December 2013

MARQUEE THE

Volume 28 | Issue 3 | Dec. 19, 2013 | mhsmarquee.com

ing

Light

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

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Senate Bill 5 places new regulations on abortion procedures in Texas

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Group of young musicians put their own twist on electronic music

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Sophomore tight end looks forward to future collegiate football career

Table of Contents

cover photo William Legrone

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 photo William Legrone

Sports

Anna Middleton

Opinion Editor Madi Schwem

Sports Editor Austin Rickerson

[19] NOTHING BUT NET Girls’ basketball captains and coach share team strengths and weaknesses.

Graphics Editor Sydney Sund

Photo Editor Kady Kohankie

story Jaime Hardison

Asst. Photo Editor William Legrone

News

Business Manager Hailey Painter

[4] NEW ADDITIONS Developers make progress on Flower Mound Riverwalk.

Social Media Editors

Patricia Qualls, Samantha King, Sydney Sund

Online Editors

Alyssa Schmidt, Ben Horton

Reporters

story Megan O’Hearn

Jaime Hardison, Victoria Price, Adam Hernandez, Allie Loder, Molly Webber, Megan O’Hearn, Alex Helm, Rachel Ramirez

Feature [6-7] MEMORABLE TOUCHDOWN Disabled middle school student plays in football game. story Marisa Charpentier

Designers

Tori Allmendinger, Jacqueline Higgins, Lyndsay Hilton, William Legrone

Photographers

Luisa Diaz, Jaqueline Higgins

Adviser

LaJuana Hale

Principal

Gary Shafferman

Entertainment [15] FROM STAGE TO SCREEN The Marquee outlines former student’s rise to fame. story Madi Schwem

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 story Molly Webber

Compare scores Reading Lisd: 530 State: 471

Writing Lisd: 518 State: 476

Math

Lisd: 563 State: 496

Reading

t oin e p ent e r h A t rovem imp last e : e r cor s from ’s sco us r c a r e y 40 Ma 543 of 5

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

Students have improved the school’s SAT score average by 15 points and increased their participation by four percent on the October test. The average has increased before, but during this test, scores increased from 1631 to 1646.

“A 15 point jump is pretty substantial,” Assistant Principal Todd Knowles said. “It shows that students are working harder [and] teachers are working harder.”

There are 10 sections of the test, each timed. The test reveals to colleges the student’s academic understanding of math, writing and critical reading.

The school’s October average showed improvement in all three sections of the test, especially math, with a seven point improvement. The reading portion jumped three points, and the writing improved by five points.

The school’s scores surpasses those of the district, state and nation. Overall, the difference between the national average and the school’s average from the October test is 169 points. The state’s average falls 206 points behind the school’s October average. And finally, the district average is a total of 35 points lower than the school’s average.

The school has also improved its participation and the actual testing preparation itself. There were 629 students that were involved in the October test, a four percent increase from September. According to Knowles, the more students participating in the test, the better because this shows more students are getting prepared for college. “[The SAT test] is the best predictor of college readiness,” PSAT Team and English teacher Jennifer Forthun said. “There is a strong

Math

Standardized testing results show schoolwide improvement SAT scores jump 15 points, beat national average

correlation between a high SAT score, the number of schools a student is accepted into, the rate of their grade point average and the student’s chances of graduating college.”

A bulk of the students that recently took the SAT are juniors and seniors.

Over 57 percent hit the college benchmark readiness on the test, meaning that over half of the students met the minimum score that indicates the student has a high probability of getting accepted.

Forthun has taught PSAT team for two years now with Math teacher Lori Dodson.

The class is taught by one teacher centering on the English aspect, and one on the math. Every week, the students spend two days in one class and two days in the other, finishing the week with a practice SAT. The class also offers practice Saturday SATs to get students confident in the testing environment. The students in the class are expected to learn how to apply everything they’ve learned in their education and apply it to one test. Even though it is challenging, Forthun said the SAT is important in helping students understand their college aptitude.

“I think we always have to set the bar high and expect a lot from our students because [they are] fabulous,” Forthun said.

Senior Becca Gooden said she was proud of the school’s improvements. She pointed out that the school’s classes are good at preparing students for the future, whether it be in college or just in an entrance exam.

Even though she does recommend taking the SAT more than once along with an ACT or SAT Subject test, she says that the SAT is

Marcus score:

A seven point improvement from last year’s 570

577 7

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9

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4

5

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1

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Writing

what will prepare students for the admission process.

“PSAT team my junior year was really helpful to me,” Gooden said.

“And I know they have opened that up to a lot more students, and I really think that helps because the basic skills you learn in that class apply so much to the SAT.” According to Gooden, the school’s option to offer SAT/ ACT Prep or PSAT Team is what prepares students for the test. The school’s budget allotted all of these classes to give out free books on the practice SAT and the guide to taking the test. Other steps have also been taken to help students prepare.

“I think English teachers are using more vocabulary that is SAT related and not just out of novels you read, and that really helps,” Gooden said.

Knowles said he thinks that the improvement will be permanent.

“Every few years, the school will improve and then go back down a few points,” Knowles said. “I don’t think this is a part of a cycle. I think this is a true improvement.”

Marcus score: 526

A six point improvement from last year’s 520

design Jaime Hardison and Victoria Price

4 NEWS

New development coming to Flower Mound story Megan O’Hearn The town of Flower Mound is beginning to resemble one giant construction site.

Clamorous bulldozers, barricading bright orange cones and fields of unearthed soil have become common landmarks for residents.

Numerous new businesses have made their way into town, with grand openings occurring every month. However, the largest and most extravagant project in Flower Mound is still yet to come.

The 158-acre development, The Riverwalk at Central Park, will be located along FM 2499, anchored by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. The area will allow for commercial, office, retail, dining, medical, civic and residential uses. The project, first proposed in 2007, was stalled until local developer Centurion American picked it back up this spring. The groundbreaking was held Aug. 16 and there will be ongoing construction over the course of the next several years.

“The Riverwalk at Central Park is a mixeduse project in central Flower Mound that will provide opportunities for residents to gather and spend quality time with friends and family,” Flower Mound’s director of economic development Mark Wood said.

The first phase of the project is largely complete, with the construction of the Riverwalk Medical Park, which includes the Presbyterian Hospital and other attached medical offices. Also included in the first phase of the Riverwalk, a Market Street design/graphic Lyndsay Hilton

shopping center opened Dec. 11, and the two confirmed tenants of the restaurants La Madeleine and Mellow Mushroom will open later next year.

“Additionally, the river amenity itself is under construction and other portions of the project will come online soon, such as the villastyle homes, retail and restaurant and entertainment components,” Wood said.

On Nov. 5, the city of Flower Mound voted on Proposition 1 to authorize a Public Improvement District, which will allow the project developer to spend up to $16 million on the Riverwalk’s infrastructure.

The proposition was overwhelmingly approved with 73 percent of the voters in favor.

“The general Flower Mound resident, not owning property in the Riverwalk, will see no tax increase, but will be able to enjoy all of the great amenities that the Riverwalk will provide,” Wood said.

Several students at the school are looking forward to doing just that.

“I am very excited for the Riverwalk,” freshman Michael Leaumont said. “I think it’s going to be a fun place to hang out with friends. There are malls in the area that we can go to hang out, but none of them are

really close to home.”

The Riverwalk is expected to create additional job opportunities and draw in people from outside of Flower Mound.

According to Wood, the Riverwalk comes with many benefits, including creating more sales tax dollars to fund town services such as maintaining roads, adding parks and public safety.

“The Riverwalk will benefit the town greatly in that it will provide a central gathering place for residents, provide dining and entertainment opportunities and various housing options that are not your typical single-family home,” Wood said.

Although some are eager for this addition to Flower Mound, other residents view the Riverwalk as an unnecessary amenity.

“I don’t like it,” senior Katie Aplis said.

“They want the Riverwalk to bring the community together, and I don’t think that we need to develop land in order for us to become more of a community.”

In Aplis’ opinion, the developers should have kept a lot more trees and made the area into a nature park without shopping and offices.

“I feel like our mentality is to develop as much land as possible, and I don’t

“The Riverwalk is a very exciting transformative project for Flower Mound.”

Mark Wood

think that should be the case,” Aplis said.

Although there are some that are against it, with majority voter approval, the Riverwalk will be under construction over the course of the next several years.

“The Riverwalk is a very exciting, transformative project for Flower Mound,” Wood said. “The developer is one of the best in the area and builds a great product, and the Riverwalk will be something Flower Mound can be very proud of.”

photo Luisa Diaz The Riverwalk has started construction and will feature commercial and health buildings. It is located on FM 2499.

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

NEWS 5

New standards brought to Texas

Senate Bill 5 mandates additional abortion restrictions, limitations story Madison Ermenio The battle over state Senate Bill 5 in Texas continues to be a prominent issue in politics. The bill limits the use of the morning-after pill, bans abortions after 20 weeks, requires abortions to be performed in surgical centers and mandates that doctors have admitting privileges at a hospital within a 30 mile radius.

After the bill was passed on July 18, abortion rights groups asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the law, as it would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas. The law was deemed unconstitutional in federal court by District Judge Lee Yeakel on Oct. 28, yet the state Supreme Court of Texas found the law constitutional on Nov. 4.

On Nov. 19, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that it was the ultimate decision of the Supreme Court of Texas and is allowing states’ rights to prevail in determining laws. Groups supporting abortion rights like Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation continue to protest.

The portion of the bill requiring doctors to have admitting privileges allows abortionists to admit their patients into a nearby hospital to be cared for in case of emergency during the procedure. While pro-life activists argue that the requirement for admitting privileges serves as a safety precaution to women undergoing an abortion, pro-choice activists claim that it is only a roadblock that makes it more difficult on doctors that are performing abortions.

Senior Jordan Pearson said he agrees with some parts of the bill but not others.

“I agree with requiring admitting privileges,” Pearson said.

“It may be harder on doctors, but better for the patients in case of emergency. We should worry about the health of the woman who’s doing it. But I don’t agree with the limitation of the morning-after pill. I just believe that you should be able to have that choice.”

Under previous law, women could take the morning-after pill in their own homes, but are now required to do so under

the supervision of a doctor at a surgical center. Senior Makenna Heath said that she agrees with the provision limiting the use of the emergency contraceptive because she thinks it still terminates the pregnancy after conception.

“It’s another form of killing a human being,” Heath said. “I say [abortion] is unconstitutional because everyone has the right to live. People try to say that the baby is not a human being, but it’s a human being after conception.”

Local legislator for the House of Representatives Tan Parker voted for the bill, according to his Chief of Staff Richard Dennis.

“Speaking for my boss, yes he agrees with the law,” Dennis said.

“He believes that this will result in safer circumstances for women who feel like this is their only route with regard to managing their pregnancy.”

Before the law was passed, Texas Senator Wendy Davis filibustered on June 25 in Austin, attempting to block its passage by speaking on the floor for almost 13 hours straight without food, water or bathroom breaks.

“It certainly brought it out into the public view,” Art teacher Kathy Toews said. “With her filibuster, she was able to raise the consciousness enough and get people out there to support her.”

After the filibuster, legislators missed the midnight deadline for voting on the bill due to the overflow of noisy protesters in the capitol building. Legislators were not able to vote for the bill in time, so the law was not able to pass.

This led Governor Rick Perry to call a second session into action on July 1 to prolong consideration of the bill.

The passage of Senate Bill 5 over the summer forced

many abortion clinics to cancel all their appointments, causing Planned Parenthood to file a lawsuit on the behalf of 12 abortion providers. As of now, the lawsuit is still pending and the outcome has not yet been determined.

Only five out of the 42 abortion clinics in Texas meet the surgical center qualifications that are required by the law.

In order to remain open, many of these centers will need to renovate their facilities or be shut down.

