The Stinger - December 2010

P.2 Holiday Movie Reviews | P.3 Socialnomics | P.4 Podcasts help Students Learn | P.5 Dangers of Drugs P.8 Looking Back on the Decade | P.9 Denteens Coat Drive | P.11 Basketball Season Begins

Denison High School 1901 S. Mirick Denison, TX 75020

December 2010 Volume 9, Issue 3

Girls’ Cross Country and Tennis Teams Make School History with Regional Advancement Cina Catteau Editor-in-Chief This year, Denison High School was fortunate to have three teams qualify for postseason play: the tennis team, the volleyball team, and the cross-country girls. Both the tennis team and the cross-country girls got to compete in their respective regional tournaments. Although their seasons have now come to a close, advancement to the regional level was a major milestone for both teams, and something that they haven’t had the opportunity to do in several years.

The girls’ cross country team made history by advancing to their regional tournament.

They competed on November 6th in Arlington, where they finished 18th out of 23 teams. A few of the ladies competing even achieved a personal best time.

“I feel that it was the mentality and athletic ability of the young ladies that competed this year that allowed us to do so well. They worked hard all season long, and when it was time to perform they did it to the best of their ability.

Making it to regionals validates all of the hard work that you put in during the season. All of the ladies that are returning mentioned working hard and doing well next season so that they can get back to regionals and then have a chance at state,” Coach Scotty Voight said.

Hopefully, this accomplishment will inspire the team to keep working hard and rise to the expectations that they have created.

“I think that this year’s performance set the bar, and the teams in the years to come will strive to raise it. We all worked hard to meet our team and individual goals and we pushed each other to do our best,” sophomore Katie Jane Brashier said.

CONTINUED ON P11

Cross Country girls encourage one another before they begin their meet. Photo courtsey of Miranda Randel

Senioritis: The Epidemic Upcoming Jerrika White Managing Editor

According to the Urban Dictionary, senioritis can be defined as “a crippling disease that strikes high school seniors.

Symptoms include: laziness and over-excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts.

Also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive

attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as graduation.”

Here at DHS, senior students are beginning to feel the effects of senioritis.

“I feel like I have been slacking off a lot. I usually am on top of my game with school work, but this year is different, maybe because of the simple fact that I have been doing the same routine for four years,” senior Imani Finley said.

Finley is not

the only senior that is having trouble staying on top of things. It is an issue many are struggling with. Seniors throughout the school agree that the longer the year drags on, the less enthusiastic they become about coming to school and doing work.

“It’s hard to keep up with the homework that’s given out because I have so much! It’s hard for me to remember what’s due when, and I usually don’t have a lot of time to do it anyways.

What’s Inside Page 6-7 Rachel’s Challenge Page 11 Willy Wonka

Page 9 Seasonal Depression Disorder Page 12 Photography Department

I work all the time,” senior Marissa Bruton said.

Being a senior can mean less class periods per school day, but it can also mean more homework overall, depending on the teacher and the class. Some say that getting it all done can be difficult for some seniors because of jobs, extracurricular activities, or other reasons.

However, some feel that this is just an excuse for laziness.

CONTINUTED ON P5

Events December 18-January 2 Christmas Break

December 21 - 5:00, 6:15, 7:30 Basketball Games v. Sulphur Springs Girls at Home, Boys Away December 27-29 Boys’ Basketball Byron Nelson Tournament December 30 - 12:00, 1:30 Girls’ Basketball Games v. Quinlan Ford, at Home December 31 - 10:00, 11:30, 1:00 Boys’ Basketball Games v. Prosper, at Home January 4 - 5:00, 6:15, 7:30 Basketball Games v. Texarkana Boys at Home, Girls Away January 7 - 5:00, 6:15, 7:30 Basketball Games v. Royse City Girls at Home, Boys Away

Editorial Policy The Stinger newspaper is a student-generated publication that is produced, edited, and maintained by the DHS journalism staff of room 105.

The Stinger encourages student expression and is designed to be a forum for open discussion.

Movie Reviews: Best of the Holidays Cina Catteau Staff Writer

As part of its mission to serve as a medium for debate, The Stinger supports and accepts letters to the editor. All submissions must be signed by the author and delivered to room 105. The staff reserves the right to edit any material.

Editorials appearing in The Stinger represent the sole views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration or those of the DHS Journalism Department.

Comedy: A Christmas Story If anyone hasn’t seen A Christmas Story, then they are missing out. It’s pretty much a older, family-friendly, Christmas version of Napoleon Dynamite, with no real plot line and hardly any serious scenes, but funny all the same. It’s told from the perspective of an elementary-school boy, whose holiday experiences include receiving a leg-shaped lamp, having his mouth washed out with soap,

encountering a very snobby Santa, almost shooting his eye out with a Red Rider BB gun which he obsesses over constantly, wearing a bunny costume that was a gift from his grandmother, and eating Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant, where they are served duck with the head still on. This movie may not have any meaning below its funny surface, but even if it doesn’t make you a better person, it

will definitely leave you laughing.

Children’s: Elf Soon becoming a classic Christmas movie,

http://www.denisonisd.net/education/components/scrapbook/ default.php?sectiondetailid=7274&

Music Review: Eminem Jerrika White Managing Editor

He was once bullied by the kids that lived on his block; now they want to be his best friend. He used to live in the rough part of Detroit, now he’s living wherever he wants. Relatives that never wanted anything to do with him suddenly took an interest in his “well-being.” Starting off as nothing more than a hoodlum on the streets of Detroit, and ending up a famous rapper who’s adored all over the world: this is Eminem.

Born in Missouri and raised in Michigan, the beginning years of life were tough for Marshall Mathers. It was not until t h e age o f

December 2010

twelve that Mathers and his mother settled into Detroit, Michigan for good.

At the age of nine, his uncle played the soundtrack to Breakin’ for him, and with that, he was introduced to rap music.

After failing the ninth grade three times at the age of twelve, Mathers dropped out of school and became fully committed to pursuing his dream as a rapper.

Doing everything possible to get his name known, Mathers decided to enter the Rap Olympics of 1997 in Los Angeles.

Although he didn’t win, he made a connection with the infamous Dr. Dre, who forever changed his life. From this point on, Marshall Mathers would be known as Eminem.

With the release of his album The Marshal Mathers LP, Eminem made history. This album was the first of many rap albums to be nominated for Album of the Year honors at the 2000 Grammy’s, a great accomplishment for the new rap star. With this initial breakthrough, Eminem started his journey through Hollywood.

