wildcat alest plano senior high school volume 67 issue 6 january 28, 2013 plano, tx 75075 www.wildcattales.com

By Brooke Combs As “Sunny boy” wrote his name in his notebook he told junior Madea Neyor that the second he got home he was going to put it underneath his pillow. At this moment, Neyor realized that all her hard work had become worth it. Since 2003, Liberia has been trying to recover from a civil war. According to Neyor, most of those suffering are the kids. Because 68 percent of civilians are living in poverty, most families can’t afford to put their kid into school or can’t pay for the necessary school supplies. Neyor has decided to begin to help out this poor country. “I’ve visited the kids before because I wanted to see what it was like there the first time I went,” Neyor said.

“I visited schools and such. The schools were in poor condition and had no air conditioning. Some schools did have brand-new chairs due to donations from other groups and organizations. I saw kids that didn’t have school supplies and also a lot of them didn’t have proper clothes. At church, we raised money to get clothing for them.” Like Neyor, junior Taylor Chambers found her incentive to help out others when she went on a trip two summers ago. She went on a mission trip to Prescott, Ark. with her church, Christ United Methodist Church. “The basketball court near an elementary school was in terrible shape,” Chambers said. “Everyone would fall down

while we were playing basketball. It was terrible. Some of the other people in our grade and I decided it was up to us to rebuild it.” Neyor decided that she wanted to help the Liberian kids by giving them more than clothes. She bought them school supplies with money she raised from selling her AP U.S. History semester exam study guides. She sold each copy for $10 and it all went towards the school supplies. She ended up raising $650, giving each of 300 kids a notebook, a pack of pencils, sharpeners and erasers.

Viva ShieldsBy Kaitlin Fischer Speaking in the language he teaches, Spanish teacher Gregory Shields stands in front of the class telling the story of how he met his wife. It was while they were studying abroad in Mexico during their third year of college at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. As they were sightseeing together, they found a Mayan calendar that they both enjoyed and wanted to buy. Thinking that since she was buying one it wasn’t necessary for him to buy one, Shields decided against purchasing the memento. Shields thought, if they got married, they both did not need to have the same calendar – but he did not want to seem too forward. After returning home from Mexico in June, they became engaged in October and married in December. Later, his wife told him that she was trying to talk him out of buying the Mayan calendar because she was going to buy it herself. She also did not want them to have the same calendar if they were to get married. Shields relates this story to what they are currently learning in class to get his students interested in the language. In January, he won Teacher of the Year. Since he was a young boy, Shields knew that he wanted to be a teacher. When Shields watched his own teachers explain a new subject, he would wonder if he could ever do that. “I just realized at a very young age that I was thinking like a teacher,” Shields said. “I was picturing myself as a teacher. It was a natural decision when all of a sudden I realized, ‘I want to imitate them, because I think I want to be a teacher.’” When Shields attended Brigham Young University he tried to find professions other than teaching to work towards. Shields knew that he wanted to

eventually have a family and was worried that living on a teacher’s salary would make that difficult for him. He took different classes, including economics, to become a banker. However, Shields also took advanced Spanish classes to earn easy credits, as he was already fluent in the language. “It was the only class that I was really, really passionate about,” Shields said. “Although I am interested in some other concepts, those would only become hobbies, whereas the Spanish class and the teaching classes were the ones I was interested in actually doing homework for. There were classes where I was like, ‘Ugh, I have to do that homework.’ But these were the classes where I would have fun doing the assignments, so it just made sense. If I like it, I probably should stick with it.”

Spanish teacher wins Teacher of the YearBy Rachel Chen

Students get tattoos in memory of loved ones The needle sinks into her skin and vibrates back and forth, leaving a trail of color behind. She does not think she will ever regret what she is doing and seeing it right now, it is exactly how she imagined it would be. For senior Logan Freeman, getting a tattoo when she turned 18 was anything but a reckless decision. Freeman and her mother had planned the perfect tattoo for months. They looked at pictures of different ones online until they found the one they wanted to base her design on: a butterfly, with a pink ribbon as the body. Freeman’s mother had breast cancer, and Freeman hoped the tattoo would remind her of her mother’s strength and show her mother how much she cared for her. Freeman’s mother passed away on July 29 last year, but Freeman had no doubt that she would get the tattoo anyway. On her 18th birthday, accompanied by her father and some friends, Freeman got the tattoo she and her mother had designed together on her left shoulder blade. “It was perfect,” Freeman said. “I looked in the mirror after the tattoo artist was finished and I almost started crying. I got home that night and I literally cried because it was so perfect. It was exactly like what my mom and I had imagined and he just drew it in two tries.” Senior Faith Casper has two tattoos, both signifying ways she hopes to live her life. The first one is on her ribs and says “be strong, be blessed”. The phrase is the slogan of Micaela’s Army, a campaign for a friend who passed away from leukemia almost two years ago. “When things are really hard for me I always remember how strong she was,” Casper said. “I remember that when you are strong, you can get through things and you are blessed in everything. I love explaining it because when I get to, it makes her more alive. I tell them that I got it for my friend who passed away and that it’s kind of what I want to live my life by.”

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Giving across the globe300 children in Monrobia, Liberia wave brand-new school supplies given to them by junior Madea Neyor. She can’t make them forget the civil war the village has been trying to recover from for the past decade, but she can offer them a new focus: education.

Photo submitted by Madea Neyor

Beyond skin deep

Photo by Kaitlin FischerSpanish teacher Gregory Shields presents his Teacher of the Year award.

