February 5, 2016 by The Oracle

RACLE O

TSTRATFORD HE

Friday, February 5, 2016 Volume 42, Issue 5

shsoracle.com

Endorsements Explained @stratfordoracle @spartanoracle

pg. 7

Biggest Music Festivals of 2016 pg. 10

Swimming Continues Hair-Bleaching pg. 14

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opinions

Staff Editorial: Pursue your dreams Follow where your dream leads you OPINION OF EDITORIAL BOARD

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL TORRES

Life is a scavenger hunt for your passion, a journey to find out what you love. There are some people who do not find their passion until their death, and there are others who find their passion sooner and use it to make the world beautiful. Believe it or not, everyone has a talent and a purpose in life. If you have already found what you love and believe that you will never get sick of doing it, then you are encouraged to be a dreamer. It is an honor and an act of luck to find what you love, so you should never spoil your talent by doing nothing with it. Take your passion, whatever it might be - drawing, writing, or even solving math problems - and do something related to it. I am not telling you to become Leonardo Da Vinci or William Shakespeare. You should go wherever your passion leads you and follow the track that it has made for you. Do not worry about money or getting a job. If you pursue your dream, then the money will come to you. You may be poor at the start, but you must remember that it is really only the beginning. You can develop your passion into something valuable and incredible throughout your career. You shouldn’t worry about getting a job because there are likely thousands of jobs that are related to your passion. If everyone goes into the medical field just to get a job, then who would draw, build, or write? You also have the option to employ yourself and become your own boss. Listen to your own instinct, not to other people. You should be honest with yourself and do not worry about how your dream would look to others. Do not care about the popularity of your major or what you intend to pursue. It is your dream and no one else’s.

The ongoing statement that studying science and/or math is more practical than getting into the creative field is a myth. Every object requires creative designers. Even what people would call the ‘practical’ mechanical engineering needs designers to design things like cars. There is a gift that you would get every day by doing what you love: happiness. If you refused to pursue your dream and went on to the so-called ‘practical’ area, then you wouldn’t be able to buy happiness with your money. Happiness is guaranteed when you truly enjoy your job, which can sometimes be hard. Your job may never be considered a real job, but rather a hobby. You would still walk to your workplace with a smile on your face. Even if you have a grumpy boss or lazy co-workers, you would not be nearly as stressed. If there is such a thing as a shortcut to the top, t h e n this might be it. Pursuing your dream is the easiest route to success. The power of passion cannot be conquered by any problem that blocks your way. If you are passionate about what you’re doing, then you will be more willing to study and improve yourself in the area. You’re less likely to complain about low income or poor working conditions if you can do what you love all day long. You will have patience to wait for yourself to become the famous person in your career all over the world. Do not be afraid of failure; your dream may still come true even after you fail a few times. Remember, a quitter never wins, and a winner never quits.

[The Oracle]

STRATFORD ORACLE STAFF 2015-16 Editors-in-Chief *Scott Kennedy *Cameron Henkel Associate Editor *Olivia Siciliano Photo Editors *Taylor Brittain *Riley Timmreck *Jordyn Richards Opinions Editors Tina Kang Emma Holland News Editors Taylor Morris Ellie Herrmann Culture Editors Nazlee Khadjeheian Maddie McKenzie Sports Editors Jacqui Comparin Haley Grace Francis Sebastian Droz Reporters

Front Page:

Alex Parizot Daniela Trujillo Gillian Meredith Lindell Lewis John McGowan Elizabeth Cole Ellie Pena

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Hortencia comes early to clean the trophy case.

CAROLINE BUCEK (PHOTO), ARTURO BENITEZ (EDITING) The Oracle newspaper is the offi- name, grade and signature. Submitted cial, school-sponsored student media material is subject to editing based on of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, space and/or content. The opinions Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. expressed are those of the individual The Oracle is published monthly by authors and do not necessarily reflect the Journalism Department, and is also the views of the editors, the staff, the available online at shsoracle.com. The administration or the school district. newspaper is a member of Columbia The staff is responsible for the conScholastic Press Association, National tent of the publication, and strives Scholastic Press Association, and Inter- maintain professional standards of acscholastic League Press Conference. curacy, objectivity and fairness. The The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression, and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@shsoracle.com. All letters to the editor must be typed and contain the author’s full

editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community, and welcomes freelance submissions.

Sticking to New Year’s Resolutions

Why most students don’t stick to resolutions OPINION OF MADDIE RUSTAM It’s a new year, which means a fresh start for most people. It is a great opportunity to start something new or give up a bad habit. Research shows that on average, people are easily motivated the first two weeks of January to commit to a resolution or attempt to give something up. However, by February, people start to forget and find themselves not putting in the effort to reach their goal. About half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, yet only 8% actually achieve them or continue to commit past the first couple months of the year. Why is that? How can something that seems so exciting get so boring in such a short period of time? In my opinion, the best explanation is that people don’t see fast results. They become discouraged when they realize how hard it is to stay motivated. The most common resolution is to lose weight and/or maintain a healthier lifestyle. Many give up when they don’t

see the numbers on the scale start to drop immediately. In order to be more successful in reaching your goals, you need to be specific and detailed. Saying, “I want to go to the gym more,” is very vague. It’s not a goal that you have a plan for and are ready to tackle. On top of being “too vague,” people make unrealistic goals. If you can run two miles without stopping, deciding on Jan. 1 that you are going to be able to run fifteen miles by March 1 is an unrealistic goal. I personally have tried to follow through on my resolutions for the past few years. Sadly, I have not been successful for very long. I am with the majority of people, and usually last through February or March. I am a very dedicated person, but once I get back into my regular schedule at school, it is hard to focus on my resolution. I fall back into to the same routine I had in December. I end up making school-

work and other things a priority with how I spend my limited free time. I think we all can agree that once we get we get back to school, we easily lose sight of the exciting goals we made for ourselves during Christmas Break. Nevertheless, we try again every year.

