The Talon Volume 12 Issue 1

October 2018

Volume 12 Number 1

Nation Ford High School

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

Great Comeback!

The

Student Races To The Finish Line

by Kailey Cota

He has a need for speed.

Sailing through the city, under overpasses and around stoplight corners, Juan Alexis Hernandez Puga (‘20) crosses the finish line of the 5K St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer – in his customized racing wheelchair.zzzzzz Alexis was born in Guanajuato, Mexico on Oct. 6, 2000, but it was a difficult birth – the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and asphyxiated him. Doctors assumed Alexis was dead because he wasn’t breathing, but his heart never stopped beating. z The loss of oxygen to Alexis’ brain caused him to develop spastic quadriplegia, a subset of spastic cerebral palsy. In other words, he can’t control his movements — not standing, not walking, not talking.zzzzzzz “I am his engine; he completely depends on me,” said Alexis’ mother, Señora Maria de Lourdes Hernandez Puga.

When his family moved to South Carolina in 2008, they enrolled Alexis in school. NFHS has provided Alexis with countless opportunities to connect with mentors and peers.

Spanish teacher Señor Jose Figuero, a runner by nature, realized that Alexis had never experienced that freedom.

Continued on Page 6 c

2 • OP/ED

School IDs Needed For More Student Safety

Staff Editorial On average, more than one school shooting takes place in America each week and many result in injuries and deaths. One of the worst cases was in 2014 when 26 students and six adults were slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. How did the perpetrator gain access to a school building with a semi-automatic AR-15 and two pistols made by Glock and Sig Sauer?

Simply by walking in. That is the reason why student ID badges area necessity for schools in America.

Identification is extremely important to an individual’s safety at school.

Student ID badges serve a variety

of purposes; they can be used to purchase lunch, to check out library books, to acquire access to school functions and events, and most importantly to identify who doesn’t belong on school campus with one glance. Yet, less than 10 percent of schools in America require student identification badges as of 2018.

Feb. 14, 2018, a young man by the name of Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 high school students attending Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida while numerous others were seriously injured. Cruz had recently been expelled from the high school, yet, he was still able to gain entry.

If all public schools in America re- If the ID’s were lost or left at quired student ID badges to be worn, home, students could be able to refewer horrific, heinous acts of violence ceive sticker copies free of charge. would likely be committed.

On the assumption that some stu Some individuals claim that iden- dents were to have unappealing photification badges should not be re- tos on their ID’s they would still have quired. They believe the to adhere to badges infringe upon huthe rules and Identification man rights by alleging wear the ID’s that students are “labels,” is extremely while on school and should not have to property. Hopeimportant to an be tagged like prison infully by the individual’s safety. new mates. school However, if the ID year of 2019 badges would only need every school in to be worn at school, it wouldn’t neces- America would implicate this simple sarily infringe upon the students’ rights. safety measure. -KW

New Schedule Causes Student Resentment

by Sydney Mason et another new schedule for FLEX (Flexible Learning Experience) and for lunch is in place for this school year. FLEX, a short period of time for students to get extra help or work in a study hall, has been scheduled during the school day for three years, and the program has been rescheduled for the third time.

The new schedule is impractical -- last year’s was more beneficial.

Last year, FLEX took place after second block and students had the opportunity to choose to go to first or second lunch based on where they chose to go for FLEX. However, the new schedule is quite different; FLEX now takes place after third block, and first or second lunch is no longer a choice for students.

While it’s true the custodians did not have time to clean in between first and second lunch last year, as confirmed by Principal Jason Johns, and students who had second lunch last year had a less favorable lunch experience, with the new schedule, students are given only 22 minutes to eat lunch.

Now, since there’s only one FLEX session, most of the study halls and classrooms are crowded considering the entire student body is going to FLEX at once.

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Based on graduation rates, grades, and testing data collected from last year, numerous students struggled academically and were not receiving the support they needed. However, a lot of student’s do not believe the new schedule is going to change anything.

Based on a Talon poll, it was concluded that a vast majority of the students agree that FLEX isn’t any more helpful now than it was last year.

It makes school days seem longer and adds stress.

Last year students had the opportunity to take double FLEX if they had more to do, such as a test they might have missed, but now they are unable to do that.

FLEX itself is not the only problem with the new schedule. Lunch also plays a huge part in why students are resentful. Last year when FLEX and lunch were combined, some students would go to FLEX first, and others would go to lunch first. FLEX and lunch combined were an entire hour during the school day, 30 minutes for

The Talon Staff EditorS-In-Chief: Hayden Biebel Kailey Cota Editors: Makayla Brown Zaria Drakeford Bethany Houston Maggie Kell Khonnie Kounbandith Adrianna Mancini Sydney Mason Elana White ART: Bethany Houston Elana White

each. Now, FLEX is still 30 minutes, but lunch is only 22. Lunch is awfully short, and students deserve to have the same amount of time to eat as they do to get extra help during FLEX. There are still two lunches, however, this means students and teachers who have second lunch are unable to eat until late in the school day, around 1 p.m. This is unfair because by this time they are starving and students still attempt to eat in classrooms.

Given that there is already an issue with overcrowding during FLEX, it is just as bad during lunch.

Again, students are given such a short amount of time for lunch, it is nearly impossible to have time to wait in the long lunch line and eat, as well as socialize with peers. If there were more than two lunch periods, this process would be much more efficient.

Also, because FLEX was paired with lunch previously, students often ate lunch in classrooms, which was great for students, except it became chal-

Second lunch should not be so late, and students should still get the option of choosing their lunch and FLEX.

lenging keeping classrooms clean as many of them doubled as a “lunchroom”. Teachers also expressed frustration because it was challenging to tutor students while simultaneously supervising students who were eating lunch in their rooms.

For the students who needed academic support the most, it was difficult to hold those students accountable when FLEX was paired with lunch – as students could “hide” in the Commons and eat two lunches.

This could easily be solved with sign in sheets.

Perhaps FLEX this year is slightly more beneficial because the needs of everyone in the school are considered, not just students. However, second lunch should not be so late, and students should still get the option of choosing their lunch and FLEX. The new schedule should accommodate everyone.

Although, the adjustments to the schedule were made to benefit everyone, it isn’t doing as well as expected for students. FLEX should benefit students in many ways, and they should be able to have time to eat lunch and socialize. Student and teacher opinions should be taken into consideration when making changes such as altering the schedule.

The Talon Policy The Talon provides students with an opportunity to research and write informative

Staff: Charles Creech Riley Doyle Ashley Jordan Alyssa Martin Dewuan McCullum Lauren Molina Joi Nelson Nick Roarty Justice Wehrmeyer Kelise Williams

articles related to Nation Ford High School or topics students find interesting. The paper’s

Ad Manager: Paige Burney

ture writing. All submissions should be submitted to Mrs. Swann, room D111, or via email

Adviser: Beth Swann

803-835-0000 thetalononline2016@gmail.

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

objective is to notify the school community of the news in a timely and informative manner and to entertain them through articles and columns.

The staff encourages letters to the editor. Nation Ford High School students, staff members, and the public can express their opinions and reactions to the articles in The Talon.

Letters should be signed and should not exceed 150 words. Letters submitted may be published in the paper at the discretion of The Talon staff and will be edited for accuracy, length, and grammar, as well as offensive or inappropriate content.

The staff may permanently keep all unpublished letters for reference or guidance for futo swanne@fortmillschools.org.

Please keep in mind that opinions voiced in the articles and personal columns are not those of the Nation Ford High School newspaper staff or Nation Ford High School’s admin2015 Best Newspaper in South Carolina 2015 Newspaper Palmetto Award ALL STATE Rating for 2015 International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016

Cover photo: After finishing St. Jude’s Walk/ Run Race for the Cure on Sept. 22 in Charlotte, Juan Alexis Hernandez Puga (‘20) poses with his team, including Deauntre Arms (‘18), Señor Jose Figuero and drivers Greg Leudke and Jeff LaPoint. Photo by Kailey Cota.

The Talon

October 2018

OP/ED • 3

Social Media Shames Girls

by Joi Nelson

Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram – social media apps today make girls feel unappealing. Instagram, one of the most popular apps with teens, has an immense effect on young women with regard to how they view themselves.

Scrolling through the popular page shows numerous models who set the ideal goal of what women “should” look like – but that isn't realistic.

Women all over the world suffer from the world's distorted perception of “beauty”. According to the dictionary definition, beauty is “the combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.”

On Instagram, women face constant dilemma, trying to find what beauty is in the eyes of their followers. The idea of beauty changes with the times and with culture. Today in America, people view female beauty as a girl with a tiny waist, straight hair, and curves.

But not all girls on Instagram have those “necessities”.

Some girls don’t stop to ask themselves why they believe it’s so important to look a way that pleases everyone else. They struggle with identity and don’t consider self-acceptance or what make themselves happy.

Often girls pose to look “sexy” to catch the eye of their male followers.

Girls sometimes look at famous women’s post and pose to get type of feed that makes the perfect Instagram post.

