Student Council promotes Love with National To Write Love on Her Arms Day
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Student provides reflection on her journey to America
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Swimmers prove ambition for remaining season
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Volume thirty-seven Issue three
Jersey Village High School
7600 Solomon Houston, TX 77040
Recent issues with the economy caused students to share their thoughts on the way it affects them. Hours at jobs have been cut and friends look to alternatives for expensive social activities. Even the possible increase in college tuition costs has many students thinking about what the future holds for the economy. pages
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2 To Write Love On Her Arms Student Council news
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brings movement to campus that provides love, rescue for teens MIKELA MELAKIS
staff writer Love has often been viewed as only a term of affection, but on November 13 members of Student Council showed the student body love could have another meaning. For the first time Student Council sat at a table in the cafeteria and wrote love on students’ arms for national To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) day. TWLOHA is a non-profit movement dedicated to showing hope and finding help for people who struggle with depression, addiction, self injury and suicide. Its purpose is to encourage, inform, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. Thilye Rinke, junior, made it her first priority to make sure Student Council joined
bragging rights Seniors rank at national level National Merit Scholars photo by MIKELA MELAKIS
LOVE IS THE MOVEMENT Meagan Davlin, junior, and Carrie Thompson, junior, participate in TWLOHA day. Davlin writes “love” on Thompson’s arm. in the movement. “I have always been passionate about the cause, and recently the TWLOHA organization dedicated a day to it, so I figured why not bring it to our school,” Rinke said. The National Institute of Metal Health estimates that 18 million people in the United States alone are suffering from depression; 2/3 of those suffering from depression never seek treatment. Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. “This cause is very important because people around the United States go through self injury and depression all the time without help from their friends or family. This program shows them they’re not alone,” Rinke said. TWLOHA was made after a 19 year old girl who was heavily into drugs and self abuse found hope in family and friends who helped her get
clean and into rehab. Students that suffer from depression were excited to see the support. “I personally suffer from depression. So knowing that there are people in this world that care and want to help me and others be happy, healthy, and alive makes me feel like the world is starting to confront this ongoing condition called depression,” Allyse Griffin, sophomore, said. Griffin is a member of Student Council and was glad to see TWLOHA at the school. Not only were students who personally suffer from depression moved, but other students who had no idea about the cause were enlightened. “People try to commit suicide a lot; my friend Bryce did. Nobody needs to lose a friend at this age. It’s really nice to know an organization like this is helping people get through those situations,” Meagan Davlin, junior, said.
Scholars Discuss Outstanding Achievements Who: Julie Nguyen What: National Merit SemiFinalist Preparation: Scholars Program
Who: Garrett Hallmark What: National Merit SemiFinalist College Attending: Texas A&M
Who: Kevin Nguyen What: AP Scholar with Distinction Hours tested out of: 27
Semi-Finalists
Garrett Hallmark, Andrew Mahood, Julie Nguyen, Ian Paige
Commended Kurt Bilanoski, Alexander Bruce, Kelly Harrison, Amanda Hogan, Raj Kankaria, Tao Li, Emma Metcalf, Kevin Nguyen, Nicholas Prather, Alyssa San Pedro, Kimberly Tang, Holly Wu
AP Scholars Scholar with Distinction Julie Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen
Scholar with Honor
Teresa Cheung, Samantha Fleitman, Amanda Hogan, Raj Kankaria, Tao Li, Ian Paige, Nichola Prather, Kimberly Tang, Lily Tran, Holly Wu
Scholar
Andrew Bailey, Kurt Bilanoski, Rasmey Chhin, Chia-Shin Chu, Jadd Dela Cruz, Jordan Fauser, Nicholas Harbuagh, Zachary Hubenak, Emma Metcalf, Alyssa San Pedro, Amanda Weise, Jacob Wilson, Jason Yeh
The
Twilight Zone
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Vampire loving teenagers explain the obsession with popular series KELSEY O’ BRIANT
co-managing editor Its name is on the lips of teens across America, its suspense keeps people up at night, and its story takes one to an unexplored world. Its fame is great and its genuine opposition few. It is Twilight. The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer tells the story of Bella, a girl moving to a new state with her family. She soon discovers a strong attraction to Edward, who turns out to be a vampire. A twisting tale of vampires, werewolves, and love ensues throughout the rest of the series. Twilight’s recent popularity has revealed itself both in students here and across the country. Magazines boast “Juicy Twilight Secrets,” the books appear everywhere, in hard back and paperback alike, and the talk of the hallways among teenagers is littered with references to Edward and Bella. Clearly, there is a distinguishing factor about the series. “I loved how Stephanie Meyer tied in romance with fantasy and made it absolutely believable. There was nothing fake or cheesy about it. It allows [people] to see love in its purest form,” Heather White, senior, said. Because the series so recently exploded, some are jumping on to the page turner band wagon because of the praise for the series that surrounds them. “All of my friends said it was the best book, so I caved in,” Hannah Franklin, junior, said. Stephanie Meyer, a stay at home mom with three children, crafted the series off of the top of her head and has over the past few years stolen teen hearts to an extreme degree. She has perfected the cure to adolescent apathy by giving readers characters to hate, envy, feel pain for, and fall in love with. “The story line was oddly captivating. I love the whole supernatural part of vampires and
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“Twilight was my favorite book because it is the original story,” Kaci Clavecilla, senior, said.
werewolves mixed in with intense teenage romance,” Kim Tang, senior, said. Twilight was adapted into a film version this year, which has largely contributed “Breaking Dawn to the series’ is my favorite book popularity. Between ac- because it has a lot tor gossip of romance,” Marion and plot dif- Clendenen, ferences, the sophomore, recent movie said. has caused a great stir amongst devoted Twilight fans. “Compared to the “Eclipse book, [I think] the movie is my was horrible, but in itself I refavorite book ally enjoyed it. Because I was fabecause it has the miliar with the book’s story line, it most action,” Jessica Valdez, was very amusing to see the subtle similarities the movie tried to slip in. I try junior, said. not to focus on detailed comparisons to the book since it’s impossible to enjoy the movie that way,” Tang said. In any case, the movie has caused others to appreciate the books, some refusing to see the movie until they had completed Twilight. “If I saw the movie first I wouldn’t have had the motivation to read the book,” Franklin said. Through its popularity, Twilight has set itself apart from average teen literature in an unprecedented manner. It has opened doors for young people who are generally opposed to reading, and created an opportunity to let young imaginations go wild. “Twilight is like a drug that seeps into your subconscious, but it’s a very good drug,” White said.
