The Hawk Eye, Volume 20, Issue 3

GROWING PAINS

Teenage years can be hard, Gen Z is learning to manage emotions on the fly

The Hawk Eye

Staff contributors

Bree

Krista Fleming

Shehzil

Peyton

Saahir Mawani

Shiren Noorani

Henry Pham

Madeline Rivera

Eyesha Sadiq

Emma Short

Heather

Caleb Wright

LETTER FROM THE STAFF

Dear reader,

The last couple of months have been tough for the Hebron community. We lost two members of the student body last semester, and that has brought difficult conversations to light.

While the losses we have experienced in the year were tragic, many students have had individual loss and trauma that have been brushed under the rug by the students themselves. Generation Z teenagers especially have difficulties at levels that other generations, arguably, weren’t faced with. These may have come with the impact of COVID-19, the rise of social media and recent crimes against minority groups around America.

This edition of “The Hawk Eye” is focused on bringing to light the idea of teenage grief, and how to accept, understand, reflect and move forward from big events in one’s life. This issue includes a feature on sophomore JJ Hatcher’s life (page 4-5), a deep-dive into how teenagers process difficult emotions (8-9) and an editorial from the staff regarding the importance of checking up on those close to you (page 10).

We hope this issue will help start the conversation regarding mental health between friends, family members and even strangers. While it is a difficult topic to process, we hope you will learn something from this issue to help you process any mental difficulty in your life. As always, we appreciate your support and hope you enjoy.

-”The Hawk Eye” print staff

A heart like JJ’s

Remembering sophomore who passed away

Story by Peyton Kuschmeider and Shehzil Imran

He was only 2 years old when he began throwing things. It started in car rides with his mother – he would throw his bottle toward the dashboard. As the years progressed, the bottle became a football and a baseball. His mother would joke with him that he had always been an athlete because he had been throwing things all his life. He soon grew a passion for sports — a passion that burned strong until the end.

Sophomore Jason Dewayne Hatcher Jr. (JJ) passed away on Dec. 18. JJ was born with a heart condition known as the Anomalous Origin of a Coronary Artery, a rare condition where the coronary arteries of the heart are positioned on the same side, instead of opposites. His condition went undetected until he was sent into cardiac arrest at the age of 15.

“He was always asking what he could do to get better,” JJ’s mother Natasha Hatcher said. “One of the last texts he sent to his dad [was] ‘what could I do to be better?’ The thing is, he was always great. He was very humble and available to his peers, friends and teammates. He’s always been that person, doing great but helping others along with him.”

Head football coach John Towels said he was not afraid to lose this year’s seniors because he believed JJ was the future of their team. Their last conversation consisted of ideas of JJ taking the next step to become a team leader. Towels said he felt God gave them that moment for a reason, and nothing was left unsaid before his passing.

“It’s hard because it’s a tragedy any time a young person loses their life — even more so when you’ve been connected with

them,” Towels said. “He hadn’t reached his full potential as far as what he was going to do and what he could [have] become. It’s hard to realize that we will never see that. We just have to know [that] in these types of situations, there’s a higher power and there’s more involved in this than just us. I can rest assured that he is in a far better place.”

JJ had also been playing baseball since he was a child and joined the school’s baseball team his freshman year. Head baseball coach Steve Stone said JJ excelled on the team as an athlete and a teammate, and would “come to life” while playing in a game.

“He could hit the ball farther, run faster [and] jump higher than just about everybody else,” Stone said. “[But] he was more than just a great athlete.

Design by Peyton Kuschmeider

Sophomores JJ Hatcher and Chase Harris pose for a photo on the way to a game.

(Photo provided by Chase Harris)

Sophomore JJ Hatcher poses for a photo on the sidelines during a football game. (Photo provided by Natasha Hatcher)

People who didn’t get to know him didn’t know how good of a friend he was and how loyal he was to people. He wanted to see other people succeed around him.”

Sophomore Chase Harris became close friends with JJ through playing the same position on their childhood baseball team. Harris said he appreciated how JJ was outgoing toward everyone.

“The first time he scored [a] touchdown, I came up to him [and said], ‘good job, you did it,’ and he [said] ‘now it’s your turn,’” Harris said. “He said this to [around] five other people after his touchdown. He was always [motivating and] uplifting — he’d rather see you do well than himself do well.”