Photos submitted by Logan Freeman

Left: Senior Logan Freeman and her mother, Shannon Freeman, rest at their home the day before she passed away. Right: Freeman designed her breast cancer ribbon and monarch butterfly-themed tattoo with her mother.

news january 28, 20132

Facebook page delivers secret complimentsBy Alexandria Oguntula The idea is to promote positivity and school unity by complimenting fellow schoolmates anonymously online. It started at Queen’s University in Canada and has been spreading to universities and high schools across the continent. Two weeks ago, Dylan Doe* created the Plano Compliments page on Facebook. Doe made the page after seeing a similar one for another school. Doe is proud of the way students have reacted to the page thus far and hopes that students are getting something special out of it. “It is not common to walk up to a stranger or an old friend and compliment them,” Doe said. “I think this page encourages people to come out of their comfort zone and make someone else’s day. That is something they are not used to. I hope the page has affected people by bringing them more positive feelings. I hope it has encouraged people to speak more kind words to one another and tell them things they normally wouldn’t say.” Senior Cynthia Zhou received a compliment on her helpfulness and photography talent and has responded enthusiastically to the page. “I think it’s such a sweet idea made by someone who is consciously trying to make a difference to the people at our school,” Zhou said. “Especially because the compliments make so many people happy. It’s just such a great way to add positivity to our campus. I was flattered that someone took the time to send me such a sincere compliment. It came at a time when I was really feeling pretty down. So I would have to say that it really made a difference to me to receive something so kind.” Zhou is not alone. Other students also find that the new addition to the social media site benefits everyone involved. Senior Rachel Goldman regarded the site with admiration after an anonymous user complimented her love of books and the way she looks at life.

“There are a lot of things that are sort of hard to say to someone in person,” Goldman said. “Especially if, like me, you’re not very good with words. So a page like this is an awesome way to make someone’s day.” Senior Eric Chen was told that despite his shyness he maintains a friendly presence that is comforting to be around, and senior Brenna Conway was told she would never be forgotten. To them, the page came as a welcome surprise to their day. “I was actually surprised to see that I got a compliment,” Chen said. “That really brightened my day because it’s rather rare to find something so personal and positive on social media device like Facebook.” Conway feels the best thing about the page is that it includes all kinds of students. “On the page there are sincere compliments for people who aren’t always considered to be the most popular,” Conway said. “You can be a great person without being very popular, and I think it’s great that people recognize that.” Not only are the students here benefiting from this gesture; Clark and Jasper have also formed compliments pages. Though students agree that the page is a good idea, some, like senior Max Weiner, have mixed emotions about whether those who give compliments should remain anonymous. “It would be cool to know who it was,” Weiner said. “But the main reason people use the service is to remain anonymous. The important part is what they said, not who said it.”

Zhou also feels somewhat conflicted about the creator’s unknown identity. “I believe that the person should get recognition,” Zhou said. “But at the same time, I think it is a wonderful thing that he or she is not only doing it for the attention. That’s the thing about anonymity, isn’t it? I respect the creator so much because his or her self-interest isn’t the reason for the page; instead, it shows that the intent of the page really is to spread happiness rather than give fame to one individual. So yes, I would like to know who is responsible for such a wonderful idea, but at the same time it is so admirable that he or she does not feel the need for recognition.” Conway also hopes the page stays true to its original setup and the creator does not come forward. “The page was meant to run by the people to give comments anonymously,” Conway said. “If they were to come out, there would be bias and the page would lose a lot of what it was meant to be.” All five students agree that whoever created the page deserves the thanks of the students who have been positively affected by it. “I’d tell the creator that she or he is an amazing person,” Goldman said. “That he or she is making a lot of people happy. I love the fact that I don’t know who’s doing it. He or she isn’t taking credit for this idea, even though it could be an instant popularity boost. The page isn’t about the creator; it’s about the anonymous complimenters and the ones being complimented. I love that.”

*Name changed to protect identity

Viva ShieldsBy Kaitlin Fischer

After attending college, Shields began teaching middle school in Utah. Two years later, he moved to Texas. He taught at Wilson Middle School for two years before moving to Plano, where he is currently in his ninth year of teaching. Shields has been teaching for a total of 14 years now. Shields is also involved in the school by sponsoring two student-led organizations, Spanish Club and I Am Second, a Christian fellowship club. Even though Shields cannot participate in the I Am Second club meetings because it is a non-curricular club, he still does his best to help out. “He has a family. He has to drop his kids off in the morning, and we meet at 8:15 every Wednesday morning,” I Am Second leader junior Michael Luu said. “So he’s busting his butt to make sure he can get there, make sure we have a video up and make sure we can meet and have time of fellowship. Really, that’s just the biggest blessing that he can do for us.” Living in McKinney means Shields has to plan when he will get to school and when the club meetings should be based on his schedule. He also has four children, which means he needs to plan ahead with his wife what activities they have going on. With grading essays and speaking tests, he has to work to find time to finish them all. “It is hard, because sometimes I feel like I’m spending all this time with my students, my school kids, and I wonder, ‘Am I finding that balance?’” Shields said. “Finding that balance between family life and your work

life can be very tricky. If you feel like the students aren’t responding how you want them to or respecting you if you’ve put yourself out there then you go, ‘Why did I do this? Why am I spending my time preparing these lessons if you’re not caring about them?’ You have those moments where you really want to know. I really want to put the burden on my students to take charge of their learning. I can do this much, but they have to be responsible for ultimately deciding what they’re going to take away from it. It can be unsettling, sad, for a teacher to think that they’re putting in all this time which does take time away from your family. I used to be able to go home and grade when my kids were little. Now I can’t, because my daughter is asking me for help on her algebra class or things like that. I have to be very creative in how I use my time to get all of those grading done.” In Spanish Club, Shields works to make the students take responsibility. The officers learn to be leaders because they do not have to depend on him for help. Shields provides the students with things they would not be able to provide themselves, such as a room to meet in and financial support, but for the most part, he puts the responsibility on them. “I want them to see that if they don’t carry through, I’m not necessarily going to be there to pick up the slack,” Shields said. “I don’t want it to be a complete disaster, but sometimes I will let them fail. It lets them see, ‘Okay, what did we do wrong and

