February 26, 2014

by Elisabeth Tappert “The main purpose of the Evolving Education Summit meeting was to re-envision what a high school education could be,” Ashland High School Principal Michelle Zundel said. A major focus of the meeting on February 1 was to extend learning opportunities into our community and promote entrepreneurship among high school students. With help from our community, AHS aims to better cultivate individual interests of students by finding ways to learn

outside of the classroom. With standardized tests destroying creativity, this meeting focused on improving AHS by finding students’ strengths and directing and helping them act on these skills. Starting next year, AHS and Ashland residents will help students find internships in the community that inspire them. The meeting also brought attention to the many entrepreneurs at Ashland High. Here are a few who have started their own businesses.

It has always been known that Ashland High has exceptional students, but who knew they could start something most adults haven’t even attempted?

The student body at this school never stops wowing each other and the community with their creativity and determination. The ability to create their own business is just one of the many impressive characteristics of the student population at Ashland High School.

by Elisabeth Tappert Boisterous junior, Joseph Yaconelli, is one of Ashland High School’s students that is in the process of starting his own business. Last September, Yaconelli, along with senior, Sam Gostnell, created their business, “Collabrious.” Collabrious is an online platform for finding and communicating with team members on different projects. Since the birth of Collabrious, two more students have been added to the team of creators: senior, Ari Falkner and freshman, Peter Ruette. Yaconelli’s goal is to get the business up and tested in Ashland by the end of the school year. Yaconelli hopes to stick with this business for the rest of his life.

by Elisabeth Tappert For the past year and a half, sophomore Roxy Schultz has been baking goods and then bringing them to school to sell every other day. This October Schultz was shut down by the school because the food she was making did not meet the health standards. Now Schultz is working with the school, refining her recipes so that they are less than 200 calories, less than 35% fat, and less than 35% sugar. She is also looking for a certified kitchen to cook in. Schultz now has a website, Roxysbakeddelites.blogspot.com, where you can place orders.

by Mimi Schaefer-Sharp For all you online gamers out there, I bet you didn’t know that one of your peers is actually creating a multiplayer videogame completely from scratch! No joke, freshman, Taylor Amarotico has a goal to build an entertaining and suspenseful game called “Tank Battle” that will appeal to a wide variety of gamers.

With some prior experience under his belt, he is in the process of launching Indiegogo, an international crowd funding website, to reel in donations from interested sponsors. Already collaborating with developers in India, Bangladesh and the U.K, Amarotico is aiming to accumulate $15,000 in a funding period of 45 days—that’s $333.33 per day! His main objective is to learn the financial and business aspect of maintaining an online videogame and with a little bit of luck, a PC, Android and iOS app could be generated.

So for all you readers, it is achievable to run a fully functioning videogame by yourself at age fourteen.

by Elisabeth Tappert Another business that has started up at AHS was created by the Seeking Knowledge for Independent & Lifelong Learning Success or SKILLS class, run by Kristen Brown, is making “Grizzly Bonez.” Rigel Cooke (pictured far left), designer of the logo, explained that Grizzly Bonez are a gluten and grain free dog treats made out of banana, egg, and garbanzo flour. Rigel’s coworkers (from left to right) are Brena Giacolini, Katlin Cook, Yse Garrison and Mike Born. The treats can be ordered by emailing Brown at Kristen.brown@ashland.k12.or.us. dog treats made by the SKILLS class

photos by Spencer Hills

-Cliques-

-Opinion-

Where do you stand?

The Millenial Generation

N E W S Chautauqua Poet to Visit Ashland

by Allayana Darrow Richard Blanco, President Obama’s second inaugural poet and world renowned writer, will read and discuss his poetry in the Mountain Avenue Theatre at Ashland High School on the third of March at 7:30 p.m.