JJ’s mother plans to start a foundation called “A Heart Like JJ’s,” which will work to get athletes proper screenings to detect heart conditions before being cleared to play. It will also aim to teach teenagers to follow in JJ’s footsteps by educating them on being a shoulder to lean on for their friends.

“I’m going to approach it from a mental health counseling side where we are teaching young people to be available to their peers and friends, and [to] have a heart, be

a listener, give advice and help people,” Natasha said. “On the medical side, I plan to find a way to raise funds to help kids get the testing that they need to diagnose [heart conditions], especially [in] athletes. My hope is that another mother doesn’t have to go through the same things I’m going through.”

Natasha said that JJ would want to be remembered as a good friend. She wants everyone to know that, above all, he was a lover.

She plans to carry his memory with her and their family by doing just as she believes JJ would — being a good person and always open to helping others.

“We are devastated and we’ll never be the same,” Natasha said. “We are a family of seven; we’re not weaker because we lost him, we’re stronger because we had him. I see so many strengths in all of us that we didn’t have before. We really just had to dig deep and be supportive of each other.”

Design by Peyton Kuschmeider

The Hatcher family poses for a photo together. JJ’s two older siblings are both Hebron graduates, and his father, Jason Hatcher, played defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. (Photo provided by Natasha Hatcher)

The varsity football team poses for a photo after winning its first home game on Sept. 2. JJ can be seen on the far left. (Photo by Peyton Kuschmeider)

“We are devastated and we’ll never be the same. We are a family of seven; we’re not weaker because we lost him, we’re stronger because we had him. I see so many strengths in all of us that we didn’t have before. We really just had to dig deep and be supportive of each other.”

- JJ’s mother Natasha Hatcher

Student Health and Wellness Fair to be held March 9

The Student Health and Wellness Fair, coordinated by connects liaison Kari Perkins and student assistance counselor Stephanie Bañuelos, will be held March 9 during third period in the main hallway.

“Most of our students are caught up in their daily lives,” Perkins said. “They forget the benefits of [having good] mental health, and [the Student Health and Wellness Fair is] a great way to remind them and give them some different tools.”

There will be approximately 20 stations led by people who work in the district and outside agencies. Each vendor will provide safe healthy coping mechanisms for students and will

“I believe I don’t have safe coping mechanisms,” sophomore Amy Leon said. “I don’t think it’s taught [well] enough. We do have advisory lessons that go over them, but overall, mental health is a hard thing to deal with on your own. Even if you have friends or family members, it’s still something personal that you need to learn to deal with.

One of the vendors is You Are The Difference, a company that’s goal is to spread kindness through

“I want the students to understand their role in society as an individual and how they can contribute to the people around them, in a good way or a bad way,” said Tennille Massingale, a kindness ambassador at You Are The Difference. “[I want them to learn] how they can make someone stay, how they can make someone smile, how they can encourage their peers or teachers, just with kindness.”

Another vendor attending the fair is Connections Wellness Group, a company that focuses on body image and how people can look at themselves in a healthy way.

“We will have some giveaways for students [at our table] to take with them,” said Martha Valles, a clinical liaison at Connections Wellness Group. “The presentation will be a quick come-and-go. [We will give] Scooby Doo graham cracker treats [for the students].”

This will be Hebron’s second time hosting the fair since COVID-19 put a hold on the event for a few years.

“I’m excited for all the students to be excited,” Bañuelos said. “I look forward to the students, when they get to see [all the vendors] lined up. It is just something new and [they get] to learn something new. [Students get to] experience something different during their lunch time, which is always helpful.”

Wellness Group

You Are The Difference

Story by Eyesha Sadiq

Design by Eyesha Sadiq

Connection

IT’S JUST ALLERGIES

Experts weigh in on teenagers’ emotional difficulties

Story by Emma Short

Generation Z comprises the population born between 1997-2012. It is the most ethnically diverse generation in American history, and makes up 27% of the U.S. population. While its diversity and intelligence has made a difference in today’s industrial America, the generation has had emotional struggles vastly different from its generational counterparts.

With the addition of social media influence, the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in hate crimes around the country, it is safe to say today’s teenagers have seen the lot of it. On top of this, two students passed away last semester, something very difficult to process at such an early point in a person’s mental and emotional development. While being a teenager and going through puberty is already difficult, Generation Z has additional walls to break down and walk through.

