Black & Gold - Landmarks - Senior Issue 2015

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May 19, 2015

index

Inside 3-5, 8, 10, 14-16, 19-20 - Submissions 6-7 - Future Plans 9, 18 - Quotes 11 - Awards 12-13 - Rendezvous 17 - Ads 21-23 - Thank Yous 24 - Leek “I demolish my bridges behind

me—then there is no choice but forward.”

-Fridtjof Nansen

Staff

Photos: Chris Brower, Margo Hoagg, Emma Simon

Graphics: Henry Lancashire

Editors-in-Chief

A&E Editor

Business Managers

Erin Lipp John Minster

Julia Vanatter

George Madison Julia Vanatter

News Editor George Madison

Opinion Editor

Sports Editor Erin Lipp

Focus Page Editors

John Minster

Hunter Kelly Hayley Rozema

Feature Editor

Leek Editor

Maddi Miller

Carl Rasmussen

Photo Editors Emma Simon Margo Hoagg

Illustration Editor Henry Lancashire

Staff Noah Aulicino Andrea Bavikatty Kirsten Berkey Chris Brower Maggie Dupuie Abby Harnish Carly Hernden Shaine Kearney

Kristin McLintock Mitchell Mosley Bethany Pataky Nicole Rogers Hayley Scollard Alex Stern Baille Zipser

May 19, 2015

submissions Name of Piece: Cage On One of my goals this year in AP Studio Art was to create some form of art that involved Nicolas Cage. Why? The dude’s kind of a freak—a freak with a Godlike voice. I really wasn’t aware of his awesomeness until I watched this video on YouTube called “Top 10 Nicolas Cage Moments.” It’s the Cage Master’s top ten WTF film bits. I then felt the urge to watch all of his movies, but never did.

I also came across another video that consisted of “The Best Nicolas Cage Impressions.” If anyone hasn’t seen it, I highly recommend it. You’ll be laughing hard for a solid three minutes and fortyeight seconds. A number of actors and comedians, including Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) and Andy Samberg (The Lonely Island) did their best impersonations of the renowned actor. This was the inspiration, the fuel, that motivated me to

design Cage On. I started out by Googling “Nicolas Cage Face” and scored some pretty gnarly results. I know the one on the left is Face Off Nic Cage, and I’m not positive about the one going sideways… pretty creepy though. After I laid out the composition, I applied Sharpie to bolden the figures.

Next, I cut and glued images from magazines—the actual assignment. To finalize the piece, I colored the figures with color pencil, added a touch of watercolor, and painted the background with yellow acrylic paint.

Cage On is one of my strongest pieces, and has been my lucky charm since I gave birth to it. It earned a spot at NMC’s art show back in March, and wowed students in the library here at school for Art Prize.

Cage On is currently on its way to the AP graders… Hopefully they’ll have a good sense of humor.

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ben Bradshaw Guest Artist

Thank you for making me the athlete I am

Erin lipp Editor-in-chief & SPORTS EDITOR I am an athlete. I’ve worked damn hard on being one too; but, my work has been supported by the numerous people who contributed to creation of the athlete I am today.

My Head Ski Coach John Kostrzewa has a passion for the sport and a process of creating great Nordic skiers. I entered my freshman year as a wreck on skis; now I’m most likely moving on to ski at the collegiate level. Spending countless hours in the hot sun rollerskiing, running, road biking, and weight training with a few

teammates and me, barely compared to the time Coach K spent with us during the winter: on the snow, waxing our skis and traveling around the state and country. His ability to communicate the variety of strengths of each of his athletes creates a mutual respect among coaches and teammates. For that, thank you Coach K; I owe my dedication and passion for Nordic skiing to you.

Until junior year I was a mid-distance runner, when I transitioned to become a 200 and 400 meter runner. My track coach, Robyn Thompson, spent many practices teaching me the mechanics of starting blocks and sprint handoffs; her ladder and interval workouts helped me develop the power and speed necessary.

Coach Robyn turned me into a sprinter and a 300 hurdler because she saw potential in me that I could never have seen in myself. I put my trust in her decisions because it is a gift to have a coach who believes in abilities that I didn’t even know I had. On the surface I am becoming a stronger sprinter, but her impact has made me a more determined, resilient athlete; for that, I thank you, Coach Robyn.

From the first time I stepped in to the weight room at Central, I knew that I was going to be spending plenty of time there as gained respect for Coach Doug Gle’s coaching ability and knowledge. I was a runner and Nordic skier, not the

most popular sports, but he helped me as much as he helped the varsity football and basketball players. The fact that I am a girl had no impact on the way he pushed me and trained me to gain strength, agility and athletic ability. For every time you corrected my form, talked to me about the scientific background of lifting and encouraged my dream to be a collegiate athlete, I thank you Coach Gle. As much as coaches influence a sports season, the people with whom I train and race have an impact that is unforgettable.

Every rollerski in the scorching sun, hill bounding session in the pouring rain and interval session on snow with my fellow skiers brought us together from the pain we embraced to fulfill the passion we have for the sport. We trained together, raced together, and created memories in the legendary bumblebee suits for which I thank my Nordic ski teammates.

As a distance runner in the fall and a sprinter in the spring, I have developed a respect for the challenges of both. I enjoy the feeling of exhaustion after a hard run on Wayne hill in the fall or a ladder on the track in the spring. Call me crazy, but the ability to push myself to the extent of fatigue with my teammates by my side has allowed me to run off stressful days, feel accomplished and form a bond with my peers that a non-runner will never understand. So I thank my track and cross

country teammates for the memories of the challenging workouts that led to our success.

In four years of sports, I did not compete once without knowing that my parents were supporting me; not from back at home, but from right there in the bleachers at the track, on the cross country course, or standing in the negative temperatures and blizzard conditions alongside the ski trail.

Mom, Dad, thank you for braving the 90 degree weather, rain, or hail that is possible at every cross country and track meet along with the possible -30 degree blizzard conditions of Nordic ski races.

Thank you for traveling all over the state and country to support my competitive goals and aspirations. Thank you for providing me with the means necessary to improve and strive for success in every sport. Thank you for being there to encourage me, comfort me and celebrate with me; without you both, none of my athletic endeavors would be possible.

I am now the runner I never knew I could be. I am now a Nordic skier with a passion I have never felt before. I am now an athlete with an appreciation and love for every training partner, coach and supporter because I would not be the athlete I am today without them.

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May 19, 2015

submissions

The greatest lesson I was ever taught John Minster Editor-in-chief & Opinion Editor Last year, my mom got breast cancer. It was a bit of a shock, but she kicked its ass. She had her surgery, went through the chemotherapy and radiation like a warrior, and eradicated the disease quickly. I reacted to this whole experience very differently than many others. When I was told, I was surprised no doubt, but I really wasn’t all that worried. I had almost an eery confidence about the whole thing. I knew, better than anything I’d ever known before, my mom would get through this. She’d take care of business and be my mother for many years to come.

I was raised well. I spend hours talking to both of my parents about pretty much everything. The relationships I have with them are more sacred to me than anything else in the world. I’ve never had better teachers, nor could I ask for better.

In so much time talking to them, naturally, I’m going to pick up some of their politics.

Those positions, however, are not a hodgepodge thrown together, they root directly from the greatest thing I was ever taught: your success results entirely from what YOU do. This is a capitalist’s mantra. What you do is what you get. But it’s true. 1000% true.

Why it’s true, I could write 10,000 words on, but more importantly is what it results in. In everything I’ve ever done, that theme has been in the background. I have never, not once, blamed an overall failure on someone or something else. Sure, small things could be the result of something else’s doing. A poorly communicated deadline, a personal bias, whatever. But an overall grade in a class?

That’s on me. Making money? Me. These results all come from my own effort and doing. I know people who claim they just can’t do something. They blame a genetic disorder, that they just can’t do something they want, and that just doesn’t make any sense to me. If you really want something that bad, go get it. Don’t create artificial boundaries for yourself.

And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means. Incredibly far from it.

I’ve failed at many many things. I don’t have the best grades; I am sometimes resigned to fail. We all are. But what separates me

Spencer Schulte Guest Artist from everybody else is that I know, deep in my heart, whatever it is I failed at, it was because of me. Entirely. I refuse to put the blame on something or someone else.

For some people, that kind of responsibility is a cruel reality, and they can’t handle it.

They fail, get depressed and perpetuate on a cycle. For me, it’s liberating. It’s peace of mind. I don’t quite understand how others don’t think the same way. This thought process is generally why I feel the way I do on so many things. And to be honest, I couldn’t be happier. I’m lucky; not only in the way I was raised and the incredible people who did it, but in the safety of knowing I’m in control.

The safety of knowing, whatever I want to happen, I can make happen. I have the power to do what I want to do, and I know everyone else does too. We just have to find it within ourselves.

That’s the core thing about cancer, and about life really. You’re the one who has to get up in the morning with a headache and nausea. You’re the one who loses your hair. You’re the one with the life threatening disease, and no one’s going to fight it for you.

Not the government, not your friends, not your peers, you. There is no one who can do anything for you, you have to do it. That’s what my mom showed me every single day.

She might have struggled, she might have broken down sometimes, but she did it. She fought, and she won.

When my mom did get cancer, I knew she’d beat it. The question wasn’t so much whether she’d beat it, but how fast she would beat it. This is one of those tremendous people who helped instill these values in me.

There was just no way she was going to let something like this stop her.

Name of Piece: Tribal What was your inspiration? My inspiration was the diversity of skate culture.

The variety people who are a part of skate culture shows that really anyone can become a part of a culture like this just by doing a certain activity or wearing a type of clothes. I made it for the Dennos Museum skateboard competition.

Can you describe the process of making your piece? I used acrylic paint and airbrushed the base with a two toned black and brown.

Why is your piece unique?

It’s unique because it is an Africanthemed design so the wild, primitiveness of it contrasts with the gritty urban setting most people think of when they picture skating. The mixture of the natives wearing modern skate clothes shows the range of people who skate.

Cutting Ties Maddie Sanderson Guest Writer I can feel the pulling as we drift apart— as you drift away.

The ties that once bound us, are just bad art.

You’re moving away, you’re starting to stray.

My body aches; the strings burn, but to you, I don’t matter.

With every step you take, I can feel my heart shatter.

Please don’t do this. I thought you once cared, My heart is engulfed by the love we once shared.

And I gaze at you and I see the lie: that you “love” me.

