Wildcat Tales: Issue 4, Volume 69

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KEEPING FAITH THROUGH THE FIRE

A

Issue 4

Decem ber 1 ,

201 4

Photos submitted by Chad Faith

Above: At 1 a.m., the Plano Fire Department doused the house with water as they worked to put out the fire.

Inside:

Left: The Faiths’ Camaro sits in their former garage, destroyed by the flames.

By Ashley Stuber

“

total loss.” Those were the words the firemen used to tell the Faith siblings and their father that their house was destroyed. Across the country, their mother was told that all she had left was her family.

The official cause of the fire was a rat who chewed through the house’s main electrical wire, which ran underneath a shed. After the shed was engulfed in flames, the fire leaped onto their fence and across the yard to the back of their house.

“It’s really surreal,’” senior Lauren Faith said. “We ran outside and I was like, ‘okay, they’re going to put the fire out in the shed and we’re going to go back in the house.’ But then after only seven minutes of us getting out, it was already at the peak. I stood and watched it for a minute, and I could see the cars starting to bend and become malleable because

they were just melting.”

The only reason they were alerted to the fire is because the headphones of Timothy Faith, Lauren’s younger brother, fell off as he rolled over in bed, allowing him to hear the noise of their gun going off inside their camper due to excessive heat. His regular bedroom is on the other side of the house – had he not broken his ankle five weeks prior, he would not have been in a position to notice the fire. His mom was on a business trip, but his dad woke up to the sound of his footsteps as he ran down the hallway.

“I went from being asleep to being very afraid,” Earth and Space Science teacher and former coach Chad Faith said. “I just turned to him and I yelled my daughter’s name and said, ‘get out, get out.’ They both said, ‘what do we grab?’ and I said, ‘you don’t have any time to grab anything.’

So we got our dog and the clothes

on our back and went out front to watch it go.”

For the first eight hours after leaving her house, Lauren did not even have shoes. She went shopping three times in the first week just for necessities.

“Anything that wasn’t ruined by fire was ruined by water,” Lauren said. “I’ve always had everything that I need and more, so for me the biggest lesson is, ‘cherish the things that you have.’ I definitely didn’t need all of it. I never understood that.”

In their garage, they lost a Camaro, a dually truck, a motorcycle and a pop-up camper.

Lauren said the items in the house were harder to identify.

“Obviously it’s devastating,” Chad said. “I mean, your house is gone, your cars are gone, everything’s gone. But really, the things that mattered most were there. Timothy saved our lives.

For me, that was the lighthearted

moment.”

The jokes the family made about the house included a suggestion that they file a flood claim in addition to a fire claim and a realization by Lauren that she no longer had to wash the pile of laundry that was on her bedroom floor.

“The next day, one of our neighbors made the comment that it struck him strange that we were standing out front laughing,” Chad said. “And I said, ‘well, what else could you do?’”

Some losses, however, could not be seen in a positive light, Lauren said. These included her homecoming mum, her large collection of school shirts and the jersey she received when the baseball team, which she is the manager of, went to playoffs. Yet they didn’t lose everything.

Continued on p. 6

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Cyclists discuss their experiences with riding

4

Read about the school’s Vine celebrities

8

Students reflect on the weight they carry daily

YOUNG SCIENTISTS TRAVEL TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONALS

By Gabe LaBounty

Online Check out the Wildcat Weekly for your world news update

www.wildcattales.com

Four seniors will be traveling to San Jose next February to take part in the National Symposium which focuses on recognizing science fair winners. Out of the several thousand Science Fair projects, these four students will take their dioramas and experiments to the elite conference. They have traveled through many other rounds, including the most recent Texas Junior

Academy of Science, or TJAS, competition.

Emilie Wille has participated in 12 science fairs. Her eleventh-grade project was on using UV radiation to purify water. The idea for this project first came to Wille on her family vacations.

“I hike a lot and my family takes many trips to national parks,” Wille said. “Out there if you get lost, you are lost for a really long time. We always

pack extra water in case but it would be good to have a way to purify water.”

Her next step was to find somewhere she could conduct the experiment.

Several Science Fair contestants use professors’ labs for the experiments, and Wille tried to procure a lab.

Continued on p. 2

Photo submitted by Emilie Wille

Senior Emilie Wille standing in front of her project. “I am good with interviewing – especially when I know my project,” Wille said. “It feels just like having a conversation.

I don’t get super nervous because I enjoy the experience of sharing my project with people.”

News

2

Young scientists travel to participate in Nationals

Continued from p.1

By Gabe LaBounty

“After I couldn’t get a lab, I realized it isn’t “It has been one of the things that has been an advantage to use a lab,” Wille said. “What I in my family for a while,” Alexander said. “I’ve originally wanted was to use was a machine to always loved science more than any other class. detect the different bacteria in the water but I always thought Science Fair was something I because that was not possible, I used Petri dishes could do and I could create something I wanted which gave me the data I needed.” to.”

Wille then ran into a large obstacle in her Ria Chhabra has been participating in experiment. She decided to set up the test on a science fairs since she was in elementary school. day that turned out unlike she expected.

According to Chhabra, she is excited to travel to “I woke up and it was overcast,” Wille said. San Jose next year.

“That was dreadful. However, I liked that obstacle “The thing we all love about science fair is because I could see how the treatment worked in when you win you get an all-expenses paid trip,” different weather conditions and found out that Chhabra said. “Last time we went to Boston there is still enough UV radiation to decrease which was amazing.” bacteria amount, it just Chhabra’s happens a lot slower. That project centered is why I like the science on organic vs. nonI like science fair because you fair because you are faced organic foods and are faced with roadblocks, with roadblocks, but in the their health impacts. but in the end you can still She measured the end you can still reach your reach your goal. goal.” pesticide levels and Science Fair typically found something she involves a day of boards did not expect to find. and answering questions from judges. On this “Organic foods are better for you,” Chhabra day, the judges asked Wille about the leakage said. “I found that washing your fruits and of a certain chemical caused by burning plastic vegetables made them more like organic foods.” from her experiment.

