Three Penny Press Issue 2

E G N A CH Read more about the climate strike on page 10

THREE PENNY PRESS October2019 I Vol. 61, Issue 2 | Bellaire High School I bellairetpp.org

Letter from from the the Editors Editors Letter

Dear Cardinals,

Three Penny Press introduces a new, slick, all-color magazine format this year. With this, we hope to build school spirit by providing more entertainment. Check out our review of Joker and our column on school parking. This issue also features student voices through the climate strike, opinions over dress code and problems with vaping.

We would love to hear your feedback, comments and story ideas. Come see us in Room 340.

We hope you enjoy our new look!

Adam Remels and Mizuki Kai Editors-in-Chief

Editors Adam Remels - Editor-in-Chief Mizuki Kai - Editor-in-Chief Zoe George - Online Editor Joseph Mazella - Online Editor Ishani Shethia - Managing Editor Zaid Ali - Features Editor Izabella Decerbo - Centerpiece Editor Ryan Lu - News Editor Jonathan Sosa - Visuals Editor Nathan Tran - Sports Editor Anna Trevino - Sports Editor Adele Wren - Centerpiece Editor David Bournat - Op/Ed Editor Michelle Asonye - Business Manager Ryan Lu - Business Manager

Connect with us Instagram: @threepennypress Website: bellairetpp.org Email: threepennypress@gmail.com

Reporters Isabel Ajatta Matthew Anderson John Bunge Abel George Anne Greene Oceana Jin Madelyn Lewis Ashlyn Martin Carolina Mavil Bich-Ly Nguyen Fara Jimenez Rodriguez Lillian Harris - Adviser

Our staff is dedicated to serving our audience with accurate and factual reporting on significant aspects of school life and subjects of concern to its readers.

The primary audience for the Three Penny Press is the student body at Bellaire Senior High School. However, the staff recognizes and welcomes support and feedback from faculty, administrators, parents, alumni and the community as a whole.

The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the opinions of Three Penny Press staff or of Bellaire High School students, faculty, staff or administration. Ths publications was printed by aPrintis.

Front Cover Photo: Senior Sarah Szafranski (Photo by Ishani Shethia)

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Letter

courtesy of Warner Bros.

Joker faces ‘real issues’ Adam Remels Editor-in-Chief

Chills ran down my spine time and time again throughout this disturbing film’s twohour runtime - and I loved it every time.

Shrouded in controversy weeks before its release, Joker was directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a wannabe comedian put down for his mental illness by a corrupt and bleak society. As the world around him continues to disappoint him, he becomes the maniacal villain we know as the Joker.

Phoenix’s unsettling performance is nothing short of perfect. Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight will never be surpassed, but Phoenix deserves a place next to Ledger. His unique approach to a character depicted in movies since the 1960s stands out because it feels so real. Phoenix turns the Joker’s iconic

Entertainment

laugh into an uncontrollable expression of pain, one that is contrasted against his fake laugh he uses to fit in. However, he can never seem to understand why everyone else is laughing. Phoenix transforms a character known only for evil and violence into one who you feel bad for, which is where the controversy starts.

Before Joker’s opening, many labeled the film “dangerous”. This idea’s publicity grew, claiming the film would inspire violence by glorifying Fleck’s actions and even rewarding him for them.

After a mass shooting killed 12 people at a showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado in 2012, concerns over Joker’s disturbing nature led to increased worries.

Though this is a legitimate fear, Joker is not a dangerous movie. In fact, it is an important film that could even be helpful. Blaming

senseless violence on a movie only avoids discussion about the real issues, and Joker talks about some of those issues.

The movie asks many insightful questions: How do we treat those with mental illnesses?

Do we give everyone the support they need?

What are the consequences? Joker is not trying to praise violence. Rather, it makes you think about what our role is in creating someone like the Joker. The movie illustrates the importance of funding social services, preventing bullying and recognizing the impacts of abuse.

Though some scenes can drag and nods to Taxi Driver are somewhat excessive, Todd Phillips’ gritty direction and Joaquin Phoenix’s performance make Joker the disturbing, but thoughtful film that it is. Its violent moments are graphic, but I would recommend Joker and give it an 8/10.

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Haunted Bellaire

spooky secrets Hidden locations reveal unexpected visitors Ashlyn Martin Reporter

Although Bellaire’s popularity is attributed to its 64-year-old building, many do not know of the unknown, creepy places that can potentially hide ghosts or other supernatural beings. According to Principal Michael McDonough, there are some places in this three-story building that are particularly known for their spooky auras.

“The pool is definitely the spookiest place,” McDonough said. “No one even knows that we have a pool. It is an eerie, creepy place.”

