Never Just One
Teens, adults address effects of smoking by minors Pages 10 & 11 Each day in the US, more than 2,600 kids under 18 smoke their first cigarette
In this issue... Behind The Screen 12 13 Reasons Why 15 Soccer MVP 19
the
HAWK
Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, Texas 78660 @thehawkonline Volume 10, Issue 8 May 19, 2017 thehawkonline.net
2 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ News
State of the union Current domestic, foreign issues impact United States Megan Fletcher // Reporter
McKenna Lucas // Reporter
Chechnya detains Gay men After a gay rights group organized a parade in the Caucasus region, the Chechnya government began detaining LGBT men. Housed in detention camps, the men were beaten and electrocuted. Chechen officials continually deny the allegations, claiming that the government did nothing wrong. These allegations have received immense international backlash from human rights groups and the UN.
Serena Tran // Reporter
Carolina Yanez // Reporter
Trump fires fbi chief According to the Trump administration, FBI chief James Comey was fired due to his management of Hillary Clinton’s emails. Both Republicans and Democrats are disturbed by the timing of Comey’s termination. Many people are arguing that Comey was fired because he was investigating Trump’s relations with Russia. Trump removing Comey from office has left people confused and suspicious of his ulterior motives. This is only the second time in history that the director of the FBI has been fired.
Ohio Mass Shooting Anthropology study sparks controversy Scientists working on an analysis of mastodon and stone tool remains believe there is a strong possibility that humans first arrived in the Americas 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. Radiocarbon dating tests seem to show that the mastodon, a relative of the woolly mammoth, is 130,000 years old. These bones exhibit
fracture patterns consistent with manmade tools. However, the study has proved to be controversial among the scientific community. Professors from Texas A&M and Southern Methodist Universities say that the bones must go through many tests before a true conclusion can be reached.
United Airlines Incident A disturbing video filmed on April 10, captured by neighboring passengers showed a man being dragged off an overbooked flight from United Airlines. Victim David Dao, 69, refused to give up his seat and later was harshly dragged by a security officer. Dao suffered a broken nose and a concussion from being pulled. The company is now under fire for the incident and is receiving boycotts from those advocating for protests.
Easter day, Stephen Stevens shot victim Robert Goodwin in a livestream posted on Facebook in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland and surrounding areas residents were advised to stay inside their homes while the suspect remained loose. Stevens’s vehicle parked in a McDonald’s parking lot in Pennsylvania, was shortly found by the Pennsylvania state police. Troopers followed Stevens for approximately two miles before his vehicle spun out of control. He then pulled a pistol and turned it on himself.
South Korean Re-election After the impeachment of the country’s first female president, Park Geun-hye, South Koreans are headed to the polls to elect a new president. More than 11 million people have participated in early voting, with concerns such as the economy, corruption, and the country’s overall relationship with North Korea. The Democratic party’s in the lead with Moon Jae-in as their representative. Moon ran against Park in the 2012 election and lost but is now seen as a “clean” candidate who’s advocating for a more open relationship with North Korea. The election can drastically alter the current state
of affairs and the overall status between North and South Korea, with each running party holding a different approach towards the topic.
News // May 19, 2017 // 3
President’s First 119 Days
Trump generates new regulations post-inauguration Lindsey Robinson // Asst. Editor
119 days. 2,856 hours. 171,360 minutes have passed since the 45th president of the United States took office. When Franklin D. Roosevelt set out to end the Great Depression in his first 100 days as President, a long standing foundation was laid for U.S. presidents to accomplish great feats during the 100 days following their inauguration. With his first 100 days complete, President Donald Trump shook the nation with his executive orders. An executive order is a decision announced by the president and given the power of law, however, the other branches of government may still challenge the decisions. Of the many changes Trump pledged to instate in his first 100 days, he specifically hoped to replace Obamacare, appoint a new supreme court justice, and begin planning for the wall around the Mexican-American border. April 29, 2017 marked the 100th day of the Trump administration, and here are some of the major executive decisions President Trump signed off during his time in office so far.
To Do List
Propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress. Cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities. Begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back. A hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health). Cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure. Begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Take Action
Border Control
Aimed at reducing the amount of illegal immigrants in the United States, President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 25, 2017 prompting preparation for a wall to line the border between Mexico and the United States. Along with the wall, the executive order also deals with a new hiring process for security guards and systems in place after apprehending undocumented immigrants. Task forces were asked to turned in their progress on Apr. 25, 2017, and sanctuary cities are already feeling the effect of the new executive order.
Immigration
In hopes of revising the system in place for entry into the United States, President Trump signed an executive order placing a pause on immigration from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Somalia for 90 days and on all refugee immigration for 120 days. The order, also known as the “travel ban” was signed into effect on Jan. 27, 2017. The order was later deemed unconstitutional, due to the Muslim connection to the selected countries, and was rewritten by the Trump administration to cover a less Muslim-specific agenda.
Crime
President Trump pledged to reduce crime, specifically related to drugs and immigration, during his campaign. On Feb. 9, 2017 he signed in an executive order focused on creating a task force to deal with these issues rising in inner cities. The task force is still in development, but will eventually join others of its kind in attempt to limit crime.
Environment
During the Obama administration, the former president played a part in creating the Clean Water Rule, which aimed to protect the bodies of water in the United States and add more definition to the already existing Clean Water Act. President Trump signed an executive order on Feb 28, 2017, directing the Environmental Protection Agency to reexamine their previously drawn lines of possession.
Economy
To boost the United States economy, President Trump signed an executive order asking Americans to “Buy American, Hire American.” With the executive order, signed on Apr. 18, 2017, the Trump administration hopes to promote United States businesses and enable easier rivalry with competing countries’ goods.
Movement provides opportunity for change in government Holly Hambleton // Asst. Editor
The campaign, 10 Actions in the First 100 Days, organized by the Women’s March campaign in Washington formed to give those unsatisfied with America’s leadership and the lack of women representation in politics an opportunity to make a difference in the federal and local government. People who participated in the Women’s March wanted to continue making change, so 10 Actions in the First 100 Days assembled. Every ten days, the
group releases a new action, followers can participate in and the activities stay on the website until President Donald Trump’s first 100 days end. The first action provides an easy method to communicate with senators and voice concerns about President Trump’s choices during his first 100 days. People could choose to write a letter or postcard to their state senator through the template provided by the group. The letter can include a personal experience, concerns or anything
they want their government to know. On March 8, International Women’s Day, the fourth action went into place, the Day Without Women. The action showed the impact women have in their community. Three ways women could participate were taking the day off from paid and unpaid labor, avoid shopping, or wearing red in solidarity with the movement. This acknowledges all women and the power they hold to influence the economy. Action six advocates the power of
voting and electing officials who will mirror the movement’s values. The Women’s March knows the struggles women have overcome to gain the right to vote and want to get even more people registered so they can make a difference. With all ten actions released, participants can easily choose which ones to take part in and use to vocalize their opinions. More information on the movement can be found on womensmarch.com.
news BRIEFS
4 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ News
Sophomore wins District meet Paul Le // Reporter
After participating in the most recent golf tournament, April 11-12, sophomore Madison Silva goes home named District champion, scoring an even par 71 in despite of having the first day rained out. Becoming district champion later allowed Silva to participate in the regional tournament in Waco. “This is something I have been working for all year.” Silva said. “I already knew I can play tournaments and do
well, but now I know I can go even further.” Making the all-district team, Natalie Owings came in tenth place with a score of 86, while Justin Ruiz made all-district boys team. “I wanted to cry because I’ve been playing golf for only a year.” Owings said. “It puts me in this mind-set that I can go very far with golf if I put more effort into it and now my dream is to go to college for golf.”
Artists compete at State UIL Caitlyn Schoonover // Reporter
Four art students recently competed at the State Art UIL V.A.S.E competition and received gold medals. Savannah Contreras, Rumor Stojek, and Amanda Usry received their metals in Ceramics, Samuel Perales in Drawing 3, Marley Smith in Drawing 2, and Erin Sanders in Art 1. They all got the highest score possible. “I think it’s a really interesting experience just to be selected to go on and advance because there are a lot of great pieces so being able to just experience the trip was really amazing and
to find out that I got recognized for my art was just a really cool experience,” senior Savannah Contreras said. The artists got to go to the competition and then got to go see different art museums around San Antonio. “Most memorable thing would be just going to the different art museums and just seeing the San Antonio Museum of Art like the different periods of art and what they mean to each culture and so just exploring different art works whether it’d be 2D or 3D and just seeing how different people express themselves,” Contreras said.
