The Talon - Issue #7 (2021-22)

2021-2022 Issue 7

Table of Contents Pages 1-3: Powder Puff Game Pages 4-8: Immanuel Sports Pages 9-12: World News Pages 13-16: Campus Life Pages 17-18: Staff Profile Page 18: National Sports

Powderpuff's Powerful Past

by Alex Hughes

Immanuel girls finally got their chance to play on the football field as the powderpuff flag football tradition came back. The game kicked off Friday, March 18, with the seniors and freshman making up the Hot Tamale team and the sophomores and juniors being dubbed Pink Lightning.

Photo Contributed by Kirk Kawagoe

Photo Contributed by Kirk Kawagoe

Photo Contributed by Kirk Kawagoe

Despite this being the first year Immanuel has hosted powderpuff in years, the sport has a history dating back to the 1900s. It first started out as flag football in the 1940’s at Eastern State Teachers College. World War II was wrapping up, meaning that most men were still deployed overseas.

Homecoming, however, was still on the calendar for this college, but due to the lack of male athletes, the school was forced to cancel all sporting events.

The female students took matters into their own hands, pitching to the homecoming committee that they could continue the tradition of playing football.

Despite the committee approving their request, however, the male students of the university thought the idea distasteful.

23 women signed up to carry on the homecoming tradition, and they were split up into two teams: the “Townies”, who lived in the nearby town, and the “Dormies”, who lived on campus. Their game was the first of its kind, but the real moment that inspired the name “Powderpuff” was when the girls applied makeup to kick off their own halftime show. Local newspaper headlines called them “The Powderpuff and the Rouge Elevens'' the next day, hence why the sport is now called Powderpuff.

Photo Contributed by Kirk Kawagoe

Powderpuff dwindled in popularity for a time, but it experienced a boom in the 1970s. Powderpuff was an attempt to get women on the field, playing a sport that previously only men had been allowed to play, and it worked wonders. Since then, it has remained a cherished tradition for many schools and gives girls the chance to play it out on the field.

Immanuel's Hot Tamales and Pink Lightning picked up the torch and carried on the tradition as they fought for the win. The first touchdown of the night was almost scored by Pink Lightning’s Sophomore Sarah Larger in the first quarter, but Referee Hector Davila called an out of bounds on the #3 player at the 30 yard line.

The second quarter kicked off with #4 Allison Wood scoring a touchdown. She scored a 2 point conversion with 7:30 minutes on the clock, setting Pink Lightning 8 points in the lead.

The third quarter scored no more points for either team, but the tide started to look like it was turning in the fourth quarter when the Hot Tamales scored a touchdown of their own. Mia Carrillo made the play, making the game’s score 6-8.

The final score ended up being 6-8, crowning Pink Lightning with the coveted victory but leaving both teams with plenty of memories to look back on.

These Immanuel Eagles have been training every Monday and Wednesday since March 9. The Hot Tamales were led by Coach Dillon, and Pink Lightning was trained by the one and only Coach Henderson.

Leading up to the game, senior Maddie Ramirez had a lot of feelings. “I’m excited, a little nervous, and a little confused. It will be a fun time and entertaining to say the least” Ramirez stated.

Despite this being her first year playing on the football field, she is glad she got to experience Powderpuff at least once during her high school career. Ramirez was able to learn the rules of football, and it gave her a fun, team bonding experience.

Powderpuff is a tradition that on the surface appears like a great way to spark student morale and spirit, but deeper than that, it is a powerful stance taken by women to show that they are capable of being athletes, too. It has given girls a chance to get on the field and play in one of America’s favorite sports.

A Positive Outlook on Spring Sports

by Sienna Mehling

The blossoms are blooming and the spring sports have arrived. This spring, student-athletes are hopeful for a normal season this year after the last two years had been cut short. For seniors, this is their last opportunity to play a sport that they have been playing over the last four years or even longer. Each of the 5 spring sports teams has at least one senior, except for Boys Tennis. Here is what Senior spring athletes have to say about their past four years playing their sport.

