The Cougar Claw for Dec. 2022

The importance of mental health

Story by: Sydney

and Lauryn Olivarez

Teen mental health is not an unknown subject. The issue has been talked about in movies, shows, music, etc. With this, the teens of today have a natural tendency to express their experiences with mental health and illness. The conversation is often relatable amongst teenagers, and while

individuals that suffer from mental health issues, it’s still considered a taboo topic for most. It’s pretty common to see jokes being made on social media regarding one’s mental state, but once real stories are shared, people are told to stop putting their trauma on the internet.

While social media does provide access to education on mental health, it is important to remember that this is not entirely a solution. It is best to not self diagnose when dealing with mental issues, especially through the use of social media or online tools, as it can be unreliable.

there can be growth in bonding, many have remarked on the fact that in today’s generation, poor mental health is becoming too frequent.

In a small study conducted with teens from Tomball High School, when asked how long they have struggled with mental health nearly 46% of the surveyed answered since middle school. The second most selected answer at 27.3% was since elementary school. Many also elaborated that the increasing pressure derived from school and family has been the biggest contributor to poor mental health. There’s no arguing that mental health is one of the most well-known and talked about issues, yet still people find themselves feeling isolated in their struggles. Despite the many

”I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was eight years old. I used to cry to my mom, wishing I was normal and wondering if others struggled as I did. I had never heard anyone talk about mental health before, so I thought nobody understood what exactly it was that I was going through. I struggled silently with my anxiety for years, always thinking that something was wrong with me. The first time I had ever heard someone else talk about their experience with mental illness, was on YouTube.

When struggling, please reach out to professional resources. Counseling and therapy can provide ways to cope with and learn more on personal mental health. The school offers campus counselors and the new campus mental health specialist, Mary-Margaret Bollatto, who are available to help all students. There are more resources at the district level as needed.

The creation of social media has given people platforms that allow them to express themselves, creating a way for millions to connect and bond over shared experiences.

People should not be made to feel worse because they not only have to experience these difficult issues, but they also have to go through them alone. With mental illness being as common as it is, it is time that we as a society must normalize the conversation.

Hotlines can help...

For more on mental health, see page 6

Hotlines

that help with crises such as suicidal thoughts are an easy way to confidentially get the help needed. Here are commonly used crisis lines and a list of available resources through the school district.

Common hotlines:

- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988

- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988

- Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741

- Child Help National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 422 - 4453

TISD Resources and Mental Health Partnerships

- Mindful Transformations Counseling Center (832) 843-7629

- Clearhope Counseling Services (281) 937-2977

- Campus counselors and district resources as needed

“ There are times when the world just hates me, yet there are times it wants to make me feel accepted.”

“ I feel like I’m constantly under pressure with assignments and tests and my mental problems don’t make it any better ”

“ I don’t think my depression will get better any time soon, the anxiety of school and the future just makes everything worse.”

Thomas-Arnold

Art by: Ava Bert

Opinion: The stigma behind men’s mental health continues to linger

By Ava Bert

Men’s mental health is an incredibly important, yet unaddressed topic. It is a conversation embellished with controversy and stereotypes which a ects not only men, but also the people in their lives.

Traditionally in many societies, men have been made to feel like they weren’t allowed to show their emotions as they were forced to front only the hyper masculine version of themselves.

is in turn has setup generations of men to feel shame and embarrassment around simply feeling and expressing their emotions.

Beginning at a young age, many boys

are told to “act tough” and “man up” when they exhibit normal, emotional reactions to things such as falling and scraping their knees. This sets up an incredibly unhealthy mentality towards how they view themselves and take care of their mental health. A clouded and relatively negative mindset such as this is a leading factor in why men are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, leading to higher suicide rates.

When men feel as though they are unable to express themselves emotionally, they are forced to bottle these feelings up. This results in emotional outbursts, most often aggressive, which commonly occurs in the form of yelling or physical violence. This is when it begins to affect people other than themselves.

ese emotional outbursts can be dangerous for both the individual and the people

who are experiencing the e ects alongside them.

is is why it’s so important to break down the disregarded and untalked about barrier which surrounds men’s mental health.

