BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY (BGQ) May. 2019

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BGQ

a note from your editors

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The acquisition of self awareness and confidence are crucial when it comes to growing as a person and maintaining a sense of happiness. Others may guide you, but remember that your happiness is no one’s responsibility, save your own. This theme of self independence leading to an improved well-being can be drawn from a variety of artwork throughout society. In “Pray For Me” by Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd, a song featured on Marvel’s Black Panther soundtrack, Lamar states, “You need a hero, look in the mirror, there go your hero.”

While the nature of one’s well-being may not be the primary focus of the song, the lyrics apply just the same. No one can save or solve you; you must make your own person, which you are responsible to make happy and fulfilled in life.

At the time of writing, the senior class has only a few weeks left before high school ends, and we are set free. According to the Mad Titan, Thanos, “The end is near.” For many, seniors especially, the spring season is chaotic, with AP testing, spring sports, fulfilling graduation requirements, and trying to cram other aspects of life into their final days. We can choose how we respond to the scheduled stressors— negatively or positively. It is easy to fall victim to the chaos amidst this hectic state of affairs. However, if you seek peace, it is important to take a step back and ground yourself; taking just a few moments to reflect works wonders for the soul.

High school is a journey of self knowledge and growth, as is the entirety of life. The mindset and mannerisms we adopt now can be those that we carry for the rest of our lives. All of us have bad habits, whether we like to admit it or not.

We can choose to confront them and grow, or we can ignore them and let them fester, dictating our behavior, for better or worse. Perhaps the most crucial step to self growth and improvement is being cognisant of our mistakes. Regardless of your philosophy or emotional status, we could all learn to take life a little less seriously, and find enjoyment in the sillier things.

But for the seniors, “We’re in the endgame now.”

From the Pub for the last time,

BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY: MAY TWO-THOUSAND NINETEEN

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SUMMER BUCKET LIST

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jack Myers Abigail Vannatter

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THE REAL BULLY OF HIGH SCHOOL

EDITORS Sophie Boyce Paige Conners

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BREAKING BAD HABITS

PHOTOGRAPHY McKenna Bak Abigail Vannatter

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THE AMERICAN SAVIOR COMPLEX

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WHAT IS THE SUPERIOR NOODLE?

Need some ideas for a fun summer?

The struggle of self confidence with acne Explore the reasons why we have them Should America give foreign aid?

One staffer’s quest to find the best noodle

GRAPHICS Richard Mosley Tori VerVane BUSINESS McKenna Bak Niklas Fagerman

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THE MYSTERY OF TECH CENTRAL

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PAGE BY PAIGE

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THIS IS US

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FUTURE PLANS

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OBJECTIFYING CHS

STAFF WRITERS Sarah Auger Joie Baldyga Lia Cook Julia Demusky Ava Edwards Niklas Fagerman Sydney Flaherty Maria Linck Madison Marshall Autumn McMillan Mia Moeggenberg Richard Mosley Lauren Stallman Elizabeth Teesdale Tori VerVane

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CHS ALUMNI

COVER Richard Mosley Tori VerVane

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THEY SAID WHAT?

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SENIOR QUOTES

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THE ZOO OF CENTRAL

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COLLEGE RAMEN

Exposing Tech Central’s little secret He, she, or they

Senior Submissions Where are seniors going after graduating?

Which object best represents CHS? Where are they now?

Find out what your teachers actually say Embarassing and cherished memories A senior menagarie

Improve your college student grub

INSIDE COVER Sofa Suminski

Bucket List 2019

by SYDNEY FLAHERTY Staff Writer

Summer

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1. Attempt a reenactment of High School Musical’s, “What Time Is It?” (The one where they threw all of their papers and danced away from school) Begin your summer by practicing some musical theater and remembering back to when you thought that choosing between a basketball game and a musical was the most difficult choice you would ever encounter in your high school career. Shortly afterwards, realize musical theatre isn’t for you after all.

2. Sleep Or binge watch all nine seasons of The Office.

3. Go to the beach It’s an overcrowded, sunscreen polluted paradise!

4. Catch hypothermia in the bay A real summertime staple of Northern Michigan 5. Eat ice cream Double scoop in a waffle cone, of course. If you happen to be lactose intolerant... I don’t know what to tell you.

6. Stargaze Because what’s better than lying out in the dark and ignoring your homework.

7. Plan to start your summer homework next month That’s plenty of time to write an essay!

Besides, you deserve to enjoy your summer while you still can.

8. Go to the Cherry Festival Elephant ears, Ferris wheels, and the constant crying of young children.

Sounds like a dream!

9. Complain about all the fudgies This is a necessary part of any true Michigander’s summer: “Get out of here you non-locals! I hate you for no apparent reason other than the fact that you have a lanyard!”

10. Visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you visit the location of all of your school field trips from kindergarten through fifth grade.

11. Try a new hobby

Summer vacation is a time for selfexploration, making it the perfect time to try out new things: skateboarding, curling, knitting, underwater basket weaving... the options are endless.

12. Fail desperately at knitting Maybe you don’t actually need a new hobby. Netflix and procrastination are already time-consuming enough.

13. Go on a road trip It’s time to explore, push your traveling limits, and adapt to new things and perspectives! Take a trip to the big city of Grand Rapids. Nothing can hold you back from this trip; not gas station bathrooms, overwhelming traffic, or your totally rational fear of driving on highways.

14. Decide that you can do your summer homework NEXT month You need to enjoy the summer while it lasts! It’s not like you’re going to forget about it or anything...

15. Attempt practicing math on Khan Academy for approximately forty-two seconds In a rare moment of motivation you are not only able to login to Khan Academy, but spend over thirty seconds attempting to remember what you learned last year before realizing that at this point any chances you had of actually remembering geometry left mid-July.

16. Consider reenacting Bird Box while grocery shopping A very logical solution to the very real problem that is the Target back to school section.

17. Weirdly miss school And then instantly regret ever thinking that.

18. Research homeschooling options Because the more you think about it, it’s actually impossible for you to wake up before eight in the morning, and this could become a big problem in the very near future.

19. Do all of your summer homework at two in the morning before the first day of school Admit it, we all saw this coming.

The Real Bully of High School: Acne

by MADISON MARSHALL Staff Writer

Having self-confidence during high school can be hard enough, and acne only makes it worse.

Middle school and high school are seven years of constant growth and new experiences. Building self-confidence during these years helps with dealing with this turmoil inside and out. Self-confidence is feeling good in your own skin, being comfortable with the way you look. Part of having confidence is maintaining a positive self image, which is how you perceive yourself. Obtaining a positive self image in high school can be difficult.

These self images can be either positive, giving a person confidence in their thoughts and actions, or negative, making a person doubt themselves. High school is a place where students can express themselves, whether it’s through a particular style or trend. However, the one thing most students have experienced is acne.

It is an unavoidable part of being a teenager. Unsurprisingly, acne can be one of the main causes of losing selfconfidence as well.

We’ve all woken up and looked in the mirror and panicked at the horrifying sight of a pimple. Especially on the day of a big interview, picture day, or a big date. This is the panic stage, resulting in the loss of self-confidence.

The feeling that the pimple is taking over can be overwhelming. However, maintaining some self-confidence is possible. Yes, it is obvious that people feel more confident with clear skin, but being confident ultimately means feeling comfortable with or without blemishes.

Think about it like this: everyone around you has that same annoying zit. Focus on the positive rather than the negative. Stressing only makes it worse. These tasks may be easier said than done for some people, but it is totally possible. Experiencing stress doesn’t have to be the case for those with acne. Dr. Brittney Lister, a board certified dermatologist at Northwestern Michigan Dermatology stated, “Stress definitely makes acne worse.

There is a stress-related hormone called CRH, or corticotropin-releasing hormone, as one culprit. As a teen there really isn’t any treatment to

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The feeling that the pimple is taking over can be overwhelming. However, maintaining some selfconfidence is possible.

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help, since this hormone is just apart of life.” Even though you don’t need to immediately get rid of acne, there are treatments that can help.

