September 2017 - Tiger Times

TIGER TIMES September, 28 2017 • Vol. 57, Issue 1 texas high school

PICKING up the

PIECES

Everything is invincible, indestructible—that is, until it breaks. It takes glass shattering to remind us of its fragility and draw our hypnotized eyes away from the world; it takes the abrupt clash of the shards scattering across the floor to force our tonedeaf ears to listen. continued on page 14

Texas High School • 4001 Summerhill Road, Texarkana, TX 75503 • tigertimesonline.com

illustration by a. higgins & c. johnson

2 NEWS

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

WHAT’S ON OUR

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OCTOBER

9 11

16 18 21

All TISD schools will have an early release at 12:45 p.m.

radar

WHAT’S

inside

photo by a. kift

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There will be a Financial Aid Workshop from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to complete the FAFSA online.

The PSAT Test will be administered. All sophomores and the top 20 percent juniors are automatically registered. For others, registration is $16. See Bettie Lynn Stark for more details.

The homecoming court presentation will be in the PAC at 6 p.m. followed by a pep rally behind the PAC. Voting for the Homecoming Queen will be during all lunches in the cafeteria.

The homecoming dance will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the cafeteria.

STAY CONNECTED

snapchat: thspublications instagram: thsstudentmedia twitter: @thsstudentmedia facebook: THS Publications

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SAY YESS TO EQUALITY A new club strives to create equality for LGBT students

FORGING FRIENDSHIPS Senior Karissa Smith outlines her painting that Art Club will donate to the Texarkana Friendship Center.

A brush of kindness

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BATTLING HYPOCHONDRIA Health disorder plagues sophomore who is learning how to cope with affliction

Art Club to give paintings to Friendship Center

BY EMILEE SLAYTON STAFF WRITER They paint all day, it’s their existence. Colors on their hands, the aroma of paint in the atmosphere. It makes them feel like a family, like a home.

Art club is painting artwork for the residents of the Texarkana Friendship Center with the goal of finishing in October.

The Texarkana Friendship Center helps feed over 180 people a day and provides groceries for 14 families daily.

This center also helps with people who in the past were unemployed and could not get help to be trained and to have certification for employment in the future.

Art teacher Shea Phillips, the sponsor of the art club, has

inspired her students to bring happiness and empowerment toward others.

“Since we have such an active art club, and we have so many club members, this would be such a great project while earning us some community service hours and especially making our bond stronger,” Phillips said. “We want to bring a little brightness and a little cheer to the Friendship Center and help make it a more welcoming place for those who walk in or live there.”

The club members will make colorful nature-based paintings. Sophomore Alyssa Harris are members who have been inspired by the Friendship Center and want to provide empowerment to their artwork.

“My painting is going to be filled with vibrant colors, and

the background is going to be a lot of colorful splatter paint,” Harris said.

Lending a hand in community service provides the art club members with the opportunity to become active in the community and have a positive impact on the Texarkana society. Community service enables the members to acquire the realization of a different lifestyle that many have to face everyday. This helps provide a service to those who need it the most.

“I want the people who live or go there to know that they are not alone in this world, that there’s help, and that people care about them,” Harris said.

“I want the people who see our art to feel inspired and just happy.” emileeslayton@tigertimesonline.com

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WALKING TOWARD RECOVERY Teacher finds hope in God for her daughter’s recovery

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21

HUNT SIGNS WITH TCU Wide receiver commits to Texas Christian University to play football

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

NEWS

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PROMOTING POSITIVITY

BY MATT PRIESKORN SPORTS EDITOR A new movement to spread positivity around the campus has emerged in the form of The Kindness Cart, which allows students and faculty to write encouraging messages on sticky notes to place on teachers’ doors.

Algebra teacher Nicole Ayers got the idea after seeing notes with positive messages in another teacher’s room.

“So many teachers and students have been using notes of positivity to help raise morale and build one another up,” Ayers said. “We wanted to put a supply station together so that we could move around the school to help ‘sprinkle kindness’ all over campus.”

The cart will move to different locations on campus each week, and Ayers encourages those who write them to post pictures of their kindness notes on social media with the hashtags #SprinkleYourSchoolWithKindess and #EarningOurStripes.

“We are just trying to build classroom culture of using Post-It notes to encourage others,” Ayers said. “I would just love to see people in the habit

photo by a.parker

Movement to spread encouragement sparks inspiration across campus

POINTS OF POSITIVITY Junior Kendyl Myers and senior Chloe Coake read their letters of encouragement made by various organizations on campus.

of looking outside of themselves and encouraging others. I want to see notes on every teacher’s door by the end of this year to keep the attitude of encouraging others.”

This idea of spreading kindness through notes of encouragement has

flourished. Clubs and organizations have had students write uplifting notes to pass out to other students.

“These letters were important because it gave us the opportunity to come together as a student body,” senior Anna Kate Jordan said.

It was evident that the first couple of weeks of school had very unfortunate mishaps. Discovering a way to begin healing our student body, was necessary.

Since then, students and teachers have been working nonstop to make a positive impact in our school.

“I commend Mrs. Diaz and Mrs. Ayers for creating this neat way to heal our student body,” Engineering teacher Julie Suelzer said. “However, it is heartbreaking that it took a tragedy to force people to look at the positive side of things and appreciate their personal relationships with others.”

Encouraging students to participate in random acts of kindness has been of importance to teachers. Their goal is to help students build more bonds with one another so that it creates a more uplifting environment.

“In my opinion, it’s very important that teachers set an example for students,” Suelzer said. “By us demonstrating kindness and how much we care for one another, we feel that the students will catch on and really want to treat others with more compassion and care.” mattprieskorn@tigertimesonline.com

photo by a.kift

ENCOURAGEMENT IS THE BEST MEDICINE Teacher strives to be light in midst of battle with cancer

BY LOIS LEFORS & MATT PRIESKORN NEWS EDITOR & SPORTS EDITOR Everything was grey. Grey needles that protrude from fatigued grey skin. Shiny grey scalpels in the hands of surgeons desperately trying to halt the spread of a persistent disease. Grey skies hold the precarious promise of rain and restoration, and a smile is a reflection and a resolve to remain positive, to persevere despite circumstances brings a burst of color into the world of greyness.

Math teacher Cathryn Diaz found out she has with ovarian cancer and is currently on chemotherapy in an attempt to slow the spread of the cancer.

“I was in surgery for about nine hours because they had found cancer and it had spread fast,” Diaz said. “[Chemotherapy] has been rough, but I’m getting through it.”

However, Diaz continues to teach, not only math, but about her experience and how every second matters.

Along with that, she encourages her students to strive to be lights and show kindness to others. On her back wall, sticky notes with positive, encouraging notes that anybody can read are stuck to the board.

“When you are forced to be at home for some time, Pinterest becomes your best friend,” Diaz said. “I found

where another teacher did a kindness wall and so I took that idea but made it my own.”

While Diaz was gone for medical treatment, this gave Algebra teacher Nicole Ayers the idea to have staff members fill Diaz’s door with more sticky notes in order to offer her encouragement.

“When I saw those notes, I balled my eyes out,” Diaz said. “I could barely get through half of them because I was crying so hard. They were so encouraging and I am so appreciative.”

Although Diaz struggles with cancer, she continues to fight everyday and pursue the things she loves.

“You just never know what hand you will be dealt,” Diaz said. “Chemo beats your body up and I am always so tired, but I told my students that I will come into the classroom each and every day with a positive attitude.”

Diaz’s students admire her for her perseverance and dedication. Many of them also respect her courage as she maintains a positive attitude in the classroom.

“She's really nice and forgiving, especially when you slack off. She really helps you and always make an effort to be happy and have a positive outlook, ” senior Abraham Hernandez said. “You can tell when she comes back from chemo she's tired, but even through that, she’s still positive. She keeps a smile on her face and always says ‘hello’ to you. She is making that effort

COLOR IN A GREY WORLD Math teacher Cathryn Diaz stands next to her door filled with notes of encouragement after coming back on campus from chemotherapy.

to go even further to see what we need help on. This is her third time with cancer and it just shows her strength as an individual.”

During this situation, Diaz strives to look on the bright side and realize what is truly important in life.

“Having cancer has made me realize that everybody needs to live every day to the fullest,” Diaz said. “I have a deeper appreciation for life and realize that relationships with people are so important.” loislefors@tigertimesonline.com mattprieskorn@tigertimesonline.com

4 NEWS

BY AUDREY HASKINS STAFF WRITER

S

tudents understand what it means to be different. Every morning the band students let their peers hear trumpets blaring and drums ringing in their ears. Students buy tickets to enjoy theatrical performances and football games. There are people who obsess over fashion, and students who are in love with language. However, when a determined sophomore steps through the school doors, he sees room for improvement. He’s ready to show the school what “different” really means.

Sophomore Atlas Hines hopes to encourage equality and difference with his new club Youth Encouraging Student Success and Equality, or YESS Equality.

The club’s meetings will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday meetings will be in Room 36 and Thursday meetings will be in Room 44.

“I’m hoping for YESS Equality to be a support network for those who don’t feel supported anywhere else,” Hines said. “[YESS Equality’s] main focus is the LGBTQ plus community, but that’s not the club’s only focus.”

Students are often afraid of others’ opinions on who they are as people. Their homes may not be loving and school may be the only other option they have to find appreciation for their identities.

“I notice people don’t feel like they have a place where they can be themselves whether that be at home or at school,” Hines said. “People can suck sometimes and I think that everyone only sees that side of people. I want to show that it doesn’t have to be like that all the time.”

People deserve to feel accepted, but this proves to be difficult considering a great portion of world views deem these innocent topics as something dirty or evil.

“People need people to accept them.

People may feel invalid with their culture and environment,” Hines said. “I want to clear up the stigma with a lot of things. Feminism, for example. I want to clean up all of that.”

The focus of the club is to show students they have a place to belong and that they aren’t so different or alone in the world.

“I want to show people mainly that they aren’t alone in how they feel and don’t have to feel bad,” Hines said. “I want to raise awareness in many ways. I want people to feel safe in their own skin and environment.”

