Class of ‘21 Letters from the Editors..page 2 Profiles..................pages 3-5 Letters to Freshmen.......page 6 Senior Map.............pages 7-8 Columns.................pages 9-11
friday, may 29, 2021
to our seniors
the roar | seniors | 2
You may not know me. For four years, I’ve existed on the outskirts, observing all of you, taking photos, recording a highlight reel of our high school experience. I’ve watched each of you succeed, fail, pick yourselves back up, and persevere. I’ve watched you protest for issues that are important to you. I’ve seen you unite in the midst of a devastating hurricane, a president’s death, and a global pandemic. The past two years, I’ve had the pleasure of serving as Editor-in-Chief of this newspaper. For our staff, this is not typical. An EIC’s reign is supposed to last one school year, but because of our shortage of seniors, I was asked to step into the role as a junior. Sure, this position came with considerable challenges and even some burnout, but overwhelmingly, it came with a deep sense of
pride for our school. I’ve seen other school’s newspapers, talked with their editors, and discussed what they cover-- and the caliber at which we perform, and excel, is astounding. Each of you have accomplished wonderful things, and it is an honor to attend this school. This is the last thing us senior staffers will ever write for The Roar, and it’s been emotional for all of us. Take these next 10 pages to savor the last four years with us. Celebrate your classmates and their exciting futures, reflect on the memories we’ve made together, and most importantly, pat yourself on the back for making it. Congrats, seniors. I am so proud of you. -Alex Roeder
Thank you. I know I’ve been complaining about school for four years straight. All the crying fits in the computer lab, the late-night rants over text to my friends--I don’t take any of it back. High school was intense. It was hard. And it was my home. So thank you to my teachers. Those of you who were hard on me, you showed me I don’t know everything (a lesson I desperately needed). Those of you who were kind to me, you showed me I was worthwhile anyway. Those of you who were both changed me forever. Thank you to the newspaper. You people have given me direction and a place to land these four years. Besides, working hard is a lot easier and more fun if you’re doing it with a group
that’s willing to lose it a little bit right alongside you. So thank you for the cheeseball fights, Queen karaoke battles, and for never letting me live down that one time my accent got a little out of hand in sophomore year. And though it may seem a little odd, thank you to all the strangers here I’ll never get to meet. Even though I never knew you, you’ve been a part of my world here. On the days when you feel like you’re worth nothing--and we all know they will come--remember you have the power to make someone’s life a little better just by smiling back. All my love, Ruby Perry-Mize
to consol
from, your editor in chief and managing editor
friday, may 29, 2021
Bill Wang
by Ruby Perry-Mize
Everybody knows senior Bill Wang. Just as the library and the tiger murals are fixtures here, so is Wang, scrunching his nose to keep his glasses from falling as he hurries down the hall with an armload of physics textbooks. Next year, however, Wang will be hundreds of miles away, pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “I've always been interested in space,” Wang said. “As I grew older, I gravitated towards math and physics. Those concepts are sort of related--they just tie in together.
So recently I actually had the opportunity to pursue that interest.” Wang’s genuine passion for math and science, especially physics, has organically motivated him to excel in those areas, he says. “Writing an English essay, well, that's because [of] GPA,” Wang said. “But math or science, I really like that stuff. I don't need any external motivation. I can look around now and understand a lot more about the world than I did four years ago, and there's something really beautiful about that.”
After attending a writing workshop, senior Celine Choi found herself immersed in the world of expression, one seemingly limited by pen and paper, yet unconfounded by the bounds of the imagination. “I felt for the first time I was at liberty to express myself,” Choi said. “The workshop taught me a lot about communicating and allowed me to write alongside other creative teenaged individuals.” While this experience showed Choi the power of being able to clearly express her thoughts and beliefs, she realizes that not everyone has the same opportunity afforded to them. “People pay less attention to marginalized [voices]” Choi said. “Selfexpression and having a voice is the most important tool someone can have, so it’s very important to increase equality so that everyone can start having the platform they deserve." After joining debate freshman year, she became more aware of the injustices and inequalities in society, both explicit and implicit. “Debate gave me the vocabulary to
start discussions about these [unjust] issues,” Choi said. “I think that awareness is the first step towards creating real change.” For Choi, what started as another extracurricular soon became a passion, and eventually, a career path. “Debate has molded my passion towards social issues [for] marginalized individuals,” Choi said. “It has truly opened my eyes to the injustices and the importance of equal opportunity in this country.” Choi hopes to use the skills she has acquired through debate and writing to address social issues like feminism, minority rights, and environmentalism. But for Choi, it's not about giving these communities a voice, but rather identifying the forces and structures that have muted them and finding ways to amplify those voices. “I don’t believe in the saying to give a “voice for the voiceless,”” Choi said. “It’s not that these communities don’t have a voice; they have a voice—one that is distinct, unique, and powerful—but our society often diminishes these voices and devalues them. I want to help to change