What’s On Your Mind? “I do set New Year’s resolutions, but I have never stuck to one before because I have never taken it seriously.” -Catherine Parnell (10)

[The Oracle]

opinions

[2/05/16]

Starting off Fresh

How to stay focused when the spring semester brings challenges OPINION OF EMMA HOLLAND

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL TORRES

2016. It’s a new year, new semester, and a new start. Some times your schedule changes and you have new people in your classes. Other times, everything seems the same as first semester. Regardless, January is a good time to start fresh. However, many students see January as a time to “zone-out”. It’s second semester, half of the school-year is done, and summer is coming. Students start to feel tired and ready for the year to end. This time of year affects many students, but seniors in particular. In fact, it has become so common that it’s often referred to as “Seniorities.” “Seniorities” is not a disease, but an extreme feeling of laziness and lack of desire to put forth effort towards anything relating to school. Even though it’s not an illness, it is extremely contagious. Once one student starts to exhibit “Seniorities,” many other students catch on. Procrastination, extreme exhaustion, lack of motivation, and difficulty focusing are four of the main symptoms of a student with “Seniorities.” Seniors all of a sudden can’t turn their homework in on time, struggle to get up in the morning, feel as though they have no reason to finish a project, and lack motivation to take notes in class. Although seniors often “give up” sooner than others, students in all grades experience similar “symptoms” when the second semester begins. All students start to feel discouraged when their second semester goals are to make all “A’s,” but they already have several “B’s.” It’s hard to finish strong when students are busy with all of their extracurricular activities in the spring. It’s

hard to focus on making good grades when you are planning your spring break and summer plans. It’s hard to get to school on time when your so tired that all you want to do is sleep. The spring is a very busy time for everyone, however, seniors undoubtedly have it the worst. Senior students are thinking about graduation, not just the ceremony, but what to do after that. Many students are planning on attending college, and college provides lots of distractions. Some students are still waiting on admission decisions, some are busy researching housing arrangements, and others are deciding which university to choose. In summary, we are all very busy, myself included. I have a hard time focusing and paying attention when I’m thinking about my weekend plans or even my summer plans. Maybe I’m wondering about how I’m going to have time to study for all of the tests and quizzes. However, it’s important to remember that we still have a whole semester ahead of us, and we need to leave our distractions behind and do our best to focus on school. Even if you feel pretty determined right now, you should still learn how to manage distractions before they get “out of hand.” As a student, there are many ways for you to stay motivated

and start the year off right. First, make it a priority to do your schoolwork on time, not just the night before it’s due. Try to do assignments a little at a time so that you can pace yourself. This will not only help improve your grades, it can improve your sleep habits. It might allow you to go to bed early instead of super late as you cram for everything. Second, do your best to focus during lessons. This one is hard, especially for me. It’s so easy to “zoneout” when you feel tired and don’t want to work hard. But listening is one of the best skills for studying. If you are paying attention, you probably won’t need to spend as much time studying at home, and you can hear valuable information you can’t find online. My final piece of advice is to not “burn out.” This is really important when it comes to staying strong. Of course, study and do your homework, but don’t forget to spend some time with friends or do something fun every once in a while. If you over-study all time, then you’ll have little energy left when we approach the end of the year. We still have three more “six-weeks” until the end of school, so let’s work hard and stay focused. It’s not time to give up now. There’s still time to improve your grades/work habits and make a difference. Most of all, enjoy this last semester. We still have a while to go, so let’s make it count!

Going Green

How “going green” is easier than it seems OPINION OF EMMA HOLLAND AND HALEY GRACE FRANCIS The phrase “go green” is one that we seem to hear over and over again. We feel like we “get the point” and just want to move on. However, we aren’t as eco-friendly as we should be. Every day, most students don’t make the choice to save the environment. Instead, they take short cuts that impact the environment more than they think. Stratford has several things in place to help students protect the environment, such as the water bottle-filling water fountains and recycling bins around the school. All of these things are great in theory, but they are pointless unless they are actually utilized on a daily basis. In fact, most of “going green” is not the items that you use, it’s your behavior. As Spartans, it’s important that we learn the ways of “going green.” Your whole life, you’ve all be told to “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Even though you may not have thought about it before, we are going to show you how the “Three R’s” are all you need to get started on the path of saving the environment. First, reduce. On average, American waste about 4.5 million tons of office paper per year. Students use way too many resources that we didn’t need to in the first place. We open tons of plastic water bottles and grab ten pieces of paper when we only need one. Then we write one word on a piece of paper before we reach for another one. These things can be easily avoidable, and if you reduce what you waste, it can make an amazing difference.

PHOTO BY BLAKE CHAPIN Every day, we subconsciously do things like choosing to buy the individual packs of goldfish when we could buy the huge box instead and put it into a container. We choose to take our own cars to school when we could carpool with a friend. We choose to take one bite of the yogurt before we throw it away. We are wasting a lot more resources than we think. Second, reuse. Think about this: after you’re done reading this newspaper, what do you plan on doing with it? Are you going to throw it away? Or are you going to recycle or re purpose it? There are so many different uses for newspaper that you can use it for instead. Think about the next time you eat lunch in the cafeteria. You are most likely going to throw away a paper sack, along with a plastic water bottle and a few Ziploc bags. You are also going to waste numerous pieces of paper and plastic during the day. It’s not as hard as it seems to reuse. With technology these days, you don’t need paper for everything. Also, you can buy a reusable lunch box and save so much paper each year. And while you’re at it, throw in some reusable containers to put in your lunch so you don’t have to throw away five Ziploc bags every day. Purchase a reusable water bottle and use it every day instead of the plastic ones. Finally, recycle. At Stratford, recycling is made easy. If you chose not to follow any of the other recommendations, you should at least consider recycling. Imagine that you have just finished eating your Nature Valley granola bar during math class. You walk up to throw it away. Right next to each other, you have two options: the trash or

the recycling. You would be surprised how many students pick the trash. It is such an easy decision - you are going to put it somewhere. Instead of putting it in a place that helps the environment, you put it in on that destroys it. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. That’s it. The “Three R’s.” Those three letters can to help make a difference in this world. But they only help if they are put into action. That’s why we need your help. We need every student to make the easy decisions everyday. We need every student to make small changes in their daily lifestyle. We need every student to start caring a little bit about the environment.

