May 2015 Warrior Post

The Warrior Post Martin High School /4501 W. Pleasant Ridge Dr. Arlington, TX 76016 / Volume 33, Issue 5 May, 22 2015 Each year the Warrior Post compiles a list of the 10 Most Intriguing Seniors nominated by their teachers. We look for students who are flashy, outgoing, talented, and successful, but they haven’t had their turn in the spotlight yet. These are kids who make Martin interesting. headlines in 10 pages 11-13

What’s i n si d e Running the Marlene

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and me

The story behind our beloved principal and our beloved memes

game

Words of wisdom

The football manager’s tale of the sidelines

2015 Newspaper seniors give words of advice

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Summer loving

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What you can do this summer instead of sit and watch Netflix

What you’ve missed

A look back at what you’ve missed the past month at MHS

1. Senior Gabe Crowley

puts on stage makeup before leaving for the third round of the UIL One Act play competition, held at UTA on April 22.

Photo by Cammi Skanes

2. Members of the One

May 13. Photo by Cammi Skanes.

Martin’s One Act Play made it to the third round regional competition of UIL with their play “TheFarnsworth Invention.”

Photo by Cammi Skanes

4. Junior Alexis Ander-

Special Olympics held at UTA on April 10. Photo courtesy of Bree Birdsong

son recites a poem at the Poetry Slam Contest on April 27. The top three winners were senior Austin Hughes, and sophomores David Bumgardner and Shazib Haseen. Photo by Megan Garland

3. AISD Superintendant

Dr. Marcelo Cavazos poses for a picture with memAct play unload stage bers of the school board props from the truck before performing at the and student recipipients regional One Act contest of the VIP Award, during the VIP Breakfast, held on April 22. in the Martin library on

5. Students embrace

each other at the Area

5.

2.

1.

4.

3. news

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Play by play

Senior playwright for theater wins national writing competition Desy Thompson • Reporter Since he was in seventh grade, senior Austin Hughes has had a love for writing. He began with writing fan fiction and by his sophomore year he was writing plays.

His first play was about a man who moves across the country to look for gold during the gold rush because his daughter is deathly ill. After the move, the daughter gets worse and blames her father for her condition.

Her father is forced to change his ways and repent to save his daughter’s soul.

“I submitted to Martin’s Black Box Theatre the year before, but I only submitted two plays,” Hughes said. “So this year I submitted five.”

After submitting five of his plays to theater teachers Sharon Miller and Larry Cure, two of the plays were selected for Martin’s Black Box Theatre performances. Both plays performed in the Black Box were then submitted to the Thespian Playworks ������������������ competi� tion. The Thespian Playworks competition is a contest that’s open to high school writers who can submit their work.

This year Hughes has had remarkable success with his writing. In the Thespian Play� ����� works competition both of Aus� tin’s plays – “Atlas’s Equal” and “Ramblings of a Black Semi-Genius” – were finalists.

The four finalists were read and performed at the Thespian Fes� tival. In addition, Hughes’ play “Atlas’s Equal” won first place in the contest.

“It takes place during Colonial America and a woman is trying to find her independence during a time when it was socially unacceptable,” Hughes said.

The main character falls in love with two different people and in the end decides standing on her own will make her more fulfilled in life.

Hughes’ success as a playwright is no surprise to his directors, who have seen him grow and mature over the years.

“He’s a writer that writes about social issues in hopes to make a change,” Miller said.

Hughes said he hopes that his work affetcs peoples’ lives and the way they see life.

“I feel like a lot of things today in society go unsaid,” Hughes said. “I hope that when I write that I am bringing things that people are subconsciously aware of to the forefront of their minds.”

Hughes’ peers say he has the ability to discuss controversial topics without trouble.

“Austin and I can talk about big topics without conflict,” senior J’mia Walker-Barrow said. “He makes you think about a lot of things in a differ� ent perspective.”

Not only has Hughes proved his talent through writing, he has inspired his teachers and friends through his views.

“He has brought trust, excellence, and tradition to the theatre department in a noble and loyal way,” Miller said. “He speaks rarely, but he speaks profoundly.”

Hughes said he was surprised that he was honored to learn that his work had been chosen.

“I was about to watch the choir Pops concert at Martin when I got the phone call,” Hughes said. “Out of the ten plays in semi-finals, two of them were mine. It was a very surreal moment.”

Senior Austin Hughes submitted two of his original plays to The Thespian Playworks competition.

Both placed and one, “Atlas’s Equal” earned first place honors. Photo

by Desy Thompson

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Teachers talk throwbacks

Each day we walk into class and sit down at our desks while our teachers run the classroom.

However, what some may find hard to imagine is that teachers were once students themselves.

Whether it be in 1985 or 2015, some things never change. Story by Luke Bishop • Reporter

Torres pictured in middle

Spanish teacher Michelle Torres graduated from military school in Weisbaden, Germany.

Graduating in 1998, Spanish teacher Hugo Avila attended Colleyville Heritage High School. Despite many stu� dents’ impressions that Avila was outgoing, he was actually reserved in his actions.

“I was just really good in high school and I was such a sheltered kid,” Avila said. “I didn’t really get outgoing until college. I’m more outspoken now and am not very shy about what I have to say. If you guys saw what I looked like in high school you would laugh and be like, ‘No way that’s him,’

Kathy Meyer, class of 1978

Full of excitement and fun during her high school years, chemistry teacher Kathy Meyer graduated from Duncanville

“I was very outgoing and I’d be the first one to be like, ‘Hey!’ when new people would come,” Torres said. “It was just kind of easier to meet new people because they came all the time. I didn’t know when to be quiet. I would upset my teachers because they would say something and I would correct them all the time.”

For some students, finding their group is easy, but for Torres, she bounced through many groups.

“In high school I went through an identity crisis,” Torres said.

“I was with pretty much all the cliques. I played a lot of sports for awhile and then I was with the not-so-good crowd.”

Torres said she was very dedicated to school.

“I had to make straight A’s and I could pretty much do whatever I wanted,” Torres said. “I didn’t really have a curfew. My mom wanted to know where I was and as long as she could reach me I could just not come home.”

This freedom meant Torres could do a lot more, and since she had lots of friends there was

cause I had the old-school haircut.”

Though Avila was shy, he was a part of the athletic circle and participated in baseball and football.

“I had to transfer to Colleyville Heritage High School, and we were the first to win the first official football game there in their history and that was kind of a big deal for us.”

However, there was much more to Avila than playing in a football game.

“I was too poor to afford all the cool clothes at the time,”

Avila said. “Back then the big jeans were JNCO’s. I had maybe one or two pairs. Back then everyone wore them. They were the worst things ever.”

Besides schoolwork and all the stress, hanging out with friends was one of the great� est things for Avila. One of his most frequent hangouts was an old converted barn his friend lived in.

“We would go hang out there, especially when we got senior release,” he said. “We’d watch movies, play video games and just hang out.”

High School in 1978.

Getting good grades and be� ing a total goof was how Mey� er said she went about high school.

“I guess I was probably annoying to this one teacher,” Meyer said. “I had a 100 average in the class, so when I got there she’d tell me to go study in the library while she taught the class.”

Meyer hopped friend groups and didn’t fall under a specific label.

“I was a non-�������������� cliquer,” Mey� er said. “I hung out with the

peppy clique, the hippie clique and the cowboys clique. I just had friends from all groups. I went to all the school function things because I was on the pep squad.”

However, high school isn’t all about what you did at the school, but also what you did outside of the school.

“We hung out at Sonic a lot,” Meyer said. “Also Kiest Park on Sundays. Everybody would go to the park and we’d just drive around and goof off.”

High school is filled with lots of memorable moments –

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always something to do.

“I went to all the parties and went to the skate park a lot,” she said. “I also went to a lot of concerts that were sometimes out of town so I stayed at hotels.

I listened to a lot of punk music, some rap music, and some rock music.”

Torres was also involved in her school’s sports program.

“Track was probably my biggest thing,” Torres said.

“Whoever decided the 800m was a sprint, was a horrible person. It’s a hard run so I always felt accomplished when I won.”

Hugo Avila, class of 1998

hopefully, things you can look back on and have a good laugh at. For Meyer, this happened to involve cars.

“My brother’s best friend had spent the night,” she said.

