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 refect 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.
cover Roger Sader
12
Against All Odds Teen battles cancer for 11 years
22
Love and Paninis
Family-owned bistro opens
24
Bento Box Ideas
Fun and easy lunch recipes
Elementary student intensly watches the frst football game of the season against Keller on August 30. Photo by Calista Mahendran
NEW PRINCIPAL EMBRACES ROLE
Koontz creating a culture of cooperation
Following the promotion of former principal Will Skelton, Dr. Cody Koontz is taking over this role. Dr. Koontz formerly served as the principal of Coppell High School’s ninth grade campus.
In March, the district announced Skelton would be rising to Chief of High Schools afer serving as principal for six years. As part of this new role, Skelton will be a leader to the fve LISD high schools and the TECC centers.
As Lewisville ISD’s search for a replacement drew to a close, they found Dr. Koontz to be the prime candidate. He felt drawn to Marcus because of his history with the school. While he played football at Grapevine High School, he admired the Marcus team. Later as a coach, he competed with them once again, holding similar sentiments. He said he has always had a healthy respect for Marcus, even as a rival.
“I could not have picked a more perfect environment for me to continue to grow as a leader,” Dr. Koontz said. “We love this community, the schools are great.”
Mrs. Fouché, the secretary, said that Dr. Koontz is just like Mr. Skelton, which smoothed the transition to a new principal. Tey both prioritize students, their learning, and staf collaboration to create the best learning environment.
“Dr. Koontz and Mr. Skelton stop and think about situations before they solve problems,” Mrs. Fouché said. “Tey don’t have knee-jerk reactions when something goes wrong.”
By thinking through his actions, Dr. Koontz is able to fulfll his goal of helping children.
During his ealy years, driven by this desire, Dr. Koontz initially planned to be a pediatrician. However, during his sophomore year at Texas Christian University, he started to question what path was right for him.
“It took me about a year to realize that education was the area I was supposed to be in,” Dr. Koontz said. “I wanted to work in a feld where I could make a diference in young lives.”
Afer earning his degree, Dr. Koontz started his career as a science teacher, football, and track coach at Grapevine High School. As his career progressed, he took on similar roles at Irving MacArthur High School and Chisholm Trail High School.
“Teaching science was a natural ft for me,” Dr. Koontz said. “But coaching allowed me to connect with students on a diferent level, and that’s where I found my passion for mentoring young people.”
As Dr. Koontz’s family began to grow,
STORY Roger Sader DESIGN Felix Oien
“Being new is hard,” Dr. Koontz said, “But I’m commited to listening and learning to understand how best to serve this community.”
Another one of Dr Koontz’s main focuses is to prepare students for life afer high school by fostering a culture of cooperation among staf and students.
Te student advisory council consists of a group of students who have weekly meetings with the principal to discuss issues plaguing the school. Eshaan Sheth, a senior in this council, said
Grade Principal. Photo by Atharv Vundyala
he transitioned into administration for a beter balance. He started his new job as an assistant principal at Chisholm Trail High School.
As he matured in this position Dr. Koontz’s began prioritizing the importance of building strong connections.
“We’re in the people business,” Dr. Koontz said. “Te best school leaders are those who truly invest in personal relationships with students and staf.”
Dr. Koontz said he supports teachers and the creation of an environment where students can thrive. As principal, he focuses on three key priorities: learning, serving, and leading. His goal is to beter know the students, staf, and families that make up the school’s unique culture.
that it allows faculty and students to connect and collaborate at a greater level. Te advisory council includes a mix of all races and grade levels, thereby representing the diversity of the school population.
“I had a couple of conversations with Dr. Koontz at the start of the year, and he really did express that he wants to continue this culture of student advisory,” Sheth said. “Dr. Koontz loves it here, and what Mr. Skelton has built is phenomenal.”
As the 2024-2025 school year begins, Dr. Koontz said he is determined to lead Marcus High School into a new, exciting era and uphold its longstanding tradition of excellence.
“Tis is a special place,” Dr. Koontz said, “I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Sep. 25 2024
Dr. Koontz is excited to continue his career as an administrator after serving as Coppell High School’s 9th
Same book, New CHAPTER
NFL coach’s son continues family’s football legacy
STORY Gabe Weaver
DESIGN Caleb Kim
Colton Nussmeier is the son of Doug Nussmeier, the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and younger brother of Garret Nussmeier, former star Marcus High School quarterback and current starter at Louisiana State University. With a last name like Nussmeier, one can’t help but think that the current Marcus quarterback would only be known as someone’s son or brother and not Colton.
Troughout his career, Nussmeier has been ahead of his time. At Downing Middle School, Nussmeier started to separate himself from the competition and take his quarterback play to the next level.
As he moved from middle school to high school, the diference between the speed of the game was night and day. Afer moving to high school, he found that he was surrounded by players who trusted him and that he could trust them, too. Along with being named the starting quarterback, he fnally felt that he was truly becoming a part of the team and had found his place.
As a freshman, during the bidistrict playof game against McKinney, Nussmeier got some of his frst snaps with the varsity. In the beginning of the game, Marcus got of to a strong start
I feel like I have to uphold a high standard more for my teammates because they’re the ones I play for.
-Colton Nussmeier, 10, Quarterback
scoring 10 points in the frst quarter only trailing McKinney by one. With the momentum they had, Marcus thought the game was going to be a close one.
At the quarter change, Marcus went into the second quarter confdently but McKinney started to take advantage of the fatigued defense. With the defense holding Mckinney to only 10 points, the team started to fall tired and started to make litle mental errors that led to the Mckinney ofense scoring 20 points in the second quarter and Marcus scoring zero.
With all of the big breakaway plays McKinney made, the team morale dropped signifcantly which let go of the momentum that Marcus had in the frst quarter. Despite the lead that McKinney was gaining on Marcus, Nussmeier was determined to fnish the game strong, leading the team to three more touchdowns. Despite the loss, Nussmeier stayed positive and played his very best until the very end but the loss was still difcult for him and the team to accept.
Playing on the varsity while being so young, Nussmeier had worries that he wasn’t going to ft in and be treated like a true sophomore but the coaches made sure that didn’t happen, especially quarterbacks Coach Talon Smith. During the frst practices of the 24-25 season, Nussmeier was not what some would call a leader. Having to lead the ofense as a sophomore can be a difcult role to fll. Even though Nussmeier had self doubts, his teammate and coaches knew that he was up for the challenge.
From the very beginning, Coach Smith knew that Nussmeiers potential was limitless considering how mature and poised Nussmeier is despite being so young.
“He was a freshman last year and came in and played in the playof game and made a bunch of big plays,” Coach Smith said ”His process and his feet, just his ability to be a playmaker, he’s improved in every way”.
Most may think that being in a family that’s so heavily involved in football
Sophmore varsity quarterback Colton Nussmeier rolls out of the pocket to attempt a pass against Keller.
Photo Luke Drake
means you have to be the best and uphold a huge family expectation overlooking the fact that Nussmeier is alongside teammates he plays with.
“I feel like I have to uphold a high standard more for my teammates because they’re the ones I play for,” Nussmeier said.
Because he isn’t always the loudest, Nussmeier fnding his voice was a crucial stepping stone in his journey to becoming a true quarterback. Being vocal is a must for a good quarterback and Nussmeier knew that was the only thing he lacked.
“Last year he was more quiet and non initiative but over the spring and summer, he’s become a great leader and a great teammate,” running back Isaiah Keliikipi said. “He allows everyone to have more trust in the team which causes players to have more passion for the game.”
