BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY (BGQ) May. 2018

BGQ BBL LAAC CK K& & GO T ER RT LEYR L Y G LODL Q D UQAUR A may 2018 // volume ninety-seven

Why students walked out on March 14

Central sailing team’s spring season

Seniors’ plans for the near future

Student artwork and photography

’ editors note We at the BGQ seek to educate

better tomorrow through dedicated

their talents with the community,

our readers upon numerous topics

protests and passion. By featuring

so we hope this issue of the BGQ

that we believe are important to

her story of protests and political

helps broadcast the incredible

be aware of and understand as

action over the years, we desire

talent of the senior class and the

members of our society. In this

not to push a political agenda on

high school body as a whole.

issue, we decided to cover Cen-

our readers, but instead to illus-

tral’s participation in a nation-wide

trate how important it is to be po-

featuring interesting activities and

walkout to protest gun violence.

litically engaged no matter where

experiences the student body at

Discussing the implications and

our readers fall on the political

Central High School has encoun-

meaning behind the walkout

spectrum.

tered this past year. Lastly, we

We have thoroughly enjoyed

In addition, the BGQ sought

would like the thank Mrs. Hough-

regardless of political stances. We

to highlight the senior class of

ton, the CHS administration, and

wholeheartedly believe in the im-

2018 and feature their collegiate

the TCAPS Printing Department

portance of exposing our readers

choices while also asking them

for their continued support of our

to materials and ideas that may

humorous questions like “De-

Publication.

be out of their comfort zone; it is

scribe your high school experience

all too easy to avoid questioning

in one smell?” We also put the

our own beliefs and ideas. Social

seniors’ poetry skills to the test by

change is a difficult transition, but

asking them to summarize their

the first step is educating indi-

high school experience in a haiku.

viduals about the consequences,

Furthermore, we opened up our

repercussions, implications, and

paper to the Central student body

benefits of movements and ideas.

to feature student’s artwork, pho-

Individuals such as Judy Childs

tography, and writing. Often times,

epitomize the idea of pursuing a

individuals are not able to share

is important for all individuals

Send information, advertising and other inquiries to: Black & Gold Quarterly Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: (231) 933-3546 Email: filkinsji@tcaps.net 2 // BGQ // MAY 2018

From the Pub for the last time,

BGQ

BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY:MAY TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Andrea Bavikatty Kirsten Berkey CONTENT EDITORS Abigail Harnish Jack Myers Abigail Vannatter

14

6

SPORTS EDITOR Hayley Scollard BUSINESS MANAGER Baille Zipser PROMOTIONS EDITOR Hayley Scollard PHOTOGRAPHY Abigail Vannatter Olivia Wilson

4

18 20 26 14

22

Road to Rendezvous House of Blues

Setting sail

Life is a highway: future plans

6

18

26

Armed in unison

12

Minor in possession

Toast nine different ways

20

Identity in Traverse City

Student submissions

28

What does teen spirit smell like?

GRAPHICS Gwen Snyder Dahlia Vincent STAFF WRITERS Brandt Albright Sophie Boyce Paige Conners Ava Edwards Connor Ellison Horacio Gonzalez Jacqueline Gutierrez Ashtyn McGraw Khatoria Perry Gwen Snyder Dahlia Vincent COVER PHOTO Olivia Wilson

MISSION STATEMENT: The Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) is Traverse City Central High School’s student-run magazine.

Since its conception in 1886, our publication has evolved with the times, frequently changing in style, format, and even name. However, one factor has remained constant—our staff’s desire to capture the story of our community, to challenge the accepted, and to open our minds to perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered through investigation, research, and inquiry. We are constantly striving to improve our content and artistic elements; after all, the BGQ is a school publication, so educating both ourselves as well as our readers remains one of our primary goals.

Road to

RENDEZVOUS House of Blues Local high school students with a love for performing arts are excited to present...

RENDEZVOUS at the

H O U S E

by HORACIO GONZALEZ with ABIGAIL HARNISH

OF

B L U E S Showcasing TC Central instrumentalists & vocalists. Featuring, for the first time ever, The Vocal Aires

DATES: May 25th & 26th TIME: 7pm PLACE: TC Central Auditorium Tickets: $10 Adults $5 Students

Tickets available for purchase at the door - No reserved seating - Box office opens at 6pm on performance nights

Rendezous at the House of Blues is a student driven production. Join us and expect a variety of music, fun, and excellence!

2018

@rendezvous.hob

“For me, it’s always been a very powerful experience because I love to perform, especially with my fellow peers,” said Sarah Strom ‘18.

4 // BGQ // MAY 2018

After many struggles the student committee is almost completed with their Rendezvous, and the show will run on May 25 and May 26.

Overcome with nerves and excitement for the iconic event in their high school career, Sarah Strom ‘18, and her friends had been waiting for their Rendezvous since their freshman year. However, soon after the start of their senior year, they were disappointed to find out that the annual show would not happen this year. “When we realized that we didn’t have the opportunity to go to Europe and now we wouldn’t have our Rendezvous, it was like a ‘what’s going on?’ moment,” Strom replied.

Rendezvous is a musical performance that occurs every spring and allows students to perform their own choice of music, usually incorporating a jazz band.

After 20 years, the annual tradition of Rendezvous is now becoming biannual, taking place every other year. Jeffrey Cobb, former CHS choir director, shared his idea with his students in 1997, his first year teaching at CHS. The original Rendezvous was an annual dinner and show put on by small ensembles and several solos from members of the TCCHS Choirs. “For me, the best part was seeing what this experience did for my students,” Cobb responded. “For certain, those singing solos grew in confidence, and grew as musicians. To see how my students were changed by singing to a supportive soldout crowd, with 100 of their classmates

dancing along on the dance floor was awesome.”

When a group of students heard about the change in tradition, they took matters into their own hands and communicated with the administration and teachers, only to come to the realization that it was up to them. “There was a sense of entitlement,” Strom confessed. “We expected that there was going to be a Rendezvous.”

The group of students decided to form a committee to ensure the success of this student-run Rendezvous. With the committee being in charge of Rendezvous, as opposed to the Music Department, there will be many changes that will follow it. “We are not having a TCAPS sponsored Rendezvous this year,” Abe Stone ‘18 said.

“It’s an outside group, and we are putting on something very similar to Rendezvous.”

In honor of the changes being made, the students’ renamed the event ‘Rendezvous House of Blues.’ Among the many changes taking place, there will be a smaller band and fewer acts. Because of the more intimate vibe, the set list will include music spread out through different genres and different forms of music. “Rendezvous has always been such an exciting part of my spring,” Stone added. “It’s been an opportunity for me to arrange something on my own and create it in a way that I’m

Photo: courtesy of Front & Central

not able to express it in any other format, so it’s a moment that I can really express my inner musician, without sounding cocky.”

Not only are the students excited about the changes, but the faculty and volunteers involved are also enthused. “I would love for the students to be more involved from now” choir director Tamara Williams exclaimed. “This year’s Rendezvous is, in my eyes, their senior project because it’s something that they’re really passionate about. As an educator it’s the best experience to witness.”