The strings don’t phase you; it was simply planned.

They don’t pain you like they pain me...wouldn’t you agree?

And I’m watching you, scissors in hand and I’m watching you press the sharp blades against what I thought was my life.

I scream in agony, the cut I just sense, I could feel my skin snap back, rough as a knife.

And when I looked at you, I saw nothing.

I heard nothing.

You were fine.

May 19, 2015

submissions

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She’s missing & I am angry at the world My parents rang with the news the Monday after winter break. Since we didn’t have school, I was outside all day with my host family riding our sleds and enjoying winterland fun. Once back I went to my room to draft my family in Germany my weekly report, but the phone rang first. My dad.

“Klara, we need to talk… Oma had an accident.”

“Oh no. Is she okay?”

“Well, we don’t know, we don’t know where she is right now.”

Grandma had gone on a late night walk with her dog Fuego and hadn’t come back. Mom went to look for her a little bit later. Fuego came home. . . alone. Of course they called the police, but they couldn’t find my grandma. The police thought that she might have drowned in the little creek in the park she’d walked through. You must realize that she was really weak and skinny at that point. She Klara Keller suffered from several ailments and was taking a lot of medicine.

When had grandma gone missing? Dad said she guest writer disappeared Dec. 22, just days before Christmas.

Coincidentally, this was the same time I was trying to Facetime my mom because I knew that she and my brother were at my grandma’s house. Later they were supposed to meet my dad at my other grandparents house. I wanted to Facetime to see my whole family. But my mom told me that we couldn’t Facetime because of wifi drama. I had a strange feeling something was wrong, but I believed her. Two days later I was still uneasy because my family was not in their usual Christmas places. My father and brother were at my other grandparent’s house without my mom. This was weird. Mom made some excuse about needing to do something for my grandma.

But back to the phone call with my dad. Mom got on the phone and explained the mystery of why no one was communicating with me at a time when families always communicate. She said that not telling me the truth broke her heart, but she thought that maybe they would find my grandma and spare me this terrible news.

It broke her heart… Both that her mother was missing and that she had not told me

Change

SUSIE NESS guest writer

People change. High school has helped me understand that we are not the same people as we were four years ago. We know ourselves better.

We have realized our passions. Many of us have leapt out of our comfort zones and grown to enjoy being uncomfortable. We have matured. We are no longer the petty freshman standing in the atrium gawking at a passing senior. We have learned to drive and crash our cars, we have had boyfriends

the truth. If you knew my mom, you would know how weird it was for me to hear that.

Not because of the meaning but because of her word choice. Mom normally doesn’t talk like that.

At that point, I realized that nothing would be the same anymore.

We talked for a long time, an unusually emotional conversation. My parents had told my host family. My parents were sorry for not telling me earlier but they thought that they could just… fix it. I said I understood.

I’m the responsible daughter--the one who understands why her parents are doing the things they do, no questions asked. The daughter who doesn’t start screaming and yelling because everyone knew someone we all loved was gone.

Wouldn’t most teenagers yell at their parents, because anger feels better than pure sadness and because it is easier to let out? But I DID understand them, and I knew that, especially for my mom, it was probably even harder than for me. Since she was “only” my grandma, but she was my mom’s mother.

But inside, I just wanted to be that typical teenager. I wanted to scream. I wanted to be angry at them, because crying didn’t make the pain go away.

I was angry at my grandma for going outside so late, and then I was angry at myself for being angry at my grandma. And then I found a thousand other reasons to be angry at myself and the world.

But my parents didn’t see all this. How could they? They were sitting in front of a camera screen, which showed their crying daughter, who was on the other side of the world.

We Facetimed a lot in the following weeks. One day, in March, my dad told me that somebody had found my grandma’s body. Pretty fast we were talking about her funeral and that it was better not to wait until I come back. Mom said that it was better because then, when I would come back, the first thing I would have to do wouldn’t be to attend my grandma’s funeral.

But just I felt like I didn’t have the right to stop my mom and uncle from saying goodbye to their mother, since she was “only” my grandmother.

All this happened a couple months ago, but I’m still angry. Of course I’m sad too, but the sadness doesn’t feel strong enough, so I’m mostly angry. Every time I talk to my mom I start to cry. One time she even cried… Do you know what it feels like to see your mom cry for the first time, and she’s across the Atlantic Ocean?

We are both muddling our way through the sadness, missing grandma. Every time we talk mom says, “That’s just how life goes, Klara. We can’t change it.”

and girlfriends and break ups, we have failed tests and aced them. We know what it’s like to be on top and what it’s like to be on the bottom. Many of us have become tenacious young adults ready to accept change.

Friends change you, and friendships change. You will not call the person you talked hours on end with freshman year. Drifting apart is okay- it separates the genuine from the fake. When your best friend leaves you for her new boyfriend, know that she will realize her mistake or wasn’t worth the effort. Realizing what constitutes a good friend is one of the most important lessons of high school. You will learn that associating with people does not make them your friend, and that being a good friend is just important as having one.

School changes you. You will begin to realize what your interests are. You will eventually understand that yes, academics matter. As much as you hate to admit it, it dictates the path you will take. Some teachers will have a significant impact on you; they will become a mentor and a supporter. Other teachers may not like you, which is all right because you probably don’t like them either. High

school does matter, although in more subtle ways than most think.

Life changes you. Every little thing that happens between your 6 a.m. alarm and when your head hits the pillow is shaping you into your own individual self.

Never take the small things for granted, and learn from your mistakes. That blow-up fight with your mother won’t matter tomorrow (and your mother is probably right). Growing up is hard, but the hardest parts affect us the most.

Accept change. Embrace it. It is a part of life, and in the end, makes us more comfortable in our own skin. It helps us realize what makes us unique. The petty drama of high school is not useless; we learn to let go. Awkward social situations force us to find those who accept us despite our flaws. High school is one of the most tumultuous times of our lives, but it gives us the opportunity to grow up and find ourselves. Do not get stuck in routine, do not accept the way things are, do not fear the unknown. Life goes on after high school.

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May 19, 2015

FUTURE PLANS

ACE Program: Emily Carr Adrian College: Emma Sheldon Albion College: Jean-Claude Jephte Aquinas College: Paxton Widing Arizona State University: Anna Russell Baker College: Andrew Gatzke-Giddis Alex Werly Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music: Krista Cole Bowling Green State University: Olivia Favour Central Michigan University: Brenna Argue Hannah Fink Luke Kreykes James Manley Jack Shields Jane Leahy

“I chose Arizona State because it was the best fit for me on my list. I get all of the big school opportunities and experiences with the small honors college to come home to.”

-Anna Russell ‘15

Cornell University: Alexandra Wuerfel

Colgate University: Susan Ness College for Creative Studies - Detroit: Anthony Galante Katheryn Huff Davenport University: Katie Dubro Owen Stratton DePaul University: Emma Caldwell John Minster

Madison Boyd Jack Brewer Daniel Brott Rileigh Christenson Nicholas Hart William Jenkins Shaine Kearney Aubrey Krueger Matthew Lautner Alexander Liggett Keegan McKenzie Mitchell Mosley Elizabeth Pappas Morgan Scollard Will Tomaszewski

“When I visited the Ellsworth Community campus at Bowling Green I really liked it.

College: Morgen Durga They have really good art programs, as well.

FEMA Corps - DeColumbia was my first partment of Homeland choice, but I will be Security: happy where I’m goNoah Batcha ing.” -Olivia Favour ‘15 Ferris State University: Maitland Adams Brandy Barrera Courtney Eager Hunter Kelly Samantha Lukitsch Katelyn Olshansky Emir Rahman Ashley Reed Daniel Youker Sean Williams Florida Atlantic University: Jasmine Overholt Gap Year: Leah Flesher Dylan Jewell Riley Waskiewicz Grand Valley State University: Alexandra Andriese Ashlee Berger

Great Lakes Maritime Academy: Carl Schaub Hope College: Mariah Bensley Junior Hockey: Derek Becker Kalamazoo College: Jacob Bonifacio Eliza McCall Kellogg Community College: Cooper Marshall Kettering University: Hannah Moore Lake Forest College: Katherine Ludwig

Carolyn Wynkoop Lawrence University: Nicholas Suminski MCTI - Michigan Career and Technical Institute: Sally Donner William Downs Marissa Fender Miami University: Huang Yu Bin Michigan State University: Nicholas Barger Lukas Battle Matthew Grost Ashley Hulet Kayla Jackson Emma Keaton Cameron McAuliffe Dawson MortensenChown Canyon O’Brien John Peters Anna Poertner Sydney Roberts Makayla Robinson Ellie Taylor Tanner Schwannecke Allison Shumate Jack Smith Grace Stanton Michigan Technological University: John Batsikouras Ethan Campbell Benjamin Cockfield Erin Lipp Hunter Luhrs Alexander Oliver Rebecca Revett Kaitlin Sargent Joseph Schepperly Tyler Sepanik Alexander Terrell Seth Tice

Rachel Walter Samuel Weckler Military: Griffin Brien Bryce DeLeon Jonathan Felton Jackson Hawley James Isac-Huggins Avery Mackie Christian Martin Kyle Perrin Robert Switzer Javane Williams North Central Michigan College: Michael Goetz-Whittaker Northern Michigan University: Anastasia Botsford-Reznich Sydney Klavon Rachel Marchany Jordan Mattarella Kalina Pfannenstiel Matthew Pupel Justin Roy Northwestern Michigan College: Jacob Anderson Isabell Astor Dmitriy Bakunets Keisha Bell Zachary Bohrer Geneva Borges Benjamin Bradshaw Laura Buchanan Jennifer Burfield Edward Cater Andrew Chemosky Alexander Conz Rosemary Cook Samuel Crockett Joseph Curtis Ciera Dean Ronald Dohm

May 19, 2015 Northwestern Michigan College (Continued) Damian Durga Keanu Echon Megan Eshleman Dominic Farmer Cassandra Fields Kayla Francis Casey Geer Lauren Glass Keenan Goodwin Hudson Hackbarth Brittany Hanbury Hannah Hohman Noah Jackson Shaina Kalbfleisch Madeline Kemp Charles Kesner Justus Korson Spencer Kroupa Zachary Kyro Jacob Lakies Jonathan Laskey Fayth Lautner Samuel Lebel Jake Lesoski Alie Little Fabiola Lomeli Madison Loveland Stephanie Loveland Jacqueline Macek

