Volume 32 Issue 1

VOLUME 32 • ISSUE 1

C O P P E L L H I G H S C H O O L 1 8 5 W. PA R K W AY B LV D . C O P P E L L , T X 7 5 0 1 9

COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

OCTOBER 2020

THE EXPERIENCES, EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION PAGES 12 - 13 / STORY BY SHREYA BELDONA / PHOTO BY LILLY GORMAN AND SAMANTHA FREEMAN

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

A SECOND PANDEMIC

PG. 7

O P I N I O N S How COVID-19 has created an environment of widespread depression, anxiety, and other negative long term effects.

HOMECOMING REDEFINED

PG. 20

S P O R T S KJ Liggins returns to Coppell for senior football season after a year at Denton Guyer High School.

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news

2020

Fronts of Coppell

Letter from the editor

When I first joined The Sidekick staff as a sophomore, the strangest quirk was how other staffers referred to the classroom as D115. Sure, sometimes it was the newsroom or The Sidekick room, but it was mainly called D115.

I had never memorized a room number for any of my classes before.

As I spent more time on The Sidekick, I eventually realized how special that room was. I would spend time in D115 more than any other location in Coppell High School. More than the cafeteria, more than the main hallway, more than the fine arts hall - even though I’ve taken theater a full year longer than I’ve been a part of Sidekick.

It’s been six months since I’ve been in D115.

I didn’t know how important a place could be until I no longer had access to it. Editing on the low couch in the center of the room, working over a desktop to design pages as sunlight pours through windows which never open, checking out cameras and lenses from the tall cabinet tucked away in the corner - I don’t know when I’ll be able to do it all again. The hustle and bustle of a newsroom became a whirlpool of audio feeds over Zoom, and despite a few members being back in person, the majority of The Sidekick staff is working virtually.

Without shiny equipment and an area to convene, it should have worried me more about how we would produce the same quality and quantity of content we would any other school year but it didn’t.

What made that room special extended far beyond just shiny equipment and excessive whiteboards, freezing climate and funny rolling chairs. What made D115 my home at CHS was the people who became my second family.

The laughs which once echoed off offwhite walls now blare from laptop speakers, but the heart of The Sidekick still survives. The love and dedication of each person on staff wasn’t lost in the transition online, and neither was their talents.

Great things happened in D115, but it wasn’t D115 itself that made those things great. Great photos were taken by great photographers, great pages were designed by great designers, great stories were written by great writers. The amazing things this publication has done in the past happened because of great people who just so happened to meet, learn and work in D115.

In these first few weeks of school, I’ve seen the exact same determination and work ethic from my fellow staffers that I have any other year. Every word, every visual, every pixel in our 24-page issues will emulate the same quality we’ve had in the past.

The newsroom for me is now a bedroom - for others maybe a home office or dining room table - where I will pour my heart and soul into everything I do for this program. I await the day D115 stops being a memory and starts becoming my reality once more, but I know that in the meantime, The Sidekick itself has not faded in the slightest.

OCTOBER

Jeniece Paige

A Sidekick series in which executive news editor Shivi Sharma profiles a Coppell business owner to spotlight community-based establishments.

E

very morning since 2016, Black Vegan Fitness founder and Fit Hub co-owner Jeniece Paige prays over her vision board. When Paige decided to resign from her job as a project manager for AT&T, she created a vision board with photos of smoothies, fruit and vegetables, workouts and books. After receiving clients from her doctor to train and advise, Paige founded BV Fitness, her personal training and nutrition business. In September 2018, she established Fit Hub, a smoothie bar, with her friend and co-owner Thalissa Williams.

Paige’s 2016 vision board still sits in her prayer room, with one item left undone: writing a book, which is currently in progress.

What is it like working for yourself?

I knew that I would someday be my own boss. I just didn’t know when and how it was going to happen. I would rather do it for myself than do it for someone else that I can’t control. It is a beautiful thing, but I would tell people in a heartbeat to make sure you’re built for it. To make sure you’re gonna make the sacrifice and also get the support of your family because that is key.

You’re making a sacrifice and the sacrifice is them. You’re not going

to have the time that you would normally have because you’re building a business now. It is a beautiful thing; it’s a wonderful feeling. I get up every day, I look forward to going to my club. I get excited. I’m grateful.

I’m solely working for my purpose.

How do you balance running both BV Fitness and Fit Hub? It works great because I get to incorporate my personal training into Fit Hub. If I get a customer that comes in that wants some training,

I get to sign them up at BV Fitness.

They can join my Zoom training or I make a meal plan for them. Most of the people that come in here know that we have a business outside of Fit Hub and it’s all health-related.

That’s what I love. I get to marry the two. I have an online fitness class, then I have online nutritious courses that I’m releasing, and it’s all on BV Fitness.

SHIVI ‘21 can be reached at sxs1578@g.coppellisd.com.

C o -o w n e r J e n ie c e Pa th e C o o k ie s N ’ C ig e m a k e s re a m p ro sh a k e a t th te in e c o u n te r o f F it H u b C o p p e ll o n S e p t. 1 in 0 . P a ig e , h e lp fr o m w it h fr ie n d a n T h a li ss a W d c o -o w n il li a m s, o p er e n e d F it H S e p te m b e u b in r 2 0 1 8 to h e lp p e o p le a h e a lt h ie li v e r li fe st y le .

P h o to b y S a m a n th a F re e m a n

Want to learn more about Jeniece Paige, Fit Hub and Black Vegan Fitness? Watch this video by Samantha Freeman and Shivi Sharma.

EDITOR- IN-CHIEF

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

THE SIDEKICK PUPPY LOVE IN PANDEMIC P. 4

CLASSROOMS TO BREAKOUT ROOMS P. 4

ADVOCACY THROUGH ACTING P. 5

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Conducting local elections during pandemic Partisan, nonpartisan candidates on same ballot for first time in city history Shivi Sharma

Executive News Editor @_shivisharma_

Coppell resident Dan Koller has written over 100 postcards since July as part of Postcards to Swing States, an initiative encouraging voter participation in the 2020 election. Postcards to Swing States is a nonpartisan initiative that encourages people to vote in 14 swing states, including Texas. Photo by Lilly Gorman There are three candidates running for Place 5: Jim Walker, Erin Bogdanowicz and John Jun. Place 4 is the only contested position on the CISD Board of Trustees, with incumbent Thom Hulme running against Neena Biswas.

“That’s what’s so beautiful about our country, everyone has an opportunity, as a citizen, to vote and have their voices heard,” CISD administrative assistant to superintendent Carol Snowden said. “When you get down to looking at a school board member, those are the overseers for the public school system within that city. It’s very important to have interested, active, attentive, strong community members who want to serve, because it is a thankless, unpaid volunteer job that they do and they work hard.”

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5, with early voting from Oct. 1330. The early voting window is a week longer than in years’ past due to Governor Greg Abbott’s bill to allow registered voters a longer duration to cast their ballots. Dallas County allows for countywide voting, which means that voters can vote at any polling location in the county during the early voting window and on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The Coppell Town Center, and for the first time, the Arts Center in Old Town, will be the city’s two polling locations during the early voting window. On Nov. 3, five CISD schools will also be open for voters: Wilson Elementary, Mockingbird Elementary, Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Lakeside Elementary and Valley Ranch Elementary.

“It’s very sad that not many people

vote in local elections, because you’ve got this small amount of voters making big decisions,” Coppell Republican Women Club President Kit Whitehill said. “Our city council, our school board, those are all very important jobs, and the decisions they make impact our day-to-day lives. There’s no more straight-ticket voting, so you can’t just push Republican or Democrat, you have to vote for every person you want to vote for.”

To ensure safety at polling locations during the pandemic, the city will provide sanitation stations and train its judges and clerks to conduct the facility in the safest manner possible. Lines are required to be six feet apart, and cleaning services will be provided.

SHIVI ‘21 can be reached at sxs1578@g.coppellisd.com.

Graphic by Shivi Sharma

“I vote in every election because...”

Each of the over 100 letters Coppell parent and former 2018 Coppell ISD Board of Trustees candidate Dan Koller signed as part of Vote Forward, a nonpartisan initiative that encourages people to vote by mailing letters, have this prompt for volunteers to write a personalized message.

Before mailing every letter, Koller writes, “the more people exercise their right to vote, the better our democracy works for all of us.”

In Coppell, City Secretary Christel Pettinos thinks despite the pandemic, the Presidential Election will bring a significant turnout. This could also increase participation in nonpartisan, local elections such as the City Council and Coppell ISD Board of Trustees.

Both elections, which were scheduled for May, were postponed to November due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time in Coppell’s history, these nonpartisan elections will be on the same ballot as partisan elections, all the way up to the presidential ballot.

“In a positive light, you’re going to have a great turnout, because you do usually have a larger turnout during presidential elections,” Pettinos said. “However, I don’t know that everyone is aware that local government is nonpartisan. We always say, ‘a pothole does not have a party affiliation’. A concern that I have, is that with voting machines, by the time voters scroll through all of the ballot, they will lose energy when they get to the bottom of the ballot, which is where the school and the city ballots tend to be.”

On the Coppell City Council, Places 3 and 5 are up for election.

For Place 3, incumbent Wes Mays is running against Davin Bernstein.

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Facebook: Sidekick Online

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news

OCTOBER

TEXAS EARLY VOTING // OCT. 1 - 30

STUDENT-RUN BLOOD DRIVE AT TRUSTED ER // 10AM - 5PM // OCT. 31

Chasing the “pawsitives” of COVID-19 Avani Kashyap DAILY NEWS EDITOR @CHSCampusNews

While the rest of the world is counting the days until COVID-19 is finally over, there are some who may never want it to end: pets.

As a result of isolation during the pandemic, many people have been able to spend more time at home and welcome a pet into their family. Animal adoption rates have been on the rise throughout the country, and the additional time at home is fostering new, pet-friendly lifestyles.

“When quarantine was put into effect, we thought this is the best time to do [adopt] because we have the time and the capacity to actually look after this dog and form bonds,” Coppell High School senior Sage Newton said. “That’s been a problem in the past because you’re just not home enough. That was why my parents were hesitant at first, but there’s no end in sight and we anticipated that back in May.” The impact of COVID-19 on Coppell Animal Services has been miniscule.

Pets are ready to be adopted at the Coppell Animal Services. During COVID-19, animal adoption has increased as people stay home and are happier to have pets around the house. Photo by Lilly Gorman

“Initially, when the lockdown started, we did get pretty overcrowded so we put out pleas online to get people to foster with other rescues and they were able to pull animals from us,” Coppell Animal Services officer Jonathon Horner said. “It did slow down, but it’s not necessarily because of COVID. It depends on the dogs we have at the moment.”

CHS IB Spanish teacher Emily Holmes adopted a puppy, Emerson, on Aug. 22, as she knew she would have extra time at home and wanted to provide a companion for her older dog.

“We had a dog that passed away in February, so we waited until we were emotionally ready to add another one,” Holmes said. “We started looking because we knew we’d be at home for at least a couple more weeks. It gives a little purpose to the day to take them to the park and it helped us get out of the house a little bit more.”

To Newton, having a dog during COVID-19 has emotional benefits and bonding with animals helps counteract some of the boredom that can result from staying at home.

