Volume 27 Issue 5 by The Sidekick

c o p p e l l s t u d e n t m e d i a . c o m Volume 27 | Issue 5 | April 2016

Eight Denton Creek residents dealing with sinking backyards written by Meara Isenberg Entertainment Editor @mearaannee Since last April, eight Denton Creek residents have been living a scene from a disaster movie. The self proclaimed DC Eight have seen their properties suffer with each passing storm, and with little progress made to stop it, can do nothing but watch their backyards slowly erode away. “When it rains I can’t sleep very well but when loud claps of thunder happen I literally jump out of bed because I’m thinking, ‘our pool just fell in the creek,’” Parker Drive resident Shannon Scott said. Scott started noticing the erosion last spring,

when record-setting rain was recorded in Texas. Since then, she has lost nearly half of her backyard. “Everything shifted down and slid and it’s horrible,” Scott said. “It’s so bad, look at their yards. Big chunks of their yards are gone.” Although much of it is now a tangle of mud, rubble and dead roots, Scott still remembers what her backyard used to look like. “[The path] was attached, we could walk out and go down there and go fishing,” Scott said. “We have a little boat, a flat bottom boat and now, it’s just too dangerous. My husband used to mow around that tree. There was grass and it was a lot higher.” > Continued on page 12

INSIDE Substance Abuse

Prep for ‘Prepper’

Clark’s 300th win

Read about how one staffer overcame her father’s addiction PAGE 8

Read about Patterson’s new film, coming to theaters on July 3 PAGE 16

Read about Clark reaching a coaching career milestone PAGE 21

THE SIDEKICK april

2016

Positive energy and good humor in everything she does written by Manu Garikipati Graphics Editor @m4nug_

Teacher of the Issue: Karie Kosh photo by Alexandra

Dalton

Part-time cellist and full-time International Baccalaureate teacher Karie Kosh has proven to students that math can be an enjoyable experience. “[Mrs. Kosh] is very happy and always makes us excited to learn,” Coppell High School freshman, Manasa Gudavali said. “She always makes math fun and she adds a fun element to the topic.” Kosh thinks that her love of math is portrayed in her classroom. “I’m a little too enthusiastic, but after doing math all day everyday it definitely grows, maybe to the frustration of some, perhaps,” Kosh said. “There’s stuff that we teach, especially in the higher level classes, that no one else in the building does.” The IB department as Coppell High School is still fairly small. Kosh really appreciates the intimacy of working in a relatively small pro-

gram. In fact, having a small community gives Kosh the opportunity to connect with her students on a personal level. “We all know each other,” Kosh said. “The kids know each other. They know the teachers. The teachers all know each other. I think we can provide a lot of support for each other.” Kosh tries to spruce up her class with humor, as she influences her students with her passion for math. “I remember in particular last year in one of my [pre-calculus] classes about nine weeks in, they laughed at one of my jokes and I was like, ‘I gotcha’! But it took them a little while,” Kosh said. “I can see them sitting there going, ‘Do we like her? Is she funny?’” Since childhood, Kosh remembers the influence of mathematics on her family that only garnered her love for it today. She recalls helping her younger brother with arithmetic when he was only in preschool. “My mom was a math teacher,” Kosh said. “I remember we kind of spoke the language of mathematics as kids.”

Aside from teaching, Kosh plays the cello at a local symphony: the Flower Mound Symphony. Her experience with the symphony dates back 13 years. “I like to say I was good enough so I don’t have to pay them but not enough for them to pay me,” Kosh said with a laugh. She had just finished a performance of the symphony’s annual children’s concert. “It [was] geared towards a younger audience. It’s still good classical music, but instead of playing a thirty minute piece, we [played] a six minute piece and for the first time, we [had] a children’s choir sing with us.” Whether Kosh is playing in her symphony or teaching a class, Kosh loves to be surrounded by young adults. “I think there’s an energy and enthusiasm among teenagers,” Kosh said. “I like the depth of thought that my students can come up with and when they have those moments and all of a sudden they’ve put all these pieces together and come to this amazing conclusion. That’s a fun ah-ha moment.”

Dallas Morning News names Sidekick top high school newspaper KCBY filmmakers, news editor take home top individual prizes written by Meha Srivastav Staff Writer @theofficialMeha Everyday, high school journalism programs are engrossed in sharing the stories of their schools’ accomplishments and news with everyone on campus. But once a year, The Dallas Morning News turns the tables and makes the story about these high school journalists. On March 26, The Dallas Morning News

hosted its 25th annual High School Journalism Day and Competition at Union Station in downtown Dallas. For the third time, The Sidekick was named Best Newspaper and KCBY won an award for ‘best visual journalists’. The day was a celebration of all the stories they have told, but it was also a celebration of another story - their own. This year’s High School Journalism Day was the second time for senior Rachel Buigas-Lopez, editor-in-chief of The Sidekick. “I really enjoy going,” Buigas-Lopez said.

photo by Sakshi

Venktraman

Members of The Sidekick takes a selfie after arriving at Union Station for Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day and Competition. All student journalists attending were encouraged to take selfies using the hashtag #HSJDay

“I know that we are doing real journalism and reporting, but the journalists at Dallas Morning News have made it in the field so it’s inspiring to hear what they have to say. Even if we’re just a high school publication, we’re trying to be like The Dallas Morning News, getting news out there like they are- just on a smaller scale.” The Best Newspaper award was an important achievement for Chase Wofford, who has been the adviser for The Sidekick for 11 years. “I was hopeful about winning,” Wofford said. “I didn’t expect to win, especially with a competition as intense as that. I was not as surprised as [the students] probably were, because they view those other newspapers as these elite newspapers, but I view us in that same category. So I knew we were worthy of winning just like [the other finalists] were.” The award was not the only recognition Coppell’s journalism program received, however. When junior Sakshi Venkatraman, news editor and second-year staffer for The Sidekick, was in New York for spring break, she got a call from The Dallas Morning News to inform her that she had been chosen as a summer intern for the newspaper. Although she will soon be working with Texas’ largest newspaper, Venkatraman had initially not even meant to take journalism at school. Now, however, she is sure of her passion. “Journalism is what I want to do for the rest of my life and I’m really confident about my career path,” Venkatraman said. “[The in-

ternship] is just a step up. I’m getting to work with the staff and editors of one of the best papers in the country, and put my work out there and get real life experience in the field.” Wofford has personally seen Venkatraman grow from a student in his Intro to Media class to a selected intern for The Dallas Morning News. “I knew she had a good chance at being chosen for the internship,” Wofford said. “She’s a passionate writer and reporter; she’s taken on such a variety of stories and hasn’t shied away from controversial stories. The challenge for me was to teach her and keep pushing her so that she continues to grow.” Venkatraman won the news reporting category, in which staff members sophomore Avery Davis, senior Sloane Samberson and senior Jasmine Sun were also finalists. Other finalists include sophomore Farah Merchant for sports feature, sophomore Lili Lomas for editorial, junior Amanda Hair for sports photo and junior Joseph Krum for column portfolio. The KCBY team of Jack Dalrymple, Faith Parker and Fallon Judd, were in the running as finalists for the ‘best video’ category, in which other members Mary Kathryn Ferguson, Jessica James, and Autumn Jones won first place. Jones’ group was announced as the best visual journalists for a show they had done on the victims of the recent tornadoes in the cities of Rowlett and Garland. The documentary was six minutes long and had taken the editors and cinematographers around two months, and three visits to Rowlett, to complete.

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

IODS: BENEFICIAL R E P E S A OR DETRI RELE

MENTAL?

graphic by Manu

Garikipati

An inside look at how varied schedules can affect students’ college admissions written by Maggie Theel Staff Writer @magggggiee Every morning, 73 juniors and 117 seniors arrive at Coppell High School about an hour later than their classmates. Every afternoon, 124 juniors and 253 seniors leave school an hour earlier. A quarter of CHS juniors and almost half of the senior class enjoy the benefits of a release period but they also face potential consequences. At Coppell High School, juniors and seniors can elect to take a release period during the first or last period of the day. They can also take an additional AP release if they are in advanced classes and already taking a junior or senior release or take a travel period if they are taking classes at North Lake College during the school day. Taking a release period instead of a course at CHS has many benefits. It allows students to lighten their workload and it gives them more time to study for the classes they are taking. “As a senior, [students] sometimes feel like it’s almost a rite of passage to take a release period,” CHS counselor John Crook said. “They can lessen their load a little bit that senior year.” Besides academic advantages, many students, such as CHS junior Lauren Harris, take this opportunity to get an after

school job. “I get to beat the after school traffic, that’s always a plus because it’s a pain to sit through that,” Harris said. “During my seventh period release I pick up my teacher’s kids. So, it’s also an opportunity to

make money.” Other advantages include making time for other important areas of a student’s

life. Having an extra hour of time to do homework gives students an extra hour of time to spend on things like extracurricular activities, community service, social activities or even just an extra hour of sleep.

well-rounded life.” Many students believe that release periods can negatively affect their college application. However, according to Crook and University of Texas admissions counselor Perri Watts, it will only have a significant impact if the release period prohibits the student from taking a sufficiently challenging course load. Admissions counselors will look at how many courses a student was able to take versus how many they did take; but, as long as the courses that they took were rigorous and prepared them for success in college, then it will not matter if the student elected to take a release period. “As long as you take the courses you need to be successful and that you’re interested in for your major, then you’re fine,” Watts said. “If you’re taking a release period when you could be taking AP chemistry and you want to be an engineer, then that could be a problem.” CHS counselors are aware of this and try to direct every student toward a balanced but challenging course load. “If you replace a release period with basket weaving then it doesn’t Information from CHS counseling department make a whole lot of difference,” Crook said. “But if your release peri“Taking a release period helps students od means you’re not going to take another to not be over involved [with school],” strong course, then that’s where it makes a Crook said. “It’s just important to have a difference.”

