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November 2019 LXII-III
Student Ambassadors choose service over home release By Karen Morales TO MANY students the name ‘Student Ambassador,’ may be a very unknown term to many students. The Student Ambassador Management program is still being created, but for the time being, many students are already enlisting, and these students don’t know exactly what their positions may be in the school. The Student Ambassador Management program, which is yet to begin this upcoming quarter, is designed for those students who have good grades as well as great personality, character, and communication skills. Once it begins, ambassadors will be able to help students and teachers with activities like tutoring reading, completing classroom chores,
and teaching study skills. Despite the uncertainty, interested students are ready to sign up for this program. Alma Fernandez (12) already joined. “Student Ambassador Management is where we can help new students. Although it still hasn’t started, I will only get to help during my home releases for the time being, I hope that when it finally starts, I’ll be able to talk and help more people,” Fernandez said. Another student already in the program is Ericka Bonilla (12). “Since some of us in the ambassador management have different times in which we are able to help, I’m only helping during free periods since it still hasn’t started yet. I joined because this is my last year, and I want to be more
involved around this school year. I hope that this will be something that is not only helpful but also fun for me and for other students,” Bonilla said. It is clear that this is a very helpful program, since not only does it help students in need, but it also helps the student within the participating program feel more at ease. Many of the students involved in the program seem to have similar positive attitudes about it. “I like the idea of being able to participate as a student ambassador because it is a very good thing to do since you get to help others. I hope that I get to learn more about what it truly is, so that I can get to help others and be able to understand and help
myself as well,” Wendy Torres (12) said. The students are here to help as much as they possibly can once the new quarter starts. Even though the student ambassador program might still be unknown to some, it is hoped that throughout the year will be able to help many Granger students. For students to participate, they must be seniors with home release and have good CPAs. “I’m ready to help people who are struggling and help freshmen who need it the most and be able to guide them. I’m involved every last period every day. Hope it’s fun, and also hope that it grows through the course of years. Anyone can join and you can also get a core graduation credit,” Kelsey Meza (12) said.
Kelsey hopes that the Student Ambassabor Management program continues to prosper throughout the years.
Attentive staff and SafeUT app help keep Lancers safe By Ioana Johansson GRANGER High School has officers roaming around the campus to help maintain school safety. They keep students in check, encourage other students to get to class, and protect Lancers from harm. However, some students may not feel completely safe on campus. On September 13, a shooting happened on school grounds during a football game. The police confirmed that the shooters weren’t Granger High School students, but it was still on Granger’s campus. Often times students will be in a difficult situation where they won’t feel comfortable enough to share. “If you don’t feel comfortable with a situation, you could write up a note and hand it to
my secretary which she then will pass it on to me,” Dr. Dunn said. Another way to contact him is at dedunn@graniteschools.org by email. He will understand and try to resolve the problem immediately. Students could also email or talk to their counselor about safety concerns if they would like to. There are many options. Another way they could get help is the SafeUT app. “You could always use the Safe UT app,” Officer Mitchener said. It’s confidential and anonymous in addition to being free for students to use. Fights on campus are rare, but fights still happen in the community. Students such as Dantae Marty (9) think flyers and emails
should be sent out on the daily to ensure parents are informed. “Parents aren’t getting involved,” Marty said. When he told his parents about the shooting, it made him nervous. He didn’t know what to say, though he was well aware of the fact that the students involved did not attend Granger. Granger staff is doing an excellent job at keeping Lancers safe and takes bullying seriously. “If a student makes it unsafe for anyone, they are not welcome here,” Dr. Dunn said. “If there is a life or death situation, I’m gone,” Fikry Bateo (9) said. Some may react just like Bateo, while others might try and stop whatever’s going on. The faculty encourages Lancers to stay at school for lunch.
Students who decide to cross the street are at risk because once they leave campus, the faculty and police can’t do anything to increase students’ safety. “We don’t know who is out there and what they’re going to do,” Officer Mitchener said. Students who have seen the dangers have reacted well and seem to know how to handle what’s going on. Officers say that this year, fights have become less frequent. Some students are just joking around when they say they’re going to shoot up the school or set it on fire, but the consequences of ignoring these threats can be serious. No matter how students look at it, as long as authorities are informed, they will make sure that all Lancers are safe.
Heard in the halls
By Steven Sola “MY DRIVER’s ed teacher listens to country when we drive, and it makes me want to crash the car.” “Do you know how many girlfriends he has? Like 10.” “I hate this class.” “Why she built like that?” “Today’s an A-day? Are you kidding me? I coulda worn pajamas.” “Are you always a dictator outside of this class?” “̈Your opinions are made from facts.” “Go crazy!” “Oh, my bad bro.” “Fake fighting.” “You want something?” “Especially when they’re serious.” “How are you still here?” “Where do you live? You live close by right?” “Rain or snow, I still go walking.” “It’s one of those days.” “Where are you pulling?” “Guys come with us.” “Hi, best friend.” “Can’t stay mad with me.” “̈Did you see me look down?” “What were you gonna say?” “Are you kidding me?” “What in the world?” “Do you have physics?” “You’re fake.” “I don’t have my phone.” “I felt that.” “You disrespect me.” “Why didn’t she get you?” “I missed the bus.” “I woke up for no reason.” “You want to bet on that?” “Sit next to each other.” “Can I have some?” “What is that?” “He beat me seventeen times.” “It can go slide to slide.” “I’m telling Chinito.” “We worth for it.” “Is that your mom’s signature? It’s a nice signature.” “Is this you?” “I don’t know who painted that.” “I need a haircut.” “I got to go shower.” “It was my cousin. We’d known since we were babies.” “I’d heard about it. It’s a shutoff.” “My phone is at an 82%.” “You can’t breathe in. It’s like breathing out.”
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November 2019, page 2 | News
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Students hate OCR, which might be the point By Michaella Aguiar STUDENTS at Granger High School have many opinions about on-campus restriction (OCR). Many students say they don’t like OCR, and some have said that it is not effective and is a waste of time that takes away learning time from students. Many freshmen and sophomore students wonder what the point is in coming to school late just to end up being sent to OCR. They don’t want to sit there and do nothing for an hour where they aren’t even allowed to do anything while sitting there in OCR. Many students end up not showing up to school at all because they know they are going to be sent to OCR. Eastyn Tueller (10) would rather spend her time in class than OCR. “That way I am at least doing something and not sitting in a room not being able to do nothing and the principals and teachers want you to go to class and encourage students to go to class even if you’re late, but they send you to OCR,” Tueller said. Many students have good reasons for being late. Things happen and sometimes they can’t help that they are late. For example, a student’s car could’ve broken down and they didn’t have a way to school. Other students could have had a late night trying to get homework done and simply woke up late. Students are being sent to OCR for something they have little control over. “From a senior’s point of view, I’ve always found
OCR is a waste of time. As a sophomore I went to OCR because I was ten minutes late. After sitting in there I never was late again and never went back and sit there that long and do nothing. I am a visual learner, so if a teacher teaches me, I will get the information, so if I’m going to miss that time and period, I’m not going to get the information,” Quynh Pham (12) said. In class, many students have been told by their teachers that they still want their students to come to school and come to class even if students are late. They say to come, and they will let them into class and not send them to OCR. Going to OCR can make students miss information they need to learn in class. This can cause them to fall behind in the class. Being sent to OCR will make the office mark the student with a ‘D’ for detention, and that could affect a student’s CPA. Most students agree that there should be a different punishment for being late to class. OCR causes students to fall behind in their classes. Getting a bad grade and not learning the information in class is punishment enough. Many students wonder why they aren’t allowed to do anything in OCR. “If I were a principal, I wouldn’t use OCR as a consequence because you’re taking away student’s privilege to learn and go to class. Personally, I’ve never been to OCR so I’m not really sure how things work with it,” Estela Alvear (10) said.
