The Rock Spring 2022

rock

The Student Magazine of Trinity Christian Academy

A note from the executive editors

525,600 minutes. 8,760 hours. 365 days. 52 weeks. 12 months. 4 seasons. 1 year. As each of us grows from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, it can be easy to wish away the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, seasons, and years. It’s only natural for us to keep our eyes focused on the next big event—the next milestone—in eager anticipation for when we think we’ll truly reach the peak of our lives. Whether you’re waiting for your moment to see the world on the Austin field trip in fourth grade, your first week away from home without your parents on the Camp of the Hills trip in sixth grade, your first day of high school in ninth grade, or that longawaited college acceptance as a senior, you’re waiting for something, and we get that. However, in this issue of The Rock, we encourage you to reflect on the season of life you are currently in. In Ecclesiastes 3, the author begins by remarking how “there is a time for everything, and a season for activity under the heavens.” He goes on to describe the importance of both weeping and laughing, being silent and speaking, mourning and dancing, before noting in awe how God “sets eternity in the human heart.” If you’re the kind of person just trying to get through school so you can start living in the “real world,” we get it. At times, the days seem to move slowly. But, as graduting seniors about to leave the “TCA bubble,” believe us when we tell you that the “real world” is right in front of you. While you’re here in this special place--a place that has changed countless lives, crafted lifelong friendships, and cultivated lasting impressions through its stellar education--look around. And we mean really look around. Look people in the eye and see them for more than a plaid skirt or a number on the field. Embrace the good, bad, awkward, and ugly parts of growing up because, believe it or not, you’re going to miss this. TCA, while it feels like an eternity at the moment, is only a season of your life. And in this issue of The Rock, we aim to portray it as it is and reveal to you its beauties so that you may appreciate it in every season.

Katherine Novakovich & Mary Lauren Westover

Cover art by Bethany Grimm

Volume 20, number 1, the 2021-22 issue of The ROCK magazine was designed and produced by the 2021-22 ROCKstaff. This 28-page, all-color issue was printed by Digital Marketing and Print Solutions, Carrollton, Texas, on 80 lb. gloss text paper. 300 copies were printed for free distribution on the TCA camps. Cost of printing is paid for by the TCA Communications Department. Adobe InDesign CC 2022 and Photoshop CC 2022 software applications were used for design and layout. Typefaces used throughout: Bebas Neue Bold (headlines and headings), Berlin Sans (headings), and Myriad Pro (headings and body copy).

The ROCK magazine staff is comprised of TCA Upper School students. Students join The ROCK at the beginning of the school year in September and meet regularly throughout the school year during off periods and outside of school to discuss, decide and execute the magazine’s theme, article topics, writing, editing, photography, design and layout. Staffers submit articles for inclusion in each year’s issue and also judge/select when there is a call for Middle School and Lower School art and writing submissions for a particular story.

If you have feedback, ideas or suggestions for The ROCK or would be interested in joining the magazine staff for the next school year, please contact Katie Kilpatrick, Upper School history/English teacher and The ROCK adviser, at kkilpatrick@trinitychristian.org.

Trinity Christian Academy

17001 Addison Road

Addison, TX 75001-5096

972.931.8325

TrinityChristian.org

The Rock Staff

2021-2022

Contributors:

Ainsley Ferrell

Olivia Priest

Katie Reding

Landrie Smith

Madeline Prescott

Ruby Watts

Parker Prideaux

Kazia Handoko

Bethany Grimm

Jack Drake

Ayla Francis

Lucy Dennis

Karalyn Ehmke

Audrey Bryant

Morgan Hausz

Mary Lauren Westover Executive Editor

Katherine Novakovich

Executive Editor

Richelle Kim

Lola McNeill Design Assistant

Lilly Pool Design Assistant

To Future Freshmen/High School Students,

Four. The number of years you will be journeying through high school. Although four years may seem like ages at the beginning, they will fly by, and suddenly, you will be a sophomore, a junior, a senior, and finally an alumnus. As an upcoming senior, I reminisce about all the lively events I retain as memories and the maturing trials I withstood. From these experiences, I gained a mass of advice I would repeatedly disclose to my younger-self and thus you.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, lost, and anxious during your first few days, weeks, or even months of freshman year, it is completely normal and validated. Moving from middle to high school is a large transition. But take advantage of getting to know your upperclassmen and teachers; they unfailingly care about you and are more than happy to help make your transition easier, whether it is through help on academics or just wise advice while sipping coffee at a cafe.

During your freshman and sophomore year, request courses that spark your interest and passion but also those which challenge you. Approach subjects and discussions with curiosity, and always ask questions that you wish your teachers to expand on. Maybe you will, early on, discover your answer to the commonly-asked question of what you’re planning on majoring in. Try everything at least once, and then focus in on the subjects, topics, and hobbies that make you the most excited to exist.

More than any other year, this first year of high school is about finding your work ethic and building time management, a routine you will perfect your sophomore year so that you can balance the many facets of being a high school junior and senior. High school operates like a company: as you get “promoted” to a higher grade, privileges as well as responsibilities multiply.

Of course, read a plethora of books—don’t roll your eyes at me right now. As you read, you experience heightened brain connectivity in your left temporal cortex associated with language reception and memorization and create white matter in your brain which essentially rewires and improves communication in the organ while increasing your ability to concentrate and retain memories. Not only will you score higher on standardized tests, but you might actually find you enjoy hearing the stories of others, and you’d be surprised how impactful some of the required reading books truly are.

Not to mention, throughout your high school years, you will undergo seasons of contentment, joy, peace, and restfulness as well as hardships and situations that are far beyond our strengths. In all, lean on the Lord. David reinforces this in Psalm 84:12: “Blessed is the one who trusts in You.” The King of kings already holds a uniquely perfect future for each of His children, and He is already guiding you towards it. As expressed in Psalm 139, every single day of your life was authored in the pages of God’s book—even before you were alive! Nothing will occur that He has not written into his book and does not perceive. While it is tempting to look over the “fence” to check others’ accomplishments and possessions in envy, you will always possess what you need because God meets each and every one of His children’s necessities with unbroken faithfulness.

Remember that the God who rules over all holds each and every one of your “what-ifs” in His hands, and there is peace found in that. You will leave Trinity Christian Academy with a first-rate liberal arts education, fond memories, and a bright future ahead of you!

