Granger high school
Tri-Color Times
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TRICOLORTIMES.COM
May 2015 LVII-8
Granger works with Utah Food Bank to stock pantry SAGE+Pass By Nebras Alhamdani way that they can. open food pantry, yet some have change a life dramatically. Some Many people in Utah struggle The food pantry is open to the already taken up on this amaz- students believe it is a great way of all passes with hunger and not knowing ehere their next meal is going to come from. That’s why Ms. Long, a Granger High counselor, agreed to work with the Utah Food Bank, not only for Granger students, but anyone else in the West Valley area that struggles to put food on their tables. To help out families with this problem, Granger now has an open food pantry. Granger High partnered with the Utah Food Bank to help out some of the families in the community battling with hunger. Ms. Long and other Granger High School administration staff wanted to help out their students and anyone else in the area any
public, which means anyone can come in with no questions asked. With this, Granger High School can help at least 15 families every week just by giving them food. “The food pantry is open to anyone. We’ve had many different people from all over that come in asking for just a little bit of help from our food pantry, and just that one small thing-- giving them food--has helped them out so much,” Ms. Long said. It’s not only for Granger High Students, but also anyone else in the area. We’ve even had people come down from Herriman to come to our food pantry,” she said. Many Granger High students don’t even know we have an
ing program to help out their own families. The food pantry is completely confidential and private, so for those who don’t want others to know that they have gone to the food pantry for help, no one will know. Many Granger High School students have different opinions about the food pantry. “I think it’s really good and very helpful that Granger High School really cares about our community. It’s just a great thing to help other people and can possibly change someone’s life just by this small food pantry that we have,” Mada Mendoza (12) said. This one little step to help out people in the community can
to help out not just Granger High students and families, but other families in this community. “I didn’t even know Granger High School had a food pantry, but I think it’s a great thing that we are doing for our community. I find it so nice for our school that everyone thinks is bad to actually be so beneficial and so kind to better our community and help out anyone that needs it with this food pantry,” Alisha Chief (12) said. Anyone that goes home not knowing when their next meal is going to be should visit Granger’s food pantry. With no questions asked, they can now go home knowing they won’t have to struggle for food tonight.
The new food pantry at Granger High School provides students and their families with a source of food when the cupboard is bare.
Moving from home school to high school Opinion by Kayla Isom WHEN I was younger and told people I was home schooled, the most common response sounded almost like envy. Now when I tell people I was home-schooled, the response has changed to disbelief or curiosity. I was home-schooled from birth until January of this year. I started “school” in 11th grade. I decided to go to high school after some debate because of the amount of loneliness I was experiencing and the stress from worrying about my level of education. I was home schooled for various reasons starting with what my mom felt were religious reasons to the fact that I might not be able to handle school. I didn’t use any online learning system like K-12 or anything similar, so I wasn’t sure where I stood in my education versus the
average 11th grader. Being who I am, this was mildly stressful. When I decided to go to school, I realized that my whole understanding of public school was gathered from popular media, such as Mean Girls, High School Musical, and Glee. I was kind of glad to learn this was pretty unrealistic. Popular media was definitely not the best source material to prepare myself for the major transition I’d have to make to adjust to high school life. My first week here, I was immediately overwhelmed. Not from the schoolwork like I had anticipated, but from things like the amount of people, the ability to get from class to class on time, and to the lunch area. I wanted to stay in the bathroom and never leave. Luckily, people started to talk to me from my very
first day. I was way too shy to do that myself. That shocked me a little, as I don’t see myself as a shy person. I guess I was just out of practice. I was mad at myself for having such a hard time socializing when the reason I went to school in the first place was to make friends and have a social life. Being mad at myself didn’t make my first week any easier. After a couple weeks and several super friendly people, I calmed down. I started noticing differences in classes and teachers and groups of people. I learned several things going to school that I wouldn’t have learned being home schooled. I learned that I can be a social person and making friends isn’t as scary as it sounded at first. I found that there is much that can be learned in nothing more than
making a new acquaintance. I had to learn how to have a regular schedule in order to wake up on time and get ready faster. I learned to value the strengths that an average teen already had, but that I had yet to gain in my fast and painful high school adaption process. Despite all of this, sometimes I do miss being home schooled. Sleeping in is underrated as are all the different learning methods and equipment in schools. In the end, the feeling of being outcast and different, as well as the stress of teaching yourself everything you need to learn, outweighs the benefits. Obviously neither of the options is perfect, but weighing the pros and cons, I chose the one that sounded better for me. I am glad I was able to have this experience in my life.
