Tigard High School's The Print- March 2014

The Print Page 3-- #Instafamous Page 4-- Spring into style Page 5-- Senioritis Page 6-- Spring Break Page 7-- Russians rule out rights Page 8-- Flashback

Tigard High School 9000 SW Durham Rd Tigard, OR 97224 Volume 88. Edition 3

Editor’s Letter

March is always the worst, and also the best month of the year. The occasional appearance of Oregon’s sun leaves us craving spring, but the chilling air alludes an everlasting winter. It’s almost as if I never bounced back from the luxury of winter break, and the snowstorm that occurred in the middle of February hasn’t helped either.

However, March marks the final stretch of the school year. And for seniors, this is the years of lasts. Recently, most of my focus has been on my dance team. At the end of March the Tigerettes will once again compete in the O.S.A.A. Dance/ Drill State Championships in hopes to end a drought and bring home a banner. We have also been given the opportunity to fly down to Disneyland and compete in the U.S.A. Dance/ Drill Nationals during Spring Break. The end of the season

is both exciting and bittersweet.

Once March ends, it will be just a few short months before prom and graduation. I cannot believe that the end of my high school career is approaching so quickly. As cliché as it may be, now is the time to stop going through the motions of life and really live it to it’s fullest potential.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of The Tiger Print. As always, please e-mail any comments or suggestion to amandalam14@gmail.com.

The Print Staff EXECUTIVE EDITOR Amanda Lam

WRITERS & DESIGNERS Caitlin Britch Hannah Wyatt Khanlinh Le Lauren Shrader Maddie Fiorante Nicole Pelissier Rebecca Ramirez Sydneyw White Tate Watson

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Lexie Wagar

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jessie Li Katelyn Nottingham Mariza Rayfield Taylor To

Spread your wings Sparrow Club and National Honor Society members raise money for 2014 Sparrow, Jair

By Rebecca Ramirez

The sparrow is said to be a sign of luck and good fortune, and our Sparrow club is making an effort to change a life for the better.

2014 marks the third year of Tigard Sparrow, a program that holds events to raise money for the medical bills of an ill child and their family. The child does not have to live in Tigard to be eligible for donation. This year’s Sparrow is kindergartener Jair, a five-yearold boy who suffers from myotubular myopathy, a form of muscular dystrophy, which is incurable.

In the past two years the Sparrow Bowl, a flag football game between teachers, has been the main fundraising event for Sparrow, but there are many more events this year. So far, there has already been a movie night fundraiser where The Polar Express was shown.

Upcoming events for this spring include: a 5K run at Cook Park, a co-ed volleyball game, and the Sparrow Bowl.

For the first time in Sparrow history, a student-organized volleyball game will be held as a fundraiser. The idea came from seniors Alexandria “Lexi” Jensen and Sakari Getty, who proposed the project for National Honors Society.

“[Sakari and I] both agree that the Sparrow team is doing great things,” said Jensen. “We thought it’d be nice to donate to Sparrow.

The volleyball game is set to take place on Friday, March 21. Unlike the Sparrow Bowl, the teams will be made up of students only. Students are able to form their own teams, which can be co-ed, named, and themed however they choose.

In previous years Sparrow has raised thousands of dollars for families at a single event: the Sparrow Bowl. However this year, the Sparrow Bowl will not be the only large sporting event held for Sparrow.

There is also a Sparrow Run set for May and it is run by senior Kyla Smart. The run will be a 5K and it will take place at Cook Park. This race also took place last year.

“I think we all love seeing the impact we can make on a family’s life,” said Jensen.

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#ifollowback #flashbackfriday #mancrushmonday #follow4follow #OOTD #selfiesunday #swag #selfietime #selfieoftheday #winning #instagood #teachmehowtoselfie #womancrushwednesday #selfiegame

#Instafamous

#instagood #twinning #likes4likes #tbt

How much of an effect does social media have on your self esteem, friendships, and your attitude?

By Tate Watson

How often do you post to Instagram? Do you check your Twitter in between every class to see who has retweeted your last tweet? Does each new like on your Facebook status send you a little thrill and make you feel accepted? More importantly, do you feel let down and confused when your latest selfie didn’t garner half the amount of likes that the picture of your cat did last week? Social media can be a way to connect with the world and share your life, but it can also be a way to isolate people.

“I post (to Instagram) every other day,” said senior and selfie queen Stephanie King. “I like to keep people updated with my life and what I’m doing.”

With an Instagram full of pictures of her playing basketball, getting food, and #twinning with her actual twin, Jessica King, it’s no wonder she’s uploaded more than 400 photos to her Instagram.