Not only did he release several albums throughout the years, but he also tried his talents as an actor, taking part in a few movies

including Da Hip Hop Witch, 8 Mile, and The Wash. Although his acting career was a success, Eminem continued with his true passion of rap, and put acting aside to focus on his career in the music industry.

Over the years, Eminem has rapped his way in to the hearts of many. However, some think his rude rhymes and controversial songs are not worthy of fame. However, whether you love Eminem or hate him, it’s hard to deny the fact that he has worked hard for everything he can account for today.

Through his music, he has expressed all of the troubling times he has faced and overcome. Like many, he has been through some very devastating situations, which makes it easy to relate to his music when hearing about his good-for-nothing father, nearly psycho mother, and heartbreaking dilemma with his wife and kids.

There’s no denying it: Marshal Mathers has endured, overcome, and made the best of many trying times. He started at the bottom and climbed to the top.

Marshal Bruce Mathers III is the ultimate underdog, and one of the greatest rappers of this generation.

Elf is one of the funniest and most original movies to be played during the holidays (Even if it does become a bit overplayed). Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Elf, who leaves the North Pole to seek out his real father in New York City. He had been raised at the North Pole from a young age, under

the erroneous impression that he was just a very tall elf. Buddy’s father is an uncaring businessman, who has little time for holiday spirit, or even for his family. Buddy comes to live with his father’s family, and although he engages in numerous comical and romantic exploits, like eating gum off of a park bench, pouring syrup on his spaghetti, singing along with a girl in a shower, and getting into a fight with a fake “Santa,” the overall message that is conveyed is the importance of maintaining holiday spirit.

Classic: Mr. Kruger’s Christmas Mr. Kruger’s Christmas, a short movie made in 1980, is a tradition for my family and I to watch every holiday season.

It’s a story about an old janitor who is alone on Christmas Day, kept company only by his cat George and his imaginative dreams, which range from being the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to witnessing the first Christmas.

Carolers visit his home, but leave all too soon; they return after they realize that one of the girl’s had left her mittens in his home. The carolers generously extend an invitation to the obviously lonely Mr. Kruger to join them in their evening of caroling. This story is an excellent example of the hospitality and generosity that the holiday season entails.

Chick Flick: While You Were Sleeping

O P I N I O N

While really more of a romantic comedy than a strictly holiday movie, While You Were Sleeping is a movie that embodies many values that are essential to the holiday spirit, like the value of family and the importance of compassion.

It all starts when single, family-less Lucy Moderatz (played by

Sandra Bullock) rescues a man who has fallen onto the railroad tracks from a coming train, who goes into a coma.

A misunderstanding leads the man’s family to believe that Lucy is his fiancée, and she is invited into the family for the holidays. She ends up falling in love with the victim’s brother, but the most important lesson she learns is how beautiful a true family can be. I’d consider this movie a must-see for just about everyone during the holiday season.

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Socialnomics: Social Media Revolution Emmi de Vries Staff Writer

By 2010, Generation Y will outnumber the Baby Boomers, and already, 96 percent of them have joined a social network, like MySpace or Facebook. Wikipedia comprises over 13 million articles, 78 percent of which aren’t in English, and Google is the largest search engine in the world, followed by YouTube. Social media has overtaken the communication and interaction between people.

24 of the 25 largest newspapers are experiencing record declines in circulation, because people no longer read news, but at the same time more than 1.5 million pieces of content such as web links, news stories, blog posts, notes and photos are shared on Facebook daily.

“I use a social network almost everyday. It’s a great way to contact my friends and other teenagers,” senior Ann Ledbetter said.

Ledbetter is not alone.

In fact, the importance of social media in human society has greatly increased with time. Statistics show how much

people depend on the World Wide Web and their social network. For example, 1 out of every 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media. Also, 78 percent of consumers trust peer recommendations

er Patti Cornelius said.

Also, looking at the number of years it took new inventions to reach 50 million users reveals much about the huge growth in social media.

It took 38 years for the radio, 13 for TV, just 4 years

on products, while just 14 percent rely on advertisement.

“Social media is meeting a need in our society, but it is also somewhat abused. I know of at least one person who has withdrawn from real life to sit on his couch and post every thought that has ever popped to his head,” history teach-

for the Internet and 3 for the iPod. Facebook, however, added 100 million users in less than 9 months, and if it were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest, right behind China, India and the U.S. “Facebook is more than a chat room nowadays; for some people it is their life”, junior Jared Glover

said.

Those developments give a taste of the socalled social media revolution that is addressed in a book published in 2009 by Erik Qualman.

“I think the social media revolution is the concept of changing how we relate to each other and the world through social media instead of personal interaction,” Cornelius said, “The social media revolution has made keeping in contact easier, but it has also created an avenue for non personal, sometimes shallow, relationships that can sometimes seem more real than life.”

In his book, Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business, and also in a video clip released in 2010, Qualman shows statistics about social media, such as the ones above, and explains socialnomics.

In his words, socialnomics are the values created and shared via social media, and they can influence economic, political, and relational outcomes. He says that in the future, we will no longer search for things; rather, they will find us via social media.

Faces of

DHS

Photos by: Paisley Brady, Taylor Bogle, and Brooklynn Allen

Fiction: The Final Sleep

Cina Catteau Editor-in-chief Tuesday, November 19, 2019 “This research stuff is messing with my head.”

These were Julianne’s first words to her assistant when she walked into the office Tuesday morning.

“Tell me about it. My kids could be employed by the company with all of their knowledge of Antisomnia, with all I talk about it at home,” she replied. “We could all use a break.” She handed Julianne her coffee, her messages, and a huge stack of haphazard papers, the corners bent and plentiful ink smudged.

“You think that’s bad.

December 2010

Last night I dreamed of myself, begging me not to go through with it. Talk about crazy. And what are these?”

“These are medical releases, from 500 citizens of Los Angeles, volunteering themselves for medical research.

But don’t worry, there are 3,000 more where these came from, and that is just from the L.A. recruitment.”

Days ago, the company had put out an ad on the Internet, asking for people of all age, gender, and ethnicity, to try out a new drug that would supposedly reduce the need for sleep.

There was no mention of compensation, publicity, or possible negative side effects. It came as a

shock to Dr. Pratt that so many people would risk medical complications just in order to be the first to get a taste of life without sleep.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to start making calls,” Julianne said with a sigh.