Girls even admit that they delete post because when it doesn’t get the number of expected likes or if viewers say the post is ugly.

The image in the mirror or a picture does not matter, or should not – it is a mindset that makes someone feel beautiful. Social media affects how people view and see themselves. “A lot of social media causes anxiety because people often look at what is came across on it and tries to compare their lives to others,” says school psychologist Mark Meacham.

My definition of beauty is being kind and compassionate. Beauty comes from within. The world's ideal goal of perfection in today’s generation of young women is not realistic.

Instagram perpetrates myth and too many girls try to live up to this unreal persona we see in social media. When we think of beauty we only think of what is on the outside and not the inside. I believe beauty is found from within. Whether you’re tall, short, thin or curvy every girl is beautiful in their own way.

Alive At 25 Driving Course Vital For Students’ Safety

by Lauren Molina After three students died due to automobile accidents in the first several years since the opening of Nation Ford, students have been required to attend a defensive driving course before driving on campus. The fatalities took a toll on the NFHS community.

To purchase a parking pass, students are required to take Alive at 25, which instructs students how to prepare for and avoid dangerous situations.

“Alive at 25 has been a requirement at Nation Ford for 4 years.” said Resource Officer Dave Bethany Houston Prescott. “It was put in place to educate teens to avoid collisions most caution when behind the wheel. and on campus accidents.”

Bethany According to the Center forHouston Disease The class teaches young drivers to navigate the roads responsibly Control and Prevention In the United and safely. It ensures students under- States, in 2015, 235,845 teens between stand that when they get behind the the ages of 16-19 were treated in emerwheel, they are putting themselves gency departments for injuries from automobile accidents. and others at risk.

Many students take the class solely “The eight-hour Basic Teen Driving driver’s education course has a com- to have a parking pass. “Approximatepletely different curriculum than the ly 50 percent of the senior population Alive at 25 course; students should purchased parking passes this year, as well as about 30 never be excused from of undertaking Alive at 25,” As“If students were percent classmen,” NFHS sistant Principal Pam not required to take Security Officer Pittman said.

Tuipulotu Despite its benefits, Alive at 25, the rate Pete said. some students take a of collisions and Our faculty different stance. “Alive strongly supports at 25 is unnecessary befender benders requirement cause you learn the same would be higher.” the of Alive at 25. The things in driver’s ed, - Officer Dave Prescott class promotes safe it’s almost completely driving and rethe same material,” Junior Sean Grennan said. “Alive at 25 sponsible teens. “If students were not was basically a condensed version of required to take Alive at 25, the rate of driver’s ed, but it was more focused collisions and fender benders would be higher,” Officer Prescott said. on defense.”

Although certain students may not Some students do not believe they need to take Alive at 25, but statistics think it is a valuable class, it serves to show that teenagers need to take the protect the students and community.

October 2018

Elana White

American Schools Squelch Student Creativity In Classes

by Elana White “Everybody is a genius,” Albert Einstein said. “But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Everyone has their own talents, interests, thought processes and experiences, so why are children regularly put into classes where 25 unique individuals are taught the same standard in the same way, at the same pace - using the same techniques?

Nation Ford High School students are lucky enough to have the ability to express their creativity through fine art classes, but the majority of the academic focus seems to be centered on core classes, and some of those courses should allow more creativity.

Some class material and topics are more suitable than others for demonstrating creativity. Projects force students to be unique. More classes should offer projects as assignments.

Creativity, involves the use of imagination or original idea and unique expression. Many schools kill creativity by teaching kids what to think instead of how to think.

Classes such as art, music, and dance offer students a chance to express their creativity, reduce stress, and practice thinking in unconventional ways.

That kind of thinking is risky. With the traditional grading system, children are being taught to fear mistakes and choosing the incorrect response.

Sir Ken Robinson, a British author, speaker and international advisor on education once said, “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”

Students often define themselves by their grades and test scores, and, in the minds of some students, the slightest error means failure. Who wants to risk failing? Many children are being educated out of their creativity. They rarely have the opportunity to think for themselves.

When in preschool and Kindergarten, students are being taught creativity. Every day students dance, paint and sing. Then as they get older, dancing becomes math, painting becomes English, and singing becomes science.

High school students need core classes, but there should be more balance. Now days, if schools face budget cuts, creative fine arts classes are always the first to go.

Creativity gives life meaning. It allows us to pursue our interests and grow through the creation of original ideas. Marshall Bruce Mathers III, also known as Eminem, is a rapper with a net worth of $190 million. He failed ninth grade three times before dropping out of college at age 17. Johnny Depp is one of the most famous actors of his time with a net worth of over $200 million. He dropped out of high school when he was 16.

Eminem and Depp are both very successful, and neither of them focused on core classes, or even graduated from high school. Eminem studied music and Depp focused on music and acting. The arts are worthwhile studies.

Teachers are not to blame for this lopsided educational system. It’s true they are the people who shape the future, and they're in charge of shaping young minds, preparing them for life.

The current system squelches teachers’ creativity as well with mandates from the state and professional learning groups that encourages teaching courses the same way.

Instead of teaching every child based on the same curriculum, a child should be able to specialize their academic abilities into their own individual interests.

“The gardener does not make a plant grow,” Robinson also said. “The job of a gardener is to create optimal conditions for growth.”

The same should be true for schools – they should provide the necessities for a child's brain to grow itself.

The Talon

4 • News

Teen Issues

Congressman Talks Guns, God At Fort Mill Community Cafe

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by Kailey Cota

t’s never dull when Congressman Ralph Norman answers questions.

From God to guns and the press, he is never afraid to speak his mind.

Norman, the US Representative for South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District swung by Fort Mill’s Community Cafe on Thursday, August 23 to greet guests and volunteers gathered at the Sisk Memorial Baptist Church’s Community Center. Name tags and “I am loved” stickers decorated every shirt, makeshift tables and chairs covered the tile floor, and an artfully made cross backdropped the low stage.

The Congressman made national headlines last April when he pulled out his loaded handgun at a meeting with the activist group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to make the point that a gun itself doesn’t kill. Congressman Norman, who is up for re-election in November, took time to greet constituents at the cafe, and he also lent a hand -- or in this case a glove -- by serving meals briefly before conducting a public Q&A. Afterward, the Congressman sat down for a one-on-one interview to clarify a few of his responses during the public Q&A and to speak to why young voters should get behind him in the next election.

Q: In the public Q&A, you said the press should be ashamed. President Trump uses the term “fake news” a lot, how do you feel about that term?

A: “He’s right, he’s exactly right. Here’s why it’s fake -- and I mentioned this up there -- reporters and news people should report the news. Not try to influence our positions. Walter Cronkite didn’t have such a bias like they have now. They think they’re movement starters. If they want to affect policy, put the name on the line and run.

There’s not but one station that gives this president a fair shake, in my opinion. I don’t know of any positive attribute the press has complimented him

on from the supreme court to his cut and regulation to helping the economy. They’re just not going to do it.”

Ralph Norman Q&A

Q: You are not in favor of gun control.

How would you win over high school voters in favor of gun control?

A: “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people. The guns that were used While serving food at The Community Cafe on Aug. 23, Congressman Ralph at Parkland did not jump up and all Norman gets to know volunteers. Photo by Kailey Cota. the sudden go and shoot the children. pen again. Hopefully we can -- by bring- that just didn’t exist. But I’m a proud It’s a tragedy. Who would’ve thought ing sunlight to the issue -- make people carrier of a handgun, I got the training, years ago that we would’ve had that? more aware. If you see something, say and I encourage you -- and more peoI feel for the parents, I feel for anyone something. If you suspect somebody ple -- to carry guns. What happened to that loses their life to gun violence. has posted something on FaceBook, on that girl yesterday, that they found her Now, you don’t take guns away from the internet, say something. Have dis- body, if she had had a gun, it wouldn’t law abiding citizens. We have a sec- cussions with law enforcement. With have taken place. She would not be ond amendment right. If they want to school superintendents -- what is the separated from her family permanentchange the constitution, then put it to plan? If a shooting occurs, why was ly. She will never get to see her family a vote. Let’s get the necessary signa- the Parkland FL shooter able to get into again. She will never have the opportures. school with a shotgun? A shotgun is 2 tunity to raise children. If she had had I believe in the secto 3 feet long. Could a gun, that never would’ve happened. ond amendment, I “Guns don’t kill people. you do that in an I encourage all my daughters to get will defend a perairport? No. So you armed, and my girls do carry guns. I People kill people. son’s right to have a take the safety pre- encourage you to get a gun.” gun, I think we pro- The guns that were used cautions and make tect ourselves. The at Parkland did not jump a difference. I hope Q: How would you have wished the criminals or those that we’re doing press covered the time you pulled out with mental health up and all the sudden go that.” your gun in front of MDA? issues don’t look A: “They were not honest in what they and shoot the children.” on the illegality -Q: In airports there portrayed. My whole thing was to - Rep. Ralph Norman they’re going to get are metal detectors, show that guns don’t shoot by thema gun. are you in favor of selves. The press looked on it as a way It’s law abiding citizens who should putting metal detectors into schools? to help the liberal candidate. The peohave a gun. I’m glad young people are A: “There’s no wrong answer. Each ple that they interviewed weren’t even getting involved, but they need to un- school is different. You have a matter here. The girl from MDA, was smiling. derstand all of the issues with it. of who pays for it, is it effective? Some That’s the perfect example of reporting Am I for treatment for people with schools are modern, some schools are an incorrect act. It was a non-event.” mental illness? Absolutely. Am I for 60-years-old. There’s no wrong anencouraging people to get the proper swer. All of the above. That’s why I Q: What would you say to gain high training, CWP, and carry guns? Abso- hosted the conference.” schooler’s vote in November? lutely. But it’s not taking guns away A: “Look at my record. Look at what from law abiding citizens.”