Not only would learning how to regulate and vocalize emotions from a young age decrease the likelihood of mental illness and emotional outbursts, it also grows one’s ability to recognize and empathize with others emotions.

It is time to destigmatize men’s mental health and not just allow, but encourage men to speak about the problems in which they are facing.

My mother’s obsession

A personal column on living with a family member diagnosed with OCD

By Anneliese Saenz

OCD, also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder, is something my mother suffers from. Ever since I was a little girl I could remember the effects this disorder has had on my mother; every little outburst and confusing moment. To those who don’t know what OCD is, it is a mental disorder that causes people to have recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions). To get rid of the thoughts, they feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).

When my mother would have her compulsions, they would be in a set of 5. Meaning she would tend to repeat a step or task 5 times in order to put her mind at ease. If my mother didn’t do things in a set of 5 she would have these dark cogitations; cogitations of her possible death or the possibility of her children being harmed. These recurring convictions controlled her mind, it was all she ever thought about.

Being a little girl when my mother was at her worst was suffocating. I could never understand why she would have to wash her hands 5 times in a row, or why she would braid my hair to unbraid and rebraid it 5 times later. It was so confusing. My mother would never tell me why she did it, she would always say “I just have to, you don’t understand”, and she was right I don’t understand.

I have 2 siblings, making me the middle child. I had lost my father at the age of 5, leaving my mother with her 3 children and a relentless illness. Things had gotten worse with the death of my father, my mother had to rearrange her whole life for the benefit of ours; we had moved to a new state, leaving behind everything we once knew, a fresh start is what my mother called it. It was not the fresh start we needed, my brothers and I seemed to be losing ourselves; days seemed to drag with the never-ending thickness of the air in our home.

Months after moving to Florida, my moth-

er had a mental breakdown. The weight of my father’s death, taking care of 3 young children, and her OCD had taken the last bit of strength she had. I learned to grow up during this time; 6-year-old me learned to grow up and take care of what she had left. I remember making sure my 4-year-old brother was fed and ready for preschool, learning how to use the microwave for the first time, and most of all, the anxiety that began to sprout in my soul.

missed my mother and the life I had before.

During my mother’s 12 month stay she had formed a new version of herself, a better version. My mother told me that her life at the rehabilitation center was structured. She had a schedule that she followed everyday and people that she would see everyday. Her day started with a 15 minute walk in the gardens, then she would have her breakfast and take any prescribed medication, afterwards she would have a group therapy session with her peers.

The group therapy was very emotional, so after the hour-long session, my mother was given a 2 hour window where she could do recreational tasks. Once her recreational time was up she had a one on one therapy session with her personal therapist, then dinner was served, leaving the rest of the night to relax and prepare for bed. She had this structure for a year before she transitioned to living in a world where she couldn’t know what to expect.

It seemed like forever when my mother finally came to her senses. My grandparents had found out about our situation and stepped in to help. They had sent her to a rehabilitation unit in hopes that she would learn how to manage life with OCD; she spent a year there.

Living with my grandparents was weird. We had moved to a new district, which meant a new school, new people, a new everything. I had lost all my friends once again and I felt so lonely. I wasn’t used to having a stable home, my grandparents were always on top of me and my brothers, they made sure we had clothes that fit and real meals to fill our stomachs. You could call it bliss, but I had

After my mother’s year-long break, she had taken roughly 6 months to transition back to her new life. My brothers and I still lived with my grandparents during this time, but after 6 months my mother had felt ready to take up the responsibility of her children. My mother had changed so much during our time apart: She no longer looked so tired, and she had this glow to her. It was beautiful. On the first night of seeing my mother, she had explained to my brothers and I what had happened to her before she went away. Being so young I couldn’t comprehend everything she said, but it felt so nice to finally have an explanation.