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opinions

[The Oracle]

Crossfire: Advantages of being the youngest vs. oldest of siblings How we benefit from younger/older sibling OPINION OF ERIN NEWSOM

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL TORRES

As a child, there was rarely a moment when I enjoyed being the youngest sibling. From clothes, to toys, to shoes, all I ever received were hand-me-downs once owned by my older sister. As I grew up, I didn’t understand the advantages that went along with being the youngest sibling until I experienced high school. I’m the youngest of two children, with an older sister, Katie, who is three grades ahead of me. When I was younger, I often envied the freedom and privileges that went along with being the oldest sibling, but as I grew older, I realized there are many positives I had never before considered. I have learned a considerable amount from my older sister. All of my life, I have watched her grow up, and I have had the opportunity to learn from her mistakes. Learning from my sister’s mistakes is one of the largest advantages I have as the younger sibling. From mistakes made in school to mistakes at home, being able to follow pursuit in someone’s footsteps has allowed me to learn valuable life skills that I don’t believe I would have learned otherwise. One thing I have never taken for granted as the youngest sibling, is the ability to ask my sister for advice. For the past three years, I had watched my sister go through high school, and I had already learned so

OPINION OF KATIE NEWSOM

much from her. I was so lucky to have had someone who was there to answer my questions and give me advice for my first day of school. She told me the campus was large, and she said it was almost guaranteed that I would get lost on my first day, but she also assured me how great the teachers were and how easy it is to find friends when everyone is new to the school. I was eager to start my first year of high school, but I was also afraid. I had no clue what would lie behind the doors ahead of me, but there was one thing I was absolutely sure of. I knew that no matter what I came across my freshman year, my sister would be there to help get me through it. With all of the advantages of being the youngest child, there are also some disadvantages in school and at home. From the time I was little, my older sister has left large shoes for me to fill in middle school as well as high school. Adults, teachers, and coaches often have a preconceived idea of who I will be based on the actions of my older sister.

I’ve always liked being the oldest in the family. In biblical times, being the oldest child meant that I would receive twice as much money than my siblings from my parents, and I would automatically assume a leadership role in the community. Nowadays there may not be standards of who should ethically receive leadership roles or money, however, I can certainly use the argument “because I’m older” as often as I please when there’s something I really want. I was born two years before my younger sister, making me the sole object of attention in the house for a decent period of time, which is something my sister, Erin, will never be able to say. My parents’ worlds revolved around me, and life was great. In terms of school, as the oldest, I’ve never had to worry about the pressure of living up to my sister’s accomplishments, as she hasn’t made them yet. Being the oldest means that in both school and life, I get to pave my own path and be my own person without lingering expectations from an older sibling and their accomplishments. One of the best things about being the oldest is that you get permission to do things years before your siblings. I was allowed to stay home alone before my sister, and my bedtime was al-

ways later, which, trust me, is something I never let her forget. As you grow up, you get to do even more important things first like learning to drive, and getting a cellphone. Older siblings are also scientifically more independent from a young age. When my younger sister finally did come along, I was no longer the center of attention in the family, which forced me to quickly adjust to not having my every need met at the drop of a hat, and become a more independent child. Later on, this independence develops into actual leadership skills, making older siblings the responsible ones in their parents’ eyes, and a successful person later on in life. Now that my younger sister goes to the same school as me, I’ve been able to give her advice about what classes to take, how to study for certain courses, and assure her that freshman year won’t be so bad. I appreciate that being the older sibling comes with an obligation to support your siblings and assure them that you managed to get through exactly what they’re going through at the moment, so they can too. Although some may say that being the oldest means that you are always blamed for incidents and mistakes, I don’t mind if it means that my sister learns lessons from my mistakes and gets the opportunity to become independent just as I did. Truthfully, I love the fact that my sister now goes to the same school as me because I get to watch her have the same experiences I did a few years ago, whether that be certain classes or

Caution: Do not become a reward-pursuer Relying on a reward is not good OPINION OF TINA KANG

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL TORRES

If you achieve a goal, the sweet treat called a ‘reward’ often follows as a result of your accomplishment. Some parents who want their students to reach their goals often use rewards, or ‘incentives’, to persuade them into following through. They use what the students want or desire most to lead them to the finish line. There are others who self-reward for doing something good or reaching their goals. When a reward comes with the achievement, then it usually makes one who is more passionate and willing to kick the ball toward the goalpost. Reward dependency works for almost everyone. It is tempting to sacrifice your time and effort to enjoy the progress and more importantly, the reward that otherwise you would not get. It’s incredibly memorable to achieve your goal and receive something as a reward for your hard work and perseverance. Your decision to achieve goal can also depend on the quality and scarcity of the reward. You soon become so dependent on what’s ahead that your work is mostly done for the reward itself rather than for the sake of reaching your goal. After all, it is nice to reward ourselves for achieving our goals. However, when the reward is received, your motivation to continue working hard may disappear. There seems to be no point of pursuing your goal if you do not get anything for it. This is a major problem for achieving your goals. You likely will not be willing to put forth your best effort to achieve your goals if you do not get rewarded for it. Achieving the goal without some kind of reward doesn’t sound as appealing as it would otherwise. Once the reward is gone, you will realize that you have worked hard to get the reward, not for the goals. You won’t