According to Dr. Lister, the spectrum of different types of acne range from mild acne, which consists of small bumps or blackheads, to the most severe acne, called nodulocystic acne.

Nodulocystic acne are deep and painful cysts, usually requiring pills for treatment. Mild acne can be treated through a simple face wash from your local drugstore or pharmacy. Dr. Lister stated, “Acne is a very treatable

Graphic: T. VerVane

disease. I encourage those looking to have their acne treated to each out to their primary care doctor or a dermatologist like myself.” She also stated that if you can not reach out to a doctor or dermatologist, over-the-counter products can be a good place to start.

Dr. Lister recommend benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash, and differin (adapalene) gel. These are cost effective options that can be purchased at almost any drugstore.

According to a poll of 130 Central Students conducted by the BGQ, the overall student populace uses a diverse amount of skin care products.

Witch Hazel, a natural astringent, is used by 25.9% of students polled, while 16% used a Differin gel. Bear in mind that any of these products could dry the skin out, so be sure to pair with an oil-free or non-comedogenic moisturizer. Acne is not going to go away in one day. Embrace yourself and know that it is okay to have that big zit in the middle of your forehead, between your eyes, or sometimes on the inner edge of your nose.

No matter what, every teen deals with acne. It is rarely permanent.

Don’t let it shake your confidence.

T. Harv Eker, a motivational speaker once said, “If you’re insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.” Having self confidence doesn’t rely on how you look, it relies on how you feel. //

Breaking Bad

Habits

Everyone has bad habits, whether we like to admit them or not. I’m personally guilty of staying up way too late or biting my nails when I get nervous.

Little things such as spending too much time watching TV may not seem like a big deal, but often times bad habits can have a surprising and significant impact on a person’s life.

It is a simple truth that forming a bad habit is a generally a lot easier than breaking one; when someone performs a habit over and over again, a pattern called a “habit loop” is established. Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer-prize winning reporter for the New York Times and author of two different books exploring the science of habit formation and productivity, states that a habit loop is a three-part process. On a recent edition of the NPR program Fresh Air, Duhigg explained, “First, there’s a cue, or trigger, that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and let a behavior unfold.” The second step, the “routine,” is the actual behavior. The last component of the process is the “reward: something that your brain likes that helps it remember the ‘habit loop’ in the future.” Using my own bad habit as an example, whenever I was stressed or anxious: the trigger. I started to bite my nails: the behavior.

As a result, I would feel less stressed and anxious: the reward.

Over time, habits become automatic behaviors, meaning we perform them subconsciously, just like brushing your teeth, checking your smartphone for emails, texts, or social media content first thing in the morning, or driving a particular route; the more a habit is performed, the more the action is reinforced in the neural pathways of 6 // BGQ // May 2019

by LIA COOK Staff Writer

Exploring the science behind forming— and breaking— bad habits.

the brain. In his book, The Power of Habit, Duhigg writes, “without habits, our brains would shut down, overwhelmed by the minutiae of everyday life.” Christina Gremel, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California San Diego, clarifies in her article, “How the Brain Makes- and Breaks- a Habit” from the US San Diego News Center, that “we need to be able to make routine actions quickly and efficiently, and habits serve this purpose.” In other words, habitmaking is the brain’s way of trying to make life easier for us.

Although it might be argued that habits could make our lives easier, bad habits can have a negative effect on our mental and physical health or wellbeing. “I go to bed too late,” Alana Vang ‘19 admits. “Going to bed really late leaves me feeling drained the next day.” Alaina McGinnis ‘19 acknowledges that procrastinating is one of her main bad habits. “I don’t always get my work done on time,” she says. The effect of a bad habit can seep into other aspects of a person’s life and may have severe or detrimental consequences. Examples of more serious habits include smoking, vaping, drug usage, and alcoholism.

But even small habits, like nail biting, can impact one’s health; the hand and nail area often carry many germs, and when put in the mouth, can lead to illnesses. When I used to bite my nails, I would get very self-conscious about the appearance of my nails, and would purposefully wear long sleeves to hide my hands, yet no matter how much I disliked how my nails looked, I couldn’t stop biting them. Many people would tell me, “just don’t bite them,” which isn’t as simple as

it seems. I had been biting my nails for years and tried many different methods to break my habit. The only solution that seemed to work was painting my nails regularly and carrying around stress toys to fiddle with.

Although it wasn’t foolproof, I eventually grew out of my habit.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick and easy hack to break a bad habit; breaking a long term habit takes time and effort. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon who published a book called Psycho-Cybernetics in 1960, proposed that it takes a minimum of twenty-one days to break a bad habit. However, in 2009, researchers from the University College London conducted a study on ninety-six participants over the course of twelve weeks and concluded that the time to break and form a new habit ranged from eighteen to 256 days, and, in the experiment, they observed that even when “participants were motivated to create habits, approximately half did not perform the behaviour consistently enough to achieve habit status.” The 2009 study, “How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world,” is published on the scientific database Wiley Online Library.

Breaking a bad habit is no easy task, but many scientists and psychologists have proposed many solutions. The first step is to identify and be conscious of the habit, such as why you perform that habit and when. What are the triggers? Next, you have to actually override that bad habit by making a new habit (i.e. instead of reaching for the cookie jar for a snack, go to the fridge for some fruit instead.)

Other ways that can help eliminate the bad habit are to try and cut out

What are some bad habits your family members have? as many triggers as possible (like not buying cookies in the first place), or even teaming up with somebody to help reach your goal (like trying that new workout regime you’ve always wanted to with a friend). James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits and creator of The Habits Academy, offers various tips and guides to breaking habits in his article “How to Break a Bad Habit and Replace It With a Good One.” He wrote, “Choose a substitute for your bad habit. Surround yourself with people who live the way you want to live; visualize yourself succeeding; Use the word ‘but’ to overcome negative self–talk; plan for failure. We all slip up every now and then.”

The severity of bad habits ranges from person to person, and it all depends on the individual. Often times, as students, we can develop bad habits when it comes to school, such as cramming studying the night before a test, arriving to class late frequently, or waiting until the last minute to start an assignment. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives, but these bad habits not only affect our academic life, but our lives outside of school as well. I find that if I’m unorganized with my schoolwork, I become unorganized at home as well, and when things start to pile up it can become overwhelming. Breaking a bad habit may result in benefits in other aspects of your life as well.

Breaking bad habits require perseverance and may be a long process, but hopefully with these resources you may be able to break your own bad habits! //

Alaina McGinnis ‘19: “My dad has a broken finger nail, and he picks at it and makes a sound that really bothers me.”

Ethan McKenna ‘19: “My grandma is constantly humming or singing. It drives my dad crazy. I think it’s pretty funny.”

Alana Vang ‘19: “My brother has the habit of going stupid and going crazy sometimes.

It bothers me because sometimes I’ll be trying to do my homework and he’ll be so loud. He’ll make a noise like ‘sksksksks.’”

Olivia Fairbank ‘19: “When my parents are mad at me they say ‘I love you dearly, but...’ and that drives me crazy.”

Photos: M. Bak

The American

Savior COMPLEX

Making up less than 1% of the $4.746 trillion national budget, the United States spends over $50 billion annually on the State Department’s USAID program for foreign aid, according to the State Department’s recent National Security Report. This minor expenditure covers a wide variety of medicinal, infrastructure, and agricultural aid for nations in need, and yet is often one of the first programs to be targeted for the budgetary chopping block. Proponents of foreign aid cite the positive impact upon infrastructure and healthcare in third world countries; opponents would rather see non-intervention or privatelyfunded charity, or take issue with sending aid to specific countries.

As much as Americans value pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, not everyone has a trust fund and parents who buy them a job at a downtown law firm. Similarly, due to civil war, foreign invasion, and/or previous colonization, many countries are severely crippled in terms of infrastructure, technology, and healthcare; therefore lacking metaphorical bootstraps to pull themselves up by. While a majority of USAID goes towards foodstuffs and medicine, a critical component is subsidizing the construction of infrastructure such as hospitals and roads in the hope of decreasing aid over time as the countries become self-sustaining.

