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The Marquee
Vol. 36 Issue 4 • March 9, 2022 • Edward S. Marcus High School • 5707 Morriss Road Flower Mound, TX 75028
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First female Superintendent shares story, hopes for the year Pandemic affects teaching and student learning Student-formed peer group offers emotional support
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War in Ukraine grips world
editor in chief Sophia Craig managing and online editor Shriya Mukkavilli design editor Alex Thornfelt sports and opinion editor Hyunsung Na business manager Aishani Raju feature editor Alanna Reed news editor Muna Nnamani entertainment editor Garrison Acree reporters Marley Roberson Vanessa Cardoso Harrison Hamre photo editor Avery Jerina photographer Salma Ali designers Jayla Landou Jennifer Banh Marie Dacunos Saloni Mistry adviser LaJuana Hale principal William Skelton The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression. The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate. All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author. Advertising rates are $70 per 1/8 of a page, with discounts available. Patron ads are available for $100. Online advertisements are also available. For more information call 469-7135196. The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.
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cover Avery Jerina
Senior Fusion singer Hannah Howard performs during the North Texas Acapella Festival on Feb. 26. Photo by Avery Jerina
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Breaking boundaries Colorful clothes display sophomore’s identity
Finding his groove
Percussion teacher overcomes past struggles
Prom couture
How to flaunt the coolest outfits at prom
Donut hunt
Searching for the most innovative donuts around contents mhsmarquee.com
New superintendent shares goals story Sophia Craig
Following the retirement of Dr. Rogers in January, Dr. Lori Rapp will serve as the first female superintendent in district history. Photo courtesy of district communications department.
Dr. Lori Rapp has many titles. Mother. Teacher. Administrator. And most recently, the first female superintendent in the district. Rapp said she looks forward to serving as the superintendent after the legacy left by previous superintendent Dr. Kevin Rogers, who she worked closely with as deputy superintendent. “We’ve got great traditions. We’ve got a lot of great courses for students to take,” Rapp said. “We have strong academics, we have strong programs, and I want to continue to ensure that all of those things remain strong and only continue to grow and get better.” LISD Board President Tracy Scott Miller said in a recent board meeting
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that he looks forward to what Rapp does in the role of superintendent. “When we began the very difficult task of naming the district’s next superintendent, the Board was committed to finding the absolute best person for the job,” Miller said. “I have no doubt LISD will continue to thrive under her leadership.” Rapp received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Texas Tech University, her Master of Science in Mathematics from Texas Woman’s University and her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University. “I want to listen to people and their feedback in ways they want to see the
district improve and things that they love about our school district,” Rapp said. In her first week as superintendent, Rapp shared her reasons for becoming a teacher in an interview with MOB. She said she was originally inspired to pursue a career in education by her third grade teacher, who encouraged Rapp to keep reading and learning after her father left her family. In the field of education, she hopes to be able to give back to others who may be in that position now. “She changed my life,” Rapp said. “I thought that’s the greatest thing you could ever do…to be there for kids and help them make it through school and be ready to give back to their community.” In 1996, Rapp got her job at The Colony HIgh School. Along with teaching math, she was also the sponsor of the student council. “I taught all kinds of math,” Rapp said. “And I sponsored student council, which I loved, and got to really interact with so many students at The Colony High School that way.” Later, she became more involved in the curriculum department, where she assisted math teachers all over the district. Rapp was then asked to manage district curriculum in all subject areas. “I still have so many math teacher friends out there, some of whom are at Marcus still to this day,” Rapp said. When former Superintendent Dr. Kevin Rogers was hired in 2015, Rapp was his choice for assistant superintendent. She was in charge of curriculum, special education, professional learning for staff, career and technology and digital learning. In 2017, Rogers appointed Rapp to be Deputy Superintendent. “She is one of my most trusted advisors and is a leader in every sense of the word,” Rogers said at a 2017 school board meeting.
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English teachers face stress over extra classes, COVID story Shriya Mukkavilli & Aishani Raju
The school had several unfilled jobs after the school year started with the English department taking the biggest hit. Three English teacher jobs went unfilled for the whole first semester. Out of the 17 teachers in the English department, seven had to give up their conference period to teach another class. This meant that they had to do schoolwork preparation on their own time. English teacher Linda Black was one of them. “It’s stressful. It makes your day longer, and it’s a bit demoralizing,” Black said. “Sometimes I thought I had it all under control. And then I would find myself losing my temper at some random thing. And then I realized, okay, I’m a little more stressed than I think.” Black said the increased workload forced her to give up time with her family.
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I still haven’t even really been able to put my finger on exactly why it was so hard.
- Emily Strauss “I’ve got a daughter who’s only in eighth grade,” Black said. “And I think it affected her most. We didn’t have that movie watching time…that we usually do.”
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English teacher Emily Strauss, who also had to give up her conference period, said she fears the burden on teachers will continue. “Mentally, it was really, really difficult,” Strauss said. “And I still haven’t even really been able to put my finger on exactly why it was so hard.” Jill Miller, a former fourth grade Prairie Trail Elementary teacher, said teacher burnout is also a contributing factor. She taught for 11 years before leaving in 2020. She and Jamie Harrison, who formerly taught at Lewisville Harmon, cofounded Teacher, Be Still, a company focused on teacher well-being. “Teachers have way too much on their plates. They have too many responsibilities that do not actually end up benefiting kids,” Miller said. “All teachers really want to do is help kids.” According to Miller, heavy workloads are nothing new for teachers. However, the pandemic changed the way teachers taught and students learned. “And when COVID hit, they got asked to do a lot more,” Miller said. “And nothing really came off their plates.” Harrison felt that there was not adequate emotional support for teachers. “We felt like there were no resources to help us,” Harrison said. Miller stated that although teachers are still passionate about teaching, they are not equipped with the resources necessary to properly take care of their own and provide emotional support to their coworkers. “So I think that most teachers at this point still love teaching. I think that they still love their students,” Miller said. “But I think they’re seeing a huge impact on their mental wellness or mental health from all of the stress and anxiety of how to manage an impossible situation. Black stated that she had to often uplift her coworkers throughout the pandemic. “It was hard to keep other people
motivated and afloat and keep them calm,” Black said. “And so I spent so much of my time doing that, that it just made my days that much longer.” Strauss also has concerns that the burden on teachers will continue. “The things that I’ve heard and seen about teachers for next year really scares me that we might be in that situation again,” Strauss said. However, Black said that students
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I’ve noticed student groups making signs for us … and tons of lunches and snacks. - Linda Black
have been supportive of teachers. “I’ve noticed student groups making signs for us … and tons of lunches and snacks,” Black said. Students’ learning has also been impacted. Many students had to do independent work while their teachers were absent, and struggled to grasp the concepts. Senior Ash Palmer said that they fell behind when their physics teacher got COVID. The teacher recorded a video from home for the class to go over, but according to Palmer, the students all felt confused. “It was just basically just trying to play catch up,” Palmer said. “But also, he’s probably going to push a lot back and
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maybe cut stuff out of the curriculum.” When the teacher returned, Palmer said the class’ learning environment completely changed. “I am glad he’s back, because I am actually learning the material,” Palmer said. “And now that we started a new unit, it definitely helped having him here.” Junior Sindhu Kaja also had a difficult
time staying on track with her work when her teacher was absent with COVID. “Sometimes I tend to zone out and get distracted,” Kaja said. “So I read through the slides, but I would just get distracted.” Teacher, Be Still cofounder Jamie Harrison said teacher burnout can often trickle down to the students. “[Teachers] come into the classroom,
and they are running on an empty cap,” Harrison said. “And so they tend to not have mental clarity where they need to.” English teacher Emily Strauss said she has noticed her students becoming less engaged in class. “It wasn’t so much of a ‘I want an A,’ it was an ‘I want to pass,’ Strauss said. “So I think that’s another kind of battle that we’re going to have to fight.”
Pandemic raises teacher stress nationally The nationwide teacher shortage has been growing for many years, but became evident in the state and the district this year. The district had to shut down from Jan. 26-28 due to 20 percent of employees being absent. Though this shutdown was caused mainly by the pandemic, it showed schools cannot run without enough teachers. The shutdown was also fueled by a shortage of substitutes.
A 2021 survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that 77 percent of districts nationwide could not hire enough substitute teachers. While COVID-19 has been a major factor in teacher stress, additional issues have played into why they are leaving.
According to a WeAreTeachers survey, 75 percent of teachers said that their mental health worsened and only 6 percent received counseling support from their school and their district. Stagnant, low pay has been a problem for decades. A National Education Agency report states that the average salary for a teacher in Texas is $57,090 in 2021, lower than many other college educated careers. Other issues that have affected teachers are the increase in school shootings, critical race theory and banned book debates
In a recent study done by Texas American Federation of Teachers, 66 percent in the state consider leaving their jobs. Both before and after the pandemic, some teachers across the country who left their jobs have felt that they do not have enough support from their schools or communities.
A RAND Corporation study found that 43 percent of teachers who quit say the disappointment and stress of teaching wasn’t worth it and 29 percent felt that their districts or schools did not give them enough support.
