Volume 29 Issue 5

Coppell High School 185 W. Parkway Blvd. Coppell, Texas 75019 Volume 29

Issue 5

April 2018

THE RESTLESS YOUTH TAKE TO STREETS IN DEMAND FOR POLICY AND CHANGE INSIDE

Traffic concerns

Best of Coppell

Going too far

Campus members considering parking lot safety options

Staff selected hotspots for local food, entertainment

Overexertion in student athletes raises discussion on morality

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www.coppellstudentmedia.com

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Gillette taking modern look at history written by Nolan Sanders Staff Writer @nolan_sanders_ Coppell High School AP World History Blended teacher Dan Gillette is known by his students and colleagues for his ability to teach history by way of historical stories so that his students are able to retain the information presented in class.

Gillette has been teaching at CHS for five years.

He first discovered his passion for teaching after he began training new employees in a restaurant he had worked in before transitioning to teaching.

“I spent around 20 years in the restaurant business,” Gillette said. “At one point I was even getting paid to play video games. But even after all of that, I did a bit of self inventory to find out what I thought was most important. In the restaurant business, I

photo by Bren Flechtner During sixth period on April 3, Coppell High School AP World History Blended teacher Dan Gillette talks to students about tactics of D-Day. Gillette’s students appreciate his way of teaching and the manner in which he presents the criteria to the class.

had always liked to train new people, so I suppose there’s a bit of correlation there.”

Gillette is recognized by other teachers for cooperativeness and leadership skills.

“Dan is helpful, easy going and knows how to lead,” World History teacher Kyle Dutton said. “He is our department chair of sorts and is very much up to date on technology in the classroom.”

Gillette’s favorite part about teaching history is the stories behind every time period because he can tell his students so that they might be able to get a better understanding of the event. His favorite time period to teach spans from the beginning of World War I to the end of the Cold War. “This chunk of time definitely had a profound effect on the world we know today,” Gillette said.

Gillette’s students appreciate his engaging manner of teaching through the stories he presents the class. “[AP World History] can be a hard class but he is able to teach us the material in a cogent and efficient way,” CHS sophomore Raman Shrestha said.

Putting safety first

Campus updates security after recent Florida shooting photo by Varsha Kanneganti

written by Fiona Koshy Editorial Page Editor @fionakoshy10 Like any other school, Coppell High School strives to keep the safety of its students and staff its number one priority.

Both before and since the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. CHS teachers and administrators have been taking measures to make this school as safe as possible.

“The first priority for us here is immediately making sure that we’re doing proactive things to make sure that everyone is aware there may be concerns coming in,” CHS Principal Dr. Nicole Jund said.

Because the Florida shooter pulled

the fire alarm to populate the school’s hallways, CHS has decided to hold before evacuating in a fire drill. Although this measure may continue, it is temporary as of now.

“The more [these tragedies] happen, the more we are learning about how to handle situations like these,” CHS senior Cleon Jackson said. “It’s just something we’ve got to think about, process and find a solution for.”

Timers have been installed on all entry doors, except for the far right door by the student parking lot, so that they will automatically lock after first period begins. Students and staff who enter the building after that time must enter through the main doors.

Classroom doors now have new magnets so that in the case of a lockdown or emergency, the magnet can

quickly be removed to lock the doors.

All classrooms have added roll down black felt covers to the windows on their doors as well.

A vestibule is being constructed in the front entrance so that visitors will not be able to enter through the regular horseshoe doors. Instead, there will be a separate office where visitors will have to be buzzed into the school.

“I’ll feel a lot safer knowing I’m behind glass and not so exposed to everything,” CHS receptionist Michele Garcia said. “It’ll be very nice to have that security of being behind a closed door and window.”

Aside from ID cards students are required to wear on school premises, people are encouraged to report any dubious behavior. Also, signs have been posted on all external entry

doors to remind students and staff not to let others in, directing them to the front doors.

“There has to be a partnership between the adults and students involved to make sure that everybody is safe,” Jund said. “Ultimately, we just have to care enough about each other to pay attention to those around us to make sure we are helping anytime there is somebody in need.”

The main goal of these procedures is to make students feel safer amidst the events happening in the country.

“The last thing we’d ever want someone to do is feel like they were alone here,” Jund said. “There are 3,500 of us plus 300 staff. We will find you somebody who can care for you. There’s no reason that someone should walk these halls and feel alone.”

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graphic by Cristina Gomez

Behind the cloud of smoke Digging through flourishing vaping industry locally, nationally written by Gracie Blackwell Business Manager @graciebwell

B

y the year 2025, the vaping industry market will cost $50 billion.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette usage has declined among U.S. adults immensely over the past decade. The popularization of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has greatly contributed to this.

Although the use of e-cigarettes is currently more widespread, there is nothing new about the technology.

The first e-cig was created in 1965

by Herbert Gilbert. The product was not popularized by many until 2003, when Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik patented the first modern e-cigarette.

The reason for the change is Lik wanted a better alternative to cigarettes.

Its popularization in China quickly led to fast-paced widespread industry of vaping around the world.

Today, fewer and fewer teens are using real cigarettes. According to the Health and Human Services, from 1996-97, 28 percent of adolescents reported smoking cigarettes whereas in 2015, only seven percent of adolescents reported cigarette smoking.

As a result, the vaping industry has quickly grown into a whole new smoking generation.

Although there are multiple factors leading to a decline in cigarette usage (such as anti-tobacco campaigns, smoke-free laws, etc), the popularization of the e-cig contributed to a decline in cigarette usage among adolescents.

Freedom Vapes shop in Irving mainly deals with customers who are looking to quit smoking cigarettes and transition to vaping to lower their nicotine dependency. Freedom Vapes follows the approach where it customizes the customers’ nicotine level from 0-24 depending on their addiction.

“We run [this business] just like every other business pretty much,” Freedom Vapes employee Dylan Vines said. “When you come in and you see us hitting them it can be a little crazy because with the bigger the mod, the more they put out kind of thing. Some people can get kind of turned away from that, but as long as you’re doing it for the right purposes, it’s all good.”

Flower Mound resident Daniel Shiderly used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day. It was not until he formed a bad smokers’ cough that he realized it was time for a change. Within two weeks of making the switch to vape, he noticed a big difference: his cough went away.

“You can tell the guys who are just a business, they’re just a business and just predatory, I don’t know if that’s the

right word,” Shiderly said. “They know that they’re there to make money.”

Even though most Freedom Vapes customers are adults, the shop also sees teenage customers. The shop sees a common trend with this younger demographic not using vape for its intended purposes: to be trendy. It is common for teenagers to take pictures and post videos while vaping because the smoke effect that the cloud creates is aesthetically pleasing. Vines refers to such activity as “cloud chasing.”

The legal age to purchase vapes is 18.

“If you’re just [vaping] to do it because your friends are doing it, then there’s the issue, but if you’re doing it to actually quit smoking, then I’m all for it,” Hines said.

Many students prefer a Juul in particular because it is smaller and produces a cloud that is not as thick as other vaporizers and e-cigs. The ability to conceal, however, comes with a hefty price: more nicotine.

This trend is visible in Coppell, which led the Coppell Crime Stoppers to put up posters with vaping facts around Coppell High School on the bathroom doors.

Ultimately, the goal behind putting up the posters is to limit the usage of vape amongst teenagers, especially those who are underage.

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april 2018

A PROACTIVE EXERCISE

Coppell Fire Department prepares for disaster, participates in staged practice catastrophes written by Pramika Kadari Staff Writer @pramika_kadari Local residents may have been concerned to see ambulances and fire department personnel gathered at locations around the area last week, carrying victims splattered in blood.

The situation was merely a mass casualty exercise – a staged practice in case large - scale disaster really hits.

The Coppell Fire Department was one of the participants.

Representatives from more than 28 local organizations – including fire departments, police departments, hospitals, schools and transportation services – participated in the exercises. Volunteers served as the “victims” in the simulations.

Collaborating with city organizations in other areas is important for the Coppell Fire Department because it does not interact with other towns’ departments often, and it needs to ensure that it can cooperate if a catastrophe occurs.

“If we ever have a big disaster, we know that just the city of Coppell won’t

be able to handle it, we’ll be drawing help from our neighbors,” Coppell Fire Department division chief Tim Russell said. “The more we are training with them, the better we’ll be able to communicate with them.”

There were three staged tragedies so that everyone with Coppell Fire Department had a chance to particpate.

On March 20, there was a mock transportation accident at the Addison Airport, with a plane hitting a bus. The following day, at Alfred J. Loos Athletic Complex Field House in Addison, an active shooter situation was staged. A vehicle crashing into a crowd at R.E. Good Soccer Complex in Carrollton was practiced on March 22.

The exercises were as realistic as possible, with the acting victims wearing makeup to mimic injuries.

“The only thing you can’t replicate that happens in real life is the unknown,” Irving Fire Department assistant chief Jack Taylor said. “In an actual situation, you don’t know when it’s coming. The call comes and you have to respond now.”

The goal is to carry out the exercises in an orderly fashion. However, that

Photo courtesy City of Coppell Coppell Fire Department joined local emergency response teams from March 20-22 to practice mass casualty exercises in the event of a large scale disaster. These mock accidents included a plane crash, crowd being struck by a vehicle and an active shooter.

was not always accomplished.

“Sometimes it was hectic, and sometimes it went very smoothly, depending on who was in charge and which group it was,” Russell said.

