mary tomlinson writerfeature

Setting the stage

In three months, Michaela Wolz will make her way 1,210 miles to Boston Conservatory to study vocal performance with 700 other artists.

Though Wolz always loved to sing, she didn’t find her niche until last summer.

“Mrs. Donna Baker, choir director, sent me to an opera camp, and I fell in love,” Wolz said. “I really do have an operatic voice, and I enjoy it. So that’s why I decided to pursue it.”

After Wolz graduates from Boston Conservatory and graduate school, which is necessary for pursuing a career in opera, the real excitement begins.

“When I graduate from grad school, hopefully I’ll do Metropolitan Opera auditions,” Wolz said. “It takes one break for your name to get out.”

Her inherent love of opera draws Wolz to the spotlight.

“My favorite part about performing is definitely the response from the audience,” Wolz said. “I get a ton of energy, and I feel great when I have an audience in front of me.”

Wolz hopes that one day EHS will hear the name Michaela Wolz gracing the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City. 1

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Anyone familiar with the Food Network knows of the baking craze that has manifested into programs like “Ace of Cakes” and “Cupcake Wars.” Kate Richter wants to make the fantastic world of baking her reality.

“I want to own a bakery and specialize in wedding cakes,” Richter said.

Richter has known since a young age that she wanted to go into the culinary arts and finds the career a perfect fit.

“I’m a very social person, so I decided that culinary, specifically baking, would be more creative but also an actual job that would get me money and have social influences,” Richter said.

To make this dream career a reality, Richter will be studying at Sullivan University in Louisville, KY. When she graduates, she will have an associate’s degree in baking and pastry as well as a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, which relates directly to restaurant and business management.

In order to fulfill her dream, she must find ways to adapt to culinary school.

“I’m nervous at how the grades will work,” Richter said. “I’m not sure if I’m being graded on whether it’s perfect or if it’s just going to be grading on techniques. But I’m also excited to not have to take classes in history and science and other stuff I’m not interested in. Instead of taking notes all the time, I’ll actually be doing what I like.”

With a former Lieutenant in the Navy for a father and his experience at Naval Academy Summer Seminar, Alex Branchfield decided to attend the Naval Academy.

The Academy offers many opportunitities after graduation.“The four years are free, but you are required to do five years

minimum of military service,” Branchfield said. “When you graduate from the academy, you’re an officer in your service branch, so you’re basically guaranteed a job.”

Such benefits come with a price. “You’re not allowed to watch TV or listen to music,”

Branchfield said. “Three times a week you have workouts at 5:30 a.m. Also, it is the military. There is a safety risk.”

Despite the abrupt change in lifestyle, Branchfield knows he is becoming a part of an admired organization.

“I look forward to being a part of the prestige of the military and dedicating my life to something,” Branchfield said.

Though bass fishing is a relaxing, enjoyable pastime for many outdoorsman, it is the future for Brian Pahl.

Next year, Pahl will attend Bethel University in Mackenzie, Tennessee, the number one fishing school in the country. Pahl signed with the fishing team, which will bode well for his future if he succeeds on the team.

“If I do well in the college fishing, I will go into marketing and business to become a professional fisherman,” Pahl said.

A professional fisherman, beyond attending fishing competitions, helps businesses sell and promote fishing gear.

Pahl has a long history in the sport of bass fishing; he has been in the competitive fishing world for seven years, and he has won the state fishing tournament five times.

Thanks to his opportunity to fish at Bethel University, Pahl gets the chance to take his passion for fishing to the next level.

“I don’t know anybody at Bethel and it’s pretty far away, but I’ll be doing something that I love,” Pahl said.

Unlike the majority of college students who are itching to become independent of their families, RJ Ellerbeck is using his college experience to get closer to his family at Cebu Doctor’s University in the Philippines, 8,400 miles away.

“I haven’t been in the Philippines since I was young,” Ellerbeck said. “I want to meet all of my relatives over there and grow closer to them.”

Leaving the U.S. for a prolonged period of time brings new challenges, especially with language, since Filipino is the native language of the Philippines.

“I’ll be leaving everything here that I’ve known since I was born,” Ellerbeck said. “I am worried about the language barrier, but it will probably be faster to learn Filipino because I will be immersed into the culture and all of the family will help me.”

After studying nursing at Cebu University, Ellerbeck plans to take his experience straight into the world.

“After I graduate, I’ll probably work in the Philippines as a nurse to get experience,” Ellerbeck said. “But then I was hoping I would come back to the St. Louis area and get an internship or a get a part-time nursing job to get myself started.”

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photo courtesy of michaela wolz

photo courtesy of alex branchfield

courtesy of brian pahl

Seniors share unique post-graduation plans

photo courtesy of the Pahl family

photo courtesy of the ellerbeck family

photo courtesy of kate richter

Richter pours the first layer of a cookie dough fudge, April 12.

