Rocklin High School | Vol No. 24 Issue 2 | December 2016
THE
FLASH
OUTSIDE THE BOX
Winter 2016 | Rocklin High School | Volume 24 Express . Connect . Discover
WHAT'S INSIDE․․․
Lifestyle
4
School
10
Sports
13
Job
19
Ace I am Vegan Cuddle Puddle Model Student
Tattoos in HS Natural Shades A Fashion Runway
Teachers have lives outside of school, too Head in the Clouds Together... Forever Pirate, Music Pips & Pre-teens
Buttcape Bennett
Not your average sport
Horseback Racer
Superstitious Student-Athletes
Drop it like a Squat
Making goals on & off the field
Professional Princess Making things matter
The Flash | 1
The Staff Editors In Chief Jessie Valverde Allison Gerber
Assistant Editors Ka'iulani Kawamoto Samuel Michael Photographers Alyssa Goyhenetche Mikaela Noble Kohana Ramirez Taylor Ruiz Avery Arneson Staff Writers Justin Angellar Shane Atkins Riley Baldwin Marley Bauer Nikki Bhatia Connor Bolli Caitlin Caffrey Megan Campbell Lauren Cole
Design Director Sofia Fernando
Media Editors Logan Bik Sydney Stauts
Abbey Connell Miranda DaVoulas Ricky Freeman Isaiah Garcia Grace Gaumer Ashley Hay Maria Hudson Nicole Kinser Courtney Langstrom Raymond Matthews Audrey Mayer James Murphy Naeirika Neev Ashley Pfaff Hannah Shows Katelyn Suggs
PC: Austin Michael
2 | The Flash
Art Creds: Alyssa Long
Living inside the “box”
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Hannah’s Top 5 Tips
s I lined up with 99 of my best friends to take the AP Language and Composition Exam,—swamped in a sea of sleep-deprived students, fatigued from weeks of testing—a wellmeaning peer approached me, squeezed my arm, smiled and reassuringly quipped, “Don’t worry, just think outside of the box!” Think outside the box? Maybe it was the stress or my overanalytical mind, but this age-old aphorism suddenly didn’t make sense. What is “the box” and how do I get out of it? Do I want to?
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The limits of my box are defined by my perspective—how I think has been molded and reshaped by my unique experiences and opportunities. Living in the same house in Rocklin my whole life has limited my box. I’ve been socialized to think conservatively (fun fact: I don’t) and desire a safe life, working in “well-to-do” areas. But, conversely, I’ve travelled to Europe, studied the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill and World War II, growing my awareness of the global human condition past the confines of Rocklin.
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My experiences, then, comprise my identity, which is defined by my perspective—or my “box.” So, to change my perspective and “think outside the box” would be to disregard my experiences as Hannah Shows—favoring some new, “better” way of thinking. However, the best way I can write and express myself is through my unique voice: the convergence of my external influences and internal spirit. Now, thinking inside my box is not the equivalent of smallmindedness—certainly no excuse for bigotry or ignorance. I constantly expand my box through engaging with diverse people and reading intellectually-challenging material. I challenge my limits and confront my inherent biases living outside of my comfort zone. While discussions are becoming more polarized, I’m making the conscious effort to empathize with others’ viewpoints and circumstances. I’m not perfect, nobody is. Only through authentic, vulnerable living can I best tackle life as Hannah Shows, connecting with other creative individuals (as we all are) and embracing my unique perspective and identity.
Acknowledge your box
We all have limits—it’s called being human. Recognizing the bounds of your world— and thus, the limits of your perspective and understanding—are the first steps to expanding your box.
Step outside of your comfort zone
This is difficult—not only can it be physically trying, but it can emotionally task even the strongest leaders. However, it is the only way to truly expand your box! Embrace the discomfort and take baby step into challenging situations.
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Make it a habit
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Make small, sustainable changes that get you one step closer to your goal—and hold yourself accountable. But, don’t be too unrealistic! Sure, shooting for the moon is great, but consistently falling short of your expectations can be discouraging. Don’t give up!
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Join a community
Humans are social creatures united by our desire to explore. There are communities of people interested in supporting and challenging you. Have you always wanted to dance? Find a weekly dance class and get going!
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Read this issue of The Flash
Start here. Decide to expand your box now!
-Hannah Shows
The Flash | 3
LIFESTYLE
Asexual students share their experiences of being asexual
4 | The Flash
PC: Taylor Ruiz
A C E
I
t’s safe to say that most students on campus don’t know what asexuality is. It isn’t something that’s talked about among students like other LGBTQ+ subjects are, because frankly, there isn’t much awareness for it. Asexuality is defined as a person not feeling sexual attraction for any other person. Now, this doesn’t mean that an asexual person can’t have romantic feelings toward others; it just means that they simply want nothing to do with anything sexual. In a world where everything is so sexualized in movies, television and even hearing about sex in the news, it’s strange for some to think about asexuality. Only one percent of people in the United States are asexual. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t out there. McKenna Crowe (right, above), a senior, describes what it’s like to be asexual: “I knew I was never like other people, because some people see a guy and and say, ‘Oh my gosh, that guy’s so hot’, but I’m just like ‘Umm… O.K.’ He looks nice, but I don’t really see people like that.” Although asexuality isn’t as prevalent as other sexualities, those who are asexual still need visibility. Cat Rogers, a junior, talked about the experience in their house.