Warm regards,

Richelle Kim ’23

a letter to

high-schoolers

-By Richelle Kim

seasons

summer: After a long, relaxing three months off for summer break, we all can agree that heading back to school in August (and getting up at 6 everyday) can fill some students with dread. Although getting back into the school mindset is tough at first, the start of the school year has so much to offer for students in lower, middle, and upper school.

AUTUMN:

Leaves fall, trees change colors, temperatures drop, and the TCA calendar begins once again. Seniors celebrate their last first day of school by decorating their cars with fun decorations that showcase their different interests and personalities, and moms shed a few tears as they don the coveted striped senior shirt for the first time. As football season begins, upper schoolers get to enjoy dressing up for Friday night lights with a different theme each week while eagerly watching the Trinity Trojans face off against other schools. Meanwhile, middle schoolers begin auditions for the annual play, and have their very first “House” initiation where they are either placed into “Honor,” “Wisdom,” “Justice,” or “Courage.” 5th–8th graders compete in house competitions throughout each trimester, and whichever house comes in first place gets a prize. As Thanksgiving approaches, kindergarteners and their third grade pen pals share a Thanksgiving feast and a pumpkin party where they decorate and draw on pumpkins!

at tca

By Audrey Bryant

WINTER:

New sports, snow days here and there, and after a nice Thanksgiving break, everyone is anxious to sprint through the three weeks before Christmas. As motivation to make the final stride to our 14 day vacation, students are allowed to wear fun Christmas socks along with our uniforms. In the lower school, students have themed dress up days and get to wear fun holiday clothes and accessories during the final week of classes. But one of the most fun winter activities that goes on at TCA is the middle school lip-sync battle. Students from each house enter to be drawn for a team, and the lucky chosen few create a performance. Days of rigorous practice are spent in order to create a entertaining lip sync and dance that is performed to a song in front of the rest of the middle school. And finally, right before spring break, upper schoolers attend the country-themed Sadie Hawkins dance where the girls ask the guys (it’s always a surprise).

When summer is finally here again, we can all reflect on the awesome school year we had—no matter our grade level!

SPRING: The final stretch—trimester three. After a spring break full of skiing or swimming, we all return for our last three months of the year. Juniors begin sign ups for The Bridge, which is a welcome event for 8th-graders and new students entering the next year’s freshman class. Existing freshmen and sophomores at TCA work to help the leading juniors create a fun night full of games and a color war, along with getting to know incoming students. When they aren’t cramming for AP tests, juniors and seniors get ready for prom all while listening to the High School Musical 3 soundtrack, and elections are held for the next student body president. Lower-schoolers have Field Day, where they do fun activities like tug of war and sack races.

Senior Bucket List

By Lilly Pool

10 Things To Do Before Graduation:

1. Paint the Rock as a Senior

2. Attend a High School Drama Production

3. Lead Middle-School Bible Study as Junior

4. Go on Senior Trip

5. Dance at Homecoming

6. Get Whataburger After a Football Game (upperclassmen tradition)

7. Go to Camp of the Hills or Wilderness as a councelor!

8. Get a midday snack at Big Blue

9. decortate your car for the first day of school

10. Wear the senior striped shirts!

DRAMA by Morgan Hausz

While there are endless rehearsals and projects in drama, one of our favorite things to do is “nothing,” a breathing exercise where if you’re not careful, you get to fall asleep in class! KRob turns all of the lights off, and we lay on the tables, the floor, or the cheer mats. Then, she quietly tells us a story to help us let off the stresses of the day and find inner peace. It’s super relaxing. Another tradition is Buggy Bounce, a progressive dinner with scavenger hunt activities interspersed between courses to celebrate Christmas. Students are divided into four cars, and each one completes tasks like singing Christmas carols to the Addison Fire Department, buying winter coats for local homeless shelters, and delivering cookies to TCA teachers and administrators. By the end, each car has a film documenting their night that whey share with their peers.

COMPUTER SCIENCE by Bethany Grimm

If you count starting from 0, have a personal grudge against autograders, or unironically try to ctrl + ? out lines in OneNote, that might indicate you’re in computer science. “But computer science isn’t a fine art!” you may protest. Fair point, but there is a very fine art to getting your code to compile (bonus points if it actually works). Considering that nearly everything runs on some kind of programming, learning the magic of turning seemingly random keystrokes into a functional program is well worth it. And in addition to learning to code, you’ll also become more “cultured”, learn that elephants are best eaten one bite at a time, and realize that yes, clown nonsense perhaps may be constructive for getting settlers.

YEARBOOK

by Landrie Smith

As a member of yearbook, I have gotten to participate in the many traditions that the class participates in each year. One of my favorite traditions is our annual white elephant Christmas exchange, which is when everyone buys a fun gift that is blindly picked by someone else in the class. Sometimes it even gets intense when someone tries to steal a gift form another person!

CHOIR

by Madeline Prescott

A few of our favorite traditions in choir are back massages, choir trips to Prestonwood, and singing at graduation. When Mrs. Browning can see that we have had a long week, we end our warm ups with a massage train. The day that everyone treasures is competition day! We get to school in the morning and spending the rest of the day singing our songs in front of judges and watching other schools compete. Lastly the most bittersweet moment of the year is at graduation where we sing the prelude and send off our seniors as it will be their last time to sing in the TCA choir.

ART

by Ally Lee

At first glance, the art department seems detached from the central learning buildings; however, it’s unique traditions unite the students. Proudly hanging on the wall, the Wildebeest reigns high alongside the ‘hair wall,” where students add pieces of their own hair to a collection including a variety of hair textures, colors, and sizes cut from students themselves. Although completely optional, the ‘hair wall’ creates a history of young artists.

Within the classroom, “bleed and feed” has become a popular phrase. The motto is an incentive to safely use art tools, such as linoleum carvers. If you cut yourself with a tool accidentally, you have to buy the entire class food.

fine art t r a d i t i o n s

Lasting Impressions:

Glimpses into Upper School Teachers’ Most Memborable Moments

By Jack Drake

Mexico Mission Trips by Hank Harmon

Thinking about the stories I remember most at TCA will always bring me back to the Mexico Mission Trips. A missionary named Ray Hansen came to visit and shared his vision to use high school students primarily to build a needed orphanage in a needy area of Mexico. We joined the cause and a relationship was started that remains to this day.