Evan Kaufman

Cristabel Cibrian What sport do you play, and how long have you been playing it for?

I play softball, and I have been playing since I was 8.

What are you looking forward to this season?

I’m looking forward to creating new memories and hopefully winning games.

Are you going to keep playing this sport in the future?

If I get the opportunity to play in college next year I will.

What has been your favorite memory while playing this sport?

My favorite memory from playing this sport would be when Faith Beckenhauer and I collided in center field.

What will you miss the most when your season is over?

I will probably miss playing and spending time with my teammates in the dugout.

What sport do you play, and how long have you been playing it for?

I play golf, and I have been playing golf since freshman year.

What are you looking forward to this season?

It’s been exciting seeing a bunch of new people join golf, and I’m excited to see the type of team that Immanuel will have at the end of the season that will hopefully grow into an even better team in the next few years.

Are you going to keep playing this sport in the future?

I do not plan on playing golf in the future, only for fun occasionally.

What has been your favorite memory while playing this sport?

I have many fond memories from the last four years, some include almost getting hit in the head in my very first match, making a 50-yard putt into the hole my freshman year, and getting hailed on and having to clear my path on the green because of how much hail there was.

What will you miss the most when your season is over?

What I’ll miss most about golf is knowing that I won’t be able to play again the following year. I’m not the greatest at it, but it was always something I looked forward to doing because it gave me hope that I might get better.

(Haha that never happens).

Sam Swearengin

Joel Regier What sport do you play, and how long have you been playing it for?

I am a part of the track and field team, and I’ve been playing for about 6 years.

What are you looking forward to this season?

I look forward to making a new PR for myself.

Are you going to keep playing this sport in the future?

I don’t have any plans to play track in college.

What has been your favorite memory while playing this sport?

My favorite memory was going to the Valley championship in junior high.

What will you miss the most when your season is over?

I’ll miss track in general. It’s been a big part of my life and I’ve had a lot of fun playing it.

What sport do you play, and how long have you been playing it for?

I play baseball, and I have been playing this sport since I was very young (maybe 5-6 years old).

What are you looking forward to this season?

I am very much looking forward to getting recognized on senior night.

Are you going to keep playing this sport in the future?

No, I won’t be playing this sport in the future. This is my last season, so I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

What has been your favorite memory while playing this sport?

My favorite memory was hitting a home run at Kingsburg my junior year.

What will you miss the most when your season is over?

I will miss hanging out with my teammates after games/in the clubhouse, team dinners with the guys, etc.

Jill Balakian What sport do you play, and how long have you been playing it for?

I’m on the swim team and I have swam since I was five. All of my siblings swam so I wanted to as well.

What are you looking forward to this season?

There’s a lot more younger class men this year on the team and I’m looking forward to getting to know them throughout the season.

Are you going to keep playing this sport in the future?

I won’t be swimming on a team in the future, but I do plan on continuing to stay in shape by lap swimming.

What has been your favorite memory while playing this sport?

No comment from Balakian.

What will you miss the most when your season is over?

I will definitely miss the coaches I have become close to throughout highschool after I graduate.

All students are hopeful for a fun and fair season this year. Come support all the sports this season!

Best of luck to all the spring sports!

Shoot For The Stars, Then The Basket

by Evan Kaufman

Immanuel girls basketball shoots their shot at the valley title for the first time since 2018.

There's no doubt that Immanuel is filled with a bunch of talented young athletes, but there's more to an amazing team besides a couple of star players. A proper team needs people that can communicate with each other, build each other up and make sure that they're doing their part. The Immanuel girl's basketball team was able to do just that.

The girl's team consist of seniors Jamie Rose Clothier and Presley Galpin, juniors Sadie Carpenter, Emma Garrison, Alli Friesen, Madison Jackson and Maddi Martinez, sophomores Macie Riddle, Jade Laemmlen and Sidney Azua and freshmen Elizabeth Davila and Madison Marquis.

Their season lasted from November 12, 2021 to March 3, 2022, and they had some pretty amazing wins throughout the season. They were able to beat many rivals such as Dinuba High School and Central Valley Christian throughout their season. My favorite game was senior night, watching the girls win their final game before playoffs.