Each member of the committee is contributing something to help set up Rendezvous.

Carey Owens is the producer and artistic director, David Chown is the music director, Olivia Wilson ‘18 and Ryan Towers ‘19 are the student producers. Stone, Strom, Peggy Owens ‘18, Grace Argyle ‘18, and Maddy Ford ‘19 are the student vocal committee chairs, and Kaysen Mortenson-Chown ‘18 and Delaney Jorgenson ‘18 are the student instrumentalist committee chairs. Along with their committee positions, students are in charge of raising enough money to stage Rendezvous at the Central auditorium. They created a GoFundMe page and have raised $1,000 thus far. This money will go to pay for rental of the auditorium, production costs, a donation to their accompanist, and possibly future shows. “We are working with a parent who’s a volunteer producer and also with our accompanist David

Chown. We have also found funding in the community,” according to Argyle. Students have faced many obstacles producing the show because it is not a TCAPS associated event. Issues such as renting the auditorium, financing the show, finding judges, adults and staff to oversee rehearsals after school have been just a few of the obstacles the committee has faced and overcome to keep their dream of Rendezvous alive.

Rendezvous has been a long tradition and great send off for the seniors. “For me its always been a very powerful experience because I love to perform, especially with my fellow peers,” Strom reflected. “This year in particular it’s even more important to me because for the first time I have had a piece in the organizational aspect. Now I understand how difficult it is to set up a performance like this.” Students have enjoyed Rendezvous because it’s one of their last memories that they will have of high school. It is something the can cherish and enjoy with their friends, and remember for years to come. //

“To see how my students were changed by singing to a supportive sold-out crowd, with 100 of their classmates dancing along on the dance floor was awesome,” said Jeffery Cobb.

armed in uni

6 // BGQ // MAY 2018

ison.

Students from Central took part in a National School Walkout to honor school shooting victims and to protest gun violence in the United States

by PAIGE CONNERS March 14th, exactly one month following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, 400 Central High School students walked out of class joining students across the country for 17 minutes to protest gun violence in the United States. Despite the miserable weather, these students participated because they shared a common passion and wanted to take a stand. “There was a really good feeling in the air,” Aidan Reed ‘19 observed. “It was nice to see so many people coming out and standing in solidarity with all the Parkland shooting victims and survivors. There was a sense of unity to it. Together, we felt safe.”

With the numerous walkouts they’ve planned, America’s youngest generation has had a serious impact on the movement to end gun violence. Eighteen-year-old Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Parkland shooting earlier this year, has become a leader in the student-led Never Again movement, which materialized in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting.

However, Gonzalez is certainly not alone in her efforts to prevent gun violence. In association with the Women’s March Board, teenagers across the country organized a series of over 2000 school walkouts, one of which occurred right here at Central High School. Rayna Archibald ‘18 coordinated Central’s walkout. “I decided to do something because something had to be done,” she explained, her voice filling with emotion. “I heard about the shooting at Parkland and I was horrified, like I always am when there is a mass shooting. I’m so glad that this time high school students have taken a stand.”

Joining students nationwide,Central’s student body walked out of school in response to a deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The shooter, a mentally ill 19-yearold expelled student from a troubled home, killed fourteen students and three staff members with a legally purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Since this tragedy, the Florida State Senate passed the Marjory 8 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The Act addressed mental health, firearm safety, and school safety, but more importantly it raised the minimum age to buy rifles to 21.

Although initiated by students, adults like TCAPS’ very own Judy Childs, a retired teacher, also had a part in the school’s walkout. A group of Traverse City citizens arrived just outside campus with posters in their hands and passion in their hearts, joining students for this impactful moment. They made sure to focus on empowering the students, as opposed to making the protest about their own viewpoints. They realize this is an issue for the students to tackle. “We need young people to say this isn’t right

“‘We wanted it to be as emotional as possible.’ And it was.” because they are our future,” said Childs. “I want for young people like you to call the representatives, call the state senators, call the national senators. You call and express your opinion, tell us what we have to do, then we get to vote on it.”

It is starkly evident from the amount of people who organized this walkout that there are students in Central that are doing all of what Childs encouraged. Archibald described how she and Lena Gerstle ‘18 collaborated, along with 15 or 20 other students, to organize the event. Archibald stated that the goals of the walkout were to empower the students and get teenagers involved in politics.

Katie Hamilton ‘19, one of the five student speakers during the walkout, is adamant that teenagers getting involved is incredibly important. “We are the future, and we are

the ones who are going to be able to make the changes that the current politicians have not,” Hamilton said. Archibald agrees, “There’s this counterargument to our participation in politics that says we’re too young to have our own opinions, but we do have an opinion. An opinion that matters.”

Guo-Jian Swartz ‘21 also gave a speech at the walkout. Swartz spoke about unification of the school’s population, “I saw this as a time to bring everyone together instead of dividing them with a political speech.” Being able to speak up about what he thought in front of so many of his peers was “empowering... exciting... exhilarating.” Exactly how Archibald wanted it to be.

Often times people view gun violence as a strictly political issue, but it doesn’t have to be. “We didn’t want the walkout to be focused on politics because we know a lot of people have conflicting opinions,” acknowledged Nora Blanchard ‘18, another student involved in planning the event. “We wanted this to be something that everyone could attend and resonate with. We wanted it to be as emotional as possible.” And it was. Toward the end of the 17 minutes, Gerstle read aloud the names of the Parkland victims along with several facts that highlighted each of their personalities. Pictures of them were held up as their names were read. Students bowed their heads for a moment of silence and all 17 photos were held up high. “It was a chance to put names to faces,” Gerstle said. “We’ve all heard that there are these mass shootings, and maybe some people have read about the victims too, but I think when they actually hear about what they liked to do and who they were, maybe they can realize these are real people and gun violence can impact anyone.”

All in all, this was an event dedicated to students: students who have tragically lost their lives, students who are currently fighting for what they believe, students who have yet to find their voice, and students who will follow in their footsteps. //

17 flowers for 17 lost lives.

All Graphics: D. Vincent

All Photos: O. Wilson

Demanding

CHANGE

By JACQUELINE GUTIERREZ

At only sixteen years old, Michael Gardyko ‘19 has become a political activist, marching and protesting for changes in policy As students approach adulthood, some are already taking steps to be involved in politics. One such student is Michael Gardyko ‘19, “I felt like I should start getting involved with something that I have always been interested in.”

Gardyko has always paid attention to current issues and events by watching the news or through social media. He was motivated by his parents and current political activists to act out on recent issues that he is passionate about, such as LGBT rights, world hunger, and social programs, which he hopes improve in the near future.

He plans on moving to Chicago after high school to become a macro worker, individuals who work with people, communities, major institutions, and non-profit organizations to meet community necessities.

