Central Stampede Vol. 24: Issue 5 by Central Stampede

Stampede C E N T R A L

April 20, 2018

Vol. 24, Issue 5

centralstampede.com

Which lunch choice do you prefer?

58% Eat out Pack lunch 42%

@CentralStampede

poll out of 53

Portage Central H.S. l 8135 S. Westnedge Ave. l Portage, MI 49002

Looking on the bright side In a world of negativity, students and staff turn to optimism to live happy and healthy lives BY BRYA N C A S S EM Entertainment Editor

Negative “ thoughts will

In a world full of negativity in the news and other places, many students choose to remain optimistic even during the difficult challenges of life. People who are optimistic tend to stay healthy more easily and enjoy independent living more when compared to others, according to Harvard Medical School. In four other studies, conducted in the U.S. and in the Netherlands, optimism can increase overall longevity as well. Several students and staff members are known for their optimistic tendencies and positive attitudes that brighten the mood of those around them. Freshman Eileen Schuring is amongst those known for this. “I decided to create a positive mindset for myself because the alternative is no fun!” Schuring said. “I think a positive mindset is extremely important because negative thoughts will only hold you back.” After analyzing research studies, Harvard Medical School suggests that, “optimism appears to protect the heart and circulation.” Not only do scientific findings suggest that a positive mindset has many benefits, but many advocate for this as well. Teacher Pilar Forero is a well-known advocator of optimism among the various staff members at the school. “Optimism is important because when you are optimistic you can change the future,” Forero said. “Optimistic people always look to the future, we don’t stay in the past.” Teacher Elizabeth Honeysett adds her thoughts on the importance of positivity as well. “In this day and age, I think optimism is important to keep us focused on empathy,” Honeysett said. “If we’re not focused on how we can make other people’s lives better, ours won’t be better, so having that optimistic outlook allows us to have empathy, and empathy makes everything better for everyone.” While optimism is crucial to a positive lifestyle, there must also be an equal balance of both optimism and realism. “It’s really important to find a balance between optimism and realism, but I don’t think they’re necessarily exclusive,” Honeysett said. “You can look at a situation, see it for what it is, and then see potential solutions for that situation, and that’s where the optimism comes from, even in the darkest of times.” However, achieving an optimistic attitude is a challenging feat for many, and continually practicing a positive mindset comes with obstacles. Junior Julia Snook is one of the many students who finds it difficult to always remain positive. “My biggest challenge in staying optimistic is just being so run-down and tired from school work and extracurriculars with no sleep,” Snook said. “It has the power to basically take away my usual pep and enthusiasm to do things.” CARTER COLOSKY/STAMPEDE Both Snook and Schuring added that certain challenges they face with being Freshman Eileen Schuring enjoys early spring weather outside of the community garden. Schuring is dedicated to living optimistic every day is the negativity expressed by others in the school. life in an optimistic fashion. Schuring also commented that seeing violence in the news affects her usually positive mood. “Optimism is important because it’s unnecessary to add to all the negativity in the world,” Schuring said. She thinks that while there are challenges present in being optimistic, it is well worth it. All students will have their opportunity to practice optimism by spreading positive words and attitudes during Portage Central’s Day of Kindness on April 27. “With a positive attitude, we can work together to make things change and to move into a better world,” Forero said.

only hold you back.

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for more on optimism, see pages 8 & 9

What’s Inside...

Traffic patterns frustrate many

page

Sunday is Earth Day: What you can do

page

Sitcom Showdown: ‘The Office’ vs ‘Friends’

page

news

April 20, 2018

New parking lot frustrates students Due to construction of the new middle school, traffic patterns changed

in brief

Nature Center 5K run for the educational programs Tomorrow, the Kalamazoo Nature Center is holding a 5K in order to raise money for the Nature Center’s early childhood education programs. The registration for the run is already open, and it costs $30 to register. Registration is also available in person today, and the day of the event. Shirts are available at the event, they are first come first serve. The run begins at 10 a.m. and the run course goes through the trails at the Nature Center. A 1K is also available for younger kids at 9:00 a.m. for a seperate $15 fee.

Portage youth committee looking for applicants

PAIGE BERRY/STAMPEDE

The parking lot fills up every day and becomes overcrowded due to new construction changes, and has been causing traffic jams as students leave the school. BY PAIGE BERRY Staff Writer Students were met with only one exit and entrance into the student parking lot after spring break, and the change has not been welcomed with open arms. Many students believe that the new layout of the parking lot, due to middle school construction, causes a hassle for everyone, especially during lunch times and after school According to Assistant Principal Jason Frink, some parents have also addressed growing concerns about the safety of the parking lot and traffic patterns to the main office. “The parking lot itself is harder to navigate and all the parking spots on the east side are filled by the time I usually arrive from lunch,” junior Wade Varney said. “Searching for a parking spot caused me to be late to my sixth-hour class the first day that the changes were implemented.” The school followed the recommendations

that were given by the construction company contracted to build the middle school. According to Frink, the school and the construction company worked closely with the City of Portage to implement a system in which the school parking lots, as well as drop-off zones, are easily accessible. “In all honesty, I think the school has done mostly all it can,” senior Rushik Patel said. “I truly believe that if all students made the best of a bad situation and navigated the parking lot in a very organized fashion it would speed things up. ” The city has given drivers at the intersection of Mustang Way and Centre Avenue preference when drivers come from the student parking lot. From the time slot of 3 to 3:30 p.m., student drivers have longer lights. The city has to address the growing line of traffic driving down Centre Avenue as well. “It’s like getting out of a concert everyday,” Frink said. “Wherever around 2,000 students, faculty and parents are leaving from a select few exits, there are going to be traffic backups.”

One way the school tries to help the flow of traffic at all exits is the “Bus Crew.” The Crew helps direct traffic from the bus loop, parent dropoff loop and the student parking lot. Comprised of Jason Frink, Carol Cutler, Eric Lancaster and Chris Czuk, braves the elements to help make exiting Central as safe and efficient as possible. “Lancaster and Czuk volunteer their time to help us direct traffic. They receive nothing in return, they are really just awesome guys,” Frink said. “They make it work and I am so grateful.” Varney suggests that administrators open another exit on the west end of the lot, sending students out onto Westnedge Avenue. However, per the city’s zoning department, adding another exit to the student parking lot would be too close to the Westnedge Avenue intersection. According to Frink, the last resort from administration is only upperclassmen would be eligible to buy parking passes. This regulation will not be enforced next year unless the parking lot is close to reaching full capacity.

Student addresses lack of remembrance on Martin Luther King Jr. Day BY PAIGE BERRY Staff Writer Recently one student has spoken out to school administrators about the lack of remembrance and celebration of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Senior Jon Kennedy reached out to Principal Eric Alburtus about the lack of awareness of Martin Luther King Jr on his birthday, Monday, Jan. 15. “Why isn’t it mandatory to have our teachers explain the importance of MLK’s accomplishment that set our nation on the right path towards justice?” Kennedy said. Many schools across the nation take the Martin Luther King Jr. day off to complete community service and help serve others. Other districts in the state of Michigan take the day off, yet Kennedy does not want Portage to close on that day. Kennedy spoke to Alburtus, he clarified the fact that students should be in school, but they

need to be educated about the contributions Dr. King made and how those contributions affect everyone in the United States today. “Showing the importance of MLK will help peers understand we are all equally made and all deserve the same amount of justice,” Kennedy said. Alburtus stated that about 15 years ago, the local chapter of the NAACP contacted him personally and spoke about what students should do on that day. The celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday was addressed. The chapter believed students should be aware of his birthday and his role in the civil rights movement, but the curriculum being addressed was the educational priority of the day. Teachers also believe that remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday should take place alongside regular instruction during the school day, as well as addressing other important civil rights activists throughout the entire school year.