By Arriya Khopha SAGE STANDS for Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence, it collects information on aptitudes, abilities, knowledge, interests, activities and the backgrounds of each student. The tests include questions about hobbies, organizational and club meetings, dating and work experience. The purpose of this test is to understand human, cultural and societal issues related to technology. It is also used to gauge student progress; students are tested every six to nine weeks, and the results are then used to diagnose strengths and weaknesses. “You have to take it for so many classes that it feels repetitive, and it’s multiple-choice, which means you can guess even if you don’t know the information. You can’t even study for the test either because you don’t know what’s going to be on it. I just feel like you don’t learn anything if you’re just guessing,” Imad Faisa (10) said. When a student passes two of the three tests, they will receive a pass that allows them to earn cool prizes. Another way to receive this pass is if the student is a senior and is on track to graduate. “I think the SAGE test is a waste of time, but I also think that taking a test at the end of the year is important. It’s important to see how much we’ve improved throughout the year,” Koko Xayavong (11) said. Upon passing the tests, they will receive either a pass to Rocky Mountain Raceway or a season pass to all Seven Peaks locations. Students can reward themselves with a tan by the pool, or by watching cars race all summer. The district reports that Granger’s SAGE 2015 testing scores were: 16.5% for English; 9.1% for Math; 15.5% for Science. The overall Granite School District SAGE 2015 scores were: 28.6% for English; 28.1% for Math; 28.6% for Science Many students may take The SAGE test jokingly, but little do they know how it can impact future students of Granger High School. If students don’t take The SAGE test seriously, and show that they have improved, the test may become harder. The standards for education have risen and if students aren’t trying hard enough in a high school, imagine the difficulty of taking a college standard test. This pass is only offered to Granger High Students, and it benefits both the school and also the student as as individuals. “I think the pass of all passes is a great way to get students to try when they are taking the SAGE. If you pass, then you get to swim all summer for free,” Samuel Kanz (11) said.
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VOL. LVII Issue 8
May 2015, page 2, Special Feature
Lancers are making plans and ready to leave the nest By Sendi Torres SCHOOL is almost over and seniors are deciding where they want to attend college. Not only are they choosing where they want to go to college, but where they’re planning on living. Some students are planning on moving out of their parents’ houses and getting their own apartments. Others are planning on living on the college campus or staying with their parents. Diana Perez (12) is moving to Price, Utah to attend Utah State Eastern University. She will be getting a three-room apartment with six other people. The apartment will be three minutes away from the university, so it will be convenient. “I didn’t want to live in a dorm with someone I didn’t know, so I decided to get an apartment with my friends. I think it would be better to live with friends because it wouldn’t be as awkward to live with them as it would to live with
someone I don’t know,” Perez leave their parents house and be- a full ride scholarship to play said. come independent. Even though college soccer at Barton ComRooming with other people they will have more responsi- munity College located in Great Bend, Kansas. “I can be a good thing didn’t apply for any because a friendship soccer scholarships, can be developed. because I wasn’t “After graduation planning on playI’m moving out of ing college soccer. my parents house A girl I know asked and getting my own the coach if I could apartment with my play and he said yes, friend. I’m planthat’s how I got the ning on getting an scholarship. I was apartment in Sandy, planning on going to because it’s close SLCC for two years to Utah Valley Uniand then transferversity. I plan on ring to a university. moving out in July,” Now I will be going Yadira Munoz (12) to Kansas to play a said. sport I love,” Cuenca She doesn’t want said. to be depending on Cuenca will be livher parents anymore. ing in a dorm with Her parents have These girls are ready for the next chapters of their lives. the rest of the soccer done a lot for her, so it’s time for her to become inde- bility, they are ready to start the girls. “I am excited to leave, but then I’m scared. I will have a lot pendent. adult life. Some students are ready to Denise Cuenca (12) received of responsibility now that I’m
Riding a bike for a better change By Quetzii Hernandez IT SEEMS like everybody uses a car to get where they need to go. If everyone could change their bad habits of driving alone or wasting gas, they could change the world. Riding bikes is not only good to help someone stay healthy, but also to help the planet and every living thing on it. Riding a bicycle uses absolutely no energy and emits no pollution. By doing simple things like riding a bike to school or even carpooling, people can make a big impact. Hyrum Okeson, known as Coach Opie, has ridden his bike to school since he started working at Granger High 11 years ago. “Bikes are more environmentally friendly and also healthy for your body,” Mr. Opie said. Not only does he take care of his body by riding his bike, but the environment as well. “In the morning, my bike ride takes eight minutes. After school and practice and when I’m tired, it takes like 20 minutes to go home on a bike,” Opie said. Opie lives close to Granger, so he decides to do the better thing for the environment and ride his
leaving. I can’t even cook, so I don’t know how I’m going to do it. Not only am I scared about the responsibilities, but also about the tornadoes that happen there. I told Ms. Wood that I was going to carry a mattress everywhere I go to protect me from the tornadoes,” she said. If living away from family is hard, imagine moving to a different state to attend college. A lot more responsibility will be gained, and it will be hard to contact family. “I plan on living with my parents after high school. I need my parents as much as they need me,” Yasmin Trujillo (12) said. Her parent’s will help her out with college money, and she will be able to help her parents with the house bills. “I can get the support of my parents if I live with them. I will also get to see my family more often,” Trujillo said. She doesn’t plan on living with her parents for too long.
