PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School
801 N Reynolds Rd. Bryant, Ark. 72022
Vol. 26, Issue 5
April 06, 2018
[RELOADING] TRAGEDIES
There is a surplus of gun violence in America, and it has begun spilling into schools. The cycle of hearing of school shootings on the news regularly needs to end. The nation needs to find a compromise between second amendment rights and public safety.
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COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER
UNDER THE WEATHER
Thousands of Arkansans battle the flu Empty seats. Empty classrooms. Bryant High School had a spike in absences this winter due to sickness with the influenza virus.
They aren’t alone, several Ark. schools closed due to the illness. About a dozen other states also reported closing schools due to the flu.
128
pediatric deaths have been reported nationwide this flu season.
In Arkansas alone, 184 people have died in the deadliest flu season in the last 20 years. According to the Health Department, there
6.6%
of all patients visiting the hospital are reporting flu symptoms.
have been over 36,000 positive flu tests in Arkansas since Oct. 1. With a few more weeks of flu season, it is still important
to get the flu shot and take other precautions to stay healthy.
Source: Arkansas Dep. of Health
184
203
influenza related deaths have been reported in Arkansas this flu season.
people have died in Arkansas alone in the deadliest flu season in the last 20 years.
LAUREN WILSON | PRINT EDITOR
SILENT NO MORE
Students stand against gun violence
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Jack Clay | 10
n March 14, students across the nation walked out of their classes at 10 a.m. as part of the protest against gun violence that some Parkland survivors organized. Sophomore Jewell Regan and senior Lauren Wilson organized a peaceful walk out for Bryant students.
INSIDE
News Special Coverage Arts & Entertainment Feature Opinion Photo Essay Sports
“[My favorite moment was when] Jewell and I were sheepishly standing by the steps, not sure if anyone would show up, only to see waves of students standing together.”
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Gretchen Bush | 10
“I wanted to participate in the walk out because I feel that kids in schools should feel safe. I wanted to honor the victims and help educate people of why this constantly happens. I wanted to be one of many voices to make a difference.”
Spencer Rhoden | 10 “I wanted to participate in the walk out to make an attempt to create a change in this world rather than idly standing by and watch this tragedy play out over and over with no attempt to reach a solution.”
PHOTO | CLAY CAMPBELL
STUDENTS REVEAL OPIOID ADDICTION
“LOVE, SIMON” HITS THEATERS
TWINS COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER AT HORSE SHOWS
TRACK ATHLETES PREPARE FOR SEASON
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PROSPECTIVE News April 06, 2018
2 DAHLIA BRAY | ONLINE EDITOR
OPIOID CRISIS HITS HOME Bryant senior spent year addicted to opioids *some names have been changed for privacy reasons*
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he nation’s biggest enemy is not located on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. It isn’t the gang that recruits local teens or the predator that watches for young women. Opioids are the dark clouds looming over the nation. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2.5 million people use some sort of opioid, and that number is only growing larger. Opioid medications attach to the parts of the brain that control pain and emotions, triggering the reward area of the brain and producing feelings of euphoria. Senior Brianna Meyers spent a year of her life addicted to opioids. “My friends got me to experiment with it, but when it really got bad, it was with my friend Lizzy,” Meyers said. “There was a pill safe in her mom’s house. We would break into it and just do maybe six or seven Hydro[codone] s, Xanax, Oxy[contin]s, just anything that was in there, we would just grab it and do it.” The addiction had physical tolls as well as emotional ones.
“I was numb to everything that was going on around me,” Meyers said. “The high takes a toll on your body. All you are is numb.” AP Psychology teacher Kim Wilson is an advocate for sobriety and knowing the effects of drug use before it becomes a problem. “Often with addiction, the experimentation begins as a maladaptive coping mechanism for an otherwise undiagnosed or untreated psychopathology,” Wilson said. “If a person has an addictive predisposition, even one use could lead to addiction.” Meyers evaluated the depth of her addiction when she got in trouble for underage drinking. “I was 15, I hung around the wrong group, and it was always available for me to do,” Meyers said. “I enjoyed it, so I didn’t see the reason in stopping. Probation was my blessing. I took a step back and realized how bad I was getting.” Wilson claims that there is no circumstance where drugs are recreationally necessary. “Experimentation leads to
addiction and is dangerous in any context,” Wilson said. “Opioid addiction can also deteriorate the brain’s white matter, which is the subcortical tissue that holds the neurons within the brain. In other words, it causes nerve damage, and the nerves that are damaged are only found in the brain. Meyers now understands the danger and potentially deadly consequences of using opioids. “Prescriptions are super easy to get your hands on,” Meyers said. “[Addiction] is a very serious thing.” High school counselor Rachel Stafford has seen the effects of opioid abuse in the student body first-hand. “Students start out thinking a couple pills here or there are funny, but it usually turns into something much bigger,” Stafford said. “Friendships lost, boyfriend and girlfriend relationships lost. I have had a few students drop out of high school because of it.” Stafford understands that addictions dont always start from naive experimentation. “There are several emotions I
feel when I see students who are suffering: sadness, frustration, confusion, and I often get pretty overwhelmed,” Stafford said.
“Students that have an opioid or drug and alcohol problem do not just have a opioid or drug/alcohol problem. It always comes from something else. Family issues, friend issues, identity issues... it’s always something else.”
TONY YERENA | DESIGNER Roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. An estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin. In 2017, opioid overdoses in large cities increased by 54 percent in 16 states. Between 8 and 12 percent of opioid patients develop an opioid use disorder. About 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.
ROSEMARY GREGG | STAFF WRITER
PEDAL TO THE PAVEMENT Mayor’s Youth Advisory Councils sponsor bike event to raise money for Imagination Lsibrary
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ith help from mayor Jill Dabbs, the Bryant Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council hosted the Saline County Bike Tour Mar. 31. The tour is $25 per person, which includes entrance and a shirt. Participants can choose between a 10, 20 or 50mile ride. There was also be a bike rodeo to teach kids bike safety. “Working with the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is always fun,” Dabbs said. “I enjoy working with young people. I’m just always amazed at the work that our young people are able to do and the contribution that they make to our community.” The Bike Tour is a combined effort between the Benton, Bryant and Harmony Grove Mayor’s Youth Advisory Councils.
