December 15, 2017
Driving PAGE 6
Volume XXV, Issue 2
Leesville Road High School, Raleigh, N.C.
Respect PAGES 8-9
Teachers of Leesville
“Today and everyday, Leesville students respect those around them, the only thing that changes is the relationship and how respect plays into this interaction.”
PAGE 14
INDEX
News...............................2 Arts..............................4-5 Driving.........................6-7 Respect.........................8-9 Teachers of Leesville.....11 Places to go....................12 Editorials.......................13 Sports........................15-16
THE MYCENAEAN lrhsnews.org
Symphonic Band takes the stage at the winter concert tonight
By: Mariana Herrera Caro
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIANA HERRERA CARO
Junior Editor
(From left to right) Jiovanni Ortiz-Anglero, James Tidwell, Jack Dezutto, Tyler D’Agostino, and Phillip Brown play the xylophone during band class. As part of percussion, they need to know how to play several different instruments, such as the piano and drums.
PHOTO COURTESY OF REGAN HARSA
Holiday traditions at Leesville
One common tradition around the holidays is hanging colorful lights on the outside of houses for decoration. Some neighborhoods hold competitions to see who has the best lighting displays.
By: Kaitlyn Stocum Staff Writer
Holidays for high school students are a time to relax, pretend to study for exams, and spend time with friends and family. Of course traditions play a big part in a student's holiday break, whether they travel or stay in Raleigh. As Leesville is such a diverse school, it’s no surprise that its traditions are just as unique as the students. “Me and my family, at midnight we go outside into our front lawn, grab all our pots and pans. We just start banging the crap out of them,” said Brian Clarke, a sophomore. He and his family participate in this tradition every single New Year’s. In ages past, pots and pans were banged together to scare off evil spirits and ensure a more positive new year. To-
day, Clarke’s family does it just for fun. “I feel weird when I do it publicly because I feel like my neighbors hate me. But I still do it because hey, it’s fun -- it’s a tradition.” Another typical New Year’s celebration, setting off fireworks, has a similar history. When fireworks were first used in first century China, the noise of the fireworks was meant to scare away evil spirits and signify future prosperity. Even today, fireworks are typically used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which is typically celebrated in late winter. In 2018, it will be celebrated on February 18. Hannah Bailey, a freshman, celebrates the holidays in Florida with her relatives. “I usually go to Florida with my family. and I spend New Year’s with them. Then at midnight, we set off fireworks to celebrate the new year.”.
Zach Burgess, a sophomore, has multiple traditions that span between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and take place in various locations. He and his family have done the same tradition every year for nine years, even looking at the same lights on the same houses every year. “Christmas Eve we spend at my mom’s house, and Christmas morning we open presents. We then drive to my dad’s house and have brunch there. We always have the same thing every year: bagels, lox (a brined salmon dish), and cream cheese. We usually have some extravagant meal for dinner and from 6-11, me and my sister drive down to Cary and look at Christmas lights,” said Burgess. Holiday traditions don’t just have to be with family members or relatives --you can always celebrate with friends.
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The Leesville Symphonic Band is well-known in Raleigh-- they have won sixteen awards this year already and participated in the Raleigh Christmas Parade in November. Tonight, the Leesville community will have another opportunity to see the Symphonic Band in action at their annual winter concert. The program for the performance includes a piece that is a combination of many different Christmas songs, called the “Celebration of Christmas,” as well as “Ave Maria” and “Sleigh Ride.” The band will be playing another combination as well, this one of Russian Christmas music. “[My favorite piece] is ‘Russian Christmas Music’ by Alfred Reed because of the massive contrast in the Russian Christmas songs and the powerful and full brass melodies throughout the piece,” said Daryn Wilkerson, a junior in the Symphonic Band. Wilkerson plays the flute and piccolo. The winter concert usually holds quite a bit of significance, since it’s the first concert of the year for the Symphonic Band. However, they have already participated in the NCMEAs (North Carolina Music Educators Association) in Winston-Salem earlier this year, as well as playing at football games. “This doesn’t mean that the winter concert is any less important,” said Alyssa Montgomery, the band director, in an email. “All concerts and performances for the Leesville
Band Program are incredibly important. This winter concert is no different… The Symphonic Band’s Winter Concert historically is the most well attended concert of the school year. Many LRHS alumni and other people in the Leesville community come out for this concert to help get them in the holiday spirit!” Even though the winter concert may not be the first concert this year, members of the Symphonic Band still have worked hard to prepare for the concert. Students practice at home, as well as rehearsals before and after school. Due to their hard work, most of Symphonic Band is confident in their abilities to wow the crowd tonight. “[W]e aren’t as nervous because we’ve gotten used to performing with marching competitions and playing at NCMEA and [a preview concert] at Sanderson [High School]. There’s always going to be a little bit of nervousness but nothing major for this winter concert,” said Wilkerson. The Symphonic Band doesn’t get a break after the winter concert, however. They still have several concerts to get ready for, such as the Music Performance Assessment (MPA) in March. “The most important concert is the MPA, hands down. So basically you have professional musicians or professional band directors who you play [for], and they have the scores so they know what the music is like, and they judge you on how good of a band you are,” said Wilkerson. Additionally, the Symphonic
(Continued on page 2)
Snow hits Leesville: A view of what’s to come? By: Michael Beauregard Senior Editor
On Saturday, December 11, the Leesville community was a hit by a line of wintry precipitation. While none of the snow stuck, it still left an impact. Numerous churches across the region closed their doors or delayed services on Sunday, and Granville County, just north of Raleigh, delayed its schools’ start times on Monday. However, is this event just a precursor to a snow-filled winter? Not according to the Farmer’s Almanac, a yearly report that predicts weather conditions for farmers. “[Winter 2018] will be warmer and rainier than normal, with below-normal snowfall”
says the Almanac. Accuweather, a global weather monitoring company, casted a similar message in its 2018 winter forecast. Long Term Weather Forecaster Paul Pastelok told Accuweather reporters that ““The Southeast is going to run above normal [temperature-wise].” This news is unfortunate for Raleighites looking forward to a winter wonderland this season. However, forecasts like these have been wrong before. In 2015, the Farmer’s Almanac predicted a cold, dry winter, with the snowiest periods being in January. Long story short, forecasts can’t always be trusted. While multiple sources have stated that Raleigh’s snow futures look bleak, history has proven that anything can happen.
News / 2
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Holiday traditions (continued) Anna Mims, a senior, celebrates New Year’s Eve every year by opening presents every hour on the hour with friends. “Basically my mom has these little bags, and she has one for every hour leading up till 12 o'clock and so at every hour you open the bag. It’s something to do for the
hour, so you’re not just waiting,” said Mims. From eating bagels and lox on Christmas morning to banging pots and pans for fun to celebrate the New Year, Leesville students all have fun and meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays.
Leesville prayer circle brings students together
Band (continued) Band last year set the bar quite high for this year’s students. “This past spring they were chosen as the top high school concert band in the state of North Carolina for 2017 and premiered in the finale performance of the North Carolina Music Educators Association convention. This performance was absolutely fantastic and had one of the longest standing ovations of the conference. This led to the Symphonic Band following the performance with an encore… a piece played that was not originally on the program because the audience wanted
they to continue to perform,” wrote Mrs. Montgomery. The Symphonic Band isn’t the only band Leesville can brag about. There are two other bands, the Ninth Grade Band and the Concert Band. They performed last night at the Leesville auditorium in their own winter concert. We congratulate the Ninth Grade and the Concert Bands on a performance well done and wish the Symphonic Band the best of luck in their own concert at 7 p.m. in the auditorium tonight!
The community of the Black Student Union By: Jayla Corbett Staff Writer
Black Student Union is a club for black Leesville students to sit down and have discussions about current events and different aspects of the black community. Black Student Union was started last year by Nieya Garland, who was a senior at the time. “We get together and we talk about problems like colorism and how black people are judged,” said Edward Garland, sophomore and member. Adults from the black community come to meetings and share their experiences. They also give tips to the younger black students about how to get into college, how to get jobs and how to motivate themselves. “Do not rely on other people to always advocate for you, you must have a self drive to want to do better and want to do right,” said
Eugene McLemore, Black Student Union advisor. Black Student Union creates a safe place where there is no judgement and provides students with a safe space to express their opinions about white privilege and police brutality. “[Black Student Union is] for us to turn to different ways to express our frustration and not through violence,” said Garland. Black Student Union is a great club for students who just need a place to speak or a space to be themselves where there are no stereotypes. Black Student Union is not just a club for black people; it’s a nextended family...a place where people come together and make a difference within the Leesville community If you want to be a part of Black Student Union, meetings are held every Thursday during B lunch.
Controversial rejection of the conservative club By: Lucy Leen Staff Writer
Forming clubs based off of political ideas has become a popular trend amongst America’s youth who are seeking to get involved with politics. Here at Leesville there are two clubs that often discuss and debate political matters -- Political Club and Speech and Debate Club. Both of these wellestablished clubs underwent the process of approval by the club approval committee. However, recently a group of students proposed the idea of forming a Conservative Club. When they submitted paperwork, they were rejected. “The original name of the club was going to be ‘Liberty Club’ because we felt like the concept of Liberty was one which both moderates and conservatives especially attempt to hold dearly. But once that was rejected, we did attempt to make the club more niche and submitted it as the conservative club,” said Noah Dasanaike, senior, one of the students involved with developing the conservative club idea. However, the club was still rejected. A couple of reasons exist for the denial. One, while new clubs are added yearly, these clubs need to be different from existing clubs.
Two, the club, according Kate Fehling, assistant principal, was that the club’s request to resubmit paperwork was well after the Oct. 30 deadline. Fehling stated that the advice to the club organizers was to join with the Political Club or Speech and Debate since these two clubs provide a similar function as the Conservative Club proposed. However, they didn’t believe these clubs would value what they stand for. The creators of the conservative club felt a sense of bias regarding disapproval of their club. “I don’t want to say anything without being aware of who exactly is on the club review board because I do realize that’s Leesville tradition to have the approval. But I definitely do think there is bias in certain teachers...in their teaching or what they emphasize in the classroom. I do think that may have had an influence on the approval of the club, but I also think that it may have just been a half- hearted attempt to contain everything political related within political club,” said Dasanaike. Where these students take their idea next is unknown, but they plan to stand by their beliefs and voice their own opinions as they become more active in the country’s political conversations.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLA STONE-HOUZE
Leesville students unite to come together in prayer. The circle brings a positivity to the start of the school day.
