ODYSSEY Newsmagazine, Vol. 16, Issue 3, March 2019

ODYSSEY Volume 16 Issue 3 March 2019

32 SENIOR JAMSEN MENDOZA'S PATH TO 18 THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIFE OF SENIOR DAVID RICHARD

THIS ISSUE FEATURES AN IN-DEPTH NEWS STORY ON THE JUULING EPIDEMIC AND ITS EFFECTS ON CLARKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

OUR TAKE Student expression is the beauty of Clarke Central High School.

STAFF EDITORIAL

NEWS GROWING GIFTED STUDENTS 16 The Gifted Minorities Achieving program provides a supportive environment for minority students.

BY ANA ALDRIDGE

Features JUULS AT SCHOOL 20 The nationwide Juuling epidemic is evident at Clarke

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Central High School.

BY VALERIA GARCIA-POZO

Featured: SNEAKERHEAD: Clarke Central High School senior Sam Rittenberry poses with her sneakers on Feb. 21. Rittenberry is an avid collector of shoes. “I think in all, I have like 63 shoes. When I first get pairs of shoes -- I have a whole bunch of racks I can put my shoes (on) -- but the new ones, I keep them in the box,” Rittenberry said. Photo by Emma Ramsay

REVIEWS WE ALL SHINE 36 Rapper YNW Melly’s album “We All Shine” is an interesting release, but ultimately doesn’t stray from the subject matter Melly is most familiar with.

BY ANDREA MATTA-CASTILLO

VARIETY MAKEUP MASTER 38 Junior Robbie Isakovich has learned to express

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himself through makeup.

BY ISABELLA BAKER-JOHNSON

SPORTS SPRING HALFTIME REPORT 56 ODYSSEY Media Group Sports Editor Mackenzie Caudill reports on the statuses of CCHS sports teams halfway through the spring season.

BY MACKENZIE CAUDILL

Featured: SOCCER SENIOR: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie poses in Death Valley on Feb. 3.

Although Croffie has been playing soccer since eighth grade, he was familiar with the sport from a young age growing up in Ghana. “(In Ghana) everyone already loves soccer, so you’re gonna be in the culture already,” Croffie said. “When I was maybe 2 or 3 (years old), I already knew what it was and watched a bunch of it. My dad actually used to play, so I knew about it from him.” Photo by Krista Shumaker

Cover photo by Kelly Fulford Cover design by Katie Grace Upchurch

ONLINE AT odysseynewsmagazine.net

NEW COUNSELOR The counseling team at Clarke Central High School will hire a fifth counselor during the 201819 school year to help accommodate the growing student population.

BY ANA ALDRIDGE

LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF ODYSSEY Media Group staffers recorded podcasts in which they share letters they would like to give their past selves full of advice, warnings, encouragement and insight into what their futures hold.

BY ODYSSEY MEDIA GROUP STAFFERS

Odyssey The ODYSSEY is a student-run news publication, published with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community, as well as to educate student journalists.

Established in 2003, the ODYSSEY is published four times a year, and each issue is an open public forum for student expression under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Student journalists are provided with opportunities to investigate, inform, interpret and to evaluate: all traditionally accepted functions of the press in America. Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the staff.

The ODYSSEY staff is committed to reflect the mission statement set forth by Clarke Central High School. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Athens’ community.

Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by CCHS or the ODYSSEY staff.

Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any ODYSSEY staff member.

The ODYSSEY is a member of the Quill and Scroll Honor Society, Georgia Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

Corrections of errors and omissions will appear in the next issue.

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Ana Aldridge Katie Grace Upchurch Managing Editor: Elena Gilbertson Hall Senior Copy Editor: Valeria Garcia-Pozo Senior Visuals Editor: Kelly Fulford Junior Copy Editor: Alexander Robinson Viewpoints Editor: Connor McCage Variety Editor: Emma Ramsay Sports Editor: Mackenzie Caudill Business Manager: Emma Crane Morale Chair: Bria Echols Web Master: Owen Donnelly Social Media Coordinator: Elena Webber Writing Coach: Roxanne Domizi Staff Members: Ava Adamson Aaron Carr Caedmon Churchwell Gunnar Churchwell Maya Cornish Colin Frick Naomi Hendershot Audrey Kennedy Andrea Matta-Castillo Nicole Ramos Tecoya Richardson Natalie Ripps Krista Shumaker Adviser: David A. Ragsdale ODYSSEY MEDIA GROUP Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 Phone: (706) 357-5200 Ext. 17370

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTICULTURAL CENTRAL >> NEWS THEIR SECOND LIVES // Mackenzie Caudill In this article, I read that some teachers have second or third jobs because of the fact that they don’t get paid very well for being a teacher. One teacher, Dr. Swift, said that he loves teaching math and that he wants to impact people‘s lives by teaching them math. I think that’s really inspiring because of the fact that all of his jobs include teaching math. I really like reading about people who never give up on what they truly want in life, and this is a pure example of that. When I read this article I think of how much work they have to do, just so they can get by. I just think the article could have had more details about those teachers’ lives.

Our December issue featured stories on multiculturalism at Clarke Central High School including a Q&A with counselor Dr. Ashlee Perry.

ODYSSEY

>> FEATURES

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Eli Clarke

Q&A WITH DR. ASHLEE PERRY

Volume 16 Issue 2 Dec. 2018

THIS ISSUE FEATURES MULTIPLE STORIES EXPLORING MULTICULTURALISM AT CLARKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

-- Samantha Shaffner, senior

REVIEW: PEPPERMINT MILKSHAKE // Elena Webber Though your review is concise and well-written, you are wrong to say that the Chick-Fil-A peppermint milkshake contains ice cream. Even Chick-Fil-A cannot call it ice cream, because it’s not even close. They have to call it “icedream.”

This alone should give one pause before ordering this “treat.” Here’s something else that should give one pause, the list of ingredients. With over 900 calories, 127 grams of sugar, 31 grams of fat, and a long list of food additives, this “treat” should be looked at a little more closely before giving it such a ringing endorsement.

-- Jen MacDonald., CCSD parent

Corrections/Omissions December 2018

T “

This wasn’t my first time hearing about the bones found under Baldwin Hall, but I didn’t really know that much about it until now. I thought the article was very well-written, and it gave me a clear, objective story of what happened on the UGA campus. I think that the article is a little late, and I would have liked to have read it sooner after the discovery of the bones, but I understand it takes a while to gather all the information and format that information into an interesting and engaging story. And, as I learned from the article, the memorial was just recently unveiled. However, I did like how it was written in a sort of chronological order. I really liked the addition of the timeline, as it showed me exactly how every event having to do with the discovery of the bones played out.

he article is >> SPORTS very welldone and I believe TURNING AWAY // it captures the spirit and sincere sentiments of those who have spoken.

-- Kurali Grantham, sophomore

AJ Carr

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>> VARIETY

Before Baldwin // Elena Gilbertson Hall and

I liked the article because of the realism it shows with the wrestlers and how they bonded together through the love of the pack. I feel like the author could have got some more of the hard-hitting truth about the wrestlers -- I feel as if he should put in more detail about how the students really felt, even with raw and aggressive language being used. He should take out the soft spotlight on the athletes and shine it on the dark truth they felt about the whole situation. I feel picking at them one by one and bringing the old coach into the conversation would make it pop while adding some questions and responses from the new coaching staff.

-- Community member Linda Davis on Eli Clarke and Managing Editor Elena Gilbertson Hall’s feature story on Baldwin Hall

-- Stephon Barrow, senior

On page 16, Linda Davis' title should be "Community member".

On page 15 in paragraph 6, the word “University” should be capitalized.

On page 25 in paragraph 10, the last name “McNeeley” is misspelled.

On page 28, in the last quote, the word “it’s” is missing an apostrophe.

On page 30, in the byline of the review of “Westside”, the word “illustrations” is misspelled.

On page 6, in the 16th paragraph, it should say “Clarke Central High School” instead of “CCHS”.

Contact ODYSSEY Newsmagazine

Letters: E-mail us at editors@odysseynewsmagazine.net, or drop off in the Main Office, in care of the ODYSSEY. We ask that all letters be under 250 words and signed. We reserve the right to omit or edit any letters received. Insulting, unsigned or libelous statements will not be considered for publication. All letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Advertising: For ad rates e-mail us at business@odysseynewsmagazine.net.

Online: Comment online at our www.odysseynewsmagazine.net.

March 2019

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OUR TAKE Freedom of expression, particularly in style and clothing, allows students to embrace their own, and each others’, identities.

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hen one walks down the hallways at Clarke Central High School, they are instantly surrounded by classmates whose forms of self-expression range from dyed hair to thrifted pants to T-shirts displaying a thousand different messages, organizations and interests.

The diversity at CCHS, a school with 78 percent minority enrollment and 92 percent of students identified as economically disadvantaged, according to the U.S. News and World Report, makes differences in presentation choices among the student body unavoidable.

Additionally, despite the CCHS 2018-19 Student Handbook dress code policy, which states students’ “clothing and appearance must not be a distraction, immodest, inflammatory, offensive, or pose a health, safety, or security hazard,” the sheer size of the student body makes it difficult to police all 1860 students on a regular basis.

Because of this, CCHS has evolved to an environment where most clothing, as well as hair and body choices, are generally not restricted, providing students with a safe space for self-expression through style and appearance.

For individual students, the ability to wear whatever one wants without fearing harsh judgement is liberating.

Additionally, CCHS students are constantly exposed to others whose fashion choices and general appearances reflect their sexual or gender identities, their political beliefs or even simply their desire for comfort that day.

According to the 2014 Scientific American article, “How Diversity Makes Us Smarter,” people in work environments where they are socially different from those around them -- particularly in race, experience and opinion -- will work harder to come to mutual understandings with their peers than they would in

a socially homogeneous situation.

At CCHS, a learning environment, the introduction to social diversity will equip students to become more accepting, tolerant people later on in life.

In contrast, a lack of exposure to diversity in student expression could limit students’ ideas of what is acceptable and make them more closed-minded.

Surely, homogeneity has a firm place in young adult culture. According to the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health, virtually all adolescents in middle and high school deal with some form of peer pressure -- a diverse environment cannot eliminate this.

Some may argue that even though all types of clothing are generally accepted at CCHS, clothing

can still, of course, be susceptible to judgement by peers. Additionally, on a microlevel, within specific peer groups, expectations for what is acceptable can be more rigid.

However, a flexible approach to appearance among the student body as a whole is an excellent first step.

Students should be encouraged to come to school as they are, as their education is more important than whatever they may be wearing.

An open environment like the one at CCHS gives students a platform for self-expression and teaches lessons of tolerance and acceptance that will stay with students long after they have graduated. O

CCHS provides students with a safe space for selfexpression through style and appearance.

Above: JEAN QUEEN: Clarke Central High School senior Paulina Hafer decorates a pair of jeans in with various drawings. This is one of many platforms CCHS students have to express themselves, and should continue to be encouraged. Photo by Emma Ramsay

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IN FOCUS Featured: ALWAYS AN ARTIST: Clarke Central High School senior Paulina Hafer designs her own jeans using markers. Hafer recently started producing her own music, but has been creating art for as long as she can remember. “I like expressing myself through art, whether that be through clothes or music or painting, because that way, I can put my own spin on it,� Hafer said. Photo by Emma Ramsay

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March 2019

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Co-Editor-in-Chief Ana Aldridge describes her mom’s advice and the impact it has had on her life.

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’ve lived with my learning and experience, and is teaching me to value specting myself enough to invest in people who inmom, Juana Gnec- those things as well. vest in me -- to spend time with the people who truly co, for almost 18 My mom and I can both be shy at times. None- care about me and want the best for me. years now and we are theless, she encourages me to go to parties and talk She also encourages me to advocate for myself. very close. She is one to new people. If I’m unsure about going on a date When I have a conflict with someone, I tend to shy of my best friends and or going out with friends, she’s more likely to en- away from any confrontation. But, my mom encourwe have a real, honest courage me than not, telling me to try it out and see ages me to talk to them and express my feelings, as relationship. We argue how it goes. a way of respecting myself and the relationship with ANA ALDRIDGE Co-Editor-in-Chief often, but we can’t stay My mom’s encouragement has taught me to love the other person. mad for long.

This idea doesn’t only extend to relationships learning, to love meeting new people and to love My mom has a profound understanding of her- travelling and seeing new places -- to live life to its with other people. My whole life, my mom has self, others and life in general. I’ve altaught me to eat well and exercise -- to ways admired how she lives her life with treat my body with the respect it deserves. compassion and respect. She approaches In August, I’ll likely be moving out of Wherever I end up, I’ll carry with everyone with kindness, even when oththe house and going to college. me the wisdom of my mom, telling ers are not kind, and she’s very intuitive.

But, wherever I end up, I’ll carry with She can tell when I’m upset, even before me the wisdom of my mom, telling me me what and what not to do.

I’ve admitted to myself that something’s what and what not to do. wrong.

And, if I get lost, I know I can always My whole life I have gone to my mom for advice. fullest. call her for advice. I’m eternally thankful for having Whether the conversation be about school, friendThough my mom encourages me to meet new a mom who shows me what living with grace looks ships, relationships or health, I can break down her people, she stresses to me the importance of re- like through her everyday actions and words. O standard advice into three categories: compassion for others, self-respect and living.

Compassion is something that comes very naturally to my mom. She’s a sensitive, emotional person and she deeply cares about all people and animals, in a way very few others do.

One way my mom has taught me compassion is by telling me, “Imagina si eras tu,” which means, “Imagine if it were you.”