Blanco was born in Madrid, raised in a Cuban-American community in Miami, Florida and has relocated several times throughout the U.S. This slew of cultural experiences have given him diverse inspiration for his poetry that covers a wide variety of topics sure to inspire any mind. In the words of Blanco, “I was made in Cuba, assembled in Spain and imported to the United States.” Contributing factors to his fame do not just include his talents for writing, but also his lifestyle and background. Blanco is the first openly homosexual Latino inaugural poet, and at the age of forty-four, the youngest. This makes him a symbol for a new, openminded nation.

Although the official reasons are unknown, political commentators believe that Blanco was chosen to present the inaugural poem for reasons beyond the quality of his poetry: his role as a social activist. Growing up in the electorally powerful Cuban-American population in Florida, Blanco was immersed in issues of immigration in the United States. In one of his most highly awarded pieces, America, Blanco is said to have captured the plight of an immigrant in the United States and to have eloquently represented a different take on the American dream.

Prior to receiving his shot at fame from a phone call from the Inaugural Committee, Blanco, though only

a modestly famous poet, had published three books of poetry and had been awarded the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize in 2009. Blanco has taught at three universities: Central Connecticut State, Georgetown and American University prior to the inauguration.

Since the inauguration, he has done work for the Writers Center, an outreach organization focusing on using writing and literature to enrich knowledge on a global scale. Also in the aftermath of the inauguration, Blanco published For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey, highlighting his unique appreciation of the United States. His poetry reading during the address of the nation has skyrocketed him to fame where he has landed among the most famous and well-loved poets in history.

When requested to be the fifth inaugural poet, though Blanco does not remember what President Obama or VicePresident Biden said to him verbatim, he does remember putting down the phone, turning to his mother and saying “Well mom, I think we’re finally American,” and for the first time, she agreed.

Throughout February and March, Blanco will travel to a variety of big shot cities such as Los Angeles and Portland, but on March 3, he will stop by the Mountain Avenue Theatre in Ashland, Oregon. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to participate in an engaging discussion with this prestigious poet. Come by the Mountain Avenue Theatre on the Ashland High School campus at 7:30 p.m. to immerse yourself in Richard Blanco’s poetry and get a new vision on American ideals.

Come to the Cabaret!

by Christine Impara

What do New York City and Ashland, Oregon have in common? The answer: “Cabaret.” The worldwide musical sensation will be featured in Ashland High School’s very own Mountain Avenue Theatre, so don’t miss it! The show previews on March 5, opens March 6, and runs until March 16. If you are reading this and wondering “What is Cabaret?” Picture this: It is Berlin in 1931, and the people of Germany are struggling to make ends meet as the Nazis gain power. But, there is a night club in the heart of it all where people can go to forget their troubles for a while because inside “life is beautiful.” This is the setting for Kander and Ebb’s hit Broadway musical “Cabaret.” The show focuses on two love stories trying to survive in a world where everything is changing. Since its debut in 1966, this powerful tale continues to captivate audiences everywhere. So Ashland High School, it is time to “leave your troubles outside” and “come to the Cabaret!”

by Bryce Rogan All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Draft prospect, openly gay. Michael Sam will likely become the first openly gay man to play in the NFL. Sam is entering unknown territory in a league founded on enormous and sometimes incomprehensible displays of masculinity. It is a sport based on being stronger, faster and tougher than the man six inches away from you. It’s about proving that you are more of a “man” than someone else. It’s about alpha and beta, with everyone striving to be the alpha. Just because Sam is gay does not mean he isn’t the strongest, fastest, toughest and most masculine man on the football field. His sexual preference has nothing to do with his level or style of play.

We live in a culture that has developed a small box for gay men to fit in. This restriction is common for society. We restrict what beauty looks like; we restrict what hip looks like; we restrict what rich looks like. The small box for gay men does not encompass elite athlete in the most masculine sport in the country. Sam is helping to break the limitations of these boxes, but they still exist, and will exist for years down the road. Without a doubt, some players in

by Gabe Young I am a senior in high school and it is late February.

In other words: it’s college notification season. Like many of my peers, every day after school I rush to the mailbox to examine its contents. Each piece of mail gets handled as if it is a $50 million lottery payout.