Q: Did you bring your gun today? the alternative is. Don’t rely on words, A: “No, I did not.” look at someone’s actions. Politicians Q: What are you doing to stop people get by on word too much. My overall with mental illnesses from getting Q: Would you explain why? record supports our young people by guns, or to help them get treatment?

A: “Very good question. I went to the making sure that they can get a meanA: “By highlighting. I had a gun safety dentist early on. I didn’t think I needed ingful job. It’s putting money back in seminar and 35,000 people tuned in. a gun in my dentist’s office. I carry it the students’ hands as opposed to givWe want to make people aware that we most places and am going to continue ing it to government. Look at the totalhave a problem and of what to do so to carry it. The press portrayed that ity, rather than one particular issue. Do what happened in Florida doesn’t hap- one issue and highlighted something not believe the press.”

Robotics Club Students Build Future, Compete

by Khonnie Kounbanbith lub rush -- it’s the crazy, crowded event in the cafeteria where club representatives persuade students to sign up if they’re interested.

One club students might have seen was the Robotics Club. No, not the Drone Club sponsored by Matthew Lawhun. In Robotics Club, members construct robots -- not just fly them.

Sponsered by Daniel Kophazi and Spencer Wilson, the club meets every Tuesday after school in A113. Students may already know these two teachers if they took any PLTW Engineering classes, taught

by Mr. Wilson, or Physics and PLTW Digital Electronics, taught by Dr. Kophazi. The club was founded three years ago when the two teachers decided they wanted to create an environment for students who want to increase their STEM skills.

“We get along pretty well but sometimes [members] mess up the programing or build it wrong without us knowing, and we to go in during our free time to fix their mistakes,” sophomore Justin Tapia, who has been a member of Robotics Club since freshman year, said.

Robotics purchases their supplies from VEX. Remember HexBugs? The toys were created by VEX, who are both under Innovation First International.

When registering, with VEX, members must pay a $100 fee, which covers the Robotics Club’s supplies and competitions. All tournaments are funded by

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The Talon

VEX and the schools participating.

Tournaments take place in schools within South Carolina as well as throughout the U.S. “My friends introduced me to [robotics], and I was interested in it,” junior Trevor McGady says. “[The club] increases STEM skills, which can be extremely useful.”

Tournaments aren’t always the same. This year, students program the robots to compete in various tasks from shooting balls to flipping caps and stacking them on poles.

The team with the most points wins that round.

Round after round, students will compete until the final match. The winning team goes to the state championship, then national, and eventually worldwide.

VEX encourages students to use their classroom STEM skills in their competitions.

Similar to tournaments, the competitions happen four times -- October, November, December and in an undetermined time in the spring.

Before going to any competition this year, club members have to build four robots, all the same design. The club is separated into different groups: arm, base, grip, and several other parts to build a functioning robot.

After the robot is built, students program it with a system called ROBOTC. The system is connected to the robot and a remote control.

Isaiah Smith (‘21) deconstructing parts of an old robot for supplies. Photo by Khonnie Kounbandith.

More than one group will be competing in tournaments at a time, so they will need more than one robot, or if one fails, extras are available. In these cases, separate groups in the club will build four of the same robot and program them similarly.

“Students should have a willingness to do it. This club will be helpful for learning about mechanics,” Mr. Wilson said.

The Robotics club that requires patience with building robots and working with teammates. Students work hard and they know how difficult competitions can be if there is one mistake.

october 2018

News • 5

Morning Star Tower Stands Abandoned

by Elana White ver since televangelist Jim Bakker was locked up in prison for financial and sexual scandals in 1989, the Morning Star Heritage Tower has been closed and abandoned.

The Morning Star Heritage Tower, located in Fort Mill SC, is an eyesore to families, teachers and students attending or living near Nation Ford High School. Despite an ongoing conflict with the city over whether or not the building is structurally sound, he current owner has plans for a retirement center with hospice care.

The building has been closed, abandoned and incomplete since 1989. Bakker was a minister, an author, a televangelist and the host of “The PTL Club”, an evangelical Christian television program.

He purchased the building as an expansion to his 2,300 acre Christian theme park complex, Heritage USA. The Heritage tower is 21 stories tall and contains 500 rooms, 100 of which are honeymoon suites.

The Heritage tower was originally supposed to be a grand hotel built in addition to Bakker’s theme park, which was the third most visited theme park in the world at the time.

Bakker opened Heritage USA in 1978, and closed it in 1989.

Jessica Hahn, Bakker’s secretary, accused Bakker of raping her late in the 80’s. Bakker paid Hahn $363,700

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Ever since televangelist Jim Bakker was locked up in prison for financial and sexual scandals in 1989, the Morning Star Heritage Tower has been closed and abandoned.

Photo by Elana White. to keep her quiet, but the hush money was later revealed, leading to Bakker’s resignation as a minister. Several accounting frauds were then revealed, resulting in Bakker’s divorce, conviction, and imprisonment.

In 1987, when Bakker was officially sent to prison amid financial and sectual scandal, the newly convicted felon faced prison, lawsuits, and bankruptcy, and lost all hopes of creating his towering dream hotel.

“It looks destroyed,” says Victoria Robinson, (‘21). “They should tear it down. It looks old, srusty, and its not useful for the community.”

Rick Joyner’s MorningStar Fellow-

ship Church purchased the tower along with 56 additional acres of land for $1.6 million in the summer of 2004.

Later that year, during the chilly season of winter, his congregation began holding church services in the lobby of one of the buildings on his new land. The church services are still in session today, yet the tower has not been untouched.

Joyner isn't interested in having a theme park and ended up abolishing the whole religious amusement idea, replacing it with a more serious, religious, mission oriented community.

York County officials told Joyner that after several years, something has

to be been done with the old building on the grounds, that it’s an eyesore, an FAA violation, and a health violation.

“As a result of MorningStar’s breach, York County seeks and is entitled to an order authorizing it to proceed with the demolition of the tower, and an award of damages in the amount of the cost incurred or to be incurred for its demolition,” the York County’s Officials states.

York County officials aren’t the only ones thinking this way.

“I feel like it’s an unnecessary for that building to be there, and they should knock it down and put a practice field or recreational fieldww or something up instead,” says Iyuna Drafton (‘21).

Many people agree with Drafton.

“I think it’s scary looking,” says Vincent Orlandi (‘21).“If they want to leave it there it should have a purpose.

It’s a huge building and seems like if they were to do something with it, it could potentially be very useful to our community.”

“We want to have an assisted living center and a hospice that is so awesome that people can’t wait to get there,” Joyner said. “It’ll be the gateway to heaven.”

Joyner had the tower checked structurally and appraised, and claims it’s sound. Currently, he is still in a battle with York County and hopes to restore the building as a retirement center.

Plastic Poses Threat To Humans, Environment

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by Elana White

steroid. Black hole. Solar flare.

What disaster will end our time in Earth? The real killer will likely be our own trash.

Plastic is in bottles, frisbees, milk jugs, caps, plastic wrap. Now days, it’s hard to find a single restaurant that doesn’t use plastic. Plastic can be hard to avoid, but there are several ways to help solve the problem plastic is causing in the world.

Many students at Nation Ford have strong feelings about this environmental killer. Clubs including the Environmental Club, Falcons Give Back, and Future Farmers of America, work toward making a difference.

“We’ve been recycling plastic bags & creating plarn mats for the homeless,” said Catalina Mejia, a science teacher and sponser of Falcons Give Back.

“We get plastic bags from teachers and parents who bring them into the front office. If we recycle, the plastic bags don’t go to landfills, since those take hundreds of years to decompose.”

“Recycling improves the well being of the environment and saves wildlife,” said Vincent Orlandi, (‘21). “Littering is bad because it pollutes the air, water, and affects the community in a negative way.”

And the it’s plastic trash that is a huge problem -- it never decomposes, and it never goes away.

In the U.S. alone, 63 billion gallons of oil are used every year just to supply people with plastic water bottles, according to Tanya Streeter, a BritishCaymanian-American world champion freediver who studies the issue.