“I think my self esteem has gotten higher since I created an Instagram,” confesses King. “When people like my pictures or comment on them, I feel good.”

While social media is new, the good feeling you get when someone likes your post isn’t a new phenomenon- everyone desires to feel accepted and liked by their friends and peers. However, this desire for acceptance can become dangerous when a person’s self esteem or how they view themselves is completely dependent on the feedback they get from posting pictures to social media accounts.

“Social media can hurt someone’s self esteem if they see someone else getting more attention and they want that attention,” remarks senior Katherine “Kat” Tice. This cry for attention has seemingly led to the selfie mania that has overtaken Instagram and Twitter.

With hashtags like #selfiesunday and everyone from Kim Kardashian to President Obama taking selfies, it

seems like Time’s word of the year has been embraced and people have fallen wholeheartedly into the trend.

While some reserve posting a selfie only for Sundays, others can’t seem to go a day without alerting the internet to their latest #OOTD (outfit of the day).

“If you’re confident about posting a lot, it’s cool,” remarks junior Omar Pelaez. “However, when you’re are posting a selfie every day from the same angle, it gets a little annoying and narcissistic.”

Although social media sites are a fun and easy way to connect to friends and family and share parts of your life, make sure that you’re taking time to step away from you phone and your computer and experience things that you don’t post on your feed. Social media is confusing because it can make you feel like everyone is experiencing a bunch of amazing things because that’s all they post. In reality, no one is doing “Instagram worthy” things 24/7 and people tend to only post the things that make them look the best. Spending too much time analyzing the activity on yours and others accounts can negatively affect you, causing stress and feelings of being left out when friends post pictures without you.

“I post to social media sites because it’s fun and it makes me laugh but I don’t think it should be taken too seriously,” explained senior Megan Bither.

“I feel good (when someone follows or likes a picture) but it’s not that big of a deal to get a new follower or something.”

At the end of the day, your self worth in no way depends on the amount of likes your last picture got or the amount of followers you have. Instead of placing so much importance on who liked what, let social media simply be a creative outlet for you to post pictures, make statements, and share funny stories.

@itsmegbither 532 Instagram followers 829 pictures posted

@dirty_nalgas 391 Instagram followers 261 pictures posted

@rachael_keenan_ 731 Instagram followers 119 pictures posted

Tigard’s Selfie Champions @stephanie_king31 763 Instagram followers, 421 pictures @teaganld (right) 1079 Instagram followers, 77 pictures

@kat_tice 534 Instagram followers 501 pictures posted

Spring into style

5 new trends to try this season

By Sydney White

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Tea length and midi skirts have arisen recently into the 2014 spring trends. Lengthwise, tea length and midi skirt meet between a mini and maxi skirts, hitting mid calf. They add high class and sophistication to any look.

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We all know of the beloved flannel, the warm and comfortable yet fashionable piece. Normally worn with jeans or leggings to create a casual look. This spring flannels can easily be dressed up when paired with a girly skirt. The contrast of the flannel and skirt creates a balance of preppy and grungy.

This spring, men’s fashion is taking a turn for the sophisticated.

Blazers layered over brightly colored, patterned button ups were all over the runway this year during New York fashion week. Khakis or nice jeans add sophistication to the outfit while also making it very wearable and not overly formal.

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Colors and patterns change for each season, transitioning from darker shades into lighter, pastel colors for spring. Muted colors are expected to be all the rage for spring fashion this year.

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Short hair is everywhere. It seems that generally girls dream for long locks. However, this year the dream has changed. Short hair has grasped the attention of girls everywhere.

The disappearance of Kylie Jenner’s hair may have started the short hair revolution. Some people are actually getting tired of the responsibility it takes to have long hair and want something new.

Photos by Alexis Wagar. Featuring (from left to right) freshman Skylar Nunn, freshman Teagan Langseth, sophomore Matthew Glancy, junior Jennifer Hanrahan, and junior Avery Branen.

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Senioritis: a high school virus Sen·ior·i·tis noun decreased motivation towards studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school career

By Khanhlinh Le

As the holiday season ends and the new year rolls over, many high school seniors start to notice their attitude towards school evolving. As the weeks wprogress, watching television, napping, and avoiding homework after school becomes a more frequent habit. This behavior is often labelled by students and teachers as: “senioritis”.

College applications and scholarships have been completed; some seniors have already been accepted to colleges. Now that their fate has been sealed, they can relax and enjoy the rest of the year with no worries. However, the temptation to slack off can result in consequences such as having a college acceptance revoked.