“The youth are our future leaders,” Dabbs said. “Today’s youth are very smart and innovative. They know what they want, and they see the world from a much more global viewpoint than generations in the past.” This will be the third Saline County Bike Tour. The first was held Sept. 14, 2013 and the second Sept. 6, 2014. Original founder Trevor Villianes, a past member of Benton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, approached Mayor Dabbs as a junior in high school with the idea. “When you can start something that continues on after you leave your post with that organization, you’ve really accomplished something,” Dabbs said. “That’s a measure of his success.” Mayor Dabbs’ daughter Regan Dabbs is the president of the Mayor’s
Youth Advisory Council this year. “I have learned to professionally email and talk to strangers in the adult world,” Regan Dabbs said. “I better understand how the professional world operates. I have gained the tools I need to thrive in college and my future career.” This year, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council’s goal is to raise $10,000 for the Saline County Imagination Library, which provides children free books every month. “I love being able to work in the community and see all that others can do,” Regan Dabbs said. “It’s really cool to be able to lead others.” Sponsor Mickey Perec, an employee of Baldwin and Shell Construction Company, is highly involved in the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, but the council is mostly student-led. “Our sponsor helps us understand
what to do, but then we really advocate for the members to go out and ask for sponsors and make the fliers,” Regan Dabbs said. Regan Dabbs helped the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council gain sponsors for the Bike Tour. “As a student, it’s really hard to go into a business and [ask for] money,” Regan Dabbs said. “It was difficult for [the council] to do that, so doing it together helped us.” Senior Tehya Hinkson has been on the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council since 2016. “I think [people] should understand that [the bike tour] is not a race,” Hinkson said. “It’s an event where you get to come and meet new people, it’s not competitive.” For the past two months, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council has been planning the route
for the tour, making flyers and organizing a Facebook page. “I want it to be a community event that brings people together,” Hinkson said. “I’m most excited to see the families come out and be able to ride their bikes together.” Sophomore River Holland is a first-year member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. “I want to see the [bike tour] grow,” Holland said. “I want to see more people come each year, and I want to see more people get involved.” Holland has been working along with the other members of the council to organize the Bike Tour since Aug. 2017. “We’ve worked so hard on it, and I want to see the finished project,” Holland said. “It’s a good opportunity to get outdoors and be around people in our community, and it’s for a good cause.”
Preparing for a case, Mock Trial members freshman Jackson Bumgarner, junior Megan Cagle, freshman Annalise Robbins, senior Jack Suarez, juniors Rachel Beza-Juarez and Chloe McGehee sit at a table before their first trial at the Federal Courthouse March 2-3. They were trying to prove the witness guilty. “Mock Trial is a really good way to learn how to work under pressure,” McGehee said. “A stressed out as you are, the other students are there to support you, even if you lose. You have to depend on your team.” Photo | Special to Prospective
ORDER IN THE COURT Mock Trial participates in March competition CATHERINE ANDERSON | STAFF WRITER
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ow functioning as a club, Mock Trial is a program that helps students develop and gather critical judgment skills. In the program, students act out court cases by taking the roles of lawyers and witnesses. In front of a real judge or real attorney, students act out their positions and compete to beat other schools. “The Arkansas Bar Association sends out a case to all of the
teams,” Mock Trial sponsor Tammy Brantley said. “When you get there, you don’t know which side they will put you on, so you prepare for both to the best of your abilities.” Once students are given their case for that particular year, they spend months preparing for trial. According to Jeremy Lasiter, the attorney for the Bryant School District, students acting as attorneys prepare for
a case similar to how he does. “I first get my witness in order and talk to my client to make sure we are on the same page,” Lasiter said. “I get my questions together. I think I over-prepare.” Although many of the same processes are similar between a real trial and the mock trials, the biggest difference is that real trials have an effect on someone’s life. “As an attorney, the biggest thing for me is making sure
I do the best for my clients,” Lasiter said. “My biggest goal is to make sure I try my best, to make sure that I took care of my client to the best of my abilities.” Students who compete in Mock Trial, such as junior Bryce Rhodes, depend on each other to succeed. “Competition is the best part,” Rhodes said. “We bond even if we didn’t think we would. We are all dependent on each other in the courtroom. If one of us doesn’t do
his work, it looks bad on all of us.” Some students walked into Mock Trial knowing nothing at all. So for months, students practiced to prepare for the competition under Brantley’s guidance. “My favorite part of Mock Trial is seeing the students’ growth,” Brantley said. “Watching them grow from knowing very little to being able show the work they put into learning is amazing.”
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The alarm sounds over the intercom. “INITIATE A LOCKDOWN. INITIATE A LOCKDOWN. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” A teacher and 30 students barricade the door, flick off the lights
Mental Illness: Yes; depression
Age: 17 & 18
and huddle together in the corner of the room. Numb fingers text family members what may be their last goodbye. Every set of eyes are locked on the door. Waiting. The voice then sounds again, assuring the class all is clear. This time it was a false alarm, but next time cannot be guaranteed.
Guns leave a child injured or dead nearly every hour in the U.S. An average of seven children and teens die every day from gun violence While school shootings make up a small percentage of those injuries and deaths, each incident leaves the nation terrified. According to a
Weapons: Semi-automatic Mental Illness: Pistol Yes; Shotgun depression, Explosives anxiety, obsessivecompulsive disorder
49 MINUTES 15 DEAD
11 MINUTES 28 DEAD
Age:20
COLUMBINE SHOOTING
Weapon: Semi-automatic rifle Two handguns
year-long Washington Post study, more than 187,000 children have been exposed to gun violence at school. Many of these students have recently walked out and signs at rallies, demanding that legislatures create new laws to stop the violence. Some write letters to their representatives
Mental Illness: Yes; depression, ADHD
Weapon: semi-automatic rifle
6 MINUTES 17 DEAD
Age: 19
SANDY HOOK SHOOTING
or voice their opinions through social media outlets. Others have started a campaign to spread kindness around campus. Countless students live in fear that they might be the next target of a school shooter. It is time for change.