Despite his youth, Nussmeier is fnding his place on the team as the starting varsity quarterback, eliminating worries that his lack of experience wouldn’t allow him to fll this role. It is clear to Coach Smith that he earned this important
-Talon Smith, MHS Quarterbacks Coach
position with hard work and dedication.
“He’s one of those guys that lead by example frst, when you’re a guy who makes a bunch of plays like he does, when you say something, people listen,” Coach Smith said. “He’s grown in that way too.”
Nussmeier’s growth hasn’t always been physical or about being a leader. As the team grew, Nussmeier grew along with them and truly found his love for the team.
“I love Marcus, the atmosphere and team is great,” Nussmeier said. Since being named “QB1,” Nussmeier understood he had to take a leadership role on the team faster than he may have intended, but the coaches were confdent he was up for the challenge.
“I think his maturity is number one, he’s grown up, “ Coach Smith said. “Just watching him mature on and of the feld is probably his biggest area of growth” As a player, there are on and of days and the coaches acknowledge that, but they hold the team to a high standard allowing as few mistakes as possible.
When Nussmeier started playing with the varsity, he said he began to realize that there’s more to the game than just football. Tere’s a whole new level than just playing for yourself. Tere is trust that the players will uphold that standard with each other.
Te crowd is roaring, the play clock is counting down, it’s the frst game of the season and the score against Keller is tied 7-7. Nussmeier is out and nobody knows why. With Nussmeier out, Marcus did not lose their momentum and continued to play the best they could.
Jake Torgeson is under center and calls set. Torgeson gives a sign and wide receiver Rhet Garza runs a jet sweep. Te ball snaps as Garza is in motion, the linemen hold their blocks but one player still gets through the line, Garza stumbles but he stays up.
Garza has more leverage to the outside and keeps his path wide and dives in for the touchdown puting Marcus in the lead.
All along, Nussmeier was on the sideline supporting his teammates as they are running of the feld. While injured he remained positive even though he wasn’t in the game. Afer the game clock hit zero, everyone cheered as they had won the frst game. Nussmeier was out for most of the game but he remained a good teammate and encouraged throughout the whole game and congratulated the team on a big win.
Looking back to before he was on varsity, being out of the game would have meant the game was over, but that was the furthest from the truth when he was injured during the game. He realized that he’s surrounded by his teammates who trust him so the least he could do was trust his team. “He’s starting to use his voice a litle more and starting to become a litle more trusting of his teammates,” Coach Smith said. “[He] realizes he’s not alone which gives him a real reason to play.”
, He’s starting to use his voice a little more and starting to become a little more trusting of his teammates. [He] realizes he’s not alone.
sports Sep. 25, 2024
Marcus, currently 3-0, in the offensive huddle during the frst game of the season against Keller. Marcus went on to win 14-7.
Photo by Atharv Vundyala
Colton Nussmeier - No. 13.
Photo courtesy of Marcus Football
Junior forward Luke Susko fghts through contact on a drive to the basket in a game against Richardson. The Marauders would go onto win this game 61-54.
DRIVEWAY DREAMS TO REALITY
Junior receives attention of college scouts for basketball prowess
STORY Grayson McCrate
DESIGN Caleb Kim
Te noise from rowdy fans was deafening as the basketball team neared the end of the frst half against dreaded rival Flower Mound.
A missed Marauder shot ricocheted back to the foor; trouble seemed imminent for Marcus. Flower Mound had just cut the lead to six, but this was at risk of disappearing if things didn’t change soon for the Marauders.
Tat was until junior forward Luke Susko soared into the paint and threw down a ferocious, put-back dunk to steal back any momentum the Jaguars gained. Susko’s dunk would spark a six point individual scoring run, propelling the Marauders to a convincing win over their rivals.
Tis game would serve as just a snapshot of Susko’s ability to take over a game at moments notice. Susko’s
performances would be so impactful that he would be geting ofers before his junior season even began.
Before Susko was punishing backboards, his evenings were spent trying to score on his older brother in their driveway.
“Watching my older brother play, I really just fell in love with the game,” Susko said. “As I continued to grow older, it really separated itself from other sports that I played, just as the one that I love.”
As time passed, the concrete of the family driveway would transition into the hardwood of the Marcus Athletic Center. Coming into his freshman year, Susko was able to do what most freshmen historically cannot make the varsity roster. Te role was met with challenges, though.
“As I got older, I had to transition to more of a guard,” Susko said. “Playing on varsity, I wasn’t the tallest one
We want to go as far as possible, and the goal is to win district and win state.
-Luke Susko, 11,
anymore, so I had to keep developing and changing my skill sets more.”
Susko had to fght tooth and nail for minutes early in the season.
Photo by Grace Anderson
As he appeared in more games, his performance in each steadily improved. Susko impressed coaches with his knowledge of the game and his impact as a teammate even on the bench. By the end of the season, Susko carved out a role as a key contributor coming of the bench. Susko’s skill on the court continued to improve as a sophomore, as well as his bond with his teammates. “I think my confdence on the court, knowing that I can trust my teammates, I grew in that aspect,” Susko said. “Every time we step on the foor together and every time we hang out, we’re just continuing to grow a bond that will help us on the court and keep relationships of the court, hopefully through life.” As the season progressed the team also continued to grow closer, and their play on the court improved. Te Marauders fnished the season with a 24-8 record, doubling their previous season’s win total. Tis took them to a playof
His ability to learn and his presence as a teammate has really impressed me.
-Coach James Singleton
showdown against the McKinney Lions. Te Lions had a record of 25-9 this season, and they were on a ninegame winning streak. Both teams were evenly matched. During the week prior, the entire team had one thing on their minds, beat McKinney. Every practice, every rep had this idea at the forefront as the team was hungry for a chance to perform on the big stage. Going into the game, nerves and excitement flled the locker room. Tis was most of the teams frst playof game.
Luke Susko hustles back on defense. Susko would go on to make frst team all-distict later this year.
Tis being Susko’s frst were high. Early in the Susko hit a three-point stretching their lead to but McKinney continued fghting back, closing frst half trailing 31-30. Te Lions continued to put the pressure on as they jumped to a 10-point lead. Despite the Marauders’ best eforts behind Susko’s 17 points, the lead was too much to overcome. Te Marauders lost 64-56. Although the loss was a valuable experience Susko and the rest of “Last season, my memory was the week up to our playof game,” said. “Even though it was a great experience, and I feel like we got close to the Afer the season Susko continued to basketball with his travel team in tournaments across the nation for his tournament team, where he
continued his dominance winning tournament MVPs and stufng the stat sheet. It was at these tournaments that Susko caught the atention of college scouts. On the frst day of early recruiting for college basketball Susko got an unexpected call. It was from the University of California, Berkeley ofering a basketball scholarship. “I knew I put in the work, but I was just being patient and waiting until I got the opportunity,” Susko said. “I thank the people that helped me all the way through the process and will continue to help me continue to just grow.”
Tis upcoming season will be Susko’s third with the Marauders as he hopes to help bring home their frst state championship since 2012. “We want to go as far as possible, and the goal is to win district and win state,” Susko said. “It’s not easy, but if we work hard, it’s defnitely possible.”
sports Sep. 25, 2024
Photo by Grace Anderson
Luke Susko looks for an open man to pass to. Susko would fnish the season as the Marauders’ second leading scorer.