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

CHS students should care about May 7

Newest bond package projecting radical changes to district on many levels written by Sakshi Venkatramen News Editor @OomPaPa1

In the fall of 2015, after witnessing the last leg of the 2013 bond plan put into action, the community begged the question: What’s next? On May 7, 2016, they just might have their answer. For approximately six months, a citizens bond committee comprised of parents, grandparents, business owners, teachers and community leaders worked with Coppell ISD staff to examine financial data and and review the needs of the individual schools in the areas of construction, capital improvement, renovation and technology needs. After visiting the campuses and conducting detailed studies, the committee prioritized the needs of the district and came to a unanimous decision on a $249 million bond package, approved 6-0 by the CISD Board of Trustees, to be voted on by the community next month. “The school district is experiencing growth,” CISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip said. “Because of that growth we are beginning to reach student capacity in our schools, primarily our secondary schools like Coppell High School and our middle schools.” In the last decade alone, CISD has seen a 2,000 student increase in population and estimates a 2,900 increase within the next 10 years. According to CISD assistant superintendent for administration Brad Hunt, the district recently enrolled its 12,000th student. As depicted on the map, this is due to the expansion of CISD beyond Coppell’s normal city limits. Cypress Waters, the new development of single and multi-family homes near what used to be North Lake, is partly contributing to this growth. At the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, the community witnessed the revival of a familiar name, Richard J. Lee Elementary School, built with the most modern technology of any CISD facility. This was the district initial response to the elementary growth coming into the district; the 2016 bond package plans to further this expansion in a multitude of ways. To accommodate more students at the high school level, one of the primary provisions of the bond plan is to convert the existing Coppell Middle School West campus into a ninth grade center and construct a new CMSW near Cypress Waters, closer to the Lee Elementary campus using 30 acres of the 70 acres purchased by CISD in 2008. The goal of the district is for this freshman center to operate separately from CHS, which means minimization of faculty and student travel between the two campuses. This will pull one grade level off of CHS and to act as an effective segue between the environments of middle school and CHS. Ninth grade learners

at New Tech will remain at New Tech High. “[For] our athletic programs and our fine arts programs, like band and choir, we are going to offer as much of those as possible to freshman at the freshman center,” Waldrip said. “There will be some situations where students are taking advanced courses or perhaps a freshman athlete may be far enough advanced where they can participate [in marching band or] on a varsity sports team . In those situations, we would transport those students back to CHS for participation.” According to Hunt, to keep most of the freshman on campus, freshman teams would be relocated to the center. If the bond plan is approved, the freshman center is expected to take its first class during the 2018-2019 school year. If all goes according to plan, this year’s sixth graders will be the first to utilize it. Leigh Walker, citizens bond committee member, Pinkerton PTO member and candidate for the CISD Board, is excited for her young children to experience the freshman center firsthand. “I’m excited, I think it’s a great idea,” Walker said. “I wish my [current eighth grader] could be going through [the center], as well.” When considering this center, many different options were put on the table, the freshman center being one of them. However, many parents are concerned about the longevity of this solution. “I feel that the committee probably came up with the best solutions available to them but it comes really fast after another bond,” Pinkerton Elementary School PTO member Stephanie Schwantner said. “[I am concerned] that in three more years, we’ll be hit with another bond because we need another school.” Despite this and other concerns, Waldrip is confident in the research of the 58 member committee. “One of the things we did early on is contract a demographer to study our student growth patterns,” Waldrip said. “We’re using the information he is providing to determine the growth patterns are and what kind of impact they will have on [CISD]. That’s driving a lot of our decision making process because his numbers show steady growth over the next 10 years or so.” The 10-year growth numbers were adjusted and reported at the last board meeting to 2,900. An option that surfaces each time a bond is proposed in the creation of a new high school, a model that reflects Waldrip’s previous district, Frisco ISD. However, at the moment, this is not a possibility for the district for financial reasons. “The sentiment has always been that the citizens in Coppell wanted the ‘one high school experience’,” Waldrip said. “The cit-

izens bond committee considered a second high school option and decided it wasn’t the best option.” According to chief financial officer Kelly Penny, the cost of maintenance and utilities per year would be close to $11 million for a new high school. There are several school districts CISD looked to emulate while designing this plan, with Grapevine ISD being the primary one because of the similar sizes of the district. While the redistribution of the population through the freshman center and the new CMSW is the most prominent and costly part of the package, further upgrades to the high school are also on the horizon, namely fine arts facilities, locker rooms and bathrooms will be added to accomm o d at e n e w en-

Information from Coppell ISD

rollment and update existing facilities. There will also be an expansion of technology friendly environments, blended learning spaces and comfortable furniture in the hallways. “We had meetings with CISD to guide our discussion of if we could change this campus, what are some things that we would like to do to it, knowing that we don’t have limitless funds to do it with,” CHS Principal Mike Jasso said. “One thing we talked about was creating more open collaborative space in common areas like in the hallways. We want to reconstruct the building to reflect the environment that we want.” Renovation of the Service and Network Operations Center, which is projected to improve wireless connectivity for laptops and iPads throughout the district is also a part of the bond package. Basic servicing for infrastructure and upgrades to technology, roofing, flooring, electrical, heating and cooling will occur throughout CISD. Improvements in safety features, including lighting, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, security cameras and visitor access systems areas are a part of the plans for all campuses. CMS East will undergo a replacement of its existing track and turf as well as renovation and additional classroom space. Although later in priority than the renovation and creation of secondary level spaces, there is a potential for the construction of a new elementary school or expansion of existing elementary schools to accommodate growth. On the average Coppell home value of $312,000, these changes would be result to an estimated $25 a month increase in taxes. One hundred percent of the bond money (debt service side) will stay in CISD, unlike maintenance and operations dollars that are subject to Robin Hood for redistribution across the state. If the bond does not pass, the district plans to go back to the board for a decision. Options might include a resubmission of the same proposal next election cycle (November), a re-work of the current proposal, manage the growth with what CISD currently has, among other options. “In the interim, we would just have to make do with what we have,” Hunt said. “Obviously we won’t be able to have any construction unless a bond is passed.” According to Waldrip, however, parents and community members seem to be receiving the plan well. If it is approved, a bond oversight committee will see to its correct implementation across the district. Waldrip, as well as campus administration, encourages everyone to make an informed vote, whether that be for or against the plan. Early voting is from April 25 to May 3 and Election Day is May 7.

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

School Board Election

What you need to know about candidates of Board of Trustees and CISD future written by Meara Isenberg, Entertainment Editor, @mearaannee With each passing week, more and more campaign signs are popping up on Coppell lawns and street corners. With Board of Trustees elections rapidly approaching, 12 candidates are hoping to be elected into office. The candidates will have little time to settle into their position; on May 7th, the same day they are elected, they will cast their vote on a CISD’s largest bond referendum. The $249 million proposal recommends that the district convert Coppell Middle School West into a freshman center, build a new CMS West in Cypress Waters, renovate and add on to CMS East and North, and earmark funds for a solution at the elementary level. The Sidekick asked each candidate about their platform and position on the bond proposal.

Mary Duran Place 1

Leigh Walker Place 1

Duranforcisdtrustee.com Duran is a sixth generation Texan and and a first generation college graduate. She has a master’s in Education Leadership and is a credentialed teacher, counselor and administrator. She’s been a high school teacher and counselor for 25 years and hopes to bring the voice of an educator to the board. “The biggest issue facing Coppell ISD is the growth, and the bond that we have for $249 million. I am for the bond and I am on the Political Action bond committee too. I believe that students and teachers need to have low ratios in the classroom and the reason I like low ratios is because research indicates that low ratios correlate very high to student achievement. Being a school teacher for 25 years, I don’t want to burn out our best teachers with a lot of students in the classroom.”

leighwalkerforplace1.com Walker is a product of Coppell schools and has a passion for education. She has taught in South Oak Cliff and DISD as an elementary school teacher and as a reading specialist for pre-k 6. She has served as president of the Pinkerton Elementary PTO for several years and recently served on the Pinnacle 20/20 committee, iLead leadership course, and bond steering committee. Having three children, she hopes to bring a parent perspective to the board. “As a member of the bond steering committee, I know how hard that we worked to make sure that this was a no fluff proposal that felt with our pressing need of growth. Having sat on that committee for almost three months and putting all the hard work in and knowing how we agonized over what to put in, I stand behind it 100 percent.”

Jill Popelka Place 2

jillpopelka.com Popelka is a working mom with a Bachelor’s from Texas A&M. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Consulting Services for SAP America. She is passionate about education, and hopes to create a conversation in the community towards improving the school district. I support the bond. A lot of study and diligence has gone into preparing this proposal and looking at the costs that will be incurred as we complete what we need to do to keep our students safe. If the citizens of Coppell approve the bond, then [Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip] will have an oversight committee that ensures that we allocate those funds appropriately, that we are very transparent about how we use them, and that we use them efficiently and effectively towards our growth problems.

Dr. Prankaj Jain Place 3

facebook.com/ProfPankajJain Jain is a professor of philosophy, religion, and anthropology at UNT and has two kids in Coppell Schools. He has an undergrad degree in computer science and a doctorate in religion, and hopes to bring a unique perspective of STEM, humanities, and social sciences to the board. “Everybody whom I’ve talked to in the past few weeks has been taken by surprise. What is this bond? Why is it $249 million?, why property tax must rise again,’ they are already at a record high and they are going to increase again. I personally don’t mind paying more, because I would love for my kids to get the best possible education, but what I see is that the standards are not improving and we keep spending more money on technology. I’m not against the needs of the students of course, but our priority has to be more about academic standards and less about flashy things. I’m seriously questioning this bond.”

Bac Cao Nguyen Place 2

Nguyen has a background in banking in finance and commercial real estate, and a law degree from SMU. He believes his business executive experience would prepare him for issues a board member might face. He has a son in seventh grade at Coppell Middle School West and wants to take on leadership in his community. “I recognize the need to address a lot of the growth issues that we have. There’s a need to build new schools. I do have concerns about how they’re allocating funds to build these schools. The cost jump is significant, I’d like to understand that. I know the building doesn’t teach you anything, it’s what goes on inside the building, what the teachers are doing, you’re also learning a lot from your classmates. I don’t think we need the fanciest buildings to learn, we just need to have more than adequate facilities.”

Anthony Hill Place 3

hillcampaign2016.wordpress.com Hill has been on the board for nine years and served as president for four of them. As a board member, he participates in meetings, conferences, and committees, and also participates on the Coppell Education Foundation and District Education Improvement Council. He believes strongly in advocacy and building relationships with others, and hopes to maintain Coppell’s level of success. “I am in favor of the bond proposal. When you look at the proposal, there were two sets of groups that were actively put together for the purpose of looking at the bond. Each of those groups consisted of not only staff members, but parents and community members and business people in the community. They agreed that those needs, which are the most urgent needs over the next 3-5 years and beyond, were identified in that proposal.”