OCR isn’t very popular. Students don’t want to sit in the Alumni Room for an hour with nothing to do.
Multi-sport players tackle athletics and academics By Angelica Dwight SPORTS are seasonal and are spread out throughout the school year, giving athletes the opportunity to play multiple sports in one school year. Each sport has its own designated time of year for competitive play. These seasons usually only last 3-4 months, but most athletes train almost year-round. The sports played by Lancers are very different from each other, honing different skills but requiring a similar work ethic. During the school year, athletes are given the opportunity to play more than one sport if they make it on the individual teams. Athletes often join more than one team in a school year. Being an athlete that plays one sport is already time-consuming and draining, but athletes that play more than one will double the time commitment and required athleticism. When athletes join more than one team in a school year, they are considered multi-sport athletes. These players train differently throughout the year compared to single-sport athlete. This training may include more weightlifting, lengthier conditioning, and increased work on specific skills for each different sport. “For every sport, we train differently. In football we train a lot more outside to get us prepared for the heat, but in basketball, we do more of the open gym like just practicing,” Andrew Fleischel (12) said. Fleischel is a threesport athlete who plays football, basketball, and tennis. All of the
sports Fleischel plays are very difficult and require different sets of skills. Fleischel has learned how to train and take skills from one sport and apply them to the others. Athletes playing several sports have little free time, making it even more difficult for these students to complete schoolwork. In addition, these athletes may have additional work and home responsibilities. Most students have responsibilities to take care of outside of school, as some students hold jobs in addition to being a student athlete. Trying to juggle sports, schoolwork, home tasks, and everyday life is a struggle for anyone, especially teenagers. On top of all these commitments, student athletes have to work for good grades and maintain a high CPA to stay on their sports team. This sounds overwhelming, but they still decide to work through these obstacles. “Seasons go best with some sports, for example, you couldn’t have a sport like football in the winter because where would they play when there’s snow on the ground?” Tu Tran (11) said. Tran plays on both the girls tennis and softball teams. Every sport has its games or matches where athletes can showcase their skills. However, not all competitions have high student attendance. Football and basketball tend to be the most popular sports for students to attend. Most students enjoy going to these games to support the players and keep up with school activities.
Different sports are spread throughout each season of the school year. For example, fall has football, volleyball, girls soccer, cross country, girls tennis, and boys golf. Winter is the time for both the boys and girls basketball teams as well as wrestling, swimming, and drill. With spring comes baseball, girls golf, boys soccer, softball, and track & field. Here at Granger, the coaches love multi-sport athletes. It is estimated that there are about 40 students who play more than one sport. Coach Vidal and Coach Barlow are in agreement about loving multi-sport athletes, and both coaches wish there were more students willing to take on the challenge. “That number is so low because students have the lazy mentality, they fear they’ll miss something in their sport if they do multiple,” Barlow said. “We wish we had more multisport athletes, so they’d have skills and stability in multiple sports instead of just one,” said Vidal. He believes more kids could become multi-sport athletes if current athletes recruited other students. “Recruitment coming from your friends is more motivating,” Vidal said. “Playing multiple sports yearround will also help with keeping athletes’ grades up as well as benefiting learning how to compete differently,” said Barlow. Granger athletes love to compete so look for your favorite Lancers as they change jerseys throughout the year.
Sterling Scholar Applications Due on 11/15
Jayden and Jeremiah Semeli have played basketball since they were three.
Semeli twins dominate on the court
By Jenny Jimenez Avila GRANGER High School boys basketball hopefuls started playing in late October, which is the start of the winter sport season. The team has some interesting players, including a set of twins named Jayden Semeli (12) and Jeremiah Semeli (12) “They make a huge impact on the team,” Isaac Lemus (10) said. Lemus is on the team and noticed some things about the twins. The twins have been playing since they were three years old. Their father introduced them to basketball, and they fell in love with it quickly—the Semeli twins have been playing basketball ever since. Almost everything about them is similar, from their hair to their hand size, but there are some differences between them when it comes to playing. They are both very competitive when it comes to playing. “We all know I’m better,” Jayden said. Despite the playful competition, both twins love the sport. “Just doing what we love matters more than competition,” Jeremiah said. The Semeli twins both love playing basketball more than anything. Jayden’s favorite moment was when he scored against a team, and nobody on the team had to worry about losing. Jeremiah’s favorite moments are whenever he gets to play and make his team proud. When it comes to humor, the boys are the same. Laughing and having a good time is what they do best. “Being together makes us happy,” Jayden said. The boys learned to train themselves as they grew up. They train for six hours a day after school. They also participate in open gym on B days here at Granger in addition to practicing after school with their team. They also maintain good grades, keeping above
a 2.0 with no more than two F’s to play. Being in basketball is another way to help them do well in school, as they have to keep their grades and citizenship in mind. The journey to get where they are now was very hard. The Semeli twins had to practice every day and get involved to be on the team. When asked what their motivations are, they both said that their twin was their main motivator. They continue to put in hard work to make themselves and their family happy. Jayden and Jeremiah want to continue playing basketball in college. Both of them want to go to Utah State to play basketball and go on from there. Maybe one day, they could become famous NBA players. Most of Grangers school sports seem to have the same rival: Hunter High School. Other than Hunter, the twins said Kearns is one of their greatest rivals. Competition is very serious when it comes to sports. Both of them enjoy the game and enjoy playing more than anything. “The bond between our brothers is my favorite thing about the team,” Jayden said. Jeremiah’s favorite thing is getting to spend time with the team. “Practicing and playing together, it’s always fun hanging out with them,” Jeremiah said. The boys basketball team has an unbreakable bond, all of the players love their teammates and reach the common goal together. Jayden and Jeremiah are about to graduate and follow their basketball dreams. Basketball has become a huge part of their lives, and they thank Granger High School for helping them. They will continue to work hard for their career in basketball and become certified basketball players together, as brothers and best friends.
