Granger high school
An open forum for student opinion and expression
TRICOLORTIMES.COM
MARCH 2022 LXIV-4
Teachers tackle truancy by targeting tardies By Jonah Newton OVER THE years, Granger High School’s administration has addressed low student attendance in many ways. Last month, the administration initiated the latest attempt at getting students to class on time by revamping the On-Campus Reassignment (OCR) policy. Each time a student is late, they must get a check-in pass from an administrator before going to class. Penalties increase with each subsequent offense. Mr. Adams, an assistant principal, says the policy has been successful so far. “The halls have
been clearer; students have been rushing to class like they should,” he said. Adams feels that it is important for there to be a system for students to check in. He said, “Legally, we supervise the entire school, so we need to understand where students really are.” Adams also believes that this policy can help students in many ways. “We’re trying not only to help students get to class, but we’re trying to help students learn life skills. It starts here; having an urgency to go to a place on time,” he said. Upon first impression, Siaosi
Nuusila (9) supported the policy. On the second day of the policy, he was given a check-in pass. He says it will affect how Lancers behave. “It will help people put time and effort into going to school. It’s going to help people who slack off and guide them,” Nuusila said. Nuusila also suggested that the policy be stricter for a student who is late multiple times within a week as opposed to a student who is late occasionally over the course of the school year. Other students like Marwa Aslami (11) feel less positively about the attendance policy.
While Aslami has not been affected, her friends have been. She pointed out that juniors and seniors who know they will be late, just go home instead of getting a pass because older students often have cars. “If you’re five or ten minutes late, you’re missing a whole lecture. Why are the kids who are a little bit late, and want to be in class, being punished more than the kids who skip class?” Aslami said. Daniel Allison (11) also feels that the policy is unfair. He explained that he was late to class continued on page 3
After a 15-minute grace period for unpredictable traffic situations, Mr. Adams and his colleagues issue tickets to tardy students.
Self-care practices prevent academic burnout
By Emily Butcher MANY of the students at Granger High School are currently facing academic burnout. “I think it’s just like the pressure of always being expected to achieve certain grades, and that burns me out; trying to make sure that I have everything that others expect of me,” Anna Olascoaga (11) said. Olascoga says that she feels the most burned out when she has many important deadlines that are very close together. She says that when she has an overload of work that all needs to be done at once, it makes her feel overwhelmed. Olascoga mentioned that being burned out really impacts her social life. “Sometimes being burned out makes me less bubbly at events,” Olascoaga said. “Once the quarter ends, I take a week to just take it easy,”
Olascoaga said. She says that she takes time for herself to recover and return to her normal routine. Ms. Cosgrove says that she has noticed a pattern with students becoming burned out. “Second quarter is always known as being ‘the big struggle,’ where we’re trying to get kids to turn things in and come back to school.” Cosgrove says that in general, burnout tends to happen around the time each quarter ends. Cosgrove also mentioned that the end of the quarter is intense and stressful for teachers. “The end of the quarter is the time when students who have been procrastinating all quarter realize their grades are about to be finalized.” she said. Cosgrove says that when students wait until the very last minute to do their assignments, it causes students to be in a situ-
ation where they’re doing twenty assignments in one night as opposed to two assignments per week. Cosgrove says that she continues to come across burnout in her present life. “Honestly I’ve been hardcore meditating for like two months, and meditating twice a day has been so beneficial.” Cosgrove recommends practicing self-care and emotional wellness to avoid academic burnout. She has even compiled a list of varying free resources that she recommends for de-stressing. “I’ve literally dealt with school for all of my life,” Marwa Aslami (11) said. She says that the routine of going to school and repeating the same day over again has been a major cause of burnout for her. She says that the repetition of doing the same thing consistently for as long as she can
remember has caused her to lose motivation. Aslami also complains about how early school starts. “The fact that we have to wake up at six in the morning to get to school is draining.” She also says she’s expected to go to college after high school and it makes her feel stressed. Aslami says that all this pressure piled on can significantly affect a student’s personal and social life. “It sucks because sometimes I’m canceling all of my plans because I’m feeling so much stress that I don’t even want to be around my friends.” Aslami says that her best piece of advice for other students in the same situation, is to take it slow and focus on self-care. It seems that students and teachers deal with school burnout is by spending time working on self-care.
@TRICOLOR TIMES
LOC AL S ONLY
Morning routines help kids By Mapu Fuatogi WAKING up early is a must for most students. Brittany Hernandez (11) is waking up around 6:00 a.m. every morning for school. School start times in the U.S. vary between 7:30 and 8:45 a.m., according to the quora.com website. Alarm clocks are lifesavers for most kids, especially when they don’t have anyone to wake them up. Whether a person is a heavy or light sleeper helps decide how many alarms they should have. Jacqueline Gonzalez (11), has an extra alarm just in case she snoozes the first one. “I have two alarms set up; one at 6:00 a.m. and another at 6:20 a.m.,” Gonzalez said. Other students either rely on their siblings, or just their parents. It really all depends on which is more effective. Showering in the mornings is a factor for some students. “The first thing I do is take a shower; after that, I get dressed and do my makeup. The very last thing I do is get in the car and go to school,” Hernandez said. It’s challenging for some students to get to school on time when they don’t actually live in the school boundaries. Joseph Molina (11) lives all the way in Tooele, so getting to school on time is a hassle. “I usually just get to school maybe a couple seconds before the bell rings. My mom is the one who drops me off, and she’s really slow sometimes, so I’m just always bugging her to speed up,” Molina said. Traffic is also something to keep in mind when thinking about getting to school on time. If some students live near a traffic light, getting out of the driveway would be difficult. The times people wake up during weekends changes, too; some students wake up early and others just sleep in. Hanging out with friends during the night is also a possibility. Gonzalez does exactly this and has such a great time with her friends. “Sometimes I do hang out with my friends on the weekends. It’s mostly later at night, so I don’t necessarily have to wake up early,” Gonzalez said. Mornings can be tough sometimes, and things do occur unexpectedly, but with practice and some dedication, comes perfection and relief.
Want more Granger High School news? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.
