The Blue & White, 3rd edition, 2016-2017

SIDNEY LANIER HIGH SCHOOL’S

The Blue & White Teen Cancer Survivor Overcomes Odds

May 25, 2017

Special Edition

ing, she would have to go back and forth to Birmingham to get chemotherapy treatments and procedures done to help her survive.

By Andre Lamonte

Inside this issue:

2017 Grads, What is Your Next?

2

Juniors Seek to Save on Senior Fees

3

State Takeover: Hope, Help or Harm

4

Poets Hold the Key to Lockout Woes

5

Is Social Media Vital or Viral?

6

Greenwood Twins: Meet Lanier’s Own ‘Geek Squad’

7

Girls Go Unchecked at Security Points

7

Prom 2017 #NightAtTheCarnival 9 Goodbye C/O 2017

Don’t Forget !  May 25 : Last day for students  August 10: First Day of school 2017-18  September 10: Labor Day  October 5 : End of 1st grading period 2017-18  July 31: Last day for free final transcripts for class of 2017

eople often pass others in the halls absentmindedly, at best giving someone a quick look up-and-down, never really thinking about them or considering who they are. One never sees a person and wonder “What have they been through to get here?” This is an injustice when one considers Shanya Reed.

P

A freshman at Sidney Lanier High School, Shanya Reed was diagnosed with breast Shanya Reed/Photo by KenShaun Gipson cancer at the age of thirteen while in the eighth grade, while most girls were thinking of boys and Mindless Behavior she was As a teen going to McKee and an exceptionthinking the worst of her mortality. al dancer for the Dazzling Dolls, she had a “I was thinking of the worst outcomes,” lot on her plate, while trying to accommoShanya recalled when asked about how she date her daily life to try and live life like a normal teenager would. was thinking during these troubling times.

She would rely on her mother and her grandmother in these times to keep her going. They would often go to church, keeping their faiths strong in hopes of getting over this massive and unforeseen obstacle. She never wanted to quit, but in those times of doubt she always had a strong support system behind and above her.

And it worked! She beat the cancer and is as, if not more, healthy than she has ever been. All the therapies, medications, procedures and prayers got her through it all and she is now living with the knowledge of knowing she can beat whatever comes her way.

“I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to.”

And who could blame her? She’s had two aunts and a great grandmother pass away from the same disease. Breast cancer can be a very high risk for black women, especially if it runs in the family.

While dancing she had to take more breaks than her team members, drink more water, take pills just to catch up, and even then she ended up living a life vastly less youthfully than her friends.

“I thought I was going to die,” she recalled.

She was destined to be strong from her This was often the way her cards were dealt in those times. While her team was practic- birth, and her trials only assured her of it.

Shanya exudes a kind of quiet power that shows confidence without arrogance, character without hubris, and humility without self-doubt. She doesn’t parade her past “I remember planning a trip to Six Flags The damaged cancer cells that claimed the around to show she is determined to be with my friends and getting diagnosed with lives of Shanya’s family members were great, rather she shows it by being great the breast cancer,” she recalled, “and not passed onto her, leaving her with a very through her determination. being able to go with them.” high chance for fatality.

Poet Makes History At MPACT

By Azaria Perry

resume and attending an interview.

Sidney Lanier High School senior Kevin Lee is the first student to gain a job through Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT) while attending high school.

Even more so, he said MPACT also helped him to create his resume and to prepare for his interview.

Lee is employed at Dixie Electrical in Hope Hull, AL,.doing anything affiliated with commercial wiring.

Upon walking across the stage, he is expected to work part-time on their start-off salary of $12.00/ hr. This exceeds the national minimum wage salary of $7.25/ hr., and his pay is even expected to rise after 6 months.

Due to their connections with trades of other companies, getting a job through MPACT was ‘a piece of cake’, because Lee is the first to gain a job prior to high school graduation, he is expected to go straight into the workforce.

His passion for electrical, however, goes much farther. As a child, Lee’s stepfather introduced him to the electrical trade.

Kevin Lee/Photo by Joshua Gordon

“I feel like I’ve made a good choice in my career field,” Lee says.