Because the law makes getting an abortion in Texas much more difficult and less available to women, Heath said she thinks that abortions will occur less often.

“I think less people will do it because they’re not going to go completely against the law,” Heath said. “If it’s legal, then they think it’s okay to do it.”

Dennis said that even though the standards of the clinics have been increased, he doesn’t think this will result in more illegal procedures.

“I don’t anticipate that this is going to result in more backalley abortions,” Dennis said. “At the end of the day, because this is sensible legislation that puts a necessary minimum facilities requirement on abortion providers and gives them plenty of time to make those arrangements, I don’t think we are going to see that many close to be honest.”

Toews said she does not agree with the law overall and is against the government legislation.

“The United States has been built on a separation of church and state,” Toews said. “This is just another way that religious people are trying to impose their morality on everybody else.”

The Planned Parenthood lawsuit - filed on behalf of the dozens of abortion clinics in Texas that could potentially be shut down - is currently pending.

“We envision that it will provide safer places for women to go have this invasive procedure performed on them.”

Rick Dennis

Texas abortion legislation throughout the years

2005

The 79th Texas legislature requires that underage girls seeking an abortion notify a parent first.

2010

Texas categorizes all Planned Parenthood clinics according to whether they provide abortions or not.

2013

All doctors performing abortions must do procedures in a surgical center and have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.

Abortions after 20 weeks are no longer legal and the use of the morning-after pill is limited.

The Marquee Dec 19, 2013

design/graphics Kady Kohankie

6 FEATURE

From sidelines to

SPOTLIGHT

story Marisa Charpentier For the past two years, a white line has separated 16-year-old Eiler Buck from his football teammates on the field. An eighth grader at Downing Middle School and captain of the C Team, Eiler spent each game on the sidelines, cheering for the Diamondbacks.

He was always the first person the boys highfived as they came out of the game. But on Tuesday, Oct. 22, everybody rooted for Eiler.

Until Eiler was 2 years old, doctors thought

he might never walk. He was born with weak legs and clubbed feet, a foot deformity that left his feet rotated inwards. It appeared as though he would be walking on the tops of his feet, if he was able to get up at all. Eiler was also born with a brain malformation. As a result, his hands are weakened, his tongue is paralyzed and he is about two years behind his peers developmentally. Talking, eating and swallowing are all challenges. But for the past 16 years, Eiler has continued to break down barriers.

photo Amanda Collen Parents Mary Beth and Alex Buck watch as their children, Eiler and Adlaine, play on the swing they have in their basement. Both siblings have brain malformations and use sign language to communicate. design Amanda Collen

photo submitted Eighth grader Eiler Buck travels down the field for his first touchdown. Eiler is the captian of the C Team at Downing Middle School.

He pulled himself up at age 2, showing everyone he was determined to walk. After getting surgery to correct his feet, he took his first steps. Over the years, Eiler has endured 11 surgeries to help correct his feet, legs and other issues. He’s learned sign language to communicate with others and now walks, using crutches or a wheelchair for longer distances. He’s also acquired a passion for sports.

During school football games, Eiler loves watching his teammates tackle and score from the sidelines. Even though he tires easily standing with his crutches for so long, he never misses a game. He spends his free time playing Madden NFL 25 with his friends and enjoys working on his latest project – a poster of his favorite football team, the Arizona Cardinals. When he told his mom, Mary Beth Buck, he wanted to play in a game this season, she wasn’t going to stand in his way.

“He’s a very determined kid,” Mary Beth said. “He’s always worked hard. If there’s something that he wants, I never tell him no, and he goes for it.”

Throughout the season, Eiler exercised his throwing and catching skills and practiced walking with the ball. Mary Beth talked to head football coach Andrew Libby, asking if Eiler could get in a game. Libby then spoke with the Shadow Ridge Middle School coach, and they both agreed. At the next game, Eiler’s dream was going to become a reality. *** It was the night before the game. Libby sent out an email to parents encouraging

people to come and cheer for Eiler. But the response they received was unlike anything Mary Beth had imagined.

“They got posters made, they made phone calls, they made sure people were there and they helped video,” Mary Beth said. “One ran out and had a special jersey made with his number. They had all the boys sign a football for him – all in less than 24 hours.”

Parents and students fill the stands.

Signs supporting Eiler are scattered across the crowd. Many hold posters saying “Eiler: Heart of a Champion.” The boys on the team, however, have decided to show their support in a way only middle school boys can.

They wave around posters with phrases like “Release the Beast” and “Eiler for Heisman.”

The Diamondbacks are up. Coach Libby calls Eiler into the game. The players get in position before the snap. A teammate hands the ball off to Eiler. He fumbles and falls on his first try. The play starts again. With the quarterback by his side, Eiler slowly moves his feet down the 40 yards to the end zone. His teammates block opposing players, making a path for Eiler. He picks up speed. The yard lines disappear beneath him - 40, 30, 20, 10. Cheers from both schools echo from the stands. When Eiler reaches the end zone, he slams the ball onto the grass, victorious. In the excitement, he falls to the ground, and the team surrounds him.

Eiler had just scored his first touchdown.

Six points went up on the board.

“Every parent wants to see their kid score a touchdown, and he did,” Eiler’s father, Alex Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

FEATURE 7 Buck, said.

“They are typical brother and sister,” Mary By the end of the week, Eiler was all over Beth said. “He teases her. She gets mad at the news. Local news stations interviewed him. She comes in for a kiss. He pushes her the family, and the story ended up on stations away.” like CNN and WFAA. The video of Eiler’s The two also have an older sister, touchdown on YouTube has received over former Marcus student Emmy Buck. Now a 16,000 views. sophomore in college, Emmy is away from “I never knew people even saw Eiler on the the family during the school year. But when sidelines,” Mary Beth said. “We went to every she’s home during breaks, she spends time game to watch him stand on the sidelines… with and helps care for her brother and sister. but people noticed him. People appreciated “She looks out for them,” Alex said. “She’s him.”

20 years old, but she’ll still play dolls with her The following Friday at a Marcus football brother.” game, the appreciation continued. Eiler and Life for the Bucks is often stressful. Alex his parents made and Mary Beth their way to their juggle physical seats. They had and speech “All you hope for is just someone just reached the therapy appointfirst step when the ments for their to hold. Their health or their mental crowd broke out in children, making applause. People lunches, handling capacities, those are just bonuses.” got to their feet, bed and bath clapping for Eiler. routines and “The outpouring being involved in from the outside activities community, the Since Adlaine things people said…and to see him affect began high school, Mary Beth has been other people was really powerful,” Alex said. involved with Circle of Friends. At the school, The touchdown quickly became a this group meets once a month so students can conversation starter. Because he lacks hang out with special needs students, playing the ability to speak, Eiler can’t start up games, making a music video or raising conversations with his classmates easily. money for the annual Circle of Friends Prom.

“Now they had something to talk to Mary Beth said she plans to stay involved him about,” Alex said. “It broke down that with the group when Eiler attends the school. barrier.”

“I feel like my presence at the school is According to Mary Beth, how everybody necessary so that the teachers understand came together and what each person got that I am interested in their education and out of that day was what made the game so I’m interested that they have a good social life special. at school,” Mary Beth said.

“Some of the students that you least Alex is also involved with groups in the expected to be changed by the event were community. In addition to his job as a real really touched by Eiler,” Mary Beth said. estate developer, Alex is part of the Medical “One kid even said: ‘I thought this was kind Center of Lewisville Board of Directors. He of lame, but when I really thought about how is also a Lifetime Member of the Lewisville every day is not easy for Eiler, for him to get Education Foundation and a member of to do this is a great thing. We take everything Lewisville Rotary, an organization that raises we have for granted.’” funds for non-profit organizations like the *** Lewisville High School Circle of Friends.

Eiler presses a button on a pump that “I grew up in this area,” Alex said. distributes liquid nutrients into him through “We’ve been really blessed, and it’s just an a tube that attaches directly to his stomach. opportunity to give back. The community has He used to need help feeding himself, but given our family so much.” now he can do it on his own. Helpers walk *** around the home, aiding the family in any Rows of football players gather in the way they can - making dinner or caring for locker room. It’s the day before the Mound one of Eiler’s older sisters. Eiler isn’t the Showdown, and head football coach Bryan only child in the family with disabilities. Like Erwin has something to share with the Eiler, Adlaine Buck, who is now a senior at team. He flips on the video of Eiler making the school, has a brain malformation. She is a touchdown. The players watch as he makes unable to verbalize her needs and is mentally his way down the field to the end zone, his at the level of a 2 or 3-year-old. She uses teammates helping him every step of the way. some sign language to communicate words Then Eiler enters the locker room. Dressed like “eat” or “movie.” Now almost 18, Adlaine in his Arizona Cardinals jersey, he sets down continues working towards independence. his crutches and walks to the front of the She is in a special needs class at the school room with his dad. He’s nervous, but once that focuses on life skills, but some tasks are he sees how happy he has made the team, his still difficult. nerves fade away. He begins giving a speech, “For Addy, if there’s a full milk jug, it’s moving his hands and arms to communicate. going everywhere unless I’m there to help her You are bigger and stronger and meaner. pour,” Mary Beth said.

Beat Flower Mound. I love you.

Despite their disabilities, the two treat The players stand up, clapping and each other like any siblings would. cheering, pumped for the upcoming game.

Alex Buck, father

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

Eiler had become an inspiration to the team.

“We just felt motivated,” football player junior Creighton Barr said. “It touched me personally. I can’t imagine what he has to go through every day, and for him to be able to do that is just awesome.”

In addition to asking Eiler to give a speech to the team, Coach Erwin also made him honorary captain for the last game against Hebron. He walked onto the field for the coin toss and hung out on the sidelines with the rest of the team.

“Once again, I was amazed by the community…,” Mary Beth said. “All the boys on the team were trying to make playoffs, and they took a moment to give my son attention and appreciation.”

Although the season is over, Eiler is not done with football yet. As an incoming freshman, he is considering pursuing band or football in high school. He is also considering joining a Miracle Football League for handicapped students led by Ryan Neufeld.

His aspirations for the future also involve football. He talks about wanting to be a football coach, a policeman or an owner of a video game store.

“For him, I think the sky is the limit,” Mary Beth said. “There are different college-like

programs available for him. I think he’ll be able to do a lot.”

Although raising two kids with special needs can be stressful, both parents agree their children are blessings.

“All you hope for is just someone to hold,” Alex said. “Their health or their mental capacities, those are just bonuses.”

Raising Eiler and Adlaine has also taught them patience. Reaching milestones takes longer for their children due to their disabilities. Whether it’s learning how to stand or learning how to hold a cup of water for the first time, each new achievement is a big one.

“They’re really big for everybody, but when you wait an extra three or four years, it’s really exciting,” Alex said.

In the Buck household, every milestone is a touchdown.

Scan here to see the video of Eiler scoring his first touchdown.

photo submitted Family members Mary Beth, Alex and Pa Pa Carl Buck stand with Eiler after he made the touchdown.

Parents and students created posters like the one Eiler is holding to cheer him on. design Amanda Collen

8 FEATURE

Marching on

Freshman participates in band despite muscle disease

said. “But now I don’t have any.”

Harrison’s surgeries began after he was The scorching heat of the Texas sun diagnosed in fifth grade. However, he’s been drained the energy from the young Marcus experiencing the symptoms from the day he musicians as they learned to march. Forwards, was born. backwards, sideways, constantly changing “I can’t run as fast, I can’t lift as much direction. Freshman Harrison Self never weight,” Harrison said. “I can’t do what a lot anticipated the activity would be so physically of my friends can do.” demanding. Learning 90-degree slides, *** jazz running and proper marching posture, The stadium lights shine bright and the Harrison readied himself for a demanding crowd has quieted to a dull roar for halftime. marching season.