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Gr ap hic

:T .V erV an e

by AiIDAN REED Staff Writer

What does American foreign aid truly go towards, and why are some people so vehemently opposed to it?

On the other side of the coin, well over 10% of USAID takes the form of military aid to Israel. Those against foreign aid often cite this fact, opposing aiding violence, especially involving countries with less than perfect human rights records. These critics do not oppose foreign aid itself, but simply the use of taxpayer dollars for sending guns and attack helicopters overseas for the benefit of foreign governments.

Vocal critics of foreign aid are quick to point to the fundraising success of private charities as an appealing alternative to the direct spending of taxpayer dollars. Putting aside the numerous issues with some charities themselves, ranging from for-profit motives to widespread corruption and mismanagement, shifting from federally-managed foreign aid to free market charities would be disastrous for recipient countries. While some third-party groups have successfully aided nations following national disasters or epidemics, the spontaneous and decentralized nature of charity would provide infrequent and unsubstantial assistance to countries in need of humanitarian aid. In a better world where the rich willingly give a substantial amount to charity, perhaps charity-based foreign aid could work, but as it stands in modern America, those with the means to give have little to no inclination to do so.

America’s status as a global superpower has been secured in large part through the use of our vast wealth to “buy” influence, propping up broken nations in return for markets in which to sell our goods. Though past competition from nations such as Russia has since fallen to the wayside, in recent decades China has begun to follow, and perhaps improved upon, America’s history of investing and lending overseas to expand their influence. If the United States is more interested in overseas markets than providing food and medicine for children in need, and wants to keep its influence overseas as a global leader, then perhaps foreign aid and investment should be increased rather than slashed.

Foreign aid spending has recently returned to the limelight of budgetary debate, due to some politicians hoping to lower the deficit through cutting spending. Putting aside the debate over how to lower the spending deficit, it is important for the public to understand the various facets of this issue, as well as the arguments of those on all sides of the debate.

Does America have a moral and economic obligation to continue and even increase foreign aid spending beyond 1% of the budget? Or, should we allow other nations to handle their own issues without our assistance or interference? //

What is the

Superior Noodle?

During a recent vacation with my sister, I discovered that she had given up pasta for the sake of a healthier diet. I was appalled. She said such horrible things, like, “I’m chubby,” and, “My butt is big enough, it doesn’t need any help.” The things she said made my stomach churn, and while on vacation of all things? I wouldn’t stand for it. This was a betrayal of the body confident sister I had always known and loved. So while we were deciding what to eat for dinner one night, I forced her into abandoning her anti-pasta ways. “Cut the salad,” I thought, “bring on the carbs.” I spent hours convincing my mother, the one who was preparing the dish, to make ravioli. Not just your average Chef Boyardee can of pathetic raviolis, I mean real raviolis. Or, at least, frozen raviolis which made the trip from Costco to my freezer and into the digestive systems of my family. They were even homemade (or at least made at home from a box). However, for all the excitement I had surrounding this dish, I was defeated by the outcome.

The noodles were subpar and the sauce was thin, but at least I got some pasta. The disappointment that was this ravioli inspired me to embark on my next pasta journey: finding my favorite noodle. If I could find my favorite noodle, I could find the perfect pasta dish for me.

Farfalle (pronounced far-fall-lay), more commonly known as bowtie or butterfly noodles, are a classic for a multitude of dishes. They are mostly used with creamy sauces and paired with seafood, bolognese, or liver with some kind of vegetable. I thought this noodle was averagely good, but still not my favorite. I tried as many types of pasta as I could get my hands on, and this eventually lead me on a vastly different pasta journey. This

adventure consisted purely of me getting my hands on a very specific noodle, and it proved to be more difficult than expected.

This pasta discovery is something of a miracle. It hails from Asia, not Italy, and has a bean base rather than starch. However, it is not the infamous ramen noodle, known for being the primary food source of a financiallystruggling college student. It goes by many names: bean toe, bean thread, glass. Personally, I prefer the more American name of cellophane noodles. They’re are clear, sticky, and have a cellophane-like appearance, hence the name. To me, they resemble heartworms more than cellophane, but this did not deter me from tracking them down. The need to try more noodles was just too strong.

the salad,’ I “ ‘Cut thought,

‘Bring on the carbs.’

”

I went to Meijer, Walmart, Family Fare, and Save a Lot, only to be sorely disappointed as none of these stores had the specific noodles I was looking for. I was further discouraged by friends who have had the opportunity to devour this dish, telling me they have “no flavor” and a “weird texture.”

These warnings were simply risks I was willing to take. My grocery store failures soon brought me on the adventure of getting to the Asian Market in Traverse City. This was no easy task.

Firstly, nobody wanted to drive me there: not my parents, not my friends, and poor Ava does not have her driver’s license, despite being 16 and fully capable. But it had taken me so long to find these noodles, and I was not about to give up; my pasta ad-

by AVA EDWARDS Staff Writer

Many people say “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but I’d like to argue that it’s pasta.

diction was just too strong. I thought of everything to get to this place. I could have walked, but the market is a whopping ten miles from my house, and I am far too lazy to expend enough energy to travel that distance for one package of pasta, despite my desperation for the noodles. I thought, “Maybe I could ride my bike there,” but the motivation just wasn’t there. No matter what, I refused to give up my quest for the cellophane noodles.

On a particularly odd Tuesday, I was discussing my pasta woes with anyone who would listen. Recalling my suffering inspired me not to give up. One of our own Editor in Chiefs at the BGQ, Abby, reminded me that there was an Asian food section at Meijer. I had completely forgotten about it during my first trip to the grocery store. As I travel to this store pretty often for my family’s grocery needs, getting there was relatively simple. I just called a friend and told her I needed to go shopping. At the store, I made a beeline for the Asian food section. I probably looked like a crazy person. As I made my way to the back of the store, I grew more and more excited. “If it’s not there, I’m gonna cry,” I thought. My search had been a long dramatic one, and while my pasta lust was strong, they were still just noodles. Nothing too special. As I came upon the shelves, lined with brightly colored packages of foreign delights, my excitement grew and grew. Soon, I laid my eyes upon what I thought to be the Holy Grail of noodles. I had finally found the cellophane noodles. After weeks of an agonizing, distressing search I had finally found them. I grabbed the package, nearly falling over on myself, skipped excitedly to the checkout, and bought the noodles. //

by JOIE BALDYGA Staff Writer

Island, a young lovebird, brought a fresh presence into the mundane fall days for Tech Central.

This past summer, Island, a young lovebird, was born. According to National Geographic, lovebirds are small tropical birds, and, depending on the species, they can be brightly colored or plain grey. Island’s great cunning and sly ability to get attention from her owner earned her a place in Tech Central. A bird and a technology center seem to be a strange mix, but to the Tech Central students and their advisor, Virginia Driver, this combination added up to a normal fall school day.

At the beginning of the year, Driver brought the newest addition to her household to Central High School.

Island, still being just a few months old, was a quiet but good-natured addition to the team. Despite the fact that most lovebirds are not very friendly, Island got along with Driver’s kids and students alike. Pets are not technically allowed at Central High School, but this fact did not dissuade Driver from bringing her lovebird to class last fall. The bird had to get away from Driver’s older lovebird, Pacific, who was a bit of a bully to Island. Further complicating things was Island’s feeding and drinking regiment. Because of her young age, Island had to be fed every two hours, making it impossible for Driver to leave her at home. The students truly enjoyed the addition to the otherwise monotonous classroom environment, and the bird needed the extra love and attention.

As a young girl, Driver had about every regular household pet under the

Photos: A. Vannatter

10 // BGQ // May 2019

sun, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and lots of birds. Part of the reason she had so many was likely due to her parents owning a pet store when she was young. She was raised in a house where baby birds needed to be fed every two hours in the middle of the night. “It was just one of those chores, you know?”

Driver explained. “[It was] like mowing the lawn.”

Growing up in South Carolina, Driver experienced her fair share of storms during her childhood. When storms hit and lights went out, her family would light candles in the basement because their birds wouldn’t eat in the dark as they rode out the storm. “It was just a part of life,” Driver recalled, sighing. Her experiences as a kid with her numerous pets, especially birds, translated over into adulthood.

