December 2017 Prospective

PROSPECTIVE

Bryant High School 801 N. Reynolds Rd. Bryant, Ark. 72022

Vol. 25, Issue 3 Dec. 8, 2017

NO

REST for the WEARY From large workloads to long hours, students have a lot of responsibilities and often feel like their brains never stop working.

Inside, learn the effects of sleep deprivation and how to ge better rest. page 3

MONICA MARTINEZ | COLUMNIST

SEASONAL SAVINGS Students save money on gifts during the holidays I n a sudden bustle of Secret Santa drawings and Black Friday sales, the holiday season has arrived. Coming up with a sufficient spending budget for the holidays can be frustrating for students. By prioritizing who to buy for, shopping smart and incorporating creativity into gifts, the hassle can be avoided.

“I always think of my little sister first when I go Christmas shopping,” sophomore Jimena Guizar said. “I save up money and listen to what

she asks for most throughout the year and get it for her.”

Junior Madison Betz also prioritizes finding gifts for her family first.

“I make sure to get gifts for my parents first,” Betz said. “I think about something specific to them like their initials, and include it in the gift.”

While some students focus on using their budgets to buy more expensive gifts for a select few people, others manage their money by looking for deals and shopping for as many as they can.

“I get a lot [of gifts] on Black Friday and check the sales section for [things like] socks or necklaces,” senior Jaden Edmonson said.

Putting creative, personal touches into gifts can be a simple way of adding meaning to them while not overspending.

“Sometimes, if I don’t have a lot of money left, I’ll get a card and a piece of candy for whoever I have left,” Guizar said. “It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s memorable.”

Some students choose to

incorporate their talents into creating a personalized gift as opposed to going shopping.

“For the people I’m close to, I’ll make a gift to keep it more personal,” Betz said. “I would maybe crochet a coffee mug cover or make a clay decoration based on what they like.”

Edmonson believes Christmas shopping does not need to be about extravagant spending, but about taking options and individuality into consideration.

“Not every [present] has to be

expensive and big,” Edmonson said. “I keep in mind the person’s interests to make sure I get the best thing and [still] stay in my budget.”

Photo|Clay Campbell

BRYANT THROUGH THE AGES

A closer look at Bryant High School’s long history

Bryant High School began in a wooden, one room schoolhouse in the late 1890s.

1890s

In 1920 to 1922, the teaching staff increased from 3 to 5, and the student enrollment hit 123.

The school did not have restrooms throughout the 1920s.

In fall of 1954, Bryant High school went up in flames.

The fire burned so slowly they passed school supplies out of the window.

1954

1920s

The directors bought the two acres the schoolhouse The district bought its first stood on for $41. bus in 1921. Its top speed was 40 mph and it could not climb the major hill leading into Bryant.

Photo | Bryant Public Schools website

1985 1965

Photo | Saline County: Our Heritage

The Bryant School Board desegregates its schools. In the spring of 1966, Ronald Wallace, William Wallace and Ken Jones became the first black students to graduate from Bryant High School.

2017 Bryant is home to more than 20,000 people and a thriving economy.

Photo | 1990 Hornet Yearbook

Source: A History of Bryant High School

INSIDE News Special Coverage Arts & Entertainment Feature Opinion Photo Essay Sports

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

PUERTO RICO ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY page 2

Photo | Lauran Belk

In 1985, Bryant’s newest, grandest facility was named the Edward Love Auditorium.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI REVIEW

STUDENT GIVES OLD CAR NEW LIFE

TEACHERS’ PATH TO COACHING

page 4

page 5

page 8

Dec. 8, 2017 News PROSPECTIVE

2 Days after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the second story of senior Megan Quijano’s grandmother, Lourdes Quijano’s, house in Mayaguez is completely destroyed. Her aunt and uncle living on the second floor had to relocate due to the storm, along with her grandmother. “She doesn’t live there anymore,” Quijano said. “She’s living with my uncle in Georgia.” Special to Prospective.

SENIORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO DECORATE GRADUATION CAPS

MAXTON PREUNINGER | STAFF WRITER

“This year, [seniors] will have to get their cap approved, and I will have to record it on a spreadsheet,” senior sponsor Gina Halbert said. “If a student is not on the spreadsheet, they will have to remove the decorations or wear an old cap. The description in the spreadsheet should match, and every student will be checked before they can walk.”

WAITING FOR WORD Families still trying to heal after devastating

For the full story, visit prospectiveonline.com

Hurricane Maria wipes power and supplies

A

nxiously waiting to hear from family for weeks, senior Brittney Del Castillo had been snapchatting, calling and texting in hopes of contacting anyone after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. Sitting in her fourth period western civilizations class, Del Castillo felt her phone vibrate from a snapchat from her cousin.

She finally knew that at least someone in her family was okay.

Hurricane Maria made landfall over Puerto Rico Sept.

20, battering the island with winds up to 150 mph. After days of unforgiving rain and wind, Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was destroyed, access to clean water was widely unavailable and people stood on the roofs of their two-story homes waiting to be rescued.

Del Castillo is still waiting to hear from several family members left on the island, as only 48 percent of the island has electricity as of Nov. 14. Some family members she has contacted are now staying in Chicago. Her dad

is considering buying a plane with his family in Puerto Rico Sanchez said. “There’s no food, ticket to Puerto Rico to try and for around four weeks. He and they don’t have [clean] help those still without homes. thinks that the government water. I want everyone to be able “It was devastating,” Del could be more involved in to get everything they need.”

However, sophomore Maria Castillo said. “I was devastated. efforts to clean and rehabilitate I cried a lot.”

Much like Del Castillo, sophomore Angelly Sanchez had a significant number of family members on the island, including her sister, who currently works for NASA tracking storms. It was a month after the hurricane when she was finally able to talk to her family through a satellite call. Sanchez says her family tracked the storm closely when they heard it was In front of senior Megan Quijano’s grandmother’s house in Mayaguez, Puerto heading toward Puerto Rico, fruit trees are snapped in half after Hurricane Maria. Her grandmother Rico. Her family is still had a garden full of fruit trees before the storm. “It’s honestly heartbreaking,” staying on the island. Quijano said. “My grandma loves all of her plants, and now all of that is “We were just in destroyed, and that’s what she’s devoted her time to.” Special to Prospective. shock,” Sanchez said.