In 1990 we started the mission trips for several reasons such as; showing the students the great need still in our day for servants of God on the mission field, to feel the joy of serving God by working hard for others, but probably for most was the desire to show the students how incredibly blessed we are and how needy others can be and they can make a difference for God in this world. Our theme verse was James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstrained by the world.

Our first work on building an orphanage was done in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert at a beautiful oasis there. But with the passing of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) on the third year of our trip we moved to the USA/Mexico border with the rush of thousands of people seeking jobs. They would come with their starving children and most would not find jobs. Because of this, they would carry their children across the border and leave them there thinking the children would get to stay in America. The border patrol would pick them up and carry the babies back across the bridge to the Mexican side, only this time having no parents so the need for orphanages increases. Ray and Leah Hansen heard the call and so Trinity was given a vision for mission work.

The memories are so numerous of TCA on this mission project, but I will share one story that exemplifies our faculty and their commitment to our work. It took place on our first year to work on the Rio Bravo Children’s Home site. The land where the children’s home was to be built was a jungle. It took a drive down a poor dirt road to get there. The site was being used as a dump. Ray had been told by the Mayor of Raynosa that the land would be deeded to the children’s home if it was cleared, fenced in, water and electricity brought to it, and it maintained for 10 years. I must admit that at this point of the story I didn’t believe there was any way that there would ever be a children’s home on this site. It was such a jungle and there was so much trash to deal with. I was right that there was no way on earth that there would ever be a children’s home at that site, but it took miracles of God for this home, but that’s a story for another time.

We were divided into 3 work crews. One crew was armed with axes, machetes, and a chainsaw and chopped and sawed to clear a fence path around the property. The second crew cleared an area to set up for tents and eating. The third group hauled trash into a deep crevasse and burned it. The fire burned for 6 days. All of these crews worked from sunup to sunset with only a break after lunch. After work we would go to local communities and put on our evangelical show. We would get to bed around eleven and get up the next morning at 6:30 and repeat each day.

After 7 days of work we had finished hauling and burning the trash. We had made a path through the jungle. The place looked great by comparison. So, the last day scheduled for work we decided to go souvenir shopping but after getting cleaned up and dressed up we drove back to the work site to look at all we had accomplished.

But we were met with a surprise! A local chicken processing plant had loaded a dump truck with a huge load of rotten chickens and driven down and dumped the chickens in our newly cleared and cleaned area. Hearts sank. Then without missing a beat a teacher named Trisha Bailey jumped up with a smile on her face and with a cheery voice said, “ome on everyocne. Get your gloves on. God has given us another job to do!” The students bounced up and followed. What seemed at first like a disaster became an opportunity.

The Final Hurrah by Kyle Morril

In the spring of 2000, I was named as the new Head of Upper School after seven years as the Dean of Students. Our headmaster, Dan Russ, asked me to retire from coaching varsity girls basketball, because of the complexities and time demands of my upcoming new position. I asked Dr. Russ if I could coach one more season, because I was very invested in the eight returning seniors.

We had great leadership and a very balanced team. We depended on about eight different girls to score points. We had a good mix of young talent as well. I had taken four different teams to the final four, but had never won the state championship. Bishop Lynch’s girls had won twelve in a row. Our district was always tough, so if we could make the playoffs, we would be ready to hopefully go for the state championship.

We started off the season 19-3 before entering district. We had won two tournaments against strong teams, but our district was very tough. We played close games but came in third in our district and made the playoffs. We got hot at the right time. In our

first playoff gams, we defeated San Antonio Antonian after being down by 13 at the half. We then defeated our big rival, Ursuline, and San Antonio Providence. San Antonio Incarnate Word dominated Bishop Lynch in the other semifinal, setting up a final game with us.

Most people thought that we would have no chance to win. We played the game at Baylor’s Ferrell Center. We completely changed our defensive game plan and confused the other high-powered team. We made many first half shots and were up by 13 points going into the second half. Incarnate Word made a run at us in the fourth quarter, but we hit free throws down the stretch and won by seven points. We all cried like babies. It was the first and only girls basketball state championship in TCA’s history. Every coach wants a state championship. I was so happy for our school and especially for our eight seniors who had worked so hard for so many years. The feeling that we had when the final buzzer sounded was probably my favorite of the many TCA memories.

Musical Memories by Norma Browning

In 1987, Trinity’s first musical was the Fiddler on the Roof In Trinity’s second musical (1988), we performed Oklahoma! for the Lower School, the Friday after our opening night. The girl who had the lead came down with a throat infection after the opening night, so we had to switch the girl who played Ado Annie to the Laurey role, pull up Ado Annie’s understudy, and have the boy who played Will Parker’s understudy do his role, since the original boy cast for the role was at the state golf tournament. It made for some creatively interesting new lines! After all the students should have been back in class, I went backstage to clean up, but fortunately had the good sense to call out, “Mrs. B coming back – hope everyone’s dressed!” It was a good thing, since there were two gentlemen who were only almost dressed! The dancers in the dream sequence had to do high kicks, which were not allowed for drill team at the time—you’re welcome! Dances were not sanctioned by the school in the late 80s, so the parents sponsored a dance. Teachers were given permission to attend AFTER I had already been invited and attended!

In 2003’s reboot of Fiddler on the Roof, J.R. Rasberry proved that he was better in his role as Tevye than many

professional companies’ production of it. In The Secret Garden (2009), I got to see my wedding dress as a costume on my daughter, which was one of the coolest on-stage moments for me.

Everything about Les Misérables (2011 – the first year in the PAC) was magical (and exhausting)! Due to the generosity of some parents, we were able to rent a rotating stage and additional musicians for our inaugural musical in the PAC. I do remember how the talent and intelligence of the students rose to the challenge when I explained to them that we would indeed be singing all the songs on our concerts from memory, rather than from folders.