Whenever I’m struggling to get along with someone or understand someone who is different than me, I remember these words and put myself in their shoes, making me more sympathetic to their position.

The second category of my mom’s wisdom is to truly appreciate and experience the people and nature around me. My mom is a naturally curious person. On walks, she often stops and takes pictures of flowers, so she can Google them later.

Other times, she’ll strike up conversations with strangers, purely out of interest in their lives.

For me, a teenager who finds it hard to care about anything, this can seem a little annoying. But, I know that her curiosity comes from a good place -- she values Left: MAMÁ Y ANA: Co-Editor-in-Chief Ana Aldridge (right) and her mom, Juana Gnecco (left), pose for a photo at a restaurant in Paquera, Costa Rica in 2007. Advice from Gnecco has greatly influenced Aldridge throughout her life. Photo by Emuel Aldridge

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Students at Clarke Central High School, like students across the world, would benefit greatly from interdisciplinary environmental education programs.

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In a world plagued these classes. resources including guidelines, standards and activwith the destructive At CCHS, this includes implementing environ- ities for education on topics such as clean energy effects of climate mental science-related standards in social studies and fracking -- even a “Guide to Saving the Earth” change, water pollution and English classes, beginning a sustainability-fo- subtitled, “How to raise a generation that cares.” and ungodly carbon emis- cused club, creating systems which will reduce food At UGA, there is an extension program called sions, environmental ed- waste and promote a more sustainable reuse of the “Grow It. Know It.,” which provides agricultural ucation is essential. waste still left over. and educational opportunities for students in the According to the UnitEnvironmental education, an interdisciplinary Clarke County School District. There are currently KATIE GRACE UPCHURCH Co-Editor-in-Chief ed States Environmental field of study, brings together hard sciences with so- programs at a number of CCSD schools, including Protection Agency, envi- cial sciences as well as communication skills, teach- Clarke Middle School, one of CCHS’ feeder schools. ronmental education is “a process that allows indi- ing students about the ways in which environmental The program, Kitchen Garden Corps, “(engagviduals to explore environmental issues, engage in challenges have been caused by, affect and can be es) middle school students, school staff, university problem solving, and take action to partners, and community memimprove the environment.” bers to understand and address Environmental education gives Though this a good start, there is more ‘big picture’ issues of poverty, food individuals awareness in knowledge insecurity, and environmental susthat can be done to ensure these oppor- tainability through school gardens, and skills which leads them to develop an attitude, or a concern, for the hands-on educational activities, and tunities are available to all students. world around them. This concern workforce-development initiatives.” leads to practices of citizenry and This practice of educating stufinally action through participation dents about the world around them, and research. fixed by humans. and not only teaching them about it but letting At Clarke Central High School, environmental edThis means that environmental education is quite them explore it, is especially pertinent now, when ucation can be seen in Environmental Science cours- simple in its implementation and is not a field which the planet is undeniably on the cusp of irreversible es, agriculture courses and extracurriculars related takes away from time spent on more traditional core climate change due to human actions. to both subjects. Though this a good start, there is subject areas, as some may argue.

According to respected academic journal, “Namore that can be done to ensure these opportuniRather, those areas can be easily incorporated ture Climate Change,” climate change prospects are ties are available to all students, not just the ones in into an environmental education program. “like a terror movie that is real.”

The National Educators Association has many Through industrialization and immense pollution, humans have caused real, nearly irreversible damage to the planet -- but it is damage that can be lessened through the actions of individuals who have been educated on their environment and these challenges that face it.

Through environmental education, humans can begin to reverse the challenges facing the planet and begin to create a more environmentally, socially and politically sustainable world for future generations. O

Above: ON A MISSION: A student researches issues relating to climate change and measures to prevent it. Environmental and agricultural education go hand-in-hand and are both important in a world facing the effects of manmade social and environmental problems such as climate change and socioeconomic stratification.

Illustration by Audrey Kennedy

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March 2019

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No HOPE for students

NATALIE

SCHLIEKELMAN The Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) and Zell Miller scholarship programs are not achieving their goal of making college more accessible

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he Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Scholarship is Georgia’s flagship scholarship program, but it’s not making as big a difference as one might think.

The HOPE Scholarship provides an award amount to be applied to a standard undergraduate education. To be eligible, students must have a 3.0 GPA, be enrolled as degree-seeking students at a HOPE-eligible college or university and fulfill academic rigor requirements.

Although Georgia has excellent merit-based scholarships, including the HOPE and Zell Miller programs, it currently has no need-based programs, which provide scholarships for students unable to pay for college, unlike 48 other U.S. states, according to a 2017 report called “Need-Based Financial Education Policy Snapshot” from the Education Commission of the States.

This means that if students don’t have the money to pay for college or the grades necessary to meet the HOPE scholarship criteria, their post-secondary education could be in peril.

The consequences are obvious. According to a 2016 report by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), less than half of in-state students benefit from HOPE program scholarships.

Even more worryingly, only 30 percent of low-income students in the University system are receiving HOPE benefits, as opposed to 42 percent of middle- and high-income students.

Instead of helping students go to college who wouldn’t have been able to, the HOPE scholarship is helping students who already could have afforded it.

College should not be unattainable. The Georgia General Assembly needs to address this issue by providing more need-based scholarships for Georgia residents.

Doing this would not only be an investment in students, but an investment in Georgia. O

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Question of the month How do you express yourself?

“I express myself through music and art. I do the Athens Youth Symphony -- (...) I like to express myself through music because I really enjoy it and it’s part of my passion. (...) I use (art) to express myself as well.”

-- YERAHM HONG, freshman

“Sometimes I cut my hair to express myself. Sometimes I draw on clothing to add my own uniqueness to it. (...) Last year I did this weird haircut where it was trimmed on the sides and I dyed my hair blue.”

-- ELIJAH HAGIN, sophomore

“Whatever you decide to wear, you put a little drip into it. (...) Get a watch, necklace, earring, some of it. Or just wearing the craziest stuff ever. Passion is just you expressing you, like you can have on a fedora and a skirt and a hula necklace and that could be your drip. If someone tells you not to wear it, wear it anyway. You liked it and got it for a reason, so just express yourself.”

-- JOSHUA DANIEL, senior

“I make baskets and create stuff with food. The last thing I created was a basket for a baby shower so people will also pay me to create baskets, so I am pretty good at that. I find stuff and get to go out and shop and find things that I like and then kind of put it together. It is (rewarding) when it is really beautiful. I am like, ‘Hey, I did that.’”

Above: WITHOUT HOPE: A HOPE scholarship recipient helps another student, who is not receiving financial aid. One in two in-state students in Georgia do not benefit from the HOPE scholarship, with lower-income students who need the aid oftentimes being neglected. Illustration by Audrey Kennedy

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-- AMANDA GORHAM, Associate Principal

Viewpoints

THUMBS The ODYSSEY staff’s opinions on this month’s issues.

SAMAIYAH RA'AID

FRESH VOICE

Journalism I student Samaiyah Ra’aid shares her experiences of being the youngest child in her family and how she and her siblings interact.

B NO LOVE FOR ROM-COMS Those who enjoy romantic comedies are frequently shamed for enjoying movies with so-called frivolous plots.

NOT COOL TO JUUL Between 2017 and 2018, 1.3 million more high school students across the country have used e-cigarettes and nicotinerelated products.

WHY NO CO-ED? Recreational sports teams for young children continue to seperate boys and girls, despite a lack in a divide between the two genders’ performance at that age.

TAKE CARE OF MOTHER NATURE Clarke Central High School should implement a more comprehensive environmental education program to teach students about the world around them.

Viewpoints

KICKIN’ IT Sneakers are an expressive and stylish way for many Clarke Central High School students to express themselves.

SHINING STUDENTS

Clarke Central High School seniors Jojo Croffie and David Richard, who have both shown strength in the face of major changes, are now preparing to graduate high school.

eing the youngest child in a family has always been a very unique experience in the Ra’aid household. I am the youngest of seven children — yes, seven children.

My oldest sister, Kenya, is 18 years older than me, so she has always treated me like her child, telling me what to do, how to do it and when to do it.

Tia can also feel like my mother, but in a more friendly way. She loves to have a good time and try new things. Her work ethic, kindness, dedication and determination have influenced me greatly.

My sister, Shakeelah, is the life of the party. She’s free-spirited and brings out the best in all of us, but things can become complicated when she’s the only one in a party mood.

Next, we have Majazz -- one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet.

He’s the self-proclaimed family “pretty boy”: under no circumstances can anyone even imply that Majazz is ugly, unless they want a rant about how he’s the best-looking out of all of us.

Shekendria is quiet and observant, but when you tick her off, she will blow up. She’s not one to be messed with. She and Majazz make the perfect mix of chaos between us.

Yusuf and I are the closest in age, making us closer than my other siblings and I. He’s really laid-back, but he’s a jokester. He’s also very sly -- one minute I’ll see him, and the next minute, he’s eating the food out of the refrigerator that I mentally claimed.

Then there’s me.

I’m strong-minded like Kenya, passionate like Tia, the life of the party like Shakeelah, observant like Shekendria, confident like Majazz and funny like Yusuf. I’m the perfect mix of all of my siblings’ best qualities, and I still manage to be different.

I’m proud to be the youngest of this crazy family. We may have our conflicts, but it’s us against the world forever. O

FLYING HIGH Clarke Central High School senior Jamsen Mendoza is preparing to attend the United States Air Force Academy.

FREE BIRD Volunteering at The Sparrow’s Nest, a Christian-based ministry, is an eye-opening opportunity for serving the population of homeless people in the AthensClarke County area.

Above: FAMILY FUN: Journalism 1 student Samaiyah Ra’aid (second from left) poses for a photo outside of her home with her one of her sisters Shekendria Davis, her two brothers, Yusuf Ra’aid Jr., Majazz Tate and her father, Yusuf Ra’aid Sr. (left to right), in June 2014 . Ra’aid has a special relationship with each of her seven siblings. “When we’re together, there’s bound to be good times,” Ra’aid said. Photo by Sholonda Ra’aid

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ENRAGED McCAGE The glorification of violence and demonization of sex in American culture is harmful.

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hat’s just the way it’s always been” is the most dangerous sentence in the English language. It has been used to defend horrific aspects of American culture over CONNOR McCAGE Viewpoints Editor the years, from homophobia to racism to sexism.

Despite America’s burgeoning social progress, there are still harmful aspects of this culture that persist, simply because creating change is difficult.

One of the most egregious examples of this is the constant glorification of violence and concurrent demonization of sex, especially in artistic expression.

America has violence rooted so deeply in its culture that many see it as tolerable or unavoidable.

America was stolen from Native Americans, whose land was forcibly taken from them via the violent march of colonization.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, over 95 percent of Native Americans died as a result of European colonization. In America’s first 50 years, three wars were willingly fought by the people.

Most of the time, Americans accept violence as a part of life, which is apparent, given that there were 17,284 murders and 47,173 suicides in the U.S. in 2017 alone.

Americans have long been desensitized to many forms of violence, as it has historically been ingrained in the nation’s culture.

Fast forward to 2018, with countless movies and video game trailers, the evidence is there. These forms of entertainment are built on and marketed on murder, robbery and assault.

Take the announcement of Mortal Kombat 11 as a prime example of this. The Jan. 17 announcement of the next installment of the famous fighting game series was held at a press conference in Los Angeles with thousands of fans watching and cheering for horrific acts of violence.

The footage displayed was extreme, even when compared to the game’s excessively violent previous installments. And yet, it is expected to outsell the previous entry which moved over five million copies

worldwide.

Despite this, the same forms of entertainment are demonized if they include any acts of sex, despite sex being far more natural and far less criminal than the many forms of violence depicted in our culture.

Why is it so ingrained in American culture to glorify horrific acts of violence but shy away from any discussion of sex?

“I think it’s definitely time in our world that we got more real about what’s really causing harm to people and it’s way more often violence than anything sexual,” former Clarke Central High School counselor Heidi Nibbelink said. “It has been a feature of American culture for a long time that we are squeamish about talking about sex.”

How many times has the average high school student been watching a video or movie in class when their teacher had to rush to skip past a scene that includes overt or implied sexual content? The censorship doesn't stop at films. It frequently carries over into all forms of art.

In 2017, the book “13 Reasons Why” saw widespread complaints from parents who requested the book to be removed because of its “pornographic” nature. It seems counterproductive to hide stories with sexual content from students that need to learn and mature as they grow and enter adulthood.

Another clear example of this demonization is the controversy surrounding the marketing materials for the 2011 film “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”

The film was forced to censor a poster because it depicted the lead actress topless.

The same poster saw wide release in European countries where sex isn’t as heavily demonized.

Coincidentally, the movie also made 30 million less dollars domestically than it did in foreign markets.

The heavy censorship of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is unfair, especially considering that trailers that have been approved for all ages by the Motion Picture Association of America for movies released the same year like “Source Code,” “Final Destination 5” and “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”, all of which feature either mass murder or terroristic acts that result in widespread death.

The criminal and horrific violence is acceptable but the natural human body is not?

This example is just indicative of a larger issue. Why are American people so afraid to talk about sex? Why are they so entertained by murder and death? Why do they hide information about sex from high school students that need to know how to have healthy sexual relationships? It seems that every time these questions are asked the answer is always the same.

“That’s just the way it’s always been.”

That answer needs to change, and ours needs to be the generation to change it.

It is hard to reverse a cultural stigma, but hiding from it will never fix anything.

Young adults need to ask those questions, challenge the belief that sex is more objectionable than violence and begin having discussions about how we view sex at all levels.