Runners move on to State meet Alyssa Ellinwood // Reporter
At the State track meet runners Daniel Viegra and Justin Botello competed on May 13. Viegra took third place at the 1600m and fourth place in the 3200m run, while Botello got sixth in the 1600m run. Viegra beat his own personal time by a few seconds. “That was something I had been working at for a long time now. Since sophomore year it had always been a fourth place finish, so it was kind of like I broke that curse and finish in third,” Viegra said, “To come away with a medal is really special.” Viegra and Botello celebrated a win at regionals and both advanced to compete in state. At regionals Viegra came in first in both 3200m and 1600m, and Botello took second place in the 1600m run, both boys were qualified to continue on the state. “I remember looking back freshman year and I was at the state meet but not in it. One day I wish I could get to that level,” Botello said, “It feels really good to actually qualify and make it there because it’s always been a big dream of mine.” After months of practice, Viegra and Botello prepare for 6A State Meet which will take place on May 12-17 at the UT Mike Myers Stadium in Austin.
“We all go to a to a team dinner before, we don’t do anything to surreal or off the chart. The main thing is trying to stay off your feet as long as possible and staying relaxed,” Viegra said, “I used to get anxious when I had a big race. It’s just getting your mind ready.” Both find track to be an enjoyable experience throughout high school and hope to continue running beyond high school. “The networking aspect about it and being able to meet new faces of people you may necessarily been able to meet. It’s just like a community within itself,” Viegra said, “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people and travel a lot of places. I just thankful for the opportunities that come along with it. Although Viegra and Botello were racing against each other in the 1600m, both boys find comfort and looked forward to the race. “I’m ready, I think were both ready to run together. I think we work really good when we race against each other,” Botello said, “We really push each other and whenever we’re both in a race together, it’s usually pretty exciting because I preform a lot better when I have him in a race. I think we’re both ready to show a lot of people what we can do.”
Hawks race to take on Cap 10K Taylor Hedlund // Reporter
A team of students, teachers, office staff, and administrators was formed to take on the Capital 10 K. The Cap 10 K race, presented by Baylor Scott and White, was held in downtown Austin on Apr. 23. “It felt good to team up with everyone,” freshman Gabriel Distefano said. “Because I was running with people I knew so whenever I wanted to stop they always pushed me forward.” The Cap 10 K is the biggest 10K in Texas with a 6.2-mile race through downtown Austin. It is a two-day health and
fitness expo ending with a party at the race’s finish line. “This is something I have been working with the campus on for the past couple years now,” junior principal Clarissa Alvarado said. “It’s exciting, you’re in downtown, you see all types of people out there running. So really it’s just getting people together to represent Hendrickson and get to experience a race but also get the experience of knowing you don’t have to be a runner.”
Photo couresty of Jeremy Bonds
FFA team places in top ten at State Megan Fletcher // Reporter
The FFA Nursery/Landscape CDE team placed 9th at the State contest at Sam Houston State University April 28. The team includes senior Jonathan Gray, sophomore Emmaleigh Gowland, senior Faith Longino, and sophomore Erica Masi. The Nursery/Landscape competition is a multiple-choice test over landscap-
ing plants, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the math involved in landscape design. “It’s really hard to make it into the top ten,” Longino said. “So many people do these competitions that you have to be dedicated and passionate about what you’re doing or else you won’t succeed.”
accolades &
AWARDS
Speech and Debate team competes in Tournament of Champions McKenna Lucas // Reporter
The Speech and Debate team traveled to the University of Kentucky and competed in the Tournament of Champions on April 29 and May 1. At the tournament, sophomores Sofia Valdespino and Brice Hahn placed third in Public Forum and Seniors Carlos Gregory and Robert Boley advanced to octofinals.
Sophomore Rene Otero advanced to quarters in Extemp. “It feels really amazing knowing that all our hard work all year had translated into doing well at a tournament of this stature,” Valdespino said. “Overall I had a really great time finishing the year off with some of my closest friends and a great debate partner.”
News // May 19, 2017 // 5
Science Olympiads competes at State Maria Torres // Reporter
The Science Olympiads team competed at the state tournament from Apr. 22 to Apr. 23 at College Station. The team finished 13th out of 30 schools. “I feel really blessed with the team we had,” junior Sarah Flynn said. “My favorite thing about Science Olympiad is how you get to learn things you actually want to learn and apply it and compete with it and it’s a lot more gratifying than regular classes.” In order to advance to State, Science Olympiad Team competed at the Corpus Christi Regional Tournament on March 4. The first group (team C1) finished second overall. However, second group (team C2) finished third did not advance to state due to the limit of only allowing one school to participate. The following individuals earned a medal in their respective events. Senior Liz Ross placed third in Experimental Design, second in Wind Power, and first in both Forensics and Helicopters. Junior Alex Hayek placed first in both Disease Detectives and Forensics. Sophomore Marc Abdallah placed first in Helicopters and Electric Vehicle, in addition of placing
second in both Picture This and Robot Arm. Senior Joelle Abdallah placed in Experimental Design and second in Microbe Mission. Junior Christian Douglas placed second in both Picture This and Robot Arm. For Astronomy, juniors Brinda Prasad and Sam Perales placed won 1st place. Senior Uthej Ganna placed 1st in Disease Detectives. Junior Alex Trandai placed third with Ross and Abdallah in Experimental Design. Junior Sarah Flynn placed first with Hayek in Forensics. Sophomores Madeline Lloyd and Alaina Kluge placed first in Rocks and Minerals. Finally, senior Aeslyn Kail placed second in Wind Power. At state Flynn and senior Aeslyn Kail placed 3rd in Forensics. For Disease Detectives, sophomore Erin Minnich and senior Joelle Abdallah both placed 4th . Juniors Sam Perales and Christian Boswell placed 2nd in Wi-Fi Labs. “I’m really proud,” Minnich said. “I personally didn’t expect to do that well because I knew that I was going to have to put in work and that it was probably going to be hard.”
Texas State Sprachfest Competition KyLeigh Collins // Reporter
Photo courtesy of Kirsten Nash
TSA competes at state level Taylor Hedlund // Reporter
The students of the Technology Student Association, TSA, competed at a state competition in Waco, on Apr. 8- 9. “Being able to set a foot in to where we needed to be even though it wasn’t great but it’s a good base to start off of so next year we can do better,” freshman Thomas Lopez said. “It was a mix of feelings; it wasn’t sad or disappointing because I didn’t place high. It was more of an it’s time to get ready for next year already.” The TSA competition consisted of events in Robotics, On Demand Video Production, Flight Endurance, Electronic Flight, Technology Problem
Solving, Radio Controlled Car, CO2 Research Racer, Music Production, and Safety Poster along with the addition of the State of Texas High School Catapult Competition. Most event entries placed 5th excluding the Catapult entry which placed 3rd. “The competition was different than I expected since this was my first year going to competition,” sophomore Evan Jewett said. “In my eyes how I saw it was it worked pretty well the way the way the system was organized. It was a very efficient system on how they had it working in the end.”
Sprachfest is a German culture language competition, there are many events to compete in. on February 4th, Sawyer Cowan, Autumn Long, and David Nichols received 1st place in the Classical Ensemble event. The Classical Ensemble event is a group of musicians who perform a piece by a German
Composer. At the State German Contest on February 25th, Samantha Zinni Received 10th place in Original Model and Needlework. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to better connect to my culture and for the support of my German teacher,” Zinni said.
Sophomore wins District golf tourney Taylor Hedlund // Reporter
After participating in most recent golf tournament, April 11-12, sophomore Madison Silva goes home named District champion, scoring an even par 71 in despite of having the first day rained out. Becoming district champion later allowed Silva to participate in the regional tournament in Waco. “This is something I have been working for all year.” Silva said. “I already knew I can play tournaments and do well, but now I know I can go even
further.” Making the all-district team, Natalie Owings came in tenth place with a score of 86, while Justin Ruiz made all-district boys team. “I wanted to cry because I’ve been playing golf for only a year.” Owings said. “It puts me in this mindset that I can very far with golf if I put more effort into it and now my dream is to go to college for golf.”