A young Ellerbeck (bottom right) with a family friend,

mother Mrs. Maria Ellerbeck, father Mr. Ray Ellerbeck, and family friend, Alex, on vaca-

tion in Cebu, Philippines.

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Pahl (bottom center) signs, April 2. Assistant coach Kenny Louden and head

coach Garry Mason stand behind Mrs. Linda and Mr.

Larry Pahl, his parents.

Wolz performs at The Fox Theater for the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, April 13. She sang Fair Robin I Love from the opera Tartuffe.

Branchfield and his squad at the finish line of the endurance course at the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, June 6.

2Opinions

The primary obligation of The Bugle is to create a quality publication to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population.

The Bugle, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment and strives to establish and maintain standards outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists.

The Bugle is a public forum. Student editors apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. While the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff.

Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the school process, copyright infringement or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Letters to the editor are encouraged by students, faculty and the community. Letters must be signed but names can be withheld upon request. Letters must not exceed 250 words and The Bugle reserves the right to reject, edit or shorten as necessary. Letters should be submitted to ehs_hub@rockwood.k12.mo.us.

Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Members of the Editorial Board include all staff editors. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not those of the editorial board.

The Bugle reserves the right to refuse any business which seeks to advertise any product which is illegal or generally considered unhealthy or undesirable for students as determined by the Editorial Board. The Bugle may choose to publish public service ads at the discretion of the Editorial Board. The Bugle will print political ads which comply with federal, state and local campaign laws.

The Bugle is a member of Sponsors of School Publications of Greater St. Louis, the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

The

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editor-in-chiefmaddie sandenonline editorsabby biggsrachel trujillosociety editorcasey walkeropinions editorpaige ondr

photo editormadeline karasfeature writersmonika nayakmary tomlinsononline writersforrest nettlestaylor balleau

ads managermichael mclaughlinads staff connor mondscheinonline community editorjon hoeflingeradviserelisha strecker

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

I have never found an application of this little tidbit of truth from Neale Donald Walsch in my personal life. No experience I ever had truly forced me to go beyond what I was familiar with. But as member of The Bugle staff, I found exactly where my comfort zone was−and was pushed about ten miles beyond that.

It all began with a news story that I originally was so afraid of. I had my share of moderately difficult stories throughout the year, but none compared to the story I was assigned at the end of December. During first semester finals, Mrs. Strecker and my editor called me down to the publications room and informed me that I would be doing a feature on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT and should find a way to relate the story back to EHS.

If I had to describe my reaction to this news, fear and anxiety would be a few choice words that came to mind. This story felt so far from my ability, knowledge base and definitely my comfort zone. I would be discussing far-reaching topics that were brought up because of the shooting, topics I greatly questioned I could accurately cover.

I was standing on the edge of my comfort zone, afraid and unsure.

But I had a job to do. They gave me my assignment, and though I was unsure how to pull this off, I knew I needed to push my doubts aside and charge forward.

I spent many long hours over Winter Break researching gun control laws at the state and national level and finding reports on correlations between mental health and violence. I came back in January and scheduled interviews with doctors, school board members and resource officers. I spent hours at home after school arranging and rearranging my content. Though I was in unfamiliar territory and the work drained me, I found that I also was exhilarated by the work I was doing and felt so accomplished when I saw the work I brought together.

When distribution day finally came around, I was a little apprehensive of the feedback I would get. I covered a very

complex, serious issue, and desperately hoped my

message came across correctly. But thankfully being pushed into a task I was originally apprehensive

about paid off; my adviser was pleased with the story, and,

surprisingly, so was I. I had never felt so proud. As a journalist, and as an individual,

I must always be prepared to go beyond my comfort zone−way beyond my comfort zone. I never know what may be thrown at me—a story I don’t have a background in or working with a person completely different from me. Because of the challenge newspaper has presented, I have no fear and possess full confidence in my abilities to work past any obstacles I may have. I am so grateful that I get to go off to college unafraid of what challenges may present themselves to me, academically, financially or socially. And even if that same fear I had with my mind-boggling news story presents itself again, I now know that no limits exist as to what I am capable of and hard work can shatter the barrier of

any comfort zone. mar

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Michael’s monologueThe power of managing the moneyBeing a part of the publications

has introduced me to the world of business.

As the Advertisement Manager for The Bugle I have learned first-hand how to interact with many companies and how to manage a large budget.

In order for the Bugle to be able to print I would have to sell more than four hundred dollars’ worth of advertising each issue. At the end of the year, I usually collect about $3,000 that funds the printing of the paper.

I didn’t really have many problems except when businesses said that they paid, but in fact they did not.

Then we would have to go on a

wild goose chase for their check. It was exhausting! It’s hard to find a single check in a school that’s the size of a small town.