What adds to this ghostly aura is the fact that there are places unexplored by more than half of the student body. These places are so secluded that even administrators took awhile to find them.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?

“There is a random door with a padlock on the backside of the school by Room 101,” McDonough said. “We finally found the key to open it, but it is just an underground storage room that is empty.”

Even in places that students visit everyday, such as the counselors’ office, a secret lies inside. Counselor Patricia Magilke shared a concealed spot that happens to be right under her feet, literally.

“I inherited this office from another counselor,” Magilke said. “Right under my desk, I realized there is a little trap door that opens. When you open it, there is a stairway down to some sewer or piping system.”

These places on campus share one thing in common. Every creepy place leads to open space or emptiness. Could these places be safe spaces for ghosts?

No 44.2%

With all these ghastly locations, there must be something that resides in them.

Senior Alex Wong believes to have seen a spirit.

“I was in the auditorium alone during school, and I saw figures out of the side of my eye,” Wong said. “I believe that Bellaire has ghosts because the school is very old, and I believe that they could strike at any time of the day.”

Main Office Clerk Cindy Knotts said she once heard a spirit in the adjacent office.

“I walked into the front office and turned on the lights,” Knotts said. “I heard the door open and the sounds of someone coming inside, but it was empty. I checked multiple times, and I still did not see anyone.”

Yes

55.8%

Survey of 120 students

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What is sustainable development?

Ghanian diplomat Kofi Annan, who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, said “Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract -sustainable development and turn it into a reality for all of the worlds people.”

Which speakers attended the event?

Amanda McDonald, project associate for Connect GEN LLC, Raj Salhotra, a candidate for Houston City Council, Krystal Nelson, the Co-founder of Texas Impact Alliance, and Dr. Rico who is now currently the Director of` Global and Social Awareness at Duchesne Academy.

Just the beginning: Senior Connie Lin opens the introduction ceremony at the Sustainable Solutions Summit. Photo by Jonathan Sosa.

Creating New Perspectives Senior leads movement toward healthy future Isabel Ajatta Reporter

She steps up to the microphone as the audience applauds.

Smoothing out her midnight dress, she is ready to address her fellow peers on sustainable development.

Senior Connie Lin spent months organizing this Oct. 4 event, but it was finally happening. She hosted the Sustainable Solutions Summit right in the black box theater at the Village High School.

Lin got involved in sustainable development when she created a club called the Student World Affairs Council under the umbrella of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

Dr. Amanda Rico, the previous director of education at the World Affairs Council (WAC), discusses her relationship with Lin.

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“Connie’s chapter was one of our most active,” Rico said. “They were creating Facebook and Instagram pages, spreading awareness about sustainable development, going to Model UN meetings and more. Because she was so proactive, it was only natural for us to continue working together.”

As Lin continued to work with the WAC and go to Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, she had the idea to host an event.

“Even though this project really started in June, it had been in the back of my head throughout junior year,” Lin said. “I found it inspiring that I saw so many young people really excited about global affairs, but I also realized students could learn about the disconnection between our knowledge in gaining ideas about global affairs and connecting back to how we can use this knowledge about sustainable development to the community.”

When she realized she wanted to turn her dream into a reality, Lin talked to some of the other students in the WAC. Together, they came up with the Sustainable Solutions Summit.

“I felt like young people cared a lot about climate action and environmental conservation, but through a Model UN experience, I represented a lot of developing third world countries and I realized that economic development was also a huge concern for these countries,” Lin said. “Even in wealthy places like the United States, there’s still a huge problem with poverty and it is still something we should worry about.”

While speaking at the event, Dr. Rico asked “How many of you want to make an impact?” Everyone’s hand shot up.

“Some things just need that small push,” she said.

Rico added that there are small things that can help make a difference: spread your ideas to a group of people and contact others who can get you to a more prestigious stand.

“Sustainable solutions are all about finding something that’s fixable, but also making it something you can handle,” Rico said.

“It doesn’t have to be something big to tackle, but even if it just fixes something small, even if it’s just in your local community, that’s huge, and you can make that impact.”

Lin wanted students to see the abstract knowledge they can gain by learning about global issues and how they can actually be applied on a local level.

“The driving factor behind starting this event was when I saw that students were really enthusiastic about learning more about sustainable development and learning how to improve their world,” Lin said. “I was really impressed by our audience and the level of complexity in their questions and how thoughtful they were to the speakers.”

Features

BACK TO BELLAIRE Alumni return to teach Bich-Ly Nguyen Reporter

She sensed she would become a teacher but initially denied her calling.