6 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Opinions
your TURN
Online harassment begs for solutions from bullying Staff \\ Editorial
Cyber bullying has become alarmingly common due to social media increasing the severity of mental illness in teenagers. Engaging in this form of toxic interaction yields higher risks of depression, anxiety and suicide. The lack of face to face confrontation appeals to those too scared to say hurtful things in person. Although for those being bullied self confidence drops rapidly and they detach themselves from their friends and family. A malicious comment tweeted doesn’t hold any less weight when compared to a physical act of bullying. Just because the screen goes dark, doesn’t mean the overwhelming thoughts do, too. Many teenagers know the consequences of cyber bullying and how their words online mean more than they think, yet cyber bullying still occurs everyday. According to the I-Safe Foundation, over 50% of adolescents were cyber bullied or cyber bullied others. Bullies have the ability to separate themselves from the pain they cause because the consequences seem to disappear, yet victims on the receiving end of bullying feel isolated and disturbed and can turn to self harm and in the worst case scenario, suicide. Along with the increase in mental illness due to cyber bullying, physical reactions like headaches, abdominal pain, insomnia and behavioral difficulties occur often as well. Even though online threats and rumors can seem surreal or fake to others, to the person receiving the bullying, everything hurts just the same or more due to the isolation surrounding social media. Sitting alone, reading hurtful comments about oneself online can destroy someone’s self esteem because they feel trapped in a detrimental situation, unable to stop over thinking. Those bullied online think no one else will understand or help them, so they internalize their pain and act unaffected. Victims don’t tell their family because they don’t believe any action will be taken against the bullies even though multiple forms of legislation have been put into place to stop cyber bullying. As awareness on cyber bullying increases,
the HAWK Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, TX 78660 http://www.pfisd.net/HHS (512) 594-1100 Student Population: 3295 Staff: 269
Adviser: Kari Riemer Principal: Daniel Garcia www.facebook.com/HawkNewspaper
more needs to be done to prevent teenagers from feeling the need to hurt others through social media. Teenagers don’t realize the impact their actions have on others especially when masked behind an online account. The anonymity accompanying cyber bullying lets the bully feel powerful and obtain an outlet to release frustration, while taking someone’s mental state for granted. The severity of this phenomenon cannot be pushed aside to discuss another time. Parents need to have open discussions with their kids to show them this form of getting anger out will not be tolerated. Statistics and real stories from students would help reveal the reality and prevalence of cyber bullying, hopefully preventing kids from hurting one another online and in person.
What are your thoughts on cyber bullying? What are the dangers teens face in society because of it? “I believe cyber bullying is a very real issue in life today. We are surrounded by technology; therefore, cyber bullying is very present. Teenagers face harsh treatment, and may commit suicide.”
Mai-Angel Thai, 12
“I find cyber bullying to be an immature way of attack, simply because the attacker could be capable of remaining anonymous and could bully without actual confrontation, a ridiculous action to do. A danger of cyber bullying is for someone to be a victim not just in public, but in their home, which should be a sanctuary.”
Tommy Luu, 11
“I haven’t personally experienced it but one of my friends was suddenly removed on all social media by his friends, and he was really hurt by it. I think cyber bullying is more harmful than physical bullying because it’s so easy to get away with.”
Alex Coronado. 10
Kayla Castaneda, 10
Samuel Perales // Cartoonist
The Hawk, the official student newspaper of Hendrickson High School, is an open forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Opinions expressed reflect the beliefs of the student author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Hawk Staff, the Hawk Adviser, the Hendrickson Faculty and Staff, or the Principal. Letters to the editor are welcomed, and may be dropped off in E102. Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff.
The Hawk is printed monthly at Granite Printing in Taylor, Texas. 1,500 copies are printed each run, and are distributed to the student body through Talon and newsstands throughout the building.
Editorial Staff Co-Editors: Ileana Perez & Kylie Ruffino Copy Editor: Rumor Stojek Assistant Editors: Alex Fulton, Holly Hambleton, Lindsey Robinson
Ky Collins Alyssa Ellinwood Therese Espiritu Megan Fletcher Virginia Gaffney
Reporters
Carson Ganong Taylor Hedlund Paul Le McKenna Lucas Emilio Pla
Ashlyn Prater Caitlyn Schoonover Maria Torres Serena Tran Carolina Yanez
“Some say it’s easy to just turn the device off, but things that people say about you will always linger. Just focus on the positive things and people in your life and everything will be okay.”
Associations Interscholastic Press League, Texas Association of Journalism Educators, Journalism Educators Association, Columbia Scholastic Press League
Honors ILPC Bronze Star, 2014 & 2015 Columbia Scholastic Press League, Gold Medalist 2016 Silver Crown, 2017
Never Just One
Teens, adults address effects of smoking by minors Pages 10 & 11 Each day in the US, more than 2,600 kids under 18 smoke their first cigarette
In this issue... Behind The Screen 12 13 Reasons Why 15 Soccer MVP 19
the
HAWK
Hendrickson High School 19201 Colorado Sand Drive Pflugerville, Texas 78660 @thehawkonline Volume 10, Issue 8 May 19, 2017 thehawkonline.net
Design by Alex Fulton Art by Alex Fulton
5
hit or
MISS
Approved abscence aides school spirit for soccer
With the success of sports and fine arts organizations comes student and staff support and increased attendance to the events. Girls varsity soccer team currently holds state champions for 6A schools, however, on the team’s initial advancement to playoffs, students not on the team were given the opportunity to attend the game during school hours. As long as a parent signature, phone number and ride to the game were provided, students were guaranteed an excused absence. Although the lack of fan buses inconvenienced some from attending the game, others discovered other methods to watch the girls win, advancing to the next round. Attending a school related event with an excused absence creates greater support for the organization is a hit.
New sidewalks improve muddy paths to class
Renovations around the school have commenced. There are new desks, painted walls, and carpeting in the office as well as new blue colored tiles on the main hall stairs, just to name a few. One of the most useful improvements on the campus is the new sidewalks leading to the 15-20 portables behind the library. The walkway which once was covered only by scattered cut outs of field grass is now a pristine pathway. This enhancement is not only more practical, but also eliminates students from bringing in mud from the once uncovered ground, therefore this restoration is way on target.
Overcrowding results in rushed counselor sessions
With the sheer amount of students at school, meeting with a counselor can seem more inconvenient than helpful. The lack of time needed, due to the line of students outside their offices, leaves students feeling rushed and unsatisfied in the session. The majority of the students also don’t have a strong connection or relationship with respective counselors. A counselor is someone trained to offer guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems, this is a person who is supposed to be present in times of need. But most students have never even talked with their counselors outside of trying to change their schedule. Hopefully, next year with the reduced student population, sessions will be more productive. For now, the lack of real relationship and time results in counselor meetings as a miss.
