www.wildcattales.com
The Wildcat Tales volume lxvi
April 23, 2012
Issue Ten
Plano Senior High School
Plano, TX, USA
Campus clean up
Greek life
Blue Like Jazz review
Page 3
Page 4 & 5
Page 7
One woman’s sauce is another woman’s dress By Dani Sureck
If her love for Chik-Fil-A was not clear before, it is now. She has found a way to incorporate Chik-Fil-A into her wedding someday with a fountain of mini chicken nuggets, so it comes as no small surprise that senior Ridha Ahmad will design a Chik-Fil-A dress for the Advanced Fashion Design fashion show on May 18. “At lunch one day my Advanced Fashion Design friends and I were talking about the fashion show and we were exchanging ideas,” Ahmad said. “I brought up the idea of making a Chik-Fil-A dress, and they just encouraged me to do it.” Ahmad has sketched the dress to be white and have the bodice filled with red rhinestones in the Chik-Fil-A symbol. The back of the dress will be open halfway and that part will be detailed with red rhinestones as well. The most unique part of this dress is the skirt of the dress, which will be made out of Chik-Fil-A sauce packets. When Ahmad finished her sketch she brought it into the Chik-Fil-A located off of Spring Creek and Coit. She talked with the manager to discuss any copyright issues with her design, and when she was told that there weren’t any problems, the manager proposed a deal with her. Ahmad’s dress will be on display at the Chik-Fil-A after the fashion show. Because Ahmad is a frequent customer and no other Chik-Fil-A has a dress on display, Ahmad accepted the offer. Ahmad said she is thrilled that Chik-Fil-A has decided to display her dress because she
spends most of her paychecks there and goes to that location almost every day for lunch. This passion for Chik-Fil-A is not only what gave her the idea in the first place, but also motivates Ahmad to finish the dress. Ahmad and her classmates estimated that 157 sauce packets are needed for the dress, and as of April 9, Ahmad had 71 packets stored up. “Every time we go in, we all save our sauces and give them to her,” senior Rachel Ruhman said. “It’s a really cool idea, and it’s fun because she really loves ChikFil-A, so it fits her personality perfectly.” Ruhman and senior Tinea Lacy, both Advanced Fashion Design classmates of Ahmad, agreed that it has been interesting to watch Ahmad work on this dress since there are no other dresses like this one in the fashion show. Lacy said it is creative of Ahmad to create a dress with something she loves, especially because it will be difficult to sew. “The Planoettes told me about this strong glue that they use for their rhinestones,” Ahmad said. “I am going to use the glue with invisible thread and sew the sauce packets together.” Ahmad said she is eager about this piece because, normally, she is more avant-garde with her make-up for her models rather than her costumes. However, this dress is out of the ordinary. “I figured, why not make something out of my inspiration?” Ahmad said. “I’ve never done something as creative as this piece so I’m just really happy to put it all together.” Photo by Danielle Deraleau
Using different tools, senior Ridha Ahmad works on a garment in Advanced Fashion Design.
The right to vote
Students share views on voting at young age By Jessica Allman Voter turnout among Americans age 1824 declined steadily from 1972 until 2008. Not even half of registered voters in this age group followed through with voting. “I feel like a lot of us just don’t care at all,” junior Zoe Zurkowski said. “When you hear about teens voting there’s always some sort of negative connotation to it.” However, the elections in 2008 had the largest turnout of younger voters since the downward spiral starting in 1972. The amount of young voters nearly doubled, but Zurkowski still said she feels teens are apathetic towards the elections. “I don’t have a strong opinion about the elections,” Zurkowski said. “I really couldn’t even tell you who is running. I don’t think my vote would make much of a difference anyway.” The 18-24 age group is one of the largest age groups in America. Although
some in this age group said they don’t care, junior Shruthi Prabhu said she understands the importance of the elections. “They determine the future of our country in political, economic, social and intellectual aspects,” Prabhu said. “All of these things impact you as an individual.” Prabhu said she doesn’t have to have strong political views to get involved in the elections. She will not be old enough to vote in the upcoming elections, but said she has enough knowledge to make an educated vote. “I’m not an expert on politics,” Prabhu said. “I don’t know everything there is to them, but I feel like I’m aware enough to have a good idea about each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.” Senior Niraj Parekh has been closely following the elections. Parekh said he cares about the elections and knows he will vote for Obama in the fall.