March 2022, page 2
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Excaliburs finish their long season with a trip to Disneyland
By Karina Onofre At Granger, the drill team works extremely hard during 6:00 a.m. practices by perfecting fouettés and beautiful leaps. This year they have learned military, dance, show, and countless camp routines. Military routines are full of sharp and precise movements timed to hard hitting beats. Show routines usually have a theme and showcase facials and acting. This year the Excaliburs portrayed the theme of the movie Holes. The dance routines are either lyrical, jazz, or contemporary. The first competition took place at Utah Valley University, and it was a prep for upcoming
competitions. These girls were up against some of the best drill teams in Utah like Clearfield, Corner Canyon, and Copper Hills. “This competition was probably the hardest because most of us had never competed before, and we didn’t do as well as we were hoping,” Mabel Suarez (11) said. The second competition took place at UVU as well, but this competition was at 6:00 a.m. Everyone was up around 4:00 a.m. working on makeup and hair. Makeup and hair can be extremely difficult because everything must be in perfect unison. Since the competition was so early, they had to stretch and walk through
routines on their own. Competitions can last from 8 to 12 hours. Shantaya Anderson (12) feels like the team did so much better than their first competition, regardless of the rough morning. Kristy Pham (12) also got second in drill down. Drill down is basically a fun competition where someone calls out commands, and they get judged on how fast they complete those moves. The third competition took place at Alta High, but this one was a time for practice and improvement. “We honestly weren’t focused on winning; we were looking for critiques to improve,” Mckayla Erb (10) said. The team
won a judges-choice award in military and 4th in show. Region was incredibly hard and emotional for these girls considering the amount of work they put into their dances. All those morning and evening practices were finally going to pay off. Drill teams train through summer practices, halftime dances, and so much more for region. This year’s regional took place at Roy High School on January 22. Anderson earned an academic all-region, and Pham placed 1st in drill down. The girls walked away feeling proud and confident. Unfortunately, drill doesn’t always get the representation and
respect they feel they deserve. “Many people don’t realize that drill is a full-year sport that requires lots of patience and practice,” Brianna Arellno (12) said. Fans don’t pay attention to dance sports because many believe they are not important sports. The teams get discouraged when they walk onto the competition floor and it’s completely silent. After the season, the team celebrates all their hard work and dedication. They take a trip to California, visit Disneyland, spend time at the beach, and take classes from professionals. The team also showcases dances and holds a senior night.
Social Media complicates relationships
By Karmela Johnson COUPLES have different ways of representing their relationship on social media. Whether it’s sharing their relationship with a feed post or keeping them on their stories. There are complications to posting relationships on social media like how long the couples have been together. Amy Van (11) and Cordell Lesa (11) have been together for eight months. They met at school and chatted online. Van’s parents have no idea she has a boyfriend. When Lesa’s mom drives Van home every day, Van tells her parents a friend drove her home. Lesa’s mom knows that he is in a relationship. Instagram is the biggest social media platform where couples post pictures and videos, which
can be problematic or beneficial to a relationship. “Well for us, posting each other on social media is not a problem because we don’t post everything about our relationship on Instagram. We never get any negative comments, and if we do post a lot about our relationship, it’s all nice comments like, ‘you guys are so cute,’ ” Van said. Instagram might not be a good place to post about relationships. “I think Instagram could be a bad place to post, but for us specifically, it’s not like really. We look at it as a place to post our memories and share them with others,” Lesa said. On the other hand, Jessica Hernandez (12) and Mario Arrioja (12) live together. Their parents have given their full sup-
port. They met each other two years ago in a biology class and started becoming friends. Shortly after, they started dating. Some couples don’t like posting on social media due to how toxic society has become. “I usually get hate comments. I delete them, but it doesn’t bother me. I just ignore it. Sometimes, it brings us closer because when I see the comments, it feels like nothing compared to him,” Hernandez said. Tina Nyugen (10) and Jessus Madrid (10) have been dating for 4 months. Nyugen and Madrid have a shared Instagram account. They like to post fun activities or pictures and videos of each other. Nyugen is the one who makes most of their posts for the shared account.
“We don’t think it’s good to overshare everything about a relationship.”
Valentine’s Day is all about expectations
Mia Joahsson shared her opinion about Valentine’s Day.
By Samantha Beauchaine AS A SOCIETY, Valentine’s Day hasn’t been exposed to much change over the years. Buying and giving gifts seems to be the number one thing that everyone expect. Chocolates, roses, and teddy bears are what are most popular these days. Lancers wonder if that’s good enough or how much is really expected on Valentine’s Day. Dante Parra (12) said, “The more money you spend, the more you care about that person.” This may be the norm set up for the holiday, but not everyone has a
Lancers offer dating advice
By Landon Cabrera VALENTINE’S Day has come and gone for yet another year. This doesn’t mean that the chance to find that special someone has ended. Real love can be found nearly anywhere, even at times when it’s least expected. What is needed to maintain a healthy relationship with someone? Knowing simple ways to make a relationship last never hurts. As cheesy as it is, anything can happen. Whether it be for good or for bad, life is very mysterious. “The key is to have patience because a lot of the time, it’s hard to deal with each other or communicate. Having that patience is important,” Matheo Ledesma (10) said. Patience plays a big role in getting to know someone new. It shows a desire to be there for that
special person and can help with being more comfortable around them as well. Alex Nguyen (11) also expressed how important it is to be honest with significant others. Being as transparent as possible is a great way to communicate in a relationship. Hiding things from each other can cause trust issues, which is not a good thing. Being honest is attractive. “Be your true-self and don’t put up a front,” Zoie McKnight (11) said. Confidence can make someone seem more attractive. Although, having too much confidence may make someone seem arrogant. Dating may not be for everyone, especially those who are impatient, but it will reward those who are willing to make it to the end. To put it simply, it is not going to be easy to maintain a
healthy relationship. It’s going to take a lot of time and effort. It all comes down to being able to be comfortable around the person. The more comfortable they are together, the easier the rest will come. There will always be some hardships, but get through them together, and it will only strengthen the relationship. Despite all this hard work, and commitment, the desired “happily ever after,” still isn’t guaranteed. While sometimes that is the case, it still may come to an end. If that does happen, take time to heal and devote some time to selfcare. It isn’t the end of the world, even though it may seem like it. Some things come and go, but some things stay for a lifetime. For something to last, it’s important to put in hard work, and not expect it to happen instantly.
ton of extra money to spend for others. Parra also said that though this may be what some believe it doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, Lancers can take the day to spend time with who they love. Buy simple things or even nothing at all, just spend time with them. Go to a movie, out to eat, or chill at home and watch Netflix. For some people gifts could be easier. With a life to lead, school, and possibly a job it’s hard to come up with free time. Jaqueline Hernandez Garcia (12) says she has been working for the last two Valentine’s Days making it
hard for her to spend some time with her partner. Valentine’s Day is widely popular for couples specifically. When trying to find a valentine or telling that special someone, it can be difficult. Morgo Chea (9) says. “It’s kinda like prom, where you wish someone would ask you out, and it’s hyped up, but when it comes, it’s not as it seems,” she said. “Even if you have no one else to spend it with, you have yourself and you can take care of yourself,” Mia Johansson (12) said.
Alex says you need time for yourself and time with your partner as well.