Tolley home burns to the ground
bike to school. That’s not the only reason why Opie rides his bike to school though. “I ride a bike to school so that my wife and daughters can take the car and they can be protected and safe,” he said. If only everyone would put a little more effort to help our environment like Opie. “The weather is nice some days and bad other days,” he said. Riding a bike can be good, but it also has its disadvantages. When riding a bike, there’s no protection from the outdoor weather conditions. “Thankfully, I’ve never been in an accident riding my bike, but I’ve been close a few times. Cars barely miss me. Thanks to Ms. Parrish, I wear a bright yellow vest so that people see me,” he said. Most drivers tend to forget the things they do that cause bikers to have accidents, such as speeding, tailgating, not signaling, not stopping before a right turn, getting behind the wheel while drunk, texting or using a cell phone without the hands-free option, failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, making a U-turn when
there’s a ‘No U-turn’ sign, honking just because they’re angry, and yes, running red lights and rolling through stop signs. Coach Opie isn’t the only teacher who rides to school. “I ride part of the way. I ride to a TRAX station and I take TRAX trains and the bus to school, so I’m not so sweaty, and I ride my bike all the way home. It’s good for the environment. Also, it’s like my health plan because it’s a way I can get my exercise and where I need to be, too. It’s a good two reasons, and I don’t have to go to the gym. It’s cheap,” Ms. Heidinger said. It’s a free gym on wheels. Riding a bike is good for more than saving the planet and hardearning cash. It’s also one of the most effective workouts a person can ever do. “It’s been great! I mean this has been a mild winter, especially this year hasn’t been too cold. It’s been really easy. It’s not bad at all when it’s dark. I just have a lot of lights and a lot of reflective stuff. When riding a bike to school, you notice things in different ways and you feel kind of more a part of the world, I love it,” she said.
By Noah Keener BEFORE the fire, the Tolley boys had lived in their apartment for four years. Luckily for everyone, no one was home when the apartment that they lived in burned down. Most of their possessions were lost, leaving them with only memories. “The worst thing that happened to me after the fire was when I lost almost everything I owned and wondered where I was going to live after it. But the best thing was that we got a new house. How I found out about the fire was, I was at McDonald’s, and I went home to find my house gone and firefighters in front,” Shiloh Tolley (10) said. His brother was also shocked. “I was with my friends at their house when my dad called me saying that the house burned down. Me, Aaron, and his brother Jacob drove down to where the apartment was. Everything was gone. There was nothing was left. After the fire, me and my family moved over to Sugar House for a bit.
By Felicia Cervantez MANY KNOW Elise Fulton (10), and those who know her, see her as the girl who plays tennis and sings the solo in choir, but there is so much more to her story. She has a personality that at times is hidden but when she lets it shine, it outshines everything else around her. The truth is, Fulton is truly an amazing person. Many people might agree, without knowing her, but anyone who truly and honestly gets to know Fulton knows she can become the best friend imaginable. Not only does she have a big heart with her friends, she loves her family -- even if Spencer might annoy her at times. Fulton has many interesting things about her, such as she excels in music. In fact, she will be
in Madrigals next year as a junior, which is very impressive. Not only does she excel in music, she is also an active girl. She plays the GHS tennis team, and may join again next year. Fulton has some hidden treasures about herself, it shows in the things she has on her bucket list and the things she wants to do in the future. Here are some of the things she shared from her bucket list, “I want to zip-line through the jungle in South America. I’d also love to go in an hot air balloon,” Fulton said. When Fulton is happy, she likes doing crazy things. That’s when she’s her craziest, when she is happy, calling it crazy teen behavior, but she wouldn’t do anything destructive. However, just like any other person, she has her down days.
“When I’m sad, I eat chocolate and I spend time with my friends because they raise me up so I can stand on mountains,” she said. Although she gets sad, like anyone does, it doesn’t hide how great she is. “Elise is super friendly, like I’ve known her for a long time. She has this light about her, she always looks so happy,” Tyra Perkes (10) said. Fulton has quite an influence on many of her friends, and good influence, too. As Perkes said, she has this light, she cares for others, and she cares about who they become. “Family has a huge impact on my life. When I’m older, I want to have a family,” Fulton said. “I also have other dreams, such as traveling, I want to go to Europe and many other places.” She also has a dream to share
While I was living there, I got a job at Lagoon as a ride attendant and worked most weekends. After, we moved around a bit. Me and my family found a new apartment near school,” Kyle Tolley (10) said. Friends were quick to offer help and places to stay. “I didn’t know about the fire until after school. When we got there, not a lot of his possessions were left. There was nothing but ash and smoke. After the fire, I helped their family move somewhere where they could stay for a while. Everyone was depressed about the apartment that they lived in for so long. But after a while, everyone cheered up about it,” Aaron Keener (11) said. The Tolleys are doing better since the fire. Everyone has been getting back to daily routines. After losing everything, they cherish any new things they get and the friends they have. With what has happened to their family, they are not letting anything else get in their way.
Elise Fulton has hopes, dreams, and even weaknesses
Elise Fulton makes a difference.
her voice. Fulton believes that music is meant to be shared, not hidden. “When you have a talent, why would you shelter it from the rest of the world?” she said. Fulton has many strengths that have been noticed, but she has weaknesses, too. Even Fulton herself knows that there are things that she would like to improve on in her life such as confidence, she explained. Although she may do many brave things such as singing in front of people or getting involved, she still finds some things hard to accomplish. Overall, Fulton has her strengths and her weaknesses, but they all make her the caring and bright young woman that she is. Fulton has much to look forward for in her future, and she will always be a person who others admire.
