The Torch// Fall Issue// 2019//SLHS

THE

TORCH

IN THIS ISSUE: PICTURE PERFECT

ASHLEY NGUYEN & KAITLYN TRAN pg,4

ANXIETY IN THE SPOTLIGHT BRENT EASTMAN pg.14

seven lakes high school :: volume 14 :: issue 1 :: fall semester

MANAGING EDITOR Zara Hernandez CONTENT EDITORS Angelica DeCastro Naba Sheikh SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Shanaya Premjee MARKETING MANAGERS Zoe May Sophia 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 Villa 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

H

ayesha

& jaden

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8

EDITION

ONLINE EDITOR Kezia Frederick

ow many people in our school do you actually know? Do you know their dreams, their aspirations, the challenges they have faced?

In a school as large as Seven Lakes, we interact with hundreds of people every day, yet barely get to know any of them at all. Each and every person in our student body has their own story - their own outlook on life based on their background and experiences. Yet, we rarely take the time to celebrate the beauty of our diversity. We, at the Torch, strongly believe that we can learn from and be inspired by the stories of others. In this issue, titled the Humans of Seven Lakes edition, we present to you the stories of 13 different students in our school. Some are athletes, some are involved in the fine arts, some have faced challenges the rest of us could never imagine. We hope that you enjoy these stories, as much as we enjoyed putting them together.

As with every new year, we have implemented some changes.

We have evolved our design to be bolder and brighter, building on our past designs. We have also introduced a new initiative we call “Be the Light.” Through this, we will highlight one student in every issue who has made a positive impact in the community. This issue’s “Be the Light” student is Ashley Borges, who was featured on the cover, and who’s story can be found on page 16.

As always, our primary goal for this year is to represent you, our readers. We’re bringing back our quarterly issues, and still publish daily on our online site.

We’re proud to provide the Seven Lakes community with up-to-date information and in-depth features of those around them.

Honored to serve you,

SEVEN LAKES

EDITORS IN CHIEF Ayesha Nagaria Jaden Reyes

LETTER from the editors

HUMANS OF

STAFF

16 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 20 PERFECT 4 PICTURE Ashley Nguyen & Kaitlyn Tran INTO SUMMER 6 DIVING Summer Taylor IS GREATER THAN ONE 8 TWO Kiley Hill 10 SURVIVE Pedro Oliveira

BY DAY, VISUAL ARTIST 12 STUDENT

BY NIGHT

ON THE COVER The cover features BE THE LIGHT student, Ashley Borges. Her story, “Engaging in English” is featured on page 16. The cover photo was taken by Head Photographer, senior, Lila Heitt with the assistance of Jackie Milstein. A Canon T6i was used along with a 70200 f2.8 Canon lens to caputre the shot. Graphic artwork for the cover was produced in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop by Naba Sheikh, Ayesha Nagaria, Jaden, Reyes, Zara Hernanez, and Rachel Reid.

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

Soniya Lin ANXIETY IN THE SPOTLIGHT Brent Eastman ENGAGING IN ENGLISH Ashley Borges SERVING UP A STORY Ally Batenhorst PAINTING HER OWN PATH Zarah Delgado BEYOND THE BRONDBY CUP Zoe Shields JACK OF ALL TRADES Lauren Moore A JOURNEY THROUGH DYSAUTONOMIA Franny Garcia NOT THE AVERAGE ATHLETE Prisha Mennon

PICTURE ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: KAITLYN TRAN

Junior Ashley Nguyen poses on the edge of a parking garage for senior Kaitlyn Tran to take her picture, which ended up being uploaded to Tran’s website. Tran hopes to eventually host classes on photography. “I just want to help people, because I know a lot people come up to me and are like ‘how do you do your settings?’”

Tran said. “That makes me feel very appreciated, like someone values my work.”

PERFECT

Junior Ashley Nguyen and Senior Kaitlyn Tran Discuss What it’s Like on Either Side of the Camera STORY BY ALEXIA PARTOUCHE :: announcements manager

O

n the top level of a parking garage, junior Ashley Nguyen sat on the edge, her black hair tumbling down her back behind her as she looked to the sky, posing so her bright red Nikes were in central focus. In front of her, stretched out on the concrete, senior Kaitlyn Tran snapped away with her camera. This was how most photoshoots went with them: Nguyen modeling unique pieces of clothing and Tran taking the pictures from the most stylistic angles she could achieve. And the results, more often than not, were stunning.

Nguyen and Tran didn’t have the same interests when they met: Nguyen modeled outfits that she styled, and Tran was a photographer. But those contrasting skills worked perfectly together, and the pair credited each other for that.

“The relationship between the model and photographer is so important, and it just worked,” Nguyen said. “I think our relationship really made it successful.”

The duo spent most of the summer doing photoshoots, each with seperate outfits and distinct tones.

“We see locations and we plan from there, like this locations would be good with this outfit or vice versa,” Nguyen said. “Personally, I love to outfit plan, so I’ll plan outfits a long time ahead and whenever [Tran] is free I’ll call her and be like, ‘there’s this outfit that I have, let’s do something with it.’”

Nguyen had been interested in fashion since the eighth grade, but her interest in it spiked last year. Even beforehand, though, she was always keenly appreciative of self-expression that accompanies what people wear.

“I’ve always been more creative and art-oriented, and I’ve always loved how people express themselves, not necessarily in fashion, but people’s confidence in their passion,” Nguyen said. “I used to think that what people were wearing was weird or different and out-there, but I’d think ‘they’re so confident.’”

Tran’s interest in photographery was relatively recent, but it quickly blossomed under the prompting of both hard work and pure talent. She spent the last year experimenting and improving her skills.

“Different kinds of [photography] styles portray different views,” Tran said. “I don’t have a style as of right now, but I’m trying to reach out to all different perspectives and see which one I like the most.”

Tran and Nguyen hope to affect people with their work. Tran wants to keep working on her business and helping beginners, while Nguyen is a little more abstract.

“I love when people are like ‘That’s ugly, but you pulled it off.’” Nguyen said. “Whenever they see that, they can maybe wear something that they’re afraid to wear because other people might find it ugly. Really, if you’re confident enough you can pull off anything, and I think that’s what I really want to bring out when I wear what I wear.”

Favorite Lens?

My favorite is the Canon - EF 50mm f/i.8 STM.

Favorite Location to shoot?

The Metro Parking Garage because I love taking pictures with my friends while looking at the sunset.

Favorite Time to Shoot?