“My mom thinks that me being an asexual person [is like being] a monster because I don’t, apparently, love people,” explains Cat. This seems a bit odd. Although we see sexually explicit content in the media, it doesn’t mean that “doing it” means you’re in love with the person. In other words, having sexual interactions with someone doesn’t mean that you love them. Luckily, there are some in the asexual community that have had better experiences than Cat. “[Being asexual] didn’t really change anything for me,” McKenna said. “[My family and friends] pretty much already knew, anyway.” Some might say that being asexual is unnatural, but that mindset is the only thing unnatural with being asexual. Being asexual isn’t a bad thing and those who are aren’t just “waiting for the right person.” As a society, we need to further our acceptance of everyone, no matter your race, gender or sexuality. -Samuel Michael
I Am Vegan. Senior Madison Middleton shares her activism in Veganism PC: Taylor Ruiz
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eganism has become a growing trend among people of all ages. A vegan is most commonly defined as someone who does not eat or use any animal products, whether that be meat and dairy, or leather and fur.
Though her main reason for converting was to help out the animals, Madison admits to seeing some definite health benefits as well. “The pros [of becoming a vegan] would definitely be my health, my skin is clearer, and my hair is healthy. Also animals don’t die, and it’s better for the environment, like there’s less air and water pollution and deforestation,” she explains.
A Vegetarian Times survey found that 7.3 million people in America are vegetarian, and 1 million of those people are vegan. The population of people who follow this diet is increasing each day. There is a multitude of reasons that one might choose to turn to veganism. The main reason is that people want to limit and try to stop the cruelty that is put upon animals when they are slaughtered and skinned for human benefit. Some believe that it is a healthier option than a meat based diet, and other people do it for religious purposes. It is not uncommon nowadays for people to convert to veganism. Youth across America have been inclined to convert, as they have become more aware of the cruelties of animal factories. This diet has also become publicized by media, since many celebrities are also vegan enthusiasts, including Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Jared Leto.
In the end, Madison doesn’t regret her decision in the slightest. She states that she will continue being a vegan for the rest of her life, and that she will even take it a step further and major in environmental and animal studies. -Nikki Bhatia
WETELLYOURSTORIES Rocklin High student media join us next year
To Madison Middleton, a senior at Rocklin, veganism is “inflicting the compassion most people have into their daily lives.” Madison has been a vegan for four years, and prior to that she was a vegetarian for three. Contrary to popular belief, Madison claims that it was “not hard at all” to commit to the vegan diet. “People think it’s hard being a vegan, but all you have to do is literally not eat [animal products]… I made a good transition from being a vegetarian to becoming a vegan, and I think that’s a transition everyone should make. Don’t go straight from being a carnivore to being vegan; your body wouldn’t cooperate with that,” says Madison. “I just think it’s wrong to eat [animals]. I think most people believe that eating animals is wrong, but I act on it instead of just saying it,” adds Madison.
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The Flash | 5
PUDDLE
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Seeking comfort and solidarity, some students choose to snuggle up
Sometimes you just want to experience some physical intimacy without all of the emotional baggage of a relationship
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n odd underground movement has recently been gaining popularity amongst some Rocklin High students. This movement is warm, comforting and entirely about friendship - and it’s called the cuddle puddle.
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I enjoy it because it gives me some form of intimacy that all people crave, but not a lot of people can get. A lot of people in our society are against this sort of thing but there’s really nothing wrong with it.”
To some it’s called “the puddle” and to others it’s simply a cuddle Apparently the group is more about the happiness of the individual than a romantic connection. This is why group. While there are several different names for it, the people who participate generally don’t have the concept remains the same - a group of people get Cuddling releases any deep emotional attachment as a result - in fact together and gather under a couple blankets, and they oxytocin Oxytocin is almost the exact opposite is true. Cuddle puddles cuddle. Hearing that this was an established practice a hormone that does was confusing, to say the least. A huddling of people everything from making are about giving people a feeling of warmth on the together seems to have a natural romantic connotation, you feel good to help- inside, without causing them great pain when a but the participants claim that this is different. There ing you feel connected puddle has “evaporated,” so to speak. This is about building people up, making them whole and healthy. is no connection - it’s completely platonic. to others An anonymous Rocklin High student who participates in these cuddle groups gave us his opinion. “Sometimes you just want to experience some physical intimacy without all of the emotional baggage of a relationship. I think
6 | The Flash
Hopefully this act will gain more popularity in the future - we could all use a cuddle every once in awhile. And if it makes people happier or warmer, who are any of us to look down on it? -Connor Bolli & Marley Bauer
PC: Darwin Pluta
CUDDLE
I
n this day and age, hobbies are a dime a dozen. Whatever you do for fun, it’s practically guaranteed that you can find a sizable following for it somewhere. Obviously this is a good thing, as one of the best parts of pursuing a hobby is discussing it with a group of like-minded individuals. However, this makes finding a unique, interesting hobby a difficult task.
