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March 2020 LXII-VII
Jelena Dragicevic invites Lancers to apply to Harvard By Kara Givens HARVARD University is an Ivy League school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As an Ivy League school, Harvard is considered to be an elite school. Other schools in the Ivy League include Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. Jelena Dragicevic (‘19) is a freshman at Harvard University with an A.B. Candidate in History and Literature, a Secondary in Government, and a Citation in Russian. As a Granger alumna, Dragicevic feels very strongly about helping students from the West Valley City area gain information about college. In any discussion about college, questions about applying, housing, and studies may arise, which can cause confusion on the topic.
On January 16, Dragicevic came to Granger High School to present a slideshow containing important information about Harvard University. She introduced the idea of applying to Harvard to the twelve curious students who did not see themselves ever going to an Ivy League school. “I love this school dearly and am glad I had the opportunity to talk about Harvard to fellow Lancers,” Dragicevic said. “I didn’t expect to be invited, but the information was really helpful,” Kimberly Chaporro (9) said. Although the invitation was surprising and had caught her off-guard, Chaporro was very grateful for the opportunity to be able to attend the presentation and learn about Harvard. “I definitely will be applying to Harvard as a senior,” Chaporro said. For Keanne Castellano (10), getting invited to the presentation was an honor. “I didn’t know that
I had the potential. Out of everyone, I was chosen because of how hard I work in school,” Castellano said. High expectations are a thing most students hold themselves to. Having standards when considering education is very beneficial and can even allow achievable goals to emerge. There are many rumors about Harvard. Some of these rumors include lots of absurd things like how a student applying needs to have a perfect ACT score of 36 or an SAT score consisting of reading and writing being 730790 and a math score of 730800. Although various students at Harvard have gotten rather high scores, there are students that have gotten accepted due to other factors while having a standardized test score that is not extremely high or perfect. Another rumor happens to be that a student applying to Harvard has to have come from a
rich family. Many students attending the Ivy League school actually come from low-income families, condemning this rumor to be completely false. Despite coming from a low-income family, Dragicevic is a happy, thriving, and successful student at Harvard. “I felt out of place because I just felt like there were other people that should have had my place. They all have 4.0’s and I don’t. I just didn’t think that I belonged,” Jarene Ibarra (10) said. A student’s GPA and CPA play a crucial role in getting accepted into a good college. Ibarra may not have a 4.0, but she is involved in school through Latinos in Action (LIA). She has lots of service hours and does many activities outside of school, which also plays an important role attending a good college. Although Harvard Univercontinued on page 2
Granger alumna Jelena Dragicevic (R) attends a Harvard vs. Yale football game with her roommate, Leilani Wesley (L). Dragicevic wants Lancers to aim high.
Kobe Bryant’s accidental death saddens his Lancer fans By Alyssa Luna ON JANUARY 26, 2020, the world was in complete shock. It was reported that NBA AllStar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven other passengers were killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California. Kobe had inspired many basketball players to pursue their sports careers. He seemed to be an inspiration for many sports fans and athletes. His influence was so widespread that his influence reached those far outside casual viewers of the NBA. The whole world grieved their sudden death. Both students and teachers at Granger were very surprised. A variety of students gave their condolences on social media. Gene Nelson (11) grew up admiring the “Black Mamba.”
He was a massive motivation for Nelson to start playing basketball at an early age. Along with having so much love for the NBA player, he had studied his iconic moves and tried figuring out the type of mindset he had throughout his games. Once the news of the Bryants’ deaths reached Nelson, he was in a shocked state. It has affected him ever since he found out, but he will do his best to keep their legacies alive. “I study him a lot, and I use him as a guide. Not many people could do it like he did. He was the best to ever do it, and he will forever be a legend,” Nelson said. Yonis Abdi (12) wasn’t really a big fan of Kobe. Although, he did grow up having knowledge of who Bryant was. Abdi did truly adore Bryant’s ways of thinking
while he was on the courts. He also loved the way he lived his life with his family which made Abdi take pleasure in living his own life. During school, whenever he had a piece of trash, he’d take a shot by throwing it into a nearby trash can while yelling, “Kobe!” It’s still so surreal to Abdi to know that the famous basketball player is gone and is even sadder to acknowledge that Gianna Bryant had such a bright future ahead of her. “Enjoy everything you can when it’s given to you,” Abdi said. Mr. Hughes has always enjoyed basketball. He sees Bryant as an enormous icon. When finding out about the deaths, he shared the same emotions as Nelson and Abdi. Hughes has been working for quite some time at the Vivint Smart Home arena
where Jazz basketball games are held and has been present multiple times at games in which Bryant played. He admired a lot of things about Bryant, especially what he did as a family man. “Kobe Bryant is legendary, and his fame has certainly transcended basketball and into other areas of life,” Hughes said. For basketball fans and nonfans alike, Kobe and Gianna’s deaths were a shock for everyone. It was shocking to see the end of the legacy they left behind, and to see lives cut so short when there was so much left for them to do. Despite the many hardships he faced in his life, Kobe found a way to prosper and treat the people close to him with kindness. Kobe was known to be a truly kind, hard-working man.
ACT: Get ready for it
By Leila Puentes THE ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The ACT started in 1959, and focuses on English, math, reading, and science topics. Students typically take the ACT for the first time their junior year, however they are allowed to take it earlier. Many students also do not take it only one time. “My feelings were that really studying can really go a long way and asking for advice from other people who have taken the ACT. Also, you can look at the online options that can help you study if you have no time to go to school to study,” Matthew Espinoza (12) said. Some Granger seniors have already taken the ACT at least once, while many juniors are preparing to take it this spring. “What I did to prepare myself for the ACT, was asking people how it was, study, take the study reviews online. I got a 20 on the ACT, it isn’t the best score, but for the first time of not knowing what to expect I did OK. I will definitely take the ACT again,” Espinoza said. Taking such an important test can make some students feel nervous, but not all students have the same experience. “I feel cool, good, and comfortable while I took the ACT. I practiced with the teachers to study for the ACT and my score was in the middle,” Edilberto Reyna (12) said. Many students study for months, and sometimes even years, in advance for the exam. “I mainly just studied about the week before for the whole week, I stayed up late some nights to study extra to get a good score on the ACT. Honestly the ACT is not as bad as people say or think it is. It is really very easily and smoothly, if you are prepared,” Jonathan Vernazzani (12) said. Some seniors have a more positive outlook on their experience with the ACT, while others express their relief that they no longer have to worry about it. “I prepared for the ACT by going to the afterschool ACT classes that Granger had and having the ACT books that I have read. The ACT is not as horrible as people say, it just mentally breaks you down as if you pace yourself and trying to not be at one question at a time. Plus, you have to keep moving on even if it is stressing you out, bugs you. I guess that it just mentally hurts you for a bit,” Ethan Nguyen (12) said. The ACT test typically takes three to four hours to complete, so students tend to get quite tired and antsy.