“He was pretty good at getting the economy on the right path,” Parekh said. “I would say I’m more of a liberal.” Parekh said although he cares about the elections, he recognizes that a lot of teens do not. “It upsets me because we are old enough to vote now, finally, and our generation doesn’t seem to care about what happens to our country,” Parekh said. Zurkowski said that her peers have different opinions about how old the voting age should be - most think the age should be lower. “I don’t necessarily think being able to vote should be based off of age,” Zurkowski said. “It should be based off of intelligence. Some 18-year-old teens are qualified to vote, but some aren’t.” Prabhu said she agrees with the current voting age and feels that more people become more aware of the the political climate in American at 18.
“Eighteen is the age when most people are getting more mature and vote because they want their voices heard,” Prabhu said. “Not because they think that candidates are ‘cool’ or something like that.” Parekh said that if our generation doesn’t start to care in the future elections, things will only go downhill. “If this apathy continues, we won’t have a good government,” Parekh said. “I feel like as our generation matures more people will start to care. As you get older and have to start paying taxes and covering your own bills the government and what they are doing will start to matter more to people, but right now it’s just not very important to most teens.”
Feature
April 23, 2012
The end of the line 6th 6 weeks calendar
Tuesday
Monday 23
Wednesday 25
24
Friday
Thursday 26
27
Saturday/Sunday
28
TAKS (Science)
(Math)
30
2
1
7
8
Wells Elementary Reunion 4:30
10
9
Memorial Elementary Reunion 5:00
16
15 Weatherford/ Daffron Elementary Reunion 4:30
21
22
Aldridge/Skaggs Elementary Reunion 4:30
Davis Elementary Reunion 4:45 Yearbook Distribution Day Primary Elections Exams
17
Brinker Elementary Reunion 4:30
23
Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal in Gym at 1:15
19
18
Thomas/Beverly/ Dooley Elementary Reunion 4:30
24
Saigling/Shepard Elementary Reunion 4:30
30
29
28
12
11
National Teacher Day
14
5
4
3 Andrews Elementary Reunion 4:30
(Social Studies)
6
13
20 25
26
Bethany Elementary Reunion 4:30
31
29
1
2
27
Last Day of School
3
Students participate in Welch Summer Scholar Program By Kathleen Shaffer This summer, high school students from all over Texas are given the opportunity to participate in scientific research at Welch Summer Scholar Program (WSSP). These students will spend five weeks living and researching at a Texas university. Junior Eric Kim applied to go to WSSP after his physics teacher presented the class with information sheets. Kim will go to Texas Tech which is one of the five universities students are assigned to. “There are other programs but I decided to apply to Welch because it offers a wide variety of areas to study,” Kim said. “Programs like nanotech are very specific and wouldn’t let me keep my options open. Welch offers chemistry which has a lot of subdivisions that I can use to apply to the area I’m interested in.” At WSSP students work under a mentor who guides them in their projects. There are
Page Two
a large variety of projects that students can work on and because in the future Kim wants to be an environmental engineer he said he will be doing something with environmental design. “I’ve heard from people who have gone to Welch before that it you’re able to do just about anything as long as there is a lab and equipment available,” Kim said. “The fact I got accepted isn’t what excites me, but the research I’ll be doing. The research will hopefully involve environmental design I think I could use that knowledge later in my life to make a difference in the world.” Like Kim, junior Amy Xia will participate in the program but she will be at the University of Houston. “I think they purposely assign you to a university away from where you live so you will feel like you’re actually away at college,” Xia said. “By being away from home I’ll be
able to meet new people and I will be able to focus on what I’m there for.” After her father was a mentor last year at the University of Texas in Dallas he encouraged her to spend a portion of her summer at the program. “My dad let me know what it is going to be like when I’m there at the program and what to expect from it,” Xia said. “It appealed to because it was a residency program and I’m really interested in chemistry. Another plus is that it was a competitive scholarship program, so I’m able to go for free.” After going to WSSP, Xia said that she will have a better idea of what she wants to do in the future. “This can help me learn more about interests and give me a greater sense of what I want to do with my career path,” Xia said. Xia said she looks forward to using what she learns this summer to help her with her
science fair project. Science fair has been a part of her life since she was in the fourth grade and has allowed her to participate in competitions such as Texas Academy of Math and Science (TJAS) and ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair. “Anything I learn this summer can be used as a basis for further research or testing,” Xia said. “When I’m doing the science fair the best part is meeting such bright and motivating people. I know that people I meet at WSSP or the science fair will soon be on the forefront of research and innovation in this field. All of us are able to further our knowledge about something we love, biochemical pathways that I’ve learned in class and through the connections between molecules, I have gained a greater sense of the path that I would like to take in life and connections I’ll have to make along the way.”
