The Marquee Volume 37 Issue 4

the marquee

editor in chief

Alex Thornfelt

managing editor

Muna Nnamani

online editor

Hyunsung Na

design editor

Jennifer Banh

photo editor

Jayni Gogineni business manager

Aishani Raju

reporters

Garrison Acree

Emily Couch

Roslyn Dobbins

Raksha Jayakumar

Owen Oppenheimer

Lex Paull

Kaelen Reed

Harrison Hamre

designers

Sarina Mahmud

Dylan Sorensen

photographer

Ana Myers-Olvera

Colby Murray adviser

LaJuana Hale principal

William Skelton

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State legislature in session

Proposed laws explained

Ryan Evans, Adebola Aje and Thifinest Carter serve food during Taste of Soul Event on Feb. 24. Photo Jayni Gogineni

The Tech Takeover

New AI makes revolutionary step in technology story

Roslyn Dobbins

Robots that can mimic human abilities are nothing new. Our self-driving cars can “see” its surroundings, robots can move like us, and Siri speaks to us from our phones. But now, artificial intelligence is mimicking the way we think.

ChatGPT is a new AI system, launched in late November 2022, that has the ability to write very similar to a human based on a given prompt. It uses a massive database of writing examples off the internet which it references when creating sentences, whether it is for an email, poem, or essay. It reached a million users just five days after its release.

Sophomore Gabriel Ortego has some experience with the AI and is impressed by its skill in writing.

“It’s like holding a conversation,” Ortego said. “I've played with it a little myself and it's really impressive the way it understands what you're referencing and the concepts it understands."

As ChatGPT becomes increasingly advanced, there is a growing concern that students may use the technology to cheat on exams and assignments. The ability of the model to understand and respond to natural language inputs, as well as generate human-like text, makes it possible for students to use ChatGPT to generate answers to test questions or even entire written assignments.

This has sparked concern in teachers across the district. English teacher Ben Lieberman sees ChatGPT as technology that will change the education system, and college in particular.

“If I am a college professor, it's really going to be hard for me to spot the difference between an AI writing sample and a real human writing sample, especially if I'm asking my students to write a very formulaic essay,” Lieberman said.

Along with writing essays, ChatGPT can write YouTube intros or formulate a letter to a boss. Ortego sees it as a good tool for certain situations.

“It’s useful, especially when I'm proofing my debate speeches, making them flow better,” Ortego said. “Oftentimes, it caught spelling errors in my own speeches which can result in issues during a debate session.”

Though Ortego understands the concerns toward ChatGPT, he thinks it can be a very effective learning tool.

“I taught myself advanced factoring on it with polynomial rows, because I did not understand it in math class,” Ortego said. “It explained the concepts incredibly well.”

A few students see it as useful, others are scared to use it for fear of getting in trouble. Junior Grace Dasari, does not trust it.

“I assume if you're writing a fifth grade essay, it'd be fine, but not for high schoolers,” Dasari said. “[Teachers] could definitely tell it’s not good enough and doesn't have all the stuff you need an essay to have.”

Besides writing, ChatGPT has the ability to code. Computer Science teacher Julia Berry says using ChatGPT for coding defeats the purpose of her teaching the students.

“It’s kind of like learning a new language, [like] French,” Berry said. “This learning of a new language, and then you go to France and you speak the language. But if someone does all the work for you, all the assignments, at the end of the semester you don't know the language.”

Experts say this is a huge step in technological advancement. In fact, did you notice anything different about the fifth paragraph in this article? Well, it was written entirely by ChatGPT.

“I mean, it's a little scary, but it's also incredibly impressive,” Ortego said.

AI UPDATE

Microsoft’s updated search engine, that combines Bing with ChatGPT technology, has been the center of controversy after various interactions with users. The bot has, among other things, threatened people, fantasized about revealing nuclear secrets, and even tried to convince a user to leave his wife for the chatbot.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roe

An introduction to the 88th Texas Legislature

story Owen Oppenheimer

It’s springtime in Texas and that means two things: tornados and the Texas legislature. The legislature meets every two years to create, amend, and strike down laws. Lawmakers

Sex

State Representative Jared Patterson of Frisco, Texas has a plan to deal with something he considers an imminent threat — drag shows? These events, where drag artists impersonate men or women and perform songs, lip-synch or comedy acts, have been increasingly controversial in the state with businesses using the entertainment to attract customers.

However, Rep. Patterson has been outspoken against these events, asserting that businesses who host “a performance in which a performer exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer’s gender assigned at birth” should be classified as a sexually oriented business. This classification would then apply the same rules that govern strip clubs and adult theaters to all businesses who use drag performance as entertainment.

However, opponents to the law are saying that it is so vaguely worded that even if a business hosted a male artist with hair long enough to be mistaken for a woman, they would have to register as a sexually oriented business.

Legislation Identifier: House Bill(HB) 643

Drugs

stream in from all corners of the state, bringing their ideas with them. Whether you agree or disagree with the proposed laws one thing is for sure, they are darn entertaining.

From reducing criminal penalties for possession of products containing it to amending the state constitution, marijuana is going to be a hot topic this session with over 20 bills filed about it.

State Senator Sarah Eckhardt of Austin is focusing on the topic with three bills. One specifically has a chance at passing. Senate Joint Resolution(SJR) 22 is not trying to turn Texas red or blue, but green. This bill would legalize possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis and already has two other identical pieces of legislation filed in support from State Representatives Mihaela Plesa and Terry Canales.

Legislation Identifier: Senate Bill(SB) 208, SB 209, SJR 22, House Joint Resolution(HJR) 89, HJR 91

Rock

State Representative Stan Lambert of Abilene is concerned with the state of Texas music. Every year the State Poet Laureate, a notable Texas poet selected by the senate, chooses one musical artist to be our state musician. Rep. Lambert wants to see two selected musicians — one classical and the other non-classical. Time will only tell if we will see world famous pianist Van Cliburn’s name next to ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

Legislation Identifier: HB 1693

Roe v. Wade

After the trigger ban on abortion went into effect in June 2022 legislators have been telling their constituents non-stop about what they plan to do about it.

State Senator Bob Hall of Rockwall is on the job. Noted for calling his primary opponent a “pawn of Satan,” he is ready to fight off criticism on his bills, which have stirred up controversy. One is to protect pharmacists from legal challenges if they do not want to dispense prescribed medication, which could be used to prevent or terminate a pregnancy. However this one is so openly worded it is expected to make picking up the common prescription of birth control more difficult.

The far more jarring bill is about labeling products that contain human fetal remains. The only issue is there are no known products on the market today in the United States that contain even a cell of fetal parts.

Legislation Identifier: HB 300, HB 314

Bonus Round

• Rep. Patterson of Frisco makes this page for a second time with his proposal to separate the city of Austin from Texas.

• Rep. Metcalf of Conroe wants to end Daylight Savings Time permanently.

• Rep. Cain of Baytown wants to create a state holiday on the date of the Dobbs decisions.

• Rep. Jarvis of Houston wants to Abolish Confederate Heroes Day.

• Rep. Thomson, also from Houston, wants to legalize charitable bingo.

Legislation Identifier: HB 714, HB 1422, HB 552, HB 51, HB 431

One of the few non-controversial bills on this topic is from State Representative Donna Howard of Austin. Her legislation seeks to remedy the problem with the state’s “Alternative to Abortion” program, which was providing medically inaccurate and misleading information to expecting mothers. This bill would require one simple change that women in the program are given informational materials that must be medically accurate and scientifically supported.

Legislation Identifier: HB 988

ALL SYSTEMS GO

Robotics team advances to state championships

story

Garrison Acree

months of programming, CAD modeling and reattempt after reattempt. Today, in front of everyone in the stands, the Chuckleheads will find out if their hard work has paid off.

The team watches from the sidelines in anticipation as the timer for the next match ticks down to zero. For the first thirty seconds, 19991 will be without a pilot, relying entirely on its preprogrammed knowledge and sensors. How the next thirty seconds will go could mean the difference between going to state or ending the year at regionals.

“The back of the building had welding booths, heavy equipment and a whole lot of junk,” McCluskey said. “The floors were concrete, the lighting was questionable, it had no sound system and the networking wasn’t there.”