In a documentary entitled “A Plastic Ocean,” she says the US alone throws away about 38 billion bottles every year, meaning 2 million tons of plastic water bottles are thrown into US

october 2018

landfills each year. Every person on the planet will use and dispose an estimated 300 pounds of single-use plastic Some of the world has so much plastic they don’t know what to do with it.

Manila, in the Philippines, has so much plastic that citizens can rarely go a day without stepping over hundreds of plastic bits. About 1,500 tons of plastic waste finds its way into the waterways of Smokey Mountain 2, a landfill at the edge of Manila Bay. Plastic is virtually indestructible. It breaks down into smaller, toxic pieces of plastic called microplastics.

The majority of plastic ever manufactured will always be on Earth in some shape or form.

Bonnie Monteleone, Director of Science, also worked as a Researcher and Academic Partner for Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. as well as an Executive Director. According to her, in 2009, a series of seven samples concluded that the North Atlantic Ocean indicates 3,440 metric tons of microplastics.

These microplastics are consumed by smaller species such as plankton, larval fish, and krill. Small fish eat the small species, and large fish eat the small fish. The food chain continues, and large sea creatures such as turtles, whales, and seals end up consuming plastic, one way or another.

There's no possible way to filter the ocean from every microplastic particle.

The only thing society has control over is whether or not they stop throwing plastic into the ocean.

According to the 2016 documentary, ‘A Plastic Ocean’, over 75 percent of Northwest Atlantic deep-sea fish are

eating plastic in some shape or form.

Over 5 trillion pieces of plastic are floating throughout the great oceans, according to Monteleone.

Littering is one of the most damaging things a person can do, especially when it’s plastic trash. Almost every piece of plastic found in the waters of our Great Lakes come from humans on land.

Streeter, around 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into the world's oceans each year. Over half of marine debris, including plastic, sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

The majority of plastic ever manufactured will be on Earth in some shape or form. Any plastic that isn't recycled ends up in the environment.

Not only do we still have all the plastic ever made and used in the past, but producers continue to manufacture more. According to Streeter, more plastic has been made in the past decade than the previous century.

The first step of inciting change is protesting, speaking out, using substitutes for plastic, and to quit contributing to what will later become a dreadful health problem. Citizens can demand the they won't accept that plastic should be in the environment.

According to Craig Leeson, a producer, director, and fourth generation journalist, manufacturers of plastic have their own groups to lobby the government and get the best possible deal for their products into the marketplace for the least cost, so they don't have to be responsible for it. If they manufacture it, they should be responsible for its collection and for its proper disposal.

It’s up to society to change. Whether it’s by giving to or joining a club or recycling, every student, teacher, or parent has the ability to make a difference.

The Talon

6• centerspread

Racing Allows Others To ‘Take A Different Look’ At Student “Give A Second Chance And See There’s More...”

Photo by Zaria Drakeford

Alternative School Opportunity For Future Success

by Zaria Drakeford Isolation. Discipline. Consequences. The Alternative Program at Nation Ford is where students are sent because of behavioral or academic issues.

“Depressing” is the word Jacob Fulton (‘19) uses tp describe the program.

“The program used to be a separate facility on Banks Street, and Fort Mill and Nation Ford High School students were sent there...but eight years ago, that building was taken down, and now we do our own program,” said Mrs. Rudye Alt, Alternative Program Coordinator.

Students can enter the program for a variety of different reasons, such as having academic challenges or behavioral issues.

“A students’ administrator decides if he or she should enter the program. A student can be entered into the program for getting into more than one fight, drugs, misbehaving, etc.,” Mr. Ernest Poag said, the administrator in charge of the program.

Nic Sayago (‘21) described the program as basically “solitary confinement.”

“There’s a wall on each side of you. You only get to go to the bathroom twice a day, and sometimes they even bring drug dogs into the classroom. It’s very strict.”

As far as the schedule, the alternative school is shorter than the regular school day. Students arrive at 8:45 a.m. and leave at 1:45 p.m.

“The goal for the students is usually to get out as quickly as possible.”

– Rudy Alt, Coordinator The students take online classes, three per day.

They have a wide variety of classes and choose the courses they would like to take.

The students can learn at their own pace and all instructions are online, so they work individually.

The students also have homework every week day.

All tests and quizzes are on the Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operation (PLATO) curriculum, except for the End of Course Exams.

The students aren’t allowed to leave the class except to use the bathroom, and they are escorted there. They don’t talk to other students. They ride a separate bus to and from school, and they don’t interact with other students unless there is a fire drill.”

“As the English teacher, I am responsible for monitoring each student’s work in the PLATO curriculum,” Ms. Carrol Herring said.

“I work individually with students, record grades, communicate with parents, and assign additional work as necessary,” she said. “Because I have students working at every grade level, I get to cover all of the things I enjoy about teaching literature and language, and I have to be familiar with every aspect of the curriculum.”

Students usually stay for one semester, then go back to regular school the next semester unless they’re struggling with academics or behavior. Although it’s very rare, students can go back to the alternative school after already being a student in the program.

“The goal for the students is usually to get out as quickly as possible,” said Alt. “As a coordinator and teacher, my goal is for them to make academic gains and to not repeat the same behavior they had before they entered the program.”

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The Talon

Cont. from page 1

“O

ne of t h e moments that I feel the freest is when I’m running,” Señor Figuero said. “It just dawned on me that Alexis is never free. He’s always with someone, he’s never going to really be in a free situation where he can just do whatever.”

Señor Figuero, along with a team of others, began researching to allow Alexis to feel the freedom of racing. They discovered Speed for Need, an organization that allows children with special needs to participate in fitness events. Speed for Need provided Alexis with a customized racing wheelchair and a trained and experienced ‘driver’ to push the chair.

“I think running is a whole new world for him,” said teacher assistant Mrs. Courtney Smith.

“It’s something to show that his cerebral palsy doesn’t define him; he has it but he can still experience what we do.”

Alexis’ teacher Mrs. Katie Clenshaw believes that running with Speed for Need gives Alexis an opportunity for something completely different than what he would otherwise experience.

“It’s expanding Alexis’ horizons,” Mrs. Clenshaw said. “He has to go everywhere we put him. We put him here, we take him here. Even though someone’s running with him, at that moment— he can’t see the guy— it’s just freedom for him.”

Olivia Kuebler (‘19) believes this newfound freedom will stay with Alexis for life.

“He has seen that being in the chair doesn’t limit him from things like racing— so even though I don’t think it gives him a second chance at a normal life— It betters the life he’s been given,” Kuebler said.

“Living a life focusing on all the things you’re missing out on isn’t a fulfilling way to live, and he knows that. I truly believe he is living his life to the fullest.”

Señor Figuero goes so far as to call running a second chance for Alexis.

“He’s feeling the air, he’s seeing the city, he’s meeting people, people are cheering for him, it’s fantastic,” Señor Figuero said. “It’s as much of a second chance for him as anything else.”

Running is not Alexis’ only outlet for freedom; while he cannot control his body, he is strong-willed, intelligent and witty.

“I think the cerebral palsy has made him so strong and persistent to go after what he wants,” Mrs. Smith said. “He’s so restricted, but in these other ways, he doesn’t have to be restricted with what he wants and what he thinks and how he acts.”

While Alexis may not be able to communicate in a conventional way, he converses with his talking device and ‘yes’ and ‘no’ hand signals.

“I thank God that he is loved and we can communicate with him even if it’s with gestures,” Señora Hernandez Puga said. “He lives in the same reality that we do. It would be sadder if he didn’t understand me, and we could not communicate.”

Clenshaw is also grateful that while Alexis’ body may work differently, his mind is clear.

“He’s a really gifted individual in terms of all the circumstances that are not on his side,” Mrs. Clen-

2

“Cerebral palsy is no longer the definition of him.”

After Juan Alexis Hernandez Puga finishes the St. Jude’s Walk/ Run to End Childhood Cancer in Charlotte on Sept. 22, his driver tips his chair to show off for friends and family.

Photo by Kailey Cota shaw said. “It’s hard enough for kids that have full capabilities to have grown up in another country and be in a family that only speaks one language, yet he gets all of our inside jokes— he’s so intuitive.”

Alexis’ light-hearted personality is supported by the deep love he has for family, friends and teachers.

“I know Alexis inside and out,” Mrs. Smith said.

“I will never forget the day he got his talking device, and the first thing he said was ‘I love you.’ That’s an experience that I won’t forget; it’s going to be one of those founding experiences for me, as a teacher.”

Kuebler met him in Señor Figuero’s class last year, and she says Alexis has changed her life.

“Since I met Alexis, I feel like he has made me a better person,” Kuebler said. “He has shown me the true strength of friendship and love; even though he is unable to communicate in a conventional way. He is one of my best friends.

“He has also shown me how to live life without regrets and how to be thankful for the cards you’ve been dealt because you only have one life to live.”

Señor Figuero admits that his life has been affected, too.

“To this day, whenever I’m feeling sorry about myself, I always think back to him and how much worse it really could be for me,” he said. “And how happy he is, with all the limitations that he has.”

Having cerebral palsy is not a positive aspect of Alexis’ life; it’s not something to be thankful for.