“I think it would be awesome to see some student-led activities celebrating the work and life of MLK,” history teacher Kayleen Grand said. “I would also be in favor of highlighting other very significant members of the movement as well throughout the year. I want to keep reminding us that it’s not just one day and it’s not just MLK that we can improve our awareness on.” The school’s effectiveness team (SET) continues to discuss the course of action the school might take to address student concerns. According to Alburtus, Kennedy sparked a lively conversation that will take time to come to a final conclusion and that he is grateful for Kennedy beginning this thoughtful, as well as necessary, discussion within the school. “We can do something to help my peers in this generation understand that without MLK, we wouldn’t be in the place that we are in now,” Kennedy said. “We must acknowledge that injustice and prejudice is not accepted in this country no matter what your color of skin is.”

The Portage Youth Advisory Committee is looking to appoint students in 8th through 12th grade who want to be involved in the community. The group holds monthly meetings, engages in local events and regularly volunteers with organizations, such as local community centers and festivals. Additionally, members spread environmental and alcohol abuse awareness. Applications are primarily in May and can be found online at the City of Portage’s website.

Teacher talent show nets in $1,000 for Red Cross The Teacher talent show held on March 21 raised more than $1,900 for the American Red Cross. The talent show will reappear once again in 2020.

The Day of Kindess scheduled for next Friday The International Day of Kindness on April 27. All day, kindness will be in the air, along with different types of kind gestures. Teachers receiving a special lunch that and the bus drivers receiving a bouquet of flowers to thank them for their services. At lunch, ice cream will be served in the cafeteria and a “compliment corner” will be in the Welcome Center all day. Shirts are available for $15.

Prom details now available to upperclassmen Prom tickets are on sale through April 27, and will be available everyday. They will be available at the Welcome Center for $30, but if you buy them at the doors they will be $40. The theme for Prom is “A Moment in Time.”

Rideout and awards for underclassmen coming The seniors will be celebrating their Ride Out and their academic accolades at McCamley Field on Monday, May 21. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Underclassmen will be recognized for their educational accomplishments on Tuesday, May 1. Community Service and GPA awards will be presented for the freshman at 8:30 a.m., the sophomores at 9:30 a.m and the juniors at 10:30 a.m.

April 20, 2018

news

Students and staff express safety concerns

Opinions from fellow students and teachers reflect possible gaps in school security

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BY J AMES J OH N S O N IV Staff Writer

Our job is to make sure everyone here at Portage Central feels safe walking down the halls.

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In recent light of the violent acts committed against innocent children and young adults at many schools, the country is searching for answers on how to keep our schools safer. Students at Portage Central have always felt passionate about what they can do to prevent any mass attacks at schools across the U.S. Keelan Smith, a sophomore, thinks that students should take things to a congressional level and fight for what we believe in. “One of the first things we can do is to make sure Congress acts on ideas, not money,” Smith said. “One of the problems we have is that politicians can be easily swayed by big donations and contributions, whether they are anonymous or not.” Smith said that most people believe in some form of gun control (including politicians), but it all comes down to how much money is being dragged in. Also, Smith believes that Congress should deem the group Citizens United, an organization that pushes for restoring the government to citizen control, unconstitutional. “This is something both Congress and the Supreme Court can do because this allows money in politics,” Smith said. While students have had the floor for political discussions and debates, teachers have been voicing their stance on what schools should do to ensure the safety of students. English teacher Kate Phipps sees some flaws in the school system’s safety precautions that could be changed eventually. “We could always have a better identification system with double locking doors,” Phipps said. “We have fewer doors that are open here than at the old building but there has to be a better system

Eric Alburtus Principal

CARTER COLOSKY/STAMPEDE

Students stand in protest against ending gun violence on a nearby road by the school on March 14. to see who can get in.” Phipps also believes that schools need to lean

on local law enforcement to look at how they can make the building a lot safer since they are profes-

sionals at keeping not only people safe, but places as well. As schools progress in their education in safety and well being, they not only look towards students and police but also people who made Portage Central what it is today. Principal Eric Alburtus has his own thoughts on how we can make this place into a safer environment. “First and foremost, without question, our job is make sure that everyone here at Portage Central feels safe walking down the halls,” Alburtus said. “But at the same time we can’t and won’t live in fear.” Alburtus said that he doesn’t want the school feel like students are not welcome. According to Alburtus, schools should feel like home to the students and staff. “I don’t want us to feel like we are under guard, but school safety and the feeling of being welcome so happen to come in contact with each other,” Alburtus said.

After 19 years, Columbine serves as a pivotal gun control topic BY SYLVIE CR OT EAU Staff Writer Today marks the 19th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999. The shooting left 13 dead, 24 injured and a lifetime of horror and sorrow for those who survived. There is no possible way to describe the terror and fear that the students and faculty at the Colorado high school experienced that day. Now, almost two decades after the shooting, both students and teachers are facing more and more atrocities than we can count. 2018 has been host to, so far, 18 school shootings all across the U.S. Now, after a national walkout in March and another one today, many believe it is time for people to continue this conversation. For topics like gun control, it is simple for politics to immediately step in before we slow down and think about reaching a common goal. “I think that it is both [political and societal],” teacher Helen Wynkoop said. “I think that there’s plenty of blame to go around and the arguments that we hear today, they’re not helpful.” Along with the argument of whether or not guns should be banned, there is a air of mystery around the idea that maybe guns will never leave people’s hands. In the U.S., there are 300 million

registered guns, just 23 million shy of the human population. “The big companies, like the NRA, they just keep fighting it, so it’s like there’s a definite political storm going on,” sophomore Whitney Zhang said. Continuing the conversation after something like Columbine isn’t simple. Often parents are too nervous to bring up the possibility of another school shooting in front of their children, and some kids don’t want to get into arguments about such a volatile topic. According to social science and English teacher Kate Phipps, kids can talk all they want and hold their own with adults. “[At a round table with Michigan representative Fred Upton] our students raised the level of awarenes. But I do think that there is a need to have balance [between both children and adults],” Phipps said. Nowadays, it seems as though things like Stoneman Douglas, or even Sandy Hook in 2012 tend to slip away from the news faster than it breaks. While there is no way for any type of news broadcast or site to gauge how long people will talk about these issues and situations. Sophomore Lydia Williams says students need to keep taking. “We should keep talking about it, because the legislators need to know that we need the change,”

By the numbers...

people died from the FACTS HERE Columbine shooting

It took SWAT

CARTER COLOSKY/STAMPEDE

Students walked out of class at 10a.m. on March 14 in remembrance of the victims and survivors of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High school in Florida. Williams said. “And if we keep talking about it, “eventually something’s going to happen.” Isaac Premer, a sophomore, also noted that things pertaining to gun control and the like seemed like they slipped away fast. “It kind of feels like it was swept under the rug a little bit,” Premer said. “I think when you’re thinking about the safety of the next generation, it should be of primary concern,” Wynkoop said.

minutes to Respond to the school

people were injured from the shooting

opinion Accommodations must be made for new parking situation

April 20, 2018

Students have had a hard time adjusting to new parking changes, and it’s no surprise. One of the parent drop-offs has closed and there is now only one entrance to get into the student parking lot. We believe something needs to be done. We urge administrators to reexamine the situation and enact shortterm solutions which can help alleviate the traffic congestion. The changes have forced students to rush out of class to get to the parking lot as soon as possible. Students sprint to be the first ones to their cars, knowing that if they don’t get there first, they could be stuck in traffic for up to 30 minutes. This puts stress on students