“We couldn’t communicate with the island, and he wishes to see Carmona thinks that the U.S. [our family]. It was just horrible.” Puerto Rico become a state. is doing all that it can to help “There’s no power,” Joseph Puerto Rico. Carmona’s aunt Born in San Juan, junior Joseph Sanchez lost contact

and grandfather on the island refused to relocate to shelter and stayed in their houses, surviving the hurricane with minimal damage to their homes. “[America] is trying, it’s just [we] don’t have enough trucks to bring food out,” Carmona said.

“It’s just taking a long time.”

Senior Megan Quijano and her family initially thought that their island would survive the hurricane, but they ended up losing contact with family for over a week and a half. With her family now safe and some staying in Arkansas, she says that “a house can be rebuilt, but family members cannot.”

Despite the despair Puerto Ricans are facing months after the disaster, Quijano still has hope.

“People that actually have compassion towards Puerto Rico are helping, but I don’t think that the U.S. as a whole is helping enough,” Quijano said.

“People don’t see the tragedy like we do, like people with family from Puerto Rico do.”

ROSEMARY GREGG | STAFF WRITER

SEASON’S GRIEVINGS Community members try to find peace during holidays L ost loved ones, scars, with high blood pressure Senior Parker Ray’s mother opened wounds and problems throughout his life, died Jan. 3, 2011, when he was permanently changed but controlled them by self- in 6th grade. For Ray, holidays families--while the medicating. When he began are still joyful, and his family holiday season is having continuous chest honors his mother at Christmas often filled with excitement pains, he underwent a bypass time in remembrance. and joy, for some “[The thing that I miss people, it consists most about her] is her of dealing with love of animals and horses personal tragedies. and that she got me and For Karen my sister into the Bible Bridgman, a single and church,” Ray said. mother and Finance For Ray, losing his Coordinator at mother has brought his Bryant City Hall, family closer together and the best way to invited his stepmother into get through the his life. Ray’s stepmother holidays is through does not replace his Griefshare, a mom, but according to program dedicated Ray, she has helped to helping people his family bond again. deal with the loss “I feel like I’ve gotten of loved ones. After stronger mentally,” Ray attending three said. “[She] has brought 13-week sessions my family closer together.” of Griefshare, she In middle school, Ray began her own went through counseling group at Midtowne after his mom’s death. It Church in Benton took him over a month in Sept. of 2016. in counseling to open “It’s a lot easier up about his mom, but to talk about once he did, he began something when the process of accepting you’re with people his mother’s death. that you can trust, “There was a picture set who understand up, and I had to talk to what you’re going her and say what I felt, through,” Bridgman and that really helped said. “Each person’s me get through it,” Ray loss is unique, said. “I felt like I was just like each After losing their mother in 2011, siblings senior holding things in about person is unique.” Parker Ray and junior Cassaday Ray relied on my mom, and I just got After experiencing each other for support. “As siblings, since we’ve everything out in the open the unexpected [both] gone through [our mom passing away], we during that one session.” deaths of her mother can connect with each other better,” Cassaday Ray misses his connection Ray said. “It made us bond more, because it was in 2008, her brother so hard, and we had to be there for each other.” with his mother, but in 2009 and her Photo | Jaden Purifoy appreciates her Christian husband in 2010, faith that she shared with Bridgman turned to Griefshare. surgery. The doctors thought his family. Ray deals with his “I had a major loss three he would be fine for another 30 loss by not dwelling on the past. years in a row, and I knew I was years. 18 months later, he died “I don’t really think about struggling to deal with all of the from a massive heart attack. [her passing] a lot during the emotions,” Bridgman said. “So “[When your spouse passes holidays, because around once I got through [my losses], away,] you lose that future Christmas time, everybody’s I knew that I wanted that you thought you were happy,” Ray said. “I just try to to help other people.” going to have, the things that enjoy life as much as I can.”

Karen Bridgman’s husband, you would’ve done together Griefshare member Vickie Robert Bridgman, dealt as a family,” Bridgman said. Hill’s only daughter, Stephanie

Doddridge, a former teacher at Harmony Grove, died at age 39.

According to Hill, alcoholism and drugs took her life.

“As a teenager, she was addicted to alcohol,” Hill said. “If she was sitting here with me right now, she would say, ‘Mom, that’s not why I died,’ but she had a tear in her esophagus, and so she bled to death. I contribute that to the alcohol.”

Her granddaughter Brandy Doddridge is in college, and her grandson Blake Doddridge graduated high school in May. Hill is mostly bothered by all of the milestones that her daughter is going to

“I thought it would be easier for God to take her if she wasn’t going to get better,” Hill said.

“It’s better than worrying that she’s dead in a ditch somewhere or that her boyfriend is beating her again.”

In honor of her daughter’s memory, every month on the 9th Hill writes Doddridge a letter to help her deal with all of her mixed emotions.

“Sometimes it was a mean letter, some months it was ‘How dare you,’ and then some months it was about what was going on with Brandy and Blake,” Hill said. “I’ve not gone back and reread the letters, but it helped.”

Before losing her daughter, Hill had no relationship with her grandchildren. However, losing her daughter caused her to get closer to her granddaughter. “[Brandy] texts me and lets me know when she gets home so that I can go to sleep and not worry, like I worried about her momma a lot,” Hill said.

While losing Stephanie Doddridge brought Hill and her granddaughter closer together, it separated Hill from her grandson. According to Hill, Blake Doddridge has had a more difficult time dealing with his mother’s death.

After losing his mother, Blake Doddridge lost contact with Hill and dealt with his loss by backing away from his family.

“She left, she left her kids, she told Blake she would come back and get him, and she didn’t,” Hill said. “I think [Blake] is angry.”