With the help of Principal Skelton and LISD facilities, McCluskey turned L101 into his ideal classroom. By the end of the summer of 2021, the building was equipped with an advanced sound system, a powerful AC unit and 28 of the most powerful computers in the district. With the building split into two halves, the front half was dedicated to the classwork. The back half, McCluskey had an idea for.

“When I first came in here, I kind of knew what I thought we should do with it,” McCluskey said. “People have gotten on board with that idea, which is to basically build an arena. The Roboplex is what we call the back half of the building, it’s an arena for robots. It’s the only one of its kind in all of North Texas.”

The MAC is packed with hundreds of parents and spectators as the robotics teams rush all around, prepping their robots for the next match. Among the teams are the Chuckleheads, getting robot 19991 ready for the next round.

For the spectators, today is a showcase of the ingenuity of their school’s robotics team. For the Chuckleheads, today is filled with anticipation as they fight against 39 other teams for a spot in the next competition. They were the only one of three robotics teams to make it to regionals. If they can rise above, they will be going to Houston for the state championships.

This year, the robots have a simple objective: placing cones on top of poles. The taller the pole, the more points the cone is worth. The team that ends with the most points will take home the gold.

Though the task looks simple, every intricate movement is the culmination of

As the match begins, the wheels start spinning as the mechanical arm reaches for the nearest cone. 19991 is ready to byte. •

In 2019, L101 was the Agriculture classroom, where students would grow different types of plants. After the program, the building was mostly used as a storage area. When Robotics teacher Casey McCluskey arrived at the school, he was tasked with turning the building into a robotics classroom. This would prove difficult; as the building hadn’t been used in months.

With the Roboplex up and running, the Robotics class opened up for the 2021-2022 school year. In the class, students learn how to program in Java, CAD model, 3D print and much more.

With a room full of 3D printers, boxes full of spare parts and multiple practice arenas, students have invaluable resources at hand to build their robots. Though the high-tech equipment can be daunting at first, students get to learn everything they need to know to build their robots.

“A lot of us came in here having zero experience, just an interest in engineering,” junior Ashish Biju Nair said. “Working with your team is pretty great.”

For individual work, students learn the basic concepts of engineering. For group work, students team up into groups of four to build a robot together and compete against the other teams. The

A lot of us came in here having zero experience, just an interest in engineering. Working with your team is pretty great.

-Ashish Biju Nair, 11

The Chuckleheads pilot their robot at the regional competition in the MAC on Feb 25. Photo Bianca Mahendran

competition. With the upcoming state championship in Houston, the robotics team is ready to take on the challenge.

“This is our second year,” McCluskey said. “There’s maturity to do. Some teams have almost a decade of maturity on us, but we’re getting there.”

Alex Thornfelt

Sophomore Finnian Shannahan prepares robot 19991 for the next round of the regional competition.

Photo Bianca Mahendran

Out of the Park Miracle Leagues focus broadens

story Marley Roberson

Since its first season in the fall of 2021, the Flower Mound chapter of Miracle League has more wthan doubled in size and their focus has broadened. Miracle League is a national organization with over 350 chapters in different parts of the country. The baseball league removes barriers for athletes with disabilities by using specialized equipment, playing on turf fields and teaming players up with buddies, able-bodied peers.

Director Jeff Fisher brought the Miracle League chapter to the Flower Mound area after he volunteered his son’s Rattler select team as buddies for a Miracle League Arlington game.

After meeting two players from the Flower Mound area, he got the idea to petition for the creation of a more local chapter.

Not only is the Miracle League about to kick off their spring season of baseball, they have also teamed up with GLASA’s TOPSoccer program, a Lewisville outreach program for soccer that gives players with disabilities an opportunity to play.

“We’re partnering to get more kids on their field and hopefully they’ll help recruit kids that they’ve got playing soccer to the baseball league,” Fisher said.

Although the league does not currently play basketball, they held an exhibition basketball game on Feb 11 to gauge the interest Miracle League families may have in basketball.

As the league ventures into other sports Fisher hopes that more people can find a home in the league.

“I’d love to see them making more new friends,” Fisher said.

• • •

“People want to be involved and they want to meet our kids.

- Jeff Fisher, Director of Miracle League North Texas

The first Miracle League North Texas season was in the fall of 2021. The Marcus team pictured above played on the new turf field for the first time in spring of 2022.. Photo submitted by Paige Wood

During the fall season, some Marcus students played together on a team. Player Ryan Cogliano enjoys playing for the team. He has goals for the upcoming season.

“[I want to] just try to get on base and try to help my team out,” Ryan said.

Since last year, the baseball league has split into two different leagues, competitive and recreational. They had three competitive teams and six recreational teams.

Brynli Carter plays competitive league. favorite part of baseball batting.

“[I like] hitting the ball really hard,” Brynli said.

“It was kind of neat to see these little more advanced kids and watching them do what they do,” Fisher said.

Another player, Conor Clark enjoys experiencing different parts of the sport.

“[I like] every different position,” Conor said.

Because of the league’s growth, they have been making upgrades to their facilities and equipment. Last year Fisher petitioned for the renovation of Field

11 in Bakersfield Park. The renovation added turf, which makes the field more accessible for athletes who use mobility devices.

Their preceding fall season was the first one played on the new turf. “It was really special to see the kids that are in wheelchairs, who were benefiting greatly from the turf,” Fisher said.

Player Matthew Cogliano said he field.

“It was super fun,” Mathew said.

In addition to the turf field, the league has other specialized equipment for athletes with different needs. They have baseballs that make noise made for visually impaired athletes, and a bat developed by Miracle League parent specifically for players in wheelchairs called the Switch Hitter.

Despite their exponential growth, the League has never been short on buddies to help with “facilitating fun.” Fisher said that sometimes, they have more buddies than they need on a field.

games they would like to help with. They have had hundreds of buddies connect with their players.

“People want to be involved and they want to meet our kids,” Fisher said. The community has praised Fisher for his work in helping athletes, buddies, families and sponsors unite through the opportunity that the Miracle League has provided for more people to enjoy the game of baseball.

As the Flower Mound town hall filled for a town council meeting Fisher stood ready to give a presentation on the fall 2022 season of the Flower Mound chapter. As the head of a baseball league for athletes with disabilities, Fisher works to uplift others.

But he had no idea that tonight, the Miracle League community, and the town of Flower Mound would be uplifting him.

As he waited in the lobby, Fisher noticed the familiar faces of the Miracle League community shuffle in. Busy preparing for his presentation to the town council, Fisher was clueless to the fact that the Miracle League community had nominated him for the Flower Mound Outstanding Citizenship Award for bringing the Miracle League to Flower Mound and advocating for field renovations to increase accessibility for athletes who use mobility devices.

“It goes to speak to the love that’s involved in our organization,” Fisher said.

The Marcus team is made up of both alumni and current students.To support the player’s needs, the league holds fundraisers to raise money for specialized equipment and funding to send players to the national all star game.

Photo submitted by Paige Wood

Varsity cheerleader Hallie Brown energizes the crowd during the team's routine show off before nationals.

mhsmarquee.com

design Alex Thornfelt sports

Cheerleaders win first national title

Garrison Acree photos Ana Myers-Olvera

Moments before their performance at the NCA competition in Dallas, the cheerleading team felt ready. A two day contest running from Jan. 21-22 determined if they would win a national title in their category. With the final routine coming up, the entire team held each other close and said a quick prayer.

The competitions are rated on a 100-point system, with the judges deducting points for mistakes in the cheerleaders’ movements. Before they performed for the judges, they warmed up one final time. Though the entire team was nervous, they focused on one thing: their successful preliminary rounds.

“I went in to check the scores from the first day,” varsity coach Wilkins said. “Immediately when I saw that we were at 98, I knew that we would probably be high up in prelims and probably be in first. So that just kind of lit a fire underneath all of them.”

As coach Wilkins led the team onto the mat, everyone walked down the hall onto the stage. The team saw the parents, the judges and the spectators watching them. The cheerleaders rushed into their positions as cheer captain Chloe Zeller moved to the side of the mat with the other captains. Red and white pom-poms in hand and red megaphones ready, they were ready.

The next day, the team found out the results of their hard work. They had taken home the gold, with a score of 98.1. For the first time in the team’s history, they had won a national championship.

“We’ve been training for nationals since September,” cheerleader Zoe Westmann said. “And we’ve just been adding in like our pep rally routines and all the other things. We’ve worked hard, very hard.”