“Wrong. I’ll have to start making calls,” her assistant replied. “You are needed at the lab, they called just before you got here.”

Julianne closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. “I’m not sure I want a life without sleep.

You know that they’ll just use that as an excuse to stuff more things into my schedule.” She paused for a second and leaned forward once more. “Well, here I go.

Call as many of those

volunteers as you can and tell them the times and dates they’ll need to be at the lab. I probably won’t make it back by the end of the day, you know how that lab gets bogged down with all the companies they try to juggle. I’ll see you tomorrow, call me with any problems.”

With that, she walked down the hallway of the 14th floor towards the elevator.

Her office was in the Eisai building, a recently successful company with just enough capital to buy a 20 story high-rise in the heart of the Los Angeles business district, but not quite enough to keep it going without the help of a few floors of renters, smaller subsidiaries that were just as sound

O P I N I O N

but not as large. Dr. Pratt was the president of one such company, Pharmaceuticals United. They were the up-and-coming American version of the Japanese Eisai, with a specialty in developmental and research drugs. They had quite a reputation to uphold if they were to live up to Eisai’s standard, since the company had made tremendous strides in Japanese healthcare, including breakthroughs in AIDS prevention and safer cancer treatments.

Although Julianne was currently happy with the status of Eisai’s subsidiary, she expected Pharmaceuticals United to soon become the leader in distributing American medicine, especially af-

ter the development of Antisomnia. And Julianne would be president of it all. Sometimes it was almost too much for her to wrap her head around.

In her mind’s eye, she could see skyscrapers towering over the skylines of the most populous cities in the United States, each with “Pharmaceuticals United” shining proudly at the top. She saw a huge laboratory complex that worked exclusively for United, and packages of Antisomnia rapidly filling the shelves at pharmacies across the globe.

It was a real possibility, she knew that without a doubt. She knew it, and she wanted it.

To be continued...

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Sleepless Nights Due Teachers Use Technology as a New Tool to Stressful School Kayla Robinson Staff Writer As the school year progresses, classes are more demanding, extracurricular activities are more involved, and students’ weekly schedules fill up by Monday afternoons.

Amid all the excitement and stress of high school, the time allotted for sleep quickly dwindles into unreasonable hours.

Students prioritize homework higher than sleep, especially when it comes to studying.

“If I have a huge test coming up, I can’t sleep at all at night! It hangs over my head, and I end up freaking out,” sophomore Elizabeth Armstrong said.

The stress of studying takes its toll on students that make time to do so, but students that cannot find the time to prepare for a test develop an increasingly higher level of pre-testing stress.

“I usually have 2 or 3 really hard tests a

week…I know that I don’t really study because I don’t have time. Lots of nights before my test I have tossed and turned knowing that I haven’t studied and there is a big possibility I will fail,” sophomore Brian Baumgardner said.

School nights aren’t only controlled by the amount of homework that is assigned, but also by extracurricular teams and clubs that must find time to meet. Being a part of these organizations pushes homework time later and later, therefore shaving off precious hours of sleep.

“I was so relieved when our season ended and we stopped having band practice until 6 o’clock every day. We always had tons to do after band (which almost always ran overtime), and we were so tired. I’m amazed we got it all done without going crazy,” Armstrong said.

Once students leave the school for the day, whether it’s at 3:40 or

8:00 p.m., chores await at home.

“I usually do my homework after everything else I have to do around the house is finished. [I have to stay up] to finish my work so I will pass my classes,” Baumgardner said.

Along with schoolwork and home life, social lives can impact students’ lack of sleep. Seeing movies with friends, attending seasonal carnivals and staying up late texting are all examples of things teenagers engage in during the school year to reduce the stress of school, but actually increase levels of stress due to lack of sleep.

“I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 at midnight when it premiered. I didn’t have any homework due on Friday, so I figured it was okay. But then the sleep deprivation began to kick in right as I got to school.

Usually I can run on 6 hours of sleep at absolute least, but running on 3 hours is really harsh on the body,” sophomore Linnea Moran said.

The overwhelming lack of sleep experienced by the student body cannot be completely avoided because of the all important “high school experience,” but the amount of time teenagers spend stressing out their body is a worrying thought for the future.

Some teachers are finding that pod casts can be a very useful tool when teaching lessons in class, and outside of class as well.

Faith Turner Staff Writer

Podcasts are a new way of teaching that has been brought to DHS. Teachers often use screencast.com or another host to record writing on a smart board and their voice teaching a lesson and turn it into a video for the students to view, pause, and slow down based on personal preferences.

“[The podcast system] has helped with time management in the classroom, and has provided a new resource for the reteach/ retest,” math teacher Rina Hamilton said.

While the students learn on a personalized level with a laptop or computer, teachers often use the much needed quiet time to grade papers and do other work that needs to be done.

“As my students are working, I use the time to attempt to stay ahead of them so I can keep making lessons,” Mrs. Hamilton said.

Students throughout the school benefit from the lesson because of the ability to personalize the pace.

“I personally benefit from them because if I don’t understand the first time, I can go back and review” junior Taryn McDaniel said.

“They make it easier because

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PLUMBING HEATING AIR CONDITIONING ELECTRICAL “SPECIALISTS” December 2010

I can go my speed and learn my way” junior Maggie Maddux said.

Another advantage students have is the ability to watch the podcasts at home which relieves the stress of makeup work from missed days.

“If I miss a day of school, I am able to go over a lesson myself and not have the teacher stressed out because she has to explain it again,” McDaniel said.

Pod casts are not the only way teachers are introducing technology a n d internet into the classroom.

English teachers Timothy McFadden recently used the internet site turnitin.com so students could check their paper for plagiarism and also turn in their senior research papers online.

“It is such a good, robust system that it takes away a lot of the temptation to cheat or cut corners that students tend to have when writing essays such as the senior research paper,” McFadden said.

DHS is bringing in the decade with new technology all around for students. This new technology creates new ways for students to learn and create. Hopefully, new technologies will be used and DHS will be known for its technological academia.

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3030 S. EISENHOWER PWKY. DENISON, TEXAS 75020 JOHNNY ALLEN

F E A T U R E

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Senioritis: Deadly Disease or Just an Excuse for Laziness?

CONTINUED from P1 “I don’t have a job, but I’m involved in a lot of outside school activities, and I still get my homework done.

I’m not saying it’s not hard, but it’s definitely not impossible,” junior Sierra Gilliam said.

Some would agree that just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you can blow off homework.