Which book is the favorite?
“New Moon is my favorite book because it is not as predictable as Twilight,” Melissa Cruz, sophomore, said.
Was the movie as good as the book?
Yes No
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CRAZE! Showing off their twilight Tee-Shirt and canvas bag Laura Ott and Rebecca Mack, talk about Twilight. The apparel has become a trend at school for avid series readers.
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Gaining from Coach implements new activities for life skills physical education Giving feature
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ARMANDO HUERECA
staff writer The past years have been mundane for the students in the Life Skills program. Their physical education consisted of monotonous pacing around the large commons in a rectangular, never-changing path. They received physical exercise, however it was limited to just that. There was a shortage of mental exercise, as well as cognitive stimulation. This has all changed now with the strategies of Coach Kathy Downing and the implementation of a very effective three-letter word: fun. The students have fun in their P.E. classes and look forward to it every day. A typical P.E. session for them includes very familiar dances such as the “Chicken Dance”, the “Cha-Cha Slide”, and the “Macarena”. The teachers and aides perform these dances right along side the kids, which unifies them and produces a profound effect
on the students. They play with bouncing balls of all shapes and sizes, and let out sounds of joy as they actually take part in the planned activities. At first, Downing was simply directed to fill in the position due to the previous teacher’s absence. “It’s my favorite part of the day, and it’s what I look forward to everyday,” Downing, said. She simply loves the students. The benefits of the reformed P.E. class have not just been bounded by these school walls, but they have also spread out to the student’s daily lives at home. The exercises stimulate the students’ basic skills such as speech, motor movement, socialization, and cognitive functions. “One student’s parents actually cried when they saw their child interacting with other kids. It was such a positive change,” Downing said. Downing said that the students’ socialization has improved above any-
january ‘09
thing else. The students appear more cordial and eager to socialize as opposed to the past. “It’s amazing,” Downing, says. Upon witnessing these students take part in their favorite activities; one can clearly observe the shear joy they experience. “They expect their highfives at the end of the period Chicken now,” Downing said. Before, Dance Coach some students were reluctant Kathy Downing to have any form of human dances with contact. Now they just have her students fun, and fun is one of those during second fundamentals that are vital period Life Skills to every living person on this P.E. class. photo by DEBY THORP planet. loves it. Downing receives so much Downing has provided hope for herself while witnessing these students these students, as well as her time and progressing and meeting their goals. resources. Though she was originally She feels that there is so much more to required to take over the course, she gain when she gives back. does not regard it as an obligation. She
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end to acne woes CLEARING THINGS UP Medication promisesSolution Stages
KELLY HARRISON
staff writer Teenagers are notorious for their skin troubles. Afflictions range from the occasional pimple and redness to the more serious troubles of cystic acne with the accompanying scars, both figuratively and literally. In recent years, one pill has promised to end the embarrassment and pain caused by such skin afflictions. Isotretinoin, marketed as Accutane, is a medication which delivers mega-doses of vitamin A, effectively disabling the production of facial oil. The intense doseage is not without side effects. “With most everyone, the side effects are generally dry skin, nose bleeds, and chapped lips,” Andy Bailey, senior, said. More serious side effects than dry skin can occur in women who are prescribed Accutane. Because of the extremely high risk of birth
defects in children conceived while on Accutane, the iPLEDGE program has been implemented to help combat the problems. iPLEDGE consists of monthly negative birth tests, and women must consent to using two plus forms of birth control. Monthly visits to the patients dermatologist to confirm the results and track progress are also mandatory. Despite the inconvenience, the constant monitor of patients serves a positive necessity. “Aside from the side effects, I had a very positive experience on Accutane. It was encouraging to see it working. You only have to take it for six months, and it gets rid of your acne forever, no matter how bad it is,” Julie Jackson, junior, said. Accutane’s release was heralded as a huge step forward in the treatment of severe acne. However, agreeing to follow an Accutane regimen means exhausting all other possibilities first.
Step one: Try an acne fighting face wash
Step two: Regular exfoliation helps clean pores
“We only prescribe Accutane as a last resort. We try to combat the acne with topical creams, antibiotics, and birth control in women. Dermatologists as a whole do not prescribe Accutane lightly,” Dr. Ann Nguyen, a local dermatologist, said. The medication has also been accused by some as increasing depression in patients under the treatment’s influence. United States representative Bart Stupak came out against Accutane following the suicide of his son, Bartholomew Thomas “B.J” Stupak Jr, in 2000, after completing a round of Accutane. Despite misgivings, many patients attribute the medication to an increase in self confidence. “I would definitely recommend this medicine to people, as long as they
Step three: Antibiotics clear acne from within
Last Resort: Accutane consult their dermatologist first,” Yayha Kahn, junior, says. The experts say that for most patients, one five m o n t h round of Accutane can effectively end all high school ance woes. “We generally find that our success rate hovers around 90 percent. To see teenagers become more confident due to clear skin is a miracle,” Dr. Nguyen said. For some, Accutane can help win the battle against acne. But for others, the negative side effects outweigh the positive. In the end, the decision to take Accutane becomes a personal one.