Photo by Grace Anderson
A work in progress
Volleyball player goes to treatment center for anorexia
TW: This story discusses eating disorders and recovery.
STORY Raksha Jaykumar
DESIGN Arushi Sharma
Everyone around senior Chloe Heeter is already halfway through their dinner, but her plate is untouched. She looks at each of her teammates silently. Chloe searches their faces for any hesitancy, any unease, but she fnds none. Tey laugh together, take bite afer bite without a second thought.
She shifs in her seat next to her coach, and her silence grows noticeable. Her coach prompts her, asking why she isn’t eating. To keep up appearances, she takes an awkward spoonful. Ten she takes a few more.
Waiting for a moment alone, Chloe rushes to the bathroom, hoping to cry by herself, but a teammate follows her inside. Small talk temporarily overshadows her noisy thoughts, and they return to the table.
As everyone says their goodbyes, Chloe packs up her dinner, half of which is untouched.
“I can’t be like this anymore,” she tells herself. She needs to be skinnier. Doing this gives her a sense of control over herself. She can’t stop now.
Her anorexia has gone too far.
• • •
Grappling with underlying anxiety and depression, Chloe moved to Texas before her freshman year. She felt lonely, unable to make new connections.
“It was really hard for me to try and make friends,” Chloe said. “I got on the volleyball team, and all of them were like the only people I really knew.”
But she never quite clicked with her teammates.
Nevertheless, Chloe threw herself into her sport. Living in North Texas, one of the largest areas in the country for serious youth volleyball, fueled her competitive spirit. Every day was an extensive regimen, working out, practicing, and watching old tapes to improve.
“I didn’t talk to anyone because I was like, ‘I’m just going to get beter because I want to focus on myself,’” Chloe said. “I was also just really socially anxious during freshman and sophomore year, and most of it was because I wasn’t eating.”
Chloe began comparing her body to her teammates, wondering what she could fx, how she could fx it. She said her obsession with her sport turned into an obsession with her weight and how she looked.
“I’d had problems with eating since seventh grade,” Chloe said. “I just wanted to be skinnier because all of the volleyball girls were.”
Dinners with her team were especially difcult. Seeing what she wanted for
Photos submitted by Chloe Heeter
After getting treatment, Chloe pushes herself to get back into volleyball.
Photo submitted by Chloe Heeter
When Chloe plays volleyball, she fuels her competitive spirit. Her sport is where she feels strong and confdent.
Photo submitted by Chloe Heeter
herself in other people made her feel small and made her want to be smaller.
“I’d purposely trigger myself all the time,” Chloe said. “I would be triggered by seeing other people just existing which took me a really long time to get over.”
Tese thoughts were always present in her mind. Tey became more powerful the more atention she paid to them. As an outlet, Chloe took pen to paper and let her inner feelings loose in her journal.
I started talking to this girl last week, and I really liked her. I just feel like she won’t like me, and I’m so jealous of her body. I know that’s bad, but I seriously can’t help it.
Te only way she saw ft to change herself was to change her diet — to not eat, even when her body needed it.
Her stamina while playing volleyball began to fall and hurt her ability to play. Feeling unsatisfed with her performance, Chloe rushed to the locker room to decompress.
“My sophomore year at practice, I’d be exhausted all the time,” Chloe said. “I passed out in the bathroom, and I also got hurt a lot easier because my bones weren’t healthy.”
But this wasn’t enough motivation to stop. While hiting a volleyball against the side of her house, Chloe’s mom texted her, asking if she had eaten dinner yet. Chloe replied yes, despite not having eaten nor having any intention to do so. Her mother came home to fnd her still practicing relentlessly.
“What did you eat?” her mother asked.
“A frozen dinner,” Chloe replied.
But her mother knew something was of. She went back inside the house and lifed the lid of the trashcan, expecting to fnd the frozen dinner. She came back out with the trash can and asked Chloe where the food was. Chloe said she ate it in her room.
Still not fully believing her, Chloe’s mother brought her empty bedroom trash can outside and set it down.
“Are you lying?” she questioned.
“I don’t know,” Chloe said.
Her mother’s back slid down the brick wall until she was positioned next to Chloe on the ground. Tears streamed as they talked, and her mother began to realize the gravity of Chloe’s situation.
“I think that was probably the frst time my mom said anything about
feature Sep. 25, 2024
it,” Chloe said. “But it took over a year for me to get actual treatment.”
Chloe began atending a nutritionist and therapist, both of whom assessed her needs and diagnosed her with anorexia. Her eating disorder was fnally being recognized, but it wasn’t what she wanted.
I feel so depressed/tired all the time. Te nutritionist said it was because I’m not eating, but not eating makes me feel so good.
At that point, Chloe’s brain had made every food seem like the enemy. Her nutritionist told her that she had
malnutrition, but she took that as a sign she was doing well. When her eating disorder continued to progress, Chloe’s therapist assigned her to a partial hospitalization program (PHP) at a treatment center which she would atend daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“I was mad because I wasn’t going in-patient yet,” Chloe said. “But I felt accomplished because she thought I was sick enough to go to an actual treatment center instead of doing outpatient.”
Chloe went to PHP in October of 2022. Tere, patients were given breakfast,
snacks, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. In December, Chloe was moved up to residential, where she would stay at the treatment center full time.
“I was so happy because I was like, ‘Tat means I’m losing weight,” Chloe said. “‘Tat means I’m geting skinnier and that I actually need help.’”
Every day was a strict schedule, with meal times, urine tests, school, and activities. Chloe struggled to fnish her meals without supplements — replacements like protein shakes and Clif bars if patients can’t eat the meals. Te Friday afer she arrived, Chloe’s doctors told her that if she couldn’t fnish her meal without supplements, she would have to get a nasogastric feeding tube that Monday. She began making progress, but she faced an unfortunate setback.
“On the way to the bathroom, I passed out when I was geting up for them to check my pee,” Chloe said. “I was in a wheelchair for three weeks because I couldn’t walk.”
With the wheelchair, her feeding tube went up through her nose and rolled around with her. Te tube would give her nutrients like vitamins, carbs, and protein. Afer Chloe got
Chloe enjoys a nice dinner for prom, surrounded by other friends. She is still in recovery, but her relationship with food has come a long way.
As Chloe opens up about her eating disorder, she shares entries from the journal she kept throughout her journey.
Photo submitted by Chloe Heeter
Photo submitted by Chloe Heeter
of her tube, she was put in isolation because she still had trouble eating.
“I couldn’t be with the group at all, and I had to eat outside,” Chloe said. “I had to stay outside in the hallway and no one was allowed to talk to me.”
Te isolation was in hopes that she would be more motivated to eat. Afer four excruciatingly long days, she got to go back to her group, but she regressed a litle while afer. She struggled to complete her meals again, so they said they would send her back to isolation.
I’m in isolation again. I went in the fresh air. I think I’ll actually try this time. I got leters from Erica, Sarah, and Riley. One from Megan, too.
A litle before she went to the treatment center, she got to form close bonds with new people. It was difcult for them to hear about what Chloe was going through because they felt like they never picked up on it.
“I was talking to my friend Foster, and he was like, ‘I never thought anything because you always had something for lunch,’” Chloe said. “Tat was like the only time I did eat.”
She thought everyone would notice if she gained any weight, but they never did.