Though Wang works hard in the sciences because he enjoys them for their own sake--one of the reasons he joined Science Olympiad--he also does so because he feels a need to fill his time academically. “The reason I study for these competitions is I don't like being unproductive,” Wang said. “Idle time is just not a thing for me. And so I've always been interested in learning.” Since he knows he is weaker in subjects like English than in STEM subjects, Wang says he was concerned this zeal for academics would not be “wellrounded” enough to get him into his highly prestigious dream school: MIT. “I know people who are way smarter than me,” Wang said. “I knew I had the stats to get into MIT. But there were these soft factors that could have ruined me. So I really just tried to improve on that.” MIT admitted him. Early Action. However, Wang is not resting on his laurels. If anything, he’s working harder than ever to rise to the expectations he feels have been set for him, he says. “I've been studying a lot these days, because I want to make sure I don't fail out,” Wang said. “I've never really felt this way in my life before, but now I have a great opportunity to change the world. It's a[n] opportunity that I should take advantage of, because there's a lot of things I can do
the roar | seniors | 3 that will have a positive impact.” Among Wang’s ambitions are plans to found a startup relating to aerospace engineering, possibly in asteroid mining, which involves extracting rare and useful minerals from asteroids. “There are a lot of things on earth that we don't have access to, but are pretty abundant in space,” Wang said. “I think asteroid mining would help a lot with just making life better.” To achieve that goal, Wang is shifting his focus from grades to connections with others and a more holistic vision of the college experience. “I think grades are important, but I don't think that's the biggest factor of college,” Wang said. “As long as you graduate, you don't need straight A's or whatever. But the people you meet there will definitely have the potential to change your life.” Wang considers this mindset a necessary part of transitioning from high school to a rich and varied college life. “College is a whole different ballgame [from] high school,” Wang said. “There are a lot more people, you can meet a lot more opportunities and ways you can change the world. I think it's mainly the stuff you do outside and beyond the just the bare minimum that's going to change your whole college experience.”
Celine Choi by Allen Zhang
that." Next year, Choi is attending the University of Pennsylvania as a major in political science. There, she plans to build a stronger understanding of the discrimination oppressing minority groups. “I plan on joining Asian
American groups to enhance my cultural perspective,” Choi says. “I hope that by learning more about the backgrounds, the experiences, and the livelihoods of these communities, I can become more capable of working with them to fight towards a better future."
the roar | seniors | 4
friday, may 29, 2021
For many seniors, the college application process entails writing several essays, gathering recommendation letters, and planning for future majors and careers. For senior Sami Rose, who will attend the United States Military Academy, those were just a few steps of many. “One of the main things that separates [West Point] from a traditional school is that you have to get a nomination from a politician. Either a senator or a House of Representatives member needs to nominate you and say ‘this is who I want’,” Rose said. “I had to fill out an entire separate application to those politicians and ask them to nominate me and, in the end, I got our district representative to do it. But you can’t even apply to West Point until you get that nomination, so that was kind of the first step.” After the nomination, Rose still had many tasks left to do, ranging from getting four teacher recommendation letters to preparing for a rigorous athletic test, and those tasks were made even more difficult by the pandemic. “I opened my application [in] May or even April of the end of my junior year, and I did not finish it until November,” Rose said. “It’s a much longer application process. They want to make sure that if you’re applying, you’re someone who re-
ally wants to go here and you have the passion for it.” Rose has been interested in attending West Point for a long time. “My dad went to the same school that I’ll be going to, so I’ve kind of always had it in the back of my head that this was one of my options that I wanted,” Rose said. “Because I’ve grown up [going] to the campus, I’ve known a lot about it, but I didn’t really put it as my number one option, until high school. When I did get in it was very rewarding.” Currently, Rose plans to major in either chemical or electrical engineering. “I definitely want to go down the STEM route,” Rose said. “I know a lot of people end up getting to college and changing their majors, but pretty much, that’s my plan now. After I graduate, I’m either going to be in the corps of engineers or I wanna be in the artillery branch.” Rose recommends that students trying to follow a similar path should start preparing for West Point early and make sure that they are truly interested in the school. “Not only are you committing to four years of college, you are committing to, basically, a career in the military too, which is a big decision to make at seventeen or eighteen,” Rose said. “So make
sure that that’s something you want to do. Do research on it. I was able to talk to family members, luckily, and also talked to people who I knew had gone through this process, so I was able to come to that decision.” Her experience in both AMCHS classes and extracurricular activities like NHS and Cross Country have helped Rose get ready for her future at West Point. “I think Consol was a great
school for me to go to and to graduate from, because it has prepared me for this,” Rose said. “I know a lot of people are nervous for the academics of their college, and I’m really not, just because I knew that Consol has pushed me academically these past few years, so I feel like I’m more ready to face these challenges. I think that, if you’re willing to put in the work, Consol will help you get to the college you want to go to.”
at Texas A&M University, where she is majoring in animal science. “I'm getting the best of both worlds here,” Owens said. “I get a top 10 in the country program for swimming and I get a number three program in the country for veterinary medicine.”
