The Hi-Times April/May 2015 by The Hi-Times

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 73 ISSUE 6

4125 Golden Wave Dr., Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

THE

HI-TIMES APRIL/MAY 2015 A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

SENIOR EDITION

INSIDE

Class of 2015 PG2 Senior staff members reflect on high school PG5

Class favorites named

THS music department soars From Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

Achintya Prasad

On March 27, Madrigals and Vocal Jazz won all gold at the San Antonio World Strides National Festival. Both were one of two choral groups at the entire festival to receive the Adjudicators Award for Outstanding Musicianship and Overall High Score. The Tupelo High School Wind Ensemble earned all superiors in concert and sightreading and was named a sweepstake award winner at their state evaluation in Pearl on March 25. “The sweepstake award is a very elite award that is given to bands that have a Superior Rating from all 12 judges in Marching, Concert and Sightreading over the school year,” THS Band Director Tim Matlock said. “We are very proud of their success.”

INSIDE

@AchintyaPrasad Staff Writer

MR. MR. && MISS MISS THS THS Seniors Braxton Thomas, left, and Alex Norwood are this year’s Mr. and Miss THS.

KEYWANNA ROGERS

THS EXCELLENCE STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

MONICA ROWE

AP Science classes travel to Georgia AP Science classes went on their annual trip to see how what they’ve been learning is used in real life. PG2

SAM RATLIFF

As STAR Teacher and Student, April Friar and Nolan Vora are awarded for above-and-beyond achievement in the 2014-2015 school year.

Senior Memoirs 6–YEAR ROTARY SCHOLARS

Seniors of The Hi-Times staff reflect on high school. PG3-7

STAR AWARD

TEACHER & STUDENT

Misheard Lyrics Staff Member Pierce Lehman clarifies the lyrics to some popular songs. PG5

THS HI-TIMES

Bethany Fitts, from left, Gurshan Kaur, Mallie Imbler, Haithem Mahmoud, Macy Replogle, Alexis Zosel and McKenzie Denton were honored as six-year Rotary Scholars. Christina Daniels is not pictured.

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INDEX • NEWS.................................2 • OPINIONS..........................3 • SENIORS............................4 • ART&ENTERTAINMENT.......8

Each year, the Tupelo Rotary Club selects the top 30 students from 7-12th grade and rewards them with a luncheon. Several students have not only been recognized as a Scholar, but have reached this achievement over all six years. These students receive a plaque for their dedication to academic success.

THS HI-TIMES

Amanda Inman, top, and Haley Cook are also 2015 recipients of the STAR Teacher and Student award recognizing academic excellence.

Tweet of the month

THS Bowling team wins state Pierce Lehman @piercetayleh Business Manager

The Tupelo High School bowling team has once again rolled its way to victory by winning the state championship. The team has been making waves for the past four years and proved that they are worthy of the championship title. Most of the current team have been playing since their freshman and sophmore years. With five seniors leaving the team after graduation, fans are wondering what next year’s season will look like. “It felt good to win, and we were really hap-

py,” senior Jake Houston said. “I think the team next year will be fine. They just need to have someone step up. They might have a hard time.” With a state championship title on their backs, the bowling team will enter next season on a high note, and the underclassman are ready to step up to the challenge. “Four seniors are leaving for graduation, so the biggest challenge will be having new faces next year,” said sophomore Josh Turberville. “We still got more new people coming, and we can teach them. Our goal is to win state again.” Foundation to Journalism student Bryan Kwag contributed to this story.

Every year, Tupelo High School selects class favorites. Students are given the opportunity to nominate and select their favorites on Haiku. These favorites are rewarded with recognition, and are given one point to be added to their honor letter. The freshman girl class favorites are Margaret Claire Blakely, Madison Burt, Anna Calhoun, Gracie Hand, Annalise Lewis, Olivia Orr, AddyParker Spees, Lauren Taylor and Mary Collins West. The freshman boy class favorites are Will Edwards, Gatlin Farrar, Carter Halber, Jacob Hopkins, Trippe Howell, Jett Johnson, Cole Lothorp and Matthew Ray. The sophomore girl class favorites are Emery Anthony, Avery Billingsley, Olivia Collier, Latavvia Foote, Lila McGraw, Lexi Pund, Avery Ray and Lexi Roberts. The sophomore boy class favorites are Will Brawner, Jackson Bridges, Charlie Greer, Hogan Harrington, Beck Hester, Rob Pillow, Miles Roy and Charlie Rupert. The junior girl class favorites are Mamie Clark, Jamie Cook, Caiti Ellis, Amy Haadsma, Madeline Harrison, Katherine Holman, Sarah Holliman and Anna Claire Lothorp. The junior boy class favorites are Austin Bouchillon, Jackson Caldwell, Jason Garrett, Lee Holman, Nathan Jackson, Blake Nabors, Eugene Nguyen and Andrew Ray. The senior girl class favorites are Neely Brown, Shiro Buchanan, Meg Carpenter, Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth, Lauren Losordo, Anna John Hand, Katie Taylor and CJ Williams. The senior boy class favorites are Kyle Alford, Benton Barber, Josh Hopkins, Clayton Horton, Sam Lucas, States Norman, Tucker Sheffield and Graham Taylor. “It was an honor that my class thinks I’m worthy of being a class favorite,” said freshman Jacob Hopkins. “I was surprised.” “I was excited and really surprised,” added sophomore Avery BIllingsley. “It was an honor.” Foundation to Journalism student Savannah Kirksey contributed to this story.