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March 2020, page 2
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
Ashley Lujan stays motivated and hopes all her classmates do, too
By Naomy Romero IN JANUARY, one of Granger’s students was awarded for an app that she created. Ashley Lujan (11) was able to create an app called “Counting Bot” which is a space counting app. Lujan was invited to an award ceremony and was given the award by Utah Rep. Ben McAdams. Ms. Van Duyn is Lujan’s MESA advisor, and she was also one of the people who attended the ceremony. “I was completely honored to be able to attend the ceremony,” Van Duyn said. The whole ceremony was just for Lujan since she was the only one who had won the award in Utah. Van Duyn was surprised that the award was a real thing but not at all surprised Lujan was the one who won it. Lujan was very doubtful of herself, so she was in sincere shock when she had heard she won the award. Lujan felt like she didn’t deserve an award like this. “My app was very simple and only took a week to make,” Lujan said. She thought someone else could have won the award, she didn’t think she deserved it. According to Lujan, for her to be able to win an award like this was kind of scary. On top of winning the award, Lujan also has the opportunity to go to Washington DC. Being able to go to Washington DC is something that keeps Lujan motivated. Lujan’s family attended the local ceremony along with some of her advisors from Granger. Her family is what kept her
motivated through it all. Their presence was a big thing for her, because whenever she felt doubtful about her app, her parents helped her feel confident again. Lujan’s parents and brother were very proud of her. “My dad was surprised when he saw a congressman at my award ceremony,” Lujan said. Her teachers Mr. McCarl and Ms. Van Duyn were also very proud of her and her accomplishment. One of the biggest challenges Lujan had to face was getting all the right buttons to work. Luckily, she was able to get it all done within a week. Lujan created her app all at home, because according to McCarl, she has harder things to do in her digital class. Anytime she faced a challenge, Lujan felt lucky enough that her family was there to help her through it. Lujan definitely deserved this award since she did it all on her own. Receiving this award made it so Lujan was recognized for her hard work, and Granger High is fortunate to be represented in such a big and positive way. Here at Granger, Lujan has many titles. For example, she is the leader in McCarl’s digital advanced class. Lujan is also the Vice President of the MESA club. Now, she holds the app-making contest winner title as her own. McCarl thinks of her as a talented young girl and he is proud to have her as a leader in his class. “Ashley is always awesome!” McCarl said. Both McCarl and Van Duyn are glad to know that Lu-
jan keeps her classmates and club members motivated to achieve more than what they think they can. Lujan wants all Lancers to know that there are a lot of opportunities out there and that they should always go after them. She was very doubtful of herself and didn’t believe she could win. But Lujan wanted Lancers to know that they should always keep trying, because they may never know what the result might be. Lujan says it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but if Lancers work hard enough for it, they are more likely to succeed. Lujan hopes this encourages people to rise up. “All of the students here have lots of potential and I’m hoping this helps them want to take more opportunities like this,” Lujan said.
Rep. Ben McAdams was pleased to hand the award to Ashley.
Midsummer Night’s Dream enchants theatre fans
AP classes will help Garett keep college costs under control.
AP courses challenge Lancers By Maritza Tolentino MANY DIFFERENT AP classes are offered at Granger High School. These classes are taken by Lancers in order to receive college credit, as long as they can pass the exam at the end of the year. There are a variety of classes that can be taken that will allow them to receive college credit while still in high school. “I used to have the mindset that school was easy, then I got into AP Stats and realized we actually have to put in work into school,” Jared Gonzalez (12) said. he mentioned that any AP class requires more time and work than a regular class. Understanding the material and being able to study it and memorize it is a way Gonzalez is preparing for the AP test. Being able to pass the test is the only way to get college credit, so he puts in a lot of work to be able to pass. “Taking AP classes now will help make college cheaper in the future,” Garett Cousins (9) said. Cousins has been encouraged to take these classes throughout his high school career in order to further his education after high school. AP Human Geography and AP Biology are the classes Cousins is taking this year. Taking AP classes is challenging for some Lancers. Studying is something that Cousins is currently working with. He has been looking over the textbooks and going over the vocabulary to make sure he has them down for the test coming up soon. For Cousins, taking these advanced classes has helped him realize what he needs to get better at. “AP has really helped me learn how to study and do homework and still retain the infor-
mation that was taught,” Tyrese Dulin (12) said. Dulin is currently taking AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP Government, and AP English Language. It is an incredible thing to be able to do multiple AP classes all in one year. Dulin is a bit worried about the tests coming up, but he knows he will do well. Resources here at Granger are always an option: teachers, textbooks, and books are there to help students study and get a passing score. Dulin recommends that more Lancers take on a challenge and take these AP classes that are offered to help further their education and make college cheaper. “Although I know Spanish, AP Spanish is still a challenge,” Brianna Suazo (11) said. Suazo is an Excalibur here at Granger and is required to maintain a certain GPA to stay on the team. Advanced Placement is challenging, but Suazo knows she needs to work hard and get the work done and turned in on time. Suazo has anxiety, and in that class, she is required to talk in groups and do presentations in front of the whole class. Having to put that anxiety aside to get through the class is challenging, but Suazo knows it will benefit her in the long run. Writing is a big factor on the AP Spanish test, as well as speaking and reading. Being able to write essays in class has been preparing Suazo to get a good score so she can pass the exam. Next steps would be to take the class offered next year by a U of U professor. Many Lancers have taken on the challenges associated with AP classes, and it is hoped that every Lancer strives to pass their upcoming AP tests.
By Ashley Cuadra IT HAS become a tradition for Granger High School to have a Shakespeare play every four years. This year’s Shakespeare play was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is a romantic comedy. This play started on Feb. 27 and ended March 3, and Mr. Fuller directed the production. “I was especially excited about the actors because they are great at capturing their characters’ essence,” Mr. Fuller said. Fuller chose to do a comedy play from Shakespeare because the last play was about history, so he decided to change it up. He feels that getting stuff done was the most difficult part, but he liked watching the actors get into character to tell the story. The theme of this Shakespeare play was about love, which is something Shakespeare returns to constantly in his comedies. Shakespeare explores how people typically fall in love with those who look beautiful to them. The actual play shows the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta. To get the full idea of Shakespeare’s play or any play,
Lancers should attend them. “I was excited to play a queen in Midsummer Night’s Dream because it was something new,” Daniela Tovar (12) said. Tovar played Titiana in the school play, and the character was a queen of fairies. Tovar was looking forward to the comedic aspect of the play. Although there was much to look forward to when being in a play, it could be tiring at times and Tovar didn’t always necessarily look forward to rehearsals. However, she decided to be in the play because she loves how she and others can tell a story in an artistic way. Lancers audition for the school play because it brings them a thrill when they are on stage acting. Acting is a way that many people use in order to express themselves in various ways. Being in a play is telling a story in a different form of art. It is very artistic, and Lancers typically take theater or audition for a role in order to tell a story. Acting is like being another person for a few hours, and many Lancers find that it gets their minds going and lets them be expressive.
“I get an adrenaline rush from acting in a play, it hypes me up and makes me excited to perform,” Isaac Martinez (12) said. Martinez’s role was Lysander, who is a young man that falls in love with Hermia. Martinez found that the Shakespeare play might have been a bit difficult to understand, but he found the play to be a good choice. Martinez was mostly excited to perform, but also found rehearsals to be long and tiring. However, he loves acting and being in theater and may pursue acting. “Shakespeare plays can be difficult to perform, but the actors who were in this play genuinely played their characters really well,” Ms. Timpson said. Ms. Timpson found that getting a big audience to come watch the play might have been the most difficult part of the production. She thinks that having actors do a great job at playing their characters is what really made this play special. She also liked the theme of the play because it was funny, and it was also about love. Ms. Timpson generally encourages Lancers to come to any play because everybody works hard.
continued from page 1 sity is rated the best school in America, and Granger High does not have the best ratings and reputation, Lancers have as good a chance to attend a big Ivy League school as students grow-
ing up in Boston, Massachusetts have. “I work really hard to push myself to take rigorous classes and I have been getting into extracurricular activities such as making debate council, LIA, and
girls’ wrestling,” Juliana Tellez (11) said. It is important for Lancers to keep college in mind and realize that they have the potential to go to major universities that will offer them scholarships and aid so that they can attend.