Around 6:00 to 7:30 pm because that’s when golden hour is.

PHOTOGRAPHER

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HOSL page by alexia partouche

DIVING SUMMER PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

ME A LITTLE ABOUT Senior Q: TELL YOURSELF. “I am an athlete, more specifically a diver. I dive for A:Lakes, Summer Seven and this is my fourth year on varsity. I also dive for Texas Taylor A&M. I feel that it’s pretty unique that I’m a diver since not many people Discusses participate in the sport.”

ARE SOME TITLES Her Passion Q: WHAT YOU HAVE YOU WON?

STORY BY KEZIA FREDERICK :: online editor

:::::summer HOSL 6 ::::: taylor

A:

“3x state qualifiers (hopefully 4x this year), 2018-2019 2nd team all state, 3x female diving mvp, 2018-2019 regional and district champion, USA diving zones qualifier, and a AAU nationals qualifier.”

Q: A:

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH DIVING? “I did gymnastics for 11 years, but after too many injuries, I had to back out and look for something else, which is when diving piqued my interests.”

Q: A:

HOW DID IT FEEL TO QUIT GYMNASTICS? “It sounds kind of dramatic, but having to quit gymnastics was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make, especially because it was injury and burnout related. I never thought in the 11 years I was a gymnast that someday I wouldn’t be one. When you do a sport that long, it becomes a

part of your identity, so when it came time to leave the only thing I ever knew, having to quit felt like I had 11 years of my life taken from me. I definitely wasn’t ready for it. I didn’t want to disappoint my family, friends, and coaches but I also couldn’t take being in pain all of the time. I was mentally drained, so I was happy to be out of that aspect of things. At the end of the day, I knew it was time to leave because my body was done, and I knew I had another purpose. It was nice to finally discover who I was without the label of Summer, the gymnast.”

Q: A:

HOW DID YOU BECOME A DIVER FOR TEXAS A&M AND WHAT IS IT LIKE? “After my injury in gymnastics, and knee surgery afterward, I was looking for a new sport to join, which is when I met with the coaches at A&M. I really liked them, and the program really meshed with me, so I stuck with it. Diving for team A&M is very intense, and diving there pushes me to do things I never thought I could. Diving at Seven Lakes is much more fun and team-oriented, while A&M is more strict and focused. I don’t prefer one over the other since I think they balance each other out. If I had to choose, I’d say A&M because of the intensity — I get more elite level training. Diving at A&M has definitely helped me with my aspirations of being a collegiate divers. My coach was a former Olympian who has been in the diving community forever, so that has helped a lot with getting connections.

I want to become better and stronger because I am surrounded by likeminded, driven people that push me.”

Q:

YOU WERE THE FIRST SEVEN LAKES FEMALE TO MAKE IT TO STATE IN DIVING, HOW DID THAT FEEL? “The first time I went to state, I was surprised because there were three upperclassmen that had a guaranteed spot to go to state, and it was my first year diving. I went in with zero expectations, I just wanted to do the best I could. But when I had two dives to go and finally looked at the scoreboard, I was shocked that I was on the leaderboard, and it hit me that I had a real chance of winning. I was nervous and excited at the same time because I knew I couldn’t mess up

A:

as I hit my last dive — a front, half-full twister. I did it and qualified for my first state tournament. At state, I was nervous because I knew how good everyone was going to be. I told myself just to have fun and not to stress out too much because it was my first state.

That meet definitely wasn’t my best but it also wasn’t my worst It was different then any other meet that I had been to, I think I ended up 18 or 20 but I was just happy I had made it and used it as a learning experience for the later years and when I went on to make it to finals.

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

Q: A:

WHAT HAVE YOU HAD TO SACRIFICE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO THIS POINT? “I haven’t had the most normal high school experience. I’ve had to miss out on going to parties and school functions, as well as hanging with friends. I need time to drive over an hour to practice, work through injuries, and go to physical therapy.”

Q: A:

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE FACED GETTING HERE TODAY? “Once, I dislocated my shoulder and had to have surgery in between my sophomore and junior season. A lot of times, diving is much more mental than physical. There are times where I let the pressure get to me. Diving is a scary sport, but I always work a lot harder to prove that I can do it, and I’m meant to be here.”

Q: A:

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOUR COACH HAS GIVEN YOU? “To never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something or be something. When you put your mind to it, you can be anything. My coach told me this at a point where I was going to quit diving so hearing that really pushed me to put aside the negative thoughts and gave me the drive to keep working.”

Q: A:

WHY IS DIVING IMPORTANT TO YOU? It gives me something to work towards. Diving is a part of me and it makes me happy. It’s a place where I can push myself to be my best.

The lessions I learned from diving have helped me become the person that I am today.

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

Q: A:

Q: A:

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HOSL page by kezia frederick

O

utside of academics, extracurricular activities are a vital part of high school. The majority of these after school practices take up all of the free time students have remaining after studying and doing homework.

Nonetheless, freshman Kylie Hill hasn’t just stuck to one elective: she’s involved in the marching band and Studio VII’s main stage production.

“Because I have to handle the workload that comes with band, theatre, and schoolwork, people believe I have a very busy schedule,”Hill said.

“The truth is that I’ve been able to handle the work that comes with all three very well. I make sure to use my time at school wisely so I have minimal work to do at home.”

Hill’s hobbies did not start in high school: she joined both activities during middle school. Due to her passion for music, she joined band as soon as she could, choosing to learn the French

horn as her first instrument.

“I originally learned the French horn because I love the sound and tone that the brass creates, and my band instructor told me that it was the instrument for me,” Hill said. “I’ve enjoyed it ever since.”

After joining band the previous year, Hill found herself stuck in her comfort zone. She looked for something that would expand her horizons. That’s when she landed on theatre.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been a very introverted person, which drew me to the option of trying some form of public speaking in middle school to break out of my comfort zone,” Hill said. “Because there was no class dedicated to public speaking, I decided to try theatre, and it opened up a whole new world of excitement.”

Hill has stayed consistent with theatre, but the band is a different story. Hill changed to marching band her freshman year. Not only does the

marching band involve learning how to move while playing, but Hill also picked up two new instruments, trumpet and mellophone, along the way.

“Marching band is very different from regular band in many ways,” Hill said. “It requires simultaneous sharp movements as you play memorized music. In the band I participated in at the junior high level, we got to sit and read directly from our music, but marching band requires you to do choreography while playing,”Hill said. “Once you are able to figure out the new concepts, marching band is genuinely so fun.”

