table of contents
opinions 03 // features 06 // focus 10 // sports 20 // lifestyle 22
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thrifting thrills
Student Aubrey Rudy helps the environment by thrifting clothes
locked in
Toxic relationships and how to escape them
behind the terror
Have a peek at student Elliott Craw’s eerie SFX makeup
the new fab five
A new crew has transformed the girls basketball team at NHS
our staff editor-in-chief kaleigh newton managinG Editors jack wanninger, kennedy miller features editors jane jeong, james simons opinions editor lauren patrick sports editor jonathon page lifestyle editor lauren patrick design editor victoria flanagin photo editor kaci craig, kendall reynolds social media manager mary sebbas business manager kaci craig staff writers madison barrow, betsy jones, kate draine, emily haynes, jenna schweikert, parker mutter, nicole eldridge, hope lynas, hailey durm, analyce craft, bergan zebrauskas, karen hrlic Adviser joe akers
artist of the is sue
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Fake friends F
rom the moment we enter this world, one thing is non-negotiable: interacting with other people. Right off the bat, we are introduced to our parents and then our siblings and other family members. But as we get older, we branch out from our family members. We make friends. Our parents would schedule play dates and we would anxiously wait for Friday afternoon, when we’d get off the school bus and watch cartoons while playing Hot Wheels or Barbies with our best friends. We would share secrets and stay up late at sleepovers because we couldn’t stop laughing. Then the next morning, when our parents would take us home, we would hide so we could stay longer. But then we got to high school. Needless to say, things got a little bit more complicated. All of a sudden, life throws schoolwork, sports, drama, popularity, and relationships at us all at once. Now, the once innocent friendship that we have all known has grown into an unrecognizable mess. People grow, and as we grow, we change. Some people change for the better, and some change for the worse. Being wrapped up in a toxic friendship isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s as simple as being left alone at a party that your “friend” invited you to while they go hang out with someone else. You find yourself walking on eggshells around them because everything you say seems to be taken the wrong way. You feel like you constantly have to compete with their friends to feel good enough for your friend. After constantly being put down, isolated and crushed, suddenly the strong support sys-
tem that you thought you had is nowhere to be found. Of course, everyone needs someone to confide in and be supported by, but when you suddenly find that you’re afraid of that person, a line has to be drawn. A real friend doesn’t expect you to compete for their attention. A real friend won’t ditch you the second that life gets messy. They won’t force you to be afraid to talk to them out of fear of being humiliated. A real friend tries to be there for you more than you are for them. They won’t embarrass you when you tell them something personal. You shouldn’t feel a lack of trust in the relationship When dealing with all of the Regina Georges and Gretchen Wieners of the world, it is crucial to be able to draw the line between friend and foe. And the distinction between the two is really only one simple question: who is there when life falls apart? It’s easy to stick around when things are easy...but what about when they aren’t? Don’t settle for toxicity in friendships. Life is too short.
The Mill Stream is published by journalism students and distributed free of charge. The staff will publish seven issues during the 2019-2020 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.
THE SIGNS SAY IT ALL Horoscopes are at an all time high... here’s why Kendall Reynolds//kendall.reynolds.nhs@gmail. com
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n life, nothing can just be. An article of clothing can’t just be a poorly tailored piece of cloth. A child’s acting out can’t just be an impulsive reaction to them not getting their way. A birthday can’t just mean a year longer lived. Since my sixth grade year, I’ve filled out charts sorting seemingly meaningless symbols into what they truly represent. You know those charts your teachers assign you where you have to read a story and then make a list of symbols and what they represent? One symbol that I’ve continuously identified has been the star and how stars represent one’s fate. At some point in our lives, most of us have downloaded a horoscope app to have a better understanding of what to expect throughout the day. If you haven’t, you should. There’s a seemingly infinite amount of horoscope options in the app stores and just as many websites that will share your life’s outcome. Horoscopes often provide an unexplainable sense of comfort to those who read them. When I check my horoscope it’s often because I’m searching for reassurance. Often times, I search for why my day happened the way it did, or that tomorrow won’t actually be as horrible as I predict, or to see if I would actually have a chance with the person I’m interested in. Horoscopes allow us insight into our everyday lives. They offer a sense of security for those who struggle to live through excruciating long days. Having a stronger
understanding of as to whether my day will be satisfactory or not is much more appreciated at 7:30am opposed to 11:59pm. A brief summary of the aspects of life I will encounter in that day (vibe, success, health, etc.) is often relieving. We trust the stars and our horoscopes as if they are our close friends. They offer support, advice, and comfort to those who seek it. They offer a sense of belonging and acceptance. Whenever I’m having a bad day, it’s easier to say “I’m this way, because I’m a Leo,” or “This happened, because this horoscope app said so.” I personally believe that I am who I am because of those dozens of stars several light years away.
Zodiacs from far away lands...
Illustrations by K. Reynwolds
Here are 3 zodiacs from other backgrounds 1. Chinese
2. Celtic
3. Egyptian
Unlike the U.S, the Chinese zodiac wheel is determined yearly instead of monthly. They still have 12 signs including the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Every 12 years the cycle repeats itself, this year being represented by the rat. China also associates its zodiacs by five elements rather than four, as well as associating them with and yin & yang rather than the planets.
