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Volume 65 Issue Two ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

check us out at wildcattales.com

By Sofia Toohey

Life is a little Off

Parents and counselors seem to see the slightest

sign of turmoil and jump to one conclusion:

Depression. However, students say this is only

somewhat true. It all depends on the person.

Although students do face the serious issue of

depression. A large amount of the population

seems to believe parents get all worked up about

nothing and confuse depression with stress, and

other teen pressures.

“My parents definitely accuse me of being

stressed,” junior Deanna Sessions said. “They

think I get all snappy and moody from lack of

sleep.” Teens today are getting less sleep than ever

due to being stressed out. Pressure comes from

all sorts of sources from school to home life.

“It’s really just everything together,” Sessions

said. “Band, NHS, all my AP classes, and on top

of that trying to get good grades, it’s a lot.”

The root of pressure on students seems to be

found in expectations.

“My parents don’t really put expectations

on me,” Sessions said. “It’s more what I put on

myself. They know I work really hard and push

myself.”

Students agree and say it’s all about self-

pressure. With college coming closer and closer

with everyday, students crack down on their

lives. “Parents put a lot of stress and I see where

they are coming from,” junior Hue Hunt* said.

“But I put a lot of pressure on myself too. I

want to do well just as much as they want me

to.” Although parents can sometimes mistake

stress for depression, sometimes they aren’t too

far off. Depression isn’t a joke of any kind and

should not be taken lightly.

“I sometimes get down on myself,” Hunt*

said. “It’s like I find myself working so hard and

sometimes it just doesn’t come together.”

Teens find emotional turmoil in different

situations.

“Last summer I had mono and I got

depressed,” senior Dejuan Rodriguez* said. “All

I felt like doing was sitting around and I never

felt like hanging out with anybody.”

According to students however, the most

important thing regarding depression comes

not from the depressed person, but the support

around them.

“[My parents] were always supportive and tried

to cheer me up,” Rodriguez* said. “Everyone

eventually helped me get through it.”

So whether parents are accusing it, or your

peers are feeling it, depression has a presence. If

your parents won’t seem to get off your back,

don’t worry, it just means they care. If you really

are facing depression, you are not alone. One in

eight adolescents today are in your situation. If

you find yourself in need of talking to someone,

call the Teen Depression Hotline at 1-800-621-

4000. Or go visit one of the school counselors

and just ask to talk.

“When you’re depressed on stressed out,”

Hunt* said. “Breathe and remind your self, that

I have been there too and it’s going to be okay.”

*Names have been changed due to speaker’s

wish for anonymity

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Not So Secret Life of the American TeenagerBy Amber Robinson

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, every hour and a half, a 16-year-old gets pregnant. Every 52 minutes, a 17-year-old gets pregnant. And every 35 minutes, an 18-year-old gets pregnant. Each year, a countless number of girls walk through the hallways, their enormous bellies leading the way. “Of course I think it attracts attention,” junior Kelsey Young said. “But it’s become so common, that I really don’t think twice about it.” But apparently, some people still seem to find a pregnant teenager surprising. “It was a little awkward [walking through the hallways],” senior Marci Clanton said. “I’m just about eight months along now, and when people saw me, they would talk behind my back, and not to my face. I’d much rather just have them confront me.” However, Clanton did not have to endure the stares for long. “I was at Plano for about a week this year,” Clanton said, “then the administration said that I needed to go to Special Programs.” The environment at Special Programs is definitely different when compared to

Plano. “It’s a lot easier being pregnant there,” Clanton said. “There are a lot more girls in my situation, and every one there is willing to confront me. If they have questions, they’ll ask me.” Becoming pregnant changes just about everything in a teenage girl’s world, including her relationships and what she can do in general. “You’re pretty bound,” Clanton said. “You can’t go out and do much. And you have to watch everything really carefully. What you do. What you eat. Who you’re with. Everything changes.” Clanton’s relationship with her parents has changed since she became pregnant. “They’re very supportive,” Clanton said. “And if anything, we’ve become a lot closer since I found out I was going to be having a baby.” “We’re really excited,” Clanton’s mother said. “When her dad and I walk into a store, we find ourselves heading straight to the baby stuff.” After Clanton became pregnant, her living conditions changed as well. “My boyfriend started living with my parents and me,” Clanton said. “And

Photo By Jamie Denison

A day in the life of a pregnant teen.

Photo By Dayna Gettel

Issue Two Page Two ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

newsWildcat Tales StaffEDITOR-IN-CHIEFTaylor Thompson

PRINT EDITORSAleah PushawJulie Boyer

ONLINE EDITORSarah Rosselet

COPY EDITORAnna Vicars

LAYOUT EDITORJamie Denison

BUSINESS MANAGERAbby Rener

CARTOONISTSKelli Manning Ericka Lindsey

STAFF WRITERSChelsea Allen, Stephanye Barnes, Meital Boim, Haley Bunnell, Paul Burnham, Whitney Fein, Dayna Gettel, Alex Gonzalez, Laurel Guild, Diva Gulati, Daniel Hinson, Lindsey Kehlmann, Candace Kokish, Madison McDaniel, Melissa Meyer, Samantha Meyer, Claire Minor, Elena Nelson, Vivian Nguyen, Michael Nicholson, Meaghan Pulliam, Clarissa Reeves, Amber Robinson, Maelyn Schramm, Sapna Sharma, Eilie Strecker, Sofia Toohey, Renee Wysocki, Jessica Yee

ADVISERTerry Quinn

MISSION STATEMENTThe Wildcats Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the student body in a professional man-ner that will provoke thought while upholding the principles of a free press. This publication is a forum for the student of Plano Senior High School. Any opinions expressed in Wildcat Tales is the opinion of the writer and of the writer only.

ONLINE VIEWINGAdditional and daily updates can be found at our website www.wildcattales.com

READER INVOLVEMENTStudents and faculty are encouraged to send in any questions, comments, concerns or criticisms to be published. Letters to the editors can be put in the envelope in room B208.

ADVERTISINGContact at planopub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement deemed to be inna-propriate.

