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SCHOOL’S VOICE FOR A HEALTHY

CHOICE

Texas High School • 4001 Summerhill Road, Texarkana, TX 75503 • tigertimesonline.com

Though students often share opinions about cafeteria food, they could be overlooking the nutrition facts. Concerns continue over why students are so unhealthy and what schools are doing to stop the numbers on the scale from rising.

photo by B. O’Shaughnessy/Design by A. Graves

2OUR NETWORKsocial2

by Lauren potterdesign editor

Sweating, standing on the court, throwing the ball into the air about to finish her final serve, senior tennis player Aubree Cramer plays her last district match.

Tiger tennis competed in district April 4-5. The boys tied with Longview and the girls won overall.

“This district was my last one, so it was special,” Cramer said.

“I feel more prepared going into regionals because we have beaten some of the teams that will be there.”

After competing at state earlier this year, Cramer and the tennis team are ready to compete and advance again.

“I’m excited that I get to go to regionals again this year,” Cramer said. “I feel like our coaches have prepared us for regionals and I hope that we can play well and advance even

further.”Cramer and the team were

excited after a touch match.“I was really happy that we

won. We have played that team a couple times, and it has always been close,” Cramer said. “I’m glad we could beat them this time so that we could get a better seeding for regionals.”

MOMENT#mybig

Aubree Cramer, 12 ourfavorite moment

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faces of the gameSenior baseball player Kip Williams. View this story on tigertimesonline.com

APRIL 13DISTRICT TRACK MEET“Wednesday and Thursday I expect for us to win district,” senior Chaz Davis said. “We are going to go out there and set some personal records and win, then keep going from there.”

APRIL 18REGIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT“I love the course I’m playing,” junior Kasey Kane said. “I played it regionals last year and just played district there. I’m just hoping the weather works out and it’s not rainy.”

MAY 15PROJECT CELEBRATION“I’m extremely excited because we’ve waited four years for it to be all about us and it’s finally here,” senior Kaitlyn Krause said. “The parents and faculty are there to make it sure it’s as awesome as you thought it was going to be.”

MAY 14PROM “I’m excited for prom, having the experience as a junior was a lot of fun. Seeing them all enjoy it was really cool,” senior Trevor Danley said. “I think it will be really fun, my date will be cool. Just the whole experience will be exciting.”

MAY 24BLOOD DRIVE “The blood drive is good to have at school because a lot more people donate than they would if they actually had to go up to the center,” junior Marjorie Slimer said. “I donate every time because I know I can help people out.”

MAY 26GATSBY CELEBRATION “[I’m excited, ‘Great Gatsby’] is a classic book and the movie is a ten out of ten,” junior Chase Watkins said. “It’ll be fun to see everyone dressed like they’re from the ‘20s.”

tweets@Tigers_W_A

“7-w(0)ah. 6-2. If you are gonna talk back it up. Believe the hype. We are here.”

@_TheChazDavis“Just sat at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green”

@gracecaroline26“If I take a nap will someone wake me up on June 3”

top3

We are Having a Meltdown

25Trekking Through the Tech

24Pardon My French

12Watch Out for Cheaters

in thisissue

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Post your favorite moments on Instagram with #mybigmoment and tag @thsstudentmedia for a chance to be featured in the newspaper and be in a drawing for a $20 gift card.

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@DatJohnnyBoy626“I think I’ve gone from procrastinator to not caring if I fail”

photo by R. Lewis

As environmental problems spike,

debate over planetary preservation intensifies

Wearable technology causes concern about test security

Language barrier doesn’t stop custodian from finding joy in helping others

Technical theater class forms backbone of performing arts program

by RAGA JUSTINnews editor

The world is going to end soon.

In the near future, we’ll see ancient walls of ice crashing down and melting, billions of gallons worth of tidal waves surging into oceans. Sea levels rising to unprecedented levels, swallowing islands whole and magically erasing coastlines. Great cities, magnificent skylines, quickly fading to mere myths, as distant as the lost city of Atlantis. Ozone layers worn so thin, the sun burns hotter than ever before, scorching the earth and sucking the moisture out of crops. Chaos ensues. At least, that’s what Hollywood would have you believe.

But others place their faith in a completely different reality.

“I don’t believe in global warming, but that’s just my opinion,” junior Colby Adkins said.

Yet global warming is an increasingly prevalent topic in political debates and everyday conversation, with candidates in the upcoming presidential election weighing in on climate change. Donald Trump has long disavowed global warming, and, according to The Guardian, was quoted last week as saying “I am not a great believer in man-made climate change. I’m not a great believer.”

Texas has long been a state that tends to favor more conservative views, holding off on outright agreement with the numerous scientists and institutions that study the changing nature of the earth, but many have decided stances on the climate.

“There is no question as to whether the planet is warming,” environmental science teacher Kelly Rowland said. “It is. The question is among scientists, whether man has an impact on that or not. The earth, as a planet, has gone through cyclic patterns of warming and cooling since it began. What we see now is that the cycle has been interrupted, and we should in fact be in another ice age. But because of man’s activities, and putting what we call greenhouse gases such as CO2 and water vapor in the air, through pollution we have trapped that in the atmosphere and warmed the planet.”

Man’s activities are widespread- you name it, we’ve done it, especially in the last 100 years. The past century alone has seen the earth’s temperature rise between 0.4 and 0.8 °C, according to livescience.com. With the boom in industrial manufacturing reaching its peak in the early 1900s, most Americans saw only the profits that could be earned from mass production of

goods, failing to note the possible environmental consequences. This trend continued for the next several decades, but recent spikes in temperature and increases in storms brought the topic to national attention. Now, nearly everyone has an opinion.

“I think it’s real,” sophomore Blaire Berry said. “I think it actually exists. We’ve had some of the highest temperatures in the past couple of years. I would think that in this case the liberals are right. Of course I’m sure there are conservatives that believe it too, but yeah, I think in general everyone needs to realize it’s a thing. I mean, it’s March and it’s 82 degrees.”

That same weather, while certainly a cause for celebration for the multitude of Americans that were able to go swimming this past Christmas, has also set off a certain unprecedented environmental chain. In 2010, Russians were hit with heat waves so intense people died from them, with temperatures that, in the 1960s, were expected to repeat only once a century, according to Scientific American. Now, however, they’re much more widespread. And of course, places like Alaska are changing rapidly- Anchorage reported its highest-ever winter temperatures this

year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The earth is poised for change, and to people like Rowland, the important thing is anticipating and preventing a possible disaster.

“Well, the consequences are that the ice caps will melt, glacial ice will melt, our sea level is going to rise,” Rowland says. “Globally a lot of land will become ocean water. Probably, if that happens, the Gulf coast will be closer to Texarkana. The problem is trying to get people to understand that even though it may not happen in your lifetime, it’s going to happen if we don’t do something about it.”

In response to fears about the future condition of the planet, a concept known as sustainable living

came into fruition. Largely credited to conservationist Rachel Carson, the eco-friendly, all-green lifestyle commits individuals to altering their everyday patterns in order to protect the earth for future generations.

“Something that is inconvenient or difficult for us to do now could help our children or grandchildren,” Rowland said. “So one of the problems is that it’s hard to get people to make uncomfortable choices when they will never see the fruits of their labor.”

No matter your political views, the general agreement is to simply do your part.

“It seems like a lot of people disrespect the planet,” senior Dylan Gray said. “God made this planet, and we should respect it and take care of it.”

We’re having a MELTDOWN

As environmental problems spike, debate over planetary preservation intensifies

3newstigertimesonline.comApril 15, 2016 •

photo by k. moreland

Go green Many students overlook the trash cans specifically for plastic bottles that are placed around campus to encourage recycling.

DOOMSDAY PREDICTIONS

Flooded cities

James Hanson, former NASA scientist, recently released a report that warns of a 16 foot increase in sea levels by 2100- a rise dramatic enough to make New York City uninhabitable.

Extreme radiation

With a depleted ozone layer, UV rays could drastically increase the risk of skin cancer; a report published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine predicts an extra 5,000 cases per year by 2050.

4 news tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

SHATTERED DREAMSBowie County to hold event to discourage drunk driving in preparation of promby TYLER SNELLprint editor-in-chief

Bright crimson blood stains the victim’s clothes. Broken glass is everywhere, and sirens blare in the distance. Wails and screams fill the building. The victim doesn’t look like he will live.

Students from across Bowie County will get to witness a live mock rescue mission caused by drunk driving at Four States Fairgrounds on April 19. The crash is an enactment of what can happen to teens who drink and drive. Each high school from Bowie County has students participating in the event.

“The most exciting moment would probably be finding out that I get to be a part of the live performance,” junior Cathryn Payne said. “I think it will help with drunk driving because it is such a large scale performance and has such dramatic special effects that it will have a really emotional effect on the students.”

Students who participated in filming the short clip that will be aired before the event will also be actors in the live show. TigerVision was asked to film the short movie and live

performance.“I have been one of the main

people at all the scenes, and right now, I am editing [the clip] for the final product,” senior Connor Williams said. “I really like filming it because the actors have gotten so involved in it.”

Williams hopes this energy and desire to make the event believable will have a strong impact on the students who witness the tragic accident.

“[The actors] have a real motivation to make this happen, and it’s just exciting because I know it will turn out to be a really great, emotionally moving product,” Williams said. “Seeing what may happen and what happens to a person will, I think, help make people think twice knowing that their entire life can end whether they kill someone, end up in jail for drunk driving for maybe 30 years or even get killed themselves.”

While some students are only helping with one aspect of the project, senior Chaz Davis has been able to both act and film.

“I got dragged into it by volunteering to work on the video crew, but I, originally, wanted to act,” Davis said. “I had

the opportunity to do both, and I have had fun doing it.”

This chance to add to each facet of the production has allowed Davis to realize the impact it has made on his life.

“Just from working on it, every time I pick up my phone [on the road] I think ‘Oh I’m driving,’ and I drop it real fast,”

Davis said. “I think the video will be really good and will have a big impact on everybody.”

The goal is to discourage prom students from drinking and driving, but Principal Brad Bailey hopes kids will apply this lesson to every night.

“We can only guide our students into making good

decisions, but by having the awareness of this program, my hope is this simulation plants a seed in their minds that underage drinking is wrong and getting behind the wheel will only hurt themselves and others,” Bailey said. “Everyone needs to be safe and make good decisions–not just on prom night but every night.”

PROM PARTY SCENE Helping with the Bowie County Shattered Dreams project, students from high schools in the county, including junior Cathryn Payne and senior Chaz Davis, act like they are at a prom party to discourage fellow students from partaking in drinking and driving.

photo courtesy of TigerVision

by ASHLYN SANDERbusiness editor

She asks the class if they can point out Ethiopia. A student gingerly raises his hand and answers the question. The students put away their notes and prepare for the map test.

For world geography teacher Erin Buchanan, this scene is just a glimpse into her class periods. Buchanan was recently awarded Teacher of the Year. This came as a surprise to Buchanan, but it was not in the least bit undeserved.

“I was shocked I got it, I was just sitting in here at my desk doing homework for my grad class, and I heard screaming which was Mrs. Mooneyham next door,” Buchanan said. “I looked around, and my door opened. I got excited, but I had the flu, so it was more like ‘ehhh’ but I really was excited it was just a little

tough to show.”Buchanan has spent the majority

of her career at TISD.“This is my sixth year at Texas

High and eighth year at the district,” Buchanan said. “I worked at the middle school for a year with REACH, then in human resources at central office. Now, I teach world geography.”

As a teacher Buchanan has worked hard to keep a connection with her students.

“I love making relationships with my students,” Buchanan said. “That’s kind of the best kept secret of teaching freshman. They are wild and crazy when they’re 14 and 15, but then you get proof they grow up and become a bit more normal.”

This is her second year teaching STEM and her students have grown accustomed to her unique style of

teaching. “She respects us as individuals, but

she’s also a teacher so she has to do teacher things too,” freshman Moose Lockeby said. “She’s not too forward but just enough, and she is laid back enough to where everyone likes her, and she gets her job done in a way that she really helps you.”

Buchanan foresees a bright future for the year of opportunities as Teacher of the Year.

“I expect to meet a lot of people, but I really have to get over being camera shy,” Buchanan said. “Hopefully, I can bring a lot of awareness to issues that face teachers and the struggles we all go through. Hopefully, my voice can spur change where an issue may not be heard or a teacher feels like they’re not being heard. Then, I can be the voice for them.”

Buchanan receives teacher of the year award

A Cause for celebration English teacher Holly Mooneyham embraces history teacher Erin Buchanan after she is announced as the campus’ Teacher of the Year. Buchanan will now compete for the district Secondary Teacher of the Year award.

phot

o by

c. s

mith

5newstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

by alex heo sports editor

Detention. ISS. DAEP. Add Teen Court to the list of disciplinary actions that will implement in the future.

Principal Brad Bailey and other administrators have considered adding another disciplinary step to improve student contact for some time. This teen court will be modeled after the local teen court in Texarkana.

“We have been thinking about it for a while, trying to find some alternative discipline that would actually help reduce

some behaviors,” Bailey said. “I spoke with local Teen Court representative Ms. Kristie Dempsey. We had a meeting and talked about some structures in place.”

The teen court is supported by the police officers and teachers on campus.

“I think it’s a good idea for the students so that they can learn some responsibility and how to make better decisions,” criminal justice teacher Donna Douglas said. “This will be the first time that TISD has ever done teen court, so I think it will be something good.”

The process of going to teen court will mirror how a person would go to court outside the educational system

“Once a student commits [an infraction], then the administrator will assign them to teen court,” Bailey said. “They schedule their court date, and they go to court and students decide their fate.”