For their playoffs, they played against Reedley High School, Rosamond High School and South Bakersfield High School, and managed to beat all three teams, setting them up for the Valley Championship game against Highland High School.

Unfortunately, they were not able to win the Valley Championship title, but since they were able to make it to the Valley Champion game, they were given another chance to play at state. Sadly, they weren't able to defeat Mt. Diablo at the state playoffs.

Nevertheless, the girls basketball team had a very good season, and they'll only grow to get better as the years go on. Senior Jamie Rose Clothier, junior Sadie Carpenter and freshman Elizabeth Davila were interviewed about how they felt about their season and what they want to see in the coming years.

Jamie Rose Clothier How long have you played basketball?

I have been playing for 7 years.

What position do you play?

I am a center.

How do you feel the season went?

I am very proud of how far we got in our season.

Going into it, no one thought we would get to where we did and seeing all the support from the Immanuel community made it worth it.

Do you have a favorite memory from this past season?

I would have to say going to valley with a team I would genuinely call family was the highlight of the season.

What do you hope the team will do in future years after you graduate?

I hope they carry on a new legacy going forward, that‘ll show how they became the team that they are now. I hope they continue to grow and show everyone that we are not to be pushed around anymore. Even though we are all women of Christ, we will play aggressive but still have good sportsmanship.

What’s any final advice that you have to help the team in the future?

Don’t listen to the refs, they don’t like us so play the game you know how to play. Also, keep your focus on God, and remember everything you do is for Him.

Sadie Carpenter How long have you played basketball?

I have played basketball for about five years.

What position do you play?

I play wing, so I drive the ball or find someone open.

How do you feel the season went?

I feel our season was a bit rocky at first, because we were still trying to get to know each other and learn how to play with one another, but, as the season went on, I feel like we really grew as a team and we started playing as a team.

Do you have a favorite memory from this past season?

I would say my favorite memory of this season would be getting to know everyone and just playing together.

How was it for you to transition to not only a new school, but a new team?

To come to a new school, I would say it was very challenging and very hard to try and fit in, but I found my people and they have helped me a lot this year, and my team has been wonderful and I love how welcoming they are, it's amazing.

What do you hope changes or stays the same for next years team?

What I hope will change is that everybody will have a more positive attitude, and that we will all lift each other up. I hope that the familial bond that we have made this season will never change.

Is there anything else I should include?

I just wanna say God is good all the time and all the time God is good. It's a blessing going to Immanuel, it really is.

Elizabeth Davila How long have you played basketball?

I have been playing basketball for a total of four years.

What position do you play?

My position is a guard.

How do you feel the season went?

Personally, even though the season didn't necessarily end, I think the way everyone wanted it.

I feel like it was still a good season; the beginning was a little rough though.

Do you have a favorite memory from this past season?

My favorite memory would definitely have to be beating Dinuba after losing to them the first time. It was a very close game and the stands were packed, but that made it even more memorable.

Are you planning on playing next year? If so, what do you hope to get better at?

Yes, I am planning on playing next season. I am hoping and working towards that next year I will grow in my confidence on the court, this goes for mainly shooting and dribbling.

Playing on any sports team, as a freshman can be intimidating, but was it intimidating to you?

What were your first thoughts when you joined the team?

Yes, I would definitely say I was intimidated at first, especially since it was a varsity team, along with knowing I was considered one of the younger ones.

At first, I was very shy and it was a little hard, but after a while, once we all started getting comfortable playing with each other, it got much easier as time passed.

War In Ukraine

by Hannah Brown

In the past month, the news has been flooded with the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. While it seems like we may be detached from a conflict happening on the other side of the world, this invasion has had a significant impact on the U.S. The outcome of this war will determine the balance of power held within the world’s fragile geopolitical relations.