Before living in Northern Michigan, Driver lived in the Bahamas. While she was in the Caribbean, Driver had parakeets that she had to leave behind when she moved back to the United States.

Today, Driver has two birds, Island and Pacific, whose names were chosen by Driver’s two young daughters.

Driver’s other lovebird, Pacific, is older than Island. As lovebirds get older, they tend to become noisier. For this reason, Pacific was not able to come to school with Driver this year. Lovebirds are intelligent and affectionate birds, which are best kept in pairs because they require so much attention and affection.

After Driver’s previous lovebird, Ocean,

passed away, her family got Island to keep Pacific company. In order to give her younger bird the required attention, Driver brought Island to school with her on multiple occasions this fall, which her students loved.

According to the Tech Central students, a bird sitting on your shoulder while fixing a computer is an enjoyable thing. One Tech Central student, Elliott Hermel ‘19 admitted, “I enjoyed having the bird here so much that I even asked my parents if we could get a bird. They said, ‘no,’ sadly.” Many of the Tech Central students seem to share this opinion. “While I was fixing a keyboard, she would just sit on my shoulder,” Hermel laughed, “It just helps pass the time.”

For the most part, only Tech Central’s staff knew of this baby bird. Considering Island’s activity within Tech Central, it is rather amazing that staff and administration were unaware of her presence.

Although the bird never seemed to be seen by those outside of Tech Central, Driver claims that she never tried to hide the bird, saying, “Island just liked to be tucked away.” When I first went to visit and learn about Island, the bird was hidden away in Driver’s coat which she described as the bird’s favorite spot.

Driver and her students assured me that the bird was never hidden to the public.

Driver explained, “I didn’t hide her, I just didn’t flaunt her.”

While Island added a new personality to Tech Central, Driver eventually decided that the young bird could no longer come to school. As lovebirds grow, they progressively begin to verbalize more and more. As Island grew older, Driver thought it would be best to keep her at home so that she didn’t end up making too much noise and being disruptive.

Gradually, Island came to school less and less until she didn’t come anymore.

This gradual fade out was the end of Island’s little known presence in the Tech Central classroom. //

Barbies are dumb, and we’re all confused.

by PAIGE CONNERS Content Editor As a kid, I buried treasure in my sandbox and pretended to be on a team of secret agents with my friends.

Wearing fake Cinderella glass slippers made of cheap plastic and dressing up in a Winnie the Pooh onesie was my signature look. I thought Barbies were dumb, but my collection of stuffed dogs was enormous. My most exciting memories were when my dad would let me play with his old superhero action figures. Pink was my favorite color because I thought it was bright and happy. I never felt like my parents were raising me as a girl. They were just raising me as me. But when school started it dawned upon me that this wasn’t normal.

Something always felt off. Wearing dresses and jumping around the yard was fun, but then someone would shout, “Act like a lady!” and I would have to stop. My (boy) cousins and I would go swimming, but they were allowed to take their shirts off when I wasn’t. Why did I have to be treated differently? I don’t know when it dawned upon me that I was a girl and I was supposed to act like one, but eventually I fell into a place where I begrudgingly accepted the fact. But something always felt OFF. It was two, almost three years ago when I had an epiphany. It was the summer of my mother’s wedding and I was a bridesmaid. I remember looking in the mirror late one night, taking in my long curly blonde hair and feminine facial features, and thinking, “That person is not me.” Then a few days later on the day of the wedding, my face was caked with makeup, and I found myself thinking, “That person is not me.” And that thought stuck with me for a long time. It wasn’t until a whole year passed of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin that I found a way to describe how I was feeling.

My friend asked me in mid-August

HE, SHE, OR THEY

if I wanted to stay at a nearby campground with her and her family. Of course I said yes. We were in our bathing suits more often than not, and when I had to wear clothes, I threw on a baggy sweatshirt and some shorts and called it good. My hair was really short at this point.

Glancing at me, someone might have seen a person who was certainly more masculine than feminine. During this brief summer getaway, multiple people mistook me for a boy. A little girl and her friend were looking for worms in piles of rotting leaves strewn about the campground. I was walking back from the lake and noticed them eyeing me curiously. “Is that a boy or a girl?” one of them asked the other in a hushed voice. I smiled in their direction, and they blushed and ran off, embarrassed at having been caught, but the feeling of excitement in my chest remained long after they disappeared. I’d never been mistaken for a boy before and I... liked it? Upon telling my friend’s mom of this occurrence, she hurriedly assured me that I didn’t look like a boy. But her assurance was not reassuring, and I was crestfallen. Then one of my friend’s friends saw a picture of me on my friend’s Snapchat story. Her friend messaged her and asked, “Who is that cute boy with you?” I was the “cute boy.” And since then, the questions from other people about whether I was a boy or girl have only continued.

I began to ask the questions, too.

Eventually, I came up with an answer.

Now, my answer to the question might confuse some of you. It’s not everyday that you meet someone who tells you that they are neither a boy nor a girl. Well, that’s exactly what I’m about to say. I’m nonbinary, I use they/them pronouns, and neither of those things are typical by any means.

I’ve been told these are hard con-

cepts to grasp, but I really don’t think they are. But if you need a visual, just imagine what it would be like to live feeling like you are constantly caught in the middle of two sides and you don’t feel like you belong to either side, but you’re being told that you have to choose. But you can’t. No matter how hard you try to compress yourself down to fit in with one side or the other, you just can’t. At least, not without feeling like you’re losing part of yourself. That’s what it was like for me for a long, long time. I knew I wasn’t a girl, but I also didn’t think I could be a boy. I knew what the word transgender meant, but I didn’t feel like that properly described me. It wasn’t until I learned about the word “nonbinary” that something fell into place inside of me.

For the past year, I’ve allowed myself to embrace that part of me and not everyone likes that because they don’t understand it. I’ve gotten dirty looks and rude, offhand comments from people are confused. I’ve had countless number of experiences where people have seen me in passing and grown hostile because they can’t figure out if I’m a boy or a girl. On multiple occasions, I have had insults and slurs thrown at me, whether it be in the hallways at school, the food court at the mall, or the aisles of the grocery store. I’ve had high school boys point at me and shout, “Ew!” and family members have told me I would be prettier if I grew out my hair again. If I did that or dressed more femininely or just came out as transgender, this might not happen.

But I don’t want to do any of those things because I’m not a cisgender girl or a transgender boy. I’m just me.

I’m Paige, I’m nonbinary, and you don’t have to be confused about me anymore. I don’t have to be confused about me anymore, either. // Graphic: T. VerVane

SENIOR SUBMISSIONS

Abigail Vannatter Editor-in-Chief

In a world that is full forward, fast moving, and what seems to be never ending, it’s easy to get stuck in the grind. I find it very important to, every single day, stop, shift my mind away from my daily stresses and obligations, and take in the beauty of the natural world around me. Take a breath a little deeper, stare a little longer, and truly appreciate the home that we have been blessed to live upon. Check in with myself, keep myself sane, and to never forget to slow down every once in awhile.

this is us 12 // BGQ // May 2019

works by the class of 2019

I am Logan, just Logan Logan from Traverse City I’m not just from Traverse City though Sure, I live there But I’m from a lot of places I am from the radiant petrichor that steams off the freshly soaked grass after a humid August rain the ever fragile, bland, modern life we call our era the wrong spot, the wrong time I’m not supposed to be here Not in sad depressing way, I think there was a paperwork issue when God was determining when I was supposed to show up here, but that’s okay I know it pollutes my brain but I can’t put it down the ever expanding, disengaging part of this demographic I am sorry to see us like this I am sorry to see the beauty unappreciated I am sorry to see it used as a way to gain attention to ourselves I am sorry to view this beauty and wonder what’s in it for me?

But that’s just it isn’t it?

Is it bad? Is it going to get worse?

It’s all relative isn’t it?