Teen court will be handing out different punishments than the usual ones that principals would give. These punishments were designed with the hope that they might

benefit the students more. “I think [students will be] more willing to understand

the situation a little bit more, and [for] the students who are committing the offense, hopefully the consequence will be some restorative discipline, which is something that might not be ISS but instead attending night library for two weeks,” Bailey said. “Academically, it’s a win-win. If it’s a community service thing, [they could do] community service like the Grounds Improvement Program on campus, and it helps them develop character.”

The decision to have teen court on campus was made because it would be more convenient over having to go to city teen court. In addition, it will allow Texas High students to get a unique learning experience.

“We decided to use it [in] our criminal justice classes, so it’ll be a lot more effective,” Bailey said. “Students in the class will be the prosecutors, defense attorney, the jury, and the judge–the whole thing. It gives the four criminal justice classes a chance to participate. The teacher will be there to help organize and make sure everything is done the right way.”

Participation will start off with the four criminal justice class and could expand to other classes if scheduling conflicts can be avoided.

“The teacher of the class, Mr. [Richard] Stahl and I will sit down and go through the list of students, have a list of those who are prosecutors, a list of defense attorneys, and then there will be a process of educating the class on the process and the seriousness of it,” Bailey said. “If they are not acting accordingly, then they’ll have a grade based on that. We’re looking to see what’s the best fit, and who’s responsible and mature enough for that class.”

To determine if a student’s punishment should be decided by teen court, administrators will rate certain actions. If an offense is classified as level 1, it will fall under teen court’s jurisdiction. Levels 2 and 3 will be handled by the established disciplinary procedures.

“There are several examples,” Bailey said. “If they’re out of class, in a place there they’re not supposed to be. If they’re arguing in the hallway or cafeteria. If you’re causing a disruption, or a bus incident. If you’re failing to comply with some of the teacher’s instructions in class. If you violated dress code multiple times. If you do minor vandalism like stuff toilet paper into the commodes. Lower levels of bullying could be part of this as well.”

The current punishments are already set but are flexible for new ideas from the class.

“We’re gonna have a list of consequences for the jury and let them choose the consequence. Right now, it won’t be ISS or DAEP because that’s for [administration]. If they can brainstorm new punishments, then we can add that onto our list. Right now, it would be attending night library, doing community service, or detention probably, or attending a teacher’s class tutorials for a few days.”

Some students, however, believe that teen court could potentially be a waste of time by having students taking on the role of administrators.

“Teen court is not necessary,” junior Chance Williams said. “[Handing out punishment] is what the adults and other principals are on this campus for. Teen court is just something to take up time when we could be learning.”

Other potential problems that could come with teen court is that the punishments could seem weak and will let students off the hook.

“Teen court is going to have to give more effective punishments,” Williams said. “It’s too lenient. It needs to be more stern. Getting out of ISS for community service is crazy to me.”

These concerns aside, administrators hope for an overall positive student response and to see an impact.

“I’m hoping that teen court is something that students accept, buy in to,” Bailey said. “Let me put it this way, I don’t want it to grow at all. I don’t even want it to exist because if our behaviors are good, we don’t have to have teen court. That’s the positive side of it. The other side of it is I want teen court to be successful and lower deterring behavior. I want it to work.”A

JURY

OF P

EERS Campus teen court to be implemented next year,

will help students learn process of justice system

LEVEL 1 OFFENSESWILL REQUIRE STUDENTS TO ATTEND TEEN COURT

• DISRUPTIONS IN CLASS• VIOLATING DRESS

CODE• MINOR VANDALISM• LOW LEVELS OF

BULLYING• NOT COMPLYING

WITH TEACHER’S INSTRUCTIONS

• ARGUING IN HALLWAY OR CAFETERIA

LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, I DON’T WANT IT TO GROW AT ALL. I DON’T EVEN WANT IT TO EXIST BECAUSE IF OUR BEHAVIORS ARE GOOD, WE DON’T HAVE TO HAVE TEEN COURT. THAT’S THE POSITIVE SIDE OF IT. THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS I WANT TEEN COURT TO BE

FULLY SUCCESSFUL AND DETER [BAD] BEHAVIOR. I WANT IT TO WORK.

-BRAD BAILEY PRINCIPAL

“”

6 news tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

heart rate down by raga justinnews editor

Illegal substances have been a staple of American teen culture for decades. They run the gamut: everything from alcohol to prescription pills have made an appearance. The usual culprits are teen parties, where a large crowd contributes to a sense of security and often momentary lapses in judgment. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 4,300 deaths occur among teenagers for underage drinking each year, an alarming statistic.

But alcohol isn’t the only thing teenagers experiment with. Recently, psychologists and scientists have noticed an increasing trend in using performance boosting drugs such as Adderall. It’s a popular one for high achievers, as it improves concentration. But a new substance has been growing in popularity–something known as Sippin’ Syrup, a product that promotes relaxation. Relatively little-known, the product is usually passed on through word of mouth.

“I’ve had Sippin’ Syrup before,” sophomore John Luke* said. “One of my friends told me about how he got it at this gas station, and I tried a sip to see what it tasted like.”

However, Sippin’ Syrup has not yet been approved by the FDA and cannot be found in any major retailers, which is cause for concern after taking into consideration its almost hallucinogenic properties.

“After I drank it, I fell asleep really fast, and I had the weirdest dream–a guy in a banana

suit, or something like that,” Luke said. “I don’t know if it was a hallucination exactly, but I don’t usually have dreams that I remember that easily. It was weird.”

While there are no concrete cases that discredit Sippin’ Syrup, or any similar products, the absence of federal guarantees makes it a dangerous substance to toy with.

“I haven’t heard much about [sippin syrup], but it doesn’t sound too good,” LVN Amy Groff said. “From what we know about drugs and teens, the research points to the negative side. Something like this, where no regulation has been provided, is like playing with fire.”

For anyone who chooses to visit the website, the sight of it may increase doubts as to the safety and validity of the company and its product. Proclaiming Sippin’ Syrup to be “a revolution in euphoric mood enhancement,” it promises a “state of extended relaxation and requiescence (total chill).” The ingredient list is extensive, with several extracts and vitamins all contributing to its signature “proprietary calming blend,” an immediate red flag, as the FDA’s many loopholes include one for herbal supplements such as this.

The risk of consuming Sippin’ Syrup and other such products extends beyond short-term effects, as well. It takes years of research to determine the effects of repeated consumption– years of study that this product, in particular, hasn’t been around long enough for.

“I personally think it’s scary to put something you really don’t know the power of in your body,” junior Elijah Lovett said. “You don’t have any idea what it could do years into the future.”

Bottoms up,

photo by e. meinzer

Sippin’ Syrup’s “Proprietary Blend”L-Theanine Related to reducing mental and physical stress

Melatonin Helps regulate the sleep cycle

St. John's Wort Extract Common non-prescription alternative for depression.

Skullcap Extract Relaxing effect on the nervous and musculoskeletal system

Herbal supplement gains popularity with students

Hops Extract Has calming effect in people suffering from anxiety and insomnia

Kava Kava Extract Produces sedating effects, causing relaxation

7communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

8 viewpoint tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

tiger timesTexas High School

4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana, TX 75503

(903) 794-3891• Fax (903) 792-8971

The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and view are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of directors.

print editors-in-chiefAnna GravesTyler Snell

online editors-in-chiefJessica EmersonKristin McCaslandnews editor

Raga Justinviewpoint editors

Leah CrenshawAlex O’Gorman

feature editorAnna Cannon

indepth editorCaroline May

sports editorsAlex Heo

Anneliese Hounselentertainment editors

Jillian CheneyNaveen Malik

advertising editorHannah Williams

business managerAshlyn Sander

copy editorMolly Crouch

design editorLauren Potter

photo editorBrianna O’Shaughnessy

assignment editorRachel Lewis

video editorSara Vaughn

public relationsAbby Hill

staff writersCeleste Anderson, Katie Biggar,Connor Brooks, Ricky Cooks,Robin Cooper, Bethany Dowd, Katie Dusek, DC Fortenberry, Matt Francis, Zach Friedman,

Maddie Gerrald, Alyssa Gilbert, Meghan Harris, Grace Hickey,

Colton Johnson, Langley Leverett, Emily McMaster, Ali Richter,

Cailey Roberson, Eleanor Schroeder, Tye Shelton, Katherine Stoeckl,

Laurel Wakefield, Jay Williamson

photographersMorgan Bonner, Megan Brandon,Maria Frohnhofer, Dimitrius James,

Lauren Maynard, Mary Miller, Emily Meinzer, Kayleigh Moreland,

Misty Morris, Madeline Parish, Rachel Sorenson, Ayla Sozen,

Piper Spaulding, Savannah York

videographersOdin Contreras, Xavier Davis,

Allie Beth Hatfield, Travis Williams

advisersRebecca Potter, Clint Smith

principalBrad Bailey

membersILPC, CSPA, NSPA

EDITORIAL

SPEAK OUT

Should books with controversial

material be taught in school?

Slyder

Welch, 11

“Books with

controversial

material should

be used so that

the history and knowledge is saved,

instead of random information.”

Collius Zachery,

9

“I feel as if

some stuff is

disrespectful

and should be left out, but overall, it

can be learned from.”

Paige Eaton 10

“I feel

controversial

books should

be used so that

we can learn from certain material

[in the books] and gain from it.”

photos by M Parish

Abuse. Incest. Rape. Adultery. Child pregnancy. Unfaithfulness. Self-mutilation. All of these are scenes described—often in painstaking detail—in the novel “The Color Purple,” which eleventh graders read this year. This book, along with others, have been met with criticism from parents and students alike.

And yes, scenes such as these can be shocking taken out of context. In context, however, they have a much deeper meaning. Books that are read over the course of a school year are picked for their deeper meanings—the deeper meanings that can help teachers meet their learning objectives for the school year.

Each new book goes through a long process of selection and approval. First, the teachers from each grade level select a book that they believe will meet the objectives set by the state of Texas. Then, those teachers get the book approved or denied by the head of the English department, Monica Washington. Finally, the book is sent to principal Brad Bailey and assistant principal Laurie Pace for approval.

The process is anything but random, and it actually takes into careful consideration what is or isn’t appropriate for students to read.

The “inappropriateness” of books often contribute heavily to their deeper meaning. In the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” the n-word is used 219 times. While many criticize author Mark Twain as being racist for the use of this slur, his intent was actually to satirize and to expose the racism of that time period.

Many books that parents have complained about also have great academic merit. Books such as “The Color Purple” and “Tuesdays With Morrie” have appeared multiple times on the twelfth grade AP test. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is often one of the first things that students read for their college literature classes.

Reading books that will appear further on in life give students an early understanding of themes that play major roles in many college level books. These books and the language involved can also help students more thoroughly understand the social atmosphere of the society in which it took place.

These books also can personally help students. These situations that so many parents deem unfit for their children to read about have

been actually experienced by their classmates. In “The Kite Runner,” a controversial rape scene upset many parents. According to UCIA Medical Center, one out of every 12 women are raped as children or teenagers. Discussing situations such as these in a classroom environment can help students who have experienced such situations have a healthy method of discussion.

If parents are concerned with certain parts of novels taken out of context, they should read the novels along with their students. If they still have a problem with the word, phrase or situation, knowing how it fits in with the greater picture, parents can use these novels as springboards for discussion with their child.

Instead of being upset about the death in “Tuesdays with Morrie,” parents should use the book to talk to their children about how death is a natural part of life. Instead of being upset about the rape scenes in “The Color Purple” and “The Kite Runner,” parents should talk to their kids about the importance of consent.

Sheltering students from reading books with mature situations prevents those students from growing more mature and being able to handle such situations themselves. The books with the most “shocking” and “inappropriate” scenes often are the ones with the most valuable life lessons, because that’s how life itself is.

illustration by c. johnson

READ ITAND WEEP

Schools should not shy away from adding controversial books to curriculum

9viewpointtigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

by Leah Crenshawviewpoint editor

“She never looks up from her phone.”“Teenagers are always texting in movies.”“Honestly I’m surprised she doesn’t walk

into a pole.”“Kids always tweet their lives instead of

living them.”Believe me, Soccer Mom, if you want to

start a fight with me, the intro goes exactly like this.

As a proud owner of an iPhone, laptop and teenaged face, I have heard plenty of “witty remarks” about how the younger generation is going to its own little cellular hell. We are “glued to our phones” and “dependent on technology.” Meanwhile our parents grew up the right way, “playing kick the can and stickball in the street” like god intended.

First things first, why does technology get such a bad name?

Well the biggest issue is that new things are generally regarded as bad things,

especially by older generations. When someone doesn’t find use for a certain tool in their life, they assume that there isn’t a use for it in anyone’s life. Our grandparents got by without computers or phones for research, and so they assume that all anyone really needs is the good ol’ library card catalog. Our parents had to make plans before leaving their house on home phones and in person, and so they assume texting is all excessive.

Most of all, the previous generations complain that cellphones and computers make teenagers lazy. If they can survive without them, why do they always use them?

Well people can survive without lots of things, but they aren’t forced to survive without them. I don’t see many people complaining about electric stoves, air conditioning and fuel-efficient cars.

More than anything, older generations love to complain about the younger ones. They love to pick apart any differences between the new and the old. Do young

people wear shorter shorts? They must be trashy. Do young people listen to new music? It must be dirty. Do young people use their cellphones? They must be addicted.

People accuse technology of being used for avoiding interaction and simply wasting time, but in fact the opposite is true. Social media connects people across seemingly impossible barriers. I can connect with my friends and family across the globe, and I use social media to stay in touch with my brother who has been in Austria since January. When I open my phone while I’m in line somewhere, I’m not avoiding social interaction, I’m making use of my cellphone to stay in touch with the people I love.