Opinions // May 19, 2017 // 7
Standardized schooling stifles student creativity Kylie Ruffino // Co-Editor
For years my creativity has been dwindling. My once vibrant imagination dimmed. In middle school, I learned that creativity is considered “acting out.” And little 12 year-old me, the adventurous, art hungry child had to turn that part of herself off in order to be considered the “good kid” I was too scared not to be. It was like a light switch, and the sparkle in my eyes disappeared. Since going to public school, the lessons I took away were hardly in the lesson plans. They were harsh lessons teachers taught me about society. The things that people believe to be true that led me to hate my education, even though I love to learn. I was told that discussing the true genius behind To Kill a Mockingbird instead of Harper Lee’s use of metaphors and diction, was “off topic” and “distracting.” I was told that writing poems about genocide in reaction to reading a holocaust book was “misunderstanding the purpose of the research” because I didn’t discuss the books literary devices. At a very young age, I learned that my creativity and my curiosity to learn about the world would get me in trouble. And I was confused. Aren’t these the qualities that we want for society? I would think. How will we grow and change if we prevent the future generations from developing their resourceful, creative and entrepreneurial brains? But maybe that’s the point. And even though I recognized these issues, I was also a child with a good heart. Shane Anders // Cartoonist So, because I feared what life would be like as a “bad kid” or as I now consider myself an “independent, creative and brave kid,” I instead became complacent. I fell victim to the system. In art classes, I was taught that “you can be creative, as long as it is what I am looking for” when I just wanted to be creative for me. I don’t understand how anyone can place restrictions or requirements on art and expect that to not restrict someone’s connection to their artwork. Every artistic class I took, made me resent the things I loved. I stopped reading books because I hated how we worked with them. I stopped trying to learn other languages because I kept thinking about how exhausting language class-
es were. I stopped liking art because I could never be artistic. I have been taught time and time again that society breeds complacency. That the school system exemplifies those who lose their identity. And I am sorry, to all of the teachers who may feel I am slacking off in their class. Or I am not trying hard enough. But I am. I am fighting to find myself again through creativity, beliefs and defiance. I love to learn, but I don’t appreciate busy work. It makes me feel less competent, when I am sure I can do so much more with my time. I can read great works of literature and appreciate their importance. I can write novels myself. I can work on art. I can study history and how it affects my beliefs. I can learn real life skills. I feel like I can learn so much more outside of school than I can in school. And don’t get me wrong, there have also been classes I have loved. And most of the time I love the subject I am being taught. The problem is not learning. I believe knowledge is power and the key to everything in life. The problem is the system. I don’t know how to fix anything either, but I know something has to change. The best way I can think to explain my problem with education is like this: in English class, essays are graded on a scale from 1-9. Throughout my entire English career I have been taught how to write a six essay. And if I asked about a nine I was told “you have to be born to write a nine. Those are for special kids” For years I have been struggling to battle the enemy of the education system. I struggle with maintaining my grades and doing my homework. I struggle with forcing myself up in the mornings. I struggle with keeping my anger inside. But I can’t. I am exhausted. Don’t get me wrong, I can do these things fine. It is not that I don’t get enough sleep or don’t understand the material. And it is not even that I am lazy -- well, maybe a little. This is why a good kid hates school. I was born that way. I am special. I want to be taught to write a nine.
8 \\ The Hawk \\Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Features
Lunch By the Numbers
Senior survey reveals off-campus lunch habits Caitlyn Schoonover // Reporter
The senior off-campus lunch privileges come at a steep cost. The average senior can rack up quite a bill during a week of off campus lunches. To measure how much high school seniors spend, 106 seniors were surveyed through their English class. The results of the survey are presented below.
86%
of seniors eat lunch off campus.
Seniors would spend a maximum of 26.75 minutes off campus It takes roughly
66%
21.4 minutes to get
food and come back to campus. of seniors have a job.
Every day, the average senior spends about $10.41 on lunch, or roughly $124.92 a month, or about $1124.28 a year.
$ $
On average, seniors eat lunch off camOn average, seniors pus about 3 days people. carpool with per week.
2
Every week, the average senior spends about $17.39 on gas, or roughly
$626.26 per year.
Place Other (15%) In N Out (3%)
Chick-Fil-A (30%)*
Raising Cane’s (5%)
In a year, the average senior spends roughly $1750.54 on combined food and gas.
$$
$$ $ Cost $
Time
Home (8%)
Panda Express (10%)
Multiple Restaurants (18%)
Whataburger (14%)
* Percentages are approximate
Features // May 19, 2017 // 9
Unplugged
Juniors discuss benefits without social media Serena Tran // Reporter
Social media has become the modern day norm, influencing pop culture and redefining society as a whole. Raised around technology, junior Nathan Tietjen spends his time studying for exams while his friends devote endless hours towards apps such as Snapchat or Twitter, updating stories and tweeting their status. Tietjen strays away from technology to focus on spare hobbies and studies despite what his friends may believe. “Most of my friends use social media because it helps them stay connected,” Tietjen said. “It’s just a different way to converse and I personally don’t like the lack of responsibility. Sometimes I feel left out but I counteract the feeling by making the most of both family time and social opportunities at school.” The typical teen spends nine hours on social media alone, two hours more than the average amount of sleep they receive, according to CNN. Although Tietjen believes the impact of technology has provided easy communication, he feels constricted by others’ use of social apps. “My pet peeve is when I am talking to people and they pull out their phone and use social media because it basically says, ‘I don’t care what you have to say.’ And when you’re face-to-face with other people, you might be tempted to say things you otherwise couldn’t.” Growing up, junior Brinda Prasad was never allowed to join the social media “train.”
“My parents told me I couldn’t so I just never started,” Prasad said. “I think I just got used to not having or using social media and now I don’t necessarily have a problem without it.” With society’s increased dependency on technology, issues of miscommunication, health, and simple relationships arise. Priorities are redefined and the importance of completing school assignments compares with the task of keeping a ‘snapstreak’ with friends. Ideas of beauty and acceptance are viewed through glowing screens by teens who begin to seek redemption through others on the web. “It isn’t a good idea to use social media frequently if it’s affecting who you are or your self worth,” Prasad said. “But as long as it isn’t taking away your time or interfering with the things you need to get done, I don’t see any major problems with it at all.” Having extra free time away from technology has taught Prasad the importance of faceto-face interactions. Without distractions she’s open to other things she usually doesn’t have time for. “I try spend my free time as ‘me time,’ playing tennis and listening to music, as well as other things I don’t usually have time for.” Prasad said. “In a way, I’m losing the chance to stay connected but on the flip side, people are forced to view me as I am in person instead of how I express a small part of myself online.”
Survey indicates adolescent tech addiction
Lindsey Robinson // Asst. Editor
In an effort to measure how addicted teenagers are to social media, students were surveyed on their estimate daily time spent on phones, time spent on various apps, and how spending time on their social media accounts affected their mood. The results of the survey are presented below.
Which of following social media apps/sites do you use? Twitter
85 (56.7%) 119 (79.3%)
126 (84%)
Snapchat Facebook Tumblr Other
66 (44%) 22 (14.7%) 18 (12%)
Votes 0 20 40 60 80 120
Of the total amount of time you spend on your phone every day, how much time do you spend on social media? less than 1 hour 1-2 hours 3-5 hours
Reddit Rehab
6-8 hours 9-10 hours
Staffer revisits memories lost to social media
more than 10 hours
Emilio Pla // Reporter
I thought I was just like everyone else, and enjoyed texting and checking social media. Now, social media is a part of my daily routine, and gets in the way of important responsibilities. When I go to take a shower or try to go to sleep, I find myself distracted on my phone and next thing I know, it’s been over an hour. I’ve taken plenty of uncomfortable and disappointing cold showers because I don’t have enough self-control to stop. I’ve
wasted hundreds of gallons of water, because I just had to see the latest meme on Twitter. I especially feel bad for my mom, who doesn’t have much time to spend with me because she’s either at work or I’m out with friends. Whenever I can see her, she always wants to talk to me about my day and what’s happening but I can’t stay off my phone and pay attention to the words that she says to me. I just can’t focus on the real people in front of me
when there’s a never ending span of information that I feel like I should be looking at. A task that could’ve taken five minutes ended up taking fifteen. A conversation that could’ve kept going, ended up with no real conclusion. An addiction that shouldn’t have ever started, ended up taking over my life and ruining the relationships I have with people I love. I don’t want to keep missing out on life because of a screen.
Which of the following emotions do you experience after being on social media? Anxiety
37 (24%)
Happiness Loneliness Detachment
78 (50.6%) 40 (26%) 43 (27.9%) 78 (50.6%)
Contentment Excitement
53 (34.4%)
Votes 0 15 30 45 60 75
10 \\ The Hawk \\Volume 10, Issue 8\\ Features
Never Just One
Each day in the US, more than 2,600 kids under 18 smoke their first cigarette Cigarettes cause 1 out of every 5 people to die in the US Cigarettes have killed more than 10 times all lives lost in US wars 12.4% of seniors have use e-cigarettes in the past year and most only use flavoring Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals in just the smoke, 43 of them are proven agents for causing cancer
Special thanks to Sandra Mello Lopez’s 1A class for collecting statistics
Secondhand smoke causes family, health issues Megan Fletcher // Reporter
If walls could talk, the drywall of sophomore Maury Brown’s back patio would cough. Brown’s parents and grandparents built the room exclusively for smoking, and the stench of tobacco lingers for far longer than they occupy the room. “I tend to stay away from the backyard,” Brown said. “I have to go “I had to through the room where they smoke to get to the backyard, and I believe come inside that may have been the cause of my asthma. There was a time when I got to the point where I felt physically sick, sitting on the back patio, to and just where I had to come inside and just sit in there for a while before I could sit in there come out there and talk to them again.” for a while Secondhand smoking is proven to be life-threatening to babies and small children. According to the American Lung Association, it causes before I more than 202,000 asthma attacks per year in children. could come “[It was] terrible,” Brown said. “I felt like my nose had closed up and my throat had closed up a little bit. They rarely open the patio door, and out there smoke will just build up in there.” and talk to Growing up with chain-smoking parents, he felt that the habit was usual, but that changed with age. them again.” “As I got a bit older, I learned that it wasn’t really normal,” Brown said. “I am -Maury brown, 9 completely against smoking because of my parents and grandparents.”