move an inch toward the goalpost if there is no trophy, medal, or certificate waiting there. It seems meaningless to aspire for something if you don’t get anything at the end of the road. Achieving the goal, which should be the main objective, can often be clouded by the dream of obtaining something great in the end. However, you shouldn’t be so dependent on

rewards but rather the end result of achieving the goal itself. Of course, rewards can be good tools to attract your eyes toward the dream and encourage you to focus on reaching it. Your satisfaction about the accomplishment increases when

you get what you want. There are times when you deserve to get rewarded considering how hard you worked to get to the destination. To celebrate the accomplishment, it is appropriate to reward yourself. Gratifying yourself with a reward tends to increase the value of the goal. Unfortunately, when the reward is much greater than the goal, then you are in danger of getting addicted to the incentive. If you chase the reward rather than the goal, then you won’t be willing to achieve your goal. You need your own motivation to accomplish your goal, not dependency on a reward. That is how your motivation lasts forever. If you need a reward to make yourself strive for the goal, then you are driven purely by the incentives. Your parents want to encourage you to make all A’s, so they lure you to accomplish your academic goal by promising you a Mac book. Getting all A’s sounds work-demanding and time-consuming, but the Mac book makes you want to try. So you work your way up to all A’s, sacrificing your time, giving up on Netflix, and staying up till midnight. Then your reward approaches to you like a dog shaking its tail. You hug your Mac book tight as if it’s your pillow. Would you have achieved your goal if there was no promise of a Mac book? Most likely not. If your goal is small, then make your reward small. If your goal is big, then make your reward big. Do not make your reward big all the time. Do not make it so important that your goal will be overshadowed by it. Your reward should not be the sole reason why you are willing to work toward your goal. You should accomplish the goal for yourself, not for the reward.

[The Oracle]

news

News in Brief

Presidents’ Day Feb. 15 NO SCHOOL

Anything Goes Feb. 4-6 @ 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 @ 2:30 p.m. Tickets on sale at shsplayhouse.org or at the box office Regular- $16 SBISD Employee*- $13 SHS Faculty*- Free SHS Student**- $8 Season Tickets- $42

Spartanaire Formal Feb. 26

The BIG DAY Feb. 27 7:30 a.m.

*Must show ID, limit 1 **Same day only

weet Sixteen March 5

The Rodeo begins March 1 ends March 20 Rodeo lineup and tickets are at rodeohouston.com

blackburn photography nathaly

Teaching Behind the Scenes STORY BY VALERIA ROBAYO It is 3:30 p.m., and clarinet teacher Bernie Nguyen is helping sophomore Jared Zvara perfect his technique. Nguyen, who plays both the clarinet and the saxophone, gives private lessons to many students in the district. “Every lesson is a lot of fun because she is always happy and enthusiastic. She is always ready to help,” Zvara said. Nguyen is very passionate about her profession. “I always knew I wanted to teach since I was a kid, but I wasn’t sure which level or subject until I reached high school. Then I found out music was my passion,” Nguyen said. Nguyen has been teaching some of her students since their 6th grade year. After working with students for several years, she has developed great relationships with many of them. “What I love most about my job is definitely how much my students develop within the years they have been with me as a student, musician and as an individual. It’s quite interesting to see,” Nguyen said. “I would definitely say that Bernie is more than just a teacher to me,” senior Hiroki Murakami said. “She has a very warm and heartfelt personality that makes her easy to approach.” Nguyen uses many teaching techniques that may seem strange to most people. Sometimes she makes her students stand

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up against the wall to play. Other times she makes them lay down on the floor and prop their feet up on a chair to make their instrument sound darker and clearer. “Even though her methods might be uncomfortable, they work every time,” freshman Conor Donihoo said. Nguyen, who studied at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, agrees that practice is the most important part of playing an instrument. “My skill in music comes from both natural talent and practice. Without it, even the most talented player will not get very far,” Nguyen said. Throughout her 10 years of teaching, Nguyen has gotten 5 of her students to state classification. Just this Saturday, one of her students, freshman Valeria Robayo made second alternate at area, just two chairs away from state. “I don’t really keep track of my students that go to state. What’s most important to me is how much I can improve on them,” Nguyen said. Nguyen hopes to continue teaching for many years to come. She plays a big part behind the scenes in shaping the sound you hear from clarinet players around the district. Her other student who made all-state was junior trumpet player, Zach Barnett.

[02/05/16]

news

[The Oracle]

Apocalypse DOW

The largest financial crisis in recent memory, and the Oscar-nominated movie that tells its story WRITTEN BY JOHN MCGOWAN AND ELLIE HERMANN PHOTOS BY PRESLEY GRAVES Although it’s difficult to imagine, in the past ten years, we have witnessed the most immense financial calamity since the Great Depression. Even though we, as students, may not know much about this disaster, it does not mean that we should remain oblivious. Thankfully for us, Hollywood has decided to take this menacing subject and turn it into a publication that we all can relate to. The film “The Big Short,” which began as a book published by Michael Lewis in 2010, is a dramatized criticism of the housing market which covers the climactic build-up to and staggering effects of the financial crisis of 2008. Directed by Adam McKay (who is normally seen working alongside frequent collaborator and comedian Will Ferrell), the movie has so far been praised for its informal, comedic, and ominously serious take on the financial catastrophe, acquiring five Oscar nominations along the way (including one for McKay and actor Christian Bale). However, one thing that obstructs the viewer’s

perception of the film is the overall knowledge of what is being discussed. It’s true, that Macroeconomics is not an easy subject that one can learn simply by watching a movie. What may help in this endeavor is a quick synopsis of what actually happened in this economic downfall, including the factors that truly caused the disaster. According to Sara Russo, an AP Economics teacher, the disaster was initiated by several factors, including “over-speculation, greed, and decreased government regulations” which, if in place, could have foreseen the disaster that the housing market was creating. “They were driving up value on products that didn’t really have those values,” said Russo. “You had houses going for three hundred to four hundred thousand that, five years ago, would have been worth one hundred thousand.” The film makes sure to demonstrate this component by including a dramatization of what the economic situation was like in Florida. Images

New businesses have sprouted up.