Story continued on next page.

Design by Eyesha Sadiq

Being a teenager in 2023

The stereotype is true: teenagers are emotionally rocky. Clinical professor of psychology at the UCLA school of medicine Dr. Daniel Siegel found that the limbic area of the nervous system, which works with the brainstem and body to create emotion, exerts much more influence on higher-level reasoning from upper regions of the teenage brain than that of children or adults. This means emotions simply become more intense as children seep into adolescence. Teens can become more easily irritated and moody because of these intense emotions.

Licensed Professional Counselor Marquia Caldwell works with teenagers in the San Antonio area, many of which struggle with anxiety or depression or are in the LGBTQ+ community. Caldwell said one of the most difficult things she sees her recent teenage clients struggling with is labeling themselves.

“I’ve noticed that labels [are] something that has stressed them out a lot,” Caldwell said. “No one wants to be labeled this, or they want to be labeled this and they’re having issues with everybody conforming or understanding how they feel. There’s that struggle with being who you are, being comfortable with that and understanding a lot of people aren’t going to like it.”

Along with the many stressors teens process daily, school has become increasingly more competitive and stress-inducing the last few years. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 2009 graduates earned over three credits more than 1990 graduates. It also found 2009 had a greater percentage of graduates who completed higher curriculum levels with greater course requirements (13% in 2009 versus 5% in 1990). The difference has also, comparably, gotten much larger in the 14 years since 2009.

“I’ve seen a lot of [students] stress [about] making certain grades,” counseling and mental health teacher Jacqueline Rans said. “They feel like they’re in competition with each other and their peers; they feel like they have to hold a certain standard for their family or their parents or they have to get to a certain college or career.”

Caldwell said she often hears students staying up until 2 a.m. to finish homework, something she never heard of when she was in school.

“I have noticed with a lot of my teenagers [that] school is a lot different from when I went,” Caldwell said. “Remember to take care of yourself, put your homework down for an hour [and] give your brain and yourself [a minute] to relax. If there’s something going on in your household that’s toxic, find a safe space, because no one is more important than you.”

Social media

Arguably the biggest difference between Gen Z and any generation that came before it is the influence of social media and the internet, which can bring benefits and challenges. Some of the more common negative effects that teens must combat with social media include exposure to comparison and peer pressure.

“I’m not saying it’s always negative, but in terms of that exposure, emotions now are a little bit more heightened than [they were] in the past years,” Caldwell said. “The [handling of] emotions is a little bit harder, but I do like with our teenagers that mental health is an option. For my generation, it started to become an option, but with our parents, it was never an option.”

Another concern with the addition of social media in the lives of Gen Z teenagers is that online conflicts and cyberbullying are much more present and easily accessible.

“Teenagers now don’t know life without internet,” student assistance counselor Stephanie Bañuelos said. “We kind of joke as adults [that] our school day would be much easier if kids didn’t have their phones, just because a lot of the bullying or conflicts all stem from somebody messaging somebody [or] somebody saying something [over social media]. It’s just so accessible every day to say something mean. That’s different [from] past generations — they had to go up to somebody and say something to them.”

Social media also provides an avenue for students to learn mental health terminology, which can have its positives and negatives.

“The beauty of social media, access to the internet and it being so readily available is that we do have the terminology to understand anxiety and depression and to know there’s a lot of people that maybe we didn’t realize have anxiety and depression or symptoms of anxiety and depression,” Bañuelos said. “But I also think people are quick to self diagnose, not understanding that it is OK that we feel anxious. It doesn’t mean that we have a true diagnosis of anxiety, but there are going to be times that we naturally feel anxious. We are meant to feel that at times.”

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has accounted for even more mental health changes among teenagers. At the peak of the lockdown in the spring of 2020, connection with others was greatly limited.

“COVID caused a lot of issues when it comes to mental

Design by Emma Short

“If you do feel like you are struggling, reach out; do not try to do it on your own.”

-licensed professional counselor Marquia Caldwell

health for everybody, but I think with teenagers, it made life a little bit more difficult and unbearable,” Caldwell said. “I notice an increase in anxiety and an increase in depression because, for a lot of kids, school was their way for that separation from the parents, from the home life, from pressures of a lot of things. And then that lack of being able to physically be around other people – the emotional turmoil I think caused a hindrance in our teenagers.”