“I knew I wanted to stay here and take advantage of the cheaper classes and be able to get the same classes that I can take at any other college.” -Alie Little Donavon Maddasion Alyssa Malburg Rachel Moore Matt Morse Eric Otto Yesica Paniagua Kristen Patterson Liu Yi Peng

FUTURE PLANS

Noah Pickett Ashley Prozinski Esperanza Pulido

“I’m going to NMC for an associates in engineering technology of unmanned aerial system. They have the one of the oldest and most connected programs in the country.” -Jake Lesoski Tiffany Raney Katie Rasho Bradley Ray Valerie Riedel Devon Roush Lucas Rowe Hayley Rozema Jordan Runkle Madeline Sanderson Jason Sherred Logan Simerson Zachary Stewart Jaedyn Taylor Alex Trejo Christine Twietmeyer Maxine Valesano Jordon VanAelst Bryant Villagomez Jackie Wolf Logan Woods Kaitlyn Yantz Anastasia Zubaryeva

Ocean Corporation Trade School: Evan Miller Principia College: Paige Cooley Rochester Institute of Technology: Rhys Adle Saginaw Valley State University: Qing Lian Jiang

“I’m excited to start my life and get away from my family for awhile. It’s a really good school and I am going to be making a lot of money for the career field I’m going in.” -Evan Miller

Northwestern University: Ashley Ko Notre Dame University: Spencer Brown Oakland Community College: Erin Yeoman Outward Bound Program: Peter Columbo

St. Lawrence University: Clay Darling St. Norberts College: Graceanne Tarsa Travel: Chloe Minore Traverse City Beauty College: Maxine Valesano Universal Technical Institute: Wesley Hradek University of Alabama: Dallis Champion University of Michigan: Alexandra Anderson Peter Andreasson

Blake Beyer Eric Brown Keefer Edwards Theodore Endresen Alexandra Friar Alycia Gerber Ruth Gerstle Colin Huls Katherine Mast Riley McKeown Roy Okerstrom Amelia Pezzetti Dirk Phelps Spencer Schulte Charlie Velis Angelo Vozza University of Michigan College of Engineering: RJ Fenton Jack McKay University of New Hampshire: Kate Trubac University of Tampa: Zak Collins University of Utah: Reilly deTar Wayne State University: Mason Mackenzie Western Michigan University: Sabryna Cisneros Betsy D’Aquila Alli Hagen John Wood Work: Christopher Benner Thomas Brown Vincent Buskirk Jeremy Chao Justin Cutler Devon Davis Bruce Douglas

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Collin Duell Adam Durecki Kari Ferguson Derek Frederick

“I’m excited to start my life and get away from my family for awhile. It’s a really good school and I am going to be making a lot of money for the career field I’m going in.” -Evan Miller Riley Gallagher Kolten Gard Brandon Gary Zachary Glezman Aaron Gomez Joshua Green Antonio Luis Hipolito Antonia Hogue Samuel Homminga David Irish Lawrence Kellogg Kristyn Korson Taylor LaCross Courtney Muma Jordan Newhouse Trinidi Peckstein Hanna Peterson Nancy Quick Thomas Sawyer Brandon Solberg Christian Staycer Michael Triplett Steven Vam Drake Wables Derek Wilson

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May 19, 2015

submissions

Every person is a mystery

Hiking through British Columbia The summer going into my junior year I was given the opportunity to go on a hiking trip with my youth group in British Columbia.

Unaware of the countless obstacles that awaited us, our group of thirteen high school students and two adult leaders set off for British Columbia, all bursting with excitement. ben Cockfield Under the impression that we would be going on a leisurely trek up a small mountain, Guest Writer it’s safe to say that we were all more than startled when we found out that the summit of the mountain was just over 8,100 feet. Within the first hour of rigorous hiking we soon could see that the path that lay ahead of us would be far from a cakewalk. By midday, several members of our group were already falling behind, and we knew that something had to change if we were to reach our summit.

The backpacks that we carried weighed anywhere from 40-70 pounds depending on the strength of the individual hiker. These packs carried all of the gear that was necessary for our week long expedition: tents, food, pots, pans, ropes, and clothes. As some of the stronger and more experienced hikers, myself and two of my friends decided that to keep our group together as a cohesive unit, we would need to take some of the weight off of the shoulders of some of the weaker hikers. After taking some weight from some of those who needed help, our group finally found the balance that was necessary to keep the slower members of the group on pace with everyone else. Although it meant that several of us had to bear significantly more weight than the others, we knew that it was to benefit not just the individuals that were struggling, but the group as a whole.

The task of helping lead the group into becoming a more cohesive unit was an incredibly rewarding experience that helped make my hiking trip more than just a unique new adventure. On top of learning first-hand the process of “team first,” this trip allowed me to explore and appreciate some of the incredible areas on Earth that are still untouched by civilization.

I realized that the only way to reach a goal is through the dedication of working together, which frequently involves the sacrifice and leadership of individuals to make these aspirations become reality.

I, fortunately (depending on perspective), was blessed with one of those “HI, NICE TO MEET YOU” personalities. It’s a great personality really, or so I’ve heard. I mainly find comfort in the friends I’ve known since I was old enough to walk, but having one of these personalities has really opened up my spectrum of socialization.

It pushes me from the compact corners of life to find the greater things, to share with the greater people.

That personally is what I’ve taken as the greatest lesson out of school. Not the education (I didn’t say that), not the teachers, not the books, rather, the social stimulation school has to offer. The people. Because what’s all of this, writing, reading and arithmetic, without the people one can call their friends. Now, of course there’s different “levels” of friendship. There’s the loners; the socially awkward, forever doomed by the inescapable grasp of the friendless. Then there’s the acquaintances; those simple “hello, how’s your day?” that seem to be repeated almost countless times a day. Those friends that you’ll talk to but not really ever want to associate yourself with outside of school...you know who I’m talking about. Then there’s Mitchell Mosley your outer friends. One of my favorite groups. The extended squad, as I would say. These range from those people you see everyday at school to those you’ll run into out on the street, and no regardless the situation, only good times and Staff Reporter hearty laughs come from the times you spend with them.

I had to make a new paragraph for this group, solely due to the importance.

This I dedicate to the people who make your high school career the kick-ass, hoodrat, fun timed book of importance it is. This, is the squad. Ranging from four to five people, the squad is what we refer to as the “homies”. These are the friends that you’ll be with the most. The ones who pull your car out of the ditch in the winter and hold your extra tent pole while you slave over fire, ash flying in your face as you all laugh together. The homies will be there for the good, and for the bad, and they truly make high school the experience it is. As I said before...it’s all about the social stimulation high school has to offer.

Jet fuel can’t melt steel beams Will Tomaszewski

High school has been a very memorable Guest Writer experience. From grinding out essays before class to staying up all night with my friends,

“

”

My court date was set.

There was nothing I could do about it.

I went through it all. The most memorable experience happened this Valentine’s day.

Like it or not high school parties happen and they always will. No amount of police intimidation or parental warning will stop it. Its just what we do. On Valentine’s day of this year I found myself at one of these parties.

To make a long story short, the police came to the house.

Five cops to face the fifteen high schoolers. I was one of the unlucky people to receive an MIP citation for alcohol use.

My court date was set. There was nothing I could do about it. My life took a drastic change all due to drinking one beer. PBR of course. I appeared in court alongside the other unlucky souls at the party, received my sentence, 90 days of non reporting probation and it’s off my record.

To my surprise, non reporting means you have to report. This minor violation of the law that a majority of

teenagers do changed my life. Probation makes you feel like a criminal. We are always taught that mistakes happen and there is no way around it. So why is it when teenagers make the small mistake of drinking it is taken so seriously? I am not even allowed to go to an Applebee’s while on probation. Apparently I would see alcohol and rush to the bar to satisfy my “addiction” as they call it.

This system in place is beyond flawed, only teaching teenagers to fear police and not see them as helpful. Like most things in our country, it is a game of money. Every step in probation costs me money. I have paid over $500 in fines that came right out of my college fund. That seems beyond unnecessary for a violation the occurs every weekend by hundreds of teenagers across the country.

All of this stress, sleepless nights, and hundreds of dollars in fines because of one beer.

In a few weeks I will be off and it will be over with.

I have a couple pieces of advice for all high school students: do what you want, but be prepared to handle the overly intense consequences.

May 19, 2015

Student Qualities

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UNFORGETTABLE STUDENT QUALITIES

“First hour AP “The senior class Chem detested is really funny the sticks I used for this year. They are choosing lab partvery academic, but ners. I know deep can keep their solid down they will miss sense of humor. They them next year. Fourth hour AP Chem really have their priorities in order. on the other hand had an insane abilIt took me until almost the end of “Because you ity to guess who the partners were have spent a sigthe year to realize that most of nificant portion of your going to be., I swear I never the juniors I taught last year life in school learning looked at the sticks, I really were actually juniors beand being taught, you well didn’t. But they were alcause of their level of know that lessons come in ways spot on.” maturity.” many forms and sometimes at -Marcie King -Kristina Brunink

unexpected moments. Among the “I never imaglessons we learned is that learning “The World Quest team is a complicated matter and as ined that the Rapwent to DC, The Robotsuch we must embrace what ics team went to the world tors would be Michiis difficult and take pleachampionships. This senior year gan FIRST Robotics State has had some incredible successsure in the nuances that Champions. Congratulaes. They should be happy about that we call life.” -Kathryn tions to the senior FIRST Robotbecause it doesn’t happen to everyShelley-Barnes body. I hope they are all aware that this ics team members. Their four high school was ranked in the top five peryears of hard work and leadership “This group of secent of the state, so they went to a really culminated beautifully in a state niors was one of good high school and had a really good the first groups I had championship and trip to St. year. That only comes about from a bunch of as 9th gradhard work. The reality is that lots of Louis for the FIRST Chamers in Spanish III. I remember school kids put in extra time on pionship. It is an amazseeing them sitting in the front the hockey team, but don’t ing memory from this row with their faces looking up get the success we had.” year.” -John Failor at me like ‘yay Spanish’. And I still -Harold Lalonde have many of them in class today. Its

been great to see them evolve over “One student “I’ve coached this stuthe four years, and grow. They are dent for four years in softthat really stood ball, and had her in both one of the strongest academic out to me, and I will my Civics and AP Government groups we’ve had in the last always remember it. classes. This girl is incredibly posifew years, and I’ve really This student started off tive and affable person. She is so enjoyed having some of friendly, and can totally change the a bit smaller. He always them in class.” tone in a room just by entering it. The worked so hard. It was good other night we were in Ogemaw for a soft- Bryn Lynch to see him work so much and ball game, playing a pretty tough team, and sprout up and have a great footwe were down by several run. This student “The seniors this year walks up, and she has pretty unconvenball season.

