Lamar Life: Volume 21, Issue 7

LAMAR LIFE Signing off

LAMAR LIFE

3325 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77908

Vol 22 | Issue No. 7 | May

Staff...

Lauren Koong.......................Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Stone.....................Assistant Editor Mikal Nazarani...........................Copy Editor Kadee Harper............................................Adviser Italy Alexander Nico Al-Karkhi Elise Barnette Brooklyn Carmona Ava Fisher Annie Frietsch Sydni Fullmighter Destiny Goodall Stephen Hernandez Destiny Keeton Mace Klein Elizabeth Kortum

Sofia Munoz Ben Newman Aleisha Paulick Kayla Pearl Mia Rosales Yezen Saadah Jazmin Segura Grey Siegel Brooklyn Slie Ana Torchia Mischa Wijesekera Mojdeh Zare

...signing off

senior reflection: Lauren Koong

Letter

from the

Editor

Dear Reader, As I write this, it is hitting me three times a year to now publishken with Pulitzer Prize-winning that this is my last “Letter from the ing seven issues a year, from 500 journalists and activists that have Editor” and my last issue of Lamar Instagram followers to over 2,000, gone to the Supreme Court. We Life ever. from no online presence to a full have covered students that walked I always thought that I would website (www.lamarlife.org) with in New York Fashion Week and rejoice this day, the day when I no thousands of monthly views. ex-DisneyChannelactresses.We longer have to pull all-nighters putAnd those are just the tangibles. have persevered through gun vioting together a magazine, the day The class has undergone a comlence, a global pandemic, a winter when I no longer have to spend my plete structural reorganization; storm, and so much more. lunches editing stories and giving insteadofusingmyemailinboxAbove as it all, I hope that you, out grades, the day when I would a submission spot, we now have as the reader, have enjoyed this finallygettorelax.Butnowthat a cohesive itmethod for submitting journey with us. Thank you for is here, I wish I could postpone this and editing assignments! More im- continously reading our magazines day. portantly, I have had the privilege and supporting our journalism.

I have spent the past four years of watching so many students who WhenIfirstwalkedintothe serving as Editor-in-Chief of Lajust wanted to take graphic design Lamar Life room, I was a scared marLife.Despitethedifficulties evolve into professional journalists. freshman, faced with the daunting of this position, I would not have I would like to give a huge thank task of commanding a room full of traded it for anything. you to my assistant editor, Lainie seniors. In a couple months, I will As I look back on where Lamar Stone, and my copy editor, Mikal be a freshman again, but this time, Life was when I was a freshman, Nazarani. Lamar Life, and I, would armed with the lessons I learned versus where it is now, I am trube nothing without them and that is from Lamar Life to quell my fears. ly proud of how Lamar Life has notanexaggeration.

I cannot wait to see where Lamar grown and developed. We have Lamar Life has been the greatest Life goes in the future. come so far - from publishing only journey of my life. We have spoSigning off,

Editor in Chief

Lamar Life Assistant Editor

S

class of 2022

Kathryn “Lainie” Stone

ecrettime:I’mterrified together to forthisnextchapter. circle drive, After jorts day junior year, movetoMaine.Between all, he and I have been together the best friends I could have ever my house and Colby Colsince birth, literally, and I’m not asked for and of course, Lamar lege it is a whopping 2,016 miles, a ready to part ways just yet. I know Life. I have a much longer list of terrifying distance when compared that college is not a goodbye forev- positives I don’t have the space for, to the mere 1.7 miles between my er but I can’t help but think back on but you all get the idea. house and Lamar. For the last four every car ride to and from school Leaving is hard, especially when years I have made the eight minute and know that it’s going to be over you are leaving for somewhere drive (on a good day) twice a day soon. High school as a whole will across the country but I am trying and for the last 13 years, I have be over soon. to ride this new roller coaster and rode to school with at least one Secret time: I love Lamar. Sure, findtheinfinitepositivesafte family member nearly every time. ithasitsflawsandtherehave negatives. been Myfirstpositive:Col I’ve built a routine out of these days I wanted nothing more than may be in rural Maine but it still short drives that now just involve tojuststayhome.ButIsathas inthe aTacoBell. my mother and I on A-days and bleachers with some friends and include my twin brother Jack on played Scribbl and thought about B-days,aroutinethatiscoming how to much it’s going to hurt to an end far too soon. leave this place. These last four I thought that I would be more years here have been a rollercoastprepared to leave for college honer, from the tragedies of freshman estly. I mean, I swore up and down year to navigating the pandemic I would never go to the same colandonlinelearning.Butafterevery legeasJackandyetIfindmyself negative,therewereinfinite posi wishing he and I were going to be tives, like dance battles in the old

senior reflection

class of 2022

senior reflection

Mikal Nazarani Lamar Life Copy Editor

T

o be blunt, high school Butwiththeendofmyhigh santly over meaningless interacfor me has always been school years comes hindsight, a tions, stepped outside of my priviperceived as a transitory tool that has enabled me to look leged bubble… the list goes on. experience-somethingpassing backand on these past four years with a Manyoftheseexperienceswere ultimately brief, an event that must wider lens, with more nuance. Yes, insignificantintheirsingularity, be encountered and endured before I saw high school as nothing more perhaps even misrepresented due to pursuing the rest of one’s life. Sub- than a liminal process, but I can faulty memory, but as a collective sequently, I navigated four years of also now realize how incredibly were incredibly important in their narrow hallways and overcrowded formative and changing this liminal influenceoverwhoIpresent my classrooms in a perpetually tranprocess had been. My high school self as and who I actually feel I am sient state, thinking and feeling experiencewasthebackdrop, today. andWhile high school may have everything to be liminal. tosomeextent,catalyst, - for been myad liminal for me, I no longer see Why I felt this way, I’m unsure olescence and subsequent growth. the liminality as inconsequential, of. It was something that had been It was during these past four and am incredibly appreciative of inculcated in me from a young years that I surrounded myself and theexperiences(goodandbad), age. Even in elementary school, I re-surrounded myself with different people, and personal discoveries already viewed high school as the peoples, met my crippling angst, that were intrinsic to these ephemintermission stage between my further honed my passion for writeral but impactful four years. childhood education and my uniing,experiencedtheinnocentbut versity career - my real and privultimatelyembarrassing - firstrela ileged objective. Even now, I feel tionship, rediscovered my love for less remorse and more anticipation, reading,receivedmyfirstrejection more enthusiasm for the end of an letters, became more comfortable era and the beginning of a new one. in my introversion, cringed inces-

senior reflection

Mace Klein

I

class of 2022

Lamar Life Graphic Designer

f I were to go back seven years When my senior year rolled around, to live off of. To make it real, I had ago to a 10-year-old Mace and I still had my eye on the prize: get to work, enter competitions, and earn reveal that they got accepted into college, make money by art, and good grades to get acceptance letters. to go to college for design, I’m sure leaveamarkontheworld.Butsenior It’sgoingtobedifficult.Iambound they’d squeal with delight as their year isn’t like the movies; you can’t sit to stumble and trip like anyone else, dreams, my dreams, are becoming around all day waiting to graduate. As but I cannot buckle or break now. The reality. Ever since elementary school, I soon as I realized that even the cheap- thoughtofthatlittlekidonth have loved art. I would draw from the est colleges would still put a large dent drawing, with stars in their eyes and early morning till late in the evening in my parents’ pockets, and like that, a goal in mind, makes it hard to stop. until I had to turn on a lamp to see. As a heavy weight was dropped onto me. Getting to college is not a smooth I grew up, I realized there is an actual Scholarships aren’t advertised; there’s process.It’sruthlessandexhaus business for art. It didn’t just have to a lot of small print to be read for all and I can’t describe how many times I be a hobby; I could make it a job and thebigtextshown. screamedatmycomputer.Buthavin something I get to do every day. Every This is not a feel-good story. My thatcollegeacceptanceletter day for eight years, I would practice college education isn’t supported via out a housing contract, and getting portraits, bodies, landscapes, characa large scholarship or a full-tuition ready for the freedom that comes after ter design, color theory- everything I scholarship. Money didn’t just fall in school starts; eases the tension and could learn about art, I studied. my lap without having to struggle with makes the stress worth it.

I took art in high school and apfinancialaid.Havingtocalltheoffice So to the ten-year-old kid, who plied to every art competition offered, onceaweekandexplaining“mymom drewonthefloorwithcoloredpenci and my work was paying off. I brought works on commission, please help and dreamt of making it big. Hold home blue ribbons and gold medals for me” only to get an offer that is nearly your head high and keep your stars in the artworks, even some of them being impossible to live off of. To make it youreyes,andyou’llbefine.You’re displayed. Seeing that success, I took real, I had to work, enter competitions, almost there. commissions and it slowly became a and earn good grades to get acceptance jobforme.Whileitwasn’tafixed letters. in Havingtocalltheofficeoncea come, I was making money. It warmed weekandexplaining“mymomworks my heart knowing the love people had on commission, please help me” only for the artwork I made for them. to get an offer that is nearly impossible

class of 2022

Yezen Saadah Lamar Life Writer

M

y interest in journalism when it came to being involved in the towards journalism; it allows me to started in my junior year school itself. I wasn’t interested in the facilitate my knowledge in topics that of high school which, learning curve this late into my high I’m genuinely fascinated with and, in in Oklahoma, implemented a virtual/ school career when it came to variturn,expressthattothereader. in-person hybrid schedule for the ousextracurricularsthatIotherwise I may have arrived too late to be 2020-2021 school year. I’ve always would’ve been interested in. With that properly considered “a part of Laloved writing, but it was more so a said,Icannotexpressmygratitude mar”, but I’ll never forget the stories toolforselfexpressionformetoand Lamar Life enough. Ironically, deI’ve written for the amazing publiless so a way to “get the word out” spite not being in the class itself, writ- cation and the incredible staff who or “inform the public”. Joining my ing for Lamar Life was the absolute helped me along the way. I’m looking school’s student publication - espehighlight of my short time at Lamar. forward to implementing my journalcially in such an odd year - opened At Lamar, I was given the chance isticskillsinfilmmaking,whichis my eyes to the possibilities writing to write about whatever interested what I plan on studying at university, can bring, be it in the form of news, me, and tried to the best of my ability and hopefully write for the school’s entertainment, features, or opinion to make it passionate but objective. paper as well. If it wasn’t for Lamar pieces. It was around this time I With every idea I had for a story, Life, I most likely wouldn’t be interbegan thinking of the reader when theLamarLifestaffwereextremely ested in continuing journalism at all. writing, not just myself. supportive and encouraging. It helped For that, I am eternally grateful.

AftermovingtoHouston,Texas, greatly I that whatever piece I worked enrolled in Lamar High School with on was one of genuine interest and every intent to continue my newfound enjoyment,mainlyfilmreviewsand passion for journalism. I emailed Ms. current world events. My goal was Harper in the beginning of the school to share that same fascination with year, unaware of an actual “journaleveryone else. It was with Lamar Life ismclass”,andexpressedinterest that I discovered in the importance of writing for the school’s magazine. educating the public on issues that Beinganewstudent,especially they may know very little to nothas a senior, I was more or less lost ing about. This is what attracts me

senior reflection

Emma & Elizabeth Childs:

Water Polo’s Dynamic Duo

S

eniors Emma and Elizabeth Childs are the water polo captains of the 2021-2022 school year, with Emma wearing number nine and Elizabeth wearing number 14.The women’s season ended on Monday, Apr 18 and both the cap tians and their teammates are looking to the future. sophomore aY ritzi Rivera said. “They are big role models on our team and it’ll be hard not having

Story by Aleisha Paulick

ed and I’m super happy that I got in. It was super- dif keep keeping my grades up because I have to submit leaving the Childs’ unsure of whether or not they will continue their journey with the sport.

