2 | seniors | the roar
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ard work. Dedication. Endurance. Drive. Passion. For senior Tyri Merchant, that’s what it takes to play college football. “I’ve always put football first and tried to make it a job and be the best I can be,” Merchant said. “I’m always training hard, always training and preparing early for a game or practice or whatever it is and making sure my body is 100% healed.” Merchant has signed to play with Texas A&M University in Kingsville despite his severe concussion early in the season. “I feel really great about [TAMU Kingsville],” Merchant said. “I feel like I can contribute a lot to the program, help them out a little bit and help the school further.” According to football coach David Raffield, Merchant was “one of the best running backs in the state of Texas this past year” due to his power and explosiveness.
friday, may 13, 2016
“He was a rock that we could count on in pressure situations,” Raffield said. “But he was also that kid who just had that game experience, whether it was in pre-game or on the sidelines, he knew what was about to happen.” To his coach, Merchant was not only a star player but also a considerate leader. “Tyri has a true caring heart and he really does care about other people, trying to make them successful,” Raffield said. “When he was injured this year, he did a great job of working with [junior] Robert Franklin and preparing him to be a quality running back.” Raffield sees Merchant’s virtues as a football player, though, as twofold. “His stats that he’s had throughout high school and his highlight films put him among the best,” Raffield said. “The second part is really the whole character of the young man; [TAMU Kingsville] think that he can help
brandon becker & allison shaffer photo by haley mitchell & profile by annie zhang
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eniors Brandon Becker and Allison Shaffer live in a different world, one simultaneously limited to a computer screen yet unfettered by ordinary restraints: the world of animation. “It’s your own world,” Becker said. “You can create anything you want, make anything you want. It’s fun and creative, and you’re not limited.” Becker was first introduced to animation by his older brother and entered the class as a fresh-
man. His partner, Shaffer, joined a year later. “I just really love video games,” Shaffer said. “I come from a very sporty family, but I’m not sporty at all. I finally found something that I really liked, so I just grabbed onto it.” Together, the two have excelled in their field. Earlier this year, they won first at both district and state and will be attending the national competition of Skills USA in Kentucky this summer.
their program be successful.” For Raffield, coaching Merchant and his brother, junior Tyon Merchant, was “a lot of fun” in part because the brothers are extremely close. “To see both of us do great things on the field is a good feeling. That that’s your brother out there, making good plays,” Tyon Merchant said. “It’s the majority of our bond.” Like most younger siblings, Tyon Merchant tries to follow in his brother’s footsteps. “He’s always there for me and he gives me tough love and he knows what to tell me at the right moment. If I’m being stupid, he’ll tell me I’m being stupid and I’ll stop,” Tyon Merchant said. “He inspires me to be better than him at the sport and as a person, just to be better than him.” Major conference teams have been talking to Tyri Merchant since junior year, yet he has stayed grounded through the long process. “My parents helped out a
lot, and my recruiter coach came down and talked to me and they offered me a spot,” Tyri Merchant said. “I drove down to visit, to talk to the players and the head coach, and I was excited to be there.” Tyri Merchant wants to eventually play for the NFL, but in the meantime he plans to
graduate with a degree and help his family. “[Our parents were] very happy, because not that many people in our family got the opportunity to go to college,” Tyon Merchant said. “For him to go to college was a very big blessing.”
“We compete in an animation competition that’s timed. For district, it was seven hours; at state, it was eight,” Shaffer said. “They give us a prompt and we have to do all the modeling, all the compositing within those eight hours.” Additionally, Shaffer and Becker, with the help of their animation teacher Barbara Klein, work with Aggieland Startup and the Aggie VIS lab. “Aggieland Startup helps businesses here in town. We do commercials, which are animation that they play to try to get funding for their business,” Shaffer said. “We’re also starting to get more involved with the VIS lab, and right now, I have a few models I’m working on for them.” Shaffer will be attending Texas A&M University this fall to major in 3-D animation, and Becker will be attending Blinn College and later transferring to A&M’s VIS lab. The duo plans to continue working together. “It’s hard to find a good person who’s good at modeling, so
I’m blessed to be able to have Brandon’s models to work with,” Shaffer said. Becker calls himself the “appearance person, who makes the characters and give them color.” Shaffer, on the other hand, gives the characters movement and personalities. “I make them look pretty; she makes them move nicely,” Becker said. “We’re opposites. What I can do, she can’t do. What she can do, I can’t do.” Though Shaffer jokes that although “sometimes [they] do want to tear each other’s throats out, [they] figure out how to get past it.” “Brandon is someone who can step up and take care of his own. I know I can fall back on him if I don’t know how to do something,” Shaffer said. “In competitions, I get very nervous very fast, and he’s definitely good at keeping everything calm. He’s a good guy, and he’s got your back.” For Becker, Shaffer helps “keep him doing [his] work.” “I get off track pretty easily
and just don’t want to do things,” Becker said. “Allison will spam me with texts telling me to do stuff.” The key to their teamwork, Shaffer said, is that they “know how to cooperate well.” “They’ve grown in teamwork, because you work independently for a while and then you realize you have to support and rely on each other,” Klein said. “They’ve impressed me with their ability to work in a timed schedule and work with clients; they’ve shown great maturity and intellect.” Both plan to eventually start their own labs and hopefully branch out from short videos to video games. “We’re kind of in the baby steps of it already. I don’t want to go to California, but maybe stick around and go to Austin,” Shaffer said. “I’ll probably stay with Klein and Brandon. The class and Mrs. Klein have really had a huge impact on me, not just in animation, but in developing my personality and making me who I am.”