“Taking care of the dog has become a large part of my daily routine and it’s helped a lot with not only staying active, but my mental health as well,” Newton said. “It’s like having a best friend that doesn’t judge you.”

Despite the general increase in adoption rates, as people returned to work, a

few animals were returned to the shelter.

“Once people started going back to work, we had about three animals come back to the shelter because they no longer had time to care for the animal,” Horner said. “The majority of people were bored and lonely at home, so they were willing and able to help us out for some time.”

While pets may be enjoying the extra time at home, owners are concerned that they are getting accustomed to the attention and might develop separation anxiety once the pandemic is over. Newton, who has a six month old puppy, Princess Leia, and 13 year old dog Lulu, noticed that the older dog started to develop signs of anxiety when the family went on a trip.

“She acted up so much, she’s never done as much as she did during those three days,” Newton said. “She peed three times a day upstairs, got into the trash can, ripped up some of the furniture, and she’s 13, she’s never done this before in her life.”

These bonds, although they have their downsides, are giving pets some much wanted time with their owners and allowing families to form emotional connections with their pets.

“Hopefully we can get some more animals out of here and into good homes,” Horner said.

AVANI ‘21 can be reached at ask6086@g.coppellisd.com.

Virtual environment new experience

for elementary, middle school learners Sapna Amin STAFF WRITER @sapnaamin6

For Coppell ISD students, the transition to remote learning means that the kitchen table, bedroom, and backyard all double as a classroom, making it increasingly difficult to separate home life from school.

From kindergarten to 12th grade, each grade level requires different skills from its students, but at earlier levels, an emphasis is placed on easing the transition between home and school and a smaller number of students in class, so students can interact and create connections with one another.

However, students such as Coppell Middle School North eighth grader Corbin Chen believe that remote curriculum makes this interaction significantly more difficult.

“I strongly dislike remote learning because I work better through interaction and it’s harder to collaborate with peers or ask teachers questions about an assignment,” Chen said. “After Labor Day, I plan on returning to in-person learning because my grades have been suffering.”

Although Coppell ISD encouraged teachers at all levels to integrate relationship building activities into the first week of school, some students are finding it difficult to make new friends during remote learning as they would in-person.

“Usually, during school, I focus on my work and not my friends, but last year I made a lot of new friends,” Coppell Middle School East seventh grader Medha Kanamarlapudi said. “It will be harder to make friends this year because even in [Zoom] breakout rooms, no one really talks and people are just on their

phones. I think it would be different if it tions an idea called “Zoom fatigue” that lessons. With these types of lessons, students was in-person, because there are more dis- can be applied to elementary and middle may feel less tempted to get sidetracked. tractions and everyone is more laid-back.” school learners. The term claims that sit“I attribute any success to the educaTeachers at all levels are currently ting down for long periods of time is not tors for making the lessons fun and enrequired to assign work they think most part of the routine that younger students gaging and developmentally appropriate students could reasonably get done with- are used to. for our elementary kids,” Mockingbird in their class time and submit by mid“Something that I find helpful is tak- Elementary Principal Laura Flynn said. night. This allows students to adjust to the ing a lot of breaks,” Chen said. “Since transition and still produce quality work. we are staring at a screen all day long, TO READ MORE, VISIT Since every child learns at a different time feels like it is going by slower, COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM pace, Kanamarlapudi and other students which makes me feel bored and tired.” might have less rigorous work than they In elementary school, it is a priority for SAPNA ‘21 can be reached at were used to. educators to have engaging and interactive saa6871@g.coppellisd.com.

Remote learning provides a more flexible work environment, allowing time for more breaks throughout the day.

Since teachers are not in the same room as students, they do not have as much control over what students are doing and are sometimes unaware of what is going on behind the screen.

Due to the increased amount of video calls because of remote learning, there has been a proven increase in students’ cognitive load. Experts, such as Laura Dudley, a behavior analyst at Northeastern Uni- Wilson Elementary second grader Eliza Harris and fifth grader Bowen Harris work on versity, suggest tak- school work during school hours. Due to online school, young learners have had to adjust how ing breaks between they learn interactively. Photo illustration by Blanche Harris and Neha Desaraju calls. Dudley men-

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

THE SIDEKICK

5

THE BEAT FROM CHS9

Diggikar wears thespian, face mask for summer acting camp Sapna Amin STAFF WRITER @sapnaamin6

Over the summer, CHS9 student Nanditha Diggikar channeled her talent into creating an acting camp to raise money for children who lack access to education and basic necessities.

Diggikar worked through Vibha, a nonprofit organization that helps children in India who are less fortunate.

The acting class costs $60 and all proceeds went directly to helping poverty-stricken children.

“The camp inspired me to teach other people and share my talent as well,” Nanditha’s older sister and Coppell High School junior Poojitha Diggikar said. “She inspires everyone around her with her passion, outgoingness and fearless attitude when it comes to trying new things. These qualities shine through her.”

Starting in fifth grade, Nanditha participated in plays such as “The Lion King” and “Aladdin.” She took theater all three years of middle school and continues to pursue and develop her talent.

Nanditha attributes the development of her acting skills and breaking out of her comfort zone to Coppell Middle School West theater teacher Frances Hazleton.

“The way Ms. Hazelton helped inspire me to help others who had a passion for acting, just as I do,” Nanditha said.

Throughout her middle school

career, Nanditha won various awards outside of school, she also competed in acting competitions such as first place in a poetry competition for Texas Renaissance Festival.

“At a very young age, she started exhibiting her confidence to talk to people and she decided to take a step further and focus that talent into theater,” Poojitha said.

“I’m really proud of her. I’m so happy to have seen her grow from a little kid.”

Nanditha has connected to her students through their shared love of theater and the fine arts. Oftentimes a test of mastery is the ability to successfully teach others.

“Nanditha is kind, organized and a good teacher,” Flower Mound High School freshman and acting camp partner Tej Sathe said.

“We helped kids who attended gain more confidence in their performance. Going forward, they will be better equipped to talk in front CHS9 student Nanditha Diggikar performs a scene alongside another cast member of crowds.” earlier this year. Diggikar took her acting experience and created a summer camp to With Sathe’s hands-on activhelp improve the skills of children from the community and raise money to donate ities and Nanditha’s skills and to less fortunate children in India. Photo courtesy Nanditha Diggikar information-based lessons, the pair were able to collaborate and lots of kids were bored this summer more interested in acting.” create a balanced system.

The camp could also create a domino because of the circumstances, and I “Especially during [the coronavirus pandemic], it is hard to get access to ed- effect and instill the love that Diggikar wanted to do what I could to make some of these kids’ summer more ucation in the arts,” Poojitha said. “Nan- has for theater.

“I thought hosting acting camps fun.” ditha teaching children in the community gave many that initial exposure that would be something productive and SAPNA ‘21 can be reached at is needed to develop passion for theater. helpful that I could do,” Nanditha said. saa6871@g.coppellisd.com.

It could also lead to someone becoming “I knew from personal experience that

The magic of “Family Friday”

CHS9 implements social, emotional learning with new advisory program Sarah Habib STAFF WRITER @Sarah.Hab1

whether that involves collecting donations or creating outreach and support for those on the frontlines and those in need.

In the traditional study hall, students are

Starting Sept. 18, CHS9 learners are taking a break from their hour block lunch and dive into the world of social, emotional and professional development.

With a new weekly implementation of “Family Friday” students will take time to learn how to not only serve others but themselves.

The weekly event is categorized by four principles: community circles, professional development, service and the traditional study hall. Student professional development involves learning study habits, organization and professionalism in communication with teachers and other adults.

Community circles allow students to build relationships within a new classroom setting, and to be open and vulnerable about personal issues or facets of everyday life. Service entails students participating in community projects Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

given time to catch up on homework, plan their next week and to check in on grades and updates from their classes.

“We have just been focused on want-

CHS9 student Manaswee Upreti opens her advisory course on Schoology to see the agenda for this week. CHS9 has recently implemented a new program, “Family Friday,” in addition to their standard study hall that allows students to develop professional and personal skills. Photo courtesy by Manaswee Upreti Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

ing to grow kids socially and emotionally and part of that comes with leadership and initiative in the classroom,” CHS9 Principal Cody Koontz said. “So, we developed a new curriculum this past summer so that students could take something meaningful from every Friday.”

Before the establishment of the weekly event, students would take a leadership class every Friday to touch base on interdisciplinary skills. Last year, the CHS9 administration incorporated more activities to induce participation, but the outcome was similar to the lack of engagement found in previous years. As a result, CHS9 assistant principal Ashlee Graham developed a task force that teachers and counselors could voluntarily join to develop content for a new Friday event.

TO READ MORE, VISIT COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM SARAH ‘21 can be reached at sxh0370@g.coppellisd.com.

Facebook: Sidekick Online

6 THE SIDEKICK

OCTOBER 2020

2020-2021

Staff

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHASE WOFFORD Staff Adviser SALLY PARAMPOTTIL Editor-in-Chief* SHIVI SHARMA News Editor SAMANTHA FREEMAN Design Editor* SHREYA BELDONA Enterprise Editor CAMILA VILLARREAL Editorial Page Editor EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP AVANI KASHYAP Daily News Editor* AKHILA GUNTURU CHS9 Editor* VICTORIA HERTEL Student Life Editor NEHA DESARAJU Entertainment Editor* ANJALI KRISHNA Co-Sports Editor MEER MAHFUZ Co-Sports Editor LILLY GORMAN Visual Media Editor* TRACY TRAN Photo Assignment Editor* COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS TEAM TRISHA ATLURI Advertising Manager BLANCHE HARRIS Social Media Manager SREEJA MUDUMBY Communications Manager WRITERS ANETTE VARGHESE ANGELINA LIU ANJALI VISHWANATH ANUSHA PANDA DRISHTI GUPTA EVA WHEELER INIYA NATHAN JACOB MUNIZ JOANNE KIM MANASA MOHAN

MEL VENEGAS NANDHITHA NAGAVISHNU PRECIOUS ONALAJA SAPNA AMIN SARAH HABIB SHRIKA VURIMI SREEHITHA MORAVANENI TORIE PECK VARSHITHA KORRAPOLU YASEMIN RAGLAND

PHOTOGRAPHERS AVA GILLIS CAMILA FLORES JADEN MOORE KYAH JONES NANDINI MURESH NANDINI PAIDESETTY

NEVEAH JONES NICK LARRY OLIVIA COOPER PRANATI KANDI SANNIDHI ARIMANDA SNEHA SASH TANVEE PATIL

DESIGNERS ALEX JIMENEZ ENERO ALIYA ZAKIR AYANE KOBAYASHI

DIVYA JOSHI JOSH CAMPBELL SRIHARI YECHANGUNJA

*Indicates Volume 32 issue No. 1 page designer

THE SIDEKICK is the official student newspaper for Coppell High School. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and provide an educational resource for its readers. This newspaper is a public forum for student expression with staff members (with assistance from their adviser) making content decisions. The editorials and columns in this paper reflect the view of their writers.

The Sidekick is a member of Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA).

STAFF EDITORIAL

Treat COVID-19 as a resource instead of a curse What does not kill you makes you stronger.

For Coppell ISD students, March 6 was the last day of in-person school for the next six months. A majority of students are still learning virtually and have not been inside a classroom since spring break.