Having Mrs. Elisha Strecker as a teacher and a boss has been eye-opening. From her, I’ve learned that I need to be responsible for myself and my deadlines.

Newspaper is an awesome way to get involved with the school and

the student body. It’s really humbling to walk around the lunchroom and see hundreds of kids reading something you’ve been working on and funding.

Newspaper has also taught me how to work with people to accomplish a common goal.

Everyone has to do their part or the paper could be ruined. I didn’t ever worry about that though because everyone was great to work with and definitely reliable.

From issue to issue there were hilarious moments that I will remember and miss when I head off to college. Forrest Nettles, Jon Hoeflinger and I would always debate on our favorite super powers. Forrest chose super speed and called himself Nikki Flash; while Jon had super intelligence and he decided on “McBigBrain” as his name. Despite countless arguments Jon still thinks that

super intelligence is a power when the rest of us know it isn’t.

I usually switched my power every day because I couldn’t decide on one. I went from super strength to flight to invisibility.

It was the little things like those arguments that I will miss most about that class and high school.

I will miss the people that I argued with, collaborated with and definitely those I laughed with.

Newspaper was the best experience I had at EHS.

I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in being a part of something impactful.

Keep listening, writing and reporting.

michael mclaughlinads manager

3Timeline

freshman

2009-2010sophom

ore2010-2011

junior2011-2012

senior2012-2013

New 800s and 900s wing builtA new 22-classroom wing becomes the first two-story building on campus.

First class with blocked schedule“I do not like them because I can’t hold my attention span for more than 49 minutes,” Kylie Ruprecht (12) said. “I try to stay away from them and go for standard classes.”

New 100s wing builtThe wing by the cafeteria that once housed the Math Department is transformed into the art wing. “With the new area we got some beautiful display space, a lot more square footage,” Mrs. Robyn Stellhorn, photography teacher, said. “We are definitely more up-to-date.”

New library built“I think it is great,” Brent Held (12) said. “We have a lot of new resources we didn’t have before. I like the windows because there is a nice view when you are studying.”

New parking lot The addition of 110 spots expands the parking lot for a growing student body. “It gives people more room to park,” Luke Seiler (12) said. “It just takes longer to get out.”BP oil spillMay 24, 2011The Deepwater Horizon’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is considered one of the largest accidental marine oil spills. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rendered 19% of the Gulf of Mexico a no fishing zone after 140 million gallons leaked in the Gulf, killing thousands of birds and endangered species of sea turtles and fish. Thousands of workers in the fishing and oil industries were out of work.

Occupy Wall Street protestsOct 2011“I went to the Occupy Protests downtown in Keener Plaza,” Francesco Polizzi (12) said. “It was a nationwide protest about tearing down mainstream corporate America, which is basically just growing after the recession.”Obama re-elected Nov 6, 2012“I had a lot of anxiety because it was a pretty big election with a lot of political and social issues at stake,” Serene Rashdi (12) said. “Plus I had people my age going to vote, and I know a lot of people at school with really strong political views.”Boston Marathon bombingApril 15, 2013During the 2013 Boston Marathon, two man-made bombs exploded near the finish line killing three people and injuring 264. Hours after the bombings, police were able to release photos of the suspects to the public leading to their arrests five days later. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older brother, was killed in a police shootout, while Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was discovered hiding in a boat by a heat-detecting device in a helicopter, April 19.

First Homecoming: “Candyland”Oct 10, 2009

“I had fun picking out a dress,” Audrey Smith (12) said. “My style is a lot different now

though so I wouldn’t pick that dress again.”Haiti Earthquake

Jan 12, 2010A catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing 300,000 people and

leaving nearly 1.5 million homeless, according to the BBC.

Welcome Center built“I really like that the new Welcome Center separates visitors from

the main office, protecting student privacy,” Mrs. Deborah Asher, head principal, said. “I also like that it’s at the front of the building instead of being

buried in the middle of campus.”Osama Bin Laden’s death

May 2, 2011Navy SEAL Team 6 kills the head of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, in Pakistan.

Flex classes “Flex gives you a chance to have time to work on projects and study,” Megan

Wurdeman (12) said. “I like flex because it’s not just notes every day.”

Girls field hockey team created“We all got to play our first year,” Lauren Nickens (12) said. “It was really fun,

and I like that we now have the sport here.”Joplin tornado May 22, 2011

“We drove down there, and there was a lot of nothing,” Mackenzie Fagan (12) said. “Everything was just torn down

and there was rubble everywhere.”First prom: Echanted Forest

April 14, 2012“My first prom was really exciting,” Kaily Gustafson (12) said. “The dance floor was really small, but it was really

memorable.”London Olympics

July 27-Aug. 12, 2012“I enjoyed the girls gymnastic team winning gold and the rivalry betwen Ryan

Lochte and Michael Phelps,” Miranda Keim (12) said. Michael Phelps ended his Olympic career with 18 gold medals and 22 overall across four Olympic games.

