Tri-Color Times 2016-02

Page 1

Granger high school

Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression

TRICOLORTIMES.COM

February 2016 LVIII-6

Creative activity ideas make dating interesting By Jessie Martin FEBRUARY is a great month for fresh dating and dining ideas. Eat out at Red Maple Chinese Cuisine. Mackenzy Rolfe (11) has been to Red Maple Chinese Cuisine. “I love that place, their fried rice is really good,” she said. According to Trip Advisor this affordable and great place to eat is Red Maple Chinese Cuisine. This place is $8-$12 and has a four star rating on Trip Advisor. It is located at 3361 South Redwood Road. “Or I would go to City Park to go sledding, that would be a perfect date,” Rolfe said. “We could get hot chocolate from the gas station,” she said. Another winter’s day date is to go ice-skating. The Acord Ice Center is an affordable and nearby place to go. It is at 5353 W. 3100 South. Admission is $4.00

and skate rental is $2.00. They have hot chocolate and other things to eat. Go to the slco. org/recreation/acordice/ website to find out the days that the rink is open for public skating. Students who love to sing should head over to Karaoke Café 4883 State Street. Karaoke Café is a non- alcoholic establishment, so everyone can sing and have fun. Take a group of friends to keep the singing going. “I would do Karaoke if we had been together for a while so I could be funny and stupid, that would be a fun date,” Rolfe said. Another great date idea involved having fun learning about natural history at the Natural History Museum of Utah. The museum is at 301 S. Wakara Way, Salt Lake City. It may be a bit of a drive from Granger, but it’s worth it to have a new date experience. Admission is $11.00

for young adults. “One of the most interesting dates I’ve been on is to Hobbit Town,” Michelle Fadel (12) said. “We looked around and he played around the houses,” she said. Going to Hobbitville would be a different experience, but please be responsible and don’t get into trouble. Hobbitville is actually called Allen Park and is at 1300 East 1440 South Allen Park Drive. Utah Xtreme Paintball is only 13 minutes away from Granger at 7050 South 400 West. It is pricey with the smallest package at $24.99. “We went paint balling and I got to shoot him in the face, that was pretty fun,” Fadel said. Going paint balling is a good date idea, but just remember to not take it too seriously. The cost is reasonable considering what is needed to play. On

the www.uxpaintball.com website, they say they have all the equipment for rent. “Go to the movies watch your favorite movie and share food is a good date idea,” Sabrina Carey (11) said. Going to the movies is a great first date and a movie and dinner is nearly foolproof. Be sure to pick a movie that both interested in so no one gets left out. “Go to a concert together. I went with my boyfriend and it was really fun,” Carey said. Kilby Court in downtown Salt Lake City is an all-ages music venue that allows high school students to enjoy concerts. Bands on tour from all over the U.S. visit Kilby Court, and their ticket prices are usually pretty cheap. It’s like watching a show at someone’s backyard in the garage. Try these great ideas for fun and interesting dates.

Lancers are excited for all of the love and fun activities to come during the month of February.

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be celebrated on just one day

Opinion by Chastin Christiansen VALENTINE’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14. The purpose is on the one day of the month to celebrate love and affection for you and your loved one by going on dates and buying each other gifts and getting cards, which are some ways people celebrate this day. This “holiday” is not really something that I really enjoy. I like the fact that on this day you and your loved one can go out and spend the day together and celebrate your love for each other. You should be doing this more often than on just this one day of the year. People who are not in relationships also get hurt by this holiday because they feel like they need to be in a relationship on this one

day so they are not left out. Teenagers can feel lonely and then just go out with some friends or family for this day so they don’t feel alone. This feels like a pointless holiday to me, and I don’t think that we should take a day to show someone how much we love and care for them. If you truly love and care for someone, you should be doing this every day. Not to the full extent of going out on dates, but finding your own way to show that you love this person. One good thing about this day is that chocolates are on sale, and who doesn’t enjoy chocolate at least once in a while? It saves you some money. You also get the cutest little stuffed animals for cheap and you can give them to your little siblings to make them feel special.