Swimming is an activity Owens has always enjoyed, and being a part of the AMCHS swim team has fueled her love for the sport. “Joining the high school team [showed me] how a real team should be,” Owens said. “I'm waking up earlier than any other sports team at this school every day, so I can swim faster for my teammates.” For Owens, teamwork and school spirit are important for both swimming and school. She found herself drawn to A&M for those reasons. “I absolutely adore A&M and all the school traditions,” Owens said. “Tradition is really big for me.” The decision to attend A&M was not easy for Owens, especially with COVID-19 changing her plans to visit colleges. “The most pressure probably was deciding between my top three schools,” Owens said. “[It] was really stressful for a while, but I think I made the best decision for me.” With the pressure of committing to a
college off gone, Owens is excited for life after high school. “It’s so much weight off my shoulders and I'm really excited to graduate,” Owens said. With college around the corner Owens is ambitious for her college swim career. “I'm hopeful that my class can come in next year [and compete at the SEC],” Owens said. “I want to place a final in the SEC next year.” Owens is setting these goals after completing a rewarding season with the Tiger swim team. “We placed the highest we've ever placed in the history of Consol at state with five girls competing,” Owens said. “We outperformed what I thought we were going to do, so I'm pleased with that.” Owens is ready for the next chapter, and with graduation coming up, her spirits are high. “I'm going to this amazing school next year,” Owens said. “It's a lot of excitement right now.”
Kaitlyn Owens by Saanya Patel
Swimming has always been a part of senior Kaitlyn Owens’ life. She has been swimming since age six. When it came time to consider colleges, committing to the school’s swim team was the next step for her. Owens is continuing her swim career
Sami Rose by Elise Sawyer
photo from westpoint.edu
the roar | seniors | 5
friday, may 29, 2021
Jaylon Walter by Alex Roeder
Senior Jaylon Walter walks the halls of Consol known for his stellar performance on the football field, but outside the stadium, Walter is pursuing a whole new kind of stardom-- music. Going forward, Walter, also known as NoLyaJay, will keep chasing the spotlight in college as he continues with athletics and rapping. Next fall Walter will attend Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, where he
signed for football one year, then plans to transfer to a Division One college to help accelerate his athletic career. “Football has always been one of my passions,” Walter said. “I watched my two older brothers play college ball [as a kid], but when you’re talking after college, like the NFL . . . that’s every kid's dream, but you never know.” Walter’s brothers not only ignited
To many high school athletes, sports have come to be a hobby that they passionately play and enjoy. But for senior Jack Hamilton, competitions and practices are only part of why he participates. To him, sports have become more of a lifestyle, one which has taught him discipline and pushes him to become a better person. “Baseball has led me to have a strong work ethic in all areas of my life,” Hamilton said. “It keeps me motivated to be the best version of myself. Baseball has taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance.” For Hamilton, who first started playing baseball when he was five years old, baseball has come to shape who he is as a person, serving as both a way to exercise, a way to make friends, and even a way to learn about life—its ups and downs, its mistakes and its victories. “The sport has led me to meet some of my best friends in life,” Hamilton said. “I will always remember the growth I had as a person. Through baseball, I have developed into a hardworking person and built my strongest relationships.” To Hamilton, Consol’s baseball
team is more than just a team, but rather a close-knit community—one tightly bonded by a shared passion for the sport. Being with the team for the past four years has helped him grow closer to the team’s members. “I love spending time with my teammates, coaching staff, and the former players,” Hamilton said. “They are the ones who inspire me to work harder [as] they also share my same heated passion for the sport.” Next year, Hamilton has signed to play baseball for Texas A&M University in College Station with a financial scholarship. He is still undecided on his major but is leaning towards either kinesiology or business. "I do have an interest in how the body works and how it moves, but I am also interested in the various range of things I could pursue in business," Hamilton said. “[These majors include] a broad range of things I could go into after.” But while he has not decided on his major, Hamilton said he hopes to be able to play baseball even after college, eyeing a place in the Major League Baseball, a goal he has had ever since he began
his passion for the sport, but have helped train and motivate him along the way. “The relationship I have with my brothers has affected my football career in a big way,” Walter said. “They stay on me about my grades and always working out, even though I skip some days.” Family has also influenced Walter’s music career as a rapper. With three mixtapes out and a recent release on the 14th, Walter has had no shortage of inspiration from his close relatives. “My stepdad was a rapper, and had a studio set up in a room in the house, and I would just watch him record,” Walter said. “It's what really inspired me to rap now, along with the loss of my great grandma, uncle, and one of my grandpas. Losing family members that I was so close to has made me look at life way different. [Those deaths] motivate me to go harder and make them more proud.” His close relationship with senior Zach Haas, also known as Tanko, has given him a producer for his music, but also a best friend. “Zach and my relationship has turned more into like a brother thing,” Walter said. “If it wasn’t for Zach, I really don’t know where I would be right now. Him
Jack Hamilton by Allen Zhang
playing the sport. “Being able to play baseball has always been part of my dream,” Hamilton said. “I see myself as a good man, good father, good husband, and follower of Christ. And part of that dream is to also have an MLB career.”
and I are forever locked in.” Because of their friendship, they are able to command the studio in a pretty unique way, Walter says. “Zach produces all of my music because we have this chemistry,” Walter said. “He can just make a beat and text me and tell me he hears me on that beat without me even recording.” Despite pursuing football in college, Walter says he plans to continue rapping with Haas while also earning a degree. In the distant future, he sees a technical career, like in the oil field or truck driving. “I plan on balancing my music with school the same way I did in high school-school and athletics first, music after,” Walter said. “I plan on studying General Studies my first semester until I decide whether I want to choose business or music.” Though Walter’s many interests means he has to make compromises to balance them, one thing he won’t compromise is his belief in himself. “Never give up, always be yourself and never care about being judged,” Walter said “Also, stay focused on whichever [path] you may pick, and use the losses you may take as motivation to boss up.”