He was raised in an environment associated with the electrical and maintenance work his stepfather performed. Lee noticed fixing things with his stepfather and working with his hands the “A-ha” moment.

further it at H. Council Trenholm State Technical College for a degree in electrical technology.

Lee gained his job through MPACT at one of their many job fairs. He said the application process was as simple as submitting a

He felt like this type of trade was something everyone would always need. This motivated and inspired Lee to continue his education in the electrical trade. He plans to

MPACT, Lee says, “grants many opportunities with jobs and furthers your desired trade. After four years of attending, progress is definitely being made.”

Class of 2017, What Is Your ‘Next’?

By JaChristian Dauda

be valuable in the long run.

May 20th is less than a month away, if you ask what is so important about that day seniors will say, “I finally graduated.”

I just want to encourage our seniors not to settle, but be great at everything you do and look for the best possible opportunity for you. And if you find yourself lost with no clue on what to do next, just talk to teachers, counselors, friends, family, even your fellow classmates. Don’t be a follower, do what is best for you, just make sure you have a plan.

Getting a high school diploma is great, and this year our graduation rate is on path to be 80 percent. Although we are happy that we will finally walk across the stage, shake the principal’s hand, and receive our sheepskin. Unfortunately seniors that is not the end of the journey. It is only the start of a new chapter.

The next step would be having your plan on what you are going to do next, whether it’s going to college right after, working, or both. Many seniors say that they are headed to college, but some people are not serious. Statistics prove that. National and local figures show that graduation rates are increasing, but college rates are declining. The numbers are rising, though, for students going to a workforce.

National and local statistics show that graduation rates are increasing but college rates are declining.

students at Lanier to fall under the 77 percent of students that graduate and have student loan debt.

Some of our seniors took the opportunity of committing to join or obtain a military based scholarship with ROTC programs.

But a shocking discovery shows that 71 percent of the youth aren’t qualified to Teachers at Lanier encourage students to join the military. So, we should commend look for multiple scholarship the ones who were able to take advantage opportunities because we don't want our of this and adding something else that will

Moms Left By Themselves Step Up To The Plate

By Joseph Blackshear

When I was young, me and my mama had beef, 17 years old, kicked out on the streets. Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face. Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place –Tupac Shakur

When I was growing up, my mother was like a super hero …

when that presence is absent or not available? One thing for certain is that you won’t see a single mother make a run for it.

She will stay there and weather the storm until it surpasses. Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Martin Lawrence, Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Shaquille O’Neal, and even former President Barack Have you ever seen a single mother with a It takes a strong person to raise children by Obama were all raised by their mothers. child or children and wonder how she does themselves let alone a woman. it?

When I was growing up, my mother was like Some mothers balance work and often times a super hero because I knew when I had an This is a school in order for their children to have a issue I could always depend on my mother question better future that possibly they didn’t have. no matter the situation or circumstance. that will be posed Not bashing or taking away from single I think that single mothers don’t get enough for years fathers who also do the same, credit for all the work and time they spend to come. but there is something about a woman that on taking care of their children. So all in all I Single takes on all obstacles in order for her and her want to say to all single mothers is that you mothers in kids to succeed. are all appreciated and keep on holding on, my opinbecause without you there is no us. ion are I’m a product of a single mother household P.S. : I Love You Mom!! some of and I can say firsthand that it’s not easy and the strongest women you will probably ever is sometimes a struggle to do it all because it see. takes a mental and physical toll on the body.

I know you’ve heard that there should be a man to run a household, but what happens Page 2

The Blue & White

Rising Grads Yearn To Offset Senior Fees

By Ebony Allen

Senior fees can bring on stress especially when there are loads of financial obligations and due dates.

that are not paid can even prevent you from walking across the stage.

A Lanier junior Jeremy Taylor has a idea that will help all students. “Have more of the important things paid first so we can But that does not have to be. Other high graduate then worry about the extras that schools such as Jefferson Davis, taining good grades in order to graduate are not really important” George Washington Carver and Robert E. on time.

Lee high schools have junior fees that Why not have Junior fees so you so you Moral of the point is that Lanier should relieve them from the stress of shelling consider putting the Junior Fee in schools want have these problems? out extra money for fees. so seniors won't be rushing to meet a “The money we had hoped to save, we're deadline in such little time.

