The Torch // Issue 3

THE

TORCH

IN THIS ISSUE: STRETCH TO SUCCESS CAYDEN PEACOCK pg.14 THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

SPEECH AND DEBATE pg.20

seven lakes high school :: volume 14 :: issue 3 :: spring semester

ONLINE EDITOR Kezia Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Zara Hernandez CONTENT EDITORS Angelica DeCastro Naba Sheikh SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Shanaya Premjee MARKETING MANAGERS Zoe May Sofia Pham ANNOUNCEMENTS MANAGER Alexia Partouche SPORTS MANAGER Jacob Aromy PLAYLIST MANAGER Juliana Dold STAFF WRITER Amy Bodine HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Lila Hiett PHOTOGRAPHERS Kiley Banks Daniel Del Villar Shane Hogg Sophia Iderkou ADVISER Rachel Reid PRINTER UNITED GRAPHICS GENERAL INQUIRIES SEVEN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL 9251 SOUTH FRY RD. KATY, TEXAS 77494 281-237-9016 www.slhspress.com IG: @SLHSPRESS TWITTER: @SLHSPRESS EMAIL: SLHSPRESS@katyisd.org

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he first two months of 2020 have been busy, to say the least. The spring semester stress has kicked in as UIL meets, AP exams, SATs, and college decisions pile on top of the usual course load.

The spring season means new beginnings, so to help you be your best self in the new semester, we have included an article by our Marketing Manager Zoe May about the Law of Attraction.

Additionally, we included an article by our Online Editor Kezia Frederick titled ‘I Quit!’ which is a detailed guide on when it can be beneficial to quit.

Spring is also the season of flowers, picnics and, most importantly, bees, which — if you didn’t already know — are dying.

Make sure to check out ‘Oh, Honey!’ on page 24 by Juliana Dold, to learn more on what you can do to save one of spring’s most essential creatures.

This issue, we chose junior Tania Swani as our “Be The Light” feature story. As president of Best Buddies, she advocates inclusion for those who have disabilities, making sure they all have a regular high school experience through birthday socials, accompanying them to school events, and more. She is featured on the cover, and her story can be found on page 16.

Since time will be moving fast this semester, be sure to cherish the last few moments of the year.

Find a balance between your heavy workload while still finding time to go to that last basketball game or get that coffee with your best friends. Whatever you’re working on this semester that causes you stress, we wish you the best of luck.

And remember, Spring Break is around the corner, and after that, summer is within arms reach.

With love,

ayesha

& jaden

22

EDITION

EDITORS IN CHIEF Ayesha Nagaria Jaden Reyes

LETTER from the editors

SPRING

STAFF

14

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 26 16

ON THE COVER The cover features BE THE LIGHT student, Tania Swani.

Her story, “A Hand to Hold,” is featured on page 16.

The cover photo was taken by Rachel Reid with the assistance of Ayesha Nagaria and Zara Hernandez and artistic designs for the photo were produced in Adobe Photoshop by Juliana Dold. Thank you to junior Tania Swani for taking the time to collaborating with us for our cover story.

HAPPINESS 4 UNIVERSAL Law of Attraction I QUIT! 6 Benefits of Quitting NINE TO FIVE 8 WORKING Student Jobs UP 10 INK’D History of Tattoos ALL ODDS 12 AGAINST Reviving the Literary Magazine TO SUCCESS 14 STRETCH Cayden Peacock A HAND TO HOLD 16 Tania Swani STOCKS 18 SWAPPING Christian Gomez POWER OF LANGUAGE 20 THE Speech and Debate ON A ROLL 22 Bowling Team HONEY! 24 OH, Save the Bees BLOOM 26 INSTA Spring Break Photo Spots GREEN 28 GOING St. Patrick’s Day

UNIVERSAL HAPPINESS

How The Law Of Attraction Influences Daily Life

STORY BY ZOE MAY :: marketing manager

PHOTO BY: ZOE MAY

DREAM BOARD: An easy way to implement the Law of Attraction is a dream board. They are simple and easy to make using the following steps:

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Create a list of goals you’d like to accomplish in the next year

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Find pictures online or in magazines that represent those goals and inspire you

Make a collage out of the photos; add as many as you want

Add motivational and inspirational quotes about how you want to feel

Place the board where you can see it everyday, so you can focus on those goals

HOW DOES IT WORK?

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he Law of Attraction is the long-held belief that people draw into their lives what they put into it. However, many people don’t necessarily notice when they are using it in their dayto-day lives. In order to use the Law of Attraction to gain success, it is important to understand the role a person plays within the process.

People attract into their lives what they focus and spend energy on. If one remains focused on positive thoughts and experiences in their life, they will attract positive things. If they feel excited, happy, or joyful, they are sending out positive energy. On the flip side, if they are feeling anxious, angry, or resentful, they send out negative energy. In theory, the universe will respond to these emotions and reciprocate the same emotions, despite what may be best for them. So, in order for people to attract what they want, they must send out those energies in order to receive them in return. After understanding that premise, one can begin to intentionally create a better life for themselves, choosing to respond differently to emotions, thoughts, and situations throughout the day. This doesn’t mean that these people won’t

ever feel stressed, angry, or frustrated; it simply means they shouldn’t wallow in it.

When broken down, the Law of Attraction is a three step process: ask, believe, receive. To begin, start expressing desires to the universe.

Every day, people put desires into the world whether subconsciously or consciously. Humans pay attention to what they see, hear, and experience.

When they want something, they must manifest it through thought, sight, and verbalization. Once they do that, they enter the second phase: belief.

It is important to believe that what is put into the world will come back. The hardest parts are convincing someone that they deserve an abundance of happiness and should find joy in the darkest of moments. This often requires individuals to seek past their own self. The results following the Law of Attraction don’t only affect the person practicing it, but also the people around them. When someone is happy and determined, it often makes those around them feel the same. Once these steps have been completed, the people who have manifested what they want begin to receive what they desire in varying forms.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT

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riginally, spiritualists practiced the Law of Attraction through deep meditation and enlightenment-seeking journeys. It was eventually discovered that their belief was not that far-fetched. The Law of Attraction could be proven through scientific principles found in quantum physics, as well as neurological studies.

Recently, through brain scanning and testing, scientists discovered “mirror neurons,” which cause a person to mimic someone they are observing.

These neurons are the reason why yawning is contagious, causing the body to subconsciously act and repeat the actions they see. Similarly, when observing someone playing with their hair, it is very likely for the person watching to do it as well. These findings strongly support the “Law of Attraction.” Furthermore, in an elaborate study, scientists discovered that when people are shown “fearful” faces, it activates a collection of nerve

cells called the amygdala, causing fear in the person viewing them. The scientists viewed the results from a screen, so when certain parts of the brain were working, they lit up. Even when people are unaware of what they are seeing, the brain still lights up.

When the same faces were shown to someone who is medically “blind,” the amygdala still lit up and induced fear.