The entire roster had been practicing rep after rep in the weeks leading up to the tournament, honing every movement.

“Right when we got back from Christmas break, we were here at the school practicing almost every day,” Wilkins said. “That was two and a half hours almost every day.”

Having practiced almost nonstop for weeks, the team was exhausted by the time they were at the competitions, but it brought the entire team closer.

“We were all super excited to be able to

with big gaps in between. So we were sleeping literally on the benches at the hotel and just trying to rest, we were exhausted.”

With Zeller being on both routines, she had to practice for both, hammering down every slight movement.

“Chloe gave up a lot of time to do that extra routine and almost completely gave up her free time,” Wilkins said. “And for her as a senior, especially during her senior year, to give up that amount of time was a big deal.”

The cheer team going to the national competition was a first for the entire team. With this being her first year, she also had to lead first-time national competitors into the competition.

perform that routine,” Zeller said. “We were all super happy to be together and we just wanted to win. And our sisterhood really just showed during our performance.”

For the competition, there were two routines that two respective groups were performing. Among the team were a select few who competed in both.

“She was on both of the teams that competed,” Wilkins said. “She wasn’t just doing that one performance, she actually ended up performing four times in a row

“My team, thank you for trusting me as a new coach to come in and do something new and start all the new traditions and all the things that we’ve changed this year and trusting me through the process,” Wilkins said. “It obviously paid off.”

This was the seniors’ final competition, ending their high school career with bringing home the biggest victory in the team’s history.

“It’s a very unique accomplishment. I don’t think Marcus cheer has like one anything that big in a long time,” Westmann said. “It was definitely a big deal. And I’m really grateful to be a part of that.”

We were all super happy to be together and we just wanted to win.

-Chloe Zeller, 12

Varsity cheer team performs their competition routine the one last time before heading to nationals on January 13.

Remembering home

Senior recounts journey from Egypt 4 years ago

story

Roslyn Dobbins

She could still remember the way Egypt was.

The apartment buildings in the city she lived in. The food stalls her family would often buy fresh fruits and vegetables from. The smell of beans and falafel in the morning.

She loved the walks she took to see her friends. She could easily go to their houses, then walk with them to the playground at their church. Everything was close to her.

“It was fun,” she said. “The spaces between the two places are not as far. You can just come with me and walk, and you can go anywhere.”

It was 14 years before they could legally emigrate, by which time senior Joy Aziz was in 8th grade. But for her family, it was worth the wait to be finally reunited with Joy’s aunt.

“I was crying,” Joy said. “It was happy crying because [my family] couldn’t believe that finally, we got to get together again. Basically the last time they were living together was 1998.”

America also brought freedom to Joy’s family from the religious discrimination

they experienced in Egypt.

“In Egypt, we tend to get some of like, I don’t want to say abuse, but there’s kind of like racism from like the religion part, since we’re not Muslim, we’re Christian,” Joy said.

Joy’s family was never personally treated differently, but their church as a whole was. Their Coptic Orthodox Church back in Egypt was bombed on Palm Sunday in 2017.

Joy says that events like this are nothing new to her and her family.

“We actually take it as a pride because if we died in the name of Christ, we just go to heaven,” Joy said. “So it’s more of a pride that happened to us.”

Here, religion felt safer. But America brought new challenges that Joy’s family had to adjust to.

Listening to the boys in school mock her accent, Joy remembers wondering why she was even here. Everyone seemed to dislike her, and it bothered her more than she wanted. Even the places she thought would bring her comfort in America made her feel excluded.

“I was kind of shocked because I go to a church where it’s all Egyptian,” Joy said. “It should be the same way as I was treated. I was not expecting them to be not welcoming, because I bet they know how it feels.”

Still, Joy always found comfort in her family. Despite her parents working and being tired by the end of the day, they make an effort to spend time together.

“We find a time where we sit together and joke around for a little bit even if

it was for 10 minutes,” Joy said. “That would made my entire day.”

In America, Joy not only had no friends, but her life changed too. School days were suddenly an extra two hours longer, and the weekend consisted of Saturday and Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday.

“It was different, getting out really late for me,” Joy said. “In Egypt I used to only stay [in school] for six hours. Those two hours make a big difference.”

Even school was different for Joy. Though Joy learned English back in Egypt, she rarely had to speak it. When school started up, Joy remembers the nerves she felt and the struggle to communicate with others.

“I felt like I’m missing something, or

I’ve learned that whatever happens in your life the people who love you will be here for you.

- Joy Aziz, 12

Joy Aziz and her family moved from Egypt to America when she was in 8th grade. They moved to be reunited with her aunt on her mom’s side of the family. Photo submitted by Joy Aziz

like I’m not capable of speaking,” Joy said. “It was hard to communicate with people, teachers, students around me. I used to hold my phone just in case I didn’t understand anything, I would just translate it right away.”

Joy continued forward, and after some time, began to make friends. She became best friends with some people in her 8th grade PE class who she still is best friends

with today.

“It was hard to accept people or being rude to me, even though they don’t know me yet,” Joy said. “But once I found my friends, I guess it kind of got me back to where I used to have my own friends.”

Though Joy was taught English in Egypt, she was taught British English. Joy’s friends helped to introduce her to American words and terminology.

“One time I was eating cookies, but then I used to call them biscuits because this is how I learned it,” Joy said. “They were like ‘What are you eating?’. I was like ‘This is a biscuit’ and then she was like ‘No, that’s cookies.’”

Even with the struggle, Joy is happy to have met new people and see her family reunited.

“I’ve learned that whatever happens in your life the people who love you will be here

family.

I felt like I’m missing something or like I’m not capable of speaking.

- Joy Aziz, 12

Joy’s aunt left Egypt for America when she married, but would visit every so often to see her family. Joy’s family moving to America meant they could all live together for the first time in over 20 years. Photo submitted by Joy Aziz

This past summer Joy’s family visited Egypt and their old church. Joy (inner right) and her mom, Teriz (left), aunt, Marian (left back), dad, Ehab (right), and sister, Ann (inner left), were able to see the city bishop, Bishop Pola (middle), again.

Photo submitted by Joy Aziz

for you,” Joy said. “Especially

60 seconds

Would you rather have the speed of a cheetah or the strength of an elephant?

The speed of a cheetah. I play volleyball, so being able to move around the court very fast would be very helpful, because that’s the kind of thing I struggle with.

What is your comfort food?

Just a nice PB&J. It has to be the same amount of both. It can’t be too much or too little, but a nice middle ground.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Waffle House. Me and my mom used to go a lot while I was growing up. Me and my friends will stay up till 5 a.m. and drive 20 minutes to Waffle House.

Which movie are you most excited to watch for this year?

I’m really excited for “Oppenheimer.”

What motivates you?

Mainly just the drive to improve myself and to be as good as I can be.

What was your favorite TV show growing up?

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” easily.

What song would be your theme song?

“Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne.

What fictional character do you relate to the most? Sam Winchester from “Supernatural.”

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

It’d be a nice experience to go visit Japan someday.

Fentanyl is part of the nationwide opioid epidemic that’s made its way into our community. Eduardo A. Chavez, the DEA Dallas Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge says that over the last 18 to 24 months, the drug has become the deadliest drug in North Texas.

“It has penetrated almost every neighborhood in every area,” Chavez said.

The threat of fentanyl comes from two main reasons. The first is the recent trend from illegal manufactures selling fentanyl disguised as other prescription drugs.

The second reason comes from how little fentanyl it takes to be lethal and how often that amount is found in the fake pills.

“The potential deadly dose is two milligrams,” Chavez said. “The latest average has shown that six out of 10 pills have two milligrams or more.”

Fifty times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, the deadly effects of fentanyl have been seen at high schools across the Metroplex.

design Jennifer Banh

“One pill can kill”

Fentanyl becomes latest wave oF opioid epidemic

how fentanyl works

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid originally created to help patients with chronic pain. Because the drug is not found naturally, it latches onto brain receptors more tightly, which can quicken its effects.

When prescribed, it can be useful and safe. However, fentanyl pills sold from unreliable sources are more likely to contain at least two milligrams of the drug — a deadly dosage.

Chavez says this high risk that comes

with fentanyl makes it different from experimenting with other drugs. The margin of error is so slim when making these pills illegally. Because it’s so deadly, there are no second chances.

