talon
www.ahstalon.com
Winter 2013
this issue THE QUESTION 3
the magazine
View FROM THE FISH BOWL 5 RISING STARS 14
school people sports culture opinion photography
Turning Points Moments that can change our lives
Cookies and dreams
AP 101
Thursday treats serve up self-esteem p. 6
Advanced Placement brings pressure, opportunity p. 12
Issue
#01
Contents talon the magazine
EDITORIAL Talon Newspaper Publications
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Voices Commentary: A blueprint for the ideal teacher. A mural brings the Class of 2017 together.
Atascocita High School 13300 Will Clayton Parkway Humble, TX 77346
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Room 1717 Email: talonnewspaper1717@gmail.com
STAFF WRITERS
Behind the scenes: It’s cookie time A look at Thursday morning cookie sales, a treat that does good.
Brette Caraway Brayley Crowe Ashley Fairchild Brenda Hernandez
Turning point
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A Latino tradition celebrates the journey to womanhood. Two words mean the freedom for one girl to be her true self.
Megan Jenkins Chaz Kinner Margot Tiscareño Lindsey Wills
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ADVISER Monica Rhor
ADVERTISING
People Theater teacher Virgilio Davis rallies school spirit. Donna Hannah brings humor to her role as main office secretary.
Phone: 281-641-7646
Email: talonnewspaper1717@gmail.com
COPYRIGHT All material appearing in Talon: The
In depth: AP 101
12
The growth of Advanced Placement courses brings challenges, as well as rewards.
Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Talon: The Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the
14
Rising stars Freshman Leah Rush sets her sights on cross country gold. For senior Kevin Jiang, being number one is who he is.
accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the
Cover photos by Talon and Aerie Yearbook staff.
publisher or editor.
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Business Talon: TheMagazine Magazine Month • Winter20XX 2013
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Q: What’s been the biggest turning
The QUESTION
point of your life?
Alexa Pagano, freshman
“When I won nationals at the Masquerade dance competition. It really made me proud and realize dance is what I want to pursue: a career as a dancer.”
“Discovering anime. It was not a good turning point. I used to be really smart and did homework immediately. In sixth
Martha Bridges, sophomore
grade, I started watching anime all the time and slacked in my grades.”
Ryan Smith, senior
“The turning point in my life was probably when my dog Buddy died in the seventh grade and it was the first time that something that I really loved was just gone.”
“Going into my senior year, my dad had to have open heart surgery and we didn’t know if he was going to make it. It was
Danielle Hodgson, senior
hard because senior year is supposed to be fun and the best year of high school, but it didn’t get off to a great start.”
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Winter Month 2013 20XX • Talon: Business The Magazine Magazine
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3
Voices
Building the perfect teacher One student’s wish list T
By Brette Caraway Talon Staff Writer
o be successful, teachers must make close and positive relationships with students. This can range from having a comfortable conversation to asking what a student would like he projector lights up the screen. to do in the future. Students cannot The teacher bolts through his lecture. learn if they are not connected with The information filling up the board is the person who is teaching them. not the same as the information that is Teachers and students spend 37.5 filling my ears. hours out of the 84 hours in a week I can’t help but think louder than together, not including extracurricular the ridiculous lecture: “I could go so activities and tutoring. Teachers and far if this class was different. Could students may spend more time with I change teachers? Would that help each other than anything else they do. anything?” Strong and positive relations between the student and teacher are necessary for productive work to occur. ver the last 11 years of my school career, I have had or known at least one teacher like this. A teacher who seems to be rushing through a business meeting rather than connecting with the students. A teacher who doesn’t seem to enjoy being in the classroom. And I’m sure there are other students with this dilemma. The quality of a teacher can make eachers must steer away a lasting impression on a student’s life. A 2011 Harvard University study from favoritism, but understand individuality. It is important for concluded that students with better teachers earn more money, $80,000 on teachers to spread themselves equally among the students they average, in their career. However, some teachers seem to be teach, even though it can be difficult. Although being an educator is a unaware that their job performance fun and rewarding job, it is still a can leave such a deep mark on their job. Professional outlook is highly student’s lives. appreciated and expected from If I had a wish list of the perfect teacher, these are some of the things I students. Teachers should find a way to acknowledge a student’s would include.
T
O
“Without trust,
learning is virtually impossible.”
T
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Talon: The Magazine • Winter 2013
individuality without making that student feel more or less important than his or her peers.
