The View Issue 5, Vol 22

A SPECIAL THEMED ISSUE CELEBRATING LEGENDS AND LIVING EACH DAY LIKE THEM Park Hill South Riverside, MO April 3, 2020 Volume 22 Issue 5

table of

CONTENTS

04 07 09 14 17 18 22

FEATURE Prospero’s Books: 29th St. Legend ENTERTAINMENT The Best of Times PHOTOGRAPHY Legendary Murals in KC

on the

FEATURES Psyched Out: Pre-Game

COVER

SPORTS Chips Are Down

Park Hill South Riverside, MO April 3, 2020 Volume 22 Issue 5

12-13

STAFF

FEATURE South’s Legends

Print Co-Editors in Chief Kiana Fernandes & Johnny Sterrett

OPINION Early Departure & What Makes a Legend

LETTER FROM THE

editor

Hey, South!

We sincerely hope that all of you are doing well during this crazy time.

This issue and its theme was first decided on in February, with the idea in mind of celebrating some spirited and refreshing stories. We decided we wanted to share stories of legends, at South and beyond, and the way we all can seize opportunities presented to us every day.

We are aware that many things in our world and our lives have been sacrificed and lost in the wake of COVID-19, but the message that we wanted to share through this issue is something we wish to keep intact. That’s why there will be no coverage of the pandemic in this issue of The View and why all of the stories will be found in the original format in which they were pitched and written two months ago. The gravity of the current global situation is not lost on us, which is why we will be continually discussing COVID-19 on our website, phsouthnews.com.

However, we hope you enjoy this issue and that it can bring some hope and positivity to these strange and unfamiliar times.

Digital Editor in Chief/Co-Art Director Avery Glover The View is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Designers Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and is printed by Osage Graphics in Parker Rivers Olathe, Kan. Stevie WIlliams Olivia Stone Section Editors Maria Allred Annie Woodson Claire Hoy Jessie Hagen Amy Graham Reporters Garrett Anderson Brandon Cook Laura Distefano Sophia Dunn Dawson Evans Will Fricker Alice Gamble Sadie Hudson Austin Kinsey Sophia Koch Zane Leiker Jake Lazen Georgia McGonigle Nico Leluga Payton Miller Grant Mulligan Lina Navarro Sam Pfeiffer Hadley Uribe Paige Wessel Emily Williamson The View is published six times during the regular school year as the student news Maddie Winkler Adviser Megan Palmer

+Avery Glover and Johnny Sterrett

publication of Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo. Opinions expressed here are that of student journalists and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Park Hill School district. To access editorial policies or to submit a letter to the editor, visit our website at phsouthnews.com

Robin Williams 1951-2014

“As a kid, I watched a ton of movies but the ones with Robin Williams really stuck out to me. I think this was because he The important message hidden in Peter Weir’s classic was such a great actor “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make poem makes the reader feel.

Society” could not your lives extraordinary.”

In the same vein, life isn’t conforming have achieved their and he put so much work in his acting roles and Hundreds of former Welton Academy to the expectations of others, it’s feeling for personal goals students whisper this message, filling the oneself and deciding what is important. without in some he really inspired me current class with a sense of hope and Each of the boys in the film interprets way rejecting total to put effort into the power. For once in their lives, they are Keating’s message in a different way. Knox rationality. Todd things I love the most,” being encouraged to do what they value seeks love, Charlie wants independence was an amazing Emma Gillespie, and to think for themselves about what and to find complete confidence in student, but at junior, said. that might be. himself, Todd explores his own identity the beginning of

Dead Poets Society

Seize the Day

Peter Weir’s classic film, “Dead Poets Society,” discusses the importance of identity, the dangers of conformity and, ultimately, what it means to seize the day.

In a capitalist society, who a person is holds less value than what a person does.

Think about it. As soon as kids go off to kindergarten, they start getting asked what they want to be when they grow up.

Upon hitting high school and college, the first thing people want to know is what you are (or are planning on) majoring in. While who you are definitely matters, we have been trained to focus on careers rather than personalities when we are first introduced to a person.

This idea is something that the focal character of “Dead Poets Society”, Mr. Keating, challenges. He doesn’t care about the fact that the boys of Welton Academy are destined for the Ivy League or that they are future lawyers and doctors. Instead, he wants them to come out of his class with a clear idea of who they are.

“We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for,” Keating said in one of his most blatant quotes about the theme of the film.

While Keating doesn’t do such a great job of educating his students on how to analyze poetry, he does expect them to know how to analyze themselves. To Keating, poetry isn’t the influence and perfection of the writing, it’s how the

and Neil follows a path that is not the one his father laid out for him. All of them struggle in their own journeys toward seizing the day, and the ending of the story is not a happy one, but they all found what they were searching for at some point and experienced a true sense of happiness from it.

I think this is one of the more valuable messages in the film. Even though conformity provides safety and a sense of surety about the world, it is not always conducive to happiness. I would much rather discover my identity and follow the dreams that come from that than do what people expect from me. It’s exhausting to live for anyone but yourself.

The ideology of the Romantics was heavily used throughout the movie.

It set the tone of the character’s arcs and can even be seen in the gorgeous cinematography of the film. From quotes

by Romantic poets to references of the Romantic greats, their influence on the message of the film is clear.

Romanticism was a movement in the late 1700s and 1800s which prioritized emotion over rationality. It was a response to the Enlightenment movement, decrying that Nature and humanity were things to crack open and heartlessly tear the secrets from. Instead, science was to be used to explore the divinity of things. The Romantics felt that rationality was an affront to the fundamental components of the human soul, and that it was not to be used in an absence of feeling.

Seizing the day has some Romantic elements to it. The boys of “Dead Poets

the movie was so afraid of who he might be that he didn’t even try to look inward.

Neil had been told his whole life to follow what was ‘smart’ and to take hold of the opportunities his parents never had, but ultimately that life would never make him happy. Acting and allowing himself to embody the emotions of others, even if he ended up penniless, was a preferable career to him.

The Dead Poets allowed the poetry they read to overtake them, and to fill them with hope for a better tomorrow. That tomorrow, however, could not happen without them taking their dreams and making them reality. Seizing the day was the only way for them to find what it meant for them to truly live.

So, South, I have a question for you.

Are you content to live for the ideals of others? Or do you want to go forth, find yourself, and make your life extraordinary?

Seizing the day isn’t about doing more than everyone else, it is about making the most of every day in a way that is authentic to you.

As the Dead Poets Society quotes from Thoreau at the beginning of their meetings, “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.

To put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived.”

By Kiana Fernandes

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3

David Bowie 1947-2016

“I think he was a very influential person not only in music but society and different expectations,” Olivia Stone, senior, said.

4

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Two students go around local coffee shops to rate coffee.