He has created many models and printed several of his most successful creations.
Senior Hayden Donovan is one student who has found such a passion. What does he do, you may ask?
Hayden also described what benefits his habit of 3D-modeling had given him outside of better grades in class.
“I enjoy 3D modeling,” says Hayden.
“It’s nice to be able to print your own stuff once you learn how to. Also, you appreciate human anatomy a lot more. It’s quite hard to model a person properly.”
This is a hobby that blends technology and art in an extremely particular way. Special software programs are used to create representations of real world (and sometimes fantasy world) objects, which can then be used in animation, art or printed using a 3D-printer. Hayden first became interested in 3D-modeling due to his digital art course here at Rocklin.
“My favorite model is one I just printed recently. It’s a model of myself, looking kinda bored and melting from the waist down. That one was nice,” Hayden explains.
Hayden’s is a hobby that falls outside of what many people may think of as the norm: Hayden says that he doesn’t know many other people that enjoy 3D-modeling as a hobby. However, that doesn’t bother him.
“Sophomore year we were doing an Alice in Wonderland thing for the VAPA Assembly, and I was put in charge of a bunch of stuff - mainly the environment. Muffins, cups - all the fun stuff,” explains Hayden.
“It’s something fun to do that keeps me occupied outside of school. I don’t mind being the only one doing it. It’s especially nice because the school lets me use the machine to print them out,” adds Hayden.
Although he first became aware of 3D-modeling through school, Hayden soon began to pursue it as a hobby - and eventually, he says, he could see himself doing it as a career.
Hayden’s hobby may be somewhat more practical than most “unusual” hobbies, but it certainly is out of the ordinary. Hayden’s passion for his work shows that he truly is committed to it, no matter his lack of people to share the time with.
“I don’t know what kind of career requires 3D-modeling but if I find one then I could definitely see myself doing that,” Hayden says.
PC: Darwin Pluta
Model Student
-Connor Bolli and Marley Bauer
Senior finds virtual sculpting a worthy pastime The Flash | 7
PC: Taylor Ruiz
Tattoos in HIGH SCHOOL
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id you know, in California, getting a tattoo underage is not permitted, even when an adult is present? Socially, getting a tattoo is seen at different extremes: either a way to express something in the form of art, or something you will regret when you’re 90 years old. Is a needle going into your skin thousands of times worth the end result? Here at RHS we have some students that have answered yes, but another question remains: Why get the tattoo now, rather than waiting till you were older?
ON MY BODY FOR LIFE?
Junior Blayden Brown’s tattoo is one of tradition. Many of his family members get a special tattoo to honor those who have passed away on his father’s side of the family, all differing in design, but sharing the same meaning. He got his done at age 16, following in his older sister’s footsteps, and plans on getting more tattoos in the near future.
Senior Brenden Rakela got his done the day he turned 18, because he has wanted a tattoo since he was very young. When the day finally came, the first thing he thought of was his younger brother’s name. He is very close with his 12-year-old brother and always wants to remember the relationship they have.
On the other hand, senior Gabbi Parker’s tattoo is not a family tradition. At age 16, she had to work hard and earn all A’s and B’s on her report card for her parents to allow her to get the tattoo done. The artwork she chose for the tattoo is of the lotus flower, symbolizing “emerging from past troubles.” In her family, many have tattoos, and inspired Gabbi to get the tattoo.
For these three students, suffering through the pain and choosing artwork that will be on their bodies forever was an easy price to pay. Do you think you would ever make the bold decision like they did? -Abbey Connell
NATURALshades
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ainstream artificial hair dyes look great, but many have recently been turning instead to all-natural dyes to change their hues. It may seem a little outside the (store-bought) box, but proponents of natural coloring claim that it leads to healthier, natural hair. Whether there’s truth to these claims or not, natural, food-and-spice-based dyes are generally cheaper than going to a salon. Junior Cat Rogers has been dyeing their hair since the eighth grade using these all-natural methods. Every three weeks, they make their dye, put on a shower cap and leave their hair to sit over the weekend.
PC: Kohana Ramirez
“I don’t like my natural hair color,” Cat says, “and I got teased a lot for it being boring… so I was like, ‘screw it!’” And after going through every color of the rainbow (except yellow), Cat has figured out formulas for each color, including a variety of natural shades.