“I realized that my weight is the least important part about me,” Chloe said. Her friends supported her through her entire journey, writing leters and secretly DMing her. Sophomore Ivanna CavazosFlores was part of this aspect of Chloe’s recovery process. I would text her as ofen as possible so I could check up on
her and see how she was feeling,” Ivanna said. “Now that Chloe is thriving and in such a beter place, I have seen her happier, healthier, and living life to the fullest, not worrying about her image.”
Recovery was a difcult and lengthy process, but Chloe moved back down to PHP by February, and then to intensive outpatient care at the end of March. Now she meets regularly with a therapist and nutritionist.
No matter what you look like, you can be affected by this.
- Chloe Heeter, 12
While she still considers herself in recovery, she has mostly healed from her eating disorder. Now that she has a new mindset, she picks up on litle phrases she hears everywhere. People casually say, “I’m so fat,” or call their friends fat. Chloe said it bothers her because almost everyone has likely struggled with eating at one point, so the jokes are insensitive. However, Chloe said she refrains from speaking up because it is a realization everyone will have eventually. “I don’t even remember people saying stuf like that in freshman and sophomore year,” Chloe said. “Tey probably did but I was already saying those things to myself, so it didn’t really afect me.”
Phrases like this followed her as she made her way back onto the volleyball court, where her eating disorder was frst amplifed. Her return to being an athlete was difcult, so she wanted to start an Instagram account to inspire other athletes going through the same thing. “I would look at recovery accounts and just compare my body to theirs because they’re recovering too, but they are all super skinny,” Chloe said. “I wanted to share my story to try and let people know that no mater what you look like, you can be afected by this.” Chloe would make healthy meals and post them on her recovery account. She said that posting aesthetic meals would motivate her to eat. “I would make my oatmeal look so prety,” Chloe said. “I also got really into body positivity/neutrality.”
Chloe has taken down the recovery account since then, but she continues to make progress of the screen. She can see the gradual change in herself, in her mindset and notices that she doesn’t stress so much about eating anymore. “I’m impressed by myself because now I don’t think about it,” Chloe said. “Now I’m much more social, like I can do anything.”
| Fighting with faith | Junior wins her tough battle with cancer
STORY Astor Jones DESIGN Raksha Jayakumar
As a visit to her grandmother’s Illinois house comes to an end, junior Lydia Hood catches her mother’s eye when they board the plane. “Tat’s a cute top,” her mom says. However, the paterns of Lydia’s tank top weren’t the only thing she noticed. A sofball-sized mass formed on her right arm, between her shoulder and chest. Te mass that would soon grow to the size of her fst within the span of a few days.
Lydia’s parents rushed her to the hospital. Te minutes before the doctors delivered their diagnosis felt excruciating, but not as much as when they found out what the doctors detected.
A tumor was growing on a nerve near her right arm. Te pain and discomfort Lydia felt for nine months turned out to be cancer.
seemed extensive. Surgeons removed a nerve from her shoulder and replaced it, leaving her unable to fully lif her arm above her head or move as much as she used to. However, she is grateful for the mobility that remains. Te thought of still having some movement in her arm gives her hope and keeps her motivated for recovery going forward.
know what to think,” Mr. Hood said. “Te frst thing in my mind was, it could be saying goodbye to her.”
While Lydia was receiving treatments, it was difcult for her family to sit and watch on the sidelines, waiting for their daughter to get beter. While in treatment, her dad saw her health rapidly decline. Seeing his daughter cry, and geting sick in the mornings brought emotional pain to his life. During the process he struggled with mental health, but he worked to remain strong for his daughter and family. “You feel so helpless for your child,” Mr. Hood said. “I’m always the go-to person for answers, and this time I didn’t have answers.” As weeks of Lydia’s treatments passed, her hair fell of bit by bit. Lydia had been wearing beanies and head scarves to make it more comfortable.
When Lydia was three years old, she was diagnosed with Neurofbromatosis, a condition that causes tumors to grow all over the nerves in the brain and body. Batling brain tumors on and of throughout her whole life prepared her for the impending surgeries in her cancer journey.
Lydia’s initial treatment plan included 12 rounds of chemotherapy and several rounds of surgery. When the doctors became aware of how large her tumor grew, they realized radiation was the safest way to shrink the tumor without permanently damaging nerves or tissue. During her treatment journey, Lydia underwent six months of rigorous chemotherapy. Te surgery and treatment process
“Honestly, it’s a blessing I can even move my arm Lydia said. “I’m very thankful everything I still have, even though it could be beter, I have something.” Te most important thing was her family’s support during treatment process. Lydia’s members rallied around her, even though it wasn’t easy for “Everyone knew how I fought it before and that I’d be able fght it again, so they all supported me and carried me through this process,” Lydia Hood
When Lydia’s dad, teacher Jesse Hood, found out she was diagnosed with cancer, he didn’t know what to think. A load of negative thoughts came rushing to his mind. “When I frst heard of cancer, I didn’t
Tough it was painful, Lydia built up the courage to say, “Dad, I just want to cut it.”
Tat same night her dad shaved her hair. What started as an emotional
time for the two of them ended in relief and made them closer.
Hood was more than willing to be there for Lydia at every step of the way. He and his wife switched shifs in the hospital with Lydia, staying up late as needed. With the help of substitute teachers, family, and fellow staf members, he was able to be present for his daughter.
“I almost wanted to take the pain for her,” Hood said. “I wished I could’ve been going through this instead of her. I wanted to be there and live it as much as possible for her, even though I couldn’t.”
Afer surgery, Lydia was most excited about returning back to school. Since she was litle, she’s always enjoyed the school environment.
“It was hard not being able to go to school,” Lydia Hood said. “Once I thought about it, I didn’t realize how much I loved something until I couldn’t have it anymore.”
She is very thankful to her teacher, Holly Soape, who homeschooled Lydia throughout her treatment so she could graduate with her class. Soape is the homebound teacher for LISD.
Compared to a regular district schedule, Mrs. Soape only had four hours a week to teach Lydia, while the average school student had 40. Trough collaboration and teamwork, she taught subjects she had never taught before, and was able to create a schedule for Lydia
while being in the hospital. Soape said everyday she came in and taught Lydia, she would always be learning with the utmost happiness, despite the challenges she was facing at the time.
“Lydia never has a bad day,” Soape said. “She always meets you smiling.”
At present, she is still dealing
day at a time to get back in the groove. Lydia was looking able to atend to pep rallies, the school band – a staple in her life. Now have full movement she plays the keyboard that controls sounds and audio during “Even though band has to be diferent due to happy to be back,” “I’m happy to be able to do the things I love again.”
Throughout Lydia’s treatment the student body, faculty, and band have all shown her nothing but support.
Flower Mound showered her with care post-op and throughout her journey batling tumors, including giving her gifs and leters that still keeps today. One of favorite memories was the day her bandmates at both
Marcus and Flower Mound High School showed up to her house and performed a parade for her. Te overwhelming display of love from students and staf encouraged her to keep pushing and be strong through her tough batle. “People just being there for me made me get through it,” Lydia said. “Seeing the nurses, the service animals, and everyone I made a good relationship with made hospital visits easier.” Troughout her journey with treatment and tumors, her and her fathers best advice is to always lean on the community around you. It’s not easy going through the process alone. Lydia advises everyone going through similar situations to stay hopeful and strong. “Tank you to everyone who
feature Sep. 25, 2024
Lydia shares a special bond with the service dog she became friends with while being in intensive care.
Photo submitted by Lydia Hood
S CO
What was your favorite recess activity?