Picture this. You hear your alarm at 6 a.m. blaring through the speakers of your phone at the crack of dawn and all you want to do is go back to bed. You can’t fall back asleep, because you feel like you have cotton mouth. The only thing to quench your thirst is a vanilla iced coffee. You’re more of a local coffee type of person, not your generic Starbucks or Dunkin. We, too, have had this experience, and my solution to the coffee dilemma was to set up a bracket.

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5

By Sophia Dunn and Stevie WIlliams

Patrick Swayze 1952-2009

An inside look at the effects of the lack of sleep on the high schooler’s mind and body

Sleep is for the “Week”

“When I saw my first 80s movie he was in it and that’s when I knew I was in love. He was one of my first crushes as a teenager and I will always be able to remember him dancing in ‘Dirty Dancing.’ He was such a great man and actor and he was able to conspire into certain roles and really play the character. He set the stage for what I would want my future boyfriend to be,” Eliana Rosario, senior, said.

6

The familiar heaviness of your eyes becomes more and more apparent as the drone of your teacher’s voice lulls you to sleep. You were up late last night doing an unbelievable amount of homework and you knew that it would cost you the next day. Before you know it, you wake up to the sound of the bell ringing and the imprint of your jacket sleeve on your cheek.

This common occurrence is seen in the high school setting every day. Many high schoolers are seen suffering from a lack of sleep due to many reasons, ranging from staying up late for work to doing homework to waking up early to get to school on time.

According to Andy Cantrell, social studies, “Sleep deprivation has lots of effects. So for example, being sleep deprived can cause a decrease in the ability to focus, difficulty with consolidating memories…it puts you at a higher risk for depression, and it weakens your immune system.”

He also said that the lack of sleep can lead to a decrease in metabolism, increase in joint pain, high blood pressure and heart disease.

In order to really understand why teenagers continuously wake up tired and groggy and exhibit a lack of focus as well as increased irritability, one must understand the way sleep works. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are two types of sleep: REM and non-REM sleep, and the amount of each type of sleep that a person gets will determine how well they are able to function and how well they feel when they are awake.

Also mentioned in this article is the body’s “internal clock” --the Circadian rhythm. The Circadian rhythm is what regulates a person’s sleep cycle and typically runs on a 24 hour repeating cycle. The Circadian rhythm can become out of sync due to lack of sleep, sleeping at the wrong times or not sleeping well.

Ashlyn Rancudo, junior, said, “I get really, really bad sleep; I don’t sleep through the night … and it’s been like that for a couple years.”

Because students like Rancudo are not getting the right amount of sleep or are not able to reach

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

the non-REM (deep sleep) portion of their sleep cycle, it leaves them feeling as if they can’t find the energy to do many things that they would not normally see as a difficult task.

Cantrell has seen this in his own students and said that he has seen them “being tired and sleepy during class, not being able to focus, and not being able to remember any of the stuff that we did the day before.”

Part of the problem is that many students feel as though they have to stay up late every day in order to get all of their schoolwork done, telling themselves that they can “catch up” on sleep on the weekend.

The fact of the matter is that, according to Cantrell, you cannot catch up on sleep. Because the body runs on a set sleep cycle, disrupting any part of the cycle will have consequences. And because the set up of the cycle does not change, if you miss parts of the cycle or interrupt parts of the cycle, there is no way to get that time back or make up for it.

“I think our bodies naturally want to overdo things so we always want to eat more than we should and probably want to sleep more than we should,” said Rancudo.

The problem is not that high schoolers don’t want to sleep, it’s that they can’t or there are things that are preventing them from getting the sleep that they need. Because of this, the “I can sleep later” mentality will never amount to anything helpful.

Despite the many negative effects that the lack of sleep can have on the human body, there are ways to get better sleep that will, in turn, help mitigate the effects of not getting enough sleep.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people can get better sleep by creating and sticking to a set sleep schedule, not taking naps after 3 p.m., and not exercising late in the day.

If you do these things, you’ll find yourself with more energy and motivation to do everyday things that you might find exhausting otherwise.

No longer will you find yourself nodding off in class and no longer will you find yourself waking up with the imprint of your sleeve on your cheek. It’s time for high schoolers to realize the importance of sleep in their everyday lives.

by Emily Williamson

song in vorite rd your a f r u ha g yo Blastin Laughing so at the r.

Being ins. the ca hurts. h nta c a e mou stom h t in on beach

Amy Winehouse 1983-2011

“I look up to Amy Winehouse because the world constantly tried to exploit her for her flaws and reveal her ‘bad sides’ but despite it all she continued to sing and seek out help for herself.

If anything I think she inspired so many people struggling with addiction to get help and that it is okay to ask for it,” Laurel Burns, senior, said.

by Laura Distefano

Ferris Buehler once said, “Life The silver lining to a bad day, school year, but every day moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop or a day that is far from perfect of summer I’m happiest and look around once in a while, you is that you can at least have a when I’m with my friends”, could miss it.” perfect moment in your day, or said Bowman.

People talk about enjoying the something to look forward to Once the temperature little things in life, but how many for the day that follows. climbs into the upper 90s, actually accomplish this? Taking Essentially a light at the end she resides on hot summer a step back and reflecting upon of a dark tunnel. days at Old Pike Country everythiwng that goes on in one Club, making memories day is a good place to start. It is with her friends.

“I try to remember how grateful “Happiness is a crazy to think about the amount I am when I’m down, and I think temporary feeling. You of things that happen to the that’s why most of the time I am won’t be happy in all average person in one day: 24 speedy hours that are gone before circumstances in life, happy.” we know it. but you can be joyful in These 24 hours are a mix of “I try to remember how all circumstances”, said Jared good and bad. The troubling times grateful I am when I’m down, Byrne, social studies. are unavoidable. Even the most and I think that’s why most He attests to the truth of optimistic people in life will struggle of the time I am happy,” said happiness coming from being at times or experience something or Chloe Bowman, junior. connected or sharing something another going wrong.

High schoolers aren’t always with other people. happy, but collectively each Whether it’s walking into person throughout the panther your house and smelling your hallways has experienced an favorite food, or flying down optimistic moment recently. A the highway with the windows moment where nothing else down on a warm day with not matters but where you are and a cloud in the sky, it’s crucial how you are feeling. A moment to appreciate the little things of relief, or indescribable joy. A in life-those are the things that moment of bliss. These are rare, make us most happy. but can be well worth the wait. e or sunris he Bliss: Perfect happiness, h t ing eat or great joy. This is just one Watch rgazing. Br ta Eating of those feelings that can be set. S h air. s e r f detected, felt, and then gone ing in st in bed. before we know it. A lot of fa break people feel this moment in different ways or forms.

Luci Steele, senior, is naturally very happy.

“Happiness is the best way to feel. Christmas is always one of Comin g the happiest memories for me after a back to sch o because I’m with all my family lo in qua ng Spring ol and cousins, and we get to hang Break rantin e. out together” said Steele.

Concerts and good meals are also go-tos for Steele.

Bowman has the happiest moments seasonally.

