INSIDE MISSION: To project the voice of the student body through 21st century Christian journalism in order to inform and serve the HGC community.
The Pride Editorial Board & Staff 4 We are a Human Family/We are HG : Theme Description. 6 Ad[op]t[ed]: Examining adoption from a Christian perspective. 8 Captured: An artistic viewpoint of the Human Family. 10 Just My Type: Students and faculty discuss how their personality is unique to them.
Leighann Vinesett Editor-in-Chief Morgan Davis The Pride Online, Editor-in-Chief
12 [Un]Hidden Figures: Why do we judge a book by its cover? What's underneath may surprise you.
Emily Strum Managing Editor
14 A Dream Deferred: The morning after the Keith Scott riots, students and faculty woke up with questions.
Kirsten Herberg Design Editor
16 My Style: Students show us their take style personalities. 18 More Than Athletics: Spotlights on athletes who live beyond the jock stereotype and sports teams who are more family than teammates.
Visit our online photography site H G C P R I D E . S M U G M U G . CO M Follow us on TWITTER @ HGCPride
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Brooke Hoffman Journalist Lauren Morissette Journalist Logan Fisher Photojournalist
Christopher Riesenberg Senior Photo Editor
Adriana Stowe Photojournalist
Sophia Joseph Copy Editor
Zach Sisk Photojournalist
Sydney Pressley Photo Editor
Rebecca McVey Assistant
Hailey Everage Photo Editor Brandy Caton Student Media Adviser
Visit our online news site THE PRIDE ONLINE hgcpride.org
he Pride Newsmagazine hopes to publish three issues this year through the student media class at Hickory Grove Christian High School. The publication is distributed free to the approximately 850 HGCS student body, faculty and staff in grades TK-12. Approximately 1,000 copies will be distributed to Hickory Grove Baptist Church members and to the Hickory Grove community.
Amaria Greene Journalist
The student body is encouraged to use the opinion pages as a forum between the editorial board and the HGC community. Views expressed do not represent the opinions of the faculty or administration. Editorials represent the views of the board and staff while bylined columns are the opinion of the authors. Readers are encouraged to email signed letters to the editor in response to the topics covered
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in each issue and with matters of concern to hgcpride@hgchristian. org. The Pride Newsmagazine is a member of the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. Target Printing and Distribution of the Fayetteville Observer prints our publication.
about us
the pride spring 2017
MAKING THIS ISSUE Brooke Hoffman Journalist
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e are individuals, we are a family, and we are humanity. The human family is more alike than one may think looking in. We cry when we are happy and when we are sad. We laugh through our joys and seek out acceptance. We breathe in hope we will live another day. The theme of this issue, the human family, is steeped in what we, the editorial board, believe to be important truths about who we are. We find our similarities rooted in Christ, made in His image, paid for by his blood. We were all formed in our mother’s wombs, created by and for God. We differ in the minor, insignificant sense: a body size, a hair color, a height. We relate in the major, the big picture. The human race is diverse. We are not confined to one race, nor one way of thinking. We transcend language barriers to communicate with one another yet interpret a smile the same way. There is no barrier in what we say or what we do or even what we look like. We are all different. Our personalities, appearances, styles, family life, friends, likes and dislikes, preferences, loves, music tastes, hopes for the future… We are who we are and that is never going to change. Even in Heaven, we will remain ourselves. These differences are what makes you, you. You are who you are for a reason and it’s a part of God’s perfect plan. But there’s more. If we come from the right perspective, we will begin to see one another as more than just the differences, as more as than just the exterior, but as we truly are.
about us
We, as humanity, strive for the dreams, the hopes, the goals that are just out of reach, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, we long for things of this world and that is our weakness. We are tempted and we fail. We stumble and we lean to God for support. We cannot be faultless because we hope, we sin, and we aren’t perfect. We are prideful creatures. Without the wisdom of God, we thrive on ignorance and living in the moment. We don’t see the things that we should because we are blind to it. It is an intentional blindness, one that can be helped and healed and forgiven in Christ. We need Christ. Only in Him can we become the fulfillment of what God has created each of us to be and what we can hope to become. Not only are we a part of a human family, but a family within Hickory Grove Christian. HGC is but a small fraction of a much larger world but it is somewhere to start. If we live with the intention to be the person God has made us to be, shouldn’t we first start with living intentionally within our own school walls? Our hope is that by reading the content within these pages, you will begin living intentionally according to these truths if you haven’t been already. Our hope is that you will walk away with a better understanding of the people that are a part of your HGC family, the people that you go through life with day to day within these school walls.
Photo by Christopher Riesenberg If we can truly know the people around us, if we can encourage each other and strive to embrace our differences as well as our similarities, then we can act as a family that is connected in Christ and loves one another and serves beside one another. Then, who we are as a family can unite us, strengthen us, and cause us to persevere in both the good times and the bad. We have our quirks and our differences, we have our kinship and our similarities, and in the end, together, we are individuals, we are a family, and we are humanity.
