It?snot an actual community but, sarcastically, like there's a circle group at school where we all draw together and help each other.?

Drawing helped Cho become much more creative. Being moreof a creativeperson, Cho got even better at writing.

?Since I need to make up a story line every time I draw, it hashelped me a lot with writing,?Cho said. ?I feel likeit hashelped me be more thorough about the story line and the tiny details that make a huge impact about somethingI?m writing.?

Being good at art and writing (for ELA), Cho didn?t need to work ashard on thosesubjects. This made it so she could work on and get ahead of her other classes.

?It gave me opportunities to study other subjectslikemath, science, and world history,? Chosaid.

Since Cho started to work on and study her other school subjects, her time to draw got shorter and shorter.

?I kept drawingbecauseof art but I got more creative, and started writing more so I think my drawingtimeshrunk duringthat timeperiod but I still drew,?Chosaid.

Cho started to get better and better in school because she continued to study and try her best on all of her assignments. Shealso started to read more books and was able to become even morecreative.

?SinceI started to read morebooks, I started to get more creative,? Cho said. ?Since I got morecreative,I could drawand writebetter! It waslikeacyclethat just boosted meup in the academicworld.?

Seventh grader Naomi Cho, who'stwelveyearsold now, puts her skillsin drawing to good use. Shedecidesto makean intricatedrawing of a smiley face. PHOTO COURTESY OF J. SINGH

Parent?sDivorceChangesLifeForever

LilyBarton

A six-year-old ran to her sister?s bedroom, watching moviesto block out thefighting. Yearslater, Aurora Dirkx realized who her mother, Denice Yost, was after parents?divorce.

When shewasyounger, sheor her dad didn't know how manipulative her mom was. Her mother turned out to betheprimary reason for the divorce, according to Dirkx. ?I never had anything against her when I was living with her until I was older,? Dirkx said.

After her parentswent their separate ways, Dirkx lived with her dad and her mother moved to Eastern Washington.

?My dad, heobviously had a bet-

ter job meaning he has a better place for me to live,? Dirkx said. ?Whereas my mom has moved probably ten times the past six years.?

In Dirkx?s defining moment she wrote about Yost telling her that she was selfish, a brat, her friends hated her, and asked how did she even havefriendsover summer last year. Yost was not available to interviewin thetimeof publishing.

?LikeI mentioned before, she?sso focused on her own lifeand feelings that she hurts the ones she loves,? Dirkx wrote in her defining moment paper.

Every time Dirkx saw her mom they would have random disagreementswhich turned into full on argumentswhen shewasat theageof

eleven.

?That?s when I was mature enough, I guess, to know how to come back from someone putting medown,?Dirkx said. ?I waslearninghowtodefend myself.?

It?s been nine months since the last time they saw each other and Dirkx?s life hasn?t been as complicated since they stopped living together.

?Less arguing, school was easier, and it just was organized more,? Dirkx said.

Dirkx?s dad met someone new named Joanne and has been dating her for almost four years. Joanne has also moved in with Dirkx and her dad. Joanne was not available for interview at the time of publishing.

?Shedoesn?t even havekidsof her own but sheisabetter mother than my mom has ever been,? Dirkx wrote.

She has been talking over the phone with Yost recently. Dirkx is alsogoingtoacousin?sweddingand is going to have to talk to her mother.

?I?m nervous and kind of anticipating arguing is [going to] happen,?Dirkx said. ?[I?m] going to try tokeepmy distance.?

Although there can be more improvements, she has learned and has changed because of how Yost treated her.

?I?ve been able to speak my mind but also not pick a fight out of it,? Dirkx said.

Thisisa family photo taken beforethedivorce. On theleft is Dirkx'ssister , Dirkx issitting on her fatherslap, finally on theright isDirkx'smom. PHOTO COURTESY OF A. DIRKX

EighthGrader ReflectsOnDifficult Past

Eighth Grader Shares Defining Moment, Memories of Moving fromSingapore toCalifornia

PeytonBurrell

KeiraGan, eighth grader shares her story about movingfrom Singapore. She refelcts on her long, and difficult move to California and howit?schanged her lifeboth positively and negatively, as well asgivingher leadership skillsand theability toadapt quickly.

?It wasbecauseof my dad?sjob.? Gan said. ?It was too much for him.?

After prepping for months, Gan hopped on a fifteen hour plane ridefrom South Central Singapore to California, but once they arrived, her brother?s illness had gotten in theway..

?My brother has ADHD, he wouldn?t sit still in class and would always come to class late.? ?He?sbetter now, he?son medication.?shesaid.

Californialifewasgood for Gan, she was satisfied, yet she still longed to know life back in Singapore.

?I have a lot of family and friends, I wish I could meet them all.?, all Gan wants, isto knowher distant family.

Wantingto havesolid friendsto lean back on, and friendsthat will always care for her, Gan finally found her people here in Washington.

?I just wanted agroup of friends that would alwaysunderstand me and didn?t really carewhat I did.?

Though she may have settled, Gan still wishesher family would just get alongand talk moreoften.