However, it has pushed him to overcome challenges and he has become a light in the lives of others.

“He will never probably understand this, but the good that comes out of him having cerebral palsy is that he changes peoples’ lives with his personality and the way he is,” Señor Figuero said.

By looking beyond Alexis’ physical differences, the people in his life have been blessed with getting to know his big heart. While he cannot control his body, he has much in common with us.

“Alexis needed someone to see him as a teenager, see him beyond his cerebral palsy,” Mrs. Clenshaw said. “I think his cerebral palsy is no longer the definition of him. Now it’s just a characteristic; it’s not him.”

Racing in St. Jude’s 5K is one way Alexis transcends his disability. With help from his loved ones, he is able to conquer life’s challenges.

“Take a different look at him,” Mrs. Clenshaw said. “Give a second chance, and see that there’s more than you might initially think. We would miss out on so much if we saw Alexis as a kid in a wheelchair. There’s so much more to him than meets the eye.”

october 2018

centerspread • 7

“I’ve been put down but at the same time, I’ve been lifted up.”

Embracing Hardship Breeds Second Chances, Not Despair

H

by Elana White

e’ll never be ‘normal’. But after enduring countless surgeries, bullies, and injections, cerebral palsy has shaped Asad Michael Sykes (‘21) into a person far stronger than any ‘normal’ person could ever be.

Asad was born three months premature. “My brain had not developed, so after I was born, a minor bleed could have killed me,” he explains.

Asad’s stare is focused somewhere far away.

“I think my birth certificate puts me at 2 pounds and 12 ounces.”

Asad will continue to deal with CP and its complications for the rest of his life.

“I have Spastic Diplegia,” Asad said.

“It inhabits your lower body functions. It’s hard to stand up, and I’m not very fast. My knees buckle.

I’m naturally bowlegged – there’s really no way around it. To stay on my feet I have to stretch regularly.”

Asad looks down and his voice trembles. “Walking is definitely a challenge,” he admits. “Everyone has seen me fall, I fall a lot. Walking is never going to be simple for me.”

He stretches his legs outward. “It could be much worse.”

“From a medical standpoint, I can’t play sports, I tire easily, and the scars look weird, too. I think about what life would be like if I walked normally. I could just imagine myself playing sports. The only downside to that is that I would have a completely different personality.”

And his personality is what makes Asad so special to family and friends.

“Having Asad as a friend is, in its way, a gift,” says Gabe Vance (‘21). “Asad is very social. He’s always there for me. He’s always joking, and he has a great sense of humor. Even though he’s challenged with the disability, he makes up for it in friendship.”

Vance looks up with a genuine smile.

“What’s special about Asad is that he can make friends very easily,” Vance said. “He’s always got your back; he’s always there to make you laugh... He’s a great guy.”

Vance says Asad pushes him to be his best.

“Something about Asad says, ‘keep moving onward and if you lost everything in life, you could still be happy,” said Vance. “If there’s one thing you can have, its happiness.’ In the long run, he has motivated me in ways I can’t explain.”

CP has changed the lives of his family, too.

“His condition has made me an expert on CP,” says Thomas Wayne Sykes Jr., Asad’s father. “When Asad was born premature, the first concern I had was about his survival. Then my concern was about his quality of life.

“He’s gone through four surgeries, and every time he goes through it, I go through it,” Mr. Sykes said. “It’s had a profound effect on him. He has to carry the burden of knowing, seeing and understanding how he’s different.”

He understands his son wants to be normal.

“It takes a toll on Asad, but it’s fortunate that he has such a positive outlook, and he’s mentally strong that way... “People may come at him, they may joke at him, but… if people had to live their lives the way he’s had to life his life, they wouldn’t be able to do it.

I think that’s a testament to his strength.”

Asad motivates, inspires, and changes lives - even if he’s unaware.

“Asad has made me less selfish,” says Mr. Sykes.

“I believe he’s made me more sensitive, and prob-

ably more protective of him.”

Asad has been able to remain the optimistic young man he is today despite his challenging childhood.

“When everyone in preschool was getting to know each other, and everyone was becoming friends, I was over here trying to stand up in a walker and just move around,” Asad said.

“I got bullied by this one kid... He talked a lot of trash. He’d always try me, and... I wouldn’t fight back. When you can hardly walk, you’re not going try to beat up anybody.

“One day during recess time, this kid scared me and shoved me down the playground set. It put a hole in my head so I had to get stitches.

Sadly, Asad has been dealing with ill-mannered people his entire life, but he’s also had plenty of kind friends support him over the years.

“I’ve been put down but at the same time, I’ve been lifted up,” Asad said. “Having just moved to Fort Mill [for Kindergarten], I was nervous as to who’s going to try me and if I was going to make any friends.

“I eventually made friends, so I know there are plenty of people who have my back, and I also know there are plenty of people who judge.

“You can’t control other people. You can only control how you act and react to these things. I just keep my head high, because, no matter how others make you feel, what really matters is how you carry yourself.”

Asad continues to look on the bright side.

“I value my perseverance,” Asad said. “I’ve done a lot of falling and getting back up in my life. I think it’s shaped me to be a good person.”

Asad credits his family with his ability to cope.

“My family gives my life meaning,” Asad said.

“I owe them almost everything, and they’ve always had confidence in me. They’ve always believed in me.”

Asad is also an inspiration to his family.

“I see one of two things in Asad’s future,” says Mr. Sykes. “He’s either going to embrace the tragedy, or he’s going to embrace the possibility.

He has the capacity to do anything he wants. It’s just a matter of stepping up to the challenge and doing that.”

Asad is on the way to becoming the man he wants to be.

“I want to be remembered as the guy who, despite his shortcomings, always tried to do the right thing,” Asad admitted. He’s grateful for having a second chance and being able to seize it.

“I want my legacy to start here,” Asad said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve done nothing but good, and that’s how my second chance has been. I’m extremely grateful to the doctors who put me on my feet. I’m grateful to my friends who are supportive.”

Asad grins.

“I’m also grateful for the people that aren’t so supportive because they’re the ones who keep me from quitting.

“My second chance was being able to walk. If it weren’t for all my procedures I wouldn’t be able to be on my feet today.

Asad lifts his chin with a look of wonder.

“I think second chances come if you want them.

When a second chance or a new opportunity comes around, and you go for it and really seize it, then your result is whatever you get out of the new opportunity.

“Second chances are taken for granted. You think all is well at one point in time, until something goes wrong and everything comes crashing down. Second chances get you back on your feet. Second chances will make you a better person.”

Asad’s eyes light up.

“Don’t give up,” he says. “Even if you don’t find yourself in a good predicament, don’t give up because there’s more to life than where you are. “

“Secondz chances come if you want them.”

october 2018

Cancer survivor, Mrs. Lee Petitgout, teaches students about restraints and small animal care on Oct. 6. Photo by Justice Wehrmeyer.

Lee Petitgout Battles, Beats Skin Cancer

“I

by Makayla Brown

2

needed a nose,” Mrs. Lee Petitgout, the Agriculture teacher at Nation Ford said.

Mrs. Petitgout was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), the second most common form of skin cancer, in July 2017.

“I was not surprised,” Mrs. Petitgout said.

“I just thought it was a patch of dry skin, so I kept putting moisturizer on it. But when it peeled, it wouldn’t heal properly and it would bleed.

So I decided I needed to go to a dermatologist to get it checked out.”

She soon learned she had gotten SCC from sun exposure. Mrs. Petitgout could have easily developed skin cancer in her 20s but instead it built up over the years.

Doctors determined MOS surgery on her nose would be the best treatment for her; the area affected is numbed. “Layer by layer, doctors remove skin and immediately check it for cancer,” Petitgout said. The process repeats

2

“I’ve been given a chance to be a better teacher, a better person.”

– Lee Petitgout, Agriculture teacher

until they reach a layer that is free of cancer.”

After Mrs. Petitgout endured five rounds of surgery from Sep. 2017 to Feb. 2018, doctors finally found a cancer-free layer of flesh. By this time, Mrs. Petitgout was missing the right side of her nose—her nasal septum and bone could be clearly seen.

The next step is reconstructive surgery.

Instead of taking a skin graft and placing it on the affected area, doctors took a square of flesh from Mrs. Petitgout’s forehead and folded it down onto her nose.

“Cancer is like a stopwatch on your life,” Mrs. Petitgout said. Now, she “filters” opportunities that come her way and prioritizes how she spends her time.

“I feel like I’ve been given a chance to be a better teacher, a better person,” she said. “If it had been any worse, I might not have lived to see my daughter get married this year.”

Sun exposure can be beneficial but it can also, evidently, be quite harmful. It can cause heat exhaustion; nausea, excessive sweating, headache, and can lead to heat stroke if left untreated. Heat rash and blisters are just two other ways the sun can negatively impact.

Applying sunscreen is the most common way people seek protection from the sun.

Sunscreen may seem like it will protect from the sun quite well, but the products can only protect so much.