March 2020, page 3
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
Sluggers tune up during winter conditioning gyms, the atmosphere is serious, physically for Granger baseball. By Kara Givens AT GRANGER High School, welcoming, and fundamental. “We are getting together and preparing for the upcoming ath- The boys do tees, soft tosses, working as a team. We care more letic season for a student’s se- smush balls, and live pitches about each other and not just ourlected sport is very important. from Mr. Jaramillo, the main selves,” Fabian Perez (11) said. Whether it includes condition- baseball coach. In the weight In preparing for the season, the ing, getting to know the other room, there are four different bond a team creates is very cruplayers, or just staying on top of workouts each time. There are cial. Individuals that are closely grades, preseason preparation is three reps for the workouts, but knit with their teammates tend to as important as the season itself. they differ every day to increase have a wider range of skills that For the upcoming baseball sea- muscle strength. they can use to their advantage. son, open gyms and The team is improving going to the weight their bond and getting room are pretty big closer. They are also parts of the preparalearning to trust each tion stage. other. “Last year the “Conditioning is baseball team wasn’t part of any sport, so good and didn’t work I’m just getting the together,” Perez said. work in,” Ryker OliAt most schools, a ver (10) said. In the 2.0 GPA is required to aux gym, the baseball be able to participate boys tend to do a lot in athletics. For Deof different types of gan Wagstaff (10), workouts to build grades are the reason their muscle strength, baseball is not packed improve their cardiointo his schedule for vascular endurance, the 2020 season. “I and increase their feel like it’s pretty stamina. Some of the disappointing and I physically challengshould have done beting activities that the ter with my grades,” boys do to get ready Wagstaff said. Being for the upcoming seaable to be an athlete Ryker’s conditioning should prepare him to play baseball. son include workouts can be a big motiva“I choose to stay fit by go- tor for many Lancers for whom such as pushups, sumo squats, curls, burpees, jump roping, ing to the gym as often as I can. sports are a passion. He will be lunges, sprints, and zoo ladders. I play baseball here at Granger, pushing toward the standard to Since the workouts may be tough but I also play in another league, be allowed to play on the Grangon the boys that chose not to stay Lugnuts. I never really have a er baseball team for next year. fit between seasons, they are break,” Kaleb Breeze (11) said. At Granger High, baseball is Continuing athleticism between a spring sport. Preparing for the taught to endure the pain. Conditioning prepares ath- seasons can even make condi- season is very important and can letes for the season. While being tioning easier, because the body last the entire year up until the physically rigorous, it also helps is used to that type of physical season starts. Baseball preparawith team bonding and improves activity and conjoined move- tions may include conditioning, the relationship between the ment. Breeze also plays on an- weight training, team bonding teammates. The team is being other team which keeps him in exercises, or staying on top of taught to not quit. During open the right shape mentally and grades.
For track athletes, competition is personal By Angelica Dwight EVERYONE wants to win the race, but some wonder if that is what is most important. Thoughts vary from only beating your personal best to having to win the entire race to feel a sense of accomplishment. Each athlete is different and has different goals, but each and every athlete has a passion for what they do. Almost every sport involves running, but not as much as track. Track is centered around it, and events include running long distance, doing sprint races, running a relay, or doing races with hurdles. In each of these events, student athletes compete against other athletes from different schools for a chance to place in the top three and possibly win a medal.
Track is a racing type of sport. Some athletes consider that as racing against themselves, while others focus on beating competitors. Sometimes beating yourself isn’t enough for athletes to feel achieved. “I’m never satisfied with how well I’ve done, there’s always something to improve on. Winning just isn’t enough,” Leslie Jara (12) said. Athletes that run track are striving to be the best in that event, but also strive to beat their personal best. While striving to be the best, these athletes train extensively. Now that the season has begun, practices are held almost every day after school and vary from weight room workouts to running down streets next to our school. The track team members do different workouts depending
on what events they do. Throwers do a lot of work in the weight room, sprinters do a combination of lifting and running, and distance runners try to rack up the miles they run each week. With all the practice these athletes endure, they are ready to compete once it’s time for the season’s annual competitions. “With each practice I think everyone who puts 100% in the exercises will see improvement-I at least do,” Alejando Romero (10) said. With practice comes growth. With the season quickly approaching, these athletes are getting physically and mentally getting ready. “You have to be not only physically but mentally prepared for all the practicing you will endure with track, it’s a very mental sport,” Jasmin Coreas (10) said. Several athletes would describe this sport as consisting mainly of conditioning and endurance work. Although underrated, track and field is a serious sport that takes a lot of stamina and focus. Many athletes who play fall and winter sports will join track in the spring in order to stay in shape for the other sports they play. These athletes are building life skills that they can use in other sports and even in other areas of normal life.
Arleth ignites GHS girls wrestling By Adrian Solorzano WHEN MANY Lancers think about wrestling, they might think about sweaty guys in weird outfits. However, Arleth Antonio (11) is changing the way Lancers look at wrestling by being the first ever female wrestler Granger has had. She is the reason Granger is going to have an all-girl wrestling program, and that’s a big accomplishment in the eyes of this female wrestler “She’s the pioneer to start an all-girls wrestling program at Granger,” Coach Vidal said. Antonio had a diverting season for her junior year. She accomplished so much, from being chosen to compete in Stars Duals and taking first place at an all-girls varsity tournament at Christmas Clash. Antonio is also Granger’s first champion at an all-girls tournament, which had 30 teams from three different states attending. “Taking first place at Christmas Clash was a great feeling. I was very confident of my skill level, versing girls is a different feeling, but I felt so accomplished,” Antonio said. She was Granger High school’s first female champion at an allgirls varsity tournament. “Being Granger’s first female wrestler champion is a great way to represent Granger, it really built my confidence to a different level,” Antonio said. Being a female wrestler
comes with a lot of criticisms, but Antonio typically responds to it in a positive way. “Just because I’m a female wrestler, I get a lot of doubt from my opponents. ‘She’s a girl, she’ll be easy,’ is something I hear a lot. But never doubt your opponents is something I have learned,” Antonio said. Being a female wrestler takes courage and bravery. “I didn’t even know about that, I’m not really familiar with who she is but I have to give respect where it’s due, as a female that’s a huge accomplishment for her. When I think about a female wrestler, I think about a girl who can easily beat me up, probably buff like The Rock. I don’t know to be honest, but like I said congrats to her and her accomplishment,” Martin Delgado (12) said. Some students have not yet heard about Antonio’s feats, but they are typically impressed once they do. Antonio has some goals for her senior year and she’s coming in big. “My goals for senior year are more girl versus girl wrestling, also to bring more girls into the sport of wrestling, I want females to know it’s a fun sport to do,” Antonio said. Antonio wants to bring more females to wrestling where they can develop important qualities such as self-esteem, sportsmanship, and leadership. Other skills include agility, balance, reflexes, and strength.