PROSPECTIVE Special Coverage April 06, 2018
[VIOLENCE]
PARKLAND SHOOTING
LETS TALK NUMBERS
122 people have been killed in school shootings since the Columbine massacre. Every new shooting leaves the nation in panic. Based on a BHS school survey of 384 students, this is how the student body feels regarding the issue. DO YOU SUPPORT ADDING MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO STUDENTS?
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37% Yes
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Currently, unlicensed firearms dealers (internet, gun shows, private sales) are not required to conduct criminal background checks on purchases. Many advocate for laws that would require these sellers to perform background checks just like licensed sellers are required to.
Yes
72%
DO YOU WORRY THAT A SCHOOL SHOOTING COULD HAPPEN AT BRYANT?
DO YOU SUPPORT ARMING TEACHERS?
90%
Yes
WHAT’S NEXT?
Some fight for stronger gun laws, others support stronger mental health programs, but debate can prevent a call for action. Listed are the most popular suggestions to end school shootings.
OUTLAW LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES
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COORDINATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES To effectively prevent more school shootings, a combined effort on the local and national level would be instrumental in getting help for the mentally ill.
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed in Congress in 1994 and outlawed large capacity magazines, but it was allowed to expire in 2004. Proponents argue that this would help prevent massacres.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:
TOM COTTON
Call or send a letter to your representatives and tell them your opinions and what you think can be done about gun violence. Students have a voice, so let yours be heard.
Mailing Address: 124 Russell Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2353
FRENCH HILL
JOHN BOOZMAN
Mailing Address: 1229 Longworth House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515 Phone: (501) 324-5941
Mailing Address: 141 Hart Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4843
PROSPECTIVE A&E April 06, 2018
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WHAT’S the buzz?
A view of students’ lives in 140 characters or less
Charlotte Guevara
@charlxtte12
Erin James
11
@theoldrazzledaz
Just in case anyone forgot, I still love Skillet.
concealing my eyebrows in the car is the hardest thing i’ve ever done
Madison Stone
@madisonstonee_
12
@_kingDC
so I came to school with my leggings on inside out today and if that doesn’t tell you how my life is going then idk what will:’)
@camaridodds
Camari Dodds
11
Dionte Collier
12
now taking prom applications
Paige Fuhrman 10
@paiger2020
12
After listening to My Dear Melancholy, I now understand the meaning of “the truth will come to light” #TheWeeknd
I think we should cancel school for the rain because I, as a witch, will melt. Thank you.
MADISON TREAT |STAFF WRITER
PLACES TO BE
Students talk about their favorite places to go in central Arkansas
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t’s a Friday night. The kids walk in with their rolled-up jeans and muddy sneakers. They crowd into an empty, rubber red booth, excited to spend another night in the town diner. The green neon lights illuminate the roller skates of the waitresses moving back and forth, delivering milkshake after milkshake. The jukebox is playing “Come On Eileen” in the distance. A record scratch, and a flash-forward 30 years. We don’t have jukeboxes, and we don’t often see waitresses in roller skates. However, that doesn’t stop students from finding places to go on a Friday night. Sophomore Matt Tribble spends his nights at Waffle House. “It’s a good place because it’s cheap, you can go there and stay there as long as you want.” Tribble said. “There’s not a lot of [high] expectations when you go in there, it’s just a nice place to go in, chill and hang out with your friends.” Tribble enjoys finding
places around Bryant that help him relax. “If I ever want a place to just relax and get stuff done, I’ll usually go to Speakeasy or Starbucks,” Tribble said. “It’s a nice environment.” Enjoying the different corners of Bryant, junior Kat Richey finds her relaxation and comfort by hammocking at Mills Park. “My go-to place is always Mills,” Richey said. “That’s the first place I started taking pictures, so that’s where I really feel comfortable. It’s almost like a secure thing, Mills Park. Taking pictures out there is really nice.” Beyond hammocking the trees at Mills Park, Richey also enjoys finding places to shop. “[My friends and I] go to a lot of thrift stores.” Richey said. “We just pick a direction and I drive straight until I find something that looks interesting.” Further down Reynolds Road, senior Michael Durgach enjoys eating at Paula Lynn’s Kitchen. “Paula Lynn’s is one of my favorite burger places,” Durgach said. “It’s a friendly diner theme. It’s
PHOTO | SYDNEY BOSWELL
Senior Michael Durgach, junior Kaitlyn Roberts and senior Decatur Austin hang out outside Building 10. photo | Sydney Boswell
really cheap and really good at the same time.” Beyond the Bryant limits, students have found other areas to attract their attention. Junior Kaitlyn Roberts enjoys driving into Little Rock on the weekends
to find good food. “I like to go out to the Root,” Roberts said. “You get to drink out of mason jars, and they have really good burgers, like the best I’ve had in my life. With everything on it, it’s like heaven.”
MAXTON PREUNINGER | STAFF WRITER
OUT OF THE BLUE
Fifty-five miles away, senior Decatur Austin enjoys spending his time exploring Hot Springs. “There’s an old, abandoned mental facility that’s torn apart and broken down,” Austin said. “People have spray painted
it. You can see everyone’s inprint. It’s like a big canvas for everyone to go and paint on. It’s cool, cause you can go there and no one will bother you.” While old abandoned mental facilities are not everyone’s cup of tea,
Tribble encourages people to take time for themselves. “I think people should go out more,” Tribble said. “Enjoy your day. You need that for yourself.”