Although the season didn’t end how they wanted, thesaid. “If they choose to play water polo, you know, do main goal was to improve and get more people to join. happy I don’t want them to feel bad that they’re letting don’t really care if we won or lost, I just want to see As graduation approaches, the captains have some One of the tournaments the team competed in was advice for the team they are leaving behind. the Ben Garcia Purple Monkey Tournament, which was held in the beginning of April. Through this, people to continue playing, so you want to make it Emma received the Purple Monkey scholarship, whichfun and you want to encourage people to keep playing is only awarded to a few people.

Elizabeth echos the same sentiment of keeping things like I did deserve some of the titles I’ve gotten in the light. past, it helped me understand that I do stand out which Emma will be attending the University of Miami in the fall and Elizabeth will be attending Georgia Tech.

Junior Chloe Diehl, left, and senior Elizabeth Childs, right.

Gretchen Childs, left, and senior Emma Childs, right.

Scultping to state

S

Story by Aleisha Paulick

ophomore Gustavo Angeli competed at potential in comparison to others,” Angeli said. “Maythe State Visual Scholastic Event (VASE) be I could win something or whatever. See if I might Competition at the end of April, where he actually make it to State and it did.” received the gold seal and a scholarship.

Luckily, as a sophomore, this isn’t the end of the Only 10% of students to make it to the State conroadforAngeli.Forthenexttwoyears,hisonlyhopes test, which is a major accomplishment. Moreover, An- are to improve. geli was one of the 150 students out of 31,000 entries “I want to do something different,” Angeli said. “I to receive the gold seal, and one of only 30 people to could maybe even use the same medium, or maybe receive the scholarship, which is beyond impressive. advance on the technique.”

“I mean going to State was kind of surprising,” AnState isn’t an easy destination and gelisaid.“Ijustdidn’texpectitsince - it’s sometimes verypresti it takes thinking outside of the gious and there are many good artworks.” ordinary to go the distance.

Many mediums, both 2D and 3D, are used through“Do something really different,” Angeli out these competitions, including charcoal, graphite, said. “Do something weird, take time on it. oil paints, ceramics, paper, wood, wires etc. Angeli It’s always great to be different.” went with a wood sculpture for his piece “It was basically a minimal style of wood,” Angeli said. “A wood sculpture that represents unity and balance. It’s called Architectural Abstraction,asIcouldn’tfindanameat the time so I just left it like that.”

Just like any competition nothing could’ve been possible without the time and dedication spent towards the artworks.

“I felt like I put a lot of effort into this,” Angeli said. “In comparison to other people’s artwork, I felt like mine was pale, that’s just my opinion.”

Architectual Abstraction, With this being an art competition, there’s a Gustavo Angeli process that an artist must go through in order to compete.

“Well, of course you submit your work,” Angeli said.

“You take a couple of pictures of it. Answer some questions.Then you make it and then it goes off to Regionals and then it goes on to State.”

Angelididnotexpecttowin,but decided to see where the submission would take his art.

“My personal goal, I guess, was to see if this type of piece had

Hang Pham wins computer science award

Story by Kayla Pearl

S

TEM (Science, Techrecognized for it,” she said. would talk about it all the time nology, Engineering To compete in a computer and I just wasn’t interested,” she and Math) is a dedicascience contest is no easy feat, but said.“Butforme,afterIsigned tion to the pursuit of Pham pushes herself to use the up for CompSci in my sophomore challenging academic disciplines skills she has learned to create a year, I found my love for it and it and despite the fact that it is not variety of things using code. is still magical.” theeasiestfieldtosucceed “I’ve in,it made istwo websites on Beingsofaraway,Phamfinds ultimately rewarding. the issue of gender inequality in that sharing codes with her friends Senior Hang Pham won the STEM because I am very interin Vietnam is a wonderful way to NCWITawardforexcellenceinested in it, but I’ve also made keep in touch. computer science in April and will an Android app for PC sharing “I am able to share all of my go to Princeton in the fall to purVietnamese cuisine because that’s programs with my friends on sueherpassioninthisfield. where I am from,” Pham said. the other side of the world but NCWIT stands for National “I have also made a few games it’s not something physical, just Center for Women and Informafor my computer science class at something that you easily send to tion Technology and is an inviting school which is very fun. It gives them,” Pham said. “It just shows and hospitable community for you a lot of opportunities.” me how much you can share with women in STEM. Pham moved Houston from people.”

“NCWIT is for women who are Vietnam in the start of her second Pham will be continuing her cainterested in STEM related activi- semester of sophomore year. reer in computer science at Princties, especially computer science,” “Adjusting to Houston wasn’t eton University where she will be Pham said. “It’s for all levels of too much of a challenge because majoring in the subject. expertiseandallyouhavethe toweather dois was very similar,” “I’mveryexcited,”shesaid. provide information about all of Pham said. “It was really interest- “It’s kind of a bit scary because the things you have done in your ing here because of the neighborit’s a school of so many smart high school career.” hood structure, which was very people, but it’s going to be a great ForPham,winningtheexcel different from what we had in experience.It’sdefinitely - myop lence award goes beyond merely Vietnam.” portunity, and I’m very fortunate.” just being recognized for her Something that Pham loves Pham is grateful for the opporachievements. It’s also about beabout Houston is the diversity and tunity to be in STEM and is eager ing included in such a wonderful wide variety of people and their to grow and learn. community of women. interests.

“To be in STEM is a lot of “When you do their competi“I get to meet a lot more people dedication, but also to be a woman tions, you’re also invited into the here and there are a lot of resourc- in STEM in my community even community which offers outside es for people with diverse interwith the gender gap being a little access to other resources and it’s ests,soitwaseasytofindagroup better, just being a minority in very nice to have a supportive of people that I share interests the community, being able to talk community,” Pham said. with,” Pham said. about it with people, even those However, winning the award Thisscholarfirstrealized not her inthesamefieldofSTEMis wasstillamonumentalexperience love for STEM after she found really nice,” Pham said. for Pham. herself getting intrigued by phe“It was really nice to win nomena. because I’ve done a lot of work “I didn’t really like social in CompSci throughout my high sciences like my parents who school career and now I’m getting do economics and law and they

Senior Chandler Jones set to attend Princeton University

B

lair Waldorf once said that the only real ivies are the holy trinity: Harvard, Yale and Princeton. Senior Chandler Jones would certainly be making Waldorf proud with her acceptance into Princeton, where she will be attending this upcoming fall.

With a 5.5% acceptance rate, it is almost impossible togetintoPrinceton.In20,approximately35,70 students worldwide applied, but only 1,941 students were accepted.

“What made me stand out honestly, I mean it’s just a lottery,” Jones said. “These schools can tell you what they are looking for, invite you to meetings and allow you to take a tour of the campus. Given these opportunities, you can ask what they look for and cater yourself to be that and still get rejected. Schools don’t want you to pick and choose what’s on your application, they don’t want a whole bunch of clubs or high grades. In my essays, I was very unapologetic about what I wanted to study and how I wanted to study it. I used these essays for other schools and got rejected. At the end of the day, it’s not what makes you stand out, but having the courage to apply.”

Story by Ava Fisher

ThoughhavingahighGPAisabenefittoyour overallhighschoolexperience,itis-notall ters when it comes to college applications. It is mainly dependent on your SAT scores and college essays.

“IdothinkmyoverallGPAandextracurricul helped me with that,” Jones said. “I also applied to schools with those same credits and was rejected so what I think really mattered was my supplements (essays) because that is what I feel really made me stand apart.”

When it is time to apply for schools, don’t marginalize yourself. Not all schools will accept any student.

It is better to apply and not have that thought of “what if I don’t get in”.

“Going into the application process, I didn’t have a dream school,” Jones said. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up and then let myself down. So, if I can say anything to upcoming seniors, it is to just apply.

You don’t want that “what if” to impact your decisions.

Show passion and put yourself out there.

Just go for it!”

Follow the leader Kathryn Stone awarded Posse Scholarship

S

Story by Elise Barnett

tudent leadership pays leadership abilities, praising her for heart of the team, the person who off. This is clearly being personable, a role model, and was always cheering everybody on, demonstrated by the alwaysstrivingforexcellence. giving them pep talks and making successes of senior Kath“With Stone’s determination, or- sure they didn’t stay in their head.” ryn “Lainie” Stone, who was one ganization and interpersonal skills, As graduation draws near, Stone of only 829 students in the nation it was no surprise that the Posse isbothexcitedandsomewhat to be the recipient of a full tuiFoundation chose her,” Harper nervous about leaving friends tion four-year college scholarship said. “Lainie is one of the most and family behind as she heads to awarded by the Posse Foundation. creative and enthusiastic students Colby College this fall. Despite the Stone and nine other Houston-area that I’ve ever taught.” sudden changes taking place, Stone high achieving student leaders were She’s achieved her goals for remains persevering and prepared recruited by the foundation assheplansouthernextfour to be Posse Scholars in the years.

2022 freshman class at Colby “I might double major in College in Maine. geoscience and environmental Stone’sextraordinary systems, and then maybe mileadershipskillsqualifiedher nor in visual arts or something to be considered as a Posaround that realm,” Stone said. se scholarship recipient. In After college graduation, she additiontohermany - extra plans to earn a PhD and pursue curricular activities, she is a acareeringeosciences, - specifi member of the National Honcally in relation to environmenor Society, Computer Science tal sustainability. With her usual National Honor Society, airofconfidenceandpositive president of numerous clubs attitude, she’s looking forward and has served as assistant to meeting new people at Colby editor of Lamar Life for the andbeginninganexcitingnew past three years. She believes chapter in her life.

Kathryn Stone signs certificate of intent for Colby College her drive to be involved both “It’s going to be a good learnin and outside of the classroom at the UIL Academic signing day. Photo by Kadee Harper. ing curve to tackle,” Stone said. was largely responsible for pav“I’malsoexcitedforthe-academ ing the way to earning this prestimaintainingacademicexcellence ics because it’s a rigorous school, gious scholarship. and being a well rounded student. It but I know that it’ll help me be “At the end of the day, it’s a is her belief that being personable a better student and will leadership scholarship, so I guess and connecting with everyone she challenge me, being a leader helped with that,” meetshasbenefitedherinreaching so I’m exStone said. these goals. cited for that.”

Lamar Life Magazine advisor, “I had the pleasure of coaching Kadee Harper, also echoed simiher her freshman year in volleylar sentiments regarding Stone’s ball,” Harper said. “She was the

Story by Sydni Fullmighter

T

Cheerleader Kimberly Anderson Commits to UT Tyler

his year’s senior class one. Cheer really forced me to open graduation marks the myself up, it really got me out of start of new beginmy shell and made me more comnings. For senior Kimberly fortable with meeting new people.”