In fact, senior year is the most vital time for a high school student.

“It’s important to keep up with your homework so your grade point average doesn’t drop. I know all of this. I want to graduate and be able to get into a good college, but it’s still hard sometimes to get the motivation to do it,” senior Alex Elk said.

Because the year is almost over and graduation is just around the corner, seniors need to think long and hard about the future before they decide to give up on homework or school work in

general. Another issue that seniors are struggling with is attendance.

It has been said that at least sixty seniors are in danger of failing due to excessive absences.

“When you are in your last year of high school and you don’t feel like doing any school work or homework, some people think it’s easier to just not even show up to school,” Finley said.

Most seniors who skip school are just looking for an easy way out of work. However, this usually results in more work in the long run because students have to learn what they missed on their own, and they still get the make up work that they would have had to do in the first place.

Bottom line is, senioritis is merely a contagious disease, a pitiful excuse, and a guaranteed ticket to another year of high school.

Seniors of DHS need to realize this, quick.

501 W. Woodard Denison, TX 75020

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December 2010

The Dangers of Drug Use Emmi de Vries Staff Writer

Commentary

Cocaine, Heroin, LSD, Marijuana, Ecstasy - most people have heard of these drugs and know that they are illegal, but what about alcohol, cigarettes, and even coffee? What about all the other new or unknown substances out there?

By definition any substance, other than food, that changes the structure or function of the body is a drug.

People, however, spend too little time thinking about those “legal” drugs. Some of them are so much part of our lives that we barely pay attention anymore.

Think about it. Have you ever called a neighbor that is smoking or drinking alcohol a junkie?

People might pretend that their “consumer goods” are not dangerous, but in reality the caffeine in coffee or nicotine in cigarettes conceal the same danger of addiction as other drugs.

Fact is, you can become addicted to every drug that exists, no matter if it takes one try or your whole life. This drug addiction is defined as the uncontrollable dependence on a drug.

Addiction, however, is not the only reason that some drugs are illegal. Drug abuse, which is defined as the intentional misuse of any drug for nonmedical purpose, can have dangerous side effects. Many illegal drugs can cause physical and psychological harm, such as Crystal Meth or anabolic steroids that can cause severe brain damage.

Other symptoms that are very likely to appear can be short-term problems

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like insomnia, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, nausea, and blackouts, or longterm damage such as infertility or sometimes even cancer.

However, the problem with illegal drugs is that, though they are forbidden by law, people still find a way to get them. The reasons are as different as the people who have them. Problems in the personal life, curiosity or peer pressure: every one of these can be a temptation to try a drug.

Drugs are taken everywhere and drug addicts can be adults as well as kids. Some of them even know the dangers of what they do but don’t seem to care; others have no idea what they are doing to their bodies and minds.

Nevertheless, even the ones who know that what they do is wrong often can’t help themselves. Instead, they are tempted into other crimes and dangerous activities to get the money needed to buy more drugs. These include burglary, shoplifting, street crime and sometimes even prostitution.

These crimes, and also the drug consumption itself can have serious legal consequences.

For example, the misuse of drugs alone is divided into different classes. The highest punishments are seven years in prison and/or a fine just for the possession of drugs or up to a lifetime imprisonment and/ or a fine for the possession with intent to supply. If you consider this for a moment, you can see that drugs cannot only ruin your health but also your future and social life.

The opinions on how to deal with drugs, however, still differ. Some people think making legal drugs more expensive or putting higher taxes on them is the right way to proceed.

Others don’t see the problem there, but rather in the dealing with illegal drugs.

They are under the impression that the police should put more effort in discovering drug misuse.

More thorough controls and harder punishments are the only possibilities to stopping drugs, they say.

I, however, think that the only way to clash down on drugs at long sight is informing people. Tell them about the dangers of drugs, maybe even ask people who have overcome a drug addiction for their testimonies, and make people understand that taking drugs makes things worse, not better.

Everyone should get an opportunity to see what drugs can do to them, ask questions, and seek help. I think that the worst thing we can do is to sweep the issue under the table.

Often, mistakes are made because of a lack of education and information, which, of course, is no excuse for committing a crime!

So, in case you’re ever confronted with drugs, always ask yourself if you really want to ruin your life that way. Ask yourself if taking a drug is really that “cool” with all its consequences, and most importantly ask yourself if it is really worth it. Do you really want to take the risk and play Russian roulette with your health?

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Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.

Rachel’s Challenge exists to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.

Their goals for the schools that they reach are to create a safe learning environment for all students by re-establishing civility, to deliver proactive antidotes to school violence and bullying, to improve academic achievement by engaging student’s hearts, heads and hands in the learning process, and to provide students with social and emotional education that is both colorblind and culturally relevant. www.rachelschallenge.org TCID:PP

Jamie Branscum Copy Editor

November 18, 2010 was the date the community of Denison, Texas, watched a presentation about Rachel Joy Scott, a young lady killed in the Columbine shooting of April 20, 1999.

The assemblies were held in the high school’s Eisenhower auditorium. “...the message was more powerful than I was expecting,” junior Mikel Knapp said.

The presentations worked to challenge the student to show more compassion and kindness towards individuals. This compassion and kindness was shown through the life of Rachel Joy Scott, and a chain reaction of compassion and kindness sparked through the nation after her death. Her testimony has encouraged other students to live out their lives to the fullest, without being tormented by tragedy or troubles at school or home.

“Your message helped me to overcome my sister’s death and prevent my own,” an anonymous 9th Grader from Jefferson City, Missouri said on the Rachel’s Challenge website.

There can be much drama in public schools all across the world, some of which includes the intention of harming another student’s life or self-esteem. Often, teenagers or younger will say hurtful words to another in the hopes of becoming more popular. This negative dialogue, howsoever rightful at the moment, may lead the bullied ones to commit suicide or do other things, because they sense that “nobody cares”.

“That message can really start a dialogue in a person’s head that makes them think, ‘Maybe they don’t care about me. Maybe they don’t like me. Maybe nobody notices me. Maybe I’m not important. Maybe someone won’t notice if I’m not here tomorrow,’” speaker Jonathan Oliver said in an interview with KXII. Rachel Joy was one at Columbine High to see these things going on. Unlike many students, she felt strong conviction to help these students.

“Those two young men at Columbine, they felt ostracized, and Rachel Scott saw it in Columbine, and she was trying to make a difference, and this is the way her life is going to impact us here in Denison,” American history teacher Gloria Davidson said in an interview with KXII. The shooters’ names were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Rachel had attempted to uncover what was going on in Eric Harris’ life that made him hurt inside. She saw this hurt and attempted to reach out to him in the classroom. She

“Don't let your character change color with your environment.