Hines worries that not all will share his club’s vision of equality, especially parents.

“I do feel like there will be some negative backlash, and I am worried, but I’m working to prevent that,” Hines said. “I’m trying to cover all of my bases. Parents can’t prevent equality.”

The more involved students become with this club and the more information they retain may lead to a change in political beliefs, which may also affect parents.

“I don’t know if [the club] could change political beliefs, but maybe their tolerance and how they view things as a whole,” Hines said.

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

SAY YESS TO EQUALITY

New club offers support to LGBTQ community

“Not just politically, but maybe getting parents to think how much of a difference their view change can affect their friends or their child, then maybe it’s important to be aware or compassionate and to have an open mind.”

Although Texas is viewed as a traditional state, clubs like YESS Equality are a start to progressing with society.

“I think Texas is changing,” Hines said. “I used to think of Texarkana and think ‘There’s no one here who accepts me, there’s no one that I have.’

You know Texarkana has non-profit organizations like ‘Equality Texarkana,’ which is amazing for us. There are so many people who are already reaching out to me and asking about [the club].

Hines encourages students to become active and turn what they’re passionate about into something bigger.

“This club means a lot to me,” Hines said. “It means I’m doing something to help other people and that makes me feel great. It’s already affected my confidence. I used to go home and feel like I wasn’t doing enough, and now I feel like I can do more. I’m proud, I am.”

Hines is the first person in recent history to start an organization like YESS Equality, and he is proud to be taking a step in changing the school’s environment.

“I find it hard to believe I’m the first person to ever do this,” Hines said. “I do think YESS Equality is a place where people can be informed.

Ignorance is probably the biggest problem that nobody knows is having such a huge impact. They don’t know how to handle it or how to approach it. That’s one of the things I want to help with. I don’t know... I want to make a difference.” audreyhaskins@tigertimesonline.com

photo illustration by a. kift

photo by k. gordon

TIGER EQUALITY Sophomores Audrey Haskins and Atlas Hines write plans for the new club YESS Equality, which will primarily focus on the LGBTQ plus community. The club will meet on Tuesdays in Room 36 and Thursdays in Room 44 from 4-5 p.m.

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

NEWS

WELDING A WIN Students win top awards at local fair competiton for making trailer, camper

BY JOSEPH RODGERS & ADDISON CROSS NEWS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER The Metal Design and Fabrication and Wood Shop classes led by Robert Pessel and Matthew Turner respectively won third place trailer class and first place outdoor recreational class at the Agriculture and Mechanics Show at the Four States Fair. The metal design and fabrication students built a 13-foot flatbed hauler trailer, and the wood shop students built a teardrop camper. Both projects started in the previous school year and finished at the start of the current school year.

“It was a group effort and each class had a couple of kids that worked [on the trailer],” metal design and fabrication teacher Robert Pessel said. “The project turned out great, and the school is going to keep the trailer to haul various things such as metal and wood. The competition

was fierce and there were several nice projects from other schools, but we do what we can do.”

According to Pessel, sophomores Abraham Vasquez and Blake Bergagnini spearheaded the trailer project, devoting extra hours to it outside of the classroom.

“I enjoyed doing the hands-on project,” Vasquez said. “We started making the measurements, and we built it from the base up, finishing it out with the primer and painting it black.”

Many challenges arose during the construction of the project, including a change of axles and obtaining more metal to weld onto the project.

“We really invested a lot of time into this and that is how we remained so dedicated,” Bergagnini said. “It was a lot of hard work and there was a lot of other good competition, so we did what we could and we wanted to see the results.”

The wood shop class built an outdoor camper to compete in the outdoor recreational division.

“The actual project was not difficult, but it was extremely time consuming,” Turner said. “Getting the curvature of [the teardrop camper] was very painstaking from the standpoint of me trying to teach my students on how to get it just right. However, we got

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photo by m. anderson

WINNING WORKS Sophomores Blake Bergagnini and Abraham Vasquez and teacher Robert Pessel stand by their project which won an award at the Four States Fair recently. Metal Design and Wood Shop projects place third and first in competition.

first place in our division because of the fact that having a small camper in our division was a very unique project considering the only things [at the show] on wheels are flatbed trailers.”

The project was nearly derailed due to the back hatch cracking over the summer and breaking. Luckily, Turner and his students fixed the hatch in the nick of time before the contest began.

“Mr. Turner and I did the original hatch but after time it just cracked,” senior Marcos Revilla said. “We came up

with a better design for a two-part hatch and built it in two weeks.”

After the contest, the program will continue to work on future projects.

“Our program being able to do this and get an award really helps us out and encourages us to keep doing our best,” Pessel said. “We have been on TigerVision and now in publications, so we have been doing well, and we will keep improving for the future.” josephrodgers@tigertimesonline.com addisoncross@tigertimesonline.com

6 COMMUNITY

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

EDITORIAL

Before we are FRACTURED

Students question effectiveness of school motto

illustration by Victoria Van

Download the AURASMA app from the App Store or Google Play to hear what students have to say about this issue.

Search for the thsstudentmedia channel.

This has already been written.

Time and time again. Not only by us, but by individuals across the globe. The same words are used in hopes that maybe repetition and accusatory phrases will get the job done, but we keep finding ourselves gridlocked in a synonymous state.

The names may be different; the situations may vary. But the faces are the same.

They say we are supposed to be “tiger strong.” We are supposed to be spirit filled, football game attending, studious students. But life isn’t always that simple, and sometimes we get knocked down, flat on our faces.

The things that we experience, the stories we live to tell, are important.

They are significant, and they matter, and we all deserve someone to reach out to, someone to lean on when our knees become too shaky to stand.

That is the meaning of “tiger strong.”

Kindness. Altruism. Courage.

For some peculiar reason, the student body only finds it necessary to show this kind of love after a tragedy occurs. We are human, and it is what we do. However, because we are human, we owe it to

ourselves to be stronger than this.

We owe it to ourselves to be kind, even when the moment doesn’t call for it. That’s what matters most.

But we haven’t been that for each other lately. Instead, we hear the chants of school pride and leadership, but we are still silent.

Why? Why are we silent in the midst of the storm, when we know how much someone else needs our support? Maybe it’s fear holding us back from reaching out to others, or maybe we have just become jaded from the lack of consolation.

“Tiger strong” is a mantra that has been dismally patronized, and it shouldn’t be. A simple phrase of encouragement shouldn’t be received with cynicism or a roll of an eye. It should be a deliberate declaration of endurance and perseverance, and it should show the soul of our community.

We set the tone for the future because we are the future. Not the administration, not the teachers, not our parents. It’s our obligation to make sure we get help, to find the courage to speak up, and from there, become active in our beliefs. It’s up to us to stand firm on our ground

and not back down even when it hurts. For it is during that time of pain that we gain strength and solidarity. We cannot blame a high school staff for a cultural problem, nor can we continue to paint circles and expect the final picture to be a straight line.

Yes, the faces are the same. We have heard these words before, we have pointed fingers and we have thought of the problems and solutions. We just have to start moving. Change the routine, change the way our community thinks, change the implication that “tiger strong” is an empty phrase utilized by the administration staff. This year, and the following years, can be different. No, it won’t be instantaneous, and it won’t be something easily attainable; it takes thick skin, and a conscience resolve to be better.

We were placed together for a reason. We may not understand why the tragedies fall so hard, but we can be certain that from this darkness, a light will soon emerge, and when we see that light, we must chase it with our whole hearts and minds.

And change.

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Texas High School 4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana, TX (903) 794-3891 Fax (903) 792-8971 The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and view are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of directors.

editors in chief-print Colton Johnson, Eleanor Schroeder, Jay Williamson editors in chief-online Celeste Anderson, Langley Leverett news editors Lois LeFors, Joseph Rodgers viewpoint editors Craig Crawford, Lindsey Egger feature editors Misty Lopez, Jhovany Perez sports editors Connor Brooks, John Morgan, Matt Prieskorn entertainment editors Madison Brown, Victoria Van advertising Maddie Anderson copy editors Paisley Allen, Emily McMaster photo editor Kaitlyn Gordon video editor Katie Biggar staff writers April Alvarado, Emma Anderson, Maddie Anderson, Joseph Asher, Katie Biggar, Hollan Borowitz, Jackson Cheney, Addison Cross, Margaret Debenport, Savannah Downs, Amanda Garmon, Maddie Gerrald, Autumn Golden, Jenny Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Gordon, Audrey Haskins, Alyssa Higgins, Grey Johnson, Anna Grace Jones, Molly Kyles, Andrea Loredo, Matthew Martin, Nick Mitchell, Cameron Murry, Connor Powell, Alexis Runnels, Emilee Slayton, Greylyn Tidwell, TJ Wall, Jenna Williamson photographers Breannan Cranford, Rivers Edwards, Alyssa Higgins, Anna Kate Jordan, Dawson Kelley, Alyssa Kift, Grace McGuire, Auryeal Parker, Holland Rainwater, Rachel Sizemore, Angela Valle, Laurel Wakefield videographers Cameron Alcorn, Kara Jefferies, Taimoor Malik, Karson McDonald, John Morgan, Eleanor Schroeder, Emilee Slayton, Sarah Stark, Joseph Rodgers advisers Rebecca Potter, Clint Smith principal Brad Bailey members ILPC, CSPA, NSPA

8 VIEWPOINT

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

PUNISHED for having COURAGE illustration by m. debenport

Student gives personal recount of experience in mental institution

Y

ou cry out for help.

You call out for a hand to hold. But nobody listens, nobody hears you. Until it goes too

far.

The fear of having no sense of self-worth flooded my mind as I allowed a strange woman to strip search me, knowing that refusal of any kind could result in a longer stay. She looked over my body as she stood in the doorway, trying to save as much of my dignity as possible.

Her gaze left a sour feeling in my gut, and I knew that I would never feel complete again. She told me to undress and acted like it was a casual occurrence.

As if the way it felt to hand her my clothes and pretend like I was fine with being naked was normal. She didn’t try to mask what was going on; that was when I realized how completely alone I was. I hated it. All of it.