We have lost family, friends and quintessential parts of our high school experience while we were forced to adapt to a situation very few were prepared for.

While we should take the time to recognize and grieve what we have lost because of COVID-19, we need to shed some light on the situation so we do not drown in negativity. Living through a pandemic can be mentally and physically draining, and as a result, many teenagers have developed new skills, strengthened relationships and become more responsible.

Schools needed to address the lack of access to educational resources outside of school, which was exacerbated by online learning. For example, students faced unstable WiFi connections, while parents had to accommodate their work schedule for children at home.

While the situation is less than ideal, COVID-19 has pushed high school students to adapt to these situations, causing us to become more independent. Being responsible for our work during a volatile time prepares us for future years when our schedules are more flexible.

The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor, but letters must be signed before consideration for publication. Send letters to cwofford@coppellisd.com of bring them by D115.

Advertisements are sold as full, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page sizes in black and white or color.

CONTACT US (214) 496 6239 / cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Blvd. Coppell, TX 75019

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

For more, watch this video!

Video by Camila Flores

Self-isolation has separated normally social high schoolers from their friends, some of whom they would see every day at school. When someone we know tests positive for COVID-19, watching them struggle to breathe and not knowing whether they will get through it takes an emotional toll. In fact, 7 in 10 teenagers have struggled with their mental health during the pandemic and 61% say COVID-19 has made them feel more lonely. Dealing with these negative feelings can be tough, but it has led to a more acute sense of emotional maturity and responsibility in teenagers as they reconcile the year they planned with the one they are getting.

When we are invited to large public gatherings, we have the duty to value safety over temporary pleasures. Pandemic concerns have made us more conscious about everyday decisions that could affect our health and reminded us to take safety precautions such as washing our hands seriously.

Major aspects of our lives have shifted dramatically, but we did not lose everything. Technology is allowing us to translate our pre-pandemic life into a new normal.

In particular, the popular video conferencing application Zoom is instrumental in the transition to online school.

As school and work adjust to virtual platforms, families spend more time together, bonding through boredom and forced interaction. Staying at home allows us to revive long-distance relationships, and social media applications such as TikTok connect teenagers from across the world.

TikTok creators have also taken advantage of the platform’s conveniently short videos to educate users about world news.

During this time, we started learning and caring more about injustice in the world we will inherit. Wildfires burning through the West Coast ignited our distress about climate change. Overt racism in our city has caused us to take to the streets in protest. The more time we spend scrolling through social media in self-isolation, the more we realize action needs to be taken.

Because of COVID-19, we understand that it is important to be grateful for our way of life before seemingly everything changes. Our generation will grow up remembering the moments shared with friends standing six feet apart. We are united in our experience during this time of global confusion and despair, through common interests and common struggles.

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

opinions

7

The depression epidemic

Coronavirus is not the only thing plaguing our nation Camila Villarreal Executive Editorial Page Editor @fliipthewriter

F

or six months, America has waited for the disaster of COVID-19 to be over. For six months, the steady rhythm of our daily lives has been warped and tampered with. We have locked our doors, closed our windows and shifted our lives to an alternative state of existence.

It goes without saying that no one was prepared to make the changes we have gone through. Especially not adolescents, who are cursed with knowing just enough about everything to become stressed about anything.

When toilet paper and hand sanitizer began flying off the shelves, I remember seeing the tense look on my mother’s face and feeling that if she looked that way, I should too. When the headlines on every news outlet began talking about crisis after crisis, I felt the weight of the world press down a little harder on my shoulders, just enough to send waves of anxiety throughout my entire body.

I fell into a depression. And according to medical experts, I’m not the only one.

Since the start of the worldwide crisis, more than 42% of Americans have experienced a decline in their mental health. Racial and ethnic minorities are reporting noticeably higher levels of emotional stress due to COVID-19. People are anxious, depressed, worn out and looking for solutions,

which in turn spotlights another issue that has been making headlines since before lockdown began.

“My mom had just lost her job because of COVID-19, and soon after that we came to find out that my dad caught the virus,” Coppell High School senior Mia Requenez said. “It broke me. I sat in my room and couldn’t talk to anyone for weeks because I felt so much stress. I couldn’t believe people were still going out while I was at home wondering if my family would be OK.”

sessive compulsiveness and even trauma. The odds are not in our favor.

“I fear the long-term effects of being away from people,” CHS Health Science Theory teacher and ER nurse Martha Eitelman said. “I was a teacher at Lewisville ISD last year and I had three different students contact me telling me they were going to hurt themselves. I had former students reach out to me and tell me this situation was too much for them. It’s alarming.”

Because daily life has been impacted so severely, this can tamper with more than just someone’s mental health. Relationships can be severed or harder to manage, academic performance can take a turn for the worst and the risk of developing eating disorders or abusing substances such as drugs or alcohol increase.

We are living in a fragile time. Parents should pay special attention to their own mental health as well as the wellbeing of their children. During lockdown, domestic abuse situations seemed to have worsened. Acknowledging when it is time to get help is the best way to help other people. When personal issues begin putting the lives of others in danger, that is when our actions become inexcusable, and initiative needs to be taken.

Teachers hold the special responsibility of being as open-minded and understanding as possible. Not every situation can be easily explained, and not every kid wants to open up about what is going on behind closed doors.

“Working from home is not my dream life,” CHS Health Science teacher Jennifer Bullock said. “Trying to balance my home and work life is not easy.

The healthiest thing you can do is keep making connections with people and find new hobbies to keep you entertained.”

I’m in high school. Going out with my friends and getting to see other people is what my life looked like until I was forced to curl up in my room day after day.

The depression and social anxiety I developed was unbearable, and poisoned every thought I had about anything. Constantly being bored drove me to eat my emotions and I gained weight, making me even more depressed. I felt pathetic, and probably would never have improved had I not had the right support from my friends and family. Not everyone is so lucky, and therefore all of us need to look out for each other.

While we have given our full attention to COVID-19 statistics and wishing a vaccine would come sooner rather than later, a second villain has arisen to weaken us all and has reigned for far too long.

“I felt the weight of the world press down on my shoulders, enough to send waves of anxiety throughout my entire body.”

There is a severe shortage of mental health professionals almost everywhere in America. Although the reasons are unrelated to COVID-19, it’s a societal consequence of not regarding mental health treatment as a primary care service. Approximately one in five teenagers suffer from one or more mental illnesses. Prolonged isolation can make the symptoms and consequences of mental illnesses a lot harder to cope with and much more difficult to ignore. Even adolescents who do not suffer from a pre-diagnosed condition can find themselves experiencing depression, anxiety, ob-

42%

of Americans

are experiencing an overall

mental health

decline since the start of the

CAMILA ‘21 can be reached at cxv8266@g.coppellisd.com.

g lo b a l c r i s i s

Source: Revel Health Graphic by Samantha Freeman Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

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Facebook: Sidekick Online

8

opinions

OCTOBER 2020

The duality of modern media Social platforms provide sense of community, open-mindness Victoria Hertel STUDENT LIFE EDITOR @veh37936

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teenager drowning in schoolwork, perhaps not having many friends at school or having a hard time with family, clicks on her iPhone as she dumps her hefty backpack onto her bedroom floor.

She gathers her thoughts and lets out the stress of the day with a deep sigh as she gets a notification from her online friend, finally at home.

Social media can serve as a platform for spreading awareness of mental illness and provides access to communities with others who have shared interests.

“Social media provides a platform to connect with other people that they might not otherwise be able to connect to, if they live somewhere else or can’t find friends at school that like the same things that they do,” Coppell High School head counselor Ann Cinnelli said.

In addition, social media can serve as a platform for people to find emotional relief and opportunities to be educated about mental health. Co-founder of Coppell Counseling Inc. Kimberly Hatley participates in several Facebook groups with other mental health professionals to share resources with her clients.

“People don’t feel as alone,” Hatley said. “If someone is vulnerable and talks about their issues and they share them on social media, the people that read them realize that they’re not suffering by themselves.”

CHS senior Neha Bodanki and 2020 graduates Samhita Tadi, Sanjonaa Rudrarajuvenkata and Shradda Uppu created the social media account @the_green_ribbon last year. Bodanki, Tadi, Rudrarajuvenkata and Uppu post digital posters and hosted a fundraiser which went towards awareness bracelets.

“Most people know that mental illnesses exist, but many are unaware of how to help themselves or other people with these illnesses,” Bodanki said. “This lack of awareness prompted us to share awareness. There are so many misconceptions about what mental health and illness is, people think it’s a bad thing, but we need to break down that stigma. Just saying illness makes people shy away from the topic, but it needs to be talked about.”

Likewise, CHS sophomore Trinity Khuc regularly re-posts mental health awareness accounts on her Instagram story @TrinityKhuc. With a mom as a psychologist at Cognitive Revival, Khuc remains well informed about mental health.

Khuc has interacted with other users, connecting using direct messaging. “I keep my DM’s open,” Khuc said. “I’m trying to

be someone who listens to other people [and] talk to people if they need it, even if they’re strangers. Someone has talked to me about self harm before and having someone there to listen is really important for your mental health.”

Social media provides people with a community, a family. People who might l feel alone in their day-to-day life may be able to

connect with others and find solace in an online community. It is important to share content on social media that spreads awareness and positivity.

VICTORIA ‘21 can be reached at veh7936@g.coppellisd.com.

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

How teenagers abuse screen time and have to make a change Blanche Harris SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER @blanchegang

T

he virus is ravaging millions. No, not COVID-19. This virus is harder to spot and find symptoms. This disease is slowly eating away at us, and we are

blind to it: social media. In the past decade, the creation and popularization of social media platforms has unknowingly started to affect our mental health in the worst way possible.

Young people are more likely to report poor mental health after heavy use of social media. As young people depend more

and more on social media, studies show that they tend to have more anxiety and isolate themselves from other people. Parents are swapping out stories for screens.

Friends are swapping out talking for texting. The world is slowly swapping out real connections with virtual ones.

A prominent side effect of social media is cyberbullying. Some studies show that 15% of students ages 12-18 were bullied online.

Exposing young people to this level of criticism and comparison is detrimental to their mental health. Introducing kids to social media early on only gives them more exposure to the negative impacts social media has.

“I experienced cyberbullying in sixth grade, and it caused me to take a break from social media for a while,” CHS senior Jordyn Morris said. “Now that I’m older, I know to put limits on myself, to spend less time on my phone, which makes me look at social media differently.”

During quarantine, millions of people started spending an unprecedented amount of time on their phones. The average adult spends about three and a half hours a day using their phones, but during quarantine, screen time increased by around 30% for most Americans.

“We check our phones almost every minute of the day. ” CHS senior Delase Ansah said. “While social media gives us a voice, it also needs to stop holding us back.”

Our wellbeing is in danger.

Every minute spent scrolling on Instagram is another minute spent sinking further into the couch until you can not get up.

We tap through the lives of other people rather than getting to know them ourselves.

Social media gives us a false perception of the world we live in. Social media is showing us only what we want to see. Instead of showing the world authenticity, we show a photoshopped version of ourselves.

We never share what makes us human.

For all the downfalls of social media, there are some benefits that have made life easier. Without social media, it would’ve been harder to connect with people during quarantine. Social media allows us to connect with people around the world, express ourselves through our posts, and find trends and fashions you like.