Lanier is considered the only high school spending on things we did not anticipate to not do so. Why is that? to be spending at the high school level," At least have prom paid already so they won't have to pay for a prom ticket their A majority of students interviewed be- says Imani Lott, a junior at Lanier. “Even senior year. It's stressing that you must as we enter freshmen year at school lieve that Lanier should consider having meet the deadline with all at the same there's a fee needed to be paid already”. students pay fees as early as their junior time try to pass classes, and have a job so year. “Most people would already have Plus there are classes that require a fee to the fees are paid. Seniors spend almost a everything paid off and focused on colcomplete that course. And if a fee is not total of $1,000 dollars their senior year, so lege and graduating” Darius Barfield, a paid, it will be recorded on the official why not have some type of fee junior 12th grader at Lanier, said. transcript. And that student’s file will be year?

As it is, most seniors juggle dealing with flagged causing you not to receive your having the necessary funds while main- diploma when you graduate. The fees

Will The State Harm or Help With The Takeover?

By Andre Lamonte

It is all but universally known amongst students and teachers at Lanier that the state has issued an intervention on Montgomery Public Schools. Recently the school system has nearly doubled its failing schools list and the number is projected to rise.

The state has announced that it will take over some 27 schools in the school system in an effort to betHeartBeats by Dre ter the test scores of students. I personally hope hat it will work on many levels, not limited to test scores.

With this disposition in mind, I wondered how I could become involved.

Luckily enough an opportunity fell into my lap. There was a day when some representatives from the state had come to Lanier to speak with the teachers and students (separately) to get a sense for what we thought needed to be fixed at the school. I was chosen among 7 other students to sit down and talk it over with them.

We sat in the library and discussed a load of negatives as well as positives about the school with two wonderful women from the state. We talked about how the school has a very homely feel, a family-like environment, and how the demographics of the school were so well related that it really feels like the teachers at the school for the most part feel like they know where we come from and reach us on a deeper level because of it.

I think that the test scores of the schools are very important seeing as they provide us with a literal scoresheet for how well the schools are doing academically, but I also think that only seeking to improve the scores falls extremely short of what We also discussed the state of classthis intervention can do for us. There rooms in the school and how it seems are so many things we could improve. as if each classroom has a sort of uneven playing field for students when it comes to learning, enthusiasm, stuI have always noticed that there is an dent-to-teacher interaction, and things issue that teachers are having with like that. There seems to be disconchildren in all the schools I have nection between adults and children, attended in MPS. Students are not like every kid isn’t being reached on motivated to learn, which causes is- the same levels as others. sues in the classrooms for teachers, which makes it harder to really reach students who want to learn which then discourages children from learning.

This cycle has put classrooms all over MPS, classrooms in Lanier, in disarray.

We spoke for about 30 minutes going back and forth on things we thought they could implement to help the school reach a better place and be a more healthy and engaging environment for students to learn in. We as students lack a feeling of importance to the school. We wear the colors and represent the Castle, yet we have very little in the way of influencing how we are represented and treated in the Castle.

There are many more issues that can be fixed with this intervention; many issues that I hope will be fixed for future generations that come after us.

It is only right to pay it forward and hope and strive for the betterment of those that come after you. I was raised The intervention is covering a very on that principle. wide net, 27 schools is going to be hard to improve all at the same time. I

hope to see changes in a lot of things while we are under the state’s command. I want to see more importance placed on academic achievement, more engagement for students, and more desire to learn in my classmates, and progression in anything I haven’t the foresight to foresee.

As far as I know, though, we are in the planning stages still. These announcements are still pretty recent and the CEO of this intervention, Reginald Eggleston, has only just begun. The first big step Eggleston we’ve seen is the ACT Aspire being completely taken out of MPS. I don’t particularly know what this will do for us except reduce failure by taking away opportunities to fail, but one can only hope that this is the beginning of a long road of recreation and growth for us in the right direction. I just want to see my people succeed.

“I don’t know what the [removal of ACT Aspire] will do for us except reduce failure by taking away opportunities to fail … I just want to see my people succeed.”