tyri merchant
photo by haley mitchell & profile by vi burgess
the roar | seniors | 3
friday, may 13, 2016
W
hen senior Xander Ober walked into his interview for the University of Oxford, the first question he was asked was, “What is the nth root of i?” “[In the U.S.], college applications are a lot more focused on your character,” Ober said. “[At Oxford,] they told us specifically that they don’t really care about anything other than how good you are in the subject you want to apply for. On the UCAS application, you only had to write one essay, and again, I talked about my experience in learning math.” Ober, whose parents attended college in England and whose brother is a second-year student at the University of Cambridge, is one of the 18 percent of applicants who are accepted into Oxford, an impressive feat considering that just the application requirements consist of having either a 2100
SAT score or a 32 ACT score and fives in at least three AP tests. As a British university, Oxford differs in many ways from the traditional American college. “[The school year is] divided up into three eight or nine week terms, which is not much, [as part of the] trimester system,” Ober said. “Oxford is divided up into 30 residential colleges, [and each college] lives together. And it’s not just that we live together, but all the students in my subject within my college will take certain sessions with each other. It’s not like A&M where it’s massive and huge; it felt a lot more closeknit.” There, Ober plans on majoring in math, a subject that “a lot of people see as tedious,” he said. “I see [math] more as something that’s beautiful in a way,” Ober said. “A lot of the math teaching I had was based on proof
ester araujo
photo & profile by olivia garrett
A
year ago, if you had asked senior Ester Araujo what she was going to do after high school, she would have described her plans to study architecture. Today, she’d give you a much different answer. “After I applied to A&M and UT, expecting to go into architecture, after Christmas and the New Year,” Araujo said, “I realized that I really don’t want to do that. I really want to do art.” Next year, Araujo will attend Savannah College for Art and Design, or SCAD, and pursue a major in Illustration.
“I’ve always liked doing art. When I was little, I always liked to draw, and [art] is just something that I gravitated towards,” Araujo said. “But, I didn’t think that I would do it as a career because I’d always been told that you can’t make money with that, and that [I] need to get an actual job.” While becoming an artist has been a dream of Araujo’s for a while, during her junior year she decided that she would be better off pursuing a more traditional career. “But I just saw myself getting a lot better doing AP Studio Art
and less computation, which I think is where a lot of the tedium comes in — more proof and neat little problems where the focus [is on] the process, rather than the answer.” Currently, he already takes university-level math classes outside of school and is currently researching with Professor Andrew Comech, an associate math professor at Texas A&M. “[My professor] has really old recordings of Russian string quartets, and since I like classical music, it was perfect, and he was a math professor, so doubly perfect,” Ober said. “But with modern day LP disk players, the way [the recordings] sound is distorted. A lot of how the signal is transmitted and signal processing comes down to math, specifically two topics: fourier series and differential equations. So we analyzed the recordings and tried to correct for how those distor-
tions were happening.” Ober hopes to continue his work with math into college, although his post-undergraduate plans remain unclear. “Initially, I was thinking engineering, but the part in me that
really likes really nice cars kind of wants me to do finance,” Ober said. “All I want to do is pay the cost to be the boss.”
with Mrs. Bevans and I saw that [art] is something that I can actually do,” Araujo said. “If I went to school, I could be just as good as anyone else who is a graphic designer or an illustrator for their job, and so I was like no, I’m going to do what I want to do.” For many young artists, getting the approval of their parents is a significant struggle. However, Araujo’s parents have supported her decision. “At the beginning of this year, in January, I always talked about [art school] and what I was doing in art,” Araujo said. “That’s what I cared about and I think that’s what they saw, and they were like, ‘Okay, she should do this because this is what she actually wants to do.’” SCAD first entered Araujo’s radar in her junior year, when a representative from the school visited her art class. “They’re very geared towards training their students so that when they graduate they can have a job in the creative field that they love,” Araujo said. “And the campus seemed really cool in Savannah.” While Araujo considered
schools with art programs that are closer to home, like UT or UNT, she eventually settled on SCAD. “I just felt that if I’m going to go to an art school, I should go to a more accredited one because it’s so competitive and you’re paying for the name,” Araujo said. “SCAD is pretty well known as a fine arts college.” Araujo discovered that she had some artistic ability early on, and decided to stick with it because she views art as an effective way to communicate. “Whenever I try to write something or say something I’m not really good at getting my point across, but with art I feel like I can get my message across,” Araujo said. “I can have more control.” Despite her artistic prowess, pursuing art has not been without its difficulties for Araujo. “I got to my painting class and I sucked — I was terrible at acrylic, I was terrible at watercolor. Everything I did was terrible that year,” Araujo said. “But I didn’t want to give up. It forced me to try harder and get better. And I said, I can get better, I’m going to get better and I just start-
ed looking at art in a more objective way.” Araujo stresses that like anything else, it takes time and effort to get better at art. “Practice makes perfect. I think that a lot of people think that art is just this magical thing, but that’s not true,” Araujo said. “Compared to now and when I was in Art I, I’ve gotten better because I’ve pushed myself to get better and improve.” In order to keep up with the art world and improve her own craft, Araujo subscribes to several contemporary art publications. “I’m trying to expose myself to a lot so that I don’t get fixated on anything or any point of view,” Araujo said. “Social media has also really helped with me trying to discover new techniques and new points of view.” Above all, Araujo emphasizes her desire to continue growing as she pursues her dream. “I don’t want to have this one straight plan for my life because you never know what’s going to happen,” Araujo said. “Hopefully, I’ll end up with a job in something that I love to do.”