Hill misses her daughter and continues to honor her memory, but for Hill, losing her daughter is a better alternative to her winding up in prison or continuing to suffer from addiction.

“I thought it would be easier for God to take her if she wasn’t going to get better,” Hill said. “It’s better than worrying that she’s dead in a ditch somewhere or that her boyfriend is beating her again.”

miss in her children’s lives.

“She’s never going to get to see [her daughter] get married,” Hill said. “She’s not ever going to get to see her first grandchild.

There’s just big things in the kids’ lives that she’s not ever going to be a part of.”

Hill continues to be a strong believer in God, but ever since her daughter passed away, she’s had a difficult time getting back into the church lifestyle.

“I love God, I love the idea of church,” Hill said. “I just don’t want to be a part of it right now. I don’t want to For the full story, visit see the family structure.” prospectiveonline.com Ever since Doddridge died Jul. 9, Hill has kept track of how long she has been gone.

3 PROSPECTIVE Special Coverage Dec. 8, 2017

THE

P SL EPIDEMIC WRITING/DESIGN | SARAH GRAHAM AND LAUREN WILSON

From early childhood to older adulthood, sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on the physical, mental and behavioral health of those at any stage of life. But for teenagers, who are at vital stage of development, losing sleep can be especially hazardous.

While the National Institutes of Health states teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep each night, only 9 percent of high school students are reaching what specialists suggest. And 20 percent are receiving less than five hours per night. Lack of sleep increases the likelihood

WAKE UP CALL Hormonal changes make it difficult for teenagers to go to sleep at 9 or 10 p.m.

&

experts recommend school start times no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for teenagers, yet

U.S. public high schools start 82% of before the recommended time.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION,

87%

of students have reported

Students at later-starting schools report: Receiving more sleep Scoring higher on standardized tests Getting in fewer car accidents Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

of teenagers are chronically sleep-deprived

STUDENTS REVEAL THEIR SLEEP DEPRIVATION

“

Early school times could contribute to this stat:

33% falling asleep in class.

teenagers will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts. Sleep deprivation is an invisible epidemic that is worsening by the year.

This whole season of life has just been one giant ‘Hey, it’s time to figure out your life, and it’s time to figure it out now.’ It’s been abrupt and stressful, and I [haven’t gotten] much [sleep] at all. When I’m tired, I hardly get anything done and can’t focus.

School starting later would be so much better.”

- Senior Madison Treat

“

I go to sleep at 12 a.m. and wake up at 5:30 a.m. I take sleep gummies to help me fall asleep faster and to not wake up during the night. If we started school later, I would do better academically. I’m still half asleep by sthird period.”

- Sophomore Dominic D’Angelo

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAIN DOES NOT SLEEP ?

Source: Science Mic

“

I try to go to sleep by 9 a.m. and wake up at 4:30 a.m.

Baseball practice starts at 5:30 a.m. I usually get about 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night.”

- Freshman Noah Davis

5 tips to get

IMPAIRS MEMORY

Scientists claim the brain “replays” the same activity pattern while one sleeps to help retain information. To lose sleep could mean losing long-term memories.

BETTER SLEEP

Source: The Conversation Source: WebMD

DELAYED REACTION

Sleepiness makes your reaction time slower, which is especially a problem when on the road. The Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that at least 100,000 crashes reported each year are caused by driver fatigue.

EMOTIONAL

The amygdala, an area deep in the brain, is the emotional control center. When sleep-deprived participants were shown emotionallynegative images, activity levels in the amygdala were as much as 60 percent higher than levels in those who were rested.

TAKE A WARM SHOWER OR BATH BEFORE BEDTIME.

AVOID LATE-NIGHT HEAVY MEALS.

DO NOT DRINK CAFFEINE AFTER NOON.

BLOCK OUT LIGHTS FROM ELECTRONICS.

KEEP ROOM AT A COOL 60-67 DEGREES F.

Dec. 8, 2017 A&E PROSPECTIVE

4 RYAN MCKENZIE | STAFF WRITER

REY-SING THE BAR

R

their own by theorizing about the film online, heavily analyzing each trailer and getting the word out about the film. English teacher Nathaniel Bradow is a long-time fan of the franchise and takes the morals from the movies to heart. “[In the “Stars Wars” movies,] you learn a lot of morals and ethics, what’s the difference between good and bad, when you’re young,” Bradow said. “You learn the paradox between good and bad while learning people can be both at the same time. It means a lot to me even though they messed [the prequels] up.”

While older fans like

Bradow are excited for this film, younger fans such as sophomore Hannah Jetton are anticipating the film just as much.

“My brother showed me ‘Star Wars’ when I was eight or nine, and he is the one who really got me into it, because I’ve always wanted to be like my brother,” Jetton said.

After being a fan for so long, Jetton is anticipating this film a lot for Carrie Fisher and the effects.

“I know Princess Leia [actress Carrie Fisher] is no longer with us, but I’m excited to see how they tell her end and how far technology and animation

buzz?

A view of students’ lives in 140 characters or less

Paige Fuhrman 10

@paiger2020

Students and teachers anticipate upcoming “Star Wars” sequel

eturn to a galaxy far, far away. In the long-awaited “Star Wars” sequel “The Last Jedi,” protagonist Rey develops her newlydiscovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” comes out Dec. 14, but tickets are on sale now.

With the film’s marketing riding mostly on returning fans, many long-time fans of the franchise are spreading the hype on

WHAT’S the

We don’t give crabs enough gross credit, I mean they’re like armored spiders of the ocean.

has come with this series.”

With the movie coming up, fans are asking big questions. What is Rey’s parentage? Who is Snoke? Junior Drew Suggs has some ideas.

“I think Rey’s dad is Luke, because I believe it’s all going to come back to the Skywalker lineage,” Suggs said. “I think Snoke is a new character they have made for the movies, and the theories of him being a returning character are not true.”