Stampede C E N T R A L

Isabella Wilson Bella Pedraza Editors-in-Chief Samhita Sunkara......................................News Editor Ashna Mehra........................................ Opinion Editor Zach Bumgarner.............................Student Life Editor Bryan Cassem..............................Entertainment Editor Drew Goretzka & Jack Juday..............Sports Editors Carter Colosky..........................................Photo Editor Staff Writers: Paige Berry, Daaren Bukhari, Ethan Campbell, Sylvie Croteau, Maggie Farrell, Grace Foster, Elliana Hamilton, Ranya Jamal, James Johnson, Ethan Lee, Charlie Levy, Caroline Maier, Lauren McColley, Will Scheffel, Jack Shinabarger and Rowan Thawley Business Manager: Alyson Koh Website Manager: Kaoru Murai Adviser: Cheryl Braford The Central Stampede publishes approximately one publication a month, primarily by the Journalism II class at Portage Central High School, 8135 S. Westnedge, Portage, MI 49002. It also uses work from Journalism I students. The Central Stampede is a member of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA). The purpose of the Central Stampede is to act as an open forum for students of Portage Central. The staff will achieve a balance between informing and entertaining our readers. Editorials Staff editorials are unsigned and represent consensus of the staff. The opinion of the staff is represented in the “Our View” column. The opinions of the editors, staff writers and guest writers will have bylines and will carry their own views. Letters As an open forum, the Stampede welcomes all members of the Portage community. However, the staff reserves the right to edit letters based on length and content. Phone: (269) 323-5218

The Central Stampede

Portage Central High School 8135 South Westnedge Ave. Portage, MI 49002

and leads to reckless driving, which in turn puts the lives of students in danger. To improve this condition, we could dismiss students at different times to stagger the traffic. For example, students in the west wing of school could leave three minutes early on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and students in the east wing could leave three minutes early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. That way, there will be two different waves of students leaving, and the parking lot won’t be as congested.

Because staff members who direct traffic have to go to the bus loop first, they often arrive at the student parking lot as late as 3:10. By the time they get there, the congestion is already at hand, and there is nothing else that can be done. A simple fix for this problem would be to have two separate traffic crews: one for the bus loop, and one for the student parking lot. That way, each traffic crew would be able to make it to their designated areas on time. Finally, the creation of multiple pathways -- even for exit only -- would

staf f editorial

five Taylor Haring, 9th

Mitchell DeVries,10th

be beneficial at 3 p.m. Having one lane to exit through is simply not enough. Perhaps the school could pave a pathway from the parking lot to Westnedge Avenue or Waylee Street. No matter how small, something needs to be done to create more exitways. The construction and slow traffic has hampered students’ everyday lives. It has left students unable to get to sports practice, jobs and numerous other responsibilities. Whether it’s letting students out early, having more teachers regulate traffic or creating new exits, it is imperative that administrators do something about the growing traffic and safety concerns at our school.

five

Abigail Gazi,11th

Noah Abrigo,12th

Señora Moss

1. What do you think we could do to make schools safer? (p. 3) Make sure all the outside doors are locked.

Get more school resource officers.

To make schools safer, I think there should be an adult or someone standing by the entrances of the schools.

Since the shooting at Stoneman Douglas, we are doing the best we can right now to keep students safe.

We need to keep empowering all students to be agents of social and political change.

I usually pack lunch, but most of the time I have [nothing] for lunch and sit in the cafeteria. I pack lunch because I ain’t got money.

I bring leftovers from home every day except Friday. That’s our order-in day.

2. Do you buy or pack your lunch and why? (p. 6) I pack my lunch, school food is gross.

Buy, it is easier.

I pack my lunch so then I get to have what I want.

3. What is the most unique name you have ever heard of? (p. 10) La-A (pronounced La-dasha).

Asvad.

La-A (pronounced La-dasha).

I saw a name on my bus that looked like a school issued student email password.

Conchita.

4. What is your favorite genre of music, and how do you think it reflects your personality? (p. 12) Pop because it’s fun and bubbly.

Pop.

I listen to all types of music and I think that reflects on my personality because I am very open-minded.

I listen to mostly folk music and artists like Mac Demarco because I think I am cool and I am perceived as a disgrace by others.

Rock-n-Roll. I like to kick it old school.

My favorite spring sport is baseball because even if you don’t pay attention to it for 15 minutes, you still know what’s going on.

Baseball- ¡Vayan Tigres!

5. What is your favorite spring sport to watch or play and why? (p. 14) Club volleyball because it’s fun to play.

Baseball, I think it is fun.

My favorite spring sport is track and field, mainly because I’m in it.

April 20, 2018

opinion

Getting through golf A frustrating phase with America’s pastime

CARTER COLOSKY/STAMPEDE

BY JA C K S H I N AB A RGER Staff Writer April showers bring May flowers, and along with those flowers bring people who golf. The most popular sport among businessmen everywhere is also the stereotypical pastime for those living a life of luxury. It’s known as the “gentleman’s game” due to its sophistication and gentle play style. Players such as Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have imprinted the sport into our popular culture successfully, from iced tea drinks, to DUIs and adultery. Playing golf requires minimum athleticism and maximum finesse. No offense, but men in their sixties and seventies keep up professionally, no problem, with all the young-ins in the professional scene. It’s just how the game is played. I

don’t have any vendettas against those who play it, but the problem is I sucked so much at it. The pain first began during the summer of 2014. My brother and his friends had recently picked up the sport, so my mom decided it was my turn to try and play. My only previous experience with golf had been going to the now deceased Putter’s on South Westnedge. Rest in peace, Putter’s, you were gone too soon. Mom and I took lessons every Thursday at the Grand Prairie Golf Course. I was very interested in the beginning, to be honest. Everything was a new concept to me, and I wanted to learn as much as possible about this new sport. We went through the simple stuff, and I truly believed that I could become a reasonable golfer. I consider myself to be a decent athlete, but the thing is with golf, it’s almost 100 percent technique. I substituted my lack of basic mechanics

with trying to swing as hard as possible. I used to wind my body up and swing the club like a baseball bat. It definitely did not work. I eventually lost the desire to learn how to correctly play the game. I was content with letting go of it all together, but my mom wouldn’t let me off so easily. I was dragged out multiple times to play golf for “family bonding time” or something like that. Every time I set up the ball on the brown tee, disaster would strike. My jerky, hard swing would careen the ball far to one side before slapping into the ground about 30 feet away. The only club I could gain a little distance with was the 9 iron, so most holes involved me hitting the ball as high as possible as many times as possible until I was on the green. From there, thanks to Putter’s, I usually slotted the ball in the hole quite easily. That was on a good day. On a majority of my drives, I’d shank the ball

completely and watch it meekly bounce on and off the grass like a blind snake. Too many times I’ve had to drop a new ball due to an earlier error of me hitting one into the woods or a pond. I managed to even lose one in a tree. The frustration during these outings was unbearable. My mood was sour. Many clubs were bashed into the ground. Most of the time I would sulk around in the golf cart, munching on sunflower seeds and being a real mood killer. Eventually, golf faded from my life completely, and I couldn’t be happier. You’d think after spending a lot of time (against my will) that I would improve my game. It never happened. You might think spending all this time doing something I hated would build character or teach me a valuable life lesson. No. Putting in the time did not gift me anything. The only thing I gained is lost time and bad memories.