Although many struggles are often associated with the pandemic, some students thrived in the enclosed environment that caused virtual learning, and are now struggling with the switch back to in-person learning.

“I saw students [during] COVID that really kind of benefitted because they couldn’t get here at 8 a.m.,” Rans said. “They struggled with the structure of the school, and when they could wake up at whatever time, do an assignment and get it in by midnight. I could see some students, not many, that benefited from the more flexible structure of it, [and] then the kids that were kind of struggling with the isolation part of it.”

Grief

After two Hebron students passed away last semester, some teens have had to deal with grief for the first time in their lives.

“Whenever a school community loses a staff member or student, it’s just horrible,” lead counselor Justin Fields said. “One of the nice things about school for young people is that school provides structure and routine. You have routines to your day, you see people at certain times, your classes are arranged a certain way, and that’s really good for people. I think there’s comfort in that.”

Although those who knew the students personally are having to deal with the grief associated with losing a loved one, even some who didn’t have a relationship with the students lost are being reminded of the feelings associated with losing someone. Fields said this is part of the reason he doesn’t encourage school-wide responses or assemblies like those that were done when he was in high school.

“Let’s say, for example, you just recently had a grandparent pass away and you’ve handled that, and then a 10th grader that you don’t have any clue about passes away,” Fields said. “If we were to create a widespread response that forced you to participate, maybe that would disrupt you and bring you back into a state of grief that maybe you had already worked through and were comfortable with.”

Every source interviewed said talking to others is the best coping mechanism when going through any mental difficulty.

“I do encourage a lot of people [that] if you do feel like you are struggling, reach out; do not try to do it on your own,” Caldwell said. “When you try to do it on your own, you go into this deep, dark spiral, and if you don’t ask for help, it is just

going to continue that way. Reach out to friends, family – don’t feel like you’re a burden. And then if somebody is reaching out to you, be open, allow them to have that space to talk about what they need to talk about and don’t judge them on it.”

Part of Fields’ and the counseling staff’s job is providing support that could get students who are struggling back to their normal routine.

“I think with crisis like this, friends are great [but] I always want to make sure people have adults that they can go to as well,” Fields said. “Not that I don’t think [students] can provide good support, but, sometimes, I just don’t want you to have to feel responsible for other things that come up. I think that also goes back to [my] wish [that] people would assess their circles for who really has [your] best interest at heart. Are the people that you let in the ones that are trying to lift you up — that let you be you? That’s what I hope.”

“The Hawk Eye” surveyed 371 students through a Google Form, and 43% said they have had to deal with losing someone close to them.

“With grief, I always try to remind everybody that it’s not the same for everyone,” Caldwell said. “There is no correct way to grieve. Don’t judge somebody else by the way they are grieving. There are some people that don’t want to show emotions, but when they’re by themselves, they do. Some people become very emotional and they do need that support.”

Bañuelos noted how although there are the five standard stages of grief, there is no “right” way to grieve. Some go through all stages in order, some bounce back and forth.

“Grief is long, [and] it’s weird,” Fields said. “Just when you think it’s done, an anniversary comes back, the first thing that you used to do with this person comes back, holidays that grandma used to [attend], the smell of food they used to make. You just never know. The biggest thing we want to do is make sure people [know] it’s OK to be sad, it’s OK to be angry, it’s OK to be grieving – we just want people to do it in a way that doesn’t harm themselves or other people. Really staying away from drugs and alcohol as a coping tool and just finding people they can be expressive with.”

When students are in need of assistance, the school counselors are available to help. QR codes can be scanned in each classroom for students to schedule meetings with their counselors, which are assigned to students by last name.

“Sometimes all we can do is say, ‘this is really horrible, [and] I can’t make this better for you but I can go through this with you,’” Fields said. “I won’t fix [it], but you’ll be amazed at how much better you might feel if you just talk out loud or let your emotions out in a healthy way. I think people might be surprised [they] could maybe feel a whole lot better by emoting. I can’t bring this person back, I can’t snap and make you feel better, but I’ll be there for you every step of the way so you feel like you can get going again.”

Design by Emma Short

“Grief is long, [and] it’s weird. The biggest thing we want to do is make sure people [know] it’s OK to be sad, it’s OK to be angry, it’s OK to be grieving – we just want people to do it in a way that doesn’t harm themselves or other people.”