History The tensions between Ukraine and Russia have existed for more than the few weeks it has featured in the news. Their rough relations began all the way back in World War II, when the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, commonly known as the USSR, was established in 1922. During the Nazi occupation, millions of Jewish and non-Jewish Ukrainians were killed. Several decades later, in the early 1990s, Ukraine underwent anti-communists protests, which included a 400 mile long human chain of peaceful protestors. The Ukrainian parliament declared independence in 1991 and soon after the Soviet Union in Russia dissolved.

More recently, armed aggression was waged against Ukraine due to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. At that time, the then president of Ukraine refused to sign an agreement with the European Union and instead chose closer ties with Russia. Mass protests by the Ukrainian people, known as the Maidan revolution, led to further decommunization and a major political shift. This

Photo credit Rodrigo Abd/AP

Picture credit John MacDougall

included a new president elect. Seeing this as an illegal coup against the older government, Russian President Vladmir Putin sent troops to Crimea.

The Crimean Peninsula was given to Ukraine in 1954. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian government wanted the land back but it remained under Ukraine’s controls. The annexation of the peninsula to Russia resulted in extended fighting in Donbas, an area of eastern Ukraine inhabited by Russian separatists. These violent clashes have resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

Recent Invasion The recent invasion of Ukraine has been caused

by Russia's determination to prevent the country from joining NATO, a military alliance of European and North American countries. Russia sent troops to Ukraine’s borders as early as April 2021, but Russia did not begin a physical land assault until Feb. 24, 2022. This has become the largest military operation in Europe since the end of World War II. For several weeks, there have been airstrikes of civilian shelters, hospitals, and other public centers.

Putin has made many false claims in his efforts to criminalize the actions of Ukraine, especially against the area of Donbas. He has denied many on the bombings to be the work of the Russian military.

Another layer that has been added to this conflict is China’s potential alliance with Russia, who could send military help to aid with the invasion. This could turn the outcome of the war, seeing as China and

Russia are two political superpowers that have a lot of military force.

Over 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began in mid-February. The refugee crisis in Ukraine has become one of the worst in the world, currently. Many have been fleeing to neighboring countries such as Poland and Moldova. In the capital city of Warsaw, Poland, the number of refugees— nearing 1.8 million—has exceeded the total population of the actual city.

World Impact The effects of this invasion have been felt throughout the world. To weaken Russia without any direct conflict, the U.S. has declared economic sanctions. This will cause prices in Russia to increase significantly and cause their currency to lose value. Sanctions, “lock out Russia’s central bank and the Russian government from raising any new money from U.S. and European investors,” According to Mara Liasson in an interview with NPR. These sanctions have had a significant impact in the U.S. by causing record-setting gas prices. Russia is a major supplier of oil and gasoline and controls a lot of the global market. The boycotting of Russian energy has severely hurt the U.S. even though it does not directly buy from Russia.

Global corporations have been closing stores and factories in Russia such as McDonald’s and CocaCola. This marks Russia’s return to the Soviet Era when they were economically isolated from the rest of the world. An economy which has been built up for the past four decades is being reversed within a matter of weeks.

While NATO countries have been sending aid packages and additional military weaponry to Ukraine, they have not sent any soldiers into the country. They have been hesitant to declare Ukraine a no-fly zone. A no-fly zone would limit aerial assaults from Russia and further protect civilians from attacks. But there are significant risks to declaring a no-fly zone: potential nuclear warfare with Russia. NATO wants to keep the conflict limited to Ukraine’s borders. This decision has sparked much controversy, many arguing that NATO allies

are not bothered enough by the attacks because it is not happening on their soil.

Why Ukraine Matters Ukraine has not backed down against the brutal attacks. They have stood their ground, and acted with bravery under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Since their independence in 1991, Ukraine has prided itself in building a democracy. The people of Ukraine have freedoms that the people of Russia do not: they have the ability to protest, mobilize and vote. All the first amendment rights that we greatly value are under threat in Ukraine.

Additionally, Ukraine’s economy is a huge producer of agricultural products, placing them first in Europe as having the most arable land. The produce farmed in Ukraine is able to meet the food needs of 600 million people. Their inability to tend to farms during this time has caused the cost to produce wheat and grains in the U.S. to increase significantly.