LISD has proposed adding one of the following teacher benefit ideas: Employee referral bonus Salary increase Additional paid time off Health clinic Retention insentive
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design Marie Dacunos
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Recent inflation creates challenges for students story Alanna Reed
Car prices increase Prices rose 40% for gasoline this past year (ABC News) Prices rose 41% for used cars this past year (ABC News)
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Inflation has increased by 7.5% over the past year according to the Labor Department. This includes prices of essential products, including gasoline and used cars, affecting students’ wallets. According to ABC News, the prices of both have risen about 41% over the past year. The shortage of computer chips for car manufacturing is causing a dip in supply and swelling car prices. Although senior Tala Sader does not drive yet, she said she worries about finding an affordable car. “I feel like it might get a bit harder to find a car in the price range we’re looking for because of just plain increase, especially since it’s going to be my first,” Sader said. Senior Donavan Rupard is worried about the increase in gas prices. Rupard, a licensed mechanic who uses premium gas, says that because of the inflated gas prices, he is paying $60 to fill a 14-gallon car. “I’m broke,” Rupard said. “I’m consistently broke just to drive.” Rupard understands that lots of teenagers who work for minimum wage cannot afford premium and could struggle just paying for unleaded gas. “This also means you have to sacrifice or actually really think about…‘do I
want to actually go drive someplace and do something with people?’” Rupard said. “You’re sacrificing yourself in social situations because you simply cannot afford to do it.” Sader says her friends have experienced the same thing. “They don’t know if they could afford the next tank,” Sader said. One reason for inflation has been supply chain issues. With the pandemic slowly receding, demand for products has skyrocketed. When consumers use their money to buy products, prices go up. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the amount of disposable personal income increased by 2%, totaling $39.9 billion. The problem is that supply is not keeping up with demand. They report that, although the economy has seen improvement with some added jobs,
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$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ the higher prices are not going to end anytime soon. Math teacher and stock club sponsor Coleman Wagner believes that although gas prices are rising, they could be much worse. Wagner emphasized that used car prices are a bigger problem for students. According to Wagner, when he was in college from 2006-2010, gas was $4.50 per gallon. “I had to really think twice about where I was driving and how often I was driving around,” Wagner said. Wagner says that one reason the economy is taking a hit is because of stimulus packages the government handed out in April 2020 which gave tax paying adults a check of $1,200 in the mail. “They came with a cost in the sense that they put a bunch of cash into the economy,” Wagner said. “It was a crisis and they did what people needed at the time. But…we’re kind of seeing the back end of that where people measurably have more in their bank account than they did in 2019.” The cost of labor is increasing, too. As of December 2021, there were 10.9
million job openings. Wagner said that with the stimulus checks, people are financially okay to either look for other jobs or to not work at all. “The cost of labor is rising because there aren’t as many workers,” Wagner said. “Because people’s job situation is now different.” Inflation is also impacting seniors’ college application process. Sader said as she was applying for scholarships, she expects a 15% increase in tuition per year. “At this rate, I feel like all colleges are just going to be an extreme financial burden on everyone, no matter how well off they are,” Sader said. “It’s only getting worse from here and they’re already high enough.” According to Wagner, there is currently no end in sight. He said he cannot think of a time where the economy bounced back to normal. “The best that you can expect is… wages to catch up to inflation,” Wagner said. “And I think that probably just depends on the industry and the cause of the inflation and other circumstances.”
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1.9
2019
2.3
2020
2.1 2.1
7.0
2018
2017
2016
1.5
2015
2013
1.7
2014
2012
(The Labor Department)
1.4
2022
2021
United States Annual Inflation Rates (2012 to 2022)
7.5
Inflation strikes again Average cost of college tuition grows 6.8% annually, having doubled the past twenty years. (Education Data Initiative)
Over the past year, inflation amounted to 7.5% (The Labor Department)
Each college student pays $35,331 per year at the average college. (Education Data Initiative)
There are 6 million more people filing for unemployment than before the pandemic. (UCCS Economic Forum)
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design Alex Thornfelt
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His Own Style Clothes display sophomore’s identity story Sophia Craig & Hyunsung Na Eight-year-old Gio Watson stood in the tall door frame of his mother’s room, in awe of the new purple and white blanket draped on his mom’s bed. He dragged the blanket down the stairs, all over the floors and into his room. That’s where Gio got to work. Staple by staple, he transformed his blanket into a makeshift cape. But to Gio, it was more than that. It was turning his ideas into reality. It was the type of free expression that only a child was capable of. He wore his cape in his backyard with confidence, taking photos as if he was a model on the runway. After he was done, he rolled around on the enormous hill in his dirt-filled backyard. An hour later and his new cape was absolutely ruined. But to Gio, it didn’t matter at all. It was who he was.
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For this interview, Gio was wearing a brightly colored sea animal printed dress shirt, a lei filled with fake tropical flowers and a piece of yellow fabric fastened to the shirt like a cape. To top it all off, he also had bright purple hair. Gio has always enjoyed standing out, more than fitting in. “This is fun. It’s free. I make half the stuff I wear so I know I’m going to look good,” Gio said. “It’s just fashion and in a way, it’s also expressing how I feel. It’s just everything wrapped into one.” Gio can be seen around campus wearing his one of a kind outfits. His clothes range from colorful fabrics and layered prints to black eyeliner and red leather. Over time, clothing has turned into his creative outlet. A way to display his inner emotions and thoughts to the world. But this kind of self-expression has made some people uncomfortable. Friends and even strangers have all made comments on his clothes. Gio thinks it starts with some students’ parents. “I’ll overhear parents telling their kids that ‘He’s too gay,’ or ‘He’s too flamboyant,”’Gio said. “I’ve heard parents speak about
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Bright colors and prints have become staples in Gio’s wardrobe. Photo Salma Ali
me in parking lots and I just want to be left alone.” But this doesn’t deter him. Even before Gio was born, he had a connection to clothes. That started when his mother, Calandra Spencer, first browsed the boys’ clothing racks at Babies R US. “All the baby clothes were boring and bland,” Calandra said. “So I was crying and I was thinking ‘What am I going to dress him in?’” The two both shared this feeling. From the first time that Gio experimented with the blanket, he was instantly hooked on creating his own fun expressive looks. A style that Gio describes as weird, beautiful and free. “Every day, looking the exact same makes me sick,” Gio said. “You will never see me wearing the same outfit within a month of each other.” But Gio hadn’t always been able to wear what he wanted to. Throughout middle school, Gio moved schools often. Constantly being the new kid was hard enough and isolating.
Everyday, looking the exact same makes me sick. You will never see me wearing the same outfit within a month of each other.
-Gio Watson, 10
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But wearing outfits that made him look strange to the other kids was a nightmare. He felt the stares of the students silently judging as he walked through the halls. Some people would outright insult him to his face. “It’s hard to just be you because you’re going to offend someone at some point,” Gio said. “The hardest part for me was when someone would say something and I’d hear it either through my friends or to my face…Everything would hurt me so bad, because they were talking like I had done something wrong.” Gio began dressing how he thought everyone else did. Thinking that felt if he looked like everyone else, maybe it’d get better. “I was still so hurt and scared about everything that was going on at the time,” Gio said. “I was like ‘I’m not going to double down and wear stuff that could get me hurt even more.”’ After a while, Calandra didn’t even want Gio to wear the clothes he normally wore in hopes to protect her son. “We have butted heads a lot of times, but it’s just because I’m concerned for his safety,” Calandra said. “I would love for him to live in a world where he could dress however he wants to. Without fear, without getting bullied.” All of these negative feelings began building up within Gio. Every insult, every silent stare kept him questioning if he was doing something wrong. By the eighth grade, Gio moved one more time. Although this time, his time at a new school was cut especially short. He remembers sitting in his uniform in an assembly, when he heard a school official address Gio as a f****t. Gio felt everything he’d kept bottled upburst. He sprinted out of the school in shock. Three miles later, he arrived home. He cried for hours. “No matter how perfect your life is, there’s always the things that will stick with you, good or bad,” Gio said. “The more bad things you have, the more you appreciate the good things.” Going into high school, he decided to go back to wearing the clothes he wanted to wear. Back to when he felt free. But high school was a daily clash in Gio’s freshman year. He’d walk into school with more confidence than the previous couple years combined. But throughout his day, he’d hear whispered rumors of things he’d done. Calandra saw the toll it took on Gio’s mental health, but knew he’d face challenges because of his environment. “It’s extremely painful, scary,” Calandra said. “High school is tough enough as it is and then you’re a neurodivergent, gay, Black kid in a cisgender society and a white suburb like Flower Mound, you’re going to run into things.” As his mother, Calandra has been there, every step of the way. She’s seen how he has and continues to overcome any obstacles in his way, and how its shaped the person he’s become. “He is a beautiful human. He really is,” Calandra said.
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Gio learned a lot from his life up to his sophomore year. Most of all, he’s begun relearning how to be free. How to be like his past eight year old self without worrying about any outside opinions. He’d lost himself along the path from all the experiences he’s gone through. Yet he’s now come out of the other side with the same unwavering confidence, encouraging everyone to be their true selves. “Literally do it don’t even have to second guess it,” Gio said. “If you want to do it, take it, and then I promise you, even if you never do it ever again, you’ll feel better that you tried.”