Being 18 now, I am glad to say my mother still has her beautiful glow. Although she still has OCD and her struggles, she never gave up like she once did; my mother is a fighter, my own hero. OCD may have once controlled her life, but that didn’t stop her from being the amazing woman she is now.

The struggle with comparison

Growing up, the media and television put so much pressure on the “High School experience.” As movies romanticized these rather stressful four years and people on social media posted the highlights of their high school life, they neglected to mention the mass amounts of stress that has come with it. The more I grew, so grew my desire for the life of my much older sisters. I wanted nothing more than to be the highly advertised, independent, and free spirited teenager seen on screen.

Despite the relatively optimistic anticipation around our teen years, once I got here, that anticipation left me feeling rather empty as I was met with a much less exciting high school experience. I found that instead of spending my Saturday nights partying, I locked myself in my room as a poor attempt of recharging my usually depleted social battery.

I’d spend countless hours scrolling on my phone mindlessly because for me, it was an escape. Ironically, the very thing I sought for comfort, was keeping me at my lowest. Although this routine made me feel almost ashamed of my life, still I sat helplessly allowing complete strangers to shove their seemingly perfect lives down my throat.

Regardless of the obvious conclusion that these were nothing more than snippets of what could truly be an unremarkable life, I found it nearly impossible not to compare it to mine. I wasn’t funny enough, not pretty enough, not happy enough. For the life of me, I

By Ava Bert

could not get out of my head.

One day though, I posted a video reminiscing about my summer. My friend told me, “Ava, you have such a beautiful life.” Suddenly, it clicked.

It’s fake. Everything is fake, and I was contributing.

Despite the unhappiness I felt towards my life, to others, my life was beautiful. After what some would consider over-analyzing what she had said, I began to realize she was right.

Hardly ever do we talk about the effect that social media has on teenagers’ perception of their reality. With these videos and pictures manipulating the life of influencers, teenagers often find disappointment in both their lives, and themselves.

While it is easy to say that this is the fault of the media, we are the media. With that, comes a certain sense of responsibility. The expectations we place on ourselves, and each other are unrealistic, unmotivating, and unfair. It is up to us if we would like to change that.

In life, we face challenges, and losses, and sometimes we are forced into situations that we don’t necessarily want to be in. And although gratitude is still something I struggle with, I’ve come to understand that in order to recognize the beauty in life we must cherish the little moments we may otherwise forget.

The laughs we share with each other, the funny shapes that clouds make, or the comfort of a warm drink while the Texas heat begins to turn cold. It is these moments that we must learn to treasure.

Anonymous minds: Mental health confessions

By Sydney Thomas-Arnold

When dealing with mental health, people can feel isolated in their struggles. It’s important for those dealing with these issues to know that they are not alone. Students were asked to anonymously share their experiences, opinions, and advice dealing in with mental health.

“I’ve been struggling with anxiety since 5th grade. I never do well with change and the thought of going to a new school was terrifying. I had horrible stomachaches every day and cried on my way to school. As I got older I learned to manage it better but unfortunately, sometimes it gets the better of me and I’m faced with that same sinking feeling going into a new environment.”

“I felt that nobody ever cared for me and I was just alone in my troubles. Ultimately as I got older I realized nobody is alone when they have the right friends and people to talk to.”

“I have improved a lot mentally but that doesn’t mean that I still struggle daily. Moments I’ve had like when I first had a panic attack was super scary but everyone learns and grows from mental illnesses.”

“I feel as if my parents measure my worth to whatever my grades may be. it’s exhausting because academic validation is pretty much the only type of validation I receive. when my mental health slips, so do my grades, and then I feel worthless to my family.”

Finding the perfect school vs. life balance

With finals week just around the corner, the balancing act of extracurriculars, academics, and personal lives can start seeping into the minds of students, affecting performance and mood. Students often prioritize academics at the expense of personal factors, missing out on sleep and mental breaks.This lack of breathing space overloads one’s brain and affects academic performance.