When I’m not checking up on friends and family, I am actively pursuing any

curious thought that pops into my brain. If you see me casually browsing my phone, I’m not just playing Flappy Bird or browsing Facebook. I’m probably browsing the newest articles from National Geographic or the New York Times. I’m not

piddling my life away and avoiding my surroundings.

I’m getting a unique world view that was unavailable to previous

generations.It’s important that people remember

the real reasons why visionaries from Alan Turing all the way to Tim Berners-Lee devoted their lives to the development of computer technology. Impossibly vast arrays of knowledge are available at any given moment in any given pocket. Anyone who sees that as a problem rather than an incredible opportunity needs to re-evaluate just how much they value the idea of knowing things.

“Impossibly vast arrays of

knowledge are available at any given moment

in any given pocket.”

Overuse of cell phones degrades societyby Meghan harris

staff writer

Every morning when I wake up the first thing I do is check my phone. Next, I walk into the living room, and the TV is on. Once I get to school, I use computers in the library and tablets or phones to learn in several of my classes. My experience is the high school norm for students in this generation.

Even though this way of life is what we’ve become accustomed to, that doesn’t make it beneficial or even acceptable. Everywhere I go people are trapped; their attention is constantly held hostage by whatever form of technology is in front of their face. Think of New York City’s Time Square for example, this area of the city is crawling with thousands of people, large moving signs and shops causing obvious distractions. Technology, mostly electronics, have the same effect except worse. They’ve created a social divide that’s made people become soft spoken and restrained during social interactions. Nowadays it’s completely acceptable for people to use their phones to avoid awkward social situations that would’ve been unavoidable for past generations.

A major problem with technology isn’t technology; it’s how people have decided to use it. The intentions behind products like smartphones, tablets and computers

were never to completely capture everyone’s attention throughout their day. They were made to make things easier. The downfall and abuse that’s corrupted technology partially comes from hackers but mostly the owner.

Hackers have learned to illegally access private information, whether they’re ordinary people or they’re paid to do so by a higher authority. Government facilities, banks and social media accounts are hacked constantly due to technology constantly reinventing itself and leaving areas exposed. The TV show Mr. Robot focuses on hacking and how it’s done. In the end, the government falls into the hands of the the hackers. Despite the obvious exaggeration, the show makes the audience think of the potential dangers of hacking.

Owners have also abused the power given to them through technology. Ipads are now used to keep children from bothering their parents, cyberbullying has caused people to commit suicide, and driving distractions through technology have resulted in more deaths than drunk driving accidents.

There have been toys to keep children busy but today most parents give them the family tablet. Children no longer use actual coloring books and instead use an app that is based on the same idea. While the children focus on this, the caretakers are usually on social media.

On these social media sites like Instagram,

Facebook and Twitter cyberbullying isn’t unheard of. Many users of all ages make posts without considering who will see it and how it could affect them. We live in America where we all have opinions and the freedom of speech to express them, but no one needs to be made fun of because of who they are. When multiple people come together to publicly point out the flaws of one person, they are damaging a person’s’ self-esteem and self worth. Teens have committed suicide over cyberbullying in the past several years and this isn’t the only common cause of death for them.

Distractions from phones while driving have killed multiple teens. This fact isn’t unheard of and probably sounds preachy at this point, but it’s real and something we should all be aware of.

Technology was placed here to make things better, easier and more efficient, but held in our hands with no restrictions it’s caused deaths, addictions and illegal invasions of privacy for almost everyone. We can all relate to at least one of these major issues. When it comes to technology most people overlook using it in moderation but balance is what we all strive to achieve whether we realize it or not. It’s time to change this disparity and move onto greater things, so try putting down your phone every once in awhile and just observe what’s going on in your surroundings.

Technology allows for deeper connections

10 viewpoint tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

Standardized testing cracks foundation in

Mayor. Governor. President. Each of these leaders performs the same job, just at a different level. Each level demands the same type of person to solve crises; therefore, it only makes sense for a governor to be the next president. However, the 2016 presidential front-runners are people who have never held these positions or dealt with matters of state. They are business moguls, secretaries or senators.

The presidential race has finally become a smaller field, and Americans need to evaluate who has the experience needed to handle being the leader of the United States. As a mayor, the leader of the town has to represent his people at major functions. As a governor, the leader of the state has to attend events and speak for his state. As a president, the leader of the free world has to serve as the representative for our nation, make or break major decisions and handle big issues like natural disasters or wars.

It is only logical for a person who has served in the executive branch at lower

level governments to serve in the executive branch of the federal government. A governor has to unite both Democrats and Republicans to pass a budget, amend a law or resolve issues in the state.

Although Gov. Chris Christie has dropped out of the race, he presented a valid point at a presidential debate–a governor deals with the same issues a president does. Gov. Christie had to be the leader and help the people of his state after Hurricane Sandy decimated homes and businesses. Meanwhile, senators and representatives sat in the safety of Congress bickering over bills that are never passed. The pathway to being president should be through the executive branches of American government, just as any other non-political job holding American has to move up the corporate ladder within their

departments.Currently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich

presents the best option for a presidential candidate. He is a governor who has worked in his state to increase jobs and pump money into its economy. In 2014, Ohio had 21,377 new jobs with a higher percentage of new employment than the surrounding states according to the JobsOhio annual report. Kasich has had to work with Democrats and Republicans to get any of his goals accomplished including not appointing judges who favored abortion, making more tax cuts to help small businesses in Ohio, and balancing a budget to make his state profitable again. Therefore, he has the most experience to lead a country.

Business tycoon Donald Trump, on the other hand, has no political experience. He thinks a leader of a nation can be someone who slanders everyone in his path while alienating most people in this country. He only knows how to demand his way through intimidation and the fact that he is rich–what many deem as juvenile tactics.

A business man is fit to run a business, not an entire country.

The Democrats do not have any governors running for office, so the race is between former senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders. A Secretary does not have to work with members of both parties to nominate a judge. That’s what executive officeholders must do, and Clinton has never served in an executive office. Both Clinton and Sanders have political experience, but a senator does not have to be the leader of his state and resolve conflicts that are never ending.

The next president should be someone who has had to actually balance a budget–not get rich off one. The next president should be someone who has had to deal with crises in their state–not someone who just uses sound bites. The next president should have already been a governor. The next president should be someone who can handle national problems and not be someone who partakes in squabbling over votes in Congress.

As a 7:30 a.m. alarm sounds on a select Saturday in America, numerous students roll out of bed to take the ACT. Some students are athletes who had a game the previous night, some had three tests in their AP classes the day before and, of course, there is the student who lacks the desire to succeed in school but is being forced to test by his or her parents. Yet, no matter the student’s grade point average, the results of this test will dictate the furtherance of their education.

With school becoming more and more difficult and the workload pressure becoming more prevalent than ever, anxiety levels have shaped the course in which students learn. The recurring theme of memorization and obedience has surpassed the actual acquisition of knowledge. Only a few months after courses, students begin to forget the concepts they “learned,” simply because one teenage student’s brain can only retain so much information.

Along with the limits of education being pushed to the maximum, anything less than perfect is unacceptable to society

and parents. Students who do not partake in the advanced placement or dual credit classes will receive subtle judgment from their peers. The foundation of education is to

teach, lecture, learn, study, review and test. However, these tests are not based on the knowledge of the subject, rather the ability of the student to memorize. Students cannot be expected to retain and have useful knowledge of five to six advanced placement courses and be fluent in them all.

Another aspect of the education system is the presentation of the idea that failure is something of disgrace and never that it is an attempt or a try. However, in the seemingly never-ending flow of education, if one falls behind, there is no recovery. Or at least it becomes the dense fog in which students cannot overcome. In the

era in which perfection is deemed the only acceptable result, one C will only drop a grade point average a few tenths of a whole number.

Relating back to the ACT, grade point average does not dictate one’s grade. A 4.0 cannot promise you a good score, and a great GPA and bad test score is evidence of the limits education puts on students. There is no time to learn anymore because, alongside the idea of perfect grade scores, you must also be a perfect socialite with perfect perception from others around you. Yet, a student with a 3.5 GPA who does not meet the status quo for “perfection,” might outscore the 4.0 students due to their retention of knowledge instead of simple memorization.

There are students who seem to do the impossible of maintaining perfect scores and social status, yet most students are not of this rare breed of intelligence. The figurative claws of the education system not only reach out within school, but also causes unhealthy amounts of stress and anxiety among students. This system breaks down a student’s self-esteem,

causing doubt and eventual decrease in student performance within the classroom.

Some people still have faith in school and still think that education is something of glorification. While it invokes a fire amongst the students to pursue knowledge, the education system also extinguishes any opportunity for the blaze to grow any larger than the school deems necessary, and students no longer have time to pursue intellectual interest of their own.

Test scores and grade point averages have always dictated college acceptance and scholarships, yet in past years, learning actually contributed to these aspects of knowledge. Students are expected to learn what is deemed necessary by a board of tie-wearing, old individuals. Time no longer exists to students because it is constantly consumed by a big test, ACT prep or extracurricular activities. If only students had time to actually study or look into serious topics regarding their present and future educational situations they would not need to have complaints shoveled away into a school newspaper.

Governor.....for President

U.S. EDUCATION SYSTEM

State leaders are better equipped to run country over other public figures

by Tyler Snellprint editor-in-chief

by Tye Sheltonstaff writer

11communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

12 technology tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

by CONNOR BROOKSstaff writer

Smartwatches have been around for a while and have steadily become a stable in wearable technology. While their capabilities in the health and fitness industry, as well as some business applications, are widely known, their

uses in the classroom have yet to be determined. However, their use has already caused concern about students’ ability to cheat during testing.

Assistant Principal for Student Advancement Lindsay Skinner, who coordinates standardized testing, said there has been talk at conventions about what to do when a child has a smartwatch before the test.

“Speakers have talked about how test administrators need to pay attention to students with them so the test confidentiality doesn’t get breached,” Skinner said. “The more that we see these smartwatches, the more we are going to have to put procedures in place to restrict them in the classroom.”

Skinner said smartwatches will be treated like phones during testing days and will be put in plastic bags.

“I think the Apple Watch does encourage cheating because teachers usually won’t take them up,” Prieskorn said. “It is easy to conceal and would be simple to use to cheat with during a test.”

Some teachers are already making restrictions on smartwatches in the classroom. History department chairman Chuck Zach said he doesn’t allow them to be worn in his class because he has had students cheat with them in the past.

“The discussion has came up in some school meetings, but nothing has been decided on how to address them,” Zach said.

The capability of the iPhone and Apple Watch provides an easy avenue for cheating for students.

“You can take a picture on your iPhone and open the picture on the Apple Watch” sophomore Matt Prieskorn said. “It can definitely be used for cheating.”

While the Apple Watch has not been an issue during EOC testing yet, it is still being brought up in the classroom.

“I have had on my Apple Watch during an ASL test, and it was not taken up,” sophomore Jada Easter said. “I feel like the teacher did not take it up because it blended in so well and was concealed.”

APPLE WATCHThis watch has a sleek design, it’s comfortable to wear and it has 40 different styles that are up for purchase. It comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm. Three different categories are available including the Apple Watch Sport, The base design Apple Watch, and the Watch Edition. Features include

being able to respond to texts and get notifications from other apps. Prices range from $299 up to $17,000. $299 is a price that is dropped down $50.

ASUS ZENWATCHThis is a good looking watch similar to the Apple Watch with it’s square shape and touchscreen design. It lacks many of the physical buttons which makes it only usable through the touchscreen and this leaves room to make

more mistakes while using the touchscreen. This makes it less competitive when put up against other similar smartwatches. One of its distinct features is a heartbeat monitor that is always in use without being prompted. It is priced relatively low at $54.

MOTO 360This watch has the option to design your own and this includes steel and leather and a double-wrapped band. It allows you to access the Internet and be able to respond to text messages also. It’s design is meant for luxury, looking like a normal watch but still with a digital scream. This watch starts at $129.

ONLY TIME

The Apple Watch has been around for almost a year now and its impact was great. Competition has been put on the market because of Apple’s release of its watch, and competitors have been able to create an equivalent product. Here a just a couple of the other popular smartwatches that are available today and there comparison to the Apple Watch. “I think the Apple Watch is like a little iPhone and those are really popular,” freshmen Maggie Gerrald said. “The Apple Watch will probably get more popular.”

WILL TELL

“Speakers have talked

about how test administrators

need to pay attention

to students with them so the test

confidentiality doesn’t get breached.

The more that we see these

smartwatches, the more we are going to have to put procedures

in place to restrict

them in the classroom.”

-Lindsay Skinner

WATCH OUTCHEATERSfor

Wearable technology causesconcern about test security

photo by R. Lewis

13health & fitnesstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

A Tea-riffic Revelation While there are numerous types of teas that can accommodate one’s individual taste, some have specific health benefits.

Since the beginning of freshman year, coffee has simultaneously been my personal comforter and downfall. My unwavering love for the rich scent and warm liquid that fills the groggy mornings with happiness has never failed me. However, it also forced me to look past the rows of exotic teas and beverages, and only to the numerous flavors of coffee. My love for this drink blinded me.

Well, the blindfold is off and I have a new indulgence. That’s right, it’s tea. Not just sweet tea. Hot tea, directly from the steaming boiler and Twinings tea boxes filled with countless flavors.

Undoubtedly, I have decided it is the best thing since sliced bread.

Granted, I may have been a little prejudiced beforehand. I didn’t see what was so great about a tea bag in water. Coffee provides every benefit you could imagine, with the added bonus of programmable machines to brew the drink at whatever time is desirable. If that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, then I don’t know what will.

However, coffee also tends to bring a midday crash of drowsiness, and sometimes even the jitters. These disadvantages are absent in hot tea, thus proving its superiority to any other drink.