May 2015, page 3, Opinion
VOL. LVII Issue 8
ANIMAL Crossing: New Leaf is still lots of fun to play
Review by Raquel Bishop ANIMAL Crossing: New Leaf is a life and social simulation game that came out June 9, 2013 in the USA. Released by Nintendo for the 3DS and directed by Isao Moro and Aya Kyogoku, Animal Crossing: New Leaf had three previous games; the original Animal Crossing for the Game Cube, Animal Crossing: Wild World for the DS, and Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii. The basic concept of the game is that you are the mayor of the town and you to keep your town in top shape. This game is very time consuming and needs to be played at least once a day to make sure your town strives to be the best. Some things you should constantly do are; fish, catch bugs, and collect fruit. There are many ways to make your town the best. One is by doing public work projects that the townspeople request so the town
gets upgraded with new things like a bridge or a park bench. Another ways to make a town better is to talk to all the townspeople often. They will ask you to do small things like to catch them a fish or to get a fruit for them. This raises how your citizens think of you, it also helps getting you more public work projects. The longer you play, the better the town is, and the better equipment available. While playing, there are many events that happen randomly throughout the weeks and years. Crazy Redd’s a shop run by a fox who sells art and sculptures, but usually only one is real, and sometimes all are fake, which cannot be sold or put into the museum. Another tent like Redd’s is Katrina’s. She’s a cat who will tell your fortune for five hundred bells. Unlike Crazy Redd she will tell you an item that will bring you ‘good luck’.
Both Katrina and Redd will both appear once a week or sometimes every other week. They also are both set up at the event plaza so they are easy to spot when they appear. While this game is really run to play there are also some cons to it. This game is time consuming. It takes days of talking to talk, just to unlock things. The QR is great example of this. You have to talk to Sable for ten constant days to unlock it. With that if you leave your town for months the grass will get better but there are side effects. Your character’s hair will become messy, town’s people will move out, and weeds will grow. Even with the cons the pros are worth it. With new things brought to the table with Animal Crossing: New Leaf, it brings hours of fun. If you’re looking for a game that will take you some time to fully complete this will be a perfect game for you.
Social media: under control or addictive -- find a balance
Opinion by Edith Pizana NEARLY every person, teenagers and up, although sometimes younger, has social media. Social media is a part of our daily lives. Companies are always putting their products somewhere to “follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.” It has become most of how they advertise. Kids are now getting social media at younger and younger ages. Parents buy phones for their kids, for when the kids go to school for safety, but eventually, the kids download apps and start making accounts. Everywhere that you look, you will most likely come across someone on his or her phone. It is very likely that they are on some type of social media. There are some people that feel like they can’t be offline more than two
minutes. I have to admit, I am always on Facebook and Instagram, but I do feel I am wasting my time, that I could be using it to be doing something productive. I know that I’m pretty much addicted. People should stop talking to people on the Internet and disconnect themselves from it at times and go talk to people around them face to face. The Internet really does take our attention away from the people that are around us that we could talk to. To assure you, it probably won’t hurt to disconnect for a while. There are many people that I’ve seen delete their accounts because they feel like it consumes them and takes too much of the day up, which is pretty true. Teens are not the only ones who
have social media; parents and grandparents have social media accounts as well. Social media doesn’t have an age limit. No matter what age they are, social media somehow finds its way into the lives of people. I really can’t bad-mouth social media too much. I have met some really great friends of mine on social media. Social media does connect us all in new ways while disconnecting us from each other in old ways. People really should try to disconnect themselves from social media once a while and get more into the actual world and realize that you can’t see the world just through pictures that have been shared on an account. It’s better to go on and experience the world yourself. See it for what it is. Beautiful or
People express themselves in different ways Opinion by Hailey Piper THERE are many ways that people express themselves such as piercings, tattoos, art, dyeing their hair, clothes, music, makeup, etc. I think it’s great for people who are not afraid to show who they are in different and creative ways. It is important to me that people, sooner or later in their lives, find a way to express themselves. My preferred way to express myself is dyeing my hair. I think that it’s honestly a beautiful way to express myself. It shows that I am a creative person and that I have a colorful personality. Self-expression is amusing because there are people who are pretty much against it. They’d never say they are, but there are the people who are disgusted with tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair. I think that everyone should have the chance to look how he or she wants to look and have it make him or her feel good. Not everyone expresses himself or herself very well and instead they hide who they are. But not everyone is comfortable with expressing him or herself
at first. Sooner or later, as they grow more comfortable, everyone, even the shy ones, find the thing that they can use to express themselves. I think that music is the best way that one can express them with. Music is beautiful and everyone loves music. You do not need to know how to sing to express yourself with music. Learning an instrument is also a great way to express your personality. If you are afraid to actually be yourself and show that you actually are, don’t be. Find something that you love or love to do and use that to your advantage with expressing yourself. Start small and eventually work yourself up and get more comfortable with expressing yourself. People may stare at times, but that is because they do not understand you completely. Or it might be because they haven’t learned to express themselves. Expressing yourself may make you seem more interesting and make it so people will want to get to know you. My experience with this is that my hair is usually bright and people usually bring it up in a conversation, so we start to talk
more. I dye my hair to show my creative personality, which people see, and I highly doubt I’d have most of the friends I do without my hair being colorful. I’m actually quite shy and hate talking to people that I hardly know, but my hair became a good conversation starter. When you express yourself, it will have pros and cons. A ‘pro’ is that people will most likely want to get to know you more, and you’ll feel happier with yourself. And a ‘con’ is that there will be judgment from others around you. But don’t ever let that get to you, because the person that will judge you isn’t perfect and doesn’t have the right to tell you how to be perfect. In the end, you should just make sure that you are happy with yourself and everything that you are. Don’t do things just to please others and make sure that you are pleasing yourself before you try to please others because in the end, all of the people you meet aren’t you and won’t always be there. So just be yourself and be positive.