Poets Hold the Key to Ending Lockouts cy when it comes to arriving to school and class on time.

By Shramon Hurd

"Good morning teachers and students. Excuse me for this interruption, but we will be having a lockout for the rest of the day. . ."

This is the exasperating announcement that students in The Castle never look forward to hearing.

"Being on time is a quality that is required for the workplace and we will be sending a false message to students if we allowed or even tolerated habitual tardiness," says Principal Williams.

Many students wonder why we have lockouts if the suspension rate is already high.

To them, this just doesn't make any sense, but lockouts are not the reason the suspension rate is high.

Lockouts are also very effective . This is because students do not like staying after school for detention, which is the initial consequence, followed by a second detention.

Many students have expressed hate towards lockouts.

If students decide not to show up for the second detention, they receive a one-day "Lockouts are horrible! Especially for us suspension from school and it is coded as ninth graders who have to get from the gym disobedience. to the other side of the school, on the third floor in four minutes," says freshman Kerri Adds Williams: "Students hear me say all Students fail to realize that the things that Stovall. the time that they are to be where they we do as a school is a result of their actions and behavior. Just as lockouts are the result Although students hate lockouts, they're not should be, doing what they should be doing, when they should be doing it." of having too many students lingering in the necessarily a bad thing and they serve a halls after the tardy bell has rung. purpose. The purpose of lockouts is to encourage students to report to class on time.

Students seem to not have a sense of urgen"It is high because we have too many students making too many poor decisions on a continuous basis," states the principal, Dr. Antonio Williams.

Music Sways Student Behavior in a whole other world. Music can also free your mind.

"Music touches us emotionally, help where words alone can't." – Johnny Depp.

When asked how does he feel about muMusic is one of the many things that get sic, LHS senior, Quintarious Campbell, kids attention. Music genres have devel- stated "Music helps me keep my compooped over the years. A new genre of mu- sure when I'm upset." Music can have sic is called "trap" music. Most kids now- such of a big affect on certain people adays listen to trap music, considering it's lives. one of the most "popular" genres. Trap music is subgenre of rap that mainly talks When people listen to a certain type of about "street life." music, specifically calm, they feel as if they can become in a peaceful mood.

Music can change your whole mood.

Such as if you're going through a break up In many cases, when a student listen to some people listen to sad songs. If you're music while the teacher is giving out inmad don't play a song that influence you structions, it can lead them down a road to to do bad ideas, because it can get you in failure. On a bad day a teacher can ask a the mood to hurt or do damage to the per- student to take out their headphones, so son next to you, out yourself. Then again, that they can help them, or get their attenyou can listen to "Happy" by Pharrell, and tion, the student can interrupt the class by the teacher. enjoy life. disrespecting

By Kamryn Young

In a quiet classroom, you'll hear a faint beat within the group of kids, who have in headphones. It'll sound kind of like ruckus to you but to them, they feel as if they're Page 5

Overall, music has a good and bad impact on everyday peoples' lives. Happy? Sad? Mad? It all depends on what you choose to listen to during your day.

“Music helps me keep my composure when I'm upset.”

-Quintarious Campbell

Special Edition

Social Media: Vital or Viral?

By Emko Pash

Social Media is everywhere nowadays. From viral dance challenge videos to funny skits, every time you turn around someone is on social media.

Social Media is any type of app that enables anyone to connect and share something through the internet.

Most teenagers are caught using Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram which are some of the most popular apps.

From them being so popular of course people will always be on them, but why do they appeal to teens so much?

Which is more important? A lesson that will teach you how to make a correct sentence or what's happening on Facebook?

Many find class boring so they put their complete attention on social media not knowing that social media actually affects adolescent minds in a bad way, young people will continue to make it a priority solely for their entertainment.

Some have cell phones or tablets before they learn to even write their name which media before the news, and some people molds their minds around the internet. don't watch the news.”

When asking the different age groups around school, it became quite interesting as to which group couldn't go without social media or who influenced it more.

Though that's a valid point, Kayla Suttles disagrees as she doesn't feel it's a necessity because, "It's just a way to be updated on what’s going on a daily basis and it gives you something to do.”