Photo by Christopher Riesenberg 3
Morgan Davis Editor
we are a human family we are creations fearfully and wonderfully made by God we have all been made to glorify Him his breath in our lungs his beat in our hearts with feet we dance with arms we praise under him we have been created as one we are a human family. we are a prism each reflecting different shades what appears to be white light is a wide spectrum of colors that represent our diversity and showcase our unique qualities we are all created differently with different purposes but we are one we are a human family.
HUMAN
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theme the pride spring 2017
we are books full of stories and adventures tales of people and places that are significant to our storyline that have impacted us we may be judged by our covers but inside we are so much more than what we appear to be on the bookshelf we sit we are a human family. we are threads tied together unified by shared memories and experiences in a period of our lives that we will never forget we are different but we are one fastened together by this binding thread we are joined our knots are tight we are hg
FAMILY theme
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Examining adoption from a Christian perspective. Leighann Vinesett Editor-in-Chief
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hen examining the human family, one is bound to find differences in each member, whether they be in style, appearance, or talents. The question must then be asked; what unites different members of the family? What makes these seemingly different people a family? Some may argue that a family is a group of people that are from the same bloodline or that share the same genetic code. We, as an editorial board, have a broader view of what a family is. To us, a family is not just members related by blood, but it includes the orphan who has been taken in and adopted. When thinking of adoption, many minds jump to the horizontal act of earthly adoption when two humans establish a relationship. However, we as Christians see that adoption is not just horizontal, but it is vertical; meaning, that heavenly adoption goes beyond human-to-human relationships but is instead a relationship established between Creator God and humans. The idea that we are God’s adopted children is central to what defines us, and therefore is fundamentally who we as believers are. As God’s adopted children, we have become sons and daughters, part of God’s chosen family, heirs to all that God has created (Romans 9:4-5). This was not of our own doing, though. In fact, we as humans have failed God in every way, as seen in Genesis. Although God created Eden, a perfect garden where we could share in the love that existed between Father God and His
Eternal Son, for us, we rebelled against God and lost the sonship that had been gifted to us. This not only made us orphans, former sons cast out of the garden, but sons of disobedience and children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). Still, God remained good and holy.
When we populated the earth to make a name for ourselves, God raised up a new Adam who would redeem humanity. This man was Abraham, the father of the nations, who anticipated a future adoption into God’s family. Still, again and again, humanity failed in its sonship. This is when God in His mercy sent one man who would never fail at fulfilling this sonship. This man was the Eternal Son, fully man and fully God, who came to restore our father-son
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relationship with God; this man was Jesus. As the ultimate goal of redemption, Christ died for those who rebelled against the father, so that we could be adopted as sons (Galatians 4:5). As Christians, we have been justified by the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross, and we therefore have an internal yearning for God, a crying out that is expressed in the phrase ‘Abba! Father!’ Like children crying out for a parent, this is a hope-filled cry for deliverance, grounded in Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice. This is the internal groaning for the day that we escape the suffering of the world and enter the consummation of our adoption, seen in the glorification of our bodies (Romans 8:23). We look at adoption in an elevated, vertical sense because we, as humans, crave a family and a father. God provides this for us. Despite our continued sin and shame, He has extended the opportunity for us to be restored as His heirs and His children. When examining the human family, it is our differences that make each individual unique, but it is our family that unites us. As Christians, this family goes beyond the bloodline, beyond genetics, and beyond legal documents. Instead, our family is made up of all the sons and daughters of Christ, children who continually rebel against our Father, but through His mercy receive a pardon. We have been predestined for adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5). This is the ultimate adoption story.
opinion: adoption the pride spring 2017
OUR ADOPTION STORY Two Hickory Grove families tell their stories of adoption.
Erin Paslay Guest Contributor
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doption was something my husband, Justin, and I always felt would be part of our family’s story. After having our two biological children, Will and Aubrey Jane, we sensed God confirming our desires to adopt and pursued adoption through fostercare in 2014. Through several events, we realized the timing was not quite right, and we put our adoption dreams on hold. Looking back now, we recognize God was already at work with His own plan. We could never have prepared ourselves for the mighty and magnificent ways God orchestrated the adoption of our son, Jace Michael Paslay. To fully understand how intricate and detailed God was in weaving together our family, we have to rewind six years to when we sold our home in Arkansas in order to move to North Carolina for Justin to be a pastor at HG’s North Campus. Due to the market crash, we lost more money than I thought possible on our little starter home. Because of this monetary loss, we knew I needed to return to work teaching at some point. When our oldest, Will, started kindergarten in 2015, God opened doors for me to teach English at Hickory Grove. That same year, another teacher, Tammy Nelson, started teaching English in the classroom next to mine. Had God not allowed a tremendous loss on a home five years prior, I would not have gone back to work when I did. We can trace God’s fingerprints and plans for our son back to a time when in my flesh, I questioned His goodness. God’s omniscient plan divinely crossed my and Tammy’s paths in order for His adoption plan to come to fruition. As John Piper says, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” After teaching together for a year, on the evening of June 27, I received a text message from Tammy about her six month
opinion
old great-great nephew in need of prayer and possibly a new home. I showed my husband the text, and he immediately responded, “Do we need to go pick him up tonight?” Through much prayer and conversation that night, we felt God calling us to provide a safe place for Jace. The next day we drove to meet Jace. With Will and Aubrey Jane, there was an immediate, fierce love from the moment we knew of their existence and heard their first heartbeats. When Jace came around the corner and was placed in my arms on June 28, that same fierce, unyielding love was present. There is no explaining our feelings for Jace but that God had been preparing our hearts long before we met him. The quickness of adding Jace to our home and to our hearts is nothing short of a miracle. Not only had God prepared the hearts of Justin and I, but He also prepared the hearts of our six year old son, Will, and our five year old daughter, Aubrey Jane. They immediately and selflessly welcomed Jace into our family with an unconditional love that can only come from Christ. I am overwhelmed by the relationship and love cultivated in such a short time between our three children; the Lord knit their little hearts together. Jace entering our home so quickly has been the catalyst for ongoing discussions on what adoption is, how we are adopted into God’s family, and the mandate the Bible gives believers to take care of orphans. It has grown Will and Aubrey’s understanding of what truly comprises a family. God orchestrated every step of the adoption. We saw before our eyes what it means for God to show off. The amazing miracles I have heard of God doing for others He did for Jace and our adoption, which was finalized in December of last year. It stands as a reminder that in the good and bad events of life, God is constantly at work for His children. From the moment Jace was conceived, God had a plan in place for his life and for our family. We daily stand in awe of God’s faithfulness to our family and the beauty of adoption.