Wall of Archived Technology by Kent Pendleton

If anyone were to come to my room, they might be struck by the fact that I am a collector of things that I deem nostalgic. One wall is dubbed my ‘Wall of Archived Technology’ which prominently features a large yellow ‘stick’ which some in the older crowd might recognize as a ‘slide rule.’ Before there were hand-held calculators, students/teachers/professionals used this device to do advanced calculations. The model on the wall is a giant replica that teachers at TCA used to teach students about the use of the slide rule, which was typically done in Algebra 1 classes. (I graduated from high school in 1976 and in 1974 our math teacher taught us how to use slide rules. I was even in a slide rule competition team! Our 9th grade class was the last year I know of in our high school that taught slide rules. Electronic calculators were beginning to hit the market and the slide rule was doomed!) At any rate, one day I discovered that a teacher when cleaning house tossed the slide rule in the dumpster! (Oh! The humanity!) I couldn’t let that legacy piece go into oblivion, so I rescued it and it is now hanging in a place of honor to show what the world used to be like before the technology wave!

Trojan Athletic seasons

By Kazia Handoko

As COVID restrictions continue to dwindle, the Trojan athletes have all worked incredibly hard to have amazing seasons during the 20212022 school year.

Football: To start of the year, the Trojan football team, lead by senior captains Luke Tredennick, Mason Merchant, Markus Schumacher, and Camden Williams, was among the top teams in the TAPPS League and went 9-2 in their 2021 season. Though they started with two losses, the Trojans won nine straight games and finished off with a 57-0 win against TMI-Episcopal, who had previously never lost a game this season. The Trojans look forward to joining TAPPS District 1 next season, facing Prestonwood Christian Academy in its first district game. Schumacher is projected to play for SMU, while Cody Polk is committed to play at A&M this upcoming fall.

Before each game, varsity football players pray with their dads to prepare for the game. The entire coaching staff, including head coach Steve Hayes, also pray together prior to taking the field. If any defensive player causes a turnover, the Trojan helmet, called the “Turnover Helmet,” is placed on the player’s head right after that play. When the opponent’s offense reaches third down, all Trojans on the sidelines and in the stands raise three fingers as a low rumble fills the stadium. While the coaches reveal their determination to win, they do so in a loving, encouraging way. They give pointers to each player in hopes of improving his ability to make plays. After each touchdown, the Trojan cheerleaders do a push-up for every point scored.

Basketball: In the winter, the Trojan boys basketball team finished 19-14, with 3-5 in the TAPPS 6A District 2, placing 3rd. The team had five tournaments throughout the months of November and December. Facing off tough district opponents such as John Paul II and Prestonwood Christian Academy, the Trojans endured and gave it their all each game. Their most impressive win took place at home against Bishop Lynch on Friday, January 14. The Trojans won 62-52. In the playoffs, the Trojans lost against Nolan Catholic 39-42, ending the season. Blake Muschalek was named the 6A District II Offensive Player of the Year with 23 points per game and nine games with 30 points or more. Coach Price kindly said of Muschalek, “He checks all the boxes as an athlete, and he checks all the boxes as a student.”

Alongside the boys, the Trojan girls basketball team played exceptionally, finishing off the season with a buzzer-beater against Prestonwood Christian Academy, winning 52-51 on February 9. On Senior Night, the girls completed a successful win against Parish

Episcopal School. AB Burnett committed to Pace University’s women’s basketball team in early February. At the winter sports award ceremony, Coach Feemster awarded Halle Hermes the MVP award and said, “We never have to worry about you.”

Swim: The Trojan swim team attended the annual TAPPS State swim meet on February 8 and 9, after placing seventh in the regional swim meet. Before each meet, a member of the swim team will put on the banana costume and dance as the team chants the “Go Banana!” chant in front of all the present teams. In state, the Trojans placed 14th out of 16 in the relay, and freshman Sophia Pfannstiel won first place in the 500-meter freestyle.

Soccer: The Trojan girls soccer team completed a spectacular season, with seniors Emelie Wong, goalie, and Josie Raftelis, along with juniors Hannah Schneider, Aly Heidelbaugh, Lauren Deaton, and sophomores Sydney Ridnour and Cate Pou. Senior captains Annabel Lee, a defender, goalie Alyssa Clemovitz, midfielder Emily Keremidas, and Cecilia Banderob led the team with pride and integrity throughout the season. Forward Anna Heidelbaugh won the MVP award at the end of the season. In the annual Tyler Soccer Tournament, the girls won all four of their games.

Drill team: Throughout the fall and winter sports seasons, the Trojan cheerleaders and drill team attend all football and basketball games. The cheerleaders placed second in TAPPS State Cheerleading Competition in December. The drill team placed 4th in the TAPPS State Drill Team Competition, as well as 2nd in the Crowd Pleasers competition. Senior cheer captain Olivia Priest and co-captains Mary Lauren Westover and Emily Morris set excellent examples as the rest of the cheer team led Trojan audiences at football and basketball games. Drill team captain Mary Margaret Bell enthusiastically led the Trojanettes in incredible performances such as the pom routine.

Other Highlights: Trojan tennis, track & field, and baseball seasons are currently underway, and are all looking to have incredible seasons. Senior Jenna Lowrey committed to Brown University’s track & field team in December 2021, and senior Ben Francis committed to Harding College baseball in November 2021. Senior golfers Westy McCabe and Jack Morrison are continuing their careers at West Virginia University and Santa Clara University. Cecilia Banderob will be attending Lubock Christian University in the fall as a member of the women’s soccer team.

the senior’s

Joshua Case

What types of planes do you fly? And what made you want to learn how?

“I fly Cessa 172s and 172n models. For my future career, I want to fly for the military. I’d like to eventually fly the F-16 or F-18 fighter jet.”

Is there a certain flying status you’ve achieved so far?

“I am a certified solo pilot. That means I have passed forty hours of flight time and I’m able to fly during the day by myself.”

What’s been the hardest thing for you to learn?

“Being able to adapt to the circumstances that are presented and focus on what needs to be prioritized.”

Do you have any advice for someone else thinking about starting up this talent?

“It’s a very challenging hobby but stick with it! Consistency will be your best friend.”

Thanks so much for agreeing to this, Josh! Is there anything else you’d like to mention like a memorable moment or funny story?

“On my solo flight, I was doing pattern work which is take off and landings, and I was instructed to report to the Grumman-AA aircraft. I said ‘Roger following the Gremlin, 4279 Foxtrot.’ Basically everyone listening in on the coms started laughing because I was so nervous that I called the guy flying in front of me a gremlin.”