NightGlow Jan 25, 2013

Replacing the winter dances, NightGlow was an informal black-light dance following the boys and girls basketball games. “We

wanted to do something more modern,” Alex Powell, NightGlow chair, said. “We focused on

what it would be like to go dance outside of a high school setting.”

No more rent-a-seniorRent-a-senior ended after the administration

received complaints of students arriving late and creating disturbances in the hallways. “I was pretty

upset we couldn’t do rent-a-senior,” Ian McSalley (12) said. “It would have been a great charitable

opportunity for our school.”

thebuglestaff

all illustrations by casey walker

MO

Buehrle, RyanDoell, MichaelDuchild, AlexanderJacobs, JordanLakey, Andrew

Marey, AlexanderRoesch, DanielSmith, KevinVogt, HannahWilson, Jonathan

Missouri Institute of Science and Technology

University of Missouri ColumbiaBaker, BenjaminBodenschatz, AlexDarr, NicoleDwyer, RachelFaquin, KellyGaillard, EmilyGilbert, MadisonHaake, JillHeaney, MeaganHoffman, AbbyHooper, ZacharyLackey, EmilyLaubacker, KyleLupardus, AmandaMatz, LeahMcClellan, JoshuaMcLaughlin, MichaelMcNair, NicoleMorgester, MitchellMueller, StephanieNeumann, Austin

Nickens, LaurenOndr, PaigePahl, ConnorPinnell, SarahReinhardt, LaurenRidings, KyleRuprecht, KylieSadowski, CaitlinSadowski, CatherineSchmid, AndrewScoville, BlakeSellers, ThomasShovlain, DanielShryock, AndrewSmith, AudreyTrapp, EricValenti, AnthonyWard, SarahWilcoxson, NathanWimmer, AllieZellers, Olivia

Bennett, ReeseConforti, HannahDougherty, SamanthaFarmer, KathrynFish, MatthewGentry, AllisonGentry, LukeHancock, KaseyHilker, EricHurst, MadisonJudkins, Brett

Kronmiller, DanielleLaugeman, HayleyMcSalley, IanMott, FrankPerry, LeviSchulz, MatthewSpratt, KyleTinsley, AustinTomlinson, MaryWright, Lauren

Truman State University

Cobelens, GeorgeHahn, AshleyLill, RobertMilhouse, Matthew

Penick, TessaPlunkett, KellySumner, AngelaWofford, Tiffany

Southeast Missouri State University

Anderman, EricBaker, MollyCarter, SierraDazey, TaylorGhattas, MarleenaGloberman, HayleeHellmann, RyanHiles, ChristopherJackson, William

Jensen, LoganKane, AaronLitton, TylerMcCrary, KendallMintert, AbigailSaunders, AdamSczesny, MatthewTurnbough, AbbyJensen, Sara

Missouri State University

Hawley, BrenonLampley, ZacharyPlank, Peter

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Broadbooks, JustinGass, AlexanderHansen, SaraHiggins, Samantha

4Feature

Bayless, RyanBowden, NahaidBrock, EthanBurns, AmandaCole, JordanCromer, AnthonyDuke, EmilyErnst, JeffreyFalke, JonathanFinnegan, GraysonFloyd, Rebecca

Heidenfelder, NathanKulich, AshleyLink, TylerLucas, DonaldMason, Ja’NeiceOmodia, MercyPfeiffer, AshleyRobinson, JasmineSack, JosephScarry, RyanSchepers, Celeste

Schmitt, JessicaSneeringer, KaraStockell, Nathan CharlesSuleiman, KristeelTaylor, AudreyUffman, TrentonWallner, BryanWelton, KelseyYancey, LauraYeates, DaketaZangaro, Mackenzie

St. Louis Community College

Bagwill, KyleCheung, MatthewEbeling, DanielJandrasevic, JenniferJohnson, JasmineSindel, Dean

St. Louis University

Webster University Westminster CollegeFallert, AlexandraPassiglia, MarisaTockman, Sydelle

Vorel, NathanWeiss, Brandon

Maryville University

Herbek, Turner

North Central Missouri College

Lydon-Lorson, MichaelStephens, RyanWallner, Allison

Parke, Jacob

Southwest Baptist University

Poirrier, KalaJefferson CollegeRolfe, Sydney

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Trower, AustinTrower, Collin

Missouri Baptist University

All across the U.S.A.Seniors leave for college

Keim, MirandaManley, KaseyRourke, RobertWare, Meonaka

University of Central Missouri

Lindenwood University

Rockhurst University

Conrad, MatthewMcIntyre, KristinMuthukumaru, ShaanPerez, Olivia

Siebenmorgen, Jory

University of Missouri, St. Louis

Dyson, ElizabethKavanaugh, KellieShort, Haley

Trinity UniversityCollins, Sarah

Texas A&M UniversityRettenmaier, Stephen

University of TulsaLueken, Robert

6

Bremen Bank & Trust Company

Plan ahead for your future.Open a savings account today!