April 23, 2012
Focus on the cause
News
Senior’s family works against child abuse By Erin Ball One report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in the United States. Senior Brenda Benavides and her family are starting their own non-profit organization called Focus on the Cause, aimed at lessening this statistic and promoting public awareness on the issue. The Benavides family is starting this organization from scratch. Benavides said that child abuse is something her family has always taken seriously. “It took us a while to come up with the name, but we believe that we can fight child abuse by looking at the cause of it,” Benavides said. “That’s why we picked it. Childhood is where all your problems come from because those are the years that are most important and shape who you are. Abuse during childhood affects you a lot when you’re older, so it’s important to start off right. Parents can avoid abusing their children by really trying to solve their own issues whether they are anger or depression related.”
Benavides’s mother is the head of their organization. She was a teacher for many years prior to leaving to focus more on the study of psychology. “My mom has always wanted to help children,” Benavides said. “This is kind of a goal of hers. The psychological side of child abusers is something Focus on the Cause will be working to get people to understand. We are trying to teach parents good strategies on how to raise their kids and how to be more tolerant. A big part of a healthy family is getting along.” Benavides’s own family experienced dealing with family issues. Her parents tried to be foster parents in the past, but decided against it. “The thing they didn’t like about fostering was that if for some terrible reason something went wrong, the state could take my brother and me away from them. They didn’t want their real kids to get punished or be at any risk. Since they couldn’t fight
against child abuse in that regard, they decided a charity was the next best thing.” The whole family will contribute to the project. Every member will have a job in order to help the organization run smoothly. Benavides will be in charge of making videos to post on the group’s website. “For right now, I will be doing digital animations because drawing and transferring that onto the computer takes too long,” Benavides said. “They will all have an inspirational and motivating message to them. My brother is actually designing the website for us because he is a computer wizard. He is taking the direction from my mom in terms of what to put on it and the layout. She is the creative side of that.” Benavides’s dad is dealing with all the legal obligation of establishing a charity. All non-profit organizations must be registered through the government in order to keep their money exempt from taxes.
“The process isn’t that long,” Benavides said. “My dad just doesn’t want to get us into something we will regret. He is reading over all the documents and contracts with a fine-tooth comb. We want to make sure we do everything correctly because the legal consequences are huge for the mishandling of charitable money.” Focus on the Cause is now an officially trademarked name, and the website has been granted the .org domain. They will start a group fundraiser soon in order to raise money and get the organization off the ground. “Everything is set up for us now,” Benavides said. “We will begin putting stuff up on the site soon. I just hope that people take it seriously and that we can really make a difference. As cheesy as it sounds, we really are trying to save the world.”