how can we plan this better?’ I really believe that’s what the clubs are for. It’s about giving you the opportunity to become leaders.” Shields is also Luu’s Spanish teacher, and Luu believes that Shields is well-deserving of his Teacher of the Year title. “Not only is teaching his passion but his passion is to help students grow outside of the academic realm,” Luu said. “I see that with I Am Second. Even with just academics and school, he’s really trying to make sure everyone succeeds in his classroom and does well, even if they don’t want to. But going past that and outside of school into I Am Second, he wants people to grow spiritually with their faith. He values things other than just school. He’s a well-rounded character, and he’s very determined and dedicated to making sure people succeed in life.” To Luu, Shields is unique in comparison to his other teachers. “His entire personality makes him stand out,” Luu said. “From teacher to teacher, not that it’s a bad thing, they tend to be in your face. ‘Got to get this done, you got deadlines coming up.’ Boom, boom, boom. Whereas Profe Shields takes a different spin. ‘Let’s just have fun. This is Spanish. Let’s do some Spanish. Let’s live some Spanish.’ It’s a very different take.” Wanting to make his classroom a fun place to learn, Shields tries to make his teaching style original using silly voices and

Muppet impersonations. “I have to use voice inflection, especially when we do stories and things like that, just to help them understand and keep their attention,” Shields said. “I can change my voice instead of just being monotone the whole time. I just think that’s boring and I don’t want to be bored. Another thing is that I do use a lot of stories. They’re to introduce a theme or to analyze or bring up a grammar structure.” In the past, Shields has been nominated for Teacher of the Year, and in 2011 won runner-up. He knew he was nominated this year, and was flattered to hear that people knew who he was and voted for him to win. “It’s an extreme honor,” Shields said. “I’m thrilled. I’m so excited. It’s such an honor because there are so many great things that happen at Plano. There are so many great organizations. There are so many great people here. It’s such a good feeling to be recognized for something that you’re so passionate about. You always want to be doing the best at what you do and so to be recognized – it’s like, ‘Oh, well, really?’ It’s amazing.”

Spanish teacher wins Teacher of the Year

Photo by Kaitlin Fischer

Continued from front page

Spanish teacher Gregory Shields explains the difference between the genders of articles to his students.

news january 28, 2013 3

By Leslie Parker Seniors Jessica Kozlowski and Paul Hainey hold hands as they anxiously sit side-by-side in the large auditorium filled with hopeful students from across the state. They all have one thing in common. They have battled through region, pre-area and area auditions and are now part of the select few to make it to Texas A&M Commerce, the location of this year’s All-State choir auditions. Each year, girls go through four rounds of auditions, beginning with phase one, while the boys begin with the region audition. In phase one, schools from the region compete and cut two-thirds of the girls, advancing the remaining one-third to region. At region, the top 15 of every voice part are chosen to sing in the All-Region choir. Those singers advance further to pre-area in hopes of making All-State choir, competing against school districts like Allen, Lovejoy, McKinney and Plano. If they make it through pre-area, the singers move on to area, where the top five in each voice part are awarded a seat in the All-State choir. The judges deliberate for over an hour as the students gather in the auditorium to await their results. They have finally completed their last auditions, which consisted of a morning of performing audition songs and an afternoon of sight reading. The prize is making it into the highest choir, but as the names rattle on it becomes clear not all will get it. They begin by announcing the last chair of each voice part and work their way up, including alternates, to first chair. The voice parts vary from boy to girl. There are eight different voice parts total: soprano 1 and 2, alto 1 and 2, tenor 1 and 2, and bass 1 and 2. “It’s really suspenseful because the more they keep going the more you keep thinking, ‘Oh, I really didn’t make it’ or ‘Oh my gosh, I did that well.’ So it’s a conflict,” Hainey said. “As they were counting down, Jessica just kept repeating, ‘Please call my name, please call my name’ because she wanted to be called just to break the suspense.” By the time third chair soprano 2 was announced, Kozlowski began losing faith. “I was terrified as it kept getting higher and higher,” Kozlowski said. “Paul was all excited the whole time because for some reason he just knew I had made it. He just kept saying, ‘Jessica, be quiet, be quiet, listen’. So my name was the last one they called. And then Paul freaked out.” According to Kozlowski, Hainey’s outburst of excitement was very amusing and caught everyone’s attention. They were told not to make noise as names were being announced, but Paul was so loud everyone in the auditorium turned around to look at him. As they resumed announcing results, it was Paul’s turn to anxiously await his name. Hainey only knew one guy who could possibly stand in the way of him winning first chair, Evan Lane. They both sing the same voice part, bass 1, and Hainey knew at All-State one of them would get first chair while the other won second. The announcer called Lane’s name first so Hainey knew first chair was his. “When they called his name he got really excited again and he did the same loud noise-making,” Kozlowski said. “Mr. Brookins and Ms. Keen just turned around in their seats and smiled at us. It turned out to be a really great ending to the day.” Three singers from Plano made it into All-State choir. Kozlowski and Hainey made first chair, and senior Joshua Tolibas made fourth chair tenor 2. Winning first chair means that the singer received the highest score in all of area. They determine this score by adding the singing cuts from the music to the sight reading score. There are seven first chairs in the state, one from each area. They never compete against each other except when auditioning for solos. According to Kozlowski, once you have made it into state choir you have gone as far as you can go. Those who make state have a onetime annual concert on Saturday, Feb. 16 in San Antonio. The students will each miss three days of school as they face 12-hour rehearsals Wednesday through Friday and a short rehearsal the morning of the concert. Hainey has been to the convention before and can’t wait to go back. Kozlowski joined the school choir in fourth grade and continued throughout middle school. She she also joined an outside choir called Younger Generation, which