Friends can get together and spend the day together instead of going out with their loved ones. That could be fun going to the mall and catching a movie with friends while eating candy for cheap. That way you don’t have to be alone on this day for couples. I like the little cards you can get and pass out to people that have candy. You can make someone’s day, and there can even be free candy in the little cards, too. That way, everyone can be happy on Valentine’s Day. It’s also a very busy day for people who work at restaurants when all those couples go out to dinner, so it might not be a good day for the people who are working there, but sometimes the deals on food are just too good to pass up.

Valentine’s Day can be a good and a bad day, it really just depends on how you look at the situation. I think it is a pointless, but also a good day to spend time with your significant other. It’s just another day to take your significant other out again and buy them more gifts. Everyone probably has his or her own opinion on Valentine’s Day, but this is mine. It’s kind of a pointless holiday and I don’t think it should be a day to celebrate love. Spend time with the people you love when you can and make them feel special every day and show them in many ways, not just on this one day. It will mean more to someone by showing you love him or her on every occasion you get, than just this one day. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Track and Field

By Hayley Rigby MANY STUDENTS at Granger High School are excited for this upcoming season of track and field. Students that love to compete and work hard are the students that would be great candidates for track and field. “I love competing and spending time with the team, the best way to have a better chance at making the team would be to come to practice and try your hardest,” Ying Huang (10) said. Some of the students that did track and field last year have similar thoughts on what the best part of track is. They all believe that working hard is the best way to make the team and to be a part of something great. “By working hard you can increase your skills and become better in whatever sport or situation you are in,” Huang said. “Being on a team and meeting new people is probably one of the best parts of track,” Lily Yu (10) said. Granger High School promotes students to join in on fun activities that take place outside of school, and track and field is a great option. Many students would agree that being a part of a team is one of the best things ways to participate after school. “My favorite part about being on track and field is having a team there to encourage me to do better. It’s like having a second family there,” Kara Cano (10) said. Having a team is like having a second family, the entire team will always be there to support anyone who is a part of the team and be there to help people get through any issues they are having. It is always great to have people there to support and help. “I feel like the students that have never been a part of any sport should try to be in track and field; it is such a great experience for everyone who joins,” Yu said. Not only are these activities fun, but they also look great on college applications. Students that are a part of activities outside of school agree it is one the best things they have ever done. “I think the best part about being on track is that you get to know a lot of new people, especially when we go to other schools to compete. Some advice I would give someone who wants to try out for track this year is ‘be ready and do not give up,’ ” Xochiquetzal Colunga (10) said. The best thing anyone could do is not give up on something they are trying to reach, such as making a sports team. Many students agree that giving up is something that they refuse to do. “We all just try our best, and if you lose, it is OK. Do not blame yourself or others, just try to figure out what you can do to do better,” Colunga said

Want more Granger High School news? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.


Tri-Color Times VOL. LVIII Issue 6

February 2016, page 2

Lancer Action Team serves the Lancer community

By Kailee Justesen GRANGER High School has many clubs. One of those many clubs is LAT, also known as the Lancer Action Team. The LAT is a class that is mainly focused on helping out the community and on making Granger a better school, and it has been in operation for more than 20 years. The LAT meets during second period on A-days in room F-105 to come up with ideas for service projects and to talk about ways to help out the community and the school. Students also take responsibility and build their leadership skills. The LAT welcomes all students at Granger High School to join at the beginning of each year to become a part of the experience in helping the community and school. Ms. Turner is the one who runs the Lancer Action Team. The LAT is a full year class; the goal is for students to gain knowledge of leadership skills and of service for the community and self. “LAT has taught me to love to serve and to put others before myself,” Katie Larsen (11) said.

