December 2013 Warrior Post

the

Warrior Post

Martin High School 4501 W. Pleasant Ridge Dr. Arlington, TX 76016 Volume 32, Issue 2 December 12, 2013

Filling empty bowls Ceramics students will host hunger awareness project Jan. 30

What’s Inside?

Sleep on it Students talk about the struggles of getting sleep at night

Warrior Radio Hear our own Warriors broadcasting at warriorradio.weebly.com

Holiday Cheer Clubs and teachers come together to brighten the season.

Photos by Jake Justice

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Jake Justice • Reporter

ave you ever wondered what it’s like to not know if you would be able to eat on a certain day? Some people go to sleep at night scared that they might not have food tomorrow, or the next day.

Ceramics III class is organizing an “Empty Bowls” project Jan. 30 to raise hunger awareness. Students will hand-craft bowls and sell them filled with food, then donate the profits to charity. Ceramics teacher Stacy Kouba initiated the project.

“I saw it in an ad where some artists from Austin did it, so I thought we could do that too,” Kouba said.

The students are creating each bowl differently so the guests have a variety of bowls they can choose. The bowls all differ in size, but the students want them to be about medium to large size. Entry to the event will cost $15 to $20.

The students make about three bowls

per class period, so the project has been a several month-long labor of love.

The food being served will be a simple meal, possibly soup and bread donated by a restaurant.

The guests will be asked to keep their bowls as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in the world.

Kouba said she is expecting 150 to 200 people to show up to support the Empty Bowls project. The event will be held in the cafeteria.

“I thought it was a good way to give back and use our talents,” Kouba said.

One in eight people were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010 to 2012. Almost all of the 852 million suffering live in developing countries, representing 15 percent of the population of developing countries.

“It makes me feel good to know that my class is going out of their way and the usual curriculum to help others,” senior ceramics

student Amanda Horton said.

“I think about the size, because it needs to be a good size to eat from,” senior ceramics student Shari Davis said.

Davis and the four other students are expected to make 20 to 30 bowls each. We live in the world’s wealthiest nation, yet 14.5 percent of U.S. households — nearly 49 million Americans, including 15.9 million children — struggle to have food on the table. One in eight people in the world do not have a stable supply of food. These statistics motivate the students.

“It feels good to know that I’m making a difference in our community,” senior ceramics student Daesiah Hodges said.

Funds from the Empty Bowls project will go to the North Texas Food Bank, the area’s largest hunger relief organization.

“I’m glad that these bowls that I’m putting my time into are being put to good use,” senior ceramics student Darien Bradford said.

#THROWBACK

A look back at some of the events and happenings here at MHS

How to give back and aid the Philippines Estefany Mendoza • Staffer

Senior Erin Hibbs exclaims over her get-well gifts from her first period Newspaper class. Hibbs was a passenger in a car accident Nov. 14 on the way Senior Cameron Cooper introduces his two Italian Exchange Students Oct. 22. Junior World Affairs Council home from a football game. Hibbs expects to be back in school in January. Photo by Lizzie Kirkham held a meeting for their members to introduce their Italian exchange partners. Photo by Kaitlyn Whetstine

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Nov. 8, 2013 Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.

Also known as Yolanda, the typhoon was said to be the most powerful tropical cyclone to ever make landfall. It was 370 miles wide and had winds of 195 mph and gusts of 235 mph.

Thirteen million people were affected and there have been almost 4,000 deaths reported so far. Three million people have been left without a home, and about 375,795 people are some of the fortunate ones that have been helped so far. The damage it has caused will cost millions of dollars and will take years for them to go back to something similar to their normal lives.

Below are some ways on how you can help: • UNICEF is accepting donations that can be made online (unicefusa.org) or by texting RELIEF to 864233 to donate $10.

• CARE teams will provide emergency relief to thousands of families. Donations can be made on online (care.org) or by calling 1-800-521-CARE. • The U.N. World Food Programme is urging Americans to make donations. You can donate online (wfpusa.org) or by texting the word AID to 27722 to donate $10.

Jazz hands

Senior Wade Girton is the first pianist to make All-State Jazz Band

Junior Kameron Thomas talks about the Warrior Radio’s success

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Caleb Smith • Reporter

alking down the hall, carrying a large black briefcase full of excitement, you might find junior Kameron Thomas always wanting to stay involved at Martin.

As a freshman and sophomore, Thomas was an athletic trainer, but he wanted to explore and dive into a different aspect that Martin has yet to establish as a school activity. This idea was starting a school radio station.

“I was looking through the student handbook and saw that a student or teacher could start a radio station on campus and a light in my head blinked with excitement knowing that I could take this somewhere,” Thomas said.

Warrior Radio is designed to appeal to all students at Martin, from the football team to Art Club. Its purpose is to give Martin another way of updating school events and activities as well as propelling the social network at Martin and the community to new heights. Warrior Radio includes broadcasting, interviewing, UIL events, football statistics and feature stories on students.

“There are so many different types of people, cultures and personalities here at Martin,” Thomas said. “We want to include everybody at Martin and we do that by

playing different genres of music and having different hosts of various backgrounds and cultures.”

Thomas and his crew broadcast their show in room 165D. While they do have live shows, they also have a Weebly website warriorradio.weebly.com. They transfer the live shows into recordings which they put online.

“We want students to have as much access to our radio station as possible,” Thomas said.

As Thomas leaves high school, he hopes that the Warrior Radio will be taken to another level. He hopes to see his leadership of starting a radio station trigger students from other schools and districts to create one of their own.

Another goal Thomas hopes to reach is to make Radio/TV production an elective in AISD and other school districts.

“I think having Radio/TV as an elective will give the students who want to go into that field as a career an eye-opening experience of what it is,” Thomas said. “It will help them on their college resumes as being experienced castmen.”

Thomas wants to continue the path of radio/TV broadcasting when he goes to college. He plans to attend the Los Angeles Film School and work for 102.7 KISS FM and eventually branch off and have his own

Junior Kameron Thomas works on his next broadcast for the Warrior Radio. The radio show broadcasts from room 165D and can be heard on warriorradio.weebly. com. Photo by Kaitlyn Whetstine

Senior Wade Girton plays one of his All-State audition pieces. Girton had to perform three auditon pieces along with an improv portion of the audition. Photo

by Brenda Chavez-Mayo

Abby Bishop • Editor-In-Chief

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hen senior Wade Girton joined jazz band freshman year, he did not expect that three years later he would make the All-State Jazz Band.

“I was terrible at first, and my director at that time sent me to Professor Cavanagh at UTA to take jazz lessons,” Girton said.

Girton has taken weekly lessons for jazz since freshman year, but he has been playing classical music since first grade.

The All-State audition process is very long and tough. Girton got the audition pieces back in May and had been practicing ever since.

“It’s definitely more challenging at the beginning when learning the music,” Girton said. “But it’s also more intense at the end because of polishing.”

Girton has been selected to the region band all four years, but this was his first year to make the All-State. In fact, he is the first jazz pianist at Martin ever to make All-State.

Girton played the piano with the region band back in October and will preform for the first time with the All-State band in February next semester.

The first round in the process takes 18

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people, but by All-State it is narrowed down to only two students. Girton made second chair in the band.

The region audition was in September at Birdville High School. When Girton walked into the room to audition, there was a curtain in front of him, so he couldn’t see the judges.

The All-State audition is a little different, because instead of a live audition, it is recorded. Each student auditioning has one shot recording each song as perfectly as possible.

“Because the State auditions are recorded and not in front of a panel of judges, I actually felt a lot less nervous,” Girton said.

Girton recorded the three etudes, or short pieces, that he had been working on since May and also improv.

For improv, he was given a track with two choruses on it the day of the audition.

He was given the chord changes, and he practiced them beforehand, but the actual audition was all improv and whatever he thought sounded best.

Girton plans on studying jazz and piano in college. He has been accepted to UTA and to the University of North Texas, which has a world-renowned jazz band program. His UNT audition is in the spring.

“I actually felt a lot less nervous” news

Flipping the Script Martin Theater chosen to model One Act Play

Ariel Hernandez • Opinions Editor The set of the stage must be perfect. Each best for their talents. We also look at age prop must be in place. The lighting must be range, or which students are best with difright on cue. The sound must boom from ferent dialects.” the stage to the last seat of the theater.

Senior Will Craig is an experienced acImagine having to memorize 40 minutes tor of Martin’s theater, and has a pretty worth of lines without being able to go good idea of what it takes for Martin to backstage and refresh your memory. spark an interest for the judges.

There’s no particular score, it’s just “All the shows we do in the fall are ranked from best to worst. There’s nothing treated as an off season to train and develparticular that can deduct from your score, op actors to prepare them for One Act,” it’s just one judge’s opinion of how well- Craig said. “It’s also a big deal because we constructed the play is. For the Theatre put a great deal of pride into our work and Program, One-Act Play is an incredibly like to see it do well.” important performance. This is the biggest Even though Martin theater has been to “game day” for them. state 15 times, the students never cease to In preparation for One Act this year, strive to be better and improve year after theater has the honor and privilege of year. In order for Martin to go to state, performing To Gillian on her 37th Birth- they must advance through zone, district, day as a training exercise for UIL judges. area, regional and then finally, state.

