The Crimson Connection March 2018

CRIMSON CONNECTION volume 5 issue 6 march 2018

TRUSTING THE PROCESS with Christian Jones

“GOOOD MORNING WILDCATS” meet the announcement crew DEALING WITH DIVORCE

how divorce affects students

COMING OUT ON TOP tips from the top one percent

THE

CRIMSON CONNECTION STAFF acting editor-in-chief

SARAH WHEELER managing editor

SAVANNAH HORNSBY copy editor

DAPHNE TETT

online editor

ABBY HINTON

social media editor

KAE TRUSTY

business manager

VICTORIA CAVAZOS staff reporters

BRANDON CHEUNG KAYLA PITARRA ADVISER

ABIGAIL PAYSSE

EDITORIAL POLICY The Crimson Connection is published seven times a year and is distributed free by the Cy Woods Journalism Department. The mission of the Crimson Connection newsmagazine is to entertain and inform the Cy Woods student body on topics ranging from a local to global scale.

We aim to be an unbiased singular voice for our school and community. The editorial board consists of five editors. The board determines stances on editorials, as well as the content of the newsmagazine. Letters, comments and concerns are welcome and encouraged, and should be sent to room 1866 at the school address. To be printed in the paper, the letter must be signed and legible. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. The opinion of the staff does not necessarily represent the opinions of the faculty of this school or this district.

Make your voice heard.

The Crimson Connection staff wants to know your questions, concerns or comments. If you would like to contribute to the next issue of The Crimson Connection, please contact us at: cwhsjournalism@gmail.com Cypress Woods High School 13550 Woods Spillane Blvd.

Cypress, TX 77429

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Fellow Wildcats, My name is Sarah Wheeler and I am a junior, I am really excited to share with you all the latest issue of The Crimson Connection. This issue was completely created by underclassmen, with most of us taking new acting editor positions and trying out new ideas and layouts. Thank you all so much for the support as the seniors work on C-Mag. I would like to thank our administration for their support for student publication and for recognizing the importance of student journalism. Without a supportive administration team, we wouldn’t be given this platform to voice our opinions and spread the word about various people and events going on locally and at our school.

Thank you to our seniors who have set a great example for us underclassmen, and I am so excited to see C-Mag and where the next chapter of your lives take you all!

Thank you, also, to you, our readers, for always reading our content and giving us the necessary feedback to improve. If you would like to read additional content, you can check out our website, thecrimsonconnection.com, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @ CWHSPRESS.

SARAH WHEELER ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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FEATURE

CHAMPIONS IN THE MAKING page 22 CATCH YA LATER page 28 THE SNAKE & THE MVP page 29 CLEANSE YOUR BRAIN page 30 GIRL CODE GUY CODE page 31 THANK YOU NOTES/RANT

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NEWS

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SPORTS OPINION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STUDENT LIFE

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THE RESHUFFLING 2018-2020 district-region ABBY HINTON acting online editor

"I wish I could be a fly on a wall when they start drawing up those boundaries and figuring out who’s going to be in what district,” assistant principal Virginia Flores said. “Because when we have nine teams in our district, and someone else has only six teams in their district, they don’t have to win as many games to make playoffs.”

Flores is addressing the way the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which administers athletic, music, and academic contests for public schools in Texas, has organized a new district realignment that will be in effect for the next two years. With this realignment, Cy-Fair ISD schools will be divided into two separate districts, and put into different regions.

Cy Lakes, Cy Park, Cy Ranch, Cy Springs, Cy Woods, Langham Creek and Bridgeland will compete in District 14-6A with Tomball Memorial and Bryan. This District is in Region II-6A, which also encompasses schools in Central Texas and Dallas.

The remaining CFISD schools, Cy-Fair, Cy Creek, Cy Ridge, Cy Falls and Jersey Village will compete in District 17-6A with Memorial, Northbrook, Spring Woods, and Stratford. This district is under Region III, which also

4 the crimson connection

includes Houston area schools.

This realignment is not a revolutionary event. UIL realigns districts every two years to adjust to population growth and the opening of new schools. Coaches such as men’s basketball coach Michael Draudt have experienced realignments multiple times before.

A popular view of the realignment is gratification for the variation that it has to offer.

“In some ways it’s good to have a change,” Draudt said.

“We’ve kind of been our own district for so long, playing the same people over and over and over, which I think has been good, but it’s kind of exciting to have a change. It kind of makes

“I think it will be fun to have those road trips,” Flores said.

“Where we’re bringing our community to come out and support our athletes, and our Cadettes and band.”

As Wildcats get familiar with the competition, they will also be showing off their skills.

“I’m a little biased, but I think we have some of the best coaches and athletes here in the state of Texas,” Flores said.

“So it gives them this opportunity to showcase their skills.

If it’s on a brand new field, I think it will be great.”

Wildcats will be facing a new variation of competition next semester, and its teams could also end up facing another CFISD school at state competitions. Whatever happens, anything could change in 2021 when UIL rearranges everything once again.

“If they had just gone to eight teams or 10 teams, I think it would be a little easier, but we’ve lived through this before,” Flores said. “It’s happened.

Every two years something new is coming down the pipe with the way our district is growing.”

“Every two years something new is coming down the pipe with the way our district is growing.”

- AP Virginia Flores “I’ve been here a long time,” Draudt said. “We’ve actually been with Bryan before, we’ve played Austin schools before.

And when we actually opened up this school, we won a couple district championships, we went to the playoffs [and] we beat some Austin schools.”

One new component though, is the introduction of schools such as Cy Park to the competition. Head football coach Trenton Faith has never even seen their football team play.

“I think it’s going to be very exciting playing Bridgeland and Cy Park, which we’ve only played the lower levels,” Faith said. “And those are like brand new teams as well.”

it a new challenge. They’re not as familiar with you, [and] you’re not as familiar with them. So I think it kind of reinvigorates you to dive in, and study and learn what they do and stuff like that. It’s a challenge for your kids.”

This change might even break some trends and change season outcomes, according to Faith.

“I think it’s going to help, I really do,” Faith said.

“Hopefully we’ll make a charge to get back into play-offs. That’s our plan. It’s just different, and fresh.”

The most impactful effect of the realignment is the increased distance to games with the addition of Tomball Memorial and Bryan in our district.

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march 2018 news

OF A BOARD

realignment

District 14-6A District 17-6A

news march 2018

the crimson connection 5

1 BOY

42 COUNTRI E S

jeremy rajkumar travels the globe

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ons of people dream of growing up and pursuing a life filled with travel and diversity, whether they traveled many times and crave more exploring or haven’t been anywhere and seek to know what it’s like to visit new places. Junior Jeremy Rajkumar is one teen who did not have to wait, having already visited 42 countries to his knowledge and traveling frequently due to his dad’s line of work.

“My dad’s a minister, so he travels a lot of places and we just go with him,” Jeremy said.

His father, Samson Rajkumar, travels to many different places to preach at churches and do mission work.