alexander ober photo & profile by stephanie palazzolo
4 | seniors | the roar
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friday, may 13, 2016
enior Ross Romero spends a majority of his time in the band hall and the tech classroom. His dream job, though, will take him in a completely different direction: active cryptography. First, Romero will enlist in the United States Air Force for a four year term. “My dad was in the Air Force [and] every man in my family— in one way or another—served in the military,” Romero said. “[There’s] a tradition of serving in my family.” Another common tradition in Romero’s family is each person paying for their own college. “It means a lot more for you that way,” Romero said. “You don’t want to slack off, [and] you have more motivation to pass classes.” Romero emphasized that the Air Force also has the highest ranking cyber security program in the entire world. Within the Air Force, he will be learn-
ing cyber surety, which Romero summarized as resource acquisition—the responsibility of ensuring computer networks are safe from cyber-attacks. “I basically get paid to hack by the government, which is pretty cool,” Romero said. “I [will] be working with coalition forces [and] combat troops to collect the data. It’s not much software at all, it’s just the cryptography aspect which is hacking.” After basic training in San Antonio and then tech school, Romero has the potential to be sent anywhere in the world. However, once his four-year term in the Air Force ends, Romero is plans to attend Texas A&M University, majoring in computer engineering. “If I did it in the other order, if I went straight into A&M to become an officer, it’s just not the same,” Romero said. “[Going to the Air Force first], you’ve done that work, you’ve lived in those shoes. How am I supposed
jenny kwon
photo & profile by darcey rydl
U
nlike the average high school student who fears getting picked on because of their looks or grades, senior Jenny Kwon was teased for her poor English grammar and pronunciation. “My dad wanted me to come to [the] United States in 9th grade, but I didn’t want to [at] first,” Kwon said. “I really liked living in Korea because I was more comfortable, but Korea is a really tiny land; they don’t have a lot of job opportunities. [When]
I think about it more, if I get a job here, earn money here, it’ll be better living in the [United States].” While Kwon’s father, Young Kwon, was earning his Ph.D in the U.S., his daughter was born. At the same time, he gained a newfound obsession with America’s education system. “My dad really likes America,” Jenny Kwon said. “Even though my sister doesn’t have citizenship, he sent her to Canada, so she could come to the
to lead people if I haven’t been in their shoes?” Early in his high school career, Romero started out as a district officer. He then served as state Vice President for Skills USA his senior year. “[It was] the single hardest thing I’ve ever done in high school,” Romero said. “It took two years, including summers. Once I became an officer, it was the most stressful time of my life.” Telecommunications & Networking honors and Computer Technician teacher Bart Taylor helped push Romero to reach this goal. “Ross is a goober, for sure,” Taylor said. “But he’s a goober [who] will step up when [needed]. He’s got phenomenal leadership qualities, and he’s the kind of guy you want to listen to, the kind of guy you want to follow. He’s gone the distance.” In addition, the Air Force will prepare Romero for more leadership roles in his future.
“I like being a leader. I don’t like being a boss; that’s why I want to enlist first,” Romero said. “Anyone can be a boss, can tell people what to do, [but] it takes a leader to encourage people to want to [work].” Most importantly, Romero is looking forward to building his own self-identity.
“The best thing is living life, having a good time, and being responsible for [myself],” Romero said. “There will be no legacies I have to live up to. I will be my own legacy. I will be building from the ground up.”
[States].” Jenny Kwon’s sister, Jessica Kwon, was an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota when Jenny Kwon moved to America to live with her. Currently, Jessica Kwon attends Texas A&M University as a graduate student. “It’s different [between] countries like Korea [and] the U.S., but there [were] a lot of differences between Texas and Minnesota,” Jenny Kwon said. “In Minnesota, I was really quiet and I wouldn’t talk or anything. There wasn’t anyone that I knew, and from Minnesota, I learned that I have to be the one that goes out and talks. When I came to Texas, I became better than before.” Jenny Kwon’s friend senior Dania Barrenechea understands Jenny Kwon’s cultural challenges, since she moved to College Station from Mexico. “Whenever she has a problem or I have one, I know she’s going to understand why,” Barrenechea said. “When we’re talking about anything, we’ve had that experience that has helped
us see things from a different perspective. She understands me more than people who haven’t had that experience.” Jenny Kwon’s growth in maturity has not gone unnoticed either. Her chemistry teacher, John Tollett, believes his class has taught Jenny Kwon communication. “While that is not what I teach, she has gained much from having to work with others in the lab and in class for her to be successful,” Tollett said. “I have seen her grow from a timid, intelligent new student into a strong, formidable one willing to take risks.” Like many other seniors, Jenny Kwon is still deciding what career path she wants to take, but currently, she plans to major in chemistry at the University of North Texas. “I wanted to go to A&M but I got a full scholarship to UNT,” Kwon said. “My parents [didn’t] want to pay a lot of money, so that’s why I chose UNT.” In the future, Jenny Kwon is looking at possibly going into the medical field.