Find out who you are and let it stay its true color.”

TCID:PP

wanted to give him a positive influence in his life. This information is found in Rachel’s parent’s book Rachel’s Tears. Rachel’s Tears has sold more than 350,000 copies in 6 different languages.

Many have said that Rachel Joy was a martyr for believing in God. Some have disagreed with this, saying that another victim at Columbine High School was the martyr frequently spoken of, named Cassie Bernall, whose last words were to her murderers, speaking her belief in God. The book, She Said Yes, was made in her honor and tells the story of her death. Similarly, the boy eating with Rachel Joy before the killings, Richard Castaldo also told a story about the way Rachel Joy died. Immediately after he was reunited with his mother, he told her what had happened, but he later forgot the incidents of the day, because he was severely traumatized. Castaldo had been shot in the spine, permanently paralyzing him. He said that Rachel Joy was shot twice in the legs, then once in her torso. After this, the killers appeared to be walking away, but they returned to ask her the question of whether she still believed in her God. As reported, she said, “You know I do.”

“Then go be with Him,” Eric Harris said.

Rachel Joy’s parents have said in Rachel’s Tears that the real importance was her faithfulness to God in real life. This is evidenced in Rachel Joy’s journals. She wrote daily prayers to God in these diaries, and she wrote about her insecurities, faults, inspirations, and daily issues.

Many people who have seen Rachel’s challenge presentations do not gather these facts from the assemblies.

Denison High School has yet to witness the full effect Rachel’s Challenge can have on the community. Through the help of Friends of Rachel, students will learn how to show compassion and kindness in everyday situations.

Club members have the choice to see that the program prospers or not. The choice is there to make everyday through impacting the lives of people once thought to be unworthy of kindness and compassion.

There are many books and journals about Rachel Joy Scott.

Mikayla Ross Staff Writer

Looking back at this past decade, one could say that the world has changed immensely.

Ten years sure does sound like a long time, especially to our generation.

“The days back then were much better than today’s world,” junior Jasmine Wrenn said.

So much has gone on these past ten years.

George Bush was elected president, finishing his reign in 2008 when Barack Obama took his place.

The Ipod was invented, ending the use of walkmans and boom boxes, replaced by convenient for little white squares, elevating the world of music to the next level. The terrorist attack in 9/11 became something that will be a part of our history and will never be forgotten.

War between the US and Far East broke out.

DVD’s were made.

New celebrities were discovered. Youtube and Facebook became some of the most successful websites ever, joined by Google,

Yahoo, Ask, Bing, Myspace, Skype, and many others.

“The technology has definitely advanced,” junior Sierra Gray said.

With all the use of cell phones and high speed cars and computers, it’s safe to say that technologyhasadvanced enormously. Research has become much easier since Internet.

And due to the creation of the Iphone, someone could carry almost all the information they need in their pocket.

“In all honesty, I don’t think this generation could live in our world pushed back a decade because we are so dependent on the technology today, that we wouldn’t know how to adapt ourselves to the disadvantage,” freshman Jordan Ross said.

This generation has become dependent on the technology today but only because they haven’t known a world without it. There is no need for them to go to the library to research something because the internet is provided.

Most don’t have to walk because the efficiency of their cars gives them transportation. There’s no need for landlines when you have a mobile one. It all ties together.

As much as these things are convenient and nice, people tend to take these lavish things for granted.

Cell Phones and Driving: A Dangerous Combo Emmi de Vries Staff Writer The state law of Texas only bans the use of cell phones while driving in school zones. On normal streets and even highways, texting and talking on the phone are legal, even if not encouraged. In an article about drivers distraction, Tom Barnes stated that the no.1 cause for crashes is the drivers inattention, which often originates from using a cell phone behind the wheel.

In fact, in a survey of the Insurance Information Institute almost 70% of drivers admitted to talking on their phones and 24 percent said they read or sent text messages or emails while driving.

“I talk on my phone quite often while I drive, but I always put it on speaker and lay the phone in my lap”, senior Ashley Griffin confessed.

Indeed her actions are not against the law, but nevertheless, Janet Froetscher, the president and of the National Safety Council (NSC), declared in an interview with EHSToday that, when a person is on a call, even with both hands on the wheel, the attention of that person is not on the driving. In fact, according to a statistic by Carnegie Mellon, cell phone use while driving reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. The University of Utah also stated that the distraction from cell phone use while driving extends a driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration 0.08 percent, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety discovered that the use of a cell phone while driving makes it four times more likely to get into serious crashes.

“The risks taken by using a cell

“

phone while driving are not worth the communication made during that transaction,” senior Kathryn Looney declared. “When operating a vehicle you not only hold your own life, but the lives of every other driver and passenger you cross, which are far more important than a conversation with a friend.”

Many people, especially experts and politicians, share this view, and the legality of cell phone use while driving causes a good deal of discussions in the U.S. and worldwide. At least 40 countries all over the world have put restrictions or bans on the use of a cell phone while driving an automobile, according to an article by a man named Michael Russell.

In America, the different states have different laws. All in all, 9 states, including California and New York, have put a ban on talking on a handheld cell phone, and text messaging is restricted for all drivers in 30 states.

In addition to that, 19 states and the District of Columbia forbid using a cell phone while driving a school bus, but only two states ban text messaging for bus drivers: Texas and Oklahoma.

“I believe that no matter how good of a driver you are any distraction can be the cause of an accident,” school bus driver Jim Branscum said when asked about cell phone use while driving.

His statement shows reason for a nation wide ban on the use of mobile phones while driving a vehicle. Though this might just be theory now, it could become reality in a few years. Until then, even the smallest restriction can help to make the streets a little safer, and maybe someday fewer people will die due to the distraction of other drivers.

No matter how good of a driver you are, any distraction can cause an accident.

“

Looking Back on the Decade

Pop Culture Influences Lives: For Better or For Worse Faith Turner Staff Writer

Popular culture is just what its name says it is. The key word is popular. Whatever is “in style,” if it has influenced people, it is pop culture. Overall, popular culture controls the day -to- day lives of many Americans and influences their decisions on politics, dieting, drug use, fashion, and media.

Politics have played a huge part in pop culture in this past decade, from the inaugural concerts to the Pepsi can with Obama’s logo on them.