Acts of horrific violence should not be considered more acceptable than acts of basic human nature. O

Right: A DOWNWARD SPIRAL: American entertainment is consistently demonized for overtly sexual content while violence is constantly marketed and praised. To combat this issue, teenagers should begin to have conversations about healthy sexual relationships. “I think it’s definitely time in our world that we got more real about what’s really causing harm to people and it’s way more often violence than anything sexual,” former Clarke Central High School counselor Heidi Nibbelink said. Illustration by Audrey Kennedy

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BOILING POINT The societal shaming of those who enjoy romantic comedies is rooted in sexism.

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ccording to the thetic attention.”

When people refer to romantic Merriam-WebAccording to data released by comedies as “guilty pleasures,” ster Dictionary, Netflix, about two-thirds of its a romantic comedy is “a global subscriber base streamed they perpetuate the idea that they comic movie or other a romance film from the platform work whose plot focuses between March 2017 and March are not worthy of critical praise. on the development of a 2018. However, this audience is romantic relationship.” not always proud of their viewing ELENA GILBERTSON HALL Managing Editor This genre includes history.

Of course, the romantic comedy genre has its films like “When Harry Those who enjoy rom-coms often contribute to fair share of flaws: historically, rom-coms have often Met Sally” (1989), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), the problem by dismissing the films as a non-serious been far from diverse and have sometimes perpetu“She’s Gotta Have It” (1986) and “Crazy Rich Asians” interest. When people refer to romantic comedies as ated harmful gender stereotypes.

(2018).

However, rom-coms are not unique in this way, “guilty pleasures,” they perpetuate the idea that they In the modern sense of the genre, rom-coms first are not worthy of critical praise, but rather some- and shaming the genre itself is an unproductive way took off in the 1930s, with films such as “Bringing thing to be enjoyed as fluff pieces. to affect real change in Hollywood.

Up Baby” and “It Happened One Night”. These films Pervasive cultural narratives are impossible to Movies that fit under the definition of a romantic had women in protagonistic roles who drove the comedy and are widely hailed by critics are typically change overnight, but every person can play a role plot of the stories, a stark contrast to other genres re-classified in order to be accepted by the film es- in reversing the sexist characterization of the genre. of the time.

By choosing not to shame those who express tablishment.

Yet, as time has gone on, romantic comedies have For example, “La La Land” (2016) can clearly be enjoyment of rom-coms, and self-checking their lanbuilt up a reputation as fluff pieces not worthy of identified as a romantic comedy, yet is often referred guage in order to not dismiss interest in these films, serious fans. to as a drama, likely in order to gain greater support members of society can begin to put an end to this This societal shaming of romantic comedies, and from the Academy. decades-long narrative. O those who watch them, is rooted in sexism.

According to a study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, only 24 percent of protagonists in the top domestic films of 2017 were women.

American society has consistently praised men’s stories above women’s, and media marketed towards women is often looked down on by society and labeled as silly or frivolous.

“The fact that we treat rom-coms as frothy nonsense for dumb people stems from the fact that romantic comedies are generally marketed to women, whom our culture does not like,” Vox staff writer Constance Grady wrote. “(Rom-coms) are about forging human connections and people changing each other for the better -- all of which is complex stuff that Above: GUILTY PLEASURE: A woman watches a romantic comedy in private, due to the social shaming of rom-coms. This societal narrative often leads to viewers referring to is worthy of sustained aesrom-coms as “guilty pleasures.” Illustration by Lilli Sams

Viewpoints

March 2019

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MAYA CORNISH Viewpoints staffer Maya Cornish describes her unique taste in fashion and why it means so much to her.

I

wear old clothes.

Not vintage -- they’re old. They’re handme-downs, worn and loved by people before me. I hear about other people going out of their way to shop at thrift MAYA CORNISH Viewpoints Writer stores or to buy vintage clothes, but I get them for free from my family and friends.

For the most part, I’ve worn hand-me-downs my whole life, especially once I got big enough to wear my mom’s old clothes. I’ve done this for so long that it’s normal to me.

About 80 percent of my closet is clothes I got from somebody else. I have stuff from my dad, my mother, my grandmothers, my godmother and garage sales.

I have pants from my mother when she was in her 20s and was working in the Study Abroad office at the University of Northern Iowa. I have shoes that belonged to my grandmother when she traversed the sidewalks of St. Petersburg, Russia. I have T-shirts that I use as pajamas from my dad when he was in the Marine Corps. I have tops from my godmother when she was fighting heart and soul against cancer.

All these clothes tell me a story about the people who used to wear them -- what they liked to wear, how well they took care of these clothes and how much they loved them. Instead of discarding a shirt that isn’t in fashion anymore or doesn’t fit, I either use it as a sleep shirt or give it to one of my two younger brothers.

I like wearing other people’s stories because I believe that our past can make our future, whether that be something as big as our actions or something as small as a necklace.

My style is heavily inspired by mom’s colorful closet and functionality, mashing together different clothes to make something just for me. I see a simple, everyday sweater and think, “What can I put with this to make it mine? What patterns or colors can I put with it to make it more than just a simple sweater?”

I have a special process in choosing my outfit for the day. First, I choose a focus piece, whether that be a skirt, shoes or a shirt. Then, based off of that, I decide what solid colors or designs could go with it to help accentuate it. One of my favorite outfits is a bright, multicolored skirt I got from a neighbor that I pair with a white shirt with three-quarter-length sleeves I got from my grandmother and cream ballet flats I got All these clothes tell me a story about from Ross Dress for Less. the people who used to wear them.

Everything I own has a story with it, a story of delight or angst. I’m proud to walk through life wearing another person’s story to make my own. O

Right: SKRT SKRT: Viewpoints writer Maya Cornish poses in a variety of photos holding and wearing of hand-me-down outfits on Jan. 27. Cornish's closet is made up of clothing given to her by family and friends, which gives her a stronger appreciation for each item of clothing. Photos by Kelly Fulford, edited by Katie Grace Upchurch

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NAOMI HENDERSHOT Personality traits such as being bossy, risqué and sassy are viewed negatively when expressed by women, but are praised when exhibited by members of the drag community.

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n recent years, the dressing up in feminine clothing, using makeup and This is exemplified by the phrase “I’m not like issue of whether prosthetics to obtain a feminine figure and adopting other girls,” which is often used by women who feel drag is degrading a character is a form of self-expression. that associating themselves with femininity will reor making fun of women “Drag is an escape from what you have in your flect poorly on their personalities. However, there has sparked controversy everyday life. It’s like, ‘I’m going to play dress-up is nothing wrong with a woman exhibiting feminine between feminist groups for Halloween and I’m playing this alter ego,’ and traits. and the drag community. it’s just to escape from reality,” Athens Pride Board Drag should not be viewed as exploiting negative On Jan. 29, gender stereotypes, but rather as breakNAOMI HENDERSHOT Viewpoints Staffer 2015, former ing down patriarchal gender roles.

Vice President Just like men that do drag are praised People should take a note from the Dick Cheney’s daughter, Mary Cheney, for embracing their femininity, women drag community and how accepttweeted, “Why is it socially acceptshould be too. able — as a form of entertainment — for The fact that some women are ofing they are of these supposedly men to put on dresses, makeup, and fended by drag raises the bigger issue of “negative” female mannerisms. high heels and act out every offensive women rejecting femininity in order to stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, be accepted by the “progressive” society dumb, slutty, etc.) — but it is not socially they live in. acceptable — as a form of entertainment — for a white Member and Boybutante board member Kellie DiPeople should take a note from the drag commuperson to put on blackface and act out offensive ste- vine said. nity and how accepting they are of these supposedly reotypes of African Americans?”

Drag queens are not complete without their un- “negative” female mannerisms.

Obviously, drag is by no means comparable to the forgettable personas, which often include exaggeratWomen shouldn’t allow the way these drag insensitive, blatant racism that is blackface. Cheney's ed female mannerisms, such as being bossy, chatty queens act to offend them. Instead, they should accomment, however, did exemplify the sentiments of and risqué. cept them, and accept those same qualities within some feminists who view drag as men using extreme The personas empower the men that portray themselves. O feminine stereotypes to make fun of women. them. Yet, when women exhibit the same traits, they However, that is just not the case. aren’t praised, often being told those things should Drag is a way for men to escape the often-debili- cause shame. tating masculine culture they live in. For some men, Right: EMBRACE YOUR INNER QUEEN: Female mannerisms are negatively viewed when portrayed by women but are embraced and praised in the drag community. Illustration

by Audrey Kennedy

Viewpoints

March 2019

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Making headway through GMA Gifted Minorities Achieving, a student-led organization at Clarke Central High School, works to support and bring together minority students.

Above: SUPPORTING STUDENTS: Clarke Central High School counselor and Gifted Minorities Achieving co-adviser Kanika Barnett-Jewell (far right) speaks at a GMA meeting on Feb. 27. Barnett works with counselor and GMA co-adviser Ashlee Perry to support students of color through GMA. “I wanna make sure that (gifted students of color) have a safe space just to feel heard and to relate to other students who might be having similar experiences,” Perry said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

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ifted Minorities Achieving was started at Clarke Central High School in the 2015-16 school year by former counselors Heidi Nibbelink and Dr. Susan Strickland, along with former foreign language department teacher Larissa Jean.

The organization’s mission statement as developed by the founders stated, “This CCHS Initiative provides support for our students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have been identified as gifted or have the potential to take advanced or rigorous course work here at CCHS.” As the program has developed, personnel has changed. This school year, counselors Dr. Ashlee Perry and Kanika Barnett-Jewell and English department co-chair David Ragsdale have worked together as co-advisers of GMA to revamp the organization, bringing minority students together and providing

BY ANA ALDRIDGE Co-Editor-in-Chief

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them with new opportunities.

Senior and third-year GMA member Aniya Willis has witnessed this transition. “(My junior year) it kind of switched over and with ( Jean) it was more like goals, but with Ragsdale it was more of, ‘OK, we have goals. How are we gonna get them done? What are we doing to get those goals accomplished?’ And I became more focused,” Willis said. “Ragsdale's more on you and that’s what keeps me straight, because I’m easily distracted and I could fall off-track, but Ragsdale’s there to make sure you’re not gonna fall off-track.”

Along with her co-advisers, Perry has worked to better organize the group.

“What I have been told by my co-advisers or my colleagues is that student attendance was not as consistent in past years. Programming in some regards, based on outside collaborations that were supposed

to be taking place, was not consistent in some ways,” Perry said. “I think this year, the biggest difference is just intentionality. We try to be very intentional about what we offer students, how we advertise, how we check in, and just making sure that the meetings are meaningful so that students want to come.”

Perry says that another difference in GMA this year has been in the recruiting process.

“I think this year we’re really trying to (identify) students of color that who could potentially be taking some of the AP classes, the advanced classes, some of the more rigorous classes,” Perry said. “So, (we want) to identify those students and encourage them to take the classes, but then also provide a safe space where they feel supported if they do attempt a class and just to have someone to check in with and things of that nature.”

Some GMA members visited Fort Valley State Uni-

News

“(This year) we’ve been focusing on how we are a minority group and how being in these advanced classes can feel a little weird because you are a minority and you don’t see the people of the same color as yourself.”

versity on Dec. 5, 2018, marking the organization's first cost-free trip to tour a school.

“The kids who went said that they really enjoyed it. They really enjoyed, of course, just being able to walk around campus, eating in the dining hall of course, but just to sort of experience what college life could possibly look like,” Perry said.

Perry was glad for students to have the opportunity to visit a historically black university.

“For some students, just being at a historically black college or university was huge,” Perry said.

“Because, we're in a setting now where we have a lot more diversity, but there are some students who are excited about potentially going to a school where their whole college experience is gonna really be based on being affirmed as a black person, so many of them are really excited about it and they enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Senior and GMA member Hsa Moo attended the visit to FVSU and says it opened her eyes to different opportunities she can explore in college.

“They had sororities and fraternities and they did dances, so that gave me an idea of what I wanted to do in college, like do a sorority also,” Moo said.

“Everybody was friendly. They were welcoming and they were very happy.”

Perry says that, depending on students’ availabil-

-- Aniya willis, senior ity and funding, there may be another college visit coming up for GMA members and other high-achieving minority students.

“There's actually been some discussion of a potential trip over the summer. It's a little bit trickier to lock in students over the summer, but if not, and if the funds are still available, then potentially in the fall,” Perry said. “We're definitely appreciative of the funding source that we've had through (the Local School Governance Team) to take the students, and hopefully those funds will still be available, but I don't know about that.”

Willis has found fellowship among students of color who can sometimes feel out of place in higher-level classes that are mostly populated by white students. “(This year) we’ve been focusing on how we are a minority group and how being in these advanced classes can feel a little weird because you are a minority and you don’t see the people of the same col-

or as yourself,” Willis said. “I know I felt like that in the beginning of the school year when I had my (AP Calculus) class. I was the only black kid in there and it was kind of awkward. I sat in the back, but I ended up moving to the front and ended up having bonds with a lot of the students in the class. I’m not in the class anymore, but I still talk to the people that’s in the class. It was a really good experience.”

Perry plans to continue to support minority students through GMA for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year and in future years, as well.