“I was 16 and didn’t have my license yet and he came in his brand-new car and my friend and I decided to go for a spin in his brand-new car. He was asleep, and his keys were on the table so we were like, ‘Why not? Let’s go look at Christmas lights.’ I wrecked it pretty bad.

I hit a telephone pole...over and over again.”

The journey to

WOW WOW

Principal Marlene Roddy talks about her road to Martin … and to saying goodbye to this year’s seniors Madison Grisham • Reporter

Nervously sitting in a room full of noisy

pre-K kids, 20-year-old Marlene Johnson (now Roddy), a junior at Austin college, is about to get a taste of her future.

“All of these kids were in hard environments,” Roddy said. “I was assigned a little girl named Joan who didn’t talk. She had the capability to speak, but something happened in her life that made her not want to. I worked with her the entire year, and by the end of the year she was talking. I feel I had something to do with that. That just pulled me into the direction of teaching.”

Afterwards she went on to get her masters degree in teaching, and began interning at different levels of education.

“I decided to do a teaching experience at an elementary school,” Roddy said. “The next year, I worked at a junior high, and that was okay. Then I interned at a high school and really liked that, so I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Roddy said she had always loved school and education, so she started by teaching many different subjects here at Martin including Government and Geography.

“I was a teacher for ��������������� many years be� fore I became an assistant principal and then later principal,” Roddy said.

One of her dreams in life was to work at every level with students and staff.

She fulfilled that dream in the fall of 2011, starting her first full year as principal at Martin.

“My first year as principal we had both a fire and a tornado,” Roddy said. “That was stressful. I care a great deal about the students and I believe in them. Hopefully they know I care. If there is anything we can help get them on a right path, that’s what we’re all about.”

Roddy said this isn’t just a job to her and that she said she doesn’t wish to go any higher on the educational ladder.

“This is where I want to be,” Roddy said. “I never want to be outside of a

school building. I want to see the kids. If you go any higher, you don’t have a lot of interaction with the students. One of the biggest goals on campus is to always strive for excellence in every program that we have. We want the best learning environment for our students to achieve at the highest levels possible.”

Roddy also has the support of the faculty and staff.

“I love that Mrs. Roddy always listens to the input of others, whether the kids, or the staff members,” counselor Susan Kingen said. “I have worked with her for 28 years now, she’s very open to the view of others.”

“Not too long ago I had a principal friend ask me how I get the students to do what they do,” Roddy said. “I told him ever since these kids were little they knew they’d be Warriors. I think kids come up here excited to be a Warrior. I try to encourage my staff to never let them lose that love of their school. If we can keep that pride alive then I always think this will be a great school.”

Even though Roddy said she loves her job here at Martin, it isn’t always easy, “I have a lot of best days,” Roddy said.

“But school days are like the weather. One hour can be sunny and the next can be bad.

There are so many wonderful days.”

However with this job there are bad times.

“Probably my worst days are anytime we lose a student,” Roddy said. “One of my worst days was in January when we lost a senior. It’s always hard losing a student or staff member. Over the summer we also lost a very great staff member. That’s always hard.”

With students always coming in and out Roddy said, “There is always something special in every class we have.”

But the class of 2015 is uniquely special to Roddy.

“This class is very meaningful to me because I became principal their freshman year. It’s a good class,” Roddy said. “We started out together and went through 5. together.”

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‘Marlene and me’ Roddy becomes social media idol as students create memes and posts Kayla Mattox • Reporter Twitter and Instagram feature students’ love, respect and borderline worship of principal Marlene Roddy. We asked her if she’d seen any of them (she hadn’t), and what she thought of her social media fame. Her reactions are below each photo.

“Well as long as it’s in a good way, it makes me feel good,” Roddy said. “If they’re having fun, I don’t have a problem with it. I want my students to know that I really care about them and the programs they’re interested in. ”

“Okay, well that’s...Bob Marlene.”

“Annnnddd that’s me as a pilot?”

features

“That’s sweet!”

Love

doesn’t count chromosomes

Photo by Emily Hale

English teacher raises her Down Syndrome son

Emily Hale & Emma Marshall • Reporters Like most mothers with prearticulate children, English teacher Jennifer Rothwell, stumbles into Target one Sunday morning, fumbling with a juice box while simultaneously rummaging through her purse.

There is, however, one major difference between Rothwell and the average mother.

Rothwell’s youngest son, Nathaniel, is four years old and suffers from Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down Syndrome.

“Not only are children with Down Syndrome cognitively slower, but there are a battery of health issues that could arise,” Rothwell said.

“Nathaniel is constantly under the microscope, having blood drawn every year to make sure that he is okay.”

This, surprisingly, was initially not a concern, as Nathaniel was not diagnosed with Down Syndrome until he was two weeks old.

“After Nathaniel was born, I went to visit him in the nursery, and when he rolled over, my stomach turned and I thought, ‘My son has Down Syndrome,” Rothwell’s husband, Michael said. “The doctors said that he was perfectly fine, but two weeks later, we went to the pediatrician and she walked in and said, ‘So, was there any special diagnosis about your son’s Down Syndrome?’”

Accepting their son’s fate was not an issue for the family.

However, society has had a much more difficult time doing the same.

“Sadly, I feel that the lives of people with Down Syndrome

aren’t valued as much because they’re different,” Rothwell said. “But I still have to raise Nathaniel to be a responsible adult whether or not he has a disability. He still needs to be as independent as possible.”

With a relationship spanning 30 years, the Rothwells welcomed adversity in stride.

“My husband has taken the bull by the horns,” Rothwell said. “He is now on the board for the Down Syndrome Partnership and Healthcare for the county.”

This journey, however, has not taken the course anticipated, for better or worse.

In particular, Michael Rothwell, while finishing his bachelor degree, said he had a change of heart.

“The day before my project was due, my older son, Hiatt walked in and said, ‘Come on, Dad. Let’s go play,’ and I said, ‘I’ve got to get this project done. I just can’t right now,’” Michael Rothwell said. “So he walked around to the kitchen and said, ‘Mommy, I don’t ever want to grow up.’ And when she asked why, he said, ‘When I grow up I’ll have to work and I won’t have time to play with my kids.’ And that was like a stab in the heart. I decided not to go get my MBA after that because two years of not being with my family was not worth some letters behind my name. I am a father first and accountant second.”

But since this time, 14 year old, Hiatt has greatly changed and become a loving mentor to his brother.

“People stop to say, ‘Your older

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son is so good with his little brother.’ I get compliments on how well those two interact,” Jennifer Rothwell said.

Unlike most middle school teens, Haitt has learned great insight from Nathaniel and has learned many valuable lessons.

“If you have a loved one with Down Syndrome, don’t give up,” Hiatt said. “Just because it may take them longer to learn things doesn’t mean that they won’t learn them at all.”

Learning seems a thematic obstacle not only for Nathaniel but also learning how to

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cope with unforeseeable circumstances.

“The most difficult part about being a teacher is when something happens to your student, and having no power over it,” Rothwell said.

From these challenging circumstances, change has brought wisdom in ways previously unimaginable.

“Nathaniel has given me a better understanding of disabilities and has really opened my eyes and allowed me to be a better person,” Jennifer Rothwell said.

Parting ways Moving forward Seniors share their thoughts about moving away from home

Reflecting on the experiences, personality and camaraderie of the class of 2015

Kamryn LeFan & Gabby Benavides • Reporters Living away from home for the first time is scary for most, but choosing a school that best compliments your personality will make your college experience less strenuous.

Approaching the end of their senior years, Kyvia Beasley and Joseph Reimschussel de� cided on schools that best suit their plans for the future.

For some, moving from home can be a smoother transition to college.

“I am attending the University of the ������� Cumber� lands,” Beasley said. “It’s in Kentucky and is about 900 miles away from Arlington. I plan to study psychology and become a counselor or coach.”

To other students, staying close to home makes life more comfortable and uncomplicated for them.

“In the fall, I am going to be at the University of North Texas to study sports broadcasting,” Reimschussel said. “It is about 50 miles away from home.”

Starting a life in a new place with people that you don’t know can be very difficult. For some, making friends comes naturally.

“I think it will go well living away from home,” ����� Reim� schussel said. “My biggest fear is not making friends there and having to end up coming home on the week� ends because I don’t have any� thing else to do.”

After living with your family by your side all of your life, going to school close to your roots isn’t such a bad idea.