November 2019, page 3 | Sports
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
There’s still time to join the swim team
my body,” Eduardo Villalpando will be on November 14 against By Whitnie Larsen SWIMMING as a sport involves (11) said. Copper Hills, and it will be at However, there are a few dif- Granger High’s pool. There is a participants competing to be the fastest over a given distance in a ficulties when it comes to swim- rivalry towards Taylorsville as certain period of time. Competi- ming. These challenges might well. Two years ago, the swim tors swim different distances in include not being able to breathe team beat Taylorsville. Last year, different levels of competition. In under the water to things like they lost. the United States, a competition weather complications. “If I Different students are worried could change the season, I would about competing against differpool is 25 yards in length. Other swimming and water-re- change it to spring so we aren’t ent teams. Kaelynne Grant (12) lated sports include open water as cold getting on the bus,” Vil- mentions that she is worried to swimming, diving, synmeet with a couple of chronized swimming, teams. water polo, triathlon, “I think I’m most and the modern penworried to play Kearns, tathlon. The swim team but Taylorsville is a close at Granger High pracsecond,” Grant said, tices anywhere from 1-3 “I’ve been swimming hours in the morning as for 11 years and when I well as after school. found out Granger high Mr. Carter, the swim had a swim team, I just coach, encourages all had to join it.” Grant also students to join the mentioned how much swim team. “To join the she loves the water. team, students must regTo be on the swim ister their paperwork. team, students need to Also, you would need to love the sport. The team get a time trial done. We uses their passion and have you swim a certain Lancers on the swim team are passionate about the sport. dedication to practice distance and time you to hard and for long periods see if you’re fast enough to be on lalpando said. of time. The idea of swim being an inthe team,” Coach Carter said. “We have to do a lot to get Another thing a student needs dividual sport also was proposed. prepared,” Harvey said. “We go is at least a 2.0 GPA and no F’s. “Swim is basically an individual to the pool after school, go in at The swim team fees are also quite sport. We compete against other 2:45, change into our swimsuits inexpensive. “It’s around $60- schools but the most important in the locker rooms, the first per$100 for the fees for swimsuits thing to me is competing against son puts out the lane lines, usuyour own time,” Angelrose Har- ally during practice we would and travel fees,” Carter said. Many of the students on the vey (12) said. She mentions how put in five. We stretch our bodies team believe that swimming is a she would like everyone to join, and get into the water, and we fun after school activity to par- and even if they don’t know how talk as we swim our laps and do take in. “It’s a fun sport. You get to swim, Harvey would love to our workouts. Finally, we get an to improve social skills and I im- teach them. inspirational speech from Coach The first swim meet of the year Carter,” Harvey said. proved my self-esteem towards
Tidwell prepares for his first varsity team By Naomy Romero love the energy and intensity of the game and I love BASKETBALL is one of the many winter sports how competitive it gets,” he said. played here at Granger. Like every other sport, they The players really enjoy the game and are exare starting off with new and returning players on cited for the season to start. The team’s new coach, this year’s team. This year the team has a new varsity Coach Tidwell, has been an assistant coach for nine head coach who previously coached at Kearns High years. He first coached at Kearns High School beSchool. fore transferring to Granger. A new coach means new ways to prepare the team “They are good kids, and the administration has for their upcoming season. Last year the basketball been very supportive here at Granger,” said Tidwell. team had a good season, and with only one of their Tidwell has been helping the team and new senior teammates graduated, they are excited and players be prepared before tryouts by having them confident about their upcome to open gym and coming season. enrolling in their athSome players on the letics class. This year team have been playing returning players are before coming to high very confident about school. They have built the season. their skills over the years Ayee Lorenzo is and continue to improve worried for their game them. Isaias Calderon against Hunter, while (11) has been playing for Calderon is worried 10 years, his first year on about the game against Granger’s Basketball team Kearns. “Their players was his sophomore year. are really tall, and our “I enjoy the adrenaline tallest player is like of playing with a team 6’1”,” Calderon said. and being able to achieve Tidwell thinks the something better with game against Kearns your peers” Calderon said. will be interesting With some players havsince he was their forArrya is ready to make sacrifices in support of his team. ing more experience and mer assistant coach, skills than others, they are able to help each other but he doesn’t think they will be the only challenge. out and improve as a team. “Each opponent will be a challenge,” Tidwell said. With their season starting in early December, they Lorenzo. is confident and hoping to end the seahave some time to build a team and work together son with 18-0. Tidwell believes they will have a for improvements. Ayee Lorenzo (11) is confident successful year if they work together and play hard. that when the seasons starts the team will be well The team still hasn’t been selected, and anyone inprepared and ready to play. terested in playing this year can try to join if they’d They are preparing for the season by coming to like. Tidwell recommends taking the athletics class open gym after school every other day for at least which is 4B. He also recommends coming to open two hours. Ayrra Lorenzo (12) is a senior on the gym after school every A-day. team. “You need to make sacrifices to be the best Tryouts start on November 11, and students must player you could be, that means putting in your all have a 2.0 GPA with only 1 ‘F’ grade. Tidwell is every practice and not missing a day of practice,” hoping more and new players with specific basketLorenzo said. ball skills join this year’s team. To be able to tryout, Lorenzo has been playing for five years now. “I they must be registered on registermyathlete.com.
Nikkia’s two years on the basketball team have her primed to compete.
Basketball team unites as family By Destiny Linan GRANGER High has a girls basketball team full of hard-working student athletes. They dedicate a lot of time to their team and schoolwork. Players need a 2.0 GPA or higher and may have no more than one ‘F’ to play. Bad grades can get players put on probation or even kicked off the team. Other than that, students who have good grades, and work hard for the team and in school are good to go. Rose Nguyen (12) started playing for the basketball team when she was a sophomore. “Being on the girls basketball team really helped me a lot with school and gaining a lot of motivation,” Nguyen said. “I actually try in school like in getting good grades and getting to class on time,” Nguyen said. Nikkia Seiuli (11) started playing when she was a freshman. She likes being on the team. “I have lots of fun when we have team hangouts, because we can talk to each other about personal things and help each other out. Since the girls end up turning into family, you start getting comfortable and everyone cares about you,” Seiuli said.
Players tell the coaches lots of things because they love to help everyone, especially if they’re on the team. “When I play with my teammates, they all try to help each other during games. When someone is feeling low or not doing well, they all try to motivate them to get back up and try harder because they know they got this,” Seiuli said. Emani Tapo (11) started playing for Granger when she was a sophomore. She likes the teamwork and motivation the team creates. “It’s fun playing with our rivals—Hunter, but also Kearns,” Tapo said. “The games become so intense when we are playing the games against them,” Tapo said. Playing games and coming to practice helps players condition and learn lots of techniques. These current players encourage other girls that want to join the team to try out next year. The team plans to recruit a lot of girls in the upcoming years. Current players believe it’s a good sport for everyone to try out. It’s a good experience where students can gain lots of friends and motivation.
Tri-Color Times Staff Executive Editor Jocelyn Roberts
Scorekeeper Stephanie Gutierrez
Reporters Michaella Aguiar Branden Alvarado-Perez Aizza Beltran Ruiz Nevaeh Chavez Michelle Cruz Ashley Cuadra Angelica Dwight Sophia Favela Kara Givens Jessica Francisco Vazquez Elisa Gaona Aranda Alexus Gillette Grace Glines Breawna Howell Leyla Ilyazova Jenny Jimenez Avila Ioana Johansson Scott Laguna Arellano
Reporters Ariana Larios Whitnie Larsen Destiny Linan Alyssa Luna Pedro Melendez Duron Karen Morales Morales Alysa Munson Falhado Osman Leila Puentes Yazmine Ramirez Christian Rocha Naomy Romero Steven Sola Adrian Solorzano Krystina Soriano Maritza Tolentino Macaela Williams Jaxon Wolfley
The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression. The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length, and liability.
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November 2019, page 4 | Gratitude Feature
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Ms. Fukuda
Grace
Noah
Lancers grateful for educational role models
Stephany enjoys her time listening to stories told at the senior center.