March 2022, page 3
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Lancers participate in Red Cross blood drive
By Haidee Smith ALMOST five million people need blood transfusions per year, according to ncbb.org website. Donating blood allows for transfusions to save lives. A blood transfusion is when someone gets donated blood injected into their veins through a small tube. Blood is needed for surgeries, car accidents, wounds, and etcetera. They are also used for people who have diseases like sickle cell disease, anemia, and other blood-related conditions. One of the most recognized organizations that helps collect blood is the Red Cross, and Granger helps the Red Cross on their mission for blood donations. Lancers choose to donate blood for a variety of reasons. Getting snacks, earning graduation chords, meeting other donors, hoping to help others, and knowing needy patients personally are reasons that motivate students. If a student at Granger donates or helps with the blood
drive twice, then they can earn a ‘humanitarian’ chord to wear at graduation. Tenley Nielson (11) became a donor this year, just like her father. “It was always something I was interested in. My dad donates plasma a lot, so it was just kind of something that I was intrigued by,” she said. Nielson wants to continue to donate. While the needle may hurt, it’s not as bad as people imagine. “It pinches for a little bit going in, but after that it’s fine,” Nielson said. A lot of people are scared by needles, but Bethany Gardner (12) gave a tip for that. “At first, I was nervous because I’m not a fan of needles, but I started to calm down when they told me that IVs are worse. They said I could turn away if I wanted to when they put the needle in. It didn’t hurt much,” Gardner said. “I would say that everyone should donate in any form. May it be blood, plasma, platelets, etcetera. You can help someone in
need! Everyone is so nice and easy to talk to, they got your back no matter what,” Gardner said. Cesia Espinoza (11) says the worst part wasn’t the needle itself. “The worst thing was that I felt a little bit bad afterwards, but it was a completely normal reaction. It went away really fast,” she said. Kafika Sound (12) agreed with her “It was pretty fun. The Red Cross people were pretty chill too. I happened to get the same time as some friends, so we joked around a bit, took pictures, recorded videos, and talk while getting blood drawn. We even got some snacks afterwards. A 10/10 experience. Only part that sucked was filling out the rapid pass,” she said. Zachary Astorga (12) donated for a second time this year. “The chord played a big part, but after I donated, I understood how important it was to give blood, so I had to donate again,” he said. Astorga also donates because
he knows people who need transfusions. “A lot of close friends needed blood transfusions and knowing how much it helps makes me want to join the cause to help all I can,” he said. Lancers choose to donate blood for a variety of reasons. Some students like Astorga know someone in need, while other students just want to help those they can. Either way, the Red Cross makes it an amazing experience that keeps students coming back. It’s important to have students donate blood. Astorga hopes to inspire his fellow students by saying, “I think Granger should come together and help all we can with the blood drive and the Red Cross.” The Red Cross comes to Granger about three times a year. It’s open to anyone who is 16 or older, meets the weight requirement, and gets parental permission. It’s a great experience that truly helps to make a difference in many lives.
ACT scores not required for all college applications
By Melissa Perez SINCE 1959, students have been taking the ACT. Throughout all these years, schools have been telling students that the score they get on the ACT could determine their college opportunities. Recently, a lot of students have been questioning the necessity of taking the ACT and getting a good score. Since 2020, a lot of states and colleges have been suspending the requirements of ACT/SAT scores to let students apply. Many seniors have been applying and getting accepted into a lot of their dream colleges without needing to submit their scores. However, not all schools are telling students about this and are putting a lot of pressure on juniors.
With the ACT Bootcamp that happened in February, and the ACT in March, many juniors are diligently preparing for the test, but all students seem to have different plans on what to do with their scores. Aimy Maples (11) is currently in the ACT Bootcamp to get ready for the test. However, she’s not really aiming for a specific score and is not sure if she will submit them to colleges. “If it’s a score I’m happy with then I would submit it to colleges, but I’m not really sure if I’m going to college yet. I’m trying to set myself up just in case I do,” she said. A lot of the students that are planning to score high on the ACT aren’t doing it for college
submissions but instead they’re doing it for scholarships. “The ACT is very important to me because I see it as a chance to possibly qualify for and attain scholarships,” Owen Hopkins (11) said. Although the ACT scores aren’t necessary for colleges anymore, scholarships are still very important for students, and scholarships sometimes look at ACT scores. However, students should know that their opportunity to obtain scholarships does not depend solely on their ACT scores, it simply opens more options. “I don’t think the ACT should be mandatory, I feel like it should be an option for those students who feel like they’ll do well and want to impress colleges,” says Hopkins.
Students struggle with mental adversity
By Abigail Shepherd THROUGHOUT high school, many students experience struggles with their mental health. The representation and acceptance of mental adversity in teens is increasing: classes, extracurricular activities, social stress, and athome responsibilities. Pressure and distraction are common. Ashley Torres (10) plays for Granger’s girl’s tennis team and is also in two AP classes. “Sometimes I feel too much weight on me, so I get distracted,” Torres said. Also, sleep deprivation can negatively impact a student’s performance and mental health. “Sometimes I don’t sleep and can’t concentrate on schoolwork,” Torres said. According to the cdc.gov website, “More than one in three high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009.” Teens are susceptible to a lack of focus because of poor mental health, and this was pre-pandemic. Academic stress causes a lack of sleep, which negatively impacts mental wellness in teens. “Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer
myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts,” as stated on the med.stanford.edu website. Despite that, Torres says that tennis allows her to forget about her homework and enjoy herself. She says that although AP classes force her to work hard, they affect her in a positive way. Many factors contribute to a teen’s mental health. Sarai Rodriguez (11) competes on the girl’s wrestling team at Granger and is enrolled in AP classes. “AP classes are a lot harder. It feels like I don’t have enough time when I play a sport. Sometimes I feel like I’m overwhelming myself,” Rodriguez said. Many teens feel overwhelmed by classes and extracurricular activities. “When it comes to the pressures teens face, academics tops the list: 61% of teens say they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades… pressured to be involved in extracurricular activities and to be good at sports (21% each),” as stated in a study from the Pew Research Center. It is very common for students to feel that this constant pressure
is overwhelming for their mental health. Teachers can have a positive impact on a teen’s mental health. “One of my teachers reached out to me and asked if I was OK. It felt nice, because not a lot of people ask about your mental health. I felt like I was being heard,” Rodriguez said. Most teens have a desire to fit it, and to feel validated. Adults who understand a student’s personal anguish can help them achieve mental wellness. There is a lot of advice regarding mental health. “When you feel like giving up, look how far you’ve gone,” Torres said. She prefers to stay positive and look to the future. “Take it one step at a time. When it comes to mental health, it’s all about processing it and moving on from there,” Rodriguez said. She believes in taking time for yourself to move forward. No matter the situation, mental adversity is difficult to handle alone. One way or another, all students experience difficulties with their mental health. The most important thing to remember is that no one is alone, and help is always available.
Many juniors and underclassmen are still stressing over the ACT. Grace Leota (11) says that if a student doesn’t think they’ll benefit greatly from an ACT score, then they shouldn’t worry. Although she says that the score is important, she doesn’t believe that it should define a student’s academic potential. “There are many different factors that can affect your ACT score, so people shouldn’t take it to heart,” Leota said. At the end of the day, the significance of the ACT score truly depends on the students and what they plan to do for the future. However, all students should notice the current change that ACT scores aren’t required for college applications.
