m i ll s t r e a
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VOL. 48 / ISSUE 7
How one fateful day revealed NHS teacher Michael Rothrock’s wisdom and strength pg. 12
TABLE OF
ON THE COVER... Find out how NHS teacher Michael Rothrock is not letting cancer get the best of him. Story begins on page 12...
CONTENTS
Photo by M. Thomas
OPINIONS
This is America Another perspective on the revolutionary
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song by Childish Gambino
FEATURES
For the culture
New student body president Ian Gibbons plans to change how people at NHS interact
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artist of the issue
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Painting something different Junior Ally Harp creates abstract art with paint pours
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FOCUS
October Sixth
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12
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Psychology teacher Michael Rothrock expresses strength through adversity
FEATURES
Five, Six, Seven, Eight Junior Jackson Costa explains how a new found creative outlet has changed his life
22 Mill Stream Policy
OUR STAFF
The Mill Stream is published by journalism students and distributed free of charge. The staff will publish 7 issues during the 2017-2018 school year. The Mill Stream is a student newspaper, for students by students. We provide a public forum to serve as an outlet for student ideas and opinions; we work as an agent for change and provide credible, objective reporting to inform, entertain, and better serve the reader. We welcome both signed letters to the editor and guest columns, which cannot exceed 350 words in length. The Mill Stream reserves the right to correct grammatical errors and ask for the author’s assistance in editing. The Mill Stream will not print letters that attack individuals or that contain obscene language. Letters may be submitted to room 3016 or via millermedianow.org. The staff reserves the right to reject advertisements that are political in nature, false, promote illegal substances to minors, misleading, harmful or not in the best interest of its readers. The Mill Stream is a member of the Indiana High School Press Association and Quill and Scroll.
editor-in-chief
photo editor
managing editors
public relations
Caitlin Kinkead
Skye McLaughlin Abby Hanson
features editors Marin Thomas Lexi Leisure
opinions editor Eli Maxwell
lifestyle editor Tate Bailey
sports editor
Celeste Schultheiss
design editor
Sammy Snyder Kaleigh Newton
business manager Danielle Elliott
distribution manager Bella Murdock
staff writers
James Simons Tyler Semler Gracie Elmer Emily Whitcomb Kennedy Pastore
adviser
Joe Akers
Christina Nguyen
Friends of the Mill Stream Carrie Hanson Marnie Cooke
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LIFESTYLE
All summer long
18 Anyone for tennis?21 Make your plans for this summer’s concerts
SPORTS
Grab a paddle with the new NHS Ping Ping Club
of the
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omething wicked this way comes… the end of the school year. The stench of teen angst wafts through the halls like a warm summer breeze—but grosser. Thick with distress, the atmosphere of school hallways weigh down with dread and vape juice. Students’ lifeless bodies drag their leaden feet to a class they don’t want to be in, surrounded by people they don’t like. They march on. In times as trying as these, it is often hard to maintain optimism and even sanity. So don’t. Despite the growing online culture of sadness being “cool,” out here in the real world, sadness is neglected. No one wants to see it. We tuck our emotions away in our back pockets because any and all signs of vulnerability are equated to weakness. We only talk about struggle when there’s some awe inspiring tale of coming out on top, overcoming the trials and tribulations that plague us, whatever those may be. But talking about struggle when you’re going through the motions is uncomfortable. It’s hard. It can even be humiliating. We tend to focus on the pretty parts of struggle: the rewards, the payoff, the life lesson, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—but in this situation the rainbow is really a fire-tornado. To add insult to injury, teenagers are often ridiculed for their struggle, whether that be at school, at home, or even fleeting romances with that boy you sat by in English. These aren’t “real” world problems, despite the fact that this is very real to us. Teenagers today are navigating a world that is entirely new. We grew up in a time of rapid expansions in technology—if you think about it, we’ve seen society go from home phones to
iPhones in a very short period of time. We’re at the forefront of an age unlike any another. And to put it plainly, it’s scary. Heidi Stevens, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, put it this way: “We didn’t hand these kids a simple world. We handed them a global stew of outright violence and brewing resentments and environmental degradation and economic insecurity.” However, it’s important to note the frustration you are feeling is not being felt alone. We’re a lost, hodgepodge mess of sleep-deprived, angry babies that have been handed a bomb then been told to defuse it––as if we know how. It’s easy to get lost in the tangled emotions that come with this confusing world. Navigating your way with others is your best bet to get through it. The emotions you feel now are valid. And The Mill Stream implores you to feel them strongly. It is not your job to be happy—happiness should not be your goal—but relish it when it comes around. Find happiness in the sound of your friends laughter or in the kindness of a stranger or in the camaraderie of a gym class. But allow yourself to feel the weight of sadness fully. Don‘t repress your emotions, especially the negative ones. Give yourself a break. Process your feelings. Recoup. Understand that in life if you’re not making mistakes, you’re 1) lying and 2) not living. Realize that life goes on, and the situation you are in now and the decisions you make regarding it do not define you. You got this.