“My husband wears many hats. He is a pastor, a conference speaker, a missionary, [and] a philanthropist. He oversees 110 churches in India alone. We also have churches in Vietnam, Japan, Germany, France, [and] Nepal. He travels so very much to keep up with all the work we started all over the world,” Jeremy’s mom, Elgin Rajkumar, said.

While traveling with their parents can be fun, Jeremy and his sister Destiny Rajkumar also help with mission work as well.

“We go to churches, [and] he preaches there. We do small stuff like hand out fliers, and when we’re in a mission field, we’ll give people food and water and give homeless people clothes and stuff,” Jeremy said.

While mission work is

feature march 2018

something the family is proud to do and participate in, they also go exploring and see what the countries have to offer.

“We like to try all the local foods and get in touch and get to know the locals. The key is not to offend but blend in,” Elgin said.

Some might see traveling so much as tiring and maybe even boring, but Destiny disagrees.

“Some of the places I go to, I’m used to them, like Germany.

We go there a lot, so it’s not that fun, but when we go to new countries, like this year we went to Spain, that was really fun,” Destiny said.

It’s good to know the do’s and don’ts when it comes to visiting new countries, and the Rajkumars know plenty of tips, like leaving your comfort zone to see what is out there.

“I would say that you shouldn’t just stick to tour guides and specific things and a schedule, you should just go out and explore and try to find things on your own because it’s fun that way,” Destiny said.

Even though he has memories of many countries and places, Jeremy still has his favorites.

“My favorite place is either Nepal or Norway, simply because I like the mountains,” Jeremy said.

With the ability and opportunity to travel so much, Jeremy has lived the dream and covered a lot of the world along the way, but there’s still one place he wants to visit.

“North Korea because you can’t really go there, but it’d be fun if you could.” C

KAYLA PITARRA staff reporter

Jeremy Rajkumar posing for a picture.

Photo Provided By: Jeremy Rajkumar

the crimson connection 7

COMING OUT ON TOP

tips and tricks from the one percent focus and motivation, ultimately BRANDON CHEUNG causing grades to fall. Senior Claire Speight, a member staff reporter of National Honor Society, Crimson Cadettes and Interact Club, finds that prioritization is igh school is a what helps her maintain a good battlefield of balance between her studies seemingly endless and extracurriculars. and unrelenting competition, “[Having a plan] has been but there will always be winners less stressful,” Speight said. that exceed against their peers. “As fun as being spontaneous However, underneath the glory is, there are some things you of educational success lies do need [to be more organized the stress that accompanies about such as future classes and any intensive task. In order to extracurriculars].” succeed in life, learning time Using POWER, sophomore management, prioritization and Sofia Scalzo learned how to managing stress is a necessity. manage her time effectively As the spring academic throughout the years as an semester progresses, students individual who participates in suffer from a deterioration in many extracurriculars.

H

TIPS STUDEN tipsFROM from student s TS

the crimson connection

classwork in that class]. I try to pay attention and take the best notes that I can,” Scalzo said.

“For studying, I make a list of everything I need to go over and write down everything on that topic. [There was a time where] I went to the library and [studied on the day of a big test] instead of going to lunch and talking to my friends.”

While study preferences differ from person to person, Speight believes peaceful environments and caffeine are more suitable for increased focus.

“I listen to music and drink coffee, and that usually gets me more focused,” Speight said.

“I also go to [quiet places to focus] such as coffee shops and libraries.”

Photo provided by: Pexels user Bich Tran

POWER!

Relieve stress

Coffee shops and libraries

Pay attention

Music and coffee

keep all of the same subject’s classwork in that class

Use a planner: manage your time

Find a balance between passion and studies

NO procrastinating

Study!

Stay on top of your work

8

“I prioritize things that need to happen,” Scalzo said. “I have my schedule, and I plan everything out. If there’s a social event that doesn’t need to happen, I can set that aside and work on something that is more important to me, such as studying for a test or homework that’s due the next day. It’s all about prioritizing.”

Many fatal flaws made by students tend to revolve around differing levels of focus exerted during class. Although Scalzo participates in basketball and lacrosse and volunteers regularly, she maintains a sharp sense of focus when tackling her studies.

“For focusing during class, [I keep all of the same subject’s

Find study habits that fit you

march 2018 student life

With great status in class rank comes the immense pressure to maintain the position.

However, Speight does not feel particularly worried about the pressure she receives from her peers and administrators.

“There is a lot of pressure to stay at the top, but it’s a good kind of pressure because it’s [pushing me to do better],” Speight said. “However, I’ve mellowed and [learned] how to optimize the amount of work I need to do to maintain [my rank.]”

The deterioration of health and increase of stress is also a paramount concern as the spring semester continues. As well as core academics and extracurriculars, spring is standardized testing season.

Therefore, the need to prioritize and have a balanced schedule is exacerbated.

“I de-stress when I [do the things I like],” Scalzo said.

“You have to take a little time for yourself. Although school is really important, you have to [also think about your] mental state.”

Junior Sammy Armstrong actively competes in multiple academic UIL events but comes to school prepared every day.

“Don’t sleep in class,” Armstrong said. ”Get as much sleep as you can [the night before].”

Consequences of actions have prolonged effects and should be considered in order to prepare for the future.

“Try not to procrastinate because it feels so much better to get the paper done and have more time to do other things that you like to do,” Scalzo said.

“You have to prioritize and take into account things that are going to affect you later on. Not going to a party is only going to affect you for [a short time]. Not studying for a big test is going to affect you for the entire grading period, and it’s going to hit your GPA pretty hard too.”

While GPA is extremely important, there are other aspects of school that are equally as noteworthy, such as extracurriculars, because they show well-roundedness.

TIPS TEACHERS tipsFROM from teachers

“It’s important to keep up with your studies because it impacts everything,” Scalzo said. “You think your studies won’t affect you in the future, but [they do]. When colleges look at your statistics, you’re just a number. You’re not [an individual] yet. You have to have all the qualifications in order to continue down your [educational] path.”

Many students go through the daily struggle of being conflicted between prioritizing their passions versus their obligations, but again, prioritizing does not necessarily mean to put one thing over another. It could also mean balancing out activities on a planned schedule, allocating specific amounts of time for school and social life. “[Being in the top one percent] feels pretty rewarding, but I also wish I would have focused more on finding my passion [rather than improving] my GPA,” Speight said. ”I wanted to find a better balance between the two.

Passion guides you in the future

more than your grades, but GPA is a good indicator of diligence.”

High school is the level of education that prepares prospective students for college level academics, but students need to also develop their personalities and adaptability in order to be ready for college.

“If you immerse yourself in the curriculum, you learn a lot of valuable material,” Speight said. “You won’t have as much of a hard time in college learning the material because you’ll have already developed study habits.

Also, coffee is magical, and it will get you through the hard times.”

Regardless of circumstances, there must always be focus during class in order to accurately comprehend the material.

“Pay attention in class,” Scalzo said. “I’d rather miss a conversation than miss [a good grade] on a test. I like being successful and proud of myself.