Despite the constant rehearsals and performances of band and theatre, Hill has been able to attend both after school activities. Thanks to constant communication between her, the band, and the theatre companies, she has been able to split her time and enjoy both extracurriculars.

“Although theatre and band

have conflicting rehearsals, both organizations have been very open to me splitting time by giving me the leeway to attend both rehearsals,” Hill said. “I believe that high school is the time to try new things, and Seven Lakes provides those opportunities as long as you’re willing to keep yourself organized.”

Hill has been very thankful for not only the directors but also the communities that surround the band and theatre companies including all the friends and people she has met in high school that have already made an impact on her.

“The band and theatre communities have been so kind and helpful to me, and I enjoy being able to be a part of their extracurriculars,” Hill said.

“These programs have really helped me adjust to the new environment of high school, and I wouldn’t trade participating in either of them for anything.”

PHOTO BY: LAUREN HEKIMIAN

PHOTO BY: MICHAEL HOGG

TWO IS GREATER THAN ONE Freshman Kylie Hill Gives Insight On How To Manage Two Demanding AfterSchool Activities STORY BY JACOB AROMY :: sports manager

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HOSL page by jacob aromy

SURVIVE SURVIVE SURVIVE

Junior Pedro De Oliveira On How His Family Survived Tropical Storm Imelda STORY BY ZOE MAY :: marketing manager

:::::HOSL 10pedro de oliveira :::::

Junior Pedro De Oliveira and his family watch as a person is sky-liifted to the hospital during the storm. Many people were severely injured during tropical storm Imelda.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: PEDRO DE OLIVEIRA

inches of rain over time cities south of Beaumont had

3

6

20 inches of

9

rain within

12 hours

hours

12

0

5

10

15

20

inches

340 single

family homes were affected

76 with major

damage

T

he news said the rain would go to Houston.”

Junior Pedro de Oliveira was going on a trip to Florida with his family, which was their first time traveling out of Texas. Oliveira thought they would be able to enjoy the beach, relax outside in the sunlight, and most importantly, enjoy their time together.

He was wrong.

“After we were driving for a while, I woke up and discovered water in the car,” Oliveira said. “I started breathing a little heavily but tried to calm myself down.”

Tropical storm Imelda had hit Texas without warning with up to 20 inches of water in some areas.

Realizing the water levels in the car were steadily increasing, Oliveira and his family decided to escape through a window; they found themselves trapped within a storm with no end in sight.

“The only thought going through my head was ‘I don’t know what are we going to do,’” Oliveira said. “I tried to act calm, so my parents would stay calm too.”

He thought back to everything they had to leave behind, his hands slipping and legs shaking as he trudged along

winds at nearly

.

40 mph

the highway where he and his family abandoned their car.

“Walking in the rain on the highway was terrifying, and I was really scared of getting hit by lightning,” Oliveira said. “I could only feel the water on my legs.”

After walking for what seemed like miles, they eventually found rescue boats. Oliveira and his family were then taken to a shelter, crowded and warm, where they could finally rest and recuperate.

“When we got to the shelter, someone was very sick, so they had to get a helicopter to get them to a hospital,” Oliveira said. “It was a totally different environment, so living there for three days was hard, but the volunteers were very positive and tried their best to help.”

Afterward, the storm settled down, and Oliveira and his family were finally able to embark on their eight-hour journey back home.

“When I came home, I went straight to bed,” Oliveira said. “From now on, when I see this happening to someone else, I’ll try and think of a way I can help, now knowing what it’s like for myself.”

5

people dead

“AFTER WE WERE DRIVING FOR A WHILE, I WOKE UP AND DISCOVERED WATER IN THE CAR.” PEDRO DE OLIVEIRA

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HOSL page by zoe may

HARMONIES

How Freshman Franny Garcia Uses Music to Deal with Her Dysautonomia STORY BY SHANAYA PREMJEE :: social media manager

“

::::: HOSL 12 franny garcia :::::

PHOTO BY: SHANAYA PREMJEE

to walk to school, bike, run, and participate in PE. This caused a lot of judgment. People were extremely cruel. They thought that I was making my condition up. This one kid in sixth grade told me he wanted to push me off the stairs. My eighth-grade year is when people finally understood that dysautonomia is a real thing.

I can’t stress enough not to judge a book by its cover. I don’t look physically disabled, but, with all the conditions I have, I am. People told me ‘you don’t need this wheelchair, get up.’ If I’m in a wheelchair, it’s for a reason. Some people told me ‘you’re overreacting to whatever they’re saying, just chill.’

It’s not for others to decide what hurts me and what does not hurt me. Just love each other, we’re all the same.

“

In 2016, I got diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a form of dysautonomia, and I couldn’t even walk to the bathroom without passing out.

Over the years, I’ve always kept music by my side. When I was growing up, my dad and I would always listen to the old 80s and 90s bands. I saw a video of this girl, around eight years old, who was playing the guitar and I wanted to try.

When I was ten, my dad bought me an electric guitar from Toys R’ Us, and the very first song I played was ‘American Woman.’ Now, I can play more than 10 instruments, including the saxophone, flute, recorder, guitar, cello, violin, viola, accordion, piano, drums, upright bass, and electric bass.

It was the day of my very first orchestra concert, and I had been so excited. I was practicing my instrument all the time, but I had to be in the hospital. I felt so broken. I cried for hours. My friend was facetiming me at the concert, and I could see my empty seat. I missed so many concerts because I was stuck to an IV pole inw the hospital by myself.

I am actually working on writing a book to spread awareness of my disability. My motivation is that I know that I am going to get better, that I’m not going to stay this way forever. It sounds a little cliche, but what helped me not think about all the things that were happening was music. I’d put in my earbuds and be sitting in class doing my work. If someone was talking about me, I wouldn’t hear it. I’d just hear a song like ‘Come Together’ by the Beatles.

Recovery has been a rollercoaster.