Gas prices have reached record lows.

Turning Over a New Leaf Students’ decisions to make the Stratford switch WRITTEN BY GRACE MOSBY

Sometimes all a person needs is a fresh start. Freshman Chloe Lampasas found her new beginning here after spending her first semester this past year at Memorial High School. For over a year, Lampasas has been debating whether or not to make the switch to attend Stratford for the rest of high school. Plenty of thought goes into making a big decision such as this, but having support from close friends and family makes the decision much easier. With Memorial being so highly ranked among schools in Houston, the question emerges: Why the sudden urge to transfer? “From the moment I set foot in Memorial, I knew that it wasn’t the right place for me. The stress was overwhelming, and I was continually

envisioning myself at Stratford,” Lampasas said. After plenty of thought, she decided to change course. “I just always pictured myself at Memorial, but once I made up my mind, I knew it was the right choice for my academic and social ventures,” Lampasas said. It’s not easy to pick up and leave everything you know behind, but sometimes that is the only chance to feel as though you’re in the right place. Many different factors contribute to the decision to move and change schools. One of the factors that Stratford has received so much praise for is the community. There seems to be a huge feeling of fellowship among the students that allows everyone to feel like they are a part of something.

of a distressing nature: men and women owning luxurious homes that they bought a few years prior, now reduced to any means in order to pay off the steadily increasing mortgage. And why, you ask, are they reduced to such destitution? Simply because they didn’t have the income to pay it off. “You’ve got these loans, and you’ve got people thinking they can afford these loans,” said Russo. “So the banks keep loaning out more and more money, and all of a sudden that little bubble popped.” Through all the harrows and economic downturns, the film greatly conveys both misanthropy and comedy at the same time. This combination makes it seem as though economics is a subject everyone can and should understand so as to avoid any problems such as these happening again in the future. With a sharp screenplay and immaculate directing, this film should be a go-to for anyone looking to understand what led to such a massive downfall in our economy.

New construction along Dairy Ashford.

“I really love how everyone is accepting of each other, no matter what your strength is, whether it is musical, athletic, academic, or something else. I also had a lot of my really good friends here and knew that they would support me if I chose to move schools, ” Lampasas said. Lampasas is not the only student who chose to change pathways halfway through the school year. Sophomore Clayton Overbergen just transferred from St. Thomas High School and is adjusting to a public high school schedule. “It wasn’t a huge adjustment going from private to public school for me because I went to public school up until my first year of high school and half of sophomore year. The biggest change for me was the block scheduling. It helps with the amount of homework load because you essentially have two nights to get your homework done and it gives you more time to understand the mate-

The real estate market is constantly changing.

rial during class,” Overbergen said. Another positive factor for transfer students is the helpful and supportive teachers. “On my first day, the teachers all welcomed me and made me feel right at home. They are also willing to help me if I need help in any of my subjects by staying after school or working with me one-on-one in class,” Lampasas said. Overall, Stratford has left an impressive first mark for these students. They have had nothing but good things to say about their experience at the school so far. “I did get lost multiple times on my first day, but many other students helped me find my way. Everyone was very welcoming, and I was really excited to finally be going to school with some of my closest friends,” Lampasas said. A large handful of students were able to transfer into Stratford this year, but many more are waiting for an opportunity similar to the

chance Lampasas received. Students who move into the attendance area do not have to wait for the open transfer window to open. Memorial freshman Jessica Mayer has always hoped to go to Stratford for high school, and her hopes may come true soon. “I’ve always wanted to be a Spartan. The atmosphere is great and the school is really diverse, which would help me develop different social skills before I go into the real world,” Mayer said. “I’m planning on taking a tour of the school next semester and transferring when the next slot becomes available. Go Spartans!” Mayer exclaimed. Spartan pride runs deep and wide and spreads in even the most unlikely places. Helpful schedules, great teachers, and the diverse community help make our school the best it can be. New beginnings and endings begin here at Stratford America: The Choice Is Yours.

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news

Guiding Students to Success

[02/05/16]

Jim Murphy’s efforts to develop student leaders for the future WRITTEN BY MADDIE MCKENZIE Choosing an endorsement and the pathway of courses can seem like a daunting task. To have the chance to meet people who have already made a mark in your future pathway is a reality thanks to State Representative Jim Murphy. Murphy has been involved in politics from a young age. His parents taught him the importance of understanding the world of business, and now Murphy is taking what he has learned and spreading it to younger generations. This will be his second year working withstudents from all over his congressional district. Murphy is hosting the second annual Teen Leadership Summit. The summit will be held at the Norris Conference Center in City Center on Saturday, Feb. 20. Teens from all over West Houston can apply to be delegates at the summit where they will undergo lessons taught by many important business speakers as well as group activities. Other than being a delegate, students can also apply for at-large posi-

tions, filling up to 200 spots. The summit is free to all who attend. The goal is to teach the younger generation how to become a leader. “It’s a societal need to have young leaders,” Murphy said. He takes it upon himself to teach leadership. The teaching ranges from how to properly you introduce yourself to basic leadership characteristics. From there, sessions are broken down into four main topics: Business, Politics, Media, and Personal Leadership. Murphy has recruited elite business professionals and leaders to attend the conference such as Former Mayor of Houston Bill White, former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Chase Untermeyer, CEO of Memorial Hermann healthcare systems, and CEO of Houston West Chamber of Commerce. The main expectations of someone who successfully goes through the program comes down into three main pillars: Awareness of leadership and the skills that need to be obtained, knowledge, and why social networking leads to success.

