The Marquee Volume 31 Issue 5

THE

marquee

Volume 31 • Issue 5 • March 3, 2017

the transgender choice 6

Students and faculty weigh in on President Trump

8

Junior girl starts online jewelry business

24

Best activities to do over spring break

Edward S. Marcus High School • 5707 Morriss Road, Flower Mound, TX

The Marquee Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Sanika Sule MANAGING / PHOTO EDITOR Vanessa Davis COPY / OPINION EDITOR Cara Crocker DESIGN EDITOR Nick Fopiano

PHOTO VANESSA DAVIS Junior Avery Hudson watches as a worker from Carter Blood Care wraps her arm after she donated blood. Hudson participated in the blood drive sponsored by the Meds Club on Feb. 1.

Bailey Crocker, Michelle Mullings NEWS EDITOR Bailey Crocker

CONTENTS

4

ONlLINE EDITORS

FEATURE EDITOR Michelle Mullings ENTERTAINMENT/ SPORTS EDITOR Kelly Rowe

News

VOUCHER SYSTEM State considers new system to give parents school choice

GRAPHICS EDITOR Abbey Clouse REPORTERS Morgan Maxwell, Sky Middleton,

Feature

YEAR OF RECOVERY Senior shares experience with severe nerve damage and dramatic recovery

8

Shayla Sistrunk, Aidann Zuniga DESIGNERS Megan Clark, Jolie Mullings PHOTOGRAPHERS Adam Luqman, Grace Pecunia ADVISER

20

LaJuana Hale PRINCIPAL

Sports

CHANGE OF SCENERY Sophomore transitions from football to performing arts due to concussion

Entertainment

THE OSCAR GOES TO... Movie reviews of the films nominated for best picture cover cara crocker

24

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. Patron ads are available for $100. Online advertisements are also available. For more information call 469-713-5196.

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

News

3

story Skyler Middleton Each month, Twitter has popular trending topics. Some are relevant for only a few hours, others remain in the spotlight for weeks. Take a look into this month’s popular hashtags.

#TheOscars Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 89th Academy Awards on Feb. 26. Actors Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway presented the award for Best Picture and called “La La Land”.

The cast and crew of the movie were accepting the award when it was announced that “Moonlight” had actually recieved the honor. Viewers took to Twitter to express their confusion and shock at the mixup, comparing it to Steve Harvey’s mix up at the Miss America beauty pageant.

#ProtectTransKids

President Trump’s latest executive order has withdrawn a set of guidelines originally enacted by the Obama administration allowing transgender students to use the school bathroom of the gender that they identified with. Rumors of the withdraw came Thursday morning and it was officially announced later that night. The announcement sparked debate on Twitter, with nearly 300,000 tweets posted with #ProtectTransKids.

#NotTheEnemy Following President Trump’s accusations of printing “fake news,” New York Times, CNN, LA Times and Politico were barred from attending a White House press conference. Trump’s decision sparked journalists to use #NotTheEnemy. Twitter users used the hashtag to express that journalists are valuable to society, and their frustration at the Trump administration’s decision. The hashtag was also used to pay tribute to jounalists who died whiled doing their jobs.

#TheBachelorette

ABC selected their first black Bachelorette for the new season.The show first came on in 2002 and has never featured a black bachelor or bachelorette making Rachel Lindsay their first. Despite the lack of diversity the franchise has attracted a large and age ranging audience for the past 15 years. Twitter’s users used the hashtag #TheBachelorette to express excitement at the announcement and question why the series took so long to include a person of color.

DESIGN Nick fopiano

MARCH 3, 2017

4

news

Senate to introduce school voucher system story bailey crocker Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is proposing a plan for school choice, which will be laid out in Senate Bill 3. With Gov. Greg Abbott saying that he would sign the most “pro-choice school law” arriving on his desk, many believe that it could roll out next school year.

What is it?

The voucher is a payment or tax credit paid by the government toward tuition at a nonpublic school of students’ and parents’ choice. The voucher system will allow parents to take their children out of their local public school. However, nonpublic schools are not obligated to take the vouchers.

Pro-school choice Supporters of the system say that it gives parents a broader choice of schools.

In a story released by the Dallas Morning News, state representative Rob Eissler said that chances are good that it could move forward this year.

“Everyone wants better schools for kids across the board,” Eissler said.

“The question is how to do it. With the governor weighing in this year, I’d say it has a good shot.”

In the same story, Patrick Wolf, a professor at the University of Arkansas who studies school choice, said that it gives parents a broader choice.

“It’s versatile,” Wolf said. “It allows parents to pick the particular set or recipe of educational supports that they think is best for their child.”

Local outrage Opponents see the system as an attack because money is being funneled from public schools. AP Jennifer Hawes said that staff and programs could be cut because of the loss of students and the funding that goes with them.

“I don’t think [the voucher system] does a good job of promoting our public schools,” Hawes said.

The dispute boiled over Monday in Austin when Richardson students spoke out against it at Texas PTA Rally day. The students argued that the vouchers would not be large enough to pay the tuition for many private schools.

Senator Dan Huffines who was in attendance heatedly responded to the students, emphasizing that it gave them a choice. Huffines later issued an apology to the students, but defended his belief.

MHSMARQUEE.COM

A child is eligible for a voucher if they attend public school in Texas and turn five after Sept.

1 or if they spent all of the past academic year in a traditional public school or public charter school. A parent can enroll their child into the program for the following school year. However, amounts deposited into accounts would vary based on income and disability status.

How much money will they recieve?

Who is eligible?

The amount of money that is given to the parents is determined based on household income.

For a family of four or more that makes more than $89,910 will recieve almost $6,000 per child per year. Over $7,000 per child per year will be given if a family’s income is less than twice the reduced-price lunch limit — for a three-person household, less than $74,592. A disabled student will recieve $8,754 per year.

The money goes towards the vouchers, but it could also include aid for other needs, such as tutoring or online courses. Any parents who misuse funds can be subject to criminal penalties.

In Arizona, which also has the voucher system, a state audit that found officials had identified that more than $102,000 in funds were misspent. The examples include parents who kept the state’s money after enrolling their children in public school, parents who bought non-educational items such as snow globes and sock monkeys, and parents who didn’t submit required expense reports to the Arizona Department of Education.

What can the money be used for?

DESIGN jolie mullings

opinion

Overheard

Compiled Grace Pecunia “Dude, I’m not a dweeb, I watched Naruto ONCE.” W hall

at

MHS

“Does my knee smell weird?”

D hall “I wish it was socially acceptable to bark at other people.”

A Hall

“Look, Doritos are my life.

Don’t judge me for that.”

Commons

14

5

“English is the best country.”

“My dog broke the stairs.”

W Hall

C Hall

$5.50 Special

-2017

Custom HeadlineTailor 1940 FM 407 # 112 Highland Village, TX 75028 MARCH 3, 2017

6

news

The T

Stu

de CO

1. What do you think about Trump?

- “I think any one who wants the job and the responsibility is brave and courageous...I feel like he’s up for the job.”

-Chantell Upshaw, M9 principal - ”I feel like he is a very passionate person and sometimes his opinions cause a lot of trouble. We might not have the same view as him, but he’s still our president so we have to learn to respect him.”

-Naomi George, 10 - “For someone like him who has no political experience it is definitely surprising that he even got as far as he did.”

-Quinn Waldron, 11 - ”I think so far as a president he’s been weaker than other presidents comparatively. The president is supposed to be our number one role model and when the president is weak then America becomes weaker as a country.”