Email inboxes are refreshed more frequently than Facebook news feeds. Excitement builds to a fever pitch the anticipated letter finally arrives. Sounds familiar? Or does it…?

The truth is that this situation is only a reality for the percentage of students who have applied, and plan on going directly, to college. And that percentage may be lower than you expected. Of the nearly 200 2013 AHS graduates that submitted their post-high school plans to the Rogue News, only about 80% went directly to college. Woe is me, the world will fall apart when these uneducated children hit the real world, right? Wrong.

In today’s day and age, often are we told to do the following: stay in school, get good grades, go to college and get a job. Yet in reality, not all of us fit into this cookie cutter approach. While a higher educa-

photos by Katy Barnard

the NFL feel that Sam needs to return to that stereotyped box – which means not playing in the NFL. This conflict of interest will surface after Sam is drafted and is playing for a team. It will surface in the locker room.

A survey of NFL players recently showed that 86 percent of them would be okay with having a gay teammate. While this result is likely higher than the national acceptance, there is 14 percent that would not accept a gay teammate. Or, to put it differently, would not accept Sam. And this percentage is not clustered in one locker room – it’s spread throughout the league. Locker rooms have always valued toughness and, to some degree, uniformity. Sam doesn’t exactly fit the cookie cutter mold for an NFL player. He will be viewed by some with a different lens, whether or not he helps his team on the field. The locker room should be a brotherhood, but some will not view him as a brother. It’s unfair and it’s hard to stomach. But as the first openly gay NFL athlete, I’m sure Sam is prepared for the aftershocks.

In a perfect world, there would be no interviews, speeches and press conferences in which a player announces his or her sexual preference. However, it is impossible to bring about change without bringing the issue into the public eye. Someday, these announcements will be a thing of the past.

Someday, that box will be nonexistent.

Someday, people will realize that an athlete is an athlete, a teacher is a teacher, a coworker is a coworker and a human is a human, regardless of who they like. Until then, those ready have to step to the forefront – just as Michael Sam has already done.

graphic by Seve Bortman

tion, especially when affordable, is a wonderful option for those who wish to pursue it, there are many other legitimate paths for graduates to follow. Some will want to travel the world and see what exists beyond their familiar territory. Some will want to start working right away (who can blame them with jobs as scarce as they are?). Some will want to do it all and more! There are so many options that it would be a shame for someone not to even realize the ones that exist. The beauty of this is that whatever decision is made, people can always decide to go to college a few years (or decades) later. Yet here is just some food for thought: billionaire entrepreneurs Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg do not have college diplomas.

Don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I do not mean to denounce going to college in any way. In fact, a study earlier this month by the Pew Research Center found that currently, high school graduates between the ages 25 to 32 who do not have a college diploma earn on average 62% of what their college-graduate peers make. This is a clear benefit to attending col-

Editorial/Design Board

Editors-in-Chief................................Hanna Greenberg/Bryce Rogan/Gabe Young Front Page............................................................Elisabeth Tappert/Seve Bortman News.......................................................................Allayana Darrow/James Edson Opinion Page..................................................................Bryce Rogan/Gabe Young In-Depth Page............................................................Abigail Mizera/Bryce Rogan Sports..............................................................Hanna Greenberg/Allayana Darrow Feature Page ................................................................Kali Sullivan/Katy Barnard Back...............................................................Hannah Borgerson/Cass Christopher Online Editors.........................Grady Killeen/Nathan Markovich/Riley Richmond Managing Editor............................................................................Cass Christopher Business Manager…......…..…...........................................................Anna Epstein Photo Editor........................................................................................Katy Barnard

lege. For those who wish to pursue higher education, do not ruin your life stressing over getting into your top school. Chances are, you’ll be accepted to at least one school. Anywhere you end up, there will be skilled teachers who enjoy teaching, and eager students who wish to learn. Just because one school is arbitrarily ranked higher than another does not necessarily mean that it will be a better fit for you. Trust the admissions process. Admissions officers know what they are doing and if they feel that you will be successful at their school, they will accept you. What more can you ask for?