Gio wearing a bright green outfit with his favorite fluorescent orange shoes. Even as a child, he enjoyed being in the spotlight. Photo sumbitted by Gio Watson
design Jennifer Banh
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Living through music Teacher shares the escape he found in percussion story Harrison Hamre A hand-me-down, green, stick bag with a used pair of Jojo Mayer drumsticks was his way out. Percussionist Brandon Kelly still has the beginning percussion equipment he bought when he was in the fourth grade. The price tag of that Remo 10-inch tunable pad stays burned into his memory — $16.95 plus tax. “I remember the sticker on the top right corner of the box,” Kelly said. “And that was my buy-in, because it was the cheapest thing and I was poor.” Percussion wasn’t Kelly’s first choice for an instrument, but it was the only choice he could afford. A choice that would change the course of his life. Kelly described his early years as being alone in New Jersey, without money or the support of a family. The only thing he did have was resentment for school. “I was not a particularly good student,” Kelly said. “I don’t think I was particularly dumb, I was just stupid and didn’t do my work and I wouldn’t jump through what I saw as ‘hoops.’” He didn’t have drive to work in school but when he started percussion in fourth grade, his assistant band director and percussion teacher Tom Murphy got him hooked. For the first time, he enjoyed something in school and practicing gave him an escape. “I wasn’t doing it for any particular reason,” Kelly said. “I wasn’t trying to audition for this or that, I just really enjoyed it.” Kelly did not go unnoticed by his teachers. He said that Murphy saw his potential and tried his best to support him. “My teachers, specifically Murph, knew years before I did,” Kelly said. “They encouraged me and they were supportive and they kind of set me up on that path realizing that’s what I was going to do. Mr. Murphy’s a huge reason why I ended up sticking with it.” After a long day at school, instead
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Kelly watches carefully, preparing to give feedback as his student plays their marimba solo Photo Avery Jerina
I am a teacher in homage to my teachers - Brandon Kelly, percussion teacher
of going home, Kelly would stay and practice for hours after everyone had left. He would eat so then he could practice again without the distraction of hunger pains. When he physically couldn’t practice any more, he would go sleep in
the band’s computer room for the night. After auditioning his freshman year, Kelly made it into the South Jersey All-Region band. During a rehearsal for the band, when Kelly had a climactic crash cymbal solo in his part, he played it with confidence, grasping the attention of the director. “We stopped [playing] a couple bars after that moment,” Kelly said. “Then he just points at me and he does that thing that conductors do where they just stare you down and you start questioning your whole existence. Then he says, ‘Those are some of the finest crash cymbals I’ve ever heard a high school student play.’” After the rehearsal, the director, Dr. Jack Stamp from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, handed Kelly his business card and asked Kelly about his future. Kelly still thought he was too dumb to graduate high school, let alone go to college.
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Through Murphy’s insistence on Kelly pursuing a career in music, Kelly got into the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In his four years there, Kelly formed a lifelong relationship with his professor, Dr. Stamp and the two became like father and son. He said Stamp even gave Kelly a place to stay when he didn’t have one. Throughout high school, Kelly was incredibly hard on himself. Once he got into college, he doubled down on his workload, saying that he lived in service of music instead of himself. Kelly was practicing in the band hall in his senior year of high school when his friend came to check on him. He found Kelly unconscious on the floor. “So I wake up and I’m in the hospital,” Kelly said. “I end up needing surgery for gallstones and ulcers.” Kelly had a variety of health issues stemming from problems with diet, sleep and stress. As a kid who didn’t know where his next meal was coming
Music was the saving grace. - Brandon Kelly
just saw the flaws. I was fanatical.” He said if he could go back in time and do it differently, he wouldn’t. The path he chose may not have been the most healthy, but it brought him more success than he could imagine. “I didn’t think I was going to graduate high school and now I’m getting to play with a major American symphony,” Kelly said. “That doesn’t happen to people like me.” Kelly aims to help his students learn from his own mistakes, according to his student, junior Wyatt Moon. “Kelly always talks about how much he used to push himself and how much stress he was under as a student,” Moon said. “From his mistakes though, I’m more prepared for when I have to face the same kind of problems.” Even through torturing himself through his practice, music brought Kelly so much joy. “I don’t have to do music,” Kelly said. “I’m choosing to do music. I don’t have to teach. I’m choosing to teach.” Back in September of 2021, Kelly stood on stage during rehearsal for the Dallas Symphony as a member next to his former professor, Christopher Deane, only a month before he passed away. “He kept asking about the students at Marcus and he was so appreciative and it was so meaningful to him, what I was doing for my kids,” Kelly said. Kelly stood there as a successful professional, receiving praise from a professor whom he idolized for years. Yet he said couldn’t help but feel as though he was still just a student. “He left me feeling like I was really meaningful to my students,” Kelly said. “I’d like to think of it as a reflection of what he had meant to me.” For years, Kelly taught his students the lessons that Deane had taught him and
I’m not having to do music, I’m choosing to do music. I don’t have to teach. I’m choosing to teach. - Brandon Kelly
said the same lines Deane said to him. “Mr. Kelly will oftentimes say the same phrases over and over again,” Moon said. “Only recently, I realized most of those things come from his own teachers.” Teachers like Deane, Stamp and Murphy taught Kelly everything he would need to know to succeed, but they did more than just teach him how to play an instrument. They gave him a place to sleep for the night and a warm meal. They gave him an escape from the life he would have lived without them. “That’s so incredibly important that I got to let him know,” Kelly said. “I didn’t know it was going to be the last time I saw him.” Kelly honors his own teachers by way of his students. By teaching the lessons he received, by having the conversations he had, by giving them the family he had and by providing them with the home that he was given. “I am a teacher in homage to my teachers,” Kelly said. “I have a life now. I am not homeless now because of them reaching out their hand, and seeing this kid in a lot of trouble and not letting him fall.”
from, stress took a toll on him from a young age causing him to develop stomach ulcers by the age of 18. “Stress was a heavy part of it, but music wasn’t the cause. Music was the saving grace,” Kelly said. When Kelly had nothing, he could always go and practice. “I wasn’t actually bad, but I felt like an awful player,” Kelly said. “I
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design Saloni Mistry
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ts a e r G e h t f o One
Why teens should hear “Pet Sounds” story Alanna Reed
If you know me, then you’re aware of my obsession with anything vintage — especially music. Everything from the Beatles to Ella Fitzgerald brings me joy. However, there is a universally celebrated 60’s album that I have only recently appreciated. The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” is loved by music fans and critics alike, ranking second on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Brian Wilson, the band’s genius leader, took pop music and made it sound interesting, with rich orchestrations and unique instruments like the French horn. But what makes this album compelling is the subject matter. It’s not your typical early 60’s Beach Boys hit-making machine. “Pet Sounds” is introspective. It’s emotional. It’s relatable for any young adult listening. Every song on this LP is brilliant, but there are a few that stand out. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is one of the Beach Boys’ most popular songs, with over 300 million streams on Spotify. Not only is the musicality of it goosebump worthy, but the lyrics truly speak to a young listener. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long. And wouldn’t it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we belong? They discuss the frustrations of youth. It is a love song, yes, but whether or not you’re with a partner, the theme resonates. The present is enjoyable yet stagnant. We want to speed up the clock to live in the future because it holds so much possibility. It feels like where we’re meant to be. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” doesn’t just have romantic charm. It’s discontented
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design Jennifer Banh
and impatient. Senioritis has never been more present in a song. When we’re moved out of the house and living on our own, “That’s Not Me” comes into play. The song starts, I had to prove that I could make it alone now, but that’s not
me. I wanted to show how independent I’d grown now, but that’s not me. If this lyric doesn’t convey the feelings of rising college students, I don’t know what does. I once had a dream so I packed up and split for the city. I soon found out that my lonely life wasn’t so pretty. This song illustrates that point in life when we look at ourselves and realize how much we’ve grown. My folks when I wrote them told ‘em what I was up to said that’s not me. I went through all kinds of changes, took a look at myself and said that’s not me. The protagonist has moved to an unidentified city, but when he examines himself, he isn’t exactly pleased. He had so many dreams and ambitions, but once
he reached his destination, he realized he wasn’t ready. The deeply personal lyrics in “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” make it one of the most mature songs on the album. In the beginning, while Wilson sings, a birdlike noise can be heard in the background, no doubt from one of the various unique instruments. It sounds like that chirping voice in our heads, ringing out cruel and untrue thoughts. They say I got brains, Wilson says, But they ain’t doing me no good. I wish they could. Wilson has a diagnosed mental illness, schizoaffective disorder. This results in depression and derogatory hallucinations that belittle their host. While most of us cannot relate to this, we have all felt self doubt and despair. I keep looking for a place to fit in where I can speak my mind. And I’ve been trying hard to find the people that I won’t leave behind. Wilson sings about his loneliness. The feeling that his own mind is isolating himself from others. The feeling that there is no one there to guide us, like we are all on our own. This song offers no remedies for these feelings. Wilson only chants Sometimes I feel very sad over backing vocals from the other Beach Boys. It’s a hauntingly beautiful release for the singer and the listener. This song incorporates an otherworldly melancholy unheard of on other pop songs. And while Wilson mourns his youth and his mind, the listener is transported to a world where they are not alone. “Pet Sounds” is a brilliant exhibition of the young adult brain. Frustration, passion, impatience and dreams. Next time you’re feeling blue or romantic, or like a human being looking for solace, sit down with the Beach Boys and listen to their masterpiece.