It’s easy for anyone to get overloaded. Stress comes with all aspects of life: school, work, and social settings. When it comes to teenagers, there is a lot expected. We are supposed to go to school each day, perform to the best of our abilities, participate in extracurricular activities, maintain a social life, and attend school events. Club involvement and leadership positions can be beneficial for the future, but between club meetings, volunteering, and competitions, there’s very little time left for actual schoolwork. Many students are also encouraged/expected to get a job to teach life skills and start building up funds. In this busy schedule, when is there an open spot left for rest and relaxation, or time to finish homework? Here are some ways that you can avoid pitfalls and manage your time a little better in high school.

Choose a few activities and stick to them

When caught under a heavy load of pressure, remember that it is beneficial to give up certain aspects of your life to make room for other needs. Being a dedicated member of one club already takes up a lot of time, but being dedicated to five clubs takes five times the amount of time. Demonstrating involvement and passion is important, but there must be a time when you choose which activities are the most meaningful to you, or you can find yourself stretched too thin.

Work with others

Even in leadership positions, there are students all around that are just as passionate and willing to help. It is okay to divide up tasks and draft reinforcements to alleviate pressure on your own shoulders. In core classes, bouncing ideas off of classmates with similar academic excellence as yourself is more engaging than working completely alone. If you find yourself struggling on a specific task - call a friend! - they are more than likely struggling too and you can find a solution together. On the opposite side though, you must learn to say ‘no’. If you have a friend who does not listen in class or is lacking in academic drive, do not

By Adalyn Campbell

devote your time to helping them understand every aspect of a class. While you may feel guilty, it is important to learn boundaries so that you can stay focused on your own personal track.

Avoid perfectionism

Perfectionism refers to a set of self-defeating thoughts and behaviors aimed at reaching unrealistically high goals. This perfectionism causes more harm than good. As a student, strive to be a higher achiever, not a perfectionist. A misstep that many students make is overloading their schedules with upper level classes. While taking these courses can seem like a foolproof way to get attention from colleges, it can hurt more than help. Of course, it is good to challenge yourself, but challenge yourself within reason. A small diff erence between ranking will not deter or attract universities any more than the other. Academic and extracurricular achievement as a whole will show aptitude and capability to complete work. The eff ort you spend on bumping your class rank two spots could be spent applying to scholarships, or catching up on time with friends and family.

By Lauryn Olivarez

A case that has yet to be quacked.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at approximately 12:15 p.m., 11 rubber ducks were taken from their Tomball home in room 1305.

Diana Martinez, the forensic science teacher at Tomball High School, has been collecting rubber ducks for the past 5 years. What once started out as a single souvenir from a European trip with her husband, Juan (also a teacher at THS) has turned into a lineage of colorful ducks with even more colorful personalities.

“In order to commemorate our trip, I got one duck and everybody signed it,” Martinez said. “I brought it in just because it was nice, and then ducks started appearing.”

Of the missing are: Batman, Batboy, Bailey the Zombie, Princess Diana, Soldier Boy, Buc Ee’s, Cake girl, Flowers, Theo (a blue monkey), Duck Aldridge (a captain duck), and Ana Tomic Duck (an anatomical female duck figurine, which was her favorite).

Her flock has grown to 272 ducks, nearly all of them gifts from students.

Since the first ducknapping, a few ducklings have been returned. However, earlier this school year, a second attempt to steal more had been made with no success. After the recent break-in, Martinez decided to put her things into storage so as to not risk more being stolen.

“There’s no [monetary] value,” she said. “I don’t understand why they took it, and sadly, there is really nothing we can do.”

No visible prints or DNA had been left behind at the scene, and no ransom note has yet been received by Martinez.

Despite the poultry pilfering, Martinez has no plans to stop. And next semester, when she no longer has to share her classroom with other teachers and their classes, the ducks will migrate back to the classroom and once again be on display.