Spending time on social media is perfectly normal and fun, there just needs to be a healthy way to use it. In order to protect your mental health, set timers for yourself. Be intentional about getting on your phone. Spend more time outside. Set goals for less screen time that week. Social media is meant to be fun and a source of entertainment. If we let ourselves be in control instead of it controlling us, we may find ourselves happier and free.

BLANCHE ‘21 can be reached at bxh2578@g.coppellisd.com.

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

9

THE SIDEKICK HAVE AN OPINION? CONTACT US TO WRITE A GUEST COLUMN AND BE PUBLISHED ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

A sign of the times

New milestones marking progress during period of routine Sally Parampottil EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @SParampottil

With each snip of the scissors, another lock of hair fell to the ground. As nearly six inches of black waves were severed, a small pile formed at my feet. It was my first haircut since May of 2019.

Time is relative.

Though measured in standards like hours and days, each person experiences the passage of time differently. For someone working at a tedious job, one day may seem to stretch longer than for someone who is spending the day at the mall. Ten minutes for a student cramming for his test flies by much quicker than the same length of time he waits for the lunch bell to ring. Within the accepted measurements, time varies simply by differing human perception.

However, there is a lot more than just the basics of counting time. There are milestones: the points in people’s lives when they note chapters beginning or closing, when they sense distinct change in who they are or what they’re doing - like the beginnings and ends of school years. The progression of time

can be realized by more intimate feelings than simply acknowledging numbers on a clock or calendar.

Now, I sat in the chair and stared in the mirror, seeing the two seemingly disembodied hands of my stylist maneuvering around with scissors and a comb and hearing her voice floating from somewhere behind my head.

For many people, time seems to have melted in the midst of COVID-19. Some have seen time stolen from loved ones due to duty, disease or death, and for those who are simply stuck at home, life has become a cycle. Whether the routine consists of scrolling through social media, working tirelessly against a virus that just refuses to disappear or living in a state of dissatisfaction, the milestones that used to define progress have blurred away.

Time is relative, and though the year is nearly three-quarters complete, it feels like no time has passed at all. The marks of advancement blur with the days, fading in meaning.

My eyes darted from their reflection to the sight of my hair mid-dry. The left side was being straightened with a round brush and hairdryer, while the right was still partially pinned up, falling into damp

curls. I hear my stylist say she would flatiron my hair afterwards; her voice is then lost to the sound of the hairdryer.

Normal milestones just don’t hold the same weight. What used to feel special - like entering adulthood by turning 18 - may not have the same significance as it would any other year. The build-up to the first day of school with clothes, snacks and supply shopping may not exist with virtual classes. And that’s OK. Finding different milestones to emphasize throughout the course of this time helps keep time moving. The clock will keep ticking no matter what, but how each person feels the progression is up to them. Maybe cleaning out one’s room becomes a milestone. Maybe finally finishing some really long book becomes another. Maybe putting value into something as small as going a certain number of days in a row without performing some bad habit makes each day feel more meaningful and less empty.

Of the many changes I should have felt in the past months, in that moment, nothing felt more different than the loss of weight from my head. When completely straightened, long layers were added, touch-ups performed, and a diagonal cut made to frame both sides

of my face.

Though I was a week into senior year, I only truly felt like a new chapter of my life was beginning when I was handed a mirror to gaze at my finished look.

T i m e is relative.

It’s counted in seconds, minutes, hours, days, laughs, cries, successes, failures, hopes, goals, actions, dreams and for me especially, haircuts.

SALLY ‘21 can be reached at scp7918@g.coppellisd.com.

Time is a concept perceived differently by each person. The Sidekick executive editor-in-chief Sally Parampottil explores the phrase, “time is relative,” while commenting on the fact that COVID-19 has made time fly by this year. Photo by Blanche Harris

Black lives, anti-racism matters Working together, learning from past can lead to a better future

up sharecropping—an exploitative form of labor that occurred after slavery ended. My STAFF WRITER paternal grandfather did not get full rights @YaziDazi until he was 16, my current age, when the Civil and Voting Rights Acts were passed in 1964 and 1965, respectively. My father is part of the first generation in his family to be born with full rights, making me and my sisters the second generation.

Knowing this, it is easily understood that full freedom for Black Americans is more recent than society recognizes.

Diversity in our society has become better, such as in schools, but as long as racism and police brutality still exist, so will the fight for social justice.

This year, America has come to crossroads as the demand for equality grows stronger. The rampant killing of unarmed Black people, everyday Americans, is being New Tech High @ Coppell senior Steven Lyons and Coppell High School senior shoved in our faces, and ignorMichelle Tack march through the streets of Coppell on June 6. The Sidekick staff writer ing it is no longer an option.

Yasemin Ragland hopes for more progress for racial equality. Photo by Lilly Gorman Black Americans only make

Yasemin Ragaland

Life as a Black person in America can be inspiring and complicated when we look at our shared history and the future.

My paternal great grandmother grew

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

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up 13.4% of the U.S population, but 28% have been killed by officers who are meant to protect and serve their communities.

Many Black American teenagers are terrified about what could happen when they or their families step outside to do everyday things. This fear and frustration has sparked protests around the world and has united people of different races and backgrounds because enough is enough.

In a perfect society, we would not wouldn’t judge or bully others just because they look, act, talk or think differently, especially if they are not the same race.

Even athletes, celebrities and businesses are joining the protests calling for anti-racism.

Many people on all sides acknowledged the brutality displayed in the video of George Floyd being choked to death over $20. He was not wasn’t the first or last unarmed Black American to be killed by the police, but his death served as the breaking point that started the 2020 protests.

TO READ MORE, VISIT COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM YAZEMIN ‘22 can be reached at yxr6031@g.coppellisd.com

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student life

10

OCTOBER 2020

Stepping up for healthcare workers: Gottipati raising funds, supplies for local hospitals Tr i s h a A t l u r i

ADVERTISING MANAGER @trishatluri

A

s apprehension over the coronavirus rose in May, Coppell High School senior Naisha Gottipati watched as the long shifts at the UT Southwestern Children’s Medical Center took their toll on her sister, Dr. Lasya Challa. “[Challa] was more lethargic and she couldn’t interact with us as much because she was afraid of being contaminated and spreading [COVID-19],” Gottipati said. “I started reading articles about how [the pandemic] was impacting healthcare workers. I found that some hotels would offer food and lodging to healthcare workers who are too afraid to stay with their families, and I knew I wanted to do something along those lines.”

Inspired by the sacrifices Challa made for her patients, Gottipati started the nonprofit Healthcare Meals, Inc. The organization has raised more than $9,000, 900 meals and 800 face shields for local hospitals.

Gottipati’s main initial challenge was contacting hospitals that would work with Hewalthcare Meals to accept donations.

“It took a while for the nonprofit to start off, so her per-

Coppell High School senior Naisha Gottipati delivers a donation of face shields to UT Southwestern Clements Jr. University Hospital on July 14. Gottipati started the nonprofit Healthcare Meals, Inc. to raise money, food, and personal protective equipment for hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Photo Courtesy Naisha Gottipatti. sistence in contacting the hospitals and donors was a big part of the organization’s growth,” Gottipati’s mother Pallavi Challa said via email.

Gottipati started donating to Parkland Hospital before expanding to four other hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the next two months.

After hours of calling representatives from the human resources departments at hospitals, Gottipati realized running a nonprofit improves her communication skills.

“I used to be the person who stuck around the corner and did the behind the scenes work,” Gottipati said.

“When I started this, I had to become the spokesperson to the corporate sponsors, deliverers and hospitals. It helped me become a better communicator.”

Previous experience in volunteering with other organizations prepared Gottipati for her nonprofit. She has been working for the American Red Cross since 2018, coordinating volunteers from 12 counties in North Texas.

“Her experience serving as a volunteer at the American Red Cross instilled a sense of social responsibility into her,” Mrs. Challa said via email.

As the pandemic continues, personalized letters of appreciation from hospital staff motivate

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Gottipati to continue collecting supplies and money for healthcare workers.

“I find it very wonderful that she’s giving back to healthcare workers in this global pandemic,” CHS senior Shreya Ravichandar said. “It definitely makes it less stressful for the doctors, nurses and everyone else who works at the hospital.”

The nonprofit’s quick growth encourages Gottipati to expand further.

In the future, Gottipati plans to start chapters of Healthcare Meals in rural areas of Texas where donations and funding are low.

“Starting this made me realize how good it feels to do something meaningful to yourself and the people around you,” Gottipati said.

TRISHA ‘22 can be reached at tra2735@g.coppellisd.com.

11

THE SIDEKICK CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS AT CHS P. 15

SUSAN SHEPPARD TEACHER OF THE ISSUE P. 15

From first grade to 12th grade over summer: Oh transitions to high school counselor Shreya Beldona

EXECUTIVE ENTERPRISE EDITOR @BeldonaShreya Despite never working on the campus, as Coppell High School counselor Lindsey Oh walked into CHS with her new position, she could not help but feel at home.

Though the campus was desolate compared to its usual bustling, chatter-filled hallways, Oh dressed up head-to-toe in her professional attire, smiling as the first day of school arrived. However, this job is not a deviation from her norm but rather a return to it.

After working at Krum ISD in Denton County for seven years, Oh is used to the experience of working at a high school. However, last year, she stepped out of her comfort zone and worked in a level of education she never worked in before: elementary school.

“Those [Lakeside Elementary

School] kids are amazing,” Oh said. “It was cool to see life through little kid’s eyes. But coming up to high school, it just felt natural and easy.”

Though working at Lakeside was out of her comfort zone, her counselor experience made the adjustment easier. Oh impressed the Lakeside staff despite her lack of elementary experience.

“Her impact was just having that openness and calm, safe space for people to come to.

RACHEL SCHNEIDER L A K E S I D E A S S I S TA N T P R I N C I PA L

Lindsey Oh, pictured with her daughter Brooklyn and husband Allen Oh, joins the Coppell High School counseling staff this school year after working as a counselor at Lakeside Elementary School. Oh has worked as a high school counselor at Krum ISD and now works alongside her husband, who is a CHS assistant football coach and honors algebra II teacher. Photo courtesy Lindsey Oh

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

“I got an email [on Aug. 17] from one of the [Lakeside] teachers saying, ‘we miss you,’” Oh said. “They said they would never know that you had never been an elementary counselor because you did a great job and the kids loved you.”

Regardless of working at Lakeside for only a year, Oh’s impact is still felt across the campus.

Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

“If she’s left something behind it’s that the counselor is someone who always is available,” Lakeside assistant principal Rachel Schneider said. “Her impact was just having that openness and calm, safe space for people to come to.”

But Lindsey Oh is not the only “Oh” at CHS. Oh works alongside her husband, honors algebra II teacher, offensive Line coach and 2004 CHS graduate Allen Oh. In fact, Mr. Oh is a primary reason for her decision to work at CISD. “I always wanted to come back to teach and coach,” Mr. Oh said. “It’s always good to at some point in your teaching and coaching career to come back to the school you graduated from.

I wanted [Mrs.Oh] to experience that Coppell system, whether that be elementary or high school.”

Working together is a familiar experience for the Ohs. Both initially met while working at Krum High School and have worked together since, with the exception of Mrs. Oh’s job at Lakeside.