You hear jokes about mental hospitals. You hear about the white outfits and the people rocking back and forth in the corner— it’s worse. It’s so much worse than that.

In real mental hospitals, there are no matching outfits. There are no padded walls. There are no teddy bears. There are no good feelings. What the mental hospital does have, though, is an overwhelming amount of sorrow.

My stay came as the result of doing the right thing— talking

about my depression and suicidal thoughts. I had been asking for therapy for months. It took the threat of suicide to get medical attention.

The knowledge of doing the right thing, of being honest, should have been enough to give me the sense that I was doing what was best for me. Instead, it felt as though I was punished for having the courage to come clean about my mental state.

I felt betrayed, cornered, as I watched my life revolve around the mental institution, leaving me with absolutely no rights.

I was prescribed antidepressants by a doctor that I still haven’t met. The fact that I was prescribed medicine by a doctor who I couldn’t pick out of a lineup bothers me. My personality and my energy are different from what they used to be. I was once a deadlineoriented and outgoing person, but now the medicine causes me to become lenient with my priorities and more introverted; but if I had refused my medicine, I would have received a longer stay.

I remember the moment that the harsh reality of my situation set in. The tears streamed down my face as my back slid along the cool tiles of the shower wall.

I realized that I had forgotten to ask the staff for a cup of shampoo and had to wash my hair with a small bar of soap instead. The ugly tears mixed

with the water and fell down the shower drain.

I couldn’t have anything. No patient was permitted to have shoelaces or hooded jackets. I couldn’t use any normal writing utensil. Not even a crayon. Just fat markers and pencils that had to be counted at the end of “class.” I cried over how badly I missed school, something that I had never imagined myself doing.

My roommate spoke with a high pitched voice that I could pick out of a crowd. She never showered; she would just go into the shared bathroom and run water, then change into her pajamas. Her hair was nonexistent. She had a habit of scratching her scalp to the point that no hair could possibly grow through the scar tissue. She tied the hair that she did have into a tight bun on top of her head, to the point that you could see the stress in the hair tie.

The other patients I met during my stay were damaged.

They were all around my age, and they were all shattered, with disorders ranging from severe to extremely severe.

One girl drank the contents of an ice pack the day before she was released. One boy was known for burning down his foster home and trying to drown his little brother. One girl was in a wheelchair because she had jumped off of a second story set of stairs trying to kill herself

but had broken both of her legs upon impact. I witnessed two girls go into the common room and wrap the cords from video game controllers around their necks, trying to end their lives.

Every patient was branded with a montage of self-harm.

They would take their shirts and rub them against their skin, using the friction to burn their arms. The sight of their scarred and charred arms gave me the strength to keep fighting my fight and stay away from their influence.

The girls I spent my time with appeared normal on the outside, but they weren’t. Their smiles weren’t because of boys or good grades. Their smiles came as the results of a fresh wound, or the sound of someone else’s misery.

I knew I wasn’t like them. I knew I wasn’t broken beyond repair.

I felt as though I was being put in a cage, being used as a guinea pig. My only purpose was to be observed as a test subject by medical students. My number one goal was to get out, to go home, to go to school, to feel like myself again. I just wanted to know that I was still human.

The staff, which was wonderful, wholeheartedly agreed with my perspective of the facility. It is not a healing place; it is a place for those who do not wish to get better. It was not what I needed it to be.

I watched people throw food and paper. I watched girls beat each other with towels and scream at 10-year-old boys. I listened as they talked about how they missed when their moms did hard drugs because it gave them enough energy to make food.

I know what it’s like to be in their shoes, to mask how you feel about something major, to push your emotions down to your core and never want them to come out. Those adolescents didn’t have anyone in their lives that loved them. But I do. I have love and support and people who cherish me.

I remember the feeling of having absolutely nobody. I had nobody to hold and nobody to talk to. The staff was there, but they couldn’t help me because of legal boundaries. I was losing myself. The medicine and the dim hospital lights were taking away my sense of identity.

I hit my knees and prayed every day. I prayed for a way out, a way to leave the place that has become my worst nightmare.

But somehow, I know I’m not ever going to forget that empty feeling. My newfound hope in antidepressants and therapy will never be enough to mask these memories, but I know that it will get better. I will come out of this broken frame and paint a new picture. writer wishes to remain anonymous

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

I’M HERE NOW Struggling teen shares story on suicide attempt

“I grabbed the bottle of Tylenol; I told myself, ‘breathe.’

My body went numb.”

photo illustration by a. parker

VIEWPOINT

I

always thought that if I was minutes away from death I would think about my last dinner with my family, but that’s not what happens. It’s terrifying. I grabbed the bottle of Tylenol; I told myself, “breathe.” My body went numb. I was lucky my family came home and I mustered the last of my strength to say, “take me to the hospital.” Those could have been my last words, the last thing by which my family would know me. And then darkness.

Everything was black until I woke up in the Children’s Hospital, crying into my parents’ shoulders. How I got there was hard and the way I healed tested who I thought I was, but I am here. I’m here, sometimes in pain, sometimes in happiness. I’m here in acceptance.

It wasn’t one big explosion, one big lifealtering event. I had been raked over the coals for twelve years. Twelve years of keeping everything inside and fearing judgement, shutting out who I was. I was afraid to tell my mother about the times when my dad woke me up and held my mouth shut while he molested me in the dead of night. I was afraid to tell others where my dad was when they asked that dreadful question. How he yelled at my mom and hit her while she held my 1-year-old sister will forever be in my mind. It was Christmas. He beat my mom, went out in the driveway and shot himself.

The memory was locked away in the back of my mind until, from having never been touched, for better or for worse, it festered.

Small things, like being yelled at or a bad breakup, make me revert back to when I was four. A 4-year-old can’t handle that. A 4-year-old overreacts and does irrational things. I grew up, but it was that 4-year-old who tried to kill herself. I know that now.

At 16 years old, I made an impulsive decision to kill myself. Leaving my family and going to the behavioral hospital was worse. It had around 100 kids, all with sad stories that make you feel uncomfortable, remind you where you are, who you are. That hospital opened my eyes.

An older boy tried to explain to me how the hospital worked, but I couldn’t process what he said because there was a six-year-old sitting in front of me. The little boy told me, “when my mom says ‘son, I missed you,’ I’m going to say, ‘well I didn’t miss you, because you put me in here.” I wanted to help him, but how could I? I needed help too. His shoes were two sizes too big and he had a scar on his forehead. He was a fighter, until he was pushed into the road by another boy as a car swerved past.

The kids there were open and accepting.

When I told people I was in there for a suicide attempt, like most of them, they kept asking me, “Why?” “Why?” I was forced to think. Who had I been?

Who was thinking for me, then and now?

Who took ahold of the pills? Who was I, crying out for my parents because I knew I was in over my head?

I thought about why I tried to end my life.

9

I was the model child for my parents, but who I was didn’t make me happy. Maybe I wasn’t ready to be my own person, but I’m here now.

I was in there for five days. In five days, I learned that there are a lot of kids with rough backgrounds. My first roommate was in there for five months for violence. She made do living with her aunt, until her aunt was shot during a drive-by. She was so sweet to me. Who she had been in the past was not who she was now, but could I look at her the same? How did she feel about me? The only thing we had to judge each other on was our appearances, and until we were locked up in there, we would have never known each other.

She gave me security. She was sympathetic, happy, actually, when I told her I’d be leaving the next day. I felt awful for her and that boy and every other kid in that section. I was comfortable and ready to go home. Then they moved me into a different section the night before my release. I packed up my things and I wrote down my phone number to the boy I grew close to, who said I was his only friend.

But that night, I met a girl who was stronger than I could imagine.

We laid in bed that night exchanging stories. She had poofy red hair and a wild personality. I told her my story first and then I learned what it’s like to have no one. She told me about how her mother abandoned her and her father took her in. Everything was fine until he ran out of money. Broke and desperate, he sold her into sex trafficking for drugs. I connected with her- we were still children. I knew what it was like to be betrayed by a loved one. The same loved one who brought you into the world, who saw you take your first steps and from whom you learned how to speak and act. It saddened me and I wanted desperately to get back the feeling of being loved. She allowed her situation to make her act out and party and get into trouble. I was only with her for less than a day, but I miss her.

I wish I had her to talk to late at night when I got home and watched my parents lock the medicine and scissors into a safe, or after my first therapy session, where everything was centered around my suicide attempt. I still live with the restrictions, the jokes other kids make and the secrets I keep to avoid judgment.

I can’t begin to love living while people are making crude comments about others like me. It makes me afraid. It makes me feel like my progress is for nothing until people change. We shame and ignore kids with rough backgrounds because it’s easier.

But most people aren’t who they really are when they’re bad. They’re victims, they’re misunderstood. They’re the 4-year-olds inside of us who haven’t healed, who push everything they are back into the closet, so they can dress like others want them to.

I’m here now. You are too. Whatever it is that you have inside of you, know that we do, too. You can talk to us. You aren’t alone. writer wishes to remain anonymous

10 VIEWPOINT

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

battling HYPOCHONDRIA

BY MATTHEW MARTIN STAFF WRITER

Health anxiety weighs down sophomore

“The doctor tells me that I’m good, but that’s not what I hear.”

Wanting to believe, but my mind won’t let me.

Hearing the possibility of removing the weight, but it only gets heavier. The thoughts racing through my head that I might be all right. The feeling is unbearable.

The doctor tells me that I’m good, but that’s not what I hear. I hear a scratching at the back of my mind telling me, “He’s wrong. You know it.”

A voice haunting me. And me, cursed and in the dark. Hypochondria has not always afflicted me.

It’s like a ghost haunting me, but the exorcism does not help me, it scares me, terrifies me.

It’s clinical name is health anxiety; it’s always weighing over my mind. It operates from inside my brain, like a control center. Hypochondria hard wires my brain into believing I have illnesses that I don’t. It hurts more to believe that I have them, and hurts even more to believe that I have hypochondria.