By learning the three pillars the hope is that the student’s understanding will broaden. “The overall long term benefit is being able to identify a good leader and being in a position to select quality leaders to make tough decisions,” Murphy said. This means no more judging a leader based solely on tweets and editorials. “Another issue I think that our society faces is separating the superficial from the official,” Murphy said. The summit makes an effort to show students the importance of finding the true facts and why being involved in the real world is important. If you’re interested in being a delegate at next year’s summit, you must be a sophomore or junior to apply. After submitting an online application, you are then hand picked to attend the summit by Murphy’s office. Students interested in further exploring this opportunity should go to the West Houston Teen Leadership Summit Facebook page linked here: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1053153808049998/ .

[The Oracle]

culture

Red velvet cupcakes are a southern classic. There is something magical about this flavor. It has the perfect compromise between vanilla and chocolate. You may take a glance at all of the steps and think, “That’s way too much work,” but trust me when I say that all the work is worth the taste of a homemade red velvet cupcake. There is a reason why this is the southern belle of the ball.

Ingredients for cupcakes: -1 1/2 cups of cake flour -1 cup of sugar -1 tbsp of natural unsweetened cocoa powder -1/4 tsp of salt -1 large egg -1/2 cup of vegetable oil -3/4 cup of buttermilk (no exceptions) -1 tbsp of red food coloring -1 tsp of vanilla extract -1/2 tsp of baking soda -1/2 tsp of white distilled vinegar for cream cheese frosting: -8 oz of cream cheese, at room temperature -1/4 cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature -2 cups of powdered sugar -1 tbsp of heavy cream, or milk -2 tsp of pure vanilla extract Instructions for cupcakes: 1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. 2. Sift together cake flour, salt, and cocoa in a bowl and set aside. 3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg, vegetable oil,

buttermilk, and sugar until it’s a smooth consistency, about five minutes on a medium speed 4. Add the red food coloring and vanilla extract until well combined. 5. Using the dry mixture from earlier, add it to the batter in increments, alternating between mixing the batter and addingmoredryingredients. Do this about three times 6. In a small dish, mix together baking soda and vinegar. While the baking soda/vinegar mixture is bubbling, add it to the batter and mix well. 7. Using a large cookie scoop, fill the cups 2/3 of the way. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for another 10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 8. Cool the cupcakes for 5 minutesinthepan.Thentake them out to cool completely. for cream cheese frosting: 1. Beat the butter and cream cheese on medium to high speed until fluffy, about a minute. 2. Sift the powdered sugar and add to the mixture. 3. Add powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla

Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat

WRITTEN BY RACHEL HOOD GRAPHIC BY ROBIN GRAVES I’m screaming at the top of my lungs. I’m flailing my body around like I’m having a seizure. My heart is beating to the sound of my excitement. The brand new year is upon us, and with it comes a new round of music festivals. The reason why I’m freaking out is because like thousands of other musicthirsty kids, I just bought my first festival ticket of the season. Enormous crowds of humans, some from halfway across the world, come to see sensational festivals and captivating artists. I’ve always considered

music festivals as more of a way to bring people together and form one big pile of good vibes (sounds stupid I know). But because of that, I can truly say I’ve never seen someone angry at a music festival. Well, unless you consider making people angry by pushing your way to the front, but besides that, I’ve never seen it. At a music festival, everyone wants to be there, especially since they put in hundreds of dollars and a lot of effort. The amount of people that flood in to be in that atmo-

sphere is mind blowing. It’s a real experience to witness. But even if tickets are sold out, or you can’t book a hotel in time, there’s no need to fear. Your options for festivals are endless. The months of March through October are the season for raves, shuffling, and gloving (finger tutting with lights). Many of them are held in beautiful cities all over the country: New Orleans, Austin, Chicago, and Seattle. There is no lack of music in the world. The best to way to get information on these festivals is to follow them on social media. Most, if not all, have a Twitter or Instagram page. They release blind sale dates, lineups, and even discounts, so mark your calendar. Music festivals are a tremendous way to expose yourself, whether it’s to people, music, or even to a new city. So in the words of ravers around the globe, go on and eat, sleep, rave, repeat.

extract. Beat on low speed for a minute. 4. Increase the speed to medium high and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 5. Transfer the frosting into a

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pastry bag and frost the cupcakes when they’re completely cooled. 6. To frost the cupcakes you can either use a butter knife or pipe it, your choice.

Did you try out this recipe? Share pictures of your cupcakes with us on Instagram @spartanoracle!

RECIPE BY ROBIN GRAVES GRAPHICS BY ELLIE PENA AND JORDAN KOUNS PHOTO BY ROBIN GRAVES

2016 MUSIC FESTIVALS

March 4-6 - Okeechobee Music Festival - Okeechobee, FL March 11-12 - BUKU Music and Art Project - New Orleans, LA March 16-19 - Ultimate Music Experience - S. Padre Island, TX March 18-20 - Ultra Miami - Miami, FL April 7-10 - Euphoria Festival - Austin, TX May 20-22 - Hangout Festival - Gulf Shores, AL May 25-30 - Lightning in a Bottle - Bradley, CA June 6-7 - Free Press Summer Fest June 10-13 - Mysteryland USA - Bethel, NY June 17-June 1 - Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV June 16-19 - Firefly Music Festival 2016 - Dover, DE June 23-26 - Electric Forest 2016 - Rothbury, MI July 22-24 - Capitol Hill Block Party - Seattle,WA August 5-7 - Outside Lands - San Francisco, CA ... and many others.