The Symposium in San Jose has a different “I was not expecting to be asked about it,” take on the conventional science fairs. In Wille said. “I was able to answer this because addition to the presentation format, students I did a project on this in sixth grade. I found can choose to instead present their projects at that bottled water bottles did not contain that a Roundtable format. Chhabra said she believes chemical. That was probably the question that it is very important to share your projects with was farthest from my research.” kindred spirits.

Renita Alexander is also participating at “The kids you meet here have great projects Nationals. She has competed in five science fairs and they are just like you,” Chhabra said. “They and this year she made a hydroelectric generator struggle with a few of their classes, and it’s just to conduct electricity. Her real world application fun to talk to people with similar interests.” is for individuals to use in third world countries.

According to Alexander, her love of science fair stems from its commitment to science.

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THE WILDCAT TALES

DECEMBER 1, 2014

NASA reaches out, aids reservations

By Abigail Werner

The Native American Student of her own background, it is important Association, otherwise known as for everything to go as planned.

NASA, is now in the making. This new “Last year I did some research on club includes learning and preserving the reservations,” Crisp said. “I learned Native American culture and helping that those people need our help, and I people in need. felt like it was time to give back.”

NASA According was started to Crisp, she by a former looks forward student to the meetings of Brenda and said that Hoffman, she will follow the club’s a schedule. sponsor.

“First we will “Kathryn have elections Crisp was in for officers and my summer organize things s c h o o l for the bake Government sale donations,” c l a s s , ” Crisp said.

Hoffman “ E ve r y t h ing Graphic by Ariana Leyva s a i d . This map of Texas shows the state’s current Native else is “She said American reservations. “After doing research on the undetermined she was reservations, it hit me how much poverty rates have gone at this point interested up in the past few years,” Crisp said. “With there not being and we will many reservations in Texas, it only makes things worse.” in starting see where a student things go association for Native Americans.” once the club is in full force.”

According to Hoffman, she is As far as rules for joining, there are looking forward to the meetings and none. being able to sponsor the club. She said “You don’t have to have Native she is focusing on Crisp’s image for the American blood to join,” Crisp club and making sure that everything said. “You just have to want to help is well-planned according to her goals. someone in need.”

“The first goal was to make the Crisp said when other people are student population aware of current happy, especially those in need, she Native American issues,” Hoffman feels pride by being a part of that said. “The other is to raise money for happiness. reservation projects and needs.”

“I look forward the most to making Senior Kathryn Crisp is a Native a difference in my community,” Crisp American herself and thought a lot said. “Especially while making new about her visions for the club. Crisp friends.” said that since she is basing the club off

NHS lends helping hands

By Emily Perez

National Honor Society has brought “A lot of students will listen to back student-run tutorials in the library other students who have been every Tuesday and Thursday for math through what they’re going and science. The tutorials had been through and know what it’s like. offered a few years back but have not That peer-to-peer interaction is been offered since. really important.”

Senior Activity Coordinator Aaron According to Leonard, she Liu has worked with fellow members of recognizes that the tutorials are NHS and the library to bring back the not only valuable to students tutoring sessions. but to teachers as well.

“The library has study hours during “This could also help a lot zero hour and seventh period, so we of the teachers,” Leonard said. provide tutors during those times,” Liu “Instead of worrying about Photo by Emily Perez said. “Anybody in the library during tutoring a ton of kids, students those study hours is free to ask for Seniors Justin Chaves and Sam Choi help each other study in the who have done well can help library. “Being a part of NHS is really fun,” Chaves said. help.” their fellow peers to do better The study sessions not only help and help alleviate some of that we check their grades,” Liu said. “We also students who are struggling to catch up in talk to their teachers to makes sure they’re stress from the teachers.” certain subjects, but since the tutors have suitable tutors.”

According to Liu, he sees this to sign up through NHS, it also helps the opportunity as more than just another way While Liu has worked hard to get the members earn service hours. to earn hours. word out on the new project, it has taken a “The members have a certain amount of group effort to make it happen.

“I’ve always volunteering hours they need in a semester, “My fellow officers have had a huge part been a really and this is one way they can earn them,” in making the tutorials happen,” Liu said. strong believer Liu said. “We have students here that could “Not did they contribute, but the librarian in giving back to really use the help from their peers, so it felt Ms. Sellers and Ms. Leonard definitely the community,” like a good way for students to kill two birds helped make it happen.”

Liu said. “And with one stone.”

As a teacher, co-sponsor of NHS working with our A mandatory screening process insures Shanique Leonard said she sees how the peers is just one that all of the tutors are credible. way the members tutorials are beneficial.

“We have the ID numbers of the “Sometimes students can find it hard to of NHS and I can members on hand and when they sign up ask for help from a teacher,” Leonard said. do that.”

Sports

3

A hooligan’s game

Rugby team prepares for upcoming season

THE WILDCAT TALES

you Did ??? w k no

DECEMBER 1, 2014

Before the end of the 19th century, rugby balls were made from pig bladders and blown up by breath alone.

By Anna Villano As the players battle for the ball, mud covers In 2000, the city team was co-founded their arms and legs. With feet planted firmly by head coach Frank Waller. After on the ground, both teams expect to win. dropping football and pursuing rugby Although it is not recognized by as many pep in college, he uses the knowledge he has rallies or student sections, rugby still involves a gained over the years to lead the city team similar amount of tackling and sportsmanship to success. as football does.

“Rugby is different from football’s Senior Carter Hunchik is the captain of plays that pack a lot of intensity in a short the varsity team, which consists of juniors amount of time,” Waller said. “Everything and seniors from all three senior high schools. happens continuously so these guys During the spring season, teams of varying age have to recognize plays and act on them groups meet every other weekend to challenge immediately. The game really long-winded teams from surrounding areas. The varsity team and you need the strength for that.” is set to have its first match on Jan. 17 against According to Black, anybody can play Heart of Texas. rugby. There are positions suitable for any “There are around ten teams in the DFW body size or shape. area and even more all across Texas,” Hunchik “It’s true that you have to stay physically said. “Even if they’re on a different team, fit,” Black said. “A lot of the strength you’re friends with them. We usually go out to you need to have is mental, though. It’s eat with them afterwards. You meet a lot of important to have the right mindset to get people through this sport.” through the game.”