Next Stop...
where the class of ‘21 is headed*
Schreiner University
Jesus Padron-Lopez Jacob Paterson Teresa Pham Harrison Phillips Jamaria Pleasant Travis Poling Abril Ponce Miguelangel Ponce Sarah Poore Hailey Powers Sean Rathers Christina Ridenhour Harlee Riley Penelope Ringer-Mabry Dylan Sanchez Cisneros Zarrian Shivers Emily Sifuentez Grayson Soltis Jacob Souza Anna Staggs Alexander Stubblefield Briana Valenzuela Karson Vestal Ashanti Williams Mariah Young Gonzales Heaven Zamorano Ryan Zamudio
Blinn College
Austin Community College
Cate Killingbeck Sutton Lake Jude Lake Emma Walton J.D. Watson Hudson White
Texas Christian University Lauren Moore Meredith Moore
Trinity University Miguel Gutierrez Mundhir Taiyeb Zane Witt
LeTourneau University
Texas A&M University @ Galveston
University of St. Thomas
Ryan Shurtleff
Texas A&M University @ San Antonio
TEXAS Texas A&M University Nicole Alvarez David Bierman Brandon Bishop Ethan Brittain Jaden Choi Beau Cochrane Alyssa Crites Jessica Cuajicalco Anh Ha Jack Hamilton Davis Harrel Reid Harris Sam Hildebrandt Nicolas Hilty Ty Hodge Smriti V. Kolar Grace Krinhop Austin Lawyer Andrew Li Hai Ly Kevin Lynch Pravalika Manchi Rosejane Marcelo Mercedes McCaskill Evie Miller Kylie Miller Dakota Newton Gabriel Ng Thao Nguyen Lauren Osazuwa Kaitlyn Owens Vanessa Palacios Saanya Patel Jase Powell
Jazlynne Losoya
Cecilia Ramos Alfaro Joshua Reilly Abby Ross Sutton Russell Umer Sajid Jacob Sanchez Srikar Satish Sloane Simmen Molly Steiner William Stephenson Meno Taiyeb Avery Theis P.J. Tisch Clara Tremblay Zachery Trenary Lauren Turner Kendall Waguespack Madelyn Wang Joseph Weaver Kallie Williams Kyle Willis Daniel Wilson Neal Wilson Davis Xu Allen Zhang
University of Texas Abhi Arekere Lars Deutz Brett Hyman Teresa Ji Jenna Kim Shasa Lloyd Kolar
West Texas A&M University Eric Goodman
Anna Townsend Kelsey VanDeFlier
Angelo State University Presli Kruger Ji-Weon Li Asma Maredia Claire McAdams Alex Roeder Insha Umatiya Bradley White
Texas State University Ashlynn Hawkins Allison Mendozaray Libby Scott Reece Wright
Sam Houston State University Raylee Garrett Yanay Oconrichard Alex Richards Ashleigh Romine Brook Roberson Grace Stagg Marshall Taylor
Cody Kingman
Tarleton State University Travis McMillen
University of North Texas Stephanie Lidstörm Veronica Packard
Prairie View A&M University Brandon Gallion Jakayla Gooden NaLayia Rooks
Texas A&M @ Galveston Stone Ahrendt Sam Lightfoot Joshua McMillan Bubba Nelson Zach Rich Liam Saxe Gaston Schweitzer
Universiy of Texas @ Dallas Daniel Beck Nisha Bhaidani Madhumitha Kannan Elise Sawyer
University of Texas @ San Antonio Denise Kumar
University of Texas @ Tyler Miles Lawyer
Universtiy of Texas @ Arlington Kaiya Essix
Rice University Samiha Momin
University of Mary Hardin Baylor Malik Ross Jenna Scamardo
Baylor University Reagan Brantley
AnnaLynn Lewis
Kayla Tomlinson
East Texas Baptist University Quan Williams
Christopher Tausch
Hudson Allen Nicolas Anderson Kamryn Ashcraft Keila Avendano Andrew Barnett Madajah Baxin Christian Carlile-McGinn Chloe Crager Ehsanul Efti Jessica Fisher Paula Gonzales Corynne Greenawalt Miranda Greene Zachery Haas Teah Harris Karleigh Herring Aiden Hill Tawni Hudson Christina Johnson Jackson Lee Alexis Lopez Sara Lopez Huy Luu Logan Marianno Brandon Martinez Delaney Mears Madison Menchaca Jajuan McCoy Alexis McDaniel Mason McDermott Jasmine Moore Heather Murphey Rylan Nucker Esparanza Ocana Cristo Ostiguin
Aaliyah Collins
OKLAHOMA University of Oklahoma Allison Morris-Woods Hannah Schmidt Isabella Thompson
KENTUCKY Kentucky Weselyan College Chris Mapp
COLORADO University of Colorado @ Colorado Springs Gracie McCorquodale
Colorado School of Mines Caden Yorek
Colorado State University Collin Roark
UTAH
Lee College Cierra Gilbert
Pensacola Christian College Jayden Smith
Lonestar College Abdoulaye Niang
Brigham Young University
Aimee Li Ella Maxwell
NEW JERSEY
Temple College
INDIANA
Navarro College Vince Sheffield Jaylon Walter
Indian University-Perdue University Indianapolis
Mclennan Community College
OHIO
Barrett Boatner
Miami University Isabella Davis *only students who filled out the Roar’s survey or the senior exit survey are included in the map
Army
Kelsey Schultz Luther Stover
Navy
NEW YORK
Marines
David Chang
Pratt Institute
Brittany Acosta Vaughn Krinhop Gavin Word
Cornell University
TRADE SCHOOL
Cable Saunders
Henning Schade
United States Mlitary Academy Sami Rose
MASSACHUSETTS Massachussetts Institute of Technology Bill Wang
Harvard College Ruby Perry-Mize
United States Coast Guard Academy
Truman Jasperson Dayna Lutz
Rickera Minns
Zane Krinhop Karson Tran
IDAHO Brigham Young University Idaho
MILITARY
Princeton University
CONNECTICUT
Sean Gibson
Sajia Islam
Carengie Melon University
B.J. Creighton
Amarilo College
Cooper McKenzie
PENNSYLVANIA
Madeline Hodges
