THEHAWKEYE
Hebron High School. 4207 Plano Parkway, Carrollton, TX. www.hebronhawkeye.com. Twitter: @hebronhawkeye. Room 1315.
March 10, 2020
First annual Hawk Fest photo story page 8
THE LOOP UPCOMING EVENTS
Volume 18, Issue 3
American Sign Language club holds coffee chats page 2
Boys baseball has high expectations for upcoming season page 3
SPOTLIGHT
The story of an undocumented immigrant page 4 & 5
March 10: Band Concerto Contest March 16-20: Spring Break March 23-25: Theater Bi-district UIL April 20: Blood drive 6 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Jaden Gorham
It was Mr. Dalak’s 10th-grade Pre-AP Chemistry class where teacher Jaden Gorham first found his passion for chemistry. Though Gorham enjoyed chemistry, he had always wanted to be a doctor. Gorham has been a chemistry teacher for two years and hopes to become a doctor in the near future. “My chemistry teacher actually helped me find an interest in teaching,” Gorham said. “He tackles the class with the same enthusiasm as I do, [and] he made me love the subject. However, chemistry was always secondary to where I think the bigger picture is, and that’s medical school.” Gorham graduated from the University of Texas in 2017 with a degree in Biology. Gorham said even though his major is different from what he teaches, he has always been fond of chemistry. “I was told by my counselors that med schools want to see the hardest path as possible taken, and they said biology was the hardest path,” Gorham said. “I know I majored in biology, but I love that chemistry explains all of the behaviors and the interactions of all of the stuff around us and we can put an explanation to it.” Gorham has already taken his MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test), the exam taken to become a medical student, but he is delaying his attendance because of his wife’s decision to attend nursing school. “I had already taken my MCAT, but I wanted to wait a little bit and get some other experience,” Gorham said. “It wasn’t that I wasn’t ready for medical school, I just didn’t want to do it at the time because I was also waiting for my wife. My wife has two more full years of nursing school left, and the plan is to either go to Physician’s Assistant school or medical school.” Growing up, Gorham always enjoyed being surrounded by family and peers who encouraged him to want to pursue medicine. “My passion is people -- I just love people,” Gorham said. “I always tried to surround myself with as many people as I possibly could. If I’m going to pursue medicine, not only am I going to help my patients get better, but I also get to know them. I want to help shape and guide them in a better way.” Though Gorham enjoys teaching students, he said he believes he will conclude his teaching career to become a full-time medical student due to time commitment. “Here, in high school, you are building the habits that are going to propel you to new heights once you move on,” Gorham said. “The time you’re putting into the class now is so important. If I go to medical school, I will quit teaching. Just because I want to devote as much time to my studies as possible.” - Leila Olukoga
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MULTI-FEATURE
Photo by Yasmin Haq
Mastering Life
Teachers earn administration masters degrees MALLEY O’CARROLL REPORTER
After a long day of teaching students, most teachers head home to grade papers, spend time with their family and get some rest. When three veteran teachers head home they become a student, staying up late to work on assignments so they can earn their master’s degree. Several teachers are currently working toward their master’s degree in administration from Lamar University. They continue to work full time while studying for their degree. U.S. History Teacher Travis Zuber has been teaching for 14 years. In 2014, Zuber received a master’s degree in history. When previous principal Scot Finch was retiring, Zuber thought about what he wanted to see in an administrator. He then realized administration was something he could do. “The most valuable [thing while pursuing] administration especially is my 14 years of teaching and the everyday interactions that give me the most understanding of
what’s to come next versus “I’ve always kind of chalthe coursework and the book lenged myself; I was not a work,” Zuber said. great high school student,” Zuber serves as an intern for Cleburn said. “I [have] ADHD the administrators whenever and struggled in school, and they are absent, but teaches so even going to college was at the same time. He prefers something that I didn’t think to distribute his time and fo- was a possibility. Then [with cus on his students during the my master’s degree], I was day, his family after school like, you know, let’s see how and his master’s degree after far we can get this thing and his children go to sleep. how far we can go. So it’s just “As an kind of administrabeen one tor, I know “The reason I do this job is that I like of those that a lot of chalthings are hanging out with kids; I like teaching, l e n g e s going to I like standing in the front of the for me.” be thrown Cleat me, so room and interacting and getting burn albeing able ready involved with the kids’ lives,” to organize has one and com- - Randi Riordan, math teacher master’s partmendegree talize and that he make sure I prioritize certain started four years ago. He has things over others is going to been working on his adminisbe an important skill,” Zuber tration degree since he started said. “My hope is to start ap- his first masters and will earn plying in Lewisville ISD and it in March. hopefully in the Hebron feed“I think that you can’t ever er.” get enough school,” Cleburn Despite struggling in high said. “As I’ve continued to school, U.S. history teach- learn, I’ve noticed my abilier Gerrod Cleburn has been ty to write and communicate teaching and coaching for has gotten so much better. years. After his coaching You just can’t stop, and if career ended, he decided he you think you’re at a point to would start his master’s. where you know enough, you
probably need to reconsider the profession that we’re in and what we do. If we are going to push education to [students,] we need to consider its value to us too.” Math teacher Randi Riordan has taught for 10 years. After talking about administration with her coworkers, they suggested she should run for school board. Since teachers are not allowed to be on the school board, her coworkers then suggested she become an administrator. Being an administrator never appealed to Riordan, but after thinking about the impact she could make, she decided to give it a try. “The reason I do this job is that I like hanging out with kids; I like teaching, I like standing in the front of the room and interacting and getting involved with the kids’ lives,” Riordan said. “I started looking at [being an administrator] differently. [Assistant principal Sandra Lee] made me see things differently, [and realize] that I can do what I’m doing now and still be a role model and impact, but I can reach more people and I can also help teachers to kind of also have that same mindset.”