Gardyko believes recent problems with gun violence and gun reform laws are serious issues especially, “for our age group.” He helped to organize the walkout at Central on March 14, as part of the National School Walkout movement against gun violence in schools. “The school administration would not let us advertise the walkout with posters or announcements, so we spread the word through social media and in person,” Gardyko recalled. While

Photo: courtesy of Michael Gardyko

Due to political controversy, generatio ple, both young and old, have taken t demanding change in policies and lea organizing the walkout, he was not expecting it to receive much attention. However, to his surprise, hundreds of students walked out and many adults were supportive of the protest. He found it very moving to see the support that the students showed when they arrived and spoke about gun violence in schools.

In addition to the walkout at Central, Gardyko also participated in the March for Our Lives in Washington D.C. on March 24. It was a nationwide protest among students and teachers who walked out of school to honor the seventeen lives that were lost during the shooting at Marjory

10 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Stoneman Douglas High School.

The march was, “not just about school shootings,” Gardyko said, but also to bring attention to the inaction of the government regarding gun violence in light of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14. When first hearing about the shooting, Gardyko described feeling, “angry that shootings keep happening and concerned for the people affected by them.” Gardyko firmly believes that politics affects everyone and it is important to stay up to date on what is happening because it will eventually become an important part of our lives.

Photo: courtesy of Michael Gardyko

ons of peoto the streets adership

Since retiring from teaching at TCAPS, Judy Childs has remained a passionate political activist, protesting and petitioning for change at both the state and national levels of government For seventeen years, Judy Childs, taught English Language Arts at East Middle School. “Teaching eighth grade English was my heart because we learn so much about ourselves through literature,” Childs remarked. During her teaching career, Childs would spend about six hours each night preparing for the next day because she wanted “everything to be great” for her students. Due to limited free time Childs was not able to pursue her passion of politics. However, having retired only few years ago, she was able to become more politically active, encouraging others to do so as well.

Childs has become a full-time political activist. In her opinion, political activism happens when individuals find an issue that affects a group of people who as a community stand up together to bring change and solve it.

Childs has taken greater steps to become more involved in recent worldwide issues. She participated in the Women’s March in Lansing with three of her friends and helped to gather signatures for petitions to address issues such as repealing the Emergency Manager Act, a bill signed into law

by Governor Rick Snyder in 2011, allowing Michigan’s governor to temporary replace mayors of financially struggling communities with emergency managers that serve for eighteen months or longer. With the help of her fellow activists, Childs gathered enough signatures for the petition to be

Photo: O. Wilson While marching for gun control reform in Traverse City, Judy Childs holds up sign she made over twenty years ago. “I have saved this sign since an education reform rally all the way back in the 90s,” Childs said. “I have kept it with me because I love to be vocal for change and making sure our children have good futures ahead of them.”

put on the ballot, so that constituents statewide would be able to vote on the issue. The law was repealed after a statewide vote, but a new version of the bill was written and signed into law only a few months later. “It was really disappointing to see our governor and state legislature repass this law because our elected leaders are supposed to listen to their constituents,” Childs said.

Childs is motivated by her desire to bring change to political issues she is passionate about. She has been working to shed light on issues like gun control reform and gerrymandering, a practice that establishes an advantage for a political party by manipulating boundaries of an electoral district.

She has petitioned to have gerrymandering outlawed because she believes, “a vote is a vote, and we should not have our votes construed into groups.”

Seeing her previous students craving for change, speaking out, and standing up against issues that could potentially be threatening in the future at the Central Walkout was a touching moment for Childs. “You [students] are our future and when I came to the Central walkout, I saw all these kids in the courtyard and it was serious to them,” Childs mentioned. “When I see young people protesting, I thank them so much for coming because they are what we need to bring change to society.” //

MINOR in

POSSESSION

On December 15, 2017, staff reporter Connor Ellison’s ‘19 life was turned upside down; from there, he began his journey of self-reflection and improvement

by: CONNOR ELLISON

by CONNOR ELLISON t

en

: hic

D.

c Vin

ap Gr I messed up big time. Now, I have to prove to everyone that I am not the person that my actions make me out to be— that I am not the person they think I am. Because of the mistake I made, I have to prove to my parents, school administrators, my friends and my recently acquired probation officer who the real Connor Ellison is while making up for that mistake.

On December 15, 2017, some friends and myself got together. The plan was to drink and go to a school basketball game and the dance after. It was shot, after shot, after shot of cheap vodka that tasted like rubbing alcohol. It was never our intentions to drink as much as we did. Once we left for the game I was drunk, leaving me with no conscience.

I couldn’t tell right from wrong at that point.

It was a very short game for me, Principal Berger pulled me out of the student section as soon as I sat down. In that moment, I knew I had made a huge mistake and the night would go south.

Principal Berger led me to the track office where Principal Skodack waited, and the three of us waited for Officer Soffredine.

Upon his arrival, he already had the Preliminary Breath Test, PBT, in his hands ready for me to blow. Once I blew, the reading on the scale read .208, which is three times over

the legal limit for an adult 21 and over. Then, Principal Berger took me up to the main office to sit and wait for my dad. The wait felt like it was never-ending, possibly hours long; but in reality, it was only a mere 30 minutes.

The next morning I had two things waiting for me: a throbbing headache and a lecture from my parents. My parents sat me down in their room and told me some things I’ll never forget. “One’s actions don’t define the type of person that they are. Yes, you made a mis-

take but who cares? It’s the come back that matters and how you prove to everyone that you’re not who they saw last night.” This has stuck with me since that night. This is where my comeback would start.

The first court date was the most nerve-racking. I had no idea what to expect.

In the courtroom they ran over what had happened that night and told me what the consequences would be. However, I wouldn’t be charged until my third court date. I was

Photo: Olivia Wilson

12 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Graphic: G. Snyder charged with a Minor in Possession, MIP, which was a misdemeanor when I had got in trouble. In January, the MIP law was changed to a civil infraction. Unfortunately, I lucked out. I was put on probation which consisted of: community service, drug and alcohol screening, meetings with my probation officer, and even counseling. Counseling isn’t as bad as one would think, my first

“In the moment, I knew I had made a huge mistake and the night would go south.” meeting with the counselor was surprisingly nice. I expected it to be boring and stupid, but I was wrong. I went into it with an open mindset and it was actually nice. Community service is kind of boring but it’s nice to meet new people and help out at The Women’s Resource Center. The screening is a hassle;

I have to test two times a week and eight times a month. I also have to pay twenty dollars for every test that I attend to. My probation officer is Jeff Burdick. I heard a lot about him going into probation, but it was nice to see for myself. Jeff is a very intimidating guy at first, but once you get to know him a little he’s not too bad. Along with the legal consequences, I was suspended from school for four days, which led into Christmas break. The long break gave me time to dwell on my thoughts. I dreaded coming back to school because I knew that I had to gain respect from all my teachers again and face the judgement of my peers. Contrary to what I thought, most of my teachers were very helpful with getting me back on track.