O
rganization and structure from a teacher are key to a productive learning environment. Structured classroom procedures and lessons lead to understanding and confidence in students. When teachers play guessing games with due dates and lessons, students start to dread the class. This creates a wall for the student between the teacher and the information.
T
eachers should be open with their students. Students leave some of their most valuable information with their teachers, such as their grades, their address, medical conditions, and other highly personal records. The least teachers can do in return is share small bits of information about themselves such as what their family is like, what their interests are, and what they like to do with free time. Trust is very hard to achieve between a student and teacher when a teacher’s life and humor are completely blocked from their students. Without trust, learning is virtually impossible.
Teachers and staff expect the best
from their students. It is only fair for students to expect the same from teachers and staff.
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VOICES
A view from the fishbowl T
By Dorian Calderon Special to The Talon
“ ogether we are one!” Laura Pash, Gold House counselor Well put, Mrs. Pash. I’m sure many of you have all seen that glorious art wall outside Gold House. I mean, it’s beautiful… but do you know what it truly means? What it represents? It represents us, the incoming freshman. We, as tiny little fishies, enter this new big school from our usual tiny middle school. We enter this school alongside our old rivals from other schools. I mean, we’re still better (AMS represent!), but you get the concept. Thus, your Gold House principals, Meredith LeBlanc and Charlotte Bennett, concocted this brilliant idea to bring us all together. But don’t take it from me, take it from the students: “It’s da bomb diggity, yo.” -Zayne Townsend “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea.” -Kevin Lamkin Overall, this new idea has gotten some very pleasing www.businessmagazine.com www.ahstalon.com
comments and Pash says the school will be continuing this idea as a new tradition. Not only does it bond us beautiful students, but it also shows each of our own individuality. By creating our own puzzle piece, we can show what makes us ... well, us. We can show our likes, our interests, anything we want. Somebody could look at that wall and really learn something new about a person that they didn’t know. Thereby bonding our little fishie community. And in a very great way, no less. And I can feel for ‘em since I myself have experienced what it’s like going into this giant school with giant ... giant people. It’s almost like these little fishie caterpillars are going into their high school cocoon so they may transform into beautiful freshman butterflies. Beautiful. And good for you, Gold House principals, for bringing our little community a little closer together. Now, we may be whole. Now, we may live out our young lives as high schoolers happily and freely. With your help, we all may come closer together and be more comfortable in our new environment. Fishies, welcome to your new life. It’s going to be a good one! Winter Month 2013 20XX • Talon: Business The Magazine Magazine
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behind THE SCENES
It’s cookie time Story and photos by Lindsey Wills Talon Staff Writer
Wednesday 8 a.m.
First batch of cookies goes into oven.
The Thursday morning treats are more than merely delicious. They also do good.
two years ago, the special education department made the cookies busy kitchen in an AHS classroom completely from scratch. However, and grabbed a white baking apron. demand for the cookies led to using “Trenikia’s the kitchen boss today,” Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough. said Holli Sadler, career exploration, The department started with only pre-vocational experience and two boxes of uncooked dough, but vocational experience teacher. “Do quickly had to get three boxes. Then what she says.” four. Now five. Trenikia, a bubbly 19-year-old, bent The students make cookies from the down to a bucket and started passing beginning of class on Wednesday until out aprons. Then she put on her own 2:45 p.m. and laughed. On average, they make 1,500 “I feel like a cook,” said Trenikia. cookies, or 500 bags, to sell for a “Now all I need is the hat.” dollar a bag. After a team of students washed The money the department their hands, they set to work laying 12 makes from the cookies goes to its cookies on each tray: four rows, three “Cooking for Learning” program so columns. that students like Trenikia get other §§§ opportunities to work in the kitchen. This was a normal Wednesday “I like being the kitchen boss,” said morning for the special education Trenikia. “I like how it gives me the department. While most students are opportunity to be a leader to my sitting in class, the life skills classes classmates, but not be too bossy.” were making cookies. §§§ It’s part of a program, started by Back in the kitchen, the first batch Sadler, that allows special education of cookies came out of the three Otis students to make cookies and then sell Spunkmeyer convection ovens. The them. cookies were quickly transferred from When Sadler first had the idea the trays to cooling racks where a fan
Trenikia Powers rushed into the
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Business Talon: TheMagazine MagazineMonth • Winter 20XX 2013
helped cool them down. “We don’t want deformed cookies,” laughed Trenikia. While the first batch cooled, students methodically placed more cookies onto the trays for the second batch. Smells of chocolate chip cookies wafted through the kitchen and into the hallway outside as life skills students, peer tutors and several special education teachers stood around working and watching. After the first batch finished, the students started bagging the cookies. “One, two, three in a bag. No more, no less,” said a life skills student while placing cookies in bags. The bagged cookies were then placed in four tubs, which quickly filled up. §§§ The next day, after the second period tardy bell rang at 9:25 a.m., the department split up into teams of two and three. Each group was armed with a bag of cookies, a clipboard to keep track of sales and an excitement to sell. Trenikia started off in the www.businessmagazine.com www.ahstalon.com
BEHIND THE SCENES Thursday 9:25 a.m.