Photo submitted by Steven Ledzelter Rugby is considered a club team by the After playing for more than nine city and is not UIL recognized. In rugby, years, Hunchik seeks to pursue rugby in “People’s biggest fear about rugby is that they know nothing about it,” head coach Waller said. “That’s what we’re here for. We’ll show you.” play is continuous without any time-outs or college. Hunchik said scouts from multiple substitutions. Because of this, junior Rickey universities and the professional USA team During the matches, only captains are able to communicate Black claimed that there is an exceptional amount have expressed interest. with the referees, leaving the rest of the team unable to voice of respect and relationships built on the field.

“I joined rugby because everyone had a chance to run “We’re fighting for survival for 80 minutes,” Black their complaints. Despite the roughness of the game, the with the ball and everyone had a chance to score so I found said. “It’s such a rough sport and you need to trust your players are expected to display a certain amount of etiquette. it really fun,” Hunchik said. “I’m sticking with it because it’s “It’s a hooligan’s sport played by gentlemen,” Black said. such a great atmosphere. There’s lots of sportsmanship – teammates to make sure the hard work will be worth it in the end. When it’s over, we all have so much respect for the “Respect is definitely something we focus a lot on while the players hold themselves differently than players in other we’re on the field.” other team because they did just as much work.” sports do.”

Riding to inspire Avid cyclists discuss their sport In an attempt to stay fit, help the environment and save money, people have started to take up bicycling.

Through various weather conditions and thousands of miles, English teacher Kevin Dunagan and senior Gunnar Scheck are ready to ride.

“I ride to school in any weather,” Dunagan said. “For six years I have been riding to school and I’m not going to stop anytime soon.”

Dunagan started commuting by bike to school when he realized his seven mile drive could be accomplished by bike.

“Riding saves me a lot of money, I recently read that the cost per year of owning a car is extremely expensive – if you don’t drive very much, at least $3000,” Dunagan said. “I put a lot of money into my bike, as I need to maintain it. I couldn’t imagine the cost if I drove a car as much as I ride my bike.”

Inspired by his father, Scheck started riding for sport at the age of nine. Over the summer of 2014, Scheck participated in a race called “Hotter Than Hell” in Wichita Falls. He placed fourth in the race of about 60

people.

By Lizzy Ritchie

“Bicycling was just kind of there,” Scheck said. “Once I started though, I really got into it. It’s much different than any other sport because the only person pushing you to be better is yourself.”

According to Scheck, his long term goals include pushing himself to success, and he would one day like to attempt to become a world champion.

“I’m fortunate to have never gotten a major injury,” Scheck said. “Only a few scrapes here and there and some bruises to go along with them.”

Dunagan believes that riding instead of driving can change perspective.

“It transforms traveling,” Dunagan said. “You see things you never noticed before in a car. Not only is riding fun, but it’s better than a cup of coffee in the morning.”

Dunagan has been riding for 12 years and has rode a total of 30,000 miles. He tends to ride solo, except on the occasional weekend with his neighbor who is a professional rider.

“I’ve been riding since around my high school years,” Dunagan said. “No weather can stop me from riding to school. I have the proper gear and I have camped in freezing temperatures.”

According to Dunangan, all riders should know the rules of the road better than an experienced driver. No amount of riding is worth taking lives.

“Make sure you always ride with a buddy or in a group,” Dunangan said. “The bigger your group is, the safer you are.”

Both Dunagan and Scheck ride daily for hours, working to get better.

“You have to have fun and enjoy any sport if you consider doing it professionally,” Scheck said. “It’s impossible to be good at a sport if you’re not willing to push yourself every day to be better.”

Dunagan said he wishes to inspire others Photo submitted by Gunnar Scheck to start riding.

Gunnar Scheck in front, warming up on his bike. “Before the race starts I like “Riding can really change the way you getting pumped up by listening to music,” Scheck said. “My warm up ride helps look at things on the road,” Dunagan said. me get ready.”

“It’s an experience I would never give up.”

Arts & Entertainment Teachers reflect on their favorite books

By Falyn Traina

Renee Birdsell:

“The Four Loves”

by C.S. Lewis

I think the reason why it’s my favorite book is because in the book he uses lots and lots of analogies. The analogies are easy to understand even though he's talking about this topic that's big and complex, because relationships are big and complex. Trying to define emotion is really hard to do, but he does it in a way that's really easy and accessible. I was able to read it and understand it as a high school student, but in college and as an adult and as I continue to move through life and experience all those different types of love, I just feel like I have a new appreciation for it.

I think that’s why it’s my favorite – because I can come back to it and I can continue to come back to it for my entire life. I'm going to continue to grow and my relationships are going to continue to change, so it always feels like a fresh read even though I'm very well acquainted with the book.

Vanda Terrell:

“The Book Thief”

by Markus Zusak

It’s a beautiful journey, it’s a coming of age story and it helps you gain another perspective on the Holocaust. I’ve read a lot about the Holocaust because I’m really interested in it, and I’ve only really read about the Jewish perspective of it. But to see a story from the perspective of the Germans during the Holocaust, it’s very interesting. This is what I would call a contemporary classic.

Some day people will say, “Oh, you have to read ‘The Book Thief ’ because it’s so great.”

Megan Bourgeois: “A Prayer for Owen Meany”

by John Irving

Breaking away from the books that I teach, this is one of my all-time favorites.

It’s amazing. It’s the kind of book that changes you.

In the end, it all comes together in a way that amazes you. I usually don’t read books more than once, because there are so many to read, but this is a book I would read multiple times.