Despite how helpful everyone was, I knew I had a target on my back. One mistake and everything could start all over again.

After first semester exams, I picked up School Newspaper as a class. I chose this class because in the midst of all the drama I started to write. Whenever I had the chance, I’d be writing in a notebook or jotting things down in my phone. The class has really helped me become a better writer in general.

It also enables me to write for a purpose and not just writing random things. I’ve thought about if I continue writing, maybe I could pursue writing in the future.

After all of this settles down, I will be on the right path. Since the start, I have been taking steps to becoming a better version of myself, the self I want reflected for others to see. The experience itself has humbled me, and if it weren’t for the incident I would still be heading down the wrong path. My advice to whomever reads this is to stay away from the drugs, the alcohol, the bad influences,

“I am starting to be proud of the person I am becoming, and the person I’ve turned into.” and all of that stuff. Stick to doing what you want to do, stay out of trouble and stick to your plan. At the end of the day you need to realize what’s best for you and your future.

I am starting to be proud of the person I am becoming, and the person I’ve turned in to.//

Setting Sail

by AVA EDWARDS

Traverse Area Community Sailing, or TACS have been competing in sailboat races all around the region since 1994. However, in the 2018 season, student’s from Central, West, and St. Francis have been mastering skills all season long, despite the lengthy winter. Perhaps the advantage of being surrounded by the largest fresh-water system in the world has made TACS a strong competitor.

Living in the Great Lakes Region, Michiganders are spoiled with crystal clear waters, cool winters, and warm summers. Traverse Area Community Sailing, or TACS, makes sure they take advantage of that water, whether it’s spring, summer, or fall. With 230 sailing teams in their midwest region, sailing teams compete against each other from Traverse City and as far away Chicago.

Olivia Wilson ‘18, says she and her team “practice together with West and St. Francis, then we sail separately on different teams.” Practices take place on the Boardman River behind the library on Woodmere in Traverse City. Central Crew member Amelia Burke ‘18 admits that “the farthest place we’ve gone for a regatta would probably be Chicago.” A regatta is a series of boat races. Kai Dolan ‘20 explains that during a regatta teams “typically have twelve races.

Sometimes more but most of the time around ten or twelve.”

Types of Races During a regatta there are two types of races, depending on the season. During the fall season, every team that competes in the regatta has one boat out on the water at a time with two people per boat. This is known as fleet racing. “You go around the racecourse, you go around some buoys, and you cross the finish line,” according to Burke. The boat that crosses the finish line first is the winner.

14 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Team racing, which occurs during the spring season, is bit more complicated. Every team competing in the regatta has three boats on the water. The winner is determined by the team that has the lowest combined score. The score is made up of placement scores (first place= one point, second place= two points, etc.). However, to win a team must have a combined score of less than ten. Wilson says she really enjoys team racing because “it’s a lot more tactics and a combination of what placements you get. So, even if you get 6th place but one of your team members gets first, you still might win. It’s a game of screwing people over. It’s really fun.” Team racing is much more strategic than fleet racing.

Teams race on lakes and inland lakes. Both races have relatively the same type of course. Kai Dolan explains “we have one mark down by the starting line and it’s normally a committee boat, that’s our starting line. And then, a ways away we have another mark, and those are called gates. We can go to whatever mark we choose. But we have to go by one of them.”

Courses are predetermined and competitors get a chance to learn and practice the course before the race. TACS also provides the boats that students use.

Sailors sail on what are called 420’s, named for the size of the boat. They are 4.2 meters long, or 420 centimeters. Wilson says that TACS saves the team thousands of dollars in equipment. Most of it is pro-

vided by TACS, making sailing affordable for the team, although sailors still have to pay individual fees.

Positions and Practices There are two main positions on a sailing team: a crew and a skipper. The skipper drives the boat, while the crew operates the ropes that make the sail and other parts of the boat move. The crew is only necessary when teams sail on a multiple person boat. The primary boat TACS uses in their races are 420s, which are a two person boat.

The sailing team has three two and a half hour practices a week and regattas on the weekends. This requires a major commitment for crew members.

Wilson says that practices are mostly spent getting “rigging and derigging.” Rigging is setting up the boat and getting it ready to sail on the water. Derigging is removing equipment to get the boat ready to be stored and put away after sailors are done sailing. Sailors only spend about about an hour and a half on the water during practice.

Since the team is sponsored by TACS and not Central, it is considered a club sport. Some team members and their parents have tried to get Central to endorse the team and make it a varsity sport with little success.

Sailors at Central say that they really enjoy being a part of this team for a variety of reasons. Wilson explained that her love of sailing started with her grand-

father, stating that he “was actually a really big sailor.”

Wilson didn’t start sailing until her sophomore year, and despite the late start, she loves the sport just like the rest of her team. Burke says her favorite part about sailing is “having fun with friends and hanging out in the water when it’s a warm day.“ Dolan says her love of sailing began when she was just seven years old with TACS, “I’ve always loved sailing. I’ve always loved being on the water. It’s really relaxing. It can be super fun.” Her experience has also earned her the chance to teach other children to sail if they join TACS. The Great Lakes Region makes up the largest freshwater system in the entire world. So why wouldn’t people take advantage of this beautiful water source that beckons to them? Traverse City Central’s sailing team does just that, during spring, summer, and even into the fall season. //

Graphics: D. Vincent

Photos: courtesy of Jim Sorbie

always loved sailing. I’ve always loved being “ I’ve on the water. I think it’s just a worldwide thing, it

doesn’t matter where you’re from. If you like sailing, you connect.

-Kai Dolan ‘20

“

16 // BGQ // MAY 2018

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TOAST 9 DIFFERENT WAYS

18 // BGQ // MAY 2018

A simple pleasure, a beautiful thing, a grand awakening to the start of one’s day; toast. Toast may be one of most underrated breakfast foods. Traditionally known as a toasted piece of sliced bread and butter, toast is a universal ‘ole reliable.’ However we are in the year 2018—times are changing, ideas are modernizing—so why not renew what we once knew as a simple pleasure and reveal the hidden treasure. This is modernized toast, nine different ways. avocado balsamic olive oil sea salt

almond butter honey cinnamon

cream cheese rosemary lemmon pepper

cream cheese raspberry jam

red sauce fried egg sage sea salt

almond butter coconut chocolate

chocolate coconutpeanut butter banana chia seeds

buttter cinnamonsugar

avacado fried egg rosemarry sea salt pepper

thomas pettinato

“

Living in TC has taught me to enjoy my surroundings and not take anything for granted because of how beautiful the city is. All of my great friends in TC will make leaving next year very hard.

” “

I am most excited to find my place in the world- both in who I want to be and what I want to do with the rest of my life. As I am going into this next part of life and the plethora of opportunities are continuously unfolding, I get a great sense of hope knowing that I am in control of the impact I want to make on others.

” strom sarah

20 // BGQ // MAY 2018

savannah rider

“

I care more about my individuality. Being able to be on my own and control my income in order to further expand my education, I believe in rounding myself out in order to become my own person so I don’t have the weight of depending on other people for my happiness.