- Jax Moren, 12 - “I think that he is doing way too much in one month. From my perspective I didn’t actually think he was serious whenever he was campaigning but now he has proved us wrong and caused a uproar” -Alex Lal, 10

MHSMARQUEE.COM

nts MPI

, fa

LED

rump

cul

SHA YL A

ty d

SIS T

RUN

iscu

K& MO

RGA

2. What do you think about the travel ban?

- “Green card holders of America were just going overseas and trying to come back and they were holding them. I think that’s unconstitutional.”

- Jax Moren, 12 - “I feel really bad for the families who were separated for those several days. It was an unfortunate situation but I feel like any kind of major law or change like that needs to be discussed and publicized often so people don’t get stuck in a situation like that.

- Chantell Upshaw, M9 principal - “I think that it has affected lots of people, even people with Syrian family members at this school. Many of the people are either the same age as me or younger so its not fair since most of the have spent their life in America. This is their home.”

- Alex Lal, 10 - “I support the travel band because it gives us a time to revise our vetting system, and we are only banning people from countries that have been a home for Islamic terrorists and unstable governments.”

- Everett Eads, 11 - “It came very abrupt and as soon as I found out I wasn’t okay with it. His choice was extreme and affected lots of people around us daily. Even people we wouldn’t expect.”

- Naomi George, 10

ss n

Effec

ew

NM A XW ELL

pre

side

t

nt

3. How well do you think Trump has done in his first month in office?

- “I think anyone [who] can survive the first month of being the president is doing an awesome job. I think there is probably so much to learn and so much to figure out...I am hoping that he has selected a team to surround him that will help support him and help us to continue to be the greatest country ever.”

-Chantell Upshaw, M9 principal - “I feel he’s done a decent job except for the immigration ban because I felt it was [a] little too extreme...and could have been postponed and done in a little more of a fashionable way.”

- Naomi George, 10 - “I’d say overall it’s been regressive and he hasn’t really accomplished anything...

Trump has just made it a lot harder to deal with other countries.”

- Jax Moren, 12

DESIGN abbey clouse

NEWS

7

4. What do you think about Trump’s immigration policy?

- “He thinks that immigrants are bad for America, and I don’t really know what’s going through his head, but it’s actually been proven that immigrants don’t take our jobs or do any of these bad things.”

- Jax Moren, 12 - “This is the first time a whole minority has been scared for [their] whole life at the hands of our own president. Not only are people scared to fly or get pulled over but they are scared to lose their families.”

- Alex Lal, 10 - “If you commit a crime here and you are already here illegally, you should be deported. I would like to get all the illegals out but that’s just not possible.”

-Everett Eads, 11

DESIGN abbey clouse

MARCH 3, 2017

Creating a brand Junior starts online boutique for affordable jewelry sophomore year through LISD’s online VLA system. With the additional help of Google Translate, Sammie was able to speak As she scrolled through her computer, junior Sammie to the sellers online and order the first set of jewelry.

Harris started looking at different jewelry websites. Each As she saw that everything was starting to fall into place, had the same type of jewelry, and she noticed how high the Sammie realized she needed to create a name. She knew she prices were. Sammie realized that regular high schoolers wanted it to have Golden in it, and suddenly, the name “Golden Tree” came to her. So she decided that Golden Tree Jewelry can’t afford this jewelry. would become the name of her online So Sammie decided that she boutique. should sell her own jewelry at Sammie’s mother, Lesley Harris, cheaper prices. She started searching remembers the day that Sammie told website after website trying to find her about opening the website. Lesley a wholesaler that would be perfect was supportive, but she made sure to not for what she was looking for.

It came from a little be disappointed if Sammie didn’t follow “I have a really hard time idea and she’s made through with the idea. But Sammie stayed shopping for jewelry at really big on track and started asking her mother for stores and I always feel like $12 it into something real. more help whenever it was getting closer is too expensive for that simple She made it happen to being finished. necklace so I always price it as if

“I wasn’t keeping track of how she I was buying it,” Sammie said. “I and she put a lot of was doing, she was doing it on her own,” want to make sure high schoolers work into it.

Lesley said. “But she would come down can have the access to basic jewelry.” when she had a big accomplishment.”

Finally she found one. The

The process to get the website up website was based in China, so and running wasn’t quick. Sammie spent the people that Sammie almost a year planning it out and ordering met on the website the jewelry. spoke Mandarin

“I took the summer and built the site and little and I started from scratch,” Sammie said.

“I got all the products in the beginning of this year and got a bunch of photos done with my friends.”

English.

Although she wasn’t fluent The jewelry site features different jewelry styles from long in Mandarin, chain necklaces to floral chokers. she had While Sammie mostly set the site up and planned the process taken the of the jewelry, she had some additional help from a few of her c l a s s friends she’s made in Marquettes. Sammie says that each girl has brought different contributions to the group. “[They] definitely help balance it out because I want to dive

story cara crocker

-Emily Sonneborn, 11

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

FEATURE in head first and get a bunch of stuff done and then some people reign me in and help organize,” Sammie said.

Junior Emily Sonneborn is one of the people that Sammie credits to helping her with the boutique. Sonneborn has tried to be there as a moral support for Sammie and has noticed the effort she puts into it.

“It came from a little idea and she’s made it into something real,” Sonneborn said. “She made it happen and she put a lot of work into it.”

On Dec. 10, 2016 the site, goldentreejewelry.net had its grand opening. Sammie worked with a graphic designer to create the website she had envisioned, which features two streaks of gold and pink, each accenting the different aspects about the site.

Sammie’s first sale was from her uncle in Oregon, who was waiting for Sammie to put up the site. Once it was up, he bought a few pieces for his wife, and then they both started telling their friends about the jewelry.

Sammie has received 60 sales from across the country and the world, spanning from California to Germany. Sammie credits the international sales to her use of social media. Over all the social media platforms Golden Tree Jewelry is on, the follower account exceeds 1,000.

“Social media is our biggest marketing strategy, and I email a bunch of social media influencers especially girls in the beauty industry,” Sammie said. “I’ll send them jewelry for free and they tweet or post on Instagram photos of them wearing the jewelry.”

One of the largest promoters of Sammie’s jewelry was Betty Turner, a makeup artist on Twitter with over 80,000 followers.

On average, each person that promotes the jewelry has over 3,000 followers.

9

Even Lesley helps promote the jewelry. Once the site launched, she posted it on her Facebook and started receiving feedback from her friends. Soon, Lesley along with her coworkers were wearing the London Bangles, two simple gold and silver bracelets.

It’s just a beginning, but for Sammie, it’s something that she hopes can be bigger. She wants to continue the shop after she graduates high school. “[I’d] really like to grow it based on social media and really keep it online...so that I can still go through college,” Sammie said. “[I would] really like to help some people out by doing it.”

Since junior Sammie Harris has created her online boutique, her variety of jewelry has increased.

Now her website features many floral pieces as requested by clients.

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

MARCH 3, 2017

10 feature

Surviving a mystery

Senior recovers from lengthy, unknown affliction photos submitted story kelly rowe He kept his eyes closed and calmed his breathing, trying to keep claustrophobia from consuming him. Senior Blake Boehle stayed as still as possible as the MRI began, scanning his brain and upper spine. He was forced to ignore the intense pain surging through his joints, and he struggled to suppress the twitches that were nearly a constant part of his

life. He began to let his mind wander. The first thing he thought of was his MOB friends, off at Disney World, while he was stuck in this machine.

“I started thinking, ‘Is this going to be my life? Everyone around me is doing all these fun things, and I’m stuck doing procedures and tests at hospitals,’” Blake said.

“That was probably my lowest moment.”

• • • A few months prior, a light pink shaded the sky as the day drew to an end, and the Boehle family took their dogs for their routine walk around the neighborhood.