she now interns for. As an intern, Kozlowski teaches each different voice part what to sing because the singers are in elementary school or middle school and often do not know how to read music yet. “I teach them music theory and how the notes lay on the page,” Kozlowski said. “It’s really fun because they don’t know what they’re doing, which is cute. My favorite part is once they’ve all learned it. They’re so proud of what they’ve done. You can just tell on their faces that they know it sounds good and it’s great that they feel good about themselves.” Kozlowski said she began working really hard her freshman and sophomore years at Jasper. She wasn’t in the top choir either of those years, but she was always working to get better so she could be the top choir at Plano, where she knew she wanted to end up. Her hard work paid off and according to Kozlowski, choir at Plano is much different than her experience at Jasper. “It’s thoroughly enjoyable and yet it’s probably one of the more challenging courses of my day, even compared to my AP classes,” said Kozlowski. Choir has become a huge part of Kozlowski’s life and thus changed her as a person. “At a young age, singing gave my life a direction to move in,” Kozlowski said. “Making first chair in All-State is probably one of the most exciting things that had ever happened to me. Realizing that I am good enough has boosted my self-esteem. I’ve never done anything like this before and I know being first chair is going to be a great experience.” Hainey also started choir at a young age and continued on at Jasper. He first joined choir in fifth grade. His mom was always encouraging him to be involved with choir because he was always singing around the house. Hainey was also a part of Younger Generation Chorus until he didn’t have time for it anymore with his other activities such as tennis. Though Hainey will move to sit next to Kozlowski whenever they mix up positions in choir, they also spend a lot of time outside of school together watching movies or going out to restaurants. After meeting in AP U.S. History junior year, their relationship became more than just partners on a few group projects. Kozlowski and Hainey began to date and celebrated their nine month anniversary this month. “We kind of flirted for a month. Then we both went on the choir trip to Disney World and had a great time,” Hainey said. “She decided to go with us when we went to go see fireworks in Magic Kingdom. My friends kept telling me I should ask her out. When the fireworks went out, there was a heart that shot up and I asked her out.” Hainey said if there was a rule that he couldn’t see her every day, he would break it. “The moments I have with her are probably my happiest moments,” Hainey said. “I enjoy every second of being with her. I can’t imagine not being able to see her or communicate with her. She’s a part of my life – a big part of my life, and I don’t want to lose that.” Hainey and Kozlowski are proud that they are the only two first chairs in all of PISD. “It’s such a great feeling to know our school has some of the best singers in the state and it’s nice to know Jessica and I can be first together,” Hainey said.

“I wish I had a video of the kids’ reactions,” Neyor said. “Some of them jumped up and down and some were dancing. The parents were really happy because some of them can’t afford school supplies for their kids. They were overjoyed.” Initially, Chambers received $3,000 in offerings from her Sunday school class. This past year, Chambers and her friends have tried to make the fundraiser a non-profit organization. “We’ve had to talk to lawyers and accountants and a lot of different people,” Chambers said. “Because it’s outside the elementary school, we have to work with a contractor that the school district has, so we actually won’t be doing the building. We just have to raise the money for it.” The hardest part for Chambers is getting the word out to people about their fundraising. “We only get a few dollar donations,” Chambers said. “We really need to find the people that are going to be passionate and give a lot of money. We’re actually trying merge our foundation with the Nancy Lieberman Foundation. Her organization does the same thing that we’re trying to do.” While in Arkansas on her mission trip, Chambers would play basketball with the kids after working all day. She would talk to the kids and noticed a child named James, who never spoke much. “On the last night we were there I promised him that I was going to re-build his basketball court,” Chambers said. “That’s what motivates me to keep going because it has been a while since we’ve been back. Just thinking about that promise keeps me going.” After meeting a 16-year-old girl who was only in the seventh grade, Neyor realized how fortunate she was. “She was so happy to have school supplies and so happy to be going to school and learning,” Neyor said. “I know a lot of us take school for granted; we think it’s a pain, but some kids die to go to school and can’t afford it.” For Chambers, this is only the beginning. She wishes that in the future this foundation will still be active. “We don’t want this to be our last court that we rebuild,” Chambers said. “I want to create something that can continue in the future, not something that has an end.” Chambers needs around $10,000 to complete this project. She and others have been working with the city of Prescott, hoping that they will cover some of the costs. It is difficult for Neyor to realize that what she did only helped so many. She hopes that in the future she can continue raising money for the kids in Liberia that she didn’t get to help. “The next opportunity I get to raise money I’ll take it,” Neyor said. “Whatever ideas I come up with, I’ll definitely put towards helping them and benefiting them. It’s a one step at a time thing you have to do. It’s realizing that as much as you can do, that there’s still a lot more that can be done.”

Giving across the globeBy Brooke Combs

Couple sings victoryas first in state

Continued from front page

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Seniors Jessica Kozlowski and Paul Hainey pose for pictures before Homecoming.