The most important thing is that whatever decision you make for yourself, live with it and learn from it. Don’t be influenced by others who think they know what you should do with your life and who you should become. Only you can decide. So if like me, you have a newfound obsession with mail, may your results be favorable. For all others, good luck with whatever you decide.

Rogue News is published by the newspaper classes of Ashland High School, 201 South Mountain Ave., Ashland, Oregon 97520. (541) 482-8771 ext. 195. The editorials written by the Rogue News express the opinions of the editorial staff on issues relevant to the staff, the school and the community.

Personal columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire staff and are written as the opinion of the individual author. Letters to the editor, which should be under 250 words, are encouraged. They can be dropped off outside of Room 202, put in Allison French’s box in the main office or emailed to RogueNews@ashland. k12.or.us. No letters will be printed without a verified signature.

Letters received in the second week of production will not appear until the next issue. The Rogue News staff reserves the right to refuse to print any potentially libelous or obscene material, anything that would invade the privacy of others, or anything that could cause a disruption of the school environment.

by Ellie Case, Olivia B

HAS TO TAKE RELATIVELY EASY CLASSES. MUST HAVE “BROS” IN THE CLASS. BARELY SCRAPES BY, SO THEY CAN STILL PLAY IN SPORTING EVENTS.

EASILY PERSUADED BY OPINIONS. EAGER FOR APPROVAL OF “BROS.” NOT NECESSARILY OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC. ACTIONS MUST BE WITHIN THE REGULATIONS OF “BRO CODE.” DRAMA IS SHUNNED WITHIN GROUP.

MUST WEAR ATHLETIC BRANDS. OUTFIT MUST INCLUDE NIKE ELITES. SNAPBACKS ARE NECESSARY TO REMAIN IN FRIEND GROUP.

CAN’T WALK TO LUNCH ALONE. MUST CATCH RIDES IF NOT LICENSED. PROTEIN IS A MUST AT EVERY MEAL.

MUST WORK OUT DAILY. HAS TO BE INVOLVED WITH SPO MORE THAN ONE.

MUST BE ACQUAINTED W EITHER HAS HIS OWN CA WITH THE ELDERS. CAN’T BE FRIENDS WITH HAS TO SPEND AN EXCE WITH EACH OTHER.

MUST USE SIMILAR PH TALKATIVE TOWARDS E ANTI-SOCIAL TO THOS POLITE WHEN NECESS

Butler and Skylar Zundel

ORTS, POSSIBLY

WITH UPPER CLASSMEN. AR, OR BUMS RIDES

H NON-ATHLETIC PEERS. ESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME

HRASES AS LEADER. EACH OTHER AND SE NOT IN CLIQUE. SARY.

by Abigail Mizera Cliques. We all know them, we’ve all been in them, and we all know how harsh they can be. The common clique is known by practically every single high school student. It’s an exclusive group for a certain type of people, usually put together by that group’s general interests.

There’s tons of different types of cliques, too. Maybe you fit into the sports clique, the hipster clique, or perhaps the theater clique. Either way, you belong to one of them, and it’s bound to define the way other students view you in the general high school community.

This whole idea of classifying and categorizing teenagers in their daytime habitat isn’t new. The word clique, originates from the French word for latch, “cliquer”, which means the need to attach to another coterie. And we’ve all heard our parents and grandparents, and maybe even our great grandparents give us life lessons on friends, and how exclusive cliques can be. So it’s truly no new idea for teenagers to attach themselves to.

Though we like to deny the fact that we include ourselves in this general high school classifying system, we pretty much all do. The few who don’t though, we call swingers. These people are the lucky individuals who fit into more than one clique. This rare kind of student is both fortunate and unfortunate. They have the ease of being able to jump from clique to clique, without being completely shut out. They also face the issues of not becoming close with all of their many cliques, and missing out on the activities every clique does. This truly challenges the student to choose whether or not they wish to be included in the clique society, or become a swinger, and risk being consistently left out.