The Celtic’s determined their zodiacs based on the 13 phases of the lunar cycle. Each zodiac sign is named after an animal and correlated with a type of tree. The 13 trees include rowan, ash, alder, willow, hawthorn, oak, holly, hazel, vine, ivy, reed, elder, and birch. The zodiacs are rooted in the Druid religion where they primarily focused on natural and supernatural energies. Druid followers considered trees as living entities which contained infinite wisdom and represented the Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth.
Each Egyptian zodiac corresponds with our Western zodiacs. Each zodiac is represented by an ancient Egyptian God or Goddess, with the exception of the Nile, including Amon-Ra, Mut, Geb, Osiris, Isis, Toth, Horus, Anubis, Seth, Bastet, Sekhmet. The signs were determined based on one’s personalities, life, and destiny, all of which they believed were tied to the heavens.
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OPINIONS
Valentine’s day isn’t just for couples now... Madison Barrow//madibarrow22@gmail.com
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t’s the day filled with candy, teddy bears, dates, roses, and, most importantly, love. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Where the couples have their dates, and singles find their last ice cream container. Valentine’s Day is most known as a day of romance seen between couples. But the most common and untalked about love is the one shared between friends. Whether single or taken, or even complicated, there are still many ways you can spend Galentine’s day with your best buddies.
1Nature is relaxing, pretty, and a nice way to hang with the pals. You could find a place like Shades State Park or even more local like Strawtown Koteewi Park and hit the trails. Take your friends, bring your dog, a picnic, and your camera for plenty of Valentine’s Day Instagram photos to make everyone jealous.
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You’ll already be loosening your jeans from all the Valentine’s Day candy, so why not add to the sugar overload by having a bake-off? Find a baking class or host one at your home, invite your friends, and let the kitchen get messy. Print off some recipes that are beloved by your sweet tooth and let the games begin. After baking, try making up scoring categories such as taste, appearance and how much fun you had. Galentine’s day company can be entertained and fufilled with yummy goods like milkshakes and sweets, and lots of funny stories.
kets, and the comfiest of your pajamas because you are never too old for a sleepover. Have your pals bring their favorite movies, beloved snacks, and the best tea worth spilling. Binge watch movies, spill the tea, and start the night off right with the Galentine’s Day episode of Parks and Recreation.
4 So maybe art class wasn’t for all of us...or maybe it was. But no matter your ability, you can still channel your inner Bob Ross and have a paint night. Find some lively colors, canvases and inspiration. After gathering your supplies, decorate your room with some new trendy newspapers to prevent spills. Don’t forget to clean up after yourself, as you’d probably not enjoy getting grounded on Valentine’s Day.
5 Valentine’s day is the day of love, so give some to the commun ity by volunteering. Find a friend’s favorite charity and volunteer for the night. Find organizations like the Humane Society, Gleaners Food Bank, a soup kitchen, or Habitat for Humanity. You could even try making it into a tradition and give back every year to those in need. To see the full version of the story, visit millermedianow.org
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Photo, illistrations by M. Barrow
3 Gather the pillow forts, blan-
ifting Thrills r h T Senior Aubrey Rudy has a knack for transforming ordinary vintage clothes into a sytlish wardrode Emily Haynes//emilyhbuisness@gmail.com Mary Sebbas//msnobles6@gmail.com
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he walks in through the large glass doors with the words Salvation Army inscribed in big red letters. The musty aroma of mothballs brings nostalgia of years past and she feels comforted by the friendly faces awaiting her. As she looks around, various items of clothing that would normally be tossed aside, transform into stylish outfits the world is eagerly waiting to see. This is life through senior Aubrey Rudy’s eyes. Rudy believes thrifting is a fun and rewarding pastime that allows her to express her sense of fashion. “I like how it’s not easy,” Rudy said. “You go to like a weird kind of vintage store, you have to look through everything. You might look through 100 things before you find one thing that you actually like, and I think that’s so rewarding and cool.” Rudy finds a sense of joy in thrifting, seeing it as fulfilling to search for pieces that fit her sense of style. Although most people only thrift occasionally, to Rudy it is more than just a hobby. ”Last year, my 2019 resolution was to commit to not buying any new clothes,” Rudy said. “I haven’t bought any new clothes in a year or two, because I’ve only bought them secondhand.” And by doing that, Rudy has given up a staple of teenage years. Occasionally accompanied by fellow senior Grace Pearson, she turns thrifting into an entertaining and consuming experience. “Whenever we go thrifting, it’s always fun to watch her run off into the aisles because at that point I know I’ve lost her attention until we get into the fitting rooms,” Pearson said. “She is always on a mission whenever she enters a thrift store.” At the surface, only buying second hand may seem to be a difficult goal to meet. Even so, Rudy decided to begin regularly thrifting for reasons beyond appearance and value. “It seems so obvious that there’s so [many clothes] that already exist, there’s so much already out there,” Rudy said. “I think the point is that you’re trying to get rid of clothing waste, and so you’re only buying things that have already existed.” By cutting down on clothing waste, Rudy believes she is helping the environment and before she started thrifting, she aimed to put her money into companies that do good for it. “I think it’s important to support those types of people who make new fashion and new clothes while also being cautious of the environment,” Rudy said. “It’s also important to invest in things, and invest in people that are trying to do good.” Rudy makes sure to make an attempt to put her money towards clothes that 2.14.20
F E AT UR E S
make a difference. When it comes to thrifting, many people are often turned away by the difficulty of rummaging through vintage clothes , but Rudy considers herself lucky. “I like the things that look like they’re really old, or they look vintage, or they kind of look strange but interesting,” Rudy said. Due to her unique style and fashion taste, Rudy is able to transform any piece of clothing she comes across. “[Aubrey] can transform something that’s outdated and ugly into something so cool and fashionable,” Pearson said. By sorting through items that past owners did not find value in, Rudy has found new ways to express herself and help the world around her. “There’s more of a focus on what you can do for the environment too, now,” Rudy said, “and so [thrifting] became a thing of, ‘If I can enjoy it, why not do it almost all of the time?’” Rudy tries on a fashionable pair of sunglasses and a hat in the Salvation Army in Noblesville. Rudy enjoys shopping secondhand and expressing her personality with what she finds.
