Volume 38 issue 1

the

Marquee

Volume 38 Issue 1 - October 23, 2023

Vaping takes a hit from new Texas bill

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LISD calls for November bond election

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Texas house bill 114 fights high school vaping

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Edward S. Marcus High School - 5707 Moriss Rd Flower Mound, 75028

Students voice their opinions through podcasts

editor in chief Jennifer Banh managing editor Raksha Jayakumar online editor Lex Paull section editor Kaelen Reed buisness manager JC Mays reporters Astor Jones Grayson McCrate Imaan Malik Janisha Kesar Mashiyat Khan Jude Soape Sameeha Alidina designers Jasmine Estrada Felix Oien Colin Wilkes Arushi Sharma

2023-2024 Marquettes and marching band prepare to perform for the halftime show. In the game against Hebron, the Marauders went on to win in overtime 34-33. Photo by Anya Jain

a B ik ng o f ra hc nge

photographer Anya Jain adviser LaJuana Hale The Marquee newsmagazine is a studentgenerated 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.

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cover Jennifer Banh

Seasonal sips Popular fall drinks rated

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story Sameeha Alidina iPads are now an essential part of campus. In recent years, students have become accustomed to a school life with technology. However, if the Nov. 7 Bond Election isn’t passed, a future with iPads and other school funded resources could be jeopardized.

The state legislature has not increased school funding since 2019, despite rising costs, and as a result, LISD faces a $48M deficit budget. The school district is looking to the community to help with school funds.

Residents within LISD boundaries will have the opportunity to vote on six bonds in the upcoming election that will give the district additional funds to support essential programs and repairs.

The bond will fund general maintenance, technology, and athletic facilities.

For the past couple of years, students have had one-on-one access to technological tools and iPads. For some, this level of technology is all they know. Sophomore Magan Popli hardly remembers a time when all her assignments were solely paper and pencil-based.

“I’ve had my school iPad since third grade, and I’ve been using it for a long time, and it’s a part of my normal life now,” Popli said.

State funding for technology is based on the district’s daily attendance. They receive $6160 per student per year.

However, for LISD to maintain their current technology, the district spends approximately $10,000 per student.

For LISD’s Director of Communications Samantha FitzPatrick, ensuring every student has access to technology is important as it helps enhance their school life.

“LISD values the use of technology throughout our student’s educational experiences,” FitzPatrick said. “Ninety eight percent of LISD students have an

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LISD-issued technology device, making lessons engaging and visually appealing through interactive displays, educational apps, online textbooks, and different multimedia platforms.”

As funds for iPads are on the line, senior Isaac Ludlam concerns have increased. Ludlam has become dependent on technology.

“It’s gotten to the point where I use my iPad for every class, and I never have a pencil on me. I’m very dependent,” Ludlam said. “Without technology it

“It is very important for LISD residents to vote during any election and make their voice heard,” - Samantha FitzPatrick, Director of Communications would be a mess.”

Maintenance is the largest part of the bond. LISD is seeking a total of $960,577,000 towards repairs and renovations to LISD campuses. This includes safety tools and security equipment like fire alarms, cybersecurity, and phone systems. The district will also upgrade cameras, weapons detection scanners and power supplies.

Ensuring that equipment runs smoothly is highly important for Sophomore Addyson Garland.

“Safety tools are used everywhere, and give the general public calm of mind,” Garland said. “By taking the funding away from these devices, people

will begin to feel uneasy.”

Another large proposal in the Bond Election is the funding of the indoor multipurpose athletics center, better known as the MAC, home to pep rallies, indoor sporting events, and training facilities for athletes. The district hopes to spend over $130 million on maintaining and improving these facilities.

Sophomore softball player Lara Makkapati said she loves the MAC because it is used for many different activities.

“I remember one time, we were doing conditioning for softball, and then the girls wrestling was also doing conditioning and then volleyball was also on the court,” Makkapati said.

Other bond-funded programs include the athletics department. The athletics department allows students to participate in the sports they love. The district plans to spend $31,376,000 dollars on maintenance, repairs and renovations at athletics facilities. This includes locker rooms and field houses. The district will also improve tennis courts, baseball and softball facilities, and concession areas.

For sophomore soccer player Macy Doan, the athletics program has allowed her to create a sense of belonging and placement at school.

“When you’re in an athletic program you’re more involved with the patriotism of the school,” Doan said. “I feel like if I wasn’t in any sports, I wouldn’t really know much about anything that goes on at Marcus,” Doan said.

As election day is nearing, FitzPatrick emphasized the importance of voting.

“It is very important for LISD residents to vote during any election and make their voice heard,” FitzPatrick said.

design Jasmine Estrada

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Head football coach adapts to changing high schools story Janisha Kesar & Grayson McCrate Football has been at the center of new Athletic Director and Football Head Coach Mike Alexander’s life since he was in high school. In college he played defensive back at Arkansas Tech University and was a four year letterman.

He followed that with coaching as a graduate assistant. Alexander knew he wanted to stay involved in football once his playing career ended, making coaching an obvious choice.

When he graduated, he had a decision to make – coaching high school football or continuing to coach in college. High school coaching seemed to be more realistic. It came with its pros such as being close to family and having a more stable lifestyle. With the responsibility of a new family, he knew that the college coaching life wouldn’t be sustainable.

He also wanted to make an impact on young men the same way his coaches had on him.

“I had a lot of coaches that invested in my life when I was a high school student and some of the most influential people in my life were my high school coaches,” Alexander said. “Taking on that responsibility, I knew early on that what I wanted was to be a part of young people’s lives and help them accomplish their goals.”

…

Alexander coached football at Garland, Abilene, Rockwall and Mount Vernon before he ended up spending eight years at Grapevine High School.

During his time at Grapevine,

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Alexander had a 74-26 record while going undefeated in district games his last three seasons. When Alexander was offered the coaching job at Marcus, he knew it was where he wanted to be.

Marcus had something that Grapevine

I knew early on that what I wanted was to be a part of young people’s lives and help them accomplish their goals.

-Coach Mike Alexander

didn’t – the challenge of a new team in a tougher district.

“I was at a point in my career where I wanted a new challenge and to be challenged,” Alexander said. “And I knew that Marcus football had a lot of potential.”

With over 300 players in the program, this is the largest team Alexander has ever coached. Introducing an entirely new offense and defense as well as getting used to a new coaching staff has been difficult.

“The smaller the class size, the easier it

is to make connections with the teacher,” Alexander said. “It’s been harder than I thought, probably coming in to establish those deep relationships because there’s so many kids.”