"It?smorelikesplit and split, we

don?t really get along.? Gan said. ?We sort of avoid certain topics. Some things are like an elephant in the room. The most arguing happensbetween my parents.?

TheGan family werenot available for comment. Yet they may argue,it doesn?t really affect her.

Her family may not get alongas much asshewould hope, but Gan always finds a way to make the

best out of the tough and rocky move from Singapore in her past, and even around the large time zone between the two countries, shestill makesit work. ?I still get in touch with family,my dad calls them two or threetimesaweek at night to check up on them.?Gan said.

Gan just hoped for friendswhen shereached sixth grade, and that?s

exactly what she got. ?I?ve wanted to say that I?ve known people sincemiddleschool. And I have.

Gan expressed the way her move has impacted her in a class project. ?All the apartments I?ve lived in, all the schools I?ve learned in, have all led me to the place I am today.?

Keira Gan, her brothers, and her cousinsvisited her distant family in Singaporesummer of 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF H. GAN

Student Moves 2000 Miles Away

Eighth Grader Left Home in Texas at Age Seven

JennaNutter

Mark Gato moved from his home town of Houston Texas to his new home of Auburn Washington about six yearsago.

Gato wasa very happy kid living a great life in Texas with his siblings. He had lived there sincehewasone,after their movefrom Massachusetts. Hehad all hewanted; friends, family, and a house. But then, something unexpected happened.

?I thought it was a joke at first, but as time

went on I realized they were being serious,?

Gatosaid

Gato?smom found a better job in Washington asa nurse. Gato couldn?t believe what was happening. Hehad lived in Texassincehewas 2, but nowhewould haveto leavetheplacehe grewup.

He had friends, he had family, a nice home, but that wasgoingtobethrown away. ?My siblingsfelt the same way asI did, they weren't happy to moveaway and leavefriends. My parents were sad too but they knew it was

for thebest.?Gatosaid

So with Gato at age8, and hissiblings9 and 11, they started their journey to Washington. Their new,different lifewasahead of them. ?It was very rainy, definitely not like Texas? Gatosaid

When hegot there,they didn?t haveahouseto live in at first, so they had to live at another family member?s house. Although he gets to visit often, he misseshishome, where he grew up,and all of hisfriends.

Mark Gato at age7 pictured in center. Heiswith his two older brothers, and threefriends. (clockwise) PHOTO COURTESY OF M. GATO

Sister'sCourageImpactsEighthGrader

LeahBarracoso

Surrounded by family, a young girl with a deadly prognosis used her final breath. She touched the hearts of many, bringing together a community. Among them was her older brother, Cade Huffman (current eighth grader).

Cade's sister, Avery Huffman, wasdiagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPGfor short),an inoperable brain tumor that affects the nervoussystem, when she was in kindergarten and Cade was

in third grade. The moments with his sister shaped who Cadeistoday.

?When I heard [that my sister had DIPG] my heart just sunk,?Cade wrote in an essay for school. ?My whole life changed, I didn?t know what would happen.?

It all began on a beach day, where the Huffmans were

walking on the beach. Avery told Cade, ?I see two of you.? Hethought shewasjust crossingher eyes, but dayslater the Huffmans received the diagnosis that changed them forever.

?[DIPG] is typically diagnosed in children between the ages of five and nine,? Cade?s dad,Brandon Huffman said in

an interviewto educateothersabout DIPG. ?There are about 200 cases nationally, roughly 300 internationally ayear and the survival ratedoesn?t exist.?

Avery and Cadehad a great relationship. They bonded over their lovefor sports. After realizing that Avery had limited time left, the Huffmans took Avery to several baseball and football games.

Cade described in a classproject, that at a University of Washington football game, Avery was honored by the coach of the Huskies,ChrisPetersen.

Cade and Avery also shared their love for Disney, Star Wars especially. Avery also loved Disney Princesses, so shewished to go toDisney World.

?We went to Disneyland because some of our family lived in California,?Cadesaid. ?It wasfun,but kind of sucked sinceit would be [our family?s] last timetobetherewith her.?

Cade's memories with Avery will always be special to him. She showed Cade to be brave and to persevere. She made him a stronger person.

?Avery fought sohard,?Cadesaid in aproject. ?for 7 ½monthsshebattled despitenot being able to walk or use the right side of her body.?

Cade?stenth birthday washislast with Avery. Although Avery knew about her circumstances,shewasstill burstingwith positivity. She baked a cake for Huffman, with blue and yellow, representing his dream college,University of CaliforniaLosAngeles (UCLA).

?When? [my family] all sangthebirthday song it made my heart melt,?Cade said in the same project. "The way [Avery] was singing, laughing when someone?s voice cracked, and the way she smiled. She had been through so much, somuch, and shestill smiled about everything.?

Avery Huffman died on Feb. 16,2016. The Huffmans have devoted themselves to pay their tragedy forward and fight for acause.

?Wehavea foundation to raiseawareness about DIPG,? Cade said. ?We want to help others learn more about it so we can eventually find acure.?