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D a wn
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Reviewing The Weeknd’s latest album story Marley Roberson The Weeknd’s new hit album, “Dawn FM,” has topped charts around the world, with over half a billion streams worldwide since its release on Jan. 7. The hype surrounding this release was undeniable, so I listened to see if it lives up to its reputation. The artist’s fifth studio album was first teased in May 2021. The album is intended to give listeners the feeling of being stuck in traffic in a tunnel. Not just any tunnel, but purgatory. The Weeknd tries to capture the idle feeling of traffic, and compare it to how he interprets purgatory. Only in his metaphor, the light at the end of the tunnel is death. Actor Jim Carrey provides frequent narration throughout the album, creating a radio broadcast feel that builds background to The Weeknd’s story throughout. He grapples with themes of life and death, tying in his own beliefs about them. His album opens with “Dawn FM.” The song begins slowly with birds chirping and The Weeknd’s famous falsetto. Initially, I was underwhelmed. The vocals backed by a synthesizer didn’t strike me as anything particularly special or original. But as the narrator, Jim Carrey, welcomed me to 103.5 Dawn FM, I listened a little closer. As a stand alone song, “Dawn FM,” is nothing special, but accompanied by the rest of the album, it serves its purpose of setting the serene mood of the early stages of the artist’s traffic jam. Overall, I’d only rate this song a 6/10. The electronic dance style pop started to get repetitive with the next few songs, “Gasoline,” “How Do I Make You Love Me?” and “Take My Breath.” I was having
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trouble distinguishing between songs. Objectively, these songs had a lot of artistic value, but I felt that The Weeknd tried to incorporate so many unique elements that he failed to create a cohesive piece. The three of these songs were all a 5/10.
At this point, the album had lost momentum and drifted too far from the original concept. The style shift of “Sacrifice” allowed for redemption and a clear change in tone. It opened with deeper notes, immediately distinguishing it from every previous song. This song was the first of the album that I’d ever consider adding to my own playlist, at a rating of 8/10. “A Tale By Quincy,” had me on the edge of my seat with an interview from famous producer Quincy Jones. Jones’ upbringing left him struggling to form meaningful relationships with his kids, and women, after watching both his parents struggle to provide for their kids. This interlude reflects similar struggles The Weeknd has
faced. Its effect on the album earns it an 8/10. The only artistic value in the next several songs came from the artist’s collaboration with Tyler, the Creator. Tyler, the Creator’s deep voice complemented The Weeknd’s falsetto in “…Here We Go… Again”, blending in a way that had me bobbing my head. The first song to give me the feeling of purgatory was, “Every Angel is Terrifying.” Its serene narration backed by fairytalesounding tracks finally gave me insight into the album’s lore. The song was interrupted by the radio station host and turned into an ad for his own album, which made me feel like I’d wasted the money I had spent on ad free Spotify Premium. With so many ups and downs, I had mixed feelings about a lot of the songs, but The Weeknd accomplished something special with “Less Than Zero.” It’s groovy, it’s catchy, and it builds into a satisfying chorus. This 10/10 song made me understand the artist’s huge fan base. The Weeknd wrapped up his album with his 16th and final song, “Phantom Regret by Jim.” This song has a sad tone and sounds like something that would be played at a funeral, contrasted with an electronic 80’s style synth. It’s undoubtedly original and creative, but it fails to completely tie together the album. I love the idea of the whole album, but the execution is not there. I was hoping for the immersive experience everyone had praised him for, but his take on the afterlife did not translate to me. His attempts to blend his new thought provoking style with his previous, fast pace hits leaves him with a disjointed 6/10 album.
design Jennifer Banh
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60 SE6ONDS
Which sport would you add to the
Olympics?
Emma Bowling 11
I would add Newcomb. It’s like volleyball where you throw a ball across a net.
What is your biggest pet peeve at school?
I feel like a lot of teachers give us a lot of busy work most of the time instead of actually teaching us important material.
What’s your most
embarrassing story from
elementary school? I fell on my face in recess in front of all of my friends.
Which celebrity would you want to have an arm wrestling match with and why? I would want to have an arm wrestling match with the Rock because I would probably be able to beat him.
Who was your first celebrity or cartoon
crush?
My first celebrity crush was James from Big Time Rush. He was really cute and I liked his hair at the time.
Who is the best Marvel character and why? I love Thor, he has been my favorite since I was a kid.
If you could get really good at one type of art what would it be and why?
I would like to be good at painting because it’s very relaxing. But I’m not good at it so it would be a lot more fun if I was.
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Timeline of history of conflict in Ukraine
design Alex Thornfelt compiled Muna Nnamani
1793:
1922:
1932:
The majority of modern Ukraine is incorporated into the Russian Empire.
During the Russian Revolution, Ukraine fights for independence and loses. It becomes part of the U.S.S.R.
Afraid of an independent Ukraine, Joseph Stalin takes the right to Ukrainian land away from peasants and gives it to the state. This sparks the Holodomor, an artificial famine that kills 4,000,000.
May 2014:
March 2014:
Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, regions in Ukraine, hold a referendum to declare independence from Ukraine.
Russia seizes and then annexes Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula whose population consists of predominantly ethnic Russians. The crisis ignites ethnic divisions.
April 21, 2019:
Oct. 2021:
Former comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy overwhelmingly wins the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. Among his campaign promises is resolving the war with Russia.
Putin begins moving troops and military equipment near the Ukrainian border, raising concerns about a potential invasion.
Feb. 24, 2022:
Feb. 21, 2022:
During a UN Security Council meeting, Putin announces the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia recognizes the Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. They also send troops into the area to act as “peacemakers”.
Dec. 1, 1991: Ukraine becomes an independent state after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Dec. 2021: Russia moves over 100,000 troops to the Ukraine border and issues demands to the U.S. and NATO, including preventing Ukraine from joining NATO. The U.S. and other NATO allies reject the request and warn Russia that they will inflict economic sanctions if it invades. The U.S. sends weapons to Ukraine.
Early Feb. 2022: Negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and other European countries fail. President Biden deploys 3,000 U.S. troops to NATO countries that border Ukraine.
story Muna Nnamani photos Salma Ali
We asked you... What’s your opinion on the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
I hear Putin’s reasoning behind it, but it’s hard to comprehend how he justifies it. So it’s hard for me to justify this, and it hurts my heart. — Lauren Kirby, History Teacher It’s very uncalled for. — Audrey Leech, 11
I think that Russia decided to invade a sovereign country. And as a government teacher, I feel like at this point in history we should know better. — Carey Petkoff, Government Teacher
Fox and CNN, and friends from Ukraine. — Cathy Meeks, 12
I follow various journalists, and things of that nature. I get a broad swath of opinion. And also just my historical knowledge. — Nathan Ceballos, History Teacher I get my information from the CNN app, and then the Apple News app. — Seher Hasan, 11
Where are you consuming your information about it?
I definitely think we should be helping out financially. — Michael Henry, 11
How involved do you think the United States should be?
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I think we should be supporting Ukraine with money and resources, but not with actual troops. — Shivanshi Dwivedi, 10
Fewer involvement, because if we try to help, Russia will nuke us, and then we’ll nuke them. — Crawford Woodruff, 10
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Q and A’s Why is Russia invading?
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to reunite the U.S.S.R. and fears Ukraine’s democratic government and interest in joining NATO. While Ukraine has been its own sovereign state since 1991, Putin has alluded to seeing it as an extension of Russia. He sees its growing resemblance to Western democracies as a threat. In justifying the invasion, Putin has called the Ukrainian government “genocidal” and accused it of threatening Russiasupporting citizens.
How will this affect the U.S.?
The recent sanctions that the U.S. has put on Russia will increase our fuel prices, which are already very high. The sanctions may also make groceries more expensive in the future.
How can I help Ukrainians?
Boston-based nonprofit Sunflower of Peace is collecting money and Amazon donations to donate medical supplies to Ukraine. Razom for Ukraine is another charity that is focusing its efforts on medically assisting Ukrainians. The National Bank of Ukraine has created an online account in which people can directly donate to the Ukrainian military. International aid organizations, incluing the Red Cross, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are also currently assisting Ukrainians. However, reading and sharing real information also helps to raise awareness.
Is there a possibility of nuclear warfare?
President Biden said the in the Mar. 1 State of the Union Address that the United States will not become combatively involved in the war unless Russia attacks a NATO country.