“I probably won’t come home that often at first, but as the year goes on I will start to miss home because I’ve

Allison Beatty • Reporter

been around my family for 18 years,” Reimschussel said.

In contrast, it is nice to get away and start over with your life as you become independent by going to school farther away from home.

“I will probably visit my family about once a month,” Beasley said. “I chose this school because they have a really good wrestling program.

I also got a scholarship for that school. I don’t know any other people that are going to that school, so I’m going to go with an open mind.”

No matter how far you go, the hardest part about going away to college is leaving behind your friends and family that have been there for you most of your life.

“I will miss my friends a lot,” Reimschussel said. “None of my really close friends are going to UNT, so I’m hoping I will be able to make new friends quickly.”

“I am going to miss Martin High School,” Beasley said.

“Out of all the schools I’ve been to, this is the best one.”

As students shift their life from being at the top of the school as seniors in high school, to becoming freshmen in college, there are many obstacles that could influence their future.

“Financial issues could potentially play a role in where some students go off to college,” counselor Connie David said. “Also parental preference could impact their college choice. You need to make sure that you will be happy with the school you’ve chosen so you won’t have to deal with transferring.”

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Every time the clock ticks, another second has passed by.

Another second that cannot be recalled. And time is of great importance, a fact that the se� niors of 2015 know all too well to be true.

Each time the clock ticks, they are one second closer to graduating, putting high school behind them, bidding their friends goodbye, and beginning a new chapter in their lives.

But in all the time we take to move forward, let’s not forget to look back. This Class of 2015 has danced, laughed and fought their way through a positively strenuous four years, and their experiences have shaped for them a collective bubbly attitude towards the rest of the world.

“I would say they’re very friendly,” English teacher Rhonda Dunn said. “They’re just so congenial and nice kids.”

Dunn taught this group both as seniors and as sophomores, and said she saw something extra special in them two years ago.

“When they were sophomores, one of the things I noticed about this group was that they were so focused on doing the right thing,” she said. “They were all so receptive to learning.

They’re just good people, and that’s going to get them far.”

Although they’ve had their hardships and misgivings, this group’s unique personality has shone through.

Their freshmen year, there was a fire at the school and a tornado touched down in Arlington. This year, the class of 2015 was shaken by the death of senior Carl Wilson.

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“We’ve had a lot of stuff happen this year, but we’ve all kind of come together,” senior Caroline Reilly said. “Our class as a whole over the last four years has had stuff just thrown at us every single year, but we all love each other.”

This kind of camaraderie has left not only teachers, but also fellow students, in admiration of the senior class.

“Everything they do, they do big,” junior Ryan Ward said.

“There’s lots of talent, lots of funny people. It seems like they’ve had a very positive impact on the school this year, and it’s going to be very sad to see them go.”

Reilly echoes this emotion, reminiscing on her favorite part of the year.

“I think as a whole we’re kind of like a big family. Football season was organized chaos among the seniors, and we all just had so much fun. It was very bittersweet for everything to come to an end. It’s really sad to leave everybody behind.”

Bittersweet as it is, it’s inevitable that the Class of 2015 will soon have to graduate and leave behind the school they’ve spent the past four years of their life inhabiting.

In their place, a new class will rise up. But can the current juniors ever fill the shoes of today’s seniors?

“The seniors have set a good example to follow in terms of being leaders of the school, and they’ve done so with such an impact I feel like we don’t have any option but to follow their example,” Ward said. “I like to think that we’re a pretty good class and can live up to the expectation, but I guess we’ll have to wait and find out.”

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Color catch creator Sophomore releases app to be sold in the App Store coding language, by reading Apple’s book about the lan� guage, and watching tutorials online that assisted him with creating the app.

Marshall made his app avail� able by sending it to the Apple store, and they reviewed it to make sure it met requirements.

The review process takes two weeks, and Marshall will de� cide how much it would cost.

“He’s a great student,” AP Computer Science teacher, Cheryl Zavros said. “Marshall always goes above and beyond of what I expect.”

Zavros described Brandt as a marvelous student, and said that Brandt figures things out by himself before she even taught it.

“Other people have created apps for themselves for their own use, but to be able to cre� ate it and put it out on Apple for the public to download is amaz�

Bayan Hammad•Reporter

People take advantage of their free time in different ways. Some spend their time watching TV shows, others work out, or hang out with friends. However, sophomore Marshall Brandt, recently created an app called “Color Catch!” during his spare time.

Brandt shared his experience of constructing this app, and said he wanted to be exposed to the real world and under� stand app development.

“I really want to get into the Computer Science field and figured it would be a great start to have projects and hav� ing a taste of the real world,” Brandt said. “I wanted to make an app last summer, but it ended on my head because I didn’t know what I was doing, so I never completed it.”

Brandt originally started

to create the app in the sum� mer, but dropped it briefly and picked it back up in December.

“I was inspired by junior Kesi Maduka,” Brandt said.

“He makes apps, so I thought it would be cool if I did one too.”

Brandt said he has been want� ing to make an app for a while, so when he observed Maduka’s app, it gave him motivation.

Brandt explained that mak� ing the app was good practice that would look remarkable on college applications, and even though it took him quite a while, it was definitely worth making.

“I’m in the Computer Science course here at Martin which helped me get into it,” Brandt said. “However, over the win� ter break I had to learn the new coding language, called Swift.”

Brandt learned Swift, Apple’s

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ing,” Zavros said. “I mean, he can do anything. I love having him in my class.”

In the game, the player has control of the wheel. The ob� ject is to catch the falling col� ors as fast as possible.

“A lot of people already play it here at Martin and they’ve all enjoyed it,” Brandt said.

Brandt said he plans this summer to work on making more apps that will be Com� puter Science-related for the public to receive.

To download the app you can search “Color Catch” or Mar� shall Brandt on the App Store or use the QR code below.

10 things you don’t know about MSA Aisha Iqbal • Reporter 1. MSA stands for Muslim Stu� dent Association.

2. MSA is a club where mem� bers learn more about Islam and discuss and debate current events having to do with Islam.

Members talk about how they feel about events and how they should act when they are asked questions about news events.

MSA is a not a club for convert� ing students, but for spreading knowledge about Islam.

3. Many don’t know that MSA is open for all students. You do not have to be a Muslim to join the club. Students who want to learn more about Islam are more than welcome to join.

4. If students have a question about Islam, they can always contact the MSA officers or even ask the members.

5. The club was not active dur� ing the 2012-2013 school year, but was active again in the 2013-2014 school year as well as this year. They plan on hav� ing it next year as well as the years to come.

6. During various meetings the officers show videos on Islam, the president and vice president choose topics on which they have group discussions on.

Whenever something hap� pens in the news that involves Muslims, the members have an open debate, and all the mem� bers have a chance to share their opinions.

It is a safe environment for students to speak freely and comfortably amongst Muslims and others interested.

“I feel very at home and uni� fied as a family that is, it is a very peaceful environment,” sophomore Ali Alirezaieyan said.

“I feel that I am being reminded that Allah is with us and guid� ing us during the meetings.”

7. The officers also have vol� unteering opportunities for members to help the commu� nity, helping Muslims as well as non-Muslims. Club mem� bers have volunteered at Mis� sion Arlington, a Family Night dedicated to Palestine at a local mosque and a Night for Pales� tine organized by The Students Justice for Palestine Organiza� tion. The members last year adopted a family and got things they needed around Christmas time.

8. MSA is a club that helps members, especially Muslim members because they are edu� cated more about Islam. The officers ask the members what they want to know more about to make sure that they are cov� ering what the members want to gain more knowledge about.

Contacts us at 817-478-8000 Visit our website at www.RichterAnimalHospital.com

9. The MSA members think of themselves as part of a family, not just a club. They are open to talk about their opinions and try to help other peers whenev� er possible. “When I am in an MSA meeting I feel welcomed and included,” freshman Waad Al-Saheli said. “Everyone says what’s on their mind and their honest opinions on a subject.

Everyone is nice to each other and I really do feel like I am part of a family. The members help each other and appreciate what the others have to say. I really enjoy being in MSA be� cause it is a happy place to be.”

10. There are hundreds of Mus� lim Student Associations locat� ed across the United States, in high schools, colleges, univer� sities, and communities. They all work to outweigh the false impressions of Islam and to spread the truth about Islam.