Just because you got “in” doesn’t mean schoolwork is “out”. Colleges request final transcripts after second semester and if admissions notice a significant grade drop, they have the right to revoke admission and financial aid.

They state this in college acceptance letters. Since colleges don’t receive receive final grades until June or July, students will not know about a revoked admission until July or August. This might be too late to find a plan B.

“‘Senioritis’ is a state of mind oriented toward the future, yet fatigued by the present,” explained English teacher Michael Rogers, also a former Tigard High School student, “while it can drastically affect academic performance, if the student recognizes that part of what makes the future so exciting is their increased responsibility, then I will go so far as to say it’s not even that bad of a thing.”

Once plans are set for the next year, there’s more time to relax and enjoy the rest of senior year. Going on Net-

flix or using social media may sound tempting, but it can affect your academics. One way to avoid catching this “disease” is to take on new extracurricular activities. Volunteering, joining a sport or club, or getting a job is a great way to enhance productivity during these last few months of high school. By doing so, a sense of responsibility will form making one learn how be more responsible for their grades.

Another tip is to study smart. For seniors facing the challenges of senioritis it is now more challenging than ever to maintain good grades and focus on schoolwork when Twitter seems more interesting than IB Psychology.

However, getting rid of distracting outlets will help fight senioritis and make finishing assignments early possible.

The workload sounds like a lot to do now, but the collegelevel todo list will be much more difficult to conquer.

“I think ‘senioritis’ should be embraced based on your situation. If you’re an IB slave, you screwed yourself over!” senior Nhat To commented. “But if you aren’t, there’s no point in stressing yourself out.”

Lastly, have fun. High school is a once in a lifetime experience, make time for the fun and relaxation but keep your grades up. Don’t let all the hard work that has gone into earning a desirable G.P.A. and a ticket to college go down the drain because of senioritis.

“I’m so ready to graduate and move on with my life, but I also love high school and love seeing my friends,” reminisced senior Camille Petitjean, “Next year my friends and I are all splitting up, so I’m not too eager to say goodbye yet.”

Left Senior Byron Hammick portrays a responsible senior in class.

Right Senior Jacob Mullen portrays an irresponsible senior in class.

Photos by Alexis Wagar.

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Staycations make great vacations

By Hannah Wyatt

Packing tips and tricks • Many websites suggest rolling soft fabric clothing, they won’t wrinkle and it saves space.

• Make a list of what you want to take before you pack so you don’t bring unneccessary items and you reduce the risk of forgeting something important.

• If you’re staying in a hotel or even at a friend or family members house, check ahead of time if they have bulkier items like hairdryers, beach towels, or any other item that would take up a lot of room.

• But, just in case weather changes unexpectedly, pack light layers so that you can be prepared for anything.

• Wear large items like bulky shoes while you’re traveling so you don’t have to fit them in your bag.

• Select a color scheme to pack around so you can rewear some items and you won’t have to worry about them matching.

• If you are flying to your desdination pack essenctial items like money, your phone, any glasses or contacts, etc. in your carry on so you avoid losing them if your checked luggage is lost. Also you’ll have them so you can get sightseeing right away without having to open your whole suitcase.

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Spring activities in the great North-West

Above: (Photo from MorgueFiles.com) The Space Needle towers above the Seatle skyline. Left: ( Photo By: Nicole Pelissier) Cape Foulweather lighthouse just outside of Depoe Bay, Oregon.

Spring break doesn’t have to be boring and uneventful. Whether you want to travel without breaking the bank, or just stay home, there are plenty of things to do this spring break.

For those hoping to get out of Tigard; Oregon is known for it’s hiking and bike trails. There are over 200 state parks in Oregon providing many options for extended and short travel. Those who are willing to travel have the option to head down to the Oregon coast, or even up into Washington. To get farther from home you can travel to the beach. There are many places to visit for tours and sightseeing including; the Tillamook factory in Tillamook, the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, and many scenic areas all along the coast. Washington also offers many activities including; Olympic National park in Port Angeles, The Experimental Music Project Museum, The Space Needle and many other buildings in historic Seattle, Washington. Staying close to home but exploring the great outdoors during spring break is also possible. Forest Park in Portland has wooded trails for hiking or biking. Most parks also have trails varying in length, and loops for all levels of experience from beginner to expert. Visiting trails is a great low budget plan since most parks

are either free or have a very low entry fee.

“Over spring break my family and I take lots of little day trips to cool spots around Oregon,” said sophomore Natalie Shaw. “We like to explore new areas through hiking, riding our bikes, or skiing to new destinations.”