I would be in a wheelchair for months sometimes. Other times, I’d be able

“I HAD ALWAYS TAKEN SIMPLE THINGS FOR GRANTED, LIKE SITTING UP OR EVEN CHANGING MY CLOTHES.” FRANNY GARCIA

of patients with POTS are women

DYSAUTONOMIA Dysautonomia is the result of a dysfunction of the autonomic system. A specific type of dysautonomia, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), is the unusual increase in heart rate an individual experiences as they stand up.

patients with POTS use about 3x more energy to stand as the regular person

about 80% of patients grow out of the condition and recover completely

INCLUDE fatigue

breathing problems

lightheadedness

inability to stay upright

heart palpitations

chronic pain

exercise intolerance

fainting

nausea

low blood pressure

diminished concentration

shaking

AWARENESS MONTH women are 5x more likely to develop POTS than men

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

INTERNATIONAL SCAN THE QR CODE

information from http://dysautonomiapostsyndrome.com/

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HOSL page by shanaya premjee

PHOTO BY: ZARA HERNANDEZ

ANXIETY

THE

SPOTLIGHT Senior Brent Eastman Speaks on Anxiety, Mental Illness, and Passion for Theatre STORY BY ZARA HERNANDEZ :: managing editor YOU ARE NOT ALONE. CONFIDENTIAL HELP IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE 24 HOURS EVERYDAY. HOUSTON CRISIS INTERVENTION: 832-416-1177 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: 1-800-273-8255

::::: HOSL 14 :::::brent eastman

“

When I was in preschool, I was sort of withdrawn, and I had a really hard time connecting with other people. There was a point in my life when I should've been talking developmentally. I was probably three or four, yet I didn’t say a word. My parents started playing musicals for me, specifically Cats, Les Miserables, and Annie. Through that, I started singing all the time. I went from not speaking to singing and talking, finally being on the same level as my peers.

It’s a huge reason why theatre is so important to me now, because even then theatre was the one thing that alleviated that struggle for me.

As I went through school, my anxiety got progressively worse.

In third grade, I started seeing a therapist, and the therapy sort of helped but was really surface level.

My anxiety manifested itself into perfectionism, so it took me forever to get my work done. I would get frustrated, constantly starting my work over and over again; my paper

because they didn’t think anything was wrong. All of my teachers didn’t realize that the qualities they were praising were results of my anxiety. It looked like I was just on top of everything, but in reality, I was so stressed out I was getting everything done. Ultimately, this has made me who I am, and more understanding of people.

“Be kind to everyone you meet for everyone you know is fighting their own battle.”I learned that in the fourth grade and it clicked. I've lived my life by that quote because I’ve fought this monster that was myself, and I’ve constantly had this ongoing battle with my feelings and anxiety. It’s made me approach things differently with people because nobody ever really assumed that I would go through something like that because ‘Brent’s so positive and seems so chill and happy.’ I've really tried to live my life saying you can’t judge someone based off of what they look like they’re going through.

There was a long period of time where I didn't have friends, or where I’d have friends, but I was that one friend that was not really in the group.

A lot of that was because my anxiety held me back. Although anxiety has caused a lot of issues, it has brought me into the thing I love the most which is theater. I’m really sensitive to sensory things like loud noises, bright lights and flashing lights set me off, but when I'm on stage and the lights are bright and it’s loud, it doesn’t bother me at all.

When I get up on stage in front of 5,000 people or at the Hobby Center and there are rows and rows of people, and you can’t even see them because there’s so many, I couldn’t be happier - that’s my happy place.

I've heard everything, from ‘you worry too much’ to ‘stop worrying’. I know there’s no use in worrying, but here I am. I can't stop it. I’ve lit lavender candles and taken baths and done facemasks, all the things they tell you about, but it doesn’t alter your brain chemistry. My journey with my anxiety is not necessarily a happy ending out of a fairytale; I struggle a lot, but I have a support system, and I’m in a manageable place. I definitely learned how to cope, and I've learned to find people I can trust and talk to. More than anything, I've learned that if you can be honest with the people in your life, it can mean the world to know you have their support.

“

DEZ

would have holes in it because I would erase it so many times. I was officially diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which is characterized by constant feelings of anxiousness, where everything small gets blown out of proportion. It was a lot more difficult for me to do things like take tests or handle social situations. In fourth grade, it shifted from perfectionism to the obsession with not getting sick.

I had five bottles of hand sanitizer on me. Once, there was a stomach bug going around, and a bunch of kids in our class were going home, so I was freaking out and hyperventilating in class. I wouldn't stop crying, and I ended up using a whole bottle of hand sanitizer. It got to the point where my parents came to the realization that the therapy wasn't doing what it needed to do, so they brought me to a psychiatrist. My parents tried to hold off putting me on medication, but it got to the point where they couldn't. I was on Zoloft, a medication that treats depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, from the end of fifth grade to the summer before freshman year, so it affected the formative years of shaping who I was. It never completely took the anxiety away, but I was getting by, which was a lot better than how I was doing before. You want medication to be this magical thing where you're fixed, and it wasn’t that.

Sixth grade is when I found theatre, and I immediately knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.

Theatre has always been the one thing that cancels out my anxiety, which is so funny because for most people getting up in front of others causes them to be stressed out. When I’m on stage, all of that disappears for five minutes.

In that scene, I can focus because my brain isn't moving at a million miles per minute - it isn’t all jumbled up, nor a complete mess. It's such a cool feeling to not have all that noise and just be able to put all my energy into this one thing I really love. In junior high, everyone knew me as this happy person with all this energy, but more than anything, I was trying so hard to act like nothing was wrong that I was overcompensating with ‘look at how happy I am, look at how great I am doing’. But that's when I found a sense of purpose: making other people happy. Nobody really worried about me

AN ACTRESS’ ADVICE ON ANXIETY “One thing I do is ‘four-seveneight’ breaths. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven, and out for eight. It regulates breathing and can help anxiousness.”

“It’s ok to ask for help!

Getting professional help or help from friends is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Grounding techniques can help in a panic attack: pick things around the room to focus on. It can help bring you back to reality.”

“Know your limits. Know what your triggers are and what you feel comfortable doing, don’t push yourself too far, it’ll just make you feel worse.”

“BE KIND TO EVERYONE YOU MEET FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW IS FIGHTING THEIR OWN BATTLE.” BRENT EASTMAN

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HOSL page by zara hernandez

ENGAGING

IN ENGLISH

Junior Ashley Borges Reflects on Teaching English to Children in China STORY BY AYESHA NAGARIA :: co-editor in chief

“SEEING THEIR HUNGER FOR EDUCATION IS SOMETHING I’VE IMPLEMENTED IN MY EVERYDAY ROUTINE HERE. I’M NOT ONLY GRATEFUL FOR THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE, AND OUR CAMPUS BUT ALSO THE INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AT OUR FINGERTIPS.” ASHLEY BORGES

::::: BE THE LIGHT ashley borges 16 :::::

“

It never really hit me that I was in China, that I was on the other side of the earth.