Cade remembered Avery fondly. He thinks of how strong she was and about everything that happened to her. Every day he wears a wristband to commemorate Avery and thenumber on hisbaseball jersey is seven,Avery?sfavoritenumber.

In hispaper,Cadewrote,?Not oneday goes by that I don?t think of her [and] there will never beaday that I don?t think about her.?

Cadeand Avery Huffman (ages5 and 2, respectively) arehelping their mom out prior to Avery'sdiagnosis. Cadehugs Avery whilethey bake(and tastetest) a cake. PHOTO COURTESY OF C. HUFFMAN

When I heard that [my sister had DIPG] my heart just sunk,"

-CADEHUFFMAN

FromaMosquitoInfestedOventoAuburn

KendyllWebb

For most people, memoriesof their younger yearscan beabit fuzzy and fadewith time. It's especially tough to remember specific events from your early childhood but for Erica Kang, 13, whileabit fuzzy, memoriesfrom themosquito infested oven of her childhood are still very fresh.

Kang, who lived in Houston at thetime, said ?It wasreally hot all thetime, likeeven in the winter.?

Kangalso addsthat therewerecockroaches,a scary amount of mosquitoand many moreundesirableinsects.

In Houston, Kang lived at her grandmas house with her parents, brother, sister, and grandma along with some of her other relatives that also live in the area that were not avaliablefor commentary.

When Kang said it was a mosquito infested oven shewasn't kidding.

"They wereeverywhere."Kangsaid.

Shealso said that shecould not escapethem. On top of that,Houston wasalso extremely hot all thetime.

Later on,Kanggetsasurprisethat shewill be movingtoanewhomein Auburn,Washington.

?I wasonly twoor threeand I waslike,?Oh, we'releaving,??Kangsaid.

Kangwasstill atoddler at thetimesoshe said shedidn?t quiteunderstand and sothat shejust went with it. Kangbelievesit washer dad?sjob,whoworked for providenceat the timethat madethissudden changein their life.

Kangalso stated that it washer first timeflying when moving to Washington..?It was pretty terrifying, I think, ?Kang stated,?You know you're just in the sky, you don?t know what?s happening, It?s like,?Yeah, what am I doing???Shealso bringsup,?...theideathat we?d left Houston for real wasnewand strange.?

When Kangfinally arrived in her new home, she was pretty disappointed and distraught

when shesaw thenew homeshewould belivingin. It'snot what sheenvisioned.

?When wefirst moved to Auburn welived in a new apartment and it was like two rooms, onebed. It waspretty small,?Kangsaid.

Luckily Kang moved into an upgraded two story home soon after and still lives there today.

Today,Kangusestheseexperiencesasamotivator constantly tomakesureshecan make her parentsproud and tokeep her for striving todoher best.

?I just want toimpressthepeople,you know, you don?t want them tobedisappointed.?Kang said.

Whether theexperiencehad upsand downs sheadmitsthat without it,shewouldn?t have met amazingpeoplesheknowstoday and let alonebetheperson sheistoday.

Although change can be scary, it can also be beneficial and lifechanginglikein Kang'scase. Her and her family continue to thrive to this day from their past experiencesin Houston.

TheKang family happily takesa photo in front of their new, upgraded homeback in 2009 in Auburn. Thefamily believesthat they will continueto livethereuntil Erica finishes her yearsin high school. PHOTO COURTESY OF E. KANG

Student'sPerspectiveChangesDuringFifthGrade

Student LearnsLessonAbout LeadershipThroughStudent Election

GwenTeodoro

Eight grader Asher Maier learned a very valuable lesson about leadership at 10 years old during his fifth-grade student body president campaign, unfortunately,becausehelost.

For Maier?swholelife, hedidn?t mind always running for grade president, and fifth grade was no different. Although there were four other peoplerunning, hewas confident. Hewasprepared to win this title and he had no doubt about losing.

?I am ready to win,?Maier said. ?My whole life the compliments about how smart I was created a tornadoof arrogance.?

Maier was told that he was smart and had everything, which is why he was arrogant. Maier stayed confident hearing that people were willing to vote for him after his speech, and he was satisfied. Then his competition gave their speech, and he wasn?t phased. Classmate was not available for comment at the time of publication.

?Her speech wasimpressive, but my arrogancemademestay confident,?Maier said.

But when heheard that students would vote for her instead because she would improve the school, he couldn?t believe it. The teacher told the class to put their headsdown for voting, and hefinally got hisresult.

?Our teacher told meI had lost,? Maier said. ?I tried to hold back my tears.?

Luckily, Maier?s mom picked him up to go camping at Leavenworth a few minutes later with family for their annual trip. But the whole drive, he thought he was a failure. Maier couldn?t stop thinkingthat hetried hishardest, but it wasn?t good enough.

?My towering expectations grown by my teachers, friends, and myself began crumbling down likeamudslide,?Maier said.

Maier finally arrived at Leaven-

worth. Still baffled about his loss, he decided to analyze and look back at his speech. Then did he realizewhat went wrong.