Practice and cooperation were not the only benefits of the simulations.

Because of the exercises, the Coppell Fire Department discovered there are a few places their radio systems are unable to communicate with, since they do not operate on the same channels. They are now working on a solution to this issue.

RESPONDING TO DISASTER

Nation-wide stance for gun restrictions made apparent as students shine attention on issue written by Anika Arutla Staff Writer @anikaarutla As part of a national walkout for gun control, students across the United States made signs, raised their fists and stood up for increased gun control as a reaction to the recent shooting

at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on March 14.

The aftermath of the shooting left millions devastated but instead of just mourning, students took action to put an end to the problem that has lingered for decades.

Coppell ISD was on spring break at the time of the planned walkout.

photo courtesy Deandre Blake, Atlantic Technical High School A student holds up a sign during a walkout at Atlantic Technical High School. Walkouts took place around the counrty on March 14 in response to the shooting that occured on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla.

“It was truly heartwarming to see so many students come out in support of the victims of the Parkland shooting and it really shows the impact that this generation of students has on society and the world as a whole,” Shakopee (Minn.) High School freshman Manasa Valluru said.

In response to the shooting, students nationwide walked out of their classes in an effort to bring change to gun control laws.

The walkout lasted approximately 17 minutes to honor the 17 people who lost their lives during the shooting in Parkland, Fla. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Alexandria, Va. had 75 percent, according to TJHSST sophomore Khushi Chawla, of the school participate with the seniors present at the larger walkout in Washington, D.C. “Everyone wanted to show their support for the victims,” Chawla said.

“They also wanted to voice their opinions about what should be done about gun restrictions. It was sad but they wanted to promote change so it was exciting in that aspect.”

On the contrary, at Parkway West High School in Chesterfield, Mo., junior Kaleiya Andrews said 200 out of

1,400 students participated and some teachers were allowed to partake in the walkout.

“The atmosphere was very uplifting and supporting and everyone was there to support each other,” Andrews said. “Everyone had strong feelings towards the issue.”

All of the walkouts included a moment of silence for the victims and speeches from various students who voiced their concerns and thoughts about gun violence.

These speeches brought attendees to tears and sparked hope among young citizens.

“Together, they voiced the ideas that all of us were thinking about,” Chawla said.

In terms of change, students believe the walkouts have had a huge impact.

“Considering that a whole bunch of schools in the U.S. have walked out for this reason,” Andrews said. “It’s bringing a lot of attention to it and saying that even though we’re younger, we care about the subject and it’s really us who are impacted by everyone else’s decisions.”

The next national walkout is planned for April 20.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com

april 2018

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Driving force behind campus security Committee pondering increasing manpower in parking lots to increase safety written by Amelia Vanyo Editor-in-Chief @ameliavanyo In 2013, a student was hit and killed by a parent turning around in the parking lot at Bryan Adams High School in Dallas where he was catching a connecting bus to Townview High School.

“He was caught between the car and the curb as kids were going into school,” said Coppell High School Marketing/Business Practicum Instructor Richard Chamberlain, who worked at Bryan Adams at the time. “It was a really sad thing, it was sad that people had to see it, it was sad for the parent where it happened.”

After having a tragedy of this sort hit so close to home, it is no surprise that Chamberlain puts a lot of emphasis on traffic safety at CHS. “If you’re in my class, you’ll hear me say wear your seatbelt, drive safe, be careful who you get in the car with because that’s just how people die all over the place, in car wrecks,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain is a part of a committee focusing on school safety. In a portion of the initial meeting, members discussed traffic safety and the possibility of putting more signage around the school reminding student and parent drivers about the rules of the road. “[The speed] of students at the end and beginning of the day was a major concern for all of us. We talked about adding more speed bumps that we could use as a deterrent to stop students from driving with high speeds,” associate principal Sean Bagley said.

While there are rules in place for students and parents alike, the difficulty is making sure drivers and pedestrians adhere to the rules.

Parents dropping off and picking up their students are required to use the parent loop behind the school.

Parents can drop off students starting as they turn to the back of the school,

but are asked not to let students in while alongside the school or on Town Center Drive. Parents must follow the loop counterclockwise, and can drop off and pick up students in the left or right lane; once their student has exited their vehicle, they can merge into the middle lane and continue along the loop back toward Cowboy Drive.

Campus administrators spend the first few weeks of school directing traffic in the parent loop to teach drivers the way of the road, but without their presence parents often fail to follow the plan in place - either by cutting through the middle lane, dropping off their student before they reach the back of the school, or driving through the loop clockwise.

In the student parking lot, drivers are expected to remain within the speed limit and follow the arrows along the road when driving to ensure they are traveling the correct direction. Students are also requested to use crosswalks when walking to or from their car, but while there are two crosswalks at the exit and entrance of the Student Parking lot, there is only one cross walk in the student parking

lot - directly in front of the arena.

After school, Coppell PD School Resource Officer Chris Cobb directs traffic out of the student parking lot, but no one directs traffic after seventh period when many students are leaving for a release period. In the mornings, neither Cobb or SRO Diane Patterson are in the parking lots, as they have

“Most of the students know the rules, but I think they’re trying to test to see how much they can get away with before someone says something to them,” English said.

Trail and English both made it clear they think the problems with traffic safety at the school are due to a lack of support staff.

Wear your seatbelt, drive safe, be careful who you get in the car with because that’s just how people die all over the place, in car wrecks.

Richard Chamberlain, Marketing/Business Practicum Instructor found that students often need to talk to them before school.

Trail and English are alone as they work together to ensure students are adhering to the rules in place for most of the day, but often teens can work around their efforts.

photo by Laura Amador Toro A student listens to music on his headphone while walking to his car after school on April 6. In the student parking lot students can be seen walking to or from their cars listening to music, talking to their friends and looking at their phones all while dodging traffic.

Because there are only two of them, they cannot watch all the entrances and exits to the school.

“We don’t have enough help basically,” Trail said.

The committee discussed additional staffing in its meeting as well, in the form of a parking attendant that would be in charge of letting students in and out of a closed off parking lot during the school day.

“One of the things we talked about was putting up a gate, and during the time when kids are supposed to be at school only allowing one way access to the parking lot,” Bagley said.

The arena hides a lot of the parking lot from view, giving students the ability to use their own discretion when driving. Some use the blind spot to their rebellious advantage.

“I had students tell me about ‘oh yeah after school or eighth period I’m peeling out my tires by the tennis court, and I’m going out there, doing all this,’” Chamberlain said. “Apparently there was just a whole parking lot culture over there that they could just do whatever, nobody’s out there.

That’s kind of scary, too.”

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Considering unfamiliar postgraduation options Often, the idea of attending traditional college after graduation is drilled into high school students’ minds by parents, peers and teachers as a fixed expectation.

But dropping that presumption and encouraging open mindedness would greatly benefit many students.

From Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller to modern day billionaire Steve Jobs, several people who never graduated college made a bigger dent in our world than many class valedictorians.

Before investing vast amounts of money and energy into a traditional higher education, students should consider alternative options.

Go to trade school Often called vocational school or technical school, trade school focuses on teaching one skill for a specific occupation. A chef, computer technician, construction manager or graphic designer are just a few of the many careers one can pursue after trade school.

Families who are not in the ideal financial situation should note that the cost of trade school ranges from approximately $3,000 to $21,000 annually, according to the RWM Vocational Schools Database.

Programs at trade school are generally completed within two years or less, unlike the traditional under-

graduate education; this helps reduce costs even further.

Trade school provides hands-on job experience for each respective field, leading to increased confidence, as most high school students have not previously had jobs in their industry of choice.

Join the workforce Many occupations do not require college degrees.

Earning income through employment instead of splurging on an education can help prevent debt. Additionally, jobs teach responsibility, an important trait for young adults to develop.

If students are feeling a loss of direction or motivation after high school, full-time employment can be a good alternative to immediately continuing their education.

Coppell High School’s engineering department offers classes through which students can prepare for Certified Solidworks exams, which will help them land jobs after graduation.

According to CHS engineering teacher Pilar Castro-Zena, many former CHS students have found success with this option.

Take a gap year There are endless reasons high school seniors may choose to take a gap year before transitioning to col-

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Co-Student Life Editor

Adviser

Co-Student Life Editor

Chase Wofford Executive Editor-in-Chief

Amelia Vanyo Executive Design Editor

Wren Lee Executive Digital Content

Lili Lomas EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP Art and Entertainment Editor

Kelly Wei Editorial Page Editor

Fiona Koshy Enterprise Editor

Tanya Raghu Photography Editor

Ale Ceniceros

Farah Merchant Anthony Cesario Sports Copy Editor

Reid Valentine Sports Assignment Editor

Nicholas Pranske Graphics Editor

Elena Gillis Graphics Manager

Kaylee Aguilar BUSINESS LEADERSHIP Business Manager

Gracie Blackwell Communications Manager

Sruthi Boppuri

STAFF WRITERS Tara Ansari Anika Arutla Renata Barona Andrés Bear Anthony Cesario Claire Clements Sofia Guerrero Jess Hernandez Pramika Kadari Molly McGill Nishant Medicharla Arman Merchant Akarsh Velagapudi Christine Zacuai PHOTOGRAPHERS Akif Abidi Laura Amador-Toro Rylee Ferguson Bren Flechtner

lege: travel, work, research and volunteering are all common ways the year is spent.