Elizabeth Hamilton Guest Contributor
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y name is Elizabeth Hamilton and I am married to Adam. Adam and I met in 9th grade but didn’t start dating until our junior year in college. Adam and I were best friends through high school and college and talked about everything. We learned that we both had a longing to adopt one day and we both thought that meant internationally. In May 2007 I graduated from UNCC and we were married the next weekend. In 2010 we had our first daughter, Leah. We loved being a family of three, but remembered all the conversations we had about adopting from college. We decided to go to an adoption conference in September 2014 because we thought that’s where God was leading our family next. While at the conference, we learned about domestic adoption and the great need for children to be placed in a loving home in our own state.
It was then we felt like God was calling us to pursue domestic adoption. By May 2015. we welcomed our two boys, Dominic and Timmy, into our home. They came to us when they were three and four years old; like two tornadoes running wild! I will never forget the Friday afternoon when they showed up in a pickup truck with literally their whole lives in cardboard boxes and black trash bags. They are such resilient little boys. You would have never believed they were in foster care from their attitudes. It took time for us to adjust from a family of three to a family of five. Little did we know I would find out in July of 2015 that I was pregnant with our fourth child, Tinsley. Our sweet girl was born in March 2016 and on May 10th, the boys’ adoption was finalized. We went from a family of three to a family of six in eleven months. We are thankful the Lord knows better than us and for His faithfulness in our lives.
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CAPTURED An artistic viewpoint of the human family "Diversity of the Heart" by Kirsten Herberg "This piece of artwork displays the diversity of the different interests I have and how they are all rooted in Christ."
“Contrast” Photo by Adriana Stowe "Even though the color has been removed from the photo, different skin tones can still be seen. This photo represents the beauty in how God made us different yet we’re all united in His image. Often times we like to say we are “Color Blind” but we must not; it inadvertently diminishes God’s creativity."
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art gallery
the pride spring 2017
arts
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JUST MY TYPE Students and faculty discuss how their personality is unique to them Credit to 16personalities.com for personality type information
LOGICIAN
ARCHITECT
“Once my mind is set on something, I do whatever I can to get it done. And I can also be a bit of a control freak. I trust myself to get the job done right more than others, which is why I prefer working alone.”
“I definitely analyze everything all the time. I like to think and read, like the description says. I value deep relationships, and don’t really enjoy small talk. I like being well prepared for things; surprises and changes in plans throw me off.” -Ashlee Booksh
INTJ
INTP
COMMANDER “I am confident and outgoing. I often try to approach problems strategically with determination and drive. I am energetic and strong-willed, but this makes me stubborn and insensitive at times.” -Morgan Davis
-Isabelle Sanz
DEBATER
“I always play the devil's
advocate and think of the worst case scenarios when it comes to situations. Also I love debating with people, it’s so fun to hear other people’s arguments and see their thought process.”