Anderson, affectionately called Although being on cheer all “Kim,” the close of the 2021-2022 four years of high school has school year means merging her inspired a sense of teamwork and childhood passion of cheerleadcommunity, cheer has also brought ing into her adult life. out the competitive and driven side Anderson will attend the of Anderson as well. This forced UniversityofTexasTyler her to do all that she can to be her (UT Tyler) where she has best self in every aspect. committed to the school's “You never want to be that one three cheer teams. Anderperson who’s dragging down your son loves cheerleading and team, so I push myself the hardest refuses to let the transition that I can,” Anderson said. “I tend from high school to college tobereallycompetitive, - that stop her growing ambitions and nitely one of the ways that I have vast dreams. gotten better over the years.”

“It’s [cheering at the college Asidefromtheobvious - ex level]definitelygoingtocitement bea that comes from joining differentexperienceand a new of team, there comes the also course I'm a little bit nervous, just as obvious bittersweet taste butI'malsoreallyexcited, of moving ” on from an old one.

Anderson said.

Especially for Kimberly, who has Although cheer was worked and grown with Lamar's the least of her worries a cheer squad for the past four years. few years ago, cheer was “In the beginning of senior responsible for instilling year,Iwasdefinitelyjustreadyt friendship, teamwork and an get out, go to college, and start my outgoing spirit into Anderson. life,”Andersonsaid.“Butnowth Sinceshefirststartedcheer we arein here and it's almost time to seventh grade, Anderson has congo, I'm really nervous for college.” tinued to be a back spot, the person who stands behind the stunt group andprovidesextrasupport,for every team she competes.

“WhenIfirststarted meeting, the team was anamazingexpe rience,” Anderson said.“Beforethen, I was really shy and didn’t want to talk to any-

Story by Destiny Keeton

Always on Pointe: Throughout the Years with Hannah Cherry

E

Meier said. “She also tells yes focused, hands steady us the right things to do and and smiles ready. helps us out whenever we need This type of focus has it.” been the norm for senior Hannah Cherry, the Rangerettes Lieutenant Nextyear,Cherrywillattend Colonel. From an early age, Cherry her dream college, Louisiana State University (LSU). Although Cherry felt drawn to dance because of the has a passion for dance, she will numerousbenefitsandunforgetta not pursue dance at the collebleexperience. giate level.

“Ever since I was younger, I’ve “I don’t plan on dancing alwaysloveddancingand-express in college,” Cherry said. ing myself,” Cherry said.

“I loved my four years on In eighth grade, Cherry’s life ‘Rettes’ but I’m ready for a changed forever after she decided change.” to try out for the Rangerettes.

Cherry shows love for “I tried out for the ‘rettes’ in my eighth grade year because I thought her team and is grateful for the opportunity to help others. it would be fun,” Cherry said.

Sophomore Rangerette Danica “Since then I’ve been on the team Oporto mentions how her legacy for four years.” will live on.

Within those four years, Cherry “I think the team will miss has matured with her dance skills her because she was a great and mindset. Senior Rangerette Sophia Clark mentions how Cherry exampleandshowedothers how to lead,” Oporto said. has grown over the years.

“Hannahwilldefinitelybe “Hannah is a great leader, she’s missed but she taught others really grown a lot,” Clark said. how to lead the way.”

“She’sanamazingofficerto-every While Cherry discovers one on the team.” new passions in college, nothCherry tried out and became a ing but encouragement comes socialofficerbutherdedication from her teammates. Previous and hard work helped her secure Colonel, Lauren Holcomb, gave the Lieutenant Colonel role.

Cherry some encouragement for “In sophomore and junior year her journey.

Iwasasocialofficer,”Cherrysaid.

“I’ve been blessed enough to “Now I’m a Lieutenant Colonel. It took me a lot of hard work and per- watch her journey up close on the ‘rettes’ for three years,” severance to get where I am now.”

Holcomb said. “I hope colCherry enjoys seeing the team grow as much as possible and helps lege brings her more opportunities to shine like she has giveherteammatesconfidence.

“Shedefinitelygivesus - con on ‘rettes’ and a community of people she can count on. fidenceandhypesusupallthe time,’’ sophomore Rangerette Julia She’s going to do amazing things at LSU.”

Alex Koong

The 2022 Valedictorian

ewman

Story by Ben N

A

lexKoonghasmanythingstolookforward and grow as a student.” to this coming year: an education at an Ivy Koong’s passion led him to develop a website to League school, a burgeoning tennis career helpcollegesfindpotentialtennisstars. and a promising major in statistics. However, the pres“I run this website right now called tennisrankings. ent is looking just as lustrous, with Koong named the org, where I have this algorithm that ranks kids based 2022 class valedictorian. on their UTR, which is a ranking metric,” Koong said.

Despitetheexcitementofreceiving - such “Sorecogni I rank kids by UTR based on graduation class, so tion, earning that title was not his primary focus. college coaches can use my website and don’t have to “I’m really grateful that I got it, but it wasn’t some- manually look up everyone’s UTR.” thing that kept me up at night or left me desperately Ontopofthis,Alexhasbeeninvolvedinseveral wanting to boost my GPA,” Koong said. tennis-based charity events, as well as working as a Koong humbly admitted that he believes that there research intern at MD Anderson. Such drive and ambiare a lot of other kids that deserve the title just as tion does not go unnoticed, as pointed out by his math much as he does. teacher Jared Sarabia.

“Iworkedprettyhardforit,”Koongsaid.“But “He I is a very bright student and a very smart kid, wouldsaytherearedefinitelyotherkids but out alsothere very polite who and an all-around nice kid,” Saraworked just as hard as me and I just got lucky with the bia said. “I know there’s some nice kids that can be whole valedictorian thing.” very smart but very introverted, yet he’s open and very Although his school work is incredibly important to respectful.” him, tennis still remained the driving force in his life.

Koong’sfriend,seniorGriffinDecker,alsohad “The higher your GPA is, the easier it is for college glowing words for him. to recruit you because you’re labeled as academically “He’s naturally gifted with intelligence, and I think eligible,” Koong said. “And so I guess it was more of that he is willing to put the work in when it comes to the mindset of me trying to have a high GPA for tennis learning new things,” Decker said. recruiting, and it just so happened that I ended up Decker also had high hopes for Koong’s future, being a valedictorian.” believing him to go on to achieve great things.

Koong elaborated on his love for tennis and how the “I know he’s probably going to do something crazy, game affects him. findsomenewdiscoveryanddosomething- that’sgon “It can be really painful. You don’t always win and na be groundbreaking,” Decker said. your body always hurts afterwards and you’re just exhausted,”Koongsaid.“Butthethrillofcompetition, that’s what really drives me to love tennis.”

This love he talked of was something cultivated years ago.

“When I was seven or eight, my dad took me to a park and we started playing tennis and it just went from there,” Koong said.

This day at the park years ago led to Koong being admittedtoBrownUniversity,inRhodeIsland,for tennis,whichprovidedanextraordinaryopportunityto further pursue his love for the game.

“I can play all four years, play top of the lineup and compete against some of the best players in the country, all while having a successful college career and being able to academically pursue my interests,” Koong said. “And hopefully I can continue to learn

AlexKoongwithhistwinsisterLaurenattheHISDScholar Recognition Ceremonu

Salute the Salutatorian Lauren Koong

Story

earl

yla P

by Ka

“

When I was a freshman, I can “She has one of the best drives that achiever,” Watson said. tell you that I never imagined I’ve ever seen, genuinely. She knows According to others around her, that I would be here now.” how to have a great work-life balance Koong’s hard work and ambition has From a shy freshman who had just but also she just works so hard at evhelped her achieve the level of success moved to Houston from California, erything she does” Koong’s assistant that most students dream of, but she this year’s salutatorian Lauren Koong editor and best friend Kathryn Stone has remained gracious and humble has blossomed into an inspiration said. “Deadline week is very stressful through it all, perhaps at times even to everyone around her and will be for her; she pulls multiple all-nighters undermining her accomplishments. continuing her journey at Stanford to get everything done and the thing is, “I want her to be able to see how Universitynextyear. she always gets it done, no matter how much everyone recognizes her and to “Ineverexpectedtobesalutato much work she has to do. She truly en- see how important her work is,” Stone rian,” Koong said. “The Lamar Life joys what she is doing and there’s just said. “I don’t think she gives herself class is a 4.0 class so it brought down something about the way she works enough credit and she’s incredibly my GPA, which is why when they told that is so inspiring.” hard on herself and I just want her to us our rank, I was so surpriseed.”

On top of managing the magazine, be able to look at an accomplishment Koong has never been an underKoong was able to still become saluand be like ‘yeah I did that’ and be achiever, as she became Lamar Life’s tatorian. proud of herself. I want her to be able Editor-in-Chief in her freshman year, to see herself the way we all see her.” leading a staff that was composed Koong has learned many lessons mostly of seniors. that have shaped her and her work “WhenIfirstcametoLamarfor ethic. my freshman orientation, never in my “I think the most valuable lesson life did I think that I would be Edithat I have learned over the last four tor-in-Chiefforthenextfouryears,” years is that you can really do anyKoong said. “It was really scary for thing if you try hard enough,” she said. me as a freshman to be yelling at the She has fought incredibly hard for seniors, telling them to get their stories everything throughout her entire high in on time and holding meetings, but school career and due to her strong itwasareallygoodexperience.It efforts, she has managed to achieve all pushed me out of my comfort zone of the goals she set for herself. because I was pretty shy and introvert“Sheisanextremelyhardworker.

“At the beginning of my junior ed.”

She pushes herself beyond what is year in August, I wrote down a list of Holding the position of Ediactually asked of her and I think that’s goals that I wanted to accomplish both tor-in-Chief is no easy endeavor. Not a mark of somebody that would be for myself and for Lamar Life. I was only is it a vital leadership role with salutatorian,” Koong’s junior year bicleaning out my desk last week and many demanding tasks but it is also ology teacher Katie Watson said. “You I found it and I looked at it and saw incredibly time consuming. can see it in her work itself whenever that I had accomplished every single “It is genuinely one of the most she turns in projects; they’re always goal on there,” Koong said. “I think a difficultpartsofmylife,”Koongsaid. ofthehighestcaliber,sheexpects lot of the the time you don’t really realize “It sounds easy but takes a lot of work best out of herself and any group that what you’ve accomplished but seeing behind the scenes to put a magazine she works with so you can see with all that list, especially because back then I together. Every issue involves me of the pieces adding together why she was so stressed out about college, just writing stories, editing, yelling at would be where she is now.” showed me how far I had come. Just people, giving feedback, organizing According to Watson, being salutaseeing the younger version of me with photos and headlines, making spreads torian means many things other than all of that stress on a piece of paper and giving grades. When it’s deadjust good grades. and seeing how I’ve checked off every line week, or ‘Lamar Life Week,’ my “Of course it means that you’re boxontherewasreallyfulfilling.” friends won’t see me at all because strong in your academics, but it also Thepastfouryearshaveflownby I’m just spending all my time getting means that you’re strong in time man- inconceivably fast, teaching Koong so the magazine together.” agement, you’re strong with putting many truths of life and truly allowing Despite often having to pick up the content together because in all these hertoflourishbutshehopesthisisnot slack of other staff members, Koong challengingIBcoursesthattake the endaof her evolution and success. works masterfully through the whole lot of time outside of school and that “I hope that this isn’t my peak and magazine process and creates truly meansthatyou’reableto - exempli that I keep improving and keep learnphenomenalfinishedproducts.fy what it means to be an academic ing and growing,” she said.