Lancer Action Team gives back By Adrian Solorzano LANCER Action Team is a club that gives back and helps out the community in addition to helping with school events. They do a lot of community service, and each student is required to do 10 hours or more of community service outside of class. Most of the service is done at school, but students might occasionally visit the senior center or other locations in the community. Stefany Belmonte (12) is one of the students that spends her time with the folks at the senior center. “When I visit the retirement center, I am extra thankful that I get to spend time with these amazing people. Many of these people have very unique untold stories. I usually sit down with them play games like chess, checkers and Dominos. They tell me the stories, and I always listen to them. Their stories are life advice, and I’m so grateful I get to experience this and get to appreciate the older generation we have,” Belmonte said. Lancers Action Team accepts applications from everyone who wants to join in the spring. If Lancers need service hours, they can join LAT to get them. Martin Cruz (12) is one of the students that gets service hours from LAT. “LAT is a great way to get service hours. One of the events that I helped out was the ‘Under the Sea’ homecoming. This was one of the best service activities they
did this year. Seeing the students enjoying themselves, dancing with the football team and many more students—I was glad I was a part of this beautiful moment— one for the books,” Cruz said. LAT is a very exciting club to join, as members get to experience a lot of new things, meet new people, and give gratitude for everything they do. A lot of the Lancers join for the experience. Samantha Landeros (11) is a Lancer that loves the experience. “LAT is wonderful class. I enjoy everyone in it and everyone that participates in the club. I joined LAT for the experience. I met a lot of new people, met new friends. The main reason I joined LAT is to give back to the community—seeing the happy faces on everyone we help brings joy to everyone. I feel like that’s a big blessing, and there’s no price on that,” Landeros said. A lot of students also join LAT because it looks good on college applications. LAT advisors will write college recommendation letters for those in the class. A lot of students going to college fall short in the area of doing service. Some students join the club because the field they are hoping to study in requires service hours. LAT prepares students for college and for giving back to the community. If any students are interested in joining LAT, they should talk to any of the counselors or talk to Ms. Neibaur.
By Leila Puentes GRATITUDE is when one shows much appreciation for anything or something specific. Education is something a lot of people take for granted, however many students at Granger High School are grateful for their education. “I am very grateful for going to Granger High School. I love the staff here. They are very helpful. Ms. Green has taught me a lot and helped me out a lot. I just like any teachers that feel more like a friend and actually helps you know the subject. I am grateful for my education because intelligence is one of the greatest powers to have, and I believe that the more intelligence you have, the stronger you are,” Noah Rivas (12) said. Ms. Green had an inspiring teacher, too. “In fourth grade I had a teacher named Ms. Williams that I loved. I thought that she was so great. I was jealous that she had kids because I wanted her to like me the most. I really loved her, and that was the first year that I was recognizing that I was smart, if that makes any sense. When I was in my junior year, I had a teacher here at Granger when I was attending, it was the drama teacher Mr. Butler,” Ms. Green said. “He inspired me a lot, he wrote me personal letters, and encourages my creativity. He made me feel like I was important and special like that I had something to say, he was important to me,” she said. “Also, in college Professor Foot was amazing with everything, and I remember getting a ‘C’ on an assignment and that was an achievement for me because she was a tough teacher. Then she would rip my paper to pieces, but at the same time she taught me so
much about writing, not putting fluff in your writing, and actually saying something and meaning what you say,” Ms. Green said. “The reason why I am grateful for my education is because I enjoy my education and being a teacher, and it was a really safe space for me. My parents got divorced when I was in high school and so I got really involved in school activities like student government, drill team, drama club, choir, and art team,” she said. “In the art team I designed a backdrop for some of the drill team performances, all of the assemblies, and went to every dance. In some ways school was a safe place for me when home a little chaotic, and some way I feel like my school raised me more that my parents did,” Ms. Green (‘99) said. Ms. Green isn’t the only teacher who connects her enthusiasm for education to a role model in high school. “Ohayou gozaimasu, my name is Fukuda Sensei, and I teach Japanese. I am grateful for my education, and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my education. I am grateful for my parents for steering me to go to school, go to college and get an education. I also had a lot of good teachers throughout school that have encouraged me to study and learn. I was really lucky to take Japanese in high school, and if it weren’t for my high school Japanese teachers, I wouldn’t be here today,” Ms. Fuduka said. I am grateful for my education because education really allows you to have so many opportunities. The more that you can learn the more you can understand the world and finding things that you are passionate to learn about. There is so much out there, the only thing that is letting us expe-
rience it or being a part of it is not knowing it so we have to know about these things to appreciate them,” Ms. Fukuda said. Students and teachers alike are grateful for their educational experiences. “I am so grateful for my education. I would like to thank Mr. Fuller because his teaching style made it easier to learn. I am also thankful for my education because a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to have an education. Especially if you are female—the fact that I can have an education while being female and black is a great thing,” Grace Amemastro (12) said. A role model or influential family member can have a big impact on someone’s appreciation for education. “I am absolutely grateful for my education. I think it has given me a really big advantage in a lot of ways. My education has given me the critical thinking skills to make better decisions. It has also helped me with not only my career, but also in a lot of different ways—it helped me with managing money,” Ms. Forste said. “I think it is easier to do that if you have an education plus communication skills, openness to other people, and curiosity about other people. My mom is the one who kept me going after my education, she pulled me through school because I did not like school,” she said. “I was not the best student, but my mom would basically sit me down and constantly tell me that my education is very important, and that I need to take it seriously. At that time, I was ‘eh’ about it but now especially looking backwards and seeing where I am now, I am very certain that I am grateful for my education,” Ms. Fortse said.
Eagle projects require a lot of work By Macaela Williams AUTUMN is finally here. Along with Autumn is the arrival of holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, favorite hot drinks like pumpkin spice and cider, and tons of unnecessary and delicious candy. To top it all off, fall is the season for heartfelt service projects between youth groups, friend groups, clubs, and families. The Boy Scouts of America, or BSA for short, requires all members that want to earn their designation as an Eagle Scout to do a service project that benefits a community. These projects are often building something, making a community garden, repainting park benches, and much more. Robert Tuia (10), Ethan Biddulph (11), and Dillon Tuilatua (12) have all done exceptional service for their Eagle projects. Tuia explained how his Eagle project was split into two groups of people: one group built benches while another built tables. The finished products were then given to the people of Iosepa, Utah. “They don’t really have much, and I haven’t been there since I was little,” Tuia said. Tuia made ten benches and tables in the span of just two days with the help of his uncles and cousins. Not only is helping others beneficial for the one receiving help, but it also impacts the people doing the helping. “It helps me because I like helping anyway I can. I felt excited and happy because it took so long. It was just an inspired project,” Tuia said. For Biddulph’s Eagle project, he did a project similar to Tuia’s. Biddulph built tables and benches and then painted them for the domestic violence center. Biddulph got his
Eagle project off of the justserve.org website, which a lot of Eagle scout candidates use for service and Eagle project ideas. Biddulph’s project took three weeks with the help of his friends, Own and Porter, as well as his family. Biddulph was inspired by his older brother, Zac, who also completed his Eagle. Biddulph knew this project was perfect for him because it had to do with building. He has assembled tons of other things, so the benches and tables seemed easy to finish. For Tuilatua’s service project, he gathered clothes, packed them in boxes, and took them to the homeless shelter. “What inspired me to do my Eagle is because I want to be the first in my family,” Tuilatua said. The hard work exhibited by his family motivates him not just for his Eagle, but for everyday things as well. Tuilatua chose to make a donation to the homeless shelter because the homeless lack many things for the upcoming cold weather. “Most homeless people don’t have much clothes, and it’s getting cold because of winter,” Tuilatua said. Tuia, Biddulph, and Tuilatua are just some of the outstanding examples to tell their stories about getting their Eagles and what it took to achieve it. They have worked very hard to receive such an honorable title and respect from all their fellow scouts, and it’s an achievement they can be proud of for a lifetime. All in all, they hope to keep achieving more challenging tasks, and will continue to keep an eye out for service opportunities.