By the end of the trip, I was wondering if it even happened. I taught English to students who are my little sister’s age on the other side of the planet. I remember every single day clearly: the struggles from each day, the accomplishments from each day.

My dad is the director of special projects at Houston Baptist University.

This was the second year he took a group of 10 students to teach English, and I got to tag along. We had various team meetings leading up to the trip, starting in March, where we met to talk about dealing with cultural differences and did team-building exercises within our group. The interactions in our group were the base of all the interactions with our students, so it was important to have that sense of family within our team. We were preparing for so long, that when we set out for the trip, we were ready to implement our plan in the best way possible.

Shishi, the town I taught in, is more of a rural town, so the parents sign up a year in advance and pay a lot of money for their kids to be able to attend this very prestigious, two week summer camp. It was part of their curriculum to learn English starting in third grade, so they know the basics like colors, directions, and phrases like ‘hello, how are you,’ - our camp was just furthering their knowledge. They had our pictures on billboards before we got there, and they were so excited for us to arrive.

The first day, I was drained because of the 16 hour flight to Shanghai, 20 hour layover, five hour flight to Xiamen, and two hour bus ride to Shishi. We didn’t have a set lesson plan for the first day, so we

had to come up with lessons on the spot. After that, I made sure to plan in advance and have a clear schedule with examples prepared to maximize the kids’ opportunity to learn, and my opportunity as a teacher as well. That was a challenge, getting over the first day, because I felt like I could’ve done much better if I hadn’t been so tired, After that it was smooth sailing, and I’m happy that I had that rough first day to be more grateful for the better days afterwards.

That second week of teaching was the best, once my students had gotten to know me a little better. It was 31 seventh graders, me, and a translator who was 19 and went to school in Xiamen. At first, the students depended too much on my translator, Ellen.

There was a point when I would say something to them and they wouldn’t even try to figure it out, they would just ask the translator. After that, my translator and I made an agreement that she would help us as little as possible. I would draw on the board, dance, sing, and do everything that I could so that they didn’t have that full dependence on her.

Since I was the youngest person on my team, I could relate to all the kids and I was able to teach them all the American trends and all of the dances. I also taught them a lot of slang because it makes learning English a lot easier and that way it’s not just formal language, but adds a lot of the cultural element too. I brought my speaker every day and I would play American music. By the end of the second day, one of my students had given me a list of songs he wanted me to play. They are obsessed with Taylor Swift and they love Justin Bieber - all of these artists that here in America we grew

up listening to. Since the classroom dynamic in China is so strict, when we came in all crazy and interactive, with singing and dancing, they really loved it.

My biggest accomplishment was at the end of the two weeks we had a closing ceremony and I had taught them how to sing and dance to ‘We’re All in This Together,’ from ‘High School Musical.’ I’d put the lyrics up on the smart board we learned all the words and practiced the rhythm and the dance. There were eight classes, each doing a different dance, so all the kids wanted to work hard to impress their friends in other classes. Seeing them on the stage was rewarding and made everything fall into place - at first they were super shy and now they’re dancing to ‘High School Musical.’ It was so fun.

By the last day, everyone was crying. They gave me all these intricate gifts, wrote me all these notes, and went out and bought me stuffed animals.

This girl gave me a note two pages long of how she loved the camp, how at first she was hesitant to open up, and how she felt at the end in contrast with that - everything was so touching. I took my polaroid with me, so before we left I took two polaroids with each student and I wrote them each a little note and gave them American candy. We had all gotten attached to our normal routine, so suddenly leaving was very emotional.

I would never trade anything in the world for that trip. My experiences in China were beautiful and amazing, and I’m so grateful for them. I’d love to go back and teach again. Just having that new world view is something that I appreciate greatly.

The student dynamic in China is different than in America. They’re all so excited to learn. They get to class and all eyes are on the teacher and they just want to learn and soak in the information. Whenever I gave them assignments, the girls would take out rulers and boxes of markers and would do incredible artwork just to turn it into me. Here, a lot of students just want to get classwork done, but over there, everything was detailed and intricate. I think that seeing their hunger for education is something I’ve implemented in my everyday routine here. I’m not only grateful for the facility that we have, but also the information and opportunities that are at our fingertips. I’m now grateful to bring that passion for learning into my Katy life.

TUTORING TIMELINE ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: ASHLEY BORGES

9:00

SKITS AND GAMES

9:20

ENGLISH CLASS

11:20

LUNCH AND NAP

2:00

CHINESE LESSON

3:00

PLAY OUTSIDE

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BE THE LIGHT page by ayesha nagaria

SERVING STORY

::::: HOSL 18 ally batenhorst :::::

ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: ALLY BATENHORST

Junior Ally Batenhorst Discusses Her Passion for Volleyball and Life as a Student Olympian STORY BY JULIANA DOLD :: playlist manager workload. The whole experience was so surreal; never in a million years did I think I would be studying significant figures in Honduras.

However, when I tried out again this year, I went through the same tryout process and didn’t make the cut.

It was terrible, but I did my best, and I’m still aiming to try out next year and multiple years after that.

Even though it has its ups and downs, without volleyball, I think I would be a completely different person.

It’s taught me how to have an increased initiative, work ethic, and productivity.

People don’t understand that volleyball is a lot harder than it looks. Every time you step out on the court, you have to present yourself in a way that balances between not being cocky, and showing that you know how to manage yourself and your team.

This year has proven to be different than my other years playing for the school. All throughout my freshman and sophomore year, I’ve had older people to look up to, but now that I’m a junior, I’m learning to become a better leader. I try to lead by what I do on the court and what I say, which is hard because some days you just really want the practice to be over. Even though the pressure can get to me, my teammates and I being able to play on the court together makes everything worth it.

Right now, the team is closer than ever before. I have some of my best friends with me and our chemistry is unlike any other team I’ve been on.

The best part of playing volleyball has to be the matches. My favorite game to this date was during my freshman year. We were up against Ridgepoint and definitely the underdogs; we had all odds against us. But we had such great chemistry that we ended up winning and leading our school to state for the first time in school history.

That moment was unforgettable. I had the chance to play with my sister one last time and being an underdog is so challenging - I loved it.

Although I spend most of my time playing volleyball, I have recently been working incredibly hard in my academics and focusing on my grades just as much as I do playing. I have already pre-committed to Nebraska University on a scholarship to play volleyball. I watch their volleyball games all the time, my mom went to school there, and the campus is beautiful. It is honestly perfect for me.

To any incoming student-athletes, my advice would be to just focus on time management and working hard.

Those are the two most important things you could strive for.