The Texas Education Theater Association The students audition in January, and (TETA) personally and unanimously in- continue running through rehearsals after vited Martin to be a guest play in order to school through February and March. train UIL judges. The TETA only selects Both Cure and Miller said they have one high school a year to perform. The cast full faith in their students, and they’re still will go to the convention and perform for undecided on which script to use for this Martin’s third time since 1994. year’s play since each one has so many For Martin’s One-Act performance, things to offer. theater directors Sharon Miller and Larry “Picking a favorite play is like pickCure choose a script based on the students’ ing a favorite child,” Cure said. “The kids strengths and like to be chalweaknesses. lenged, and we “We select a have absolutely Upcoming Martin Theater events script based on no problem what the stugetting them •Jan. 8 to 11 – Black Box Series dents can do,” excited about Miller said. performing.

•Jan. 2014 – TETA performance “Whether that’s They love com• March 29 – District OAP comedic, drapeting and of matic, romantic, course, win• May 29-31 – Musical whichever works ning.”

Changing it up

The SAT is getting a completely new format...eventually Sherilyn Morales • Reporter Sometimes it seems that your whole life depends on it: the college admission test that proves you actually learned something in high school. That’s right, the SAT. Many high school students take prep courses for it, but some younger students may not know that they’ve been preparing for the wrong test. It will soon be completely reformatted.

“We will develop an assessment that mirrors the work that students will do in college,” College Board president David Coleman stated in a letter about the reformatting of the SAT. “An improved SAT will strongly focus on the core knowledge and skills that evidence shows are most important to prepare students for the rigors of college and career.”

According to Coleman, the SAT is “coachable,” in that the current test does not closely reflect the skills learned in a high school or college curriculum, but instead has become an almost completely separate subject in which test-prep has become almost essential.

Coleman stated that the new test, however, will more accurately reflect the ability of students to perform the skills they have learned in the classroom and should not require test-prep.

“I hope it will be more of the things that we should know and less of the things we’ve never heard of,” junior Travis Roper said.

Coleman hopes the change will promote better understanding in the classroom.

“I think that knowing I will be tested over things straight from our curriculum would make me pay attention more during class,”

Art by Rachel Tyler

sophomore Sarah Hays said.

In addition, a change in the number of questions per section is also expected.

“There are rumors going around that the test is going to be extended in length without an increase in the time limit per section,” English teacher Marilyn Clanton said after hearing an SAT representative address the changes at an AP conference.

However, these rumors are unconfirmed.

Finally, the current writing section’s essay is expected to be completely changed. Instead of responding to a prompt, Coleman proposed introducing an analysis assignment in which students focus more closely on analyzing facts and information from specific sources.

There is not yet a clear date when this “new and improved” test will be implemented, but rumors that it could be introduced as early as fall of 2014 have already started swarming. Although this, as well as many of these changes, still seems unclear, it is definite that the test is soon going to receive a major face-lift.

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Scouting for high achievers

Senior Jack Brown juggles extracurricular activities Jennifer Forsberg•Copy Editor Senior Jack Brown does it all. He is copresident of UIL Academics, co-president of Science UIL, president of Computer Science UIL, and co-president of Math UIL. Brown is also involved in UIL Ready Writing, which is a mixture of essay writing and philosophy. On top of all of this, Brown plays cello for Symphony Orchestra and is in the process of becoming an Eagle Scout.

“Fridays after school normally are for Science and Computer Science UIL practices,” Brown said. “Saturdays are full of homework or Boy Scout events. My typical Sundays I go to Arlington Youth Symphony. In my free time I play Dungeons and Dragons.”

As a child, Brown’s parents made sure he got his homework done before he did anything else, but other than that, Brown’s success is from self motivation.

“I like school for the sake of learning,” Brown said. “I like understanding things and knowing how to apply them in life. I like to understand them beyond just the classroom and I make the effort to apply them to things I do.”

Brown said he hopes to make it to state with Science UIL and Computer Science UIL. He puts in lots of practice in these areas not only to win in competitions, but also because these are the areas that interest him. He is applying to Yale and MIT and plans to either major in one of those fields independently or combine them.

Currently Brown and the fourth-year computer science students are working on an app that will remind students to not park in the band grid so the office

won’t have to make announcements.

“When someone is parked in the band grid, security can take the app we’re developing and the license plate number then press a button and it will send a text to the owner of the vehicle,” Brown said.

As well as being actively involved in school, Brown has been a Boy Scout for more than five years. He joined Cub Scouts as a Bear at eight or nine years old and is about to become an Eagle Scout. Being a Boy Scout puts Brown in the practice of helping out in the community.

Recently Brown carried out his Eagle Project.

He had to plan, develop, lead, fund, carry through and review a project that benefited the community all on his own.

“I did one at Arlington Cemetery near UTA,” Brown said. “My beneficiary wanted it registered as a historical cemetery. I got a group of 60 people and we recorded all the graves in a big section of that cemetery. My beneficiary said that people have already started using that for genealogical research.”

Beyond just learning skills and helping out in his community, Brown frequently goes on campouts with Boy Scouts. They do things from hiking through caves to going on week-long camping trips.

Recently Brown even staffed a leadership camp that taught communication and team building skills.

“My goal for life is to get as much out of it as I can,” Brown said. “I want to make myself and others happy, and just enjoy life.”

Sophomore Caitlin Calandria tells about her Girl Scout experience Madeline Maxwell•Sports Editor It all began at the young age of four when sophomore Caitlin Calandria started her Girl Scout career.

Little did she know it would end up being a long-term activity that would open doors to many exciting opportunities.

“Girl Scouts builds my confidence,” Calandria said. “I’ve been doing it for 11 years now. I’ve met people from all over the world and made life-long friends. I love it.”

Calandria said she grew a love for all the opportunities Girl Scouts brought to her and continued to gain new experiences throughout the years.

Not only is she a Girl Scout, she is also a counselor to young Girl Scouts like she once was.

“This past summer I went to Steven’s Ranch and worked as a counselor,” Calandria said. “The young Girl Scouts and I went canoeing, rode horses and went rock climbing.”

Calandria said she really enjoys being able to help up-and-coming Girl Scouts.

Working at the camp helps her become a better Girl Scout by teaching the newbies what all she knows about the organization.

“I’m in troop number 2036,” Calandria said. “We perform flag ceremonies and also get recognized on Scout Sundays at churches where they recognize us scouts.”

Girl Scouts come to an end usually when you reach your senior year of high school.

Once you get your Gold Award

Photo by Brenda Chavez-Mayo 5

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then you are ready to graduate from the role of a prestigious Girl Scout.

Clandria has already gained her Silver Award, but with being a sophomore she has only two years left to get her Gold Award goal and graduate from her 11 years of hard work and dedication.

“The Gold Award brings me scholarship opportunities and creates opportunities for exchange programs for me to be in,” Calandria said. “I plan to get my Gold Award by my senior year if not earlier.”

The qualifications in order to get a Gold Award are much more difficult than the qualifications to receive a Bronze and Silver Award.

Any Girl Scout seeking to gain a Gold Award must create an organization that is continuous even after they graduate from the organization.

“I want to start an organization where I make dresses out of pillow cases for the Matamoros Childrens Home in Mexico,” Calandria said.

Calandria is preparing herself for her last two years of Girl Scouts by earning badges and building the Girl Scouts of the future.

From selling endless amounts of cookies in her beginning years, to starting an organization in order to graduate and get her Gold Award, Calandria said she is excited to see what interesting and life-changing opportunities come her way.

Photo by Kaitlyn Whetstine

‘Tis the season to be healthy Making wise choices this holiday season is difficult, but worth it Rosalinda Castaneda • Reporter

This hamburger might look delicious, but do you know what’s really in it? When you take that first bite, you’re biting 254 calories in just one single patty. 354 calories are in a double patty. And that does not include the fries and the drink.

Fruits might not seem like the first choice for an after-school snack, but if you think about it, they’re much healthier and also have benefits that you would love.

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Fitness tips • Eating in the morning will prevent you from gorging in the afternoon. Eat colorful foods. Have at least one brightly-colored fruit or vegetable in each meal. Do not confuse thirst with hunger. Drink a glass of water. Maybe that’ll help your tummy feel much better.

• You may be used to fried food but there are other ways to cook, like roasting, steaming, poaching, baking, braising and broiling. Odds are you’re eating too fast. Try and hold a conversation while having a meal. Also, eat a fiber-filled apple before a meal to make you feel full faster.

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• Foods with healthy fats such as olives, salmon and walnuts help you feel satisfied. Craving can sneak up on you when you’re tired. Try taking a nap if you feel yourself wanting some junk food. Skipping meals can cause your body to go into a fat-storing starvation mode, making it harder to burn calories.

• Take a 30-second break in the middle of your meal.

Automate your eating by planning your meals ahead of time. Remember take a brisk walk before lunch or dinner.

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• Get your sleep. Sleep deprivation alters levels of hormones in the body that regulate hunger, causing an increase in appetite.

• Do your best to ensure you’re not eating after 7 p.m.

You’re more likely to make unhealthy choices and less likely to sleep as well after a late meal.

• Skip soda. You’ll be amazed by how much weight you drop by simply switching to water. Beware of “fat-free” or “zero trans fats” as you could be trading for huge amounts of sugar or sodium.

Hardships bring families closer Lauren House • Reporter

Not every family is the same. Some have different religions, celebrate different holidays, travel to dream spots every summer.