Kayla Meyer

When did you get into air pistol and what exactly made you do it?

“I started it in the summer of 2020 after my cousin introduced me to the sport. I knew I liked shooting and had a natural talent for it because a few years ago I went to the gun range with my Poppop and he taught me how to shoot. I was able to shoot ten bullseyes in a row with no previous practice.”

Wow, that’s really impressive. What’s your favorite thing about the sport?

“My favorite part is the mental challenge involved. It’s 90% mental as the focus is on not anticipating shooting the shot because that could throw it.”

Do you compete or is it just a hobby?

“I am on a team, however, it’s an individual sport. I compete every month and then, if I qualify, I go to the Junior Olympics which is a national competition.”

Do you have any advice to someone else learning air pistol?

“Don’t give up! I know that sounds cliché, but it can be tempting to give up just because you might not be as good as you want to be at first or aren’t progressing at the rate you want to be. But with practice, you will achieve your goals!”

secret talents

Daniel Baker

When did you get into beekeeping and what about it interested you?

“I got into beekeeping in middle school during the sixth grade for two reasons. The first is because of a book I read called the Beekeeper’s Bible. It basically talks about anything and everything bee related, ranging in topics from the mythology and lore of beekeeping to modern hive-maintenance techniques to different honey and beeswax recipes. The second reason is because my family is allergic to every pet-like animal possible – dogs, cats, birds, and even hedgehogs. So, I had to find something I could take care of outside the house and after remembering what I read in the Beekeeper’s Bible, I knew bees would make for the best, most unconventional ‘pets.’”

What is your favorite thing about it?

“How even after seven years of working with my hives, I’m still constantly learning new things. Whether its researching queen rearing techniques or learning how to create new bee genetics in my hives, I’m humbled by the amount of knowledge I’ve yet to learn.”

Do you have a certain memorable experience you’d like to share?

“Definitely the first time I got honey in the spring of 2018. After years of hard work, when I saw the honey flowing out of the extraction machine, I could almost taste the success.”

I have to ask, have you ever gotten stung really badly?

“I’ve been stung way too many times to count. The worst were when I got stung on the eye and it swelled shut for two days, and the other was when I got stung on the foot over ten times and could hardly walk the next day.”

Oh gosh, that sounds horrible. Do you have any advice to someone learning this skill?

“Beekeeping is a labor of love and if there’s something that this skill has taught me, it would be patience. It’s inevitable that you’re going to have hives that fail, probably even fail multiple times, but you have to use those experiences as learning opportunities. Be patient and don’t give up—I promise; the work is worth the wait.”

Do you want to do anything with this talent in the future?

“In the future, I want to create a network of beekeepers around the United States who work with the National Parks. I think it be cool to have a system where parks could contact local beekeepers to have hives placed on their grounds after natural disasters like wildfires.”

Joey Fedro

When did you first get into music?

“In middle school, I didn’t really have a solid passion or direction in life. I tried art and writing, both weren’t for me. Then I tried music and it just fit and I kinda fell in love.”

Who are a few of your music-related idols?

“I would probably say Yo-Yo Ma, Beck Hansen, Ersen Dadaslar, Kayhan Kalhor, William Onyeabor, Aaron Freeman, and Mickey Melchiondo.”

What’s your favorite instrument to play? And are you currently learning any?

Though jazz drums are my main instrument, I love playing cultural and world instruments like the bendir, kanjira, darbuka, baglamas, and the saz. I’m always trying to expand what I learn on them, too.

Gosh that’s so many, I can’t even play the keyboard. Are you wanting to do anything with music in the future?

“Yes, I’m majoring in audio engineering and I hope to have my own small business in the music industry one day.”

Anything else you’d like to mention, maybe some advice for someone interested in learning music?

“Don’t practice arbitrary etudes and movements, learn what you love, get lost in the beauty of the history and study of music. Don’t limit youself to just American music, too. The wider world holds some of the most beautiful songs, but you’ll never hear them if you don’t branch out at all.”

Emelie Wong

When exactly did you get into the piano? What was so appealing about it?

“I got into piano at age three. I liked it because it was so relaxing, plus learning to read music is pretty helpful and very freeing. Because of it, I can teach myself basically any music.”

Would I recognize some pieces you know pretty well?

“I’ve learned some different musicals like The Greatest Showman and La La Land. Also some music scores, including Beauty and the Beast and Pride and Prejudice.”

Do you have a memorable experience or favorite part about piano?

“Recitals are pretty memorable, I really enjoyed winning a few jazz competitions in the past. But my favorite thing is definitely when I feel the music come together after working through just the notes and the technique. I don’t know how to describe it, but you can really just feel that specific moment when the music blends.”

Do you want to do anything with piano or music in the future? Anything else you would like to mention?

“I’d like to think I’m going to minor in piano in in college. One thing that’s been pretty hard for me to learn about piano is to not to get discouraged. Sometimes the music just seems too hard to learn or master, but you have to remember to never get discouraged.”

Which Teacher Are You?

1. What was your favorite subject in school growing up?

A. Algebra

B. PE

C. Science

2. What’s your dream job?

A. Counselor

B. Chef

C. Camp Director

3. Where’s your favorite vacation spot?

A. Colorado

B. The Mountains

C. Any beach in the Caribbean

4. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A. Super speed

B. Flying

C. The ability to take on other powers

5. What’s your favorite Bible verse?

A. “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits. And in His Word I put my hope.” —Psalm 130:5

B. “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy the safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.” —Psalm 37:3-5

C. ”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all; the Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” —Philippians 4:4-6

6. What’s your enneagram type?

A. 2w1 – The Helper wing Reformer

B. 5w6 – The Investigator wing Loyalist

C. 9 – the Peacemaker

7. What kind of crowd did you hang with in high school?

A. Dancers

B. Athletes

C. Choir kids

8. What’s something on your bucket list you want to accomplish?

A. Visit Israel

B. Climb 20 mountains in Colorado with elevations of more than 14,000 ft

C. Visit Costa Rica

Results on next page!