OCR!!! continued from page 1 once shortly after the policy was put in place. Because he had nearly reached his class in H-hall when the bell rang, walking to the alumni room caused him to miss even more class. Allison is not convinced that the policy will work as intended. He thinks it indirectly encourages otherwise good students to skip class altogether if they are running late. “Most people I’ve talked to said that if they’re late, they just won’t go to class,” he said. That prospect troubles him. “It’s more important that we’re in class than it is that we’re on time,” he said. Teachers like Ms. Cosgrove feel frustrated by the attendance issue. However, Cosgrove also has some reservations about the new policy. She says it is confusing at times because many students do not understand the passes, and some teachers do not know what to do with the passes once they receive them. Cosgrove says that some of her best students are being negatively affected for no good reason. She believes that the root of the issue is not tardiness, which is what this policy primarily addresses. Overall, Cosgrove calls for compassion: “A lot of times, teachers tend toward an almost authoritarian approach toward the rules instead of building a relationship with that kid who is late.” She says that teachers should try to help students in a constructive way, rather than enforcing rules in a way that feels punitive. Despite its critics, the policy seems to be here to stay, and the administration is hopeful that it will help students learn to prioritize punctuality.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor-in-Chief Jocelyn Roberts Managing Editor Haidee Smith Copy Editor Abby Shepherd
Junior Editor Melissa Perez Gomez Social Media Editor Angie Ramirez
Reporters Jose Acevedo Adrian Aguirre Kelly Ayala Eduardo Barragan Chavez Sammy Beauchaine Emily Butcher Landon Cabrera Mapu Fuatogi Arius Hardman Leyla Ilyazova Hannah Johnson Karmela Johnson
Reporters Whitnie Larsen Irae Mautoatasi Jonah Newton Cela Nodjigoto Pilar Olvera Karina Onofre Natalie Pereira Eboni Robinson Alondra Romero Belen Suazo Amired Vargas Gigi Vera
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 2022, page 4
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Creativity and effort makes woodworking satisfying By Irae Mautoatasi WOODWORKING is one of the many CTE classes that Granger offers. Students learn about and create exciting projects. Alia Lokeni (12) just started taking the class this year. “I thought it was a really fun idea because I haven’t tried woodworking before. My sisters before me had tried it and liked it,” she said. Lokeni is taking Wood 1 and 3. The two classes share differences and similarities. “I don’t think it’s that different, but in Woods 3 you have a lot more freedom to do what you want. The teacher just lets you have at it. You give the ideas, and he says OK, go for it.” In Lokeni’s Wood 3 class, she can choose her next project. “I picked to build a basket. I’m making all the weave parts and the edges that fit into the style. I’ve always wanted to try weaving something like a picnic basket or something of the like,” she said. One of the more recent things she has created is a pen. Students are provided the metal
parts and have to shape the wood pieces that connect it and make it into a pen. Vladimar Ruiz (12) is another student who is taking two woodworking classes. “I took it my freshman year, and it was pretty fun, so I’m taking it again this year.” Ruiz took woodworking twice because he didn’t take it in his previous years and wanted to have as much time as he could. “My passion came from my freshman year when I was in Woodworking 1, and I would make stuff and it would turn out pretty good. One of the things we made was a box, and it was one of the best in the class,” he said. Like other CTE classes, woodworking shares its difficulties as well. “One of the hardest things is making things because you don’t know what could happen. Yesterday I spent a couple of months working on my nightstand and it completely broke on me, so I had to restart,” Ruiz said. Despite these things, there’s a lot of joy that comes out of woodworking
for the students who are passionate about it. “I love woodworking because I love to make things out of wood. It’s something that’ll be useful in life, and it’s very common to do,” Benjamin Maldonado (11) said. He has taken woodworking for about two and a half years and decided to take it again this year. “My passion came from welding, and then I decided to go to woodworking because it seemed more fun and creative.” The nightstand project students had to make was a harder one for Maldonado this year. “Seeing the parts and how it was going to look was hard, but it’s easier than things I’ve done in the past.” Woodworking inspires some students to be able to have this kind of work in their future, Maldonado being one. “I might make furniture parts, houses, tables and other things that I can sell to people. I hope that I’ll be able to create new projects and things people might like.”
Mr. Masimer teaches woodworking, and Alia is enjoying his class.
Fashion designers get their start at GHS
Saqoya gets her fashion inspiration from Rhianna, TikTok, and Pinterest.
By Amired Vargas FASHION plays a crucial part in current trends, and it’s well known that social media plays a big part in most teenagers’ lives. According to the accap.org website, 90% of teenagers ages 13-17 have used social media. 51% of those teenagers use social media almost daily. Most Granger High School students get their fashion inspiration from social media. “I get my inspiration from Pinterest and TikTok,” Saqoya Gomez (9) said. She also says she gets inspiration from celebrities like Rihanna. “I like her outfits, I feel like she dresses how she wants to, and she doesn’t really care about what everyone else thinks, so I get a lot of my inspiration from her,” Gomez said. Students at Granger High School have distinctive styles from one another. “I try to go for a more comfortable feeling but not to be kinda homelessly,” Benito Guerrero (9) said. Guerrero also
says the class is very fun as it has a nice teacher, and the students are friendly. Fashion is subjective, as it has different meanings to everyone. “I do think you can use fashion to express yourself, though it doesn’t really mean anything special to me,” Gomez said. While Guerrero sees it as something different. “For me, personally, it’s part of everyday life. You wake up and think about what you want to wear and how to pair it up, so in its own way, it is special to me,” Guerrero said. Fashion design has become one of the most wanted classes as it counts for extracurricular credit. “I joined because it looked like it would be a fun class, and I would get a fine arts credit,” Gomez said. Fine arts credit is important as it’s a requirement for graduation. Guerrero on the other hand, says he joined because he wants
to learn about the history of clothing. “Though it is a fun class, I am probably not going to pursue a career in fashion, but if I were to pursue one, I think it would be a lot of fun,” Gomez said. When in the fashion design class, it’s important to have a specific thought process to get the clothing to fit the desired image. “My thought process while I’m making the clothes changes a lot. I think about what to make, what design I want, the width, if I want it to fit tight or loose, and stuff like that.” Gomez also mentioned how it can get frustrating at times if it doesn’t work out. “If I mess up, I have to start from scratch.” Fashion has always been a way for people to express themselves and be who they are. It teaches uniqueness and confidence. “Fashion is like a blank canvas and you’re the artist. You’re starting your masterpiece,” Guerrero said.