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THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • APRIL/MAY 2015APRIL/

AP Science classes apply real-life lessons on a field trip to Atlanta

Emily Wright @emilykkwright Staff Writer

The AP Science classes visited the Coke factory.

MONICA ROWE

ferent kinds of Coca-Cola from different countries and learned more about them through videos shown throughout the factory. Almost every aspect of the trip was one to remember, including the food they ate. “My absolute favorite part was the Baja Grill,” said senior Tucker Sheffield. “I got the el diablo burrito, and it was legit the best burrito I’ve ever had.” “Having gone on this trip twice with the AP Science club, I would definitely recommend going on this trip to underclassmen,” said senior Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth. “It is a lot of fun and very interesting.”

Mallie’s Declassified Senior Year Survival Guide Mallie Imbler @meimbler Staff Writer

During the past year, I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of Senior Year. For everyone who is not a senior, I have decided to share about my experiences. Hopefully this information will make your life a little less stressful. Senior Project You should begin brainstorming as early as junior year for Senior Project ideas. It is better for you to go into Senior English with some sort of project idea rather than be clueless about what to do. Once you receive your group, begin making specific plans and executing them as soon as possible. Senior project consists of the actual project, the portfolio and the presentation. For the project portion, students are required to complete a project with at least 20 volunteer hours. The portfolio consists of a research paper relating to the project topic, journals and a personal narrative. The presentation portion must be a speech no more than 10-12 minutes accompanied by a keynote and a tri-fold board. Students who complete their projects first will receive more attention when making the presentation keynotes and writing speeches. Students should not wait until the last minute to do their project, their portfolio or their presentation. I found, in my project, it was important to find a balance between Senior Project and my other classes. It is also important to be willing to compromise and collaborate with your group members. Applying to College I would recommend applying for early admission to colleges and any special programs offered at that college, such as honors colleges. By applying for early admission, you typically hear back from a school before Christmas. Not only does this allow more time to make a college decision, but it also removes the stress of not knowing where you are going to college until April. You should begin checking with each of your choice schools by the end of

junior year to find out when admission deadlines will be. Apply as early as possible, especially to in-state schools. This allows you to be the first to register for housing and select rooming assignments as well. Scholarships Scholarships are another thing that should not be put off until the last minute. You will typically need a recommendation letter from a counselor at some point, so it is best to make sure you give your counselor your resumé and complete the counselor recommendation form. Local scholarships are readily available in J Building beginning in January of senior year. Also, there are great websites with listings of national scholarships beginning as early as August of senior year. Honor Letter An Honor Letter is a recognition of your academic and extracurricular achievement and involvement. In the spring of senior year, an honor letter form is available in J Building. It is best to get the form as early as possible, as depending on your extracurricular involvement, you may need a lot of signatures. Each form includes boxes that can be marked, by year, indicating which activities you participated in. For every 60 points, you receive one honor letter. Hall of Fame Hall of Fame is a recognition of students which have excelled at Tupelo High School. The Hall of Fame application is divided into two separate parts: the written application and the video. In order to qualify, you must fill out a form (available in J Building) about your extracurricular activities, honors, special achievements and community service and submit a picture. You must also select a quote you feel best describes you and incorporate it into your video along with the explanation of why you should be included in Hall of Fame. Those chosen will be featured in the yearbook.