Tri-Color Times Staff Executive Editor Jocelyn Roberts
Social Media Editor Harley Zissi
Reporters Branden Alvarado-Perez Jamie Argumendo Rubi Avila Isai Barajas Aizza Beltran Ethan Berk Ashley Cuadra Angelica Dwight Jessica Francisco Vazquez Kara Givens Breawna Howell Leyla Ilyazova Jenny Jimenez Avila Ioana Johansson Scott Laguna Arellano
Reporters Whitnie Larsen Giselle Lopez Alyssa Luna Pedro Melendez Duron Norally Perez Gonzalo Perez Leila Puentes Naomy Romero Isabella Sanchez Haidee Smith Adrian Solorzano Maritza Tolentino Julian Villalobos 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.
Tri-Color Times c/o Granger High 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320
March 2020, page 4
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
The presidential election is a source of anxiety for many students
By Macaela Wiliams THE PRESIDENTIAL election is always a stressor to voters. It makes sense that this upcoming election is especially stressful for voters. With all the tension between the two most popular political parties, democrats and republicans, it almost seems like a lost cause to even vote. The democrats impeached Trump, and some think that if the democrats get a president in office, that the republicans might try to impeach that president. ]All these questions are just some of the anxieties and concerns Lancers have about this year’s presidential election. Ameena Ahmed (10), who is in debate and is very knowledgeable about politics, said this year’s election is different because of the way our generation discusses and debates politics. Ahmed also went on to talk about things voting-age Lancers should keep in mind. “[Voters should] think about policies that affect [not just] you but everyone,” Ahmed said. Her view of this particular election is that there are a lot of beliefs that have been established in our society that without research could potentially lead to a lot of miscommunication and misconception. Ahmed believes that all these parties will have a hard time with votes for laws and policies. “Non-agreement leads to nothing getting done,” Ahmed said. Megan Hammond (12) is another Lancer who is also very knowledgeable about politics and all that goes into
it. Hammond has strong opinions about this election. “There’s a lot of division,” Hammond said. She explained how the impeachment of Trump has caused contention, and there would have been more contention if he had been convicted. Hammond explained that people who vote should not focus on the party itself, but rather what the party can do for the country and the country’s people. Hammond then described how this presidential election is also different from past elections, as Trump is only the third president in history to be impeached, but he is still campaigning for re-election. Dailyn Marrero (12) has taken a lot of advanced placement history classes and has taken an interest in politics. Marrero explained one of her anxieties about this year’s 2020 presidential election. “I worry nothing will get done and that the election is just a show,” Marrero said. Marrero gave some advice to Lancers who can vote in this upcoming election. “Instead of thinking about a political party, go for a plan,” Marrero said. A plan could be looking up those campaigning and determining your beliefs. Some Lancers don’t quite know what political beliefs they have but being educated about the candidates’ platforms is key. It is also important to know that they don’t have to cast all their votes for one party. Marrero explained that for this election, she is more fired up and hostile, and that Trump running for reelection has many citizens feeling tense.
Ameena is very involved in debate and politics.
Overpopulation problem might be overrated By Jenny Jimenez OVERPOPULATION has become a serious topic of conversation in many places in the world. It has become so serious that laws have been created to save the planet from becoming overpopulated. A lot of people have different opinions on the world’s growing population and the effect that humans have on the Earth, and Granger’s Mr. Anderson had some interesting things to say. Mr. Anderson does not think often about overpopulation or the fate of the planet, but he did acknowledge that there are people in the world that don’t realize where their food comes from and how they are using it. However, he thinks there are resources on the planet that need to be utilized in order to sustain human life. Anderson believes in recycling and reusing items, as he knows that this makes a huge difference. He believes people should understand the consequences of being wasteful and thinks that people should know the appro-
priate way to use their resources. “I don’t support laws that limit people’s right to reproduce,” Mr. Anderson said. He thinks that the laws should be more about limiting the use of plastic, teaching people how to reuse these things correctly, do a better job of conservation, and do a better job of protecting farmers. Anderson says there are a lot of things to do, but that limiting the amount of reproduction shouldn’t be one. Anderson also said that there are serious concerns about poverty in the world, as far as people being able to afford things. When or if the world were to become overpopulated, then it would be harder for the people living in poverty to support themselves. In addition, Mr. Anderson mentioned the poverty status here in Salt Lake City. It is such a desirable place to live, and the housing prices rise and that is a reason why people get priced out of their homes sometimes, just like in Los Angeles and other popular cities. Mr. Anderson doesn’t expect
that overpopulation would lead to any sort of apocalypse. “If it was that serious, then I would do anything to protect myself, but I don’t think it will be like that,” Anderson said. Some think that education should be the most important thing when it comes to these situations and concerns. Anderson believes that poverty should be the biggest concern for people. “Put people in school, teach them that they don’t want to be poor to protect themselves and help the society,” Anderson said. He thinks that if something bad ends up happening to the planet, “it is not anybody’s fault but ours,” he said. Although Utah or America may not feel overpopulated, one has to keep in mind that there are other parts of the world that are starting to experience some issues related to overpopulation. Our generation may have to face this problem head-on and be the ones to come up with solutions to save our planet and environment for future generations.
Diversity shines at Granger By Ioana Johansson IMMIGRATION is a word that can be used either hatefully or reassuringly. The myriad of students attending Granger and walking among us have much greater stories than many can imagine. Granger’s building is unusual to students coming from across the country, to moving from town into city. “Walking into a building full of thousands of students and halls full of classes is a scary moment not only for the new Lancer but also for the parents,” said Mr. Beck. Lelah Makaui (9) is one of many Lancers that came here from a foreign country. She’s learned to speak English and is an incredibly bright student. “One of the hardships that I had to face was leaving behind my sister,” said Makaui. Leaving family, friends, and even neighbors takes a hit on a teen’s mental strength. The upkeep these students still manage to show through all the heartache is an incredible representation of their strength and dedication. Family pressure remains one of the main stressors for an immigrant student. It helps keep students who are struggling in check and gives them something to look up to. Many immigrant Lancers hope to take advantage of all the incredible resources these students are lucky enough to be given that their parents may not have had, and they hope to make their parents proud. With the added pressure of leaving family behind, students are naturally expected to learn a whole new set of skills. For example, students have to prioritize learning
a whole new language and all other types of rules. “Coming from all over the world can bring traditions and culture,” Mr. Beck said, “other schools may think they are ‘diverse’ but compared to Granger, they are really nothing. The background stories of all the students here always impress you,” Mr. Beck said. Although some schools call themselves diverse, they only have a few students who have migrated compared to the large migrant population at Granger. Granger offers an ESL, English as a Second Language, class for not only students, but also parents. Anyone can attend the class, one of the many great benefits of this course. The class for parents is in the Family and Career Center, and to learn more about this, interested participants can ask any of the administrators or any of the ESL teachers. It’s easy to assume that immigrant students feel more pressure to succeed than students born in America. The simple answer is that it all depends on the individual student. Students who struggle can put hard work into their studies and improve rigorously. It is not a matter of grades or GPA, it is whether a student shows dedication. Students who don’t speak English work just as hard, if not harder. Classes like People of The Pacific or Latinos in Action teach students about their heritage, and it is offered to anyone who wants to learn about these cultures. These classes can leave students with a different view of the history and experiences of a parent or friend. Granger is very diverse.