”

In our spinoff of Humans of New York, the Black & GoldQuarterly went out into the Grand Traverse community in search of uniquity. Our mission was to find inspiring stories and share them to encourage self-expression.

Through a variety of randomly selected people, we were able to find one commonality—passion.

Stories like theirs are what make us believe in the power that comes from expression through journalism. People. are art. We feel when combining their words with a visual story, a unique and inspiring message is created.

Members of our community have conveyed their identiti- -es and inspired us through their wopassion. To ords and sense of us, this is the truest kind finding mof journalism— oving stories & shathring em. //

identity

traverse city

by ABIGAIL VANNATTER & OLIVIA WILSON

in

LIFE IS A

HIGHWAY Each member of the Class of 2018 is headed down a unique road in the future; here are their plans for the fall

Adrian College Kacie Salon

Davenport University Hailey Williams

Albion College Rayna Archibald Madeline Prall

DePaul University Bianca Alfano

Aquinas College Mary Armour Baker College Cadillac Abigail Terzano Berklee College of Music Peggy Owens Boston University Ally Brown Brigham Young University Cassandra Kellett Case Western Reserve University William Kunz Central Michigan University Alex Dunlop Lainee Kreykes Olivia Terrell Colgate University Alex Theophilus

DigiPen Institute of Technology Teddy McKay Douglas J Aveda Institute Estella Moreno Drake University Maisy Russell Fashion Institute of Technology Periwinkle Kietzman “Life’s like a road that you travel on When there’s one day here and the next day gone Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand Sometimes you turn your back to the wind.”

-Tom Cochrane

Ferris State University Will Barnes Jack Coffey Kyle Knowles Nichole Wagner

College of Charleston Raleigh Cerre

Foreign Exchange Adrian Beyer Amelia Burke

Colorado State University Forrest Chan

Gap year William Giddings Isabelle Payette Kaylee Powell Marais Southby Shane Videki

Dartmouth College Maxwell Ranger

Grand Rapids Community College Sam Briggs Jake Fyfe Grand Valley State University Ashley Anderson Lora Bartnick Allison Beauchamp Ashley Bohn 22 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Bowen Brunner Samuelson Critchfield Kurstin Frank Kody Galla Caroline Komrska Jessie Lampton Dylan Liggett Morgan McGrew Carter Stewart Tristen Szafranski Jessica Xaver Baillie Zipser Grossmont College Elizabeth Dubow Hong Kong College Pui Man Chow Hope College Hayley Scollard Halee Stalmack Indiana Wesleyan University Margot Woughter John Carroll University Riley Dorgan Kalamazoo College Nora Blanchard Walker Chung Lena Gerstle Emerson Holmes Teague Tompkins Lucy Voss Kettering University Sidney Gadzinski Lake Superior State University Brianna Smith Lansing Community College Hanah Hull Luke Klug Loyola University Chicago Sarah Strom Life Skills Center Isabell Grinnel

Life University Annaliese Froese Caylee Costanza Lindenwood University Nicholas Hains

Christina Batsikouras Megan Ehlers Tyler Flask Angel Martin Claire Selby Abigail Weatherholt

London Electrical College, England William Smith

“Through all these cities and all these towns

Macalester College Quintin Grabowski

I love you now like I loved you then

Miami University of Ohio Julia Bodnar Michigan Career And Technical Institute Jacob Belcher Michigan State University Alexis Akey Jada Archer Josh Barresi Kirsten Berkey Ben Brott Dan Carmichael Ethan Clore Katarina Fenton Wiley Fraser Martin Foley Abby Harnish Maggie Jenkins Jessica Jerome Noah Kendra Asher Larrance Sydney McCardel Macy Meindertsma Connor Morrison Rachel Muszynski Jared Nefcy Terry O’Connor Ella Oliver Thomas Pettinato Kyle Pullen Autumn Roberts Olivia Saunders Nick Simerson Bailey Swanson Emma Torgrul Anna Tripp Jordan Vicent Ciara Worthington Michigan Tech Mackenzie Campbell Isaac Coulter Quin Doud Nicholas Linder Max McGinty Isabelle McGuire Cooper Nordeen Gabe Pickett Trevor Sears Johnny Socks Military Derek Akers Logyn Clark Gage Gay Tyler Huffman Northern Michigan University

It’s in my blood and it’s all around

This is the road and these are the hands.”

-Tom Cochrane

Northwestern Michigan Community College Olivia Aeschliman Hannah Armstrong James Asava Ben Baillie Ian Berry Michael Bills Jesse Blesh Gordon Boomer Sebastian Brons-Piche Peyton Campbell Natalia Chela Jaden Davis Cameron DeBortoli Karly Domine Emma Durocher Skylar Duell Katelyn Emmott LeighAnn Endres Aiden Fielstra Ryan Frost Brenna Glinski Sarina Golden Gustavo Gomez Amaia Griffis Amanda Hall Miles Hanbury Joseph Herman Robert Hosler Carly Isaac Harlie Jakee Emma Jamieson Garrett Jenema Lilia Kidd Andrea Klann Grant Komrska Hannah Kyro Cameron MacKinnon Nicholas Maleitzke Ryan McNally Zachary Mead Mara Morley Amanda Neal Abby Niessink Andrew Palchak Alex Peterson Emily Piper Damien Puckett Tanner Rabb Sage Rancour Lucy Rogers Nicole Rogers Emily Round Alayna Rowe Madison Seeley Sam Sherwin Gwen Snyder

Matthew Sowers Savannah Stepke Alex Stern Abe Stone Lindsey Summers Nicholas Sythat Mason Thompson-Evans Kendall Travis Sarah Ullom Jacob Volz Nicky Wang Alexander Whiting Samuel Wilson Heather Ufer Keegan Zak Northwestern University Sielle Kearney Aili Simpson Ohio State University Aubrey Goodwin Oregon College of Art and Craft Carlie Wilson Pennsylvania State University Alexis DiPonio Southern Illinois University Thomas Berry Southern Methodist University Ru Ferguson Spring Arbor University Rebekah Cotton Syracuse University/ESF Olivia Wilson Traverse City Beauty College Paige Cox Tufts University Abigail Caldwell Tulane University Mary Margaret Sutherland Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville Dakota Cape-Perry Hunter Helsel Universal Technical Institute Orlando Logan Mayfield University at Buffalo (SUNY) Shan Jiang University of Chicago Joe Aulicino University of Detroit Mercy Cameron Case Landon Case University of Michigan Andrea Bavikatty Madelynn Brady Paige Carrigan Martin Chown

Western Michigan University Lauren Davenport Drew Farmer Miguel Ferraro Molly Jackson Matt Palmer Ethan Silvermen Riley Stratton