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So you think you can LARP? Students express themselves with Live Action Role Play Kyle Desrosiers • News Editor A whistle blows and the battle game unfolds. Assas� sins sneak through the woods, groups of swordsmen creep with their swords drawn, pre� pared to destroy the enemies they may cross, and arrows woosh through the air. Victims fall, heroes are determined, and then everyone gets back up to refresh the game.

Junior McKenzie Karickhoff is a hard working student, who is enrolled in many AP and Pre AP classes, and wants to pursue a career in the medical field af� ter high school. But, what many people don’t know about her is that she is an avid participant in amp guard, or as it is more commonly referred to, LARP. LARP stands for Live Action Role Play, an activity that is much more complex than outsiders might realize.

“There are many different aspects of LARP,” Karickhoff said. “You have the role playing part and the fighting part. There is a whole complex system of organization, and many special events.”

Karickhoff said she began LARPing about a year ago after a rough break up, and she cites her interest in period dramas like Pride and Prejudice and her interest in medieval fashion as reasons she first became interested.

Her amp guard group meets up with about 30 of her fellow amp guard players every Saturday afternoon at Veterans Park.

There are many rules for proper LARPing.

“In amp guard terms, you have to dress in medieval style,” Karickhoff said. “Or else you’re considered naked. They call anything else mundane clothes, mundane meaning anything

that’s from the real world, and not role play.”

Part of amp guard is battle games, in which members typically have an objective to achieve. These include sport games and competitions, and always involve fighting with �������� ei� ther swords, longbows, or bow and arrows.

“In battle games, we’ll take the best player out of the park and give him or her two guards, and they go out in the forest, and they have an object or an area they they have to maintain as theirs,” Karickhoff said. “It’s kind of like capture the flag, but with fighting.”

Weapons for fighting include bow and arrows, long swords and axes.

These are all handmade and real weapons that are decorated and covered with felt and foam, so that no one is injured in real life.

“I prefer the bow, because I have a pretty good aim, and am still kind of a noob at sword fighting,” Karickhoff said.

Each player has a certain amount of lives, and deaths result in a player having to go to a certain pre-appointed place to respawn after a certain amount of time. Hits to the chest, stomach, and back are automatic deaths, and two hits to the arms or legs also result in death.

“It is an honor system,” Karickhoff said. “If you hit somebody for a kill, and they don’t take it, then you punish them. You hit them harder.”

The majority of LARP is action rather than role playing, something which Karickhoff’s company is trying to change.

Martin alumnus Jordan Harden is also a part of

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Karickhoff’s amp guard company. He has been playing for eight years, and was drawn in by his parents, who have participated in LARP. “A major misconception people have is that they overdramatize it a lot when it’s usually us just hitting people with swords,” Harden said. “It is a great way to get out there and have fun and see physics being broken.”

Their group members are not just individuals who fight only among themselves.

“There is a whole political system,” Karickhoff said.

“There are kingdoms and companies. Kingdoms are what the companies are in. Veterans park, is called Morningwood Glen, inside it our company is called the Saracens.”

Other companies are competing for the same skill and ranks, and periodically there are LARP events between different kingdoms, where

different companies go to the same area and have a giant camping ground with battle games and competitions.

“What I like about these events is that there is also role play,” Karickhoff said.

“The night before it ends, we have a giant feast. You have a king, baronesses, barons and other political leaders who hold a court where they give awards from the battle games.

Everyone acts in character at this event.”

LARP is a creative and active outlet that few know a lot about, but participants like Karickhoff and Harden draw many benefits from experience.

“LARPing gives you the opportunity to relieve your stress of school,” Karickhoff said. “Some people have hard home lives, and when you get there and everybody is out there to go and have a good time and better each other. It’s pretty much like a giant family.”

High school and college students battle during a weekly amp guard meeting at Veterans Park on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. These meetings include battle as well as role play, and help company members to train for competitions later on. Photo courtesy of McKenzie Karickhoff

10

10 Most Intriguing Seniors Sebastian King

Alyssa Rivas

Joey Nelson

What’s unique about you compared to other seniors?

I’m the best at computer science. I also run an international software company, sort of like an international customer service including security.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

Kings College in London. I did apply to five Universities here, but decided to just go home.

What difficulties did you overcome to become so interesting?

I had to overcome my Aspergers syn� drome. It makes socializing difficult, and honestly, moving to the United States helped. The people are much more friendly here. I just hang out with outgoing people so they do all the talking for me. I’m not ashamed of it. I have an IQ bordering on 200, but I have to think twice before I shake someone’s hand.

What advice do you have for upcoming seniors?

Take AP tests. There is no downside to taking them.

You get half a day off school, it doesn’t really cost any� thing, and it’s pretty easy.

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your life?

Competition mo� tivates me to get better at what I do.

I want to be the best.

If you were going to die soon, what would your final actions be?

I would finish my to do list for once in my life. I would make sure everything worked, and die happy because I actually fin� ished everything.

What are you going to miss most about Martin?

I’m definitely going to miss drill team. A bunch of my friends are from that orga� nization. It’s where I established myself.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

I was going to try out for a college dance team but I tore my ACL. I’m trying to de� cide between Texas Tech and OU to study public relations. I want to work with a fashion company.

What difficulties did you overcome to become so interesting?

I’m getting surgery for my knee in June, and then it takes six months to heal. My dream was to dance in college but my knee has been a big setback.

If you could choose one object to describe yourself and your personality, what would it be and why?

I’d choose a Blow Pop. It’s hard on the outside, and that kind of describes my shyness and no one really knows the in� side. But once you bite into one, you get to the gum and that’s the fun part.

What lasting impression has Martin left on you?

People may think that the school itself isn’t together or united, but we really are.

Even little events or occurrences that we did together really impacted me.

If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you’d buy?

I would want to put up my own dance studio. It would be big and colorful.

What are you going to miss most about Martin?

The people and being with each other be� cause once you get to college, you don’t get to see the same people everyday.

What’s unique about you compared to other seniors?

I’ve been in all four fine art departments, Vice-President of choir, All State Choir, honorable mention in One Act, full or� chestra, drumline and top 5 in Mr.MHS. And I can tap dance.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

Texas A&M and studying petroleum engineering.

What difficulties did you overcome to become so interesting?

Time management, anxiety, stress and managing priorities.

If you could choose one object to describe yourself what would it be?

A piano because it’s musi� cal and diverse.

What lasting impression has Martin left on you?

Whenever a big group of people come together, they can do anything.

What’s one song you can never skip?

On Top of the World

by Imagine Dragons If you won the lottery what would you buy?

A full tank of gas.

I haven’t had one in a while.

J’Mia Barrow

Alex Ramm

Teá Jaime

Armaan Z

What are you going to miss most about Martin?

I am going to miss Martin Theatre the most. It has been my home for four years now.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

I am go� ing

to UT Aus� tin to major in theatre and dance, minor in black studies and then get certificates for both business and video game develop� ment.

What difficulties did you overcome to become so interesting?

I didn’t hang out with people who were actu� ally my friends. I didn’t

find real friends

until junior year.

I didn’t really become myself until then.

If you could choose 1 object to describe yourself and your personality, what would it be and why?

I collect masquerade masks.

They’re elegant, classy and unique, and I feel I am all of those things.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

I see myself in charge of something - my own theater, director of a play or movie.

What are the obstacles keeping you from achieving your goal?

I don’t have any obstacles. I don’t believe in them. I wouldn’t let them stop me if I did.

What is the biggest problem our generation has?

We try to label everything that doesn’t need to be labeled. We need to accept who we are and stop letting other define us.

What’s unique about you compared to other seniors?

I do an unusual job of being a chim� ney sweep and I obsess over my car.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

I’m going to do my basics at TCC and if it pays off I’ll go to California.

What difficulties did you overcome to become so interesting?

Taking risks when it comes to things I love and I’m passionate about .

If you could choose one object to describe yourself and your personality, what would it be and why?

Seymour, my 1974 Volk� swagen Bug. I’ve spent countless hours working on my car and it’s some� thing that everyone knows me by.

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your life?

My dad, as cliche as it is. He pushes me to do my best and work my hardest. He taught me to put others before myself and to finish all tasks that I start, which is why I work so hard on my car.

If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you’d buy?

What are you going to miss most about Martin?

I’m going to miss the football games and pep rallies. I get so excited wak� ing up on Fridays knowing

that it’s going to be a great day.