1. Watch for sales and discounts “For Goodwill every first Saturday of the month is half off. And the Salvation Army, every Thursday, if you bring in your student ID, everything is 25% off.”
2. Research companies’ intentions “There’s a few things on the internet that make it easier to define brands that do good... Just looking at those things, and looking up a brand, it’s usually pretty easy to find if they’ve published their environmental records and what they do for the environment.”
3. Have patience, and make it fun “Have a little patience...Give it time and seek it out, go through the rack and make it fun”
Photos by M. Sebbas, Illustration by E. Haynes
Rudy searches through racks of clothing to find something that jumps out at her. She can often be found looking through second hand clothes that match her style.
Aubrey’s Tips and Tricks for Thrifting
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AN ACTION STEP
NHS’s makes an effort towards social awareness Analyce Craft//analyce6104@gmail.com
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urther than any book can recount, humans have struggled through injustices of every shape and size. Through microaggressions and full blown hate crimes, society has made an effort to weaken the links in the endless chain of prejudice. With the addition of the Explorations in Social Justice class, Noblesville High School aims to call attention to this struggle, to educate the next generation on the sensitive topics that affect many’s everyday lives. “We have a range of topics—racism, sexism, to mention just a couple—that we cover throughout the semester,” Social Justice teacher Stanley Abell said. “[Those] are issues that were kind of driven by things that had happened inside the hallways at Noblesville High School.” At the end of the term, students of the Explorations in Social Justice class participate in a project that allows them to find a problem and take a step towards helping the community with the issue.” Part of that project is creating an action step,” junior Abby Retz said. “It was very eye opening to see different people’s perspective on all of those inequalities and what they did to help the community.” It’s not hard to see how some students can be hesitant to step into controversial discussions, especially with past occurances of racially-charged incidents at NHS. “I think there’s maybe some skepticism on some people’s part around the class because we can’t help but
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in our day and age feel like some of the issues are politicized,” Abell said. “But the way that we address the issues in class is in a nonpolitical way.” The students who push through their skepticism share few complaints about their choices to join the class. “I kind of took a chance on it and I was like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna spend the semester doing this and if I hate it, I’ll talk to my counselor,’” junior Macy Millspaugh said. “It turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be, so I stuck with it, and I actually love it.” As the class grows on its participants, it’s easy for them to be attentive to the issues they’re learning about. “It’s nice that the class is respectful of the issues we’re talking about and it’s a good group of people,” Millspaugh said. “Everyone is doing their best to legitimately understand what we’re talking about.” Through the student’s efforts in understanding others’ struggles, they say they’re able to apply it in their everyday life in ways they were not able to before. “It really opens your eyes about almost anything,” Retz said. “I even used it in different classes to be like, ‘Oh, this is why this happened and this is why this person is affected.’” “I think it’s great that people are going to actually putting something out into the world that does good because of this class,” Millspaugh said. “It’s awesome that I’m going to get a chance to do that.”
Photo by K. Craig
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FOCUS
OCKED IN Student and expert voices detail the experience of being trapped in an unhealthy friendship
Kate Draine//katedraine66@gmail.com Lauren Patrick//lmacpatrick131@gmail.com Nicole Eldridge//watertuliip@gmail.com Karen Hrlic
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ou’ve seen it before… A friendship starts well, ends badly. Fights happen, manipulation takes place, rumors are spread, and in the end, a lot of feelings are hurt. Although this is a very basic retelling of the plot of “Mean Girls,” it’s also a story that’s true to the experiences of many real-life teenagers and the friendships turned nightmares they’ve found themselves in. Happy relationships often turn into toxic ones. However, when you’re in a situation like this, the shift from healthy to unhealthy can be hard to notice until you’re already in too deep. Fortunately, movies such as “Mean Girls” featuring toxic relationships can sometimes help provide an example of what to look for when you’re stuck in an unhealthy friendship. While the premise of movies like this, with their dramatic high school settings and pink-coded Wednesdays, can seem far-fetched, the toxic friendships shown between bouts of teen angst and trust falls can actually be quite realistic. Friends talking behind each other’s backs, the status of superiority over another person, and endless teenage betrayals in the movies are seen today in the endless scrolls of Instagram and nonstop camera clicks of Snapchat. In high school especially, the overall stress from toxic relationships can hurt anyone, and the Burn Book of “Mean Girls is often only the tip of the iceberg.