There has also been a lot of pop culture in the choice in Republicans

December 2010

and

Democrats.

This is “the latest product of our blurry age, Partisan Politics,” Dallas Morning News journalist Tom Maurstad wrote.

Partisan is showing strong and usually biased support for a cause, especially a political one. So putting pop culture into politics takes away the stress that is attached to the choice between candidates and turns it into fun. However, some do not think this change is for the best.

“Ideology and partisanship bring stress and remove the opportunity to interact without that sense of pressure and noise,” Maurstad said.

The fact is that where ever there are

politics there is division, and there is nothing wrong with having an opinion. The t-shirts and soda pop cans with politicians’ faces on them make politics fun and easy, but they also sway our opinion. If the soda cans and t-shirts are cool, then that is what we, as consumers and humans, want.

Therefore, everyone wants to “be cool” and jump on the bandwagon voting for the face on the Pepsi cans and t-shirts.

The “cool factor” is the real appeal to Americans and it can be a major influence on our votes.

S p e a k i n g of bandwagon, the television just had a commercial advertising Katy Perry’s latest

clothing line. Advertising makes all clothes look new, fresh, and exciting, which makes Americans rush to the stores and buy whatever so and so was wearing, which starts a pop culture trend or fad.

The latest trend for 2010 fall fashion is the “thug”.

“According to a gang of menswear designers including Canada’s Dean and Dan Caten, the hyper Masculine, testosterone driven imagery associated with two men ‘duking it out’ may represent a backlash against the recent preoccupation men’s fashion has had with femininity. As male models appear on the runways and in advertising campaigns splattered with blood and

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swollen dark bruises, the thug is being elevated to the status of fashion icon,” Toronto Star reporter David Graham wrote.

When people think of thugs and gangs from the 2009 hit movie Pineapple Express, something else that pops into their heads is marijuana, which is something that seems to be taking over the pop culture industry.

It is everywhere from music with Lil Wayne’s hit song I Feel Like Dying to the box offices with hits like Pineapple Express, Homegrown, and the most famous, Scarface.

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research

American adolescents have started to increase their use of marijuana in the past two years.

“The reason is the approval for marijuana and decriminalization of marijuana offenses and causal display or marijuana use in pop culture,” an editorial in the Eerie Times Newspaper said.

Next time Americans make a decision at the ballots or at a store, they need to weigh the options, let them sink in, and think about what is really about to happen with their decision. These decisions can really change American lives, so the influecne of pop culture shouldn’t get in the way of day to day decisions.

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Merry Christmas to Denison High School Jamie Branscum Copy Editor Many malefactions, or sins, are forgotten during Christmas time.

Students, teachers, and many workers welcome a vacation in winter in order to spend time with family, friends, or in quiet. Christmas, celebrated with presents and carols, is a holiday many Christians use to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on earth.

“I love getting the

perfect gift for the people I love, listening to Christmas music, baking, [and] celebrating one of my favorite birthdays,” senior Jennifer Cardin said.

Celebrating Christmas brings blessings to many.

For some, everything seems to compliment the Christmas spirit.

“My favorite things about Christmas is how beautiful my church looks, all my mom’s side of my family comes to our house, Christmas

music and lights, and I just love how happy and jolly everyone is. Yes, Christmas is my all time favorite holiday; I took after my Gram on that,” senior Abby Allen said.

Besides bringing happiness and jolliness to people, the Christmas holiday brings great tidings to businesses as well. The Hobby Lobby Corporation alone is predicted to have a 2.3% increase in sales this Christmas. During Christmas 2008, the

Christmas is beginning to appear at DHS, as demonstrated by this Yellow-Jacket themed ornament. Photo by Brian Eaves

sales were down 3.9%.

This means a 6.2% improvement in two years during Christmas.

Although Christmas spirit lingers hopefully in the air and businesses are benefited, spites of evil roam around to destroy the love and peace of people not able to share in the simple joys of Christmas. Yes, crime increases during the Christmas celebration time, however, the absence of family or other factors, such as the lack of funds to buy a Christmas meal or a small present, can “put down” Christmas enthusiasm.

Some organizations work to prevent this from happening in as many ways possible.

“Christmas is a time of joy, happiness, and goodwill. It is a time of giving and helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves, especially impoverished children,” Marine outreach “Toys for Tots” said.

Toys for Tots is a tool

Holiday cheer is spread through the annual door-decorating contest.

Photo by Brian Eaves

used by the Marines to raise toys for children at Christmas. Many volunteers give to the organization by sending toys or donating their time.

High school students can learn from assisting organizations

like Toys for Tots.

“They might learn that we can gain more satisfaction from giving than receiving, and hopefully it will begin a lifetime habit of giving to others,” history teacher Roger Mitchell said.

Coats for Kids: Denteens Coat Drive Kayla Robinson Staff Writer

As the weather gets colder, families start to lug their heavy coats out of the winter closet in order to fight the biting winds and freezing temperatures. Denteens and StuCo are teaming up to host their annual Coats for Kids drive which supplies new or gently used coats to underprivileged children that would otherwise not have one. “[This coat drive] will show people that others do care for people they don’t know,” sophomore Gabrielle Hundley said.

This sense of joy when others are receiving something they really need is what fuels many people to donate to this cause.

“I would like to know that I helped [less fortunate people] in some way,” senior Jose Gomez said.

Students also donate coats in order to repay the community for its long lasting support throughout the year.

“Our community backs us during football season, volleyball season...all year long; we should lend them a hand in keeping them warm during this holiday season,” junior

Brittany Nation said.

Although members of Denteens and StuCo will receive points for bringing in a coat, everyone is encouraged to participate. “[Less fortunate people] could greatly benefit from anyone bringing a coat,” sophomore Kelsey Langford said.

As the year ebbs into the dark, cold months of winter, having warm clothes makes a difference that only those who wish for warmth can understand.

Denison High School will attempt to fight shivering with Coats for Kids through December 17th, 2010.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD Kayla Robinson Staff Writer The last traces of summer are gone, and their disappearance brings cold temperatures, overcast days, and for some people, a distinct depression.

What some may blow off as a transition-slump between fall and winter, or contribute it to a change in themselves, could be SAD, or Seasonal Affective

December 2010

Disorder.

According to reviewed articles on WebMD, this mood disorder brings the typical signs of depression: fatigue, low motivation, need for sleep, and weight gain, every year at a recurring time.