Campus clean up project Photos by Kathleen Shaffer
By Meital Boim In honor of Earth Day (Sunday, April 22), Environmental Club designated April 16-20 “Earth Week.” Club members, AP Environmental Science students and anyone else who was interested picked up trash around campus and scooped garbage from the pond on Wednesday, April 18. “We wanted to get outside of the club involved to do our part to make Plano a cleaner, litter-free campus,” Environmental Club co-president senior Dani Adix said. Above, left to right: seniors Carissa Dickerson and Dani Adix and junior Catherine LaMendola
Above, left to right: seniors Carissa Dickerson and Dani Adix
Above: junior Catherine LaMendola
Above: senior Chris Pawlowski
Page Three
Features
April 23, 2012
Opinions on rush, Greek life and exploring every option in college
Polos and Red Solos Understanding Greek Life stereotypes and making the decision to rush By Meaghan Pulliam
C
ontrary to popular belief there is much more than pearls, Polo and red solo cups that make up the structure of Greek life at the university level. As senior girls go off to college, many are contemplating or are extremely anxious to rush, or as it is formally called, “recruitment”. When I was younger, I thought that joining a sorority was as easy as: 1. Smile big. 2. Wear pearls and Polo. 3. Be a legacy. If that were the case, then it would not be an honor to be in a sorority. Through my research, I found that it takes dedication as well as going above and beyond the expected in order to be an exceptional rushee. Many people associate sorority and fraternity culture with a life of floozy friends, blurry nights and a lack of emphasis on academia. On the contrary, sororities have quite an impact on society and there are many that take great pride in chapter
University of Arkansas Greek Life Facts
22%
of students on campus are in a Greek organization
$530k
members’ outstanding GPA and academic achievements. Many of nationally recognized sororities participate in philanthropy and even have their own foundation or charity for members to participate in, which sets a higher standard of behavior for the girls. Don’t get me wrong, a large part of being in a sorority is having fun and making new connections, but it takes hard work to gain entrance into the Greek system. This is where the work comes in. Senior girls interested in rushing are encouraged to join a local PanHellenic association. There is one for the Plano and Richardson area (Plano Richardson Alumnae PanHellenic Association). The PRAPA is an excellent way for senior girls to network and find alumni in the area to write recommendation letters to their respective sororities for the prospective members. The PRAPA emphasizes that all senior girls interested in joining a sorority have a letter of recommendation for each
chapter on the campus they will be attending. Whatever university you decide to attend, there should be a deadline to register for fall 2012 rush and a deadline to have letters of recommendation and other important pieces of information such as a résumé, GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and photos - all of which are laid out in detail on the PRAPA website -turned in to each respective sorority. Many universities open registration for rush on June 1, therefore it would behoove any senior girl interested in rushing to prepare a résumé, get letters of recommendation, verify all deadlines involving rush at her respective university, and fulfill any requirements for rushing as soon as possible. An important piece of advice I received from girls in sororities over and over again is to make all of the stops; go above and beyond the required and the norm. For example, instead of getting only a letter of recommendation, get a letter of support
Did you know?
• 85% of the Fortune 500 Executives • 80% of U.S. Presidents since 1900 • Every Apollo 11 Astronaut Were all members of a sorority or fraternity
Greek Life Facts
3.2
overall GPA compared to all campus GPA of 3.0
1. It’s just an excuse to party-
1,321
Many fraternities and sorirites participate in philanthropy and have their own charities.
2. It’s just a way to buy friends-
donated to various charities from 2010-2011
22,000
Most Greek organizations have mandatory study hours for members and a certain GPA is expedcted to be maintained.
Page Four
University of Oklahoma
Top 5 Greek Stereotypes
Although socializing is a huge part of Greek life, many still participate in other clubs with non-Greek students. 3. The girls are all so fake and superficialMany sororities pride themselves not in the looks of their members, but their personality and morality.
service hours performed from 2010-2011
in addition to the recommendation. The recommendation and the letter of support should be from two different alumni from the same sorority, keep in mind that they do not have to be from the same university nor do they have to have gone to your university. Unlike a letter of recommendation, a letter of support is an informal and handwritten note from an alumnus who knows you personally. It adds to your portfolio for each sorority you get it for and helps you stand out even more from the crowd. Other tips I have received include dress to impress, smile and be friendly, outgoing, excited and interested. Above all else, be yourself. If you act like someone you think they want to see, you will end up being put in a sorority that does not fit you as a person, rather your fake personality. Be true to yourself, let the system work, and you will end up where you are meant to be.