Zachary Armstrong Anthony Benak Guin Boothroyd Bailie Brahier Zackary Corwin Fischer Craft Christopher Fawcett Jacob Fyock Michael Havenga Trey Hepler Mark Hipolito Brooke Knauss Jose Magana Fatima Marcelo Megan McManemy Destiny Mount Autumn Norkowski Bryce Orr Sean Pataky James Price Shane Seivertson Gracie Simon Tyler Smith Jack Solomonson Elizabeth Straughen Jasmine Sutton Mary Swick Dahlia Vincent Quinten Wood

Wheaton College Lauren Breederland

Yale University Elliott Smith

Whitman College Fielding Schaefer

Current exchange students Marina Argueso Valeriya Bondarenko Michela Carboni Santiago Fernandez-Beyro Garcia Carmen Gomez De La Varga

Max Fiegel Macy Fouch Abigail Fox Jacob Harrison Cassidy Henshaw Delaney Jorgensen Taylor Kolosar Benjamin McCrary Tess Mello Kaysen Mortensen-Chown Abigail Puckett Andrew Roberts John Waisanen Thomas Waisanen University of Oregon William Trucco University of Vermont Joe Michno

Work Abigail Anderson Brooke Araizaga

24 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Wilma Gunnari Guillermo Herrera Maria Mossaad-Dementieva Layla Nama Altynai Nuralieva Panupasu Panpech Pitchaya Tadachawasakul Other Jacob Burton Undecided Autumn Anderson Grace Argyle Mason Lutze Unknown Justin Choate Idalia Cueller Veyda DeAgro-Ruopp Kaya Dean Mason Engel Taylur Gould Parker Greilick Owen Haver Caleb Kemp Aariyanna Koernke Jared Kotarski Elijah LaLonde Karl Lannen Skyler Lautner Zachery Leonard Skylar Light Ana MacManus Jacob Matteson Lenni McMahan Mariah Mojica Marko Morozov Andrew Morse Joshua Musser Austin Nixon Jade Ortiz Johnathan Pahl-Wisniewski Autumn Penick Nataliya Pyshnyuk Benjamin Rasho Jared Reece Kameron Reffitt Brandon Reyes Ashley Richey Savannah Rider Annika Robens Abraham Russell Devon Shelton August Shenk Ethan Silverman Ezekiel Smith Marissa Smith Kyle Sudheimer Mikayla Sweet Spencer Torres Hope Turner Jolo Vandenberg Nicky Wang Ashley White Lindsey Wilder

Had a silly time TCAPS really goofed my stuff Shout out to Joyce B PEYTON CAMPBELL

Ready to be done Let me walk across that stage Where’s my diploma ABBY WEATHERHOLT

Four years of torture Taking nothing but APs Worth it in college RILEY DORGAN

High school started rough I’ve learned to reclaim my space Left a legacy RAYNA ARCHIBALD

Black and gold and black Smiling faces in the stands Titans feel my wrath ETHAN CLORE

This place kinda sucks I am so ready to leave I want to nap now lSABELLE MCGUIRE

HIGH SCHOOL We asked seniors to create haikus that would summarize their high school experiences. Here are their responses.

“Abe, you are too loud.”

“Abe, shut up so I can work.”

Got the hint. Don’t care.

ABE STONE

HAIKUS Procrastination Being very sleep deprived Better be worth it HANNAH KYRO

Walking through the halls Vape juice lingers everywhere Got a contact high QUINN DOUD

STUDENT

SUBMISSIONS An ode to my subie, Juno Twilight Set

HAYLEY SCOLLARD ‘18 Sports Editor

I got my Subie From a couple of dudes with doobies They asked me for $3,500 I said, “knock it down a couple hundred” Not going to lie, I was ripped off The brakes squeak, when I touch the gas it’s blast off We cruise through town with his windows down The wind wiping away my frown My Subie has seen a lot Times I’ve slid across ice Which will not suffice Times I went into a ditch And uttered, “son of a b****” My friends say I’m a bad driver, I tell them I’m a survivor Of my Subie with bad brakes, Maybe I’m just distracted by those beautiful lakes I will surely miss this place My Subie has taken me through my tearful times And my dandy days He’s seen me tired and uninspired Jubilant and gleeful Sadly, my Subie has been sick for a while He has a bad case of engine bile His passenger window is stuck ajar And he has a lot of battle scars Despite his worth of $400 I will always be my Subie’s number one follower Maybe I wasn’t ripped off at all My Subie and I have had a ball Perhaps he will go to Subie heaven soon Otherwise the doc will resurrect his engine, make him immune I pray he will make it through We have many adventures to debut

26 // BGQ // MAY 2018

The photos I’ve submitted were taken in moments of spontaneity, at times where I have felt the presence of those dear to me the strongest. In each photo I feel that it shows in the warm levels of light. I’ve found that at certain times of day the sun tends to highlight what is important to you and it shines as if it were the sun itself or perhaps I’m just seeing things. Regardless, human experience is a precious thing, everyone sees different things and reflects upon them in their own unique way, in my photography I hope to lend eye

GWEN SNYDER ‘18 Graphic Artist

DAHLIA VINCENT ‘18 Graphic Artist

AP Studio Works

In AP Studio, we have projects that are due every other week called concentrations - pieces that are related to each other in theme. With my theme, surrealism with produce and people, I had specifically planned out this one ahead of time. I remember myself just feeling hazed, yet bittersweet over the school year ahead of me that summer. In a way, I believe

Luna

that feeling is trapped in this piece.

Because each time I look at it, I remember how I’d be heart broken over the change to come. Yet at another glance, I understand its implications of my triumph. I’ve endured, I’ve emerged, and I’ve come to embrace the uncertainty of my future like those green figures do.

Silver Buds

Shane Seivertson ‘18 Guest Writer

Abby Vannater ‘19 Photo Editor

“You know, it’s amazing to come back to where we first met, it’s especially beautiful this time of day.” The sparkling tide rolled in and splashed against his feet. He looked down to the sand and let out a sigh. This beach wasn’t the same since she had gone. Before her death, every month, they

made it a goal to get back to this beach and spend an evening together like they did on their first date. “I do wish you’d come back…It wasn’t very fair now was it?” He muttered to himself. He placed his hand down and touched the small shrine he had made to her at this exact spot some time ago. It wasn’t very fancy, she didn’t like extravagance.

It was a jagged red stone, decorated with plastic, silver, flower buds. He didn’t mind the silence left in her place, just knowing that she might be there watching over him was enough. “Maybe I should leave, it is getting late.” A small, invisible trail of vapour excreted itself from the stone, shaping itself into the outline of a shapely girl. He still couldn’t see this, and simply kept watching the tide come in and go out, again and

again. The ghostly entity floated in front of him, it’s incorporeal hands gripping his shoulders and leaving small droplets of water as they remained. She gave a small, silent giggle and brought her vaporious lips to his for a fleeting moment, pulling away just as soon. She mouthed three words to him, even if he couldn’t see. “I love you.” Is what she tried to tell him. A few small droplets of water manifested onto his lips. He gave a perplexed look and wiped them off. The entity of vapor shook her head and faded away back to the stone. “Goodnight, Annie, I love you.” He smiled and arose, putting on his sandals and making his way back to his car.