By: Kyla Stone-Houze Staff Writer
Leeville’s prayer circle is like one of many others occurring in Durham and Wake County schools. The group responsible for the wave of various prayer circles throughout Durham and Raleigh schools is known as Onelife, a youth ministry for teens, that is connected to World Overcomers Christian Church (WOCC). Leesvilles prayer circle has been going on since 2016. Prayer circle is held in the courtyard in the morning at 7:10 am, every Tuesday and Thursday. The prayer circle was established by two former seniors, Lauren McNamara and Zekia Ivory. The current leaders of the prayer circle are seniors Cj Azu-
buike and Jaron Peddy. Azubuike was very descriptive as to why he had accepted the offer of being the head of prayer circle. “I accepted [the offer of being the head of prayer circle] because as I was getting closer to God and [rising] to another level of my Christianity, I felt that I could uphold that responsibility. I wanted to make prayer circle bigger and better than last year so that people could know and understand the love of God and that they can get through the struggles that they’re going through with the love God has for them as well,” said Azubuike. Prayer circle has provided students with a positive start to their mornings and has provided aid to them internally as well. “I’ve been attending prayer circle since the beginning of the school year. It’s just amazing to
see how much of a positive influence prayer circle can have in people’s lives,” said Edward Garland, Leesville sophomore. Students aren’t the only ones who believe that the prayer circle brings an element of positivity, the principal is also supportive of the impact it has. “All I can say is that anytime students gather, to do something productive and that brings positivity to this school, I think that’s a good thing,” said Dr. Muttillo, Leesville principal. Overall, the Leesville prayer circle has provided students with the knowledge that they’re not alone in their struggles and that everything will work out as long as there is faith in their hearts. Students don’t have to be Christian to be part of prayer circle -- they just need to have faith.
ious because I don’t know what to expect,” said Biggs.
Fall 2018 2018 January Exam Exam Schedule Schedule
How is Leesville feeling about exams? By: Isabella Parsons Staff Writer
It is the end of the semester, and you are so close to being done with your classes you can almost taste it. All that is left in your way is one little hurdle: exams. The word “exam” often brings up a connotation of stress and strain to most high school students across the country, and it can be especially daunting if your grade in on the line between finishing with a good grade or finishing with a bad one. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors all have different ways of coping with this anxiety-inducing time, and this year is no different. The Freaked-Out Freshmen While exams can be incredibly stressful for anyone in high school, it can completely overwhelm the inexperienced freshmen. For the first time in their lives, there are actual consequences for not passing exams. On top of that, freshmen also have to worry about their GPA, something they didn’t even think about in middle school. For Jack Biggs, a freshman, this is exactly the case. “I feel like I’m not getting prepared enough for these exams and that my entire grade depends of these exams. I am doing a lot of studying out of school in order to further prepare me, but I am still feeling really anx-
The Stressed Sophomore The sophomore is like the middle child of the family; not the callow freshmen, but not the worldly seniors either. Their reaction of exams is often one of stress, as many of them are taking their first AP classes. “Exams are useless and I don’t like them” said Colby Crenshaw, a sophomore.
Friday, January 12 1st and 2nd period exams
The Jittery Junior
Thursday, January 18 Biology/Math I EOC
The typical junior is already stretched thin with SAT and ACT scores on the horizon, as well as AP exams to anticipate in May. Aside from that, many juniors also have to balance extracurricular activities and a job to boost their college resume. Taylor White, a junior, is also feeling the pressure of performing well. “I feel like exams this year are extremely stressful because I have to balance my SAT and ACT as well as my multiple AP classes, so I am already juggling a lot. When exams roll around, I feel stressed and overwhelmed,” said White. With college applications fast approaching, juniors have even more on their plate than any other students in high school. The Stoic Senior Senior exemptions: the holy grail of avoiding exams. For the seniors who pass all the requirements, it’s
Tuesday, January 16 3rd and 4th period exams Wednesday, January 17 English II/Math I EOC
Friday, January 19 Makeups smooth sailing from here. Senior exemptions is the process that seniors can evade their exams all year, all they have to do is conform to several requirements. In order to qualify for exemptions, seniors must only have certain number of excused absences (relative to their grade in the class) and no excused absences.”but are unable to receive any unexcused absences or more than five tardies. Megan Perry is planning on utilizing these exemptions on some of her exams. Even though she gets out of some of her exams, she still has to take some.“ I freaking hate them...” said Perry via text. Good luck to everyone taking their exams this semester!
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
News / 3
4/ Art at Leesville
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
ART AT LEESVILLE
Often times, when students think of art, they solely think of paintings and drawings on a landscape. Art, however, is expressed through all of the senses, be it through a display of cinematography, music, or the canvas.
The new world of film
Special Projects Manager In the world of hit TV shows and blockbuster movies, there lies a new era of film that has started to emerge. One that does not require million dollar budgets or the casting of Alisted actors but requires a camera, a few people, and a decent editing software. This is the age of small, creative projects. One such example of this is the budding new show “Undergrads” based in Columbia, South Carolina at the University of South Carolina (USC). As an independent project, the start began with just a few friends and an idea. Burdell FitzGerald, the director of “Undergrads,” wrote the show with several friends earlier this year. After writing the script, of what would end up being the first season, multiple writers helped edit and improve the scripts. Eventually, the team of writers pitched the idea to Student Gamecock Television (SGTV), a studentproduced television station that broadcasts on the Uni-
versity of South Carolina’s campus. SGTV decided to pick up the project. Naturally, a small project such as “Undergrads” doesn't have access to large casting calls. Rather, Holly Ciampaglio, the executive producer, had access to talent right on campus. Ciampaglio is currently enrolled in Theatre 270, Beginning Acting at USC, a perfect opportunity to scout for talent. One of those talents is Will Hollerung, USC freshman, alumni of Leesville Road High School, and actor that plays the role of Chris in “Undergrads”. Small projects provide an opportunity to actors to gain experience in order to be qualified for larger roles later on. “I have experience acting on stage, but to build a strong acting resume, I needed more training in front of a camera. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to hone my skills and make new friends in the process,” said Hollerung via email. The filming side of the project requires a team
character. “Being on set is a great experience. Everyone wants to learn and grow in their position, but we also want to have fun. Goofing off can make for long filming session but it's all worth it when it's balanced with the hard work everyone in the cast and crew puts into this show,” said Hollerung. As for the editing process, piecing the show together is demanding and requires a high degree of technological skills; however, this is nothing that can’t be accomplished with diligence and experience.
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF WILL HOLLERUNG
By: Ben Zahavi
Pictured is the cast of USC’s new show, Undergrads. The cast members have a chance to have fun around the set in between filming sessions.
consisting of a director, executive producer, writers, and other students involved with SGTV. However, the schedule is more flexible than a TV show that might air on Fox or ABC. Filming usually occurs on Sundays, but based on conflicts of the cast and crew, the production team can decide which scenes are shot when. Episodes of the show are released bi-
weekly, which allows the show to have some wiggle room for any unforeseen conflicts that may arise from the hectic life of a college student. Because the show is consistent of college students, “Undergrads” encomposses a fun, yet serious atmosphere. Actors are given the freedom to play with their lines and make them sound more natural to the
“Being on set is a great experience. Everyone wants to learn and grow in their position...” The most important part of any creative work is releasing it to the public, whether it be placing a piece of art in a museum or installing a statue into the town square. “Undergrads” has received some outreach from SGTV, however to
reach a more global audience, the show has also been posted to Youtube. It has been fairly successful, receiving 1,600 views on their first episode. “Youtube has grown, and continues to grow, as the perfect site for small indie and independent film projects. Posting to Youtube allows people from all around the world to access our content,” said Hollerung. From an artistic standpoint, “Undergrads” can hold as inspiration to any aspiring actor, writer, or director. It represents a change into the new world of film, one that didn’t exist 15 to 20 years ago. Hollerung said, “As an actor, I can learn so much from small creative projects. Without a big Hollywood budget, these small projects are raw and contain a whole new level of freedom and honesty that you don't see in large box office or cable pieces. Today, anyone can make a film. It may not win an Oscar or an Emmy, but it could inspire change in the film industry or even the world.”
What music do Leesville students listen to? 60
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCY LEEN
Kim Tran: Aspiring Leesville artist
Tran, senior, poses proudly with her charcoal portrait of Bill Skarsgard. The piece earned Kim a scholarship to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
By: Lucy Leen Staff Writer
Leesville senior Kim Tran has recently been accepted into the Academy of
Art University in San Francisco. Not only was Tran accepted into the Academy, but she was also chosen as a scholarship recipient for the work she entered in a
competition. Tran is planning to attend the Academy and continue to build her career as an artist. Ever since she was a toddler, Kim was determined to create amazing art. Tran remembers exactly when she was three years old and her cousin was teaching her to draw a face. She instructed Kim to draw a “U” shape as the face. However, Kim couldn’t see how the sketch resembled a human at all. “So I said to her, ‘one day I’m going to know how to draw everyone exactly the way they look,” said Tran. Ever since Tran has been creating all genres of art, but she finds her favor-
ite to be realism. “I mostly prefer realism because it paints such a vivid picture of what you have in your head,” said Tran.
“Ever since she was a toddler, Kim was determined to create amazing art.” To take her art to the next level, Kim joined the National Arts Honors Society here at Leesville. After joining NAHS, Kim decided to pursue her art career full time. “Some kids are like ‘I don’t know I like art but I want to maybe go into medical sciences or whatever because art isn’t that
stable’, but I just thought it’s something I’m really good at so I’d go for it,” said Tran, when talking about her decision to become an artist. Thinking about where to go next, Kim began to prepare her application for the academy and build her art portfolio. Choosing which pieces were her best was a difficult process. After lots of consideration, she chose three charcoal drawings to submit. One of the pieces was a charcoal portrait of Bill Skarsgard, a young actor in the recent movie ‘IT.’ She considers this portrait to be her best piece yet. “It was actually the most realistic portrait I
think I’ve done so far, and some girl in my class mistook it for an actual picture, so I was really proud of that,” said Tran. Tran’s passion for art is taking her across the country where she will continue to grow as an artist. “My favorite aspect of art is the fact that you can express your emotions any way you want on a piece of paper, you’re making a visual representation of your feelings.” Tran’s dedication to becoming an artist will follow her as she takes the next step towards her future at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Talent Showcase / 5
Talent Showcase
At all levels, art can be a beautiful form of creative expression and statement. Any medium can be a canvas for the imagination to thrive, and every work has a story to behold. The Mycenanean interviewed several different art students in Ms. Meeks Beginning Visual Art course to gain insight into their creations and their perspective on the importance of art expression as a whole. “Space”
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAY YOUMAN
“Colours”
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAY YOUMAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAY YOUMAN
“South Korea”
What inspired you to create this piece?
