January 2013 Hiding Behind the Bills

MARQUEE THE

Volume 28 | Issue 4 | Jan. 31, 2014 | mhsmarquee.com

Hiding behind the bills

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

]8]

Senior’s passion for physics grows at UT program

]15]

The Marquee chooses 13 most influential people of 2013

]19]

Aspiring Olympian swims with Ryan Lochte and others

Table of Contents

cover photo Amanda Collen

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

photo William Legrone

Entertainment Editor Anna Middleton

Opinion Editor

Sports

Madi Schwem

Sports Editor

[18] PLAYING IN THE POOL Senior moves from Spain and finds friends in water polo.

Austin Rickerson

Photo Editor Kady Kohankie

Asst. Photo Editor

story Austin Rickerson

William Legrone

Business Manager Hailey Painter

News

Social Media Editors

Patricia Qualls, Samantha King, Sydney Sund

[4] A LACK OF CONCENTRATION Number of teenagers with ADHD/ADD rises in the nation.

Online Editors

Alyssa Schmidt, Ben Horton

Reporters

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

story Anna Middleton

Designers

Feature

[9] DESIGNING DREAMS Senior explores fashion at a top design school. story Megan O’Hearn

Entertainment

[14] HEALTHY HABITS The Marquee finds tasty alternatives to fast food restaurants in the area. story Alex Helm

Tori Allmendinger, Jacqueline Higgins, Lyndsay Hilton, William Legrone

Photographers

Luisa Diaz, Jaqueline Higgins

Adviser

LaJuana Hale

Principal

Gary Shafferman

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

New sports arena to open in march story Victoria Price Later this year, the smell of dirt and steel will be replaced with sweat. The sounds of jack-hammering and banging will be taken over by the bounces of dribbling basketballs and cheering crowds. Right now, the arena is just metal poles, sets of stairs and bleachers. Soon, it’ll be a deluxe court in which to practice, compete and show school spirit.

By early March 2014, a new basketball arena will open on campus, providing athletes with a larger facility in which to compete. Due to overcrowding of the gym, sports like basketball will be moved into the arena, while P.E. and dance classes will move to the gyms rather than the hallways.

Construction began during the summer of 2013 and according to the construction crew, everything is still on track. After Lewisville High School built their arena in 2013, Flower Mound High School and Marcus weren’t far behind.

The new arena is being built to exactly replicate the design of the one at Lewisville High School.

According to Principal Gary Shafferman, the arena will be used as a competition gym for tournaments and color guard.

Dance competitions can be held in the new facility with the bleachers providing views from all around.

Head basketball coach Clay Cody said that the basketball team is looking forward to the day the doors to the new arena open.

“The team is really excited about having the new place to play and improve,” Cody said. “It’ll have a more professional vibe.”

The new arena will be able to fit 2,000 students. The entrance will be above the ground floor, accessible by a staircase on the side. A circular mezzanine will go around the entire arena above the top row. The entrance will be built this way to make room for locker rooms, physical education and health classrooms and weight rooms.

The updated surroundings are expected to have a positive impact on the team. The basketball teams have already had success this year and with the new building, basketball manager, sophomore Phillip Hatton said the team is hoping to do even better.

“We already had the goal of getting to district,” Hatton said. “But now in the new place we’re definitely going to try even harder for state.”

The players that are on the freshman and JV teams and underclassmen on varsity will get to play in the arena for most of their high school careers. The younger players are enthusiastic about getting to play in the new building.

“As a team, we already get excited to play in the Marauder gym,” freshman player Jordan Bible said. “So having a place like the arena will definitely be exciting.”

According to Cody, the new arena will be beneficial to the team because it will allow a larger fanbase to grow at the games.

“The new arena should hopefully excite the students and make them more enthusiastic about going to the games,” Cody said.

Having more students at the games will have a positive outcome on the team, according to Hatton.

“If the team is playing for a bigger crowd and it seems like they’re in the pros, then they’ll play like they’re in the pros,” he said.

The new arena will also be benefical during pep rallies.

These events will be less crowded with more space.

“It should be some place the whole student body can enjoy,” Cody said.

photos Jacqueline Higgins Construction on the basketball arena is in progress. It is on campus behind the school and will open March 2014.

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

Future competitions for sporting tournaments and color guard will be held in the basketball arena. The facility will hold 2,000 students. design Molly Webber

4 NEWS

Struggling to focus

ADD, ADHD cases rise among students, affecting concentration in class photo Miranda Chiechi

story Anna Middleton

Symptoms of ADD/ADHD: -Has trouble paying attention in class or on school work -Easily distracted -Often moves from one uncompleted activity to another -Fidgeting, body twitching -Forgetfulness -Having trouble sitting still -Hyper at inconvenient times

Possible side effects of ADD/ADHD medication:

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-Loss of appetite -Mood swings -Insomnia -Irritability or aggressiveness -Cardiac risks +Heart palpitations +Arrhythmia (heart rate changes) +Angina (heart pain) -Depression -Stunted Growth

childmind.org harboroaks.com

design/graphic Kady Kohankie

The bell rang and senior Beau McGary couldn’t stand it. It was 8:15 a.m. and the migraine had already begun. Rushing to school this morning, he had forgotten his medication. “I just want to go home,” he repeated in his head over and over.

Walking to class he could hear everyone’s conversations becoming magnified in his head. His mind raced with as much force as a race car about to pass the finish line.

He scrambled to class, trying to get rid of the energy, to stop all the noise from the halls. Once he got to class, he sat down, fidgeting in his seat. He couldn’t concentrate on the words on the board. He’d squint his eyes, but his mind would wander.

I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. He couldn’t focus on the lecture. He couldn’t focus on anything.

This is an average day for someone with ADHD. “It’ll ruin a school day immediately,” McGary said. “I cannot function without my medicine.”

ADHD, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, and ADD, attention deficient disorder, are common mental health disorders among teenagers. ADHD is a hyperactive disorder that causes problems with focus, whereas ADD makes one’s ability to focus difficult through spaciness and inattentiveness.

However, they are grouped together under ADHD since both disorders require the same medication.

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in these kinds of disorders. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the number of kids diagnosed with ADHD/ADD nationally has increased to 6.4 million, compared to 4.5 million in 2007.

School nurse Margot Boyd said she believes this increase has occurred because doctors are able to diagnose students at a younger age.

“The mean age of diagnosis of ADHD has gone down….”

Boyd said. “Now, we are seeing it at even younger ages. So the question becomes, are we actually having an increase in ADHD or are we just better at diagnosing the symptoms?”

ADD and ADHD have similar symptoms, such as lack of focus and forgetfulness, which can cause teenagers to have trouble retaining information in the classroom. Theater teacher Rita Powers, has had firsthand experience with students with these disorders. Powers says that it isn’t school that hinders these students, it is their lack of focus.

“A lot of times they are so easily distracted,” Powers said.

“Anything that looks more fun than what they are doing, they are going to do.”

Due to the increase in the number of children who are diagnosed, there are many more students on medication. Boyd said she believes there are more students on medication than there needs to be and that some of the side-effects, like a loss of appetite, sleep problems and mood swings, have a negative effect on a student’s health. Freshman Rae Hamilton, who has ADD, says that although her medication helps her in school, she finds it makes it hard for her to eat.

“Most of the time, I can barely eat lunch even with the dosage now,” Hamilton said. “It completely takes away my appetite.”

Hamilton was diagnosed in the fourth grade. Growing up, she would need more time to complete assignments than other students and would zone out in class. Since her older sisters have ADD, her mother went to a doctor for help. Hamilton said that she decided she would take medication since she wanted to be able to pay attention in school. However, she says it was a long and grueling process to find a medicine that fit her.

“Some of the meds I took made me feel depressed,” Hamilton said. “Some of them didn’t affect me at all, and some of them actually made me more hyper.”

Hamilton said that although she notices a significant difference in her concentration and grades, she doesn’t see the medicine as a permanent solution. She eventually wants to wean off of it and teach herself to control her ADD by forcing her mind to focus on one thing at a time.

“It is not something you fully outgrow, but it is something that you learn to control,” Hamilton said. “I am slowly getting better at that. Over the years, I have definitely improved quite a bit.”

Medication isn’t the solution for everyone, like for junior Lilly Ho, who was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 3. Since she participated in ice skating, her coach did not want her on medication, and her doctor said that exercise was enough to help her disorder. Although she no longer ice skates, she continues to exercise and find outlets for her excess energy in class.

“I tap my legs, I twirl my pen and I don’t really need medication because instead I do that to focus,” Ho said.

According to Boyd, there are other ways to manage ADD/ ADHD if it is a minor case. Medication is needed for a lot of cases, but diet, exercise and counseling can help students as well. She said she thinks that the lifestyle of students also plays a pivotal role in how to handle their condition. She believes that they can function with other surroundings just not well in the high school environment.

“They might do great in other settings,” Boyd said. “These are great sales people, these are great hands-on-fix-it people, but it’s tough to organize and it’s tough to sit down.”

Other students like sophomore Sydney Melville say that they don’t experience side-effects and could not get through the day without their medication. Melville, diagnosed with ADHD last year, said that if she doesn’t take medication, she becomes irritable and argumentative, and she cannot focus at all.

“Everyone irritated me,” Melville said. “[ADHD] makes me not able to pay attention, and it really affects my learning ability in my classes.”

Even though not everyone with ADHD/ADD requires medication, Melville says she wouldn’t be herself without it.

She would experience mood swings, social anxiety and even fail her classes.

“It makes me able to focus for all hours of the day,” Melville said. “It’s really helpful. I just like my personality, my grades and simply myself better.”

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

NEWS 5

Controversy arises over school control of student social media story Samantha King As more students and schools become involved on Twitter, the controversy over school policy and free speech on social media has risen. School officials have struggled to find the balance between what is appropriate intervention and what qualifies as too much control. The issue is complex because it’s unclear whether schools have jurisdiction over their students while they are off school grounds.

“Students have the right to their opinions,” Assistant Principal Amy Boughton said. “And we want students utilizing social media. I think it is the school’s responsibility to inform kids about digital citizenship and how to be respectful.”

The year 2012 saw the introduction of Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) to LISD. Classes now integrate technology into lessons and assignments. Several teachers and administrators have a Twitter account, or are active on social media sites. Teachers can send out reminders for homework or tests. Groups and clubs can notify members of meetings or events. Administrators can inform students of important updates.

Students can also interact with officials, allowing them to ask questions, express support or help spread the information.

But students also have the ability to say things that may be viewed as offensive.

“I think some students are using it as a vehicle to say whatever,” Boughton said. “They’re not thinking about the long-term effects.”

In 2012, an Indiana student was expelled for his use of

profanity on his personal Twitter account. The tweet was neither directed at a person nor the school itself, but the school’s system picked up the tweet, and the student was expelled shortly afterwards.

This has sparked widespread debate, and even three attempts at a Supreme Court hearing, all denied. So far, nothing this extreme has occurred in LISD. “As far as interfering, I think if it crosses the line where it’s disrupting something here on campus, then we have to get involved,” Boughton said. “That’s bullying, comments about teachers, pictures that are unwanted. It is our job to address those things and then try to educate.”