November 2019, page 5 | Gratitude Feature
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Low key Key Club serves community
By Enrique Tavares MANY STUDENTS may have never heard of the Key Club here at Graner. The club has jangled its way through the school years unheard of by many students. Though relatively unknown, Key Club does some noteworthy things for community service. The Key Club is a club with the sole purpose of doing community service and raising funds for good causes. They strive to be united and build a good sense of community. They volunteer at events and help out with anything that requires their attention. The Key Club works to make the community a more positive place. They are really helpful individuals, but they often don’t get the recognition they deserve. The Key Club is run by Ms. Holtz. “We volunteer at schools such as Granger elementary,” Ms. Holtz said. They tutor the kids who struggle and need help. They help students out in subjects like math and reading. Ms. Holtz supports Key Club’s mission. “I love service and the learning that comes with it,” Holtz said. Ms. Holtz enjoys building connections in the community and helping people in need. She believes it is everyone’s responsibility to help those in need. Key Club is about being united and having a community’s best interest at mind. Christian Ramirez (11) is a Key Club member. “I love Key Club and recommend it to anyone, it’s fun helping others out,” Ramirez said. When volunteering, making the right match can help a person find new friends, connect to the community, learn new skills, and even advance in their career someday. There are about 30 students in Key Club. That’s a whole class-
room full of students working to help fellow community members do impactful things. “Thirty is a good number, but we could always use more faces to have a bigger impact,” Holtz said. “Anyone can join Key Club. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like. If you have an ambition to strive or to help, come join the Key Club,” Holtz said. The club can teach you many things. Just helping out one person could make a large difference or make someone feel better about themselves. “People should join to help give back to the community that’s helped you, and that will improve your role in our society,” Holtz said. “If you do have an interest in Key Club, you can find me in H203,” Holtz said. The club meets every Monday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s a friendly club that will welcome everyone with open arms. Alex Gonzalez (10) is another student in the club. “We are always welcoming new faces and focusing to make Key Club better,” Gonzalez said. Key Club members volunteer in the community on a regular basis. They usually go to elementary schools to leave a positive impact on the future generation. They also do projects every month to evaluate and talk about what they have learned or gained. Some service projects the Key Club has done include: planting trees and tutoring elementary school students. The service is fun for all the members. They enjoy planting trees, reading to students, and helping out. Even if students choose not to join Key Club, they can always consider doing service of their own, even the smallest things make a difference.
Ms. Holtz is the adviser of Key Club, and there’s still time to join.
LIA students give back to the community
Josh Lopez is having a great time working with his LIA teammates.
By Jessica Francisco HERE AT Granger High School, there are many amazing teams and clubs students can join. One of the clubs some should consider joining is Latinos in Action (LIA), a club where they love helping people in and outside of school. In LIA, they can help students get scholarships and make resumes for any job. Students can ask LIA to help them, too. Emily Munoz (12) is a senior at Granger and is a member of the club. “In Latinos in Action, we improve leaders in communications,” Munoz said. LIA helps in every school event that the school does for us, they set up and they clean up after the event, they also stay after the football games to help clean up to maintain the school. LIA has field trips where they go to elementary schools in the area. “We tutor at elementary schools and we read to the students,” Munoz said. She also helps others in her free time. “I help peers make good decisions,” Munoz said. Munoz loves being in Latinos in Action. “I suggest people take the class, it’s a helpful class,” Munoz said. Another student in LIA is Josh Lopez (9). Lopez does service hours in Latinos in Action. He does things that help students and teachers at Granger High School. “We baked some cookies as the whole class and went out to hand the cookies to the teachers,” Lopez said. Latinos in Action also helps plan carnivals for the students to have fun. They help out in the carnival by passing out food at the food stands. The main focus of LIA is
helping people and enjoying it without getting anything in return. “After school we stay after just to hangout and plan things,” Lopez said. Natali Ramos (12) is another student that is involved in LIA. “The focus in Latinos in Action is making it happen and putting good effort,” Ramos said. When they tutor elementary students, they help them with their homework and serve as good role models. “We should always help our community no matter what,” Ramos said. Lancers look to student leaders such as the students in LIA as an example, especially younger people. Part of being an example to the younger ones is showing them what is right and what is wrong. Latinos in Action is a club people should really consider joining. “I love helping people because it makes me feel good, I’m glad my voice can be something good to others.” Ramos said. Another member of Latinos in Action is Ciney Sanchez (12). Sanchez loves helping people apply to college. “I love tutoring in elementary schools because it makes me feel good about myself and that helping someone makes a difference,” Sanchez said. Latinos in Action is filled with great people from different grades who love to make a difference in the community. Sanchez encourages people to join LIA. “It’s nice seeing someone happy which should make you feel good about yourself. If you give you get back,” Sanchez said.
Officers help Lancers solve problems
By Christian Rocha POLICE have a very important role at Granger High School. Their job is to keep threats as far away as possible, make students feel safe at school, and they also help the students and staff when they need it. The students here at Granger show gratitude for the police on campus in many different ways. Victor Landeros (12) is a student at Granger that attends most of Granger’s events such as football games, assemblies, dances, and more. Landeros attended one of the first football games of the year. During the football game, there was an incident by the front gate. The incident involved a gun and students from another high school. “I didn’t really know what was going on, I heard a loud pop and assumed it was from one of the cars that was at the car show,” Landeros said. The police staff that were guarding the event immediately jumped into action and kept the students safe. “I was so glad and relieved that the police officers were so quick on their feet,” Landeros said. Keeping Lancers safe from life threatening situations isn’t the only reason police officers are stationed here. It could be for something as simple as a student getting keys locked in a car. That is exactly what happened to Jason Chavarria (12). Chavarria drives himself and his sister to school and back every day. “I had locked my keys in my car one day after lunch. I didn’t realize it until after school when I was trying to go home,” Chavarria said.
Chavarria went to go speak with one of the officers to see if he could help. He was glad to find out that they were able to help with no problem. They walked to his car and unlocked it in just three minutes. “It was surprising how nice they were towards me. I was kinda nervous asking them for help since they almost always have a bad rep. But if I have to be honest, I’m appreciative that the police are here and willing to help any situation,” Chavarria said. Students here at Granger are glad to have the officers in the building, but the officers protecting Granger may not know how grateful the Lancers are to have them in the building. Officer Hoffman is an officer here at Granger High School. He and many other officers are new to the Granite School District. Hoffman has had a great first impression of the students so far. “The students here at Granger seem to be really kind. There are no issues that have come up so far,” Hoffman said. The police are not only here to stop dangerous acts and people, they are here to help with a lot more things than people think. Hoffman has helped many students by just answering questions. “ ‘Is it A or B day?’ ‘Could you help me find my class?’ ‘What time is second period?’ These are some of the small things we get on a daily basis,” Hoffman said. The other officers are more than happy to help with any and all situations as well. Don’t be afraid to ask the officers about any concerns that come up. They are here for Lancers’ benefit, and they are always willing to help.
Officer Hoffman enjoys working at Granger.
November 2019, page 6 | Student Life
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Students should get involved in school activities
Lenin Villegas is looking forward to playing on a professional team.