Teams head out to start selling cookies.
Wednesday 8:45 a.m.
Just-baked cookies are sorted and bagged.
Thursday 9:45 a.m.
Chocolate chip cookies are sold out.
Thursday 10:19 a.m.
All the cookies are gone.
journalism room where she and her partner, Kimberly Ralston, quickly sold eight bags. The Ag Hall came next. There, 15 bags were sold. By 9:45 a.m., just 20 minutes into the period, no more chocolate chip cookies remained in their bag or the classroom. §§§ With her eyes narrowed and mouth set in a straight line, Trenikia walked into the choir room where the men’s choir sang. She waited patiently until they paused their singing. “Would you like to buy some cookies?” asked Trenikia, who likes making the sales rounds because it www.ahstalon.com
gives her the chance to be around other students. “My favorite part about selling the cookies in the school is talking to people I normally don’t talk to,” said Trenikia. As soon as she stepped foot in the choir room, a rush of boys waving money came at her from the risers. “If you ever need to get rid of food, come to the men’s choir,” said choir director Joe Weir with a teasing smile across his face. §§§ At 10:03 a.m., Trenikia knocked on Principal Bill Daniels’ office door asking if he would like to buy some
cookies. “I like to buy cookies,” said Daniels. He bought five bags, which he shared with the associate principal and their secretaries. Just five minutes later, Trenikia had sold out of cookies. She and Ralston went back to the special education room where they counted their money. At 10:19 a.m., less than an hour after the cookie sale began, none of the treats remained. Sadler had to turn away several students — disappointed and cookieless. “I like selling out of cookies because it means we were successful,” said Trenikia. Winter 2013 • Talon: The Magazine
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People
Turning point
S
By Erika Lopez Special to The Talon
he had been waiting for this moment for 15 years. The day when she would become a young woman in the custom of her culture. The day her friends and family would realize how grown up she had become. Lauren Martinez, an AHS freshman, has grown up with friends and family around her all the time. But now, all their attention was focused on the birthday girl and her very special day. The day she would receive a ring, a rosary and a Bible, all blessed by the priest. The day she knew her legs would hurt and her knees would burn because of having to kneel through an entire Mass dedicated to her. The day she would give the Virgin Mary flowers and recite the “Ave Maria” in Latin. The day her grandma made her realize it was actually happening. The day of her quinceañera, the traditional Latino celebration for a girl’s 15th birthday. “I love you, and I’ll always love you. You will always be my very special first grandbaby,” her grandma said while watching Lauren cry happy tears. Hours after the Mass ended on Sept. 28, the party, with 150 family members and 65 friends, started at the Walden Country Club. “The decorated room was pink and sparkly but elegant at the same time, with large windows so you could see the golf course behind it,” Lauren said. During the celebration, Lauren received a crown, making her feel like a princess for a day, and her first pair of high heels which made her feel “tall, for once,” exclaimed the 5-foot tall teenager. She was also shown her last doll, which represented her childhood. The childhood that had now become part of her past. 8
Business Talon: TheMagazine MagazineMonth • Winter 20XX 2013
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PEOPLE
‘You can’t help who you are’ By Vanessa Olecki Special to The Talon
Sending the text message was risky, but it was something she had to do.