March 2020, page 5
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
Attack on Gen. Soleimani causes concern
By Pedro Melendez PRESIDENT Trump recently made an attack that killed an Iranian general named Qasem Soleimani, which left some people furious and displeased with his actions. Gen. Soleimani died on Jan 3. It was shocking for some people to wake up to find out that the president launched an attack that killed an important leader. People understand that Trump needed to stop the generals plans, but killing him just left Iran even more furious at us than before. “I don’t think a World War III will happen anytime soon, because I believe that these countries aren’t dumb enough to start something so big. I’m not against Trump’s attack on Iran, but I’m also not for it. He did what he had to do. The general he killed did a lot of horrific things and killed lots of individuals,” Brandon Mozqueda (9) said. “After Trump’s attack on Iran, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are planning on attacking us. I’m not really scared of getting nuked or anything because if it happens, it happens. If people were ever to get drafted, I don’t think it would be right, because some people just don’t have the right mentality to go fight in the war. It would leave you with a little bit of anxiety, because you would always be thinking about getting drafted,” Mozqueda said.
Some people tend to have a lot of anxiety toward the subject of war because they know that their life could end in an instant, which is a pretty big fear. “Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have.........targeted 52 Iranian sites,” President Trump said. Iran also recently struck Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops after Trump reportedly said that Iran appeared to be standing down. After this attack, young people have expressed fear of a war breaking out and them being drafted to fight in it. Lancers who are 18-year-olds may or may not have anxiety about this. “I do not believe a World War 3 will happen if I’m being honest, because no one else has shown a plan of attacks. I don’t feel bad about people being drafted, because you’re fighting for your will to save the country,” Andres Aguilar (11) said. “I am not scared of being nuked, because it will all happen so quickly to the point where I don’t have enough time to even react to the situation. I am also not afraid to be shot, because you have to be ready for anything to happen. Although, I am pretty scared to shoot someone, because I know something would hold me back,” Aguilar said. Students like Aguilar have run through scenarios in their heads about what a
world war might entail, and what part they may have to play in it. “I don’t think Trump is the brightest person because of his actions, and I for sure know that Iran will want their revenge and it most likely will happen really soon,” Aguilar said. Many people believe that we are going to go to war if we keep attacking other countries, because every attack is going to get bigger and bigger and Iran might send massive attacks back at us. “I don’t believe World War III will occur just because we have found a new way to settle our differences and problems. Many problems are taking place right now, but I don’t think it’s enough to start a war. And not only that, but a war is expensive and comes with much more downsides than you’d think,” Giselle Zarate (11) said. Some students may be more worried about war breaking out, while others don’t think that anything like that would happen any time soon. “I think it was an impulsive decision—he didn’t take into consideration all the downsides that would come with it. I personally think he didn’t think about other people who’d also be affected by this. The Iranian general wasn’t a good guy himself, but he also didn’t deserve to die,” Serrano said. Some time has passed since that attack and nothing has happened yet.
Giselle gets her news from the CNN 10 videos on YouTube, and that keeps her informed about current events.
Lucksy’s faith includes a belief in heaven, hell, and an afterlife.
Faith-based questions persist
By Scott Laguna STUDENTS at Granger High have different feelings and viewpoints about the afterlife and the possibility of going to heaven or hell. People might wonder what heaven and hell look like or how it feels when you die, and they may wonder if they will go to heaven or hell or is it all black and there is nothing after death. Lucksy Yatta (12) is a Christian, and he doesn’t really follow all the rules, but he said he always has his faith in the Lord. He believes that there is a heaven and hell and an afterlife, because he was raised in the Christian faith and always wanted to know where people go when they die. Yatta doesn’t believe in doing good just so he won’t go to hell. He wants to do good because he was raised and grew up like that. At some point, everybody wonders how it is when we die. Sometimes there are students that make mistakes and think they’re going to go to hell, but others feel that anybody could make mistakes and will simply learn their lesson from that. Luis Torres (12) is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he believes that there’s a heaven and hell, because he has been in that religion for a while. His point of
view of hell is different, as Torres believes that if you kill someone you are going to hell. He doesn’t think he’s going to hell because he hasn’t done anything bad like killing someone. He’s not forced to do good, because he doesn’t have bad intentions. Many people may contemplate if heaven is a good place or if hell is a bad place, but in reality, nobody really knows what it actually looks like or if it even exists. Eli Pando (12) is a Catholic, and believes in an afterlife and is also afraid, because no one knows what heaven and hell might be like. “It’s really scary to not know what would happen when we die. Like are we gonna go to hell or heaven?” No one really knows what will happen, and many ideas people may hold are simply guesses. Jorge Ramierz (12) is also a Catholic, but unlike Pando he isn’t scared about what might happen after he passes away. It is interesting to hear about what different students of various faiths believe about what happens after we die. It is an interesting concept to think about and consider. Granger is not only ethnically diverse, but also is diverse in the religious beliefs its students subscribe to.
Student ID cards used to track and deliver rewards for incentives program By Norally Perez STAMPS on the Granger ID cards are based on a student’s GPA and CPA. They are given out to students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher or a CPA of 3.5 or higher. Some of the rewards for the stamps are candy bars, donuts, notebooks, and more. “We want students to feel rewarded for their hard work,’’ Mr. Demoux said. Stamps are given out to motivate students to improve their grades and a way of telling students to keep up all of the good work. The rewards are given out every term based on the previous term. The rewards are usually announced during morning announcements. In order to receive the reward, students have to bring their student ID and their report cards during lunch time. “Being a 4.0 student takes a lot of hard work and persistence,’’ Kimberly Zaragoza (9) said. Zaragoza plans on taking AP classes throughout her high school years to challenge herself. Being consistent with checking grades is important to Zaragoza, because it gives her a heads up on what she needs to work on. Motivation is a very important life skill, as one needs to be motivated in order to work towards goals. This is when dreams become a reality. During the second quarter, there were 127 students who received a 4.0 GPA. All of those students received an invitation to eat lunch with the principal. There were about 400 students who had a 3.7 GPA or higher, and they
received a ticket to go to the taco truck. Every student can qualify for these rewards, they just have to work hard and get their grades up. “I will continue to work hard and try to get the best grades and CPA,’’ Hunter Lopez (9) said. Lopez thinks the rewards are a great motivation to keep trying and working even harder. Coming to class prepared every day is a great way to succeed, because you don’t miss out on any of the assignments. Having good study skills is also a good way to become a 4.0 student. “I think it’s a great way to let students know what their achievements are,’’ Joanna Martinez (9) said. Martinez also had a 4.0 GPA and received an invitation to lunch with the principal. In her sophomore year, Martinez plans on taking extra-curricular classes so that she can continue to grow academically. Some of her study skills are taking notes and highlighting important events. Martinez doesn’t use her phone while doing homework because it is a big distraction for her. All of the freshman success teachers pass out certificates to students who passed their classes. The students who got a 4.0 receive a letter inviting them to eat lunch with the principal. A couple of the students at Granger don’t really know where to get their rewards, but they are always announced. Every student has the same opportunities to succeed, and there are some great incentives, too.