Blake was in charge of walking Lucy, the youngest dog, as she liked to pull and tug ahead of the group.

As she found her way against a chain link fence and through the dim trailway, she jumped back Blake Boehle sleeps on his couch. Even the short walk from his couch to his kitchen would wear Blake out during the months of his sickness.

September: • stung by wasp • fatigue started • nerve pain began

October: • nerve pain hit its worst • couldn’t walk up stairs • 2 - 4 doctor visits a week

November: • twitching stopped • 2 - 4 doctor vists a week • got MRI

in surprise.

Blake and his parents, Candace and Kevin Boehle began to inspect the area with their phones, illuminating the ground in search for whatever may have spooked their dog. When they found nothing, they continued on with their walk, but a sharp pain filled Blake’s left side. They assumed it was some sort of bee or wasp sting.

“I’ve been stung before and it was fine.

I had a normal reaction,” Blake said. “But as we continued on that trail… I kept saying how it was starting to hurt more and more.”

An hour after going home and taking some Benadryl, Blake developed a twitch.

He would quickly curl his upper body inwards, as if he was flinching away from a punch. While his pain wasn’t debilitating, it was persistent. This caused concern to settle in, and they decided to drive to the emergency room.

At first glance, the doctors seemed to assume Candace and Kevin were only paranoid, over-protective parents, so they brushed off Blake’s symptoms as a simple bee sting. He was given more and more Benadryl, but his twitching managed to wake him before he could fall asleep.

After a sluggish and drowsy ride home, Blake was too tired to make the journey

December: • nerve pain decreased • climb stairs without help • visited school friends at Christmas • began Homebound

February: • doctor visits slowed down

Progression of symptoms

upstairs to his bedroom, and decided to crash on the couch instead. Little did he know, this was where he’d be spending most of his time for the next eight months.

• • • Over the next few weeks, Blake’s symptoms began to worsen. Weakness plagued his muscles, and he developed serious nerve pain. He could only take a few steps before his legs gave out, and he resorted to crawling to get around the house. At one point, it even affected his speech.

“He would have episodes where he couldn’t talk,” Candace said. “He would try so hard to get the words out, he would

‘‘

I’ve never felt more helpless in my life, because as a parent you want to do everything you can to make your child better.

-Candace boehle, mom just stutter and stammer and it would break your heart.”

Kevin, Blake’s father, is a doctor and he was just as baffled as the several neurologists and allergists they saw. None could find a definitive answer. The only thing they could be certain of was the facts — he was in pain, and he wasn’t showing any signs of recovery.

“It’s kind of a scary feeling when you go to the doctor and they tell you, ‘He should

March: • could climb stairs fully • one doctor visit after waiting a scheduled period of four months

get better. We think he’s going to get better, but we’ve never seen this before so we can’t promise you anything,’” Candace said.

Their best guess was that this was a reaction to a Southern yellowjacket’s venom.

Kevin said that once the venom was in Blake’s bloodstream, it started to attack and destroy the lining of his nerves.

This is why on top of the twitching, Blake also felt the nerve pain and muscle weakness.

“Once it’s occurred, the nerve has to regrow the lining on the outside of it,” Kevin said. “It takes months to years to really do.”

The nerve pain began in his shoulders, moved to his elbows before shooting down to his wrists.

The nerve pain made its way through every joint in his body throughout the months, until it finally reached his ankles.

“I’ve never felt more helpless in my life,” Candace said. “Because as a parent you want to do everything you can to make your child better.”

But there was nothing they could do.

There was no way to know for sure if he was going to be okay. They could only stick it out through the next months, and figure out ways to accommodate Blake’s situation day by day.

Due to his debilitating pain and difficulty walking and speaking, Blake

April: • returned to school for one class • began physical therapy

Blake Boehle works on one of his many stories for MOB. The MOB staff assigned him stories to cover during the time of his illness.

couldn’t attend school from September to April. To avoid falling behind, he began a homeschooling program called Homebound. An assigned teacher would visit him at home twice a week for two hours.

“We joked that I was there for the first four weeks of school, and the last four weeks of school,” Blake said. “I missed the rest of the year.”

Although he was on track with his studies, he wasn’t only missing classes.

Blake was missing the high school experience—his friends, his freedom and his entire junior year.

• • • (Continued on pg. 14)

May: • returned to school for two classes July: • fatigue subsided • finished physical therapy

12 sports

Adopt an athlete

Basketball player bonds with fourth grade class their teacher settled them down around Richard was at the school for Adopt the net, the kids were running around the an Athlete, a program that allows varsity When junior Jordan Richard came​​ court with Richard. athletes to play with an elementary school into​ ​the​ ​room​ ​on​ ​Thursday​ ​morning​ ​the Without the obvious size difference, the class once a week for their sports season. elementary​ ​kids​ ​eyes​ ​lit​ ​up​ ​and​—​as​ ​if​ ​it​ ​ energy that Richard bought to the room Richard and the rest of varsity basketball were​ ​rehearsed​—​all yelled​ ​out​ ​his​ ​name​ ​ made it easy to mistake this 17 year old began working with the program Feb. 2. with​​excitement. The kids ran to the gym for just one of the kids. The fourth graders The varsity players are split up and sent filled with sugar from the donuts Richard all sat down around the basket watching to different classes at the feeder elementahad bought for the class, ready to play the older student in ry schools every with their high school athlete. Before anticipation, waiting Thursday. to see what the Richard heads varsity basup to Heritage ketball playElementary er could do.

School at 7:45 Richard drib- I just know how the kids feel, and a.m. Every week bled down the they choose difhow happy they get to see me court ready ferent games to to shoot the every week. When I was their age play with their first basket of I felt the same way. class. So far, the morning.

Richard and Everyone in the kids have the room held played a spelltheir breath ing game, Just as the ball flew towards the bas- Dance, and a short game of basketball. On ket. It completely miss the hoop. some mornings, they play outside on the Laughter filled the gym as the var- school’s playground. sity player’s head hung low from “[The athletes] are so much bigger than embarrassment. Even though the [the elementary students],” Head Varsity varsity shooting guard missed, the boy’s basketball Coach Clay Cody said. kids watched him with respect and “They are almost like professional players praise. for those kids.”

story skyler middleton

‘‘

- Jordan richard, 11

Looking for someone to pass the basketball to, junior Jordan Richard hold the ball over a Heritage Elementary student. During his time with the kids, Richards likes to demonstrate his basketball skills.

DESIGN abbey clouse

photos adam luqman Junior Jordan Richard participates with the Heritage Elementary students in a basketball drill. The students learn several dribbling techniques that they show the community at the varsity basketball games each year.

Richard remembers how much he looked up to his Adopt an Athlete as an elementary schooler at Heritage and said it was a lot of fun to go back to his school and be a part of a program he loved.

He remembers how much he looked up to his adopted athlete, a varsity football player, and how his athelete made him feel special. Now, he sees how much the kids look up to him.

“I just know how the kids feel, and how happy they get to see me every week,” Richard said. “When I was their age I felt the same way.”

Richard thinks having a role model when children are young is important, and being able to have an older student to hang out with every week is uplifting for

some kids.

“I know they look up to me,” Richard said. “Not just to me, but to the whole basketball team.”

This program doesn’t only allow kids to play games with older athletes, but Coach Cody believes it can build teamwork and good sportsmanship in the elementary school students.

Richard’s younger cousin is in the fourth grade class he visits. Now he not only looks up to Richard at home but also gets to see him as a role model in school.

Richard and Coach Cody believe that it is a responsibility for athletes to set the right example for the younger students.