?Everything wasabout me? not my friends? not about helping the school? all about why I was qualified,?Maier said.

Looking back at his competi-

tion's speech, Maier realized that she deserved the position more than him becauseshecared about theschool and students.

?Anybody can be qualified, but only true leaders know that?s not why you should lead,?Maier said. ?It?s to help improve the lives of your friends."

Nowknowingwhy helost,Maier started to accept everything that had happened. Even though he lost, Maier understood why he didn?t win, and that was all that wasimportant.

?Thistime,it would befor helping others, not for helping my self-worth,? Maier said.

Asher Maier, Noah Maier, Emma Maier, and Olivia Maier takea pictureright after arriving at Leavenworth, about fiveto six hours after student election. PHOTO COURTESY OF J. MAIER

Student ChangesAfter Grandma's Death

SarahAnderson

In fifth grade, the 10-year-old Marissa McLean (current eighthgrader) gave her grandmother a final farewell.

McLean?s grandma passed from lung cancer in November 2016, changingher lifeforever.

?...I loved [my grandma] a lot,? she said. ?She would always come over at least a few times a week and she would come over and babysit while my parents were working.?

McLean?s grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in January 2016, getting treatments over the courseof afewmonths.

?It was kind of dreadful,? McLean said. ?I was scared because I didn?t know if [my grandma] was going to be able to becured or not.?

Thedeath of McLean?sgrandma ?hit [her] way harder? than anything else because of her grandma?s involvement in her life. She was broken inside, and felt that therewas nobody to talk to about it. McLean describesit in her written definingmoment.

?I was devastated for months and months after, though my brother was too young to understand what happened," McLean said.

But for her, the defining moment wasnot thedeath,but afterwards. Her parents put her in counseling to help her deal with her emotions.

?I was in fifth grade,? McLean said. ?[Counseling] kind of forced meto makenew friendsin a way, and bemoreopen about myself.?

It must have been difficult for McLean tomeet with acounseling group in the state she was in. All of the new faces and practices wereunsettlingtoher.

?[Counseling] was pretty scary because I hadn?t talked to the counselor before,? McLean said. ?It was all unfamiliar, and we had to talk about serioustopics of what had happened tous.?

Even after this, in a few

weeks, she warmed up to the new routine. Having these different kidsaround her started to change her personality, and helped McLean open up.

"There was one girl who I becameextremely closeto,?McLean said in her written defining moment. ?She was very extroverted, moresothan I wasused to.?

Her friend wasnot availablefor

interviewing. McLean and her friend hung out a lot, and these interactions slowly changed her. Shebecamemoreextroverted and willingtotalk topeople.

?[My friend] would tell stories about her family,? McLean said. ?She wasn?t scared to go up to peopleand sojust hangingaround her brought meout of my shell.?

McLean?s experiences after her

grandmother?s death have changed her life, and she would not be the same person without havingthem.

She learned so much from this lossand afterwards.

?Therehastobebad in your life tohelp you moveforward...? McLean said.

Marissa McLean (right) standswith her grandma (left) at her cousin'swedding, McLean playing thepart astheflower girl. Sheisseven yearsold at thetimeand islooking forward to having a major rolein thewedding and in her cousin'slife. PHOTO COURTESY OF M. MCLEAN

EighthGrader'sLifeChangedBySoccer

Student Tells How Sport Improved Life for Better

JhettahBaker

Pushing herself past her limits with positivity consistently in her veins, thirteen-year-old Rory Murry shares her impactful life story. The eighth grade soccer player was interviewed to explain why this popular sport hashelped her through multiple pains and struggles.

?Soccer has taken up my whole lifeand isamoment that will keep defining me as a person forever, making me better and better everyday," Murry said. ?I?ve learned a lot of skills like how to be a stronger, better person because in soccer, it pushesyou past your limits while it helps you relate to people and teammates more."

For one thing, as she wrote in her written definingmoment,soccer hashelped her understand life throughout her middle school years. Education through schooling isn?t particularly easy or liked by many students, but the many citizens like coaches, friends, and parents which was not available for comment at thetimeof publication, has helped Murry learn greatly with not only perseverance,but positivity increase.

?People can talk behind your back but if you know it?s not true then let it go, but some people can?t do that,? Murry said. ?So I feel thisiswhen positivity in your communication can help anyone through tough timesor in thisexample,middleschool drama?.

Growing up and living through her thirteen years of life, Murry has stuck to this sport for as long as she could remember, definitely makingmemories.

?I?veplayed my sport sinceI was super little, likesinceI could start playingsports,soI guessyou could say a long time, and I've been a goalkeeper since there was goal-

keepers which is like since third grade,?Murry said.

Ever sincethen, Murry hashad a very eventful and packed schedule nearly everyday from schoolwork to sports games. Having the perseverance and positivity to keep her going, she is still, to this day, able to keep up with both school and her adored sport.

?I practiceMondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and

usually have games on Saturdays," Murry stated. "...then usually I have an hour and a half practices, but then on Wednesdays I have three-hour practices at all times?.