“Last year, I think (GMA members) also had opportunities to process the feelings behind and the emotions behind being a person of color and feeling lesser-than a lot, and we've tried to really emulate that this year, but also just provide that space for them just to be -- to cry, to be happy, to be sad -- to feel however they feel around being a person of color who is high achieving,” Perry said. O

Above: BEING HEARD: Clarke Central High School counselor and Gifted Minorities Achieving co-adviser Ashlee Perry and GMA members senior Yocelin Elizarraras and senior Hsa Moo (left to right) participate in a GMA meeting on Feb. 27. Moo joined the organization this school year and feels it has benefited her greatly. “GMA means being part of the minority group, being someone, being heard,” Moo said. “Seeing that there's other minorities coming together to talk about their future and stuff makes me happy.” Photo by Kelly Fulford

News

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Twice the honor Clarke Central High School JROTC Cadet Major Jamsen Mendoza, a senior, received his second nomination to attend the United States Air Force Academy by US Representative Jody Hice on Jan. 7.

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n Jan. 7, Clarke Central High School senior and JROTC Cadet Major Jamsen Mendoza received his second nomination by U.S. Reprentative Jody Hice to attend the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I was nervous at first, especially waiting for the nomination decision from my senator and my representative, but once I got the confirmation that I got a nomination, it was a great feeling in me,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza received his first nomination to the USAFA on Nov. 20, 2018 from U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. Both nominations are vital for Mendoza’s admission to the military academy since a minimum of one is required for all prospective students.

According to Mendoza, there are different ways of obtaining a nomination.

“One of them is a congressional (nomination), which are the senators and the representatives.

There’s another one which is service-related, when any sort of family member who is a veteran and 100 percent disabled can (give) a nomination. Another is getting a nomination through your ( JROTC) program, (as long as it’s) a Distinguished Honor Unit,” Mendoza said.

JROTC head instructor Lieutenant Colonel William McMickle believes that Mendoza has what it takes to succeed in both the USAFA and the Air Force.

BY MAYA CORNISH Viewpoints Staffer

Right: READY OR NOT, HERE I COME: Clarke Central High School JROTC Cadet Major Jamsen Mendoza, a senior, stands next to the United States flag inside of the JROTC building on Feb. 19. Mendoza has been nominated to attend the United States Air Force Academy.. “I was nervous at first, especially waiting for the nomination decisions from my senator and my (congressman), but once I got the confirmation that I got the nomination it was a great feeling in me,” Mendoza said. “That there is hope that I have a high chance of getting into the Air Force Academy.”

Photo by Kelly Fulford

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“(Mendoza’s) an honest person, (and) he does the right thing when nobody’s looking. If (Mendoza) sets his mind to do something, he will accomplish that mission or that goal and not let other things derail him.”

“Integrity -- (Mendoza’s) an honest person (and) he does the right thing when nobody’s looking,” McMickle said. “If (Mendoza) sets his mind to do something, he will accomplish that mission or that goal and not let other things derail him.

He is focused on what he wants to do and what he’s supposed to do.”

Mendoza feels that throughout his two years in JROTC, he has acquired the leadership skills necessary to succeed in the future.

“It’s better off to start young and stand up as a leader. That way you would be an influence for other people to become to stand up as a leader, as well,” Mendoza said. “Ever since I started doing JROTC, I’ve always wanted to be the person to stand up and lead other people because it just makes me happy that I get to improve myself and the people around me.”

Mendoza started his application for the USAFA in June 2018 with help from McMickle, and now that

-- William McMickle, JROTC head instructor

he has received nominations, he is finishing the admission process.

“The next part of the process is Jameson has applied to the (USAFA) as a college, so to speak, and they have to verify his GPA and his physical fitness and make sure that he medically qualifies to serve,” McMickle said. “When that happens, he will be accepted to the (USAFA) and he will start his four-year college degree that he gets from the (USAFA).”

Mendoza plans on studying mechanical engineer-

ing at the USAFA in the pursuit of his dream job in the Air Force.

“When I was young, (my family and I) used to live close to an air base, and I’ve seen a lot of planes flying around. And my dad, since he is in the Air Force, he got the opportunity to ride a fighter jet and be driven into a flight,” Mendoza said. “Ever since then, I told myself that I wanted to be a pilot, and in order to maximize my possibilities of becoming a pilot I (wanted) to go (into) the Air Force.” O

Above: LOOKING AHEAD: On Feb. 19, Clarke Central High School JROTC Cadet Major Jamsen Mendoza, a senior, holds a United States Air Force brochure. Mendoza’s father is an Air Force veteran, and is his inspiration to join the military. “I have seen how much the military has helped us throughout the years. Even though (my father) has a disability after coming out of the military, (my family and I) have seen that the military always supports us in a way,” Mendoza said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

News

March 2019

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Features

Although many Clarke Central High School students recognize Juuling as an activity that occurs among the student body, fewer are aware of the potential health consequences.

Features

March 2019

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O

n Jan. 18, English de partment teacher Lisa Hill found one of her students engaging in an increasingly popular activity among high school students nationwide: hitting a Juul.

“It was during lunch,” Hill said. “A student was walking down the hallway blowing smoke out of their nose like nobody noticed, and then they dropped the Juul on the ground, which they also thought nobody noticed.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines JUUL as a brand of e-cigarette: a battery-powered, flash-drive-shaped device which heats a liquid containing nicotine to produce an vapor that can be smoked.

According to the December 2018 University of Michigan study “National Adolescent Drug Trends 2018,” there was an increase between 2017 and 2018 of 1.3 million additional high school vapers in the 30 days prior to the survey, the biggest year-toyear change in substance use since 1975.

Frequent nicotine use is particularly harmful to students within this age group, according to UGA health policy assistant professor Dr. Grace Adams.

“For people under the age of 25, their brains are still developing, and there's evidence that nicotine actually hinders brain development, that it actually slows it down, and nicotine actually changes the way that memories are formed,” Adams said.

BY VALERIA GARCIA-POZO Senior Copy Editor

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According to the 2018-19 Clarke County School District Code of Conduct, e-cigarettes and vaping products fall under the definition of tobacco. The intentional use or knowledgeable possession of a tobacco product on school grounds could result in a parent conference or in-school suspension.

Consequences could vary from student to student, according to Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas.

“If somebody is getting caught, has tobacco and it's the first time they've had it, as opposed to somebody else who has two or three cigars or something, and it's their third or fourth time over the history of being in school, you weigh it differently,” Thomas said.

English department teacher Andy Dean, who found two students using e-cigarettes during the 2017-18 school year, followed a procedure which involved taking a product from a student.

“I was driving out of the student parking lot and there was a group of students that were vaping,” Dean said. “I said, 'Please give it to me.' Next day, I came to school, reported it to (school security) officer (Terry) Reid in the security office. He told me to write a referral. I ultimately didn't write a referral, but I contacted the parents.”

According to sophomore Rachel Brooks*, her experience with discipline regarding use of a Juul was slightly different.

“One time, I was in the bathroom here, and I ac-

tually wasn't doing it, but (a security guard) knocked on the door, because a student told the security guard that I was doing it in the bathroom,” Brooks said. “They came in and (a friend and I) weren't doing anything, but they were like, 'We're gonna search your bags,' and they searched our bags and they didn't find anything. But they took it really seriously.”

School officials will only search students or their property when they have credible insight a student may be in possession of a forbidden product, according to Principal Dr. Swade Huff.

“When we get credible information from students or parents (that) a student may be in possession of tobacco products or other items, then we do have probable cause to search, and it's not a violation,” Huff said. “It's the authority that we have here at the school to take the appropriate steps to make sure the campus is a safe learning environment.”

Nearly 89 percent of CCHS students have seen a student using a juul on the CCHS campus, according to a February poll of 425 students.

Senior Michael Ray*, who used a Juul regularly during the first semester of the 2018-19 school year, believed it was easy to use at school. “(I used to Juul in) the bathroom. A couple times a day, I'd go to the bathroom and use it,” Ray said. “(Students) will get away with it. It’s so easy. It's small, so it’s like a box, so you can just slide it in your pocket, and (no one will) know what it is. I

Features

Juul pods have 5 percent nicotine content

One pod is equivalent to 20 cigarettes

Features

Photos by Kelly Fulford and Ana Aldridge

Graphics by Audrey Kennedy and Katie Grace Upchurch

Juul pods come in a number of flavors including mango, cucumber and mint.

Juuls are charged with a USB DEVICE and hold charge for one hour of use

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don't even know if teachers are up-to-date about it.”

Math department teacher Adam Osborne agrees that the discrete nature of products like Juuls can make them unnoticeable in the classroom.

“That would be the biggest thing, is like, no, you don't see it, but you know it's there, so it is a problem,” Osborne said. “A kid can be doing it in class, you can be an observant teacher, and you still never know. No, (I haven't seen it happen in or near my class), but I have found empty pods in my class.”

According to Ga. Code Ann. §§ 16-12-171(b)(1) (A) and 16-12-174(d), the possession of vapor products by persons under age 18 is prohibited in the state of Georgia.

On Nov. 15, 2018, the Federal Drug Administration released a statement restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products (except for menthol, mint, and tobacco) to age-restricted and in-person locations, and only sold online under “heightened verification.”

However, for students like Ray, accessing products was not difficult, despite not being of age.

“I had a friend bought it for me at first, and he was 18 or older, and then I had got (a fake) ID and I started buying. I just seen my friends doing it,” Ray said.

“I saw a lot of people doing it, like college students, so I decided to try it out, and I just started liking it.”

Senior Jacob Dula also believes the locations where Juuls are sold could make them easier for students to purchase.

“It's just so much easier to get. It's at every gas station. If you're getting something else to smoke, you have to be of age,” Dula said. “With a Juul, if you have a fake ID, you can walk into a gas station, get some pods, and you're right out, like that.”

Adams believes there are several factors that lead young people to Juul.

“I think it's marketed differently and also the flavors are marketed for youth,” Adams said. “Some of (the pods) are marketed to be particular desserts

(...) and even specific candies that children especially would be really familiar with.”

Ray cites the sensation associated with Juuling as a factor in his former usage.

“It's fun to do. And it's hot right now, so every kid (wants to) do it now. It's about a buzz,” Ray said.

“You just get buzzed up, and your brain freezes, so I don't know. It's a good feeling.”

Additionally, for students like Dula, the specifics of the health risks may not be clear.

“They say it's equivalent to like, 20 cigarettes, so I mean, it is harmful, but I'm not sure if the nicotine itself is harmful,” Dula said. “I'm not sure of the nicotine effects to someone, their brain, their respiratory system, anything like that. I think right now, it's just like the wave. It's what's cool right now.”

Students such as senior Allen Joseph believe the addictive nature of nicotine helps perpetuate the usage of the product among the student body. “(At) first, it was kinda cool, but now, everyone's just addicted to nicotine,” Joseph said. “I know a lot of people, they won't admit it, but they're addicted to nicotine. It'll start to be (a health issue for students), 'cause you know, eventually they're gonna start moving on to like cigarettes and stuff, so it'll just get worse and worse.”

Adams agrees that the addictive nature of nicotine has dangerous implications for students.

“You may say, 'Oh, this is just something I'm doing for now,’ this is just something that they're just kind of dabbling in or trying, but as soon as you expose yourself to that highly addictive substance, the likelihood that you don't do it again or that you quit is pretty low,” Adams said.

Adams also cites Juuling as a gateway for cigarette use.

“What the science shows there is that for young people who start with e-cigarettes and Juuls, they are way more likely to pick up regular cigarettes in the future, and then to be dual users (of e-cigarettes and cigarettes),” Adams said.

Adams cautions against the belief that e-cigarette usage is healthier than using traditional cigarettes.

“The misconception that it's healthy is complicated, right, because it is in effect, healthier than regular cigarettes, but relative to not smoking at all, it is not a good alternative,” Adams said.

As members of the administrative team become more aware of e-cigarette and Juul usage among students, opinions differ UGA health policy assistant professor

92

percent of CCHS students are familiar with Juuls

“The misconception that it's healthy is complicated, because it is in effect, healthier than regular cigarettes, but relative to not smoking at all -- it is not a good alternative.”

-- dr. grace adams,

Above: RISKY BEHAVIOR: An anonymous person blows smoke out of their mouth. According to Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Swade Huff, CCHS students caught with tobacco products such as Juuls on campus could face serious consequences. “In-school suspension and parental contact is pretty much the first mandate to hopefully minimize any future issues with that same student,” Huff said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

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“A kid can be doing it in class, you can be an observant teacher, and you still never know. I have found empty pods in my class.”

89

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percent of CCHS students have seen a Juul on campus

throughout the community as to how disciplinary consequences should be handled.

“Like with any discipline referral, you do want to document it, and you want to contact the parent and talk to the student, of course,” Dunham said. “Any time it is a safety issue for the student, you want to bring that up to the student, because our main goal is for it not to happen again, and of course we want the student to be safe.”

For Adams, recognizing the severity of the issue at hand is a crucial first step for members of the school administration.

“Number one is that the teachers and administrators have to be really honest about the problem,” Adams said. “This is something a lot of teens are doing and there has to be education.”

Sophomore Becca Daniels* agrees that there is not enough awareness in the administration about student Juul usage, but believes there are more ef-

-- Adam osborne, math department teacher

fective methods to prevent it.

“The school doesn't know the extent of the issue, I believe,” Daniels said. “(The administration) should probably start with metal detectors instead of going straight to people and trying to search their bags.”

Osborne believes in finding a middle ground between a zero-tolerance policy and the current

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approach.

“I do know from like my master's program and some different classes I had to take that, in terms of discipline, zero-tolerance policies don't work by and large,” Osborne said. “I'm not really for (a) zero-tolerance policy in that regard. However, I would be less lenient in terms of (different consequences based on) first-offense, second-offense, if I was the one making the decision, but that's above my pay grade.”