Ren Hefley

@renhefley10

11

Tough way to end it but one heck of a season. I love my team

Grayson Prince

@graysonprince1

12

I could care less how bad the hogs season was or what the future holds. I was born a hogs fan and I’ll die a hogs fan simple as that! #WPS

Hannah Brewer 11

@hannahclaire__

Can we just skip the period between getting back from Thanksgiving break and Christmas break?

DESIGN | CONNOR MATTHEWS

Karlee Kindy

COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER

BURGER BOSS

@karleekindy_

11

Tara Seale going Black Friday shopping “I went crazy one year. I mean I bought flashdrives, I even bought a labeler”

@_treatyy

Madison Treat 12

ur wcw is late to everything because she’s too busy going through vine threads...it’s me, I’m ur wcw

PHOTO | ALINA PERET

Students explore local “burger joints” and review their meals Alex Rabon

Libby Majors

Uriel Velazquez

Order: Cheeseburger with ketchup, onion rings and a large Dr. Pepper Price: $12.94

Order: Cheeseburger with lettuce, ketchup and french fries Price: $6.50

Order: Cheeseburger with bacon and barbecue sauce, french fries and a large coke Price: $10.67

5 stars

4 stars

4 stars

“I’ve been to the Salem Dairy Bar before, but I hadn’t had the burger until now. The service was good, and I got my food within like five minutes. I’m usually not a huge fan of burgers, but the one I got from here was actually really good.

The onion rings are definitely the best thing on the menu, though.”

“The burger was thin, which is just what I like, and perfectly seasoned. The only problem would have to be that there was a little too much ketchup. I will definitely go to Paula Lynn’s Kitchen to eat a burger again soon.

It was like the taste of America in my hands. I would give this burger 4 out of 5 stars because I haven’t found the perfect burger, yet. It definitely topped my turkey sandwich I packed.”

“The burger was really good. The buns have to be the best part. The bacon on the burger was very crispy, and I usually like mine a bit softer, but I still liked it.

David’s Burgers is one of my favorite places to get a good burger.”

Salem Dairy Bar

Paula Lynn’s Kitchen

David’s Burgers

MADISON GREEN | STAFF WRITER

TAP INTO RAP Local rappers share their inspirations T ravis Scott, Quavo and ASAP Rocky will release new albums soon, and while many fans are waiting for the rappers to release their music, other locals have decided to make their own.

Most famous rappers focus on the same few topics, but SoundCloud rapper junior Noel Wallace tries to steer clear of regular topics in the music industry when writing lyrics.

Wallace, also known as “bruce.” on SoundCloud, admits his music can

be depressing at times. “[My lyrics] depend on my mood at the time,” Wallace said. “It’s mostly about human feelings.”

Wallace makes his music at home with no special equipment-just a microphone, the Audacity program and beats he downloads from YouTube. He hopes to get new equipment soon so he can release his music on other platforms and reach more people that might not typically click on his SoundCloud links.

“My music is for people who

don’t care about what other people think,” Wallace said.

Although he started rapping about a year ago, Wallace has been writing lyrics since middle school and is musically inspired by Earl Sweatshirt.

“I’m surrounded by people who like to overlook and underestimate me, but I love music,” Wallace said.

“It’s a way to take myself out of the category of being just like everyone else.”

Senior Jerran White also looks to include topics in his music that a lot of people avoid, including his

own personal problems, such as depression and loneliness. He describes his music as “by yourself in a dark room” music.

“Music is a universal escape from life,” White said.

White started his music on SoundCloud, but now has a YouTube channel (Jxy Whye) and an Instagram account (@ UnHxLy_) to keep people up to date on his music.

Wallace and White have collaborated three times so far, in their songs “Sleep Talk”, “100 Options,” and their newest song,

“SELLMYSOUL”. While Wallace has been rapping for around a year, White started producing music in 9th grade and began writing his own lyrics soon after.

“I’m the emotional type, but I add aggression to it,” White said. “I try to tap into those hard-toexplain feelings and vibes.”

DESIGN | JOSLYN GRAVES

5

F

or many high school students, senior year means picking colleges, planning majors, finding a roommate and saving up for dorm decorations.

But to a small group of seniors, their last year of high school is about choosing which branch of the military to enlist in and how to pursue a future in serving their country.

Senior Driston Bradley feels that it is his calling to be a Marine.

“I have always wanted to enlist in the military,” Bradley said. “I come from a family of alcoholics, pill poppers and felons--I wanted to make a difference.”

Bradley has never been shy

all the boys [in the military],” McManus said. “The Marines are a family, and I feel like the only boys I would have to look out for would be boys from other branches. After being around Marines and experiencing what it’s like to be a part of that family, I trust they can look out for me and be there for me when I need them to.”

JROTC instructor and Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Michael Lenahan has been aiding students in following their passions for years.

“The Colonel [Randy McCalip] and I have jobs to help motivate students, develop discipline, allow students to

about taking on a challenge and wants to continue this trend in his career.

“I have always strived for a challenge, so I chose the most physically and mentally demanding branch, the Marines,” Bradley said.

Senior Rachel McManus is breaking the stereotype of the Marines being a “boy’s club.”

“I want to make a change in the world,” McManus said. “I want to prove that you can be whatever you want to be, and the title of female Marine is pretty cool.”

McManus believes that though there are not a lot of women enlisting in the Marines, she will still be well taken care of.

“I am pretty confident facing

develop leadership qualities and help them plan for the future,” Lenahan said. “[I get] the students to realize their immense capabilities and to start thinking about consequences of poor decisions.”

Lenahan loved and benefited from his experiences at basic training for the Air Force in the early 1980s.

“It was really hot in San Antonio between late June to mid August [1981],” Lenahan said. “I actually enjoyed basic training. I gained some weight while I was there, I was really skinny until then.It really taught me how to start developing as a part of a team and to appreciate

Dec. 8, 2017

Seniors choose to enlist in the armed forces next year

Feature

BASIC TRAINING

PROSPECTIVE

Assisting with the freshman ROTC inspection, sophomore Lance Styles adjusts the collar of freshman John Harris’ uniform. Styles is Cadet Tech Sergeant and is in charge of the program’s public affairs. “A lot of our cadets choose to go into the military, because we’re a military-based program,” Styles said. “[But] we’re not recruiters for the military, we’re just a leadership program.”