Their hearts belong to the ice, no matter how they’re treated on or off it. Juniors Sarah Norris, Alex Brown and Vines freshman Jessica Rea enter the boys’ world of hockey as members of the junior varsity hockey team. Norris’ Canadian mother has always pushed her to commit to hockey; she has been playing roller hockey since the age of 5 and ice hockey since age 10. She played on the Alliance 16 and under girls’ hockey team from 2011 to 2012, and joined the Plano team last summer. Unlike Norris, Brown has always been the only girl on her hockey team. She joined the JV team three years ago and has been assistant captain since November. She leads alongside team captain sophomore Kyle Jones, who said he supports the girls and treats them as equals. It is Jones’ second year on the JV team and first year as team captain, though he has had experience as captain of his prior teams. As a child, Jones explored a range of sports, but said he never felt like he belonged. He remembers seeing a hockey game on his parent’s television, asking his parents to sign him up for lessons and falling forthe sport the moment his skates hit the rink. It has been nine years since. Jones not only accepts the differences between his girl and guy teammates, but he appreciates them. According to Jones, one of the issues the team struggles with is motivation. When the team is feeling down after a game, Jones said that the girls tend to be the first ones to come up with new and positive solutions to bring up their spirits on and off the rink. “It’s pretty cool to see them able to compete and out-achieve most guys in the sport. I have no problem with it, and I am glad to see them be a part of the team. They’re here to play the sport they love. That’s what the guys are here for too. The girls are always the ones screaming to their teammates ‘we’re still in this’, ‘keep pushing it’, and ‘we can do it.’ If a teammate is down, they aren’t afraid to talk to him, as opposed to guys who wouldn’t normally be the first to do that. They bring us closer together,” Jones said. “Alex is a great captain. I personally don’t like thinking of it as captain versus assistant captain because anyone can be a leader of the team, no matter what letter is on your jersey. She definitely deserves to be a captain on this team.” Brett Sammon, Plano’s JV coach for the last eight seasons, has coached seven girls in his 19 years of head coaching experience. However, he had never coached three girls at the same time. He said his expectations for the girls remain the same as those for the boys and their skill levels are comparable. “The girls, in my eyes, are the same as

the boys on a hockey team, competitive athletes looking to play for their school, improve their skills, and win hockey games,” Sammon said. “Speed is a concern for the girls, as well as shooting strength, but puck handling, passing and hockey sense are better than or equal to that of their teammates. Although the team is coed, the girls still change in a separate locker room and said they feel a disconnection from the guy teammates. “We don’t have the team bonding in the locker room,” Norris said. “The guys have a negative attitude about it because besides two of them, none of them have played on a team with girls on it. They don’t know how to take it. They communicate less and don’t want to involve themselves with us. They go into the situation thinking we suck without even watching us play in the first place. They treat us like we’re girls – like we don’t understand what we’re doing and like we’ve never played hockey before. It’s like, I’ve been playing for 11 years; I know what I’m doing.”

Junior Oliver Plott is one of the guys who is familiar with having girls on a hockey team. On his very first select hockey team, Plott played with a girl, unlike most of the younger boys. “Some guys probably aren’t used to having girls on the team,” Plott said. “Hockey is predominantly a male

sport, but there are some girl teams. With the segregation of guys and girls, there are different rules and overall different norms. Integrating guys and girls causes fear of the unknown; some guys just don’t know how to handle it. Naturally, some of the guys will resist having girls influence team decisions, but hopefully they will come around. It’s not like they’re animals, and they have every right to be a part of the team, just as the guys do, and believe me, if anyone ever messes with the girls, one of the guys has their number.”

january 28, 2013sports 4

By Priyanka HardikarFemale hockey players face icy reception

It all depends on their concentration. In a split second, a player could be completely knocked down or could be running the ball several meters. The Plano Rugby team offers all students male or female in the district ages 8 and up a chance to play the sport. Even though the sport is not the most popular among the student body, the sport runs deep through the hearts of its players. “When I am on the field I don’t think about a lot,” junior Ethan Waller said. “You aren’t allowed to think about what step to take, you just have to remember your training and do what best fits the situation.” The new rugby season just started, but so far its popularity among the student body is far from the support the football team received this past fall. Players want others to realize that rugby might actually be more appealing to them if they paid more attention to the game. Senior Angel Garcia believes that rugby is important in shaping an athlete. “People take football too seriously, and that’s one of the problems,” Garcia said. “I was talking to head football coach Jaydon McCullogh a long time ago and I told him that if he got into rugby it would be better for his athletes. They would get into better shape and learn how to talk to their teammates more. One of the football team’s star players is senior Brian Hanks and he used to play lots of rugby. I think that helped him to be the player he is.” First time Rugby sponsor Jose Hurtardo, who played rugby in college, wants everyone to recognize the importance the game has on people emotionally and physically. Hurtardo believes the sport puts its players through a metamorphosis, creating better-equipped athletes. “Rugby is a world-wide fraternity,” Hurtardo said. “If you look at its global impact, rugby is even more popular than soccer around the world. But the thing that truly makes rugby special is the motley crue of men and women who comprise its ranks and put their bodies through the grueling training that it takes to become a true ‘rugger’.” Just like any other sport, rugby players put passion into their game. Garcia has only played rugby for a year but said he has enjoyed it very much. To him rugby is non-stop and allows him

to communicate with others better. Garcia’s favorite game wasn’t one about winning. “Even though we lost, I loved playing in the state game against the Woodlands,” Garcia said. “Every phase we had we were evenly matched and it was hard to get anywhere. They scored last minute and that’s how they won. I was playing at my best. Even though it was hard and frustrating, it was fun and really pushed me in my skills.” Many people have questioned the sport’s safety due to the fact that players’ only protection is a mouth guard. Waller said the sport isn’t as dangerous as some make it out to be. “Rugby is safer than football,” Waller said. “There are fewer concussions. You are under more control when you play. When you tackle you aren’t just throwing yourself in headfirst. There is a technique that you learn when you first start playing that helps you develop into a safe player.” With players from all over the city, the team is well-rounded in skill. With players from different schools, more playing opportunities are open to those who want to play. The rugby team’s past winning status, going all the way to state, helps encourage more people to play. “If you have more people coming out from different places it’ll be a bigger team,” Garcia said. “You get more diversity. Take Allen – they have so many different football players, so they always are one of the best teams. But with our diversity, our rugby team beat Allen 40 something to zero.” Hurtardo and the team members think that with so many different aspects to the sport, rugby is something everyone at school should check out. In their opinion there is a lot to gain. “If you decide that rugby is for you, you will engage in training that will push you to the limits,” Hurtardo said. “You will unlock a physicality that you simply didn’t know you had in you. This will inevitably result in higher self-confidence, and more importantly you will engage in an experience that will remind you that you are above all a citizen of the world. Check it out. It may be the one activity that you’ve been looking for – it will either be the most confusing sport you’ve ever seen or played, or it will make you feel that you’ve finally found your calling. My hope is that it’s the latter.”