ENTJ
ENTP
MEDIATOR
ADVOCATE
“I am like my personality type when it comes to jobs: I need to find meaning in my work. Also, I will take the time to find someone that I truly connect with and once I find that person, I will really bond with them.” -Sam Cox
INFJ
INFP
PROTAGONIST
“Protagonists are said to generally be leaders or coaches. I am a coach on a summer league swim team and give swim lessons. I am also naturally confident and unafraid to speak up for what I believe. ” -Morgan Smith
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-Amya’ Gainey
“I like everyone to be happy, calm, and friendly towards each other, although sometimes that requires some help. I usually find it pretty easy to step into another person’s shoes and understand what they are feeling, even if we are not alike.” -Aubrey Cooler
CAMPAIGNER “I’m a free spirit. On a scale of
ENFJ
ENFP personality types
1 to America, I’m America. I’m also energetic and I enjoy social interactions. I love meeting new people and making friends wherever I go. I have lots of ideas and enjoy taking the leadership role. I also experience difficulty when trying to focus.” -Rachel Wu
the pride spring 2017
DEFENDER
LOGISTICIAN “As an logistician, I’m intelligent, creative, and inventive. I enjoy discussions about controversial topics in today’s society. My ideas are sometimes bizarre and are very much so of a logistician's mind." -Maxwell Crum
ISTJ
ISFJ
“I am a helper and a logical thinker. I also do stress about how I can help others and how I am valued by other people. I am very diligent and very hard on myself in order to be the best I can for other people.” -Laylah Welch
EXECUTIVE
CONSUL
“Hard work is very important to me and I definitely expect dedication from others as well. My friends and family would confirm that I am very stubborn when I want to be and can be loyal to a fault.” -Danielle Berthelot
“I would say I’m a very social person and enjoy being around people most of the time. Also, the description said a teacher would be a good job for my personality type, which is good for me considering that’s what I want to study in college!” -Kayla Jennings
ESTJ
ESFJ
VIRTUOSO “I love to lend a helping hand to make everyone feel welcome. I am a kinesthetic learner so I love hands on activities. I am an introvert, and tend to observe before I act on something.” -Kayla Upshaw
ADVENTURER
ISTP
ISFP
ENTERTAINER
ENTREPRENEUR “I am like my personality type because I am very sociable. Whenever I am in a room with many people, I love to be the center of attention and have social interactions. I also have a tendency to be impatient.” -Stephen Adams
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“I am an Adventurer because I am sensitive to others and I try my best to relate to them. When I get caught up in something I love, I’m very passionate about it. I want my freedom to express my feelings and to do my own thing, which can sometimes be a downside.” -Bailey Taylor
ESTP
ESFP
“I have and try to always have good relationships with everyone around me. I enjoy making people smile and giving a helping hand and an attentive ear. I have routines and I do them well but I don’t like them.” -Zahil Caraballo
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[UN] HIDDEN FIGURES
Brooke Hoffman Journalist
Groupthink, a psychological term, occurs when an opinion does not match up with the group consensus and is frowned upon, so everyone conforms to the same way of thinking. The idea of groupthink can consume us. Groupthink can be detrimental because the group opinion is not always right. It can stifle us and fog our minds so we don’t pay attention to the people around us. We form cliques with those like us without thought to include those who are different from us. According to Adam Adler, in his article “The Folly of Crowds” published in August of 2011 on In Psychology Today, “Decisions made by many are sometimes superior, but when the many lack expertise, are biased in one particular direction, or gravitate towards an appealing but incorrect alternative, the crowd's decisions turn out to be more foolish than the individual's decisions.” Add this to conforming to a worldview separate from Christ’s teachings about how to live a blessed life centered on serving God and others first, and you can find yourself missing out. Too often we choose the easy path, the one where we can make snap judgements, but when we take the time to really get to know the person, to truly get a feel for who they are, we are shown what we were missing. Christians are called to treat each other with love and how are we to do that if we don’t even know the people sitting next to us in class? Cliques are easily made and embedded in the DNA and stereotypes of school itself. It isn’t that they are wrong, but they have their flaws because we are quick to judge. We typically form cliques unknowingly as we gravitate towards people like ourselves but how can we tell what people are into if we don’t talk to them? If we judge someone before they open their mouths, how do we expect to know what they have to say?
Conformity is something that can always influence a person’s opinions and beliefs. In the Journal of Conflict Resolution, psychologist Herbert Kelman once said that, “[Conformity] occurs when an individual accepts influence because he hopes to achieve a favorable reaction from another person or group.” This behavior happens way too much because too often there are group pressures to conform. They’ll say, “You have to dislike this person because we do,” or “If you listen to this kind of music you’re dumb and you can’t fit in with what we talk about.” These behaviors will only stop occuring when we stop viewing other people’s opinions as harmful and toxic. To view others in a negative light will also cast you in the dark as well. Some people are going to view you as judgemental, and in the process, view all Christians as toxic or having those opinions. We see the tall guy as the basketball player, the person with glasses as smart, and if you don’t fit in, you’re out of luck. For the people who are misunderstood and don’t fit into one of these friend groups or categories, it can make school rough. “Everyone once has had that feeling where they don’t know who to associate with or where to sit in the lunchroom. We all just want to fit in and find that right group of friends that makes us feel at home,” sophomore Lauren Morissette said. The feeling that you get when you cannot find a seat in the lunchroom, or when you’re the only one left when the teacher says to get in groups -- those feelings are what people go through on a daily basis. “When you see someone misunderstood, don’t just sit idly by, stand up for them. You never know what they are going through,” junior Sydney Pressley said. If we push past this barrier, we will not only see those who are hidden, but we will see what they have to offer and what we have overlooked. We will see that what is under the preconceptions are what defines them and we will see that once we look under the surface, we may find a hidden treasure. We must put away our labels, put away our mis-
conceptions, and listen for those who do not have the loudest voice amidst the shouting. Life is loud and it is easy to get spoken over or for something to be lost in translation. One of Jesus’ most famous teachings includes not being quick to judge others when we are all equally guilty. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5. If we uphold this teaching and strive to be more like Him, should we not first listen to what the people around us have to say before we pass judgement? It is not our place, after all, to judge. Unless a person lives according to the standard Christ set, they will too easily find themselves in groupthink or conforming to a clique that steers them away from Christ’s way of thinking. It is not even a high school problem; it is a human problem. Should we not be willing to accept other people in the way we hope others accept us? We cannot peer into their mind to see what they are thinking, their home life, their personality, their hopes and dreams, or even the life they lead away from the public eye, and therefore, we result to shabby snap judgements based on their exterior. Strive to get to know people outside of the labels, categories, and cliques because it’s only going to open a world of understanding the misunderstood. The misunderstood might be someone you regret labelling. They could be the next Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, or Katherine Johnson, working for NASA despite the bias’ set against them. Don’t let the people pushed to the side of the crowd escape your attention. Don’t let the silhouettes stay in the shadows. Encourage your peers to step into the light and be heard. You never know what’s hidden behind the curtain.