WILDCAT TALES IS THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OFPLANO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2200 INDEPENDENCE PKYPLANO TX, 75025469-752-9300

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the YearBy Sapna Sharma College application deadlines are getting closer

Resumes, recommendation letters, SAT and ACT scores, GPA, class rank, and essays. These factors build up to college application season. “I’m applying to a lot [of schools],” senior Poonam Benakatti said. “UT, A&M, Baylor, Penn State, UMKC; there are just so many colleges and I can’t pick because there are so many out there.” Decisions, decisions are up the wazoo and many teens have no idea how to deal with the stresses pertaining to college applications. Most react in the same manner. “I’m really stressed,” senior Kevin Wei said. “More on the inside, I just don’t tend to show it because deadlines are coming up and I have to arrange interviews

and I really have to get the essays done because college essay needs to be good.“ Others have differing views on the application process. “They make me feel bored and excited and stressed at the same time,” senior Krishnan Mistry said. Procrastination is a key in the art of college applications. It seems that most students are so busy with their own school work, that they keep pushing back college applications. “My friends and I always seem to end up talking about college applications,” senior Lyndsey Kohn said. “It’s just so stressful.” Universities such as Duke and MIT have also decided to have an undecided list for students

they aren’t completely sure about. This is due to the university reexamining what the student would like to major in. An excess in one major and a lack of in another makes the university unbalanced, so by putting students out into the “waiting list”, the university is just trying to make themselves more dynamic. Although it acts beneficial towards the university and its diversity, this adds even more pressure to the students. These stresses aren’t just involving the students, but their guardians as well. Questions such as “How secure is the campus?” and “How prestigious is the college?” add extra anxiety onto students. The cherry on top of everything is the pressure after the application is turned in. Many

colleges are increasing rejection rates due to an increase in students applying to college. All of these elements mixed together in a big boiling pot of fear create panic and frenzy amongst students. If the application process isn’t stressful enough, many students shoot for scholarships. “I’m just worried about the scholarship money the most,” Kohn said. “It all depends on my scores which is more stressful.” Students are also realizing that with choosing a college and completing the college applications, comes a huge responsibility. “It’s just now that it’s hit me that the decisions I make are going to affect me in the future,” senior Ingrid Ang said.

By Amber Robinson

Not So Secret Life of the American Teenager Cont.

CONTINUED From COVERhopefully, we’re going to get married. Right now we’re taking things slow though, and waiting until the baby’s born. Then we’ll see if marriage is still the right choice.” Having a baby as a teenager or even as an adult is not cheap. Many teenagers turn towards the government for assistance in paying for everything. “My boyfriend has a job,” Clanton said. “But I’m also on Medicaid, and we’re getting food stamps. We’re going to try to pay for everything ourselves, but my parents said they would help pick up the extra costs.” If someone does become pregnant, there are different options that they can choose to look at. “Don’t think that there isn’t any help,” Clanton said. “There’s always help. If you don’t have anyone to talk to, go see a counselor. They’re extremely helpful with advice and other information.” Another option, instead of seeing a counselor, is to visit one of the local Planned Parenthoods, where anyone can receive information, as well as help. “Our Education Department provides all kinds of teen outreach programs and education opportunities,” Planned Parenthood’s Director of Communications Holly Morgan said. “We teach in small group sessions at colleges, churches and synagogues. Parent groups, high schools, middle schools, after-school programs, correctional facilities, shelters and treatment centers. It’s not like we don’t try to get the information out to

people.” But, even with the information that’s available to them, there are still teenagers that are getting pregnant on a daily basis. “About 15 percent of the patients [that come to Planned Parenthood], are under the age of 20,” Morgan said. “We try to provide them with education and resources about how to take care of their baby if they want to keep it. We also have close relationships with adoption centers. And we’ll counsel people about our abortion services if they want to consider that option too.” Even with the option of an abortion, most choose to keep their baby or put it up for adoption. “Abortion makes up for about 2.5 percent of what we do at Planned Parenthood,” Morgan said. “And that percentage is based on everyone that comes into Planned Parenthood. Not just people under the age of 20.” Some see abortion or adoption as bad things, others as good things. However, Clanton was very set on her beliefs when she came to the decision on whether to keep her baby. “I decided to keep my baby,” Clanton said. “Because I was never really up for adoption, or abortion.” Although some people see teen pregnancy as one of the worst things that could happen, others might disagree. “I’ll be 18 in March,” Clanton said. “And I wouldn’t change anything. I mean, it happened. And everything happens for a reason.”

Issue Two Page Three ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

newsHomecoming Fever SweepS tHe campuS

By Meital Boim

Coming soon, the social event of the season returns to campus. Homecoming. Preparations for the extravaganza began recently. While students wait, Student Congress committees plan the many aspects of the event. “My committee has projects all throughout the year, but our main project is Homecoming, and we plan it for about two months or a month and a half,” junior Laura Gammon said. “Jackson Goldberg, my senior partner, and I deal with all the stuff like buying the decorations, buying little stuff like cups and things that no one would think of.” Although the dance is held on campus, attention to detail will help complete the cafeteria’s transformation. These small components will help the dance committee fulfill its job. “Basically, it’ll be a ton of balloons,” Gammon said. “We’re using a lot of gold, pinks and purples. There’s going to be a lot of fabric and those onion domes, and our center piece is genie lamps. It will look a lot different when we’re done with it.” Homecoming, however, is about more than just the dance. Another unique tradition is the Homecoming parade. “West doesn’t have this,” senior Andrea Bazemore said. “I’m not positive whether East has it or not. It’s what Homecoming is about. It’s one of the components, and we’re really lucky at Plano Senior High to be able to do this.” Usually an annual event, the parade includes many clubs and organizations, which join by foot, car or float. Last year, it was rained out. “Both seniors and juniors are fresh on this idea,” Bazemore said. “No one at this school, student-wise, has ever done a parade, so it’s going to be interesting.”

For those who plan to join, the parade will be on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and will start at 6:30 p.m., at the corner of Parkhaven and Roundrock and advance towards Haggard Middle School and into the parking lot. Observing the parade and following the procession are not the only ways to get involved. “I know that people go all out,” Bazemore said. “They try to be as creative as they can because it is a contest, and you can win money for your club. The theme is the same thing that was for Cat Camp, which is ‘Wildcat Roots Run Deep.’ Student Congress members who are in Student Services will have a criteria sheet, and they will judge the parade as it goes along. They’ll judge for creativity, the use of the theme, how involved they were with the crowd and things like that. At the pep rally, it’ll be announced who won and they’ll get the prize.” With a monetary prize to the winning club, it’s no wonder that many are participating in the contest. “Student Congress always has a float,” Bazemore said. “They have three actually: one for the Student Congress itself, one for the senior class, and one for the junior class. I know drumline is in the parade, and so is drill team, and I’m assuming a lot of the other big organizations. They’re just going to do their normal tradition; things that invoke the pride of Plano.” The different organizations will take part in the parade by marching along or riding in a float. Clubs like French Club and Student Congress participate annually. For those who are on their toes about Homecoming king and queen, nominees will join the parade procession as well. In floats of their own, they will ride with the rest of the participants towards school.

“There are going to be convertibles with the two guy and girl nominees,” Bazemore said. “There will be five cars, one girl, one guy. Those are annually donated. It’s, like, ‘these are Homecoming nominees one and two,’ and they ride down the parade and wave.” Elections will be held that same week. Students and nominees will have to wait until the night of the game, though, to find out the results. At the dance the following night, the whole court will be introduce “Around 10 o’clock, they’re announced,” Gammon said. “Then each person from Homecoming court dances with their date.” Students and teachers are not the only ones who play a part in the Homecoming tradition. Alumni spirit continues long after their graduation. “It’s exciting to see all the alumni come back,” Bazemore said. “We have the old Homecoming queen who comes back, and she’s, like, 90 years old. It’s awesome to see how much pride she has. She has a float, too.” But between the parade and dance, there is another tradition: Homecoming game. One of the most attended games of the year, it is a demonstration of pride and spirit. “Everyone loves it,” Bazemore said. “The drill team is in all white. It’s just classy. When I was younger, just seeing everyone in their costumes and to see how much spirit there is at the Homecoming game was awesome. For the juniors who haven’t been to one or for the seniors who this is their first time, this is something you’ll never forget. You can see so much pride just in the Homecoming halftime. You see pride every Friday. Just think of that times 20. It’s amazing.”