“

“

Volleyball is my life. Every day, I wake up, eat, go to school, play volleyball, see friends, do homework, and sleep. When I was younger, my parents encouraged me to either be a dancer or a basketball player, but neither ever felt right. When I hit 3rd grade, for some unknown reason, I decided to give volleyball a try. Since then, I’ve always felt so much closer to volleyball than any other sport or activity. The energy on the court, plus every point scored, is such a big deal; it is unbeatable.

In July 2018, I decided to try out for the USA Olympic volleyball team. The training for the tryout was incredibly stressful. We went to Colorado Springs for 14 days, where for six hours straight, you’re constantly trying to stand out and play the best you can. I was so anxious the whole time, just hoping that a coach would notice me. After multiple trials and cuts, they announced the roster in front of everyone. Hearing my name called was the best feeling ever. But making the team meant I had to stop focusing on school and everything else in my life that wasn’t volleyball. The biggest challenge I faced wasn’t playing volleyball at an Olympic level, but rather managing my schoolwork while I was overseas. Every night I would FaceTime the friends that I had in classes, email teachers, and do homework to stay on top of the

“EVEN THOUGH THE PRESSURE CAN GET TO ME, MY TEAMMATES AND I BEING ABLE TO PLAY ON THE COURT TOGETHER MAKES EVERYTHING WORTH IT.” ALLY BATENHORST

::::: 19 :::::

HOSL page by juliana dold

STORY BY SOFIA PHAM :: marketing manager

PAINTING

HER OWN PATH Senior Zarah Delgado’s Journey of Life in Venezuela Through Art ILLUSTRATIONS BY: ZARAH DELGADO

T

he picture is still on her phone: a simple four-subject family portrait, just one of the dozens of digital drawings in her extensive portfolio of logo designs, animations, and commissions for the business she started in Oct. 2018.

But what stands out about this image in particular is its center - the beating heart of the piece: a newborn baby fitted with delicate angel wings and a glowing halo.

The mother is planting a kiss on one of the wings, a tribute to the child she lost only days after birth.

Senior Zarah Delgado, an aspiring animator, considers this the most interesting portrait she’s done so far in her career. With around three clients a month, her art business is one she’s passionate about, stemming from a childhood love for drawing.

But her journey towards success has been marred with various obstacles: a robbery by a gunman, a tear gas attack close to her home, a barrier between her family and the

::::: HOSL 20 zarah delgado :::::

nanny who lived with them for over 20 years.

In the heart of a country currently wreaked with political turmoil, hyperinflation, and a national debt crisis, Delgado lived every day with the sounds of protests at a Venezuelan military base just a few miles away from her home in Zulia, one of the nation’s 23 states.

In the summer of 2017, Delgado and her family planned a trip to Orlando, Florida, but they didn’t come back home after the vacation. They’ve since remained in the U.S. under political asylum, one family under the umbrella of thousands of immigrants.

“My family and I were forced to leave Venezuela after the governor’s victory,” Delgado said. “My father had cases against him, and we became a target. My sister Monica was having a baby, which was a high-risk pregnancy, so it was too dangerous to go back.”

Zulia Governor Omar Prieto has held the position since 2017 as part of the socialist party in Venezuela, a

group that includes President Nicolás Maduro, a man widely blamed for the food shortages and inflation that rose in the country shortly after his first election in 2013. Maduro is currently in a power struggle with Juan Guaidó, the head of the oppositioncontrolled National Assembly, following accusations that his re-election was unfair, as many opposing candidates were jailed or fled the country.

“My mom and sister were almost robbed by gunmen several times,” Delgado said. “It was dangerous to go out after 6 p.m. and stressful when you get out of the car to go somewhere.

We got used to hearing the screams of people and tear bombs thrown by the police.”

Being forced to leave behind Delgado’s aunts and close childhood nanny took a toll on many of her family members, who struggled with adapting to the new culture in an unfamiliar country.

“I didn’t really react to the transition until a year after we moved,” Delgado said. “I got so involved in

school and this new life I was having that I didn’t get that cultural shock that most of my family got in the first months living here.”

Delgado threw herself into drawing to deal with the political turmoil in her home country, pushing herself to sketch everyday outside of art class. She believed her teachers in Venezuela were too hands-on and controlling over her work, so she stopped taking classes and studied independently.

“I drew basically everything that happened to me,” Delgado said. “I had so many problems with myself and with people. I got really stressed, and I think drawing got me out of everything that was happening in Venezuela.”

Delgado’s Instagram page encapsulates everything from aesthetic designs to Disney fanart. Her work appeals to a mostly international audience, and being bilingual allows her to present it in both English and Spanish.

“I was really insecure about my

art,” Delgado said. “My sister told me in Venezuela to open an art page, but I really felt like I was going to be judged.

I didn’t have that much support in my school, [but] when I came to the U.S. I was like, ‘why not? I’m already out of my comfort zone. Nobody knows me here.’”

Delgado received her acceptance letter to the Savannah College of Art and Design on Sep. 16. Although her career is just starting, her art portfolio has evolved since enrolling in Art 1 in sophomore year, and she credits her sister Monica, a fashion blogger with over 100,000 followers on Instagram, for inspiring her to pursue it.

“Monica gave me the opportunity to work on her new brand Empowering Women Everywhere, and I did all the illustrations for the t-shirts,” Delgado said. “Monica is really the reason why I started my account. We all went through so much together and we really got to rely on each other, which is something many immigrants don’t have the opportunity to do.”

PHOTO BY: SOFIA PHAM

“I DREW ALL THE STORIES THAT I HAVE IN MY HEAD. IT GOT ME OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN VENEZUELA.” ZARAH DELGADO

::::: 21 :::::

HOSL page by sofia pham

BEYOND THE BRONDBY CUP Junior Zoe Shields Travels To Denmark To Compete In The Brondby Cup

STORY BY JADEN REYES :: co-editor in chief

ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: ZOE SHIELDS

::::: 22 HOSL zoe shields :::::

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

ZOE SHIELDS it. The biggest challenge I faced was adjusting to the environment in a new country without my family and with new teammates. I was definitely very nervous before the trip.

The most rewarding part of this experience has been the friends I have made in the process. I made strong friendships with other international players that I will have for the rest of my life. Having the opportunity to play with so many different styles of soccer has increased my skills, fitness and my game mindset. My favorite part of participating in the Brondby Cup was being able to meet so many different players from around the world. On the trip, I got to make friends with other high schoolers from England, Vietnam, Korea, Brazil, and so many more.