Raymond plants his future with scholarship

L

Story by Mischa Wijesekera

ike most seniors, Khyri Rayso I’ll be doing that later on in life,” “Khyri stood out because of his essay mondrecentlyfinished - under Raymond said. andthefactthathecheckedall oft going a rigorous application Infante noticed the love Raymond es,” Infante said. andscholarshipprocesstodisplayed fightforin class and FFA and played Another critical factor that helped a spot in college. Raymond, one of a pivotal role in helping Raymond se- ensure Raymond’s success in obtaining the 12 recipients of the national 1890 cure the scholarship. Without Infante’s the scholarship was his leadership role in USDA scholarship, is now overjoyed guidance, Raymond never considered FFA. to study food science at Prairie View studying food science.

“Khyriisalsotheonlymaleofficer A&M. “Ms. Infante introduced me to the onateamofsix,”Infantesaid.“Heisthe The animal science teacher, Elisa scholarshipandshehelpedme reporter.” fillit Infante, introduced the 1890 USDA out, got my recommendation letters Proud of Raymond’s successful journey in scholarship to Raymond in early and my SAT scores,” Raymond said.

FFA, Infante achieved a key January and helped him submit the “My liaison got back to me last month milestone in her application. After pouring over his ap- andsaidIwasafinalist,andIfound own career as plication for weeks on end, Raymond out last week that I actually got the an educator. feltecstatictolearnhewas afinalist scholarship.”

“Khyri is the and later a winner. Raymond’s agriRaymond considers himself firststudent cultural journey started a few years fortunate for winning the scholarship in the hisago with unfettered encouragement because the prize will help him pay tory of my from Infante. forawide-rangeofcollegeexpenses. teaching to “FFA introduced me to the agri“The 1890 USDA scholarship get a full-ride culture subject,” Raymond said. “I includestuition,housingandtextbooks to an agriculstarted in my sophomore year.” for A&M,” Raymond said. ture school,” According to Infante, although Whenreflecting,Infantebelieves Infante said.

Raymond always set his sights on the main reason Raymond’s appliPrairie View A&M, he did not initial- cation appealed to the scholarship ly foresee studying food science. judgesisbecausehefitallofthe “He wasn’t planning to pursue a requirements. The 1890 USDA career or a program of study in agri- scholarship is awarded to culture in college,” Infante said. “He African-Americans keen was going to go to Prairie View, but on pursuing agriculture in he was going to study psychology.” college.

BeingapartofFFAhelpedRay mond fall in love with animals and planted the seeds for him to pursue a career in food science.

“I started to enjoy agriculture more

Smith goes to ‘State Story by Mahilet Kaufman

This is a stressful time in school has helped me because families. the life of high school seniors it gave me a lot of college “IchoseTexasState - Col across the country. Not only courses.TheIBprogram - eslege because it is close to my do they have to prepare their pecially gave me a lot of col- home,” Smith said. “I feel college applications, but they lege hours. It helped me with comfortable being close to also must determine how time management, especially my home and family.” they will pay for their college sincetheIBprogramgivesOn a the journey to nursing experiences,aswellashear lot of homework.” school there are some things back from colleges they have There are a lot of chalSmith has to plan out and applied for. lenges and many factors that prepare.

Senior Lemaria Smith’s seniors face as they are ap“Your junior year of colhard work this year and plying to colleges, such as lege is when you kind of throughout her high school writing a college essay, where start,” Smith said. “You want career has paid off with her to go, what colleges will to do two years of nursing, acceptancetoTexasState. accept you, and many things also you must have your “TexasStatehas-areal like that. nursing credits that you need ly good nursing program,” “One of the most challeng- to start the nursing program Smith said. “I got accepted ing things was applying,” and then after your four years into many other colleges, but Smithsaid.“Also,figuring you go into a different nursdecidedTexasStatewasout the what school I wanted to ing college.” bestoptionbecauseitgo fitto. in The college essay was The end of this school year the category of the things I very hard to write for me.” means the beginning of a new was looking for in a college.”

Some students want to go chapter for many of us and She wants to become a out of state when considerthe future looks bright for nurse because her mother, ing where to go because they Smith. who passed away in 2020, want a clean, fresh start. It’s “Iamveryexcitedforwhat encouraged her to pursue that also a great way for them to the future holds for me,” career. branch out, meet new people Smithadded.“BecauseIget “High school can be a way and form new relationships. to travel as a nurse and see for seniors to look back on Otherswanttofindacollege the world, and get to be able and say, ‘I am so glad I did that is close to home so that to go places.” that,’” Smith said. “High they are close to their

Story by Mischa Wijesekera

TEXAN OF THE MONTH

B

SALLY WOOLWEAVER

efore launching a career emerged. Fortuitously, while in From programming -super in education, Sally college, Woolweaver had decided computers to watering plants Woolweaver worked to pursue a second degree into designing apps, Woolweaver in marketing and advertising. computer science. hopes to keep her class engaged She held a behind-the-scenes “I was looking at my historyday-after-day. position that required her to “One of my seniors coded an spend countless hours sending like to also get one in computer app for your phone that shows all materials to clients. Woolweaver science,” Woolweaver said. the Vietnamese traditional reci quickly realized that a life- per Woolweaver believes that the pes that her mom brought over,” forming mundane marketing and long-lasting impact of her high Woolweaver said. “Also, my - ju school computer science teacher niors did this plant project where her on an emotional level. they are keeping these plants A few years ago, Woolweaver sue a second degree in college. alive with a super-computer.” made the courageous decision to follow her heart and pursue for the computer science class her passion of creating a positive to compete in UIL tournaments, impact on the lives of others.

Woolweaver believes the - rigor She immediately gravitated ous competition creates an ideal towards teaching history. But, learning environment. soon after the computer science teacher left, Woolweaver’s - histo ever done UIL computer sci ry in computer science emerged. ence,” Woolweaver said. “It was Woolweaver stepped up in a time a really good learning experience of the school’s need and, thus for the kids.” far, has been overjoyed with the When not coaching students outcome. for UIL competitions or teaching “I used to work in marketing computer science, Woolweav and advertising, the job was er spends her free time rock kind of fun but it just wasn’t a climbing. Unfortunately, her rock climbing adventures recently Woolweaver said. “I wanted to Sally Woolweaver in her classroom came to an abrupt pause. do something where I actually “I took computer science “I was into rock climbing when I was in high school and until I broke my leg,” Woolweav Longing for a more meaning really enjoyed my teacher,” ful career, Woolweaver decided Woolweaver said. back out there.” to explore a different career After a few years of teachingWhen she switched career path. When she initially started history, the sound of opportunity paths, Woolweaver never - envi teaching, Woolweaver felt drawn rang for Woolweaver to put her sioned her life as an educator, let to the neighborhoods and her computer science degree to alone work. falling in love with it more degree in history.

“Even though I was teaching and more each day. Woolweaver the neighborhoods, the school particularly relishes the light bulb found out that I had got- my cer moment when a student grasps a originally teaching AP World Woolweaver said. “As the old “I really like when students After the computer science teacher left and they asked if I teacher left, Woolweaver’s wanted to switch over to - comput history in computer science soon weaver said.

Story by Mojdeh Zare

J

An Insider’s View: Living with Epilepsy

unior Salome Girma can be conlives her life on a strict schedule. asleep,” Girma said. sidered a hustler, from having her “I take it every morning and every 911, or other emergency contacts, own podcast to getting an internnight,”Girmasaid.“It’sreally diffi arealwayscalledwhenGirma - expe shipatUT.But,thereismoretocult her living with the lifestyle because riences a seizure. She has gotten seithan what meets the eye.

I have to get all my work done so I zures at school before but she usually Girma was diagnosed with juvecan sleep at a set time so I can get a isn’t able to recall the event. nile myoclonic epilepsy at a young full 8 hours, maybe 10, because I can't “Ijustrememberhowcutethefire age. Epilepsy causes seizures and this afford to stay up late.” fightersare,”Girmasaid.“Itooka specifictypestartsinchildhood Staying or up late can be a trigger picture of them one time.” teen years. Girma started noticing her although juvenile myoclonic epilepsy Girma recently decided to share her symptoms in elementary school but also comes with other restrictions. experienceswiththepeoplearound was not diagnosed until age 13.

Such as, little to no caffeine and no her and started her “Spill It Out!” “Throughout my schooling, I was smoking or drinking. However, this podcast on Spotify. having absence seizures which is type of epilepsy is also known to fade “I got tired of talking inside my basically where you blank out,” Girma overtime as the individual comes clos- own head about what I’ve been going said.“So,itwasreallydifficulterto to their 20s or 30s, but this isn’t the through, and I just felt like it was learn. My teachers would often get case for everyone. things other people deal with in high irritated with me.”

“I was staying up late once studyschool too,” Girma said. “Actually, Girma struggled to keep up with ing for this huge test that was stressthe epilepsy episode reached out to her fellow classmates and it did not get ing me out and I ended up getting a another student here that has juvenile easier for her even after the diagnoses. seizure in the middle of the night epilepsy and she reached out to me. I “It started getting worse and I got after trying to did not think that would happen like I myfirstbigone,ajerkingseizure, fall cried.” around the age 12,” Girma said. “It Girma has gotten to a place lasted about three minutes, but we where she can accept her lifestyle thought it was just a once in a and wants to help others who are while thing. When it the same as her. happened again, we “I feel like a lot of went to the doctor and people with epilepsy have they told me I have juvepressure to be perfect nile myoclonic epilepsy.” in all other aspects of Girma ended up their lives because of taking Keppra and the feeling of being ethosuximide below everyone medication for else, it feels like her seizures, playing catch up,” however even Girma said. “So, though it gave if anybody who her closure, has epilepsy things did not wants to reach out, fully improve just just know that you yet. Her medication can.” is very strong so she

Nails by Trixiie

by Karmyn

sahea iorwhoalreadyha un j ng hi is on t isanas eurKarmynBaldwin rishing.

Futureentrepren herbusinessisflou d an ne li il na w ne ownerofherbrand inr she est ccor supp osu eted acnt plwa aey .

Th r fo ed ok lo s nt asherpare ghtupinHouston Baldwinwasbrou dy were. to settle where they alrea her life so they decided

bruary”Bal ndthemiddleofFe ou ar ed t ar st ingherow don seng tionofmybusiness edsetsba,ra va gn no si in de s he t y ha in sa d dw “Iwoul March20th.”Bal nofitwasaround io t ea cr al ic ys ph

tsallby m,toHelloKittyse he t g in yl st ee fr o ll as fromflowers,t graphy and editing as we oto ph r fo on ssi pa a s ha hand. She other talents and skills. creneeded to transmute all the I e lik t fel I e us ca be ils “I chose na said. inmyself,”Baldwin ve ha I t ha t y it ativ

Story by Mojdeh Zare

Baldwinalsorunsherbusinesswiththehelpofhercousin.