continued on page 2
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District set to realign next school year
Photo by Katlynn Fox
The football team lines up on defense in a home game against Plano on Aug. 30. This Wildcats were a non-district opponent in 2019, but next school year, Plano, Plano West and Plano East will be new additions to district 6-6A while Irving, Irving Nimitz and Irving MacArthur move to district 7.
MITCHELL MAYHAW REPORTER
Due to district realignment, Hebron will get three new schools added to the district schedule next year; the three Irving schools will move to another district. “I think the competition will definitely be greater this upcoming season,” junior Paige Patrick said. “Since we lost the Irving schools there won’t be as many
guaranteed wins, but if we continue to work hard, we should have no problem winning and making it to playoffs next season.” UIL realigns districts every two years. UIL 6A is set to realign all districts including Hebron’s, which is district six. Irving, Irving Nimitz and Irving MacArthur will be replaced with Plano, Plano East and Plano West. “I’m excited because I want the competition,” head volleyball coach Karin Keeney said. “But I
think it’s going to give us a huge challenge in making playoffs next year, especially in skill sports such as baseball, volleyball, soccer and football.” UIL also changed the requirements to be classified as 6A, increasing the minimum enrollment from 2,190 students to 2,220. “I think it’s important to realign districts because enrollment numbers are always changing and some schools jump back and forth from 5A to 6A, so I think it’s a good idea to refresh every two
ASL club holds Deaf Chats to spread awareness
Photo by Sarosh Ismail
Sophomores Sam Rogers and Sean Loedhing eat at Chipotle after school while signing to their friends. The Deaf Chats were for the students to be able to practice ASL in a public setting besides a classroom.
SAROSH ISMAIL REPORTER
As the smell of food floats around, the only sound heard is laughter and clatter coming from the kitchen. Joking around with her friends, sophomore Sam Rogers silently communicates, ignoring the looks they receive from others. Members of the American Sign Language club meet at a cafe or restaurant on the last Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. for Deaf Chats to practice signing outside of a classroom setting. “The locations change
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NEWS
almost every time,” ASL teacher Marta Mentesana said. “We have had it at Starbucks and Wow Donuts. Our next one will be at Chipotle.” Mentesana first proposed the idea for these meetings to spread awareness of Deaf culture outside of school. The club wants to help others outside of school recognize there are those who do not communicate verbally. “The purpose of these meetings is to practice [signing] in a public setting with friends,” sophomore Sam Rogers said. “It provides awareness about Deaf culture in a public space where there are predominantly hear-
ing people.” In the chats, students are not allowed to talk, requiring them to order and communicate in ASL. Sophomore Nandita Kumar said it can be overwhelming, especially when others do not understand what they are trying to say. “Signing in public is a little scary because I feel that I look stupid or that I’ll sign the wrong word, but other people don’t even know what you’re signing anyways,” Kumar said. “We order without speaking, and sometimes it’s hard because the barista gets confused, but then we just type it on our phones.”
years,” Keeney said. “With new schools being built every year, it is important for UIL to realign districts every two years in order to not leave these new schools out.” Next year, in addition to adding the schools from Plano, district six of the 6A conference will be retaining Hebron, Lewisville, Coppell, Flower Mound and Marcus. Head coach Brian Brazil said the commute to other schools will be shorter after realignment. “We won’t have to do as much, like having to get on loop 12; it’s not that far to Irving, but it just takes a long time due to traffic,” Brazil said. “Wherever we go now will most likely be a shorter commute than driving out to the Irving schools.” Brazil said it came as a surprise to many of the coaches to get the Plano schools and not the Allen High School District 6-6A, because 2018-2020 the Plano Hebron schools Marcus and Allen Flower Mound have been in the Lewisville same disCoppell trict for a Irving long time. I rving Nimitz “We have been Irving MacArthur waiting to jump back to the East side again, but
These chats are a way for students to experience what the Deaf go through everyday. This way, they are able to communicate or help if they encounter somebody who is Hard of Hearing. “I want others to know that it’s important to learn ASL even if it’s just the basics,” Kumar said. “It’s really tough for the deaf to communicate in the hearing world, so it really helps them out when someone else knows how to sign. Plus it really makes their day.” Along with Deaf Chats, the club is planning to hold a skating event where they might reach out to a few Deaf to attend and interact with the students. Michelle Shadow, the other ASL teacher is even planning to include some Deaf she knows. “There aren’t any Deaf at the skating event so far, but Mrs. Shadow might reach out to a few of her Deaf friends,” Mentesana said. “I want to [include the Deaf], but I need to get more involved in the Deaf community in Dallas myself. The purpose is to get the students to meet new people, build friendships and improve their skills.”