Along with classifying us, cliques define our social standing in the high school community. The different cliques have different social importance, and demand different amounts of respect from the student population. The sports cliques are usually pretty high in demand for importance, with a medium amount of social significance on hipster cliques, and the nerds with little respect at all.

The different types and different levels of exclusiveness of cliques

vary depending on the school you go to. Some schools have an entire student population simply made out of cliques that never merge and don’t associate. While other schools have freely moving groups, with students who don’t really mind participating in things with foreign clique members. The popular high school sports also range in importance depending on schools, with more demand in social importance than others. Some schools respect football more than tennis, while others think dance is simply the best. It all depends on your school.

Along with cliques being in our everyday lives, we see cliques all over in media. Have you ever heard of “Mean Girls,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Sixteen Candles,” “13 Going on 30,” “The Breakfast Club” or “Grease?” If you’ve at least heard of them, then you know of some of the most well known movies centered on cliques. It’s an interesting topic for both the young and old to watch, and something that producers find easy to tease.

Since we see them every day, the media has found it easy to exaggerate and make fun of cliques, and we find it hilarious. It’s kind of like laughing at yourself.

“I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school. I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy,” a wise girl stated in Mean Girls. It’s just a part of our nature to form cliques, and as a general teenage group, we’ve learned how to deal with them. Though cliques aren’t usually too much of a problem, they can become very harsh, and have been known to affect people in terms of bullying and exclusivity. Depending on the high school, a school population of kids can be plain rude, while others have more of a huge, clique-free student body.

Ashland High School tends to be about half and half. We’re not totally exclusive in our cliques, but there are definitely the classifications on the quad. So, why not try to promote a big people medley, and appreciate everyone? Spread the love guys. Spread the love.

Clique, noun, a small, exclusive group of people.

by Skylar Zundel and Olivia Butler Clearly identified by the hushed whispers and nonchalant glances, cliques have a happy home in high school culture. The unofficial rules of mingling dictate where you can stand, where you can talk and where you can breathe without immediate worry. Since before cavemen scratched on mud-packed walls, and before insects morphed into mammals, beings have always clustered together.

For protection, support and company, species will band together to create an environment that they can both revel in, and work in to surpass other competitors. However, there’s a dark side, where the outsiders are left exactly there-on the outside. While groups create even stricter guidelines to becoming cool, or trying to stay at the top, the underdog takes the upper hand. Most everyone loves to see the least likely candidate become victor. With all this said, emotions and feelings aside, there is a proven psychological wiring in human brains to gather toward a common interest or activity. Usually, these are organized into certain stereotypes: jock, popular, nerd, artsy, etc. When looking at situations similar to this, somehow people are able to objectively justify the reasoning, without relating personally to it. Anxiety plays a nasty role in exclusion from a friend group or social gathering. Not only can exclusion lead to resentment and

anxiety, but negative self-image, emotional distress, aggression and antisocial behavior. This is the main reason cliques form, they are based off of similar interests and are reluctant to accept those whose interests do not conform to their own. This leads to social ostracism and the formation of other, sometimes rival, cliques.

“If you’re too involved in a clique, people get mean,” junior Quinn Teece affirms. The word “clique” usually brings to mind images of girls excluding other girls who don’t fit their rigid requirements for fashion sense or body type, or boys making fun of the scrawny kid in the locker room. These are all accurate to some extent, but there is a healthy aspect to cliques. Having a strong, stable friend group can make it less-difficult to interact nonchalantly with others, a skill that is usually developed in high school amongst friends. “People who don’t belong to any clique will have a harder time making friends,” sophomore, Ember St. John said. Having a sense of place and direction can also help teens through their angsty, disorienting high school years. “We all want to be around people who share similar interests and give us a sort of comfort,” reasoned Ashland High Art teacher, Sam Scharf.

S P O R T S Alex Frol: The One Ski Legacy

“

by Hanna Greenberg

“Everyone needs to believe that they can do it. Never take ‘no’ for an answer.”