After working in the medical field for two years as a translator, she then realized that the best part of her day was educating her patients.

Mica Segal De La Garza graduated in 2006 and teaches Spanish I-II Pre-AP and Pre-IB. She began her quest to Spanish fluency in middle school and committed to her lingual development by traveling to Ecuador, Spain, Mexico and Argentina to discover the various dialects of Spanish around the world. Following her studies, she returned to her alma mater to help students excel in the language she fell in love with.

“I came for my love of yearbook but also for the language department, which is so rich here,’’ Segal said.

“I also came back for the diversity because I think Bellaire is actually one of the few schools that represents Houston’s makeup.”

Segal is one of approximately 28 teachers who graduated from Bellaire.

Principal Michael McDonough said Bellaire alumni invest a deep level of commitment.

“This means that people who went here had a powerful experience,” McDonough said. “They want to give back to the community that helped them shape who they are.”

Cheer and softball coach Roxanne Perez shared Segal’s love for the integration of different cultures and backgrounds within the student body.

“The diversity is one thing that is unique; I think people associate Bellaire with having one stereotype but do not realize how unique and diverse it is,” Perez said. “To me, that is a realworld type atmosphere.”

Since Pre-calculus and Advanced Quantitative Reasoning teacher

Charles Burrus’ high school experience, the building’s appearance has transformed.

“There was just one hallway going down here,” Burrus said.

Algebra I and Pre-AP Algebra II teacher Sandra Wallace graduated in 2007 and is in her eighth year teaching.

She chose to return because she heard the staff was helpful and encouraging.

She appreciates how students are held to a higher level and have a greater responsibility to keep themselves on track.

“The main difference in the school is just the building,” Wallace said. “The room I teach in now used to be the science hallway. When I was here, I was in dance; we had to practice in the cafeteria because we did not have a dance room. After I left, they built the new dance room with the new floor, mirrors and the spiral staircase.”

Although the staff has changed, a few familiar faces have remained to teach with their former students. Burrus teaches alongside Carole Bagley and Lisa McLendon who were his English and American History teachers.

Ann Linsley, IB Coordinator, said some of her former students - Rebecca Masters and Roxanne Perez - now teach.

“Roxanne Perez was one of my first students,” Linsley said. “The first year here, I was made the cheerleader sponsor. Perez was on my squad. I was 22, and they were 18.”

Although many Bellaire graduates may not have expected to return to their alma mater, Burrus is glad he did.

“When I left Bellaire, I did the thing that a lot of people do when they graduate high school, which is to say, ‘Never looking back. I’m going on; See ya later,’” Burrus said. “Coincidentally, I ended up marrying someone that went to high school with me.”

Charles Burrus, 1978

Mica Segal De La Garza, 2006

Sandra Wallace, 2007

Features

Charles Burrus, 2019

Mica Segal De La Garza, 2019

Sandra Wallace, 2019

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What athletes do to stay healthy John Bunge Reporter

Photos by Jonathan Sosa

Andrew Abdalla

Justin Jefferson

Elijah Lawrence

Varsity Swim

Varsity Football

Varsity Basketball

Senior Andrew Abdalla is on the varsity swim team and his lifestyle is more lax than other healthy athletes.

“I hate waking up early, but for varsity swim my coach demands that we be there at six in the morning and swim for about two hours every day,” Abdalla said.

Abdalla counteracts these hard routines by not allowing his diet to stop him at all in what he eats.

What motivates Abdalla to swim so much?

“College motivates me because being in varsity swim looks very prestigious on a transcript,” Abdalla said.

Senior Justin Jefferson is a varsity defensive linemen who knows a thing or two about motivation.

“What keeps me motivated is I know there are people that aren’t motivated and not making themselves stronger and better, so I capitalize on that,” Jefferson said.

The diet that Jefferson follows is up to him in his eyes.

“I do about 100 push-ups a day and that might not sound like a lot, but if you keep it you’ll see results, when it comes to my football workouts there’s no set in stone routine we just practice hard every morning,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson had certain parts of his day that he don’t find particularly fun and it is no different for athletes.

“Yes to lift heavy weights really puts a strain on the body, and also hitting the pads can really hurt the body, but I do these exercises because they produce the best results, I just suck it up when I don’t feel like doing it,” Jefferson said.

“

I shouldn’t have to worry about what I put into my body.

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Junior Elijah Lawrence knows if he is lacking in body strength, he should train the muscles that need to be better.

His dedication doesn’t stop with his workout routine. His diet shows discipline as well.

“My diet is strict because my mom makes healthy food for me like chicken and grain,” Lawrence said. “She also finds a way to add fruits to every meal.”