Harrison can see the red skirts and shiny This time period between early August sequins of the Marquettes as they line up to and the last competition is a challenge for enter the field for the famous Marcus “M” all students involved, but perhaps more so formation. A slight breeze ruffles his plume, for Harrison. This is largely due to a disease the feathers on his shako hat, as he stands called Emery-Dreifuss, a form of Muscular confidently, ready to execute his part. This is Dystrophy he’s been dealing with his entire the first halftime performance of the season. life.

The whistle blows, signaling the drum Emery-Dreifuss weakens the skeletal tap off. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. The rest of the muscles. This makes movement difficult for drumline joins in as the band lifts their Harrison, even causing him physical pain. instruments to playing position. Harrison’s There is no cure. trumpet hovers over his lips, and then the Harrison’s neck muscles are particularly music starts. The melodious notes of the weak. Over the summer, he underwent Marcus Fanfare fill the stadium, and without surgery that installed four metal rods in realizing it, Harrison is marching in his first his spine, and a metal plate in the back of ever halftime show surrounded by the rest of his head to help him hold his neck up. The the band. surgery helps Harrison manage the weight Harrison has been playing the trumpet of his head, so that the muscles don’t have as since sixth grade. After discovering his love much strain on them. for music, he elected to continue the activity.

“I used to have a lot of pain,” Harrison “I enjoyed playing the trumpet,” he said.

“And I wanted to stay busy during high school.”

Harrison’s mother, Kim Self, said she was surprised when Harrison said he wanted to do marching band. She knew that it would be physically difficult for Harrison. His parents suggested that he use his power chair to help him get around and conserve energy. But Harrison refused.

“He can tend to get more tired,” Kim said. “We knew that the schedule would be very tiring.”

Harrison’s limbs are thin, and when he walks, he does so with a noticeable shuffle and sway in his gait. Harrison uses a powered wheelchair to get around between classes, but most of the time he elects to walk. But because of his lack of substantial muscle, he tires easily of physical activity and resorts to his red power chair.

But Harrison wasn’t intimidated by the amount of work. He was excited. This year photo submitted the band would be traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana to Freshman Harrison Self marches with his trumpet during the halftime performance. Harrison is a member of the nationally award winning band. participate in the Bands of story Samantha King

design Amanda Collen

America Grand Nationals Competition.

This special occasion called for more work and effort from all of the students and directors, but while some might have been discouraged, Harrison pushed himself.

“You just have to get through it,” Harrison said. “I just try to stay positive.” *** Harrison smiled and watched attentively as the band gave their final performance of the marching show for nationals. Days, weeks, months of hard work instantly became worth it. Harrison thought this was the best show yet.

As the final notes rang through Lucas Oil Stadium, the home stadium of the NFL team The Indianapolis Colts, Harrison felt so happy that he had the opportunity to be a part of the season. Before he knew it, the crowd was cheering and lauding their performance, and it was time to move again.

Harrison was in an auxiliary role, in charge of helping move the large snake-like screens on and off the field for the marching show.

After the show ended, he lifted the heavy prop and hurried off the field into the tunnels of the stadium. A sense of accomplishment ringing through him, Harrison couldn’t be happier.

He’s even already begun to set goals for the future of his marching career.

“I definitely want to march [varsity],” Harrison said. “I want to be a squad leader, maybe even a section leader.”

Harrison said that the entire band was a huge support system during marching season.

“They’ve made me feel very welcome,” Harrison said. “They all think I’m awesome. I look forward to future years in band.” *** After marching season ended, Harrison received congratulation after congratulation.

The whole band had truly achieved something great.

But no one was as amazed by Harrison’s accomplishments as his family.

“We could not be more happy with his attitude,” Kim said. “Never once have we heard him complain. I think that has to do with the organization itself, and how positive and encouraging they are.”

Now that marching season is over, students have a chance to reflect on the past few months. Harrison and his family are no different.

“I’m extremely proud of him and his attitude and his tenacity to continue to always try his best and keep doing things that we didn’t think he could do,” Kim said. “I think what is special about him is his attitude and tenacity.”

Journey to Indiana story Alex Helm The marching band recently traveled the 18-hour bus ride to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete in the Bands of America Grand Nationals Competition.

This is the band’s second time to compete, and they make the trip every four years.

After advancing past the preliminary and semi-finals performances, the band earned the chance to compete in the finals competition.

“It was a once in a lifetime, unforgettable opportunity,” junior trumpet player Lindsey Carver said. “I’ll remember it forever.”

This year’s show, “Charmed,” revolved around snakes and snake charmers and featured silver, green and gold snake props. By the time the marchers completed their finals performance, the judges proved to be charmed as well. The band placed fifth among 91 other bands that competed.

Yet the band also received one other recognition: the Al Castronovo Memorial ‘Esprit de Corps’ Award.

The Bands of America adjudication

handbook noted that the award is not based on any scores from the competition and is open to all competing bands. It is given to the group that most exhibits pride, spirit, enthusiasm, friendliness and overall sportsmanship.

Head band director Amanda Drinkwater said that she was more proud of this award than any other.

“We focus on sportsmanship and work ethic and supporting our peers,” Drinkwater said. “I was so humbled that it was noticed by the outside and that the band was rewarded for it because it’s something we work so hard for.”

Now back in Texas, band students are already missing the bright lights of the Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I’m already getting phone calls and emails and kids saying ‘I want to go back next year,’” Drinkwater said.

“We hope that every student who comes through the band program gets to go once. I’m so glad this generation of band students at Marcus was a part of it.”

Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

FEATURE 9

Thoughts on EDM compiled Adam Hernandez Left: Colter Henderson, 11 Q: What got you into Electronic Dance Music (EDM)?

A: “I’ve always been a big music person, and I found EDM music and how you make it. I saw the energy, the festivals, the concerts and the artists and got wrapped up in this big EDM community.”

Middle: Lee Jennings, 11 Q: What would be your ultimate dream as a producer?

A: “To start rising up the ranks and start playing small shows and traveling around. I’m already starting to come into contact with some artists that I love.”

photo Kady Kohankie

HOMEMADE BEATS

and then at the same time find new stuff that no one knows yet.”

When playing live, knowing what’s being circulated and what’s not is essential to keeping the crowd engaged, according to the trio. One of Bonneville’s favorite parts of their gigs is playing off the energy of the crowd. He computer and create something. Their songs says experimenting with different styles with and performances have been a couple years the various people is a challenge, but it makes in the making and they’re still learning new the experience worthwhile. The goal, he says, ways to make their performances even better. is to play music according to the crowd’s Henderson said he likes the live shows reaction. If the audience responds negatively the best whether he is watching someone to something slow, but positively to something else perform or playing music himself. The faster, they need to react accordingly. feeling of the bass pounding in his chest Hijinx has experimented a lot with and the energy of people dancing all around different sounds in order to put together him makes the experience great for him. club promotions to get their name out. Since Bonneville said he they’re just starting loves reading the out, the group crowd’s reactions mostly opens for “You’ve got to constantly be to the music they larger DJs. While play. A certain working with what’s popular and at their gigs, they kind of chemistry use the then at the same time find new stuff usually develops as the DJ venue’s speakers, and the crowd get making the sound that no one knows yet.” pumped up. Having louder and of experienced this as Jacob Bonneville, 11 better quality. Usboth members of a ing someone else’s crowd and as DJs, equipment however, has its downsides. the trio said playing these shows has made “The sound is loud, so the last time we had them want to do more events. [a gig], Lee blew out one of the speakers,” Keeping up with what’s coming out in Henderson said. this music community is essential for getting While being a part of this community of recognized as both producers and DJs. When music lovers is exciting to Hijinx, there are Hijinx plays for a crowd, they have to manage some drawbacks to what they do. Jennings, a balancing act of popular music and creating the first member to get into EDM, says that a the next big thing. That, Bonneville says, is major problem with the growing popularity the difficult part of this job. of the music is that people underestimate “One thing will be in one day, and then the how hard it is to do well. He says that next day it will be a completely different kind since it’s gotten popular, the number of of style that’s in,” Bonneville said. “You’ve got “rising DJs” has grown exponentially. to constantly be working with what’s popular “The worst part about the scene, and

Music trio creates unique sound story Rachel Ramirez Guitars line the walls of the darkened room. The bass pounds through the speakers, and junior Jacob Bonneville’s hands fly rapidly across his controls. From volume dials to effects and filters, each adjustment is carefully timed. Juniors Lee Jennings and Colter Henderson watch the computer screens in front of them. Each one plays different filters and effects on the controller to create their own signature sound for the songs they create. Henderson leans forward and adjusts some of the effects on the screen.

Jennings seamlessly switches the track and takes over the controls.

This practice session occurs at least once a week for the DJ trio Hijinx. The three members play for live crowds at venues such as The Door in Dallas in addition to creating their own music. Whether it be producing, playing or just seeing what’s new in the electronic dance music (EDM) community, the group begins practice by turning off the lights, cranking up the music and letting the sound fill the room.

“We show each other new music,” Henderson said. “And then we work on new stuff together and our mixes for club promos.”

The music they create is produced electronically by creating sounds using various software. All three of the members have experience with non-electronic songs as well. Just like with a traditional song, Jennings says not everyone can just pick up a The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

Right: Jacob Bonneville, 11 Q: What would you say about people who are still skeptical about EDM? A: “Go to a show. That will change it for you. My first show was Identity Music Festival, and seeing it live, and like the energy and everything, I got hooked.”

it makes me kind of seem cruel, but pretty much everybody and their dog is a DJ now,” Jennings said.

Even in Flower Mound alone, Jennings says he has seen a number of new DJs emerge over the past couple of years. However, the community that comes with this music is unlike any other the members of Hijinx have experienced. The culture includes DJs that play live EDM, producers who create it and music lovers who enjoy the party atmosphere at the shows.

“In the EDM community, we have something called PLUR,” Henderson said.

“It’s peace, love, unity and respect and everyone shows that at shows and festivals.

The best people I’ve met aren’t at school, aren’t at anything else. They’re at these kinds of festivals and shows.”

The trio is now moving towards getting recognized individually and as a group. They want to eventually headline or be the main DJs at a festival or show. However, their goal isn’t to get paid. They want other people to experience what they have with EDM. “I’d rather see 10 other people smile because of the scene than make $10 off of every person that comes to see me play,” Jennings said.

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IN-DEPTH 11

As electronic cigarette usage rises among teens, The Marquee examines the devices and the controversy surrounding them.

Trendy or

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

photo illustration William Legrone

12 IN-DEPTH

Vaping through the halls Students purchase e-cigarettes for recreational purposes as well as to relieve addiction story Allie Loder

A

t first impression, the school bathroom seemed the same as ever. The door still squeaked as it pushed open, droplets of water still dotted the top of the sink, smudges still streaked across the mirror.

Everything seemed to be in its rightful place.

But something was off. It was the faint smell of apple flavoring that tickled the nose. It was the glance of vapor that was disappearing into the air as it rose to the ceiling. It was the evidence that another e-cigarette was being used on school property.

As the e-cigarette trend continues to sweep the nation, it’s beginning to sweep the halls. The devices can be found nestled at the bottom of bookbags, hidden beneath history notes and chewed up pencils. Or they sit in the dashboards of cars in the parking lot, waiting for the end of school. Teens are now using e-cigarettes both recreationally or to quit smoking. And as they continue to rise in popularity, questions surround the jump in teen usage and their prevalence within the school. *** Junior Jake Blount says e-cigarettes are a lifesaver. Literally. He began to smoke at age 15. Before, his days were interrupted by cigarette breaks every two hours. It began to take a toll on his lungs, and exercise was plagued by a tight chest and steady streams of coughs. The smell of smoke seemed to follow him around, latching itself onto his clothes and onto his life. But, two years ago, when his boss introduced him to a new method of quitting, he was able to loosen its grip, and he began to cut cigarettes out of his life.