However, basketball season is over, and with the end of a season comes the end of

Leah Walters, 12, Varsity Basketball “I love being a role model to these kids. In today’s society I think it’s really important to have good role models, someone to idolize that makes good decisions and choices and it’s just really important to start young. I’m happy to be a good role model.”

Macey McConathy,12, Varsity Golf “I think it’s fun to go back, because this year I’m at my elementary school so it’s fun to see my old teachers. It’s also fun to hang out with the kids because I remember when I was in elementary school, and it would be so much fun when the athletes would come.”

Richard’s time in Adopt an Athlete.

As Richard was leaving the class for the final time this season, the fourth grade students all gave him personalized goodbye letters. One of his letters said, “Later Alligator, we will miss you, and you’re amazing.”

Richard is excited to continue with this program, but since he won’t have the same kids next year, Richard said that saying goodbye to the fourth graders was hard.

“These kids now have someone to look up to, to strive for,” Cody said. “Sometimes we don’t realize that in high school the younger kids do look up to them. It’s good to have a role model that is someone they want to be like.”

60 Seconds

compiled by Morgan maxwell

Haley Barr,

Junior

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

“The beach. I love sitting in the sand and being in the sun.”

If you could be any animal what would it be?

“A giraffe because they have always been my favorite animal.”

What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?

“Arthur because I liked all of the characters.”

What movie could you watch over and over and not get sick of it?

“Heaven is for Real. I like the message behind it and how the little boy was touched by the gospel.”

(continued from pg. 11) On March 31, Blake celebrated his therapy, going two to three times a week 17th birthday stuck inside his home. The until July. small spasms had faded away, and he was “Starting off it was a little humiliatgetting a little better every week. But he ing,” Blake said. “After months of the still felt a lingering weight in his chest as disease getting worse, I was just pitifully he was confined to his familiar four walls. weak.”

Every couple of weeks, his friends Memories of freshman football filled from MOB, the broadcast journalism his mind. Back then he could lift over 100 class, would visit to help him feel in- pounds, but now he struggled lifting two cluded. Senior Sara Edwards, a friend on pounds. However, he fought to get better. staff, said they tried their best to keep his “We have a lot to be thankful for,” spirits up, and as this was no ordinary day, Kevin said. “It’s unfortunate that this they decided to make this visit as fun as happened but it really did pull us together.” possible.

The first half of their celebration took Blake is now in his final semester of place that morning. They brought home- his senior year, fully recovered. The enmade brownies and pizza, and gathered tire experience has helped him and his around Blake’s spot on the couch, squeez- parents find a new appreciation for life. ing in to watch the MOB show that they Blake said that he learned that he is truly had just finished. It included a special blessed to have such supportive and kind shout out for Blake’s birthday, prompting friends and family surrounding him.

“I definitely learned the power of viewers to send their best wishes to him.

But when the group left, Blake was human kindness,” Blake said. “Going alone once more. While he was improv- through everyday life you don’t really ing, he still felt loneliness seep in as he notice it, but when times get tough, it’s awe-inspiring to see what people are willwatched his friends live their lives.

At the end of the school day, the ing to do for others.”

MOB crowd surprised Blake with another visit. They ate the remaining goodies, joking with him and helping to lift his mood once more.

Candace said that their visits really helped him from settling into a depression.

“You’d see the old Blake, and even if it was a bad day, he would laugh so hard when they would come over,” Candace said. “It would kind of take it all away from him for a little bit.”

In April he Blake Boehle adjusts the camera settings on one of the MOB started physical cameras. He’s currently the technical director on staff.

up for debate in Texas

Transgender bathroom rights:

Last week, President Trump repealed federal rules that protect transgender students in public schools who use the restroom of their gender identity. Now bathroom guidelines can be specified by each state. photo adam luqman

New transgender Guidelines 16 in-depth

Texas bathroom bill proposed, school policy examined story aidann zuniga & bailey crocker

Proposed state-wide policy:

Goldberg and Troye Sivan, have reached out with their concerns, signing a letter condemning the passing of the Texas bill, calling it “a denial of basic human dignity.”

The letter reads, “Transgender and gender-nonconforming young people are already subjected to bullying and harassment.

Can you imagine the message these bills send to children — the message of ‘that child is unwelcome, that child is dangerous?’”

The NFL issued a warning that the bill could affect future Super Bowls in the state. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in a statement that they want “all fans to feel welcome at [NFL] events, and NFL policies prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other improper standard.” Later on, the NBA joined in on this statement, saying that the bill conflicts with the league’s commitment to embrace inclusiveness.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick filed Senate Bill 6 on Jan. 5 concerning transgender people using public restrooms. If passed, Senate Bill 6 will be enforced in schools, universities and government buildings.

If the bill is passed, it will require transgender people to use the restroom of their biological sex. If they use the restroom of their preferred gender, they will be fined and/or sent to jail for 6 months. Patrick said the women’s restroom should be reserved for those who are biologically female, and vice versa. He also said a man using the women’s restroom poses as a threat to women. Junior Connelly Wilson agrees.

“You don’t want teenage boys going in the bathroom with teenage girls,” Wilson said.

One of Patrick’s main arLISD policy: guments for passing this bill is

Currently, there are no set the basics of common sense in rules for transgender students on America. their bathroom use in the LISD “If it costs me an election, if district.

They can come talk to it costs me a lot of grief, then

“The best way to try and so be it,” Patrick said. “If we identify it is probably by case to us and we can work out can’t fight for something case basis,” Jason Mullin, assisa better solution for this basic, then we’ve tant principal said. “I’m not golost our country.” ing to say this is hundred percent, them.

The Texall the time, every student. But The Boys Scouts of as Senate is now for the most part the assumption following the is that students are using the reAmerica recentsteps of the stroom for which they were bioly annouced that North Carolilogically born to.” the group will alna legislators However, if students are low transgender who passed a uncomfortable with using reboys to join. The similar bill in strooms that align with their biold policy referred March of 2016. ological gender Mullin says there This introduction of the bill cost are other options. to the gender on a the state approximately $400 “They can speak to the nurse...counselor, to a teacher, to the birth certificate for million after events like the Final administrator,” Mullin said. “Then they can come talk to us and membership.

Four canceling games citing the we can work out a better solution for them.” bill as discriminatory.

Some solutions for transgender students are using the nurse’s Over 140 celeb- restroom or a specific staff restroom. Students can use certain rities, like Jim- faculty restrooms depending on where their classes are located. my Kimmel, Students are divided on sharing the restroom with a transW h o o p i gender student. Junior Sam Jack doesn’t mind who uses the restroom.

Controversy erupted last “We’re not five years old, we’re not holding each other’s week when Trinity student hands,” Jack said. “It’s literally just using the restroom.”

Mack Beggs, a transgender On the other hand, junior Jaylon Titus only considers biological sex when it comes to restroom use. male, won in the girls Tex “God created two genders, and I think you as wrestling championship. should stay with what you were born with,” TiDue to state law, he was not tus said.

-JAson Mullin, AP

allowed to compete with boys despite being on testosterone for his transition.

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

Just me

Aidann Zuniga

There’s no specific moment in my life when I fully realized who I was. It would linger in my thoughts, but I never really focused on it. Just realizing that I wasn’t particularly happy with myself. Long hair didn’t suit me. Somehow my name sounded wrong. It felt out of place and distant. It wasn’t something I considered part of me.