16024 Manchester Rd.Ellisville, MO 63011

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Brigham Young UniversityKendall, Alexis

As reported to The Bugle by the Guidance office by May 7.

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MA

5Feature

ARBaner, SelinaGoers, ZacharyKnobbe, KelseyMcGeehan, BrendanPhillips, EricaPieper, LesliePowell, AlexanderPowell, JaxsonSamuelson, Olivia

Harvey, HannahBrown, Michalie

Harding University

OHHiram CollegeAtkins, Genevieve

Ohio State UniversityGreen, GeoffreyMiami UniversityLazar, JeffreyOliver, Lauren

Central State UniversityMcKinney, Airiona

MS FLFull Sail UniversityKurtz, Andrew

Florida State UniversityHuber, Sarah

Boston ConservatoryWolz, Michaela

TNLipscomb UniversitySmith, ElizabethBethel UniversityPahl, Brian

Vanderbilt UniversityBloomrosen, Jessica

East Central Community CollegeBiser, Paige

ILUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignEchard, NathanColumbia College ChicagoWalker, CaseyQuincy UniversityHerrick, GabrielleJeff JinkersonLoyola University ChicagoKaras, MadelineSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoKupfer, Zachary

Southern Illinois University, EdwardsvilleLanders, MarshaeMcClimens, Matthew

Southern Illinois University, CarbondaleMcIntyre, Karli-RoseIllinois Wesleyan University Nosiglia, Mark

Wheaton CollegeWeinrich, Lindsey

Lewis UnversityBiggs, Abby

MDGreenville CollegeAdams, Gabrielle

United States Naval AcademyBranchfield, Alexander

DCGeorge Washington UniversityGreen, Emma

IAKirkwood Community CollegeBennett, BraytonIowa State UniversityKlopf, BrianDrake UniversityThomas, Eve

INUniversity of Notre DameMarkovitz, Ryan

Purdue UniversityBandypadhyay, ShovikBuatois, EmilyIndiana University at BloomingtonDenning, Riley

University of KansasBrandt, HollyHeld, BrentReed, SpencerSchlarman, Eric StevenEmporia State UniversityJordan, Tyler

Kansas State UniversityNorris, Silas

University of North DakotaBrosman, Jakob

University of WyomingDunda, Samantha

Around the world: Cebu Doctor’s University, the PhilipinesEllerbeck, Raymond

monika nayakfeaturewriter

maddie sanden-chiefeditor-in

All across the U.S.A.

University of Arkansas

Collins, SamanthaCox, AndrewShort, CallieTucker, Matthew

University of Alabama

University of MississippiDames, Olivia

Mississippi State UniversityWamboldt, EricJackson State UniversityWeston, Tiana

Trinity UniversityCollins, Sarah

Emory UniversityBuettner, Alexandria

Texas A&M UniversityRettenmaier, Stephen

University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesHeitman, TylerHosna, AndrewMassmann, Samuel

Carthage CollegeBorkowski, Austin

University of TulsaLueken, Robert

Georgia Institute of TechnologyTipton, John

KYUniversity of LouisvilleAllman, MichaelUniversity of KentuckySanden, MadisonAsbury UniversityDial, Jessie

Sullivan UniversityRichter, Catherine

Murray State UniversitySparling, Lydia

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6OpinionsMadeline’s messageA glimpse into the world outside of high school

At first glance when I walk into room 704 I am greeted by students hunched over computers, frantically typing away, I hear confusing sentences shouted back and forth across the room and I see multiple phrases taped all over the surfaces of the room.

This room is what I consider my personal view into the world after high school and college.

This room sparks many debates—school security after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, First Amendment rights, responsibilities and many more—that I find myself either headstrong or nonchalant about.

I tend to find myself really invested in a topic that hits close to home, predicting how I will react to situations when I am living on my own.

Being in this room with the other people in it has made me face many challenges, from finding ways to voice my opinion in a way that is heard and considered to mastering how to edit and upload three photo galleries in one day.

I would never have pushed myself to communicate and produce before Newspaper Production. I have also learned to walk away from situations that I’ll never be able to change. I will not be able to please everyone all the time. When I posted a picture capturing the Wildcats’ loss to Lancers’ Varsity Football Team, Aug. 24, I didn’t expect people to think we were attacking the underclassman who missed the play. The shot captured the team’s disappointment and the crowd’s confusion. It told the story of the game. I still stand behind posting that picture.