But the real question is why do this?

Lawrence said that working out is not just for him, but also for his family. He is motivated by being less of a burden to his parents.

“But the real motivation is not having your parents pay for college since we can get in because of our sports,” Lawrence said.

“

I grab a protein shake to fuel up and go to the gym to keep my muscles loose.

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Sports

New coaches join Bellaire squad Madelyn Lewis Reporter

Where were you before Bellaire?

“Africa. I was teaching English on the island of Zanzibar, which is off the coast of Tanzania.

I had been teaching high school English since 2006 and wanted something different, so I looked online for opportunities abroad and Africa seemed cool.”

Why Bellaire?

“Because it’s awesome!

No, uh, they have a really good program here and the reputation of Bellaire is a strong one in the community and it’s something I wanted to Come and be a part of.”

Do you have any special plans for this year?

“Undefeated state champions- that’s our goal.”

Fun fact?

“I’m really good at handstands. I can walk on my hands. In my heyday, I could go the entire length of a gym.”

Jeremy Rodgers, Boys Soccer Coach

never done a football season for high school, but the team was just so awesome and welcoming Spring year. The more and more I worked with the team, just seeing their love and pasTell me about your experience sion made things super easy.” at Bellaire so far.

What are your hobbies?

“I have loved it. So, it was a little bit overwhelming hear“I definitely love working out ing that I was going to be in and hanging out with my dog. charge of 50 girls, and I had I loved going kayaking and Is this your first experience coaching a dance team?

“A high school dance team. I’ve been a teacher for competition teams in studios in Austin.”

Torrey Boucher, Belles Coach

paddle boarding when I was in Austin, so that’s something I miss.”

Fun fact?

“My mom was actually a Houston Oilers cheerleader, she was a Derrick Doll, so that’s why I chose to try out for the Texans, just to keep that Houston NFL tradition.”

kind of far, but, really, I’m here super early in the morning so I don’t really feel the traffic.

But everybody’s just been very nice and very helpful.”

Where were you before Bellaire?

“I was at Westbriar Middle School for four years.”

within the team, so I’m hoping to get as many people to district and regional and then onto state.”

What are you excited for this year?

“I am very excited about the team. We have a very large team, but a lot of quality

Tell me about your Fun fact? experience at Bellaire so far.

“It’s been great, it’s been great. “I’m an Aggie.”

I am kind of driving far. I come from Katy. The drive is

Elaine Pangle, Swim Coach

How long have you been teaching/ coaching at Bellaire?

“Teaching three years, coaching six weeks”

“Hanging out with my little boy AJ. He is five. I also enjoy playing over watch.”

Favorite color?

Why a tennis coach?

“Cardinal Red.” “I played tennis in college and coached at my old school and enjoyed coaching.”

Anthony Kirk, Tennis Coach

Sports

What are your hobbies?

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Climate 10

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1.) One for the peace: Senior Zak Pham gets involved and shows support at the climate strike. Photo by Ishani Shethia.

2.) The squad: Freshman Payton Ohler, senior Lauren Ohler, junior Winifred Tardy, junior Noemi Ira and senior Reagan Kimzey brings attention to the crisis of climate change. Photo by Ishani Shethia.

3.) Partners in strike: Seniors Rino Fujimoto and Jessica Hoechstetter show their passion through their posters. Photo

by Ishani Shethia.

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“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot.

Nothing is going to happen.

It’s not.”

- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

change

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Striking for

CHANGE

Students, teachers advocate for climate awareness Ishani Shethia

Managing Editor

Illustrations by Izabella DeCerbo

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A Bellaire math teacher believes that climate change is not going away. It is just as real as evolution or gravity.

Charles Burrus believes in it so much that he used his day off on Sept. 20 to participate in the worldwide climate strike along with 75 other members of his Unitarian Church.

Students on strike The strike protested the lack of legislation on the prevention of climate change in Congress. In the oil and gas capital alone, hundreds of students and adults gathered at city hall to push for a long term transition to a sustainable future.

Dressed in green and carrying posters with sayings such as “the earth comes first” and “good green jobs”, the air was full of energy while the rain poured down.

Strike organizer and senior Isabel Richards delivered a speech about why action needed to be taken immediately. Her reasoning was that everyone is aware of where the money comes from and who must deal with the consequences. One of Richards’ plans is to do job retraining and relocating of Americans to create a sustainable economy.

“We can use the tax money to change our economic system,” Richards said. “The people living in the Bahamas, Maldives or Puerto Rico will not have to deal with the consequences that we refuse to deal with.