The work he put in are probably one of tional form. You can tell the other team really shows a lot about his the closest units I’ve ever wasn’t taking her seriously. First pitch met.

They are really pretty work ethic. To keep grindshe hits a home run, scores three tight.

For instance, I’ve never ing, it’s not easy to do points including herself. It totally met a group of guys who are so changed the outlook on the that every day, but touchy-feely with each other as game, and that’s just what he just kept working the seniors, but not in a sexual way. this student does.” hard.” -Mike Gle They hug, give pats on the back, and -Paige Paul things like that. I’ve not seen another unit be as close as this senior class.”

-Jamie Sandy

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May 19, 2015

submissions

The simple things in life Mexico

As I look out into the calming waters of the Great Lakes, I can see a ship just above the horizon.

The sky is beginning to change color; first a blue, then a purple, next a red and orange, ending with a bright yellow burst over the horizon. Watching the sun come up in the morning and listening to the water crash against the shore line was the best way to wake up.

Megan eshleman

Sinai Rojas

Guest Writer

Guest Writer

My family and I always go on a road trip during the summer months, some place out of state and interesting. We’ve drove to Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and many more places in Michigan. I’ve been to many campgrounds, water parks, amusement parks, but throughout all of those places, Sault Sainte Marie in the U.P. was my long lost home. The first time we went there happened to be on Engineers weekend, this is when they open the Soo Locks so people get the chance to walk on the locks and watch the freighters come in and out. There is also boat racing, a tug boat parade and they open the Cloverland Electric Cooperative Hydroelectric Plant.

When walking down the

streets of downtown, I always feel a sense of happiness and joy that I never feel anywhere else.

The sun is always shining bright, and the people are always so welcoming, which made me immediately realize this is the place where I want to be, where I want to live, where I feel at home. They is why I will be attending Lake Superior State University after my two years here at NMC. Going to such a beautiful and peaceful place has made me step back and enjoy the small things in life. When you’re in high school, the only thing you think about is leaving. But have you wondered what life is like outside of high school? It’s a big world out there and you’re just beginning. Don’t rush your life out of high school.

Land of great heritage. Big history.

Antagonist of Europe.

Place of the Mayan and Aztec--place of ruins.

Montezuma, Yik’in Chan K’awiil, K’inich Janaab’ Pakal.

Creator of Eagle Warriors, Jaguar Warriors.

Golden sun. Orange and terracotta. Azure horizons. . .

Dry and hot. Sand and desert.

Grower of corn.Trafficker of drugs.

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen the news, and heard first-hand about murders never reported.

And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true. I have seen my dad pay off the crooked cops so they won’t charge him for some crime not committed.

And they tell me you are brutal, and I answer: Yes, I have read our history of human sacrifices, know our brave warriors who fought to the death.

And having answered so I turn once more to those who think Mexico is cruel and say to them. . .

Tell me a story about a country whose history is perfect.

More than meats the eye

Shaine Kearney Staff Reporter

I feel like I should start counting how many times people ask me why or how long I have been a vegetarian. They always seem so confused and most people, mainly just my peers are, believe it or not, super judgmental… wait high school kids being judgmental?

No wayyy. So I figured now would be the best time to explain myself once and for all, maybe even put all of this on a shirt so I never have to explain it again.

So my mom, who just so happens to be a huge health nut and has been a vegetarian for her entire life, decided one day we would not have meat in the house ever again. I was only seven or eight at the time so I figured I could work around it and eat meat outside of the house. This went on for maybe two years, with my mom fighting to convert me into a full vegetarian, and my dad and three of my grandparents shoveling that hot flesh into my mouth whenever they could.

Eew—what a gross description; just calling it flesh makes me nauseous. Needless to say, I ate a lot of meat in those couple years.

In sixth grade I did my research project on the meat packing industry and how the animals go from

a living creature, to a lump of brown stuff on your table. Not to try and convince people to stop eating meat, but cows are led sometimes hundreds of miles into the slaughterhouse and forced down the small shaft leading to the crusher. The cows are skinned and sometimes gutted while still alive. Only about 45 to 50 percent of the meat is edible after being mixed with the guts and skin during the slaughtering. The rest of the animal is chopped up and used in other products like soap, leather, candles. Nothing like a good cow hoof candle to read by; it’s pretty nasty stuff.

For some reason I have always cared a lot about the environment and trying to keep our Earth as clean as possible. Hmmmm I wonder why? Maybe because we only have one planet and personally I would like to keep it from crumbling out from under us. Why should we as humans be able to take the lives of all these animals when we don’t need to? There are other sources of protein that won’t give you heart disease. I know it’s the circle of life and humans are at the top of the food chain or whatever but what I don’t understand is why so much? It is wasteful and completely unnecessary. Also, cows are pretty freakin cute. I was in Scotland one summer and I found a wild cow who licked my hand after I pet it. Did you know that cows have best friends? Think about that next time you have a steak or a burger. You are probably eating a cow’s best friend. You wouldn’t like it if I ate your best friend would you? Didn’t think so.

Here’s what it comes down to: I am a vegetarian because it’s gross and unnecessary to kill and eat something that had a heart beat, it’s not even healthy, causing heart disease and cancer, the methane and production of meat have huge negative environmental impacts, and because at this point, I just don’t want to.

May 19, 2015

awards & commendations

11

Congratulations to all of the seniors on all of their accomplishments—including those not listed. You’ve earned it.

Alumni Hall of Fame:

Inductees: Brian Heffner, Class of 1982 Ken Schmidt, Class of 1962 Lisa Taylor, 26 years of service to TCAPS “Legends” Award Recipient: Dr. Glen Loomis, 21 years as Superintendent of TCAPS

National Merit Recipients: National Merit Finalists: Peter Andreasson, Ruth Gertstle, Colin Huls, Jackson McKay, Nicholas Suminski

Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra Award: Krista Cole, Colin Huls, Nicholas Suminski TC Music Booster Awards for CHS Orchestra: Marissa Boursaw, Dawson Mortensen-Chown (Band awards not listed)

Choir: Iron Man Award: Logan Simerson Music Booster Award, Outstanding Contributions to Choir: Matt Grost, Spencer Kroupa

Writing: National Writers Series Scholarship for Fiction: Allie Shumate

at the end of FIRST Robot- Tournament May ics: Model UN:

Alex Anderson, RJ Fenton, Alycia Gerber, Colin Huls, Hannes Iven, Megan Kral, Jacob Lakies, Rachel Marchany, Hannah Moore, Kaitlin Sargent, Jack Smith, Abigail Waggoner Traverse City FIRST Robotics District Competition: 1st place and Team Spirirt Award Kettering FIRST Robotics District Competition: Semifinalist and Engineering Inspiration Award FIRST Robotics State Championship: 1st place FIRST World Championship in St. Louis: 1st place in the Carson Subdivision Championship

Academic WorldQuest: Peter Andreasson, Alex Endresen, Angelo Vozza Regional Competition: 1st place Competed at National Competition in Washington D.C.

Quiz Bowl:

Peter Andreasson, Blake Beyer, Alex Endresen WCMU Quiz Central Competition, Red Division Championship: 1st place Will Compete in the Quiz Bowl High School National Championship

2nd Honors Crisis: Chuck Velis

Art: NMC Art Competition: Chris Brower, 1st place Spencer Scholte, 3rd place Oliver Art Show: Chris Brower, 1st place Scholastic Art & Writing Competition: Kat Huff, Silver Key at State Level Spencer Scholte, Gold Key at National Level Traverse City Camera Club Photo Competition: Chris Brower, 1st place

Publications: Newspaper: The Black & Gold won a Spartan Award, the highest award given in the state Individual Awards: Chris Brower, Hunter Kelly, Erin Lipp, George Madison, John Minster, Hayley Rozema Yearbook: Pines won a Gold Award, the second highest award given in the state Individual Awards: Mariah Bensley, Kayla Jackson, Madison Loveland, Kalina Pfannenstiel, Anna Russell

Sports: Fall: Boy’s Cross Country: BNC Champions, 3rd in the Region, 6th in the State

Girl’s Cross Country: BNC Champions, Regional Champions, State Runner-ups Equestrian: District Champions, 3rd in the Region Football: BNC Runner-ups Girl’s Golf: 5th in the Region Boy’s Soccer: BNC Runnerups, Regional Semi-finalists Boy’s Tennis: BNC Champions, 3rd in the Region, 14th in the State Volleyball: 4th in the BNC Winter: Boy’s Basketball: 6th in the BNC Girl’s Basketball: 3rd in the BNC Boy’s Bowling: GNWBC Champions Girl’s Bowling: GNWBC Runner-ups Hockey: BNC Champions, Regional Champions, State quarterfinalists Boy’s Downhill Skiing: BNC Champions, Regional Champions, State Runner-ups Girl’s Downhill Skiing: BNC

Runner-ups, Regional Runner-ups, State Runner-ups Boy’s Cross Country Skiing: 3rd in the State Girl’s Cross Country Skiing: State Champions Wrestling: 7th in the BNC Individual Awards: Ansorge Trojan Wrestling Scholarship Award: Hunter Luhrs Dick Mattern Trojan Athlete-Scholar of the Year Award: Zoe Gerstle, Alex Oliver Edgar Boettcher Hockey Scholarship Award: Alex Oliver Frederick Bishop, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Award: Danny Brott, Eliza McCall MHSAA Scholar-Athlete: Ashley Ko, winner Ellie Taylor, finalist Scott Miller Hockey Scholarship Award: Rhys Adle (Spring sports not listed, as they are still in progress)

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May 19, 2015

RENDEZVOUS

Ben Cockfield ‘15 chose to sing “Michigan” by the Milk Carton Kids. “I picked a song that I like to listen to,” Cockfield said. “A lot of people want to pick classic songs that a lot of people know, but I just wanted to choose one that I liked.” Before practicing for Rendezvous, Cockfield was somewhat familiar with the song.

“For my audition I already knew how to play the song,” Cockfield said. “I needed to learn the lyrics.