Inside this room there are many different types of people, many of whom I will encounter in my life at some point. There are the hard workers, the easy-going types, the leaders, the comedians, the procrastinators, the determined and the passionate. These people all work together to produce a product, much like a mini-company.

Multiple personalities in one small room has taught me that my opinion will not always be approved by some. Others will not always feel as stongly about issues as I. Either way, we had those hard discussions in room 704. Every day was a new adventure, whether it ended in harmony or chaos.

I know not to fret, but take a deep breath and take one moment at a time. Newspaper has taught me so much, but most importantly in has prepared

me for life after school. It taught me how to react, to handle things and how to approach difficulties. Through this tiny glimpse into the world outside of adolescence, I am now ready to take on my future with open arms.

From Hurricane Sandy to the election to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings to gay marriage tried at the Supreme Court to the recent explosions at the Boston Marathon bombing and Waco, Texas, this past school year has been full of events that made national headlines.

Each time another shocking event takes place, our nation reacts. Political opinions flare up and emotions run high when we see suffering going on all around us.

Before I spent time in the newsroom, I liked having a strong opinion on these issues. I would easily make my opinion known and argue even if I didn’t have all the facts.

I would be the first to argue points, especially in politics, upon simply hearing a story regarding the national deficit or ObamaCare.

However, I have a new attitude as newspaper taught me to think like a journalist.

Journalists can’t jump to conclusions, point fingers or make judgments. Our job is to report facts.

While my opinions haven’t died away, I now see more issues with a complexity I failed to

comprehend before. For example, when Coach James

Daffron, PE teacher, asked the other day “Should sagging your pants in public be illegal?” I pondered the many issues that play into making such a law against sagging pants.

Prior to thinking like a journalist, I would have easily reacted with the mentality that since I find sagging pants quite disgusting it should of course be illegal.

Now, I see the issue much differently. If sagging pants were illegal, we would take away a fundamental right of expression from someone. While I may not appreciate their actions, I also don’t feel now that taking that away from someone should be allowed.

Our First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of speech, petition, religion, assembly and the press.

Given these rights, I understand now the importance of being a reliable journalist—analyzing all sides of the situation and reporting the news accurately to a watching world.

When we begin a story in class, one of our first steps is to fill out what we call a step two or three. This helps us find three

different sides to a story in order to report an accurate angle at distribution.

For example, if I began a story about sagging pants, I would choose three different people from three different

sides for the story representing different opinions on the subject: three people for sagging, three people against it and an expert on the topic, such as a lawyer familiar with the First Amendment.

By taking into consideration all three sides of the issue, we as a staff can accurately report the news.

Spending hours in the newsroom helped develop a part of my brain that I never used before.

Having the mind of a journalist—seeing different sides of an issue and valuing more the freedom

of expression—I have come to see the importance of making judgments only when I have all the information necessary to making an assertion on any subject.

While I may not appreciate the sagging pants, seeing how it represents an

important freedom in our Constitution has come from being a journalist.Sa

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Ever since my first full feature story, I learned a valuable lesson: words have power. This cliché is something I have heard my

whole life, but until newspaper, I hadn’t realized the truth in the statement.

My first story in Journalism Writing and Reporting, the prerequisite class for Newspaper Production, was about AP Environmental Science, and from the day it was published it caused controversy because of a misunderstanding about the message of my story.

One reader felt that I was trying to say the class was a blow off, when in fact the story was about the exact

opposite. The quotes I used from students throughout the story were used to show common misconceptions about the course.

An adult yelled at me, voice literally raised, for a sustained period of time. And I didn’t see it coming. No internal warning bells went off as I wrote the story. It didn’t even occur to me that the story could be seen as controversial.

Although I still stand by everything I wrote in that story, I didn’t realize at the time that one

story could cause so much drama. The tears I shed over that story and the discussions

that occurred in the weeks following taught me more than I ever thought possible. I learned that every time I write a sentence, I need to look at all the ways it could be interpreted, not just the way I intended for it to be read.

I also discovered that the closer people are to a topic, the more they will read into it. Connotations such as exaggeration and sarcasm are lost in writing, an unfortunate truth I had to learn.

Last semester, I wrote a column about how I felt like I was not properly prepared for the college application process, offering suggestions on how this

problem could be solved. Much to my dismay, this column also caused some

heads to turn. People felt like I was “calling out” my teachers on how they have failed to prepare me for

college, when that was far from my intention. I wanted to voice an opinion on ways teachers and the

Language Arts Department could implement ways to help students. Without people giving input, programs cannot grow or

change to fit the needs of those who are benefitting. The Bugle is a public forum where we get to exercise our First

Amendment rights. I have certainly exercised those rights and learned the powerful repercussions of doing so.

No matter what I say, someone is not going to like it. It is impossible to please everyone.

I write my opinions to share truth; not just to please

my reader. Words have real power. They are a weapon, a weapon that defines

democracy. I chose to exert my power, and I am strong because of it, as is EHS.