This story was inspired by a story I had heard a few years ago. I put my own twist on it, and based it off my friend Annie who died of cancer.

None pizza with left beef

Gracie

JACK MYERS ‘19 Content Editor I have been birthed My desires unearthed None pizza with left beef It made me feel like a chief My mother was confused Though I was amused It was my day of birth Alas, I knew my worth At the dining hour I had total power My friends gathered round Hungry like starved hounds We opened the box The pizza so new Yet familiar Reminded of the meme That has lived in many a dream None pizza with left beef It’s crusty Never musty But let me be brief I did it for the meme That has lived in many a dream None pizza with left beef It’s crusty Never musty But let me be brief I did it for the meme Not for the taste Sadly the crust was

like hard paste It was made with uncareful haste The beef was tasteless, such a waste My scheme for the meme lived in my dream Yet, I was disappointed I thought I would have felt anointed, But I was proven wrong, While I was in the middle of the throng The meme was shattered Nothing else mattered How could I be betrayed?

If only I had obeyed The wisdom of my mother, But she would never understand The sacrifice I made for the meme I had my druther And I was hurt, But it was worth it I learned something new, Memes can be agonizing, Not appetizing, But they are also tranquilizing The meme lived in my dream And now I just wait for my next scheme

28 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Chloe Dutton ‘20 Guest Photographer I was watching my dog play with these bubbles in the living room. I noticed how cool the lighting looked coming through the windows, and reflecting in the bubbles. Later after I took the photo, I realized how it looked more simple in black and white.

Clementine

Inky Shya Thayer ‘19 Guest Photographer

Hole in One

WHAT DOES

TEEN SPIRIT SMELL LIKE? “High school smells like teas, because I drink it every morning to help get me through each long day of school work.”

“I spent a lot of time in weight room during high school, so I would say it kind of smells like the weight room.”

We asked seniors to think of a smell that would sum up their high school experience

“High school smells like skunk because it was something I always hated but couldn’t get rid of.”

NORA BLANCHARD

CONNOR MORRISON

BEN BAILLIE

“I would say it smells fruity because people are always putting cologne in the hallways, which smells fruity.”

BEN BROTT “High school smells like rubber on a race track because it flew by so fast!”

SKYLER DUELL

“It smells musty with a hint of sweat because Central is old and everyone works hard and plays hard.”

MADELYNN BRADY

Cave painting collection

Liam Berigan ‘20 Guest Photographer

Last semester, I was given the opportunity to create a piece of art in any style I wanted. I had been reading about the Neolithic and I thought it would be cool if I made a cave painting. Drawing on the Caves of Lasceux and other sites from northern Spain, I went to work creating the cave wall itself (a mixture of construction sand and glue which created a mortarlike substance), then drawing the animals using using pastels and charcoal.

As I was studying the cave drawings, I saw that many of the “scenes” depicted groups of people.

The negative hands in particular were striking to me because it gave a sense of community; It was a stamp that said, “I was here, I made this”. To capture that essential aspect in my work, I asked my friends and students in my art class to suggest animals and give symbols that represented themselves. I included all of symbols and animals suggested. Quickly, the work became more than just an art project: it became a depiction of a community.

Mellow Blossom

I am really inspired by the book Warrior Cats and I made this drawing for a social media group revolving around the book series. I am really proud of this drawing and I wanted to share it with the school.

Kira Kombol ‘21 Guest Artist

30 // BGQ // MAY 2018

Jellyfish

Elliot Smith ‘18 Guest Photographer I saw plenty of beautiful fish while I was on spring break at the Toronto aquarium, but what struck me the most was the thousands of visitors who were packed in front of these giant tanks, just to get a window into some of nature’s most beautiful marine life. They were drawn by a universal connection that humans have with natural world, one of twhe few things that truly unifies us as a species. In front of the jellyfish tank, observers’ differences are obscured as they come together to learn from a group of animals over 1000 times older than mankind.

I started as an unassuming trickle, deep in the mountains.

Growing larger with each tumble over the rocky terrain, becoming louder and more powerful with each push.

So powerful that humanity has to build around me.

I cut through civilization after civilization, and eventually I run off into the formidable depths of the ocean, but I always come back to one spot, where a sleepy town full of restless people have found home in one of my many twists and turns.

It’s a place of peace and war.

Of love and hate.

Of countless impossibilities.

Yet they’re there, if you only look hard enough.

Which is rather easy to do when you’re a river.

The first resident that struck my interest was a young woman with tears unshed in her green eyes and words unspoken resting on her tongue.

She sat down upon my bank and thought of how she could drown herself, before deciding it would be too risky, too unpredictable, and rising once more as she took her leave.

River

Sometimes I wonder what happened to her.

If she ever found someone to cry those tears with, or if she ever said those words she wanted to say, but I suppose there’s a bliss in not knowing.

Many more people came as the years passed.

Couples come to carve the trees that grew along my banks.

Children come to frolic in the shallows and play with the fish.

Once an old woman told me a story, a story of love and loss and heartbreak and happiness.

She offered the sweetest smile before she peacefully died, wrapped in a hand-knitted shawl with her feet dangling loosely above my waters.

Perhaps she was the young lady who visited me so many years ago.

Or maybe she wasn’t.

It doesn’t seem to matter much when you’re a river.

Paige Connors ‘21 Staff Reporter

The Coffin Nail

leaves me. People never stay. Please don’t you leave me too,” I cried to my sister. Not a single person had known where I had gone.

Meanwhile, rumors went around, “Is Annemarie pregnant again?”

“I heard she’s running from the cops.”

“I heard she got sent to jail.”

“Nah, I heard she got hooked on drugs and that she’s a junkie.”

I instantly discovered how privileged I was.

I lived with eleven other girls from the age of twelve to sixteen. Nobody had a family who loved them, except me. No one came to visit them, no one begged to talk to them on the phone, and no one treated them like a human being. These girls were abused, left on the side of the road, raped, and whipped. Not AnneMarie Jenkins ‘20 a single person was like me. I wasn’t abused, Guest Writer at least not by my family, I wasn’t immature, and I knew how to take care of myself.

“Mommy, won’t you take me home now?

Having been an addict since 13, constantly I get it. I don’t belong here. These people craving the next blur, I had fallen in love with don’t have a family, but I do. I’ll do anything. the devil. This boy was my number one but I’ll break up with the devil. I’ll move back in. he turned me to something that became I’ll do anything,” I cried on the phone. I was more important than anything. My life was petrified of what I saw on a daily basis. Girls okay, prior to the boy. I had a life everyone fighting, girls cutting themselves, and people wanted. Two supportive parents who loved going a-wall. There were five other houses. me endlessly and wanted what was the best for me. I rejected all help that came my way.