As stated by CHS counselor Ann Cinelli, for students who are disappointed by a college rejection, the year can be used to improve their standardized test scores, which may increase their chances of acceptance if they re-apply at a later time.

According to CNBC, 90 percent of students who take a gap year return to school the next year.

dents, these alternative paths should also be considered.

Enter the military Serving in the military is perhaps one of the most honorable routes one can walk, as members are serving their country and helping others.

Joining a branch of the armed forces can help with members’ college education. According to Military.com, among other benefits, members will receive up to $4,500 annually in tuition assistance.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides a multitude of other benefits, including but not limited to disability benefits, the loan guaranty program and veterans insurance.

Although attending traditional university is beneficial to many stu-

Varsha Kanneganti Disha Kohli Quyenh Phang Aubrey Phillips Mari Pletta Nolan Sanders Nadia Scalzo Karis Thomas GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Cristina Gomez Bella Mora Britain Stanley

The Sidekick is the student newspaper for Coppell High School and is published six times per school year.

The newspaper is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The editorials and columns presented in this paper reflect the views of its student writers and not Coppell High School or Coppell Independent School District.

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

The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be emailed to cwofford@coppellisd.com or delivered to the D115 newsroom at Coppell High School. A current email address and first and last name for the writer must be included for the letter to be considered for publication.

Contact The Sidekick: 214-496-6239 cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Blvd Coppell, TX 75019

@CHSCampusNews @SidekickSports @thesidekickcoppell @sidekicknews @sidekick_sports Sidekick Online

april 2018

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opinions 7

Finding your niche in high school written by Anthony Cesario Co-Student Life Editor @anthony_sk2017

Dropped into an unfamiliar building with thousands of kids and an overwhelming amount of activities to participate in, it can often be difficult to find a place where you truly belong in high school.

The majority of my freshman year at Coppell High School was spent adjusting to this huge new environment, unsure of where I truly fit in.

I have always been passionate about writing. I had participated and won awards in several writing contests

in the past, loving the prospect of arranging words in a way that had never been done before, watching a story come to life before my eyes.

Yet despite a dwindling amount of curricular interests, I never actually considered writing as something I would want to pursue.

I was excited for new opportunities and the idea of integrating my passion for writing into my daily school life, albeit fearing in the back of my mind that I would end up like I had after my previous ventures: uninterested, back to square one.

The biggest surprise for me was how many friendships I have formed through creative writing and The Sidekick, friendships that are so much more comfortable and stronger than I had ever experienced.

In addition, pursuing my passion of writing has allowed me to truly enjoy more of my school experience. I love the days when I come to class, eager to work on my short story in creative

writing or publish my next article on Coppell Student Media.

In creative writing especially, I have been able to have more freedom with how I want to use my passion. We may have to write a poem given an assigned theme such as color, but I have the freedom to decide how I want my poem to end up.

I encourage anyone

unsure of where they belong in school to stop stressing and let things happen naturally. If you are open to new experiences, you will find your niche.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com.

graphic by Cristina Gomez The Sidekick sophomore co-student life editor Anthony Cesario reflects on his journey of discovering his passion for writing. Encouraging others to follow in his footsteps, Cesario hopes that students will have a fulfilling high school experience.

How my Passion Planner keeps me on track

written by Jessica Hernandez Staff Writer @jessicamh13

F

or some students, staying organized can be among the most difficult tasks when balancing homework, standardized test preparation, in-school activities and extracurriculars.

Need a simple solution? Invest in a Passion Planner.

Passion Planner is a planner that not only helps you plan your days, weeks and months, but also allows you to set goals, keep yourself accountable and reflect on your time.

The company was started by Angelia Trinidad in 2013, who at the time had recently graduated from UCLA and needed something to help her transition from her time in school to her time in the “real world.�

The planner begins with a detailed

photo by Aubrey Phillips The Sidekick senior staff writer Jessica Hernandez writes in her Passion Planner everyday in order to manage her time. Passion Planners are useful for setting and reaching goals while keeping track of daily events, assignments and plans.

explanation of how to fully utilize it followed by a Passion Roadmap, which is one of my favorite features.

One major difference between Passion Planner and other planners is the weekly spread, which includes time slots from 6 a.m to 10:30 p.m. with 30-minute increments. Each spread also features space to write out a week-

ly focus, daily focuses, good things that happened and keep personal and work to-do lists.

In the bottom right corner of each week, there is also a special space titled the Space of Infinite Possibility, where you can tape in Passion Planner print-outs such as water and habit trackers, create Passion Plans or jot

down notes and ideas. As the title suggests, the possibilities are endless.

Typically, I fill my weeks with stickers and quotes along with upcoming assignments and events. During stressful and busy weeks, filling my planner with lots of color and inspirational quotes always makes them much more manageable.

Passion Planner is a Get One, Give One company, which means that for every planner that is purchased, another one is donated.

It also has a referral program in which Passion Planner users can give their email to friends and family who buy planners and gain credit for each planner purchased. It takes three referrals to receive a free planner, and in October of last year, I was notified that I had successfully referred over three people to Passion Planner.

From doing a 30-day yoga challenge to applying to colleges, my Passion Planner has helped me follow through with my goals and manage my time more effectively.

Passion Planner is a company that I fully support and a tool that I plan to continue using throughout my life.

From their unique design to their vegan leather covers, I have come to love their planners and everything that they stand for.

8 opinions

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april 2018

CHS SPEAKS

Students experience growth with enriching classes written by Fiona Koshy Editorial Page Editor @fionakoshy10 Throughout a student’s high school career, there is bound to be at least one class that makes a lasting impact on the student from an aca-

demic standpoint.

Not only do classes enrich students’ minds with lessons, but they can teach them valuable lessons about teamwork, creativity and so much more. A students’ favorite class could inspire them to major in a particular field or pursue a new interest.

Sage Newton, freshman

Andres Olivas, freshman

Biology is my most beneficial class because it is applicable to what I want to be in the future, a doctor or a sports medic. I like the method of teaching because it’s more hands on than it is in other classes. We get to do more labs and see things with our own eyes. Genetics has been the most interesting unit because we’ve done more projects that involve our actual family trees and our own traits.”

Principles of Engineering is my [most beneficial class] because I want to be a civil engineer later on in life. I want to be an engineer because my dad and mom are. Now, engineers are getting to program to make things a lot easier for other people’s jobs, so I’m going to have to learn that in my career. [I am] taking computer science next year.”

Ryan Kim, sophomore

Sahana Rao, sophomore

English allows you to understand a lot of themes that might be important to us in the real world.

We sometimes study literary devices that are prominent throughout literature because some of these themes are not explicitly shown, so we have to know these themes to understand what they mean throughout a story.”

My AP World History class because my teacher [Tim Dixon] really connects current events and history so we can see how it’s all intertwined and understand the relationship between the present and past. I’ve learned how to write very sophisticated essays and how to use a textbook, and I really enjoy reading it. Learning about how the countries connect and their relationships with each other is helpful.”

Anu Uppal, junior

Bailey Herrera, junior

In [IB Economics] I learn world perspectives. You learn about every other subject in econ other than econ, like a little bit of english and current events. My teacher [Jared Stansel] is very out there with his perspectives. He doesn’t make you think about one thing, he makes you think about things from a different perspective. It really helps challenge our perspective and create a fast paced response.”

The most beneficial class I’ve taken so far has been AP Calculus AB. I want to go into biochemistry in college, so AP Calculus is going to be a prerequisite for any major or work I’ll have to do in the future. I love being able to see where it’s going. With calculus, it’s pretty straight forward, there’s never going to be anything that’s too weird. I like predictability.”

Michael Gutierrez, senior

Madison Olney, senior

My most beneficial class would have to be AP 2D Art because my teacher, Cameron Tiede, is really great. I love it because you do a concentration, which is a topic to study and focus on, and do 12 pieces around that idea. My concentration is about forests and how people live and interact with nature. The one I’m working on now is a girl riding a horse through the forest, so it symbolizes how she has harmony with nature.”

My most beneficial class is Studio Premier. Right now, as an upper level class, the seniors are writing and producing their own One Man shows about someone from history who is dead that we want to convey a message about. I think a lot of time we get so caught up in academics that we forget that there is a real world out there beyond high school. Through theater, I’ve learned exactly what that means, being able leave all your insecurities behind and just do the best you can.”

april 2018

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opinions 9

It could have happened to us All too familiar events of Parkland, Fla. school shooting reveal need for reform

written by Kelly Wei Arts & Entertainment Editor @kelllywei They are teachers, friends, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. They had futures, lives filled with success and love. Now they are frozen in a heartbreaking memory, trapped between the thick pages of a life that will never be lived.

Parents will bury their children.

On Feb. 14, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. had their school day interrupted by a former classmate, Nikolas Cruz, and his AR-15.

MSD sophomore Leah Goldberg first began evacuating in response to the fire drill, before the class all crammed into a closet.

“I was in chemistry and we started evacuating for the fire drill, and then

we all crammed into the back corner and just prayed,” Goldberg said. “I don’t even really believe in God, but I was praying.”

Seventeen people were killed by Cruz, with more left severely injured.

One of the victims was senior Nicholas Dworet, a 17-year-old boy with a bright spirit, a passion for swimming and tremendous potential.

MSD sophomore Katrina White knew Dworet through the swim team and attended the funeral.

“The world lost a beautiful soul,” White said. “He was one of the happiest people, he was always cheering up the team. He was always giving advice and motivating everyone.”

