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cover Alex Thornfelt
Art teacher reflects on musical background
Former freshman travels from local productions to Broadway role
editor in chief Alex Thornfelt managing editor Muna Nnamani online editor
Hyunsung Na design editor Jennifer Banh photo editor Jayni Gogineni business manager Aishani Raju reporters Garrison Acree Emily Couch Roslyn Dobbins Raksha Jayakumar Owen Oppenheimer Lex Paull Kaelen Reed designers Sarina Mahmud Dylan Sorensen photographer Leslyn Lindsey adviser LaJuana Hale principal William Skelton
Career: Lawyer, former attorney General of Texas
Education: He wants to fully fund public education, allow parents to choose the best school for their child, and protect students.
Abortion: He is pro-life and wants to ensure “every unborn child with a heartbeat will be saved.”
Firearms: Abbott believes we should protect the Second Amendment. He passed the constitutional carry law, allowing people to carry a handgun in public without a license.
Immigration: He wants to secure the border and crack down on human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Inflation: Abbott wants to balance the budget without raising taxes, provide property tax relief, and invest in workforce development.
story Owen Oppenheimer
Career: Small business owner, previous El Paso councilman and member of Congress
Education: O’Rourke wants to fully fund public schools. He wants to fund classrooms, and end standardized testing.
Abortion: He believes all Texans “deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about their own body.”
Firearms: He wants to make it harder to use guns irresponsibly by repealing permitless carry and reforming gun laws.
Immigration: He said that “Texas should be the leader in building a safe, legal, orderly immigration system that meets the needs of our state and country.”
Inflation: He wants to provide property tax relief and bring in new forms of state revenue by expanding Medicaid and legalizing marijuana.
Career: Radio host
Education: Patrick has continued education reforms. He began as Senate Education Committee Chair, providing more choices like charter and private schools.
Abortion: He helped pass the Heartbeat Bill, which placed the most restrictions on abortion in the country at the time.
Firearms: He said he wants to support the Second Amendment and is an outspoken supporter of law enforcement.
Immigration: During his time as Lt. Governor, the Senate has passed legislation to increase border security, and he wants to secure the border.
Inflation: He wants to address Texas’ infrastructure challenges to assure that our state continues to grow economically. Patrick has helped to reduce the franchise tax by 25% and hopes to eliminate it all together.
Career: Business executive
Education: Collier aims to fully fund public schools, as well as invest in “smaller class sizes, more special education support, and great teachers.” He wants to end budget cuts and the STAAR test.
Abortion: He will work to write the protections of Roe v. Wade into state law and repeal the current laws. Collier said that women and their doctors should make decisions about their healthcare.
Firearms: He wants to put into law red flag laws, raise the age to purchase a firearm to 21, and end permitless carry.
Immigration: His website did not contain specific information about his stance on this topic.
Inflation: He said he wants to create a good business climate with “thousands of good paying jobs,” as well as an economy that serves everyone and “not just out-of-state corporations.”
Career: Psychologist
story Owen OppenheimerEducation: “We need to support public education.” Wooten supports more funding for special education and job skill programs as well pay raises for teachers.
Abortion: “Women should have the right to govern their own bodies without politicians and religious groups telling them what they can and cannot do.” Wooten aims to protect a woman's right until the fetus could survive, about 24 weeks.
Firearms: “It's not just mass shootings. Gun violence is also a problem with suicides.” She supports raising the age to purchase rifles to 21, mandatory minimum waiting periods, safe storage laws, firearm training, and red flag laws.
Immigration: “I think we have to be humane and we should not denigrate immigrants as if they are all drug dealers, which is what I hear a lot of the Republicans doing. The Texas economy depends on immigrants.” Wooten supports safe, orderly, legally channels for immigrants to come to Texas.
Inflation: “The State Legislature does not have power over that,” she said. When it comes to inflation she wants to reduce its effects by supporting legislation to lower energy costs.
Career: Executive at firearm company
Education: “Education is very important for the future of Texas and our local communities.” He wants manageable class sizes for teachers as well as more financial investment into LISD, private, and charter schools.
Abortion: “The Dobbs decision returns much decisionmaking over these policies to the states, so Texas must ensure our policies protect life.” He supports improving maternal healthcare and childhood healthcare as an alternative to abortion.
Firearms: “I hope to take some of the things we’ve learned in our local school districts on mitigating threats to Austin to improve school safety to protect our young people.” He believes the right to bear arms is guaranteed, and he has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association, a leading gun rights advocacy group.
Immigration: “Right now the cartels are murdering civilians and profiting off the trafficking of women and children.” He supports state efforts to secure the border receiving more funding from the federal government for technology and manpower.
Inflation: “This recession is due in part to out of control money printing at the federal level, and energy policy that has seen costs skyrocket across the nation.” He supports lowering property taxes, reduced state spending, and investment into the energy market.
Career: Licensed master social worker Education: “I think we need to ensure that all students' needs are met while they're in high school.” She supports increasing teacher salary, ensuring school funding, and providing more mental health resources.
Abortion: “You can be an individual that is pro-life for yourself, and pro-choice for everyone else. For someone seeking abortion, it is specifically a decision between them and their doctors, and no government officials should be able to say something otherwise.”
Firearms: “We just have to do common sense things like universal background checks, and ensuring that we have protective measures in place to prevent mass shootings, especially in schools.” She also supports partnering with firearm training groups to provide better gun safety education.
Immigration: “I see immigration as partnering with the federal level and ensuring that we put forth some type of screening measures that actually allows those immigrants coming into Texas to transition into the workforce.”
Inflation: “When we think about inflation, I know something that affects every last socioeconomic status is electricity.” She supports improvements to the state energy grid to reduce energy costs for consumers.
Career: Former school board trustee/businesswoman Education: “Education is the great equalizer and gives everyone the opportunity to share in the American Dream.” She supports increasing the diversity of opportunities in schools such as trade programs. She is opposed to Critical Race Theory in schools.
Abortion: “I will only support abortion as a medical necessity: if the doctor deems it necessary for the sake of the mother or child.” She opposes any taxpayer funding for abortions and supports health care for families as an alternative.
Firearms: “I want to make sure that students and teachers feel safe in the classroom, and I do support the right to keep and bear arms.” She is opposed to regulation on the sale of firearms.
Immigration: “The way cartels are trafficking children and families is horrific and has cost the lives of many trying to cross.” She supports funding for law enforcement, surveillance, and a wall and opposes any open border policies.
Inflation: Timesch acknowledged the effects of recent inflation on teenagers’ wallets: “Young voters are paying more for gas at the pumps, food at restaurants and movies because of increasing inflation,” she said.
For art teacher Josh Fletcher, creativity has always been life’s heartbeat.
He tries to help his kids create innovative art. He hopes they learn to think out of the box.
“You don’t have to become the next Picasso,” Fletcher said. “But you do have to become a creative thinker.”
As much as he promotes creativity to his students, he barely ever tells them where it’s gotten him. Giving solo shows at museum galleries. Playing music festivals in downtown Dallas.
Coming so close to getting a record deal that he could already hear the crowds cheering.
• • •
story Lex Paull & Muna NnamaniMusic is in Fletcher’s genes. His dad toured local churches with a Christian band, and his four brothers could play everything from the saxophone to the clarinet.
He remembers playing “concerts” at home with his family. And after learning to play the drums in elementary school, they became his signature instrument.
“I think everybody likes drums,” Fletcher said. “Right now if there was one sitting here, you’d want to play on it. The most natural humanistic thing to want to do is beat on things and sound like something.”
In high school he and some friends formed a rock band called Crypt Kicker Five. Their musical training consisted of listening to the Deftones and Led Zeppelin on his MP3 player and replicating the angst in each note.
Over college, Fletcher’s revolving talents influenced him to switch his major from music to graphic design to
Art teacher Josh Fletcher has played countless festivals since learning the drums as a child. He also knows how to play the clarinet.drawing and painting.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher and four other UNT students formed a punk band. They called it Hugonaut, based on a “Family Guy” joke.
For over 30 hours a week, they rehearsed in the guitarists’ posterplastered living room. And they chased their dream — getting picked up by a label.
“That was everything,” Fletcher said. “‘You gotta get signed.’ And we didn’t care what contract we got.”
They did it through phone calls and emails, as many as possible. By haunting landlines and pulling strings, Hugonaut booked concerts and festivals years in advance, eager for any kind of exposure.
And for Fletcher, the early 2000’s exploded into musical bliss.
• • •
He opened for so many bands that they all blurred together. Somewhere in the mix of late shows and long practices, Hugonaut landed the gig as FC Dallas’ corporate band.