Because of Mr. Oh’s personal connection with CHS and Principal Laura Springer, the possibility of transferring to CHS from Lakeside became an option. After applying for a transfer, Mrs. Oh received news of her job offer at CHS a week after the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

“When I got called [about the job offer], it was my last day at Lakeside,” Mrs. Oh said. “It was my last day of work, and I was truly walking out the doors for the last time.”

Even though CHS is currently devoid of students, Mrs. Oh is excited to form a connection with students this year.

“Some kids will say that they never talked to their counselor through school and it makes me sad,” Mrs. Oh said. “My goal is to help kids see that I’m a resource that they can use, whether it’s academic, personal, social or emotional.”

SHREYA ‘21 can be reached at sxb4151@g.coppellisd.com.

Facebook: Sidekick Online

DISCRIMINATION.

Examining change, advocacy in Coppell Story by Shreya Beldona // Photo by Samantha Freeman

Whether the intention behind acts of discrimination are based on race, faith, sexuality or culture, their presence is still felt by many in Coppell. These acts can range from microaggressions (comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group) to hate crimes.

Exploring the former, microaggressions are often unintentional and can range from statements such as “I do not see color” to “why are you so loud?” They often use subtle language to get across their point.

In the examples above, claiming to not see color ignores that individual’s different racial and ethnic perspectives and asking about loudness encourages minorities to act “normal.”

“I can take a joke,” Coppell High School senior Faith Smith said. “But I can’t take racism disguised as a joke.”

Microaggressions isolate, alienate and stereotype individuals into a “box” - that is, associating an individual with the stereotypes of the minority group they identify with.

On the surface level, these may seem like nothing more than scratches. However, enough scratches can lead to big, open wounds - wounds that, unlike scratches, never quite heal. Misleading due to their name, microaggressions’ impact is anything but micro. These acts have been tied to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

These covertly discriminatory acts perpetuate. Every time an act is brushed off as a joke or not intentionally harmful, it lets the perpetrator know they have not done anything wrong, that their behavior is OK. This instills underlying bias, which might not be passed off of as “just a joke.”

“One year at [CHS], it was me and this other Muslim student [in class], and my teacher had CNN playing,” Black, Muslim former CHS student and current New Tech High @ Coppell senior Nawal Seif said. “[The show] was talking about ISIS and terrorism in the Middle East, and my teacher paused it and he was like, ‘What do you think makes them act like this? Can you tell us why they choose to do this?’

Why would we know why ISIS chooses to do the things they do?”

But what about discirmination that is evidently spelled out?

In August, a letter not specifically addressed to any individual arrived at a unit at an apartment building on Ranchview Drive in Irving. The letter was clear: “We will have no choice but to shoot mercilessly at work place, in community, on pool or on playground.”

The letter targeted Asians, specifically Indian and Chinese individuals in the information technology industry, claiming they had taken jobs away from American citizens.

“The [letter] took me back, and I had to stop and reflect on it for a while,” Seif said. “It’s 2020 and that’s still happening, we’re still getting those letters. I was so scared because I have so many family and friends that live in Irving. How do you go about your daily life knowing there are people who are dangerous and armed who don’t want you there when you’re not doing anything to harm them?”

The letter is currently being investigated by the Irving Police Department and appears to be an isolated incident.

However, discrimination of other forms is pervasive.

Advocacy.

It was when Smith was on the last leg of her protest that she felt truly empowered. As she marched down Heartz Road with a crowd of about 70 people behind her, those who opposed her mission appeared, yelling right back at the crowd. But Smith did not try to stop the words that erupted from her

mouth, nor she did not want to: “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA.” These marches act as one avenue in which students and community members can advocate.

Smith helped organize one of two Coppell protests that occurred this summer, helping support the Black Lives Matter movement while “bursting the Coppell bubble.”

“What [some Coppell parents] did not like to hear was that we like to live in a bubble,” Smith said.

“They need to hear that there is something going on and they need to understand this. Most of the people fighting against us are the ones who need to hear it the most.”

The pinnacle of the march occurred as the protestors took over the Sandy Lake Road and Denton Tap Road intersection, halting traffic to ensure their

message was heard.

“Whoever you are, you are going to pause your life and take a moment to hear us. It might be a little inconvenient for you, but racism isn’t convenient and all the victims of racism did not get to go home, so you don’t either,” Smith said.

Students are using multiple means to spread their message.

Putting almost a decade’s worth of art experience to work, Coppell resident and The Hockaday School sophomore Amber Li, spends up to seven hours working on commission paintings, donating all proceeds to ActBlue, an online Democratic fundraising program. In total, Li plans to donate $345.

Despite not being a member of the Black community, Li empathizes with their plights, especially due to her experience being a racial minority.

“All of us are going through racial oppression because our society is just very racist as it is, not just towards Black people but also towards other minorities. If [non-Black individuals], don’t show support and do as much as we can to help lift up communities in need, then when it’s our time, we shouldn’t expect the same support,” Li said. “Have empathy; you are a human being.”

Essentially, Black communities face harsher negative effects than other groups of individuals.

In terms of sentencing time, Black individuals are

more likely to be put in jail than their white and Hispanic counterparts. In terms of climate change, Green America reports Black individuals are more likely to breathe polluted air and live near coal plants and toxic sites.

The purpose of these forms of advocacy is not to push the “right” ideas onto individuals, but rather to create a platform and environment to discuss and educate.

Change.

Change is the goal. And to a certain extent, change has already been made.

“When I first started teaching, [the racism I experienced] was subtle,” Cottonwood Creek Elementary fifth grade teacher Malachi Ewbank said. “Coded language gets across your point without being overtly racist. Now, because of [Coppell ISD’s] diversity, we’re starting to grapple with ‘what does it mean now that we are more diverse?’”

CHS Principal Laura Springer thinks the education system can be changed to be more inclusive and educated on racial minorities.

“Change comes through education,” Springer said. “It comes from not telling people they’re wrong, but showing them instances that we have to address and that is just humanity.”

Regarding curriculum, schools can place a greater emphasis on the role Black Americans have played in the founding of the United States and the role they continue to play. Typical American history courses end the discussion of Black Americans with the Civil Rights Movement, leaving almost a 60-year gap until present day.

Springer also suggests taking a similar approach to racial equality as DARE, an educational program that emphasizes the negative impacts of drug use, gang membership and violent behavior.

“It’s the same type of curriculum, but you put it in place for inclusion,” Springer said.

“You start teaching how you become an inclusive person.

We educate you on diversity and how you become inclusive with that diversity.”

Administrators also encourage students to confide in them and other faculty members when feeling alienated or excluded.

“When you look at students participating to achieve racial equality, [they are] telling their own truth about how these situations are making them feel,” CISD trustee Anthony Hill said. “So it’s, ‘Where are you today? How do you feel? What would you like to see in the future?’”

For Ewbank, the experience of being isolated was not foreign growing up as a biracial young boy in the United States.

“When I entered first grade [as a student], I was the only person of color for the first two years,” Ewbank said. “I came home and I thought my name was [racial slur] because I had been called it so many times. I grew up and I thought it was always my job to defend the color of my skin by asking them to come out back after school and settle things on the playground. My dad said you can’t beat away the beliefs of somebody else.”

Ewbank learned the importance of questioning and having meaningful conversation rather than pointing fingers and blaming. In June, the CISD Board of Trustees adopted a resolution for both new and current employees to participate in diversity and inclusion training.

“I question. I get further if I am asking questions,” Ewbank said. “If you are seen as threatening or mean, you’ve just alienated the child and you’ve lost the chance to help another human being become inclusive.”

14

student life VIRTUAL KALEIDOSCOPE // OCT. 1 - 31

OCTOBER COLUMBUS DAY // OCT. 12

CAMPUS RENOVATIONS Renovations at Coppell High School were completed over the summer.

Changes to the building include new wall logos, fresh paint, modern lighting, new flooring and updated staircases. Photos by Lilly Gorman

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15

THE SIDEKICK CITY COUNCIL MEETING // OCT. 13

HALLOWEEN // OCT. 31

teacher of the issue: Sally Parampottil EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @SParampottil

SUSAN SHEPPARD

Coppell High School honors chemistry, IB chemistry and IB chemistry II teacher Susan Sheppard helps CHS juniors Julia Cherkesov and Sven Collins with classwork during third period class on Sept. 9 in C202. Sheppard was selected as The Sidekick’s Teacher of the Issue. Photo by Lilly Gorman The science department is no stranger to Coppell High School honors chemistry, IB chemistry I and IB chemistry II teacher Susan Sheppard. Having also taught forensic science, biology, physics and AP chemistry, as well as working as the academic decathlon science coach, science has been a major part of Sheppard’s life since she began pursuing chemistry in college. Sheppard was selected by The Sidekick staff as the October Teacher of the Issue.

Why did you decide to teach chemistry?

My plan originally was to work in a pharmaceutical lab, looking specifically at organic design, tweaking subgroups to get rid of undesirable side effects. But life has a way of moving you into things that are better for you sometimes. I ended up, at the time, seriously dating my boyfriend who is now my husband, and at the time, if you wanted to work in pharmaceutical research, there were about four cities that there were labs you could work in. It’s much different now, but I got to thinking, when things started to turn serious, “What if he didn’t want to live in one of those four cities?” So I thought, “I will pick up a teaching certificate as a backup.” That way, if none of those four cities work out for him, I’d be OK. I started education classes and suddenly realized I didn’t want to work in a lab, I wanted to work with people. I love talking to people and helping them understand new things and getting excited. I realized that organic chemistry and lab research was definitely not what I wanted or needed to do.

What high school stereotype did you fit into and do you still fit into it now?

I was a band nerd. I played the clarinet [at Springlake-Earth High School in Lamb County, Texas]. I still enjoy music, both of my girls are in band. I will say I still think I’m a band nerd because every time the drums come down the hallway, I notice if I’m not paying attention, I immediately get into marching step. I’m in cadence walking down the hall because I’m so used to that. I was also very much an academic nerd and that’s still true. But, the thing I would say is different is that in high school, I was very shy and withdrawn. I was afraid to talk to other people because I was afraid of rejection. Although there’s still a little bit of that, I think that’s true for almost everyone; we’re all afraid of rejection. I would still consider myself an introvert, but if I know you and trust you, I become an extrovert around you, and that would not be true in high school.

Even with my friends, I would sit there and listen to them talk and not really have anything to say.

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

Why did you choose to study chemistry?

So I joined chemistry in high school but it really didn’t become a passion for me until I was in college.

When I first started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and [my major was] undeclared for about two years. I knew I had to take a general science course for just general education hours and I ended up in chemistry. The professor that I had was amazing. He really ignited a passion in me for chemistry and after that one class, I’ve never looked back.

Of all the science courses you’ve taught, which is your favorite?

I think I can narrow it to two. I used to teach forensic science and I really loved [it] because at my core, I’m a storyteller. There’s lots of stories in forensic science and they’re all delightfully gory. So it’s a lot of fun to teach, but I gave that up when I started [teaching] IB chemistry four years ago. That’s my other top choice. I love IB. I love the way it’s structured, I love the type of kids that find their way into it and it’s not work; everyday is a discussion [involving] learning together. And that is what I love about IB. As much as I love forensic science, I wouldn’t go back.

we’ve been here.