Procrastination won’t help you be [successful in the future].”

C

Photo provided by: Pexels user Erin Condren

Figure out appropriate study pace and time to study

Stay motivated; take breaks if needed

Study every night

Have a goal in mind

Feel free to ask for help

Come up with your own studying strategies

Use resources such as the internet and apps

Take care of your health

march 2018 student life

Eliminate distractions

Practice tests

Maintain self-esteem

the crimson connection

9

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WILDCAT FAMILIES students whose parents are teachers DAPHNE TETT acting copy editor

J

unior Cathy Rivard is, for the most part, a normal high school student. She attends classes, hangs out with friends and plays flute in the school band. However, she has one unique quality that sets her apart from most students. Every day, she goes to third period statistics class, which is taught by someone very familiar to her: her mother.

“It’s a little awkward sometimes, like when she tells stories about our family, it’s like ‘Oh, yeah. I was there,’” Cathy said. “But it’s really

nice, especially when I have homework, because I can go study with her.”

Cathy is not the only student who has a parent teaching at this school. There are several students whose parents teach here, including senior, Delaney Johnson, whose mother teaches freshman biology.

“It’s really convenient because whenever I need something printed or I need to grab something, she always has it for me,” Johnson said.

However, students who have parents as teachers aren’t always put in their parents’ classes.

Junior Zachary Maddox, whose mother teaches junior English, is not in her English class. “[If I was], I think it would

be a bit strange,” Maddox said, “But I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to it.”

Their parents’ hours dip into their schedules because they require them to stay after school a bit longer.

“It’s not uncommon for us to leave at 4:00 or 5:00,” Cathy said. “My little brother goes to Spillane, so he’ll come and hang out [here] after school. We also have dinner really late.”

Their parents’ jobs don’t interfere with how they are treated by their friends and classmates, though.

“Most people don’t really know my mom works here [because] I have such a common last name,” Johnson said.

Rivard, Johnson, and

Maddox all help out their parents with their job.

“I help her set up her room and take it down at the end of the year,” Johnson said. “[I also] help her clean her fish tanks or guinea pig cages.”

However, it does not seem to work the other way around. “[She doesn’t help me with my homework much,]” Maddox said, “I don’t really need help with my English homework. I usually do it on my own.”

All in all, these students say they enjoy having a parent working at this school.

“It’s pretty nice [to have a parent here],” Maddox said, “It’s not too different from what it’s like at home.” C

Statistics teacher Rebecca Rivard teaches to her third period class. Her daughter, Cathy, is on the left in the blue shirt. Photo by Daphne Tett

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the crimson connection 11

“GOOOOOD MORNING” inside the wildcat DAPHNE TETT acting copy editor

E

ach morning at the beginning of second period, the announcements come on, and the hyped-up voices of the announcement crew cheer “G-O-O-D-M-O-R-N-I-N-G.” The group of students whose voices everyone hears over the announcements remind the student body of upcoming events at the school, from sporting events to theatre productions, all with pep and enthusiasm.

These students are responsible for making the daily news fun and entertaining for everyone.

“I think it’s really fun,” senior Tiffany Horne said. “It’s a good

way to start your day.”

The announcements team is made up of several students who come from different groups.

“Basically, the announcements [team] is made up of the senior class president.

That’s who I am,” Horne said.

“There’s also a member of the cheer squad, a member

announcement crew

something else that does Word of the Week or some other announcement [as well].”

The Word of the Week is done by senior Jax Collum, a member of the theatre company. However, senior Hunter Schwartz joined for a

said. “And, [announcement crew manager Craig] Self told me that since I was down there so often, I might as well be on the crew [too].”

Even though these students have busy schedules, being part of the announcement crew only affects their schedules minimally.

“I show up a bit late to second period,” Collum said. “But, it’s okay because I’m contributing.”

Being part of the morning announcements has an upside, according to Schwartz.

“You get to know all the events that are going on.”

- senior Hunter Schwartz of Cadettes and three student council members. Normally, we have someone from a club or

different reason.

“I was announcing for ‘Buddy Holly’ for theatre,” Schwartz

The announcements crew including Mayley Smith, Angela Baron, Hannah Garcia, Jax Collum, Tiffany Horne, Hunter Schwartz, Olivia Chan and Haley Gunderson. Photo by: Daphne Tett

12 the crimson connection

march 2018 feature

WHO’S THE BEST MEMBER OF ANNOUNCEMENTS? “Probably Hunter Schwartz.

He’s a funny guy.”

-senior Jax Collum “Tiffany [Horne is my favorite because] she’s always happy, and she’s never upset about being there.”

-senior Hunter Schwartz “I’d have to go with [senior] Haley Gunderson. She’s such a sweet person, and she’s our student body president.”

-senior Tiffany Horne “You get to know all the school events that are going on,” Schwartz said. “You’ll [always know] when a football game or a basketball game is.

People ask you when this is or that is. It’s a little difficult, but it’s not too bad.”

Being asked by people about when things are is not the only difficulty from being with the announcements team.

“The hardest part is definitely trying not to mess up,” Horne said. “If you mess up, there’s literally 3,000 people who hear you [do it].”

Despite the difficulties that come with it, the morning

feature march 2018

The announcement team cheers for boys’ golf. Photo by: Daphne Tett Senior Olivia Chan wishes everyone a “212 Priorities Tuesday.”

Photo by: Daphne Tett

announcements are a great way to start the day.

“You get to start off hyped up and ready to go,” Schwartz said.

The members of the announcement crew have formed close friendships with each other.

“All of my really good friends are in there,” Horne said. “So, I get to see them every day.”

Collum, Horne and Schwartz all believe this was one of the best parts of high school.

“It feels great to be a part of the community and to know that everyone is getting the news,” Collum said. C

the crimson connection 13

Musicians in the Morning

sharing their passion for all to hear SAVANNAH HORNSBY acting managing editor

The Morning musicians jamming out before school. Jax Brachetti (far left), Caleb Shoemaker (left), Ethan Vowell (middle), Josiah Santiago (right), Brandon England (far right).

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he music drifts down the hall. It’s 6:45 a.m., and in front of the auditorium musicians play their music for the school. There is a guitar, a cello, a cajon, a viola and a melodica. It all started with senior Josiah Santiago.

“I remember from freshman year I saw someone carrying a guitar,” Santiago said. “He had the case and everything, but he never played it. I was like, ‘I’ll just bring it to school one day.’”

A beginner when he first started, Santiago was nervous when he first started to play in public, naturally.

“I think I started getting over my fear of playing by playing in the hallways,” Santiago said.

“That’s pretty much how I started.”

With every day that he played, not only did he become a better player, but his nerves went away.

“I was [a beginner] when I first started,” Santiago said. “I didn’t really know that much besides a few chords. Then I started progressing over time, and I got better over the years, and I took music theory last year, which helped.”

Santiago just decided to play his guitar one morning taking

14 the crimson connection

no heed from anyone. Once his confidence grew, playing in the mornings grew to mean much more to him.