cloudy, raining or hailing, it’s all in how you look at it. As more and more years go by, more websites and apps are going to be made and used. And as more and more years go by, the more antisocial everyone is going to become and the more consumed they will be. To think, that not too long ago, there wasn’t social media as there is today. Years ago, people would actually go out and experience the world for themselves and
meet new people in the real world instead of meeting people on the internet. To an extent, it’s good to use social media, but sometimes, it’s just better to not use it. I’m not saying we should change our lives just to take breaks from it, but I am saying that we should just take a day or even an hour away from social media and realize that it’s still going to be there when you get back from taking a break.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Kaitlin Cluff Online Editor Robbie Devenish
Copy Editor Tina Huynh Photo Editor Kayla Isom
Reporters Amy Alcantara Nebras Alhamdani Raquel Bishop Cody Black Felicia Cervantez Alisha Chief Hillary Daoheuang Jennifer Duong Angel Figueroa Maria Garcia Zayra Gonzalez Scarlett Gregorio Danny Hernandez Quetzii Hernandez Lesieli Iongi Claudia Islas Isabel Jackson Noah Keener Arriya Khopha
Reporters Krista Lefevre Andrea Lomeli Antonio Loredo Samantha McClure Christopher Mejia Kylee Nielson Hailey Piper Edith Pizana Briana Puga John Quezada Katherine Rivas Skye Rouse Ada Stott Angelina Salazar Isabella Sparacino Ada Stott Sendi Torres Pedro Vargas Judit Zaragoza
The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression. The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length and legality.
Granger High School 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320
May 2015, page 4, “On Top of the World”
Buy your prom insert for $5. Ask in J102. It’s four color pages for the yearbook. And buy your yearbook at: jostensyearbooks.com
VOL. LVII Issue 8
VOL. LVII Issue 8
May 2015, page 5, Prom Special Feature
May 2015, page 6, Sports
VOL. LVII Issue 8
Athletes use their time in the summer to improve their already great skills By Tina Huynh ATHLETE: a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength. No one really knows how they actually do it. Eight hours of school, two hours of practice after, and then going to the gym on weekends. Athletes dream about winning, exhale their sweat, breathe in motivation, and never accept failure. Being a great athlete takes a great deal of determination and practice, but they make all of these sacrifices worth it every time they cross that finish line or accomplish a goal. Having that title of ‘athlete’ is great, but that term demands to be risen even higher than the last game played. It’s definitely a label that expects greatness from a person. Just because a season ends doesn’t mean the athlete in a person does, too. While other’s summers are being used to relax from the nine months of continuous school, these athletes are using it to get in better in shape than they were the previous year. They’re all coming back with a vengeance for their
sport. “I have to stay in shape for tennis and golf, but mostly tennis because that’s my main sport. I’ll be doing a lot of running, pilates, and then arm training. I’m going to eat healthy, stay away from fast food, and make sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water both during and after training. I also need to take care of my skin, so I’ll be wearing a lot of sunblock,” Lomona Chheng (10) said. Making sure to be in the best shape when the next season rolls around again relies a lot not only on the gym, but in the kitchen as well. “I always feel so good when I know I’m in shape. I love feeling the salt on my body when I’m sweating it all out. It’s so worth it because I know I’m making progress. It’s a daily routine for me, to condition in the summer,” Chheng said. Everyone who trains in the summer has an intention for something. It could be to be superior to the rest, to be called the best, or to just feel victory itself. The hot weather, the ice cold drinks, and the music blasting through their headphones can be
By Ada Stott HOME IS where most go to bed at night, and wake up in the morning. For most, home is with families where commonplace scenes of eating, conversation, and daily living is shared. For others, home is a comfortable place, somewhere they can laugh and cry and do what they love. If home is where students feel safe and happy, there are many answers among this assortment of distinct youth attending Granger. For Katie Tanner (10), her home is the softball field. “I was only 6 years old when I started playing softball, and ever since I set foot on the field I was hooked,” she said. She loves the confidence she gets from softball. “It’s where I feel most comfortable because it’s where I’ve been for nine years,” Tanner said. Tanner plays and practices anywhere from 2-4 hours a day, where she bonds with her team and gets the chance to improve mentally and physically. Sometimes it can get frustrating, “When we make a lot of errors or when the fields aren’t maintained, it gets a little annoying, but overall I love my team and my sport,” she said. What Tanner loves most is being