Student Congress begins preparations for homecoming

Issue Two Page Four ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

wildcatsLife is Service

Benefits of giving back to the communityBy: Haley Bunnell

Students With Odd HairstylesBy: Stephanye Barnes

Slap on some gel, and shape it into a pointy mohawk. How about making your hair something rainbow like to stretch from the roots to the tips. Either way you wouldn’t be the only one with a bobbling head full of spikes or color. “I started in the fifth grade,” senior Akasha Yeoman said. “My mom actually helped me do it.” Yeoman started young and now has lovely streaks of violet in her hair as well as other colors under it, and usually she wears her hair down so people can see it. Yeoman had started with big blotches of blue in her hair, and would redo her coloring every time it began to fade. “I like a lot of colors,” Yeoman said. “I always have other styles in mind, but I try to make it as colorful as possible.” Even though Yeoman has dyed her hair with different shades of purple, she plans on changing it to another color soon. Many students choose to change the color of their hair so that it can make a fashion statement, to stand out, and sometimes it just tends to be a more convenient way of expressing yourself without going too bold or not bold enough. There are plenty of easy ways to dye your hair, such as having temporary hair color which is available in various forms including rinses, shampoos, gels, sprays, and foams. Temporary hair color is typically

brighter and more vibrant anyway, and much more preferred by parents who aren’t ready for a drastic change to their child’s head. “I always do this,” senior Jackson Parks said. “My mom didn’t mind, it was my dad who didn’t want it.” Parks’ hair is the probably the most recognizable at school, while he walks down the hallway with a mohawk, where on the sides it’s shaved and leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair in the centre so that the spikes can created can be up. Parks’ said his dad thought it was more improper then ‘cool’, but mostly because of the length. “My inspiration comes from music,” Parks said. “Like from Anti-Flag or Travis Barker.” Like most kids the influence comes from music or from other things that looks or feels awesome to them. The mohawk hairstyle is usually associated with mostly with punk rock fans and, Depending on how it is worn; the mohawk can be a style that requires a lot of work. Regular work is required to keep it looking nice, such as careful shaving or trimming to maintain a clean line between the shaven and unshaven (or short and long) portions of the hair. If it’s not taken care of it can look messy or confusing. “Most of it is just impulse,” said Parks. “I like the way it looks.”

Senior Jackson Parks rocks out his mohawk in the hallway.

Everyday families suffer without food or a place to sleep. Everyday people die of cancer. Everyday senior citizens sit in there room hoping to be visited by a new face. Everyday is a new opportunity to help this world become a happier and a better place by committing a few hours to do community service. “Community service allows students to organize their time and allows students to see different situations that people are less fortunate or more fortunate to have,” counselor Nancy Erickson said. “It’s part of giving back, it’s not always about me, the person, but it’s about other people and helping other people. I think sometimes we forget what it’s like to help someone else.” Helping at retirement homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, and animal shelters benefits the people who are being helped as well as the volunteers. “It makes me feel accomplished when I help at the Baylor Hospital.” senior Janice Kim said. “They say thank you with a smile, which makes me happy that I at least helped them in some way.” Last summer, the chairman of the community service committee in Student Congress, senior David Lee, built houses for the poor community in Louisiana. “After we finished with all of the construction,” Lee said. “I could really tell how much it meant to them [the people who needed new houses]. It’s a real experience to see that impact on them.” Many students say that they simply don’t have enough time in their schedule to help out someone else. However, there are many organizations, clubs, and groups that any student can join around campus. Some groups like Cats for Kids have fundraisers to raise money, and NHS holds bake sales and other fundraisers to give back to what is needed. “Plano students have an amazing opportunity for

the extracurricular activities,” Erickson said. “There are many on-going organizations, and fundraisers all around.” Sometimes students fear that community service is going to be dirty work, and not enjoyable. That problem can be fixed if the student finds something they enjoy or care about. “I do stuff I am interested in,” junior Morgan Thurmond said. “I help work with kids, help with cancer organizations, and different things that have affected me. It makes me more efficient because it’s something I really care about.” Everyone is passionate about something, whether it’s animals, nature, people, cars, sports, or any other interest. There is always something or someone in this world that needs help. “If you’re passionate about it, as long as it’s outside academics, you’ll find it within your heart to give back,” Erickson said. Other than the feeling of making someone’s day, community service interests colleges. Colleges like to look at whether students are balanced between a strong academic transcript, staying active in extracurricular activities, as well as what they do in their community. “How have they made a difference? Are they making a difference? They don’t want someone in their community absorbing a seat,” Erickson said. “They want someone out there helping. They don’t want people just receiving information, and not giving back; it’s a two way street. It’s part of growth and learning.” These students who are helping out feel that they are looking past the superficial things in life, and finding a greater purpose. “Every ones ultimate goal is pursuit of happiness,” Thurmond said. “Everyone is concerned about their future. But you also have to take another grain of salt and realize you have to be happy from different stages. And if you take what you’re given and realize people need your help, you find out helping other people can be fun.”

Senior Akasha Yeoman shows off the many colors of her hair.

Photo By Stephanye Barnes

Issue two Page FIve october 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75025

wildcatsNo Place like

HomeBy: Melissa Meyer

Kings

Home coming Court Nomin e e s

By: Jessica Yee

“It’d look good on college resumes.”

“Just a normal guy to be fun around, trying to have a fun senior year.”

-Foster Daly

-Collin Brence

-Jeremy Hintz

“It takes less than five minutes to vote for your favorite Asian.”

-Isaac Lee

“I live and breathe Wildcats.”

- Alex Rubin

“Don’t vote for me, vote for Alex.”

Queens“I”m really friendly and super outgoing.”

-Samantha Hoffman

“I can balance a lot of ac-tivities, I’m well-rounded.”

-Kaitlyn Klena

“I represent many groups and it’d be really cool, as someone different, and I represent many personalities.”

-Bola Ibidapo

“I do a lot for the school and have a ton of Plano pride.”

-Andrea Bazemore

“I’m pretty sure I have maroon running through my blood and I’m one of the most spirited kids at school.”