“It gives me relief and calms me down a little bit,” Santiago said. “It lets me feel a little happy throughout the day, knowing that I’m allowed to go there and have the freedom to play without having any issues and no one telling me what to do. It gives me a sense of freedom.”

He started solo, but soon his one-man show grew into a band.

“I was the first [one to play] and then I met Brandon England, he plays the cello.

He’s kind of new to playing with us,” Santiago said. “He’s played with me outside of school and in school every now and then. He’s in orchestra, so that’s how I met him. Ethan Vowell, he’s the one that plays the cajon. He’s in theatre, and I know he plays the drums, so we met up a couple of times. This year is when it’s really [grown]. He doesn’t even take it out of his car, he just leaves it in the backseat of his car. He’s kind of persistent with it. And Caleb Shoemaker who is a junior he’s playing the viola now with us. He’s in orchestra

here. [Another guy named] Jax Brachetti, he’s the one that plays the melodica. We have another [member] who also plays the guitar with us. They’re all really good friends of mine.”

The cajon that Senior Ethan Vowell plays is a special type of drum box. He started playing with Santiago this year.

“It started when I told [Santiago] I have this instrument called a cajon,” Vowell said. “It’s like a drum box that you sit on and play.

He said that sounds cool, so one morning I brought my box in, and we jammed together.

After that, he decided to bring along his friend Brandon who plays the cello and his other friend Darren who plays the guitar. Some people come by one day, and they’ll take other instruments and jam out with us. It’s kind of just grown into this thing that we do every other day.”

Junior Brandon England added his cello to Santiago’s jam sessions.

“I started playing just to try something out and have fun,” England said. “My favorite part is seeing people smile as they walk by.”

Seeing them play before school and have rather large instruments, sometimes getting to class is a struggle.

“I am often tardy,” England said. “I’ve used all my tardy passes, and I was very close to being tardy this morning, and I didn’t have any passes.”

However for some the struggle is not so real.

“I wouldn’t play that late if it meant being tardy to class,” Vowell said. “For most of us, we have classes that are very close to the spot we pick in the morning, so it won’t screw with our academics.”

From one man grew a band. Some came by choice, others by chance. As of right now, Ethan Vowell is the only singer in the group and will occasionally sing depending on what’s being played. The group has fun playing outside school, playing at each other’s houses when the chance arises. C

march 2018 feature

EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL! See your counselor today to sign up for Dual Credit this spring!

LoneStar.edu/DualCredit #StartCloseGoFar

TRUST

ING THE PROCESS SARAH WHEELER acting editor-in-chief

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thletes dedicate years of their lives in hopes of getting scholarship offers, and as the offers pour in, hard decisions accompany them. Some athletes jump at their first offer, but for senior offensive lineman Christian Jones, his options for playing football at the collegiate level made him rethink his original commitment.

Jones was tell us when he originally commited verbally committed to Southern Methodist University, but as SMU’s head coach, Chad Morris, left the school for a position in Arkansas, Jones reconsidered his commitment to SMU. “The head coach left with about 95 percent of the staff. It was a program on the rise, but it turned into a program that was quickly declining,” Jones said. “It wasn’t just me. It was almost the entire recruitment class, we were just looking for a better football opportunity as well as [an educational one].”

Following his decision to decommit to SMU, University of Texas and several other Division 1 colleges were offering Jones athletic scholarships.

“Other teams picked up on [athletes considering decommitting]. A lot of my friends who were committed to SMU were receiving offers from other schools. For me, I was getting offers from U.L.M., Syracuse, U.C.L.A., Cal and U.T,” Jones said.

The University of Texas’ head coach Tom Herman recruited almost an entire recruiting class just days before National Signing Day, as he said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.

“We had to make sure that these players stopped leaving the state,” Herman said.

“That going out of state wasn’t more attractive to them. I don’t know that the University of Texas has changed. Obviously, the facilities were a big point of emphasis

feature march 2018

for us when we first got here, and that helps kids deserve to train and be trained in the best facilities in the country.”

Athletes need to think about coaching staff, education, and their position on the team when being offered other scholarships, having coaches, mentors and parents to help make the tough decision is imperative for the athlete.

“U.T. was my dream school,” Jones said.

“Ever since I was 11 years old I wanted to go to the University of Texas. U.T. was the best of both worlds, they’re the face of college football, [and] McCombs business school is top notch.”

Jones started high school as a soccer player, and in sophomore year, he made his football debut. In just a matter of two years, Jones was offered scholarships from schools that student athletes dream of achieving their whole life.

“I started playing football two years ago, during sophomore year spring football,” Jones said. “It’s pretty crazy thinking about how much I have progressed, but I can’t really say that I’m surprised. There were days when I worked out three to four times a day. I’m just happy that the work has paid off, and I know I have so much more to offer and so much more knowledge to learn.”

Wide receiver coach, James Whitmore, guided Jones throughout the recruitment process. “[Jones] and I talked quite frequently about what he should do and where he should go. I told him to weigh all his options before he put all his eggs in one basket,” Whitmore said. “He was set on Cal at first, but after taking his visit to U.T., he found himself a home.”

Whitmore understands the intensity of the recruitment process, as he was recruited to S.M.U. during his high school football years.

“College football is a multi-milliondollar business. I, having been recruited many years ago, understand the nature of that business. A commitment is only good once the student athlete’s name is signed on the dotted line,” Whitmore said. “In the meantime, schools will continue to seek the best student athletes available. It’s like the show, “The Bachelor,” the schools try a “woo” a player until he signs with them.”

The risk of an athlete decommitting from a school is that they don’t have a solid back-up plan. Without one, athletes might lose their opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.

“If an athlete is going to decommit, I would say make sure you have somewhere else to go [that is] guaranteed,” Whitmore said. “Most of all, I tell them to follow their hearts, because it’s four to five years of their lives [that] they are committing to a certain place.”

For the S.M.U. coaches, seeing an athlete decommit changes not only the path for the college team, but also for the athlete and their collegiate career.

“Being an S.M.U. alum, I would have loved to see [Jones] excel at my Alma Mater, but the main thing I told him is to find a place where he feels at home and that makes him happy. His happiness is the most important thing,” Whitmore said. “U.T. will hopefully be a good place for him to develop himself athletically and academically.”

For Jones, the opportunity to play for the University of Texas was a dream come true.

“Texas is my dream school,” Jones said.

“McCombs is a great place and getting a degree from there would be amazing.

Football wise, right now is such a great opportunity to write our names in history.

The Class of 2018 has shaped up amazingly, and I can’t wait to see what we do in the next few years.” C

the crimson connection 17

how divorce affects students unintentionally turn to their children for comfort which can place an overwhelming amount of responsibility on a child. These situations are not uncommon and make the healing process harder.

“Be patient, understanding and empathetic towards your parents,” divorced parent and English teacher Jessi Snider said. “I know it’s hard when you’re young and it’s affecting your life too but understand that if you’re really angry or aggressive towards your parents and not very understanding, it’s just going to make the situation that much worse and healing harder for everyone.”