The smell of spices from a foreign land. The steam drifting up from the mug. These sensations provide a satisfaction that is truly unparalleled. The highest level of contentment and happiness is reached while drinking this hot beverage. Indeed, nothing is better than hot tea.

Additionally, honey and spices can be added to suit an individual’s personal taste, rather than the basic supplements that coffee demands. Not to mention, tea is significantly cheaper and lower in caffeine, which, in all honesty, is better.

Furthermore, not only does tea supply immense happiness, it also has added health benefits for the mind and body. For instance, with the right amount of exercise (I know, who would exercise on purpose?), green tea is helpful in that it contains tons of antioxidants that aid in cell repair, therefore preventing cancer and prolonging life. This in turn gives you more opportunities to drink tea.

Chamomile, a natural herb-based tea, calms the nerves and mind, and is even used to generate a deeper sleep. Additionally, it helps settle stomach cramps, diminish migraines and create healthier skin.

Tea has been one of the most resounding, revolutionary commodities in the world. Dating back to the trades of China, Europe and eventually the Americas, tea has remained high in demand, and will most likely endure until the end of time. So please, do yourself a favor and admit that tea was hand selected from God’s own refreshment table and sent to earth for us lowly humans to enjoy.

Sophomore discusses benefits

of drinking tea

by LANGLEY LEVERETTstaff writer

Green Prevents various cancers

Health Benefits of Tea

Oolong Boosts metabolism

White Healthy for the skin

Chai Beneficial for digestion

Black Cholesterol reduction

photo by D. James

One way to get a high intensity cardiovascular workout without running or heading to the gym is to attend cycling classes. Not only does cycling help you lose weight, but it also improves posture, strength, flexibility and can decrease stress levels. At Pura Vida Cycle Studio/Pedal Junkies on 2011 Mall Dr., the instructors guide you through a full-body cycling workout. They play upbeat music in order to keep you moving. The studio offers a beginner 20-minute ride, an advanced 30-minute ride and an advanced 50-minute ride. You can also schedule a cycle party or a cycle group ride with up to 15 people, so you can get fit with some of your closest friends.

PLACES TO HELP YOU GET HEALTHY IN TEXARKANA

14health/fitnesstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016•

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu is a great way to get fit in a fun and different way. Martial arts not only benefits your physical body but also your

mental health. Physically, practicing Jiu Jitsu can improve your strength, flexibility and mobility. The instructors teach you how to use your body as one unit to aid physical advancement. Mentally, Jiu Jitsu can help improve your patience and self-discipline. This sport requires many drills and hours of practice which can relieve stress for many people. Texarkana Jiu Jitsu offers many free trials for beginners wanting to try out the martial art. It is located at 4025 N State Line Ave.

JIU JITSU

CROSSFITCrossFit is a high

intensity fitness program that focuses on making the body stronger. Rather than using machines, participants of CrossFit lift weights, climb rope, use medicine balls, etc. The encouraging

environment that the program provides makes finishing the difficult workouts more achievable. If you are looking to lose weight or improve your strength and athletic ability, CrossFit is a great way to accomplish that. They start newcomers on a reasonable level of difficulty and increase it as they get stronger. CrossFit Texarkana is located at 3911 E. 19th St.

YOGAThere are various yoga studios in Texarkana

that will help strengthen your body and mind. Bimini Yoga and Fitness, located at 2616 Texas Blvd., offers an assortment of classes that range from beginner to advanced. Similarly, Texarkana Yoga, located at 2011 Mall Dr #3, provides classes that will suit almost every person who is interested in practicing yoga. For someone wanting to give yoga a try for the first time, Texarkana Yoga provides your first class for free.

SMOOTHIES

CYCLING

Just as it is important to exercise to get toned, eating healthy is a necessity in order to reach your fitness goals. A good option for a quick snack or meal replacement are smoothies. Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 4845 Texas Blvd. provides a variety of different smoothie options as well as healthy options for food. Also, Smoothie Blendz at Legends Gym on 3315 N State Line Ave. is a great way to relieve your post workout hunger.

TONE UP IN T-TOWN

story and design by Caroline May/in-depth editor

15health & fitnesstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

by CELESTE ANDERSONstaff writer

Fad diets are everywhere today. Many specify the exact foods people should eat, often leaving them ravenous and grumpy. The key to why people feel this way is the quality of and amount of nutrition in specific foods.

High-calorie, high-fat foods consumed over a long period of time increase your chances of having certain illnesses, such as liver disease, heart disease, and Type 2 Diabetes. Thinking short-term, though, unhealthy foods still negatively affect your body.

For example, have you ever really thought of how a cupcake makes you feel? Some people simply choose such unhealthy foods because they taste good. But what happens after the 30 seconds it takes you to consume the treat?

Many people will feel fine for the first 15-30 minutes after eating a cupcake due to the increase in sugar your body is getting, which may boost energy levels. After the few minutes of “sugar high,” however, they will experience an incredible drop in energy, which is closely tied to the end of the sugar high and rapidly dropping blood sugar levels. After the blood sugar drop, you may become hungry again and repeat the cycle.

To avoid the energy roller coaster, switch up food choices. Instead of picking up a cupcake, reach for a just-as-sweet alternative, such as an apple and a handful of nuts. The sugar and fiber in the apple and protein punch from the nuts will raise your blood sugar and energy levels, and the protein will help keep you full, avoiding the unnecessary drop in energy the cupcake gives.

Teenagers, depending on their weight, height and physical activity, should eat somewhere between 1500 and 2500 calories per day, although many fall around 1800. If you eat a Big Mac and medium fries, that’s 920 calories, almost half the daily calorie allowance. However, swapping the greasy burger and suboptimal fries for a healthier alternative saves calories and the hunger that sets in 20 minutes after eating such a meal.

Think before you eat. Choose high-protein and low-calories foods with less fat and sodium. It will improve how you feel, and your body will thank you.

THINK BEFORE

YOU EAT A balanced diet increases energy, boosts mood

Nutrition FactsServing Size 1 Cupcake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 300

% Daily Value

Total Fat 14g 21% Saturated Fat 1g 5% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 35mg 12%Sodium 110mg 5%Total Carbohydrate 43g 14% Dietary Fiber 5g 19% Sugars 24gProtein 10g

Vitamin A 0%Vitamin C 0%Calcium 25%Iron 8%

Nutrition FactsServing Size 1 Medium Apple

Amount Per Serving

Calories 80

% Daily Value

Total Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg 0%Sodium 0mg 0%Total Carbohydrate 21g 7% Dietary Fiber 3g 12% Sugars 16gProtein 0.4g

Vitamin A 0%Vitamin C 10%Calcium 0%Iron 2%

40%of the total daily calories for

2–18-year-olds come from added sugars and solid fats found in soda,

fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza and whole milk.*

*Journal of the American Dietetic AssociationIllustration from istockphoto.com

16 health & fitness tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

Sitting up straight improves more than appearanceHow to improve your posture

Get up and stretch every half hour so organs can get the oxygen they need and your body can get a break.

Exercise. When you go to the gym, focus on your core because if those muscles are strong it will be easier to sit up straight.

Yoga encourages good posture. Many of the poses require broad shoulders and an open chest which allows you to breathe easily.

Support your spine. If you lift weights, make sure your back is in the proper position. Endurance in the spine and trunk muscles is important because it is what keeps you standing up straight without back pain.

Walk. It’s as simple as that. People who walk more tend to have better bone density than those who don’t.

Lumo Bodytech strives to make your body function as efficiently as possible by using ground-breaking technology to inform you about what’s going on inside your body. Some of their products to benefit the human person include the Lumo Lift for posture and Lumo Run for running.

The Lumo Lift not only vibrates when you slouch, but it also tracks your activity

and calories burned. The Lift attaches to your clothes with the complementary magnetic clasp. To calibrate the Lift, get into your best posture and then double press on the clasp. The sensor will vibrate whenever you slouch and it will also track your steps taken, distance, traveled and calories burned.

Using the Lumo Lift’s approach of awareness to reteach proper

posture eliminates the most chronic form of pain: back pain.

You slouch, it vibrates. Wear it fashionably on the outside of your clothes or discreetly using the magnetic clasp. The LumoLift is a subtle reminder to stand and sit up straight and claims to improve your posture in 14 days.

The Lumo Lift sensor can be ordered from lumobodytech.com for $79.99

by Katherine Stoecklstaff writer

When class drags on and you didn’t get much sleep last night, slumping down in the chair may sound like the best option, but really, it isn’t. Poor posture is the new first-world problem, and it’s causing a lot more problems than people realize.

Slouching and poor posture worsens depression and stress which is something no student wants more of. San Francisco State University students conducted a study in which students were asked to walk down a hallway while slouching or skipping, and students who slumped experienced increased feelings of sadness and decreased energy levels.

Happiness and energy levels increase when you sit up straight.

“I usually slouch,” senior Cooper Ziverna said. “But when I do stand up straight, I feel much more energized and awake.”

Slouching also causes the body to compress and constrict, and in that position, your organs have to work harder to function. Sitting up straight opens your chest and makes it easier to breathe, but it also frees your intestines. Slouching can cause indigestion and has been attributed to acid reflux and hernias.

Some of the most noticeable effects of bad posture are back, shoulder and neck pain. While sitting hunched over at your desk make these and other areas hurt, it also misaligns your spine and leads to more pain.

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine of 10 degrees or more.

“This rotation in the spinal column creates a side to side, ‘S’ shaped curve,” health aide Brenda Lenaway said. “Scoliosis in the worst cases, interferes with heart and lung function.”

Eighty-five percent of all cases of structural scoliosis have no known cause and are referred to as idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis occurs in 2 to 3 percent of the adolescent population. It commonly affects young people between the ages of 10 to 16 years of age.

“Gender does make a difference in the time of onset because girls begin their adolescent growth spurt and reach skeletal maturity earlier than boys,” Lenaway said. “This accelerated spinal growth generally occurs from the ages of 10 to 14 for girls and 12 to 16 for boys.”

In Texas, spinal screening is mandated by state law for all children in grades 6 and 9 attending public and private schools.

“However schools may implement a program that includes screening in grades 5 and 8 as an alternative to grades 6 and 9,” Lenaway said. “TISD has implemented this; we screen grades 5 and 8.”

Kyphosis, or roundback, is an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine.

“This deformity can be corrected with exercises and proper posture,” Lenayway said.

Tension headaches are another common side effect of bad posture. People who sit all day put a strain on their bodies, causing headaches.

More often than not, these headaches and backaches are attributed to a badly set up workplace and monitors that are too high or low and chairs that may not provide adequate support.

Marching and concert band are sometimes overlooked when it comes to their respective physical aspects, but success in those activities demands good posture.

“Good posture is important to band during both semesters,” junior Elijah Lovett said. “During marching season, we’re required to stand tall because it makes us look professional, and it helps you project your sound.”

Good posture is also necessary in order to transition between marching backward and forward. During second semester, concert season, posture is also important.

“Sitting up straight allows you to take deeper breaths,” Lovett said. “which allows you to have better tone and sustain notes longer.”

Some people search for the key to happiness for their entire life, but your search can end here. Just sit up straight and breathe easy.

modified from istockphoto

www.lumobodytech.com/lumo-lift/

Practice perfect posture

#EAGLEPRIDESCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!

7101 UNIVERSITY AVENUE | TEXARKANA, TX 75503 | 903.223.3000 | WWW.TAMUT.EDU

17communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

19in-depthtigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •18

by ANNA GRAVESprint editor-in-chief

He looks in the mirror. He’s hungry, but you couldn’t tell. Though the number on the scale continues to rise and it looks as if he has enough in his belly to sustain himself for decades, he needs nutrients. He goes to school, rushes to the lunch line and grabs everything he can get. He’s full for now, but the meal he devoured still did not give his body what it really needs.

It’s evident in every state, every city and every high school. Teenage obesity is an issue sweeping the nation. In 2013, 13.7 percent of high school students were obese and 16.6 percent were overweight according to the Young Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Those numbers are steadily rising. Texas has the fifth highest high school obesity rate in the nation. These baffling statistics trigger concern and question. Why are students so unhealthy?

With childhood obesity being so common in America, there must be a common underlying factor. Many cases of teenage obesity stem from growing up in a negative or low income environment. When children are raised in a home that is struggling economically, they are not provided the needed amount of nutrition or exercise. Fast food is cheaper than fresh produce, organized sports are too expensive and in a

household of people that work long hours for little money, there is no time to cook or get in adequate exercise.

For these kids, school is their outlet. School is where they fill their stomachs, fuel their minds, and hopefully, break a little sweat. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Students are still gaining weight, and lunches may not be as nutritious as they claim to be.

“I don’t think our school lunches provide the amount of nutrition we need,” junior Hunter Burt said. “The lunches we had last year were a lot better because we had different meats to choose from, but now it’s just salads and stuff like that. Keep the salads, but provide more variety that kids can choose from.”

Cafeterias are required to meet certain nutritional standards, and because of recent attention on childhood obesity, standards have adjusted. The current meal plan works to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, lower the amounts of sodium and set a specific calorie limit. While cafeterias must meet federal requirements, the schools themselves decide what foods to serve and how to prepare them.

“In the past few years, the meal pattern guidelines have become stricter,” TISD Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Christie Lammers said. “We create recipes in our test kitchen and

have students rate them before we menu them. We conduct student taste tests on new products before we purchase them to make sure the students will accept the product as part of the menu.”

It seems though, no matter how much effort schools put into improving the quality and perception of cafeteria food, students still walk into the cafeteria with a less-than-pleased expression on their faces, and many still walk out overweight and unhealthy. This isn’t only affecting student’s well being. It can also negatively impact their education.