Debbie Lindley:

“Redeeming Love”

by Francine Rivers

I loved it because it’s biblical, but this is like a modern-day take on biblical stories. It’s a love story and it’s a girl’s turmoil. It’s a thousandpage book but I could not put it down. It’s one book I would read again, and I don’t reread books because I read too much in the first place.

Eat to the beat Many consider lunch to be a time when they eat their meal and finish last night’s homework. For some, however, it’s when they move and shake.

Senior Kevin Reyes has been dancing along with his friends during lunch for two years now, but his interest in dance was sparked when he was a young boy.

“Ever since I was little, I would watch my cousin dance – he would be popping and locking,” Reyes said. “Now I’ve gotten into it and have been doing it for

4

THE WILDCAT TALES

DECEMBER 1, 2014

By Mari Brown

14 years.”

Reyes’s fellow dancer, junior Harvey Lou, began his hobby of dancing more recently.

“I started dancing in late August because I didn’t want to be a loser who plays video games all day,” Lou said.

“I’ve grown to be really passionate about dancing now.”

Junior Hieuy Nguyen said his fascination with dance came about because of his friends.

“I started out with gloving, w h i ch is a type of dance where you perfor m w i t h g l o v e s ,” Nguyen said. “My friends t h e n started to go to raves and Photos by Mari Brown Senior Kevin Reyes practices his dance skills during lunch.

I began “It’s when I get to hang with friends and dance,” he said. to take an

interest in rave culture.”

Ngyuyen said he likes the bonding experiences that he forms with his fellow dancers.

“It’s fun to dance in a cypher with my dancing family,” Nguyen said. “That’s a circle of dancers or beat-boxers who take turns free-styling in the center. I enjoy it because I really feel the vibe.”

Reyes does not only dance for fun during their lunch performances.

“I do it for extra practice, to get better at dancing,” Reyes said. “It’s also a good way to hang with friends and get away from school work.”

Lou said his involvement in dance and with others socially has greatly increased since the beginning of the year.

“I have made many new friends and now do lots of competitions,” Lou said. “I’m part of the dance crew, Lost Boys, and we take trips on Saturdays to perform at gigs.”

By choice, Reyes has dedicated his lunch to dancing and being with friends. Lou said he achieves a personal connection with himself and others through his dancing.

“I can express myself more and it also helps me release stress,” said Lou. “It is like being in a new world – it makes me happy.”

Fame on vainglorious Vine

By Stephanee Smith Vine is a social media platform where members post videos that show everything from over-emphases of Michelle Obama’s favorite fall vegetable to recordings of random stunts to “A Week Ago” by Jay-Z. Branching out from Twitter, Vine now contains 13 million users.

Senior Hudson Kuykendall started using Vine during his sophomore year.

Recently, Kuykendall created a vine that he refers to as “School going up on a Tuesday” that has over 200,000 likes and revines.

“I was really excited that I finally had a popular vine – like I had been trying to make for a while,” Kukendall said. “It also felt good to read the comments that said that it made people’s days. Overall, I feel blessed to be able to make people laugh.”

Kuykendall’s vine profile consists of 39 videos each containing a variety of puns, dancing and random scenarios. Kuykendall’s “School going up on a Tuesday” includes Kuykendall dancing to “Tuesday” by Drake in various rooms such as the hallways in B building, the softball field and in front of

the library. stereo that played, “I for the vine to go previously.”

“I was inspired to Need a Hero.” viral,” Mendoza said.

Naqi said his make the vine because “The kid who “The notifications inspiration to dress up of my outfit and I dressed up as Shrek was were honestly getting as Shrek came from a also wanted to make in my American studies annoying, but I didn’t strange video that was a funny vine with a class,” Mendoza said. think of it as a funny previously popular weird dance move,” “I asked why he was vine. I just thought of called “Shrek is Love.”

Kuykendall said. “My doing it and he told it as a simple vine of At previous events that vine was very random, me, ‘I haven’t Shreked Shrek walking on the Naqi dressed up at, he but I guess people liked in a while.’ I wanted campus.” had received positive it because of the song to record it to give Naqi has dressed reactions that included and the costume.” everyone who hadn’t up for special events high fives and hugs.

According to seen him a chance to before and had decided Naqi said he found Kuykendall, after see him.” to dress up for school, that student’s reactions posting the vine it, Mendoza began partially for his own were different and as well as his Vine using Vine the humor. unexpected. profile, immediately summer before his “I wondered why “At school, became popular. sophomore year as a I hadn’t dressed up everyone takes selfies Kuykendall went from result of the spread of as Shrek for school for Instagram and 142 followers to 11,730 popularity amongst his before,” Naqi said. makes vines,” Naqi followers. friends. According to “I thought people said. “When people “I just expected Mendoza, although he would roll their eyes found out I was Shrek, to get a few likes and doesn’t make a large and think it was they regularly came revines,” Kuykendall amount of vines, he stupid even though I’d up to me and told me said. “But for some tries to make them received many positive how I brightened their reason, it blew up each creative. reactions from places day and how I’m their almost immediately.

“I didn’t expect where I ‘Shreked’ at hero. I’m glad I made Within three minutes everyone happy.” on Twitter it had over Several pictures 60 retweets and 80 were taken of Naqi favorites.” while in costume and Junior Saul he expected people Mendoza has also to post pictures and recently gained videos of him. Like popularity through Mendoza, Naqi did his vine, “My Hero.” not expect the vine Containing more than taken of him to 124,000 likes and spread further than around 90,000 revines his peers.

Mendoza has gained “I was astonished,” an estimated 2,000 Naqi said. “It’s just more followers since some kid in a mask his vine hit popularity. playing ‘All Star.’ After Mendoza’s vine is a thinking to myself, I video of junior Amir guess it was kind of Naqi impersonating funny. I just wanted Shrek. Naqi roamed to pull some stupid the school with a harmless joke – I vibrant green Shrek Naqi in full costume, including his Shrek Photo by Stephanee Smith didn’t think it would mask while holding a mask and the same shirt he wore in the popular vine. get this popular.”