We can afford to take action right now, but they will not be able to afford to deal with the consequences if we do not make those changes. It is almost like asking yourself ‘who do you want to hurt — the people that can afford it or the people that cannot?’”

Burrus said that one of the core principles at his Unitarian Church is that humans must respect their interdependent web

of existence.

“The principle means to not take an arrogant position in the grand scheme of things,” Burrus said. “We want to do what is right for humanity, but also understand that humanity is not the only thing out there.”

More awareness needed Senior Kenneth Alexander argued that there needs to be more awareness so that people in seats of power could combat this crisis that has been “shouted from the rooftops”.

“Up until now, the issue has been ignored,” Alexander said. “We need to all wake up and realize that this is a problem and that there needs to be change in the world. There needs to be legislation to go against all the pollution in Texas, starting with Houston.”

Burrus shared Alexander’s view.

“What I have been hearing lately is that we need to listen to the kids,” Burrus said.

“But, we need to do more than that. We cannot depend on kids to fix this because they are not in decision making positions yet.

Decisions need to be made now. Our elected representatives need to serve us.”

Keeping the energy going As a leader in the climate crisis movement in Houston, Richards plans to keep the energy going by reviewing the Climate Action Plan and meeting city council member candidates.

“We are encouraging citizens to come with us to events because there is power in numbers,” Richards said. “We are also taking a look at the mayoral candidates and are going to forums to ask about sustainability in transportation. There needs to be a people’s

Good Green Jobs: Charles Burrus (left) strikes at city hall with other members of his church to promote the need for governmental action. (Photo by Ishani Shethia)

movement where it comes from the bottom up. We need to use capitalism to our advantage and let people know how to make their dollars go to the right companies.”

Burrus discussed how all issues need to be viewed.

“All decisions made going forward need to be made in the context of climate change because this is what we are experiencing right now,” he said.

“

Together, we are Houston strong.

Striking with the rest of the world today, we are Earth strong.

-Isabel Richards

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DRESS CODE

reforms go into effect

‘Dress code can be enforced in a beneficial way.’

Anne Greene Reporter

After a proposal to the administration by the Feminist Club last December, an updated dress code was composed over the summer.

Senior Amelie Buron, Feminist Club president, said the language used in the dress code was ambiguous and didn’t really help students determine what was appropriate.

“We talked them out of using language like ‘towards the knee’, which doesn’t really help define exactly what is and isn’t appropriate for pants, shorts, skirts,” Buron said.

“We focused on the enforcement of the dress code because some teachers were enforcing it really strictly and it was really bad for the classroom environment.”

The proposal stressed the dress code’s emphasis on the fit instead of the message a garment promotes.

Junior and Feminist Club member Scout Sustala cited body shaming by teachers enforcing dress code to be a major reason for reformation.

“Focus on what’s on the clothing because I feel like if you’re wearing a short skirt that’s more acceptable to wear than if you have a naked person on your shirt which I feel like the teachers weren’t really paying attention to,” Sustala said.

“Before this year I would definitely say that it was more of a ‘body code’.”

Buron said she felt the same way about the dress code’s focus on students bodies, especially due to the age group and the growing pains of being a teenager.

“Being teenagers, we’re developing our self esteem, so it is really vulnerable and telling someone that their body isn’t okay and that it’s inappropriate can

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really just harm students mentally,” Buron said.

School districts across the nation receive backlash for their dress codes every year. Already the school year has seen a campaign at South Carolina’s Fort Mill school district by students and parents protesting rules regulating girl’s dress in the name of reducing distraction for boys. Feminist Club feels the same about dress code and the way it target’s girls bodies.

“First of all, I don’t think that regularly happens, I don’t think anyone gets distracted by a shoulder or a midriff showing, but I think if you call them out in front of everybody it draws even more attention,” Sustala said. “I know I personally had a blanket and I got called out for that during the STAAR test as being a distraction.

Stopping the whole process of what was going on at that time to address this was even a larger distraction.”

Despite their criticisms, Feminist Club does support some form of dress code. Sustala said that she felt some dress code enforcement can be good for students.

“I think a dress code can be enforced in a beneficial way,” Sustala said. “There was this one teacher I had freshman year who would always take care of dress code, but she did it in a very respectful way and she never actually stopped class and gave us a note to go to the office or anything.”

Trendsetter: Senior Lucero Aguillon poses in her in-code outfit.

Photo by Carolina Mavil

News

Tank tops, camis, transparent clothing and clothing designed to be worn as an undergarment are not permitted.

Non-prescriptive sunglasses, hats, bandanna, head coverings and caps, are not allowed to be worn on school grounds.

Shirts without sleeves are not permitted.