CALIFORNIA Univeristy of California @ Davis Emily Ng
California Institute of Technology Sophia Wu
University of California @ San Diego Ashley Liu
OREGON University of Oregon Shannon Kaspar
Dominic Benavidez Dylan Buskirk Isaac Humphreys Fernando Munoz Garza Octavo Monroy Fuentes Daniel Patterson Russel Rogers Daniela Roman Colin Scott Destiny Sims Kendrick Womack Lorena Yanez
GAP YEAR
Sydnee Giles Ti’Jae Johnson Brandon Martinez-Vasquez Jessica Matejka Osiel Mendoza Bravlio Santoyo Silva
WORKFORCE
Bennett Hutchins Amari Jessie Kelsey Kimble Travianna Langford Cicilrae Love Santos Moya Michayla Munro Justin Mushinski Diego Orozco Cruz Joseph Perez Travis Ray Jacob Salazar Brandon Taylor Ayelen Villalobos-Aguero Alyssa Williams
OTHER/UNDECIDED Maurice Jordan Kimiia Mirabolfathi Taylor Speed
friday, may 29, 2021
letters to freshman the roar | seniors | 8
Dear Foster, Writing this feels really weird considering that I am ending my time at Consol and you have just started yours, but I have learned a lot of lessons over the years that I think you would probably benefit from knowing For one, I know that you are involved in a lot just like me and it might seem like a lot sometimes, but stay in those AP classes and continue involving yourself in school activities and clubs because you will make lasting memories in them. Scream loud at all of the pep rallies and football games because it is so fun, and they go by fast. I will never forget when I screamed so hard at a pep rally my Junior year and lost my voice the next day (but we won the spirit check so it was okay). Don’t be embarrassed to be the loudest one there, I promise people will wish they had the courage to be that loud and spirited. If they don’t then they are just lame. There are so many clubs and activities to do at Consol, don’t limit yourself to only doing one thing all of highschool because you might be missing out on some amazing people and new interests. Another tip I have for you is to not procrastinate. I know everyone says that but it is so true. I would have saved myself a lot of stress and sleepless nights if I had divided out my work instead of doing it a night or two before it was due. Organize your time so you can keep your grades up and participate in all of those activities and hang out with your friends. High School really goes by fast, savor every moment and stay kind and genuine to everyone. I am going to miss this school a lot, but I am so excited to pass it off to you and see all that you accomplish as a Tiger.
Dear Zoe, It is crazy to believe that the last time we went to the same school was when we were little kids in elementary school. Now, we have made it through high school together for the past year, standing beside each other with nothing but mutual encouragement. Thank you for supporting me and making my senior year of high school so much more memorable. After surviving through four years of rigorous coursework and extracurriculars, I hope I can provide some insight into this process. Thus, as your older sister and upperclassman, I have some tips and techniques for you as you eventually continue with your high school career. I believe the best way to start on a path of success is creating goals for yourself at the beginning of the school year. Think about what you want to accomplish and then develop your own plan of how to reach those goals. With this organized mindset, you will be able to focus properly, keep your eye on the prize, and reap the rewards of your hard work. Throughout this plan, remember to trust and enjoy the process. I have often found that the real satisfaction comes from the actual process of working hard for goals, not after reaching them. So when you start to feel tired staying up late to finish that important essay or have endured a day of non-stop testing, think about what you are aiming for and trust the process. Push on. You won’t regret it. Lastly, I would say don’t be afraid to fail, in any way. Whether you didn’t get the grade you wanted on that last test, or you don’t understand a difficult concept, remember that you are learning and not achieving perfection provides you the opportunity to grow your knowledge. Honestly, I have learned more from failing than from doing well on an assignment. All that I would hope for you is that you try your best because that is all that you can do. Try your best, learn from your mistakes, and take those lessons with you into the future. I am so excited for what is to come for you. I am lucky to have such a bright, intelligent, and hard working sister who I know is going to accomplish great things in the future. You can do anything you put your mind to, so aim high, because you will hit your mark. I want you to know that I am so proud of you for all that you have already done this past year and look forward to watching you grow and learn for yourself. I love you very much.