Being on the Lancer Action Team is a great opportunity and it is a fun class to be in. “I am going to be on the Lancer Action Team next year, and being an LAT is at the top of my list,” Larsen said. Through various volunteer opportunities, the LAT has found that helping out the community can do a lot. “I love how we get the chance to get to know new people and to really put ourselves out there to be leaders and how it is our choice to make a difference,” Felicia Cervantez (12) said. LAT teaches many things that students can use in their everyday lives. One student that has learned a lot from the LAT is Caden Cousins (11). “LAT has taught me to think of others before myself, involving myself in service helps take my mind off of my own troubles,” Cousins said. He has been on the Lancer Action Team for two years and plans on being on it again next year, too. Some of the many things that LAT does include: cleaning up Bangerter Highway, going to el-

ementary schools to do activities with the younger students, going to the Harman Home senior center and the Rocky Mountain Care Center for the elderly, and even doing a Sub-for-Santa for families in need. “I loved the Sub-for-Santa project and helping out the families, it really makes me feel nice to help people out,” Lupe Palacios (12) said. Many students think that LAT is a great class to be in. “I have been in LAT for three years. My favorite part is seeing all of the smiles on the faces of the people we do service for,” Rylee Haslam (12) said. Each term students must complete five hours of community service. Service is a very important thing and teaches students to care about other things. By giving their time and effort, Lancers are making the community a better place for everyone. If being a part of the Lancer Action Team for the 2016-2017 school year seems like something that you would be interested in, then talk to Ms. Turner for an application.

To get his mind of his own troubles, Caden puts others first through service.

Student leaders and teachers increase school spirit gradually

By Kaitlin Cluff GRANGER High School hasn’t always had the best record when it comes to school spirit, or even having students that are proud of the school they go to, but this year the effort to change this record has increased tremendously. “I do think school spirit has increased this year. I think it’s because everyone is more comfortable with the school and each other and it’s great,” Rachael Lines (11) said. Many Lancers know about the “Lancer Leadership Summit” that was hosted in the summer to come up with ideas on how to boost school spirit. “School spirit has increased, but mostly from the upper grades,” Quinnton Draper (10) said. Some students that have been at Granger since the school opened don’t completely agree. “I feel like it really escalated last year and it kind of is just in a neutral state now,” Ciera Murphy (12) said. Increasing school spirit is not

easy, especially in a school with a population of over 3,000 students. Luckily for the Lancers, there is a great team of students and faculty that have made it their goal to take on this school spirit challenge. “I think the SBOs have a positive and motivating effect on the rest of the school making people want to be proud of where they are educated,” Draper said. A lot of students complain about Granger’s lack of school spirit, but yet don’t show any themselves. With a school as large as Granger High is, that doesn’t make things any easier. “Some students expect so much out of the SBOs and the school itself. I feel like if you do not care to show school spirit, you will not see the hard work of those who are really trying. It is not a one-way road,” Tina Huskic (10) said. Obviously the very few people that are somewhat “in charge” of encouraging school spirit do their very best to try and make it apparent to everyone at Granger, and

outside of Granger High School as well. “I think the SBOs and class officers have been kicking butt with the activities and events we have at the school,” Lines said. Lancers can’t just rely on the people in leadership positions; the responsibility also falls in the laps of the thousands of Lancers that can also increase school spirit. “As individuals we should participate more in spirit week and assemblies, go to games, support our teams, and just have a positive vibe about our school overall,” Diana Dinh (11) said. It goes without saying that students recognize the effort that is put into changing the school’s reputation and making the overall atmosphere more enjoyable. “Well as a cheerleader who cheers for football games, it felt really awesome that the SBOs wanted to learn the cheers and cheer with us. They also took the time to make new cheers and teach them to us. I really love how they came up with new things this

year unlike what SBOs before have done. They have shown a lot more interest in everyone and in new ways to show school spirit,” Huskic said.

With a good portion of the school year left, school spirit can still be tremendously increased. It only takes a little bit of action to make a huge difference.