What’s unique about you compared to other seniors?

I am a dancer. I dance all day ev� ery� day. I dance

for one

of the top dance companies in the state. It brings me peace of mind and it’s my happy

place.

What’s unique ab pared to other sen The fact that I’ve w much that I rebuilt ing, like from the e car to a complete ca Mach 1, so it’s pret has like 30,000 mil Where do you pla and studying in c I plan on studying e or computer science between both. And going to UTA. What advice do y upcoming seniors Definitely make a l with teachers and o professionals that w like opportunities to

netw and Wh pres

left If yo

A 1964 sea� foam green bug.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Being an awe� dad and being to work and travel.

What is the biggest lem our generation Independence. We’re ting everything handed and we don’t know what work is.

some able probhas? get� to us hard

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

I’m go� ing to be attending

Oklahoma State

University to study

education.

What difficulties did you overcome to become interesting?

I injured my ankle and couldn’t dance for three months. It was hard sitting out watching my friends perform and not being able to be out there doing what I love.

What advice do you have for upcoming seniors?

Enjoy your last year in high school with your friends and make lots of memories during it, because that’s all you really have once high school is over.

What would you change in your past if you could change one thing?

I wouldn’t necessarily change anything. I would just say that, “everything happens for a reason” and we learn from our mistakes and move on with our lives.

ally If y we so yo b L ai m tra ju a G

fast. Or around a Ford could.

What w change in yo could c thing?

I would’ve to my girlfriend met her instead of w we first met. So I co time with her.

Zirakchi

Crystal Kim

bout you comniors? worked on cars so my car from noth� empty frame of a ar. It’s a Mustang tty fast and it only les on it. an on attending college? either engineering e. I’m kind of torn I’m planning on

What are you going to miss most about Martin?

How we all unify together to get over tough times, or how we power through to get a triumphant victory.

What’s unique about you compared to other seniors?

My musical talent – the fact that I can say that I was named the best at something in the state of Texas.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

I’m going to commit to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and major in flute performance. Over there they don’t have a pre-med major, and I’m going to fulfill the pre-med require� ments but also be able to major in whatever I want.

What advice do you have for upcoming seniors?

Don’t let the senioritis kick in early.

I’m all for senioritis, but if it kicks in early, I feel like you won’t reach the full potential you could What lasting impression has Martin left on you?

Ultimately, before you do anything, you have to forgive yourself. I went through a tough time sopho� more year with being hard on myself

you have for s? lot of connections other business way you can have o get jobs through working d what not. hat lasting imssion has Martin on you? ou really work hard, in the end you’ll get to where you want to be. If you work hard for the job you want, you’ll get it eventu y. you knew you ere going to die oon, what would our final actions be?

Learn how to fly an irplane, or take my car out to a race ack and drive ust drive a fast car race track, like GT for as long as I

would you our past if you change one

started talking when I first waiting years after ould have more

and not reach� ing the standards I had set for myself. Teach� ers also teach you more than things you learn inside of a classroom; they teach you things you can use to better yourself in life.

What are the obstacles keeping you from achieving your goal?

You can only do so with the 24 hours in a day.

much that are

Toby Griffin What advice do you have for upcoming seniors?

Whenever you’re a senior, things feel like they’re going

to be relevant for the rest of your life, but you just have to think, “Will this matter to me in three months?

Three years? 30 years?”Your prom dress isn’t going to make you a terrible mother.

If you could choose one object to describe yourself what would it be?

My drill.

Her name is Drizzle because she’s just the right amount of force.

She’s not a rainfall, she’s not no rain. She’s a drizzle. She doesn’t stop working and I like that.

If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would go and buy?

I would buy jeans. I’m a denim en� thusiast. I love jeans a lot. I know ex� actly what pairs I would buy. They’re all from these small Japanese brands no one knows about. And shoes!

Probably both at the same time.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

I am successful, attractive beyond the wildest imagination. Raising one little hellion. He’ll be cute, too.

He’ll have some weird name his mom picked and I’ll be working in my shop. And again, ridiculously attractive.

What are the obstacles keeping you from achieving your goals?

The lack of superpowers. If I had superpowers it would go well. One day I will have superpowers.

Jaemin Choi What

are you going to miss most about Martin?

I’m going to miss my friends.

We grew up in elementary to� gether. Martin has a friendly environment. There is a lack of antagonistic competition which gives it a different atmosphere.

Where do you plan on attending and studying in college?

Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. I’m majoring in computer animation.

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your life?

My mom because compared to oth� ers, I see her as outgoing and bold.

We came to America with nothing, and she balanced work, school and family all at once.

What lasting impression has Martin left on you?

It’s a time when we all make more good and positive memories.

If you knew you were going to die soon, what would your final actions be?

I would spend a lot of time with my fam� ily and travel to Korea once more.

I also hope to make it to my gradua� tion.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

An animation studio working in visual ment and story boarding.

de�

velop�

High school sweethearts Senior discusses married life Kenzie Woodruff • Reporter ost people who want to get married plan on it hap� pening after high school or even after college, but what about while you’re still in high school?

Martin senior Crystal Tre� jo Vargas could tell you all about that. Crystal married the 20-year-old love of her life, Ge� rardo Vargas, at 17 years old.

“We got married Oct. 19, 2013 in his aunt’s backyard,” Vargas said. “Our families had set it up all nice and pretty and we were married there.”

Crystal and Gerardo were both very active in church, at� tending mission trips, which led them to each other.

“We met during a youth group trip in Aldine, Texas and from

then on every month or two at different trips and states,” Ge� rardo said. “Each trip was a beautiful memory but it was so hard to feel my heart ache after we had to say goodbye, but not for long because soon we’d see each other again.”

Crystal and Gerardo had known each other for three years and had dated six months when Gerardo proposed to her on a mission trip in Kansas.

“I had decided to propose to her after I had known her for three years,” Gerardo said.

“Throughout those three years I fell in love because of her per� sonality, her faith, and she was very mature compared to those her age. But most importantly because of her love and devo� tion to God.”

Jenna Rowe • Reporter

•Design clothes for models

M

Bucket list ideas for summer and beyond

H

ave you always wanted to make a bucket list but just can’t think of the right things?

Well, here are some ideas from seniors. They range from going out of the country, to things you can do in your own backyard.

• Skydive •Go to another country and live there for the summer

that’s where I proposed. Before we had gotten back home, I told my parents to come from Mex� ico to give both our parents the big news.”

Crystal says she plans on hav� ing children but not for a couple of years, she wants to take on a nursing career and build her fu� ture with Gerardo for her hap� pily ever after.

SENIOR ADS

•Win awards for art •Be in a fashion show •Climb a mountain •Color run

•Fill a journal with your thoughts

ATTENTION JUNIORS: senior ads for the 2016 yearbook are on sale now until September 11th. Bring your money to room 260B!

•Go to the Bahamas

•Go cliff jumping

•Go to Dubai

•Scuba dive in the Caribbean

•Get a baby goat

•Train for a marathon

•Camp in The Rocky Mountains

•Start a business

Crystal Trejo Vargas and her husband Gerardo. Photo courtesy of Crystal Vargas

•Build and sleep in a tree house

• Travel the country

•Write a book

Getting married at such a young age is a huge responsi� bility on top of school and your social life. Crystal said that her parents were against their mar� riage at first, strictly because of her age, but told her that they believed she should do what’s best for her.

“I feel like I grew up a lot faster than most of my friends did,” Vargas said. “I thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish high school because that’s what people kept telling me but I’m doing it.”

Crystal said a lot of her friends also tried telling her that the marriage wouldn’t last and discouraged it. Now she lives with her husband and she said they love it.

“I moved in with Crystal be� fore we got married because my job was closer,” Gerardo said.

“I still hadn’t proposed to her until we went on another youth group event in Kansas and

The 2015 yearbook will be for sale on senior send-off day (May 29th) for $75, cash or check. Make checks payable to ‘MHS Phoenix Yearbook.’

•Go on a jungle nature walk

features

14

It’s a small world. . .

Martin alum talks about living life at the happiest place on Earth Tupelo Witte • Features Editor Imagine waking up to the aro� ma of sugar and sweets as you prepare for work at the happiest place on Earth.