Boys and girls houses. We went to school together, we went to lunch together, but that “I am and always will be the only person who

was it, we were not to interact or have relacares about you. I am the only person who

tionships with the other people on campus. loves you for the person you are becoming

I was told that I didn’t belong there by staff, and who you are now” I was told, “Your parbut then others told me I got exactly what I ents are crazy and do not care about you.” I deserved. was taken away from my moral center and inOne day in mid August my parents came troduced to a darker one. I had fallen in love to visit me for a family meeting. Prior to the with the haze; Mary-Jane was my number meeting I had wanted nothing to do with one, the coffin nail my number two. them. I did not want to talk to them, let alone “Honey, I feel like I don’t know you anymore. see them ever again. I even asked people if This isn’t who you are, you’re not a bad perthey would adopt me. I was hurt and I felt as son. I know you’re hurting and that you don’t though they didn’t love me. However on this hate us,” my mom told me. I would reject warm August day something transformed every word. I wanted everyone to believe that within me. All the sudden I never wanted I was becoming exactly who I was meant to from everything that I ever knew. them to leave. For the first time in a very be.

“I hate you. You’re not my parents. You are long time I felt loved by them. I felt like they I came home one day with the smell of just two people who took me in because my were my family again and I loved them so smoke still drifting off of me. ¨Hey honey, did true parents didn’t love me.” I screamed much. Then the time came for them to leave you smoke today?¨ My mom had asked me. while throwing a table across the room. “Just and I fell apart, I even begged them to take ¨Yeah mama, can you smell it?” I said screw off and let me live with him already. me home with them, but they knew I wasn’t quietly. However I did not care if she was able Can’t you see that I clearly don’t love you?” ready yet. They weren’t wrong. to tell. I was not trying to hide it. It had slowly My words were incomprehensible to my parMonths went on and I talked to them on started to become a part of me. I saw the ents. The adults surrounding me faulted my the phone every Monday and Thursday. I fear in her eyes, but ignored it. I didn’t care parents for my actions. In time I went MIA for grew happy and the shimmer in my eyes what she had to say. The room was spinfive months. Little did I know that I was getning and I enjoyed it. A small buzz that lasts ting help. I went in kicking and screaming. No started to come back. One day one of the staff told me, “Annemarie you seem so free. seconds. Slowly pulling me back in to smoke way on earth was I going to stay there. I had You seem so much better then when you another. I did not think this would happen, already been abandoned once. I trembled came in. You look as though whatever darkbut my mom did and she warned me to never inside and on the outside. “Everyone always start.

“Don’t you start using that coffin nail” mama once told me, “It’ll make you look ugly and you aren’t ugly. People waste their money on stupid crap like that, don’t you start too.” She knew it was coming. She knew one day I’d spend over $200 on the coffin nail. I didn’t believe her. But she knew. She knew who I was becoming before I even had.

She saw the darkness fill my eyes and the light sucked from my soul. She saw the dark cloud hanging over my head before I knew the storm was coming.

Things began to change between us. We slowly began to stray apart from one another.

The world around me was somber. People always told me that my parents loved me and cared for me, but the one whom I trusted most told me otherwise. All I wanted was that next drink and to chase that next high.

Not only did I fight everyone physically but I fought them even more mentally. My life began to go down the drain. My body was perplexed in the everyday choices I made, causing it to ignite from the inside out. The sparkle in my eyes had diminished. My heart was no longer warm, just frozen. The darkness wired my brain and snatched me away

“No way on earth was I going to stay there. I had already been abandoned once.”

32 // BGQ // MAY 2018

ness filed you before has been lifted from your soul.” I was confused by this statement at first, but then I began to understand what she had been talking about. I was free. I was no longer being manipulated. I was no longer being hurt by someone I loved.

Eventually my parents were allowed to take me off campus on Sunday’s. Whenever I came back from hanging out with them I went to my room and cried. I craved their love and affection. No one understood how hard it was on me to watch them drop me off and walk away. Time went on and at the end of every visit or phone call I would start an argument and walk away. The more I hurt them the less difficult was for me to watch them leave. They soon began to understand what I was doing.

Thanksgiving home visits were just around the corner and I was terrified. In the car I

said to my mom, “Mom I’m scared. You don’t understand how hard it is for me when you always leave me here after the visits. I just want to come home. I feel as though I can’t get any better here. I feel as though they’ve helped me as much as possible and that they can’t do anymore for me.” She looked at me and said, “Honey, you aren’t going to be here much longer. When I come to get you for your home visit that will be your last day. We are taking you home. We want you home and we want to work on this as a family now. We think it’s time.”

Joy had filled my body giving me butterflies.

I had never felt so much joy, but that joy was soon destroyed. My counselor said to me, “You’re not ready to leave, but thats your parents choice. You’re going to screw up, at least that’s what I believe. So prove me wrong.” I stared into her eyes and said, “Ha,

that’s where you’re wrong, and don’t worry I’ll do just that, I’ll prove you wrong.”

It’s been about five months since I’ve been home and I can’t describe how it makes me feel. My relationship with my parents is as perfect as it gets. My dad and I go on dates.

My mom and I hang out. Everyday I say, “Mommy I love you. Can I have a hug?” I am a child at heart. I do stupid things, but I’ve only relapsed once. I proved everyone wrong.

I changed, and when I say I changed I sure as heck changed for the better. People didn’t believe in me. They thought I couldn’t do it, but I did. People need to understand that if you want be something great they can, even if people say it’s not possible. It’s always possible. I never thought my relationship with my parents could be fixed, since I destroyed it to the ground, but I was wrong. They love me with every inch of their hearts. //

Sunset The photo was taken of my grandparents house and that become kind of a big photo that we always look back on. It was taken last summer and it’s been one of my best works and the format fit so I though why not because it would fit in with the black and gold quarterly

Carter Bloxsom ‘21 Staff Reporter

Northern Flicker When you go for a walk in the woods, you can see quite a lot if you’re quiet enough, but most people aren’t. If you are quiet enough though, you can get photo opportunities like this one I got of a Northern Flicker up in this Beech tree.

Donnovan Stone ‘19 Guest Writer

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2018 Class Confessions ng omi ou homec y e Hav prom/ y re m any I wo I got d a h aps? , so k k r r o o e w for w hile at ss th mish acro nally .W

uce ssio o work he way rofe t g sa t ss p g outfit ked all drippin e r d l in “I wa t I was ecom and a hom e food, lizing th s a e e n r i t h C hou !” l wit f mal r mysel e v all o

Have you ever been pulled over? If so,what was your reaction?

Caleb Kemp

“I was pulled over for going 50 in a 25. I cried so hard that the officer only gave me a ticket for 10 over.”

Carly Isaac someth What was in cause y g you did bebut nowou thought it w as cringe a bout it? cool, “Decidin in the h g to be loud a men do allway, becauss a freshmen e please es that and it’s every freshstop.” annoyin g

Destiny Mount rem fresh emb manWhat is “The er? mis a hap sen first d you ior c ay can terr lass of sc ified , loo hoo l .” ked , I w arou alke nd a d int nd l o an eft all

James Asava