October 2013 Underneath the Hurt

MARQUEE THE

Volume 28 | Issue 1 | Oct. 4, 2013 | mhsmarquee.com

Underneath the hurt

MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL | 5707 MORRISS ROAD. FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028

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Students share ambitious dreams for their futures

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The Marquee provides tips for what to do instead of Homecoming

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Film crew dedicates time to recording football practices and games

Table of Contents

cover design/graphic illustration Sydney Sund

The Marquee [newsmagazine] Editor in Chief Marisa Charpentier

Managing Editor Amanda Collen

Design Editor Hailey Painter

News & Feature Editor Madison Ermenio

Asst. News & Feature Editor Miranda Chiechi

In-depth Editor Marisa Charpentier

Entertainment Editor Anna Middleton photo Miranda Chiechi

Feature

Opinion Editor Madi Schwem

Sports Editor Austin Rickerson

[7] BEHIND THE LENS Junior creates short film production company and enters competitions.

Graphics Editor Sydney Sund

Photo Editor Kady Kohankie

story Miranda Chiechi

Business Manager Hailey Painter

News

Social Media Editors Patricia Qualls, Samantha King, Sydney Sund

Online Editors

[4] TECH TALK Students and teachers react to district-wide technology changes.

Alyssa Schmidt, Ben Horton

Reporters Madison Ermenio, Austin Rickerson, Miranda Chiechi, Alyssa Schmidt, Madi Schwem, Anna Middleton, Jaime Hardison, Victoria Price, Adam Hernandez, Patricia Qualls, Allie Loder, Molly Webber, Megan O’hearn, Alex Helm, Samantha King, Rachel Ramirez, Marisa Charpentier

story Jaime Hardison

Entertainment [15] SUBS AND SUCH The Marquee reviews local sandwich shops on basis of flavor and service. story Madison Ermenio

Designers Sydney Sund, Amanda Collen, Hailey Painter, Tori Allmendinger, Jackie Higgins, Lyndsay Hilton

Photographers Amanda Collen, Kady Kohankie, Ben Horton, Miranda Chiechi, Jackie Higgins, Luisa Diaz, William Legrone

Adviser LaJuana Hale

Principal Gary Shafferman

Sports [19] HEAD TO HEAD Football players and coaches apply new concussion rules. story Adam Hernandez

The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class.

The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression.

The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate.

All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author.

Advertising rates are $70 per 1/8 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-713-5196.

The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

NEWS 3 photo William Legrone

New law allows for less testing, more options story Victoria Price Students are taking less standardized tests this year, and new graduation requirements will be put in place because of recent state legislation.

The Texas Legislature passed House Bill 5 over the summer, decreasing the number of required End of Course tests. Rather than the previous 15, students only need to pass five to graduate.

English I, English II, Algebra, Biology and U.S. History are the only courses that will now have EOC exams. Also, the English and Reading EOC test will now be combined into one single English-Language Arts test. The tests will be given when the course is completed, not by grade level.

“We firmly believe the over-reliance on a ‘one-day’ multiple choice test doesn’t demonstrate true learning,” Superintendent Dr. Stephen Waddell said in a LISD website statement. “Focusing our instruction on the state’s latest multiple choice test is not in the best interest of students when our desire is for our students to learn beyond the minimum of what the state dictates.”

Last year there was a total of 185 EOC, AP and PSAT tests given at the school, interrupting 45 out of 185 days of school.

With this new policy, there will only be approximately 20 days of state testing.

The new law also gives teachers more instructional time that will not be interrupted by testing schedules.

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

“This isn’t something we have seen or dealt with before, so we’re not sure the effect it will have,” testing coordinator Brenda Glidewell said. “The new requirements should work for the benefit of the students.”

When the current juniors were in ninth grade, students that failed tests were not required to retake them. According to the law, now those students are required to pass those tests to graduate. Assistant Principal Todd Knowles said that tests will be much more difficult, considering that there could be a two year time period between when students took the course and when they retake the test.

This year, teachers are able to look at the tests before their release to allow them to properly prepare students. Knowles said he believes that this will have a positive impact on the students’ scores.

“I think success rates are going to go up,” Knowles said.

“You can’t prepare for a program if you don’t know what the program is.”

Sophomore Anna Wedler said that the material covered in class will be more accurate in terms of what is on the test.

“It seems like what you learn in class is always different than what is on the EOC,” Wedler said.

In addition, House Bill 5 will change the basic graduation requirements, beginning in the 2014 school year. The current 4x4 graduation plan requires four reading, math, science and history credits. This new program will require three credits each for English, math, science and social

studies. Students will instead, be able to take other classes called endorsements, which are career focused classes.

“The endorsements should be good because now you don’t have to take the classes that aren’t relevant for your plans in the future,” freshman Landry Turner said.

Some of these endorsement areas are science, engineering, business and industry, arts and humanities and multidisciplinary studies. The new program can possibly remove the requirement to take English IV and a fourth science. English IV could be replaced with another stateapproved English course.

“Whenever the state revises its graduation plan and assessment requirements, many high school students get caught in that transition,” Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams said in an online statement.

Because of this, the freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are currently in the 4x4 program will be able to choose if they want to switch to the new policy.

“The new graduation requirements are good for students who already have their future planned out,” Wedler said.

“For those kids who aren’t sure what they want to do yet, it could just stress them out.”

House Bill 5 will impact students, teachers and administrators around the district and state.

“Like every program we’ve had, this will take some changes,” Knowles said. “In the end, these changes should allow our students to be better prepared for the future.” design Amanda Collen

4 NEWS

School transitions to heavier reliance on technology Hovde said.

According to Loughborough, it’s easier for The new influx of technology has created students to adapt to the changes, and apply controversy within the Marcus walls. them in the classroom.

“Students don’t learn the same way now Students and faculty are trading in their loose sheets of paper for electronic tablets. IPads, than they did a few years ago,” Loughborough Macs, online football tickets and Google Docs said. “You all are so in tune with technology. are all devices and applications that have It’s a way of life.”

The iPads that underclassmen have come from this switch.

“We have to prepare students and received can be used for various projects teachers for this technology,” Assistant and online quizzes. With the use of Google Docs, students Principal Dorrie can collaborate Loughborough said. on assignments “And it’s been a from home. And challenge.” football tickets This increased “Everyone is trying to be technology are now sold dependence on savvy, but the upperclassmen online, instead of technology in the in the commons classroom has are almost handicapped in a way during lunch. proved to be difficult because we can’t do that.” “[Technology] for both students and is great, and I faculty.

According get a free iPad.” to AP World History sophomore teacher Ty Kelly, Alyssa Pellegreen teachers must be said. “I can also able to integrate this take pictures of my assignments on the iPad.” technology into their curriculum.

However, students are not all in favor of the “Technology itself is becoming more and more seamlessly integrated into our everyday changes made in the learning environment.

“I feel like [technology] is useless in the lives,” Kelly said. “You must learn to adapt or classroom,” sophomore Ben Harper said. be left in the dust.”

This change stemmed from the 1 to x “I feel like certain classes don’t really need Initiative, a district plan that encourages it. It’s not actually as helpful as more of a classrooms to move to the paperless route. It hindrance.”

Kelly said he believes that not every class has provided iPads to fourth, seventh, ninth needs this technology and the devices can and tenth grades, and Macs for teachers.

Training for teachers has been provided to be distracting. He also said that the ability enable them to improve the use of technology to access thousands of apps can become detrimental to focus in the classroom. in their classrooms. “[Technology] is beneficial, but there “A lot of teachers are still stuck in the way that they used to do things, and change is a place and a time for it,” he said. “The sometimes is hard,” Physics teacher Adam temptation to bypass the teachers’ request is story Jaime Hardison

Nathalia Simonetti, 11

photo Luisa Diaz Sophomore Cristian Castillo enjoys games and apps on his iPad, passing time in the library while waiting for the first bell of the day to ring. very tempting.”

But for other students, the absence of the iPad has prevented them from having these opportunities.

While iPads were given to freshman and sophomores, juniors and seniors were never included in the plan. Only ninth and tenth graders were ever supposed to receive them.

Many of these upperclassmen believe that classes would be easier if they had.

“It’s really annoying because I had one last year, and it was really useful in the classroom,” junior Nathalia Simonetti said.

“You could take notes much easier, look things up, and together as a class you can do things and discuss.”

Some of these older students have bitter feelings about being left out, especially when looking at it through a “seniority” point of view.

“Everyone is trying to be technology savvy, but the upperclassmen are almost handicapped in a way because we can’t do that,” Simonetti said.

As for the benefits, teachers have been working to ensure students do not become too dependent on technology.

“There has to be a balance between old and new,” Loughborough said. “[Technology] doesn’t mean we throw out old methods of teaching either because you still have to learn to think for yourself.”

Marauder Musings How do you feel about the changes in technology this school year?

“I like it because every year I’ve incorporated technology, but... my juniors and seniors don’t have iPads. They’re at a huge disadvantage now.”

“I just want an iPad. I deserve an iPad because I’m going to be a senior next year, an upperclassman.”

“It’s kind of like combining everything into one, so you don’t have to worry about papers.”

compiled Jaime Hardison photos Jacqueline Higgins

Maci Collins, 10 design Tori Allmendinger

James Lake, 11

Jan Hutley, Chemistry Qct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

NEWS 5

Speaking out on Syria

Students, teachers debate about U.S. involvement in Middle East story Patricia Qualls

Most students know where they’re going to be next fall, whether they’re at college or back for another year of high school. However, senior Franklin Weed, who is in the Marine Corps’ Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP), could be stationed anywhere--Greece, Afghanistan or possibly Syria.

“It’s kind of just the waiting game,” Weed said.

Syria is one of his more dangerous options because of the civil war that began in 2011. Since then, over 110,000 people have died, according to the United Nations.

Two years ago, President Barack Obama told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down due to his violent response to civil protests.

Thousands of people protested across the country, after the facebook page “Syrian Revolution 2011” was created. Many of these protesters were shot by Assad’s security forces which lead to further unrest. Assad met this unrest by releasing army tanks to protol the Syrian streets in order to stop the rebel protests.

After reports of thousands being killed by the use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21, 2013, Obama made a speech about potential military action against Syria.

In an attempt to use less drastic measures, on Sept. 14, an agreement was made between the United States, Syria and Russia to destroy the chemical weapons. On Sept. 27, 2013, the United Nations voted in favor of destroying Syria’s weapons.

Currently, the agreement does not allow for military action to occur.

However, if Syria does not fulfill the agreement, the use of force is still a possibility because the UN can hold a second vote.

Like with most political conflicts, there are many who see both positives and negatives in potentially entering Syria.

For military action “I think we should have a hand in it if he’s going to be killing his own people,” Weed said.

There are some who believe that the U.S. has the responsibility to help the rest of the world.

“Our country is a very powerful country,” World History teacher Becky Adkison said. “I think we do have an obligation because it’s always going to be for the sake of our national interest.”

The UN is sending investigators to seven sites where chemical weapons were used, including the one in a Damascus Suburb that occured on Aug. 21.

“The use of sarin gas was wrong,” Weed said. “If we’re going to be the world police, then we need to put boots on the ground.”

President Vladimir Putin wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times on Sept. 12, in which he warns the U.S. not to send in troops. Russia has made proposals where they are in charge of overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

However, some feel as though this isn’t a trustworthy resolution since Russia is allied with Syria and has its only Mediterranean naval fort located in Tartus.

“They’re both out to help each other,” Weed said. “Syria needs Russia and Russia needs Syria. If Russia says hide your weapons, they’re going to hide their weapons.”

In other conflicts in the Middle East in which the United States involved themselves, they have changed the existing regime to one that is seen as more democratic. There are some

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

who believe a regime change is necessary in Syria.