Feature

5

More than just a game In 1971 the world’s first commercially sold video game, Computer Space, was invented.

To play, a person inserted a coin into the five foot hunk of metal in order to earn control of consoles that shoot missiles at enemies’ flying saucers. As technology advanced, the accessibility of video games increased. Video games can now be played at the home, on the go or even at school.

On weekends, junior Mitchell Jackson plays up to eight hours of video games a day.

“I’ve been playing since the sixth grade,” Jackson said. “I play Runescape, League of Legends and World of Warcraft.”

Nowadays, video games are not always just for one player.

There is a whole network of gamers that are connected by a plug in the wall.

“Video games are a good way to meet people,” Jackson said. “One time, I spent a whole afternoon slaying dragons with fellow internet companion RedBrick33.”

Every Thursday after school in the computer science room there is a group of around 20 students, up to 15 TV’s and intense gaming, courtesy of The Smash Bros Club. Self-proclaimed gamer junior Justus Rivers recently joined the club.

“I watched a YouTube video about the game and ever since then it’s pretty much been my life,” Rivers said. “When I play, I feel a rush.”

In the game Super Smash Brothers, the player can chose from a number of characters such as Mario, Luigi and Peach. Each character has certain skills which the player uses to fight other characters. Long-time gamer and

THE WILDCAT TALES

DECEMBER 1, 2014

By Kelsey Campbell

club member senior Ethan Wulf has been winning money playing Super Smash Bros competitively for one year.

“It’s not just about the money,” Wulf said. “I like going out to events, meeting and talking to new people – it’s a form of social interaction.”

The club started when its president, senior Cameron Short, brought a small CTR, an old age TV, Photo by Kelsey Campbell to school so that Wulf Members of the Super Smash Bros club play the game against each other during could help him get a regularly scheduled Thursday afternoon meeting. better at Super Smash Bros. They started evolved into a full blown club. races – one second I’m happy meeting during lunch and then, “When I play, I feel a range of and the next I’m the saddest boy when more and more friends emotions,” Wulf said. “My heart in the world.” kept tagging along, it eventually

Celebrating Chinese culture

By Arim Lee

Senior Vivianne Tu, the club’s president, talks to the club members during their recent Thanksgiving meeting while senior officer TingWei Hsu counts fees that she collected for the club.

Photo by Miriam Espinoza

China is the most populous country in the world with over 1.36 billion people. With the large amount of people comes a culture that brings all of them together.

Club president senior Vivianne Tu said the purpose of Chinese Club is for students to have the opportunity to learn more about the culture.

“Chinese club is supposed to promote cultural awareness,” Tu said.

“What’s great about it is that people of all ethnicities can join and learn about Chinese culture.”

Although the club’s focus is on one particular and specific culture, the club is open to anyone.

“Everyone in Chinese club and all of our officers are extremely nice and open,” Tu said. “Anybody who wants to network,

make friends, have fun and get free food should join.

It’s just a really nice way to get to know people and learn at the same time.”

Senior officer Ting-Wei Hsu joined Chinese Club to be a part of spreading cultural awareness.

“We’re socializing and learning at the same time,” said Hsu. “It’s not a bad thing.”

Chinese Club’s meetings usually focus on specific themes in Chinese culture.

Recently, they had a meeting during late October and were able to theme the meeting according to the season. The meeting was all about China’s Ghost Day, a Chinese version of Halloween according to Tu. “We talk about the food that they eat and what they do, and we generally have a PowerPoint slide,” Tu said. “We also have ice

breakers for the members and it’s normally a friendly competition. It’s just a way for members to learn Chinese, have fun, compete and play games.”

Chinese Club promotes the learning and understanding of not only Chinese culture but other cultures as well. They also sometimes collaborate with the other language and cultural clubs.

“We have soccer games with the other cultural clubs,” Hsu said. “We’ve had one with the French, Spanish and German clubs.

They are lots of fun.”

Their last meeting was held on Nov. 19 in room A215 the Chinese language classroom.

“It’s was a Thanksgiving theme,” Tu said. “We had our annual potluck so all the members could bring in food to share.”

Feature

On a roll

6

Skateboarders share stories

When falling down a hill becomes gnarly, that’s when the skate zone has been entered.

Junior Emily Read loves skateboarding, despite not being able to do it as much as she would like.

“Skateboarding has become a stress reliever,” Read said. “When I’m skateboarding it’s freedom. It’s like you’re almost flying for a second.”

Read got into skateboarding after an accident she had while surfing.

“I actually started off surfing, but I was attacked by a shark,” Read said. “Suddenly I got hit by a wave and it knocked me off my board. I kept getting hit with wave after wave. I knew I was about to drown, because I couldn’t get up – I couldn’t get any air.”

While drowning, Read opened her eyes hoping to spot her cousin coming for help. Instead, she saw a bull shark coming straight at her.

“I reached up, grabbed my board and pulled myself out of the water as it was coming at me,” Read said. “I felt its mouth open around my leg as I was pulling my

leg out and a couple of its teeth caught my ankle. I have a couple of scars now from that, but they’re almost gone.”

According to Read, she got the idea of riding skateboards as an alternative after years of watching her older brothers.

“My brothers used to skateboard a lot,” Read said. “One day I was in my garage and I saw one of our old skateboards. So I picked it up and I loved it. I was a natural at it and just kept going with it.”

Read said she enjoys learning new tricks on her skateboard, even if they do not always work well at first.

“The first time I ever did a hill slide, my brother was teaching me and I didn’t do it right so I fell on my knee all the way down the hill,” Read said. “My brother made sure I was alright and then he was like ‘Alright.

Do it 10 more times.’ That last time I got it perfect and my brother was so proud.”

Junior Jared Bordeaux also skateboards, and describes it as a large part of his life.

“I like busting out new tricks with the wind going through my hair on a nice,

By Piper Nowlin

“I had one picture of my birth father,” Lauren said. “I’ve never met the guy, but I had one picture of him that I found about two years ago. I remember just standing outside watching my house burn thinking, ‘I need that picture,’ and the next day Chad, who’s actually my stepdad, went in and got it for me. That was really cool of him.”