“If kids aren’t properly nourished, it’s harder for them to pay attention and excel in education,” science teacher Jessica Sharp said. “A proper diet and nutrition are essential for brain growth. All we can do is try to provide them with healthy alternatives to snack food and get them to eat healthy.”

Many feel that the problem is not student’s defiance to healthy foods, but a lack of options available.

“People want a different variety,” sophomore Daniela Labrada said. “We need different types of food that kids can look for, like fresh vegetables and other things. People get bored and don’t want to eat the same food. That’s when they turn to junk food.”

Some however, have a different opinion and

believe that the increase in childhood obesity is not the school system’s fault.

“The food that is served in the cafeteria has to meet certain standards from the state and Department of Agriculture,” teacher Amy Baker-Kireev said. “We present the food that we’re supposed to. Recent research says we can’t control what happens to a kid’s body. Gut bacteria seems to be a big factor influencing metabolism. This is something that is a lot more prevalent today than any other time.”

Though it is difficult to pinpoint the reason why, there is no doubt that high school obesity is a growing concern. Schools are actively working to break the cafeteria food stereotype and provide proper nutrients for their students to achieve success.

“We are progressive in our thinking at TISD Child Nutrition, and are always looking for ways to grow,” Lammers said. “A healthy diet is about balancing nutrient dense foods with foods that should be enjoyed occasionally. We feel like we are encouraging our students to enjoy all foods in moderation, a healthy lifestyle choice that will stick with them after high school. We plan to continue to provide the highest quality foods possible, listen to the voice of our students in our menu development, continue to introduce new and exciting items and provide nutrition education to our students.”

FOOD

How to MEASURE your MEAL

WITHOUT THE

FUEL

Next time you step into the kitchen, think before you plate. This diagram displays the five food groups needed to maintain a healthy diet.

Know your H20Almost everyone knows that the food you put into your body is very important, but the importance of water is too often disregarded. You should drink half an ounce to an ounce of water for every pound they weigh per day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 to 150 ounces of water a day.

Cafeteria strives to balance nutrition with taste

boys

BOYS: 2 cupsGIRLS: 1.5 cups

BOYS: 3 cupsGIRLS: 2.5 cups

BOYS: 6.5 ozGIRLS: 5 oz

BOYS: 8 oz GIRLS: 6 oz

BOYS: 3 cups GIRLS: 3 cups

FRUITS

VEGETABLES

PROTEIN

GRAINS

DAIRY

70 percent of obese youth had at least one risk factor for

cardiovascular disease in a sample of 5 to

17-year-olds

Obese adolescents more likely to develope

prediabetes, joint problems, sleep apnea

Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat,

muscle, bone or water

Obesity is defined as having excess

body fat

“We feel like we are

encouraging our students to enjoy all

foods in moderation,

a healthy lifestyle

choice that will stick with them after high school.”

-Christie Lammers,assistant child

nutrition director

1/3 of adolescents

in US are overweight or

obese

design by Anna Graves/print editor-in-chief and Caroline May/in-depth editor

photo by B. O’Shaughnessy

20 community tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

21health & fitnesstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2015 •

Calm your Senses

These products will leave your skin feeling fresh

and your body well rested

Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar, sold at Sephora, Dillard’s and Ulta, is a multitasking moisturizer. This product is meant to reduce the amount of skin discoloration, dehydration, fine lines and rough texture. Hope in a Jar encompasses alpha hydroxy acids that improve skin radiance and leave the skin looking healthier than before. Cost is $44 for a 2 oz tub and $69 for a 4 oz.

GlamGlow SuperMud, sold at Sephora and Dillard’s, works as a cleansing mud mask that is enriched with charcoal and helps fight blemishes. It cleans deep in pores to provide a healthy and radiant look. It’s $69 for a tub, and 100 percent worth the splurge.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, sold at Sephora, Dillard’s and Ulta, is used as a cream-gel that replenishes and hydrates the skin. Since stress can cause skin damage and dry patches, this is a vital necessity during the school year. Prices start at $9 for the 0.5 oz, $39 for 1.7 oz and $52.50 for the 2.5 oz.

Bath and Body Works eucalyptus stress relief body lotion and body wash are both meant to hydrate the skin and cure a stressed mind with an aromatherapy blend of nautral oils. This is beneficial to one’s mind, body and mood. Both products are only $13.

Bath and Body Works Black Chamomile lotion and body wash are both meant to moisturize skin and treat one’s mind, body and mood with the soothing aromatherapy. These products are meant for men and have a musky scent. Both products sell for $13 each.

12 3 4

Maintaining a calm state of mind during stress-filled days is easier said than done. Sometimes it takes an extra boost of energy to be able to relax. Calming products that rejuvenate your skin and allow you to sleep soundly are vital to complete relaxation. These quick and simple treatments will leave you feeling ready to take on the day.

5

compiled by KATIE BIGGAR/staff writer

photos from official company websites

22 health & fitness tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

ThePink TaxSometimes, it’s hard being a girl. Women are only getting 77 percent mens’ wages. Now, another inequity has come to light: the “Pink Tax.” “Lady” packaging can make products up to 80 percent more expensive. So exactly how steep is the tax for “pink” products?

On average: 49.5%Suave Professionals for MEN-12.6 fl. oz. for $1.98-16 cents per oz.

Suave Professionals for WOMEN-12.6 fl. oz. for $2.50-20 cents per oz.-25% more expensive

Dove Deodorant for WOMEN-2.7 oz. for $4.88-$1.81 per oz.-26% more expensive

Dove MEN +Care Deodorant-2.7 oz. for $3.88-16 cents per oz.

Neutrogena MENS Cleanser-5.1 oz. for $4.93-96 cents per oz.

Neutrogena Cleanser for WOMEN-4.2 oz. for $6.97-$1.65 per oz.-75% more expensive

BIC 3-Bladed MENS Comfort Razor-4 for $3.18-79 cents per razor

BIC 3-Bladed WOMENS Soleil Razor-4 for $5.47-$1.37 per razor-76% more expensive

compiled by Leah Crenshaw/viewpoint editorphotos by S. Vaughn

PRESENTS

SATURDAYAPRIL 23, 2016, 7:30 PM

HISTORIC PEROT THEATRE | MARC-ANDRÉ BOUGIE, CONDUCTING

903.792.4992 TEXARKANASYMPHONY.ORG

21communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

24 feature tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

A Wolf Among SheepSenior looks back on time at military academyby KATIE DUSEK staff writer

The alarm clock goes off at 5 a.m. He must be ready to work out, get dressed and head to formation before going to class. While most teenagers sit in their desks waiting for the bell to ring, others respond to their drill sergeant and maneuver through obstacle courses.

Senior Austin Malone knows what it’s like to spend his days taking someone else’s orders. He spent the past two school years in Fishburne Military School in Virginia.

Being in a military school came as a shock to Malone; a drastic change from his normal everyday routine.

“I mean it was tough. You just had to push yourself through it,” Malone said. “I didn’t have long to adjust. I had to jump into it my first day.”

Adjusting to life at a new school, he quickly became aware of who his friends were. He also learned how to remain happy while attending a school that made him feel like a prisoner.

“Me and my friends were called the ‘pieces’ of the corps because we were forced to go. The school seemed like a

prison to us, and we would break some rules to have fun and pass the time,” Malone said. “But surprisingly, we were the ones that actually got anywhere. The highest rank I got was 1st lieutenant, and at some point in time I [was] in charge of a company that had over 30 people in it.”

After attending the school for a few months, Malone was able to realize that there were two types of people attending his school: sheep and wolves. Malone knew that he was a wolf.

“The sheep kind of blend together. They are the ones who just follow each other and keep their opinions to themselves,” Malone said. “But being a wolf, you had a certain freedom. You were able to basically do what you wanted, and you were able to stand out and speak up.”

Although Malone spent his time having fun and goofing off, he also learned many valuable things during his time at the school.

“Being at that school taught me to appreciate the little things, like hot water and a comfy bed to sleep in,” Malone said. “It also taught me how being respectful and being grateful for

the little things can help you out in the long run.”

There were a few unforgettable moments from his time in the school.

“The graduation ceremony was great because whenever I got there, all of my friends were seniors,” Malone said. “Whenever we graduated, they all threw their hats up.”

Although Malone was able to adapt and find his place, he was still faced with hard times that made him understand the importance of respect.

“One time I got into a bit of trouble, but luckily I had gotten pretty close with one of my teachers. I was always being polite [by] saying ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no ma’am’ and helping out with whatever I could when she needed it,” Malone said. “It turns out she was the assistant superintendent and she was able to get me out of my situation completely.”

Malone’s time in the military school changed not only his perspective, but also who he is as a person.

“It made me smarter, not book smart, but smarter in life,” Malone said. “It wasn’t the best experience, but it made me who I am today.”

Pardon my FrenchLanguage barrier doesn’t stop custodian from finding joy in helping othersby TYLER SNELL print editor-in-chief

He greets the students as he continues to push the trash. He smiles at the teachers as he puts their rooms back together after a stressful week. He locks the gate with an exhausted sigh as he leaves the school late at night.

This is only a glimpse into the daily life of custodian Ben Tabach who moved to Texarkana from France.

“I come in early in the morning, try to stay busy then try to go home early,” Tabach said. “I enjoy working around the kids, students and teachers. I spend a lot of time enjoying my days and having fun.”

Making the most of every moment is Tabach’s goal, and he was studying at a university in France before deciding school was not for him.

“I came here because I have family here, and then I met my wife,” Tabach said. “She’s from the Texas side, and we got happily married.”

During his move to America, Tabach says

the hardest challenge to overcome was the understanding English.

“I found it was different because it is hard for me to talk English when I moved here right away,” Tabach said. “I found it hard for me to talk English [and] to find a job.”

Tabach’s first job was with Texarkana Arkansas School District before moving to Texas High.

“One coworker told me there [was] a job in TISD, so I turned my application in,” Tabach said. “It has been the best job, and I’m glad I moved.”

This past summer, Tabach went back to France to visit with family and friends.

“It was very different to see my family and my brother [who] lives in Spain,” Tabach said. “My brother has a taxicab, so we got to travel from one city to another.”

Tabach said the one thing he misses the most is the home cooking and food.

“I miss the food there, especially my family’s,” Tabach said. “The food is really good and flavorful, not like fast food here.”

photo by M. Morris

CLEAN SLATE Custodian Ben Tabach wipes the cafeteria tables after lunches and will often stay at the school until late at night. “My days are always the same, [but] that’s a good thing,” Tabach said. “[It] wasn’t easy for me [to learn English.] It was just because I studied in France. I went to a university, and I was studying a lot. Then, I came here.”

A SENIOR SALUTE Senior Austin Malone

wears the uniform from his time spent at

Fishburne Military School in Virginia. Malone spent

two years at the school but returned here for his

senior year.photo by K. Moreland

Meet

the

t

each

er25featuretigertimesonline.com

Trekking through the techby KRISTIN MCCASLANDonline editor-in-chief

The theater goes black and voices of the audience turn to excited whispers. The curtain opens and the bright stage lights reveal a beautiful Victorian living room, complete with floral wallpaper, tall bookshelves and extravagant furniture. The audience is transported back to a world which no longer exists, but few consider the time and effort that goes into to creating this scene.

The tech theater class, taught by Trent Hanna, constructs all of the sets for every production held at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center. Because no two productions are alike, the students must create a wide array of props each year.

“Every year, we’re faced with different challenges for different productions,” Hanna said. “It’s interesting to see the way the kids work through it, the thought processes, the development of the plans and the execution.”

For many tech theater students, the class provides a way to be involved in theater behind the scenes without

the pressure of performing.“I chose to be in tech theater because I could get an art

credit doing something I enjoyed,” senior Cooper Zverina said. “I could actually be involved in the theater program without being on stage and acting.”

In addition to their class time, tech theater students spend numerous hours outside of class preparing for shows.

“Each production requires countless hours of work at school and at home,” senior Sarah Hickerson said. “For ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ we made an entire living room. We had to find the right furniture and the right texture of wallpaper. We even had to build a staircase.”

This year, the class had the opportunity to create some unique props, including a levitating chaise used in “Dracula” and a DeKolta chair used for a magic trick in the UIL one act play, “The Last Illusion.”

“The levitating chaise was my favorite thing to build,” Zverina said. “Then I got to operate it during the play and make Grace Hickey levitate.”

Tech theater is one of the only classes where students are able to master several skills in a single class.

“We get to do so many different things in this class,” senior Patrick Gresham said. “It’s a drawing, woodshop, welding and sewing class all in one.”

Although constructing a multitude of props and sets may sound stressful to some, Hanna appreciates the diversity of the class.

“I enjoy the fact that there’s variety to it. It’s not the same lesson plans brought out year after year,” Hanna said. “There’s always something new and fresh. I end up learning from it just like the students do.”

by CAILEY ROBERSONstaff writer

From assistant theater director to speech and debate coach to Professional Communications teacher, Amy Kemp is

the proud owner of many titles. Growing up in New Boston, Kemp finished college at Texarkana A&M and double-majored in history and English. Kemp came from the middle school after teaching English and journalism and has been teaching for a grand total of 17 years.

Q: Why do you teach?A: The person I looked up to the most, teacher-

wise, was my second grade teacher. I go to the same church with her today, and she

still knows me as one of her kids. It’s super sweet. She still tells me she

loves me. Ever since I was a kid, I thought about being

a teacher. I wanted to make a difference in

the world. There’s so many things out there that I could have been, but I was drawn to teaching.

Q: What is your work philosophy?

A: As long as I can reach at least one

student a day and make a difference, that would be great.

I would love for that to happen. I want to foster a love of education and life. When I was in high school, I

didn’t get to go many places, and I think a lot of kids here are the same way. I want them to know that it gets better. You’ve just got to live the life for it to get better.