Marcus’ Student Handbook cites the following as “unacceptable and inappropriate uses of technology:” “Possessing, sending, forwarding, posting, accessing or displaying electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation or illegal.”

These rules apply to students during and after school hours, whether the device used to commit the offense is districtowned or personally owned, “if it results in a substantial disruption to the educational environment.” Students could face anywhere from ISS to DAEP, Boughton said, depending on the severity of the transgression.

Where to draw the line depends on the severity and nature of the comment. According to Boughton, if the comment is slanderous of a group of people, sheds a bad light on the school or references illegal activity, the school will involve itself and students may face legal consequences as well.

“If you have, for example, a student who posts a racial slur that is directed towards one person or a group, you are creating a substantial disruption,” Boughton said. “If your posts are causing someone to be uncomfortable at school and have a miserable experience, then that’s disruptive. And they have a right to some recourse with that. It has to fall, though, into those harassing categories.”

Another side of the argument is cyberbullying. With the increase in technology, it introduces a new platform of bullying. And while the majority of students use Twitter as a fun pastime, others have used it as a place to say hurtful things.

“Cyberbullying takes bullying to the next step,” junior Edmund Tarantino said. “It’s easier to say things over the internet than in person.”

But students and administrators differ in their opinions of what power the school has over what is posted online. Some students believe that the rules should be more lenient. Some even believe that schools have no place in social media.

“If it’s outside of school, then you should be able to do what you want and face your own consequences outside of the school system,” freshman Benjamin Williams said. “It’s somewhere where you can just express yourself. I don’t think they should have much control over it.”

The rules and guidelines will continue to grow and change as more issues arise and are resolved. For now, Boughton said she recommends a “better safe than sorry” attitude to what students post online. Once it’s been posted online, it can’t be erased, and that can mean real consequences for students.

Freedom of speech court cases in history Tinker v. Des Moines 1969

Morse v. Frederick 2007

Current court case

In 1969, a group of high school students decided to show their support for peace in Vietnam. The group wore arm bands.

The school administrations learned of this and quickly made a rule banning the arm bands. The students said that the ban went against their First Amendment rights. The case made it to the Supreme Court where it was decided that the ban on the arm band was unconstitutional.

The court also ruled that students did not lose their First Amendment rights to free speech at school and the school had to prove the speech was “materially and substantially interfering” with school.

In 2002, high school senior Joseph Frederick displayed a banner that read “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS.” While the banner was unveiled during a school event off school property, principal Deborah Morse still suspended him.

Frederick sued the school, and the case moved to the Supreme Court, where it was found that the First Amendment does not prevent administrators from intervening with student’s inappropriate behavior off school property at a school event.

This case is important because it allowed teachers to intervene with student behavior off school property.

On Jan. 15, 2014, singer and actress Courtney Love began her trial for charges of libel, or written defamation, on Twitter. There have been several lawsuits filed with allegations of libel on Twitter, or “Twibel” as it’s been coined, but Love’s case is the first to make it to trial.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Barry Langberg, is arguing that his client’s, Rhonda Holmes (Love’s previous attorney), reputation was hurt by Love’s tweet. It has the potential to define free speech rights online for both schools and the general public.

Eventually, it could mean that students will have extremely restricted free speech online, especially if what they’ve said can be interpreted as libel.

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

design/graphics Kady Kohankie

6 FEATURE

Meet your Mr. Marcus contestants:

arcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. M

Q1: What’s your idea of a perfect date?

Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. M

Q2: If you could have s 2014any Mr.super Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 power, Blake “B CAUSS” Caussin Christian “The Wolf” Schafler what would it be?

A1: Snuggling by the fire and drinking hot chocolate

Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marc Davis “Lemon Drop” Mills

A1: Go to Lifetime Fitness, or let the girl choose

A1: Go to a nice restaurant

Marcus Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014A2:Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. M compiled2014 Lyndsay Hilton A2: The ability to stop time Super strength A2: Mind-reading

Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014

. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. M Luke “Lukey” Lancaster

Logan “Big Plunk” Plunkett

Zane “Zaney Boy” Rutledge

morning hunt

Factory

Scrubs or The Office

A2: Ability to fly

A2: Super speed

A2: Flying

Seth “Waldo” Pfeiffer

014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus A1: Have a successful early A1: Going to the Cheesecake A1: Eat some food and watch A1: Take her to Hawaii A2: X-ray vision

arcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcu

2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Marcus 2014 Mr. Ma

r. MarcusBarrett 2014 Mr. Marcus Marcus 2014 Mr.“Daegles” MarcusLee 2014 Mr. M Daegi “ChuckMr. Bass”Marcus Ramsey 2014 David Mason 2014 “Fergie” Mr. Ferguson “D-Hock” 2014 Hock Mr. Marcus A1: Take a girl to the top of the Empire State Building

A1: Take her to a movie and go to Chipotle

A1: Horseback riding on the beach

A1: Go on a picnic and watch the sunset

A2: Mind control

A2: Shooting webs and swinging around

A2: The ability to fly

A2: Manipulate time

design/photos William Legrone

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

Feature 7

A susceptible life

Students adjust to living with rare, challenging, life-altering allergies stories Jaime Hardison

She lit the fireworks in celebration of the Fourth of July and ran downhill. With a wide smile, she waited for the explosion.

It shot up into the air, and her eyes followed the path. When she glanced back down, she saw the thick smoke rolling down the hill. The moment of brief excitement quickly turned to one of horrid realization. Her head began to pound and her muscles froze as the smoke encompassed her.

“I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t speak and I really couldn’t stand,” sophomore Elle Minnis said. “It was definitely the scariest moment because it was the closest I came to not surviving.”

These harsh side-effects were the product of Minnis’ allergy to smoke - one of many that she lives with. Due to the various disorders running rampant through her family lineage, such as fibromyalgia, asthma and ADD, Minnis must deal with an abundance of conditions and the symptoms that come with them. Before the symptoms come into play, Minnis experiences raw skin, low energy levels and fainting spells.

“The majority of the allergies and effects occur on my skin,” Minnis said. “My fingers swell sometimes,

10

Perfume

s, Elle Minni

She popped a few Excedrin Migraine pills in her mouth, hoping that they kicked in before another headache occurred.

The desire to dine out had exceeded her fear of the pounding against her skull.

When sophomore Ashley Cheatham first began receiving painful migraines in eighth grade due to chewing gum, she went to the doctor to find the source. What she found was much more than she had expected.

The migraines were an allergic reaction to the gum, and she soon discovered there were other factors causing allergies as well. Certain foods such as chicken, preservatives, penicillin and MSG also led to the same outcome, a long-lasting migraine that would interfere with any task.

“At this point, I cut off all things made in factories so it was all fresh foods, like fruits, vegetables and natural ingredients,” Cheatham said.

Cheatham also cut back on the number of times she would

Milk

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

and my skin gets really red and blotchy.”

In an attempt to avoid the causes of inflammation, Minnis must keep away from perfume, weeds, cleaning supplies and frequent contact with water on skin. Due to her eczema, which is a medical condition that causes skin to become inflamed, frequent contact with water causes her flesh to crack and burn.

And while for most, swimming is merely a summer activity, for Minnis, it can lead to weeks of raw and burning skin.

“I’m always frustrated with my situation because it has a lot of limitations,” Minnis said.

Some of these limitations become apparent when Minnis ventures out with friends. When she does something as simple as go to the movies or the mall with friends, she has to warn them of her conditions just in case something were to happen.

“All of my close friends know what to do,” Minnis said. “But when I hang out with new people, I have to brief them of my conditions.”

While living with allergies requires effort on Minnis’ part, she’s learned to cope.

“I’ve learned to power through it,” she said. “The allergies don’t exactly go away, so it’s easier to just accept them.”

visit a restaurant, as it became a hindrance to have to guess ingredients in the food.

In addition to altering her eating habits, she also turned to medication. Cheatham’s headaches can be stunted as long as migraine medication follows shortly after an ingested food that could cause her pain.

“I used to be really picky about what I ate, and I made sure it didn’t have any of the things that would cause me to get a migraine,” Cheatham said.

For Cheatham, the two years she dealt with her allergies taught her how to handle her food intake. Whereas going out to eat used to be an ordeal two years ago, she now feels more at ease when she has her medication.

“I just order what looks most natural off the menu,” Cheatham said. “But still, I’m going to eat what I want and just take medication to deal with the aftermath.”

The mother pulled up to the daycare, ready to pick up her 2-year-old son. But when she glanced at the boy walking towards her with a swollen face, she couldn’t imagine that was her child.

“I had grabbed hold of somebody’s milk,” junior Garrett Veazy said. “When my mom picked me up, she couldn’t even recognize me.”

Veazy’s family learned of his allergy to milk soon after he was born. But it wasn’t until age 2 that his parents were aware of his second allergy to pork as well. Even though milk was excluded from his diet, he continued to have reactions. This reoccurring problem prompted his parents to pay a visit to his pediatrician.

“I was still breaking out even though milk was eliminated from my diet,” Veazy said. “But then I went to the doctor and discovered my allergy to pork.”

Once his family knew the implications of the

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allergy, they began taking precautions to prevent any accidental eating. The allergies were written down for any caretaker, and Veazy’s parents made sure to look after him closely.

However, Veazy was not yet old enough to truly understand the precautions that his parents took for him.

But since he grew up with the allergies, he learned how to deal with them as time passed.

“It definitely would’ve been a lot more difficult if I had developed the allergy over my lifetime,” Veazy said. “I wouldn’t be used to it, and I would’ve had a taste of what I was missing.”

Although missing out on some foods is a habit for him, he still learns to deal with the fact that his allergies set him aside from the common crowd.

“I do feel different,” Veazy said. “But that’s because I am.

I’ve grown to learn to accept the way I was made.”

design Victoria Price and Jaime Hardison

8 FEATURE

60 seconds

Scientific endeavors Senior works with professors at UT program, looks forward to physics studies in college, career of futile applications, Kevin and his mother came across the University of Texas’ Summer Research Academy where He takes a deep breath. He looks around, searching for high school students are selected to work on an experiment possible space debris that could alter his course. The coast is alongside professors and grad students. clear. He bends his knees, sinking deep into the movement Naturally, Kevin did his research. He looked through the list in order to get maximum momentum. He propels himself of professors and their desired experiments in search for one forward, arms held high above his head as he departs Mars he felt he could be the most help on. He began e-mailing back and lands on ..... and forth with Dr. Mark Raizen from the University of Texas’ “Jupiter!” He calls out to Ground Control - his parents - as physics department. Once accepted, his six week journey in he arrives on the photo of Jupiter on the floor of the Dallas Austin would be surrounded by research equipment and other Science Museum. He is smiling ear to ear. At this moment, aspiring physicists. current senior Kevin Ewart is only “I had no idea what to expect,” 3, but he already knows that he Kevin said. “They weren’t entirely wants to spend the rest of his life sure what they were going to do with surrounded by science. me. We were both winging it - I knew “I’ve always wanted to know,” I was going to be on an experiment Kevin said. “It’s the desire to with something that had something know more about the universe, to do with Brownian motion.” and physics is the ultimate in Brownian motion is the random knowing things.” movement of particles suspended Kevin started obsessing over in a liquid. Recently, Dr. Raizen science at a young age. At 4, he became the first to conduct an was researching black holes and experiment witnessing the ballistic the Big Bang Theory during his regime of Brownian motion. This is free time. He was completely only observed in an extremely small baffled when his parents told him amount of time. Dr. Raizen and his he couldn’t build a rocketship in team were able to witness the particle their backyard. He was even more obeying Newton’s Law of physics, shocked to find that the other kids instead of random movement. in school weren’t as knowledgable “I thought it was pretty cool to or as interested in science as he work with a group that actually was. added something completely new to “Growing up was frustrating the realm of physics,” Kevin said. and kind of lonely,” Kevin said.