Murry?s schedule consists of wakingup at fivein themorning for eight a.m. games over the weekends; going to school for her weekly education; heading to soccer practicesfor an hour or more; then heading home to

just end up staying up late during the night to finish her homework for thenext day.

She explained how she does it all and want to continuedoingit isamystery.

?Soccer has taught me many lessons, and those lessons I will keep with me forever as I grow old,?Murry said.

Collecting theball from theopponentsteam, Rory Murry (Abovein theneon orange) looksdown thefield for another player to passtheball. Murry gainsher team a win against theSpokaneSounderslater that day on August 10, 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF J. MURRY

"Perseveranceisn't just getting through it though, it'salso knowing that it will lead to successin the end. Whether it'sin school or sports, you'll need perseverance."

-RORYMURRY

LifeChangesInAbsenceO f Sister

HaileyCaswell

Eight Grader Jenna Nutter had to say goodbye to her older sister last year so she could join the navy, she hasn?t seen her in over a year.

Nutter?solder sister,Jett Harrison,left her family tobecomeasecurity guard on aNavy ship.In school,instead of takingP.E.,Harrison took aclassthat trainsyou tobein themilitary that encouraged her tojoin,aswell asher dad - whowasin theNavy.

?When I first heard shewasjoiningthe Navy,I wasalittlesurprised becauseI didn?t knowthat sheactually wanted tojoin,?Nutter said.

JennaNutter wastheclosest toHarrison.She even shared aroom with her.Though Harrison washer step-sister,Nutter had alwaysthought of her asafull sister.

"If another oneof my siblingswent intothe Navy,I honestly wouldn?t havebeen assad,? Nutter said.?I don?t really spend much time

with my brothers.?

Nutter hastwoolder brothersthat still live with her.They all missed Harrison but Nutter didn?t knowhowthey really felt becausethey never talked about it.

?When Harrison left,thefamily started to crumbleabit,?Nutter said.

Nutter and her siblingshad tostep upand dochoresaround thehouseand bemore responsible.

?At first,thedinner tablewasalwaysquiet becauseHarrison wasthemain conversation starter,?Nutter said.

Whether theactivitiesweresimple- like sledding,or major - likeholidays,Nutter was alwaysthinkingabout howmuch morefun it would bewith Harrison there.

?I realized howmuch I missed our latenight talks,someoneI could talk to,for fun,or when I needed advice,?Nutter said.

A fewmonthsafter Harrison left,Nutter had somemedical issues.

Nutter wanted toshareher fearswith someone. Normally,that someonewould beHarrison. ?Shewould betheremainly tocomfort me and tell meeverythingwasgoingtobeokay,? Nutter said.

JennaNutter said that shewouldn?t stop her from goingeven if shecould.Shelearned valuablelifelessons,likelearningtosolveher own problemsand not alwayscountingon someonetohelp.Nutter said that sheisalittle glad Harrison left,that ?beingtherefor someonereally sucksalot out of you.?

?[Jett Harrison] isahugerolemodel,?Nutter said.?I am proud of her.?

ThisisJenna Nutter and her older sister. Jett Harrison camehometo surpriseher with a visit threedaysearlier than expected. PHOTO COURTESY OF J. NUTTER

Student AbleToFindFriendsinSixthGrade

JoonAhn

Sitting alone, eighth-grader Keira Pierce went into sixthgrade with little to no friends, but through a simple coincidence, she was able to make newfriends.

In 2017, Pierce went into sixth grade with almost no friends. She had been in split classes (Classes that have 2 grades in one class) for the majority of her elementary years, third, fourth, and fifth grade.

?Because I was a year older than them,when it wastimeto go to middle school, I would not be in the same school as

them,?Piercesaid.

Piercewasalonewith nobody for a long time, sitting alone for almost everything. Intramurals, lunch, and in classes. Until one day when her teacher, Mrs Mcgraw changed theseatingchart.

?She moved my seat next to this girl named Marissa Mclean,? Pierce stated. ?I had never spoken to her and I never plannedto.?

Oneday,McLean waschanging her wallpaper, when she changed it to a YouTuber Pierce watched at the time briefly. Pierce finally decided to break out of her shell and open up.

?That moment, right there, made my shy self say something to this girl who I didn?t knowat all,?Piercesaid.

Pierce asked Mclean if she knew who those people were. Mclean'sfacelit up asshesaid yestoPierce,that shedidknow who thosepeoplewere. Mclean wasnot availableat thetimeof publication.

?We quickly learned that we had a lot in common,? Pierce said. ?She quickly introduced metoher other friends.?

Pierce met her other friends too, consisting of Jayme, Ella, Kiana,Maria,Sean,and Gracie. All of them are still friends today.

Pierce?s defining moment is important to her because of onemoment that changed her entire 6th-grade year and those next years that were to come. Shewouldn?t bewho she is today if not for that one moment.

?Although my defining moment may not be huge or flashy,it isimportant becauseI finally havea group of friends who are my age and I know that will always be there for me no matter what,? Pierce said.