As of right now, no suspects have been iden-

tified. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these rubber ducks, please stop by room 1305, located in the science hallway.

If you are in possession of any of her rubber ducks, you are strongly encouraged to come forward and return them, with no questions asked.

And of course, students are always welcome to bring their own addition, and become a permanent part of Martinez’s flock.

Star Academy moving out

By Natalia Martinez

Coming back from the Winter Break, there will be changes to THS. Star Academy will be officially moving out of the THS building, leaving the whole upstairs area available.

The new school layout will have the English classes moving upstairs. The Freshman hall will also be completely discontinued. Teachers who share a classroom will be given their own.

This means dozens of teachers are changing rooms, and students will have to pick up their new schedules the day they come back or download one from Home Access Center.

Star Academy will move to the new facility on 2920, the former BJ Services complez.

Commentary: The problem with ‘consumer mentality’

onsumer mentality: The expectation that

By Sydney Thomas-Arnold

the corporate push-out of small businesses.

With the false label known as “the season of giving”, the holiday season actually indulges in overconsumption. Black Friday, the Christmas Eve rush, and the busyness of this time glorify wanting instead of giving. It’s odd and concerning to see the shift of the season, from focusing on quality time, traditions, and sentimental gifts, to cramming as many not-so-meaningful presents under the tree as possible. Though the shopping of the holidays is powered by good intentions, this mentality causes waning intimacy.

Editors:

Lauryn Olivarez (Editor in Chief), Sydney Thomas-Arnold (Feature Editor), Emma Parada (Opinion Edtor), Adalyn Campbell (Design Editor), Saige Klein (Creativity Corner Editor), Ashton Lux (Sports Editor), Natalia Martinez (News Editor), Desi Beireis (Web Editor)

has created a general materialistic and frivolous ronmental damage with increased plastic waste, overextending of valuable resources, and filling landfills with the old to make room for the new.

However, this excuse for overconsumption is not necessarily the fault of the consumer. The pressure to buy is all around; it’s seen in ads on billboards, in magazines, and almost everywhere online, most noticeably in the new age of social media. Corporate society has made people feel less for not wanting more, and as a result, has turned almost everyone into a mass consumer.

This year, make the holidays more fulfilling by switching the focus. Instead of falling into the pressure of buying, try adding intimacy and closeness back into this time. In doing so, the consumer mentality can be adjusted, making for a healthier mindset and more connectivity.

Staff Writers: Charlotte Hildebrandt, Ashlynn Ritschel, Owen Wright, Leah Stinson, Anneliese Saenz

The Cougar Claw newspaper is produced by the students in Newspaper class, with contributed articles from students and staff welcome. Stop in Room 1201 with any questions.

Forensics teacher Diana Martinez poses in a duck shirt and socks, with her rubber ducks all on a giant in atable duck. photo by: Jerry Fordyce

Ways to reduce over-consumption

By Sydney Thomas-Arnold

With the holiday season approaching, it’s good to be mindful when shopping. From actually buying gifts down to the paper they’re wrapped in, overconsumption is a prominent aspect of this season, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Here are some changes and solutions to implement throughout the holidays in order to save, re-purpose, and help with the issue of over-consumption.

1. Buy second hand

Second-hand shops offer unique and often less expensive gifts of a wide variety. Stores like Goodwill sell used toys, books, clothes, and more, in good condition. Around the holidays, these stores also sell donated festive decorations, wrapping paper, and gift boxes, most of which are unopened and in brand-new condition. By shopping second-hand, these things are re-purposed and money is saved.

2. Alternative gifts

Instead of buying presents just for the sake of giving something, try gifting thoughtfully. Often presents are as expensive and wasteful as they are temporary, or they just go unused. An alternative to buying brand new gifts is to make them; handmade items like jewelry, baked goods, knitted/crochet wear, and so much more are thoughtful options. By making intentional gifts instead of buying unnecessary new things, gift-giving becomes more personal while also cutting down on consumerism.