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Believe it or not, not every toxic friendship ends with the other person getting hit by a bus in the middle of a fight. And not everyone’s school goes into a fighting frenzy over photocopies of rumors of each student. While real life friendships might not be as chaotic as the ones demonstrated in “Mean Girls,” the toxicity portrayed in Tina Fey’s 2004 screenplay isn’t as unrealistic as you think. As the character Cady Heron says, “The weird thing about hanging out with Regina was that I could hate her, but at the same time still wanted her to like me.” While this is just a plot line in the film, it pretty much hits the nail on the head when it comes to some aspects of toxic relationships. NHS psychology teacher Michael Rothrock has seen how it can be especially difficult for teenagers to avoid unhealthy relationships. “The hardest part, I think, would be having to identify, at first, [if] are you happy with who you are.” Rothrock said “Which, as an adolescent, is hard.” A lot of high school students have a hard time leaving these friendships because of the sense of emptiness it leaves behind. Once that connection is gone, everything feels off. Adolescents are finding their identity and in doing so, can display unhealthy habits in their friendships. In some cases, this toxicity is completely unintentional, and the other person is just simply unable to recognize someone else’s needs in a friendship. Kelly Ferriel, the Youth Advocacy Supervisor at Prevail, a crisis support service in Noblesville, says the most important aspect in a beneficial friendship is equality. “In a healthy relationship, I think of it as a teeter-totter, where both sides are balanced, and the sides are things like our perspectives, our wants, our needs, our opinions,” Ferriel said. “It doesn’t mean that we always agree, but it means that both people have the right to express what they want, and what they think, without somebody judging them or tearing them down.”
WARNING!
WARNING!
At the beginning of an unhealthy relationship, experts say warning signs are often common, alerting those involved that something isn’t quite right before the worst of the mistreatment begins. Sometimes these red flags are easy to see, but Ferriel says that they usually start out subtle. “It could start with lots of questions about what a person’s doing, the people that they’re friends with, asking where they’re going, where they’re at right now, and instead of it being curious, like wanting to meet up with this person, often times they see that as really trying to get some power to hold over this person,” Ferriel said. In addition to warning signs appearing slowly at first, Rothrock says that they are often hard to notice, especially for teenagers. “The hard part about that now, is that a lot of the red signs are hidden in text messages and posts and things of that nature,” Rothrock said. Eric Wood is a licensed therapist Indianapolis, and he says that the biggest warning signs can sometimes be found when looking at how the relationship works. He
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uses the “cost benefit perspective” to explain these friendships, noting that if a relationship is costing more than it is benefiting, then the relationship is probably unhealthy. “The idea that I’m getting less than I am putting into the relationship is usually a red flag,” Wood said. “I feel like I’m investing more time, I feel like I’m putting more into this than that person, I feel like I’m devoting more energy than I am getting back.” Overall, Ferriel says that the best thing someone can do in this situation is to trust their own judgement, especially if the warning signs indicate that the relationship is unhealthy. “Trust your gut. If someone feels like something isn’t right, or that the other person isn’t being respectful of them, there’s a reason that they feel that way,” Ferriel said. “I would encourage them to recognize that they’re important too, and that they have the right to make their own decisions, and I would encourage them to reach out to somebody that they trust that can help them figure out what’s next in a safe way.”
STUDENT STORIES “I sat down one day and reflected on it, realizing that it was beginning to affect my mental health, specifically my anxiety and depression, in addition to draining what energy I had left through expending a ton of effort and not properly balancing giving and taking,” Parkos said. Experts note that there isn’t always a specific event that turns a friendship toxic; often, it can be gradual. Realizing that a relationship is not meeting standards is a big step towards healing. Senior Logan Browning says he likes friends, “who are genuine, accepting people who hopefully can tolerate my bad jokes and obscure references.” Knowing what types of people fit you and your definition of a friend is important, Ferriel says. In toxic friendships, it could simply be that your sense of humor isn’t compatible with a person’s or vice versa. Maybe it’s always
HELP Toxic relationships are just as they sound: toxic. While friendships are supposed to make you feel loved, these friendships cause you to feel tired and depressed. Parkos explains some of the many warning signs and effects she noticed in her toxic relationship. “The primary ones, in my perspective, are getting a feeling of anxiety or panic whenever you see them or talk with them via call/text, feeling an immense pressure to please the other person, feeling exhausted being in the friendship/relationship, and not having a good balance between giving and taking,” she says. As a toxic relationship proceeds, the person can start to feel they are responsible for their toxic friend, that they need to take care of them and abide by their needs, disregarding their own. This is very important to understand, as the longer a toxic friendship goes on, the more stuck the person is in the relationship. While it may be difficult, there is always a way out of a toxic relationship. Wood explains a simple, but challenging way. “Usually you just have to fight the bullet and break it off,” Wood says. “And a lot of people get stuck in those relationships because they are only getting a little bit of reinforcement.”