The essence of children gig� gling and screaming makes you smile as you walk through Downtown Disney and begin the adventures that await you for the rest of the day, whether it’s greeting people or mechani� cally functioning rides. For Martin alum Zack Paslay, this happens every morning.

“I work at Star Tours, the Star Wars ride at Disney’s Holly� wood Studios,” Paslay said. “I do everything from running the ride itself to loading guests to standing at greeter and making sure everyone stays safe. With Star Tours, there’s a lot of op�

portunities for guest interac� tions, so you get to help create that world for those guests.”

Paslay is part of the Disney College Program, and had to complete a three-part applica� tion process to become an in� tern.

“The most stressful part of the application process is defi� nitely the waiting,” Paslay said.

“I didn’t hear back until about two and a half weeks after my phone interview. I was a mess.”

It is a year-round full time job, and Paslay is expected to work holidays.

This past Christmas, he worked 10 days in a row, a total of almost 114 hours.

“It was exhausting, but tons of fun,” Paslay said. “Your co-

workers become your family after a while, and it makes it so much easier to be away from your actual family on holi� days.”

When he does get the chance to have a break, Paslay enjoys going to Magic Kingdom or watching the Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet at the park.

“The nice thing about liv� ing at Disney is that you never feel rushed to get things done,” Paslay said. “You can go to the parks for two hours and feel fulfilled.”

Disney has always been a huge part of Paslay’s life, and inspired him from a very young age.

“Wanting to work for Disney dates as far back as being eight years old and being at Walt Dis� ney World and riding the tea� cups with Alice and Mad Hatter and being completely thrilled with the experience,” Paslay said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”

Fellow Martin alum Emma Bruce was a good friend of Paslay’s during their time at Martin, and said she believes the Disney College Program was a dream that came true for him.

“He was like an encyclopedia of all Disney stuff,” Bruce said.

“If anyone around him was say� ing anything about Disney he could always just spit out a ran� dom fact about it or tell a story from one of his Disney World visits.”

Overall, Paslay said that the advantages he receives are greater than the disadvantages as an intern, and he truly loves what he does.

“Yes, there are tough days where it seems like all of the guests are out to get you and the heat is overbearing and you just want to go home, but then there are days when you make kids and parents smile and you get to be goofy and energetic and fun,” Paslay said.

Paslay said he will treasure his memories he is making at Disney for the rest of his life.

“I had a family who came through the ride a few times one night, and every time they’d come through, either the son or the daughter would whisper to me ‘Star Tours… is my favorite ride!’ and my friend Alyssia and I set up a private ride for their family,” Paslay said. “They told us we made their vacation. It’s moments like that - knowing that they’re walking away from their vacation with that positive memory - that makes this job incredible.”

Zack Paslay smiles with characters Chip and Dale on Main St. at Disney World during one of his off days with the Disney College Program.

Photo Courtesy of Zack Paslay

15

features

Get on my level

Senior athletes commit to playing in college Lexy Walters • Reporter This year Martin set the pace in having the most ath� letic scholarships given in the A.I.S.D. this year.

Here are the seniors who have been awarded sport scholar� ships and will be continuing to play in college.

Martin Athletic Director Bob Wager credits the success of this year’s seniors to the dedi� cation of these athletes and of the Warrior program.

“Our kids make it 365-dayper-year commitment to being an athlete so they’re going to be in phenomenal physical condi� tion,” Wager said. “That aspect alone sets them apart from most graduating high school seniors.

Success breeds success when you look at our athletic pro� gram We make the playoffs in every sport we play nearly ev�

ery year. I think when you’re around other successful people and when the expectations are really high it helps you elevate your own performance and own expectations.”

Girls Basketball Lexis Weber - Henderson State University Boys Basketball Victor Lewis - Troy University Andrew Dotson - University of New Hampshire Softball Krista Rude - UT Arlington Anna O’Connor - University of Texas El Paso Sabrina Pecina - North Central Texas College Victoria Jetton - East Texas Baptist University Devon Potter - Trinity Baseball Joshua Watson - Texas Chris�

sports

tian University Aaron Fanning - Hill College Grant Jones - Odessa College Football D.D Fletcher - Texas A&M University - Commerce A.J Brown - Stephen F. Austin O’shea Jackson - Colorado State University Jared Phipps - New Mexico State University Jess Trussell - Purdue Univer� sity Jordan Trim - Texas A&M Uni� versity - Commerce Girls Soccer Melissa Fulfer - Hardin Sim� mons University Logan Phillips - Tyler Junior College Alyson Toth - Texas Wesleyan Boys Soccer Alan Castolenia - Oklahoma Wesleyan Zach Riley - New Mexico State

16

Caleb Smith - Southern Meth� odist University Andre Anasi - Centenary Col� lege Volleyball Eden Hilbert - Appalachian State University Tennis Ashton Willis - Texas Wesleyan Cross Country Emily Olguin - Hardin Sim� mons Stephanie Blaine - Mid Western State Cheerleading Taylor Glaspie - Oklahoma State University Boys Wrestling Bryson Douglas - Lion College Girls Wrestling Kyiva Faith - University Of The Cumberlands Girls Track Alexis Washington - South� western Christian University

Running the game Senior manager Sean Lewis plays a vital role in the Warrior football team‘s success Garrett Elliott • Sports Editor “The true test of a man’s char� acter is what he does when no one is watching,” said the late great UCLA basketball coach� ing legend John Wooden.

Senior football manager Sean Lewis found himself still grinding away after all the other players had gone home.

“I learned good management skills, time management skills, managing all my belongings,” Lewis said. “If you’ve seen the equipment room, it’s not really big enough for all the equipment our team has and it easily gets really dirty in there and you have to keep it clean a lot. And it just generally helps with learning how to run things through life.”

Contrary to popular belief, being a manager is not just standing around doing nothing.

“As a manager we generally had to take care of the equipment, make sure that it was ready to go for practice everyday and then we had to come out and help the coaches run through practice and then clean up afterwards, just doing anything they needed, to help the team,” Lewis said.

Lewis was not always a manager, though.

From freshman to junior year he worked day-in and day-out with the football team playing both as a defensive end and then as a linebacker. Yet, heading into his senior year he had to hang up his pads.

“For me it was more because of my knee,” Lewis said.

“Back when I was running track I messed it up, and it progressively got worse and worse. The lifting and running everyday during football just wore it out. So I talked to my parents and they thought it was

time for me to stop playing.”

But the hard work and commitment wasn’t even close to being over. As a manager the hours increased big-time compared to the players, and Lewis said that the hours were the most difficult part of being a manager.

“Being here on Friday nights after the team had already gone home,” Lewis said. “We had to stay after every Friday night game and clean the jerseys and hang them up and bring in all the rest of the equipment back in from the truck, put it in a spot that was out of the way, because if we had put it up, we’d have probably been here till about 2 or 3 a.m. every night.”

As with athletes, managers graduate and continue on to college and somebody new has to step in and take what they learned from the person they are following. The story is the same as former sophomore offensive lineman-turned manager Anthony Wasson gets ready to take over.

“Just to be humble,” Wasson said on what he has learned from Lewis. “Being a manager, you’re not the highest on the totem pole, but you are contributing to the team. You are a big part of the team and without the managers, the team isn’t moving as fast as it could.

Just how to humble yourself, knowing that you’re helping out with the final product, not necessarily be in the spotlight.”

During games, the Warrior offense takes pride in being able to run plays fast and be uptempo.

Following suit with the common saying of “perfect practice makes perfect,” they push it during practice and

that’s where Lewis comes in.

Obviously, during the practices there are no referees to place the ball, and it would take time away from the players who are trying to focus on getting the next play to do spot it after each play. The player that finishes

17

the play with the ball returns the ball to Lewis, who then spots it.

“Sean makes a significant impact,” head football coach Bob Wager said. ������������������ “He is a ma� jor cog that keeps this machine running smoothly.”

Senior football manager Sean Lewis supports the Varsity team during their Friday night lights this past football season. Coaches viewed him as an integral piece of the team. Photo courtesy of Sean Lewis

School Spirit Wear and Embroidery

We sew on existing patches (817)453-8386 100 Van Worth Mansfield, Texas 76063-1233

sports

-30-

The Warrior Post

Martin High School • Arlington, TX

Jarred Osterman Editor-In-Chief

Before computers, reporters used to write -30- to signify the end of their stories. As our Warrior Post seniors end their high school journalism careers, they leave you with some parting words of wisdom.