Spring break should be a time to relax and doesn’t necessarily require embarking on an adventure to enjoy the week long break from school. If the outdoors aren’t exactly your cup of tea, staying in for a movie day with friends is probably a more reasonable option. Another great choice for entertainment is going to a park or even staying home and playing some sort of sport with friends.

“I love to go to the library with my sister and get as many movies as possible. We order them according to which ones we want to see most, then we just make food and watch movies all day,” said senior Audrey O’Farrell.

“Doing nothing can be relaxing.”

This is only a start to the long list of things you can do for spring break without spending all your savings on a plane ticket. Whether you want to stay in your own backyard or drive to the coast, there’s something for you to do.

Russians rule out rights A never-ending controversy and its effect on the world

By Maddie Fiorante

Over the past few months, hostility in Russia has increased due to the threat of terrorism, human rights, and the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian history shows a long-time battle with terrorism. Starting from the 20th century, most attacks have taken place in Moscow, where multiple hostage situations left locals terrified for their safety. Currently, the most wanted fugitive is Islamist Chechen warlord Doku Umarov, who took responsibility for the Moscow Metro bombings of 2010, in which two female suicide bombers detonated bombs in a metro station, killing thirtynine people. Despite this tragedy and many others before it, Putin continually expresses the importance of Russian security operations.

Russia’s most recent concern was the 2014 Winter Olympics. Even though their safety and security were not guaranteed, thousands of athletes and fans traveled to the games. Although Russian authorities cracked down on security, competitors and spectators were still shaken by threats from specific groups.

During a hearing at the House Intelligence Committee, Matthew Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center,

stated, “There are a number of specific threats of varying degrees of credibility that we’re tracking. And we’re working very closely with the Russians and with other partners to monitor any threats we see and to disrupt those.”

Protection to those involved in the games was the number one concern, providing peace of mind to the athletes focusing on their goals and the observers to enjoy their time in Sochi.

The Winter Olympics remained accountable for Putin’s decision to create a law banning homosexual propaganda. The ban will prevent anyone from giving any information about homosexuality to people under the age of 18, meaning the law prohibits vaguely defined propaganda supporting non-traditional sexual relations to minors. It does not make clear what constitutes disseminating the information to minors.

Previously Putin argued that any discrimination against homosexuals in his country doesn’t exist, saying, “I myself know some people who are gay. We’re on friendly terms. I’m not prejudiced in any way.”

Dutch gold medalist speedskater Ireen Wust accepted congratulations from many at an

A competitior participates in the ski jump at the Sochi Olympics.

Photos from morguefiles.com

afterparty, specifically from Putin. As the first openly gay athlete to win a medal at the Sochi Olympics, some talked convincingly that Putin’s praise was strictly for publicity in order to prove he is not prejudiced.

Wust’s own opinion was not broadcasted, however she welcomed the compliment graciously from anti-gay rights leader himself.

People outraged by the Olympics found that boycotting the games looked as though it was unavoidable. With or without their support, the games still continued.

As a result, people against the inhumanities in Russia decided to abstain from Olympic sponsors. The products like Visa cards and Samsung creations from these benefactors were almost completely unavoidable, especially to a typical high school student.

To back up beliefs, people opposed to the Olympics being held in Sochi avoided McDonalds, Coca Cola merchandise, and others. The reasoning behind their refusal of purchase leads to the evident fact: the dollar shows. The less money being made from the Olympics, the more impact was being made to express support abandonment for sending American athletes to threatening places.

Protestors take a stand to Russian President Putin.

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February Flashback

Looking back on the main events of February Human Rights Assembly (Top) Students participated in the assembly by breaking common misconceptions about stereotyped groups.

(Bottom) Students are captivated by the speaker, Tyler Durman during the annual Human Rights Assembly.

Varsity Swimming State Championships

(Top Left) Juniors Caleb Torgerson, Jacob Morris, and Sophomores Kyle Miller, Elizabeth Soldwedel, and Molly Davis (not pictured) raced state-qualifying times at districts.

(Bottom Left) Junior Caleb Torgerson dives off the block during his 50 yard freestyle. Torgerson placed 10th at State for his 50 yard freestyle.

(Below) Sophomore Kyle Miller swims butterfly during his 200 IM. Miller placed 5th at State for his 500 yard freestyle.

Photos by Jessie Li

Photos by Mariza Rayfield

Basketball Pink Out Game

(Above) Students gathered in the commons for a dance to celebrate the Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball victories against Forest Grove.

(Middle) Senior Bryan Berg prepares to shoot a free throw.

(Far Right) Senior Nick Kaelin dodges a Forest Grove player in attempt to score a basket.

Photos by Jessie Li