Auto body class trains Lancers as technicians By Eduardo Barragan Chavez AUTO BODY is a class where an individual can learn to diagnose damage and fix damage. Everything from welding with metals and plastics to sanding, priming, and painting is covered. This is a trade course meant for anyone, as there are different experience-level classes that range from beginner to college level. As a class where almost everything is hands-on, it requires the student to pay 110 percent of their attention to what they are doing. However, this course isn’t all about cars, it has helped many Lancers deal with personal problems. Emily Buendia (11) says it is a way for her to try new things while learning at the same time. “I chose auto body because I find it interesting and fun. It’s actually pretty relaxing too. I recommend the class to anyone considering it because it is a fun class, a good experience, and a great way to relieve stress,” she said. Living in a world where al-
most anything and everything is on social media and is full of irrelevant opinions, sometimes students feel the need to escape. Mr. Johnson, the teacher in charge of teaching this class says auto body is a class where a student technician repairs body damages. He also said this class does not deal with the mechanical side of cars, and it mostly consists of cosmetic fixtures. “I would recommend the course to those who enjoy working on cars because it’s fun and there is a huge demand for technicians.” Many in the advanced level classes have goals of making this their career partly because of the huge money earning potential it has. The average technician brings in 115k give or take according to the comparably.com website. The high earners with years and years of experience manage to bring in up to 600k. That said, all numbers won’t look the same: location, age, and experience are just a few of the many factors that can affect these num-
bers drastically. Andrew Gonzalez (12) says autobody has helped him fix his own car. He says Johnson has guided him through the process and Gonzalez has been learning a lot while doing so. “I like doing car stuff, not as a job, but as a hobby,” Gonzalez said. After talking with his counselor, he discovered that this class could count as an art credit, too. He encourages students who are tempted, but not completely decided on the class to “give it a shot, because there are many things to like and very few to dislike,” he said. This class can help students now and, in the future. Tomas Lopez (12) says he encourages students to try new things because career interests sometimes need discovering. “It’s something I want to pursue after high school because it is something I learned I liked to do.” He also says he enjoys classes where he must use his hands, but it is a class like any other. “You get out of it what you put into it,” he said.
Emily finds relaxation and comfort working on cars.
March 2022, page 5
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Dance is more than TikTok Choir can help students find their voice
For students who love to dance, the Dance Company is worth a try.
By Cela Nodjigoto DANCE is something people do for fun and to express themselves. It comes from different places around the world, and sometimes it’s a form of celebration. It shows culture and who a person can be. According to Ms. Fisher, and her likelihood of dance, she loves the way it’s energizing and how people can enjoy it with friends and family. Ms. Debbie, on the other hand, has a passion for dance. For her, dance is like a drug of choice; helps build muscles and body communications and a different type of way of expressing oneself and connecting to the music. How she fell in love with it was when she was little, and her teenage neighbor would play some music, and she would go over and dance her heart out. Dr. Dunn, Granger High’s principal, is also fascinated with dance. He’s not much of a dancer, but he loves to watch them and thinks it’s really fun. He’s favorite dances are mostly African and Mexican dances. He says that dance is cultural, and it connects people with their identities. Brianna Winkleman is a dance teacher who has a passion for dance. She loves the way it drives her, the thrill, and the excitement.
She loved it so much that she started teaching it. She has lots to say about dance. “It can have a lot of roles, it can be a place for exercise, and a place for fun,” Brianna said. Dance is also a huge place to connect with people. It is also a place for healing and connection. Kolotina Pupua’s (10) dance is cultural and comes from Tonga island. The dance she mostly knows well is the Tau’olunga dance. It’s passed from generation to generation. She learned it when she was young and that’s one way she got into dance. Zekrayat Batal (12) is fascinated with dance. She likes how it’s something that doesn’t have rules, and she can use movements to express herself. Dance can be an activity that someone can do alone or with a group. Anyone can learn to dance at any age they want. It doesn’t have to be a certain type of age group, and it’s for her to express herself. “It can bring out strength, beauty, and passion,” Batal said. Granger High offers classes if students would like to start their journey in dance, or if they want to show it off, then they can join the Dance Company or drill team. Dancing can be enjoyed by everyone for the multitude of reasons that attract people to it.
By Natalie Pereira PICTURE this: the piano is playing, students stand up, take a deep breath, and sing beautifully with the melody. They are in harmony and are enthusiastic to sing. This is what happens in Mr. Broschinsky’s choir class. Granger high school has been gifted with many intelligent and talented students, and it’s always a pleasure seeing them make the most of their time in high school. In Broschinsky’s choir class, students like Savannah Moore (9) love to sing. “Growing up, I sang all the time,” she said. “I enjoy singing in choir with my friends and classmates, and I like that it doesn’t distract me too much from my other classes.” Choir trains Savannah to have a nice strong voice, which helps her sing loudly when she participates in school plays like Mary Poppins and Puffs. “As he teaches us how to sing, he also teaches us a lot about breath support and posture so that our singing sounds better. When we did the musical
Mary Poppins, the skills I learned in class helped when I was dancing and singing at the same time. You need to be able to breathe deeply and sing well, so control is really helpful,” she said. Although choir helps students be better singers, not everyone in Mr. Broschinksy’s class sings when they are supposed to. “Sometimes, you have some expectations of how a choir class would sound like. But most of the time, it’s really quiet,” Savannah said. “A lot of people just join the class for credits, but honestly, if anyone tries their best, they’ll end up doing really well.” “Singing in choir provides a sense of real belonging, offers new opportunities for learning, encourages student engagement, and promotes civic engagement,” according to the chorusamerica. org website. Perhaps students feel pressured in high school to get their classwork done, to have the best grades, and pass tests. Maybe they don’t have time to worry about school activities. But they
just might find themselves enjoying it more than they imagined. With the pandemic, students have been more shy than usual. Talking to each other might seem impossible. They feel anxious, so hopefully they can forget their problems and feel comfortable enough to sing in Mr. Broschinsky’s class. Everyone could agree that this year has been going very quickly. It feels as if the school year just started, yet third quarter is almost finished. Students need to stay caught up now more than ever. The ending of the school year is stressful, and the closer students get to adulthood can be frightening. They can be adults forever, but being a teen is only temporary. Make the most out of it. Whether students join Choir or not, they should have hobbies that keep them busy and entertained. Choir holds lots of potential that can help every student, not just those singing in school plays or those planning to go to Broadway someday.
Savannah Moore is one of many choir students singing Streets of London with Mr. Broschinski on piano.
Mareai Meh thrives in art classes
Mareai recommends art to everyone, and she loves to draw vines and flowers.
By Belen Suazo THE VISUAL arts program at Granger is where many students can show expression through their artwork. Classes Granger offers are painting and drawing. Many students think that these classes are very helpful. Whether they were first starting off learning about art or continuing their love for it, they feel that the classes are very useful to them. Mareai Meh (9) a freshman at Granger decided to take an art class because previously she felt that she really connected with art itself.
Aside from art, Meh plays for the volleyball team here at school. She was never on any sports teams before, but she felt that trying out for the team would be really fun. Later, after the tryouts she was surprised that she really did make the team. She plans to try out next year as well and hopes she gets in. Back to her love for art, she was in Ms. Henicke’s drawing class for the first semester. She felt that the learning environment was really good and would definitely take the class again. One of Meh’s favorite things to do in
the class was to just sketch in her notebook. “I really like to draw flowers and vines because there’s never really an end to them, so I can draw for as long as I wish,” she said Although Meh did really like the class, there was something about it that she didn’t like: the time limits that they are given. “Obviously we need to get certain things done so it can be graded, but sometimes it just feels very rushed,” Meh said. She wishes that sometimes there should be more time given when working on other things.