Jonathan Kirby Place 2

facebook.com/electjonathankirby Kirby is an entrepreneur who has owned his own business since he got out of college. He comes from a family of educators and has been on hundreds of public school campuses in DFW. He is interested in his community and his children’s education, and hopes to keep up Coppell’s culture of excellence. “This election is very important, there is a very large bond that is being proposed. There were a lot of members of the community and the school board and the administration, there was a lot that went into that and in order to mitigate our growth that’s coming up, getting that bond done and getting it implemented successfully is going to be totally necessary.”

Ron Hansen Place 3

voteronhansen.com Hansen has been involved in the community for 23 years. He has raised three kids who attended Coppell schools and has been involved in many groups, clubs, and associations. He is a financial consultant, and hopes to use those skills to make a positive impact on the board. “I don’t like saying ‘you’re either against the kids or for the kids,’ absolutely not. I love Coppell ISD and want the best for it. We have one page that describes that bond and there’s some stuff on the internet. We should have done a better job there. I understand, it is a complicated process, there are a lot of moving pieces, but for $249 million dollars, I want to do it right. If we get it wrong, it could be disastrous for our community. Absolutely for the kids, absolutely for taking care of the responsibilities that we have to educate them, I’m not sure that putting that out there right now was the best option.”

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

EDITORIAL

Instant gratification indicative of changing times Why the need for immediacy may not be all bad Every generation has its problems; for ours, it seems like instant gratification has become an issue in the age of smartphones and laptops. There is some concession with that notion. As a staff of teenagers, it is obvious that we all have those friends (or perhaps ourselves at times) who expect the world at their feet without any of the hard work involved. And while we can always point the finger, it would be just as useful to examine why instant gratification is an issue and how the externalities may not be wholly negative. It is not a surprise that the age of technology breeds a generation that expects life to be faster. We pick up our phones, and in just two minutes, we can be informed on the latest Donald Trump scandal, an update on ISIS, or any current news cycle. Everything has become so fast that we expect other aspects of our lives to catch up. We see this in our impatience for a website to load, or someone to text us back the instant we send them a text. But all of this becomes framed differently when we realize the implications of the prevalence of instant gratification in our generation. Society is evolving, and so is the way we perceive problems, opportunities and goals. Quick interaction changes the way we perceive relationships - and this is not necessarily a negative change. While of course, many have replaced real interaction with electronic connection, there is a case to be made that now teenagers are growing up and understanding just how much they can affect a person with the click of a button. We get immediate responses from others, which causes us to see immediate consequences. Teenagers may feel the need to be instantly rewarded for their work; but this attitude can be applied to

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Adviser

Chase Wofford Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Buigas-Lopez Managing Editor

Mallorie Munoz Managing Editor

Joseph Krum Managing Editor

Sloane Samberson

EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP News Editor

Sakshi Venkatraman Editorial Page Editor

Emma Cummins Student Life Editor

Amy Roh

Entertainment Editor

Meara Isenberg Webmaster and Graphics Editor

Manu Garikipati Sports Editor

Marcus Krum

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP Communications Manager

Shannon Morgan

BUSINESS STAFF Chelsea Banks

PHOTOGRAPHERS Ale Ceniceros Alexandra Dalton Amanda Hair Dani Ianni Ayoung Jo Kelly Monaghan Aubrie Sisk Jennifer Su Megan Winkle

STAFF WRITERS

T.J. Andres Gracie Blackwell Sruthi Boppuri Eric Cashimere Pranathi Chitta Avery Davis Favor Emenyi Aisha Espinosa Riley Galloway Elena Gillis Nicolas Henderson Jesse Jun Jamie Kimbrell Wren Lee

DESIGNERS

Austin Banzon

Lili Lomas Farah Merchant Lina Pyon Tanya Raghu Thomas Rousseau Kathryn Rudd Gabby Sahm Grant Spicer Jasmine Sun Maggie Theel Briana Thomas Chisom Ukoha Reid Valentine Kathryn Wiener

other parts of their lives. This attitude has caused many adults to adapt to the way products are marketed - commercials have become incredibly short, businesses are focusing mainly in social media marketing and news is provided to us in short snippets providing the vital facts. Teenagers have, in some ways, followed suit. We have covered extensively the entrepreneurs in our school. From owning a watch business, to a shorts company, teenagers at Coppell High School have found ways to take advantage of the opportunities presented because of the new age we live in. The goals and standards that teenagers have set for themselves have changed - no longer is getting a college degree, finding a spouse and settling down a primary objective. While this ambition is by no means meant to be belittled, it is useful to understand that much of that has changed. Being a YouTuber, a social media persona or any technology pundit has become a viable career for many (and lucrative for some). The career options have expanded, all because of social media that is supposed to create a lazy, self-gratified generation. Instant gratification may condition some to have less success, but it also creates an advantage for those willing to adapt to this attitude and use it to their own advantage. If you are willing to do the hard work, those who are not may end up using your services or new website. You can either be the successful YouTuber, or the person sitting at home watching videos of that particular YouTuber for hours on end. Instant gratification itself may be negative, but the implications and consequences are not so black and white. Problems have their way of sorting themselves out; as teenagers we should take advantage of this particular problem.

The Sidekick is the student newspaper for Coppell High School and is published six times per school year. The newspaper is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The editorials and columns presented in this paper reflect the views of their student writers and not Coppell High School or Coppell Independent School District. Advertisements are sold as full, 1/2 page, 1/4 page and 1/8 page sizes in black and white or color. The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be emailed to cwofford@coppellisd.com or delivered to the D115 newsroom at Coppell High School. A current email address and first and last name for the writer must be included for the letter to be considered for publication. To find us on social media, follow Sidekick Online on Facebook, @CHSCampusNews on Twitter, @thesidekickonline on Instagram and SidekickNews on Snapchat. Contact The Sidekick: 214-496-6239 cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Coppell, TX 75019

THE SIDEKICK a p ri l

2 0 1 6

EMBRACING FAILURE ENSURES JUST THAT

The path to success must be paved without glorifying defeat along the way

written by Emma Cummins Editorial Page Editor @emma_cummins_ The goals and standards we set for ourselves define our future. Success and failure are natural steps in that journey. For as long as we can remember, success is held on a higher scale than failure. But, what if that is not the case anymore? The scales seem to have tipped in the

favor of failure nowadays. Teenagers and young adults alike, have been judged on the basis of the passion of their feelings rather than their actual merit. This type of development surely breeds a group who embraces failure, rather than work their tails off to avoid it. Glorifying failure and supporting the “feelings” generation we now grow up in, may genuinely set most of us up for complete failure. There comes a time when embracing the possibility of failure can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is important to make the distinction between a mistake and failure. Mistakes are something we should not be ashamed of, nor is failure for that matter. With that being said, we need to stop ourselves from having that safety net. If we really wish to

SHAME MAKES YOU IMPROVE

Shame is a natural part of a person’s growth and ability to become a better person. We should not make others feel ashamed for failing but celebrating a failure is counterintuitive

DO NOT DWELL ON MISTAKES

They are nothing to be ashamed of, however do not use this excuse as a safety net. Without some level of fear of failure, success becomes that much harder to achieve.

succeed, we must have a healthy fear of failure. Without the fear of failure, success becomes that much harder to achieve. We do, however, live in a world where “fat shaming” and “skinny shaming” all make shame seem to be an affront to a person’s inherent abilities. This is a ridiculous belief; shame is a natural part of a person’s growth and ability to become a better person. Not to say we should make someone feel ashamed for failing, but we certainly should not celebrate it. Feelings have taken an unhealthy front seat in people’s lives. On college campuses, students are given extension on their finals because they feel traumatized by the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases. I can think of no better example of a college facilitating a student’s eventual

failure. By focusing on our feelings, and choosing to embrace failure so as to not feel bad when we do fail, is, quite ironically, a sign of failure. This frantic rush to not feel bad about ourselves has created an environment in which success is less important than someone feeling good about themselves. This idea is preposterous and quite detrimental to a young person who is learning to survive in the real world. We should be encouraged to give our everything in order to not fail, not glorify failure by comparing ourselves to Henry Ford or Abraham Lincoln (both of whom failed several times before their success). Failure is not inherently good. However, it can be put to good use.

DO NOT FOCUS ON FEELINGS

Embracing failure so we do not feel bad when we fail is a failure in itself. Success should be more important than someone feeling good about themselves.

GIVE IT YOUR ALL

Yes, many big names have failed, but we should be more focused on giving our everything to not fail instead of glorifying it. Successful people have inevitably failed at times in their journey to success, but that should not be the goal.

Tips from Emma Cummins

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l photo by Chelsea

2 0 1 6

Banks

Being the child of an addict

Addiction will not define who I am

written by Riley Galloway Staff Writer @Rileyshea16 First, I would like to clarify that I am not writing this article for sympathy or to sound demeaning to addicts. Instead, I write this article to inform and help people who have been affected by an addict and or addiction. Families worldwide are affected with parental drug addiction, I being one of them. Addiction can be defined as a condition of being addicted to a particular substance. According to Drug Rehab, more than eight million children live with at least one parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a chronic brain disease causing the addict to seek and use drugs. Initially the process is voluntary, however, after repeated use it takes over any self control the addict once had. The addict loses all ability to decide for himself, habitually going back to the drug, making it merely impossible to stop. Growing up with a parent who is an addict is very difficult and everyday struggle. The hardest part is watching someone you love hurt himself and wondering what will transpire next. Days are spent questioning why and blaming yourself for things that are out of your control. For me, it all started when I was young-

er. I did not know my family was not normal and that in fact my family was considered unhealthy. All I knew was that my father was different and that his random outbursts were something I was used to. I felt as if I could not relate to anyone. Then my world started to crumble. I realized that my life was not the same as everyone else’s picture perfect family. Hiding my hideous secret was detrimental to me, but once people heard their reactions were pessimistic and uncaring. People no longer wanted to be around me because I was a daughter of an addict. I was no longer a child. My life had changed. I was growing up faster than most children. I saw and heard things children should not have to deal with. Everything was embarrassing. Everywhere my family went there was a scene. From drunk arguments with the waiter to harassing his own family, my father became outrageous. My family started to fall apart, as no one could deal with my father’s drunk and belligerent behavior. Nights consisted of police showing up to my house to dispute problems of disturbance. Friends wondered why my father was never around or when he was, why he was always drunk. I remained answerless. I did not know myself; I did not know why my father could see me hurting but did not change. I did not know why I would have to wait inside a car for hours while he attended a party to get drunk. I did not know why family events were proximal to bars. I did not know why my father would curse when asked why he was acting weird. I simply did not understand. I wanted answers. I wanted to know

why, why my father chose alcohol over his own family. I wanted to know if he would ever realize that no matter how much I hated him for his decisions that I would always love him. I wanted to know if he would ever change. However now I have recollected; I have learned to see the beauty. I am not the parent who raised me, I am me. I am not the child of an addict, I am the child who was loved; loved by a mother who did everything in her power to protect me. I am the child who learned that family comes first. I am a human who learned that I am important and I do have a meaning. Being a child of an addict does not define you. Instead it makes you stronger and teaches you various things; how to turn anger into a good thing, how to love and how not to give up. Now, I no longer feel alone. I know people care and others have dealt with the same, if not similar issues. I know that I am a person who will not allow my father’s decision to define my own. I want to be known for my life and my life choices, not the choices of others. Drug and alcohol addiction is not something that should be taken lightly. If you know someone who is affected or dealing with an addiction problem ask them to seek help, and know you are not alone.