it’s odd that they didn’t put us in with Allen as well as the McKinney schools,” Keeney said. “I didn’t see this alignment coming, and we had a lot of different possible alignments figured out; we thought we were going to get the Denton schools such as Denton Guyer and Little Elm. We never thought they would put us with the Plano schools, but I also find it exciting and I’m looking forward to the upcoming season.” The previous realignment in district six added Irving, Irving Nimitz, Irving MacArthur and Coppell, while losing Trinity, LD Bell, Byron Nelson and Southlake. “We have never had this alignment with Coppell being in, as well as the Plano schools,” Brazil said. “It is completely different. Every two years it always changes; we’ve never had the same district from one District 6-6A, realign2020-2022 ment to Hebron another Marcus realignFlower Mound ment, but at the end Lewisville of the day Coppell it is what Plano it is, and Plano West UIL has a Plano East tough job to try and keep everything as equitable as possible.”
Continued from page 1 U.S. history teacher Gerrod Cleburn writes a reminder on the board for his students. This is Cleburn’s 12th year teaching.
Math teacher Randi Riordan uses the stapler as a phone during class. Riordan is well known for her sense of humor.
AP U.S. history teacher Travis Zuber fills out a table for his third period class. In 2014, Zuber received his master’s degree in history. Photos by Malley O’ Caroll
Riordan said she always puts her students first, but after taking a difficult class with 30 hours of work a week, she did not know if she could continue to pursue her degree. Riordan had taken out financial aid which pre-enrolled her for the next class, and she will receive her degree in April.
“I’ve always had this mindset of perseverance, keep moving forward, find ways, don’t let things in life stop you, and that’s kind of how I’ve raised my kids,” Riordan said. “I just continually remind myself to keep pushing through it, you have to look at what the next thing is, the cherry on top.”
From the field to the future Freshman makes development academy
Photo by Kate Knauff
Freshman Eleanor Hays poses with a soccer ball. She plays soccer for the FC Dallas U-16 development academy for Girls. “The development academy focuses on developing our skill and our talent so we can go further with soccer into college and possibly professionally,” Hays said.
KATE KNAUFF REPORTER
Three years ago, Eleanor Hays was one of the many girls who anxiously waited for her turn to show the coaches what she’s got. As she approaches the field with a few of her former teammates, she knows it is now or never. She runs through the drills and scrimmages with her small tryout group, hoping to make the FC Dallas development academy. Now a freshman, Hays made the FC Dallas U-16 Girls’ Devel-
opment Academy three years ago when the Girls’ Development Academy was first established. The academy is a prestigious program focusing on the development of worldclass female athletes. “I remember there were a lot of people there [at tryouts],” Hays said. “It was really crowded, and we took up about four fields. We had to wear numbers on our shirts. I was nervous, but I got to play with a ton of my teammates that I was already playing with, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.” Hays has played soccer since she was 4,
and before joining the development academy (DA), Hays played for FC Dallas Junior Development League Red. “My proudest moment would probably be this past summer when my team won third at nationals,” Hays said. “We were the only team to not get any goals conceded.” Hays practices three times a week: usually on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. She has games on Saturdays, and on Sundays she goes to regeneration at 8 a.m. At regeneration, they do anything from running and stretching to
shooting and technical work. “Eleanor is a really good team player,” Hays’ teammate Taylor Cheatham said. “She is not negative and she holds you accountable. If you are not giving effort or if you’re making a mistake, she will get onto you, but not in a mean way. She’s just a really good defender overall.” Coach Aaron Gordon said they have seen improvements with her technical work and her overall understanding of the game. “Her game wasn’t perfect but it has always seemed to evolve and she always seems to get better at
every aspect of the game,” Gordon said. “Her passing, heading and ball striking have gotten better.” Hays said she looks up to Christen Press, who plays on the Women’s National team, because even though Press did not make the team at first, she worked hard and eventually made it. “I look up to [Press] a lot because she didn’t give up, she made the most of her setbacks and learned from them so she could come back better,” Hays said. Hays said she hopes to continue to play soccer and aspires to play on the Women’s National Team or the Portland Thorns, and her coach said he thinks she will have a bright future because of her work ethic. “[Eleanor] works hard in training and she works hard off the field,” Gordon said. “It shows in how she has improved tremendously over two years. Because of that, I think she will be able to play at the next level. Certainly a high level in college at a Power Five university. I even think she will be able to be called into a youth national team if the timing is right or she continues to improve.”