Divorce is typically accompanied by a series of changes such as custody agreements, financial adjustments, moving, dating, counseling and family blending.

“I have a brother, a sister, a step-brother, a step-sister, a half-brother and a half-sister,” junior Kerri Makatura said. “I don’t see my half-siblings very often, but my step-siblings

Rings Provided by: Pexels

Divorce papers Photo by: Teresa Homsi

TERESA HOMSI online editor

I

t usually starts with fighting, and loud arguments that extend into the night. Sometimes, stuff is thrown and glass is broken. Other times, the fighting is nonexistent, and instead, the home is filled with a heavy and cold silence. The experience differs for many, but at the core, the emotions of anger, fear, confusion and grief are often shared. Divorce is a heavy word and an even heavier topic; often times, divorce is synonymous with the division of a family and death of a whole household.

“I view [divorce] right up there with death, and it really is the death of a relationship,” counselor Karen Jacobs said.

“I think that everybody deals with it in a different way, but people go through the same process [as they do dealing] with death like disbelief, anger and acceptance. There are stages of coming to terms with something that difficult. [After the first stages], there might be a realization that it’s better for the family, that might be the case and that might not be.”

While divorce can leave parents devastated, divorce can also cause immense pressure and stress for children.

Often times, children feel responsible or angry at their parents. Occasionally, parents

Photo provided by: Pexels

have lived with me for the past four years but I’ve known them for about ten years. It was weird adjusting [to them moving in] because there wasn’t enough room but we made space for them.”

Depending on the person, these many, overwhelming and sudden changes can affect mental health and result in long-term psychological problems.

“At first, it sent me into a depression,” senior Cameron Levingston said. “I started talking to less of my friends and my school grades went down.

When I started to mature, I realized what it was, why it happened, how it happened, I just kind of adjusted.”

Despite the hardships that may be caused by divorce, it is not an uncommon struggle for students to face. According to the American Psychological Association, 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce in the US. “There is a high percentage of students with either divorced parents and they’re in a situation where they’re

country music and me and my sister would also dance with them and our dad would twirl us around. It was a lot of fun, and every now and then I think about it and get in my feels.”

Although divorce is commonplace, it remains to be a rare topic of discussion which often leaves families feeling alone and isolated in the changes they face.

“In school, adults talk about sex-ed, about war and crime but no one really talks about family situations and stuff that some students really need [to hear],” Ellis said. “If someone were to have told me about divorce and told me what it would be like when I was younger, it would have made things a lot easier, but I kind of went into it alone, it was just me and my sister.”

Despite divorce’s prevalence, the lack of discussion leaves divorce to be a solitary struggle for children and students.

“I had a counselor in my elementary school, and she became a really good friend to my family because I was in her office a lot and I would talk to her,” Ellis said. “Because at eight, you don’t really get what’s going on but you’re learning, so I needed help and I needed someone to talk to and tell me that it would be okay.”

Divorce is an unquestionably

DIVORCE STATS ON

IN THE USA

In America, there is one divorce approximately every 36 seconds.

Photo provided by: OpenClipArt

living with one parent and visiting the other parent, or there are situations with blended families,” Jacobs said. “Many times, I deal with both situations, and I see the whole range, at the very beginning when the divorce is just happening or years later.

It definitely is an issue young people deal with.”

Divorce can happen at any time in a student’s life.

For some, it occurs in early childhood while for others, it is still recent. While that can change the experience, the core feelings often remain the same.

“I was eight [when my parents divorced],” junior Audrey Ellis said. “[The divorce] hit me really hard. At first, I didn’t understand what divorce really was, I just knew that my parents weren’t going to be together for a little bit and then I figured out that it meant forever. I have an older sister, and so it just broke up our whole family apart.”

Even if a divorce occurs early on, the effects can be lasting.

“There are times that I break down because I realize my family will never be together again, and that’s hard to think about,” Ellis said. “When my parents were together, they were really happy. They would dance on our deck to old

8 years

The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce is eight years.

The average age for couples going through their first divorce is 30 years old.

Attending college decreases the possibility of divorce by 13 percent.

AGE GROUPS AND DIVORCE RATES BY PERCENT women men

36.6 38.8 27.6

22.3 16.4

11.7

under 20yrs

8.5 20-24yrs

25-29yrs

11.6

30-34yrs

5.1 6.5 35-39yrs

Info provided by: McKinley Irvin

difficult experience, but it is real and its prevalence does not make it easier to overcome.

“The number one thing I say to [students] is that I know it affects you, but [divorce is] an adult issue and something adults have to work out, let them worry about it and deal with it. It is not your fault and while it affects you, it is something they have to deal with,” Jacobs said. “I also tell them that they need to take care of themselves because they don’t have any control in the situation, the best thing is to take control over what they have control over, which is themselves and their job which is being a student and being a sibling and to do the best in that regard.”

There are many obstacles

and challenges a family will face during a divorce, but time will pass.

“Divorce can be a painful and confusing process for anyone involved. It is important to know that this decision was not an easy one to make but is necessary for your family to heal.” Makatura said.

“Please remember that your parents are people too, and no one should have to stay in a relationship with someone they aren’t happy with. The best thing you can do for the situation is to remain patient, show some understanding and just be there for the people you love.”

If you need help dealing with divorce, feel free to go to the counselor’s office or check out helpguide.org C

RUIZ CLOTHING: THE BASICS VICTORIA CAVAZOS acting business manager

Spiral Logo Hoodie (White) ruizclothing.com

S

tarting up a small business from scratch isn’t easy, but junior Ivan Ruiz lives it. Balancing academics, a job, designing, creating and managing money for upcoming projects is something Ruiz does in a manner that seems almost effortless.

Ruiz always had a vision to build a brand of street-wear for himself, and in April of 2017, that vision became a reality.

“I’ve always liked clothes even when I was little,” Ruiz said “I used to do sketches of things that I liked and eventually I figured ‘why not do it for real?’”

Once he was set on his idea, he immediately began talking to T-shirt shops in his area. Deals were made, a logo was created, sweatshirts were printed and the rest is history.

Ruiz says his inspirations vary from rapper ASAP Rocky to Tyler, the Creator, but his biggest and most noteworthy inspiration comes from his father.

“My parents let me develop my own style, and my dad was always showing me how to mix and match things that looked good together. He always dressed weird, but I liked it,” Ruiz said.

He emphasizes how important it is to let parents encourage their children into exploring the things they enjoy, and says that his passion for clothing design and his brand come from just that.

“They let us explore things we enjoyed and because of that I came into my own,” Ruiz said. “I had this desire and these images in my head and decided to put that on paper.”

Fishbowl Tee Yellow ruizclothing.com

4 the crimson connection

Stepladder Logo Tee Gold (preorder) ruizclothing.com

Ruiz Janitorial Services Tee White ruizclothing.com

@Ruiz.Clothing on Instagram

Ruiz is currently working these drawings and ideas into his next collection, which he plans to release in the next few months. As of right now, there are people on social media looking to promote the next collection.