To build community Alexander has brought in traditions from his previous job at Grapevine, while still keeping the school’s existing traditions.

“Creating more of a community feel into the fieldhouse has been something that I’ve done immediately.” Alexander said.

On game days, the team has breakfast with the dads in the fieldhouse and have a team meeting.

He has also brought with him a new set of team values — what he calls the “Marcus DNA.” These values include attitude, compete, tough, family, disciplined, and fight.

“We feel like your attitude sets your altitude and fuels your energy,” Alexander said. “That’s the message we keep preaching: control your attitude, and take whatever life brings at you and welcome it because change is inevitable.”

Changes such as implementing new playbooks and schemes on both sides of the ball have forced the team to learn and adapt on the fly. Senior widereceiver Karic Grennan has had adjust to the changing environment.

“I feel like the new coaching staff gave a new view of the game, and I feel like it’s allowed all the seniors and upcoming grades to play better and play smarter,” Grennan said. “His view of the game just brings a different perspective to the team and allows us to see the game through his eyes.”

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To kick off the season the team played the 12th ranked team in the state, Highland Park. This was Alexander’s first taste of division 6A football. Going into the game he was anxious about how his team would respond to the ups and downs of the game.

“You know how you prepared and so you already kind of know what your strengths and weaknesses are,” Alexander said. “But what you don’t know is how those individual players are going to respond to adversity. Quite honestly, I think we’ve learned a lot over the first three games of how to respond.”

While the shift in schools has brought many changes for Alexander, some factors have stayed the same such as the understanding of what playing for Marcus truly means.

Alexander sees the support from the staff and students wanting the team to be successful.

“They’re not apathetic about our teams. They want to do their part,” Alexander said. “The players understand the expectation, and they understand that. . . . There’s a high standard that they have to meet to wear the M, and that’s been refreshing and fun to take over a place that already has that in place.”

The message we keep preaching is control your attitude, and take Head Football Coach Mike Alexander watches his team from the sidelines against Hebron. The Marauders beat Hebron 34-33 for their first win of the year.

Photo by Anya Jain

2021

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whatever life brings at you.

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- Coach Mike Alexander

I N D I A N K I TC H E N & B A R

Sunday All You Can Eat Buffet www.mydelhi6.com | 469-559-3559

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HB114smokesoutstudent VAPE

Texas implements bill to combat on-campus vaping

story Mashiyat Khan With students being assigned to DAEP when caught vaping, concerns have risen on overcrowding at the facility. Since this new law is not being funded by the state, districts such as LISD will need to have their own funds to support it.

Effective Sept. 1 2023, House Bill 114 states students caught vaping in school will be sent to a 20-day DAEP rather than the original three day In School Suspension (ISS).

DAEP Counselor Laurie Melendez said the facility is already overcrowded, and she expects the bill to increase this.

Another change of the new bill is THC vape cases that used to be sent to JJAEP (Juvenile Justice Alternative Education) will now be sent to DAEP. “We have a capacity and I mean, if there’s nowhere to put a kid because every desk is full, what do you do with them?” Melendez said. “You don’t have any adults to teach it because you don’t have any staff and you don’t have a classroom so what do you do with all these kids?”

The financial aspect of this new law is also cause for concern to both LISD and the DAEP program.

Melendez said that with the overcapacity of the DAEP facility, it comes down to money and whether the district has enough to fund upgrades to take in more students. Being $48 million dollars in debt, the new placement of students will take another toll on the district’s economy.

Since the bill has been approved the center has already taken 30+ students from high school vaping cases. Adding onto this number is the JJAEP transfer students.

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design Jasmine Estrada

Due to the facility being overcapacity since the bill passed, the only solution as of now is to cut students’ days down and send them back to their home campus early.

Along with the DAEP program, students and families are offered a

‘‘

“We have a capacity and I mean, if there’s nowhere to put a kid because every desk is full, what do you do with them?”

-Laurie Melendez, DAEP Counselor

three night one and a half hour HOPE counseling session to take a more personal measure for the issue. With ten counseling sessions, students can get their placement days reduced. The participation in the counseling program has increased since the bill passed.

Senior Montana Staten believes students will do what they want regardless of what they are told is right.

However, he says the counseling aspect may bring a greater change.

“I think that’s a lot more helpful, taking a rehabilitation counseling stance rather than getting kids in trouble.” said

Staten “I think it has a higher chance, but in the end that’s on a case by case basis.”

Assistant Principal Jason Mullin doesn’t think the rule was added because previous disciplinary measures were ineffective. He hopes the knowledge of the consequences and its effects will cause students to keep the vapes at home.

“Not only are you in a spot where you need to get some counseling or professional help to stop, but now you also have the disciplinary consequence,” said Mullin. “Now that’s just added to your situation.”

Junior Lily Terrell is unsure if the bill will stop the problem.

“Since it’s for 20 days, it’ll be somewhat effective, but I think that’s just going to cause people to be a lot more secretive,” said Terell.

Sophomore Viraaj Seth believes that the extreme punishment may make the problem worse.

“I believe we should do more preventive programs to try to stop that in our best effort,” said Seth. “If we push more toward the idea of reinforcing that it is bad to vape or smoke then it’s more effective than putting them in some sort of pseudo prison.”

When assigned to DAEP, students are relocated to a district facility in Lewisville. They arrive at 8 a.m., go through a metal detector and turn in all personal belongings to authorities.

The DAEP school day will mirror the student’s on-campus schedule, with all the same classes, including electives.

Melendez said there are several kids who purposely come back to DAEP because they enjoy the structure and

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relationships they have built.

“It’s a place where they have relationships with the teachers,” Melendez said. “They feel safe, they feel heard, they feel seen, because it’s a smaller environment than home campus.”

While some students choose to return to the program, it does go on their permanent records.

“It stays on your record all the way until you leave high school,” Mullin said.

“That’s something that could affect your

college applications.”

Mullin hopes the knowledge and consequences of being sent to DAEP, can help them to slowly stop vaping.

We’ve really tried to educate students and hopefully, people are going to listen to that and if you are doing that type of thing, that can be addictive,” said Mullin.

“So if you’re hooked on that, you have to figure out a way to break that and not

bring it to school to avoid that issue.”

The main concern for DAEP administrators right now is funding for the facility and how they will maintain the new surplus of kids.

“I spend the bulk of my time right now scheduling kids which really stinks,” said Melendez. “That’s not been the case for the past two years so I’m curious to see how it happens and how it goes.”

Volleyball serves up the new season Photos by Anya Jain

Varsity volleyball team huddles in preparation for their game of the season against Hebron on 8/23.