“I smoked cigarettes for a while,” Blount said. “And then I started on e-cigs to kind of balance that out. [Now] I’ve completely quit smoking cigarettes.”

Blount said he believes that e-cigarettes were the best choice for him as he tried to quit smoking. Little by little, he was able to decrease his nicotine levels and numb the harsh sting of symptoms that usually accompanied quitting.

“With quitting smoking, it helps,” Blount said. “When you try to quit cold turkey, the cravings get really bad and you can’t focus on anything. With my e-cigs, I still had cravings, but it helped out alot.”

These cravings made school almost unbearable for Blount. Teachers’ lectures would become dull noise, words fading into the background and losing all meaning as his symptoms demanded his full attention. His pencil would shake in his grip as his hands began to tremble and color would drain from his cheeks.

“Going through withdrawals at school is terrible,” Blount said.

Gradually, his dependence on nicotine started to fade and these symptoms receded.

As he shut the door on that part of his life, Blount says that new opportunities are now open to him, and his life has taken a step in the right direction.

“I can be around people more,” Blount said. “I’m not afraid of being stopped by a police officer and having my pack on me. I can socialize with people better. All around I think everything has really changed.”

As a teen, Blount realizes the associations that surround teen e-cigarette usage. Some use it to quit smoking, and for others, it’s just a passing trend. As he falls under the category that uses an e-cigarette for a healthrelated purpose, he asks people to consider their benefits before casting a judgement.

“They do help,” Blount said. “Most adults don’t think they do. They just think it’s a teenage thing, but they actually do help a lot.”

Blount says that he sees them in the school at least once a day.

“You can walk into the bathroom and smell it, but a teacher’s not going to be able to know that,” Blount said. “That’s the culture of being in a middle class school where people can buy e-cigs.”

There is a no tolerance policy throughout the entire district regarding electronic cigarettes, resulting in confiscation if one is found in possession.

“We have had very few issues with dip and cigarettes this year, but a very high number of e-cigarettes,” Assistant Principal Jason Mullin said. “Personally I’ve taken up three or four this year, and there are seven APs.” As word travels throughout the halls about their popularity, more and more students are flocking to “vape stores,” online sites or to other students to buy their own e-cigarette.

But this popularity doesn’t appeal to everyone. Junior Adam Roby believes that starting to smoke e-cigarettes could have lasting effects on one’s health and life.

“I honestly don’t like them,” Roby said. “I think they’re just as bad as cigarettes. They still have nicotine in them, and they’re still addictive.”

While e-cigarettes can be used to help a smoker wean themselves off of cigarettes, some teens are

now using e-cigarettes without a nicotine addiction to start with. Some, like Roby, believe this could end up hurting them in the future.

“There’s the health factor to consider,” Roby said. “These kids are young, their bodies are still developing and they’re introducing all of these toxins into their system.”

Some believe that in addition to affecting people’s health, e-cigarettes can lead to trying more serious drugs.

“Smoking it for fun, to an extreme point of view, could be a gateway to something more,” Roby said. “Kids will probably start smoking it with more nicotine or actual cigarettes or smoking pot.”

To junior Tanner Boren, consequences like these aren’t a big deal. To him, it’s simply a pastime. A stress reliever. A trend.

After trying a friend’s a few months ago, Boren couldn’t get the device out of his head.

It captivated him. Ultimately, he ended up purchasing one of his own.

“Honestly, I think it’s more of a social thing,” Boren said. “Like, ‘Hey, look what I have.’ I wasn’t trying to quit dipping or smoking cigarettes. It’s different.”

One aspect that makes e-cigarettes different than other quitting methods is the multitude of flavor cartridges to choose from. According to Boren, this variety is part of what makes e-cigarettes so appealing to teens. There are hundreds of different flavors waiting to be tried. Apple. Cappuccino. Mint.

Stacks and stacks of different flavors line the walls of vape stores.

“If you think of it, there’s a flavor for it out there,” Boren said. “There’s so many places around here where you can get it.”

E-cigarettes can turn out to be a costly affair.

Boren says that

l a u

n a M

n o t ut

B

Altogether, as of 2012

> 1.78 million

middle and high school students in the U.S. had tried

e-cigarettes

y r e t

t a B * Findings from a National Youth Tobacco Survey

design Hailey Painter

there’s always something new to buy. After seeing each other’s different models, teens are in a constant state of upgrading, buying and selling.

“It’s expensive,” Boren said. “You’re always wanting something new. It adds up.”

For Boren and other teens, vaping is becoming part of their social life. It’s about fitting in and having something to talk about or spend money on, rather than a way to quit smoking. Some teens are starting habits, rather than ending them.

“It’s more of a novelty,” Boren said. “Truly I’m not smoking it to get a buzz. I think it’s more for looks and just to say that you have one.”

Although he has chosen to use e-cigarettes recreationally, Boren doesn’t necessarily advise others to use them for fun.

“I’m not saying it’s a good idea,” Boren said. “But if you’re trying to quit dipping or if you need an alternative, it’s more appropriate.”

Although the viewpoints on e-cigarettes differ, one thing is certain. Whether they are fogging up the windows of a passing car in the parking lot or sending up vapor clouds inside of a pale blue bathroom stall, electronic cigarettes have invaded the school.

76

%

of teens who smoke e-cigarettes also smoke regular cigarettes.

2x

more teens used e-cigarettes in 2012 than 2011.

Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

IN-DEPTH 13

E-liquid breakdown: Diluent: This substance

dilutes the mixture of nicotine and flavoring and creates the vapor.The two main ingredients are Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin. Both are non-toxic and are considered safe for consumption.

They are both commonly found in food additives and pharmaceuticals.

Nicotine: This is a naturally

found product that comes from tobacco leaves when the leaves are burned. The nicotine found in e-cigarette liquids is produced by mechanically and chemically stripping the nicotine from the leaves and then is distilled into a liquid.

r

ze i m

Ato

Flavoring: Flavor concentrate

can be added into the liquid to create hundreds of different flavors. E-cigarette users have flavor options such as tobacco, birthday cake and peach.

Mouthpiece

Surprise Scan here to see what one Marquee reporter was offered while on the district website. Principal Gary Shafferman shares his reaction. story Anna Middleton, William Legrone and Makiah Eustice

Teen ‘e-cig’ usage spurs debate story Adam Hernandez On the Rise Electronic cigarettes or “e-cigarettes” are rising in popularity among high school students. Currently, no restrictions exist for selling e-cigarettes to minors in most cities.

A recent Center for Disease Control survey said that youth usage of e-cigarettes doubled from 2011 to 2012. Assistant Principal Todd Knowles said the school confiscates about one e-cigarette per week.

“I see them in the restrooms mostly, but I’ve seen them at football games and have had teachers catch them in class,” Knowles said.

While the devices are not allowed on campus, they are permitted in several public places that regular cigarettes are not.

Because e-cigarettes are relatively new and little is known about their safety and possible hazards, their regulation is a topic of debate among state and local officials. Recently, several universities have begun banning the devices on campus, including Oklahoma State University and the University of Texas in Austin. Both Chicago and New York have proposed total bans on smoking e-cigarettes in public places such as restaurants and bars.

Several North Texas cities are reviewing possible regulations, but few changes have The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

been made. The controversy over the device that’s part of a nearly $2 billion industry continues to ensue.

The Parts An e-cigarette simulates smoking a real cigarette and contains nicotine but does not contain tobacco, tar or other cancer-causing carcinogens found in cigarettes.

The product consists of a battery, an atomizer or cartomizer and E-liquid, or “juice,” where nicotine and other chemicals can be found. The levels of nicotine vary from product to product, allowing customers to choose how much they want to expose themselves to. Some companies provide E-liquid without any nicotine. The “smoke” emitted from the product is actually water vapor, which is why using an e-cigarette is called “vaping.”

Electronic Enigma The actual benefits and hazards of e-cigarettes are still unclear. Advocates claim that e-cigarettes are healthier alternatives to tobacco products and help relieve nicotine addiction. Some say they might help smokers quit. Others argue that not enough research has been done, so the possible dangers remain unknown. The devices are not FDA approved methods of smoking cessation, and the FDA does not regulate them. Consequently, many

have questioned their safety.

According to the CDC, irritants, genotoxins and animal carcinogens have been documented in some liquids.

Tim Meredith, one of the co-owners of The Village E-cigs located in Lewisville, said the E-liquid that he sells contains vegetable glycerin, food-based flavorings and a certain amount of nicotine and polyglycol, which is found in asthma inhalers.

“We know that cigarettes cause cancer, but there is no proof that e-cigs cause cancer,” Meredith said.

E-cigarettes and Young People The controversy about the product and teens arises because, while some use e-cigarettes to get off of smoking, others may use them to get into smoking. According to the CDC, an estimated 160,000 students who reported utilizing e-cigarettes in 2012 had never used cigarettes before.

“If you eliminate the tar, at that point, that’s better than a cigarette,” Knowles said.

“But you’re going to get more direct nicotine, so I think the addiction chance is greater.”

Younger brains are more susceptible to the effects of nicotine than fully developed brains.

If young people intake nicotine, they increase their chances of forming a lifelong addiction.

Another concern is that, while tobacco companies are not permitted to advertise

their products, e-cigarette companies do have this freedom.

In addition, E-liquid comes in flavors like strawberry cheesecake, mint, chocolate and coffee. The worry is that younger audiences will be attracted to these flavors and advertisements.

Some students may even start on lower nicotine levels and then go up the scale, rather than doing the reverse, like those attempting to reduce addiction tend to do.

According to Meredith, teens should not be using the product.

“We just self-regulate ourselves, and we don’t sell to anyone under 18,” Meredith said.

“E-cigarettes just shouldn’t be marketed to teenagers.”

E-cigarettes on Campus The school’s policy on e-cigarettes is the same as its policy on tobacco products. If a student is caught with one, administration will confiscate it, and the student will receive two days in In-School Suspension. When caught with a cigarette, the student receives these same punishments as well as a ticket for minor in possession of tobacco. According to Knowles, however, cigarettes have become less prevalent.

“I see a lot less real tobacco cigarettes and a lot more of the e-cigs because they’re easier to conceal,” Knowles said. design Hailey Painter

14 ENTERTAINMENT

Frigid Festivities “Icemageddon” brought a holiday atmosphere to this Texas December. But now that the ice has melted, here are some ways to rekindle that festive winter feeling.

Mainstay tree farm

Light show spectacular

For all those outdoor adventurers, a fun outing for the whole family is a visit to Mainstay Farm in Cleburne, Texas.

It is about an hour away, but the drive is worth it. Bundle up in a coat, scarf and boots and go out on a stroll in the brisk winter air through the tree farm.

Many other attractions fill the rest of the farm. There is a big slide, wooden maze, pedal carts to race around in and more. A gift shop, nestled among the trees, is a great place to buy holiday gifts and decorations. Mainstay also supplies plenty of hot chocolate and cider to keep visitors warm.

Once December commenced, Christmas lights started popping up on every corner. One street that is especially adorned in decorations when the holidays hit is Grapevine Main Street. Small shops line the streets, with holly, lights and music enveloping the storefronts. The Grapevine Opry and an old theater called Lancaster Theatre make for a cozy, small-town atmosphere. And right down the street sit Christmas displays alongside a tunnel of lights for people to adventure through and marvel at. Main Street is home to the winter attraction, Light Show Spectacular. Around a white gazebo dripping in lights is a small green that contains a large singing Christmas tree, a Frosty the Snowman display and twinkling lights, all flashing in sync with well-known Christmas songs. This show is free and takes place every night from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. until Jan. 5.

Home for the holidays Winter-weather pessimists that aren’t up to facing the outdoors can still have a lovely winter experience in their own homes. Classic movies like White Christmas and Holiday Inn are perfect to watch bundled up in a blanket by the fire. The crackling embers make for ideal marshmallow roasting conditions.