Rugby pushes players ahead By Alexis Sendejas

Photo submitted by Jessica ReaFreshman Jessica Rea and junior Alex Brown pose with their teamates after winning second place in play-offs against St. Mark’s.

Photo submitted by Sarah NorrisJunior Sarah Norris takes the ice for the Alliance hockey team.

Photo submitted by Angel Garcia

Senior Angel Garcia goes in for a tackle at last year’s state game against Woddlands.

featurejanuary 28, 2013 5

By Rachel Chen

Students get tattoosin memory of loved ones

Support them. Despise them. View them as good or evil, but there is no denying that guns are getting increased amounts of attention. The recent shootings in Newton, Conn. and Aurora, Colo. and the legislation presented to the nation is creating controversy and discussion on what steps need to be taken next. English IV teacher Kevin Dunagan has used gun control as a topic to teach his honors class about biases. Recently, his students have been studying arguments and learning about the rules of evidence, so he has been using major national debates as a tool to look at different sides of an issue. “My thought is, students should know about some of the major debates of this time, like gun control, partially because there is extreme emotion on both sides of the issue,” Dunagan said. “A lot of times you have really shabby thinking where you have extreme emotions. Today, people don’t really think too clearly about their opinions. I think the big thing is to do something that most students don’t – to pay attention to the news. And do something that most adult aren’t willing to do – look at the news from all sides, recognizing that there is bias from all sources.” Senior Scott Bueche had his mind made up on the role of firearms ever since he came to understand what the Constitution means to him. “I found a quote by Alex Jones, who has his own talk show and his own website, infowars.com: ‘The second amendment isn’t there for duck hunting; it is there to protect us from tyrannical government and street thugs,’” Bueche said. “I think this quote in particular sums up the principle of our nation’s second amendment. Our Constitution is continually undermined by our government, and I believe that the law-abiding citizens’ second amendment is next.” When Bueche was about 8 years old, he shot his first firearm. Since then, he has taken classes and shot competitively as well

as recreationally. “You learn responsibility through them,” Bueche said. “With the right safety precautions, they’re not something to be afraid of. I believe a lot of people that do not grow up around firearms are gun-shy – they’re scared of them. I was taught how to properly handle a firearm at a very young age. I learned that they are to be taken seriously at all times with no exceptions, and that understanding the function and parts of the firearms is key. There are huge precautions when owning a firearm and keeping that firearm in one’s home. I don’t understand how people can spend thousands of dollars on various firearms and not safely store them with the responsible members of the household, including firearms meant for personal protection. Also, ammunition should be kept separately from all firearms. ” Senior Neil Daryani said he supports increased regulations and safety precautions, but he believes firearms are unnecessary in general. “I tend to be more peaceful and support nonviolence,” Daryani said. “I really view guns as a weapon and don’t support using them. The recent shootings have opened my eyes to the fact that America needs to put more regulations on how the citizens possess guns. New York has new gun laws and I think that it’s the first state out of many to make changes due to the shootings. Too many lives are being taken by something that could be prevented. Guns give the power to kill people. Say I wanted to kill someone but I didn’t have a gun – it’s going to be more difficult with a knife or through another means. The trigger gives more power to us than we would have without it.” Making sure anyone who is attempting to purchase a firearm has gone through a background check is the only restriction Bueche supports. However, he is open to ideas involving classes, training and mental health screening, although he believes these

should not be mandatory. He feels that the focus should not be on the firearms used in the recent shootings, but the mental health of the individuals who used them. “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people – just as knives, cars or anything else can be used to kill,” Bueche said. “After mass shootings, questions always arise such as, ‘What restrictions can be placed on future firearm purchases? In what ways can the government push a potential gun ban?’ It should be more about the individual behind these ruthless acts, because the gun is not ultimately responsible, the person is.” When Bueche turns 21, he plans on getting a concealed handgun license. Currently in Texas, adults with a CHL are able to carry a gun with them as long as it is not visible, while open carry laws allow individuals to carry visible guns. After talking to his sister, who lives in Oklahoma where open carry is now allowed, Bueche believes that open carry can potentially be more effective than concealed carry for defense. “I explained to her that law-abiding citizens who choose to open carry are not a threat, and that this could lead to lower crime rates,” Bueche said. “Statistics show where there are the most gun restrictions, higher crime is found. Where there are a lot less restrictions, the overall crime rate is much lower. Think about it – are you really going to go in a bank and rob it when you see four or five other men inside with open carry handguns? You are definitely going to think twice when others can stop such a potential threat.” Daryani’s feelings against firearms were strengthened after an experience he had with a gun owner. While driving with two friends in his car, a large truck continued to aggressively tail him even after he turned into the neighborhood and drove around to try to avoid the truck. After getting out of his car, a struggle occurred while Daryani attempted to take a picture of the man’s license plate. The police were called, and Daryani found out the driver had a gun in

his car. “It was very frightening to find that out,” Daryani said. “He went in and out of his car several times while the cops were coming, so he could have gotten it out and used it if he wanted to. I just kept thinking, what if one of my friends got hurt? This is part of the reason I don’t trust guns. Things could have escalated further and something could have happened. He didn’t threaten me with it, but the cops were pretty upset about me getting out of the car. Even though he legally could have it in the car they said I could have provoked him, and that I should have been more careful because of things like road rage. Guns can be too much temptation when emotions take over.” Yet, Bueche believes emotion is what the media plays off of when presenting an issue. “The media has a huge role on everything in today’s society,” Bueche said. “It is extraordinary the effect the media can have on one’s opinions on such a crucial and controversial issue. The information is presented in such a way that insists that firearms are the problem. More times than not, the media shows more support for gun control rather than delivering an unbiased story.” Dunagan believes students should develop their own opinions based on facts from publications that have different perspectives. “Students can become better thinkers and the idea is to empower them so that they’re not being manipulated,” Dunagan said. “At the same time, they should be willing to take a look at their own opinions and see ‘Are my views really based on evidence? Am I really thinking in a sound way, or am I just guided by my emotions and self-interest, instead of maybe what’s true and what’s right?’ Students can look at, debate and analyze what is being said and recognize where people unintentionally or even deliberately try to mislead the public and form a sound, informed opinion.”