If Ashland High School senior Alex Frol could share one message, that would be it.

Frol began skiing about 10 years ago, when she went up to the mountain with her brother to snowboard. Upon her arrival to Mt. Ashland, Frol was informed that she needed two legs to snowboard. However, there was a silver lining, and she was introduced to the sport that would soon become her passion.

Frol was born with only one leg, but she has not let that stop her from doing what she loves. Frol has been on the AHS varsity ski team for all four years of high school, and has taken major steps in her private racing career. Frol was accepted onto the ‘E team’ for the Paralympics; an international sporting event for people with intellectual and physical impairments. Following the A and B team that automatically qualify for the Paralympics, the E team is a training track that could potentially lead to the Paralympics. In addition to this great accomplishment, Frol has attended competitions in Colorado and Salt Lake City, and will be attending Nationals in Salt Lake City for her second year in a row this spring break.

With the lack of snow on the mountain this year, this ski season has been difficult for all racers, including Frol. “One of the biggest challenges is dry-land training. I have to get my athletes physically fit, and for most of the athletes that includes running. I often have to design a workout just for her,” AHS Ski Coach Gary King said. Frol has not been traveling much to find snow this season due to the business of senior year, but she hopes to get out to Salt Lake City at least once this year to train for nationals.

As with any athlete, there is just as much blood, sweat and tears as there are victories. Frol expresses the difficulty in having to compete against other athletes that are skiing or training everyday. These competitors are taking online classes, rather than attending school full time like her, and often are living in a location that provides more opportunity to hit the slopes than Southern Oregon.

“There are a lot of very talented skiers on our team, and that makes for great competition. However, realizing that I can’t be at their level is very difficult,” Frol stated. “I can get close, and I can get good [racing] times, but it’s hard to accept that I’ll never be at their level- to the point where I’ll be equal to them.”

However, Frol is not just competing for herself when she races. She is a huge inspiration to her team and coaches as well. “It’s almost matter of fact that Alex is going to ski… it’s not a question. Her ‘go get ‘em’ attitude truly inspires me,” Coach King said. King hopes that she continues to pursue the national opportunities that might be available for her in handicap skiing, and that she continues to stay active in the sport that she loves. And as a true inspiration to us all, the Rogue News wishes Alex nothing but the best in her future skiing endeavors.

SPRINGPREVIEW As the winter season rolls to an end, it’s time to kick off the spring season with a bang! After many great achievements were brought to AHS by the fall and winter athletes, we’re all ready to see what our spring season stars have to offer. Here’s a sneak preview of who to watch out for in the upcoming months.

TENNIS

E Q U E ST R IA N

GOLF

Key Athletes: Montana Janssens, Piper Sirianni, Cassidy Courtney, Christine Baker and Dominique Moore

Boys golf: Key Athlete: Matt Hedges

“We have a strong team that is comprised of a lot of veteran riders”

- Coach: Marla Parmele

Girls golf: Key Athlete: Carly Walker

- Coach: Richard Walsh

- Coach: Nicholas Krohn

Crew

Key Athletes: Timothy Kiesling, Raven Borgilt, Garrett Baxter - Coach: Corinne Lombardi

Girls Tennis: Key Athletes: Hanna Greenberg, Vika O’Brien, Anne Kim, Ashley Knecht and River Davis - Coach: Gail Patton Boys Tennis: Key Athletes: Grant Kahn and Mischa Kirby

“I am looking forward to seeing stronger serves, better doubles play, and a more competitive spirit with the athletes.”