Senior Maddie Burk serves the ball starting the second half of the volleyball game against Hebron.

Senior Isabel Rueda high fives team manager midgame after being switched off the volleyball court.

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design Jasmine Estrada

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60 SECONDS

compiled & photo JC Mays What is your favorite movie?

I like any musical movie.

“High School Musical” was a classic, and “The Greatest Showman” is good.

Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving?

Yes, I love Thanksgiving.

My favorite Thanksgiving food would probably be mashed potatoes.

What are you looking forward to most in the fall season?

Probably the outfits because I love wearing long sleeves and sweaters.

I just love the vibe of that.

What’s something you’re gonna miss from summer?

Sleeping in because waking up at 6:40 every morning is not fun.

Presley Pollone, 11

What’s your favorite genre of music?

Probably just pop. I like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo.

What’s a book/series you’d read again?

I haven’t really read all of them, but I would read Percy Jackson again.

Do you prefer warmer weather or colder?

Definitely colder weather. I like the outfits. I also just hate sweating.

What’s your favorite upcoming holiday?

I do like Halloween, but definitely Christmas overall is my favorite holiday just because of the vibes.

What’s your go-to TV series right now?

“Heartstopper” is pretty good. It matches the vibes of fall. And “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

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Students create podcasts to voice their opinions

story Astor Jones While stuck at home during COVID, sophomore Veda Ganesan scrolled through podcasts to pass the time. While listening, she quickly realized that others were discussing climate change in ways that were simply ineffective, because they were not addressing the financial side of a sustainable environment. Through this she became inspired to create her own podcast. Soon after, Sustainable Cents was created.

“You hear a lot of these podcasts talk about how you can solve climate change,” Ganesan said. “But then they don’t actually provide tangible solutions.

My podcast talks about those solutions like recycling, investing, supporting and donating.”

Ganesan believes everyone should be able to participate in effective ways to stop climate change. Sustainable Cents became an outlet for Ganesan to discuss the crossroads of climate change and how to further prevent it.

After seeing companies advertise expensive ways to reduce climate change Ganesan knew she had to do something.

She used the podcast as a way to promote effective measures that will be less expensive. She informs her listeners

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to make little changes in their lifestyle such as recycling unused plastics and investing in causes or organizations that help.

“If you get enough people, you can make a big enough impact so we can better our environment and our health,” Ganesan said.

Although she is a sophomore, Veda Ganesan hopes her podcast reaches beyond students at the school and aims to reach an older audience to make a change in the world. Photo by Anya Jain.

In the beginning, Ganesan started with only a few listeners. She also struggled with being the only one working on the podcast. It was demanding running a podcast by herself. However, she knew it would be a great way to bring publicity to a cause she was passionate about “We’re promoting a sustainable environment by giving other people the exact steps and the exact measures they can do to promote a healthier environment,” Ganesan said.

Within the span of just four months she reached almost 400 listeners, inspiring and targeting an audience of students. She hopes to reach others from business professional backgrounds. Her podcast went from just an idea, to being launched on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube and Google Podcasts. Ganesan was happy knowing that even on her own, she could make a big difference, and stayed positive hearing others’ feedback and how she could be a help to them.

“I like having people give you feedback once I’m done,” Ganesan said. “And then having people enjoy something that I create for them.”

Through her experience, she also encourages other students to use their interests to make change. She also believes that regardless of the stress that comes with it and sends the message to put something out there regardless of the outcome.

“Record your voice, send it out whenever you want, and grow,” Ganesan said.

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Introspect of the Youth story Mashiyat Khan After a long day of school and rehearsal, senior Bella Murtoff and college freshman Ellie Scheinman engage in a lighthearted conversation as they pull through the drive-thru for dinner. As the September sun starts to deepen into the sky, so does the conversation. This discussion led to the podcast now known as Introspect of the Youth.

“We weren’t really close before this,” Murtoff said. “We were just talking about different ways of handling your mental health. It was just simple conversations that led deeper about how to better help yourself.”

The girl’s discuss how to better help yourself in their episode “Distorted Realities” and they talk about the

It was just simple conversations that led deeper about how to better help yourself.

- Bella Murtoff, 12 effects of social media. They share their experiences of social platforms on their mental health, and how it can be used for a greater good.

In late January, the girls put their plan into action and began creating the blueprint of the podcast. They started the journey with one goal in mind — to make an impact on at least one person.

After coming up with the name Introspect of the Youth, Murtoff and Schienman produced the first episode.

Airing on Valentine’s day, the episode

kicked off with a discussion about dating.

The girls’ share how talking through feelings helps to better understand high school romance.

In another episode the girls’ touch on the journey of self evolution and empowering yourself to grow into a better, stronger you. For this episode Murtoff and Schienman bring in a guest to add more insight on becoming the best version of yourself.

It gave Schienman courage to share other topics such as anxiety, self worth, and feminism, knowing her experiences would open up doors to make others feel seen. She said being raw and real is what was needed to get the message she wanted across – that you shouldn’t hide your emotions. You should and can feel how you want to feel.

Schienman said. “Being able to share personal experience and being vulnerable sometimes shows other people that they can as well, and that it’s valid to feel through things.”

To reach teenagers, Murtoff and Schienman knew that meant having their listeners’ voices in the podcast. For each episode the girls’ put a poll on their Instagram to ask their followers what they want to hear on the episode for that week.

“We answer those questions on the podcast because we want it to be as authentic as it can be with having actual questions from actual teenagers,” Murtoff said.

While the podcast has been a growing experience for both girls, their purpose stays

clear in sight. They want their focus to not only be of their experiences, but their listeners as well. With the topics they cover such as love, friendship, feminism, and mental health, they make it a priority to get their listener’s thoughts as well.

I think the best way to connect with people is sharing your own personal anecdote.

- Ellie Scheinman “We give our personal insight on things that may seem negative,” Schienman said. “We talk about our truth in hopes to inspire people that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. We want to create the most authentic conversation possible so people have the opportunity to relate.”

Bella Murtoff and Ellie Schienman began the podcast as acquaintances, and have grown closer as the podcast comes to life. Photo submitted by Bella Murtoff.

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Pod Puff Girls story Astor Jones & Mashiyat Khan Needing an outlet to be herself in a worldwind of the high school environment, senior Avni Garg pulled her best friends together to open a door to new discussions. With one mic and a dining table, Avni Garg, Elin Cho, and Jacque Stevenson created Pod Puff Girls — a place where they are able to release their emotions and opinions, without judgment.