Afterwards, a holiday craft is the perfect way to get in the spirit. Creating homemade ornaments, like miniature stockings, or snowmen figures made of recycled bottles to set on the fireplace make great holiday gifts. Baking is another cozy activity, especially making gingerbread for a gingerbread house or apple pies for loved ones. This is not complete without holiday music resonating in the background for friends and family to dance to in their kitchens. The smell of holiday candles, like Home Sweet Home and Nordic Pine, fill the house, to complete the perfect holiday atmosphere.

Scan here to see some of these events and more.

design/graphics Tori Allmendinger

story Miranda Chiechi

Sleigh rides What is more magical than enjoying a sleigh ride in the wintertime? After bundling up in a warm blanket and grabbing a steaming cup of hot cocoa, a sleigh ride to see twinkling lights and decorations is a delightful way to end an evening. Free sleigh rides can be found right here in the Shops at Highland Village until Dec. 23. After dinner, a little holiday shopping and grabbing a warm frosted cookie from Nestle Toll House, people can take a ride around the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the shops. Rides are available Friday and Saturday from 5-8 p.m., Sunday 3-6 p.m. and Dec. 23, 5-8 p.m.

Gaylord ICE! It only takes one step into Gaylord ICE! to feel like you’ve landed in the North Pole. ICE! is featuring The Nutcracker this year. Each year, artists from Harbin, China travel to Grapevine to carve ice sculptures for the display. After a month of carving, the display is finished and the Gaylord hotel opens it up for everyone to see. Ice sculptures of every color greet people as they enter. This is just the beginning of ICE! Winding farther down the nine degree hallways are more ice sculptures of scenes from The Nutcracker. A row of ice slides for families to race down lies beyond a colorful arch guarded by festive nutcrackers with rosy red cheeks. The next room is filled with replicas of the Statue of Liberty, twinkling skyscrapers and ice skaters, making people feel like they’re about to go skating in Rockefeller Center. Sparkling, transparent sculptures of the nativity scene sit at the end of the display. A hot cocoa stand greets frigid families at the end of ICE!, wrapping up the icy adventure.

Dec.19, 2013 The Marquee

Road to fame

She had a vision about herself. Hayley Orrantia knew what she wanted out of life early on while others were still trying to figure it out. Most students expect to head off to college and then get a career after high school. But this 2011 Marcus graduate is now doing what many teens only dream of. After leaving the Marcus stage and performing in the singing competition X Factor, Orrantia is now starring as Erica in The Goldbergs, a new comedy nominated for a People’s Choice Award. The Marquee outlines Orrantia’s road to the big screen.

X Factor

Dedicated X Factor viewers may have recognized Orrantia after seeing her on the popular singing competition. If becoming a songwriter and singing her own songs was her dream, then competing in the X Factor could have been the big break Orrantia needed for her music career.

Like some contestants, Orrantia was dropped into a music group to compete against both other groups and solo artists. Her group was called Lakoda Rayne.

It was difficult to work in a group because she’d pictured herself being a solo artist. Then she had to get to know three separate people in the matter of a week. Each had different personalities and were from different backgrounds.

“It was a matter of creating a bond and learning how to vocally blend together,” Orrantia said. “We were all into very different types of music, and to blend together all our personalities was a challenge.”

The group consisted of Paige Elizabeth Ogle, Cari Fletcher, Dani Knights and Orrantia. Though they were originally supposed to be eliminated, the group was voted back. Unfortunately, the group was eventually cut again later on, finishing in ninth place. The group released a music video for a song called “Emergency Brake” in 2012.

Discovering that it would be a good idea for her to gain a following before achieving more musical success, Orrantia was told that starting out as an actress might be a good idea. But she never dreamed she would make it so big on a new, hit TV show.

People’s Choice

Before the fame

story Madi Schwem

ENTERTAINMENT 15

Before X Factor, Orrantia roamed the halls of the school just like any other student. However, it was apparent that she had truly special gifts.

“She was extremely talented and hardworking,” Theatre Arts director Rita Powers said. “She was a good singer, good dancer and good actress, so she was a triple threat.”

Orrantia was involved with the theater department and starred as the lead in “Lil’ Abner,” which played for about 10 performances. She also participated in independent films outside of school. After the premiere of the short film Cooper and the Castle Hills Gang, Orrantia signed autographs for viewers.

After graduating in 2011, Orrantia made it her goal to become a professional musician. Before fame and meeting celebrities, before acting on television in front of millions of people, Orrantia’s passion was music. She enjoys singing and writing lyric-based songs, but says she is still in the process of finding her own style.

“As far as lyrics, I like writing songs that affect people and hit home,” Orrantia said. “When I’m feeling a certain mood, I go out of my way to write a song that expresses just how I’m feeling at the time. It comforts me.”

Being herself as an artist is a motto that Orrantia has learned to live by.

“When you get into music, there are a lot of people telling you what you should and shouldn’t do,” she said. “The important thing is to remember who you are, and listen to yourself above everybody else. What you think is best is most important.”

Only on air a few months, The Goldbergs has already achieved a huge accomplishment. The show has received a nomination for Best New TV Comedy in the People’s Choice Awards. Orrantia was both Former student Hayley Orrantia stands with her co-star Josh Garlin. Orrantia plays Erica Goldberg and Garlin plays Barry Goldberg in the ABC comedy The Goldbergs. shocked and elated.

“I can’t even believe [the show’s] gotten so popular so fast...” Orrantia said. “It’s only been out for one season.”

The excitement on set and working with the cast and crew has Orrantia looking forward to getting up and going to work each day.

“We get along so well and we have fun every day,” Orrantia said. “Not just with the script, but even just hanging out on set is really great. Getting to go over scenes every day is exciting and fun. It’s not even really like a job, honestly. It’s amazing.”

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

photos submitted

The Goldbergs

After X Factor, Orrantia landed a role in a new ABC comedy. The Goldbergs.

The show takes place in the 80s, where 11-year-old Adam Goldberg (Sean Giambrone) documents the lives of his family through a single video camera.

After receiving the part of the older sister, Erica Goldberg, Orrantia was soon clothed in fashionable 80s garb consisting of large, star-shaped earrings, poofy blouses and teased, curly hair. She became part of a new fictional family and grew close to members of the cast.

“We’re very supportive of each other,” Orrantia said. “You sometimes hear about actors working together that have personalities clashing, but that doesn’t really happen here with us at all.”

On the set, she’s Erica Goldberg, a rebellious big sister with an attitude.

According to Orrantia, there’s a lot more to Erica than what fans see. Because Erica wasn’t so popular in her younger days, she tries to be now.

“Even though she comes off with this rough exterior especially when it comes to her younger brothers, she’s actually really loving and caring,” Orrantia said. “There’s a lot more to her than just simply being rude.”

Since recently rising to fame in the entertainment industry, Orrantia’s gotten to meet a few people most might only dream of seeing. She’s gone to events with people like Adam Sandler, Jesse McCartney and the Backstreet Boys. Despite their fame, according to Orrantia, they’re just like regular people.

“People have this idea that when other people are celebrities, that they need to be put on this really high pedestal,” Orrantia said. “Really, they’re just like everybody else. They go to restaurants they like, and they hang out with their family and friends.”

design Tori Allmendinger

16 ENTERTAINMENT

Netflix is the perfect place to search for fun flicks. However, after spending an atrocious number of hours sifting through dozens of television sitcoms and dramas, it can be overly stressful just to find something to enjoy in this enormous video domain. The Marquee gives some suggestions about what shows Netflix owners should watch the next time they log on. story Anna Middleton

Scrubs – Medical television shows most of the time are boring soap operas. However, this fan favorite brings humor into the hospital. The comedic drama mainly focuses on the strange experiences and thoughts of Doctor John “J.D.” Dorian. He and his best friend Turk experience unpredictable and quirky staff and patients. Tragedy and comedy cross paths multiple times, with a tinge of romance in between, making this show one of the better hospital dramas.

Ghost Whisperer – Jennifer Love Hewitt is at her best in this supernatural drama. Melinda Gordon, Hewitt’s character, is an antique shop owner that can see and communicate with the dead. She tries to help each new soul complete their final tasks so they can rest and cross over into the Light, a metaphor in the show for the concept of Heaven. Every spirit brings a new story to intertwine with Gordon’s own life. And to top it off, the last few moments of each episode are so enticing they leave viewers eager for more.

Arrested Development – Those who thought this show ended in 2006 were wrong. Netflix released the fourth season of this former sitcom in late May of this year. Hysteria meets the modern family as the series follows the Bluth family. Michael Bluth, played by Jason Bateman, has to keep his family and business from collapsing after his father, the CEO of the Bluth company, is sent to prison.

As this dysfunctional bunch adjusts from riches to rags, Michael helps each of them with their troubles. Critically acclaimed for its unique plotline and hilarity, this show is something that frequent Netflix users cannot miss.

Hemlock Grove – Everyone has secrets in Hemlock Grove. From the affluent Godfrey family to the town gypsies, no one is innocent. After the brutal murder of 17-year-old Brooke Bluebell, mysteries are revealed as nervous citizens notice the presence of detectives in their town. Many characters are uncomfortable with the number of police and the lack of privacy that comes with them. As each character begins to trust one another, they tell all, and eventually questions are answered while new ones are asked. Each seedy secret that is exposed continues to draw viewers in.

Dexter – Blood spatters across many Miami floors in this TV thriller. Even in the intro, blood oozes across the title. Dexter Morgan leads a double life: by day he is a blood spatter analyst with the Miami Police Department’s forensic team, and by night he turns into a vigilante serial killer. Each season, Morgan must face deviant killers and his own dark desires. He truly has a good heart, but he faces demons that lust for death. Every twist and turn only adds suspense to each episode. There are no two episodes alike, so every one is fresh and new.

Breaking Bad – Most chemistry teachers mix acids in their beakers. However, Walter White likes to create meth in his daily classroom labs. White, who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, started dealing methamphetamine so he could leave behind a fortune for his family when he died. In this actionpacked drama, he is confronted by dangerous drug dealers and, on top of that, he must hide his secret from his friends and family.

The drama depicted by this dazzling cast and crew creates an original that is, and should be, loved by millions.

Scandal – Typically, politics is not the theme for a fast-paced engaging show. However, this show brings life into the cattiness and seediness of politics, hence the show’s name. The main character, Olivia Pope, covers up politicians’ scandalous mistakes and prevents them from going public. Pope and her crisis management staff dedicate their lives to protecting the nation’s elite. However, it slowly becomes apparent that everyone from the President of the United States to Pope’s staff has piles of skeletons filling their closets.

Supernatural – This series is something that all the lovers of dark fantasy should watch. The thriller follows the loveable Winchester brothers Sam and Dean. The duo hunts demons, monsters and other supernatural creatures that harm humans around the world. With the death of their mother and the disappearance of their father, they are fueled to continue fighting against evil. There is no telling what creature or challenge will be faced by the Winchesters in the next episode, making this show truly unique and creative.

photos Netflix.com

design Jacqueline Higgins

Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

SPORTS 17

Feet on the beach, victory within reach

Freshman places first at national youth beach volleyball tournament course where his Olympic dreams might become a reality. He leaves early Friday For most students, winter break is filled morning, with his father and his Uncle, to with hot chocolate, warm sweaters and family take a three hour plane ride to San Diego. meals. However, for freshman R.J. Tierney, From there, they’ll drive to the training the first few days of his break will be filled center in Chula Vista.

“The High Performance Team is a path with sweat, sand and sacrifices as he works on to playing at the international level and to fulfilling his biggest dream.

Some of R.J.’s fondest memories are develop the next top coaches,” Rick said. “It’s from his childhood home in Chicago, where like a pipeline to the Olympics. Those who his parents, Rick and Hazbi Tierney, often play at the Olympic level normally play here played volleyball with him in the front yard. before.”