Casper’s other tattoo is on her foot and says “acceptance, balance, change”, to represent how her life took a turn after her family moved to Boston last year. She got the tattoo to remember a person she met there who acted as her mentor, since they no longer live near each other. While in Boston, the two went on walks together almost every night. “When I was on a walk with her, she gave me advice that really changed my life and helped me improve my life and live better,” Casper said. “I always want to remember that, even if she can’t be part of my life anymore.” When Freeman sees her tattoo she is reminded of her mother, but seeing it does not upset her – she is happy for the memories it brings back. “Probably my favorite memories would be sitting in her bedroom, just talking,” Freeman said. “We would just talk for hours and hours about just anything and everything. She was basically my best friend. Even though she was my mom, we still had a really great relationship. When I see my tattoo I just think of the whole conversation that we had about the tattoo and the things that we could talk about. It symbolizes how close we were.” Senior Walter Gibson’s father passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2010. Gibson knew he wanted to get a tattoo, but he had not decided what he wanted yet. Since his father was from New Orleans and a Saints fan, Gibson got a fleur-de-lis tattooed on his left arm after her turned 18.

“I thought about what I was going to get for a long time beforehand because I wasn’t going to get something that was just random,” Gibson said. “It makes me think of my dad. Sometimes I forget I have it and it is like, ‘Oh,’ and it just comes back.” Aside from being a memory of his father, Gibson’s tattoo also reminds him of his older sister, giving it a double meaning. Gibson’s stepsister had taken his older sister to get her first tattoo, and his older sister wanted to continue the tradition by going with him. “She already had two and she wanted to get another one,” Gibson said. “We kind of did a bonding tattoo thing, because she got one too. Even though I had to drive and everything, she still took me in a sense.” Although Casper’s parents were initially apprehensive about her getting a tattoo, the symbolism behind the tattoos was enough to convince her parents to approve of them. “My parents actually were surprisingly supportive because it wasn’t something that was meaningless,” Casper said. “They knew how much they meant to me. When it comes down to it, they know this is important and they understand why it means something to you, so you can go ahead and do it. The tattoos are like how I feel on the inside, just expressed in a different way.” All three students agree that tattoos should have significant meaning before a person gets one.

“Eventually you’re going to grow and body parts are going to stretch and it’s going to look really bad,” Freeman said. “I think if you’re going to get something tattooed on for the rest of your life, it should at least have a meaning behind it.”

Gun control triggers debateBy Kathleen ShaffercrossfireCaught in

Illustration by Tiffany Weng

Photo submitted by Walter Gibson

Senior Walter Gibson got a fleur-de-lis tattoo inspired by his father’s love for the New Orleans Saints.

Photo submitted by Walter Gibson

Continued from front page

Gibson’s father, Walter Gibson, Sr., sits in the foyer of a Paris hotel in 2009.

Photo submitted by Faith Casper

Photo submitted by Faith CasperSenior Faith Casper shows off her second tattoo.

Casper’s tattoo reads “acceptance, balance, change” and represents her perspective on life.

january 28, 2013feature 6

When he awoke a day later, he was on a cargo plane. The last thing he could remember was staring at the Australian flags on the ceiling flash by as he was wheeled through the hospital in Afghanistan. Now he was with six other wounded soldiers on a flight to Landstuhl, Germany. In the ICU, doctors told Zastoupil they were going to give him an Epidural to numb the lower half of his body. “I’m not pregnant,” he told them. A few days later, Zastoupil was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he is now. He underwent 12 major surgeries within the next few weeks to clean his wound and prevent infection. Doctors told Zastoupil he was on a fast track to recovery, thanks to his previous muscle development from playing basketball. In October, six weeks after the accident, he walked for the first time on a prosthetic leg. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m walking. I’ll get used to the pain,’” Zastoupil said. “That was a bad idea, because pain meant something was going wrong. It was burning like it was on fire.” Zastoupil’s tibia, or shin bone, began rubbing against his skin inside the prosthetic leg and opened a quarter-sized hole. Doctors cut back his tibia a few centimeters and pulled his calf muscle up over the bone for extra cushioning. Zastoupil mostly endured phantom pain, where the nerve endings in his left foot gave the sensation of a still-attached limb. At times, he felt like concrete was rubbing against his pinky toe or something was scraping his heel.

“I understand every two steps forward, there is going to be a step back,” Zastoupil said. “Mobility is a huge issue – how to get from here to there? Am I going to take to my wheelchair? If I take my crutches, how much am I going to be crutching around?” Now, five months after his initial injury in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Zastoupil walks everywhere he goes. He uses specific prosthetic legs for different activities. “I’m running around, going all over the country,” Zastoupil said. “It’s amazing how I’m up walking and I’m wearing pants. I can wear my leg for 12, 14 hours at a time. I’ll have what I call my daily cruiser – what I’m normally walking around with. I’ll have my leg that I play basketball with, my leg that I run with, my leg that I swim with. Depending on what I do, I could be carrying four different legs in the back of my truck. I think people display their fine china and stuff and I’ll have my display case of legs, you know.” Every morning from 8 to 11 or noon, Zastoupil works out in physical therapy sessions. Before he had his prosthetic leg, the training focused on strengthening his core and hips and improving balance on his right leg to prepare him for wearing a prosthetic leg. Now that he has his prosthetic leg, he focuses on learning to balance on it. Zastoupil drove for four hours to attend the Army vs. Navy basketball game at West Point on Jan. 20, where he spoke to some people who had no previous knowledge of his injury. They were unable to tell that he had been hurt and were shocked when Zastoupil mentioned it. “I feel like I’m so normal,” Zastoupil said. “It’s very limiting. I’ll start to feel good, like, ‘Man, I’m finally back to normal again.’ Then I’ll try and run and trip. The other day I was walking back to my room. I went to jump up on the curb and for whatever reason, I chose to jump off my left foot. I went to point my toe, because normally I can spring with my calf up on the curb. Nothing happened, so I just kind of fell on my face. It was really funny. I’ll try to do something outside of my comfort zone that I just can’t do right now – but I’ll get there. I ordered a robotic foot a few days ago. The ankle has a motor, and it’ll help me push when I walk or bend when I go uphill and downhill.” Zastoupil will have his last major surgery, anterior and posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, on Feb.