out on the field. “It looks like a important to me,” he said. Mendoza said. diamond and smells like dirt, sunMendoza comes down to the While in his room he likes to flower seeds and sweat. It sounds listen to music, exercise, and shop any chance he gets. “Somelike the call of the next play and draw, “I really like to draw,” he times I skip class and come the outs. It tastes like dill pickle- said. His room is fit to himself, “It weld,” he said. flavored sunflower seeds and Ga- sounds like a lot of music blaring, Things can get frustrating torade,” Tanner though, “When I said. mess up a weld or Her favorite things don’t go the thing about beway I plan, it can ing on the field get buggy. I try to is the support of learn as much as her team. “I got possible.” my team. We’ve Right now Mengot a bond and doza is practicing I love how we TIG welding, “It’s come together hard, but it’s getand play good ting me ready for games and get the real world,” he an awesome ensaid. “Looks pretergy.” ty dirty, sounds Unlike Tanner, like metal being Jesse Angelos slammed togeth(9) said home is er, and it smells a simpler place, like a grinder beand it actually is ing ground across where he goes metal. It also Tyson Isom enjoys the sparks that fly when he grinds metal. to bed at night. feels really hot. “I like my room because it’s re- like Eminem, and it smells like It’s a welding shop.” ally custom,” Angelos has posters cologne.” Right now Isom is working on of his dad, his hats, his bed and Some people have the same a workbench that can hold his some jerseys. place to call home. For Moises toolbox, welder, and power tools. Angelos likes the fact that he Mendoza (12) and Tyson Isom “My favorite weld is TIG weldcan go to his room to get away (9) their home is the welding ing, and I’ve been welding for from everything, “When every- shop. about two years,” he said. one crowds in around me and I Isom’s favorite thing about “I love the welding shop ‘cause just want to be alone I can go to it makes me feel like I can build the shop is making sparks. “I my room where I have everything anything, only using my hands,” wouldn’t change anything about
thrived off when conditioning. In the summer, athletes’ concentration to improve is to a ‘T’. “I’m staying in shape for soccer by playing with other teams and running. I also go to the gym a lot in the summer,” Raul Rodriguez (11) said. The next season of sports can sneak up pretty rapidly. Training all year for only three months of actual playing time can seem like it’s in vain, but that’s all part of the title. Being an athlete is a full-time job that these Lancers can’t help but love. These are the people that are going to work hard for their results in the end, despite all the early mornings and late nights it takes to get there. The Granger High School wrestling team and the boys basketball team are both offering fitness workouts after school for interested students. These challenging programs are a great way to maintain off-season fitness and to strenghten friendships with teammates. Athletes have an undeniable love for the game and the processes included. These athletes’ sequel continues in 2016 and beyond.
A lot of the athletes at Granger are running to keep in shape.
In places Lancers call home, they feel safe and happy
the shop if I could. It sounds pretty noisy, and it smells like metal burning, I love it,” Isom said. Iuni Mauga (9) said home to him is also on a field, a football field. “I love football because it makes me feel healthy, it’s fun, and you see the fans, the support, and your family cheering,” Mauga said. Before going out on the field to play a game Mauga prays. “I pray to have safety so that I won’t get hurt, then I walk out and see the huge crowd, and the first thing I do is look for my family. When they cheer, I don’t know what it is, I just play better,” he said. Mauga practices every day after school. “When we practice we work out, and I work on my agilities, and hope to get better.” He realized his passion for football when he made his first touchdown. “I had finally made a touchdown and I was like ‘Yessss!’ ” Mauga loves the field. “It’s always really clean, really noisy too, but a good noise. It smells really fresh. And I guess it tastes like Gatorade and Twix. I always eat a Twix before the game,” he said. In the end, home isn’t just a place to eat and sleep. It is a place where one feels happy and enjoys life.
May 2015, page 7, Academics
VOL. LVII Issue 8
Backstage drama often remains hidden from audiences By Antonio Loredo THEATER is great for entertainment and for good fun. It let’s people show how talented they are and how they can manipulate their own emotions to put on a great show. But talented actors and actresses do not always fake emotion. Sometimes it is raw emotion brought on from behind the stage whether it is happy emotions or sad emotions. It all really depends on how the emotional flow is going in the back, behind the big red curtain. Most shows that are put on are all excellent and enjoyable, but it takes a lot to run a show like that. If it seems easy, it really isn’t. Sometimes it is, but that’s if the luck in the air has been great
enough to keep it that way. “If you keep yourself calm and don’t overthink things, then it will make it easier. I enjoy theater and I have been in it for about five years. Most of the people in the theater business have been in it for a while like five years, eight years, or 12 and this is just high school kids. Imagine how much stress an adult with 25 years of experience has,” Jorge Gutierrez (11) said. Even for the most experienced actors, it takes a lot out of them. It may be stressful in many ways emotionally and physically. It may even interfere with school or work. But working it out just right and having to dedicate enough heart and soul into each task may make it easier.
Cesar Cruz unpacks his label-filled backpack during a motivational speech.