One theory of the cause of seasonal depression is that decreased amounts of sunlight reduce the amount of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter with a calming effect, the loss of

which causes symptoms of depression. Because of this lack of serotonin, the body craves foods high in the chemical, like carbohydrates.

It is recommended to spend at least 30 minutes outside in order to receive the allotted amount of serotonin, which can possibly reduce the symptoms of seasonal depression.

It is important to get a normal amount of sunlight during the abnormally dark

months, especially when spending time out of doors is inconveniently cold.

When SAD is diagnosed, light therapy can be recommended by a doctor, along with antidepressants.

Seasonal affective disorder is more likely to be a problem in teen girls than teen boys, and in the cited case of one teenager, she became tired and fatigued, leading to her parents contacting a doctor

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once they heard her complain of a loss of friendships.

T h e s e symptoms are easy to recognize and can affect many teenagers, especially when coupled with the stress of an ordinarily depressive lifestyle.

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Procrastination Mikayla Ross Staff Writer What is easy and fun, but doesn’t get the job done? If your answer was procrastination, then you are correct!

This is a major issue with today’s society. It’s very ironic, too; we always have enough time to procrastinate, but not enough time to do what we need to do.

I procrastinate all of the time. I’ve been getting better, but when asked to do some chores around the house I complain, because I don’t want to do it. We all do it. We would rather do something we choose to do than do something our parents, teachers, or just anyone wants us to do, because we feel like it won’t be fun, it’ll take too long, we won’t have time to do the things we want, or we just want to be lazy. Been there, done that, but we’ll probably go back.

Procrastination can be so much fun.

Watching TV, playing video games, or getting on Facebook, sounds so much more appealing than doing homework, cleaning the house, and washing clothes.

Procrastination can also be the worst thing ever.

That homework that was due today is unfinished, maybe not even looked at, and turned in to the teacher half done, completely blank, or we just copy answers (which is easy, but we didn’t exactly learn something). Everyone copies someone’s work at least 50,000,000 times in there high school career, if not that many times, then at least 1. The house becomes a mess, because no one has been paying attention to the dirty dishes in the sink or the rotten smell from the trash can. And those clothes are sitting there in the hamper, just waiting to be cleaned, and because of that, you can’t find that favorite shirt of your’s that you wanted to wear. Nothing is accomplished when we procrastinate. Maybe our entertainment level was bumped up a few notches, but our priorities are certainly not up to scale.

I have procrastinated more than once, and I love not having to do anything and just relaxing and lounging around, but I also hate staying up late to finish things that I should have done earlier. Like I said, I

December 2010

have gotten better. If you procrastinate and need a few tips, here’s some that will help. One, if you’re the type of person that gets your school stuff ready at night, do it earlier in the evening.

If you have to clean the kitchen, clean it right after your mom made that delicious Lasagna with garlic bread and salad on the side. Do you take showers at night?

Well take one right when you get home. If you do all of these things earlier in the evening you get the whole night to yourself and don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I do a few of those things when I get home and I just feel so relieved that I don’t have to do anything for the remainder of the night. I just get to chill. Plus, if you take some of these tips into consideration you can get more sleep and can stop running on energy drinks. No longer will you have to be a sleepdeprived teenager. You won’t sleep in school, which means you know what the assignment is.

Although, sleeping in school can be the best sleep you have ever gotten.

If something needs to be done right at that moment, just go ahead and finish it real quickly, I promise it’s not as bad as it seems. I would rather finish watching my favorite TV show than wash the dishes, but I get it done so my parents know that they can rely on me to get a job done and have it done right.

That’s another thing that is a disadvantage at procrastinating. When you tell someone that you will help them with something and you wait to the very last minute saying “I’ve got time,” or “I’ll do it in a little bit,” or you “forgot” then they won’t want you to help them with anything and they won’t trust you. Wouldn’t you want someone to know that they can trust you with anything, and not the other way around? I would.

For those who would like to be able to do the things they want, I suggest not procrastinating.

I’m going to admit that it is very hard to not procrastinate, but it’s a must if we intend to succeed. So, let’s have all procrastinators unite so we can get our job finished…tomorrow!

Spotlight on Music Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: End of Day "Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists," said Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone. "He crosses musical boundaries with an appeal that goes beyond genre, format, race, language, and culture.

Cudi lives easily in the hip-hop, indie rock, pop, and R&B worlds - a diversity that shows in his innovative music and his all-embracing persona.

He is a born storyteller who brings a positive, life-affirming message to his brilliant lyrical flow and compelling music.

There are no clichés in what Cudi does. He is a breath of fresh air - a dynamic and important new voice, not only in the next phase of hip-hop, but as a groundbreaking trendsetter who represents the future. I am thrilled to welcome Kid Cudi into the Universal Motown family." KID CUDI

released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in July, 2008 as a free download sponsored by New York streetwear company 10 Deep, leading to an introduction and signing to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, and in turn, to Cudi's co-writing of four tracks on the platinum Kanye West album 808s &

Heartbreak, including the Top 5 single, "Heartless" and stepping out in a featured vocal on "Welcome to Heartbreak." He followed this up with his first Official single; "DAY N NITE" "day 'n' nite" dominated with #1 rankings at multiple radio formats.

Review by www.amazon.com

Teens and Tobacco

Even though the dangers and health risks of tobacco products are now well-known, some underage students continue to become regular smokers Jerrika White Managing Editor According to tobaccofreekids. org, each day 4,000 kids under the age of 18 try smoking a cigarette for their very first time. On average, about 1,000+ of those kids will become a daily smoker. The most recent studies show that in the past year 309,268 kids have become regular smokers, and 98,966 will die prematurely from their addiction.

It is believed that the Mayan Indians of Mexico were the first to use tobacco. However, they believed it had religious and medical purpose, unlike the reasons it is used for today. Many teens take the first drag of a cigarette with the

hope that it will make them look cool, older, and unstoppable.

“I’m pretty sure the only reason most kids at our school smoke is for the image that it puts off. People think that if someone sees you smoking they’ll think more of you,” senior Taylor Miller said.

Teens feel a great need to be accepted and fit in. Some seem to think that smoking will help increase these chances for them.

However, students who know the truth about tobacco use couldn’t disagree more.

“Cigarettes are probably the most common use of tobacco, but dipping might be close to the same amount of use as cigarettes have.

But only because teenagers believe dip to be less risky, which is

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not true at all. Stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, lip and tongue cancer, tooth decay and many other risks are acquainted with any type of tobacco product. If people cared at all about their wellbeing or at least the well-being of others, then the percentage of tobacco users would drop,” senior Sierra Flinn said.