If you could listen to one musical artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

The Beatles. I was raised by a Beatles loving mama; when you see the old newsreel footage of the ladies going “ahhhh!” she was there. I pretty much know every Beatles song by heart, and so do my girls [CHS senior Ashley Sheppard and Coppell Middle School East sixth grader Emily Sheppard]. I have a varied musical taste, but if I had to say goodbye to everyone but one, I’d keep the Beatles.

SALLY‘21 can be reached at scp7918@g.coppellisd.com.

How long have you been the academic decathlon science coach and what does that entail?

Either four or five years. So essentially, academic decathlon has a subject that we study intensely every year and it’s divided up into the different strands. So as the science coach, it’s my job to lead weekly practices on whatever the science strand is and just teach them that as an extra class at the end of the school day, as they’re also studying these other subjects. This year [the topic is] is the Space Race. So we’re talking about a lot of astronomy and a little bit of physics with the physics of spaceflight.

What’s it like having daughters in Coppell ISD? So, my oldest is a senior this year, and when we came, she was in third grade. So that tells you how long Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Facebook: Sidekick Online

16

entertainment

OCTOBER 2020

“Dream come true”: Coppell Arts Center hoping to become local cultural landmark arts to do exhibitions and teach classes and do artists meetups.”

The arts center would not have been possible without a task force formed in January that consisted of a number of Coppell business leaders and professional artists. Later, it would become the Coppell Arts Council—an entity that takes care of funding, long-term business consulting and setting larger priorities for the arts center.

“There are different opportunities we’re going to be able to give Coppell,” Coppell Arts Council president Penelope Furry said. “For our resident companies, I’m most excited about giving them a great venue. For the community, I’m excited they have a venue for top tier entertainment locally.”

While the arts council has a say in the overall management of the center, the five resident companies hold the most direction in the kinds of events community members will get to engage in.

“All of those companies—it’s up to them what they want to present in their season and what their season looks like,” Furry said. “Historically they’ve all been independent, but now they will need to be more integrated. Programming decisions are a little more coordinated. The artscenter brings a lot of opportunities: better performance opportunities, a nicer place to perform, a more professional situation and a cutting edge experience as a performer.”

Leaders of the arts center are quick to point out the number of ways the center will engage young Coppell Arts Center leadership and resident companies have begun to make plans to showcase Coppell artists. Coppell residents—particularly high school students. According to Hargis, The Coppell Arts Center’s 30-year history culminates in a facility that connects local arts groups to the broader Coppell residents 18 years or older community. Photo by Camila Flores can volunteer as an usher. The cenAnd citizens who are not artists—like my- it will include visual arts,” Coppell ter is also tuned into the content that Ne h a D e s a r a j u self—who are people who want to engage Creatives (a group of Coppell residents young Coppell artists post on social ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR and have a good time, right now, you have who engage with local art) co-lead Jan- media, and will offer opportunities for @nehadesaraju to drive a lot [to find those opportunities].” na Tidwell said. “The current [theater] those creatives to present their talent at Construction had been delayed since the center. he dream began in 1988. It was a noIn fact, the center has plans in the tion that Coppell should have a place January, with construction issues and works for student-only spaces, ways for where the arts could connect directly most recently, the COVID-19 pandemstudents to engage with a professional with each other and engage with the com- ic, but Hargis and the arts center management team have hosted drive-ins and level of entertainment and opportunities munity in ways they never had before. for young artists to showcase their work.

Then, in 2013, to-be Coppell Arts other outdoor shows and are planning for Many program leaders are in collaboraCenter managing director Alex Hargis some of the first events the resident comtion with Coppell ISD fine arts programs breathed life into Theatre Coppell found- panies will hold. There is also a “Hopento host masterclasses or offer a better perer Pete Wilson’s original dream—and the ing” scheduled for Oct. 13 and tickets will go on sale for limited exhibits then. formance experience.

Coppell Arts Center was born.

“The new arts center is going to provide “We’ve actually been working with Today, construction has not yet finCISD teachers to ensure that when they ished, but Wilson already describes the so much to the community, mostly for the arts,” Wilson said. “It’s a public gathering do exhibits, the facility will be available arts center as a “dream come true.” for them to show their artwork,” Tidwell The five resident arts groups—Theatre place, a performing place, and [it has] meetsaid. “We have some very talented students Coppell, Coppell Chorale, Coppell Ballet, ing rooms, receptions, art exhibits, things and we want their work to be up there Coppell Creatives and Coppell Orches- like that. It’s going to be all-inclusive.”

Among the many facilities and shows with some of the professional artists who tra—have turned the space into their own. live and work in Coppell.”

Even during current COVID-19 restric- the groups are hoping to put on, there will Thirty-plus years in the making, the tions, community arts leaders have big be a combination art gallery and classroom, space for masterclasses and various Coppell Arts Center—once nothing more ambitions for the project. than a dream for a renovated theater— “[The history of the arts center] ties exhibitions. Resident companies are also has received overwhelming support from into Coppell’s evolution as it has devel- creating virtual art education opportucity officials, CISD leaders and local artoped from a small bedroom community nities for Coppell community members. ists. Coppell fine arts leaders hope the to one that is now fully built out and has Leaders of the program hope the center a very diverse, talented population of cit- can become a melting pot of culture, ed- facility houses the theater and the or- building will soon be the heart of comizens—that includes artists,” Hargis said. ucation and volunteer involvement, espe- chestra and the chorale, but there’s not munity entertainment. a place for visual artists. But the new “If you’re a local artist, you’re looking for cially for young students.

“The thing I’m the most excited center will have a gallery space and a NEHA ‘21 can be reached at ways to display your work. There’s not a lot nsd4173@g.coppellisd.com. of venues around that gear towards them. about for the new arts center is that classroom pace that will allow the visual

T

“The new arts center is going to provide so much for the community.”

PETE WILSON

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

17

THE SIDEKICK CAPTURING CULTURAL BEAUTY P. 17

CREATING FOR BLACK LIVES P. 18

KITCHEN TRAVELS P. 19

Band conducting limited in-person rehearsals to prepare for football season Akhila Gunturu CHS9 Editor @akhila_gunturu

Since March, the Coppell Band has been conducting its program virtually due to COVID-19. Now, with the start of the 2020-21 school year, band has continued to carry out the program online, and as of two weeks ago, has begun limited in-person rehearsals.

These in-person rehearsals started Aug. 24 with each day consisting of rehearsal from 6:30-8 p.m. for varsity marching band members. Students have been assigned 15 feet by 15 feet spaces by name. The rehearsals have been focusing on the more visual performance with no instruments, such as marching, movement and concepts.

“I think [what they’re doing] is very safe,” CHS junior trumpet player Sharan Sethi said. “[Coppell Band director Gerry Miller] and the whole director team [have] kept everyone’s opinions in their mind and worked accordingly.”

From Aug. 3-11, band conducted its annual summer camp entirely over Zoom. Each day was split into blocks, beginning with a meditation block, and followed by band values, dance, show music and enrichment blocks.

While previous years’ camps involved a much heavier emphasis on the physical marching aspect due to the onset of the football season, the delaying of football season allowed this year’s camp to offer activities during the enrichment block such as discussions about

music career, music therapy, composing and conduction as well as appearances from guest speakers. “[We incorporated] all of these things to have our students engage in things that were interesting to them that we often didn’t have time to do in the summer,” Miller said. “I’d like to find a way to keep that in our calendar.

[Previous camps] were different in that our effort as a staff was more physical. This was more mental. But at the same time, I feel like we grew equal amounts, we grew in other areas. We took steps in new directions we hadn’t before. This was more mental.

But at the same time, I feel like we grew equal amounts, we grew in other areas. We took steps in new directions we hadn’t before.”

For the past three weeks, Coppell High School band students are currently taking music classes from home with band has continued conduct- limited in-person rehearsals. For many students, the virtual set up consists of devices ing classes over Zoom in a with their music, Zoom screens and instruments. Photo courtesy Anvita Ukidwe format similar to summer band camp, with class periods puter screens with students over Zoom, is limited, there are other challenges split into blocks by section. a piano and a microphone, allowing that rise with an online band.

“Having band in the middle of your for there to be multiple audio inputs day, especially because we have dance to help people on the call hear better.

TO READ MORE, VISIT and music involved, [is] a nice break from Students will sometimes be asked to COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM sitting down and staring at your comput- lead the group individually, and in that er,” CHS junior mellophone section lead- way, a sample of students will be heard.

AKHILA ‘22 can be reached at er Anvita Ukidwe said.

However, virtual band does not allow for axg0588@g.coppellisd.com.

For the directors, the virtual set-up students to hear and play with each othconsists of an iPad with music on it, com- er at once, and while the physical aspect

Moh amme d emphasizi ng beau ty i n cultural fashion through photography Camila Villareal

EXECUTIVE OPINIONS EDITOR @fliipthewriter Coppell High School senior Yusra Mohammed uses her love and talent for photography to showcase many cultural fashions and appreciation for styles throughout various eras. Mohammed displays her photography on social media and earns money by scheduling bookings with clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She is currently working on starting a magazine titled Meridian Magazine, which has received submissions from places such as Scotland, Ireland, England and Australia.

Mohammed has been featured in four publications: Picton Magazine, BeautyMute Magazine, RED HOT MONDE Magazine and Vigour Magazine.

fashion and explored that path more and more.

What do you focus on when taking photos?

I focus on the skin tones of my models because different

How did you get your start in photography?

About four or five years ago, I just started taking pictures of still life on my phone, but after a while, I began styling and making my pictures more aesthetic with more objects incorporated. I saved up for a camera and started working with my friends in photoshoots. After that, I started focusing on Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

ranges of shades should be shown off for their beauty. When I shoot, I do my best to bring out the inner beauty of [the model’s] individuality.

What do you use for inspiration during shoots?

My biggest

inspiration for photography is a photographer named Jessica Kobeissi. In terms of fashion, I love taking pictures of gowns and dresses, so when I see an era that catches my eye, I like to base the fashion in my photoshoots off of it – something like the Renaissance Era, for example. I definitely do a lot of research so I can get the look I want to have.

What is your favorite shoot you have ever had?

I worked with a sustainable designer from Project Runway named Nathalia JMag. The whole shoot with her was very fun because she designs her own clothing and it’s a very extravagant style, so it was just a fun experience to see and get to be a part of.

Coppell High School senior Yusra Mohammed photographs CHS senior Nausheen Ahmed at Moore Road Park. Mohammed’s photography is centered around cultural fashion in order to highlight the beauty of individuality. Photos by Samantha Freeman Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Other than photography, what takes up most of your day?

I’m on the varsity debate team, so I have to plan my week around that a lot.

My upstart magazine also takes up a big chunk of my time, because I always have to be answering emails and maintaining the magazine as it starts to grow. The majority of my weekends are just me editing [photos] too.

CAMILA ‘21 can be reached at abc1234@g.coppellisd.com.

Facebook: Sidekick Online

18

entertainment

COPPELL ARTS CENTER DRIVE-IN MOVIE SERIES // 7:30 P.M. // TWICE A MONTH

OCTOBER KALEIDOSCOPE: VIRTUAL CELEBRATION // OCT. 1-31

Comic of the Issue

Artists drawing support for racial justice Tr i s h a A l t u r i

ADVERTISING MANAGER @trishatluri

This past May, when the death of George Floyd rocked the nation and opened the eyes of a generation to racially motivated violence, Coppell High School senior Ishita Sisodia picked up her oil paints and set to work on a piece she would spend five days on.