}
}
}
“Don’t let anyone influence you into doing something you’re not sure about, you know is wrong, you’re uneducated about, or that you feel pressured to do. Don’t take someone’s word for it, especially someone who is trying to influence you. Ask questions, look it up, hear from those who are professionals or educated about the topic, or those who have dealt with the issue. It could mean the difference between life and death or a life with addiction and all its consequences.” -Health Science Teacher Sandra Mello Lopez
School nurse Connie Gutierrez discusses teen use of tobacco Alex Fulton // Asst. Editor
What health risks do vape products pose? Vaping is another form of delivering nicotine into the body and as we know nicotine is highly addictive. Some vaping manufacturers use chemicals, like Diacetyl, to enhance the flavors of the liquid, which can be harmful to the lungs or make asthma worse.
What is something teens/high schoolers should consider before using vape products? Teens/high schoolers are at risk of getting addicted to nicotine at a younger age, there is also a risk of an allergic reaction to some of the additives in the liquid.
Compare the effects of traditional tobacco products (cigarettes, dip, etc) with newer vape products. Traditional tobacco and dips have been directly associated with causing cancers of the mouth, throat and lungs. Cigarettes have been linked with carcinogens released into the atmosphere and second hand smoke problems. Traditional cigarettes produce a strong smoky/rancid smell on the person, their hair, clothes and the environment around them. Vape products have been linked to exploding batteries or product misuse. There is not a lot of information or regulation available for the vaping products.
Are there greater risks for teens/minors? If so, what are they? Web MD has an article which speaks to the effects of Vaping on teens, and they state, ‘studies show nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine.’ There is a growing body of evidence that nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? It is a concern to me that middle/high school students think that vaping is not as harmful to them as smoking a cigarette. I hope that more education can be provided to our students now and in the future.
Features // May 19, 2017 // 11
Chris Velasquez, 11 Alexis Fehr, 12
Letter from the Editor Alex Fulton // Asst. Editor
Nearly everyone interviewed had some kind of experience with smoking. Most people recalled the second hand smoking effects cigarettes had, which led these teens to advocate against smoking. Seeing the addiction their peers developed from tobacco products showed students the dangers of smoking. This piece shows different ways student leaders in PALS, Peer Mediation and Student Council learn about dealing with smoking, peer pressure and discouraging their peers from using tobacco products. After the interviews, subjects failed to speak about any protocol on dealing with these issues, instead these teens learned to develop their own anti-drug attitude from personal encounters with smoking. Photo by Victoria Hoang
Pauline Nguyen, 11 Brendan Dwyer, 9
Teenagers address peer pressure, experiences with smoking “I do have family who smoked, but they stopped because my “I do have personal experiences with smoking, because uncle died of lung cancer, so that was kind of a wake up call my dad used to smoke, but me and my sister would find his cigarettes and hide them. I’ve learned how smoking can single for them. What [PALs] do is try to promote the more positive side of peer pressure, such as don’t do it, which is ultimately handedly destroy someone. Not just physically, but mentally. going to be beneficial for everyone. I think I should raise The chemicals in cigarettes are so powerful, they’re as addicawareness on smoking by telling people who do, ‘Hey you tive as heroine. Smoking is just not worth it. It will ruin you and might ruin your life by continuing to smoke.’” continue to ruin others.”
-Brendan Dwyer, 9 “I know what happens to your lungs when you smoke, it makes me sad for smokers. It’s not healthy, it doesn’t smell great on your skin and it doesn’t make you look good after a certain amount of time. People want to be like everyone else, they just want to fit in. When you’re a teenager you want to rebel against everything, so they think it’s kind of cool, plus everyone’s doing it.”
-Alexis Fehr, 12
-Pauline Nguyen, 11
“I think a lot of teens smoke because it was something that was offered to them early on or something they picked up by a friend for stress reasons or just for fun and they never truly quit the habit. I do know someone who smokes and it makes me feel sad to see them spend so much time, effort and money in order to smoke. When I see them smoking or see them trying to smoke I tell them, ‘I wish you wouldn’t smoke anymore of because of what it’s doing to your body will possibly end your life as well as our friendship, which we both love.’”
-Chris Velasquez, 11
12 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Features
Behind the Screen
Cyber bullying victim works through harassment Therese Espiritu // Reporter
As she sits in her room alone and scrolls through Twitter, junior Christina Applewood* tries her best not to let the mean tweets and rumors about her affect her. But she’s alone, with no one by her side to comfort her. When she goes to school, eyes follow her around and her classmates talk about her and the tweets they’ve read about her. Applewood was cyber bullied earlier her junior year through Twitter when someone decided to tweet malicious and offending rumors about her. Although the conflict has since been resolved, she still remembers and understands the effects of how toxic social media can be. “There were tweets attacking me and calling me names. My bully was trying to displace their anger out on
something and that ended up being on me,” Applewood said. “I felt kind of isolated because you’re sitting at home and scrolling through social media and all these rude insults pop up, and it’s about you. The comments made about you might not even be true but online people don’t know that, and people are liking the tweets and you feel like, ‘Oh, they agree with what that person said’, so it’s not just that person who thinks that, but it’s everyone else as well.” Applewood didn’t know how deal with the trauma resulting from the online harassment, however, with the
help of her friends, she was able to find importance in life outside of the internet and social media. “I just needed to talk about my feelings and get it off my chest, and after I did that I felt better,” Applewood said. “I still went to school feeling like everyone was pointing fingers at me, and I felt really bad. But after the bullying died down, things were getting better.” Now, Applewood does her best to make sure those on social media don’t experience the same thing she went through, as well as helping those recover from cyber bullying.
Nearly 43 percent of kids have been bullied online
“I want victims of cyber bullying to know that they’re not alone. You might feel like you’re alone because you’re at home or you’re somewhere and people are just walking by and dealing with their own business but you have friends you can always talk to,” Applewood said. Applewood wants her story to teach those active on social media that their words have an impact on those who read it and there is always someone on the other side of the screen. “Social media has the ability to make or break a person.” Applewood said. “Everyone’s connected on social media even if you don’t know them they might know you.” *pseudonym
Stats on characteristics, prevalence of online bullying Kylie Ruffino // Co-Editor
7 out of 10 children said that cyber bullying affected their social life
15 percent of students admitted to cyber bullying others
26 percent said they were bullied over race or religion
22 percent said they were targeted for their sexuality
30 percent of victims choose self harm, a 5 percent increase since 2013
72 percent of children report they are cyber bullied because of their looks
24 percent said they do not know what to do if cyber bullied
Facts found from teensafe.com
What to do if you’re a victim:
1. Ignore
Holly Hambleton // Asst. Editor
The Cyber Bullying Research Center advises victims not to respond or acknowledge to the bully, if they can avoid it. Those harassing others sometimes depend on a reaction from the bullied. By ignoring the bully, their power diminishes because they don’t influence the victim the way they wanted to.
2. Record
Keep a hard copy of the bullying messages received to show to a trusted adult later. The verification of the bullying will be easier if real copies exist. If the messages get deleted, the bully won’t be easily found and held accountable. By saving the comments and/or threats, any police investigation will run smoothly due to the abundant evidence.
Features // May 19, 2017 // 13
3. Reach Out 4. Cut Off Parents, a favorite teacher, school administrators, counselors, police or any trusted adult can help deal with cyber bullying. State laws and school policies may have rules to stop harassment and can enlist assistance. Just talking to friends or a counselor can relieve a lot of anxiety stemming from hurtful statements.
The National Crime Prevention Council advises victims to cease all communication with the bully as soon as possible. Blocking their phone number or account on social media prevents the bully from accessing their victim. If this does not help, changing phone numbers will also assist in halting the harassment.