Outside of the family, a friend started a GoFundMe account, the softball team raised $2000 and individual students and teachers donated gift cards. Lauren’s Education in Training class even raised almost $200 specifically so she could buy makeup and hair

Stealing the show Theater teacher Lance Morse and speech teacher Sara Zinck have been working together to expand the theater department for two years now. Their relationship extends beyond the classroom, however, because they are married.

Zinck and Morse met in 1995 when both participated in the speech and theater departments at West Texas A&M. The two wondered what it would be like to collaborate at school in some way.

“We had joked for years that it’s a shame that we couldn’t work together,” Morse said. “Our talents complement each other so well.”

Morse said that when the opportunity arose to work together, they wanted to jump on board and test the waters, as Zinck was looking for a job as well.

“I needed to find a position in the area,” Zinck said. “It just so happened that there was a position available on this campus. It was just fate.”

Zinck said she was wary of the decision to work together, but the transition from spouses to partners in crime has provided them with new opportunities and experiences together. Before, they mostly talked about their two children.

“We’ve just been focused on being parents and not really appreciating each other as artists,” Zinck said. “We have discovered that it gives us other things to be excited about and to talk about other than just our children.”

Morse said they have been careful when it comes to separation of powers in the speech and theater classes.

“We’ve agreed that theater is mine, so I have the final say in what goes on in that class,” Morse said. “Likewise, speech is hers and I defer to her when needed.”

Zinck and Morse both agree that the biggest advantage to working with each other is the established trust they already have.

“If you’re working with a stranger you have to build

DECEMBER 1, 2014

cool day,” Bordeaux said.

“Skateboarding is crazy. It’s life.”

Bordeaux had a different reason than Read to get into skateboarding. He chose to take it up after seeing a news report about a skateboarder who was hit by a car.

“I was like ‘that’s pretty freaking dangerous, but that sounds really fun,’” Bordeaux said. “So I decided might as well go to pick myself up a skateboard.”

According to Bordeaux, he loves the thrill of attempting new tricks on his skateboard.

Junior Emily Read performs a trick in the Photo by Piper Nowlin “Landing new tricks is school’s parking lot. She uses skateboarding always awesome,” Bordeaux to relieve herself of stress, school-related and otherwise. said. “So is riding on smooth “Honestly when I skateboard I just don’t ground.” have a care in the world,” Read said. “I just No matter what happens while focus on skateboarding and it calms me skateboarding, Read said it is always an down, because it’s something that I love to adventure. do.”

Keeping faith through the fire

Debris from the fire, including many of the Faith Photo submitted by Chad Faith family’s former posessions, sit charred on their lawn.

THE WILDCAT TALES

Continued from p. 1

By Ashley Stuber

products for herself. According to both Chad and Lauren, this is only a fraction of the help and support they have received.

“I think that my positive outlook and my family’s positive outlook come from being a part of Wildcat Nation,” Chad said. “The day after the fire, there were three different administrators that came to that house -- not so much to look at the house and the damage, but just to hug on us and tell us not to worry about it and that they’re here for us. There has been just an upwelling of support and love from colleagues and students. It’s been overwhelming. I know that

we wouldn’t have been able to weather it at far as we have as this point without that support.”

Although the family has not yet decided whether to let the insurance pay to build their house back up or to pay to build a new house themselves, they will not stray far from Plano and the friends they have made here.

“You don’t realize the true meaning of community and family until they all come together,” Lauren said. “I’m awestruck by the generosity. That’s what will stay with me forever. I hope that one day I can do as much for someone as has been done for me.”

Spouses double as co-workers

By Bethany LaMastus

that relationship to know how they think and work,” Morse who is teaching at the moment. said. “It’s really nice working with someone who I know is “During a lesson, if there’s a tangent on a topic that needs talented and trustworthy.” to be followed to increase interest or a teachable moment, According to Zinck, theater is a demanding and said I’ll go off on it,” Morse said. “Zinck is more linear in her she loves the fact that she can work with someone who form, and she’s planned out to the minute. She wants that understands that. She said that is really the key to why they structure to not vary as much as I’ll allow it to.” are still together. However, they both said that there has Zinck added to that, saying that they are motivated in never been an established way to separate work from home. different ways.

“When we’re at home we’re either talking about our kids, “I’m more emotional,” Zinck said. “He’s more cerebral pieces, scripts or different ways to showcase talents,” Morse when it comes to acting.” said. “Especially during busy times in the theater world we In the two years they have been working together, Morse really only have a few minutes together at home, and often and Zinck both feel like they have learned more about each times we’re talking about things theater related.” other than in the 15 years they have been together.

Zinck said that they enjoy the time they have at home “I’ve seen the results of his directing for years,” Zinck talking about work, but it is even better when they have said. “But this year I get to experience it. I’ve definitely moments to get away. learned more about him since we started working together.”

“During Halloween weekend we actually went out of town and we were able to really leave work at work and just focus on our kids, which was great,” Zinck said. “However, there are a lot of nights and weekends that go into this art form. So, there really is no separation, but we’re happy in that world.”

According to Morse, there are good cop, bad cop situations sometimes -- but he said that is bound to happen when working this closely with someone.

“At times we have a situation like that,” Morse said. “Those roles are going to flipflop depending on the circumstances just because of how subjective our art forms are.”

Morse said that he and his wife are outspoken in very different ways. This difference can lead the conversations in class Sara Zinck and Lance Morse attempt to make their Photo submitted by Lance Morse children, Evan and Oliver, laugh during a family photoshoot. to go in opposite directions depending on

Opinion

7

Bewitching beauty

By Ella Hunt When I look at the world, it looks different.

I could be sitting in a crappy motel and look at all the poverty, all the hardships, all the sorrow and then I would say “the world is ugly.” But as I sit on the coast of the bountiful and cerulean ocean, the world is beautiful. The motel, in all of its ugliness, is just a few blocks away.