They frequented studios, calling weeks ahead to play in front of labels — to either receive advice or snag their big break.
“You pay to go to those meetings,” Fletcher said, “500 bucks to go play two songs in front of a panel of people and try to see if they’ll pick you up.”
But the studio Fletcher remembers the best is the Dallas Sound Lab in Los Colinas.
When his band walked through its halls, they witnessed big-name musicians record their albums in real time.
They caught fragments of “Behind the Music” as VH1 filmed, while Stevie Ray Vaughan frequented the recording rooms. It felt unreal — after walking down the same halls that Destiny’s Child had graced, they had to get ready for school the next day.
“Every rock ‘n roll person that ever recorded used the same studio we were in,” Fletcher said.
Artists who had already made it would ask younger musicians to sit in at their sessions — one night, he played drums for Erykah Badu’s sound check.
In all, Hugonaut recorded three albums. And the dream danced just beyond their fingertips. They were this close to being signed by Epitaph records, the perfect venue for the band’s punk sound.
But another dream took its place. • • •
In college, Fletcher created art that had a message. After some prodding from his professors, he mailed slides of his work to every gallery he could.
And they loved it. His work hung in 60-70 galleries, and in some, he was the only artist people came to see.
“Some of my painting professors had not even had the exposure that I was having in my senior year of college,” Fletcher said.
A professor once told Fletcher that listening to the critics’ interpretation
of his art was like breathing — Fletcher would have to inhale others’ ideas and exhale what he learned later onto his canvas. The allegory has stuck with him after all these years.
“It’s like going to a concert,” Fletcher said. “You get inspired or sing a cool thing and then it comes back out of you. So I think the more that you do as a growing artist or beginning artist, the more you’re going to create.”
But as he poured all of his energy into making and selling art, his bandmates accused him of focusing less on music.
“We were all tired,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher painted this piece, “Congrats”, in 2006. He attributed the painting to teaching him how to paint in his current style. Photo submitted by Josh Fletcher
“Because we had played so much. We’d literally played every weekend for like three years. You know, that’s a lot of your life. And those guys were really trying to make it.”
The other members also experimented with the line-up, switching out members until Fletcher couldn’t recognize their sound.
In his senior year, their bassist, Ryan, passed away. The loss left Fletcher in a place where he couldn’t think about making music.
“I think it was just burnout,” Fletcher said. “And I think after Ryan died, it was too much.”
After a phone call, all sides of Hugonaut agreed that it would be best if he left the group. No resentment, no bad blood. But the dream had vanished.
• • •
Fletcher now had a new reservoir of energy to draw on, just for art.
He graduated at the top of UNT’s painting program in 2007 with a degree in drawing and painting, and a conviction that art was what he wanted to do. But when economic recession rocked the art industry in 2008, the galleries he had counted on to promote his work all closed.
Fletcher got an office job doing graphic design for a Fortune 100 company. Every day, he would turn on his computer and create art that he knew wouldn’t impact anybody.
When he couldn’t take it anymore, he quit and found a school in Fort Worth ISD that needed an art teacher — Dunbar
design Alex ThornfeltHigh School.
Without any teaching certification or degree in education, he took the job. While he called the job change a bold move, he found meaning in teaching kids how to be creative.
“When you go to work, you don’t really change anyone’s life in most jobs,” Fletcher said. “You’re with your computer, you’re with your company. You’re making money, you’re making money for them. But you don’t see people grow as humans. In this place, you do every day.” • • •
He took another big leap one year after graduation — marrying his college sweetheart. They have nine and six year old boys.
And like his father did for him, he tries to help his sons love music.
The family has a small studio in the house. On weekends, Fletcher hooks up a big monitor speaker that used to be onstage with him as a drummer, and he makes music with his sons. They spend Saturdays playing anything from Red Hot Chili Peppers to The Weeknd.
“I think it just bonds you in a different way,” Fletcher said. “Because when you play music with people, you connect in a way that you couldn’t outside of playing an instrument.”
This is his second year teaching at the school, after working at Dunbar HS for fout years and LHS Harmon for 18 years. To teach his students creativity, he assigns projects that force them to problem solve.
“That’s all art is, is solving the problem,” Fletcher said. “‘How can I make this look like a pumpkin with crazy teeth? I’ve never done that.’”
Senior Nathan Smith, who takes Art 1, says that it’s hard to be bored with Fletcher as a teacher.
“Every project is something new,” Smith said. “There’s nothing stale about it.”
Sophomore and Art 1 student Britton Broussard says that Fletcher genuinely cares about the people in his classes.
“He takes an active interest in his students,” Broussard said. “And he makes the class enjoyable.”
One of his classes’ favorite projects is the annual boat race. They cut boats out of cardboard and spent the day in the wave pool at Hurricane Harbor. He plans on bringing back the tradition this year.
Even though he’s busy with his teaching and responsibilities to his family, he tries to make time for a little artistic work after school hours. When he worked at LHS, he formed a band called the Fool Hearts with some other teachers. And when he has time, he paints on commission.
“My kids are number one right now,” Fletcher said. “So it’s kind of hard to commit to that level of musicianship right now.”
Despite all the venues he’s played and the people he’s met in his lifetime, he says his greatest adventure has been teaching.
“I’ve met a lot of amazing kids that have changed my life,” Fletcher said.
“
When you play music with people, you connect in a way that you couldn’t outside of playing an instrument.”
- Josh FletcherWhen Fletcher reflects on his years working in the art field, he says his most meaningful experience is teaching. Photo Jayni Gogineni
story
Aishani Raju
In the midst of the pandemic, Junior Jacque Stevenson garnished her oatmeal bowl with glazed strawberries, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. She centered the bowl on her table to snap pictures of her breakfast. She uploaded it with a cheery caption to her Instagram account, @freelyjacque, for her 55k followers to see.
After, Jacque sat down to eat. Two bites was her max — after that, she pushed the bowl away.
If she finished it, the oatmeal would exceed her calorie count.
As always, 600 calories a day was her limit.
•
•
•
In eighth grade, Jacque had the same routine every day: hours of swimming followed by schoolwork. When quarantine and isolation trapped her inside her house, she felt claustrophobic because she didn’t have an outlet to exercise and destress.
Because she wasn’t exercising, nagging thoughts about her body began to creep in.
“I could notice changes in myself,” Jacque said. “I feel like in the situation of COVID, that you don’t really have much control over your life.”
Negative feelings overwhelmed her — so she turned her mind to the one thing she could control: her eating.
Jacque said that she did have a level of body insecurity growing up, but when quarantine hit, there was nothing to stop these feelings from growing.
She grew obsessed with losing weight. She would stand on a weight scale ten times a day, hoping to see a slightly lower number than the last time.
“Once I started seeing success and seeing the number decrease, the more I had an obsession with it and weighing myself more and more times a day,” Jacque said.
Dinner time was another struggle. After stepping off the scale, Jacque looked over at the clock. She needed to see how much longer she had until her family dinner at 7 p.m. That day, she’d eaten one meal: a small salad that was 90% lettuce.
Jacque needed to save up her appetite to eat at dinner, or her family would notice that she wasn’t eating. They would get worried and intervene. She would lose the only control she felt like she had.
Her negative thoughts started manifesting in the form of physical sickness. Bloating that made her stomach as hard as a rock, constant fatigue and stomach pain for months on end consumed her energy and made finding food she liked and could eat difficult.
Her parents were concerned about her weight loss, so they made an appointment with her doctor. Going into it, only Jacque knew that her disordered eating might have been one of the reasons she was losing weight.
“It wasn’t necessarily because I
was not eating enough,” Jacque said. “But they had noticed that I was losing weight. They were concerned that that was a health issue, which is why I saw the doctor.”
Laura Stevenson, Jacque’s mom, said that Jacque was scared to eat certain foods because she did not want her stomach to hurt. She often ate low nutrient dense foods like carrots and celery.
Jacque got bloodwork done and an endoscopy to find out the root cause of her symptoms.
One week later, the phone rang. Jacque’s mom lifted it up to receive the results of the biopsy confirmation: celiac disease.
Now, to add to the foods that she had banned herself from, Jacque had a long list of foods she couldn’t eat anymore.
“When you’re restricting a lot of certain foods and stuff, it takes over a lot of your thoughts,” Jacque said.
Water polo team dinners became even more difficult as her food restrictions started to impact her outings.
Jacque would sometimes use celiac disease as justification to not eat. The easiest way to avoid adding extra calories to the log in her head was saying that the food might upset her stomach.