graphics by Austin

Banzon

THE SIDEKICK a p ri l

2 0 1 6

20 years from now:

How elections will change based on past social media presence

written by Sakshi Venkatraman Staff Writer @oompapa1 One of the most interesting facets of any election, in my opinion, is watching candidates grappling to destroy the moral and ethical platform of their opposition. In the 2016 election, we have seen this come to a head, with candidates and members of the media seemingly traveling back in time and speculating as to who their opposition really was 15, 20 or 30 years ago. Retrieving evidence from a person’s political or social history has been a common platform for ad hominem attacks since early presidential and lower elections. In the current election itself, speculation has been made about the past political stances of many of the candidates, namely Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The key word to note there is “speculation”, which can be a blessing to many of those under fire. Information on the affiliations of current candidates 30 years ago is hard to find and even harder to be sure of, especially if they were not involved in politics at the time. However, we are starting to see a change in the way politicians, or people in general, “dig up dirt” on each other. Social media has become a major tool for candidates to spread word of the change they are going to make in office, as well a medium for the public to dissect their personalities and intentions. Each election cycle, platforms like Twitter, Instagram and YouTube become more heavily relied on for disseminating and gathering information. However, the advantage of candidates running now is that these platforms are still relatively new to them. The youngest candidate of the 2016 election would have been 35-years-old when Twitter was invented; the oldest would have been 65-years-old. This means that by the time they had access to social media, the candidate in question would likely have already started his/her political career.

Looking forward 30 years, to when our generation is in our 40s and running for president, elections will look dramatically different. For this generation, our entire lives have been documented much more clearly than candidates we see now. It is likely that much of that documentation would not be appreciated if it reared its head in the future. On a small scale, we see this happen with job and college application. We hear horror stories of students getting rejected because of the inappropriate or less than intelligent content of their accounts. Imagine a future where the treasure trove of mistakes an adolescent made in his/her past was rediscovered and used against him/her in something as large scale as a presidential election. In the presidential debates of 2040, they may be references to candidates’

questionable Tweets or retweets from when they were younger. Coppell High School junior Aparna Bejoy is an aspiring politician and, unlike many others, is very sure of where she wants to be in the future. She is also not generally very active on social media. “As this generation will be part of the political scene 20 or 30 years from now, we have to be aware of what we post as children and teenagers because that might affect us later on,” Bejoy said. “Obviously, politicians can pull stuff up from your past and use that against you so if you’re thinking about going into a political career, you should probably think about that.” Teens in general, though, are notorious for not giving thought to the future and not everyone plans to run for office when they are older. We are so comfortable with our on-

line platform that sometimes we do not realize how vulnerable it makes us. Everything we do is much more easily accessible to the world that what our predecessors have done. In short, we may make the same mistakes now as a young Bernie Sanders or a young Ted Cruz did. The difference is, our mistakes are largely on record, ready for the taking. When putting out personal information or political views, we must think about who could read it in the future. Obviously, no one knows where they will end up. Many students do not even know their major until junior year of high school. General social media conduct is always advisable, since you never know when you will be in the hot seat, being asked about your sketchy Tweet from 2016.

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

OUTSTANDING TALENT OUTSTANDING DREAM McDow expresses himself through passion for breakdancing written by Jessica Jun Staff Writer @jesse_jun16 The bell rings and you hear loud music as students begin to rush down the halls in the same direction. They seem to be in a hurry, anxious, as if something is going on. You turn around and follow the crowd. The music gets louder and everyone gathers in a semicircle. You make your way through to the center to see a guy smiling and dancing like no tomorrow. Since freshman year of high school in 2013, after watching an episode of “So You Think You Can Dance?”, Coppell High School junior Christian McDow has not been able to contain his passion for dancing. From early in the morning to late at night, McDow continues to practice dancing his heart out each and every day. “The journey was actually extremely hard, and way more difficult than you think, to get really good at dancing,” McDow said. “But I enjoy it because as you get better, it becomes a reward. You realize that with every practice and improvement, you’re one step closer to becoming the kind of person you strive to be and dance is kind of like a fun, mental game.” CHS sophomore Jaylon Wells was among the first of many to notice not only his technical improvement, but his growing passion for dancing as well. “He’s definitely gotten a lot better technique-wise, but his passion…” Wells said. “All you ever see him do is dance — while he’s eating, while he’s talking, while he’s taking a test or walking around, just all the time.” His dancing partner and best friend, CHS junior Devon Hawkins, hopes to continue performing together and looks forward to a dancing career with McDow. “There are a lot of people out there that are dancers and a lot of them don’t make it,” Hawkins said. “But practice makes perfect and you want to be prepared for the future and that’s why we practice every single day. I hope that one day, we can teach people the art of dance and inspire others to learn how to dance or have the same kind of passion that we have right now.” With a strong drive and mighty heart for break danc-

ing, McDow has set his eyes on his goals for the future and does not plan on looking back. “Dancing is just fun and I love it,” McDow said. “I can’t even control it; it’s like a fire in me. But with dance, I have something to look forward to in my future. The whole point of life is to be happy and to find a passion and I found both my happiness and my passion, so that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. The fact that I found dance gives me something to look forward to forever.” McDow has continued to inspire those around him. Through his expression of his love for dancing, he has gained fans and inspired many students, whether he knows them personally or not. “I remember seeing Christian at Heritage Night a couple years ago,” CHS junior Akhilesh Pillai said. “I was amazed and ecstatic; I didn’t know that what he did was even considered a form of dancing, but it was really cool to see. It really showed me that if you have a passion and determination to do something, you can achieve anything.” As impressive as his techniques are to others, his intrinsic motivation and positive attitude has caught the attention of many students. “It’s not only the techniques,” CHS junior Brian Pak said. “But he inspires people with his attitude because he’s always smiling, so positive and extremely cheerful and I think that’s something really unique about him.” Recently, a music video was shot by CHS students and it featured McDow dancing in downtown Dallas. CHS junior Sam Godly, a close friend of McDow, was one of the producers of this film. “We decided to feature Devon and Christian in our video because we know they have big talents and I’ve always been inspired by the amount of passion they have for what they love to do,” Godly said. “What’s really unique about Christian though is that nothing he ever does is choreographed. Everything is off the top of his head which shows how creative it is and it’s just the coolest thing ever.” In the same way that he was introduced to the art of dance, Christian hopes to not only become an inspiration for others, but that through his hard work and dedication, others can also learn to feel the same love and passion that he has for dancing.

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

Scan to watch one of Christian McDow’s performances

photos by Alexandra

Dalton

Coppell High School junior Christian McDow dances at the 10th annual Heritage night on Feb. 26 in the large commons. The night allows students to express their heritage in creative forms, ranging from martial arts to big dance numbers.

THE SIDEKICK a p ri l

2 0 1 6 photo courtesy

YoungLives

YoungLives leader and volunteer Heather D. plays with one of the babies while the mother gets a muchneeded break. Heather is a mentor who supports the teen moms in the program and offers them guidance on matters ranging from parenting to their Christian faith.

YoungLives changing lives of teenage mothers written by Avery Davis Staff Writer @avery2018 Walking down the aisles at the grocery store, people are staring. Standing in line to buy food, someone looks you up and down, shakes their head and walks away. Before leaving the store, someone accidentally bumps into you, doesn’t meet your eyes and hurries away mumbling an apology under their breath. Being pregnant as a teen isn’t easy. The bombardment of stares, glares and judgements is overwhelming, but the reaction isn’t surprising. Throughout our society, people look down upon teenagers pregnant or with a child, regardless of the woman’s situation or story. That’s why YoungLives, an organization dedicated to showing these women love, acceptance and abundant support, is so important. Young Life, a Christian organization that brings teens together in worship, is widely known throughout the country. Few people, however, have heard of YoungLives, a branch of Young Life directed towards providing support, childcare and mentorship to teen moms and their kids. “YoungLives is a faith based outreach program that desires to share hope, love and acceptance to all our girls and their children,” YoungLives director Andrea Brakner said. “Our hope is that YoungLives will not only affect our teen moms, but also the next generation by helping girls to finish high school, accomplish career and college goals and inspire both positive parenting and healthy relationships.” CHS senior Linda Castranova plans to get involved in volunteering with her college’s YoungLives program in the future. Castranova is currently a leader in Coffee Talk, another branch of Young Life that helps high school girls find mentorship and guidance in their faith. She found out about YoungLives

through Allie Hewett, a director of Young Life in Coppell. Castranova was instantly interested in the program. “I thought it was incredible that the lives of so many teen moms have been affected just because somebody simply showed them love,” Castranova said. Through working in the nursery at church and babysitting, Castranova has learned how to interact with children more naturally, and hopes that her past experiences will transfer well when it comes to YoungLives. She hopes to make a difference in the lives of the mothers and kids involved in the program, encouraging them through her faith. “Bottom line, I would just want them to understand that the love they receive from Christ is unwavering,” Castranova said. “I would hope that the moms would become empowered in the fact that their future holds great things and that the kids would feel accepted as well.” Castranova wants to learn from the experience as well, growing more aware of what may be happening in the lives of people around her. “It sounds cheesy, but people always have a story and you truly never know what they are going through, so I would hope to be able to gain more compassion and be able to empathize more with people I interact with everyday,” Castranova said. Castranova and the other volunteers want to show compassion to teen moms at a point in their lives where they simply need human interaction, without the constant judgements they are often met with. “Being a teen mom in a world that isn’t always accepting of that is different,” Cynde B. said. “I’ve grown to be humble and give everyone a smile because being looked at with a huge belly or two kids running around is hurtful. Every day I get looked at nasty or whispered at simply because I have a young face with two kids holding my hand.” Not everyone shows them God’s love complete strangers sometimes don’t treat