“They don’t have some perfect formula to make sure that the first pill they make is going to be identical to the 100,000th pill they make,” Chavez said. “They can’t make sure all of them have less than two milligrams.”

How Fentanyl is disguised

Fentanyl comes in a powder form from China, and much of that is sent to Mexico. There, that powder is pressed into pills and made to look like pharmaceutical drugs — Xanax, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or even Adderall.

Brianna Bohannan, a treatment center director at Applegate Recovery, said fentanyl is one of the most common drugs involved in overdoses because fentanyl pills are often made to look like these pharmaceutical drugs and street drugs. Many of fentanyl’s casualties are the result of people being completely unaware of what they are taking.

“[Fentanyl] gets out in the streets and someone who doesn’t have a tolerance to opioids…they think they’re buying ecstasy,” Bohannan said. “That ecstasy they bought in the street has a trace amount of fentanyl that could be enough to kill that person.”

Chavez said these fake pills come from many unverifiable sources and can pass for household or prescription drugs.

“For a lot of individuals who might be familiar with those drugs and maybe have even been prescribed those drugs by their

doctors…those things might be a familiar name to them,” Chavez said. “And ultimately, the Mexican drug trafficking cartels have sort of capitalized on that…so maybe somebody will be more inclined to try it.”

However, Chavez says that you can still trust local pharmacies and doctors to provide you with the right medication.

“We’ve had zero instances of where those end up being fentanyl,” Chavez said. “The people who were saying that it was the real thing…they weren’t doctors or medical professionals.”

Chavez says the threat is very present for everyone because of how widespread and accessible it is.

“The affluence of the suburb is sort of irrelevant to these fake pills because it hits every demographic,” Chavez said. “It does not discriminate, and with the prices, it’s affordable.”

The retail prices of these pills can

Raksha Jayakumar

According to Chavez, one sugar packet’s worth of fentanyl can make 500 deadly pills.

“So you look at just the little sugar packet container on a restaurant tabletop, that’s generally 10 to 20 sugar packets maybe,” Chavez said. “I mean,

be as little as $10 and the wholesale prices down to $1.

Lewisville Police Department Sergeant Tim Stebbins works in the narcotics division.

Stebbins said that local fentanyl has been found mainly in the pressed pills and the pure powder form that comes from overseas. Fentanyl has been found in Percocet pills, a kind of pain reliever with the opioid oxycodone.

These pills have recently become more popular, and Stebbins attributes this to media and songs popularizing these drugs.

“They see stars and they see other

Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin (DEA)

people that can do those things,” Stebbins said. “I don’t think the kids realize that that’s not real life.”

While marijuana has become legalized in other states and the stigma surrounding it has shifted, deadlier drugs such as fentanyl can still be found in marijuana.

The police department fights drug usage among kids primarily through education and speaking to schools about the dangers. However, Stebbins says that education mainly focuses on instilling fear rather than informing them about the drugs.

“I don’t think we explain well enough,” Stebbins said. “I think we rely on [students] being less informed to scare them off from trying to do it.”

how to get help

Fentanyl is highly addictive, but seeking medical help and emotional support can help combat substance abuse.

Nicole Hoffman, the clinical director at Roots Renewal Ranch, works with teen

6 out of 10 fentanyl pills carry a deadly dose

affordable.

Clients usually stay around 90 days. Hoffman said the range for typical rehab facilities is between $800-$1300 a day. Insurance is helpful and payment plans are offered, but many people do not receive the help they need because they cannot afford it.

For teens and families who cannot afford rehab, Hoffman recommends having people in their life who are going to be supportive and help them get healthy. Specifically, Hoffman wants teens to turn to adults who they trust.

Addicts often refuse to admit that they don’t have control over their addiction and don’t accept help. Hoffman said people often manipulate themselves into thinking they can stop at any time.

The school counselors, assistant principals, and SRO work together to find students the help they need to fight their substance addictions. Most cases involving students and drugs are turned over to SRO Mike Anderson.

Anderson said most of these investigations start with the school’s tip line. He encourages students to use the tip line because it could save someone’s life, even if it is at the expense of being a “snitch.”

“Most of the time that high school students report somebody, it’s because there’s a genuine concern,” Anderson said. “I don’t really see it as snitching.”

The school district offers counseling programs and works with clinics in order to aid students. Anderson and the APs encourage students to prioritize their friends’ health and get them help with the resources available.

girls and their families to treat substance abuse. At the Ranch, the kids start their medical journey with a conversation with Hoffman and their parents. They offer group therapy, family therapy, and time with animals and crafts.

The goal of integrating these activities is to show the girls how to find hobbies and pleasure outside of substance abuse.

“If they’ve been using substances, they learned how to live this way,” Hoffman said. “Now we’ve got to learn how to do it without them.”

But while rehab can help people make immense progress, it is not always

“The real truth is that addiction lies to you, especially when we’re looking at something that’s highly addictive as fentanyl,” Hoffman said. “It only takes one time.”

Chavez reiterates to students that the potential and long-term effects are not worth the temporary high.

“The threat is too strong,” Chavez said. “The consequences are too irreversible.”

The real truth is that addiction lies to you, especially when we’re looking at something that’s highly addictive as fentanyl.

-Nicole Hoffman, director of Roots Renwal Ranch

75% of the nearly 92,000 overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid (CDC)

RoBbEd oF mOrE tImE

Graduate details how drug use killed her sister

Hyunsung Na

Looking out the backseat window of her parent’s car, 2019 graduate Chloe White watched her father leaving the motel room. Tears rolled down the former Marine’s face as he walked back to their car, escorted by a Lewisville police officer.

Chloe had started college at SMU a few weeks earlier, and her parents had picked her up for her first weekend visit back home. After a family lunch at True Foods Kitchen in Dallas, Chloe felt strange. She wanted to check on her sister Natalie. Chloe and her mother texted and called her. No response, so they’d stopped off where Natalie was staying to check on her.

It was September 21, 2019. The day Chloe lost her best friend.

• • •

Ever since she moved out at 18, Natalie routinely cycled between staying at other friend’s houses, renting apartments, returning to her family’s home and now

she was staying at a Lewisville motel. The entire time, Natalie slowly fell into consistently abusing drugs and alcohol, surrounded by friends who enabled her.

reached out to Natalie once in a while, just wanting to see how she was.

Quickly those check-ins became hostile. Natalie blocked Chloe on several social media accounts for long periods of time. At some point, Chloe felt like it was pointless to even try to reach out.

Chloe’s mind often returned to her fear of what could happen to Natalie.

Chloe was in high school at the time. She was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper staff with a high GPA, a classic overachieving student.

But at home, she was trying to repair her relationship with her sister. Chloe was worried the drugs and alcohol could end up taking her sister’s life. She

“I did fine in high school but It was a lot more stress than anybody should have to deal with,” Chloe said. “I feel like a lot of times I had to be the more mature one or had to kind of fill in more like an adult role because I wanted to be there for her. But she’s my older sister. She should be there for me, and I know that she wanted to, but it was just really frustrating. And it’s a lot to deal with when you see somebody that you care about struggling.”

But the drugs didn’t change that Chloe loved her only sister. They spent their childhood playing video games and watching Youtube together. Together they argued, cried and laughed.

So when Chloe saw her father leave that motel room, she couldn’t believe

Chloe and Natalie White eat dinner with their family. The last time Chloe saw her sister was watching a Netflix documentary about flat earthers together at home. Photo submitted by Chloe White

You just learn to get through life...I think there’s going to be a part of me that’s not going to fully process things…it’s what works.

- Chloe White, 2019 Graduate

design

Jennifer Banh

the truth. Natalie, at 20 years old had overdosed. The drugs that Chloe had been so worried about had finally killed her sister.

The policeman. Chloe’s father in tears. Her panicking mother opening the car door. It all seemed out of a movie. But Chloe wasn’t the protagonist. She was the audience in the theater.

• • •

Nothing felt real and 11 days later when Chloe was at the funeral, when she made eye contact with Natalie’s friends that she’d known for years, still, it felt unreal.

Chloe even helped prepare for the funeral. She designed the pamphlets that were handed out to everyone and picked out the photos in the slideshow. But the idea that Natalie was gone, it didn’t make sense. She just spoke to Natalie the weekend she died. She heard her voice, her words, her quiet breathing over the phone. How could she be gone?

But Chloe accepted it, as much as she could, so she could stand up at the podium to deliver her speech.