Now, in the aftermath of a tragedy that marks the 18th school shooting of 2018 alone, students have reared against a future they refuse to enter.

Gun violence and gun control in America are no longer conversations to be gingerly sidestepped, nor is it an option anymore to remain passive in the hopes of controversy fading back into obscurity.

“We won’t let it die down for us,” University of Maryland freshman and a graduate of MSD Amit Dadon said.

“Knowing the energy of these kids -

I’ve met them, I know who they are - their energy, their passion for remembering these kids we lost, and for remembering the trauma they all went through, they won’t let this fade away.”

All of this - every terrified text message sent to those you love, every scream, every body ripped apart by a high velocity rifle originally designed for military use - it all could have been us.

This time it was Parkland, but who is saying that Coppell will not make it to national news in the future?

It could have been us, and unfortunately it still could be, unless something changes.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com

photo courtesy Kevin Trejos, The Eagle Eye Newspaper

Finding peace through art of meditation written by Anika Arutla Staff Writer @anikaarutla Four years ago, my father spent 10 days at a meditation camp in Delaware without access to technology and without speaking to anyone, including the other campers. He came back and said it was the best time of his life.

Within the next year, my mom went to the same camp in Delaware and my grandmother went twice in India.

Both came back with the same reaction as my father.

My 13-year-old self could not com-

prehend how they went those 10 days without going completely crazy. My parents made me attend a one day camp and even then, I found myself going crazy. But meditating was nothing like what I expected it to be.

The type of meditating I was taught is Anapana and is the technique of focusing on the breathe. The technique falls under Vipassana, which is a famous form of meditation followed by Buddha.

At first, I felt as though I was wasting my time and I found it hard to sit still. My mind bounced from thought to thought, such as ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I wonder how many licks it takes to get to the center of a lollipop.’

Training the brain to concentrate and directing its attention to one area is a difficult task requiring the utmost patience. But with time, it is a task that is achievable.

It was not until I realized that going against meditation and trying it with a negative mindset is the wrong ap-

proach. It took me three years to reach that realization, but I did last summer when I went to a two-day camp in Kaufman, Texas. I embraced the idea with an open mind and everything changed.

Slowly but surely, I found myself concentrating more in class and ab-

sorbing the information far more quickly. In addition, I was more aware of my surroundings and the people who I interacted with everyday.

I began to see the world differently and in a new light.

This is just the beginning of my spiritual journey.

photo by Laura Amador Toro The Sidekick sophomore staff writer Anika Arutla meditates at Andy Brown Park East on March 29. Arutla practices Anapana, a breathing technique under the form of meditation Vipassana.

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april 2018

Zaizen continues passion for dance after moving from Japan written by Tanya Raghui Enterprise Editor @tanya_raghu

S

he transferred from attending at a private Catholic school to a diverse public school. From studying at an all-girls school with less than 200 students to one with more than 3,500 classmates. From traveling by high-speed trains and buses to mainly by cars. From moving from a modern, hitech city to an American suburb.

Coppell High School junior Miyabi Zaizen moved to the United States from Tokyo, Japan during her sophomore year because of her father’s job.

Moving to Coppell came with new experiences along with difficulties.

When she stepped foot in Texas, she could not string together a single sentence in English.

“I watched movies a lot, so America seemed like everybody looked pretty, everything is fun and colorful,” Zaizen said.

Initially, she experienced a culture shock with mainstream trends, distinct interests of American students and a reality much different than what

she expected. “[When] I moved to Texas I wasn’t expecting cowboys stuff,” Zaizen said. “I thought American girls were dressed up every single day but literally everyone was wearing T-shirts and Nike shirts and I was like, ‘oh OK,’ it’s kind of different.”

With such a large student population at CHS, it can be difficult for any student to find a sense of belonging.

However, Zaizen immediately found a

“Whereas in the on-level and AP classes a lot of the kids are sometimes there to get the grade while my students are there to learn English and they really want to learn the language and culture.”

While as a teacher, McCray helps students become acclimated to the United States and learn English, in a way through her job, she is also a student.

“Everyone is so different and they

I can be honest with myself in here because sometimes [I] have to be more than who I am Miyabi Zaizen, CHS junior community within Katie McCray’s ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom.

“Seeing [my students] be proud like they acknowledge when they learned a new word in English or they didn’t know what this a phrase meant or they realize something,” McCray said.

have their own characteristics and their own stories that they bring,” McCray said. “Just listening to those stories and hearing them speak about their country and their culture, helps me be more mindful and patient and welcoming and it really opens my eyes. The things I learn from them are

invaluable, there’s no price I can put on them.”

Also, being part of the Lariettes drill team has shaped Zaizen’s identity and is a defining part of her experience at CHS. “She has a bright light inside of her and when she dances, it just beams,” Lariettes director Julie Stralow said.

“It makes everyone that watches her and that dances with just sharing that love that she has for dance, it has been quite a joy to watch her adapt to drill team and Texas high school football and she’s super sweet and everybody loves her so it has just been a really fun year for us.”

Her transition to the Lariettes has proven that dance is an universal form of art. In Japan, Zaizen danced for four years and figure skated for five years.

After experiencing life in America after living in Japan, Zaizen has gained a new perspective.

“I came here and became a minority people, and I just know how they feel when they have some difficulty and they just can’t show what they think of stand up for themselves,” Zaizen said.

photo by Laura Amador Toro Coppell High School junior Miyabi Zaizen is in McCray’s class and dances as part of the Lariettes Drill Team and moved from Japan last year. Students in Coppell High School ESL teacher Katie McCray’s class are learning English after moving from countries all over the world.

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Seniors audition for dance, acting paving way for college major written by Tara Ansari Staff Writer @taraansari_

Coppell High School senior Georgia Cole has had a love for theater ever since she was 6 years old. She has acted in two movies, The Lamp and Angel’s Sing, as well as a television series,“The Gates”, and it all helped her acceptance to the University of Oklahoma theatre department.

“Being exposed to acting and doing commercial gigs growing up has definitely prepared me for what to expect in every audition,” Cole said. “[Also] knowing that every director has different things they are looking for in a actress/actor they are casting.”

Cole will attend OU in the fall and major in the drama department.

CHS theater teacher Lisa Tabor has been Cole’s teacher throughout the fame and premier musical classes at the school.

“She’s been with me through her whole high school experience with theater and I can tell you that she is such a hard worker,” Tabor said. “I have loved every second of working with her and know she’ll go far in her

acting career even after OU.” Not only are there CHS students going to college through theater, but through dance as well. CHS senior Lariette Sara Wales will attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall and major in dance.

“I have grown up dancing and it has always had a special place in my heart,” Wales said. “Over the past four years I have become a lot more serious and have devoted most of my time to dance and taking it super seriously since it is a subject that has endless growth to be accomplished in.”

The audition process for UT consists of taking a ballet and modern class, performing a solo as well as going through a short interview with judges. Wales auditions were not until December and she did not get a call back until mid-January letting her know of her acceptance.

Although most students auditions have already been done, some are still waiting for their auditions to begin.

CHS senior Lariette Kortnee Miller is planning on going to college through dance with her auditions not even starting until the summer.

“The latest audition I have isn’t un-

til July 12 at Kilgore College for the Ra n g e re t t e s,” Miller said.

“It is very stressful not having auditions until the summer because you don’t know if you are going to make the team or not until last minute and you don’t have much time to make your final decision on where you want to go.”

Miller’s dedication has led her to attend this year’s Rangerette summer camp to learn all the audition dances before tryouts.

“I am doing what I love so it makes it all worthwhile,” Miller said. “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else, and I am excited to see what my dance future holds.”

in a range of various groups as there are opportunities to help out in schedule pickups, hospitality, school offices and honor roll lunches.

“It takes a small village to keep everything going,” PTSO office volunteer

manager Noel Cloutier said. “Even though it’s make a small part, every part helps.”

Volunteers begin their work at the school by applying through the Coppell High School website and consent-

photo by Mari Pletta Coppell High School senior Georgia Cole is part of the premiere and fame classes taught by theater teacher Lisa Tabor. Cole has been acting since she was in kindergarten and will be attending OU as a drama student in the fall.

Copy moms help by printing papers written by Christine Zacuai Staff Writer @chriszacuai

At the high school level, the presence of copy moms and other parent volunteers show the hidden help behind a bustling school setting.

Copy moms, a nickname coined for the parent volunteers who file papers and make copies of school documents, such as parent volunteer Katie Hubbard, help out at CHS with hopes of making busy school life smoother for both students and staff.

Involvement of these volunteers relieve the tasks of busy teachers, who often require large amounts of copies every day for their classes.

“It does put some pressure off the teachers,” Hubbard said. “They just work so hard and they have to do so many things on their own. It’s one less thing they have to do.”

Coordinated by the school Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) board, CHS parent volunteers are seen

photo by Quyenh Phang Parent volunteer Katie Hubbard makes copies of requested papers from teachers on March 1 in copy room, B232. Coppell High School copy moms are parent volunteers that work in the student services and ninth grade offices to make copies and file paperwork for classes and offices.

ing to a Coppell ISD volunteer criminal background check.

Prior to volunteering, parents attend a meeting reviewing school policies, guidelines and expectations.

By following a schedule, parent volunteers are able to personally choose and coordinate what time, day and month they would like to come in to help out the school.

Volunteering at the high school level also allows parents to still be updated and active in the busy and eventful school lives of their kids.