“[I’ll do] nursing probably [because] that’s what my dad wants me to do,” Jenny Kwon said. “I don’t really like English or literature, so I will probably study more in science and math. That’s where you can earn a lot of money [and have a] good job.” Even with her parent’s pressure in choosing the “right” career path, Barrenechea believes this will not be an obstacle for Jenny Kwon. “I feel like she’s going to find a way to prove to her parents that she can be really good,” Barrenechea said. “[Her] goal is just go to college and do good.” Despite Jenny Kwon’s uncertainty, Barrenechea gives her full support for all her potential plans. “She has the potential to do whatever she wants,” Barrenechea said. “She thinks she’s not smart, she thinks she’s not doing good in school but, oh, she is. I know she’s going to be great at whatever she does.”
ross romero
photo & profile by darcey rydl
the roar | seniors | 5
friday, may 13, 2016
SENIOR SALUTES SAM
While I am super excited to move onto the next chapter of my life, I’m dreading move in day when I have to say goodbye to you. I have no idea how I’m going to make it through next year without living with you. Thanks for being my best friend and the greatest little sister I could ever ask for. Here are a few of the most important things I’ve learned throughout high school. First and foremost, balance is key. School is and will get hard, and while its important to get your work done, it is almost equally as important to have fun and enjoy yourself. Sometimes cramming for a test or editing your essay one more time isn’t as important as going to dinner with friends or doing what makes you happiest in the present. That being said, it is also really important to work hard. You can accomplish anything with strong willpower and a strong work ethic. Secondly, always stay true to yourself and the people who love you. Mom and Dad really are your #1 fans and are right at least 99% of the time. There’s always going to be people who don’t support you or your success, but for every person who tries to bring you down, you have twice as many people who love you and want the best for you. Never change to please others. You are incredibly funny, beautiful, intelligent and strong. Don't think anything less of yourself. Thirdly, always remember that while you can’t control situations, you can always control how you react to them. If you approach situations with a positive, kind and open attitude, you can find happiness in any problem. Fourthly, never stop learning. Sometimes high school can take away the enjoyment of learning, but always remember that you can learn both in and out of the classroom-whether it be from people, situations or new experiences. It’s important to keep an open mind and learn often. Finally, don’t be scared to be a little selfish. Sometimes to be happy you have to do what’s best for you and that’s 100% okay. I am so proud of the person that you are, and incredibly blessed to call you my little sister!! Always remember that even though we’ll be 100s of miles apart next year, I’m only a phone call away.
MARIA
BELLA AND CHAD NGUYEN
Seniors BELLA bid a final farewell to their freshman siblings
Take care of Camille when I am gone and don’t yell at her too much. Play lots of tennis with Dad so he stays in shape and stays happy. Do well in school and just make Mom and Dad proud.
CHAD
DARRION AND DERRICK ELDER
DARRION
Good luck surviving high school! You'll soon learn many things (like how to make your own sandwich) that you've never known before. It'll seem stressful at times but you can do it! Love you bucket head.
MARIA & SAM DE FIGUEIREDO
DERRICK
6 | seniors | the roar
friday, may 1
off to great places ALABAMA
IOWA
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Auburn, AL
Allen Lambert
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Tuscaloosa, AL
Cooper Atkinson
WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY Malik Williams
LOUISIANA
LOUISIANA STATE
TROY UNIVERSITY
Troy, AL
Makayla Baudoin
Oskalooska, IA
Mason Nasser
Baton Rouge, LA
NORTHWESTERN STATE
ARKANSAS
Jasmyn Steels
Natchitoches, LA
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Heath Nesbitt Sidney Williams
Aiden Terry
Fayetteville, AR
MINNESOTA
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECH.
Pasadena, CA
Erika Salzman
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY Long Beach, CA
Christopher Jones
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Berkeley, CA
Eric Pillai
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, CA
Simon Kapler
UNIV. OF COLORADO SPRINGS Colorado Springs, CO
COLORADO STATE UNIV. Tori Eidson
Fort Collins, CO Max Garza
CONNECTICUT YALE UNIVERSITY Marley Hays
Noah Langley
New Haven, CT
Northfield, MN
MISSOURI
MISSOURI VALLEY Cody Giles
Marshall, MI
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Olivia Garrett
Columbia, MI
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
St. Louis, MI
LACKAWANNA COLLEGE
Kaleb Siverly
Sammy McKenzie
Las Vegas, NV
NEW JERSEY
Princeton, NJ
NORTH CAROLINA
ILLINOIS
Mount Olive, NC
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV.
Stillwater, OK
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
NORTHEASTERN STATE
Stephanie Palazzolo
Christian Hunter
Chicago, IL
Erie, PA
Maggie Pourrajabi
TENNESSEE
Tahlequah, OK
BLINN COLLEGE - BRENHAM Brianna Gooden Dee Terrell
Alexis Adams Maria Ajanel Sadaf Ali Lindsey Alford Aranza Barrenechea Dania Barrenechea
Pancho Mackin-Plankey
Chance Bass Sam Beal Brandon Becker Clayton Bounds Jared Cathey Kaleb Chandler
Nashville, TN
TEXAS
Abilene, TX
Victor Huff
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLL.
Austin, TX
Jeremy Dantone
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Jamey Walker
Waco, TX
Caroline Zerbe
Brenham, TX
Trumecia Sweed Bekah Walker
BLINN COLLEGE - BRYAN
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIV.
OKLAHOMA Jill Cope
Scranton, PA
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Mikel Giles
Savannah, GA
Pittsburgh, PA
Steven Wang
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
UNIV. OF MOUNT OLIVE
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
PENNSYLVANIA CARNEGIE MELLON UNIV.