Similar reactions were also seen with happiness or anxiety. It sounds more believable when referenced to as the “gut feeling” that often develops when someone is in danger or scared. The last part of the study further proves that the Law of Attraction is intuition.

The parts of the brain involved in intuition are closely connected with the regions involved in action. Therefore, when the part of the brain involved with intuition is triggered, it will also trigger the action centers, thus proving that just as the Law of Attraction states, intuition and emotion reflected into the world result in action.

HOPES AND DREAMS “One day in the summer of 2018, I came across a bullet journaling video on youtube. After the video, I decided to recreate the pages in my own journal.

I got hooked and kept making spreads based off my own ideas. I keep doing it because it keeps me oganized and makes be calm. It’s stress relieving to create simple art for yourself.”

SAMEERA DABBIRU

“I would make a dream board because they are a great way to visualize my goals and remind myself what I am working towards. I’d put pictures of countries I want to go to like Spain and Italy, workout goals and food ideas beacause it gives me something to physically look at to remind me of all I want to acheive.”

BETH SALAK

“I really like the styles of bullet journaling and dream boards, as well as the creativity that goes along with it. I personally haven’t tried bullet journaling, but I plan on trying it in order to stay organized or inspire myself to be more creative.”

SANNE PEEK

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FEATURE page by zoe may

I QUIT! The Benefits of Quitting for Physical and Mental Health STORY BY KEZIA FREDERICK :: online editor

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY: OSAYD PIRZADA

::::: COLUMN 6 :::::benefits of quitting

he phrase, “I quit.” has always been riddled with a negative connotation.

People tend to believe that quitting is for those who are lazy, or don’t like to work hard, which isn’t necessarily true. We’ve also all heard the phrase “winners never quit and quitters never win.” But, in his book “The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick),” Seth Godin rejects this notion by saying that winners are smart quitters who quit often, like when they realize their current path and decisions cannot get them any farther toward their goal.

Cutting their losses allows winners to reallocate their time and energy to the things that do continue to move them forward, he said. It takes a strongminded person to know when they’ve reached their limit and need to call it quits, which is why I am proposing quitting is actually beneficial to not only a person’s life but to their mental health.

To begin, we need to understand what it means to quit and why people do it. The dictionary defines quitting as “to stop or discontinue” or “to leave permanently” which is simple to comprehend: when we quit, we stop doing something. Quitting is made harder to justify to ourselves for many reasons. One of those is the cost of investing our time, energy, and resources into something. Imagine you’ve stood in line for 30 minutes only to learn there’s still another hour to go. You’ve already invested that 30 minutes, so dropping out at this point doesn’t sit right with you.

But that’s not rational. A paper in the American Psychological Association pegged it on our overgeneralization of the “don’t waste” rule. That is, we feel like we should put those 30 minutes to “good use.” But refusing to abandon those investments can be costly. For every moment you double down on something that’s not working out, you are forgoing other potentially valuable opportunities. Additionally, we tend to struggle to walk away from the amount of options that may be possible to us if we don’t quit. Researchers at the University of Adelaide explored this idea: in the experiment, 32 participants played a computer game and were asked to repeatedly pick one out of nine possible doors to enter. Each door participants chose to enter and explore rewarded them with a variable amount of treasure, which determined their compensation. But in some versions of this game, doors that were left unopened eventually disappeared.

Under this condition, researchers observed that participants were willing to forgo a bigger reward to keep those options viable. The experiment proved in trying cling to too many things, we consume resources that might be better spent elsewhere.

To automatically think quitting is a bad thing is where the problem occurs.

People quit for a multitude of reasons.

They might be ready for something new, tired of the way it was making them feel, or trying to start fresh. This can be seen when a student quits an AP class because they feel like they can no longer handle the demanding class or a couple “quitting” their

Weigh out the pros and cons of your situation.

Ask yourself, “Is this making me happy?”

Determine whether other opportunities would be more fulfilling.

Finally, decide if quitting is ultimately the best decision for you.

relationship because they both realize it isn’t working. Neither of these actions are bad — people need to observe and assess the situations in their lives that causes them the most heartache, struggle, or problems, and then decide it’s no longer worth doing. Someone deciding they don’t want to take the time and fix it doesn’t make them lazier or less hardworking — they just know what they need.

In certain situations, quitting allows a person to fully take control over what they believe is good for their life. When we have the ability to stop doing certain things, we can then begin to assess what parts of our life make us happy or sad, make us work too hard or too little, and what makes us feel fulfilled or turns us complacent.

When this is done, we can slowly begin to make changes by quitting all aspects of our lives that don’t make us happy, dedicated, and fulfilled, because doing so helps lead to a healthy life and mind.

So, the student who quits a minimum wage job because they would rather focus on school or the student who quits an extracurricular activity they didn’t truly enjoy should be celebrated.

When these people look back, they are going to be glad they quit because it allowed them to be their best selves.

Quitting can usher in the next stages of a person’s life, allowing them to move onto the next and usually bigger thing.

So, my advice to you as a hardworking student is to understand that it’s okay to quit, especially if what it is you’re quitting was never truly making you happy in the first place.

“

I got my first camera nine years ago, and the next thing I knew, I had a thriving photography business. It was the perfect side job for me at the time. It provided an extra income for my family, and I really enjoyed doing it.

As the years went on, the time commitment started becoming more intense. I was booking so many people, and working every single weekend. I found that I didn’t even want to bring my camera to my own kid’s events because I was so burned out.

During 2019, the decision to quit weighed heavily on me. I knew it was time to throw in the towel when I had to leave my son’s baseball tournament to prepare for a photoshoot with a graduating senior. While I was gone, I missed his first-ever home run. I was heartbroken. After that, every time I thought about closing down my business, I would feel a sense of relief, and I knew it was time. Since my last shoot, I have truly felt less stressed, had more time with my family, and I actually get to enjoy my weekends.

Quitting brought me peace of mind.

“

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Is It Time To Quit?

Rachel Reid

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COLUMN page by kezia frederick

TO FIVE PHOTO BY: DANIEL DEL VILLAR

NINE

PHOTO BY: DANIEL DEL VILLAR

BEARD PAPAS

KATY VOLLEYBALL

JONATHAN NGUYEN

MADISON VASQUEZ

“I work at Beard Papas in Katy Asian Town, and I have been working there for about four months. Normally, I work 20 to 25 hours a week. Managing my job along with my schoolwork was hard at first but with time I have learned how to do it successfully. I do a lot of different tasks at my job, but the most challenging part of it is probably squatting down to clean the floors because it takes a long time. While at work, there is always something baking since we sell cream puffs, so I get to smell like bread everyday. Working can be very tiring, but it has taught me how to manage my time better and has enhanced my work ethic. When I first got the interview, I made sure that I prepared my resume and made sure I was on time for it. I’m like a piping hot bowl of pho: always hot and ready. Through my job, I have been able to meet new people and create friendships, which is probably the most rewarding part of it.”

::::: FEATURE 8 :::::student jobs

“I work two jobs, one at Salata and the other at Katy Volleyball Academy.