“Being somewhere, even if there was something I could eat, I would always just use the excuse, ‘Oh, I can’t eat here,’” Jacque said.
Soon, the people in her life were commenting on all the weight she had lost. But instead
design Sarina MahmudPartnering with Free2bFoods, Jacque makes her dark chocolate SunButter cup waffles. The post was Valentine’s Day inspired, and also promotes Free2bFoods’s sunflower butter cups. Photo courtesy @freelyjacque
Using two slices of gluten free bread and only a handful of other ingredients, Jacque makes blueberry vanilla French toast for her Instagram. Photo courtesy @freelyjacque
Jacque shows her single serve molten chocolate cake recipe through an Instagram reel. The rich cake is gluten free, vegan, and easy to make. Photo courtesy @freelyjacque
of being concerned, they sounded happy for her.
“Sometimes people would point out that I was skinny, or had no body fat,” Jacque said. “But the thing is that people never really said that in a negative connotation.”
The positive feedback reinforced the idea that her eating habits were good for her.
“I kind of felt like if I got to be very skinny, people would somehow love me more, or I would be better or something like that,” Jacque said. “Or that I would be happier.”
After another checkup, her doctors found that her BMI percentile had significantly dropped. When they examined Jacque, her face was gaunt and her hair was dry. She had been quiet before, but by this point, she had completely retreated into herself. Her personality shut down as soon as her body did.
After seeing the concern on her doctors’ and parents’ faces, she knew she had to help herself.
At the time, gaining weight seemed like an impossible task. So, her first baby step was maintaining her weight.
“I stayed at a specific weight for a very long time … but I was still restricting my food or my intake, because I was scared of gaining weight,” Jacque said.
This meant her daily life still involved weighing herself too frequently and restricting calories, but she started leaving these unhealthy habits behind.
“February or March of this year is when I just decided that I wanted to live my life,” Jacque said. “I wanted to eat what I want, and not have to worry about my body image and becoming much more accepting of myself.”
This spring, Jacque earned a spot on the varsity water polo team. She wanted to feel the exhilaration of being filled with energy again while she practiced and competed.
Part of her desire to get better was her drive to help her team.
“I kind of realized that I wasn’t really impacting just myself anymore,” Jacque said. “Really, if I were to not have energy during practice or a game, I’m also impacting other people. And, you have to eat to be able to grow and become stronger,” Jacque said.
After months of elimination diets and finding foods that made her feel comfortable like peanut butter, Laura said that Jacque was one step closer to recovery.
“You’d have to go through the process of journaling and eliminating things to see what is bothering you,” Laura said. Now, she’s already through that hurdle and through that process. I think she’s just more free with what she’s able to eat.”
On July 10, Jacque came home to a batch of gluten free brownies from a bakery. She took a bite and savored it, without calculating the calories in her head or stopping herself from taking another bite. In that moment, Jacque realized that she had finally felt comfortable in her own body.
She let go of the past birthdays when she didn’t touch the cake that was bought just for her, secretly hoping that her family would eat it instead. This time, she dug into the plate.
• • •
As Jacque started to recover, her Instagram account Freely Jacque grew with her. Jacque has found freedom with food
through posting gluten and dairy free recipes.
Junior Elin Cho, Jacque’s friend, said that she has seen the account help Jacque in her recovery process.
“She thought she only had certain foods she had to eat,” Cho said. “ Creating recipes and food that she actually enjoyed really helped her.”
Jacque archived her old posts that she associated with restriction and is now focusing on posting content that achieved her initial goal: to share easy gluten free recipes with others.
“This was just a creative outlet for her to maybe be able to emotionally express herself as it related to celiac and gluten free,” Laura said.
Cho said that channeling her energy into others has given Jacque a sense of satisfaction.
“She felt really happy about it, sharing it with others who might also be dealing with that,” Elin said.
Through this journey, she has embraced the lessons she learned.
“I accept my body for what it is more than I even did before,” Jacque said.
feature Nov. 04, 2022 design Sarina Mahmud
I kind of felt like if I got to be very skinny, people would somehow love me more, or I would be better or something like that.
“
story Hyunsung Na
Deep sighs erupt from the stands as senior Michael Petro jogs onto the field. Fans are rarely happy to see the kicker. While he jogs over, he relives the thousands of times he’s kicked a field goal from that spot.
He ignores the defenders, all assigned with the sole responsibility to block his kick and celebrate his failure. He ignores the crowd, now his captive audience waiting for him to deliver.
Instead, over and over again, Michael envisions only one scene — the ball sailing through the goal post. His holder, senior Colton Bedgood silently kneels beside him waiting for the signal.
Michael starts his routine. Three steps back. Two steps to the left. He takes a deep breath and gives a nod. The ball whips into Colton’s hands, and he places it on the kicking tee.
Michael fires.
The fans take a sigh of relief when they see the ball go through the goal post. His teammates celebrate the three points. Michael tops it off with his celebratory handshake and head bump with Colton.
Kicking is Michael’s key to impact the game. To have a future playing football. To connect with people. Kicking is his gift that gives back to him ten-fold.
But originally kicking was Michael’s chore.
“Can anyone kick?” asked coach Drew Libby.
Practice halted, as the search for Downing Middle School’s eighth grade kicker began.
Michael tried out on a whim.
He played soccer before and wanted to help out the team.
“At first, it was very frustrating because the ball wouldn’t go as far as a soccer ball normally would,” Michael said. “But, I just kept trying to figure it out and mess with it.”
Eventually he did. Michael made 56 out of 58 PAT’s, or point after touchdown’s.
Kicking was a new position for Michael’s, but it was never his favorite part of the game he loved.
That was before his father, Ed Petro reached out to Scott Blanton, a former NFL kicker.
“He saw something in Michael,” Ed said. “And he was really excited about working out with him, so that was a pretty exciting time.”
But when Michael first received the invitation to a coaching session with Blanton, he hesitated.
“At first I was like, ‘I just want to be a wide receiver, running back, one of the cool positions,’” he said.
Michael had shown clear potential, but it was more of a question whether he wanted to pursue kicking. The two went to the private session to find that answer. When he arrived, the reps kept coming and by the end of it, Michael understood how much more he’d have to learn.
“I was not that good. I got humbled very quickly,” he said. “The things that he would make you go through is nothing I thought I’d have to do.”
His dad, Ed, knew the intense training would prepare Michael.
“Scott didn’t treat him like an eighth
grader,” Ed said. “He put him in there with kids that were juniors and seniors in high school, some of the top rated kickers in the country… and in order to be kicker, you have to be able to handle pressure.”
With enough time and private lessons, kicking wasn’t a hobby, it became a possible future.
“As more time went on, I really clicked with what he was teaching me,”
At first I was like, ‘I just want to be a wide receiver, running back, one of the cool positions.’
- Michael Petro, 12
“Senior Michael Petro started kicking in the eighth grade. Linebacker Colton Bedgood held his kicks in middle school and now holds them on the varsity team. Photo Dylan Sorenson
Michael said. “I was like, ‘Shoot, I should probably take this serious. I could go to college for it.’”
It was time to prove himself. He’d done all the work to make varsity but now it was his chance to actually kick a field goal in week one against Jesuit.
Late in the second quarter.
Michael had a 14 yard field goal. But it was his first kick on varsity. He needed to prove that he could start.
He felt the opposing home crowd. His teammates’ eyes staring him down. The air tightening around him. He took a deep breath in, took two steps and fired.
He saw the ball begin to drift away from the goal post. He knew he had missed before everyone else.
Heading back to the sidelines, Michael kept his head up as much as he could.
“Kicking is very mentally challenging,” Michael said. “If you miss a field goal going straight out, it’s discouraging… you can get really down on yourself, but you just have to be try to be as optimistic as you can.”
But with a close loss, 34-38, Michael still felt the lingering singe of his mistake. After a couple of games, the coaches wanted to try something new. Michael was named the starter.
“I was happy,” Michael said. “The hours I put in, finally were paying off, and I get the opportunity to show the coaches all the work that I’ve put in and just earn their trust.”
It was 28 yards. Michael’s first field goal attempt of the game was double the length of his first attempt of the season.
Senior Ethan Lee, one of Michael’s closest teammates, noticed a vast difference in him on the sidelines.
“His Jesuit game, he was really nervous and wasn’t completely ready for it, just not completely mentally prepared,” Lee said. “Going into the Coppell game, he knew he was the guy and his confidence was way higher.”
His holder, Colton jogged out with him with a simple message — “You’re going to put it through, you got this.”
When they met at the 28 yard line, Michael gave him a quick fistbump — “We got this.”