WHO IS JEAN-LUKE WELCH ?
Q: What is your family like? A: We laugh a lot. We always have fun in our house. Not only that but we teach each other. I learn something from my parents and my parents learn something from me and my sister. We always stick together in everything. We have each other's back no matter what happens. I wouldn't change my family for anything. Q: What are some of your best moments in life so far? A: Going to Disney World for a week and when I went to my first Carolina Panthers football game.
Q: Do you surround yourself with a wide variety of people? A: Absolutely! I never just talk to one person or group of people. I'm a social butterfly. I talk to everyone. I interact with the masses. It’s no fun to just surround yourself with a select group of people. I need variety. Q: What motivates you? A: My drive to be successful motivates me. I'm not going to let things people say deter me from my goals. I've worked too hard to get where I am and I don't plan on stopping for anything or anyone.
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Q: What do you see in your future? What do you plan on doing after high school? A: I see myself married with a couple kids and being immensely successful in my job, hosting my debate show at ESPN. I'll have a nice big house with about 3-5 cars in my garage. After high school, I plan on going to college and getting a Bachelor's in broadcasting. Q: What is something you're afraid of that not many people are? A: I am afraid of lightning.
Q: What is your favorite type of music? A: Gospel Music
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment? A: My biggest accomplishment is graduating high school. I know that's a cliché thing to say but it's true. Looking back on all the work I did to graduate is the biggest accomplishment I can imagine because I can look back and say, "Man. I did all of this? That's crazy!" I can appreciate all the work and effort that I put into graduating and be proud of myself.
[un]hidden figures
the pride
Q: Who is Jesus and what does He mean to you? A: Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s because of him that I've had all these opportunities. Without Him, I probably would not be where I am today. Q: What are some things that have impacted you greatly? A: My family, my friends, my teachers, and my experiences growing up [impacted me]. They made me who I am today.
spring 2017
The biggest challenge that I’ve had to face is becoming okay with myself. For a long time I couldn’t stand seeing myself in the mirror or hearing my own voice. I would get extremely discouraged and go into states of isolation where I would seclude myself from everybody. I wouldn’t talk to anyone or do anything with people. My self esteem would plummet down to where I felt like nothing. I would feel worthless. I had to learn like who I was. It didn’t matter if I looked different from people, I was still me. I was funny, energetic, friendly, sociable, and kind. I had to learn that if people didn’t like me for me then it didn’t matter because they were missing out on knowing a true friend in me. -Jean-Luke Welch
Photo by Hailey Everage opinion
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DEFERRED Leighann Vinesett Editor-in-Chief
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hat happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it
explode? Many students have read these lines from Langston Hughes' 1951 poem, "Harlem" in their English Literature classes. Yet even 66 years later in the classroom, many students still feel the same way Hughes did; like their dreams are being deferred because their voices are being ignored. Following the model in Hughes’ poem, when a major news story broke in Charlotte, these students did not remain silent. On September 20th, 2016, an African-American man by the name of Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot by an African-American CMPD officer five miles away from the school. The shooting lead not only to police investigations and protests in the city of Charlotte, but to conversations concerning race in classrooms across campus that many did not expect. “I had hoped for intimate conversations with my teachers and classmates, but when I came to school I did not expect anything extraordinary due to the fact that controversial issues had been shied away from (in the past) due to not wanting to offend anyone,” said junior Adriana Stowe. Like Stowe, many other students were unsure if when they walked into their classroom the issue would be dealt with, and they struggled with bringing it up. “Instead (of having conversations) I thought that everyone would sweep (this issue) under the rug, but I did not want to stir up trouble, cause controversy, or create an awkward situation
between my teachers and peers,” said senior Amya’ Gainey. In this situation, students were not the only ones coming to school with fears and concerns. Likewise, some teachers were unsure of how to bring up the conversation of police brutality. This was not only because the story was located close to the school, but because it hit home for many students.