3. Wrapping consciously

Normal wrapping paper is only used once, then thrown away; this contributes to plastic waste and is simply not worth the money when there are better options. To create a unique and sustainable gift presentation, try using things that are already around, such as newspapers, paper grocery bags, fabric, and reusable boxes. Instead of tape, another option is to use cotton string to tie up gifts. These and more are options that make gift-giving more conscious, and less consumer-focused.

Christmas Market

Come out to Main Street and celebrate the holiday season with performances, crafts, rides, and over 140 different vendors!

Taste of the holidays: Food a key to celebrations

In America, some of the most commonly eaten holiday dishes are turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. But what other dishes are eaten around the world?

In Greece, a very common food item eaten around the holidays is Melomakarona, a sweet honey cookie that is a Christmas staple. This sweet is usually dipped in spiced cinnamon and orange syrup after baking. Another popular Greek dish is Pork and Celery Stew, which is often consumed on Christmas Eve and is cooked with ingredients such as garlic and leeks to give the broth an herb flavor.

“My favorite Mexican dish is Ensalada navideña (de manzana),” said sophomore Analia Marquez.

This Mexican dish is a very popular delicacy and translates to “Christmas salad.” It’s a mixture of green apple slices, pecans, and a sweet cream sauce that is then topped with maraschino cherries and mint leaves.

Even those who don’t celebrate Christmas,

By Saige Klein

still have dishes that are significant to their culture. For example, in Juddaism, Challah is a very popular dish eaten during Shabbat or Hanukkah. Challah is a very warm, freshly baked bread that is braided and topped with butter and honey. While Hanukkah isn’t considered a major Jewish holiday, it’s a time for families to get together and eat food that represents their cultural background. A popular tradition in the Jewish community is to spend Christmas eating Chinese food!

One popular holiday dish eaten in India is Nga-atobia Thongba, a curry that consists of mashed fish, potatoes, and pears. This dish is often enjoyed over steamed rice and served over Christmas lunch.

Food is the passageway to the heart, to love, and in many ways brings people together. Celebrating what other cultures and religions enjoy around the holidays is a great way to learn more about the fascinating things this world has to offer.

Lighting up the holidays

Admiring holiday lights is a favorite tradition for many; from the comfy pajamas, to the warm hot chocolate, going to look at beautiful holiday displays is appealing to all ages. Whether by car or on foot, families and friends come together for nights of lights and cheer. Listed below are some amazing areas to look at holiday displays around the Houston area!

Prestonwood Forest Nite of Lights

The Prestonwood Forest Nite of Lights festival has been a tradition for around 40 years. Starting Dec. 11, residents and guests can go around the neighborhood and even judge the houses and blocks, deciding which one they

By Charlotte Hildebrandt

think is best. Wandering judges may go around and ask viewers which light display is best and judge accordingly. Going to this neighborhood is an amazingly festive event that has become a tradition for many.

Santa’s Wonderland (College Station)

Santa’s Wonderland is open in College Station from Nov. 11 to Dec. 30 for their 25th annual Christmas lights festival. There are a variety of activities to participate in, such as Santa’s hayride, meeting Mr. and Mrs. Claus, ice skating, and several other enjoyable activities. Santa’s Wonderland also provides food and drinks, live music, and a gift shop for all of your needs.

Basketball season underway with high hopes

From Page 8

the perfect balance of returners and newcomers. Some Senior veterans are Irie Spry, Brenli Ottingern, and Amelie Grostabussiat as well as younger returners in Carly Metz, Theresa Gaetz, Zoe Dauer, Kylee Symons, Kaydence

Tobola, Mallory Lehmann, Danielle Oyakhire paired with newcomers in Caitlyn Hamilton and Callia James allows the girls to play together and the coaching staff to build off of the unity into establishing a new, winning culture within the program which has already

kick-started.

Through fourteen non-district games, the girls host a record of 8-6 with notable wins over perennial powerhouses Kingwood Park, 50-35, and Lufkin 56-29 preparing them for what’s to come when district play begins.