Rachael Lines notices the effort when it comes to school spirit

Hale Centre Theatre provides 360 degrees of theatrical magic By Jazelle Johns THE FIRST thing noticed when going to see a play at Hale Centre Theatre is that they don’t have the usual set up. Instead of being like many theaters with the audience facing front toward a big stage, it’s a theatre-in-the-round with an arena-style center stage. They put an amphitheater affect in doors and have a circular stage in the middle of the room with the audience surrounding it. One thing I can say for their seating, though, is that the walking room and aisles are really small. So, if you get a seat in the middle of the row, arrive early or else it’s going to be a hassle to sit down. Audience-wise, however, there is literally not a bad seat in the house. It seems no matter where you

sit there will always be a great view of the stage. The downside to this, you can’t always see everybody’s faces. However, Hale Centre Theatre’s director seems to make sure that at least one actor’s face can be seen from all sides. Over winter break, I went to see Hale Centre’s first play of the season brought to life. The kick off play to their 2016 season is Beau Jest. It’s a play about a woman who has to introduce her boyfriend to her Jewish family; the problem is he’s not Jewish. So, she does the theatrically obvious thing and hires an actor to play her Jewish boyfriend. Believe me, the play was as predictable as it sounds. Despite it’s predictability, the play was

filled with humor and pulled always brings every play to life many laughs from the audience. and you suddenly forget you’re The play is worth going to see sitting in the audience knowingly watching a play. Hale Centre Theatre did a wonderful job of portraying the family in their home. It almost brought the phrase “be a fly on the wall” to life. As you sit in the audience you forget that it’s all just pretend and it seems as if you really are just a fly on the wall watching all the family’s drama unfold. One thing I can say for all the plays I’ve seen put on by Hale Centre Theatre is that they always have a phenomenal cast. Beau Jest was a great play. Each time I’ve gone, there has simply for the humor, but Hale never been a play with an actor Centre Theatre is the real reason who fumbles lines. you should rush over. Now, I’m not saying that they The Theatre in my experience are perfect and there are never

any mess-ups, of course there are. Even actors are human, and humans make mistakes. There’s always a little slip here or there and a line forgotten, but the actors cover it up with ease. When I say I haven’t had an experience where an actor fumbles lines, I mean they’ve never obviously forgot so much that they couldn’t recover. At Hale Centre, I feel they always work together and use improv techniques to help each other out. The environment and experience at Hale Centre Theatre is always warm and welcoming. If you are in the mood to go see some live action, I suggest looking into what plays are showing here. It’s a unique setting that will leave you in awe and wanting more.


February 2016, page 3

Tri-Color Times VOL. LVIII Issue 6

Lancers are thoughtful, empowered, and connected By Taylor Wolfley THOUGHTFUL Caleb Andersen (11) can always be found focusing on school. He takes pride and education very seriously. “School is the gateway to opportunity,” he said. Teachers have a big impact on Andersen’s life, they are his motivation to do well in school, “We have amazing teachers here at Granger, they care about all their students, they understand, and are willing to compromise,” he said. He believes that reading is a crucial part of learning. “I’m always reading something, it helps. One day, I sat down and read my math textbook, and it helped me. I would recommend to always read carefully,” Andersen said. He always has loved to help people, with anything that they need, “One of my favorite things to help people understand the ACT,” he said. Andersen loves the pride at school, “I feel like it is all competitive pride, like if someone did something good for this school, someone would try to do it better, and I like that about Granger,” he said. Although teachers have a big impact on him, Andersen’s family plays a huge role in his motivation for school. “I want to do better than my family, I want to break the barrier, when I graduate, hopefully my kids will graduate and so forth,” Andersen said. Andersen’s advice is, “Talk to your teachers, they really do care about you, I have never had a teacher not care. They understand and they want to help,”