What is the meaning behind this piece?
Describe this piece:
“My heritage. I’m Korean, and my family is from South Korea. It’s important to me because my parents and ancestors endured wars and cultural change. They’ve worked really hard to get me to where I am, and I wanted to work hard on this piece as well. I felt like I was representing them through this piece.”
“I was exploring different art outlets here. I wanted to see how the colors looked together with a variety of different shades and backgrounds.”
“This is a portrait of my friend in Maryland. She has a lot of insecurities about herself, and I wanted to show her that she’s better than the things she may think about herself. This piece basically represents her; she’s really into space, and the colors represent her outgoing personality. I hope that the piece can help boost her morale and self confidence.”
What positive outcome did you see through this work? “I got a really good grade on this project, and I discovered more art techniques through it. One of these was Tempera paint; I got to work with it for the first time and I enjoyed it.”
- Jess Lee/Grade 9
Describe this piece: “This is an outline drawing that includes positive and negative space. [For these], you fill the background, or negative space, with a pattern.”
What inspired you to create this piece?
What advice would you give to students looking to take visual art over the next year?
“I chose colors that I like, and a pattern that I thought would look really cool with the contrast of white and the other colors I chose.”
“It’s not that big of a deal, just have fun with it! This was my first time using pastels, and I thought it came out pretty well.”
- Lily Styons/Grade 10
- Deena Manna/Grade 9
PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN SPEAR
The arts and education
Sydney Diemer, senior, paints during Ms. Meeks’ Art 1 class. The arts are an undervalued department despite the influence it has on a student’s education.
By: Jonathan Spear Staff Writer
Our imagination is limitless and makes us the most intelligent and innovative beings on the planet. The arts allow us to express ourselves and our individuality. However, the arts- music, drama, dance, visual arts-- are amongst the most underappreciated departments in most U.S. schools. With school systems heavily attending to common core subjects, the arts are sometimes forgotten. It is important to understand the relevance arts has on a student’s creativity and development. As the prominent Henry David Thoreau once said, “This world is but a canvas
for our imagination.” School strives to provide students this canvas to express their imagination. But is this canvas good enough? In the general scheme, no. It’s understood that school systems rarely have enough money to appropriately allocate funds. This usually means the arts suffer greater cuts than other areas, especially at the elementary or middle school level. Why? Well, when cutting programs, school systems want to cut programs they believe have the least impact on learning and spur the least controversy. Unfortunately, arts are at the top of the list. Cutting arts programs does not provoke as significant as a reaction as cut-
ting sports programs. With the lack of support the arts receive from schools and the community, it is rather painless for the school systems to take “appropriate” action. In their eyes, yes, the arts are important, but not fundamental to the curriculum. From personal experience, I have seen how budget cuts affect teachers. Former music and art teachers from elementary school used to lament about how they sometimes needed to purchase classroom supplies and equipment using their own money. This is the harsh reality that many teachers have to face. Erica Spear, a secondyear music teacher at Powell Elementary School in Raleigh, believes that the
arts are not only important to education, but to everyday life as well. “The arts surround and impact all of us on a daily basis whether we realize it or not-- the movies you watch, the music you listen to, and the live performances you attend are all obvious choices. But the aesthetic aspects of the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the design of the buildings we inhabit, commercials, advertisements, the labels on the products you buy... everything has an artistic component,” said Spear, via email. Mary Song, a former Leesville student, is now a junior at UNCSA (UNC School of the Arts) and takes classes in design, sculpture and drawing. Song believes that the arts are a very important component to education. “Arts education is important because it evokes creativity within students. Art is beneficial to people since the artist’s message is presented in a beautiful way. It represents different cultures and styles, political or emotional messages, and overall can communicate things more than words can,” said Song, via text. It’s true-- the arts supply students with a medium to express their creative capacities while enhancing their craft. In high school, arts classes allow students
who want to further their passion beyond high school to create a foundation to build upon and showcase their skills. For younger children, the arts are more about providing a groundwork of skills that are dually useful in other academic areas and in life. It bolsters skills involving creativity, academic performance, perseverance, and collaboration - to name a few. Ultimately these skills can help children as they progress through school and life. “We have a unique and advanced drive to create, to think, and to question. Art is the outlet in which we help to fulfill those drives and give our lives meaning and purpose,” said Courtney Schenberger, a ballerina for Carolina Ballet. Schenberger, like Song, attended UNCSA. Schools like these are ideal for those serious about and committed to the arts. For Song, the decision to attend UNCSA was in her best interest. “I always found myself most at peace/stress-free when I was in my electives art classes. The fact that this school is dedicated to art is an amazing experience. This school prepares a
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strong portfolio for me to apply to arts colleges; and hopefully a job in the future dealing with art,” said Song. Spear, an Appalachian State graduate who double majored in music performance and education, thinks it is important for students to explore careers in the arts but warns it is not for everyone. “I will cut straight to it -- not everyone is meant to have an arts career. The decision to pursue a career in the arts is definitely one that needs to be well-thought out, discussed with mentors, and a decision that should be made with the understanding of the dedication that it will take,” said Spear. The next time school systems think about cutting arts funds, they should think twice about the impacts. Arts programs in schools should not have to rely on fundraisers and the kindness from other people to keep their programs afloat.
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Teen Driving /6
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Learning to Drive
Learning to drive is a rite of passage for teenagers across the United States, and it allows them to gain independence from their parents and have more opportunities. However, learning to drive—and teaching teens how to drive—are dangerous challenges for both teenagers and their parents, respectively.
of Leesville Road High School students are currently enrolled in driver’s education classes
20%
of Leesville Road High School students currently hold their North Carolina Limited Learner Permits
21%
of Leesville Road High School students were in car accidents during their first years of driving
20%
of 16-year-olds will be in a car crash during their first year of driving, according to dosomething.org
Supplemental driving programs provide invaluable experiences By: Sydney Tucker Staff Writer
Because many teens and their parents believe that the traditional driver’s ed. classes do not adequately prepare teens to be safe drivers, they enroll in supplemental driving safety courses. These programs provide learning experiences for teens that regular driver’s ed. classes do not, such as what it is like for a car’s anti-lock braking system to activate and how to recover from a skid. One such supplemental driving safety program is the Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe Teen Pro-Active Driving Curriculum (B.R.A.K.E.S.). According to the B.R.A.K.E.S.
program’s website, B.R.A.K.E.S. is a free, nonprofit course “to prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving.” Chris Arwood, a sophomore at Leesville, learned practical, useful skills from B.R.A.K.E.S. “[What] I learned is… losing control and how to recover on…the drift pads and skid pads…, and that was cool and fun and useful,” said Arwood. Similarly, Connor Bardin, Leesville junior, benefited from the defensive driving course he took. “[I learned] how to be a little bit safer and [make]
sure I pay attention when… I am driving [and] how to get out of a skid if you start skidding,” Bardin said. Despite the benefits that B.R.A.K.E.S. and other programs provide, both Arwood and Bardin, along with Zachary Ohmann, a Leesville senior, took defensive driving courses because their mothers enrolled them. Overall, although they had no say in whether or not they wanted to take part in defensive driving programs, Arwood, Bardin, and Ohmann believe the courses they took were worth it. “I think it was probably beneficial, I just haven’t quite noticed the things it’s done yet. It’ll probably
On February 25 and 26, 2016, the Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe Teen Pro-Active Driving Curriculum—also known as B.R.A.K.E.S.—came to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Training and Driving Facility in Raleigh. The B.R.A.K.E.S. program works to develop safe driving habits in teens and to provide experience needed to survive life-threatening scenarios.
save me a few times,” said Arwood. For Bardin, the course he took made up for information he may have missed in Driver’s Ed. “It just helped to reinforce some skills that [I] might’d not paid attention while [I was] taking Driv-
A History of Driving Laws in North Carolina 1935 - The North Carolina General Assembly passed the Uniform Driver’s License Act in response to rising accident rates. The law required drivers to hold driver’s licenses.
1953 - Driver’s education courses became mandatory in North Carolina for teenagers wishing to earn their driver’s licenses.
1948 - North Carolina began requiring all people wishing to hold driver’s licenses to pass driving examinations.
2011- It became necessary for North Carolina teenagers wanting to advance in North Carolina’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing program to log certain numbers of supervised driving hours. Also, a panel standardized the North Carolina driver’s education curriculum across the state, and North Carolina parents began to have to pay for their teens’ formerly-free driver’s education classes.
1991 - Lorraine Jordan founded Jordan Driving School, the official driver’s education program of the Wake County Public School System.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY TUCKER A Jordan Driving School car sits in the Leesville Road High School front parking lot. Many states, including North Carolina, require behind-the-wheel driver’s education training before teenagers begin their states’ Graduated Driver’s Licensing programs.
In order to earn a full driver’s license in North Carolina, teenagers must complete North Carolina’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing—G.D.L.—program. In a G.D.L. system, teens progress through different levels of driving privileges that culminate in earning their full, unrestricted driver’s licenses. All U.S. states follow G.D.L. guidelines when it comes to teen driver’s licensing; however, each state has its own unique laws. For example, while teens in North Carolina
ers’ Ed.,” said Bardin. According to Scioli, the best way to improve one’s driving skills is simply to practice, and supplemental defensive driving courses provide more opportunities for teens to do so. “Any and all time behind the wheel is what makes a
teenager a better driver,” said Brian Scioli, RPD. “You can talk about it, you can read about it, you can watch videos on it, but until you’re actually behind the wheel and learning how and when the car moves and operates is when the actual best learning comes in.”
Lessons from the passenger seat: Teaching a teenage driver Michelle Murray is a Leesville Road High School parent whose daughter recently earned her driver’s license.
2017- The North Carolina General Assembly began requiring driver’s education courses in North Carolina to teach students what to do if police officers stop them while driving.
2015 - Some school districts in North Carolina, including the Wake County Public School System, temporarily suspended driver’s education classes due to a lack of funding from the state of North Carolina. This action affected many Leesville Road High School students wishing to complete driver’s education classes.