Senioritis has finally hit home By Maritza Tolentino UTAH COLLEGE application week was a stressful week for seniors here at Granger High School. College is usually the next step for most seniors. Graduation is just months away, and while it may seem far, it will be here sooner than expected. Applying for colleges, along with scholarships, can help each student’s future if they are willing to put in the work. Many students here at Granger High School are going to be a first-generation college student. “I am a first-generation college student, I am excited but nervous to see what my future holds,” Alex Cervantes (12) said. Cervantes is going to college at SLCC to do his generals. This is going to be a new experience for Cervantes. Although it might be a struggle with a payment plan, he will be able to both work and study at the same time. “Applying for scholarships is my main payment focus at the moment,” David Gaspar (12) said. College is not cheap, but there are many ways to help pay for college. Scholarships happen to be one of the easiest ways. Applying for colleges will happen soon, and Gaspar is excited to start a new chapter in his life by hopefully getting into a 4-year college. “I don’t have a specific school in mind, as long as I get to study to be a physical therapist,” Gaspar said. He looks forward to achieving his goals and being
able to make up for his parents’ sacrifices. “I wish I was more involved in school and sports,” Angelica Vasquez (12) said. Vasquez is looking forward to seeing what she will do after high school. She is planning on attending Dixie State University straight after high school. Cosmetology is what she is planning to study, along with pediatric dentistry. She has been looking for scholarships to apply for that will help her pay for some college expenses. However, college is not for everyone. “I plan on going to Mexico and tryout for the professional soccer team,” Lenin Villegas (12) said. Playing soccer is Villegas’ passion and he wants to be able to do it for a living. Villegas wants to help his parents out in any way possible because of all the sacrifices they have made for him and his siblings. High school has helped him learn many skills over the years. The week of October 7-11 was Utah College Application Week (UCAW). This week brought stress and anxiety to many seniors. “I am anxious about applying since it will be a new chapter of my life, but I am excited to open up a new chapter and succeed,” Jose Tapia (12) said. Tapia is hoping to go to trade school and explore options he may like. He is willing to try new things and figure out if he’d like to go to college in the future or not.
By Breawna Howell THERE are many events that happen at Granger, but some events are specifically for freshmen students. For example, there has already been a movie night for freshmen. There is also something else being planned for freshmen for the end of the quarter. There were two movies that played on the October 3: SpiderMan Far From Home and Glass. There were many snacks available like chocolate, candy, and tons of popcorn. The most popular movie was Spider-Man. There were more than fifty students that went to the movie, and around twenty students that went to the movie Glass. Students should thank Mr. Demoux, Granger’s freshman advocate, for the movie night. He set the whole thing up, bought all the candy, and made posters and permission papers. He planned the whole night and went out of his way to make freshmen feel welcome and like part of the Granger
community. Teachers want freshmen to know that they are now Lancers and they belong here at Granger. As freshman, the first day was a bit difficult if students didn’t know where they were going, but after that it was easy. Most freshmen probably didn’t feel welcomed, but really, they are. Freshmen will make friends and teachers will help them out if needed. Freshmen have Freshman Success classes, so if students start to feel like they are falling behind, they have that class time to catch up on work. In Freshmen Success, students set goals and plan them out every week. Freshmen are also learning what success means to them. Freshmen in that class create a timeline about what happened in the past, the present, and what they want to happen in the future. To help Granger freshmen get started in high school, those students must have Freshman
Success to keep up on work and missing assignments. Granger students also need to pass their classes so that they can have good grades and get their credits. Students should try their hardest to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. Students shouldn’t worry about what’s on social media, but should focus on school and what really matters in life. High school is where it really counts, and where students prepare to be on their own. School won’t always be easy, but students should still try their hardest to finish what needs to be done to achieve the goals they want to accomplish. Goals without plans are just wishes. Students should take their time with life and make goals that could be accomplished. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, you can plan out your own life and what you want to achieve. Granger is not just a school, it’s a family, and all Lancers will always be welcome.
Granger’s food pantry is open to everyone By Krystina Soriano GRANGER’S food pantry is available to everyone: students, faculty, parents, siblings, and the outside community. The food pantry is located in the counseling center. There aren’t any requirements for people to use the pantry, all they have to do is write their name, the amount of people in their house, and the amount of kids under the age of 18. They do not have to have any relation to the school whatsoever. Ms. Alik has been in charge of the pantry since 2017, although it existed for a few years before that. The administration created the pantry to help students at Granger as well those in the greater community. Ms. Alik is there to help students and the community get the things they need. She also orders the food from the Education Foundation, monitors the food levels, and with the help of volunteers, she restocks the shelves when the Utah Food Bank deliv-
ers shipments. The food bank has a set time when they deliver to Granger. It is every first Friday after the second Monday of every month. If the pantry has run out or is low on certain items, Ms. Alik will order those things from the Education Foundation. Lancers can go in and get the food they need during lunch or after school, as the food bank is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. When going in and grabbing the items, Granger staff will provide a box or bag to help carry the items. If students do not want to carry around the food they got during lunch, they can leave it in the counseling center and pick it up after school. The items available in the pantry are non-perishables, frozen meats, hygienic items, and occasionally household items like laundry soap and toilet paper. There is a limit to how much someone can take. There is a twoweek recharge time before some-
one can go back. The number of items a person can take depends on the number of people in their house. It is generally one can per person in the household for different things. “It’s a nice place to get what you need,” Skye Matos (10) said. The pantry supplies many things for the Matos family, and she appreciates it. There are many kids and families going hungry every day. They go to food banks in hopes of getting what they need. Sometimes these families don’t receive what they need or don’t receive enough to feed them for the month. Anyone who would like to donate to Granger’s food pantry can contribute. They can bring in nonperishables and hygienic items to help out. Granger does suggest donors call them for an available time to bring in items. People can also go to the utahfoodbank.org website to see the guidelines for donating because Granger follows the same guidelines.
Technology trends at Granger include phones, apps, and memes By Leyla Ilyazova APPLE, Netflix, Instagram, Fortnite, and Tik Tok are all very popular among students right now. The way it goes, it seems as though Instagram promotes a video of a Tik Tok that’s using a song by a ‘Top New Artist!’ who is on Snapchat, and Snapchat then advertises the new iPhone and before they know it, students fall into a never-ending loop of trend promotions. To fall into a trend is apparent and basic, and some may not even realize it. Last year, the Walmart yodeling kid was popular and the viral ‘Yanny? or Laurel?’ audio was heavily talked about. Now, those things are practically forgotten and VSCO alongside Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate change activist, are popular in media. It proves to show how quickly trends come and go. Most students have social media, some even spend the whole day on it, while the other few prefer not to be on it at all. Lancers continually hear about how social platforms can bring negativity, especially to teens. But many never emphasize how apps such as Instagram are free and provide amazing platforms to grow and connect with others and create a public voice. Students like Fatima Sediqi (9) use social media to connect with people across state or even the country “I’ve made several online friends, it’s great to see how many people you can befriend no matter how far away they are,” Sediqi said. It seems that there are always new video games coming out. Fortnite, specifically, has gotten more than 250 mil-
lion registered accounts, alongside Battle Royale which is known as “the biggest game on the planet right now,” according to the DigiZani.com website. “Fortnite is much more likeable to play with my friends than just soloing,” Joshua Lopez (9) said. Games like Fortnite give students a different perspective of themselves, which could be the reason why certain games blow up and become popular. “Games can be much more fun when you have the chance to be your own standard self,” Mona Siliga (9) said. Everyone is easily inspired by others, especially when Apple comes out with a new phone and it seems as though all of the big YouTubers and celebrities are getting it, but not everyone may be a big fan of it. “Sure, it has nice colors, but all the cameras aren’t really necessary,” Kiara Flores (9) said. The new phone includes a variety of new updates and changes, especially to the appearance. This may be a big factor in why it is trending. “Some of the newest features Apple has added were already present in previous Androids,” Sediqi said. Sediqi prefers Android products over Apple. When Lancers aren’t busy dedicating their time to video games or social media, they appear to be on Netflix or Hulu. “It’s easy to sit down planning on watching for half an hour but end up still watching hours later,” Joshua Lopez (9) said. Platforms with shows and movies to binge are meant to get people hooked, ending each episode with a cliffhanger to get viewers to continue watching.