[
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the way we see it
mill stream staff editorial
PENCILS DOWN
Assessing the bias behind standardized tests
Abby Hanson//aahanson38@gmail.com ere’s a math problem for you: If Jill, a white student from an upper-middle class background, and Jack, a black student from an impoverished background, both have to take the SAT to get into college, what role does socioeconomic background play in test success? According to the Huffington Post, Time Magazine, PBS, and more than a hundred colleges that don’t use standardized test scores in the admission process, a large one. The college admissions process is, at its core, exclusive. Students are viewed as just numbers, just quotas. Exorbitant application fees and little financial aid keep low-income seniors out of their dream schools. Biased questions set minority students up for failure. There are millions of high schoolers in the United States; no two have had exactly the same educational experience. So why do we give them the same test? Yes, it’s hard to assess students’ preparedness for college with just a GPA. And yes, standardized tests may seem like a cheap option to do so. But the only true change in cost between standardized testing and other college readiness methods, such as project-based learning and performance assessments, is where the money comes from. As of 2018, the SAT and ACT both cost $46. With the essay, a prep book, and a late fee, just one attempt at a standardized test could set a student back more than $100. This may seem like nothing to students who’ve had numerous family members attend college before them—students who can probably afford a high-tech calculator and a good tutor—but the 41% of Indiana public school students that are eligible for free or reduced lunches probably don’t view it the same way. And cost isn’t the only barrier.
Illustration by A. Hanson
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Although more than three million students around the world take the ACT and SAT every year, both tests are only available in English. The reading section of such tests is confusing enough already. For bright, college-bound students learning English as a second language, this presents a serious disadvantage. While there are measures to fix these problems, such as fee waivers and questions about test-taker’s preferred language, they just aren’t enough. One test just can’t fit the needs of so many students, good intentions or not. To top it all off, minority students consistently score lower than white students on the SAT. This is usually chalked up to economic inequity, but research shows that this line of reasoning, just like standardized tests, is not a fair assessment. A 2010 study published in the Harvard Educational Review that assessed white and black students of similar educational background and school performance found that the wording of certain questions on the SAT favored white students. For tests created when “scientific racism” was rampant in the US (the SAT was invented by a known supporter of eugenics), is the underlying discrimination really such a surprise? We’re constantly told that we create our own merit. If we study hard, we get good test scores, then into a good school, then into a promising career. But when all the odds are stacked against so many test-takers, this ideology is disproved at square one, and it’s the system, not the student, that fails.
THI S IS AM ERIC A How capt Donald u G our red the lover h coun e a try ssence o s f
Sammy Snyder//slsnyder2301@gmail.com
Illustration by S. Snyder
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ust when the fiery debates about gun violence seemed to die down, Childish Gambino came back to reignite the flame. At midnight on May 6, “This is America” was released on all platforms, with a music video dropping on Youtube at the same time. It was dropped while Gambino was simultaneously hosting and performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The release shocked all Gambino fans, as he had been on a two year hiatus from music. The song is, as the title hints, a description of the current state of America – a gun-loving, capitalist community of people who love to dance and avoid responsibility. In no way should people diminish the larger than life issues the song and video address, but there is so much more to this package that hasn’t been talked about yet. So let’s start the conversation on what people seem to skip over — the artist himself. Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, has been surprising the world with his music since 2008, when his first mixtape was released. Throughout his career, he’s rapped about African-American culture, race, sexuality, existentialism, and, more recently, gun violence. Time and time again, Glover chooses to speak up for a community that cannot. He demands that his voice is heard, and listened to. This is what needs to be addressed. Many celebrities have a charity that they support and post about on social media every once in a while. That’s fine, but Glover took it to another level. He created a masterpiece that people will remember and share with others. He willingly used his platform to raise awareness on an important topic in our society. He saw an opportunity to advocate for victims of gun violence and he jumped at it. What people also fail to realize is just how much Glover put into this song and music video. The video begins with a guitar player sitting in a chair
in am empty warehouse. While he starts busting out the beginning chords, the camera pans over to Childish Gambino. As the music picks up, Gambino begins dancing to the music in a light, playful way. But, just before the song bursts into a dark, trap sounding mob, Gambino pulls out a gun and shoots the guitar player. A man comes up to him to carefully take away the gun with a red cloth as the corpse is dragged away. The gun is treated with more care than a human body. After that, Gambino walks away and raps towards the camera. Soon after, a crew of students in uniforms join him in dancing. They continue this for the majority of the video, but what some failed to notice while watching the video was what was happening in the background. As Gambino and his crew were breaking it down, police officers were chasing down African-Americans, fires were blazing, people were falling from balconies, and mobs of people were running in every direction. This imagery screams Gambino’s message: a majority of Americans choose to ignore society’s issues by getting caught up in in the media. This message provides a new perspective on the gun violence, police brutality, and racism debates. Glover makes a point to expose how everyone seems to forget what’s actually going on – he uses popular dances and describes how we use our cell phones as tools to distract ourselves from the extensive issues our society is dealing with. Since the government hasn’t paid any attention to the fearful cries for stricter gun laws, Glover took it upon himself to make those cries a roar. It was something that needed to be done. Without “This is America,” the gun violence flame would have burned into ashes. Now, the ball is in our court. MILL STREAM
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Check out millermedianow.org for up-to-date stories, videos, and more...
Photo by D. Elliott
MILL STREAM
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FOR THE CULTURE Who is the new NHS student body president? Kennedy Pastore//kennedypastore@gmail.com
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an Gibbons, current junior, has been a part of student government since sixth grade. All of those years have lead up to now, when he is the newly elected Noblesville High School student body president.