Hunter appreciates the rewards, and he will continue to work hard.
March 2020, page 6
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
Granger’s softball team takes its players far beyond the field
By Leyla Ilyazova ATHLETIC students at Granger grow and improve together. This year, the softball girls are working closely together in preparation for their first games in a tournament taking place in March. The skills these athletes learn go far beyond the field. “Coaches aren’t just looking to see good players; they are looking to see good companionship. You could be the best player on the team, but your attitude could completely ruin that for you. They want to see you looking out for each other, being happy for each other, not tearing someone down because of a simple mistake,” Michaella Aguiar (12) said. Softball has expanded outlooks on the futures for teens. College acceptance, scholarships and maintaining a good GPA for softball has resulted in an improvement in high school experience academically and socially. “My grades are lower the first few semesters, around this time they jump up to make the team,” Eastyn Tueller (10) said. Sports are about a lot more than just physical benefits. Athletes are constantly working with a large amount of people, many of whom leave role-model impressions. “If you come in with a terrible attitude you are not only making it harder for yourself, but you’re also pulling the rest of the team down,” Tueller said. Communication, verbal or not, is key for maintaining
functioning sports teams. Players are expected to express concerns, hopes, and defeats to their coaches and teammates. Athletes learn communication skills that will help them succeed in their academic endeavors as well. Athletes who have played in tournaments know the meaning of true pressure. Sports create an environment where players have to learn to manage their natural instincts under high pressure situations. “Our first game being a tournament is stressful, but our teammates make it fun,” Aguiar said. The time commitment required to be a part of a sport at school can be comparable to that of a job. The work an athlete needs to juggle can get tricky with maintaining GPA, schoolwork, and after-school clubs. Tournaments, conditioning, and team meetings are just a few sportsrelated obligations. Valuable time-management skills are taught to the girls so that they can learn to keep up with their academics and the sport. Sports are said to bolster self-esteem. Youth who play sports gain social support from friends and a sense of community created with teammates and coaches. “Good team members make it easier for the girls to create tight bonds,” coach Vidal said. Players spend countless hours in practice sharing their experiences with their teammates. They sweat together, laugh together, and get angry at each other, as well. These
athletes compete for positions, play against one another, and get angry at coaches for what they’ve put them through. Through it all, the coaches are the ones who inspire the students. They work the whole day as not only a teacher, but as a coach, mentor, and role model. “We just want to thank coach Vidal, we don’t say that often enough but he deserves it. He has changed us as players on the field and people in the halls,” Aguiar said. Softball has helped these girls with valuable skills that will take them far beyond the field.
Michaella values sportsmanship as well as athleticism.
Some kids arrive crazy early for school By Isabella Sanchez SOME LANCERS may have noticed that some of their peers have been coming to school really early. Bryant Menendez (11) gets here at 6 a.m. His reason for coming so early is not a very common reason, though. “I show up early to school to do my homework and catch up on the things I’ve missed,” Menendez said. Although he comes so early, he uses his time wisely. Another reason he comes so early is because it’s quiet and empty. “Something about it being quiet and empty makes me feel calm,” Menendez said. He likes to sit in the library and look out the windows down to the commons area. He comes to school early every day except Mondays, because he likes to sleep in. One last reason Menendez comes to school early is because he likes to meet his friends here to hang out and talk before the bell rings and the hallways fill up. Angie Gonzalez (9) is anoth-
er person who comes to school early. She usually comes at 6 a.m. “I don’t like being at home, so I come early to school,” Gonzalez said. She said she usually comes early on B days because she has GTI. It’s not common to see students come to school early because they do not like things at home. Sometimes Lancers do hear about students coming to school for that reason, but not often. Although she comes early, Gonzalez thinks it is all right when she gets here. It’s not great, but it is not bad either. Some of the more common reasons students may come to school early is because they want to eat breakfast, they have sports or clubs, they want to get a good CPA, or parents drop them off early on the way to work. Raja Benning (12) comes to school early on A days for drill. When asked if she likes to come early to school, Benning expressed her viewpoint. “It makes the day seem longer,” Benning
said. The drill team sometimes requires students who participate in it to come early. Benning also said that it is hard to get here to school in the morning because she lives in West Jordan. Sometimes if students live far from Granger, their best bet is to try and come early to school so traffic isn’t that bad. Last year, Benning would get here early because her uncle would drop her off at 6 a.m. Coming early can also make the student feel more pressure because their day starts earlier, and it continues until school finally gets out. Benning knows how it feels to have a long day at Granger. Although she has to come early, Benning likes participating in drill. She continues to come early until drill season is over, then she sleeps in. These Lancers have some interesting and varying reasons for coming to school early and wandering the halls before the sun comes up, and it’s interesting to hear their perspectives.
Bryant likes to get a head start on each school day by arriving at 6 a.m.
Golf is an interesting sport By Branden Alvarado GOLF CONDITIONING is something that golfers look forward to, but not something that seems as important to Lancers who don’t understand it. When golfers condition for golf, it’s not like any other sport. People always belittle the sport, but golf requires conditioning just like any other competitive sport. “I have a lot of people tell me that golf isn’t a sport because we don’t need to work hard. But when we go to Top Golf and we practice and improve our swing and coordination, it takes a lot of practice to build up the endurance to swing the club and hit it just right,” Carolann Samani (10) said. While the golfers practice at Top Golf, a normal high school sports team would typically condition here in Granger’s weight rooms and in our facilities. But golf requires much more open space and room to practice than any other sport, and you need to practice again and again in order to improve your skill. Golf requires high demands for fitness in the arms and legs, and golfers need to be able to highly coordinate both. Golfers actually take conditioning very seriously for that reason. Many golfers start young or look up to certain golfers since a young age, and that typically keeps them interested in the sport “I have a cousin who’s a professional golfer, Tony Finau, and I’ve been seeing him go on tours and play professionally. I want to try now and see if it’s for me, and thanks to him, I like golf,”
Samani said. Golf runs in the family for certain people, so golf then becomes a way of life as opposed to being just a sport that’s played. The sport can be played and enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. The Granger golf team requires the players to be very involved in the practices at Top Golf so that those skills translate to the golf course. Golfers practice, condition and play because they like to play golf and love the challenges. “It is often difficult to play a sport with someone who is much better or much less experienced than you are. Players can use their golf handicaps, a numerical measure of a player’s proficiency, to enjoy a round on an even playing field. In a familial context, sons and daughters do not have to out-run or out-throw their parents to win a game; they simply have to shoot well with respect to their average abilities,” Hannah Ro wrote in a blog post for Hacienda Golf Club in Labrea Heights, CA. This allows a different type of strategy than a normal sport where you may be less experienced than the others you are playing with. Unlike other sports, golf allows for more conversation. “I feel that I have made three new friends after each tournament because of the dialogue we’ve had throughout the round. Likewise, golf courses provide the perfect atmosphere for family bonding. Peaceful, scenic, and distant from the rest of the world,” Ro wrote. That is something you can’t get out of every sport.