“I feel like a lot of people have strong opinions about a wide range of topics,” Stevenson said. “It makes it really hard to discuss.”

With an already strong relationship, it was easy for the girls to share their emotions for the podcast. It helped them to strengthen their bond and themselves as people.

“We just want it to be something that we do together and where we have a free space to discuss what we want and if people want to listen to that, they can,” Garg said.

The girls say the podcast is not only

a safe environment for them, but for those around them. It lets them share their opinions and discuss topics in a comfortable space. The girls kicked off the first episode by sharing how the school system shaped them as people.

I really like their podcasts because they talk about issues that are really accessible.

- Maanu Obalupuram, 12 They open up about the obstacles they went through and how they grew from them.

“A lot of the people that want to attack you with such heavy arguments don’t

have a logical base for the arguments,” Stevenson said.

“People think that because if they’re louder with their opponents, they might win over you, but I feel like logic or looking at it from a more nuanced perspective, rather than making it black and white is always going to win over just being loud, or making everything polarizing when it doesn’t need to be.”

From school, to relationships, to politics and more, the podcast is a blank canvas for the girls’ to paint whatever picture they desire. In episode 4, they discussed the recent SCOTUS decision regarding Affirmative Action. They unpacked the details of the situation and how it will affect people of color going forward.

The girls’ discussions allow them to reflect upon themselves and gain insight on their experiences from different situations, from perspectives of all three girls.

“Anything that’s on your mind, the podcast is a reflective tangible source of our lives,” Cho said. “ So as the podcast grows, so do we.”

Avni Garg, Elin Cho, and Jacque Stevenson created PodPuff girls to make a safe space for them to share their opinions.

Photo submitted by Avni Garg.

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Twins start baking club to raise money for Alzheimer’s story Imaan Malik & Raksha Jayakumar

at the apartment place because of that language barrier.”

As the twins grew up, their grandmother helped them stay in touch with their Peruvian roots. Early memories for Rachel and Jennifer were filled with their grandmother cooking and frying Aji de Gallina, a personal favorite. She would bathe chicken in a creamy chili sauce to make a stew with flavors that excited the girls’ taste buds.

“I remember coming into the kitchen, smelling different things, and just being so excited to try Peruvian recipes,” Jennifer said.

The familiar sound of clanging keys ring in the empty corridor as twins Rachel and Jennifer enter their grandmother’s apartment. Their minds keep imagining her old house.

They saw memories of wearing matching red dresses, running into the kitchen to smell what their grandmother had cooked. The aroma of fresh Peruvian food flooded their noses, leaving a lasting imprint. The whole family laughed as stories were exchanged around the dinner table.

Subconsciously, the girls’ I really just want to senses seek out that familiarity during this visit. But lately the contribute to a cure...I meetings aren’t like they used thought the best way to be. Their grandmother’s homemade meals live solely to contribute towards a cure for in their memories. But the anecdotes she shares stay in Alzheimer’s is to help support the present, playing on a loop. them through funds Their dad paces throughout the apartment, signs of stress clearly painted on his face.

When they ask, their dad confirms what they already pieced together.

Their grandmother has Alzheimer’s.

But the grandmother they see before ••• them now isn’t quite the same. The Seniors Rachel and Jennifer Garay heartwarming stories she shared were were raised in Texas by a Peruvian now on a repeat cycle. She needed to be family. Their grandmother, born and constantly reminded of her medication. raised in Peru, moved to America “Recalling how she was a couple too. Their grandmother used to live years ago to how she is now is just a bit in a house, but now she lives alone jarring,” Jennifer said. in her apartment, still able to take Every time they go to visit, Rachel care of herself. Almost every other and Jennifer see the toll this takes on her. weekend, the twins visit her to They picture how she used to be. At first bring her groceries, take her out the twins felt helpless about the state she and keep her company. was in, wanting to do more for her.

“She’s very sweet. She’s quiet.

“Whenever I’m in the apartment, She doesn’t speak English,” she’ll get really emotional and she’ll start Rachel said. “It’s hard for her crying,” Rachel said. “It’s very hard to see to connect with other seniors her go through that kind of thing.”

-Rachel Garay, 12

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Their little brother would accompany them on a few of their visits.

Because he doesn’t fully understand his grandmother’s situation, their relationship hasn’t changed much. The energy between them has never been tinged with sadness.

“I guess her Alzheimer’s isn’t very visible to him,” Jennifer said. “It’s not the main thing between them. They have a very nice relationship.”

Still, seeing her in this state was something Rachel and Jennifer couldn’t get over. When going home after their visits, they couldn’t leave their feelings behind in that apartment. It followed them.

“After one of my visits with my grandmother, I was like, ‘I really just want to contribute to a cure, but obviously, I’m not a doctor,” Rachel said. “I thought the best way to contribute towards a cure for Alzheimer’s is to help support them through funds.”

They felt closest to her whenever they baked, like when she would cook her special meals for the whole family.

To them, this was the perfect way to honor and support her.

Rachel started out by reaching out to the Alzheimer’s Association and letting them know that she was planning to raise money for them.

They wanted to support one of the biggest helpers for Alzheimer’s.

The sisters took matters to the school Jennifer and Rachel Gara and formed a club

the Alzheimer’s Associati

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called “Food for Thought.” They were passionate about this cause, and their family had their backs.

“It’s mainly our parents that help us,” Jennifer said. “Get the ingredients that we need, help out with the money.”

Because they were so passionate, the twins thought they could find their same motivation in others. But they quickly realized that this would be the hard part.

“It was kind of hard to get people motivated for our cause,” Rachel said.

“We found a few people, but the majority…didn’t really go to meetings.”

They didn’t let this hold them back though. Rachel and Jennifer coordinated with the other members of the club, and together they decided who would be in charge of baking what. Everyone would bake the treats at their home to sell.

Their sales started off in a little street corner. Decorative posters were taped to rows of tables. Delicately placed platters with purple ribbons tied to each treat -- the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement. The cool spring breezes on their faces felt almost as good as the impact they were making.

However, as good as they felt, some of the club members couldn’t help but be a little discouraged.

“When starting it up, it’s a little difficult,” Jennifer said.

“We didn’t get as many donations as we thought we were

going to. But we still kept going.”

They sat, greeting every customer with an eager smile. Every single sale brought them one step closer to a cure, and that was the ultimate goal.

The next step was to get through The Longest Day. The Alzheimer’s Association hosts an annual fundraiser called “The Longest Day” on the summer solstice. Different organizations compete to see who can raise the most money and send it through the Alzheimer Association’s website.