He took his steps. He felt the same nerves but pushed them aside for his kick.
sports Nov. 04, 2022
“It was actually a pretty bad kick,” Michael said. “But it went in and that’s all that matters.”
He returned to the sidelines feeling looser, less wound up by pressure and anxiety.
“I was just relieved. I was happy and I will never forget making that,” Michael said.
After his solid second half to the season, Michael continued the habit of tracking every kick he’s attempted. This season, Michael has made every one of his field goals except one. One glaring mistake on an otherwise perfect season.
Against a nationally ranked Southlake Carroll at home, Michael attempted a 43 yard field goal. He took his shot but as the ball came off his foot, he knew.
“I remember seeing the line’s face and the coach’s faces, and just their reactions to it,” Michael said. “I knew I missed, it was devastating.”
As a kicker Michael’s held to a high
standard. As himself, he holds himself even higher.
“I feel like I’m held to a high standard to make it, I feel like every kicker is,” Michael said. “I don’t like letting the team down and so every opportunity that I have, I want to execute.”
But this year will be just one step of his ongoing football journey.
Having seen the entirety of his journey, from coaching him to now watching him play in high school, his father Ed just enjoys seeing all his work pay off.
“There’s nothing more I love than Fridays to go be able to watch him play and do what he does,” Ed said. “To see the work he’s done and be out on the football field in front of thousands of people, I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
With the rest of the season and his UTSA collegiate career ahead of him, Michael’s journey doesn’t have an ending in sight.
“I think surreal is like the only way I could put it,” Michael said.
Sorenson
I feel like I’m held to a high standard to make it, I feel like every kicker is.
- Michael Petro, 12
“
What’s one item on your bucket list? I want to travel the world. I just want to get out of Texas.
What was the last movie you watched? Was it good?
Top Gun: Maverick. I like it. I haven’t seen the original, my step mom made fun of me for that, she’s like, “How can you see the new one if you haven’t even seen the original?”
What’s your opinion on candy corn? It’s not about the taste, it’s the texture of it. I can’t do it. Nothing against the taste, the taste is mid, it’s just the texture of it I can’t do.
If you could master any new skill in a matter of seconds what would it be?
Track skips. Like dynamic A, B, C, all of them. It’s a part of our warmups [in Track and Field] and some of them just don’t make sense.
What is your least favorite word and why?
Moist. I hate that word. I can’t do it, it’s so gross.
What would you change your name to and why?
I honestly wouldn’t change my name. When I was younger I wanted it to be Hailey, and as I’ve gotten older I was like, “I really like my name.”
What are the most overrated shoes and why?
Nike Air Force Ones. Everybody wears them and nobody has grown out of that stage. They are $100 shoes, they’re so bulky and big, and they don’t stay clean.
What song best describes your life? “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift. Because she is talking about how she is a mess but still tries to keep herself together, and I feel like it really relates on a different level.
-About 1 in 5 Denton County citizens struggle with food insecurity every day. With a population of 941,647, that means 188,329 don’t have reliable access to sufficient food.
-The North Texas Food Bank is responsible for 13 counties and supports around 700,000 people.
-Pre-pandemic, the Dallas County Food Center served 2,764 families or individuals, while the case counts in the pandemic increased to 4,138.
The months of November and December mark the start of an annual surge of donations, a phenomenon known as — the season of giving. The winter holidays arrive consecutively all sharing one universal thing: feeling grateful. Leaving many in the mood to give to charities, food banks and other local
“In the name of Jesus Christ, Christian Community Action ministers to the poor by providing comprehensive services to alleviate suffering, bring hope, and change lives.”
organizations receive help from individuals to help those in need. But after the season of giving comes and goes, those same local organizations try to help without their seasonal avalanche of donations. They can’t do it alone. But students can help make up for the difference.
Christian Community Action has been around for 50 years offering a variety of services. Beyond their year round food pantry, they have programs including clothes drives, financial assistance, back to school programs, counseling, job fairs and more.
Assistant Director of CCA, Thelma Cantu says these programs have been able to do so much work for individuals in the community.
“There’ve been some pretty sad situations but at the end of it, we see so much hope, so much restoration,” Cantu said. “People’s lives and their families, that’s why we do it every day.”
Cantu says volunteering can be rewarding for both volunteers and the people CCA helps.
“It’s amazing to see people that come in and may have a sense of hopelessness or just feel like there’s so many burdens on them,” Cantu said. “And just a little bit of your time and you get so much more out of it than what you get.”
For 40 years, the North Texas Food Bank provides help to thousands all throughout the DFW area to make ends meet. The Food Bank itself serves as a storage and distribution center, distributing to other non-profit pantries such as CCA and the Heart of the City.
Senior Manager of Communications Jeff Smith says that anyone who needs help should consider the NTFB.
“There is no shame in needing help,” Smith said. “And that’s really what we’re all about, helping hands when people need it.”
NTFB volunteer Nancy Levenson says that the volunteers play an irreplaceable role in the function of the food bank.
“They need volunteers,” Levenson said. “Because there’s very few people that are paid to be on the floor, without volunteerism they can’t create the boxes of food for people that need it.
“
To create a hunger-free North Texas through expanding community partnerships.”
Jennifer Banh
Heart of the City Lewisville is a charity centered on a Christian faith that’s served the Lewisville community for three years and has grown to five locations, as of November.
They receive food donations from people in the community, North Texas Food Bank and from grocery stores such as Walmart and Kroger. All to guarantee they have enough food for their bins of food that remain outside 24/7. President/CEO Robert Veal says their food pantry all starts at building a relationship with the people who walk through the doors.
“The first thing is to love other people, no matter who they are, no matter where they’re from,” Veal said. “No matter what the situation, we don’t ask them for their checkbook.”
Veal says students can help in a specific way by bringing in a needed valuable commodity.
“We’d love it if everybody at Marcus brought a box of cereal,” Veal said. “Cereal is a huge thing…everyone eats cereal. You’ve got to have Captain Crunch.”
The last fiscal year, 568,104 pounds of fresh produce was provided to neighbors in need at CCA to offer healthy alternatives. Photo Jayni Gogineni
-2021-2022 Fiscal Year (October to September)
-12,893 Individuals served -4,397 families served -568,104 pounds of fresh produce provided -18,663 visits to the food pantry -2,028,327 meals provided
-2 million pounds of food provided in 36 months
-On Oct. 22, they served 515 families
-From Oct.16-22, they served over 600 families -Help 50-60 families a week with clothing
-The value of clothing given last year came out to about $50,000
-Nearly 137 million meals last year; 11.4 million meals per month -Dallas County has the 5th highest number of food insecure people in nation
-North Texas Food Bank hosts around 100 people per shift and have 2 shifts per day -86% of distributed food goes to partner agencies, 7% to mobile pantries, 3% to senior programs, 3% to child programs, and 1% to other food banks
-Delivered an average of 2.1 million lbs. per week in Feeding Network
“To love others, to serve others, and to help others. When doing all of this, we do it in the name of Jesus.”CCA is a local charity that provides food, hygiene products and home goods to neighbors in need. Photo Jayni Gogineni
story Garrison Acree
The sun rises over the horizon, casting its red and orange rays across the pavement. A white Piper Cherokee plane rolls down the runway, casting a long shadow down the pavement. The sound of the idling engine echoes throughout the lot.
Sitting in the pilot’s seat is senior Emily Kaslik, preparing for the most rewarding, yet most terrifying day of her aviation journey so far.
Looking down at the copilot seat, Kaslik is reminded of the gravity of today’s flight: the copilot’s seat is empty.
For the first time, she’s entirely on her own, flying 2,000 pounds of metal through the sky. Fear, excitement, anxiety filled Kaslik’s mind. But she pushed it out.
“I was nervous,” Kaslik said. “It was really daunting to do it.”
Years of hard work all led up to today: the final test to complete her Daedalian flight training.
The Daedalian flight training allows aspiring aviators that meet strict criteria to receive training that will jump start their aviation career. Today is the end of the entire Daedalian program, and the beginning of Kaslik’s aviation career. Barely able to sleep, Kaslik was kept wide awake the night before.
“I was frantic,” Kaslik said. “I was shivering and
I couldn’t sleep.”
The flight instructor steps out of the aircraft and walks towards one of the hangars. Kaslik looks out the window. Standing on the other side of the fence is her family, friends, loved ones. Among them are her two JROTC teachers, Chief Benito Salinas and Major Andras Szucs.
The plane’s white-tipped propeller starts spinning as the aircraft accelerates forward. As Kaslik reaches 65 knots, she begins to pull up. Wheels up, and she’s in the air.