No one ever taught me that there were others just like me, so I kept my feelings stuffed in a tight little bottle and left it there. It wasn’t until someone would mistake me for a boy did I feel a little better. Wearing large sweaters and jeans, people passing by saying “excuse me, sir.” I would never notice it because it felt so right. Things felt more in place. I would be happier going to special events in a button up instead of a skirt, unlike my sisters. Letting friends and teachers use a more masculine nickname instead of my given one made the uneasy feeling in my chest go away.

The one thing everyone forgets is that because my name and pronouns changed doesn’t mean I have. The baby my mother held for the first time, kissing rosy cheeks

and stroking tiny feet, was still me.

The four year old my grandmother would chase down the hallways after bedtime was still me. The grumpy eight year old who didn’t want to finish dinner was still me. The giggling 12 year old who pulled sister’s ponytail was still me. This short 17 year old who wants to sleep in and watch cartoons is me. Those moments will never change.

No matter how many times people say my name or use my pronouns, they will still (unintentionally, hopefully) treat me like a girl. I will never be invited to boy’s night, or join the boy’s basketball team, or even be counted as a boy in a group. It hurts to realize that I have to work extra hard to just get my name out there, but after all these years I am not going to let gender roles get in the way of my pursuit of happiness.

Just like everyone else in the world, I have fears too. I’m afraid to walk alone.

I’m afraid to bump into people. I’m afraid to look in the mirror every morning. I’m afraid to wear things I like. I’m afraid to go to the restroom. I’m afraid to open up. I’m afraid to love. These fears seem ridiculous, but these fears keep me from getting through the day as myself.

This part of me was challenged one day, when I knew I had to come out to my Grandmother.

The chill air brushed by face as I met my Grandmother outside, who had been waiting for two years to finally see me again. We planned to celebrate by going to the Cheesecake Factory and catching up with each other and we sat outside since the weather was nice. However, I never

The numbers glsen.org

of transgender teens avoid bathrooms

52.1%

75.2% of transgender students feel endangered at school

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

63.4% of transgender teens avoid locker rooms

73.6%

of transgender students have been verbally harrassed

in-depth

17

planned that the topic of the transgender community to pop up.

My grandmother had asked me what I identified as. I felt my heart race, eye contact broken as I clenched my fists. She wasn’t as open about the LGBTQIA community as the rest of my family was. She watched me hesitate, I could tell she was onto me. To me, this was my all or nothing moment. I didn’t want to lose more family members.

Especially not my grandmother.

Slowly, in between stutters and awkward hums, I reintroduce myself to her. The little girl she helped raise grew up to be a goofy boy, and she greeted him with open arms. She told me God doesn’t make mistakes, he doesn’t hate his children, and if I knew that this is who I really am then I might as well embrace myself fully. She said our lives on Earth are too short to live most of it hating who we are.

Growing up with the world telling me I’m something else would get to me, but I never doubted myself. No matter how hard life seemed or how scared I was to love myself I never doubted. I am not a boy trapped in a girl’s body. I am who I am and what I am is simply a boy. A boy that loves to draw and solve puzzles. A moody son whose mother puts up with him. A lover of dogs, glow sticks and coloring books. I am all of these things and more.

the bathroom battle Freshman reveals discovery, hardships of gender identity story michelle mullings PHotos Adam luqman Freshman Diana Woodard sits in German class, bouncing her leg incessantly and staring at the clock. She’s bargaining with herself. Should she just hold it, she thinks, or make a mad dash to the faculty restroom on the other side of campus?

She knows this classroom is the farthest away from one.

For most kids at school, it isn’t this difficult. It’s the men’s restroom or the women’s restroom. But as a transgender teen she can’t go to either at school. Though her gender reads as male on her birth certificate, Diana identifies as female and has begun a physical transition, which has included puberty blockers that suppress the production of male hormones. And there is no district-wide bathroom policy for trans students.

Diana said the bathrooms she’s been told she’s allowed to use

are inconveniently distant from some of her classes.

“It is very difficult because when I ask to go to the bathroom, I have to go 15 minutes out of my way,” Diana said. “The only bathroom I’m allowed to use is on the other side of the building. ” ••• Before Diana knew anything about

Polly Pockets and collected Barbies.

When she played video games, she’d always be playing as a female character, like Peach in Mario Kart.

“I’d go in and she’d be playing Grand Theft Auto, which is obviously uber masculine,” Lisa said. “But her avatar would be a female in a miniskirt, driving a Cadillac.”

marieclaire.com

36%

of states have clear laws protecting transgender people

41.0%

of transgender people have attempted suicide her gender, she knew something was off.

“I remember tying blankets around my waist, and when I’d play with costumes I’d be a witch or a queen or a princess,” Diana said. “Not a lot of boys do that.”

And her mother noticed. Lisa Woodard knew her child was different.

From as early as age 5, she played with

Diana was drawn to anything feminine. When she was 8 years old, her grandfather gave her a pair of ankle boots from the 70s. She constantly wore them to school, and savored the “click-clack” noise the flamboyant shoes would make under her feet.

“Truth be told, it was one of the things

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

(Pictured left) Diana Woodard and her mother Lisa Woodard hold the transgender pride flag. Lisa believes that transgender people deserve acceptance and support.

I really liked wearing because they made the same sound high heels did,” Diana said.

Though Lisa tried to encourage her son to play with more masculine toys, she would always gravitate towards things that deviated from her traditional gender role.

“For very long, everybody in the family thought that we were dealing with [Diana] being gay,” Lisa said. “That was not a surprise at all.”

So, three years ago when Diana told her mom she had a boyfriend, Lisa wasn’t shocked. Diana figured that because she was born a boy and liked boys, she was gay.

“But that was just one piece of the puzzle,” Diana said.

She thought she had found herself a name for what she was. She started to go to the Resource Center, a community organization for LGBT youth in the Metroplex. But even though she had identified as a gay male for a year, she still felt uncomfortable, particularly when she had to dress masculine.

Before she realized she was transgender, Diana was tuxedo shopping for the Black Tie Dinner, an annual fundraising event for LGBT organizations in North Texas.

The 14-year-old buttoned up her suit and sighed. As she stood in front of the mirror, she stared down her reflection. As the haunting feelings of discomfort toward her body bubbled to the surface, tears welled up in her eyes. Looking like this didn’t feel right.

This thought still burdened her by lunchtime.

She couldn’t stop thinking about how she looked in a tuxedo, how she looked like a man. As she ate at Chili’s with her mother, she lamented over how she had to present herself.

“I wish I could just wear a gown,” she said.

Diana said that she didn’t think she was a boy, so she revealed to her mom that

she was a transgender girl.

Though her mom was accepting, she was concerned for how her child’s life would be.

“Just like any of my other children, I want her to be happy and fulfill her dreams,” Lisa said. “I just was scared that there would be more obstacles.”

Trans people often report struggles

It was difficult, but we’d rather have a live daughter than a dead son.

-Lisa Woodard, mom

with bigotry and violence. Yet, they lack federal protections against discrimination based on gender identity. And the suicide attempt rate for transgender individuals like Diana is steep—41 percent, according to a study done by The Williams Institute.

This rate is more than 25 times higher than the general population.

Lisa said that the more support transgender youth receive from their

in-depth

19

parents, the less likely they are to attempt suicide. Because of this, Diana’s parents decided that respecting and embracing their child’s gender identity was better than the alternative.

“It was difficult,” Lisa said. “But we’d rather have a live daughter than a dead son.”

••• Though many of her teachers respect her desire to be addressed as Diana, an issue arises when substitutes call out the name on the roster. That name that brings her back to the struggle of being trapped in a body she says she doesn’t feel “right” in.

Every time this happens, Diana cringes. She makes sure to approach them before class, asking them not to call out the male name on the roster—what she calls her dead name—but sometimes it’s still revealed. Diana says this name is often used to taunt her.