EMPOWERED Many students at Granger High School are showing how much they care about their schooling. Kurt Bell (11) takes his education very seriously. “I want to have a good job, working hard right now will ensure that for my future,” Bell said. All Lancers have goals in front of them, and showing that high school matters to them, means brighter futures through education. “Teachers put in such an amazing effort to see us succeed, I want to show them that I can give that effort back” Bell said. “They are here every day, and I want them to know that I want to succeed”. Teachers are not the only inspiration to do well in school; Bell’s parents have a big impact in his life as well. “My parents want me to well, they always have, so I do my best to make them proud,” he said. Bell is also extremely prideful in Granger. “If you have pride in your school, don’t be afraid to show it,” He said, “If your school pride shows, people will be less scared to show theirs.” There is a sense of pride when you do something for your school, especially your fellow Lancers. “I like to help people, it brings me joy. I like to be as prideful in this school as I can,” he said. Bell’s message to Granger is, “All the hard work pays off, don’t get discouraged. Remember that there is nothing wrong with showing pride in your school.”

CONNECTED Amy Alcantara (12) wants to do her best at school. Her family never did well in school, “I want to make up for lost time, I need to get into a good college,” she said. School is very important to Alcantara, she is here to focus and do her best while she is here. She enjoys the privilege of being in school, but she holds strong opinions of those who don’t, “People who come just to sluff and miss out the privilege to learn don’t understand the importance of education,” Alcantara said. Ms. Ward has had a very big impact on Alcantara “She is always telling us that if we want to succeed, we need to work for it, and that we always need to have a high GPA,” Alcantara said. All the teachers at Granger High School are always willing to help. “Teachers engage with you, they understand what you are going through, they know how to help you do what you need to do,” she said. Teachers are not the only motivation that Alcantara has to do well in school. “My mom wants me to do well, and I want her to be proud of me,” she said. Alcantara also has powerful influence on other students. “I had a friend that would never go to her classes, and I told her that I would not hang out with her until she took school seriously. Now she is a really good student. Lancers need to remember that positive peer pressure is good, and it can affect people in amazing ways,” Alcantara said.

Movies create unrealistic expectations for high school

By Jelani Nelson HIGH SCHOOL is something everyone has had expectations for; whether it comes from movies to stories from family and friends. Sometimes those expectations don’t turn out to what anyone wants. High school is supposed to be the best years of school all together. “I was let down by thinking high school will have less drama than middle school. That was my only expectation,” Sabrina Car-

ey (11) said, “Although there can be drama, I do like leaving school for lunch. Students aren’t forced to eat lunch at school. Not everyone likes school lunch.” There are a lot of expectations that can influence someone’s thoughts about high school, good or bad. A lot of expectations come from movies like Mean Girls or television shows like Boy Meets World. High school is made up of experiences in those four years. “I expected high school to be

harder than junior high, but it’s not all that much harder.” Chloe Topacio (9) said. Teachers tell students that high school is a lot harder than junior high; but really, it’s not much harder. Yeah, it will get harder during the four years, but I’ll make high school great by making it the best years. High school can be a lot harder to some of the kids attending it. Not everyone’s school years are going to be the same as other kids. Some kids take honors or

Leaving home for college takes courage

By Tina Huynh DECIDING to go to college is a big deal. Leaving to a college that’s far away from home is an even bigger one. Depending on how many grants or scholarships are offered for a particular school, not commuting from home is a more expensive experience to have. An individual is on his or her own when he or she initially accepts a school’s offer. Students realize what they’re getting themselves into, but they also know that it’ll be worth it in the end. Going out of state, or even a couple of hours away for school, is a dramatic change, but it could be the right one to make for some. “I plan on attending Southern University of Utah in my first year of college. I want to get away and explore new things. I was to meet more people and become more outgoing. I plan on getting my bachelor’s degree in forensic science and minoring in sociology. Afterwards, I’d like to transfer to Michigan State University and get a master’s degree,” Samantha Gonzalez (12) said. A lot of students are even looking at out of state colleges as an option to further their education. “SUU is based in a college town, and I really like that. I am