Chloe shared that losing Natalie was

Carey Petkoff. She was Natalie’s high school speech and debate teacher years before and had Chloe in her government class.

Petkoff watched Chloe deliver her sincerely honest speech.

“In the Chloe-est way possible, she was really astute and eloquent,” Petkoff said. “And what she said was really meaningful, I was just really impressed by her ability to convey all of that in probably one of the hardest moments of her life.”

• • •

It’s been three years since Natalie’s funeral. Chloe’s now finishing her senior year at SMU as a film major and has begun including a message in each of her film projects that it was made in the memory of her sister.

“I think no matter what I do there’ll always be a part of her in that,” Chloe said. “It’s my way of processing things, putting her into things that I do in my life so she won’t be forgotten.”

Like Chloe’s interest in film, Natalie’s left behind bits and pieces of her life that still comfort Chloe. She has the memories they shared, but she also has a black and white tuxedo cat named Pumpkin.

“I feel like there is a part of Natalie in Pumpkin,” Chloe said. “We weren’t intending on getting a cat or anything, but my sister couldn’t take care of her and so we took her in and…now if anything ever happened to her, it would be a lot more difficult just because that’s not just our cat. It’s kind of a gift she didn’t even know she was giving us.”

Chloe can’t fully move on from Natalie’s death, at least not now. There’ll be days where she lives her life distracted from thinking about her sister. Then on other days, Chloe needs to tell herself that Natalie’s alive and living in California, not talking to her.

“You just learn to get through life and live with things,” Chloe said. “And I think there’s going to be a part of me that’s not going to fully process things… it’s what works.”

everything relating to Natalie’s death but she knows that it helped her to hear others’ stories similar to hers.

It helped her to know she wasn’t alone.

“I think I’m so open about it myself because I want other people that may be going through something like this to know that they’re not alone,” Chloe said. “And maybe if I’m open about what happened to my sister, than somebody else might feel comfortable sharing their story.”

like losing a part of herself. Her voice didn’t waver. She she’ll live the rest of her life for Natalie, because she didn’t get the chance to live the rest of her life. She’ll refuse to be quiet about the addiction that haunted Natalie.

Chloe finished the speech proud. Her social anxiety vanished as she talked about Natalie, as if she was there helping Chloe through it all.

“I almost felt like there was a part of her with me,” Chloe said. “I was able to speak in a way that I’ve never really spoken again in my life.”

Two teachers sat in the audience of Chloe’s speech that day. One of them was

That’s now the message Chloe wants to share. After Natalie’s death, “Winning the Fight,” a non profit organization that offers drug education and support for youth and families, reached out to Chloe and her family. Since then, Chloe’s streamed on Twitch and donated proceeds to “Winning the Fight,” and has made YouTube videos speaking about Natalie.

“Winning the Fight,” also offered Chloe and her family the opportunity to attend grief support groups for families who’ve lost someone to drugs. Chloe knows how imperfect the grieving process is. She hasn’t fully processed

“It’s my way of processing things, putting her into things that I do in my life so she won’t be forgotten.

- Chloe White, 2019 Graduate

design Jennifer Banh

Chloe and Natalie liked watching YouTube videos and playing video games like Sims 3 and Toontown together.

Photo submitted by Chloe White

Natalie White had an interest in film. In 2015, she won first place for Best Film/ Director at Cathryn Sullivan’s film festival, a film acting school in Lewisville, Texas.

Photo submitted by Chloe White

Losing the fight

Local mom tells story of son killed by fentanyl

Harrison Hamre

Frisco resident Tina Pinotti balances her full time job, taking care of her granddaughter and working as a board member for Winning the Fight, an organization that helps families fight the disease of addiction.

“A lot of people think ‘not my family,’ but this can happen to anybody,” Tina said.

She works with families who have lost loved ones, but she still grieves the death of her own.

“Losing my son has highlighted grief and pain,” Tina said. “So it tends to hit me even when I don’t know the people.”

Her son, Ryan Pearson died at 29 years old from a fentanyl overdose.

As Tina celebrates her oldest daughter’s 30th birthday, her daughter’s engagement and the birth of her first grandchild, it reminds her that Ryan will never reach those milestones. The loss of her firstborn will stay with her forever.

She only wanted the best for him.

“He was my buddy,” she said. “He was everything to me.”

Early Life

Ryan grew up in El Segundo, California with his three sisters and mother, Tina.

“He was probably one of the easiest babies ever on the face of the Earth,” Tina said. “He was happy and just very smiley, and that followed him through most of his life.”

Ryan was an active kid with varied interests. He tried out different sports, but fell in love with art and photography. He took pictures of everything, but animals and nature were his favorite subjects. No matter what he was doing, he cared for the people around him.

He faced multiple losses in his youth. His dad committed suicide when he was only 6 and his best friend died in his sleep when they were in middle school.

“He empathized fully with people and befriended people that were hurting, so he took on a lot himself as well,” Tina said. “Those are the things that kind of greatly affected him as an individual. But also he had a sweet, kind heart.”

Tina remembers that when Ryan was 13, he ran into their apartment one day, worried from the sound of sirens. He grabbed his baseball bat and hunkered down with his mother. Until his sister ran inside, excited that Santa was coming down the street on a fire truck giving candy to the neighborhood kids.

“He would’ve protected us with his life I’m sure,” Tina laughed.

ryan’s addiction

Tina was cleaning Ryan’s room one day when he was about 17. She found weed and a pipe and her mind instantly thought of his father, an addict who abused marijauna and spent years addicted to heroin.

“They say that it’s not addictive, but I don’t agree with that,” Tina said. “When

I could hear him struggling to breathe in the background

- Michael Hart, childhood friend

I found the pot and the pipe, I was really upset and I was worried.”

Ryan didn’t see a problem with marijuana, but Tina stood her ground— no drugs in her home. During this period of tension with his mom, Ryan dropped out of high school and moved in with his grandmother in Ramona, California for a short time

“That’s when things kind of spiraled down and got worse,” Tina said.

With a trust fund left for him by his father, Ryan fell into a lifestyle of destructive extravagance. He didn’t have a steady home, but he had an expensive car that he crashed countless times. He would bounce in and out of rehabs and sober living homes, but whenever he left, heroin was always waiting.

Despite his growing addiction, he always stayed in contact with his family.

He moved back in with his mother and promised he would stop using. But he didn’t. With younger sisters in the house, he still locked himself in the bathroom and shot up. She kicked him out. She wouldn’t put her family in danger.

“It was dangerous for everybody. So that was probably the hardest thing–to turn him away,” Tina said.

In 2013, Ryan finally got sober at the

Tina says her son was the happiest, sweetest baby she could’ve asked for.

Photo submitted by Tina Pinotti

age of 24. He worked with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to start a new life.

“We’re very fortunate we had those five years,” Tina said.

ryan’s Last day

On the day Ryan died, his anxiety was worsening. His whole family was in California for Christmas while he was alone in Fairview, Texas. When he ran out of his prescribed Xanax, he got a number from a friend for more.

He went to a dealer named Ben Westin, who was involved in a Dallas drug ring, selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl.

Ryan picked up some Xanax and a single pill of fentanyl laced oxycodone.

Soon after Ryan’s childhood friend, Michael Hart got on a gaming call, the others in the call told him that Ryan had relapsed and snorted an oxycodone.

“I could hear him struggling to breathe in the background,” Michael said.

As Ryan choked on his own breath, Michael screamed over the microphone. Michael lived in California while Ryan was in Texas, so he began frantically calling anyone he could to get to Ryan’s apartment.

He finally reached Ryan’s girlfriend. When she got to Ryan’s house after midnight, he wouldn’t wake up. Paramedics and police arrived at 12:42 a.m.

Tina was in California at the time staying with her brother when she got a call from Ryan’s girlfriend telling her that something happened to Ryan and that he was in the hospital. Tina called, waiting on hold for what felt like an eternity.

“The doctor got on the line and he’s going through everything that they did, and I was actually thinking that he would say he’s in serious condition,” Tina said. “He was telling me all of the steps that were taken and everything that was done to him. It just seemed like it went on forever. But then he said ‘I couldn’t get him back.’”

Tina stood outside of her brother’s house by her car as she wept, feeling broken and devastated.

“I was in shock,” Tina said. “Then I had to tell his sisters and my parents and the rest of his family and friends what had happened. I think no one ever expected that.”