Baseball to play in Lewisville tournament Thursday to Saturday KATE KNAUFF
UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS
MARCH 13 • Softball at Coppell -
7 p.m. • Track Hawk Relays at home - 6:30 p.m. • Baseball Lewisville/ Hebron Tournament noon and 6 p.m.
MARCH 14 • Baseball Lewisville/
Hebron Tournament 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. • Track Distance Festival at Southlake Carroll
MARCH 21 • Baseball vs Plano - 7 p.m. MARCH 27 • Softball vs Lewisville at Hebron - 7 p.m. • Baseball vs Coppell 7 p.m.
APRIL 3 • Track meet at Marcus HS
• Baseball vs Marcus 7 p.m. • Softball at Irving Nimitz 7 p.m.
APRIL 9 • Baseball vs Flower
Mound - 7 p.m. • Softball vs Marcus 7 p.m.
APRIL 17 • Baseball vs MacArthur -
REPORTER
The baseball team will play six games in the Lewisville tournament this Thursday through Saturday at Hebron. “The tournaments help us get prepared for district,” coach Steve Stone said. “The whole purpose of the tournaments is to play a whole bunch of games with a bunch of different guys so we can figure out the pieces to the puzzle as far as what makes our team work.” This is the last of three tournaments this season. After finishing this tournament, the baseball team will have played 18 games over the course of three weeks. “Team speed would be our biggest weakness right now,” Stone said. “We have three or four guys who can run, but overall our team speed is not where I want it to be.” The team will play against Lake Dallas and Denton Ryan on Thursday, The Colony and
March 10, 2020
7 p.m. • Softball vs Irving MacArthur at home 7 p.m.
APRIL 21 • Baseball vs Lewisville Photo by Kate Knauff
Junior Trent McCown dives back into first after the pitcher tries to pick him off at the Hebron vs. Prosper scrimmage on February 24. Varsity practices during fourth period.
Cedar Hill on Friday and Bryon Nelson on Saturday. “Our pitching has been pretty solid,” Stone said. “We’ve had some power hitting and we’ve had six or seven home runs, so that has been a good sign.” The players have prepared for the tournaments by playing four scrimmages so far against Fris-
co Liberty, Keller, Plano East and Prosper along with starting workouts. “The scrimmages give opportunities to my players to get a chance to play more than they would in the normal games so they can really show me what they can do,” Stone said. The team will start district
play on March 18 against Irving Nimitz. “The kids have been working hard,” Stone said. “We are not prepared for district yet, but that’s what these tournaments are for. We’re trying to get prepared for the district, but the ultimate goal is to make a deep run in the playoffs.”
7 p.m. • Softball at Lewisville 7 p.m.
APRIL 24 • Baseball vs Lewisville -
7 p.m. • Softball vs Irving High at Hebron at 7 p.m.
SPORTS
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Junior shares story of YASMIN HAQ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Editor’s note: To help protect her identity, the pseudonym “Lin” is used to refer to the main source in this story.
broke in and beat some of the family. Nobody was killed, but the next day, she told Lin they were going to visit family they had not seen in a long time. “She didn’t want to scare me,” Lin said. “She told me it was more like a journey than a dangerous thing, so I wouldn’t be scared. I was sad because I didn’t get to say bye to [any] of my friends.” Before they left, Lin lived in a two story home on calle la Merced Colonia with her mom, uncle, grandmother and brothers. The houses on her street were very close to each other, and in front of Lin’s house was a celebrated statue of Mary the neighbors decorated with flowers. While the neighborhood was riddled with crime and drugs, religion was prevalent, especially for Lin’s family. Lin typically went to school from 8:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The school was blue and three stories with a courtyard in the center. She was a diligent student.