Stereotypes challenged By Brianna Puga ON TUESDAY, March 17, Cesar Cruz and Rob Wessman made an empowering presentation in the auditorium for Granger High School. For some, it was a motivating, emotional presentation that they will remember for a long time, but for others, it wasn’t. “I felt horrible sitting through the hour and a half assembly. I felt like the presenter was making me feel bad purposely,” Cash Humphrey (10) said. Granger High School is a great school with a lot of different races, cultures, religions, etc., but after this “empowering” assembly, some students and even teachers were very upset. Cruz began his presentation talking about the struggles he had to face in his childhood. He had to face the abuse of his stepfather, deportation, and having a ‘label’ on him all the time. He was taught that since he was an illegal immigrant, he was a ‘nobody,’ and he would never be able to go anywhere in life. That Tuesday seriously made an impact on many students. Sixty percent of the Granger students are Latinos and after listening to Cruz’s story and experience, a lot of students could relate in many ways. Not only did Cruz relate to Latino students, but he also made a connection to all Granger students. He taught all students a valuable lesson, which is that we should not let anyone or anything
from our past define who we are. Cruz is a very successful Mexican/Latino. He attends Harvard University, is working on his Ph.D., and co-founded the Homies Empowerment Program, which serves gang impacted/involved youth in Oakland, California. Ms. Alo, one of the assistant principals at Granger High School, expressed what the presentation was all about. “Cruz came to Granger High School to talk about many issues, but one of the many important lessons was about stereotypes and how the students should not let stereotypes get to our students. The assembly was not just for the Hispanic community, but also for everyone at Granger High School. He just reminded us that Granger High is all in this together. Granger is a community that boosts one another up,” Ms. Alo said. Some Granger students have mixed feelings and emotions about the presentation afterwards: some were upset and others thought that the presentation was exactly what they needed. Cruz changed Granger in a way. Weeks after the assembly, Granger students have been more linked together than before. Aside from the negative comments and the drama that immediately followed the presentation, Granger High School still remains strong, but now students are even more connected with one another.
“Ten years is how long I’ve been is always exciting. It’s new and sometimes sad and emotional. “One of my favorite moments in theater technically, but when adrenaline-pumping. Lots of peoof theater is interacting in I got really into it, it was character with people offsix years ago. Theater is stage. I just want people to challenging. You have to understand that it takes a lot be vulnerable in front of a to put on a show for them. lot of people, but I love it, It’s fun, but sometimes it’s so I’m used to it,” Karlee emotionally straining. It Crowther (12) said. takes a lot from the stage Crowther is a big thecrew and actors to work ater person. In theater, she together in order to put on knows how crazy, intense, a good show,” Angel Herand emotional it gets berera (11) said. hind the stage. Theater is an amaz“Backstage is always craing thing. It takes a lot of zy. There’s always somethings like emotion, pathing happening. Some tience, people skills, etc. It people are rushing around takes a lot out of actors, but while others are just chillAngel and Amanda love their natural habitat: theater. they love doing it again and ing,” she said. The first day of a show that ple have fun the first days of the again. They just want the people has been rehearsed for weeks show. The last days of show time to enjoy it.
Teachers are just like students By Amy Alcantara WHEN WALKING in the halls, some teachers just blend in. Almost like the pygmy seahorse blends in with coral. Ms. Ward thought she blended in for many interesting reasons. “ ‘Cause I’m short, I’ve aged well, I often break into dance, and I laugh a lot,” Ms. Ward said. She also thought it was the slang she uses in the classroom. “My filter is often broken. Things come out of my mouth without thinking, kinda like teenagers,” Ward said. Most teachers who were thought to be like teenagers were surprisingly English teachers including Ms. Webb, Mr. Locey, Ms. Ward, Ms. Czapla, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Green, Ms. Gunther, and Mr. Weimer. The only teacher who was not an English teacher was Ms. Berrett, who is a social studies teacher. “I’m only a decade away from high school students. I also think I’m a bit juvenile,” Ms. Berrett said. She takes the time to slow down her fast-paced life and communicate with her students. “I also like to treat them as friends; I respect and hope they
respect me back,” Berrett said. “I like how Ms. Berrett dresses and how she talks,” Elizabeth Cano (11) said. Most teachers try hard to communicate with their students. They can help them with the work or help them when they are having tough times. Students also like when they take the time to understand them.
Ms. Gunter has smiles for days.
Teachers truly make a difference in a kid’s life. “I like to play. I think if I’m not having fun, then no one is,” Mr. Locey said. It’s true on both sides of the spectrum. If the students aren’t having fun, neither is the teacher. Then there are teachers who are just like a best friend.
“I like Ms. Webb. She also is about that thug life,” David Simon (9) said. “I look young and listen to some of the music teenagers listen to,” Ms. Webb said. She also shared one of her beauty secrets. “I also use an excessive amount of Botox. I actually am a teenager,” Webb said. Ms. Czapla is also one of the teachers who follows trends. “I dye my hair and I have hipster clothing, but then again, I am young at heart,” Czapla said. There are also teachers who just look like every other student, like Ms. Gunther and Mr. Weimer, and they have positive reactions from their students. Sometimes having younger siblings helps keep teachers young, just as in Ms. Anderson’s case. “Part of it is the fact that I try to develop relationships with my students. I use slang and they find it funny. And being the oldest of seven siblings keeps me young,” Ms. Anderson said. In one way or another, teachers are still young at heart. They still have fun and they bring a positive attitude to the classroom.