Love,
Your big sister,
Libby Scott
Brett Hyman
the roar | seniors | 9
friday, may 21, 2021
RUBY PERRY-MIZE (managing editor)
It was already dark, but I could see all those prom dresses anyway, even from across the parking lot. Long dresses, with bell-shaped skirts and shining fabric. Graceful high heels and elaborate hair. My own hair was shaved close to my head, except where it crested into a curly mohawk. My shoes were flat; they laced up like a man’s would. I had been anticipating this moment for weeks--no, months. What it would feel like to walk into prom in a suit. It didn’t feel like I expected it to. I hadn’t expected to be scared. Anyone who knows me would tell you I don’t make a habit of being afraid to look out of place. I walked into my very first day of high school in a brown-and-blue leopard print dress with bright yellow lacing up the front. At the time, I lived inside a vast cloud of hair that reached my hips. I was certainly distinctive-looking. I hit my first major crisis of self in sophomore year, when it became clear I wasn’t straight. My skirts
When I was a little kid, like 6 years old, I proudly announced I wanted to be a pediatrician. I loved my doctor and wanted to be just like Dr. Anila. Then I got older and learned being a pediatrician meant lots of school and lots of debt (I didn’t know what that was at age 10, but it sounded scary). With my dreams crushed, I did what any 10 year old would do. I did some pretend playing and then announced my new dream. This time I wanted to be a teacher. I held on to that dream for about a whole minute. I realized I would have to wake up early (which I detested then and still do now) and would have to grade homework. With my hopes shattered again, I watched TV. That’s when I had an epiphany. I announced I wanted to be an actor. That dream fueled me until age 12, that’s when I found out actors are judged way too much. I didn’t really have any new dreams after that, except for a brief period when I thought about pediatrics again. Nope, I sucked at chemistry (Mr. Tollett is living proof). So here I am, a new freshman about to walk into Consol.
and my heavy boots stuck around, but there was a shift occurring underneath I knew I would have to reconcile. For the first time, I sat in class with the awareness that my outsides weren’t matching my insides--somehow. It wasn’t about “looking gay”; that concept is so illdefined and unreliable, it’s almost meaningless. It’s just that my experience of myself now had another layer of complexity. I started letting things stick to me, so to speak. I kept every pin, sticker, and rubber message bracelet that came into my possession. At a time when I felt like I was changing out from underneath myself, I wanted to hold onto everything I could. Whenever I lost an earring, I would tie the one I had left to my bootlaces. I still do. The very last day of my sophomore year, I chopped off all of my hair. My friends’ shock was so extreme it was almost comical. It wasn’t weird for me, though. The day after The Great Shearing, I couldn’t imagine ever having long hair again. For about the first month of junior year, people had trouble recognizing me. I didn’t mind. I was finally managing to look like all of myself at once. It wasn’t just the hair. I discovered the unquestionable benefits of wearing mens’ jeans and button-downs (higher quality fabric, more comfortable fit, huge pockets). I acquired cowboy boots. I got much better at makeup and routinely came to school with orange or purple eyeshadow. When I finally got my postlockdown haircut the summer after eleventh grade, it was a mohawk. I kept wearing my old clothes, too. They were still
I had no idea what career path I wanted to embark on. Then on the first day I walked into 8th period Journalism with Mr. Williams. Suddenly I had myself a career path. Well, it wasn’t exactly that fast. I enjoyed Journalism so much that I applied to be on The Roar staff starting sophomore year. That’s when the magic happened. Sure, it took a few questionable leads for me to figure out I loved what I was doing. Maybe it’s the surge of adrenaline during publishing week or the excitement of seeing and holding the paper on the last Friday of every grading period or the crazy late nights, but I can never stop liking it. Now I’m a senior. I’m writing my last column for The Roar, and truth be told, my eyes are slightly wet. It’s a bittersweet moment. I’m sad I won’t be able to write for this paper again but I’m also excited for what the future holds. This paper has helped me find my passion and I am endlessly thankful for that. This paper has also given me so many amazing memories. It has also given me so many amazing friends. So while I may be eternally confused about mostly everything, there is one thing I
a part of me. I wasn’t rejecting the way I had always looked. It wasn’t a shift. It was an expansion. I was reaching for new ways to think about myself. That’s how I came to be standing outside senior prom--my only prom--wearing a tailored suit with a burgundy boutonniere and a pale gold bow tie and pocket square. (My outfit matched a friend’s burgundyand-gold dress.) I had rehearsed this in my mind. I would walk in with long steps, no hesitation, knowing I looked perfect. I certainly wouldn’t stand next to my car for half a minute thinking about how shiny and dainty and feminine everyone else was. More than once, someone has told me they wished they could be like me and just not care what people thought. But the fact is, I do care. Desperately. I’m not immune to the pressure to fit in. I just can’t. I can’t look like everyone else unless I stop looking like me. And looking like me is the only way I know how to be sure I still am me--even if what that means changes over time. My appearance isn’t so much a statement as a thought. I build myself from the outside in, untangling my identity by constructing it physically, so I can get a good look at it. I’m not expressing my personality. I’m just thinking it through. I straightened my tie and stepped forward. Ruby will be attending Harvard College next fall with a concentration in Government.