Dress code no-no’s All clothing must cover the entire midriff area when standing, walking, or sitting. Low cut revealing tops are not allowed.

House/bedroom slippers and shower shoes are not permitted.

The length of shorts, skorts, skirts and dresses must be approaching the knee.

Photos by Jonathan Sosa

News

Source: Bellaire Student Handbook

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College Fair helps students find their dream universities David Bournat Op-Ed Editor

One night. More than 180 colleges. Two hours. Information galore. This is the college fair on Oct 1.

The annual event featured colleges set up in classrooms, the cafeteria and the Science Conference Center. DeVonta Lee, lead college counselor, said this event provided students with valuable knowledge over the college admission process.

“We started planning the college fair back in May when we recruited new members for the college fair committee,” Lee said. “The committee assisted me with emailing colleges every week and coordinating a dinner for all our college reps”.

Senior Noah Pittman said the college fair was the perfect chance to ask about different scholarship opportunities.

“I want to be an aerospace engineer, so the college fair is the perfect moment for me to learn about the schools that I am interested in applying for,” Pittman said. “I learned a lot of information about merit based aid and the resources that colleges provide for students.”

Senior Kirby Wei said he learned about financial and merit-based aid and helpful tips for navigating college applications.

“It’s always good to keep in mind the tuition for the colleges that you are applying to,” Wei said. “You don’t want to leave college with a lot of debt.”

Taking a step forward: Parents learn about different programs offered at the school.

(Photo by Abel George)

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The fair provided students with a chance to gain an understanding of the increasingly complex college admission process. According to CNN, college acceptance rates decrease annually as the competition grows. Principal Michael McDonough said the changing landscape affects students.

“This isn’t necessarily a good thing, but I think that we’ve kind of pushed that level of stress of getting into college down,” McDonough said. “The college application has just gotten so competitive.”

Even with the increasing difficulty of the college application process, more than five Bellaire students are accepted into Ivy League universities every year, according to the annual senior survey.

The college center team provides resources and opportunities for students to get into the colleges they are aiming for, creating one of the first college centers and college fairs in the school district. McDonough talked about how the school pioneered the use of college resources to aid students in the college admission processes.

“The college center began in 2006 I believe,” McDonough said. “Its involvement has just grown tremendously in order to prepare students for college.’’

Spreading the word: College representatives talk about the benefits of attending their school.

(Photo by Abel George)

“

This was a great time for students to ask the hard questions. You can get the questions answered face to face with a college representative.

”

Lead College Counselor DeVonta Lee

News

Lending a helpful hand: Lee gives advice to students that need help with college applications or other related issues. His office is located in the college center near the MPR. (Photo by Oceana Jin)

Finding new opportunities: Senior Debra Lacey (left) looks at a potential study abroad program.

(Photo by Abel George)

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REGISTER to vote, change the course of history

“

If they actually got out there and voted, they would be able to decide policy for the entire country.

They don’t know their power.

Anne Greene Reporter

Seniors will be casting their ballots for the first time after registering to vote at the school voter registration drive on Sept. 25.

Those who missed it can visit Ms. Blessington in room 355 to register.

Any American citizen, as long as they are over the age of 17 years and 10 months, who lives in Harris County can register with Blessington. Though it is not required, knowing the last four digits of your social security number or Texas Drivers License number quickens the application process.

English teacher and Harris County deputy voter registrar Jennifer Blessington began registering students to vote when she noticed her friends becoming more politically active, and she wanted to join in.

“I have been a voter deputy registrar in Harris County for a little over two years,” Blessington said. “I learned I could register kids to vote because I work in a high school.”

According to census.gov, the 2018 election saw a dramatic increase in voter turnout of all ages, but especially in voters aged 18 to 19. Voter turnout among this group jumped from 20 percent in 2014 to 36 percent in 2018.

Senior Sebastian Hobday, who registered to vote the morning of the drive, said registering to vote was a smooth process. ”Registering was easier than I thought it would be,” Hobday said. “I feel like people think it’s a harder process than it is and that their vote doesn’t count, so they don’t care.”

Students who are not old enough to register participated as volunteers.

Sophomore Evelyn Bell volunteered at the voter’s registration drive because of her concern over the impacts of climate change.

“We are going to become the workforce, and the majority of people who are voting now are over 65,” Bell said. “And we’re going

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to be most affected by climate change” Hobday also voted in order to ensure that his opinion mattered.

“I feel like young people are pretty poorly represented,” Hobday said. “Not only by voting, but their ideals. Old people get social security and what do we get? We don’t get money for college.”

Blessington said voting is especially important for the youth.