4. They don’t care about grades at all-
5. Greeks use daddy’s money to pay dues-
Greeks represent young adults from all socio-economic backgrounds and paths of life.
club leadership positions held by Greek organization members
20,000 service hours performed annually
Features
April 23, 2012
‘Sisters’ for life? I think I’ll pass
F
Beginner’s Guide to the Greek alphabet
By Amber Robinson rom the time I was old enough to think about college, I knew I had to be in a sorority. The idea of life-long sisters was more than I could imagine. I wanted to be in that prestigious group of girls. The girls with long blonde hair, and expensive dresses. I wanted to go to the endless number of social gatherings benefitting causes like lost puppies. I wanted to make friends, and according to every movie I had ever seen, joining a sorority was the only way to make sure that happened. But the older I got, the less appealing the idea of a sorority became. I never was one to care about being part of a huge group of friends. I had my small group that I was close with, and that was more than enough for me. However, that small group of friends took years to form, and I worried four years wouldn’t be enough time to make that happen. The more I thought about it, the more nervous I became. I had a nagging feeling I wouldn’t survive college if I didn’t join a sorority. Then, I started high school. I watched superficial girls in $100 jeans walk up and down the hallways, gossiping about Lord knows what. I listened to the gossip, watched the rumors spread like wildfire and saw girls tear each other apart over the pettiest things. If one wrong
move could ruin a friendship in high school, couldn’t the same thing happen in college? My first two years of high school ruined the idea of a sorority and the thought of joining one repulsed me. The last thing I wanted was to spend four years of my life making “sisterly” bonds and turning into one of “those girls.” When I came to Plano, things changed. I changed. I became a little more social, a little less awkward. My close-knit group of friends slowly became larger. I joined a couple of clubs, made new friends, and I realized I didn’t need a sorority to make friends in college. I had done it on my own, without the help of parties or an outside force. I know I’ve made fun of the sorority girls. The way they dress, the way they talk, the way they act, and the general cattiness that they’re associated with, but I’ve gotten over my aversion to sororities and the girls who choose to join them. I may have considered ostracizing them a few years ago, but that’s not the case anymore. A lot of my friends are planning to rush next year, and I’ll support them throughout the process. I don’t plan to rush, and I can proudly say that I’ve come to terms with that. There are plenty of girls who have survived college without an official group of “sisters,” so why can’t I?
From no curls to all pearls By Maelyn Schramm
G
rowing up, I was never that cute little girl in the frilly dress. Whenever my mom put a bow in my hair, I automatically ripped it out. Instead of taking ballet lessons – those lasted about a month – you would find me barefooted outside throwing a football, wearing jeans with holes in the knees and my hair pulled back in a ponytail. It’s safe to say that having two brothers influenced my lack of femininity. Even though I do not regret my
tomboy-ish ways as a child, I believe that having a sister would have benefitted me down the road. I would probably be better at braiding my hair, painting my nails, walking in high heels and sitting up straight. The older I became, the more jealous I was of my friends who had sisters. Their sisters served as suppliers of second wardrobes, ever-present shopping partners, and trustful confidants. My brothers could never have “girl talk” with me and would practically die if I took them dress shopping. They were solely there for “manly activities” like eating
contests and arm wrestling. With college around the corner, joining a sorority is the best option that provides the sister(s) I have needed the past 17 years. I understand that while not every single person in each sorority is best friends with one another, many girls leave with a solid group of life-long friends that they can always depend on for laughs, sympathetic “aww’s,” advice and incredible memories. A woman that I have come to rely on over time – also known as Mom – was a Pi Beta Phi years ago, and she continues to keep in
touch with a handful of sisters who have helped shape her life from the start of her college education. I know that sororities and fraternities are not for everyone. Some people just do not mesh well with those crowds and choose other ways to make friends in college that are just as effective. I, on the other hand, am looking forward to a sisterhood with a group of girls who will stick by my side for those college years and many more to come.
Page Five
NOR THY
By Paul Burnham
B
ISTA
THO
H
HO ALT
AR
US
Opinion Anyone who frequents Starbucks more often than the occasional monthly Frappuccino has seen the stereotypes I’m about to address. In fact, any connoisseur of the “neighborhood coffee shop” probably identifies with at least one of them. There is the person who comes in and has no idea what he or she wants and doesn’t particularly care for coffee, which is why he or she orders a raspberry passion lemonade… at the coffee shop. On other mornings, there is some yappy corporate woman in a pleated skirt on her BlackBerry, who doesn’t even have the decency to excuse her phone call when she is summoned to the counter by the barista. Then, occasionally, a group of 9-year-old girls rack up the line with their double chocolate chip fraps and their inability to produce anything but quarters as a method of payment. Amongst all the people who patron Starbucks every day, there is a bizarre breed of coffee drinkers that will knock the socks off of anyone within earshot.