[02/05/16]

culture

TV Show Obituaries Eulogizing shows that are ending soon or need to end GRAPHICS BY RACHEL TORRES

Television: America’s favorite pasttime. With new classics being created every year, it’s time to say goodbye to some shows of the past. Those listed on this page are either ending soon or subject to the common opinion that they need to end soon.

The longest-running cartoon on television, “The Simpsons” began airing in 1989. The show is its 27th season, and recently got renewed for a 28th. Many fans of the comdey have complained of declining quality in recent years. However, similar complaints can be found all the way back to season 10, and the show didn’t listen then. Many hope they’ll finally give this classic the farewell it deserves.

The show that began the revolution of singing television shows is soon ending. Season 15, the “farewell season,” began on Jan. 6, and will end around May or June. Other singing shows inspired by “American Idol” will continue, including “The X-Factor,” “The Voice,” and “America’s Got Talent.”

How well can you guess people’s music taste? WRITTEN BY GIGI MEREDITH PHOTOS BY GIGI MEREDITH Everyone has their own taste in music that they like to listen to while they study, or just have a favorite song they enjoy. See if you can match up these Spartans to their quote about what music they like best.

2. Olivia Green, 9th

1. Jimmy Price, 11th

A.“I like alternative music when I study for test.” Favorite song: “Ride” by Twenty One Pilots B. “I like to turn up to rap music while doing my homework.” Favorite song: “30 Clip” by Johnny May Cash C. “I like all kinds of music.” Favorite song: “Stuck With Me” by Timeflies

D. “I like to play solo piano music because it makes the students more relaxed.” Favorite artist: Ryan Marvel 1. B, 2. C, 3. D, 4. A.

Collect Memories, Not Things

A new way to celebrate what 2016 has to offer Dr. Seuss once said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” His wise words ring especially true for me when the year comes to a close. For awhile now, I’ve been able to celebrate the end of the year by keeping a “memory jar” of all the wonderful things that occurred over the months. Throughout the course of every year, starting on New Year’s Day, I keep a glass jar in my room to hold memories of happy blessings or moments I don’t want to forget. I also keep note cards and

[The Oracle]

Tune In with Your Classmates

3. Mrs. Shirley, Math teacher 4. Sofia Colby, 10th

The beloved hospital drama is coming to a close Feb. 18 after its inception 12 seasons ago in 2005. The show garnered much critical success throughout its long run. Many fans, however, thought that the show began going downhill a few seasons ago.

WRITTEN BY OLIVIA SICILIANO

PHOTO BY RILEY TIMMRECK

a pen nearby so it’s easy to keep up with filling the jar. At the end of the year, when the jar is filled to the brim with cards and memories, I get to look back on what was written on the cards and truly treasure the year’s events. Keeping a “memory jar” has allowed me to count my blessings and be truly glad for good moments in each year, especially if I went through something difficult or hard. Since I’ve started my 2016 jar, I’ve filled it with memories that I am already ecstatic to re-read. If you’re

Do you have any cool DIY’s you’d like to share? E-mail thestratfordoracle@gmail.com to let us know!

Make It Your Own If you decide to make a jar for yourself this year, don’t be afraid to decorate it! You can add the year number to your jar, paint it, or even add cool stickers.

[02/05/16]

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[The Oracle]

sports

ONE ON ONE With...

Coach Schwartz

PHOTO BY HALEY GRACE FRANCIS

Q: What do you coach? A: Football (Varsity Wide Receivers, Freshman Head Coach) and Basketball (Freshman A Team). Q: What is your favorite sport to coach? A: Both are my favorite, the thrill is seeing my kids grow into young men. Q: What do you admire most about your team? A: The hard work and how much fun they have. Its a real joy to coach kids that work extremely hard and have fun while doing it. Q: If you could say anything to your athletes what would it be? A: Money never precedes work. It always follows it. #MoneyTeam Q: How has athletics changed you, since you were a student at Stratford? A: It was my work ethic that changed. Believe it or not, being behind Andrew Luck was the best thing to happen to me athletically. Even though he was a better quarterback than I was, I prepared like I was going to start ever week be-

HIGHLIGHTS:

Varsity Basketball Boys

13 SHS vs. Tomball Memorial Score: 58-46

Varsity Basketball SHS vs. Tomball Memorial Score: 35-32 Girls

SHS vs. Brenham Score: 74-62

SHS vs. Waller Score: 67-59

SHS vs. Magnolia West Score: 44-41

SHS vs. SWHS Score: 39-38

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PHOTOS BY: TAYLOR BRITTAIN

Position: Forward

Ashton Bates

Position: Point Guard/ Safety Guard

Favorite Movie: Mulan Lucky Number: 22

Toughest competition: Myself

Biggest Competition: Tomball Memorial

Dream Job: To play in the NBA

Goal for the season:

Dream School: Michigan State

To win out and to do well with my girls!

Favorite Quote: “ and in everything God must become bigger and I must become less” John 3:30

Jayson Roberson

Girls’ Basketball 2016 She Shoots, She Scores

WRITTEN BY MADDIE RUSTAM AND LINDELL LEWIS PHOTOS BY JAINA KILEY AND CHRISTINE DIAZ The girls’ varsity huge. I have never had basketball team has that many seniors on had a great season so one team,” Coach Matfar. thews said. According to Coach With the knowledge Buffie Matthews, the that they won’t be combest win of the season ing back next year, was against the unde- Matthews is appreciatfeated Tomball Memo- ing the time she has left rial team. It seemed with her girls. like the girls had met their match, but they pulled through with a The Spartans will winning shot. play Magnolia The girls have worked hard to manage West Feb. 5 at Spartans Score! their 5-4 record they Magnolia West At the Tomball Memorial game on have accomplished so HS, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, Senior Mercedes Atkinson far this season. “This season we have shoots and scores a basket. “We beat 10 seniors, and that is them at their house,” Atkinson said.

Favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

All Smiles While cheering on their teammates at the Tomball Memorial game on Jan. 8, seniors Alex Cole and Amanda Pinal pose for a picture.

On the Move

Senior Ashton Bates makes her way towards the basket against Magnolia West on Jan. 19. SHS gave an undefeated Tomball Memorial their first loss of the season.

[02/0516]

sports

[The Oracle]

Diving into the Past

Tracing the past of swimmers’ bleached hair

WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH COLE PHOTOS BY JULIA GELBER If you have been seeing a bunch of their caps, and moreover to get them newly bleached-blond students around mentally ready. school lately, be assured that it’s not “It was a fun way to show school spirit some wacky new fashion trend. These and get ready for districts” ex alumni newly-blonde students are most likely Amy Fox says. the swimmers practicing their wellThe origins of which class of swimknown annual MLK day hair-bleaching mers started this peculiar tradition is ritual. hard to track down. The bleaching has This may just seem like just another been going strong since at least the little quirky thing that the swimmers early 2000s, perhaps even earlier. Even do, but there is the swim team head coach a reason why couldn’t pinpoint who and they do it. when started this unique traMid-January dition. is the time of “I don’t know when it startyear the swim ed,” says Coach Hoskovec, team begins who has been coaching preparing and the swim team since 2003, resting, or “ta“The boys on the swim team pering” for were bleaching their hair their district, regional, or state meet. long before I arrived thirteen years ago,” “Bleaching our hair is a way to mark This tradition is one that the seniors the fact that our biggest meet of the year have been passing down for a long is just around the corner” senior Marie time, and it is interesting how this team Nantz says. “It’s a tradition that helps us bonding experience has been passed all get excited for the meet.” down for so long. Sometimes the guys will even shave Regardless of the beginnings, this their heads into mohawks or a buzz cuts unique tradition is always a hilarious at the regional meet to reduce whatever thing to see! drag their hair may cause underneath

The official length of an Olympic pool in meters.

Number of lanes in an Olympic swimming pool.

Highest amount of points basketball players can score in one play.

Height of a basketball hoop in feet.

Starting the Season off with a Swoosh Basketball starts the season with a win

Defend and Dominate

WRITTEN BY SEBASTIAN DROZ PHOTOS BY PERRY SHEPARD AND LUIS NUCETTE Sweat dripping from an athlete’s body is a faint comparison of the work they put in to win a game. Brenham did not see the loss coming, but the Spartans defeated Brenham and took away their undefeated title. The Cub’s record went from 7-0 to 7-1 and is now tied for first place in the district with our team. “The game was very intense but we managed through it, and ended up winning 74-62 because we never stopped competing”, varsity player Jason Roberson said. Basketball is the third biggest sport in the nation, yet not many Stratford students attend games. Going to basketball games is a great way to start off the second semester. The games are full of excitement and competitive spirit. Over the short time the season has had, our basketball team has been very successful. Basketball is the third biggest sport in the nation, yet not many Stratford students attend games. Going to basketball games is a great way to start off the second semester. The games are full of excitement and competitive spirit. Over the short time the season has had, our basketball team has been very successful against other teams. “Basketball is my favorite sport because it brings out my competitive side and gets me active on the court”, sophomore basketball player David Williamson said. A great way to stay in touch with our teams is to check out the Stratford Booster club online.

At the SWHS game on Jan. 5. varsity player George McGuire has two players on him but still looks for an open shot.

Don’t let your Guard Down The boys varsity basketball team fights off Brenham for the shot at the game on Jan. 26.

Halftime Huddle-Up

The sophomore team gets together to plan their comeback once the third quarter starts.

Rise to the Top Junior Jaetavin Toles goes for a shot at the SWHS games on Jan. 5.

Coaching with Style

Coach Hornsby gathers the players around to tell them their next play.

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Sports

[02/05/16]

THE

er Varsity socc first played their against home game ek at Cypress Cre Jan.12. Stratford on

Seniors Isa Cuadra and Jasmine Brooks help the varsity basketball team at the game against Tomball on Dec. 14.

SCHEDULE Boys Basketball

2/5 SHS vs. Magnolia W est @SHS 2/9 SHS vs. Waller @Waller 2/12 SHS vs. Magnolia

@SHS

Girls Basketball

Justice Senior Torin l down takes the bal ainst the court ag ds on Spring Woo n ColeJan. 5 at Do m. man Coliseu

2/5 SHS vs. Magnolia W est @ Mag West 2/9 SHS vs. Waller @SH

The first home game was a success for the boys’ soccer who beat Cypress Creek 3-0.

PHOTOS BY: LUIS NUCETTE, JORDYN RICHARDS, JAINA KILEY

Oh Those Were the Good Ol’ Days! Can you guess who these coaches are? PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COACHES

Go to SHSORACLE.com to see if you guessed correctly and to see more of your favorite coaches.

A. B.

This coach graduated from Texas A&M in 2002 and has played the sport she coaches. This coach graduated from Lufkin High School and played both of the sports he coaches.

This coach’s wife is also a history teacher and the head Soccer coach at MHS.

This coach graduated from Stephen F. Austin University and has been teaching here for three years.

G. F. This coach went to the Junior Olympics 3 times in jump roping.

This coach played division 1 soccer at Bradley University.

H. This coach graduated from Fayetteville High School in Arkansas and later went to coach there 11 years later.

This coach was voted most athletic by her classmates in high school.

[02/05/16]

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