I am from misconception They look at me and assume, but I guess it’s a natural filter so I’m grateful the twinkling stars when I look up in my happy place None of my friends really care but that’s fine, more for me the vibrations leaking into my ears in an altered state I am from dad I’ve been dodging the idea for years, I don’t want to be like him, yet I am him the simple escapes, the simple pleasures, but hey they’re free :) getting attached too fast and learning about why that’s bad from love, never ending, always there, always waiting to share it, love I am from going fast not looking both ways “Forgetting” to put on my seatbelt From constant thought, constant ideas I am from my pure adoration for music I am from art the brush strokes of a Monet Yet aren’t we all, quirks can’t be taught can they?

I am from the uncertainty It’s all a bunch of bullshit, I’ll tell you why if you ask

Logan Cook

SENIOR SUBMISSIONS

Tre Powis

14 // BGQ // May 2019

My Dearest Friend,

Many people feel like they know who you are, but not many of them see you the way that I see you. I was quiet like the moon and you are still bright like the sun. You have such a beautiful and unique soul that I wish I had. You give off a mellow and welcoming vibe that attracts others, which made it very easy for me to talk and be friends with you when I first met you.

“I don’t want to peer pressure you into doing this if you don’t want to.” You may not remember saying that, but it was the first time I went over to your house where you introduced me into a new world. I don’t regret it nor am I embarrassed of it. They were the best times of my life. I was much more willing to try new things when I was with you, even if they got us into a lot of trouble, but you always made sure I was comfortable. It’s amazing how we always reconnect instantly, even when we haven’t seen each other in months or even a year. We have a type of friendship that is unbreakable, many people tried to pull us apart because they thought we were bad for each other. But they don’t know the kind of things we’ve went through together, the good and bad.

You pushed me constantly to go to class and do my homework, you even cleaned my backpack and folders because I was so unorganized. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t be graduating this year if it wasn’t for your bossiness. You were always there pushing me to go to class every time I tried to skip class with you. I don’t think you wanted me to be like you, not because you were jealous, but because you knew I was going down the wrong path. I wish I would’ve pushed you the same way you pushed me. But you were very difficult to control, very sassy, and absolutely sarcastic.

I would go back in time and put more effort into stopping you from switching schools. A different type of person unleashes when you have a lot of freedom. Someone who is curious of the world and who wants to explore it entirely. I don’t know how to express how thankful I am for you walking into my life and helping me fix it, even to this day. I know I don’t say this a lot, but I love you Gabriella and I hope in the future I can express my gratitude to you and your beautiful daughter.

Sincerely,

Jaqueline Gutierrez

Was it worth it?

To wear Cupid’s celestial wings for even a second To glimpse the sky, to soar Or is it better to stay in the labyrinthian structure of solitude we construct within ourselves For fear the fragile wings we construct will melt And leave us plummeting into the Aegean like so many before When the inevitable fall comes Do not retreat into baphometic brooding Casting away all love and all comfort Pledging never to fly again for fear of being cast down it is always worth it even if only to feel flight for a second

Caelan Wright Staff Writer

SENIOR SUBMISSIONS

Ellie Burnside Nothing Gold Can Stay moment. That would be unrealistic but also really convenient because I would do anything to be 8, running around the playground with my best friends again.

I recently read Indy Blue’s blog post called “nothing can stay gold forever.” You know when you read something, or watch it, or listen to a new song and it instantly changes your perspective about life. Well, this post had that effect on me. It is exactly what I needed to hear. We as a class are at the very tail end of high school.

Indy calls these her seasons of life. A season is a time when you remember specific moments and who you were a person during them. She also refers to “gold” because you never realize when the ‘gold’ times are the ‘gold’ ones until they’re over. I wanted to share my seasons and gold times before I walk across a stage and never talk to half of you again (sorry harsh reality). Indy completely inspired me to write something similar so all the credit goes to her.

When I first think about seasons of life I think about my earliest memories. I think of growing up in a little log cabin in the woods of a small town. I think of Christmas mornings waking up to the smell of pancakes and being so excited to jump out of bed to open presents. I think of camping trips with my family. I think of moving to a new town and my life changing completely. These are pretty vivid memories because I was so little but at the same time, I remember them perfectly. Of course, when you are this age no one expects you to be taking it all in and being beyond grateful for every 16 // BGQ // May 2019

I want to focus on high school because it is the most relevant and what I have the most to say about. I remember the season of walking through the doors that seemed like half my size and instantly thinking “I just have to make it through the next 4 years.” Personally, I have grown a lot since 14 year old me thought this, but to this day it’s “I just have to make it through the next 4 weeks.”

One day I know I will miss waking up every morning at 6:30 am. I will miss not being able to pick out an outfit and eventually end up on the floor crying over it. I will miss arguing with my sister about being late for school. I will miss having to admit she was right and being late to first hour. I will miss football games and spirit weeks. I will miss Monday night youth group. I will miss coffee dates with the same friends I have had, ever since I can remember. I will miss the teachers even the ones that stressed me out to the max.

I will miss staying home on a Friday night with my parents while what felt like everyone was doing something better. I am sure after I walk out of these doors I will be able to come up with a million more things because it will be over.

In this season, I can remember who my best friend was, what my favorite shirt was, what music I was into, who I had a crush on, etc. All those little things that make up high school. Certain smells.

Friend groups. Routines. For me, one of the hardest parts was a changeup in that

routine. Girl drama or a breakup. I’ve never been good at change.

Now we are here. This year has been a series of change and there’s still a lot to come. I think for me instead of worrying so much on the change, it’s remembering how good life is in the present. When I think of gold memories I think of sunset drives listening to country music with a really warm breeze hitting my face, I think of boat rides, I think of laughing with my friends so hard I can’t breathe, I think of spontaneous adventures to Empire, and I think of coming home to my mom cooking in the kitchen.

These are such simple things yet they mean the world to me. Moving to a new town next year is going to be a big change, leaving all of this behind. You don’t realize it while you’re in it, but we’re always in a “season” of some sort. And the sad, beautiful, anxiety-inducing reality is that we never get to relive these “seasons.” Everyone’s reality is different but they all hit us in the same way. Even a normal Wednesday at school will make up a season that you will never get back.

As seniors enduring their last couple weeks of high school. Make gold memories and don’t take this season for granted.

“They say nothing gold can stay, but I don’t think that’s true. You’ll always be saying goodbye to phases of life. Those moments will fade, but with that brings a new shiny golden season right to your door” -Indy Blue

Once a friend asked me about my exchange year if I thought sometimes about how much more I knew about the world now than if I had stayed in France. He also made me realize that if I had not done this year abroad, I would not know him or all the people I met here. And asking this question showed me how much I was lucky, but also how much I wanted to know more about this world, its people, the different cultures and see all this amazing sceneries. So if I could go anywhere, I would make a roadtrip from the bottom of South America all the way to Michigan. During this exchange year I met so many people from all over the American continent and especially from South America. I would just pack my bag, hop on a plane to Argentina, rent a car and start driving, not really knowing where I go or where I will sleep the

following night, but still kind of having a plan of where to go to see my friends.

From Argentina to the USA, going through Brazil, Chile, Peru and Mexico.

So many different landscapes to see, so much culture to learn about, so much new food to try and most importantly so many people to meet… South America is the continent of parties, of friendly people and beautiful girls. And then after this long journey through the entire American continent, I would end up somewhere that feels like home, where I have now family and friends to see there : Michigan.

Who I would bring with me is a hard question. I think, bringing a girl is definitely not a good idea, especially if it’s your girlfriend. I feel like we would kill the fun for each other because boys and girls are too different. This trip would be my last chance in my life to really enjoy life and have fun, before getting married, having kids and a job. But I am not saying a boy

won’t kill the fun. That’s why you have to choose the right person. That has to be a friend that thinks like you, who wants to make this trip for the same reason as you and that you know you can travel with and that you won’t want to kill during his sleep after two weeks. Someone who cannot speak spanish as well would be a good thing, so it makes the trip even more fun, exciting and with more unknown variables. But I also want it to be a close friend. Someone with who, I know, I will stay friends for the rest of my life and when we are like 80 years, we can sit on his porch and remember and laugh about this crazy trip. When I think about this friend who asked me about knowing more about the world, I would love to be able to offer him that, makes him think differently and live another life than the life of a teenager from a peaceful city in Northern Michigan. So I guess, this friend would be the friend that I would bring with and live probably the best time of my life with.