March 2020, page 7
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
New Lancers from different states face challenges
classes were when she got here. eased by current Lancers being By Aizza Beltran MANY PEOPLE come and She had to reach out to other stu- kind and welcoming. go from Granger High School. dents and her teachers in order to Granger administration and Many Lancers come from dif- find her way around. Not many teachers may have trouble helpferent states or even different school administrators, teachers, ing new students out, as they may countries. There are also many school office aides, are made not be aware that they are a new Lancers that move from Utah aware when a student is new, so student. This can be especially to a different state or country. it makes sense that she had to difficult if a new student speaks They all have their reasons. It’s reach out to look for her classes. another language. There are a lot Many students get over- of diverse Lancers here at Granghard moving from one school whelmed when they first see er High School, though, and no to another, and it is often even harder to move from one is complaining. It one state to another. is just an opportunity Not only will they be to learn about another starting a new school person’s experience. and making new Edwin Torres (9) friends, but they’ll be came from California, creating new memoand he said there is a ries in a new home, lot of diversity here at and sometimes with a Granger. Torres was new family. also overwhelmed by All of the students how big the school is. who weren’t Lancers “I low-key thought I before and transfer was in a mall. This here often have their school is so big, and expectations set high it’s nice because that and they know how to means there are a lot get things done. Some of opportunities open established Lancers that I can choose understand the strugfrom,” Torres said. gles of knowing how Torres also had Lacie is excited to join Granger High’s community. it feels to start a new the same problem as school—especially the freshmen. Granger. They may get intimi- Anstine, where nobody really Many freshmen had the op- dated and feel nervous, because offered him a tour of the school portunity to get to know the not many high schools are as when he arrived. It makes sense school before attending, as large as Granger. “I thought it that students need to start school some got to come see Granger was a really interesting school, right away, and therefore might in eighth grade. These freshmen and I was excited to be part of a not have time to get a tour of the had an advantage over students new community,” Anstine said, school, but new Lancers want to that transfer in from other areas “the school is really large, and know about the school and how and do not go through an orienta- the people here aren’t really kind it works. tion where they familiarize them- at first sight.” It can be stressful for these There are many different stu- Lancers to dive into a new expeselves with Granger. For example, Lacie Anstine dents who come from different rience here at Granger, but Torres (9) is from New Jersey, and no states. These students face many and Anstine seem to like it here one really showed her where her struggles, but this anxiety can be so far.
Pride cards continue to evolve
By Haidee Smith LANCER Pride Cards have their benefits as well as their fair share of issues, but they have been used to motivate Lancers. Lancer Pride cards are a ticket that have a scratch off circle on them. The scratch off ticket allows it to be mysterious. Under the circle, there are numerous items that students can win. These include: lunch with the principal, candy bars, get out of OCR, and more. These cards are given to students that follow the Granger motto of being thoughtful, empowered, and connected. At the end of the year, all of the redeemed tickets are put into a raffle to win prizes such as Granger gear. Teachers hand them out to students that they think are following the Granger motto and standards. With teachers deciding who gets the cards, there are some who question if it’s a fair process. Teachers can play “favorites” either consciously or not. Sometimes their subconscious makes the decisions without them even noticing. Teachers may hand them out to the kids that they like the most rather than the kids who are truly being thoughtful, empowered, and connected. Teachers’ favorites vary: sometimes they favor kids that are helpful or connected, or sometimes it’s the kids that make jokes and make their
class more fun. Therefore, teachers giving them to their favorites isn’t always best, but sometimes their favorites are the ones that deserve it. Either way, students are getting pride cards. Teachers are given a certain number of cards at a time, and some even ask for more. According to Mr. Demox, he gets around the same number of redeemed pride cards as he gives to teachers.
“Teachers may hand cards out to the kids that they like the most rather than the kids who are truly being thoughtful, empowered, and connected.” According to teachers, they do not give them out as often as they would like. “I try to give them out once a week, but I probably don’t,” Mr. Timothy said. Mr. Murillo says that he gives them out when students come after school to weld. He thinks that it shows them demonstrating the Lancer way. Teachers playing favorites may not be the only issue that students trying to receive Lancer Pride cards face. According to Mr. Demox, staying in budget while getting items that the students are interested in is some-
thing else that has come up. Students may want to receive candy, Granger wear, and other prizes, but that all costs money. Granger is trying to get things that Lancers like without breaking the bank. They figure if they can find balance between cost and what students like, it will motivate them to follow the Lancer way. These cards are meant to reinforce the behavior Granger administrators and teachers want to see. “It’s like having a job, when you do what you’re supposed to you get a paycheck,” Mr. Demox said. Lancer Pride cards are meant to motivate students to follow expectations and reward them when they do. Without these limitations, Lancer Pride cards have been a great motivator. Other schools have started to do similar things. Mr. Demox said that Granger likes to be the leader of trends, and that they look at the possibilities rather than the limitations. Granger is the school that sets the standards for others to follow. Lancer Pride cards have been beneficial, even with their limitations. Favoritism or budgets might get in the way, but they have proven to be beneficial. They help encourage and reward students. Granger is great when it comes to setting new standards and pride cards are definitely a good way to support this goal.
Gustavo and Jesse make physical fitness a priority.
GHS offers fitness opportunities
By Jamie Argumedo TEENAGERS experience a lot of things as they grow and their bodies change. Health is a big part of life. Every day, choices increase or decrease the chances of living a healthy life. Physical health is the condition and wellbeing of a person’s body, and it includes what people eat, how people eat, how much sleep they get, and how much they exercise. There are many teenagers who do sports for high school or take exercise classes like weight training, track, tennis, basketball, or soccer. Some teenagers just take these classes for credit, but there are those who enjoy those classes and do even more exercise outside of school. Gustavo A Royo (11) takes a weight training class during school and works out after school four times a week for three to four hours. “My health has always been important to me since I could remember. Doing exercise gains confidence and gives more energy,” Royo said. Working out is a lot of work and it takes lots of dedication. One has to stop eating certain things and start eating better to stay in the shape they want. Royo had to stop drinking soda and eating lots of junk food like chips and fast foods. Instead, he eats protein-rich foods like cereals, protein bars, shakes, and he started taking creatine. Creatine is a supplement for improving muscle performance—studies show it can increase muscle mass, strength, and performance. Exercise is known for helping people in a variety of ways. It can help people control body weight as well as have benefits for mental health and mood. It can also improve strength in bones and muscle, improve sleep, and re-
duce risk of heart disease and some cancers. Over 90 percent of U.S. high school students don’t get enough exercise in order to stay fit and healthy, and in almost all those cases the pattern continues after graduation and into their adult lives. Most high schools offer great exercise classes and sports, and Granger is one of them. Granger offers fitness classes like fitness for life, weight training, aerobics, water aerobics, dance, drill, swim, tennis, wrestling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and many more. Lilly Velasco (11) stays fit by dancing, and she is on the drill team. According to Velasco, drill is one the hardest athletic activities to manage. Velasco practices five times a week for three hours. She has been dancing since fifth grade and thanks to drill, she’s gained so many skills that she has a job now as a performer and gets paid for doing what she loves. Velasco finds her health important, which is why she enjoys drill. Dancing gives her energy to stay focused and get her schoolwork done. “If it weren’t for the amount of exercise I do in drill, I would definitely be a different person,” Velasco said. There many ways to exercise—going to the gym isn’t the only option. Working out at home is a good way of staying fit and healthy. Walking or running for 30 minutes is a good way to get your blood pumping. Exercise is another way of showing one’s body some love, and teenagers should take advantage of all this health while they’re young. Taking the opportunity to live a long life and be there for every moment is the best thing someone can do.