Sisodia, along with other Coppell-based student artists, was inspired by the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement to create art that would raise awareness and money for racial injustice.

The local nonprofit Pal O Valley Cards has donated $400 to the NAACP so far. Originally founded by CHS junior Rohan Palavali and sophomore Maya Palavali to raise money for Doctors Without Borders, the artists opened up their services to include donation commissions, the proceeds of which would go to the NAACP “We really hope that this inspires other people to set up some fundraisers of their own or use whatever they can do to help people in need,” Rohan said Similar to the Palavalis, several other Coppell artists put their desire to helpand their skillset to use through donation commissions. CHS sophomore Kelly Park, senior Kirthika Piratla and The Hockaday School in Dallas sophomore Amber Li raised a total of $500 through

commissions, which they donated to various organizations committed to addressing racial inequality.

Park, Piratla, Li and Pal O Valley Cards used individual art accounts on Instagram to advertise their commissions.

They were all informed about these issues by social media, and Piratla and Park drew inspiration from other Instagram artists for their idea to fundrais through commissions.

For former Sidekick staffers and CHS 2020 graduates Umama Suriya and Yash Ravula, the implementation of their skills to help the movement came in the form of a documentary featuring Coppell voices of various races. Through writing, interviewing and editing, “The Last Straw - The Divide of Centuries” took almost two months to produce. In the description, the team noted their goal was to “amplify the voices of African Americans.”

Piratla also recognizes thw need to elevate Black people and their struggle.

“It breaks my heart, because I’ve been ignorant for a long time, not knowing how it feels and not properly listening to the voices of Black people,” Piratla said. “There’s so much frustration over years of people not listening to them. It’s really powerful how they finally have a way to reach millions of people.”

TRISHA ‘22 can be reached at tra2735@g.coppellisd.com.

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

Coppell High School senior Kirthika Piratla sells a commission and donates the earnings to We The Protesters, an organization focused on ending racism and police violence in the United States. Local artists use their talents to raise awareness and money for the movement. Photo courtesy Kirthika Piratla

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

THE SIDEKICK

19

SCARE ON THE SQUARE IN OLD TOWN // 11 AM - 2 PM // OCT. 24

COPPELL ARTS CENTER “HOPENING” // OCT 13

Visit Taiwan in one flavorful bite Tr a c y Tr a n

PHOTO ASSIGNMENT EDITOR @AnhImtracy

INGREDIENTS

Instructions:

For wrapping & baking:

8. Preheat the oven to 355 degrees and line the baking pan with parchment paper.

For the pastry:

1. Whisk 5 grams of sugar, condensed milk and butter in a large bowl. Add one egg yolk and continue whisking.

2. Sift the cornstarch, flour and salt into the wet mixture. Mix until all the ingredients are combined. Do not knead or over mix to avoid forming gluten.

3. Ball the dough. Place dough into a bowl and put in the fridge for 1 hour 30 minutes.

For the filling:

- 350 grams fresh pineapple - 105 grams granulated sugar - 30-45 mL corn syrup (can be substituted with honey) - 2 egg yolks -5 mL milk - 60 grams all-purpose flour - 20 grams condensed milk - 45 grams soften unsalted butter - 2 tsp baking powder - ¼ tsp salt

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

4. Cut off the top and end of the pineapple and trim off the thick skin. Remove the pineapple eyes and separate the pineapple flesh and core.

Put the core in a food processor and pulse a few times until it is down to small pieces. Cut the pineapple flesh into small chunks.

9. Divide the dough into 14 to 16 pieces and do the same with the filling. Wrap the fillings with the dough into cubes and use the back of the knife to create a criss-cross pattern on the top 10. Brush the top of each cake with egg wash (combine 5mL milk with one egg yolk).

11. Bake for 15-17 minutes and leave it cool on the baking pan for 10 minutes before moving them to the rack to completely cool.

5. In a bowl, mix 100 grams of sugar with pineapple and let it sit for at least one hour.

6. Pour the mixture into a non-stick pan and stir on medium-high heat.

When the mixture thickens, reduce to low heat and add corn syrup or honey.

7. Continue stirring for 10 minutes until slightly thinner than desired, as the jam will harden further while cooling. Remove the pan from heat and let it cool.

Taiwanese pineapple cakes are made with fresh pineapple for a juicy and natural taste. These tangy bites are sure to provide the taste of Taiwan.

Photo by Tracy Tran

Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Facebook: Sidekick Online

20

sports

OCTOBER 2020

A 31,856-yard return

Cowboys welcome familiar face back for senior year

Sally Parampottil EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @SParampottil

R

ed. White. Black.

Though it had been less than a year since senior wide receiver KJ Liggins had played football, it was the first time putting on a Coppell uniform since his sophomore year.

He was home.

Liggins had spent his junior year at Denton Guyer, culminating in a state-runner up finish with a 24-0 loss to Austin Westlake. By the beginning of spring break, he knew he was coming back.

“Coppell, it’s more love, and there’s not that many politics,” Liggins said.

“Right here, it’s just all love, and I feel a lot of that in Coppell.”

Having moved to Coppell the summer before eighth grade, Liggins began forming relationships with teammates and making a name for himself at a young age.

“I was watching [a scrimmage at Coppell Middle School North],” Coppell coach Michael DeWitt said. “I had just walked up, I had just been there a few minutes, and I knew who he was but hadn’t seen him play yet. He was playing safety on defense, and he came downhill and made a great tackle, a physical tackle. He certainly stuck out on the field with the rest of the middle school kids. I remember thinking ‘he’s got a chance to be special’.”

Buddy Echols Field had been Liggins’ home away from home since he entered high school.

“As a player on the field, he was always very gifted, especially as a younger player, and you could tell even when he

Coppell senior wide receiver KJ Liggins returned to Coppell High School after attending Denton Guyer for a year. At Guyer, Liggins was a member of the 2019 Class 6A state runner-up. Photo by Lilly Gorman and courtesy KJ Liggins

YouTube: Coppell Student Media

was in middle school that he was going to be a really good player,” DeWitt said.

“As a freshman, we had several needs, so we put him on the varsity and he was a guy who started several games for us as safety. He ran back a kickoff for a touchdown against Skyline, and those were some moments you realized he was going to be special.”

A fruitful freshman year brought six offers from various colleges, including Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State,

junior year - 31,856 yards away - before returning for the final season of his high school career.

Moving was nothing new to KJ. Born in Chicago, moving to Indianapolis and returning to Chicago before coming to Coppell the summer before eighth grade meant adapting to a new environment was learned from a young age. The transition from Guyer to Coppell has been smooth, as KJ did not lose the bonds he built with his teammates while at a different school.

“He maintained his relationships with his peers that he went to middle school with and his first two years at Coppell in high school,” Mr. Liggins said. “He’s always maintained those friendships and relationships, and that’s something I’ve always instilled in him as a Coppell coach little kid - the imporTexas A&M, SMU and Syracuse. tance of relationships.”

However, Liggins’ football career took For Coppell junior wide receiver a hit when he was injured his sopho- Anthony Black, a relationship began more year. The Monday following the as soon as KJ arrived. Having both atfirst game of the season, he tore his left tended CMSN, Black saw KJ’s magnetACL during practice, taking ic personality from the very beginning. him out for the rest of “He did a pretty good job of meetthe season. ing people and fitting in,” Black said.

“He always stayed “He was a really good athlete. Once he positive and always came, he started fitting in with all the stayed upbeat,” KJ’s athletes, and eventually, he was just father, Keith Lig- a part of everybody, he was fitting in gins, said. “To see with everybody.” him work in rehab KJ and Black, now playing the same where a lot of peo- position on the same team, better each ple didn’t see - he other during practice with a bit of inrehabbed three times ternal competition. a day. It was tough; you “He plays really hard and he’s fast,” watch your kid from Black said. “He’s good at catching the age 5 playing that ball and getting up the field and makgame and really ing moves around the defenders trying playing well. To to tackle him.” see him excel year As an upperclassman, KJ sees a reby year and then versal of the roles played in the team to see a year dynamic from his last full season [where] you know with Coppell. how passionate “I used to be a baby, but now I’m an he was and how older guy; I get to teach and be a leader much he loved of the team, so it feels good,” KJ said. it [and then] to “I have to make it special because it’s not be able to my senior year.” do something Donning his Coppell uniform he loved, it was again, KJ will take the field playing tough, truly.” multiple positions, including wide Described by KJ receiver and safety. as the lowest point in “He’s going to be a guy we’re rehis football career, the ally going to lean on both sides of ACL injury cost him the ball,” DeWitt said. “He would be both fall and spring similar to the player [current Stanfootball that year. A ford safety and CHS 2019 graduate] surgery and many Jonathan McGill was. He played just months later, he was about every snap; if he’s not tired, able to practice again then he’s going to be on the field. when summer hit.

That’s the kind of player we expect However, he would him to be this year.” not be playing for Coppell again just yet. He moved SALLY ‘21 can be reached at to Denton Guyer for his scp7918@g.coppellisd.com.

“I remember thinking, ‘he’s got a chance to be special’.”

MICHAEL DEWITT

Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

THE SIDEKICK DOUBLE TROUBLE P. 22

OPPOSITES ATTRACT P. 22

CONFIDENCE IS KEY P. 23

21

Local teams to collegiate dreams

Chelsea Romas College: Texas Tech University

Coppell senior golfer Chelsea Romas practices her drive on Sept.

23 at Hackberry Creek Country Club. Romas committed to play golf at Texas Tech University on Aug. 8. Photo by Lilly Gorman

Major: Business and Finance As the golf club swings and the ball flies off of the tee, her heart flutters. If only this feeling could last forever.

Maybe it can.

READ MORE ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

“People don’t realize how mentally tough you have to be to play golf. There are so many snap decisions you need to make, and there’s no team to fall back on.

It’s just you and yourself out there, and you’re spending four or more hours with yourself thinking about everything you could do and everything that could go wrong.”

Jamie Welsh

College: Oklahoma City University

“The only thing I regret is not starting earlier because I fell in love with the game. [Sophomore year], varsity I was not a given, so I had to work really hard to get there. And then I just decided that I wanted to continue because I fell in love with the work that I put in.”

Major: Cell and Molecular Biology In the moment before a swing, the tendency is swing fast, move fast, think fast.

For Coppell senior golfer Jamie Welsh, those nerves are calmed and tendencies pushed down with a deep breath, a step back and just sometimes, the sight of a dragonfly fluttering across the green.

Coppell senior golfer Jamie Welsh practices her bunker shot on Oct. 3, 2019 at Riverchase Golf Club in Coppell. Welsh committed to play golf at Oklahoma City University on Aug. 9. Sidekick file photo

READ MORE ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Tim O’Hearn College: Lafayette College

Coppell senior inside linebacker Tim O’Hearn analyzes the field on Sept. 6, 2019 at Buddy Echols Field. O’Hearn committed to play football at Lafayette College on Aug. 11. Sidekick file photo

“It’s great to go out and build a bond with players where all of y’all have the same goal and work towards the same goal together. [I am]definitely not ready to be done playing with all my friends I’ve been playing with since middle school, but I’m looking forward to new opportunities.”