Her hands were trembling as she pressed send. She shuddered while waiting for a reply. Minutes later, her mom burst through her bedroom door, begging for the truth, while confessing her love for her daughter. The text contained two words. Two simple words that brought hours of confession between the two of them: “I’m gay.” The Atascocita High School student, who asked that her name not be used, never expected not to be "comfortable dating boys," but as soon as she came to terms with what was running through her head, she knew her mother needed to know. Telling the truth was hard to do. She knew her true friends would stick by her, and the friends who did leave obviously weren't good friends. After confessing she was gay, the reactions she got from the people she loved and considered friends kind of bothered her. She eventually grew into her skin. "You can't help who you are,” she says. “And you don't need to be ashamed of who you are. Accept it, and others will too.” Coming to this realization, she says, made her "generally happier as a person." Since coming out two years ago, she has learned who her real friends are. She's helped her mother understand and accept her, not only as a person, but as her own daughter who never changed, but simply learned something new about herself. www.ahstalon.com
Winter 2013 • Talon: The Magazine
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PEOPLE
Photos by Courtney Anderson/ Aerie Yearbook Staff
Pump up the volume By Chaz Kinner Talon Staff Writer
Westbrook High School in Beaumont, irgilio Davis, who is from the Texas for the majority of his teaching Republic of Panama, probably never career, Davis moved to Atascocita imagined he would have an impact last school year, following his friend on a high school 1,751 miles away, in and principal from Westbrook, Bill Atascocita, Texas. Daniels. But he has. “Location, location, location,” Davis Now well-known around Atascocita repeated proudly, describing another High School, the theater teacher big factor in his move. is recognized for his energy and In order to become known around flamboyant personality. school, Davis had to stand out. Davis has always loved to be in the It didn’t take long for students to spotlight. recognize his voice echoing down the He began entertaining audiences theater hallway at students trying to in 1990 when he began his acting enter from outside after lunch. career. Since then, Davis has appeared “Why y’all banging on the door?” in many television shows and other he’ll ask, with a touch of good humor. entertainment products. He was a “He’s one of those teachers you feel background voice in the video game comfortable joking around with,” “Red Dead Redemption,” and acted junior James Drexler said. in movies such as “I Flunked Sunday This year, Davis began hosting the School” and “A Coming Day.” pep rallies held during advisory before While still acting on the side, Davis’s every home game. passion now lies with teaching high His energy and enthusiasm proved school students. After teaching at contagious.
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Talon: The Magazine • Winter 2013
“I feel like the school is more motivated ever since he began hosting the pep rallies,” sophomore Jaclyn LeBlanc said. Davis leads many chants and energetic competitions between each class during the pep rallies to help spark a friendly competition. He always pumps up the crowd with a round of his trademark “Coach Stump” song, while skipping around the gym. “The pep rallies are the center of my soul,” Davis said. “I’ve wanted to do them since the first year I arrived here.” At a pep rally in early November, Davis showed off his recent weight loss over this school year by slipping into a student’s football jersey that used to be too tight. Students cheered after seeing Davis accomplish this task with a gleaming smile on his face.
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Central command
Before being a secretary, Hannah y onna Hannah’s desk rests in did professional acting, performed in the corner of the main office suite. musicals around the country, toured Photos of her family and friends and as a makeup artist, taught at Centre thank you notes decorate her desk and Stage Theatrical School and Company the area around it. On the wall behind in Kingwood, and ran an acting her hang wooden signs that say “A school. good laugh recharges your battery,” “I never thought I would be a “So many candles, so little cake,” and secretary, but it just seemed logical “Take me as I am or watch me as I go.” when I had a family to settle down,” On a typical day, a steady stream of said Hannah. teachers, staffers and students trickle Now she answers phones and emails by. They ask Hannah for keys. They from teachers who have maintenance beg for an appointment with associate problems, manages the campus principal Terry Perkins. They request calendar, schedules professional songs for a passing period on Fridays. development, and determines who Sometimes, they just steal candy sees and doesn’t see Perkins. from the bowl by her side or stop to Hannah is in charge of all the keys chat with the former professional for the school — more than 300, actress whose booming laugh, which she stores in what she calls charismatic humor and steady hands “The Key Bible.” keeps the school running. She was also involved with Hannah became a secretary for overseeing all the teachers who Perkins at Kingwood Park High swapped rooms in the school this School in 2011, after being a fullsummer — what she calls “The Great time mom for about five years while Migration.” she managed her two children’s Every day brings something modeling careers. She was invited to different for Hannah. come to AHS with Perkins when he Some days she has to deal with transferred from KPHS in 2012. She students who have their phones interviewed for the job and got it, not confiscated; other days, when fights knowing everything her job would break out, she has to cover for include. Perkins while he responds. When an