They had minutes to cross before border patrol would be back. 11-year-old Lin and her mom ran toward the chain link fence that seemed to tower over them and began climbing. As they reached the top, Lin’s pants got caught on the coil of barbed wire capping the fence. As she struggled to free herself, she spotted a trailer approaching. Lin’s heart began pounding. She did not want to be the reason they were caught. Her mom worked to untangle her from the wire, only to have her finger get snagged in the wire too. Moments later, they were back on From school, the ground. They her mom would had fallen to the pick her up, and other side. together they Lin’s mom had would walk a gash running to her mom’s down her middle store in the finger. Provided photo Lin takes part in a ceremony at her market, where She was hurt, school in Mexico to carry the flag. they would spend but Lin knew they the rest of their day. At the market, could not stay idle on the ground. The guide told them if they stayed there was a bit of everything, from near the fence for too long, border clothes to produce to flowers. Lin’s grandmother took over patrol would be there before they her mom’s store, where she sold knew it. decorations for events, after they “I grabbed the backpack, and I left for the U.S. grabbed my mom “We have famand was like, ily here [in the ‘Come on momU.S.], and one of my, we can’t stay my uncles asked here,’” Lin said. me if I want“My mom looked ed to come live at me, and she got over here,” Lin’s up like nothing mom said (transhappened to her.” lated by Lin). Lin, now a ju“I was brave nior, and her mom enough to say are undocumentyes even though ed immigrants there were a lot who came to the U.S. from Mexico Above is Lin’s mom’s shop in Mexico. Provided photo of risks. I could lose my life on City with hopes the way here.” of securing employment and safeLin and her mom travelled to ty. Lin’s mom decided to migrate the Mexican border city of Nuevo because of what happened to their Laredo and stayed at a hotel under nextdoor neighbors: gang members
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the supervision of coyotes - people who smuggle migrants across the border. Lin and her mom were instructed by the coyotes to meet at a certain time and place to attempt to cross the border into Laredo, Texas. For six days, Lin and her mom met at the banks of the Rio Grande with individuals from various countries with the same goal. Each day, they would have to turn back to avoid the border patrol. They were caught the seventh time they tried to cross.
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Lin was soaking wet. They used rubber tires as makeshift boats to cross the river, laying on top of them as others dragged the tires through the water. There were only four tires, so it was women and children only, while the men, even if they did not know how to swim, would tread through the water. “We saw a dead body on the side of the [river],” Lin said. “I was lit-
tle. They called him a stick, so I wouldn’t get scared, and they just told me to turn around, but I did see it.” The coyote told them once they crossed, a truck would be waiting for them in a Laredo neighborhood about a mile away. With a stick, he drew a makeshift map on the ground, showing the group where to run once they were past the foliage on the other side of the river. The coyote would not be running with them, so they were on their own. Most of the group, including Lin and her mom, only made it halfway before they were spotted and stopped by border patrol. “It was obvious because it was an open space, and so you can see a person walking from far away,” Lin said. “Everyone was running, and there was only one guy that got to the truck.” Lin and her mom were ushered into the back of a white truck by border patrol. Lin did not know what to feel. She was just glad she
was with her mom. They found themselves among several strangers in a frigid white room with a cement floor. They had been taken to a detention center in San Antonio. “There was this other lady from the group who was trying to take me,” Lin said. “Because people who enter the USA with kids, they give them less days in the immigration center, well, back in the time.” Because of its diversity, the group, consisting of Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Hondurian people, that crossed together was separated into different rooms. Other than Lin and her mom, only one woman and her two children were Mexican. On one side of the room was a large window looking out to the rest of the detention center so border patrol could keep an eye on them. Lin was given food, but her mom was not, and at night, they were given a foil sheet for warmth. They were not allowed to call anyone. Lin and her mom were released
March 10, 2020
f crossing the border northwest of Nuevo Laredo, the following morning. “I was little, and I wanted to go back home, and my mom was like, ‘Just one last try, and if it doesn’t work, then we go back home,’” Lin said. “The last try we went through Piedras Negras, and we actually made it.”
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mom in the car. He then met with Lin’s godfather and demanded $200 more for each of them. “[It was] like we were some kind of toy,” Lin said. Lin’s godfather handed over the money, and Lin and her mom were let out. Lin and her mom were taken to her godparents’ house. From there, Lin’s uncles picked them up. Lin’s mom was not faring well; her legs were swollen and her nails began to fall off. The cut on her hand was still open and needed treatment. “My mom couldn’t walk,” Lin said. “That’s how hurt she was.” One of Lin’s family members received a call the next day from an unknown number. The caller asked if Lin and her mom were OK. They said everyone else in the Austin house was arrested by ICE.
Lin and her mom stayed at her godmother’s sister’s house for about a week in Piedras Negras. On the last day of their stay, they attended a prayer at someone’s house. The next morning, Lin and her mom boarded a bus with another coyote and group which took them to the Rio Grande. From the Rio Grande, Lin and her mom would spend three days and two nights walking through remote and rural grassland. At some point, three broadcast towers adorned with red lights blinked in the distance. The coyote told them once they passed the last one, they would be at their destination. “I kept looking at the red light,” Lin said. “Whenever I thought we were close, it was so far away. Even if we walked miles, we weren’t close to it.” A white Ford Expedition was waiting for them sometime after they passed the broadcast tower. The coyote told them to hurry into the truck. Most of the men in the group were packed into the tail of the car and covered with a tarp. Lin’s mom was curled up under the glove compartment on the passenger’s side. Lin was stacked on top of other people laying on the floor of the backseat. Lin and her mom were Lin poses for her first day of fifth grade in the U.S. taken to a house in Austin. The house was small: two bedLin started school on October rooms and one bathroom, with 18- 18, 2013, about three weeks after 20 other immigrants crowded in the they came to the U.S. Despite beliving room. The coyotes told them ing a sixth grader at her old school to recuperate at the house, but Lin’s in Mexico, she was held back to mom was not ready to rest until she fifth grade in order to learn English. was with her family. It was about None of the staff spoke Spanish. Af3 a.m. when Lin’s godparents re- ter a week or two, the kids who did ceived a call. Her godparents im- speak Spanish were tired of translatmediately began the three-hour ing. drive from Dallas to Austin. “With them holding me back in At around 7 a.m., the coyotes fifth grade, [it] helped me because I drove Lin and her mom to a Valero know that if I didn’t learn English gas station. Before they could get here, I wasn’t going to be successful, out, the coyote locked Lin and her and that’s just how it is,” Lin said.