you giving and the other person taking. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to know for yourself what you’re comfortable with. These unintentional or even intentional friendships can have longing last affects on you and your future relationships. Browning says. “I think they are inevitable [toxic friendships], if you are a people pleaser (like myself),” Browning explains. “If you want to make everyone happy and tend to let others walk over you in response to this, that’s when these toxic relationships are unavoidable. I don’t know if I can say that they are needed for personal growth. Each toxic relationship or friendship has usually ended up in me growing in a slightly negative manner; such as trust issues. But I can see how the experience could [teach others] how to avoid the situation in the future,”
Wood says each person needs to understand codependency. “Codependency is really kind of like bad math, ‘I feel like I’m only half a person, I’m not complete, I put myself in a relationship, then I will feel whole hopefully,’” Wood says. “Codependent people usually tend to attract other codependent people. So the math is kind of like you are in a relationship with one half of a person and you’re half of a person, so our hope is if we add me to you, we will be a full person together.” When there is too much codependency, there is a toxic relationship. However Wood explains that by becoming a complete and independent person, and then becoming friends with another healthy individual, you add to each other while still remaining your own person. That’s a formula which lets you keep your beliefs and passions without worrying it will affect the other.
Prevail: Call 317-776-3472 Loveisrespect: Call 1-866-331-9474, chat at loveis respect.org, or text “loveis” to 22522 The National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit https://www. thehot
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A NEW HORIZON Longtime NHS teacher Butch “B-Rob” Robbins is moving to China Parker Mutter//parkermutter@gmail.com James Simons//james.simons02@gmail.com
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hen you travel, you pack your bags with excitement, just bubbling with joy. There are no sacrifices made for your average trip. It’s an opportunity for you to escape the stresses of your everyday world. But for longtime teacher Butch “B-Rob” Robbins, that will not be the case this summer. June will mark the end of Robbins’ final year at NHS. After this year, Robbins will be leaving in August to teach in China at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing. Robbins has already traveled to China eight times since 2015 and was prepared to travel there two more times before moving, although one of his trips has already been cancelled due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak. Robbins, 55, earned his teaching degree at Ball State and began working at Noblesville High School in the fall of 1986. Thirty-four years later, NHS has remained the only school Robbins has known. Robbins began his career at NHS as a journalism teacher, but over time, he moved in a different direction, now teaching history and social studies classes to upperclassmen. In China, Robbins says his job won’t be much different than it is currently. But he also noted that aspects of his new life, like the food and culture he will encounter, will definitely change. Robbins plans to teach in China for up to two years before returning to America. He mentioned he’s excited
that the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, very near to where he will be staying. In between teaching in China, he says he is thinking about seeing friends in Australia. Robbins’ new school offered him the job a few years ago, and he wasn’t interested at that time. But after they offered him the position this final time, he knew he couldn’t turn it down. He says he knew the offer would not come up a third time. When Robbins leaves, it will not be your average trip. It will have sacrifices, and it may not provide an escape from the stresses of his everyday world. In August, Robbins’ journey will be one of mixed feelings, one of tears and excitement, one of fear and joy, one of happiness and sadness. But at the same time, he says it will be a new opportunity. It will be a new challenge, a new horizon.
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it will still be hard when I walk out the door and then graduation will be tough, but we all move forward and you’ve gotta do what’s best for you. -Butch Robbins
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Photos by P.Mutter
B-Rob teaching his block 3 government class. Here, they are reviewing amendments passed by congress. This year marks B-Rob’s 34th year teaching at
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Colleagues recall their B-Rob memories... Dan Swafford: Early on when I was an administrator, we went to many of the away football games. My son was playing and B-Rob and I were good friends with a former Athletic Director, Steve Hurst. We would all go together. Mr. Hurst would often drive because he had a big van. Anyway, Mr. Hurst always had a “short cut’ to get to the game. Whenever he said he had one, B-Rob would get so ticked off because that usually meant that Mr. Hurst would surely get lost on the way and we would end up getting there just like we had taken the regular route. It got to the point where Mr. Hurst and I would make up routes just to see him lose it.
Melinda Miller: I have many memories of B Rob in so many settings because he is all about our Miller Nation. He has been in so many Faculty Night Live shows, ball games, wrestling matches, lax games, swim meets - you name it, he’s there, supporting the Millers and connecting with students, staff, and families.