ROSEMARY GREGG | STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY SOCIAL
“Love, Simon” provides LGBT+ Students share teens with representation on 2018 Winter Jam big screen experiences
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he LGBTQ+ communit y receives little representation t h r o u g h television and movies. Often, the “token gay” character either dies a tragic death on a show or blatantly disappears. While new movies like “Moonlight,” “Blue is the Warmest Color” and “Call Me by Your Name” all bring some much needed attention to the LGBTQ+ community, they are all films aimed at an adult audience. “Love, Simon” is the gay romantic comedy that teenagers have been needing and asking for. In the adaptation of Becky Albertalli’s “Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda,” a closeted teen, Simon Spier, (Nick Robinson) is introduced as an average teenager who has a nuclear family, loves iced coffee and friends and is a part of his school’s theater program.
When his best friend, Leah Burke, (Katherine Langford) calls him to tell him to check the school’s gossip blog, Simon finds a new post from a closeted gay kid at school. Upon finding the post, Simon makes a fake email, going by the name Jacques, and starts talking to the mystery gay, who goes by “Blue.” Anxious to get a reply from the boy, Simon logs onto his email at school, starting an unfortunate series of events. Simon forgets to log out of his computer, which is bound to leave people screaming at the screen, and Martin Addison (Logan Miller) uses the computer next, reading the emails. Because Martin has a crush on one of Simon’s friends, Abby Suso (Alexandra Shipp), he threatens to expose Simon and release his emails if Simon doesn’t get him with Abby, inevitably shaking up his friend
group. Martin’s threat leads to his own rejection, where he does eventually post Simon’s emails with “Blue” and turns Simon’s life upside down. When comparing “Love, Simon” and “Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda,” there are only minor differences--a dream come true to the people who read the book prior to seeing the movie. While the book was better with deeper character development, the movie stuck to the storyline and was able to turn Albertalli’s book into a moving film. Even though the script turned “Love, Simon” into a cheesy romantic comedy, the movie turned to highlight gay relationships in a positive light. TIME magazine recently released an article claiming that “kids like Simon, in 2018, already have a good shot of fitting in” and “don’t need this movie,” but they couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Love, Simon” portrays the struggle LGBTQ+ teens face in finding love and relationships in high school, especially when there’s the chance of being patronized by their peers. The movie shows Simon and “Blue” at the end of the movie kissing at the top of the ferris wheel to applause from classmates who were waiting to see if Simon would find the mystery boy. To see a gay relationship in such a positive light gives LGBTQ+ teens the movie that straight teenagers have been getting since they were old enough to read. While the movie does center around Simon’s sexuality, it twists the usual lovestory storyline, because gay teens deserve to see a love story like their own too, and “Love, Simon” accomplishes that almost perfectly.
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PHOTO | MARY CATHERINE SELIG
tudents attended Winter Jam 2018 Mar. 11 at Verizon Arena, starring several popular Christian artists including Skillet, John Crist and Kari Jobe. “I normally go with my youth group, but my new church wasn’t going, so I went with my friend Mary Catherine [Selig],” junior Sierra Edelmann said. “[Winter Jam provides] an encouraging and powerful environment. Seeing Kari Jobe was a huge thing for me, because her songs have had a big impact on my faith.” “I went with a group at my church,” senior Michael Buck said. “We got there a couple of hours early because the line was really long and we just waited outside. Skillet was my favorite part about it, they
were really awesome.” “Me and my friends all got together and sat in a group outside,” junior Emily Cox said. Whenever we got inside, all of the bands came out. We didn’t know some of the bands, but they were all really good. I try to go every year.”
5 PROSPECTIVE
RYAN MCKENZIE|STAFF WRITER
Students compete in racing bikes, cars
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s they fly around the tracks, everything fades away. The only things that matter in motocross and car racing are speed and passing other people. For juniors Chase Daily and Jacob Cowell, as well as sophomore Drake Finley, this is everytime they hop on a bike or in a car. Many motocross riders like Cowell get into the sport by the influence of their family. “My dad and mom own a
motorcycle shop in Little Rock, and my family has raced for as long as I can remember, so I just followed in their footsteps and started riding,” Cowell said. Not all accomplishments in these sports come in the form of a trophy. For motocross rider, Daily, some of his accomplishments mean overcoming fear and pushing himself beyond his limits. One he overcame in the sport is the fear of speed. “On the dirt bike, all you think of is speed, speed, more speed, and pass
that dude in front of you,” Daily said. When he is not racing, Daily makes time for his friends in the sport. “Every night before the race, we all sit out by the campfire roasting marshmallows and talk about life and hobbies we like,” Daily said. Some riders have large ambitions. Car racer Finley has Nascar on his mind. While striving for Nascar, Finley appreciates what this sport means to him. “It means a lot to me, because I’ve met so many people and
Standing in their backyard, freshmen Mackenzie and Madison Moore stand with their horses. Mackenzie competes in barrel races and pole bending with Bandit, while Madison competes on Splitfire. “We both were interested in [competing], and we both wanted to do it, so we started at the same time,” Mackenzie said. Photo | Clay Campbell
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formed so many close relationships because of this sport,” Finley said. Daily appreciates BMX enough to keep it running in his family by hoping future generations of his family will take up the sport. “Dirt bike racing is my passion and my high,” Daily said. “It is a trait that I hope I can l pass down to my children and my children’s children someday--just keeping the family tradition going.”