not a number; I am a student who can have real connections with my professors. I also really liked the campus and people within the campus. MSU is a well-known school with an amazing reputation, and I would be glad to be a part of a school that has one of the best forensic programs. If you’re looking to get away and gain new experiences, then you should definitely leave. If you are in need of an adventure, then go for it. I’m nervous, but excited. I think it’s going to be a great change for me,” Gonzalez said. When choosing the right school to attend, students will most likely look at the cost. Of course it is expensive, but it’s a small price to pay for a lifetime of knowledge and skill. Leaving to attend a school that is not only farther, but also pricier, demands that the school is obviously worth going to. When selecting the right college, it’s important to see all of the aspects that it’ll provide, but it should be crucial to find a school that excels in teaching the subject that a student wants to major in and study. “I want to go to SUU if I can get a full ride or a scholarship big enough that will support me. If I don’t, I plan on going to Salt Lake Community College and getting

my associate’s degree. Then, I’ll transfer to SUU. I’ve been on some college trips, but SUU stood out to me. It’s far, but it’s a beautiful school. It’s only four hours away, so I could visit on the weekends if I wanted. Plus, it’s nice to move away and take on some responsibility. They have a great tuition cost, rooming, class size average, and a lot more,” Margarita Garcia (12) said. When going far away for college, there are a lot of aspects to consider that don’t come up for a local college. “I honestly thought I knew what exactly I wanted to do, but I’m kind of lost right now. I want to get into the medical field, study massage or physical therapy, and possibly even choreography. It’s so much to take in, but I’ve been researching classes at different colleges and universities to see where I could be good at, and SUU was just an outstanding place. They have really good courses to take. For massage therapy, there is a school a block away. If students want to go far away for college, they have to consider if they have enough money saved. You must be ready to take on more responsibility. I feel scared and very nervous. It’s a big step in life, but I’m excited.”

Buy a yearbook @ jostensyearbooks.com

$45 until April 30

AP classes while others take the regular classes. Students might need some time to get a subject while other students could also take harder classes to have a challenge. “I don’t have any dislikes for high school. I love how there is more activities to attend like sports and clubs.” Topacio said. High school has a lot of activities to do. There are more sports to sign up for like basketball, football, volleyball, and tennis.

Joining clubs and sports means more fun and more friends. Meeting people that have the same interests creates friendships. Great friendships equals more fun with the high school career ahead. There could be dislikes about high school. “I don’t like the freshman because they play around too much and don’t realize how important high school is.” Carey said. “High school is the most important part of school.”

Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Kaitlin Cluff Copy Editor Salina Eaton Reporters Myranda Alcas Pablo Arellano Kimberly Armeta Julie Burgie Ashley Cartmell Chastin Christiansen Kaitlin Cluff Salina Eaton Fancisco Gallardo Ashley Garcia Christian Giles Noah Herrera Tina Huynh Samuel Irakoze Isabel Jackson Jazelle Johns Kailee Justesen

Social Media Editor Skye Rouse Photo Editor Jazelle Johns Reporters Arriya Khopha Melissa Kiem Azucena Magallanes Jessie Martin Saira Meza Caleb Morgan Jelani Nelson Madisen Nelson Aislyne Olsen Tera Reynolds Hayley Rigby Lisandro Rivera Skye Rouse Emma Sanok Justin Thurman Jorge Vargas Taylor Wolfley

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


Tri-Color Times VOL. LVIII Issue 6

February 2016, page 4

Deadpool makes for a great Valentine’s date

By Saira Meza FEBRUARY as many may already know, is known as the month that is all about love and friendship.