“Assad is a terrible dictator who needs to be overthrown by peaceful means,” junior Nathan Anderson said. “I would have the Syrian people establish their own government.”

The Civil War has also caused upwards of 1.3 million refugees to move into neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

“Marines aren’t always about knocking down doors and taking down the enemy,” Weed said. “I could definitely be sent over to Turkey to help give food and water to the Syrian Refugees.”

Reasons against military action “I really don’t think it’s going to happen unless we’re physically attacked somehow,” Adkison said.

The involvement of international powers such as Russia and China have caused some people to rethink military action.

“They have nuclear weapons just like we do,” junior Ashley Carter, president of the Young Conservatives Club, said. “It would just be a very unpleasant war when both sides have their fingers on the trigger to basically destroy everyone.”

As of April 2013, the Al-Qaeda associated group Al-Nursa combined with the rebel group called the Free Syrian Army.

“Why would we go in and help Al-Queda right after we came out of war with them?” Weed said.

There are those who are comparing Syria to past conflicts in which the US intervened and placed troops.

“We’d just become the exploiters of the country,” Anderson said. “That’s all we’ve ever done such as in Vietnam and the entire Cold War.” In 2001, President George Washington 43 declared a war on terrorism. Currently, the U.S. has close to 100,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, according to CNN. “I really don’t think it would have been a good idea to put boots on the ground because it would stretch our troops out,” Adkison said.

When it comes to changing the Assad regime, there are some who fear negative repercussions. Originally the Free Syrian Army was protesting Assad’s government for more democracy, which he promised in his 2000 election.

“I did support the overthrowing previously,” Adkison said.

“The problem is there’s no one to take his place. It would cause a vacuum of power.”

Assad is among the religious minority of Alawite, which is a sect of Shiite Islam which also combines elements of Christianity. Since the integration of Islamic extremists group Al-Nursa, the Civil War in Syria has become more of a religious war.

“If Assad is toppled then the rebel groups themselves will fight for power,” Adkison said. “The Christians would be upset too because they’re going to be victimized.” *** With over 5,000 casualties since the beginning of the war on terror, potential military personnel have fears about their future.

“My biggest fears are probably going into combat and dying,” Weed said. “No one’s really okay with dying.”

These concerns are transported from those who are enlisted to their friends and family around them. With some tours being anywhere from six months to one year, the opportunity to see family members is scarce.

“My mom’s a little sad that I’m going to go,” Weed said.

“But she’s extremely proud I’m making that decision.”

Thoughts on Syria Students who approve of an air strike Approve Don’t Approve

Approve

29%

71%

Students who believe Obama has keep us informed

Yes

26%

No

74% Students who approve of “boots on the ground” action Don’t -77% Approve Approve -26%

Students who watched Obama’s speeches on Syria

Did-44% Did not-56%

*300 students surveyed design Tori allmendinger

6 FEATURE Click here to watch a video of Cooper doing his first Rudi Out.

Going for gold Top gymnast learns new skills, contemplates Olympic dreams Freshman Cooper Winiger performs a double tuck at the 2013 Dallas Cup. Cooper placed first in his age group at this event.

photo submitted story Austin Rickerson It’s a countdown. Each passing moment brings freshman gymnast Cooper Winiger closer to attempting a Rudi Out, a skill he has never tried before. To say it’s difficult would be an understatement. A double front flip and 180 degree twist.

Any miscue could shatter a bone or put him out of actions for months.

Cooper jumps on the trampoline, increasing his height each time. The other gymnasts in his gym, the Palaestra, begin to gather around. They realize the magnitude of what Cooper is about to do. Time passes and tension builds. Eyes watch him intently. Cooper puts his bare arms by his sides. He’s about to go for it. Three. Two. One. But instead of taking that leap of faith, he stops.

A look of uneasiness covers his face. His trim, muscular body can do the skill, but his mind won’t let him try. Maybe it’s the possibility of injury that stops him, a memory of the concussion he sustained last week. Maybe it’s just the fear of trying something new. The fear of the unknown.

But Cooper knows he must get past it. He always does. He won’t let his fear define him. Once again, he begins to jump.

His teammates cheer him on. He works to push through this mental block. As Cooper attempts the Rudi Out for a second time, fear flees his mind. Here he goes again.

Three. Two. One. In a rush design Amanda Collen

of motion, he begins to twirl through the air, a blur to the naked eye. In an instant it is over. His audience explodes with applause. Cooper once again stands on the black, rectangular trampoline. Only now, he is beaming.

It’s this type of dedication and determination that led Cooper to be the back-to-back national champion for his age group. In 2009, he took gold in mini trampoline in San Jose, and the following year took gold in trampoline in Virginia Beach. Cooper is a level 10 gymnast, the highest rank before the junior Olympic level. He competes in three events trampoline, tumbling and mini trampoline.

Although he is unsure whether he will try out for the Olympic squad, Cooper said he at least plans to continue gymnastics for the next few years. The Olympics might only be the next step for Cooper. But there is no mistaking. It is an Olympic-sized step. He said that to make the Olympic team he would have to compete in elite meets. He would have to beat out other top gymnasts in the country to earn a spot.

“It’s kind of hard because there are so many people trying out,” Winiger said. “To go to the Olympics, I would have to get bigger skills, more twisting and flipping.”

Cooper became interested in the sport when he was just 7.

His dad, Scott Winiger, can still remember when Cooper did his first back handspring. The family was outside playing in the yard when his dad issued him a challenge.

“I said, ‘If I can do one, will you do one?’” Scott said. “I did one in the front yard, and he did one right after that. The next thing we knew, he was doing four and then seven, and on and on and on.”

However, gymnastics isn’t all gold and glory for Cooper. There are many challenges that come with it. His mother, Viki Winiger, said that school can be an obstacle for her son, given the workload of both his sport and his studies. Cooper is in all pre-AP classes, except for Biology.

He usually doesn’t get home until around 9:00 p.m. and doesn’t start his homework until around 10:00 p.m.

“Maintaining focus for school is really the hardest thing,” Viki said. “We battle it daily. One bad grade leads to studying like crazy for the rest of the week.”

Cooper practices four days and at least 15 hours a week and even more when it is close to a competition. Since Cooper’s sister is a competitive dancer, the Winigers are constantly going in different directions. Since they don’t get to see each other that much, Viki said it makes them value their time together even more.

“We’ll eat maybe two meals together a week, and that’s on a good week,” Viki said. “It makes our time together precious.”

Cooper has also had to sacrifice other hobbies

to stay in gymnastics. For example, Cooper played the clarinet in the middle school band, along with competing in gymnastics. However, he said he had to make a tough decision this year because both activities are extremely time consuming in high school.

“I was going to be in marching band this year, but I would have had to miss three to four months of gym,” Cooper said. “You can’t do that unless you want to start over. I decided to go with gymnastics instead.

Although it requires sacrifices of time and money, Cooper said it is all worth it.

He said that the people that surround him, like teammates and coaches, are what keep him in the sport. They are the people that make the sport fun, even when it is difficult. It’s those moments, like being encouraged while attempting the Rudi Out at practice, that make him cherish the relationships and friendships he has made over the years.

“The sport is hard,” Cooper said. “If I didn’t have people to motivate me, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t in gymnastics.”

photo Amanda Collen Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

FEATURE 7

60 seconds

Junior Alex Goff (right) directs as Coram Deo Academy sophomore Fernando Echeverria (left) films for their film company.

Tyler Stern, 11 compiled Molly Webber photo William Legrone

Lights, camera, action

photo Miranda Chiechi

Junior creates own film production company story Miranda Chiechi

What would your last words be?

“The treasure is hidden…”

What’s your favorite childhood Halloween costume?

“One time I went as a pumpkin. There was another pumpkin there. We had a fight.”

What sauce do you use for your ChickFil-A chicken nuggets?

“I’m a vegetarian. That offends me.”

If the number two pencil is the most used pencil, why is it still number two?

“The first is the worst. The second is what we use for tests.”

If you were a cheese, what type would you be, and why?

“American. It’s the most patriotic of the cheeses.”

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

Mark was going to steal his neighbor’s beautiful red and white 1969 Camaro. He had to. It was the only way to Amy’s heart. He strutted up to the car, “borrowed” car keys in hand.

That’s when he saw the black duffel bag in the back seat. And heard the click of the gun, pointed directly at his head.

“Cut!” junior Alex Goff yelled. Junior Tyler Stern dropped the prop gun as they wrapped up one of the beginning scenes of the short film that started it all, “Damn Pretty Thing.” This is Goff’s first film he made with his film production company, Second Circle Productions. He formed this company with sophomore Fernando Echeverria of Coram Deo Academy.

When the two met earlier this year and bonded over their shared interest in filmmaking, they teamed up to co-direct short films to put on their own YouTube channel “2NDCPRO.” They said they work well together and push each other to improve.

“We run on the same level of organization,” Goff said. “We always want to have the same thing, like a plot outline and a script. We’re both just really motivated and committed.”

After they released “Damn Pretty Thing” on YouTube, it received 64,000 views. Also, a few months ago, Los Angeles producer Don Burnett contacted them and said he was interested in promoting the film at festivals. The two are currently working with him to have industry professionals view their film.

“We were super excited,” Echeverria said. “We were surprised, but we kind of felt like it was hard work paying off. We felt that our work on the videos being able to attract attention from someone like that was a major reward.”

Goff has come a long way since he was in second grade making Star Wars videos with his friends, battling to the death with lightsabers. He has now produced three drama films that have been entered in several national contests. “Damn Pretty Thing” is currently in three contests, FreshTakes Film Festival, National Film Festival and LoneStar Film Festival.

They are competing for several prizes including a $5,000 top prize and a Best of Fest prize. Another one of their shorts, “The Standby,” is in the FreshTakes Dailymotion Mobile Fest and has advanced to the Top 5, competing for $1,000.

Goff and Echeverria find inspiration from several sources, like real life events, books and movies which help them create new, unique ideas that form the basis of their films. “[Film production] makes you more creative and your

possibilities are endless because you’re constantly thinking about the kinds of stories you could create,” Goff said.

One huge role model for Goff is director Quentin Tarantino.

“His films…have a unique feeling,” Goff said. “He has a bunch of diverse genres of films, and that’s also what we have and what we’re going for in the future.”

Inspirations from films like Tarantino’s help Goff and Echeverria with their own ideas, which then spiral into the process of filmmaking: creating a plot outline, writing a script, casting actors and setting up shooting dates.

After filming for two to four days, Goff and Echeverria take about a month to edit the short films before releasing them to the public. Second Circle Productions is currently working on two more that are expected to come out in October and November.

“One is in black and white, and the other one I think is going to be my favorite out of all of them,” Goff said. “‘Bad Moon Rising,’ the Halloween October short.”

As the leading actress for their second short film, “How to Become Somebody Else,” senior Jacy Butcher said that she was very happy she took up the offer to be involved in this production and sees great potential for Second Circle Productions.

“It was actually great,” Butcher said. “They keep it professional, but at the same time have fun.”

Costar senior Jake Herrel also said he enjoyed working with Goff and Echeverria.

“They definitely took into account the actors’ thoughts on the scene,” Herrel said. “They went in there with what they wanted to accomplish, but they really let us have free reign over the performance, and they were open to ideas.”

Goff and Echeverria both hope to stay consistent with the film production company and see it improve, which will hopefully lead them to what they hope to achieve in the future. Echeverria strives to pursue a career in filmmaking in Hollywood and Goff aspires to ultimately be an influential movie director.

“It would be awesome to change society in a positive way, but on a more realistic scale to just keep going and improve artistically,” Goff said.

As Second Circle Productions continues to grow and produce films, Herrel said he sees potential in the film company and anticipates it going somewhere.