Jackie Kuntzsch forgets about all negatives when she plays her violin By Kelly Ayala VIOLINS are stereotypically considered boring. However, not everyone sees it like that. Jackie Kuntzsch (9) is one of many people who find violins fun and relaxing. Kuntzsch has been playing the violin for seven years. At first, it was kind of difficult for her, but after a while of playing she got the hang of it. Now she knows many notes and songs. She has her own violin at home that she plays. Kuntzsch claims that the violin is her safe place. When she plays, she forgets about all negatives. Kuntzsch’s advice for people learning to play the violin is, “Just do it. It may be hard at first, but if you really want to learn, you can
do it. If you aim for your goal you can achieve it,” she said. Kuntzsch has been one of the best players in her class for a few years now, and she has learned so much. Kuntzch’s family and friends have always been supportive. she has loved her experience with the violin because she finds it peaceful and calming. Kuntzsch has had a lot of support from people during her violin training. Brianda Blancarte, Kuntzsch’s mom, has been one of her biggest supporters. Ms. Blancarte says that Kuntzsch’s violin playing is fun. When Kuntzsch started playing, she would make a big deal about gathering her family so they could listen to what she learned. Although most of the
time, it was only a note or two. Blancarte says that Kuntzsch has improved a lot through the years. She plays full songs now, and she really enjoys it. Playing the violin has helped Kuntzsch when she’s feeling down or bored. Ms. Blancarte claimed that when Kuntzsch is playing in her room or just playing for her family, she seems really happy. Ms. Blancarte likes that the violin gives Kuntzsch another outlet of expression. “I’ve loved that it gave her more opportunities to socialize and have time with her friends during classes,” Ms. Blancarte said. Kuntzsch gets to have more time with her friends because of the violin. It lets her be more so-
cial by making her talk more and being less shy. Going somewhere to play also allowed Kuntzsch to have more outside experience. There are many people like Kutzsch, some may have support from others, and others may not. There are so many people both new and old to the violin. Many people dedicate themselves to learning the violin, or any kind of instrument. There are multiple violin classes Lancers can take if they’re interested in learning. Not much is required for a beginner’s violin lesson. Although it might be expensive, people can also rent the instrument temporarily. There are lots of opportunities for anyone who wants to learn more.
Jackie loves to play the violin.
March 2022, page 6
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Amanda Gorman’s new provides perspective By Hanna Johnson IMAGINE you’re scrolling on Twitter or Facebook, every other post is talking about past or current events that affect us daily. Are you tired of all the negativity like I am? Try reading, Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman — an award-winning author and poet. I would much rather read about current events in a way I can connect with personally, wouldn’t you? A way to ease your mind and try to relate to what is going on around you. Well, you’re in luck, this poetry book has beautiful pieces throughout that talk about all the things that are making the world fall apart beneath our feet, as well as other events that have rocked the past few years. Her book is filled with poems about topics such as losing a loved one to a terrible disease. It talks about the unrest of political problems within the United States and it discusses the way climate change is rapidly affecting the world around us. As Gorman would say, “For
all of us both hurting and healing who choose to carry on.” This line in the book says a lot to me, and you could take it in many ways. If you have lost a loved one to COVID, natural disasters, or even if you have gone through heartbreak, you chose to keep going. Her words can help us all find ways to heal around the hurt. Now, this book has way more to offer than just that. Have you watched the inauguration speech in your English or History class yet? I know I have; Personally, I think it was really good. The whole speech is in this book just in case you wanted to read it over and over. Her inaugural poem talks a lot about her life and the way she grew up as a young Black woman in America. In this sentence alone, “We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.” Gorman grew up with her twin sister, and they were both raised
by a single mother. She and her sister both grew up with difficulties in speech, but she started writing poetry to express herself. She has written three books since she was 16 years old, and she won the Goodread Choice Award for best poetry for her book, The Hill We Climb. I can understand the reason for her winning this award as her poetry is moving and relevant. I really like this book because I feel like it’s trying to express and address negative topics in a more positive, beautiful way. Although these topics should be noticed and recognized, many can’t free themselves to read it —they spend too much time on the news or social media. Sometimes being inundated with news can be overwhelming and depressing. Not to mention, it’s hard to know if what you are hearing is legitimate or not. Gorman’s books and poetry give young and old readers alike an alternative way to educate themselves and better their understanding of the world through a fresh perspective.
SCREAM 5 continues a long tradition By Whitnie Larsen SCREAM is one of the most iconic movies in the horror industry. Not only do the filmmakers make their twist on horror and slasher films, they also have fun doing it. The fifth installment of the Scream series recently premiered on January 14. This installment featured the main three cast members from previous entries with the addition of some fresh faces. This film was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett; they are co-directors and a part of Radio Silence. This is a change from the first four movies that were directed by Wes Craven. Many fans were not looking forward to this movie due to this
change of director. This film was incredibly done — from the casting to the plot tieins. You don’t necessarily have to watch all four movies before you watch this one, you only have to watch the first one. The screenwriters (James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick) did a great job of piecing relationships together and giving us a reason for this new cast to be introduced. The film techniques used were amazing, from the camera angles to the tension of scenes, I enjoyed every moment of it. You never really know who to suspect for the murders, which makes a great murder mystery. The actors and actresses did an amazing job por-
traying this. Watching this film, it’s extremely fun to try to make predictions, or guess who you think the killers are. However, my predictions for this movie were completely off. I knew they were wrong as soon as the opening sequence was over. I am glad that this movie showed me how a plot twist is done. The kills were nothing less than amazing. Not only did they stick to the iconic Ghostface killings, they also tugged at heartstrings with multiple deaths. I enjoyed the way that William Purcell, the special effects coordinator, got the deaths to look realistic and not over-exaggerated. The new cast does nothing but exceed fans’ expectations. Coming into a franchise this big is extremely intimidating, yet, this new generation of actors is fantastic at portraying the Woodsboro teens. One thing that I love about this film is that it isn’t based around/in high school, and it doesn’t copy the entirety of the first film. It offers an older cast who have graduated and moved away combined with local high school students. I am a fan of Jack Quaid’s acting. He was amazing at being able to include personality and stick to the Scream-style of acting. His character was quite complex and interesting as well. Rather than being related to one of the main characters from the first movie, he is just the boyfriend of Sam, the main character. His character also had no idea about the events that occurred in Woodsboro until he went there with Sam, which made for easy exposition. Overall, this movie is a mustwatch in my opinion, and it does a fantastic job of making a worthy sequel. It wasn’t cheesy, and it wasn’t overdone. Scream 6 has been announced and is in production, I cannot wait to see what they do with this franchise next.