I’ve been working at Salata for a year and a half now, and have been coaching for six months. Between the two jobs, I work about 20 to 25 hours a week. It’s a lot of time management, but the key is planning ahead and making sure there’s enough time for everything.

The most challenging part of my job at Salata is probably just maintaining a good attitude even on days when I’m exhausted or stressed from school.

For coaching, I think the most difficult part is figuring out how to simplify movements and other aspects of the game so that they make sense to the young girls. From working, I’ve learned the importance of time management and how to truly be effective with my time. I’ve gained respect for other people who work in restaurants and other places where having good service is important because it’s one of the hardest things I’ve experienced.”

PHOTO BY: DANIEL DEL VILLAR

STARBUCKS

JACOB AROMY “I work at Starbucks as a barista.

I have been working there for about three months, for approximately 20 hours a week. It was difficult at first adjusting to working and managing my time, but over time it has gotten pretty easy, as it has helped me develop my time management skills. While I’m working, it can be a challenge to satisfy every customers needs. People are passionate about their coffee. I really wanted to get a car before college, and working at Starbucks would provide me with a source of income that would allow me to achieve this goal. Before my job, I would usually just go home after theatre rehearsal, but now I go straight to work, so I have to make sure everything is ready for my shift before I go. I have learned how to make all the different drinks at Starbucks, and I didn’t really drink coffee before I got this job, but now it is a vital part of my life. Shoutout to Chris, Jewels, Amil, Jonathan, and Pablo.”

Students Share How They Manage Their School and Work Life STORY BY JADEN REYES :: co-editor in chief “I work at King Daddy at Falcon Point two days a week, and I’ve been doing it since spring break of 2019. I teach tennis to younger kids. I try my best to work on days that don’t interfere with my assignments. As much as I adore the kids, I work when I’ve had a long day at school, so I have to work hard to stay patient with the kids and control them. Since I started working, my resilience has improved along with accountability for my actions. I’m able to recognize my own mistakes and how to improve myself, and have learned I like working with kids. I’ve also learned the skill of teaching and of finding ways to convey information to kids in a way they can understand and apply it. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to see the kids improve.

After weeks of watching them play tennis, many of them from complete beginners, and eventually seeing them improve, I am rewarded with knowing they enjoy and benefit from what I do.”

“I work at the YMCA as a swim instructor and I have been working there for a month so far. I typically work around 20 hours a week because I need to balance my job, my after school activities, and schoolwork. As long as I don’t procrastinate and study for my classes before I go to work, I can handle having a job and working.

The most challenging part of my job is making my shifts on time because I am always driving from one place to another for my extracurriculars, but as long as I plan beforehand on where I need to be, then I am able to make my shifts on time. For anyone preparing for an interview, having confidence in your answers can make a great change in your interviewers outlook on your answers. The most rewarding part of my job is knowing I took the initiative to get a job while in high school.

Being able to manage school and extracurricular activities with a job is a reward in itself.”

“I’ve been working at Coco Crêpes in Fulshear for about three months around 20 hours a week. In order to be successful in school and my job, I try to always get my homework done before I go to work, so I don’t have to worry about it when I get back late at night.

It feels nice to be sort of financially independent since I’m going away for college soon. It’s taught me a lot about balancing my money, so I don’t run out for important things such as gas for my car. My job has made me much more time conscious, and has made me value the time I have available. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve started working at Coco.

I’ve learned how to do bookkeeping for large establishments, and keep track of daily earnings. The most rewarding part of my job is getting to know the people I work with. Everyone at Coco comes from a different background and has such interesting stories, so it’s fun to take the time and get to know the people around me.”

DANIELA RAMOS

KEREM AY

NASEEM SHAHLAEE

PHOTO BY: JACKIE MILSTEIN

KING DADDY TENNIS

PHOTO BY: LAUREN HEKIMIAN

YMCA

PHOTO BY: DANIEL DEL VILLAR

COCO CREPES

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FEATURE page by jaden reyes

INK’D UP The History of Tattoos STORY BY JACOB AROMY :: sports manager

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or centuries, people have been using body art to express themselves in their own unique way. Throughout the years, tattoos have grown artistically diverse. Nowadays, we see tattoos in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Along with the visual aspect, the meanings behind tattoos vary from person to person.

Some are symbolic, some represent a close relationship, and some are a regretful mistake. Most people mentally prepare and plan for this experience for months, while others decide to get one overnight. Tattoos tend to have a negative connotation associated with them, but not all tattoos are bad.

In 1991, Europe’s oldest human mummy was found in the Otzal Alps.

His body had a total of 61 tatoos dating back to around 3100 BC. This opened up the gate to finding many other mummies with inked imprints on their skin, confirming the commonality of ancient tattoo rituals. Beginning in the 1500s, Native Americans then used tattoos as a part of tribal traditions.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that tattoos were viewed as an art form someone could receive simply for themselves. For the first half of the 20th

::::: FEATURE 10 :::::history of tattoos

century, tattoos were more commonly found on sailors or circus performers, and remained a taboo topic. This stayed consistent until the '70s when body art started becoming more of a mainstream practice. This popularity initiated from popular bands and artists in the rock scene at the time.

At the end of the 1900s, people like Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Ed Hardy, and Pamela Anderson all inspired the future of modern tattoos.

Tattoos are definitely not all fun and games. In the state of Texas, it is illegal to get a tattoo under the age of 18, with or without your parents’ permission. But in other states, tattoos are available to teens at earlier ages.

For example, in Idaho as long as you have parent permission, you can get one at 14 years old.

In the end, it’s important to take proper precautions and be smart about your decision to get a tattoo. Tattoos are a beautiful thing when executed the proper way like when representing a special hobby, or honoring a relative’s passing. The possibilities for body art are endless — and for that, tattoos should be appreciated much more than they are today.Dylan Gomez (12th),

JOSHUA HEERSSEN

“As a lighting designer, color is my strongsuit in design. It's a great way of showing emotion or mood on stage. Every director has their vision that they want to put on stage and mine has always been based on color. For that reason, having the venn diagram of primary and secondary colors tattooed on my forearm has been a great way to show my love for colors in directing, while also using it as a teaching tool.”

BRIGID ARD

“My sister and I have wanted to get matching tattoos since I was 15. Because of our Irish heritage, we both decided to get Celtic knots, which represents sisterhood. We are very close, so we wanted to get something special to greatly represent our relationship and familial bond. It is my first tattoo, and I would love to get a couple more that mean a lot to me.”

DYLAN GOMEZ

“So, this tattoo is the first letter of the names of each person in my family. I got it because we have always been really tight and are always there for each other, and they all have made me who and what I am today.

This tattoo is basically a reminder of that.

My mom also has the exact same one on her side.”

DAVID POLLACK

“In March 2007, during the Klein Relays track meet, I told my team that if we won state, I would get it tattooed on me. At the time, our kids were good, but had not run state championship level times. However, two months after that, we won state and set a national record in the 4x200 meter relay. I got the tattoo just a week later.”