Kiara and Fatima notice the trends they see going around Granger.
November 2019, page 7 | Student Life
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Home release is beneficial when done right By Nevaeh Chavez HOME RELEASE is looked at as a good opportunity for students here at Granger, mainly for seniors and occasionally for juniors. Some of the counselors encourage students to have as many classes as they can. Home release can often be something that does not encourage one to try harder in school. Leaving school early can be seen as an excuse to sleep or do something unproductive. On the other hand, some students use this time to get things done or even get ahead. “There’s more time to rest if you get home release or get things done. I would rather have home release in the morning because you can get more sleep or do work before school,” Alex Sanchez (12) said. Other students leave school and go straight to work, which is a pretty busy day and can often be overwhelming. Students that have that kind of schedule will have to learn to prioritize things and not push themselves to the point of exhaustion. “Home release is kind of a waste of time in my opinion, unless you are using your free time to actually get things done,” Desiree Hernandez (12) said. Not having home release can be used as a way to keep busy and give little
time for unnecessary distractions during the school year. Granger has programs for students with home release just to keep them on track. Granger staff have given students with home release a chance to stay at school and help teachers, students, or themselves through the Ambassador program. Students can volunteer in classes to help teachers grade work, organize, or tutor students. Often times Lancers choose to head up to the library to get work done for future classes to stay ahead. When some Lancers get home release, they like to use that time to go work or work out. Working out is also an effective use of time, as staying fit and healthy can be just as important as making money or studying. Working and managing school can be stressful, but if students have enough time, it can be easy. Before getting a job, thinking ahead is essential. For example, students need to think about family obligations. Balancing school and work can be a lot easier with the support of family, especially if they are aware of the time needed for work and school. Some students come to find out having such a busy schedule is more of a setback rather than a
motivator to get things done. “I wouldn’t say that home release has kept kids completely engaged in school, but it has definitely benefited their performances in classes, at least for me it has. I now have more time to study for more rigorous classes, work, or catch up on study time,” Cesar Colorado (12) said. Home release can be a good idea for students who are good at staying focused. Most students look forward to having home release to get things done. Other students who are already frustrated with the classes they have would rather take home release than take extra unwanted or unnecessary classes. Research has shown that students with home release in the afternoon are more likely to stay motivated. Getting an early start to the day is a way for students to feel like their priorities are straight. Waking up early and coming to school improves concentration. Most people prefer to wake up and come to class and then go home in the afternoon to get things done. Having home release in the morning may result in wanting to sleep in later then not showing up for class on time, or not at all.
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Luis
Relationships can be crazy
By Pedro Melendez RELATIONSHIPS in high school tend to be dramatic and intense. This is because people tend to love others besides themselves, and insecurities play a big part in high school relationships. The idea of loyalty, respect, and happiness can cause things to get super complicated. Some guys or girls in relationships do not have the courage to leave the person they are with because they are afraid of being alone, so they accept poor treatment. Certain people want specific things that other people just can’t give at this age such as time, attention, and materialistic things. As people get older, things get harder. People start to get jobs and start to get their lives on track. There are times when people cannot give someone else their full energy. “I think cheating is dumb, because why are you making someone believe that you like them while being with someone else who you actually like? You should just be honest with the other person and tell them that you don’t like him/her instead of them later finding out the truth because that will just hurt them more. You should just commit to one person and be happy with him/her because it is the greatest feeling,” Luis Torres (12) said. However, Torres recognizes the struggle of managing his time with after school activities and his significant other. “We don’t always get to spend time together because both of us work and have different after school activities, but every time we do get the chance to see each other, we try to make it as fun as possible and before the day ends, we look at each
other’s schedules and figure out a day where we can hang out,” Torres said. “I don’t think people should depend on the other person for happiness because every time you guys argue you won’t feel good if you guys aren’t on good terms. Personally, I don’t depend on my significant other because there are a million things I can do to make me happy because I feel they shouldn’t have control over my emotions,” Torres said. “I do feel like some people shouldn’t be in high school relationships because they could take your focus off school and start distracting you from important things so for some it could be really stressful having to worry about school, grades, and the person they are in a relationship with,” Torres said. According to one statistic, only 2% of high school relationships make it to marriage, and then those marriages don’t tend to last more than 5 months. “I think high school relationships are useless because they do nothing but distract you from getting things done. Yeah it brings happiness, but it also brings stress that you don’t want or need. I think you should finish school and after-school activities before you got out and try to be with somebody. You should get your priorities done first because it will be very worth it in the long run,” Irvin Guerrero (12) said. There are lots of different opinions on high school relationships, but it mostly depends on how each individual views them. Some people think they are dumb and distracting, while others like being happy with someone and making some great memories.
VSCO girls face criticism as they combine consumerism with culture By Ashley Cuadra MULTIPLE trends took over social media this summer including the VSCO girl stereotype, which was fueled by the Tik Tok app. VSCO girl describes a girl who like scrunchies, hydroflasks, and catch phrases. VSCO girls originally came from the app VSCO that is largely known for its filters for photos. “I think this trend started on social media as a joke, and the trend was taken a little too far. Not only are VSCO girls a thing, but so are E-boys and E-girls,” Abby Brissette (10) said. Brissette thinks that this trend is understandable because the aesthetic of the clothing is nice. She also feels that this trend is dumb since the popular saying ‘sksksk’ can get annoying. According to Teen Vogue, to follow the VSCO girl trend, a girl needs scrunchies, a puka shell necklace, a tube top or oversized shirt, a Fjällräven Kånken backpack, AirPods, an iPhone, Birkenstocks or Vans, a Hydro Flask, a metal straw, and short shorts. “VSCO is such a trend because Emma Chamberlain has the aesthetic of it, and people liked that,” Whitney Remington (9) said. Remington also understands that parts of the trend are likeable, such Hydro Flasks because they are good water bottles and scrunchies because they are cute and better on the hair. VSCO girls also seem to be environmentally friendly by using metal straws in order to ‘save the turtles.’ They use catch phrases such as “And I oop-,” and “Sksksk,” a lot. Many people seem to find these phrases annoying and dumb.
VSCO girls are said to have a beachy aesthetic with natural makeup and wavy hair. These girls seem to have a specific fashion style that is laid back and resembles a surfer girl. Perhaps the trend is the most popular in states that have an ocean because they seem to have the norm of going to the beach. Suzette Alayo (9) thinks that the VSCO trend is unnecessary. “I guess it was funny to people at first, but it’s pretty stupid,” Alayo said. She feels that VSCO girls got their inspiration from fashion and social media. Social media has given these VSCO girls the stereotype of being annoying, especially on Tik Tok. Most videos making fun of them consist of them being loud, dropping their Hydro Flasks, and saying, “And I oop,” which people dislike. Lancers explain that VSCO girls are like surfer girls, that they both have very similar styles. Though, here at Granger, VSCO girls aren’t exactly a common style, only some of the accessories are, such as scrunchies and Hydro Flasks. “It’s like a 2000s Tumblr girl just updated and in 2019,” Aydee Aldaba (9) said. “VSCO is relatable, so that’s why it’s become such a big thing,” Aldaba said. She thinks that VSCO girls have been portrayed as girls who are annoying, and therefore no one wants to be a VSCO girl. Lia Francom (9) finds this trend to be questionable. “I don’t really know why it’s so popular, it came from an app about filters,” Francom said. VSCO has no actual aesthetic to it, and is a popular app for teens to use, but now is even more popular because of VSCO girls.
Suzette isn’t a fan of the VSCO girl aesthetic.