“I’m still happy during the

THE BEST OF I A look into happy moments and the people that enjoy them

M E S

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7

As all the final events of the school year quickly approach us, we have lots of plans. We pick out Prom dresses, set a date for our graduation party, and get excited for our senior skip day.

“He inspired me to One of the more adventurous celalways push forward ebrations for our seniors at South, is and to never give getting the opportunity to maybe go on a senior trip over Spring Break. up, no matter how However, the coronavirus left these hard things get. When events to a roadblock. It is all one big listen to his music I mystery on what will or will not hapsee artwork that I pen. One of these roadblocks that we use in my designs,” have now passed are the spring break trips.

Brandon Francios, Did students still get to go to their senior, said. beautiful destination spots or did they cancel their whole trip? Did it cause them huge problems in the long run if they did still go?

As all of the coronavirus reports first started coming out, students had to make their decision on if they were still going to go on their trips or not. It was all still new information, so the decision was a tough one. Many South seniors decided to move forward with the decision of going.

“My favorite part was definitely the beach and spending time with my mom and Anna and Grace’s mom. I am glad

XXXTenacion 1998-2018

we went because our senior year definitely isn’t playing out how it should be so it was a nice getaway,” Laurel Burns, senior, said after her trip to Panama City beach with friends.

Students got to their destinations early enough to have the trip they wanted and still get back at a good time... before the quarantine started.

“We were not really affected by the coronavirus because we left before it got crazy like it is now. We are all doing fine now back at home and are now on day 14 of quarantine. I am very glad we went because it was honestly perfect timing, now I am bored 24/7,” Gavin Lee, senior, said after his trip to Cozumel with his brother, Garrett Lee, and family.

On the other hand, some seniors decided to not go through with their vacation plans. Many were scared of the unknown and went with the safer route. On the brightside, many got to reschedule their plans for another month or year and now they have something to look forward to.

“It was really disappointing to have my trip canceled because I was looking forward to warm weather and getting to relax. Instead I just hung out with my friends over Spring Break and put on fake tanner LOL”, Taryn Brown, senior, said after her cruise got canceled.

Others were not so optimistic.

“It was super depressing, I didn’t get to see my mom who I rarely see. Instead I was stuck at home in quarantine and still am,” Josh Prososki, senior, said after canceling his trip to Arizona.

Whether students went or canceled their senior trips, they still stayed safe and kept others in mind throughout the week. The seniors that put off their trips until the summertime are all wishing for the best and that all of this blows over soon.

by Jessie Hagen

Senior Trips Gone Rig 8

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h t g n Wro

Students from

Around the

World

By Nico Leluga & Sam Pfeiffer

Diversity. It’s a simple word is very loose and lax, while in that describes a wide range Bosnia our families are very of things or people while still tight-knit. If you’re family, you representing harmony when stick together for pretty much mixed together. For many your whole life,” said Semir Hot, reasons, it’s a major advantage to senior. have a cohesive yet unique group Hot traveled between of people working to achieve Bosnia and the US for most their goals. of his childhood. Growing up These can include a greater in a predominantly Muslim understanding of those around household and then moving to you, better adaptability for a Christian dominant country problem-solving, and creating produced a fair amount of culture stronger bonds between people shock. who wouldn’t normally cross On the other hand, junior paths.

Karla Gomez experienced a Although South isn’t relatively small amount of change necessarily a moving to the US. shining example of “In Bosnia our families “Most people diversity in itself, in Mexico are very are very tight-knit. If the fact that there’s traditional and you’re family, you stick religion-heavy, a strong sense together for pretty like most people of community is undeniable. much your whole life.” are Catholic and Regardless here they are not of background, everyone can as traditional and not as faithful,” find where they belong in their Gomez said. own niche. With clubs like From Bosnia to Mexico and Muslim Students and Allies, now to Jamaica, senior Jazeel Black Student Union, and Banton hails from Mandeville in more, students can express their the parish of Manchester. Not identity as unique individuals and only is the tradition different but Panthers at the same time. the way they treat school.

Speaking of identity, many “Unlike in America sometimes students call countries outside in Jamaica you could get a smack the United States home. Several in the hand with a ruler,” said of them have found their Banton. experiences here substantially With these students and many different than their countries of more to come, South’s diversity origin. will continue to grow.

“Here it seems that family

Avicii

1989-2018 “Avicci got me through my 5th grade breakup.

His songs always made me happy and everytime I hear ‘Wake Me Up’ or ‘Hey Brother’ I Immediately smile,” Alex Laderoute, junior, said.

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9

Juice Wrld 1998-2019

“Juice has helped me through his music. There are certain parts of it you can relate to while it being in the rap genre, but also being more slow paced. He has inspired me to focus on myself. I also got a pair of shoes painted in his honor,” Brock Ivy, senior, said.

Jimi Hendrix.

Eric Clapton.

Jimmy Page.

These three men are the greatest and most legendary guitar players of all time, yet most teenagers probably don’t even know their names. The same is true for other previously famous musicians, but their iconic

from music today and can no longer be experienced like they once were. The same goes for nearly all live performances; it’s just not the same.

Some bands were rooted in one member who had extraordinary skill as an instrumentalist. Perfect examples of this were Hendrix, Clapton, Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan, all phenomenal guitarists who had bands based on their individual skill. Phil Collins is another more unique example, as he drummed and sang both in his band Genesis and in his solo career.

A band, with real instruments, is another trait that remains

Jukebox Heroes to

legacies have died off over the years, as well as the music that they played.

Classic rock and rock stars are, or at least were, fixtures in American culture and society, especially in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. These were days of frontmen, groupies and rocking all night and partying all day. Frontmen were the face of classic rock, and the tales of their endeavors were legendary, but there was so much more to the music than a recognizable face at the head of it.

Behind the frontman on stage was the rest of the band: the lead guitarist with their iconic riffs and soaring solos often invented on the fly; the underrated bassist punching out a powerful and unique bass line; and the drummer hammering out a beat like thunder that anchored down the rest of the band. A good person in each position, give or take an instrument or two, were the key to rock and roll greatness.

The best bands with the best members and songs were Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Queen. As for Zeppelin, their live shows were a unique and amazing spectacle each and every night, sometimes lasting for four hours. Sheer power and excellence such as theirs, both in concert and on recordings, are missing

music.

Some small bands such as Greta Van Fleet are trying to revive, or rather replicate, the hard rock sound of the ‘70s.

Some say that they are a little too similar to Led Zeppelin, and I’d have to agree.

Although they are quite successful, they don’t get much mainstream radio play or recognition.

Classic rock, at least the best songs, were meaningful, original and written by the band that performed them. On the contrary, almost every pop song today has the same beat, the same chord progression and lyrics and music that is written by someone else. Although most classic rock songs were very light and had no deep meaning, some of the best ones, whether popular or not, had deep and/or emotional meanings and thoughtprovoking lyrics.