Sticks and Stones
Staffer details experience with bullying, impact on life Carson Ganong // Reporter
This isn’t a story I’ve told most people. It didn’t occur to me until I began writing this article that even my best friend, with whom I share everything, hadn’t heard it. Those familiar with me would likely describe me as reserved, unemotional, even antisocial - and they would be, for the most part, correct. What all but a select few don’t know, however, is that I haven’t always been this way; there was a time when I was incredibly open, almost annoyingly extroverted, but that version of me slowly withered away over the course of three long years at the hands of a troublingly common phenomenon bullying. I spent the first ten years of my life in a small South Texas town called Uvalde, and despite the shortcomings of the town’s school system and the fact that I rarely saw my father, I enjoyed life there. I made friends at school with relative ease, and approached my school work with zealous enthusiasm, quickly making it into the school’s gifted and talented program. I fit in, or at least I felt I did, until the second half of my third grade year when two of my three close friends moved away within weeks of one another. I spent that summer mostly alone. The next school year I arrived, eager to see the last remaining member of my original group of friends, only to find that he too had moved away
over the summer, leaving me with no one to whom I felt particularly close. In his absence I attempted to make new friends, but others were less than receptive, consistently ignoring, rejecting, or openly ridiculing me. Though the feeling of being an outcast began to manifest, I remained optimistic, trying harder to fit in (and failing spectacularly). By the second semester, anyone who had associated with me before no longer did - I was confused a n d frustrated, continuously trying to win my friends back and unknowingly distancing myself more as I did so. It wasn’t long before they stopped ignoring me and began to mock me instead - a constant barrage of choice insults and jokes at my expense became the new norm. For a while, I was able to convince myself that it was nothing but friendly teasing, but as time went on it only grew worse. The following summer was once
again a lonely one, but this time I was thankful for the respite. When school began again, my classmates wasted no time picking up where they left off. Those who didn’t know me quickly caught on and joined in - all but one. A boy named Isaac, who I’m sure could have fit in perfectly were it not for his decision to associate with me, became my only friend at the expense of his own reputation. What had been only verbal before turned into physical abuse as well - on top of the everpresent jeering, I was shoved around constantly and beaten up when it could be gotten away with. Additionally, a plethora of new (and impressively creative, if we’re being honest) insults were thrown at Isaac and I. Everything I said and did gave them more to make fun of, so eventually I just stopped. Slowly but surely, I became closed off to the world, speaking only when necessary and taking care to display as little emotion as possible. Isaac’s
“ Even the smallest gesture has the potential to change a person’s life.“
presence helped me tremendously, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from, at only ten years old, becoming calloused, cold, and cynical. That summer, my family and I moved to Pflugerville. I had no choice in the matter, but I still feel terrible for leaving Isaac alone just as my friends had done to me years before. Almost eight years later, the effects of those years have diminished considerably, but they are still very much present - I don’t talk much, I have trouble trusting people, and it’s incredibly difficult to express my emotions, especially verbally. My hesitance to share my story stems not from embarrassment that I was bullied, but from shame that I allowed it to affect me as significantly as it did. The thought that my demeanor was completely reversed, my perception of the world so heavily impacted by only a few years of abuse makes me feel weak; it’s easier to say I’m just shy, I always have been, and leave it at that. Bullying, thankfully, is nowhere near as common here as in many other places, but that does not mean it is entirely absent - if you see something, don’t hesitate to step in and extend a friendly hand to those who need one. Even the smallest gesture has the potential to change a person’s life. The world, after all, could always use more Isaacs.
14 \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Feature
Zero Waste
Editor encourages new environmental movement Rumor Stojek // Copy Editor
W
hen I was little, I witnessed a mini tornado behind an old bookstore. It was a stormy evening. The breeze danced with tendrils of my long black hair. In a corner outside that old bookstore the wind spiraled, sweeping the nearby bottles, candy wrappers, and grocery bags into a tornado that spun the items in a circular current, just barely lifting them from the ground and throwing them back down. I was little and naive, and thought I was seeing magic, as though, suddenly, a wizard would appear before me and conduct the spectacle with their wand. But I was just watching the wind get stuck in a nook accommodated by trash which was then blown in this never ending cycle of spins and spiraling swoops. What I watched wasn’t whimsical or magical or delightful. I saw pollution.
Don’t get me wrong, I had seen litter before, but litter on the side of the road was just there. It was a normalcy to me. But it was never tragically beautiful, like my mini tornado was. In my tornado, Mother Earth herself, slashed the trash around and around and around. The battle between trash and nature drew my attention more than a bag on a curb ever did before. Reflecting back on this memory makes me think of our current society. We don’t live with our trash. We throw our garbage into any available bin and turn the other way. The trash gets taken and we never hear from it again. We are clueless to the damage we are causing. It’s a problem that’s easy to avoid, so we do. On average every American produces 4.5 pounds of trash every single day. In a year that totals over 250 million tons of waste. More than half of
that heads straight for a landfill. The staggering statistics had me thinking and researching. That’s when I learned about the Zero Waste Global Movement. The Zero Waste Movement is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a lifestyle goal to produce zero waste. Which sounds crazy, but it’s possible, especially for Zero Waste experts, Bea Johnson and Lauren Singer who both did panels on TED talk explaining their environmentally friendly lifestyle. In stores everything is covered in plastic, made of plastic, and wrapped in plastic. Plastic is everywhere. It is an amazing invention which unfortunately is non biodegradable. However, it’s convenient and cheaper to package goods in plastic than any other alternative. But should we keep sticking to the convenient excuse when our home is at stake?
We cannot stay oblivious forever. The longer we wait, the more mini trash tornadoes we will see. Ones not hidden behind an old bookstore, but instead will spiral around every surface and corner of our planet. The legacy we leave behind should not be a duel between nature and manmade pollution, in a cycle that doesn’t seem to have an end. We have to change something, because hiding from our trash won’t fix the problem. Maybe a Zero Waste life isn’t the solution, but it definitely is a much needed step forward to leave behind a positive environmental change, no matter how small. Sources: www.conservingnow.com www.banthebottle.net www.livescience.com www.students.arch.utah.edu
Four easy ways to lessen waste contribution
1
Use multipurpose, compost able bags
On average an estimate of one trillion plastic bags are used each year worldwide which is about one million bags used every minute. Instead of using these single use plastic bags to carry home goods, invest in reusable cotton, hemp, or canvas which are affordable and compost able.
2
Use multi-use containers
Instead of using throw away containers for food, consider bringing reusable containers to carry leftovers. Similarly use a reusable water bottle or travel mug to avoid styrofoam cups. Americans alone use over 50 billion plastic water bottles a year, this simple change could eliminate the unnecessary waste.
Be more conscious Consider buying at second hand stores or garage sales. Buy in bulk to avoid packaged foods. Recycle when available, but keep in mind not all things recycled are created into more recyclable things. Compost leftover food scraps and other compost able materials.
4
Opt for bar soaps
Bars of soap often come in minimal if not, no packaging. Instead of buying shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in a liquid form filled into a bulky plastic bottle, use bar shampoo and conditioner. Bar soap typically tends to last longer and leaves next to no waste when finished.
13
Feature// May 19, 2017 // 15
Reasons
Deeper
Staff uncovers pros, cons of new Netflix series
The recently released Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, is about the suicide of teenager Hannah Baker who recorded 13 tapes leading up to her death. The
show has simultaneously received praise and judgment for various reasons, leaving a need to evaluate the true message behind the show.
Consequences
There is nothing new to teaching the lesson of what makes life precious, or why we should be kind and should not rush to judgment about others. What makes the show so unique is that it expresses potential consequences when failing to put these principals to practice.
7
Alex Fulton // Asst. Editor Ileana Perez // Co-Editor Holly Hambleton // Asst. Editor
Lost
1
Paul Le // Reporter
Message
While the show was meant to raise awareness over bullying, spreading the message that suicide is never an option, in actuality the opposite takes place. If a young person views this content and relates to Hannah’s suffering, which ended with suicide, unintentionally the show sends the message that suicide is the only option to stop suffering.
For
Adults
Many times when teenagers try to address bullying, parents or staff brush it off because they don’t understand the severity of the topic. Hopefully, the show’s availability will make adults realize the prevalence of bullying, and help them recognize signs of suicidal thoughts in teens.
2
3
High School Portrayal
In just about every high school series characters are rarely seen in class and instead spend their time getting drunk and smoking marijuana, however 13 Reasons Why has several additional errors. Nearly half of the teens on the show have some kind of tattoo, even sophomores are covered in art. Sure, there are a few high school students who get a tattoo, but when nearly 50% of the school has some form of marking, this creates some accuracy issues.