them with the respect everybody deserves. “A lot of the time I feel like I have something to prove,” Mikayla Y. said. “Walking around grocery stores you never know if you’re going to get sideways looks, an annoyed glance when your baby starts fussing, or a sweet smile and words of encouragement.” But while stereotypes, false assumptions and negative reactions are commonplace, there are still many people eager to serve these families. The YoungLives organization and its volunteers, for instance, want to show nothing but abundant love to the women and children in the program. “[YoungLives] has showed me God, and some random people who had no idea of what I went through truly loved and cared for me and my children,” Cynde B. said. “Many of us teen moms come from broken homes and broken relationships, and think, ‘I’m done, I don’t need anyone, I can do it alone.’ But YoungLives has showed me that it’s OK to be broken because God has a plan for me. And that’s all I need.” YoungLives has completely altered the lives of the teen moms in the program, showering them with reminders that there are people who care and a God who will love them eternally. “After a couple of months of food and fun with all of the YoungLives moms and mentors, I went to Camp Buckner [a retreat that provides children and teenagers to grow in their relationship with Christ],” Ashlyn C. said. “It was there that YoungLives brought God back into my life.” For Ashlyn C., Camp Buckner changed her life. “I had been lost for so long,” Ashlyn C. said. “YoungLives has given me and many other moms a place to feel loved and accepted. They show us how good our God is, and how beautiful his love and mercy is for us. I’m so thankful that God brought all of these wonderful women in my daughter’s and my life.” For many young mothers, YoungLives

has become a second home, a place where they can find support, mentorship and endless love. “YoungLives has given me so much hope,” Mikayla Y. said. “I have learned that I am not just damaged goods, and that God has forgiven me and loves me. YoungLives is a safe place to be open and honest with yourself and people who care about you. Although the group only meets twice a month, I am surrounded by mentors who encourage me daily.” The mentors build relationships with the mothers, offering guidance from parenting to walking with God. Most importantly, mentors invest time in them and let them know how much they are valued. Some individuals choose to volunteer as a mentor, meeting one-on-one with a particular teen as a mentor, while others take positions helping with childcare or club, a fellowship gathering that happens twice a month. “The YoungLives program truly reaches out to those mothers with broken hearts,” Cynde B. said. “YoungLives has made my heart change for the better. I had so much hate and YoungLives opens my heart to forgiveness. It’s crazy because YoungLives is more of a family to me than my own family ever was.” YoungLives impact has not gone unnoticed. All over the world changes are happening. The organization’s most dramatic impact can be seen in the lives of the beautiful families in each community that has been loved, supported and blessed by YoungLives. “I love seeing how well these sweet mentors love on all of us teen moms and our kids,” Mirtsa L. said. “They are the greatest people. They talk to us teen moms about Jesus and always let us know how much we are loved by our God. It makes me feel so good, knowing that I am not alone. They help provide [us] with diapers and whatever they can to help us out. I am in love with this ministry. YoungLives deserves to be known.”

Flooding shakes Citizens brace for storms, watch backyards wash away > from page 1 A few houses down, fellow resident Jitu Nagale is also among those feeling the weight of each storm. His back door has been barricaded with sandbags since last June and he has no plan to move them. “I have two kids in middle school,” Nagale said. “I can’t take them outside, there’s no way. It’s always closed.” Slope failure, which occurs as the soil underneath falls out due to rising water levels, has not only washed away many feet of yard, but has also brought up other issues for Nagale. “I had foundation problems, I don’t know whether they are caused by this but I suspect it’s related to this,” Nagale said. “We spent some money to get it fixed, I’m not sure it’s going to hold though. Almost all of the houses have had foundation issues here.” Nagale attributes the slope failure that has escalated over the past months not only to rainfall, but to water let out of Grapevine Lake. “Last year [the Corps of Engineers] sent a notice that they were going to release water from [Grapevine Lake],” Nagale said. “That’s what is affecting it. Otherwise, it’s just a natural creek, the water level will go up a little bit and go down a little bit. They keep releasing the water, and it’s a lot.” The Denton Creek homeowners have attempted to get help from the city, but a significant issue has slowed their progress. “We have been in discussion with the city but they are saying that they can’t really help us out because it is a private property,” Nagale said. The residents reached out to a contractor to assess the damages but also hit a wall. “It is very frustrating going back and forth with the city,” Scott said. “We had a contractor come out, they’ve done a lot of work on Denton Creek. Their proposal quote is over a million dollars and it’s all of us

eight houses, a few of them are retired, there’s no way any of us can afford that.” As time has passed and there is still no solution in sight, Nagale can only hope his yard survives the rainy season. “There’s nothing [I can do],” Nagale said. “There are a lot of federal funds available, but then everything has to go through the city. Next time when it collapses, that other guy over there, his backyard will be washed out. Slowly all this will be washed out if nothing is done over here.” Besides clearing debris from the waterway, City of Coppell Community Information Officer Sharon Logan says that when it comes to the erosion, the city has its hands tied. “There’s really not much we can do as a city,” Logan said. “It’s private property, it’s illegal according to state constitution for a public entity such as the city to pay for private property. We’re in a situation where legally, we can’t do anything for the homeowners.” However, the city does have a possible course of action in mind to address this issue, which involves direct communication between engineers. “What we want to do is bring the homeowners in with our engineering department and get everything we can out on the table, their information and our information, so hopefully maybe we can help them with what needs to be done,” Logan said. The DC 8 have a facebook page called “Denton Creek Homeowners” where they post updates.

17 inches

17 inches of rain fell in May 201 have been kept.

9 feet

For the first time in years, the t 9 feet above conservation level

15.8 feet

As of May 22, 2015, Lake Grape

1854 cubic feet per

As of April 11, the Corps of Eng

Homes in Coppell along Denton Creek experienc

Scan for the City of Coppell’s website with more information about their communication with homeowners.

TIMELINE OF DENTON CREEK EROSION ISSUE

FE Te St

City s sion C

s Denton Creek community

15, the third-highest monthly total in the 116 years records

two floodgates at Lake Grapevine opened on May 13, 2015. at the time it was l.

evine water levels were 15.8 feet above capacity.

second

gineers are currently releasing 1854 cubic feet per second of water and the current elevation is 539.33 feet. Information from dallasnews.com

photos by Mallorie

Munoz

ce flooding and erosion in their backyard due to excessive rainfall. Residents have reported losing up to eight feet of their yard to the creek.

MAY 29, 2015

EMA issues Disaster Declaration exas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, traight-line Winds, and Flooding.

JUNE 2015

staff was first contacted about eron on private property along Denton Creek by residents on Parker Drive.

NOVEMBER 2015

Parker Drive homeowners appear before City Council during the Citizenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appearance portion of the meeting to request the City to fund improvements on private property.

DECEMBER 2015

The Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long standing policy is that maintenance and improvements on private property are the responsibility of the owner of the private property. Texas Constitution prohibits the City from using public funds to make repairs or improvements on private property.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

Council to consider a contract for a detailed study and development of alternatives to address drainage along Denton Creek from SH121 to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Information from coppelltx.gov

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

GREAT written by Sakshi Venkatraman News Editor @oompapa1

By your last few years of high school, it may seem like much of your time is spent focusing on and worrying about the future. Making yourself a strong applicant for college and deciding what you want to do once you get there can be daunting, even for

the most level-headed among us. As summer holiday draws closer, you are likely beginning your search for something that will keep you productive and make you college ready. Something that I have found to be a helpful tool to me in both areas is doing a summer internship in my field of interest: journalism. An internship is a great way to gain firsthand experience in the field you are thinking about going into in the future.

While it may or may not be a paid job, working with professionals in your field of study can help you scope whether or not your career of interest fits you. As opposed to a regular, part time job, an internship gives you valuable experience and a jumpstart on your career, plus it looks great on a college application, showing that you are driven and sure of what you want to do.

Both guys and girls should dress profesMakeup: Ladies, a sionally. Male dress code should be a suit natural makeup and tie with black dress shoes. For girls, look is the best way a professional look can be achieved by to approach a job wearing a pantsuit with a white or offinterview. Your didn’t just roll white camisole underneath the blazout of bed, but you’re not headed to prom either. Stick with er, a pencil skirt with a blazer and foundation, concealer and a light amount of powder to set a nice top or a professional dress the liquid makeup. Go for pencil liner on your waterline and with a thin belt at the waist. Black unclumped mascara. I would not use eyeshadow or blush but heels are the best option, as they if you decide to do so, use a very small amount, as too much match with just about anything. color can appear unprofessional.

Why are you interested in this career? Why are you choosing this facility? What do you consider to be your strengths? What do you consider to be your weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? What sets you apart from all the others applying for an internship spot?

Practice common interview questions in your head and loosely plan your answers. You want to sound intelligent and eloquent without coming across as scripted. Give your interviewers a look into your personality. Communication skills are a huge deal for any job because you will be working with other people. If the interviewer makes a joke, don’t

2 0 1 6

be afraid to laugh. Be professional but showing a human side makes it easier to interact with you and they will likely label you as someone they would be comfortable working with. Here are some common interview questions: ***Never be afraid to discuss your weaknesses but always emphasize the fact that you are working to improve.

Most internship positions will ask you to submit a cover letter, a resume and a few samples of any relevant work. Many online templates are available for your resume. Begin with a summary of your skills. Think about what you can bring to the table as an intern with regards to the goals of the company. For example, if you applying for an internship at a computer software company, describe your proficiency with coding/programming or Microsoft Excel. Continue into a section about the education and coursework that makes you a good candidate for the job. Detail any training you have gotten (through school, outside workshops, etc.) that will give you a leg up against the other candidates. Next, and most importantly, include a list of past work experience. Try to think of anything you have done in the past that has given you a chance to work with that field. Lastly, present a short list of extracurriculars to show your well-roundedness and commitment. In your cover letter, explain clearly and concisely why you want the job, why you are choosing to work at that specific place and why you would be a valuable addition to the team. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself but focus mostly on how your work would benefit them.