He’s also seeking collaborations with other brands similar to his.

“It is so exciting to be able to do this, but it’s weird because I’m seen as this entrepreneur, and I don’t see it that way. I just enjoy creating and designing things. That’s it,” Ruiz said.

Being in high school with big business plans for the future sounds intimidating, but Ruiz seems to have a good grip on it. In addition to focusing on graduating and attending business school, Ruiz is looking for manufacturers to supply him with the needed materials in order to produce more than just hats, T-shirts and hoodies. Ruiz has designs for pants, accessories and other garments that he hopes to release in the near future.

“Sometimes I’ll be in class and I get an idea but I can’t do much about it because I don’t have anything I need with me, but I’ve gotten into this rhythm of time management and I’d like to think I’m getting better at it,” Ruiz said.

If you ask Ruiz if he’d like his brand to be worldwide someday, he’ll giggle and say that the only things he really wants are to make clothing, travel the planet and live comfortably.

“I don’t know if this is something I’d like to blow up worldwide because as soon as things get corporate the creator seems to lose control. I’d like to get to that point if it meant that I’d still be in control of what I love to do,” Ruiz said. C

Arc Logo Sweatshirt Maroon ruizclothing.com

august 2016 feature

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CHAMPIONS IN THE MAKING national bound swimmers

Counter clockwise from top right: 1. Sydney Stanford after earning Swimmer of the Meet at the district meet with second place Madeline Rospierski. 2. Sydney Stanford swimming at different meets. 3. Nathan Saeger and William Shcoll after winning first and second at the district meet.

Left photos provided by Sydney Stanford. Right provided by: Abigail Paysee.

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ational swimmers are in the making at Cy Woods, practice after practice, meet by meet. Seniors Kate and Claire Smith and junior Sydney Stanford earned 19th place overall at the state meet February 16th-17th. Sydney Stanford, Swimmer of the Meet at the district meet that Cy Woods won for a second year in a row, got fourth in her individual freestyle.

“This is the highest I’ve placed in the state before and I was only point one [seconds] away from getting third, and top three get medals,” Stanford said. “So that’s definitely my

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ABBY HINTON staff reporter

goal next year, is to podium and get a medal.”

Stanford hopes to meet the national cut for swimming this year and is talking to colleges such as Texas A&M and University of Tennessee about scholarships. With a combination of team practices, club practices, and the 212 support of their teammates, simmers have a clear shot for placing next year at the state tournament and beyond. C

ATCH YA LATER!

top photos of Woods vs Falls KAE TRUSTY social media editor

Junior Destiny Tarver stands on third base preparing to run.

Junior Kaylee Ryan pitches the ball during the first inning.

Coach Bond gathers the team in between innings and gives them a pep talk.

Freshman Arianna Lopez prepares to pitch to her teammate before the game.

22 the crimson connection

february 2018 sports

Background photo provided by: Pixabay user Cherylholt Photos taken by: Kae Trusty

Senior Brecklyn Dennis practices her swing near the field.

Senior Taylor Hodgkiss ties her hair back as the girls get ready to practice.

Senior Kylie Nixon goes down the line giving her team members handshakes as the game starts.

Junior Kaya McCarthy prepares in the dugout before the beginning of the game.

Senior Taylor Hodgkiss turns midstep after the ball is caught on the opposite side of the field.

Senior Brecklyn Dennis stands at bat during the first inning.

sports february 2018

the crimson connection 23

NETFLIX ORIGINALS SAVANNAH HORNSBY acting managing editor

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Commons

Other Netflix Originals You Might Like Photo provided by: Wikimedia Commons

Photo provided by: Flickr

Mako Mermaids: This Netflix original serves as a mediocre sequel to H2O: Just Add Water. It adds onto the mythology of mermaids, placing them in pods rather than having them turned into mermaids like in the original series. Also this sequel follows the story of a boy who was turned into a mermaid.

24 the crimson connection

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Commons

What happened to Monday: In a society where having only one child is law, septuplets are forced to take on one identity and switch off going outside their apartment on the day that coincides with their name.

When Monday goes missing the six must operate carefully and try not to get caught by the government that will stop at nothing to destroy them.

Photo provided by: Wikipedia

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Commons

Death Note: Based off of the well-known anime, Death Note follows the journey of a teen boy (Light) who finds a notebook that comes with an unexpected companion. A type of Japanese god of death called a Shinigami is attached to the notebook and tells the boy who found the book that he now has the power to kill anyone by writing their name in the notebook. Overwhelmed by his newfound power, Light goes on a killing spree, trying to rid the world of evil.

You Get Me: With a pretty good looking cast You Get Me gets most of its four and a half star rating from the actors who star in the movie rather than its content. At a party where he gets dumped a teenage boy meets a new girl who he has a summer fling with. However when school starts up again and his girlfriend wants him back he leaves his new summer girl for his old love. The new girl spirals into insane jealousy and enacts a plot for revenge on those who have wronged her.

march 2018 arts & entertainment

FOOD FRENZY

BRANDON CHEUNG

staff reporter

unique foods from different cultures Photo provided by: Flickr user Timpearse Basashi: This is raw horse meat consumed in various areas of Japan

Photo by: Archana Deshmukh-Mundhe Biryani: An Indian mixed rice dish made with spices, rice and meat or egg.

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Bird’s Nest Soup: A Chinese soup made from solidified bird saliva.

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Bún bò Huế: It is a Vietnamese noodle dish from central Vietnam that consists of both meat and coagulated pig’s blood.

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Chicken Feet: Originating from China, chicken feet are predominantly made to be varying levels of spice but otherwise, they are exactly what the name suggests: chicken feet.

Photo provided by: Halal Foodie Chapli Kebab: Minced kebab made from ground beef or mutton with various spices in the shape of a patty originating from Peshawar in northeast Pakistan.

Photo provided by: Wikimedia Escargot: Snails generally served as a French starter.

Photo provided by: Flickr user Scaredykat Samosa Chaat: A popular spicy, tangy and sweet street food in India with fillings such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils or minced meat.

Photo provided by: Pexels

Photo provided by: Koreanet Sannakji: A live octopus dish originating from South Korea.

THE REDEFINITION OF BOY-BANDS

by Sarah Wheeler, acting editor-in-chief

It used to be that boy bands were so structured that it was hard for any of them to be different from each other. Each group made almost the same corny pop love songs, had one “punk” member for the teenage goths to relate to, and each member had their own “distinctive style” for merchandise purposes. Now, it’s 2018, and the face of the All-American Boy Band is a queer, diverse rap group called Brockhampton.