But other families are faced with overcoming multiple obstacles.

“My brother has mildly severe Autism and goes to Mary Moore,” junior Briana Hanlon* said. “He goes to speech therapy classes, occupational therapy and achievable community interaction therapy.”

Difficulties like this can cause a gap in the family, by limiting family vacations, missing some birthday parties and sports games.

But these families have grown closer than any other family could ever imagine while giving their children all the love and care they have to offer.

“Sometimes I wish he didn’t have autism, but I have to remember the reasoning behind all the craziness,” Hanlon said. “He does have outbreaks, but my family tries not to focus on what everyone around us thinks. We try to calm him down in the most effective way possible despite the stares we get.”

Change can be hard for all of us and some changes are just a little different.

“Sometimes I unconsciously find myself thinking if my brother has an appointment my parents won’t make it to my events,” Hanlon said. “I’m constantly missing events because he doesn’t feel like going or is in a bad mood. We haven’t been on a vacation since he was born. It aggravates me sometimes but I remember God gave me my brother for a reason and sometimes I just need to sit down and listen.”

In the end, these families have learned that they have a special blessing in their life, and that even though their family interactions are different, they embrace it in the most gracious way possible.

“My brother doesn’t do social interactions very well,” Hanlon said. “One time he went up to a handicapped lady at our church and goes, ‘“Hey, nice chair,’ and winked at her.”

Adjustments have been made, sacrifices have been conquered and a bond has been built in these families. Nothing will stand in the way of these families living normally.

“One thing everyone should know about Autism is that no one should feel bad for me or my family,” Hanlon said. “To my family and me, my brother is a blessing and

I wouldn’t ask for anything different. It also helps that my church is really supportive.”

Movies create the perfect family – The American Dream as most of us refer to it – with a big house, both parents, a pretty lawn. But when it comes down to it, that can sometimes just be a figure of imagination running loose.

Senior Madeline Ross* and her family have learned to cope with Madeline’s sister’s anger issues. “It isn’t easy to handle,” Ross said. “As my sister gets older, she gets worse, and continues to make choices that don’t only affect her but affect our whole family. I first realized my sister was different had really bad anger when I was six or seven. My sister was forced to stay at my dad’s house for a couple years because she would try to hurt me.”

“I feel like it has made me more mature,” Ross said. “My parents put so much attention on her that I had to parent myself and do things for myself that my parents should have been doing. My favorite memory is when we were little and would go to the park and play on the swings for hours.

Our dad had to bribe us out get off.”

Having to grow up, almost as if you’re all alone can’t be easy, especially when you lose a major positive factor in your life.

“When my grandma died of breast cancer, I really lost all my hope,” senior Josh Hall said. “I went into a dark hole not knowing what to do.”

It has been said that family truly is the backbone of life. They are supposed to be there no matter what the situation or circumstance, to help and guide you through the virtues of life.

“My brother and I really leaned on each other,” Hall said. “He’s waiting on going to college for me so that we can go at the same time to push and help each other, and it would really be weird without him.”

Even when it seems like you’re left with nothing, there is always a glimpse of hope and key to the future to get you through.

“We have been there for each other through the best and worst times,” Hall said. “We just really need to be together so everything will work itself out. It has changed my whole family in a lot of ways.

The family holidays like birthdays and Christmas are different because she’s not there, and everyone knows why.” * Name has been changed

Animal Whisperer Senior has unique communication with animals

Photo by Jaycee Allen

Jaycee Allen • Reporter

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ver sick of talking to humans? Don’t want to vent or tell people your problems? What do you do? Well according to senior Sophie Salomao, you can talk to animals. Literally.

“Obviously animals can talk,” Salomao said. “Humans are just stupid and don’t realize they understand everything we say.

Yes, they sometimes love us but they think we are dumb. They have a point. We think we are on top of the food chain, but if a lion just waltzed right in here, we would be absolutely terrified. Who is on top of the chain now?”

Salomao started believing that animals could talk when she was seven years old.

“My first experience was actually when I had to put my cat down,” Salomao said.

“Right before her life was taken, she put her paw on my hand. It was her way of telling me, ‘I love you.’ I’ve always felt weird and pretty lonely and my pets came to comfort me. They felt bad and I could just read what they were saying to me.”

“I am an animal whisperer,” she said. “I listen to what they want to say all the time.

Sometimes my dog is so annoyed with me and tells me to shut up and other times she is so excited and shows me her love.”

Even though animals haven’t actually spoken out loud in words to her, Salomao said she still believes they can.

“Let’s be honest, not always do we want to talk to humans, so why would they want to?” Salomao said. “Maybe in the future they will come out and talk, but I think they like to keep it a secret.”

Just like humans, animals know the lan-

“We have been there for each other through the best and worst of times.”

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guage they have grown up with.

So, animals in Mexico know Spanish, animals in America know English, etc.

For Salomao, the language barrier doesn’t stop her from knowing what animals are thinking and feeling.

Many people might think she is insane, but Solomao isn’t the only person to believe that animals talk.

“There are definitely other people like me,” Salomao said. “Have you ever seen Animal Planet?”

Salomao doesn’t let others’ opinions bother her.

“It doesn’t bother me,” she said. “I mean, everyone has their own beliefs so they can think what they want. I just don’t want people to shun me for it. My friends don’t really care. We don’t talk about it and they just accepted it, I guess. My parents thought I grew out of it.”

One day Salomao hopes to use her skills to save pets in danger or help communicate with veterinarians and law enforcement officers.

“When I was younger, whenever I would spend a night at my friend’s house we’d hear a dog barking across the street,” Salomao said. “It wasn’t just an annoying bark, it was a cry for help. I could tell by the way it sounded and couldn’t help but do something about it. My friend and I, one night, decided to stay outside and sure enough the usual bark occurred. The dog ended up running outside and came to me.

When the owners came out, the dog ran and hid behind me. The owners weren’t that happy and I didn’t want any conflict, so, they took him back. When the dog was being forced to go back in the house, I knew he was asking for me to help. I called 911 and told them my suspicions. They called animal control and sure enough the dog was saved. Apparently, right before the save, the owners were tying the dog’s tail with a tight rope to try and cut it off. Then they would throw rocks at it. It was a relief to know the dog was rescued. I hate that those kinds of things happen, but the fact that I can prevent it from getting worse is so wonderful. I want to use my gift in any way I can.”

Study “buddy”

Students share their experiences with using pills for school who had also taken Adderall before “Adderall didn’t make me smarter,” CalloNatalie Buongiorno • Features Editor line tests.” way said. “I got a better score on

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n the morning of the SAT, students scramble for their calculators, pencils, erasers and snacks to keep them going along the nearly fourhour test. Some students grab something else to prepare them though: a pill.

Drugs such as Adderall are designed specifically for those who have ADHD, but are also being used by students to improve SAT scores or to study for a test. Those who have taken pills to improve their concentration, though, have been met with mixed results.

“The first time I tried Adderall was at a party,” senior Peter Calloway* said. “My friend said, ‘Hey do you want to try this?’ and I said ‘Yeah, sure.’ He told me to take two pills so I just took his word for it. I hadn’t done any research on the pill and I didn’t know how much it took. I ended up not being able to sleep for 48 hours. After 48 hours of staying awake, I didn’t feel like doing anything. I felt as though everyone was being really hostile, and I just felt very bad in general.”

Despite his negative first results, Calloway decided to try taking the pill again.

This time not to party, but for school. With the pressure of getting a good score on the SAT and applying to colleges, Adderall may seem like an easy shortcut.

“I took Adderall again later because I heard that it would improve my SAT and ACT scores,” Calloway said. “I researched it and read some reviews from people on-

While Adderall helps those diagnosed with ADHD to focus, it affects people without ADHD in a different way.

A person with normal dopamine levels in their brain may experience a heightened sense of focus – the perfect mood to cram for a test or write that five page paper.

“When I’m on Adderall, I feel like talking to people and doing things,” Calloway said.

“The first time I took Adderall I stayed up all night and read books. I always feel awful after the Adderall wears off, though.

After I took the SAT, I came home and fell asleep.”

Although he took the pill specifically to get a better score on the SAT, Calloway said that the Adderall did not help him.

the SAT the second time I took it, but I don’t think that it was because of the pill. I had also gone through a lot of tutoring and studying.”

“I definitely wouldn’t take Adderall again,” Calloway said. “There are too many negative side effects.”

These study pills aren’t only used for improving SAT scores.

Some students take them just to go to school and take a test.

“I get nervous when taking tests, so I decided to try Adderall to help me concentrate,” junior Bryce Dugan* said.

“It was really scary the first time I took it. It made me jumpy and a lot more nervous than I usually am. I was re-

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ally scared about what would happen.”

CDC surveys have shown that more than 15 percent of high school students use these “study drugs” regularly. Regular use of the drug may develop a psychological need for the pill.

“I take Adderall often for tests and now I’m kind of used to it,” Dugan said. “I’m not addicted, I just don’t want to stop using it. I don’t know if the pill helps me at all, I just take it.”

Adderall increases dopamine levels in the brain and produces the same effect as amphetamines. These amphetamines block the process of dopamine recycling itself.

Normally, when a person is not on a stimulant, dopamine is released and then recycled to be used again. Adderall blocks this process, and the dopamine is not able to be recycled for reuse. Instead, the dopamine is gone and not able to be used again. The user will take more of the pill to experience that rush because there is not enough dopamine left in their brain.