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On April 7 at 6:45 a.m., the Tupelo High School AP Science club began their field trip to Atlanta, Georgia. It consisted of long days and short nights, but to the AP Science club members, it was well worth it. The two-day field trip started out with a boom. Teachers and students went to Six Flags and got to experience the thrilling roller coasters the amusement park provided. “My favorite part of the trip was definitely getting to go to Six Flags and riding the roller coasters,” said Lauren Losordo, a THS senior. “The lines weren’t that long, so it was quite nice.” Although this sounds like all fun and games, the students were also learning new things along the way. “I learned that when a roller coaster makes a drop, there is no acceleration because you’re going straight down, which is physically impossible,” said senior Colm McCool. After a full day of roller coasters and fun, the students went to the zoo where they would experience the full effect of the zoo at dark by using night vision goggles. They slept at the zoo that night. Some of the students were quite hesitant to this part of the trip, but they ended up sleeping in a conference room, which was not as bad as some initially thought. “It was kind of weird spending the night in the zoo because I’m a germ freak,” said senior Rachael Malone. “I was kind of nervous sleeping on the floor at somewhere I didn’t know. The floor was kind of hard, but we made it through the night.” The next day, the students woke up bright and early to walk the zoo and see the animals before it opened to the public. The students were given lessons as they walked and talked. “At the zoo, one interesting fact I learned was that kangaroos have babies the size of jelly beans,” said Rachel Hicks. They ended the trip by going to the Coke factory, where they tried dif-

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for the last time as a student, change was there. If there was one thing that changed the most throughout my experience, it would be myself. I went from a scrawny freshman girl who sought after the approval of everything that breathed to an enlightened senior who cares about what she thinks of herself more than what others think of her. I realized what was important and got my priorities in order and everything else fell into place: God first, others second, yourself third. In the ninth grade, I made many poor decisions to impress the “cool” kids and be a part of the “in” crowd, but it never seemed to bring me true fulfillment. It never occurred to me that I was headed down a long, unGodly path that would only lead to trouble, until I was punished for one of my attempts at impressing the “cool” kids. I eventually lost all of my “friends” and was left with nothing but my family and God. From there I began to choose my friends more carefully. Now all of my closest friends I have today exemplify the kind of person I aspire to be. I’m telling you all of these things now, so you can understand why I’m giving you all of this advice that I wish someone would have told me as a freshman, sophomore or junior as well. Set your mind on what truly matters and strive to be the best you that you can be every single day. Trying to be like anyone other than yourself is a waste of time and only leads to disappointment. It turns out that the right people loved me more when I wasn’t trying to be like anyone else but myself. Don’t seek others’ approval and don’t stress over the little

Emily Wright

COURTESY

of influence on your behavior and perspective on life. However, this is not to say that you should not be nice to everyone. In addition, all of the drama and things we think are a big deal now will soon mean nothing to us later, so try not to stress too much over it. It’s all going to be OK and things will work out like they should. Don’t stress over the small things and remember the people who were there for you at your lowest. Enjoy high school to its fullest extent, but also make sure it’s worth your while.

@_Smudged_Ink_ Staff Writer

Hello, my lovely readers. The 2014-2015 school year is coming to a close. Pretty soon we seniors will be reminiscing about our high school experiences and planning for our college years. The juniors will begin plotting their school domination. The sophomores will slowly realize they’ve nearly survived half of their high school careers, and the freshmen will finally be able to breathe. And then there are those like me, still stuck in a whirlwind of, “Where did the time go?” Frankly, it’s still hard to believe I’ve been on the face of the planet for 18 years. I mean, it feels like yesterday that I was watching Disney movies and cuddling with stuffed animals. Actually, that really might have been yesterday, now that I think about it. I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m Kaitlin Flowers, but due to the popularity of my first name, many of my dearest companions refer to me as Flowers (among other, less popular nicknames). My hobbies include reading, writing, watching Netflix and geeking out. My homeaway-from-home is the small auditorium, and it isn’t uncommon to see me typing away on blog posts. Now that everyone has captured my essence, I can get to my point. High school is all well and good, making decent grades and filling time with extra-curricular activities – that kind of thing. However, I think the really important things each of us take with us on graduation day are the bonds we have made. That’s right. I’m getting sappy. Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying he who accumulates the most pals wins high school. That would be ridiculous. The amount of friends a person has is irrelevant. It’s the quality of those friendships that matters, and my bud-

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dies have made high school worth experiencing.

In my opinion, my friends are the best that a girl could have. Whether we’re playing a board game on a late night, running through the splash pad in Fairpark or eating snow cones at Ballard, we always have a good time together.