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Photo illustration by Yasmin Haq
from the detention center and taken were asking for money,” Lin said. back to the border the next day. The Lin’s godparents were skeptical officers let Lin’s mom off with a about the coyote’s claims of Lin warning: if she tried to cross again, and her mom’s kidnapping and dethey would detain her for months manded proof. The coyote hung up. and sepOnce Lin’s arate her godparents from Lin. received Lin began the call to cry. She from Lin’s wanted to mom, they go back to told them her grandto leave m o t h e r ’s . everything She did not and avoid - Lin’s mom want her going back mom to be to the hotaken away tel being from her. watched by the coyotes. There was Just like they had almost every a possibility that kidnapping could day of their journey, Lin and her become a reality. mom called Lin’s godparents, who “Of course my mom was scared,” lived in the U.S., to assure them Lin said “She looked pale. Oh my they were OK. God she looked pale, and I got “That’s when the whole kidnap- scared, too. And then she was like, ping topic came up because the ‘Don’t ask anything. Just walk.’” [coyotes told my godparents while Lin and her mom stayed at anwe were in the immigration center] other hotel before leaving for Piethat we were kidnapped, and they dras Negras, another border city
“That is one of the hard parts of being here,” Lin’s mom said. “Everything is a risk.”
Lin’s mom wanted to be closer to her family, so they moved in with an uncle. Lin transferred schools for the second semester to attend a school with bilingual classes. Lin’s stay in the U.S. has gone smoothly since then; she improved in English and focused on school. “I feel like I’m successful with the simple fact of just being here,” Lin said. “I have greater opportunities that I didn’t have in Mexico.” In June 2019, Lin consulted with a law firm and was told to go to immigration court to appeal for residency before she turns 18. Lin never went. With current administration tightening immigration laws, the high cost of a good lawyer, and the small window of time before she becomes an adult, Lin has not been able to move forward and become legal. “That is one of the hard parts of being here,” Lin’s mom said. “Everything is a risk.” Lin and her mom try to be careful and avoid places where deportations are common. They currently do not have any protection from immigation. “There’s all the chances that I could get deported, because I don’t have anything to protect me,” Lin said. “I don’t have a work visa. I don’t have anything.” Lin wants to go into the medical field, but her undocumented status is detrimental to her desire for career and higher education. One of the reasons Lin is interested in the field Provided photo is that if she gets deported or cannot attend higher education, she can still study medicine in Mexico. Lin plans to spend her senior year taking dual credit and AP classes, as well as career center courses to prepare for college and help out her mom with the cost. “I know I came here with a purpose, and I’m not going to waste that purpose causing myself more problems than [the ones] I already have,” Lin said. “If I came here, it’s to be better for myself and my family. I know where I’m going, but I never forget where I come from.”
FEATURE
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Review: I am more than okay with this MIA NGUYEN REPORTER
“I Am Not Okay With This” is not your average coming of age story. It focuses on cynical, self proclaimed “boring 17-year-old white girl” Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), and her journey navigating the roller coaster that is adolescence. She deals with acne, an unrequited crush, friend/familial drama and budding supernatural powers. The adaptation of Charles Forman’s graphic novel easily draws viewers in by opening with Sydney walking down a dimly lit street covered in blood and charming introductions to the characters along with Syd’s sardonic narration. The vintage music and ’80s aesthetic in a modern time frame also differentiates this show from other teen shows and films. A multitude of Syd’s problems stem from her lack of closure after her father’s suicide, causing her to be socially awkward and tempermental. Her uncontrollable telekinesis stems from feelings of humiliation, anger and sadness, which are unfortunately Syd’s most common emotions. Despite her lack of social skills, Syd still
finds support from her best friend Dina (Sofia Bryant) and her new confidant, Stanley (Wyatt Oleff). The episodes felt too short for the plot, barely 20 minutes long, which was not enough time to explain many characters’ connections to the plot. Within the first few minutes of the first episode, you know Syd is in love with Dina; however, after the first episode, the characters rarely have screen time alone to fully explain their feelings for each other. The show was much more focused on Stan and Syd’s relationship. The show gained inspiration from many ’80s teen movies along with the small town horror of Stephen King’s works. Even though “I Am Not Okay With This” uses classic cliches such as basket case, nerd, popular girl and jock, the writers do a great job of making the characters more complex and not so predictable. Lillis’ chemistry with Bryant and Oleff is my favorite thing about the series. She has already shared the screen with Oleff in both “It” films, but “I Am Not Okay With This” showcases the full extent of their combined stage presence. While Syd is self-conscious and reserved, Stan is unapologetically weird and loyal, making them a fun duo to watch. Stan has to be my favorite character -- Oleff portrays him in such a charming way without
Photo from Netflix
Syd, Dina and Stanley talk in the hallway after stealing the library security tape.