VOL. LVII Issue 8
May 2015, page 8, Entertainment
Weller Book Works bookstore review Opinion by Katherine Rivas AT A PLACE called Trolley Square, there is a bookstore by the name of Weller Book Works. Mr. Carlisle sent me with a $20 gift card and instructions to check it out. I took a mid-morning TRAX train to Trolley Square with one close friend. The bookstore has a very industrial, steampunk, vintage look to it, and it was not what I expected. It carries a wide variety of new, old, used, and even hard to find books. The first floor carries history, young adults, horror, cooking, religious books, and much more. The second floor carries old and rare books. Outside of the bookstore a few tables and racks of cheaper books greet customers. It had a very inviting look to it. The book I decided to get was ‘The Only Thing to Fear (What if Hitler Won World War II)’. It looked very interesting. It was a
hard decision to just get one book because there were so many other great books. I sat on one of the comfy chairs and read a little of the book while they had classical music playing in the background. Studies have shown that classical music helps put students in a heightened emotional state, making them more receptive to information. It also relaxes you even if you are not paying attention to the music. The staff was really nice, too. They helped me find just the right book. You can also get a few souvenirs before you buy a book. This place contains a lot more than just books, it also contains culture. It carries great energy with it like the stuff that can get you going when you’re researching or looking for a good book to read. I think we need more bookstores, because I personally think that it would help get more peo-
ple interested in reading amazing books. It would also maybe bring out the best in people, the inside authors or critics or just people making reading a hobby. Reading can be like a movie in your head, once you find that perfect book you can’t get your eyes off of it. You can’t stop thinking about what’s going to happen next, and you can imagine what the characters look like. It really is like a movie but you are the director. You can get that good feeling about reading. If you haven’t found that one book yet, keep looking because you will eventually. There are millions of books out there you just have to keep looking. Overall, I really enjoyed my little adventure going to this new place, I think it was worth going to visit, and I’m pretty sure that other young people would like it as well.
This is the view from the second floor of Weller Book Works.
Hot Pursuit, 5 Flights Up, Mad Max: Road Fury, and Tomorrowland Reviews by Danny Hernandez GRANGER students who are watching the same old movies at home must think it’s getting boring. They should check out the movies that are being released this month. This month is an action-packed, adventurous month in the theaters ranging from going to alternative dimensions, changing the future, and saving the world. Others can be road racing in the desert in decked-out, off-roading rat rods and trucks with flamethrowers and crazy cooks chasing to settle an unclaimed vendetta to comedies that will have people laughing all the way home.
On May 8, Hot Pursuit arrives in theaters. It’s a comedy that follows a female police officer, Officer Cooper, who is trying to escort a suspect in an important trial of a major drug lord, but everything does not go as planned when armed gunmen are looking to get rid of witnesses. Mix in some crooked cops that are on the drug lord’s payroll, and escorting the suspect turns into an adventure that’s a lot more than expected. From dodging bullets to highspeed chases with classic cars to a tour bus, this movie is bound to cause a good laugh and should be worth watching.
On the same day Friday, May 8, 5 Flights Up, a comedy about a couple who have lived in Brooklyn for most of their adult lives have to get ready for a change. They start getting ready to sell the apartment that they’ve called home for many years, and while doing so, begin to consider whether they really want to leave, or if they are trying for something they don’t truly want. While all this is running though their heads, they meet many interesting characters that provide the audience with good laughs. On May 15, Mad Max: Fury Road hits theaters. It’s a reboot and addition to the original tril-
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jostensyearbooks.com Ask Mr. Carlisle in J102 if you have questions.
ogy that was released in the late ‘70s and starred Mel Gibson. The movie, set in a post-apocalyptic world, follows a man named Max and a stranger named Furiosa, who he met through an uncomfortable meet up with a gang of road warriors. The gang is out to find what’s left of the world and looking to settle a score they ran up with the man they were just looking for previously. This is a very adventurous movie with explosions, fires, crazy stunts, crazy cool cars, and crazy people. Be sure not to miss this one while it’s on the big screen. Tomorrowland arrives on May
22, and it’s a movie about a young girl who has had a rough life. She comes across a pin that transports her to a place unlike the world she’s living in – a world full of the smartest people and some of the coolest futuristic things. Then she discovers that a supersmart genius that lives in her dimension is doing some research. She figures that there’s something bad going happen, and she takes it upon herself, with the help of some new friends, to try to prevent the worst from happening. This movie looks to be a very good movie with lots of surprises around every bend and turn in the story.
By Alisha Chief MOST PEOPLE would say that they love shoes. Others say they don’t care about them because they just hide feet. Everyone has a different opinion. Some will say they can tell some things about a person by the way their shoes look while some don’t even care. “I prefer Nikes. I like shoes. I own about 12 pairs. Low tops are my favorite kind. I like to have some color on my shoes, but black is honesty the color I have the most. Shoes are probably one of the most important things about my outfit, but sometimes I don’t care what my shoes look like. They don’t tell anything about me,” Manny Machado (12) said. Kids can own so many shoes, but only wear less than half of them because of the way they fit or if it’s a favorite pair. Some people may not own that many pairs because they don’t interest them. “I own about 20 pairs of shoes. I prefer high tops, bright colors, except neon. I just want people to notice them. My favorite kinds of shoes are Nikes and Adidas. I like shoes and I think they are the most important things about my wardrobe. I spend a lot of money on my shoes and I do care what
they look like,” Justyce Boyd (12) said. In the halls, there are so many different brands and colors. Some people care about having clean shoes and some don’t pay any mind. “Converse would have to be my favorite because they are cheap, and I like the styles they have. I care about my shoes. I like to have them clean, but sometimes they can get dirty fast,” Antonio Coreas (11) said. “I have six pairs of shoes. I would say that I have more black pairs. I like to have shoes with a variety of colors, and then they look good with what you’re wearing. They can be one of the most important things about your outfit, but it’s not that important,” Coreas said. Having shoes to go with what a person wears is a must for most people. That’s what most people have to have. Shoes can tell a lot from sports shoes to business shoes. People can read others on how they’re presented to each other.
Exclusive shoes shine