What goals do you guys have for the upcoming school year? “Our overarching goal is to ultimately change the culture of Noblesville High School. In recent years, I’ve noticed there hasn’t been a lot of school spirit and a lot of people have kind of hated on Noblesville—they just view it as a place they have to go and get an education, like they’re required to go there. But we want to change that so people actually enjoy coming to school and, it’s more of a place that when they look back 20 years from now, they remember NHS and are glad that they went here.”
How long have you been involved in student government? “I’ve been involved in student government at the high school for all four years now, and before that I was involved at the middle school level for all three years there.”
What else have you been involved with at school? “For awhile I played football, I also played basketball, I’ve been in Key Club, I’m on the speech team, and National Honor Society too. I know a lot of different people from these various groups so I’m able to see different perspectives.”
Do you have any future plans? “Right after high school, I plan on serving a 2 year mission, which is a mission trip for my church where I leave everything behind. No phones, no anything. I have minimal communication with the rest of my family and friends and I just go do work for my church at a place that is to be determined. After that, I will hopefully be attending Brigham Young University in Utah and then from there go to med school. Specifically, I’m really interested in becoming a pediatric surgeon, just being able to help younger kids.”
What’s the most important part of who you are? “I kind of just see myself as a guy that people look at who is happy and positive and outgoing and caring about others and doesn’t really think about himself all that much because he just genuinely cares about other people around him.”
What do you do outside of school? “I work at the Duluth Trading Company, a store new to Hamilton Town Center. I really enjoy being outside and in the outdoors and being with my family and friends. I like to go to the gym very frequently. I’m really involved in my church, as many people know, I’m Mormon. That’s kind of different and lot of people have questions about that.”
MILL STREAM
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ARTIST
of the
ISSUE
PAINTING SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Junior Ally Harp paints unqiue creations through a new style Lexi Leisure//lexileisure@gmail.com
5.25.18
F E AT UR E S
Photos by L. Leisure
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hy make a portrait when you can do something abstract? That’s junior Ally Harp’s motto, as she uses her artistic skills to make unique creations; art has always been in the back of her mind. “I’ve always wanted An exam to be an artist since I ple of o ne of H paint po arp’s urs. Sh was little. When people e has several and the would ask me, ‘What do y differen a t colors re all you want to be when you . get older?’ it was an artist. I always liked art classes in elementary school, and I continued that through high school,” Harp said. As she transitioned through different parts of her life, the center of Harp’s artwork changed as well. She is not just doing a homework assignment anymore. “Now I can do whatever I want in my classes. I’ve worked a lot with social messages and topics,” Harp said. “Since I’m against animal cruelty, I do a lot of my art around that.” Harp also uses nature as a big inspiration for her work. “For my concentration all of it is nature abstract. It was the balance between control and chaos of nature,” Harp said. “If you look closely it’s very detailed, but at the same time very chaotic. I tried to embody that in my artwork [by] using paint pours and paint to show that.” Haven’t heard of paint pours before? Harp has been experimenting with this new form of art this year and, it started through a video she saw online. “I’m using a lot of different chemicals and materials that I’ve never used before. I use this chemical called floretro,” Harp said. “Then I use latex paint and combine it with acrylic paint. I mix it all together and layer it with different colors. Then I pour it on [the canvas].” The only way Harp could describe the design the paint pours create was by calling them bubbles or “celllike” shapes as her art teacher, Caroline Hays, calls them. “She’s open to trying different materials. I’ve not had a student work with [paint pours] before. It’s been interesting to see how she has learned to do it all on her own,” Hays said.
Harp m ade the s for a p roject. e boots Hays s it’s one ays of her fa pieces of Harp vorite ’s.
Hays teaches Drawing, Painting, AP Drawing, and AP Art History at NHS. She has had Harp in class for drawing and AP drawing. Throughout Harp’s time in art class, Hay has seen her improve. “She very motivated and driven. Her ideas for artworks have gotten stronger and she’s adding meaning,” Hays said. “Her skills with shading and realistic details have also improved.” Harp says she enjoys making paint pours and the freedom she gets with them. She says it is something different that she does compared to her other classmates. “I’m a perfectionist. I freak out if I mess a line up. With [pour paint] I can mess it up as much as I want and it still will look good,” Harp said. “Everyone has a different style and aesthetic. We all do the same thing, but it is a little different. There’s one kid in my class that works with cardboard. Some people use sharpies, watercolor, or paint. It all depends on the person.” Harp hopes to continue her art pathway into college and possibly in a career in the future. “I’m probably going to Purdue and do something with polytechnic. I want to go into graphic design and do web design. I know some coding, but I want to add that art element to it,” Harp said. Having supportive parents has helped guide Harp through the years, as she says they support her abstract artwork. “My mom has alone of her p shows off ways been very artistic. Har rite pieces. Harp is favo I know a lot of people’s a vegan and she displays art. parents are very parthat in her ticular with what they paint and it has to a certain way. For me, it’s all over the place and she’s always been really supportive. She doesn’t care where I take it as long as I think it is good myself,” Harp said. As a growing artist, Harp is still learning. She hopes to continue to improve her work, but you can’t learn without a few mistakes along the way. “My parents get really mad because we just got new carpet, but I always paint in my room. I put a sheet down and I was paint pouring. The paint was so thick that it went through the sheet,” Harp said, “There were so many different colors. I was up all night using a toothbrush and scraping the carpet.”