Ryan overdosed on fentanyl and died on Dec. 28, 2018.

ThE TriaLs

Dallas Police Detective David Roach took down a citywide drug ring in response to Ryan’s death. When the hearings began for the dealers, Tina thought she’d find evil-hearted, malicious individuals. What she saw were other grieving families broken by the horrors of drugs.

“Nobody wants to tear apart a family,” Roach said. “You do feel for them, because they’re not going to see their son on Christmas morning. But on the other hand, you feel that sense of justice, because Tina doesn’t get to see Ryan at any Christmas anymore.”

Tina stood in the courtroom on Sept. 18, 2021, preparing to speak to Ben Westin, the man convicted of her son’s death. She shared with Westin and the court her immense anger in her witness statement.

“I channeled that rage into finding out who you were…” Tina stated. “It became an obsession to find out more about the individual who had sold the pill that killed

my precious boy.”

Tina found his previous drug arrests, which only frustrated her more. Then she saw that Westin’s father passed away when he was young, just like Ryan. She found that he was a triplet, raised by a single mother.

“My anger turned to grief and pain for you and your family — another family destroyed by drugs.”

She said her heart broke for Westin, knowing that he only saw Ryan as a transaction, and not the beautiful person he was. Under different circumstances, she could’ve seen them as friends. In fact, Tina didn’t hate Ben Westin, she prayed for him.

“My prayer for you is that you will live with a part of Ryan in your heart—that you will do everything possible not to go back to a life where drugs dictate every path you take until you walk off that final cliff. No matter how difficult life gets, drugs won’t help — they only destroy. Do something with your life — choose the hope of a beautiful and blessed life…it’s too late for my Ryan – it’s not too late for you.”

Ryan had a passion for photography, spending much of his free time taking photos of nature and wildlife. Photo submitted by Tina Pinotti

PromposalEnchantingIdeas

story

Kaelen Reed

Asking someone to prom can be a daunting task but with this guide you can slay your promposal like the icon you are! First things first, make sure the person you want to ask would be comfortable and available to go to prom. Keep in mind when it is (April 1) so you don’t ask someone out too late. Try to get these projects done around a month before so you can plan everything out and not be so stressy depressy.

This guide is also ordered by difficulty, price, and the type of person you want to ask (e.g. easy, cheap, and not into big gestures) so you can easily plan what you want to do and who it’s for. This is for anyone to use, because anyone can ask anyone to prom (romantically or platonically).

HANDWRITTEN LETTER Difficulty: Easy Price:

This is for people who appreciate thoughtfulness, but aren’t into big gestures around others. Write the person you’re wanting to ask a letter, which could just include things you like about them or professions of your undying love. Add poetry or a quote if you want to channel your inner English major. For an easier plan just write, “Do you want to go to Prom with me?” Put in fun touches by using colored paper, patterned envelopes, stickers, etc. And to make it a little extra, give them the letter with candy or a stuffed animal.

POSTER Difficulty: Easy Price:

Posters are cute gestures for people who don’t mind something a bit more and like an artistic touch or someone more extroverted. This is a pretty open-ended way to ask someone out, allowing the design and message of the poster to be entirely up to you. When in doubt, reference their favorite piece of media. Use a scene from a movie/tv show, lyrics from an artist, or a line from a book, or tie in a hobby of theirs for a thoughtful touch. For more pizazz, attach balloons or use glitter. (this message is sponsored by JoJo Siwa).

FOOD Difficulty: Medium

This one is for people who have a love for food but not so much for social interactions. Making anyone something they can enjoy is a sure way to charm, and having something to eat while being asked to Prom is even better. Handmake a dish the person enjoys and ask the question by arranging toppings to spell out “Prom?” If making food from scratch is too daunting, you can buy them something they like or take them out to a restaurant they’ve wanted to try. If you want to be a little gentleman, pair a bouquet of their favorite flowers with the delicious food.

If done with a group of people, this is great for someone who’s a little silly and goofy XD. But if done alone, it also works for introverts. Use a game you already have, electronic or board, and play it. Allow them to win and take that opportunity to ask them while their temporary god complex is activated. You can also use the way a game is played, such as spelling out a promposal on a scrabble board.

An alternate, more complex option is getting friends to help plan a scavenger hunt and have the promposal be the prize at the end of the search.

GAME Difficulty: Medium/Hard Price: GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT Difficulty: Hard

Price:

This one’s for those who want a grand gesture and don’t mind a spotlight (Sharpay Evans). This can be done in a variety of social situations, like a club event or with a group of friends. If you’re more theatrical, you could perform a song or dance number with a group of people (the “Ginny and Georgia” tap dance scene but better) or get friends together to hold up signs asking them out. If you participate in an extracurricular, you can ask the person in charge for permission to do a promposal at the beginning or end of a game, show, or contest to knock their socks off.

Hanging

out on a Budget

Have you ever texted your friends asking to hang out and gotten hit with the text, “well what should we do?” What is there to actually do? Plans may be thrown into the group chat about brunch, local concerts and parties.

Even though the ideas are fun in theory, there’s one common problem: almost all the plans are too expensive. This guide will help people who don’t have any money find low-budget, Instagram worthy hangouts.

THEME PARTY

A themed party is an excuse for all your friends to get dolled up without blowing all your money on concert tickets just to dress up. The first step is to pick a theme, which will make it a serious party.

Second, decorations! Even though we’re on a budget, we’re still going for the Pinterest girly vibe, even if it only looks like that in pictures. Ask all of your friends to bring any old birthday or past party decorations and stop by the dollar tree for some last minute items. The main areas to decorate are the living room and kitchen, no one should be going anywhere else lol.

To stay organized, create a spreadsheet of the appetizers, entrees, and desserts for people to sign up for and hope that people will actually fill it out without the host having to badger them. Third, set up! Roll out the tablecloth onto the kitchen countertop, set out the food, and hang up the decorations for your themed party. Make sure to play a hype playlist or one that fits the mood, or you’ll bring down the vibe of the party. Last, enjoy with your friends and hope that the pictures that you take are Instagram worthy.

Movie Night In

Grab your fuzziest blankets, push your couch together, and chuck the throw pillows onto the ground. Switch on the TV and choose between a slew of old classics (“Clueless” is undoubtedly the best one) or a cheesy Hallmark movie on Amazon Prime or Netflix.

If you and your friends want to revisit some of your childhood favorite movies, this is the perfect time to do it and not be judged for it even though you watch them secretly in

Baking Night In

Everyone knows that Nothing Bundt cakes are the best dessert out there. Only maybe behind the Target frosted cookies. But, after a while, it’s nice to feel accomplished by baking a homemade treat and letting the sweet aroma of vanilla extract and chocolate fill your house.

This is also a great way to include your friends with dietary restrictions and attempt to make yummy gluten free cookies

your bedroom.

But what’s a movie night without snacks to mindlessly munch on? Make it stress-free on the host by telling everyone to bring a $5 or less snack from Target. Chocolate covered pretzels and popcorn with M&M’s drizzled are my personal favorites. Make a mini ice cream bar with all your favorite flavors and lay out an assortment of toppings from candy to french fries.

and lactose free cake.

Let’s be real though, it tastes the best when you follow the recipe without having to use applesauce as a substitute. My personal favorite is confetti cupcakes and grabbing gel icing to draw all over them. To elevate the experience, set up a topping station with a bunch of candy, icing, and ice cream and bake to your heart’s desire, but really your stomach’s lol.

As spring approaches, it’s the perfect time to step out as the sun warms you. Go to sunset point in Lakeside and fan out a weighted blanket. If you want to go farther, visit the Grapevine botanical gardens or the Dallas arboretum. But make sure to give the driver gas money. Remember, we’re trying to be budget friendly for everyone, not only the non-driving friends! Bring a couple of old throw pillows and snacks on a cheap

charcuterie board you made with your friends using Ritz crackers, cheese, and packaged fruit. Dress in your favorite floral dress or suit and sit back and relax as you feel the warmth hit your face and the silent sounds of the parks. Grab some of your favorite board games like Catan, Jenga, and Clue to pass the time. Turn up your speaker and jam out for the rest of the night listening to old 2000s music.