“Webothhelpeachotheractually,”Baldwinsaid.“Sheactuallycreatesmostofthedesigns take pictures of the product of the nails.”

Baldwinrunsherbusinessonaninstagramaccount(@nailsbytrixiie),butplanstofurthe advertising in the future.

Baldwin’spassionfordesignallowshertoturnhervisionsintoreality.Becauseofthi own magazine featuring her journey of self discovery.

“Designingstartsfromtheideaofthemindandextendstothephysicalworld,whichcouldb uniqueways,”Baldwinsaid.

Baldwinalreadyhasavarietyofsetstochoosefrombutherpersonalfavorite The iscalled set consists of all ten french tips, with the inner oval being a nude illusion with a skin tone polish, the tip has red roses layered over the leafs and a light green polish.

“Itreflectedmeinternallyandphysically,”Baldwinsaid.“Itwasdesignedtoremindmeofthe joyful things life has offered me.”

Asofnow,Baldwingetscustomersweekly,howevershewishestoexpandherbusinessandhop products and services in the future!

PhotosbyKarmynBaldwin

WOODHEAD

Meet the members of the band

Not pictured: Emma Ogier, Woodhead’s vocalist, who attends HSPVA and Owen Baum, Woodhead’s bass player, who attends Strake Jesuit

ETHAN AXELRAD Story by Kathryn Stone

A

Woodhead’s Guitarist

playmusic,”Axelradexplained.“It’s fter-school jobs are not uncommon, especially for really fun to play music with other upperclassmen. However, people and, you know, improvise. seniorEthanAxelrad’safter-Also, school I enjoy performing. I think that’s gig is a tad uncommon as the guitara big part of it. It’s fun to be on stage ist in local band Woodhead. in front of people.”

“I probably spend like 30Playing music became a large part plus hours a week with my ofAxelrad’slifehissophomoreyear. band,”Axelradsaid.

WoodheadfeaturesAxelrad“I’ve on messed around with the guitar but I didn’t really start playing guitaralongsideseniorsGriffin DeckerAdamKhan,OwenBaum instruments or actually getting good at them until sophomore year when (Strake Jesuit) and Emma Ogier ImetGriffin,”Axelradsaid.“Ikind (HSPVA).

“We used to have a little side thing of had the fundamentals down but he taught me the other stuff that I didn’t liketwoyearsago,”Axelradstarted. andabout it kind of opened my eyes “Butwedidn’treallystartknow, until to everything else.” a year ago.”

Aside from guitar, he also picked The group is close, making the band up the drums, playing for the band and all that comes with it convivial.

“Wegooutalottogether,”Axelrad occasionally. said. “We practice a lot together, “I have a drum set so I kind of we do performances together. It’s taughtmyself,”Axelradsaid.“I a lot of fun, and we’re all close watched a couple of YouTube vidfriends.” eos. Piano is fun too, but piano is the The relationship between the hardest for me, bass is fun. I like all band members is not the only instruments.” reason the band is fun for Musically, Axelrad. inspiration is “I enjoy being in a found in his personal band because I like to favorite singer.

“Stevie Ray Vaughan is the best person to ever walk the planet,”Axelradsaidexcitedly.

“He is the coolest person ever. I love Stevie Ray Vaughan.”

Inspirationhasalsobeenfound inAxel rad’s family.

“My grandpa, he’s taught me [that] you just kind of gottobeagoofball,”Axelradsaid.“Andbesilly.You don’t want to take anything too seriously. My dad has taught me that there’s some things that you need to prioritize and you know, care about a little more.”

ItisclearthatAxelradwillcontinuetoliveanexc life and as music continues to contribute to that excitement,heisanxioustoseeitsroleinhisfut “I’mexcitedtoseewhereItakemusicbecauseI knowI’mnotgoingtotakeitasacareer,”Axelradsaid.“But I kind of always want to play in a band or something, like be in a dad band when I’m older or something like that. I think it’ll be interesting to see where I am with music like 30 years from now.”

GRIFFIN DECKER DECKER GRIFFIN

Woodhead’s Guitarist

Story by Lauren Koong

W

hilemostknowseniorGriffinDeckerfrom hismanyaccoladesasatrackand - fielda lete, many do not know of his musical talents as a guitarist in the band Woodhead.

Inmiddleschool,Deckerpickeduphisfirst guitar. Years later, he would perform with Woodhead at Rockefeller’s, a venue that has hosted artists from RadioheadtoGarthBrookstotheRedHotChili According to Decker, playing for the crowd at Rockefeller’s was his “favorite memory of being in the band.”

“Our good friend wanted to put on a show and he asked us if we wanted to open for him,” he said. “We talked to the venue, everything worked out and we got to play this super awesome show for a PTO fundraiser.”

WhileDeckerfirststartedplaying-guitar dleschool,itwashighschoolthatexp him to playing in a band.

“I did jazz band freshman year,” he said. “Playing guitar is a way to expressmyself.Iusuallydon’t talk very well and it’s just easier to play guitar.”

At school, Decker became friends with other musically-inclined students and Woodhead was formed.

“We were in guitar class, actually, here at Lamar High School,” he said.

“Fine Arts really brings people together. We were just going over the types of music we like, which we found was similar

to each other. Some of us were like, ‘hey we play different instruments’ and we just decided to meet up at Ethan’s house.

We’ve just been playing together ever since.”

Along with the friendships that he made, playing guitar in the bandhasprovidedmanybenefits,helpi Decker grow in many ways.

“It’sdefinitelymademealothappier and a lot more grounded because I have aconsistentwayofartisticexpress Deckersaid.“Andit’sdefinitelyhelped develop teamwork skills and negotiation skills, with my teammates and with getting gigs and whatnot.”

ADAM KHAN

Story by Mikal Nazarani

F

or many of us, our peers aredefinedbywhatwe see of them at school.

Their pastimes and personalities outside classroom walls are often unknown to us, occasionally illuminated by posts on their socials, but for the most part a mystery.

How students spend their time outside of school can be dispersed and varied, ranging from sports to arts to literally doing nothing at all. For Adam Khan, it’s reading the greats and playing the drums.

Approaching the end of his high school career, Adam has spent these last couple of years before college performing in the band Woodhead, his main instruments of choice being the drums and more recently, the guitar.

“My dad taught me to play the drums when I was a kid, so I’ve been playing pretty much my wholelife,”Khansaid.“ButI really only started performing two years ago.”

The band mostly plays within the genres of rock and psychedelia,

Woodhead’s Drummer

covering legends in the industry forming at venues, Adam’s seeking fromJimiHendrixtoLed-Zep refuge in his other favorite pastime pelin. Despite performing mostly - the realm of literature and philoscovers, the band - particularly ophy.

Adam-stillfindsasense-offree“I love to read, absolutely dom and originality in their rendilove it,” Khan said. “I especially tions.. love the Russians - Dostoevsky, “With drums, you’re not going Tolstoy… but right now I’m also to remember every little intricate reading a lot of Kafka and Nithing in the song, so it’s fun cause etzsche.”

I get to add my own stuff every Some of the perspectives gained time I play,” Khan said. from his reading have also inOutside of what Woodhead formed the way he goes about performs, Adam’s personal taste playing, and what advice he would in music seems to be pretty on par give to aspiring musicians. with the band’s, though slightly “My advice would be to not unmore diverse and eclectic. derestimate your abilities,” Khan “I would say my favorite musaid. “If there’s a problem, then sician is Peter Green. After him you need to take a step back and it’sJimiHendrix,andthenGeorge look at it from a different angle.

Harrison,”Khansaid.“ButIalso Don’t underestimate yourself.” love Henry Purcell, who was a classical and baroque composer, as well as Paco De Lucía, a Spanish flamencoguitarist.”

Despite the integral role music plays in his life, Adam’s time outsideofschoolisn’tsolelyconfined to playing music. When he’s not rehearsing with the band or per-

Gone to Texas

Senior Sophia Maynard wins Forty Acres Scholarship at UT Austin Story by Taylor Kemp

B

that cohort but what I really like about this scholarship alance has been really important in is that it really does aim at looking at how well roundsenior Sophia Maynard’s life, especialed you are.” ly when managing time between being TheAcres 40 Scholarshipisverydifficulttore a straight-A student and working a part with three interviews as part of the selection process. time job. It was this balance that helped her receive It’s an incredible achievement and only a select few theAcres 40 ScholarshipattheUniversitypeople ofTexas receive in it.

Austin.

“It was crazy intense. I started crying when she “Things that I’ve been involved in throughout high- got the scholarship,” junior Sophia Hill said. “She school and have had to balance was being in clubs,” hasbeenahugeinspirationtome.Icannotexpl Maynardsaid.“OnethatI’mreallyinvolved it in andis I mean Best it was insane. She would work so hard BuddieshereatLamar.It’saclubthataims forat it and building not only was that insane because she would friendships between students with IDD [intellectual also try to push others to do the same thing and that’s and/or developmental disabilities] and those without. I what makes her a 40 Acre Scholar, is that she would have a pretty long resume of clubs and activities that I not only help herself but she would try to help others was involved in but being balbe the best person they can be.

“One thing she always told anced and dedicating your time That’s what stands her apart from and living by a planner and living me was ‘the time that you anyone else.” by your goals- that’s kind of how Maynard has always been hard get up, like those hours working and goal-driven.

I’ve achieved what I have.”

Having a busy schedule can be “We met in middle school in that everyone is still stressful and hard to balance.

7th grade,” Hill said. “We were sleeping, that’s where you on the same soccer team and she “Once school started and we had to go to school everyday she was obviously a super hyper perare growing,’” didn’t really know how to balance sonality but super fun. She kept it but after about three weeks she the team going; she was the team Sophia Hill, junior figureditoutandshewasbackto manager as well as playing on the heroldself,”seniorAbigailBronickisaid. team “Ijust and she think was just a very organized person, almost she is really good at adapting to new situations and I intimidating but she was so well balanced.” think that took her far to getting the scholarship. She Maynard doesn’t do all of this just to make her definitelylikesthechallenge.” resume look good, her heart is in it and everything she The 40 Acres Scholarship is a full ride merit-based does is because she loves and enjoys giving her time scholarship that looks at what’s on your resume as to whatever it is that she’s doing. well as what type of person and how well rounded you “I feel like she really isn’t faking it, which is inare. sane,” Hill said. “All of her work and her community “So the scholarship covers your tuition and then service, it’s real like she wants to help, she wants to covers your living, room and board, books and techbe there; it’s that type of thing where she was doing nology and then it offers you an additional stipend for things that others weren’t. She was taking her time exploringyourcareer,”Maynardsaid.“So,that when would other kids weren’t. Like that’s what makes such be studying abroad, research projects, things like that. a difference and she taught me, like you can go and I’mreallyexcitedtobegoingtoUTandbeapart have fun of with her but at the same time she still keeps a

good balance on Fridays and Saturdays and she’ll say ‘Hey tonight I’m gonna work on my scholarship’ or ‘Hey I’m working on [this] tonight.’”

For those interested in being a 40 Acres Scholar like her, Maynard has some advice.