While participating in the “It was disappointing that I didn’t experiment was the part he had been have someone who was interested looking forward to for years, it wasn’t in the same things I was.” his favorite part of his experience.

Even though he always had “The most interesting part was friends, no one loved science as the conversations with the grad photo Luisa Diaz much as he did. Most of his peers students,” Kevin said. “They were all didn’t care about astrophysics 0r Senior Kevin Ewart dissolves limestone into HCl in AP really friendly, and I was able to talk particle theory.

Chemistry. Science has interested him since a young age. about the physics concepts I can’t “I think it was hard in middle talk to other people about.” school,” Dr. Brenda Ewart, Kevin’s mother, said. “He didn’t Brenda said that Kevin was able to be around other people have anyone to talk to and he wanted so much to share what who loved science as much as he does, and that boosted his he was interested in and excited about with other kids, but self-confidence. they would look at him blankly.”

Now, Kevin is searching for the right university for his PhD During school, he didn’t feel like his time was being used in physics. He recently had an interview with Massachusetts properly. He was typically ahead of his peers and occasionally Institute of Technology, and he’s also looking into other ahead of the teachers. He still craved something tougher that colleges such as the University of Texas, Texas A&M and pushed his mind further than what school could do.

California Institute of Technology.

Then in high school, he challenged himself by taking all He hopes to conduct his own research while being a AP classes while also being captain of the award-winning professor at a prestigious school.

Robotics Team and an active member in the Science and He looks forward to college now more than ever. He knows Computer Science UIL teams. Although he was dabbling in college is filled with fellow students who find joy in learning his passions at school, he didn’t feel like he was fulfilling his linear algebra and talking about abstract physics theories. potential.

“It gave me hope for college where I could more easily be Kevin and his mother spent two years searching for a able to find people interested in the things I was interested in,” summer research program that would add to his knowledge Kevin said. “It made me look forward to repeating experiences of physics. After hundreds of google searches and dozens like that in the future.” story Patricia Qualls

Marissa Dickson, 11 @marissalynned compiled Molly Webber photo Jacqueline Higgins

If you could be a movie actor, who would you be and why?

“I would totally be Judd Nelson in Breakfast Club because he’s so punk rock.”

What would you do to solve the overpopulation problem at the school?

“A second Marcus drought.”

What is something you would like to accomplish before you graduate?

“To figure out how to do a backflip.”

What’s something about people that annoys you?

“When they are condescending hypocrites.

Hello.”

What type of fruit most expresses you?

“A banana because I’m full of potassium.”

design Molly Webber

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

Fashioning a fine arts future

FEATURE 9

Senior attends design program at Pratt, prepares for future in fashion encouraged him to appreciate art,” Charlene said. “I wanted him to be well-rounded when it comes to things like that.”

Even at a young age, J.P. showed interest in the fine arts.

In elementary school, he came home from school one day with a vase of Van-Gogh inspired flowers that he made and could not wait to show his mom.

Although J.P. has consistently appreciated art, his interest in fashion was not always so evident. He usually thought of fashion as snobby and obnoxious and found designer clothes to be pretentious. It was not until he got a Tumblr freshman year and started following art and fashion blogs that he began to see a new side of the fashion world - the art side.

J.P. became interested in the avant-garde style of photo Miranda Chiechi fashion. Avant-garde pushes the boundaries of what is accepted J.P.’s bedroom wall is his “inspiration board,” full of pictures from magazines, his own works and fabric. He is holding the sketch as the norm. It is for innovators book he made at Pratt. and experimenters who create something that has never been However, J.P. was not convinced he had done before in the fashion world. story Megan O’Hearn what it took to make it in the challenging and “If you look at really weird fashion INT. DESIGN BUILDING - PRATT demanding world of fashion. That is, until he designers, they don’t look at design as making INSTITUTE – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – introduced his mom to his professor at Pratt, a woman’s body look sexy or anything,” J.P. AUG. 2, 2013 fine arts professor Chris Wynter. J.P. listened said. “They look at it as a blank canvas and Eager students, proud parents and an as Wynter told his mother about the program. how they get their ideas across, and that’s abundance of art filled the walls of the gallery. Suddenly, his mom paused. how I look at it too.”

Senior J.P. Wood maneuvered his way “What do you think of my son?” Charlene As J.P.’s interest in avant-garde fashion through the crowd with his mom, Charlene, at asked, getting straight to the point. and eclectic designers began to grow, so did his side. He strolled in and out of the rooms, J.P. had gained respect for Wynter over his closet. He started wearing really random admiring the different exhibits and saying the course of the program and highly valued things and purposefully mismatched his goodbye to all the friends he had made. his opinion. He wanted more than anything clothes, telling people it was on accident.

Finally, J.P. and his mom made their way to be reassured that he could make it into “I just wanted to be different because I to the fashion exhibit. Sketches, color palettes, Pratt and into the world of fashion. That he feel like that’s the easiest way to tell someone models and mannequins lined the walls of had the talent and the capability to put all of how you think,” J.P. said. “It’s how you the room. J.P. began showing his mom the his goals and dreams into action. show someone what you’re thinking inside display of the work he had done in his classes.

Dr. Wynter looked up at J.P. on the outside. So for me, it was easier to It was the last day at Pratt Institute’s summer “He’s got what it takes,” he said. “He’s got communicate like that than it was through program for high school students. the confidence.” words.”

Most kids spent their summer tanning, And from that moment on, J.P. thought so Soon enough, he became so absorbed in the going on vacation and rummaging through too. fashion world that every minute he would be the realms of Netflix. J.P. however, spent *** thinking of things he wanted to make. Every almost a month of his summer at one of the Most people look at a red couch and see a minute he would see something that inspired most prestigious art and design schools in the place they can sit and rest. J.P. sees inspiration him. He would take the simplest and cheapest country. and infinite possibilities. Most people would materials and make it into something unique.

These four weeks of J.P.’s life were busy prefer a Chanel bag to a $1 shirt from the He made a headpiece out of a tomato planter. exhausting and filled with lots of work. And thrift store. To J.P., they are the same. Most He made a garment out of $1 place mats that, he absolutely loved every minute of it. people would be flattered if someone told as he explained, was as if Athena and Lady He learned about the basic concepts of art them they look trendy. J.P. would be offended Gaga had a child and Magenta from The and design. He sketched still lifes for hours and appalled.

Rocky Horror Picture Show was its nanny. and even some nude models. He gained a Art has always been an important part of “I can see things in my head and make it great appreciation for classical and modern J.P.’s life, even as a kid. His mom Charlene into 3D,” J.P. said. “I think in 3D, and I can art and toured places like the Guggenheim grew up in New York, and some of her best replicate that in real life.” and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He childhood memories are of visiting the Once he decided that fashion was a career made friends and experiences to last him museums in Manhattan with her family. She he really wanted to pursue, he knew that New a lifetime. He fell even more in love with would take J.P. to the Dallas Museum of Art York was the place he needed to be. the grand world of fashion and art. And his all the time when he was a kid to try to create “I have a lot of strong attachments to New decision to go to Pratt and pursue a career in those same cherished memories for him.

York and always feel at home whenever we fashion design and photography solidified.

“I’ve always personally appreciated and visit,” J.P. said. “And you have to be in New The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

York, Paris or London if you want to be in fashion and want to make it.”

J.P. started looking at art schools around New York and ended up choosing Pratt Institute for a summer program.

“The Pratt Institute is definitely my dream school,” J.P. said. “Not only because of the location, but the way students learn through being encouraged to work with other students in different concentrations. I strongly believe that creativity breeds creativity.”

Although JP is sure of himself and of what he wants to do, not everyone has been encouraging of his aspirations. On several different occasions, people have skeptically asked him if working in the fashion and art industry was what he really wanted to do.

They would tell him that it is not a stable or solid career to go into.

“It’s hard to hear that because it’s like someone’s telling you your talent is worthless, and it’s the one thing I’m really good at,” J.P. said. “I don’t look at it any differently than someone wanting to be a doctor. We all work just as hard to be excellent.”

Despite the skeptics, J.P. is intent on making his dream of becoming a fashion designer and photographer a reality. He has applied to Pratt and will receive the results in April or May. From there, he hopes to work his way up from Brooklyn and New York based brands to eventually starting his own line. He does not care about the money or the fame. As long as he is able to do the one thing that he loves, he knows he will be happy.

“I just want to do what I want to do, and I want to do it well,” he said.

photo Miranda Chiechi At Pratt’s summer program, J.P. made a garment out of $1 place mats he found in Brooklyn. It was for a repetitive design project he was assigned.

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IN-DEPTH 11

Diagnosis: affluenza

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

In December, a wealthy Texas teen received no jail time when convicted of driving while intoxicated and causing the death of four.

The Marquee examines wealth and its consequences in Flower Mound.

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014 2013

photo illustration photo Amanda William Legrone Collen

12 IN-DEPTH

Wealth defense in teen drunk driving accident causes controversy One month after 16-year-old Texas resident Ethan Couch was convicted of vehicular homicide, he is still a topic of debate.

It all started in June 2013. After a party where alcohol was available, Couch and seven other teens piled into his red Ford F-350 pickup and headed down a dark Tarrant County road, driving 70 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour zone. His blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit for adults in Texas, and the prescription drug Valium was also found in his system.

Before the truck came swerving down the road, 24-year-old Breanna Mitchell’s car had broken down on the side of the street. A mother and daughter, Hollie Boyles, 52, and Shelby Boyles, 21, stopped to help. Youth Pastor Brian Jennings, 41, also pulled over to aid Mitchell. Couch’s truck slammed into the broken-down SUV, killing the owner and all three helpers on impact.

Two teens riding in the back of Couch’s pickup were flung from the car. One suffered internal injuries and broken bones, while the other received a brain injury, leaving him paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking.

In court, Couch admitted to driving while intoxicated. His defense argued that the boy’s parents were to blame because Couch was the product of “affluenza,” a lifestyle in which

swimming pool, basketball and cooking classes. A nationwide backlash occurred soon after the decision.

“I think it’s terrible,” AP Humanities teacher Jennifer Forthun said. “I don’t think someone else from a different background would have that opportunity or could afford something like that. The whole situation is unfortunate.”