I love FNAF. I played FNAF at recess. I also liked the monkey bars
What would be your intro song? My intro song wouold be he FNAF theme song.
Would you rather have a million dollars or dinner with Conan O’Brien?
I would want a million dollars because I could take him with my money.
What is your spirit animal? My spirit animal is the alpha wolf because I lead the pack.
DESIGN
BY
Arushi Sharma COMPILED
BY
Calista Mahendran
If you were in jail, what would you be in jail for?
I would probably be in jail for theft, maybe for stealing makeup.
If you had a superpower what would it be?
Invisiblity. I would steal a bunch of money.
What fctional character are you most like?
I would say Wolverine because he’s nonchalant and strong.
What do you do in your free time? I play with all of the dolls on my bed and live out my fantasies.
Scan the QR code to watch the September broadcast!
Edition FreshmEn
25, 2024
Help keep our halls odor free! Keep the stink at bay
STORY Roger Sader DESIGN Sian Byon
Shower daily: Your body gets very dirty very quickly. To make sure not to smell like the boys’ bathroom, you need to shower WITH SOAP every day. It is also very therapeutic and makes you feel really fresh when you step out. Tere’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to feel that way.
Wash your hands: No mater where you go, no mater what happens, germs will get all over your hands. Tose exact same hands touch your phone, your face, other people, and everything you interact with. One might conclude from this that you should wash your hands WITH SOAP all the time, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING THE BATHROOM.
Skin Care: With your hormones running rampant, acne is bound to develop. It is totally natural and normal, and no one else will think anything of it. Don’t overload your skin with too many products that destroy your skin barrier. All you need is to cleanse your face once or twice a day and moisturize right afer.
Laundry: Make sure to do your laundry whenever needed so you don’t need to reuse dirty clothes. School is a germ-flled environment, and the grime gets on your clothes,making them dirty. Don’t think that no one notices when you wear the same crusty shirt twice in a row without washing it. DON’T EVER WEAR THE SAME UNDERWEAR OR SOCKS TWICE WITHOUT WASHING; THAT’S JUST NASTY.
Deodorant and Perfume: As you go through puberty, body odor and sweat increases. In order to combat this, lather deodorant on your pits every morning before school. As an added bonus, a few sprays of perfume or cologne can create a nice smelling aura
Oral Hygiene: Your teeth, just like the rest of your body, can build up bacteria. You need to remove the bacteria by brushing and fossing your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing in the morning gives you minty fresh breath all day so people don’t cower in fear of your halitosis.
Hair Care: Wash your hair regularly, based on your hair type and how oily it gets. Keep it free from excess oil and stinky smell. Tis makes sure your scalp is clean so you don’t look like you’ve been styled with french-fry grease. Afer shampooing, always condition to bring back all the moisture into your hair and stop it from geting tangled. You should pick out your shampoo, conditioner, and other products for your hair type and texture.
Grooming and Tidiness: Keep your nails and toenails clean and trimmed to lessen the chance of infections. Also, having a tidy environment that is clean helps reduce the spread of germs and keep you on top of all your work. If you do all of these consistently, you will stop being musty, smell good, feel good, and no one will run away from you for being smelly. Your friends will fnally start sticking around.
Friendly Faces Important people around M9
COMPILED Calista Mahendran & Atharv Vundyala
DESIGN Sian Byon
Jessica True, Principal
“My job is to ensure a safe environmentlearningfor you students and to make sure that our staff has what they need to help you be successful.”
Kyle Green, AP (A-K)
“I just try to make you more successful in any way I can. I show support with different extracurricular activities whether it’s football games, band concerts, water polo, or tennis.”
Amy Payne, AP (L-Z)
“I try to create a safe environment, as you guys don’t know the backwards aspects of things. I try to make sure that our rules are being taken care of and doors and locks are secured.”
Amanda Gallant, Counselor (A-K)
“I can help you with schedules or planning for graduation. I can also help if you’re going through a tough time or if you just need a place to talk.”
Kimberly Clingan, Counselor (L-Z)
“I work with you to get you ready for main campus and to take college level courses. We focus on your social and emotional learning as well.”
Marcey Fox, Secretary
“I help you when you don’t understand how to get into your technology. We’ve tried to create a lot of expectations that you students can reference back to.”
25, 2024
MARCUS CLUBS
STORY Astor Jones DESIGN Felix Oien
HOW TO START YOUR OWN CLUB
Starting your own club is a super fun way to fnd and build a community of students interested in the same things as you! If you want to start your own club visit A106 and fll out the create club packet in the ofce.
Student council
Instagram Handle: @marcusstuco
Club Sponsor: Ms. Karbs
Meeting Dates: One Wednesday per month in the library before school at 7:50 or afer school at 3:45
Overview: If you’re looking for an easy way to make friends, then Student Council is the club for you! StuCo members participate in fun school activities like volunteering, participating in spirit days, helping out administrators and other local schools. Overall, Student Council is something fun to add to your college apps!
HOSA
Instagram Handle: @marcushosa
Club Sponsor: Ms. Pustejovsky
Meeting Dates: Follow the HOSA Instagram for meeting dates, meetings are held in the library
Overview: HOSA is an organization that ofers opportunities and careers for students interested in the health of the medical profession. Students are given leadership strategies, skilled competitions, and ofer students academic contests or challenges.
Speech/debate
Instagram Handle: @marcus.speechanddebate
Club Sponsor: Ms. Hightower
Meeting Dates: If you aren’t in a speech or debate class, meetings are held in W129, follow the Instagram for meeting info
Overview: Speech and Debate isn’t just about arguing… It also includes critical thinking, improv, and exciting challenges as ways to make friends and gain knowledge. Speech and Debate also ofer great opportunities and look good on college applications!
Step team
Instagram Handle: @marcusrythmrevolution
Club Sponsors: Ms. Vest, Ms. Beachum
Meeting Dates: You can always join step team practices every Tuesday and Tursday in the dance room from 3:50-5pm!
Overview: Do you enjoy dancing, performing, or want to get more involved in school? Marcus Step Team is perfect for you! Step Team is a fun way to involve diferent cultures into dancing at Marcus and we participate in fun challenges as well as performing at pep rallies!
Circle of friends
Instagram Handle: @marcuscof
Club Sponsor: Ms. Rector
Meeting Dates: Meetings are held in the library during all lunches.
Overview: Circle of Friends is a great club to join if you are interested in including everyone or want to make new friends. Students volunteer and hangout with other club members, making friends with everyone! Introvert or extrovert COF is perfect for you!
black history club
Instagram Handle: @marcusblackhistoryclub
Club Sponsor: Mrs. Sistrunk
Meeting Dates: Meetings are held every second and fourth wednesday of the month in room B211
Overview: Marcus Black History Club is great for exploring African American culture and heritage. If you are interested in learning more about black culture and history, want to go on fun trips, and travel with friends, black history club is the right club for you!
asian history club
Instagram Handle: @themarcusasa
Club Sponsor: Mrs. VanCleve
Meeting Dates: Upcoming meetings are posted on the instagram page
Overview: Asian Heritage Club is a great way to learn more about Asian culture, language, and heritage. ASA is the perfect place to make friends relating to you, or learning more about other cultures.
in-depth
Sep. 25, 2024
Other clubs not listed.
DECA
Instagram Handle: @decamarcus
Club Sponsor: Mrs. Day
Meeting Dates: Visit S117 or follow the DECA instagram for more info
Overview: Interested in marketing? Business? Or strategy? DECA might be the place for you. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America DECA is a club provided at Marcus where students can learn more about marketing, business, entrepreneurship, and participate in fun competitions.