But she doesn’t let it get to her anymore.

She stands 6’5 without high heels, her hair is tinted a fiery red and her voice is just as loud. Even though she deals with bathroom battles, bullying and bigotry, she continues to advocate for a change, both for herself and other transgender students like her.

“Diana is very bold,” her mother said.

“I have to say, she’s like the bravest person I know. She’s very willing to stand up for herself, and many trans kids are not.”

Diana Woodard pulls out her collection of Barbie dolls as she reflects on her childhood. Early in life, she gravitated towards feminine games and toys.

20 sports

Setting the Stage Sophomore lands lead role after overcoming concussion story morgan maxwell photos submitted Sophomore Regan Rogers walked to the bus with his football team after a tough loss against Allen. That night, Rogers took several hard hits, and was the last time he’d touch the football field in a Marcus uniform.

After the game, he felt a throbbing pain in his ankle, but everything else was a blur. The only thing he can recall from the Allen game was the aching from the hits he took.

Rogers realized he needed to be checked out when he couldn’t even remember where his first period class was the next morning. While Rogers was being evaluated at Rapid Med, he couldn’t remember any childhood memories like family vacations or his first days of school. Rogers showed no signs of any other injuries, but after he went to the doctor, he discovered he suffered a severe concussion.

For 12 weeks, Rogers was mostly confined to his bedroom. He attended school, but was unable to complete his assignments. During these weeks, the time that Rogers could spend with his friends was restricted. He felt isolated which caused depression to set in.

Although he tried to distract himself from his depression with music, he knew being with others was what would alleviate his sadness.

This injury meant that Rogers would no longer be able to participate in the sport that had consumed his life for the past seven years. Although he spent countless hours practicing, he said leaving football was a freeing experience. Despite Roger’s dedication to the sport, he never truly enjoyed it. The physical toll and the pressure of performing well made football more of a burden than an enjoyable pastime.

“I played football because it was what I was expected to do,” Rogers said.

Rogers never loved the sport as much as his family and teammates did. His concussion gave him time to think about

DESIGN Jolie Mullings, Megan Clark

sports

‘‘

21

what he wanted to accomplish and “On opening night I could see that devote himself to. all of our hard work was paying off,” “It’s not everyday you get a second Rogers said. chance,” Rogers said. “So find what Rogers’ performance assured him makes you happiest and stick to it.” that theatre is where he belongs.

During his freshman year, Rogers Following his concussion, he wasn’t was in the theatre class. Although even able to recognize himself in the Rogers always loved performing, he had mirror. With having this concussion, he to plan it around his football schedule. was able to walk away from football and Without football taking up all of his do what made him happy.

-Regan Rogers, 10 time, Rogers was able to devote himself “This concussion was the best thing to theatre. that ever happened to me,” Rogers said.

Rogers decided to try out for the Varsity Theatre class because he was able to give all his time to it. Rogers was one of the only two freshman to make the class. At first he was nervous about being with upperclassmen, but after his first week in the class, he felt like he had joined a second family. Rogers felt as if he was on a team again. Only this time, he had no doubts about where he belonged.

“Theatre is like one big family.

There’s lots of love all the time,” Rogers said.

At the beginning of the year, Rogers found out about the opportunity to play Beast in “Beauty and the Beast”. As an underclassmen, he knew the chances for landing the role were low, but he decided to audition simply for the experience.

Rogers spent months preparing a monologue. When it came time for the audition, he felt at ease, a feeling he never had as a football player.

When Rogers first checked the cast list, he was in disbelief. He had gotten the role of Beast. For the first time in several months, Rogers knew he was part of something important again.

“It was totally unexpected,” Rogers said. “But I’m very blessed to have had that opportunity.”

Although this was Rogers’ first major role in high school, he felt confident when he stepped onto the stage. The long, and often grueling Sophomore Regan Rogers performs alongside freshman Savannah DeCrow in rehearsals prepared him for the sold the school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. This was Rogers’ first lead role out performances. in a high school musical production.

Find what makes you happiest and stick to it.

22 entertainment

MOVIE REVIEWS OSCAR NOMINEE EDITION story sanika sule As awards season comes to a close, everyone from film enthusiasts to infrequent moviegoers scramble to watch last year’s blockbusters. While The Academy honors only the most riveting films, it’s no lie that many of these award winners have a reputation for putting comedy loving high schoolers to sleep.

We picked a few of this award season’s big, must see films, and others that can be passed over.

LA LA LAND After a record breaking sweep at the Golden Globes, La La Land has taken centerstage of this award season. This musical reminiscent of classic Hollywood stars Emma Stone, who plays an aspiring actress, and Ryan Gosling, who plays a jazz pianist.

The film takes the audience through up and downs in the pair’s career and relationship, woven together with the occasional musical number.

The most notable aspect throughout the movie is the music.

Each song is filled with whimsical melodies which are accompanied by a dance. The songs perfectly showcase both Stone and Gosling’s voices. Although they are primarily actors, Gosling and Stone’s singing and dancing make them look like seasoned professionals. La La Land successfully utilizes Los Angeles as the backdrop for the story of a pair of dreamers. Everything from the cinematography to the singing and choreography work in unison to tell the story of ambitious artists.

DESIGN jolie mullings

entertainment

23

LION Based on a true story, Lion is the tale of a Saroo—a boy from India who is separated from his family—and his search for his home. The film opens on a young Saroo, played by newcomer Sunny Pawar, untroubled and happy in the care of his mother and older brother. When he accidentally steps onto a train which carries him 1000 miles away from home, he is confronted with troubles of the streets of India and pain of being separated from his family. Upon being adopted by an Australian family, the film shifts focus to Saroo’s search

for his family as an adult, played by Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel.

Even the most emotionless moviegoer is sure to shed tear in this movie. From his plight as a child to his desperation to reconnect with his family as an adult, Saroo’s pain is more than evident. Patel’s performance highlights Saroo’s internal conflict between acknowledging his adoptive parents’ love and desire to reconnect with his past. Lion will undoubtedly take each viewer through an eye opening and emotional experience.

Manchester by the Sea After his brother dies from a terminal illness, Lee Chandler, played by Casey Affleck, returns to his hometown of Manchester to care for his nephew. Lee is reluctantly thrust into the role of fatherhood when he learns he is the legal guardian of his nephew. Upon his arrival, he is plagued by his past demons, and is forced to confront estranged friends and family. This film addresses the importance of finding comfort in loved ones during times of grief.

DESIGN jolie mullings

Throughout the movie, Manchester by the Sea consistently monotonous. Although the film successfully illustrates a family’s grief, it seems to offer no relief from the constant sadness.

Affleck’s delivers a heartfelt performance, depicting his grief for the loss of his brother and concern for his nephew. Despite the cast’s genuine acting, this movie is anti-climactic, and fails to keep the audience thoroughly engaged. While the actors’ performances are worth watching, the less than gripping plot makes this movie one to skip.

march 3, 2017

24 entertainment

Spring Break

from home

Activities for students stuck in town over the break 1. Railroad Skate Park

1301 S Railroad St, Lewisville 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

$

Free

The Lewisville Skate Park is a great place to work on improving your skating. It features deep bowls for gliding and a few rails, ramps and stairs to challenge your skills. The park is good for solo riding as well as group outings.

It can also be used as a chill place for you and your friends to just sit back and observe other riders.

2. Railroad Dog Park

1301 S Railroad St, Lewisville 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

$

Free

The Lewisville Dog Park holds a total of six acres to give dogs free roam. The park is full of lush grass for the dogs to run around on, and has fences so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your pup. The park provides several covered seating area sections so you can comfortably sit in the sun and watch the puppies play. It is a great place to spend some quality time with your favorite pets.