April 23, 2012
Their triple shot, nonfat-venti-carmelpeppermint-macchiato with room, will turn heads like a Kardashian at a Mavs game. They say their order with confidence, trusting that the barista gets it all down in one hit and will prepare their frothy, over sweetened beverage with extreme precision. Sad to say, I was once that guy. I use the term in its past tense because by the grace of a being higher than myself, the afternoon employees at the Starbucks next to my place of employment have got my order down pat. My pre-shift drink, which shall go without being named in an effort to preserve what dignity I have left, has enough caffeine to fly a 757 halfway around the world, and takes just under seven minutes to prepare on a good day— and, yes, I time the car ride to work down to seconds to get my fix. For as long as I’ve been drinking Starbucks, which is a good six or seven years, I have been drinking the same thing consistently, changing only the caffeine and calories, up and down respectively. As the years went by, my order became seemingly more and more complicated and consequently, so did the number of looks I got when I
put that poor barista through something as complex and intricate as my order. I do not know the names of any employees at my Starbucks. They do not know my name either. However, every day when I step into that aura of roasted beany goodness, I am greeted with a smile and served as if my order was simply a café Americano. We often chat about what our impending shifts will have in store and how our days are going. Without saying a word about my order, we make eye contact and nod as if doing some sort of mysterious drug deal, and the transaction is made. I walk out with my defibrillator, unashamed of my purchase and they receive a 40% tip for their precision and discretion. We probably won’t ever know each other’s names, and that’s okay because as long as they keep me from embarrassing myself in front of other patrons, I will continue to love and appreciate the service that they do me each day. For putting up with my nine step, overcomplicated, iced bombshell of a beverage, I owe you a lifetime of great thanks.
out of jealousy or revenge - in order to get back at her BFF for going out with her exboyfriend, a girl might start a nasty rumor of her friend cheating on him, or something of the sort. Unfortunately, half the time, these rumors are not even true. A kid “busted for weed over the weekend” walks into school on Monday, or a girl’s baby bump never shows, even though she got “knocked up” four months ago. What starts as “he got in a car wreck” turns into “he was drinking and driving” which leads to “he killed a family of four.” The smallest bits of information turn into the largest lies, spiraling out of control and hurting the victims of the rumors. What it all boils down to is the emotional
and sometimes even physical pain that comes along with uncontrollable rumor weeds. Friendships are broken, relationships are tested, and hearts are torn apart. Spreading rumors is just as bad as starting them. In both cases, the victim of the gossip – whether true or not – is hurt, and the rumors will continue to spread if no one takes a stand to stop them. By being aware of the victim’s feelings through imagining themselves in their shoes, students are less likely to participate in gossiping because they understand the trouble it causes. If students stop spreading rumors or simply avoid bringing them up in conversations, then the hallways would be much healthier, friendlier places to walk through.
The Rumor Weed By Maelyn Schramm
A couple weeks ago, as my friends and I were sitting in the hallway waiting for our teacher to arrive, we watched students trudging past us to first period. Face after face, backpack after backpack, the bodies blended together. But then one person stood out to us: a young girl with an exceptionally larger stomach than average. “Did you see that?” we asked each other. “She’s pregnant….” Now I do not know this girl’s backstory, how she ended up the way she did or even her name. As I sat there watching her turn the corner, I heard others whisper about what they had seen as well. I could not help but feel pity for the condescending glances and hushed murmurs she must face on a
daily basis. He-said-she-saids constantly float through the hall, who was partying Saturday night, who was suspended for getting in a fight, who was arrested for drugs, etc. Students love to hear the latest gossip, feeding on it as if their lives depend on it. Psychologists have discovered that gossiping 1) creates a sense of superiority - by putting others down you are essentially lifting yourself up. In other words, at least you are not the football player kicked off of the team for steroids. 2) Makes a bond between people - when people confide in each other they grow closer together as a pair; the same thing happens when they share their dislike towards another person. 3) Usually happens
The purpose of the pen and paper
Forecast: Blizzard warning
By Alyssa Matesic
By Danielle Deraleau
The journal was blank. Holding a blue pen in my hand, I sat down on my bed and opened up to the first page. I tried to focus, but the pen still slipped and wobbled around between my fingers. I tried to remember my capitalization and spelling rules. I sounded out the more difficult words. Eventually, somewhat of a sentence was formed – without any punctuation, of course. “Mom I fel so gate tat your my mom,” the first entry of our book read. I slammed the cover shut and ran over to my parents’ room. I paused at the door, which was cracked open. A slight breeze came in through it. I could hear voices downstairs, so I was sure that it was safe to enter. I placed the journal under my mom’s pillow, which was on the left side of the bed, and left just a sliver of it poking out so she would notice. I exited the room as swiftly as possible. When I woke up the next morning, with a haze of slumber still distancing me from my surroundings, I found the journal underneath my own pillow. A burst of excitement fully awakened me and I opened up to the first page again.