Academic Decathlon, Art Club, ASL Honor Society, Circle of Friends, Crochet Club, Film Appreciation Club, International Tespian Society, Junior World Afairs Council, Helping Hands, S.A.F.E. club, Math Honor Society, Texas Association of Future Educators, Young and Purposed.
The Giving Bistro
New family-owned bistro opens in Parker Square
“I don’t need very much now,’ said the boy, ‘Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.’
‘Well,’ said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, ‘Well, an old stump is good for siting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’
And the boy did. And the tree was happy.”
-The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein Sunlight pours in through the large windows as the scent of paninis and bagel sandwiches fll the air. Clatering cups and spoons sound as junior Jaimie Seo and sophomore Jiah Seo make drinks for their next customers while sof piano jazz music plays from the cafe’s speakers. Teir parents, Eun Seo and Danny Seo, own the brand new bistro, Grutogi Bistro, located in Parker Square, serving locals and newcomers who want a perfect place for relaxation and restoration.
Eun,
the owner and designer of Grutogi’s brand, frst created the idea for a cafe and its brand around a year and a half ago with her friends. She was previously a brand designer, but transitioned to working full-time at the bistro.
“Te hardest thing for a designer to do is design your own brand, because you cannot satisfy yourself,” Eun said. “So it took me so long to pick the colors, name, and all the style, and all that. And afer that, we found this place, and everything just few by. It took, like, a month or a month and a half.”
Eun came up with the name of the bistro afer being inspired by her Christian faith and the popular children’s book Te Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. “Grutogi” means “stump” in Korean and it represents the intention of Grutogi Bistro as a resting place for customers.
“I’m a Christian so I prayed a lot, and to be honest, God gave me the idea,” Eun said. “On the last page, the tree gives its stump to the boy, the old man now, and then the boy sits down and relaxes and is restored. So the key part is ‘restoration.’”
Her husband and the bistro’s owner and head chef, Danny, has a passion for cooking, so the two worked together to fll the parts of the business’s design and food.
“I did some part time jobs as a chef when I was younger before geting
married,” Danny said. “I enjoyed cooking for my family at home and it was just simply a hobby, but my friends and family were saying to open a restaurant or cafe because of my cooking skills.”
Grutogi Bistro had their sof opening on May 3, 2024. Since then, the cafe has only made proft. Beginning with a very low budget, Eun and Danny have come a long way since then. From early mornings to late nights, the two spent almost all of their time in the bistro, building their business.
“Everybody was saying, ‘You need at least a year of money to feed yourselves without any income,’” Eun said. “But I was like, ‘I have to do this.’ Tere was so much to do, but everytime I prayed, I was like, ‘Don’t worry about money, I’m in charge.’”
Te furniture inside the bistro’s interior contributes a large part to the atmosphere and image of Grutogi, most of the pieces being thrifed or self-constructed by Danny and Eun.
“I love vintage. Most of the furniture and everything, even the lighting, is thrifed,” Eun said. “Te reason I love thrifed items is because they come with time and a story. Brand new items cannot give of that feeling, [that] vibe. It’s fun watching pieces fnding their spot and working.”
Adding to the bistro’s overall vibe are the excellent food and drinks that are served. Teir menu, created completely by Danny, includes the popular Golden Garlic Chicken Panini,
STORY Macy Doan DESIGN Sian Byon
breakfast sandwiches, innovative salads, and refreshing “Chiller” drinks.
“A lot of homemade ingredients are used,” Danny said. “Most sandwiches were hard to learn at frst because all of them had diferent recipes.”
Eun and Danny have also incorporated parts of their Korean culture into the bistro including the interior design, like the walls that look like Asian brush paintings, and the food, especially in the spicy favors. In addition to the Korean
As Grutogi Bistro continues to grow in popularity and success, Eun and Danny’s goals are set: Danny’s priority is to open a second location and Eun wants Grutogi to be the most loved brand in the world.
“I want to create a brand people really love and appreciate, a benefcial brand,”
Eun
because you’re the boss,” Eun said. “But you have a lot of responsibilities. You have to try to [take] the burden. It’s defnitely a lot more work, but much more fulflling.”
Two of their daughters, Jaimie and Jiah work part-time at the bistro, and their youngest, Jenna, is still in seventh grade.
“We spend a lot more of our time here more than our home now,” Jaimie said. “[Eating afer school and work] would be the only
Grutogi Bistro serves a variety of healthy options with homemade ingredients, including salads, sandwiches, yogurt bowls. Photo by Anya Jain
Eun and Danny make sandwiches for their next customers during a lunch rush. Photo by Anya Jain with a giving spirit, like the namesake of their cafe. Submitted by Jamie Seo
Bento Box Recipes
STORY Sofa Heidlerova
DESIGN Felix Oien
Many students don’t enjoy eating food from the school cafeteria, and I don’t blame them. It’s ofen that the food isn’t fresh enough, doesn’t satisfy your craving, doesn’t meet your dietary needs or just looks straight up unappetizing. However, lots of students will bring their own lunches such as sandwiches, salads etc. Tese meals can get quite repetitive and annoying to make everyday, therefore, this list of quick and easy recipes may come in handy if you want to make yourself a simple and healthy meal!
SMOKED SALMON BAGEL
Slice the bagel in half horizontally, if yours is pre-sliced, just carefully separate both pieces. Spread both of the bagel pieces with cream cheese and sprinkle with the chopped chives. Over cheese on 1 bagel half, layer English cucumber or mini cucumber, thinly sliced avocado, smoked salmon, spinach. Set remaining Bagel half, cream cheese side down, over-flling.
VEGGIE SPAGHETTI
First, you’ll make the vegetable sauce. Cook your onions in olive oil until sof, then stir in the garlic, spices, and tomato paste. Te tomato paste will turn from bright red to burnt orange, and that’s when you’ll toss in all your delicious veggies. Hope you aren’t colorblind!
Next, add a large can of tomatoes and use a wooden spoon to break them into a chunky sauce. Add a good pinch of salt and. Ten, let your sauce simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
While the sauce simmers, you can cook your pasta. When the pasta is cooked, your sauce should be ready, and you can toss in some spinach, fresh basil, and the cooked pasta. You may top it with some parmesan cheese if you’re feeling cheesy.
What you will need: 1 Bagel 6 oz.
1 tablespoon whipped cream cheese split in half 1 teaspoon chives chopped 1/2 Avocado thinly sliced 3 ounces thin-sliced smoked salmon English cucumber or mini cucumbers thinly sliced Fresh Organic Spinach or letuce
What you will need:
Pasta - any shape of pasta will do over 1 ½ pounds of veggies such as zucchini, yellow squash, jarred roasted red peppers, and spinach. Other veggies work, like peas, corn, caulifower, and cabbage. onion, garlic, and tomato paste canned whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes are also an option. You can also use blanched, peeled fresh tomatoes basil, but other herbs work, too (parsley and mint add a diferent favor but are excellent)
Recipes from htps://www.sandraseasycooking.com/2017/06/smoked-salmon-bagel-sandwiches.html htps://www.inspiredtaste.net/38662/veggie-spagheti-recipe/
entertainment mhsmarquee.com
VEGAN CURRY CHICKPEA SANDWICH
First, drain and rinse your chickpeas, then add them to a bowl. Mash them with a potato masher or fork. Te chickpeas don’t need to be fully mashed, it will actually give the chickpea salad a beter texture when lef a litle chunky. Nothing is appetizing when all you can think of is mushy peas.