Shanda Steele: I remember B-Rob from as far back as when I was a young kid. I’d go to the Lady Miller basketball games with my parents, and he was one of the ticket takers. I didn’t have him as a teacher in high school, but I remember him in Faculty Night Live (Love Shack skit was one of my favorites). As a teacher, I have many great memories of B-Rob, both in and out of school. I’ve enjoyed chaperoning prom with him and being a part of FNL with him. I would have to say my favorite memory with him in school is doing the roller skating skit (and catching him when he almost fell!) and the “Baby Got Back” Wedding Dance skits with him during FNL. Ted Ringle: My favorite story about B-Rob is that we met while we were both getting our Master Degrees at IWU. He was the one that encouraged me to apply to Noblesville High School. I believe he even had a little influence in getting me this job. I started here in 2001 and we have been friends ever since. We have done a lot of fun things over the last 19 years and have had many laughs and memories. Leslie Ringle: B-Rob has been a chaperone on two overseas trips that I’ve sponsored. While I have many funny stories, I love that he is so easily scared, especially of snakes. On our last trip, students brought a rubber snake and were constantly scaring him with it! When B-Rob screams, it’s loud and high-pitched! Amanda Giordano: Since our son Garrett was born, we’ve always brought him along to school events and get togethers with friends. Garrett immediately formed a strong connection to Mr. Robbins, or Butch to him. This bond has grown over the years and Garrett’s first question anytime he knows we are headed to a school event is, “Will Butch be there?” Mr. Robbins ability to connect with his students, colleagues, the community, and even our sweet boy is just one of many reasons why we love him! Gregory Richards: My best memory and the highlight of last summer, I was in China teaching with him, He and I and two women from Australia got up at 5:30 every morning, we met, and walked a number of miles around the University of Science and Technology at Beijing, and we just had great conversations and observed the people of all different ages who were out, in China, at 5:30 in the morning, taking their morning exercise, buying things from the markets as they were opening up... MILL STREAM 15
THE NOBLEST OF COFFEE (AND TEA) Noblesville Coffee and Tea owners know there is more to a coffee shop than the drinks Bergan Zebrauskas//bergan.zebrauskas@gmail.com Jane Jeong//janejeong02@gmail.com
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he average person travels about 30 miles each day, usually to get to their jobs and/or schools and then back home. But a majority of these people can’t even begin their daily arduous journey without a good ol’ cup of joe from a coffee shop like Noble Coffee and Tea. This 30 miles may seem like a hike every morning, but it’s nothing compared to the 8,176 miles those coffee beans travelled to be in your cup. Noble Coffee and Tea gets their coffee straight from the source, such as Ethiopia, and roast the beans right here in Noblesville. The familiar faces behind the counter, Robyn and Mark Littler, are the co-owners of Noble Coffee and Tea. According to Robyn, being a married couple doesn’t completely erase the struggles that come with working in a partnership. “Working with anybody can be challenging, just trying to be patient with people for the most part,” Robyn said. But like in any collaboration, Robyn and Mark’s individual strengths work together in order to create and grow their business. “He’s an engineer, so he does a lot of the mechanical stuff on the roaster side. I’m more marketing and menu development, and the HR and social side,” Robyn said. “It’s a pretty good match of skills.” Robyn had actually worked at Noble Coffee and Tea about twelve years ago when it was owned by Jim Howard. At first, Robyn bought only the roasting businesses, where Robyn and Mark could roast coffee for themselves and for other shops along with Noble Coffee and Tea. Then, they decided to buy the actual shop about three years ago. Robyn, an NHS graduate herself, notes the difference in the role of local businesses like Noble Coffee and Tea in Noblesville now compared to when she was in high school. “When I was in high school...we didn’t have this experience [of having a community downtown]. It was just different because I never really came down town,” Robyn said. “Now I see more students coming in on either e-learning days or just after school with friends.” Noble Coffee has become a space to hold fundraisers for those in need, where NHS mugs are sold with a por tion donated back to Noblesville Schools, and for lending libraries for books and toys. 2.14.20
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This local business rooted in Noblesville is now a valuable part of the community. Not only is it a place where adults and high schoolers alike can come to hang out, but it is also a space where relationships can form. “We have some awesome baristas [...] a lot of the experience for people is not just the drink but the relationship with the people behind the counter. That’s been very valuable. There’s a couple of the people I work with here that have worked here for almost about 15 years. Having that [experience] they know when people come in. They know their drink and it’s ready,” Robyn said. “I think that’s a very special part of what local coffee shops do.” Noble Coffee is located downtown on the square, but the business reaches far beyond Noblesville. Coffee has taken the Littlers to many exotic places, allowing them to connect with other communities outside of the USA, such as Costa Rica. “I enjoy traveling and coffee is grown in some really beautiful places in the world, so being able to do that and go to farms and visit the people who made it has really been a great part of the job,” Robyn said. In the future, the Littlers have plans to extend their business to these farms, allowing them to continue traveling and making quality coffee while helping communities in far-off places. “Our five year goal, or probably more realistic, our ten year goal is to have a small farm in Guatemala and Costa Rica, just maybe like ten acres, and then be able to do things for the communities there, because the farming of coffee is a really, really hard job,” Robyn said. Coffee shops are not just about the coffee. Local businesses in particular have the opportunity to connect with people on a deeper level than just selling a product. Noble Coffee and Tea is no exception. “For me that has been something important, having the shop in the place I grew up,” Robyn said. “I think like a lot of young people, I didn’t necessarily think I would come back here, I dreamed about being other places, but this kind of worked out. Seeing a lot of the teachers and friends and people and doing things for the community is really rewarding, and through coffee we can do that.”
Co-owners Robyn and Mark Littler make and serve beverages behind the counter at Noble Coffee and Tea in downtown Noblesville. “It’s funny because a lot of people so me what my favorite [drink] is, looking for sweeter drinks. But I’m a black coffee person, so I really like Ethiopian coffees.” Robyn said.