8 | The Flash
Natural dyes release rainbow
Want to try them yourself? Scan the QR code for recipes. Cat’s purple hair dye is created by steeping frozen blueberries in a pot of water for about an hour. Then, this mixture is blended for about three minutes, and after it’s smooth, blueberry extract is added. Then they stir in henna dye, dyeing mud, honey and lemon juice before letting it sit for about an hour. To make the dye more red, sometimes beet pureé can be added, as well. However, it’s worth noting that their dyes are formulated for already light or bleached hair. But although Cat is a proponent of self-made hair dyes, they caution against self-bleaching. When it goes wrong, says Cat, “It’ll quite literally kill your scalp, and the only way to save it is to shave your entire head.” Although using natural ingredients in hair dye is beneficial for fine, thin hair like Cat’s, it’s important not to underestimate some of the potential dangers of concocting your own hair dye. Like with bleach, some things are best left to professionals, especially when time is limited and experience is lacking. Making extracts, such as rose or blueberry extract, requires an extremely watchful eye. And some of Cat’s’ other recipes take a few extra steps that can make the dyeing process more difficult. Although natural hair dye isn’t for everyone, it can be a gentle, cheap and healthy alternative to salons. However, in the spirit of expanding your own box and (hopefully) stepping outside your comfort zone, these alternative methods of dyeing hair might just be a whole new means of self-expression. -Ashley Hay
RHS:
PC: Lauren Cole
A Fashion Runway Rocklin High Students express themselves through their chic and unique style.
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ocklin High School has a significant melting pot of people and the cultures they carry with them. Students form their own relationships and groups of friends around who they want to associate themselves with. But the one factor that plays into everyone’s individuality as opposed to their group identity can be expressed through their clothing. Artistic interests, lifestyles, personalities and statuses are displayed through student attire. A perfect example of how student’s style affects them is junior Josette Burroughs. “I dress the way I dress because it’s fun and it motivates me in the morning.” Whilst interviewing people on campus from different classes, comfort and functionality came up quite often. Many were saying that “[their] style revolves only around comfort” and “[they] wear anything that can be napped in.” Other students use their clothes as an opportunity to express who they are. “My style definitely changes on how I feel. Sometimes I like to wear dresses, then the next day you can find me rockin my mom jeans,” expresses junior Julia Dandar who recently joined fashion club this year.
“I would describe my style as vintage, bohemian and velvet. I like to be a different character everyday and change it up,” stated senior Ashley Taylor. Now Tilly’s, Forever 21, PacSun, Urban Outfitters and American Eagle are not the only types of places Rocklin students go to get their clothes. The teenagers of today acquire their fashion items everywhere. “Three words. Thrift store finds,” laughs junior Will Dowden, whose graphic tee shirts, cuffed jeans, women’s track shorts and crazy socks stand as wardrobe musts. “I get most of my clothes from the depop app, thrift stores and, yes, Chinese websites,” admits Josette. It’s quite clear walking around Rocklin High School’s campus that many students are on the constant creative spree with how they dress, pulling together hand-me-downs, thrift store gems and newly purchased items to create entirely unique and individual looks that truly speak for the wearer. -Maria Huson and Ashley Pfaff
**Pictured from left to right: Baylee Chelossi Josette Burroughs, Ashley Taylor, Julia Dandar & Margaret Denton
The Flash | 9
SCHOOL PC: Mark Hardy
Teachers have LIVES outside of school, too.
Mark Hardy
“My number one hobby is fly-fishing. I am an avid fly-fisher, I have been since I was a little kid, my dad taught me when I was 7-years-old. My favorite thing is to go to really remote places and often that involves hiking in. I’ve fly-fished in Alaska and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, I go every summer to Montana and Wyoming. Probably the most unique place I’ve been was the Mangrove Channels of Yucatan Peninsula, which are estuaries that come out from the ocean where tarpon swim.”
Frank Shields
“I like to work and build things. I’m restoring an old Volkswagen bus right now. I also like to do wood-working and really anything outdoors like biking, hiking, camping, backpacking and fishing.”
-Jessie Valverde
Head in the clouds
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ocklin High School is an incredibly unique school. From the people that go here, to activities on campus, to how spirited we are, we’re different from most other schools. One of the most unique attributes of this school is our clubs. One of these new unique clubs is the Cloud Collective, founded by seniors Alyssa Long and Ashley Hay. In this club, students watch the clouds during their lunch period about once or twice a month. Usually, the meetings are spontaneous and don’t have specific days when they meet. On why they started the club, Alyssa says, “I noticed that a lot of my peers were really stressed out about the academic environment and they needed a place to be mindful and reflective of themselves, rather than just going through the motions of their day and cloud watching is a really good way to do that.” The meetings aren’t exactly structured, but, for a club like this, it doesn’t have to be. On a highly academic campus full of competition and stress, it’s worthwhile to go and look at the clouds for a while and forget your troubles. RHS is an incredibly unique campus, with diverse people and clubs, and the Cloud Collective is a club worth visiting, if you have the chance.
10 | The Flash
“
They needed a place to be mindful and reflective of themselves, rather than just going through the motions of their day and cloud watching is a really good way to do that.