Rush had many songs like this, such as “2112,” with anti-conformist and antiauthoritarian themes.

Other bands created concept albums, entire albums that told a story or had an overall theme, such as Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and “The Dark Side of the Moon.”

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin are arguably the best classic rock songs, and both greatly exceed the typical three- to four-minute song length that pop songs conform to. They also both have different sections and undergo several changes throughout the songs, and their lyrics tell stories whose meanings have never been directly revealed and interpretations are up to that of the listener.

When I heard my first Zeppelin songs, I was floored. I couldn’t get enough, and my addiction quickly progressed from there.

I am still discovering songs and bands I previously haven’t heard of or listened to, and have likely just scratched the surface.

The power of classic rock still amazes me after years of listening, and I don’t get the same feeling when listening to new music.

Despite its greatness, classic rock has faded away over the years, as have many of the key musical traits that made it so great. Almost all of its biggest and best names have been forgotten by the younger generations, and will likely never be remembered again.

Brok en Re cords

The Rise and Fall of Classic Rock and its Greatest Artists

10

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

By Alice Gamble individual to music of the past. Since technology and music have evolved, the vast majority of popular music no longer uses instruments, but instead computer-generated beats and electronic sounds, and so the need for a band has disappeared. Because of this, astounding instrumentalists are no more, and all of today’s pop artists are just singers.

That’s something that sets popular music apart from not only music from the past, but also smaller bands and alternative music today. Real bands with real instruments still exist, but they’re not as famous or in the mainstream. There are likely plenty of highly skilled musicians out there, but they are also not in popular

Aesthetic Alley Located between E. 18th St. and Oak St., many KC artists allow the public to view their individualized work

By Sadie Hudson

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11

We all felt a shake. I was in a batting cage, and it shook like an earthquake.”

Escaping the freezing cold of KCMO, Matthew Riekhof, junior, spent the weekend in Pasadena, Calif. on a club baseball trip. Tragically, at 9:06 am on Jan. 26, Riekhof and many others at South and around the world felt a tear in their heart.

A man that was the symbol of 2000s basketball, Kobe Bryant, died along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a tragic helicopter crash. Bryant had just retired from professional basketball in 2016, and was beginning his retirement coaching and being a father to his four daughters.

Students all across South have continued to mourn the legend’s passing, even months after his sudden death.

“He was the face of basketball, his persona and impact on the game is what inspired so many.,” Abdiqani Mohamud, senior, said.

Mohamud had grown up watching Kobe and had always admired his love for the game.

“Kids all around the world, whenever they shoot a ball, they yell his name. Something no one else will ever accomplish,” he said.

Mohamud also made it clear that five championship rings in 20 years speaks for itself.

Some students felt the impact much closer to home than others. Jacob Coddington, junior, has been a lifelong Lakers fan since he first knew what the NBA was.

“Having been from LA, and only having posters of Kobe all across my room, he was the only athlete that I truly looked up

For normal teenagers, their biggest accomplishment in life may be as simple as getting an A on their test. Billie Eilish on the other hand is winning five Grammys, performing on tour and even being one of the most successful and youngest women in the music industry today.

When it comes to fame, some forget that behind the bright lights and money bags is a normal human being. Billie Eilish, an 18-year-old superstar, is just like many of us at South. She goes through the same teenage struggles as we all do including emotional, physical and mental pain. Many of Billie’s songs are about finding your place in the world, which makes her relatable to the younger audience.

“I think it is really inspirational that she is so

young and willing to talk about men

tal illness and depression even though

there is such a stigma about it in

today’s society. Hermusic is a good

mix between hype and emotional

songs which suits whatever mood

you are in”, said Abby Ahrendt,

junior.

Being able to come home after

a bad day and have that thing to

make you feel better can

have such an effect on

someone. For many

students, it’s Billie.

Coddington’s family had been fans of Kobe, with his dad even photoshopping Jacob’s face onto a poster of Kobe dunking when he was younger.

From die hard fans, to the average person only recalling his name in the news, Kobe Bryant was undoubtedly a legend. The way he changed the game of basketball will never be forgotten.

The NBA, Lakers, and all of his loving fans are refilling the hole in our hearts. The story of the Black Mamba will live on forever.

In this day and age, your social media feed is swarmed with girls in bikinis with the “perfect” body, but when it comes to Billie, her posts consist of her true self. Doing that makes her different from other influencers. She makes being different for young men and women the norm.

“When it comes to her music, what she wears, the way she carries herself, and even her voice everything about her is so unique from everyone else in Hollywood. She has such an impact on me and teens today. Her not being afraid to be different is special”, said Sydney Warren, senior.

Not only does she use her platform to inspire her audience to be different, she also shows them that you can achieve anything in life no matter how old you are. Her career started in 2016 at the age of 14 years old. In the span of four years, she has had more success than some who have been around for over 20 years.

“The fact that she is the same age as me and has made all her dreams come true makes me think if she can do it so can I,” said Luci Steele, senior.

At the end of the day, teens want someone that understands them and relates to how they’re feeling. Billie Eilish and her music is the prime example of that. Not only is she a popular artist today, but a living legend that many can look up to.

Red Kingdom is home to Patrick Mahomes, who is the super bowl MVP for 2020 and league MVP for 2019.

Mahomes is an incredible athlete but also a great person who has changed Kansas City forever.

“Mahomes has brought the city together and made Kansas City fans love Mahomes for his passion for the game” said senior Brock Ivy. This season, Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their 2nd Superbowl win over the San Francisco 49ers. It only took Mahomes two years to win the Super Bowl, when the Chiefs hadn’t won the super bowl in over 50 years.

Not only is Mahomes an amazing athlete, but he is also an amazing person. The young athlete started his career at Texas Tech where he made his name for himself. He went to the draft in 2017 where he was drafted 10th overall pick in the first round of the draft.

“Patrick Mahomes is a great role model and leader on and off the field he keeps his same morals with him wherever he goe,” said Josh Prososki, senior.

Patrick Mahomes is a role model on the field and off the field. Even when the team is down Mahomes is still up encouraging teammates to work just as hard every play.

Patrick Mahomes attributes a great mindset and attitude towards the game. He always is cheering and checking up on teammates. He never takes his fame to his head.

Andy Reid told ESPN, “He understands the leadership role he’s been put in my position and how important that is, and he’s got that innate ability to lead, So you give him a little guideline on that, and he takes it and goes.”

Knowing the mindset of Mahomes Reid has built a dynasty for Kansas City Chiefs and plans to have next year having the same outcome. Mahomes had been great with making sure he doesn’t give up. Before the Chiefs would play the 49ers in Super Bowl 54, they played the Tennessee Titans and came back from a 24-0 deficit. This is when Mahmomes for sure claimed his throne and became King of the Red Kingdom.

September 7, 2018, a man who inspired many of us here at South was now gone. Mac Miller was more than just a rapper, singer and songwriter. At only 15 years old, he started to become a person that young adults could relate to on a different level than your average rapper or pop singer. He has left a huge mark in the music world that

by Paige Wessel comforts many.