“I have started taking larger doses,” Dugan said. “I have to take more of it in order to actually feel anything.”

Senior Kelly Johnson* is another student who has experimented with Adderall.

“Last year I tried using pills because I was always overwhelmed with homework,” Johnson said. “But now I can’t believe that I ever did. After a couple of tries, I realized how negatively it was impacting me. It always made me feel sick, and I didn’t feel like it was helping me at all.”

Johnson said she feels much better this new school year now that she has stopped using pills.

“I feel a lot more confident now that I’m not relying on pills for school,” Johnson said. “It’s bad that so many people think they need to take drugs to do well in school. The real way to do well in school is to work hard and study.” * Names have been changed

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817-557-9776

Odd gir l out The hidden culture of female aggression

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Olivia Viscuso • Reporter Art by Rachel Tyler

t’s that girl. She is that typical high school misfit, she’s the epitome of the teenage existence. Many girls have experienced exclusion, and equally as many are the perpetrators. The cause of the low self-esteem of countless girls. The experience cuts across the lines of race, age, ethnicity, religion and social group.

This high school commonplace can have severely negative psychological effects on the girls involved.

“You’re talking about eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and all kinds of different things that don’t just go away,” psychology teacher Rachael Peterson said.

Primitive human beings, particularly females, were forced to stick together while the men were away or risk becoming lost or being picked off by wild animals. Chemicals in the female brain such as dopamine and oxytocin encourage and motivate girls to seek out connections with others-and when they do, they are rewarded with a flush of these feel-good chemicals.

“It is the best feeling in the world,” sophomore Michaela Lavelle said. “I think people crave it because the worst feeling is needing someone and having them not needing you, so you spend your life trying to find those people who need you just as much as you need them.”

When girls are angry, they rarely articulate their feelings, but instead respond with covert, nonphysical forms of payback. They use exclusion, backbiting, rumors, and so much more to “make her feel how I felt.”

“I think being a girl makes you required to be excluded by friends at least once,” sophomore Rachel Estep said. “That’s just how it seems like we deal with things.”

There is a hidden culture of girls’ aggression in which girls fight each other with relationships and body language instead of knives and fists.

Junior Brenna White has been openly gay since seventh grade, and while her parents were accepting and supportive, White admits that many of her friends were not.

“They slowly started cutting off communication with me once they found

out I was gay,” White said. “It got to the point that they wouldn’t even make eye contact in class. I felt like everyone was constantly judging me because I was different. I didn’t have many friends, only a handful of good ones who accepted me, and I got a lot of criticism for my sexuality.”

White recalled one specific time in junior high in which she was deliberately targeted. She said that when she was at the Boles haunted house with her girlfriend at the time, a girl she knew walked up to her and stuck cotton candy in her hair.

“Some people laughed at me, but a lot of others stood up for me,” White said.

White also plays volleyball, and she was happy to say that every team she has ever played on was very accepting of her. She said that she was grateful to not be treated differently than any of the other girls.

She had discovered a place where she felt comfortable and free of judgement.

Many girls struggle to find such a place, an outlet for their emotions, and the ways in which they deal with their feelings are sometimes counterproductive.

Still others choose not to respond to the problem at all, but silence can be the worst enemy to a girl who is suffering from the aggression of her peers. These aggressions lack a public identity and therefore are a heavier burden when undergone in silence.

“Some girls may not be able to identify what they’re experiencing as wrong or punishable,” Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out, said. “Instead, they may internalize the problem as their fault and never speak of it.”

Some girls are marked forever by events of unexplained aggression, leaving them unsure if they can trust in others and in themselves.

This behavior, long marked as simply “what girls do,” has forever been one of the darkest secrets of girlhood, and many girls have endured it in silence and solitude.

Now it is time to allow girls to confront their social fears and pose their own questions concerning the behavior that has been common for them for so long.

Sophomore Greyson Collier

Senior Bri Hawkins

How you see me Uncovering the paradox of teenage perception

Junior Megan Crown

Desy Thompson • Reporter

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hen a person catches the glimpse of the face of a famous actor, sniffs a favorite food or hears the voice of a friend, recognition is instant. Within a fraction of a second after the eyes, nose, ears, tongue or skin is stimulated, you know the object is familiar and whether it is desirable or dangerous. As teenagers look at these actors and their peers, many begin to compare themselves to them.

“Teenagers become insecure when they compare themselves to each other,” sociology teacher Pam Matthews said.

Neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore and colleagues conducted experiments and concluded that teenage girls use their dorsal medical prefrontal cortex (MPFC) more in social emotional scenarios more than adult women.

“Most teenagers don’t think as highly of themselves as others think of them,” Mathews said. “Teenagers are too hard on themselves at times.”

Adolescents trigger the dorsal MPFC more so than adults mainly because they are learning to attribute complex mental states like intentions to themselves as well as others. This is why over time many neurologists find this region of the brain

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Freshman Marshall Brandt to be less active.

People who view themselves positively usually also believe people evaluate them in a positive way. Likewise, those who view themselves negatively think others see them negatively, too.

“Compared to teens in the past, teenagers are more accepting today,” Mathews said.

Adults have more information about who they are and self-reflection than adolescents. The looking-glass effect is an idea brought up by Charles Horton Cooley.

The looking-glass effect can be defined as the conceptualization of how people see themselves and others. His concept of the looking-glass self suggested that people think of how people view them and create self-attitudes based on the evaluation, whether or not the opinions were correct.

Gordon Gallup and his colleagues conducted experiments on chimpanzees, raising one group in complete isolation and other group in a socially active environment. They found that when the chimpanzees were exposed to their reflections the isolated group responded very differently than social chimpanzees.

The isolated chimps could not fully absorb the concept of their own selves.

Photos by Desy Thompson

‘I feel tired all the time’ Junior John Michelsen shares his every day struggle with Narcolepsy and how it affects his school, social, and personal life

Michaelann Durden & Tyler Forde • Reporters “Freshman year during choir I fell asleep while singing a couple of times,” junior John Michelsen said.

Michelsen was diagnosed with Narcolepsy at the end of his freshman year. Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder that affects a person’s control of sleep and wakefulness.

“I just go into a really deep sleep,” Michelsen said. “I go into REM sleep pretty fast, making it where I get a lot of deep sleep, which actually makes me tired throughout the day. It feels like I haven’t had any sleep because I haven’t had a normal sleep cycle.”

The average person falls asleep in about 15 minutes, but someone with Narcolepsy can fall asleep between 30 seconds and two minutes.

Less than 1 percent of the US population is diagnosed with Narcolepsy, and the causes of the disorder is unknown.

“I have fallen asleep on my friends in the middle of a conversation before,” Michel-

Hell Week

Busy is taken to a whole new level with these students’ multiple activities and very busy schedules.

Kaitlyn Rosenbaum • Reporter & Erin Hibbs • News Editor

SLEEP TIPS Tupelo Witte • Reporter

son said.

He says they’re all used to it, and they’ll nudge him to wake him up. Falling asleep randomly throughout the day can be called a “sleep attack.”

In order for Michelsen to be diagnosed, he had to do a sleep study. The study involved him sleeping over night with a bunch of cords attached to him, then taking five 15-minute naps the next day.

“I take Nuvigil, which is a really strong medicine that pilots take in order to stay awake for long flights,” Michelsen said.

Michelsen has to wake up at five a.m. every morning to take the medicine, which causes him to feel jittery throughout the day. In addition to Narcolepsy, Michelsen also has sleep paralysis.

“Narcolepsy and sleep paralysis go handin-hand,” Michelsen said. “When I go into sleep paralysis my mind is awake, but my body is not. So I can’t move and it’s terrible.”

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. Michelsen has experienced this feeling many times before and sometimes up to 20 minutes.

“Driving is a fear that I’ll fall asleep, but it’s not really dangerous unless it’s really late and my medicine is wearing off,” Michelsen said.

He is not restricted from anything specific and can pretty much do whatever a normal teenager can do.

“I feel tired all of the time,” Michelsen said. “It’s really taxing honestly. I can’t control it.”

“I’ve mastered falling asleep in the shower,” Michelsen said. “I rest my shoulder up against the wall and I’m asleep.”

“I fear that if it gets worse, or the medicine stops working, I don’t know what I would do really,” Michelsen said. “Hopefully, I’ll just be good.”

“Once a month, on show weeks. I stay up at the school until about 11 p.m. nightly during those weeks working on the shows or with performances.” - senior Victoria Esquibell

“My stress relief is swimming. I enjoy doing it, and I’m usually too tired to do anything else.” - sophomore Trenten Moore

What/when is your hell week?

“All the time, because of the amount of activities I am involved with. Show Choir and track season are in the spring. Cross Country practices are in morning, track in the afternoon, and choir in the evening. I go on trips with Student Council whenever I can because I am on the board. I also try to work eight or nine hours a week at Spring Creek.” - junior Paige Donart “My craziest week is when we have a short week, meaning the game is on Thursday, and I have to cram all the film study in before the game.” - sophomore Eric Walker

1. Sleep when you are sleepy, but avoid long daytime naps.

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SLE ON

Art by Rach Photos by Brenda

What is your stress relief?

“Relieving stress just comes with being with my family and enjoying the time we have outside of all the activities going on.”