Jules Poirette

Richard Mosley Staff Writer

SENIOR SUBMISSIONS All throughout high school, I’ve spent my time questioning what being in school is actually doing for me and how absolutely nothing I learn will truly help me in the real world, however, I’ve come to realize I couldn’t be any more wrong. Most kids, including myself, head to school everyday thinking they get absolutely nothing out of it. Personally, I’ve questioned the point of high school nearly every single time the very thought of it crossed my mind, but there’s a hidden lesson being taught everytime you set foot in that building.

How to connect with others. Looking at

myself freshman year compared to who I am now, the biggest change I notice is really just how much I socialize with others.

Freshman year I was incredibly shy and pretty much avoided any situation that involved interacting with people who weren’t already my friends. For example, I would take alternative ways to get to class just to avoid seeing people I was too afraid to say hello to. Now I prefer to go into situations where im forced to meet new people and I’m so much more comfortable in social settings. This change in myself I originally attributed to me just getting a little older,

but I realize now that without this entire high school experience forcing me to interact with hundreds upon hundreds of people every year, I’d probably be the same shy, uncomfortable person I was 4 years ago. High school may appear to be an awful place where you’re bombarded with seemingly meaningless bits of information; institutions like these provide us with ways we can learn to truly find who we are and who we want to be. That is the most important lesson Central has taught and I’ll make sure to keep with me as I grow forever.

JaKobe Sanders

Self Portrait

Maya Howard

18 // BGQ // May 2019

I drew this work of art because I wanted to comment on the interpersonal relationships of humanity. While the Moto Moto and Lorax combination, or as I decided to call it, The Morax, is larger than Pepto Bismol Pig and may seem more intimidating, they both hold strings over one another. I don’t feel the need to give an in depth analysis into my own art and the true message behind it, but I do hope that this striking piece wrought by talent can cause you to ponder and discuss the ways in which we all affect each other through our behavior.

Jack Myers Editor-in-Chief

Maybe If the World were a little more quiet we could hear the people crying in pain, hear the people who are screaming for help.

Maybe if the World were a little more quiet we could here the youth protest for change, hear the people, listen to their voices.

Maybe if the World wasn’t as dark we could see our bright futures without falling over.

We could walk without fear.

Maybe if the World didn’t judge we could show our real selves without rejection.

We could embrace our hearts.

Maybe if the World were a little more quiet we could hear the whispers of the scared.

We can give them a chance to be heard.

Maybe if the World started over we can do things differently.

Could we be better?

Madison Sheldon

SENIOR SUBMISSIONS

Invisible friends When we were kids We had invisible friends; imaginary friends As we got older Our friends become invisible to us Now I’m in a room full of kids my age But I feel alone Wanting a connection with someone Or anyone Did my phone buzz?

I wonder if it is a friend I’ll check my texts I’ll check facebook, Instagram Snapchat Twitter Nothing

Molly Tank

Maybe a friend wrote me an email, I’ll search for it Through all my 562 unread emails Or an old picture of us in my camera roll I’ll scroll And scroll Nothing is here Wait… no one is here in this room anymore Where did everyone go?

This room is empty now I did not see them leave I guess I missed my chance

Aidan Reed Staff Writer

20 // BGQ // May 2019

Benson

Growing

Standing in place I see waves of faces passing me As each slowly invades my mind I focus on their eyes Some are filled with joy While others are quietly dying of fright There is no first anything, there is no last anything

Each time the wind shifts And someone has a change of routine The pounding ache always lays in-between Staying and going And I can’t tell which side of the spectrum is hurting people more We keep the bits of ourselves that we hate Locked away in an empty room We often peak through to see how they’ve grown How they’re moving along without us But the few we no longer need or want Are parts of us, whether we accept them or deny them “Everything heals in time” It is our childhood, our teenage years, our adulthoodNothing has changed We are still bound to the same routine The lives we live and the deaths we die They hardly seem plentiful at all

Madison Cox

So we stand, only to fall again Bending as we try and take shape of Someone, something, anyone, anything but ourselves Only to find mirrors under the table All the parts we attempted to cover

Samantha Maldonado

“HURRY

WHAT’S

THERE FO

Albion College Ethan Richey Elena Sneed Sophie Swanker

Arizona State University Ryan Zrimec Armed Services Nicole Wagner Auburn University Gabrielle Pampu Central Michigan University Haven Carmichael Madison Cox Chase McMaster College for Creative Studies Annabelle Saco Culinary Institute of Michigan Ryan Hagen Denison University Hayden McNamara DePaul University Sophia Suminski Ferris State University Paige Bennett Cory Livingston Jason Ochoa Mikayla Riche Lacilyn Soblaskey Florida State University Lillian McManus

22 // BGQ // May 2019

Grand Rapids Community College Samuel Schmitt Grand Valley State University Jacob Belcher Ellie Burnside Kaitlyn Hamilton Logan Keely Sean Kolody Kevin Lyon Reilly McKay Joey Meredith Tobin Schwannecke Olive White Kaitlyn Wilson

“There are far, far better things ahead than anything you leave behind.”

-C.S. Lewis Georgetown University Matthew Failor Gogebic Community College Alex Canute Hope College Sophie Brown Matthew Henkel Emma Dutmers Kalamazoo College Annika Canavero Olivia Fairbank Kettering University Regin Bornschein

Lake Superior State University Olan Lensch Lansing Community College Alexa Lammers Alexis Ritter Macomb Community College Riley Sullivan

Michigan Career And Technical Institute Michael Flesher Michigan State University Madeline Alger Kaitlyn Argue Ike Battle Chase Berden Eliza Beutler Elek Crocker Logan Davis Maddison Ford Michael Gardyko Joshua Glezman Alecia Gortsema Jacob Grassa Maya Howard Charles Kellogg Taylor Kenney Leah Minster Jack Myers Taylor Seward Ethan Stackable Georgia Walker Jasmine Weir Hunter Wittke

BOY,

WAITING

OR YOU?” Michigan Technological University Jacob Behler Michael Bersin Daniel Curtiss Luke Dulac Jake Everts Jamarri Jackson Hadassah Krommendyk Muskegon Community College Matthew Corrado Marty McDonald

“Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.”

-Bob Marley Northwestern Michigan Community College Aliyah Adams Jeremy Alspaugh Jeremy Banish Montana BeVier Christopher Busch Leah Chemosky Keegan Chiappini Jordan Christopher Antony Consolino Logan Cook Stella Ellul Adrianne Evans Elijah Gothard Aiden Greene Jacqueline Gutierrez Cassandra Haggerty Gavin Hanna

Breighannah Heath Sage Hill Magen Holt Taylor Hood Stephen Jeschke Rachel Justin Anna Kenney McKenna Kluzak Halie Krawczyk Rachel LaLonde Jalen Langler Naomi Lardie Alaina McGinnis Ethan McKenna Lauren McLellan Marley Meindertsma Gabe Miller Devin Newton Claire Norconk Wolstana Paniagua Avery Partak Spencer Raetz JaKobe Sanders Emelia Schaub Saryn Selch Madison Sheldon Morgan Sheldon Destiny Shurly Tyler Smith Kevin Somchanmavong Micah Starr Alexis Swett Molly Tank Alana Vang Levi Vankleek Abigail Vannatter Ellis Wunsch Talia Vasquez Lauren Waterstripe Dakota Waugh

Sean Werner Matthew West

“No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning.”