“Alyssa, I love you very much and I am proud of how well you are reading and writing. XXOOXO, Mom,” read an entry underneath my own. For sentimental purposes, she had added the date above my blue scrawl: Dec. 28, 2000.
It’s easiest if I just come out and say it- my dad and I are addicted to Blizzards. The love of this frozen treat was instilled in me by him from an early age. I can recall moments of glee when he asked me if I wanted to go by Dairy Queen. The rest of my family was indifferent. “Sure, yeah. Whatever.” But me, I was ecstatic. This was not some childhood phase I outgrew. No, if anything it got worse with time. It still continues now, even as I prepare to graduate high school, supposedly more mature than when I entered. All it takes is a look to bring me back to the giddiness of childhood. My eyes connect with that of my dad after dinner on some nights, and there is an understanding. “Blizzard?” he asks, and I nod. He always drives, making easy and frequent turns as my feet rest on the dashboard. We’re pros. We know where the best Blizzards are, as we’ve tried every Dairy Queen within driving distance. We know how much they
cost too, and have exact change ready when we pull up to the window. I could probably name each flavor in a blindfolded taste test. Perhaps these “Blizzard runs” as we call them are so much fun because my dad and I are extremely similar. From our quick wit in any situation, to our trademark sarcasm. Our love of hockey, and our tendency to be realistic. We get each other. And these treats are yet another thing in common between us.
To read the rest of these columns visit us on the web at www.wildcattales.com or follow these QR links above Page Six
Review
Blue Like Jazz By Eilie Strecker
CAT
By Eilie Strecker
This movie was a unique portrayal of a young man, branching out from his home for the first time, searching for his faith. It combines tragedy with comedy in this ultimately uplifting movie. In the beginning, 19-year-old Donald Miller, played by Marshall Allman, has graduated high school and is set to go to a Protestant university when a family crisis forces him to rethink his entire belief system. After an angry breakdown, Miller decides to escape his fear of his religion by enrolling in Reed College, a highly unique and freespirited university. There he meets a diverse group of students who challenge and question everything, far from the sheltered life he had led up to that point. Throughout the story, Miller’s love interest is Penny, played by Claire Holt. She is a strong protester who stands up for what she believes in and seems to be as hard core radical as the rest of the Reed s t u d e n t s. However,
in a surprising change of events, she becomes one of the strongest influences over Miller in rediscovering his faith. This film is an emotionally charged rollercoaster which forces the audience to take a step back and question their own beliefs. Its raw take on the college experience is overly harsh at times but extraordinarily eye-opening at others. This quality to make the audience feel a range of emotions earned this film bonus points. Unfortunately, this film does fall short in story-telling. There was not enough of a connection between the audience and the characters’ struggles. The beginning of the film introduced the characters too quickly and expected the audience to feel for them immediately before really understanding their personalities. The film was also directed in a choppy way which kept the overall story from flowing well. Though the overall plot was solid, the quality of filming seemed adolescent and inexperienced. This unorthodox film is appealing to an adventurous audience, however overall this movie falls short lacking the quality to create a lasting impact.
1
QUIPS
April 23, 2012
1. After years of dating, living together, and having kids, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have decided to tie the knot. So what if they did everything backwards? Kudos to the happy couple.
2. Despite concerns about his age, Dick Cheney received a heart transplant. Maybe now he will decide to rethink his political views and have a total change of heart.