The FDA proposed prohibiting sale of sunscreens with higher than SPF 50+ because they can be purposefully misleading. The vitamin A additive in sunscreens could trigger development of lesions or skin tumors.

The Talon

8• Feature

Cancer-Causing Trend: Juuling

by Bethany Houston

Juuls are the cigarettes of 2018.

According to the company’s website, juuls were created to reduce the use of cigarettes. However, most people use them today don’t have previous smoking experience and began using them as a way to socialize, to temporarily decrease stress or bad moods, to practice tricks, or just to get a buzz. Using Juuls for an alternative purpose is becoming a health problem for most current users.

The company says that, “[Juuls] can have a positive impact when used by smokers, and can have a negative impact when used by non smokers.”

“Vaping originally was started to help smokers quit smoking, now I think there is a reverse happening,” High School 101 teacher Zachary Lendyak said. “I think teens are vaping, then turning to cigarettes.”

After taking a poll of he Nation Ford student body, almost 39 percent of students at our school admitted to having used a Juul before, 29 percent said they have personally owned a Juul, and 13 percent confessed that they have smoked a cigarette.

Although many people may not consider Juuls to be as dangerous as cigarettes, they contain an equal amount of nicotine. Both a pod and a pack of cigarettes contain approximately 40 mg of nicotine, and both last roughly 200 puffs.

Students often forget they are inhaling fumes that are created from liquid, not just water vapor, Lendyak said. This is what often leads to the ignorance of health risks associated

160 students surveyed on Oct. 8, 2018 with Juuling.

So here are some things you should know about vaping before ever considering to smoke a Juul: 1) Nicotine intake can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, an increased pulse rate and blood pressure lasting 12-24 hours, and potentially even convulsions, comas, or respiratory failure.

2) On top of the more immediate side effects, former US Surgeon General (2010), Regina Benjamin, concluded that large amounts of nicotine can be as “addictive as cocaine or heroin,” causing intense cravings and an inheritable dependence on nicotine. “Students who had used e-cigarettes by the time they started 9th grade were more likely than others to start smoking cigarettes and other smokable tobacco products within the next year,” states the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

3) Using a Juul can also increase the risk of diabetes and cancer. According to the US National Library of Medi-

cine and the National Institute of Health, nicotine actually activates certain types of proteins that cancer is dependent upon: “In non-small-cell lung cancer or breast cancer cells, nicotine treatment stimulated Src and Raf (proteins) signalling, resulting in... cell cycle progression.”

“Nicotine activates these proteins (Src and Raf), the presence of nicotine can lead to the ‘gas pedal getting stuck’... (meaning) that the cell cycle (cell division) continues without stopping and without any of the normal ‘checkpoints,’” AP Biology teacher Susan Javon explains.

4) Another, potentially more harmful, risk of Juuls is their interference with the mind’s natural process. Juuls trigger mental health instabilities such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. If someone already has anxiety or depression or if they have symptoms similar to those disorders, the nicotine in Juuls will trigger those symptoms and cause them to occur more often (US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health).

Vaping may make some “feel cool,” as Coach Lendyak puts it, but he says students need to be aware that vaping has not been around long enough to know all the long term effects.

“As of right now I wouldn’t change my mind,” an anonymous sudent said.

“I do it for fun, but I hopefully won’t be doing it throughout college.”

With the persistent temptation to vape, health professionals say the public should be aware of the potential hazards and repercussions.

Hidden Danger Of Screens On Eyes

by Khonnie Kounbandith Now more than ever, people are looking down -- not at their shoes, but at their phones. In our digital generation, staring into screens is frequently required for schoolwork and entertainment. The resulting headaches, dry eyes, and aches from sitting in one position for so long could be causing serious health problems including long-term eye damage.

Optometrists, doctors, and even our district computer technician have confirmed that young people are at risk spending a large percentage of time using digital screens.

According to researchers from PossibleMobile and Medbroadcast, roughly 40 percent of Generation Z (ages 13 to 17-years-old) are addicted to their smartphones.

“Considering the amount of time we as a society spend using phones, tablets and computers each day, [dry, burning eyes] is not uncommon,” Cynthia Ormseth, a Computer Technician for Fort Mill Schools says. “We can lessen the frequency and intensity of these symptoms by adjusting the position of the screen and blinking more often. We can also cut back on recreational use of our devices.”

In Nation Ford, all computer screens, including Chromebooks, are set by default to the brightest display setting.

Students who take a computer class or go into a computer lab during FLEX are exposed to 100 percent brightness on their screens.

What students and teachers may not know -- but likely need to know -- is that the computers in labs have five buttons in the corner of the moni-

The Talon

NFHS Students who experienced eye strain 138 Students polled Oct. 4, 2018

Yes 75%

No

25%

Info by Khonnie Kounbandith

tor, and pressing the third button with an orange sun and right arrow allow students to adjust the brightness. When a black box appears on the screen, students can use the white left and right arrows underneath the green box and orange sun to lower the screen brightness.

For Chromebooks, there are two buttons: a big and small white sun. By pressing down on the smaller sun, the screen will decrease in brightness.

In a case where the brightness setting is not accessible, students can ask the teacher in the classroom.

With added hours of staring at our phones, some teens have a rough time trying to sleep at night. The reason why? Blue light.

“My dad has a pair of [blue light] glasses that help filter out blue light,” says Maya Cameron (‘22). “So the light won’t keep you awake longer and strain your eyes.”

According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO), blue light is in sunlight, which keeps us awake during the day. However, digital screens also have blue light. If teens

look at phone screens at night or stay up late doing homework, the rays emitted from the screens tells the brain to stay awake. Students may think: “I’m not tired!”

Our eyes can’t deflect blue light, but specially made glasses, phone apps, and protective screen shields can help to protect eyes.

Despite adding anti-blue light shields to digital screens, there are still psychological side effects.

“In Biomedical Science, Mrs. [Emily] Merrill mentioned that screens have an effect on your brain that lowers the number of certain hormones produced that allow a person to relax,” Justin Tapia (‘21) said. “I looked up more effects -- and they’re all bad. One of them is the lower ability in processing emotion -- and I see all of it in myself.”

Psychology Today’s research says children and teens are more irritable and prone to mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and depression, according to a 2015 article. To uplift their moods and get better sleep, clinics recommend going on a “electronic fast.”

An electronic fast is a few days or week of no electronics in any way, shape, or form -- though doing this may be difficult for people who are addicted to their phones or who work on computers.

The large amount of usage can damage and phone battery. Taking a break from a routine of digital screens will improve sleep and emotions. Antiblue light glasses and screen protectors, which are usually less than $20 online and in local stores. It’s possible to download apps or change phone settings for less blue light exposure.

HelloTalk App Gives Students Access To Pen Pals

by Adrianna Mancini Have you ever wondered what people experience in another country? As a high schooler, traveling is expensive and takes time.

If you are curious to educate yourself about another culture or learn a new language, you can find a penpal.

With apps and online sites, such as Hello Talk.

On the “HelloTalk” app users can meet language exchange buddies, also known as penpals. Before meeting strangers from another part of the world users should consult with their parents.

It’s the safest app to use when speaking with new people. Pen pals are available within minutes.

This app monitors chats closely to prevent any inappropriate activity or encounters.

No matter what country, language or culture you decide to learn about.

Hello talk offers a large selection of languages, ranging from East Asian languages like Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese to European languages like Italian, French, German, or Danish.

Users can select an age range for the people they want to meet. The search interface and select a minimum and maximum age for international friends.

From my experiences with this app, it is uncommon to find anyone beyond the age ranges of 14 - 20 years of age.

Hello also doubles as a tool for practicing French or Spanish in school, while making it an enjoyable conversation with a friend.

Users can text with “HelloTalk” which improves reading and writing language comprehension. Users can also send voice messages for pronunciation. HelloTalk is completely free and extremely helpful to many students.

If “HelloTalk” is not the app for you, ask a parent or teacher to help you find what media works best.

Que te diviertas!

October 2018

Feature • 9

ents Sh of Ghosts, Supernatural s d e i u t r o S a re St

Hauntings Spook School Friends, Families

by Maggie Kell Eighteen percent of adults have said they have seen a ghost, according to the 2009 Pew Research Center survey.

An even larger number of people – 49 percent -- have said they have had some kind of paranormal experience, an event which cannot be explained by science. Nation Ford students have their own stories.

Isabel Kissel & The Spirits

Isabel Kissel (20’) has had two supernatural experiences at Nation Ford High School -- starting with the theatre. Franklin haunts the theater, a mischievous but harmless ghost.

“There are times when you are backstage by yourself and you feel someone watching you, and you turn around and see nothing there. You know someone was there.

“There was one time during my freshman year here, and we were rehearsing for a play. My friend Baylin was backstage with me talking, and she says that she doesn’t believe in Franklin. All of a sudden, there is this giant crash. The lights went out, the mics shut off, and then when they came back on, the only microphone that wasn’t working was Baylin’s.”