November 2019, page 8 | Entertainment
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 3
Buy your $6 advance tickets to Granger’s production of Oliver. Ask a cast member!!!
Eileen Cook’s You Owe Me a Murder captivates young adults By Alyssa Luna YOU OWE Me a Murderer is a horror/thriller novel written by Eileen Cook. The fantasy follows a 17-year-old high school girl named Kim. After being dumped by her beloved ex-boyfriend, she’s left confused and somewhat heartbroken. While in the stage of trying to get a hold of herself, she slowly realizes she’s gotten herself stuck on a field trip to London that both her ex-lover and the girl she despises are attending as well. Although already being caught up in a traumatizing situation, she’s also set up to plot a murder. After meeting Nicki during the three-hour delay of their flight, things start to switch up for the teenager. At first, Nicki seems to be a harmless and innocent girl from Britain. She appears to listen to Kim and her current struggles in addition to being a comic. As Nicki makes Kim smile nonstop, a dark secret slips between her fingertips. As she makes wicked jokes, Kim joins along, not having a single clue of what Nicki truly is truly capable of. While becoming close to Nicki, Kim’s former partner suddenly vanishes from sight. This journey descends into disastrous circumstances in which Kim abruptly finds she lacks knowledge. Right off the bat, what struck me about Cook’s writing style is that it is one in which many young people can relate. She uses a very informal style of writing, one that is akin to my own. Not only that, but she has a good understanding of the conditions teens find themselves in. Cook uses that knowledge
to write something that captivates young people. Her audience for this book is clear. As soon as I ended the first chapter, I dove right onto the next one. While reading parts of the story, I quickly noticed some small details that fascinated me. The humor that made me feel as if I wasn’t even reading such a chilling tale. I felt as if I was just reading a quirky, coming of age book. In spite of the fact that there were certainly other items that captured my attention, the writer honestly captured how teens these days would have acted if they were placed into the protagonist’s shoes. I most definitely imagined myself in Kim’s position and compared it to how my attitude, actions, and reactions would be based on what she has gotten herself into. I really was delighted by how relatable Kim is. Throughout the second and third chapters, there were certain sections an anguished teen could connect with. Since Kim had dealt with being forced to see the guy she used to call hers with someone she considers an enemy, I genuinely felt empathy for her. The situations in this book had some very real-life situations and that could be very effective in attracting many different people. At the same time, Cook adds an interesting, far-fetched situation into the book that makes it unique. She combines aspects of both reality and fantasy to create an interesting story you don’t read very often. It is obvious that Cook is also a fan of horror and thriller genres of writing, and anyone else who is also a fan would find interest in her take of the genre.
Frozen 2 trailers create fan speculation By Grace Glines SIX YEARS ago, the world was introduced to the popular Disney movie, Frozen. That year, school talent shows were filled with mediocre performances of the song “Let It Go.” Many girls dressed as Elsa for Halloween, and parents were forced to watch the movie constantly. It was a movie that caught on quick, and even some adults enjoyed it, whether they admitted it or not. But within the past few years, it has lost its spot in many people’s hearts. However, on November 22, Disney is coming out with a sequel to the wellloved movie, simply titled Frozen 2. It’s nothing like your typical Disney princess movies. Most Disney movies contain a princess that seems very strong, resilient, and independent until something bad happens. Then, a big, strong man comes to save the day. I can’t say for sure that isn’t going to happen in Frozen 2, but, from looking at the trailers, it seems that Elsa may just have to be her own savior. The trailer starts eerie and dark, at a beach with some large waves. The Star Wars Episode 9 trailer starts in the same way, and since Disney owns both, they
could be doing this on purpose. Elsa runs into the ocean, able to skip along the calm parts of the water using her powers. She tries to skip up a wave, but the wave washes over her and she disappears. We know from the first Frozen movie that Elsa and An-
na’s parents passed away at sea in a storm. This may have something to do with what Elsa was seen doing. Many people have speculated this, and many other clips from the trailers have led to other speculations. Another example of fan speculation features a new character we see in a forest, during what looks like fall. She has reddish hair, similar to Anna’s, and is wearing tan and purple peasant-like
clothes. Many fans have wondered and hoped that this may be Elsa’s new girlfriend, but this is, sadly, not true. Jennifer Lee, Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, said in an interview, “In terms of Elsa, she’s not going to have a romantic relationship in [Frozen 2], like she didn’t in the first one.” This may be disappointing to some hopeful romantics. Compared the trailer for the first Frozen movie, Frozen 2 seems much more intense. Frozen was a very funny movie filled with jokes and sarcasm, and the trailers reflect that. The Frozen 2 trailers have no funny bits and no jokes, just dark, eerie fogs and confusing quotes. That doesn’t say for sure that Anna won’t be making us laugh throughout the film, though. However, the movie is rated G, so it isn’t anticipated to be too scary for small children. Based on the trailers, Frozen 2 seems like a very interesting movie. It looks very different from the first Frozen movie, and I anticipate it to be a very popular movie that will make a lot of money in the box office. Frozen 2 comes out on November 22, and I recommend you see it as soon as you can. I know I will be in theaters on opening day.
Pumpkin spice szn is here
By Ariana Larios WELCOME to the 2019 fall season. Since it is ‘fall szn’ and a time to be thankful, many may be starting to think about what they are thankful for. Something I’m thankful for is coffee, especially during autumn. One of my favorite drinks I feel that anyone could enjoy this season is Starbucks’ f a m o u s Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can enjoy these drinks either hot or cold, but they taste bomb both ways. If you want to be cozy and feel all s n u g g l y, I’d drink it warm. But, if you’re looking for a quick pick up, I’d drink it iced. This seasonal drink consists of all the elements you can possibly think of when it comes to fall. Ingredients for this drink, according to the starbucks.com website, consist of, “our signature espresso and milk with the celebrated flavor combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, served iced or hot. Enjoy it topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin spices.” Ever since this drink made its big comeback this year on August 27, coffee fanatics have been super excited, especially since this was the drink’s earliest debut yet. As a big fan of this drink and coffee in general, I went to go try it out myself and see if anything was different this year. According to the baristas, this is Starbucks’ most popular drink overall. The drink was great like always, but I started thinking to myself, ‘could there maybe be anything better?’ So, I decided to take a trip to another popular coffee spot—Beans n’ Brews.
I ordered it hot when I went, and I saw that Beans n’ Brews also had a cute snack to go along with the drink that could be purchased separately. It’s a mini toasted waffle, topped with a pumpkin spice that given to you with a side of whipped cream and small little cup of delicious syrup. When I tried this, my world changed. I’ve always loved this coffee place, but who would’ve thought it could top the ‘main man’ of Pumpkin Spice Lattes: Starbucks. Of course, there are other coffee places to try like Dunkin’ Donuts, which is another favorite spot of mine. However, I truly feel as if nothing could top Beans n’ Brews’ natural flavor. With a sensational, seasonal feel at the tip of your tongue with the spice of cinnamon, this treat follows with the greatness of the whip cream and a caramel drizzle, it gives you a taste like never before. All you can taste and feel in your mouth is the fall season. It’s almost as if when you close your eyes in that exact moment, you can feel and see yourself at a pumpkin patch or crunching the leaves on your way home on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Something to love about this drink is not only the taste, but the feel that comes behind it. It gives you a cozy feeling of wanting to be at home snuggled up watching spooky movies. Therefore, if you are the stay-at-home type or love trying different drinks, try this one. I’m sure you’ll love it, and if you don’t, there’s always something else on the menu from any of these delightful places that I’m positive will catch your eye.