R.J., however, would not have been After dabbling in baseball and basketball, R.J. invited to join the BVHP team if it weren’t realized that volleyball was his true passion.

“I never wanted to be a policeman or a for an unlikely partnership with his long time fireman or anything like that,” R.J. said. rival, Tristan Vassberg. R.J. and Vassberg “I always wanted to play volleyball at the spent years competing against each other in different Texas tournaments. They were Olympics.”

R.J. is only a few days away from always playing against each other because performing in a High Performance training they were in different districts. When Vassbergs’s outdoor volleyball partner was unable to make it to Nationals, Vassberg could think of no one better suited to helping him win the championship.

“Whenever Tristan and I had played volleyball together, we were always pinned against each other and my team always beat his team,” R.J. said. “He probably thought I was pretty good, even though he had only seen me play one position.”

R.J. spent the next six weeks with a personal trainer.

These practices pushed him to the limit. His trainer had him practice in heavy sand to make sure his body was used to moving around on the beach. He practiced positions he never played in indoor. He was used to having five other teammates to rely on. Now, he only had one. They relied on each other for everything. If one of them messed up, it was next to impossible for them to recover.

“It was different than all of my training and practices for indoor,” R.J. said. “We didn’t just work on my setting. We did a hodge podge of things each day. One day it was defense and the next it was offense with smaller drills mixed in.”

When the competition photo Miranda Chiechi drew closer, R.J. and his dad flew out to Milwaukee, WI. He Freshman R.J. Tierney practices his serve as he prepares for a beach walked into the USA Volleyball volleyball tournament. Tierney started playing competitive team volleyball National Junior Championship when he was 8. story Patricia Qualls

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

nervous. Although his team won fifth place in national indoor volleyball, he had never played beach volleyball competitively. It was always just a hobby. He knew the other players had been playing competitively for years, and for most of them, this wasn’t their first time at Nationals.

“I was pretty nervous and really excited and anxious all at the same time,” R.J. said. “I had no idea what the competition was going to be like because I hadn’t played in any of the tournaments.”

One the first day of the competition, he decided to leave all of his doubts, fears and worries behind him.

“I just tuned them out and ignored them,” R.J. said. “I stayed focused on my surroundings and made sure I kept telling myself that we would win.”

R.J. and Va-ssberg played eight matches a day, three days in a row, to qualify for the final match. They breezed through them easily. They never had to play a third match since no one came close to tying with them.

The closest thing to a slip up they had was one missed serve early on.

“I was a little shocked,” R.J. said. “It didn’t seem as hard as I thought it would be.”

It was the end of the final day. Over 800 people were standing around the court and peering in between heads in order to get a glimpse of the final match. With this amount of pressure and physical stress put on him after three days of practicing, negative thoughts started slipping back into his mind.

He couldn’t stop thinking about a missed serve, a terrible pass or a killer hit ruining their streak. He fought to keep his mind focused on winning.

“I was kind of calmly anxious, waiting for something to happen,” R.J. said. “I mean the other team wasn’t close to us in points, but I was still worried.”

Tension had been slowly growing as the competition went on. R.J. and Vassberg had a large point lead, but it was obvious the boys weren’t sure they had nailed the match.

All eyes were on the ball as the other team served. The ball flew over the net, and R.J. quickly dropped down to pass it back over the net. One of the players on the other team ran over to the ball, passing it to his teammate.

The other player tried to set the ball. This

moment went in slow motion for R.J. Then, the referee blew his whistle. The other team had made a mistake. The setter had touched the ball twice and subsequently

“I never wanted to be a policeman or a fireman...I always wanted to play volleyball at the Olympics.”

R.J. Tierney, 9

handed the game over to R.J. and Vassberg.

His worrying was a waste. Rick stood with the crowd, eagerly watching his son. The silence was shattered by a rumbling cheer as the two boys won the match, becoming National Champions.

“I was obviously very proud,” Rick said.

“But it was just exciting and fun to watch him win and have his name called out to the crowd and to be recognized by all of these Wisconsinites.”

R.J. had always dream-ed something like this would happen, but he never be-lieved he would actual-ly get this close. After placing in Nation-als, he was automatically accepted into the BVHP training course.

“I was shocked,” R.J. said. “I never felt like I was going to be able to do something like that.”

After the final match, the boys participated in an awards ceremony. They shook hands with the other team members and the referees. They had large gold medals put around their necks with their titles as USA Volleyball National Junior Champions clearly written across them. He stood there, astonished. He couldn’t believe he had won.

“I didn’t think I would ever get the chance to compete in something like Nationals, let alone win it,” R.J. said. “I never thought this moment would happen.”

Some people stop chasing dreams well into their teenage years, but for R.J., this dream continues to become a reality.

“I always thought that if I really put my mind to it, I could go to the Olympics,” R.J. said. “And now that I have that chance, I really feel like there’s not much stopping me.” design Sydney Sund

18 SPORTS

Throwing the long ball

Sophomore receives scholarship offers from top universities, contemplates college football future story Austin Rickerson

photo William Legrone design Jacqueline Higgins

It was third down and goal. Double overtime against Flower Mound. A touchdown would decide the game.

Sophomore tight end Kaden Smith crouched down in his three-point stance, ready to explode into the linebacker in front of him. The running back lined up behind the quarterback. The defense was ready. The ball was snapped.

The Marcus running back charged into a swarm of defenders and blockers, friends and enemies. He disappeared from sight. Somewhere in the chaos, the running back fumbled. All of a sudden, a Jaguar defender emerged from the pile with the ball. Marauder fans dropped into a shocked silence. Kaden looked around. One referee blew his whistle to signal the play was over. The other began to run down the field alongside the Flower Mound player.

It was a one man race. The short player in navy blue was going to run the length of the field, score a touchdown and win the game for Flower Mound.

But Kaden stormed out of nowhere. The runner had a huge lead, but Kaden was gaining on him. It was now a two man race.

The 50. The 40. The distance between the two lessened. The 30. The 20. The Flower Mound fans roared, so near to a touchdown and victory. The 10. In one last effort, the 6’ 5’’ Marauder dove at the feet of the runner.

Tackled. Kaden Smith had saved the game.

“I knew he had a big lead on me,” Kaden said. “Just never give up because you always have a chance.”

Head coach Bryan Erwin, watching from the sidelines, was impressed by Kaden’s desire and determination. He said it is a play he will never forget.

“He just kept chasing and never gave up,” Erwin said.

“It was pretty incredible to watch live and then later on film. That saved our season and allowed us the opportunity to get into the playoffs.”

Maybe it’s his determination and will to win that top college football programs love to see in Kaden. Maybe it’s his performance last year as a freshman on varsity that is making him a highly recruited prospect. Maybe it was winning Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors for the entire district last season. Maybe it’s the fact that he was the leading receiver in all of LISD this year. Whatever it is, Kaden has been getting people’s attention.

“The impact that he has made is multifaceted,” Erwin said. “You cannot narrow it down to one thing because he is a great player, but he is also a great teammate. His ability to make plays as a young player has been huge for us.”

Kaden started playing football in fifth grade after deciding to quit baseball. He wanted to try something new.

He watched the movie Friday Night Lights and began to dream of playing on the high school stage.

“I just fell in love with how all of those high school football players were treated,” Kaden said. “I wanted to be those guys.”

According to his mom, Janell Smith, football has always been Kaden’s passion.

“He just loves the game so much that I enjoy just watching him,” Janell said. “It’s always been the love of his life.”

Kaden continued to play football through middle school. As a seventh grader, he started on the eighth grade team. Before his last year at Downing Middle School, he attended a football camp at Florida State. The coaches were impressed. After the camp, he got to talk with the tight end coach for the Seminoles.

“We’re not looking at you right now,” the coach had said. “We’re looking at your potential.”

Kaden was surprised. He thought he was pretty good, but he had never seen himself as a Division 1 prospect.

Though it wasn’t a ticket to fame or fortune for the middle schooler, it was a ticket in the door.

“I knew I had a chance, and that’s all I needed,” Kaden said.

Kaden continued to improve his game. Last year, as a freshman, he started on varsity. This year he was in on the field almost every snap for the Marauder offense and was even selected as a captain by his teammates for one of the games.

“I’m just very proud for all of the hard work he’s put into it to get to where he’s at,” Janell said.

Although Kaden is still an underclassman, he has started to think about the transition from the Friday night lights to the Saturday night lights. He has been in contact with many elite college football programs. So far he has offers to play for Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. He has also been talking with Michigan, Florida State and Stanford.

All seven of these schools are or have been ranked in the BCS top 25 during the course of this college football season. All seven schools also have former players that now are starters on an NFL team. Alabama, the defending national champion, has won the national championship three of the last four years.

For Kaden and his family, the college recruiting process has been exciting but also overwhelming at times. He has visited multiple schools that he is considering. Clemson was the first school to make him a verbal offer to play last spring.

“It was just exciting because I never knew if I was a D1 prospect or not,” Kaden said. “It definitely gave me more confidence to improve my game and also made me hungry to get more offers and keep getting looked at.”

Kaden and Janelle both agreed that the coaching staff would be the biggest factor when choosing his university.

One of the most memorable recruiting trips for Kaden was his trip to Alabama, where he was able to visit with famous head coach Nick Saban in his office.

Even after years of success in football, Kaden can still remember a regular conversation he would have with his kindergarten teacher. Though he was only 5, he thought he knew exactly what he would be in the future. She begged to differ.

“You’re going to be a football player, Kaden,” she would say.

But Kaden was adamant that she was wrong. He was going to play Major League Baseball. Years later, after quitting baseball, he sifts through the college letters in the mail. He realizes now that she may have been right after all.

Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

Family of Five story Jaime Hardison As the girls get ready for their upcoming game, the song “Lean on Me” echoes off the locker room walls. This singing prepares them for the fight ahead and reminds the ladies to enter the game with a smile.

The varsity girls’ basketball team is preparing themselves for the rest of the season ahead. Like in previous years, the intended goal is to win the state championship, but depending on the team, the road to get there always varies.

This year, the team is comprised of five senior captains who have been playing with each other since elementary school.

s l l i k he S

T

SPORTS 19

“The thing about a team is that you have to like each other,” girls’ basketball coach Fred Jones said. “And these girls like each other, so it’s really helped to propel us into the season.”

The starting lineup works fluidly together, according to Coach Jones, and the five senior team captains, Ashley James, Vanessa Jones, Morgan Easley, Jasmine Richards and Kayla Inman boost morale. The girls use their combination of skills to win games and climb the rankings. They are currently ranked first in district with a 12-1 record, according to The Dallas Morning News. They employ the “Love first, Self second” motto, which was created by the seniors the first year

Coach Jones began coaching the girls in 2010.

“The other captains and I have been friends since elementary school,” Easley said. “We have goofy group text messages, and have a lot of fun with each other in general.”

This connected group of girls rely on their skills, which help them pull through the game with a win.

“We are a versatile team,” James said. “We all have our own positions, but we play equally.”

As the girls continue their strong start to the season, Coach Jones said he has great expectations for the future.

“Coach definitely thinks we have a great team, and he has high goals for us this season,” Vanessa said.

The Captains

Mentality

Although the team embraces its selfless motto, Coach Jones said the champion mindset is still in development.

"I think the team needs to work on discipline," Coach Jones said. "They just need to know how good they can be."

Speed

The team contains a wide-range of athletes, some of which are more agile than others. The conditioning during practices also helps the ladies to prepare for each fastpaced game, according to Coach Jones.

"Our conditioning comes in handy," Easley said. "Especially because we are always running up and down the court."

Offense and transition

Offensive stability also aids the speed factor when moving the ball down the court.

This results in many points for the team and serves as a vital factor to victory, Coach Jones said.