I guess I did that a couple days before auditions.” He hopes to make this show the best since it is his last one, and he hopes to outdo himself from last year. “It is my mom’s birthday so I have to figure out what I am going to do for her,” Cockfield said. “Last year I made a big deal about it and I got the whole crowd to sing her happy birthday.”

Seeking to make his last high school performance at Rendezvous memorable, Spencer Kroupa ‘15 shows his immaculate vocal talent on stage while performing for his third year in Rendezvous. He has performed a song by a different artist each year and this year he chose “Moondance” by Michael Buble. “I have always liked that song and he doesn’t usually perform with a backup, so neither am I,” Kroupa said. Kroupa started practicing in April and rehearsed whenever he had time, even though the song was not very challenging to sing or learn. “I have known ‘Moondance’ for a while now,” Kroupa said. “I wanted to practice as much as possible before Rendezvous because this is my last year performing on that stage and I just want to live up to last year.”

Standing on stage is Betsy D’Aquila singing “Everybody” by Ingrid Michaelson. “I wanted something that was a good final piece to end on,” D’Aquila said.

“It is just a happy, upbeat song.” D’Aquila has done Rendezvous since freshmen year with her choir.

She had four other people on stage with her, as her backup singers. “I thought it would be a good experience to get underclassmen involved, to get an idea what it is like to be in a smaller more soloistic environment on stage.”

The pressure was on for D’Aquila as this was her last performance at Central. “It is important to stay relaxed and to get in as much rehearsal as I can,” D’Aquila said. “This being my last year just added one more element to my performance.”

May 19, 2015

RENDEZVOUS

Matt Grost ‘15 and Lisa Brown ‘16 chose to sing a duet of “Don’t You Want to Stay.” “We chose this song because the song we originally chose didn’t match the Rendezvous theme,” Grost said. He doesn’t think that the song itself was hard to learn, but working with Brown was the difficult part. “The tricky thing was learning how to connect with each other and sing to each other while maintaining eye contact, Grost said. “It was hard singing to another person in front of a large audience.” Grost is going to try to keep his nerves calm since his biggest fear is stage fright. “While preparing for the show, I just tried to stay calm,” Grost said. “I think that the hard work that Lisa and I have done paid off.”

Anthony Galante ‘15 chose a popular upbeat song that goes right with the Rendezvous theme; jazzy. “There was a lot of hard choices. I went with ‘Uptown Funk’ because it has a real driving feel to it,” Galante said.

This is Galante’s first year performing in Rendezvous, and he sure had his work cut out for him with the time crunch. “I started practicing in March. I try to get in to practice twice a week, but I couldn’t the week of AP tests,” Galante said. With the help of backup singers and a choreographer, all went well. “I have a couple back up singers to help me hit the high and low parts too,” Galante said. Combining the catchy song with choreography in his performance gives Galante confidence.

“I think it was spectacular,” Galante said.

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Zach Peterson’s ‘15 original piece appropriately titled “Original,” was intended to show others what he has been working on for a year. “I really liked it and it hit off well with my music buddies,” Peterson said. “It’s a little bit different from an average songwhich excited me,” He’s been brainstorming original songs with fresh lyrics and melodies for about two years. “I’ve been wanting to sum up how far I’ve come with my music—to present some of my original pieces,” Peterson said. This is Peterson’s first year in Rendezvous and he is not only singing but also playing bass with the band. “I’m doing a solo and I play bass with the band for everyone else—all the other solos. So those are my two duties for Rendezvous,” Peterson said.

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May 19, 2015

Submissions

Stay Classy Central Chris Brower

As a senior, you have lots of time to reflect on the past four years and how you’ve changed as a student and as a person. Regardless of the pressure surrounding you at school, make the best of every situation you face because before you know it, you’ll be walking across Kresge Auditorium with your high school adventures and memories behind you.

This is for the kid that procrastinates. When you’re in school it’s easy to get lost and be consumed by homework and commitments with clubs

Staff Reporter and sports. But when you near the end of your high school journey, you won’t be remembering those saturday nights spent cramming for those physics quizzes or trig tests. Instead you’ll remember the nights you spent with your best friends around a bonfire or the hours you spent walking through hickory hills playing disc golf.

So my advice is to study when your teacher gives you the chance and do your work in class so when it’s 3:02 on a friday you can walk out of the school and enjoy the time you have before you’re thrust into adulthood.

This is for the kid that gets devastated when they get a C+ or B- on a quiz. One bad grade in a class won’t kill your grade. So when you receive that grade, don’t sit there in self pity and sadness. Instead, just learn from your mistakes and don’t dwell on something you can no longer control.

High School is too short for you to obsess about trivial things like get-

ting a bad grade.

Advice for all the upcoming grades in the future is to not let your failures sit on your shoulders and to rise above them. Regardless of your lack of motivation, sleepiness or rigorous schedule you have to dig deep and really work in order to see results.

This is for that new kid. This school may seem seem huge and filled with hundreds of kids who don’t really care about getting to know you and your personality. In some ways that’s true, but don’t be afraid to put yourself out there in order to find your place at school. I was a new kid at Central halfway through my freshmen year so I firsthand experienced how overwhelming Central was. I thought it was horrible and I had no one to talk to. Push through each day because eventually you will find your core group of friends that will make your highschool memories last forever.

My final advice is to stay strong, work hard with the allotted time you have in class and to have a great time with the people who help to capture every amazing experience.

Stay Classy Central.

Don’t give in to self-doubt

Happiness comes from within. To quote ancient Cam McAuliffe fortune; Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, “happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind, and has Guest Writer given up worrying once and for all.” Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot constantly fret over the judgement from Freshman year. A others; chances are they have bigger fish to fry anyway. In transition into the next fact, the biggest bully we will ever face in life, if we choose level in the game of life. to let it, is our own mind. Do not let your mind prevent you A time of trial and error. from living in the moment every day. Do not let it take away A taste of the difficult your happiness. Do not let it prevent you from changing the but rewarding next few world. years ahead of us. We Fellow classmates we are the future and the change we often take for granted our want to see is finally in our hands. Do we sit back and allow experience as freshmen. the possibilities to slip away? Or do we put forth the effort Being the little fish in a to leave our mark on this world? The difference between vast unknown ocean full simply surviving and truly living is all in one’s mindset. If of sharks and other fish we do not take every opportunity we can to reach selfmuch higher on the food fulfilment we will never experience life to its fullest. In the chain than ourselves, we tend to wish our time away as the wise words of Jordan Belfort: “The only thing standing little guys hoping to avoid the ridicule of the mean ole’ upbetween you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep perclassmen. Sadly, before we know it this wish comes true telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” And when as we metamorphosize into the sharks ourselves. Passing it is all said in done the BS wall you have built for yourself through our sophomore and junior year, we realize there comes crumbling down in a heavy heap of regret and we was never anything to worry about because upperclassfull victim to the ugly looking bully within us. The bully men are too wrapped up in the real bullying issue of mass named self-doubt. I guess what I’m trying to say is do not amounts of homework, tests, projects and other assessallow the fictitious, little monster in your head to restrict you ments to find the time to harass underclassmen. Folks, from being the best you can be. the key to happiness doesn’t have to come from fame or

Vibes We gather round our glorious table All are present, except for Radel He turns up just a few minutes after All that follows is uncontrolled laughter We all come in, but then we arrive gifts: Carl Rasmussen Bringing gold, silver and vibe Leek Editor A courtesy is given, as is custom And Tanth develops a pelvic fulcrum He looks with doubt in his mirror Knowing all along, that it was just for cheers Buzzing lips and flailing limbs Going by nothing but our pseudonyms

By Byren by Shelley I need more Paes in my belly

Paes’

And so as I leave all the guys I remember our times at Paes A friendly face, a genuine smile How could you not want to stay for a while?

The peel to get there is sure to be unreal But, it’s totally worth it once George Madison you get your meal News Editor & For after a Business Manager brutal day in your first several hours A visit to Paes will keep you from going sour So, as I leave the trusty booth behind I can’t get the image of a fresh za from my mind

May 19, 2015

submissions

15

How to: create a masterpiece

Nothing I know of is as painful and relieving as art.

There are numerous times I’ve considered sharpening a colored pencil and stabbing myself in the jugular so I don’t have to continue my project. (Can I still get lead poisoning from pencils? Please?) Getting started is ably the hardest part, few things are more intimidating than a blank page. The first mark is pure terror; there’s no going back (unless you have an eraser).

From there creativity is wrung out of you and onto the page like a soaked towel, until halfway through and you’re all dried up. What comes next can best be described as a band-aid being stripped off as slowly as possible. Though once you dive into your work, the rest of your worries in life disappear, all the better to focus completely on the faults in your work instead. When your motivation, sanity, and will to live are almost depleted, that’s typically a sign

that you’re finished.

At last! You have successfully finished your piece. You gaze down at the result of your blood, sweat, and tears with the pride similar to a newly made father seeing his newborn son for the first time. By now it’s probably around two in the morning, you’re three energy drinks deep, and have to crawl on all fours into the sweet, embracing mattress.

Morning comes and you emerge. Looking more like war veteran coming from the trenches, paint and pencil shavings coat you head to toe. There’s an eraser stuck to your face, and you’ve forgotten what a hot shower feels like. Then the worst part. You look over with the anxiety and hesitation of waking up in a stranger’s bed after a one-night stand, and see what monstrosity your night efforts have summoned up from creativity Hell.

Amidst the carnage of watercolor and pastels lies the visual accumulation of your disappointment. Right about here is where you swallow your pride. You stare at your art, and it feels like it’s staring right back at you. Then washes in a

resignation - this is what you’ve made, accept it.

You made this, you may as well be proud! That’s right, you tried your best and poured your soul into it, and that is what makes your art beautiful. It grows on you like the wooden duck decorations at your grandmother’s Abi waggoner house, simply horrendous, but they’ve been there Guest Writer/artist for twenty years and no one’s complaining. There’s one last look of regret on your face as you hang it up for your peers to tear it down with ‘constructive criticism’. But hey, at least you’ll get a B.

Griffon

The science of chess

Blake Beyer Guest Writer Anatoly Karpov once said: “Chess is everything; art, science, and sport.” I personally agree, and believe chess to be one of the finest and most unappreciated arts around.

Perhaps this may come off as strange, but some of the most beautiful things I’ve seen, often beating out fantastic views of nature and lovely paintings, are moves in a chess game. To an untrained eye, they would look like mere rearranging of pieces.