A pictureof Keira Pierceand her friends. On thetop, going left to right, isMarissa, Maria, Keira Pierce, Keira Gan, and Taylor. On thebottom, left to right, isJenelle, Kiana, Gracie, Sean, and Jayme. PHOTO COURTESY OF K. PIERCE

Eighth-Grader'sFootball Journey

JaylahBrown

Andrew Shrader, an 8th grader at Mt Baker Middle school, had a rocky start to his football career, but he learns a huge life lesson from the sport while heplayed asa young athlete and now in middle school. As a 5 year old, he was already showing interest in thesport.¨ I started playing as a 3rd grader on Ravens football team and was thesmallest kid on theteam.? Since he was so small, Andrew? parents didn't always agree with him playing football. My dad was okay

with me playing because he played in high school but my mom was a little worried becauseof how physical football was,? hesaid. Andrew wasn't thebiggest player on theteam but that changed over time. Andrew continued to play even though he was smaller, but things eventually changed.

? ?In about 6th grade, I had my first big growth spurt. ¨I grew taller and bigger and I feel that was the last bit of motivation that I needed tobe the football player I wanted and hoped to be.¨ That's

wherethemotivation and determination kicked in. He wanted to be good but that did not just come naturally. Hehad to makesomelifestyle changes. Andrew started to get knee deep. He was eating right and working hard on and off thefield to try and get better, faster and stronger. Along with making a lifestyle change physically, he also made sure to keep his mind right. He wanted to stay focused and have a positive attitude. ?One of my favorite quotes was from Saquon Barkley is¨I believewhen you work out in thegym, it translatesonto the football field. ? Andrew took this quote to heart and got better and better.

It really paid off when he played. Hechosetoonly play Ravensfootball and focuson that instead of playingschool football. But Andrewsaid it wasn't easy.Thereweresome bumpsin theroad. Hefractured hiswrist from baseball duringtheoff season. He had toheal and get hiswrist better sohewould beready for football season. Heworked hard and stayed focused on his goals,and hewasready. ? ?All my hard work paid off when wewon thechampionship last year ? heexclaimed. Asthequotesaid,all hishard work in thegym translated ontothefootball field.

Eighth-grader jogsout to thefield confidently to a homegameat Auburn Riversidehighschool with hisgamefaceon. PHOTO COURTESY OF J.HAMLIN PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew Shrader, a third grader at thetime, posesfor his first gamepictures. PHOTO COURTESY OF A. SHRADER

TraumaticExperienceLeadsToWhoSheIsToday

She dropped to her knees, not being able to think straight when her mom told her that her Great Aunt haspassed away.

Jayme Singh who is an eighth was so young when two of her beloved family members passed away around the same time, one beingher Great Aunt.

Singh being at that age at the time made a huge factor of her goingthrough this.

?I think after like during my grandmother, when my grandmother passed away I think I was still 8. But then I think my birthday passed so I was 9, When my

great aunt passed away, it was pretty traumatic, to be honest, and yeah. I think it'd be good if I actually saw likea therapist, but I never did.?

Even when she was so heartbroken, they couldn?t give her Great Aunt a proper funeral because they spent all their money on her grandma?s funeral Singh said.

?I felt so bad for my Great Aunt because her loved ones weren?t giving the proper time to mourn for her? I felt likethe unluckiest person in theworld.?

Nothing helped her cope with her loss, she just had to move on without any help.

?Nothingreally did help me.I think I found it just,I think I kind of just likecontinued on with my life.? Singh said, ?I never really had much time to actually cope with it.?

When she was moving on, her best memories with her Great Aunt would swirl in her head.

?Whenever I went over to her house,shehad alittleGoKart and we used to just drive around her town in thego-kart and it wasjust really fun,?Singh said.

Even with all the memories in her head, she tried very hard to moveon.

?For the few weeks you know, for likethefirst week,I had been

thinking about how she, I wish shewasherebut then I think after like a week or so I, I still thought about her but, I just realized that she was probably in a better place.? Singh said.

Singh tried to makethisnot interfere with her school but she wasn?t as energetic as she used to be but then she finally laughed for once in a while, Singh said, ?I finally smiled with my friends at recess.?

Singh had finally realized that her Great Aunt was somewhere better after all of this.

?I just realized that she was probably in abetter place.?

JaymeSingh soundly sleepswith her bear on her great aunt'slap beforeshepassed away at theageof five.

PHOTO COURTESY OF K. SINGH.

NaomiCho

Passing of Grandma, Student Reflects Student LearnstobeSelflessAfter Grandma's Death

AsherMaier

By spending time with her lola (grandma in Tagalog) at Seatac Airport, seventh grader Gwen Teodoro learned to be selfless and grateful.

After church on Sundays, Lola Gandawould takeTeodoro along with some of her siblings and cousins to Seatac Airport. This consistent interaction with her grandma created a powerful bond.

In Teodoro?s defining moment, she described the relationship with her grandma.

?[Ganda] wasn?t closeto mebecause she was family, I had a personal relationship with her, a very special onefor me,?Teodoro said.