Q: What kind of people would you like to be in debate?A: They have to be self-motivated and driven because it takes a lot of work and self-discipline. You have to be willing to spend time on it. We spend a lot of time on the road. We spend time at competitions. You need to be someone who wants to be part of our debate family. We’re a little group that works. I mean, we do have fun as well, but the work has to come before the fun.

Q: How do you teach kids to debate?A: Sometimes I have shy and reluctant kids, so I try to ease them up in front of the class. I always tell my novices that you’ve gotta start somewhere when you go to competition. You’re [going to] go in and probably not going to win, but as long as you’re learning, that’s what you need to think about. Winning is the icing on the cake. Today when I was judging, I put on every kid’s ballot: ‘Thank you so much for participating,’ because I know how difficult it is to get in front of a panel of strangers and have them judge you on your speaking ability. It’s very difficult, but I get it.

Q: Have you met any celebrities?A: I have met a ton of celebrities. The most famous I’ve met would be Michael Bublé. I go to his concerts quite a bit. People swear up and down he knows me because I’ve had so many interactions with him. I’ve met him and he was like, “Oh, it’s you.” Yeah, it’s me. I’ve met New Kids On The Block several times. I have a sparkly cap that I wear to a lot of the concerts that I go to, and I have a sparkly top, so Donnie Wahlberg was like, “Oh, you’re Glitter Ball,” but there was no glitter, so he changed it to “Disco Ball.” In the middle of the concert, in the middle of a song, he looks directly at me and he was like, “Disco Ball!” People were wondering who Disco Ball was. I’ve met *NSYC. I met Boyz II Men a couple of times. Tim McGraw sat behind me with his wife and their kids at an *NSYNC concert. If you had asked me when I was a kid in high school what I thought life would be as an adult, I probably wouldn't have thought that I would have so many opportunities.

That’s Debatable

photo by M. Morris

Technical theater class forms backbone of performing arts program

photo by L. May

BEHIND THE SCENES Gabe Lohse concentrates on his current project to make the theater productions a success.

26 feature tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

by ANNA GRAVESprint editor-in-chief

Everyone knows her. She’s the one who greets students with a smile and asks them how their day is going. But if you have never stopped to talk to her for more than just a second, you probably wouldn’t know that Registrar of Students Kim Byerly has quite an adventurous life.

In 1987, Byerly took her first leap into what would become a regular and loved activity: diving with sharks. Byerly has dived with eight kinds of sharks and even stingrays, eagle rays and manta rays.

“My first dive was on Surface-Supplied Air in Maui, Hawaii,” Byerly said. “You can only go underwater between 25-30 feet, but that was enough to see that the underwater world was fascinating and beautiful. In 2004, we went to Grand Cayman, and I got my Resort Certification to dive with stingrays. From that point on, I was hooked.”

Byerly and her husband have turned this hobby into a bonding activity.

“My husband and I dive together, so it is always wonderful to have quality time with him on a new adventure,” Byerly said. “We have made new friends from all over the world who are also divers. The dive community is just one big family.”

While to the non-diver it may seem that nothing would be running through your mind but fear, Byerly said that while

she’s diving all she can think about is the beauty surrounding her.

“It’s too pretty to be scared,” Byerly said. “Diving can be deadly if not done correctly. That is why it is necessary to focus on what you are doing and what is going on in the environment around you. Diving is 75 percent mental and 25 percent physical. You just have to remember your training. Besides, when you are underwater and looking at the amazing seascape all around you, you really can’t think about anything else except the beauty and wonder of everything.”

Diving has also allowed Byerly to see how the way she lives her life can affect her underwater friends.

“It’s sad to actually see the impact of our actions on this huge living environment like the ocean: effects of global warming, declining fish species, a turtle with a plastic soda six-pack holder over it’s head,” Byerly said. “Divers are trying to restore the damage that is being done to our ocean. Diving makes me very aware of what responsibilities we have to protect our oceans and the creatures that live there and that we can make a difference for good or bad.”

Byerly now has her Advanced Open Water certification and is hoping to soon get the opportunity to cage dive with Great Whites. Her diving experiences have changed her life, and she hopes that

more will realize the beauty that the ocean has to offer.

“It has taught me discipline, how to calm my mind, and most importantly given me self-confidence and the knowledge that I can accomplish anything if I want it badly enough and am willing to work hard to make it happen,” Byerly

said. “The more people dive with and learn about sharks they realize that sharks are not the vicious, vengeful killers portrayed in the ‘JAWS’ movies. They are beautiful, graceful apex predators perfectly adapted to their environment and something to be treasured, not feared.”

DIVER behind THE DESKRegistrar swims with sharks, finds beauty in underwater world

FEARLESS Registrar Kim Byerly and her husband stop to pose for a photo on their Tiger Shark dive, one of her favorite dives she has ever taken.

submitted photo

by KATIE BIGGARstaff writer

The deafening silence from the audience and the anticipation from the contestants fills the room. The next crown head is announced and the weight is lifted from everyone’s shoulders. That lucky girl will then continue the journey of a lifetime while inspiring others around her.

Junior Madison Prince will represent Texarkana at the Miss Texas Outstanding Teen pageant July 2 in Richardson, Texas.

“It’s coming up pretty soon but I’m doing a lot to get ready,” Prince said. “I’m extremely excited to just get there and compete.”

Madison has prepped for this pageant since winning her title as Miss Garland’s Outstanding Teen in February. There are four stages to the competition that the

girls prepare for: interview, talent, evening gown/on-stage question and fitness wear.

“I’ve done multiple mock interviews to prepare for that portion of the competition, and I feel I’m most comfortable with it because I get to display my personality best,” Prince said. “I have also modeled a lot recently to prepare for fitness and evening gown.”

Prince will compete along with four other girls from Texarkana: Anna Hill, Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen; Jenna Williamson, Miss Hunt County Outstanding Teen; Kylee McGaha, Miss Mesquite Outstanding Teen; and Allie Graves, Miss Prestonwood Polo Club’s Outstanding Teen.

“I’m beyond excited to be competing with such great friends,” Prince said. “I am so thrilled to get to know them even better.”

Each girl must have a platform for which she volunteers her time or tries to raise awareness of. Prince’s platform is based on girl empowerment, and she has created the Pearls for Girls organization that promotes equality between men and women. The pageant also gives Prince a chance to meet new people.

“I never go into a pageant only wanting to come out with a crown,” Prince said. “I look at it as an opportunity to have fun, make new friends and also some great memories.”

Prince hopes to be a good representative for Texarkana, as well as continue on to the next level of competition.

“I personally can’t believe that after all of my hard work I’m finally going to compete at the state level,” Prince said. “I can’t wait for this experience.”

This Prince wears a tiara

phot

o by

k. m

orel

and

TAKING TITLES Junior Madison Prince proudly wears her Miss Garland sash and crown. She is eager to move on to her next pageant and hopefully earn more.

Pageants become passion, way to make friends

27tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2015 •

Baseball uses experience, season’s momentum to move into postseason

by TYLER SNELL print editor-in-chief

The ballpark lights slowly illuminate the freshly mowed grass and cleanly swept dirt infield. The sun sets down behind the fence as fans and players stand for the National Anthem. The player steps up to home plate and knocks a fastball into left field.

Each Tuesday and Friday night, the baseball team experiences the adrenaline of another district game. Currently, the Tigers are 8-0. Even though they are using this momentum to keep the winning record, the Tigers are not going to be overconfident.

“Right now, it is kind of early; we could end up losing the rest of the games and not even make it far,” senior Zack Phillips said. “With the way the team’s been turning out right now, I feel we will go in as number one.”

The Tigers are first in district play and attribute this success to a veteran squad of 12 seniors on varsity.

“We are an old team, and we are playing really well,” senior Trevor Danley said. “I think going throughout the season, we

are maturing and just try to keep winning.”However, junior Cade Thompson said that the

team does not want to feel too safe and lose a game against a weaker opponent.

“We are not taking anyone lightly or playing down the competition because we know what we can do,” Thompson said. “We have a lot of potential, but we have to capitalize on that.”

Danley said the team can improve on their hitting and be sure to stay consistent throughout the remainder of the season.

“Coach always says you can’t be like a roller coaster team,” Danley said. “You have to stay up throughout the whole entire year, so if we just stay consistent and play as a team, I think we will be fine.”

The Tigers practice everyday and have bonded through these gruelling workouts by becoming a family according to head coach John McClure.

“They all get along, go eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and I think team chemistry can make a good team great,” McClure said. “We have great practices, and even when the chips are down [in] good times [and] bad times, they are competitive.”

The season began with the Tigers defeat of their toughest opponents, Sulphur Springs and Hallsville.

“We played our hardest two opponents in the first two games, and we skunked them both,” senior Grant McNeil said. “We practice everyday, but we’ve been doing a lot of conditioning also.”

The conditioning workouts are what Phillips says is making them better and more agile athletes.

“We are always pushing ourselves every single day, [and] there’s some days we don’t even pick up the ball,” Phillips said. “We always try to better ourselves in an athletic way.”

McClure said that above anything else he thinks the experience the seniors bring to the games is what benefits the winning team most.

“You can have a lot of talent, or you can have a lot of experience,” McClure said. “I think I would take experience over talent because those guys are such crucial leaders to the team.”

With 12 seniors making their last plays, many of them think back to their first games and how fast the time escaped them.

“It’s sad, especially missing last season, because you start sophomore year and you expect to have a lot of time,” Danley said. “In a blink it’s over, [and] we are just trying to have fun.”

BATTER UP Senior Nick Kelley makes a hit in a scrimmage against Evangel on Feb. 13. The Tigers won with a score of 11-4.

phot

o by

R. L

ewis

FRACTUREDSEASON

THE WIND UP At the Tigers fifth district game against Marshall on March 29, senior Zack Phillips fractured his albow after throwing a strikeout in the second inning. Phillips plans to attend Seminole State College in the fall on a baseball scholarship.

Practice, Pitch, Playoffs

phot

o by

K. M

orel

and

As the fastball flew into the catcher’s glove, senior Zack Phillips hunches over in pain, holding his elbow. However, he perseveres and strikes out the last hitter in the second inning in a game against Marshall on March 29.

Phillips fractured his ulna and is out for the season after dealing with a stress fracture throughout the summer.

“I knew something major happened,” Phillips said. “I wanted to be out there on the field for my teammates and push for the state title. All I can do now is support in the dugout, which I will do at every single game and wish for the best for my team.”

sports

28 sports tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

Big WAVES Swim team to form JV squadby Jay williamsonstaff writer

The Tigershark swim program began in 1976 with 31 swimmers, and now it will be boasting more than 70 people. Because of its growth head coach Eric Vogan said the team will have a junior varsity squad next year.

“This is going to be a big transition, but it is something that has to happen because we can’t carry 70 people around,” Vogan said.

The transition may make spots on varsity harder to obtain. Current swimmers hope the new system will foster more competition and encourage the younger swimmers to work even harder.

“I think the having the JV is going to make people work harder because they will have the chance to actually compete in meets,” junior Matt Francis said. “The competition would show them the value of working hard and getting better.”

The swimmers pride themselves in being such a competitive group with hopes of making the whole team faster with more people.

“There is a lot of pride in swim and respect is earned through achievements,” sophomore Will Norton said. “When one has a

varsity team, we need to have the best swimmers on the team, the ones who are serious about winning.”

Right now, administration isn’t sure how the swim class will be set up, but currently it is thought that the JV and varsity teams will share the same class period on opposite ends of the pool.

“Right now, we don’t have all the logistics,” Vogan said. “But since pool time is limited, we will just have them separated, and they will know who is on JV by September.”

For the past 14 years, the team has sent swimmers to state, and they hope the new system will help them continue their success.

“The coaches will have more time to focus on the varsity swimmers,” Norton said. “They won’t be as distracted, [and] hopefully, it will allow for more development.”

This change could help the swimmers and coaches create a better one-on-one environment.

“It’s going to provide a lot of new opportunities and make us even more competitive for my senior year,” Francis said. “This will also benefit the underclassman by giving them a chance to see how meets work before their sophomore or junior year.”

on the wayby Jay williamsonstaff writer

For an entire season the boys golf team worked everyday for hours to defy the limitations that worked against them all season, and finally achieved a lifelong goal of placing at state. They accomplished something unprecedented before in the program, and the team became like a band of brothers. After a major success like placing second at state for the first time ever, the question is raised of how the next team is going to try to meet that almost insurmountable goal next year.

After breaking all predictions, the team rejoiced in their victory, but realized the next season would be more difficult with the loss of their No. 1- ranked player.

“It was an amazing opportunity because we were playing the best people in the state, and we were all there together,” sophomore Matt

Prieskorn said. “We knew next year was going to be different. Guys were going to have to step up who maybe hadn’t been as needed as much as last year.”

The team is confident in their chances at district because they don’t believe their are any other teams truly on their level.”

“Most of the schools close by don’t really focus on golf, so they don’t really have complete teams,” Prieskorn said. “We should advance fairly easily.”

The regional level is where the team will face it’s major challenge as there are several potential-worthy state teams.

“Boys have had a really good year, and we have a good chance to repeat as district champs,” Coach Jay Brewer said. “We finished runner-up at state last year, and it’ll

take our two best consecutive rounds to finish that high this year.”

The team believes they are a state championship team, but has no goal other than going and playing their best.

“It’s hard to make a strategy for tackling state,” Prieskorn said. “There are a lot of really good teams, but if we play like I know we can anything is possible. This is going to be a great year. I expect a lot of success.”

Golf has all the talent required to win, but time will only tell if they can execute and bring home the championship.

“We are going to have to step up.” Brewer said. “It’ll be tough to repeat as regional champs, but I think we have a good chance to return to state for a third straight year.”