Stepping out of your comfort zone pushes you to succeed BY SAMHITA SUNKARA News Editor

You will likely witness a pig flying before you see me order anything except chicken tenders at Culver’s. I always stick with what I am most comfortable with, and this typically means ordering the same food wherever I go, and my family making fun of me for never broadening my horizons. I am someone who needs to have structure and routine in my life. My biggest fear is getting thrown out of the loop and out of my regular hab-

its. But after years of being teased for my childish food choices by my peers, I have begun to realize the importance that change has in living a successful and happy life. Waking up, going to school, going to extracurriculars, doing homework and going to bed— this is a daily habit that many of us go through every day without changing. We have all been victim of getting stuck in the old habits of life and not wanting to change (I, myself, am amongst the biggest culprit of this). However, I believe it is important to constantly remind yourself that making even the smallest changes to an old routine can allow you to push your limits and realize what you are capable of accomplishing. Taking risks and challenging yourself can provide a better understanding of yourself and mo-

tivation to strive for your maximum potential. Pushing boundaries and doing something that may not necessarily be easy can allow you to find passions and things you love. I have formed some of my closest friendships through participating in tennis, and without pushing myself to participate in this activity, I wouldn’t have the same support system of friends that I do today. Whether this change is taking a challenging class in high school, or learning how to play an instrument, the decision to challenge yourself with something new can present you with endless opportunities. Accomplishments and goals are usually not achieved without a change in your typical routine, proving that change is the key to success. It is often more convenient to stick with what you know and are comfortable with. It is easy to or-

der the same thing every time at a restaurant or to have the same routine every morning, because you know what the outcome is. While uncertainty of the future is rather terrifying at times, it is a small price to pay for a positive outcomes that may come of it. Change can lead to a positive outcome— whether it is a new favorite meal or a more relaxed morning. It is human nature to stay rooted in where we are and become adapted to what we are used to. At some point, we all have gotten into a constant cycle of doing things that don’t stimulate us. However, I firmly believe that the basis of happiness and motivation in life is taking risks and challenging yourself. Without pushing past boundaries and experimenting with your limits, you will never truly know what you are capable of achieving.

opinion

April 20, 2018

Should students buy or pack lunch? Buying lunch gives you more variety

BY DAAREN BUKHARI

Packing lunch saves you money

BY JACK JUDAY

Staff Writer

Sports Editor

I always go off campus to eat lunch during school and I’ve always noticed that some of my friends pack their lunch. Some of my friends, including me, choose to buy their lunch at whatever restaurant we go to. Yet, every time my friends and I go to lunch I’m always asked why I always buy lunch everyday, instead of packing. Well, here’s the thing : I know most people say that it’s too much money to spend on food every day, but to be honest, I only spend about $20 a week on food for school, and I have a job so it’s not really a big deal for me. Also, if you were to pack your lunch, I’m guessing you would be spending around the same on groceries to fill your brown paper bag. I used to live in Chicago for most of my life and I had always gotten hot lunch, instead of packing lunch. Over time, this habit has stuck with me, and I continue buying lunch. From my childhood, my parents never packed lunch for me, and it’s been that way for me ever since. Of course, there can be some downsides of buying lunch, but to be honest, I don’t exactly want to wake up early to pack lunch-I’d rather get more sleep. Sure, I can pack my lunch the night before, but who wants to eat the same old turkey sub or peanut butter sandwich every day for lunch? The variety that comes with buying lunch and choosing which restaurant you want to go to is a benefit of buying lunch outside. Also, when eating inside the school, the school provides many different entrees each and every day. With being able to eat outside, there are so many restaurants that offer different types of foods and I always have the option to go wherever I want. Sure, it might not be so healthy, but it really just depends on where you choose to go. Also, many restaurants around campus offer coupons for students and it helps save money for students trying to buy lunch. When being able to eat outside and buy lunch, I’m not forced to eat what my mom wants me to, as well. Let’s be honest, most people who “pack lunch” just have their mom pack their lunch with half the bag being vegetables. There’s downsides to both options, but I’m good fam, I’ll stick to buying lunch.

Junior year is the year you can finally blow all of your money on fast food during your lunch period, eating cheese burgers and living the lavish life you have always dreamed of. In reality, many people still pack their lunches, and these people obviously have superior brain power. Packing a lunch provides financial stability to high school students who cannot have a full time job due to school and other responsibilities. Spending money every day of the school week to buy food ends up being a hefty sum. If you spend $5 a day it will add up to $25 dollars a week. For most high school students, that is too much to pay. Bringing your lunch from home allows you to save money and spend that money on more useful things like pencils and erasers that you can use in the classroom. Another reason packing a lunch is useful is it allows you to have more time to eat your food at lunch time. Whether you eat in the car, in the lunchroom or inside a local restaurant, waiting in line is never an issue. You won’t ever have to deal with the sub-par speed of the kitchen at McDonald’s or Qdoba. Finally, packing a lunch provides a healthier option than many of the fast food restaurants near the school. Most of the places that students have enough time to eat at do not provide very healthy options, considering they are places like Arby’s, Culver’s and McDonalds. Packing your own lunch allows you to make your favorite meal and keep a closer eye on what you are putting into your body. This is a great option for people going on diets and trying to gain or lose weight. With this being said, I hope the sophomores spend a great deal of time pondering their decision, because the transition into junior year is a pivotal time of your high school career. The choice of buying or bringing lunch can make a very big impact on the next two years of your life. So while your peers are out there wasting their money and filling their stomachs with so-called “burgers,” the intellectuals will be eating homemade sandwiches and veggie straws.

What you can do to recognize the importance of Earth Day

BY W IL L SC H E F F E L Staff Writer Earth Day 2018 is focused on eliminating plastic waste and increasing recycling around our country and planet. Plastic waste is beginning to build up in oceans, rivers and lakes, among other places, when much of it can be recycled. Plastic Oceans Foundation says that over eight million tons of plastics are dumped into the oceans, annually. This is a tragedy, because it leads to the death of countless animals and the destruction of our environment; the rate at which we are destroying our earth needs to stop. According to the Earth Day website, plastic does far more than just fill our oceans, rivers, and lakes. In doing this, it also affects our food chains, starting at the very lowest level. Even small ani-

mals, such as plankton, are ingesting small pieces of plastic. This plastic has “broken down” by breaking into smaller pieces, which is ingested by small animals such as these. When animals such as these eat the plastic it replaces essential nutrients. The lack of the nutrients affects not only these animals, but also animals farther up the food chain. These animals farther up the food chain are part of what we eat. That means that we are feeding plastic to our food source. Many toys that say “do not eat” are made of plastic, and yet we, in a way, are feeding it to ourselves. And not only does this affect us, but humans are not the only creatures on earth. We need to not only protect earth, but also need to repair the damages that we have caused. It is necessary for humans to begin to limit use of plastics, and to recycle what plastic we use. Every day, schools fill with hundreds of students carrying plastic water bottles and throwing out hundreds of sheets of paper. Both of these items can be recycled, which saves energy, power and the materials needed to create these products. According to the University of Utah, half of what we as American throw out everyday, as “garbage”, could be recycled. We throw out 75 percent of plastic, which could be recycled. Out of the eight million tons of plastic that is dumped into the oceans, at least some reasonably large portion could be recycled.

Every ton of plastic recycled saves about 685 gallons of oil, so if all eight tons of plastic dumped in the ocean annually were recycled we could save 5840 gallons of oil per year! This oil could be saved to use for energy generation, or for vehicles. Even better, it could be used to help run studies to find cleaner forms of energy generation. Think about how many students bring plastic water bottles to school, or buy water from vending machines. How often are those bottles found in the recycling? If every one of those students were to go a step farther and use reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones they would save, on average, 100 water bottles annually. Picture the benefits that would happen if just our school were to move toward a goal of limiting plastics. There are several hundred students at Portage Central, and only a select few recycle. So often I watch people walk to the front of their room and dump their water bottle into the trash can, often only a few feet away from the recycling bin. Gradually these simple decisions are having a huge effect on our environment. The human population has caused a lot of things to happen to the environment, and very few of the effects we have had, have been positive. We have polluted, destroyed and killed- it is about time we started working to protect the environment on which we live. Make the right choice in the future. Protect our environment and our futures. ISABELLA WILSON/STAMPEDE

April 20, 2018

student life

How do you style your laptop? Portage Central students express themselves through their clothes and shoes, but some are taking it a step farther by finding something else to personalize: their laptops. From favorite stores, restaurants and artists, students are using stickers to make their laptop unique from everyone else’s.