When asking seniors, some said they can't go a day without social media. When asked if it is a necessity, Lanier senior Dequarius Riley said, “I feel it is a necessity because most stuff makes it to social

Teens spend most of their days on their phones even during school when there is a lesson being taught. Walking into a classroom you’ll find many students on their phones while a teacher is having a lesson.

Lanier’s Present Eclipses Its Past name in 1928. LHS won the football game against Montgomery County and was called the Poets as it gives a reason to talk about Sidney Lanier’s legacy.

Sidney Lanier was an all-white segregated school until 1964, The first African American students were allowed entry and graduated in the summer of 1967.

Algeron Blair was the man who constructed Sidney Lanier. The face of the school was decorated with stone shields wise owls, open Did you know Sidney Lanier High was once books and lamps of knowledge. called "The Million Dollar School"?

Lanier was built with two towers a north The South Court Street school got the name tower and a main towers a north tower and a from the approximate cost of its massive size main tower. and design. That would be equivalent to $14,118,830.41 in 2017, according to Dol- Lanier has many famous alumni. Felicia BoslarTimes.com. well, a Broadway Star, graduated from Lanier. Reggie Barlow and Tavaris Jackson both had great careers in the NFL and also Lanier High was established September of graduated from Lanier. Bart Starr is a Hall of 1929. The school was named after the southFame NFL Football Player and his plaque is ern poet Sidney Lanier, who lived in Mont- on the wall as you walk in the school. gomery during 1866 through 1867.

By Thomas Hooks

Other LHS Noticeables Toni Tennille– from Captain and Teniile pop star fame Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald– Wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) Felicia Boswell– Broadway Actress, Singer, Dancer Alfred Goldthwaite– Alabama House of Representatives Hosea Sanchez– Malik Wright from “The Game”

A football game determined the school’s Page 6

Special Edition

Girls Go Unchecked Due to Few Female Staffers

By Edward Zeigler

and he is a male.

The Montgomery school district currently faces a problem with properly checking female students before they enter the building.

"I think they should hire a female security guard." Alex says.

From an anonymous source, it was concluded that the reason girls aren't checked during the mornings is because the general rule of thumb prohibits male offices or security guards from frisking females. weapons and contraband to school such as mace and Tasers. Even if they might be “It is only so far a male can go in searchchecked, they know exactly where to hide ing a female,” explains Corporal Timothy these illegal items so that they won’t be Tinker, school resource officer at Lanier. found on them.

Plus, there are not enough female officers.

Most females will quickly state their discontent if they feel that they were inappropriately touched. If there is a potential risky situation, a female can be contained in the security office and a female officer or staffer can be summoned.

He also thinks that girls pose a threat knowing they won't be checked. "I would pose a threat, too, if I knew I wasn't going to be checked."

"School security is not tight at all coming from someone who has snuck a firearm into the school," said a student who asked not to be identified.

Many believe that the school system should really take on this problem and make it their first priority.

It is believed that there is nothing the school system can do to solve this issue.

They speculate that no matter what they do, the girls will always find a way to sneak these things into school.

Alex Pruitt, a junior at LHS, believes that Knowing that they won't be checked, it is fair that males are checked and girls some girls take advantage and bring are not because there is only one guard

Photo illustration by Josh Gordon

Twice Exceptional And Easily Overlooked hundreds of gifted learners in the U.S. schools. But there are no hard numbers because so many of these students are never formally identified as being gifted.

By Adasia Davis and Shantel Daniels

Since the age of 10, the Greenwood twins have shown exceptional talents at fixing things. Although both look alike, they have their own niche. Arron loves decorating and Aaron loves to fix SMART Boards.

Identifying twice exceptional students tends to be a low priority because there is no federal requirement for grifted education like there is for students with disabilities.

However, they both find repairing computers a fun thing to do. Their interest in technology came natural for them, a selfmotivated passion shared between the twins.

With the help of their resource teacher Linda Brown, they have been given the encouragement and positive feed back to inspire them to help others with their talents.

Brown stated that she thinks gifted students are able to meet the requirements of regular education.

Their academic challenges do not affect their technological prowess or other skills.