The psychologist speaking for the defense claimed that putting the boy in a rehab facility would allow him to reform his bad habits, something he would not be able to do elsewhere. Critics of the decision argue that by getting out of jail, he is once again not facing consequences for his actions because of wealth. Since Dec. 18, five civil lawsuits have been filed by the families of the victims.

Affluenza is not a recognized psychological disorder. It is typically associated with materialism and the idea of always wanting more. The term came into popular use in 1997 when PBS aired a documentary called Affluenza, which examines overconsumption in America. During one of her Humanities lessons, Forthun plays clips from the documentary for her students. She said she was shocked to hear the term used in a legal light.

“It was a little bit surprising when the Ethan Couch decision was announced to hear the psychologist who spoke on the defense use the term ‘affluenza,’” Forthun said. “I never thought about it being a legal defense.”

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wealth brings privilege and actions do not typically have consequences. Psychologist Gary Miller explained to the court: “He never learned that sometimes you don’t get your way. He had the cars and he had the money.

He had freedoms that no young man would be able to handle.”

Because of the way he was raised - with a sense of entitlement so strong that he had little concept of consequence - Couch could not be liable for the decisions he made, according to the defense. Miller claimed that his parents allowed him to drink alcohol at a young age and start driving at age 13. One time when he was 15, he was caught with a naked, passed out 14-year-old girl in the back of a car. He received a ticket from the police but allegedly faced no punishment from parents.

Miller argued that rehabilitation was Couch’s best option. The judge sided with the defense.

“Some parents have the financial ability to have better representation because of money…” Resource Officer Sgt. Devin York said. “I think they tried to make it (affluenza) a clinical diagnosis.”

Now, instead of spending up to 20 years in prison, like the prosecutors were pushing for, Couch has 10 years of probation and will be living in a rehabilitation center in Newport Beach, CA that costs his parents $.5 million a year. The treatment program includes horseback riding, mixed martial arts, a

story Marisa Charpentier

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Affluence, lack of consequences present in Flower Mound story Madison Ermenio and Marisa Charpentier An oversized soft brown handbag with the dark “MK” branded on the fabric is slung over the shoulder of a girl in the hallway.

Inside, her iPhone, keys to her Audi and matching Michael Kors wallet lay side by side in the pocket.

Over half of the students in the halls are just like her, according to a recent survey

by The Marquee, equipped with a designer brand item of some sort - Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Coach, Michael Kors, Juicy Couture or another luxury label. Out of all of the cars in the parking lot, 86 of them are among some of the most expensive cars - Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Mustang and Infiniti.

About 72 percent of students don’t pay for a penny of this. Not the car itself, the insurance nor the gas.

According to the Huffington Post, Flower Mound is the second richest city in America. In April 2013, a personal finance site called NerdWallet conducted a study to see which cities have the greatest number of households earning over $100,000 per year.

Flower Mound came in second with a total of 62.8 percent.

Only 20 percent of Americans, however, will ever reach a state of affluence, or a yearly income of $250,000 in their life, according to the Dallas Morning News. This means the remaining 80 percent of adults may never have the opportunity to own the luxury items that more than half the students here have already been given.

This kind of affluence proved to be a problem for Ethan Couch, whose car accident occurred just one county over from Denton County. Resource Officer Sgt. Devin York said he recognizes how close the issue hits to home.

“I live a mile away from Central High School, and my wife teaches in the neighborhood where many of the kids went

they became teenagers, they soon found themselves in trouble with the law.

“They have more of a sense of entitlement,” Dixon said. “Often times, they don’t get punished as much as they should.”

According to Sgt. York, it is the parents’ job to create guidelines.

“When they’re a minor, they’re under basically complete control of their parents,” Sgt. York said. “It’s up to their parents to know where they’re at, know what they’re doing and place some sort of boundaries on them - basically, protect them from themselves.”

Having teens face consequences for their actions is part of parenting, according to clinical psychologist Dr. Lynda Mathis.

“Our job as parents is to socialize kids and help them learn how to get along in the world outside of the family,” Dr. Mathis said.

Often times instead of preparing kids for the future, however, parents try to shield them from potential harm. The term “helicopter parenting” describes parents who are overly involved in their kids’ lives and provide tangible assistance to every problem a child has. According to Sgt. York, these parents are everywhere, not just here.

“It’s natural instinct for a parent to protect the child,” Sgt. York said.

Families in more affluent areas like Flower Mound have the financial ability to transfer helicopter parenting to the legal realm when their children break laws.

According to Sgt. York, some parents have the means to provide better representation in court. In Couch’s case, for example, his parents were able to give him powerful

to elementary school together,” Sgt. York said. “It’s definitely something that could happen around here.”

According to senior Makensie Holland, wealth combined with a lack of consequences is common. She said students have totaled their cars due to careless driving and received new ones days later. When it comes to cell phones, she’s seen several students treat them irresponsibly and receive new ones immediately after they break.

Not having to work for cash is also typical, according to Holland. She said that many students are given allowances by their parents, although they do not have to do any chores.

She said this money is spent on anything from food, clothes and movie tickets to unauthorized items like e-cigarettes and alcohol.

When paired with permissive parenting, access to this kind of wealth can be detrimental, as in Couch’s case. In his court defense, for example, it was stated that Couch’s parents allowed him to drink at an early age. Holland said this same structure is prevalent here and some parents hang out with their kids and allow them to drink with friends.

Christa Dixon, parent of two Marcus students, said she has noticed a trend of overly-lenient parenting, which can be dangerous. An overly-submissive parenting style can lead to behavior in students that gradually worsens over time, she said.

For example, Dixon said she has seen children who grew up rarely facing consequences for their mistakes, and as

“They think they can get away with anything, that nothing can affect them. They’re invincible.”

Makensie Holland, 12

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The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

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Car taken away

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Never been punished

ONE CENT

ATES O F A

ONE CENT

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Grounded for less than a week.

Had phone/ computer taken away

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33.7%

5%

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Do you own designer brands?

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Did you pay for your car?

Grounded for a week or more

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22.3%

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*out of 282 students

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Scolded/Yelled at

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What’s the worst punishment you’ve ever received? compiled Anna Middleton

attorneys and pay for rehabilitation. Holland said she could definitely see something like this happening here.

“I know people with parents with big enough lawyers that they could get out of anything,” Holland said.

As a parent herself, Dixon said she has been witness to helicopter parenting on a legal level, and that it does more harm than good.

“I do not think they should helicopter in because it doesn’t teach them anything other than that they’re going to get bailed out every time and not face the consequences,” Dixon said.

When shielded from their mistakes and the law, students begin to feel their parents will always be there to protect them from harm, according to Holland.

“They think they can get away with anything, that nothing can affect them,” Holland said. “They’re invincible.”

To prevent this mindset, Dr. Mathis said that in addition to enforcing consequences, parents also need to spend time with their kids. She said parents can encourage children to make the right decisions by creating a close bond with them. “[Family time is important] for so many reasons,” Dr. Mathis said. “For the development of healthy relationships, for experiencing positive adult role models and for strong mental health.”

One of the factors contributing to Couch’s accident is the fact that he reportedly lived alone for long periods and often lacked this family time. He allegedly threw parties and boasted to his classmates about having drugs and alcohol.

Holland said students need to realize that actions have consequences no matter how many privileges wealth brings.

“You’re not above everyone else,” Holland said. “You have to work for what you want.

You can’t just be handed everything in life.”

72.2%

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ONE CENT

52.8%

No 47.2%

Parents paid design/graphics Tori Allmendinger

14 ENTERTAINMENT

Counting calories

Trying to stick to a get-fit resolution can be tough, especially when it comes to eating out. But there is no need to fret. The Marquee discovered several healthy places that serve goodfor-you foods without sacrificing great taste. story Alex Helm photos Kady Kohankie

Zoës Kitchen

Corner Bakery Cafe

A fun, bright restaurant on Long Prairie Road, Zoës Kitchen is great for those looking to try something new. Originating from Mediterranean-inspired recipes, the menu is full of eclectic Greek foods like Greek Chicken Marinara pasta and Grüben, a type of grilled turkey sandwich. The Hummus and Pita plate, which features a large portion of the dip surrounded by soft, warm bread, is perfect for an afternoon snack. For those who have trouble finding all-veggie eateries, Zoës labels the vegetarian, vegan and gluten free foods on the menu. Their Dinners for Four range from $30 to $40, but almost everything else is under $10, making it easy on the wallet. Although, this food may be unfamiliar to some so this resturant may not be for everyone. The restaurant also supports local schools with their “Zoës Kitchen Celebrates Children!” Artwork Program.

This quaint little cafe on the corner of the Shops at Highland Village is the go-to place for healthy homestyle cooking. Customers can choose from sandwiches and salads to soups and breakfast foods. Each item on the menu is labeled with the calorie count, so it’s easy to decide what’s best for every diet. The Pesto Cavatappi, a warm pasta topped with creamy pesto sauce and tender roasted chicken pieces, is delicious. At 600 calories, this pasta is perfect for sharing. Prices range from $3 to $10, which is exceptional for the amount of food that’s served. Service is quick and friendly, and the small wooden tables and booths give the cafe a homey feel.

This is definitely the place for a nice, healthy dinner out.

My Fit Foods

7 Pizzas

My Fit Foods has everything a customer needs from an on-the-go place that’s still mindful of nutrition. Even the name is healthy. Located on Cross Timbers Road, My Fit Foods is a bit different from most restaurants. Large freezers full of boxed meals line the back wall - breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and even snacks. All the boxes are labeled with the calorie count and nutrition facts, and over 90 percent of their meals are gluten free. Customers can either buy their meals to take home and eat later or they can warm them up in the microwaves at the store. The boxed snack called Picnic Time, which is full of apples, grapes, almonds, crackers and Monterey Jack cheese, would serve as a great postworkout pick-me-up. The fruit is crisp and sweet and is balanced out nicely with the salted crackers and nuts. Some of the more popular meals include the Salmon and Quinoa lunch and the Chicken Berry Salad dinner. They also offer a 21-Day Challenge. Nutrition coaches form customized programs to help customers reach fitness goals. The first day meals are free. design/graphics Amanda Collen

When it comes to healthy food, pizza isn’t exactly what comes to mind. But at 7 Pizzas, formerly Z Pizza, the cheesy favorite is given a whole new identity. The crust is made regular, wheat or gluten free, and vegetarian and vegan pizzas are available. A slice of classic pepperoni, but with whole wheat crust for a healthy twist, makes for a tasty lunch. The cheese is organic and the bread is filling without being too heavy. There is even an option to build your own, which allows the customer up to five toppings. Prices are a bit high - $5 for a slice and $10 to $20 for medium and large sizes - but the food is better quality. Not only is pizza served (and delivered), but the menu is full of other favorites like garlic bread and veggie-filled salads and sandwiches. A small, mom-and-pop type place, 7 Pizzas is just around the bend of Cross Timbers Road.

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

1

Pope Francis:

In the summer of 2013, the shocking resignation of the former Pope led to the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He became the first South American pope, has his own Twitter account and on mission trips across the world, he has personally washed people’s feet.