THE SIDEKICK a p ri l

2 0 1 6

Wales gains insight into world of interior design through internship written by Avery Davis Staff Writer @avery2018 With a confident stance, answers ready and an eager smile, Coppell High School sophomore Sarah Wales entered the interview. She, along with peers from her interior design class, were applying for an internship at Barbara Mayo Interiors. “The company designs rooms specialized for each client,” Wales said. “My boss will meet with her clients and discuss what they want for their room and she will come up with ideas for them, pick out different furnishings, wall-

ment through her years of dance, school and social activities. “So far she’s been able to manage the workload fairly well,” mother Renee Wales said. “It helps that she works on Fridays, a non-dance night and has the weekend for homework.” This year, Wales signed up for an interior design class at the high school. Through that class, she has learned many skills that have helped prepare her to be an intern. Most importantly, though, Wales has learned that interior design could be something she pursues in the future. “I love interior design because it re-

Sarah is someone I felt would give good professional appearance in representing my company, and she’s someone eager to learn. We are both going to grow as I build all aspects of my design business. Barb Mayo, Owner of Barb Mayo Interiors

papers and things like that.” After applications, interviews and meetings, Wales finally got the call she had been waiting for. “I was so excited when I found out I got the internship,” Wales said. “I felt like it was the perfect opportunity for me because I’m really interested in interior design and being able to experience the career first-hand is amazing.” Wales’ schedule was not exactly empty before taking on this new responsibility. In addition to her internship, she also dances in the Living Arts dance company in Coppell, participates in Lariette drill team before and during school, and keeps up with advanced academic classes. “Throughout the past couple of years, I have learned how to manage my time very well,” Wales said. “I don’t waste any time. I am always doing something, but it is all worth it because I love everything I do.” Her mother agrees that Wales has developed a good sense of time manage-

quires me to use my creativity,” Wales said. “I have always loved to think outside of the box and create things. That’s what I believe makes interior design special. It’s all about your own ideas and applying different principles to create an appealing and flattering room.” In addition to helping Wales understand more about her own interests and strengths, it has also opened up a world of opportunity. “One day in my interior design class, [Mrs. Becky Richards] brought up the chance to work for [Barb Mayo who] she had met a couple of years back,” Wales said. “The way [Richards] described the internship made it sound like so much fun, so I [decided to apply]. A little bit after I applied, I got a call from Ms. Mayo saying that she wanted to interview me for the internship. After that meeting, she offered me the job.” The typical workday involves helping organize client books, looking through

magazines for furniture ideas, organizing laptop files and helping with any other jobs that arise. “Sarah [has helped me with] organization, creative input, space planning, client relations and information, digital design boards and the remodel of my personal office,” Mayo said. “Sarah is someone I felt would give good professional appearance in representing my company, and she’s someone eager to learn. We are both going to grow as I build all aspects of my design business.” As a whole, the internship has offered Wales the chance to learn about the occupation and use her creativity while working. “I have always considered myself to be creative and this internship requires me to use it all the time, and I really enjoy learning about the industry and all the things that are encompassed by it,” Wales said. “I love working for Mrs. Mayo because she is so kind and a joy to be around. I think I will take away some very important things that [Mayo] has learned during her schooling and creating her business that she will introduce to me while working.” Even though Wales has only worked at Barb Mayo Interiors for a short time, she has already learned a lot about the field of interior design.

“During the time that I have been there, I have already learned so much,” Wales said. “Mrs. Mayo has been teaching me about Computer-Aided Design (CAD), a program used frequently in architecture and interior design, and the components that come together to create an interior design business.” Already, Wales’ friends from her interior design class can see the impact the internship has had on her. “She’s always been such a mature person, and by doing this internship [I’ve] really seen Sarah start to blossom as an interior designer,” CHS sophomore Amy Kitzman said. “She’s beginning to take initiative and explore new concepts of interior design.” In addition to providing new experiences, more exposure to the elements of design and additional skills she can use in the future, the internship has had much to offer. “Not only is she well deserving of this position, you can see that extra sense of self confidence in her that has been able to flow into other aspects of her life,” Kitzman said. “It’s just so great to see an amazing friend like Sarah be able to take on such a job, especially at such a young age. She has begun a journey that is going to take her to amazing heights.”

photo by Dani

Ianni

Coppell High School sophomore Sarah Wales paints different color schemes on a room in Beckey Richards’s interior design class on March 9. Wales interns for a local interior designer in hopes of going into that field or architecture after college.

THE SIDEKICK a p ri l

2 0 1 6

photo by Dani

Ianni

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

A Journey of Survival Patterson’s third feature film Prepper hits the big screen on July 3

Coppell High School Human Geography Teacher

Andrew Patterson

First Assistant Director

Josh Brunelli written by Sruthi Boppuri Staff Writer @sruthiboppuri

photo by

Andrew Patterson

Scan to view Prepper film trailer

The silver screen has captured the hearts of many for generations, but Hollywood is not the only place to make movie magic. Coppell High School teacher Andrew Patterson has been making his own films for years. His new feature film Prepper is anticipated to be released on July 3 in a theater in Dallas. The film centers around James McAlister, an ordinary man leading a normal life. After noticing various things happen around him, McAlister becomes adamant that the world is facing impending doom, leading him to prepare for the worst case scenarios. He embarks on a journey of survival, while meeting quirky characters along the way who help him. “The reason I wrote [Prepper] is because I think we need to think critically about what’s going on in the world around us,” Patterson said. “I want people to look at the world and think, ‘OK this is a delicate balance – this system that we live in – and it really wouldn’t take much for things to go bad.’ I want people to feel empowered and one of the ways you can do that is by being prepared.” Prepper is Patterson’s third major feature film. His previous films include Subtle Voices: Cries From Colombia, which was an official selection at the Delray Beach Film Festival and the New York International Film Festival, and Let There Be Zombies, which has won a People’s Choice Award at the Interurban Film Festival, and is now available on Amazon, iTunes, Goo-

gle Play, Hulu and other platforms. The production process for Prepper started in the summer of 2015, where Jay Bowdy and Rachel Dee were cast as the lead roles. The actual filming took approximately 22 days. “The process of making any film, whether it’s a short film or a feature, is always really hard,” Patterson said. “It’s like a huge puzzle where you see the end result before you get started, but you just don’t know how to piece those parts of the puzzle together.” Several CHS students were also involved as extras in the film. “It was interesting being an extra because it was fun being apart of something professional and well done, especially because it was playing a part in a movie, no matter how small my part might’ve been,” CHS sophomore and extra Shruthi Gopinath said. Despite the ups and downs the cast and crew experienced while creating the feature film, they never failed to put in their best effort into the final product. “Being an upcoming actor and being someone who is now in Hollywood, you learn to appreciate someone who really puts in a lot to get the best out of it,” Bowdy said. “[Patterson] wasn’t afraid to come out and expect greatness from me. I’ve worked with some, and met a lot of directors and casting directors here in Los Angeles, it’s just nothing like working with Andrew and the mind that he has when it comes to working with film.” The crew members for this film include Abel Nobel, Daniel Beltran, Tony Couzelis, Lara Patterson, Josh Brunelli, Enrique Arellano and Dalila Payan.

2 0 1 6

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

HARRIS OPENS UP IN RIVEN

Shining light on mental illnesses through novel set in Coppell written by Tanya Raghu Staff Writer @tanya_raghu

photo courtesy Jane

Harris

The effects of a mental illness is as painful and haunting to helpless bystanders as the victims themselves. As a witness, while her friends and family members suffer from mental illnesses, author Jane Harris is determined to bring awareness and reveal the truth behind misconceptions of mental afflictions with her novel, Riven. Her journey starts as an older sister, creating stories for her siblings and as she fosters her gift, others around her know her talent could grow into something special. As an aficionado of the fine arts, Harris pursues an art history degree at Brigham Young University, while drawing inspiration for her writing from playing the piano, sketching and painting. “I remember when she first started writing it I thought it would only last one year, but here we are three and a half years later and she has dedicated hours everyday to [the book],” son of Harris and Coppell High School sophomore Aiden Harris said. Harris is also a part time substitute at CHS, allowing her to promote her book while garnering support and constructive criticism directly from students since the book is catered

to young adults. “When I come in to substitute teach, I tell people that I’m writing a book and it has been so nice to get feedback from high school students,” Jane Harris said. “Before, my friends and family members would read it but they are grown ups and the intended audience is students.” After three and a half years in the making, the first book of her trilogy Riven was finished and she hired a publicist and editor, the first step of the publishing process. “Having a base at CHS gives me encouragement, a way to promote because [students] are sending each other PDF’s of the book and their suggestions and feedback is really valuable to me,” Jane Harris said. Currently, due to the lengthy nature of acquiring a publishing contract, Harris is considering self-publishing and releasing the book to an audience primarily on digital platforms in the next five months. The setting of Riven takes place in Coppell, enhancing the story for local students and allowing them to read a book from a perspective they have never experienced before. “With the book taking place in my own town it made it feel more realistic just because it was like ‘hey, that could have actually happened outside my own backdoor’,” CHS soph-

omore Meghan Bauer said. The uniqueness of Riven comes from its autobiographical quality since the real life personas of her three children are showcased by the book character’s qualities. “Those were some of my favorite parts to write because of the interactions between them and the dialogue because I think it makes them really authentic because it’s just them,” Harris said. Many students found the book to be different from typical young adult novels because of its interesting hybrid characteristic between a fantasy and realistic fiction. The storyline of Riven is centered around Emily, a troubled teenager part of a broken family. When her childhood abuser becomes a part of her life again, the voices in her head start getting louder. To cope with the cruelness of her situation, she delves into the fantasy world she once created as a child to escape her harsh reality. The line between her fantasy world and reality blurs and she finds it difficult to differentiate between her two worlds. “One of my goals with this book is to normalize people who might have experienced DID (dissociative identity disorder) to a lesser degree,” Harris said. “The main message of the book is acceptance, self-love, self-trust and personal empowerment.”