Kaitlin Flowers

COURTESY

Then there are the sticky notes. This year, my friends – namely Pierce Lehman and Morgan Southworth – have scribbled over 400 messages, quotes and drawings onto Post-It notes. Each one is very dear to me, and I have set aside an entire notebook (which is a big deal for me) to stash these heartfelt stickies. I hear other people complain about backstabbing and undermining in their groups of friends, and of all the issues I do have, that isn’t one of them. The only drama my pals and I are interested in is the theatre department. That’s not to say we haven’t all had problems to deal with, but those problems usually aren’t each other. I’ll be honest; I don’t make friends easily. I’m shy and stubborn and socially inept, but my pals have latched onto me regardless. Whether they know it or not, I would do anything for them, and I can’t imagine life without them. So, while the other seniors can’t wait for graduation and moving off to college, I am terrified of the thought. I’ll miss congregating around our certain pillar outside before school starts and seeing everyone in my theatre class and sharing stories at lunch. I’ve gone through all of this to say that I am going to miss high school. I don’t want to leave life as I know it. Everyone else will tell you how to prepare for the day you leave THS. I’m not ready to go, and I doubt I will be when the time comes. I don’t have a choice, though. I’m just going to have to grow up and deal with it, but I think that’s the point in the end.

will you miss IN THE HALLS What most about THS? “Playing high school basketball.”

“Soccer teammates.”

Malik Douglas

Christian Acosta

Senior

“Mr. Loden and Mr. Ward.”

“Seeing your friends that you grew up with on a daily basis.”

Michael Fowler Senior

Daisy Gutierrez Senior

Opinions

I’m not very good at writing sappy paragraphs professing my love for people or things, so I will just tell it how it is. One word comes to my mind when I think about my high school experience: change. From the moment I stepped into the halls of Tupelo High School to the moment I walked out them

Kaitlin Flowers

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@emilykkwright Staff Writer

things such as embarrassing yourself because chances are, no one noticed but you. Trust me, I fell down the stairs five separate times in front of large amounts of people in the four years I have attended this school. Be content with your life and the person you are, but never get too comfortable. No matter how much you dislike your parents for making you stay at home and clean your room, always forgive them because they will be the ones there for you when everyone else isn’t. Forgive and forget, because that is what we are taught to do as children of God. Some things are inevitable in high school, whether you like it or not. People are cruel and selfish. You are going to discover who your true friends are. You are going to get your feelings hurt. You are going to be left out of things. But in the grand scheme of it all, none of that matters. A wise person once said, “We are defined by our actions toward others. Not others’ actions toward us.” What matters most is how you react to those situations. Act kindly, gently, humbly and mercifully, and as a result, you will find sweet friends who make you truly happy. While we are on the topic of friends and significant others, choose them wisely. Be friends with people you desire to be like, because chances are they will have some kind

yea

Emily Wright

ity,

It’s never Grow up too late and be to change kids

OPINIONS

THE

HI-TIMES A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Editor-in-Chief: Morgan Southworth Assistant Editor: Treyce Bannerman Business Manager: Pierce Lehman Staff Writers: Delaney Norton Nathan Jackson Tiara Henson Kaitlin Flowers Samantha Ratliff Keywanna Rogers Anna Coburn Achintya Prasad Emily Wright Mallie Imbler Megan Ybarra Adviser: Ginny Miller See more news at thscurrent.org Follow us on Twitter @tupelohitimes Corrections The Hi-Times newspaper staff is committed to writing the most accurate and compelling news. We strive for integrity. If there is a misprint in an article, photo cutline or infographic, please tell us, and we will correct the mistake in our next issue. Editorial Policy It is the intent of the editorial staff to provide Tupelo High School students with an opportunity to create a productive forum to further enhance a positive academic environment at the school. The opinions expressed on the editorial page reflect the feelings of the entire Hi-Times staff unless otherwise bylined. Guest editorials may be submitted to The Hi-Times and will be published according to available space and relevance. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

4SENIORS

SENIORS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • APRIL/MAY 2015APRIL/MAY 2015 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

CLASS OF 2015

COURTESY

The Tupelo Boys lead the student section at a home football game.

Antonio Green, from left, Duke Stubbs, Nick Ratliff, Tre Jenkins and Kyree Bradford at a home basketball game.

The Golden Wave football team gets ready to take the field.

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The football team huddles together after a win.

Math teacher Kayla Fisackerly, from left, history teacher Leslie Pleasants, and seniors Orneda Culberson and Christian Haire ride the senior float in the Homecoming Day Parade.

Bethany Fitts, from left, Anna John Hand, Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth and Natalie Sowers cheer on the Golden Wave. Carson Roberts and Neely Brown react when Brown is announced as Homecoming Queen.