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A WALK TO PROSPERITY
january ‘09
Sophomore looks back on journey crossing United States border DEBY THORP
sports editor A seven year old Dulce Maya stood at the edge of the of the Rio Grande hanging on to her mother. Maya, her mother, and her younger brother were waiting for the guide’s signal to cross the turbulent river, right hand, cross or, left hand, to wait. The children had to grip their mother to keep from being swept under by the raging currents and as Maya looked up she noticed how many more children were crossing by themselves, no parents to guide them. One morning Maya was woken up by her mother and grandmother. Her mother told her and her younger brother that they were going to a party and that they needed to pack some clothes. Maya’s grandmother gave them a lot of fruit and one blanket. Maya wanted to take her china doll that her father, in Houston awaiting the family’s arrival, had given her. Maya had not seen her father in years nor had she had any contact with him in years. The doll was the last part of her father that “The river had very rough she had. Blurry eyed, currents and some of the the trio set out to the mothers sometimes had to river where the guide pick up the smaller children and hopeful others awaited them. to cross over.” “The river had very rough currents and some of the mothers sometimes had to pick up the smaller children to cross over. The guide would tell us when it would be safe to cross over by lifting their right hand and if we needed to stop then they would put up their left,” Maya, sophomore, said. Maya had no real idea what was happening. She only knew that her family had to be very careful and do any and all the guides told them
to do. Maya knew she had to be prepared to run at any moment. Maya’s family had to wait for the guides to give them their papers before they could make the next move. “It’s not just about crossing, you have to stay at hotels before the guides tell you can cross the bridge because first you cross the river then the bridge,” Maya said. After making it into America Maya had another nightmare to endure. The group had to cross over a mountain range, or spend the night in the mountains. “The mountains were the scariest moment for me because of the coyotes and the snakes. I could hear noises, and all night I was afraid something would come out and bite me,” Maya said. Though Maya and her family only had to stay on that mountain range for one night. Maya and her brother only had one small blanket and sweaters to keep themselves warm at night. photo courtesy of Dulce Maya “We were told to be careful where we slept because the ground was covered in CELEBRATION Seven year old Dulce Maya and her brother attend a festival in Mexico. The Dulce family shared many memories in Mexico, thorns and brush,” Maya said. After coming to America, Maya and before their journey to the United States. her family went to Houston to meet up with her father. When Maya saw her favisits Mexico to see her family. Though she is ther she could barely recognize him. happy to live in America she still misses Mexi“I could not recognize him. I freaked a bit co. No one can tell her that she and her family when I saw him, but I knew he was my daddy do not belong and she is happy. and I was happy to see him,” Maya said. “I miss Mexico and I plan to visit there a lot Maya and her family have thus since received but I know that my parents sacrificed a lot for their immigration papers. Maya, now attending me and my brother to have a better life,” Maya JV, is proud to be a Mexican-American and still said.
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A Parent Story
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Young adults reveal stories of raising children during teen years STEPHANIE GALLAGHER staff writer
The reality of waking up at 2:00 in the morning to have to change a poopie diaper, not having the time to socialize outside the classroom at school, and living each day for another person and having their life in hand belongs to a new group of approximately 520,000 American teenage girls each year. One of those girls is Edit Patino, senior. Each year there are about one million reported teenage pregnancies in the United States. As previously stated, 520,000 children are born, but another 80,000 are miscarried and 405,000 are aborted. The decision of teenage parenthood has occurred here through Patino’s choice to keep her child. “I think I made the right decision because I feel like if I was old enough to have sex, I’m old enough to pay the consequences. I could never kill my baby,” Patino said. On January 1, 2007, Ebony Licet Patino was born. This chubby baby girl was brought into the world by a strong and protective mother. Even though this very intelligent baby affected many lives, Edit more than others, she still brought a few changes to the lives of her new family. “My little brother has someone to play with now. My older brother used to be very mean to me, but now he understands me and helps me out whenever he can, because of the baby,” Patino said. Edit’s supportive family is refreshing considering many teens in her position do not consider themselves so blessed. Regardless of the support, being a teen parent is no walk in the park. It comes with responsibilities, sacrifices, and many hurtful judgments from other people.
Warm Embrace Michael Cabrera, senior, holds his small son Joshua as he sleeps. photo courtesy of the Cabrera Family
“It’s pretty much indescribable, the feeling I get when I hold him is just unbelievable,” Cabrera said. Cabrera is seen as one of the “good guys” that parents always tell their daughters to marry. Cabrera does not really mind not being able to hang out with friends now that he is a parent. “When he was born and I looked into his eyes for the first time, I just fell in love with him. He’s my world now,” Cabrera said. Cabrera plans to be a big part of his son’s life. “This has been so far one of the most wonderful things to ever happen to me,” Cabrera said. Many teenage fathers can not handle the responsibility of becoming a parent so early in life and run away from their problems. Luckily there are some who stick around and help care and love their child like Cabrera. “I think that other guys who don’t take on the father responsibilities are just sad; it’s just horrible to think that some guys would deny their own child,” Cabrera said. Both girls and boys at this school have taken it upon themselves to say yes to the responsibilities of becoming parents. They all have taken on the role of changing the diapers and of course loving their children.
“It’s very hard. When you’re younger you have a lot of time, but having a baby really changes everything,” Patino said. On the weekends, instead of going out to the movies with friends, Edit stays home and spends time with Ebony, teaching and spending time with her. “It’s very rare that I go out with my friends, because I’m a mom now,” Edit said. The young mother understands that being a mother does feel good sometimes, but sometimes it is very challenging. Adolescent pregnancy is often seen as a problem, exclusively affecting teenage girls. Overlooked are the teenage boys and men who equally share the challenge and parenting a newborn child. Michael Cabrera, senior, is one young man who stepped up to the plate by taking on the responsibilities of fatherhood. Cabrera recently became a parent of a healthy boy named Joshua Vash Cabrera. Joshua is A Quick Sip Ebony loves to drink now one of the great joys of Cabrera’s from the water fountains just like life. mommy, Edit Patino, senior.