SAANYA PATEL (online editor)
am sure about. The Roar is definitely amazing and the source of much joy throughout highschool. Saanya will be attending Texas A&M University this summer and majoring in General Studies within the College of Liberal Arts.
10 | seniors | the roar
friday, may 21, 2021
When someone asks what I contribute to the Roar newspaper, I tell the truth: I am a competitive punmaker. To be fair, it’s not a totally inaccurate description: “Headline Writing” is an actual UIL event that I, having competed in it several times, can confirm as basically a timed pun/wordplay competition (UIL Journalism events are interesting, to say the least). If pressed (get it?), I’ll elaborate that I have also been an Opinions Editor since my sophomore year, which mainly entails designing and writing for the viewpoints page. My duties as Opinions Editor for the Roar also include managing, editing, and designing the personal column sections of almost every newspaper issue. What’s strange about this role for me, though, is that I’ve never
really enjoyed writing personal columns. As much as I love working on the editorials and editing other peoples’ stories, I never feel quite right when trying to create a two-page, double-spaced, concise reflection of my life. As someone prone to overusing semicolons and dashes in writing and prone to side tangents in conversations, writing something so short can be a struggle. This raises a question: why am I even involved with the columns (or, for that matter, journalism) if I find it so difficult to be concise? My answer would be that journalism is always a challenge, which is, itself, a good thing. There always ends up being some sort of obstacle when making a newspaper issue, whether related to sources, design constraints, or some miscommunication-- but, at this point, our staff is ready to find a solution to most of our problems. Working on these issues has made me more able to adapt in the face of such obstacles, and has helped me improve in many other areas of my life, whether through increasing my awareness of current events, giving me experience with photography and graphic design, or forcing me to actually learn to write without giving an absurd amount of context and run-on sentences before every other line (although, judging by this sentence’s length, I clearly haven’t mastered such techniques). This isn’t a college essay-- thank goodness-- so I’ll
13 days. That’s how many days before I step out of Consol for the last time, and embark on a new journey: college. As I look back at these four years, I’ve realized just how quickly time has flown by. It’s been four years of inspiring moments with my best friends. But above all, it has been four years of truly understanding life--its ups and downs, its joys and hardships--through the advice of those around me. From snippets of encouragement in between debate rounds to the words of guidance from my teachers, these four years have been about learning to navigate whatever comes at us. It would be unfair for me to try to preach about everything I’ve learned. After all, these pieces of advice are not my own, but rather the ones that I’ve collected, that have come to shape the person who I am today. I am thankful for the family that I’ve formed here at Consol, and I would like to share the three most important pieces that they have shared with me. 1. Sometimes we have bad days, and that’s okay. One of the most challenging activities that I have participated in has been debate. The long nights, intense research, and countless practice sessions have been grueling. Yet, they pale in comparison to the criticism I have received on ballots. Phrases like “poor argumentation and boring speech” sometimes feel like a punch to the gut. And to be frank, sometimes the long hours that we put in feel like they have gone to waste. But my coach, Mr. Alford, always makes sure to remind us that these critiques are not a reflection of who
we are as a debater or a person. And what has happened in the past does not define our potential in the future. Rather, we should use these critiques to improve upon ourselves. So, don’t let a bad day define you, either. 2. Stand up for what you believe in. Perhaps one of the most impactful classes that I have taken at Consol is taught by Mr. Cryer. His classes were always more than just about learning US History. It was an opportunity for us to express our thoughts and opinions on certain issues. From discussing economic and political topics that touched on important values like justice, I was amazed at how much each unit was based on student discussion. We learned about the injustices in our country, and through student discussions, talked about how we could make a change. More importantly, he made us realize the importance of standing up for what’s right despite our age. We are young, but we also have a voice; and, it is our duty as the next generation to use that voice. 3. Teamwork makes the dream work. Ever since I first joined newspaper, I knew it was going to be an entirely different experience than anything else. From interviewing my fellow classmates on their achievements to staying up until midnight to design pages, newspaper has been a mixture of experiences. Despite the stressful deadlines and workload, at the end of the day, I know that we will have a paper published. Though our staff has not always been as big as it is now, our perseverance and our teamwork have helped
ELISE SAWYER (opinions editor)
stop talking about qualifications and character traits in favor of the subject both exciting and sad to me: graduation. After editing this column, writing one more feature story, and digitally tracing a bunch of states for the “future plans” map (yes, we have to draw them), there won’t be any more issues that I can contribute to. I’ll graduate, and I already know that I will miss being a part of the Roar’s staff-- the late nights, the inside jokes, all of it. In this group, I’ve found peers that, despite all having different hobbies and interests, manage to work well together without getting (too) sidetracked. Even during the pandemic, as our newspaper has been split between those doing school online and those attending school in-person, I’ve never felt that either group has been forgotten. Even COVID-19 couldn’t ruin one of the few constants of my high school experience. So, to conclude this, I just want to say thank you: both to the Roar staff members I’ve worked with as well as anyone willing to do an interview or otherwise appear in an article. Although I have no plans as of now to pursue journalism in college-- to be fair, I’m still figuring out what exactly my plan is-- my experience as part of the Roar will always stay with me.