In order to understand why

anyone would find value in these games, one would have to play chess themselves-- the moves become brilliant only when the others are basic.

I’m thankful that I’ve been to cultivate my skills at Central’s chess club, which hosts both worthy rivals and worthy teachers. I’ve been able to become something of an artist myself through my chess games, a title I otherwise would not have dared to give myself.

Tactical blows winning a mere pawn and then trading down material into an endgame in which I have one more pawn than my opponent is my favorite way to play. A small material advantage becomes profound when the board becomes nearly empty, in the same way that 2 is much more than 1, but 16 isn’t all that much more than 15-- when you have more than your opponent, less for both of you is more for yourself. There is beauty not just in strategy and the battle of ideas which takes place in high level chess, but also in the environment in which these games are played.

In my first tournament game,

I was pitted against the highest rated player in my division in the first round. I found myself in a frightening position, but managed to fight my way back to a won game. A note about “won games”: in chess, one of the hardest things for a player to do is to actually win them.

In that particular instance, I managed to defeat my opponent with less than a minute left on my own clock when we had both started at one hour each to think, and had been nearly even in time throughout the entire game. The final five minutes of that game were some of the most exhilarating of my life, and I continue to treasure that game as one of my favorites.

I believe chess players compete in a similar manner as artists-whoever comes up with the most beautifully logical moves and paint the prettiest variations for themselves will win.

Chess would certainly not be considered conventional art, but I believe that my skill at the chessboard very nearly makes up for my pitiful drawing abilities istic talent.

a lion’s?

And what mystical wings, so golden & brown, Upon their sight why travelers may drown?

While thou seem graceful as thee soar, How might thee kill? Spilling guts and gore?

LOGAN WOODS

Why not flee? Why not ever hide?

Is it because you live with thy pride?

Why hunter of horses? Your favorite prey Yet ropes and nets can keep thee at bay?

Guest Writer Griffon! Oh Griffon! So majestic and bold Within the caves to which you grow old, Why thou choose to be thy king of the sky Yet remain thy lord of all jungles?

When thy screech like an eagle whenever excited, And cannot speak normal to which thy decided, Is this truly how thou wanted to be?

Yet the Hippogriff remains so much like thee?

Why thou choose to use razor like beaks To allow thou prey’s blood to rapidly leak?

Why must thy use fearsome talons?

And the claws, why so much like

Griffon! Oh Griffon! So majestic and bold Within the caves to which you grow old, Why thou choose to be thy king of the sky Yet remain thy lord of all jungles?

16

May 19, 2015

submissions

After high school ambitions

Kyle Togrul Guest Writer “What are you doing after high school, Kyle?” The question everyone has to answer at one point. The question that most people look forward to answering. I don’t like talking about myself anyway and I get asked this question a

Imposing

Lauren Glass Guest Artist

lot. Mostly by people that I don’t know. What I’m doing after graduation is not like what most kids do.

I’m ready and excited for my future, I just don’t like hearing negativity towards my plan from others.

I’m hitchhiking the country with my backpack and guitar. This idea sounds arrogant when I talk about it, but I can’t help but feel a little conceited. I don’t know what led me to this decision, but I feel confident about it rather than going to college right away.

The inspiration for this plan has been in the making since I was born. Life is sad and we all are going to die one day. I don’t really care about a legacy when I’m gone. I believe that we should all do what we feel is right.

There is a quote from a movie that inspires me, “why

do we work for a living if we kill ourselves working?”

It sums up how I feel about the way of life in this world.

I asked a lot of people what the “American dream,” is and the most common answer is to get an education, have kids, and get a house. This sounds lame to me and I feel that more people should get off the path that has been laid out for them.

I want people to know that there is more to life than what they have been told. I’m not saying we should all hitchhike across the country and I’m definitely not saying that going to college is wrong. I just simply want people to say yes to more things and get off the track we were all born on to. Nothing is best, only you know what is right for you in the end.

What inspired you? Well, the one of the two girls, I was taking my best friends senior photos. And the other ones I just like going to the state hospital and some of them look spooky and that’s the kind of photos I like taking.

What is your favorite part of this photo? I like taking the walks and taking the pictures themselves but I also like editing them and seeing what I can do with them.

What kind of camera did you use? I have a really crappy point and shoot.

Why do you enjoy taking photos? It’s something that I started doing in ninth grade, and it’s a way that I can really express myself and I really like it.

What emotion does this picture display? Generally they are kind of ominous, summer, and kind of happy. There weird I try to go for spooky.

Apply yourself to learning I’ve always considered education important. This was probably due to the consistent reinforcement, by my peers, of the idea that success is strongly correlated with this mindset. And while I continue to possess a positive disposition about education, I have learned to distinguish between school and education, as they are, in my opinion, not always synonymous. How education is defined depends on the person, and cannot always be sufficiently provided by the state public, standardized school systems.

I am not saying that a school’s validity is completely discredited by its inevitable failure to prepare every student for whatever their desired occupation. Given the immense diversity of desired careers, achievements, etc. it is actually understandable. As with most established organizations or societal systems, they could function much more effectively, but it is still beneficial.

This remains true even with inconsistent teaching methods, disregard for students’ natural learning types, and a lack of allowance for selfdirected, creative learning which are all prevalent, however unfortunate.

Students who displace the responsibility of their education from themselves to their teachers should be held accountable for inhibiting their own progress. Yes, it is unrealistic to expect everyone to maintain even this level of self-awareness, but one’s potential is unquestionably forfeited and threatened should they ignore these larger questions. How can I advance myself academically?

How can I use academics to benefit my future goals, aspirations, and plans? Can I obtain the necessary knowledge elsewhere, should my school not offer it? Regardless of whether one’s teacher ‘lectures every class period,’ the option is still available to continue cultivating knowledge through other sources.

This year, one of my favorite classes has been AP Psychology. At the beginning of the year, I approached the class as I had any other up until

Noah Pickett Guest Writer this point. I listened to lecture, took diligent notes, and could apply the information well on tests and practically in my life. Still, my grades could have been better. But that was the issue. My motive for learning the concepts was for an almost arbitrary representation of the work I did in the class. I ended up doing much better in the class when I investigated further at home, or at the very least thought about the concepts as they related to my life experience. Not only could I easily demonstrate my thorough understanding, but I improved as a person, being able to interpret the collective behavior of humanity.

To others struggling, try to do the same. Cultivate a mentality separate from the collective disposition in public schools: be content with endless learning, while others strive to advance by meeting minimal standards of expectation. Be your own guide, your own model; be a self-sustaining learner, as you will control your own destiny instead of having someone else’s forced upon you. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eight.”

May 19, 2015

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May 19, 2015

Moments

Kyle Perrin//

Madeline Kemp// Valerie Ridel//

Dilon Drossart//

“One time, Mrs. Woughter made me sign my name legibly on the library sign up sheet. She made little lines for me to write in like younger grades in preschool use when they are learning how to write. I felt like a first grader.”

“I walked into a class and tripped over a backpack. I dropped my phone and book and they flew across the room. No one laughed and they just stared at me, which was the worst part.”

“So I woke up one morning and I was really tired, and late for school. I was getting, ready rushing to get my shorts and pull my shirt on, and get to school.

I’m walking around the entire day, and I get to about fourth hour and somebody tells me my pockets looked weird. I looked down and realized my pants were on inside out and backwards. I went into the bathroom and fixed them, went back to class, and was forever shamed.”

Nick Barger// “In my junior year I fell down the stairs on crutches as I was coming into the gym.

After I fell, someone helped me up but it didn’t help take away how embarrassing this moment was. My backpack opened and my stuff was scattered everywhere on the ground.”

Ally Wuerfel// “For me, it was during my first year. Weights class. We were doing drills running across the gym. The first drill I was running backwards. I was in the first line to go and I landed on my head and rolled over.

It was in front of the whole class and I was a freshmen so it was really embarrassing. I completely ate it.”

“One time I got stuck in a bathroom stall in f building. I had to call a friend to come open it from the outside. I was pretty scared and I actually ended up being late for class.”

l l a Rec your g n i s s a r a s t b n em mome Jeremy Chao//

Jordan Mattarella//

“It happened during sophomore year in science class. I was giving a very important presentation in front of principles and my whole class. When I was called up to present I ate it. I fell to the ground, my note cards flew all over the floor and my dress flew up. The entire class laughed and I was so shaken up that my important presentation was an absolute mess.”

Canyon O’Brien// “There was an exchange student named Bannie Otsford. I mean, oh wow...she was lovely. As a freshman boy, I couldn’t resist the feelings I had for her. I wrote her a note and as I passed her the note, the teacher snatched it from me and read it out loud to the class. It said ‘Bannie, I have gazed upon your locks for weeks and I fell into a coma of love. The more I stare at you, the more I realize that all I have ever wanted is right here.’ Bannie and I didn’t talk much after that.”

“My brother and I were in Germany, and had just come from this place that sold really really good sandwiches, and we were really full, like food coma full.

Anyway, were walking over to the train, without tickets or money, so we hopped the little ticket stand to get on the train. We started playing Pocket Tanks, which is a distracting game. And this guy who walked in with high socks and a picasso-esque shirt. We arrived at this stop, and this dude puts his arm on the window between my brother and me, kisses me on the face and sprints out the door. I was rattled.”

May 19, 2015

submissions

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This one is for you, Dad Hayley Rozema focus page editor April 25th, 2013—the worst day of my life.

I had never thought about what it would be like to lose a parent, but when I did I thought it would be well into the future, as in twenty to thirty years. Certainly not when I was fifteen heading into my junior year of high school. I had a lot of growing up to do in a short amount of time.

A month before everything happened life was good, I was getting my license, doing well in school and had so much ahead of me. Then one day I heard something I never thought I would hear. My dad was going to die. And my life shifted immediately.

At that moment, I didn’t care about anything, I didn’t care that I had homework due the next day, or that I had exams to study for, all I cared about was seeing my father. The person who tucked me in at night, the person who walked me to the bus stop every morning and was there waiting for me when I

got off, my biggest supporter and the person who was one of the biggest influences in my life was no longer going to be there anymore, just like that. He was going to be gone. And we didn’t know when. He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer at an early age of 57. My life was falling apart, my father was in the hospital 100 miles away from me, and no one was telling me anything. The last time I saw him was in the hospital a couple weeks before he passed, and I remember vividly him getting the biggest smile on his face when he saw me walk into his room. He was so happy to see me. It seemed all his worries were gone when I walked into the room, the happiness I brought him when we were together will always remain one of my fondest memories. He was so proud of the Black & Gold and would read it religiously, always nagging me for the next issue.