MILL STREAM 9
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very year, students from all across the globe travel outside their countries to experience life from a different perspective. However, some students are unable to travel to see new cultures so teachers like Nicole May and Ryan Bruick bring the culture to them. English teacher May traveled to China last summer to teach English. “We landed in Beijing and I was there for about a day and a half and I said, ‘Oh my, this is the best, I have got to do this again’ to the point where the longer I stayed there I was like ‘I don’t want to leave’,” May said. “I fell in love with China. I fell in love with the kind of things we were doing there.” May is going through with her statement and is flying back to Beijing in July. “Going over there a second time is a little different,” May said. “One, I’m a little bit more experienced, but you never can quite take in all of China in one gulp. But this time when I’m going over, I’ll have a slightly different job, so I wont be teaching, I’ll kind of be helping teachers teach so to speak.” China has become a big part of May’s life she says. “I want to teach over there permanently,” May said. “I will [go] one of these days and not come back.” Chemistry teacher Bruick is also traveling internationally to teach. He is going to be teaching AP Physics 1, Chemistry 1, and Physics 1 in Dubai. “It’s a little different than the teachers that are doing the summer programs,” Bruick said. “I’m actually taking classes and doing work over the summer like I always do and then I’m leaving August 11th to teach there full time for 2 years.” Originally, Bruick was not interested in leaving the country, but after a little thought, he decided to take the opportunity and run with it. “In the summers I help lead teacher classes on how to teach chemistry using a different research based model,” Bruick said. “One of their teachers from the American
school in Dubai was a student in the workshop for us, and she recognized the good fit. Then she asked me if I would be interested in working in Dubai and I said no. Then she asked me again and I said no Then about the tenth time she asked me, I was like ‘Alright, I’ll at least listen.’” Bruick says leaving for two years is a good thing for him. “I’m not married, I don’t have kids, I don’t have pets, and I don’t have anything,” Bruick said. “I have a car that I’m selling and other than that I have really no material possessions other than a couple guitars. That’s it. So for me to pick up and take off, it’s never been more convenient.” Bruick says leaving Noblesville will be hard, but the opportunity was just something he couldn’t pass up. “I really like working here,” Bruick said. “I have a lot invested here and it doesn’t feel particularly good to walk away, but there are more positives in going than there are negatives. There are really no negatives in staying here other than I miss out on that experience and I want that experience.” Teaching in another country for so long was not a part of Bruick’s life plan, but he says he realizes it’s just what he needed. “I definitely wasn’t looking for anything, it kind of found me,” Bruick said. May and Bruick both agree that everyone should have the chance to explore the world. “The farther you go away from home, the more you realize people are pretty much the same,” May said. “It’s all about popping some bubbles and seeing what’s there.” As much as both teachers are teaching and bringing their knowledge to new countries, they are also learning just as much themselves. “It’s really a language camp for the kids,” May said, “but it becomes as much as a cultural exchange program between the students and us.”
Photos provided by Nicole May and Ally Warner
Surfin’ in South Africa Recent graduate Ally Warner packed her bags and flew to South Africa by herself for a month on May 5th. “I went through an online organization called IVHQ (International Volunteer Headquarters) for a surf outreach mission trip where I teach 9-15 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds how to surf,” Warner said. “I also am a gym teacher at the primary schools.” Just like May and Bruick, Warner says she has learned just as much about the world as she has been teaching it. “The best part is the adventuring,” Warner said. “It’s so beautiful here and so is the love from the kids.” As Warner’s short trip comes to an end, she has realized how much it has changed her. “This trip has changed my perspective on life and how lucky I am to have the life I do,” Warner said. “The kids are very troubled because they have experience with things no kids should have to experience. They need so much love to know they are worth more than violence.”