“With a juul, if you have a fake id, you can walk into a gas station, get some pods, and you're right out -- like that.”

-- jacob dula, senior

Daniels believes it is important that other students are aware of how truly addictive nicotine is.

“When you hit it at first, you're gonna want it all the time. It's true. It's the case. You're gonna sit there and be like, 'I'm not addicted.' But you're gonna wanna hit it again,” Daniels said. “So, probably, if you haven't started it, don't start.” O *Certain sources have had their names changed in order to protect their identities.

Middle: CHARGED: A juul charges using a school-issued personal learning device According to UGA assistant professor of health policy Dr. Grace Adams, Juuling is an activity many high schoolers have tried.

“Among teens, one in five high schoolers, so around 21 percent, are currently either using e-cigarettes or juuling. But many more than that, over 50 percent, said that they had tried it,” Adams said. Photo by Kelly Fulford Top and bottom: THE PRICE OF PODS: According to a February poll of 425 Clarke Central High School students, 77 percent of the 91 percent of students familiar with what a Juul is say someone in their personal peer group Juuls. For senior Michael Ray*, obtaining a Juul involved outside resources. “A friend of mine that was in college had a friend that made some (fake IDs), so they made me one, and that's how that went. I bought it from her for $40,” Ray said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

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SERVING AT SPARROW’S NEST Clarke Central High School junior Tecoya Richardson shares her experience volunteering at The Sparrow’s Nest, a Christian-based ministry for those in need.

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rowing up in the city of Atlanta, I saw streets crawling with signs of poverty and struggle. As a kid, I remember dropping change in buckets, cups or hats that belonged to the homeless. But it wasn’t until I moved to Clarke Central High School in Athens, that I realized people my age could be homeless. I always thought that being homeless and hungry was a choice. I didn’t know it was a reality that oftentimes can’t be controlled.

BY TECOYA RICHARDSON Variety Writer

that went to my school or parents of students that I knew, or even family friends that I would be serving, and that terrified me.

Walking into The Sparrow’s Nest was bittersweet.

Although I knew everyone there was facing difficulties, the greasy and brown-ish steps led into a center of salvation, which was filled with faces of all colors, ages and sizes. The echoes of old-school church hymns surrounded me.

When I decided to volunteer at the ministry, I knew I wanted to be a part of the kitchen staff be-

Walking into The Sparrow’s Nest was bittersweet. The greasy and brown-ish steps led into a center of salvation, which was filled with faces of all colors, ages and sizes.

The echoes of old-school church hymns surrounded me.

Illustrations by Audrey Kennedy

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In the Athens community, there are multiple soup kitchens and homeless shelters. One of them is The Sparrow’s Nest, a Christian-based ministry that offers free meals, laundry and shower facilities, among other services for the homeless.

The Sparrow’s Nest is a sanctuary for people in need. While they have a limited number of staff members, they often have a bucketload of community volunteers, who I joined in serving food on Jan. 24.

Luckily, before I volunteered, I had been planning it for about a week. I argued with friends and family about my appearance -- whether I was over- or under-dressed. I expected there might be students

cause I’ve always wanted to feed the homeless. With each step I took toward the kitchen, every muscle in my body tightened. I was afraid of seeing someone I knew.

I tried my hardest to avoid every shadow and voice until it was time for lunch. As I saw each face, reality started to sink in.

The staff was managed by the kitchen manager Ernest Buchanan. Ernest seemed like he was very rushed as he ran around the two-story building, making sure everyone was in place. In the kitchen, I washed my hands, put on green rubber gloves and got ready to serve. The food was already prepared: there was a massive pot of mixed vegetables, an alu-

Variety

minum pan of pulled pork and a selection of bread rolls and dessert.

As each person lined up in the kitchen, my anxiety skyrocketed, because I didn’t know who I’d see and I had no idea what to expect. I analyzed each person that entered the kitchen as if I had psychic abilities. I could sense each person’s struggles and their desire to provide for their families. Some of their faces were filled with embarrassment and shame, while others’ were filled with happiness and gratitude.

As people came and went, my anxiety lessened, and the feeling of empathy took over.

I remember a black man around the age of 60 singing an old gospel hymn that reminded me of when I used to go to church every Sunday and sing in the youth choir. Suddenly, I felt a sense of familiarity with these people who led lives vastly different from my own.

There was something about the way he sang this song that made me feel the pain and sorrow in every note. I wanted to bawl my eyes out, but I composed myself.

While time sped by, my emotions settled. I felt terrible leaving the kitchen while stragglers walked in because Ernest seemed to be doing multiple things, and at that point, he had left the kitchen to go into the sanctuary. Deep down, I knew I should have kept helping.

I felt heavy-hearted leaving the Sparrow’s Nest because, apart from their struggles, the people there seemed content.

To me, that was the purpose of the Sparrow’s Nest: the community not only gives people in need shelter or food, but also provides them with security in knowing that they are cared for and that they matter in society. O

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Carta para mi hogar Variety Staffer Nicole Ramos compone una carta para la República Dominicana, su país natal, expresando lo que sintió después de haber regresado.

Querida República Dominicana, No sabes lo agradecida que estoy con la vida porque tuve la oportunidad de volver a tí. Estos fueron los tres años más difíciles de mi vida. Deja y te explico por qué.

Irme a los 14 años de mi país natal no fue fácil, porque ya estaba acostumbrada a todo donde vivía. Haber tenido que comenzar otra vez desde cero fue lo peor: no conocía a nadie, no me identificaba con la cultura de los Estados Unidos, y lo peor de todo fue que no sabía inglés.

Me sentía atrapada porque era una decisión que mi padre había tomado, y mi única opción fue aceptarla y callarme.

Fue difícil tener que decirle adiós a todo: a mis amigos, a mis familiares y a mi vida. Yo ya había planeado todo lo que

quería para mi futuro.

En mi primer año en los Estados Unidos, aprendí a aceptar las cosas aunque no estuviera de acuerdo. Odiaba todo: odiaba estar sola, odiaba lo difícil que era hablar con los demás y odiaba ser diferente. Pero me dí cuenta de que éso era lo que me tocaba vivir. No entendía por que estaba pasando por ésto, y no entendía por que me tocó dejar a mi país, el lugar donde todo estaba bien.

Mis esperanzas de volver nunca se fueron y aunque Papi me había dicho que no volveríamos pronto, yo siempre decía que no iba a morir sin antes volver a tí.

Pasaron tres años, y para ser sincera, ya había perdido la fé de poder volver a tí. Pensaba que nunca más iba a sentir ese calor y esa felicidad que sólo siento en tí.

Hasta que el mejor día de mi vida llegó: el 26 de junio de 2018. Eran las 7:30 p.m. cuando Papi me dijo que me pusiera a buscar boletos aéreos porque íbamos a volver a tí, a la República Dominicana. No sabía qué hacer -- si reír o llorar, si brincar o si sólo estar tranquila. Pero me acuerdo muy bien de la felicidad que sentía porque mis sueños se estaban haciendo realidad.

Recuerdo también que luego de haber comprado los boletos llamé a mi mejor amiga, Jatnna, y le conté todo. Esa emoción tan grande que sentíamos no tiene comparación con nada en este mundo.

Después de tres años íbamos a volver a vernos.

Me acuerdo cómo sentía que el tiempo pasaba lento, y cada vez más lento, pero mis ganas de volver eran las más grandes del mundo. Extrañaba a mi familia, la comida, a mi gente y extrañaba cómo se sentía pasar una navidad rodeada de quienes me aman.

El 22 de diciembre de 2018, la fecha más esperada ya llegó. Todo parecía un

Above: THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Variety Staffer Nicole Ramos was able to visit her home country, the Dominican Republic, after having been gone for three years in December 2018. The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean and shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. Illustration by Katie Grace Upchurch

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To read Nicole’s letter in English and hear her read it in Spanish, visit odysseynewsmagazine.net

sueño hasta que pisé suelo dominicano y pude darle un abrazo a todos mis familiares cercanos. En ese momento, supe que todo era real, y era más real de lo que pensaba.

Compartí momentos inolvidables con mis amigos. Siempre estuvimos juntos, y todo era felicidad. Pasamos momentos que no tienen comparación y que siempre estarán en mi corazón. Le agradezco a Dios porque lo que sentía cuando estaba en tí es algo que no se puede explicar -- ese sentimiento de sentirte en casa, rodeada de todas las personas que amas y todas las personas que siempre han estado contigo.

Volver a los Estados Unidos después de esas vacaciones fue uno de los días más difíciles y felices de mi vida por que, aunque tenía que volver a mi vida normal, mis sueños se habían hecho realidad y había podido ver a todos mis familiares y amigos.

Ahora sé que la esperanza es lo último que se pierde, y quiero que sepas que siempre serás parte de mí. Siempre sentiré que eres el lugar al que puedo llamar mi hogar porque allí puedo ser quien quiero ser.

Daría lo que sea para volver, pero sé que estoy aquí por un motivo específico: para ser mejor persona y tener mejores oportunidades en la vida.

Te extraño. Aunque solo hace poco estuve allí, te extraño porque en tí, puedo ser quien quiero y no tengo miedo de tener que cambiar. En tí, todo es felicidad y todo es amor. En tí, yo siento que la vida es lo mejor.

Te prometo que pronto regresaré y que vendrán mejores momentos. Eres ese pedacito de tierra que amo y nunca me arrepentiré de haber nacido en tí. ¡Te amo, República Dominicana!

Con amor, Nicole Ramos

Above: TOGETHER AGAIN: Variety Staffer Nicole Ramos (left) poses with her cousins, Jaswel De Los Santos (middle) and Lisbeth De Los Santos (right) on Dec. 22, 2018 during a visit to the Dominican Republic. This was Ramos’ first time visiting her family and friends in her home country since moving to the U.S. three years ago. Photo courtesy of Nicole Ramos

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Pushing forward Clarke Central High School senior David Richard has persevered through many obstacles to become the person he is today.

A

fter facing many chal- member I was coming from the grocery store and Katrina, during which he had to seek refuge in the lenges throughout his two guys were shooting at each other. I was so Mercedes-Benz Superdome. life, walking across the young, I thought they were shooting firecrackers at “(Everyone went into the Superdome.) When we stage at graduation in May will be each other,” David said. went there to the Superdome, this dude, he was craDavid was one of about 16,000 people, according zy. He was trying to shoot his girlfriend in the crowd. an accomplishment for Clarke Central High School senior David Richard -- a reflection of his persever- to The Seattle Times, who was affected by Hurricane A lot of stuff was going on. I think she was trying to ance.

In 2005, when David was 6 years old, he and his mother were forced to leave their home in New Orleans, Louisiana after the devastating damage caused by “I heard about David before he even came (to CMS).

Hurricane Katrina.

His teachers at Barrow talked about him and how brilThough he loved and missed New Orleans, David felt his move to Georgia liant he was.” was beneficial, having been surrounded by violence as a young child in New Orleans.

“When I was 3 (years old), I can rephysical education teacher

BY ANDREA MATTA-CASTILLO Variety Writer

-- Kasi Carvell,

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Above: FIGHTING HARD: (Second from the right) Clarke Central High School senior David Richard poses for his seventh grade yearbook picture in 2013. During David’s middle school years, he went through tough times, but had constant support from his coaches. “They always told me to never give up. Even when the incident happened in eighth grade when I got shot, they told me to get back out there on the field and I did and I tried,” David said.

Photo courtesy of Emma Ramsay

leave him or something like that,” David said. “That’s not even it, some people were getting raped in the Superdome. People were hiding guns in the trash cans (and) drugs in the trash cans. It’s a lot of drug trafficking down there.”

At 6 years old, David moved and started a new life in Georgia.

“I had to meet new friends. I went to school in Atlanta, I went to school in Winder, I went to Alps Road (Elementary School), Gaines (Elementary School), and Barrow (Elementary School), and then Clarke Middle (School) and Clarke Central (High School),” David said.

As a young child, the constant moving proved to be a challenge for David.

“It was frustrating because I couldn’t go to school for a whole year, so I’m basically held back. I was supposed to graduate last year,” David said. “At first, I used to see that I was in a grade with kids younger than me. I used to feel bad, but I don’t really care about that anymore.”

Five years after Hurricane Katrina, David visited New Orleans and saw distinct changes in the city from the last time he was there.

“I didn't go back to New Orleans until like 2010 -- at the most, like when I was 10. I had to break away from there because a lot of my family was dying down there. I had to break away from them,” David said. “The city changed. It's more up-to-date -- like the housing -- but to me, crime is still there. The city hasn't changed. It's just the view of the city. It's better-looking.”

David began settling down in Athens and attending Clarke Middle School in 2012. During his three years at CMS, David built a strong relationship with CCHS physical education department head Kasi Carvell, who moved to CCHS during 2015-2016, the same year that David entered high school.

“I heard about David before he even came (to CMS). His teachers at Barrow talked about him and how brilliant he was,” Carvell said. “I remember him being super athletic and being a natural leader. He was always my example. (He was) always my go-to. He always led stretches.”

CCHS senior Ja’Quarus “Bull” Grant and David have known each other since the third grade when they first met at Barrow Elementary

Variety

School.

“David is one of a kind,” Bull said. “David is funny at times, but he can get serious as quick as he gets funny.”

One of Bull’s favorite memories with David is playing football with him on their childhood recreational football team, the Stonehenge Panthers.

Sports played a major part in the relationship between David and Bull.

“It lets us get our anger out on each other, and the communication -- with sports, you really have to be with somebody, be by their side when you’re on the

football field,” Bull said. “We used to always have to communicate with each other and then that just led to off the field of us communicating.”