My dad always pushed me to do my best, he truly cared. I’ve learned time is precious, family is good and make sure you tell your parents/family you love and care about them. I know I didn’t say that enough to my dad, and if I could go back I would change so much. I didn’t get to say goodbye to my dad, but if I did this is what I would say: Dad, you are the best man, father, friend anyone could have. I will make you proud and I love you more and more everyday. You will be in my memory and heart forever.

I love you, Dad.

“He was

going to be gone. And we didn’t know when.”

I never knew grief felt so much like fear Four years ago it was warm, it was spring, and it was exciting. I was ending my eighth grade year and moving to Central High School for ninth grade. I sat in the back seat of our red Excursion as the local radio reported the discovery of Carly Lewis, in a sand pile, dead. My mom said it’s the boys that are a little too nice you need to be careful of. My dad said stay away from drugs.

The police said don’t run away too much because eventually people won’t question as much when you don’t come back. The murderer flirted with one of my friends on the bus just that morning. I remember being confused. Why would back corners of parking lots would be used for anything other than parking your car? Why could someone so young just disappear. Why? I was sad and I was scared. I never knew grief felt so much like fear.

Six months later, I began my freshman year at a new school, taking new classes, in a new town. Grief found me not through those new silver faces, but through the golden friends I left back in Maple City. It was 4:03pm when my mom called me. She told me my friends Logan and Lane got into a crash; my dad was taking her brothers to meet Logan and her parents at the hospital now.

Logan was in the grade above me. She was, by all respects, popular, nice, and pretty. I wanted my mom to tell me she’d be in school and that she’d be okay. Instead, she said Logan may not live. I cried so hard, clutch-

ing my pink and purple flowered bath mat. I don’t know if I cried of sadness or anger. All I could think about is the saying “the good die young.” That haunted me, because if she was good and she was gone, what did that mean for me? Is it better to be bad and stay?

I was too afraid to answer that question. I never knew grief felt so much like fear.

Two years ago it was cold, it was winter, and it was boring. I was nodding off to the definition of an allegory in English when our teacher went on one of her famous tangents. It was my sophomore year It would be two years that spring since Carly died. Our teacher said we should be grateful we weren’t acquainted with that kind of death. “There’s nothing sadder than the loss of a classmate,” she said. I nodded in respect and swallowed the memory of standing over a casket in my old school gym just months prior. She wished us safety, which I found funny. It seemed like it was easier to die young than keep yourself alive. I wasn’t scared I wouldn’t make it to graduation, but looking around the room, I was scared for everyone else. They didn’t know grief felt so much like fear.

Almost a year ago it was hot, it was late summer, and I was happy. I was hiding in the coolness of my boyfriend’s basement debating between a day in the pool or at the beach, when one of my friends called me. “Hello?”

I hadn’t talked to her since school got out in the spring, and it was even more surprising she called me instead of just texting.

She started nervously with the warm hello’s,

but coldness soon penetrated her tone. She asked if I knew of the crash, if I had heard anything. All I said was no. She said Drake was in a car accident last night—he might be dead. But I didn’t believe her. I felt a concerned hand on my back asking what happened, asking if I was okay. Suddenly this embrace took me back to the first time I held hands with a boy. It was at a basketball game.

That boy was Drake. I flipped through my middle school memories like a photo album.

I felt my pink cotton Valentine’s Day Dance dress, and the rush of a first kiss. My mind raced into high school. To Christmas break sledding parties, to reacquainted friendships, to winter things. All Drake. All I could say was “no.” I couldn’t think, let alone comprehend what she was saying. I couldn’t talk, but I could cry. Suddenly I was being led through mazes of hospital halls to a bed far too white and far too small. On top was a boy far too familiar. I reached for his hand expecting sweaty nervous palms, but instead they were cold, clammy, and distant. He was gone.

I remember screaming for breathe through my tears. His mom told me to talk to him but I had no idea what you say to an almost dead ex-boyfriend, ex-best friend. His dad hugged me and he smelled like the woods and sadness. He said it would be okay but when I looked in his mom’s eyes, all I saw was the world ending. I didn’t know how anything could possibly ever be okay again. I knew grief felt so much like fear.

Ally Wuerfel Guest Writer

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May 19, 2015

submissions SAM LUKITSCH GUEST WRITER

Judging a book by its cover

Title: Tiger Fish Inspiration: I was in Canada for American Sign Language and we went to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. I really like this photo because I enjoy marine life and someday I hope to get into marine biology. It’s a super unique fish and if at first you look at the picture you might think it is some sort of plant. But, that’s what I like about it is that it is super unique and I love the color.

Why Wildlife?: I grew up on a farm and grew up with animals for my entire childhood. Animals have a different perspective on life than humans do and I like that.

I am really just super interested in photographing wildlife or animals.

Life is like running; what you put in is what you get out Hannah Keyser GUEST WRITER I am a runner. The more I run, the more I realize that running is a lot like life, I get out of it what I put in.

It was the cross country season of my freshman year. I had run all summer and felt fully prepared for the season to come. I improved immensely over the first few weeks, and throughout the season I was our team’s number one runner and even

HUNTER KELLY FOCUS PAGE EDITOR I was always told to “never judge a book by its cover” but had never realized how many people never completely ignore that advice. That is until I lost almost 70 pounds in my junior year.

I was extremely overweight in my beginning stages of high school, my diet consisting of ramen noodles, bagel bites, deep fried garbage and other things that weren’t really figure or health friendly. I thought I was fine and I thought my weight wasn’t an issue—until I went to get my sports physical in Sept. 2013.

When the doctor had me step on the scale, her response to my weight shocked me. I don’t remember her exact words, but it was along the lines of, “You’re fat

and you need to figure it out.” I was 237.2 pounds at six-feet twoinches tall. I guess I was so used to myself I didn’t know it was such a big deal, but it was.

Hurt, I made the decision to completely alter the way I lived.

This process left me with unsatisfied temptations, changes to my appearance and a difference in how people were responding to me as more I began looking more like the “social norm.”

Sure, maybe my confidence was boosted and I had a new ability to feel comfortable being around people who were deemed to be “popular”, which may have had an impact on the people who decided to get to know me. I was never a different person than I was when I was at my heaviest.

Losing weight obviously does make people notice you like, “Hey, didn’t you used to be fat?”

But the thing is, I do not want to be known as that one kid who lost a crazy amount of weight in seven months. It makes me wonder, why do people feel the need to only treat others by the way they “should” appear and not base our judgements on things that are actually important, such as personality?

Now, to answer my own question: people are insecure, mean and judge to make themselves feel better at night. This shouldn’t be accepted though, people are felt like they have to conform to something that maybe they don’t

won a few of my races.

Nearing about the halfway point of my season, however, I began to feel tired and sore. Knowing that this was a normal part of training hard, I disregarded it. It became apparent that this was not just the effects of challenging workouts when I started having difficulty breathing and my legs felt like lead. By this time, it was the day of the regional meet.

About all I can recall the overwhelming feeling of misery as my teammates flew by me. My vision blurred and it took a tremendous amount of effort to even complete the race. All the hard work I had put in to run my best time of the season at this race had gone to waste. I felt like I let my team down. I let myself down.

After getting blood tests done, I learned that I was severely anemic—one of the worst things for a runner to find out. It takes months of supplements and an altered

necessarily want to. Maybe someone out there enjoys the way they look even if they are overweight.

But, society makes them feel ashamed, unwelcomed and out of place.

We should all focus on the true issue at hand—the people who judge us by our appearances.

Because at the end of time, who cares what we looked like in our AB Calculus class, who cares what kind of shoes we wore in gym, or if we had the best ACT score. In the big picture we are all different. We are all different sizes, we all have different pigment colors in our skin and the only commonality we have as a society is: we are going to die and none of this will matter. None.

So, to the people who feel ashamed of themselves, don’t; you are awesome and the people who don’t enjoy you for what really matters are totally missing out. And, a note to the people who feel the need to judge: stop, it honestly makes you look silly and unintelligent. People, please think before you make that judgement of someone, because you don’t know what they are going through and your words can negatively impact another life.

Just look at the news headlines.

Don’t just follow your friends, take a moment and open the book and see if you like what is on the inside.

diet to begin to get iron levels back at a healthy status.

I still struggle with anemia, but since that disheartening moment, I have learned how to deal with situations such as this—situations that are out of my control. Running used to be fun for me because I could win races, run fast times, and I felt like I was pleasing others. I no longer run for the approval of others. Now, running defines me by the freedom and peace of mind I gain from it.

Running has now become a way to let go of the things holding me down. My coaches and parents have helped me realize that life, like running, may present obstacles which may hinder me from achieving my immediate goals; however, by overcoming those obstacles there is a much greater prize in the end.

It doesn’t take a great runner to achieve great things. It simply takes an average person, trying their best and loving what they do to achieve something incredible.

May 19, 2015

thank yous

All photo credits: The Disney Wiki

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Tim McDonald Everyone came into the year with a few uncertainties; new advisor, all new editors, more than half of our class gone. What this year gave to us though, we never could have expected. You allowed us all to take this paper and truly make it our own. You gave us the trust and responsibility to dig deeper in our design, content and writing style. You, Mr. McDonald, could not have adjusted to this class style better, and you have out done our expectations by far. You always had faith in us and pushed us no matter what. You have supported us so much, allowing us to take chances that could have potentially been bad for you. No matter what happens next year, we could not be happier to have had you as an advisor this year. The belief you showed in us as well as your willingness to work with us is not something we will forget. As much belief that you showed us, we hope you know that we have that much faith in you too. You care about your students and you care about the impact you make in people’s lives. No matter where you end up next year, no matter your position, we know you are going to leave a positive impact and do the best you can. You are such an awesome person and we truly mean it when we say that we wish you the best. Believe in yourself, it is all going to work out. Thanks a million, you are a rockstar.

Missi Yeomans Yeo, where do we start. We love you so much, and we more than owe you for all of the lessons you have taught us.

You have made a long lasting influence on the Black and Gold with your spunk and bold personality. We enjoy you popping into the pub on your way to your hot yoga classes. Your opinion is highly valued in this class, and again, thank you for everything.