“If they’re doing this kind of work now, then they’re going to be doing some really great things in the future,” Herrel said. design Lyndsay Hilton

8 FEATURE

A plan, a purpose, a dream ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

A question every student has been asked countless times during their lifetime. For most kids, the answer changes every year, or even every month. But what about the students who don’t change their minds? What about the students whose answers in kindergarten are the same as they are now? For three Marcus students, this is exactly the case. story Samantha King

photo William Legrone

Joseph Martin design Hailey Painter

Senior Joseph Martin knows they think he can’t do it.

He hears the sighs and sees the eye rolls.

He hears the disbelief and doubt in people’s voices.

But Joseph doesn’t care. He knows better. Because Joseph envisions cabinet meetings and elections. He wants to make a difference in a big way. Joseph is Oval Office bound.

Some people may think that today’s generation is known for their political apathy: a lack of concern for politics and the government. But for Joseph, that has never been the case. In fact, it distresses him.

“It really makes me sad that there’s no one saying the pledge of allegiance,” Joseph said.

“I’m very proud to be an American. I’m really happy I’m a part of [America].”

Joseph’s aspirations began at a very young age. His father is actively involved in the military and Joseph has always known that he wanted to be in charge, to be influential. But it was his fourth grade year that really cemented his decision to someday run for President.

Up until 2007, fifth graders from several Texas elementary schools went to fifth grade camp. Camp week was a big deal and a rite of passage for many. Upon hearing that it would be cancelled just before his class would be able to go, Joseph decided to do something about it. He sent a petition around his classes, wrote a speech with the help of his mother and stood up in front of the school board and 300 audience members. Upon completion, Joseph received a standing ovation, and the next year eager fifth graders boarded the charter buses and

made their way to camp.

“After [speaking], I realized it was fun,” Joseph said. “I really liked influencing things, so that’s when I started thinking about politics.”

As driven as Joseph is, though, the road to becoming the president isn’t easy. The odds of becoming President are one in 316 million.

“Everyone doubts themselves,” Joseph said. “But because I’m shooting so high, even if I get a little bit lower than that, I’ll still be in good shape.”

There is obviously a lot of work involved with becoming president, and Joseph has gotten a head start on it already. This past summer, Joseph was part of a very selective group of seniors, called Texas Boys State (TBS). TBS allows its students to partake in a mock government, with real elections and other political aspects.

“It was probably one of the best things I’ve done in my entire life,” Joseph said. “A lot of times in high school, people are politically apathetic, but to actually meet a group of 999 other kids who care about politics, it was really special to me.”

Joseph’s number one pick for college is George Washington Lee University, where he plans on double majoring in political science. Afterwards, he plans on attending the University of Virginia (a university established by Thomas Jefferson, Joseph’s favorite president) and getting his law degree in constitutional law.

Despite the arduous career and educational path ahead of him, Joseph’s mother Ann Martin has always been supportive.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with dreaming the ultimate dream,” Ann said.

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

FEATURE 9 Junior Peighton Hornung feels her peers’ judgments.

She knows they think she’s being too hopeful. Expecting too much. She knows they call her “theater freak” behind her back.

But Peighton doesn’t listen to them. She doesn’t have time for their petty insults.

She’s too busy rehearsing lines and emulating numerous characters. Her daydreams are full of spotlights and sold out theaters. Peighton is Broadway bound.

Ever since she was a little girl, Peighton has been putting on plays, whether they were on the hearth in the living room for her family or in the front yard with the kids in her neighborhood. Her bedroom features several play bills, including one from her favorite production, Newsies, and her phone case displays the name of the place where she dreams of living and working: New York City.

“I just want to be able to be on stage and perform,” Peighton said. “If that’s just singing or just dancing or acting, I’ll be happy with it.

Broadway, though, is my ultimate goal.”

Peighton has been performing for a larger audience since the sixth grade when she joined the drama department at Briarhill Middle School. Peighton’s mother, KC Hornung, plays a large role in keeping her motivated and preparing Peighton for her shows.

Whether it’s reading lines with her or watching from the audience as her daughter transforms into someone else entirely, KC is happy to be a part of the production.

“This is where she should be,” KC said.

Peighton Hornung

photo submitted

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

“She becomes the character. You forget that it’s Peighton on stage. That determination, the drive and the love - the absolute love she has for performing - is why I know she’s in the right spot.”

But as so often is the case with ambitious and career-driven students, Peighton hasn’t had an easy time getting to where she is now.

Throughout most of middle school, she was bullied and teased. She chooses, however, to use the bullies to her advantage.

“It’s just fueled me to work harder,” Peighton said. “But you have to ignore that hurting and use it to make you better. Because without that happening, I might not even be doing this right now.”

More than anything though, it’s the feeling of being on stage, of being the center of attention and standing in the spotlight that encourages Peighton to work hard now. She realizes and accepts that her expectations are very high, and while she acknowledges that Broadway Blvd. is not known for its acceptance and kind feedback, Peighton is not too worried.

“I think every actor... doubts themselves because you are your biggest critic,” Peighton said. “But that’s what it is. I signed up for it, and I think I’m prepared to handle it.”

Peighton plans on attending New York University and applying to the Tisch School of Arts. From there, it’s off to auditions and theaters.

Through all of Peighton’s past and yet-tocome ups and downs, her mother reminds her of one thing: “The only failure is not trying.”

photo illustration William Legrone

Senior Peter Riojas sees the sideways glances.

He knows they think he’s being naive.

That he’s too ambitious.

But Peter ignores them. He uses them as motivation. Because he’s reaching for the stars. The moon. The planets. Literally. Peter is space bound.

It’s 5:00 a.m. when Peter’s alarm goes off in his blue bedroom with the star lamp.

He goes about getting ready to head to the gym, passing the model Air Force planes on the dresser and the bookshelf filled with drumsticks and trophies.

But more than any of the memorabilia in his room, it’s the poster of the Challenger astronauts that his mother gave him when he was in elementary school that inspires him to become an astronaut.

“Ever since I got that photo, I was like ‘I want to do that,’” Peter said. “I want to be one of them.”

Because of his early decision and dedication, Peter has been able to tailor his education to better his chances and further his experiences.

“I started as a really young kid,” Peter said.

“I was fascinated with astronomy and the sciences. As my life progressed, I got more and more into math, physics and sciences in general.”

Peter said that the leadership and disciplinary skills he has learned through his position as the Marcus Drumline captain will help him on his career path. Michele Riojas, Peter’s mother, also noticed the beneficiary role that drumline has played in his life.

Peter Riojas “It’s given him a great sense of time prioritization,” Michele said. “They learn to just try their hardest and do their best, no matter the outcome, and the process is what’s important. I think he truly believes that because it’s something that he has extended even to his academic work.”

Peter hopes that the work he’s already done between school and drumline improve his chances of becoming an astronaut. And those chances are slim. According to USA Today, of the more than 3,000 people who applied for the last astronaut class in 2009, nine were selected. But he stays motivated and confident.

“I feel like there really isn’t anyone like me in this world that can offer the amount of experience that I’ve had,” Peter said.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been moments of doubt. Moments of worry.

But because Peter has been seeing stars for as long as he can remember, he remains determined.

“The space industry is always developing, so... the possibilities [and] how far you can go in the future are limitless,” Peter said.

Peter is applying to several universities, including the Air Force Academy and Columbia, with an interest in majoring in either mechanical engineering or aeronautical engineering. After college, he plans to join the Air Force and acquire his piloting license. From there, he intends to work for NASA. For now, though, his mother has one simple piece of advice for him: “Keep reaching for the stars.”

design Hailey Painter

10 FEATURE

Real-life treasure hunt Students geocache across the map story Alex Helm Senior Olivia McCoy and her family were searching everywhere around the shops in old town Lewisville. No bench was passed without looking under it. No stone was left unturned. Every outside umbrella, every store sign, all of the landscaping was thoroughly examined for a hidden treasure.

Her feet were beginning to ache and her legs were tired. But she could not stop searching for it - she wasn’t exactly sure what “it” was.

All she knew was that the geocache was somewhere. She had no idea what it looked like. She only knew its coordinates.

And she knew she had to find it. *** Geocaching is like a world-wide game of hide-and-seek.

People hide containers, or geocaches, anywhere around the world. Then other people seek them out, take the treasure, and leave their own for the next geocacher. The containers can be anything from a small camera film bottle to a military ammo box. All kinds of things are hidden inside ranging from bracelets to action figures.

Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes, and there are several different types. According to the geocaching website, www.geocaching.com, there are 16 types - the most common one being traditional, or a simple object found using only the coordinates. There are also multi-caches, which involve one geocache providing a clue linked to another cache.

The McCoys play this real-world scavenger hunt game.

To locate their treasure, the geocachers use the latitude

1. Go online to www.geocaching.com.

2. Type in your location and find your coordinate.

6. Take a treasure, leave a treasure.

3. Load it onto a GPS. 4. Search!

and longitude of its general hiding spot.

Using the geocaching website, they load the coordinates onto a GPS. Then the search begins.

“We wandered around the shops for hours looking for it,” McCoy said. “You wouldn’t believe the looks we got huddled around our faulty GPS that kept screaming ‘turn left now!’ It wasn't until we decided to abandon it that we found a small tuna tin with a magnet on the underside of a patio table.”

McCoy and her brother, sophomore Clay McCoy, started geocaching with their dad five years ago. But they are not the only geocachers at the school. Senior Bonnie Howard stumbled upon her first geocache by accident.

Floating along the Brazos River in a canoe, Howard was talking and laughing with a co-ed group from the YMCA. As her dad pulled the canoe to shore, the group started to set up camp for the night.

“We were cooking dinner and exploring… when I saw something up in a tree that looked like a bat box, but it was too low,” Howard said. “I pointed it out to my dad, and [he said] ‘that's a geocache.’”

When Howard opened the geocache, she found a keychain with a small globe on it, a clear bouncy ball filled with liquid glitter and a pair of toy chattering teeth.

“We all had a laugh at [the teeth],” Howard said. “We turned them on and set them on top of one of the coolers we had and watched them run around.”

Since this was Howard’s first geocache, she had to learn

photo Sydney Sund

5. Log names into the journal on the geocaching website.

N W

E S

the rules of geocaching, including what to leave behind. She decided to exchange an elastic lanyard she made for the globe keychain. She also learned from her dad that she had to take out the journal inside.

“You’re supposed to write your names in a small notebook kept inside,” McCoy said. “But people like to leave little things behind. We've found army men, sunglasses, sticker sheets, magnets, earrings, small farm animal figurines.”

The most memorable geocache McCoy has ever found was also the weirdest. *** It was noon in the middle of a hot Texas summer. The McCoys were fighting though the heat and the low-hanging smog. The brush and branches in the little forest behind their neighborhood left scratches on their arms. Sweat was running down their backs. After 15 minutes, all they wanted was to go home and take an icy shower.

The only thing that kept the family of four going was their GPS’s promises of “30 feet and the destination will be on the right.”

“It wasn’t 30 feet. It wasn’t 60 feet. It was a good quarter mile,” McCoy said. “Had it been cooler, it might not have been so bad, but it was hot, and we were miserable.”

After much complaining and bad attitudes, McCoy found the camo box hooked on a tree. They opened it up, expecting a reward for their long, sweaty hunt. There was one thing sitting at the bottom of the box.

“A toothbrush,” McCoy said. “Our treasure that we so valiantly - well, maybe not that valiantly - fought for was a toothbrush.”

They ended up leaving the toothbrush inside the geocache and adding their own treasure as well.

“My mom never came on another geocache [hunt],” McCoy said. *** Though McCoy’s toothbrush treasure was not her most favorite find, she’s found other geocaches that make up for it.

One of these was a trackable, or travel bug, called Windowla.

"Travel bugs" are just what they seem - they’re geocaches that travel from place to place. McCoy’s travel bug is a silver dog tag with a depiction of a beetle on the front.