HARLEM
by Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? “There was a fear that I was the token middle-class white girl. I am as suburban as they come, and I was terrified of saying the wrong thing (to my students) and losing their engagement in the class,” said AP science teacher Sarah Wiles. To remedy the concerns of staff and students alike, teachers and administration resolved that the best way to handle sensitive situations was to have courageous conversations. “What we wanted to do (following the Keith Scott case) was to talk to our students about what this meant for them. In school, there were presuppositions about what was and wasn’t going on
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with the case. We thought the way that we should engage was to have conversations, not where we were yelling at each other, but where we were listening to one another,” said Bible teacher Billy Hutchinson. Throughout the day, many teachers not only set aside curriculum to allow students to discuss their opinions on the issue, but also turned the conversation into a teachable moment by working it into their curriculum. "As a jouralism teacher and also someone who felt plenty of emotions about the unrest in our city overnight, I knew it was important to address the event and the aftermath. But what I didn't expect was how eager the students would want to discuss the topic of racism and its existence. It was like it was boiling under the surface all along and was just spilling out of them ,” said Student Media teacher Brandy Caton. After this, students took these conversations outside of the classroom, and into the lunchroom, parking lot, and campus as a whole. “Me and Zach Sisk had a conversation the day after (the Keith Scott case) happened, and we were talking in the parking lot and Zach said to me, ‘I’m just so sorry.’ I asked him what he was sorry for, and he said because he never knew what I (as an African American) faced. It really helped us grow in our relationship, even though he had never done anything (wrong) to me,” said Gainey. Having conversations in this way had many positive effects in student-to-student relationships, but also in the relationship of teachers and students. “After discussing the issue/incident, I felt closer to my teachers. I felt like then I could ask them any question about anything. I felt not only our teacher/student relationship grow, but our personal relationship grow,” said senior Tim Smith.
a dream deferred
the pride spring 2017
Photo by Hailey Everage
A DREAM
Soon after having these sensitive conversations within the school, a panel of six students were selected to present a round table discussion at the AP College Board’s annual “A Dream Deferred” conference in Washington, DC. This event is about encouraging the academic achievement of minority students. This was a unique opportunity for students, as they were the only breakout session that was student led and the only students that attended the conference. The main goal of this roundtable was to present how, in the midst of the confusion and controversy surrounding the Keith Scott case, teachers and students handled conversations in such a way that allowed student voice to be heard and validated. The six students not only spoke about their own feeling surrounding the case and conversations, but also presented alongside educators from highlevel institutions, such as Princeton and Ohio State, about how conversations occurred and what they appreciated about them. From this event, students not only got the opportunity to share a unique perspective with educators, but after their hour-long discussion, they received a standing ovation from the audience.
The students’ perspective, advice, and opinion not only served as advice to educators from other schools, but also helped teachers within the school that have struggled with conversations like this.
CHARLOTTE
by junior Luke Bennett What happens to a movement reborn? Does it entice and captivate Like a forbidden fruit? Or sicken like a plague— And then pollute? Does it beckon like a death knell? Or confuse and mystify— like an archaic spell?
Maybe it just snaps Like a strained wire. Or does it inspire?
“(As a teacher I’ve) stumbled and tripped in this journey, but I have been blessed enough with students that talked to me and did not presume that I meant them harm. They were able to correct
and guide me to the path to take and conversations to have, and will continue to do so,” Wiles said. Weeks after the panel and the Keith Scott case, student voices that had felt silenced could still be heard speaking up and engaging in conversations across campus. “This situation provided the dialogue for us to continually have these conversations with open communication. As a result of conversations within classrooms, we have learned to be careful but not fearful when having conversations, and as a result of the DC panel, we were able to highlight the effectiveness of encouraging conversations in classrooms. We, as educators, aim to give students free and safe spaces where we can engage in conversations,” said Hutchinson. The situation in Hughes’ poem hit close to home on September 20th, 2016, but the story did not end there. When walking into school the next morning, students who had previously felt ignored found their own Harlem waiting for them in their classrooms. Months after, the school remains a safe space for student voice, and across campus a community of people can be seen having courageous conversations in what, for them, is a Harlem of Charlotte.
CAREFUL, NOT FEARFUL
Zach Sisk Guest Contributer
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he ignition switch dinged, the engine roared to life, and the six of us were off to the Capitol in a 14-passenger bus for a life-changing experience. By the six of us, I’m referring to Bryce Royal, Amya’ Gainey, Adriana Stowe, Jasmine Borden, Tim Smith, and myself, Zach Sisk. We all volunteered to attend this year’s national AP Conference, titled “A Dream Deferred”, which was to be held in Washington, D.C. The primary focus of this conference was for educators to discuss and share ways to increase the average AP scores of African-American students within the United States. Our panel, the students along with Bible Department Head Billy Hutchinson and AP Chemistry teacher Sarah Wiles, discussed how Hickory Grove Christian responded as a school to the Keith Scott shooting incident in September of 2016. We arrived at the Marriot Hotel in Washington, D.C., early in the morning to register for our session to be held at 11:00 AM. After some slight mis-communications with our valet, we all ventured inside to register and find the room in which we would be speaking. “I was expecting a large crowd in a large auditorium”, Senior Tim Smith said, however it was a much more intimate setting; a room that sat roughly seventy people. After getting situated, a few of us decided to go out into the hotel lobby and introduce ourselves to the other conference members, hoping to convince them to come to our session. We were proud to introduce ourselves as the only high school students who were speaking at
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the conference. I was very excited to see that people already knew about our session and that they were planning to attend! Eleven o’clock soon came, and we filed back to the Hoover room. Taking our seats at the table, we looked back at the room to see that the recently vacant seats had come to life with an audience just as diverse as the one that we ourselves had brought to D.C. There were educators both young and old, black and white, all eager to listen to what we had to say. The last of the crowd filed in and we began.