A Paige from her book Learning the power

of words paige ondropinions editor

madelinekarasphoto editor

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die

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7Opinions

The Bigg idea Unique atmosphere makes for memories

All Language Arts classes seem to be the same after a while. Read this, analyze that and repeat—for four years. But all of that changed when I joined the newspaper staff.

As the online editor for www.EHS-hub.info, I had to figure out how to get organized. Not only because the columns, polls, news stories and pictures all had to go up at different times, but also because it was a different setting than anything I had ever been in before.

When I walked into the room with the determination to get things done, nothing could stop me, even if it meant being a little firm with some writers, like text bombing their phone the night before their stories were due to make sure it got finished.

Then there were the times when I needed that extra push to get going, like the nights I got less than four hours of sleep. Thankfully during those moments the entire staff worked together. The relaxed feel taught me to make sure to stay on task.

Online depended on the editors reading and publishing on time. Even when it wasn’t the most ideal day, I taught myself to focus and be prompt because I was responsible for everyone on the online staff getting their work out there.

The independent feeling of the room made it unlike any other class I had ever taken in high school. The Bugle and the Hub are student-run publications, not teacher-published news. Students

produced, proofed and published everything that went flying out of room 704. I realized how much power one person could actually have over another.

The newspaper meant so much more than just a news story or an opinions column. It was the way students could reach out to other students without having to get things cleared by a teacher.

I have a much larger impact on some people than I realized. I have always been a social person with no problem talking to others, but there was something about knowing that people were reading things that I was a part of. It was the satisfaction that I had done my part for the school’s memory by clicking that “Publish” button

each time. Aside from the writing process

that went on in room 704, the people on staff made it one of the most entertaining rooms I have ever had the honor to spend time in. The different personalities in the room—whether it was the attention-to-detail people that reread page after page of the newspaper to make sure it was perfect, the quiet ones with their headphones on most of the time or the ones that threw rubber duckies across the room to get others’ attention—created a feeling that made it easy to look forward to coming to class each day.

Regardless of the stress we were under, we met the deadlines, we laughed after printing off memorable quotes

from people and we sang along to the music choices of that

day. We were more than just a staff; we became closer than friends; we were a family that worked together as one to create a memorable, credible newspaper all year.

Team. The definition of the word team is a number of persons associated in some joint action.

The word team, however, is more associated with people coming together to play sports under one name.

The Cardinals are a team. Miami Heat is a team. But by the definition of the word team, any group of people coming together can be claimed a team. Just like any other team I have been on I have learned some many valuable lessons while being apart of the www.EHS-hub.info staff.

I learned the power of encouragement. Sometimes I came to the point where I wanted to break down and cry, the tasks were overwhelming: identifying group shots, completing scoreboards, and posting scores to the Hub.

These tasks seem easy to handle at first but become very overwhelming as the season goes on. But with the support of the staff I got through the frustrating times.

Even the smallest sincere actions performed by the people around you can make a big impact on your perspective of the situation. I recieved multiple encouraging e-mails from Rachel Trujillo, that Kid President youtube video, and humor from Forrest Nettles. Maddie Sanden, editor-in-chief, always prasied you as well and

reminded you that everything was going to come together. Even last year, Brendan Vogel’s constant singing of “The Trouble With Girls” could bring a

smile to your face everytime.

Everyone plays a specific role on the Hub team, as well. And just like any other

team you have the coach, the captain and the

players. Nothing can be accomplished without the other person.

It may be behind the scenes, but everyone plays a crucial part in the creation of the

newspaper with such high quality.

I had to learn how to bend with the

issues and demands that were thrown my way, such as deadlines, group shots and lack of communication from sources.

I learned that the main focus is not on what I have to get done or how much I have on my plate. I had to put those priorities aside, key in and focus on the task at hand. I appreciated the valuable lessons I learned from newspaper and will definitely help in the future when a team setting in the workforce comes

into play.

Gabbin’ with GabbyTeamwork provides support for the stresses of newspaper

Politically correct?News writing teaches to

be less opinionated in, outside of classroom

I got way too into watching the presidential election this year; I was chewing at my fingernails in complete silence as the votes rolled in. If you ask me if I think there is extra-terrestrial life on other planets the conversation may turn into a yelling match. And I’ll argue to the death that Room On Fire by The Strokes is the best album ever produced.

I have a strong, fiery, opinion on (mostly) everything. That’s why I’ve always wanted to write.

I took Journalism Writing and Reporting the first semester of my sophomore year. Then, Newspaper seemed like an elite club of all the most hip upperclassmen; taking pictures at every event and sending their own words off to the press. I wanted to be a part of it.

At the time I had no idea that I wanted to go to college for reporting and writing. All I knew was that I wanted to share my opinion.