“I actually took one with me to Scotland and left it there,” McCoy said. “Windowla has been in Europe, China, Mexico.

It's traveled.”

Not all geocaches are in remote or far-away places. A few can be located in Flower Mound and its surrounding areas. In fact, there are geocaches in several popular areas.

“My favorite geocache is the one at Kid’s Kastle,” McCoy said. “It’s really small and really tricky to find, but I still visit it every time I go to the park.”

Despite the difficulty in discovering some finds, there is a reason why geocachers like McCoy and Howard love the search.

“It’s something you do with friends, it’s active and it’s basically got the same appeal as treasure hunts,” McCoy said.

“I do it for the adventure.”

Senior Bonnie Howard enjoys an afternoon of geocaching at Bakersfield park in Flower Mound. This is the third geocache she has found in Flower Mound.

design Jacqueline Higgins

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

Su rvi vo r

Strong

IN-DEPTH 11

Br

ave

FIGHTING SELF-HARM

Sabrina’s story

Fighter

story Marisa Charpentier

Senior Sabrina Renteria started it in the eighth grade. She did it because she was bored. She did it because she had seen it before. She did it to see if she could.

Sitting in her friend’s bedroom, Sabrina watched as the girl pulled out some box-cutters. She handed one to Sabrina. They talked it over.

Sabrina knew her older sister used to cut herself sometimes. She had even seen people do it on TV and in movies. The two girls rolled up their sleeves. Sabrina placed the sharp blade to her skin and drew a thin, pink line up her arm. It was nothing more than a cat scratch.

But once high school started, the cuts got deeper.

l u f i t u a e B

*** Ugly. Weird. Loser. These are just some of the words students called her. They shoved her into lockers.

They said she had buck teeth. When she cut her hair short, they called her a “dyke.”

Scissors. Lighters. Erasers. These are just some of the things she used to hurt herself. She used anything she could find. She wore long sleeves in the summer. Even though she knew hurting herself was unhealthy, she didn’t want to stop.

“I didn’t want to find something else as a coping mechanism,” Sabrina said. “I didn’t want to have to do it the healthy way. It was just the easy way.” ... [continued on page 12]

Loved

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

Un

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ab l e

design/graphics Sydney Sund

12 IN-DEPTH

Fighting self-harm continued Each cut, burn, scrape let her forget. It allowed her to focus on the physical pain, not the stresses she felt from school and bullying.

Only her close friends knew she struggled with hurting herself. The friend who was present the first time she cut herself had even told her to stop. But Sabrina couldn’t. When she finally confessed to her mom, Eileen Renteria, six months into her freshman year, it was a cry for help.

“It wasn’t that I wanted to tell her,” Sabrina said. “It was because I needed help. I had to tell her.”

At first, Eileen thought the behavior was just a way to get attention. She was angry.

She grounded Sabrina.

“But then after I started reading about it, I realized that that’s not the right approach,” Eileen said. “I realized that it’s not just an attention-getter or just trying to be cool. It’s a coping mechanism.”

During the spring of her freshman year, Sabrina spent several weeks in an outpatient program at a psychiatric hospital.

From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, she took part in group therapy and met others who were dealing with similar struggles.

“There was a point where I felt like

nobody really understood me, so when I went there, it helped me realize I wasn’t being dramatic,” Sabrina said.

She also found a new way to deal with the stress she felt – working with beads. Instead of hurting herself, she began making bracelets from an elastic string and colorful beads.

But harming herself didn’t end just like that. It had become an addiction.

“There have been times when I’ve been extremely happy, but I would still want to do it because I’m addicted to it,” Sabrina said.

“There was a point when I was like ‘I can’t stop.’”

One night when she was still enrolled in the program, she did it again. She grabbed a pair of scissors and drew a cut on her thigh.

“It was kind of like a stepping stool, and I thought I was going to get to the other side,” Sabrina said. “But it wasn’t that easy.”

The dangerous cycle

After several weeks of the program, Sabrina seemed happy. She spent time with her family. She didn’t isolate herself.

But as stress, bullying and anxiety increased during her sophomore year, so did Sabrina’s selfdestruction. She felt pressure to be a good friend, pressure to be a good girlfriend, and she didn’t feel good enough.

More cuts. More burns. More scars.

“It’s like a drug addict slipping up,” Sabrina said.

“I did feel bad, but it wasn’t enough to make me stop.”

And this time, she took it one step further. She began cutting her wrists. She knew what that would mean. That it would be difficult to cover up.

That it was suicidal. After several particularly bad cuts on her wrist and arm, Sabrina came clean to her mom. She told her she wanted to kill herself.

From the spring of sophomore year to the following August, Sabrina was admitted to another hospital for inpatient treatment. This time, she was gone for five months.

Her days consisted of group therapy, skill building and recreational activities. She met people who were also dealing with depression and was challenged to overcome fears through ropes course exercises, sky lining and climbing a totem pole.

Eileen said it was difficult to be away from her daughter. She drove the six-

hour stretch to visit Sabrina about three times she too would have to bury her child.

“Initially, I didn’t know,” Eileen said. “She a month. Each time, Sabrina asked to come was dozing off…I was panicked.” home.

An ambulance took Sabrina to a hospital, “I’m fine. I don’t need to be here,” she and doctors revived her. They told her if she would plead.

When her time here ended, Sabrina hadn’t answered the phone, if she hadn’t told returned home to face her junior year. She her mom, the pills would have killed her. received antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication as well.

On her way “I was away for five months, so everyone After her suicide attempt, Sabrina was expected me to be good and happy,” Sabrina admitted to a medical hospital and later said. “But it doesn’t work like that.” another outpatient hospital.

When she came back to school with shorter Instead of returning to Marcus for her hair and a more masculine clothing style, the senior year, Sabrina is now attending the bullying increased. Verbal insults turned into Learning Center so she can catch up on physical harassment. classes she missed and graduate early.

One day when one of the hallways was Even though she’s been to several empty, Sabrina stood by the stairwell before hospitals, seen numerous psychologists going to class. Another student approached and taken different her. “Hey, fag,” he medications, Sabrisaid. The student na’s battle isn’t over pushed her to the yet. She still has urges That night was a blur. She had ground and kicked to hurt herself. stayed home from school all day her. “You should be “I’m doing better able to take it,” he with it,” Sabrina said. thinking it through. She was tired said. “You dress like “But I still have a lot of of being depressed. She was done. a guy.” work to do.”

Sabrina didn’t She dreams of a day understand.

She when she has more didn’t see why responsibilities so she someone who didn’t know her would do that. won’t have time to focus on her depression.

“It made me feel like I should not be alive,” And right now, she’s on her way. For the first Sabrina said. “It made me feel like I could time, Sabrina has a job. She has a paycheck not be who I actually wanted to be without to look forward to each week and something everyone else in the world judging me.” to keep her busy. She sees a therapist once a The bullying also escalated to being kicked week, and she’s also gotten more involved at out of locker rooms for not looking like a school by joining a club. girl. She was called “faggot” almost every But she’ll always have the scars. Scars that day in the hallways. Sabrina sunk deeper remind her what she’s missed out on. into her depression, and the cycle continued.

“I just think it’s not worth it,” Sabrina said.

Depression. Cutting. Hiding the scars.

“I missed out on prom last year because of Eventually, physical pain wasn’t enough it. I have missed out on being happy in high anymore. school and making a lot of good friends.”

Sabrina said she hopes to help others like her in the future. She now wants to study Ending it all That night was a blur. She had stayed home psychology and someday help teens who are from school all day thinking it through. She dealing with self-harm.

“I would like to see her focus on positive was tired of being depressed. She was done.

Sabrina found three bottles of her old outlets and positive things to make herself medication. It was enough to kill her. She took feel good and not think ‘oh, I’m weird or them to her bedroom and let the pills slide strange...,’” Eileen said. “I’m hoping that down her throat. The anxiety, the bullying, when she gets into psychology, she will learn these things.” the stress had all led up to this moment.

According to Eileen, a lack of self-worth Several empty pill bottles later, Sabrina received a phone call from a friend. She told and activities can contribute to self-harm her friend what she had done. The friend tendencies.

“It seems to me that it might be more of an threatened to call the cops if Sabrina didn’t epidemic for those kids who don’t have a lot tell her mother. The pills had taken effect. But Sabrina made her way down the stairs to her of social activity going on like healthy clubs or sports, kids that aren’t involved in activities mom.

For Eileen, that moment was surreal. She that build self-esteem,” Eileen said.

For students currently struggling with immediately thought of the neighbor boy across the street who killed himself a few self-harm, Sabrina recommends talking to years back. She remembered the heartache someone who can help. In 10 years, she said, his parents went through. She wondered if the scars won’t be worth it.

photo illustration Jacqueline Higgins design staff

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

In the media

With the significant increase in suicides, depression and self-injuring tendencies over the past couple of decades, these themes have made their way into books, movies and TV shows of all varieties. compiled Rachel Ramierez

IN-DEPTH 13

Students, teachers address consequences of depression

Suicide story Megan O’Hearn This supernatural mini-series is filled with all things drama. With love triangles, ghosts and an abundance of deception, suicide and suicide attempts occur by violent methods like firearms or fire.

Unlike some suicides that leave friends and families of the victim wondering why, the cause for Hannah Baker’s suicide can be narrowed down to 13 people. In this New York best-seller, she lets each one know exactly how they contributed to her life’s ultimate end.

After having an episode of suicidal thoughts, junior Craig checks himself into a psychiatric ward. There he befriends others like Noelle who was checked in due to her self-mutilation habits.

By the end of his stay, he has gained new friends and a new outlook on life.

While this coming of age story received exceptional reviews, suicide and the associated pain were referenced more than once. After Charlie’s best friend takes his own life, the memory seems to haunt Charlie’s freshman year.

Self-harm

Suicide stats

In this British spiderweb of he said she said, suicide is a topic that comes up more than once. In addition to suicide, the show involves an eating disorder and the use of prescription pills to selfharm.

Among many controversial topics this show involves, cutting and suicide are present themes in several episodes. The most recent suicide in this show was when an unclear means of suicide brings a hockey player’s life to an end.

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

A slash, a burn, a stab, a cut. An escape, a punishment, a relief, a cry for help.

Students of all ages continue to fight this silent war, hiding their battle scars beneath long sleeves and fake smiles. Self-harm is a battle fought across the country, and Marcus is no exception.

“Personally, I believe that self-harm is a huge issue at Marcus,” senior Sarah Clifford said. “I think a lot of people struggle with it more than they are willing to admit.”

One in seven males, one in five females, 13 to 24 percent of a high school population.

These are the facts and figures that experts and researchers have compiled about selfharm. But for Clifford, these are more than just numbers. This is an epidemic that she has seen affect her classmates and witnessed overcome some of her closest friends.

“I can’t put into words the kind of numbing pain you feel knowing one of your best friends is purposefully hurting themselves,” Clifford said. “It is stabbing, shocking, and you feel utterly helpless in the situation because you’re begging and pleading won’t always make them stop. Sometimes you have to be patient and wait until they make the personal decision to quit for themselves, which is probably the toughest part.”

Self-harm is different for everyone. It is not confined to a specific method, group, gender or age. People typically think selfharm just involves the stereotypical “cutting,” but in actuality, the ways to self-mutilate are numerous.

Estimations and inferred conclusions may be made on how many people are affected by self-harm, but having concrete data is nearly

-Every 16.2 seconds, one person commits suicide.

-There is one suicide for every 25 attempts.

-- Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-24.

-One out of every six students in grades 9-12 considered suicide in 2011.

-More teens die by suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, strokes, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined.

-70 percent of teen suicides occur in the victim’s home.

-Suicides committed by people ages 15-24 increased 300 percent since the 1950s.