-lead counselor Justin Fields

Staff Editorial: It’s OK

to not be OK

Prioritizing mental health struggles is imperative

Over 60% of individuals will experience a traumatic event before the age of 16. Whether that particular event is witnessing childhood friends move away, a loved one passing or something as severe as abuse, trauma presents itself in different forms. This student body has experienced the struggles of isolation during quarantine, digital learning and this year, the loss of peers. While some people can easily find healthy coping mechanisms, teenagers often struggle to find proactive methods of dealing with emotional turmoil. It is imperative for teenagers to prioritize their own mental health and recognize the warning signs of self-destructive behavior.

Teenage years are a pivotal time of emotional development. When dealing with severe forms of trauma, such as experiencing school shootings, substance addiction or peers passing away, at such a critical point in the brain’s maturation, teenagers often resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to distract themselves from reality. Significant changes in academic performance, hypersexuality, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts are the most prominent symptoms of self-destructive behavior. This type of behavior stems from unresolved trauma and, in turn, creates unhealthy coping mechanisms. Remaining vigilant of the warning signs from unhealthy coping mechanisms in both loved ones and peers is the first, and perhaps most important, step toward rehabilitation.

The feeling of isolation can overpower any other emotion for a person going through emotional turmoil; it may feel as though nobody understands the depth of their issues. In the midst of struggle, another person reaching out their hand to help, providing a light at the end of the tunnel, can be a positive focal moment in anybody’s life, and may change the trajectory of their struggle with mental health. A simple “how are you?” to a loved one or even a stranger who sits beside you in class can, at times, lead to a vulnerable conversation about how they are truly feeling.

Mental health is different for everybody, much less the struggles that may come with it. Treatment options can vary for individuals who are struggling. There are a plethora of alternative solutions, besides traditional psychotherapy, to begin healing from trauma. These include listening to mental health awareness podcasts, coping through religion, using meditation apps, reading self-help books and attending local support groups. Utilizing any of these positive coping methods can create connections to others with similar troubles and introduce the idea to a person that they are not alone in their struggles.

Starting the conversation about mental illness and seeking help can be uncomfortable. Common stereotypes for those affected by mental illness are that they are “crazy,” “sensitive” and “broken.” Some may even be subjected to discrimination, such as fewer job opportunities and lower healthcare options. But it is our societal duty to look out for those around us when it comes to serious topics such as mental health struggles – nobody can truly fight their problems alone. As social media paves the way toward mental health awareness, society must follow suit in destigmatizing individuals with mental disorders who are simply trying their best to create a sense of normality for themselves.

Identifying that a person’s mental health is deteriorating is an extremely challenging task due to some individuals being better at hiding indications than others, but it is still necessary to remain alert. Confide in a trusted adult if it feels as though a person’s mental health crisis has escalated and their physical safety is in danger. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in teenagers – a teen passes away due to suicide every 11 minutes — a horrifying, yet real statistic. A reality check that some need to understand is the importance of prioritizing mental health in ourselves and checking up on others, even if it may frustrate someone currently battling with mental illness to feel as though people around them are “overbearing.” It’s better to have a friend who is still alive and angry at you for overstepping than to have to grieve their loss and experience the guilt that comes with it.

It is vital that teenagers stick together, lift each other up and look out for one another during periods of stress and trauma. All teenagers are growing at their own pace, conquering relentless drama and frenzies of hormones. There are paths to recovery readily available – all it takes is acceptance and empathy from others to truly begin healing.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, there are resources to help. You are not alone.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline - 988

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 800-273-8255

National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline - 800-662-4357

Design by Madeline Rivera

OPINION: LISD should allow students mental health days

Story by Shiren Noorani

The No. 1 reported source of stress for teenagers in America is school. Whether that be because of daily assignments, tests, preparing a good college application or simply just showing up to school, each of these can be seen as a common factor of stress for teenagers.

Under Texas law, LISD requires students to be present for at least 90% of the time that the class is offered, regardless of the reasoning for the absence. As an LISD student, my parents and I were sent a warning email last year for loss of credit due to the number of absences I had, even though each absence was excused with a valid note. I got extremely sick multiple times throughout the year and had to stay home. There were some cases where I just needed a break because I was so overwhelmed with my workload and I could feel my mental health deteriorating, but I was completely caught up on my school work and passing each of my classes.