“Your future is out in front of you. There are so many things going on right now that are going to affect you more than anybody else,” Blessington said. “Young people are most likely to be impacted. However, they vote in the smallest numbers. If they actually got out there and voted, they would be able to decide policy for the entire country. They don’t know their power.”

Advocating for change: Blessington encourages all eligible students to register as voters if they have the chance.

(Photo by Abel George)

Making a difference: Sophomore Fiona Murphy learns about the voting process.

(Photo by Abel George)

News

Visit Ms. Blessington in room 355 to register to vote today.

Growing in numbers: According to the statistics presented by census.gov, the 18 to 19 year old age group experienced a 79 percent increase in voter turnout.

(Chart by Ryan Lu)

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Artwork by Mizuki Kai

Sea of students in parking desert Upperclassmen tired of nightmare walk to school

Mizuki Kai

Editor-in-Chief Yes, we live in Texas. No, we don’t ride horses to school. No, we don’t have a 3-acre parking lot.

A 15-minute stroll in the early hours of the morning. Starting the day on “Pebble Beach.” Waking up an hour early every day.

These are the mornings I enjoy as I watch the sunrise on the far horizon.

This is my soothing, humid walk as I feel the beautifully cracked pavement under my shoes. As the eight-classes worth of textbooks weigh down my shoulders, I make my trek down Maple Street from the highway to the school.

For as long as I have been here, students have complained about parking at the school. It is a universal wisdom among students that finding a parking spot before the bell rings for first period is a merciless battle.

In fact, it is a nightmare. We are unluckily situated in a densely packed

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neighborhood with little to no space for any extra cars to be parked.

I get to school at exactly 7:10 a.m., only to find every single spot around the campus filled and cars parked all the way down South Rice Ave. From Valerie St. to Pocahontas St. (A whopping 0.7 miles from the campus). First period does not even start until 8:40 and I drive 15 minutes from home to get there an hour and a half earlier. So why in the world do I have to walk another 15 minutes, with the boulder of a backpack on my shoulders, just to exercise my right to public education?

The answer is this (and I speak for the student driver population): construction.

The unfortunate victims of this, the juniors and seniors (those who are old enough to drive to school), will not even be high school students when the construction ends (scheduled to be 2022). Yet, we are the main casualties in this situation.

Ironically, in an effort to build a larger parking garage and a building more effective, the construction workers are taking student’s parking spots. Workers arrive at 6 a.m. Therefore, unless one wakes up at the crack of dawn, it is virtually impossible to beat them at their game.

Construction workers only highlight a problem that had existed all along. With the new construction, the disorganization at school, hopefully, will be uncluttered for future generations. But for now, administrators attempt to find a temporary situation.

There is talk of repainting the lines of the parking spaces on Maple St. and Ferris St. to maximize the space.

The construction plan includes a parking garage that ensures a permanent solution to this problem. Seniors and juniors must endure the pain of an extra 15-minute walk in hopes of a better future.

Opinion

The Silent

Killer Ashlyn Martin

Reporter

If teenage lungs could speak, they would never stop complaining.

Across the country, more than 3 million teenagers use e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes harm the body because they contain nicotine. Nicotine can lead to cardiovascular disease, poisoning, and birth defects. These symptoms are red flags that should push teens away from consuming e-cigarettes. These symptoms are red flags that should push teens away from consuming e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are just as dangerous as cigarettes, if not worse as they are used more.

Students also have certain ways to get e-cigarette products. As a teenager, I see my classmates break rules every day to get vaping products. These ways include trading or buying e-cigarette products at school and out of school, vaping during school, and using fake ID’s to buy e-cigarette products at stores. All these actions would cease if students paid more attention to the problem, and took action.

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people dead from vaping Source: Washington Post

Opinion

If students told administrators the way that e-cigarettes are passed around in and out of school, it would put a stop to vaping in schools and limit access to vaping products.

E-cigarette use by teenagers should be discontinued. Not only are they harmful to your body, but they can also lead to death. This is the time where we sit back and ask ourselves, “Is this the direction that we want to see our teens headed in?” The answer is no. We want to see our teenagers healthy and strong, not dying from something that could be easily outlawed and avoided.

Vaping needs to be viewed as an addiction, like smoking or drinking. The vaping epidemic has been overlooked and pushed to the side. Yet, there are ways to aid this issue.

It is time for Americans to take a stand against vaping and save our teenagers.

1,479 55 people hospitalized from vaping Source: Washington Post

million people will vape globally by 2021

Source: BBC News

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Host family home in Ecuador.

David Bournat stands next to the field house of his host family.