Representation
13 Reasons Why breaks barriers in more ways than one. In addition to shedding light on an undiscussed topic, the series eliminates stereotypes associated with various races, providing minorities someone to relate with. There’s a jock and a mean girl, both of which are Asian-American, and an AfricanAmerican cheerleader among others. This gives teenagers an accurate representation of high school and gets rid of the idea that stereotypical high school characters are always white.
1 1
Impact on Others This show doesn’t solely focus on the suicide victim, but also shows the aftermath of others who were affected by her death. This helps shine light on the idea that those who commit suicide aren’t the only victims, but those left behind are affected as well.
4
Party
Culture
The majority of the characters in the show abuse drugs and alcohol at parties and largely when they face emotional stress. After Hannah’s suicide, multiple characters resort to drowning their guilt and feelings in illegal actions of self harm, showing the reality of how drinking doesn’t always coincide with parties and “good times.”
5
Harsh
Realities
Instead of glossing over issues typically never addressed in the media, 13 Reasons Why shows audiences how horrific life can be. Survivors of sexual assault can go months without ever receiving justice and sometimes their perpetrators can escape without consequence. By the end of the series, unanswered questions leave viewers questions on whether or not Hannah will receive justice, showing the injustices of the system.
6
Mental
Illness
The series directly correlated Hannah’s death to bullying, and while this is true, Hannah’s suicidal thoughts were deeply due to her depression. It was even apparent that other characters suffered from various mental illnesses. 13 Reasons Why could’ve addressed mental health as an issue among teenagers and a leading cause of suicidal thoughts, rather than just bullying.
8
Kindness
13 Reasons Why emphasizes the importance of everyday kindness. Throughout the show, Hannah Baker faces mean comments and bullying from her classmates on a daily basis building up her animosity for life. Watching these seemingly small, insignificant remarks pile up shows viewers how a nice act can improve someone’s day, when the only other words they hear are hateful.
9
Rape
1 0
Awareness
While 13 Reasons Why is mainly about suicide, it didn’t stray from introducing another important issue; rape. Some teens become ignorant to the issue of rape, solely because it’s a taboo topic. By introducing a character who was raped, it allows viewers to understand the trauma and impact left on victims and their mental health.
Graphic Content
1 2
13 Reasons Why doesn’t stray from showing graphic content, which includes multiple rape scenes and Hannah’s very graphic suicide. While the show presents very real and raw issues which have been underrepresented in media, for some, the graphic content can be too uncomfortable and traumatizing, and can ultimately trigger unhealthy thoughts.
Second
1 3
Season
Recently, 13 Reasons Why was renewed for a second season, making the series seem as though the creators cared only about the money and not about actually raising awareness on suicide. While the season finale did not explicitly explain some loose ends, the second season would further expand the world, leaving audiences with more unanswered questions. However, a second season does offer the opportunity to introduce additional new topics rarely explored or addressed in the media.
Review talking points that have been created specifically for this series by mental health experts from SAVE and the JED Foundation; which can be found at: www.jedfoundation.org/13-reasons-whytalking-points/.
16 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Entertainment
Listen To This Staff recommends current, popularly rated audio series Stuff You Should Know Stuff You Should Know is a podcast hosted by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, where they explain how things work and what to know about them, ranging from topics such as “How Porta-Potties Work” to “Do Animals Have Natural Rights?” Episodes come out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with lengths ranging from 20 minutes to almost 90 minutes of facts, experiences, and humor. This podcast is made for people who have a yearning for interesting information, but don’t want to do any of the research themselves. Josh and Chuck do a great job of thoroughly explaining the topics they discuss, while staying entertaining and energetic. Stuff You Should Know is the perfect podcast for those long, lonely car rides when people need something to focus on rather than staring at the road.
The podcast is consistently on the Top 10 list on iTunes, and receives millions of downloads each month. The podcast was so successful that it led to Josh and Chuck getting their own TV show on the Science Channel under the same name.
The Bernie Sanders Show Hosted by politician and senator Bernie Sanders, The Bernie Sanders Show podcast discusses current political and social issues going on in America. Each 30-minute episode invites a leading activist, along with Sanders himself, to further break down a progressing issue. Only four podcast episodes have been published so far, but it doesn’t change the impact of them; as issues like climate change and civil rights have been discussed. Even if someone’s political views don’t exactly line up with Sanders’, the episodes still provide vital information about the concerns affecting the younger generation.
Emilio Pla // Reporter
Ileana Perez // Co-Editor
S-Town Not a typical true crime podcast, S-Town goes deeper into examining the people and emotions involved in the mysterious crime. At first, a zealous caller, John B McLemore from Woodstock, Alabama, contacts the podcast producers claiming to know of an unsolved murder in his small, conservative town. Journalist Brian Reed hosts each episode and describes his experience in understanding John B’s hatred for his hometown and most aspects of society. This podcast differs from other crime stories because the focus shifts away from the murder mentioned in the beginning, and instead gets to know the people in S-town, and analyzes the faults in humanity and their origins. Although the opinions in the podcast can be extremely cynical,
Philosophize This! This informative podcast offers a largely chronological view of philosophers and their work, from Socrates to Voltaire to Ayn Rand. With anchor Steven West, it dives into the thinker of the week and dissects their work and ideology, leaving no stone unturned. In a mere 45-minute episode, the podcast manages to provide an accessible and well-presented understanding of philosophy and human nature itself. Those with a deep interest in thought, human nature, and ideas at large should press ‘play’ on Philosophize This!.
Holly Hambleton // Asst. Editor
the in-depth investigation into John B, an underrated genius who holds the problems of the world on his shoulders continually draws the listener in.
Megan Fletcher // Reporter
Sweet Treats
Entertainment // May 19, 2017 // 17
Staff reviews best, local summer desserts Sprinkles Domain Savannah Cummings // Reporter
Teapioca Lounge Round Rock Rumor Stojek // Copy Editor
Sprinkles, located in the North Side of the Domain, is a delightful place to get a sweet treat. They are mainly known for their delicious cupcakes coming in all sorts of flavors like marshmallow chocolate, lemon, carrot cake, strawberry and also their new cookie cupcake is a yellow cake with chocolate chips and a cookie crumb crust along the bottom. Not only is Sprinkle good for cupcakes, but they also sell ice cream, which is used for cupcake shakes and sandwiches. For the cupcake sandwich pick both the flavor for the cupcake and the ice cream then they cut the cupcake in half and stick the ice cream in the middle. There is no sit down area in Sprinkle but since it’s located in the Domain there are many enjoyable places to sit outside to enjoy your cupcakes.
Dolce Neve Kylie Ruffino // Co-Editor
Tiny Pies Serena Tran // Reporter
On a hot, Texas summer day nothing beats a sweet cold treat. Dolce Neve, an authentic Italian gelato shop located on South first street in Austin, serves some of the best Gelato in town. Instead of using artificial flavors and colors, they use natural ingredients to achieve their creamy wonders. They make gelato right in front of customers too. Their prices are average for homemade ice cream treats, but what makes them extra special is how true and unique the flavors are. While they also have the classics, they experiment with different ideas like an Earl Grey flavor that tastes exactly like a fresh cup of tea or black cherry and goat cheese which is surprisingly delicious and creamy. This is definitely a must hit shop for great gelato.
Tiny Pies is a family owned and operated bakery with two locations in downtown Austin. The shop specializes in making handheld pies and empanadas that come in a variety of flavors ranging on season. Although the pies come at a substantial price averaging at $4.50 each, the shop utilizes ingredients from local farms supporting the community, justifying the cost. Although Tiny Pies is best known for their small pies, they also offer “Not So Tiny” pies in a limited range of flavors for $30. The Nutella pie has a buttery crust with a sweet filling that’s balanced and not too heavy on the chocolate or the hazelnut.
Home to a mellow atmosphere, The Teapioca Lounge is the perfect place to unwind. The shop is known for their creamy bubble tea beverages but another, just as incredible item they serve is their dish called Snowyn Milky Flurry. A Milk Flurry is a tasty traditional Taiwanese dessert similar to a snow cone, made from milk, snow ice powder, and various flavorings ranging from five to ten dollars. Teapioca Lounge offers different flavors such as avocado, durian, coconut, mango, cappuccino, matcha, peanut, taro, strawberry, and original. The snow concoction is additionally sweetened with condensed milk and add-ons, like tapioca pearls or slices of fruit. The refreshing dessert is a wonderful sweet treat for any day, any time.