“A lot of Mac Miller’s music has to do with the way he was feeling, even though he wasn’t feeling the best way I can relate to that because I have been in some dark times before,” Maddie Olson, senior, said.

Miller suffered from things like depression, anxiety and addiction. Young adults in their high school and early college years tend to go through these things as well and it makes it easy to connect with his music on a deeper level. Though a lot of his music was about the tough times he was facing, he also talked about how he would overcome these problems through his music.

“He has really inspired me in the way he shows how he’s overcome so many things but even though he did end up dying because of those things, he showed his progress and his way of life through his songs,” Olson said.

Miller’s new album “Circles” has left an effect on students at South after releasing it even though he was already passed. This album was Miller’s sixth studio album and was released almost

two years after he died.

“I think it was a really good choice. His fans were happy about it and I think it leaves a memory of him in a way. He made the album for his fans so the fans deserve to listen to what he had planned for us,” Marteen Redman, junior, said.

With the album “Circles” dropping, it has allowed teenagers to still feel connected to him.

Many would consider Mac a “legend”, not just because he was well known and everyone knew his name, but be cause he left a mark on many lives.

“He’s a legend because his music touched so many people’s hearts. I feel like you only know someone is a legend after they die and after he died everyone was heart broken,” Brandon Francois, senior, said.

Being a legend doesn’t just mean that you were well known and everyone knew your name, it is about how the person chose what to do with their fame and if they used it for good or for bad. Miller used it for good by relating to young adults about the hard times and how to get through them.

Mac Miller was a rapper, singer, songwriter and through those things he found a way to be an inspiration and influence many which is why Malcolm was a legend living and now a passed one as well. As Mac Miller once said, “People change and things go wrong, but just remember, life goes on.”

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

13

Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967-2014

PSYched Out?

By Sophia Koch

“Philip Seymour Hoffman, perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation, who gave three-dimensional nuance to a wide range of sidekicks, villains and leading men on screen and embraced some of the theater’s most burdensome roles on Broadway,” New York Times said.

14

Mental Readiness Techniques 1. Focus on technique

4. Listen to music that puts you in the groove

2. Understand how stress can benefit you

5. Practice positive self-talk

3. Visualize your performance

6. Self-awareness

Running out onto the field, blood pumping, heart racing, and vision shaking. There are many factors that an athlete needs to keep in check.

Maneuvering your body with perfect timing to align with the trajectory of a flying ball is hard enough, but athletes need to focus on even more.

Their mental state is vital to their success, and everyone handles it differently.

Sports are a big part of many teenager’s lives. Sports might be a gateway ticket to college, a place where students can release energy and take their minds off dreadful classes, or for some students playing a sport is just a way to have fun and make friends.

At South, there are many talented athletes, but their skills will only get them so far in their performance on the field or court. The other half of an athletes performance comes from their mental state. If an athlete has a big game, but just had a fight with their parents and can’t get the argument out of their head while playing, chances are they won’t perform as well. Keeping a positive mentality during a game will enhance a player’s performance.

Most South students have seen the electric energy of Matt Suchanick’s, senior, whether it be on the football field or cheering on the sidelines as a Rage Cage leader.

Suchanick makes it his top priority to keep a positive mindset—win or lose—being the quarterback means his team looks up to him.

“I always have to keep a positive mentality especially around my teammates,” Suchanick said. “Even if we lose, it’ws onto next week. Once you lose, it’s over and you can’t really do anything about it but just show up to practice and keep pushing.”

Samantha Williams, counseling, coaches the varsity volleyball team. She also used to play volleyball at the college level. In her era of play, mental readiness was not a thing and it was rarely talked about, but Williams had her own superstitions.

“I always listened to the same playlist I made on a CD. I always ate flaming hot Cheetos and drank Code Red Mountain Dew,” Williams said.

Williams even went 19 games without washing her socks as her team was running on a winning streak. Williams’ superstitious practices were her way to prepare.

The psychology of sports is right up the alley of coach Gregory Williams, social studies. Williams is the head freshman coach for football and the assistant coach for girls’ basketball. Williams has been working on a website called “Head Above the Rest.” It focuses on the mental readiness of sports. On his site, Williams discusses several mental training techniques—meditation, goal setting, concentration—and how to master them.

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

Not only is Williams working on a website, but he is starting an LLC (limited liability company) that is focusing on mental strength training. Williams’ website is not yet public, but if interested, any student at South can check it out by talking to him.

The burden of mental readiness isn’t on players alone.

Athletes have the tendency to look to their coaches if they mess up. A good coach keeps a positive attitude during a game to help the team perform better.

“I think the connection with the coach is really important because if there isn’t a connection between the player and coach it makes it harder for the player to listen,” Olivia Gates, sophomore, said.

Both coach Samantha Williams and coach Gregory Williams make it a top priority to train their players to focus on the good and improve their level of play even when they are in a drought.

“We prepare extensively during practice and they’re very intelligent and they know how to get themselves out of difficult situations,” Samantha Williams said.

Gates believes that as a team member, it’s your job to encourage your teammates to do better and to keep supporting them. If they mess up a play be encouraging and say something like “Good try.” “You got it next time.” Or give them an alternative.

“I think motivating is a really big factor in keeping each other together,” Gates said It’s never fun to lose a game, but when that happens, just keep focusing on the good in life, and plan or set goals on how to improve as an individual and as a team.

“Just remember that a particular sport is only a piece of the pie, there is so much more that athletes have to fall back on. They all come from great families, they’re great students, and they’re still athletic no matter what,” Gregory Williams said.

Recognizing what you’re grateful for is a big factor to keep a positive attitude after you lose. Your friends and family will be with you and support you no matter if you win or lose.

“Instead of having athletes guess how to focus we come up with intentional components to focus on,” Gregory Williams said.

Some pregame rituals South students do before a game are: praying by themselves or with the team, listening to music on the bus to get the team’s adrenaline pumped, watching motivational videos, and staying off electronics— you’ve been looking at a screen for eight hours.

The Chiefs didn’t make an incredible comeback during the AFC championship, let alone the Superbowl, just because they are amazing athletes. Half of it had to do with a boost in the team’s confidence and staying positive.

Keep pushing to reach your goals and keep encouraging your teammates to do better. It will enhance the way you and your team play.

Baseball season is quickly approaching and several South athletes are gearing up, looking to build upon their previous resumes. One part of the season that most returning players dread are tryouts. Players that have already established themselves on the varsity level feel that tryouts seem to have lost the lore of years prior. On the other hand, for freshman looking to make the team, this is probably the most nerve wracking part of the season.

Baseball tryouts consist of a four to five day period (depends on how players are performing) where coaches assess both your talent and knowledge of the game. Players can be cut on any day. For many freshmen every practice ends with either a sigh of relief if the coaches don’t ask to talk to you, or a near heart attack if your name is called.