I was already close to facing credit loss last year, so when the end of the semester came around and I was at a breaking point, I had to push myself way past my mental health limits and attend school.

English I teacher Cassie Madewell said she feels as though it would be nice to implement excused mental health days for students: a day dedicated to relaxation and easing stress from their daily lives without the fear of losing credit.

“I understand that there is a limit to the number of days that kids can miss,” Madewell said. “But, I do wish that [there] was some way of figuring [out how] to make those specific mental health days to where [it wouldn’t] be so punitive or [that they] wouldn’t get punished.”

Mental health days, once in every nine weeks, would benefit students because having a day to just refresh themselves would provide the ability to come back feeling better and more balanced with everything they have on their plates.

“My dad, as a teacher, told me I had three mental health days every single school year because of the belief that some days you just can’t [do anything],” AP human geography teacher Kelley Ferguson said. “It helped me be a successful AP [and] honors student, work 40 hours a week and be involved in tons of extracurricular activities. It was what got me through high school.”

The state of Illinois allows students to take up to five mental health days each year. There is a possibility that students could abuse these allotted mental health days, but if it’s kept to a reasonable limit, that should hardly be an issue.

Some people remain under the impression that mental health isn’t as important as physical health. A student being able to take a mental health day when genuinely needed can potentially help them push through what they have going on since they’re given a day to prioritize themselves.

“[Kids need to know to] not just [use] that as a moment to goof off, but really [as] a moment of reenergizing and rejuvenating so that you can get back into your life and tackle [what’s going on],” Hebron 9 librarian Shannon Whiteley said. Additionally, having a designated absence related to mental health days would let teachers know that a specific student is dealing with a lot. In my freshman year, one of my best friends told my teachers I was having a rough day, and that teacher checking in on me helped me get through one of my hardest days.

“[I wish] that we were aware that this was [a mental health] kind of day as opposed to [their] family vacation [being] extended for two days,” Madewell said. “So that I know, [as] a teacher, [that] I need to pay attention to this kid [and] make sure they’re where they need to be.”

Our mind and body share a direct relationship; although there are times where our mind is one team and our body another, they’re both playing in the same game. One day can make a huge difference in someone’s life; it could be the cause of a path to healing or a path to rock bottom.

Connecticut, Oregon, Arizona and many more states in the U.S. have passed laws promoting mental health days. We, as a community, can localize this issue and implement mental health days as well. I urge you, as a student, to use your voice and speak up, and as an adult, to recognize this and take a step forward by truly opening your eyes to the importance of mental health care.

Design by Madeline Rivera

I’ve visited the famous Chicago a few times, and when I’m in the Windy City, “Portillo’s” is definitely a stop I force my family to make. So, when I heard there was a “Portillo’s” opening up less than 10 minutes away from my house, I knew I had to go.

The line stretched all around the parking lot, encased in parking cones separating the drive-thru from the parking lot. The drive-thru was split into two lanes, with employees walking down the line to get orders. They are a cashless drive-thru, but that wasn’t a big issue for me.

I wanted to see what the employee felt was the best item on the menu, so I got what they recommended — the spicy chicken sandwich, which was a win for me. Though the franchise started from its love of hot dogs, I am not the biggest fan of the Chicago delicacy.

Once we ordered, it was about a 20 minute wait to get the food, a relief as I had heard horror stories of wait times longer than an hour. While we were waiting in front of the window, the smell hit my nose, instantly making my stomach growl. I couldn’t wait any longer before I ate, and by the time we were back on the highway, I had begun eating.

Before I even got home, I had eaten all of my food. The fries were perfectly crispy, each crinkle perfectly fried. While the fries were plainly seasoned, the crispiness made it one of the best fries I’ve had. Comparing it to another popular fry, the Chick-fil-A waffle fry, I would honestly prefer Portillo’s. The golden-brown color told me all I needed to know, yet the taste blew my taste buds’ mind. I would rate the fries a 10/10.

I had already been blown away by the fries, but I didn’t know what was waiting for me in the cardboard box right next to them. Before opening, I expected the chicken to be spicy, not the sauce. The chicken was equally as crispy as the fries, which as I described earlier, was a great sensation in my mouth. There was one bite that I had trouble chewing through because it was cooked somewhat funny, which was a disappointment based on the great experience I had been having. I did, overall, think it was an average chicken sandwich, and if I compared it to the Chick-fil-A spicy chicken deluxe, I would pick Chick-fil-A. I would give the sandwich a 7/10.