ALL PHOTOS BY: LILA HIETT

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FEATURE page by juliana dold and jacob aromy

AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS I AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS AGAINST ALL ODDS ::::: Creative Writing Club Revives the Literary Magazine STORY BY SOFIA PHAM :: marketing manager

t’s obvious to anyone willing to pay attention: literary magazines are dying. From low resources to financial issues to a lack of interest, the problems they battle are enough to drop them like flies, page by page, all over the country.

But one team of writers has committed themselves to raising the dead.

When AP Literature and Creative Writing teacher Rudy dela Rosa proposed reviving “The Looking Glass,” a school magazine that’s been six feet under for 12 years, it was cheered on.

Brilliant. But the Creative Writing Club faced one crucial problem: the path ahead would be rocky, filled with issues that caused the original magazine to shut down in 2009, just one year after its initial release. “[One of the biggest problems is] getting the word out about the magazine,” sophomore and vice president Michelle Grimes said. “The school itself isn’t overly passionate about writing. However, I know that there are people that exist in this school that really have a strong passion for writing. We can express our imaginations, our ideas, our opinions through this book, and we’re collaborating with the school community.”

All magazines have to start somewhere, and this one began in dela Rosa’s classroom, with 20 people, an idea, and a list of themes scrawled on the whiteboard.

One meeting later, it was settled: the team was publishing a studentmade, student-edited magazine with

FEATURE 12 :::::reviving the literary magazine

nature as its main topic. It was a jarring change from the theme of the 2009 original, which featured an Alicein-Wonderland-inspired cover designed by a previous student as its centerpiece.

For this issue, sophomore Noelle Larsen would be taking the mantle and designing the nature-themed cover.

“We have to remember that it was from 2009, so it’s going to be a lot easier for us [now] to have artwork that’s colorized and such,” sophomore and club historian Chloe Naylor said. “It’s not just writing that we’ll be showcasing. It’s also art, whether digital art or hand-drawn art, and it’s just generally for anyone who has an artistic inclination or a desire to share something with the school.”

With the theme out of the way, another problem arose: money. How was the club going to combat the financial issues that dragged the old magazine into the grave?

“We are going to implement a three dollar membership fee for club members here, and then we’re planning on selling the magazines for five dollars apiece,” Grimes said.

“We’re going to begin to officially sell them by April 26.”

Now, the club is counting on other students --- creators, writers, artists, and editors --- to mold the magazine into not only a successful publication, but a bright future for aspiring writers.

“I think everybody wants to feel this sense of dignity knowing that their writing has been published,” Grimes said. “It just makes them feel proud of themselves for being able to accomplish that. And I think it’s great for resumes as well. They can [say their work] has been published in a school magazine.”

HOW DO I SUBMIT?

A CONVERSATION WITH RUDY DELA ROSA

Be a Seven Lakes student. All grade levels will be accepted.

PHOTO BY: SOPHIA IDERKOU

Create a poem, short story, or work of art pertaining to the theme: nature.

Convert your work to a JPEG or PNG file.

Submit your piece to slhscwclub@ gmail.com by March 6.

How did you start getting involved with writing?

I got involved with writing when I became the lead singer and screamer for a heavy metal band in high school. I was always interested in poetry, particularly the works of Charles Bukowski, so writing songs was the next logical progression.

What previous experience do you have with running a magazine and how was it different from this one?

I created the first literary magazine with my original Creative Writing class. Making it was essentially a trial by fire. Luckily, we had a lot of help from the journalism teacher and students. With this one, we know what to expect and are looking forward to reviving the magazine.

What would you change about the old magazine if you could?

I would change nothing. It is a representation of its time, and it was made for and by the students. It was a love letter of expression.

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FEATURE page by sofia pham

STORY BY AMY BODINE :: staff writer

STRETCH TO SUCCESS :::::FEATURE 14 cayden peacock :::::

Peacock (11) wears three of his many medals. Medals and awards such as these pave the way towards his future in gymnastics.

Junior Caden Peacock on Life as a Competitive Gymnast

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lutching at his elbow, he knew something was wrong. Trying to ignore the blunt, throbbing pain, he attempted to run his routine again. Just push through it, his coach told him.

So he did.

He pushed through it enough to make it to both a regional and national competition. But eventually, enough was enough.

His elbow had begun to make a sharp, audible crack when bent. He visited the doctor’s office that summer.

The diagnosis: he had chipped off a piece of his bone.

The bone was now sitting beside his elbow, lurching with every movement of his body. It was nothing serious; it wouldn’t deter him. He might be out for a few months, but he could come back for the second part of the season.

To any other teenager this would seem like a bigger issue; but then again, most teenagers didn’t have a duffel bag full of glinting medals stuffed into their closet as if it was nothing new. Most teenagers didn’t repeatedly attend national championships; most teenagers certainly weren’t leaping between two bars high above the ground, or performing what, to most of us, would be considered acrobatic stunts as a mere warm-up.

But then again, most students aren’t Cayden Peacock.

A staggeringly talented junior who pairs an obvious knack for gymnastics with a decided air of humility, Peacock has had his fair share of disconcerting injuries.

About three weeks before I was going to go to my first meet, I started having the same pain in my other elbow,” Peacock said. “[It was the] same thing again --- I had broken a piece off and had to have surgery. I couldn’t feel the moment it had broken off, but I could tell something was wrong. When I bent it, it would crack. I could hear it.”

Contrary to its widespread reputation, the high-stakes atmosphere of competitive gymnastics isn’t always glamour and ribbons. Behind the scenes, athletes strive to achieve their best under heavy pressure and specific criteria.

“You get one chance to do your routine as best as possible,” Peacock said. “I’ve had times when I’ve fallen and gotten bad scores, and that’s always hard. At big meets like nationals, they do a formal march and play music when everyone walks in.

Everything is so strict.”

Pursuing gymnastics has an enormous physical impact on the body,

as athletes dedicate upwards of five hours a day perfecting their routines.

From sprains and torn ligaments, to shattered bones or pinched nerves, gymnasts have a dangerous array of injuries to avoid in their gruelling training schedule.

“People don’t really think about how physically demanding it is because it’s not like football or anything, where you’re hitting each other or running around constantly,” Peacock said.”

In addition to his classes, Peacock struggles through a packed afterschool schedule, some days training for more than three hours at once. Taking an early release just for the ability to arrive on time, he often makes extreme time sacrifices.

“Usually we practice six days a week,” Peacock said.

“Practice starts at 2:30 everyday. Two days we go until 5:30, and four days we go until seven.

Two days a week we only focus on our air awareness; how our body moves in the air. Our coaches try to regiment schedules.”

The mere fact that Peacock has been performing gymnastics since he was five shows his sense of work ethic and dedication, but it requires exceptional character to consistently perform among the highest tier of athletes. “[Nationals is] pretty crazy,” Peacock said. “I made it in 2016, 2017, and 2018, [but] I missed 2019 because I was out for injuries. Nationals won’t happen again until May. I don’t know about the Olympics, but I definitely want to do it in college.”