All in all, the Greenwood twins are a big help around Sidney Lanier. The twins have made their mark in the school’s history as some of our finest in technology.

Not only are they a valuable asset to the classroom, but they have taken their talents to Aaron and Arron Greenwood/ extra curricular levels. The twins are using Photo by Josh Gordon their special talents to improve their learning some academic areas and significant children environment and help the school in any wayare referred to as "twice-exceptional" learners. they can.

Experts in gifted learning say there are lots of Some organizations estimate that there are students who have exceptional ability in Page 7

Special Edition

Honors in ‘The Castle’ Queintarus Adams D’Varia Adkins Kendrick Arrington Bernicia Ballard Jakobee Baxter Micah Beasley Shakari Blankenship Karmal Brooks Scottrell Brooks Jacqueline Brown Shanya Brown Kayla Burney Gerald Coleman Paula Coles Jo’shanell Crum-Brown Tamya Danner JaChristian Dauda Haneef Davis Tierra Davis Natasha Dickerson Serenity Dorsey Rodriques Ellington Connell Ford James Foster Jhalynn Gaston Kikelia Givens Charity Glover Ashanti Goldsby Joshua Gordon Alexis Grice Dominique Haigler Alexis Hall Jasmine Hall Karisma Hall Diamond Harris Doreen Harris Makayla Harris Noah Hart Kendal Hawkins Alesia Holt Tamera Holt Tia Holt Gloria Hubbard Ronald Hunter Shramon Hurd Special Edition

Kacey Jackson Kendarrius Jackson Rakiana Jackson Devonta James Kenya Jones Juwan Jordan Kristie King Kaitlin Lake Shagarian Lane La’Precious Laprade Brandon Lewis Cayla Lewis Equavon Lewis Ta Kari Lewis Grequira Logan Bobby Lowery William Mahone T’keyah Marlow Tykeria Mays Matthew McCall Shamiya McCall Kiearra McCloud Terence Mickles Mercedes Mitchell Kamille Moten Cassandra Myles Briana Nelson Joel Ocana Emko Pash Mi’Kayla Pettway Ro’Shayla Pettway Kaliyah Pickett Breanna Price Ronald Reese Alexia Richardson Jaterrika Roberts Deja Robinson Justin Rudolph Shaquille Scott Cedrick Sevion La’Metria Shackleford Ashley Shavers Canaya Simpson Joshua Simpson Angel Smith

Kadresha Smith Megan Spurlock Zakiya Starks Jaliyah Stokes Alfred Thomas Briana Thomas Eldon Thomas Omarius Thomas Jasmine Thompson John Thompson Marquez Turner Kanahji Vason Ethan Walraven Tatyanna Watkins Shakeyria Wheat Devonta Whisenant Jameshia Williams Kamiya Williams Tyra Williams Jayla Wilson Shekinah Wilson Edward Zeigler

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Sidney

Lanier High School Prom 2017

Courtesy of JG DESIGNS /Joshua Gordon, chief photographer

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Special Edition

Sidney

Lanier High School Prom 2017

Courtesy of JG DESIGNS /Joshua Gordon, chief photographer

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Special Edition

Senior Week 2017

Senior Week activities included a day for Twins — and sextuplets in one instance — 1990s celebrities, and of course, skipping.

Courtesy of JG DESIGNS /Joshua Gordon, chief photographer

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Special Edition

The Prosthetic Savior Pt. 2

By J. Teer’rell

“Quinn Reilly,” the medical assistant called. I looked up to see a woman in her late twenties to early thirties. She smiled sadly. I couldn't return it.

“It's time, hon.”

“I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared. I'm terrified I won't be the same. Family and friends will look at my leg and won't see me anymore. They'll see this artificial appendage,” my mood fell. So much for morale.

“I overheard your sister talking to the doctor. All she talked about was how strong you were. She told the doctor about the time you were seven and you beat up a bully for her, even though she was older. She said that you were the strongest person she knows and that if you can’t do it, no one can. And you know what I think? I think she’s completely right. You can do anything you set your mind to. It’s all in the mind,” She told me.

“Well, I just don’t want people to look at me and pity me. I don’t need kids to stop and stare at me, or ask their mothers what’s wrong with my leg. I won’t be able to feel my toes anymore. I guess I’m just afraid of what people are gonna say about me.”