“Something interesting or maybe just advice to offer the people that are interested in UT or are interested in doing the scholarship, I heard this a million times but it didn’t really hit me yet, was just to really be yourselfanddon’ttrytofitthechecklistthattheyhavefor

you,justfitthepersonyouwanttobeonyourresume because at the end of the day they end up looking or exactlywhoyouare,notwhatyouthinkistheright fit,”Maynardsaid.

Those close to Maynard say that she is an inspiration to everyone around her and has a lot of advice for better managing your time under stress and being successful at it.

“She actually forced me into getting a planner,” Hill said. “We went and got school supplies together and she told me “your planner is your life saver” and kind of just like understanding how much time you have in a day. One thing she always told me was ‘the time that you get up, like those hours that everyone is still sleeping, that’s where you are growing’ and so that has always been really inspirational.”

Juniors present their TOK ehibitions inperson

A

n integral and univerThegoaloftheexhibitionthe isnot corethemesofIB,prompting sal component to the just to connect learnings from the critical thinking and analysis in his International Bac course to a given prompt but to students. calaureate program also incentivize and prompt deeper “It’s been received very well,” is that of Theory of Knowledge: thought and discussion.

Fishersaid.“Thisisthefirstyea a class dedicated to better under“It starts with deciding what weareabletodotheexhibitio standing the notion of knowledge question you want to answer, given live, and I’m really pleased with indifferentcontextualand within nuanced the curriculum, and from how it went.” settings, and our relationship to there picking objects that are close Thesuccessoftheexhibition such knowledge. While seemingly to you and connecting them to the alsobenefitsnextyear’sjunio abstract and esoteric, such learnprompt,” junior Jumana Elnashai who will now have a better undering has real-world application, said. “From there, you present your standing of the TOK class and what and is no better demonstrated than findingsinsuchawaythatisit easy entails. throughtheTOKexhibition-an to grasp, and most importantly, can “It helps give a clearer idea to event recently put on by the junior prompt further discussion.” the freshman and sophmores of class.

For junior Rohan Mahendru, the what Theory of Knowledge looks TheTOKexhibitionisarecent importanceoftheexhibition like, lies andwhattoexpectshould additiontotheIBcurriculum, in its and ability to make the student they enter the diploma program,” existstobetterground - the focus philo and view their surroundings Fisher said. sophical tendencies of the subject and the knowledge abundant within TheTOKexhibitionprovedto in a more tangible manner, one that them in a more nuanced, perceptive be triumphant, and given that this pertains to our everyday environway. yearwasitsfirstliveshowcase ments.

“Throughtheexhibition,we wasasmoothandengaging - expe “Theexhibitionisbased - on essentially spe learn how knowledge is rience. cificreal-worldthemesthat portrayed revolve with inherent bias in real “It was really interesting to be aroundIB,suchasknowledgeworld and scenarios, and from there able to share my chosen objects language, knowledge and technoldetermine which tools - as shown and see how they resonated with ogy, politics, history, etc.,” Theory intheexhibition-wecanuseother to students and what insights of Knowledge teacher David Fisher better understand and display our they had to offer me,” Elnashai said. “The juniors were tasked with relationship to such knowledge,” said. “Overall it was a really choosing three objects through Mahendru said. positiveexperience,andIreall which they can show how TOK AccordingtoFisher,the - exhibi enjoyed it.” manifests in the real world through tion was a success and was effecStory by Mikal Nazarani thecontextoftheirIBprompt. tive ”in its capacity to perpetrate

Story by Mischa Wijesekera

Robotics takes on the World

A

fteraneventfulyearfilled Hall of Fame,” Cemer said. “There agrees that competing at the world with rigorous competitions, aresomanyDiscoBotsteamsall championship level provided an the robotics team is sad to around the world and we don’t even incredibleexperience. announce the end of their season. know how to keep track of them.”

“It was really fun,” Harris said.

The team went to the VEX World According to Cemer, the VEX “The tournament was such a great Championship in Dallas on May 6 World Championship brought experience.” and, though they did not secure a together over 820 teams, which are McDaniel loved watching the trophy, they did not come back emp- split into divisions based on geoteam grow throughout the year. Dety-handed either. graphical location. spite a lot of new members, the team Althoughtheteamofsixenthu “There were 10 divisions,” Cemer still managed to qualify for the siastic members dreamed of placing said. “Our division was mostly in world championship. higher, the trip still presented an NorthAmerica,Mexico,Canadaand “Ourfirsttournamentwe unexpectedaward.EarlierinPuerto the Rico.” were really bad,” McDanyear, the robotics and engineering The VEX World Championship, iel said. “We had severteacher, David Cemer, encouraged a an elite tournament of intelligent al matches where we few students to write an essay about individuals and astonishing teams, did not move on thefounderofDiscoBots,Andrew forcedataxingsituation.After theafield. lotSince “Andy” Lynch, to nominate him for of discussion, the team agreed to then I think the Hall of Fame. The nomination build a completely new robot just we’ve dehelped secure not only a victory weeks before the championship. veloped for Lynch but also a victory for the “We tried to kind of build a a team. robot after state,” freshman Ellery “Andrew Lynch, the founder, McDaniel said. “Most people don’t started the Lamar team out of a but Soumil Goyal actually decided physics lab,” Cemer said. “This later that we wanted to build one even wentontobetheDiscoBots orga though there was so little time.” nization, which is now a worldwide Senior Isaac Harris said organization.” that, in the future, the team Even though the team did not needs to consider a difbring back a trophy for the school, ferent path to avoid they played an instrumental role stressing over in guaranteeing a last minute Lynch a spot in robot. the Hall of Fame.

“It was appropriate “We were kind for him of rushed,” Harris said. “We couple of to get had seven weeks to really good robots.” into the build a For the team members, McDaniel new roin particular, robotics goes beyond bot.” justanaverageextracurricular act Ev- ity. eryone “Robotics is more than a comon the petition,” McDaniel said. “It’s an team experience.”

N

SCHOL R E T A

Kayla Pearl crowned state champion in UIL Academics

UE

I

N

STATE

LEAG

SITY R E IV

IC ST

UIL

Story by Brooklyn Slie

U

S

ophomore Kayla Pearl Harper said. “They had no idea she Harper agrees with this staterecently competed in the hadwonfirstplaceandsoIkind mentofwhile also crediting the State UIL competition had to sit with it for like an hour or editors of the Lamar Life magazine for News Writing, wintwo.” for the success of the UIL competningfirstplaceandearningthe Pearl title was supposed to attend the itors. of State Shampion. competition with other students “I put a lot of credit to them be“I was honestly really surwho had made it to State with her cause they really teach each other prised,” Pearl said. “I was feeling but they were unable to attend due more,” Harper said. “They have really rushed, so after I had written toconflicts. done the bulk of the work and have Iwasn’tfeelingtooconfident“There about were a lot of people with prepared the other students for what I wrote.” teammates there and I was the only whattheyshouldexpect.”

Pearl had no idea she would be one representing Lamar,” Pearl Harperhadbeenconfidentin makingitthisfarwhenshefirst said. “It made me feel very intimiPearl’s abilities since the start. She competed at Districts. said that Pearl had writ“I only competed in tenforBuzzMagazine, one category, so when a magazine that focuses Ifirstcompetedat - Dis on the community, betricts I chose News on fore joining Lamar Life a whim,” Pearl said. “I andthatshewas - excit placed third at Districts ed to have a true writer and then placed second join the program. at Regionals but I still “I am always more didn’texpecttocome confidentthananyof firstatStatebasedon the students,” Harper how I did at Regionals said. “They come out or Districts.” of every contest and Pearlfinishedthe they say something contest with two minalong the lines of ‘I did utes left to spare and horrible’ and to me that had no idea the story translates to they did she considered “mediowell.” cre” would bring her to Pearl is an amazing success. writer who continues “I literally jumped to improve day by up and down,” said day. She is going to be journalism teacher KaEditor-in-Chiefnext dee Harper, who traveled with her dated but once I got into the room, year for Lamar Life Magazine and to Austin for the competition. “I Iwasfine.”

Harperisexcitedtoseethenew sawshewasfirstplaceand - proba Pearl didn’t do anything drascreative, structural changes that bly squealed. I was ecstatic.” tic to prepare for this competition will be made.

Harper said that Pearl and her either. She used all the knowledge “I’mreallyexcitedtoseewhere family stayed back while she went she had of journalism and how to KaylatakesLamarLifenextyear,” to see the results. Once Harper properly write a story in AP format Harper said. “I think that this accotalked to the judges and saw what alongwithherexperienceoflade other of being a State Champion in Pearl placed, she immediately UIL competitions to lead her in this news writing is even further proof, called her parents to tell them to go contest. if there was ever any needed, to the award ceremony.

“I think the whole year has that she deserves the title of Edi“I told her mom I wasn’t goprepared me for State because you tor-in-Chief and that she’s really ing to tell her what position she know, I write every week for Lagoing to make something of this placed but I told her she did place,” mar Life,” Pearl said. program moving forward.”

Teacher’s pet

Story by Sofia Munoz

Opie and Ms. Skrobarczy

“I enjoy having Opie in my class since he makes class more than just doing work since we can play with him,” Hensey said.

“Myfirstperiodloveshim,”Skrobarczyksaid.“H just plays with the kids, sometimes they bring him toys and do stuff with them.”

Opie has never gotten training, but he’s well behaved and calm.

“Atfirst,IthoughtOpiewasgoingtoberunnin around all class but he is very chill,” junior Chase Hensey said.

Students enjoy being able to interact with Opie while also learning in class. Skrobarczyk has a sweet personality and is a great teacher.

“Her class is fun because of the people in it and how we get to learn about animals,” Hensey said.

I

f you’ve ever been to the agriculture hall, you’ve probably seen a small corgi. This little man, known as Opie, belongs to Wendy Skrobarczyk,theprinciplesofagriculture,floral design, small animal management and equine sciences teacher.Thisisherfirstyearhereandhersecondyear teaching overall.

“I like the diversity here,” Skrobarczyk said. “I like the opportunities that we have for our students, especially through FFA, and I like that I get to bring my dog everyday.”

Skrobarczyk decided to bring Opie along with her as the other agricuture teachers bring their dogs to assist in the grooming program.

“I decided to start bringing him because he likes to play with everybody, and he also likes to play with Cliff,ConeandRex,theotherteachers’ - pets,”Skro barczyk said.

Eversincehisfirststeponcampus,Opie hasbe come a beloved presence in the classroom.

A bittersweet farewell

Story by Elise Barnett

F

FA students bid farewell to the animals expectthemtosurviveoncethey’regone,”Raymond they lovingly raised after the annual Livesaid. stock Show and Auction April 28 through Raymond believes that the people who raise large 30. Students presented steer, goats, lambs, animals such as cattle, lambs, goats and pigs have a rabbits, pigs and chickens along with art and horticul- moredifficulttimeemotionallybecausetheyspen ture projects. The annual show, auction and barbeque more time raising their animals and become more cook-off give FFA students an opportunity to earn attached to them. scholarship funds. Proceeds from the event are going “I usually don’t have to worry about that problem towards the FFA’s new barn on campus, a place stubut at the end of the day every student knows what the dents spend many hours during the year taking care of animal is raised for, which is meat, so it’s upsetting but their market animals. everyone gets over it,” Raymond said. “The rabbits Sophomore and FFA President Eva Ryan believes usually don’t get taken but I almost had mine taken for that while raising animals is challenging, time-conprocessing this year, which was a bit upsetting, until suminganddefinitelynotforeveryone, - itoffers the buyers stu changed their mind. It is always a bit sad to dentsagreatexperienceandallthehard seework them pays go.” off in the end. Ryan’s accomplishments are proof of that.