Worldly winter festivities The Holidays

With the holiday season beginning, certain celebrations like Christmas are prioritized.With this, there is a lack of education on many religious traditions and holidays. Many students belong to different religions and cultures. It is important to learn about other traditions to make sure no one feels as if their customs are unimportant. Here are some world wide winter festivities to learn about.

Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, takes place between October and November and is apart of Hindu culture. It is a five-day-long festival but can take longer in certain Indian states. Diwali is commemorated by eating traditional dishes (such as Samosa and Aloo Bonda), presents, and spending time with close friends and family. Around 6 million people in America alone take part in honoring this holiday.

Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday to honor Judas Maccabeus, a Jewish priest. The small jar of oil he found in the

Second Temple of Jerusalem burned for eight days, instead of the supposed one day. Thus the eight candles on the menorah represent the eight days the oil lasted, with one candle being lit each night. This is followed by reading Scripture and giving gifts. Hanukkah follows a different calendar so the holiday starts on a different day every year.

Kwanzaa is a non-religious or secular holiday that began in the United States based on Southeastern African Traditions. Kwanzaa has seven days of celebration, from December 26 to January 1 every year. Each day upholds a principle represented by Kwanzaa: Unity, Self-determination, Collective work/responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.

Chinese New Year is not based on religion as it celebrates the beginning of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar. The 16-daylong celebration includes a week-long public holiday that includes putting red decorations up, families getting together, giving gifts, and

By Leah Stinson By Emma Parada

Opinion: Schools should respect religions during holidays

The winter season is made up of many different cultural and religious practices. So why do schools generally only mention and decorate for Christmas? When it comes to the holidays, schools should be more inclusive, and make the effort to acknowledge the cultural/religious traditions of other students. By educating students and encouraging inclusivity during the holidays, those who feel as if they don’t fit in because of their religion would feel more accepted.

Students who don’t participate in Christmas might feel discouraged when walking into the school and seeing a huge Christmas tree in the entryway. While the majority of people in the United States are Christian, there is still a large percentage of people who are not. When religious traditions aren’t seen as much in a school environment, students feel like they won’t be able to fit in with everyone else.

By educating students on the different reli-

gions that might be celebrated during this time, students will feel more accepted and included. Not only would it expand their knowledge, but it would also help them understand those religions and learn how to respect those different practices. This would result in a growing generation of students becoming respectable, professional, and open-minded adults.

Some might argue that the majority of students are Christian, so why should the school change for only a couple of students? They don’t have to change everything, just be more inclusive. Yes, it might only be a couple of students, but those students and their backgrounds are important. They should be included when it comes to the school acknowledging their differences and including their religions.

Overall, schools increasing the inclusivity of religions would help society grow as a whole. If students are growing up and learning how to treat others who have different beliefs, then it

eating traditional meals, including Chinese Dumplings to represent wealth and fish to increase prosperity. The celebration concludes with the Lantern Festival to honor loved ones who have passed on with colorful lanterns, oftentimes with riddles written on them for people to answer for a small prize.

Omisoka is considered the second most important day in the Japanese tradition. The reason it holds an important significance over other holidays is that it marks the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year’s Day. One thing that they do to mark the celebration is gathering around with their families, and eat a bowl of Toshi Koshi- soba or Toshi Koshi-udon as their final meal of the old year. Many people like to visit shrines or temples around midnight.

Being surrounded by other cultures is essential to humankind’s ability to grow and respect one another. Valuing other cultures will bring more equality to the world, in turn benefiting everyone.

would shape those students into well-respecting adults. Schools should respect different celebrations during the holidays by either acknowledging all of them or none of them; it is unfair to focus on one religion and not care, or even mention the others.

Magical football season helps community heal

The Area Championship would be an even bigger test against New Caney who had an undefeated, regular season going 11-0.

During the first half of play, which was dominated by both defenses keeping it scoreless, all odds were out of the question, from that point on, it was about whoever had the most heart.