Tea Latte (London Fog) Noble Coffee and Tea’s Tea Lattes are almost completely personalizable to the customer’s liking. The London Fog tea (black tea) is sweetened the absolutely perfect amount, while a slight honey flavor appears in the aftertaste. The poofy milk foam adds a nice texture to the drink, while never feeling like an obstacle to get to the actual tea.
Zebra Latte The Zebra Latte brings more to the table than your average cup of joe. While still maintaining the natural bitterness of coffee, it has just the right amount of sweetness. The hint of chocolate-y goodness tops this whole drink off. The whipped cream is a refreshing addition to this great drink. MILL STREAM 17
Photos by J. Jeong and B. Zebrauskas. Illustrations by B. Zebrauskas
MillStream Reviews...
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BEHIND THE TERROR Senior Elliott Craw brings scary creatures to life through makeup Hope Lynas//hopiev6@gmail.com
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dark, decaying house awaits your arrival. Stepping inside you see the face of a spine-tingling body. Screams reside in the shadows of every corner. Souls move rotting hands to their faces, terrifying those who pass. Alarming faces reveal themselves around each corner, skin dangling from their living corpses. If you’ve ever visited a haunted house, you recognize this scene. Lurking behind each creepy face in a haunted house is a talented makeup artist. And behind every special effects makeup artist is a mind fueled by an imagination like no other. NHS senior Elliott Craw has one of those minds, and he strives for frightening art after discovering his passion. “Being a horror fanatic got me more into special effects,” Craw said. Craw says these scary movies lead him to clips on YouTube about the films. Little did he know that a suggestion for special effects makeup would make an appearance on his own page. “I started seeing recommendations on my YouTube, because I watch horror clips from movies, and a channel came up that did a bunch of special effects makeup,” Craw said. “I watched it and I thought, ‘Okay, I want to try this.’” Craw’s love for horror movies was just the first step down the path of special effects. He worked at Indy Scream Park, which truly opened his eyes to the world of haunting makeup. “I started working there when it opened in 2018. I was an asylum patient. I felt like I could bring out my horror movie side and get all hyped up,” Craw said. “The makeup helped. It was very fun.” While Craw enjoys the acting, he says his aspiration is to create the characters scaring the public. “I love acting, but I’d rather work behind the scenes,” Craw said. “They told me if I started doing better and still practice my makeup, I could most likely act and do makeup.” Craw’s former manager at Indy Scream Park, Michaela Mehling, noticed his drive for special effects (SFX). “Elliot has always been very passionate about SFX make up,” Mehling said. “He would send me pictures in the middle of the night asking me what I thought about his work and if they could wear it out to work, and I was always very amazed by what he could accomplish.” Mehling has high hopes for Craw’s future and believes he will go far in the growing art of SFX. “I could honestly see him going very far in the future,”
Mehling said. “He’s already succeeding for his age and experience so far. With his willing attitude, I could see him going far and making a career out of it.” Craw says he has big plans for his future in special effects. He is contemplating a new adventure after high school, Tom Savini’s Special Effects School. “[Tom Savini] is the guy that did the SFX makeup for ‘Friday the 13th,’ ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and a lot of other popular horror movies,” said Craw. Craw’s enthusiasm for special effects may seem odd to outsiders. However, an undeniable fire burns in him that may not be visible to the public eye. “A lot of people think it’s kinda strange, because it’s scary stuff,” Craw said. “It’s just how I am, and it’s something I really enjoy.”
Elliot Craws SFX Tips If you want to try your hand at making your own special effects makeup, NHS senior Elliott Craw has a few suggestions.
“Don’t use giant chunks of cotton
if you’re doing the rough skin 1 balls color”
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“Get fake skin, it makes the process a bit quicker”
3 Use a hair dryer for a quicker dry time” 4 “Take your time”” 5 “Go for it!”
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Kaitlyn Shoemaker, Brooklyn Ely, Ashlynn Shade, Dani Mendez, and Brooklyn Smitherman are freshmen that play on the Girl’s Varsity Basketball team
Photos by J. Page and V. Dawson
igh school sports can be a rude awakening for incoming freshmen due to the heightened expectations when it comes to both school and sports. Superstar athletes who once dominated in middle school often find that they are not ready to compete at a high level yet. However, that change can happen seamlessly and some athletes flourish at this new level of athletics. The latter seems to be the case for the Lady Millers basketball team since five freshmen are on the varsity squad. Ashlynn Shade, Dani Mendez, Brooklyn Ely, Brooklyn Smitherman, and Kaitlyn Shoemaker are the five freshmen who have had the opportunity to play on the varsity team this season. While this opportunity is one that many athletes dream of, the big challenge is playing with teammates and opponents who are older than you. These freshmen, however, are using this chance to learn from their older teammates, despite the challenges it brings. “It’s different because you’re playing with girls that are three years older than us,” Shade said, “But it’s also a really fun experience to get to know them better and having that experience of playing with them.” Coming in as a freshman and playing on varsity can be a daunting task. Combined with the horror stories of high school hazing that some people have from when they were freshmen athletes, it could make anyone nervous. However the upperclassmen of the girls basketball team have stepped up and been able to help these freshman with the struggles that are inevitable with young players. Mendez has been able to learn from the upperclassmen and also start relationships with them.