Jennifer Banh

How to be

THAT GIRL

Muna Nnamani

Look, we’re all tired of empty New Year’s resolutions. Every year, we have “A Christmas Carol”- type epiphanies at the beginning of January and write in our journals about how we’re going to turn it all around for the new year. But old habits prevail, and we always end up skipping the elaborately planned workout routine and ordering every meal off the

But this year, we’re all tired of being musty and crusty. So we’re trying to level up. More specifically, we’re all trying to

The That Girl aesthetic is characterized by healthy eating,

working out, and flawless morning and night routines combined with overall positive energy. Being That Girl means having your life together.

Influencers and brands have profited off the trend, selling stylish workout clothes and juice cleanses like they’re the key to happiness. And that’s because they are.

Reducing your life to an aesthetic won’t just solve all your problems from 2022 — it’ll help you live your best life in 2023.

After weeks of meticulous research, I have formulated the basic four tenets of the That Girl lifestyle: wellness routine, outfit, skincare and workout routine.

Skincare

You can’t be That Girl without good skin. How are you going to manifest becoming an NBA wife if you look dusty?

You need soft, glowy skin, and you can get that with the viral snail mucus serum. But because it sells for nine bucks an ounce on Ulta, try harvesting it yourself.

Stow away on a flight to Africa with nothing but a Stanley cup and a canteen full of oat milk. As you hike through the savannah, spear Great African Land Snails and put them in your knapsack.

When you get back to the states, create a habitat for the snails in your backyard, harvesting their slime weekly for a four-in-one natural moisturizer, sunscreen, skin serum and toner. The snails are an invasive species and will probably take over the greater north Texas area because of your actions, but it’s worth it to get that morning glow for cheap.

For makeup, try the Hailey Bieber makeup technique and only use Rare Beauty products. And to get that natural glow even in the winter, splurge on some Drunken Elephant tanner.

We've all seen the "get ready with me" videos that begin with a girl slowly sitting up in her bed with a perfect messy bun, yawning like she hasn't been up doing her makeup for hours. That will be you this year. You will be the one starting the day with pre-brushed hair.

After you wake up with the sunlight aesthetically filtering through your window, write positive affirmations in your journal. After months of writing nice things about yourself in a book and acting like you’re grateful, you will convince yourself that you’re Bella Hadid.

Wellness Routine Outfit

Follow up these affirmations with Pilates because you don’t

want to be like everyone else and do yoga. Then, take a nice cold shower.

Cold showers are the key to becoming That Girl. They tighten your pores, wake you up in the morning and most importantly, improve your mental health. The minutes standing under the shower are torture, but the freshness you feel after the pain and suffering is worth it.

I once read that people who take hot showers rely on the water's warmth to compensate for their lack of meaningful relationships. That won't be you this year. To prove that you have friends, bully yourself into standing under freezing water.

If you don’t have what it takes to actually become That Girl (not all of us have it in us to take cold showers), you should at least look the part. The key is neutrals.

Throw away anything in your closet that isn’t white, black, gray or beige-brown. Then, create a Lululemon account and buy an entire wardrobe of neutral workout sets. Drain your trust fund.

Wear these workout sets everywhere — school, church, jogs outside in the freezing cold. Wearing a sports bra and leggings

Workout Routine

From what I’ve gathered from hours of sepia-toned “day in my life” YouTube videos, gorgeous gorgeous girls don’t just work out. They stretch aesthetically.

Roll out a yoga mat in your bedroom and start the day with a convoluted mix of Pilates stretches and Zumba moves. From the outside, it will look like you know what you’re doing. Spend a full hour cracking your back.

Then, get a sip of lemon water from your Stanley and

literally everywhere might get uncomfortable, but it’s worth it for the aesthetic. If you’re that cold, throw on a Fabletics jacket and pair the outfit with some slide-on Uggs.

Host a sleepover with one of your friends just so you can steal her Stanley cup and say she lost it at your house. It’s imperative that you have your new Stanley cup in hand at all times because it’s your most important accessory.

cool down with even slower stretches. Make sure that you’re wearing your Lulu workout set and FILAs for maximum comfort.

Influencers always end their workouts by lifting their arms up to the ceiling and sighing contentedly as they bring them back down. It wouldn’t hurt to try that, too.

And that’s it! After that intense workout, reward yourself with another refreshing cold shower.

Boombahs thingswelike

Helpful Counselors

Counselors have gone above and beyond when helping students with college. Whether it’s navigating college’s websites, writing rec letters or finding scholarships, they’ve provided great aid. All the info from counselors relieves much of the stress of college

Comforting Teachers

Our teachers have been making sure students feel safe, and comfortable in the classroom. Teachers let students know that they are a source that students can talk to help them with any problems they may have in or out of the classroom. Despite the daily problems in our lives, our teachers go beyond and allow students to know they have at least one trusted

A losing game

column Emily Couch

Eraser crumbs covered the desk. I stared down at my tear soaked paper and the empty spaces I couldn’t fill. Everyone in my second grade class had finished their work and gone to lunch, but I couldn’t easily read the words that filled the page. Stomach grumbling, I sounded out each syllable, slowly stringing together each word that came so easily for the other kids.

I looked at the three blanks left on the paper, asking myself, “Why can’t I be smart like everyone else?”

My teacher came back into the classroom, finding me blurry-eyed and staring at the table. She knelt down beside me, asking why I was unable to answer such a simple question: find three words that rhyme with “star”.

Embarrassed, I fiddled with my pencil, pointing the lead into my thumb, trying to make myself think — trying to punish myself for not knowing anything. All that was going through my head was how it was such an easy question, but I could barely read the words. Looking back, I know it wasn’t my fault that I couldn’t understand — but undiagnosed dyslexia and academic perfectionism.

From a young age, I was told to always do my best and never accept anything less, but I never really knew what that meant. My best would only get me close to failing grades on assignments I put my all into, so I began working past the burn out.

Perfection soon became my impossible standard. Punishing and rewarding

myself for that standard became my coping mechanism, but it never changed the results. It didn’t matter whether it was only allowing myself to eat after the hours of homework were done or stabbing my hands with pencils if I couldn’t answer the questions on tests. I ended the day feeling useless, stupid.

These tactics led to calluses on my thumbs by the start of 3rd grade. I wouldn’t allow myself to do certain things because I was afraid to fail — so I didn’t even try.

We Love Our Cafeteria Workers

During and before lunchtime, the cafeteria workers work hard to make and serve food for students to eat. During lunch, they’re very kind as they check out our orders. Afterwards they even take the time to clean up after everyone’s mess, and ensure the cafeteria looks brand new. We take all of these services for granted at times. Instead we should show more appreciation for their hard work.

Eventually, my hard work paid off and perfect scores became a reality, but even that didn’t always cut it. All that mattered was that I got a sense of satisfaction for what I had accomplished, and I rarely did.

Perfectionism became a game in which I was always losing.

Even while writing this column,

hands shaking, I struggle with finding the perfect words to articulate exactly what I mean to say.

The expectation of perfection became such a normal part of my routine that I didn’t even realize how much it controlled me. It ruined so many experiences and aspects in my life because I wouldn’t let myself enjoy whatever I was doing. I saw religion as a challenge to follow all of the rules, to pray all of the time, read the Bible and follow everything to the “T”, but nothing was ever enough.

Finally noticing the effects of how perfectionism controlled me has shown me that it is impossible. No one deserves to hold themselves to that standard. No one is perfect and we shouldn’t try to be.

Perfectionism may still be an issue I struggle with, but I know I don’t have to bend to it. I’ve learned that validation from a grade won’t complete you — it will rob you of your potential.

Having controlling expectations can take out so much of the joy of life. It makes no matter how amazing of a feat someone accomplishes, it still feels like it is just hitting the minimum requirement. Expectations feed a need for more, making anything less than expected not good enough.

Having a mindset of knowing that failure isn’t bad has taught me to allow myself to make mistakes that ended up teaching me way more than any perfect score could.

Heys thingswedon’tlike

Stop Flooding the Lot

As we hurriedly approach spring, more rain is on its way. But in the parking lot, there’s only one drain by the main campus, which makes flooding a common occurrence. This makes trying to get back to your car while it’s raining a pain — and you drive home with the worst

Don’t Kill the Microwave

The microwave at lunch was such a great utility that allowed students to bring food to heat up. We loved the microwave era. But after some student misconduct, the microwave has been slain. It would be great if we could get a microwave safety video, in order for students to use the microwave correctlylike they do at home.