- sophomore Eric Walker “I love what I do, so Show Choir and run- senior Victoria Esquibell ning are my stress reliefs. They really get my mind off of everything. If I really want to relax, I sit down and read my Bible.” junior Paige Donart

sop

“My stress relief is watching the Big Bang Theory or Glee. Even though theater is part of what causes my stress, my tech theater class takes away the stress because I like to do it.” - senior Victoria Esquibell

3. Reserve your bed for sleep only. (Don’t study, eat, play Xbox, or watch movies on 4. Avoid caffeine or stim your bed.) day. (If you go to sleep 2. Keep a consistent sleep/wake time. don’t drink caffeine past a Establish routines and clear your mind.

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EEP N IT

hel Tyler Chavez-Mayo

Victoria Esquibell - Theatre

phomore Trenten Moore

‘I’d stay up for days at a time’ Students describe their difficulties after being diagnosed with insomnia

Keely May & Bailey Lewis • Reporters Imagine you are laying in your bed.

You close your eyes and are trying to finally collapse in a deep sleep, but you can’t. You toss and turn with every possible thought running through your head. The good, the bad, and the scariest thoughts. You can’t seem to catch a break from your own mind.

All your thoughts are reminders of the past and what’s to come.

There are people who go through this every night, sometimes only getting a few hours of sleep, sometimes none.

Senior Kelsey Caldwell was diagnosed with insomnia in fifth grade “It’s one of those cliché scenarios where you’re thinking about every situation in the world, but then you have hours in the dark to think about it,” Caldwell said. “You can have your eyes closed for literally four or five hours and just think that you won’t get any rest.”

Insomnia affects the everyday life of people diagnosed. They constantly live with the lack of sleep for sometimes days on end, making daily tasks a struggle.

“I can’t concentrate in class and I can’t do my homework,” sophomore Tim Tibbles said. “I have a really hard time waking up.

Your whole body feels weak and you can’t focus on one thing. You’re just sitting there and your head feels like it’s swimming.”

These students go though constant exhaustion and it affects their health. Lack of sleep leads to depression and sickness.

Almost half of students nationwide report having less than eight hours of sleep at night according to studentpulse.com.

“Since May, I’ve lost 65 pounds because I wasn’t eating,” Caldwell said. “When I don’t sleep, I don’t eat. I’d stay up for two or three days at a time.”

Students with insomnia struggle with

How much sleep do you get during your hell week?

How do you balance everything?

“During the week, not a lot of sleep each night. Sundays I usually sleep all day to make up for it.” - senior Victoria Esquibell

“I do what I have to do for theater first, then if I have yearbook work nights, go to those.

Then homework comes after or whenever I can fit it in.” -senior Victoria Esquibell

“I am involved in competitive swim and am on the swim team at school, so my meets and some practices overlap.” - sophomore Trenten Moore

“I wake up early during the Cross Country season, and go to bed late after homework gets done. After The Cross Country season ends, I get more sleep.” - junior Paige Donart

“All my activities seem to overlap. Track and Show Choir overlap a lot in the spring, Weekends are the busiest with shows and some meets.” - junior Paige Donart

“I put myself on a schedule to make sure I don’t get lazy and can get everything done that I need to.” - sophomore Trenten Moore

“Football really doesn’t get in the way of anything because that’s what I look forward to most.” - sophomore Eric Walker

“To balance football and everything else I do, I just work really hard in the time period I have football.” -sophomore Eric Walker

* Victoria Esquibell, 12 - theater/yearbook * Paige Donart, 11 - track/cross country/ show choir * Trenten Moore, 10 - swimming * Eric Walker, 10 - football

“I get a maximum of nine hours of sleep a night. I get home at 7 p.m. and wake up at 5 a.m., but I have homework to do after I get home.” - sophomore Trenten Moore “I get pretty decent sleep. On game days, I really try and get to bed by at least 10 which is really early for me.” - sophomore Eric Walker “On average I get four to five hours of sleep a night.” - junior Paige Donart

5. No cell phones in the room you sleep in. Or put your phone mulants later in the on airplane mode so the waves coming into your phone won’t p around 10 or 11, around 2 or 3 p.m.) interfere with your sleep stages.

6. Don’t go to bed on a full stomach.

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trying to get sleep. They have to try several different types of medication until they find a balance that will allow them to sleep.

“When I was diagnosed in the fifth grade, I started on Melatonin, then they had me on Seroquel to use as a sedative and they had me on Trazodone which is a medication that makes you like a zombie,” Caldwell said. “Now I’m on Doxepin and I’m more in a peaceful state on mind.”

These medications can cause harmful side effects that can sometimes be worse than the actual disease. These side effects include seizures, depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety.

“One medication kind of pushed me into depression because I was always tired and didn’t want to do anything,” Caldwell said.

“I was diagnosed with depression for a few years until I got off that medication.”

Do your activities overlap?

7. Make your sleeping environment helpful and conductive to sleep. (Expose yourself to light five minutes after 8. Exercise, but not right waking up). before you go to sleep.

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MHS travels to West HS Nov. 8 to present them with funds for prom

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1. Seniors Rachel Cendrick, Raegan Peck and Katie Pordash enjoy the West HS pep rally.

2. Student Council officers present West HS with funds raised from the sell of Warriors for West bracelets and t-shirts.

3. West HS cheerleaders at a blacklight pep rally 4. Student Council sponsor Carolyn Powers and junior Jireh Davis cheer at the West HS pep rally.

5. West student leaders give principal Marlene Roddy and senior Craig Thorsen a tour of the school’s portable buildings and walkways.

Photos by Brenda Chavez-Mayo

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You’re not alone

Teachers willing to share personal experiences to help others Cailynd Barnes • Reporter Everyone has obstacles they have had to overcome, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, divorce or having a child before you thought you were ready. Time and time again people are forced into their shells because they feel like nobody understands what they are going through, but there has always been that one person there to support them.

As students, we don’t get to know our teachers as well as we should because there’s work that has to be done. Teachers are there to help us if we need help, but they might have a story of their own that we don’t get to hear because we are caught up in all the work that comes with school.

••• “Life is going to be hard for all of us; just know that it does get better,” English teacher Stacy Campbell said. “No matter what hardships you face, even losing someone you love, time heals many things.”

Before Campbell was a teacher she worked in marketing. She wasn’t happy with her job and, didn’t know it until right before her mother passed away. Campbell was very close to her mother and when she passed away it took a toll on Campbell.

“Before my mom passed away, I asked her for any advice she had to give me,” Campbell said. “She told me to do something that counts, so I became a teacher.”

••• In 2003 chemistry teacher, Susan Darr went through a divorce with her first husband. At the time she worked at Arlington High. While she was going through this, she said she was grateful to have amazing students that helped her keep going. In 2003 Darr left Arlington High to work at Martin. When she started working at Martin she met art teacher Dan Darr and fell in love with him at first sight.

After they started dating, Mrs. Darr entered them in a fantasy wedding contest, from the radio station 103.7, without Mr.

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Darr knowing. They won and she had to propose to Mr. Darr, who said yes. Mrs. Darr had her fantasy wedding after a horrible divorce, and she now has two daughters and one son.

“As a teenager, I never dreamed of growing up, falling in love, getting married, having a baby, and then getting a divorce, being homeless, paying off two lawyers and dealing with daily life, but that’s what happened,” Mrs. Darr said. “With prayer being my passport to peace, I had strength to raise my kids and continue gaining gratitude for all the good in my life.”

••• When chemistry teacher Kristen Session-Brown was in the tenth grade, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, causing the financial situation at home to go from bad to worse in a short period of

time. Session-Brown worked one full-time job, a part-time job and went to school full time. She went to enroll at Tarrant County Community College, but her mother was against it. She took Session-Brown to Texas Women’s University and said she could go to school there or not stay at home. In January of her sophomore year of college, Session-Brown found out her mom’s cancer had come back. In March of that same year, she found out she was pregnant. In May, her mother passed away. In August she got married, then in November she had her first child.

“Even in my darkest time I focused on my goal, and the goal was not self-focused,” Session-Brown said. “The goal was to be educated, and to develop a legacy within my family that education is the way. If you’re going to work hard for something, be prepared to lose sleep.”

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Childhood

fears then and now

Emily Gray • Reporter Art by Rachel Tyler When you were a little kid, most of your fears were the dark, clowns and your parents letting go of the bike, but at what point do these fears change if they ever do?

“I was terrified of being alone,” sophomore Lyndi Walters said. “I thought that if my family left me by myself they would never come home.”

All fears have a root.

“I woke up from a nap when I was little and I couldn’t find my mom, I thought she left me. Since then, I hate being alone,” Walters said.

These days Walters’s fear is quite the opposite.

“When everyone is watching me cheer or tumble, I think I’m going to forget my performance,” Walters said.

One thing that always helps Walters is praying before a performance and hearing all the fans rooting for her.

“I still don’t think that fear will ever go away though,” Walters said. “It just shrinks.”

“In 20 years I think my biggest concern will be keeping my family safe,” Walters said. “And trying to provide for them.”

Students are afraid of heights, clowns, aliens, the Scream guy, and stuffed animals coming alive.

“When my friend was younger she put her doll down on her bed and when she came back it was gone,” junior Nichole Palazzo said. “Later she left with her mom, and the doll was sitting in the middle of the yard in plain sight.”