”
PC: Avery Arneson
son
Together . . . FOREVER? Senior Genesis Navarro provides insight on high school dating
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elationships require a significant amount of maturity, aspects of which include communication, emotional intelligence and trust. In other words, characteristics teenagers often do not possess (not to say adults always have them either). The aforementioned attributes are keystones necessary qualities for the success and longevity of connections. Though a struggle for some young adults, there are others that have been able to build such connections. Senior Genesis Navarro has been in a relationship for over two years. “It’s going to be two years, three months the day after Christmas,” says Genesis. “We started dating December 26, 2014.” The circumstances that surround her relationship, however, makes this feat a little more impressive. Genesis’s boyfriend, Matthew Lines (a former Rocklin student), is currently attending Sierra College. “Because he was a senior last year, we talked about how we would move forward,” Genesis says. “We agreed that we love each other and that if it didn’t work out it would be because our [plans diverged]. I don’t want my selfish needs getting in the way of his ultimate happiness.” These types of conversations are imperative for those who are involved in a serious relationship. They provide a healthy foundation upon which the couple can build trust and further deepen their bond. Whether individuals decide to take these steps or not is up to them. Holding together a committed relationship at this age is difficult. Students are struggling to come to terms with themselves while also juggling school work, extracurriculars and their social lives.
PC: Sohree Victor It is essential to keep in mind that deciding to make a relationship serious and - ultimately - long term, is but the first step in doing so. Not only that, but this decision cannot be one sided: it needs to be one of mutuality. Furthermore, acting on the intent is no easy task. Learning how to communicate with the other person may seem like a walk in the park, but the talking is not the component of communication that makes it arduous. It is the empathy and understanding required of both parties that makes it so. So for those that intend to create something meaningful and lasting, remember that it will not be challenge-less. However, the challenges faced and tackled can very well be worth it. Just look at Genesis and Matthew.
Healthy Relationships “Lots of communication is important. Especially [when it comes to] letting the other person know what you’re going through. Trusting the other person has the maturity to talk about everything is definitely important, also,” she says. “Secrets are secret.”
The Flash | 11
PC: Avery Arneson
Twelve-Year-Old Hannah Treehan takes on a high school math course
Pirate Music PIPS & Pre-teens
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Admittedly, her teachers do, at times, set a higher standard for her, but she mostly tries to focus on her own perception of herself; as long as she sees that she is doing her best, that’s the only thing she can ask for. Plus, she feels that her workload is fairly balanced. “I am only taking one AP, and my 7th grade courses are okay as well, so I feel pretty comfortable with my workload,” says Treehan. Maintaining balance in her life helps to counteract this. Her favorite activities include hiking, writing and reading authors like Austen, Brontë and Dickens.
t twelve-years-old, most kids are learning about what a prime number is in pre-algebra. But this year, twelve-year-old Hannah Treehan is listening to pirate music while learning about pips in AP Calculus AB.
This isn’t to say, however, that AP Calc can’t take its toll on her. Like other high schoolers in the class, she, too, gets stressed at times by the workload. Of course, she has her own method of coping with this.
Hannah is the one of the two students below ninth grade that are enrolled in a Rocklin High School course; the other is her fifth grade brother Kevin, in Integrated Math II.
“First of all, I always try to work on one of my stories after doing a particularly hard assignment, because it helps me distract myself for a while,” she explains. “If that doesn’t work, I eat chocolate. And that always works.”
Treehan began her journey through higher math courses her fourth grade year, in Algebra I. Right from the start, she has had high hopes for her future. If you were to ask your typical twelve-year-old what their top priorities are you’d probably get answers like “making the soccer team” or “beating Call of Duty.” However, when we asked Hannah what her top priority was she responded that she spends most of her time worrying about academics. However, this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. At twelve-years-old, she’s already developed a detailed road map for her future, with high aspirations for a career as a CEO of a healthcare company or a successful author. The natural assumption may be that her parents pressure her to perform at such a high level, or that she feels the need to compete with her classmates, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When asked about who is pressuring her to take such an advanced course load, she had one simple answer. “The only person pressuring me is me!” says Hannah.