As with any strenuous sport, the massive toll gymnastics takes on an athlete’s life and mindset can make carefree moments rare. This means that Peacock must make an effort to keep the fun in the sport.

Regarding the delicate balance between fun and discipline, he has specific advice for anyone finding themselves in need of motivation.

“Keeping the fun up is honestly hard sometimes,” Peacock said. “As a perfectionist, and with good coaches, you’re always pushing to do your best, so it’s easy to get down on yourself.

Whenever I have the chance, I’m cracking jokes or doing things that make people laugh or smile. When I see my teammates or coaches smile, it makes me happy. Just keep the jokes going.”

Peacock (11) waves during a handstand. Even a basic move such as this requires total-body strength, agility, and balance.

::::: 15 :::::

FEATURE page by amy bodine

A HAND TO HOLD STORY BY ZARA HERNANDEZ :: managing editor

“

I was 11 years old, and I was walking the track with my friends during P.E. when I noticed a girl walking alone,” Best Buddies president and junior Tania Swani said. “I decided to walk beside her, we started talking, and shortly after, we became best friends.”

Swani’s new best friend was a part of a school-led organization in junior high called Spartan Buddies.

“She introduced me to the world of advocating for those like her with special abilities,” Swani said. “After that, it was my absolute goal to make sure that no one, regardless of their disability, feels alone and isolated.”

Starting high school, Swani joined Best Buddies, which essentially is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the inclusion of people with Intellectual Development Disorder (IDD). IDD is characterized by deficits in general intellectual functions. On a high school scale, Best Buddies promotes inclusivity through chapters, creating one-on-one friendships and giving buddies a full high school experience by attending school events together.

“It’s really heartwarming to see those who may not be included in all settings truly find a safe space to be themselves and cultivate lifelong friendships,” Swani said.

With all that Best Buddies has to offer for those with special needs, and Swani’s devotion to the cause, just being a member wasn’t enough.

::::: BE THE LIGHT 16 :::::tania swani

“As a freshman, I saw the president at the time, Anna Fedewa, and was so inspired by her and her impact on the community, as well as how she ran the entire chapter,” Swani said. “Through attending numerous advocacy trainings and Best Buddies International events, such as the annual gala, fashion show, and leadership conference, I was motivated by the mission and knew I wanted to be in control of chapter events as president.”

At the end of Swani’s sophomore year, she had been chosen to be the 2019-2020 Best Buddies president.

“The best part of being president is planning chapter events, standing up for inclusion, and just being a part of all the fun,” Swani said. “I love my officer team so much, and a lot of them have become my absolute best friends; we work really well together.

We really work to support all of them and make sure that they have a regular high school experience. An example of this is when Bethany Noonan, Brooke Williams, and I went to homecoming with some of the buddies. We did the whole thing: dinner, photos, the dance, and had tons of fun doing it and making these lifelong memories together. Everything we as officers do is for the buddies and to make sure that they have an enjoyable experience, but honestly, the entire reason we do it is because it is so rewarding for ourselves. I do not know who I would be without it. I am so blessed because of it.”

Swani is extremely grateful for her

experience with Best Buddies and what she has been able to accomplish for other people but most of all what the buddies have done for her.

“Best Buddies has truly enriched my life because of the friendships it has gifted me,” Swani said. “Through being involved in the program for over seven years on various campuses, I have truly learned the meaning of friendship. More than that, it has also given me a wider perspective on life as a whole. Often times, living in Katy, we are put in a bubble of just thinking about ourselves and only doing things because they benefit us, but I really think that through Best Buddies, I’ve become more perceptive and giving as a person, navigating through a variety of social situations with ease. It has shown me how important all people are and how much everyone matters — and how we can truly impact our society for the better.”

PHOTO BY: ZARA HERNANDEZ

Best Buddies President Tania Swani Speaks on Her Experience in Best Buddies

“This is Tania’s first year as Best Buddies president, and she has tackled this huge responsibility head on,” Best Buddies advisor Alyssa Villarreal said.

“Tania has a big heart and a passion for helping all students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

ASHLEY VANDERVLIET

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: BROOKE WILLIAMS

“I like Tania a lot,” Swani’s buddy Ashley Vandervliet said. “She comes to my table and says ‘hi’ to me every day at lunchtime. She is my best buddy.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: TANIA SWANI

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

ALYSSA VILLARREAL

BROOKE WILLIAMS

“Tania is one of the most selfless and compassionate people I know,” Best Buddies vice president Brooke Williams said. “She is the president of both FCCLA and Best Buddies and dedicates her time to helping others and improving our community. She is always open minded and eager to include others. I’m so glad to have her as a president and a friend.”

::::: 23 :::::

BE THE LIGHT page by zara hernandez

PHOTO BY: RACHEL REID

M

SWAPPING STOCKS Junior Christian Gomez on Stocks, Investments, and Finances as a Student STORY BY AYESHA NAGARIA :: co-editor in chief

::::: FEATURE 18 :::::christian gomez

ost students who are reprimanded for having their laptop out in class are caught browsing through online shopping websites or catching up on their favorite Netflix original series. Junior Christian Gomez is different. When Gomez is found with his laptop on his desk, he is usually tracking a company’s profits, assessing values, or dividing cash among businesses as part of his venture into the realm of funds, investments, and stocks. To some, those words sound like bland jargon, but to others, they represent a passion rooted in the world of finance.

“I’ve always been a saver, setting aside money I got from mowing lawns and birthdays,” Gomez said. “Then, when I got to sixth grade, I had all this money and I told my mom I want to do something with it. She told me to wait until I got to high school [so] I started investing beginning in freshman year.”

Although minors don’t have the legal authority to invest privately, those under 18 may open a custodial investment account, which transfers the responsibility of the account to their legal guardians. This allows students to gain profits through investing as an alternative to mainstream employment options such as working as a cashier or barista.

“You have to have your social security and all of those kinds of documents to make a brokerage account,” Gomez said. “There’s many out there — free ones, expensive ones, all kinds of different ones — and once you have that, then you have the green light and you can start buying and selling stocks.”

Creating this brokerage account is the first step to becoming a burgeoning investor. It is an arrangement where an investor deposits money with a licensed brokerage firm, which places trades on behalf of the customer. Although the brokerage executes the orders, the assets belong to the investors. The type of brokerage to choose is a matter of the investor’s needs and preferences, and the types vary from traditional accounts with a human broker,

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

to online self-directed accounts where the client does their own research, to robo-advisor accounts which automate investing using technology to manage your portfolio. With robo-advisors, you can put your money to work without having to conduct any investment research, pick any individual stocks, or worry about rebalancing your portfolio.

But robo-advisors are certainly not for everyone — active traders may find them boring or unsophisticated.

“I handle my research on my own,” Gomez said. “For what I do, essentially the whole goal is to buy low and sell high, but I look for any kind of big or obvious opportunity.”

After your brokerage account is set up, the next step is to choose the stocks to build your portfolio. There are three different types of investments: day trading, trading monthly to gain a small percentage, and long-term investing. Gomez manages to do a little of all types to fuel his passion.