COURTESY

SHAWANDA JONES

COURTESY

MACON MURFF

JEREMY HINDS

6OPINIONS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • APRIL/MAY 2015APRIL/

A life of growth, High school is like Th binge-watching TV transition and opportunity Pierce Lehman @piercetayleh Business Manager

@megandybarra Staff Writer

One of the most unfortunate realizations I have had during my senior year is that I was only able to attend three semesters at Tupelo High School. I spent the majority of my high school career in Biloxi, Mississippi at Bi-

Freshma

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ence all that Tupelo and Tupelo High School have to offer. As for my future plans, I aspire to be an elementary education major at the University of Mississippi. I have dreamt about having my own classroom since I was in third grade, when I came home from school every day to my Dry-Erase board and Expo markers. I find joy in helping others and simply spreading the gift of knowledge, especially to young minds full of wonder and creativity. If I can instill in them the same love of learning that my parents did for me, then I will consider myself an accomplished teacher, mentor and dreamer. If I had to give just one piece of advice to upcoming seniors and underclassmen, it would be stay true to yourself, no matter what. High school has a way of making you see what’s really important, and it also teaches you that your life is just beginning. I say to take chances but to never forget who you are deep inside. Being able to finish high school knowing that

loxi High School. While there, I was a dedicated band member, an active club member and an honor student; yet, I was still searching for something more. While I don’t regret my time at BHS, I can honestly say that my opportunities at THS have shaped me, largely due to the fact that I have made lasting friendships and have gotten to experience a completely different atmosphere. My transfer to THS was vital for my growth as a young adult. As I walked through the doors of my new high school in the middle of my junior year, the strange mixture of both contentment and nervousness came over me – it was the weirdest thing. I knew from the beginning that my presence at THS was one that I wouldn’t forget nor regret. The first two things I noticed were the community of the school and town, as well the festiveness and excitement for the numerous events throughout the COURTESY Megan Ybarra school year. As someone who has experienced two different high schools, you’ve never completely lost yourI don’t think a lot of students realself is an amazing accomplishment. ize how lucky they are to have gone As I begin college, I will push to THS all four years. I found and to be the best me and to stand out continue to find that there is always among the crowd by being a role something going on; the traditions model and a leader. After all, I betalone make me feel like I have been a ter start practicing, because one part of the Golden Wave family from day, I will have a classroom of smilthe beginning. I can’t help but wish ing faces watching my every move. I would’ve had more time to experi-

High school is kind of like bingewatching a horribly incredible television show. At the beginning, you get really excited because you are discovering a whole world that you didn’t even know existed. It is thrilling, scary and brilliant. Life is good. Then about half a season in, the addictive tendencies kick in. It seems that you can’t stop watching and learning about your favorite characters. Obsession has arrived. Talking to anyone and everyone about how great this show is is all you want to do. That is freshman year, telling everyone how great it is to be in high school and how cool you are for being a teenager. You WILL regret some, if not all of it. Sophomore year takes place around the second or third season of your binge-watching experience. You have kind of grown accustomed to the fact that you watch what at the moment seems like the best COURTESY show ever. There is no longer that Pierce Lehman incessant need to find someone to fangirl or fanboy over your favorite undeniably relieved that you can programming with, but the excitestop watching this show that has ment for watching the show is still consumed your life for the past few there. You have made it so far. The days. On the other hand, it has bedraw to find out the conclusion of come your routine to immerse yourthe show is still strong. So in short, self in this show. Now that you’ve sophomore year is less embarrassing made it to the end, you will have to because you are not freaking out find something else to binge watch. about being in high school anyEmotions get real. Senior year is a more, but everything is still pretty time when you are so ready to try exciting. something new, and you can barely Junior year is when the slump put the energy forward to do the happens. You have made it so far things in front of you. At the same into the show that you can’t give time you really really don’t want up now, but characters are changto give up what you have grown so ing and you start to like different complacent doing and being around people you love. r n yea a When the series is over and nothm sh ing is left to watch, there is relief and tiredness because you stayed up to ungodly hours every night that week just to watch it all. This is how I imagine graduation will feel like. Excitement to finally move on from high school and start a new chapter, but also undoubtedly scared that this stage of my life is over and I have to go face the real world and all of the scary things it holds. people on the show than you did If you ever feel like you can’t to begin with. Everything is difmake it through high school, just ferent and you can see the end in binge watch “Supernatural” or sight, which is encouraging, but you “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” are kind of bored with everything Trust me, you can do it.