People who suffer from this disorder are also known as “hypochondriacs.” The name almost feels like a label: it sticks, it doesn’t peel off, people make fun of you. It upsets me when I am called “clean freak,” or “germaphobe.” I didn’t choose to be dangerously aware of my health, no one does.

I think so much of my anxiety that it sickens me. It becomes dangerous when you stress yourself into disorders you don’t have. From its control center, hypochondria fools the brain into a state of mental illness, into a state of

believing it has a defect when in fact, it does not.

Hypochondria has no one target, no one disease it falls back on. It aims at many things all at once.

It can program a fever or something severe, like the flu or cancer. It scares me, thinking that I am a victim, that hypochondria makes me think I am a victim. Think of paranoia, now think about it, think about it. Meditate on it. Try and tell your doctor you need surgery. Think about how he just doesn’t want you to have help. Think about the world collapsing in.

I believe that I have ADD, OCD, anxiety, social anxiety and the list continues. That’s only four out of the whole list that I have. Four nails hammered in by one symptom, one root to awful trees, because I have one symptom. That one symptom can take over my mind.

In the mind of a hypochondriac, one symptom equals the whole package. I often make trips to the doctor to talk about my thoughts on myself.

I ask the same things and get the same answers.

The difference is, the doctor says I’m wrong, but I know I’m right. For some reason, I want to feel better when I hear the doctor say that I’m fine, but my mind forces me not to believe him. It’s almost like my brain wants to have the disorder itself.

There are many reasons why hypochondria is known as health anxiety. I just want to be healthy, to believe I’m healthy, infallible even. That’s why one thing wrong with me could lead me to believe that I need a prescription for something that I really don’t have. matthewmartin@tigertimesonline.com

photo illustration by a. kift

Love, acceptance should be human nature

S

ummer camp can be one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences in a child’s life. For some, it is a week of fun and meeting new people, but for campers at Camp Aldersgate it is a chance for them to feel normal.

At the closing ceremony, the reality of leaving paradise surrounds these young children who leave slightly tanner than when they arrived. At all camps, most campers will claim it as the best week of their lives, but, at Camp Aldersgate, there is a slight difference. As the week nears the end, counselors and campers alike fearfully wonder who will not live until next year.

Camp Aldersgate is known as “common grounds for extraordinary people.” In essence, it is a level playing field, an equal opportunity, to have a typical summer camp experience. Each week welcomes

campers with a different diagnosis: Down syndrome, cancer, muscular dystrophy, among other medical, physical and developmental needs.

The years I volunteered at Camp Aldersgate changed my life. I thought I was going to give these kids a chance to feel normal, but I learned more about myself and more about what I want to do with my life than I could have ever imagined.

“We are not born hating and judging each other.”

I have volunteered at Camp Aldersgate for the past couple of years. This August, I worked in the oldest girls’ cabin during oncology week. I was expecting a stressful

six days, but what the week would entail stirred controversy across the camp.

On the second night of camp, the counselors met. The supervisors announced that a camper told the volunteer staff and others that they would like to be called “he.”

Everyone was to disregard their political opinions regarding the issue and treat the camper with respect and compassion. This was the first time Camp Aldersgate had ever dealt with this issue, so the volunteers were learning and improvising.

Camp is a place for children to be purely happy and free.

Why should we keep someone from being himself or herself at camp, somewhere specifically created to provide kids with a safe environment?

As the week went on, this camper became happier. Everyone respected his wishes. His sister began to call him “he.” He even opened up to

BY ELEANOR SCHROEDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF me about his future goals to be a counselor at camp. He told me that when he grows up, he wants to be a gender therapist to provide support in the way he wished he had. The possibility that our actions could potentially benefit future children is inspiring.

Love and acceptance for all human beings is a part of human nature. We are not born hating and judging each other. I believe all people should be able to live how

they want to as long as they are not infringing on the rights of others.

My beliefs have shaped who I am and my purpose in life, but I don’t think you have to be a democrat to care about helping people, you simply have to be human.

My ability to make one camper’s experience more meaningful made the week worth it. It was not the camp’s responsibility to solve the family dynamic problems between the sister and the brother, yet we can hope that we made an impact.

My time volunteering at Camp Aldersgate answered so many questions for me. I discovered I truly want to help people. I cannot wait to make an impact on the world, even a small one, but for now, I will be doing what I can to get there. I’ll never forget the place that redefined my approach to life. One day working at Camp Aldersgate helped me to decide on my goal of helping others in life. eleanorschroder@tigertimesonline.com

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

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12 FEATURE

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photo by r. sizemore

REMEMBERING HIM Flowers sit in front of senior Leonard Park’s locker.

THE LEGACY YOU LEAVE BEHIND

Community remembers senior after passing

BY COLTON JOHNSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

here are three kinds of people in this world. People who walk into a room and sink into the shadows. People who walk into a room and demand the beaming spotlight. And people like Leonard Parks, who walk into a room with a gentle glow that overpowers the darkness.

Senior Leonard Parks died Sept. 2 in his sleep, leaving a void in the hearts of an entire community of family, friends and teammates.

“I remember watching Leonard walk down the hall. He was beautiful, and you could tell he was someone destined for an athletic career,” college prep teacher, Jenny Walker said. “When he came into

my class he always had this sweet little smile. Even though he was this giant presence in my room, he was never one to demand all of the attention. I always respected how gentle his presence was.

He wanted to go to the NFL and he wanted to take care of his momma, and even as a junior he had such a good idea about where he was headed in life.”

Leonard’s character and spirit were with him and remained consistent throughout his life. Every moment he lived was toward bettering his future and fulfilling the dreams he had for himself.

“Leonard was one of my students at TMS. What really struck me about Leonard was how sweet he was. He was a friend to everyone, and he always tried very hard on everything that he did,” his former English teacher Shae Phillips said. “We were so proud of him. He had such a bright future ahead of him, and it’s just tragic that we lost him so young.”

Leonard’s heart beat for those around him. He was a light to others, and his encouraging and uplifting personality shown through in the love and support he gave to his friends in school, as well as his teammates on the field.

“Leonard was a guy who when he walked into a room, he lit up the room.

Not just because of his size and his stature, but how he treated people,” head football coach, Gerry Stanford said.

“I think he was known most for how he treated and loved other people. He always wanted to make sure that other people were taken care of.”

That care he offered freely to those around him will forever be etched into

the hearts he touched. He was a leader on and off the field to the brothers he played with; the example he set inspired the team to strive for greatness.

“Leonard was one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met in my life.

He never skipped a rep or gave up on a play. He played till the whistle and went above and beyond in everything he did,” senior and fellow teammate Josh Lanier said. “He never once complained about something being too difficult to be accomplished, he just pushed through because he loved his team and wanted to lead us through anything. He played because of his love of the game and love of his teammates. He was always there for us.”

He was doing what he loved most the night before he passed; he was on the field, playing his heart out. That same passion resonates with the rest of the team as they continue to hold onto his memory and his legacy.

“He was a good athlete and a good person,” junior and fellow teammate Seth Willis said. “We are going to finish this season for Leonard. Our motto right now is: What would six do? What would Leonard do? Would he give up, or would he keep playing? Leonard went out there and gave 100 percent. Friday was one of the best games. I watched it over and over again. I respect him. I really am gonna miss him. He was a true friend.”

His passion and talent for the game had already caught the eye of college recruiters. Leonard received six college offers to play football, but his heart was set on Southern Methodist University.

“The entire SMU football family is saddened by the passing of Leonard Parks. Leonard had come to our camp and we had been recruiting him for quite some time. Many of our coaches had developed strong relationships with Leonard, and we considered him one of our own,” SMU head coach Chad Morris said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Leonard’s family, his coach Gerry Stanford, his teammates and everyone who was close to him. Leonard and his family will forever be a part of our StangGang18 class.”

Leonard cared about the game, and he cared about his future. He took every opportunity he could to better himself.

“The only time he ever got in trouble

is when he would be watching his highlights. He would come in and lead me to believe that he was doing some kind of research, but he would be back there just watching his clips,” Walker said. “His punishment was having to hear me give him advice on how to improve his athletic abilities. He would just laugh at me and say ‘yes ma’am Mrs. Walker.’

I just think he is one of those kids you adore and you just wish that everything in the world would’ve fallen into place for him.”

Leonard was described as being a light. A gentle glow in a night sky. He is a symbol for us to look to and model ourselves after. He loved deeply. He cared, and he impacted the lives of those who surrounded him.

“Leonard was one of the most amazing people the Lord ever put in my life,” senior Khyla Lewis said. “Even though it was for a short time, the moments I got to spend with him are always going to have an impact on me.”

It is the moments that people spent with him that must be remembered. His smile. His light. He lived fully, and he held onto his passions. He was a hero, and he taught people to be confident in themselves and pushed them to be better.

Leonard left a legacy for his family, for his friends, for his teammates, for us all.

Keep his memory alive.

“The most important thing is the legacy you leave behind. In his loss, we can honor his memory by reflecting in ourselves the positive attributes he shared with us. Joy, patience and kindness are just a few. His humor would light up a room. No task assigned to him was ever rejected. He stepped up,” his former English teacher Michele Rigdon said.

“We can learn by the example I shared with many people in my tribute to him.

That like an Anglo Saxon epic hero, we all can leave behind a legacy that will live in the hearts and minds of others indefinitely. If you asked Leonard what kind of hero he wanted to be, he said ‘I am a hero. In a sense, I am the rescuer.’

When asked to define his life in three words he said ‘In beast mode.’ So, in honor of him I think if we are going to honor his legacy, we need to act selflessly on behalf of others in the way that he suggests: Being all in.” coltonjohnson@tigertimesonline.com

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

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14 INDEPTH

ACTION FOLLOWS AFTERMATH Mental health is often only mentioned after tragedy

BY COLTON JOHNSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF It seems only tragedies are rewarded with one’s attention.

They have the power to bring our booming voices to a hush, but only after the glass has already broken.