Golf takes swing at repeat success

photo by r. lewis

FOCUS Matt Prieskorn takes a swing in the Tiger Classic Tournament earlier this season.

29sportstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2015 •

The degree of difficulty is a number attached to each dive that gives an idea of how hard it is to do. When

being scored, the judges will add their given scores, 0-10, and then multiply the total by the difficulty level, which

determines the final score. Harder dives get higher scores.

Degree Of Difficulty

Dive NumbersDives are referred to with a set of three to

four digit numbers. These numbers describe such things as the dive’s direction and

number of somersaults. If the number starts with 1, it’s a forward dive; a 2 indicates a backward dive; a 3 is for a reverse dive; a 4 is an inward dive; and a 5 is a twister.

The third number represents the number of half-somersaults. The second number

will be a 0 to signify a normal somersault. Twisters have four numbers. The additional

number specifies how many half twists.

-Hunter Burt, 11

I enjoy diving because it gives me a chance to prove myself and to get stronger mentally

because you have to overcome mental blocks so you can

compete at your full potential.Straight, ADiving in the straight position is mainly used for twisters and occasionally used for voluntary dives. Out of the three positions, straight has the highest degree of difficulty.

photo by L. Maynard

Sophomore Courtney Lourens performs a back dive straight at the state meet in Austin.

Pike, BPike is one of the most popular positions. It is similar to tuck, but with straight legs. Pike can be used for any dive and is generally used by more experienced divers.

photo by K. Moreland

Freshman Dylan Rosser executes a back soumersalt pike at the regional competition in Lewisville, Texas.

Tuck, CTuck is the easiest to do and usually taught to beginner divers. Tuck is mainly used to allow the diver to spin faster in order to be able to complete harder dives.

photo by R. Lewis

Sophomore Jacob Mitchmore does a reverse soumersalt at the home district meet.

Dive Inby LAUREN POTTERDesign Editor

Usually mistaken for the swimmers, the Tigerhark dive team has gone unnoticed around the school.

“One of our main cons is that because of our numbers in the dive program we are not that visible so not many students know we have a dive program,” Coach Eric Vogan said. “The dive program has had a lot

of success and has amazing support from our athletic

department as well as the school.”

For the past 10 years, the Tigersharks have always had a diver compete at the state meet, including junior Hunter Burt who placed ninth in Austin this past February.

“My favorite part about diving is when we have away meets,” Burt said. “I’m with my friends

and I get compete against other people and try to win a medal.”

Along with the swimmers, the divers have been coached by Vogan for 10 years.

“I have been with Texas High School since January 2006,” Vogan said. “Before that I had coached in Canada.”

With only four members, juniors Burt and Lauren Potter, and sophomores Jacob Mitchmore and Courtney Lourens, the team is always looking for new people.

“Diving is a high risk type of sport much like gymnastics, snowboarding, skateboarding, and the flyers in cheer. The same personality is required to be a great diver as these types of sports,” Vogan said. “This is the athletes we are always looking for in our sport.”

As with any high-risk sport, pain is sometimes involved.

“[My least favorite part] is smacking,” Lourens said. “It hurts like nothing else.”

The divers practice in the morning before school, and also during and after school. The dive program has training belts, two springboards and a trampoline to

help with their training.“We have a lot of equipment,

training devices that many of the schools in Texas do not have,” Vogan said. “This makes a big difference in our ability to train more advanced dives safely.”

To compete, a diver must have 11 dives, these dives can range anywhere from simple dives, to multiple flips and twists.

“My favorite dive is back 1-½,” Burt said. “It’s fun, easy and I can get a really high score on it.”

Although, the dive team puts in hours of work, the team still finds ways to have fun during practice.

“The best part about practice is when we get there at the very beginning and we get to play around for a little bit,” Burt said. “We like to see who can jump the highest off the board.”

Even though divers like to have fun during their practices, diving can come with many mental blocks when learning new difficult dives.

“The hardest part about diving is when you get to learning new dives and you get a mental block,” Burt said. “You have to overcome the block in order to do the dive and get better at it.”

Program looks for high risk-takers to expand team

30 sports tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

All-StarsApril

by Jessica EMersononline editor-in-chief

With bats in hand and hunger in their eyes, eager baseball and softball players of all ages will flood into the Texas High softball field on Saturday, April 23 to compete in the first annual Batter Up Against Domestic Violence Home Run Derby. The event is held by seniors Molly Crouch, Jessica Emerson, Cecelia Goesl and Chealsea Slider for their senior AP English capstone project taught by Anne Fruge.

“I believe the derby will be successful because it’s a good way to get the community together, and it’s for a great cause,” Crouch said. “Chealsea and I have played together for so long that doing something related to softball and baseball is like a natural thing for us. To do something that we love and be able to give back to our community is a great way to spend our weekend and finish out our senior year.”

Fruge believed assigning a project where students had to raise money in order to better the community provided seniors with a stronger knowledge and love for the city that raised them. Previously, the capstone project benefitted the Brown Bag Lunch program at Harvest Texarkana. This year, all proceeds will be given to the Domestic Violence Shelter in order to provide a more comfortable environment to the victims that reside their.

“This project combines everything that we hope students learn throughout their time in

English classes,” Fruge said. “I honestly believe that the project is a culmination of what these students have learned from elementary to middle school to high school. The project requires students to write, research, work together, plan, budget and handle money, advertise, communicate, and set goals. At the end of all this work, they don’t just have a project that they will take home and throw away; they will have made an impact in this world. Hopefully this project teaches the students many real world skills, but also, I hope it gives them the confidence that they can make a difference in the community.”

The derby is broken into age divisions, 8-11, 12-14, and 15-18. Boys and girls are welcome. Each competitor will get 10 pitches with an entry fee of 10 dollars, with an extra pitch for every additional dollar given. The derby will consist of three rounds, and whoever hits the most home runs will win the title of “Best Batter in Town.” Spectators can pay a three dollar fee to watch,

concession stands will be open, and additional donations will be welcome.

“This project really means a lot to me,” Slider said. “It really hits home. Softball and baseball has been a huge part of my life since I was little and being able to incorporate it into a fundraiser for a great cause is amazing to me. Domestic violence is a worldwide epidemic, and us helping a mother and child out will be huge. Leaving home with nothing sucks, and even if we help only one family I would feel great about it.”

Students from Texas High and local school districts are already eager to compete, debating over who will take the title.

“I think they’ll end up having a lot of people come out,” senior Trevor Danley said. “I know a lot of the baseball team is talking about it. A lot of people are spreading the word. I think it’ll be fun and a lot harder than people are expecting. Especially guys are who thinking they are going to hit every one of them out. I think it’ll be enjoyable.”

In honor of the shelter and their grades, the girls are ambitious and hoping for a successful event.

“When we were first trying to think of ideas Chealsea thought of it, and we all just got on board really quickly,” Goesl said. “It just sounded like something a lot of people would be interested in doing. Since it’s in the middle of softball and baseball season we’re hoping to get a really good turn out. I’m excited for people to get interested and start signing up.”

Seniors hold home run derby as part of capstone project to benefit Domestic Violence Shelter

baseball fieldsapril 23

registration: 9 a.m.event starts: 11 a.m.COST: $10 for 10 hits

$3 to watchbenefits the domestic

violence shelter

HOME RUN DERBY

SENIOR JOHN NORTON

SOPHOMORE EMMA WOLF

SENIOR KAYLYN COLEMAN

SENIOR AUSTIN PINKHAM

SOPHOMORE ASHLEY WYRICK

The TENNIS team was successful at their district tournament April 5-6. Senior Carson Rommel and junior Ali Richter won the boys and girls singles respectively. Senior Aubree Cramer and junior Cullen Schoen placed first in mixed doubles. The duo of John Norton and junior Zack Moore finished second in boys doubles. Junior Elizabeth Sanders and freshman Tirzah Bailey got second in girls doubles. The boys tied with the Longview Lobos for first place while the girls won first.

The GIRLS SOCCER team made to the first round of the playoffs. However, they fell to the Lufkin Panthers 2-1. They ended their season with an overall record 12-7-3. The BOYS SOCCER team was a different story. The boys finished their season with a 2-12 record. Their wins came against Marshall and Greenville with a score of 5-4 and 3-0 respectively.

SOPHOMORE LARAVIONE FINLEY

The GIRLS TRACK team has had a successful run this season, placing first at every meet up until Texas Relays. The BOYS TRACK team came back from a rebuilding season, placing 13th at Texas Relays for the 4x4, and 33rd in the state for the 4x2.

The BOYS GOLF TEAM finished first at their district tournament in Rockwall, Texas. The team shot 309 and 304 to win the tournament by 18 strokes. Senior Grayson Jones won second in individual. Needing to finish in the top two, the GIRLS GOLF TEAM missed out on advancing by 10 strokes. However, sophomore Kasey Kane will advance individually after placing first individually with scores of 79 and 78. Junior Lily Maxwell will advance as well with scores of 87 and 88.

compiled by Jay Williamson, Eleanor Schroeder and Alex Heo

The POWERLIFTING team, consisting of sophomores Laravione Finley, John Magbanua and Chris Arnold and junior James Fisher, made it to state this year. Despite no one receiving a medal, the team looks forward to building on its success next year.

photos by R. Lewis, E. Meizner, M. Morris, P. Spaulding, S. York

The SOFTBALL team currently has a 5-4 record in district and have recently come off a win against the Mount Pleasant Tigers 6-5. They will play the Hallsville Bobcats next. If they win three of the first four remaining games, then the team will be in a good position to advance into the playoffs.

31sportstigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2015 •

Trouble withby ELEANOR SCHROEDERstaff writer

Whether catching a football, kicking a soccer ball or hitting a baseball, students around normally do not contemplate the safety of the ground they walk on. Perhaps the tiny particles that somehow end up everywhere should be in question.

“In girls soccer, we practice in the multipurpose, which is a turf field,” freshman Kendyl Myers said. “I do not like playing on turf because the turf always ends up everywhere, and it gives you turf burn.”

For years college and high school campuses around the country have examined the safety hazards artificial turf has on athletes. However, until recently, no significant research has been done.

Studies have been performed to determine if the the chemicals found in turf can accelerate the formation of cancer cells. Researchers have detected lead levels high enough to harm people in the astroturf. The turf contains 27 chemicals of concern. Some people are angry at the fact that used tires

cannot be put in landfills, but they can be cut up and put out for children to play on.

“I prefer grass fields to turf because grass is generally cleaner and soft compared to the dirty, rough turf,” sophomore Caleb LeGrand said. “The worst part is the turf burn and getting a mouthful of rubber pellets you get when you slide out to save a ball.”

Athletes who play on artificial turf are exposed to crumb rubber and risk inhalation, accidental swallowing, and the material being absorbed into cuts and scrapes.

At least 150 soccer players nationwide attribute their cancer to the crumb rubber, although no scientific studies have confirmed a connection. A high percentage of these athletes are goalkeepers, who are more frequently in direct contact with the surface.

“I think there might be a good possibility of getting cancer from playing on turf, especially for a goalkeeper because we inhale it all the time when we land on the ground,” sophomore Summer Stussy said.

The most common types of

cancer reported are skin and blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, a cancer influenced by environmental factors.

Turf could also have detrimental effects to the environment. Volatile particles in the tire crumbs could perhaps leach into groundwater.

In the last two months, it has been released that three U.S. government agencies will work together to study whether children are being exposed to these dangerous chemicals from artificial turf fields and playgrounds that use bits of recycled tires.

On top of these major side effects that turf could possible cause, playing on turf field increases the chances of injury significantly. According to a study conducted by the National Football League Injury and Safety Panel, the number of knee sprains was 22 percent higher on turf fields than on natural grass. Also, rates of ACL sprains were 67 percent higher on turf.

“Injuries can happen more frequently on turf fields since it is a lot slicker and the ground is harder,” sophomore Brylee Bender said. “Though my season ending injury

happened on grass, it probably would’ve been a lot worse if I hurt myself on turf.”

In fact, many soccer players have refused to play on turf fields due to the higher chance of injury. Another problem with turf is the sanitation issues. Because the turf is artificial, it is rarely cleaned or moved.

In precaution, student-athletes should take small steps to prevent injury and illness, such as cleaning wounds thoroughly.

Although Grimm Stadium is a natural grass field, along with the practice fields, the Multipurpose building is turf.

“Turf makes playing soccer a lot harder because it causes the ball to bounce higher and have more power, which makes it harder to trap the ball,” Bender said. “Since we practice on turf, but play on grass field mostly, it is harder to transition between the two.”

It will take years of study to positively confirm if turf is detrimental in the long term.

“Athletes should not feel unsafe or endangered while doing what they love,” senior Stormy Roberts said.

Artificial fields could have potential dangers

“Injuries can happen more frequently on turf fields since it is a lot slicker and the ground is harder. Though my season-ending injury happened on grass, it probably would’ve been a lot worse if I hurt myself on turf.”-Brylee Bender, 10

• The temperature of artificial turf can rise to more than 120 degrees

• More than 200 professional athletes have cancer who have played on turf

• More than one-third of NFL players have had an injury that would not have occurred on natural grass

• 85 percent of NFL players feel that artificial turf is more likely to shorten a player’s career

* According to a study published by theTurfgrass Resource Center

photo by R. Lewis

32 entertainment tigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

Current & upcoming entertainment to look out forON THE RADARTHE LIFE OF PABLO

It should be stated that I’m a huge Kanye West fan. I own every album he has ever released and follow him avidly on social media. Since this album has been out for about two weeks now (and my initial screaming and excitement has subsided) I have to get everyone to listen to it. Rapper and producer Kanye

West premiered his new album Feb. 11, then untitled, along with his new clothing line at Madison Square Garden. The album had long been anticipated since West’s last album “Yeezus” in 2013.