The rising sun pierces through the windshield as Kaslik rises higher and higher above the DFW countryside. The farmland around the complex and the cities and towns beyond grow smaller and smaller as she reaches for the clouds.
For the first time, she rises into the wild blue sky on her own. • • •
When Kaslik was younger, she knew exactly what she wanted to do after high school — join the Air Force and become a fighter jet pilot. She was inspired by all the members of her family that were in the military.
“I’d definitely say I have a military family,” Kaslik said. “I have a brother in the Navy and my dad was in the Navy, so definitely a lot of military involvement.”
As a kid, she didn’t have a path to achieving that dream. That changed when she found out about a high school class that could give her that opportunity.
“I remember in middle school, I really wanted to join the military,” Kaslik said. “So ROTC was just kind of a calling to that.”
Kaslik started her freshman year like any other new cadet: unfamiliar with the class, uncertain about the material and a bit intimidated by the learning curve. But that didn’t stop her from diligently learning.
“She absorbed what it meant to be in ROTC and how things worked,” Major Szucs said. “Instead of being in charge without really understanding how things work, she was able to learn all those things by observing from the beginning.”
Kaslik started small, working minor management jobs for the cadet corp. But
over time, she began to learn the ropes of the cadet corp. She learned about the chain of command and the many jobs that the cadets have.
“She was involved from the very beginning, because as I recall, she was the outstanding Cadet as a freshman,” Szucs said. “And that basically is kind of an indication that she is a very involved cadet.”
Kaslik climbed her way up the chain of command until she was eventually promoted to the Flight Sergeant for her flight in the spring of 2021. By the end of her junior year, Kaslik had earned the role of Group Commander for the next semester. In just three years, she went from a new cadet, to the highest ranking cadet in the entire unit.
According to Szucs, Kaslik’s position as Group Commander is the equivalent to a club president.
“You’re the highest ranking Cadet, and you are responsible for all aspects of the cadet corps,” Szucs said.
Because of her ac complishments, Kaslik was accepted into the Dedalian Flight Program, which guides aspiring military aviators in their career paths. Consid eration to receive it re quires a GPA of at least 2.5, notable leadership achievements and no dis qualifications from mili tary flight training.
“They go ahead and provide her training up until the point that she flies solo,” Chief Salinas said.
last six semesters in JROTC, after years of dreaming of becoming a military fighter pilot, Kaslik has come one step closer. Her training is complete with her third flawless landing. Not with an instructor, but entirely on her own. Kaslik’s loved ones are waiting on the other side of the fence, ready to congratulate her.
“We make a big deal out of driving for the first time, knowing how scary that can be at times,” Chief Salinas said. “Imagine doing something that most folks haven’t done, piloting an aircraft all by yourself. So it’s a pretty proud moment for her to successfully complete her solo.”
Finishing her flight training was another step closer towards flying the F-22 for the Air Force. Kaslik is currently in the process of applying for
The training would take place over the course of three months during the summer. On August 14 2022, after her third solo landing at Broadie’s Aircraft Maintenance Center, Kaslik would complete her Daedalian flight training. • • •
Kaslik’s Piper Cherokee gradually descends at a low angle. As the landing gear makes contact with the ground, the plane slowly comes to a stop. After her
the Flight Academy to earn her private pilot’s license. With a semester as the Group Commander ahead of her, along with being fully trained on flying alone, Kaslik’s senior year is a year of preparing for life after high school.
“It’s overwhelming, but in a really good way,” Kaslik said. “It’s like props for how far I’ve gone. I’m super proud of myself, and this year is gonna be really great. We’re starting it off right.”
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design Jennifer Banh“
We make a big deal out of driving for the first time, knowing how scary that can be at times. Imagine doing something that most folks haven’t done, piloting an aircraft all by yourself.Senior Emily Kaslik stands by the aircraft that she flew solo. Photo sumbitted Chief Salinas
Former student Kenzie Rees pulls back the curtains to peer out at 2,800 velvet chairs. It’s grander than any other theater she’s performed in.
It’s opening night at the Landmark Theater in Syracuse, New York, and the curtains are about to draw open. They showcase her new reality — she’s made it onto a Broadway show.
Her new reality consists of more hours of rehearsal. It’s cost seeing her friends every day at school. While they
Kenzie didn’t grow up on stage. Instead, she watched her older sister perform in school productions. In sixth grade, Kenzie followed her lead by auditioning for Downing Middle School’s production of Cinderella. She earned a spot in the ensemble.
“At that time, I wasn’t taking it seriously at all,” Kenzie said. “I was just kind of doing it for fun.”
But as she landed more roles, she grew her passion for musical theater.
“I started branching out and doing other outside community productions,” Kenzie said. “I had known that I had wanted to be more serious for acting.”
Kenzie played Amanda Thripp in the Firehouse Theatre’s production of “Matilda” and Marta in “The Sound of Music” at the Dallas Theater Center. Once she reached Marcus, she worked on the set crew of “Our Town.”
Theatre teacher Denise Tooch still remember’s Kenzie’s unique way of playing each character she was given.
“She’s full of energy,” Tooch said. “She brings her own flair to the character.”
Each character she plays comes with a unique vocal register. Suzie Ribb, Kenzie’s private vocal coach, helps her learn the right range for each audition. Having worked together for about a year, Ribb sees Kenzie’s toughness and drive as some of her best qualities.
“She knew what she wanted to do, and she put it in place for herself,” Ribb said. “She was very receptive to everything I had her work on.”
together— as an Asian actress, this made landing roles even harder.
“It’s usually some sort of Asian or all ethnicities,” Kenzie said. “I didn’t even realize that this was a thing.”
When Kenzie played Marta in “Sound of Music” at Dallas Theater Center, she didn’t know how important a factor race was for casting — until another Asian cast member stopped her to talk.
“He said to me, ‘I cried the first day
that I saw you there because I would have never thought that I would see another Asian little girl in this cast,’” Kenzie said. “It really opened my eyes to the work that we still have to do with diversity.”
walk from class to class, Kenzie is about to travel from city to city, performing in one of the most beloved Broadway shows of all time: “Annie”.
Like she does before every show, she shakes out her arms and legs to calm her nerves, and steps onto stage. The lights overhead are piercing, shining bright on her orphan costume.
It feels like the world is lighting up, just for her. ***
Unlike most child Broadway stars,
design Kaelen ReedRibb admires Kenzie for making opportunities happen for herself.
“A lot of kids have big dreams, but they don’t have that internal drive to get them there,” Ribb said. “She sees what she wants. She sets her mind on it.”
But the acting industry comes with a great deal of rejection — and discrimination.
When she started searching for roles, Kenzie saw plenty of roles call for Caucasians only. The roles she could go for often clumped other minorities
But Kenzie and her mother, Karey Rees, stayed optimistic. One day, Karey found an open call audition on Facebook for “Annie” on Broadway.
After she sent casters an audition video for the role of Annie or another orphan, she flew to New York City for a callback audition. The casting directors held a series of auditions for three days — and she made it past every round.
She was told they would reach out to her by the next week, but for months, all she heard was silence.
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It really opened my eyes to the work that we still have to do with diversity.
- Kenzie ReesDespite being far from her loved ones, Kenzie continues to have as positive mindset. Photo provided by Kenzie Rees
One summer day, Kenzie stepped out of the shower, all bundled up in her bathrobe. She began to get ready for lunch when her mother burst through her door with a camera.
Frantically, she yelled for their family to come sit with Kenzie, who didn’t understand what was happening.
As they sat down, Kenzie’s mother aimed the camera in her direction and finally read the email with the good news — she had made the cast for “Annie” on Broadway. Over the course of months, she was to play the orphan Duffy.
“I was super excited,” Kenzie said. “I thought it was completely out of the picture.” ***
The role of Duffy sets up great opportunities for the future. “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink held the same role in 2013, and many of her costars held previous roles on Broadway.
“I would have never thought that I could have been able to do this a few months ago,” Kenzie said. “That’s insane. It’s such a big deal.”
Kenzie wasn’t originally the biggest “Annie” fan. But as somebody who was adopted young, Kenzie can see that she and Duffy have plenty in common in terms of their past.
“It’s kind of cool that I get to be an orphan,” Kenzie said. “I also, at one point
she grows up, making her dreams similar to Kenzie’s.
Kenzie also thinks she can see some of her demeanor in Duffy.
“Duffy is the oldest orphan, and I definitely relate to that because I am the oldest kid,” Kenzie said. “She’s also one of the toughest.”