Despite such a large endeavor before them, the club was prepared. They had their routine down by now.

“We have a set recipe just because it works so well,” Jennifer said. “We’ve perfected it over time, so it’s a lot better.”

Rachel and Jennifer had calculated the exact number of cookies and cupcakes they needed for each sale. Every other weekend the group would roll out their tables, make their sales, break their tables down and go home with a sense of success.

After weeks of this perfected routine, the team sent $1,020 towards the Longest Day fundraiser.

“It was just kind of a pat on the back on what we’ve been doing,” Jennifer said.

“It’s very encouraging to a smaller club like us.”

As they start off the new school year, the twins want to raise even more money for their grandmother’s cause.

However, they are graduating this year, so they are looking for ways to ensure they can continue making a difference.

“We’re hoping to pass down the club to someone here,” Jennifer said. “If not, then continue it ourselves.”

Though the success of the club didn’t come immediately, with perseverance the twins were able to make a significant impact. Jennifer wants others with similar ideas to know that the most important thing is to not give up.

“Keep going at it,” Jennifer said. “Even if there’s not a lot of people backing you up, if it’s something that you’re very passionate about and something you want to donate your time and money to, then just keep going.” ay sell cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods to support

...

_.food_for._thought._

Photo submitted by Rachel Garay

...

_.food_for._thought._

Photo submitted by Rachel Garay

ion. Photo submitted by Rachel Garay

feature October 23, 2023

design Jennifer Banh

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C H a s i ng

S ta r d o m

Senior lands a spot in nationwide tour story Grayson McCrate Mason had been auditioning for months. Every few weeks he would go back up to the School of Rock, play his best songs and hope to go onto the next level becoming a member of the School of Rock Allstars Tour.

In his last audition, senior Mason Shultz stood before the judges who would make or break his dreams. His thoughts were numbed. His bass guitar rested heavily in his arms.

Being a huge classic rock fan, Shultz chose “Anesthesia” by Metallica and “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen for his audition. These songs allowed him to best show his abilities. Now they would lead him to his goal. The chords that he’d spent countless nights perfecting were reverberating in the air now, awaiting decision by the judges.

The days following the final audition, Shultz couldn’t help but second guess himself. The next round of cuts inched closer, and his anxiety took root. Shultz distracted himself doing what he loves most -- playing music with his friends.

The day he received the notification that he’d made it, it confirmed his hopes, proving to him he had finally accomplished what he had set out to do years before.

He was going on the Allstars Tour.

••• Shultz’s passion for music began early on. When he was a kid, he and his father would talk about music for hours. He sat wide-eyed, listening to

Mason Schultz prepares for the School Of Rock All Stars Tour. Schultz will be on the road for two weeks straight. Photo by Colin Wilkes

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design Colin Wilkes

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his father’s stories about seeing his favorite bands live and watching old VHS tapes of concerts. These moments sowed the seeds for his interest in music.

At eight years old, he attended a music camp. Shultz wanted to play the drums, but too many drummers attended that year. The camp counselors encouraged him to switch to play bass.

From that point on, Shultz had a new favorite instrument. From the sounds it made to the challenge it gave him, he was enamored with the bass.

Later that same year, Shultz began attending the local School of Rock where he fine-tuned his bass playing skills. A few years later, he saw the South School of Rock All Stars perform in Denton.

Shultz looked around to see hoards of people pushing to get closer to the stage. As the band began to play, he was starstruck -- along with everyone else in the audience.

From the band’s swagger to the passion they put into every note, he was captivated by the performance. Shultz soon began to envy the band’s effortless style of play. He now knew what he wanted to accomplish next in his music career, he wanted to be just like them.

“They were just so good. So from that point on, I was just so motivated to try to reach their level,” Shultz said. “Since then I’ve just wanted to keep getting better and better.”

His journey was not without its challenges, though. Early on, he found learning how to play bass difficult. He would get frustrated with his lack of improvement.

“I think every person that’s played or plays an instrument, or tried learning how to play one, hit that plateau,” Shultz

feature October 23, 2023

said. “You think that you’re not getting better. And so just to get past that, it just takes constant dedication and practice, practice, practice.”

After seeing the band perform, Shultz began performing locally in restaurants and other events. Through his first few performances, Shultz had

“

The atmosphere there was absolutely electric. As a performer you really just feed off that energy.

-Mason Schultz, 12

to overcome his nerves. The bright lights of the stage were almost as unsettling as the hundreds of eyes watching his every move. With a few deep breaths, the nerves began to fade. Now, he said they aren’t even present.

“You know, you get to a certain point where you’re just used to being stared at by tons of people,” Shultz said. “You practice the music so much. It’s kind of a muscle memory at a certain point, more about having fun with your friends on stage and worrying about what people are looking at you for.”

Shultz moved on to bigger and bigger

shows. He soon found himself performing in music festivals across the country, the biggest being Lollapalooza in Chicago. Shultz’ band was one of just a few youth bands that had been selected to perform at the festival. He got exclusive access to the backstage hangout. Everywhere he looked, his eyes were met by music icons and celebrities such as Kendrick Lamar and Shaq.

“I can’t even find words to describe it,” Shultz said. “The atmosphere there was absolutely electric. As a performer you really just feed off that energy.”

Shultz lives a double life as both a performer and a high school student, and he works hard to find a balance.

Shultz maintains a solid GPA while still performing, the All Stars Tour though will be his longest tour yet. Over the course of 12 days, Shultz will travel across the country performing each day in cities in multiple states.

After high school, Shultz wants to stay in the spotlight with ambitions of going to Berklee Music College in Boston. After college, Shultz hopes to continue performing with a band.

“I want my band to get huge,” Shultz said. “I want to be able to tour live. That’s the dream.”

design Colin Wilkes

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NOT SCARY! 1 C ORALINE - P G Ad v e n t u r e, S t o p - M o t i o n A n i m a t i o n Based off the book, this stop motion movie explores the title characters discovery of the Other World – a fantastical idealistic version of her life – and the evils that are hidden behind the colorful garden, magical performances, and eclectic neighbors that force her into a battle of life or death between her Other Mother.

2 A QUIET PLACE - PG13 Thiller, Sci-Fi Following a family’s life of silence on their farm, this movie blends apocalyptic horror and silent suspense to set up a unique world for the Quiet Place universe and the family that lives within these dangers.

3 Blair Witch Project - R

Story K. Reed, Lex Paull

4 4 Jennifer’s Body - r Dark Comedy, Supernatural

Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox create a girlboss duo in this humorous horror of teenage girls, demons, and the true evil of highschool — teenage boys. Seyfried’s character, Needy, discovers the bloodthirsty transformation of her best friend Jennifer and the toll she takes on the male population of their town.