- Coach: Dick Streng

SOFTBALL Key Athletes: Grace Lenthe, McKenna Read, Teresa Lehman, Georgia Williams, Hannah Teixeira

- Coach: Don Sonestraro

TRACK AND FIELD Key Athletes: Ben Smith, Chris Robinson, Grayland Lunn, Wyatt Thompson-Siporen (Throwers), Jannik Ehret, Lars Ferguson Rockwell, Cole Compeau ,Gunner Fletcher, Christian Hill, Quinn Blackwolf, Sara Dunagan, Emma Parker and Christine Impara (Distance)

- Coach: Hans Voskes

BASEBALL

Key Athletes: Carter Glick, Eric Carlson, Bryce Rogan - Coach: John Wallace

Kids’ Korner Three of Ashland High School’s Rogue News reporters got the opportunity to interview some of our local elementary school students, and got a glimpse of life through the eyes of first graders. Special thanks to this first grade class for giving The Rogue News the opportunity to feature our amazing future Grizzlies.

by Kali Sullivan and Mimi Schaefer-Sharp

What is love?

“I have big construction paper at my house with a big heart on it and inside it says I love you.” -Bjorn

“I like my mom and dad.” -Max

“Giving people hugs.” -Lulu

What do you think about kissing?

“Bad?” -Ashley

“Gross, disgusting gross.” -John

“It’s kinda love too.” -Joseph

“It’s one of those joke things.” -Bjorn

Who is your Valentine?

“It’s Lulu. I like her.” -Tobias

“I have a friend named John, and we’re sharing Valentines.” -Lulu

“Not yet.” -John

What do you think high schoolers do for fun?

“Learn like, long words.” -Max

“Play long games like football.” -Joseph

“Have parties, I think.” -Tobias

What would you do with a million dollars?

“Donate to poor people.” -Tobias

“I’d buy a unicorn, a pegasus, a horse, a pegasus horse, a pegasus unicorn and a unicorn horse.” -Stella

“I’d buy a ton of stuffed animals.”

-Kellen

“My dad having to make me eat dinner.”

-Maia

“You have hard days and good days.” -Max

What is the hardest thing about being a kid?

“Taking care of your little brother and sharing a room with him.” -Ashley

photos by Katy Barnard

We asked Ashland High students to tell us their

biggest accomplishment. You were intrigued

by their responses. We got the details.

Cass Anderson

by Cass Christopher

“I worked on a story that was featured on CNN.” Cass Anderson, a senior at AHS, had the opportunity of a lifetime doing what she loves. It all started when former Rogue News teacher Bill Gabriel “forced” Anderson to go to a broadcast journalism presentation on the annual AHS Career Day. With no prior interest in journalism, Anderson was hesitant to even attend the presentation. Gabriel, however, always claimed this was the career that Anderson was meant for. It turned out that he was right.

After attending the Career Day presentation, Anderson was determined to get involved with broadcast journalism in some way. She started calling around to different news stations in the valley. Finally, Anderson landed an internship at Channel 5. During her eight-month internship, Anderson did a number of jobs such as contacting people, conducting interviews, writing scripts and stories, editing videos and practicing using the teleprompter. Anderson admits to working ten hours every Saturday during her internship. It was a lot of work, but the amazing opportunities this job presented were worth it. “The stories I worked on were featured on the news every weekend!” Anderson said excitedly.

With her experience and skills building, Anderson eventually got to interview Oregon State Representative Dennis Richardson immediately following the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut. Weeks after, Anderson’s mentor informed her that CNN had called to get the footage of the interview. It ended up being used as additional background information for their story. “It was really cool knowing I had played a part in a story that was on CNN.” Anderson is only 17 years old and has had incredible success with her journalism career. This proves a point that with a lot of motivation, you can achieve anything.

Ben Smith

by Natasha Pinney

by Kali Sullivan

Aurora Sherman

“I lived alone in Africa for two months.” Senior Aurora Sherman has always had a passion for traveling as well as an ambition to go on a service mission. In the summer of 2013, Sherman found herself on her way to Uganda, Africa to volunteer for the rehabilitation home, Dwelling Places.

Dwelling Places is a sanctuary that helps children from the slums as well as orphans and beggars on the streets. The goal is to have a transition home that gives children a roof to sleep under as well as an education to help them succeed in the future. Dwelling Places has transitioned over 900 children and is currently caring for 200. During her stay, Sherman worked with children of all ages. She taught English classes every day for over a month. In addition, she made her own lesson plans and tests for the children.