After all these years, Palazzo has still not gotten over her friend’s story, but she does have a new fear.

“I work late nights, and when I get off it’s just me going to my car, and I fear someone kidnapping or murdering me,” Palazzo said.

“The only way I think that I could make that fear go away is if I had a permanent bodyguard at my side. Preferably one who looked like Justin Timberlake.”

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“I want to be a teacher,” Palazzo said. “So in ten years my fear would be taking care of all those kids and making sure they are okay.”

Like Palazzo, junior Joey Nelson said he was scared of the guy from the Scream movies.

“When I was two or three my older brother made me watch the movie, Scream,” Nelson said. “I thought that the guy from Scream lived under my kitchen floor and walked around at night.”

But now Nelson’s fear is much more stressful.

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“I have three brothers and two sisters,” Nelson said. “They are much older than I am, and they’re all unbelievably successful in their lives. I’m just really scared of being the only Nelson who’s not successful.”

The Warrior Post Martin High School ∙ Arlington, Texas

Flip the classroom to teach differently

Abby Bishop Editor-In-Chief Ashleigh Jones Managing Editor Jennifer Forsberg Copy Editor Erin Hibbs News Editor Natalie Buongiorno & Mandi Woods Features Editors Ariel Hernandez Opinions Editor Madeline Maxwell Sports Editor Maddy Cope Entertainment Editor Brenda Chavez-Mayo & Lizzie Kirkham Photo Editors Tucker Coble Video Editor Jarred Osterman & Hannah-Beth Floyd Designers Rachel Tyler Staff Artist Tricia Regalado Adviser Marlene Roddy Principal

Staffers: Jaycee Allen, Cailynd Barnes, Monica Boyles, Rosa Castaneda, Jazmyn Davis, Alec Delon, Kyle Desrosiers, Michealann Durden, Garrett Elliott, Roberta Flores, Tyler Forde, Emily Gray, Lauren House, Jake Justice, Bailey Lewis, Keely May, Morgan McKsymick, Estefany Mendoza, Aysha Moneer, Sherilyn Morales, Kaitlyn Rosenbaum, Jenna Rowe, Madeline Rusin, Cameron Skanes, Caleb Smith, Desy Thompson, Rayan Toliver, Olivia Viscuso, Kaitlyn Whetstine, Megan Wilson, Tupelo Witte The Warrior Post is the official monthly publication of Martin High School. Opinion columns don’t represent the opinion of The Warrior Post or of Martin High School. The Warrior Post will not accept advertisements for products or services not legally available to students.

Kyle Desrosiers & Alec DeLon • Reporters People often allude to anecdotes about how Albert Einstein was a high school failure, and yet he led the Manhattan Project that turned the tide of World War II. He also created the Theory of Relativity that made physics as we know it today.

Thomas Edison, who also struggled in school, created artificial light and discovered how to control electrical currents.

More inventions and innovations have been created in the past 100 years than in all of history combined due to the harnessing of electricity and the genius of Edison.

Edison never took a class on electricity, but his instincts flourished in the real world.

Success in the real world has always been the driving force behind the way we learn, but we have become too organized and number-oriented. If given unique educational opportunities, more successes such as these will be made.

There is beauty in reformation; people sometimes forget that the reason we are in school is for educational purposes. Even those who make immaculate grades focus more on their numeric representation rather than the comprehension of the curriculum. The opportunity to expand one’s mind is often overlooked by students due to the lack of the influence that education has in their lives. Students are being shortchanged by the lack of relevancy in the classes offered, the misrepresentation of knowledge in correlation to standardized testing, and the forced organization that is required.

Students have often rhetorically complained, “When will I ever use calculus in my entire life?” Though a fallible excuse that students use as a crutch, there is some truth to it. Some students know what they want to do on Day One of their freshman

year and would like to take classes that will teach them their paradigm skill set. This is especially true with students who don’t plan on attending college and instead plan on using specific skills.

Some of the more non-traditional teachers here at Martin have taken steps away from the norm.

For example, Michelle Davda tries unique testing styles when she can. Until this year, Davda taught a Biology class and periodically gave verbal examinations over the material learned. This way, a student could convey their true knowledge of RNA Synthesis, even if he wasn’t a competent writer or a skilled reader. Verbal interviews could provide a viable alternative. Although making teachers have to work longer hours, a system such as this would allow unique learners to show their skills in an easier way for them as well as the teacher being able to personally identify with each student. If a teacher is able to discover the strengths and weaknesses of their students, the potential for learning could be exponentially improved.

Often students coping with mental or emotional disorders find traditional styles of learning confusing and fall behind, unnoticed by administrators due to their focus only on class averages and standardized scores. These students, regardless of their desire to learn (or not), miss out on an opportunity to gain valuable skills and applicable wisdom. Philosophy teacher Dr. David Tripp implements a unique style of teaching, providing a different way for the class to participate in a discussion.

As an artist, Tripp teaches in a non-traditional way, holding round-table discussions, where everyone who wants to speak is given a chance. Being graded on participation, students in Dr. Tripp’s classes are not afraid to provide their perspectives.

Unique styles likeTripp’s allow a greater number of students to succeed without fretting over grades or standardized tests.

Although the current education system works for many, it does not cover everyone, due to the fact that it is public, free education, this in itself defeats its purpose. When provided with adapted testing styles, grading techniques, and hands-on learning, a greater number of high schoolers could reach success. While the system isn’t broken, there is much room for improvement, through less number-oriented grading systems, more hands-on teaching styles, and a slightly revamped schedule plan.

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opinions

We’re all responsible for stopping cheating staffeditorial How many times have you neglected to do your homework the night before it was due because you knew your friend would have the answers for you in the morning?

Or asked your neighbor really quickly what the answer was when the teacher left the room?

Some would say that cheating is having a piece of paper that has all the answers down at your lap as you take the test.

Some may say cheating is memorizing the answers right before the test. There really is no true agreement of what consitutes cheating within school walls.

We always hear rumors and stories about students having an outbreak of some sort of a cheating scandal. With or without phones, we’re always going to find a way to cheat. So what is school for, anyway?

Memorizing something just to make the grade? A lot of us would agree with that.

Our report card seems like more of a grading score on our knowledge on how to just get by instead of what we’ve actually learned.

Of course teachers are aware of this. But are they doing everything they can to prevent cheating? A lot of teachers take up phones before tests. However, some way or another, cheating is still involved. As far as homework goes, they can’t exactly monitor what we do outside of school.

Obviously, students need to step up and have integrity and vow not to take answers, sneak in material, ask others for help, or share their own answers. But the school can take some measures for kids who won’t stop cheating on their own.

Maybe teachers should test and quiz us over material that we have to apply our knowledge to solve – information that isn’t straight out of the book. The school needs to have set cell phone rules, not let usage depend on “the rules of the teacher.” And hit cheaters where it hurts: their grades.

Martin should implement zero tolerance.

If you’re caught slightly cheating, you get a zero on that assignment.

Would you want an operation from a doctor who cheated his way through medical school? Of course not. The only way around education is through it. Let us actually absorb material and remember what we’ve learned. Our report cards need to reflect what we know, not what we’ve memorized.

We need respect across gender lines

Ariel Hernandez • Opinions Editor A shirt that reads “Cool story babe, now go make me a sandwich” is in dress code here at Martin. However, a girl wearing straps that are less than two inches wide is a screaming outrage. How is showing my shoulders much worse than a boy wearing a shirt that suggests that he doesn’t care what his girlfriend is saying, and that she

needs to shut up and go into the kitchen and make him a sandwich?

Obviously it’s a common joke that I’ve heard just about every boy recreate – the idea that women belong in the kitchen, or that all women are good for is having children. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not extremely offensive.

While women are always being sexualized, men are continually growing more and more entitled to view women as objects of possession.

On television, movies and music videos, the men in the relationships are usually the ones whose needs get met first, as if their wants are more important.

If women are in movies, they’re usually wearing next to nothing, or are at some point victimized or in a violent situation.

A classic scene is a man having two women clutching his arms approaching a party as his “accessories.”

If a woman is raped, some people say “she had it coming,” or “she was asking for it by the way she was dressed,” when they don’t even know the situation. Nor is it their place to say such a thing, when chances

are, they’ve never been raped themselves.

We have also given men the authority of making the decisions of pro/anti abortion when women are the ones who go through the pregnancy. If anything, we need to put women officials up to make these decisions.

That way it’d be as fair as possible.

Of course we all enjoy poking fun at Miley Cyrus for her infamous VMA performance this fall. We all had something to say about her. But I didn’t hear a single person even acknowledge Robin Thicke’s involvement in the performance.

Personally, I didn’t really care about what Miley was doing, but I was disgusted that Robin Thicke, a grown man, was encouraging a young woman to sexually throw herself at him. He stood there and let it happen as she performed. He was in the same performance and he is just as guilty, but no one cares because men are expected to act like that, and not just during performances.

And what kind of message are we sending to young men? They have set standards too – the idea that men have to be the dominant sex, the “alpha male.” That they have to be muscular and ripped. Our pressure as girls to be thin or curvy is their equivalent to being pressured to have abs and toned

Oh, deer! I haven’t ordered my yearbook!

Never fear! Go to bit.ly/2014mhsyearbook to order your book now $65 before March 1st $75 after March 1st

Preorder ends March 1st

opinions

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arms. We refuse to eat while they wolf down protein shakes. They are expected to chase after girls, exceed in sports, like certain music, shows and movies. And if they’re interested in anything that’s considered “feminine,” they’re suspected of being gay.