D
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PEOPLE By Lindsey Wills Talon Staff Writer
ambulance is called, she has to alert the district administration. Hannah always has a “good morning” for anyone who walks by her desk. She has music playing almost every day. When her “jam” comes on, she will get up and dance with bookkeeper Connie Richards. Hannah is quick to come up with a pun or joke to lighten the mood. But she is also not afraid to get things done. If she needs principal Bill Daniels to sign paperwork, she will knock on the door, march in and hand him the paperwork. Afterward, she will emerge from his office and get right back to the other tasks waiting on her desk. Hannah’s sense of humor is reflected in the music she plays on Fridays. After the fire alarm went off earlier this year, songs about fire were played for the rest of the day. One day, she decided to play television show theme songs between every period, taking requests from teachers. The Friday before the first football playoff game, rock and roll tunes drifted through the halls to pump up the school for the game. “I love my job here,” said Hannah. “It can be stressful sometimes, but I love it.” Winter 2013 • Talon: The Magazine
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IN DEPTH
Stepping
Advanced Placement up to
By Megan Jenkins Talon Staff Writer questions, and honestly I don’t know how I made it through the three Atascocita High School are usually essays.” associated with the luxury of late This experience is familiar to many arrival, Rachel Reichert, a sophomore AHS students who have not only at the time, didn’t plan on sleeping in enrolled in Advanced Placement on this particular May morning. courses, but have taken the exam that Swapping her usual attire for qualifies the class for college credit. sweatpants and a t-shirt, she filed into A total of 34 courses, ranging from the school’s silent halls 30 minutes music theory to calculus, are offered earlier than usual. She settled into a by the College Board. Twenty-eight chair in Red House as she battled her are available at Atascocita High nerves long enough to cram in some School. extra study time before a 385-minute AP courses have been offered to test. any student willing to sign up for one A year of rigorous notes, lectures, since AHS first opened in 2006. and plenty of time behind Strayer’s In the 2009-2010 school year, 18 “Ways of the World” textbook had all percent of Atascocita High School’s led up to this moment. 3,150 students took at least one AP “I wanted to cry. I froze up the first class, with a 74 percent pass rate, time,” Rachel said about her first AP according to ProPublica’s analysis testing experience for World History of civil rights data from the U.S. AP in May 2012. “I was exhausted Department of Education office by the end of the multiple choice of Civil Rights. In principal AP
Although Thursday mornings at
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Business Talon: TheMagazine MagazineMonth • Winter 20XX 2013
coordinator Meredith LeBlanc’s opinion, the number of students taking AP classes is too low. “For such a big campus, not a lot of students here are taking advantage of the opportunity [to enroll in AP courses],” LeBlanc said. In the 2010-2011 school year, 15 percent of high school students in Humble ISD were enrolled in at least one AP class, according to the date from the Texas Education Agency. The percentage of AHS students enrolled in AP classes that same year was slightly lower, at roughly 14 percent of the school’s population of 3,240, TEA numbers show. However, the number of AHS students who sign up to take the AP test is increasing every year, according to AP Test coordinator Debbie Willows. “We had almost 1,000 tests last year,” said Willows. LeBlanc also confirmed fewer drop rates than last year, which www.businessmagazine.com www.ahstalon.com
IN DEPTH
she feels shows that “teachers are doing a good job of preparing and setting expectations.� The AP test for the course is required to transfer the college credit earned to a university or college. Although a 3 is defined as a “passing� score by College Board, many colleges and universities demand higher scores for college credit. For instance, Rice University requires a minimum score of a 4 for all AP courses, University of Texas at Austin varies on each exam, and Louisiana State University ’s required minimum scores vary as well. Regardless, David Duez justifies taking the test even without the promise of a passing score. “I celebrate 2’s,� the AP World History and Psychology teacher of more than three years said. “Especially from students that wouldn’t have taken the test, because they’ve really
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% &' expended themselves. It’s a test being measured by other people in the country. There’s nothing like it. Just knowing you were able to do that boosts confidence.â€? For some, taking on the challenges of the course alone proves beneficial. “[Taking an AP class] really does prepare you for college,â€? said senior Stefani Espin, who’s enrolled in a total of five AP courses so far. “The way they teach, what’s expected of you, growing up and maturing ... they’re not going to go easy on you.â€? As for Rachel, who is now a senior? She doesn’t regret pushing herself. In the two years since that first exam, she has taken five more AP tests. “I’m more prepared for college. I don’t think on-level classes prepare you for what you’re going to see in college,â€? Rachel said. “It’s an experience.â€? Winter Month 2013 20XX • Talon: Business The Magazine Magazine