Many people have praised him for telling the Church to not focus on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and instead focus on issues like poverty. Although unconventional, Pope Francis is setting a new standard in the Catholic church.

13

ENTERTAINMENT 15

Most influential people of

Whether it was a celebrity, a politician or an athlete, significant individuals made headlines in 2013. Although some were controversial, they generated conversations about hot button issues such as women’s rights, gun control and gay marriage. The Marquee analyzed the most influential people of 2013. story Alyssa Schmidt

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Malala Yousafzai:

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Jennifer Lawrence:

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Ted Cruz:

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Barack Obama:

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Edward Snowden:

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Miley Cyrus:

At 16, Malala stood up against some of the biggest bullies in the world, the Taliban. In October of 2012, she was targeted and shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating women’s rights and education for young girls. In 2013, after recovering from the gunshot, she traveled all over the world to spread her “I Am Malala” campaign, encouraging equal access to education. Her maturity is well beyond her youth and inspiring to millions all over the world.

Skyrocketed to fame as Katniss, “The Girl on Fire,” from the Hunger Games movie, Lawrence is now a prominent figure in the public eye. Her quirky personality and rebellion against media’s body standards have made her an inspiration across the world. She’s frequently been scrutinized for being possibly “too fat” for her role as Katniss. However, Lawrence states that size is not an important factor in beauty.

One of the most controversial figures of 2013, Cruz and fellow TEA Party members were the main opposition to Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The right wing conservative conducted a filibuster to stall the bill. When that failed, Cruz and other party members spearheaded the month long government shutdown. The Texas senator is a possible candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination In 2013, Obama had many questionable policies and laws that went into place. A big topic of discussion was the decision to give aid to Syrian rebels. Escalation of violence almsot led to U.S. botts on the ground. However, Obama instead opted to give the rebels weapons. His Affordable Care Act also created controversy when conservatives rejected the bill which led to the month long government shutdown.

This former NSA employee made headlines in 2013 when he leaked the classified NSA program, PRISM. This project was meant to keep tabs on domestic terrorism by tracking internet history and phone calls. Although many see his act as a betrayal, without it, the American people would be unaware about a potential violation of constitutional rights.

The former Disney star shattered her innocent image with one performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.

Some believe that her twerking and bold fashion choices make her a bad role model for young girls, while others feel that she is making individualistic decisions. Whether people agree or not, Cyrus began a meaningful conversation on the double standard between men and women this past year.

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

8

2013

Hillary Rodham Clinton:

She is the only First Lady to hold a senate seat and was appointed by President Obama to be Secretary of State in 2008. She was the main testimony in the Benghazi embassy attacks. During her testimony in 2013, she took responsibility for the actions in the State Department. Many are speculating that she will be running for the 2016 Democratic nomination.

9

Serena Williams:

Williams made a major comeback into the tennis world in 2012, and the wins just kept coming in 2013. She was not successful in winning titles for years due to knee and ankle injuries. Howver this year, Williams has won The French Open and the U.S. Open. She the number one woman tennis player in the world, she is also the oldest number one player in the history of professional tennis.

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Ted Sarandos:

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Janet Yellen:

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Nelson Mandela:

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Gabrielle Giffords:

One of the newest trends amongst teens is the act of watching excessive amounts of Netflix in one sitting.

Sarandos might not be the culprit of this trend, but he is certainly an enabler, especially in his help to develop of Netflix original shows. Many people claim that Sarandos is introducing a revolution in entertainment that favors independent films and filmmakers.

While Janet Yellen is obscure to most, many people view her as an iconic figure. Her greatest accomplishment is her new position as the first woman as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System nominated by President Obama in October of 2013. Her success has proven to many women that they can break through the glass ceiling.

The world suffered a great loss in 2013 when former South African President Nelson Mandela died. But, the world chose to celebrate his life with lively songs and dances in memoriam. His funeral brought together many leaders across the world as well to remember the man who had ended apartheid and unified a nation. An influential man in his life, he is also influential after death.

Former Arizona congresswoman, Giffords, suffered a gunshot wound to the head after an assassination attempt in 2011. Since then, she has relearned how to walk, read, write and speak. She demonstrated her skills in 2013 when she returned to Washington D.C. to speak to Congress about gun laws following the Newtown shooting. To many people, Giffords is a strong example of overcoming adversity. design Amanda Collen

16 ENTERTAINMENT

Funky holidays

After every holiday break, one thought dominates every student’s mind: when is the next day off of school? Now that winter break has ended and the New Year has begun, here are some exotic holidays that everyone should mark on their calendars. Holidays like Frog Jumping Day may not get you out of class, but they story Austin Rickerson still call for a little celebration.

1st

3rd

If Pets Had Thumbs Day

Hula in the Coola Day By early February, most people are tired of the cold and ready for a little sunshine. What better way to show winter who’s boss than to dress up in a heavy coat and hula skirt and dance in the streets? Although the holiday was created for northerners, this winter’s ice storm and frigid weather has left many Texans longing for some sun, heat and hula dancing too. Don’t worry about getting frostbite. Throw on your grass skirt, coconut bra and sunglasses and put on the first outdoor party of the New Year.

16th

Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk Day

20th

Most everyone has knocked over their drink at the dinner table before. They have heard their parents yell at them to clean it up before it sours or the dog licks it up. Some may have even burst into tears as they watched their drink drain from the safety of the cup onto the cold, dark floor, never to be savored again. This holiday reminds people to stay optimistic in every situation, even if that rich, chocolatey milk is seeping into the carpet instead of into your stomach.

Proposal Day For those who didn’t pop the question on Valentine’s Day, here’s a shot at redemption. This is the day to puff out your chest and ask that girl or guy the question you’ve been afraid to ask. But don’t jump to any conclusions, ladies and gentlemen. A proposal could just be an offer. Whether you’ve been wanting to ask to go to dinner or the movie theater, this is your chance.

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One thing that sets humans apart from other animal species is the opposable thumb. Although most people talk to their pet in a baby voice or treat it like royalty, no dog or cat has that distinct fifth finger. This day is a day to imagine if they did. Maybe they could take us on a walk. Maybe they could feed us for once. Maybe they could open the door for themselves or even pick up their own fecal matter. Our dogs and cats may not grow thumbs any time soon, but it would be convenient if they did. It’s about time they started carrying their own weight around the house.

12th

National Licorice Day is an important place on the calendar for any licorice connoisseur. Whether you love it or hate it, try a piece of licorice today. For the licorice enthusiast, drown your joys or sorrows in the red goodness of a package of Twizzlers. And even for those that aren’t licorice fans, try biting off a small enough piece of the treat so that you don’t have to chew it. If you refuse to eat it, try making a licorice castle or something. Christmas may be long gone but houses made out of candy are always in style.

18th

International Jugglers Day Juggling is a skill dating back thousands of years. Whether it’s balls, clubs, plates, swords or even chain saws, this is a chance to showcase your mad juggling skills. Don’t worry about looking silly in front of your friends when you can’t catch a single ball. Remember that practice makes perfect.

Since your career path is most likely leading you to the circus, you might as well get a head start on your juggling competition.

design Hailey Painter

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Licorice Day

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9th

Star Wars Day Whether we publicly admit it or not, there is a little Star Wars nerd in all of us. This is the time of the year to pull out that plastic light saber from when you were 5. Pull out the movies and figurines that you hide under your bed so your friends don’t judge you. Dress like your favorite character or just pretend like you aren’t a fan.

Just remember, “May the 4th Be With You.”

Lost Sock Memorial Day

R IP

Almost everyone has woken up one morning with only one sock on. We have all lost a sock in the laundry, luggage or left one behind at summer camp. This is a day not only to recognize that sock that was never found, but it is a day to renew your search for it. And if you can’t find the sock, mix and match it with another one of your lonely socks. Lastly, commemorate the lives of the socks that were lost in the line of duty with the 21 sock salute. After hugging your sweaty, stinky feet every day, those socks deserve a little recognition.

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

SPORTS 17

Maxing out Powerlifters motivate themselves to improve strength required to participate Martin said. quicker and they’ll use bad form,” Tuttle said. in three lifts: the Part of the allure of powerlifting is the “They think it’s going to get them there, but bench press, the squat large muscle mass that these athletes often in the long run, it’s almost like the turtle will and the deadlift. gain as they compete. To aid this process, outrun the hare. The process of learning to Because the three lifts many competitors try to complement their do it right will eventually pass up the person work different areas workout regime with different methods like that’s trying to do it wrong and get there of their body, different supplements and diets. While there is some quicker.” builds have different controversy over certain supplements and Since each person is built differently, advantages.

For muscle boosters, most powerlifting athletes everyone has their own strengths. For Tuttle, someone with short and experts agree that a protein rich diet aids that was his legs. During the five years he arms, benching may in muscle building, similarly to most sports. competed, Tuttle experienced a serious come easier due to Freshman Dalton McWilliams says that the transformation. The previously scrawny the sheer difference in wrong diet can hurt goals to achieve physical football player was now squatting over 900 distance they have to change. pounds and deadlifting 850 pounds. push. For each lift, the “You have to eat the right stuff so you can "Powerlifting I think really measures the members have three get bigger and stronger,” McWilliams said. aspect of true strength because of the squat, attempts to perform a “Add in meat, like chicken, fish, rice, that kind the deadlift and the bench," Tuttle said. lift with correct form. of stuff. Take out high sugar stuff like sweets.” "That's why I was drawn to it because it's Even a seemingly small Due to the large amounts of weight the something you can compete with yourself mistake such as failing athletes are handling, there’s plenty of about." photo Luisa Diaz to keep their feet room for injury. Former Natural National Watching themselves gain muscle gives planted could result in Powerlifting Champion and Lewisville pastor them a new self-confidence. The progress Second year lifter, junior Malik Martin, practices his squating in the school disqualification from Brad Tuttle, who is now 56, was trained they make drives them to keep going. As they weightroom. Martin can squat up to 600 lbs. the rest of the meet. how to lift correctly early in his career. He continue to lift, their strength often ends up story Rachel Ramirez Athletes compete within their weight class, says without that instruction, he could have surprising themselves and others. which can range from 123 pounds to a super seriously injured himself while participating "Everyone else is bigger than me, but when they find out I lifted as much as I did, it's a Metal clanks together as the barbell heavyweight class for those over 275 pounds. in the strenuous sport.

“Some people try to cheat to get to a weight pretty cool experience," Blessing said. sinks toward junior Alex Blessing's chest. To aid their lifting, athletes wear tight gear His forehead glistens with perspiration. His like squat suits and bench biceps and chest muscles tense up and burn shirts when competing. These in exhaustion. But his eyes are filled with items assist the competitors determination. The fire in his lungs drives in maintaining the correct him to push up the bar for his final rep. position and make it easier Although he stands at only 5 ft. 7 in., he has to stand up by the sheer pressure they put on the body. just successfully benched over 300 pounds.

Blessing is one of 20 athletes on the However, due to the tightness school’s powerlifting team. In previous years, of the gear, the members often the school's team has been largely comprised retain cuts and bruises after of members of the football team. Recently, lifting.