Whatever the outcome of the games, win, lose, or draw, my team was always there to support each other. After a well-earned victory, we would celebrate together, and after a tough loss, we would comfort each other. We would always dissect our game afterwards, looking for new ways to approach the next game, which was always just around the corner.

This trip has only increased my

love for the game. I am always looking forward to my next opportunity to practice and play. I am excited to be going on the summer tour next year with the same team and have the chance to play in another international tournament. I want to continue playing soccer in the following years, because I feel like being a part of the team pushes me to be the best version of myself. I want to continue to grow as a person and as a player with my teammates who I know will work hard with me. Soccer improves not only my fitness motivation, but the motivation for my academics.

From this trip, the biggest thing I learned was to seize every opportunity given to you. At one point I was debating going on the trip because I was unsure about traveling such a long distance to play with so many new people, but looking back on it, I wouldn’t trade going to Denmark for anything. I learned so much about other cultures, countries, and of course soccer. The most impactful thing that I took away from this experience is that the greatest rewards come from the challenges that seem the most intimidating.

“

“

I have been playing soccer ever since I can remember.

My dad put me in a coed team when I was about six because he wanted me to find a sport I would enjoy.

My earliest memory of soccer would be getting hit in the face with a ball by my coach when I was nine. Most people would think of this as a reason to quit, but I saw it as an inspiration. The first thought that came to my mind was, ‘I want to be able to kick that hard.’ My parents have been my biggest influence to continue my soccer career, because I want to show them that all the practices didn’t go to waste.

This summer, I participated in the Brondby Cup with my club team. All the credit for being able to play in the Brondby Cup goes to my coach. He worked so hard to coordinate the trip for us because he knew that we could handle the challenge. The trip made my team much closer because we had to overcome obstacles together in a foreign country; every day was team building. Before games, I listened to music with my team and we would get pumped up together. The nerves don’t usually hit me until I step onto the field, but by then it’s too late to over think

“THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE GREATEST REWARDS COME FROM THE CHALLENGES THAT SEEM THE MOST INTIMIDATING.“

::::: 23 :::::

HOSL page by jaden reyes

T

he lunch table stacked with equipment and loose sheets of music; the stressed out, glitter-clad dancers in identical uniforms, the confident and smiling thespians laughing about an inside joke: sometimes, it seems like cliques are everywhere. But there are also outliers; people who struggle to fit into a specific group. One such student is sophomore Lauren Moore. An aspiring author and bright-minded student, Moore is also an accomplished alto-sax player and an avid dancer.

“I don’t take hard classes just because of my parents,” Moore said. “I have high expectations of myself, so I try to take as many advanced courses as possible for my GPA. It’s kind of fun being challenged. I’ve realized this year that I enjoy a challenge a lot more than sitting through something that I can do easily.”

With her gung-ho attitude towards academics, it’s not hard to understand why Moore has struggled to maintain her packed schedule. Earlier this year, Moore had to drop a beloved dance class in order to pursue her other passions.

“I absolutely loved dance,” Moore said. “Honestly, I really miss it. I want to take the class second semester, but I just couldn’t fit it in.”

In addition to all her advanced classes, Moore is also a member of the Spartan Band, where she plays alto-sax. Music has been in her family for a long while. By the time she was in elementary school, her father had already integrated music into her life.

“The first time I actually played the saxophone, I was five,” Moore said.

“I really just blew into the instrument, and my dad [played all the notes].

I did piano for a year or so but the lessons got a little expensive, so when I went to middle school I [focused on] saxophone.”

She juggles homework and projects, music and melodies, but Moore’s curious spirit does not end there. When Moore does get free time, she writes her novel, which is fashioned after the fantasy and sci-fi books she loves to read.

::::: HOSL 24 :::::lauren moore

JACK

ALL

TRADES How Sophomore Lauren Moore Juggles Classes, Music, and Her New Book

STORY BY AMY BODINE :: staff writer “I’m still trying to format everything to make it work, but it’s about this world that’s overpopulated, and people are trying to figure out a way to deal with it because there’s less farmland,” Moore said. “They’re looking for a certain kind of people to continue on. It is really dark. I wrote some back in eighth grade, so I’m taking those concepts and trying to plan things out. It’s just hard to find time to write with all the other things I have going on.”

Out of all her hobbies, Moore admits that writing is her main passion.

She is hesitant to call herself an author, despite her obvious talent, and still laughs about how her authorship began.

“It all started with a fan-fiction war, actually,” Moore said. “Just cringy seventh-graders writing funny fanfictions about real-life people. It was weird, and stupid, but at the same time I realized that I enjoyed writing a lot more than other things. From there, I just kept writing. Now I’m getting everything in line to write a book.”

Even though Moore is successful, she often faces problems with her selfconfidence and the stresses of being a homework-laden student. When she feels down, Moore copes by pulling a certain notebook out of her backpack.

“Often times, when I’m feeling really intense emotions, I’ll sprawl out some poetry,” Moore said. “I always keep a notebook in my backpack, for when I finish a test and have some free time. I like to pull it out and just write.”

While most would consider a crammed schedule a source of anxiety, Moore loves where her life is leading her. Challenging herself in everything she does, and enjoying that challenge, the busy sophomore has a warmhearted piece of advice for anyone who feels out-of-place.

“Now that I’ve found what I love doing, and things that I can pour my heart into, I feel a lot more confident,” Moore said. “I started making real friends, and everything kind of came together towards the middle of junior high. Do things, try things, see what works and what doesn’t. Just have fun.”

CRAFTING THE PERFECT CHARACTER Coming up with a realistic and somewhat relatable hero can be harder than it looks. For the aspiring author, these tips can help you start crafting a memorable personality.

1. GIVE THEM A FLAW Throwing a hero into a storyline without a flaw makes both them and the storyline boring. It’s simple: a flaw means dramatic scenes and interesting dialogue.

2. MAKE THEM REALISTIC Nobody in stories should be perfect. You know the type: athletic, funny, handsome, smart, whatever. Having a perfect character who always swoops in to save the day leads to an obvious ending, and the reader will likely feel used.

3. TAKE LOOKS INTO ACCOUNT

Try to stay away from stereotypes! You can create interesting looks through clothes, attitude, or even hair texture. Is the hero shy but with flyaway, crazy hair? Or is that evil businesswoman somehow still perfectly young? It’s up to you.

4. PLAN AN ARC Sophomore Lauren Moore poses with her alto sax, a symbol of one of the many sectors in her life. She has already performed multiple times this year with the Spartan band.