Brockhampton members met on an online Kanye West forum before coming together in San Marcos, Texas and then moving to Los Angeles to kick-start their careers. Brockhampton has totally changed what it means to be a boy band as they transform the intense structure to a culture that embodies individualism to the extreme. The group is made up of various artists and producers including Kevin Abstract, Dom McLennon and Merlyn Wood, all who seem to carry this persona of being an outsider, which is now dominating the group’s aura and the interpretation of boy bands themselves. Brockhampton is constantly compared to Odd Future, a rap group consisting of Tyler the Creator, Hodgy and many more. The reason why Brockhampton is considered a boy band and not Odd Future is because Brockhampton focuses almost all of their time producing their cohesive tracks, while Odd Future members mostly worked on their individual projects then would come together to produce the Odd Future tapes.

Releasing their albums Saturation I, Saturation II and Saturation III

26 the crimson connection

within the span of a few months shows Brockhampton’s dedication to producing group projects.

If you would have asked me a few years ago to describe a typical boy band, I would have probably said something about a few straight white guys who got lucky on a talent show, but now my perspective has been totally warped. Rap groups have been around since the genre emerged, and Brockhampton identifying as a boy band shows that genre blending is more important now than it has ever been. The group, or should I say band, combines rap with aspects of literally everything, from rock to jazz to pop and EDM. Their blending has given them such a wide demographic for their fan base, which is why they probably choose to title themselves as a boy band rather than a rap group, a way less confining title for a group that embraces freedom.

Brockhampton is almost entirely self-run. With 14 current members, they design their own merchandise, produce and write their own music, and manage themselves. Their independence also contradicts the standard boy band, which is usually micromanaged by their parents or an old British white guy. They have created this culture of being carefree and independent. Brockhampton has inspired a whole generation of teenagers to be more unapologetic about themselves, whether that alludes to their sexuality, personality or mental states, thus making the new era of boy bands more influential and promising than ever.

Photos provided by: Sarah Wheeler

SATURATION I

SATURATION II SATURATION II

SATURATION III

march 2018 arts & entertainment

GET CHALLENGED

the pros and cons of ap and dual credit Photo from Wikimedia Commons

DAPHNE TETT staff reporter

W

ith class registration rolling around again, one of the most important things to consider is the class level. The two most challenging levels available for academic courses are Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit (DC). Both are essentially college-level classes, but they have their differences. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about AP and Dual Credit.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROS:

- It provides a good challenge for students who are bored with lower-level classes. This is a pro for higherlevel classes in general.

- It provides credit for college, as it shows that the student took on a challenging curriculum.

- The sense of accomplishment felt after finishing the AP tests is a pro within itself, regardless of the score the student got.

- A fee is required to take the AP test, but the test itself is optional.

CONS:

- It might be too challenging for some students, and students can only drop AP within the first two weeks of class. After that, the only way to drop is getting a low enough grade, and in some classes, AP is the only option, so there is no dropping.

- It only provides college credit if the student got a 3 or higher on the AP test, as it shows that he or she not only took on a challenging curriculum but also excelled at it.

- AP classes require a lot of studying and homework.

Students taking an AP class should expect to have two hours of homework in one night on one subject. student life march 2018

DUAL CREDIT PROS:

- Students get college credit, like in AP, as long as they pass the class.

- College credit in DC classes is earned based on how the student does each semester instead of one big test, so if a student bombs one semester, they might be able to get credit the next semester.

- Students can drop a DC class at any time.

CONS:

- There is a lot of outside work that students have to juggle with their extracurricular activities, just like AP. - College credit only applies to Texas state schools.

- Unlike AP, the course itself requires payment. On average, a DC student will pay $72 in fees. If a student drops a DC class, they won’t be fully refunded. The most a student will be refunded if they drop is 70 percent of what he or she originally paid. C the crimson connection 27

SNAKE KEVIN DURANT

HISS

HISS

by contributing writer Cooper Griffin

On July, 4, 2016, nine time All-Star, four time scoring champion and the 2014 MVP, Kevin Durant, back-stabbed the Oklahoma City Thunder and slithered his way to join the Golden State Warriors.

That same season (2015-16) the Golden State Warriors had the best record in the NBA history, going 73-9, with two time MVP Stephen Curry, All-Star power forward Draymond Green and All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson. Also in that same year, the Warriors faced the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, and beat the Thunder 4-3 in the seven game conference.

After that season, Kevin Durant was a free agent. With four days until Durant had to make his decision, teammates Russell Westbrook and Nick Collinson took him out to dinner and there he said he was not going to leave the Thunder, but he lied. He signed to the Warriors after losing to them in the conference finals, and did not tell his best bud Westbrook that he was leaving after playing with him for eight years. A year later Durant won his first championship with the Warriors, and the big question was, did he make the right move?

No, it was a terrible decision.

One reason why this was a terrible move is because he will never win another MVP. On the Thunder he was a one time MVP, and was averaging 27.4 points, 1.2 steals and playing 37.8 minutes a game. While on the Warriors, he is averaging 25.3 points, one steal and only playing 33.9 minutes a game. Not only is he playing worse, but he is also playing with three other AllStars and he is not even the face of the team. Also there is more competition with James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Curry all in the running for the MVP. Since his shady move Durant has become one of the most hated players in NBA history. Not only does the state of Oklahoma hate him, but most of the country hates him, unless they’re on the Golden State bandwagon. On the Thunder Durant was a threat, now he is known as a snake. He made one of the cheapest moves by far in all of sports history. He abandoned his own team to join a super team just to get a ring. Is that even an accomplishment?

The Thunder was the favorite to win the finals even without Durant.

MVP

Photo provided by Wikepedia Commons

He could have won the finals with the Thunder. The Thunder has been to the finals with Durant in 2012, but lost to the Miami Heat with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. The Thunder had successful seasons prior to Durant’s departure, making the second round in 2013, making the Conference Finals in 2014 and making the Conference Finals in 2016. The Thunder could have made an even better run this year with Westbrook, Durant, Oladipo and Steven Adams, who gets better and better over time.

There you have it, the many reasons why Kevin Durant made a horrible decision to join the Warriors. A decision that will not only affect the rest of his career, but one that will also affect how people will remember him.

JAMES HARDEN by contributing writer Aaron Blevins

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden should be the NBA MVP this year. His case speaks for itself whether people like him or not, his numbers don’t lie. He has led his team to the best record in the league at all-star break. Also, He’s paired perfectly with Chris Paul which a lot of critics said he would never be able to do.

Numbers don’t lie; James Harden is averaging 31.4 points, nine assists and five rebounds all while shooting .449% from the field and .385% from three point. He has had four 40-point games while the rest of the NBA has four in total. Harden also had a 60-point performance while missing two other

28 the crimson connection

starters and lost their sixth man 10 minutes into the game.

The Rockets for the first time in franchise history have the best record at all-star break.

That’s even with Chris Paul missing a lot of the first two months of the season, and 18 games overall. The Rockets are looking like the only team that’ll be able to contend with the Golden State Warriors.

They’re prime to make a run at the championship and that’s because of their franchise star James Harden.