photo by Deby Thorp
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School Spending how universities stack up
in gallons... Red Bull Energy Drink
$30.69
Coco Chanel perfume
Texas Universities
$3576.47
Texas A&M University Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $7,844
University of Texas at Austin
Clearasil face wash
$126.72
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $8,090
University of Houston Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $8,167
$198.4
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $6,783
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $6,994
Sam Houston State University Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $5,910
Rice University
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $30,486
Baylor University
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $26,234
Ivy League Schools Harvard University Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $36,173
Princeton University Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $34,290
Yale University
Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $35,300
Columbia University Annual Undergraduate Tuition Price: $39,326
by
White-Out liquid pa
Texas Tech University
Texas State University
When the na wallet grows t focu to stu
Kelsey O’Briant
managing editor When it comes to college, current high school students looking towards the future are feeling the heat. Students are adjusting to the market, looking for majors that will help them find easy employment, sometimes despite their personal goals and passions. Due to money, creativity certainly plays a role in college-decision making. Victor Lopez, senior, has a strong interest in aerospace engineering and is finding ways to fulfill his dream without breaking the bank. “I decided on the military as my first choice because for me, everything is paid for. I don’t have to worry about money, and I’m guaranteed a job afterwards. Everything works out this way,” Lopez said. Lopez knows that the field he is pursuing is largely dependent on the whims of the present economy. Because the President decides how much funding aerospace engineering for programs, like NASA, receives, the military is currently receiving more financial support due to the war. But as in any field, the funding for this can be temperamental and volatile. In this way, students are forced to work around their personal goals to achieve the ultimate goal of securing a job- a task most students do not consider until after college graduation. “The biggest problem among college students is that they don’t look for jobs before they graduate. They become complacent until after graduation, and then there are far less jobs available,” Lopez said. Generally in college, students have always felt a deficit because they are learning to take care of themselves for the first time in their lives. Jokes about eating Ramen Noodles daily become a reality. One of the most prevalent factors of being a college student, though, is loans. In past, prosperous years, loans have been fairly easy to obtain by simply signing for them. One could receive, essentially, as much money as he or she asked for as long as they paid the loans back. Sometimes this could take years and years, presenting an apparent prob-
St
lem. US History teacher Christina Packman, a recent college graduate, can relate to the woes of loans. “I am in the process of trying to re-finance undergraduate loans and I am concerned about to afford my monthly payments,” Packman said But now an even scarier problem has occurre ey circulating in the nation, loans are becomin means some students may not even have a co at the college of their choice. Loans have helpe dreams of college in past years, but now those st get themselves into college are left to pick up t “I have a fear that deserving students will n loans to pay for their tuition,” Packman said. Some colleges are somewhat sympathetic. R recently extended scholarship opportunities, giv dents whose families receive an annual income o their typical $60,000. Vanderbilt will not let a stu $5,000 or more. In this respect, there has been som
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Econome in-depth the
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putting gasoline and six other items into price-perspective
tarbucks coffee
$36.27
OPI Nail Polish
unleaded gasoline
$373.33 $1.45
e my t being able d. ed. Since there is less monng scarcer and scarcer, which ollege opportunity, or at least ed millions of students fulfill tudents who cannot afford to the pieces. not be able to obtain student
Rice University, for example, ving full rides to eligible stuof $80,000 or less- higher than udent graduate with a debt of me breathing room allowed to
Economy cuts in, Students cut back Mandy Hogan news editor
Briefly, Americans live beyond their means. America, as a nation, spends more than it has, consumes more than it produces, and imports more than it exports. These discrepancies lead to the current issue: economic recession. Despite the strength of the American economy, the recession affects every American. With the looming financial crisis, students’ futures appear bleak. Here, JVHS students feel the pull of problems out of their control. Lauren Westlund, senior, works at Berryhill Taco & Tamale. Westlund’s manager decides her hours, which decides her final income. “My hours at work have been cut back due to the lack of customers. With my hours getting cut and prices on the rise, I’m concerned with my finances, especially because I pay most of my own expenses, including everything regarding my car,” Westlund said. Scott Thomas, junior, works as a lifeguard at a local pool. However, Thomas cannot earn sufficient money working at one pool. “I am going to apply
potential college students. Now people are reaching to the government for help. Some think that the government should be helping out prospective college students so that more citizens have the opportunity to contribute to the overall prosperity of the country. “In my opinion, the cost of education should be lowered, and that the government should be investing in education and universities so that more people can go to college. Our nation falls behind many countries in education, so if we want a smarter country we need to educate,” Lopez said. Overall, the future for students offers a great amount struggle and expo-
National problem hits home with highschoolers
for [another] job in the district as a lifeguard,” Thomas said. Other than affecting his occupation, the recession also affects his social life. Thomas, due to the lack of money, must watch the cost of social outings. “I don’t get to hang out with my friends outside of school as much,” Thomas said. Savannah Hinojosa, freshman, does not work, but the economy still affects her. Hinojosa’s family changed their Christmas plans due to the recession. “Instead of flying or driving in our own car to visit my grandparents over the holidays, my family is going to rent a car, to save the miles on our car,” Hinojosa said. Hinojosa’s parents discussed the current recession with her. Like many parents, they contrasted necessities and wishes. “My parents said to me, ‘This is the time that we have to learn the difference between wants and needs’,” Hinojosa said. The recession has yet to find its utmost depth, but students can solve this predicament, though resolution will require a substantial amount of teamwork and abandonment of the consumerism ideals and the comfortable lives they know.
nentially more incentive to succeed, increasing competition even further, but also forcing students to learn important lessons about both work ethic and their wallets.