5 Insidious - PG13 Suspenseful, Supernatural, Paranormal The first installment of the pentalogy, Insidious focuses on a family of four moving into a new house before their son is suddenly placed into a comatose state. Even doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. The family comes to realize that their home is plagued with evil spirits, so they decide to move. They soon realize that the evil still followed them.

Found Footage, Psychological Horror, Supernatural

This indie film centers around three film students who travel to Burkittsville, Maryland to investigate and film the legend of the Blair Witch.

They venture into the woods. As the days go by, their travels take a turn for the worse.

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design Jasmine Estrada

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SCARY! 1 IT (2017) - R

Mystery Adventure, Coming-of-age

The modern remake of one of Stepehen King’s most famous novels takes a group of teenage outcasts. Each with their own frightening past, and pits them against the horror that targets residents of their town, every 27 years.

2

Scream - R Slasher, Mystery

This cult classic redefined the way horror could be made by acknowledging the common tropes in the genre. Residents of Woodsborough come together and apart to figure out who hides behind the mask of the killer Ghostface.

3 The Black Phone - R Thriller, Drama, Coming-of-age

After the abductions of multiple other young boys in his rural Colorado town, main character Finney finds himself trapped in a basement at the hands of man known as “The Grabber.” The story flips from centering around Finney’s attempts to escape and his little sisters supernatural abilities she attempts to use to save him.

4 Saw - R Thriller, Mystery

An iconic series within the horror genre, the grisly film goes between the two protagonists’ entrapment in a grimy bathroom with chains around their ankles. The police departments’ hunts for a killer with odd methods of execution known as the “Jigsaw Killer.”

Street Trilogy - R 5 Fear Mystery, Slasher, Supernatural Each movie can be watched as a standalone, but the overarching story follows Deena learning about the origins of her cursed town. The films go through different time periods and come together to create a bloody horror story.

entertainment October 23, 2023

VERY SCARY! 1

Hereditary - R Psychological, Supernatural, Indie

After the death of her mother, Annie and her family are soon caught in the crosshairs of their sinister past.

They eventually uncover the chilling secrets in their family lineage.

2 As Above, So Below - R Thriller, Found Footage

A group of friends trek down to the Paris Catacombs in search of the infamous Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone.

Unbeknownst to the team, there was more underneath the surface of Paris than they bargained for.

Sinister - R 3 Supernatural, Mystery Ethan Hawke stars as a true crime novelist who takes his family in search of of something that could create his next big hit book. He soon discovers eight films from the killer he’s writing about. They document the demonic acts and possible connections spanning multiple decades while trying to keep his family from a fate like those he’s written about.

4 Evil Dead Rise - R

Supernatural, Action, Fantasy

The fifth installment of the Evil Dead series, Evil Dead Rise is full of gore, body horror and demonic possession.

The movie focuses on a women and her sister’s complicated relationship. As they stay trapped in their apartment, they slowly succumb to the nightmarish demon that plagues them.

Exorcist - R 5 The Thriller, Paranormal The Exorcist is based off of the real events (uh huh sure) of preteen Reagan as her life plunges into turmoil.

She begins to speak in strange tongues, spider walks down stairs and levitates. Soon, a priest arrives to exorcize whatever demon inhabits the young girl.

design Jasmne Estrada

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Fall Coffee Feels story Astor Jones & Mashiyat Khan As you lay in bed, looking out the window, you spot warm colored leaves drifting off the trees. With fall in season, you realize it’s the time of year to snuggle in your bed with a fuzzy blanket and smell the cozy aroma of your pumpkin pecan waffle scented candle waft through your room. Getting in the

fall mood, you feel the sudden craving of a drink to go with it.

To finish off the final touches to our fall spirit, we tried five fall drinks from Starbucks and Dutch Bros to figure out which one completes the mood the best.

Iced sweater weather chai with a shot of espresso This drink from Dutch Bros will satisfy all your needs.

From completing the season’s mood, to curing your sweet tooth and providing you with a kick of energy. The drink is a faint shade of beige brown with snow-white cold foam on top. The hefty flavor of espresso evens out the sweetness from the chai portion of this drink, creating the perfect balance of

energy and sweetness level. This drink took the crown for us in taste, presentation, and fall-energy-accuracy. The slight smores aftertaste gives you a sensation of sitting by a campfire on a log bench, basking in the warmth of the fire with family and friends. Whenever your fall event calendar permits camping, make sure to take this drink along.

Iced Chai with salted caramel and cinnamon

For the coffee skeptics, we made sure not to forget about your fall drink needs. This Dutch Bros delight puts you in the perfect fall vibe with its sweetness and kick of cinnamon. The drink is eggshell white with cold foam on top, and caramel drizzle around the cup. The embedded nutty flavor made this drink stand out to us. The chai also has a hint of eggnog flavor, while the cold foam perfectly complements it with its sweet marshmallow taste.

For the chai lovers and coffee haters, this drink is made for your Halloween movie night binge.

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design Arushi Sharma

entertainment mhsmarquee.com

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Lo and behold — the world renowned Starbucks (iced) pumpkin spice latte. Presenting itself in the dome-lid clear Starbucks cup, this drink is a pastel-orange color with cinnamon dusted whipped cream. First sip, I was pleasantly surprised to be hit with a sweet rush of both pumpkin and

floral undertones. While the drink contains espresso, the coffee aspect of this latte remains faint. This leaves it perfect for the non-coffee drinkers who want a taste of fall. This fall-coded staple from Starbucks is perfect for a shopping trip at Ross on a crisp October afternoon, or throwing a ball around outside

Iced apple oat milk shaken espresso When it comes to fall, sipping steaming apple cider comes to mind. This Starbucks fall drink gives you just that feeling.

Physically, the drink comes iced or hot, appealing to be ombre.

The light coffee taste is perfect for non-coffee lovers who still want to get into the fall mood. For Starbucks, this drink took

our personal favorite, reminding us of drinking apple cider or going apple picking during the fall. This drink is in the lead for fall lovers who can’t wait to get a taste of cinnamon apple pie. The sweet apple taste also reminded us of waking up in the morning, eating apple cinnamon oatmeal, and watching “Gilmore Girls” on a rainy day before school.