Elise will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas with a major in economics
ALLEN ZHANG (executive editor)
us maintain our papers through the years. Every page design, every story, and every photo is the collective effort of our whole team. I know my portfolios have made many people, not the least Mr. Williams, frustrated before, but I am grateful they’ve let me stay on this staff and contribute my part to this amazing team. This column is the last thing I will write for The Roar, and it’s still a little crazy to think about that. But I hope, even in the smallest of ways, the advice in this column will be helpful to someone, like it was for me. Mic drop, Allen out.
Allen will be attending the Texas A&M University with a major in international studies
the roar | seniors | 11
friday, may 21, 2021
ALEX ROEDER (editor in chief) If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this year, it’s that the future is uncertain. To be totally honest, it’s been a hard pill to swallow. For as long as I can remember, I’ve planned my life to a tee, and it’s worked. Then things started to go wrong. Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. That school, that city, that opportunity-- it was everything to me. I could just see myself walking around campus, eating deep dish pizza, and studying my heart out. I would casually integrate ‘Go Cats!’ into my conversation. I bought myself a sweatshirt. It was all I could do not to put ‘NU ‘25’ in my instagram bio. The decision came out. Rejected. My heart was absolutely shattered. Everyone I knew was hyping me up, asking about my decision, and now I had to face the music and tell everyone I failed. It’s not that anyone was disappointed in me-in fact, everyone was infuriatingly understanding. ‘It’s a really hard school to get into, don’t worry!’ ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ ‘Clearly it’s just not the right palace for you.’ The thing is, it was the right place for me. I felt it in my bones. And it was the first time that I felt utterly disappointed in myself. It was the first time I faced straight-up rejection. I put my heart and soul on the line, and I was refused. I hadn’t entertained the thought that I might not get in after I submitted my application. I mean, everyone has their doubts, but I knew it just was my
anxiety talking. The universe knew this was where I was meant to be. But suddenly, the trajectory of my life that I had in my head was changing-- I was deviating from the path, and I wasn’t sure how to correct my course. I had vowed I wouldn’t go to college in Texas, but that was sounding like my new reality. I knew for a fact I couldn’t go to A&M. It would be settling for a life and an experience that I didn’t want. So I set my sights on UT. The problem was, if NU didn’t want me, why would UT? After facing that first rejection, it’s significantly harder to build up confidence. UT was almost as difficult to get into, and being outside the top 6%, my chances were pretty low. On top of my worries, rejection was hitting me left and right. I wasn’t selected for the CSISD Hall of Fame. The newspaper didn’t win a star award for the first time in many years under my leadership. I applied for scholarship after scholarship, and all of them came back with the same answer-- no. It was starting to feel like I was slipping into a path that I would just have to settle for. Almost nothing I had planned on for my senior year went my way. Then, a shift started to occur. I realized that, pretty much since kindergarten, I had placed all of my worth into school, how many people liked me, what leadership positions I held, or the awards I was winning. And for the first time in 12 years, the validation came to a screeching halt. I did some soul searching. I realized that through
these achievements, I’ve built a human that I’m proud of. I’m not just my transcript and an unnecessarily long extracurricular list. I’m a person-- someone full of empathy for others, who loves to laugh way too loud, and who likes earrings an unhealthy amount. I like to listen to people’s stories, to expand my perspectives and learn from those around me. My future wasn’t changing because of the college I didn’t get into. It was changing because now I could tap into someone who cares more about her character than her accomplishments-- and that will determine the life I build. An email popped up on my computer. UT’s decisions were out. Accepted. For the first time almost all year, I felt the joy I had been waiting on about my future. It was like the last puzzle piece connected when I opened that portal, a total confirmation of the changes I was making. The one place I told everyone I wouldn’t end up, the place I hardly even considered, was giving me the relief I had been searching for-- excitement. My entire life, I had been clutching this control. And right as I loosened my grip, I found the satisfaction I had been hoping for. I won’t lie and say that I’m glad my plan A didn’t work out. To put it simply, rejection hurts, and my wounds around Northwestern are still healing. But I’m finally feeling like my future won’t be something I’m disappointed with down the road. I can confidently say I am happy with the road I’ve chosen, or rather, the road that was chosen for me.
Alex will be attending the University of Texas with a major in Journalism
Class of ‘21