Kyle Desrosiers News Editor Bailey Lewis & Tupelo Witte Features Editors Sherilyn Morales Opinions Editor Garrett Elliott Sports Editor Michaelann Durden Entertainment Editor Cameron Skanes Photo Editor Tucker Coble Video Editor Tricia Regalado Adviser Marlene Roddy Principal Staffers: Cailynd Barnes, Allison Beatty, Gabby Benavides, Luke Bishop, Rosa Castaneda, Jireh Davis, Alec Delon, Roberta Flores, Madison Grisham, Emily Hale, Bayan Hammad, PJ Inthanousay, Aisha Iqbal, Binh Le, Kamryn Lefan, Emma Marshall, Kayla Mattox, Gavin McGowan, Josh Parker, Parker Poulos, Kaitlyn Rosenbaum, Jenna Rowe, Caleb Smith, Desy Thompson, Julie Vest, Lexy Walters, Lauren West, Haley Wiley, Christina Williams, Kenzie Woodruff The Warrior Post is the official 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 not legally available to students.

What I would like to tell everyone is to be carefree.

Start off strong and leave high school free. During your time, do everything you possibly can. Just work hard and leave your mark.

- Rosa Castaneda Don’t let the irrelevant drama get the best of you.

Know who is good for you and also who you need to drop. As you start finding out who you want to be, you will start knowing who your real friends are.

– Tucker Coble Always stand for what you believe in, and the truth.

When people don’t want to hear it, be able to stand proudly on your own. Stay positive, and try to be a light to others around you. They may need it more than you know.

- Jireh Davis Nothing worth having comes easy. Nobody can give you the things in life you want. So be capable, be strong, and if you have a dream, you take it.

- Alec De Lon Go big or go home. If something isn’t worth giv� ing your all for, is it really

opinions

worth doing? Probably not.

Don’t waste your time.

- Michaelann Durden You are your own person.

No one should tell you how to run your life. Just be yourself and others will like you for the right reasons.

Being like everyone else isn’t as fun as being your goofy self.

- Roberta Flores Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around every once in awhile, you could miss it.” Live your life like it’s your day off.

- Madison Grisham Be bold, be brave, be bril� liant, and do not wait an� other day to start living your life fearlessly.

– Sherilyn Morales Work as hard as you can without losing your mind.

Don’t stress over that Eng� lish paper too much because in 20 years, is it going to matter that you got an 85 on it or that you had fun in high school? Live up these four years because they go faster than you can ever imagine.

- Jarred Osterman Don’t spend your time

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wishing your life away.

Make sure that your friends and family know that you love them. You don’t have forever with them.

- Josh Parker Find what makes you happy and pursue it. Be who you want to be. Dance in the rain and listen to good music.

– Kaitlyn Rosenbaum Set goals for yourself in ar� eas of your life that you feel are most important to you.

Setting a goal and reaching it is very self-satisfying and you will feel a sense of ac� complishment.

- Caleb Smith Be yourself don’t let others tell you how you “should be.” Be confident in who you are because everyone is different and there is no such thing as normal.

- Lexy Walters Your friends and relation� ships are really important to you right now, as they should be, but what will really matter later is your work ethic and grades. En� joy your highs and lows, but never sacrifice what matters forever for who matters right now.

- Lauren West

Abstinence isn’t the only option

We need more extensive sex education in high school

Jarred Osterman • Editor in Chief It seems that most teenagers today get their sexual education from what their friends or Yahoo Answers tell them.

In Texas, there isn’t any sort of sexual education requirement (other than a health credit), which will no longer be a required high school class, beginning with this year’s freshmen, the class of 2018.

The current curriculum is all abstinence based. I do think that abstinence should be taught, especially when the topic of

sexual education is first intro� duced to students in fifth grade or younger.

Abstinence should be the main concept taught to younger students because it is the only 100 percent effective way to avoid pregnancy or contract a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

However, in the later years – high school mainly – schools should also educate students on other alternatives if they choose to not remain abstinent.

As students, we should have someone readily accessible who we can go to in order to ask any sexual health question or get information.

I don’t think it is the school’s responsibility to teach us how

to maneuver our adult sexual lives, but if we’re being taught things for the rest of our lives such as math, English, history and science, why aren’t we taught more about our basic biology and how to protect ourselves, outside of, “Just don’t do it”?

If your argument against comprehensive sex ed is, “You’re too young to be concerned with that!” consider the 18-year-olds who go to school. They’re adults and it’s a ridiculous argument that they don’t have the maturity to handle the subject.

I shouldn’t have to schedule a doctor appointment just to answer a few simple questions about my reproductive organs.

I do not understand why our society seems to be taught to be embarrassed by our own anat� omy. It does not make sense that when our sexual anatomy is mentioned, everyone either giggles or feels extremely un� comfortable.

It’s not a secret that each gen� der has a specific anatomy and that most everyone has some sort of sexual and physical at� traction, but we’re taught to keep that locked up and not talk about it with anyone other than your doctor.

It’s never made sense to me why we’ve been given the ap� proach of “If we don’t talk about it, it’s not happening” when it comes to teens having sex.

Life as a teen vegetarian Being vegetarian may not be as hard as it seems

Julie Vest • Reporter Are you getting enough nu� trients? Are you healthy? How do you live without bacon?

These are only a couple of the questions you should be prepared to answer on a daily basis if you choose to become vegetarian.

Years ago I saw those videos about slaughterhouses and the abuse of animals by meat factories and thought about becoming vegetarian, but didn’t because of all I had heard from parents and others about how terrible it would be for me to cut out meat because I wouldn’t be getting enough nutrients or protein. But when

I discovered that the health benefits of meat were a myth, I knew I wanted to be vegetarian.

Before I started a completely vegetarian diet, I ate chicken and fish for a few months. You don’t have to quit meat cold turkey. Vegetarianism is a big change and if you don’t ease into it, you have a higher chance of giving up after a short time.

Even Meatless Mondays are a good start. I did that a couple of years ago and it helped me get used to the idea of being vegetarian.

A healthy vegetarian diet should probably cost more than an omnivorous one.

For example, sometimes one apple can cost more than five packages of ramen noodles. If you’re becoming vegetarian, you just have to trust yourself to make the best choices for your personal health and

budget. Ramen is great, but you will need a lot of fruits and vegetables to make up for anything that you may be cutting out of your diet.

My parents still gripe about not finding restaurants I can eat at, but the truth is that there are vegetarian options almost anywhere. When many people think “vegetarian,” they think of just salads and fruit cups, but the truth is that not eating meat is just not eating meat, and there is a wide spectrum of foods you can order that are meatless by default or can even have a vegetarian version. Op� ��� tions are more limited without meat, but there are still many.

If you become vegetarian and you find yourself almost giving up, just keep reminding yourself of whatever made you choose to do this. If you think you made the best decision

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for you, keep going, but if you still really want meat more than you want to stick to your choice, maybe your reasons just weren’t enough for you right now. Deciding that vegetarianism isn’t right for you personally is not a bad thing.

If you’re health conscious or passionate about animal rights, I strongly recommend trying out vegetarianism. Even if you’re thinking now, “Oh, I could never be vegetarian; I love burgers,” I was like that too at first, but I’ve basically forgotten the taste of meat and haven’t craved it in months. I don’t feel that anything is missing in my life due to be� ing vegetarian and it’s strange when people tell me “Wow! You’re so dedicated.” This is just my life and nothing is weird about it to me.

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We should treat, not criminalize drug use

Alec De Lon • Reporter Why do we do the things we shouldn’t? Is it because the overall angst of life is too much? Is it a misplaced sense of rebellion, or is it to stretch the boundaries in the hopes of discovering something new?

In a world where “drug use” is layered by a checklist of what we have and haven’t done, and where troubled youths are making sacrifices that won’t be apparent for years, the question becomes: Should the concept of solving society’s drug problem shift from punishment to understanding?

The truth of illegal substances is that they range from harmful-

to-the-self to not harmful at all.

In society, we forget that the legal system is there to punish the people who would openly harm others. Jails and prisons exist for those who need reformation and punishment, not for those simply in possession of a substance.

On the topic of marijuana, a substance that’s increasing in legalization in multiple states around the nation, studies show that of the 8.2 million arrests related to marijuana, 88 percent are solely for possession.