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Megan Ybarra

that’s happening. Junior year is a time when people start figuring out about themselves and the end is in sight. Senior year is just around the corner and you can’t wait to see what will happen. Senior year is like watching that very last season on Netflix. You are

You can quote me on that Morgan Southworth @MNSouthworth Editor-in-Chief

e ar an y m sh

Fr e

All right, so I could write a big, long memoir about my generic high school memories, but nobody would care and that wouldn’t be fun. I would mostly like to give younger teens advice but now is not the time nor place. That limits that. I once read that a quote a person loves says a lot more about them than the original speaker. Maybe that’s true. So instead of leaving you with my words, I am going to leave you with words I like from other people. May that be enough. “The world is so incredible. There are girls in this world, and there are also dogs. You can put melted cheese on any type of potato. Sometimes flowers grow even when there is nobody there to water them. Right now on this same planet where we live, there are people who are in love who are kissing each other on the nose. Emotions and colors are both things that exist. Everything is so great.” – Anonymous “Be proud of your place in the cosmos. It may be small, and yet it is. How unlikely. How fantastic. And stupid. And excellent.” – Cecil Palmer, “Welcome to Night Vale”

“I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here...rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness...give me truth.” – Jon Krakauer “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu “Before I am your daughter, your sister, your aunt, niece, or cousin, I am my own person and I will not set myself on fire to keep you warm.” – Hannah Joy Robinson “Icarus. The original myth had two parts. Daedalus said to his son, ‘I have fashioned these wings for you. Two rules. Don’t fly too high, or the sun will melt the wax. But, more important, son, don’t fly too low. Because if you fly too low, the water and the waves will surely weigh down the wings, and you will die.’ We’ve left out the second part of the myth. We don’t say to people anymore, ‘Don’t fly too low.’ All we do from the time they are four years old is warn them against hubris. We have created this industrially led structure that says: ‘How dare you.’” – Seth Godin “He doesn’t love me. But here’s the thing: I love me. So I’m done.” – Michaela Pratt, “How to Get Away With Murder” “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right and if wrong, to be set right.” – Carl Schurz “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson “We have not touched the stars, nor are we

forgiven, which brings us back to the hero’s shoulders and the gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it.” – Richard Siken, “Crush”

“Adam was beginning to realize he hadn’t known Ronan at all. Or, rather, he had known part of him and assumed it was all of him.” – Maggie Stiefvater, “Blue Lily, Lily Blue” ““You can’t just sit there and put everyone’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love.” – Stephen Chbosky “I’ve been rereading your story. I think it’s about me in a way that might not be flattering, but that’s OK. We dream and dream of being seen as we really are and then finally someone looks at us and sees us truly and we fail to measure up. Anyway: story received, story included. You looked at me long enough to see something mysterioso under all the gruff and bluster. Thanks. Sometimes you get so close to someone you end up on the other side of them.” – Richard Siken, COURTESY “Crush” Morgan Southworth

OPINIONS

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Mallie Imbler

Hi-Times newspaper instead of doing chorus. The Hi-Times staff is made up of a very diverse group of people; people I

IN THE HALLS “First, so I don’t have to worry about it second semester. I just want to get it over with.”

Sawyer Tucker Freshman

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In no way am I trying to tell you to drop everything and join the newspaper staff. What I am trying to convey is that high school is about learning new things and trying different activities, and doing the same thing every day makes for a boring life. I never planned to change everything I had been doing for the past four years, but I am glad that I did. In high school and in life, my best piece of advice would be to never be afraid to try new things, even if that is not what your friends are doing, because you never know how many friendships you could be missing out on. So embrace new experiences and opportunities. High school seems to have passed in the blink of an eye, but I am glad that I had the courage to try something new. I believe high school really does change people. There is no way I would have done something so different freshman year. I am glad that high school has made me into a more independent and outgoing person who is not worried about what other people think. The past four years have been a series of good, bad and everywhere-in-between moments. However, the one thing I would tell you has been 100 percent good is the decision I made to go out on a limb, do something totally different and try something new. Embrace all that THS has to offer, and do not be afraid to be who you are and do the things you want to do. After all, when all is said and done it matters more how you feel about yourself than what others think about you.

Which semester would you rather have senior project? “Second semester. You can get ideas from what other people did. ”

Chloe Ingram Freshman

IN THE HALLS

What advice IN THE HALLSwould you give upcoming seniors? “Do not procrastinate.”

Jordyn Taylor Senior

“No matter what, always make school your first priority.”