Where to get help -Marcus Counseling Center -Teacher -Parent -Marcus Journey to Dream - for more information, talk to counselors Jerilyn WelshRoe and Denine Hammonds or Assistant Principal Amy Boughton.

-Denton County Hotline: 1-(800)-762-0157 -Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: (214)-828-1000 -S.A.F.E Alternatives Hotline: 1-(800)-DONT-CUT

impossible. There are numerous self-injury cases that are kept private and never reported.

“I have seen examples of it,” Math teacher Dorothy Houck said. “And I’m afraid, like the drug issue, that there is more of it going on than we are aware of, and that worries me.”

Self-harm is most often used as a coping mechanism to deal with strong emotions.

It could be an outlet for stress, depression, problems at home or in relationships or any other struggles that teens commonly face.

“I think that teenagers resort to self-harm because they don’t feel that they have another outlet for their problems,” Clifford said. “By causing themselves physical pain, they are able to have a distraction, preventing them from thinking about their severe emotional pain.”

Those struggling with self-injury say it is difficult to stop due to its highly addictive nature. According to nurse Margot Boyd, kids become reliant on self-harm because they believe it eases their pain.

“It is a habit that is very difficult to stop, more difficult than I think we understand,” Boyd said. “We just want to tell them ‘stop it’ and ‘do this instead,’ but because they get relief, it creates habits and sometimes compulsions to do it.”

Some common suggestions on how to avoid self-harm include choosing healthier coping activities, seeking professional treatment, and avoiding anything that promotes selfinjury. Although there are several different methods and techniques, Clifford said that having someone to confide in is a key element in the process of stopping self-mutilation.

“Talk to someone, anyone: a friend, a parent, a teacher, a counselor, God,” Clifford said. “Self-harm is typically not something someone can overcome by themselves. They Continued on page 17 design Staff

14 ENTERTAINMENT

To dance or not to dance If the Homecoming dance just isn’t for you, this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the night. Find some other way to spend it with your friends, or create a magical day for your significant other. The Marquee has come up with a few ideas on how to spend this October night.

Sweet Tweets compiled Anna Middleton

That sigh of relief when you don’t hit the squirrel running across the road Sarah Dixon: @sarahgrace_95

story Anna Middleton photo Jaqueline Higgins

Scavenger hunt at the mall Since Flower Mound is such a close location to one of the biggest malls in Texas, a scavenger hunt would be a fun and challenging activity for your peers to enjoy. Grapevine Mills has many stores that will help you create plenty of ideas. Make a list of wacky things for your friends to find and do, and create a set of rules that they must follow. Some ideas are randomly asking a stranger for their autograph, taking a picture of someone covered in stuffed animals or videotaping a reenactment of a dramatic earthquake scene.

No matter what, you will have fun doing it.

Main Event Is dancing not enough for your lively soul? Well then maybe a night at Main Event would satisfy you. You could play games and win cool prizes for your significant other. You could go bowling with a group of your friends.

You could even dominate the laser tag field with your gun-toting skills. And if after all that you still have adrenaline pumping, then you can take a ride on the famous roller coaster simulator. Once you have lost all your energy, you can regain it by getting some tasty food at the Main Event Bar and Grill.

A night at Main Event is a night well spent.

A day in Denton

The nice afternoon weather in October makes this the perfect time to take your date or some friends to Denton. This area is geared towards young adults so you and your date will never get bored. The options include, but are not limited to, getting ice cream at Beth and Maries (they also serve good hot dogs), searching the comics store and Recycled Books for fun fictions and taking a tour through the record store. Two B’s and a V, a coffee shop near the square, also serves butterbeer to its customers, so if you enjoy the Harry Potter series, you can reminisce about them while drinking this cidery beverage.

Everything is within walking distance, so you can waltz down the sidewalk to every destination. design Tori Allmendinger

Go to movie in costume If you still want to go out and dress up, but dancing is not your forte, then sit back and relax at the local movie theater in costume. It could be a typical date, but you two would be dressed up as movie characters. You could go in wearing space suits when seeing Gravity or you could dress as detectives when going to see The Prisoners. With Party City being a few moments away, you could add glamour to your on-camera mock-ups.

You may get many odd looks and stares, but that just means you two are the stars of the show instead of the dance floor.

Make your own Ladies grab one of your old dresses, and gentlemen get that funny tuxedo shirt and some slacks.

Although Homecoming is not on your agenda, you can still make your own. Some people just don’t like the party scene. Making your own allows you to custimize everything to your liking. Grab a good amount of your friends, and go shopping for some snacks and punch the day before. One good drink to mix is glow in the dark punch, which is made with tonic water, grape jello mix and pineapple juice. When you got that covered, then create your own playlist. Then the next day dim the lights, start the stereo and party hard. Not too hard though, you don’t want to pull a muscle.

Paint war If you have formal wear from previous dances that are not of much use anymore, then splatter them in vibrant colors of paint. Ask your parents if you can use your backyard for this activity. Buy the paint and a bag or two of water balloons. The night of, you and your friends can fill the water balloons with paint, dress up in your gowns and tuxes and then formulate a few teams.

The team who is covered in the least paint will end up winning this wonderful war. Although this is a fun activity, stay away from using bright red paint to avoid confusion with your parents.

I’ve always wanted to break out into song and dance while walking in the hallways just to see what people would do. #glee Cleo Lissade: @cleolissade

Walk into the club like what up, I got social anxiety ill be hiding in the corner now.

Jake Blout: @TeamForeman9

If somebody is being unnecessarily put down I will stick up for them no matter who they are.

Karis Scherer: @karis_scherer

Journal entry # 112, day 89: Almost to the bathroom. Running low on food and water, but should make it. #MarcusDrought2k13 Logan Hendrix: @Logan_Hendrix

I don’t mean to favorite your tweet 40 seconds after you post it. it just happens. then I feel like a stalker.

Cat Cakmis: @catcakmis

Shout out to the random guy who asked me to homecoming in the lunch line today Siete White: @NotSiete

tweet us @mhsmarquee Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

Splendid subs story Madison Ermenio photos Jacqueline Higgins

ENTERTAINMENT 15 Whether you like a hot tuna melt with extra cheese or a vegetarian sub with bell peppers, tomatoes and lettuce, the Flower Mound and Highland Village area has countless options for satisfying sandwiches. The Marquee reviews some of the most scrumptious sandwiches around.

Potbelly is in the Shops at Highland Village and mainly attracts sandwich lovers, but is also well-known for its cookies and shakes. In addition, Potbelly offers glass soda bottles like IBC and orange cream soda. Modeled after an antique shop, its atmosphere is cozy and old-timey with polished wooden booths and a classic chandelier hanging above the round table at the entrance of the store. There’s even an area dedicated to live music performances that take place every Saturday. Customers

have plenty of room to sit at booths or tables indoor and outdoor.

Service was excellent – helpful and friendly – and the wait time for a sandwich was less than four minutes. The grilled chicken and cheddar cheese sandwich was delicious because of its toasted bread and spicy (but not too spicy) sauce.

Sandwiches come in two sizes, the smaller of which is only about $5. In addition, meals can be ordered online and picked up at the store when convenient.

Firehouse Subs is a new sandwich shop in the Flower Mound area located on 2499. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat, equipped with TVs for the game and decorations centered around the fire station theme. Seating is indoor only at this location, but there is still more than enough seats for dining.

Service from all the staff members was friendly. The wait time for a sandwich was slightly above average, timing in at about seven minutes, but it was well worth the

wait. The turkey sandwich was simple, but still very tasty, likely due to the fact that the cheese and meat were both steamed.

Sandwiches are fairly large in width and can satisfy any appetite. Aside from basic options like turkey and ham sandwiches, Firehouse offers speciality subs, like the Hook and Ladder sandwich with turkey, ham and Monterey Jack cheese. The price for a sub is about $6, a reasonable price for a filling meal. To avoid waiting, sandwiches can also be ordered online.

Jersey Mike’s is a sub shop located near the intersection of 1171 and 2499.

This restaurant has an advantage because of its speed – it took about one minute to make a sandwich. It also has the option of ordering food online, improving its already quick service. All the employees were polite and friendly, providing for overall quality service. The atmosphere is fairly simplistic, perked up with music and three TVs to watch from any angle in the store. Customers can sit inside only in the relatively small

store. Although they are mostly known for their cold subs, the baja chicken wrap was satisfying and contained the perfect balance of spicy with jalapeno peppers as well as American cheese, salsa and lettuce.

There are plenty of other options, both cold and hot subs alike. Among some of these is the speciality Original Italian, including provolone, ham, proscuittini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni. The price of the sandwich was $6.75, a sound cost for a decent sized meal.

Located at the intersection of 2499 and 407, McAlister’s serves not only sandwiches but also soups, salads and even nachos. This deli offers a variety of choices, including hot and cold sandwiches, clubs and grilled sandwiches. Surprisingly, one of the most popular items on the menu is the tea, available in both sweet and unsweet.

Customers have the option of ordering their meal to-go or online, and outdoor dining is available as well.

Service from cashiers and waiters proved

friendly, but service from management was less than courteous. The atmosphere is busy with families and centered around the community, since jerseys from surrounding high schools are draped on the walls. The wait for food was only five minutes, and the grilled chicken sandwich was tasty, but mistakenly prepared with bacon. The sandwich also had three slices of bread instead of the traditional two. The price was around $7, an average price for a sandwich in the area.

check please The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

less than average

satisfactory

tasty

scrumptious design Amanda Collen

16 ENTERTAINMENT

Around the Mound Everyone grows tired of doing the same-old, same-old. Despite common misconceptions about Flower Mound and Highland Village, the area actually has some unique and interesting places. The Marquee went on an story Alyssa Schmidt adventure to find some of these shops.

Wild Birds Unlimited This is perhaps one of the most unique shops in Flower Mound. The store contains everything that has to do with birds. Speakers play recordings of birds chirping, and TVs play videos of birds eating out of feeders. The store has a wide assortment of food, feeders and bird baths. For an amatuer just trying to hang out with these backyard buddies, knowing what to buy can be confusing. However, the staff has extensive knowledge of birds and what types of food, feeders and baths best cater towards which birds.

The store also offers lawn ornaments, cute and decorative rocks that look like owls and wrought iron statues shaped to look like different kinds of birds such as herons. There’s also decorative items for the home such as key racks. They don’t stop at birds, though. Wild Birds Unlimited also caters to squirrels. Not only will bird lovers enjoy this store but so will those looking for a unique pastime. Wild Birds Unlimited is located by Mooyah and Rosati’s on Cross Timbers Road.

School of Rock Just take one look at the name, and the first thing that probably comes to mind is the Jack Black movie. At this center, instructors take kids who are musical novices and teach them how to play music and jam together as a band. Many music instructors will teach musical theory before actually teaching a song. At School of Rock, they are the exact opposite. They teach students a song, have them practice for the week and then set up students with band members where they learn to play the song together.

The company has expanded to over 250 locations, and Flower Mound is the most recent city in the Metroplex to receive one. The instruction rooms are decorated with inspiring rock stars such as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.

With lessons that include vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, there are options for anyone interested in learning music and joining a rock band. School of Rock is located by Jimmy John’s and Blissful Bark Dog Wash on Long Prairie Road.

Lonestar Popcorn This is the place for people who are sick of plain old butter popcorn and want to add a little pizzazz to it.

Lonestar popcorn has popcorn for every occasion. For example, you can have popcorn for birthdays, thank you gifts and even teacher appreciation.

Aisles and aisles are packed with decorative tins and baskets filled with colorful and not-so-everyday popcorn flavors. There are flavors like puppy chow, southwest Jalapeno, cream soda and many more to choose from.

There does not necessarily need to be a special occasion to buy gourmet popcorn. Whether it be a movie night with your friends or a movie night alone, this popcorn is guaranteed to make the night a little more delicious.