Don’t spread fake news about the war column itself from provoking actions at the Garrison Acree hand of Ukraine and its Western allies. Like millions of other people, my Instagram feed has been full of the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine. News about Russia launching unprovoked attacks. Footage of the Polish border being filled with Ukrainian people in 18-hour lines to escape their home country. Videos of husbands saying goodbye to their wives before they leave to defend their country. Even first hand accounts of Ukrainian people having their homes bombed by Russian missiles. As the invasion progresses, numerous images, videos and first hand accounts have gone viral. Amid the mass reporting, there has also been numerous examples of misinformation about the invasion. For example, Russian officials has claimed that it’s only defending
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In actuality, the invasion is entirely unprovoked. Misinformation being mistaken as truth leads to people sharing it as fact, thus spreading it to more people. With the situation in Ukraine being so dire that Ukrainians’ lives are at risk, any misinformation about the invasion cannot be mistaken for fact. The people spreading false information, intentionally or not, need to stop. One example of false information is people claiming that footage of prior wars is from Ukraine. These photos and videos are usually from WWII bombings, the 2014 annexation of Crimea or other conflicts. Not only does spreading these images invalidate the journalists in Ukraine who are risking their lives to report on the situation, it disregards the traumatic experiences of people who went through the original conflicts. Another method of falsifying information is staging a photo or using
information out of context to push a narrative. Russia did this to justify invading Ukraine. In the weeks prior to the invasion, Russia staged footage of destroyed army vehicles and claimed it was at the hands of Ukrainian terrorist attacks. Some Russian news outlets have also used social media to claim that Ukraine has been bombing Russia. While it can be difficult to get accurate information about what’s actually happening, there are things that can be done to find out what’s true. By getting information from verified sources like BBC or AP News, you can get information that is confirmed by professional reporters. It’s vital to check the source behind the content you view. Never take claims or footage at face value. It’s a nice thought to share the news of the invasion with more people, but sharing misinformation could ultimately cost Ukrainian lives and hurt the cause. Now more than ever, think twice before hitting that retweet button.
design Alex Thornfelt
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ImperfecT Harmony Orchestra prepares for competition during COVID story Muna Nnamani A quick look around the orchestra room affirms Orchestra Director Allison Washler’s love for mantras. A tarp with an Aristotle quote sits above her podium: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is a habit, not an act.” There’s one from Yoda, above the cello
“
That’s a lot of stress on those students who are there. - Allison Washler
section: “Do or do not. There is no try.” But by late January, Washler had a new motto. She used it when conducting the few COVID-free, non-quarantining students who were able to make it to rehearsal. When she was forced to face their unwavering deadline and admit that she didn’t feel prepared. “It is what it is.” Washler loves her job, especially being around her students. She loves choosing concert programs that highlight their strengths and force them to grow. “If you think about how much we improve over the course of the year, and then over the course of four years — if I’m lucky enough to have people for all four years — it’s amazing,” Washler said.
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Last December, Washler started preparing the program for February’s UIL competition. In the six years that Washler has been director, the Chamber, Sinfonia and Philharmonic orchestras have always earned sweepstakes: an average of 1’s, the highest score possible. “We have committed students,” Washler said. “And even if [they] don’t feel stress over UIL, I think [they] just want to be excellent in what [they] do.” Washler knew that COVID-19 would make it harder to maintain their perfect record. But when she picked out pieces, she didn’t want to lower the bar for her students — or herself. She and Assistant Director Samuel Park chose music they knew would challenge the students. “No matter what is going on, inside of our classroom or outside of it, we continue to hold our students to that standard,” Park said. By mid-January, COVID-19 spread throughout the orchestra. Hordes of students would miss ten days of rehearsal and then discover that the rest of the class was already refining parts they couldn’t play yet. Periods were often spent playing catch-up. “That’s a lot of stress on those students
who are there,” Washler said. According to Washler, the absences hit the Chamber orchestra the most. It was already the smallest orchestra, but some days, as few as four people per section were present. “There was probably two weeks where at least a third of Chamber was out,” Washler said. “And so that was really challenging because there would be one first violin some days, or two second violins.” The directors tried to use extra methods such as extra rehearsals to catch students up. But there were parts of the program that the students just weren’t picking up. Washler knew that it wasn’t the students’ fault — they were working hard during a challenging season. “I think the fact that [this year] has had some even greater challenges than last year has been a little bit of a surprise,” Washler said. “But overall, I think the students have proven to be really resilient, and the energy is still there.” Just as the absences were affecting her students, they were affecting teachers. She saw her colleagues show quiet strength by coming to each other’s aid,
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Orchestra Director Allison Washler conducts the Chamber orchestra. Because of student absences, she initially struggled to keep the entire class caught up. Photo Avery Jerina
whether it was through teaching each others’ classes or being there to provide compassion and support. “All the teachers I know go the extra mile and help where they can, and don’t complain or anything,” Washler said. Teachers were stressed. She was stressed. But she tried to keep it from spilling over to her students. “I think the biggest thing I want from my students is just for them to give their best,” Washler said. When teacher absences forced the school to shut down from Jan. 26 to Jan. 31, the orchestra lost two days of rehearsals — with UIL in less than a month. Washler went home to her family on Wednesday, ready to accommodate the missed two days in the rehearsal schedule. Ready to go back to school and lead her students the following Monday. But over the break, her baby boy tested positive for COVID-19. When asked what her favorite part of the day is, Washler doesn’t hesitate — it’s coming home from work, to hear squeals
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of, “Mommy” from her two baby sons. “My goal, being a mother, is … that you always want your child to feel loved every single day and like they’re wanted,” Washler said. She and her husband balance taking care of their children with their teaching
“
All the teachers I know go the extra mile and help where they can, and don’t complain. - Allison Washler
careers. Some Saturdays, Washler has to spend the whole day apart from her babies because she’s judging
competitions. “There are a lot of days when I won’t see them, and like I’ll look at them on the monitor when I get home,” Washler said. “And I wish I could cuddle them, but they’ll already be in bed when I get home.” But when her son became sick, Washler knew that she had to take time off to be with him. “I was very conflicted, because obviously I wanted to be with you guys,” Washler said. “But that’s one of those spots where family has to come first.” However, these were two days that she couldn’t prepare her students. While Washler made plans for a substitute, she realized that as much as she pushed, the Sinfonia orchestra might not be able to prepare their hardest piece in time. Just in case, she printed out an easier piece. “I was ready to switch them out,” Washler said. “Not that I was going to be mad, but it just wasn’t going to work out.”
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Sinfonia cellist Caroline Aragao was setting up her instrument when she heard the substitute teacher call her and junior Lance Clark’s names. The substitute was reading off a list of instructions from Washler: Caroline and Lance were supposed to teach the class. Caroline, who is the section leader of the Sinfonia cellos, loved being trusted to take on another leadership role. “It gives me a sense of, ‘Wow, Mrs. Washler thinks that I’m able to do this?’” Caroline said. “‘That’s really cool. I can’t let her down.’” She and Lance weaved through the sections as Washler usually would,
“
I think the students have proven to be really resilient, and the energy is still there. - Allison Washler
tuning their classmates’ instruments. When it was time to play through the pieces, Caroline conducted the class with nothing but her cello part. “Having to lead all of the sections with nothing but my music, not even the score, it was a little stressful,” Caroline said.
When Washler came back on Wednesday, she asked them to play through their pieces, to see how far they had come. By the end of their performance, she was fighting back tears. They sounded much better than they had before the break. “I was so proud…” Washler said. “And just happy that you proved how awesome you are.” She put the replacement piece away. She knew they would be okay. Feb. 7 was the day the orchestras came back after the school shut down for the storm. It was also the day of Pre-UIL. While the stakes were lower, it was still a big event. Instead of stressing about how much time had been missed, Park worked at his students’ level — something he’s learned in his four years as a teacher. “We come in after the break, get started, hear how things are going, and just pick up right where we left off,” Park said. The judges left positive comments on every performance. As Omicron started to subside, the chairs in the room began to fill back up. The orchestras are still working to meet their goals, but Washler is choosing to focus on what matters most: her students’ growth. Behind her sharp conducting and efficient rehearsals is a steady calmness. “I realized a few years ago, like it’s not worth getting so anxious myself,” Washler said. “It’s not good for my health. It’s not good for my students’ health.”
Park also directs three classes at Lamar Middle School. He drives to Marcus to conduct the Philharmonic orchestra during fourth period, making him responsible for four orchestras. He manages his stress by drawing a line between work and his personal life. “As soon as I leave the school, that’s my time,” Park said. “So I get to do the things that I want to do.” He said another method that has helped is collaborating with other orchestra directors. He and some other district middle school directors have formed a group chat where they share their struggles and ask for advice. “A lot of times, we’ll just vent about, ‘Oh, my group is really struggling with this piece right now,’” Park said. “‘You know, I’m not sure how we’re going to fix this.’ And then usually, that ends up turning into a positive, because other people will share, ‘Oh hey, I played that piece before. Have you tried this?’” Washler believes that considering the setbacks of the past year, teachers should be less hard on themselves about things that they can’t control. “It really is what you make it,” Washler said. “But also, at a certain point, it is what it is. The days off, we couldn’t do anything about that. It is what it is. And so I’ve just learned, since having kids, you have to choose your areas that you’re going to let yourself get stressed about.” Even though it can be difficult, Washler believes in the power of going to peers for guidance and comfort. “That’s for all of us,” Washler said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Orchestra Director Orchestra Allison Washler conducts at a concert. She enjoys putting together creative programs for her studens to perform. Photo submitted by Allison Washler
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District hires first female superintendent Continued from pg. 3 Another role that Dr. Lori Rapp holds is being a mother to her two teen daughters in the district, which gives her a unique perspective. Many of the other superintendents have been older and without children at home. “It’s huge for me to be able to set an example to all females out there that you can really work hard and compete at the highest level, no matter what that level may be,” Rapp said. “Whether you’re talking about business, athletics, fine arts, broadcast journalism— whatever it is that you want to achieve.” Rapp said that what inspired her to try for the role of superintendent was realizing that many of the district administrators are nearing retirement age. She wanted to step up to join the new generation of leaders. “What I foresee as a leader in this role is you have to constantly be willing to keep up with the pace of change,” Rapp said. “You have to constantly be ensuring that your organization is learning, growing, adapting, being willing to consider new ideas.” One of Rapp’s biggest goals as superintendent is to increase the relationship between students and administration. She said she values the opinions of all students, parents, teachers and other community members regardless of their connection to the schools. “What it’s about is getting out there and being the face of Lewisville ISD,” Rapp said. “Highlighting our students and our staff and telling our stories, and letting people know that if you’re not a part of the school district, you need to come here.” Rapp uses Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to help reach her target audience – the students. She said that she wants them to be able to voice their opinions. As technology is quickly advancing,
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Since she got her first teaching job at The Colony High School in 1996, superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp has had many roles in the district. Photo courtesy of district communications department.