IF YOU ANSWERED…

Mostly A’s: You’re most like Mrs. Jackson! Everyone’s “second mom,” Mrs. Jackson teaches all grades of the Upper School in her HEMS and Yearbook classes, so she seems to know every student by name. Like her, you’re probably the first person your friends go to for advice or encouragement, and you wouldn’t have it any other way! You’d drop anything for a friend in need, and you’re always up for a deep conversation.

Mostly B’s: You’re most like Mr. Groezinger! Along with several other Wheaton alumni working at TCA, Mr. Groezinger can usually be found in the math hallway teaching Calculus AB, Statistics, or Trigonometry. Mr. Groezinger is a travel junkie—always ready for a trip to see more of God’s creation—and he has a hidden love for poetry. When he isn’t teaching, he can be found in the hallways creating intentional relationships with his students.

Mostly C’s: You’re most like Mrs. Francis! A graduate of Texas A&M University, Mrs. Francis spends most of her time in the science hall teaching biology, anatomy, and all things science! Like Mrs. Francis, you’re warm, adventurous, you love your family deeply, and you value others above yourself.

A Day in the Life

By Morgan Hausz

Sophia Pfannstiel, freshman - Sophia starts her day at the early time of 5 am to pack both her swim and school bags. Morning practice is at Texas Ford Aquatics from 6 to 7:20 am, and she then has 10 minutes to change before she leaves the pool and heads straight to school! After a 7½ hours of classes and taking to her friends all day long, she goes home for about 20 minutes to change before going to yet another swim practice at her swim club which lasts from 4:45-7pm. Here, not only does she swim, but she has 30-45 minutes of workouts where she does pullups, v-ups, medicine ball workouts, stretch cords, and so many other exercises to gain lean muscle before she swims! She swims sprints, mid-distance, stroke, and individual medley (which is basically every stroke basically). Finally, she goes home, showers, eats, and works on homework before getting to bed around 11.

Joseph Fitzgerald, sophomore - Normally, after school, Joseph goes to soccer practice from 4-5:30. He’ll go home for 30 minutes to eat, change clothes, and begin homework before he leaves at 6:30 to head to his 7-9pm club soccer practice. After, 3 ½ total of soccer practice, he’ll finally come home to shower and finish homework before getting to bed around 11. He told me that on a normal week, he will have 11 ½ hours of practice plus a game or two each weekend.

Lucas Walsh, senior - In the summer, Lucas wakes up around 8:30am to eat breakfast and then leaves to get to the golf course around 10am. He’ll start with working on his short game for before going to the green around 12pm to work on some putting drills inside 10 feet. From 1-1:45pm, he’ll eat lunch in the clubhouse before going out on the course again to hit balls on the driving range for 30-45 minutes. Next, he’ll typically play 18 holes, which takes him to 6pm. He’ll either go home now or continue working on ways to improve his game for another half hour.

Gable Delp, junior - On Wednesdays, Gable starts her day with a 6:15-7:30am cheer practice. After school, she’ll go to another practice from 3:45-5:30pm, and she tries to fit in tumbling at Elevate Gymnastics a few times a week when she’s not injured. Sometimes, while doing homework, she’ll put on ankle weights and stretch in order to multitask. However, football season is the busiest because not only is she getting straight A’s, but she’s singing on worship team, gearing up for competition, and working on pep rallies. Every Thursday during the fall, the cheerleaders decorate the high school with posters and streamers before game day which can take until 8:45pm. Now, in the spring, team and officer tryouts begin as well as the spring musical where she’s a lead!

Ally Lee, sophomore - She wakes up around 7am to get dressed and drink a smoothie before leaving her house at 7:30. Ally get to school at 7:45 to make sure she can get an easy parking spot, and then she talks in the math hallway with her friends before a morning block of AP European History with Mr. Fuller. She’ll do the day’s Wordle after class before chapel, and then she goes to intern at Tech Stop. She has to check all of the printers’ paper and cartridges on Thursdays, and then she has Honors Chemistry where they learn about ions and chemical equations. During lunch, she’ll talk to her friends and then head to the library to work on History homework. In the afternoons, she has digital art and Honors Algebra 2. Once school is over, she heads over to Gleneagles for golf practice to play a few holes from 4pm until the sun goes down. She finally gets home to do homework, eat dinner, and shower at 6:10. When she has the free time, she’ll draw illustrations for Mr. William’s book, and she’ll work on her sketch for Digital art at 9. Finally, after a long day of being artistic and athletic, Ally finally goes to bed around 12am, just to wake up again the next morning and do everyone once again, with a few differences of cource!

NASA History

By Bethany Grimm

DID YOU KNOW?. . .

• Space is only about 90 miles away. That means if you’re in Dallas, you’re about the same distance from space as you are to the Oklahoma border. What makes getting there so difficult is that you can’t simply get in your car and drive up.

• People solved this problem by observing that when a bomb explodes, different fragments shoot in different directions really, really fast. Rockets work by similar mechanics, except the target direction is up.

• And the reason people are in space is because of politics. (Okay, in part.) The Space Race, between the USA and Russia during the Cold War, consisted of both parties trying to do cool things off the planet. (“Cool things” ranged from putting dogs in space to actually getting people to walk on the moon.)

• And people did walk on the moon, during the Apollo 11 mission, but there were a whole bunch of preceding missions; notably Mercury and Gemini and a few other Apollo missions. The main thing to know about them is that 1) they all happened in preparation to go to the moon and 2) the spacecraft/suits began to resemble sardine cans less and less.

• To date, only twelve people have set foot on the moon, all from NASA. Yeah, just twelve. (Russia had plans to do the same, but technical difficulties prevented them from following suit. It along with several other countries, though, have put probes, but not people, on the moon.)

• Prior to that, the USA once considered nuking the moon.

• They didn’t.

• If you ever think about going down an internet rabbit hole of “nuking the moon,” please do. It’s quite fascinating. Back to things that actually happened.

• What’s NASA been doing between then and now? To summarize: space shuttles, space stations, telescopes, and probes to Mars and beyond. Each came with its share of triumphs and failures, with the underlying point being that space is really difficult and dangerous but also really worth it.

• What about NASA’s future? NASA’s getting ready to go to Mars, but it’s a long way out. A shorter-term objective? Put people back on the moon by 2024. The first of these Artemis missions is scheduled to happen in November of 2022 – pretty exciting times for humanity!