allowing his character’s crush on Syd to be annoying. While the major plot line of the story is Syd’s struggle with controlling her newfound telekinesis, it gets drowned out by the plethora of issues she and her friends deal with. Topics like sexuality and mental health are frequently highlighted throughout the episodes, causing the ’80s aesthetic to have more of a modern feel but muddling the main conflict of the show. Hopefully there will be a season two to explain unanswered plot lines and allow for more character development, but overall I am more than okay with this show.
Syd and Dina sit on the bleachers during gym class.
Photo from Netflix
Spring Break Staycation It’s nice to go on vacation, but sometimes spring break is just sitting under the covers and spending one million hours on social media. Even social media can get boring, and doing something is better than doing nothing for the entire break. While Dallas may not be the dream destination, there are still some cool things to do around the area.
Texas Tulips
Texas Tulips is a huge field of a variety of tulips. There are baskets you can fill with tulips to take home. It costs $5 per person to enter and each tulip picked has to be paid for. It is located in Pilot Point, Texas, which is about a 40-minute drive from Carrollton and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The tulip field is a beautiful photo opportunity for all of your Instagram content needs.
Dallas Museum of Art
Walking distance from Klyde Warren Park is the Dallas Museum of Art. It is one of the largest art museums in America and can be a nice reprieve from the sun if you spend the day at Klyde Warren Park. They have a constantly rotating schedule of exhibitions, so each visit can be different. Art enthusiast or not, the Dallas Museum of Art is sure to be a fun and free experience.
The Galleria Mall
The Galleria Mall is your basic shopping mall on steroids. It is around a 20-minute drive from Carrollton and has three stories packed with shops of all types. You could spend a whole day there. Your wallet may be crying, but your heart will be happy.
Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park is a 5.2-acre public park in Downtown Dallas, which is around a 30-minute drive from Carrollton. There are almost always events and activities to do there, and the food trucks ensure you can spend a whole day exploring the park. Spending a nice spring day at the park would be a dream. Compiled by Hailey Dirks and Mia Nguyen
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ENTERTAINMENT
March 10, 2020
Column: Abolish the SAT KATLYNN FOX MANAGING EDITOR Spring semester for juniors means many things: choosing courses for senior year, worrying about prom and taking the SAT and/or ACT. Due to the excessive pressure and expectations placed on students by college admissions boards and parents to perform well, students spend much of the last years of their childhood in a constant state of anxiety. Therefore, because of the stress it causes students without accurately reflecting intellectual level, the SAT should not be a deciding factor in college admissions. A large portion of students are not adequate test-takers and are often burdened by testing anxiety and nervousness. Yet, their future is
still dependent on a three or four number score. Around 20% of high schoolers have experienced a significant level of testing anxiety in their academic career, which can negatively affect their potential in taking the SAT because of a pre-exposure to anxiety while under pressure. The SAT also separates socioeconomic classes by giving wealthier students an unfair advantage when testing. While some families can afford to send their children to tutors or pay for them
to take the test a multitude of times in order to achieve a desirable score, other families are not as fortunate. There are free options for tutoring such as self-studying with a prep book, taking advantage of online platforms like Khan Academy or even signing up for a PSAT course at school; however, schools that offer tutoring classes are often highly ranked schools located in wealthier areas, which again leaves poorer students behind. Regardless, as shown in recent scandals like the Varsi-
ty Blues College Admissions case, money can still significantly increase scores, as well as chances at getting into college. Several schools have opted to no longer accept or require SAT or ACT test results, such as Arizona State, DePaul and the University of Chicago. Many colleges have begun implementing a holistic admissions process in order to attract a more diverse student population and to better judge how students will succeed based off of more than one or two test scores. By
examining a student based on their grades, recommendations and community service rather than ruling them out based on one poor test score, more students are given the opportunity to thrive in higher education. As the population evolves with technology and diversity, it is imperative that the SAT, as well as other standardized tests, change too. College and higher education should be about hope for the future, not about stress and anxiety brought on by testing.