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

“Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro opens Dallas location

written by Jamie Kimbrell Staff Writer @jaynicole2015 DALLAS – A little slice of New Jersey has come to the Metroplex with the grand opening of the famous Carlo’s Bakery newest location. On a breezy spring morning, nothing sounds better to a “Cake Boss” fanatic than going to the bakery and ordering one of the legendary staple Carlo’s Bakery menu items. While that used to merely be a dream due to the vast distance between Coppell and Hoboken, N.J., the grand opening

of celebrity baker Buddy Valastro’s Dallas franchise makes a fan’s dream into reality. Carlo’s Bakery is the workshop for Valastro and his family as well as the set for the hit TLC series, “Cake Boss,” a popular reality production that follows the family bakers as they create edible masterpieces throughout the country. On Saturday, the family opened the doors of its Dallas location, its 13th nationwide. As a “Cake Boss” fan, I excitedly prepared myself for what, or who, I might see at the event. I knew that there was going to be a lot of people, however, when I finally arrived at the bakery, a crowd of a thousand people were waiting in a line that wrapped around the building, each person anticipating the opening and hoping to meet Valastro. The amount of people was so im-

mense, Dallas Police officers were monitoring crowds. “We are going to let a few people in at a time,” Dallas Police Officer Mixon said. “Obviously, the line is long so we are going to try to control it like that.” The bakery is located at 8319 Preston Road on the corner of Preston Road and Villanova Street, serving authentic Italian-American pastries as seen on TV, straight from Hoboken. “We got here at 7 a.m., but discovered that the line was forever long,” “Cake Boss” enthusiast Paul Dunham said. “We went across the street and watched [Valastro] do his press conference. I wanted to get a lobster tail, the crumb cake, because they always look good on the TV show and of course; the cannolis. We have watched the TV show since it first came on and am excited to come back

to try it.” As popular as the show, the bakery’s popularity is already taking root in Dallas, attracting customers from around the world to witness the grand opening of another location in the famous franchise. “We are from Johannesburg, but we are on a different continent for three or four months, until April then back to South Africa,” South African traveller Laurik Viljoen said. “We wanted to see him cut the bow. We always watch it back at home his episodes and when we heard a shop was opening, we had to see it.”

To see Buddy Valastro’s opening speech, scan here

photos by Jamie

Kimbrell

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

Blueberry Coconut Pecan Breakfast Cookies Healthy snack that will sit with you all morning

photo by

Sloane Samberson

written by Sloane Samberson Managing Editor @SloaneSamberson To say I am utterly a foodie is an understatement. I love food, all types of food. Whether it is a vegan version of spaghetti, or a mac-and-cheese burger with truffle-parmesan fries, I will try anything that even slightly makes my stomach grumble. I also love to cook, but there is an initial step I must take before I take on the kitchen – I must find a recipe. And no mediocre recipe, I always look for the best. Recently, I have been on a health kick. I made my family an Apple Walnut Lentil Loaf (the recipe, found on one of my favorite vegan blogs, Oh She Glows), which is a vegan version of meatloaf. Most of the recipes I utilize are from

Pinterest, and this week I struck gold – lots of gold. I came across Kumquat, an entirely gluten-free recipe blog ran by registered dietitian Gretchen Brown. As I looked through her website, I instantly became hungry – it was a full feast for my eyes. Choosing a recipe was extremely hard for me, considering I wanted to make everything I saw, but this particular recipe suited my fancy: Blueberry Coconut Pecan Breakfast Cookies. Made with only 10 ingredients, these cookies are hearty, wholesome and delicious – not to mention incredibly easy. Here is the recipe and instructions as found on the website: Ingredients: 1½ cups gluten-free rolled oats 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1 tablespoon golden flax meal ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cups coarsely chopped pecans ½ cup dried blueberries 3 very ripe bananas, mashed ¼ cup coconut oil, warm enough to be liquid 1 tablespoon agave nectar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Cooking spray

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, coconut, flax meal, salt, pecans and blueberries. Stir in bananas, oil, agave nectar and vanilla until well combined. Press two tablespoons of mixture into a 2½inch round cookie cutter onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Continue with remaining mixture. Bake for 25 minutes or until fragrant and golden. Cool on pan. The only ingredient I could not find was golden flax meal so I ended up just using whole golden flax seeds, which seemed to have no negative effect on the recipe. These cookies are moist and chewy – the ideal consistency for oatmeal cookies – and without all the processed ingredients. A The mashed banana lightly glues all the ingredients together, complimenting the flavors of the dried blueberries, pecans and coconut flakes. Eat warm, or room temperature – either way it is delicious. I drizzled agave nectar on mine and approached it with a fork (10/10 would recommend). The adage “less is more” definitely holds truth in this recipe. So, if you’re looking to incorporate more healthful foods in your diet, this is the perfect recipe to start your day with.

Go bananas for vegan strawberry-banana waffles New healthy twist on classic Belgian waffles

written by Elena Gillis Staff Writer @elenamg24 I love waffles. I mean, who doesn’t? My family’s cookbook library is filled with many bookmarked waffle recipes, each slightly different than the last. From pumpkin waffles to traditional Belgian waffles, we’ve made them all. Spring has arrived and many delicious fruits, such as pineapples, strawberries and mangos, are coming into season. It only makes sense to find a waffle recipe to match. Though the original recipe (which can be found in Kelly Rudnicki’s Vegan Baking Classics) uses blueberries, the recipe can be easily tweaked to fit whichever fruit you would like. I am choosing a strawberry-banana combination. It is a common misconception that vegan substitute foods are tasteless and bland, but that is in no way the case – especially with these waffles. They are best served fresh, but can be saved and easily re-served just by storing them in the fridge. Ingredients: Instructions: 4 tablespoons of water Pre-heat waffle iron. 2 cups of non-dairy milk (I’m Mix together the water, non-dairy milk and vegetable oil with a using unsweetened almond whisk in a large bowl, stirring until combined. milk) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 6 tablespoons of vegetable oil Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until com3 cups of all-purpose flour bined – do not over stir. 6 tablespoons of baking Add mashed banana and stir until thoroughly mixed. powder Spray the inside of the waffle iron to insure that the batter does not stick 4 teaspoons of sugar – I usually use vegetable oil. 1 teaspoon of salt Pour enough batter onto the iron to where it can be spread close to the 1 medium banana, mashed edges – I have found that a large ice cream scoop can be used to scoop the 1 tablespoon of chopped freshbatter. strawberry per waffle Sprinkle the strawberries throughout the batter. Close and bake according to your waffle iron. Remove and finish with desired toppings. Enjoy!

photo by

Elena Gillis

THE SIDEKICK

ridiculousness of modern recruiting

a p r i l

2 0 1 6

Why these high school level athletes shouldn’t be obsessed over

written by Joseph Krum Managing Editor @joseph_krum

So again, why? Why has recruiting gone this far? These young kids, even middle schoolers, are getting constant calls, emails, texts and mail from these colleges, disregarding their personal life and honestly harassing them. They are constantly being pestered by the media and fans to reveal a top list of schools or verbally commit early, and it adds a lot of pressure. Although it may be hard to draw the line of how much is too much, recruiting has

years, including 5-star defensive end Solomon Thomas, currently at Stanford, and 4-star offensive tackle Connor Williams, currently at the University of Texas. Both of these players drew scouts from all across the nation, along with constant phone calls, yet DeWitt saw their fame as a positive. “Both of these guys had schools coming from all around to watch them,” DeWitt said. “With Connor, you had everybody from University of Texas, to Oregon , to Ole Miss and even Michigan. With Solomon,

If you have not heard about the incident where Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh slept over at a recruit’s house and went to school with him the next day, let me enlighten you real quick. Harbaugh has always been a man plastered on headlines, and this time he came over to 4-star defensive end from Brophy Prep high school Connor Murphy’s house in Phoenix at 1 a.m., had banana bread and milk, and then went to sleep. This raises the question, has recruiting gone too far? I mean, these are 17 and 18-year-old kids having sleepaovers with grown men just because these men happen to want these kids to come to their school so badly.

definitely changed over the years. Coppell football coach Mike DeWitt has had some big name players over the past few

you had [Alabama head coach] Nick Saban to [Stanford head coach] David Shaw coming into my office. You don’t see all that every year, but with highly recruited kids like that, it helps give exposure to your other kids. A lot of those schools that came to see [Thomas] or [Williams] end up seeing your other kids that they might have not even heard about. So it’s good for a school to have recruits like that.” Yet even though DeWitt saw this aspect of recruiting, he still does agree that it has gotten out of hand. “I think probably athletics in general has gotten out of hand on every level,” DeWitt said. “It’s a reflection of our culture, people put so much emphasis on athletic success. I think the trickle-down affect of that is that recruiting gets a little crazy.” Although recruiting has been crazy as DeWitt has seen, Coppell baseball coach Kendall Clark hasn’t seen much changes in the recruiting for the athletes he coaches. “Recruiting hasn’t changed a lot over the years,” Clark said. “The way most [baseball]

The Sidekick archives

kids get found is through their summer teams, and then the college teams might touch base with us to see how they’re doing in class. But it hasn’t changed as far as being a high end player, there’s always been given a lot of attention to them. That just means that there will be scouts at most of the games.” Coppell pitcher Charles King, a player who has also been scouted for the MLB, has personally dealt with all of the recruiting and has a different viewpoint than DeWitt and Clark. “Overall, this has been the craziest thing that has ever happened to me,” King said. “It also started really early, the first time I started playing for the high school sophomore year was when I started getting contacted. Between then and when I committed to TCU fall of my junior year, it was definitely hectic. From everyone calling you and checking in on you it was a lot.” With players like King, it puts a lot of stress on the kid being recruited, but it also puts stress on the whole family. Thomas’s mother, Martha Thomas, personally dealt with recruiting in other ways. “It was pretty crazy,” Thomas said. “He was one of the top recruits in the country that hadn’t committed yet, so we got a ton of calls and we ended up just having to stop answering our phones altogether.” There was even an instance for Thomas where one coach took it too far. “We had one coach that we were pretty sure stayed in Coppell for two weeks,” Thomas said. “He was either at the high school, at our house or even my work. It was way too far.” Overall, coaches, analysts, players and family members alike have seen changes in recruiting yet also the craziness that it can bring.

Scan to read the full story on Coppell Student Media

THE SIDEKICK a p r il

2 0 1 6

Hitting 300

Clark reaches impressive coaching career milestone Walking off the diamond on Feb. 27, in a season swirling with state championship hopes, professional scouts, and media crews galore to cover the wide range of talent of the Coppell baseball team, Coach Kendall Clark, almost unknowingly, stole the spotlight. In his 300th win, Clark, known for his humility, racked up just one more milestone in an illustrious career as a baseball coach that has seen many highly successful teams, including a state and national championship with Plano West in 2008. In only his fifth season as the Coppell head coach, Clark has, as of Monday, April 11 recorded 108 wins with the Cowboys. However, these accolades are simply a blip on the radar compared to the success of the team. “To be honest, I kind of forgot about it,” Clark said. “This team is so good, I’m really focused on having good days of preparation before games, and I forgot. I’m just so focused on them playing well and winning every time they go out there, that my own small milestones don’t register right now.” In his 25th year as a high school baseball head coach, Clark has gained an extensive amount of experience in coaching the sport. From his first year at Pottsboro High

graphic by Austin

Banzon

School, where he led the Bobcats to the playoffs for his first playoff appearance as a coach, to his current Coppell team, Clark has brought energy and knowledge to every team he has coached. “He’s a big motivator, especially for the hitters,” senior pitcher Charles King said.