Next, add the other ingredients and mix to combine. At this point, you might need to add a litle more yogurt or vegan mayo, depending on how thick it is (they can vary). Afer mixing the salad successfully, take 2 slices of any preferred bread and spread the salad onto one of the pieces. Ten the chickpea salad sandwich is ready to serve! Simple and quick!
STICKY CHICKEN AND RICE BOWL
Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400° and cooking the rice according to the instructions on the package.
Ten, steam the broccoli in the microwave or on the stovetop until fork tender. Set aside.
Cut the chicken into small bite-sized pieces and then toss it with the oil and spices, make it a litle spicy if you feel fancy. Lay it fat in the air fryer and cook for about 12 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160°.
While the chicken is cooking, add the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sriracha, sesame oil, and ground ginger to a sauce pot. Bring to a boil for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce has greatly thickened.
Prepare the bowls by layering the rice, broccoli, and chicken, and then pour on sauce. And now fnished!
What you will need:
1 15 oz can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
¾ to 1 cup vegan aioli (or sub your favorite
vegan mayo)
½ cup sunfower seeds
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup diced celery
½ cup diced sweet pickles
¼ cup diced red onion
1 tsp dijon mustard
3 tsp curry powder
Sep. 25, 2024
cracked black pepper
2 slices of any preferred bread
What you will need:
Bowl Base
2 cups of any rice (uncooked)
2 small heads of chopped broccoli
1 large chicken breast
2 tbsp of olive oil
Seasonings: 1 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper, 1 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of smoked paprika, 1 tsp of onion powder, and 1 tsp of oregano.
Sticky Sauce
1/2 cup of soy sauce.
1/2 cup of honey.
1/4 cup.
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 tbsp of sriracha (optional)
2 tsp of sesame oil
Recipes from htps://nosweatvegan.com/vegan-curry-chick pea-salad/ htps://www.erinliveswhole.com/sticky-chickenrice-bowls/
Dress to Impress Spirit Day Outft Inspo
STORY Lucy Baysinger
DESIGN
Roger Sader
Twin Day:
Twin! Today you’ll get to match with your bestie. Te classic duo is Batman and Spiderman, so why not dress up like them? If you’re more of a Batman type of person, grab your favorite t-shirt and pair it with blue jeans. Take your old black converse out of your closet and slip them on. If you’re more for Spider-man, pair your favorite t-shirt with black jeans and a classic red or blue shoe. Bonus points if you’ve drawn Spider-man onto your shoe. Lastly, grab your jewelry, and don’t forget your friendship
Patriotic Day:
Get ready to play Miley Cryus and be pumped for the day! It’s time for a party in the USA day. For this outft, we can keep it simple. All we need to achieve this ft is red, white, and blue. For this look, try a black/white shoe paired with your favorite jeans. I recommend a lighter washed jean with this look but any will do. For shirts, incorporate multiple colors. Like a white shirt with a red tank top or your favorite Spider-Man shirt. Lastly add your favorite jewelry and hairdo, and you’re ready to go!
PJ Day:
Good morning, wake up late? No problem! It’s PJ day! Roll out of bed in your best pajamas and get to school. Whether it be your favorite sweat set, or your old Christmas pajama pants, we can’t wait to see all of you comfortable for the day. Trow your hair in a messy bun and don’t forget your Stanley.
Beach Day:
Happy beach day! For today we’re going to go for a more modest beach look, since we can’t come to school in a bikini. Start the ft of with a bright colored shirt and your favorite lei, pair it with your best jean shorts and favorite shoes. Trow on your Kendra Scot necklace, and shell earrings. Don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen! Have fun.
Western Day:
Te classic western day to kick of a fantastic week. For today, just act like you’re on your way to the rodeo. Trow on your favorite baggy or bootcut jeans. If you’re feeling extra you can bring your cowboy/girl boots, but if not, throw on your favorite sneakers. A black or white shirt will be awesome underneath your fannel. Lastly, throw your hair into a messy braid and don’t forget your jewelry!
Sep. 25, 2024
Thecollectiveschoolswag
It seems a lot of us took the summer to fnally learn to dress, and the student body is better for it. The halls of our school used to be full of outfts that were frankly diabolical, but now our passing periods offer a view of a lot of genuinely quality fashion.
Sand and solitude: boombahs things we like
STORY
DESIGN
Anya Jain Raksha Jayakumar
I sit on the sand, fne particles sticking to my thighs. With each breath, I am met with the salty scent of ocean water. Te waves aren’t violent; they’re so calming that if I close my eyes I can fall asleep. Next to me is my dog, Oreo, observing the few families still sprawled out on the beach. Staring into the glistening water meeting the seting sun, my mind is empty. I admire the beautiful bright oranges, pinks, and purples streaking the sky. Tere are no anxious thoughts, no one there to judge. But, most importantly, I am not distracted by the exhausting need to please the people I considered my friends.
My happiness had always been dictated by the number of people who approved of me. I modifed my personality to please people. Te thought of someone disliking me or not wanting to be my friend destroyed me. Being on my own was one of my biggest insecurities. Te absence of others magnifed my own faws, ofen leaving me feeling vulnerable. Te company of other people acted as a shield. Solitude was my biggest fear. But now, this moment on the beach, with only the gentle rippling of the waves and the reassuring presence
The IT staff
The electronic equipment given to us by LISD isn’t the most reliable, thankfully we have Mr.Ross and our librarians. Whether you can’t connect to the internet or you’ve dropped your iPad down one too many times, they can almost always help, or refer you to get a new iPad.
Our lunch staff
The lunch staff does so much every day to keep the school running, and they have to deal with so much more because of their interaction with us. Dealing with high schoolers isn’t easy and the lunch staff don’t even have the sunk cost of getting a teaching certifcate to keep them here. We should all be thankful they haven’t all quit
of Oreo right next to me, the diference between solitude and loneliness is fnally obvious to me. Solitude is not about isolation or abandonment; it provides opportunity for self-discovery. It gives me a chance to connect with my own emotions and my own feelings without the burden of external pressures.
As I watch the sun disappear behind the clouds, casting a sof glow across the landscape, I can’t help but stare in awe at the majestic sight right in front of me. For the frst time in years, I truly felt at peace with myself and the world around me. With each passing moment I feel a newfound sense of liberation. I no longer need validation from other people to feel worthy. Finally, I am enough for myself. Tat realization
Being okay with being alone.
flls me with empowerment. Te last traces of daylight fade from the sky and the stars began to twinkle. Silently, I make a promise to myselfto prioritize my own well being above everything else. I will not let the fear of losing one person deteriorate my personality or happiness any longer. Te beach, once a landmark for insecurities, has now become my sanctuary of peace. Gentle caresses of the waves echo tales of self discovery and the salty breeze whispers secrets of resilience. With the ocean as my witness and the stars as my guide, I carry that strength through the winding path of the future, knowing I am my best friend.
The absence of others maginifed my own flaws, often leaving me feeling vulnerable.
HEYS things we don’t like
Graffti
Put the sharpie down and back away from the bathroom wall. How did you manage to do something less cool than vaping in the bathroom? Why are you getting the courtyard closed down for a semester? Please stop, or at least learn to spell.