Kenzie’s toughness and persistence have helped her transition to a brand new environment. Many actors spend time working in off-Broadway productions before making it to Broadway, but Kenzie jumped right in from community theaters. Working with professional acting and vocal coaches, she was able to prepare for a more fastpaced workplace.
“The way they do rehearsals is completely different from local theaters,” Kenzie said. “It’s definitely way more professional.”
The new stages — The Smith Center, Dolby Theater — are far from the local and school stages Kenzie used to act on. They come with more particular stage directions and acting cues than she was used to.
from about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., so she’s transferred fully to online school. Even though she’s grateful for this opportunity, and her mom is going on tour with her, she misses the people she left back at home, especially some close friends she has made along the way.
Firehouse Theatre actress Almaz Clawson played Lavender alongside Kenzie in “Matilda”. Between doing yoga backstage and singing together onstage, the two became fast friends during the run of the show.
Now, Almaz is proud that Kenzie made it.
“She takes the work very seriously and performs well,” Almaz said. “We really miss her.”
Along with her friends, there are a few people Kenzie misses more than anything — like her father.
“I don’t get to see my dad because he stayed at home,” Kenzie said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my family.”
Being away from home and loved ones is difficult, but all Kenzie can do is look forward to performing across the nation with her castmates.
Opening night at Syracuse was just the beginning of a national tour that will reach over a dozen states. Kenzie will take the performance to cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and somewhere a little closer to home — Fort Worth.
While Kenzie does get a bit nervous about acting in such famous cities, she feels that nothing beats the sense of performing.
“There’s something about theater,” Kenzie said. “When you’re onstage with the entire cast, you just feel the energy.” ***
As Kenzie sits on the plane to the next city, she looks out the window and reminisces. Thousands of miles yet to be traveled, and each one brings her closer to her next show.
when I was a little girl, was an orphan.”
Duffy is a loud and strong little girl. She wants to be a famous singer when
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“It was so insane because we were rehearsing in this tiny little rehearsal room for so long,” Kenzie said. “It didn’t even click that I was on a national tour.”
Work days with rehearsals are
In the air, she can physically see how far she has come and how far she will go as an actor. She is leaving behind her loved ones, but she is also leaving a lasting impression on her audiences — and that is her goal.
“As an actor...you’re always fighting to get to the top,” Kenzie said. “It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to have rejection, but never stop believing in yourself.”
design Kaelen ReedWhen you’re onstage with the entire cast, you just feel the energy.
KenzieKenzie performs at Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, New York as the debut show of “Annie” tour. Photo provided by Kenzie Rees
I don’t know about anyone else, but if somebody tells me that autumn is their favorite season, I make a mental note to watch my back around that person.
Situated between the two best seasons, fall is just a transitional period. The days are shorter, but the weather hasn’t adopted winter’s frost. The fall coffees are expensive, the pumpkin patches are boring and everybody is talking about how pretty the dead leaves are.
But autumn fever has once again swept the student body, and I didn’t want to sit out this year. I wanted to discover the fall mania myself.
This is why I set out to sample four different fall aesthetics, each one inspired by my fall-loving friends. Through turning life into an indie, autumn-toned movie, I hoped to discover all the hubbub around fall.
Expectation: Sitting at the table in my backyard, the wind blowing my flowing white dress. Autumn leaves flutter to the ground as I confide my thoughts in my leatherbound journal.
Reality: I chose to do this in perfect weather — while the sun warmed my skin, the cool breeze helped my dress achieve the perfect level of femaleprotagonist-in-a-coming-of-age-movie, because it romantically flowed in the best way.
I didn’t know how much I needed to decongest my thoughts until I took my journal outside. My writing session began with poetry about how much I liked this one person. And understandably, I believed the rest of the session would be a love poem fest.
But as I continued to write, the poems gave way to entire pages about my need to feel accepted and seen. These turned into ramblings, which morphed into the conclusion that instead of a relationship, I just need to be more comfortable with myself.
This aesthetic deserves five stars for emotional introspection. Also, for the “Anne of Green Gables” vibe.
Expectation: Curled up in my bed with an old book in the nook of my arm. The glow of my bedside lamp mixes with the pattering of rain against the window to form maximum comfort.
Reality: As it turns out, lying in your bed is such an awkward way to read a book. I couldn’t comfortably both lie down and keep up with “Little Women”, so I had to sit up in my bed like it was some chair. Disgusting. Ruined the vibe.
I had such a difficult time arranging my blankets so they were aesthetically pleasing enough, but I kept interrupting my reading to retrieve more snacks from the kitchen. My frustration grew so quickly.
The thing is, reading should be a relaxing activity. When I voluntarily open a book, I hope to have a good experience, right? But trying to make my reading aesthetically pleasing sucked out all the fun.
Three stars for the nap I took after giving up on my book.
Jennifer BanhExpectation: Coming home to a sepia-toned house and lying in my bed, the drink warming my fingertips. I pick a comfort movie on my laptop and settle into the big blanket.
Reality: Of course, I had thrown all of my clothes on my bed that morning in a desperate bid to pick the right outfit (I had to impress that one person in that one class, no choice brothers). After dumping the pile of clothes in the corner of my room, I had to plug in my laptop charger so it stretched across my bed. Terrible, horrible, ruined the aesthetic.
Worst of all, the latte? Mid at best. The amount of latte Starbucks gave me looked so small that my dad asked our server if he’d given us the right cup for a grande. The drink cooled down by the time I reached my house (not Starbucks’ fault, but still), so I had to microwave it like some jerk.
When I finally turned on the Hallmark channel, I felt so riddled with anxiety, I couldn’t focus on the movie. I had so much homework to do that watching a movie felt unjustified. And it was. I stopped watching halfway through to finish a paper.
Expectation: Showing up to school in a cool, dark outfit that will catch the attention of that person in that one class (pray for me everyone). Spending lunch running my hand over book spines in the library with my friends. A romantic, artistic melancholy rests on me.
Reality: I loved the main character energy that so thoroughly permeated my day. I came to school in the darkest dark academia outfit I owned — a cream-colored turtleneck dress, brown leggings, and brown knee-high boots.
At school, people in the hallways complimented my outfit, and I tucked my hair modestly behind my ear and thanked them like I didn’t know I looked nice. The compliments were pouring in, ngl.
My pals and I spent lunch in the library, pretending to read mysteriously. If you asked me what I read, I could not tell you, because I focused on peering over the book to see if people could see me looking mysterious.
But one thing ruined this mood — the person I liked was absent. I felt like dressing up was pointless if they couldn’t see my outfit.
All in all, though, I loved feeling like a protagonist. I’d do this again.
As fall approaches, one dessert comes to everyone’s mind. Pie. But between school, work and extracurriculars, no one has time to make a pie. Swooping in to fill the growing want of these delicious desserts, is Buttermilk Sky Pie. I took it upon myself to rate this shop’s most popular pies.
When I strolled into this quaint, small store, I immediately felt at home. The minute I stepped in, I was greeted with
Prepare for a delicious mess with this pie! It had a rich chocolate cream filling, a chocolate crust and beautiful whipped cream piped all over the top. Though it was rather difficult to serve a pie filled with soft cream, the trouble was worth it. This pie was the adult version of the dirt cups I made in elementary school, with chocolate pudding, Oreo crumbles and a gummy
story Roslyn Dobbinsthe sweet smell of cinnamon, nutmegs and vanilla. The wooden floors and shelves give it a small town feel. From the blackberry jams and pumpkin spiced butters in mason jars to the decorative mugs and shirts around the shop, the store reminded me of a local farmers market. Though it doesn’t carry an extensive menu, the pies I found here are some of the best and are perfect for any occasion.
worm on top. The chocolate came through strongly and gave it a rich flavor that would go delightfully with a coffee. The chocolate crust added to the richness of the pie, and all together it melted in my mouth instantly. Once past the messiness, this was delicious and filling.
I admit to having a bias here, since key lime pie has always been my favorite. Predictably, I loved this one, since it is the epitome of a classic Key Lime pie. The top was decorated neatly, with a ring of whipped cream surrounding the smooth filling. The filling held its shape nicely and the crust was dry and crumbly. As The Great British Baking Show star, Paul Hollywood, would say, “No soggy bottoms here!” The lime flavor didn’t hold back, and I got the perfect amount of tang to complement the sweet whipped cream. I was left with a tart aftertaste that lingered in my mouth, making me want to get down on one knee and ask for this pie’s hand in marriage. This is a classic key lime pie and is guaranteed to be a favorite at any occasion.