@delaneycnorton Staff Writer

The 2014-2015 school year is ending and I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life....although I’ve never quite known why college is so easily romanticized over high school. OK, that’s a lie – there are some pretty obvious reasons. It seems like nobody here can truly have a will all their own, for one. But even that’s not completely true, because this really dumb part of our lives is supposed to force

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us into becoming individuals. However that may come about, however long we have to remain our dense selves to realize that something has to give, change is bound to happen. But it’s all disgustingly beautiful, because who wants to remain their middle school self, right? Something I ever-so-slowly realized in high school is the law of attraction; that is, putting out the type of energy you’d like the universe to reciprocate. I am a stupidly passive person, and although I could easily go through my entire life dodging things I have a problem with, I would become some kind of insane. I used to simply not act on situations to avoid critique, and it was making me less of a person altogether. Rest assured that if you are the type of person who is terrified to speak in front of a room of people, it will remain terrifying for x-amount of years, but you’ll slowly stop caring that people know this about you. Nothing really gets easier. You just get stronger and hopefully after you’ve been hurt enough

times you’ll have decided to surround yourself with people who root for one another rather than relish in others’ downfall. Hopefully you won’t remain to be that cynical person yourself either, because in the words of Maya Angelou, “There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.” I had a horrifying realization the other day that two people in passing may think to themselves, “that person is wasting their life.” I’ve come to the resolution that nobody can stop people from thinking this, but if you’re getting this rise out of others, it means you’ve become yourself enough to be noticeable. It’s the attitude of letting people think what they may, but remaining content in knowing who you are and that you’ve tried emitting this into the world. In the course of high school, people are going to start believing in you more than you think is warranted. That, or they’ll largely underestimate you. Both have been humbling motivators to better myself and pursue becoming the type of person that I want to become in this life. Don’t go through high school just waiting for graduation, and don’t go

Delaney Norton

COURTESY

through the week just waiting for the weekend – there’s a lot to the middle of them.

IN THE HALLS

What do you wish you had known as a freshman? “Don’t waste too much time and energy trying to be popular. Just be yourself. You’ll have more fun, and high school won’t be so stressful.”

“Don’t take high school too seriously. Relax and have fun.”

“Try to get to know as many people as possible and make as many new friends as you can.”

Claire Loden

Mitch Ostrander Senior

Larkin Robins

Senior

“I wish I know what the Doritos Locos Tacos was.”

“I wish I had known that relationships are more important than things.”

“That high school goes by fast.”

Kyle Alford

Camille Bauer

Nolan Vora

“I wish I knew to be more careful about who I hung around with.”

“I wish I knew that I won’t have the same friends as I did as a freshman.”

“To take it seriously and playing around isn’t worth it in the end because it messes up your GPA.”

Senior

Deazha Riley Senior

Senior

“Be ready. Just be ready. It’s not as easy as you would think. Prepare yourself.”

“Don’t get a job until the summer. Come to school on time. Buy a graphing calculator.”

Daijuan Spencer

Scentrellis Dixon

Senior

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I vividly remember coming to the realization on my first day of middle school that I only had six years of school left. Now I am a senior and am counting down the days until May 15. As I reflect on my high school career, I realize that a chapter of my life is coming to a close, but another one is beginning. While I am excited to begin college, I cannot help but feel a bit nostalgic about the past four years. I know that I could spend this time discussing important advice underclassman should know, but instead I feel like I should share about the best decision I made in high school. Growing up, I have always stuck to the same activities. I have been in choir since I was three and I took dance lessons for over a decade. Therefore, I spent most of my time in the choral department. While I would not trade the experiences and friends I made in choir for anything, I felt that I needed a change senior year. Second semester, I decided that I would write for The

Delaney Norton

@meimbler Staff Writer

had never talked to or been friends with. However, I felt that making a change was right. Not only has my experience on the newspaper staff opened up opportunities and new ideas, but it has, most importantly, created lasting friendships.

Fre

Mallie Imbler

The best decision I made Becoming yourself

Senior

London Ruth Senior

Senior

London Judd Senior

Senior

Shaun Kohlheim Senior

8ART&ENTERTAINMENT

MISHEARD LYRICS of 2014-2015

IN THE HALLS What are you doing for your senior trip? “I am going to Scottsdale, Arizona, because it has beautiful desert scenery and an abundance of mountain trails.” Benton Barber

2 Blank Space - Taylor Swift Correct: “Got a long list of ex-lovers” Misheard: “Got a lot of starbucks lovers”

Senior

“I’m going to Nashville with my stepdad for a few days to see the Rolling Stones play.”

Mickey Sesin Senior

“My friends and I are going to Gatlinburg, because it’s family friendly, and it shouldn’t be as crowded as the beach. It also has lots of attractions.” Victoria Wise

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • APRIL/MAY 2015

Black Widow - Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora Correct: “Black widow baby” Misheard: “Black widdle baby”

Fancy - Iggy Azalea Correct: “I’m so fancy, can’t you taste this gold?” Misheard: “I’m so fancy, can’t you taste this scone?”

All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor Correct: “I’m all about that bass, about that bass, no treble” Misheard: “I’m all about that bass, about that bass, snow shovel”

Senior

“We are going to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.”