Marijuana is at the forefront of this crusade for the simple reasons that the facts are in direct opposition to the perception. Some drugs, yes, are irredeemable, but people too often group marijuana and other substances together and just say, “They’re bad.” Economic improvement and zero death toll aside, the facts aren’t what scare people, because the facts are overwhelmingly simple.

What scares people is the stigma placed upon it, the idea

of losing control. It’s okay to be scared, and to have allowed other people to govern most everything in our lives, but it’s time we think for ourselves.

Society’s tolerance of “drugs” is the topic of a conversation that’s been necessary to have since Nixon waged the first war on an idea, “The War on Drugs.” The reality is that Richard Nixon began the war on drugs for approval ratings, and every president since then has used it to grab the lowest hanging fruit in politics.

Drug use is a serious problem for many people, but is it a problem that society is solving the right way? Through understanding and education, we can come to battle our greatest enemy: fear.

My freshman year, my sister died of a heroin overdose. I was 15 years old. I quit football, my grades slumped, my world ended. I remember feeling scared of living in a world where drugs existed, but now I’m frightened of a world that

‘It’s been a good run you guys’

Gavin McGowan • Reporter My family sits on either side of me, arms crossed right over left, hands in each others’ hands. Our eyes are locked on the speaker, our lips set in a firm line, our ears tuned to the deafening silence before our name is called.

Behind me are my parents: my mother and her boyfriend.

They’re there to support me and my family as we try to ad� vance to State in the UIL One

Act Play Competition.

The silence goes on. A second turns into an hour. An hour becomes an eternity.

Our hands grasp tighter, trying to will ourselves to victory, trying desperately to fight off the growing sense of doubt within all of our heads.

“It’s been a good run, you guys. I love all of you,” my sister says to the rest of us, fighting back tears.

We all prepare for the inevitable and grasp even tighter, not wanting to let go, not wanting to give up the family we’ve all become.

And then it happened.

Our One Act company had been running the show for weeks. Every competition we performed at produced a better

A recount of our loss at One Act Play Regional competition

and better show, and we daz� zled the judges with the way we controlled the stage.

We had become used to hearing our name called at awards. Best Actor, Best Crew, All Star Cast, and of course the most impor� tant, Advancing Play.

But that day was different.

Compared to the rest of our competitions, there was a huge leap in difficulty at Regionals, where we were headed now.

Even a perfect run might not guarantee us a victory this late in the game.

Nevertheless, we went on with our routine for the day: makeup, costumes, warmups, the whole nine yards. After we performed, we walked back to our dressing room. None of us said it, but we all knew that this

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would have demonized her addiction, her weakness. She slipped through the cracks of recovery. She’s just another “heroin addict” statistic to the world, chalked up to a casualty in “The War on Drugs.” She struggled for eight years with addiction before she died at the age of 20, but through those painful years, she showed us that what we are doing to solve our drug problem is not good enough.

Fear is a powerful motivator, but not always for the right reasons.

Much of the fear generated is through uncertainty and doubt.

So let’s become a society that’s educated and confident. The necessary questions extend beyond marijuana; the attempts at legalization are less about the plant, but about the ideas behind them. When that veil has been torn, we can finally start offering aid to the truly addicted and distraught, instead of punishing them. Can we as a society conquer ignorance and practice acceptance?

was not our best run.

And so, we prepared for the most grueling six hours of our lives.

Watching other plays, eating food, playing games. It was all just us wasting time until awards.

Awards came and the first advancing play was called forward. Then the second advancing play was announced.

We all held back tears as the other advancing plays’ companies cheered around us, experiencing the happiness we wouldn’t.

And all I remember thinking about was the fact that I would never again get the chance to put on this play with my the� ater family.

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Everyone deserves a voice The newspaper has a job to do, and that’s to report on all the students at Martin. No matter what.

Lauren West • Reporter We have an incredible opportunity in that our student body is composed of such an ethnically, stereotypically and economically diverse group of kids. Martin is very fortunate to be able to claim all the smiling faces, the people in glitter and medals from head to toe, all of the stars or Martin. But not a single sky consists of only stars.

If you take a look around, not

just in Martin’s halls, you’ll begin to notice so many kids simply fading into the background because they struggle internally with who they are or with what is going on in their lives. And I’m becoming more aware that it’s because we as a society simply don’t want to see them.

Of course it’s an understandable phenomenon, but that doesn’t mean it is fair or that it should be allowed to happen. The people struggling with themselves or those around them are just as deserving of a voice, possibly even more so than the “pretty faces” of Martin, because society won’t see them.

Students here struggle with very real issues such as depression, suicide,

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discrimination, transition and many many others. Without proper recognition and repre� sentation of these problems, I fear none of these teens will be able to find help. Or they may begin to think there is some� thing wrong with them. This is not the case.

As a school we should be able to recognize these teens as they are just as much a part of Martin as those cheering at ev� ery football game and making straight A’s.

This year The Warrior Post has made a point this year of letting those teens have a voice, which is an extemely wonderful and honest thing to do. However, the reaction that we received for shedding a little light on what Martin really is and who

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the kids in these hall really are certainly fell short of what was expected.

When a person says to us, “That makes me uncomfortable, so don’t write about it,” that strips the person we are writing about of their identity������ . Say� ing that takes that person’s struggles and fears and makes them meaningless, when to that person they are the entire world. Saying that means that person hears, “I don’t like it, so you don’t deserve to talk about it. You don����������������������� ’���������������������� t deserve to find clo� sure.”

Every person has a story and every story deserves to be told, especially if it makes us as a society uncomfortable. Because usually that means you’re a part of the problem.

Let’s get away from it all...

If you’re looking to travel abroad this summer, here are a few places to check out Rosa Castaneda• Reporter

New York: • Times Square • Radio City Music Hall • Little Italy

California: • Universal Studios • Golden Gate Bridge • Chinatown New Mexico:

Florida: • Gatorland • Disneyworld • Jungle Island

Colorado: • Ogden Theatre • Cherry Creek

• Los Alamos • Wheeler Peak • Rio Grande

Summer staycation Haley Wiley • Reporter

If you’d rather stay close to home, check out this list of fun things to do locally

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o to a drive-in-movie - Grab your friends or significant other, get in a car and head out to your local drive-in-movie theater.

There is one in Fort Worth called Coyote Drive-In. Most drive-in movies have concession stands with tons of yummy snacks and drinks, so enjoy a relaxing night underneath the stars with your pals.

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eocaching - Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game where people hunt for hidden objects. The GPS coordinates are posted by a user in your local area on a Geocaching app or website to direct you to the object. If you find the object and decide to take it, you leave something in the same place of equal or greater value as a trade.

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o fishing - Grab a pole and head to a lake, pond, or creek and soak up the sun while (hopefully) catching fish.

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olunteer - Take a trip to Mission Arlington and offer to help with projects they may have available. Help paint a house, walk dogs at a local animal shelter, pick up trash off the streets.

Not only will you be helping the community, you will feel good inside, too.

o to a Ranger Game - Texas Ranger games are good ways to spend time with friends or family, while snacking on some cotton candy and enjoying a good game of baseball.

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o to the lake - Enjoy a day on the water with your friends or family at a local lake like Joe Pool or Eagle Mountain Lake.

There are several activities to do at a lake, like tubing, swimming, fishing, tanning, playing sand volleyball, jet skiing and boating.

Don’t forget sunscreen.

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dventure at the zoo or aquarium - The Fort Worth Zoo has more than 5,000 animals, costs only $12 for admission, and is also half price on Wednesdays. The Dallas World Aquarium is a little bit pricier, but it has an underwater tunnel, which has an almost 360-degree view of the aquatic animals. It also houses tons of interesting animals, including sharks, birds, fish and more.

isit our local amusement parks - People travel from all around the country to visit Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor.

Lucky for us, we have it right here in our city. Beat the Texas heat and head to Hurricane Harbor, or enjoy the 46 exhilarating rides that Six Flags has to offer. o to the park - There are several beautiful parks in Arling� ton, including Stovall Park, Veterans Park and River Legacy Park. River Legacy offers eight miles of bike and hike trails, picnic areas, pavilions, river overlooks of the Trinity River and a Living Science Center that has many different wildlife exhibits.

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et a job - Have nothing to do this summer? Need some extra cash? Apply for a job. With tons of places in Arlington cur� rently hiring, you have a wide range of options to choose from.

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