But one story chills her every time she speaks of it. The Blue Man is a sculpture made by an alumni when he was a senior. Some people believed it was haunted.

“He has this position that he sits in,” Kissel explains. “His knees are up against his chest and he’s reading a newspaper. His limbs are too long for his body. He was weirdly disproportional. He didn’t have a face, but if you looked at him long enough you could see a face form.”

Says her encounter with the Blue Man was terrifying and as she speaks about it, she stumbles over her words.

“We were here on Saturday for tech rehearsal for The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” Kissel starts.

“All the lights were out in the school, and we passed the library. We decided to go into the library. We expected the doors to be locked, but when we pulled on them they were open. We go in, and the first thing I notice is the library keys sitting on the chairs behind the desks. I don’t think it was actually the library key, but I’m not sure what it was used for.

“As I picked them up, we heard a loud thump near the back of the bookcases. It sounded like someone was walking towards us. We knew nobody else was in there with us.

“Because I scare easily, I accidentally throw the keys across the library and hear them hit the side of the metal cart which holds the books. We start searching for key, but we can’t find it.

“So we decided to leave before we got in trouble for losing the keys. We head towards the front doors, and we go to open them and they’re locked. No matter how many times we push or pull, they won’t open. We turned around to look at the side entrances, but the other side of the library was dark, and I didn’t want to go over there.

“The blue man was on the shelf, and I’m sure he moved. When we went in he was facing towards the side entrance, but when we went back to open the doors, he was facing towards the librarian desk.

“We started debating if we should run across the library and open the other doors. Then we heard another thud, closer this time. Sammie volunteers herself, and she runs all the way to the back doors. We hear her get out, and then we hear another footstep, closer than the last.

“Sammie finally makes it around the library, and the doors, for some reason, opened from the outside, but

not from the inside.

“We come in the next day and the library is locked.”

“I think the Blue Man is a demon.”

Kissel eyes go wide. “I hated walking past it. The next year, the blue man was gone.”

Tatum Brewer, A Family’s Paranormal Journey

Junior Tatum Brewer’s paranormal journey started before she was born with her grandmother, Tammy Newhouse, and Tatum’s uncle, Bob Newhouse.

“There is one story in particular that gives me chills every time I hear it,” Tatum says. “Because of it, I won’t get anywhere near an Ouija board. My Grandma Tammy and her one of her brothers were around my age. They lived in El Paso, Texas at the time in a big house in the middle of nowhere.

“They were home alone, or at least, they were believed to be, they had an Ouija board and were messing around with it, asking it questions. They didn’t really think anything of it.

“The spirit that they were talking to, however, started to get mad and upset.

All of a sudden, all of the lights in the house went out and one of the light fixtures blew up. After that, they went to turn on the lights, but didn’t properly say goodbye to the entity, and put the board back in its box.

“Later, they both heard knocking in the house, so they retrieved the Ouija board,” Tatum says, gulping.

Notching a new hole in both the box and the board, they asked it ‘What was that knocking and why there is a hole in the board? Putting their hands back on the Ouija Piece, the words spelled out ‘I was trying to get out.’”

Tatum had always believed that her family has been haunted.

“It is not limited to one encounter but many – both spiritual and demonic encounters,” Tatum says. “It too frequent to feel like a coincidence, it more, purposeful. We are a very su-

“The Blue Man was on the shelf, and I’m sure he moved.”

perstitious family.”

Tatum’s family, including her uncle, Dieter Newhouse, and her great grandmother, lived in Germany during World War II. “At the time in Germany, many bombings were going on in the town where they lived,” Tatum said. “During these bombings, my uncle had to hide in the basement of a house one night. The next day my uncle Dieter left, and when he later returned, hfound the house completely destroyed. I believe that was angels protecting my uncle. ”Charlie, Charlie

& The Ghost”

Deonte Hayes (19’) has not had reoccurring experiences, but he has a story.

It started with a few bored classmates and two pencils.

“In eighth grade, my friend and I were playing the Charlie, Charlie challenge in math class,” Hayes said. “The pencil started spinning for us without anybody touching it, which was unusual because that never naturally happens.

“My friends and I played the game again, and it spun again.”

Hayes recalled thinking it was creepy, and decided to sit the next round out for the rest of class time.

“Later on that day, and the following days inside my room and house, I felt as if someone was watching me constantly,” he said. “When I was lying down or walking around, I felt the presence of another. One night, I put my head underneath my pillow, and I felt a pressure on my back almost like a hand.”

“There is one story in particular that gives me chills every time I hear it.”

Not Your Average Goosebumps Story

Psychics, Mediums Talk About Spirits, Supernatural Encounters

by Paige Burney A cold spot, missing items, shadow people. Doors opening and closing, footsteps, and voices all are examples of contact with a spirit. For those who do not believe, all these things may sound absolutely crazy, but is it really that unbelievable?

Many people refuse to acknowledge the spiritual realm. Others jump at the chance to exchange creepy ghost experiences and share their thoughts on the spirits that may or may not be lurking around us right now.

The controversy has existed since the beginning of time. People have used many different strategies to communicate with spirits, whether it be a professional ghost hunting team, or a few kids messing around with an Ouija Board. The results of these activities can be thrilling, terrifying or just a disappointment.

According to Live Science, an on-

October 2018

line magazine, energy after death is released from human bodies and then goes into the environment, which could be a reasonable explanation for spirits staying on earth.

Although believers in ghosts and spirits think all entities are people who have died, they could be mistaken.

Hauntings could be due to demons, who might let the person they are haunting become aware of their presence. Entities can also be identified as angels, whose presence is only there for protection.

According to John Holland, an international spiritual teacher, the spiritual world isn’t above or below us, but surrounding us. Those who dwell in the physical world are always protected by family or friends in the spiritual world, he says. They know what is going on in our lives and try to send over signs to let us know they're watching over us, he beleives.

Using a Ouija board is one way believers try to communicate with the land of the dead. Ouija Boards are supposed open up a door for any spirit to come through and speak. You can ask these spirit boards questions, and if a spirit is willing to communicate, they will move the planchette to sweep over letters and spell a word. This game can become intimidating. Psychics and Mediums are known for facilitating communication between spirits of the dead and living. Mediums get into direct contact with these spirits and try to communicate with a presence. These type of practices aren’t always safe considering people don’t really know who or what they’re dealing with.

“My whole life I have believed in spirits, because you can sometimes see things, hair on your neck stands up, chills, cold spots sometimes just knowing things, they’re all signs that make me believe that spirits exist,” said Me-

dium Katrina Love. “It all started when my step son passed away, I started researching heaven, hell, the other side. I just always wanted to know more.”

These practices take a lot of patience and an open mind.

“I have a photo reading when I am trying to make contact with the dead,” Love said. “I can take a picture and meditate on them while asking them to step forward and come into contact.

“They often show themselves in ways like letting me see visuals in my head, smells, showing me things, showing themselves in my pictures.

It's a knowing. I always keep in mind that I am in charge of what is happening, the Earth is the land of the living, and we cannot let spirits take over.”

The Talon

10 • Sports

Sports Column:

Equipment Rules Cramp Players’ Style

by Dewuan McCullum

Gold cleats. Tinted visors. Colored towels. None of them are permitted at Nation Ford. In high school football, rules are taking style away from players, and individuality away from the game.

The players on the electrifying Falcon football team want to stand out. The team always says, “If you look good, you feel good, and you play good.”

Confidence has a lot to do with the way you look, and a confident mindset is powerful in football.

Running Back Nathan Mahaffy also disagrees with the no tinted visors rule.

More than looking cool, he says visors help players by blocking out the sun, making it easier to see the ball. Visors also protect players from eye injuries.

There are those, such as Head Coach

Michael Allen, who agree with the rule. “If the equipment is not required, you shouldn’t wear it because it slows you down,” he said.

But Offensive Coordinator Zack Lendyak is neutral about this rule, stating that he “just wants the team to play to the best of their ability.”

The rule against colored cleats should be the first one to go because it doesn’t distract anybody — if anything, distinctive cleats help the players because college scouts can easily recognize individual players by the unique equipment they wear.

The football players believe the rule is against individuality and should not be enforced since it’s not negatively affecting the game.

Freedom of choice just might motivate the Falcons and help them defeat their opponents.

Dirty Birds race out of the tunnel, exciting the home game crowd for the football game against Clover High School on Sept. 28. Falcons won with a score of 23-20.

Photo by Joi Nelson.

Let’s Get Rowdy!

Dirty Birds Excite Crowd

by Ashley Jordan emember me for being wild and crazy,” Dirty Bird captain Paul Barone (‘19) says.

A senior, Barone has been a part of the Dirty Birds for two years now.

The group of boys paint up for football and basketball games and hype up the crowds. Barone had the opportunity to hand pick this years guys.

“The Birds are chosen during Spirit Week, and we look to see who gets the most hype,” he said.

The tradition started n 2007 the year the school opened. “We had some of Fort Mill High Schools kids transfer and come here when Nation Ford opened. We decided to copy Fort Mill and use their idea of ‘Dog Pound’ and change the name to ‘Dirty Birds’ for the football games”, said Assistant Principal, Ernest Poag.