“As kids grow up, there’s less and less time you have to the availability to come in and actually know the teachers, administration and different educators that are at the high school,” Cloutier said.

There is no doubt that the help of parent volunteers and PTSO is appreciated by the staff and faculty members of CHS. “We can’t run this campus without volunteers,” CHS principal’s secretary Terry Phillips said.

12 centerspread

fighting for their lives

centerspread 13

From Twitter to town halls, students born post-Columbine in America rise up for their mortality

photo by Kelly Wei Mansfield Timberview High School junior Jac Nguyen raises her poster at March for Our Lives in downtown Dallas on March 24. The march was attended by approximately 7,000 demonstrators in support of gun control and school safety.

D

ALLAS - With a bullet in her head and a painted sign in hand, Mansfield Timberview High School junior Jac Nguyen took to the streets of Dallas.

Nguyen’s statement stood out among the signs at March for Our Lives on March 24, but it was by no means alone in its intent.

“We are kids that were born in a postColumbine era; they are the adults who didn’t have to fear what we fear today,” Nguyen said.

March for Our Lives is driven by youth in America. With many of the marches chapters and the parent march itself being organized by teens,

March for Our Lives is filled with youthful energy.

“Our youth is our future, and even people as young as I am care about this and know that it’s important and want to show that it’s something that we should be focusing on,” Coppell Middle School North sixth grader Anita Goodwin said.

The youth in America have taken on this cause not just because it affects them but because it has been ever present in their lives.

“Everyone older than us has grown up with this, they understand this culture and the whole mass shooting thing has only happened to them for part of their lifetime,” Booker T. Washington

and lack of life experience, youth activists have made it a point to prove they know what they’re talking about. “[This movement] is important because it shows that we can form opinions and we can argue those effectively,” Monday said. “We need to show people that our arguments are solid, that we have reasoning to backup these opinions.”

The political participation exhibited by the youth in America is strengthened by adversity, as teens see laws and legislation not aligning with their values, they work to make a difference for the nation but also for themselves.

“I was not content with standing back and hoping that someone else would make the changes to gun laws that I saw fit,” Coppell Middle School East eighth grader Jillian Moore said. “Because I cannot vote [March for Our Lives] was the best way for me to voice my opinion to ensure that gun tragedies would not continue.”

Regardless of what they are fighting for, teens are realizing that when something does not fit

A SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT Throughout the movement against gun violence, teens have taken to social media to spread awareness of events and information regarding the legislation being fought.

“In the age of the Internet, students are gaining so much more information that older generations could even know how to access,” Monday said.

National leaders of March for Our Lives have turned their personal social media platforms into functional parts of movement.

“Love and voting are the only two things that will solve this,” Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior David Hogg tweeted on March 27. “Regardless of your opinions I think we can all agree that america needs to become more politically active.”

One of the movements well known leaders, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Emma Gonzalez has not only been an active speaker since Feb. 14, but has also been extremely active on Twitter, encouraging her friends who are standing by her side and helping coax others from the sidelines.

“I think social media tends to be the avenue through which the younger generation connects with one another,” CHS AP U.S. History teacher Kevin Casey said. “ There’s a great deal of kinetic energy in young people. If you’re convinced that you’re friends are going to be more active, then you’re going to be more active, and I think that’s where social media plays a role.”

written by Amelia Vanyo, Editor-in-Chief @ameliavanyo

TO THE POLLS Teens are often criticized for being ready to march or rally but not as readily eager to vote. Programs such as Moms Demand Action send volunteers to marches and rallies where they offer participants who are eligible but do not already have their voter ID the ability to register to vote.

“I have been to so many rallies since the 2016 election and I’ve never seen this many voter registration people,” volunteer Katie Barnes said at March for Our Lives in Dallas.

Even those who cannot yet register made it clear in their movements that they were not going to be bystanders in politics. Many signs at March for Our Lives read “I will vote in 2020” or “I can’t wait to vote.”

“We’re the voters of the future, so we’re going to make sure something happens,” CHS sophomore Nico Reyes said.

Teens came together to march during March for Our Lives in thousands, but it was far from the first time that the youth of this nation decided they had enough with the policies that affect their lives.

Teens have been active in attempts to change policy for decades, some of the most notable youth activist movements date back to the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests.

“Youth activism has always been a key point,” Casey said.

“In the 1960s, youth were the leading advocates in the protest against [Vietnam War] youth were the leading advocates in asking for more open form of government in the [1970s].

I think it’s one of those processes that ebbs and flows, and obviously with recent events we’re at a period of peak.”

Political participation of any kind can have an impact on policy.

But without making it to the ballot boxes, there is still only so much youth activism can do.

“A great number of young people are very passionate about [gun control] right now,” Casey said. “The question really becomes how do you translate the passion of March, April and May into the passion of November.”

end gun violence

We know the feeling of coming to a classroom with an empty seat that’s not going to be filled.

their standards, they have the power to make a difference.

The only barrier is themselves.

“It is a really brave thing to stand up for what you believe in,” Monday said. “Not everyone can do it, we know that courage doesn’t come easily to people. If you have a feeling and you’re supported by people around you in the feeling then you can stand up for it. I definitely don’t want to push anyone who is limited by their environment.”

no more silence

senior Chet Monday said. “But for us, it has been our whole lives. Most of us were born right before or right after Columbine. So our whole life has been filed with mass shootings so we understand this more than they do.”

Monday joined a student committee team a week before March for Our Lives, and is also helping plan rallies and walkouts going forward.

“We’re going to be holding rallies and protests in front of the NRA convention,” Monday said.

“They have 7,ooo people coming, and our goal is to match that number, because we want to show that as much as they have in numbers we do too.

We want to show them that we’re not scared to stand up for something and that we’re not scared that they have a lot of money because we have a lot of people.”

Last year, Monday’s class lost a student to suicide when she took her life using her father’s gun. Monday decided to help with the March for Our Lives movement in part because he thinks suicide and gun violence need to be treated as joint issues, and has felt the emotional effect of what a bullet can do to a school.

“We know the feeling of coming to a classroom with an empty seat that’s not going to be filled,” Monday said. “I get what that feels like. I don’t think anybody else should have to feel like that.”

Despite being harassed because of their age

14 student life

Tips and Tricks Self Defense written by Pramika Kadari Staff Writer

Self defense apps Self defense apps are an easy, accessible and inexpensive way to increase safety. There are several different kinds of these apps.

Some provide information and tips about self defense. Others, such as Watch Over Me, alert friends and family when you might be in an unsafe situation.

Vulnerable spots Even if your attacker is larger than you, hitting their weak points will help you defeat them. These weak spots include the eyes, nose, mouth, chin, groin, knees and ankles.

Furthermore, there are no common strengthening exercises for these body parts, so they will be weak on almost every individual.

the sidekick

april 2018

Khan kicking his way to success written by Pramika Kadari Staff Writer @pramika_kadari Athletics and arts are filled with endless opportunities for students.

Coppell High School freshman Zan Khan has a foot in both worlds, showing a passion for not only the sport of taekwondo but also for graphic design. “[Taekwondo has] developed my respect, my confidence and my overall personality,” Khan said. “[I also love] the ability to use what you learned [in martial arts] in real life. Other sports, yeah, they help you out physically, but what is kicking a ball going to do?”

Coppell Taekwondo Academy instructor Chris Lemaster, who has known Khan for four years, agrees martial arts has helped him change for the better.

“When Zan first started, he was a typical teenager,” Lemaster said. “He thought he was ‘all that’, swaggering around. Over the years, as he’s grown, he’s become a much more mature, balanced and polite young man. He’s polite to everyone, [and] he’s a leader in the classrooms.”

When people talk to Khan they may not guess he is also a freelance

graphic artist, as he is not interested in other forms of art, and has not taken any classes on the subject.

However, he has been involved with graphic design for nearly three years.

“I got into [graphic design] because I started a YouTube channel with my friends and we needed channel art, so I thought I would just design it myself,” Khan said. “I’m mostly self taught.”

Khan’s designs can be found on his website, where he offers customers logos, banners and other designs. On average, his designs are completed within three to five days, and he focuses on both affordability and quality.

Although many teenagers love art, few have the maturity to run a business off their passion, just as few have the dedication to pursue the same sport for over ten years. Khan has proven he can do both.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com photo by Quyenh Phang On March 8, Coppell High School freshman Zan Khan practices various techniques and skills at the Coppell Taekwondo Academy. Khan and other students practiced their 360 spin kicks.

Suresh markets awareness for autism written by Nishant Medicharla Staff Writer @nishantnm1 Inspired by people with autism, Coppell High School sophomore

Athira Suresh volunteers at the non-profit organization, Imagine Beyond, to create something bigger than herself.

Imagine Beyond aims to raise money and awareness for the Autism

photo courtesy Athira Suresh Coppell High School sophomore Athira Suresh folds shirts during the Imagine Beyond Walkathon that took place on April 7 at Andy Brown Park East. The funds raised from the Walkathon go towards the Autism Treatment Center in Dallas.

Treatment Center in Dallas. To do so, Imagine Beyond holds events such as chocolate sales and walkathons every month. These funds go to helping the physical and mental therapy of people with autism.

After hearing about this project from her close family friends, Suresh was inspired by people with autism because of how strong they were, amid their mental challenges.

“I joined this non-profit because I am really passionate about volunteering and helping out, but one of the main reasons why I joined was because people with autism are really inspiring,” Suresh said. “When I saw the patients with autism at the Autism Treatment Center, I felt more inclined to help. I also learned that they did not get enough therapy, so I wanted to raise funds to ease their issues.”