Two of the longest days of my life passed and finally, West released the album with the infamous title “The Life of Pablo.” Now, despite previous claims, West’s new album is available on Spotify and Apple Music. by Matt Francis

CIVIL WAR

For years, Marvel has produced a series of breathtakingly fantastic movies about the Avengers and its individual counterparts.

Now, coming May 6, is the third installment of the “Avengers” movie, and the twist is this: the team has split, and fight each other in a movie that is sure to be legendary. There are to be many new characters joining the all-star team, including: Black Panther, Vision, Falcon, and Scarlet Witch. Plus, Marvel’s classic Spider-man joins the cast on Team Iron Man. The movie promises to be another hit that will undoubtedly have you on the

edge of your seat and on a team by the time you leave the theater. Check it out in theaters starting May 6. by Jillian Cheney

by Ali Richterstaff writer

Every year when February rolls around, I’m faced with the tough decision of what I should give up for Lent, a Catholic tradition where participants give something up for 40 days before Easter. I typically give up a beloved unhealthy food, but this year, I decided to really challenge myself.

Instead of chips or meat, I chose to delete my Snapchat for 40 days. I had several impending streaks that I couldn’t just let go to waste, so my trusty friend Raga took over in my absence.

The first couple of days without it were glorious. School-wise, I was much more productive. I finished my homework an hour earlier than usual, and I wasn’t tempted to look at my phone every five seconds in class. I was almost thankful I didn’t have to have meaningless “conversations” with people where all we did was send pictures of our faces.

However, that glorious feeling did not last long. After about a week, I felt

completely disconnected from everyone. I couldn’t see Snapchat stories, so I had no idea what people were doing. Everywhere I went, I was surrounded by people who were sending selfies to other people on their phones. It was amusing to watch people try and take attractive pictures of themselves.

Texting became my main way to talk to people. Not many people wanted to talk to me badly enough that they texted me, because that’s somehow become much more inconvenient than Snapchatting. However, I did text with some daily and the conversation was more riveting than your average Snapchat conversation.

About halfway through Lent, I was texting almost as much as I had snapped. My productivity level had lowered back to the rate it had been. I missed looking at the magazines on Snap, like “Cosmo.”

People constantly asked me about things that pertained to Snapchat. I didn’t realize how much people’s lives revolved around Snapchat until I gave it up.

Toward the end of Lent, I had become indifferent toward Snapchat. If I had it, great, if I didn’t, I would survive. I was almost nervous when I redownloaded the app, but it was nice to get it back.

I wish I could say that this experience has caused me to give up Snapchat for good, but it hasn’t. Although I will definitely be snapping people less and continuing to text, Snapchat has become an important source of information and communication among me and friends that I don’t see very often.

Snap Back to Realityby Raga Justinnews editor

Any one of my friends can tell you, I’m the worst about responding to my phone. Desperate pleas for last night’s homework, frantic calls to tell me the latest, urgent requests for a kidney— chances are I’ll miss it completely. I hate having to be tied to my phone, which is why Snapchat, to me, was like the devil’s playground. It’s a breeding ground for narcissism, shortened attention spans and odd faces in the middle of a conversation–in short, a nightmare.

But then Lent rolled around and there I was snapping selfies while the flames of hell licked at the monkey bars.

Background: my friend Ali decided to give up Snapchat for Lent. But in order to preserve her 10+ streaks, she needed outside help. I agreed to maintain her streaks for her, but made a promise to myself first. Never, I vowed, never would I allow myself to be sucked in. I thought it would be a fun way to test my self-control.

And to tell you the truth, it turned out to be just fun. I liked participating in all those conversations that started with “Did you see so-and-so’s story…” which had hitherto been No Man’s Land to me. It was entertaining sending ugly pictures of my face to people and receiving them in return. For a while–the honeymoon phase, if you will–all was swell.

Then, the novelty wore off. Not that it wasn’t fun anymore–it was–but it was also a lot of work. I’d sit up terrified in the middle of the night, wondering: “Did I just lose a streak?” If I’m sitting up at night, I’d like the issue to be more important than a lost

streak, thank you. One week into my affair with

Snapchat, I was entrenched in a cycle of procrastination. One weeknight, I snaped until 10:30, at which point I panicked thinking about my three (three!) tests the following day–and then kept snapping. The next day was brutal.

It wasn’t just that sudden inability to concentrate, either. I had even less time to spend with my family because I was in a full-time relationship with that little ghost on my screen. There was a constant nagging in the back of my mind–that barrage of pictures isn’t going to be opened by itself.

A lot of people have complained about our generation. And to tell you the truth, after using Snapchat for more than a month, I agree with them. Snapchat is incessant and shallow and not something grown-up millennials should continue.

By the time Lent ended, I was ready to admit that we couldn’t make it work. But on that Saturday night before Easter, I found myself wistful. Snapchat wasn’t all bad, I realized, and I kind of liked it.

And that’s why you should follow me, @ragajus. I can’t promise Snapchat and I will be together forever, but for now, we’re giving it a shot.

Junior recounts experience of abandoning Snapchat for 40 days

Snapchat gives junior new outlet after handling friend’s account

33entertainmenttigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

theitlist1 Download it

Admittedly, gifs are pretty cool. They’re a way to relive multiple seconds of media in a way to

upstage pictures. Unfortunately, gifs have bad quality and can often be sort of choppy. The way to revolutionize that– and to turn your Instagram into a complete aesthetic– is with Boomerang. It’s free and allows you to make flawlessly looping gifs with your camera to post on social media and awe your followers with.

If you’re looking for a way to embrace your childhood culture and look like a mature housewife

all at once, the Michael Kors key chain is the absolute best accessory for you. Oddlay resembling Club Penguin’s puffles, these key chains are reportedly fun to stroke and look cool on your keys. You can buy them at Dillard’s or order them online for $20, a price worth looking really classy.

2 Clip it

Because there’s no one who’s actually tired of the Kardashians (right?), two Kardashians + two Jenners now have Snapchat so you

can keep up with them on every platform of social media. Just as people enjoy DJ Khaled’s jet-ski adventures, there is a certain level of amusement that’s guaranteed with this group.Add them here:@kylizzlmynizzl; @kimkardashian; @kenjen; @kourtneykardash

Snap it3

4 Drink itYou’re probably tired of drinking water and other cold beverages out of boring, old water bottles.

And you’re not alone. (This sounds like an infomercial, but I digress.) Yeti cups are seriously awesome. When they claim to retain temperature all day, they aren’t lying. You can find them online and at plenty of sporting stores. And if you’re not into paying a ton of money for such a cup, RTIC has similar cups for about half the price.

Hang itIf there’s any way to enjoy the great outdoors and keep your feet from touching the ground, a hammock is

just it. Napping outside is nice, especially when you can be comfortable in an Eno hammock. They can be tied up to most anything– trees, bunk bed posts– and provide a perfect place to relax. It’s a good purchase for those into camping and hunting, but can also be perfectly utilized by those looking for a comfy place to crash.

5

For fans of the “Mortal Instruments” series, author Cassandra Clare promises another

exhilarating novel. Sequel to the series, “Lady Midnight” begins the “Dark Artifices” trilogy and follows new characters through their adventures as the Shadowhunters of Los Angeles. This new series promises more intrigue and a great read.

6Read it

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by Cailey roberson staff writer

You’re in pre-calculus. Nothing makes sense. Your head hurts. Your eyelids are beginning to feel like they weigh 10 pounds each. You’re pondering just how long you slept last night. Four hours? Nonetheless, you’re tired and you need to do something about it. After actually losing a fight to your own body, your head slowly drops down to the desk, and your eyes droop to a close. Sleep deprivation has won yet again, and you have lost.

School is exhausting. That’s a common fact of life and there’s no escaping it, whether you’re in regular classes with little to no homework or endure a heavily-weighted schedule chock-full of AP. Sleep is coveted. However, there is a solution.

Remember kindergarten’s dreaded nap time? Putting your busy and interesting life on hold to lay on that communal cot, only to be rudely awoken by cruel fluorescent

lights. It’s back, appreciated, and possibly shortened, but all the more beneficial. The moment you get home, set your alarm 20 minutes, 30 minutes or even an hour later and take a nap. It doesn’t have to be

long–in fact, it’s recommend that you keep it short. Sleeping for as little as 20 minutes can boost alertness. Sleeping for longer than 20 minutes can be beneficial to your retention of information, which is great

for when you’re swamped with quizzes the next day. Every hour counts.

Sitting down can be tiring. That’s why lazier people are typically sleepier. To stay awake, movement is necessary. Typically, waking up in the evening after a nap will awaken a desire to just stay in bed and put off your studying, pushing your homework one day closer to its due date. That isn’t smart. Try to stay awake by pacing around or even running. Maybe even pair your nap with some caffeine. After waking up, you may not want to leave your bed. Reward yourself with a nice cup of coffee. The only way you can get to that coffee is by getting out of the bed.

Napping also reduces stress. Staying calm is absolutely great for studying and doing homework. So, go home. Relax. Set your alarm so you don’t sleep until the next morning (that happens) or get too groggy. Take a nap. You deserve some rest.

Just remember: every hour counts and your kindergarten self is crying.

Tired? There’s a nap for that Tips to keep yourself alert and focused while at school, doing homework

34entertainmenttigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •

DRAWN TO ART

by ALEX O’GORMANviewpoint editor

The dark line cuts through the pristine white of the paper like a blade. A splash of color bleeds through the canvas, its pigments mixing with others and creating entirely new colors too unique to buy in any craft store. As a masterpiece is created underneath your fingers, all you can do is close your eyes and hope you don’t mess up.

From a very young age, I had always shown a certain knack for art. No matter where I was, I was drawing–dragons, dresses, people. If you could name it, it was somewhere on pages of my notebook. As a result, I was always known as “that artist girl.” Although this was not remotely a bad thing, it would have been nice to have my yearbook signed in a way other than “You draw really good! HAGS!”

Being an artist has also played a role in the development of my personality, at least according to my mom. My emotional sensitivity? “Oh, it’s because you’re an artist.” My perfectionism? “Oh yeah, that’s the artist in you.” My ability to not completely screw up my makeup every day? “Artist, artist, artist!”

So, if specific traits can be attributed to being an artist, what exactly is an artist? Most people would probably agree on a set of adjectives to describe artists: creative, alternative, weird, colorful, witty, etc. However, I disagree.

Someone who is an artist does not have to fall into a recognizable category. An artist is anyone who makes art, full stop. Your grandmother who crochets on the weekends is an artist. That weird kid who sits behind you in math who does nothing but doodle in his notebook is an artist. Your dad who puts together model ships is an artist.

The artistic process is also extremely varied and different for everyone. No artist goes into a project knowing exactly what it’s going to look like.

There are some artists, such as myself, who

have no

idea what they’re even doing most of the time.

A common misconception about artists is that they’re always doing art, night and day. Personally, I go through long periods when I am not motivated to do any art and have no inspirations. On top of that, I also have other responsibilities, such as school and extracurriculars.

When I actually complete a piece, the compliments I get are numerous and range from “I wish I could do that” to “You’re so talented,” and I can’t help but feeling slightly guilty because most of the good parts of my art originate from sheer luck.

Sure, I can draw a pretty good eye when doodling, but attempting the rest of the face without looking at a reference image is a definite no-go. In fact, drawing anything without a reference image is pretty much an impossibility for me. So, every time someone compliments my creativity I can’t help but thinking those thoughts of self doubt. That I’m not a “real” artist. That I’m just fooling everyone. That feeling of doubt intensifies whenever a piece turns out looking bad or even simply not how I had expected it to.

But every time I go to that dark place, I have to reign myself back and remind myself that I am an artist. I am an artist because I love making ideas come to life on a page. I am an artist because I express things far more easily with paint than with words. Most importantly, I am an artist because an artist is anyone who creates art, even if I am just winging it most of the time.

SUPP IESL

A look inside the life of an artist

BRUSHESThe type of brush used when painting heavily influences what the finished product will look like. Flat brushes are the most versatile because they can be used for filling in large areas or making precise lines. Pointed brushes are better for precise painting on small areas and detail work. There are also specialized brushes designed for painting textures such as hair.

PAINTSThe three main types of paint are acrylic, watercolor and oil. Watercolor paint allows for more versatility and variation in tone in only one color. Acrylic is a heavier paint that is more vibrant in color but is harder to manipulate. Oil is the heaviest type of paint and by far has the most textures. Painters, such as Vincent Van Gogh, favored oil paints.

PENCIL/CHARCOAL/PASTELPencil drawings, also known as graphite drawings, are common for novice artists and for sketches. The easy erasibility of graphite makes it perfect for beginners.

Charcoal and pastels are mediums more suited

for more advanced artists, due to their messiness.

photos by k. moreland/illustration by a. o’gorman

35communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2015 •

MAKE YOURSummer COUNT!You can enroll in summer classes at Texarkana College while you’re still a high school student!

SAVE TIMEGet ahead! In just 5 weeks, earn college credits you can transfer.

SAVE MONEYOur incredibly low tuition rates can save you thousands on college tuition. Why pay more?

ACE CLASSESTake tough subjects in our small classes instead of taking themin a university lecture hall.

DON’T SEE THE COURSES YOU NEED?Go to texarkanacollege.edu/online and check out the Virtual College of Texas. Students enrolled at TC can access web classes at colleges all over the state!

sessionPICK YOUR

We offer a full schedule of courses during both summer sessions. Day classes, evening classes and web classes are available. Check out our online course search at texarkanacollege.eduto find the right classes for you!

SUMMER IJUNE 6-JULY 7, 2016

SUMMER IIJULY 11-AUG. 11, 2016

903-823-3456 | texarkanacollege.edu

36communitytigertimesonline.comapril 15, 2016 •