Overall, it can be a tough process to let go of the “I raised grand champion chickens and a reserve animals you come to love. However, it is a necessary champion lamb,” Ryan said. “I also won grand champart of the agriculture FFA program and life. pionbarbecuecookoff,grandchampionoverall “It floral was hard raising animals knowing that they and reserve champion horticulture.” would eventually be sold, but it is part of the process,” Forsomestudents,oneofthemostdifficult Ryanparts said. “It of makes me feel better knowing I spoiled raising FFA animals happens at the end of the show my animals unlike the animals you see in grocery season when they must part ways after spending an stores. I believe it is a much more humane way to raise incredible amount of time caring for their animals. The livestock.” bonds FFA students establish with their livestock is inevitable and necessary to be successful. The knowledge that in the end, their animal will be auctioned off to market can be hard to deal with emotionally. Despite feelings of sadness, as Ryan said goodbye to the animals she raised, she felt good about the quality of lifeheranimalsexperiencedunderhercare.

“I feel like everyone was sad to see their animals go and it is a very emotional time for all of our livestock members,” Ryan said. “I was sad to see my lamb go, but I wasn’t as sad to see my chickens go because I didn’t have a strong bond with them.”

Senior Khyri Raymond, who won reserve champion for meat-pen rabbits and was part of the Grand Champion barbeque cook-off team, agreed that it can be upsetting to say goodbye to the animals you raise.

Yet, the students accept it because they know that the animal’s purpose is to provide food.

“Rabbitandchickenprojectsonlylastsixweeks and a connection does form, but I personally don’t have a problem when they leave as long as I can

Story by Elizabeth Kortum

Baseball Throws into Playoffs

W

ith a current record single teammate has shown their said. “Our team has worked of 27-5, the baseball commitment to the game by really hard to get to where we team recently qualigoing as hard as they can out on are and we are ready to handle fiedforRound1ofthe6AStatethefield,eitherduringgames business.” or Playoffs. The whole team hopes at practices.

The team was able to go this to do well in the playoffs. The “When I started playing base- far into the season with the help teams dedication, hard work and ballatLamar,myfirstgoalwas of their amazing coaches. Everyperseverence will act as necesto make varsity,” Goins said. “I day, they've helped their players sary tools to secure a victory. completed that my junior year with what they need to work on Over the course of the seaby working hard and getting in andimproveoutonthefield.Al son, the baseball team learned extraworkafterpractice. ofEver the coaches have taught these to handle pressure, work with since then, I’ve wanted to help young players important lessons others and solve problems. Now bring my team deep into playthat will help them as they move comesadifficultcatch,playoffs. offs, the ultimate goal being forward not only in life but their “Beingontheteamhas winning state.” baseball journey as well. taught me that sometimes you With their current record, “They [the coaches] motivate aren’t the best player on the the baseball team is on their the team and propel us forward fieldthatday,butifyouplayway forto make a strong run in the to accomplish great things,” Goyour teammates, they will pick playoffs. After winning against ins said. “They have helped me youupandgetyoutothefinish Westside, the team was tied at become a better ball player and line,” senior Jacob Goins said. thetopwithBellaireand a better broke person. I'm thankful that The baseball team has been the tie on April 30.

I've had them throughout high working really hard since the “Iamfeelingveryexcited school.” beginning of the season. Every for the playoffs,” Joshua Endo

Story by Italy Alexander

Wrapping it Up: End of the Softball Season

I

t is the end of yet another softball season. With the at Meyerland park. newHeadCoach,Brandy “The hardest part of the Mardis, leading the way this season would have to be the time around, there has been end because the mentality goes asignificantimprovement insince it's the end of the down performance and morale across year,” Perez said. the board.

Many team members be“My favorite thing about lieve Mardis was a contributthe team is their team culture, ing factor to their success and they work hard, get along and returning players have seen have fun,” Mardis said. “They her contrast in dedication with make being at practice each their team. day enjoyable.”

“One of the best things On the other hand, some about the teams right now is players believe the best part is that it feels like a family, the going to challenging tournacoaches are like parents,” ments and hyping up the team. Perez said.

“Personally, my favorite The rookie players have part about the softball season even shown promise and hope was the tournaments, everyone for the upcoming softball was hyped especially when it seasons. Every athlete on the would last all weekend,” JV team is putting in all the effort softball player Genese Perez they can. said.

“We want to continue to The season ended earlier improve in all aspects of our this year, in April, with JV game and reach the second softballgoingagainstBellaire round of the playoffs,” Mardis said.

With the softball season coming to an end, the team remains optimistic for creating new and improved opportunities and programs for next year.

“To anyone looking to join the team, be prepared to work hard,” Mardis said. “Our program is becoming more competitive with more talent.”

Helping a generation in crisis

F

Story by Ben Newman

ollowing a year plagued by many strains of they identify with the community and the challenges COVID, on top of several on-campus crithat come along with them identifying themselves as ses and a return to in-person school after a LGBTQplus.” year of online learning, students have had Tijerinaprovidedexamplesofotherresou to deal wth a lot. However, with multiple counselors the counselors offer, separate from mental and emoon staff ready to assist students at any time, the school tional struggles. is well prepared to aid students.

“We provide different supportive services and so CounselorAdrienneWilliamsexplained sometimes thetools it’s not counseling,” Tijerina said. “Stuour communidents will come ty has to help to us if they students. need help with “There’s myacademics. This self, a licensed could be study counselor, we skills, testing also have Ms. skills or students Dehbahni Tijeriwill come to us na, who’s also a with questions licensed counabout their fuselor,” Williams tures and we’re said. “Then we able to like help haveMr.Bur them out in a bridge, who is lot of different a former eduways.” cation adminisYet, this is not trator principal always as easy as who has a lot of it Dehbahni sounds. Things Fromlefttoright:CounselorsAdrienneWilliams,OliverBurbridgeand Tijerina knowledge of the can get a bit more PhotobyBenNewman infrastructure of difficultwiththe school.” large population to serve in our school.

Counselor Didehbani Tijerina went into greater “There are only three of us for close to 3,000 studetail. dents,,” Tijerina said. “I wish I could give more than “We also work with Houston Independent School 30 minutes, but then there’s other students waiting or District’s social and emotional learning department, taking a little bit longer to check back in.” andtheyhaveaspecificskillsetthatthey’re She hasable ideasto as to how this issue could be solved. offer in those crisis situations,” Tijerina said. “I also “Have more counselors available on campus and let work with Communities in Schools, so we also have a students know that we are available because oftencrisis consultation team.” times, when students come, they don’t know where The Montrose Group is also available to help stuwe’relocatedorexactlywhatwedoand - theya dents. ten very deep in a crisis or an emotional situation,” Ti“The Montrose Group comes in every Friday,” Wil- jerina said. “So, I think if students were able to know, liams said. “They host an open group, meaning that they might be able to come down or if there was a anystudentthatidentifieswiththe - LGBTQ way plus for us to com reach out to students a little bit easier.” munity can participate in that group. And of course, The counselors often have to help students navigate it’sconfidentialbutithelpsthemtalk difficult abouthow issuesthatrequirecarefulguida

“Some of the different crises that we’ve dealt withhere,specificallyhavebeenabout eithersui cide, suicidal ideation and a lot of students sometimesmightbeexperiencingsomesortofabuse or neglect at home,” Tijerina said. “So that would also be a crisis situation.”

According to Tijerina, the counseling services are absolutely necessary in today’s world “I think there are some unique challenges this generation is facing,” Tijerina said. “I think we’ve heard a lot about it and more often than not, students will come and they’ll talk to me about their relationships with other students or romantic relationships and there’s always some social media element, just because it’s how everybody communicates now. It’s the method of talking with people. So, it’s been very interesting to try to navigate that and come up with solutions when social media just kind of takes over and has a mind of its own.”

This is just one of the many pandemic-induced problems that this generation is facing.

“Formostpeoplethereis,atleast,someanxiety surrounding the pandemic and coming back to campus,” Tijerina said. “In elementary and then middleschool,youhadaveryspecificexpectation of what school would be like, how big the classrooms would be, how would we interact with each other, how we’d be interacting with teachers. So, HISD Let’s Stay Connected Hotline: I think it’s just like a lot of different things that 713-556-1340 have been happening and are still currently being affected by COVID really took a toll on a lot of people’s mental health, students especially.”

Crisis Intervention of Houston teen Thoughdifficult,bothcounselorsfindjoyinthe (call): work.

832-416-1199 “Beingabletoconnectwithstudentsandbeing able to see them improve, them being able to findthestrengthwithinthemselvestoovercome Crisis Intervention of Houston teen obstacles and challenges and being able to see the (text): students get better, there is no bigger reward than 281-201-4430 that,” Williams said.

Mental health issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic, though students remain reluctant to reach out.

If you are struggling with mental health and want to reach out, here is a list of anonymous hotlines you can call.

National suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255 SAMHSA’s national helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Story by Sydni Fullmighter

Broadcast journalism wins distrist-wide contest

T

heBroadcast - Jour project went from class to class in- iting and broadcasting techniques, nalism department terviewing and recording students which they applied in their video. competed in the distaking part in classes such as FFA, The class features multiple lessons trict-wide “When I broadcasting and robotics. After infilm,interviewingandvideo Grow Up Contest” in which stuabout a week of documenting each editing techniques. dents from across HISD schools pathway,broadcaststudents “All Zoe the editing and animation get the chance to highlight the Villaobos, Vanna Truong and Emily was based on what we had learned career path of their choosing, winLeong came together to edit each this year,” Villalobos said. “My ningfirstplacewiththeirentry. clip andThe create the competition’s partner, Vanna, came up with most broadcast journalism team chose to firstplacewinningvideo. of the ideas like all the themes, and focus on a broader scope of possi“We decided to highlight three I did most of the editing and anible careers, highlighting the CTE of the pathways we offer here and mation.” pathways. for about a week we went around Theteam’sfinalproduct in “It was pretty much just a video and got footage and interviews volved careful planning and crethat we created and produced for from students in those classes, and ative thought. the purpose of kind of showing when we edited we kind of themed “We focused on Agriculture, off all the different pathways we it like a video game, so we did little BroadcastJournalism-andRobo havehereatLamar,”freshman animations Zoe and sound effects so it ics,”Truongsaid.“Zoedidalot Villaobos said. was like you were really playing a of the editing and drawing, but we The broadcast team created a video game,” Villalobos said. bothfeltrelievedandexcite video game-esque documentary in The team was student-led, with win. We spent a lot of time on that which viewers were taken on a tour broadcast journalism teacher Rayvideo.” of the CTE pathway courses Lamar mond Gayle advising. Throughout offers. Students working on the the year students learn various ed-

Feeling ‘22

We reached out to some senior teachers for some words of wisdom as the class of 20preparestostartthenextchapteroftheirlives.Hereiswha

Nicolas Burlin, social studies teacher

Do n’t t a

way. s e r i o us l y. I t ’s a l l a g ame a ny .