12 | The Flash
This can serve as a friendly reminder to all of us; if a twelve-year-old can manage AP Calculus AB without becoming an emotionally-strung-out caffeine addict, there’s no reason why we can’t as well. The pressure to be competitive and to strive for perfection is certainly common on our campus, and it’s not always a negative, but we have to look at who is actually putting the pressure on us. Hannah doesn’t let other people’s expectations bother her, because she knows that the only opinion that truly matters is her own. She takes her academics so seriously because she has made that decision for herself, but that shouldn’t mean that this is the only thing students should be taking seriously. If you truly want to be an artist, singer, dancer or anything in between, don’t let anyone else pressure you into giving up those goals. Focus on doing what matters most of you to the best of your ability, and if worst comes to worst, just focus on eating chocolate. -Megan Campbell and Raymond Matthews
SPORTS
Buttcape Bennett One man’s short-shorts leave a long legacy
PC: James Murphy
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or many, cross country is seen as a somewhat mysterious sport. There are no home games, no well-known rituals like for football, and as a matter of fact, they don’t even have a stadium! So what do cross country runners do when they disappear off campus for hours on end to run? One sophomore cross country runner, Bennett Woodward, gives insight to some of the team’s quirkiest rituals. In their case, every Tuesday means, “skies out, thighs out!” For Bennett and anyone else who dares, this is the one day a week to pull out the toucans: short-cut, split-leg shorts giving the appearance of a cape trailing off one’s backside, all plastered with none other than yes - toucans. Bennett began wearing these shorts his freshman year, a bold statement for someone just entering the school. He had a clear idea in mind that served a purpose far more than just laughs, however. He credits Whitney cross country’s similar tradition of wearing shorts with a galaxy design for giving him the idea. “What inspired me was how Whitney’s team was so close together with their shorts, so I wanted to make Rocklin’s team like that,” Bennett says. While he did not expect his toucans to have such a resounding affect on the team culture, the legacy his shorts inspired soon came to represent something truly iconic. What started with just one freshman soon came to represent something
much larger. “A senior actually thought it was pretty cool, so then the senior got some and then everyone got some,” Bennett explains. Now, even some of the girls on the team have toucans, which Bennett and a number of the other runners believe has brought the team much closer together. “I think cross country accepts anyone no matter who you are or where you come from or anything. It’s just a giant family,” Bennett says. If a freshman can show up in a pair of shorts that most people wouldn’t dare wear in their lifetime and not be made fun of, Bennett’s statement may carry a lot of weight. Rocklin High’s Cross Country team spends a lot of time on a hobby most could never imagine doing for fun, but there is more to their sport than just running. The bonds and respect that emerged over those long hours of pain spent together have forged a sense of family hard to parallel. -James Murphy
The Flash | 13
PC: Ceara Clementi
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n average two year old has a favorite animal, but Ceara Clementi’s favorite animal, the horse, meant so much more. Their speed, strength and beauty connected strongly with her. She had a need to ride, “I constantly asked my mom if I could just ride a horse,” a smile grows on her face as she continues, “when I was eight we moved here and I finally got my wish.” After that first ride they found a coach and began her almost nine-year-long journey into horseback riding. The competitions, that Ceara practices three to four times a week for, rank you by the speed of your riding. She explained that you’re judged on how balanced you are on a horse, the grace of your riding and how much control you have of the horse. Ceara describes that the practices and competitions are more strenuous than one would expect, she even called it, “a second job.” The intense and long practices make sense since you have to form a special bond with the horse. However, this is no problem with Ceara because her passion already sparks a connection.
Horseback Racer The long ride to be the best
14 | The Flash
It seems as if this passion won’t be ending anytime soon, “It comes easy to me, I mean I’ve loved horses forever and I don’t plan on stopping. I’m even ready to do it in college next year.” -Courtney Langstrom
Drop it like a Squat Senior Ellarie Sutton competes in Crossfit and Olympic Lifting Rocklin High School senior, Ellarie Sutton, has been engaging in CrossFit for five years and has been competing in Olympic lifting for one year.
a little bit harder to qualify for, everyone’s a little bit older and stronger,” she comments.
Crossfit is a rigorous program designed to maximize core strength, cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power and speed. CrossFit’s exercise program is used to achieve great fitness as well as give an upper-hand in sports by building athleticism and power.
Ellarie is motivated to continue pursuing CrossFit and Olympic lifting by viewing her progress as she becomes stronger.
Ellarie started doing CrossFit in middle school with the mindset that she needed to get stronger in order to continue playing volleyball. “I started doing CrossFit a few times a week and I didn’t like it at first but then eventually I liked it,” Ellarie says. As Ellarie grew more passionate about the sport, she began to grow away from volleyball and focused on CrossFit. “I started competing, I started only doing CrossFit. I quit volleyball and then I just kind have gotten more competitive with it,” Ellarie says, “I started weightlifting in August of 2015. I qualified for youth nationals in Texas over the summer.” In a five week online CrossFit workout competition called The Open, Ellarie placed third in the teenage girl division in Northern California.
PC: Keith Sutton
Ellarie’s next goal is to qualify for Junior Nationals in February. “[It] is
“I think what keeps me motivated is seeing progress and seeing that I’m constantly getting better and it’s something I can carry until I’m older,” says Ellarie. As Ellarie’s workouts progress to get more difficult she looks to the athletes around her for more motivation. “The people I do weightlifting and CrossFit with are really inspiring and fun people to be around. I think that’s what keeps me coming back is that community and all the friends I’ve made,” she says. Ellarie views CrossFit and Olympic lifting as a future career she would enjoy pursuing. “I really respect everyone I compete against. Hopefully I will be able to make a career out of CrossFit or weightlifting. My dream would be to open a CrossFit gym somewhere in Texas. I don’t know how possible that is but that would be my dream job. I can definitely see CrossFit in my future for a very long time,” Ellarie says. -Shane Atkins
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Not Your Average Sport
• Rocklin High students participate in the not-so-popular sports outside of campus
Max Diven
“I enjoy game as and comes An of the game of people know can play. It’s a there are no
find the field.”