-Native American Proverb

Northern Michigan University Isabel Anderson Parker Cencer Joshua Clark Ajay Provost Jacob Ritzer McKenna Sanford Brady Schuh Austin Schultz Northwood University Anastasia Wuerfel Ohio Technical College James Avery Jacob Farenbach Alexander Koeplin David Stirm Domanick Woodcox Pennsylvania State University Davis Hoy Tre Powis Stetson University Chloe Sandy Roosevelt University Hannah Pierce

IT TAKES

University of Central Florida Rory Mulready University of Colorado Boulder Cole Peterson Caelan Wright University of Notre Dame Edward Roe University of Michigan Daniel Chang Olivia Crissenger Aubrey Haddix Jackson Hall Lukas Hazen-Bushbaker Xia Hyuck Kate Norgaard Aidan Reed Gavin Ryba Natalie Smith Jade Turner Massimo Vozza University of South Carolina Marianna Mast University of Vermont Katia Childs University of Wisconsin-Stout Preston Briggs Western Michigan University Carolyn Barnes Jack Bostwick Annalica Hoag Jack Olson Olivia Policastro Hudson Richards Kayla Tue Samuel Wagner Cooper Zwart Wayne State University Isabel Anderson Katherine O’Donnell Military Collin Anderson Other Plans Samuel Chmielarczyk Christopher Birdsey Abigail Campeau Madison Drudge Kenzi Franz Heather Garrisi Joseph Giovannangeli Joaquin Gonzalez Andrew Hampel Aaron Hart Eliott Hermel Clayton Hooper Chatham Hughes Wyatt Iseler Colby Jones Cameron Karker Andrew Keith Katharina Keller Halie Kempf 24 // BGQ // May 2019

Kylie Korienek Audrey Kurtz Aaron Larrabee Helena Lopez Figal Samantha Maldonado Bermeo Scott Mallow Hope Maurer Richard Mosley Kayla Petras Jules Poirette Katlyn Risselade Garett Roy Anthony San Clemente Thale Seielstad Tessa Smith Alika Stepanishcheva Dylan Stricker Ethan Squires Shya Thayer John Udell Ron VanSipe Kane Williams

6 HOURS 6 HOURS OF PREP TO MAKE A 30-SECOND 30-SECOND SANDWICH SANDWICH FREAK YEAH IT TAKES

OF PREP TO MAKE A

H FREAK YEAH ™ H

™

H

H

Did Not Check Their School Email (After numerous reminders) Alexis Barger Marli Blackhurst Bryce Boyd Sydney Bramer Nut Budda Hannah Campbell Valeria Cerron Franco Casey Conlon Calli Cook Hannah Corwin Kevin Crawford Molly Davies Jaden Davis McKenzie Dreves Jacob Ferguson Emilie Foergaard Dakota Fraly Kenzi Franz Cydnee Gaul Foster Gilmore Madison Goodwin Bryan Grams Payton Gretzmacher Maxwell Gurthet Joshua Gustafson Sean Gutierrez Sierra Hall Abigail Hetzel Nichole Irish Dylan Kangas Caleb Kemp Garrett Kenser Moswen Kirksey Nathan Kolosar Mallory Kosch Ethan Kores Gavin LaMaide Sophie McCuien Samara Melisbek Kysy Abigail Mistele

Hannah Morton Reanna Myers Grant Nelson Noah Norton Elisabeth Pahl Jack Pearson Kayla Polk Nataliya Pyshnyuk Damian Reamer Ava Reimers Olivia Rockwood Crystal Rose Olivia Ross Justin Rossan Nino San Clemente Lauren Schoonover Maren Schoonover Madison Seeley Alexander Sheerin Jack Sherwin Destiny Shurly Jakob Simmons Mathew Sowers Donnovan Stone Noah Strugala Lindsey Summers Beverly Sutherland Jackson Swanson Seth Thurman Alexandria Timmins Andrina Trego Brandon Turner Zachary Van Nes Jackson Van Skyhock Jolo Vandenberg Amadeus Vazquez Josie Visser Jacob Volz Owen Wendel Maria Wood

“The hardest choices require the strongest wills.”

-Thanos

1217 E. FRONT ST. 231.929.2999 1294 W. SOUTH AIRPORT RD. 231.935.9355

“

1217 E. FRONT ST. Twenty years from 231.929.2999 now you will be more 1294 W. SOUTH RD. disappointed byAIRPORT the 231.935.9355 things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.

Dream. Discover.

”

-Mark Twain

Objectifying High School

- Austin Schultz ‘19

- Sage Hill ‘19

Which object at CHS best represents each senior’s time at high school?

- Domanick Woodcox ‘19

- Olivia Policastro ‘19

“A trash can.”

“The painted rock in front of the school.”

“A rusty trophy for fourth place.” ‘“A furnace because it is old, smelly, and loud.”

Central High School

by JULIA DEMUSKY Staff Writer

Alumni

Previous Central students thinking back on their high school experiences as a Trojan since they last walked the halls of CHS.

Photo: courtesy of Sarah Klegman

Sarah Klegman ‘05 Sarah Klegman has achieved much since graduating in 2005. Klegmen attented Columbia College in Chicago where she received a BA in screenwriting and production in 2008. Soon after she spent five years as a talent manager in Los Angeles, as one of the youngest in the entertainment industry. While the job was great, she said that it wasn’t healthy for her. She decided to get out of the talent management business and started working as a Creative Marketing Executive with an international technology company that focused on social media apps and produced live comedy shows with internet stars, just in time “to save the majority of her soul.” In 2016, she got inducted into the ROI, a competitive Jewish global leadership organization, or, as she calls it, the “Fancy Jew Club.”

She also co-founded a challah bread company called “Challah Hub,” which delivers challah bread right to your 26 // BGQ // May 2019

door. It has blown up and has millions of fans. In addition, she has collaborated with Buzzfeed and has received publicity from news sources across the globe. Soon after Klegman launched the first season of her podcast “What’s Wrong with You?” in 2017.

Through the years she has made many television appearances on: Comedy Central, The Great British Baking show, and more. She has also been speaking and performing at festivals all around the world in locations such as London, Paris, and South Africa.

Klegman is currently living in LA, but is relocating to NYC to start her first solo show and focus more on writing and performing.

When she looks back at her time at Central, she remembers, “the incredible teachers who inspired and encouraged [her] to become the multi-faceted woman [she is] today, like Theresa Hunt and so many more.” While she

looks back and remembers the amazing memories, she also has a few embarrassing ones, like “attempting to sing LeAnn Rimes’ ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’ with my best friend wearing pink and black zebra striped cowgirl hats for the talent show. The audio track wouldn’t play, so we decided to sing it anyway— acapella. It was pretty awful, [but I] wouldn’t change a thing though!” Klegman has had many different jobs and experiences since high school, but she has a few accomplishments she’s most proud of. Klegman is proud of having a number of different interests and careers since leaving high school. “I just finished writing my first book, and in 2017 I hosted my own podcast and was able to tour the world giving talks and meeting people.

I’d say there isn’t one thing I’m proud of; I’m proud to be continually following my passions, wherever they may lead me!”

Justin Knickerbocker graduated from able to sneak out of AP Stats to have Central High School in 2008. After BK breakfast pretty frequently. Obvigraduating, Knickerbocker got an ously attending games was fun, where Information Security Degree at Ferris you were part of a student section State University in 2012. Knickerthat couldn’t be rivaled. Looking back, bocker worked in law enforcement, I can’t think of any bad memories which included moving out to Califrom my time at CHS.” Despite havfornia to work as an investigator for ing many great memories, he also Google. More recently, he has worked has a few embarrassing ones. “At in retail crime the height of my Class investigation for President campaign dur“I was not an Target and Steeling my junior year, I threw animal out there case. He moved a sandwich at a friend in back to Michigan the cafeteria. It missed its throwing a after accepting an intended target and hit loose sandwich investigative role at the barbecue sauce cup of across the Steelcase in Grand the girl next to my friend cafeteria.”

Rapids. At the end causing the of 2018, he was sauce to go all offered a job leadover her coat. ing investigations at Carhartt, which Of course, she told on me, brought him to the Detroit area, which caused me to have where he is now located. to clean up the cafeteria Knickerbocker has many great memo- after lunch for a week, ries from Central High School. “I was making me late to Filkins’

class. Learning of my reckless behavior, Filkins asked the class as I walked in late, ‘Is this who you want as your Class President?’ This crime didn’t derail my campaign, [as] I still became Class President and NHS President, but I never threw another sandwich.

I should note that it was wrapped in saran wrap. I was not an animal out there throwing a loose sandwich across the cafeteria.” Knickerbocker has been back to Central a few times.