Every Sunday morning Teodoro and her family would wake up around six o?clock,get ready, and drive to church. At the start there would be the adult service, followed by the children?s performance, service, and choir practice. Lastly there was the adult choir practice.

?During my parents practice [Ganda and I] would go to the airport,?Teodorosaid.

Upon arriving at the airport, Ganda and Teodoro would get their visitor?s pass and relax at theAlaska Airlineshangar while they waited for Ganda?shusband to be on break. Once Lolo Sariel (Ganda's husband) was on break, they would goinsidetheplanes.

?[Lolo Sariel] worked on the planes, likefillingit up with fuel and themaintenanceof [theairplane],?Teodorosaid.

Sariel was not available for comment at timeof publication. After some time, Ganda and Sariel moved to San Diego to be closer to her kids and grandchildren. Because of their distance apart, Teodoro?s family didn?t communicate as

much with Ganda and Sariel and never heard about Ganda havingcancer.

?...[My family] didn?t find out until a year after she was diagnosed, it was just purely shock,?Teodoro said.

When Teodoro and her family were at Ganda?s funeral, Ganda?s daughter told her something that she heard from Ganda during one of her hospital visits to help ease Teodoro'spain.

?[Ganda] has no grudges, she has traveled the world, spent precious time with her family to see the very special moments, and has done everything she has ever wanted todo,?Teodorosaid.

Teodoro?s defining moment

wasn?t just amoment,it wasaperson. Ganda had an impact on her lifethat shecould only get from a truly benevolent person.

?I know she never said this directly, but shehastaught usto really liveour lifeto thefullest, and don?t waste our short time here,?

Teodoro said. ?I wish I could have spent more time with her, but at least I know she is not in pain anymore.?

"[Ganda] wasn't closeto me becauseshewasfamily, I had a personal relationship with her, a very special onefor me."

-GWENTEODORO

Gwen and Owen Teodoro arriveat Californiafrom Washington to meet their Lola Ganda. GandagivesGwen and Owen a Toys"R" Us gift card at thepark. PHOTO COURTESY OF R. TEODORO

Student Lost TheirGrandfatherToCancer

AlexToth

Grace Wheeler eight grade lost her grandfather to cancer in February 2017. His mother had cancer also which meanshehad abig chanceof gettingcancer.

?I no idea what the name of the cancer was. But thetypeof cancer he had the tumors were not targeted but they were mostly in his hips and knees.? Wheeler said. Her grandfather was the one who kept thefamily together. ? Helped me with homework, whenever they had problems we would gotohim. When I washavingtroublewith school I would go to him. I would go to him because her parentswerealwaysworking.? Wheeler said

He inspired Wheeler because he wasin Vietnam ? even though peoplewhere against the war he was smiling, kept happy for hiswife?.Wheeler said.

Hechanged Graceasaperson after his death.

" I realized happen for a reason. My family and I had to stick together and welearned wecan rely on each other. I keep my emotions in. He also had dreams he never accomplished and I want to fulfill hisdreams?.Wheeler said.

She saw him in pain a lot. ?It was heartbreaking. I felt useless,felt likehad no point in being there. I loved him with my whole heart. I felt physical pain, felt like I couldn't goon?. Wheeler said. The aftermath of his death was

not good. ? Sad and did not know how to feel. Feel apart from my family. The family wasapart for about ayear. I realized he was in a better place. My parents gave a big speech and everyone came back together again?.Wheeler said When shevisited thehospital one timeshecameout and read asign. Not agood meaning.

?I froze. I had apanicattack and staring at the door for 5 minutes sobbing and my dad had to carry me out of the hospital?. Wheeler said.

When her parents told her it was not a great time.

?I was frozen for like 5 minutes, then I started sobbing for a while and did not know what to do?.

Wheeler said.

Grace only visited her grandfather once in the hospital. ? I was confused and mad at my parents, sad and shut down?. Wheeler said.

Silva and Wheeler family and friends were not available for interviewat thetimeof publication

"I am determined to make him proud by doing my best in school, bemyself, and accomplish at least oneof hisdreams. I feel likeI owe you because you played a big role in my life and now I have to give back to you. Like for instance if I don't get my school work donehe might be disappointed in me,? Wheeler said.

Thisphoto taken at Disney Aulani resort on Island Oahu. PHOTO COURTESY OF S. SILVA

Grandmother's Death Defines Student's Life

Eighth Grader Shares Experience of Loss

EricaKang

Eighth grader Kendyll Webb lost her grandma several years ago to emphysema, and the loss shaped her life.

In March 2015, Webb and her family visited her grandma Dyann Webb in Sumner. Her grandma had emphysema, a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. A couple weeks after their visit, when Webb's mother went to check on Dyann, she found her dead. Her oxygen machinehad stopped working.

Webb?s family had taken the loss as hard as, if not worse, than she had, her sister especially. Her grandmother had a stronger relationship with Webb?s sister McKenna.