February 2020, page 8
Tri-Color Times VOL. 62 Issue 7
Alec Benjamin’s new album, These Two Windows, drops April 3 Review by Breawna Howell ON APRIL 3, Alec Benjamin’s new album These Two Windows will be released by Atlantic records. Alec Benjamin is a 25-year-old American pop singer and songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona. He started his career in 2013 when he recorded his debut single, Paper Crown, in his dorm room at the University of Southern California. Benjamin released the song Paper Crown himself in 2014. Benjamin is from a small town in Arizona, and he moved to Los Angeles for college. He is best known for the songs “If We Have Each Other,” “Let Me Down Slowly,” and “Mind is a Prison,” which I think are good songs to listen to. Benjamin has found success in songwriting with artists such as Jon Bellion, including a feature on the track “New York Soul Part II” from Bellion’s album The Human Condition. He is heavily influenced by artists such as Eminem, John Mayer, Paul Simon, and Ben Gibbard. Benjamin’s mixtape Narrated for You gained popularity, reaching #127 on Billboard 200 in 2019. He made his US television debut when he performed “Let Me Down Slowly” on The Late Late Show with James Corden on January 8, 2019. Benjamin has over five million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 32K followers on SoundCloud. He also has 645,000 YouTube subscribers and 85 million video
views. His Instagram also boasts over 360,000 followers. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. The record labels Benjamin has signed to are Atlantic Records, Warner Chappell Music, and Columbia Records. Benjamin will celebrate the release of his debut album with a North American tour called ‘These Two Windows Tour,’ which kicks off April 15 in Phoenix. The tour will run through San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, Nashville, and more. Scheduled dates will close out on May 21 in Austin. He will be performing in Salt Lake City, UT at the Complex on April 28. He will be on tour from March 2 to June 6 all over the U.S. and the UK. Benjamin also has his own merch including shirts, hoodies, socks, hats, beanies, a pin set, and also a fanny pack. Benjamin’s songs can be heard on YouTube, Play Music, Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRADIO, and Apple Music. Benjamin is a good songwriter and singer, as the songs he writes seem like they are really from the heart. I find that I can really relate to his music. In addition to his headlining tour dates, Benjamin will perform at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in April, as well as Hangout Festival in May and the Governors Ball in June. Before embarking on his North American headlining tour, Benjamin will join Lewis Capaldi on tour throughout the U.K.
Trials of Apollo fits into Riordan’s universe Review by Julian Villalobos THE BOOK series Trials of Apollo is centered around the Greek god Apollo. The series directly follows The Heroes of Olympus book series, and Trials of Apollo: Book One, The Hidden Oracle shows the aftermath of the final battle from that series. After having the blame of the whole ordeal pushed on him, Apollo is sent to Earth as a human. Apollo is promptly greeted with obstacles in his new state. As an Olympian god who was all-powerful, he has a hard time getting used to being Lester Papadopoulos. After being thrown off of Olympus and landing in a dumpster in New York City, Apollo is promptly robbed after crash landing on earth. Apollo then meets his partner Meg McCaffrey, a twelve-year-old female demigod. Despite her age, Meg is proficient in combat, something that Apollo/Lester is not. Apollo then makes a pact with Meg where she will follow him and do as he says. However, following his streak of bad luck, the pact is made but the roles are reversed. Apollo, the once-powerful Olympian, now must answer the call and follow the instructions of twelve-year-old Meg. In this extension of the universe, its unique take on history is that the Roman emperors are alive and ruling parts of the United States. Within these parts of the United States are oracles, what demigods use to receive prophecies and what allows them to go on a quest. Without an oracle, there are no prophecies. With no prophecies, demigods are not allowed on quests, and with no quests monsters can run rampant. Apollo, the former god of the oracles, must now free them from the clutches of the emperors one by one. This book series is aimed at young adults and hits the right chord at every turn. The author of the series, Rick Riordan, has experience writing this kind of narrative. Riordan has built up a large universe around differ-
ent mythologies. Along with the amazing storytelling of this book series, the concept that the Greek gods are not only real, but have children walking around in the world is captivating. In this world, there are not only gods and deities walking the Earth, but also the rest of Greek mythology’s roster. Monsters, deities and even legends are alive and well on the earth. This series is aimed at teenagers or young adults, which is perfect for any Lancers who are interested in reading a new series. Not only does it provide a retelling of history in a way that intrigues you to read more and more, but the characters are also entertaining. The comedy in the series never fails to make me laugh and adds a light-hearted feel to a dark tone of time running out and of dangerous situations. Because of
this, the dark parts of the series are never too overwhelming. I’m thankful for this, and if the comedy was absent completely the feel of the series would be a very dark and gritty one. With the story not being tied down to one location, there is no definitive setting to this series. This gives the book a very free kind of feeling. This also left the door open to revisiting old characters, such as Grover and Reyna, from the other series in the universe such as Percy Jackson and The Olympians as well as The Heroes of Olympus. I enjoyed the old characters being involved, as it made the whole story feel more connected. With a great narrative and sound comedy, Trials of Apollo is something that everyone should pick up to read whether it be for an English class, or just to read on your own time.
Pixar’s Onward warms the heart Review by Ethan Berk ONWARD is an animated adventure movie set in a world that was once filled with magic and curiosity. That was centuries ago, and now life is fairly normal—or so it seems. Two elf brothers discover their seemingly normal father might have actually been a powerful wizard. Now, they are on a quest to hopefully bring him back for just one day. This story has everything you could want, as it includes magic, adventure, comedy and mythical creatures. The movie begins by introducing you to what the world looked like thousands of years ago, and then what it looks like in the present day. We then meet our main characters, Ian and Barley Lightfoot. On Ian’s 16th Birthday, his mother asks him and his brother to come with her to the attic, where she pulls out a staff wrapped in an ancient looking sheet of leather. Barely gets excited and speculates that his dad was a wizard. He is met with confusion from his mother, who corrects him and says his father was just an accountant. After some searching through the leather sheet, they find a small piece of paper with some simple drawings. These turn out to be a resurrection spell, thus beginning the two brothers’ adventurous quest to bring back their father. The directors of Onward, Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae, were asked if they had any personal connection to the movie, and Scanlon said they did not. However, they did know that they
wanted to show the personal story of two brothers getting the chance to finally meet their father. They had originally wanted to make the story a comedy-fantasy story, so that’s exactly what they did in their own unique way and style. Rae was asked if they experienced any “ah-hah’’ moments while making this film. “Oh, my gosh, I think we had hundreds of them. I think they happened week in, week out. Because a lot of it, like, you don’t come in knowing what anything is necessarily going to look like, what it’s going to be like, what it’s going to feel like. You’re just kind of…you know what a story is and the story we are trying to tell. And then it’s all of those other people that, you know, throw amazing spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks and sees what resonates,” Rae said. The directors also revealed the title was thought of pretty last second, as they had been going back and forth for quite a while. They felt as though it was difficult to find a title for such a unique movie. “It feels like something Barley would say, you know? And because it’s a coming of age story, and it really is about Ian moving forward. And it’s also a story about letting go of some of the hurt and things of the past. And so, it ended up being really perfect for that. That’s, that’s really where it came out of,” Dan Scanlon said. Onward was released on February 29, so now any interested Lancer can go see it in the theaters.