“Many of the faces have changed, but the halls are still familiar.” He added, “I loved my time at Central and every time I am back, I am reminded of a multitude of great memories.”

Kyle Atwood ‘01

Photo: courtesy of Justin Knickerbocker

Justin Knickerbocker ‘08

Photo: courtesy of Kyle Atwood

Kyle Atwood last walked the halls of Central as a student in 2001. After graduating, he went to East Lansing to attend Michigan State University and studied law. He has been an attorney in Traverse City for the last ten years. He is currently working as the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Grand Traverse County. “Our office is responsible for prosecuting criminal

cases in the county, as well as handling child neglect and abuse matters,” Atwood said. He has a wonderful family as well, having married his high school sweetheart, Kate. They also have two sons, Charlie and Alden. When he thinks about his high school experience, “some of my favorite memories include being involved with the music program (choirs and musicals), where I met my wife! I also enjoyed being a part of the tennis team and playing

in a band with some of my friends.”

Chemistry class is where Atwood’s embarrassing moment occurred. “I do remember one incident where a Bunsen burner and a giant ball of magnesium got a bit out of control. I think it put on quite a show for our chemistry class.” Atwood also has many proud moments but some stick out more than others, “I’d say the thing I’m most proud of is my wonderful family. I have an amazing wife and two great sons. They keep me going every day! Secondarily, passing the bar and becoming an attorney was also a highlight.”

Photo: courtesy of Samantha Ruff

Samantha Ruff ‘13

Since graduating from Central in 2015, Daniel Youker has completed his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice through Ferris State and NMC. He then attended and completed Officer Candidate School for the Marine Corps in 2018. Currently, he is a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Youker still has many friends from his time at Central, including close relationships with coaches and teachers. “My favorite memories from TCC include playing football and making lifelong friends.” He also has a few embarrassing

28 // BGQ // May 2019

Samantha Ruff graduated in 2013. Since graduation, she has been back to Central multiple times. She loves the new Front & Central studio.

That’s where she first anchored a newscast and found her love for broadcast journalism, which led her to her current career. She attended Northern Michigan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Media Production & News Technology.

Looking back, she has a couple of favorite memories from her time at Central, including social events and teachers.

“I was a varsity cheerleader all four years at

memories from Central.

“My most embarrassing memory is probably my performance as an anchor on Front and Central. I just showed up and winged it every week and probably could have put a little more effort in. I also put off taking gym for the first four years and had to take sex ed as a senior.” Since graduation, he has been back to Central only once, but everything seemed very similar since he last walked the halls of his high school.

Photo: courtesy of Daniel Youker

Daniel Youker ‘15

CHS, so at Friday night football games, all my friends and I met there.”

Because the school is so big, she vividly remembers getting lost trying to get to all of her classes. Ruff recently started a new job and moved to a new state. “I relocated to Lexington, Kentucky to work at WTVQ ABC 36 News as a director and producer all by myself!” In addition she is grateful for the teachers at CHS who always pushed her to do better... getting her where she is now.

They said

WHAT? The senior class has compiled quotes from our teachers from over the years. Here’s what they came up with. Try to guess who said them.

“If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying.”

“My seven year old daughter can squat more than you.”

“We don’t have that because Americans are stupid and we’d kill ourselves.” [Talking about the Autobahn]

“Have the day you deserve.”

“Just fake being motivated for a little bit longer.”

“Only the good die young? Thank god I’m so incredibly awful.”

“It was a different kind of climax.”

“I don’t want to make a bucket list. It implies that I’ll die some day. I neither expect, nor plan for that to happen.”

Seniors— What are your weirdest, most embarassing memories from high school?

“SAT scores.”

-Marty Mcdonald ‘19

“Underclassmen just being weird.”

-Alexis Ritter ‘19

“Getting a concussion in the warmups of a non-contact scrimmage.”

-Jacob Grassa ‘19

30 // BGQ // May 2019

Seniors— What are your most cherished memories from high school?

“All of my years in the choir program and the amazing friends I have made from it.

-Maddison Ford ‘19

“Falling asleep in Mrs. Shelley-Barnes class.”

-Sam Wagner ‘19

“Last Patriot Game with the boys.”

-Daniel Chang ‘19

zoo the

of central

The BGQ’s very own Senior Males have taken it upon themselves to take your beautiful faces and photoshop them onto animals. The Zoo was not created to poke fun at any individual, and rather than cause you emotional pain, we hope it puts a smile on your face. Enjoy.

“Welcome personal growth and don’t do dumb things.”

- Michael Gardyko ‘19

“Try to have fun in high school. Don’t take it too seriously, and just relax and have a good time.”

- Jamarri Jackson ‘19

32 // BGQ // May 2019

Q:

Do you have any advice for freshmen?

“When you get behind, it’s the worst thing because then you have to catch up on everything. It sucks.”

- Claire Norconk ‘19

“I don’t have advice for freshmen.

Don’t be me.”

- Jack Myers ‘19

“Obviously, a hot dog is a sandwich.”

- Caelan Wright ‘19

“Yes- it’s meat inside of bread” - Chase McMaster ‘19

“I’d have to say that a hot dog is in fact a sandwich because there are two pieces of bread surrounding the main entity of the meal, which is the definition of a sandwich.”

- Gabe Miller ‘19

Q: 34 // BGQ // May 2019

Is a hot dog a sandwich?

“A hotdog is not a sandwich. A sandwich has to be two pieces of bread with something in the middle.”

“Definitley not, not even close.”

- Anna Wuerfel ‘19

- Sean Kolody ‘19

“It’s not because it’s not two separate pieces of bread.”

- Olive White ‘19

zoo the

of central

zoo the

“Jamwiches.”

- Levi Vankleek ‘19

of central Q:

What food represents your time at CHS?

“Soup. It can be really good, but if you’re not careful, it can spill all over you and it’s a mix of things. “ - Paige Bennett ‘19

36 // BGQ // May 2019

“Fruit Gushers that have been stepped on.”

- Aidan Reed ‘19

FLUFFINESS you need to feel to BELIEVE! SHERPA HAS ARRIVED

Visit gliks.com to find your nearest location GLIKS.COM

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.

@GLIKSOFFICIAL

Graphic: T. VerVane

SPICE UP YO

Seniors as we enter our first summer of freedom, we begin to shift our focus towards what’s to come. For some of us, it’s college, for others, work, while some of us are taking a year off to simply enjoy life. No matter where the next year may lead us, there is a good chance that many of us will be eating on a budget. To save you from growing bored of beloved, 29¢ ramen packets, the BGQ provides you with quick cheap ways to spice up your ramen.

by ABIGIAL VANNATTER Editor In Chief

Breakfast Ramen Instructions Make ramen normally Drain almost completley Add raw egg Add cooked breakfast meat (optional) Stir Micorwave for aditional 40 seconds Stir in cheese if desired

THIS right here is honestly where it’s at. It’s not exactly a lean mean breakfast, however the add-ins do boost the protein intake from practically zero to something notable.

I devoured this one. Ten out of ten, would reccomend.

Note: I (hesitantly) used pre-cooked bacon for convinience purposes and the outcome was better than expected.

38 // BGQ // May 2019

OUR RAMEN Thai Peanut Ramen

Instructions Make ramen normally Drain some broth Add spoonful of peanutbutter, creamy or chunky Squirt of Sriracha Peanuts (optional but recommended) Stir I totally see what they were going for here, but I’m not totally getting it. It’s not gross. It is good, but I’m not going to be thinking about it for very long. I ate the whole thing, although maybe I’m just hungry. I’d also recommend draining more broth than what is shown in the picture. 6/10

Instructions Make ramen with 1/2 seasoning Drain almost completley Sir in cubed Velveta Cheese until desired cheesiness is reached and cubes have melted

Aggressive stirring is the key here. Out of all three recipes, and I use that word sparingly, this would be my second favorite. It was a beautiful, creamy, perfect blend of possibly the two most loved foods: Ramen and Mac N Cheese.

Ram N Cheese

Recipes: Courtesy of Spoon University

All Photos: A. Vannatter