“People seem to care so much more after a tragedy because we are faced with things we normally ignore. Every day we have meaningless interactions and we push off genuinely caring for others; we let ourselves get distracted by irrelevant and temporary things,” senior Savannah Kennedy said.

“When something tragic happens, all of our ignored emotions are forced to the top. We try to make up for lost time. It may just boil down to convenience.”

Only in times of awestruck silence, like Houston Hart’s fatal car accident, Zack McEntire’s injury and Leonard Park’s unexpected death, do people seem to listen for a cry for help; they look for people in need because they have been jolted out of a safe place. They join hands. They wipe tears. They write letters because it is the right thing to do.

“It is not just in times of distress that we should be attentive to those in need around us,” English teacher

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

Michele Rigdon said. “There are people on a daily basis who need to be rescued by a kind word or a smile or genuine concern. Often we get so caught up in our own world, we forget that we have the power to improve the world as a whole by contributing to the well-being of someone other than ourselves.”

As soon as the engines of the world begin to spin again, however, the voices intensify once more.

People stop listening–they stop caring. They become preoccupied in their own affairs allowing the scenes around them to become blurred.

“We need to learn to have open minds; we need to be empathetic.

We have kids who come to school hungry. We have students who come by after school to get clothes or to get food to take over the weekend,” counselor Anne Bishop said. “The incidents that have happened at our school recently, they see all the time. We are not aware of all of the circumstances that people deal with.

We have students who are thinking, ‘Where am I going to be tonight?

What am I going to be doing? Who is going to be coming at me?’”

It is easy to simply brush the glass shards under the rug. Quick.

No mess. Dismiss it rather than deal with it. But these issues cannot be brushed off. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults have a mental health condition, and yet there is only one mental health professional for every 1,000 individuals. Studies have shown that the rates of severe depression in youth alone increased from 8.5 percent in 2011 dealing with the issue to 11.1 percent in 2014. And yet, 80 percent of these kids are left with no or insufficient treatment.

“Our society does not believe in mental health. The state is cutting

MENTAL HEALTH

DISORDERS

•

•

•

MAJOR DEPRESSION

Persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

PANIC DISORDERS

Causes sudden episodes of intense fear triggering severe reactions which make the victim feel like they are out of control

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Causes unreasonable thoughts and fears that leads a victim to do repetitive behaviors which interefere with daily activities and cause distress.

46th

Texas is the ranked state for providing mental help to people.

mental health services everywhere,” Bishop said. “Our society, and our kids in school, need those services.

The statistics say that about 18 percent of high school kids seriously consider [suicide] and 8 percent make an attempt. That is 160 kids in our school in one year. Every single day, I talk to someone that I am very concerned about. I go home, and I worry all night.”

It is mandatory for a student’s eyesight, hearing, physical capability and spinal structure to be checked in school. It is mandatory for every senior to be pulled out of class to fill out a questionnaire about college and their future, but there is no questionnaire ever issued that asks students if they are okay. They are expected to seek the counselors out, and yet, based on our survey, half of the students don’t even know where the counselor’s office is located.

“The best we can do is hold ourselves accountable for our words and actions, try to be more thoughtful every day as to how our behavior could affect other people and take mental health as seriously as physical health,” senior Luke Carter said. “People see mental health problems as weakness. It doesn't matter whether someone is suffering because of their circumstances or because they have a weak constitution. They need help.”

On an average day, it seems, humans do not stop to look around at the chaos in the world, as long as it isn’t affecting them. Kindness becomes something used to counter grief rather than an everyday expectation–the broadcasted motto of what a “tiger family” is said to be year-round. When these random acts of affection and concern are only brought to the surface to make people feel better are after a tragedy, the idea of “tiger strong” turns into empty words easily dismissed.

“When tragedy happens, it causes everybody to go into panic, especially parents and people who care about us. Therefore, we are more proactive in trying to make sure that everybody is okay during that time, but it’s not the same year round,” senior Olivia Parks said. “Also, I feel like not everyone is included in this ‘family’ that we have. They say we’re family, but I feel like our school is not represented as a family due to the segregation between the different groups of people; however, some kids really do need the support from our teachers and without it they might succumb to their environment.”

Nothing can be done to erase the

meanness that lives within people. It is an inevitable challenge the school will continue to face; it is a challenge the world will continue to face.

People will continue to make jokes about suicide, about mental health.

They will continue to look down upon people who cannot afford food or new clothes. Hate will continue to exist in the world, but people have a choice everyday as to how they combat this hate.

“There’s always going to be meanness and ugliness in people.

We were talking about that the other day in class,” English teacher Holly Mooneyham said. “There was a quote by Stephen King that goes, ‘Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.’ Most of my students believed there was a streak of evil inside of us, and as humans I believe there is, but we can choose whether or not we channel that evil in us or channel ourselves for good.

We need to start putting ourselves in other people’s shoes and really getting to know people instead of judging people in an instant.” coltonjohnson@tigertimesonline.com

illustration by k. gordon

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE COUNSELORS OFFICE IS?

YES NO

48.4% 51.6%

ART IMITATES LIFE Entertainment often reflects issues in society

AFTER

THE GLASS

SHATTERS 180 STUDENTS SURVEYED

15

BY COLTON JOHNSON & PAISLEY ALLEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & COPY EDITOR Art imitates life. It’s been used to tell the truths people cannot directly put into words for decades, centuries, even. The truths that most people would often rather dismiss.

There are no boundaries that cannot be crossed. No topic that cannot be discussed. There is no inconvenience excused by limited time or busy schedules; art disregards time. The underlying messages in the scenes on a screen and the words on a page bring attention to real issues when the world is busied with other affairs.

Movies, books, songs and television shows bring to light issues often brushed under the rug, such as mental health and suicide.

They demand one’s attention, captivate them and convince them to take their blinders off. To look. To listen. To understand.

“Good theater holds up a mirror to society and reflects back the issues and problems that are going on,” theater director Melissa Newton said. “Right now on Broadway, we have ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ which is reflecting back a mirror of society, depicting what’s going on in our culture. It tells a story about isolation, the feeling of loneliness, bullying and people not connecting with other people. It is a problem that’s not just here; it’s happening everywhere. That’s what good theater does; it helps you see the problems that are there and then see possibilities to fix them.”

These topics dealing with mental health and depression are being showcased in entertainment geared toward young adults for one of two reasons: either the industry is capitalizing on issues that are often romanticized in our society, or it is using its platform to provide comfort and encouragement to those struggling to reach out for a helping hand.

“Sensitive subjects like suicide tend to be taboo and discretely discussed, or not discussed at all because it makes people uncomfortable. However, [that] doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be talked about,” English teacher Holly Mooneyham said. “We struggled getting ‘13 Reasons Why’ as a choice for literature circles because of the sensitive material within it, but the show just hit Netflix and was huge among the students which provided us a teaching platform about these taboo subjects that had the students’ interest.”

It isn’t just “13 Reasons Why.” It’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “All the Bright Places,” “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” “Everything, Everything.” The list goes on. They are stories people relate to, stories that grab their attention. According to the World Health Organization, 300 million people deal with depression, and in the past 15 years, suicide rates increased by 15 percent.

“In ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ the main character deals with multiple issues such as anxiety, depression, the death of family members and sexual assault. Reading about someone else’s problems and relating it to your life is a lot easier than dealing with it by yourself. Reading about it helps you create the scenarios you plan to deal with before they happen,” senior Jera Davis said.

“People should talk about [mental health] because those who suffer from it may not get the help they need without knowing how to find it. They don’t have to stay quiet just because it isn’t socially acceptable.”

These pieces of artwork urge people to pick up the pieces, to put the broken glass back together again; it encourages the world to speak up. These broken pieces can only be mended if people accept that mental health is an issue everywhere, and then take positive action to provide care and healing.

“There is a hashtag in ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ #YouWillBeFound.

It is a way to make sure no one is forgotten. It encourages people to talk to the people who sit by themelves,” junior Abby Cannon said. “No one should feel alone.” coltonjohnson@tigertimesonline.com, paisleyallen@tigertimesonline.com

16 FEATURE

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

FEATURE

shrouded in

17

FEAR

Embracing scars helps junior build strength

A

BY KAITLYN GORDON STAFF WRITER N eerie silence lay upon her room.

Sounds came from the TV until she heard the screaming and yelling for help.

Those sounds, those ear-aching, stomach-turning screams, can’t be erased. The sight of her mother’s blood on the bathroom floor. The tears streaming down her father’s face. The panic that filled every inch of that bathroom and brought goose bumps to everyone it touched left an everlasting scar.

In the seventh grade, junior Rachel Johnson’s mother attempted suicide at their home.

“I was in my room watching TV, and all of sudden, my little sister runs into my room and says, ‘Mommy is trying to kill herself.’ I started crying and wanted to believe she was lying,” Johnson said. “I walked into my parents’ bathroom and there was blood everywhere and razor blades on the floor.

My mom had slit both of her wrists. My dad was freaking out and applying pressure, just trying to stop the bleeding.

Earlier she had posted her suicide note on Facebook, and one of her coworkers had called an ambulance. I think that someone from Facebook also contacted my dad and told him to check on my mom.”

In the face of her mother’s suicide attempt, Rachel looked for an explanation; she believes the four recent deaths at that time within her mother’s family and workplace provided some sort of reason for all that had happened.

“My uncle had died from cancer. My aunt died from an infection in her leg after a car accident. My cousin died in

a four wheeler accident. My mom’s best friend and coworker died from cancer two days after being diagnosed,” Johnson said. “It was really hard for her, and she already hated her job because it was stressful. She was under a lot of stress and wanted out, but she didn’t know how to get out. She thought she would disappoint us by quitting her job.”

She now constantly worries and fears about what might happen. That day is forever imprinted into her mind, and no matter how hard she tries, the fear of losing her mother, of losing someone she’s almost lost before with no warning, stays with her.

“I feel like now I live everyday in fear even though, after she came back, she said that was never going to happen again,” Johnson said. “We believed her, but I still live everyday thinking that it still could happen. It’s just really hard when something like that happens to you and your family. You just constantly live being terrified of it happening again.”