To hear the “Courageous Conversations” panel presented at the Dream Deferred conference, scan the QR code.
Mr. Hutchinson led our discussion by prompting our panel with questions regarding how we as individuals processed the events that happened in the wake of Scott’s death. Our answers were reflective of our expectations before and after entering the classrooms at school, and the introduction seemed to grab the attention of the audience in front of us. Throughout the array of questions prompted in our presentation, we received immense
amounts of positive nonverbal feedback from the audience, letting us know that they were genuinely interested in our opinions. During the discussion, one of the main points that was reiterated by us students was how important it is to for students’ opinions to be validated by their teachers. When a student begins to feel isolation in their classroom and their opinion becomes nothing more than an outlandish belief, a severe lack of connection occurs, causing student-teacher relationships to crumble. This environment is sure to breed dissension within our schools. After the conference had ended and we were all on our way back to Charlotte, the weight of what we had done began to sink in. Six students from a small Christian school had just gone to the nation’s capital in attempt to set an example of reconciliation in an ever-dividing world, and we had succeeded. “In the beginning, I just wanted to make a difference. By the end I felt that I successfully impacted the teachers’ lives so that they can take good information back to their schools. It’s all part of a bigger picture,” senior Amya’ Gainey said. As a word of advice to the teachers and educators who may be reading this article: when dealing with racial tensions and presuppositions in a classroom setting, it is imperative that you all are aware of your own presuppositions and openly work through them with your students. Progress cannot take place if students are silenced on topics that are important to them, no matter how controversial. The most important step in reconciling generations of presuppositions is simply have good and open conversation. I believe that Tim Smith summed it up best when he said for us to “be careful, but not fearful.”
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Above: Sophomore Leighann Vinesett shows off her style through her daily statement necklaces. Photo by Zach Sisk Below: Second grader Micah Harrell shows off his unique hairstyle. Photo by Morgan Davis
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Above: Sophomore Imani Riddick-Cherry shows off her style through her hair and big jewelry. Photo by Adriana Stowe Below: First grader Jossie Malloy shows her style through her hair bow and dress. Photo by Morgan Davis
personal style
the pride spring 2017
Below: Sixth grader Labria Williams shows off her famous taco shirt, which has earned her the nickname "Taco." Photo by
Logan Fisher
Above: Kindergartener Tallula Angle shows off her unique style through her everyday preppy attire. Below: Eighth grader Whit Miller shows off his curly and unique hairstyle. Photos by Morgan Davis
Photo by Morgan Davis Sixth grader Mya Riddick-Watkins and 8th grader Whit Miller, left, show their style through unique hairstyles.
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MORE THAN MY NUMBER Lucas Larson
Senior Lucas Larson has played basketball since he was nine years old. He saw the challenge in it, and wanted to put himself up to it. “I’m someone who wants to challenge myself. Playing basketball brought new challenges into my life both on the court, at home, in my faith, and in the classroom,” said Larson. Larson has faced challenges in his faith, by sometimes letting anger fuel his game rather than playing for the glory of God. Once he realized this he changed how he went about life both on and off the court. “Outside of basketball I try to incorporate my faith into all that I do, whether that’s giving thanks for the little things throughout the day, asking for God to work in certain situations, or just being in prayer as I drive to school in the morning. I want to be Christ focused at all times.” Larson’s favorite verse, Romans 14:8, is a picture of how everyone should live for God’s glory: “If we live, we live for the LORD; and if we die, we die for the LORD. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the LORD.” Aside from basketball and his walk with the Lord, Larson is involved in school activities, like mentoring an elementary student every week. Larson is planning on attending UNCC in the fall. At UNCC, he desires to study engineering in order to work with robotics and to possibly make functioning prosthesis. In spite of these achievements, Larson feels as though they are nothing if he has made no impact for the Gospel. “I don’t feel as though anything I’ve done has had a great impact on anyone around me yet, and until God uses me to make that mark, I don’t feel that I have accomplished anything.”
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Meredith Garcia Senior Meredith Garcia is a soccer player who has been on the field “since (she) could walk.” She is known by her sport, but has many more aspects to her. For instance, Meredith said that “a lot of people are surprised that I am smart because I also play sports.” The future UNC-Chapel Hill student is involved in many scholastic clubs including Rho Kappa, Science National Honors Society, and National Honors Society. Meredith was influenced by her father in a big way, “My dad taught me to never give up and always try your hardest, even in trivial matters,” Garcia said.
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Photos by Emily Strum
Katie Shepard Senior soccer player Katie Shepard chose to play a sport to not only overcome her fears of being an introvert. “I was a really shy kid and the soccer field was the first place I was able to overcome my fears. Team sports especially make you feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Shepard. Another way Shepard is involved in something bigger than herself is through mission work. “Mission work has had the greatest impact on my life. I have discovered a passion for serving children and bringing hope to people around the world,” said Shepard.