BRINGING NHS AROUND THE WORLD
Teachers of NHS travel to teach other students around the world Danielle Elliott//danielleelliott421@gmail.com
MILL STREAM 11
October Sixth
Teacher Michael Rothrock is not letting the news of a brain tumor diagnosed this fall diminish his outlook on life Marin Thomas//marin.thomas00@gmail.com Emily Whitcomb//emwhit71@yahoo.com James Simons//james.simons02@gmail.com Photo by M. Thomas
5.25.18
FOCUS
“I
thought I was gonna die.” Words spoken by a teacher who teaches about the human brain, after he found out he had a brain tumor. Irony. An impeccable and concise literary tool used to convey the human condition in a universal way. It translates heavy themes when necessary, while, conversely, lifting the weight of exhausting tragedies with ironic humor. Ah, irony. A respectable and charming quality of life, until our beloved irony manifests itself as a brain tumor in your psychology teachers head. An AP Psychology teacher, a Macroeconomics teacher, an ex-baseball coach, an avid connoisseur of wood-working, a husband, a father, a fighter. This is only a sample of the man that is Michael Rothrock. Rothrock’s story isn’t about cancer, it’s about the one of a kind human being that he is. But, to best exemplify his rare qualities, we must look through a tumorous lens. The journey began the first semester of 2018. “One day in class I had what’s called a complex partial seizure and had a summer where I wasn’t able to think or focus,” Rothrock said. “It started [again] this semester, and...started to happen pretty regularly. My ability to think and function in front of class started to go away.” The diagnosis was a laborious ordeal. A bit of rebellious teamwork between Rothrock and his primary care physician yielded a life saving discovery. “He tried to get me in to get an MRI,” Rothrock said. “They wouldn’t let me do it because apparently [the symptom of] confusion wasn’t enough. Luckily, I knew there was something wrong. It was more than just confusion. My primary care physician called me and said ‘hey if they call and ask if you have tendencies for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, go ahead and say yes.’ He raised my symptoms really, really high so the medical field would let me into an MRI.” And, the revelation. “The day before fall break I found out that I had a brain tumor,” Rothrock said. “That was October sixth.” The first person to bear the burden of Rothrock’s news was his friend and neighboring social studies teacher, Brandon Swart. “His doctor called him here at school, I think it was actually during his lunch block, and he came over here and it was shock. I had gotten an MRI before and I was
like ya this is what they do it’s no big deal, it’s nothing, and for his case it wasn’t. It was actually something.” Swart said. Rothrock moved to Indiana from Colorado because of his wife’s new job opportunity. His teaching years had yet to find their end. “I was part of the process of hiring Mr. Rothrock. He was somebody who we knew right off the bat was just going to connect with students,” Swart said. “[His previous] principle actually called us and was like ‘we’re losing him, we don’t want to lose him, but you’d be stupid not to hire him.” Being a psychology teacher is exactly what has kept Rothrock’s own psychology intact. “Teaching psychology has made a lot of my approaches to life and things of that nature a little bit different,” Rothrock said. “This is what I do, and teaching is what makes me happy. Just doing my job and being as normal as possible has been important to me.” AP Psychology student and student assistant of Rothrock, Madalyn Judah, solidifies the inarguably positive opinion of him. “He’s probably one of the best teachers I’ve had, I’m not gonna lie,” Judah said. “He’s really passionate about his students and he wants them to learn and he’s willing to take the time for each student to learn.” Part of Rothrock’s happiness comes from woodworking. “My dad was president of the Hardware Lumber Company. I worked for my dad in the summers in high school and some in college and I stocked lumber for Mark Adams,” Rothrock said. Rothrock said his passion for woodworking is what keeps him sane. “[I] started going to these classes and realized that I was building furniture really crappy, and have since really found a good place. For one, the teachers are some of the best in the whole world,” Rothrock said. While woodworking may seem like a chore to some, Rothrock chooses to practice woodworking because he enjoys it. “My wife wants to work a little less and spend more time with the children, part of our deal with that is I refuse to do work that doesn’t make me happy. I don’t choose to work to make money. Obviously, I’m a teacher. Woodworkers don’t make a ton either, but it makes me happy.”
Rothrock and family pose for a picture during a hiking trip.
Photo provided by Michael Rothrock
MILL STREAM 13
Thanks to his lessons in woodworking Rothrock is now able to craft with high standards. “I can make some pretty beautiful furniture because I know how wood works and how its looks and how to finish it. Am I going to make a beautiful picture, no, that’s not me, that’s not my skill set,” Rothrock said. “That’s my wife, that’s my daughter, that’s not me. But the bench that we’re sitting on, I can make this a much better looking bench in the same structure, because of what I know and the skills that I have to put it together,” Though he’s gotten right back into the mix, he’s still feeling the effects that come with any brain surgery. “What’s funny about your temporal lobe is that [it] deals with personality, but not the personality that we know a lot about, that’s in our frontal lobe. And so I’m trying to figure out how to monitor that. Luckily school doesn’t challenge those issues, it’s more dealing with frustration and my patience with my children and just life in general,” Rothrock said. Family has remained near and dear to him, even more so now when the outcome of his life is in such a state of fluctuation. “I need to value the time with my family because the other thing that’s hard about this is that the chances are this is gonna come back. What’s hard for me to deal with is I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s gonna cause the end of this experience,” Rothrock said. “I just don’t know when. Hopefully a really long time from now. But then again who even knows. At this point you could drive yourself crazy thinking about it, but that’s when I stopped and just say well just enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy the people that you’re around and what you’re doing.” As a result of the mental trials that Rothrock has been through, he’s had to reassess his perspective on faith. “Has it changed [my] faith and belief etcetera? Absolutely.” Rothrock said. “But that’s the reason faith and belief is there, it’s for each person to use in their own experience as necessary as they need.” Because of his insistence on normalcy and his refusal to see himself as a victim, Rothrock started teaching again only a month after his surgery. “I had [the tumor] removed December 6, was
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FOCUS
back home from the hospital December 8, and believe it or not was back at school on January 9 for the first day of second semester,” Rothrock said. “All things considered, I’m okay, I’m good. There are a lot of people who wouldn’t be okay. I have people who constantly remind me that what I’m doing is pretty spectacular and amazing, and I don’t see it that way. I show up and I do my job. I hope that doesn’t sound selfish or self-gratifying, its not. It’s just kind of how I was raised.” Not only does he do his job, but he does it phenomenally, according to Swart and NHS principal, Jeff Bryant. “There was no talking him out of it,” Swart said. “I even had a conversation with the principal afterwards. [Bryant said] if he wants to come back he’s earned it. And he did.” Above all of the tragedies he has encountered-his father’s death from pancreatic cancer, his son’s seizures, Rothrock’s own brain tumor -- the man continues to live life to the fullest and pursue the passions which motivate him to indulge in living instead of dying. “I love all of you dearly, but I need some time away,” Rothrock said. “I need to spend some time with my family. I’m going to spend a great deal of my summer trying to carve how my woodworking passion [and] business is gonna look like with the purchase of our new home, my new current situation and go from there. The goal is to get to December. Whatever December looks like I just want to get there. That means I won’t have to take any more poison. For now. And I just want to get that out of my body.” The most genuine advice you will receive on how to make the most of your life will come from people who know, first hand, why it is necessary to live, not survive, but live every second. “To just slow down and smell roses every once in a while and enjoy subtle things. If you want to go do something you’re in a really good place to go do it,” Rothrock said. “Everyone will find their home in some way shape or form, and it might take five six seventy nine ten years of missing it to come back to it but there’s a lot of stuff past 96th street and north of 191st and we should all not be afraid of exploring lots of things.”