Darby Lindstrom

9th grade “I have a lot of stickers from where I liked to shop. Sometimes I think I have too many stickers, but I think it adds a personal touch to them so my laptop doesn’t look the same as others.”

Abby Lawler 10th grade “A lot of these stickers are places I like to shop like Patagonia and Vineyard Vines. I got the Chacos sticker from my friend that bought Chacos. I also have two stickers of San Diego when I went on vacation there.”

Lucas Guy 11th grade “My big ‘G’ stands for guy, like my last name. I have a whale sticker because I like Vineyard Vines and the City of Indianapolis. My smile sticker on the top left is from Madame Flachs.”

Sam Scheffel 12th grade

“I have a lot of skiing stickers on here because I love to ski along with the POW sticker for ‘Protect Our Winters.’ We also learned about Tibet, and I got really interested and that’s why I have a Free Tibet sticker.”

COMPILED BY ROWAN THAWLEY/STAMPEDE

Attend Extraordinary school day BY G R AC E F O S T E R Staff Writer

Chelsea P. NURSING

Motivated college-bound high school students can earn free college credit through the Early College program at Kalamazoo Valley.

To find out more, contact your high school counselor and visit www.kvcc.edu/earlycollege.

A face not seen often in the hallways is senior Gabi Perk. This is because Perk spends her days either at home or at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Perk began taking online classes her junior year and slowly began adding more to her schedule. “I loved the idea of taking classes at home on my own schedule when I had time,” Perk said. Perk started off with a study skills class online for an elective credit before adding a business class through KVCC. Starting her senior year, she realized she could take as many online classes as she wanted. Now Perk is able to wake up when she wants in order to do her classes and complete the homework. Not only is she at home doing school work, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays she spends her time at KVCC attending three classes. The majority of her schedule is required classes but eventually Perk enrolled in classes geared toward her preferred major, dietetics. “I will be going into college with 21 credits from necessary classes and electives that are required,” Perk said. Although Perk is taking online classes, she still comes to school for her 7th hour English class. Her schedule required an english credit and in order to graduate, she needed to remain

GRACE FOSTER/STAMPEDE

Perk in English class being taught by Mr. Phillips enrolled at the school. While Perk is getting ahead of her schooling, she is also a nanny for two children. “You should see my car-goldfish and fingerprints everywhere,” Perk said. During the school year, she picks the children up from school, makes them dinner and stays with them until their parents get home from work around 6:30. This is different in the summer when she is a full time nanny, Monday through Friday. “It is so worth it! This year with my flexible schedule has been my favorite year so far,” Perk said. If students are interested in this type of schedule, Perk suggests talking to your counselor early because it is a long process to go through in order to take the classes.

8 April 20, 2018

Being a realist can suit you better in our society today

BY BELLA PEDRA Z A Editor-in-Chief In a world where we experience tragedies like school shootings, political corruption, environmental destruction and outright terrorism, a “glass half empty” world can have disastrous effects on a “glass half full” person. When the glass seems to be draining, we try to convince ourselves that things are not as bad as they seem and to look on the bright side. However, this mentality can often be a one-way ticket to disappointment. In many instances, optimism encourages us to keep going and may show us that everything is okay in the end, but realism never fails to show us life for what it is. When Les Brown said “shoot for the moon and if you don’t make it you’ll land among the stars” clearly had no awareness of the laws of space and didn’t tell us we could end up burning up in the atmosphere. Life will continuously throw obstacles and mountains at us that just can’t be climbed. Instead of desperately trying to see the bright side while ignoring the impossibility of the situation, realism helps us see that sometimes it is better to simply admit defeat and put our energy into something else. It is important to set goals for ourselves and strive to reach those goals, but we must also recognize our own limitations and adjust when things don’t go as planned. To be a realist means to see the world through a clear lens, rather than a positive or negative one. Sometimes we have to realize that we will have bad days, people won’t treat you well and things won’t necessarily get better. As much as we hate to admit it, life isn’t always good and there isn’t always a bright side, but the first step to getting past the this is to recognize it for what it is. In order to improve ourselves and the world, we have to acknowledge our faults and accept that some things will never change. Sometimes life just isn’t fair. Finding a balance between realism and optimism is the key to finding a balance in life. We must know when to look on the brightside and when to take things for what they are in order to move forward. This helps us focus on the good in life without becoming disappointed by the bad. Sometimes the glass is half full, sometimes it’s half empty and sometimes the glass is just a glass– and that is okay.

stampede Looking forward to each new day: How

Brooklyn Joslyn

BY R A NYA J AMA L Staff Wrtter Most students spend their Mondays struggling to keep their eyes open and attempting to do as little work as possible. However, not all students dread Mondays. Senior Brooklyn Joslyn actually looks forward to Mondays as she sees it as a day to spread smiles, shouting a familiar and comforting, “Happy Monday” to her fellow classmates. Joslyn continuously lives her life with optimism and has deep ideas on how your attitude not only affects your day, but also your entire life. “It makes you more well rounded as a person, and if you have more bad days than good days, then what’s the point of life?” Joslyn said. Joslyn chooses to live with optimism, but there are still some challenges that follow. “Sometimes choosing optimism is super hard, but my phrase is, ‘it’s really hard to choose the happy side of things all the time,’” Joslyn said. “But once you make that decision, all the other little things fall into place.” Unlike students may believe, Joslyn faces her own challenges with optimism. However, she says a common problem most other people struggle with is finding the balance between optimism and realism. “I don’t have trouble with finding a balance between optimism and realism, because the bright side is that we do have so much time to figure stuff out.” Finding optimism may not always be easy, and Joslyn says the way she found her optimism wasn’t easy either. After her aunt passed away, endless people were sending her family letters about how amazing her aunt was, motivating her to leave an impression on earth just like her aunt did. “I realized that I wanted to be someone that sheds that amazing life on people,” Joslyn said. Being optimistic doesn’t mean you have to look forward to Mondays like Joslyn, but she says optimism helps you enjoy the little things in life, which is why everyone should set out on finding it. Joslyn plans to attend KVCC in the fall, with hopes to one day be a veterinarian. For now, however, her main goal is to spread positivity in all areas of life.

to improve your morning routine BY EL L IA NA HAMILTO N Staff Wrtter

April 20, 2018

1. Wake up early! This can be difficult and not very appealing, but it will definitely make your mornings more productive. Waking up early gives you time to prepare for your day. “I get up between 4:30 and 5 a.m.,” Janet LaVasseur said. LaVasseur gets up early to have enough time to do the things she wants to do. Getting up early and going to bed sooner can allow yourself to get more things done when the sun is up. “Twice a week I wake up at 5 and work out in the morning before school,” senior Sophia Maddux said. If waking up early is hard for you, just wake up a couple minutes earlier every day until you wake up at your desired time!

“I get caffeine and then I get my brain in order,” LaVasseur said. “Once I have accepted the truth that today is here, I journal for about 15 minutes.” LaVasseur gives herself time to do something she enjoys in the morning. “Try to make your mornings as enjoyable as possible and don't put yourself in situations where you're forced to rush,” Maddux said. If you enjoy making breakfast, do it. Watching your favorite netflix show with a cup of coffee? Do it. Give yourself the time to enjoy your mornings. “I fill up a large cup not a normal size mug, a fully caffeinated coffee,” LaVasseur said. “I sit in complete silence for approximately 15 minutes while I convince my mind that we are waking up.”