Blue Blue Boba is a 10/10
By Adrian Aguirre THERE’S nothing like stopping for a refresher after a long day of shopping. From the delicious drinks to the creative art studio in the back, Blue Blue is the place for you! Blue Blue opened on October 2, and is located outside of the Valley Fair Mall. Blue Blue is a boba shop where they make drinks out of fresh fruit and milk. Not only does Blue Blue have delicious teas and smoothies, they also have an art studio in the back. There you can create your own custom phone cases, photo frames, key chains, water bottles, hair clips, AirPod cases, and much more. Blue Blue is definitely a cool place to chill out with friends, family, or even by yourself. The workers there are very nice, and they always look very passionate and committed to their work. The employees create a very positive atmosphere. The place also has very nice aesthetics. I really like going there because it is a very simple place to just chill when I’m craving something to drink. Their menu is very simple, yet so varied. My go-to drink is usually the Brown Sugar Boba Milk or the CoCo Treasure.
I really enjoy going there because it’s a calm place to be in whenever I feel like unwinding for a bit. I’ve mainly had the milkbased drinks because I usually prefer them, but my friends have ordered the water-based ones, and they’ve said they’re pretty good. Blue Blue’s art studio sets it apart from other boba shops. In the art studio, you can pick an item you want to make, and they give you some glue. Then, you pick the charms you want, and stick them on it. It may be a little confusing at first, but the workers walk you through it. The creations you make would always make a perfect gift for any occasion. Even when you don’t feel like leaving the house, Blue Blue can come to you. Blue Blue offers delivery, or if you don’t feel like waiting in line, you can always do curbside pick up. So far all I’ve heard are good reviews about the place. It is always good to support local businesses, so why not stop at Blue Blue? Blue Blue offers delicious drinks and a fun crafting experience. For more updates on them, you can follow them @blueblueslc on Instagram. Blue Blue is Definitely a 10/10, and I would totally recommend it.
March 2022, page 7
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Baseball aims for region as the season starts By Whitnie Larsen LAST YEAR, baseball placed 26 out of 26 in the 6A Division. This year, they aim to top the list and be region one. The baseball team has been having open gyms every week to prepare for tryouts on February 28th. The team is underclassmen-heavy, but they believe that this year they will be a harder team to beat. Ryker Oliver (12) has been on the team for four years. He was a captain in 2021-2022 alongside Zachary Astorga (12). “I don’t have any worries except that they’re young and inexperienced.” He plans to be vocal and work with the young kids to make it a great season. “I’m going to do the best of my ability and just do what I can,” Oliver said. Oliver feels that the younger kids will carry on the legacy of the 2022 seniors once they graduate. “It’s part of the process of growing up with the team when older people leave; you just get kind of
used to it without them and learn to step up,” he said. Oliver is excited for his senior year, yet at the same time feels sad, since it is his last year. He set the goal for the team to become region one. “Personally, I am going to stick to myself and stay out of my head: play how I play,” Astorga said. He is worried about the young team, but he wants them all to keep working hard. “We are young, but the talent we have wants to win,” he said. “I’m going to put in the work and build up the team’s chemistry this year,” Anthony Dean (11) said. He has been on the team for three years. “We are going to bond this year and build team chemistry, so we are all closer,” he said. He has no worries for the 2021-2022 season and believes that the team can win the region. “I want to have better team chemistry and be closer with the team,” Anakin Owens (11) said.
Owens has been on the team for three years and plays in the infield. Owens plans to teach the young kids about the sport and help his coach with what he needs. “I’m most excited to play against Roy since they are new in our region,” he said. Coach Felion was an assistant coach for the baseball team for five years; this is his second year as the head coach. “I would love to see our boys win the Battle of the Lancers this year at home against Layton to set the tone for the season,” he said. Over half of the team is sophomore or younger. Felion says he is excited to watch the team develop as the year goes on. “Our region is scrappy. It is anybody’s ballgame on any given day,” Felion said. He said that he wants to earn a playoff spot this year. “There is only one time in your life to play high school sports—go play and enjoy it while you can!”
Zachary likes to teach younger players about baseball.
Teen athletes balance school and sports
Jordyn didn’t know that she’d love sports until her first season of softball.
By Leyla Ilyazova AS SCHOOL bells ring to begin another day and whistles blare to open up another sports season, student athletes manage to achieve and maintain good grades while performing the best they can in their sport. Jennifer Hernandez (11) who has been a part of the drill team for two years, active in the National Honors Society and a part of AVID where she consistently puts in time after school to volunteer at the West Valley City Animal Shelter. On top of all that, she manages to have a job. “It’s hard having a job during competition season. The days I don’t work are dedicated to practice, so it’s really hard to find time for homework. I usually end up working on school assignments past my bedtime, and I don’t get enough sleep,” she said. There are endless amounts of dedication put into school by students, especially those who
decide to add a sport, club, and job into their schedules. Some students work for savings, while others decide they want to work to support themselves. Colleges tend to be impressed by students who can manage having a job, being a part of sports and clubs, and balancing school successfully, although it can conflict in many ways. Adelaide Roberts (11) is a on student government, FBLA, DECA, tennis, and track. “I just recently started my job, so it’s been a big adjustment, and I’ve gotten very behind in school,” she says. Balancing everything can be a struggle. Jumping from practice to practice, retaining optimal performance in classes to be able to stay on the teams, and attending clubs while also showing up to work is not an easy task. “I plan out my week, and if things overlap, I have to think about what I want to prioritize. Slowly, I bounce back,” she said.
Time management skills are imperative for student athletes. The highest achievers have mastered this, even when under strong pressure. Rather than working here, there and everywhere, planning out what to do and when to do it will help get much more done in a better and timely manner. Managing school, activities, time, and commitments properly will take away a lot of stress. Jordyn Wright (11) is on the softball team and an member of LAT. “I never thought I’d be this interested in a sport until my sophomore year when I got a full season. I see softball in my future.” Wright has an after-school job and manages to balance it out with school. “I do homework on my downtime. As long as I manage my time and stay focused, I know I’ll be OK,” she said. “A suggestion I’d make for people in the same position is to manage your time and find motivation to keep doing what you love.”
Track & field athletes step it up Swimmers form strong bonds on team By Pilar Olvera IT’S SPRINGTIME, and athletes are excited to compete in track. has high expectations. However, runners strive to have a positive mindset during a race, or even a simple jog. It is vital to be selfmotivated and inspired during individual events. Track isn’t like football: football is a space where the pressure is twice as much for players to perform well. In track, pressure is a runner’s choice. As individual health increases, the team’s performance improves. “The coaching staff is awesome. It’s a lot of hard work, but if you’re not scared of a little challenge, do it,” Aaron Meints (12) said. Coaches always push their players to the limit, even on the hardest days. Track has a variety of obstacles like dropping the baton in relays or being afraid of getting scratched during long jump. These errors encourage runners to work harder and smarter. Teammates are always there to support each other, and it’s all about having a good time. Becoming a great runner is
simple, but it just takes time and determination. “Sleeping is the most important thing I tell the runners to do, as well as running, to become better,” Mr. Rice, an assistant coach, said. Sleeping is very powerful, and the more runners train, the more they should sleep. Sleep increases motivation to exercise and helps muscle groups recover which is important for performance. Most athletes have side hustles like jobs, clubs, and classes. As long as they follow an organized schedule, it isn’t as hard as it might be. “Some days I want to quit, but I stick to it because I know it’s worth it,” Saisai Laita (11) said. Laita must attend track practices after school and then head to work right after. It’s difficult to get eight hours of sleep, but track helps him relieve stress and get away from reality. It is fascinating to see a runner’s performance and growth. To achieve goals, athletes need to properly train. It is crazy how the human body can push its limits to become stronger.