Dr. Rick Vandermolen First and foremost, we thank you for always believing in us. You recognize our dedication to this paper and we appreciate you for all of your hard work as well.

Your leniency with us paid off, especially when we won a Spartan Award for the second year in a row. We look forward to press conferences in the future. A huge thanks from the entire Black and Gold staff.

Yearbook Yearbookies! We’ll admit—the bumps in the road at the beginning of the year were quite entertaining. As always, sharing the pub with you all is a delight. Sharing Hunter and Emma was rather fun too, they leaked some pretty interesting stories. We’ll remember this year for awhile, especially the tray-hiding scandal. Also, congrats on another successful yearbook-production year.

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May 19, 2015

thank yous

Erin Lipp ‘15

Holy crap we’re here. One year since we were endowed with the holy task of newspaper, and now we’re putting out the Senior Issue. That was fast. To be honest, you rocked it this year. The sports page was always on point, and even though you went AWOL on a couple deadlines, you more than made up for it. Staying into the wee hours of the night, we both had our breakdowns, but we kept on trucking until the job was done. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to run this paper with. Thanks Erin.

-John

Chris Brower ‘15

All photo credits: The Disney Wiki

John Minster ‘15

Well, we made it through a new staff, a new advisor and nine months of hectic fun. Thank you for your all of your opinionated statements and leadership in heated Our View discussions.

Considering you had never been an editor before this year, you took on the task with confidence and poise and managed to not kill me when I missed deadlines for sports. You have an impeccable ability to copy edit and the paper would have lost quality without you. Thank you for being the best coEIC I could have had.

-Erin

Shaine Kearney ‘15 Oh gosh, your procrastination was epic.

Over and over you assured us you’d get done, and then disappear. But, you were right. I guess that’s the price of having such an incredibly talented and charismatic, if a bit aggressive, pubber.

Hunter Kelly ‘15

You are quite a master in the art of procrastination, but always pulled through with quality stories and content. You also somehow managed to calm Maddi down every once in a while. Thank you for both of those.

George Madison ‘15 Your sass was always entertaining on deadline and the quote board would be much smaller without you around. Huge thanks for shattering the glass table.

Thank you for all of your hard work and creative focus pages.

Mitchell Mosley ‘15 Hiding away in the corner for weeks on end, we never knew what was going on with you, but eventually high quality work would emerge, and occasionally you would come out to strike people with some sort of object. Good job.

Hayley Rozema ‘15 Thank you for your calm, focused presence on the focus pages. Your ability to organize quotes and information was very useful and your design creativity will be greatly missed. The Homecoming page that you created was awesome.

News was always in shambles. You always repaired it. George, you were a tireless worker, staying into the wee hours of the night perfecting the front page. You were like another EIC around here, and boy was it a help.

Carl Rasmussen ‘15 The Leek was a train wreck all year, and it was hilarious. When it got down to business, you, George, that mystery writer, and Mitch abandoned the corner of nothingness to produce some hilarious articles, deadlines be damned.

Anthony Kratovil ‘15 Thank you for stepping in and writing quality satirical pieces on The Leek.

Although you often contributed to loud and hectic Leek corners, you also contributed to pulling The Leek out of thin air on deadline.

May 19, 2015

thank yous

All photo credits: The Disney Wiki

Noah Aulicino ‘16

Carly Hernden ‘16

Your quick and efficient learning was much appreciated. Even though you always look like you’re ready to leave, we enjoy having you in the class.

Henry Lancashire ‘16 You have an incredible talent and truly did make our paper so aesthetically pleasing, and you do it all by yourself. You amaze us!

Emma Simon ‘16

Maggie Dupuie ‘17

Bethany Pataky ‘16 Holy the enthusiasm. You developed from having no idea what to do to a self-assured, magnetic presence. Keep it up rabble-rouser.

Kristin McLintock ‘17 Your dominant news stories consistently awed, and your interviews were always top notch. We look forward to seeing you progress.

You came in halfway through the year, but you rolled with the punches of this hectic class. We couldn’t have asked for more.

Andrea Bavikatty ‘18

We gave you a big task with big shoes to fill and you well-outdid our expectations in terms of design and quality of content.

Abby Harnish ‘18

You were a photo champ this year. We lost so many great photographers last year, but you, Emma, and Chris filled that void.

You have an awesome design ability and you definitely kept us all on our toes with your struggle to talk and be a normal human being.

Thank you for your tireless work on photos. You spent so much time going to events and around town to take fantastic photos for every page.

Julia Vannatter ‘17

Margo Hoagg ‘16

You’re an opinion writing champ. We hope you’ll really take your new skills to another level next year.

Heavy lies the crown, don’t screw this up.

Maddi Miller ‘16

Kirsten Berkey ‘18 You were tireless this year. If we set you to a task you attacked it with unrelenting energy. That kind of work ethic is unusual and impressive.

Your fundamental reporting skills wowed us early on. We hope your quiet demeanor and increasingly exceptional skills will continue to shine.

Nicole Rogers‘18

Really solid opinion writing is hard to come by, and pairing that with excellent feature skills is a rare combo. We know you’ll continue to impress.

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Hayley Scollard ‘18

You did whatever it took to produce quality work, and that is always something we appreciate around here. Keep on ticking.

You produced strong news, sports and opinion stories. News and opinion are two of the hardest stories to write and you succeeded.

Alex Stern ‘18

Baille Zipser ‘18

We assigned you some big stories on sports in the first couple of issues and although it was a steep learning curve you amazed us with the quality of your stories. Keep up the hard work.

As Maddi’s personal minion you have worked hard all year on feature and we believe you have mastered the art of interviewing. Keep up the hard work and awesome content.

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The Leek

May 19, 2015

Shout outs

Bring it Back

The Leek commemorates and acknowledges all the triumphs of TCAPS programs and organizations

The Leek reflects on Central’s past, and provides suggestions for a brighter future for all

To a Secure Learning Environment, The school’s recent foolproof policy to lock random doors at random times based on ancient Egyptian algorithms has gone off without a hitch; providing students with benefits such as (but not limited to) “protection from the imminent terrorist (or alien) attack,” “a major inconvenience” and “a new high score in tardies.” The policy can be expected to continue as long as the administration funnels “academic” funds into incredibly necessary military grade blast doors that promote America as the “land of the free.”

The Real Informal Dances, Shrouded with scandal and defined by vulgarity, the original informal dances: Fallout, Whiteout, and briefly, Inferno, dominated the social scene. They appealed to the whole school, allowing for wide-eyed freshman to physically express themselves with the opposite sex for the first time and for tenured upperclassmen to blatantly violate the boundaries of the esteemed school handbook in front of their favorite administrators.

“Grinding,” the licentious act that has since been scrutinized and regulated through a proliferation of chaperoning efforts, may be lost forever. Student Senate, fight for the cause. Bring a degree of obscenity back to our dances, show the school what “teen spirit” really smells like.

To RTC, Providing students with an excellent way to miss class as a punishment for missing class. Vermin, er.. students in the classroom will negotiate and collaborate with teachers about their inability as human filth to get to class on time. Teachers may suggest solutions such as “be quicker” or “maybe if you weren’t such a disgusting human you could get to class on time” to motivate students to learn punctuality.

To Central Tenants, (Commitment, Excellence, etc.)

Recognizing once and for all the ability and skill of high school founders to come up with every letter other than N. Good job!

To Standardized Testing, The simplest and most accurate way of distinguishing the smart from the no good dirty swine of public education. We commemorate standardised testing for reducing students into bubble filling monkeys developed for public entertainment. We also commemorate the state of Michigan for targeting the schools with the highest test scores for funding, leaving the rest of us to wallow in our illiterate, hillbilly ignorance.

To Student Senate, Our merit-based governing body continues to thrive at Central. The representatives in Student Senate are appointed exclusively by their ability to reflect the interest of the Central students. Senators are elected in a closed election system that is unsusceptible to popularity contests or any traces of biased nature. Senate’s innovative nature to unite and actively excite Central students is exemplified by events like Scrag or movie night, easily attracting over one-hundred students per event. Perhaps most importantly, our beloved Student Senate effectively uses the money allotted for them, throwing events that students are always enthralled to attend. Senate, please, continue to inspire the student body in the same manner. You’re doing a phenomenal job.

To SLCs, The best way to reflect on previous reflections of reflective nature. A vigorous and time worthy exercise required for graduation scheduled conveniently during AP Test preparation. Proving competence and post secondary education skills through the ability to exercise remedial communication skills and quarter length essays. Especially effective for rehearsing interview skills for those who need to miss work to reiterate the skills to rehearse the skills to interview for potential interviews that could lead to employment.

To Snow Day Decision Making, Your leading source of hypocrisy defined by public education internment camps under the reasoning “its fine to come to school, but leaving is out of the question.”

After all, it’s not like high schools inherently drive the dustiest rust buckets in history, vehicles that are obviously equipped to tackle the harshest of terrain. Mr. Soma, apparently it takes outside scrutiny from the Record Eagle to spur your interest in issuing a snow day.

Trimesters, When the academic year held an extent of flexibility and choice. Core classes could be completed in 2/3 of the year, electives could take a precedence, lunches were longer.

Students and teachers rejoiced in the conveniencey of trimesters, instead of the discombobulation created with quarter and semester grades. In true administration form, however, trimesters were lost on grounds of “budget accommodation.” Yet another casualty to the list of budget consequences that include: a structurally unsound auditorium, inexplicably unreliable net books, and textbooks that are older than the students reading them. TCAPS, bring trimesters back. Splitting the year into thirds does not affect standardized test scores, it only deprives secondary education of essential academic versatility.

Superfans, Truly a lost generation, the Central Superfan has faded into the past. Once prided on vibrant themes, popular tailgates, and steadfast spirit, Superfans spearheaded student support of athletics in the Big North. In recent years, however, participation has become progressively dismal as themes have become monotonous and predictable. Students have become more apathetic as West’s larger student body made an organized effort into their cheering section, the Bleacher Creatures, easily eclipsing Central’s student section. Students, try to ignite an internal spark in our athletic support, even the most minute effort will go the distance. Mr. Matteson, rally support from the student body, cultivate the excitement for sporting events that Student Senate fails to do.

Au Revoir, Central

We hereby pass The Leek on to absolutely no one due to a completely lack of enthusiasm for humor in the entire student body