Give yourself a minute to be by yourself with no distractions. We are around people and getting information from people all the time. Give yourself time to be alone. Read an inspiring quote, write what you are grateful for, whatever gives you a better state of mind for the day. “I walk outside on my front porch and I say my morning prayers,” LaVasseur said. Give your mind positive vibes! Start a morning journal of positive thoughts and things you are grateful for, it will make the day instantly more positive.

4. Exercise now rather than later. Let’s face it, after school you are tired, you are mentally drained and there is a very little chance you will want to go workout. Do it in the morning! “[I] workout in the morning before school which really wakes me up and gets me ready for the first few hours of the day,” Maddux said. Working out releases endorphins which make you happy. Who doesn’t want to start their day off being happy? “I sit on my exercycle for 20 min. I watch the minutes, I sprint for a minute, it’s not impressive but I ride for as fast as I can,” LaVasseur said. “And then I go ‘thank god that’s over!’ Supposedly this is good for you and I am assuming they are right.”

“

5. Leave yesterday behind! CARTER COLOSKY/STAMPEDE

Senior Brooklyn Joslyn smiles outside of the school garden and gives a thumbs up. Students recognize Joslyn for her outgoing personality and optimistic outlook on life.

Surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you

Enjoy your mornings.

3. No social media!

Happy “Monday!

It is a new day, a new start! All of the troubles of yesterday are gone with the start of today. “You’re starting over, every mistake you made, that's yesterday,” LaVasseur said. Yesterday is done with its over, you cant change anything that happened yesterday. Today is filled with endless possibilities of being your best day ever!

BY ISABELLA WILSON Editor-in-Chief I’ve ran cross country every year of high school, and it seems that nearly every race fell on a day of unsettling weather, involving either snow filled courses or heat as perpetually awful as imaginable. Instinctively, I woke up on race days dreading what would come of my day, and wishing the weather would disappear as quickly as my negative attitude towards it. Despite this initial behavior, my teammates taught me something important- that my day and race would only be as good as I made it. They always had an optimistic outlook on the day, and knew that if they raced with a smile, a personal record would always be a tangible goal. Had it not been for my teammates, I likely would have quit the team, but as I learned from them, the key to success is having an optimistic outlook on life and surrounding myself with people that bring out the best in me. Involving myself with people who shed light in my life has changed my everyday mood and philosophies. For one, optimistic peers carry themselves in a unique manner, and can make nearly anyone smile with only a glance. Upon the occasion when I pass an optimistic peer in the hallway, a simple wave or “hello” will brighten my entire day, and spending even a single moment with these people creates motivation for me to want the best for others and myself. Even in moments of difficulty, having optimistic people around will always give me a reason to smile. You may be struggling, but like with cross country, someone is struggling right by your side, providing reason enough to continue working hard, even when the results are not what you expect. I’m not suggesting to only engage with optimistic peers in order to be happy; always having a smile isn’t as easy as I am making it seem, especially when times are stressful. However, it’s important to recognize moments of difficulty as stepping stones for learning in which others can help you through. Reacting in a positive manner will not only provide self-benefit, but will also benefit those around you. By the end of my final cross country season, I laughed and enjoyed running more, despite the treacherous weather we faced. Having an optimistic outlook made cross country something entirely delightful, and it can change the way you perceive your days too.

student life

1 2 3 4

What’s the story behind how you got your name? What does your name mean? Do you have any stories about how people react when they see your name?

April 20, 2018

What’s in a

name?

What are some good and bad things of having a unique name?

BY A S H N A M E H R A Opinion Editor

Aja Kaylor

Hnin Thiri Aung

Qubin Brown 1. My grandfather is from Cuba, so my grandma wanted to name me Cuban -- but she wanted to spell it differently, so she called me Qubin. 2. It means Cuban because of my grandfather 3. My teachers usually pronounce my name wrong -- sometimes they even pronounce the Q as an O. 4. The bad thing is people pronouncing it wrong, and a good is that a lot of people really like my name.

1. I’m from the country Burma, and in my culture, we have to ask a fortune teller for a name. The fortune tellers usually give out really cool names, so my grandparents chose to name me that. 2.The first part of my name means “snow,” the middle part means “royalty,” and the last part means “victory.” 3. There are a lot of times people have pronounced my name wrong. Usually teachers pronounce it so wrong that I tell them that they can just call me Priscilla because that’s my baptized name. 4. A good thing is that people can identify me really easily because of my name. And I don’t really think that there’s any bad part about having a unique name.

Jiawen Fan 1. My name is from the Chinese story of “Confucius”, because my dad found the story very unique. 2. My full name is Fan Jaiwan: Fan was the last name of the student in the “Confucius”, Jai means wheat, and Wan means husk. 3. Yes, my teacher Mrs. Laurencig calls me John Wayne, and Mrs. Kaylor pronounces it as JuWin. They also used to just call me John at my old school. 4. I like my name a lot, it’s pretty nice. I don’t really care when people pronounce my name wrong, but the bad thing is that they always feel bad like they did something wrong.

1. My dad really, really liked a rock group called “Steely Dan.” They had an album (and a song) named “Aja” that was released the year before I was born and that became my name 2. There really isn’t a true meaning to my name, but I just think my dad liked the group and the song, and thought that naming his daughter something unique would be a good idea. 3. Since my name is pronounced like the continent, Asia, I would always get asked questions like: “Is your sister’s name China?” “Were you born in Asia?” and my favorite, “Are you from the country of Asia?” Duh...it’s a continent. 4. Goods -- no one ever says, “Aja who?”; people usually remember you right away and don’t confuse you with other people they’ve met; You often get compliments from people who appreciate unique names. Bads -- people sometimes judge you by your name before meeting you... it’s like they have a picture in their mind of who you are and when you show up, they say something like, “I expected you to look different” or “I thought you were a boy.” For job resumes and interviews, it really can be a disadvantage. GRAPHICS BY KAORU MAURI/STAMPEDE

entertainment

April 20, 2018

Reviews Stampede from the

Via Gelato serves delicious desserts Via Gelato reopened for the summer season on March 15. Located at 8340 Portage Rd., Via Gelato is a familyrun, quaint gelato shop. The dishes at Via Gelato are incredibly cheap in comparison to other locations in the Portage area and are worth the buy. There are a variety of flavors, as well as other options such as coffees and desserts. The employees are welcoming and are more than happy to let you sample flavors before making a choice. The environment of Via Gelato is open and fun, with chic decor and an outdoor patio. Though the view is not the greatest, the patio allows outdoor access to everyone. Overall, the gelato is great, and each gelato cup is topped with a cookie. I would recommend visiting Via Gelato and making it the next summer hotspot.

COURTESY OF VIA GELATO

REVIEWED BY ISABELLA WILSON

‘Invasion of Privacy’ lacks creativity Recently, Cardi B has been making waves in the hip-hop community with her single, “Bodak Yellow” topping the charts for three weeks in a row. On April 6, Cardi released her first commercial album, “Invasion of Privacy.” The album immediately went gold after its release; however, it is not as good as the charts suggest. The first song is titled “Get Up 10,” and it is one of the best tracks in on the album. Another track that stood out for good reason is “Best Life.” Immediately after “Get Up 10” is where the rest of the album drops off. It continues to plummet with songs sounding parallel to an unreleased Nicki Minaj track and a few other repetitive songs with features that she didn't even have the decency to credit! I started listening to the album really wanting to hate it, but after the first song I actually thought it wasn’t going to be as bad as I anticipated; then I was let down once again. Although some of the tracks convey a decent message, in the end it’s not her own words and anyone can show up to the studio and rap if they’re getting paid boatloads of cash.