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

story grace pecunia

Spring break is prime time to go to new places with friends and make lasting memories. Here are four great options all under $15 that enable you to go out, have fun and be adventurous without spending all of your savings.

3. Pilot Knoll Park

218A Orchid Hill Rd, Argyle 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.

$

$10 per vehicle for day pass

Pilot Knoll is a large and beautiful lakeside location open to the public. The park features picnic areas, pavilions and fire pits to allow users to have a fun time without having to bring too many of their own supplies. The open site is the perfect place to put together a picnics, or bonfires,. The options are endless.

4. AMF

1398 W Main St, Lewisville Varies by day

$

$6 bowling $4 shoe rental

AMF is a great place to be, whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just spending time with the people you care about. The bowling alley houses an arcade, several pool tables and tasty food options. This location stays open late on weekends allowing for an entire night of friendly competition and pigging out on junk foods.

DESIGN NICK FOPIANO

26 entertainment

What throwback song are you? compiled Shayla sistrunk

1. You do what when your favorite song comes on in the car?

A. Waiting until the best part of the song comes on then sing

C. Screaming along at the top of your lungs

B. Immediately putting the song on repeat

D. Making up your own mini dance routine

2. What type of person are you at a party?

A. Always on the dance floor and

C. Singing along at the top of your lungs

dancing for the entire night B. Recording everything on snapchat

D. Standing off the the side and eats the

instead of dancing

food instead of socializing

3. Whats an ideal Friday

4. Which job would you

A. Hanging out with friends and going

A. Manager of the celebrity of your choice

to the movies B. Watching Netflix and binge-watching

B. DJ

a series C. Catching up on the sleep you lost

C. Apple CEO

throughout the week D. Staying up to watch your favorite

D. Back up for BeyoncĂŠ

professional team play

For You

>

choose to have for a day?

night for you?

Library

>

Browse

Radio

Search

entertainment

27

> 5. If you were given the chance to go on a dream vaction where would you go?

A. Kingston, Jamaica

C. Paris, France

B. LA, California

D. Orlando, Florida

6. What kind of person are you in a relationship?

A. Constantly attached to your significant other

B. Quiet and doesn’t really make a big deal of it

C. Wanting everyone to know that your dating the person D. Always showing affection no matter where you are

0:54

-2:13

Mostly A’s

Mostly C’s

Mostly B’s

Mostly D’s

If you got mostly A’s then you’ll most likely be singing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

You’re the friend that’s always fun and loves to be engaged in conversation. Your friends will always be able to depend on you for funny jokes and good times.

If you got mostly B’s, it looks like Replay by Iyaz is your ideal throwback song. You are extremely adventurous and love to try new things. Playing music will continue to be the first thing you do whenever you think about when you wake up.

DESIGN abbey clouse

If you got mostly C’s, then you will probably find yourself listening to Down by Jay Sean.

You are the loudest person out of your friends and you’re always yelling across the room. Everyone around you enjoys their time with you.

If you got mostly D’s, Since You Been Gone

by Kelly Clarkson is the song that fits your personality. At parties or gatherings you will be the one that stuns everyone. Your quiet and subdued personality will shy away in certain situations.

MARCH 3, 2017

28 Opinion

Myself for good

Kelly Rowe

@kellyrowe_

I’d been looking forward to this night all week. After a date night at Chili’s, my girlfriend Alana and I were to sleepover at a friend’s house.

I felt a childlike excitement as I packed my overnight bag, and Alana waited in my driveway. Music from her “sleepy” Spotify playlist poured through her speakers as I slid into her passenger seat.

As we drove aimlessly around quiet neighborhoods, our sleepover ended up falling through. I already told my family I wouldn’t be coming home, so we were stuck in her car, trying to think up ideas of what we could do that night.

We had spent the last few weeks taking nightly drives around town talking.

In this situation though, we knew driving around Flower Mound for hours on end wasn’t the best idea. So, we decided to get on the highway and go. Although we had no destination in mind, we knew we’d end up somewhere.

As we begun our journey, we sat in silence. My thoughts hung on the

words pumping through Alana’s busted car speakers.

I thought about her, and how much I love her. I thought about our town and how isolated I feel there. I thought about the cars on the highway, and I wondered if anyone driving alongside us this late actually had somewhere to be, or if they were also on a mindless journey.

After a while of comfortable peace between us, I started to recognize the green shine of the Bank Of America Plaza, and the dancing lights of the Reunion Tower ball.

Excitement bubbled in my stomach as I took in the nightlife—young girls clinging to each other in fits of laughter, older men smoking outside of restaurants and couples linking their arms as they made their way to parking garages. A smile lingered on my face as I talked about how free nighttime makes things seem, and Alana switched between playlists on her phone at a red light.

No one in this nightlife crowd knew me, but as I watched them walk freely down the city sidewalks, I felt as though I was the purest form of myself that I’ve ever been.

Surrounded by people who didn’t know me lifted a weight off my shoulders that I didn’t even know was there. There was no pressure to uphold a version of myself, a predetermined “Kelly” that is stored in people’s memories.

Growing up in Flower Mound has been a blessing, but it has seemed more like

a cage than a home. As I felt this weight lift off of me, exhilaration and joy filled my chest.

It’s cliche, but I’ve always felt like an outsider. I’ve always felt as though I have to perfect and meet everyone’s expectations. But when Alana and I ended up in Fort Worth on a clogged highway, I realized I’d done it. I’d run away from “myself ” and it was more euphoric than I ever imagined.

My dream of “running away” always reminded me of a cliche teenage movie—dramatic and angsty. But regardless of the dream-like nature, on clogged highways I found myself. I was completely free of expectations and responsibilities that lingered in my town.

I realized as we drove under unexplored city lights that I can be whoever I want. The only one holding me up to the pressures of a reputation is me.

Growing up in the bubble that is Flower Mound was a privilege. I still feel suffocated in my hometown sometimes, running into familiar faces everywhere I go. But now, I’ve felt freedom. I know that one day I won’t have to come back out of obligation, but I’ll return because I want to.

I’ll venture over highways and onto rural roads to relive the memories of retired versions of myself that will be left here when I move on. When I become myself for good.

BOOM BAHS Things we like New crosswalk

2017 Calender

Spring sports

The parking lot has always been a complicated mess. Either students are not watching where they’re walking, or cars are driving way too fast. The new crosswalk near the agriculture building now allows students to cross safely and legally.

LISD’s new calendar has come out for the next school year and students couldn’t be more relieved. Now exams will be before winter and spring breaks so students can relax over the holidays without stressing out.

Springtime is coming and although allergies are rampant, it’s baseball, softball and track time. Spring sports are just as important as fall sports so rep that Marcus gear and get ready to cheer loud.

DESIGN Vanessa Davis

Opinion

The real me Shayla Sistrunk

@Shaylaa_kaye

Growing up I always wanted to be like everyone else. When it came to having the newest clothes and shoes I wanted everything my friends had.

I was always admiring my peers’ lives and the relationship they had with their parents too. At a young age my parents told me that they weren’t my actual parents but still loved me as if they were.

Even at four years old I understood and accepted that I was adopted, but it wasn’t until I was older that I really decided to dig deeper.

Even though I was only a seventh grader, I started to feel differently and become more open.

I was influenced to find my birth parents after going to all my friends’ houses and seeing how they bonded and shared the same features with their parents. Some of my friends would tell me I looked just like my brother or my dad, but I knew that wasn’t true.