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6:15 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. - My evening routine consists of eating dinner, finishing up homework or studying, checking up on social medias, and going to bed at 10:00pm.
6:00 P.M. to 6:15 P.M. - After practice I go to the locker room to pack my belongings while talking to the team about our day.
4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. - Our typical practice schedule consists of one or two full court drills, we run sprints, work on transitions, split into guards and posts, work on our 13 defense and man defense, set up our offenses and defenses depending on our opponents that week, and finish with pressure free throw shooting.
8:40 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. - After my classes end, I go to the locker room and get prepared for basketball practice.
7:30 A.M. to 8:40 A.M. - When I get to school, I typically go to the locker room and put my basketball bag in my locker. Then, I talk with friends until class begins.
5:30 A.M. to 7:30 A.M. - After I get up, I take a shower and get ready to babysit. I have my babysitting job in the mornings due to my lack of free time in the afternoon.
5:30 A.M. - I usually get up at 5:30am for school
NHS’s Brooklyn Ely goes a lot during a typical day...
Jonathon Page//jon@pageranch.com “It is nice to make friends with the older girls,” Mendez said, “and they help me out a lot since I struggle sometimes.” Because of this, the freshmen have formed great relationships with their upperclassmen teammates, but the relationship the freshmen have with each other is strong from playing with each other for years. “I feel like all the freshmen are extremely close with each other and have been for years,” Ely said. “Most of us grew up together and constantly hung out.” Having good chemistry with your teammates is a key to success, but you also need to practice and work on your skills if you want to be a great team. That can be difficult when balancing school as well. Luckily, head coach Donna Buckley has been coaching for 12 years and knows what these freshmen are going through. “They’re just trying to [balance] school and basketball, and it’s a lot,” Buckley stated. Even with the freshmen still new to high school, they have seemed to catch on and have earned the praise of Buckley. “They’re great kids and they work hard and have learned pretty well so far,” Buckley said. The NHS fab five is starting to learn that success comes with pressure. but they’re also learning how to use that pressure to push themselves to improve. Shade says she welcomes the increased expectations. “Everytime I step on the court, I know that I have to play my best, because I know if I play my best, my team is going to support me and we’re going to succeed,” Shade stated.
A Day in the Life
The Lady Millers have five future stars in the making
THE NEW FAB FIVE
CONSERVATION CENTRAL The top ten trashless tips for high school students Jenna Schweikert//jennaschweikert02@gmail.com Hailey Durm//haileydurm14@gmail.com
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arth today isn’t far from an apocalyptic disaster. Maybe not as bad as the movie “2012,” but the world’s third mass extinction event seems to be well underway and the human race isn’t exactly helping solve the problem. Storms are gradually getting worse, the global temperature is excessively increasing, and there will be global warming deniers until the sea levels are at their doorstep. It’s only a matter of time before the human race decimates our only home, and ourselves. For a single high school student in the Midwest, having any effect on this reality can seem insurmountable. But if each and every student at NHS became even a little more environmentally conscious, then changing this harsh reality could be more achievable.
Coffee
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The slogan “Reduce, reuse, recycle” has been around since 1976. But, it’s still relevant, even if there are new and better ways to be environmentally conscious. For example, many high schoolers drink coffee regularly. If buying your favorite caffeinated beverage from a local store or even a Starbucks, students can reduce the plastic or styrofoam trash of a throwaway cup by bringing their own reusable mug. If making coffee at home, using a French press instead of a percolating system can reduce waste through eliminating coffee filters.
Produce
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Introducing more fruits and vegetables into your daily consumption can also reduce the massive environmental impact of consuming meat. “Choosing to eat less beef has huge impacts, as raising cattle uses massive amounts of land to grow feed, and land for them to graze.” Gurule said. In 2017, the agriculture industry contributed to 9% of carbon emissions, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
2.14.20 LIFESTYLES
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Composting
Students can also use their coffee grounds in a compost pile instead of throwing the waste away. Making a meal plan to eliminate leftovers and choosing to split large meals at restaurants reduces food waste as well. “Composting our food waste would also limit what enters a landfill, while also creating a natural fertilizer that can be used in a garden,” says NHS Conservation Club sponsor and AP environmental science teacher Eric Gurule. Using the compost fertilizer to grow a garden not only with flowers, but also with fruits and vegetables, reduces plastic waste by eliminating the need to buy boxed produce at a grocery store. (Don’t forget to bring your own grocery bags!) Alternatively, buying food made locally lowers the carbon emissions from transporting food, according to Gurule.
Around the World Statistics provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2016 waste (in millions of tons per year) per region
North America: 289
Middle East: 129
Europe and Central Asia: 392
East Asia: 468
South Asia: 334
Latin America: 231 Sub-Saharan Africa: 174 We’re all in this together It can be tough to stay environmentally conscious, but there are always fun ways to do so. Making your own Chapstick, using bar soap or making your own bar soap, using reusable water bottles, and even making your own face masks are some great ways to reduce everyday plastic waste. All students can adjust their lives in one or two simple ways in order to help the earth last as long as possible.
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