‘‘

seasons, developing as coaches. “It’s a situation where I get to learn a lot,” Coppell assistant coach Clint Rushing said. “One of my goals is to become a head coach. Just seeing the way he does different things, whether it’s trying to get things for the program, to the way he designs prac-

Just seeing what he does with the hitters before and after games... It’s fun to see because he’s so passionate about it... he’s always up, he’s always motivating us to become better players. Charles King, senior pitcher

“Just seeing what he does with the hitters before and after games, talking with them, making sure their cuts are all good and they’re focused on hitting, it’s fun to see because he’s so passionate about it. He really wants to make sure that we hit well, so he’s always up, he’s always making sure people are doing stuff to get better, and he’s always motivating us to become better players.” In his seasons at Coppell, Clark has helped to maintain the Cowboys’ reputation as one of the most feared teams in the area. He has been able to develop a staff that has trained under him for the past five

‘‘

written by Marcus Krum Sports Editor @marcuskrum

tice, the things that he emphasizes, things like that are just really good for me to just learn and grow as a coach from him.” His quarter-century of experience as a head coach provides the entire team with abundant baseball expertise that he is able to pass on to each class of athletes that passes through Coppell. “It’s good having a head coach that is knowledgeable and smart and knows what he’s doing in practices and games,” King said. “He always has a plan. That’s really reassuring as a player that you have a coach who has the experience, has gone and won

a state championship. It’s justs good knowing you have someone like that leading you.” In developing young athletes in any sport, it is key to bring a positive attitude yet provide support to establish a good work ethic in the players. Clark brings both of these to the table. “Especially in high school, there’s always a need for someone to step up and be a leader from the player portion, but also having a good coach as a leader is important as well,” King said. “He really sets the tone in practices and during games, he makes sure we’re always focused and ready to play. He always makes sure that he’s the first one to pick people up when they’re down. He’s just a good coach.” This year’s Cowboy squad is one of the most talented group of athletes that Coppell baseball has seen in recent years. With expectations as high as this team has, for Clark to be able to reach these huge career milestones in a year that he is coaching a team as special as this one is almost storybook-esque. “If they win their last game and win the state championship, and it’s [my career win number] 141, or 137, then that number is going to be a special number in my head,” Clark said. “I just really enjoy coaching these guys, and they’re so good that my little milestones are not even in my head right now.”

photo by Megan

Winkle

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

Coppell’s Lowery inducted into wrestling hall of fame written by Kathryn Rudd Staff Writer @rudd_kathryn On Feb. 20 the wrestling mats were rolled up and tucked away as the season officially came to a bittersweet close after the state wrestling tournament. The season was full of highs and lows, with girls finishing second in the region and boys taking another district championship title. Surprising to Coppell head coach Chip Lowery, the sophomores and freshman on girls and boys teams really stood out in terms of skill. Sophomore Joe Montelegre was the boy to beat throughout the season, finishing first in multiple tournaments and took the title of District 7-6A Champion. However, he suffered an appendicitis the week of regionals that kept him from competing. “There were people there who I’ve wrestled and beaten and they advanced to state, which was sort of sad to see,” Montelegre said. “I’m ready for next season because of this setback so I’ll just train harder throughout the summer and hopefully I’ll be ready in time for next year.”

The hardworking mentality of Montelegre and many other wrestlers often goes unnoticed as other sports hog the Coppell sports spotlight. Not eating or even drinking to keep up with weight, before and after school practices everyday during season and grueling workouts to stay with weight classes. “Young kids, ninth and tenth graders really stepped up,” Lowery said. “A lot of success in those groups, I was impressed to see their hard work.” This past year was a great year for Lowery personally as well. Lowery was recently inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “I don’t look for awards or anything, but to be picked by that group it’s a big deal because it represents my time here,” Lowery said. “My whole time in Texas has been in Coppell. It shows where I’ve got to work with and the kids, it’s made it a really good time.” Thirteen years of coaching and experience obviously had a lasting impact, not only on the program but the athletes Lowery has trained. “Coach Lowery really is an amazing

coach and seriously earned that award,” Montelegre said. “It also means a lot to be coached by him because he’s such a great coach and person overall.” Senior Ko’a Moe ended her wrestling career on a high, despite the shoulder she injured at state. Ending her season with 36-4 record, the perseverance and discipline Moe has learned will stay with her as she leaves Coppell next year. “It’s really weird now that it’s over because I put so much time into it over the past four years [so] to have to just end like this, I’m not ready for it to be over,” Moe said. “It’s really cool that Coach Lowery got into the Hall of Fame. All of the coaches are great and I’ve been blessed to be able to wrestle for them.” The new momentum the team will receive from this year’s freshman and sophomores will hopefully give the program a boost next year and the coaching staff is already looking forward to next season. “We need to finish,” Lowery said. “We had a lot of wrestlers make it to state but none of them placed. Either way, we have a lot of talent and it will be exciting to see what we can do next year.”

photo by Jennifer

Coppell High School wrestling coach Chip Lowery announces the wrestling Academic All State Honor awards on March 28 at the Vonita White Administration Building. This year there were five Coppell students who received this award.

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

Life off the field for stricker written by Farah Merchant Staff Writer @farahmerchant_

The late nights, the tape rewinding back showing the ball being kicked into the net by the opponent, the early mornings with clipboard and markers and pages of notes was former Coppell girls soccer coach Chris Stricker’s life for 20 years. But it all changed when, after winning the state championship, he announced that he going to retire and focus on teaching chemistry.

The Stress

Although coaching soccer was one of Sticker’s passions, it was hard for him and his family as he worked long days, beginning with early mornings and ending with late nights. And with his mind always on coaching, it was hard for him to focus on other things. “One of the things I’ve seen stepping out of coaching high school soccer is how much mental energy I was putting into it which is like thinking about it all day long,” Stricker said. “Whether we won a big game and going over what we could have done better or whether we lost a big game and was dwelling on it and what we need to do to get better and preparing for the next opponent. And that was always on my mind, all the time and now I don’t have that and it’s been quite nice, it’s definitely freeing.” And with him having stepped aside from coaching, he has more time for his wife and kids, freshman Jake, seventh grader Skyler, seventh grader Zach, and fifth grader Allie, as he can attend his son’s basketball games, and is able to relax more without being exhausted from a long day. “He is home and not as tired, he doesn’t have to get up at 5:30 in the morning like he had to four months out of the year,” Stricker’s wife, Amanda Stricker, said. “He can get up at 7 to go to school. He’s able to find time to exercise a little more and he’s all around healthier and happier and he’s not exhausted, which rubs of on the children and me.”

The Passion

Even though he has more time available, Stricker has left behind a part of his life as he transitions his focus from being a coach and chemistry teacher to only chemistry. Coaching was a big part of life, and having these connections with the girls mattered because it let them become a better team. And although he left the program on a high note and chose to spend more time with his family, he still misses the aspects of coaching. “I miss the girls tremendously and I miss the other coaches a lot, just the camaraderie; it’s like being in a fraternity at the high school and stepping away from that and I don’t see the guys as much, but I still see the girls in the hallway and try to encour-

age them as much as I can,” Stricker said.

The Impact

Stricker spent 20 years of his life with the Cowgirls in order to help them improve on the field. Though most of the players, such as senior midfielder Shay Johnson who played varsity soccer under Stricker for three years, they think it was as good of a time as any for their coach to retire. “Honestly, I think it’s pretty cool,” Johnson said. “That was the best time for him to leave if he was going to retire. Retiring with a national championship and state championship under your belt is one of the coolest things. So he’s going out on top which is really awesome.” But with him gone, the players will not forget Stricker’s coaching and his impact on their lives. “We had a thing called CALI (Commitment, Accountability, Love, and Integrity), and it’s just like do everything for your team and family,” Coppell junior defender Erian Brown said. “Don’t really worry about what happens to you. Just work for each other.” Even though Stricker was able to leave victorious after winning his last game with the Cowgirls, it was not easy for him to leave especially with the time he had invested in this program and the Cowgirls. “Obviously, not many coaches get to win their last game, so that was a blessing,” Stricker said. “To be able to walk away and be the No. 1 team in the state, the No. 1 team in the country it was a definite blessing and a great way to leave. But I cared about those underclassmen so much, you know it was hard, so it would be hard to leave no matter what. I was so invested in the program, caring about the kids and knowing them in and out that there was never going to be an easy time to leave so leaving at that time, after winning it, was probably as good as any.” But even though Stricker will no longer be coaching at the school, he is still a coach for Club Soccer, more specifically the Solar Boys, and hasn’t yet completely retired from his passion.

photo by

Megan Winkle

Coppell High School chemistry teacher Chris Stricker helps students better their education during class. Stricker is a former soccer coach and retired that position last year after winning the Cowgirls won state.

The Sidekick archives

Former Coppell girls soccer coach and teacher Chris Stricker embraces former soccer player Sarah King after the Cowgirls’ victory over San Antonio Reagan in the state semifinal in 2015. After the state championship in his final year coaching, Stricker has since moved on to solely teaching Chemistry.

THE SIDEKICK a p r i l

2 0 1 6

HUMANS OF CHS photo by Alexandra

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

“It’s my dream to be able to one day travel the world and help people in the world. I want to create an organization that helps children that live in poverty and give them the chance to an education that the rest of us get. I believe that a life is not a life until you have given back to the world and I want to do my part in making this world a better place.”

Kritima Lamichhane, sophomore

Dalton

“I have only been to holi once before but it’s a very happy and joyful event. [Holi] is a festival that means sharing peace and love with everyone. It’s a festival of colors that represents every family and the diversity, so everyone comes and throws colors at each other. The colors represent that diversity and colorful love. After going to Holi, I made a lot of friends because you’re just throwing colors at random people that you don’t know and it’s an environment of peace and love and friendship. My favorite part of Holi is just the laughter while you throw colors at people while everyone looks so genuinely beautiful.”

Rohitha Maganti, senior

photo by Kelly

Monaghan

“When I first heard my family was moving to Texas I thought it was going to be full of cactuses and huts. Luckily, once I moved here I realized Texas is just as nice as Maryland. It’s taken me some time to get used to how much more rigorous school is but I really appreciate how diverse Coppell is.”

Maria Khan, junior