NEVADA
Yusha Sun
GEORGIA Ester Araujo
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
Maria de Figueiredo
COLORADO Monsef Oukil
Lafayette, LA
Destinee Drosche Antonaya Dschida
Haley Dupre Mariela Escamilla Derrick Elder Christina Fogle Andrea Garcia Marcela Garcia
Bryan, TX
Yohanna Garcia Ananda George Macala Gold Tiffany Gomez Mal Gonzales Jazzlyn Gonzales Travis Gonzales Trevor Gonzales Lyndi Hall
Mohamed Ibrahim
Michael Ivey Caleb Luke Asher Hathaway Heston Havel
Quaneshia Hawkins
Ashlee Henning Stormi Holster Justin Hyatt Antyvoria Jack Tasha Jannat
Annica Johnson Hunter Johnson James Johnson
Kaleigh Kavanaugh
Matthew Key Chatos Kims Hannah Leventis Emily Lindner Katie Lockett Nicole Lovingshimer
Angelica Macias Jami Martin Finnian McCann Roscoe McGregor
Sara McKinney Leiandra McNeil Amanda Moore Mike Moore Maddy Newman Chyann Norwood
Alexis Oaks Ryen Owens
Chris Peters
Frakeedra Powell Kennedy Preziosi
Jasmyn Price Bailey Radcliffe Ayden Rodriguez
Eric Ross Kylee Rudder Susie Saca Brittany Serna Ariel Sheil Austin Smith Kia Smith
Adrianna Sneathen
Kathleen Stipe Brianna Stricklin Miguel Vazquez Braden Wallace A’daijah Waters Paige Westra Tamisha Williams Coy Winder
HOUSTON COMM. COLLEGE Matthew Luna
Houston, TX
the roar | seniors | 7
3, 2016
SOUTHWESTERN UNIV.
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Kennon Williams
Keuna Webster
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY Kristen Akin Jessica Almand Makenzie Beamon
Janie Beyer Ryan Bevan Ashley Bolton Samuel Borroni Bryson Bounds Erica Branham Juliann Braun Kayla Brock Zachary Browne
Whitney Browning
Rachel Cathey Sara Cathey Michaela Cheyne Connor Countryman
Aaron Crum Harrison Curtis Tara De Leon Taylor Derr Prasmit Devkota Kyra Dotson Jaden Drisdale Robin Ealy Matthew Eckhart Olivia Farrell Harrison Fexer Jordan Gantt Kyra Gates Joseph Gerescher
Abby Giese Diya Girimaji Sidney Glasshoff Gerardo Gonzales
MCCLENNAN JUNIOR COLL.
Waco, TX
Dayden Lane
Hyeeun Han Lauren Hanlon Jacob Harp Jessika Harris Tara Hennigar Dean Hennings Victoria Hermann
Mason Hickson
College Station, TX
David Hildebrandt
Wesley Holmes Kaitlyn Hooks Peyton James Josh Kim Swathi Kommein Christi Koufteros Kenedi Kruger Sam Kubeczka Jenna Leland Adrianna McCaskill Madison McCorkle
Reagan McGinnis Sierra Ortega Garrett Peters Erica Peterson Calvin Phinney Angel Pourrajabi Tyler Reim Valerie Rodriguez Max Russo Darcey Rydl Tonie Sahm Danielle Scott Madeline Sears Kelsey Sevcik Allison Shaffer Kyubin Shim Haley Slocum Patrick Sorescu Sidney Springer Elyssa Stebbins Taylor Stephenson
Hannah Stewart Connor Thomas Rachel Tindall Ian Tremblay Gaby Valles Josh Vessell Fallon Wenck
Connor Witkowski Amanda Zalmanek
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Lubbock, TX
Abbie Altman
A BREAKDOWN OF THE CLASS OF 2016’S FUTURE
TRINITY UNIVERSITY
San Antonio, TX
Jonathan Chapman TJ Raniszeski
Tyler, TX
DayDay Davis
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Windsor Liu
Houston, TX
Katie Giletto
UNIV. OF MARY HARDIN Donavon Malone
Belton, TX
Ryan Nicholson
UNIV. OF NORTH TEXAS Jared Earnest Dalton Kupferer Jenny Kwon Molly Leach
Denton, TX
John Martin Selena Ortiz
Nathan Speakman
UNIV. OF TEXAS ARLINGTON Brenna Briles
Arlington, TX
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS Sarab Bains Matthew Barondeau
Paige Braun Alex Cantrell Karlo Capareda Leonor Castro David Gan Ras Goodwyn Catherine Haberl Amanda Herrera
Mary Steiner
Brett Stevens
TEXAS A&M - GALVESTON
Bitty Ransom Kiana Essix Torri Hammond
Kelsia Jenkins Xavier Stanford
RICE UNIVERSITY Minha Kim
SAM HOUSTON Brandi Gomez Miranda Gomez Preston Pearson
Houston, TX
Raymond Tjhia
Huntsville, TX
Andrew Rhodes Ben Sasser Leigha Simple
SOUTHERN METHODIST Nicolas Farmer
Dallas, TX
Galveston, TX
TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE
UTAH STATE
Alexander Ober
Oxford, England
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIV.
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM
Niall Creager
Filipe Castro
Seguin, TX
TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL Weston Bishop Gabe Cadena
Waco, TX
Cooper Starman
Amsterdam, Netherlands
UNIV. OF BRITISH COLOMBIA Maria Sottile
Vancouver, Canada
8%
undecided/ other
3% 2%
workforce
Logan, UT
Ryan Forsyth
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Junior Herrera
to find out their plans for next fall.