Ashton Pope Ashton Pope, senior soccer player, was the recipient of the winter Henry G. Ward Award, which is given to the athlete that shows excellence in their sport, their academics, and their character. One of the primary reasons Pope was chosen to receive the award was due to his strong walk with the Lord and Christ-like character. “When I got saved, I saw life in a different way and received the greatest gift possible. I went from a direct path to hell to an eternity with my Creator in a moment," said Pope, who strives to be Godly by caring about everyone he meets.
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John Grabowski Junior football player John Grabowski is more than what meets the eye. Grabowski can also be in his drama and musical theater classes.“I think people are surprised by this because they see me as this guy that only loves sports,” Grabowski said. In addition to playing football, Grabowski enjoys sining, writing, reading, and dancing. “I enjoy these things because you learn new things and are taken into different worlds. Singing is fun because I can use my voice, and I love dancing because I love learning the history behind Spanish culture and the dances that go along with it.”
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behind the jersey
the pride spring 2017
Photos by Emily Strum
MORE THAN A TEAM Varsity Football Team? More like family... Mari Greene and Sophia Joseph Journalists
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o be on a team, there are many sacrifices that team-mates have to make for each other, because of these, bonds are made that last for not only a season, but for a lifetime. “Sports and more specifically team oriented sports teach life lessons, personal skills, and people skills in a way that nothing else can,” Varsity Basketball Coach Jim Rhodes said. Sports can be a great teacher for life and how to live life for Christ. Sports also teach lessons on hard work, winning and losing, sportsmanship and teamwork. “Sports bring players together, but the bonding happens when individuals show respect for one another by demonstrating love for one another at all times; not just when they are at practice or playing a game,” Varsity Baseball Coach Kurt Seibert said. “Sport teams give players the opportunity to bond by bringing individuals together and sharing trials, tribulations and successes.” While many teams face challenges, this provides them more chances to come together as a team. “We pull together and
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Varsity Girls Soccer Team? More like family...
Varsity Baseball Team? More like family...
get out of our comfort zone to overcome obstacles. We have definitely had our fair share of obstacles this season, but with our faith in God and each other, we continue to get back up and move forward,” Varsity Women’s Soccer Coach Elizabeth Syska said. The friendships built by working together through challenges will continue to grow and last for the next years to come. “Fellowship continues throughout the school year and friendships can last a lifetime,” Varsity Football Coach Mike Pondo said. “We worked hard and persevered through a tough season as a young team. The way we worked together last year will help us be better this coming year.” One way teams work on teambuilding is during practices, which allow athletes to grow in their skill and to learn how to work with other people. “As the basketball coach, I make each drill competitive and each practice hard to make sure they are learning. Each drill I do has a winner and a loser and losing teams from the drill run after each one, Rhodes said. “I switch up teams every practice so players learn to work with different players on the team and have found this makes players tougher. It also makes the team tougher in those situations during the
game because they have to face the same kind of situation each day in practice.” The players are encouraged to communicate with each other and to encourage each other throughout games. “One of the key things I stress to the players is to encourage and communicate with their fellow teammates during these tough situations. Teammates need to hear encouraging words from each other and need to know that they can be counted on,” Rhodes said. There are constantly memories being made, but there are some that stand out more than the others. “I think the most memorable moment is when our basketball team was down 14 points at half-time to Calvary Day in the third place game at the Christmas tournament in Asheville. Our team pushed through, made adjustments, focused, encouraged each other and came out with a 10 point win,” Rhodes said. Although winning is great for the season, it is not always about winning but about working together to achieve a common goal. “The winning is not the import thing but the fact that the team rallied together and presses ahead through the tough moments,” Rhodes said.
TOP 12 FUNNIEST MOMENTS Jim Rhodes Athletic Director
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eing the Athletic Director at Hickory Grove Christian is an honor and privilege. I watch close to 100 games a year and get to see some awesome plays, bloopers and some really funny things. It has been a great year! Here are the Top 12 funniest things I saw this year as an Athletic Director: #12: Elementary kids launching themselves into the inflatable lion head and bouncing off at football games. #11: Christian Karlesky trying to beat Mr. Atwell at lip singing at the pep rally. #10: People fainting when they sniff inside the Lions head mascot. #9: Dr Quesinberry and Mr. Hamilton giant heads in the basketball student section. #8: Referee falling down trying to change clothes in the parking lot behind his car door. #7: Coach Sanders with dressed out in all of his sun protection gear at football practice to protect his pale skin. #6: Hearing about Ryan Quesinberry hitting a buzzer beating three pointer, at the basketball halftime shooting contest, then sprinting straight for his concession stand prize. #5: The varsity basketball teams fighting for cookies at 1 A.M. on a broken down bus, in the middle of nowhere, because they thought our bus would never be found. #4: Mission pastor Casey Norkett in a baseball uniform. #3: Coach Woodell’s head turn red when his team makes an error. #2:Seeing that one of our pictures in the FLC hallway is of Austin Hadden missing a dunk. (He did still made the basket) #1: Trainer Karen Rauss telling players during every season, “You are not hurt! Suck it up and go back in the game!”
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