Suresh oversees the marketing efforts of Imagine Beyond to make sure that people are aware of this organization’s impact on autism.

However, handling such a big role is

not an easy task for Suresh.

“The money and funds that I have to get do not come that easily,” Suresh said. “Influencing other people to help is not as easy as it seems. It involves strenuous work, because influencing people is a skill that you have to develop, otherwise it just does not work.”

Suresh is not the only student at CHS involved in Imagine Beyond.

CHS junior Anitta Nitto is also part of the organization and helps Suresh.

“Handling the marketing department is really not easy, but I think Athira does it well,” Nitto said.

“It definitely requires a lot of selfconfidence which I feel like she has.

She has to talk to people she does not know, and that is a really big thing for a lot of teenagers. I feel like I can learn a lot from her.”

Suresh hopes that the hard work she has put in will help people with autism lead a better life.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com

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From Coppell to Burgos: Holmstrup taking on Spain as an exchange student written by Christine Zacuai Staff Writer @chriszacuai On a typical Monday morning, Coppell High School junior Kyra Holmstrup rides the city bus through cobblestone alleys to her school in Spain where she has spent the past five months as a foreign exchange student from CHS. After attending CHS for two years, Holmstrup decided it was time for a change.

When her mother, Jasmine Holmstrup, introduced Holmstrup to the Rotary International exchange program, Holmstrup leapt at the opportunity to attend school for 10 months in Burgos.

With more than 33,000 rotary clubs in the world, students from Brazil to Japan can experience learning on the other side of the globe. This process allows students to live in the countries of one another, sometimes even under the homes of other students.

Settling in Burgos in September, Holmstrup went through a dramatic cultural shock to life in Spain, as adjustment to her new home challenged her lifestyle in Coppell. “[Holmstrup] made quite an effort to be proactive into our habits, culture, and language, and quite often she has succeeded in that,” Holmstrup’s

Ritika Prasad

“Ronak and I basically have a lot of classes together and we always meet each other at Blue Flame.

That is why I have always been close to him. Dancing together has brought us closer as friends.

We danced together at Heritage Night and I really do not know anyone else who would have been better. I feel like we always flow together and understand each other when we dance, and it is something that you cannot find anywhere else.” photo courtesy Ritika Prasad

host father Carlos Garcia said.

With the school system in Spain differing widely to the one in America, Holmstrup has faced challenges in her education while attending her school, IES Cardenal Lopez de Mendoza.

“The first few weeks of school were really difficult. I had no idea how to even learn in class without a computer or Google,” Holmstrup said.

Holmstrup initially struggled to connect with those around her as language barriers and miscommunication were common. With Coppell classes teaching Spanish differing from the one spoken in Spain, she faced this problem often.

“A lot of us exchange students come with barely any language, or we think we have enough, but it’s really nothing,” Holmstrup said.

Now speaking fluently and forming new friendships, Holmstrup enjoys her experience so far in Spain, along with the amusing cultural and societal norms that it offers.

“A lot of Spaniards are late to everything - if a party starts at 9, you don’t show up until 10:30,” Holmstrup said.

Although Holmstrup seems to trade the suburban life for the ultimate foreign experience, she misses the freedom and familiarity that Coppell offers.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com.

photos courtesy Kyra Holmstrup Foreign exchange student and Coppell High School junior, Kyra Holmstrup, overlooks the deep hills and city of Burgos, Spain on the Castle of Burgos, where she has spent the last five months attending school. Holmstrup is attending IES Cardenal Lopez de Mendoza to improve her Spanish and find a new way of learning for a school year through the Rotary Internal exchange program.

Friends Since Then

Now

Ronak Indurti

“Ritika and I have been friends since kindergarten. We went to Universal Academy for four years and then we started dancing together at the Blue Flame Academy since middle school. We have been dancing together ever since.

Being able to dance with someone who has the same appreciation as me is a lot of fun. I get to learn the steps to various songs, and I have a lot of fun during the process with Ritika.”

photo by Nishant Medicharla

16 entertainment

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april 2018

photo by Aubrey Phillips

written by Anthony Cesario Co-Student Life Editor @anthony_SK2017 Judd’s older brother, 2016 CHS graduate Ethan Judd, played percussion in school and her father, Dayton Judd, has played piano since he was 5.

Though Judd participated in sports, art and choir when she was younger, she was always interested in going into band. She joined band when she was in sixth grade and is currently in percussion at CHS, playing the vibraphone in the front ensemble during marching season.

Judd does not only participate in band to improve her percussion skills by practicing songs written by professional musicians. She also composes her own music, which has been a longtime activity of hers.

“I have this memory of when I was a kid, I used to make up songs,” Judd said. “It’s always been something I’ve been drawn to doing. I don’t have any family members that compose, but I’ve been inspired by some of the great composers, like Debussy and Beethoven.”

Judd started out by mainly composing piano solos that she played when she was younger, but has recently transcribed one of her piano songs into a vibraphone duet that her and her friends played at the Purely Rhythmic percussion concert at CHS. It will be the only student-made composition featured in the concert.

“The thing I like most about composing is that there’s so many different things you can do,” Judd said. “There’s been so much music that’s been made, but it’s really cool to be able to make different kinds and be able to come up with new ideas that you can share with people.”

CHS sophomore Karen Lu and Judd met as seventh graders at a summer percussion camp. Lu plays percussion with Judd and is in the front ensemble during the fall semester.

Judd often shares her compositions

with Lu, one of her closest friends, for feedback and critiques.

“Whenever Anna shares her music with me, it’s usually in person during the band period or, if she is really excited about a piece, she sends me a recording,” Lu said. “Out of the two of us, Anna is more knowledgeable in composition, but since we are both in band and enjoy music, I’m able to tell her general ideas, such as when a key change doesn’t fit in with the rest of the piece.”

Judd is also able to share her music compositions with assistant percussion director Jonathan Anderson, who is in his second year teaching Judd, for a more professional opinion.

According to Judd, Anderson has greatly influenced her music writing.

“Usually, when [Judd] would come to me, I would give her suggestions of things to listen to, things that I thought were similar to what she was trying to accomplish,” Anderson said. “I would give her as much in-depth musical theory as I could in those situations, but frequently I would point to things that I just thought didn’t work, or could work better, and then encouraged her to improve those things in the way she would.”

Composing her own music and being part of the CHS band has granted Judd many opportunities to grow both personally and musically.

“Anna has definitely grown as a musician and as a person over the years,” Lu said. “When I first met her, she was just beginning to write her own music, but this year alone, she’s written a duet for our Purely Rhythmic percussion concert and a solo for her little sister to play. Anna has [also] become braver in her musical endeavors and in her interactions with others. She is no longer too shy to show others her personality and explore uncharted territories in music and in life.”

her TUNING

TALENT

Judd discovers passion, pursues future in music composition

april 2018

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entertainment 17

(2018Best of Coppell) BEST HANGOUT SPOT

Andy Brown Park Play sand volleyball, walk your dog, have a picnic: these are just some of the many opportunities available at Andy Brown Park East, all at no cost. For days when you want to relax, Andy Brown Park East is perfect. You can take a walk around the lake or relax and chat with friends under the shade of the pavilions. You may be a little too old to play in the playground, however.

BEST DATE NIGHT

Palio's Pizza Cafe Palio’s Pizza Cafe is a classic for any movie night with family, or a date night with your boo.

Palio’s has a variety of options, as it offers both classic Italian cuisine, such as baked ziti or chicken parmesan, and its most famous item: gourmet pizzas, such as “Hawaiian Sunrise” or “The King”. You can top it off with a homemade cannoli, tiramisu or cheesecake.

BEST PLACE TO STUDY

Coppell Cozby Library The high-tech, yet cozy library walking distance from Coppell High School serves as the perfect place to spend an evening studying. The facility includes a peaceful environment with a tranquil view of the pond. Furthermore, Coppell Cozby Library offers the option to rent rooms to accomodate studying needs with rooms that are so silent, you can hear a pin drop, and environments for group studying.

BEST BREAKFAST

Local Diner Every small town is not complete without its infamous diner and Coppell’s happens to be Local Diner.

The diner offers everything from scrumptious pancakes to milkshakes. Breakfast is what diners are known for and is universally known as a meal that can be eaten all times of the day. This makes the diner a great candidate for meet ups with friends and to catch a bite.

The Sidekick staff presents the 2018 Best of Coppell: a collection of our favorite local food and entertainment spots. For the full version, go to coppellstudentmedia.com

BEST FINE ARTS

Theatre Coppell Located in a former firehouse, Theatre Coppell is a great place is to catch a musical, comedy or drama production with friends or family. The theater puts on six full productions each season, including “Communicating Doors”, which combines time travel and a murder plot, until April 22. There are many volunteer opportunities at Theatre Coppell, including set building/painting, running lights and sound, stage crew, choreographing and musical directing.

BEST DESSERT

Tappy's Yogurt After dinner, the best treat to sum up your night is frozen yogurt. Tappy’s Yogurt offers 16 flavors everyday that vary from day to day. The colorful environment is kid-friendly and makes the experience that much more enjoyable and nostalgic. It is a great place to meet up with friends to grab a quick bite or when craving a sweet taste in the middle of a diet.