Feature April 06, 2018
MOTOR MAYHEM
ALEXIS BURCH | ONLINE EDITOR
SADDLE UP SISTERS Moore twins have competitive edge in horse competitions
n the living room of her home, freshman Mackenzie Moore sits on the couch, watching the Lucky Dog Barrel Race on TV with her laptop open. It is a Sunday night on one of the few weekends she and her twin sister Madison Moore are not competing at a horse show. Madison is outside feeding the horses, something that must happen every day and night. Then, she joins Mackenzie in the living room, sitting on a couch opposite of her, a mirror image. Mackenzie says they have been riding since they were toddlers. “We couldn’t even walk yet,” Madison says. Growing older, they started watching barrel racing videos on the internet and spent their time “messing around in the pasture.” Madison recalls a car wreck that happened down the road from their house around 2015. “It was a really bad one, so my dad and I walked down [to it], and this girl rode down on her horse,” Mackenzie says. The girl, a neighbor, competed in barrel races, so their dad, Tony Moore, told the girl of the twins’ interest. She invited them to watch her ride and eventually let them ride her own horses. Madison and Mackenzie watched her for several months and then spent the summer practicing. The girls wanted to compete, but their parents had a few things to say: it is expensive, it is a time commitment, it is dangerous. Luckily, this was not “No.” This was, “Show us first.” “We had to prove to them we were willing to do it,” Mackenzie says. “It’s not like joining track or tennis, where all you bought was a racket or some tennis shoes. Once you invest thousands of dollars in horses and trailers, you have to stick with it.” While most are still asleep in
the mornings, Mackenzie and Madison are outside tending to their horses. The girls have to ride them every day; that’s an hour and a half. Keeping them mentally and physically fit is an hour. Feeding them is another 45 minutes, not to mention mucking the stalls. “Shoveling all that horse poop is a lot more than some people would want to put up with, but they did it,” their mom, Becky Moore, says. “They didn’t complain, and they kept on going,” They both started competing on a horse named Banjo, having to alternate on him during the shows.
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I zone in, people are yelling, and I don’t hear anything except my horse. I don’t even hear myself breathing.” During their first year, both girls won a trophy saddle and a belt buckle. Now they have their own horses. “I ride Splitfire,” Madison says. “He’s a crazy train.” Splitfire, or as the family calls him, Split, is long and muscular, making him good at barrel racing--when he behaves. Madison preps him before competitions by working on his pattern in the beginning of the week and then focusing on exercises and other drills closer to the show. “I compete on Bandit,” Mackenzie says. “He knew nothing, was scared to death and wouldn’t let anyone touch him. Now he’s my main mount.” Mackenzie and Bandit practice every day during the week leading
up to a competition, aside from the day before, when she will set him free into the pasture so he can rest. Her horse is short-backed and tall and excels at pole bending. Depending on what series they are entered in, competitions can happen as often as once a week. On competition days, the girls must get their horses fed and bathed, braid their hair and then prepare the trailer with food, water and any other gear, like standing wraps and magnetic blankets to make sure they are comfortable. As their mom says, it is a family affair. Their dad drives the truck and acts as the “barn boy,” he jokes, while she gets their competition numbers and pays the fees. “You spend hours [preparing], and it all comes down to 14 seconds,” Mackenzie says. “I zone in, people are yelling, and I don’t hear anything except my horse. I don’t even hear myself breathing.” Because they are in the same age division, Madison and Mackenzie always compete against each other. “She’s [my] biggest competitor,” Madison says. “You want her to do good, but you want to beat her too, because that competitiveness comes out. Sometimes it’s frustrating, because her horse is a lot easier to handle, so he’ll go out there and be Mr. Perfect and mine is like, ‘Let’s just break down the fence.’” It is not like entering a show against strangers. Madison and Mackenzie still go home together, no matter who wins. “They can finish first and second, and our ride home is sometimes sour, because someone finished second,” Tony said. “[But] I think that’s what gives them the drive against the other girls.” Still, back at home, the girls help each other train. For the past few weeks, Mackenzie has not been able to compete because of a knee surgery she
needed from running cross-country and riding, though she says the riding only contributed “a little bit.” What was supposed to be a six-week recovery became an eight-week recovery. Madison refers to Mackenzie as a “couch potato” while Mackenzie scrolls through a list of competitors in the Lucky Dog show, still on their TV. “I almost didn’t want to do the surgery, but I knew I had to, or I’d never get fixed,” Mackenzie said. “I didn’t want to not ride.” Madison has never had to take a break from competing, but she has had her own share of falls and minor injuries. Madison plays a video on her mom’s phone. Split slips on the ground beneath him, sending Mackenzie onto the dirt. Their mom’s voice comes over the recording, reassuring her that she is OK. “As a parent, you want them to get right back in the saddle and not be scared,” Becky says. “But there is the potential of getting hurt. The reality is, it could happen to us. Something bad could happen, but you can’t let fear control you.” “Fear is a liar,” Madison adds. Their parents grew up trail riding, but never took riding horses to the skill level that Madison and Mackenzie have. Tony refers to it as a lost art, and the girls are set on a lifetime dedicated to the craft. “I want to compete for the rest of my life,” Madison starts. “Or until I physically cannot ride anymore,” Mackenzie finishes.
MADISON WALTZ|STAFF WRITER
SOARING TO SUCCESS
Sebastian Wolfe wins 20,000 aviation scholarship
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itting in the cockpit alongside his grandfather, five-year-old junior Sebastian Wolf visited aircraft simulators at a young age, leading him to want to become a pilot. Wolf’s grandfather served in the Air Force, and Wolf has spent the past three years in the JROTC program. Wolf took the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) in December and was the only applicant in Arkansas to win the $20,000 Flight Academy scholarship. Of 800 applicants, only 120 were selected. “I had a grandfather who served in the Air Force, then flew for FedEx, and he got me into being a pilot when I was really little,” Wolf said. “I’ve just loved flying in airplanes and being around them.” Considering himself a “life coach” for students like Wolf, Lieutenant Colonel Randy McCalip encouraged
Wolf to take the test and sprung the news to Wolf in a unique way. Wolf said that the Lt. Col. brought him in front of his sixth period and announced him winning to everyone. “I was ecstatic, but not surprised, when I learned Wolf was selected, because he’s such an intelligent and self-driven cadet,” McCalip said. Due to the high demands of being a pilot, there were few students McCalip found to take the test. Only two JROTC Cadets were chosen. “The first step was to determine who had a strong desire to fly,” McCalip said. “Being a pilot is not something to take lightly, because there are risks, and the training is very demanding.” McCalip said that choosing candidates came down to “who had the intelligence to make it through the nine weeks of aviation academics and flying.” Wolf
was tested on his base knowledge of aviation as well as Geometry. “[ROTC] has given me a better grasp of aviation,” Wolf said. The AFOQT was created to address the ongoing pilot shortage in the Air Force. Giving the test annually, they hope to eventually reach 1,200 contenders. The scholarship will give Wolf the opportunity to receive college credit at the partnering universities and earn a pilot license. “I’ve always been interested in a pilot’s license,” Wolf said. “I don’t exactly know how aviation is going to be incorporated into my life, but I do know that I plan on flying throughout my life.” The winner of a $20,000 aviation scholarship, junior Sebastian Wolf has been a member of the JROTC program for three years. Wolf plans to pursue a pilot’s license after serving in the military. “I plan on flying throughout my life [and] hopefully having my own aircraft,” Wolf said. Photo | Jaden Purifoy
April 06,2018 OP-ED PROSPECTIVE
6
the middle ground M
PROSPECTIVE
STAFF|EDITORIAL
DESIGN| JOSLYN GRAVES
ost of us remember coming home from school six years ago and learning about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. We may not remember much from what was going on in our lives at that point, but we can still feel the horror and shock at what we learned. We were heartbroken at hearing the survivor’s stories and terrified that this was something that could happen to children even younger than ourselves. Two months ago when we got the alert on our phones about the Parkland shooting, we were devastated, but not surprised. We’ve become desensitized to shootings like these. The numbers killed start to sound just like statistics. However, the death of any child should be enough to prove that something needs to change and that the current rules for guns aren’t working.