Comparing life-saving G.D.L. sys- By: Sydney Tucker tems throughout the United States Staff Writer
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF ANNETTE TUCKER
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may earn their North Carolina Limited Learner Permits at age 15 years, Massachusetts teens must wait until they are 16 years old to earn their Massachusetts Learner’s Permits. As early as age 16, North Carolinians may earn their driver’s licenses. In conjunction with varying age requirements, states also have diverse requirements for driver’s education courses. In the state of North Carolina, teens only take driver’s education courses once. Nonetheless, in Michigan, teens must take two different segments of driver’s education cours-
By: Michelle Murray Guest Writer
After more than a year of riding beside a teenage driver, I have a new respect for the challenges of learning to drive. It’s about a lot more than just maneuvering a car. Not Your Mama’s North Raleigh First, let me say that North Raleigh—and the Triangle—are a lot different from when I learned to drive in the 80s. The roads are more congested and cars are bigger. It’s even hard to find a large empty space just to practice turning and parking. So Many Distractions It’s not just car radios that distract drivers. It’s phones beeping with all kinds of alerts and the G.P.S. trying to direct you—often without enough notice. It’s road construction and rowdy passengers. It’s hard to stay es at different points in Michigan’s G.D.L. system. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, the institution of G.D.L. programs in the United States has increased teen driving safety. U.S. states that utilize G.D.L. programs have seen twenty to 40 percent decreases in accident rates. Despite the benefits that G.D.L. programs provide for teen drivers, most states have not created
focused on driving a twoton vehicle! Mom Tips for New Drivers Slow down. (I’m assuming you’re wearing seatbelts.) Reducing your speed gives that extra fraction of a second to react. This isn’t about you making mistakes—it’s about knowing that cars around you are going to make bad decisions and that you have to react in real time. Know your way (without the G.P.S.). As a passenger, you rarely think about where the driver is turning or which maze of roads he or she is using, but that’s exactly what you need to know as the driver. Learn your car. You don’t want to realize that you have no idea how to turn on the windshield wipers while you are driving down 540 in the pouring rain. Learn the features of the car you drive and how to control them. similar programs for new adult drivers. In North Carolina, G.D.L. ends when one reaches 18 years old. Amateur adult drivers may simply earn their driver’s licenses at any time. Altogether, U.S. states may have varied requirements in their G.D.L. programs, but they still reduce accident rates and ensure that teen drivers are prepared for the challenges that come with the privilege of driving.
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Driving Safety
Teen Driving / 7
Earning the privilege to drive independently is exciting for teenagers; they have practiced the skills necessary to driving for months and are now prepared to take to the road alone. However, in order to retain that privilege, teenagers must keep both themselves and the drivers around them safe while they are behind the wheels of cars.
of teenagers earn their driver’s licenses before they are 18 years old, according to aaa.com
44%
of Leesville Road High School students have earned their driver’s licenses
Q & A with Brian Scioli Sergeant Brian Scioli, a former Leesville Road High School teacher, is the Sergeant of the Traffic Enforcement Unit for the Raleigh Police Department. He has worked for the Raleigh Police Department since 2002. What should teens do if they are involved in car accidents? If you’re not injured,…call nine-one-one to report the accident. Then,…reach out to a family member, call a parent to let them know that [you’re] involved in an accident. If the vehicles are not damaged greatly,…move them out of the roadway to avoid another car coming and [hitting] them.…The big-biggest thing is…[to] make sure [you’re] safe and then everyone with [you] is safe and then contact the police and/or parent. What should teenagers do if car troubles force them to pull over? The main thing is just to get it out of the roadway or far off the roadway as possible.…Turn your hazard lights on if you can, and…if [the car is] still close to the travel lane sexit the vehicle and stand on the side of the road in a safer location than being inside of the car. What should teenagers do if police officers pull them over?
Just remain calm.…[When] the officer…activates equipment, just pull over to the side of the road. If [you] can, turn their interior lights on. No…sudden movements in the vehicle, moving around, reaching for anything, and they just roll the window down and wait ‘til the officer approaches, and wait ‘til the officer asks you for identification. For instance, if you keep your license in the glove box, just wait for the police officer to get there and says, “Can I have your license?” and let the officer know, “Yes officer, you can, it’s in my glove box. You mind if I reach and grab it?” Are teenagers allowed to drive to well-lit areas at night when police officers pull them over? It could make the problem worse if the officer thinks you’re trying to get away.… [The] majority of people who delay in pulling over, in our experience, they’re either trying to hide con-
traband…, or they’re trying to look for a different escape route. If you’re on a major thoroughfare and there’s other cars around, then when the officer gets behind you, I would go ahead and just pull over. If you look around here in Raleigh, there are very few desolated, isolated roads that serial killers are out looking to pull people over on, so…I think in Raleigh, you’re pretty safe to just go ahead and…pull over if it is a well-lit area, and if you’re ever in a situation…where you think you shouldn’t pull over,…then…call nineone-one and just verify that it is a police officer because they’ll know if it’s a police officer behind you trying to to pull you over. Have you ever seen predators in fake unmarked police cars attempt to pull teenagers over and attack them? I’ve never seen it happen. I mean, there are…stories that I’m sure it does happen in other small jurisdictions.…[The Raleigh Police Department operates] mainly marked police cars, so we do operate unmarked police cars, but if [an officer is] driving an unmarked police car, [he or she will] be in uniform whereas you very rarely, if you see an unmarked car, would the officer be in plain clothes pulling people over. That’s just not too common.
32%
of Leesville Road High School students have been in car accidents
33%
of deaths in 13-to 19-yearolds in 2010 happened in motor vehicle accidents, according to dosomething.org
Better safe than sorry: How social media raises awareness PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK.COM
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Rumors have been spreading for years about the techniques predators use to lure victims out of their cars. A teenager posted one such story on Facebook early in 2017.
By: Sydney Tucker Staff Writer
In February 2017, a teenager posted on Facebook a story detailing how she found a shirt on the windshield of her car upon her return to it. Due to a car idling near to hers, she felt uneasy and sped away from the parking lot with the shirt still on her car. In her post, she warned others of this so-called “tactic” that predators may use to lure victims out of their cars. This warning is not the first of its kind. In 2009, another account of how predators had attempted to force people out of their cars began circulating neighborhood email groups. According to the writer, “robbers” would
throw raw eggs at one’s car while in motion. Thus, the driver would pull over to clean his or her windshield, and the predator would subsequently apprehend him or her. Though originating eight years ago, this story still spreads through social media today. Social media provides the perfect platform for these sensationalist stories; they are able to spread quickly and reach millions of social media users. However, the extreme nature of these stories causes many teens such as Bella Soltz and Connor Bardin, juniors at Leesville, to speculate whether or not they are true. “I think that [the story] was true for maybe one time,…and then social media kind of made it carry
over to, ‘This always happens every single time,’” said Bardin. Sergeant Brian Scioli of the Raleigh Police Department believes that Bardin and Soltz are correct to be skeptical of these stories they find on social media. In his experience, he has never encountered these issues, and he believes that the spread of such stories is simply the result of fear. “Usually with social media as a platform, people like to spread…stuff out there… kind of like a fear factor, but I’ve never reported it, heard of it, or seen it. I’ve been driving now for close to 28 years.…I think it’s pretty safe,” said Scioli. He also believes that, for the most part, parking lots in Raleigh are secure, for there are often other people nearby. Also, many parking lots contain surveillance cameras. “If you’re walking to and from any business,…in this day and age, in this city of nearly five hundred thousand people,…other patrons will be there, so I feel the majority [of parking lots are] pretty safe,” Scioli said. Despite skepticism over the relevance of these dramatic warnings that Soltz finds on social media, she still chooses to believe them. “I don’t know [if they are true],” said Soltz. “I just believe it just to be safe.” As they say, it may be better to be safe than sorry.
How can you ensure that your used car is safe? New cars come with many state-of-the-art safety features; however, when buying cars for their teens, many parents opt to buy used older models to save money. How can Leesville Road High School students and their parents ensure that the cars they buy are safe while also maintaining the longevity of the cars?
Before buying the car, perform a pre-purchase inspection. The inspector will ensure that the brakes, tires, and other essential parts of the car are in working order. Pre-purchase inspections do not have to be expensive; you can ask a friend who has a knowledge of car mechanics to inspect the car you are considering for purchase. Additionally, it is imperative that you or the inspector drives the car before purchasing it on various types of roads to highlight any hidden performance problems.
Maintain the car. Once you have purchased a used car, it is vital that you maintain it by having it serviced at the proper intervals. You need to make sure that a mechanic changes your car’s oil, rotates its tires, checks its tires’ pressures, and checks its fluid levels. If you have the manual for your car, it will usually tell you when to service it based on its mileage. Maintaining the car will extend its longevity and ensure that it was worth the cost, and if you do not, the consequences could be serious.
Install additional safety features. Today, new cars come standard with innovative safety features; however, used cars are typically lacking in this area. If you look around the Leesville Road High School parking lot, you will see many old cars fitted with a safety feature that comes standard in new cars: a backup camera. A backup camera is not the only safety feature you can install in an older car; you can fit some cars with forward collision warnings and blind spot warnings for a few hundred dollars.
A teenager’s greatest worry about driving is either causing or being in an accident. Unfortunately, accidents happen all too frequently. Based on statistics from 2016, in the state of North Carolina, 267,494 accidents occur a year, and teen drivers cause 19 percent of those.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Based on statistics from 2013, 2,163 teens are killed every year— or six people every day. These numbers are devastating.
The desire to scroll through social media and to answer calls, texts, or Snapchats is far more difficult to resist than it should be. Even the sound of our phones ringing or vibrating, alerting us of texts, calls, etc., is enough to temporarily distract a driver.
Driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit is practically expected of daily commuters and should be expected when entering traffic. However, excessive speeding is not only dangerous to yourself and the passengers in your car but also to the other cars on the road.
The Mycenaean, Leesville Roa
8 / Respect in relationships
RESPECT IN DIFFEREN
When people interact, respectful relationships form. Whenever a student interacts with a teac United States with his citizens, respect is present. Respect goes both ways within these relatio tions must maintain a healthy balance to ensure that both individuals benefit from the cooper changes is the relationship and how respect plays into this interaction. Why do we lose or ga
Similar to captains, coaches are important figureheads of any team. They are there to improve and grow the team. Coaches want and require respect because of the role they play. Without it, coaches may lose the drive to push and grow their team...because what’s the point if their team doesn’t respect their decisions? “I mean, at the end of the day, you want their respect. You want to be on their level at some sorts, and you’re a role model for them. Hopefully at the end of the day they respect your decisions or how you run the team,” said Jason Wyss, wrestling coach. Along with developing the team’s abilities and nurturing players, coaches make decisions revolving around respect. “Setting a good example, sticking to your word, when you say you’re going to do something, do it, treating everyone the same, be[ing] fair and… honest,” are just a few examples of what Wyss does to gain respect from his players. If a coach were to flake, constantly change their minds, and make the team complete irrelevant tasks, players would begin to lose respect for this individual because their careless actions.