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READY. SET. GO
Staying Alive
january ‘09
Talented volleyball player earns scholarship to LSU ERIN CUMING
COMFORTED Chad Blunt gets staff writer surrounded by Rice Standing tall, at six feet, Ally Judkins, sefootball players nior, spikes the volleyball over the net and and Navy officers to hears the roar of the crowd while catching show their support. the eye of an LSU scout. This senior has been offered a scholarship to Louisiana State University. With the support of her loving family and friends, Judkins signed with LSU and accepted the scholarship. KELLY HARRISON “My teammates have been very supportive. staff writer They all watched me sign my scholarship papers For some, the idea of a debilitating disand are all happy for me,” Judkins said. ease seems a far off impossibility, but for Judkins played for the school as well as club a few unlucky people, that impossibility volleyball, but club is where she got her shot at a suddenly becomes a reality. Such was the scholarship. At her club volleyball tournaments, colcase for Chad Blunt, senior. The summer lege scouts would come and watch the players. After before his freshman year, while training for seeing her play, the LSU scouts contacted Judkins the upcoming football season, Blunt was and offered her a scholarship. Judkins and her parhanded crippling news: he had leukemia, ents visited the school, met with the coaches, and a blood cancer which attacks the patient’s decided that LSU would be a great university for bone marrow. her to attend. “I was having really bad headaches, so we “Volleyball has definitely taken over my life, went to the hospital. The doctors said they but in a good way. It keeps me in good shape and were surprised I could even walk through its paying for my college,” Judkins said. the door,” Blunt said. Obtaining a volleyball scholarship is a lot For such a horrendous disease, Blunt harder than one might think. During the managed to remain strong throughout the school’s volleyball season, Judkins practiced ordeal. Chemotherapy can put a patient six times a week for three to four hours. through their paces, resulting in hair loss, During club season, practices ran twice a constant nausea, and muscle and joint pain. week for about two hours. To maintain some semblance of an immune “Club is a lot more competitive so system, steroids were prescribed to fight off those short practices are a lot harder,” Judinfection. kins said. “I just kept fighting it. Everyday it was Practice, time, and effort have obviously something else, but I wouldn’t let it get me paid off. Judkins will be attending Louisiana down,” Blunt said. State University in the fall and is very eager to A picture taken during treatment shows get out there and show LSU what she has. Chad, bulked up from the steroids, sur“I’m ready to be out on my own and get rounded by Rice football players and Navy stronger and faster training with LSU,” officers, come to send their well wishes. Judkins said. Nearly five months after being diagnosed SPIKING the ball, Ally Judkins, makes a with blood leukemia, he was cleared to repoint at the varsity match against Cy-Creek.
Young man perseveres through cancer, keeps ambition to become a music success
turn to school in the first week of February 2006. “It felt good to come back to school and get stuff back to normal. I missed out on a lot doing on at school,” Blunt said. Taking from his experiences as a cancer survivor, Chad now tackles another feat -achieving success as a hip-hop rapper. “It’s my release, man. I’ve been making music for a long time and just started to write me own stuff. I go by CB tha Surviva,” Blunt said. Blunt’s first single, Bang that Screw, stays true to the southern hip-hop tradition, incorporating the trend of slowed down beats to create a truly individual sound. On campus, Chad continues to be involved. When he is not working on his music, Chad dedicates his time to the children of ECP, working as a teacher and mentor for young preschoolers. “He is always smiling and eager to do anything to help a child,” Judy Thrall, ECP teacher, said. Jersey Village has a history of turning out musical successes. Notable alum includes Paul Wall, rap star, and Chamillionaire, also a rap mogul. With the strength gained from his time as a cancer patient, and his passion for music, Chad Blunt will soon join the ranks of the best and the brightest Jersey Village has to offer.
sports
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Tournament of Dreams
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The first “hoops” were actually just peach baskets and the first backboards were made of wire.
Varsity basketball team plays in fundraiser DEBY THORP
sports editor On November 21 the Falcon basketball team started their first game at the McDonald Texas Invitational. The team was not just playing another tournament to win a trophy and to prove their skills. The team was there participating in one of the most important tournaments of the season. The McDonald Texas Invitational is the primary fund-raiser responsible for the Pasadena ISD education fund. Over the past five years the tournament has donated $265,000 as well as $100,000 in mini-grants to teachers in the biannual Dream Makers event. The Dream Makers foundation, which is a McDonald-run charity organiza-
tion, picks out teachers who have been nominated as outstanding educators. The mini-grants are distributed to teachers through out the district and the teachers use the money to help improve their students’ education. JV boys were a part of an organization that was more important and bigger than the team. Though the tournament doubled as a charity fund-raiser, the team was still there to win. At 9:00 am the varsity boys’ team went up against Alvin High School with a final score of 57 to 41, JV. After moving on to the next round, the Falcon’s played CC Carrol. Though it was a hard fought battle, JV dominated and walked away with another win 69 to 51 and their ticket to
the semi finals. “It felt really good to win against them. It was really good for our team and momentum. We became a better team because of the wins,” Gabe Lacanlale, junior, said. The Falcons fought hard but they were still defeated by Smithson Valley 53 to 51, but they did not leave empty handed. They earned a second place trophy in the bronze brackets of the Boys II Division. “It really just hurt because we lost due to a last second three pointer,” Justin Veazie-Powers, junior, said. The win at the tournament enabled the Falcons to start the season strong with a high probability for more wins in the their future.
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships (17), including seven straight from 1960 to 1966.
Lenny Wilkens has won more basketball games than any other coach
All-Star Comeback
Evans overcomes accident, continues to play JASPER GATES
delivery manager She throws the ball, the entire crowd goes silent. The ball flies through the air like a radiant orange beacon of light. The ball hits the rim of the goal, deciding whether or not to go through the hoop. The ball lingers in between a point earned and a shot failed. With a look of focus in her eyes she watches as the ball falls through the hoop and makes the point. Bethany Evans scores another point for her team. Evans, senior, is an all star basketball player for the varsity team. Yet just a few months ago, this basketball player had been hurt by an accident. During a basketball game last season Evans tore her ACL. The ACL or the anterior crucial ligament is a certain part of the knee that holds the knee together in its place. This ligament is vital for most
athletes and for most athletes tearing this ligament is the end of a career. “Everything I worked for over these nine, 10 years was thrown away, it was devastating,” Evans said. Evans decided to change her fate. As she had the stride to continue on and pursue her basketball career, she had left the top and now on the bottom, is preparing to work her way back to the top. Through times of sitting out in practice, patiently taking her time for her leg to heal, Evans came out on top, and learned an important lesson. “I became more disciplined as a person. I’ve been at the top, and having to practice from the bottom to work to the top again,” Evans said. With Evan’s recovered injury and her new attitude Evans has high hopes for the season. She thinks the team will succeed this basketball season. “I definitely think we’ll progress, all we have to
do is keep our head in the game,” Evans said. Evan’s journey from a top notch basketball player, through an injury, and back to a dedicated player is a success story that rarely comes from her type of injury. Evans’s persistence will lead her up to a successful season.