This month is about letting those that all should care about know how appreciated everything that they do is and how much of a blessing it is to have someone. This month is an incredible time for going out on dates to the movies. It doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has to go with a lover, but they can also invite friends or family. One movie that has already become extremely popular is, Deadpool. Because this movie is about a superhero, it means that it’s a fantasy/sci-fi film. Deadpool is black and red and looks very much like Spiderman only better. He has a lot of power and is going after the guy that nearly destroyed his life. Wade Wilson (who

is Deadpool) adopts the alter ego Deadpool after he is subjected to an experiment that leaves him with healing powers. His humor is dark and twisted. The program that Deadpool was volunteered into is the Weapon X program and he signed up hoping they could cure his cancer. The cast in this movie includes: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson; Morena Baccarin as Vanessa who is Wade’s Girlfriend; Ed Skrein as Francis who is a member of Weapon X program; T.J. Miller as Weasel who is Wade’s best friend; Gina Cerano as Angel Dust who is a Henchwoman of Francis; Brianna Hilderbrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead; Stefan Kapicic as Colossus; and Leaslie Iggams as Blind Al. Deadpool will be coming out two days before Valentine’s Day, so it gives everyone enough time to find a Valentine’s Day date to take to this movie.

Build creatively in Mario Maker

By Justin Thurman WHEN YOU think of games of 2015, you think of Star Wars Battlefront, Or a game that is stealthier like Assassins Creed. And if you were one of those creative types of people, you probably may have played the Little Big Planet series. And then there is another game called “Super Mario Maker”. Super Mario Maker is one of those “Create what you want your world of levels to be” types of game. You can go from making a level that is near impossible, or you can merely just make an easy

level. If you want to, you can then share it with people online. Although I don’t actually own the game, I managed to be able to play a demo of it, and I was kind of satisfied with what the game had to offer me. Usually you can find this game at your local GameStop, or you can usually borrow it from a friend should they have it. Although this is not your average shoot and kill kind of games, it’s one of those games for if you either want a challenge, or if you need to find a way to calm down after a frustrating moment, just play a calm melody kind of level. Mario Maker also has a function where it can go to 8-bit to modern looking, so say you want to make an 8-bit level, it’s possible in this game, or if you think that 8-bit is looking bland, you can switch it to modern or maybe another new look, everything changes depending on settings. People seem to favor this game, and some

people hate it. I’m one of those people that like it, and depending on your type of genre of games, you might like it or you might just down right hate it. Most game reviewers like Metacritic seem to favor this game, giving it a 4.5/5. From my personal experience, it’s a very fun game that sort of gives me the challenge I want depending on the skill level I want it to be. I recommend this game if you’re a side scrolling, creative type of gamer, however if you’re not, I at least want you to at least give it a try. From my point of view, it’s not the greatest game, but it is certainly a game that I liked and maybe want to play again when I get the chance to. And other people I’ve met who played this game seemed to have preferred this game, too. Overall, Super Mario Maker is at least worth a try depending on how you view it. Whether you like or hate these kinds of games, it’s at least worth a shot if you want to try something different and maybe want to find your creative side with level making and all the other things it has to offer.

Every Lancer has a story

By Ashley Garcia “THE FIRST time I arrived to America, it was so hard for me because I wore a scarf around my head on the daily while others didn’t,” Fatimah Alasadi (12) said. “I was six years old when I stepped foot onto America’s dirt floor. Coming from Kuwait and Iraq it was so difficult for me.” “The first school I attended was in Michigan where I had arrived when I was first coming here. On my first day attending school, I remember a studentteacher walking into the room I was put into to teach our gym class,” she said. “My classmates and I were all getting ready to play and join activities that they had all set up. I remember not having a clue about what to do. The student-teacher walked up to one of my classmates and asked, ‘Do you mind helping a Muslim girl?’ ” “Including such a harsh tone in her voice, I was so surprised, and didn’t speak English so well that there wasn’t much I could do. I couldn’t defend myself, and couldn’t have the opportunity to say much. I was young, but definitely aware of what she said. The teacher made sure to defend me, and made me feel a bit better. Making sure everyone was getting treated equally. No matter if they were Muslim or not,” she said. “Later on, I felt as if no one bothered to even try to talk to me. I felt as if no one even tried to be friends with me because of my requirements of having to wear a scarf around my head.”