Jenny Ware Senior

“I’m going to Universal Studios. I love the theme park. I love to walk around it, and I’m excited because they have some cool new rides.” Christian Bean Senior

“Bahamas, St. Thomas, Tortola. I think it will be fun, because it’s the beach, and since I’ve never been there before.”

5 MAGIC! - Rude Correct: ”Saturday morning jumped out of bed and put on my best suit” Misheard: ”Saturday morning jumped out of bed and put on my bear suit”

“We are going to Punta Gorda, Florida. I’m excited, because we will get to go to the beach, see my family, and it’s also in the middle of Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World.”

Shake It Off - Taylor Swift Correct: “Fakers gonna fake, fake, fake” Misheard: “Bakers gonna bake, bake, bake”

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars Correct: “Got chucks on with Saint Laurent” Misheard: “Got chucks on and we’re saying it wrong”

Fancy - Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX Correct: “I’m so fancy. Can’t you taste this gold?” Misheard: “I’m so fancy. Can’t you taste this goat?” Compiled by Pierce Lehman

THE LAST FOUR YEARS

Rachel Hicks Senior

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014

2014/2015

• Kate Middleton

• Dr. Gearl Loden

• Malaysia Airlines

• Blue Turf/Gold Track

and Prince William

new to TPSD

Flight 370

• Record snowfall

married

• Conspiracy that the

goes missing

• Northern Loop opens

• Jason Harris new

world was going to

• Government

• Elvis’ 80th birthday

principal at THS

end

shutdown

• College football

• 2012 Summer

• Introduction of

• Ebola outbreak begins

success in Mississippi

Olympics in London

block schedule and

• Tornado

• Dr. Loden named

T-period at THS

Superintendent of the Year

Lexy Wages Senior

Synergy sweeps regional, wins FAME award “We added a few rehearsals,” she said. “The “I felt like a champion,” she said. “I kind of alsnow and the ice hurt us a little bit because we lost ready knew we had won first place, but you never @treycebannerman Assistant Editor five rehearsals. We just made sure all the rehearsknow what the judges may think. But in my eyes, als we did have were very efficient. The girls really we’re all winners.” On March 21, Tupelo High School’s Synergy was buckled down. We worked a lot on vocal stuff, and Jones reacted emotionally to the results. crowned grand champions at the FAME show choir we really worked on our movements and made “I began to cry,” she said. “Not only because I competition in Orlando, Florida. The group qualisure everything was perfectly synchronized.” was excited, but because we have been working so fied to compete in the national show choir compe“It’s hard work, but at the end of the day tition in Waukegan, Illinois. Prior to their success it’s worth it,” Holliman added. in Orlando, Synergy placed second at the South Frerer said she is pleased with the Central Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. group’s hard work and efforts “I had a great experience bringing the before and during competition. girls and the guys to Orlando,” said Dani- Synergy was “I thought they did a great elle Frerer, Synergy director. “They are crowned grand job at FAME,” Frerer said. “I fantastic kids. We had a great time. We champions at was very proud of them. I have got to go to Disney World for a day. We the FAME show seen videos of it – I’m in the went to the Magic Kingdom. That was choir competiback conducting the band, so TREYCE BANNERMAN really fun.” tion in Orlando, Synergy rehearses before a competition. I don’t get to see it from the The competition was the next day. Florida. The front – but I’ve seen it enough “It was just a really great experience group qualitimes at our rehearsals that I know hard. We take up most of our Tuesdays, Thursdays for the kids,” Frerer said. “They really fied to compete that I’m really proud of what they’re and weekends for this, and we really deserved it.” put their heart and soul into what they in the national doing each and every day. What they On April 24, Synergy earned the FAME award at did, and it really paid off in the end.” show choir do on a performance day is always the the national competition in Illinois. One Synergy member attributed the competition in super important, but what they do day “We received the award because we have a group’s success to how well all of the Waukegan, Ilto day is most important to me. They great attitude not only on stage but importantly choir’s members get along, despite a linois. compete every day.” off stage,” Holliman said. “It means a lot to me to rigourous rehearsal schedule. Shania Jones, an alto vocalist and know that the staff thought we were polite and “It’s a really cohesive group,” junior sophomore member of Synergy, said the experikind, even more than winning on stage does.” Katherine Holliman said. “We all get along like Foundation to Journalism student Avery-Claire Littleton ence in Orlando was about more than winning. one big family.” contributed to this story. Following Synergy’s performance, Jones was As the FAME Orlando competition drew nearer, confident the group did well. preparation efforts intensified, Frerer explained. Treyce Bannerman