IRISH DANCING “It started in people came brought the a few places McKeever Dance in 25 percent is part started watched became what and have it
the challenge of the well as the physicality brotherhood that with it. interesting part that not a lot is that anyone club sport so cuts and no matter your size, speed, or strength, you will a way on
Ireland and when Irish to America they dancing. There are you can go, I go to School of Irish Sacramento. I am Irish, which of the reason I to do it. I also Riverdance and I fascinated with they were doing the moves. I been doing for almost 6 years.”
Morgan Sydow
RUGBY
JUI JITSU uch as m t r u get h d” on’t u woul d u o “Yo hink y t you
y rs ea nd m y e a re ar r th a ye me.” o f it for to ing ling rt up o d st o een wre is sp b h d ve di t t “I’ w, I ugh no d bro da
as
“It’ s tha more nh ard fun a cor nd e fi gam ght ing es ”
Sydney O’Brien
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| Allison Gerber
PC: Geoffrey Clarion
Unique Rituals Students do to Become Better Athletes
F
or athletes who rely on technique and skill to get through games, it can seem as though chance and superstition play no part in their activities. Despite this, nearly everyone believes in something, including the athletes at Rocklin High School. Student athletes do something empowering before a game that helps them feel more prepared and confident. These positive superstitions, though seemingly insignificant, are helpful and personal to those who follow them. “I have to touch my toes and kick both legs before a [soccer] game or I’ll just be off the whole time. It just makes me feel prepared and more comfortable to play. I don’t think I’d feel okay to go without doing it” said senior Carly Hinton
SUPERSTITIOUS Student Athletes be attached to physical objects, however everyone’s superstitions are individual and meaningful to them specifically. “If I have a bad day at my gym or my coach yells at me I won’t use that hair tie [that I was using] the next day,” says sophomore gymnast Emma Andres. Most superstitions act as a safe reassurance that help individuals feel confident before an event. Though people from all different groups have their own personal superstitions, it is obvious that athletes in particular rely on them to improve their performance and hopefully make them a better athlete. -Miranda DaVoulas
More than just a pre-game ritual, the superstitions that people have are genuine beliefs that can completely affect their mindset and sometimes destroy their performance.
Others use superstitions to completely destroy this kind of bad feeling or energy. It is common for these quirky or odd beliefs to
PC: Riley Baldwin
“I try to get over my superstition, but sometimes if I’m not holding my tennis racket a specific way it can mess up my shots. Once I gave up a whole game because of my stupid superstition,” says tennis player Janae Schmidt.
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Making goals on and off the field Zachary Miller the three sport athlete
H
igh school can be very stressful with the amount of homework involved, especially when most of your time is spent playing sports. Zachary Miller is a sophomore here at Rocklin High School who is currently participating in three sports. Zach is involved in track and field, soccer and football. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish the football season due to an injury that occurred during practice. “I honestly don’t think it’s hard to stay focused when it comes to school. I’m the one who chose to play all of these sports so I kinda have to deal with it I guess,” says Zach. Zach’s heart belongs to his sports, and he has shown through his participation in Rocklin High School athletics. “I really enjoy playing sports so I decided to play more than one because otherwise I would only get to play for part of the year. But by playing sports that happen in different seasons, I have the opportunity to play year round and that’s probably my favorite part,” Zach says. He is determined to maintain his good grades and has found ways to make it possible even while playing multiple sports. What may seem like a crazy lifestyle to some people, Zach considers it normal. “I usually have to stay up late because I still have a bunch of homework to do when I get home from practice. But I make sure I get it done because I want to have good grades,” explains Zach. With a positive attitude both on and off the field, Zach has managed to thrive in school as well as helping lead his teams to victory. -Caitlin Caffrey PC: Caitlyn Caffrey
18 | The Flash
Professional Princess
JOBS
Senior Sarah Ehrhardt works as a part-time princess for local company PC: Sarah Ehrhardt
D
evoting her time to make both children and adults smile, Sarah Ehrhardt has enjoyed her unique and entertaining profession as a Disney princess. Sarah started working as a princess last April as a junior, and has continued to do so this year. She chose this job because she was obsessed with Disney when she was young, and has had the aspiration of becoming a piece of royalty. “I watched all the Disney princess movies when I was a child,”
says Sarah, “I always wanted to be one because they inspired me and made me happy.” Sarah works at a company called “Amazing Fairytale Parties”, and works with kids around the age of 2 to 6-years-old. She discovered this job online and automatically realized that this was the perfect job for her. She has a lot of friends supporting her, confidently recognizing her strengths and qualities. “You can tell she’s very passionate,” says Maddie Horton, a very
dear friend of Sarah. Dressing up as a princess is no simple task. One has to be outgoing, positive and to be able to sing a few spells. Sarah Ehrhardt has succeeded in all of the above, flourishing while working at parties and many other celebrations. Sarah Ehrhardt is passionate to make the best out of her job. Her potential to spread cheer and love into the hearts of young children is what makes her job worthwhile. -Josue Sanchez
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Making things matter
Rocklin High student uses school skills in different ways By Kate Suggs & Isaiah Garcia
T