The first story that I wrote was about the environmental classes watching a bird release. I remember wanting to include what I thought about the birds rather than facts and interviews.

It was a hard process.I wanted to use adjectives like

“breathtaking” and “precarious.” But I learned the hard way that my overly dramatic style of speech and writing wasn’t going to be accepted into the journalism world.

My opinion slowly climbed to the back

seat and buckled in. For all of junior year, I was writing the facts of the Monet exhibit at the art museum and what concerts were coming in the spring. My feelings towards the subjects weren’t anywhere to be found.

It wasn’t until I wrote the story about the Gay Straight Alliance junior year that I realized that my idea of right isn’t always right.

I started the story with a negative attitude; thinking that everyone hated the idea of a GSA, but when my interviews started coming together I realized that most people, students and teachers included, had much more open hearts than I expected.

I went into the story with a bias and if anyone knows anything, that’s a big no-no in news writing.

If I’ve learned anything in newspaper, it’s that I’m not always right. Newspaper has forced me to examine all sides of every story without bias, inside and outside of the classroom.

And of course, it’s trapped me into loving writing more than I already do.

Although I love fiction writing and my online column where I can write about my opinions, news writing has taught me about myself and forced me to grow out of my naïve one-sided viewpoint.

I’ll always think that Room on Fire is the best album and that aliens really do exist, but after the last 3 years in the newsroom, I’ve learned to accept others viewpoints, and that they’re right too.

abby biggsonlineeditor

gabby adamsstats manager

casey walkereditorsociety

football

Hannah Leinert, forward, lunges toward the goal versus Parkway South, April 9. The Wildcats won, 4-0.

maddie sanden-chiefeditor-in

cross country/ track

wrestling

updated as of May 10

baseball

basketball

volleyball

soccer

fishing

8Sports

Seniors who signedAthletes commit to play their sport in collegeName: Adam SchnurbuschSchool: Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, ILLevel of Competition: National Junior College Athletic Association

Name: Austin TinsleySchool: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO Level of Competition: Division II

Name: Drew FairSchool: Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, ILLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Jeff JinkersonSchool: Quincy University, Quincy, ILLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Michael Lydon-LorsonSchool: Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Sean MurleySchool: Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, ILLevel of Competition: National Junior College Athletic Association

Name: Brayton BennettSchool: Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA Level of Competition: National Junior Athletic Association

Name: Gabby AdamsSchool: Greenville College, Greenville, ILLevel of Competition: Division III

Name: Tyler JordanSchool: Emporia State University, Emporia, KS Level of Competition: Division II

Name: Angie SumnerSchool: Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MOLevel of Competition: Division I

Name: Collin TrowerSchool: Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, MO

Level of Competition: NAIA

Name: Megan CunninghamSchool: University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MOLevel of Competition: Division I

Name: Brian PahlSchool: Bethel University, Mackenzie, TNLevel of Competition: Division III

Name: Brett JudkinsSchool: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO Level of Competition: Division II

Name: Dalton ZeiserSchool: Truman State University, Kirksville, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Kyle SprattSchool: Truman State University, Kirksville, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Ali WallnerSchool: Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Bayley BellersSchool: Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO Level of Competition: NAIA

Name: Blake RickettsSchool: Fontbonne University, Clayton, MOLevel of Competition: Division III

Name: Courtney SilberbergSchool: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL Level of Competition: Division I

Name: Gabby HerrickSchool: Quincy University, Quincy, IL Level of Competition: Division II

Name: Genna AtkinsSchool: Hiram College, Hiram, OHLevel of Competition: Division III

Name: Hannah LeinertSchool: Illinois State University, Normal, ILLevel of Competition: Division I

Name: Madison DeaneSchool: Missouri Valley College, Marshall, MOLevel of Competition: NAIA

Name: Madison WeldeSchool: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Sammi DundaSchool: University of Wyoming, Laramie, WYLevel of Competition: Division I

Name: Abby BiggsSchool: Lewis University, Chicago, ILLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Austin TrowerSchool: Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, MOLevel of Competition: NAIA

Name: Jory SiebenmorgenSchool: University of Missouri-

St. Louis, St. Louis, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Sydney RolfeSchool: Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, MOLevel of Competition: NAIA

Name: Luke GentrySchool: Truman State University, Kirksville, MOLevel of Competition: Division II

Name: Matt McClimensSchool: Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleLevel of Competition: Division I

* CITY SUMMER PROJECT: Photos, discussion, essays, field trips and more centered around St. Louis cultural and social points of interest. THREE college credits available. June 10 – 14.

* SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: Learn about being a leader, your style, skills needed and more. THREE college credits available. June 17 – 28.

* SUMMER OPEN HOUSE: Tour, academics, scholarships, financial aid and a BBQ lunch! July 18.

FIND OUT MORE TODAY: www.fontbonne.edu/eureka

allison rhine