-Taylor Thompson

Many students have lived here all their lives. They grew up here, and went to elementary school with some of the same kids they have classes with now. Others, though, are relatively new to this Independent School District, and have had to adapt to the environment here, and find their way past the label of ‘the new kid,’ as they’ve had to do many times before. “My dad was in the air force, so we traveled a lot,” junior Sarah Scarborough said. “I think I’ve been to eight schools before coming here.” Many students are relocated throughout their childhood due to their parent’s careers. “We moved mostly because of my mom’s job,” senior Jamie Gibson said. “I’ve been to six schools before I came to Plano.” Junior Sara Menhart went to five schools before coming to Plano, and explained her

feelings on her most recent move. “It wasn’t that hard adjusting to the move new school,” Menhart said. “I’ve been to so many and each time it’s easier.” Menhart’s unique situation, however, made the environment a bit of a culture shock. “Plano was my first public school, so it was a lot different than anything I had ever really experience before,” Menhart said. Gibson also noticed a major difference, which set our school apart from other schools. “It’s much bigger here; the size was really intimidating at first,” Gibson said. Scarborough though said she that the size didn’t stop her from forming new friendships. “I made friends really fast.” Scarborough said. “People here are really nice.” Both Menhart and Gibson found they

liked the environment at this school. “There’s more freedom here,” Gibson said. “A lot of other schools are really strict. There’s also a lot of school spirit.” Menhart felt that academics were more emphasized here, than at her previous schools. “Most schools weren’t as focused on grades,” Menhart said. “They were just focused on extracurricular activities. It was a lot of fun, but it’s better to take school seriously.” Scarborough expressed that Plano stood out to her from the other schools she attended. “It’s a good school system; I like it more than any of the other schools I’ve been to,” Scarborough said. These newcomers feel they have found their place here at Plano. “I feel at home here,” Gibson said.

I’m a senior this year at Plano and I’ve always enjoyed reading the wildcat tales. I always think the stories printed are interesting and honest. This issue I was a little upset with the “skimpy spirit wear shocks students. I felt this story only showed one point of view. I am one of the girls who painted her body for the game. I’m sure you must have heard of super fans. In the past it has typically been senior boys, it has been tradition for them to paint their bodies. Normally they pass it down at the end of each year, this year that didn’t happen. My girls and I decided to step up this year. We don’t do it for attention, we do it because we love Plano football and we want to support our boys. It is just a stomach, we aren’t showing cleavage nor are our shorts too small or tight. The double standard is ridiculous on this issue. I sincerely hope next time the stories printed are justly written. Thank you. Jordan Wetherbee

Letter to The Editor

Issue Two Page sIx ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

sportsCountry

Jaded J.VBy Samantha Meyer

Junior varsity players had a different take on the dynamic between the two programs. “Its fun, they’re good kids, I love them to death,” Alexander said. “But you do have that sense of hazing and that sense of their ‘better than you’ mentality on the varsity level.” Different sports teams had different thoughts about how the JV players were treated differently from the varsity players by other students. “I don’t think there’s much difference,” junior and JV swimmer Louis De Torcy said. Football players however, felt that there was a drastic difference in the students’ attitude towards the JV program, versus their attitude toward the varsity program, particularly when it came to attendance at games. “We probably get about all our parents and about 30 to 50 students,” Alexander said, “While you have all the parents at a varsity game with pretty much the entire student body.” Without the cheers and admiration from a huge crowed that always accompanies a varsity game, you might think that moral would be low during the JV games, but JV players like Alexander don’t let that stop them from giving their all. “We just have to find it in our hearts to play the game that we love to play.”

By Elena Nelson

Football, baseball, and also volleyball, are all popular sports amongst students, but cross country is a sport that is oddly overlooked. Cross country isn’t as simple as it seems; it’s not just running, it’s all about endurance. Whether you’re a junior coming from Vines or Jasper, or if you’re a senior and cross country is a first time thing, getting use to the hard work required to succeed at the sport can be a difficult task.

“It’s kind of more hard work and less playing around,” junior Austin Fenton said. Students find cross country at the senior high level a bit more challenging than they expected. Though the experience is more difficult, students are handling the challenge well. Most seem to be keeping a positive attitude while enjoying themselves. “This is my first year in cross country,” senior David West said. “It’s been interesting, and it’s gotten more enjoyable.” With practices being everyday for the cross country runners, the schedule can get pretty difficult to keep up with. Having a different practice routine for every day of the week such as; Tuesdays running hills, Wednesdays running five miles, and Thursdays having practice in the field, can get complicated. “We practice daily at 6:30 a.m.,” junior Megan Cornelison said. “We run in neighborhoods, and at Saglon [elementary school]. We practice on Friday’s and have meets on Saturdays.” Practice can also cut into students’ free time after school as well as before school. Students practice during their first and or seventh periods. They show dedication by choosing cross country over another elective in knowing that these periods might be taken up by practices. “We practice through seventh period, always, until after school ends,” West said. “The practice is everyday whether it’s to Saglon or taking a bus.”

Aside from practicing five times a week; morning and afternoons, the runners also have meets every Saturday for the first six weeks of school. Not only do students on cross country not have the ability to sleep in those mornings, or hang out with their friends after school, they also have the meets that usually last up to three hours. “You expect a lot of competition, and you don’t know what to expect because the courses always change,” Cornelison said. What students should expect at meets is always changing, mainly because the location and the teams they go against are always different. Each meet has a large amount of competition. “Each meet we don’t just run against one school,” Fenton said. “It’s six or seven schools at once. Southlake Carol and Frisco are just a few.” With all the schools that cross country goes up against, the score and how it works gets confusing to keep up with, especially for those watching the events in the audience. “The farther you place [of each team’s five runners] whoever places higher in the points system is who gets the worse score,” Fenton said. The people that do attend the cross country meets pay close attention to the scores. Although not many people attend the meets; the runners work is well appreciated. “A large number of runners and not too many fans,” Fenton said.

CROSS The runners put dedication and

effort into what they do. All of this work prepares them for their Saturday meets. It’s been said that runners judge their competition at first sight. “There’s always a competition so you don’t have to worry about scrutinizing anyone,” West said. The few things that runners do have to watch out for are far out of their control. Weather is a factor that runners or anyone can not control, and if they don’t pay close attention it’s one thing that could cause them to lose the race. “You have to watch for puddles…not fun, and cracks in the ground,” West said. For some, the competition is closer than the opposing team. To students like West, the competition is as close as family. The going get tough when you have siblings in the same sport as you. “For my first year I’d say I’ve done pretty will, though, I have a twin to compare to, and his times are better than mine at the moment,” West said. Aside from meets and practices the equality of the coaches also factors into this sport and in the efficiency of the running. Coaches are the ones that train the runners and make sure they are skilled at the sport to make sure they will do well at the meets. “I’ve heard last year he, [coach Eshelman], was slightly different,” West said. “But I heard that since we had a lot of top notch people he’s been giving us a lot of determination.”