Photo | Sydney Boswell

DAHLIA BRAY|ONLINE EDITOR

everyone’s knowledge and abilities in teamwork. I began to learn to work in a very diverse environment.”

Lenahan believes military service is a great career and loves aiding students who want to enlist.

“I would recommend military service, especially the Air Force, to almost anyone,” Lenahan said. “Although it’s not for everyone, it was a great fit for me and my family, and I would do it all over again if I could.”

ABBY HAGNER|COLUMN EDITOR

INFLATABLE INCOME

Brothers own their own company at age 17

T

hey unfold and close all the zippers on the bouncy castle, hook up a blower to it and let it air up. Then, they attach sandbags to the loops on the bottom to anchor it down. To roll it up, they let most of the air out by undoing the zippers, and fold it like a towel. Then, tie the straps around it to keep it together. This is the process brothers seniors Joseph and Zachary Smith use when they put up and take down inflatables.

The Smiths have owned their own inflatable company, “Red

Rock Inflatables,” since January of this year.

“My brother [Joseph] used to work for the dude who owned the inflatables before us,” Zackary Smith said. “He was getting older and was ready to sell them, so we thought it was a good idea to buy them and use [the money we earn] for college.”

Cheryl Smith, the brothers’ mother, helps manage the company by setting up rentals when customers call.

“Since [Zac and Joe] are in school all day, my phone num-

Surrounded by family and friends, seniors Joseph and Zac Smith attend the opening ribbon ceremony for their company, Red Rock Inflatables. The Smiths encourage other teenagers to be entrepreneurs. “Just do it,” Joseph Smith said. “It’s going to be a little rocky at first, but once you figure it out, it will be a lot smoother.” Photo | Special to Prospective

ber is the number we publish [for the] rentals, so I set up the rentals and the boys do deliveries and all the paperwork,” Cheryl Smith said. “We have to get safety inspections every six months, and [Zac and Joe] handled that at Fall Fest.”

October is the busiest time of year for the inflatables and is the hardest time of the year for the Smiths to juggle both the business and extracurricular activities. While running the company, the brothers are also involved in engineering and band.

“We’ve noticed that the times they were busy with school activities was when it was a busy time for inflatables,” Cheryl Smith said. “So they have had to hire their buddies [to help them].”

The price ranges from $100 to $300 dollars to rent inflatables for a day.

“A bounce house for a couple hours is $125, and one of our two obstacle course has a 18 foot slide,” Zackary Smith said.

First Missionary Baptist Church rented inflatables from the brothers. Madalyn Miller

FIXING FORDS

goes to the church and she is also a friend of the Smiths.

“They’re both good friends of mine and made sure to get the inflatables set up quickly without complaint,” Miller said.

“They were so easy to work with and didn’t give us any trouble.

They even stayed for our church fall fest and played with the younger kids who played on the inflatables. I would definitely recommend them to any with inflatable needs.”

Reaching behind the steering wheel, senior Sam Blackwood works on the interior of his car. He got the car in late 2016. “ Failure is a definite in this type of hobby, but the end results are what make you feel the most rewarded,” Blackwood said. Photo | Connor Morris

ALEXIS BURCH|ONLINE EDITOR

Sam Blackwood brings old cars back to life

T

he 1967 Ford Mustang, covered in rust, with holes through the floorboards, rolled into the scrap yard. The owner did not want it anymore.

So senior Sam Blackwood did what he could. He haggled the price down to $2,600 and named her Norabelle.

He did not know how to fix a car, but he could weld, and since Blackwood is from a “working-man family,” Phillip Butler, his Pop, could teach him along the way.

“I’m his only grandson,” Blackwood said. “He’s always loved to teach me to work with my hands.”

They started with body work

and needed to move on to the engine. So last year, Blackwood sat down with 2017 graduates Ben Bell and Seth Shepard and said, “We have to fix this motor.”

Bell and Blackwood met in engineering. Bell already had five cars worth of experience under his hood: His 1968 Mustang and 1980 Jeep, Shepard’s 1966 Mustang and F150 and his Papa’s Toyota truck. Bell said Blackwood had a good head on his shoulders and wanted to fix his car, but did not know much himself.

So Bell worked on the wiring for the motor, troubleshot the engine and taught Blackwood what his Papa taught him.

“I wasn’t just helping him build a car,” Bell said. “It meant bringing an old car back to life and making a good friend while doing it.”

Blackwood said his car is pretty to him, but not pristine.

He relishes the small details of its exterior, as the finished product is his real reward. He confessed his own mistake, pointing to the rear left side of the car where the body had been stitched together.

“I ran over a jackstand,” he said. “I love that part about the car.”

He may not be going into a career as a mechanic, but he does have a passion for aviation

and is learning mechanical skills that he can apply to his career of choice.

Repairing cars is just a hobby for Blackwood, but he is taking Automotive Tech 2, a concurrent credit class offered through the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College at their Saline County location. When he wants to work on his car, he can bring it to class.

Automotive teacher Joey Bowman has taught the class for 11 years. He said students not going into the industry still have the advantage of knowing how to work on vehicles themselves, and the mechanical skills they

learn will allow them to not rely on someone else if something breaks at their house.

“Kids like Sam are a blessing to a teacher -- eager to learn, eager to help. [They] want this knowledge for themselves,” Bowman said.

Dec. 8, 2017 OP-ED PROSPECTIVE

6

the science of sleep W STAFF|EDITORIAL

e all know that one kid in the back of class--the one who falls asleep every day. Maybe you think,“How hard is it to just stay awake?” Maybe you are that kid. But according to the National Sleep Foundation, in 2014, more than 58 percent of 15-17 year olds get less than seven hours of sleep per night.

Lack of sleep is a national epidemic.