REVIEWED BY CARTER COLOSKY

‘A Quiet Place’ pleases its audiences “A Quiet Place” has hit theatres and taken them, and movie rating websites, by storm. The film received a 100 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which rarely happens. It is categorized as a horror movie; however, it involves a touching family theme as well. This movie is good for those who like to get a little startled, but not have heart attacks. The balance between suspenseful and soft moments is just right. The movie features the well-known actor John Krasinski in addition to certain upcoming actors such as Millicent Simmonds and 13-year-old Noah Jupe, who are full of talent. The overall cast is small, yet each actor still manages to contribute to a spectacular film. I would highly recommend going to see this movie for anyone looking to be fully entertained.

COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

REVIEWED BY RANYA JAMAL

Ratings Key terrible very bad

average very good incredible

COURTESY OF ANGELWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY

Senior model Rachel Boekeloo poses in a hammock for a summer photoshoot at Angelworks Photography.

Local business Angelworks Photography captures memories Growing company entices students BY B RYA N C A S S E M Entertainment Editor Every student has seen the professionallyphotographed candids of their classmates, with the perfect lighting and the perfect background to fit them. What they may not pay attention to, however, is the company that takes these photos. Angelworks Photography is a photography company that has been around for roughly 12 years now in Portage and spreads word of itself mainly through Instagram, according to the owner of the company, Charity Finstrom. “I was working as an IT administrator about 19 years ago and expecting my first baby. The name came from that feeling of awe you get when you have your first little angel,” Finstrom said. “I started out in my basement, with a sheet and a dream, and I’ve been learning and stretching my skills ever since.” The company has about 36 students who regularly model for it right now and the sign-up process is easy. Angelworks hires two types of models. “There are two different types of models,” said Charlie Finstrom, daughter of Charity. “Senior

models, who are seniors, and Worth Loving and Beautiful (WLB) models who can be anyone that is not yet a senior. If someone wants to become a WLB or a teen model they can sign up on the company’s website, angelworksonline.com. For a senior, they technically have to be invited but can request an invitation from Charity.” The company has various different photoshoots, so the process varies from each shoot to the next. Charity Finstrom said, “This past year, we’ve done a downtown rain shoot, a snow shoot, an Olympic games shoot, an overnight summer camp shoot, a beach shoot at Warren Dunes, a projector shoot and so many more!” Senior model Mitchell Northcutt enjoys being a model for Angelworks. “Being in this program has made me more confident in myself and my fashion sense and helped me feel comfortable with freely expressing myself,” Northcutt said. For anyone else looking to improve their confidence and get some quality pictures too, checking out Angelworks on Instagram would be worth your time.

entertainment

April 20, 2018

Sitcom Showdown

“Friends” is a hilarious show that touches on important topics

“The Office” makes a boring and bland job relatable and iconic

BY BELLA P ED R A ZA Editor In-Chief

BY D R E W GO R E TZ K A Sports Editor

When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year, there is one show that will always put a smile on your face. The show that will have you laughing at your laptop awkwardly in public settings: “Friends”. This ‘90s masterpiece has most definitely earned the the title of the best sitcom ever with its timeless jokes, relatable characters and golden theme song. Twenty-four years ago, the world was graced with one of the greatest television shows of all time. Although this aired before my generation was even born, its popularity extends all the way through millenials and to the latest generations. “Friends” references have even become an integral part everyday speech. The everlasting relevance of “Friends” is one of the primary reasons why it is and always will be one of the greatest shows ever. Twenty-four years later, “Friends” is still an accurate representation of life. The six friends struggle through the hardships of everyday life, whether it be relationships, money, employment, coffee addictions, or trying to move oversized furniture (PIVOT!), they handle it with the same grace as anyone would. Everyone knows a Ross, a Rachel, a Phoebe, a Monica, a Chandler and a Joey. The diverse personalities of friends allows almost anyone to relate to the show in one way or another. The authenticity of their lives is both refreshing and encouraging as we enter a time of new independence in our own lives. They show us that with a little support from our friends and some hard work, the things in life will turn out okay in the end. No matter how many times I watch an episode (which is an insurmountable number), I will always find myself uncontrollably laughing to the timeless humor of “Friends”. The show has blessed us with some of the best one-liners in history: “unagi,” “smelly cat,” “PIVOT,” “we were on a break,” “can I be wearing any more clothes”. These quotes may not mean anything to those who live under a rock, but for the rest of us, they’ll leave us in tears every time. Though I find shows like the Office undoubtedly funny, I seldom find myself laughing at joke after hearing it the second time. Contrarily, Joey’s famous “how you do’in” will never get old. Laughter aside, “Friends” teaches us valuable life lessons: to enjoy the little things in life, never take your friends for granted, it’s okay to let go sometimes, get off the plane. Additionally “Friends” not only covered difficult topics, it addressed many taboos like transgenders, the LGBTQ community, surrogecy, divorce and suicide. Through it all, the friends support each other and show us what it’s like to have great friends. So no one told you life was going to be this way? No worries, “Friends” has your back.

A majority of adults within the United States have worked in an office for at least a small portion of their lives. Many have experienced the monotonous grind of working in a cubicle, and know what it’s like to avoid work by the water cooler with fellow coworkers. These facts are what gave birth to “The Office”, a television show based around the wacky situations that a group of diverse office employees find themselves in on a daily basis. Although not necessarily an accurate representation of daily office life in America, the show immediately became a classic, and is a staple of Netflix binge-sessions and quotes uttered in every corner of the country. Why did this show have such roaring success? It could possibly be the expertly-written and varied cast of characters. Maybe it’s the iconic scenes that are common topics in everyday conversation. It could even be the relatability of each and every situation presented. The truth is that all of these factors combined make for a show that could be nothing but successful. Thanks to lead writers Greg Daniels and Paul Lieberstein, each character in the “The Office” is witty and entertaining in their own unique way. While Michael Scott can be seen spouting “That’s what she said” jokes and engaging in delusioned activities throughout the office, Jim Halpert can be seen reflecting on the irony of his own situation and flirting with Pam the receptionist. Dwight Schrute considers himself the protector of the office, while Stanley Hudson only shows up for his pension. This constant difference between each expertly-crafted character makes for endless wacky situations and heartfelt moments. However, the situations that these characters are placed in are the real star of the show. “The Office” takes common office topics and spikes them up to 10. You can bring up the “chili scene” in any conversation and everybody involved will immediately know what you’re talking about. Going to Chili’s on a Friday night will never be the same after you witness the “Dundies” and you won’t be able to help laughing when you remember Pam was banned from the establishment. Endless “The Office” references are lobbed into our everyday experience whether we’re aware of it or not. The scenes that made the show so iconic are what makes it worthy of being a cultural icon. Even though the show does take a far-fetched approach to common day situations, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be relatable. Each character in the show is an exaggerated stereotype of people you encounter every day in public places and the office. You can immediately identify the Dwight of any workplace, and you may often times consider yourself to be the Jim or Stanley. The situations these characters find themselves in are also relatable. The small details that make “The Office” so relatable are also the details that make it great.

Who are you when it comes to music artists?

START HERE

Getting pumped for the big game

In a car, staring out the window, probably reminiscing about something

Ideal mood for listening to music: Doubles or singles in tennis?

Doubles

If you went to a gym, would you... In the shower

Singles ...Stealing a car and robbing the nearest

In 10 years, I’ll be... ...Planning for retirement

You’re the kind of person to... ...In jail for drug posession

AC/DC

Whisper to the treadmill, “I know what it’s like to be walked all over.”

Migos

Kodak Black

...Rather be at home, studying music theory?