But this doesn’t mean we need to get rid of all guns. We grew up knowing not to mess with our grandpa’s gun cabinet, and we all know someone with a concealed carry license. Most of us value selfprotection, but the duty that is thrust onto citizens when they purchase a gun should not be ignored. Gun owners have the responsibility of knowing how to load, use and safely store any weapon that they choose to buy. We can find a middle ground to allow upstanding citizens to keep their guns and still create a world where school shootings aren’t on the news each month. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment should not be understood as promising a “right
to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.” This means that the right to own a weapon for protection is constitutionally-protected, but there are limits to this right to ensure public
safety--limitations like less access to high-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons and universal criminal background checks. Universal background checks prohibit individuals from purchasing guns who have a higher likelihood of committing a violent crime. These individuals include people who have been convicted of violent or firearms-
related misdemeanors, have a history of abusing alcohol, or have been convicted of juvenile offenses, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Guns with features intended solely to increase casualties should be prohibited while still allowing firearms meant for hunting, target practice and self-defense. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban outlawed the sale of certain semi-automatic weapons that were defined as assault weapons along with certain ammunition magazines that were defined as “large capacity.” But this law was allowed to expire in 2004. A Mayors Against Illegal Guns released a survey in 2013 that revealed that “incidents where assault weapons or large-capacity ammunition magazines were used resulted in 135% more people shot and 57% more people killed compared to other mass shootings.”
Another way to further stop unnecessary deaths and injuries is to improve regulation on all gun purchases. Currently, unlicensed sellers are under no obligation to perform a background check, which means that all private sales, internet sales and gun show sales happen with no oversight. Oversight of the 60,000 federallylicensed dealers is also critical to prevent illegal sales. Improper procedure on the dealer’s part poses a serious risk to public safety. A middle ground can be reached. Laws can be put in place that allow rule-abiding citizens to keep their guns but make it harder for individuals to commit mass murder. Whether you’ve never shot a gun in your life or you go to the gun range every weekend, these issues affect us all. We’ve seen what inaction accomplishes, so now it’s time to make our concerns heard and take action to protect ourselves and future generations.
dear mother W
even when I don’t succeed. A few minutes before writing this, I had a semi-breakdown over college and choosing my dorm. I felt like world caving in, but I knew that you were there to help me work through it. Thank you for putting up with all my sass and over exaggerations. Mom. To think of not having you there next to me next year makes me sad, but I know that you’re only a call away. To me, you will always be there walking with me and giving me advice, even if we’re three hours apart. I will always need your amazing advice and
positive encouragement. As we were studying for anatomy, you helped me through learning and gave me acronyms that I will remember forever. We have been through so much together. It’s hard to remember all the memories because they’re so numerous. But what I will never forget is your compassionate heart and your love for both your family and Jesus. My faith has grown over the years because of you being my role model. My goal in writing this was to make you cry and not myself, but I have succeeded in both. I love you Mom, and I am so proud of all your accomplishments, big and small.
MONICA MARTINEZ | COLUMNIST
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I ask to go to the restroom in the middle of class. I should not be sitting at my desk, putting together a scenario in my head where I survive. Every student in this country is going through this situation. Wondering. Fearing. Preparing. Almost waiting. Our biggest worry at school should be turning our assignments in, not figuring out what to stack in front of a door to make it unopenable. Students deserve a safe environment to learn in and grow. That is not too much to ask. We are tired of being afraid. We are tired of seeing other students suffer. They are just like us. Every victim of a school shooting has been young, hopeful and bright. There is not one exception and no one is immune. We are all equally in danger until action is
taken. We are not safe. We cannot be safe. The worst part is, we can’t take official action because we are young and seen as inferior. We are not. We care about the safety of our peers and the students on the other side of the country that we will never meet. So help us. Stand alongside us. Fight for our lives. We need legal action, and we need it now. Do it for us. For your daughter, your son, your nephew, your intern, your grandchild, your neighbor’s children. Students cannot do this alone. Walking the halls should not be nerve-wracking. We need the help of our elders to ensure our safety. Stop allowing individuals to take the lives of students who are full of youth and potential. Put down the guns.