Johnson is aware of her surroundings. Erasing this day is not something she can ever

“I can’t be

away from her for a long time because I feel like I might lose her.”

Rachel Johnson, 11

PUSHING THROUGH Junior Rachel Johnson holds onto her traumatic past, but she still manages to move foward everyday. photo illustration by a. kift

do, but she pushes through.

Although Johnson is fearful of what may happen, she believes she is stronger as a person and a friend after what has happened.

She tries to look out for others now and help them if she can.

“It’s made me stronger in a way. I’ve been through things that a lot of people don’t go through,” Johnson said. “I’m extremely sensitive to the subject of suicide and self harm.

If I see anything on social media like that, I freak out and feel like I have to go see my mom.

If I hear a scream, I have to go check on her. If a door slams, I have panic attacks. I feel like it has made me stronger and more

aware of my surroundings. I listen out for things more. I pay attention to people more, and I try to take care of people who are sad more than I would have before this.”

Almost losing her mom has made Johnson want to be much closer to her mother. She spends any and all time she can with her, because she is unsure of what might happen in the future.

“It’s hard to not think about when she’s upset,” Johnson said. “I can’t be away from her for a long time because I feel like I might lose her. I spend time with her a lot. We play games, watch movies and do just

anything to spend time with her.

Even though she doesn’t say it, she wants the company; she’d rather be with people than be alone.”’

In the face of despair, it is understandably hard for Rachel, or anyone else,- to somehow overcome this and look forward, yet she does everyday. She stands tall and bravely. She shakes the thoughts in her mind from this day. In fact, she uses this to mold her into the person she is today.

“I’d be completely different, probably a lot weaker,” Johnson said. “It helped me build. It made me stronger in a way.” kaitlyngordon@tigertimesonline.

18

FEATURE

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

WALKING TOWARD RECOVERY Band director copes with daughter’s disorder

photo by a.valle

BY MISTY LOPEZ FEATURE EDITOR It’s just like any other ordinary morning; they prepare for the day and wake up to see the people they love most. That’s just how the routine goes, or at least how everyone wishes for it to go. But on this specific morning, Sept. 10, 2016, their lives would be changed forever.

Band director Kara Compton woke up, got herself ready for the Four States Parade and was ready to drop her 2-year-old daughter Elizabeth off at the sitter’s. But as she walked into her room, she could hear the sobs that came from her crib. Instantly, she could tell that something was wrong.

Elizabeth was extremely fragile and was unable to move anything from her neck down.

“I picked her up, and it was like picking up a noodle,” Compton said.

“So we rushed her to the emergency room, and they began to assess what was wrong, but nothing made sense, and they couldn’t decide what the diagnosis was. So within an hour, we were on a helicopter heading for Little Rock to get to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.”

Elizabeth Compton was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, a cousin to transverse myelitis, which is an extremely rare disease that was first discovered in 1882. The spinal cord can be injured by a virus to the point where people who have the disease can experience heart troubles, breathing problems, slow to no reflexes and digestive issues.

“A theory is that transverse myelitis is a mutation of polio because it has poliolike symptoms. This virus attacks the spinal cord, causing paralysis,” Compton said. “The outcome for most patients varies. Some people get better, some people get worse and some people stay the same.”

Elizabeth has been recovering and is now able to walk. The journey has been difficult, but as each day passes, progression is being made.

“It’s all about physical therapy. We

BECAUSE SHE WALKS, WE WALK TOO Band director Kara Compton holds her daughter, Elizabeth Compton, at the Transverse Myelitis Association Walkathon held on Saturday, Sept. 16, where money and awareness was raised to support people with Transverse Myelitis..

were told from the beginning that there is no cure, no vaccine, no magic anything, but we were given medicine to prevent it from becoming worse. So the only proven way that they have seen kids get better is through therapy,” Compton said. “When we were in the hospital, we were on the rehab floor for about six weeks, and it was physical therapy and occupational therapy twice a day and speech once a day, which was intense.”

Not only had therapy taken place at the hospital, but in the Compton’s home and day care as well. Even though it’s been tough, they believe that it’s all been necessary for Elizabeth.

“When we got home, we continued therapy through a facility called Temple Rehabilitation Memorial. [Elizabeth] goes there three times a week, and we have people come to the house through another organization. Everyday, about five times a week, Elizabeth is receiving therapy,” Compton said. “She’s even

gotten to go back to day care, which has been huge, and we’re very proud of her for being able to do that. Her day care is wonderful, and she gets therapy there too. We constantly work at home as well.

Any little game, like walking up our stairs or going outside is therapy for her.

We’re just constantly working on getting her stronger.”

Many days of therapy and tough times have all had positive results, and each day, things are looking better and better.

“It’s almost been a year, and she went from not being able to move anything.

That first day she wiggled her big toe, and that was huge. Now she’s running over and hitting me in the face. She’s improved so much, and we’ve seen various other cases in which other children have it more severe. They have tracheostomies to help them breathe, and they have to be hooked up to all this machinery to be able to function, and Elizabeth didn’t have to have any of that,”

Compton said. “So we’re very grateful to God for healing her because we were at a point where that could not have been an option. She beat all the odds and surprised all the doctors by achieving the success that she’s achieved.”

The Comptons learned how to pray in a different way and have been very grateful for the success that Elizabeth has been showing day after day.

“We continue to pray for her and all of the children that are affected by any major illness. I remember seeing her on that ventilator and praying to God to get her off of it because I needed her back.

It’s all been a blur and the longest year of my life,” Compton said. “But it’s made Elizabeth stronger, and before all this we’d freak out about, ‘oh her hair is not right today’ or ‘she doesn’t have the right dress on,’ and now none of that stuff matters. She’s here, we’re all here, she’s worked hard to be here. She’s my hero.” mistylopez@tigertimesonline.com

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

FEATURE

A PERSEVERING SPIRIT

19

Positive attitude helps substitute keep going despite diagnosis

BY VICTORIA VAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR A pain ripples through her back, wincing as she regains her balance. The familiar, dreaded sensation comes over her and she knows what’s coming. She knows the feeling of a constant battle between her body and her mind for the third time with a vicious obstacle: cancer.

One of the most loved substitutes on campus, Suzanne Voltz is experiencing terminal cancer after already having uterine cancer twice. Voltz currently has tumors in her lungs, spine, liver and pelvic area, all of which have remained stable except the tumors inside her stomach. Every three weeks, Voltz undergoes a rigorous chemotherapy treatment for five and a half hours as an attempt to reduce the size of the tumors.

“When I was diagnosed, I was diagnosed with a tumor in my pelvic area the size of a football. It was pressing on my spine which was making my back hurt. When the doctors ran the CT scan, they confirmed that the tumor is in my pelvic area,” Voltz said. “They are trying to shrink my football-sized tumor, but thus far they are inoperable.”

In retrospect, Voltz had already anticipated the returning illness months before a professional diagnosis because

of her previous battles against uterine cancer.

“I found out about my cancer earlier this year in May. I’ve been feeling badly since right before Christmas time. I have experienced uterine cancer twice, and I overcame that less than 20 years ago,” Voltz said. “The first time I took chemotherapy, they removed the tumors.

After 14 years, the cancer came back.

The second time, I had my uterus removed. Then it came back this time, 16 years later, as cervical cancer.”

When Voltz realized her cancer returned, she was in the midst of a long-term substitute assignment, and maintaining her normal lifestyle progressively became more difficult throughout the first few months. Yet Voltz consistently fulfills her promises when it comes to substitute assignments.

“It was tough taking the long-term sub assignment. I accepted it before I knew I was sick. Once I make a commitment, my word is my bond,” Voltz said. “It was brutal because I didn’t feel well, and I was just now starting my medication. The illness was causing me to not have an appetite, but I made it, and I kept persevering because it’s what anyone in my situations needs to do.”

Students from around campus welcome Voltz with open arms whenever

photo by r. sizemore

HOPE FOR A MIRACLE Substitute Suzanne Voltz calls roll during a class. Voltz has been diagnosed with cancer for the third time. However, she continues to work as a substitute, knowing that a positive outlook is important.

she arrives for a substitute assignment.

Voltz takes the time to appreciate her students and regards the positivity as a much needed boost to support herself during this phase of her life.

“Being around students has helped me cope with what I’m going through,” Voltz said. “The students are like the kids I never had, and I like this age group, especially the more mature students.

Every day I love coming to the school, and I have a special connection to this place. I’ve visited these halls since my high school days, and I always come back.”

Reflecting on how far she has trekked

through her battle, Voltz contributes most of her perseverance by maintaining a mindset of an encouraging individual who never lets a negative obstacle dampen her overall attitude in life.

“A lot of what has gotten me through the experience is keeping a positive attitude. This time it’s a lot worse. I’m terminal now, so I think I have to keep a smile on my face and be strong in the face of adversity,” Voltz said. “I would advise [people] to keep a smile on their face and not be sad. They could be a miracle. I could be a miracle. You never know until it’s your time.” victoriavan@tigertimesonline.com

20

SPORTS

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS

photo by a. parker

photo by a. parker

Junior Kaitlyn Cross specializes in Junior Treyaunna Rush can be a defensive role using her height to found near the net while forcefully block her opponents at the net. spiking on the competition.

Volleyball team grows from experience, hopes to carry hot start into postseason

WHAT TO

photo by a. higgins

Sophomore Olivia Lower has developed an important hybrid role in her first season on the varsity team.

WATCH FOR UPCOMING GAMES

BLOCKING OUT THE HATERS Junior Treyaunna Rush and freshman Ashlyn Stiger block an effort from Sulphur Springs. This win has been a huge motivational booster for the team as they advance in district play.

9/29 - Marshall* 10/3 - Pine Tree 10/10 - Hallsville 10/13 - Sulphur Springs 10/17 - Marshall 10/20 - Mount Pleasant* 10/24 - Greenville** *Home game **Senior Night photo by a. parker

“We have played a lot more together this past summer and have played a lot better than last year.”