Rapp plans to ensure that the district is ready for the future. She believes that it’s vital for the district to keep up with the new demands of students. As superintendent, she plans to focus on analyzing the resources available to ensure that LISD students are wellprepared for life after graduation. “The world is changing so fast that to think about what we have, the technology we use today only continues to change faster and faster,” Rapp said. “So if you can imagine, between the time you all graduate, between when a first grader graduates, what will be created by then is hard to even imagine.” But Rapp’s main goal is to be a superintendent students feel they can trust and relate to. A superintendent who listens to their concerns. “While I may not always be able to solve the problem they’re bringing forward, it seems like they always appreciate that I at least am willing to listen and understand what they’re saying,” Rapp said. “And if I can do something to make it better than I absolutely will.”
Rapp’s District History 1996– Rapp started teaching math at The Colony High School 2008– She was named LISD’s Director of PreK-12 Curriculum, where she served for three years. 2015– Rapp became Chief Learning and Teaching Officer, where she oversaw districtwide elementary and secondary curriculum and programs. 2017– Rapp was chosen to serve as deputy superintendent. 2022- The school board elected Rapp to serve as the first female superintendent in the district. design Alex Thornfelt
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Making connections Senior starts school support group story Muna Nnamani When senior Rhea Karumuru sat in the counselor’s chair, fleshing out what would eventually become an outreach program, she wasn’t thinking about the entire student body — she was just thinking about her friends. One friend told her last year that by just hearing them out in middle school, she’d helped them through a hard season. Another one approached her, thanking her for her listening skills and understanding during their freshman year. Rhea wanted to be there for everybody she could. “That’s what really started it,” Rhea said. “I was saying, ‘Okay, how can I provide this kind of help for as many people possible?’” As she spoke with the future sponsor of her club, her plan was taking shape. And she was giddy with excitement. ••• Like most teenagers, Rhea Karumuru is no stranger to angst. She spent her freshman and sophomore years coping with an overloaded schedule. And like most teenagers, she’s witnessed her peers’ anxiety and sadness and wished she could do something about it. But what differentiates Rhea from most is that she crossed the line between wishing and doing. When she entered high school, she heard her friends say just by being there for them and listening to them she had really helped them. “It really took me aback, because I didn’t think that I was doing anything special,” Rhea said. “I just wanted to be there for my friends.”
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When she saw the impact that she could have, her mind burned with the possibility of what a group of kids could do for other students. In early 2020, Rhea met with former counselor Michelle Schwolert. When she walked into the office, she had nothing but fragments of ideas. But by the end of the meeting, the two fleshed out the idea for Rel8, a before-school support group where students could talk about their mental health struggles — a place where they could speak and be heard. “That was the idea,” Rhea said. “That everyone should have someone that they trust.” The club launched early last year, along with its website and social medias. Meetings are every other Tuesday. Rhea wanted this space to help address small, day-to-day stressors so that they don’t become bigger mental health issues. She feels like while there is attention directed toward problems like anxiety and depresion, there are few spaces for people to vent about problems like stressful classes or friendship troubles. “I thought that by putting in place a system where people can talk to their own peers in a safe, non-judgemental way, we can really prevent some of these cases from getting so severe, and people really feeling alone,” Rhea said. Last semester, there was no
After she graduatesl, senior Rhea Karumuru plans on expanding Rel8 to other schools. Photo Avery Jerina
attendance at the meetings. Rhea feels that students have been lethargic in many aspects, including outside of school commitments. “I feel students also shifted in a way of, ‘Okay, well, school is over,’” Rhea said. “‘Let me just get out as fast as I can.’ So it definitely has become and still is honestly an issue of maintained membership.” However, she wants to regain last year’s attendance. She believes that Rel8 can be a good tool for students, especially after the past two years. “Mental health everywhere...has just been bad for everyone,” Rhea said. “Whether or not this person feels like they have an issue or are getting to that extreme. And it’s nice to have people to talk to.” Last year, each meeting began with an icebreaker. The group then discussed that week’s topic — whether it was academics, friendships, or family relationships. Rhea picks each week’s topic and writes a list of related discussion questions. She’s usually also the first one to share. “It’s easier when I’m the one starting,” Rhea said. “And then people go, ‘Okay, she’s kind of opening up.’”
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When a student shares their problems, the group listens carefully. After they are done speaking, everyone offers potential solutions. “It forms connections,” Rhea said. “And I think those kinds of connections are what let students feel vulnerable. Because they’re saying, ‘This person not only relates to something I’ve felt before, I also relate with them.’” Last May, Rhea asked senior Nicole Shokry to be Rel8’s vice president. Nicole immediately accepted. “She has a very creative mind,” Rhea said. “She has an eye to see things in a different way than people think. And it’s amazing the way her mind thinks.” Nicole had gone to last year’s meetings, to be supportive of her friend. But she admired the space for self-expression that she had seen Rel8 provide. She knew what it was like to not have one.
they weren’t really paying attention.” Nicole believes that Rel8 is a good resource for students who felt the way she did last year.
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That was the idea, that everyone should have someone that they trust.
- Rhea Karumuru, 12
••• When Nicole was a junior, she struggled to maintain her mental health during quarantine. When she confided in others, she was met with cliché motivators. She knew they meant well, but she knew that being told that there was a light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t going to help her feel better. “It felt like I was being so open with what I was saying and confident of what I was showing them,” Nicole said. “And
feature March 9, 2022
“I think our impact on mental health comes down a lot to just being… a certain outlet for people,” Nicole said. “Especially in a school setting, where a lot of people really never have that opportunity to talk.” At one of last year’s meetings, the weekly discussion topic was school. The students talked about everything from adjusting to in-person school to maintaining friendships. “I’m doing bad in this class — this teacher grades hard.” “I’m not making any friends.” “I have to go eat lunch at a table I don’t know.” Club sponsor and student assistance counselor Hollie Wilson sits within earshot of each discussion, in case a student brings up an issue Rhea and Nicole can’t address by themselves. Wilson says that she’s seen COVID-19 negatively impact students’ mental health, as they are being forced to undergo massive changes.
“For many students, and many teenagers, a lot left for COVID, during maybe middle school or ninth grade,” Wilson said. “So they’ve gone through a lot of transitions, even just in the school environment.” Rhea has also seen more of her peers deal with family troubles. They express frustration about their family members, or vent about the pressure they feel from new responsibilities. “COVID has opened up so many doors for all these issues,” Rhea said. “And now students feel like they have to fight it alone, especially when it comes to their family.” Wilson felt the need for something like Rel8 when Rhea asked her to sponsor the club at the beginning of the year. “The very first thing it does is normalize what people are going through,” Wilson said. “It makes it understood that this isn’t something that we need to hide, or feel embarrassed by.” The Rel8 team hopes to combat this year’s low attendance with social media advertising and school announcements. “I do have a big vision for this,” Rhea said. “And I really, really want to see it in action because I genuinely believe that this is a great idea.” Rhea is looking for juniors to take over the club after she graduates, and is working to open new Rel8 chapters at Lewisville and Flower Mound High Schools. She’s also considering expanding the Rel8 website to include online mental health resources for students who can’t attend meetings. “I guess my idea is to have this at as many schools as possible, whether it’s in Texas or not,” Rhea said. But while she wants the Rel8 organization to outlast her high school experience, the root of Rhea’s drive is compassion. For her, college holds only more opportunities to reach others. “I just hope that in whatever way possible, I can help somebodwy,” Rhea said. “Whether it’s one person, whether it’s many people. If I can just help that much, I know that I would have done my part.” For now, she and Nicole offer a seat at the table to anybody who needs one. “We’ll try to be that safe place for them,” Nicole said.
design Saloni Mistry
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Prom fits Tips to wow your peers at prom
story Muna Nnamani & Garrison Acree
Let’s face it — almost every junior and senior will be at prom this year. After witnessing what happened to the classes of 2020 and 2021, every upperclassman will bury their excuses and Cha-Cha Slide for at least 20 minutes, just to be able to say that they experienced prom. Because prom is really just a chance to show off your cool outfit to your entire graduating class. If this wasn’t true, people wouldn’t be crippling their parents’ paychecks on dresses they’ll only wear once. Everybody will be bringing their A-game to the dance, so you’ll need to step it up with the prom fits to really stand out. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled our best fashion tips for the dance.