Nitro caramel pumpkin brulee cold brew This custom Dutch Bros cold brew is the best for fall chocolate lovers. The nutty and chocolatey undertone reminded us of making pumpkin chocolate brownies with the leftover pumpkin after carving. The drink’s milky taste fits just right for people who want the feel of coffee but want more fall flavor. The drink itself comes with pumpkin cold foam and a topping of cinnamon and cocoa powder, allowing drinkers to bask in the chocolate-pumpkin goodness with every sip. The flavors transport you to the numerous rows of round pumpkins at your local pumpkin patch. Sipping on this drink while you go on your quest to find the spookiest one of them all.

entertainment October 23, 2023

design Arushi Sharma

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Boom bahs

Things we like

Clubs Galore There are so many clubs to choose from this year. From Crochet Club to Boys Volleyball, there’s a place where everyone can find a community. Go find your fellow enthusiasts!

Awesome Janitors

Feminine Wellness

The janitors work hard to keep the school up to standard everyday.

Students hardly notice the amount of effort they put in. We should find more ways to show how much we appreciate the work they do for us. One way is to pick up the trash we see to make their lives easier.

The M9 bathroom with feminine products is so sisterhood. We’re grateful for the kind people who make sure it is always stocked.

We’d love it if there were more of these around school!

Growing From Change column Sameeha Alidina Change: a six-letter word I despised.

My whole life, I’ve hated change. The smallest amount of change would send me into a panic. I could never accept it, rather I would whine and complain until normalcy was brought back.

However, three years ago, no amount of complaining could prevent the change I was going to face.

For 12 years, I had only known Florida. I only knew my K-8 charter school, the group of girls in my cul-desac, and my youth group at the mosque.

I was accustomed to regular hangouts at the community pool, and grabbing lunch from the pizzeria by my school.

And now, in two days I would arrive in Texas. A state that I had never been to, in a town with no friends and no place of belonging.

Sitting up straight on my air mattress, I stared at the wall.

Taking a look around my room felt strange. For as long as I could remember, my room was light pink with princess stickers posted on the walls and hundreds of dolls shoved into a single dollhouse in the corner. But now my room was empty. All that remained was a single box with a toothbrush, and a change of clothes to get me through the day before I left forever.

As I walked down the stairs, I saw my father loading boxes one by one into a U-Haul truck. I saw my life packed away into those cardboard boxes and taken out of the only home I ever knew.

My trance was abruptly interrupted by the sound of my mom. “Someone is

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here to see you, Sameeha,” she yelled.

As I made my way to the front door, I saw my best friend.

The moment we made eye contact, we both began to cry. I could feel a lump in my throat and my voice trembled as we said our last words to each other. As I looked at her, nerves overwhelmed me.

Would I ever find another best friend?

As we pulled out of the driveway, my head hung low as I couldn’t bear to watch home disappear out of sight.

Leaning my head against the car window, my mind raced as I tried to grasp the idea that I’d officially left Florida for good. As the countless hours went by, questions filled my mind: Will my old friends forget about me? Will I make new friends? What will people think of me?

I spent the whole summer, dreading school. The thought of going to a new school, and meeting new people overwhelmed me. My body would shake and my vision would blur as nerves destroyed me.

About two months later, I began my first school year in Texas. For the first couple of weeks, my fear of change held me back from going to events and making new friends.

I felt that accepting my new life would officially confirm that my Florida days were over. Making new friends would remind me that my old friends were gone. Rather than embracing change, I found comfort in ignoring it.

I spent my days alone. I sat in the back of the classroom with earbuds in my ear and music blasted at full volume to silence reality. I kept to myself and observed everyone’s friend group. A part of my heart wanted a friend, but the other half was still afraid.

Eventually, I was invited to my first hangout. A girl I met in my science class had invited me to join her and her friends at the mall. Although my heart beamed at the invite, I was hesitant at first.

Fortunately, my mom forced me to go with them.

I dreaded every moment leading up to it. Getting out of bed that morning was a struggle. All I wanted to do was lie down and scroll through my phone endlessly.

Despite all my fears, I couldn’t be happier that my mom forced me to hang out with them. In those few hours at the mall, I felt a relief I hadn’t felt in forever.

I finally felt like I belonged.

Looking back, I regret allowing my fear to hold me back. From now on, I plan to welcome change with open arms. Although change doesn’t always mean new happy beginnings, it also doesn’t mean complete disaster. Change is inevitable and accepting it is what allowed me to grow as a person.

opinion mhsmarquee.com

Heys

Things we don’t like

Lack of lunch seating Both A and D lunches are super cramped. Students have to move outside or to the library because there’s no room. We would love to have more places in the library to sit during lunch.

No Marauder Time

Commons traffic

When Marauder Time was first forced on us, we hated it. Now that it’s gone, we miss what we had.

Marauder Time was good for us to work on homework or take a break.

Now that we don’t have it, the school day rushes by much faster. School would be a lot more manageable if we brought Marauder Time back.

The Commons should not be everyone’s stomping ground after every period. We have to rush to get to class while we keep bumping into other students. If we could walk and talk instead of stop and block, collective morale would be boosted.

The Road For Me column Janisha Kesar

The room was blurry. My mind was spinning. The projector board was a series of indecipherable tasks to accomplish. My eighth grade self sat awkwardly at my desk, palms sweating, legs shaking.The counselors were going through the list of classes and credits that go toward graduation. I felt like I needed to do everything to be successful.

The students around me seemed to be calm about the new information that was thrown at us. It felt like I was the only one that was freaking out. This of course wasn’t true, but my mind was too stressed to realize it. Their words came tumbling down, and it felt like there was no clear path.

The fear took over bit by bit as summer went by. Before I knew it, I was on my way into the freshman campus. The school felt like a big weight room, and I was trying to bench perfect grades and honor classes. I could win a competition with the amount I was lifting.

I felt like I could never make a mistake. The different opinions from videos online and parents looming over my head constantly followed me around my freshman year. The first semester was like being in a big ocean of people. I was trying to stay afloat, but had no raft and eventually started sinking.

By the second semester it got to the point where I didn’t care anymore.

There were late night breakdowns and homework debacles. I was never mentally present in my classes anymore.

Resting didn’t feel like resting. It was worrying for my grades and how

opinion October 23, 2023

I should be doing a certain amount of AP classes. The weight I’d been holding eventually fell on me. I compared myself to every person around me and thought they were doing better.

My school-oriented personality never came back after COVID and it killed my attention span. No matter how much I tried, I had lost a part of myself that I needed so desperately in high school.

Nearing the end of ninth grade, I still hadn’t found that girl again.

As the year came to an end, my classes slowly got away from me, and my freshman year flickered out. I had talked to a counselor shortly before the year ended and her words still stick with me.