BY CONNOR BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

-Treyaunna Rush, 11

ACING THE COMPETITION Junior Victoria Willis gets ready to serve against Prariland. The Lady Tigers currently are undefeated in district play and boast a 19-7 record overall. photo by g. mcguire

Last year they were counted out. Last year they were young and inexperienced.

But this year, they’ve announced to their opponents that they are a force to be reckoned with.

The Lady Tigers volleyball team has had success in their preseason and has carried it into district play with a 19-7 record.

“We got first in the silver bracket of our first tournament,” sophomore Olivia Lower said.

“We also got second in the gold bracket of the second tournament.”

Last year’s team was relatively young, with many sophomores and juniors. This season, however, they have been able to create an even stronger bond with each other.

“We’ve played a lot more together this past summer and have played a lot better than last year,” junior Treyaunna Rush said. “I think that really

got us ready for the season.”

The team has had many impressive wins this season, including a comeback victory over Sulphur Springs who have caused problems for the Lady Tigers in years past.

However, they are still looking to improve.

“As a team, we’re watching film and doing certain drills in practice [to get better],” Lower said. “We are working out in the mornings to get down some specifics.”

The team constantly makes adjustments in practice and during games.

“We are working on our communication because we don’t do that well at times,” junior Kaitlyn Cross said.

“We really need to play as a team and play for each other, and by doing that we will do well.”

Concentration is a big part of winning the games.

When it is lacking, the games are not as easy to win.

“We’ve done well, but we’ve lost games that we shouldn’t have when we don’t focus,” Cross said. “We just need to stay focused on every point and not play down to other teams that don’t have as good of records as us.”

Going into the rest of the season, the team has a positive outlook on postdistrict play.

“I think we can do really well this year,” Lower said.

“Our biggest competitor is going to be Hallsville, but I think we have what it takes go far [in playoffs].”

The Lady Tigers face off against the Marshall Lady Mavericks Friday in the Tiger Center at 4:30 p.m. connorbrooks@tigertimesonline.com

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

SPORTS

21

LEAPFROGGIN’ the competition

13 1 COLLEGE OFFERS

DECISION

3

STAR ATHLETE

Breakout wide receiver commits to TCU

BY MADISON BROWN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR All eyes are on him. Everyone’s watching. The coaches, the photographers, the players. This is his big life-changing moment. The one that will alter the future he had planned out for himself. Finally he’s handed a pen, ready to make his dream of playing college football a reality. He grabs the pen, signs, then looks up with a smile on his face. It’s official.

This past summer, senior Tevailance Hunt participated in his second Texas Christian University (TCU) football camp. At the end of the camp, he was offered a full ride to play football on a collegiate level next school year. On August 4, Hunt officially signed with the horned frogs.

“Not too many people get to have this chance and I’m happy to say that I’m one of the few to do so,” Hunt said. “It’s just a blessing that I am able to be a part of such a great program.”

It didn’t take long for Hunt to become a recognized star in the land of purple and white. During his previous camps, he recalls the coaches using him as examples when demonstrating how a play should be executed.

“At the camp, everyone there wanted to see me run routes every time, like I was an inspiring person to see out there,” Hunt said. “It was just great for me to go out there and compete well.”

When you’re presented with new opportunities, it becomes a game changer when looking at different aspects of life. You learn just how important working hard is when it comes to your future.

“My work ethic on and off the field is improving a

lot. Now I’m taking school more seriously due to the fact that I actually have a chance to go to college to play ball,” Hunt said. “I still have a few things to get better on, but I tend to stay focused and keep perfecting my crafts.”

Success rarely comes from solely working hard.

When you have people who help you along the way and constantly support you, not only do you get better, but you also gain a friendship.

“My old quarterback Cade Pearson helped me a lot through the season,” Hunt said. “I couldn’t do it by myself, and he had an big impact on my season.”

Knowing that there’s always someone you can go to makes a difference in your ability to gain success.

“My relationship with Cade was solid; he understood me and I understood him. We just had that type of connection on the field,” Hunt said. “He would tell me a play or where he’s throwing [the football] to and I’d run to that spot and catch the ball. Our relationship was just like no other!”

After being somewhere for four years, creating memories with your friends that will last forever is inevitable. It’s no surprise that what Hunt will miss the most is his teammates.

“It was a lot of fun playing with them, and I hope we all succeed in life,” Hunt said.

Although leaving is bittersweet, these past four years have taught him a lot. It’s given him a life motto to live by that will always keep him striving toward success.

“How I play my game is just simple: you stay silent and let success be the noise and don’t let anyone get in the way of what you’re doing,” Hunt said. “Most of all, you just have to keep that positive mindset at all times; it’ll take you far.” madisonbrown@tigertimesonline.com

OFF TO THE RACES Wide reciever Tevailance Hunt sprints for a touchdown against Liberty-Eylau. Hunt reeled in six catches for 77 yards and a score in the 37-23 win. photo by a. valle

“Not too many people get to have this chance, and I’m happy to say that I’m one of the few to do so.”

-Tevailance Hunt, 12

22

SPORTS

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

TIGER REPORT GRIFFIN JOHNSON, 11

CAMERON ALCORN, 10

JAXSON ALLEN, 12

OWEN LIKINS, 10 WILLIAM HARRELL, 12

TENNIS

SWIM

GOLF

CROSS COUNTRY

The Tigers played in a tournament on Sept. 16.

They had a close match against Ennis but ended up winning that game and the tournament. All of the players have done well this season to help the team achieve victories. The team is fairly young but has done well this year, and they haven’t lost yet.

The Tigers are currently 8-0 in the season and 3-0 in district.

In boys doubles, Alec Rommel and Griffin Johnson dominated their competition from Sulphur Springs 6-0 and 6-1.

The boys team, with many returning members, is generating high expectations.

The girls, however, are in somewhat of a rebuliding mode, as a lot valuable swimmers graduated this past year, forcing underclassmen to step up. Swim’s first real meet is in Lewisville, a relay only meet called Ranger Relays. As Texas High is one of the few 5A schools in a meet of mainly 6As, it’ll definitely be a tough win but should serve as good practice and experience no matter what.

VONDERIC STANLEY, 12

FOOTBALL

The Tigers kicked off the season with tough defeats by Bishop Lynch (24-7) and crosstown rival Arkansas High (7-0). The next Friday the Tigers proved themselves, however, in a 37-23 victory against another local rival, the Liberty-Eylau Leopards. The Tigers won on the ground with running plays from the Wildcat formation.

The Tigers then followed up with an exciting 44-41 win over the Kilgore Bulldogs in double overtime. Late stands by the Tiger defense and a balnced offensive attack helped the Tigers to this impressive victory. The Tigers begin district play Friday night against the Marshall Mavericks at 7:30. photos by a.higgins, a.runnels, r.sizemore, a.valle, h.rainwater

The golf team won their first tournament of the year, beating Pleasant Grove and Arkansas High. The golf team only has two returning starters and two freshman starters.

The team continues to practice hard and look to improve from their season last year. The Tigers continued their season at the Bart Granger where they struggled both days but played as hard as they could. They will continue their season in the Tiger Classic on Oct. 13-14 at the Texarkana Country Club.

The team has been predicted to get third place in district which will be qualifying for regionals if everyone runs well. They have done well during the small meets that they have run in and have had multiple first and second place finishes by senior Will Harrell and sophomore Owen Likins.

So far the season has gone well. A few of the Tigers’ times are at the top of the region rankings and they are looking forward to competing at the regional and state level this year.

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

COMMUNITY

23

24 ENTERTAINMENT

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS TV show opens up new perspective on mental disorders

BY JOSEPH ASHER STAFF WRITER

His head sways back and forth violently as he falls to the ground trembling with nerves.

Seeking refuge among his own thoughts trying to imagine his fantasy world. Continuing to chant until his mom comes to help him recover from his breakdown. Being on the Autism spectrum is a part of his life.

“Atypical” is just another Netflix show some would say, but what sets this show apart is its near parallels to reality. The storyline is about an autistic teen trying to navigate high school., and dealing with fitting in among his fellow students.

Sam, played by Keir Gilchrist, is a struggling teen who lacks the social requirements to fit into high school atmosphere.

He is a quirky character. The

illustration by victoria van

transitions from comedy to heft take a little getting used to. Throughout the show, we hear voiceovers by Sam which let us see things through his perspective, allowing us to experience why he behaves the way he does.

Sam has a desire to be a normal kid by doing what teenagers do, such as getting a girlfriend or going to school dances. The peers around him make this desire unreachable, depicting the teens as rude, not

giving Sam a chance to fit in.

As a part of being on the Autism Spectrum, Sam doesn’t handle things that a typical person would not even notice.

This can be seen whenever he rides the bus, he sits on the seat without letting his back touch because the feel of the seat causes excessive discomfort for him. We also witness Sam’s inability to cope when he wears a leather jacket to school, causing too much distraction from all the zippers and chains

he rips the jacket off in class and throws it in the trash.

The characters on the show are kind of pointless, as we don’t get a clear view of who they are as people. Sam has the overprotective mom, clueless dad who wants nothing but to connect with his son and younger sister who protects Sam, but at the same time bullies him like all sisters.

Today there are many students who have mental disorders or special needs that

are enduring the everyday struggles of high school and this show lets us see what life and school is like for them.

With our school having special needs students, it’s easy to relate this show back to them. A show like Atypical opens up that void between the known and unknown thoughts of those kids. The show helps us understand who they are, what they go through and more importantly how we can help them fit in. This show was fascinating and intriguing by exploring the aspect of Autism and dealing with high school. Unlike other shows on Netflix, “Atypical” is different as it lets us experience life in a new perspective. Getting to see what life is like for one that has special needs is something interesting that we really don’t get to witness often. Atypical is a show that isn’t like the rest, it’s simply not typical. josephasher@tigertimesonline. com

Mainstream method of documenting life garners popularity

BY JOHN MORGAN SPORTS EDITOR

Since its creation in 2005, YouTube has been a place for content creators to come and express their creative abilities.

Whether it be gaming, or skits, the diverse platform has had something different for all types of audiences.

Then came the collapse of Vine.