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Hope World START REVIEW

BTS rapper j-hope releases funky mixtape graphic by Kelly Wei In the last few years, the music genre known as K-pop has grown in its following in the United States. However, what makes this growth unique is that many people cannot understand the Korean language.

written by Claire Clements Staff Writer @cclements825 Bright colors greeted BTS fans, commonly known as ARMYs, on the cover of rapper and dancer j-hope's debut solo album, Hope World, on March 1. Along with this, broken records met j-hope.

His music video for “Daydream” became the fastest BTS music video to reach one million likes on YouTube, in one hour and 44 minutes, and in 24 hours, reached 10 million views, becoming the fastest Korean music video to do so.

Hope World also topped the iTunes charts in 63 countries, and j-hope now holds the record for the most number ones on iTunes for any Korean artist. His album consists of seven songs and is a total of 20 minutes.

This mixtape, nicknamed 'Hixtape', has been promised for more than two years and was highly anticipated, as evident in the records he broke.

Was this album well worth the wait?

In most of his songs, j-hope explores a light tune true to himself, with the exception of “Blue Side”, “HANGSANG” and “Airplane”.

My personal favorites were “Daydream”, “HANGSANG” and “Base Line”, as they were catchy, fun beats. I did not enjoy “Airplane” or “Blue Side”, as I felt they were meaningless and not enjoyable.

In most of his songs, j-hope explores what lead to his upbeat personality, and also praises fellow BTS members and thanks them for everything they have done for them.

Ultimately, his album is worth the two long years, and I cannot wait for his next one.

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com

Korean tunes popping in U.S, bringing new culture written by Claire Clements Staff Writer @cclements825 Screams filled the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 21, 2017, as fans watched seven men walk up the stairs to the stage, making history at the Billboard Music Awards.

These men, commonly known as BTS, became the first K-pop (“Korean pop”) group to win an award at a U.S. awards show. In November, it became the first K-pop group to perform at a U.S. awards show, at the American Music Awards.

In the last decade, both North and South America have experienced a miraculous growth in K-pop.

Coppell High School has seen the growth as well, with the start of the Korean Culture Club last year.

What makes the interest in K-pop so unique is that most Americans who listen to it do not speak the language. “[Growth of interest in K-pop is] really interesting because, for me, it’s my language, I can understand the meaning of the lyrics,” CHS sophomore Sangmin Park said. “[Most] people here don’t know Korean, but they still like it.”

There is something that is bringing people of different languages and cultures into a music genre they cannot understand, but what it actually is is debatable.

“There are a lot of singers in America who can sing really well, and dancers who can dance really [well], but K-pop stars are doing both,” Park said.

“That’s a cool point.”

Another point of view believes that K-pop’s

unique, bright aesthetics sparked interest in the music genre.

“A lot of people thought the looks were intrigu-

ing, dancing, visual, the style…which led to them discovering the music,” CHS junior Bailey Lai said.

While K-pop has only become popular in the last few years, especially following the release of PSY’s “Gangnam Style,”, K-pop has had an expansive reach across South Korea, China and Japan for over a decade, with fans identifying several generations over this short period.

The first generation consists of groups such as SECHKIES, H.O.T, Fin.K.L and S.E.S, and is considered to be from the late 1990s to early 2000s, around the same time as Britain’s Spice Girls, and the U.S. groups NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

The second generation is considered to have started around 2008 and ended in 2012, with groups such as 2NE1, Big Bang, SNSD, Super Junior and TVXQ. While there is currently debate about what generation we are currently in, the third or fourth, most believe the third consists of groups such as EXO, GOT7, BTS and Red Velvet and is from 2012-2015.

The fourth generation is believed to consist of NCT, Seventeen and Twice, and is from 2015 to present-day.

These generations show the extent of K-pop, and its application to people of all ages and races.

For some fans, K-pop is more than just what they listen to. It is a way of making connections.

“I moved from South Korea [to Texas] in 2015, and it was hard to make friends because I was not good at English, and I come from a different culture,” CHS senior Chaewon Baeg said. “But K-pop helped me to make friends because people would come up to me and ask me about K-pop, and I would start to bond with them. I was so happy about that.”

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Teruya feeding artwork into Dallas

Local restaurant gets taste of Coppell artist’s talent with chalkboard drawing

photo by Pramika Kadari Coppell High School junior Karina Teruya’s chalk drawing Conductor is featured at LARK on the Park, a highly-rated restaurant in Dallas, adjacent to Klyde Warren. LARK selected six artists’ drawings from the Dallas Museum of Art’s Young Masters program to showcase.

written by Pramika Kadari Staff Writer @pramika_kadari DALLAS – For as long as she can remember, Coppell High School junior Karina Teruya has loved art. She was overjoyed when, recently, her drawing Conductor was selected to be showcased on a large chalkboard at the highly-rated LARK on the Park restaurant in Dallas, adjacent to Klyde Warren Park.

“I really like how I can express myself [with art],” Teruya said. “I can capture emotions and feelings in art, and I love that about it. I was really excited [when I found out my drawing was selected] especially because I’ve never done something so largescale before in such a public place.”

TRENDING

ARTS with One Shot written by ANDRÉS BEAR, ANTHONY CESARIO

LARK has been featuring local artists’ chalkboard drawings for several years, but this is the first year it opened the opportunity to students instead of professional artists. Through the Dallas Museum of Art’s Young Masters program, the restaurant selected six students’ drawings for exhibition.

Apart from Teruya, others chosen were Fernando Avelar from Plano East Senior High School, Varsha Kumar from Plano West Senior High School, TomIsaac Mark from Richardson High School, Anna Redman from Lovejoy High School and Eli Ruhala from Lovejoy High School. The chosen artists will receive $300 for their college fund, and their creations will be on display at LARK for three months.

“I like having our local artists here,” LARK manager Sara Purcell said. “I really enjoy that it’s high “All Wordz Are Made Up” by The Voidz Julian Casablancas, former lead vocalist of The Strokes, has officially become a member of The Voidz. His grand entrance was introduced in a video. There have been multiple singles dropped in the past few days. Each is tight and focused. They have expanded the sound of the band beyond their debut album. “All Wordz Are Made Up” is no exception to the precedent already set. It is another different, rhythmic and banging track off of its upcoming sophomore album Virtue, which was released on March 30 on Cult Records.

SONG OF THE ISSUE

school students we’re showcasing. It’s all local artists around Dallas, so it pulls that big city but small world feeling.”

Conductor was inspired by the CHS Band Mid-Winter Concert, which Teruya attended on Feb. 8. The piece was a new experience for Teruya not only because of the publicity that came along with it, but also because it was the first drawing she did in chalk.

“I’ve done art in a lot of different mediums, but never chalk,” Teruya said. “Recently, I’ve been playing around with sketching a lot. Even though they’re not final pieces, I feel like sketches have more energy and emotion than a lot of my final pieces, which I like.”

Across Sunday and Monday, the artists were given 36 hours total to complete their chalk drawing on LARK’s chalkboards, and worked during the restaurant’s business hours.

Teruya planned ahead by completing several sketches beforehand. She also went in an hour before business hours and used a projector to help her sketch out the drawing’s general proportions on the chalkboard. After approximately five hours of hard work, Teruya finished her drawings and was one of the first students to do so.

“When I first got there and started drawing, it was kind of scary, with people watching me,” Teruya said. “But the more time I spent on it, I kind of got in the moment. I was just focusing on what I was drawing and nothing else.”

Teruya plans to apply to have her work featured in the LARK restaurant again in future years, and is more confident about her chances of success with one year under her belt.

“Now that I know what kind of pieces they look for, in the future I would have a better chance of getting in again,” Teruya said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

Aspiring artists can view the submission guidelines for LARK’s showcase on their blackboard website, which is also where they can find past years’ features.

Coppell High School sophomore Daphnie Tian has participated in all school art classes since kindergarten. Her brother, Allan, is one of her biggest inspirations, as he is interested in art as well. This painting, entitled “Despair”, was created using gouache, micron pen and watercolor.

“The hand in the foreground was made with cut out magazine papers and painted on gouache, cut out and outlined into the shape of the hand, and the background is painted with watercolors,” Tian said.

ART OF THE ISSUE

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photo by Quyenh Phang

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Leathers takes lifechanging injury, transforms it into growth

written by Anthony Cesario Co-Student Life Editor @anthony_sk2017

C

oppell High School senior Taylor Leathers had been dancing since she was 3. It gave her a unique platform to express her emotions.

Everything changed in freshman year.

“I was 15 at the time,” Leathers said. “That’s when my initial injury occurred. It was right before line camp for freshman drill team.”

The doctors told Leathers and her mother, Jan Leathers, that Taylor’s injury was a mix of two things, the first being how active she was. She had exerted so much effort into physical activity, including dance basketball, volleyball, wakeboarding and snow skiing that her back became strained over time. The second cause was simply genetics: the ligaments in Taylor’s discs were naturally thin, making her more susceptible to a herniation.

Many factors led to the decision of surgery: Leathers dealt with back spasms every week that left her in ex-

cruciating pain.

“It was heartbreaking,” Mrs. Leathers said. “As a mom, it was surreal. It was the worst pain you ever feel because as a parent. I knew she was in physical pain, but watching a child in that pain is horrific.”

Taylor’s first back surgery was at the end of freshman year. Afterwards, she tried to dance again, but her back was so bad, she stopped after mid-sophomore year. Three months ago, she had disc replacement surgery.

Now that she has been cleared, Taylor can again participate in some other physical activities, such as wakeboarding and snow skiing. However, the metal in her back has forced her to acknowledge that dancing will likely no longer be an option for her.