Yo u a re mo r e t h a n yo u r g rade s /G PA En j o y y o r ld . o u rs e l f a n d h ave f u n e x p l o r i n g t h e w

k e li fe t o o

Do n’t b

e af r a e id o f c h the w r ie n c e p a x n e g e y ! o r ld , Pe o p le ch a nge a n d g ro w a s t h e and t h m at ’s o k a l f ro o y ! As yo u b e c ome a n adu l t, a l l o w yo u rs e

t o g ro w. <3

Rebecca Casteel, English teacher

David Fisher, If yo u TOK and World go to col s yo u. e t H igh e s e e r e l t e g e , s t u d y w h a t re a l l y i n r e duc at u r Religions n n i at io n s ar y h o u ld n o t Fi n d a ck d mo ne t teacher n a l b e a s n t o i r t i c a t c l o y v j y ch e ob and

Do n’t

do a n

y t hi ng

jus t f o r

a c a re e r

t h a t yo u l o ve , n o

t h e mo ne y a n d do n’t t a k e a

impl y t o ne t h at is s

e rs o n ny t hi ng p

ally

a pa

Rebecca Miller, French teacher

and beyond!

Rising seniors and underclassmen, wedidn’tforgetaboutyou!Below are pieces of advice some of our teachers wanted to pass down as you continue your high school careers:

Embrace the challenge!! Enjoy the struggle!! You’ll never get to where you want to be by staying in your comfort zone. Not everything is meant to be easy--that’s the fun part of life. Dana Keller, TOK What will your Lamar legacy be? Design it over summer break and commit to living it out start to finish. Mark Krimm, pyschology STUDY FOR YOUR MATH EXAMS!!! I’m just kidding haha, just keep on pushing!

I know this school year was rough for a lot of people, but you can make it! I believe in you! Benito Toscano, math Work. Life doesn’t owe you anything. Very little worthwhile is achieved or appreciated without action/work on your part. Robert Stiles, art Don’t wait until the last minute to do your IA’s! Having them peer edited and reviewed before submission helps immensely with the final IB grade. Sally Woolweaver, computer science Trying to figure out “who you are” & “what you want to do when you grow up” is the project of a lifetime so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to try and figure this stuff out by the time you walk across that graduation stage. Be kind, stay humble, feed your curiosity, and enjoy the ride. Nicholas Burlin, social studies Read the directions. David Fisher, TOK

And they’re off!

Where will the class of 2022 will be this fall?

.7% .7% 1.4% 2.8%

.7% 2.1%

1

is off to Bogotá, Colombia

1

is off to Quebec, Canada

1

is off to London, England

.7%

2.1%

.7% 1.4%

1.4% 1.4%

.7% .7%

1.4% 1.4%

59.7%

.7%

.7%

.7% .7%

1.4% 2.1%

2.8% 2.8%

5.6% 2.1% Note: this data only reflects 146/647 seniors, taken from a Lamar Life survey

Lauren Koong, you have been an incredible EIC the past four years and a few of us wanted to say thank you.

Lauren, There is little else I can say besides thank you. The past three years I have had the privilege of calling myself your friend and working alongside you with Lamar Life, a privilege I do not take lightly.

The moment I stepped into the old East building classroom and was told to start writing, I was lost.

I thought I was supposed to be in a graphic design class and yet there I was, having to pitch you a story.Thatofcoursewouldbethefirstofmanystoriesformeandthefirstofmanypitc saw you lead. You called everyone’s attention easily and listened to the stories your peers had found within the community, making comments and suggestions as you heard each one and doing so without a hint of superiority. Even now, three years later, you continue to run the publication without that superiority. You have and continue to treat everyone as an equal, coming to them with grace and understanding and occasionally some tough love to push them to be the best they can be.

It is you, Lauren, who I have and will always look to for inspiration. You are the epitome of a great leader and I try every day to be more like you in hopes I can eventually become half of who you are.

Morethanaleader,however,youareafriend,andanamazingoneatthat.Fromsleep-dep conversations to movie nights forcing Mikal to watch DCOMs, you have let no moment of our friendship be boring. You make me laugh until my stomach hurts, introduced me to the superior Starbucks order (iced chai tea latte with oat milk and a pump of brown sugar syrup), and share a love of the critically-acclaimed hit Disney Channel original movie Starstruck, with you and I being the critics, obviously.Beyondmoviesandcoffee,youaretrustingandalwayshaveincredibleadv make any problem better. Late night conversations in your car at the end of Lamar Life week remain unmatched!

I calculated the distance and from Stanford to Colby it is 3,302.7 miles. That may seem like a lot because it is but I know no matter the distance, we will remain friends. Opposite ends of the country or not, we will both have deadlines to complain about and stories to share. You especially, miss Stanford internship!

Lauren Koong, you have been a light in my life from the day that I met you and I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am of who you have become and all that you have accomplished.

You have led Lamar Life perfectly, won state UIL, gotten published in the New York Times (!!!!!) and got into your dream school. Your list of accomplishments is remarkable and I know that list will only continue to grow as you continue to make your mark on this world.

I cannot wait to see who you become Lauren. Thank you for the past three years- you have changed my life. L squared 5 ever.

Love,

Lauren,

It’sdifficultformetofullyarticulatetheimpactyou’vehadonmeandmygrowthoverthis notjustwithintheconfinesoftheLamarLifeclassroombutthroughoutallaspectsofm and personal life.

Startingwithinthecontextofthemagazineroom,watchingyoudemonstratestronglead and commitment to the publication has always been an inspiring, slightly intimidating thing to witness.

Your maturity when it comes to the functioning and order of the publication, along with your ability to instruct your fellow peers without a hint of superiority is something I greatly admire. You are able to command the class without being imperious, teach without being patronizing, and uphold the bulk of the weight of the publication without complaining. On top of all of this, you are a superb writer, one who puts genuine effort into their content, and recognizes the power of having a voice.

Youare,inshort,anamazingleader,andIknowyouwillexcelandexceedexpectations atyour ship at Stanford, quickly taking on more leadership roles.

Speakinginmorepersonalterms,yourinfluenceonmecontinuestopersistoutsideofLama walls.Theconversationswe’vehad,bothtrivialandmeaningful,fleetingandprofound,and we’ve hung out, both in and out of school, are memories and events I look back on and will continue to lookbackonfondly.Youareawonderfulfriend,atrustingconfidant,someonewhoisbothwil listen and willing to talk for the both of us.

WhenIfirststartedattendingschoolin-persontowardthe ,Ihad end just ofour arrived junior in year Houston, having spent seven years of my life in Canada. I had spent the past few months of this transition in isolation, completely disconnected from my new school and my new peers due to pandemic constraints.Youwerethefirstpersonwhomadeagenuineefforttowelcomemeintowhats the time a nerve-wracking and foreign environment. Your ability to easily interact and strike up conversation that was more than meaningless chit-chat was something that made me feel at ease, and I amincrediblygratefulforyouhavingbeensowelcomingandgracioustomewhenIfirststepp inside Lamar.

With the end of our high school careers in sight, it is inevitable that we will soon be seeing much less ofeachother.Regardless,Ihopethefriendshipwe’vebuiltwillcontinuetoexistoutsi I return to Canada and you to California, and that new conversations will continue to be had, whether theybeaboutourfutureuniversityexperiences,how‘stressed’wealwaysseemtobe,orho hot cocoa powder is.

Thank you Lauren!

Lauren,

Ialmostcan’tbelievethatthisisthefinalissueofyourfinalyearinhighschool.

Iamostcan’tbelievethatyouwon’tbecomingbacknextyeartosteertheshipandr I almost can’t believe your track record at Lamar as Salutatorian and a four-year Editor-in-Chief.

Butthen,ofcourseIcanbecauseyouareLauren.Freaking.Koong.

It’s been a long school year, you’ve put FOUR years into this publication, AND you are incredibly impressive and genuine. So, I believe it all and so much more for you in the future.

You made the position of Editor-in-Chief look easy although only those that work close with you knowthetruedifficultyandtimeconsumptionoftheposition.That’showIknowtha success in any path you choose moving forward. It’s that cool, calm, collected demanor that shows your character even in times of distress.

While life may get stickier moving forward in your endeavors, I know you and the other graduating editors will trudge through the thick of things that attempt to hold you back. I know that you, Lainie, and Mikal will stand your ground when necessary, break barriers if needed, and use your voice to createchange.LamarLifehelpedeachofyoucultivatetheskillstobeexceptional proud to have been able to witness that growth.

At one point in each of our lives, we question our purpose, path, and priorities. The answer to that question, at least the one that I have found, is that no one really knows.

It may seem like a bleak statement, but truly we don’t know how everything will work out or if the pathswechoosearetheexactrightones.WhatIknowisthatwejustfindwaystofigur justhavetojumpintothethingsthatbringexcitementandnuancewithconfide

We all face that now. The end of a school year, the changing season, and a new chapter of life.

Theworldliesatyourfingertips.Reachoutandgrabyoursuccess,however - thatisde signed for you.

This publication has brought so much light into my life.

Lauren, you bring that light to each person that it reaches.

As I look back on the past few years, I see so many moments of laughter in our class or at UIL meets, moments of adversity facing the pushback of a deadline due to a demon printer or censorship, and moments of triumph with TWO state champion writers and an improved magazine as each issue was published. For these moments and so much more, THANK YOU.

IalmostfeelIcan’texpressthemagnitudeofgratitudeandhonorthatIfeelhavin your journey, of each of your fellow editors and classmates’ journey, but I hope you can feel it. Stay in touch kid. I’m always here for you.

“How lucky am I to have something that make saying goodbye so hard.”

- Winnie the Pooh

My dear Lauren,

Followingourfirstconversationfouryearsago,Iknewyouhad IT factor! I remember asking you to become editor and you said yes.

I never knew it would be the start of your amazing career as a journalist. I made the decision, at that time, to select a freshman as chief editor of Lamar Life.

That was one of the best decisions I have ever made! You never disappointed! You were always professional, a team player, a hard worker and an all-around phenomenal student.

The hardest part of retiring in 2020 was leaving you behind, but Ihadnodoubtthatyouwouldcontinuetoflourishandhoneyo skills.

I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments and I wish younothingbutthebestasyoumoveforwardtoyournextcha I can’t wait to hear the amazing stories you will bring to life at Stanford University.

Continue to shine Lauren.

Love you my dear!

LAMAR LIFE SUMMER BUCKET LIST

BINGO

Have fun with friends

Swim at the pool

Tan on the beach

Have a movie night

Rent/ ride a bike

Juniors schedule senior portraits -> bit.ly/seniorphoto2023

Check out summer reading lists

Volunteer opportunities

Internships

Back to school shopping

Plan a roadtrip

Have a picnic

FREE

Go to a drive in

Have fun at the zoo

Read a book

Sleepovers with besties

Go to Kemah Boardwalk

Visit a Attend a museum concert

Go on a Eat ice Shopping vacacream spree! tion Spend time with family

Have a good rest