“Yes, this year’s group of birds is so much better than past years. We now work more as a unit rather than being individuals,” Barone said.

The crowd follows the chants that the Dirty Birds start, and get the student section pumped up.

“The Dirty Birds are picked based off of how spirit they have during Spirit Week and school assemblies, “Barone said.

The birds at the pep rally and scout out birds for next years team.

R

“ Falcons senior Riley Doyle warms up for the tennis match against Clover on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Nation Ford High School. Falcons win 6-0. Photo by Lauren Molina.

Girls Tennis To Face Clover, Northwestern

by Riley Doyle The Girls tennis team is 9-1 in their fall season and are preparing for state. They have two matches left in the season, one against Clover, and another against Northwestern.zzz They have already lost to Northwestern once and the current match is very close at 3-2, however, the weather caused the team to stop playing and they still have to complete the match.

Number 2 doubles partners Davis McSwain (‘24) and Riley Doyle (‘19) are down 3-6, 0-5 in the first two sets. Number 1 doubles partners Chandra Kusuma ‘19 and Sarah Taylor ‘22 won the first set 6-3 and

are down in the second set 3-4. zzz If the Falcons beat Northwestern, they will be number one in the region and will be heading to state. This will be a stressful match as they need at least one of the last two matches to win against Northwestern to win 4-3.

The seniors celebrated senior night on Oct. 3 against Olympic High School. All six seniors, Chandra Kusuma, Riley Doyle, Elizabeth Little, Kathryn Little, Mady Hines, and Camila Rivas won ending in a 6-0 win.

The season has been pushed back from both Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael that made their way to the Carolinas.

The pep rallies are important because they bring the school together to celebrate one cause and the schools hard work.

“I was picked by the graduate Thomas Welch who was the captain last year,” he said. “I have been a part of this team of guys for two years now, and hope to pass it down to someone who brings the same attributes as I did to the team.”

How did they get their famous name the “Dirty Birds”? “It was because of the 1999 Atlanta Falcons. The “Dirty Bird” is the celebratory touchdown dance that became popular, because of the Atlanta Falcons’ running back Jamal Anderson, who introduced it during the Falcons Super bowl run in 1998.

“The Dirty Birds have impacted these group of guys in some incredible ways. “It’s an awesome way to join young men together to have fun for a good cause, making bonds that will last a lifetime,” Gaines Michaels (‘19) said.

What’s the seniors’ legacy?

“I hope the Dirty Bird selection stays fair, and they continue to be leaders for not only the games but the school,” Barone said.

Michaels has a similar hope: “I hope that next year’s birds feel included and have the same respect and kindness towards each other as we did this year.”

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Sports• 11

Featured Falcon:

Ally Thees Dominates On, Off The Court

by Zaria Drakeford

She’s a varsity volleyball player ranked in the top five in the state.

Ally Thees (‘20) just moved from Utah this summer. Thees and her twin sister, Megan, didn’t know what to expect when stepping into the halls of Nation Ford High School.

“The hardest part about moving here has been adjusting to the humidity and going to such a big school. This school is twice as big as my old school back in Utah,” she said.

Thees has played 82 sets in all with an average of 8 assists per set. The 5’5” setter currently has 587 assists, 17 aces, 119 digs, and 38 kills while playing at Nation Ford.

“I feel like the ranking I have is solely from my team because I wouldn’t have the number of assists I have without our defense and our smart hitters in the front row,” she said. “It makes me really proud and excited to see where Nafo volleyball can go this season.”

Thees has already been recruited

by Utah State University, University of Central Florida, United States Naval Academy, University of Memphis, and Virginia Technical College.

It’s pretty early in the recruiting process for her, and she doesn’t want to give away too much this early.

During warm ups, Ally Thees (‘20) sets a ball to her teammate before the match against Clover High School on Thursday, September 27, at Clover High. Photo by Zaria Drakeford.

She plans to keep an open mind until the end of junior year. Thees plans to major in Humanitarian Studies.

While Thees is killing it on the court, she can also dominate off the court

as well.

“Ally is super hard working and dedicated to the team, and it’s always fun playing with her,” teammate Sophie Fischer (‘20) said. “... However, she’s

also always there for anyone who needs it.”

Remember the name Ally Thees, because that is the name of a legend in the making.

Falcons Face Bearcats Tonight In Rock Hill, Seek To Reclaim Victory After Last Year’s 36-14 Loss

by Nick Roarty & Dewaun McCullum Eager for revenge after the Bearcats defeated the Falcons last year 3614, the Falcons plan to bounce back against Rock Hill away tonight.

Playing harder and faster with the intensity to win, the Falcons will look at this game no differently than any

other game -- they will just fix the mistakes they made last year.zzzzz “We weren’t focused enough to play a football game,” Head Coach Michael Allen. This week is a new week.

With a 4-1 record the Bearcats will be a tough opponent not only because of their record -- if the Falcons win this game they will host a home play-

off game and win the region.zzzzzz The fans have faith in the Falcons that they can beat this Bearcat team. The team is pumped for this game, and if they win, they will host their second home playoff game in school history.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz This will give the Falcons home field advantage with the fans on their side,

and with a home record of 3-1 they have shown they are most effective at home with some success on the road.

The Falcons were defeated by a score of 21-20 by Northwestern Trojans on Oct. 12. Although the team moved to overcome this loss, they are looking forward to working on the mistakes that they made last Friday.

NFL Hall Of Fame Inducts Six New Players

by Nick Roarty

The NFL has enshrined 318 members out of 23,204 professional football players, the latest group just as the schoool year began. It is the highest honor to wear the gold jacket and be surrounded by the names of Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice or Lem Barney and all the legends who get the chance to say that they were one of the best players of their generation.zzzzzzzzz Bobby Beathard- Beathard is a decorated scout and general manager who won four Super Bowls with two different teams. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz He’s former scout for the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, director of player personnel Miami Dolphins, general manager Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers was a three-time NFC Champion (1982, 1983, 1987), three-time AFC Champion (1972, 1973, 1994), and four time Super Bowl Champion (VII, VIII, XVII, XXII).Robert Brazile- #52 Houston Oilers (1975-1984), Brazile is still known as Dr. Doom from when he was a versatile linebacker for the Houston Oilers. Brazile was extremely talented at the position.zzzzzzzzzzz Although he is not as decorated as others, he deserves to be included in the and the recognition that comes with it.

October 2018

Brian Dawkins- He was #20 Philadelphia Eagles, and a Denver Broncos NFC Champion (2004).

Dawkins, or “Weapon X” as his teammates called him, is known as one of the greatest safeties of all time. He was regarded as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history, and he surely deserves this induction.

Jerry Kramer- As #64 for Green Bay Packers he’s a five-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967), and twotime Super Bowl champion (I,II).

Kramer played in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers for 11 years.

He is one of the most decorated players in this class.

Kramer played tougher than ever before, in an era with with barely padded helmets. zzz Despite the dangerous conditions, Kramer is still considered one of the most legendary linebackers of the 1960’s and of the Packers.

Ray Lewis- He wore #52 on the Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012), and was a two-time AFC Champion, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXV, XLVII).

Lewis is one of the greatest middle linebackers in the history of football.zzzzzz He was drafted #26 overall in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft and played for almost 20 years. Lewis was the anchor to the Ravens defense for 17 years.zzzz Randy Moss- zzz Who could forget #84 Minnesota Vikings, #18 Oakland Raiders, #81 New Englands Patriots, #84 Tennessee Titans, #84 San Fransisco 49ers, and twotime AFC Champion (2007, 2011), and NFC Champion (2012)? zzz Moss is one of the most electrifying receivers in the history of the NFL. Moss set the single season receiving touchdown record with the Patriots, scoring 26. He is arguably the greatest receiver ever in the NFL. Terrell Owens- He made history as

#81 San Fransisco 49ers, #81 Philadelphia Eagles, #81 Dallas Cowboys, #81 Buffalo Bills, #81 Cincinnati Bengals, #81 Seattle Seahawks, and as a NFC Champion (2004). Owens is best known for making the catch against the Green Bay Packers that cut them short from a victory in the 1998 NFC Wild Card playoffs. zzzzzzzzz While the fact that he was a great player can’t be denied, some didn’t like Owens ue to off-the-field issues.

Although he only appeared in one Super Bowl, Owens holds the second all-time receiving yards record.

Owens deserves this Hall of Fame induction, simply because he is one of the best receivers ever.zzzzzzzzzzz Brian Urlacher- He was #54 for the Chicago Bears, NFC Champion (2006).

Urlacher was a one of a kind linebacker. He was the hardest working layers on the Chicago team when they went to the Super Bowl in 2006, when they lost to Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts, but he was still the heart and soul of the Bears for 12 years.

If you asked anyone at the time about the Bears, the first player they would think of would be Urlacher.

For NFL fans, a trip to Canton, Ohio would be worth the drive to check out the Hall of Fame.

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