Sage Desserts

By Karalyn Ehmke

After a tiring four-hour morning filled with tests, quizzes, seminars, and labs, many students eagerly rush to the cafeteria for their long awaited break to chat with friends, leisurely walk to Big Blue, and eat lunch! One of the best parts of lunch, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays, is the dessert that Sage provides. Students and teachers alike enjoy the different treats each week, but the age-old question persists: Which one stands out among its peers as Sage’s best dessert? Asked to decide between Apple Cobler, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Chip cookies, Funfetti Blondies, Oreo Cake, Pumpkin Cream Cake, Oreo Pudding, and Brownies, democracy prevails as the people speak. After looking at the results, the Chocolate Chip Cookies were the fan favorite of the entire Upper School, accumulating a whopping 33% of the votes, followed closely by the Strawberry Shortcake which gained nearly 20% of students’ support.

o utfits o f t he d ay

After polling the students for the teachers they believed to be best dressed, we asked the teachers to come dressed in the outfit they feel best encompasses their taste in fashion. Choosing her inspiration from her mom, Mrs. Harris’ go to store include Ann Taylor and Nordstrom. Her favorite way to accessorize is by wearing statement jewelry, especially long necklaces. Mrs. Jackson’s favorite way to plan outfits in by googling key words and perusing the results for fashion inspiration. A staple item in her closet is her white button up from Madewell that she pairs with sweaters or blazers. Loving to bounce off of friends’ styles, Ms. Tristan loves Dallas boutiques such as Cousin Earl and Roam or mainstream stores like Nordstrom or Zara. She loves her collection of jean jackets that she can easily dress up or dress down. All three teachers were asked three questions about their fashion style: Where does your inspiration come from? Where are your favorite places to shop? What is your go to piece of fashion? Here are their answers:

Mrs. Jackson

Yearbook/HEMS Teacher

1. My inspiration usually comes from the internet. If I feel like wearing a blue cardigan that day, I’ll google “blue cardigan outfit” or “blue cardigan street style” and find several choices. I then go to my closet and see if I can recreate something I’ve found online. Though it might seem to most like lots of work, it honestly allows me to mix up my clothes easily with little thought.

2. I love to shop online, especially Amazon, and at Costco, TJ Maxx and Nordstrom mostly.

3. My main go-to piece is my white button up from Madwell. It’s perfect by itself or under sweaters or blazers.

-By Lola McNeil and Ruby Watts

1. I would say I get my inspiration from friends the most. If I have a piece of clothing/accessory I want to wear in my closet, I do a quick “outfit” search on Pinterest and see what outfit ideas come out.

2. I love to shope at Target mostly, but also Nordstrom Rack, Roam, Cousin Earl, Hemline in New Orleans, Zara, Dillards, or anywhere with a sale sign!

3. A good jean jacket or 5. A jean jacket can accessorize everything from joggers to a dress. I also love the headband trend a lot. I think they are so cute!

1. My inspiration comes mostly from my mom and her style choices, but I love to go through boutiques and look at what they are pairing, so I can go home and use what I already have.

2. I love to shop at Loft and Ann Taylor a lot but will always find good things in Dillards and Nordstrom, too.

3. I love jewelry as my accessories, especially long necklaces. They can add a bit of extra style to any kind of outfit!!

Mrs. Harris Junior History/English Teacher

Mrs. Tristan Upper School Administrative Assistant

The Kinds of Students You’ll Meet at TCA

By Bethany Grimm

In the History-English Department, freshmen and seniors alike learn about the various archetypes found in classic literature, but can we put a TCA spin on it? We guarantee you’ll meet at least a few of the following (as well as many different people with many other different qualities) in your years as a Trojan.

The Carrot Conspiracy Theorist

During holidays and major school events like Halloween, Christmas, exam week, and Homecoming week, the Carrot visits the Upper School, decorating the halls with streamers and carrot sticks. The ensuing buzz of “whodunnit” keeps many students guessing on which student, teacher, or administrator could possibly be behind the mask. Whether they’re actually right about the Carrot’s identity forever remains a mystery.

The Panini Press Enthusiast

If you’ve ever smelled the faint scent of smoke from the back of the cafeteria, you have this student to thank. Armed with nothing but disregard for the wax paper bags and the ambition to craft the best quesadilla a Dallas private school has ever seen, there are enough of these students to keep the panini press line held up. Will their next experiment result in culinary magic or disaster?

The Chicken Mini Provider

Whether it’s a classroom Christmas party or a midweek advisory meeting, this student can always be counted on to spend their precious ten minute passing period racing to the nearest Chick-fil-a to grab chicken minis for their friends. Keep an eye out for their text reminding you to Venmo them.

The One Who Caught All Their Bugs the Summer Before

Spring of freshman year is marked by the bug project, in which students learn how to wrangle, artistically impale, and classify insects. Imagine having that kind of foresight – the rest of us are destined to wade in a field, saying, “Just one more Lepidoptera!” “Wait, that thing moved!” “Oh, it’s a leaf-” while this student sits back and laughs as they put the final touches on a flawless project.

The One Who Lives for Homecoming Week

Some people’s senses of humor become apparent from across the school during, what is arguably, the most chaotic week of the year. This student might arrive late to first period after wrestling themselves into a blue morph suit for Monochromatic Monday or an inflatable horse and cowboy outfit for Derby Day, but it’s all worth it once they get posted on the TCA Instagram account.

tie-ing it all in

Mr. Dyer’s Bow Ties

Mr. Dyer’s bow ties take a title as one of the student’s favorite fashion choices made by the Upper School faculty. In his expansive collection, you can find holiday bow ties, sentimental bow ties, and those that are simply his favorites. When asked why he chooses bow ties over regular ties, Mr. Dyer explained how unique and understated they are, following this by saying if everyone wore them, he would not like them as much. Wearing them for about five years now, Mr. Dyer is still proud of his ability to tie all his own bowties because “anyone can just buy one that is already tied.” His talent for tying the bow ties brought him to love his famous outfits all the more while motivating him to show them off to the students. The students love getting to see which bow tie will walk the hallway each day, almost as much as Mr. Dyer loves picking them out!