Using tobacco as a way to get the attention of others is considered just plain stupid by many, and selfish to others. Smoking cigarettes to fit in comes at a price that some might just drop dead over.

“Kids that smoke pretty much know what they’re doing to themselves, it’s just a matter of not caring. I think it’s because they don’t have to deal with it in real life, they just

see it on the television and blow it off,” senior Teresa Martinez said.

It’s hard for kids to understand what they’re doing to their body by smoking cigarettes until they can actually see it happening in the real world. Although, it’s not hard to see the damage of tobacco when looking at the lung cancer patients at the hospital, people with holes in their throat and furry hair on their tongues. The effects are real, and they’re all throughout the world.

Most kids say that they wouldn’t commit suicide, but when comparing the two, smoking cigarettes is just as bad. As soon as teenagers who smoke realize this, they will have the power to save their life. After that, it’s up to them to make the decision: to smoke, or potentially die from it?

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Expect Great Things From the Basketball Team Jamie Branscum Copy Editor The basketball season has barely started in Denison, Texas. Players are just now becoming used to not attending or playing in a football game every weekend. The 20102011 basketball teams are ready for a productive season, but the coaches still believe that there is work to be done to achieve this.

“We are very young, when it comes to varsity playing experience. So, our hopes are that we improve everyday, we work together as a team, and we have fun. If we can do that, we will have a very successful season,”

varsity boys’ coach Jody Bass said.

The girls’ varsity team is ready to have fun and work diligently as well.

Girls’ varsity coach Marty Nichols has “high hopes” for the team.

“I believe this team has a chance to be good… it has a good group of girls who work hard and want to succeed… and I believe they will succeed,” Nichols said.

Each athlete on the teams has a type of goal for the season: some want to win every game, some want to earn scholarships to play in college.

“I want to [go to college], it just depends how my season goes this year,” senior athlete James Smith said.

Smith is considering going to Brookhaven

College. He says that the team aims for a winning season, and work for one by practicing hard, playing as a team, listening to the coach, and doing whatever it takes to win.

Bass and Nichols anticipate the starting players to change this season, but for now James Smith, Jon Bassett, Daniel Batey, Austin Ross, and Tori Watson will start for the boys; for the girls, point guards will be Mariah Scally and Abby Allen, wings Icis Finley, Shaquala Caldwell, and Ashlyn Flinn, and post positions will be filled by Emily Thompson, Kelva Thornton, and Lamonica Finley.

Tennis, Cross Country Advances to Regionals CONTINUED FROM P1 Incredible performances like that by the cross country team affirm and reinforce the Jacket spirit that is so prevalent at our school.

“It was very exciting to travel as a team to regionals, and I am extremely proud to say that I was a part of the team and a part of the incredible experience that we shared together as teammates,” Brashier said.

The tennis team achieved a similar feat by competing in the regional tournament in Grapevine on October 29. They defeated district champion Dallas Adamson in a 10-0 win, but were beaten in the second round by the players of Highland Park, who went on to win state. Their season has come to a close, but the winning attitude that they demonstrated lives on.

“Going to regionals after years of being stuck in district has given us new confidence in our abilities and in each

December 2010

other,” senior Brandon Wood said. “I think that our performance has inspired the team to work harder so that we can accomplish even more next year.”

The fall season is important for the team, because it gives them a chance to play together.

The team must win 10 matches to win overall, which means that no individual is able to win through his or her own ability.

Fall tennis requires a lot of teamwork and encouragement.

“The team aspect is a lot of fun for them.

With tennis being an individual sport, [regionals is] one of those things that brings out camaraderie because it’s so individual in the spring,” Denison head coach Tom Faulkner told the Herald Democrat.

“They’ve pushed themselves to get here.”

With talent and attitudes like that, the student body can be proud of their athletes and be looking forward to a similar or even higher level of achievement to be attained next year.

S T U D E N T L I F E

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Cina Catteau Editor-in-Chief A hundred captions below photos, giving credit to the photographer who pressed the shutter. Photo by, photo by, photo by. In this small way, the hard work and long hours spent by the photographers to create the photos that grace the pages of the yearbook and newspaper is acknowledged. However, the mastery of their art goes beyond what can be duplicated through words. They are the ones who capture and share the spirit, the camaraderie, and the pride that makes Denison High School such a unique place.

The photography staff takes thousands of photos, only a small fraction of which end up being published. However, they consider it worth it to see the products of their effort printed as memories that will last forever.

“I’ve just always loved taking pictures, so that you can always have a picture of something pretty of a cool action shot. My favorite part is just being a part of something where my work gets shown. I like the feeling of people seeing my pictures in the yearbook and newspaper,” senior Paisley Brady said.

Denison is unique in the amount of photographers it has, and the passion that they all demonstrate for their work. Every one of the girls on staff loves their work, and loves getting to experience all of the different aspects of the school through photography.

“The reason I first wanted to be on photography staff was because photography has always been a passion of mine since I was little, and this gave me a chance to improve my photography and for others to see it. I love getting to shoot the different games and activities around the school and working with different people,” junior Brooklynn Allen said.

A lot of work goes into the photos that get printed. The multitude of photos that are shot have to be sifted through for the best, edited, cropped, and renamed for use in the publications.

“It’s a challenge to be a photographer, because we have to get great pictures. We also have to edit and crop thousands of pictures before the next game,” sophomore Courtney Clapp said.

The photographer’s hard work is rewarded when she sees that she has taken a truly unique photo, reflective of the emotions that they were trying to captured and filled with details that contribute to the overall image. Everyone’s taste in art is different, but no one can dispute the fact that our photographers do an amazing job capturing their subject matter. A few amazing pictures stand out to the photographers as their best work.

“My favorite picture I have ever taken would have to be a landscape picture which was of a boot in a grassy area. After it was edited, it had a very country feel and I fell in love with it,” Allen said.

Not only do the photographers join together to create great photos, they consider themselves a cohesive unit, almost as close as family.

“The whole photography staff and I have become super close. We all act like we’re sisters,” Clapp said.

Our photography staff is made up of editors Brie Osmon and Paisley Brady, as well as photographers Brooklynn Allen, Courtney Clapp, Taylor Bogle, Emily Bizzle, and Lauren Hancock. Thanks to all of these girls for their dedication and the amazing photos that they create.

December 2010

S P O T L I G H T

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