“It was always nerve wracking to see who would get cut at the end of the day,” Timmy Tasler, freshman, said.

Tasler fought all five days of tryouts and was rewarded with a spot on the freshman team where he will look to work his way up to the varsity level over the next three years.

Though he was nervous, Tasler persevered and performed to the best of his abilities.

“I would just take a deep breath and think about the worse case scenario and how even then, I could still play baseball,” Tasler said.

Tryouts are a stressful time for everyone at the freshman level since so many athletes have a chance to be cut from the

South freshman give their take on baseball tryouts.

Whitney Houston 1963-2012

team. This causes players to be very competitive, especially with the players going for “I’ve grown up their same position. Tryouts also bring the players together since dancing to her everyone is going through the music and it always same types of nerves and anxiety. provided me with “We were starting with about chances to put my 30 kids on Monday and we were emotion into the all fighting for a spot but still looking out for each other,” dances because of Aaron Boutz, freshman, said the way she sings,” Overall with so many kids Sammy Hickey, senior, trying out it does mean some said. players won’t be making the final roster. “It’s the hardest part of the job” said head coach of the Freshman team Trevor Allison.

This shouldn’t discourage more players trying out though as many players have taken this as a learning point, and have come back years later and made the team. No matter what it’s a great experience to help players fight through their nerves and showcase their abilities.

Butterflies

By Zane Lieker

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

15

Carrie Fisher 1956-2016

“As her family, friends, and fans remember her for the inspiring and culturally-defining role as Princess Leia, we can remember Fisher as more than just the princess. She was a shoot-from-the-hip author, a playwright, a humorist, and an unapologetic advocate of mental health,” Inverse.com said.

Home-Grown Humor Take a look back on some of South’s funniest moments brought to you by your student body

When settling into a routine, things can become very dull. It’s hard to find a new perspective on things, and enjoy yourself on a day to day basis.

Here at South, there are a handful of students who have mastered this art. Some call them light-hearted, high spirited, or whimsical. Known nationally as class clowns, we refer to them as legends. They have all had their moments, some of which will live in our memories forever.

Fletcher Burns, senior, was the catalyst of one of these timeless moments this year. Feeling creative, Burns decided to get outside of his comfort zone with a speech assignment in Russ McDaniels’ (speech) class. Using Grant Mulligan, junior, as his volunteer, he gave the class a lesson on how to cut hair.

He prepared his script, and researched how to give the best cut. Going into the cut, he felt adequately prepared.

Things only went downhill from there.

“I was using scissors, and probably got a little nervous in the moment giving the speech. I didn’t even notice at first, but I looked down and saw I had cut Grant’s ear.” Burns said.

Although blood was everywhere, and a little glue was needed for Mulligan’s ear, Burns felt the speech went pretty well overall.

“Yeah, I got a 76 on the speech. I kind of thought I’d drop it anyway, so I wasn’t upset. Mr. McDaniels wasn’t too mad, but I heard he got loud once I left.” Burns said.

The next person on this list also found their unwarranted fame taking part in a speech class assignment. Every year, students in McDaniels’ speech class have to re-create a movie.

After deciding on “The Breakfast Club,” Olivia Stone, senior, and her group headed to the library to shoot some scenes.

One of these scenes required them to shut the library door, which is essentially a giant sheet of glass.

“We had to film this scene because we kept messing up.

On the last take, the door stopper must not have been in place, because we didn’t even shut it that hard. But right when we did, the door just exploded. There was glass

16

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

everywhere.” Stone said.

Initially, the librarians were looking to serve punishments, due to them thinking it was intentional.

“Yeah, I was nervous for a little. I just stared at the glass unable to process what had happened. It’s a good thing the librarians checked the footage, because they were able to see that it was an accident.” Stone said.

Ronin Gasper, senior, made it into this select group a little more intentionally. Around this time last year, the nation was getting swept by the TikTok craze. Sensing the trend becoming a social media staple, Gasper decided to try and take the movement by storm. And that requires followers.

Acknowledging his peers as the best place to start, Gasper decided to advertise his page to the school.

“I just took my photo code off of TikTok, screenshotted it, put it on a word document, and printed a bunch of copies,” he said.

After arriving at school the next day, Gasper hung his advertisements all around the school. It’s no surprise administration caught wind of this, because his face was hung all around the school.

“Yeah, I got pulled into Coach Sharp’s office. They couldn’t really get me in trouble though, so they just told me to not do it again.” Gasper said When asked if it was worth it, Gasper responded, “I mean, I got like 14 adds.”

Definitely worth it.

By Will Fricker

When the Chips are To some, the extent of their playing card abilities boils down to “Uno” or even “Go Fish,” but for a growing number of South students, Texas Hold ‘Em poker has become a way of life.

When you think of poker, what probably comes to mind is a dimly lit room full of smoke, a dingy felt table, and even dingier men. This, however, is not the case for this faux-poker coalition.

Trade smoke for pizza, the dingy men for hormonal teens, and the dingy table for a dingy folding-table.

Credited founder for the poker wave that has rocked South’s boat is senior Tyler Unrath.

“I had a summer camp and a friend of mine there taught me Texas Hold ‘Em. I had fun so I thought I’d introduce it to some of my friends,” said Unrath. “I was proud of it initially, because we had a small group that played a decent amount, not over the top.”

The small group consisted of seniors Tristan Bramlett, James Drumright, Austin Kinsey and junior Parker Rivers.

Eventually, this would grow to include several other upperclassmen, including senior Kellen Danielson.

“I started playing with them when I got injured,” said Danielson. “Now I play usti

n ins

ey

a few times a week.”

Tabled from most physical activity by his town ACL, Danielson began to take a bit of a leadership role in the group, from scheduling bigger and better games to recruiting more and more people to play.

What started as a few friends playing casually grew into something much larger.

The greatest feat of this coordination manifested in the largest turnout for Danielson’s first “official” rally. With multiple games running simultaneously, a table full of snacks, and even some exclusive dealers, this poker party was certainly a success.

But why has this card game taken seemingly South by storm?

For some, it’s to get people together.

“I feel like a lot of people don’t get together anymore,” said Danielson, “but with poker, it’s fun to just hang out with people and have something to do.”

For others it’s about the game itself.

“It’s the strategy. I like reading people,” said Unrath. “It’s definitely a game with purpose. Also... I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t addicting.”

For sophomore Sam Chase, it’s just plain fun.

“I played a little when I was younger,” Chase said, “but my brother invited me one night I didn’t really think I’d like it; now I’m totally into it. It doesn’t really matter if you’re that good or not either-it’s all about the luck of the cards.”

Ultimately, there seems to be something for everyone at the poker table, and this wave appears to have no intent on stopping any time soon. So, maybe now’s the time to grab some chips, peek at your cards, and try to remember, there’s no Draw Four’s in poker.