Lonestar Popcorn is located in the shopping center in front of Lowe’s on Long Prairie Road.

design Tori Allmendinger

Rift 2 Reef Some people might see a fish as a pointless pet, but those people have never seen the television show Tanked. On the show, the stars create big and beautiful fish tanks that make fish seem like the coolest pet ever. Rift 2 Reef, is not Tanked, but the employees there can give the average Flower Mound resident the opportunity to create their own tanks. While the tanks won’t be extravagant, they can be filled with beautiful fish, coral and even mini shrimp. Rift 2 Reef has dozens of different kinds of fish ranging from fresh to saltwater. It’s also just as fun to try to pick out the characters in Finding Nemo and reenact scenes from the movie. Take a look around and find clownfish to look like Nemo and Marlin or a royal blue tang to look like Dory. With over 6,000 gallons of water filled with fish, there’s plenty to choose from. Rift 2 Reef is located in front of the Ulta and Belk’s on Long Prairie Road.

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

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Students, teachers address consequences of depression need constant encouragement and love from and educated on self-harm for kids to feel comfortable enough to seek help. those that care about them most.”

“I think if we can try to make ourselves Like clothing can hide scars, a happy outward appearance can mask inner turmoil. receptive to understanding and educate Houck said the warning signs for self-harm ourselves about it, then maybe kids would can be difficult to detect when students feel more comfortable talking about it,” Boyd are intent on keeping their physical and said.

Students have access to counselors and emotional battles covert.

“As busy as we are, with as many students staff members at school that are professionally trained and ready to that we have, and students deal with issues like being savvy enough to these.

Regardless, conceal what they don’t Suicide warning signs school counselor Denine want other people to see, Hammonds said that it can be very difficult,” -Increasingly isolating themselves. teenagers generally Houck said.

“But I’m -Drastic personality changes like progressively dangerous risk taking or a feel more comfortable hoping that in a big school sudden improvement. confiding in their friends. like this there would be -Giving things away or making “final” “They feel more at least one person that arrangements. comfortable in talking to someone who is feeling -Talking about death openly.

-Stating that they aren’t wanted or needed by their friends and may be those kinds of pressures anyone. embarrassed to come and and stresses feels they When someone tells you they are thinking talk to an adult, thinking could go to.” about harming themselves, don’t joke around that they will judge them As reported by about it. Take it seriously and remember it took a lot of strength for them to or just not knowing what America’s Mental Health tell you. Tell an adult who can help the outcome would be,” Channel, feeling isolated them.

Hammonds said. and empty is a common Teens may get side effect of self-injury. confused on what to do or Boyd said that the school how to help when a friend should be more open

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

gift cards available

continued

is harming themselves.

Hammonds said. “It’s Consequently, students more of an attempt to Signs of self-harm and peers are encouraged create a distraction from -Behavior changes for the worse (depressed, to seek out a counselor, whatever pain that they’re distant or grouchy) teacher, parent or any dealing with, but it’s a -Displays of excessive sadness or crying other trusted adult if problem.”

-Change in diet. they are suspicious of a While not everyone -Appearance may change -May lack desire to care for themselves. friend self-mutilating or who self-harms is suicidal, -Unusually self-critical over seemingly contemplating suicide. people who self injure irrelevant things “You never know are at a much higher risk -Loss of interest in activities they usually what’s going to happen to of eventually attempting find fun -Wearing long sleeves or full length pants, that person, so if a student suicide. even when the weather is warm shares just that they are “I think for kids that are thinking about it, then self harming, the majority that needs to be explored,” of them are not suicidal,” Hammonds said. “A live Boyd said. “But there are friend who’s mad at you is always exceptions to the better than one who doesn’t make it there the rule, and there’s probably a smaller percentage next day.” of kids who self-harm where it would progress Self-harm is thought to be directly linked to a more helpless, overwhelming feeling that with suicide but this is not the case. While the would create suicidality.” two behaviors are related to each other, they In order for self-harm not to escalate to are distinct in their primary characteristics something more serious, Clifford encourages and motivations. The major difference is that people who are self-injuring to seek help. of intent. With suicide, the intent is to end the “I think we live in an environment where pain and suffering whereas with self-harm, people are too afraid of being judged to open the intent is to cope. up and admit that they have problems,” “A lot of times, from what students Clifford said. “Truth is, we are all imperfect have told me, it’s not a suicide attempt,” and need help sometimes.”

design Hailey Painter

18 SPORTS

Life behind the camera

Football film crew captures every practice, every game story Allie Loder As the Friday night lights flip on and the crowd buzzes with excitement, all eyes fixate on the players on the field. Fast moving plays and rough tackles hold the attention of the student body in the stands. But down on the field, a select few view the game from a different perspective: through a lens.

The Marcus film crew is a group of students that record each and every play at both the practices and games. Armed with cameras and stationed up in the press box and under the goal posts, the filmers record each play from different angles. The editors then match the plays together so that coaches can later review and analyze the players’ mistakes.

“Within 15 minutes of the kids walking off the field, we can go back and show our football players actual video from practice the pros and cons, the good and bad,” football coach Robert Waters said. “It gives us the ability to go back and find out whether our kids are understanding what we’re trying to coach them.”

Catching every play from different angles means multiple filmers must attend each practice. The seven girls that make up the group switch off filming the practices, guided by a schedule that is made up at the start of

each week. Senior Makenzie Bender said that having different filmers in different places can become hectic.

“Filming a practice is crazy,” Bender said.”[But] we have a set schedule every week so we know what we’re going to be filming each day.”

If a play isn’t recorded or is recorded incorrectly, then the coaches are unable to completely analyze that day’s footage.

“The hardest part of filming is concentrating,” senior Mallory Nesbitt said.

“You have to get every play. If you miss a play, it’s not the end of the world, but then they don’t get to see what they did that play.”

While mistakes don’t happen often, missing a play can have ramifications for the filmer. If the mistake is their fault, then their salary can be docked. The filmers are each paid for their work, ranging from $450 to $550 each month.

All of the filmers are present at practice on Mondays and Tuesdays, and on Wednesdays the filming schedule rotates.

But according to the filmers, the environment of a game is more exciting than practices. The roar of the crowd, the smell of the turf, the adrenaline of the team. They get to hear the coach’s pre-game speech, see the players’ reactions when the other team

scores and have an up close view of the team in action.

“On the field it’s a different game,” senior Mallory Nesbitt said. “It’s probably the best thing in the world. It’s a different view of what it’s like in those stands. In the stands you just cheer for your team, [but] when you’re on the field, you feel the emotion.”

The press box offers a different view of the game as well. The hub of activity is filled with the opposing team’s filmers and officials, not to mention the crew trying to focus on their tasks.

“The atmosphere of the press box during the game is kind of crazy,” Bender said. “We have the other team’s filmers up there and sometimes TV crews up there, so you get that little buzz.”

These football-filled weeks persist until the end of the season. After the boys have hung up their helmets and filed their shoulder pads away until the spring, the filmers mostly complete office work for the coaches during fourth period.

“After football season winds down it’s kind of like having a study hall,” Bender said.

All of these hours spent together, enduring the dry heat on the field and working together in the coaches’ office create a special type of bond between the seven girls. As seniors, most of the group have spent the past four years together.

“I would compare it to a small family,” Bender said. “We argue all the time, like any family would. What else would you expect from seven girls in an eight by eight office every day? But we get past our differences so we pull it off every week.”

These girls have made a lot of memories over the past four years, but one that stands out to Nesbitt is a playoff game that was held at Cowboys Stadium. Before the game, the girls found a moment to walk out from the dim underground tunnel onto the stiff turf of the field. With the stands uncharacteristically empty, the larger than life stadium seemed to swallow up the girls.

“I think that was the most amazing thing,” Nesbitt said. “No one was in the stands, no one was on the field. It was just me and my best friends.”

The film crew’s small family can be extended to include the boys on the team .

Close relationships with the players and the coaches have sprung from the large amount of time that the filmers spend on the field.

“We have a lot of conversations about life,” Waters said. “We have conversations about where they want to go to school. We have

conversations about boy problems. I kind of consider myself a father, a brother and a boss.”

When the girls find downtime between filming, their time is spent bonding with the players. The film crew travels with the boys to all of the football games, so friendships have grown between them.

“They’re really good guys, and I couldn’t imagine working for any other group,” Nesbitt said. “Some of them I’m really close friends with, and they’re like my brothers.”

This connection with the team proves strong each game, either win or lose. If the boys pull out a win, the crew celebrates with them. And if they lose, the girls offer the team a shoulder to lean on.

“When they lose you feel for them because you see all the hard work they put into it,” Nesbitt said. “And when they win, you’re just so happy for them.”

The filmers witness many memorable moments and create their own memories while doing it. But despite all of the fun they have, the girls still have a job to do.

“We have fun,” Waters said. “But at the same time it’s hard work. These girls are reliable. They show up to work, they show up on time. They have things ready to go. We hold them accountable.”

When the last pass is thrown and the jerseys are packed away next spring, it will be time for the seven seniors to retire their filming careers at Marcus. But for some of the girls, their experience on the football field won’t end there. Both Bender and Nesbitt are considering filming for their colleges of choice.

“I’m looking into filming at OSU, and I’ve been talking to the coach there,” Nesbitt said.

“I know that I love football and I want to do something with sports.”

But until spring, the filmers still have countless practices and games to film. And although those seven girls don’t wear a helmet or a dirt-stained jersey each Friday, they still represent the game.

“It’s amazing,” Nesbitt said. “There’s nothing I would trade in the world for it.

Nothing beats Friday night lights.”

“It’s amazing. I wouldn’t trade anything for it. Nothing beats Friday night lights.”

Mallory Nesbitt, 12

photo William Legrone Seniors Mariah Walker and Hannah Coen film a football practice from the press box. This is their fourth year on crew. design Hailey Painter

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

SPORTS 19

Avoiding impact

New rules, regulations made to limit number of concussions, other injuries story Adam Hernandez

Bright lights shone down on Marauder Stadium. It was the last game of the season for the Downing Middle School A team. Current sophomore Mitch Cason dropped back to throw for one of the final plays, when an unblocked linebacker came out of nowhere.

He knocked Cason to the turf, causing his head to smash into the ground.

“He just hit me, apparently with enough trauma to give me a concussion,” Cason said.

“The worst part was the minute or two after. I was seeing double...just a major headache and pounding in my head and a lot of confusion.”

Dealing with a concussion can require an array of different tests. These tests are conducted on the field usually by a trainer and also at the hospital if the student requires additional treatment. They ask the player to perform a task such as counting or answering general questions. Cason said that after he suffered his concussion, Coach Ronald Wilson went on the field and asked him what his name was and where he was at “Afterwards I couldn’t look at bright lights or screens, but that didn’t last too long,” Cason said.

The most common side effect of a concussion is a headache. However, concussions can also result in vomiting, drowsiness and slight memory loss. Junior trainer Catalina Donnelley said that students will try to jump right back in the game after receiving a concussion, saying it is only a headache. This then puts the athletes at a risk for further injuring themselves.

Concussions in football are not uncommon, but have recently come into the public eye as a major problem. The NFL has made a $765 million settlement to the over 4,500 players who claim to have dementia, depression and even alzheimer’s due to head injuries sustained while playing football. These players say that both the NFL and helmet companies did not properly warn them about the dangers of permanent brain injury.

Players that get concussions risk permanent brain injuries later in life, although they may not show symptoms at

first. These head injuries start on the middle school level if not earlier. Now there’s more focus on concussions at the high school level.

“The attention now being received on concussions has been a blessing at this level,” head trainer David “Doc” Ortmeier said.