THEHAWKEYE
HEBRON HIGH SCHOOL 4207 Plano Parkway Carrollton, TX 75010 469-948-2850
The Hawk Eye is a student-produced newspaper which strives to represent the student voice. We will aim to report all news relevant to Hebron High School and its student body without bias to race, religion or creed. Views expressed by columnists are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff. Editorials reflect the staff opinion and may not reflect the views of the school administration. All original materials are copyrighted. Some material, when noted, is courtesy of American Society of Editors/KRT campus high school newspaper service. We encourage reader input via letters, guest columns and story ideas. Contact a staff member of e-mail us at hawkeyepaper@gmail.com with any of these items. We reserve the right to edit letters for inappropriate content and space. The Hawk Eye is a member of Interscholastic League Press Conference, Texas Association of Journalism Educators, Association of Texas Photography Instructors and the Journalism Education Association.
EDITORS
Column: Overwork doesn’t work
YASMIN HAQ
YASMIN HAQ
MANAGING EDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
My fall semester went nothing like I planned it to. I thought being a senior meant I would be coasting through the year, and that I would finally get to focus on what I’m truly passionate about. Instead, I found myself ankle deep in college applications, portfolio pieces, deadlines, newspaper responsibilities and classes. Before I knew it, I was once again sinking in a seemingly endless pile of work. Overwork is something that plagues students and professionals. There are side effects to working hard: as one throws themselves into their work at full force, the emotional and physical stress catches up. People can only handle so much before they are at full capacity and start sacrificing things such as sleep or health. In Japan, the culture of overwork is so severe that Karoshi (translating to death by overwork) has become a compensable disease. According to Tokyo Review, around 20% of employees in 2017 were working over 49
hours a week, and 191 deaths were chalked up to Karoshi. In America, working hard has culminated into a phenomenon known as “hustle culture.” Despite reports of work being very stressful for 40% of employees according to the American Institute of Stress, the concept of Karoshi is not recognized like it is in Japan. Being (over)productive is enforced by standards that start in high school. The hunger for immediate success pushes students to overachieve. For some students, including myself, the idea of college looming in the background compels us to do our best academically without any regard for what is being learned. It is expected that we be stressed out about things we do not really care about because that’s “just life.” To some extent, working toward something because of an extrinsic motivation (grades) is necessary, but not when it impedes one’s well being or happiness. People are not machines, so it is unrealistic to expect them to perform like one. Besides, even machines wear down too. I recognized that I was overworked when my mental and physical health be-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
KATE HAAS
KATLYNN FOX MANAGING EDITOR
HAILEY DIRKS WEB EDITOR
REPORTERS Illustration by Yasmin Haq
gan to decline last semester. I kept pushing myself to do just a little bit more because it would all be “worth it” soon. The weariness of being burned out didn’t hit me until after I got through the semester. I could barely pick up my pen to draw because I had lost the motivation to even doodle, and keeping up with my responsibilities for the newspaper felt more like a chore than a passion. I spent a good month in an art block, and I gave up on learning to animate entirely despite making room in my schedule just for the class. Because I was so focused on things I felt I had to do, I was burned out before I realized it, and I did not want to do things I loved to do anymore. I chastised myself for not doing more, even though
I was too exhausted to do much of anything, feeding into this negative cycle built by overwork. I put all my self worth into how much I could accomplish in a period of time without considering that I am only human. I am still trying to get out of this self-deprecating cycle. Sometimes it seems like life is going too fast, so take a minute to slow down and re-evaluate what really matters. It is difficult not to get caught up when that overwhelming list of things to do starts to form. It is OK to say no to opportunities and commitments, even enticing ones, and it is necessary to take a break once in a while. It is good to work hard, but it is essential to focus on things that bring satisfaction.
Kai Fernando Henry Hays Arisha Hirji Sarosh Ismail Kate Knauff Mitchell Mayhaw Mia Nguyen Malley O’Carroll Leila Olukoga
ADVISER STEVEN JONES
PRINCIPAL AMY BOUGHTON Find us online at:
www.hebronhawkeye.com
OPINION 7
March 10, 2020
hebronhawkeye.com
Hawk Fest: Feb. 29
Students dance in a Bollywood style to “Swag Se Sagat.” Junior Vaneeza Moloo choreographed the dance. The Hawk Fest took place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Senior April Nguyen and junior Emily Nguyen explain the rules for a Vietnamese gambling game. The players bet with candy, and based on the symbol they bet on, they can lose or double their winnings.
Juniors Allison Buck and Pamela Carmona volunteer at the Hawk Fest.
Hawkapella sings “I Was Here” by Beyonce at the beginning of the Festival. Other songs included “No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande and “Love on the Brain” by Rihanna.
Sophomore Tiffany Nguyen serves homemade boba tea at the Hawk Fest. The festival included food from several different cultures.
Junior Shaema George draws a henna design Junior Jeremiah Joseph.
The UNT African Percussion Ensemble perform on the stage with West African music and dances. They were the last group to perform.
Sophomore Harsha Siringa plays Gonggi, a Korean game where the player has to catch one stone while picking another up at the same time.
Junior Jared Binu points at a Carrom board piece. Carrom board is a game that originated in India, and is a lot like pool.
Photos by Yasmin Haq
PHOTO GALLERY
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