PHOTO BY: LILA HIETT

A character arc is basically a plan of all the things that will be thrown at them throughout the story; the death of a parent, heartrbreak, or a difficult choice.

Make sure you plan a path for your hero; they need to go through some sort of challenge to make the plot interesting.

STUDENT BY DAY, DIGITAL ARTIST BY NIGHT Sophomore Soniya Lin On Her Identity Through Art

“NO ONE GROWS OR STARTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT OTHERS DO, BUT EVERYONE CAN REACH THE SAME POINT IF THEY KEEP GOING.”

SONIYA LIN

“

Art is pretty much an essential part of my identity now since I’ve spent tons of time drawing — sometimes even for the entire day. Through art, I’ve grown an interest in learning about other people’s cultures, languages, and even mundane skills.

I started art as a hobby when I was in fourth grade and was inspired to draw animals by a book series about cats. From there, I discovered digital art, as well as the many fan communities online. I started off by planting myself in a specific fan community and either created my own original content, or drew fan content from there.

I love drawing traditionally, but I switched completely to digital once I downloaded Procreate, an art program, since I found I enjoyed it more. I personally find it more fun, as it’s easier to color than traditional, and you won’t have to constantly spend money on new supplies.

For sharing my art, I use a few common platforms for art such as Instagram or DeviantArt. Commission requests tend to take up a lot of my time, so I don’t open them very often, but that along with making designs are my main methods for getting paid for what I make.

There are a bunch of online artists with unique styles and concepts that

I admire. Although, who I look to for ideas really depends on what I feel at that time, like if I’m in the mood to draw scenery, design characters, or just indulge in drawing my original characters. Whether it’s the weird cloud I saw walking to school, or that one screenshot from a nice anime, I usually get my motivation to draw through knowing I can get ideas from everything around me.

The worst thing I’ve had to really struggle with, and still do of course, is probably art block. Surprisingly, sitting down for hours at a time to draw actually takes a lot of patience, which is hard to give if you don’t feel like you’re making any progress.

For anyone that feels like they’re starting art too late, don’t focus on how young an artist is compared to their skills. It’s the fastest way to be discouraged and eventually burn out.

No one grows or starts at the same time that others do, but everyone can reach the same point if they keep going.

I’m also immensely grateful for how far I’ve gotten with art. By paying attention to minute details and finding comfort in nice aesthetics, I’ve started enjoying the smallest things in life.

Some of the characters I’ve developed, drawn, and shown off have been with me for a long while, and they’ll always hold a place in my heart.

“

PAGE BY NABA SHEIKH :: co-content editor

ALL ARTWORK BY: SONIYA LIN

Advice?

Motivation?

If you want to get into drawing but find it hard to be motivated, try focusing on something grounded to recharge. I get inspiration from animations and character designs created by others, and aesthetics in general. I know those things won’t go anywhere, while how many likes I get on a piece or how much I can make with my art will fluctuate. Attention and money are great bonuses, but relying on unreliable sources for how happy you are with your art is how to lose motivation quickly. Don’t gamble.

Having recently looked through what’s left of my 2009 Internet inspired art, I’m happy to say I’ve improved far beyond what I thought I could ever be; that thought alone has been enough to keep me drawing.

Process?

When you want to draw something, you don’t need to follow a process. If you see a pretty cloud and want to draw it, draw it. You can’t draw what you want if you never start.

::::: 27 :::::

HOSL page by naba sheikh

NOT THE STUDENT ATHLETE Freshman Prisha Mennon Battles Hardships to Persue Her Passion STORY BY ANGELICA DECASTRO :: co-content editor

PH OTO BY: LI LA HE IT T

::::: HOSL 28 :::::prisha mennon

F

rom battling lethal injuries to devoting over 20 hours a week to practice, one-on-one coaching, and strengthening camps, passion has driven freshman Prisha Mennon to the extreme.

“I started playing soccer when I moved here in 2011 from India,” Mennon said.

“My brother started playing soccer first, and I thought it was really stupid but eventually, it grew on me.”

Participating in sports was definitely not Mennon’s initial idea of a hobby, as she often spent most of her free time focusing on academics.

“I began by joining FFPS, a small club that allows every player to get equal playing time, when I was seven,” Mennon said. “Being the only girl on an all guys team, I was looked at as weak, which pushed me to always work hard.”

Mennon was quick to grow a passion for the game. The satisfaction derived from achieving that perfect angle on corner kicks orto hearing the crowd roar once the ball is punted into the goal continuously drew Mennon to the game.

“I later joined a more advanced team - Katy Youth Soccer Club,” Mennon said. “My parents and I started to notice that my skills were stronger than the other girls on my team. I moved to a club team and ended up playing with two clubs at the same time - SG1 and Crush FC. It was a lot of work, especially with two games on the weekends and trying to balance homework.”

Mennon has devoted all her time towards improving, not only to be the best on her team, but the best on the entire field. Mennon’s family supported Mennon’s ambitions, and did not refrain from allowing Mennon to exercise her talents. Mennon’s skills were pushed to the next level as he continuious involvement in seasonal

strengthening and conditioning camps and extra one on one coaching lessons outside of practice - all while balancing school work.

“In March 2019, I slipped and broke my toe while running hurdles,”.

Mennon said. “That was the worst injury I think I have ever experienced.

I felt like my toe was about to drop off.,” Mennon said. “Having an injury was hard, because I couldn’t believe that my seven years of soccer could all be thrown away due to an injury that happened in two seconds. I wasn’t able to go out or walk in my own house. I wanted to cry because all of my friends were going out or going to strengthening and conditioning camp improving while I had to stay at home.”

Mennon remained in a long period of denial as her ability to play soccer was restricted. Realizing the severity of her situation, Mennon’s only option was to sit at home and rest. Even when she made it to recovery, she still faced difficulties as she tried to get back into prime condition.

“After the surgery, the speed of my play development became really low; I just wasn’t playing good, ” Mennon said. “My toe has a little scar, and I look back at it every time I feel like giving up.”

Outside of Mennon’s ongoing desire to improve as a better player, Mennon’s main focus at the moment is to ace soccer tryouts in November.

“High school soccer is my next challenge,” Mennon said. “I try to do my best every practice while in the period because I know the coaches are always watching.”

Despite the constant hardship, as if the universe prioritized eliminating Mennon’s ability to play soccer, Mennon constantly looked to improve and she has never once hesitated.

::::: 29 :::::

HOSL page by angelica decastro

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