Photo Submission By Barry Rhoden

to varsity you’re rewarded. You just don’t get to as many things, but you still have the same goal: to cheer on the student body.” While it was clear that athletes were excited to move up to the varsity level, they felt that the JV program prepared them well for varsity. “When we go to the games and we go up against a defense that’s less experienced then our defense, or we go up against an offense that we actually get to hit on then it’s like, yeah it prepares us pretty well for varsity.” junior and JV football player Andrew Alexander said. The way the coaches treated the JV athletes and the varsity athletes varied from sport to sport. “There’s a JV coach and a varsity coach,” Mccarthy said. “But whenever we practice all together, the varsity coach takes over.” In other sports where they had the same coaches for both varsity and JV, the athletes felt differently about the way they were treated by their coaches. “All the coaching attention goes to the varsity,” Alexander said. “They pretty much tell us to get all our work done by ourselves. We just have to watch and learn from the older kids.” Varsity players were all about the team, and felt like they had a good relationship with the JV athletes. “We’re all a big family,” Peska said.

Its Friday night, the lights are blazing and the crowd is roaring in Clark stadium, while students link pinkies and cheer on our varsity football team. However behind the Friday night lights, there are the often overlooked Junior Varsity athletes. While they do not get the recognition that varsity players do, they are a vital part of every sports program. “The JV program is really there to help the varsity,” junior and varsity football player Connor Peska said. “They help us out every week, and they come ready to practice. They deserve just as much credit as we do.” For football especially, the JV program is unlike the varsity program in many ways. From the level of intensity of practices, to how they are treated by coaches and other students, JV players have a very different experience. “Varsity is a lot more in depth,” Peska said. “A lot more hours are put into it on varsity, we watch film a lot, we have weights Monday and Wednesday mornings. There are certain things that only varsity does that JV doesn’t get to do, but it’s all about the team experience.” In other sports, such as cheerleading, the JV and varsity programs are organized by age. The JV program is made up solely of juniors, and the varsity program is made up of seniors. “You get more perks when you’re on varsity,” junior and JV cheerleader Kelly Mccarthy said. It’s like, once you endure JV, when you get up

Issue Two Page seven ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

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Issue Two Page Ten ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

fine artsSpeech Team: They can Talk The Talk

By Dayna Gettel

The fast talking, quick paced, and talented students are only some of the appeals to the speech team. On the team, the competitions and tournaments all have a number of different events. “Well there are different events in speech,” junior Sean Oliver said. “There is a debate side and an interpretation side.” In the two types of interpretation, dramatic and humorous, a written selection is given to the interpreter where he or she is given an allotted amount of time to prepare, and then the interpreter must act it out. “In speaking, you’re given 30 minutes to create a speech about a topic that you got just before,” Oliver said. “In Public Forum Debate, two people go against another two people on a certain topic that’s prepared beforehand.” Having won the state tournament for the past two years, the team has great expectations. “My expectations for the team are to be very successful,” junior Alicia Li said, “and to have a lot of team work and cooperation.” Already, the team did very well in Grapevine at their speech competition on September 17 and 18, and their competition on October 2 in Grand Prairie. At the Grand Prairie tournament, the speech team students scored in the top 8 in all but a few events. “At Grapevine we had a lot of success for both sides of the team,” senior Shikha Garg said. “In interpretation, Thomas Ciminiello won first place, and Alicia Li and Sean Oliver ended up getting to semi-finals in Public Form Debate. We had a lot of success in the tournament.” This year’s speech and debate team seems to be just

as strong as the past years. From Jasper and Vines, several new debaters have joined to help strengthen the team. “We lost a lot of good seniors last year,” Garg said, “but I feel like there is a lot of potential with the juniors right now.” Some debaters, however, find that it may be more difficult to replace the graduated seniors. “I really think losing the seniors that we had last year is also detrimental,” Oliver said. “They were nationally ranked people, and although a lot of very good juniors have come in, I think the graduates of last year were a really big loss.” Either way the team hopes to build back to the strength of last year’s team and go for victory. “I really hope we can qualify as many people as we did to state last year,” Garg said. “Hopefully we can win state again, like we have the past two years.” The team has their next tournament this weekend, October 15. They are striving to do even better than they did at the Grapevine and Grand Prairie tournaments. With many promising competitors the team expects to do extremely well in their upcoming events. They have a number of speakers for each event and they expect to go far with these speakers and debaters. “My main goal this year is to get better at debating and public speaking in general, though above all, I want to learn, have fun, and enjoy tournament,” said junior Alex Zhang. “Really, it’s more a question of what I can do for my team, rather than what my team can do for me.”

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Issue Two Page eleven ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

fine arts

By Chelsea Allen

Songs From the HeartChoir starts off the new year

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No matter who you are or what you look like, everyone is affected by music, whether it’s soothing rhythms or bass-filled beats, it’s human nature to be drawn to it. This is especially the case for students of the choir department. “People need to realize, we’re not just a group of singers,” senior and choir president Bola Ibidapo said. “We’re musicians. Music is universal; people will always understand and accept it.” For those who want to support our choir, there are several concerts scattered throughout the season. “I’m looking forward to another great year,” choir director Derrick Brookins said. The most dazzling upbeat performance of the year is the Jazz Without Elephants show, hosted by choir’s Music Corp. It’s for one night—October 28—and tickets are in high demand. For an evening of splendid scenery and costumes that take you back to the medieval times, the annual Madrigal Dinner is held to satisfy one’s desire for medieval-based music, a play, costumes, and fantastic food, held on December 3 and 4. Other shows are the Fall Cluster concert that was held October 7, featuring choirs from surrounding middle and high schools

as well as our senior high, and the choir fall concert “Songs For the Heart” is on October 21. “I’m looking forward to the Jazz Without Elephants show, and the Madrigal Dinner,” choir director Doug Council said. For those in choir, there’s a lot to look forward to. They recently hosted a choir lock in, where students enjoyed staying at school after hours for a night of games and little sleep. The biggest trip of the year is their choir spring tour of Branson, Missouri, where they will perform and have some vacationing time at Silver Dollar City. “Another thing I want to do is have more community service involvement,” Ibidapo said. “We aren’t just singers. We can impact the world.” When it comes to everyday class time, students spend time learning and bonding with one another. “I’m looking forward to becoming a family, and getting to know everybody,” senior and choir student Katy Bauer said. “There are 200 of us, so it’ll take all year.” All three choir directors agree it’ll be a great year. “We have a great time,” choir director Maryanne Visconti said. We all know what being in the audience of a musical performance

feels like, but very few get to experience participating in it first-hand as choir students do. “Before I grab the microphone, I’m pretty much a nervous wreck,” junior and choir student Modupe Dina said. “I usually forget how the song goes, but when I start, I become someone else, and I’m like, wait, what just happened?” Being apart of the choir as a whole is a gives each singer a unique feeling. “Performing can always be defined as an experience; I get really into it,” senior and choir librarian Elizabeth Berry said. “Everyone wants to be there.” Between the six choirs—Music Corp, Chamber Singers, concert Treble, Men of Plano, Varsity Women, and Acapella—there are plenty of opportunities to support our choir. “Like Mr. Brookins says, ‘choir is representative of the entire campus’,” Berry said. “Choir is Plano. We have cheerleaders, football players, basketball players, theater people… All together in one.” Choir students understand the power of expression through voice. “Everyone has the same passion and puts all their heart into it,” Ibidapo said. “We don’t just regurgitate words; it’s a performance.”