Two new rules recently enacted this year have been created to help prevent injuries, specifically concussions. One states that if a player’s helmet comes off in the play, the player must sit out for at least one play to be evaluated.

The second has caused a bit of controversy in the football community. The new “targeting” penalty will result in a 15 yard penalty, as well as the ejection of the player who was penalized. Targeting is defined as a player intentionally contacting another defenseless player above the shoulders.

This rule has had mixed reactions amongst the sports world. Some say that it takes away from the true nature of football while others agree it is a helpful precaution.

“Any rule that talks about leading with the head or trying to eliminate the head from the first point of contact is a good rule,” Ortmeier said.

At the school, concussions are common during the football season. According to Ortmeier, there is one concussion for every two weeks during the regular season. That adds up to at least 10 concussions every season. However, all other sports and clubs combined, such as soccer or ultimate frisbee, average 15 concussions a year.

While football causes an array of different injuries, concussions are given higher priority by the trainers at the school because these are brain injuries and run the risk of permanent damage. One of the difficulties about this type of injury is that most players recover fairly quickly and after one concussion, they may appear fine. However, if more concussions are received, players run the risk of permanent brain damage.

If the brain is not given enough time to heal, then the player can easily receive another concussion. Concussion victims will not get enough time to heal, so the next time they hit their head a second concussion is

photo William Legrone Up early in the morning, a group of junior varsity football players practice a series of plays. These plays involve defending the team quarterback and meeting an offensive team after kick-off. more likely.

“We need to be patient with athletes,” Ortmeier said. “We need to reiterate that concussions take time to heal.”

Cason’s concussion would be classified as moderate since his symptoms lasted for more than 15 minutes, but he did not lose consciousness. Concussions are ranked as either mild, moderate or severe. A minor concussion has symptoms lasting only 15 minutes, while a severe concussion will cause a full loss of consciousness and symptoms lasting for more than an hour.

“The day before was Halloween I think, and I didn’t remember that.” Cason said. “It didn’t take long to recover, it was just a mild concussion.”

These rules have been put into place due to the backlash of former football players claiming injuries from the game, and now the high school is attempting to keep its players safer by implementing the same rules.

“We’re taking our time and letting athletes recover,” Ortmeier said. “There’s more of a long term concern now, and it’s being recognized now.”

First-aid on the field What are your other responsibilities besides aiding injured students?

What are the immediate effects of a concussion that you have witnessed?

Have you seen a concussion have lasting effects on a student?

“We fill water, keep players hydrated. We do a lot of treatments and tape players before games. It’s all centered around the players.”

- Trainer Gretchen Dodson, 11

"They don’t know what happened before or after it. You can check their pupil reflexes to see if they have a concussion."

- Dodson

“They recover, but sometimes light will irritate them afterwards. We had one student who had to wear sunglasses when he played after his concussion.”

- Trainer Catalina Donnelly, 11

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

design Hailey Painter

20 OPINION

@marisacharp21

Marisa Charpentier

@MadisonErmenio

Madison Ermenio

Nostalgia in a box

Unknown but revered

August 1 marked the day most college applications opened.

The day millions of rising seniors, who had been waiting like racehorses behind the gates, finally logged on to the Common App, Apply Texas and countless other sites. These past few months have revolved around “The Future.” But in the midst of cliché college essay prompts and transcript request forms, one question keeps resurfacing in my thoughts: when did childhood end?

The other day I came across something I hadn’t seen in years. I looked underneath the bed in my old room and saw a large plastic box. As I pulled out the container, the memories of childhood came flooding back. Inside, lay stacks of old artwork from elementary school, scrapbooks filled with pictures I begged my mom not to take, poems and short stories I had written and the first pair of glasses I received in the third grade. After nearly 30 minutes, I found myself surrounded by Spongebob drawings, attempted-replicas of Monet paintings and flower-patterned journals. I had not thought about most of the memories that box contained in the past few collegefilled months. But as I sorted through the collection, I was instantly taken back to those moments.

Sitting there, I began to feel as nostalgic as characters reminiscing during the final episode of a sitcom. But I also felt inspired. Throughout high school, I have so overwhelmed myself with AP courses, honor societies and leadership roles that I have forgotten what it’s like to be a kid. I’d forgotten what it’s like to read a book into the early hours of the morning because you just can’t put it down. I’d forgotten what it’s like to be nervous before going on stage for a dance recital. I’d forgotten what it’s like to believe the future is a distant place.

In elementary school, art class was my favorite part of the week. After school, I would spend hours sketching pictures from books or cartoon characters from TV shows. I even dreamed of becoming an illustrator for children’s books. As I grew older, my “dream job” changed to many different careers, but I still continued drawing as a hobby. When high school hit though, I didn’t have time to draw much at all. As I added more and more AP courses to my schedule, I ran out of room and ended up getting my art credit online.

I also used to keep a journal. I would write every day because I had the time to. Now, my free time is spent sleeping.

Looking back at my old writing, I see a creative side that I now lack. I worry that in the midst of schoolwork and extracurriculars, I have lost a part of myself without even realizing it.

I could probably organize the photos I found that day in chronological order and still not be able to pinpoint the exact moment when the curtains closed on adolescence and the next act began. I suppose leaving childhood truly is a gradual process. To make the transitions though, we lose a little bit of ourselves.

And maybe that’s okay. Maybe by just taking time to remember our past, we won’t be the kind of people who forget what it’s like to be a teenager the second they turn 20, or the adults that get so caught up in their careers that they forget the old hobbies that once brought them pleasure.

These past few years, I have lost some of myself while balancing school and preparation for college. But just looking at past mementoes has allowed me to remember what being a kid feels like. They have allowed me to take a moment to step away from the pressures of college to just breathe and reminisce. And maybe that’s what I needed most.

On any other summer day, I would have rather slept in.

But Tuesdays were different.

Every week, my alarm clock jolted to life at 7:45 a.m., and every week I sprang out of bed, eager to take on the day. I don’t think that I could’ve been in a bad mood if I tried. I loved getting up early. I loved throwing on my candy striper top, khaki pants and red Keds. I loved driving 45 minutes to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and spending my day there volunteering.

My experience with hospitals began almost seven years ago when I underwent a serious leg operation to get rid of a bone infection. At one of the darkest times in my life, I met a member of the hospital staff that truly changed the course of my life.

Before the surgery, I was only 10 years old and scared to death. I was so terrified that I wrote a will - stuffed animals to my sister and the belongings in my room to my parents because of my anticipation that there would be a mishap with the anesthesia. Then I met Nikki, the child life specialist of the hospital, who assured me that I was in the hands of some of the best doctors in the country.

Her job was to counsel kids in the hospital and play with patients to help them learn and cope with difficulties they may be dealing with. In my case, before my operation she explained the surgery in terms that my naive mind would understand.

After the surgery, we played games together in the child life center and even in my own room when I wasn’t feeling well enough to get out of bed.

She wasn’t anything extraordinary, just a person with patience and a passion to serve others. To strangers, she may

design Lyndsay Hilton

seem average or even boring. To me, she was like a light at the end of the tunnel. Since I met her, I’ve admired her for her compassion and kindness. She made such an impact on me that seven years later, I still remember her, and I still want to be a child life specialist so I can help kids who are feeling hopeless, just like I remember feeling so vividly.

Over the summer, I decided to volunteer at Scottish Rite as a candy striper. I had the amazing opportunity to make hospital stays and visits more comfortable for patients and their loved ones. I went from room to room, visiting with patients and bringing games to children who were unable to leave their bed. It was like I got to be a child life specialist for the day. I even got to lead patients to their examination rooms for check-ups and assist with behind-the-scenes jobs like filing papers and doing office work.

The first day I got to visit with inpatients was bittersweet. I walked through the empty halls, lugging the red wagon filled with Scrabble, Candy Land and Battleship behind me. I peeked into rooms with a smile on my face, sometimes received by another smiling face, sometimes by a frown. On one hand, it was heartbreaking to see how sad and lonely some of the kids were and how exhausted and distraught some of their loved ones appeared. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be able to alleviate that, even for just a moment.

The first patient I met was elated to have a visitor. Her smile stretched across her face as she immediately introduced herself and sorted through all the games. After much thoughtout deliberation, she chose Chutes and Ladders. She took in every move I made with her patient blue eyes as we played together, talked together and just got to know one another.

When it was time for me to move on to the next room 30 minutes later, she begged me to stay. It was moments like that that made Tuesdays my favorite day of the week. I was amazed that I was able to brighten her day in such a simple way. I realized I could do this every day for a living and absolutely love it.

For some people, a hospital environment is uncomfortable.

For me, it’s a place full of opportunity. Opportunity to heal, opportunity to encourage and opportunity to uplift our patients. I loved getting to interact with the patients and their families, playing games with them and making them smile, knowing that it could be the only time they smile all day.

I know that my career choice will not land me a page in a history book. I won’t have any streets or a holiday named in my honor. To most, I will be unknown. But to those kids that I work with every day, I will be a hero. I will be able to change their world for the better and shine so much positive light into their lives. To even have that opportunity is truly remarkable.

MARQUEE Why

do you

think people practice

self-harm?

“Most people practice self-harm as a method to block the pain out. It’s easier for them to deal with the physical pain than it is with the emotional pain.”

“Some people do it because they get bullied in school, and people don’t really pay enough attention to them whenever they ask for help.”

compiled Madi Schwem photo Jacqueline Higgins

Jordan LeGard, 9

Claire Seibert, 10

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

OPINION 21

@NeonTomahawk

Madi Schwem

Single statuses

You’re on the eve of your 30th birthday. As you’re blowing out the candles on your birthday cake, you remember telling your friends on your 29th that if you didn’t get married by the end of this year, you were just going to find the closest person possible and pair off with them. To be the only one not flashing off a fancy new diamond ring at your get-togethers is a crime.

And guess what? Even though you forged relationship after relationship, you’re not throwing your wedding shower yet. So now it’s time to grab the first person you see by the shoulders and bind your relationship deep into holy matrimony.

Growing up, the idea of marriage has rarely crossed my mind. My parents were divorced by the time I was 5, so for a while, I was going back and forth between households where one person had to reign as both the paternal and maternal figure. My parents married each other very close to the age that I am now. The difficulties they experienced in their relationship were enough to make me realize that I never want to make the same mistakes they did.

Maybe that’s why I try to be so careful in the relationship department. But I have never felt the need to let the idea of being in a relationship rule over my life. I have never felt the need to let others validate me.

A friend of mine once let a relationship dominate almost every aspect of her life. Though she was constantly fighting with her boyfriend (who, notably, did not treat her so well), she explained to me, “It’s better to be in a relationship than not to be.”

Why is that? When observing behaviors in society, I’ve noticed that being single is very much frowned upon. On television shows, I commonly see groups of women holding out their hands and comparing their rings, all eyes going to the

one girl who’s yet to find herself a partner. Love doesn’t matter - only status. But isn’t love supposed to be what marriage is all about?

I always sit there and wonder, “Why is that such a big deal?

If she’s single, she’s single. She’ll find someone when she finds someone.” Loving someone is one thing; the idea of being in love is another. It seems that people oftentimes don’t realize the distinction and get caught up in a mess because of it.

I get it just as well as anyone - we all want someone to kiss us, to tell us that we’re beautiful or handsome. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t want such a thing. But I’ve seen people who make a big deal of it in front of their friends, people who flaunt their relationships every which way. There is absolutely no point in this. Relationships are not status symbols.

To most people, being single is saying that nobody likes you enough to pair off with you. To me, it says that you don’t need someone to validate you. You’re independent. You’re strong on your own. This isn’t to say that you lose strength by being in a relationship. If anything, it takes a lot of guts to make a commitment with someone and to trust them. But you shouldn’t need to be in a relationship just to feel complete.