“I can’t really do the first one — most teachers don’t really like laptops out on desks at school — so I only do a little bit of day-to-day where I say ‘okay I think this’ll jump about five percent based off the pattern,’” Gomez said.

“Then, I have a separate portfolio where I have all my big companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon — the kinds of companies that are more long-term.”

A good investment portfolio is diversified among types of investments called asset classes. These include the largest classes of stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, and alternatives like precious metals. Going further, it’s also beneficial to diversify within each asset class, and acquire a mix of domestic and international stocks. Knowing how to balance your portfolio can be difficult, but there are many resources out there to help a beginner along the way.

“I’m self-taught,” Gomez said. “I read a lot of books, and there’s a lot of youtubers out there who teach the basics of investing. One of the best is Ricky Gutierrez. He’s a younger guy who does basically what I do, but he does it better than me because he does it full time.”

With all the time and effort put into investing, losses can come as a shock.

“I’ve been very fortunate, and I’ve had only a few losses,” Gomez said.

“Usually, they come back up — you ride the market — but there’s been times where I’ve had thousand-dollar losses in a few seconds. It can be pretty crazy, but you just have to deal with it emotionally, realize what you did, and then just move on.”

And thousand-dollar losses aren’t uncommon when dealing with the amounts of money Gomez is, which many other students couldn’t even dream of owning.

“Once I was on my margin account, and I maxed out my $4000 initial and I had 15 grand on one stock per trade,” Gomez said. “I kept buying more of it as it went down because I didn’t want to lose. That was a scary time.”

Many students have difficulty understanding Gomez’s pastime.

“People think I’m crazy,” Gomez said. “I’ll be in class and say ‘Oh my god, I just threw three grand in on a natural gas stock,’ and they’ll be like ‘Wow, I don’t even have enough money to buy my own gas right now for my car.’”

The most important thing to remember about investing, is that you can start with as little — or as much — as you want.

“You can start with as little as a dollar — there’s penny stocks out there,” Gomez said.

And overall, paying attention to your finances early on can set you up for the future.

“Investing helps students’ future,” Gomez said. “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy opportunities and options. It’s something that’s not really necessary, but it can help you in the long run.

In the end, Gomez hopes to develop his passion for stock trading into something more.

“I hope to one day work as a trader for a firm and branch off and make my own firm, but that’s a long shot,” Gomez said. “I’d also like to maybe work on Wall Street — that would be crazy.”

TRICKS OF THE

1.

TRADE SET INVESTMENT GOALS Decide what you want to get out of investing.

Obviously, your ultimate goal is to make money, but also consider the income and assets you already posess, and your personal circumstances.

From there, you can set goals and boudaries for the investements you decide to take on.

2.

INVEST EARLY

3.

KEEP INFORMED

4.

The earlier you start, the more money you will have to meet your investing goals. Starting in high school can prepare you early on for future expenditures.

Always study the markets.

Read up on the things you have invested in, and look for resources that keep up with market trends, as well as the global economy.

EMBRACE THE RISK Risk is the price you pay for opportunity. In general, as investment risk rise, so does the potential for higher return. So as important as it is to diversify investments and do your research, don’t be afraid to take risks

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FEATURE page by ayesha nagaria

ALL PHOTOS BY: NABA SHEIKH

“THE FACT THAT I’M ABLE TO SPEAK ON SUCH A COMPLEX TOPIC, FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT IT, AND STRONGLY EXPRESS NECESSARY PERSPECTIVES IS ENOUGH FOR ME.”

LORRAINE MENESES

::::: FEATURE 20 :::::speech and debate

Arjun Surya¹0

Arav Mehta¹0

Event — Lincoln-Douglas Topic — Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

Event — Original Oratory Piece — We constantly face distractions, especially with new forms of technology.

Nicolas Carossino¹1

Loretta Kyei¹2

Event — World Schools Topic — This House would implement population controls.

Event — Program Oral Interpretation Piece — The importance of hair, and how it impacts African American women.

Justin Zhang¹0

Ruthav Sadali¹0

Event — Public Forum Topic — Resolved: The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative.

Event — Original Oratory Piece — Sometimes, we try too hard for acceptance and validation.

Michelle Chen¹2

Tofunmi Jewesimi¹0

Event — World Schools Topic — This House would prevent Russia from using SATAN.

Event — Dramatic Interpretation Piece — What one would do for their family plus glimpses of life in Nigeria.

THE POWER OF LANGUAGE The Speech and Debate Team Navigates Through Competition and Teamwork PAGE BY NABA SHEIKH :: co-content editor

B

efore Speech and Debate students enter the competition room, palms sweaty and knees jittery, they release their nervous energy through relentless, unceasing practice. They pace back and forth endlessly, attempting to jam in that one sentence that doesn’t seem to stick. Equipped with hours upon hours of preparation, they get ready for the tournament season that awaits them.

“The atmosphere becomes quite stressful leading up to tournaments,” junior Janine Abad said. “Although, when we get there, it’s interesting to be back in a familiar environment and see friends from other schools.”

The Speech and Debate team offers a wide range of events for students to participate in, each different and distinctive, but one component remains constant throughout: diligence. No matter which event, every student puts in their all, sacrificing their weekends and spare time.

“The more that I worked, the better I got,” sophomore Lorraine Meneses said. “It became less about getting the trophy and more about improving and learning.”

Debate students find themselves proposing solutions to questions even professional analysts struggle to answer, with topics ranging from mending foreign conflicts to tackling climate change. Israel-Palestine, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Brexit — these are only a few examples of the topics students delve into.

“I think one thing about debate

is that even if you lose, you can still earn satisfaction with just competing,” Menses said. “The fact that I’m able to speak on such a complex topic, feel confident about it, and strongly express necessary perspectives is enough for me.”

When students look back on the progress they have made thus far, they feel astonished by how far they have come.

“Through debate, I’ve been able to learn about different perspectives politically and learn more about topics that I would have otherwise never known about,” Meneses said.

“It’s sometimes nerve-wracking to compete but having the sense of accomplishment afterwards gives me so much confidence that I don’t get from other activities.”

Even though the pursuit of success in Speech and Debate may have its difficulties, the members find comfort within one another.

“Debate has helped me grow, giving me the necessary support system to give myself better acceptance,” Meneses said.

“I’ve gradually gotten comfortable with myself and comfortable with other people.”

Left: Pondering how to prepare for his upcoming round, junior Willy Njeru decides to do homework instead.

Below: Freshman Max Chen leans against a wall, observing his teammates after he finished competing.

23 :::::

ROLL

ON A

Insight on a Striking Bowling Team

STORY BY ANGELICA DECASTRO :: co-content editor

S

even Lakes obtains a diverse variety of ways to get involved. These range from commonly known sports like soccer and basketball, to the more unconventional clubs such as the Feminism and Manga clubs.