Issue One Page Twelve OcTOber 14, 2010 PlanO senIOr HIgH scHOOl 2200 IndePendence Pkwy PlanO, Tx 75025

review

By: Whitney Fein

Rating: BRating: a+

By: Vivian Nguyen

Facebook has indisputably become one of the biggest social impacts of the 21st Century. With terms like, “Facebook Me”, being thrown around in everyday conversations; it comes as no surprise that this billion dollar social networking site also had a movie about its origins made. The film, The Social Network, is based upon the book, The Accidental Billionaire. It stars Jesse Eisenberg as insensitive genius and Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and Andrew Garfield, as Eduardo Saverin, Facebook co-founder, and Zuckerberg’s former best friend. The film centralizes around the birth and development of Facebook, and the troubles and lawsuits that Zuckerberg faces getting there. The film is shot present-day, in a meeting room where Zuckerberg battles former classmates and a best friend in lawsuits surrounding the social networking site, and flashes back to Zuckerberg’s days at the prestigious Harvard University. His days as a college undergrad gives you a glimpse of what life must be like for some of America’s most brilliant young minds. It shows, essentially, what you get when you mix college life with a pursuit of a bigger ambition. The score, the directing, and the script, all beautifully perfected, combine together to make a film about a rather boring topic, into a film that makes Harvard actually look cool, making

you wish you attended the school where you knew the geniuses who built social networking sites. With a sharp and clever dialogue, and great performances by actors, this film is easily the best drama of the year –so far. “The Facebook Movie” is exactly what Facebook turned out to be: a basic simple idea, crafted into a brilliant and successful outcome.

Life as We Know It, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, is the newest romantic comedy in theatres. Let’s be honest here. When I heard about the story line of this movie, I pretty much knew what was going to happen. But they surprised me. The many clever one-liners and plot twists had the whole theatre cracking up for almost all 112 minutes. The movie opens up with a flashback to when Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) are set up by their best friends, Peter and Alison Novack. Being complete opposites, the date was a disaster and the two don’t even get out of the driveway. Unfortunately, when their friends’ baby is born, Holly and “Messer” are forced to do everything together. Obviously, this isn’t how either one of them would choose to spend time with their God-child, with each other. But when Alison and Peter die in a car accident, the two find out that they were chosen as Sophie’s legal guardians. And when the lawyer informs them that they must live together with Sophie, in the Novack’s house, Messer must trade in his care-free life for diaper bags and baby formula, while Holly must switch from restaurant owner to baby feeder. Through out the rest of the movie, we see the different steps of parenthood, but in the funniest way possible. I never thought

that watching two people change a baby’s diaper for the first time could be so entertaining. But the writer of the movie made the story flow together, showing how two people come together to help raise their best friends’ child. All in all, the acting was okay, but the story line was cute. I recommend this movie for anyone looking for a “date night” movie or who love Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.

In his new album Bruno Mars manages to keep the listeners attention with his lovey-dovey lyrics, however the actual music falls short. It’s not that the music is bad, it simply does not vary from song to song creating the feeling that you are listening to the same song for the whole album. Bruno Mars’s voice is good but his range is limited and his voice tends to sound weak at unexpected times. This weakness was especially prominent during his performance on SNL. However he does mix things up on two of his songs (Liquor Store Blues (Ft. Damian Marley) and The Other Side (Ft. Cee Lo Green & B.o.B)) by featuring various artists. Although his songs have original lyrics his music tends to sound uncannily generic. He never branches out from the “106.1” sound of his music. Overall, Doo-Whops and Hooligans is good. It is nothing too far out there, or special but its decent. If you are in the mood for the standard “teen” music then you should absolutely buy this album, but if you are looking for a little more variety you will want to hold out for something better.

Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops and Hooligans

Best Songs to Listen To:Just The Way You Are

GrenadeThe Other Side (Feat. Cee Lo & B.o.B)

Sounds Most Like:A mix between Jason Mraz and Michael Buble.

By: Eilie Strecker

TOP

10

WO

RST

MO

VIES

OF

2010

The Social Network

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

Issue Two Page ThIrTeen ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

review

By Lindsay Kehlmann

Buffalo Wild Wings4.5/5

No matter where you’ve driven, you’ve probably seen

one. They’re located on just about every corner in major cities.

They’re pretty much the Starbucks of buffalo wings and contain a

variety of options for wings fans including 14 different sauces and

four different dry rubs. And if the wings are too spicy, there are

five different dipping sauces to cool the wings down. My personal

favorites are the teriyaki sauce wings, and the chipotle barbeque

dry rub. Buffalo Wild Wings is moderately priced, with an order of

six wings coming to around $8.50. Plus, Buffalo Wild Wings has

long tables and wi-fi, ideal for business gatherings and discussions.

The waiting time is fairly short, and there is a bar in the back,

for anyone who just wants to sit back, and watch the big game.

WingStreet3/5

Conveniently located inside nearly every Pizza Hut,

WingStreet delivers, and not just to your home. This place is

affordably priced and on Wednesdays, each wing only cost 50

cents. All the other days of the week, the prices range from $3.99

for five wings to $69.99 for 160 wings. However, some Pizza Huts

do not have tables, so one can not always sit down inside. Despite

a limited variety, WingStreet makes pretty good wings. I personally

recommend the buffalo medium wings, which are just regular

boneless wings with a spicy kick to them, or the honey barbeque

wings, which have a semi-sweet flavor to them. No matter what

you order from here, the wings are perfect for inviting friends over

or watching the Sunday afternoon Cowboy game.

Chili’s3/5 Though very well known for its burgers and ribs,

Chili’s also has wings for appetizers. There are only two options; boneless or bone-in. There are no flavor options; however, you do get a choice of whether you want ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. One also can not choose how many wings he or she wants, and the price comes to about $9.00 for an order of ten wings. The wait time can also be kind of long if the staff is busy. Despite these limitations, the wings have a good flavor with a semi-spicy kick to them. If you Google “Chili’s buffalo wings” a recipe will pop up, so one could easily make them at home.

Wing Stop4/5

As a favorite among former Cowboy player, Troy Aikman, Wing Stop is one of the most well known wing places in the metroplex. This place has a nine flavor selection of wings and four different side options. Plus, every Wing Stop has a touch screen Coca-Cola freestyle machine, in which customers can mix flavor options into there beverages. This place is moderately priced, and an order of ten wings costs $6.29 and Plano students get a discount. A combo meal, which would normally cost $7.00, cost $5.00 dollars with the presentation of a student ID card. Plus, on Mondays and Tuesdays, each boneless wing costs 50 cents. However, one must order at least ten wings to get this deal. Also, if you are not a big fan of wings, the menu also contains boneless strips. The Hawaiian wings have a sweet, tangy taste, but my personal favorite was the hickory smoked barbeque.

FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD!By Alex Gonzalez

If you walk down the hall on the Friday of homecoming, it will sound like you’ve found a herd of cattle roaming the campus and it will look like 75% of girls have become 75% ribbon and the majority of the boys have had their left arms bedazzled by their girlfriends. Over the years, mums have steadily grown from the reasonable size of a sheet of paper to roughly the size of a four-year-old, and are now so heavy they are literally strapped around girls’ necks. Garters are a little better, though the fact that they are usually two feet long makes them about as practical as a baby tied to your arm. It makes some people wonder whether one day they will start selling them by the pound. It wouldn’t be surprising: everything’s bigger in Texas. Despite the unreasonable size, when homecoming rolls around everyone has them. The tradition

that has blossomed in the south is stronger than ever on campus. Wearing a mum or a garter is all about school pride (which there is no shortage of), the fun, over-the-top spirit of the night, and of course showing off your date. Mums and garters can be classy enough for the red carpet or as tacky as Snookie after a night out on the town. While most students know where to draw the line, those few who don’t make Friday a really special experience. One of the shabbiest things that people do with their mums is making them as big as they can. Big mums may be seen roaming across campus, but the biggest, nastiest one of all is the stack of nine mums circled into one. It’s like the Rachel Berry of mums: it’s super obnoxious but you can’t stop watching. Another example of a mum that could involve physical therapy in the future is the mum-dress, in other words a

mum on the back and the front of the wearer. They are just a really bad idea. In addition to making sitting down impossible, the mum-dress just looks ridiculous. The only plus is it covers the inappropriate slogans on homecoming shirts. Teachers won’t even bother pushing through the ribbon rainforest to try and take them up. Even when students have size under control, some don’t seem to know how to accessorize. While lights and boas can be cute and entertaining, no one needs to see you shining like a beacon from across the pond or flapping like a feathery octopus in the wind. But possibly the worst offense of all is one only a junior or underclassmen can commit: wearing a white mum when you aren’t a senior. There are a few things that the high school universe frowns upon, like breaking up over text, or the

new dress code, or juniors and underclassmen wearing white mums. It isn’t cute or clever, and if they do decide to wear them, they are sure to feel the heat from almost everyone. And even though all of this can go wrong and more, most of the student body ends up getting it right. Overall, most mums and garters are endearing, sweet, entertaining, personal, and spirited. The cow bells, themes, feathers, lights, bears and ribbons make each one unique and fun (not to mention eye-catching). They explain the way students feel about each other, the school, themselves, and high school in general. How big or flashy they get just reflects the amount of spirit and enthusiasm they have. So just remember that next time you see a colossal mum go by.

What’s Hot:

Issue Three Page FourTeen november 4, 2010 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75075

opinion

“I work at Sweet & Sassy, so for

birthday parties, we dress up litle

girls like princesses and dance

with them on stage, and then this

girl was like ‘I had to go potty, but

I was having so much fun dancing

that I peed in my costume.”

junior, Paige Collom

“I worked at PSA {over the

summer} as a camp counselor,

and this 10-year-old asked if I

was single, and what I was do-

ing later.’

senior, Miller Freeman

“I once set off the fire alarm

at work, and the restaurant

was full , so everyone saw

me running around, trying

to find the manager.”

senior, Maddy Davis

There is this thing that girls do. It’s like window shopping, or gossiping in the bathroom, but not as appropriate. But is it really necessary? When I’m walking down the hall, or across campus sometimes I over hear small parts of conversations. Only hearing the higher pitched voice, I can assume, without looking, that the conversation is taking place between two girls. “Look at what she is wearing, it’s so last year.” “OMG why are they dating…again.” “What was she thinking when she put that on this morning.” “Wow, look at his body.” The list goes on and on. Girls will just stand there, in the way, making comments about any guy or girl that

walks past them. But why? Is it because they have nothing to talk about? Or is it some sort of bonding ritual? Or is it their way of practicing to the next host of America’s Next Top Model? To a guy it sounds extremely comical. It’s like watching an older SNL, but it is not late night, and its not live from New York.. Guys don’t spend their time constantly bashing (that’s too strong of a word isn’t it?) people as we head from English to economics and then on to Cat Corner. If you asked us to make a comment, any comment about anyone, we would stop, take a couple of long awkward pauses, and then say something along the lines of “So what do you want me to say?” Unfortunately there is

an awkward side of making snide comments. The person you are talking to might have more connections than Perez Hilton, and that one thing you said, won’t remain a secret for very long. And then you will be known as “that girl.” To be perfectly honest as much as I enjoy going places with my girl friends and just listening to all the snide comment they make, it needs to stop. Ok will it is impossible to stop, but at least tone it down a bit, or keep your comments to yourself. You never know if the other person will hear you and what their reaction will be. So for your own safety, and for the safety of other, please don’t let your comments turn our hallways into the post-burn book

Boys View

Degrading CommentsGirls View

“This guy was on a date with a girl, and he spilled a smoothie every-where. Then after the girl left, the guy was like ‘I’ve never done that in my life’ and I was like ‘What? Spill a smoothie?’ and he was like ‘No. One-On-One time with a girl” junior, Alex Herndon

Lucy Lane walks down the hall of B building. She’s dressed in a modest cardigan and blue jeans. As she approaches her third period class, a group of guys start whistling at her and making offensive comments about her body. She feels humiliated and ashamed and even starts to feel angry because she knows that she did nothing to deserve this harassment. Uncomfortable. Insecure. Embarrassed. These are all just a few words that describe how we, as girls, feel when derogatory and degrading comments are made towards us. We know what you guys think, it’ll flatter them, make them feel pretty and good about themselves. NO. It’s all wrong. Please, for

everyone’s sake and sanity, just erase that mind set. You can go up to any random woman or girl and ask them how they feel when guys make derogatory comments and I can almost guarantee you that not one of them will tell you they enjoy it. It’s not only disgusting, sick, and perverted, but it’s rude, and uncalled for. We don’t like it, don’t enjoy it, and don’t want it. It also makes it even worse if you are with a group. We know what you may think, but really, it does not make you look cool. In fact, it makes you look like a complete tool, if not, you are a stereotypical man. Whether its wolf whistles, inappropriate anatomical references, “go back to the kitchen” or

“make me a sandwich” jokes, they are all the same; hurtful and humiliating. In the end, girls don’t feel flattered or pretty because a guy whistles at her. No, we feel pressured and disgusted and most likely angry at the fact that someone could have the guts to remark on something so personal. So please, even if you are with your friends, next time you see a pretty girl with a nice body, don’t tell the world, just hold it back. Trust me, the girl will respect you so much more if you just let her be and not make her feel like a big piece of juicy meat.