SLAM DUNK Bethany Evans, senior, hits the court at a varsity girls game against Seven Lakes High School.
photo by Carmen Brown
PEREGRINE
january ‘09
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Splashing In KATHY ROMERO
staff writer As the sun rises, swimmers approach their destination, Dean Junior High. For these dedicated athletes swimming means more than just swimming. “Swimming is an opportunity that helps me meet new people and also relaxes my mind and body,” Max Lewis, senior, said. Different sports have a certain way to prepare an athlete. The coach gives the swimmers a routine to go by, but they have their own way in mind. “I prepare by thinking positive about the race and I eat bananas for strength and stability,” said Dillon Rodriguez, senior, said Fruit keeps the swimmers from cramping up before a race. However, Oscar Palencia, sophomore, has his own way to get ready for the many
Swimmers remain determined during current season
swimming meets he attends. “I get prepared by stretching a lot before a race to get my body loose,” Palencia, said. Practice makes perfect for the swimmers, so they try to get as much of it as they can, practicing every day. “We try to get a week worth of practice for big meets to higher the level of our endurance and the speed level of our body,” Lewis said. Every year rookies mix in with the more experienced swimmers, but with new swimmers or not, their personal goals never change. “I want the team to do the best that we can to get to the top,” Rodriguez said. As the swimming season has started, they go against the familiar schools and often times the same swimmers. The season’s result however, are different each time.
For some, swimming is not just anything it is everything, leading up to their future. “I expect swimming will pay off a lot of my college funds and hopefully it will get me a scholarship,’” Lewis said. One of the ways the swimmers increase their chances of earning scholarships and being scouted by colleges is an invitation to TISCA. TISCA is the swimming event that a swimmer can only attend if they are invited. Because the varsity swimmers are experienced all of Jersey
photo by CARMEN BROWN
REAL BIG FISH During a varsity met against Cy-Woods, Trey Woodruff, senior, competes in the butterfly stroke. Village varsity team was invited and only one junior varsity Lady Falcon received the opportunity to go. Emily Anderson, sophomore, expresses her feeling about achieving her first goal. “I felt accomplished and cool that I was the one girl on Junior Varsity to go,” Anderson, said. As the season continues the Falcon swimmers have high hopes for this year and many years to come.
PEREGRINE
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issue three
What is Step? MIKELA MELAKIS
staff writer
Today divorce seems to be more common than breathing. People are often under the misconception that the break-up of a marriage leads to the destruction of a family. I was in fifth grade when my parents broke the news of the divorce to my siblings and me. I knew it was coming. There was not a night that week I went to sleep without hearing them scream at each other. They explained they both still loved us. My dad had to add that my mom wanted the divorce. I did not care though, I did not like my dad. All I needed was my mom. The divorce was long and dramatic. I stayed with my mom and the rest of my siblings. The “Melakis” family was no more. But, to me the Melakis “family” never existed. We were better off after the divorce, but I still could not help but feel like something
in my life was missing. Mr. Mikel was that missing piece. The first time I met him was on my birthday. My mom told me she was taking me out to see a movie, but she did not tell me that she was bringing a friend. I was livid when I saw the strange man get in the car with us, but not because I thought he was trying to replace my father. I was upset because I thought he was trying to take my mom away. After a couple of months I realized she was not going to vanish out of my life, and instead he was joining ours. The first time I decided I liked him, was when I saw his name. Mikel, it was spelled one letter off from Mikela. He started to grow on me like moss on a tree. Eventually, my mother and Mr. Mikel got married. I had never seen her happier. I had never been happier. I did not dread going home anymore; instead I looked forward to it. I did not sleep restless nights listening to my parents yelling; instead I slept soundly. My house finally became a home. Mr. Mikel became my best friend. Even my mom developed a jealously when I started calling him for help instead of her. Suddenly I realized why I felt so incomplete. For once in my life I felt like I had a real dad. Someone to encourage me, inspire me, and care about me. Yes, I
New girl
on the block Change in home, school allows student to adapt to environment
Annie Kellum, age 5, poses with her younger sister, Kelsey.
had my mom, but everyone needs a dad. The scariest moment of my life was when I was in seventh grade. Mr. Mikel got t-boned in a car accident. I thought I lost him. Mr. Mikel, thankfully, did not die but walked away from it with a couple of scratches. People say you do not realize what you have until it is gone. I realized what I had before the accident which was what made it so much harder. I had just discovered the only father I had ever known and I felt like someone was trying to take him away from me. The accident woke up the entire family. We all realized that something could happen to us at any time. It made us appreciate each other even more. For the first time it felt like we were a real family. Sure, we were not the original family. We did not all have the same last name, but what Mr. Mikel taught me was that family is more than a name. Families are made up of the people who care about you. Step-dad means nothing to me because in my eyes no one cares about me like him. That makes him a dad in my book.