HUMANS JULIE OF
PARKER Assistant Principal
Special to Prospective
BHS
A closer look at Bryant’s hidden gems
ONLINE EDITORS DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH PHOTO EDITOR ALINA PERET PAGE DESIGNERS DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH, SARAH GRAHAM, ABBY HAGNER, MONICA MARTINEZ, MADISON WALTZ, LAUREN WILSON, TONY YERENA VIDEOGRAPHERS MADISON GREEN, JACK SUAREZ
COLUMN EDITOR ABBY HAGNER
am i next ? top. Look around, stay cautious and don’t be taken by surprise. Okay, the coast is clear. Go, leave the room. Slow down. Look behind you. Settle in. Spot the nearest exit. Now close the door behind you, always close the door. Breathe. Repeat. This level of precaution is not what needs to be going through my head as I switch from one class to the next. It’s all a cycle. A paranoid, inescapable cycle. Am I next? Is that even possible? How do I prepare myself? These are all unanswerable questions, apparently. I am a student and it is not okay for me to think twice before leaving a classroom. I should not be worried about my safety when
PRINT EDITORS SARAH GRAHAM, LAUREN WILSON
ARTIST JOSLYN GRAVES
ABBY HAGNER |COLUMN EDITOR
armth. My first memory of her was her arms that wrapped around me, securing me until I slept. Comfort. She is the one of the only people who understands what’s going through my mind the second she sees me. Mom. My motivation comes from making her proud of me and my accomplishments. The biggest blessing of all—Mom. Many people do not have the privilege of having one,and I got blessed with the best one of all. You encourage me every day to try my best
BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL 801 N. REYNOLDS RD BRYANT, AR 72022 501.653.5328
at a glance - Began teaching at Bryant nine years ago. - Taught math and coached soccer for seven years. - Became an Assistant Principal two years ago. - Uses her current job to assist and help impact the school. - Got married on June 9, 2017, going from Julie Long to Julie Parker. “The transition is still ongoing. The hardest part is people not identifying with who Mrs. Parker is. The students who have had me in years past will probably all call me Ms. Long or Coach Long.”
COLUMNISTS MONICA MARTINEZ PHOTOGRAPHERS SYDNEY BOSWELL, CLAY CAMPBELL, JADEN PURIFOY, MARY-CATHERINE SELIG STAFF WRITERS CATHERINE ANDERSON, DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH, COLE CAMPBELL, SARAH GRAHAM, ROSEMARY GREGG, ABBY HAGNER, EMILY HALL, MONICA MARTINEZ, RYAN MCKENZIE, CHRIS MORGAN, MAX PREUNINGER, MADISON TREAT, MADISON WALTZ, LAUREN WILSON ADVISER LISA STINE
PROSPECTIVE IS A MONTHLY PUBLICATION PRODUCED, EDITED AND MAINTAINED BY NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM II, III AND IV STUDENTS AT BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL. PROSPECTIVE IS A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION, QUILL AND SCROLL, COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION. AD SPACE MAY BE PURCHASED. PROSPECTIVE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING THAT IS ILLEGAL FOR MINORS. THE EDITORIAL BOARD ACCEPTS LETTERS; HOWEVER, LETTERS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO STUDENT INTERESTS AND MAY NOT VIOLATE THE STUDENT PUBLICATION POLICY. LETTERS CAN BE SUBMITTED BY DELIVERY TO 10-319.
7 PROSPECTIVE Photo Essay April 06, 2018
STUDENTS TAKE the STAGE Students perform in the 2018 talent show
Laying her hands on the ground and bending her back in an upright position, junior Chloe Whitworth performs a dance during the Talent Show Feb. 9. “I thought that if I didn’t put enough energy into it, then I would fall on my face,” Whitworth said. “You have to have a very flexible back before you can even try it.” photo | Alina Peret Interacting with the audience, junior Broc Ingold performs “Someone in the Crowd” from “La La Land” accompanied by a piano arrangement by David Kaylor. “I was pretty happy with the performance,” Ingold said. “I feel like the ending could’ve been a lot smoother, but I can’t complain too much. I was insanely nervous beforehand, but once I hit the first note, it all went away. During the performance, I wasn’t really focused on what I was doing. I just turned my brain off. Once I start to think about what I’m doing, I start to mess up.” photo | Alina Peret
Alone on stage at the talent show, junior Llyz Cortes sings “Hallelujah” in the style of Alexandra Burke. This was Cortes’ second consecutive year performing in the talent show. “I love being able to perform,” Cortes said. “It’s cool to show people that you can do something.” photo | Alina Peret
Singing in the talent show Feb. 9 alongside junior Faith Evans, senior Katelin Cotton sings “Known” to show her school her love of Christ. “Jesus gave me a gift of music, and I think I should share what he gave me in a way that spreads the gospel,” Cotton said. photo | Clay Campbell During the talent show, senior Jake Partain plays the cookie game on stage. In the game, a cookie is placed on a person’s face, and they have to get it into their mouth. “I really wanted to participate in whatever game they were playing,” Partain said. “I go up there, play and I was awful at that cookie game. I still had a good time though.” photo | Clay Campbell Performing a dance routine in front of her peers during the talent show, senior Kyndle Kelly cherishes the last months of her senior year. “I’ve always [danced],” Kelly said. “During my years in high school [I questioned] if I really wanted to [dance in the talent show], but I decided to do more my senior year. Doing that fun stuff has definitely made me happier.” photo | Alina Peret
Singing with emotion, senior Josh South performs during the talent show. South performed “Jealous” by Labrinth. “Being on stage and performing is surreal,” South said. “My favorite part is hearing the crowd’s reaction. When they are completely quiet when I perform, I know I’ve done something right.” photo | Jaden Purifoy Sitting in front of the piano, sophomore Daniella Lopez sings “Grand Piano” by Nicki Minaj. It was Lopez’s first year to perform in the talent show. “It felt good,” Lopez said. “I was nervous, but I didn’t really want to let it get to me. Overall, I think it went pretty well. [There were] a couple wrong notes here and there, but it blended in well and sounded fine, which is all that matters.” photo | Clay Campbell
April 06, 2018 Sports PROSPECTIVE
8 CHRIS MORGAN | WRITER
COLLIDING CULTURE
Foreign exchange student shares his experience
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atching his fellow soccer teammates run through a drill, sophomore foreign exchange student, Junhee Han reminisces on his experience coming to Bryant from South Korea as a foreign exchange student. “American high school is [so] much different than the high school [in Korea],” Han said. “In Korea, we don’t move classrooms. We just stay in [our] homeroom and another teacher would come in.” Coming to the U.S. is an unique experience for millions of foreign students every year. “I can experience another culture, and American high school is much different, so it’s good to know a new thing,” Han said. Han is just one of many athletes at Bryant who come from a variety of distinct cultural backgrounds. “Junhee specifically has a lot of cultures he has to become accustomed to,”