?I was jealous of my sister?s relationship in some way just because my sister had five more years with [Dyann],? Webb said. ?I never got to stay the night with her because of her [emphysema]. [McKenna] had more experienceswith her.?McKennawas not available for comment at thetime.

Someoneelsecloseto Webb who had taken her loss especially hard was her father, who wasout of town for work when it happened. Webb?sfather was the son of her grandmother.

?He was a mess. I?d never seen my dad cry before,?Webb said. ?He took a flight home

[early from work]. He was in his bedroom for a week and wouldn?t comeout.?

Webb?s family made sure to visit her grandmafrequently due to her condition and becauseshe lived alonein asmall house.

?[Dyann] didn?t have a husband or anything dueto divorce and her sister died from cancer,? Webb said. ?Her brother lived far away and shewaslonely. We never wanted her tobealone.?

Webb has a clear memory of

what happened the day her grandmadied, though shedidn?t get as much of it as the adults did. It is something she can recall thedetails of very clearly, ?I remember mostly everything that day,? Webb said. ?My parents always had the adult conversations so I had to go to the clubhouse, which was just a playroom. She had a bunch of toysfor usin there.?

Had Webb been older or younger,shewould havetaken it

very differently. If Webb had been older, she'd feel the loss more; if she had been younger, she would have been less affected and maybeunawareof the situation.

?If I didn?t know her as well I probably wouldn?t have wanted to go to the river every day and see her, and I wouldn't have wanted to bake all the time,? Webb said. ?All the lessons she taught, I want to have." experiences].?

Kendyll (left), sister McKenna (right), and grandma Dyann Webb (middle) posefor a Christmasshot. Thephoto wastaken December 2013, about two yearsprior to Dyann'sdeath. PHOTO COURTESY OF K. WEBB

Student LosesUncleFiguretoHeart Attack

Seventh Grader Tells How Loss Changes Him

GraceWheeler

Seventh grader Alex Toth lost hisunclefigure,Barney Graff,to a heart attack in March of 2018.

Graff died at his house in Corvallis, Oregon. Hedidn?t go to the hospital when he started to have signs show up that indicate a heart attack.

?[Barney] could have survived and still been herewith us,? Toth said.

Toth described him as kind and cared about everyone, all of his friendsand family.

?Over the years, Barney and his family became more than friends,?Toth wrote in hisdefining moment, ?They showed me that you can love other people outside of your family just like they arerelated toyou.?

When Graff died theToth family took the death hard especially Alex Toth's dad, Matt Toth, who was unavailable for interview at thetimeof publication.

?...Barney was like [my dad?s] mentor, and the person who he could gotofor help,? Toth said.

Graff had to go through many hardships in his life, such as losing a job he loved and having to moveaway toanewjobtoprovide for hisfamily.

Toth wrote in hisdefining moment, ?Heshowed methrough his actions to never give up, do the best you can and persevere no matter what??

When Graff died, Toth distanced himself from his family and hid his emotions, the death had been difficult for him. Hehad lost a man who had a big role in hislifeand that wasconnected to him through morethan abond of friendship.

According to Alex Toth, his father not being around much made Graff's death harder for him.

?Like, I don?t really tell my parents about my life?? Toth said.

?...and I didn?t want people to worry about me."

Toth and Graff families, as well as other friends were unavailable for interviews. Alex Toth was the only person available for interviews.

Toth expressed that a quote his dad wroteon Facebook had aspecial meaning to him, and that he thought it was a good idea for people to know what Graff ac-

complished and experienced in hislife.

?Today I lost my friend, Today I lost not only my friend but acolleague and my mentor, Today I lost my friend, a man that believed in meand my goalsand aspirations, Today I lost my friend, aman that opened up hishometo me and my family in our time of need, Today I lost my friend, a man that I?veshared alot of meals

with and many more laughs, Today I lost my friend, a man that invited meand my family to holidays with his family knowing that we could not make it home," Toth'sfather psoted on Facebook. "Today I lost my friend, a man who touched so many livesin his short time on earth, Today I lost my friend, I will miss [you Barney] my friend. I am forever in you debt...?

Barney Graff, ex football trainer for theBeaversat Oregon StateUniversity. Also, ex assistant athletic trainer for theUniversity of Iowa. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOFUNDME.COM

TheCanineChronicle

About 2019-2020PublicationDates

The MBMSJournalism II-III class produced this open public forum student newspaper with intent to ethically report events accurately, without bias. As an open public forum for students, all decisions made on content are made by students under the guidance of the adviser, with intent to uphold students?First Amendment rights. Theopinionspresented in articlesareprovided to represent theviews and perspectives of students and individuals in our diverse student population, not necessarily the whole of the adviser, faculty, and administrators. Any material that would cause a disruption to the educational process like libel, invasion of privacy, or copyright infringement will not be published. The Canine Chronicle had adopted the SPJ Code of Ethics: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accurate and transparent. The Canine Chronicle is produced using LucidPress. Photographs not taken by students have been utilized through a Creative Commons and Microsoft license. School portraits are licensed through Dorian Photography.