This cherished app which featured various aspiring comedians to make short comedy bits met its doom in October 2016 when uploads were disabled on the site. This has led to former Viners - as they were called - resorting to YouTube to make content for their already established fan bases.

This transitional period is when the

act of “vlogging” began to form. A vlog a.k.a. video blog consists of a person filming their daily lives and giving their opinions on certain topics. These videos, yet simple to develop, typically document intricate personalities and colossal events that the viewer can enjoy or relate to.

“Vlogging” isn’t necessarily a new concept for YouTube. Creators like Casey Neistat, Superwoman and Roman Atwood have been at this for a while now. It’s the newfound popularity of vlogging that has had a profound impact on YouTube.

All of a sudden, former social media stars such as Logan Paul and Jake Paul began to rack up millions of subscribers in the time it takes many other YouTubers to gain a few thousand.

Revenue for vloggers has started to pour in as daily uploads correlate to more income for a relatively unstable profession.

Mainstream YouTubers have witnessed the effects of “vlogging” and several of them have started to fall victims to this recent trend. Channels such as Smosh, Alex Wassabi and even

photo by a. kift

THE VLOG VIRUS

PRESS RECORD Junior John Morgan sets an example of “vlogging” by recording himself on his phone and talking to his potential audience about topics in the world and his life altogether.

PewDiePie have taken notice and begun to upload more and in some cases switch their primary focus from scripted content to the unscripted happenings of their daily lives.

“Vlogging” can be classified as a trend, but unlike most, this one might not fade away easily. As long as the demand grows for what goes on in the lives of influential people, these videos will be supplied and continue to develop in quality. The effects and profits cannot be ignored.

It wouldn’t be surprising if this trend

begins to move up the ranks of social hierarchy. Soon, the world’s most adored celebrity figures could catch on and reap the benefits. Who knows? At the rate its popularity grows, everyone’s lives could one day be posted on the internet with a cheesy title and a subscribe button. Like it or hate it, one can’t deny a personal willingness to know everything about someone. The thing that will drive vlogging for years to come is the fact that anyone can vlog. All you need is a camera and a story to tell. johnmorgan@tigertimesonline.com

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

HYDE

& SEEK Tiger Theatre Company to present adaptation of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

“

Everyone is just so excited for this show. I’m also excited for the show and to see everything that is planned for it.”

-Rachel Johnson, 11

ENTERTAINMENT

BY AUDREY HASKINS STAFF WRITER ctors and actresses gather in the Sullivan Performing Arts Center with either waves of confidence or butterfly wings tapping against their rib cage. For students with theatrical experience, they relish in the gentle waves. However, the small cast came together and worked as a team to SHOWTIMES: OCT. begin theater teacher Mrs. 12 and 14 at 7 Lisa Newton’s visual for the p.m., OCT. 15 at 2 recreation of “A Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and p.m.

Hyde Play.”

ADMISSION: $6-8 The Tiger Theatre students with IDs Company has now begun practice. The cast members enter at half price began their routine to prepare themselves. They then picked up a paper version of the script to read through onstage for the first time. Cast member Rachel Johnson has high hopes for rehearsals.

“I’m hoping that we get a very broad overview of how we want the show to run and that things are being put together,” Johnson said. “I’m hopeful that Newton has put a lot together already.”

Technical crew member Nadia Fryer is just as pumped as the rest of the crew to get to working on the set and on the stage.

“I’m excited. I get to be closer with people I like and I enjoy doing lights for theater, so that’s a plus. This is my first time designing lights, so I’m pretty stoked about that,” Fryer said.

For the first rehearsal, the cast ran through the majority of the first scene, placing emphasis on blocking the characters, meaning the director tells the actors where to be and how to move across the stage. With the

A

25

majority of their set not built until later in the year, they pretend windows are there to be opened and a bench is a luxurious couch.

“You never know where the set pieces are going to be because malfunctions are inevitable, so it’s always good to have the mindset of ‘We don’t know what’s happening but we’re going to carry on and give it 100 percent,’” Johnson said.

The crew works slowly, but they work in depth and with determination to immerse themselves into the story. The cast is very excited to begin rehearsals and don’t mind spending hours on the stage.

“It’s best that we take the show slow. That way we can perfect any last minute changes that we’ve done.

It’s easier to work around everyone’s schedule and get everything nice and crisp to make it a great show for everyone,” Johnson said.

The rehearsals over the next few weeks will be three to four times a week. They occasionally spend around 12 hours one day in a weekend in the performing arts center to perfect the show. Students and teachers are putting a lot of hard work into their art to practice blocking.

“I think it’s good the more time you spend blocking because the more time spent blocking, the easier it is to memorize everything and it starts to feel fluid. It stops everything from being choppy and motivates you,” Johnson said.

“Chemical Imbalance” will be showing in October.

The actors are putting their hearts into their work and it will be worth watching.

“Newton is pushing us hard this year,” Johnson said.

We run long rehearsals and take on lots of hours. Mrs. Newton is dedicated, our stage manager is dedicated, everyone is just so excited for this show. I’m also excited for the show and to see everything that is planned for it.” audreyhaskins@tigertimesonline.com

Students star in darkly comedic fall production as eccentric characters

BY COLTON JOHNSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Senior Brennon Cope will be tasked with the split personality of the scientifically motivated Dr. Jekyll and the psychotic killer Mr. Hyde. This is expected to be an astonishing performance as Cope is often compared to the great Broadway legend, Josh Groban.

Senior Damien Hamilton will be taking the stage for the first time in a dress, playing the role of the diva socialite, Mrs. Throckmortonshire.

Hamilton is excited to make Tiger Theatre history by embracing his inner drama queen and channeling his sass. This character is being brought to life by a true icon.

MEET THE CAST Junior Rachel Johnson stands at a whopping 4 feet 9 inches and will be taking the stage for the 12th time playing twin characters, Calliope, “the good one” and Penelope, “the evil one.” Johnson will impress as she channels the innocence of Calliope and conjures up the mischievous spirit Penelope.

Senior Victoria Perez is playing the role of wannabe socialite Euphronia Jekyll. Perez, though she wears a kids size shoe, is ready to fill the embroidered heels of Euphronia’s socially driven personality. Victoria is expected to deliver an amazing performance.

photos by a. parker

26 ENTERTAINMENT

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

WHAT’S

photo by k. gordon

WHAT TO KNOW

NOW

[50]

TO PLAY

TO LISTEN TO “Kodak Black’s album Project Baby 2. It’s really good and different because he raps about his comeup in life. It shows how he started from the bottom and got to where he is now.

It’s about how he’s living a lavish life and he’s a really good artist.”

“Life is strange: Before the storm. It’s based off the original game. It has a great storyline and plot with nice action parts also. I personally loved the first game so I was very happy to see that we are focusing on the past in the first game.”

-KATHERINE PAGE, 10

PERCENT of students surveyed are excited for the upcoming season of “Stranger Things”

TO WEAR “The design on Lululemon leggings has holes on the side and mesh material woven in that is see-through, so it’s different, which makes everyone want to buy them.”

-GABBY LEON, 11

-MACKENZIE STEVENS, 10

TO WATCH TO WEAR TO READ “It’s about warriors named the Seven Deadly Sins who have unrealistic powers and fight against those who use their powers for evil. They were framed for killing the king so they split up and were captured. I really want to know what happens.”

-EMMANUEL CONKLETON, 11

“‘It’ was scary. I don’t even like clowns, but that’s probably why it’s trending. Most people don’t like clowns, and it builds up anticipation to go and watch the movie.”

-TRAVAWYN TAYLOR, 10

“I used to see them all over social media, and I started wearing them because they brought out certain aspects of my outfits.”

-KORIE HAMILTON, 9

DID YOU KNOW? The song with the most views on Youtube is “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa with

2,904,148,095 views Users of the new TBH app have sent over 150,000,000 messages to each other

66% did not find the song “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift favorable 30 students surveyed

SEPT. 28, 2017 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

PHOTO ESSAY

27

photo by a. higgins

UNIQUE GIFT Looking away, junior Andrew Davis grimaces as he donates blood at the Life Share blood drive. Many students helped out and donated blood on Monday, Sept. 18 and Tuesday, Sept. 19. “I have a rare blood type,” Davis said. “There are people who are in need of what I have, and who am I to deny someone of something so simple?”

photo by a. higgins

if the

needle

PREP WORK A Life Share worker sterilizes a student’s arm in preparation for donating blood. Texas High has long been a donation center for this event, and more than 100 people donated blood during this drive.

fits

Students repeatedly donate blood throughout the year to Life Share centers photo by d. kelley

photo by d. kelley

photo by h. rainwater

SIGN ME UP Junior Joseph Rodgers fills out his information sheet for the blood drive. Students were required to complete these forms to participate at the blood drive. “I gave blood because my grandpa gave blood every time he could for years,” Rodgers said. “That inspired me to donate and save people’s lives.”

photo by d. kelley

HELP WHO YOU CAN Junior Kearstan Williams prepares to donate blood in the gym. Students saved lives by donating their blood during this event on Sept. 18-19. “I gave blood because I felt like since I’m healthy, I should take advantage of that and try to do whatever I can to help anybody that I’m able to,” Williams said. KEEP CALM Junior Andrew Davis concentrates on staying calm in the face of having a needle in his arm, making sure to keep a tense grip on a pressure ball. KEEP WATCH Senior Brett Denson watches as a nurse prepares to pull out his IV, hoping for a quick and easy transition. “It’s an easy way for me to make a difference in someone’s life,” Denson said.

28 COMMUNITY

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • SEPT. 28, 2017

A great place to ACADEMIC ASSOCIATE DEGREES THAT TRANSFER

START Small class sizes. Highly qualified professors who care. Affordable, well-established programs that lead to great jobs. There are a million reasons why Texarkana College is a great place. Come see for yourself.

Schedule your campus tour at texarkanacollege.edu/TCUpClose STATE-OF-THE-ART NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAMS

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texarkanacollege.edu | (903) 823-3012 2500 N. Robison Rd. | Texarkana, TX 75599

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