Ukraine, along with Russia, make up 25 percent of the world’s wheat exports. This, along with the rising price of gas, has led farmers around the world to make hard decisions regarding their crops.

picture credit Chris McGrath/Getty Images

The situation in Europe is unfolding everyday with news constantly being updated. This article can only hope to scrape the mere top layer of what is happening in Ukraine. While we may think it doesn’t concern us, it should. These are ordinary people whose lives have been uprooted. While there is no definite end in sight, there is only hope that peace will prevail.

Heroes of Ukraine

by Nievah Martinez

(photo by Toronto Star)

During a time of terror and uncertainty, humankind is still able to find resilience and hope. This is what the Ukrainian people have displayed in these harsh times of war with Russia. Despite the horror that has been brought upon their country, a few have shown that kindness and bravery can still withstand any form of destruction.

These heartwarming stories, I hope, will bring a smile to your face, and instead of focusing on the devastating aspect of this situation, shed some light on the good that still remains among the hardship.

As the soldier reassured his mother of his safety, he was surrounded by the opposing side, drinking tea and eating a pastry. An interview done by the article CNBC featured a reporter from the Wall Street Journal, Matthew Luxmoore, who tweeted that the young soldier had “burst into tears” when he was given the chance to call his mother, and that most of these soldiers are young teenagers and don’t even really know the purpose of this war.

The simple act of allowing this young soldier to call his mom and embracing him without violence displays the impact of welcoming hands and a kind heart.

(photo by Upworthy)

(photo by New York Post)

A video of a group of Ukrainians helping a teenage Russian soldier call his mom has been catching attention on social media. The video shows a group of Ukrainians surrounding this young soldier, with one of the individuals holding his phone as he calls his mother.

Another story, that is sure to bring tears to your eyes, features a young girl who sang ‘Let It Go’ while in a bomb shelter in Kyiv. The little girl, Amelia, stated that she always dreamed of singing in front of a crowd on stage in a recent article done

by CNBC. Her singing moved many people, not only those that were in the shelter with her, but also people who had viewed the video on social media. Marta Smekhova, the one who posted the video, stated in the article by CNBC that “Even men couldn’t hold back the tears” while the young girl’s voice offered a sense of hope to those around her. It even caught the eye of the ‘Let It Go’ singer herself, Idina Menzel, who portrayed Elsa in the Frozen movie. She also shared the video, with it having been shared 14.2 million times on social media platforms. A story such as this reminds us

that something as simple as signing a song is able to move people and bring joy when it is much needed.

circumstances, and although it’s difficult to imagine the conditions in which the Ukrainian people face, their tenacity and strength has shone through even in the darkest of times.

(photo by Yahoo News)

An eleven year-old boy is being called a “Hero of the Night” after making a successful journey to the Slovakian border from Ukraine to be reunited with his family. The young boy, Hassan, made the decision to do the journey alone after his three older sisters had already done it, in order to meet their older brother. Hassan acted bravely as he ventured all by his lonesome, and was put into the position of facing frightening situations, such as spending more than a day on a train to reach his destination. His journey was documented online, and was re-shared multiple times, with many of those people being celebrities. The family’s reunion was a display of hope, with the police stating on Facebook that “They lost everything again, but this time the war didn’t take anyone away from them. They are together and that’s all that matters.”

(photo by Voanews)

In times such as these it can be easy to be doubtful and only focus on the devastating

(photo by Infonews)

Worship Night Coming to Immanuel's Chapel Staff Report

The Chapel Band has announced an all-campus worship night on the evening of April 29. Although the Chapel Band is from the Worship Fundamentals class on campus run by Mr. Merritt, the evening is the result of students bringing this to Mr. Goertzen.

"The main reason for the worship night is to bring the student community together," Performing Arts director Mr. Merritt stated. "Since it’s the end of the year and we’re winding down we wanted a time for worship that is not rushed. In Chapel it’s just three songs. This will allow more time for us to set in and focus in on worship. It was mainly headed up by two of our worship funds students: Ethan Garcia and Ava Gomez."