By Lilly Pool

By Lola McNeill

Ties for Mr.

morriLl

This year during our Upper School Homecoming week, TCA students and staff were challenged to match with someone else for a day. Our TCA Upper School admin took over the role of dressing like Mr . Morrill for a day in his infamously established uniform of dress pants and a tie. The students know of Mr. Morrill’s work outfits and can instantly recognize that their clever staffers also dressed like him. The Upper School loves Homecoming week, and our admin did a great job of participating!

The Heart Behind the Scenes

By Ayla Francis

If you were to name the best characteristic of TCA as a school, what would you say? Some might say the close community, or sports programs, or maybe all the fun traditions. While all these are outstanding qualities, the consensus of the student body in a recent poll pointed to student-teacher relationships as the area where TCA shines brightest.

No matter if they’re teaching preschoolers or seniors, TCA’s staff earns their reputation as not just teachers, but mentors, who care for their students with a Christ-given, special love. I personally can testify to the immeasurable impact different teachers have had on me over the years, beginning as early as K-5 with Mrs. Hinckley, who taught me the value of kindness. Throughout my time growing up at TCA, I am incredibly blessed to say each teacher I had served an instrumental role in my development as both a student and a follower of Christ. It’s no coincidence I can clearly remember the name of every teacher I’ve had and what they taught me—most notably Mrs. Miller, Mr. McMullen, Mr. Saffold, Mrs. Burgoon, Mrs. Bator, Mrs. Kilpatrick, and so many others I could talk about. It’s all because of the passion that connects the TCA staff together, their same unwavering devotion to their students that has touched the lives of not just me, but countless students over the course of decades.

I know several students who have opened up to teachers who offered them counsel through a hard time, and I know there are so many more untold stories of Christ’s selfless love overflowing from these teachers. One of the most well-known of these stories is Mr. Harmon’s impact on a student who stood up and claimed to be an atheist in front of the entire school at chapel, contradicting the speaker’s assumption that his audience all identified as Christians. After the sermon, Mr. Harmon refused to let the student enter his classroom because he said the boy had just lied to the whole school. The student didn’t understand why Mr. Harmon thought he’d lied about his faith, but Mr. Harmon insisted the boy did know there was a God, but he was mad at him for whatever trials he was facing. The student broke down in tears, humbled to the truth, and Mr. Harmon kindly and patiently helped him take the next steps to find support.

This is just one of abundantly more stories of teachers investing in the lives of their students, all motivated by the selfless heart of Jesus to serve others. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul beckons the church: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” The teachers and staff at TCA undoubtedly serve as modern-day Pauls, teaching students not only the value of learning, but the value of becoming more like Christ.

Favorite TCA Books

By Lucy Dennis

“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald

Through the History/English program at TCA, students have the opportunity to study some of the finest pieces of literature. From C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia that opened young eyes to the beauty of storytelling in middle school to the Shakespearean tregedies high schoolers painstakingly analyze for smybolism and motifs, these books transport us into societies past, captivate our minds with new themes and ideas, and allow us to better understand ourselves and others in today’s world. Voted on by high school students, each of the most popular books takes place in the 20th century, but the universal truths they highlight and the lessons they impress upon our hearts differ drastically.

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set in Jazz Age New York, this classic of American fiction captures the frivolity and excess in the backdrop of the roaring twenties. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the novel follows millionaire Jay Gatsby in his pursuit of love and desire through glamorous tragedy.

Not much of a surprise, the most popular book by far is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Set in the 1930’s American south, the novel addresses serious issues of racial injustice and destruction of innocence, coupled with pivotal characters and symbolism. We get to follow Scout Finch throughout this beloved novel during our 8th grade year while studying American history.

All Quiet on the Western Front

by Erich Maria Remarque

This World War I novel exposes the true experience soldiers face, breaking down the romanticized perception of fighting to reveal the brutal truth and tragedy that comes with war. The novel present the reeaders with lovable and honest soldiers who reveal to the audience the true destruction that is faced in battles.

leaves: to e.e. cummings

By Holly Bator

i thank you God for this most amazing day: for the canopied leaves overhead deepening from vivid green to tawny amber and glorious russet for the bright promises of spring and the weathered reminiscence of fall they submit to the wind and gently f a l l blanketing carpeting insulating the ground— and i walk amidst the satisfying crunch of their decay (the fragmented relics of fall) their skeletons reminding me it’s ok to let go.

Summer

By Tanya Chaing

When the yawning mouth of summer begins to close, ready to swalow us into fall, we count our days in rays of sun.

Sandals slapping softly at the sidewalk, our shadows follow faithfully behind us, animated by the multiple moon of streetlights which make bright, green halos in the canopy above.

Below them, intoxicating summer sounds of cicadas and grasshoppers mix with the perfumes smells of grasses anf flowers settling into the cool night air.

A moment of perfection where near and far strike in a seed planted in spring, nourished by summer, soon to be taken over by fall.

Come and Go

By Sophie Dennis

You open the door at 7:24, As November falls behind, A piercing wind swats at your skin, And sends a shiver down your spine.

Crisp cold nights and homes stringed with lights, Advent calendars hanging on walls; December has arrived, and there are glorious nights, Full of family, friends, and basketball.

Then comes the craze for the holidays, Pine trees pulled from the ground, All erupt in cheers for the brand new year, As laughter and champagne float around.

Students leap with joy, every girl and boy, As frozen roads cancel school, With hopes of rest, and skipping math tests, And skating on solid pools.

Snow angels form as new memories are born, Glass teeth cling to every gutter, Thin glaze on sidewalks, hands interlocked, Waltzing to Taylor Swift’s “Lover.”

As the earth will revolve, the snow will dissolve, The groundhog sees his slight shadow, And as the students resume their days in classrooms, The seasons will come and go.

Daffodils

By Cece Bogda

In their happy yellow And tall and slender grace Contrasting my weary mellow So I look and slow my pace

Just like the moment when I stopped to look at daffodils When summer comes daffodils are spent Stems withers and petals spill

I will not remember standing here And seeing daffodils

But next spring I will once again veer For I’ll remember the feeling that could fill

I do not remember the road Day or place or time

But in my dreams flowers are shown In quiet there are daffodils on my mind

In love a smile a daydream

What is it to me to wonder why For why would I risk in my wondering A warmth a flutter a wistful sigh

Daffodils are my favorite flower