UTAH
TEXAS A&M - SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio, TX
323 seniors
Kelsey Shuttlesworth
INTERNATIONAL
Tyri Merchant
The Roar contacted
Canyon, TX
Kingsville, TX
Bobby Jones Jr.
higher education
San Antonio, TX
Jamyra Macintosh
Priscilla Davis
87%
UNIV. OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO
William Raffield
My’Eshia Curry Ryan Gage
5.4%
Dallas, TX
Chad Nguyen Alex Rosario Madison Shaffer
Prairie View, TX
7.9%
UNIV. OF TEXAS DALLAS
David Trevino
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIV.
10.1%
Sydney Pham Megan Reynolds Angela Wu Ann Yue Annie Zhang
PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE
Paris, TX
26.3% 26.0% 5.9%
Marisol Menendez
WEST TEXAS A&M UNIV.
Nicholas Vasquez William Vaughn
Austin, TX
Tyler Kuo Albert Li Ellen Li
TEXAS A&M - CORPUS
Corpus Christi, TX
MOST POPULAR SCHOOLS
TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE
NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
Gainesville, TX
the road ahead
NURSING
Nacogdoches, TX
BUSINESS
Brooke Shirley
ENGINEERING
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE
San Marcos, TX
top three majors
Georgetown, TX
military AIR FORCE
GAP YEAR/MISSION/ETC.
Ross Romero
Michael Gally Dylan Pooch
ARMY
Beatrice Altiner
Matthew Mendez
MARINE CORPS Sean Galle Alex Hanners
David Pham
Jasmyn Waren Alex Acton
WORKFORCE Anna Eggebrecht
Kai Everett Haley Gray Rodney Jernigan
Abrar Khan Jolie Kingman Noah Phillips Kimi Woodworth
8 | seniors | the roar
friday, may 13, 2016
SENIOR SURVEYS CLASS OF 2016 FAVORITE NOVELS
FAVORITE YEAR
“In a world of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Every teacher has coffee. - JANIE BEYER
SENIOR 210 JUNIOR
“A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you.”
36
SOPHOMORE 45
“I knew that it was better to live out one’s own absurdity than to die for that of others.”
FRESHMAN 30
I found where I belonged. - DALTON KUPFERER Not stressful. Very carefree. - KYRA DOTSON I met several of my closest friends. - BRYSON BOUNDS
FAVORITE TEACHERS MATT YOUNG
FAVORITE SCIENCE TEACHER
MONICA BOZEMAN JASON PRATT
FAVORITE MATH TEACHER
FAVORITE HISTORY TEACHER
CHAUNCEY LINDNER
FAVORITE ENGLISH TEACHER
KATHY FISHER
FAVORITE ELECTIVE TEACHER
AARON HOGAN
FAVORITE ADMINISTRATOR
JILL FAITH
MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER
the roar | seniors | 9
friday, may 13, 2016
ADVICE
“Find your passion and work hard to be great at it.” - Tara De Leon “You fools, do not procrastinate!” - Albert Li “Make sure to keep your grades up and finish strong, but never forget to also have fun this last year. Cherish the high school life while it’s still here.” - David Hildebrandt “It feels like a lot of stuff is ending, but in reality, many things are beginning.” - Pancho Mackin-Plankey
from the class of 2016 For Hannah Stewart:
1
INTERACTIVES
3
2 4
6
5
because why not?
7
Wondering what to do with your paper (when you’re done reading it, of course)?
8
1. Treasure it forever. 2. Recycle. By giving it to a friend. 3. Start a classroom discussion on your favorite (or least favorite) article. 4. Save it for later to do some sick paper mâché. 5. High quality bedding for your hamster. 6. Pack into boxes as a bubble wrap alternative (@ seniors moving into dorms). 7. Use as a fire starter when you burn all your homework after finals. 8. Make this dope fortune teller:
9
10
11
1. ACROSS 3. French club’s elite language competition team 5. Principal with over six thousand twitter followers 6. Tech teacher who gave a TED talk 8. Stadium where Tigers played 3rd round playoff against Fort Bend Ridge Point 9. Semi-annual improvisation showdown 10. Everyone’s favorite newspaper 11. Librarian with snacks DOWN 1. Ghost in the CTE halls 2. Faculty speaker on the twentieth anniversary of her graduation 4. Montague’s rivals in staple Freshman English play 6. Mystical place, bad advice for freshman 7. Abbr. ponytailed CTE teacher 10. Mascot’s name
2.
3.
(turn over) 4.
5.
6.