I realize that it’s not all bad. Girl power is always peeking through. There are boys who respect women, and who know that we are all equal.

We girls need to only associate ourselves with those kind of boys, and we need to be around girls who have self respect. We can ask a guy out. We need to be in healthy, safe relationships, or not be in a relationship at all.

You don’t absolutely need a Homecoming or prom date. You don’t need to put on makeup or show some skin for the boys.

Do things for you, and only you. Girls are smart, even though in TV shows we are portrayed as ditzy in some way or another.

We can be educated, and with hard work, be anything we want to be. We have goals, morals, ambitions and struggles, just like everyone else does. I’m a girl, yes. But I’m a person first, and I deserve respect, just like everyone else does.

You never know Keeping quiet Students struggle with homegrown obstacles Don’t hesitate to ask questions in class

Morgan McKsymick • Reporter & Ashleigh Jones • Managing Editor

D

o you have any questions? The causes and effects of caring about your grades or caring about your peers conflict sometimes.

Do you ever feel scared to ask the teacher a certain question because of what people around you might think, so you just don’t ask? People don’t realize how much that can affect your grade.

We know that everybody has to ask a certain kind of question because they don’t understand something that is being taught in class, but they bite their tongue because they don’t want to sound uneducated.

But if you aren’t asking the questions that need to be asked, you aren’t getting the education you need and your grades drop because you can’t do your homework properly.

It feels like you’re getting punished because you’re scared. Some people actually take the time to ask questions in class instead of hesitating, and their peers get so impatient with the teacher taking the

time to explain the answer to that question out loud that they start rolling their eyes and huffing and whispering.

Just because people ask a certain question in class doesn’t mean they are unintelligent.

They’re just eager to learn the right way from the wrong.

There is always a right time for people to ask questions, like when a teacher says, “Do you have any questions?” That is the best time to get out any of the questions you have about the lesson you are being taught in class.

It’s better to take the time to ask questions so you get a better education, no matter what. If you are currently taking a complicated class, and a question pops up in your head, ask them.

And for the people who hesitate and don’t want to talk about things in front of the whole class, write it down.

There’s always a solution. You can find other times to talk to your teacher alone – maybe after class or during lunch. But the time you take to get the answers to your question is the time you’re taking to help your grades for your future.

Anything you can possibly do to help your grades is important. Basically this whole thing is a domino effect.

If you don’t ask a question and you stay quiet, then you’re understanding the material and not getting the best grade you can on a class assignment or homework.

It doesn’t matter what class you’re in, because it’s not just in core classes that you should be asking questions.

You should be asking questions in every class. It will affect your future if you don’t get the help you need.

expected maintain our composure and be able to focus.

When someone acts a certain way towards you, it does not mean it has to do with you or what’s going on at that moment. They may be experiencing inner feelings due to something going on outside of school.

I believe we should live in the present, learn from the past and prepare for the future. By living in the present, you focus on what you are doing in that instant. To learn from the past, you must accept what happened and forgive whomever needs to be forgiven. In order to prepare for the future, here are nearly 4,000 students at Mar- you need to think things through and contin and every day you pass by hundreds sider what you do now influences your fuof people in the hallway. Do you ever ture. There are always going to be bad things wonder what someone is going through? I that happen and people who are mean to guarantee you pass by at least one person you. Life is 10 percent what happens to who’s being neglected or abused physically, you and 90 percent how you handle it. sexually, mentally, emotionally or verbally.

School doesn’t teach us how to deal with There are those who have to take on extra personal problems and so many turn to responsibilities that we can’t fathom. Some toxic relationships, drugs, alcohol or self may not be able to make it to school the re- harm. quired amount of days because of a chronic I believe the teachers can try and help with illness or because they have to work to this, though. To the teachers I ask, do you keep food on the table, water running and ever wonder or even take the initiative to find the electricity going. Some students have out what your students are going through? to use their majority of the paycheck on Sometimes we need an adult at school we household bills. can trust when something happens. For Many may be dealing with their par- some, they may not have anyone to talk ents divorcing, moving, drug use in the to and you could be that person to change home, death, or a primary family mem- their perspective and ways of behavior. ber in jail. Some of our students do not Life. Death. They’re inevitable and neiknow where their next meal is com- ther one has a manual to read. This is why ing from and the school breakfast and we have our fellow humans. People age, lunch may be all they eat that day. change and grow. There’s no need to feel Most students come to school to learn alone when we are surrounded by 4,000 and feel safe but for some, it’s an escape people including staff. I encourage everyfrom home. When we walk in those doors, one to try harder to be nice to people bewe are expected to push aside our person- cause you never know what they’re going al problems and focus on school. We are through.

Mandi Woods • Features Editor

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opinions

How AVID changed my life Reality check: poverty

Roberta Flores • Reporter Going into AVID, I had absolutely no idea how it was going to turn out. Would I be far behind from everyone else? Could I catch up in time with them? Am I really qualified to be in AVID? But as the class began, I realized that I was just overreacting. No one was rushing through all their backpacks and binders, digging for paperwork, or anything like that. Instead, they all seemed to know exactly what they were supposed to do when the bell rang.

Before I joined AVID, I went to a small private school. I was always the shy and quiet one, the one who never tried to be as involved in sports and activities like everyone else. When I came to Martin, I wanted to change that. Yes, there were rough times, but I learned how to deal with them.

All I wanted was to concentrate on my studies and education and AVID has helped me with that. I didn’t know what would help me get into the college of my dreams, but I knew what I wanted to do as a career. My ninth grade Geography teacher, Mr. Ellis, asked me at the end of last year if I wanted to try the AVID program after seeing how I was very interested in

learning about college.

At first I was very nervous about starting AVID, not only because of the fact that I was starting AVID my junior year, but I was afraid that I would fall behind from the rest of the class since most everyone else had been in the program since junior high.

But once the class started, it seemed pretty calm and not so much rushed with classwork.

He told us what the agenda would be for the day and the six weeks. He also asked for people to help the new students in the class. They were all very helpful and willing to assist in anything I asked or anything Mr. Ellis said to them.

Everyone cooperates with each other and works together like a family. I didn’t start off making friends right away because I was still in that stage of being shy and distant. Now, I don’t see them just as friends, or “people in my class,” but I see every single one of them as family.

AVID has made me realize how grateful I am for my parents, grandparents, friends and teachers.

They have been supportive through the tough times and been there to celebrate the good times. It helps me connect with my counselors in school, and with people outside of school, like representatives from the colleges I’m interested in or even other students from those same colleges. I now know where I want to go for college and what I want to do in the future.

My experience with AVID helped me change from being a shy girl who was always in her own little shell to an independent woman who is more open about what she wants to be and how she is going to achieve her dreams.

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Cameron Skanes • Reporter

Chilly concrete, absent warmth, and the knowledge of knowing tomorrow, the day after and the day after will all be the same.

Broken and poor. This is the grim reality that millions of people face daily. This is poverty.

This summer I had the opportunity to experience the reality that more than 16 percent of Americans face every day.

Imagine having your cushioned life taken away from you. Most of us can’t fathom what it would be like not having the things we have, and that’s where Urban Spirit comes into the picture. Urban Spirit is a poverty simulator program designed to show groups of people what poverty really feels like. They show no mercy, leaving us lost and alone for the week, with no guidance or sympathy.

We were dropped in a new city where we walked everywhere, worked grueling jobs, and fended for ourselves with no technology and no clue what to do next.

Before the trip, I tried to mentally prepare myself as much as possible, but upon arriving at Urban Spirit, I realized that none of the preparation had helped. I could have never imagined how strenuous and brutal the week would prove to be.

In the blink of an eye, our comfortable lives were taken away. We had no beds, no showers, and any technology we had was stored in a safe. We were expected to carry everything we had brought for the week with us everyday, no matter where we went.

Our group of 12 was quickly split into three different “families.” Each family was given a different cause for poverty, which determined your fate for the week. I was the “leader” of my family, and our cause for poverty was armed robbery and abuse of illegal drugs. Being an ex-felon made it harder to find jobs to work during the day, which made it harder to survive the week.

Every morning, I woke up at 7 a.m., and without breakfast I walked about six miles to the community garden that we were

renovating. For hours, I pulled weeds, dug holes, and cut down massive plants until my hands were numb. During our lunch break, we’d go across the street into a police break station and eat our bland sandwiches on stale bread. After working for several more hours, we’d walk all the way back to our “safe house,” where we’d dread waking up the next morning and reliving the path we never wanted to endure.

We were given access to a real social worker, who helped us find jobs, earn government assistance, and control our lives for the week.

There was an opportunity to get a food box from a food bank, but my group missed the cutoff by five minutes. The rest of the week, we had to find ways to get food.

Our diet for the week was one peanutbutter sandwich a day, because that’s all we could afford. On average, the people in my group lost eight pounds that week. Other groups lost an average of three or four pounds that week, since they had access to the box of food.

This program is set apart from others because at the end of the day, there is no cushion to fall back on. The week we spent in that program, we were completely dedicated to the simulation. We were hungrier than we had ever been before. We were exhausted from all the walking and laborintensive work that we performed in the summer heat. Our bodies hurt from having to sleep on concrete for a week. My feet ached from the giant blisters caused by walking over twenty miles a day in the merciless heat.