3
3. After being chased by paparazzi, Pipa Middleton’s friend deemed it prudent to start brandishing a fake gun at the press. Now I could be wrong, but that doesn’t seem like the best way to represent the royal family. Just saying.
4. Recently, Ted Nugent declared that if Obama gets re-elected, he will personally assassinate the president. Alright buddy, not only is that next to impossible with the secret service, but if this was a real threat you certainly wouldn’t scream it to the world. Classy.
5
2 4
5. Favorite Facebook Quote: “So totally not a big deal, but why are there like 50 pictures of kids at your school dressed in togas? Jw….”
l!fe in color tour 2012 By Meaghan Pulliam Dayglow L!fe in Color is a world renown concert and paint party that travels to nearly every continent and attracts hundreds of thousands of dance music fanatics. This was the first year that the tour made a stop in Dallas and I was lucky enough to be able to go the day after my birthday. Finally 18 years old and going to one of the world’s most famous dance music concerts, what an amazing birthday present. The concert featured many artists, local and famous, that gave stunning performances with astounding sets that flowed seamlessly together, even going from one DJ to the next. Song after song was spun by the artist, never stopping to take a break. It was a marathon of dancing, the energy of the crowd literally never halted. With each song that played,
the crowd waited in anticipation for the bass drop, lifting hands and voices until the bass hit them like a ton of bricks; that’s what I loved the most because it seemed never-ending and I didn’t want it to end. Many who have never attended a dance music concert wonder what else happens on stage while the DJ does his thing. In the context of Dayglow, ‘What didn’t they do?’ is a better question. There were light shows, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, and even fire spinners. DJ Axwell was the headlining and most famous performer at Dayglow. He is known for being a member of the house music group Swedish House Mafia which is one of the most popular electro groups in Europe. The concert lasted five hours and I
The Wildcat Tales April 23, 2011
Copy Editor
Daniel Hinson Eilie Strecker
Meital Boim Editorial Editor
Online Editors-in-Chief
Maelyn Schramm
Diva Gulati Madison McDaniel
Business Manager
Layout Editor
Adviser
Meaghan Pulliam
Terry Quinn
Amber Robinson
The Wildcat Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the
Staff Writers
Jessica Allman Erin Ball Emma Barishman Haley Bunnell Paul Burnham Danielle Deraleau Miles Hutson Stephanie Jabri Yeesoo Lee Alyssa Matesic
a disgusted face. After my first few inaugural splatters, I welcomed the paint with open arms. I wanted to get as much paint on me as possible. I wore older clothes that I wouldn’t mind getting paint on, a white shirt and pink Soffee shorts. I knew I would get some paint on them, but I didn’t think my shirt would look like Willie Wonka threw up on me though. In the spirit of my birthday and Dayglow, I didn’t mind at all. I thought of it as a ticket to telling stories about the best night of my life, a free souvenir from my birthday weekend, and something I could look at and instantly flash back to that marvelous night.
Mission Statement:
Volume LXVI Issue Ten
Editors-in-Chief
did not stop dancing for a single moment of it. One song dropped after another and everyone just kept moving. It was an incomparable feeling to be in a sea of people equally intoxicated by the music. Nobody stopped dancing, nobody stopped jumping, it just kept going until 2 in the morning. The part most wonder about is the “paint party” aspect of the concert. I was skeptical how much of a paint party it would turn out to be, but there was plenty of paint to go around- in fact, more than enough. In the midst of dancing and jumping while getting hot and sweaty, shoulder to shoulder with smiling strangers, I would feel a splash of cold paint on my shoulder or on my neck. The first few times I was shocked and looked at the paint I wiped off with my hand with
Kimberly Mei Shezal Padani Maddie Patton Kathy Santiago JP Salazar Cristina Seanez Kathleen Shaffer Josh Spruchman Dani Sureck Matt Wood
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 The Wildcat Tales is 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/wildcattalesonline. Businesses wishing to advertise in The Wildcat Tales can email us at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements deemed to be inappropriate.
The Wildcat Tales is the official student publication of Plano Senior High School 2200 Independence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75075
469.752.9300
Page Seven
Advertisers
April 23, 2012
Issue Ten
Plano Senior High School
Plano, TX, USA