We search for so many things that have beauty, whether it be a person or even just a book. Beauty controls us. We change for it, we fight for it, we obsess over it. Because if you’re not beautiful, you’re rejected. The most valuable beauty is what lies beneath what other people can see so easily, the beauty you developed as you work towards being a good person. That can’t be changed, no matter how “beautiful” you are on the surface.

I went on a road trip last summer with my dad. I felt cramped up and exhausted, and I desperately wanted to get to the motel. I had been sitting in the car for at least four hours.

My dad had been driving for forever,

but we eventually made it to Corpus Christi.

We checked into a crummy hotel for one night and crashed. The next morning we packed all of our things back into the car and drove around the town. It was just like any other town, some parts were poor and run down, and other parts were new and impressive.

The only thing that really caught my attention was the ocean.

It was beautiful. I stared at its beauty for what seemed like years, I was captivated by it. It was like I had found the one thing in the world that had true beauty, and everything else was hideous and revolting.

Many of us don’t appreciate beauty, at least not fully. We don’t understand just how much it really affects us, and how much of it the world really has. As the expression goes, “image is everything.”

As humans, we are constantly judging, ourselves, others, our environment, everything.

Not just in sensible terms, but also the beauty that we often can’t, or refuse to, see. The

characteristics that make us who we are, that’s true beauty.

We see the beauty on the exterior, but we don’t see the beauty inside us. The kindness in our hearts or the strength of our soul, and we should see this, because that’s what we should really be proud of. The characteristics that make us who we are, that’s true beauty.

It’s like when you see someone absolutely bewitching, and you’re in complete disbelief that they even exist, but when you speak to them, you find out they’re not so pretty inside. They’re rude and insensitive, so you immediately lose interest.

It doesn’t matter how gorgeous they weren’t outside.

It’s the same thing with the ocean. Beneath its cerulean waves there’s danger, pollution, and sadness, but there’s also life, radiance and that beauty that reflects on the surface. Just like the vast ocean, we as humans can’t hide what resides underneath, bad or good. And we shouldn’t hide our inner beauty, because that’s what people reallly need to see; the true beauty inside you that nothing will ever change.

From ABCs to SATs Getting through the night

By Maggie Cross

Lately, with school, else until I finished work and volleyball, the gram crackers that life has gotten a lot I already opened. And more complicated. instead of ‘blowing I’ve only used anxiety smoke’, my friends as an exaggeration and I would be until this year. Trying blowing bubbles in to balance homework, our milk. Those were real work, family time the good old days. and social life proves When it was to be a difficult task. considered cute to It’s impossible to do like your babysitter. without forgetting When the worst thing meals here I could and there. ever say to While someone all of these was that I i s s u e s hate them. are being When the thrown only way around in to do that Graphics by Ariana Levya our faces, was face to face. children are off Junie B. Jones was watching Elmo and the best. Magic Tree eating mac and cheese House was a difficult while reminiscing read. And when being about how tough pre- able to pronounce school was that day. “because” would get It’s hard to believe me a cookie. Those how much problems were the have escalated from good old then to now. It’s very days. hard to think back When and realize how much life was your life sucks in not taken comparison to four- seriously. year-old you.

W h e n When the biggest homework of my worries was was optional. When not getting what I the TAKS was the wanted for Christmas. same thing as an IQ Or when I had to take test - or at least that’s a nap before I went to what I thought. When my friend’s birthday thot and bae and p a r t y. ily were Or when all auto the most corrected. painful When I event was had to my mom ask my telling mother if me that I I had any couldn’t eat anything plans. And when the

answer was always no.

Those were the good old days.

Despite all of the carefree tendencies of our past selves, and all of the good days, there will most definitely be better ones to come. Now that we are older and have experienced those bad, stressful, makeor-break moments, we appreciate the mediocre things more. Back when I was a kid, all it took for me to be upset was my brother telling me that I looked like Jason Witten.

Now I take little comments like that as a harmless joke. I have come to appreciate when success comes my way a lot more than my younger self.

If you really analyze the past, y o u should come to realize that the future is a lot brighter.

Convince yourself until you truly do feel that way. The complexity of adolescent life makes the smallest successes more worth all of that stress. While it is nice to look back, it’s better to look ahead and step into tomorrow with a clear mind.

By Mari Brown

Death is something stature. You see, the that all of us will thing is whenever encounter in some I visited Nana and point of life, whether Papaw I would always it’s a family member, a watch TV. They had friend, or a loved one. cable, which was When we are younger, something we didn’t we don’t recognize the have back home yet. fact that life comes to Now I regret watching an end for all. We just T.V because I never assume that we all live talked to him much. I forever and death is never got to nonexistent.

Reality hit me upside the head when I was a third grader. My papaw was sick due to lung cancer.

I remember the night I received the news of his death.

We had visited him a couple weeks before at the hospital. It Graphic by Aria na Le vya had been the first time I visited a sick person bond with him at a hospital before, as much as I would’ve the first time I saw my liked to. He was just dad cry. a presence in my life That night my sister that I sadly didn’t and I were about to acknowledge much. take our shower when It was the first our dad called us all funeral I had ever downstairs to his attended. It was also office. He told us the the hardest I had ever news and said we were cried. I remember my leaving for Alabama dad and Uncle Jeff tomorrow morning, giving their eulogies. where the funeral was I actually learned a being held. lot about Papaw from The drive there was their eulogy, more quiet - we didn’t really than I had ever known have much to say. about him in all the I think we were all time I had been with remembering Papaw him. and the memories we’d I didn’t think that had with him. Sadly my visiting the house memories of him were without him there very limited -- he was would be any different very intimidating to than the previous me due to his towering times I had visited,

but I was wrong. No longer did I see him play outside with my dad and brothers. No longer did I see him sitting in his recliner in front of the T.V. watching football. No longer did I see him sitting at the head of the table during dinner.

My parents and Nana came into my room one day where I was moping around. I recall them telling me that it was okay to be sad about Papaw and if I wanted to talk them about it I could.