Tie Anywhere outside of prom, wearing a bow tie will make you look like the failed fifth member of a barbershop quartet. But at a dance, ties are a cool way to express yourself if you’ve been forced to match your date with every other part of your outfit. Unlike the traditional black bow tie, polka dots and floral patterns are unique. And remember, when it’s tied (clip-ons are not an option, guys) the bow shouldn’t be any wider than your face. To avoid facing ridicule for not knowing how to tie your own tie, consult the never-ending trove of knowledge that is wikiHow before going to your father for wisdom.
Tux Tuxedos are easily one of the most iconic parts of the prom outfits, so if you’re going with someone else, it’s important to choose one that will match your partner’s outfit. If you’re riding solo, the patterns and colors to choose from are endless. You could go with a classic black suit or jewel-tones, but patterned tuxes have been gaining traction — specifically floral print and gingham. For the fit, you can opt for an oversized suit (best done in corduroy), or more form-fitting, with skinny pants and a tighter blazer. Shoes You may already have an expensive pair of dress shoes stored in your closet, just for this day. You may shine them every week religiously, with brushes and microfiber cloths and all that overpriced jazz. But chances are, the rest of us will have to flood Walmart days beforehand to snag a good pair. Black and brown laced leather shoes will match almost any outfit, and so will sleek high-top sneakers. On the other side of the spectrum, some guys go with cowboy boots, which some Texan families consider a rite of passage. Either way, a nice pair of shoes can leave you tearing up the dance floor at prom.
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design Saloni Mistry
entertainment mhsmarquee.com
Hair For a conventional style, try a traditional curly updo, and for a more bohemian dress, light beach waves. Straighten your hair into a sleek look to match a high-necked outfit. The Y2K style has resurfaced big time, so there’s no better place to look for inspiration than the early 2000’s. To accessorize, use big pearly hair clips or a head full of metallic butterfly clips. Dress Picking a dress can cause a mini case of analysis paralysis. But the key is to not overthink it. When in doubt, pick out a dress in your favorite color or pattern. And pick a fit that makes you feel good, whether it’s the popular open-back mermaid dress or a pastel bunch of tulle that makes you look like you’re a cloud — a fashionable cloud, of course. Plenty of local prom stores have great, cheaper options if you want to look fancy on a budget.
Accessories Please, please buy accessories in advance. Thanks to COVID, plenty of us can’t remember the last time we had to wear fancy jewelry and therefore don’t have any. But nobody wants to look into their jewelry box on the day of the prom, just to find a few ring pop packets and a choker they bought in 2016. Instead, invest in earrings that frame your face. Dangly earrings are funky and unique, featuring charms like pink flowers and tie dye spheres. These are easily paired with beaded necklaces. Try layering chunky chain necklaces to create an edgy look. Thin, light silver charm chains will work for brighter colors.
Shoes Look, we all bragged to our friends in middle school about how we would “literally wear our old Converse” to the prom because we were “just weird like that.” However, the sooner you realize that life is not a 2010’s Disney movie, the sooner you can pick appropriate footwear. If you’re really set on Converse, there are chunky platform high tops you can snag for under $100. According to the never-failing wisdom of Seventeen magazine, prom sneakers are in style, white shoes embellished with glittery stars and butterflies. For a flash of color to complement a simple dress, try a pair of neon-pastel platform sandals (they’re cuter than they sound, I promise). Glittery black sandals and platforms are the perfect finish to a sleek dress.
entertainment March 9, 2022
design Saloni Mistry
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Go nuts for donuts
The most creative local donuts story Hyunsung Na
“Heart Attack” Donut, Amy’s Donuts Taste: 3/5 ★★★bb
Innovation: 5/5 ★★★★★
Peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, bacon and hot fudge. This donut sounds like it’d just taste awful. Instead, it was okay. Peanut butter and bacon is always a solid duo. But the hot fudge and marshmallow fluff seemed unnecessary. Clearly, the best part of this donut is its innovation. It’s like they took every type of donut and jammed it all into one. They saw the line between donut and too much, and sprinted past it. They stacked this absolute behemoth with caloric bombs, staying true to its name, “Heart Attack.” I have to give them props for coming up with the idea. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
“Watermelon Donut,” from AJ Donuts Taste: 4/5 ★★★★b
Innovation: 3/5 ★★★bb
I love this donut. It’s so unbelievably adorable. I would do anything for this donut. From his oversized eyes and silly cartoon mouth to his icing watermelon seeds. Visually, this is the cutest donut I’ve seen in my entire life, and it tasted almost as good as it looked. For how much icing there was, it was actually not overpowering at all. Plus the soft inside melted in my mouth. For just $2, I’d buy this donut 1,000 times if I could. All the other donuts on this list are more innovative, but if I was rating solely on design, this donut would easily be number one.
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design Jayla Landou
entertainment mhsmarquee.com
“Creme Brûlée” Donut, Lakeside Donuts Taste: 4/5 ★★★★b
Innovation: 4/5 ★★★★b
When I bit on this donut’s crunchy outside of this donut, the sound was so audible, my family back in Korea could probably hear it. It’s hard sugary outside contrasts beautifully with its creamy filling. Then the idea itself, making the entirety of your donut a hard crunchy dessert is really cool and in my opinion adds a whole new dimension to what a donut could be. This is probably the best overall donut with its taste and creativity both being really good, but not the best in either category.
“Cheesecake Donut,” from Sara’s Donut Story Taste: 5/5 ★★★★★
Innovation: 3/5 ★★★ bb
From the outside, this donut looks ordinary. The fruit on the top makes it a little fancy, but at the end of the day it looks boring. But on the inside is a creamy cheesecake filling I could eat by the handful. The bready outside with the creamy inside creates a marriage of texture that I was lucky to be officiating. Maybe my love for cheesecake is skewing my rating. Maybe it’s because I ate this donut with low expectations and the surprise factor affected its taste. I don’t even care. This donut reminded me how grateful I am for the ability to taste. While it’s innovation wasn’t what I was looking for, I’ll be reliving this donut in my memories for the next couple of days.
entertainment March 9,2022
design Jayla Landou
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things we like Counselors appreciated
This year, we’ve had a lot of changes to get used to and some of the people who make those changes so much easier are our kind, responsive counselors. We especially appreciate those who joined the staff late in the year during all of the shortages to make sure that we have the academic advising we need.
More time for college visits
For many students, it’s difficult to choose where we want to further our education and the two days the district gives for college tours isn’t enough to visit everywhere. That’s why we love having some of our top college choices visit our school during the school day.
Regaining focus story Alex Thornfelt
It’s 3:15 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon and all I can taste is blood. For the past hour I’ve been bouncing my leg and biting my inner cheeks as I race to finish my human geography test. The words on the page look scrambled and I am nowhere near finished. In the midst of my panic, the testing timer rings. I stand up, turn in an incomplete scantron and ask my freshman Humanities teacher to be excused. I head toward the girls’ bathroom sink and feel the stress I had been holding in all day slowly release. The test is over. Though my stress had subsided, the blood in my mouth had not. I lean my head in close to the sink and spit. I wait, then spit again. The school’s automatic faucet made my relatively minor injury look like a scene from “Psycho.” I wipe my mouth and clean myself to the best of my abilities before walking back to my classroom. At the time, I didn’t know why I felt the way I did. All I knew was that taking timed exams made me anxious. That this severe anxiety caused me to shake in my seat and tightly clench my jaw. Throughout elementary and middle school, no one noticed that anything was wrong with me. I was placed into the GT program early on, always got straight A’s and according to my teachers was, “a pleasure to have in class.” If any problems were noticed, they were viewed as trivial because of my good record.
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design Jennifer Banh
Despite this, I spent my freshman year constantly questioning my own intelligence. I was failing tests and quizzes. I was failing to comprehend the information. I was a failure. I couldn’t understand why this was happening. I was “gifted and talented.” I was “one of the smart ones.” Since I can remember, I have always been the last person to turn in a test or quiz, but before high school it never
mattered. I was always met with an A when grades came back. Despite always being easily distracted, I had never had this much trouble in school. These traits of mine were slowly becoming detrimental. There came a time in early December of 2019 when I hit a breaking point. I knew there was no way I had lost all intellectual capacity over the course of a few months, so I went to the school counselor and explained my struggle. That was the catalyst to the long and arduous process of getting me help. Through loads of paperwork and meetings with school officials, my mom and I were able to get me placed on an
Accomodating for tests
Even though testing may not be fun, our testing facilitator, Ms. Burgin is always happy to accommodate any students’ testing needs by responding to emails and being cheery even when deadlines are rapidly approaching.
academic plan known as a 504. This allows me accommodations like extra time while testing, a private area to take exams and other minor modifications to regular school routines. I started seeing a therapist every week who specialized in academic stress and anxiety. After months of speaking and working with the school’s diagnostician, district psychologist and my therapist, I finally had an answer. In February of 2021, I was informed that my stress and anxiety stemmed from ADHD. Finally having it in writing was an immense relief. It wasn’t that I wanted the title of “girl with ADHD”, but that I wanted to have an answer. An answer to why I struggled academically where others didn’t and why I felt like my thought process never matched anyone else’s. I wasn’t crazy after all. Receiving a diagnosis and talking to a therapist didn’t magically solve all of my problems. There are still times when class conversations move too fast for me. Times when I have trouble gaining the motivation to begin assignments or think cohesive thoughts. However, it was how I acted upon this information that truly helped me. Self-advocating and communicating my needs was one of the best things I did for myself. Acknowledging my issues allowed me to develop healthy coping mechanisms and deal with my symptoms during stressful times. To get the help I needed, I had to vouch for myself and speak up about my issues, because no one understood what I was going through more than me.
opinion mhsmarquee.com
things we don’t like Talking during announcements
As much as we all love to talk to our friends, it can get really annoying when we can’t hear the announcements during MT. The noise keeps us from hearing important information like scholarship deadlines and club meeting dates.