Overall, I thought the restaurant was good, with some great fry cooks, and I will definitely go back to eat some more of their food. I’d rate the overall restaurant a 9.5/10.

If you’re looking for a well-priced sandwich meal, then “Portillo’s” is the perfect stop.

FRIES 10/10

SANDWICH 7/10

OVERALL 9.5/10

Design by Heather Wheeler

Story by Saahir Mawani

Story by Bree Andrews

I’ve struggled with acne since middle school, and it’s always been one of my biggest insecurities. I did everything I could think of to hide my acne and would cover my face in makeup every morning before school. However, the makeup barely covered the pimples and blackheads that adorned my face, and ended up causing my breakouts to worsen.

It took years before I realized that I couldn’t just hide my acne, but instead, I had to get to the root of the problem. In seventh grade, I finally paid a visit to a dermatologist who helped me create a skincare routine that worked for me. Here are some tips I learned that might help you create your own skincare routine.

Finding your skin type

Before you purchase any skincare items, you need to know your skin type. To start, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and dry with a towel, and wait an hour. Then, examine your skin in a mirror.

If your face is oily/shiny all over, you have oily skin; you can check this by taking a paper towel and gently blotting your skin. If your face feels tight, rough, itchy or flaky, you have dry/sensitive skin. Lastly, if your skin is oily in your T-zones (your nose, chin and lower forehead area) and dry in other places, (cheeks, upper forehead, hairline) you have combination skin — a combination of oily and dry skin.

Knowing your skin type is crucial to your skincare routine and helps you to determine which products to use. Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to determine what you need in your routine.

Morning routine

Most skincare routines follow the same steps, but the products that you use in your routine will depend on your skin type. In the morning, start by cleaning your face – remember to choose the cleanser for your skin type. This washes sebum, dirt, sweat and other build up and helps to avoid blackheads and pimples.

Next, follow up with a toner. This step is optional, but I highly encourage it. Toner will restore balance and hydration to your skin after cleansing. Toners also help to calm your skin and reduce the appearance of pores.

Design by Heather Wheeler

Then, put on a moisturizing sunscreen. This is the most crucial part of your morning routine. Doctors recommend using an SPF of 30 or higher daily, no matter the weather. SPF protects your skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays, and will help to prevent skin cancer and avoid wrinkles as you age. When looking for an SPF, please keep your skin tone in mind –some products are known to give a “white cast” to people of color.

This last step is optional, but I personally love ending my routine with an eye cream. I use Grace and Stella’s “if eyes could smile” eye cream. This has been my go-to eye cream for the past year, and it’s helped me to lighten the dark circles under my eyes.

Nightly routine

In the evening, start by washing off any makeup worn throughout the day. My all-time favorite makeup remover is the Garnier micellar water, which is great for all skin types. Cleansing balms are another great way to cleanse and remove makeup — they’re also better for the environment since they produce less waste, unlike makeup remover wipes that produce a lot of single-use waste. Going to bed without washing off your makeup is one of the biggest mistakes you can make on your journey to clear skin. Not removing your makeup can cause buildup in your pores, resulting in blackheads and pimples.

Next, cleanse your skin and follow up with an exfoliator (use this step only 2-3 nights a week). Everyone’s skin is unique, so I would recommend researching exfoliators and deciding what might work best for you and your skin type.

Lastly, follow up with a moisturizer. Remember to choose one for your skin type; for oily skin, I recommend a lighter gel moisturizer and for dryer skin, look for moisturizing creams. If you have dry skin, use a thicker cream at night and reserve the lighter moisturizers for the daytime. For combination skin, you can use the same moisturizer in your morning and night routine, just make sure to look for oil-free moisturizers.

It is important to remember that changing hormones play a role in your acne; sometimes breakouts are inevitable and that is completely normal – especially for women during their menstrual cycle. However, creating a skincare routine can help lessen the severity of your breakouts, how often they occur, restore the moisture barrier of your skin and help to improve the overall health of your skin.

Having a consistent skincare routine can greatly improve your skin and your confidence. By spending just a few minutes a day dedicated to your skin, your breakouts will begin to heal and you won’t just see the difference — you’ll feel it!