Heading into the fourth quarter the Eagles were up 13-3 with 5 minutes left, Running back Christian Womack cut the lead down to three giving the defense an opportunity to get the ball back.

After the late-game turnover from the Eagles, the Cougar offense had to complete the two-minute drill.

After driving downfield, with twenty seconds left, Christian Womack did what he does best, putting the team on his back and scoring, giving them the lead 16-13 but the point after attempt was blocked by the eagles and returned for a safety cutting the lead to 16-15.

On the last play of the game, the Cougar defense showed up and deflected the final pass, punching their ticket to the Regionals in Pflugerville.

After a hard-fought game tied at the half, the season came to an end against Desoto.

With everything aside, all of the wins, recognition, and accolades over the last two seasons, this season was recognized as being “more than football.”

The season was dedicated to the Collins family, who lost so much last summer, and Alexis Hirsch, a student who died from illness early in the summer. After the tragedies that struck our community, people needed the hope provided by this level of success.

Basketball looking to take next big step this season

By Ashton Lux

Coming into this year the boys basketball team looks to build off of and surpass what was established by last year’s senior class.

Although the boys placed fifth, just one game shy of a playoff spot, lots of good came from last season. Not many expected the boys to win a single game in district play, nonetheless five, especially with a coaching change right before school started.

Head Coach Mitchell Doty was able to create a new culture of higher expectations, through everyone buying into something that is bigger than any individual, the program. The idea of “swinging the hammer” - working hard day in and day out - is what Doty puts into the program and what is expected from the boys.

With a brand new hire at the Assistant Coach position in Kevin Grider and returning players such as Second Team All-District Guard, Ivan Marquez, Second Team All-District Wing, Manuel Ruiz, Honorable Mention All-District Guard, Jordan Conner, the new addition of senior point guard Brunel Stewart, the boys truly have the potential to do well and fight for one of the four playoff positions.

New leadership for girls

Over the off-season, Tomball Girls Basketball started fresh by rebuilding and looking to turn over to a new chapter with the addition of a brand new Head Coach, Michelle Richardson, and a brand new Assistant Coach, Tracey Waller.

What is truly special about the duo of Coach Richardson and Coach Waller is the experience that they are bringing to Tomball after coaching together for twenty-two years.

This year the girls have

RAISING THE BAR

Looking back on magical run

By Ashton Lux

The magical, Tomball Varsity Football playoff run came to an end in the Regional’s with a matchup against the nationally ranked Desoto Eagles, 38-14. This playoff run leaves its mark in the history books as for the first time in over thirty years, since the 1989 season, that Tomball had made the playoffs in back-to-back years as well as following up last year’s 2021-2022 Cinderella playoff run that went all the way to the State Semifinals.

At the beginning of the year, not many imagined that it would go as far, especially after starting the year 0-2 which was far from ideal but that quickly changed. In week three, a 3421 win over Pearland Dawson was all that was needed to spark a 5-0 district run that secured a playoff spot with a two-overtime win over Klein Forest, 20-17.

Even after losing the last two games of district play, Tomball’s first-place playoff position for Division II was secured, giving the Cougars home-field advantage in the Bi-District Round against Cy Woods.

Going into round one, many doubted them, claiming that they were “underdogs” as for many, this would be the first time that they had been in this position as well as facing some star defensive power that the Wildcats hosted.

“I know for sure that everyone has stepped up, we get on each other about everything, correcting each other, and coaching each other, holding each other accountable,” Senior offensive lineman Abram Nicklas said. “Obviously you have to take into account who they are and respect them but as far as the game goes we have not switched much up, we are still going to run the ball, still do what we do best,”.

Tomball did what they did best as they secured another week of Football with a dominating 30-3 win over Cy Woods, punching their ticket to the Area Championship. Running back Christian Womack led the charge as he rushed for 283 yards with four touchdowns, giving him and the Cougars much-needed momentum heading into the second round.