Ecuador service trip life changing experience David Bournat Opinion Editor

I spent six weeks without running water, living on rice and beans, waking up every day to rooster’s crows and goats walking into my tiny bedroom.

This past summer, I traveled to the rural community of Santa Elena, Ecuador. I know it sounds cliche, but the experience was eye opening. Everything in my daily life seemed privileged compared to my brief experience in South America.

My first experience in Ecuador was pulling up to a three-story concrete “hotel” with faded white paint, no elevator, no air conditioning and rock solid beds. The silver lining of the hotel was the toilet and warm water. I realized that this was the most luxurious part of my trip.

After three days in the Hotel Salinas we were sent off into small rural towns.

I remember my first impression driving throughout towns, concrete houses and wooden shacks side by side. In the middle of it all, a turf soccer stadium seemed gorgeous compared to the rundown nature of the town, with beautiful synthetic grass.

I met my host family on that day, interacting with my host grandmother and grandfather while being served a massive

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feast of chicken and vegetables. They had killed the chicken and picked vegetables an hour earlier. I gained a 10-year-old brother that day. My new soccer buddy constantly gave me tips on how to improve my form.

The first week I arrived in Rio Seco, a town

I became a true member of the community of Rio Seco of 400 people called, it was extremely hard to adjust to my surroundings. First, I contracted a gastrointestinal infection for an entire week, which left me bedridden. There were no electronics. I had to willingly read a book for the first time in years. The infection made me acquainted with the hole in the ground that became my bathroom. I thought I would try to use the restroom as little as possible while I was there. The infection made that impossible. I used the restroom so much that the insects crawling at my feet never fazed me again. The only problem was that I was losing fluids faster than I could take in, and I was hospitalized. I relied on antibiotics and an

IVto regain my bodily fluids. I did not have the best first week.

After the first week, I organized an effort to build a park in the middle of Rio Seco. o build a park in the middle of Rio Seco. Every morning I talked to community leaders and worked with them to find land for the park.

Once we determined the location of the park I created fundraisers in the community to help raise money for the construction of the park, all the while recruiting teen in Rio Seco to work on the construction of the park. A team of teens and I worked in grueling hours under the hot sun to build a small park. It was worth it. Seeing the kids swinging from the swings, and the cheek to cheek smiles on their faces made all our work and labor justified.

My trip was not composed solely of work.

I spent two hours a day playing soccer with the local teenagers of the community on the beautiful turf field. I was bad at first, but the kids practiced with me every day and always tried to include me in all the games. By the end of the summer, I improved my soccer abilities so much I could have been on the Bellaire’s soccer team.

I was invited to every party in the community, even from people I didn’t even know. Every day I said hello to everyone in the community during my daily walk through the one asphalt road that ran through Rio Seco. The average person in the community made $300 a month, yet the amount of life in the community was astounding. People made do with what little income they had and made sure to help out their fellow community members. We managed to raise $500 from community donations and the entire community felt like a family.

College is just around the corner, and next comes work with bills and responsibilities.

High school is the perfect time to expand your comfort zone, get lost wandering through the jungle and fend off venomous snakes. Life moves on, and your chances of adventure move on with it.

Take the chance while you can.

Opinion

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SPIRIT WEEK

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1.) Last hurrah!: Seniors Priscilla Rivera, Carla Adame, Yaritza Rendon, Caryn Melchor, Cindy Vo, Lizette Zermeno and Hazel Alvarez go all out for their final Spirit Day. Photo

by Abel George.

2.) Sksksksk: Sophomores Chris Parrack, Jacob Cantor and Aron Harari unite for a VSCO girl trio. Photo by Oceana Jin. 3.) 80s galore: English teacher Jennifer Ho shows off her retro style through a Madonna-inspired look for Throwback Day. Photo by Carolina Mavil.

4.) Twinsies: Seniors Heath Butler, Blaise Tsai, Elias Rodriguez and Jaeden Morgan. Photo by Abel George.

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5.) $5 for the stick: Junior Chris Barnett imitates T-Bo from the Nickelodeon show iCarly. Photo by Oceana Jin. 6.) PJ party: Freshmen Anysia Lawson, Kyler Davis, Emely Scott, Tina Richmond and Briana White rock pajamas at school. Photo by Jonathan Sosa.

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7.) Iconic: Senior Sonali Ramchandani dresses up as Tanisha Thomas from the reality TV show Bad Girls Club after finding online inspiration. Photo by Oceana Jin. 8.) Swagger: Juniors Sophia Haskin and Myles Brown. Photo by Caroline Mavil.

9.) Sharing is caring: Freshman Casey McClelland. Photo by Carolina Mavil.

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