Have a nightlight in your bedroom

Buy a pet monkey

Justin Bieber

Drake

Mozart COMPILED BY ETHAN LEE/STAMPEDE

stampede

April 20, 2018

nt st e d Stu to mo ts ets l even k c i t va $ 7 i t s Fe just

APRIL 25 TO MAY 12, 2018 Â· THEGILMORE.ORG NEARLY 100 EVENTS ACROSS WEST MICHIGAN

sports

How to conquer the dreaded athletic midseason hump

B Y DRE W GOR ET Z K A Sports Editor As a senior who is only one month away from graduation, I can feel the treacherous affect of senioritis slowly coming toward me; the lack of motivation, the exhaustion and the slowness are all things I face on a daily basis. Senioritis is knowing you’ve come so far, yet feel as if you have an eternity to go. However, I have felt this feeling before. In fact, I’ve felt this in nearly every one of the nine total seasons of Mustang sports I’ve been through, the feeling nearly every athlete has experienced at least once: the dreaded midseason hump. This phenomena always comes about halfway through the season, as is characterized by similar traits of senioritis. The loss of motivation, the exhaustion of going to practice every single day and the feeling of being so far from the postseason. You start practicing with less effort, you don’t care quite as much about the score of the game and you begin complaining nearly every day. The fact of the matter is there is no way to avoid this. However, it’s important to know how to get through it in order to proceed to the glorious time that is the postseason. Without a good performance during the mid-season hump, you run the risk of having a tougher, if you even make it, postseason. If there is one thing to keep in mind during

this treacherous time: it is the reason you are playing the sport in the first place. For many, this could be the passion for the game- the love of taking part in a favorite activity. For some, it could be a gym credit they need to graduate. For others, it could even be their ticket to a college scholarship. Regardless of your reasons for walking onto the field in the first place, it’s very important to reflect and find motivation in them. Passion for the sport not doing it for you? Fair enough. How about the future consequences you may face? Losing motivation in the middle of an athletic season doesn’t just affect yourself, but also your entire team. A team is a sum of its parts, and if you’re not doing your job effectively, it will bring the team’s performance down as a whole. If you’re selfish and don’t care about the team, there is also the threat of the postseason looming over you. The fact of the matter is that without putting in the effort during the midseason, you’re going to suffer in the postseason. Continuous hard work is the staple of success in any sport, and it doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning of the season or right in the middle. Regardless of your attempts to change your mindset, sometimes you need to do something physical to get through this awful, no good time. Making a new pre-game or practice playlist may be in order, or even starting a new ritual in preparation for the postseason. Consider changing the pasta in your weekly pregame dinner. The midseason hump is an unavoidable evil. Either you find a way to get over it, or you and the entire team will suffer when the forsaken rolls around. KAROU MURAI/STAMPEDE

April 20, 2018

Rock Climbing Club climbs Portage Central Outdoor Adventure Club evolves into a group focused on scaling walls and life BY J AC K J U DAY Sports Editor The Rock Climbing Club has evolved from the Outdoor Adventure Club this year, and many students have taken a liking to it. The club this year is supervised by Ms. Fry and Mr. Badders, and takes place at Climb Kalamazoo. There, you can learn to “top rope” or “boulder.” “Bouldering” is the more extreme of the two. You climb a shorter obstacle, but do not use a safety harness. “Top rope” means that you are connected to a safety harness and climb a taller wall. The club is not only restricted to Climb Kalamazoo though. Some of the students took a trip to Kentucky last fall, one of them being junior Audrey Scanlon. “We were able to hike and climb outside in the Red River Gorge,” Scanlon said. “It was fun to just adventure in a totally different state for a week.” The group of students has also learned that rock climbing is a great way to build relationships. Doing an extreme physical activity with strangers forces you to trust them, making you grow closer with those people a lot quicker than on the street. Senior Molly Podiak has learned that rock climbing is just a simple part of a bigger picture involving the club. “I enjoy the camaraderie of it. Everyone is at a different skill level, but regardless of it, everyone cheers you on to help you reach your goal,” Podiak said. “Everyone is always trying to help you reach the top of your reach.” Choosing to participate in a club like this can truly change your view of the Mustang community, and for many people it was an impulse decision that turned out being very fun. “My sister and I both heard about it on the announcements,” Scanlon said.

“We both knew we wanted to join.” The group meets every Tuesday at Climb Kalamazoo at 3:30 p.m. All new members will have to pay for initial training on their first visit to the site. If you are interested in participating in Rock Climbing Club, see Mr. Badders or Ms. Fry for more information.

Senior Allen VandenBrink scales a wall at Climb Kalamazoo during a club meeting on Jan. 15 JAMES JOHNSON/STAMPEDE

sports

April 20, 2018

New baseball coaching staff starts fresh A gang of new coaches hopes to lead a previously successful program to new heights BY MAGGIE FA R R EL L Staff Writer

PHOTO BY PORTAGE CENTRAL BASEBALL

Head coach Mike Webster (right) and his father/assistant Brent Webster (left) put on their game faces.

Now that the 2017-2018 baseball season is in full swing, the new varsity coaching staff including Head Coach Michael Webster, has adjusted to their new team. “I think that the new coaching staff is full of energy which will influence us greatly,” junior Michael Verduzco said. “We are all excited to start the season, and I think Coach Webster is going to have a great impact on our success and team chemistry.” Based upon the Mustangs` record, including last year`s district championship win, the varsity head coach position is an extremely desirable position throughout the area. This season, the Mustangs hope to take home yet another district title. Verduzco said that he and the rest of the team feel that Coach Webster and the coaching staff are helping push them in the right direction to achieve their goals together as a team. Although a month of the 2017-2018 season is already underway, there is

still a majority of the season to go. The coaches and team still have a lot to look forward to. With the spring sports beginning in March, the teams have to begin conditioning and training prior to their seasons to build mental and physical strength. Verduzco is not only enthusiastic to see the team’s effort pay off, but also just to be out on the field again after being out last year. “I’m most excited to see the production that will come after all of the team’s hard work, both in the offseason and during this season,” Verduzco said. “Since I couldn’t play last your because of my injury, I’m especially excited to get back out there and do what I love most.” The Mustangs have already faced many competitors during games and tournaments throughout the state and they look forward to the remainder of the season that lies ahead. If you want to come and cheer them on, they have their next tournament tomorrow at 9a.m. at the annual Huskie Invite at Portage Northern.

Ramona Park offers an extraordinary basketball experience for all Spring gives community basketball players an opportunity to show their skills outdoors BY ZACH BUMGA R NER Student Life Editor With the weather getting warmer, basketball enthusiasts of Portage can now take on opponents in the most intense way: pick-up basketball. Basketball at the park brings a refreshing, fun way to play with others. One popular park to those interested in some competitive games is Ramona Park. Over the years, Ramona Park has built its own basketball culture. Many students of Portage Central have taken part in these frequent pick-up games. Senior Keygan Horn has been playing basketball at Ramona Park for years and loves the atmosphere it brings. “What makes Ramona park fun is that anyone can come play no matter how good or how old

you are,” Horn said. “If you can hoop, you can hoop and [Ramona Park] gets crazy on the weekends.” Pick-up basketball also allows you to meet a lot of different people from different backgrounds. “At Ramona I meet people that I never expected to make a connection with, and it’s crazy how just playing basketball with them one time can build a friendship,” Horn said. The game as a whole has a different dynamic when playing at a park as well. There is no structure and it can even be relaxing. “You don’t have the pressure of having a coach yelling at you for mistakes. There is no set plays and you can just play by reacting to what happens,” senior Zach Hernandez said. As for when you can find a game to hop in on at Ramona Park, Horn said there are typically people there throughout the day on the week-

ends. “Anyone is welcome when you’re there as long as there is enough people to play,” Horn said. “If one more person is needed it doesn’t really matter who it is everyone there is just trying to play.”

Next time you and your friends are looking to take advantage of a nice spring day in Portage with a game of basketball, forget about the hardwood and hit the concrete at Ramona Park.

stampede

April 20, 2018

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