In many ways, my week of living in poverty was nothing compared to the poverty people live with every day. I had a light at the end of my tunnel.

I knew that at the end of that week, I would get my comfortable life back. People who live in poverty don’t know when or if things will improve.

It’s one thing for people to tell you how living in poverty feels, but it’s a completely different experience to face the reality that millions of people face every day.

Little donations do matter. You might think that your small contributions to charities and specialized foundations aren’t relevant, but they could save a life.

The next time you turn a blind eye to people struggling to provide for their families, remember that your contributions could literally save lives.

Holly Jolly Christmas Christkindlmart provides entertainment for all Megan Wilson • Reporter Winter is the greatest time of the year with cold weather, hot chocolate, fireplaces, football, basketball and Christmas.

If you’re looking for something fun to do, think about attending the third annual Christkindl (kris-kin-dill) Market in Arlington. The market opened on Nov. 29 and will close Dec. 22.

The Christkindl Market is a popular German holiday market in downtown Arlington. You can find authentic German foods, beverages, entertainment, holiday gifts, and arts and crafts. The best part is, parking and admission into the market are both free.

The Bavarian-themed petting zoo has more than 25 animals that are found in the Bavarian Alps of Germany. $5 covers the cost for one child and adults get in free.

The Marionette Theater plays “Holly Jolly Christmas,” a children’s musical, which features an ice-skating penguin, a toyshop where the toys come to life, acrobatic elves, dancing snowmen and a lot more. The show is about 40 minutes long and if you come early, you will see a short demo about

how the toys are brought to life. Also, there is a free puppet-building workshop for kids (ages 3 to 12) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Santa will be available to visit and take pictures with the children.

Days and Times: Tuesday through Thursday - 3 to 8 p.m Fridays and Saturdays - 11 a.m to 3 p.m and 4 to 8 p.m Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m and 3:30 to 7 p.m On Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 18, there will be a lantern parade. For $25, children ages 4 to 9 will receive a well-crafted lantern, a lantern holder, and a battery-operated light. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m and ends at 7:30, but, try and get there early, as the best seats get filled quickly.

Hours of Operation: 12 p.m-9 p.m - Tuesday through Thursday 12 p.m-10 p.m - Friday 10 a.m-10 p.m - Saturday 12 p.m-9 p.m - Sunday Where: 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, TX 76011

Get your Christmas shopping done at Martin

year round for $5 or five for $20. On the back of each greeting card Tripp has writWhat can you get that special someone? ten a story on the back of each card.

If your special someone is into girly things Get your Christmas shopping done from Martin teachers without having to go ceramics teacher Stacy Kouba in room 263 sells handmade jewelry. through the crazy Christmas sales.

Also fashion Don’t stress design teacher about havJudy Rogstad ing to go to in room 242 the mall and sells fashion fight the holclothing that iday crowds. she makes by You can shop hand. through your Art teacher teachers’ Debra classrooms Allison and before and other teachers after school organize an art or during Art teacher David Tripp shows off his waterand crafts show lunch. color paintings that he sells. He also sells greet- that goes on all If your speing cards year-round for $5. Photo by Brenda day from Dec. cial someone Chavez-Mayo 12 through 14 is into stylish art, art teacher David Tripp in room 114 in the front office.

At the show, creative teachers sell a vasells watercolor art in his classroom during the holiday season to students looking for riety of different things such as art, fresh a unique gift.Tripp also sells greeting cards pecans, snow globes, makeup and more.

Madeline Rusin • Staffer

Baking for the holidays Happy Holidays! What better way to express your love for one another than the gift of giving food? Here are some of the best recipes we found.

Maddy Cope • Entertainment Editor Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate (The rim of the glass is decorated with chocolate syrup and crushed Christmas Oreos. Just dip the rim of the glass in chocolate syrup, then dip it in crushed Oreos.)

2 cups milk 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 1 to 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Place all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for five minutes, or until chocolate is melted and the liquid has thickened.

Pour into glasses and add marshmallows.

Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes Ingredients: 2 or more cans of Pillsbury biscuits A cup of cooked and diced chicken breast One can of cream of chicken soup A bag of shredded cheddar cheese A bag of frozen mixed veggies, some Herbs De Provence, onion powder and garlic salt.

Next Step: Dump everything into a bowl (minus the biscuits) and stir.

Slice your biscuit dough into slim slices (enough slices to put one into each slot of your cupcake baking pan) press them into each slot. Put a spoonfulls of your mix into each slot.

Cook at 325 for 12 to 15 minutes depending on your oven or cooking source. Remember to grease your pans before use.

Cream Cheese Cinnamon Apple Braid (with pie crust) Ingredients: 2 pre-made pie crusts 6 oz cream cheese, softened 2 Tbs sugar ½ tsp pure vanilla extract 1 large or 2 small apples, peeled cored and chopped

½ tsp cinnamon 1 Tbs sugar 1 tsp all-purpose flour pinch of salt 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 Tbs sugar and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, mixed together Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

In small bowl, toss together the apple pieces,

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cinnamon, sugar, flour and pinch of salt.

Unroll one crust and gently stretch corner to form an almost square shape. Fold in thirds to make creases and unfold.

Down center of crust, spread half of the cream cheese mixture, almost to edges.Top with half the apple mixture.

Brush beaten egg lightly over the crust, on either side of the filling.

Slice the sides into thick strips then alternate them over top of the filling, forming a braid.

Fold ends up to keep filling inside.

Repeat with the second crust and remaining filling/apples.

Place braids on parchment lined sheet and brush tops with a bit more egg wash.

Sprinkle with the spiced sugar mixture before sliding into your preheated oven Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until tops are golden brown.

entertainment

The

motivator

Warriors embrace adversity to inspire their playoff run Garrett Elliott • Reporter

E

very football team goes through trials and tribulations, but this year the Warrior football team has had to face more adversity than most teams would ever face in one season. With seven sophomores and three freshmen on Varsity, any team would face challenges throughout the season. Although the team has faced trouble, this season has been a touchdown with Martin advancing to regional round playoffs before ending their season against DeSoto Nov. 29. At times, the team has had their backs up against the wall but persevered. No amount of practice or weight lifting could prepare them for what this season brought.

On Oct. 4, in a game against Weatherford, senior wide receiver Isaiah Baker played his first game in a Martin High School uniform. He had four catches and a touchdown for a total of 121 yards in a Martin win, 47-3 over the Kangaroos. Over the next three games, he added 10 catches for a total of 202 yards and two touchdowns for the season. Unfortunately, that would be all for his senior campaign.

“I had no idea how that happened or what went on with the process of me getting my UIL papers signed,” Baker said.

“I was just letting it ride out how it was.”

That form was the UIL PAPF (Previous Athletic Participation Form). Baker transferred from Arlington High to Martin mid football season. He was a receiver on the Colts football team before he transferred.

At first there was no problem with the form, and Baker and the Martin team played on against Weatherford, North Crowley, Paschal and Lamar. The Warriors went 3-1 during those games. The following week, they received some troublesome news. That PAPF form for Baker originally came over approved, but six weeks later a completely different form was submitted.

This whole confusion resulted in Martin having to forfeit all the games in which Baker played.

This situation made the Warriors 1-4 in

district, 3-5 overall and, most importantly, outside of the playoff picture.

“It was just something no one was prepared for, no one knew that was going to happen to me or the team, and personally I didn’t want to do that to anybody on the team, but that’s just how stuff happens and it’s life,” Baker said.

This scenario was a complete shock to the rest of the squad and all the seniors possibly missing the playoffs in their last year.

Despite the controversy, the team stuck by their teammate’s side through it and knew there was nothing he could do about it.

“There was great support,” Baker said.

“They stayed with me. They were on my side. Nobody talked down on me, everyone was just saying, ‘Yeah, I’m here for you man. If you need me, talk to me. Anything I can do for you, I’m here.’ They picked me up every time I was down. That’s what a team should do and they did it.”

Going into the Sam Houston game, only a day after hearing the news, the Warriors used this scenario as a motivator and beat the Texans 52-13.

“Coach Wager got us together and made us realize that this is something that can bring us together. I believe it has really helped this season,” sophomore varsity quarterback, Eric Walker said.

After a long process and an appeal hearing in Austin Nov. 5, the ruling that Martin would forfeit the wins was overturned. The decision put Martin back in the playoffs and set that week to face off against Bowie for a chance at a district title and a playoff run into late November.

“It’s brought us closer together,” head coach Bob Wager said. “From a teaching standpoint and from a coaching standpoint, we use football to teach life lessons.

One of those life lessons is to embrace adversity when it presents itself, and our team and coaching staff did a great job of embracing that adversity. Focusing on the things we can control and maintaining foPhotos by Kaitlyn Whetstine cus on preparation for continuing and ultimately winning a district championship, and Cameron Skanes then chasing after a state championship.”

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sports

3 1. The Warriors get ready to take on Odessa High School for the area playoff round Nov. 22.

2. Martin fans fight through the cold in order to cheer on the Warriors at the area playoff game vs Odessa.

3. Freshman Kenneth Waller embraces senior Vinnie Santoro after the victory against Keller Cental Nov. 14.

4. Junior Jess Trussell watches the defense during the Odessa game.

5. Sophomore Nic Smith runs to the endzone for a touchdown against Odessa.