18 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Sports
Q & A
Nick Sharif, freshman fencer answers questions about training, teamwork and techniques
QWhat use? A
techniques do you
Fencing is a sport that requires a great deal of flexibility, coordination, and excellent balance. We warm up by simply running. One fun thing we do to improve our response rate and hand eye coordination is we catch Frisbees thrown to us randomly by our coach as we run around him. Some basic fencing terminology is lunging, checking, advancing, and retreating. These are all things we do with our bodies during bouts (or matches). Basic weapon terminology is parrying, riposting, feinting, cutting, and remising. These are different movements a fencer uses to attack and defend him/herself.
QHow do you train? A
As I said, warm up is critical. We will also line up across the fencing floor, and practice lunging and responding to various fencing moves, such as advancing and recovery. We spend the majority of the practice time fencing each other, this may be “free fencing” or practicing specific drills.
QWhat is fencing? A
Fencing is a sport in which you duel with swords, follow certain rules, and score points by touching or “cutting” (not literally) your opponent. There are three weapons used in the sport of fencing. They are foil, saber,
and épée. My favorite is saber, but I train in all three. Each weapon has a different set of rules in the bouts.
have you QWhat through fencing? A
learned
Although I knew nothing about fencing or any of my teammates, I realized, I can learn and adjust to something that is completely new to me. That’s a pretty good life lesson. I have lived in Pflugerville all my life, and this has felt like preparation for a life away from here when I grow up. Another big and important lesson is that when you see something from afar, it may look simple. Once you learn all the details, the do and do not do, the actions, and the necessary reactions, you realize how it is very complex. In addition, I am extremely impressed by fencers and their devotion to the sport. Lastly, I have learned a good coach and supportive teammates makes all the difference. My coach, Ray Parker, is fantastic and has helped me every practice to become a better fencer.
QHow do you form teamwork? A
That’s easy. We are all extremely supportive of each other. When we are fencing during practice, we compliment each other if one of us makes a good move, we suggest how to move or react better. No two fencers are exactly the same, so you can always learn from
Photo courtesy of Nick Sharif each other. I will be going to my first tournament this month, but I have heard, we all cheer each other. In that way it is like swim. While you may compete individually, the team scores as a whole.
made you want to join QWhat fencing?
A
My mom took a fencing class when she was in her 20s. She really liked it, and thought
I would be a “natural,” so she signed me up for a trial class, and I absolutely loved it immediately. Another reason was that I had broken my femur in soccer, and I had a long recovery with pins in one leg and plates in the other. I decided it might be a good idea to try something new with a smaller likelihood of re-injuring my leg. Alex Fulton // Asst. Editor
Softball and baseball players reveal feelings on advancing to playoff rounds
Photo by Chase Ruffino
“I was on the JV team for the whole season and I did well enough to be on the playoff team. The competitiveness is an entirely different level. It’s night and day different, everyone cares a lot more about winning.” Gage Mahoney, 10
Photo by Ashley Lister
“A couple of us thought we failed Woz, myself included, but all he really wanted us to do was pull through and work together and do great things with our team. That’s exactly what we did.” Hope Trautwein, 12
Sports // May 19, 2017 // 19
Golden Girl
Freshman goalie wins 6A state soccer MVP Carolina Yanez // Reporter
As the clock ticks down, the girls on the field run toward each other reaching for hugs. Cheers explode from the crowd as Girls Varsity soccer win the State 6A Championship. The girls team defeated Katy Tompkins High School 2-0 at the state championship and freshman Makenna Garcia was named the 6A State Tournament Most Valuable Player. “When I started soccer, I just fell in love with everything about it, I loved the competition,” Garcia said. “I actually started as a forward until I was about eight. My team didn’t have a full-time goalkeeper, so we rotated in. When no one ever wanted to play goalie, I always volunteered in. As I got older, I realized that was where I was meant to be. I fit best in the back of the field saving goals rather than scoring them. I loved being able to hit the ground and making huge saves.”
As the team headed to playoffs, which eventually led to their state win, Garcia describes how her teammates impacted her practice and success. Looking up to the older girls on the team as mentors, Garcia gained inspiration to work harder as a freshman. “I was adjusting to having to play against girls that were 3-4 years older than me. Being able to show the girls on the team that even though I am only a freshman, that I could hold my own and do what I needed to do on the field for them,” Garcia said. “I look up to all of the seniors, they were all so nice and such amazing girls. I specifically looked up to Maya Dossing. She is an awesome goalkeeper I was able to train and play with. Maya took me under her wing and was always there for me and over the year we became really close friends.”
the beginning of the season that this Listening to a certain music playlist pumps Garcia up for every game. By was the group of girls had what it took to make it all the way. the time the clock is about to start, she reminds herself of the work “I still don’t think its proshe’s put into the game and her cessed that we did something as amazing as winfaith. “It was such a “Right before the game ning state. It was such a blessing to be a I feel a little nervous, blessing to be a but once that whistle part of the group part of the group blows, all of it goes that was able that was able to to make history away and I know and change the what I need to do. make history and status quo,” Garcia I will do anything for change the status said. “It was a huge my girls to help give the quo.” best possible chance at winhonor to win MVP, I was so surprised and just abning” Garcia said. “It’s a lot of solutely ecstatic. Words can’t hard work and dedication but I wouldn’t trade any of it for the even describe how amazing this whole experience has been, world. I give all the glory to the Lord.” I’m so thankful to be a part of the Winning MVP, reflects all the dedication Garcia put into this season, while team; they are such an awesome simultaneously adjusting to the age group of girls.” difference obstacle. She predicted at
The Final Goal
On Apr. 16, the varsity girls soccer team played Katy Tompkins High School in the final round of the state soccer tournament.“I was just thinking I need to catch this ball without error or this could end badly,” Garcia said. “I just needed to follow the ball all the way till it reached my hands.” The game resulted in a win, with the score 2-0. Photo by Kaitlin Mackey
Most Valuable Player “My name was called for winning MVP and I was just feeling ecstatic,” Garcia said. “I couldn’t believe that my name was the one that was called. It felt unreal” Likewise, Christina Arteaga, Bryana Hunter and Jayme Woodfill recieved the All Tournament Team award. Photo by McKenzie Quiroz
Photo by Kaitlin Mackey
Time Will Tell
20 \\ The Hawk \\ Volume 10, Issue 8 \\ Last Look
Seniors reflect on self improvement, advice
McKenna Lucas // Reporter
Carson Ganong // Reporter
Savannah Cummings // Reporter
David Nichols
Victoria Hoang “I’ve radically changed for the better. Again, the largest portion of my high school experience can be attributed to high school band. In that sense, the people above me shared with me a lot of wisdom. It taught me that knowing really is just half the battle.”
Robert Boley
“The bad moments will only be temporary but the best moments will last lifetimes.”
Joelle Abdallah
Mia Smith
“I’m going to UTSA. I’ve recently got an apartment in San Antonio, so I’m taking that first step into adulthood.”
Chris Birkenheiser
“I would tell my freshman self to work really hard to get my GPA and rank up because freshman year is really what sets your future up for the rest of high school. I would also tell myself to not be afraid to get more involved. It wasn’t until 10th grade that I got more involved in journalism and it was the best choice I made in high school.”
Adonis Bailey
“I’ve learned that sometimes you don’t stick with your same group of friends. Don’t try to stick with one specific group, try to range out to as many people as you can. You’ll be surprised, because everyone is really cool and they will have a lot in common with you. As for football players, you’re not always going to get along with every single one of them, you might get along with a theatre kid. Which I do, I have a lot of friends in theatre. After high school I’m going to Texas State, college is going to be a lot of fun. I’m very excited for college because my brother goes to Texas State as well.”
Graduation “I think every experience helps to shape and define a person. I’ve become better at standing up for my own interests in the past few years, and I’ve learned how to put my needs before others’ when I need to.”
“I would tell myself to find where I belong. Don’t stress about irrelevant details. Things are going to change by the time you’re a senior, and most are for the better.”
The Class of 2017 will be graduating at the Frank Erwin Center on June 3, 2017 at 6 PM.