Reading Is Fun! All Other Opinions Are Invalid

by Hannah Brown

Reading. For some, this word invokes feelings of dread and boredom. It’s usually associated with an English assignment or a quick check that requires sitting down, processing words and understanding their meaning. There’s always the classic excuse “I don’t have time to read!” or “I can never find the right book…” but reading can be an engaging experience, allowing the reader to briefly escape from their reality into a world far, far, away or close to home. Some Immanuel students and staff members have shared a few of their favorite books and why they enjoy reading. Maybe you just might find your next great read!

Librarian Mrs. Burnham has been serving at Immanuel for 13 years. She works hard to curate a selection of books in the library to fit the interests of all Immanuel students.

Where did your love of books come from?

“My love of reading came at a young age. My mom used to babysit often and I had a large collection of books. I would have the kids she babysat check out books from me and have index cards in envelopes, so I’ve been a librarian from a young age.”

How do you encourage students to read? “I read a lot of the books I put in the library and try to guide

everyone to the right book. For the students you like to read, I try to get them to branch out. Having displays with new books and specific genres is another way I try to encourage reading.”

What is your process of choosing books for the library? “It’s pretty difficult, especially with a lot of the content that books can have. I have several book subscriptions where I can discover new books and I often go through reviews for every book that comes into the library.

What is your favorite genre to read? "Fantasy. I love “Harry Potter” and the “Hunger Games." I don’t like talking animals, but I love the magical aspects of fantasy. I like sad books too, and mystery.”

What are some new books that you've added to the library? "Some recent books that I’ve added are "The Alex Rider" series by Anthony Horowitz and "The Betrothed" series by Keira Cass.”

Junior Eleanor Mackey: What was the last book you read and couldn’t put down?

“The last book I read that I couldn’t put down was “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera.”

Give a brief description: “This book is the story of Mateo and Rufus, two guys who learn that they are going to die within 24 hours. They are connected via an app that gives people a friend for their last day on earth. They both help each other get closure in different relationships and experience things that they hadn’t gotten to do before. It is a heartbreaking story that (spoiler alert) eventually ends with them both dying at the end. This book shows how two people's lives can be changed in one day and how people are affected by each other.”

What did you enjoy? “I enjoyed this book because it had a good plot line and very good character development. You wouldn’t think that a lot could change in 24 hours but this author shows just how much can happen in a short span of time. This is a very fast moving book that embraces real world experiences while keeping up a fictional plot line.”

Who would you recommend it to? “I would recommend this story to any high school age student. It’s a quick read but still has a good storyline and meaningful points. If you like books like the “Song of Achilles” or “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” then this is definitely a good book for you."

Why do you think people should read this book?

“I think people should read this book because it talks about some real world issues today but it also has an engaging story. It’s honestly a very good book although it doesn’t have a “happy ending”. You should just read this book because it has a great story with interesting and relatable characters.”

Senior Amiris Person: What was the last book you read and couldn't put down? "“Circe” by Madeline Miller."

Give a brief description: "It is a twisted telling on Greek mythology that is encompassed around an exiled nymph that lives on her own deserted island. On the island she builds a life of her own as she encounters foreign threats, unwelcomed visitors and isolation."

What did you enjoy? "I enjoyed the simplicity of the story telling where it was easy to understand but at the same time it was so interesting. I couldn’t help but continue reading because of how realistic but encaptivating it all was."

Who would you recommend it to? “I would recommend this book to any Greek mythology or even Roman mythology lover. Anyone who loves romance and fantasy would also love this book.”

Why do you think people should read this book?

“I enjoy reading because it allows me to take a break from the outside world and from technology. I’ll be able to make my own predictions and ideas of the book without tons of outside opinions influencing them. I think people should read this book because it educates you on mythological stories and is just an amazing story that will leave readers feeling, not to be extra, like a new person.”

Junior Elizabeth Ayers: What was the last book you read and couldn't put down? "“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding."