When I think of a fall pie, this one usually comes to mind after the Thanksgiving go-to, pumpkin pie. This classic apple pie is full of cinnamon and Granny Smith apples, making it feel exactly like a pie a grandmother would make. The mounds of streusel on top give it a bubbly look, and the topping is crumbly, making it difficult to eat without making a mess. However, its taste made me want to get up and square dance. It crunched before breaking apart and melting in my mouth. Once past the streusel topping, I discovered the bites of sliced apple hidden underneath. The freshness of the apples complemented the sweetness of the cinnamon, and kept the pie from being too sweet. I easily could have eaten the whole thing without feeling sugar sick. It all felt like scary movies, pumpkin carving, and corn mazes baked into a delicious pie.
Specific to Buttermilk Sky Pie, like black licorice, this one is loved by some and hated by others. Its bursting pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips are surrounded by a simple pie crust. From the outside, this pie was easily the most unusual. Pecans and chocolate chips pop up through the filling, not unlike the floating apples you see when you go bobbing for apples. The coconut gave the top a bumpy, textured look, while the crust surrounded it in a smooth ring, making it look like the Frankenstein of pies.
After I cut my slice, I noticed the pie’s incredibly gummy consistency. The first thing I noticed when I took a bite was the crunchiness of the pecans. I tasted the sweetness coming from the coconut and chocolate chips, and an almost overly sweet nutty aftertaste, making me feel a bit like a squirrel hiding yummy nuts for later. Because I’ve never particularly enjoyed chocolate chips in pie, I can’t say I was a huge fan, but I can see its appeal to others.
Alex ThornfeltVery random in terms of other conspiracy theories. We can all postulate about the government watching us but birds being drones? Iconic. The official conspiracy theory website sells merch that is well made, fun and comes with a membership card, so everyone can know you’re insane. And because this is such a far stretch to the imagination, the team puts in a crazy amount of effort, creating fake historical documents to hype up the bird drone lore. The most ironic part is the site’s creator also advocates for fact checking what you believe. Really cool theory and community overall.
The owner of this house, Sarah Winchester, girlbossed so incredibly hard. Her husband built rifles and the family owned a gun business, so they were filthy rich and their house was huge. After her husband died and spooky stuff started happening around the house, Sarah consulted a medium who told her that her house was haunted.
Sarah went, “All right, my house now,” and then started some funky construction throughout the mansion to confuse the ghosts. There were doors that opened to sheer drops from the second story, stairways that led to nonexistent floors, and secret passages. And this never stopped — she had constant construction going on in the house, so it was always changing until she eventually passed. The mansion is still standing in San Jose, California, and you can tour it. (Ferb, I know what we’re doing this summer.) but the lore around it is pretty incredible, and my girl Sarah here knew what was up.
These guys right here are my number ones. In 2017 this guy checked his security cameras and saw what he called “walking pants” in his yard and, reasonably, got freaked. He took the footage to a little conspiracy place and they were like, “That’s pretty weird, my guy,” and eventually it got uploaded online and people were obsessed. Many were intrigued by the odd creatures, and they became cryptids among the likes of Mothman and the Loch Ness Monster. They take walks in the moonlight with their friends and look like elongated teeth. I adore that. While they’re lesserknown, Nightcrawlers are very cute, very mysterious, and just neat overall. They are just little guys, like me.
design Sarina MahmudI swear that no one actually knows what the Illuminati does. All we know is that it’s a secret group, but what kind of secret group? Is it an underground society full of old rich White men? A DnD game gone wrong by the involvement of dark forces? We just don’t know. The vagueness of the whole theory makes it mid. What’s the difference between the Illuminati and me recreating the cave meetings in “Dead Poets Society” but requiring everyone to wear cloaks with a triangle symbol? Nothing. The Illuminati did, however, inspire Bill Cipher and I am quite the fan of that.
DThere is no excuse in 2022 to believe the earth is any thing but round. Because this theory just dusts off outdated science and calls it a conspiracy, it has got to be the most mindless one of all. My man Copernicus, this famous math ematician from 16th century, fought the church and got #canceled to prove that the earth is spherical, and you want to play take backsies with science? No. I deplore you. It is nonsensical to think that you’re in danger of falling off the edge of the world.
The serenity garden is a nice way to have a literal breath of fresh air when you’ve been cramped in a stuffy school for hours on end. Being able to sit in the shade of the trees and relax outside is something that everyone enjoys.
The cafeteria is great for big groups but the library can be a nice quiet place to spend lunch. Being able to sit alone without all the yelling and noise from others is much appreciated, and for those who don’t have the same lunch as friends, it’s much better than being cramped at a random table with strangers.
Students can often be left unheard for requests and wants in school, but the Student Advisory Group allows our students to voice the needs of the students and advocate for changes and the creation of new opportunities for their peers.
“Mom!”
My screams and sobs echoed through the airport security line.
“I don’t want to go. Please let me stay.”
I became more desperate as I got closer to the end of the line. I gasped between my cries, and kept trying to run away. But my grandma held me tighter. My parents’ faces got blurrier as tears blocked my vision. My parents took me off to an unfamiliar place — Andhra Pradesh, India.
I was going to be living with my other grandmother there. A week after I arrived I started 1st grade. I entered my classroom expecting it to be like the ones in the United States, but it was far from it. The room was hot and stuffy with lights that barely worked, and the kids were yelling as the teacher sat at her desk reading a book. I tried to make small talk with my table mate, but she couldn’t understand my American accent — I stayed silent the entire day.
I didn’t know why it was so hard for me to connect with the other kids my age. I felt out of place. After the last bell of the day rang, I came back from school and broke down crying. I missed my parents and our cozy apartment.
I stayed in India from 1st to 4th grade and had only a few happy memories as I was bullied at school. I enjoyed shopping for sarees with my grandma, riding the
Kaelen Reedbike with my grandpa to buy my favorite snacks from the convenience store, and going to the temples. In fourth grade, my parents brought me back to the U.S because they missed me too.
My grandma cried as I left her in the airport, and despite how difficult the past few years had been, I felt a pang of sadness. I had just started getting used to living in Andhra Pradesh.
popsicles during summer holidays. We lived there until I was in 6th grade.
My grandpa got sick, so my parents decided to move back to India. I needed to get ready for yet another big change.
My dad and I left for India first, so my dad could take care of grandpa, and he dropped me off at the Happy Valley International Boarding School. This is where I lived for the next four years.
Again, I adjusted to a new whole way of life. Every Sunday I would wait for my dad to come back and say that we could go back to America – because India turned out to be a place full of toxic friendships and uncaring teachers.
The middle of 10th grade was my breaking point, and I insisted that I could no longer stay. My family figured that it would be best if I flew alone back to the United States to be with my mom.
As my parents drove me to my new home, they told me about the house they bought and how we didn’t have to worry about anything else. That is how my childhood dream of living in a house came true. This house was the home of my first snowball fight, my tenth birthday costume party and the porch where I sat with my friends eating
After I landed in America I never wanted to leave again. I wanted to finally settle down and live with my parents. The roller coaster of my life left me feeling inadequate, from having difficulty adjusting to the food, to failing math class because teaching styles were so different from India and America.
But these transitions have also helped me. Living in two different countries taught me about both cultures. It also expanded my knowledge about governments and gave me a unique perspective on people. In the midst of change, I found valuable lessons.
From W Hall to the cafeteria, a gross mixture of sweat, school lunch, and perfumes creates an unwelcome smell to the halls of the school. Spraying some Febreze every now and then would be a welcomed change of smell.
Tales of strawberry milk and mac and cheese are passed along while students are served the same old burger and cup of veggies in the lunch line. A variety of options for lunch could be a great way for students to enjoy their meals and try something new.
Going to fill up your water bottle or take a sip from the water fountain is something many appreciate, until you notice the water filter light turning red. We should be able to have access to clean, drinkable water without worrying about why the quality goes down and up scarily often.
Rita Isbell turns on the TV. As she scrolls through the endless options of Netflix’s catalogs of K-dramas and knock-off horror sequels, she comes across a new show about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The man who killed her brother Errol Lindsay 31 years ago.
As she starts the episode, her eyes glued to the screen, her heart begins to sink as she watches her greatest trauma unfold all over again.
The show “DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” aired its first episode on Sept. 21, and has already faced an overwhelming amount of controversy, and for good reason.
It’s an inappropriate attempt to share the story of Dahmer’s crimes and serves as a prime example of corporate greed in the film industry due to its insensitivity towards the victims. Most families of survivors don’t want such a painful moment of their lives to be displayed as entertainment on Netflix to millions of viewers.