A lot of NBA experts said before the season that they thought James Harden and Chris Paul would never work on the court after Rockets GM

Daryl Morey went all in for Paul. They’re 29-3 when on the court together. James Harden who everyone says likes the ball in his hands has given it up Photo provided by to Paul when it matters Wikepedia Commons most in clutch time. I matter how bad you want the remember one game Harden ball. came down and ran a ISO play James Harden should be the to try and gain the lead with MVP. I’m calling on the media time running out he air-balled. members who vote on this to So immediately on the next make the right choice don’t possession Harden gave Paul just vote for who is the biggest the ball and let him take over. star or someone who makes his He made the shot and won team lose just to up his stats the game. That’s a MVP when vote on the best player and I you know exactly what’s best think we all know who that for your team and you do it no should be. C

march 2018 opinion

CLEANSE YOUR BRAIN the dangers of juice cleansing

VICTORIA CAVAZOS acting business manager

A

s we near the end of February and walk into March, many people are giving up on their set of New Year’s resolutions and beginning the search for an easier way out. Whether it’s fitness, weight loss or something else, this is the time of year when a majority of newborn resolutions die.

Juice cleansing has grown in popularity thanks to celebrities like Nicole Richie, Fergie and Olivia Wilde. Although juice cleanses have some benefit, there can be much harm done if they are not done properly without the aid of a physician.

Juice cleansing or ‘detoxing’ might seem like a quick and easy weight-loss strategy for those looking to shed pounds.

However, they are not as marvelous as one might think. Many people are under the impression that if you replace a meal with a detox juice, then they are cutting calories and benefiting from it in the long run. While meal replacement liquids are not harmful, they quickly become just that when liquids are the only fuel the body is running on. The body needs a healthy balance of carbs, fats, proteins and fibers in order to function properly, but when the only things the body is digesting are fruits and vegetables for all meals, it becomes deficit.

Contrary to popular belief, juicing does not clean your body of toxins. Thanks to science, we know that there is actually

zero evidence to back up this claim. Your kidneys and liver pretty much take care of that for you.

Detox cleanses will not aid in long term weight loss either because your body is only getting a small amount of calories, it clings to whatever it can. Although you might notice a change in the scale, do not let this get your hopes up. Once the cleanse is over and you return back to your normal eating habits, whatever weight you have lost will find its way right back to you, and you’ll end up stuck in the same place as you were initially except this time, you have a weakened metabolism.

As for individuals with blood sugar problems and diabetes, detox juices can be a big no-no if not taken with a doctor’s discretion due to sugars from fruits. Even if you have a very active and physical schedule from day to day, cleansing probably will not be the right choice.

Not only are you not consuming enough nutrients, but you are not allowing your body to fuel itself naturally.

However, adding wholesome fruit and vegetable juices to your everyday diet can be a smart way to add an extra boost to your nutrition, but they can also be very damaging to your health if they are the only thing you are consuming. If you truly wish to cleanse your body of toxins, you need to focus on balancing your diet with clean and nutritious foods. C

ABBY HINTON acting online editor

Girl Code

G

reetings and salutations female specimen. Let’s take a minute to ponder what we’ve been posting on social media for the past few months.

Is everything you have shared with the world something you would be proud to share with a future employer or a college rep? More importantly, is it all something that you would want to reflect on ten years

from now? Oftentimes we forget that everything we post online can be seen by everyone, until the end of the Internet.

If your friend does not forward your private pictures or words along without your consent, they will still be forever stored in databases, at the fingertips of hackers and the government. Am I being a little over-dramatic? Maybe, but let’s get down to business. Nobody, not even those people you want to impress, wants to see a monster. Do not bombard

the world with hateful messages and sadistic images. Do not sell yourself short by putting your privacy under the spotlight of exploitative people.

Even though it may seem that social standards have been set about how much you should share online, you do not have to bend to any of society’s preferences. Make your days a little more positive by sharing and seeking fun, uplifting information instead of forwarding degrading content, and remember that you have a more important life outside of social media: your actual life. Enjoy experiencing the world with the people around you. C

SOCIAL MEDIA BRANDON CHEUNG

staff reporter

Guy Code

H

ey, broskurinos, and welcome back to Guy Code. Today’s lesson is on what to do and what not to do on social media. Remember when we used social media appropriately? Clearly, it has been too long.

First, no one wants to see you in your gross, sweaty clothes after your “daily grind.” What we do want to see, however, are nice snapshots of

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the crimson connection

your day that include, but are not limited to: cute pets, food, hangouts and really anything school appropriate or socially acceptable. If we are being really honest here, most people do not want to see your abs on a daily basis. Sure, once or twice may be nice with consent, but do not go overboard. For the record, more than once is overboard. Next, unsolicited pictures and inappropriate comments on other people’s posts are not cool.

You know the kind. Just think about it from someone else’s perspective. They did not ask for it. Let me reiterate again.

Unsolicited pictures not cool or even socially acceptable. Remember, consent

before content. Whatever platform: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, it does not matter. Think about how a lot of people do not want to see that type of content before you post or send ridiculous things on social media. Furthermore, it follows you forever. We have been told this over and over again, but it still has not sunken in. Anything you share online will stay online forever. It can, and will, be used against you if given the opportunity.

Think about the consequences, and think about what everyone else wants to see before you consider sharing questionable content. C

march 2018 opinion

T u o Y h k n a h T ank Yo Thank You u Mother Natu re, for always screwing us o ver.

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our nd y g u o r fusin ga ovin nd con m r a o f ss. time res, l sto e tenth e proce i a t th Re th ne in s for aisle everyo

after school as Band, for always practicing loud as physically possible.

Thank You Notes

Chic k-Fil -A I ne for bein ede d yo g close d wh u th em en ost.

Than k Yo u Spr ing bre ak, for exis ting .

(Inspired by Jimmy Fallon)

Thank Y ou

Ice cr eam, for ge the lo ttin nges t sem g me thro ugh ester of my life.

u o Y k u n o a h Y T k n Tha g the dcastin a o r b ys at it. r alwa g trash in e b s NBC, fo alway ics and Olymp

hat a tanding w rs e d n u t for no Teachers, break is.

rantin 212 words BRANDON CHEUNG

staff reporter

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his is a message to the current and future student drivers: please learn the zipper method.

Please stop cutting me off in the parking lot and then glaring at me as if I was wrong when it was clearly my turn to move forward in the long line of rabid teenagers. Another opinion march 2018

issue is seeing someone walking across the parking lot and then deciding to floor it, clearly not planning on stopping. Honestly, I am not even surprised at how crass student drivers can get, but seriously? This just takes the cake. There is no other way to say this: I did not come to

school to get run over by a moody teenager. That being said, I would need at least seven more hands to even begin to fathom the amount of times I have nearly been flattened like a pancake in the student parking lot. I have risked my life far too many times trying to stay alive in

the parking lot. I understand there might be someone walking in front of your car as you are driving, but that gives you no viable reason to bulldoze through them.

Besides, if you run them over, they can report and sue you.

Just a little food for thought.

C Drive safely, kids. the crimson connection 31