10 | seniors | the roar
friday, may 13, 2016
editor -in-chief
news editor news editor
DARCEY RYDL
Senior struggles to accept college decision There are only two types of people in College Station: those who are obsessively crazy Aggie fans and those who cannot wait to get out of this place. As a child, I would place myself in the former category. I can clearly recall the moment my grandpa took me up to the highest deck of the A&M football stadium for the first time. Not only was the view spectacular, but there was an usher, who to this day, I still remember asked, “Are you going to be an Aggie when you grow up?” Without hesitation, I had replied, “Of course.” Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by Aggie traditions, A&M this, A&M that; I honestly thought that I HAD to go to A&M because it was just what my family did. At that point in my life, I didn’t even care. A&M it was. Entering high school, however, I swiftly shifted to the latter category. I longed for new culture and a clean slate. When seniors announced they were going to A&M, I remember asking myself why they would want to stay here. I craved to get out of this place, hopefully this entire state. Honestly, I am still struggling to fully turn this part of my thought process off permanently. I will admit I still cringe to myself when I learn about other students going all over the U.S. and the world. I discretely have a moment when I’m like, “That could be me. That should be me.” I was really close to going out of state, too. For the entire fall semester, my mind was set on RIT, Rochester Institute of Technology. Then I began to panic. I realized the fact that A&M is in College Station was the leading reason I marked it off my list. With the support of my mom, I applied, but not without a grouchy face. However, this attitude was entirely wrong. No matter how hard I ignore it, this small, boring town is all I’ve actually known. It is the only place I can legitimately say I have lived in. I believe I have a right to dislike it at times, just as loving families fight, because I know it has a place in my heart; it’s given me life for almost 18 years. My family,
my friends, everything I know is associated with this place. Before I go on for too long, I will attend Texas A&M University. These are reasons I’ve learned to accept my decision and stop feeling bad for myself for being a normal, usual kid from College Station going to A&M, just as everyone assumes I’m going to do. I absolutely hate it when people avoid asking me where I am going and just assume, “A&M, right?” I wish I could get back at them and say, “Well no, actually, you’re wrong. I’m going to this place, out of the state and away from home, and I’m not scared a bit.” Out of all the universities I have searched (a lot is an understatement), A&M has one thing that is most important to me: a great International Studies program. That’s what college is for, right? To major in what you want. In addition, all the money I would have been using at RIT, I am planning on using for more study abroad opportunities at A&M. Technically, because I will study abroad, I won’t even be at A&M all four years, so what’s the problem? There is a sense of shame I have when I see my name against the other hundreds of people attending A&M. It does not make me feel unique and, in a way, makes me feel like all the hard work I spent over the last four years is wasted when I have the potential to go somewhere else, experience something new, get out of my comfort zone. But this is a personal problem. I get it. And I’m sure we all have our share of these. Ending this column with an “Oh, I’ve finally accepted my decision. I can’t wait for the fall” would be a complete lie. Instead, I will try to take the advice of one of the seniors before me that I can only accept whatever change the university gives me. So, as I begin a new chapter in my life, I pray that whatever choice I make will be the right one. And I will appreciate whatever change A&M has in store for me. Darcey will attend Texas A&M University, majoring in international studies and spanish.
ANNIE ZHANG
Community imparts advice to senior Fifteen days. That’s it. Fifteen days until graduation, until I embark on a new journey in life, until the final summer before I have to physically leave everything I’ve known so far in my life — my friends, my family and even my town. By now, you’d think I had it all down. I was the confused girl who took a deep breath and walked through the door on the morning of her very first day, and now I’m one of the leaders of the school. I should be writing down all my advice to give to the underclassman... ...problem is, I don’t have any that any of y’all would listen to (ex. I would tell you to not procrastinate, but to no avail: for here I am, writing this three hours before deadline). What I do have, though, is a multitude of advice I’ve gleaned from those around me in the past eighteen years. Perhaps these will help you as much as they helped me. *** No one has had more influence on my life than my mother. Stubborn, blunt and absolutely hilarious, she always has a way to turn rain into sunshine. “Don’t forget about your family! We’re here for you!” she always yells. “And don’t forget to call!” Mrs. Faith has been one of my most influential teachers. Besides teaching me chemistry and living up to her name (literally), here’s one piece of advice you’ll definitely want to listen to: “It is inevitable that you will have hard times in your life. Just remember that you are growing stronger to support others during their difficult moments. Also, be sure to let people who you cherish know how you really feel about them.” He’s not really one to talk, but some things my dad is really passionate about are thunderstorms. “Continue to watch the storms,” he told me one night during a raging storm, “even when I’m not there.” “Hey! Share that with me!” That’s my little brother, asking me to share everything with him. And by doing so, he’s taught me
compassion, love and joy. What’s the fun in keeping everything to yourself? The girl who’s been with me from beginning to end is amazing. I don’t even know how she manages to balance everything, and even when nothing seems to be working out, she makes it happen. I can’t even think of how to properly thank her for standing by me all these years, but she’ll just laugh and tell me, “You’ve got this” with a thumbs-up. One of the strongest women in my life is my grandma. As a young girl who grew up in Communist China, she managed to get an education in one of the largest cities in China (despite not even knowing Mandarin) and later became a professor. Yep, a female professor in a country where more than half of the people were uneducated. “Use your voice,” she’d tell you. “That’s what your mouth’s for.” My newspaper staff is my second family. They’ve taught me perseverance (saying deadline days are rough is an understatement). But we’re such an animated and beautiful group of people who’ve learned how to survive the highest ups and the lowest downs. “Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.” *** Sometimes, as I’m listening to my parents argue about who should turn on the T.V., I think, “Fifteen days left of this mess.” Yet late at night, when I have trouble falling asleep, I can’t help but think about those fifteen days, fifteen days before I no longer will be sleeping in my bed, covered with stuffed animals and layers of blankets. But maybe that’s okay. Maybe that’s totally okay, because in fifteen days, I’ll leave with the advice of giants beneath me. And hopefully, eventually you’ll gain your own mountain of advice and love. Best of luck! Annie will attend University of Texas in Austin this fall, majoring in chemistry.