“I’m glad that I’m able to work out again and go to the gym, but it was especially hard for me to deal with the fact that after dancing since age 3, the last time I would dance would be sophomore year in high school,” Leathers said. “That is kind of hard, especially because I love dance, and I also love spending time with my friends. I met so many great people and danced with great people all throughout my life, and I won’t be able to do that again.”

One of Taylor’s closest friends, CHS senior Stephanie Wendt, has stood by Taylor since she found out about her injury in freshman year when they both danced in the Silver Stars drill team together.

“I have friends that have been injured,” Wendt said. “Being a friend and not quite understanding what they’re going through but trying to support them, it can be hard to do because you can’t really put yourself into their shoes. All you can do is be there

april 2018 for them. One of the things I strive to do as a dancer is dance for those who can’t, and Taylor is a perfect example of that. Taylor showed me and the rest of our drill team really that we need to be grateful and not take our health for granted because Taylor would love to be doing what we’re doing but at the same time, I think she’s a really incredible example of perseverance.”

Despite the injury preventing her from pursuing something she loves, Taylor has taken it and transformed it to a positive influence.

“Because of my injury, I actually got interested in medicine and healthcare,” Taylor said. “I just got really interested in the science of it all with my back. I definitely want to pursue neuroscience and psychology, especially because my injury didn’t only impact me physically, it impacted me emotionally too and I want to be able to study that and take that into a career.”

Because of her newfound interest in the science of her back and her desire to help others, Taylor took an internship with her pediatrician last semester. Now, she has an internship with Peak Brain, a company that aims to help people psychologically using neurological science.

“I learned how to deal with losing something you love and being able to find something not necessarily to replace that, but to take those skills from your old passion and move them to your new passion,” Leathers said. “I know that because I’ve been through this, if something comes along in my life that changes the course, I know I’ll be able to handle it and deal with it and not complain about it but use it to my advantage.”

To read more, visit coppellstudentmedia.com.

photo courtesy Jan Leathers

Dangers of overextension in high school athletes incite questions of morality, spark conversation about limits

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‘No pain, no gain’ taken too far in athletics

written by Pramika Kadari Staff Writer @pramika_kadari

O

ut of the eight million high school student-athletes across the United States, a quarter are injured annually. This number is far too high, and is often a result of the excessive pressure athletes place on their own shoulders.

Among dedicated athletes, the idea of pushing through extreme pain for the sake of success is often seen as grand and noble. “No pain, no gain” is a popular phrase in the sports world; while it has truth, many athletes take

it to an unhealthy level.

In reality, forcing yourself to continue when you are clearly injured will hinder your success. Athletes need to understand when to take a step back.

“In our society, whether you’re an athlete or a mathlete, [putting a lot of pressure on yourself ] is something that is deemed to make you successful,” Coppell High School head trainer Yvette Carson said.

But after a certain point, more pressure does not equate to more success. Nearly half of all teenage

injuries are from overuse, which means they are largely preventable by avoiding overexertion.

“We really try to teach kids to listen to their bodies, more than anything,” Carson said. “Teenagers especially, their bodies are changing a lot. They need to be given the opportunity to learn how to listen to their body.

There’s a difference between hurting and being injured. Being injured means there’s something wrong.”

Because of the physical rigor in athletics, many feel injury will always be prevalent, regardless of what the

There’s a difference between hurting and being injured. Being injured means there’s something wrong.

Yvette Carson, head trainer

athlete does.

“Injury is inevitable,” Coppell ISD Athletics Director Joe McBride said.

“Anytime you compete [or] do sports, there’s an element of risk.”

Although this is true, athletes can at least minimize the severity and frequency of injuries by backing out of a game or race when it is smart to do so. When they take a break to receive treatment as soon as possible, they will heal much faster than if they continued to strain their injury.

I know this from personal experience, as my cross country season last year was cut over a month short after I finished a race on a sprained ankle. If I had dropped out of the race, my ankle would have healed within two weeks.

Bulldozing through pain is often considered to mean you are more committed and stronger. But sometimes forcing yourself to step out of the game requires more strength than the former.

photo by Varsha Kanneganti Coppell High School freshman track runner Zach Stricker talks with head trainer Yvette Carson about his leg in the morning of April 2 in the athletic trainers room. Athletes are encouraged to talk to the trainers about any issues regarding their physical health.

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Pre-game rituals get players’ heads right written by Akif Abidi Staff Writer @akifabidi On one side of the locker room, members of the Coppell boys soccer team are kicking around a hacky sack and chatting with each other. In the background, laughter from teammates fills the air.

Before it is time to take the field for the match, the boys gather for a quick team prayer.

“A lot of the time you come out on the field, you’ll be somewhat nervous because you’re playing a good team and you need to win, especially in the case of playoffs,” senior defender Josh Strong said.

“One of my favorite traditions is that we all pray together right before the game, no matter what faith you are from, even if you don’t have one, it’s an opportunity for everyone to just take a moment to calm the nerves and ask God for help, it’s always super impactful in our play.”

The Cowboys try to spend

time amongst themselves to get prepared for a match instead of being isolated on their phones or music.

“I try not to listen to music before games because I want to spend my time with my teammates instead,” Strong said. “I haven’t known many of my teammates for a long time but they are the people I have the best relationships with. It helps us know each other better both on and off the field, and helps our chemistry as a team.”

Lots of athletes get the jitters before stepping onto the field for a big game, as the pressure and the nerves can often bring down an athlete’s confidence and hinder their performance.

Confidence is a crucial part of an athlete’s performance and can be a pivotal part of a team’s ability.

Athletes tend to have a dash of superstition when it comes to pre-game traditions. It might be things that people may not notice, but the superstition oddly soothes the game-day jitters. Though the psychology of pre-game rituals can be fuzzy and weird, they give players the edge they need.

The Coppell girls soccer team also has a couple of its own traditions. One such tradition occurs right before kickoff when the players stand in a semi-circle near the edge of the field in the order of the players’ numbers. As their names and numbers are announced

over the stadium’s speakers, the players run along the horseshoe, high-fiving their teammates and cheering before they sprint toward half-line for the anthem.

“I like to wrap this band around my shoe every time, and I also make sure to wear a pink headband every game. While I’m running through the horseshoe, I always wave to my mom in the stands, or else I can’t play,” said junior defender Mary Ziperman, with a chuckle. “Pre-game traditions affect us in a good way. Even though they are a little superstitious, it gives us the extra confidence we need for the match.”

It is not uncommon to walk into a locker room before a game and hear some upbeat music over the speakers. Many just rely on their favorite music to pump themselves up, and sometimes just listening to the right tune can be enough to get them going. Superstition and sports go together hand-in-hand, an athlete’s mental factor can be as important as the physical.

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Pehl finding new way to assist coach written by Nicholas Pranske Sports Assignment Editor @nick_pranske8 Every good high school coach can deal with the pressure that comes with being on the court, but very few can deal with the pressures that come as soon as they get home.

That is why many of them enlist the help of a partner - a spouse. In sports, spouses of the coach can often contribute to the team in ways that no one else can.

From organizing team dinners to giving much-needed moral support, Lisa Pehl could serve as the face of coaches’ wives. Pehl, the wife of former CHS basketball coach Kit Pehl, is known throughout Coppell basketball as the face behind the curtain.

“Being a coach’s wife is a yearround thing,” Lisa Pehl said. “You’re always a coach’s widow... meaning at least once a week he’s gone to watch a game, even if he’s not coaching.

Whenever he’s home, that’s when you get to spend time as a family.”

Coaching is a demanding job and takes several hours of work outside of

the 8:40-4:00 school day. Often, coaches will not see their family for almost the entire day, leaving their wives to tend to the family while also juggling their own jobs. Being the spouse of a high school coach usually takes just as much time, planning, and level headedness as any coaching job. While the coach tends to the players on the court, the spouse tends to the team in the house.

Her team is composed of a 12-yearold son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Gabe and Emma, her starting lineup. Ever since they were old

enough to go, Mrs. Pehl has been bringing them along to the games.

While some have their children in bed by 8:00 p.m. every night, the Pehls have a different philosophy.

“The kids might not see their dad if they don’t go to the game,” Lisa Pehl said. “Seeing their dad on the court is sometimes the only time the kids get to see him that day. It’s a special thing to bring them into that experience.”

For Gabe and Emma, it might not even be about the sport. While Gabe plays basketball, baseball, football and every other sport that he could get himself into, Emma is oriented a little d i f f e re n t .

photo courtesy Lisa Pehl

“Emma never took a big liking to sports, but it still brought her closer to me,” Kit Pehl said. “I remember her tapping me on the shoulder before a game to say ‘hi, daddy’.”

These are the experiences that make being a coach’s wife vital.

However, the Pehls’ family goes further than just their son and daughter.

Pehl’s main focus as a coach’s wife is to create a relationship with the players.

To do this, she will do anything from inviting all the players over for a team dinner, giving them dating advice or making each varsity player an ornament for Christmas.

“One of the biggest blessings that we’ve had is having a family. Our basketball team acted as our extended family. Having that support is such a special thing,” Mrs. Pehl said. “Those families touched our lives in a way that we could never repay.

However, being the spouse of a coach is not all glory. Making a team dinner might mean that she is up late finishing work from that day, making customized ornaments might take a chunk out of her wallet. But in Pehl’s eyes, it is all worth it.

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