Over a third of Americans are getting less than seven hours of sleep. It may seem contradictory, but to be able to succeed in our fast-paced world, it is vital for you to slow down, relax and sleep to energize you. Lack of sleep contributes to depression, thoughts of suicide and obesity. So while that all-nighter you pull for your AP classes might help your grades, it is harmful down the road.

Sleep is vital to maintaining a healthy body and healthy weight and has the added benefits of improving

test scores and helping you focus.

The teen years are the most important when it comes to sleep, and the average teenager needs over eight hours of sleep a day. Despite this, research has shown that students are sleep-deprived.From early school start times to stress to the omnipresence of cell-phones, we are practically set up for failure.

The unnatural light from cellphones right before bed stimulates our brains too much for us to fall right to sleep. The human body was made to sleep in complete darkness, but with the high amount of ambient light, it takes more time than it should to get past that. For a lot of students, it’s not that they choose not to sleep, it’s that they can’t.

There are sleep-deprivation experts who advocate for making school start times start later to account for the time it takes teens to get to sleep.

When some of us wake up early and report to school, we are there for the

PROSPECTIVE

attendance, but not in the right state to learn anything of value. Because administrators’ first priority should be the well-being of students, this should be a real concern.

Teenagers also face a variety of pressures that were unknown to us in middle school, from dating and jobs to college and plans for the future. All of this anxiety is a hindrance to sleep. Getting enough rest is one of the most valuable gifts we can give ourselves. A well-rested life is a well lived life. It’s time for us to wake up and smell the coffee.

CARTOON | TONY YERENA

battling my brain I

have never felt less control. My mind has become a speedway of ideas and observations.

As I write this, I notice everything around me. The tiny thread hanging off of the sweater in front of me, the way my t-shirt fits around my shoulders, the brightness of the screen in my peripheral vision, the horrible yellow of the macaroni and cheese that the person in front of me is eating.

A storm of distraction is perpetually clouding my perspective. I’m an observer. It used to be my gift. Now, while I observe everything around me, I have become a bystander to my own life.

While my eyes are preoccupied with the imperfect mess that is

NATHAN BUSH|COLUMNIST the world, my mind is in another dimension. I’m thinking about jokes and pronunciations and due dates and deadlines and college and the future and sports and basketball and how long this sentence is and everything else.

As I write, the stickiness of the keyboard I’m typing on infuriates me. It’s frustrating, because I want to escape it, but deep down, I know there is no escape. It’s a part of me.

When I’m alone with few distractions, my mind takes full control. My subconscious is a bully.

He reminds me of my inadequacies.

He never lets me forget moments of past embarrassments. He never lets me stop thinking about future anxieties. I rarely live in the moment.

I’ve spent so much time trying to fit in that I’ve actually forgotten that I am my own person. I don’t know what style of clothes I like.

I don’t know what I truly find funny. I don’t even know what I enjoy. Everything in my life feels like a front. Even when I try to act like “myself,” it seems contrived in my head. My sense of self isn’t just skewed; it’s non-existent. It’s this thought that shakes me to my core. No matter how hard I try to not think about it, it’s always there.

It’s hard to conceal my emotions.

It’s hard to keep a straight face when my mind erupts into a volcanic mess of mixed feelings and horrible thoughts. I sometimes have outbursts. I snap at people.

I’m rude. It’s not on purpose. I can’t help it. My mind doesn’t like to be interrupted. It makes it hard to communicate socially sometimes when my mind is on full blast and someone wants to speak with me. It’s miserable--I hurt people that I love because of something neither they nor I understand.

It’s taken me my entire life to work up the courage to challenge my parasitic mind. It wasn’t until recently that I realized what it has robbed me of: friendships, relationships, moments, opportunities. All of it, ruined by my hyper-vigilant, oppressive brain. It’s up to me to continue the fight and one day achieve the ultimate conquest.

Control over my own damn mind.

humble for the holidays A

s the weather gets colder and the scent of peppermint becomes more prominent, we are overwhelmed by catalog-filled mailboxes, flashing red and green lights and huge signs announcing unbeatable sales. All of these seasonal events build up our anticipation for the holidays and often distract us from the potential we have to donate and make an impact on people in need.

The month of December is filled with tradition and happiness with family. By adding the surreal feeling of giving a meaningful donation to that equation, the holiday season is truly magical. People in need are often left in the shadows, but behind every faceless name on an “adoption” card or angel tree is an individual

Bryant High School 801 N. Reynolds Rd Bryant, AR 72022 501.653.5328 Print Editors Sarah Graham, Lauren Wilson Online Editors Dahlia Bray, Alexis Burch Photo Editor Alina Peret Page Designers Dahlia Bray, Alexis Burch, Sarah Graham, Abby Hagner, Monica Martinez, Connor Matthews, Lauren Wilson, Tony Yerena Videographers Lilly Roach, Jack Suarez Artist Joslyn Graves Column Editor Abby Hagner Columnists Nathan Bush, Monica Martinez Photographers Lauran Belk, Sydney Boswell, Clay Campbell, Abby Herrmann, Jaden Purifoy, Madison Young Staff Writers Catherine Anderson, Dahlia Bray, Alexis Burch, Nathan Bush, Cole Campbell, Sarah Graham, Madison Green, Rosemary Gregg, Abby Hagner, Monica Martinez, Ryan McKenzie, Max Preuninger, 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.

MONICA MARTINEZ | COLUMNIST that deserves a happy holiday.

Clubs and organizations across campus are participating in Adopta-Child this Christmas. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is accepting toys and cards for patients who will spend the holidays in the hospital. There are angel trees set up in shopping centers. The Salvation Army stands outside local grocery stores. Storage bins of beanies and scarves are sitting on the counter of the lobby in the Circle of Friends for people to donate if they would like. There are so many opportunities to give.

Major budget cuts don’t have to be made. Only a dollar is needed to put an angel on the Park Plaza Mall tree. Look through old clothes and find a coat that no longer fits, gloves that fit a bit too tightly or scarves that haven’t been worn in

two seasons and drop them in the bucket. That alone makes all the difference. Ask for the first name of a couple of the children in the hospital and send them a Christmas card with a handwritten note.