Cameron Boyce 1999-2019

“Cameron was the first death of someone from my childhood who I idiolized. He was always super positive and someone who lit up a room,” Maddie Carter, senior, said.

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

17

SOUTH LEGENDS A Look into the past at south

Vanessa Zamzow (Math) is one of the few female teachers with their doctoral degree and was one of the youngest to go through the program. It took Zamzow four years filled with five-hour classes, forty-page portfolios, tests, and internships to get to where she is today but says the hard work has a great payoff and sees it as a great accomplishment. She encourages those who are looking to get their doctoral degree to keep pushing yourself to continue, even if it gets tough, “you can totally do it!”, said Zamzow.

Andrew Cantrell (Social Studies) has been in multiple bands outside of teaching.

Cantrell has been playing music for twenty-eight years and has been in several bands, while he still enjoys producing music today. He has been in several bands, including Rocker Lips which was his most successful one, where they toured around the country and were even on the radio. “I am no longer in a band but I still play music every day and write and record things in my home studio,” said Cantrell.

By: Annie Woodson

Ryan Welty was a crucial part of South’s road to State back in 2015.

Since then, he has carried his success into College at Northwest Missouri State University.

“My favorite memory was in my junior year when we beat a loaded Chaminade team in the final 4. Playing in the State Championship was a really cool experience, too, even though we couldn’t come through with the win.” said Welty.

He currently leads the NCAA in best 3-point percentage (50.8%), and looks to add on another D2 Championship to his resume this season.

Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff was awarded Ms.Teen Missouri in 2017. But her success didn’t stop there, later she was also awarded Ms.Teen USA as well.

“My life has changed so much since highschool. I graduated in 3 years and then won Teen USA the summer before starting college. I currently go to KU and graduate this year after being here for 3 years as well,” said Domginuez-Heithoff.

She plans to attend USC for law school in the near future.

Cienna Newett was known at South for her unique artistic ability. She graduated in 2018, and continued her artistic career at CalArts college in Santa Clara, California.

Throughout her artist’s career, she has idolized multiple different artists.

“I’m always looking at other artists. A few illustrators I’m loving right now are: Brian Rau, Vicki Turner, and Owen Davey.” said Newett.

Her most cherished artwork is her design history book she created a while back. She spent a lot of time on it, and cherishes more than anything else.

BY: Garrett Anderson

Aretha Franklin

Students earn extra cash with their part time jobs

by Payton Miller

1942-2018

“Aretha Franklin’s voice was a pure, painful, and unforgettable expression of American history and American feeling, the collective experience of black Americans and her own life,” Thenewyorker.com said.

DYLAN OWENS When it comes to “working on your own terms,” Dylan Owens, senior, has mastered the trade. Driving for Doordash, Postmates, and Instacart, Dylan has made his side “I plan my driving around my sports, so in between football and baseball, I work a lot more. During this time, I work 15-20 hours a week,” said Owens.

Not only does Owen’s side hustle work for his schedule, but he also enjoys his work and looks forward to making some extra money.

“You just turn on a podcast and drive around which is easy.”

BRYLIE GOFF If you have scrolled through Instagram lately, you might have noticed that crop created a business that she knew would be a successful side hustle.

“I’ve seen big companies blow up selling cropped shirts, like Nike selling purposewide range of customers ranging from freshman in high school to college students.

“I’ve made around $80 since I started, which was a month ago. I make more

ELIANA ROSARIO “People want real art made, not just photos,” said Eliana Rosario, senior, which is where she and Tori Smith got their inspiration for E.T. Portraitz, a business where they create customized and unique portraits of people, animals, or still lifes for commission. where they get a lot of exposure for their amazing work. pieces and also sharing them on other sites like Facebook. We gained a lot of The girls are working the ideal job, combing what they love to do with making money and to add to it, they are great at it!

Michael Jackson NAME (LIFE-DEATH) 1958-2009

South Students who choose to For most high pursue internships to school students, the question “where do you see follow their passions yourself in the future?” does nothing of the future, but incite anxiety. Many teenagers leave high school with nothing but a vague idea, in today’s if any, of what their career of choice will be. schedule The Professional Studies and internship

blocka-day, flexible “Michael Jackson internship program, but is a huge dance it’s not the only one at South. inspiration his [QUOTEand HERE] Programs like NCAPS and NCC lineage is still seen offer more specifically career-oriented today.

He was a huge tracks for students, and additionally icon and he was so take up more time.

Jake Kenslow, junior, is currently on talented. It is such opportunities that South provides students have a computer science track with NCAPS. a shame he has such begun to change that, however. Many students It takes up two blocks of the school a terrible history,” opt into these programs junior or senior year. Some day, both semesters.

Sarah Waller, senior, students, like Emily Flowers, junior, “Interning at knew exactly what they wanted, and said.

Cerner has helped used Professional Studies to get ahead me understand what on their career path. it’s like to work in “I did it because I always knew I the computer science would probably go into medicine, but I field more than any class ever could,” said wanted to be sure before spending a lot of Kenslow. “I’ve met tons of new people in my money and going to college for it,” Flowers field that can help me get jobs in the future said. “I also thought that it would help me and I feel much more comfortable paying for a narrow down what specifically I’d want to computer science degree now.” do.”

Tristan Bramlett, senior, and another Other students didn’t necessarily know NCAPS student, has attributed his newly what they wanted to do or didn’t get an found professional resume to his program at internship that necessarily aligned with their NCAPS. Students typically attend classes first interests. semeser, and get placed into a business for an internship second Virginia Fullerton originally took up the professional studies semester. program intending to specialize in fashion, but she found herself “Throughout the course of this year I’ve worked with in a different field. multiple businesses, as well as gaining valuable experience “At first, I never thought I would end up at Pro Athlete or and connections,” Bramlett said. “I did a project for the NKC my internship would be like this at all. I originally planned business council, helping them develop a marketing plan for on observing and working in a fashion boutique, but I’m so their “destination attractions.” thankful this was the result,” Fullerton said.

Planning for the future is a daunting task for any Despite her internship not being what she had high schooler, but with the help of internship and originally anticipated, doing it broadened her horizons, professional opportunities, some south students are and presented her with new opportunities. discovering what they do and don’t love, and earning “My internship opened doors that I didn’t think valuable experiences in places they may not have imaginable. Through my internship, I was able expected them. For those uncertain about their to land a job at a major company that is truly ambitions and interests, professional studies amazing. I’m going into college with almost provides an opportunity to experience two full years of experience in my desired tomorrow, today. field,” she said.

Professional Studies is a one-

“My internship opened doors that I couldn’t have imagined.”

am

y Grah m A : By

TOMORROW, TODAY

PHSOUTHNEWS.COM

21

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Every year, students bear witness to the triumphant walk of seniors taking their first steps into their adult life; departing South for the last time--strutting down “Michael Jackson the halls in a powerful display of mixed emotions as students reminisce with their is a huge dance peers, often for the last time. inspiration and his Looks of aspiration, achievement, and lineage is still seen freedom permeate the building alongside today. He was a huge teary-eyed farewells that glimmer across icon and he was so the faces of students.