In the eighth grade, David played football for the CCHS C-team until an accident prevented him from continuing.

“I accidentally got shot. I was basically at the wrong place at the wrong time,” David said. “It was a fight (that) occurred in the neighborhood before I got there. So, when I got there, they thought that my friends and I were part of what happened, so I guess they just felt the need to shoot. It was crazy.”

Opposite page: TIME MACHINE: Clarke Central High School senior David Richard (top row, center) poses with with classmates at Barrow Elementary School. David moved to Athens following Hurricane Katrina, and as a result, had to miss a year of his schooling. “It was frustrating because I couldn’t go to school for a whole year, so I’m basically held back. I was supposed to graduate last year,” David said. “At first, I used to see that I was in a grade with kids younger than me. I used to feel bad, but I don’t really care about that anymore.” Photo courtesy of Emma Ramsay. Opposite page: INTO THE FUTURE: Clarke Central High School senior David Richard poses for a photo on Jan. 15. Before arriving in Athens, David moved around throughout the early stages of his life. “I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and I was raised in the state of Georgia,” David said. “I lived in Atlanta and Winder and Athens.” Photo by Kelly Fulford

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Above: A TEACHER CONNECTION: Clarke Central High School senior David Richard poses with CCHS physical education department head Kasi Carvell on Jan. 17. David and Carvell have maintained a strong teacher-student relationship throughout the seven years that they have known each other. “I check in with his teachers about him. I check his grades (and) every so often I’ll see him. But when I do see him, it’s like we’re never apart,” Carvell said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

David’s injury caused him to need a wheelchair, and then crutches. Throughout his recovery, Carvell was by his side every step of the way.

“I let (him) know the minute (he) got back that I knew what happened and it was OK. I didn’t judge (him) for it, obviously. We talked about that and then after (he) came back, we talked about college,” Carvell said. “He was pretty down when he first came back. I remember that. (But) I never gave up on him. He knows that. I love David like my own son. He knows that.”

Some of David’s friends, including Bull, also helped him during his recovery.

“That eighth-grade summer (some of David’s friends and I) were really over (at) his house the whole summer,” Bull said. “Anything he really needed, his mama was already helping him, but she didn’t want to run back and forth from the store, so we’d help him with that stuff sometimes.”

David recovered within five months. He continued to play sports, but knew that playing after high school was no longer an option.

“I (had) to basically focus on something bigger than my dreams. I tried to get back into sports, but I wasn't playing the same like from when I got shot,” David said.

Following his recovery, David went back to CCHS, but moved back to New Orleans in the middle of his freshman year. When David moved back to New Orleans, Carvell kept in touch with his friends who were in frequent contact with David.

“Somebody always knew something about how he was doing, and I was always worried that it wasn’t a good situation that (he) went back to,” Carvell said.

However, David soon returned to Athens.

“Me and my dad wasn't getting along,” David said.

“I was having a lot of personal trouble. I really just wanted to get back to Georgia because I knew if I stayed in New Orleans (I would get on the wrong track). Either that, or I would've ended up under the ground somewhere, probably dead. So I had to come back.”

David joined the work-based learning program for mechanical engineering his freshman year.

“I wasn’t really going to do it at first. I was really planning on dropping out of school, but my friend (who) graduated told me about the Work-Based Learning program (and) I would have never joined it if it wasn’t for him,” David said.

Now that he is about to graduate, David is focused on becoming a mechanical engineer and plans to attend Paine College in Augusta, Georgia.

“I feel it’s a big accomplishment. Where I’m from, you can’t make it this far in life. There is no grad-

Left: BROTHERLY BOND: Clarke Central High School seniors David Richard (left) and Ja’Quarus “Bull” Grant (right) pose for a photo on Jan 18. David and Bull have been close to one another since the third grade.

“Our first time meeting, we got to fighting, and the teacher, she was like, ‘Y’all break it up,’ and we kept fighting. We became friends right after we got to fighting. We played basketball together at the gym after we got to fighting so we laughed about that the whole day. Me and David been through a lot, though. That’s my brother,” Bull said. Photo by Ana Aldridge

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uation in New Orleans. That’s just how “All my friends either dropped out of school or locked life is down there. But to me, I feel that up, and one of my best friends, Tremell, died. (It is a) I defeated a lot of critics. A lot of people told me I wasn’t gonna make it, so to see blessing (because) not many of us had the opportunithat I proved them wrong shows encourty to finally graduate. I’m just gonna carry them on my agement,” David said.

David always pictured himself graduback. So I’m gonna be like ‘I did it. We all did it.’” ating side by side with former CCHS student Tremell Barnett. However, on July 19, 2017, David’s life changed forever senior when his childhood best friend tragically died. “(It was) unbelievable. It was a dream that I wanted to wake up from. It was craI just remember that’s the first thing I knew about zy. It was like I was just talking to him, take nothing for granted,” Bull said.

Carvell had also become close with Tremell over him and how brilliant he was. I look at the other telling him about certain things you shouldn’t do,” ones who were in the same grade as (him) and that David said. “That was someone who was supposed the years.

“I try not to judge my students for choices they were gifted, and look where they are,” Carvell said. to make it. Tremell was really smart. Smart as hell.

That’s who is supposed to be right here, with me, make, but about who they are deep down, which, “(He) succeeded.”

David continues to look ahead to his future. literally supposed to graduate with me right now. ” they know that. (David and Tremell) were my lead“All my friends either dropped out of school or Bull, who was also close with Tremell, says that ers. My sweet babies,” Carvell said.

After seven years of knowing David and seeing all (are) locked up, and one of my best friends, Tremell, he and David supported each other through the loss he has gone through, Carvell is proud of the person died,” David said. “(It is a) blessing (because) not of their friend. many of us had the opportunity to finally graduate.

“When you have a close friend like that, that died, he has become.

“I think he’s always had the potential (to go to I’m just gonna carry them on my back. So I’m gonna it just makes your relationship better because then it show you how short life is and you don’t want to college.) A lot of people don’t ever go. He’s smart. be like ‘I did it. We all did it.’” O

-- David Richard,

Above: SILLY SMILES: Clarke Central High School senior David Richard poses outside the weight room on Jan 15. CCHS physical education department head Kasi Carvell has fond memories with David. “We kind of hit it off in the beginning. He was a little bitty thing (and) he liked P.E., which was good,” Carvell said. “It was good that he was athletic and he was respectful and he followed the rules. Even when everybody didn’t always, David always did.

That’s what I remember.” Photo by Kelly Fulford

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CULTURAL BUZZ Grown-ish

ilumiNATTI

Lash Paradise

On Jan. 2, Freeform released season two of the phenomenal coming-of-age sitcom, “Grownish.” The series airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Freeform.

Produced by “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris and star Anthony Anderson, the “Black-ish” spinoff follows the eldest Johnson daughter, Zoey ( Yara Shahidi) as she begins college at the fictional California University, and introduces social situations such as racial discrimination and political issues to teenage viewers.

From relationship drama to drug addictions, “Grown-ish” resembles the reality of college life through the eyes of eight young adults.

The show features talented actors and actresses such as Trevor Jackson, Chloe and Halle Bailey and Francia Raisa. Because of the show’s outstanding fashion, hilarious jokes and relatable, real-life situations, teenagers and young adults will love the show.

On Feb. 15, Dominican singer Natti Natasha released her album “ilumiNATTI.” The album consists of 17 songs made to empower women and young girls. Natasha is well known for her advocacy for women, and her latest album continues that theme.

The album’s only two collaborations, artists Kany Garcia and Anitta, are two well-known, strong women in the Latin music business.

Natasha is generally known for singing música urbana, but in this album, she shows the world a more universal approach to her music by also including reggaeton, trap, bachata and dancehall.

The ballad “La Mejor Version de Mi” reflects the message of the album: be a free and independent woman.

The album can be found on music streaming apps including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Pandora.

Widely heralded as an affordable “dupe” of the high-end Too Faced Better than Sex waterproof mascara, the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, priced at $8.97, is an alternative that works just as well as its $24 counterpart.

At first application, one’s lashes are visibly fuller, darker and much longer. The brush does an excellent job at reaching and expanding all the lashes, giving them a feathered appearance.

The waterproof formula makes the mascara long-lasting, and it will stay on for most of the day, keeping the length and definition users enjoy from the moment they first begin to wear it.

However, by the end of the day, the mascara does begin to smudge slightly under the eyes. Despite this undesirable effect, the pros of this mascara outweigh the cons. It is an amazing, long-lasting dupe for a much more expensive product.

-Tecoya Richardson, Variety Staffer

-Nicole Ramos, Variety Staffer

-Valeria Garcia-Pozo, Senior Copy Editor

Coversations with a Killer

“C

onversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” a four-part documentary series directed by Joe Berlinger, was released to Netflix on Jan. 24.

Built on riveting accounts from journalists, lawyers, a near-victim and even Ted Bundy himself, “Conversations With A Killer” treads a delicate line in its portrayal of the murderer.

The series takes viewers through a harrowing period in American history: from the time Bundy took his first victim, to his confessions of over 30 killings, to his death in Florida’s electric chair.

A strong facet of the documentary is the variety of firsthand testimony, as well as footage of Bundy and his trials. The series explores many different perspectives to give new sides to the story that America knows well, including those of kidnapping victim Carol DaRonch and journalist Hugh Aynesworth.

As the title expresses, the series is the first to showcase clips of the 100 hours of recorded conversation between journalist Stephen G. Michaud

BY ROZANNE DOMIZI Variety Staffer

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and Bundy, which took place on death row.

While this never-before-heard audio provides interesting insight into the mind of a serial killer, it contains only idealized anecdotes of Bundy’s past.

The line between romanticization and realism is blurred. Many have argued that Bundy’s portrayal in the documentary is glorified, and it is true that almost every source interviewed mentions Bundy’s good looks and charm.

However, one must remember that Bundy is known as the man who defied the stereotypes of a murderer. As charisma and attractiveness are what allowed him to both gain his victims’ and the public’s trust, this portrayal is only accurate to the man he was.

When taking on a topic like the man dubbed the “Jack the Ripper of the United States,” flaws are bound to be present -- and they undeniably are in “Conversations With A Killer.”

This being said, this series is generally well-done, deeply engaging and will leave its audience on the edge of their seats after each episode. O

Layout by Everett Vereen and Katie Grace Upchurch, photo illustrations by Emma Ramsay

Variety

CULTURAL BUZZ Two Can Keep a Secret

The Upside

Over

Mystery author Karen McManus released her second novel, “Two Can Keep a Secret,” on Jan. 8. Keeping the same theme as her previous book, “One of Us is Lying,” this new novel is a whodunit with surprises around every corner.

McManus opens the novel with the main characters, twins Ellery and Ezra Corcoran, arriving in their mother’s hometown of Echo Ridge, a town known for missing girls. Arriving five years after the murder of their new school’s homecoming queen, the twins are in for a treat when the horrors start to repeat.

This book includes excellent characters and, by switching perspectives between Malcolm Kelly, the brother of the suspected homecoming killer, and Ellery, McManus provides insight into the teens’ lives.

Overall, “Two Can Keep a Secret” is an interesting and engaging book for anyone who enjoys a fastpaced mystery written from multiple perspectives.

Based on the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and Abdel Sellou, “The Upside,” released Jan. 11, explores the trials and tribulations of developing friendship and responsibility.

The comedy-drama stars Kevin Hart as Dell and Bryan Cranston as millionaire Philip Lacasse. Dell, an ex-con, finds himself working for Philip, whose quadriplegia allows him to move only his head and neck. While working for Philip as a “life auxillary,” Dell learns self-respect and an appreciation for others.

The movie features a vibrant portrayal of the relationship between the two. Often cast as comic relief, Hart is refreshingly genuine here.

Though the heartwarming storyline is not original as it is a remake of the 2011 film “The Intouchables,” it still has many unique qualities such as setting and cast.

Though not necessarily an all-ages film, “The Upside” is definitely an enjoyable movie worth watching.

When first opening the design app “Over,” users are given the option to choose whether they are using the app for personal or business use. Once the selection is made, users choose a few categories they are interested in, such as photography, fashion or fitness, and are provided with templates to create logos, posters and advertisements.

The app provides users with an unlimited amount of designs to customize as well as create.

While “Over” was initially released in August 2018, it went through a major redesign which was launched on Feb. 19.

While Over markets that it is easy to use, the layout of the app may be confusing for users less experienced in technology.

However, for those who can’t afford InDesign and other Adobe applications, Over is an excellent free option.

-Gretchen Hinger, J1 Staffer

-Sophia Long, J1 Staffer

-Emma Ramsay, Variety Editor

We All Shine

O

n Jan. 18, rapper YNW Melly released his album, “We All Shine” featuring artists such as Kanye West and Fredo Bang. “We All Shine” has a happier tone than Melly’s previous work, though it is ultimately a somewhat forgettable album.

Songs like “No More,” “Why You Gotta Walk Like That,” “Ingredients” and “Rolling Loud” have similar beats and none especially pop out to the listener.

Despite lacking distinguishable beats, “We All Shine” does feature an upbeat, high-tempo song called “Mixed personalities” featuring Kanye West.

West, who confirmed his mental illness in December 2018 via Twitter, focuses on psychological issues that both rappers have experienced.

This song is the most unique out of all the songs on the album, and it focuses heavily on revelations Melly had during his time in jail.