Player Players comprise a team. Without them, a game wouldn’t be possible, similarly, without a coach to group as a whole wouldn’t exist. Like mentioned, coaches need to respect their players because respect is a two way street. If a coach were to disregard a player’s needs, they would in turn lose respect for this supposed authoritative figure. “It is important to respect your coach because they teach you values that are good, and you need to listen because they are just trying to make you into a better athlete,” said Simeon Ruff, senior wrestler. If a coach were to “push [the athlete] in the wrong direction” or do something “morally wrong” this is when a player would lose respect, according to Ruff. With lack of respect, an athlete feels devalued or unappreciated, which may in turn cause the players to lose the motivation needed to be successful in their sport. The relationship between a coach and athlete is important to maintain. Ensuring each side feels respected fuels both the athlete and coach’s drive and passion for the sport.
Jack Rogers, coach for the Leesville swim team, and Hannah Bruno, senior, share a high five after an impressive swim by Bruno. Interactions between the coach and the player, such as these, make sure that respect remains on both sides
Craig Ross, a spanish teacher here at Leesville, helps Isabella Parsons, junior, understand an assignment in his AP Spanish class. Ross is one of the most well-respected teachers here at Leesville due to his friendly personality and his genuine concern for students.
Student-Teacher relationships Teachers-- especially high school teachers-- deserve respect for simply doing their job. It can’t be easy dealing with moody teenagers for seven plus hours each day. However, some teachers are admired more than others. But why? Many say that respect in the student/teacher relationship is a two way street. Often, a well-liked teacher respects their students in turn, and vice versa. How do teachers maintain the respect of their students, and how do students earn the regard of their teachers?
Student Despite the stereotype of the disrespectful, uncaring teenager, high school students tend to hold their teachers in a high regard. A lot of it has to do with the profession that they went into; students recognize the hard work that goes into being a teacher, and are grateful for the many ways that they help them further their academic career. “I think it’s important for you to respect your teachers because... they do their best to make sure you’re learning and are on top of your grades so you can have a successful future,” said Eliza Bohinski, an eleventh grader. Many of the qualities that teachers look for in their students, such as responsibility and dedication, also makes for a respected teacher. Students are also more likely to appreciate their teachers is they feel as they are being treated fairly and respectfully in turn. “I’m less likely to give respect to a teacher if they just don’t show effort in trying to help you and if they just are rude in general. If they’re hypocritical, that’s just not cool. They have to lead by example… If a teacher is going to treat me like a person, as more than a person, like a real human, I’m more likely to respect them,” said Bohinski.
Captain-player
The relationship between a captain and a teammate is a the same age, the sudden increase in authority is hard for respect is an important component in their relationship, b ing the other side to a high standard.
Teacher
Captain
Well respected teachers often pour their heart and soul into their jobs. They truly want their students to do well in life and retain valuable lessons from their class. The best way to make an impact on their students, teachers will find, is to develop a meaningful connection with their students. “I believe that it's a mutual respect that ought to be garnered between teacher and student and that is the basis of how I educate students. I love y’all, I do. Honestly. I think it makes it’s easy because when you’re real with your students, they’re [real] right back with you. We always have mutual respect, we don’t disrespect each other, because we love each other. That’s how I look at things,” said Eugene McLemore, a social studies teacher. McLemore also explains that students will put more effort into the class if they see that the teacher cares about them. “Teachers got to understand this, students need to understand this too. See, if a teacher comes to a student with a open heart and say, ‘I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re successful in my class,’ that’s reciprocated by the student. Even if the student don’t want to.”
With every team comes a team captain. Placed in a position of authority and leadership by their teammates and coach, this individual must maintain this high opinion of their companions while remaining an effective leader. Allie Moss, captain of the women’s varsity basketball team, has a lot of responsibility to her team. Moss said, “[Respect] is important because most of the team looks towards you as a leader not only on the court but off the court, and to be respected means they look towards you for guidance, and to be a captain, you have to pretty much lead the team in everything you do.” Although in a position of authority, Moss still has to maintain the balance between friend and leader. She has found the most success, so far, through being a tough-love friend. “By listening to all their perspectives, encouraging them all the time and just making sure that they are okay with everything going
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCY LEEN
Coach
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABEL DAUMEN
Coaches typically receive a lot of respect from their players due to their position. They control playing time and the development of skills during practices. Despite this, coaches must maintain the respect of their players. Certain moves or actions can shift a player’s opinion of their leader. The relationship between a coach and player is special, but there is a balance required for the exchange to be beneficial to both.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIANA HERRERA
Coach-Player relationships
Allie Moss, senior captain, stands in the mid for their game against Green Hope. As c to her team.
on,” said Moss. Captains must give 100% commitment to the sport if they want their teammates to back them up. They cannot be selfish, they must find balance and they must demonstrate that they respect their teammates ideas and opinions.
ad High School, December 15, 2017
Respect in relationships / 9
NT RELATIONSHIPS
cher, a friend with their peers, a player with their captain or coach, or even the president of the onships, even though one receives more respect due to their position. However, these interacration. Today, and everyday, Leesville students respect those around them, the only thing that ain respect for specific individuals? And what does respect mean to Leesville?
The President-Citizen relationship
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
The president of the United States usually has the respect of the country he governs. Even if someone may disagree with the outcome, they dry their eyes and respect their new Commander in Chief. Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, has not received this usual reaction. The country is divided between those who respect and don’t respect him. The general reason for this disrespect is due to his past actions that taint his present reputation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABEL DAUMEN
Donald Trump, the current U.S. president, is a controversial subject across the United States. The general consensus is Trump needs to shut down his personal twitter.
Isabella Parsons, junior and Kelsey Holt, junior, discuss thier assignments durng class. One characteristic that earns respect from ones peers is having good work ethic in group assignments.
relationships
difficult one to balance. Often times friends, or close to r teens to navigate. Both captains and teammates agree but point of views can be different because both are hold-
ddle of a huddle as she rallies the team captain, Moss has a lot of responsibility
Player A captain isn’t a captain without their team. While players are expected to respect their captain, the team’s leader can lose their respect just as quickly as they earned it. If the captain refuses to respect thier teammates, an es-
sential componant of their job, their teammates won’t respect them back. “They can maintain respect if they help other people, like working on things they need to work on, like in school and in basketball,” said Rose Sande, junior women’s varsity basketball player. Captains are there for their teammates for the long season ahead. They must be “nice and helping and just a good person,” said Sande. If a captain shows lack of interest or dedication to their team, players will emulate this behavior and lose faith in their leader. Players look up to their captains. A team is only as good as the leadership, and if respect is lacking, or a player feels devalued, isolated, or confused, the team will not be successful. It is important for captains and players to communicate. Captains do what they view needs to be done to make the team successful, but players can have different opinions and needs. Players need to feel respected to ensure progress for the team.
Liberal
Conservative
Citizens of the United States should respect the president. Showing respect shows a unified country. Through his actions and words, the president can either gain or lose the respect of a nation. As a generalization, most liberals do not respect the current president due to his previous and current actions. According to Jack Nolan, senior, “A respectable president possess’ the qualities of respecting those that he governs, as well as those that he works with in his own government, so the citizens of that country as well as his elected officials that he works with as well, and I feel that our current president does not have that respect.” As the president, Trump engages in multiple, important relationships, some diplomatic and some within the U.S. borders. The President must show respect for his counterparts, both nationally and internationaly, which Nolan feels Trump is doing a particularly bad job with. “He doesn’t respect...the people he works with. He constantly berates other leaders and other governments, as well as our own government, attacking democrats and republicans alike, as well as conservative and liberal leaders in our world market,” said Nolan. If the president would like to-- and should want to-- earn the respect of his citizens, he should focus on his diction and filtering what he says. “It’s very difficult to support someone who would disrespect someone and then not even have good diction in order to quantify what he is trying to say,” said Nolan.
Similar to liberals, some conservatives don’t necesaririly admire the current president.. On the other hand, they feel an obligated respect towards the United State’s Commander in Chief. “The president is the figurehead of our country and if we respect him, then it will show a more unified country, and that will be a better image for the foreign powers of the world,” said Will Floyd, senior. As a world superpower, the United States needs to maintain an appearance of unity to outside countries. Demonstrating respect to the president is one way to show unity and better the country. “I feel like if we respect the president, we give him the respect he deserves, he will be more inclined to listen to our opinions because you are more inclined to listen to the opinions of your friends rather than your enemies,” said Floyd. Like Floyd said, people are more likely to listen to their friends, rather their enemies. Along with this “give respect, gain respect idea,” Floyd agrees with Nolan: Trump needs to shut down his personal Twitter. “The presidency is a job and the more professional he is, the more professional his decisions will become and it will be less likely that people will dislike him for it,” said Floyd. Respect is an important component to success in any relationships, and when it is lacking, disunity is the output. The daily interactions between the US government and its citizens is an important relationship that needs to be secured. If disunity is present, the country will fail.
Peer relationships
When we think about respect, teachers and elders typically come to the forefront of our mind. However, esteem for our peers is just as important, if not more. We spend most of our days with them, after all-- we go to school with them for seven hours a day, we have extracurriculars with them, and sometimes we choose to hang with them during our free time. We wouldn’t want to hang out with someone for whom we have a lack of respect for. Respect towards your peers is the default, in most cases. People tend to respect those who surround them until they are given a reason not too, despite their level of familiarity with them-- almost in an “innocent until proven guilty” kind of mindset. “I don’t perceive everyone as a bad person, so I just treat everyone with the same respect that they treat me until I have a reason [not to],” said Sophia Daigle, a junior here at Leesville. “Everyone is kind of equal [in terms of respect]. It’s not high nor low.” As it is in most cases, respect is a game for two players. The golden rule we were all taught in preschool -- treat everyone the way you want to be treated -- certainly comes into play, even now high schoolers. At least Nate Henshall, a freshman, seems to think so. “... They respect me and I respect them,” said Henshall.
While most people get and give respect automatically, respect isn’t considered to be a right, but a privilege. It can be quickly lost if you break someone’s trust, mistreat them, or if they witness you disrespect someone else. “I feel that it can be earned, I mean if you do well, and do what you’re supposed to do, and don’t treat in a bad way then you will be respected by more people and you can accomplish more and be perceived as like a better person,” said Daigle. “[Respect is] a privilege because they choose if they have the respect through their actions,” said Henshall. It seems that it’s the way one behaves and treat others that garner respect from others. If respect is given, then respect will be received. This ideology of a two way relationship can be applied to any relationship, and make navigating social circles much easier.