“You are doing just fine,” she said.

“You are a wonderful person and will go places.” Though her words were simple, they were all I needed to get back up again.

They helped me realize something. I don’t need to do what others are doing to succeed. I don’t need to be the best in all these classes to get somewhere. My future

exists as long as I am happy with what I will do. That is when I decided in my sophomore year, no more comparison, no more trying to do everything, and to stick to what I knew I could do.

And guess what? When I focused on my strengths, I got better grades and was happier. I am doing better than I ever thought I could do. All it took was a little change of perspective.

With a year of high school under my belt, I can see the difference. All I needed was a little change and blocking out the voices. I wish I could go back to my scared eighth grader self and tell her that I was going to be fine. I could do what was right for me.

As high schoolers we are swarmed by all of the different pathways to take.

Everyone’s opinion is different. I could be doing everything yet be doing nothing in someone else’s eyes. We forget that we matter more than their voices.

I still have growing to do, but I feel confident in the steps I can take to get to the best version of myself.

The school felt like a big weight room, and I was trying to bench perfect grades.

design Arushi Sharma

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A place I won’t forget column JC Mays Growing up, my family and I would take evening trips to the playground and duck pond behind Timber Creek Elementary. Over the years, these places have lost their allure, but now I get to watch my brother experience them for the first time.

Exploring the playground used to fill me with joy. I’d look up at the monkey bars in awe at how high up they were, seeming unreachable. There was so much to do, so many things to climb.

But the slides were my favorite. So fast I almost took flight But the slides aren’t as fast and the monkey bars don’t seem as tall anymore.

They’ve lost their sense of childish wonder.

Now my little brother soars down the same slides and traverses across the same monkey bars. He cheers as he runs up and down the playground, and he laughs as each creak of the swings takes him higher. It’s all new to him.

“

What I see as average, he sees as shiny and exciting. I get a warm feeling from watching him explore this exciting new space just like I did all that time ago.

His wide eyes and cheeky grin bring me a feeling of joy and reminiscence.

Walking the trails and looking up at the trees, I remember how they towered over me when I was younger and how dark the forest felt. Entering the woods used to engulf me in a sense of curiosity and wonder. They’re not so mysterious anymore.

I no longer wonder where the sun

I look down at my reflection go when the trees covered the in the rippling would sky, and I no longer search the trees for hidden creatures and their pond water, mysterious suspicious sounds.

My brother keeps close to me as we and I see meander through the forest. He gazes at the trees as if they were going to move. someone He’d sit still if I weren’t ushering him to forward. To see my brother mimic that looks so move my old self almost makes me laugh. from the trees, I look down different from at Emerging my reflection in the rippling pond and I see someone that looks so who I was 14 water, different from who I was 14 years ago.

When I was younger, I didn’t spare a years ago. thought for the future. Nowadays that’s all I can think about.

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design Colin Wilkes

“

He cheers as he runs up and down the playground, and he laughs as each creak of the swings takes him higher. It’s all new to him.

The ducks follow me and quack expectantly, peeping their heads up for bread. When I was a boy, my first few times visiting the pond, the ducks would run, flap and fly away from me as I wandered about. I was unfamiliar and obnoxious to them as an especially loud and giggly child. Now I get to watch my little brother follow the ducks and laugh as they waddle away. He tells me the ducks are silly because they walk weirdly. I remember how scary they were to me. Where my brother gets his confidence, I don’t know.

He is experiencing this world 14 years after me, but in many ways, despite the amount of time that has passed, it hasn’t changed at all. This park I explored, and that he is exploring now, is almost unchanged. It is interesting to see how the same place can affect two people differently As children, we saw the world as a wonderful place with so much to explore, but as we grow older we get used to the things that left us awestruck in the past.

My little brother sees a world so full of color and getting to be with him as he experiences it restores some of the color I stopped seeing.

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“None of you will ever understand me because none of you are blonde.”

“Is breathing fake?”

-M9

“I left the roaches at my house.”

-MOB

“I identify as someone who doesn’t want to be here.”

-Commons

“Totally dripped out in Lululemon.”

-Newsroom

“If you think you’re dumb there’s definitely someone dumber than you.”

-Cafeteria

e h a r rd e v O Around Campus

“Do you wanna be pee-pee buddies?” -Commons

“Your GPA is the same as my newborn sister’s age.”

-Commons

Class rank doesn’t define worth staff editorial to. It shouldn’t be that way.

In high school, the center of focus tends to be academic excellence. Most of the conversations that surround us are related to performance–our class rank, GPA and weighted numerical. School turns into a competition instead of a learning environment.

Our worth boils down to a number, and it is exhausting. Students should not be solely focused on their high school performance. Instead, they should be focused on figuring out themselves and their plans first. Academic validation is something many crave.

This can be because of the need to feel equivalent to the smart kid in your class who seems to have it all figured out. It also comes from parents’ concerns about your life decisions. It can be the people your relatives constantly compared you

opinion October 23, 2023

College is a big influence in high school as most students are trying to get into a decent one, but college doesn’t have to be for everyone.

If we decide to focus on another option that works for us, it is looked down upon by some people. We need to normalize the fact that not everyone breathes, thinks, and lives about college.

GPA’s. We all have them and they come with the urge to see how high your weighted and unweighted is compared to your peers. School just becomes a race to take the AP classes for that GPA booster and college validation -- the factor that is supposed to define us.

Kids will have breakdowns over their GPAs and ruin their mental health.

They hope it was all worth it when they see a 4.0 slapped on their transcripts

screaming “YES IM NOT A FAILURE!” Though a good GPA gets us into college, we don’t need to lose our social life and mental health over a number. There are ways to have a stable personal life and school life, but we tend to forget that. We should be able to use the little personal time we have as we want. Whether that be to sit down and read a book or be a social butterfly and go out.

We shouldn’t tie our worth to academic validation. It would be sad if our entire high school experience was centered around a textbook and pulling all nighters to study for a test. Instead of memorizing, studying, worrying, getting the grade and repeating we can keep a balance. Nothing is a black and white situation. It is important to keep stability and most of all, put your well-being first.

Not the number.

design Colin Wilkes

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King of the mound Photos by Anya Jain

For their 24th matchup, the Marauders traveled to Flower Mound stadium to take on the Jaguars. The Marauders won a tight game with a score of 35-26. This gave the Marauders their fourth win against the Jaguars in the past five years.

The Marquettes cheered for Maurader touchdown..

Junior running back Isaiah Keliikipi ran down the field and scored his third touchdown of the game against Flower Mound.