These associations work endlessly, yet often still lack the recognition they rightly deserve. In the midst of clubs, sports, and academics lies a team that majority of schools in Texas don’t have --- a bowling team.

Requiring evident skill and technique manifested through hours of practice, bowling is popularly embraced more of as a sport, rather than a club.

Sponsored by Algebra teacher Brian Stevens, the male team is comprised of 14 players in total with five on varsity, led by senior team captain Ethan Clarkson, and nine on junior varsity, led by junior Nathaniel Christie. The female team is fairly small with only three participants.

“I want students to know that we exist,” sophomore Angelica Nava Perez said. “A lot of people don’t know that there is a bowling team, and how easy it is to join.”

Practice takes place twice a week at Times Square Entertainment, where players look to improve stance,

::::: FEATURE 22 :::::bowling team

feet placement, and approach.

“Since I started just this year, I constantly look to learn the technique,” Nava Perez said. “Apparently there is a certain way to bowl that I didn’t know of before I started playing on the team.

I have gotten pretty good at it, and now I’m looking to learn trick shots to improve my average.”

Following every game, players audit their averages to determine improvement and see what they need to work on. A player’s attendance in practice directly correlates with their averages.

“I love bowling and I always want to get better,” sophomore Kevin Mcnew said. “My teammates all specialize in different things. Personally, I am working to get my throwing arm straight because I always put it behind me. Nate is working on his hooks, and Ethan is working on getting perfect strikes. It is a range of skill sets.”

Though it is competitive, students join with intentions to have fun and to meet new people. Being in an academically competitive school, some relief outside of the heavy workload is essential for one’s sanity.

“Bowling is really a mental game,” Christie said. “You have to be in the right mindset to do it. You have to be confident in yourself to get the ball down the lane how you want it. With the lanes themselves having different oil patterns and changes all the time, you have to be prepared to switch how you throw the ball.”

Requiring the labor of handling a 15 pound ball and heavy time commitment, bowling is rightfully deemed as a sport --- contrary to popular belief.

“Last year, I finished with a 178

ALL PHOTOS BY: LILA HIETT

LEFT TO RIGHT: Preston Asmar, Jack Cleary, Nathaniel Christie, Bryce Yule, Mark Zavala, Conrad Corral, Ethan Clarkson, Kevin McNew, Royce Nguyen, Richard Nguyen

LEFT TO RIGHT: Emma Ogilvie, Sofia Leos Gonzalez, Angelica Nava Perez, Zi Jun Yu, Gabriela Hamdieh

average, and this year, I’m hovering around 200 plus,” Clarkson said. “Over the summer, I would bowl nearly every day.”

Games are first composed of two rounds of singles, one-on-one matches between five players, with each round being worth one point. Whoever gets the highest total of the two rounds receives the points for their team. The team that earns the highest points is granted an additional two points. The next section is Baker, where the teams play against the other team. Each player plays two frames, and each round is two points. The team that collects the most points out of the two games receives the win.

“Before I joined the team I used to hate doing new things,” Mcnew said. The bowling has enabled me to experience new things, make new friends and create many memories I will remember in my deathbed.”

::::: 23 :::::

FEATURE page by angelica decastro

Bee Populations Are Rapidly Declining Around the World, and Here Is What We Can Do STORY BY JULIANA DOLD :: playlist manager

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ees have been trademarked to be a pesky annoyance that only serve to ruin a family picnic. However, they are actually one of the hardest working species on Earth. Their entire lives revolve around pollinating ⅔ of the crop plants that are eaten around the world, which includes apples, watermelons, peppers — basically the entire produce aisle at a grocery store.

Without that food production, not only would we not have food necessary for proper nutrients, but the U.S. would lose $20,000 worth of crop production annually.

Despite their economic importance, from 2018-2019, the honey bee population has decreased by 40.7 percent and lost 10 of its colonies in the U.S. alone. That is 4,166.7 pounds of honey, roughly the same weight as a giraffe, lost in the course of one year.

“If we lost bees entirely, it would be catastrophic,” Environmental Science teacher Rachel Salim said. “They are considered a keystone species, and without them, we’d probably need a robotic replacement to keep up the food chain.”

The remaining number of bees is still declining each day. Eight bee species have already been put on the endangered species list, and the honey bee will soon be the next to join them.

This rapid dwindling of bees didn’t happen on its own. Man-made

::::: FEATURE 24 :::::save the bees

alterations to nature have been steadily leading to this since the early 1900s.

“There are multiple reasons that humans have impacted their population,” Salim said. “Loss of habitat, planting only one crop instead of many, and the use of pesticides are just a few.”

With the increase of constant industrialization around the globe, the loss of biodiversity has become quite apparent. Without an array of plants to pollinate, not only do bees produce less honey, but their diet lacks sufficient nutrients. However, even those who regularly tend a garden can damage the bee’s life cycle. The common use of pesticides to divert insects from damaging plants interferes with a bee’s ability to pollinate. The chemicals used in brand-name pesticides inhibit its natural resources that allow bees to fulfill their life’s purpose.

Nonetheless, human impact is not solely to blame. An external parasite called the ‘Varroa mite’ has been a major pest to, particularly, honey bees since its first appearance in Florida during the 1980s. The mite can only reproduce within bee colonies, and gains its nutrients through attaching itself to an adult bee and leeching off it until it dies. Since these mites are particularly active during the winter months, when bees tend to stay within their colonies, the population drop between summer and winter has been

increasingly dramatic throughout the past few years.

Another natural influence toward the decline is “Colony Collapse Disorder” [CCD]. This phenomenon occurs when the majority of worker bees leave their queen behind, making the colony unstable to carry on and eventually dying on its own. It is estimated that CCD has killed about 40 percent of bees each year since its beginning in 2006.

“Once they get [CCD], it’s over,” Salim said. “When you add cold temperatures and many other factors, it spreads and the colony simply can’t adjust.”

If all of these factors continue, there is a high possibility that bees will become extinct in less than 16 years.

As bleak as it may seem, there is still hope to reverse this decline from a simple home-made garden. The only issue is that these practices aren’t normalized, and without a communal effort, little impact can be done.

“The best thing you can do is research,” Salim said. “Become familiar with different pesticides and how to use them, and plant more than one flower in your garden to give [the bees] more of a variety to choose from.”

Bees are a prominent part of the ecosystem, and with a little more care put towards how the environment is managed, they can begin to flourish again.

HOW TO OF HELP

1.

AVOID HARMFUL PESTICIDES

2.

PLANT A BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Treating your garden with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers inhibits pollination from other pollinators. To reduce this, use organic pesticides, which can be found at any gardening store, and spray the product at night, as that is when most types of pollinators are least active.

Planting certain flowers helps bees pollinate easily. Bees gravitate toward gardens that avoid hybrid flowers, have plants that bloom year-round, and have each type of flower planted together. Natural, one-bud flowers produce more pollen, and attract bees more often.

3.

DO NOT WEED YOUR GARDEN

4.

SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCE SALES

Y: JU LI A N A DO P H OTO B

Buying organic fruits, vegtables, and honey can go a long way to help the bees, and yourself.