I felt conflicted. I would feel guilty or blame myself for even thinking about my birth father and mother. But

I also wanted to know the person who spent hours in labor just for me. I wanted to know who gave me up for a better life.

All I needed was the name of my birth mother.

For days at a time, I compiled a list of questions in my journal of things I would ask her. From the simple to tough questions, I wrote until cramps filled my hand. I had health questions, questions about my dad and most of all I just wanted to know why.

At times I felt like quitting my search but everytime I tried I thought about the feeling of hugging her for the first time. Also, I wanted her to know that her motherly instinct to give me up was definitely for the better, so I would smile and then continue to write down many more questions.

At my age my curiosity has declined but even now I still feel motivated to look for her. The only thing that keeps me going is one rectangular picture kept in my drawer.

It’s of my birth mother holding me after I was born with a visible tear rolling down her face. After staring at the picture I finally would find the motivation to begin writing again with tears falling down my face.

I wanted to know how could someone be so courageous and give up their own child for the better.

As I thought about it I wished I had someone to talk to that knows how I feel.

29

But my brother seems to understand.

He is 12 and was adopted into the family back in 2004. I also have a 21 year old biological sister who I’m sure knows how I feel, but I’ve never met her. I hope that changes someday in the future.

At this time I understood that others may think that by giving even a second of my time to finding my birth mother, I am dismissing everything my adoptive parents have done for me.

That statement isn’t even close to my thought and feelings. I love my parents and have formed an inseparable relationship with them.

But I still want to know. So, when I turn 18 you might find me in Kilgore, Texas at the hospital where I was born, waiting in line to receive any information that will bring me closer to my blood related family.

I will be there with the book in hand, along with my high school diploma ready to show my biological mom everything I’ve accomplished. I will be there trying to find my 21 year old sister that I’ve never met.The sister that I never had and always wanted.

There definitely are many holes in my life that haven’t been patched, but right now they don’t need to be fixed.

I am content to wait and satisfied with everything I have.

HEYS

Things we don’t like parking stickers Vending machine change Vending are bright the It’s a painmachines to scrape the life and stickers body of the Now orange off school. your window we havedon’t to wait the vending if you havefor parking pass yet. machines to open after just lunch, Maybe instead they could put a when we’re hungry warning slipnot under your anymore. windshield After wiper. taking out the sodas last year, now we have to wait all day for a snack. That’s just cruel.

DESIGN VANESSA DAVIS

eportfolios Cost of AP exams Ourexams colleges going in to AP are aren’t convenient check forrun, eportfolios, whythey take the long but everysoyear time to create one? Not only that, get more expensive.

It’s especially but whenthe everyone in the school stressful more AP tests we tries to make them, the wifi sign up for. While making a high crashes. score will help save money for college, it almost feels worth it to save the money now and just take the class.

Staar Teacher lunches Despite how easy may For the same exactSTAAR lunch as be they areteachers still annoying.

Youpay have students, have to to cents worrymore. over Why the temperature 25 should they of your assigned hoping be charged moreroom if it’s and the same that your growl. exact food?stomach Teachersdoesn’t don’t have to pay more for anything else so why should they for lunch.

March 3, 2017

30 opinion

Trans students need bathroom policy to be implemented STAFF EDITORIAL

THE MARQUEE

Trump recently rescinded Obama’s guidelines that tell public schools to allow trans students to go to the bathroom they feel comfortable with, sending this decision back to the states. In Texas, the Senate Bill 6, which will prevent biologically male students going to female bathrooms and vice versa, has come into the spotlight.

Since what’s known as the “Texas Bathroom Bill” has been proposed, other districts, like Fort Worth ISD, have established their own bathroom rules for transgender people.

Currently, LISD does not yet have a bathroom policy for transkids. There are guidelines in the rulebook for students getting their citizenship, students that are homeless and even for celebrations in classes, but there are none to tell some students where to go the bathroom.

It’s now time for LISD to establish a transgender bathroom policy.

Currently administrators create the policy individually for each transgender student. Administrators say most transgender students go to the bathroom of their gender at birth. The students who aren’t comfortable using these restrooms are allowed to use certain faculty

m

REMARKS

bathrooms. Although this policy does allow trans students to feel comfortable, these restrooms are often out of the way for students, and are inconvenient to use.

A uniform bathroom policy would also be easier on administrators. Right now administrators don’t know what’s a

Our recommendation is for LISD to allow trans students to use the faculty bathrooms and to put this policy in next year’s student handbook.

problem and what’s not a problem. They wouldn’t know if it’s ok to allow trans students to go to the bathroom they feel comfortable with or not, whether that bathroom matches the gender the student was born as or the gender they identify

with. This could allow adminstrators to unfairly punish students.

A concrete policy would allow students to just look in the handbook and be told plain and simple about where they need to go. This will also allow those students who aren’t out yet to know where they need to go to the bathroom without actually telling someone that they are transgender.

Although the state is voting on the policy soon, LISD cannot afford to wait.

Students will continue to use restrooms in the meantime and there needs to be a defined guideline for them.

Right now the state could go either way, they could vote for students to go to the restroom of their gender at birth or they could vote for students to go to the restroom of the gender they identify with.

The district should make a policy that works for students either way.

Our recommendation is for LISD to allow trans students to use the faculty bathrooms and to put this policy in next year’s student handbook.

The trans population is small, roughly 10 kids on our campus, so it shouldn’t be much trouble for staff to let them share these bathrooms.

Should transgender students be able to use the bathroom of their choice? compiled Michelle Mullings

“It is a basic human right to go to the bathroom no matter how you identify yourself.”

-Hope Fliedner, 11

“I’m concerned about protecting the rights of transgender students, but also protecting the rights and freedom of non-transgender students...We definitely need to come to a happy medium that will protect the rights of all the students, regardless of their preferences.”

-Chantell Upshaw, M9 Principal

“Personally no because some guy could go into a womans bathroom saying that he’s transgender and [harm] a girl and there wouldn’t be anything to stop him.”

-Peter Kampenhout, 11

“Some students would be uncomfortable with that, especially if they see someone who is a male walk into a female restroom even if they identify with that gender.”

-Drake Girdley, 12

MARCH 3, 2017

TASTE OF SOUL On Feb. 24, Black History Club hosted the annual Taste of Soul event. Many of the items are prepared by members’ parents and included fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread.The event ran through the first two periods of the day and tickets were sold for $5.

PHOTOS ADAM LUQMAN

Juniors Faith Hix and Chloe Thomas enjoy a southern style meal. Students went through the food line to choose their dishes.

Senior Kyndal McKnight serves sophomore Justin Dinka green beans. This event is held each year in honor of Black History Month.

Members of Black History Club serve cornbread to students who attended the event at 9:00 a.m. The event took place in the main campus cafeteria.

DESIGN VANESSA DAVIS

VISTA RIDGE DRIVING SCHOOL (972) 539-6992

Dedicated to developing the essential foundations for a lifetime of safe and responsible driving practices.

vistaridgedriving.com/dps-road-test/ State approved 3 week teenage driver education classes.

Visit us online to see our convenient start dates.

Serving all Lewisville, Argyle, Denton ISD area schools!

Enroll Online Now!

3 Week Class Schedules - Start Dates & Times!

March: Monday, March 20, 2017 @ 7-9pm • Monday, March 27, 2017 @ 5-7pm April: Monday, April 10, 2017 @ 7-9pm • Monday, April 17, 2017 @ 5-7pm May: Monday, May 01, 2017 @ 7-9pm • Monday, May 08, 2017 @ 5-7pm

2221 Cross Timbers Road #117 • Flower Mound, TX 75028 • www.VistaRidgeDriving.com