"I think we are pretty great at transitioning and finishing," senior Kayla Inman said. "We also have a good fast break."

Kayla Inman, 12

Defensive strength

The defensive strength in the back allows minimal points to be scored by the opposing team, also resulting in wins, according to Coach Jones.

"We have a lot of girls that are great defensively, and ultimately defense comes down to heart," Coach Jones said. “The time spent in the weight room is a factor that can also give the team a leg up from other competitors with less muscle.”

Ashley James, 12 Point guard According to Coach Jones, James serves as the heart of the team.

"She plays with so much passion," Coach Jones said. "She's probably our most emotional player because she has fun and enjoys it."

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

Vanessa Jones, 12 Jasmine Richards, 12 Forward Richards keeps the team mentally in check, according to Coach Jones.

"She has the swagger," Coach Jones said. "She has a little attitude, and that's something that we need on the court. She steps up every game, so she's one of those kids that brings a little flair to the game for us.”

Shooting guard According to Coach Jones, Vanessa holds the place as the top competitor on the team.

"She rarely loses any drill that we do," Coach Jones said. “It's contagious with her because she refuses to lose, so she holds everyone on her team to a high standard."

Forward Due to her recent ACL surgery, Inman is not one of the starting five on the team.

However, Inman is making a comeback, according to Jones.

"She has a good story because she's had ACL surgery, so she's just now trying to come back," Coach Jones said. "I still remember the first point she had this year and how the bench went crazy."

Morgan Easley, 12 Shooting guard

According to Coach Jones, Easley plays strongest through difficult times.

"She is more of a fighter," Coach Jones said.

"She kind of likes having her back up against the wall." design Sydney Sund

Boombas [things we like]

20 OPINION

@austin_R28

Tweeting teachers

Holiday helpers Around the holidays, Marcus honor societies help the less fortunate. These acts include can drives, gift deliveries and more. Students gain service points, but the community gains much more.

Many teachers created Twitter accounts to keep their students up to date on last minute changes, and reminders. Teachers aren’t the only ones with Twitters either-clubs and even Marcus itself has a Twitter.

Austin Rickerson

Making big adjustments

It was dark and eerie. I could hear the roar of a chainsaw somewhere in the distance, followed by a shriek that almost made my ears bleed. My sister clutched my arm as we crept along a narrow corridor. We hesitantly rounded the next corner, my mom leading the way. Then we saw him. Standing atop a barstool was some sort of demonic little man. He was bald and could have only been about three feet tall. A sinister laugh erupted from his painted face. A red mist clouded him.

My sister had had enough.

“Where’s the exit?!” she cried.

A security guard quickly showed her to the nearest exit.

My mom kept going, my sister having made it to safety. But as my mom restarted her venture deeper into the haunted house, she looked around for me. Little did she know, I was right behind my sister on the way out.

The closeness with my sister goes beyond the fact that we are both scaredy cats. Sure we may fight, but she’s my only sibling. We have a bond that I can’t have with anyone else.

For some reason, I’ve always impossibly thought that my sister would be living at home forever. It made perfect sense.

We’ve been through it all together. The family vacations. The road trips. Every holiday. Our parents’ divorce. We’ve always been there for each other. Whether it’s talking to our dog in a baby voice or quoting movie lines from Despicable Me, we relate to each other in a way that no one else does.

When I got the text from her a few weeks ago that said “Just got accepted to FIDM!”, my first feeling was pride.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles was her top choice for fashion school. It was where one of her favorite models and designers, Lauren Conrad, had gone. Being an FIDM graduate had become her dream.

At first, nothing had changed. She was still here at home.

She wouldn’t leave until next July. She was the same Christa that was impossible to get out of bed in the morning. She was the same Christa that enjoyed stealing my food first and asking if she could have it later. Though she was going to move away in less than a year, life continued as usual.

It didn’t hit me until later when I went to Boston on a school journalism trip. While I was there, my mom and sister traveled to LA to visit FIDM. As she sent me pictures during their tour of the campus, the local sushi restaurant and the apartment view of the palm trees and cityscape, it became clear. My sister, my only sibling, was moving halfway across the country - 1,438 miles away. Three hours by plane. Twenty hours by car. My sister is leaving. She is going to start a life of her own. If high school has gone by this fast, the last few months with my sister will surely be a blur.

Sure, she’ll be back during holiday breaks. But going from seeing someone every day to only seeing them once every few months won’t be easy. She won’t be there to eat dinner with my mom and me every night. She won’t be there to nag me to clean up my clutter on the kitchen table. But she’ll still be the same Christa that I know and love.

Although it will be a big adjustment, I realize that if we have kept our relationship strong until now, distance won’t be any bigger obstacle than we have already faced. It won’t be bigger than the death of our first dog. It won’t be bigger than the struggle of dealing with separated parents. It won’t be bigger than the fear of our first haunted house. design Lyndsay Hilton

@MadisonErmenio

Madison Ermenio

Gig ‘em or hook ‘em?

I don’t know what I want, so don’t ask me, because I’m still trying to figure it out.

It was one of my favorite songs in middle school, off the original Taylor Swift album. The only difference was that back then, the words were catchy. Now they’re real.

“What are your plans for college?” seems to be the question of the day that I still can’t seem to answer.

I was raised by a Longhorn daddy that studied at UT, one who already has my sister and mom hooked (literally) and is so sure that “his 18 years of subliminal messaging will one day pay off.” Maybe he’s right, but I’m not 100 percent convinced.

Over the summer, I visited A&M for one reason only: to confirm my predetermined dislike of the school and cross it off my list for good. After all, I was supposed to have a bias against the school, right?

To my surprise, and definitely to my dad’s surprise, I absolutely loved it. All the tradition was unlike any other place I had been. The quaint town drew me in and I could see myself spending the next four years there.

But when I got home, visions of UT continued to surround me. As I rode in my mom’s car, I glanced down at the orange and white coaster perched in the cupholder of the front seat.

As I came down the stairs in the morning, I noticed my dad was wearing his favorite t-shirt for probably the fifth day in a row, the simple gray one with “University of Texas” printed across the front in orange. As I sat next to my sister on the couch, she typed away on her phone that is enveloped in the

Should and

e-cigs

regular cigarettes be grouped together under

Students now have access to MacBook Airs. These replace the older laptops, offering more reliable technology in the classroom.

Students have the option of checking one out from the library.

burnt orange rubber case. Everywhere I go, the eyes of Texas are upon me.

On my long pro-con list for each school, I’ve written down dozens of factors that I need to take into consideration when making a decision, and I’m overwhelmed to the point where I don’t know what to think anymore.

Do I choose UT, the campus in the heart of the capital, or A&M, the campus in a small city with country charm? The Big 12 or the SEC? City slickers or cowboys? Burnt orange or maroon?

It’s a battle between my head and my heart: what do I want, and what do I need? What do I like, what are my goals and what are the losses of attending one school over the other?

Which side of the rivalry do I want to buy into?

These questions have been persistently racking my brain for the past couple of weeks as the clock continues to tick faster and faster.

On top of that, I’m scared of letting my loved ones down.

It’s not that I don’t love UT, because I do. The campus in the city is awesome, and there are so many opportunities there.

Regardless, I need their approval before I can feel secure about my decision. I know the decision involves my family as much as it involves me, so I want them to be happy for me.

I want them to say “my daughter goes to ________ ” with the biggest smile on their face because they’re so proud of me and they want everyone to know it. My main concern isn’t even solely which school to pick. It’s that whichever school I choose will be the wrong one.

But later on I realized that I can’t have that kind of perspective, whether it be when I’m deciding which college I should attend, which career I should pursue or any other major choices that will probably show up for me to make down the road.

I was once told that when you make a decision that you’re happy with, don’t look back. That piece of advice has never been more compelling to me than it is now at the end of school.

I’ve come to accept that wondering what could have been does you no good. “What could have been” doesn’t exist.

There’s what is, what has been and what will be. That’s it. I’m not going to waste my time thinking any differently.

I’m going to focus on the place that I believe that God planned for me to go and not worry about what “could have been.” I know I can be happy wherever life takes me.

The college decision is a difficult one, and it will probably cost me a lot of sleep in the end.

Ultimately, pursuing an education is a blessing and I look forward to the “what will be” every day because of it.

“I think they should be grouped together and just get rid of cigarettes altogether at the school.”

the same school policy? story Adam Hernandez photos Jacqueline Higgins

Marvelous MacBooks

Austin Carr, 9

“I don’t think it should be the same policy because e-cigarettes help people quit, they don’t have tobacco and they are cleaner.”

Elle Minnis, 10 Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

OPINION 21

@marisacharp21

Marisa Charpentier

Life of a Twitter goddess

I have an announcement to make.

After an entire year of tweeting, retweeting and favoriting, I have broken through the strict social structure of the Twitter hierarchy. I have achieved a feat most teens only dream of. I am a Twitter Goddess. While the title may be only selfproclaimed, I hold a strong conviction that I have truly made a name for myself in the Twitter realm. When students snicker at their phones during English lectures and econ. notes, I know it’s because they’ve just read my latest tweet. In the hallways, I see people glued to their iPads and phones, hoping to be the first to retweet my next ingenious and witty remark.

But let’s face it: being a self-proclaimed “Twitter Goddess” is not only rewarding but also quite demanding. You pretty much have to think in 140 characters or less.

Fortunately, I’ve mastered the science. I know that tweeting at exactly 8:37 p.m. each day will get me the greatest number of retweets and favorites. Each of my tweets contains an ideal balance of emojis and hashtags – one of each for an understated funny post, four of five for more over the top tweets (never three, that implies you’re a part of the Illuminati). I think it’s safe to say I pretty much know everything there is to know about becoming a celestial Twitter being.

I guess the tricky part is finding the perfect tweets with which to grace my abundance of followers. Sure, you have the typical “my life is so terrible” tweets interspersed with Taylor Swift lyrics and vague social commentary. Subtweets are also a necessity. Ambiguous criticisms directed towards unspecified people definitely keeps things interesting. The other day

Parking peril

Because of the construction, parking at the school any time after 8:10 a.m. has become a nightmare. Students are forced to walk what seems like miles from their car to the building, or else risk towing by parking in one of the many unused staff or senior spots.

Heys

Students who walk through the hallways with their iPads pose a danger to others. While they are distracted with Candy Crush, others are crushed against the lockers to avoid being hit by these students.

Confusing code

The new dress code is widely loved by most, but some students find its ambiguity frustrating. A few students push the boundaries and don’t get caught. Many faculty members seem to be unaware of the specifics of the new rules and let rule breakers go unnoticed.

[things we don’t like]

Distracted drivers

in English class, for example, this girl kept chewing her gum really loudly. So that night (at exactly 8:37 p.m.) I tweeted “just stop, that’s so annoying.” I think she got my point.

And if you experience a brief wave of tweeter’s block, posting: “300 retweets and I’ll *insert daring activity here*” will get you out of the rut. I got a pretty good response to “300 retweets and I’ll use pen on the next calculus test” and “150 retweets and I’ll sneak candy into the movie theater.”

I ended up doing both at 12 retweets just for the thrill.

But keeping up with trends will only take you so far. If you really want to reach a status of Twitter divinity, you have to make the trends. When big events happen, like Miley Cyrus bleaching her eyebrows or Starbucks beginning to sell holiday drinks again, you must be the first to tweet.

When holidays or annual events come around, however, staying original can become quite challenging. For example, it’s easy to get lost in the endless tweets about winter holiday festivities. The best thing to do in this situation is to simply dare to be different. Instead of tweeting “Hot chocolate by the fire #yum,” do something more creative, like “Greek yogurt by the blaze #hipster.”

On Valentine’s Day or during other romantic seasons, instead of giving a shout out to your “other half,” just tweet about your lack of a boyfriend (in a male-dominated Twittersphere, one must always establish her self-confidence through tweets tinged with desperation).