By Laurel Guild

By Daniel Hinson

Issue Two Page FIFTeen ocTober 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, Tx 75025

opinion

“Believe me, I am not exaggerating! Everyone has a date but me!” I sat at the kitchen counter as my mom continued to make dinner and I was sucked into a frenzy of anxiety and fear. “Homecoming is the day after tomorrow and I still don’t have anyone to go with. At this point, I have no other option but to just go…” I shuddered at the thought of the word “…dateless.” “I told you honey,” My mom interjected with a note of hope. “Kathy told me that her son would be happy to go with you if you want!” “Mom, I hardly even know this kid! That’s pathetic!” “James sounds like a really good boy! He makes straight A’s and he’s really… nice!” I knew my mom was trying to make me feel better by throwing in the “nice” card. Might as well call him a geek and slap on an ugly badge too. But at this point I was so desperate that I took my only option into consideration. “Fine.” I kept my head down but peaked up at my mom as I said this. A wide grin spread across her face as I looked up and I knew that I had caved into what she had thought as a well devised plan. “Oh Kathy will be so pleased! And James, too, of course”! She chirped. “Oh, we have so much to do! You need a new dress, shoes, and what will you do with your hair?” Perking up a little more as she conjured every little detail, I began to regret more and more of what I had just gotten myself into. After all, I had hardly ever spoken to this kid except for the occasional awkward get together with our moms. But of course, it was too late. Because now I was bringing in the big guns; my mom and I couldn’t back down. Applying a few more coats of mascara was about the extent of my glamorous finishing touches for homecoming. I mean, it’s not like this guy was going to be living up to any expectations and I certainly wasn’t expecting anything spectacular either. Waiting for me downstairs I walked into the dining room where my mom, her friend Kathy and her son stood. I took a double take. Surely this couldn’t be the same guy, because he was definitely not a geek. Suddenly aware, I smoothed out my dress as I gaped at my mom open mouthed as she smiled; a grin as wide as the Cheshire cat himself. She had known all along that he was… well not a nerd to say the least! “Umm hi!” I said a little too enthusiastically and I felt the pink flush creep up my face. “Hey.” He replied back. A rush of “Oh don’t they just look so perfect together?” and “I knew this was a good idea” followed our few spoken words. I looked over at him mortified. He gave me a comforting smile that let me know that this was just as awkward for him as it was for me. After taking an absurd amount of pictures we finally left for the dance. The next few minutes we sat in silence until he broke the ice. “So…” He glanced sideways at me. “Who do you think was more embarrassing back there, your mom or mine?” I looked back at him as we both broke into fits of laughter. Maybe this night wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Homecoming Happens

By Madison McDaniel

By Renee Wysocki

Good QuestionCat Quips

By Eilie Strecker

1. Scott and Mark Kelly are soon to be the first blood relatives ever to meet up in

space. They will also be the first “twin stars” to be human.

2. “My Soul To Take” recently came out with a D- rating. One person commented “I won’t

waste my time reviewing this movie-I’ve already wasted my time and money going to see it. Sucks on all levels.” Okay so not only did this guy give the movie a review but, he also took the time to comment after he wasted his time yet again searching for this review. Nice.

3. Justin Beiber recently launched his new line of nail polish. To be perfectly

honest I was hoping for a line of hair care products…how does he keep that perfect bob? 4. Last week on Glee, Finn

spent the majority of the episode praying to a grilled

cheese sandwich which he called “grilledchesus.” The crazy thing? Everything he prayed for came true.

5. On a recent interview, the rapper, Eminem said that he doesn’t allow

swearing in his household. A little ironic but at least he doesn’t take his work home with him.

6. Jane Lynch was recently on SNL. Honestly? Nothing to

say. She is brilliant.

7. David Arquette and Courtney Cox recently split up. I guess filming Scream

4 was not exactly they marriage therapy they needed.

8. On Christine O’Donnell’s newest political commercial she firmly sates “I am not a witch.”

Wow. This is the most moving statement since 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials.

9. The Social Network recently hit the box office with the slogan “ You Don’t Get To 500

Million Friends Without Making A Few Enemies.” A few enemies? Are they kidding? Everyone who knew him eventually hated Mark Zuckerberg.

10. Favorite Facebook Quote: “to be straight up, i use to hate you like no other at

times. youdont even understand! but now its hard to even get mad at you when we’re playing around! ahaha i love you so much nd your one of my really good friends that i can actually

trust, i love you mama! :)”

Kids. Aren’t they great? Inquisitive little boogers - always wondering, always seeking answers to questions that would stump Stephen Frickin’ Hawking (as he is known to his close friends). The science questions are bad enough - and they seem to come when you least expect them: in the grocery checkout line, through the bathroom door, while gesturing at an idiotic driver as you pass him at high speeds. In these situations, I’ve found that the inquisitive youngsters (and the folks waiting in line behind you while you try to sort your wad of crumpled cash) are most appreciative of an answer that sacrifices a smidgen of accuracy for the sake of brevity.For instance:Question: Why is the sky blue? Answer: Because no one looks good in yellow.Question: Then why is space black?Answer: Because they turned off the lights to save energy. In the 70s, space was lit up like a landing strip.And so on. Life moves forward, dinner gets made and somewhere out there in the future, a science teacher is hugging himself with glee at the discovery that yet another kid in class thinks the rings around Saturn were built by Nintendo as a Mario Kart practice track. Sure, these bite-sized science inquiries can be swatted away before the kid realizes we don’t know the answers either without too much effort, but what about ‘The Big Questions’? You know, the thanks-for-the-crayons-but-can-we-get-back-to-the-matter-of-where-we-came-from-and-why-we’re-here-type questions. Many of you probably have religious or philosophical foundations that provide ready-made answers to these fundamental questions. There are many folks, however who haven’t yet found that single, ideal belief system that has it all: profoundly comforting answers to life’s monumental questions. And so, when little children come to us thirsting for knowledge about the workings of the universe and beyond, we want to provide answers, but we simply don’t have them. Nor does it seem appropriate to give a youngster a completely candid response along the lines of “Well, I don’t know!” Which leaves us somewhere in the middle: Question: “Where did people come from?” Answer: “In the steamy dawn of the beginning of time, it was decreed that certain things shall be so. Then, before we knew it, Bob’s your uncle and here we are. Now, then! [clap hands loudly] Who wants frozen yogurt?” Question: “Dad, what’s the meaning of life?” Answer: [ahem] “Hey, sport! Did I mention we’re getting a trampoline? Yeah! Let’s go pick out that bad boy right now!* * Unless you have a really big yard, I recommend using this answer only once. I hope you find these responses helpful as you are called upon to field ‘The Big Questions’ when baby sitting. In the meantime, if you happen to know the REAL answers to any of the queries above, please email me. Also, I would really enjoy a pony. Thanks.[Note: No deities were harmed in the writing of this column.]

Issue two Page sIxteen october 14, 2010 Plano senIor HIgH scHool 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75025

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