he slogan of the Hewlett Packard Development Company (HP) is one that senior and part-time HP intern Luciano Gonzalez has been working under since the summer of 2015. The beginning of a new world for him began with enrolling in AP Computer Science at Rocklin High. “[My class] went to an event called Code Wars at HP and it was basically a competition where you would code,” says Luciano. “And, at that, they announce information about an internship. Mr. Clarion helped everyone who was in computer science apply, and they chose me, [Kyle Bouwman and Davis Gomes] from Rocklin to go do the internship in the summer.” From a college level class to an internship, Luciano is rightfully on the path to success. His internship specifies in the research and development area of the networking department. “I work in a lab that has a bunch of prototypes of new products and they are all connected to a huge network where developers for HP that live around the globe can connect remotely and test new programs on it. They can also send out their hardware there and test out new prototypes,” he explains. Because it is his senior year, juggling an internship, five AP classes and extracurricular activities such as CSF, NHS and mock trial are difficult at times for Luciano. However, he manages to work in the lab about four days a week. “During the summer, it was a full time internship so you have much more of a schedule, but now I actually stay on part time during the school year,” says Luciano, “[the company] is really chill about it and, when I ask them how often should I be coming in they told me just come in whenever you can so I basically set my hours. So if during the week I have nothing going on, I will try and go in maybe 12 or 15 hours, but my weeks are really busy.” Despite his jam packed schedule, Luciano makes a fair amount of money which has helped him pay for many of his necessities. “I get paid about $12.50 an hour. It is slightly over minimum wage so it’s good. I have used it to buy my car and pay for all my college applications and I am going to buy parts to build a computer,” says Luciano. Since joining, Luciano has adjusted to the new life at HP. But being the new kid on the block when he first stepped foot on company grounds was quite intimidating. Luciano states, “I started the summer after my sophomore year and I couldn’t even drive, so I was the only person at HP whose mom had to drop them off every morning. It was kind of embarrassing, but also kind of funny and they knew I was young so they didn’t expect me to be a master at everything. They treat you respectfully and like an adult which is different from school. They have a lot more faith and they give you a lot more responsibility.” In addition to Luciano having the opportunity to work with adult coworkers, test prototypes of new products and connect with other people globally, his job has allowed him to figure out the next four years of his life. “It is not so much the job itself that is my favorite, but the other interns from college that I met during the summer and getting to talk to all of them because there were interns from Cal Poly, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Berkeley and Stanford. I would ask them a bunch of questions and I learned a lot about colleges and where I want to go to just from talking to people at HP. My top choice after talking to these people is Stanford,” says Luciano. Referring back to the HP slogan, Luciano has broadened his horizon by applying for this internship at HP. It has gave him so many opportunities and lessons that are essential throughout the real world such as experiencing an adult job and interacting with people around the world. Furthermore, it has helped him plan the next chapter of his life and his life is on a great path.You could definitely say Luciano has made it matter.
20 | The Flash
PC: Taylor Ruiz
On the flip side, for most Rocklin High School students, a summer job means working at a local restaurant or business, like Chick-Fil-A or Sunsplash. However, when senior Laura Maranta got the opportunity to be an assistant at her mom’s friend’s home-staging business, she took the opportunity to try a job that is out of the box. “I had never had a job before, and I wasn't interested in working in retail or at a restaurant,” explains Laura. “I have watched a lot of HGTV, so helping stage houses seemed like the perfect option.” When selling a house, buyers will be able to imagine themselves better in a house if the house has furniture. Especially when selling a house where the family has moved out, realtors will hire a house stager to decorate and furnish the home. Laura used her experience in yearbook design to help make her decision, as she wanted to see how design comes into play with other careers. She comments, “Home staging is very different than the corporate jobs we are used to seeing, so it was refreshing to see skills we learn about in school used in a different career.” In her job, Laura mainly cleaned furniture and hung photos. This gave her a perfect opportunity to see the finished project and how little touches in decorating a home can increase the sale price. In fact, she explained that her favorite part was seeing the results of her hard work pay off with a higher sale price, often significantly more than asking price. In order to get this result, house-stagers have to put in hours of work and manage many different factors. Laura explained that the hardest part of the job was that “you have to keep track of movers, rental furniture, decor you purchased and the time you need the house completed.” So was this summer job the start of her future career path? Probably not. “I do not think this career is for me in the long run, however it was very nice to have a low maintenance first job,” explains Laura. “It was interesting seeing all of the things you hear about on TV and in magazines really come to life.” Even though Laura does not want to go into this area of work, it proved to be a valuable experience. In her future, she wants to pursue a career in teaching. Some of the skills she learned in house-staging; such as organization, timeliness, and communication; can transfer to this career. Though normal summer jobs pay in easy work and money, out of the box careers like house-staging can provide valuable skills for the future.
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