The show centers around serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and the crimes he committed against 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, queer minorities were constantly vulnerable to police overlook and hatecrimes. If Netflix’s intent was to portray the struggles of gay black men at the time, then they should’ve shared their stories differently, rather than showing them as just victims.
Despite all that, “DAHMER” glamorizes the violence and murder by perpetuating the idea that true crime is purely for entertainment. The show is categorized in the thriller and crime fiction genre, and when it was first released, it was placed in the LGBTQIA+ category on Netflix. No community would want that as representation. Treating the events that happened as entertainment desensitizes people to
language and what she said, were all a carbon copy recreation that would make anyone relive their trauma. Isbell told the online magazine Insider that watching the scene brought back all of the emotions she felt while defending her deceased brother in court.
While “DAHMER” is a prime example of what not to do to honor victims, the show“Dateline”is the complete opposite.
The show first aired in 1992 and focuses on covering true crime cases from homicide to missing person cases. It also features interviews with the victim’s loved ones and offers a tip number during the episodes.
While the show lacks reenactments of the crimes, it’s still a great example of how true crime needs to be shown. Not providing reenactments avoids unnecessary dramatization and stays sensitive to the topic, unlike “DAHMER.” By telling crime instead of showing it, show producers can get their point across much more efficiently.
crime to the point where it doesn’t faze them anymore. And while “DAHMER” is not the first show to profit off of murder, it’s for sure the first to take it this far.
During Dahmer’s trial in episode eight, actress DaShawn Barnes acts as Isbell. She gives an emotional statement to the court, confronting Jeffrey before lunging at him. In comparison to the actual court video, it’s an exact replica. What she was wearing, her body
While true crime can be addictive, it walks a fine line between entertainment and information. By using victims and their families for entertainment, true crime is in danger of leaving the realm of educating the audience and profiting off trauma.
Victims are so much more than the characters true crime shows portray. They were real people who had their lives taken — not just characters to entertain couples while they kick back and relax.
design Kaelen Reed
A year later, my parents were divorced, and I saw much less of him. The following year, he announced that he would be moving away, no input necessary from his kids.
them what they liked.
The tiny girl pranced through the library’s glass doors hand in hand with her father. She gazed up at him with her giant eyes, and he smiled back down at her. Pure joy reflected in her features, too.
I watched as she playfully tugged at his sleeve, leading him to the children’s area where she could play while he sat and read. However, watching his daughter’s enjoyment was much more interesting than the book in his hands.
I used to be just like her, up until my father had found something else to be more interesting than me.
He left shortly after.
• • •
At the end of every week, my dad would pick me up from my kindergarten class and take me to the library. I would spend hours peering at the pretty spines of the hardcovers while he wandered with me, picking up books that made him seem so smart.
He must not have liked what he read though, because those visits stopped.
Instead, we would drive straight home to a house filled with tension, at least one person always on the verge of breaking.
At five years old, I didn’t think to cherish the good moments I had with him because I thought there’d always be the chance for more — he proved me wrong.
Kaelen ReedI was sitting in his Honda Accord, parked outside my mom’s apartment. His luggage sat in the trunk, ready for a life without us all. He must have said something meaningful in those last minutes, but I was too busy strapping and unstrapping my light-up velcro sneakers. I stepped out of the car and he adjusted himself into his seat, his sunglasses on top of his head and lighthearted music on the radio.
He drove away.
Maybe a tear rolled down his cheek,
or maybe I’ve imagined it after revisiting that memory over the years.
I didn’t think the distance between us would be so terrible because he could always come visit — or at least he promised to. In the eight years since, he never has. I’ve lived longer without him than I have with him. • • •
I used to be a loud and wild kid until half my love was handed back to me. I crawled into myself, became more reserved and observant, so I could see what people wanted from me and show
I became a perfectionist, desperate for his attention again. If I wasn’t immediately good at something, I would break down and quit. After all, if I couldn’t be the best, why would anyone want to stick around? I wanted to prove that I was worth more than he gave me. I tried to shine, for him.
But he still had those sunglasses on and was driving away.
Everywhere I go, I see dads and their daughters. I subconsciously search their faces for a slight sign of my struggle. I pay close attention to the other Indian parents to see if they might bear any resemblance to him. Maybe if they did, I could blame his actions on our culture and not myself.
I still can’t fully understand why he had to leave. I get stuck in my own head, wondering if I could have done anything to make him stay. In my head, there must have been something wrong with me, something that made me not enough.
Something about me that was unlovable.
I’ve spent much of my life feeling insecure and out of place. I’m still not sure how to talk to people. I don’t want to be too much or too little and drive them away from me. Parents should be pillars, but he left me unable to stand on my own.
Over time, I’ve rebuilt that support with the help of my pillar that did stay — my mom. With her, I’ve found more confidence. We have our struggles, but she shows me that I am lovable regardless.
Two weeks ago, he texted me, “Happy Daughter’s Day!”
But I don’t need to hear it anymore. I’ve outgrown the need for people who are unwilling to be present.
If people don’t want to be in your life, you shouldn’t wait around on them. It only takes up your energy you could put to better use.
I get stuck in my own head, wondering if I could have done anything to make him stay.
- Raksha Jayakumar, 10
It also allows you to learn new things that you wouldn’t be able to learn in school and you can hang out with a lot of cool people.
If we all just pitch in, we can just make the world a better place. Once a month at my church we do community outreach and stuff and we go out and do other things.
Well, a lot of top colleges such as Harvard, MIT, they look at volunteer work. And it’s also what distinguishes regularly as somebody who’s a good student from somebody who’s a great student.
staff editorial
The 2022 Texas General Election is on track to be one of the biggest in state history. Over half a million people turned out on the first day of early voting. Candidates have raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and the races are some of the closest in state history.
But the result of this election and the direction of the state will ultimately be decided by one group–young voters.
This group is one of the largest and fastest growing demographics in the state. This year, one in three Texans eligible to vote will be under the age of thirty. So clearly, whichever party wins the youth, will win the election.
The issue lies in the fact that our state has one of the worst youth voter turnout rates in the country. According to the Texas Tribune, in 2014 just 8% of young voters went to the polls. While turnout increased during the Trump presidency, it is still incredibly low.
Students need to understand that their vote can and does make a difference. There is no excuse to believe their vote doesn’t matter.
Today young people are some of the most vocal in politics. They routinely protest with passion and raise awareness
for causes they care about, but they don’t turn out to vote with the same enthusiasm. In short they are talking the talk but not walking the walk.
Inconvenience is not an excuse to skip going to the polls. Several elections
in the way for voters of all ages, races, and genders. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan policy research think tank, “Texas maintains an in-person voter registration deadline thirty days prior to Election Day, has reduced the number of polling stations in some parts of the state by more than 50% and has the most restrictive preregistration law in the country.”
Information on what is on the ballot is also hard to find, but that means it’s even more important young voters start early learning about the process.
Even when voters choose a candidate that loses, it shows the winner that there is a group of people whose concerns should be taken seriously. When we vote, we send a message–we tell politicians what we’re okay with happening.
every cycle come down to a singular vote. The right is easy to take for granted, but it’s so much more than simply casting a ballot for someone. It’s casting your ballot for a cause.
Voting in Texas is not particularly easy, and information is not always clear. Throughout history obstacles have been
We are young Texans after all, residents of the state where anything can happen, and our dreams can be achieved. It is up to us in this election cycle to make a stand and decide where we want our state to go. We can bring our friends to the polls and engage in healthy discourse. Instead of being ignored we have the opportunity to become a force to be reckoned with.
You’re showing that you’re humble and able to help other people and you actually care about society.-Lauren Boerger, 10
Why is it important to volunteer?
The issue lies in the fact that our state has one of the worst youth voter turnout rates in the country.
“-Anagha Remesh, 12 -Kaylee Gray, 10 -Nishant Bopardikar, 10
On Oct.12, clubs gathered outside to play games and to bring together the community at the annual Homecoming Carnival. Bag races, face paint, candy, snow cones and more were available at this yearly event celebrating the fall season and Homecoming dance. The aroma of hot dogs grilling filled the front of the school as families and friends went from stand to stand soaking in the sights. The afternoon of fun gave an opportunity to learn more about the clubs at Marcus and to connect with the community.
Spanish teacher Leslie McKenzie, freshman Allison Verde and senior Lily Edwards set up the Spanish Club booth.
Sophomore Maria Vafias and Junior Abby Venvertioh paint faces with a group of friends at the Art Club booth.
design Alex Thornfelt photos Jayni Gogineni
Senior Skylar Taylor watches an elementary schooler spin the wheel to earn candy.