ANNIE KELLUM Starting over is hard. It is particularly hard to have to start over multiple times in one year. By the time I was 14 years old, I had already moved over 18 times. My mother loved moving. Anytime we could gather the money, we would move and start over. I did not hate it at first. I was a very outgoing child, so moving was an adventure. As I got older, moving began to become more of a hassle than an adventure. I quit trying to make friends and it became harder for me to remain outgoing in a new environment. My most recent move was from Rock Island, Texas. The town is about two miles wide. The school I attended was in Altair, an even smaller town. It was small and conservative and full of school spirit. It was the most time I had ever spent in one place. I knew the entire school, well, the little that there was. It was safe and comfortable. Living out in the middle of no where, I got used to the quiet. My life there was the direct staff writer
Sophomore girl grows to appreciate new father
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reflections
opposite of my new life here at Jersey Village High School. Unlike my old town, the streets are crowded, the halls are rowdy, and there is not even one peaceful moment of silence anywhere around the busy city of Houston. I moved into Woodwind Lakes with my aunt, my uncle, and my cousin. Since I have been here, family has become the most important aspect of my life. My aunt and uncle love to spend time together as a family and are always planning extravagant trips for weekends or holidays. There are so many more opportunities for me here than I could have imagined living in the boondocks. With this school and the new household I live in, I am given so many more possibilities. The switch to a busy town and busy school, causes the problem that being from a reserved town, I have become reserved myself. I am quiet, shy, and withdrawn to most people. I have a hard time opening up and being the outgoing child I once was. Luckily, here it is not so hard finding people to talk to. Finishing out the school year here is what I really want to do, and hopefully I will be able to.
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PEREGRINE
ThewhoM an wore A Tie SAM KELLY
n unique Daughter reflectsnosh ip with parent relatio As cliche as it sounds, my mother is my best friend. She looks at the world in a different light. She influenced me in all ways but, the characteristic I love most about her is her spontaneity. One night I learned how to have fun, all with a little help from my favorite band and my mother. School, rehearsals, sleep, repeat. That was my daily routine. My days were lifeless and drawn out. I felt as if I were made of metal, luckily that metal was melted. It was a Breezy day in November, the kind of day that makes you despise school just for the sheer fact that it keeps you from the outdoors. The play cast had just been relinquished from an exhausting tedious rehearsal, and all I was looking forward to was lounging in my Dad’s old Lay-Z- Boy eating cocoa puffs and gazing at the ever so handsome Dawson from Dawson’s Creek. I called my mom to come pick me up, when in a excited voice she exclaims “Hey I got you tickets to see the Shins in Austin!” I felt this shock and happiness come upon me all at once. The Shins are my favorite band and they’re playing in my favorite city. I could want nothing more. I raced to my mom’s car, not wasting any time before yelling out “thank you!” and “I love you!” We drove for what my anxiousness thought was days, but It was really only a matter of hours. Blaring 80’s hair metal, screaming the chorus and “watermeloning” the rest, we scarfed down those infamous ninety-nine cent “Jack in the Box” tacos without a thought of a calorie. We shared embarrassing moments, jokes, and of course an “Icee.” I truly enjoyed her company. I woke up from a quick power nap to just in time to see the Austin city limits sign. We had finally made it to “Stubb’s Barbeque.” I looked at the people all standing like ants in formation, their faces could not hide the eagerness and excitement exploding in their bodies, I could not help but become one of them. We parked our car in a shady looking parking lot in order to be closer to the concert area. My mom and I fled into “Stubbs” to catch the terrible pre-band. I was already having a great time just watching drunk collage students make fools of themselves, when I hear the famous beginning clap of my favorite Shins song. I examined the stage, seeing blinding white lights and the most perfect voice ever to grace my ears. My mom’s flailing arms caught my attention, she was doing her “mom dance.” I stared at her, the reflection of the cymbals beamed through her eyes as the bass guitar beat with the rhythm of our hearts. I was undoubtably the happiest girl in the world for that one second. It was a high that no drug could ever top it was a high that only my mother could give me. I screamed and cheered dissolving all stress I faced. That night was an experience I still talk about. I was taught that spontaneity is the most wonderfully exciting characteristic one can have. co-managing editor
LAURA HEBERT
staff writer
Motherly Love
My earliest childhood memories, though they may be a little fuzzy, are simple recollections of stories my mother would tell me. They were stories of her and her friends, tales of her and my father’s wild escapades, but most of all, stories of a man I hardly knew. The man was my grandfather, Marvin Samuel Hass. Around 1922 Marvin would graduate from middle school and move on to high school the year after, which considering the times and how most boys would abandon their education and stop after the eighth grade, was an impressive feat. He found that responsibility was very important, which is why when he turned 16 his parents sent him to Clovis, New Mexico to live and go to school. On occasion he would visit home and when he did his mother would send him back with a box or two of eggs, butter, bread, jelly and jams, home canned vegetables, and meat, especially ham and bacon. Other than during the summer vacations, he never lived back at home. Marvin Hass took pride in his appearance and in cleanliness. Relatives always remembered how he dressed. He wore a nice white long sleeve shirt, nice slacks, a tie. He wore this even during his later ownership of a service station. He would not falter from this tradition. Even my mother said she never saw him in any other attire but a suit and tie, even mowing the grass; except when wore his pajamas. Not long after working at the station he would buy his first car. He always would buy a dark green coupe and would always trade it in every five years for a new one. He would do that all the way up to his marriage to his first and only wife, Lucille Hutchins, when for the sake of his family he would stop. In 1949 Marvin became city
january ‘09
Family stories create vivid memories for grandson manager. Even with this new seat of power he never strayed off the course of his morals. His integrity stood strong all of his 28 years in politics. He never bragged, or lost his temper. One story that always stuck with me was a story about my granddad after my grandmother had passed away. My granddad and my grandma would almost always go to a little local diner called Furr’s Cafeteria, which was like a Luby’s now. They would go every week and sit down to a nice cozy meal. But after my grandmother had passed away it took some time for him to recover. Once he did he would head over to Furr’s for dinner. When my grandmother was alive and they went to Furr’s she would always bring a Snickers bar for him to eat with the meal. However, the day he went alone and after he had gotten his food and sat down, he looked lost. The waitress who had waited on my grandparents for years saw him searching around the table for his candy, which his wife of 50 years always had for him in her purse. The waitress seeing this, instinctively knew what was wrong, and walked over to the counter picked up a Snickers and brought it to him. Marvin Hass had been called many words and it is safe to say that no one had a bad word to say about him. He was a man who lived to see many events, from the great depression, to the first steps on the moon, to the birth of me, his grandson. He lived a long and fulfilling life dedicated to his family, his friends, and his work. And up until his death in 2003, when he was spoken of, it was always out of respect and love.
