110-111 Spring
Assistant Editor Sarah Barney
“I JUST GET SO OVERWHELMED AND MY MIND GOES BLANK.”
“I’VE NEVER TRIED ANYTHING LIKE THAT.”
On average, between one to three students in every classroom of 30 has ADHD according to the research of Russell Barkley, Ph.D. Despite its relatively common presence in schools across the United States, it would appear that, for the most part, misconceptions about it and people who have it still exist. “I think people try to generalize me, and they don’t try to understand me,” senior Joseph Raus said. “I have anxiety and ADHD; because of that I have a hard time with what most people consider simple things.” Raus was diagnosed with ADHD in 2nd grade and his ADHD went hand in hand with his anxiety. Together, these disorders dramatically affected his ability to perform well inside the classroom. “I get panic attacks over tests,” Raus said. “I just get so overwhelmed and my mind goes blank. I failed kindergarten. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.” Even though his performance in class might not have always displayed it, Raus likes learning and took AP physics. “It’s very hard for him to focus on anything complicated,” physics teacher Bryan Tasior FA said. “I think he struggles with managing his time and organizing his work in a physics context. However, he absolutely shows interest in physics. He’s very curious and has good questions.” Over time, Raus learned to emphasize his strengths. “I’m very good at abstract thought and thinking outside the box,” Raus said, “which are things that can’t really be tested.” On Honors Night, it was announced that Raus had won the LCC Board of Trustees Award which would pay for five semesters of schooling. “It’s a very big award,” Leslie Cummings FA said. “He was very surprised. I was excited for him. He’s worked very hard in high school and I know he’ll take advantage of this opportunity.”
As a person of many creative interests, freshman Cody Tolliver has many outlets of self expression. One of those ways is playing guitar, which he has done for seven years. “I really like playing guitar,” Tolliver said. “My grandpa played guitar in a band in Nashville. He taught my dad to play and my dad taught me.” Tolliver plays both acoustic and electric guitar. He considers his inspirations for playing to be Jason Mraz and Ed Sheeran. Even though he enjoys playing, he doesn’t want to pursue it as a career. “I wouldn’t want to be in a band,” Tolliver said. “I’ve never tried anything like that.” A few other passions he participates in are choir and dancing; although, he quit dancing when he decided he liked football better. Another one of his creative interests is writing and making comics. His favorite author is Stan Lee, the famous comic book writer of many superhero books. “My favorite books are comic books,” Tolliver said. “I like ‘Ghost Rider’ the most. I love making comics and whenever I get the option in class to make a comic, I do.” Though he has not had the chance yet, Tolliver wants to take creative writing. As far as future careers go, he wants to write realistic fiction or fantasy books. “I don’t think people would know that I want to be a writer,” Tolliver said. “My friends would, but I don’t talk to other people about it. It wasn’t really a certain thing that made me want to write. I just like creating things and reading. I guess I have a creative mind.”
“I LOVE HUNTING, BUT I HATE WASTING AN ANIMAL.” While many students at Stockbridge enjoy hunting, not many can say they also practice taxidermy or fur tanning. Rita Alonso 11 does both and considers practicing it her passion. “I’m sure there are people out there that think I’m weird because of what I like,” Alonso said. “I know people think taxidermy is weird, but I think that’s because not many people are interested in it. It’s a dying art; people aren’t used to seeing it and meeting the people that do it.” One of her recent achievements has been tanning all her furs she accumulated from hunting. Alonso is proud of her work and has covered one of her walls with the furs she has tanned. “I think it’s cool,” Alonso said. “It’s something unique. Not many people can say they can mount a trophy. I want to be able to mount an animal and have it look lifelike. I like taking it to the next notch.” Alonso has been practicing taxidermy and fur tanning for five years. She has since decided to pursue one of the two as a career. Her passion for taxidermy and fur tanning stems from strong feelings on using what remains after you kill an animal. “I love hunting, but I hate wasting an animal,” Alonso said. “What’s great about taxidermy and fur tanning is that you can preserve your trophy and not waste the animal. I don’t think the animal deserves to die if it isn’t going to be used for something. I don’t get people that don’t use what they kill.”
Job No.: 017722 School Name: Stockbridge
Page No.
110
Page No.
Job No.: 017722
111
School Name: Stockbridge
Windows
Windows TCID:PP
TCID:PP