Rothrock works on a new project at Marc Adams internship for woodworking. Photo provided by Michael Rothrock
MILL STREAM 15
FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT Junior Jackson Costa and his girlfriend have devleoped a creative outlet in their relationship Kaleigh Newton//ka503n@gmail.com
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t takes a lot of guts to start swing dancing, full flips and all, in the middle of your high school prom. However, for NHS junior Jackson Costa, dancing is not only a hobby, but an integral part of his life and relationship. “[My girlfriend] goes to Carmel so I don’t see her all the time. So she was like ‘Hey there’s a swing dance club at our school, do you want to come?’,” Costa said. “[Swing dancing] honestly looks pretty stupid, but it’s really fun.” Costa and his girlfriend, senior Jarin Harrel, started dancing almost two years ago after Harrel heard about her school’s Swing Dance Club from a classmate. “He has such an energetic personality, and I wanted to be adventurous with him. I prefaced the question with, ‘I know this is probably super cheesy’,” Harrel said. “It’s one of those couple-y things that I had a feeling would bring us closer and make us both really happy.” According to Costa, neither he nor his girlfriend knew what they were doing, but were ambitious with the dance moves they tried. “The first big move we did was called a super dip,” Costa said. “I kind of get in a lunge position and she folds over my legs and kicks her feet in the air.” After that first big move, Costa claims, he and Harrel were ready to try more difficult stunts. “We got on Youtube and practiced aerials,” Costa said. “So now we can do aerials, and I can backflip her.”
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However, even when throwing each other in the air, Costa and Harrel claim they’ve never been too frightened to try any of the dance move they’ve seen others perform. “The flips and dips aren’t easy, but they don’t scare me because I completely trust him,” Harrel said. “We pick each other up when we fall, help each other when we get confused, and take care of one another when we haven’t had the best day.” Despite their confidence, Costa and Harrel have experienced a few slip-ups during practice.
POPULAR SWING DANCE MOVES The West Coast Swing Unique in nature, the West Coast Swing is known as one of the few dance moves which allows for improvision on either partner’s part.
The Charleston
The Lindy Hop
Originating in 1923, the Charleston has sustained popularity due to its flexible, basic step.
First gaining traction in 1928, the Lindy Hop is famous not only for its lively fashion, but also because it inspired many other swing dance moves.
5.25.18
F E AT UR E S
1. Jackson Costa and his girlfriend Jarin Harrel perform the “Can-opener” at an after school Swing Dance Club practice. 2. Costa and Harrel perform the “Super-dip”
Illustrations and Photos by K. Newton
“It’s really fun,” Costa said. “Except for when we screw up, and then it’s really funny. I’ve almost dropped her a few times.” One of Costa’s and Harrell’s accidents was during prom, after a series of risky dance moves. “Well we had Noblesville and Carmel prom to go to,” Costa said. “At Noblesville I broke her [dress] strap flipping her over me. It snapped, and she walked around the whole night [holding it] afterwards, and it happened again at Carmel prom”. However, Costa and Harrel enjoy dancing in front of people, even if it means a possible wardrobe malfunction. “It’s also not something people get to see every day,” Harrel said. “When we get that circle around us, of course it’s exciting for us to dance for an audience, but at the same time, once we jump out, it gives others an opportunity to jump in and have fun with an audience as well.” Although it may seem scary to most people, Costa and Harrel say they love dancing in public because of the people watching. “She loves to show off,” Costa said. “And she doesn’t show off with a lot of things. She’s always been very introverted and I’ve always been very extroverted, and when she started swing dancing, that was something she was outgoing with, and so she really likes to do that anywhere.” Dancing has changed Costa’s outlook on things as well, and has even influenced him to search for other creative outlets. “[Dancing] made me appreciate the arts more,” Costa said. “I’d never done anything–theater, dancing, singing, music, anything. I’ve never done anything in that realm before dancing, and this year I took theater and I tried out for Comedy Sportz.” Harrel has recognized the change in Costa as well. “He’s interested in and can be good at anything he does, but I can tell that swing dance has excited him about becoming more involved at Noblesville,” Harrel said. Because they work together so much while they’re dancing, Costa and Harrel have also noticed how they’ve grown as a couple as well. “For us as a couple, I think it just makes us stronger in so many ways,” Harrel said. “We clicked from the beginning of our relationship, but I think swing says a lot about how much we trust each other and would do for each other.” Dancing is what’s made Costa and Harrel’s relationship unique. “We’ll be at Walmart and screwing around on a date and swing dance,” Costa said. “Because that’s what people do, right?”