Swept
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one would expect a student to correct the mistake that put them in an unwanted position, and in some cases it has proven itself effective. Those cases dwindle in comparison to the amount of students abusing the lesson in Tardy Sweep. Tardy Sweep may have been effective at one time, but it is now a place students go when they are not prepared for a test or simply do not feel like attending class. The option of attending Tardy Sweep instead of class is a flaw in the system. It prevents students from being challenged and provides a loop-hole option for unprepared students. Those who take this option no longer receive the lesson in discipline that Sweep once provided. The doors of classrooms should remain opened, but late students should not get off scotfree. An hour without curriculum is not the answer, but counting a student tardy while still attending class may be. High school can be overwhelming and relief is sometimes all students are looking
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I believe Tardy Sweep is not beneficial to students because it restricts students from learning.
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SUZI WAAK 12th
students speak out
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Tardy Sweep is boring so it makes students want to go to class.
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2008-2009
for. Instead of providing a place each period for students to escape schoolwork, the option of adding a Study Hall period to one’s schedule should be presented to those students who would be willing to embrace their schoolwork. Study Hall can be a quiet place where rules are enforced, but students are given the freedom to work as they wish whether they study for tests, read a required novel, or put the finishing touches on a project. Ridding the school of Tardy Sweep and providing students with Study Hall has logic behind it. Using sweep as an alternative to class has proven the concept destructive. Leaving the doors open, however, is constructive. The idea of Study Hall is only productive.
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PEREGRINE position
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The people who say, “You learn something new every day,” are certainly not mistaken. Even when lessons of history and math are finished, students are still learning. Opportunity to learn is given in tests, teaching how to prove knowledge, in peers, teaching how to work well with others, and in simply arriving to class on time, teaching discipline. Discipline is one of the most important lessons a student can learn, but Tardy Sweep is no longer a lesson in discipline. A teacher’s door should always be open to willing students and never shut to students who run a few minutes late. Curriculum teaches lessons of knowledge, but it is the structure in the curriculum that teaches lessons of discipline. Many students and teachers would agree that tardiness is not an admirable quality. The concept of Tardy Sweep puts students in the place to correct that quality. Students do not generally enjoy standing at attention and listening to unfamiliar music for 50 minutes. In reality,
AUSTIN SARABIA 11th
PEREGRINE Peregrine Staff
Tardy policy consequence lacks logic in comparison under the radar to reasonable alternatives
CORY FEIT 10th
issue three
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editorial
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It isn’t beneficial because you don’t get to go to your class and learn, you just stand in the small commons.
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editor-in-chief JACQUI BONTKE managing editors KELSEY O’BRIANT LAURA HEBERT photo editor SHELBY CARTER news editor MANDY HOGAN sports editor DEBY THORP advertising designers
SKYE COMSTOCK, ANTHONY ESPINOSA
business manager JESSE PYLE delivery manager JASPER GATES contributing artist EMILY JOHNSON staff
ERIN CUMING, STEPHANIE GALLAGHER, KELLY HARRISON, PAXTON HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO HUERECA, ANNIE KELLUM, SAM KELLY, GLORIA LERMA, MIKELA MELAKIS, MICHAEL PENA AND KATHY ROMERO
adviser MARGIE COMSTOCK principal RALPH FUNK
Jersey Village High School Student Publications’ Newspaper Policy The Peregrine is the official student publication of Jersey Village High School and is published by the Advanced Journalism Newspaper class at Jersey Village High School, 7600 Solomon, Houston, Texas 77040 (713-8963400). It is distributed free to the student body. Subscriptions can be bought for $15, and copies of the paper will be mailed to your residence. Unsigned editorials represent a majority agreement of the staff. The Peregrine is read in advance of publication by the JVHS administration. Advertising is sold by the 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and full page. The staff has the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. The advertising policy is stated on the advertising contract. Advertising is not an endorsement from the staff, the adviser, the administration, or the Cypress Fairbanks Board of Trustees. The Peregrine is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, Quill and Scroll, and the National Scholastic Press Association. The Peregrine is printed by Texas Student Media in Austin, TX. The opinion of readers is held in high regard. Please send all feedback or questions to our address or room 1712. Letters to the editor need to be limited to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for spelling and grammar. Letters must be signed.
Lighting up the way Candle ceremonies honor past, future
T
he month of December was lit up by students. On Sunday December 14th the JV Players organized the 9th annual Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting Ceremony to remember the loss of children from around the world. Families from as far as
Abilene,Texas joined the Players for this occasion. The candle stayed lit as the new National Honor Society members were inducted the following day. After 91 juniors and 10 seniors completed an application process expressing their academic, leadership, and charitable successes, they were rewarded as the induction commenced. The NHS officers and members made the night a success for the new members, parents, and guests. PROUD MEMBERS Surrounding the theatre Nathan Camarata, Kelsey Carroll, Freddy Castillo, and Cassandra Cathy, juniors, recite The NHS oath. “I feel very proud to be in the NHS organization. I worked really hard,” Camarata, photo by GLORIA LERMA said.
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photo by GLORIA LERMA
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Hope Adams, junior, lights her candle as part of the induction, while Austin Alsguth waits behind her. “I feel very accomplished as a student,” Adams said. 2. Singing “Precious Child”, Kim Griffin, senior, pays tribute to lost loved ones. 3. Daron Eubanks, junior, passes out balloons to be released by family members. “I couldn’t imagine losing a brother or a sister,” Eubanks said. 4. Rasmey Chinn, senior, helps fellow NHS officer Bree Billy, senior, pin on her corsage before speaking to new members and parents. “I was really nervous about my speech, but I got up there and did it,” Chinn said. 5.Brett Robinson lights the remaining candles that covered the stage at the Candle Lighting Ceremony.