Give a brief description: "Set during the beginning of WWII, a plane full of British schoolboys crashes on a deserted island. Instead of being distressed, however, they are thrilled to have no adults to supervise them, and immediately establish a society built on childish fantasy and enjoyment.

Just as quickly dissent forms among the boys as two of the main characters, Ralph and Jack, fight for control as the rest of the boys struggle between the desire to be rescued and the independence the island offers. The book spirals quickly into darkness as the boys display the harsh reality of human nature and begin to lose their identities."

What did you enjoy? "This book was unlike anything I had ever read before, and I greatly enjoyed it. Golding takes you on a journey of selfdiscovery that will leave you shocked and appalled, but also provides a level of deeper thinking than other thriller or action novels."

Who would you recommend this to? "I would encourage anyone to read this book, whether it’s for the story, the structure, or the significance. On the surface level, it is a captivating and thrilling story about a plane crash and a struggle for survival. “Lord of the Flies” is also well-structured and perfectly paced, using symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery to propel the story forward and keep the reader’s interest captured. However, I find the most interesting level to be the meaning in the story and the analysis of human nature. Especially from a Christian perspective, it was fascinating to see Golding’s perspective on the inherent evil of humanity and his belief in how quickly we could revert to a base, animalistic state. However shocking

and dark, I would recommend this novel to almost anyone."

Why do you think people should read this book?

"You might like "Lord of the Flies" if you liked "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, "Animal Farm"

by George Orwell, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, "Circe" by Madeline Miller or "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton.

My Personal Recommendation: What was the last book you read and couldn't put down? ""The Inheritance Games" By Jennifer Lynn Barnes."

Give a brief description: "The ultimate treasure hunt for a mysterious fortune filled with intrigue, sabotage, romance and an extremely large house with many secret passage ways. It follows the story of Avery, a normal—or so she thought—high school student, who becomes a celebrity overnight when she receives the inheritance of a billionaire. It's honestly best if you go in knowing very little about it!"

What did you enjoy? "I enjoyed the mystery aspect. It really is like Clue, the board games, in book form. It made the reading experience more engaging because it was as if you were along for the ride discovering the clues and ultimately reaching the final verdict along with the characters."

Who would you recommend this to? "I think this is a great book for anyone struggling to find what to read. Barnes immediately drops you in the action. It is also a lot of fun if you enjoy puzzles and try to solve the mystery along with the characters."

Why do you think people should read this book?

"This is simply a fun book to read. Often people believe reading has to be this big endeavor where you analyze meaning in every word. But sometimes you just need something fun, and that's what this book is!"

A 5 Flavored Candy That all Taste the Same?

by Sienna Mehling

Do all Skittles taste the same? A viral question that has been asked amongst a lot of people. The 5 different fruity flavors in the original pack are strawberry, orange, lemon, grape, and now lime instead of green apple. The Skittles website may not claim anything about whether their flavors taste the same, or different, but somebody else does.

According to a Brandeis University neuropsychologist who specializes in taste, all Skittles taste the same, but they just have a different color and scent. With this information, a taste test was gathered to see what the student body thinks of it.

After students guessed the flavor of the Skittle, they had to answer one more question. Do all Skittles taste the same, or different? Only 24.2 percent of students claimed that all Skittles taste the same, and 75.8 percent of students still claim that they all taste different. So what do you think?

Do all Skittles taste the same, or are they different?

First, students were asked what their favorite flavor of Skittle was. Strawberry took a whopping lead and got 48.5 percent of the votes. Following that were orange and lime with 15.2 percent, lemon with 12.1 percent, and coming in last was grape with 9.1 percent. After gathering this information, the student was blindfolded and was given a Skittle by random, and tried to guess the flavor of it. The data was surprisingly close. 48.5 percent of students actually guessed the wrong flavor, and 51.5 percent of students guessed the right one. However, it wasn’t close based on opinions.

"God Brought Me Here for a Purpose"

by Evan Kaufman

What got you interested in agriculture and FFA? I grew up in agriculture. My dad was in the hauling side of agriculture, transporting goods to the consumer. It always intrigued me, and led me to eventually showing my horse in 4-H and later showing in FFA when I was in high school.