Being my stubborn self, I pretended like nothing was wrong and I was fine. Now I’m glad they told me that. It helped me realize that life wasn’t always going to be a happy place and it’s okay to not always be smiling.

As the years went on, I continued on with my life, Papaw still there in the back of my mind. It wasn’t till ninth grade that the emotions involving Papaw came back again. It was in English class and we had to write a poem based on Elie Wiesel’s “Never Shall I Forget” quote from his book, Night.

Continued on wildcattales.com

December 1, 2014 Volume 69 Issue 4

Torie Brannen

Print Editor-in-Chief

Haley Samsel

Online Editor-in-Chief

Sonam Benakatti Managing Editor

Ashley Stuber

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Taylor Norris Photo Editor

Anna Villano

Assistant Graphic Editor

Terry Quinn Adviser

Staffers Nathan Allen Mohona Aziz Mari Brown Kelsey Campbell Suhina Chopra MaryClare Colombo Maggie Cross Nina Dillon Cameron Drummond Ella Hunt Tashy Hunter Min Ji Kim Gabe LaBounty Bethany LaMastus Gabrielle Lammons Arim Lee Piper Nowlin Jameriya Owens Emily Perez Corey Picklesimer Rose Rana Lizzy Ritchie Lydia Sebany Stephanee Smith Vincent Tellez Erienne Terpak Falyn Traina Zane Vakser Abigail Werner

Mission Statement: Wildcat Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the student body in a professional manner which will provoke thought while upholding the principles of a free press. The publication is a forum for the students of Plano Senior High School. Any opinions expressed in Wildcat Tales are the opinion of the writer and of the writer only.

Policy:

Students and faculty are encouraged to send in any questions, comments, concerns or criticisms to be published.

Letters to the editors can be put in the envelope in room B208 or emailed to The Wildcat Tales at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. The staff reserves the right to edit a letter for grammatical errors and space issues. Any errors found in the publication will be rescinded in the following issue. Additional and daily updates can be found at our website www.wildcattales. com. Past issues can be viewed at www.issuu.com/wildcattales.

Businesses wishing to advertise in Wildcat Tales can email us at pshs. pub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements deemed to be inappropriate.

Wildcat Tales is the official student publication of Plano Senior High School 2200 Independence Pkwy Plano, TX 75075 469.752.9336

Student Life

THE WILDCAT TALES

Bao Doquang

“My dad and my mom split up when I was a kid, so for Christmas a lot of the time I go to my Dad’s house in Kansas. That’s where the majority of my family is. Every holiday, when it comes down to it, is about enriching your virtues with your family and friends. Christmas is about giving to others and being kind spirited. It’s head figure, Santa Claus, teaches kindness.

Every year me sister and I try to convince our mom to see how long we can keep our Christmas tree up. Our current record is March. I want to see if I can keep it up till my birthday – June 4.”

‘Tis the season Plano’s wide array of holiday traditions & memories

By Corey Picklesimer Graphics by Ariana Leyva

Jordan Jamal

“My grandpa dresses up as Santa Claus to give us presents on Christmas Eve. When we lived in Oregon, there were infinite evergreen trees. One Christmas we went and cut down our own tree and then we planted it in our backyard. My dad loved long johns, so for Christmas my dad got a pair and immediately changed into them. He was really excited about his new underwear.

In the state I grew up in it actually snowed. When I was a kid in the winter time we would go on long walks in the snow. I used to skate on black ice.”

The American Chiropractic Association, or ACA, completed a study that showed that students develop back pain at early ages. This is caused by exceeding the 5-10% of body weight that the ACA recommends.

Some Wildcats have trouble finding an easy way to lug their supplies around campus.

Krysta Van Deventer “Every year, my mom lets me open one present early. It’s usually pajamas. We always make Christmas cookies. Christmas should be more about spending time with your family and not buying them presents. It’s not about the physical value of the gift. You should give something that means more than a gift.”

“When I was ten, I was in California at the ranch and all my family was there for Christmas – we go to the ranch every year. We host Christmas either here or there at different houses but it’s always either in Texas or California. Hanging out with family is our tradition. People should focus on the main point of why it’s a holiday and how it came to be a holiday.”

It’s all in the bag Backpacks – the only thing that every student needs for survival on a dayto-day basis. It holds everything, from school work to newspapers, all separated by the swipe of a zipper. But when does your back reach its breaking point? Is it before or after your fourth lumbar vertebrae pops out of your back? Or after your backpack, which reached max capacity, bursts outside during a storm or a tornado?

DECEMBER 1, 2014

Conner Gleason

“Every February, we have a New Year’s celebration that’s a lunar new year rather than a solar. You eat, wish each other happy New Year, and everyone gives each other lots of money.”

Michaela Sakell

8

How much weight is really on students’ shoulders?

By Vincent Tellez

Summer El-Shahawy

Rod Razaghzadegan

“Most classes require at least one spiral and folder. It really adds up when you have seven classes in a day.

I have to bring all of the daily school supplies, and whichever books I need for class assignments that day means I usually end up carrying stuff in my hands, and having to ask for help with doors.”

“I feel like if I have any extra time in any class, I can just pull out my Calculus book and do my homework. I also have my Chemistry textbook, because we need it for the class. And the books they have in the class are different from the ones they gave us, so I prefer using my book. Yeah, they’re inconveniences, but what can you do about it?”

Junior

Emily Robicheaux

Senior

Junior

“Teachers give us a lot of papers so my folders get heavy after awhile. They usually don’t tell us when it’s ‘okay’ to throw them away so I keep everything. The other part is, I like to have good quality spirals and folders so they are a little bit bigger than most. Sometimes I wish I didn’t make it so hard on myself this year.”

Alex Wynne

Junior

Ph

“My bag is pretty heavy – we have too many print-outs. I feel that it’s annoying when teachers have us 20-page documents. The only reason that I carry so much stuff is because we print out so many activities for APUSH and AP English III. I guess it’s just busy work.” oto

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