Major: Undecided Raging crowds. Screaming coaches. Whistling referees. Yet the loudest among the Friday night masses is Coppell senior inside linebacker Tim O’Hearn on the field.

READ MORE ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Chloe Hassman College: University of Pennsylvania

“I’ve always been drawn to the city, and I love the East Coast.

The [Ivy League schools] are great because you know they’re going to prioritize education and not let you get behind in the classroom. They encourage you to explore, take different classes and go out of your comfort zone.”

Major: Biology Throughout her life, Coppell senior Chloe Hassman has been surrounded by a family of runners that inspire her.

She will leave CHS cited as an inspiration to the years below her.

Coppell senior Chloe Hassman runs during cross country practice at Buddy Echols Field on Sept.

15. Hassman committed to the University of Pennsylvania for track and field and cross country on Aug. 22. Photo by Lilly Gorman

READ MORE ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Twitter: @CHSCampusNews

Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Facebook: Sidekick Online

22

sports

OCTOBER

GIRLS GOLF HEART OF TEXAS INVITATIONAL // OCT. 2-3

COPPELL CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL II // OCT. 24

Volleyball with a grain of sand Holz excelling at national level for indoor, sand volleyball Meer Mahfuz

community in indoor volleyball, which is probably the thing I miss having most in beach [volleyball].”

Holz has spent years on end perfecting her technique in both playing fields.

Having joined her indoor volleyball club - Attack Volleyball - on the cusp of sixth grade, Holz excelled quickly and reached the national level with her club in her freshman year. Similarly, Holz joined beach volleyball in eighth grade and reached the national level with her partner, Dylan Brewer from Rio Rancho, New Mexico in her sophomore year. “[My proudest moment would

CO-SPORTS EDITOR @meer_mahfuz Coppell junior outside hitter and 692 Beach Volleyball player Haley Holz breathes volleyball. Whether it be skedaddling across sand volleyball courts or flying up and down the grippy indoor volleyball courts, Holz is in the environment throughout the year.

This is her double life.

Year in and year out, Holz spends all her time with a volleyball in her hands, matching up with her doubles partner in sand volleyball competitions in the summer and spring seasons and gathering in the tight knit community of indoor volleyball in the fall and winter.

Sand and indoor volleyball players alike share different experiences on the playing field. Sand volleyball pairs often spend hours together without interacting with a coach or other teammates, while indoor volleyball has more of a herd mentality with many players and coaches in a clannish circle, both having their own benefits and drawbacks. “[Beach volleyball] gives me a lot more freedom where I can do whatever I want,” Holz said. “I love having [the freedom] but I also love having that

Coppell junior outside hitter and right side hitter Haley Holz calls mine in the Coppell High School Arena on Sept. 25. Holz is one of many high school athletes playing both sand and indoor volleyball. Photo by Neveah Jones

be] in USAV Nationals from this past summer,” Holz said. “[My partner and I] played four committed girls in pool [play] and we beat both of them; that was probably the biggest win [my partner and I] ever had.”

While sand and indoor volleyball do share a basic framework, there are many differences between the two - the obvious of which is in the name, with the former being played on a sand surface and the latter being played on a basketball-like court.

“It’s so much easier to jump [on a court], it’s so much easier to move around, but the court is bigger to make it the same level of difficulty [as sand volleyball],” Coppell senior setter and CCVB Sand Volleyball Tournament player Mari Taira said. “Also, the ground is hard, so it’s easier to jump off of, and it doesn’t shift, so you can move around faster. It’s better [than playing on sand].”

The growing desire and competition to play collegiate volleyball has led many high school athletes, like Holz, to shift their focus towards learning to play beach volleyball.

MEER ‘22 can be reached at mmm0332@g.coppellisd.com

Fire and water on the court Gregory, Seetha serve as new doubles team Sarah Habib STAFF WRITER @SarahHab1

The sound of shuffling shoes across the court, the hard serve of a tennis ball as it cuts swiftly through dry air and the panting breaths that follow one player to the net, blocking any incoming strikes are moments Coppell seniors Kunal Seetha and Austin Gregory live through everyday. This fall season, their partnership on the court would just be another.

Seetha and Gregory knew each other five to six years prior to their destined partnership on the court, going to the same tennis program in their middle school years and sharing classes.

Being considered two of the strongest players throughout their high school years on the team, Seetha and Gregory were not surprised to share the court this fall.

“In a way, we were almost the only ones left. [Coppell junior Vinay Patel] and [Coppell senior Matthew Abbey] wanted to play together and we had a mixed team decided,” Seetha said.

“[Gregory] and I were not among the remaining players in the first lineup, so we chose to play together.”

The pair collectively trains between 42-45 hours every week but they do not owe their successful teamwork all to their vigorous practice routine.

“Not only are these two experienced, seasoned players, but they complement each other really well,” Coppell coach Rich Foster said. “[Gregory] is a fiery, emotional player who plays with passion and a bit of an attitude while [Seetha] is calm and

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calculating. They balance each other and keep each other in check, with [Seetha’s] leadership and [Gregory’s] aggressiveness – they’re a force to be reckoned with.”

While Seetha is more experienced playing at baseline, Gregory is assertive at net, taking shots at angled balls at a short distance. Both are learning to put their distinct styles together.

“Tennis, just like any other sport, requires a lot of communication,” Gregory said. “It is the ability to read off each other, the interplay between offense and defense requires observation and knowing the right time to move based on your partner’s movements.”

The pair have won big at district as individuals and hope to reach the same success as a doubles team this fall.

“Even though the partnership is recent, [Gregory] has become

one of my closest partners and friends on and off-court,” Seetha said. “With our teamwork and our friendship, I know we can be much stronger than the rest.”

SARAH ‘21 can be reached at sxh0370@g.coppellisd.com

Coppell seniors Austin Gregory and Kunal Seetha practices on Sept. 11 at the Coppell High School Tennis Center. Seetha and Gregory have just begun their last fall season as tennis partners. Photos by Tracy Tran Daily News: coppellstudentmedia.com

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Mature cheer team bringing competitive edge Anjali Krishna CO-SPORTS EDITOR @anjalikrishna_

Last year’s Coppell cheer team had exactly one senior – Coppell High School 2020 graduate Morgan Murley.

In stark contrast, heading into this season, the Cowgirls have 10 seniors and an overwhelming number of upperclassmen, forming a team with a very different dynamic.

As Irons was new last year with an inexperienced team, both learned as they went along.

“It was a good learning year, we were growing together and establishing what we wanted as a team,” Irons said.

“The girls who are on varsity are now two-year members, which makes it a lot easier to get things done and to establish routines.”

In previous years, the varsity cheer team was only open to upperclassmen.

The rule was lifted this year, allowing many competitively experienced sophomores to join as well. Further, performance is expected to have a small upgrade thanks to the maturity of the upperclassmen that have been cheering together for years.

“It’s probably easier to learn routines with having more senior girls on the team who have more confidence, they’re more willing to take risks and model for the younger girls how to do motions and proper technique,” Irons said. “They’re not as hesitant to put themselves out there as the younger girls are.”

Irons thinks cheer is a sport that heavily emphasizes team bonding.

With only a few experienced members for the younger girls to go to for help last year, the team had a harder time working towards the bond they needed.

“When I was new to cheer, it was definitely a scary experience, so we try to make sure it is as comfortable for younger girls as possible,” Coppell senior Makay- Coppell senior cheerleaders practice routines for the upcoming football game at Spirit of Texas lie Montague on Sept. 28. This year, the Coppell cheer team has a large group of seniors, unlike last year’s said.“The more one senior. Photo by Lilly Gorman of us, the better because the all one big team so they don’t think portunities to the cheerleaders as the younger girls can be closer with some of they’re better than anyone else. There’s team continues to work the kinks out and as they head into their season. us than others and there’s a lot of girls big shoes to fill.”

“They still need to learn their limthey can ask.”

At times though, issues arise from Regardless of the welcoming upper- the uneven distribution of authority by its and areas of growth, and with time on the team they’ll naturally find that classmen, the underclassmen still feel grade level. pressed to match their older counter“There are just many different opin- groove for themselves,” Irons said. parts’ level of success. ions, and since they’re in the same grade, READ MORE ON “It puts pressure on us because there’s not any level on who gets what COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM. when we get to that point, we want to say,” Rozas said. “Learning new routines be as good as they were for the under- with all the upperclassmen can be a little ANJALI ‘22 can be reached at classmen,” Coppell sophomore Lind- bit harder because that’s actually where axk8800@g.coppellisd.com say Rozas said. “But it’s also helpful, the most booking heads happens.” the seniors are super nice and we’re The new dynamic brings new op-

From the stands to the sidelines Colclasure sisters cheering together despite past sport experiences Victoria Hertel STUDENT LIFE EDITOR @veh37936

A decade ago, marching into the crowded football stadium at the University of Nebraska, the Colclasure family could be spotted cheering for the Cornhuskers from the stands. In these moments, the charisma and advanced tumbling skills of cheerleaders caught Coppell senior Tenley and freshman Tali Colclasure’s young eyes.

Eleven years later and 622 miles away, they too would be tumbling and chanting at football games not in the stands, but footsteps from the field - as part of the Coppell cheer team.

“She’s my sister, but she’s also my teammate,” Tenley said.

“I see her everyday at school and getting to practice with her is different. A lot of people don’t ever get to experience having a sibling on their team.”

Tenley has been a competitive gymnast since age 6, while Tali ran track and played soccer and basketball at Coppell Middle School North and continues to play club volleyball for Texas Advantage.

After moving to Coppell for Tenley to attend Texas Dreams Gymnastics,

Tenley practiced gymnastics six hours a day while doing online school. But the negative effects of practicing started to show. Tenley suffered from multiple back, arm, finger and ankle injuries.

“I was always in pain,” Tenley said. “I got to a point where I decided I could do something else that I enjoyed more. I saw cheer and thought

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that would be the best fit. It was really calling my name.”

Tenly was able to transition easily from gymnastics to cheer due to her advanced tumbling and flexibility.

“It was a natural transition,” mother

Coppell senior cheerleader Tenley Colclsure and freshman cheerleader Tali Colclasure practice routines at the Spirit of Texas gymnasiu on Sept. 28. Despite different athletic backgrounds, the Colclasure sisters are now both a part of the Coppell cheer team. Photo by Lilly Gorman Instagram: thesidekickcoppell

Kerri Colclasure said. “They tumble at pep rallies and at games. She loves people and she’s a motivator. She’s in her element with the team and encouraging other people.”

Unlike Tenley’s transition to cheer from gymnastics, Tali needed to acquire tumbling skills that were completely new to her.

“When Tali came to us after volleyball season and said she was going to try out, it was a big shock because she didn’t have any tumbling experience, but she knew she wanted to be a part of what Tenley did, the team, the camaraderie and cheering for a sport that [our family] loves,” Mrs. Colclasure said.

Tenley and Tali have come together despite their differences in athletic journeys, a multi-sport athlete and a retired level 10 gymnast to cheer for Coppell as sisters and teammates.

“Few people get to do sports with their sister, and especially with how close they are, it’s a unique experience,” Mrs. Colclasure said. “I’m excited for them to watch this year and see how it unfolds.”

READ MORE ON COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM. VICTORIA‘21 can be reached at veh7936@g.coppellisd.com

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