By Gigi Vera BROOKLYN Carter (10) has been on the swim team for two years and has enjoyed being with her team and the coaches. “I was glad I got another chance to compete in this year’s season, and I got the chance to meet new people and make more memories,” Carter said. This season treated her amazing, and her coaches treated her and the teammates very well and made sure they all had the support and love they needed. “My coaches are always pushing me further and telling me to try harder each time; to improve my times and become better at times,” Carter said. She loves her teammates and enjoys being in the Granger Swim team, and she is hoping to make it to the team once again next year. Swimming has been a very fun sport and seems to form a bond amongst the teammates. Caleb Wright (10) has also been on the swim team for two years as well. “I enjoy being around my team and goofing around with them because we have that strong bond where, no matter what, we can
come along and work together to improve our times,” Wright said. He doesn’t feel like his times were fast enough, and he feels like he could improve. Wright said next year he would like to make it to region and practice to improve his times. Gale Cutsaw (12) also shares a deep love for the swim team. “I love coach Lumes and coach Carter. They were a little harsh on us, but they did it to push us harder and give us motivation to try harder,” Cutsaw said. “It’s my last year on the swim team, and I’m a little sad. Everyone was
really supportive, and everyone helped everyone to improve on our times and become better,” Cutsaw said. Cutsaw recently got hurt and was out for the rest of the season. “It took away my last meet and as a senior, it kinda sucked. I’m still glad I could participate and support my teammate the best I could,” she said. This is coach Carter’s last year being on the swim team for Granger, and coach Loomis will take over. The swimmers encourage everyone to join the team and try it out.
Granger’s swim team shares bonds of friendship and kinship.
March 2022, page 8
Tri-Color Times VOL. LXIV Issue 4
Freshmen officers deliver for Sweethearts By Arius Hardman SWEETHEARTS is a Valentine’s Day dance that is an annual tradition for a lot of high schools. This year, Granger’s was on February 26, and the theme was iconic movie couples/duos. Due to COVID-19 numbers rising dramatically, the dance was unfortunately postponed to the end of the month when its originally scheduled date was February 5. Student Government and the SBOs worked hard to put this dance together, despite the inconveniences they’ve run into with this process. The Freshman council oversees the event, and in the early morning of February 26,
they went to decorate the commons for the dance. A red carpet was laid out under a balloon arch down the steps and onto the dance floor, fitting wonderfully with the theme. Fairy lights covered the windows and ribbons were weaved in and out of the railing. There was a photo booth with a backdrop of a picture of a red carpet and some paparazzi lights. Although it was the least attended dance, Student Government said it went very well and they were happy with the results. Emma Herrera (9) and Jose Sanchez (11), a couple here at Granger, planned to go to Sweethearts as the iconic Lady and the
Tramp. They plan to do face paint, and Jose is looking for dog ears to wear, and Emma is planning to tie her hair in pigtails. Whether kids went with the theme, or decided to do something different, there was a lot of dancing and lots of music. Surprisingly there were only a few slow dance songs; mostly songs being from Tik Tok, were upbeat. There were lots of good costumes, and people got very creative. The DJ was the same that was hired for Sadie’s and has a good reputation for school dances. The music was loud and there was a lot of different music that played at the dance.
Gold medal drama makes figure skating fun to watch
By Jonah Newton THE OLYMPICS in Beijing have come to a close. Of course, these Olympics were not without high drama — look no further than figure skating. 15-year-old Russian athlete Kamila Valieva was at the center of yet another controversy in a sport littered with scandals over the years. The skater tested positive for a banned drug last December, but this test result was not reported to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) until after she had won gold for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the team event. When the results of her drug test came to light the morning after the event, RUSADA suspended Valieva from further competition. That suspension was lifted due to her being a minor, and she was allowed to compete in the
women’s individual figure skating event. Valieva was by far the favorite to win gold, and she was in first place following the short program, in which she became the first female Olympian to land a quadruple jump. However, she did not fare so well in the free skate, the second of two events in the competition, and she ended up placing fourth. The drama surrounding Valieva became the focus of the event, so much so that people forgot to recognize those who medaled. This was meant to be a moment of joy and glory for these athletes, and they were robbed of their deserved recognition. Two of Valieva’s teammates (all with the same coach) were on the podium, with Anna Shcherbakova winning gold and Alexandria Trusova winning silver. Shcherbakova’s achievement was
overshadowed by layers of scandal, while silver medalist Trusova vowed to never skate again. It is tragic to see an event meant to recognize great athletic achievement turn into something so bitter. I feel for Shcherbakova here. She was unable to fully celebrate her success knowing how her teammates felt. They were friends, and the immense amounts of pressure put on each of them by an arguably corrupt coach soured their relationships. Few will remember Shcherbakova for winning gold. If anything, most people will remember Valieva, the 15-year-old who was pressured by those she trusted into taking illicit drugs. In the men’s figure skating event, the focus was on two skaters. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu and Salt Lake City’s own Nathan Chen would
battle for the gold medal. In the 2018 Olympics, Hanyu triumphed while the then-18year-old Chen finished fifth overall. But Chen was undefeated in each competition since then. Still, the question remained: What could he do on the world’s biggest stage? I watched every skater in the short program. A surprise standout for me was a French skater who did a “Star Wars”-inspired routine, complete with air-lightsaber battle. I watched Yuzuru Hanyu’s short program and was sadly underwhelmed. When Chen took to the ice, he opened with a quadruple jump, the first of four he would attempt that day. His technique was flawless. His outstanding athleticism obviously shone through, but what stuck out to me was his artistry. Chen’s critics have said he lacks artistry, but his dazzling
short program blew me away. It made me feel deeply. I was simply watching a master at work. I tuned in late on the night of the free skate. I went to check the results before 10:30 p.m. just before Chen’s skate. Immediately, I was filled with dread. Chen’s heartbreaking outing in the 2018 Olympics replayed in my head. In dreadful anticipation, I curled up into a ball and watched through my fingers as if I were watching a horror film. But again, Chen was flawless. He skated to a selection of Elton John songs, and he was triumphant. He timed one of his signature quadruple jumps perfectly to the music, and that was the moment I knew that Salt Lake City’s Nathan Chen would win Olympic gold. And he did. Four years of pressure vanished off his shoulders. That night, he was a Rocket Man.