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MILL STREAM 17
8/24 8:00pm Jason Mraz and Brett at W hite River State Park 7/1 7:00 Paramore at W hite River State Park
7/31 6:00pm Wiz Khalfia with Rae Sremmurd and Lil Skies at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
8/17 6:30 G-Eazy with Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dol la $ign, YBN Nahmir, P-Lo and Murda Beatz at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
ALL SU M M ER LONG
6/6 7:00pm Post Malone and 21 Savage at W hite River State Park
6/14 7:30pm Jack Johnson at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
As this school year comes to a close, one of the many things us teenagers look forward to is going to summer concerts. Take a look at some of the most popular artists coming to the Indy area this summer
Tyler Semler//tylersemlerr@gmail.com
6/16 7:30pm Keith Urban and Kelsea Bal lerini at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
6/22 3:00 Imagine Dragons at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
6/27 6:30pm Chris Brown with 6LACK, H.E.R. and Rich The Kid at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
6/28 7:30pm Portugal. The Man at W hite River State Park
F E AT UR E S
5.25.18
PASSING THE BALL This year, the NHS football team is welcoming their future Gracie Elmer//gracieelmer@yahoo.com
Photo provided by Michael Noyes For The Enquirer, Photo by G. Elmer
S
ooner than expected, the NHS football program is entering a new era of leadership. After announcing his plans to resign and taking a coaching offer at Ben Davis, the former coach Jason Simmons will be passing the torch to Justin Roden. While Simmons’ departure is bittersweet for several people at NHS, it is already having a huge impact on the football team. “It was tough to say goodbye. He taught me a lot of skills on and off the field, such as how to be accountable and how to embrace work,” junior football player Jack Newcomer said. Meanwhile, Roden is putting his focus into fulfilling his final duties at East Central High School. “It was important to me to fulfill my obligations. I preach this to my players and wanted to model that upon my departure,” Roden said. Despite the loss of Simmons as a coach, Roden seems prepared to take on a new challenge. “Roden has a winning tradition and a plan for success,” NHS Athletic Director Leah Wooldridge said. Taking into account their new coach’s record and motivation, the players’ hopes for future football seasons are high. “I am looking forward to seeing him spark up the team and hopefully ignite something special,” junior football player John Cook said. However, Roden is also holding a strong hope that he will be able to help the team members not only as players, but as people. “I want them to be better students in the classroom and to model a student athlete who excels on and off the field,” Roden said. In terms of how he will handle practices and training, it appears as though Roden won’t be lacking in terms of efficiency come fall. “Coach [Roden] believes in getting in and getting your work done early,” junior football player Sam Wertz said. Despite having his own methods when it comes to coaching, Roden still desires
to continue the legacy that Simmons left behind. “The previous coach was a good man and very football smart. I want to take what he started over the course of two years and expand upon it,” Roden said. However, Roden already has a plan in mind for how he will train the players when it’s time to get going. “For me, this [plan] means doing some things a bit different and pushing the young men a bit outside of their normal comfort zones,” Roden said. Additionally, Roden also wants the team to reflect the dedication of the Noblesville community. “Noblesville is filled with hard-working people who take great pride in where they live. I want the football team to embody that during Friday’s games and to make the community proud because of that fact,” Roden said. However, Roden is preparing to drive the team towards success as early as possible. “I am very much looking forward to hitting the ground running this summer,” Roden said.
Justin Roden
MILL STREAM
19
PING
P NG
5.25.18
S P O RT S
Junior Miles Atkins started the NHS Ping Pong Club with the help of physics teacher Kenneth Dollaske.
ANYONE FOR TENNIS? Introducing the NHS Ping Pong Club Eli Maxwell//emax1401@gmail.com
Photo by E. Maxwell
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t’s the sound that most people recognize when they approach the table. The click of a hollow ping pong ball against a wooden paddle. This noise can now be found in the main gym of NHS where the new Ping Pong Club holds its meetings. Junior Miles Atkins started the club with physics teacher and fellow ping pong enthusiast Kenneth Dollaske. “It kind of started accidentally,” Atkins said. “I was talking with Mr. Dollaske in AL and we were just talking and we both were like, ‘We love ping pong and there’s not a ping pong club.’ So we started a ping pong club.” The first meeting took place during AL on May 7 in the main gym and consisted of open sessions. Students rotated around the five tables available to the club and could play singles or doubles. “It was a little bit disorganized at first just because we had never used the materials before,” Dollaske said. “I think kids were a little unsure of how it would run. Once a few minutes went by, people understood it was just open play.” According to Atkins, Ping Pong Club is more than an excuse to leave AL and play table tennis. “It’s not just to play ping pong, it’s an environment where you can come down and hang out with your
friends,” Atkins said. “You don’t have to play ping pong, you could just watch your friends play ping pong. It’s a friendly environment.” Dollaske says that ping pong can help create a sense of community within NHS. “It’s definitely a social event,” Dollaske said. “It brings a lot of people together. It brings seniors [and] freshmen together, I think it brings genders together, I think it’s just something that is fun to do to hang out, and it’s something different than the other clubs we have here at NHS.” Next school year, Atkins wants to see the club continue to grow and develop. “Next year we’re looking to host tournaments for fundraisers and maybe even have a more serious ping pong team,” Akins said. Dollaske says that Ping Pong Club can serve as a fun alternative to regular AL responsibilities. “It’s a break from some of the other AL activities,” Dollaske said. “This is a fun thing. It definitely might bring you out of your comfort zone as well.” Atkins says Ping Pong Club can be an escape from the chaos of school life. “It’s a great way to relieve stress and kind of get away from school when you want to,” Atkins said. “It’s a pretty kickin’ time.”