And though we’re all guilty talented. It is such of romanticizing graduation--there’s a shame he has such something strange about that day actually happening seemingly so a terrible history,” abruptly. Whether you love high school Sarah Waller, senior, or you’ve been counting down the days said. since freshman year, this routine is one we’ve become accustomed to.

There’s a significant change in mentality that occurs from Freshman to Senior year. While senioritis can get the best of us at times, there’s still an increased appreciation for the little things that make high school memorable.

Seniors cheer their heads off at every opportunity on their yearlong victory-lap, showing up to every sporting event and actually participating in assemblies while the freshman opt to stand in silence.

While some may be determined to be too cool for school or may be just learning the ropes, the truth is it’s hard to appreciate the little things until they are almost gone.

Seniors spend their days living in the moment, experiencing their various “lasts”: last prom, last football game, even something as insignificant as last chicken nugget Wednesday.

But with just 25 days of high school left, for better or worse, this chapter of life is coming to an end. With all the excitement that comes with graduation, there is an undeniable sense of uncertainty about what is to come.

While some aspects of high school are truly noteworthy, this overwhelming nostalgia often stems from our anxiety about the future. Change is hard. Even if your whole life is planned out and you’ve already been accepted to the school of your dreams, the departure from all that you’ve ever known is a prospect that weighs on seniors everywhere. It’s hard to leave your friends, family, and community--but graduation isn’t just a physical departure; It’s the symbolic end of your childhood.

This process of tradition and accomplishment, however, came to a screeching halt with the pandemic that has befallen our country.

Families take refuge in their homes, and seniors are stuck with ample time to contemplate the “what ifs” of their unfinished last ride.

Programs and activities that make the high school experience so meaningful to students have been put on the backburner or have been outright cancelled. For the class of 2020, the magic of senior year has been put on pause for the foreseeable future.

We are all faced with the harsh reality that the lifelong memories we bring with us from high school may never pan out the way we hoped. Students who’ve dedicated so much time and energy to various programs culminating in their final chance as high schoolers to achieve their goals have been robbed of that opportunity.

“Honestly I’m really disappointed. I was on track to beat the Javelin record Andrew Beldo set two years ago and I was doing everything I could in both the weight room and out on the field to get my name on the record board… I was angry when the news broke that the season was suspended until further notice. I saw this as my last chance to not only compete, but also to leave my mark on the track program,” said senior Tj Carroll With one fell swoop, COVID-19 ended everything from senior prom to sports seasons--leaving us asking where it all went.

“I wanted the record but I also wanted my senior season. This was really my last chance to be with that group of guys, some of whom I consider to be my best friends. Senior year is full of goodbyes but I didn’t see this one coming this early.” said Carroll Traditionally, there’s more time before this feeling of borrowed time kicks in. The fleeting nature of adolescence is inevitable--but in an already confusing and stressful time, this unforeseen acceleration of our time at South was much more abrupt than high school simply passing us by.

For underclassmen, once this whole ordeal is resolved, it’ll be back to business as usual. This will just be a strange moment in time that everyone moves past eventually; perhaps it’ll even put things into perspective and give a newfound sense of appreciation for everyday life at least for a little while. For seniors, this will be the highlight of every class reunion, every encounter with old acquaintances, and likely the scapegoat for some of our regrets from high school. We won’t talk about prom, we won’t talk about graduation, and we won’t talk about walking out on our last day, because none of us knew that it would be.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Our generation is a resilient one, and even when faced with adversity, though it’s easy to sit idly by, there’s always an opportunity to seize the day and make the most of a bad situation.

“Senior year is full of goodbyes but I didn’t see this one coming this early.”

An Early

By Johnny Sterrett

DEPARTURE Have Seniors spent their last days at South?

Heath Ledger 1979-2008

What Makes a

LEGEND

“Heath Ledger said ‘Smile, because it confuses people.’

I like this quote because you should never show that anyone gets to you,” Michael Verhoeven, senior said.

The essence behind a legend is found in much more than fame or fortune Most of us hear the word legend and think of our favorite we came across an artist who was spray painting complex pro athlete or the actor that plays the hero in our favorite landscapes and creating beautiful pieces of art right in front of movie or the brains behind the latest science and technology us. The artist himself was extremely friendly. He wasn’t pushy in our world. Maybe it brings to mind a legend of our own, with people about them buying his art. He was never rude. whether that be our class clowns or our star athletes.

He enjoyed making conversation and sharing his art with But, what makes a legend? What is the essence behind this strangers. word that holds so much responsibility? What does it take to As we continued walking it occurred to me that he may be considered a legend? not be the next Picasso or ever be extremely famous, but that There are many traits you may find in the celebrities you this did not change the unique talent he possessed or the look up to, but the question of whether or not fame is an genuineness which he carried. It did not change the fact that, essential one arises. Some of us may think although I never knew his name, it’s been that in order to be a legend the world “Being a legend means over two years and I still remember him and must know your name. art. having great charisma, hisSo, However, others may find these what we may find is that a legend isn’t being a great leader, defined by how many people know your legendary traits within their own family.

Morgan Kelehar, junior, has found her making sacrifices and name, but by the impact that you’ve made definition of a legend in her grandparents, on the people whose paths may cross your having wisdom,” whom she has grown up around. own. Not everyone becomes a legend, but “They’re always very open people. maybe each of us has the opportunity to.

They’ve rewritten what family means,” Kelehar said.

It is an opportunity found in each seemingly trivial Being a legend may not truly have anything to do with choice we make, these choices building onto each other and your level of fame, but it may have everything to do with the ultimately creating the ‘you’ staring back in the mirror. way you walk through everyday life.

“Being a legend means having great charisma, being a great I have come across people in my life, as each of us probably leader, making sacrifices, and having wisdom,” Elias Garcia, have, whose names I may never know, but that have made an freshman, said. impact that I won’t soon forget. This may be the person that Every day when you get out of bed to tackle the day, I noticed doing something kind for a complete stranger, or a consider that maybe everyone doesn’t have to know your person that I came across with a unique talent or trait. name for you to become a legend. Consider that it is about the Two and a half years ago, I went to New York City with my way you lead, the way you treat others, and the perspective family. It is no secret that this is a city filled with talent and a you choose to hold. diverse collection of people. As we walked through the city, And in this case, may we all become our own legends.

By Avery Glover

Paul Walker 1973-2013

“All kids grew up watching Paul Walker in the Fast and Furious movies, dreaming of being able to drive the cars he got to drive.

He inspired so many to chase their dreams and get to experience what he did in his life. Tuna no crust for life,�

Semitr Hott said.

LEGENDS OF parkville and riverside

photos by Olivia Stone & Stevie Williams