the roar |seniors | 11
friday, may 13, 2016
managing editor
entertainment editor
STEPHANIE PALAZZOLO
OLIVIA GARRETT
Dear Mom, Ever since I read the predicted traits of an Aquarius (read: mysterious, emotionally detached — ironic, because the only mysterious thing about me is how I’ve managed to fall down the main staircase five times during my high school career), I’ve been especially skeptical of any sort of astrological prediction. However, I’ve never been able to forget your words to me — “It’s simple, Stephanie,” you blurted out during a fight. “I was born in the year of the Sheep, and you’re a Rabbit. We’re just incompatible.” It was a statement that sounds ridiculous in retrospect, but we were seemingly so different that a part of me started to believe you. You were strong, commanding attention and explanations, while I always seemed to fade into the background, terrified of confrontation. You were all angles, sharp laughter and biting remarks, and I was opposite, fumbling around, leaving dirty clothes on the floor and tripping over my own feet. Usually, I wondered how we were even related. In fact, I’d never describe us as a very touchy pair — when I was a kid, I somehow assumed that you were constantly suffering from a cold and that was why you weren’t particularly fond of hugging or kissing people. Then, one day while I was digging around in some drawers, I found a decades-old love letter you wrote to my dad and a collection of old photos. Reading the broken English, I felt the emotion behind your words despite the language barrier — but more than that, I saw myself. A new immigrant to America, you were scared and alone, separated from your family by over 8,000 miles and lost in a land where you knew neither the people nor the culture. As I flipped through scrapbooks, I saw a photo of an unrecognizable girl standing in front of courthouse during her first day in America and another of her posing in high-waisted jeans and oversized glasses with her sister, carrying a wrapped-up baby
When I move away next fall, I’ll have to say goodbye to the couch and my bedroom window, as well as the unreliable wifi. As a rather sentimental person, I know I’m going to miss everything, from the chest in the living room to that one streak in the hardwood floor. But there is one thing, well four things, that I know I’m going to the miss the more than any inanimate objects. I have three younger sisters and one younger brother, Emily, Ellie, Abby and Jennings, and though I often moan and gripe, I can’t imagine what it will be like to sleep 12 hours away from them. My sister Emily is bossy. She’s always telling me what to do and giving me unsolicited advice. Countless times, I’ve found myself about ready to just scream, “I WAS BORN FIRST!”. Unfortunately for me, Emily isn’t just bossy, she’s almost always right. That’s the most annoying part. No one likes being chided by their younger sibling. No one. Despite my reluctance to do so, I’d like to thank you, Emily, for being the responsible one. I have no idea what I’m going to do in a few months when I don’t have you to fall back on. I’m also going to miss your jokes. You have that subtle sense of humor where you just speak your mind and seconds later the entire family is cracking up around the dinner table. My next sister, Ellie, is extremely smart. She’s not too flashy with her intelligence either. She just knows things. Furthermore, she has an amazing memory, a gift that I sometimes wish she didn’t have, especially when she brings up something embarrassing I did when I was ten. To you, Ellie, I’d like to say that I’m so proud of you. With your intelligence and your confidence, I have no doubt that you’ll succeed. And, I don’t mean that in the cheesy, shoot for the stars, way. I mean
Daughter reflects on love for mother — me. In all of the photos, though, was an ever-present sense of apprehension, like you were always wondering what obstacle you would run into next. And as I head to Chicago for school next fall, I can’t help but share some small inkling of the fear you must have had as a Chinese immigrant. In four months, I, the girl who made her dad stay in her room until she fell asleep until she was seven and who still leaves a trail of lighted rooms whenever she moves around the house at night, will be living in a city 27 times the size of College Station. And honestly, I’m scared of leaving you. I’m scared of losing those all-nighters where you would appear in my room at 1 AM, offering to decorate my history poster. I’m scared of losing those long conversations about college and my future and just life in general. I’m scared of losing your hilarious mispronunciations of “avocado,” your obsession with weird Asian dating shows and your amazing three-pointers. I’m scared that I won’t be able to tell you how much I appreciate you and the traits you’ve passed onto me — your motivation, your passion for life, your selflessness (which, as you’ve reminded me, I need to work on a little). In some ways, we’re more similar than I thought. So even if you aren’t outwardly affectionate, Mom, I’ve never doubted your love for me. You might not show it with hugs and kisses, but with so much more. You showed it when you made me write college application essays instead of going out to see a movie. You showed it when you traveled across an ocean in search of a better life for yourself and your future children. (P.S. I looked up the Chinese relationship of Rabbits and Sheep, and you were actually wrong — it turns out that we’re highly compatible. So maybe, we’re not so different after all.) Stephanie will attend the University of Chicago this fall, majoring in economics.
Sister bids farewell to younger siblings that you are so put together and hardworking that there is no way that you won’t end up happy (and probably more financially secure than the rest of us). Abby is my youngest sister and if I had to describe her in one word, that word would be friendly. Abby can make anyone smile and does so all the time. And though I often yell at her to get out of my room, I enjoy spending time with her. One would think that as the fourth child, you, Abby, would just blend into the background. But no, you’re the most memorable of the Garrett children and I have trouble staying angry at you because you’re just so bubbly. I think that you will be the adventurous sibling, you’re going to be the one that things happen to and the one who will always have a good story to tell at family gatherings. Last, but not least, is the youngest, Jennings. None of my sisters would hesitate to agree that Jennings is a know-it-all. As the baby of the family and the only boy, Jennings has to talk louder and more often than the rest of us to be heard (which he does... often). But more than anything, Jennings, you are sweet. You are so considerate. I am upset that I won’t be able to watch you grow up like I have with all of the sisters. You’re still only nine and for at least the next four years, I won’t even live in the same state as the one you will be growing and maturing in. That crushes me. I can’t imagine what I’ll experience in the coming months, but I know that I will feel a twinge of regret when my family drops me off at my dorm room. I am so disappointed that unlike the furniture, when I come back to visit them, they will not have stayed the same. Olivia will attend the University of Missouri this fall, majoring in journalism.
a class of
LEGENDS