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The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Locations
4040 Ed. Drive Raleigh NC, 27612 6325 #67 Falls of Neuse Rd. Raleigh NC, 27615
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The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Teachers of Leesville / 11
Teachers of Leesville Out of State Colleges
In State Colleges
1. Appalachian State Alyssa Montgomery Katherine Meeks
6. Elon University Jeannine Wrayno
2. Campbell University Jason Wyss
7. Johnson & Wales University Lorin Goins
3. Davidson College Craig Ross
8. UNCG Deanna Winick
4. Duke University Laura Price Wendall Barnwell
9. UNCW Heather Zajac
5. ECU Mariah Richards
10.Winston-Salem State University Ashley Tabron
11. NCSU Christy Winoski David Morton Jeffrey Florence Jill Walton Joni Amerson Megan Self
12. UNC Chapel Hill Heather Dinkenor Kim Arwood Monica Wilkerson Sarah Cade Tama Blackburn
Belhaven College (Mississippi) Eugene McLemore
Mississippi State University Charlie Stephenson
Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan) Michael Tetreault
Earlham College (Indiana) Sarah White
New College of Florida Anne George
Cambridge (England) Paul Dinkenor
University of Illinios Gabe Argao
Niagara University (New York) Jacob O’Keefe
University of Pittsburgh Michelle Engdahl
The Iowa State University Eric Broer
Roanoke College (Virginia) Brooke Mungall
University of Texas at Austin Carrie Mash Dr. Mark Mash
A survey was sent to all teachers to receive information on a variety of topics. All information is based on answers to surveys sent back.
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NC State and UNC Chapel Hill By: Lucy Leen
Chapel Hill. From UNC, Leesville has two exceptional English teachers: Heather Dinkenor and Monica Wilkerson. Dinkenor had UNC at the top of her list when applying for college. She not only got into UNC but was a part of the first class of ‘Teaching Fellows’ at UNC. “My four years of service [after Fellows] turned into twenty six, so they got their
money’s worth out of me,” said Dinkenor. Dinkenor compares her time at UNC to be a lot like the North Raleigh/Leesville community. “Carolina was very much like Leesville and North Raleigh. Maybe that’s why I love Leesville and love where I live so much,” said Dinkenor. Unlike Dinkenor, Wilkerson wasn’t an aspiring Tar Heel. She grew up a NC State fan but had to find her way elsewhere. Ready to get out of the small town in South Carolina where she lived, Wilkerson decided UNC would be a great option for her. “I chose [UNC] because of its academics and also because it was not close or near where anybody in my town should or would be going,” said Wilkerson. Her decision to attend UNC is one she does not regret. At UNC Wilkerson enjoyed all the choices her big school had to offer. Wilkerson and her husband are both supporters of the school and love to bring their children to football games or just to walk the campus every now and then. “I don’t know whether I appreciated it when I was there, but when you leave there’s just kind of this connection when you meet other people from Carolina,” said Wilkerson.
Years of Experience 11-15 13%
1-5 25%
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16-20 19%
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feel, everybody was a team.,” said Morton. A huge rival to State but another top university popular among Leesville teachers is the University of North Carolina at
ts
Female 62%
ki, math teacher at Leesville and dedicated NC State alumni. Mr. Morton, another State alumni and math teacher at Leesville, would agree with Winoski. “I just loved the Wolfpack
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Male vs. Female
Heather Dinkenor, Leesville english teacher, and her friend Whitney Skeen pose for a picture as they graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dinkenor majored in English Education and began working at Leesville in 1995.
Teachers per Department
North Carolina is a state with some of the top colleges in the country. With great educational opportunities everywhere, you could never go wrong. Many teachers at Leesville would agree because they attended these very schools. The most popular universities among Leesville teachers are North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. These fine universities have given Leesville great teachers in a variety of departments. With great majors at both universities, Leesville teachers are some of the best in all of Wake county. Our teachers educate Leesville students year after year and often watch them attend the school they may have. North Carolina State University is renowned for its great mathematics program. Christina Winoski and David Morton, Leesville math teachers, both chose to become educators. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I was also interested in math..[State] was a good place to combine the two things I wanted to do together,” said Mrs. Winos-
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF HEATHER DINKENOR
Staff Writer
ld e or ag W gu n La
21+ 12%
6-10 31%
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Reviews / 12
PLACES TO GO:
Whether you run out of shows to binge watch on Netflix during winter break, or you want to get out of the house and hang out with your friends, you should head to one of these locations--collected and reviewed by the staff of The Mycenaean.
What to do near North Raleigh
Restaurants
Activities at a price Free activities
SASSOL--
BULL CITY ESCAPE--
FLEA MARKET--
POKÈGO--
CAROLINA HURRICANES GAME--
RDU OBSERVATION DECK--
9650 Strickland Rd. Raleigh, NC For one of my first experiences trying Lebanese food, I was glad I tried it at Sassool. Homemade pita bread is baked fresh by the minute and tastes amazing. The wait is fairly short at dinner time, but Sassool becomes very busy during lunchtime, so it is best to avoid times around 12 p.m. Although the wait can be long, it is worth it. Everything at Sassool is fresh and homemade which makes the experience even better.
8107 Creedmoor Rd. Raleigh, NC When I first walked into PokéGo, I was surprised at the cozy and quaint atmosphere, as well as the amazing smells from the kitchen. The restaurant wasn’t overly crowded, and all the servers were extremely nice and accommodating. The owners completely remodeled the space, making it into something completely unique and distinctive. The food was absolutely stunning, with delicious authentic Hawaiian cuisine as well as Asian food.
711 Iredell St. Durham, NC If you love solving puzzles or brainteasers, then Bull City Escape is perfect for you! At Bull City Escape, you and a group of up to 8 friends work together to solve clues in order to “escape” from various themed rooms. With themes ranging from Lunar Escape to Enchanted Kingdom, each room is unique and entertaining, containing interesting challenges, brain teasers, and clues which relate to the overall theme of the room.
1400 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC Hockey lover or not, everyone should experience a Carolina Hurricanes game at PNC Arena. The energetic atmosphere of PNC is enticing, and the fast-paced game of hockey will keep anyone on their toes. Nothing beats a trip to PNC with your friends to enjoy food and fun. Watch the stadium erupt in cheers when a Canes’ player scores a goal, and maybe you’ll find yourself cheering along with them.
1025 Blue Ridge Rd. Raleigh, NC The flea market was an unexpectedly pleasant experience for me; usually flea markets are not associated with a teenager’s weekend plans. Some booths sold gently used items, others offered items such as buttons or old pennies, which was unique. Visiting the flea market was an exquisite experience that I would recommend to any high school student who is looking for a place to either express themselves artistically or just have a good time.
W International Dr. Morrisville, NC The RDU Observation Deck is certainly one of the coolest attractions in the Raleigh area. Not only is it free, it has great photo opportunities and it’s easy to access as well. Watching planes land up close while enjoying a beautiful sunset in the background is such a treat. Spending time at the observation deck, whether it be a date, picnic, or just waiting for someone to arrive at the airport is incredibly fun!
What to do in downtown Raleigh
1--NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601 The North Carolina Museum of History might seem like a boring choice in bustling downtown Raleigh, however it is full of interesting exhibits and displays. From North Carolina’s involvement in World War I to “The Shape of Fashion”, the Museum of History has something for everybody. To many people, history is boring, but this museum is one of the right ways to get people interested in the past. The North Carolina Museum of History is a gem of downtown Raleigh.
2--NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601 Do you like science? Do you like interesting exhibits where you can learn and have fun, too? If you answered yes, check out the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Featuring relevant and interesting exhibits, the science museum is an unconventional place to hang out with your friends and learn something new! Make sure to check out the butterfly garden, an engaging exhibit showcasing tropical butterflies, turtles, plants, and even a two-toed sloth!
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3--THE DAILY PLANET CAFE
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121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601 The Daily Planet Cafe is an amazing restaurant that serves everything from sandwiches to smoothies to pastries. It has almost a “Tropical Smoothie” feel, except with more options that caters to vegetarians and vegans. The Daily Planet Cafe also uses natural produce native to North Carolina, cooking with only the freshest ingredients for their dishes. Overall, The Daily Planet cafe is one of the best restaurants that downtown has to offer with bargain prices even a teenager can afford.
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4--MARBLES IMAX
201 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601 Marbles isn’t just for kids anymore, as it’s home to an IMAX movie theater that shows interesting documentaries and current movies in 3D. Before you even walk in you are welcomed by the modern, yet homey, exterior. The movie theater itself is quite large and immersive--allowing you to fully experience the movie. If you find yourself downtown, you should definitely check out Marbles IMAX theater--playing Star Wars: The Last Jedi 3D during winter break.
This map pictures the layout of downtown Raleigh as well as the R-Line, which is a free and public transportation service that circumnavigates the downtown area. The stars on the map represent the most interesting places to visit for high school students as gathered by The Mycenaean.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN DARNELL
5--VIDERI CHOCOLATE FACTORY
The view from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences bridge to the Nature Research Center. In the Nature Research Center, visitors can intereact with different exhibits, including the Naturalist Center and the Visual World Investigate Lab.
327 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601 If you are a chocolate-lover, you will love Videri Chocolate Factory. When you first walk in you are surrounded by the smell of cocoa beans, as Videri is a functional chocolate factory with a ‘factory floor’ where visitors can experience the chocolate-making process from start to finish. Additionally, Videri is a chocolate shop and coffee shop; so you and your friends can grab a coffee and sit outside on a patio area, offering an escape from the busy downtown atmosphere.
6--NASH SQUARE
200 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601 When you go to downtown Raleigh, the last thing that you would expect to see is flowers and trees in the midst of traffic. However, Nash Square is a green oasis in the hustle and bustle of city life. As you walk through the park, you can see plenty of benches to sit and relax, as well as tall magnolia trees for shade. Nash Square is one of the best places to unwind and enjoy after a hard day.
Editorials
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Editorials/ 13
THE MYCENAEAN
Opioid crisis worsens in N.C. Senior Editor
In a report from the North Carolina Governor’s Office, opioid-related deaths have increased by 73% in the past decade, with 1,110 North Carolinians dying of opioid overdoses in 2015. Additionally, according to the healthcare information organization Castlight, North Carolina cities make up four of the top twenty-two opioid-addicted cities in the United States. The opioid crisis has become something North Carolinians cannot ignore. Implementing simple solutions can make a significant impact in combating the epidemic. One simple solution is ceasing the overprescription of opioids. According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, as many as 71% of opioids received by patients following surgery went unused, showing just how grossly over prescribed opiates
In 2015, more than 33,000 people died of opioid overdoses. The number has risen each year, and something needs to be done.
are in this country. The overprescription of opioids likely stems from the anti-chronic pain movement of the late 1990’s- early 2000s. During this time, doctors began to increase the prescription of the opioids to assist people with chronic pain, and legislatures passed laws relaxing restrictions on the prescription of opioids. Another simple solution is cutting the
price of naloxone, the reversal drug for overdoses. Since its invention in 1971, the price of naloxone has increased by 4,000%, with the price more than doubling since 2013 alone. Several public officials have since criticized the companies that produce naloxone for the increased prices. However, nothing has been done to try and create laws that would restrict price gouging. The invention and implementation of such laws would help to lower the number of opioidrelated deaths. In 2014, 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses -- more than the number who died in battle during the Vietnam, Revolutionary, Spanish-American, and Mexican-American wars combined. More can definitely be done to help contain -- and one day, hopefully end -- the opioid addiction epidemic. These simple solutions are a great start to helping combat the opioid crisis.