Did you always want to become an Ag teacher, or did you have another occupation in mind?

When I was younger, I always wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to be a math teacher. When I got to high school, and took an ag class, it made me realize that I wanted to be an ag teacher. When I was little I used to play teacher with my little brother and teach him the things I learned from school that day What motivates you to teach?

The sense of community within my classroom allows me to have real relationships with my students. When they come into my classroom, I want them to tell me things about their day and what's happening in their lives. I like coming to school everyday and talking with my students about not just agriculture, but their actual lives.

Out of all the different classes you teach, do you have a favorite, and if so, why?

It's hard because I love floral because I love to see my students get excited to make arrangements out of flowers, but I also love my Ag Comms class where we get to plan activities like Ag Literacy Day. So I would say that I have two favorite classes.

What are some struggles you have discovered since starting teaching, and how have you handled them?

Each and every day is going to have different struggles, whether it be a student having a bad day, or the curriculum has to change, I always try to think about why I'm here. God brought me here for a purpose, so I try to handle my struggles by looking at the overall goal and realizing that these struggles won't be everyday.

Why do you think it’s important to teach students about agriculture?

Agriculture is all around us, and it's fun to teach students about God's creation without them knowing it. It helps them realize that without agriculture, we wouldn't really be able to survive. It provides us with the clothes we wear, the food we eat, etc.

What do you like to do for fun?

I like to go hiking, spend time with my family and friends, anything that involves my corgi, and I have an obsession with taco trucks and trying a different one every Tuesday.

Do you have any pets?

I have Willow, my corgi, and I also have two cats, Binq and Levi. I also have two horses, but they live at my parents house.

Do you have any pet peeves?

I don't like when people are late. I also don't like people who eat and smack their lips.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

Tacos.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I wanna fly. There are so many places I want to go to, but flying is expensive and I don't want to have to drive.

Were you a chapter officer when you were in high school? If so, what position?

I held the treasurer, vice president, and president position when I was in high school.

What advice would you give to anybody that wants to go down the ag education path, and become an ag teacher?

Have an open mind when it comes to education.

Everything is always constantly changing, like with COVID. With becoming a specific type of teacher, try and volunteer at different schools with different subjects to see what you like. When you apply for a job, make sure that you do your research beforehand.

Any fun facts about yourself?

When I was in 5th grade, I won a lip syncing contest in Sanger School District singing "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani. I was obsessed with Lanette the clown and in 2012 I won Supreme grand champion market turkey.

Tom Brady Makes His Return in Tampa

by Matt Melchor

He’s back! The greatest Quarterback of all time will return for the 2022 season, and has unfinished business in Tampa. Tom Brady had the most excellent season of his entire career last season, throwing approximately 5,316 passing yards, 43 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He led Tampa with a 13-4 record and led them to the Divisional Round until nearly coming back on a near blowout against the Los Angeles Rams. After that game, Brady decided to hang up his cleats and call an end to his Hall of Fame career. Or did he?

Brady announced on March 13, 2022 that he will be returning to the NFL. The Buccaneers are now competitive with Brady back. They will try to convince some of their key players to come back. This will most likely be Brady’s last season in the NFL because his contract still has one year left and he wants to play until he's 45. We all get to see the Hall of Famer continue to play on the field, and the Bucs could maybe go to the Super Bowl or make a long run in the playoffs.

Brady announced on March 13, 2022 that he will be returning to the NFL. The Buccaneers are now competitive with Brady back. They will try to convince some of their key players to come back. This will most likely be Brady’s last season in the NFL because his contract still has one year left and he wants to play until he's 45. We all get to see the Hall of Famer continue to play on the field, and the Bucs could maybe go to the Super Bowl or make a long run in the playoffs.

Personally I love Tom Brady and I’m excited to see him come back for at least one more season of him playing. He has an incredible story and it’s not finished yet. His family and fans are all for it. We’ll see the G.O.A.T for one more year.