“When I was a freshman I moved to Utah and attended at East. I had to take freshman year, twice. After my sophomore year I moved to West Valley city and attended Granger High for my junior and senior year,” Alsadi said. “Fatimah is one of my hardest working students,” Ms. Robinson said. High school was when everything started to fall into place, and Alsadi started to see some good. “I learned to speak English within the classes I was taking. We came here without a hassle. I started making friends and started to not feel so bad of the person I am.” “A Muslim is somebody who follows the religion called Islam,” Mr. Bengaly said. “Islam means peace.” Islam follows the way of Muhammad. The prophet for Muslims is Muhammad. “Christians use the Bible and the Muslims use the Koran, their holy book. Basically anything you’d find in the bible is also in the Koran,” he said. “Most people when they hear “Muslim”, they think “terrorist,” But most people don’t even bother to read or learn about the religion,” Alasadi said. They just assume and criticize. “Just like the student-teacher made it a problem when helping me, because I was Muslim,” she said. “A lot of people see it this way. No matter where I go, people will always be judging. I just learned to accept that not everyone would want to see things the way I do.”

Star Wars VII truly awakens star wars lovers all around

Review by Salina Eaton ON DECEMBER 18th, 2015, the seventh chapter of Star Wars was released in theaters for every nerd’s dreams to come true as the force awakens their true form as a Jedi, stormtrooper, or even droid. With the new main characters to thrill the audience of fans and geeks or even noobs to the Star Wars series, The trio of rebels and a small, loveable droid give everyone the experience of another amazing chapter to add to the Star Wars collection. If you’ve seen the trailer, then you’ve probably guessed what happens. Obviously a new Jedi must appear to defeat all the villains’ they will face, a stormtrooper rebels against the First Order, and someone in the rebellion seeking to take down the “Darth Vader” wannabe army and the new and improved “death star” or as it’s called, the “Starkiller”.

With Finn, Poe, Rey and BB8, they have to try their best to work together and get the rebellion as strong as possible to take down Kylo Ren and the First Order who plan to destroy more planets with a single blast from this planet sized Starkiller, designed for years by the First Order, Kylo Ren’s stormtrooper army and the order which Finn rebelled from to escape the horrible intentions that the First Order has planned for him and all his stormtrooper comrades. This movie is an amazing thriller and adventure from beginning to end, every detail is an important aspect of finding out the new Jedi since Obi Wan, and Luke Skywalker… and the very map, to discover the whereabouts of the legendary Luke Skywalker that they had only heard about in stories.

Although, the group will have to team up with the famous Han Solo and Chewbacca to try and

find the various pieces of the map to find Luke, along with the help of Han’s beautiful wife, Leia. Although things are always

twisting and turning, with just the right amount of plot twists and suspense, the trio and the rebellion have to really fight their way with Kylo Ren to stop his malicious intent with the first order and stopping his dream of becoming like the “amazing” Darth Vader. So many secrets are revealed in this movie that are too amazing to spoil for everyone, but information on what basically happens is good enough without the best parts. From the struggle Poe and BB-8 go through in the beginning, to the struggle of flying the old Millennium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewie. It’s an adventure with every turn and so many smiles will spread across people’s faces along with so many tears that will be shed that go along with those amazing plot twists and with all

of that suspense that the audience goes through during this first part of an amazing movie. Fans all around are already excited about the second part coming out next December of 2016, the highlight of all those other cool new movies and sequels coming out, but none of which can relate to the awesome and amazingness of Star Wars, which will only continue to make fans everywhere only love the series more and have something to complete their star wars collection so that one day they can reminisce in the old memories of the Star Wars series with a marathon. This movie is really an amazing one that is really worth the time and effort in line of waiting to buy the tickets and along with the DVDs’ coming out of the new movie. Star Wars is truly one to enjoy and one that will remain in the hearts of fans everywhere.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.