Since Sherman was one of few to volunteer at the organization last summer, she became completely immersed in the Ugandan culture. She witnessed an engagement ceremony, a birth and a funeral. In some ways, Sherman got to experience a full circle of life. Sherman spent time riding on the backs of mini dirt bikes holding on to her dear life. Every day on her walk home she received hugs from young children she didn’t even know. She experienced having all eyes on her foreign face as adorable children would lovingly chant a Swahili word, “Mzungu” (one who walks without purpose), as she walked by. Sherman did have a purpose, however, and she succeeded in her intentions. She helped these children get an education and have a look into the world outside of the streets, and made life-long friends with her fellow teachers.

“No matter how hard my life gets, it will never, ever, come close to what these kids have gone through in just the first 6 years of their lives.”

Charis Roberts

by Hannah Borgerson

“I flew a plane by myself.” Every child “I’ve lived alone for the past year of my dreams of flying; Junior Ben Smith got life,” junior Charis Roberts said. Roberts the chance to make that dream a reality. considers this to be one of his greatest acSmith started to take flying lessons shortly complishments because he has always been after his freshman year, and endured a a very independent person, and is proud great deal of ground schooling to learn the to live in such a manner. Roberts moved proper skills before his first take off. “There out of his mom’s house, not because she are a ton of rules [in ground school] and it couldn’t take care of him, but because he gets sort of annoying,” he said. Although had the means and desire to do so. At the photos submitted by Ben Smith, Cass Anderson, Aurora Sherman, and Katy Barnard it’s tedious, learning the mechanics and moment, Roberts lives in an apartment in mapping skills are the foundation for understanding how to fly a plane.

Ashland with his roommate. In order to pay for his basic needs such as rent, food Smith’s first solo flight was on his sixteenth birthday. He arrived at the airport and electricity, Roberts is currently working as an assistant for Thrival Tech Fuel shaking with nerves. After he passed his written exam and got the instructor’s Company (an organization that researches alternative and more ecological fuel approval, he was ready to go up. He had a few difficulties at first (being so ner- sources). “Living on my own has taught me a lot about money management,” he vous he almost forgot how to control the plane, and getting a good grip on the shared. “I don’t have much money to spend on things I want; I just have enough wheel because his hands were so sweaty), but after he had calmed down a bit, it for the essentials.” However, Roberts does manage to rake up enough spare cash was smooth sailing. After his first flight, Smith knew he wanted to continue this to participate in Tai Chi and rock climbing classes. passion of his.

“Living on my own has forced me to make some major life changes. I used to At this moment, Smith’s main goal is to obtain his pilot’s license. However, the party a lot and not care about school,” Roberts explained. “But after bestowing biggest obstacle standing in his way is the hefty price for renting a plane. To get upon myself the responsibility of independence, I realized that’s not the way I a pilot’s license you are required to log 40 hours of flying (20 with an instructor). wanted my life to be.” So this last fall, Roberts made a 180 degree flip. He is curSmith had a large sum of money saved up. Now, countless flying classes and les- rently enrolled in AP classes and is working hard to get good grades to reach a sons later, his cash is dwindling. personal goal: to study biochemistry at UC Berkley. Furthermore, Roberts is enWith aspirations of one day becoming a commercial pilot, Smith continues to riching his life by helping others. For his Senior Project, he is using leftovers from work toward his goal, and slowly stacks his hours up a little at a time. The thrill he the school cafeteria to create a free meal for those who are hungry in the Ashland gets from being in the air seems to greatly outweigh the high cost. “It’s probably community. the most fun thing I’ve ever done,” Smith said, “to be able to have that control and Overall, living independently has had a positive impact on Roberts’s life. “I look at the ground below and choose where you want to go, it’s just a lot of fun!” think I will be more prepared for college and future endeavors now that I have had It is inspiring to see that his dreams are taking off. the chance to ride solo in high school,” Roberts said.