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Rising Stars
Passing the line
By Alexis VanBaarle Special to The Talon
Photos by Megan Jenkins/Talon Staff
F
eet pounded the black asphalt scorched hot from the sun. Sweat dribbled down her crimson red face. She looked down just in time to see her feet fly over the glittery red ribbon that had been broken just two people ahead of her. Leah Elizabeth Rush flashed back. To the kids who made fun of her never thinking she could do it. To the upperclassmen who helped and cheered her along as the freshman on the AHS varsity cross country team. To the long and grueling 26 miles she ran every week. To the coach’s proud face as she told Leah she would attend the San 14
Business 14 Talon: Magazine The Magazine Month 20XX • Winter 2013
Jacinto Battleground Invitational in September. She is the youngest of four siblings. One brother a marathoner. Her sister a children’s center mentor. Her other brother a settled-down married man. Nobody ever thought that little girl with the long dark chocolate hair and matching eyes would be able to make it this far in her dream. She had already shocked people when she made the varsity cross country team in her freshman year. But their jaws would drop when she was the first person from Atascocita to pass the finish line at San Jacinto. She finally passed that line. The line where she continued her
string of success. The line where she proved herself to everyone. The line where she proved herself to herself. The coach beamed with pride at her little freshman as she handed Leah her third place overall medal. “I felt pretty awesome,” Leah said, smiling at the memory of that day. She had done it. She had silenced everyone who doubted her. She felt glory, pride and relief wash over her.
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RISING STARS
Being number one Photo and story by Megan Jenkins Talon Staff Writer
A
s Tanya Rhoades defined a list of foreign phrases to her Spanish II class, Kevin Jiang, a freshman at the time, reached into his backpack for his Kindle. After logging onto the Home Access Center, he waited to see the set of grades for the first nine weeks of his high school career. Finally, the page produced a simple fraction with the power to characterize the rest of the four years Kevin would spend at Atascocita High School. It read: “1/803.” Out of the 803 students in his graduating class, he was ranked as number one. “I was at a loss of words.” said Kevin, now a senior. “I was excited that I had something to show for my hard work, but I knew there was pressure with fulfilling the high expectation of the position and to maintain it.” It is self-imposed pressure, driven by www.ahstalon.com www.businessmagazine.com
Kevin’s own expectations, he said. Although there is pressure to maintain his image, he tries to focus on his own goals. Losing his rank wouldn’t be an academic failure, Kevin said, but rather hard work gone to waste. Kevin had always known he was above average, even when he was at Summerwood Elementary and Atascocita Middle, but he never saw himself differently than others. “People certainly expect the stereotypical nerd, shut-off, who studies all the time. While I do fulfill some of these qualities,” he said, laughing. “I do more non-academic activities than people expect.” Senior Danielle Hodgson recalled her first impression of him from the words of others. “I remember thinking, this guy seems really popular,” she said. “I met him this year in AP European History, and I feel like he’s the type of person that everyone should have a friend like.” While Kevin does spend four to five hours a week studying for school, he prefers to define the time he spends reading material having to do with academic subjects as different from “studying” solely for a test or class. When not behind a book, Kevin dabbles in a variety of other activities. He quit the basketball team freshman year, but indulges his passion for the sport by regularly playing for pleasure. Kevin has also been vice president of the Math and Science League and academic assistance coordinator in the National Honors Society, participated in debate, and volunteered at
Memorial Hermann Hospital. Kevin admits that many people have initial reservations about his character when they hear about his rank. But he finds that just by being friendly, he gets along with others well. An affability his peers recognize. “He’s very well-rounded because he tries to be active and friendly with others,” said senior Selena Morrison Chin. Despite Kevin’s awareness of his rank affecting his social life, many don’t see him as on a different level than his peers. “He’s more like us. He doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else, which is good,” said senior Brittany Garza, describing him as someone who is “always cracking jokes.” In addition to maintaining his social life, Kevin has enrolled in 15 Advanced Placement courses, and scored at least a four or higher on AP tests for each class. All the while, his position as valedictorian has not wavered. He believes he owes that success to his parents, who instilled values of hard work and commitment. They also remind him that rank isn’t absolute, that others will always be smarter and better and to be “the best he can.” For Kevin, the true value of education doesn’t lie solely in a class rank. “My ultimate goal isn’t to have a little number proclaiming my position,” he said. “My goal is to achieve true knowledge and enlightenment and to improve as a whole person.” Month Winter 20XX 2013Business • Talon: The Magazine Magazine
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