“They’re very tight,” they have seen a growth in athletes who aren't in football. The experience of powerlifting can Blessing said. “When you are benefit team members from various athletic lifting, they pinch your body.”

While the sport has its background.

"Powerlifting is just lifting weights downsides, members of the competitively," junior Malik Martin said. team are driven by a sense of "Not just competing with your weight class, camaraderie they experience but competing within yourself on lifting while lifting. While the athletes do not compete together weights and getting yourself stronger.”

At every meet, school gymnasiums are necessarily, teamwork is not filled with weight racks and spectators. Cries lacking. As members compete of exasperation from the lifters rise above the and train, their teammates screaming cheers of encouragement from drive them to meet their goals. family and friends. The undeniable pressure Martin attributes his success of eyes watching the competitors drives them to the inspiration he has to put all they have into their performance. received from his team. photo Luisa Diaz "I didn't know I could Those who have already competed join the chorus of parents and coaches as their push myself that much, but with my team pushing me Junior Connor Pickett tries to increase his maximum bench press weight at the team’s biweekly practice. This is teammates lift.

During these competitions, athletes are and encouraging me, I did it," Pickett’s second year on the powerlifting squad. design Hailey Painter The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

18 SPORTS

Across the pond, across the pool

Senior uses water polo team as way to improve skills, adjust to American life

photo William Legrone Senior Axel Rodriguez throws the ball towards the goal. Rodriguez started playing water polo when he was 13 in his native country of Spain. story Austin Rickerson The sun shines down on the warm, bleached white sand. A calm breeze blows off the northern Atlantic ocean in Vigo, Spain.

But senior Axel Rodriguez isn’t on the beach soaking up the sun. Out in the water with his friends, he’s in another world. His teammates and competitors are pummeled by the waves.

The taste of the saltwater fills their mouths.

They fight for possession of the ball. The current tries to pull them under. Water polo has turned the white-capped water into a warzone.

These beautiful beaches are where Rodriguez spent the first 14 years of his life.

But now in Texas, over 5,000 miles away from home, Rodriguez plays in a pool. He’s in a natatorium instead of the ocean. He’s speaking English with his teammates instead of Spanish. He is no longer with his childhood companions on the beaches of Spain. Because of his dad’s job transfer in July of 2011, he became the new kid on the block in Flower Mound.

“The first thing I did when I came here was look up if Dallas had a water polo team,” Rodriguez said. “Since I had been playing water polo for a year now, I said why not? I wanted to keep improving.”

Rodriguez started swimming as a young child but gave it up because he didn’t enjoy it.

Years later, a friend introduced him to water polo, a popular sport in Spain. He started playing while living there for both leisure design Jacqueline Higgins

and as a way to lose weight. Instead of just swimming in a straight line, he then got to swim with his friends, wrestle with opponents and score goals.

However, once he moved to the United States, it became even more than that. It became a reminder of the friends and family he had left behind. It became a reminder of the country he grew up in and would now only get to visit twice a year. Yet his new team, Thunder Water Polo, also became a way to make friends in an otherwise strange and unfamiliar place.

“It’s not easy to get a group of friends like I have now,” Rodriguez said. “I have gotten to know them over the past two years. My water polo team is like my brothers.”

Although he already spoke some English when he moved here, Rodriguez was not fluent. However, he was quick to pick up the language while communicating with his teammates in the pool and listening to his coach give commands.

“As you’re playing the sport, you automatically have to communicate with them and become friends with them,” Rodriguez said. “It was an easy open door I had to my social life here.”

Yet, the biggest difference between life in Spain and life in the United States was cultural. He attended a K-12 school of around 700 kids, not a high school of well over 3,000 students. He was used to the traditional architecture

and more rural lifestyle of northern Spain.

When he moved to north Texas, even the local AMC blew him away with its size and modern appearance.

“It’s the difference between walking through some woods and walking down the red carpet,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a completely different level of decoration. You really notice it if you’ve changed places.”

As different as the scenery and people might have been, Rodriguez didn’t take long to find his niche. He tested out of ESL and began to take normal English courses at school. He even progressed quickly enough to be able to take AP English 4 the very next year.

As he grew more comfortable around his teammates and with his new home, his water polo skills began to improve, too. It wasn’t long before he became one of the top players out of the nearly 400 players within the teams in his water polo club.

At the right wing position, passing and scoring is important. At the same time, Rodriguez still has to be physical, as opponents are constantly wrestling with him in the pool and trying to steal the ball. Water polo combines elements of different sports into one. Rodriguez said that although he gets crazy questions like if horses are involved in the sport because of the word polo, not even he knows how the game was invented.

“It’s such a mixture,” Rodriguez said. “It’s swimming. It’s wrestling. It’s soccer. You can use your hands.

It’s a lot of different stuff put together.”

Rodriguez continued to improve on both his swimming and shooting skills.

But he didn’t get there without hours of practice to improve his swimming skills and endurance. Rodriguez would actually hold a pool chair above his head in the water to practice treading water.

Since water polo players are not allowed to let their feet touch the floor of the pool, swimming skills are vital. In this drill, Rodriguez not only had to keep his feet from touching the bottom of the pool. He also had to keep the pool chair extended above his head, trying to not let it drown him.

“He’s extremely self-motivated,” coach Joe Linehan said. “He shows up. He works hard. He listens. He asks questions. You are not going to be able to keep him out of the water.”

Now, after a couple years with the club,

his coach will sometimes play him for several games in a row without getting a substitution.

He is no longer the unfawmiliar face on the team. He is the guy that will make friends with the new players. He even teaches younger players the basic skills of the game. According to his coach, he is a natural leader.

“People just naturally gravitate towards him,” Linehan said. “His mentality and his temperament will bring people together, and that’s what allows him to prove his knowledge and prove his skills.”

Water polo has taken Rodriguez across the country and back with his team. He has played anywhere from an outdoor tournament in Las Vegas to the natatorium at the Naval Academy in Maryland. With Rodriguez on the team, Thunder Water Polo placed 34th in the National Junior Olympics in Los Angeles out of over 100 teams. Their finish is the best any north Texas team has done in the national tournament.

“It’s really competitive,” Rodriguez said.

“You have to be hyperactive. You don’t want to be the one to make any mistakes. ” However, perhaps the biggest accomplishment Rodriguez has had in water polo was one that did not earn him a trophy or medal. Last fall, his club played in an open tournament, which means that there are no age restrictions for players. Rodriguez and his 16 and under team ended up playing 20 and 30-year-old men from the Dominican Republic, a Spanish speaking country, in one of their games.

During the game, one of the Dominican players was constantly harassing and bullying a player on Rodriguez’s team. The teenagers from north Texas were being manhandled by their opponents. But Rodriguez took the harassers aside and had a word with him in Spanish. After that, the Dominican player backed off of Rodriguez’s teammate.

Although they were losing early, Thunder Water Polo came from behind to win. But there was an even bigger victory for Rodriguez. From the outsider Spaniard who joined water polo in Texas as a social outlet, Rodriguez had become a leader that stands up for his American peers.

He may not be on the beach in Vigo anymore, but he has developed a camaraderie with his new friends that he may have never had without water polo.

“My teammates, even though they don’t go to the same high school as me, are basically my brothers,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve gotten to know them since I moved here and they welcomed me, so I am thankful for that.”

Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

SPORTS 19

Making a big splash

Senior swimmer competes alongside top Olympic athletes story Allie Loder

From racing or even just watching them swim at night, you see a whole new level of swimming.”

Duncan started swimming when he was just 6 years old.On his current team, the Dallas Mustangs, Duncan practices for three hours each day, excluding Saturdays. These practices are filled with weightlifting, conditioning and running drills underwater. And although Duncan’s busy schedule is exhausting, he has never let fatigue stop him from reaching his goal.

“You’ve got to look at the big picture,” Duncan said. “One of the biggest goals, I think, is getting to do the sport in college.

That kind of kept me going through high school.”

Starting next year, Duncan will finally be able to say that he has reached this goal. He has committed to swim for the next four years at Texas A&M University, which is currently ranked just outside of the top 25 in the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Rankings.

Duncan’s mother, Blair Mulleady, says that this is a dream come true for both Duncan and their family.

“I’m thrilled for him,” Blair said. “It’s been a dream that he wanted to achieve, and to see him get those goals is awesome.”

Duncan will spend the next four years perfecting his swimming strokes, honing in on what he does best and trying to shave seconds off of his current speeds. All of this hard work will be to prepare him for his next goal, making it to the 2016 Olympics.

“It’s hard,” Duncan said. “But for 2016, my goal is to make it to the Olympic trials and at least make it to semi-finals. Top 16, that’d be nice.”

He believes that his training during the next few years of college will help him accomplish this in 2016.

“At that point, I’ll be 20 and a sophomore in college,” Duncan said. “I’ll have a year and a half of college training under my belt.”

Although the thought of gleaming gold medals and Olympic podiums in 2016 seem to be far off, they are fast-approaching realities for Duncan. But, no matter what happens in his future, Duncan says there is one thing that will remain constant. His passion for swimming will always stay with him.

“I love it because when you’re swimming, you can get away from your thoughts.” Duncan said. “All you hear when you’re swimming is the churning of the water.”

He is exhausted, both physically and mentally. His entire body aches from pushing his muscles to the limit, trying to push through the water as fast as he can. Months and months of practice have left him burnt out. But now is not the time to be tired. Not when he’s surrounded by the best swimmers in the world. Ryan Lochte. Michael Phelps. Dara Torres. Right now, he has something to prove.

He steps up to the block and feels the rough surface under his bare feet. He lets his mind go blank, remembering the advice he received from Lochte himself.

He doesn’t allow himself to worry about his pain, his competitors or his race. All he thinks about is the bright blue water below him, and he knows that this is where he is supposed to be.

This is what he has practiced for. He is ready.

As a competitive swimmer, senior Duncan Mulleady is ranked second in Texas in the 100 backstroke and sixth overall in the state. His skill allows him to participate in competitions like the Grand Prix, swimming alongside some of the most well known names in the sport.

The Grand Prix is a competition that hosts some of the best swimmers in the nation, each competing for a grand prize. In order to qualify, swimmers must beat a predetermined time in a race. Due to his extensive training and long hours of practice, Duncan is able to earn a spot at these meets.

“My favorite meets that I always like going to are the Grand Prix,” Duncan said. “Those are the meets where I’ve gone and raced with Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin.”

According to Duncan, this is a special part of his swimming career. No matter how the swimmers place, the professionals are always willing to offer advice and sit around to talk to the other swimmers.

This is how Duncan met former Olympian Ryan Lochte.

After swimming against Lochte at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in the 100 backstroke category, Duncan was milling around the arena waiting for his next race. As he waited, Lochte came up and began to talk with him. He ended up offering Duncan advice that he will never forget, telling him to let his mind go blank when gearing up for a race.

“And it works,” Duncan said. “You just zone out and swim your best. You’re not worrying about anything.”

These tidbits of advice are just one of the advantages that Duncan has received from swimming with Olympians. Being able to watch them swim in person, although it may be nervewracking, allows Duncan to observe their strokes photo William Legrone and see what they do differently.