Don’t get caught up in the 20% off sales. Don’t get too distracted by the lights and the music. Together, we can make a big difference. If we could all give just a little, the impact would be immense. From right now until Christmas Eve, look for one opportunity to give something to someone in need and pursue it. If it means cleaning out a couple of closets, so be it. Convince yourself that this holiday will be different.

More people will be happy and warm this holiday because of you.

Choose to be humble this season.

HUMANS

letter to the EDITOR

BHS

A closer look at Bryant’s hidden gems

JULIE DORSEY

AP World History Teacher

at a glance

*SPECIAL TO PROSPECTIVE

Dear Editor, The 9th grade as a whole feels excluded and intentionally omitted from extracurricular activities such as pep rallies that mess up our schedules for the day when we don’t even get to go.

This so-called “Freshman Academy” is just a poor excuse to not get to be part of the fun. If this was a real freshman academy, we would have the same core teachers that have the same prep period. We understand that the 9th grade is a time for learning where to go and other things, but we still want to be part of high school, because we are on the high school campus thrown in with everyone else, except the freshmen have a different lunchroom.The 9th graders and the soon-to-be 9th graders would really appreciate if administration could consider including the 9th graders in more things.

-Freshman Grace Kelley

OF

Dorsey and her husband had been considering adoption for a long time.

The whole adoption process took 20 months.

Dorsey made two trips to South Korea over the summer, once to visit, and again five weeks later to bring Daniel home.

Daniel was adopted from around Seoul, South Korea.

Dorsey brought her two-year-old son Daniel home May 24.

“I think after adopting Daniel, I take people’s backgrounds into consideration more than I did before, especially understanding that not everybody gets to live with their birth family.”

7

Senior ladies take the field in annual tournament

As she passes the football, quarterback Regan Keesee and her team Just Give Us the Trophy play in the powderpuff football tournament Nov. 4.

They practiced twice a week to prepare. “A lot of people were making fun of our name, ‘Just Give us the Trophy,’” Keesee said. “When we actually lived up to our team name, it was super exciting.”

Photo | Clay Campbell

Holding up her hand, senior Taylor Wilson guides her team, the Natural Disasters, through the Star Spangled Banner at the powderpuff tournament Nov. 4. Instead of being stressed out and serious, the Natural Disasters decided to focus on having a good time. “I was being the flag so that we could sing the National Anthem,” Wilson said. “We were just having fun and being goofy before we played.”

Photo | Madison Young

Celebrating a catch by the center, seniors Hallie Samuels and Francesca Castro chest bump at the Powderpuff tournament Nov. 4. This was their last powderpuff game, and they had been training since September. “I got to see my friends get really competitive, which I didn’t expect, and we were all pretty supportive of each other,” Samuels said.

Photo | Savannah Ray

After winning a throw-off, senior Zoie Glass and the “Alpha Females” celebrate at the powderpuff tournament Nov. 4.

They had previously tied with another team. “I was excited and happy, even though I was nervous the whole day about competing, and it was a big relief to know that we just won,” Glass said. Photo | Clay Campbell

Running the ball at the Powderpuff tournament Nov. 4, senior Lauren Brantley tries to find someone to pass to. Her team, the Natural Disasters, did not place, but Brantley said they still had fun. “It’s like a competition, so you’re serious,” Brantley said. “But you know you’re not going to win, so you’re just joking around the whole time.”

Photo | Clay Campbell

At the annual powderpuff flag football tournament Nov. 4, senior Megan Quijano evades several defenders. Quijano’s team, the Babe Runners, finished the tournament with a 2-2 record. “Powderpuff was actually really hard,” Quijano said.

“All the teams we played against were super prepared.”

Photo | Clay Campbell

Receiving a high-five from her teammate senior Sarah Evans, senior Josie Pringle celebrates scoring the last touchdown of the championship powderpuff game on Nov. 4. Pringle and Evans’ team, Just Give Us the Trophy, won the powderpuff tournament. “I was really proud of my team and couldn’t stop smiling after we won,” Pringle said.

Photo | Gracie Kimbrell

Dodging two defenders from the Natural Disasters, senior Claire Ausbrooks runs the ball for her team, the Babe Runners, during Powderpuff Nov. 4. Ausbrooks was the quarterback of her team. “It was fun, but it was nerve-wracking at the same time,” Ausbrooks said. “I felt like if I messed up, then everybody was going to hate me.” Photo |Clay Campbell

Running, senior Sarah Evans scores a touchdown for her powderpuff team, Just Give Us the Trophy. Evans was the wide reciever for her team. “It’s so exciting [getting a touchdown],” Evans said. “ I will never forget how close aeach other.”

Photo| Mika Boyle

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PROSPECTIVE Photo Essay Dec. 8, 2017

ALL POWDERED UP

Dec. 8, 2017 Sports PROSPECTIVE

8 MADISON WALTZ| STAFF WRITER

CONTINUING THE LEGACY Inman balances life as mom, coach

T

he roles of coach and parent, when combined, present a challenge most families do not face. However, girls soccer coach and film teacher Nicole Inman has made sure to separate the identities of Coach and Mom for her children.

Inman has been coaching her twin daughters, freshmen Abbey and Ashton Inman, in soccer since they were four years old, and bonded with her son, junior Garrett Inman, through soccer as well. Her role as coach changed when Garrett Inman quit playing soccer at the beginning of the school year.

“I understood his decision [to quit soccer],” Coach Inman said.

“You have to accept the things your kids choose to do.”

Garrett Inman still learns from his mother through her Film Production class, which she began teaching this year when she was hired as the new girls soccer coach.

“We have a different dynamic now,” Garrett Inman said.

“Since I have her for Film

Production, she’s more of a mentor where we help each other with our problems instead of her telling me what I need to do in soccer. We build on each other.”