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF EMELINE WILSON
Band should have notes, not letters
Emeline Wilson, senior, plays the bassoon in Symphonic band. She has earned the varsity letter multiple years in a row.
By: Natalie Gore Staff Writer
In high school, a varsity letter is much more than just a part of a word. The word letter commonly signifies the accomplishment of becoming part of a varsity school sports team. Athletes receive a letter patch
for their contribution to the team. It is then traditionally placed on the chest of a varsity jacket, yet athletes have adapted many different ways to display their achievement. The possession of a varsity letter for an athlete often signifies success, high performance, and overall excellence in the specified sport. By the end of an athlete’s high school career, some have lettered all four years. Recently, other activities like band and theater have also gained the opportunity for students to “letter” or earn a varsity status for their achievements. While many students work hard to make great progress and become experts at their respective talent, athletics and other activities like band are two different fields. Athletics are practiced and played entirely outside of school hours and require students to learn how to properly manage their time, priorities, and other work. Band is a class offered in school, and although students often practice outside of school, they are given almost an hour and a half each day to work towards the varsity letter. As an athlete, I can say that between
practice and matches, managing other aspects of life like schoolwork is a skill I’ve had to learn over the course of high school. Being a top competitor for any given sport requires hard work and practice every single day of the week -- work outside school. The same cannot be said for band because it is much easier to treat the activity like other academic classes, which many students view as work that needs to be done and out of the way. High schoolers almost always play sports willingly, meaning that the amount and quality of work they put into their performance is self controlled. Therefore, students should only receive varsity letters for performance in athletics. Allowing activities like band to also letter minimizes the importance of the achievement. This could eventually lead to almost anyone having the opportunity to acquire a varsity letter, ultimately ruining the specialty of the tradition altogether. A possible solution is creating a different type of award for superior performance in arts activities because it is no doubt that students put in lots of hard work. For the time being though, band students should not receive varsity letters.
Later start time would benefit HS students By: Regan Harsa Editor-in-Chief
As college becomes more competitive, the crazier a student’s schedule becomes. Forced to balance multiple extracurriculars, homework, and a job, students can be up at all hours of the night. They don’t mind staying up late-- rather, they mind the effect it has the next day, a tired, sluggish day. Studies have shown that high school should start later. According to the National Sleep Foundation, “research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising. Teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer
THE MYCENAEAN Staff
than 7 hours per school night by the end of high school.” Despite this fact, school still starts early. Sanderson High School began their late start program on Fridays more than four years ago to aid their students with club activities. Late start means school started at 8:05 a.m. instead of 7:25 on Fridays, and if there was an early release day, late start did not occur. While Leesville has SMART Lunch, late start was the school’s solution to club meetings. Not only did it supply students with time for club meeting before school, preventing after school commitment complications, Sanderson’s students had a chance to sleep in. Sadly, this year, the program ended. By the end of the week, students are drained from the multiple obligations they are tied to, inside and out of school.
-- Claire Chamberlain, senior at Sanderson The whole sleeping in part of late start really aided the struggling high school student. “Sleep deprivation impairs their [a students] ability to be alert, pay attention, solve problems, cope with stress and retain information,” according to the National Sleep Foundation. On Fridays, the day Sanderson students use to be able to sleep
2017-2018
Editor-in-chief Regan Harsa Special Project Editor Ben Zahavi Senior Editor Izzee Akers Senior Editor Michael Beauregard Coverage: The Mycenaean covers news, events, issues and topics relevant to Leesville and the surrounding community. As a student-run newspaper, stories in the publication do not represent the views of LRHS, its faculty/administration or WCPSS. Columns: By-lined columns express personal
[Late start was so beneficial because I could] sleep in, [there was] more time for clubs, studying, more time to eat breakfast, [and] homework was able to be completed.”
Junior Editor Mariana Herrera Caro Junior Editor McKenna Daley Junior Editor Ashley Tysiac
opinion and appear throughout the newspaper. Editorials: The Mycenaean’s opinion is presented in editorials that are featured on the Opinion page(s), whose topics and suggestions are decided by the editorial board. The views and opinions expressed in editorials are representative of the editors, not LRHS or WCPSS.
Staff Writers:
Hannah Comeskey, Jayla Corbett, Erin Darnell, Isabel Daumen, Chelsea Dinkenor, Natalie Gore, Sarah Jumma, Lucy Leen, Isabella
Advertising: To advertise with The Mycenaean, contact Eric Broer at eric.broer@gmail. com. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Any advertisement within the publication is not an indication of The Mycenaean’s or its staff members’ endorsement. Distribution: Print issues are published four
Trashing locker bays is unacceptable
PHOTO COURTESY OF McKENNA DALEY
By: Michael Beauregard
This is one example of what a typical locker bay looks like after lunch. Spilled milk, halfeaten food, and wrappers litter the floor.
By: McKenna Daley Junior Editor
Every night the custodians at Leesville take the time to wipe down, sweep, and empty the trash in every locker bay. However, by one o’clock the next day, the floor is littered with empty wrappers and undefined sauce drips on the counters. It’s nasty. Trashing the locker bays needs to stop. Leesville should be better than this -- but apparently we aren’t. Leaving the locker bays in disarray everyday is another reason why Smart Lunch may be taken away. Our school is a representation of us and leaving it so messy reflects badly. Something needs to change and simply walking five steps to nearest trashcan to throw away an empty chip bag is a great start. Fellow Leesville students, please start tidying up the locker bays after lunch. The custodians will thank you and the possibility of Smart Lunch being taken away will decrease. in, students felt more awake and ready for the day. The students were able to come into school prepared for a full day of learning. This late start program is direct proof school starting later can benefit the average student when it comes to their academic success. School should start later. High school students need the extra couple minutes of sleep to be emotionally ready for the long day ahead. Elementary kids will get out early with time to play, and high schoolers will have adequate sleep. By simply switching start times for elementary schoolers and high schoolers, busing conflicts will not occur and both sides win. Besides, elementary school kids are up at 6:00 a.m. already.
Parsons, Jacob Polansky, Jonathan Spear, Kyla Stone-Houze, Kaitlyn Stocum, Sydney Tucker, Matt Wiener, Raymond Youman.
times a year, and copies are available for free in classrooms, in the front office and outside of room 240 for staff, students and parents. Online Viewing: Articles are posted online regularly on the newspaper’s website, www.lrhsnews.org. Art Submissions: Any student who would
like their art to be featured in The Mycenaean, should contact an editor for submission. Artists interested in helping the staff create graphics and visuals are welcome to submit their names as well. We reserve the right to refuse any submission. Student Newspaper of Leesville Road High School • 8410 Pride Way Raleigh, NC 27613
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The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, December 15, 2017
Sports/ 15
Leesville’s Teacher-Athletes By: Ashley Tysiac Junior Editor
Dr. Raymond Stone, environmental science teacher at Leesville, always had one dream, a very big one: to play basketball at the collegiate level. So when Dean Smith, UNC Chapel Hills’ basketball coach, offered him a scholarship to play, he jumped on the opportunity. Except Stone’s dream didn’t pan out exactly as he had envisioned. “I never played a minute of basketball,” said Stone. Instead, Stone ended up playing three sports other than basketball during his time in Chapel Hill: football, soccer, and baseball. Stone was not new to playing multiple sports—he had participated in football, basketball, baseball, and the occasional track meet in high school. A distinguished high school athlete, he was named an allstate honoree in two sports. But he found even greater success participating in collegiate athletics, particularly in baseball. As a starting pitcher, Stone pitched UNC baseball’s first nohitter in his last collegiate game. Stone also advanced with the team to the College World Series his sophomore year, the program’s second-ever appearance in the event. As a member of the football team, he played defensive back and punter. On the soccer team, Stone was a versatile athlete, playing all positions on the field, but was
primarily a goalkeeper. One can imagine that juggling three different sports can be challenging. With no offseason, Stone constantly was practicing and playing in games in at least one sport. “In my four years, I had one day when I didn’t have a practice or a game,” said Stone. “It was a busy time.” However, even with the huge athletic workload, Stone was able to enjoy his time at UNC with the help of his athletics. “I would really not have enjoyed undergraduate college very much if it hadn’t been for sports,” said Stone. Sports also helped him develop time management and organization skills. Having to manage both his athletic and academic workloads, Stone had to create productive plans to be successful in the classroom and on the field. “Efficiency was really important,” said Stone. “I think sports helped me a great deal with that.” Like most student-athletes, Stone did face difficulties at times. There were a few instances when he was injured, and he had trouble keeping up with his academics. Stone also found it hard to take interest in his numerous studies. But as he progressed through school, with the help of collegiate athletics, Stone hit his stride academically while also learning many important life skills. “The longer I stayed [at UNC], the harder I worked and the more focused I got,” said Stone. “I attribute all of that to sports.”
Breaking it down: Teachers as high school athletes Geoffrey Travagline PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MENAGERIE
Subject: Social Studies High school: John Jay High School in Cross River, New York Sports: Football and track & field Favorite high school sports memory: “The last [football] game senior year was a bowl game. [My favorite high school sports memory was] playing in it, winning it, and then realizing that after four years of working hard with the same people that we finished in the best situation we could have.”
Cassie West
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MENAGERIE
Subject: French High school: Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia Sport: Swimming Favorite high school sports memory: “The best thing that I remember is just encouraging my teammates. Swimming is very individual as far as you’re competing against your own time. You always want to try and improve yourself. So, when you’re not competing, being able to encourage your teammates to meet their goals, I thought that was probably my favorite memory.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MENAGERIE
Andy Hunt Subject: Social Studies High school: Davie County High School in Mocksville, North Carolina Sports: Football and golf Most important lesson from high school sports:“Self-discipline and time management. You have to find ways to budget your time. Sports take up so much of your time that you now have to find a way. You have to sit down and discipline yourself to make sure that you get the tasks that you need to get done done.”