Foods without genetic altering or chemical processing can be found at any local farmer’s market, or will be labeled by the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) at a grocery store.

LD

Plants that usually get pulled up by their lawn’s caretaker, like dandelions, are in reality a huge source of nutrients for bees.

Additionally, early spring weeds are a substantial food source for insects. Instead of pulling the weed and its root out, simply trimming the lawn will go miles for bees and insects alike.

::::: 25 :::::

FEATURE page by juliana dold

INSTA BLOOM Where to Find the Best Places to Take Instagram Photos in Houston STORY BY ALEXIA PARTOUCHE :: announcements manager

With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to give your Instagram a refresher with some gorgeous pictures in stunning locations. Unfortunately, that can be hard if you don’t have any plans to travel to the world’s most Instagrammable spots during your spring break. Then again, you might not need to. There are plenty of lovely locations nearby that make the perfect backdrop for you to pose in front of. Just grab a few friends, and you’re set for your very own photoshoot. @abbeypuckett_

Located in Downtown Houston, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is the perfect place for a shoot with a greener aesthetic. Statues, fountains, flower bushes, and trees line the garden path, which makes for a nice, calming stroll that’s worth it even if you’re not taking pictures. @partouchephotography @lqrraine

If you’re looking for something colorful and just a little edgy, check out Montrose. Its assortment of street art, murals, and quirky building exteriors serve as a lively scenery for a psychedelically charming photoshoot.

::::: FEATURE 26 :::::spring break photo spots

@charlotte.manske

For something super close to home, the Grand Lakes Park offers a rustic ambiance that creates a much more casual, relaxed feel. In fact, its close vicinity to home and gorgeous greenery make it tempting to have a picnic while you’re there.

CityCentre is best fit for a sleek, modern aesthetic. Pose next to the fountains or along the organized greenery to make your streetstyle more voguish than ever. With some sharp styling, CityCentre can only add cool, composed flair to your pictures. @nabasus @rvdjeff

@brigid.ard @jessieescovy @jackiemilstein @kylerhuyse

Interested in something monochromatic? The Sugar and Cloth wall in Downtown Houston is the perfect fit for someone who likes a pop of color without the edginess of graffiti. The walls awash with pepto-bismol pink are easy to coordinate to an outfit and will most certainly liven up your profile. @lilahiett

::::: 27 :::::

FEATURE page by alexia partouche

GOING GREEN The Importance of St. Patrick’s Day in Modern Society

::::: SATIRE 28 :::::st. patrick’s day

STORY BY SHANAYA PREMJEE :: social media manager

E

veryone’s favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, is coming up soon! Get ready to celebrate this virtuous holiday with your closest Irish brothers and sisters as they honor Saint Patrick — the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to their homeland by pinching people and eating foods that turn their insides green. When most people use the phrase “think green,” they are talking about saving the environment, planting trees, rescuing humanity from extinction, all that other boring stuff. They aren’t thinking about what truly matters — this big, fat green holiday and the adorable, tiny, little green men that come with it. I’m talking about leprechauns, not aliens.

Not only does St. Patrick’s Day honor the Irish saint, but it celebrates the Irish culture itself. It brings attention to prized aspects of Irish society: leprechauns, rainbows, fourleaf clovers, and the color green. While

SURVIVING ST. PADDY’S DAY Avoid social interaction at all costs! Hide in your room and do not leave under any circumstances. People can survive without food for three weeks and without water for four days, so just one day won’t kill you. Do whatever you need to do to survive this green holiday.

The only way to save yourself from the torture that is pinching is wearing green. Everywhere. Make yourself so green that you radiate enough green energy to save the planet.

Go look for the gold at the end of a rainbow. Even if it seems impossible, keep looking. Kidnap a leprechaun, hire someone, eat so many skittles that you become the rainbow.

THINKING GREEN You have a 10,000-to-1 chance of finding a four leaf clover.

According to the Irish myth, leprechauns are a type fairy that cause mischief and enjoy practical jokes. Wearing green makes you invisible to these sneaky little tricksters, and can keep you from getting pinched. As you could very well be stuck with a long-nailed individual, I wish you all the luck in the universe.

It takes 40 lb of green dye to dye the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day every year.

PHOTO BY: SOPHIA IDERKOU

I will admit that this holiday tends to encourage bad habits, I believe that St. Patrick’s Day is, as a whole, an incredibly wholesome occasion. Just like the Purge, it allows people to get out of their shells for one day only. They can make dumb jokes and they won’t feel judged, they can dress up in crazy outfits and not feel out of place, and they can pinch peoples’ skin off without any repercussions. In all honesty, this holiday, along with people who eat pineapple on pizza and chew with their mouths open, makes the world seem like the most magical, amazing, perfect place.

I believe that the only negative aspect of St. Patrick’s Day is that it is not taken seriously by half of the U.S. population. It is a day meant to honor an integral historical and religious figure, and what do they do? They decide to inhibit the celebration of this paramount holiday by stopping themselves from purchasing the

overpriced, unnecessary green merchandise that laces the halls of every grocery store and refrain from making offensive Irish jokes. These choices in the name of “responsibility” are unacceptable, offensive, an attack on the Irish holiday.

In all seriousness, up until St. Patrick’s Day was introduced to the United States in the 1700s, it took the form of a more downto-earth celebration. Americans transformed the holiday from a mild occasion into a full-blown extravaganza. There are huge parades and parties filled with green-clad individuals who would totally fail dress-code, there is an entire river in Chicago that gets dyed green. At the end of the day, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is critical in today’s society. It is as rewarding as searching for gold at the end of a rainbow or trying to become best friends with a leprechaun.

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The Torch is a student newspaper published by the newspaper class at Seven Lakes High School. It is established as an open forum intended for the free and uninhibited exchange of ideas between the students and staff. Its purpose is to inform, educate and incite thought and debate regarding school, local and national issues.

All articles and editorials are written in an entertaining, yet informative way that maintains journalistic integrity. The views printed in The Torch do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, staff or Katy Independent School District. Letters to the Editors are encouraged and welcome.

Any letter submitted is subject to editing for length, content and grammar although the intended meaning of the letter will not be changed. Production costs are covered through the sale of advertising. Editorials represent the opinion of the writer, not necessarily of a KISD administration or faculty.

The Torch is a member of the Interscholastic League of Press Conference (ILPC), the Texas Association of Journalism Education (TAJE), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and the Journalism Education Association (JEA). It is the policy of KISD not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, religion, color, age, or national origin and its education programs, activities, and employment practices.

This news magazine is student-created in an academic lab setting. We regret that errors can and will occur. However, the school staff, newspaper students, publisher, school administration, adviser and photo studios are not liable for errors, missing information, photos or lost material.

27110 Cinco Ranch Blvd.

Suite 1300 Katy, TX 77494 www.frankieanddarlings.com

Phone: 832-913-8765 info@frankieanddarlings.com

Monday - Saturday 10am - 8pm Closed Sunday