Bottled up

Dylan Sorensen

One of my favorite memories of my childhood was when my mom and I used to go every other weekend to a small frozen yogurt shop. Just the two of us would drive to the shop when it first opened to beat the long lines. Mom’s favorite flavor was usually something citrus, like orange or cherry. I was a chocolate fan.

But that special time with my mom ended in fourth grade. That time that I miss so dearly, the time I wish I could have back with her.

One afternoon, I came home from school to dead silence.

I went to pour Goldfish into one of the little bowls I had in my cabinets for my after-school snack. The sound of the fish hitting the bowl filled the air, but the silence was still noticeable. Nobody was there to ask how my day was or if anything interesting happened at school.

I went upstairs, confused.

As I set my stuff down in my room, I heard my three-year-old little brother, screaming, crying, scared.

Rushing into the next room, I found him and my mom. She was passed out on the ground, face first, next to a tipped over beer bottle. I could feel it hit me, the dread. My stomach sank.

I pulled my brother out of the room to call my stepdad at work. He rushed home to take care of all of us.

I didn’t see my mom for another three days. I couldn’t understand what was going on. I was scared for her well being, and I was scared that I would never see her again.

That fear became a reality.

She had gone away to get help, so I assumed things would get better when she came back. I thought she would come back and be my mom, still be there to ask me how I was after school and still be there to take me to our favorite frozen yogurt shop. But she didn’t come back.

I knew things had gotten serious fast after my dad removed me from the house a week later.

My life was about to change.

After School Vending

It may come as a surprise, but the vending machine in the commons that holds candy is only open after school to comply with the law. But students who go to buy candy during lunch or during passing periods walk away with nothing. It would be helpful if a sign was placed on the machine, letting students know that it’s only active af-

simply wasn’t enough room for a son and alcohol. I made so many attempts at making things okay again, only to be left hanging.

I never knew that I would struggle to have a relationship with my mom. To have lost the one relationship that I could count on was serious pain. I just wanted what my classmates had with their moms.

But she and I can’t ever talk about what happened. There’s too much hurt between us. Between my family.

It has been so frustrating, and so disheartening. I’ve spent so much time trying to do something to fix our relationship. I know it’s not in my control. But my heart can’t accept that. I still want to do something to make her love me the way she used to.

As a kid, I liked Pokémon cards, Legos, and playing video games. After she left, I stopped enjoying a lot of those things because they held memories with her. I became quiet and reserved at school.

I wish I could say this was the last time something like this happened.

But it wasn’t, and I wasn’t surprised. I’ve made several attempts at living with Mom again over the past few years, only to be pushed away because there

Her use of alcohol has divided my family, splitting people into sides and doing nothing but creating tension. I have so many family members on her side who I haven’t heard from in years. I don’t have a chance at having a relationship with those people any more. Even my Dad and Stepmom still suffer to this day because of several of the repercussions that have come from this. So many of my loved ones, hurt, or gone from my life.

I miss the feeling of being able to go and getting ice cream with my mom. When my family suggests going to get some, I usually refuse, or go by myself some other time.

The memory hurts too much.

Kaelen Reed

How to do drugs safely

Let’s be honest, high school is boring. So why on Earth would you spend your formative years studying and sober when you can give into peer pressure? Have the time of your life breaking the law and stunting your brain development. Drugs today are more innovative, fun and risky than ever. So we think you should be armed with the information to take part in your drug use in the best ways possible!

NicotiNe:

If you’re interested in an addictive substance that can burn away the money in your pocket while burning a hole in your lungs, then vaping is for you. Thanks to convenience and targeted marketing, vaping has made nicotine one of the most accessible and common substances used by teens.

To get these delicious flavors, your run-of-the-mill vape can include flavorings such as diacetyl. This chemical can’t be digested by your lungs so it can build up and cause the condition, Popcorn Lung. This artificial flavoring, also found in popcorn flavorings, infects, inflames, and scars the smallest airways in the lungs, leading to trouble breathing and a persistent cough.

If you’re going to inhale these harmful chemicals we recommend getting the most appealing flavors you can find.

weed:

Speaking of best bud, weed has been the substance of choice for teens who want to escape their boring, suburban life for decades.

We recommend lighting your joints, blunts, bongs, or pipes with a lighter so you can make sure you’re breathing in butane and other harmful chemicals along with the carcinogens from the burning flower.

After smoking, you can enjoy your lasting cough and burning lungs along with an overwhelming appetite that will decimate your parents’ pantry. Not to mention the feelings of paranoia. Then there are those who will judge you for your obvious red eyes and decreased motor skills. But just forget about all that, sit back, relax and ignore your problems.

Why would you risk lung disease for some boring mint flavor when you can rip a watermelon-mango-raspberry-ice vape instead? If you’re gonna become a hopeless nicotine addict with lung disease, your vape should at least taste good.

But if breathing in artificial flavors doesn’t sound appealing to you, consider taking up smoking cigarettes.

They can make you look cool and you will barely even notice the slow build up of tar in your lungs, so light up kids! The real kicker is that lingering smell though, what a pain.

If you don’t like to light up, you can always take up chewing tobacco. The brown teeth, mouth cancer and cups full of your nasty spit are a huge social boost that’ll make everyone wanna be your best bud.

Now if you want to feel paranoid, hungry, unmotivated and tired for the whole day, we highly recommend edibles.

Or maybe you want to inhale black market vape juice that some sketchy dude in the bathroom “totally” got from his friend in “Colorado.” If so, consider buying a THC dab cartridge. It’s most likely filled with laced mystery wax that could include embalming fluid or laundry detergent along with other substances to mimic the effects of THC. PCP, heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine have been found in lab tests for THC cartridges. So it’s a really convenient way to get hooked on hard drugs too. No matter which method you choose for your cannabis, the brain damage and loss of short term memory, especially in teens, is totally worth the good times.

alcoHol: Pills:

Stealing prescription pills is fine and dandy but buying them off the street is where the real fun is. The best part of pills is the risk. It’s like a game of Russian Roulette in that pills laced with fentanyl are nearly identical to the real thing. Law enforcement say a chemical test is essentially the only way to tell the difference. The gamble of potentially poisoning yourself and overdosing is a real rush. And being addicted to gambling and drugs is really living life to its fullest.

Eh, it’s not a real drug. It’s only addictive, kills your brain cells and destroys your immune system, but the social benefits of becoming a filterless jerk and doing stupid things you’ll regret the next day and possibly for the rest of your life are totally worth it.

So follow these guidelines the next time you want to take part in underrage, illegal, destructive substance usage. You only live once, so get out there and shorten that life span with drugs!

Remarks

Why do you think students take drugs?

complied & photos

Colby Murray

Students wanting an escape from the feeling of being overwhelmed by school.

Due to mental health problems and people wanting an escape from their lives they might resort to drugs to help the issues they have.

-Ava Cherry, 11

“What’s he gonna major in? Eagles and flags?”

-Newsroom

“I’m not in the mood today. I’ll hit you with my car.”

-C hall

“Why is Fortinbras from Hamlet kinda fine though?” -W hall

They are most likely do drugs because of someone they know, and it’s possible that they just want to experience it.

-John Buckholt, 10

O ve r h e a rd

“I just found out I’m not John Lennon.”

-A hall

“At this point bringing snacks is more important than my grades.” -Cafeteria

I think that depending on how prevalent drugs are in someone’s life also can cause them to take drugs.

-David Hernandez, 12

“It’s been two days and my dogs are still sore.”

-C hall

“Daquan won’t answer my DM’s.”

-W hall

“I’m no longer Washington D.C.”

-C hall

Kicking it into high gear

The varsity girls soccer team is enjoying a dominant season this year with a 16-1-1 record, ranking them the sixth best team in the country. This includes their match against Lewisville on Feb. 7, where the team won the game 10-2. Forward Maddie Hayes was awarded player of the game, with two goals assisted by forward Bella Campos. The district playoffs are right around the corner, and following their 2022 season as district champs, the team has the spotlight to make them one of the favorites to win it all.

photos Katie Doss design Alex Thornfelt

Maddie Busch clashes with her defender to win ball control for Marcus in their match against Lewisville.

Senior Caroline Castans runs past a Lewisville defender. Castans scored one goal in the team’s match on Feb. 7.

Maddie Hayes passing to her teammates. Hayes was awarded the player of the game with two goals. Marcus won the match 10-2.