QUANTUMANIA ANT-MAN WASP AND THE

IS THE WORST MARVEL MOVIE YET

Story by Saahir Mawani

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues the story of the heroes we all fell in love with, I’m afraid to say the feeling I used to get when the flickering comic intro would take over my screen has begun to fade away. I hoped this movie would re-spark my love for the MCU, but Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” did the complete opposite.

Released on Feb. 17, the movie depicts the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), better known by his superhero persona Ant-Man, who gets sucked into the Quantum Realm with his family and has to figure out how to get out while keeping his family safe. Lang and the family also slowly find out secrets about Janet Van Dyne and her time in the Quantum Realm.

I have grown up watching the MCU’s movies, and “Ant-Man” was one of the first I watched in theaters. I fell in love with the balance of comedy and action Rudd brought to the franchise, cut with the natural sternness of The Wasp, Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily). When I watched the trailer, I was ecstatic to learn we were getting another movie. Going into the theater, I didn’t know what to expect, having been let down by “Thor: Love and Thunder” and “Eternals,” but wowed by “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Spiderman: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness.”

As I watched the movie, the urge to walk out of the theater steadily increased. The storyline was being forced upon me, with nowhere to turn. Each “plot twist” was predictable and obvious. I was looking forward to the element of comedy being implemented, but other “serious” characters had quicker comedic timing.

Another issue was the stereotypical character development in the film. The lackluster villain ended up becoming my favorite character in the entire movie, but even then, I wasn’t impressed by the way they wrote him.

Design by Krista Fleming

It was the same old “conquer the universe” trope, one already done by Marvel with Thanos.

While I had many qualms with the majority of the movie, I thought the cinematography and CGI was above average, even for Marvel standards. The ability to transport the audience into another dimension was one that I usually expect from any other Marvel production, and I can say that this movie delivered. The angles made me feel like I was right there with the characters, and that is something I think has stayed consistent across the board with Marvel’s work.

Overall, this movie was a lackluster combination of disappointing characters, a bland plot and an ending that left me unsatisfied. The only reason I watched this movie was for the plot advancement of the phase, and I wouldn’t watch it again if you paid me.

WHAT COMFORT MOVIE GENRE ARE YOU?

Interactive

by Krista Fleming

How far would you make it in a horror movie?

a. I’d be the first to go

b. I would make it pretty far, against all odds

c. I would try really hard but still die quickly

d. I would survive

e. I’d make it halfway then do something dumb and die

What popular book do you love?

a. “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton

b. “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

c. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson

d. “Educated” by Tara Westover

e. “Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller

What’s your favorite article of clothing?

a. Crop top

b. Sweater

c. Sweatshirt

d. Zip-up jacket

e. Cardigan

What do you look for in a movie?

a. Something with a stupid sense of humor

b. A good story

c. A well-done plot twist

d. Cinematography that blows me away

e. Relatable characters

If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you did?

a. Buy a car

b. Save most of it for college

c. Give one-eighth of it to charity

d. Buy a laptop

e. Travel to Europe

MOSTLYA’S COMEDY ANIMATEDMOSTLYB’S

Design by Krista Fleming

When you’re feeling sad, what’s your go-to comfort food?

a. Soup

b. Pasta

c. Chips

d. Fries

e. Cereal

MOSTLY C’S THRILLER MOSTLYD’S ACTION ROMANCEMOSTLYE’S

Making the best of things

A look at spring sport highlights

Junior Cameron Mennsfield goes up for a layup during the game against Lewisville on Feb. 14. The team lost the game with a score of 58-52, and was the second to last game before playoffs.

Senior

Richardson warms up with his teammates at practice on Feb. 21. The team went on to win its first non-district game against Reedy on Feb. 24 with a score of 4-2.

Junior BSU step captain, Desiria Mitchell leads the stem team’s performance at the basketball game. The team performed at the halftime show when the Hawks went against Marcus and won 67-40.

(Photo by Brandon Birkinsha)

Junior Tati Diaz high-fives her teammates. At the start of every soccer game, each player is individually introduced by the announcers.

(Photo by Peyton Kuschmeider)

Brady

(Photo by Henry Pham)

(Photo by Peyton Kuschmedier)

Design by Caleb Wright