Rachel Gehret’s AllAmerican experience
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF RACHEL GEHRET
Raymond Stone: The multi-sport athlete
Rachel Gehret, a former physical education teacher at Leesville, competes in the high jump as a member of the University of Louisville track and field team. During her time at Louisville, Gehret won multiple individual Big East conference titles in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump, as well as an All-American finish in the high jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
By: Ashley Tysiac Junior Editor Her mother told her three simple words of advice: “You’ll just know.” Swamped by a mass of coaches and colleges hoping to obtain her commitment, Rachel Gehret, a former physical education teacher at Leesville, was overwhelmed with choices. There was no question as to why she was receiving so much attention from college coaches. As a high school track and field star, she placed in the top three in the high jump, triple jump, and long jump at the Pennsylvania state championships all four years of school. She even won the triple jump state title her sophomore year, an impressive feat for an underclassman. But for Gehret, there was just something about that university in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. “Louisville was just the right fit,” said Gehret via email. “From the teammates, to the coach, to the city—everything just clicked.” Just as her mother had promised her, Gehret knew that the University of Louisville was the school for her. She accepted a full ride from the university to participate in track and field. Now years later, looking back on her experience playing a college sport at Louisville, Gehret appreciates and acknowledges the successes she accomplished and especially the morals she learned along the way. “So many life lessons were taught,” said Gehret. An All-American Athlete Immediately, Gehret made an impact on the Louisville track and field team from the moment she stepped on campus. She placed third in the long jump at the Big East Conference Indoor Championships as a freshman and also helped lead Louisville to a runner-up finish at the Big East Conference Outdoor Championships that same year. Her sophomore year, Gehret participated in her first NCAA Division I Championship, competing in the high jump outdoors. Gehret continued her success on the national stage her junior year, participating at the indoor national championships in the high jump. Over the span of her collegiate career, she participated in an impressive four combined indoor and outdoor national championships. But Gehret’s biggest feat didn’t come until her senior year. That year, she proved to be one of the top high jumpers in the
nation, finishing fifth in the high jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships and earning All-American status. Gehret had an accomplished career as an athlete at Louisville, but success didn’t come easily. When she finally finished as an All-American her senior year, she believed that her dedication and hard work finally had paid off. “It all came together, years of hard work, frustration, joy, disappointment, excitement,” said Gehret. That hard work included the demanding task of balancing both academics and athletics. Gehret practiced each day from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and attended classes in the morning and at night. This left her limited time to complete academic work outside of the classroom, but she found that she was able to easily balance and structure her time wisely to succeed in her school work. “Fortunately with athletics, there are so many benefits and resources—it’s very hard to get behind,” said Gehret. But the time commitment was well worth it. Gehret genuinely enjoyed every minute she spent at Louisville, especially the time she spent with her teammates. “Being part of a team, whether you like it or not, you become a family,” said Gehret. “You literally spend hours a day with these people.” In short, Gehret used three simple words to describe her time participating in track and field at Louisville: “It was fun!” A Long Lasting Impact Six years since she graduated from college, Gehret firmly believes that college athletics shaped her into the person she is today in many different ways. From building relationships, to learning time management, she learned many skills that have shaped how she goes about her daily life each day. Even as the years have gone by, Gehret still keeps in touch with people from her days in college. Her best friend is one of her former Louisville teammates, and the two still talk to each other every day. Gehret knew in her heart from the beginning that Louisville was the destination for her, and after the countless hours she spent at the track and in the classroom, the one lesson she learned that she will always keep dear to her heart is bigger than sports: Treating all people with respect. “Athletics come and go,” said Gehret. “The success of anything can’t define you as a person, but the way you treat others and how you make them feel is something that will always be remembered.”
December 15, 2017
Sports Leesville Road High School, Raleigh, N.C.
Volume XXV, Issue 2
THE MYCENAEAN
Men’s basketball: Reloaded
By: Jonathan Spear
From left to right, RJ WIlson, Jalen Benjamin, and Jaron VanHoosier pose during the men’s baksetball team’s media day shoot on November 25. Benjamin has proven to be a prolific scorer this season, having already scored 225 points in seven games.
North Carolina player of the year, and just winning as many games as I can as being a leader and stepping up into the leader role,” said Benjamin. Russ Frazier, head coach, has high praise for Benjamin and believes Benjamin will only continue to improve. “Jalen has put in a lot of work and hour towards getting better. It is fun to watch him excel. He just needs to keep working each day,” said Frazier. Frazier is also impressed with the way Whitt has been able to handle his role being a ninth grade starter. “Carter has a
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIANA HERRERA
On your mark, get set...dive!
Grace Newton, junior, prepares to take her position on the block. The team reassigned roles and welcomed new swimmers/divers after a successful 2016-17 season.
By: Ray Youman Staff Writer
Leesville Road High School’s Swim & Dive season has finally arrived. The teams have opened the season strong, coming off of several successful meets leading up to winter break. With last year’s senior leaders being replaced by new faces, the swimmers and divers look to improve on last year’s astounding season, in which the teams won regionals and placed second in states. Grace Countie, a senior swimmer and current captain of the swimming team, has even higher aspirations for this year’s season. “I think we have a better chance of winning states this year. The dive team has improved a lot since last year. Being captain will also help improve the team dynamic, through going to lunch or out-
ings with the other swimmers and creating a community in our team,” said Countie. Countie, a state record holder, NCHSAA state champion, and future Tar Heel swimmer, is more than qualified and prepared to lead the swimmers joining the quest this year. Despite Countie’s experience, Countie says there’s still work to be done. “I’m continuing to practice nine times a week, morning and night, with swimming sessions and weight training,” said Countie. Jack Nolan, senior and freestyle swimmer, was recently selected as the sole 500y mens swimmer for the current season. “I’m super excited to be able to go the distance in the pool this year. I’m expected to score points and drop as much time as I possibly can. I’ve been swimming it for the last two years, and now [people rely on me] to carry the men's team in the 500y event,” said Nolan. Among the new members is Connor Blackburn, a freshman fly swimmer who has already established himself as a tough competitor in the high school realm. When asked about his success now, he stated he is only looking forward to future events and improvements to come. “I know that we have [upcoming] regional and state meets. My personal goal is to improve in the fly events,” elaborating that he wishes to improve to stay competitive in current meets and in preparation for the big ones. Leesville’s Swim & Dive team comes back from winter break with a meet on January 12.
great skill set and tremendous feel for the game. I have had a lot of fun so far coaching him. He is unselfish and wants to win, and he is going to to keep getting better and better.” Benjamin believes this year’s team already knows their identity and can handle adversity. “I feel like we have a better swagger to ourselves. We don’t care what anybody says. We just go out there and play how we play. No matter if we’re winning or losing,” said Benjamin. RJ Wilson, at 6’7” has been the Pride’s assertive “big man.” Wilson has been reli-
Experience key for women’s basketball
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF BOB STEWART
Nine months ago, after a dark horse run through the state tournament, the Pride men’s basketball team fell in the state championship game to Southwest Guilford. This time around, the team looks to bounce back with another successful season. The eleven-man team returns two starters from last season in Jalen Benjamin, junior, and RJ Wilson, junior, and has added five new players. The team has had a quick start to the season, winning seven straight, to include a momentous win against number one ranked Garner. The Pride are led by a skilled backcourt, which includes Benjamin and a new addition in Carter Whitt, freshman. The duo have already shown that they are able to handle pressure and have exceeded expectations. This season, Benjamin has been a serious offensive threat, scoring 225 points through the opening seven games, including a career-high 41 points against the Holly Springs Golden Hawks. Recently, Benjamin received several Division I offers from schools including Richmond, George Mason, Illinois State, Northern Arizona, and Tulane, among others. Benjamin has aspirations to fulfill his potential this season both individually and as a leader. “I want to possibly be the
PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF BOB STEWART
Staff Writer
ant on both ends and especially dominant in the paint. Wilson’s ability to shoot from the outside also makes him an imposing threat to opposing teams. With an array of talent, this year’s team isn’t just impressive but also thrilling to watch. “It’s so exciting to watch this year’s team because of the passion they play with and the intensity they bring every game,” said Sidney Credle, senior and fan, via text. “More than anything, the student section feeds off the energy that plays like Zemonek’s dunks bring. It sparks us to provide a home atmosphere that the players thrive in. We go absolutely crazy, and that’s what the Loonies are best at,” added Credle. The impressive start to the season now comes with higher expectations. However, with state championship experience last season, the team is built to handle pressure. “This year’s team has the experience of going all the way to the top and seeing what that feels like. So, no moment is too big for us now,” said Grayson Stickney, senior. As the season goes on, the team will only continue to improve and become better. “We have to continue to build off our culture, believe in our work and have fun. This is a great group of guys who are so much fun to coach and watch,” said Frazier. The Pride’s next two games will be against Sanderson at home (12/15) and away at Millbrook (12/19).
Lucy Leen, sophomore, goes up for a layup against the Hillside Hornets on November 15. With many experienced returners, the team hopes its maturity can strengthen its performance.
By: Ashley Tysiac Junior Editor
After finishing the season last year with a record of 20-8, the Leesville women’s basketball team only graduated two seniors: Lauren McNamara-Clement and Ashley Gill. This year, with eight returning players on the roster, the team hopes to use its experience to its advantage. Ben Daniels, coach of the women’s basketball team, believes experience is the group’s greatest asset. “We have a veteran group who has been around the block and knows what it takes to be successful,” said Daniels, via email. The players themselves, including junior Rose Sande, also believe that having experience and maturity helps enhance the team’s chemistry. “Having more experience, we work better together,” said Sande. However, the team will have to depend on more than just its experience to succeed in conference play. This year, the new CAP-7 includes Southeast Raleigh, last year’s runner-up in the NCHSAA 4A state women’s basketball tournament.
Sande knows that as a whole the team will have to play with more strength to compete against the powerhouse teams such as Southeast Raleigh in the conference. “We have to pick our intensity up because [Southeast Raleigh is] really good and strong,” said Sande. Daniels believes that playing in such a strong conference helps Leesville out in the long run. “I really like playing so many good teams in the regular season because it can help you come playoff time,” said Daniels. “Being ‘battle-tested’ normally pays off in crunch time.” The team hopes that by playing competitive teams consistently in CAP-7 play, it can grab some wins in the 4A state basketball tournament. “We hope that we can get further into the playoffs,” said Sande. “Last year, we ended in like the second round.” With experience and skill in its back pocket, Daniels feels that the team can accomplish great success this season. “We feel like we can play with anybody,” said Daniels. “Our goal is to make sure that we come ready to play every night and put our best foot forward.”