People lingering in bathrooms
We all need a break from class occasionally, but no one wants to use the bathroom when there are five people crowded around the stalls giggling and checking social media. Students, could we please save that for lunch time?
Need personal hygeine products
Nothing makes for a more stressful day than realizing you started your period and forgot supplies. It would be more convenient to have pads and tampons in bathrooms to avoid unnecessary outfit changes or discomfort.
Maggie and me story Marley Roberson
I blame my older brother for a lot of things, but I have to give him credit for his obsession with getting a dog. When I was in 4th grade, he convinced my mom to get us a black lab puppy we named Maggie. Maggie was comically self-sufficient. She liked to be alone and didn’t want to cuddle. One day, when I was laying on the couch she came into the room and sat next to me. I froze, not wanting to scare her off. She plopped down onto the rug, and slept for hours while I pet her. After that day she decided that I was worthy of her trust and put up with my antics. In the mornings I would come back to my room and tell her it was time for breakfast. She would bury her head in her paws and wag her tail. She knew acting cute enough would get me to turn the light back off and let her sleep more. We spent a lot of time together. Somehow, she always knew when I was upset, and spent those days clinging to me. My first two years of high school were a struggle to say the least. I had stretches of days where it seemed impossible to do anything. Every one of those days, I can remember my dog loitering around me, finding any excuse to lay at my feet. It seemed like she knew exactly when I needed company. I still have no idea why she decided to trust me more than anyone else. I’ve
opinion March 9, 2022
always thought that my connection with her was so special. In October, my family frequently commented on her sudden change in behavior after our elderly family dog passed away. She became affectionate with everyone in the house, going out of her way to make her presence known. She also began picking up a strange
habit of rejecting her meals. One night, I took Maggie outside before bed. She went out into the grass as I shivered in my dark backyard. I waited, as I always did, by the pool where I couldn’t see her. I grew impatient, and tossed a tennis ball to where I guessed she was. I waited. She didn’t prance back to taunt me like she usually did when she caught a ball. It was eerily quiet. I pulled out my phone, turned on my flashlight, and walked into the grass. Hidden in the limits of the shadows,
I found her lying awkwardly on the ground as though she couldn’t move. She was panting, with the ball I had thrown just behind her. I found out she had cancer about a week before she passed. She didn’t have much time left. Maggie’s cancer progressed rapidly. Her favorite activities were off limits. The toss of a ball, talk of a car ride or sight of a bird would cause her to lose all of her bearings. Her legs would tangle up, and she accepted awkwardly slumping to the floor. She didn’t have enough energy to fight. A few nights before Thanksgiving last year, I came home to her laying on her bed wheezing and refusing to sleep. Everyone knew. I think she did too. I didn’t sleep much that night. I sat with my dog in her final moments and took it all in. I fell asleep on the couch that night, still wearing my jeans and shoes. My contacts dried to my teary eyes, and I could hardly open them when I heard my family talking at 3 a.m. Words couldn’t help anyone. We sat in silent company, grieving our dog. Dogs have this special way of showing they care. She had become a constant in my life. No matter what, she was there. She loved me unconditionally, the way that all dogs love their people. That connection was so special and my loss was devastating. But I feel incredibly grateful that I got to experience such a unique connection with my pet.
design Jennifer Banh
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Is late night dead? story Harrison Hamre Late night TV is a dying industry and it breaks my heart. For decades, late night talk shows have been a space for people to watch a true “variety show.” Where else can you go and within the same hour watch interviews with the hottest celebrities, comedy sketches, a set of stand up and a live musical performance? At least that’s what people used to say until you could just go onto YouTube and watch interviews with any celebrity you’d like, watch every SNL sketch ever filmed, listen to any song ever written and watch any comedian’s entire library of work. Late night is being phased out by technology but the format itself has been stagnant for years before the internet made it obsolete. From the 90’s to now, almost every late night host has been influenced by one person; David Letterman. Letterman joined the world of late night TV in 1982 when it was ruled by Johnny Carson, the legendary host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. Letterman stood out instantly because he didn’t copy Carson like everyone else would think to do. He had his own show, so he did it his own way. Even though not all audiences loved him initially, he used his charisma and played with the platform. He took this grandiose format and would poke fun at it with ridiculous bits, and through his unique approach, he went on to gain recognition as one of the best to ever do it. Letterman’s style inspired countless comedians and late night hosts. When you look at today’s hosts, almost all of them follow the exact same trends, have the same people interviewed and copy the style of their predecessors like Letterman or Carson in an attempt to be as successful as them. If you look at a host like Stephen
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design Alex Thornfelt
Colbert, you can see how controlling having a traditional late night show is. Colbert used to be the host of the “Colbert Report” on Comedy Central where he played a satirical caricature of a radical news anchor. It was a show that was wholly his own. He was ready to retire from TV entirely when he was offered the opportunity to follow Letterman as the host of the Late Show on CBS. Naturally, he took the job but being
burnt out from TV and having never been himself while hosting, he didn’t really know what he was doing. His style felt like an impression of Letterman at first but then he started to come into his own. He was on the trajectory to become great, only to start hopping onto trend after trend, even though it’s plain to see how much potential there is for him to have a great show. Now look at Conan O’Brien. O’Brien was in a position similar to Colbert where he had to take over Letterman’s first show, “Late Night” on NBC. O’Brien was a complete unknown at the time, and there was a lot of pressure for him to follow in Letterman’s footsteps. He may have had a rough start, but he soon began to grow a die hard fan
base who couldn’t get enough of his selfdeprecating humor, inventive remote segments, absurd comedy bits and the relevant celebrities and musical guests that everyone was dying to see on TV. The longer he stayed in the industry, the more he adapted to it. When NBC screwed him over and gave away his show, he moved to TBS and continued to be unforgivingly himself. When he felt the format wasn’t optimal for his show, he would change it, like when he went from an hour to 30 minutes to tighten up his show. He was also one of the first hosts to embrace the internet. When he started his YouTube channel, not everyone understood why he did it, but now every late night show uploads clips everyday in an attempt to be relevant. O’Brien retired from TV last year but his legacy will last for decades to come as he still does his podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend,” and is planning to do a show of some sort on HBO Max. When you look at O’Brien’s career, you see how he has adapted for the betterment of his show. Every other host saw Letterman and thought, “I’m gonna be just like him,” meanwhile O’Brien learned the right lesson from Letterman which is to make your own content and to not be a slave to a format. With O’Brien gone, I don’t think there is anyone else left in late night TV who is doing anything as original as him. I like Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon but I don’t think any of them have the wow-factor that legends like Carson or Letterman had. They don’t really make the format their own and I think almost every late night host working today could be creating content that is more personalized to their strengths. Late night comedy talk shows are a great concept that have simply become outdated and overdone.
opinion mhsmarquee.com
compiled Muna Nnamani photos Salma Ali
Do you think that teenagers should be allowed to compete in adult-level sports?
Reece Lyons, 11 Megan Daugherty, 11
I feel like 17 and older is the perfect age.
I just think that they’re not mentally mature enough for something like that.
Zachary Cox, 10
Tyler Remelius, 12
If they have the skill level, they should be allowed. Because they earned it.
It’s good if they’re doing it on their own, but if they’re being pushed by their parents, it’s not good.
Editorial cartoon: The pressure to succeed design Saloni Mistry
opinion March 9, 2022
design Alex Thornfelt
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Top of the mound
Nina Mazzola practices for the game against Lewisville on March 8. Photo Salma Ali
Carys Torgesen #19 passes the ball down the field to get in scoring distance. Photo Roslyn Dobbins
The varsity girls’ soccer team showed their skill on the field on Jan. 25 in a game against Flower Mound. The team struggled scoring points at the start of the game. But late in the first half, forward Bella Campos scored the first goal, creating a lot of momentum for the rest of the game. The Marauders scored two more goals, and by the end, the team came out with a dominant 3-0 victory, making their record 172-1 and solidifying their 2nd place rank in state.
Defender Caroline Castans #15 kicks the ball down the field. Photo Roslyn Dobbins
The lady Marauders celebrate a goal during the game. They won 3-0 over Flower Mound. Photo Roslyn Dobbins