Holding his soccer ball, sophomore Junhee Han reflects on his time on the soccer team. Han is an exchange student from South Korea. “I can get good memories about the U.S [by being on the soccer team],” Han said. Photo | Clay Campbell
junior Luis Lara said. “We also try to understand him and his perspective.” Lara is a member of the soccer team, along with Han. Han saw him as one of the people who helped him the most with learning the new culture when he first came to the U.S., along with many other members of the soccer team. “We all try to put our differences aside and work together as a team,” Lara said. “When we are on the field, we are working our hardest. [Culture] is not a factor.” Soccer has been different for Han after coming to the U.S. “In Korea, [soccer is] not this serious,” Han said. “It is mainly just for fun, but here, playing soccer is competitive, [whether you are a] starting member or not.” Communication on the soccer team can also be a challenge for coach Richard Friday and Han’s fellow athletes. “Having a foreign exchange
student from South Korea who struggles with English makes coaching a bit of an adventure to try and relay concepts and ideas,” Friday said. Friday says that diversity is a staple of the soccer team. “We have good diversity in our program,” Friday said. ”We have students from Guatemala, some who speak English and some that don’t. We listen to Hispanic music on bus rides. I’m learning Spanish slowly so that I can communicate.” As for Han, soccer has been a way to connect to his past in South Korea. “It gives him something he knows about from his past, [and uses it] to get to know American culture,” Friday said. Han is optimistic about his future, spending his time playing on the soccer team. “I want to get good memories with the soccer team and want to play seriously,” Han said.
CHRIS MORGAN | WRITER
STAYING ON TRACK
Track teams start season strong with preparation
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ith his hand to his knees after winning the 1600 meter race at the Benton Panther Relays, junior Chris Barrientos sees his months of hard work pay off, running a time of 4:28. “[After winning], I feel grateful and proud of what I accomplished,” Barrientos said. Although most of the credit from fans comes from racing, training is just as crucial for athletes. “[During the off-season], I usually run lots of miles--50 to 60 a week,” Barrientos said. “I also make sure to eat healthy and prepare myself to run fast.” Competition is also a factor and drives track athletes to push themselves even harder during workouts. “Sometimes I picture my rivals in front of me during speed workouts to help me run faster,” Barrientos said. Competition during workouts is not only a factor for long distance runners. Competition also drives the short distance runners, such as junior Brayden Williams. “Rivalries with your teammates increase your desire to become a better
runner,” Williams said. “It pushes you to do better.” For sprinters, the shorter distance causes race preparations and preseason training to be drastically different from their long distance counterparts. “Keep your body in shape [during the preseason],” Williams said. “[You can] go out and run in your neighborhood, or go to the track and do a few sprints.” Not everything is a change, however; one thing that remains the same regardless of distance is the fulfillment of winning. “I feel accomplished [after winning my heat],” Williams said. “It shows me [that all of] my hard work is paying off, and if I continue to work hard I will continue to progress.” While the running events take months of preparation, some who participate in the field events have been honing their skills for years, like junior pole vaulter Kristen Garner, who first started as a freshman. The preseason preparations for field athletes are much different than those of runners. “The training is a lot different [from] people who do field events,” Garner said. A lot of the field events[do] not really rely on adrenaline to run
and keep going. It’s more about staying mentally focused. You have to stay in the moment.” Athlete injuries have plagued the season for field event participants. “Last year, I had a rib pop out of place, and it set me back,” Garner said. “I could not pole vault for a very long time, and
it has even impacted me this year. My whole back is weak, but I have to work through that.” Working through her injury, Garner vaulted a season best at the Bryant Relays, vaulting a height of 9 feet and 4 inches and placing second overall. Injuries are not the only pressure on the athletes.
Sometimes emotion can take over and become a factor. “At first, I was afraid to [run] in fear of losing,” Barrientos said. “But now, I enjoy meeting new people and making friends. [I am grateful] for everyone who helped me succeed.”
The Bryant Track and Field Team compete against other local high schools during the annual Benton Panther Relay Mar. 8. Senior Decatur Austin ran his sub-five mile in 4:59.99 for his first time while being in track. “It was a pretty big deal for me,” Austin said. “It started out really rough, so I was trying to get myself into a better position for the sub-five mile.” Photo | Sydney Boswell
MAXTON PREUNINGER |STAFF WRITER
COLD COMPETITION Students and teachers reflect on Winter Olympics Will Heatherly Social Studies Teacher
Crystal Hall AP Lit Teacher
“Watching athletes stand on the podium while their national anthem plays make me emotional, and I am just sitting on the couch.”
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he 2018 Winter Olympics, held in PyeongChang, South Korea, have come to a close. Running from Feb. 9-25, Norway took the lead with a total of 39 medals, 14 golds. The U.S ended in fourth overall, with 23 medals, 9 gold.
Jimmy Cerutti
“If you would have told me that there was a sport where they throw stones down an ice rink to try and get it into the middle of a circle, I would have told you you were making stuff up. I see Lindsey Vonn ski, and there’s no way I can do that, but I can watch curling and go, ‘Yeah, yeah I can do that.’”
Kelton Ramsey 10 “My family constantly screams at the TV. I’m just like ‘Oh my goodness, they’re not going to hear you from there, so what’s the point?’”
9
“It’s always really disheartening to watch someone on ski jump fall on their back or not stick a landing, it’s one of the most disheartening things to watch someone make it to the Olympics, try their best, and then completely fail.”
Makayla Shipe 9
“The Winter Olympics aren’t pointless. People are getting to do the things that they love.”
DESIGN | TONY YERENA