The nurse looked at me with a warm smile. “Quinn, people are going to talk.

The only thing that matters is that you’re still alive. Plus, battle scars are hella cool,” she says with a wink.

I chuckle at her. “Well, let’s go do this while I have the nerve.”

She wheeled me away.

One Month Later “You can do it, Quinn. Just a little more and we can call it a day,” my physical therapist encouraged. I attempted to take another step, but my leg gave out.

Paige wheeled the wheelchair over to me and I pulled myself up. I looked over at Selena, my physical therapist. I gave her an apologetic smile.

“It’s fine, Quinn. You’re improving, and that’s what matters. I know this’ll take a while and you’re bound to stumble. Just as long as you pick yourself back up, I’ll be right here to help you.”

I felt brave and decided that I’d try again. I got my feet under me and then stood up. I walked shakily over to the door. When I made it, I turned around and grinned.

“Let’s go home Paige. I think I can make it to the car,” I said triumphantly.

“… The only thing that matters is that you’re still alive. Plus, battle scars are hella cool ..”

As we turned to leave, I turned and gave Selena a nod. She returned it with a smile and a shake of her head.

Dear Blue , What does it take to be a strong black woman?

"It takes perseverance, determination to succeed, and a strong mindset with a lot of confidence," says LaToya Patterson, school social worker. #MyBlackIsBeautiful What do I do if my boyfriend comes out gay after five long years?

First, don't blame yourself because it's nothing you did and try to understand that it was probably hard for him to do. So get closure if you're not too angry and try to keep a friendship with the person. According to Psychology Today, it can be hard to realize the person you thought you knew and thought you were close to turns out to be a complete stranger.

You also may feel rage and even betrayed, but remember that forgiveness is key. Truly try to understand and to let go so you won't block any of your blessings. #ForgivenessIsKey. What do I do if I have low self-esteem and want to harm myself?

You should find a counselor, a close friend or call the suicide hotline for help at 1-800-2738255. Also you should look at the positive things about yourself, write them down and stick them all over your room and bathroom as a reminder that you are special and you are somebody. These are tips from the office of Lanier’s social worker. #PositiveVibesOnly How do I tell my boyfriend that I'm not ready to have sex?

Don't beat around the bush, tell him exactly how you feel, and if he really cared about you and your feelings, he would respect your decision. If not, then you can realize you're dealing with a simple-minded boy that still has some growing up to do. #RespectYourself How do you stay motivated when everything you do almost always go unnoticed?

You shouldn't do great things to get noticed. You should do them because you know it’s right and know in the end hard that work pays off. #GoAndBeGreat

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Special Edition

The Blue & White

Sidney Lanier High School 1756 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Dr. Antonio Williams, principal

Phone: 334-269-3726 E-mail: ken.spear@mps.k12.al.us

MPS T he pen i s mi g hti er t ha n the

The Blue & White is a student-run publication printing at least 4 issues annually.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Submitted materials, which must be signed, may be delivered to room 113 or given to any staff member, or placed in the box in front of The Blue & White (Room 115).

Anonymity will be protected, if requested.

The staff reserves the right to edit submitted material.

Editorial opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper staff or school administration.

swo r d .

The Voice of the Poets

Ebony Allen Joseph Blackshear Shantel Daniels JaChristian Dauda Adasia Davis Zakiyla Ellis Karsolyn Fisher Jamarious Fulks KenShaun Gipson Josh Gordon Maria Harris Thomas Hooks Shramon Hurd Jasmine Jordan Andre Lamonte Equavon Lewis NaKaiya Lewis Zaakiraa Muhammad Azaria Perry Emko Pash Zakiya Starks Jasmine Trawick Kamryn Young Edward Zeigler Advisor: Ken L. Spear Co– Advisor: Yolanda Huntley

Reclaiming the Castle

Photo by DeMarquis Cobb/ Lanier Advertising Design

Congratulations to The

Blue & White

2016 winner of the Hallmark Journalism Award for Best All Around student newspaper 1st place — Quality Writing and Best School News Coverage 2nd place—Layout & Design