Ever since the tree was removed from the courtyard, the atrium has seemed a lot more barren. What was once a mostly empty gravel covered plot with a tree is now just a mostly empty gravel covered plot. If you can fnd it in the budget please give us a new tree, the confned feeling you get from the towering pale yellow brick walls just isn’t the same without a one.
Skibidi Syndrome
STORY DESIGN Macy Doan Raksha Jayakumar
Generation Z: the group who was raised on Nintendo DS’s and portable DVD players that played all our favorite Disney movies. Away from screens, we also played with Beyblades, Litlest Pet Shop collectibles, and Pillow Pets. Our diets seemed to consist exclusively of Fruit Gushers and Lunchables. Life was the perfect balance of screens and sun. Tat’s pure nostalgia now, though. Starting in 2012, Generation Alpha is next. Tey’re the new and unusually adept group of kids who are experts when it comes to YouTube shorts about “Skibidi Toilet” or building expensive and unnecessary skincare routines; anti-wrinkle creams and bronzing drops. Somehow these “iPad kids” are incredibly conscious and advanced due to the screens they’re constantly consumed by, yet many Gen Alphas cannot spell simple words like “because.” Gen Z and Gen Alpha are back-to-back generations, but how are we growing up so diferent? It all depends on who raised us: Generation X or Millennials. Gen X were born between 1965 though 1976 and witnessed tremendous technological advancements like the rise of the internet.. But once the 21st century rolled around, all the crazy technology stuf was generally out of their league.
Sep. 25, 2024
Not completely, but when your mom doesn’t know how to take a screenshot on her phone afer fve years of owning it, it gets to that point today’s tech is just not for them because they never grew up with it. Gen Z, mostly raised by Gen X parents, learned to cultivate
a life on the internet by themselves, playing Papa’s Pizzeria on giant computers or watching Cookie Swirl C on our clunky iPads. Tere was a sense of independence but slight regulation too since our Gen X parents were paranoid about security, the Chinese government, and keeping us from the extreme dangers of the online world!
We get that health is important and the school doesn’t want us to eat unhealthy sweets early in the day, but as long as we have the money, we should be able to get these snacks! There really isn’t a point in delaying our candy retrieval when it is inevitable by the end of the day. Help reduce the lines and open it up earlier!
Today, the majority of Gen Alpha, currently the youngest generation, is being raised by Millennials. Millenials have experienced the times of true Y2K, beefng online with Gen Z unprovoked, and following their king, Eminem as adults. But they still never grew up with a dependence on technology, so they don’t have the full understanding of what it’s like to be a kid surrounded by screens. Tis could be why Gen Alpha is so unsupervised and has such exposure so early to modern social media and apps. Teir generations are vastly diferent, causing Millennial parents to struggle raising their kids. Gen X and Millennials are alike in the way that they both have litle knowledge of what it’s like to be a child surrounded by screens. Gen Z grew up during technology’s rapid growth, but Gen Alpha is fully immersed. Tat’s how we’re so diferent, despite being so close to each other in time. We might fear how Gen Z’s children will grow up, but Gen Z is technologically aware and current on modern innovations, unlike Millennial parents. I think there will be a great contrast compared to how Gen Alpha have spent their childhoods. Hopefully, our kids won’t be polluted with a “Looksmaxxing sigma” mentality and “Skibidi Ohio rizz” brain rot. Maybe we’ll bring back our Gen Z experiences so we can properly raise our children: with the feel of sunshine on skin and occasional afernoons spent in a Minecraf survival world. A necessary balance.
Kamala isn’t “brat,” she’s a politician
*Political Commentary
STORY Jude Soape DESIGN Raksha Jayakumar
Kamala Harris didn’t fall out of a coconut tree the day Joe Biden stepped down from the presidential race, and though I don’t necessarily dislike her, she’s defnitely done something we should all keep in mind. In the same way that you exist in the context of all that came before you, Kamala exists in the context of everything she’s done. So what has Vice President Harris done? What’s wrong with “Momala”?
Two things mainly: Kamala and the current administration have historically and are currently in support of very questionable foreign policies; she has made concessions to the right on immigration.
It’s a common Democratic Party position to be hard on Iran and China but to be very lax on Israel; Harris certainly doesn’t break this mold. During one of her speeches at the Democratic National Convention, Harris stated that among her many goals as president, she will “ensure America always has the most lethal fghting force.”
Tat seems like a very basic position, but the word lethal feels strange, right? She doesn’t want America’s military to be the best or the strongest or most defensive, she wants it to be the most lethal.
In July, Vice President Harris, while speaking at a rally in Michigan, was interrupted by members of a Palestinian advocacy group. She responded to them -- people driven to political action by the deaths of 14,000 Palestinian children, a number confrmed by UNICEF – by demanding they let her speak unless they “want Donald Trump to win.”
Afer Harris faced criticism for dismissing people with ProPalestinian sympathies, she started verbally supporting an end to Israeli operations in Gaza. She didn’t, however, express interest in halting a $20 billion weapons sale to the Israel Defense Forces, which passed on August 13.
Foreign policy is a very important part of global politics that’s ofen overlooked for domestic concerns, but it’s important to remember that because of the power the US exerts around the world, the people we vote into ofce can dramatically
afect the lives of international people, whether they’re the 300,000 Iraqi civilians killed since 2003 or the 40,000 Palestinians killed by American bombs.
Harris also has also said some worrying things about immigration. Tough her own mother is an immigrant, Harris has supported policies which would streamline the process of legal immigration while “strengthening” the southern border against illegal immigration.
Much like her comments about the military, these statements seem normal, but the reasons she said them and the actual implications
of enacting them as policy should give you some hesitation.
Tey may not say it outright, but the Democratic Party has been shifing to right-wing views on immigration, and the Harris presidential platform has clearly adopted this strategy.
Recently, she has pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to continue the construction of Trump’s border wall despite previously calling it “un-American.”
Tat position should be unacceptable for a democratic candidate, but she’s seemingly facing no criticism for proposing policies proven to not only harm immigrants, but even kill them.
People have theorized that Democrats have embraced Republican border policies as a way to succor Republicans who are hesitant to vote for Trump. Even if it’s not a cynical electoral strategy, is clear that Harris cares more about the anti-immigrant center then she does the pro-Palestinian lef.
I’m not trying to discourage people from voting for Kamala Harris, but I am stressing the importance of voting for policies you support rather than voting against policies you don’t support. Fearing a second Donald Trump presidency is valid, especially if you’re a member of a marginalized group. Tat being said, you can’t overlook the ways Harris could harm people, both foreign and domestic.
The Democratic Party has been shifting to right-wing views on immigration.
REMARKS
COMPILED
Atharv Vundyala, Calista Mahendran
What advice woud you give to your freshman self?
“Do your homework, and don’t get behind.”
Mason Parker, 12
“Try harder with extracurriculars and be more involved in clubs.”
Jai Narayan, 12
“The frst few days are kind of rough, but after a while it gets better.”
Olivia Seay, 11
“Take a bunch of AP classes and grind.”
Nishant Bopardikar, 12
POLITICAL CARTOON
Felix Oien Register to vote:
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An elementary student sports her new face paint done by an Art Club student at the MHS Homecoming Carnival. Photo by Calista Mahendran
The Girls' Soccer Team participates in the Homecoming Carnival as they let children play mini soccer at their post. Photo by Atharv Vundyala
The Marcus DECA team participates in the Carnival as they let children play their lucky lollipop game to win prizes. Photo by Atharv Vundyala