“It’s pretty intimidating when you get up on the block with them,” Duncan said. “But it’s always fun Senior Duncan Mulleady practices his backstroke in the lap pool. Although Duncan no longer competes for the school squad, he still swims to race them because you learn so much from them. outside of school for his select team, the Dallas Mustangs. design Jacqueline Higgins The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

“My favorite meets...are the Grand Prix. Those are the meets where I’ve gone and raced with Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin.”

Duncan Mulleady, 12

Boombas [things we like]

20 OPINION

@benhortonmusic

New world man

Recently, some of the vending machines have been upgraded to accept credit and debit cards as payment.

Students and staff may now purchase drinks and snacks more efficiently, while still maintaining the option to pay with cash or coin.

Before the break, the Flower Mound Police Department hosted their Santa Cops fundraiser. Marcus collected over 600 toys and $400 by the end. Local children, who might not have had toys otherwise, woke to find them under the tree on Christmas.

Ben Horton

@TheRoyalAnna13

Anna Middleton

Nutrition v. knowledge

I woke up this morning starving, but she was in too much of a hurry to feed me. At lunchtime, I didn’t eat because she was too busy working to remember my needs. It’s 6:00 at night, and I’m only running on a snack during passing period.

Her homework is more important than me. Finally, she fed me dinner, the only meal of the day that matters to her.

This is what my stomach is thinking most days.

I had a habit of forgetting to eat sometimes because I’d get so busy. With AP courses, extracurricular activities, rehearsals and more, I worked so hard that the hunger in my belly seemed minor. My mindset had become: “I go to the doctor, and she says I’m healthy so what do I have to worry about?”

I didn’t think my lack of consumption was causing any problems. I ate enough on the weekends to balance the malnourishment I faced during the weekdays. I wasn’t bulimic or anorexic. I didn’t think I was fat. I was simply busy.

However, slowly but surely, my health started deteriorating.

It began simply as a lack of energy. I couldn’t run as much as I used to, and using the stairs became tiring. Then lingering migraines became a daily occurrence and they traveled through the night. I lost the once energetic personality that I had. Since I lacked energy, I turned to caffeine for assistance and became an addict. I’d drink three to four caffeinated beverages a day just to get through it with a minor headache.

Although the headaches occurred less often, these bubbling, sugar-filled boosters only took away from my health more.

How power

Jumping straight into finals can be difficult for many students. That’s why the review week between the break and the final exams is lauded by the student body.

Review packets, refreshing lessons and helpful tutoring are all greatly appreciated.

A downward spiral began. When I would try to eat strong foods, I realized that I couldn’t anymore. Some of my favorite foods turned into my worst nightmares. Half the time, my stomach wouldn’t let me eat. If I ate anytime in the morning, the result was a painful stomach ache that could have lasted anywhere from half an hour to two hours.

My body was warning me every other day, but I did not listen. My mind seemed to separate from my body, so it didn’t feel the pain. The more I ignored the problem the worse it became. Eating was a routine hell that I forced my organs to face. However, getting used to the migraines, anxiety and stomach pains did not help me.

Soon, it became too much to handle. So I decided that I needed to take some course of action. I tried to balance my diet by eating large dinners. I would consume multiple servings until I was not only full but a little sick. But this only added on more problems. Since I’d eat so much at night and barely anything in the morning, I would wake up with cramps in my stomach that could throw off my whole day.

My mother started to notice my strange eating habits.

She wanted to help me but she had no control of what I would do at school. So she suggested eating on the go.

Since she is a teacher, she did it almost everyday and it helped her. She bought me protien shakes that I now drink every morning. Apple squeezers, cheese crackers and other options became a part of my normal day.

I never realized how much easier it is for me to study, have energy and even go out with friends until I started eating better. My mother and I came up with a simple solution that made a major impact on my life.

Not eating regularly can take a toll on your body. The body needs nutrition. Otherwise, it impairs your metabolism, erodes the amount of muscle in your body and disintegrates your body’s good fat. In my case it was bad, but it isn’t the worst that can happen. Without food, the body simply can’t function to full capacity. The best way to keep good grades is to have a healthy mind, not focus all your time on textbooks and notes. A fifteen minute snack break is never a bad idea.

Regrettably, my body has not fully recovered. I still feel the effects of not eating healthily every day.

My dependency on caffeine, although lessened, is still prominent, and headaches might always be a factor in my life. Now, I realize what is important. My health outweighs everything. My body is something irreplaceable.

much

do you think

the

I never thought or imagined that I could do it. For anyone that has known me, ever, you know that I used to be overweight. When I would go out to eat, I would feel compelled to get the most outrageous item on the menu - whether it would be a Baconator burger and a large order of fries at Wendy’s or Chicken Fried Steak (with cream gravy), mashed potatoes (with cream gravy) and macaroni and cheese at Cotton Patch Café. Finally, I realized that way of living had to change.

It all started out when I was on vacation for a journalism camp in the Hoosier State, Indiana. It was mid-July, and we were having lunch at a local favorite called Bub’s Burgers.

Their claim to fame is a “Big Ugly” burger, which is a burger that is 22 ounces, pre-cooked. It comes on a bun that is bigger than my head, which is quite an accomplishment. Adam Richman from Man v. Food even visited there to feast on his own “Big Ugly.” If you finish it, you get the high honor of having a 4-by-6 inch picture of you posted on the wall. It’s so worth it.

Of course, I did it. I finished it in less than 10 minutes, and I even had some fries for dessert when I was done. I got my picture on the wall, signed it, and that was it. That was my reward for eating a 3,000 calorie cheeseburger.

Later that day, I had deep-dish pizza for dinner and six White Castle sliders the next day. After that weekend, I had a serious revelation. My health was going downhill. I constantly had shortness of breath and was also fatigued. I got on the scale when I got home and noticed I was the heaviest that I had ever been. I was getting very afraid I would get diabetes or have a heart attack. I made a promise to myself that I would change the minute that I stepped foot again on Texas land.

I had wanted to do this before. However, I never really had any motivation or patience to accomplish it. For some reason, this was different. I had a vision. I set my priorities. I had encouragement from people who cared for me. I got back to Flower Mound on July 18, and I immediately changed my diet.I started to only eat Lean Cuisines and salads. and protein bars became some of my best friends. I actually started to put some consideration into what I was eating, and I was walking for at least two hours almost every day during the summer. I walked because whenever I tried to run, I would feel like a heart attack was imminent.

One of my crowning achievements during this period of time is that I haven’t eaten a cheeseburger since Aug. 3 of last year. It was challenging to do, but it has become second nature to not even consider ordering one.

By September, I had lost 25 pounds. I was starting to feel a difference. I kept with the same routine of healthy eating, which shocked anyone that would go out to eat with me.

Friends of mine that didn’t realize I was doing this would exclaim things like, “Ben! Where did the other half of you go?!” It certainly didn’t happen overnight. I started to look back at old pictures of me, and I would wonder how I ever let myself become that way. Realizing what I was able to accomplish if I took the time and effort to get the job done was the best reward of the whole experience.

I wasn’t doing this for anyone else. I wasn’t doing it to prove a point to anyone. I wanted to become healthy and be able to make smarter decisions about how I lived. I wanted to challenge myself, and I won. Since last summer, I have miraculously lost 64 pounds. I had assumed that I would be overweight and unhealthy for the rest of my life. After I changed that assumption, I have come to realize that you really can accomplish any goal in life if you put your mind, heart and effort into it. design Lyndsay Hilton

Review relay

Caring cops

Money machines

school should have over

“None. They should get to speak whatever they want to.”

students’ social

“I think they should let the students do what they want because it’s their social media”

media?

compiled Miranda Chiechi photos Sydney Sund

Kelsey Blackshear, 9

Cooper Rentfro, 10 Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

OPINION 21 Patchy parking

Some of the tables in the commons have been removed. This, with closure of the library during lunch, has forced students to cram into the tables. The tables should be returned to relieve some of the traffic in the already crowded lunch room.

Some students are rarely late. But there is no mercy when it comes to being assigned a detention for being tardy. Administrators should adjust the policy to make it more lenient for students on their first infraction.

Now that construction is wrapping up in some parts of the school, the debris is still left behind. Gravel and other obstacles make driving around the crazy parking lot more hazardous. Potholes should be filled in, and debris carried away ASAP.

@NeonTomahawk

Madi Schwem

Living multiple lives

Most people only live one life. But me? I’ve lived more than one. So many by now that I’ve lost count. I’ve taken them on since I was little. Most have ended, but once they do, new ones begin. One door closes, and another one opens.

I’ve brought down corrupt governments and officials just with the simple flick of a blade. I’ve travelled far and wide across the expanse of the Mojave Desert with only the company of a German Shepherd at my side. I’ve saved all of my friends from the threat of bloodthirsty pirates. I’ve had mystical powers like being able to shoot lightning from my fingertips. I’ve battled countless zombies for survival. And I’ve piloted galleons, helicopters, tanks and even robots.

Strange, I know. You probably think I’m lying, but I assure you this is 100 percent true. At the end of the day, I do whatever anyone else does. I go home, and I eat dinner with my family--my favorite meal has always been steak and baked potatoes. I wake up at 6:30 a.m., brush my hair and teeth and go to school. I come home, do homework, study and go to bed.

It becomes a cycle.

And yet, between it all, I’ve found something that allows me to escape the mundane patterns of everyday life.

But I’m not talking about books. I’ve worked on writing my own novel, and I can spend hours upon hours reading them. I was upset when Rue died in The Hunger Games. I was furious when Dallas Winston was shot to death in The Outsiders. But I didn’t cry. Books don’t get to me. What really moves me are video games.

I become the role I’m assigned. It’s not just a simple game

Heys

Troublesome tardies

[things we don’t like]

Commons calamity

for me, like Tetris or Mario Kart. If a plot appeals to me, if the characters are dynamic, I will be hooked. It’s not the game.

It’s not about scores or beating enemies. It’s about the plot.

It’s about the themes, the message behind it all. Some of the characters that inspire me most in writing actually come from these games.

We all need a break from life’s troubles and irritations every once in a while. And video games are my perfect escape from them.

When I play video games, I’m no longer Madi Schwem. I’m Lara Croft, famous archaeologist who can definitely handle herself in a fight. I’m Altair Ibn-La’Ahad, who has become the very definition of the word stealth. I am Lee Everett, expert Walker-killer.

It’s a common misconception that all video games do is rot your brain. You should spend your time doing more advantageous activities like reading a book. You should worry about things that are more thought-provoking, instead of wasting your time. While I agree that reading is good for you, and too much time in front of the TV will destroy your sight, I can easily argue that some of the best lessons I’ve learned have been from video games.

My favorite game franchise of all time, Assassin’s Creed, allowed my interest in history to flourish and my mind to become more open to points of views I don’t necessarily share.

Before, I just followed every single law and rule given to me.

Now, I question authority and everything other people do.

I don’t want to just blindly follow others--I want to have my own opinion about things. This isn’t just some special case.