On Feb. 13, Melly turned himself into the police because he was charged with two counts of first-de-

BY ANDREA MATTA-CASTILLO Variety Staffer

Variety

gree murder. Many believe that the song “Murder On My Mind” from Melly’s album, “I Am You” was a confession. However, the song was released in March 2017, while Melly was more recently charged in October 2018, bringing into question the validity of the allegations.

Due to this incident and the press surrounding Melly, he has risen to prominence.

“We All Shine” continues to spotlight Melly as a unique artist among other Florida rappers, but the album can feel repetitive.

“We All Shine” can be found on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Although “We All Shine” is not as memorable as it could have been, the album is still eye-opening and dives into the troubles that Melly has faced throughout his life. O

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Clarke Central High School junior Robbie Isakovich has had a deliberate, but positive journey to becoming the makeup artist that he is today.

BY ISABELLA BAKER JOHNSON Journalism I Student

PHOTOS BY KELLY FULFORD Senior Visuals Coordinator

DESIGN BY KATIE GRACE UPCHURCH Co-Editor-in-Chief

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began with a desire to set himself apart. With makeup, he could reshape his eyes or redraw his face. For Clarke Central High School junior Robbie Isakovich, makeup is an art form.

He wanted a way to make himself stand out. At first, Robbie thought that would be theater, but he had trouble fully committing.

After following famous male makeup artists like James Charles and Jeffree Starr online, Robbie decided to experiment with makeup himself.

Now, Robbie practices doing his own makeup three times a week, for about three hours at a time. He spends hours a day scrolling through his Instagram feed, looking for inspiration from different artwork, movies and trends. His dedication has paid off.

Of late, Robbie’s Instagram profile has consisted of numerous pictures in front of his familiar blue tie-dye backdrop, modeling new makeup looks. Filled with color and bold stares, they’re inspired by everything from classic horror movies to holidays. Below each post, he lists all the products that came together to form the look. These new posts have garnered hundreds of likes and positive comments.

“I'm not saying that I feel like a certain number of likes or comments gives me confidence, but it definitely helps me feel better about it about the content I post,” Robbie said.

However, in public, it’s a different story. No longer in an internet

Opposite page: MAKEUP MASTER: Clarke Central High School junior Robbie Isakovich poses for a photo in his backyard on Jan. 13, after completing his makeup routine. Robbie enjoys wearing makeup in his free time and on special occasions. “I love putting (makeup) on, because I feel like I look like a different person, almost -- like the way that different makeup styles can reshape my eyes or reshape my entire face. It’s definitely like an art form,” Robbie said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

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bubble where everyone is supportive, wearing makeup out can be nerve-wracking for Robbie.

The night of prom, Robbie spent hours applying his makeup -brushing, blending, the full glam. While he knew he looked great, it was still daunting to be seen in public.

He covered his face with his hair, second-guessing himself. But his friends, who were supportive of his self-expression, made sure to hype him up the whole time.

Even people he didn’t know -- teachers and students he had never talked to before -- were coming up to compliment him.

That day, Robbie felt like a “queen for the people.” Someday, he

wants to make others feel like that too.

He doesn’t know what his future holds, but he knows he will be holding a makeup brush.

Although he is still working on building his confidence wearing makeup in public, Robbie is a long way from where he started. And his message to guys who may be worried about wearing makeup?

“I can understand why you would be afraid, but this is your business,” Robbie said. “They can't tell you what to wear, what not to wear, how to style yourself, because this is you expressing yourself and this is your personality. And if someone makes you feel like you have to conform to a certain ideal, then they're kind of toxic.” O

Above: LIKE PAINTING: Clarke Central High School junior Robert Isakovich applies makeup at his vanity in his room on Jan 13. He feels that makeup is a way for anyone to express themselves.

“I was seeing all these influencers on youtube and Instagram and I came across James Charles and he was making such a mark and affecting people's lives like all across the country, kind of proving that makeup is genderless and anyone can do it,” Isakovich said. Photo by Kelly Fulford

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Sneakerheads Since the 1980s, sneakerhead culture has merged into the mainstream, influencing generation after generation.

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ccording to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a sneakerhead is a person who is “a sneaker enthusiast.” However, anyone who is a sneakerhead knows it is more than just a passion -- it is a culture many people live and breathe.

Sneakerhead culture parallels the basketball and hiphop industries directly. This can be traced back to the 1980s during the peak of Michael Jordan’s career and his iconic sneaker line with Nike and Air Jordan. This time period also saw hip-hop skyrocket to one of the most prevalent styles of music.

With the combined vanity of the shoes and music, these movements made sneakers a symbol of status.

BY EMMA RAMSAY Variety Editor

ers to when he began playing basketball. “(I got into sneakers by) just playing basketball. The sneaker culture is influenced by basketball a lot. In particular, Lebron was really big, so I got his shoes,” Ward said. “I started collecting him, and it just kind of took off.”

The biggest difference between sneakerheads today versus 20 years ago is access. The internet has given more people the opportunity to be sneakerheads, whereas before only those with high status had access to rare shoes.

“With the advent of the internet, we reached a whole other dimension in the world of sneakerheads. Isolated collectors could now connect with each other. Rumors

“Sneaker culture is influenced by basketball a lot. In particular, Lebron was really big, so I got his shoes.”

--

Isaac Ward,

junior

Now, several brands, including Nike, Adidas and Reebok, among others, rule the subculture of sneakers.

What makes sneaker culture so unique is that there is just as much demand for new shoes being produced as there is for the older-generation shoes.

According to the Forbes article, “Sneakernomics: Are Sneakers important?”, “Jordan brand shoe sales at retail last year in the US were about $2.5 billion. Sneakerheads disdain, for the most part, non-retro Jordans. About half of the Jordan sales last year were retro, or about $1.2 billion.”

Clarke Central High School junior Isaac Ward, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, credits his love for sneak-

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about releases and special products bounced all over the web,” Forbes contributor Matt Powell wrote. “Opinions about favorite shoes could be shouted (and shouted down) across time zones and continents. All of this helped heat up the sneakerhead world even further.”

CCHS sophomore Tajany Thomas believes her generation has been more influenced by sneakerhead culture than any other before.

“People try to copy other people a lot. A bunch of different cultures and styles are being copied all the time and that also is the case with sneakers,” Thomas said.

While the internet gives access to people anywhere to buy shoes, social media has had a big influence on

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exposing sneakerhead culture to mass groups of people. In the Instagram era, social media influencers, also known as “Hypebeasts,” are constantly marketing for huge industries spreading the popularity of shoes such as Balenciagas and Yeezys.

CCHS sophomore Scotty Randolph has seen the shift

promotions and start buying them.”

For someone looking from the outside into the sneakerhead subculture, they may not understand why a pair of shoes could be worth so much to someone. Ward says the first time one puts on the shoes makes all the difference.

in sneaker culture due to social media and the platform it gives people to sell and buy sneakers.

“When people post pictures of new shoes on social media, (more people are going to see them), so more people are going to like them. There are a lot of ways you can buy shoes off social media, like a lot of promotions and stuff like that,” Randolph said. “People see the

“When you first get a new pair of shoes, especially when I was younger, it’s like a kid in a candy shop. When you go pick them out, you don’t know what you want then you just see the one,” Ward said. “It’s kind of like wearing art. Certain pieces, they are just really sick. If you have good shoes on and you like them, then you just feel good.” O

Above: SNEAKERHEAD STUDENTS: (Left to right) Clarke Central High School junior Isaac Ward, sophomore Collin Gilreath and senior Sam Rittenberry are all self-proclaimed sneakerheads. Each student has a different reason for their love of shoes, but all share passion for collecting. “In middle school, we were forced to wear these dry uniforms and the only way to express yourself was to get these cool sneakers that would come out every week,” Gilreath said. “It kind of turned into a competition with me and some of my friends and it has just taken off from there, really.” Photos by Emma Ramsay and Kelly Fulford

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“It’s kind of like wearing art. Certain pieces, they are just really sick. If you have good shoes on and you like them, then you just feel good.”

--

Isaac Ward, junior

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“I have always loved sneakers and I feel like (they are) a key part to an outfit. Before you meet someone, they are going to be looking at your feet, so you want them looking at your fresh sneakers.�

Collin Gilreath, --

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“I like shoes because it’s a way to express myself. It’s like dyeing your hair to be cool but instead I put on dope kicks.”

--

Sam

Rittenbury,

senior

Photos by Emma Ramsay and Kelly Fulford Design by Katie Grace Upchurch

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care

Free croffie

Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie is known to many as an outgoing, goofy teammate, student and friend. While his optimism is evident, what lies behind this student-athlete is a story many are unfamiliar with.

Featured: STUDENT-LAUGHLETE: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie hangs out in the Billy Henderson stadium on Feb. 3. After moving from Ghana to America, Jojo developed a love for soccer that he has nurtured to this day. “I like how (in soccer) there's a team and everyone's your family. You get to make new friends. It’s a new experience,” Croffie said.

“Going to practice every day, putting it that work, and when it's time for the game we can win and then everyone's so happy. Everyone loves that experience, and everyone loves winning, right?” Photo by Krista Shumaker

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hroughout his years in Athens, Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie has become an irreplaceable athlete, student and friend. Quick with a joke and the flash of a smile, Jojo has had a unique experience moving from Ghana to the U.S. that his peers may not know about.

When Jojo was 7 years old, he and his mother moved to Athens to reunite with his father, who had moved to the United States in 1995 in hopes of discovering new educational and job opportunities. The second-grader began attending Alps Road Elementary School, and was initially shocked by the new environment.

“When I came (to America), it was my first time seeing white kids, Hispanic kids, Asian kids. I'm just used to seeing African kids,” Croffie said. “(Feeling isolated) wasn't really a struggle. It was just kind of a weird experience.”

BY NATALIE RIPPS Sports Writer

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As Jojo adjusted from his school in Ghana, where the main languages were Twi, an Aken language dialect, and French, to an English-speaking school in the United States, he maintained a positive outlook on his unfamiliar situation, despite struggling with the language and his new peers.

“Everyone spoke in English. You know when an African kid comes there's gonna be jokes, but I had no idea what they were saying,” Croffie said. “They were roasting me, but I didn't understand, so I didn’t really care.”

Surrounded by his new peers, Jojo began to recognize characteristics of a culture he had not been exposed to previously, such as American fashion and shoes. While Jojo couldn’t have cared less about making a fashion statement, his peers often

"Everyone spoke in English. You know when an African kid comes there's gonna be jokes, but I had no idea what they were saying. They were roasting me, but I didn't understand, so I didn't really care."

-- Jojo croffie, senior

made degrading comments about his appearance.

“When I came here, I would just wear just random stuff, whatever I wanna wear, but some kids began to make fun of my shoes. I was like, ‘What

does that mean? They're just shoes,’” Croffie said. “As I became more accustomed to the culture, I started caring about what people thought of me. But I soon realized that that’s so stupid.”

Jojo’s mother Vida Croffie has watched Jojo transition from the Ghanaian to American school system.

“He didn’t treat it like it was difficult. He is a strong boy, just like when he was a kid. When we were in Ghana, we were good. We lived in a good environment. ( When we moved), he took it the same pace,” Croffie said.

CCHS senior Ikenna Atwater-Obijuru was one of the first to develop a friendship with Jojo at Alps Road Elementary School. According to Atwater-Obijuru, the two bonded over their differences from the other students.

“We were both really avid readers and we were always challenging each other seeing who could read faster,” Atwater-Obijuru said. “We rode together on the bus and I just loved cracking him up because it's so easy. He was one of the funniest kids I knew.”

As the two grew older, Ikenna watched Jojo become more comfortable in his new home.

“People just got to know his personality. He started playing soccer. He's gotten in with a lot of friends and people just instantly liked him, because he was just a cool, nice, funny guy,” Atwater-Obijuru said. “He never got mad, never got angry. There was nothing not to like about him.”

Although the differences between Ghana and America were innumerable, Jojo’s charisma and carefree attitude assisted him in the process of adapting to Athens. “(At first) it was just so weird -- like, ‘These people in America are so weird.' But, I don't think I was ever mad at anything or anyone. I was just happy.

It was a new experience. It was cool to move into this country,” Croffie said. “I guess people started

Left: HEAD HELD HIGH: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie stands in Billy Henderson stadium on Feb. 3. When Jojo first came to America, he was surprised by the unfamiliar setting. “I was eight (years old) and it was a month before my birthday. When we moved here we didn't know anything (about America), so my dad took me to a Chuck E. Cheese,” Croffie said. “It was so cool, because you don't have that stuff in Ghana. You can't really go to arcades and stuff like that.” Photo

by Krista Shumaker

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to realize, ‘OK, he's just a normal kid like us, but just from a different country,’ and I just gradually made some friends.”

When Jojo started at Clarke Middle School, he noticed the popularity of soccer within his friend group and decided to participate. After joining the school soccer team, opportunities to play at a higher level on club teams came as a surprise to Jojo, because in Ghana he would not have had that option.

“I always knew about soccer because it’s a big sport in Africa, and I’ve always loved it, but I never played it -- only occasionally in the streets with my friends,” Croffie said. “So when I came here and I realized how there are so many opportunities people take for granted, (I was) like, wow. It's just a differ-

en believes Jojo’s cheerful outlook on life helps create strong bonds between him, his teammates and anyone who interacts with him.

“Off the field, we have a good friend-teacher relationship -- very open. We joke around a lot. I'm lucky to teach him three times, so I get to hang out with him a ton,” Aiken said. “On the field (we have) a very serious relationship. He knows what we need to do to get ready for the season and what I need from him to help the rest of the guys get ready for the season.”