Everybody makes that mistake, believe me. I knew a girl who faithfully dated one of her best friends for quite a while before they finally broke the relationship off, even though you couldn’t define this relationship as healthy. She let this person treat her like dirt for such a long time. She couldn’t have been more miserable if she had tried, and yet she continued the relationship.

And why did she put up with this for so long? If somebody makes you cry more times than you can count, being with them doesn’t seem like such a good idea. It didn’t make any sense at all to me, so I asked her this question out of complete curiosity.

She explained that she didn’t want to be alone. Going into a relationship seemed like a good idea at the time because most of the people she knew were in one, but she realized dealing with that mess was hurting her more than helping her.

Giving relationships a chance to be part of your life is important, but I don’t want to let others define me as a person.

I am not owned by somebody else. I have my own unique talents. I have my very own strengths and weaknesses. I have my own identity, and I don’t need it to be exemplified by somebody else. It’s the past experiences of others that make me want to do this right when the time comes.

Relationships are great when you’re happy in them, but I’ll never let one completely rule my life if I can help it. I’m an individual. I know I can be happy on my own until it’s time for me to open up my life to somebody who enjoys sharing it with me. I’ll be very patient until that person comes. I have other things to look forward to until then.

REMARKS “They do it because of problems in their home life, and sometimes you have to get other people to help you confront them about it.”

Amanda Scott, 11

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013

“They don’t believe that people want to help them. I think they’re getting a lot of hatred and bullying in their lives, and not enough people step forward in order to help them with the problem.”

Jeremy Kerns, 12

“I get a lot of students like that who need to be listened to because of troubles in their personal lives. It’s important to talk with them and discuss the issues. You need to create a positive environment for them.”

Fred Jones, Teen Leadership

@Syd_Kid96

Sydney Sund

Opening my mind

Before the summer of my sophomore year, I had never met anyone who was gay. I’d never seen a gay person. I had never even heard of somebody in Flower Mound who was gay. Even though I hate to admit it now, I was a bit of a homophobe. I am an only child from a conservative, Southern, Christian family.

I was raised in the suburbs where everybody pretty much had the exact same view - being gay is wrong.

LLYC - a Christian camp, where almost all of the kids are from families just like mine - is where I met Jackson. The first time we met, I was shocked. He was openly gay, and I had never experienced that before. At first, I thought, who is this guy? He was wearing black skinny jeans and a black Charlie the Unicorn shirt in the 100 degree heat. He had gauged and pierced ears, pink highlights and a rose tattoo. He looked like a punk cartoon character.

Even though I was slightly scared of him, I couldn’t not talk to him because he was friends with my friends, so I just pushed back my initial feelings and tried to treat Jackson like a normal person. If he still made me uncomfortable after camp, I could just go home and pretend I had never even met him.

However, over the course of the next two weeks, I gradually opened my mind to Jackson and was amazed at what I saw.

Even at a Christian summer camp, he was treated differently just because he was gay. He was the black sheep amidst the herd of athletic, outdoorsy, masculine guys. While they wrestled and fished, he prefered to sit with me and my girl friends and help us paint our nails or do our makeup. He refused to participate in sports with them because he didn’t want to mess up his perfectly styled hair. When he was forced to participate, he couldn’t keep up with them.

The guys didn’t know how to act around him. Jackson wanted to befriend them, but they were turned away by his sexuality. They felt uncomfortable having to live in a confined space with him, and some just kept their distance all together.

They had no idea who Jackson was beyond his sexual orientation, and they didn’t bother to get to know him because of their predetermined beliefs.

“This kid in my cabin told me, ‘I respect your decision to be gay,’“ Jackson said. “I told him it’s not a decision; it’s the way I am. I didn’t choose to be gay.”

That simple statement showed me that I was exactly like the boys in his cabin. Jackson didn’t decide to be gay, to be ridiculed by kids at school, in church and life in general. Every day, Jackson had to deal with discrimination towards him, just because he was gay. And I had been one of those people.

I had judgemental beliefs about a group of people I’d never interacted with before. I had been a jerk, without any thought to how my actions might make them feel.

Even though I haven’t seen or talked to Jackson since then, he still impacts my life every day. I am a much more openminded person now. Instead of hanging to a certain set of beliefs, I have explored the other side. Learning about other beliefs hasn’t changed the way I think, but it has changed how I act. I don’t force my beliefs on anyone, and I don’t turn my nose up when I disagree with theirs. Even though homosexuality is not my lifestyle choice, I now have a different outlook on gay rights. I still believe that relationships should be between a man and a woman, but I no longer judge those who don’t. Becoming friends with Jackson helped me learn to accept people for who they are - gay, straight, bisexual - because they aren’t that different from me. design Lyndsay Hilton

22 EDITORIALS

Teens should take self-harm, suicide talk seriously Staff Editorial Self-harm has become a rising problem in our country, especially among people in their teens to mid-20s.

Mental health challenges, bullying or issues at home lead some people to practice forms of self-injury to cope with their challenges through unhealthy methods.

The number of people who actually do this is often hard to come by because they tend to conceal these activities. However, it is known that the number of people who have been proven to self-harm is significant. The problem is that students do not take this issue seriously. It’s treated dismissively and even made fun of. This needs to stop because it is only making their situation much worse.

To begin with, people oftentimes don’t understand why others harm themselves, and this is the reason why they dismiss their problems or make fun of them. It can be difficult to understand why a person would deliberately hurt themselves, but it’s important to take the situation of selfharm very seriously. This is not just a fun activity or a fad.

It’s something that often becomes an addiction. Any ad-

diction is a serious one that must be paid attention to.

Most people who self-harm try to conceal it. However, while they don’t want this activity to be seen, they are people who do want help and need attention. It is common that people judge this need for attention as a bad thing, but everyone needs some attention at times. These are people who have problems that have not been recognized by others. They use self-harm as a method of dealing with their problems.. Treating it lightly or pushing the person away could be dangerous, especially because self-harm can be addictive and potentially lead to suicide. It is absolutely crucial for someone to think before they act harshly towards the person practicing self injury.

Students should learn to recognize the signs of self-destructive behaviors in others and know how to approach other people dealing with these issues. Also, they need to be aware of what to do when getting help. In order to do so, students need to educate themselves on the issue and be careful in interacting with people who have these problems. Two examples of certain signs can be scars on their wrists or burn marks. If someone is uncertain whether or not the person in question is really practicing self-harm, it is better to ask them about it

than to allow the problem to continue. Students should confront the person in a calm and reasonable manner. This is a matter of the person’s health and stability. It is very important that the student ask a teacher, parent or trusted adult for help if the situation calls for it. Telling someone could be what prevents others from continuing to hurt themselves.

Along with self-harm, suicide is also a disturbing problem, especially among teenagers. Because issues of self-harm can be ignored or pushed aside, they sometimes lead to suicide. Of course, this isn’t in every case, but the problem is definitely valid and needs to be attended to. It is important for people to recognize the signs of suicide and never ignore when a person says that they are thinking about it. This is where being careful not to push the other person with words is crucial as well. Just calmly talking about suicide with them has been proven to help decrease their chances of actually going through with it. It could make a huge difference.

Next time a student comes across another person that harms themselves, they should think twice about harshly judging them or making fun of them. What the person says could make the problem worse or make it better. It’s their choice.

Transition to technology has occurred too rapidly Staff Editorial This year, major technological changes have come to campus. Underclassmen received iPads, and teachers are being encouraged not to print assignments on paper. Although the school is trying to modernize, the transition is occurring too quickly, and the lack of reliable resources is causing frustration.

One of the major complaints from students is that upperclassmen are left out because of the unequal distribution of iPads. Consequently, they have limited access to technology. As most teachers transition to technology-based teaching, these students who don’t have laptops, tablets or smart phones are out of luck. Teachers put a good part of the information needed for school on Google Docs or SchoolWeb. However, some upperclassmen are only able to access those when the library opens in the morning until when it closes in the afternoon.

Another complaint with the new technology is that the district has encouraged teachers to go “paperless,” and the students are left in limbo. In the past, the school has never asked those who cannot afford to participate in school to find a way to pay for it. Now, however, a student cannot complete

an assignment without paying some sort of fee. If they lack a printer, or don’t have money for a $50 cartridge of ink or paper, they must pay the school for copies of their homework by printing from the computers in the library. Even though it’s only 10 cents per copy, if a student prints off one day’s notes, it can cost $1 each day. Previously, the public education system has provided for these students by having teachers print out hard copies. Students are now falling into a widening gap of a digital divide between the haves and have nots.

If the students are all equal, so should their opportunities.

Even those with the new technology can’t use it to their full potential. The tablets come with a software created to protect the student’s web usage. However, it seems to be keeping them from full productivity. It eliminates some of the helpful tools that were used beforehand. Certain articles and news websites, Web MD, Netflix (that could be used to watch certain documentaries and literary cinematic films), YouTube and even the choice to delete certain apps is removed from students. Also the protected wifi is at times slow and unreliable. The students then resort to leaving the protected wifi

and going on their phones. The so called “groundbreaking” technological innovations are not so groundbreaking after all.

The district is making a definite approach to fit in with the growing technology needs in society. Although all of the district’s attempts are meant to be beneficial, a gradual transition would be better for the entire student body especially when changing so extensively. Also, the district should have troubleshot the use of technology in education. Then they could have realized the challenges faced by the entire school earlier.

Whether it’s with district’s distributed iPads or in blue ink, students have choices on how to achieve success, but the choices are limited. As long as the student is able to achieve their full potential in the education system, the district won’t be moving so fast that it is counterproductive. Some solutions to our current issues would be to find free ways to print assignments for those who can’t print at home. They could also give students access to check out iPads like library books if it isn’t financially possible to give them to the entire student body. The district isn’t giving equal opportunities to technology, and it needs to be fixed.

HP design Hailey Painter

Oct. 4, 2013 The Marquee

HOW TO HELP -Gently tell your friend that you are concerned he or she may be selfharming.

-Acknowledge that you may not understand what is going on in their lives, but explain as their friend that you can’t watch this happen and not recommend getting help.

-Encourage him or her to talk to an adult they can confide in and have him or her agree to do so.

-Ask if it would help him or her for you to go along to talk to the adult.

-Do not keep this information to yourself. If your friend refuses, talk to a trained adult.

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Cindy Helm

Personal Fitness Coach 1 on 1 Coaching Teammates Training 2-4 Members Adult Fitness Classes 6-8 Members Training consists of a combination of speed, strength, agility, core conditioning, flexibility and resistance circuit training.

Cindy@stronglikehelm.com

Cndy_helm@yahoo.com

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214.718.8975

www.stronglikehelm.com

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24 SPOTLIGHT

Marcus Idol

On Sept. 27 people of all ages filled the auditorium to experience the annual singing competition, Marcus Idol. It is a contest put on by choir but is open to all students throughout the school. Part of the voting was done by guest judges, but the majority of it was done by the individuals that were in the audience. Students sang songs of all genres of music, from country to modern pop to classic rock. Third place was awarded to junior Haley Sutherland, and second place was awarded to senior Leanne Halliburton.

Sophomore Amy Riding was declared the 2013 Marcus Idol winner. photos Ben Horton

The choir’s acapella group, Fusion, performs a medley of three songs before the winner of Marcus Idol is announced. Senior Madison Damore sang a solo during the performance.

Junior Haley Sutherland smiles to the audience before her performance. Sutherland sang Alicia Keys’ “Falling” for the competition.

Junior Jennifer Ward sings The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” to the crowd. As well as singing, she also enjoys playing the piano and the flute.

Sophomore Amy Riding accepts the first place trophy from choir director Jason Dove. She sang Sara Bareilles’ “King of Nothing.”

Senior Lauren Illey sings Katy Perry’s song, “Roar.” The audience members participated by singing along with her during the performance.

design Ben Horton

The Marquee Oct. 4, 2013