Most games have some sort of underlying theme to them, even if the game itself isn’t fantastic. You know, the kind of themes that you might learn about in English class - fate v. free will, family, dealing with the death of loved ones, things are not always what they seem. The possibilities are endless. If you’re looking for it, it’s there.

Games aren’t mindless activities. Some of them allow you to make every individual choice, questioning the player’s morality. Some of them require you to play them twice just to fully comprehend them, similar to some movies. Does that really sound so mindless?

In the future, I definitely see myself writing for video games or designing them. I want to show the world that there’s more to them than just Pac-Man avoiding those ghosts or Sonic collecting a hundred rings. When it’s my turn, I’ll tell stories that’ll make even a best-selling novelist envious. And that is why I will always be a gamer.

MARQUEE REMARKS

“I’d say none. I just feel like those are two separate things.”

Evan Granberry, 11 The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

“I think they should look at what students are posting and see if it’s affecting anyone in school... and if it is, then they should take control of it.”

Lakshmi Chinnaswamy, 12

“For something as serious as threats against students or threats against the school... or teachers, I think that’s something the school should be involved with.”

Scott Hinsley, Science

@alex_helm

Best friend blues

Alex Helm

Pardon me for being cliché, but the power of true friendship is the strongest thing on this earth. We all have people we hang out with. Fellow classmates in Algebra II, co-workers from Tom Thumb, friends from church choir. With so many people in so many activities, there’s bound to be a few people that you spend a majority of your time with. Still, nothing can compare to the feeling of a real, true friend.

You know, the one who you met when you were 7 and would play “pretend games” with up until sixth grade?

The one who eats chocolate Frostys at Wendy’s with you while you cry in her car over one boy with brown eyes and another with blue?

The one who stays up until 4:00 a.m. eating cookie dough and puffed Cheetos while watching Made of Honor with you?

The one who comes to you in your darkest hour - when the heartbreak is too much to bear - and says she’ll never leave your side?

That true friend.

Lately, I have not been a true friend back. Actually, I haven’t even been a friend for about a year. I ditched the girl that loved to go to Chili’s and spend all night talking about life with me.

I ignored my friend, made up excuses to not hang out, was always busy with other people.

She had made new friends and did different things than I did. I felt like our friendship wasn’t what it used to be. The best friends that never, ever fought now argued all the time.

We didn’t laugh like we used to laugh. We didn’t talk like we used to talk. We didn’t act how we used to act. So I had found “better” friends, people who I thought would never leave me.

I threw her away for someone that didn’t last. Someone who wasn’t worth the sacrifice of years of friendship.

What I didn’t realize is that I was the one who changed. The person I used to be dissolved when I decided that I was too good for her anymore.

I had long given up on the possibility that we would ever talk again. Things happen, people change. I thought we had fallen apart for good. But just a few weeks ago, she came to my home unexpectedly.

I had just gotten out of the shower when my dad opened the door and greeted her as if she were his own daughter. I stood in the hall, unable to move or speak. So she moved. She hugged me. She was sweaty from her workout she just came from, but I didn’t care. I hugged her back. We cried together in my room for a long time.

She was still my true friend after I had been the biggest loser of all time. That kind of friendship is strong. It’s unbreakable. And as silly as it sounds, that friendship is meant to last forever. “BFFs,” as the 12-year-olds say.

Now I know that I should have held my friend close in my heart, even if we were both different. I should have been there for her no matter what, even if I didn’t agree with some of her choices. I should have said “ I love you” and “you’re beautiful” and “you mean so much to me.”

But I didn’t.

Maybe this is how friendships work in high school. Maybe this is a learning experience.

I think everyone is trying to understand who they are.

There’s so many changes going on. I think this confusion that makes up high school leads to arguments and misunderstandings and joy and learning.

We’re all finding ourselves. Sometimes discovering who your true blues are is one of the hardest things to do when you barely know yourself. design Lyndsay Hilton

22 EDITORIALS

Vague technology rules should be clarified Staff Editorial

Two years after LISD introduced Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), schools have seen the use of social media become a part of their everyday routine. Students may follow teachers and administrators, allowing for the spread of useful information. This also allows administrators and teachers to access student’s online accounts and punish them for their online behavior. While some students may not agree with school’s involvement in their personal life, the fact remains that their private life is not as private as they believe, and they can get in trouble for what they say online. The bottom line though, is that students are unclear of what the actual rules are. Administrators need to provide clear, concise and explicit guidelines for online behavior.

First and foremost, at the beginning of each school year, the school should provide a list of what is not permitted. As of right now, the Student Handbook outlines illicit online behavior as “possessing, sending, forwarding, posting, accessing or displaying electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damag-

ing to another’s reputation or illegal.” This list should also include the consequences students could face for breaking or ignoring these guidelines. A major problem students face is the uncertainty of ambiguous or unknown rules.

While the rules are vaguely laid out in the Student Handbook, the information leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The vast majority of students have no idea, nor the motivation to discover the rules. Having a lecture at the beginning of the school year, or even a handout, outlining the regulations will help to remedy some of the confusion.

One uncertainty among the students is whether or not they can be held accountable for their actual language online while in school or not. Students need to know whether or not they can get in trouble for cussing online. The handbook does not explicitly say anything about swearing, but students are still confused. Swearing and other obscene language is not permitted in the class, but students’ free speech liberties should be respected for their online posts and conversations. Swearing has become mainstream and largely accepted by America’s youth so students should not be punished for their language online, and if they are, the school needs to define, very clearly, what qualifies as inappropriate language.

Another ambiguity is cyberbullying. Students won-

der if they can be punished for hurtful things they say online. The school defines punishable online activity as a “substantial disruption to the educational environment.” This statement is ambiguous and unclear.

When clarifying the rules, the school needs to remember the First Amendment rights students have at school.

While, according to Morse v. Fredrickson, schools do have the right to intervene with student behavior off school property, it doesn’t mean administrators should exploit that right. The guidelines should be made clear and fair.

Whatever they decide, school’s should make sure that the students are informed about the rules. Students who know the standards are less likely to go against them unwittingly by posting inappropriate content. Furthermore, schools should only involve themselves in the case that it substantially affects the school. These cases include instances when a student is being seriously affected or bullied, or the school may be in danger.

As technology grows and changes, schools have some major decisions to make regarding the rights of their students. These are difficult and full of gray areas, but need to be made nonetheless. The boundaries need to be clearly outlined, fair and given in advance. Only then will students be able to understand and respect the rules.

Affluent teens should know limits, not abuse privileges Staff Editorial

design Lyndsay Hilton

have. The bubble of Flower Mound is not the real world. Students should consider volunteering in charitable institutions or traveling the world to visit less fortunate countries. It’s important that they see what life is like outside of this bubble.

THE BUBBLE

100

The case of Ethan Couch, who was recently convicted of intoxication manslaughter, has sparked controversy over affluenza. The term was used as an excuse for Couch to get out of jail, raising the controversy of whether the overlyprivileged understand that there are consequences to their actions. Affluenza is a supposed psychological disorder that affects young people who have grown up in a wealthy family or neighborhood, making them believe they are invincible. This term can also be applied to teens in Flower Mound because it is considered a well-to-do city. Even though some students come from wealthy backgrounds, it is imperative for teenagers to learn that their background does not make them above the law or different from their peers.

While teens may not understand the reasons why they have to follow certain rules, adhering to the ones their parents set is a good model for following laws outside their home. To stay out of trouble, they must realize that their actions have repercussions. They must accept punishment for breaking any rules or laws. If allowed to believe they can do whatever they want, they might believe that no harm can come to them. It is imperative everyone understands that they can’t just do everything they want to do.

Rules apply to everyone. There shouldn’t be any exceptions.

Because Flower Mound is an affluent community, local parents tend to spoil their children. They might give them the access to many opportunities that families less fortunate may not be able to afford. While this no doubt gives individuals many easy-to-reach opportunities in their lives, children must learn to earn what they need. Life will not just hand people everything, especially once they are off and working outside the house. Being given everything they need doesn’t teach anyone the value of hard work. Additionally, it does not prepare a child for real life once he or

she reaches adulthood. Teenagers shouldn’t expect to get everything they want so easily. That’s not the way life works.

Many students may be aware of how fortunate they are and all the opportunities they have been given, such as brand new cars for their birthdays or designer clothing. It is important that they appreciate those opportunities, rather than abusing them. Privilege can be a good thing, but once abused, it can get an individual into trouble. Not only must a parent place limits on their child, but the child must learn how to limit himself as well. Teenagers should recognize that what they have been given is an opportunity that not everyone may have access to.

Some people are not as wellto-do. Those who are should appreciate their good fortune, rather than abusing it.

Being part of an affluent family can no doubt be beneficial, so long as the teen knows his or her limitations and boundaries. No parent wants to see their child end up in jail, or worse. Teens must understand that while they are fortunate, they should take the time to appreciate the things they

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Jan. 31, 2014 The Marquee

Sweet Tweets don’t judge books by their covers Nothing about the appearances or actions of the Mario Bros. made me think they’re plumbers.

Katie Bienek: @katiefranci

I just saw Frozen And listened to the soundtrack the whole way home #noshame

I will never understand why people say they look homeless when they are wearing ugg boots and a north face jacket.

I need a fake ID that says I’m 65 years old so I can get senior discounts at IHOP

Aydin Zanagar: @azanagar

Garret Clark: @The_Garebear

Emily Power: @EmilyyPower

one time I set up a candle lit dinner for myself just so I could take a picture and post it to twitter

It’s gotten to the point where I’m too lazy to read the Sparknotes of the book I’m supposed to read

Allie Glasgow: @allieglasgow

Johnny G’s

House of Cajun and Italian fusion (with a few other things thrown in)

www.johnnygslewisville.com 1425 FM 407, Suite 100 Lewisville, TX 75077

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014

Simran Malik: @simranmalik

compiled Molly Webber

Few things are stronger than the will to keep sleeping in the morning.

Melissa Morales: @mel_morales12

can’t wait to go home and eat everything in my fridge Sydney Stowell: @SydStowell

When someone tries to bring you down they’re only admitting you’re above them. #youbeyou Faith Henderson: @heyyimfaith

24 SPOTLIGHT Sophomore Hannah Donald shares in a playful moment with her cow after walking him. He nudged her over as she was petting him.

Farming fanatics At least once a day, FFA members can be found at the barn in Lewisville, taking care of their animals and preparing them for shows.

Various activities include washing, drying and exercising their animals, as well as cleaning the barn. photos Miranda Chiechi

Senior Suzanne Suttles brushes her steer to maintain his fur. This is one of the ways FFA members take care of their animals.

Sophomore Ellie Rogers spends some time petting her goat after taking care of him at the barn.

Senior Paul Murphy blow drys his heifer after cleaning him. To clean him, Murphy washed and sprayed him down with water.

Left: Junior Matt Bahr and senior Nick Romano relax and share a laugh after Romano gets back from walking his heifer around the barn.

Right: Senior Allyson Cafferty blow dries her steer’s fur as he eats from his food trough.

design Amanda Collen

The Marquee Jan. 31, 2014