MILL STREAM 21
College, careers, relationships, and happines. . .advice while you play the game of life Celeste Schultheiss//celesteschultheiss.cs@gmail.com Caitlin Kinkead// cgk111615@outlook.com
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he Game of Life is more than simply a board game. In reality, life is where you must follow a path that you choose. Life can be overwhelming at times and it can be stressful to just think about the idea that the choices you are making now, during high school and after, could affect you in the future. Follow the path of life, and read about advice on college, careers, relationships, and happiness from teachers and former students at NHS.
S T A R T
COLLEGE ADVICE “I wish I had known to take more advantage of the resources I had around me. There are so many classes to take, clubs to try, and people to meet. I wish I would’ve taken more advantage of those, especially language classes. In college and high school, you can take language classes taught by experts and native speakers. “ -Joseph Peculis, Science teacher
CAREER ADVICE “You don’t have to have your career figured out when you’re 22. You will be a completely different person at 32 then you are now. To suppose that 18 year old you and 32 year old you will want the same things is lunacy. So, be open to new things and flexible enough to change direction. “ -Joshua Cecil, English teacher
“I wish I understood the importance of experience. What I mean is, reading a book about Ireland and actually going to Ireland are two different things. If you really want to know about something or how to do something, you MUST experience it firsthand. Try new things, especially if they scare you a bit. Have no fear of failure, it won’t kill you but it will teach you.” -Joshua Cecil, English teacher “The more you know about yourself the more successful you will be, period. Whether that be understanding your personality, strengths, energy, or simply reflecting on your preferences will guide you to make better life choices. This is key to establish a path and not engaging in too many paths that always lead you back to the starting line.” -Craig Helming, Art teacher
5.25.18 LIFESTYLE
“Do what you love. I started out as a business major because all I wanted to do was make money. I quickly realized that I was very unhappy with my path and changed back to Sports Media which has always been my passion. Do something that you love but also make sure it’s something you can make a living out of.” -Connor Mills, 2017 graduate
HAPPINESS ADVICE
RETIRE
“Try new things. Having a hobby or something to devote yourself to in your free time is a great way to stay motivated and working towards a goal. Learn a new language, try a new sport, or just read a book. There is so much to learn in the world, don’t sit idly and let it pass you by.” -Joseph Peculis, Science teacher
“In order to be happy you can’t make your life about pleasing others. Make sure to put yourself first as well.” -Taylor Crowe, 2017 graduate
“If you’re looking to be happier then the best thing to do is talk to someone. It doesn’t always have to be an adult or a counselor. I suggest someone important in your life. They can see your problems from another point of view and help cope through whatever it may be you are going through.” -Nick Copenhaver, 2017 graduate
“Happiness isn’t a goal you should aim for. Trying to be happy is a fool’s errand. It comes about by being focused on things you find worthy. Lose yourself in your work and play.” -Bill Kenley, English teacher
RELATIONSHIP ADVICE “When you move on to the next phase of life, you will gain different circles of friends. Some of those circles overlap and some don’t. Don’t stress out if friends from one circle don’t fit in the others. It doesn’t mean that you can’t keep the relationships that you had before or make new ones, either.” -,Jason Jasper, Music teacher
“It’s a small school at Noblesville and everyone knows each other, that being said, you’ll only really bother to keep in contact with a select few occasionally, especially if school/work/military takes you far from home for long periods of time. It can be weird adjusting to making friends in a new place and getting a completely new circle, but it makes you stronger for sure. “ -Leonardo Pilipis, 2017 graduate “The 5 people you hang around the most you will become most like...surround yourself with people that you want to aspire to be like.” -Bill Kenley, English teacher,
“Do what is important to you. That doesn’t necessarily mean the thing that you enjoy the most, seems the easiest, or makes you the most money.” -Jason Jasper, Music teacher
“Relationships are based around sacrifice. Sacrificing your time to spend it with someone else, or sacrificing your interests to be interested in someone else, these are the foundations of relationships. Relationships are dependent on risking rejection. To have any kind of relationship, romantic or friendship, you have to risk getting rejected”. - Joshua Cecil, English teacher
MILL STREAM 23
MARIAN UNIVERSITY Indianapolis
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WHAT ARE YOU
MADE OF?
It’s a pivotal question that will shape your life. At Marian University, we’ll challenge you to think about who you want to become. You’ll work hard, but you won’t be alone— professors will teach and mentor you. You’ll learn to find your voice, speak out, and step up. We’ll inspire you with our faith and Franciscan values. When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to lead and to serve. So, ask yourself: What are you made of? Then come and find out.
marian.edu Marian University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana.
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