Basically, Twitter is the first amendment on steroids. Anyone can say anything he or she wants to the world. People can share important information, or create rumors. Spread kindness, or degrading criticisms. Use their powers for good, or bad. But Twitter Gods and Goddesses like me know the only thing that truly matters is getting the favorites, the retweets and the followers.

Some people think it’s an addiction, a popularity contest, a temporary way to raise self-esteem. In all honesty, even I used to think Twitter in the teenage realm was a waste of time. But no. It’s a full time job. It’s a lifestyle.

Without Twitter, what would any sane teenager do with his or her free time? Dwell in loneliness? Ponder philosophical thoughts? Discover the meaning of life? Prepare for the future? Do schoolwork? Hashtag boring.

I’m grateful for the distraction from life that is the world of Twitter. As long as the number of followers I have is higher than my grades, I think I’ll be content. And now that I’ve almost reached 100 followers, what comes after Twitter Goddess? Deity? Empress? Queen? Hmm…I like the sound of that.

MARQUEE REMARKS

“I think they should be grouped together because they’re similar even if one is a lesser version, and they both just shouldn’t be allowed at school.”

“The problem with e-cigs is that they still contain nicotine, which is why you smoke a cigarette.

So I mean for grouping it under the same category, it’s the nicotine we’re worried about, not the e-cig itself.”

Hannah Hadden, 11

Jaimeson Kellen, 12

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

“I don’t think they should be grouped together punishment wise, but I don’t think they should be allowed because they encourage a bad habit.”

Brenda Jacobs, Teen Leadership

@SamanthaKing23

Samantha King

Creating new stories

My best, most vivid memories all come from times when I was pretending to be somewhere else. To be someone else.

When I was little, I didn’t just have imaginary friends. I had imaginary societies with complex worlds and law systems.

I remember when I decided I wanted to be a teacher, my stuffed animals were the brightest on the block.

When I played kitchen, it wasn’t just for some dumb family.

It was for the President. It was for my cooking show.

Ask me about my Barbies. That was where the real drama was. Michelangelo just cheated on Christina and got her best friend, Julia pregnant. So in revenge, Christina hired Alexis— the private assassin—to snap Michelangelo’s neck and make it look like an accident.

My sisters never did forgive me for breaking the head off that doll. I tried to explain it was just an accident (to protect Alexis’ cover) and that “Michelangelo’s head just wouldn’t fit in the punch-bug-ee!”

For so long I lived in imaginary worlds with imaginary characters. So when I found my love for reading during the summer before my fifth grade year, it was a big deal for me.

Books became this beautiful enigma that transported me to the worlds I had created and so much more. I couldn’t be stopped. I read everything. Harry Potter. Twilight. The Hunger Games. Peter and the Starcatchers.

As I grew and matured, my reading repertoire did as well.

I moved from Stephenie Meyer to Terry Goodkind and James Patterson.

A couple years ago, though, I came to a realization that changed everything.

To me, reading began to seem like a lazy activity. I was mooching off these authors. These were their imaginary worlds. Not mine. What right did I have to be a part of them?

My imagination has always been my best quality. When most kids shifted from daydreams to serious “grown-up” thoughts, I refused to stop seeing the more creative side of things.

My favorite thing in the world is when I see something and instantly a story pops into my mind. The back stories and the characters that spur from something as simple as a doorway, or an old car fill my mind with adventures until I put pen to paper and let them out.

If I didn’t write, I firmly believe I’d become insane, always muttering about monsters and kings and far away lands. I have so many ideas to express, people to bring to life, scenes to illustrate. I think that it’s just so unbelievably cool that I can create worlds with 26 symbols, mixed up into words, mixed up into sentences, mixed up into a story. The pen is so simple, but it’s responsible for wars, for treaties. For mysteries, for murders. For love, for death, for life, for everything.

So I became a writer.

Now I live in far away and long ago castles. Now I live in nearby and yet-to-come cities. Now I live in dystopian societies and modern times. I’ve killed people. I’ve loved people. I’ve overthrown corrupt governments and made history. I’ve been gods and teenagers and assassins and victims and villains.

When I pick up my pen I’m no longer Samantha King, oldest daughter of four kids, senior in high school, intended marketing major. I’m Lucy Cartwright. I’m Chris Hendrickson.

I’m Bronwyn Knight. I’m Annabeth Lewis. I’m Will Halloway.

I’m Ebony Herring. I’m Alexandra Klark.

I have worlds inside my mind and hear the voices of imaginary people talking to me.

I, am a writer. design Lyndsay Hilton

22 EDITORIALS

Standardized testing needs improvement Staff Editorial In October, the school’s average SAT score increased by 15 points. While this achievement shows progress, how prepared students are for the future is not necessarily displayed through standardized tests. Even though standardized test scores have gone up, students aren’t necessarily more prepared with the knowledge they need because these tests do not give a full picture of a student’s potential. Tests such as the ACT, SAT, AP exams and EOCs aren’t monitoring knowledge as accurately as they should. To make these tests work, they should be changed to measure critical thinking skills instead.

Over the years, the number of tests students have to take has increased. Standardized testing has impacted the way classrooms work. Teachers are having to “teach to the test” to keep up with state expectations. This lessens the depth of knowledge students can receive. The knowledge that students do get, is mostly applicable to high school years only, and does not provide a variety of skills for the post-graduate world. When test takers enter the business world, a wide range of information will be needed such as quick thinking

and problem solving, not just mastery of the limited amount of information required on tests they take in school. Critical thinking is more valuable than the ability to memorize facts.

The way that the tests are formed allows students to pass the test by merely memorizing the data that will be on them. Once the EOC or AP test is over, a majority of the information the students needed to know for that period of time is completely forgotten. Then they’re putting off studying until the night before the next upcoming test because there is no need for the knowledge to be remembered over a long period of time. Students are simply learning to memorize more effectively, not how to retain knowledge. The ability to memorize won’t help students in their careers later in life as much as problem solving.

Students who score high on standardized testing are eligible for more opportunities such as awards and even college scholarships, yet scores don’t always display intelligence accurately. Stress levels vary between different students so outcomes become affected. Some students are better test takers. They don’t allow tests to stress them out.

Therefore, their scores are often better. Others get anxiety over tests and perform poorly. A student can be extremely

smart, yet not be a good test taker. This creates test scores that don’t accurately show how knowledgeable someone is.

For some students, doing well on a high pressure test seems impossible. Their grades on tests aren’t what everyone says they should be, and students lose motivation. The low scores deplete the students’ motivation, which leads to even lower scores. They believe that if they’re not good enough on a test, then there isn’t a point of even trying to succeed at all. These students may just have different strengths that they aren’t being tested over.

Tests do show some level of knowledge and college readiness, but teaching students simply how to pass the tests doesn’t help in the long run. Some established standards are necessary to maintain guidelines, but with the amount of testing students have to endure, it seems like more classes are teaching test taking strategies rather than concepts. In the end, knowing how to take a test won’t help students succeed in most careers.

More tests should be centered around critical thinking and problem solving. Students should be tested on applying their learned knowledge, rather than utilizing their abilities to simply regurgitate information.

Teenagers should stop glorifying e-cigarettes Staff Editorial Electronic cigarettes are a recent advancement in technology that simulates cigarette smoking with different chemicals and nicotine levels. Whether or not they contain harmful chemicals is still a topic of debate. Some students have begun smoking them recreationally, as they don’t have to be 18 years of age in order to buy them. Possessing them in school has repercussions. Students should think twice before picking up an e-cigarette and possibly starting a lifelong, destructive habit.

The media has glorified electronic cigarettes. Years ago, smoking regular cigarettes used to be popular in the sense that people thought smoking made them look cool. In more recent years, however, it seems as though society’s view of smoking has largely shifted from being cool to being gross and unhealthy. Regular cigarettes are not advertised in the media, and it is illegal for a minor to purchase them.

However, now there are several commercials for e-cigarettes. These commercials glorify e-cigarettes with images of attractive men and women smoking them, making them seem more appealing and “cool.” This type of advertising encourages people to use e-cigarettes to “smoke” for all the wrong reasons. In the end, students need to see e-cigarettes for what they are - a possible method of safer smoking for those who need it, not a legal way to appear cool.

It is true that e-cigarettes do not contain the carcinogens that normal cigarettes do, but the FDA does not regulate e-cigarettes, and some products have been documented to contain other harmful toxins. There are different levels of nicotine in e-cigarettes that allow smokers who are trying to quit to downgrade into smaller portions over time.

E-cigarettes may be useful for some when they are utilized this way. However, teenagers have been known to start off at the highest levels of nicotine and then become addicted.

Students need to realize that even though e-cigarettes do design William Legrone

not contain the same chemicals as regular cigarettes, they can still be addictive. In some cases, smoking e-cigarettes has actually become a gateway for people to start smoking actual cigarettes. Little is known about the dangers and content of e-cigarettes, so testing them just for fun is too risky. The overall impact of e-cigarettes on health is still uncertain, so the impact these products have on the developing brains of young people is also unclear. In the end, students need to avoid putting their health at risk.

The standard inschool rules for e-cigarettes are clear. E-cigarettes are mentioned under the school’s NEW! tobacco policy in the student handbook, Wanna be and they are confiscool? cated. People get inTry an school suspension for e-cig! their first offense and home suspension for their second. Oftentimes, students use the bathrooms or go outside for this activity.

Teachers and administration needs to be more aware of the prevalence of ecigarettes throughout the school. While some students may claim to need them to curb addiction to actual cigarettes, no-

body is allowed to smoke cigarettes during school anyhow, so smoking e-cigarettes on campus for any reason is unjustified.

With the recent increase in teen cigarette usage, it’s time to stop glorifying them and start seeing them for what they really are. While they may be helpful to those trying to quit utilizing harmful tobacco products, they are not for teenagers who have never smoked previously. Students should research e-cigarettes before they decide that using them is really as cool as they think.

Maybe smoking an e-cig will make me look cool too...

E Cigs

Possible Danger Uh oh...

SS Dec. 19, 2013 The Marquee

SPOTLIGHT 23

Holiday Helpers

Before Thanksgiving, Interact Club participated in their annual Basket Brigade event, collecting food to donate to the Salvation Army. Spanish Honor Society also held a blanket making event, creating blankets for those in need.

photo Miranda Chiechi Seniors Communications Manager Alison Riggs and President Daniella Palmberg help to assemble bags of Thanksgiving food. They counted the different types of cans that were donated.

photo Luisa Diaz Senior Sarah Clifford begins blanket making by cutting the corners to begin securing strands.

photo Miranda Chiechi Junior Gavin Hopkins assembles cans of food to put in bags for Salvation Army. These bags went to families in need for the holidays.

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013

photo Luisa Diaz Junior Natalia Simmoniti cuts away strands of blanket to be tied.

photo Luisa Diaz Seniors Stephanie Clemens and Olivia Best work together to trim the edges of the blanket.

design Hailey Painter

24 SPOTLIGHT

Parading through the town

photo Luisa Diaz Senior Liz Price and members of Color Guard perform in the town parade. They modified the show flags from this year’s marching show, “Charmed,” to incorporate holiday spirit.

photo Miranda Chiechi Battery percussion marches down Morriss Rd. in the 24th annual Flower Mound Christmas parade. Senior drumline captain Peter Riojas leads them in the parade.

photo Miranda Chiechi Sophomore Kylie Marzullo participates in the parade with all three cheerleading squads. They sang Christmas carols and did school cheers.

photo Luisa Diaz Sophomore Cameron Lanford waves as his Special Olympics float drives by at the Christmas parade. design Hailey Painter

photo Miranda Chiechi Senior Emmett Marbury commands a section of the ROTC flight in the parade. He is a major and is in operations.

The Marquee Dec. 19, 2013