Ashton and Abbey Inman are inspired by their mother’s great accomplishments in soccer and want to follow in her footsteps.

like the ones their mom received. “[My mom] got a full ride to college, so [I think] I have to get a full ride,” Ashton Inman said.

“I love the sport more than any other. When I’m out there, I’m a different person. It’s just me, my teammates and the ball.”

Playing under the scrutiny of

thought of college is constant.

“Sometimes, it’s a lot of pressure,” Abbey Inman said.

“She’s my mom, so [I] want to do everything perfect. We talk about soccer all the time.”

Taking the game home is something that brings the family closer together, but having a good coach is what makes the team work.

“She teaches our soccer team about God, life lessons [and] how to be humble when we win,” Ashton Inman said. “We have something to bond over, and that’s what we talk about, even if it’s not on the soccer field.”

Coach Inman wants to teach her team more than just footwork. She leads team-wide Bible devotionals and characterbuilding activities throughout the year. Her goal is to give the Running toward the ball, freshman Ashton Inman revs up to kick.

Inman plays soccer alongside her twin sister Abbey. “I love the team something to focus on for sport more than any other sport,” Ashton Inman said. “When I’m the year, always making sure that out there, I’m a different person, and it’s just me, my teammates it deals with the game indirectly. and the ball, and we’re just trying to score.” Photo | Jaden Purifoy “I make sure that we talk about things that aren’t soccer-related Both girls would like to pursue their own parent changes the way as a team,” Coach Inman said. soccer through to the college the twins approach the game. “It’s not just for my girls; I do level, aiming for scholarships just Expectations are higher and the it for the whole team.”

The boundaries between coach and parent are not too defined, but Coach Inman makes sure to separate the way she influences her children, depending on the setting.

“I get to mold my kids and be an influence on them in a different way,” Coach Inman said. “I always tell them, when I put my sunglasses on, I’m a coach, and when I don’t have them on, I’m a parent.”

As far as her family’s legacy goes, Coach Inman wants to make sure to mold her children as people, not just players.

“Hopefully the legacy I’m leaving them goes beyond soccer, and I’m molding them for something bigger than that, because soccer will end,” Coach Inman said. “I’m honored this year to be here and to coach the group of girls that I have, and I’m thankful that they want me to be here. It’s just icing on the cake that I get to have my own children involved in the process.”

CATHERINE ANDERSON | STAFF WRITER

CALL TO COACHING Coaches explain their career path

I

t was silent as the athletes looked at their coach, waiting for the next move.

They looked for one last push before their cleats hit the lush green field, one more push before they proved themselves to their school and their coach. Assistant soccer coach Jonathan Rasburry looked out at his first team to coach, the 2016 soccer team, in the last game of the season.

“The atmosphere is great,” Rasburry said.“You get to be around young players who want to listen to you, because they believe you can make them better. It makes you pretty nervous at first when you look out and see all of those eyes looking back at you, waiting for you to tell them their next move, but then you start to form a bond with your players and the team as a whole, and everything starts to feel natural.”

Coaches who also teach go from running plays or rehearsing a new routine to teaching algebra and English.

“Athletics in general has always been a big part of my

life,” Rasburry said. “My grandfather was a great football and basketball coach, and my dad coached all of my city league basketball and soccer teams. I’ve always wanted to follow in their footsteps.”

For many coaches, the plan was not to coach a team.

Rasburry pursued a music career before realizing he belonged as a coach, while volleyball coach Beth Solomon was sought out and offered an unexpected opportunity.

“When I went to college, I originally wanted to be a youth minister,” volleyball coach Beth Solomon said. “I played on the volleyball team in college and was offered the opportunity to coach with the club volleyball program there, and I loved it so much that I changed my major and have been coaching ever since. That was about 16 years ago.”

Solomon believes coaching can be a nerve-wracking job since students depend on their coaches to advise and teach them. They work hard to make an impact on every one of their athletes, whether it is in volleyball or health.

“Being a coach is stressful, but rewarding at the same time,” Solomon said. “You give up a lot of family time to be here with the team, but seeing the wins and smiles and players reaching their potential makes it all worth it. The team becomes your family.”

Solomon believes that as a coach you are always striving to grow, that coaches are always a “learner of the game,” so each season there is a moment that sticks out. For Rasburry, this moment came early last season.

“I convinced Coach [James] Paul to play Jasmine Sauers at left back last year in an early game,” Rasburry said. “She ended up starting for the rest of the season. I was still pretty unsure of myself as an actual coach at that point, so seeing her succeed gave me a lot of confidence in my decision making abilities.”

Rasburry said.

Although coaches trade playing the game for teaching a subject, their passion for the sport never changes.

“On game day, when everyone gets hyped up and ready, I get this kick of adrenaline that makes me wish I could suit up,” Rasburry said.

Standing on the Bryant football field before soccer practice on Nov. 29, senior Jasmine Sauers poses with a soccer ball in her arms.

Photo | Madison Young

NATHAN BUSH | COLUMNIST

RIDIN’ SOLO Athletes compete in non-team sports W

hile team sports like football and basketball garner most of the attention of fans, sports like archery, bull riding, and hunting still demand respect. These sports, known as solo sports, highlight the individual skill some sportsmen and women possess.

Senior Dakota Tarvin

Sophomore Aryonnah Briggs Photo | Sydney Boswell

“I used to ride dirtbikes, but one day I switched to bulls,” senior Dakota Tarvin said. “When I first started, I was pretty scared because of how big they were.

I started practicing more and more and I ended up getting pretty good. It really gets the adrenaline pumping.”

Sophomore Aryonnah Briggs “I wanted to try something new, so I tried out archery,” sophomore Aryonnah Briggs said. “When we go to competitions, we just discuss our goals for our events. It’s super competitive and something I really love.”

Senior Hunter Howard “I killed my first deer when I was three,” senior Hunter Howard said. “Ever since I was old enough to walk, my dad would take me hunting with him. I don’t just hunt deer though, I hunt turkeys too. It takes a lot of skill to hunt turkeys. You have to know the calls and you have to do a lot of hiking. I love how hunting brings my family closer together.”