CCHS athletic director Jon Ward believes Jojo has had an impactful presence in the athletic community.

“Jojo has been a tremendous soccer player in our program for his fourth year now. He was an integral

"I don't think I was ever mad at anything or anyone. I was just

happy. It was a new experience. It was cool to move to this country."

-- jojo croffie, senior

ent experience.”

From the beginning of his soccer career, Jojo has been subjected to stereotypes at every corner, especially as one of the few black soccer players on the team. Despite this, Jojo continued to keep a cheerful attitude and worked to improve at the sport he loves.

“When I was playing soccer, people were like, ‘Why are you playing soccer? Why don’t you play basketball or track or football?’ But why does it matter? Everyone plays soccer,” Croffie said. “I don't understand why people think of soccer as a ‘white sport’ when everyone plays it everywhere, except in America.”

CCHS boys head soccer coach Chris Aiken has been coaching Jojo in his body sculpting classes and on the soccer field since Croffie’s freshman year. Aik-

part of a lot of the success last year,” Ward said. “In my conversations with coach Aiken, he speaks very highly not just of Jojo’s playing ability, but also the way he carries himself and his leadership he provides for the other players. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Jojo.”

Through his positivity, Jojo has earned the love of his teammates, teachers and friends at CCHS, and without hesitation, he embraces his unique background as a part of who is.

“Part of me is from Ghana, part of me is from America. I'm not ashamed of either country,” Croffie said. “I like the experience of growing up in Ghana ‘til about 8 (years old) and then moving. I like the two experiences. I guess that just makes me who I am.” O

Top left: KIDDIE CROFFIE: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie sits in his house in Ghana in 2002. While the transition to a different country had its challenges, Croffie was content with the different lifestyle of America. “(Moving from Ghana to America) was actually pretty fun. There’s just a lot more -- a lot more restaurants, a lot more stores, a lot more everything than Ghana,” Croffie said. Photo courtesy of Jojo Croffie. Middle left: BMW BABY: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie poses for pictures in Ghana as a young child. Croffie believes his family’s move to America has influenced their perspective. “In Ghana, it was just me and my mom, and if your kid is out there, you don't know where he is, so you want to be scared and very protective. It's not very safe,” Croffie said. “The first few years (in America), she was very protective when I'd be going to school or going out with my friends. But now, I think now she’s more chill because we've lived here for a while so we know nothing bad is going to happen.” Photo courtesy of Jojo Croffie. Bottom left: BACK TO SCHOOL: Clarke Central High School senior Jojo Croffie stands outside of his house, prepared for the school day, in 2007. In Ghana, Croffie attended the local academy for four years, where he was expected to transport himself to and from school.

“I was around five, a kindergartener, and walking to school and it was fine. But once I think about it, it was really dangerous,” Croffie said. “From my house there’s a market. There’s a lot of people. You can get snatched and everything, but I would walk through them. I would go to school. I didn’t know anything.” Photo courtesy of Jojo Croffie

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CAlling all coaches Clarke Central High School head varsity girls soccer coach Chris Hulse instituted an honorary assistant coaching program at the beginning of the 2019 season.

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n Jan. 29, Clarke Central High School head varsity girls soccer coach Chris Hulse announced the launch of the team’s honorary assistant coaching program.

“The Lady Glads Soccer Program wants to continue to build relationships within our school community, and to further enhance our camaraderie, unity and pride,” Hulse wrote in an announcement sent to the CCHS faculty. “As such, we would like to give teachers and staff members the opportunity to be honorary assistant coaches for home varsity soccer games.”

All CCHS faculty are eligible to apply for the honorary assistant coaching program, and the team captains -- juniors Emerson Meyer and Nyah Carlson and sophomores Hammond Sams and McKinley Campbell -- select one teacher per game.

“The players ask the teachers they feel most connected to or most influenced by to come and see what the (players) do outside of school,” Carlson said. “We see

BY ELENA GILBERTSON HALL Managing Editor

believes this program is beneficial for improving teacher-student relationships.

“It’s definitely very helpful (because teachers) get to see another aspect of you. It’s not just school work and your grades, it’s also what you do outside of school and the time and hard work you put into something that’s not really school-related,” Castaneda said. “If I’m ever struggling with a class or anything, I feel more comfortable talking to (honorary assistant coaches) about it because they have an idea of what I have to do after school and the time that it consumes.”

According to Cavin, the program encourages teachers to increase involvement in their students’ activities outside of school.

Madrid, a CCHS senior, believes the program would act as a hindrance rather than a help to the boys soccer team.

“I think (the honorary assistant coaching program) helps teachers become more involved in their students’ extracurricular activities, and it allows the students to

"It just gets faculty kind of involved with out-of-

school activities that they may not normally be involved with" -- Aaron Cavin, CCHS math department teacher

what games (the teachers) are able to come to, then vote for which teacher should come when.”

CCHS math department teacher Aaron Cavin served as the honorary assistant coach during the team’s Feb. 5 win over Prince Avenue Christian School.

“You join the team from their first meeting and you’re with the team all the way until the end of the game. You start off at their pre-game meeting, their pregame snack and, as they warm up, you are on the field with them,” Cavin said. “During the game, you’re in the coach’s box and I talked to Coach Hulse during the game a little bit about strategy.”

Center midfielder Sofia Castañeda, a CCHS junior,

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“You see girls in the hallway that you didn’t know before, and you say, ‘Hey, congratulations.

How’s the season going?’ And as a teacher, you have another talking point with girls that are your students,” Cavin said. “It just gets faculty kind of involved with out-of-school activities that they may not normally be involved with.”

On the other hand, varsity boys defensive midfielder Patrick

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“It’s definitely very helpful (because teachers) get to see another aspect of you. It’s not just school work and your grades, it’s also what you do outside of school and the time and hard work you put into something that’s not really school-related."

express appreciation towards teachers. That being said, I don’t think it would be beneficial for the boys team,” Madrid said. “We already receive concise information from (head varsity boys soccer coach Chris) Aiken, and a teacher who has never coached soccer before would only act as a distraction to certain players on the bench.”

CCHS social studies department teacher Shana Biggs, who joined the team for its Feb. 8 game against Madison County High School, hopes other athletic teams will adopt similar programs in the future.

“I would love if more sports did this because I would love the opportunity to see it from that perspective (as

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-- Sofia castaneda, junior and Center midfielder

a coach) more often. For the (players), it’s a way to see that their teachers really do support them and support the things that they do outside of the classroom as well,” Biggs said. O

Above: Below: TEACHER AND TEAM: Clarke Central High School social studies department teacher Shana Biggs poses for a photo with the CCHS varsity girls soccer team on Feb. 8. Biggs served as the honorary assistant coach for the team’s game against Madison County High School. “I realized I have a ton of girls that I’m either teaching now or have taught in the past that are on the soccer team, so I thought it would be a great way to see them outside the classroom,” Biggs said. Photo courtesy of Chris Hulse.

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Spring Sports

Soccer: Girls Head Coach: Chris Hulse Assistant coach: Talle Parrish Key returning players: Emerson Meyer, Jenni Guzman, Hammond Sams, Hazel Fairbairn Key senior losses: Saidee Perno, Caroline Stewart, Nely Medrano, Fernanda Becerra Pictured: Hazel Fairbairn 56

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halftime report

soccer: boys Head Coach: Chris Aiken Assistant Coach: Mitch Pattinson Key returning players: Patrick Madrid, Charles Dawe, Jojo Croffie, Zach Quick Key senior losses: Nick Boobas, Muhammad DeLane, Joseph Cervantes, Zander Dale Pictured: Ariel Jimenez Sports

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Tennis Head coach: Stephen Hinson

Assistant coach: Elliot Slane

Key returning players: Andrew Caldwell, Braden DeLamater, Eliot Daniel, Emily Gaskill

Key senior losses: Jack Byrne, Chris Dellaria, Sam Mattern-Parkes, Johanna Hall

Pictured: Michael Argabright

golf Head Coach: Andy Dean

Assistant coach: Barrett Hopper

Key returning players: Marcel Morgan,Caleb Miller, Jenson Scott

Key senior losses: Toshiko Conine-Nakano

Pictured: Dean Agnew

Girls soccer photo by Naomi Hendershot Tennis photo by Colin Frick Golf photo by Emma Ramsay

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track and field Head coach: Justin Jones

Assistant coach: Lisa Hill

Key returning players: Lashanti Williams, Zaylayah Grant, Colby Meeks, Jace Porter-Sims, Justin Hodges

Key senior losses: Frazier Taylor, Gabriel Mantione-Holmes

Pictured: Lashanti Williams (left) and Zaili Gantt (right)

Baseball Head coach: Adam Osborne

Assistant coach: Nick Wegmann

Key returning players: George Monterola, Isaac Ward, Stephen Cofer

Key senior losses: Ben Gillespie, Tee White

Pictured: Quentin McManmon

Boys soccer photo by Luna Reichert Baseball photo by Luna Reichert Track photo by Colin Frick

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Featured: Clarke Central High School senior Yahaira Cuevas-Nuñez swims for the Lady Glads swim team at the Ramsey Student Center on Feb. 1. Cuevas-Nuñez enjoys not only the physical benefits of swim, but also the mental benefits. “Swimming to me can be more than a sport. I enjoy swimming because of the feeling you get when you finish. It is the best stress-free feeling you can have,” Cuevas-Nuñez said. Photo by Colin Frick

IN FOCUS

ENCOURAGING COED There is no benefit to keeping boys and girls on separated teams as young children.

W

In short, boys are often faster and stronger than have more in common with each other. hen I was a little girl, girls after puberty, and it would be unfair to make However, this kind of mindset assumes that girls around 7 girls compete against them. and boys don’t have the same interests. This kind According to Vealey and Chase, after puberty of mindset is what perpetuates negative gender steyears old, I played on an all-girls tee-ball team. I “males develop larger skeletal muscles, as well as reotypes, like the idea that girls don’t enjoy playing remember playing against larger hearts and lungs and a greater number of red sports and therefore don’t have much in common teams that had all girls blood cells (which absorb oxygen for an aerobic ad- with boys in the same age group. and playing against teams vantage).”

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, MACKENZIE CAUDILL Sports Editor However, this argument has no valid basis in pre- girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys after that had all boys, but I never saw girls and boys pubescent organized sports when girls and boys are the age of 14, mainly due to the social stigma around fundamentally on the same level. playing together on the same team. female athletes.

I didn’t think about it at the time, but If youth sports teams were truly inthis caused me to lose confidence in my clusive, it could change the way society athletic ability. views female athletes. As it is right now, If youth sports teams were truly Whenever we would play a boys team, if one is a female in a sport, she is special I felt as though we had no chance, even and an outlier. inclusive, it could change the way though we were a respectable team comFemale athletes aren’t special for bepetition-wise. ing involved in sports while also being society views female athletes.

I accepted the fact that girls could not girls. They are just athletes who happen play at the same level as boys. to be female.

According to the University of Miami If teams keep separating young athSome may say separating sexes in youth sports is letes by gender before it is necessary to make comsports studies professors Robin Vealey and Melissa Chase in the book “Best Practice for Youth Sport,” that it encourages camaraderie among children of petitions fair, it is sending a message that boys are genders are separated in professional sports pre- the same gender. Young children play team sports to more acceptable as athletes. O dominantly due to differences in physiological make friends, so it would be best for girls to remain makeup. with girls and boys to remain with boys because they

Below: GENDER DISPARITIES: A female tee-ball player looks out into a field of boys. Creating coed sports for kids younger than twelve could lessen the divide between genders in athletics. Illustration by Audrey Kennedy

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Star Players0 ODYSSEY Star Players

ELIJAH GABRIEL

TENNIS

Grade: 12 GPA: 3.3 Years of experience: I’ve played since I was 6 (years old).

It kinda started off just as a hobby and then in ninth grade with the varsity tennis team at my old school I started playing a lot more.

Game day ritual: I don’t really do anything special. I just make sure I stay hydrated really because they can be long matches sometimes.

Favorite memory: My old school played this Buckhead rotary tournament and we weren’t playing great the couple matches before, and then we got to the tournament and we weren’t expected to win or do very well and we won it.

Role Model: Rafael Nadal, probably. He’s like one of my favorite tennis players. He has a great work ethic.

What coaches say: “He’s very good and it’s given us a lot of flexibility being able to put him at one singles and being confident in what he’s doing, so it’s made all of our other positions a lot better too.” -- Elliot Slane

ELIJAH GABRIEL

LENA COOK Grade: 9 GPA: 4.0 Years of experience: I’ve just been playing soccer this year and in middle school so seventh, eighth and ninth. I feel like this is my first actual year of soccer because in middle school, there wasn’t as much conditioning or as much of the physical aspect.

Game day ritual: If it’s an away game we get changed, get on the bus and then go to the game. We start with doing two half-laps for running and we do different stretches.

Favorite memory: In eighth grade when we won the championship for middle school soccer. That was just super fun because it was our last year. and we won.

Role Model: I wouldn’t say I have a singular role model. I just kind of look up to the people who work hard and society rewards them because of it.

What coaches say: “Lena is a gifted athlete with a confident attacking style in all that she does. By having Lena as captain of the JV Girls Soccer team, her style will better inspire the team.” -- Alexander Sams

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ODYSSEY Star Players are selected based on their academic standing and commitment to teammates, their sports program and Clarke Central High School. Star Players are written for each issue by the Sports staff based on interviews with players and coaches.

ODYSSEY Star Players

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S SOC L R I G V

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LENA COOK Sports