1. The two ligaments, which were torn in the accident, will keep his shin from moving back and forth. It will take a week or two to recover, and about five or six months in rehab to get full range of motion and strength back. It is hardest for Zastoupil to adjust to being in the spotlight, but he realizes that by allowing others to be a part of his recovery, he is helping them. “Now, for some reason, people think I’m a hero,” Zastoupil said. “I’m not a glory-hound. Anytime my basketball team did anything successful, I pushed everyone else to the front. I want to be successful; I don’t need everyone’s appreciation. But now I have to take interviews. I have to make a video saying, ‘Hey, I’m okay, I’m alive’ so people can watch it. Sometimes it’s more therapeutic for people to help me than it is for me to accept it. People feel better if they’re helping me, and see I’m doing better. I’ve had visits from people I barely know. They want me to get better. I’m not going to let them down. I had no idea the lives and people I touched through the years. It’s amazing that I can reach out and inspire all these people who are sort of using me as a catalyst to go about their day.” While the global War on Terror has seen fewer casualties than any other war in a decade of the past century, Zastoupil’s mother Harriet Kelley said there is an untold story of how many soldiers are returning home with lost limbs as a result of IED attacks. The intent behind them is not to kill, but rather to maim soldiers, as the Taliban believe being handicapped is more demoralizing than death. “I had no idea until I was at Walter Reed, and saw three, four coming back a week missing two legs, an arm and a foot,” Kelley said. “I don’t think the country knows. There was another lieutenant who was injured the same day in a completely separate event. That was just so much the norm that it didn’t even get a line in a press release. I’m not saying because it was Eric people should stand up and take note. I’m just saying, what have we come to when we expect this to happen? When this is not the exception?” When Zastoupil was first injured, Kelley chose to send him to Walter Reed over a hospital in San Antonio closer to home because she wanted her son to be part of the special Wounded Warrior Wing of Walter Reed with other soldiers. “I came to thinking – he doesn’t need family and friends wiping his brow, saying ‘Oh, we’re so sorry this happened’. He needed his basketball and military community saying ‘You’re tough. You can make it. Get up. Work hard,’” Kelley said. “I’m running around talking to him, to doctors, doing everything I can, but ultimately it’s the other wounded warriors who inspire and encourage each other. It’s something they share that none of us can even begin to comprehend. There’s Air Force, Navy, Army guys – they all have rivalry. It’s nothing to hear somebody say, ‘Hey, Air Force. Think you can do this?’ and challenge each other.” Zastoupil said he still feels like the same person he was before. He has a shirt that says “I had a blast in Afghanistan”, as well as one that says “Wounded warrior: some assembly required”. “I’ve always had a self-deprecating humor,” Zastoupil said. “It’s sort of something that all the amputees can kind of bond around. We all just make horrible dark jokes. If you can’t make fun of it, then what can you do about it?” He’s received visits from President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. TV personality and radio talk show host Motel Williams “comes by all the time”. Zastoupil was personally invited to the CIA headquarters so four-star General David Petraeus could pin his purple heart onto him. Zastoupil is the only person to have ever been personally awarded a purple heart by Petraeus while he was CIA director. “The fact that he did it was just an honor,” Zastoupil said. “Petraeus was what every officer wanted to become. He still is an incredible general and human being. Panetta was the best visit from a huge political figure. He wanted to know what happened to me, what I thought, how it could be fixed. This is my ultimate boss in the chain of command, and the fact that he wanted to know what I thought was incredible.”

With the support he has received, Zastoupil has never once regretted the past or grown tired of his recovery. “I would do it all over. I made a mistake, but I’m okay with that,” Zastoupil said. “I wrote up the most detailed, perfect plan for that ambush. There are contingencies, and I prepared for them. But you can write the best mission in the world and the second that first bullet comes through, your plan goes to hell. I’m glad the rest of the platoon didn’t get hurt.” He knows for a fact that one day, he will play basketball again. He wants high school students to know that there is always a chance to progress and become a better person. “I work out in a room full of amputees, and these guys are missing legs but they’re dragging weights around. They’re running,” Zastoupil said. “If you get knocked back, there’s no time to sit there and whine. Why do you feel sorry for yourself when these other people have one arm and they’re driving and doing all this incredible stuff, and the worst thing that happened to you is you got a bad grade on a test? No. You keep developing yourself, always making yourself better. You got to move on and do things that will get you what you’re trying to get.” On Jan. 30, Kelley will rejoin her son to be with him during his surgery and recovery. For the first four months of his recovery, Kelley lived in transitional housing on the naval base in Bethesda, Md. so she could be with her son in his recovery. Every day, she walked to another building to get the mail. There were some days when she couldn’t carry it all back herself. “All of this is phenomenal,” Kelley said. “I see a lot of schoolchildren writing from Plano, from my school, from

schools we don’t even know. The fact that these kids have been serious in recognizing the sacrifices the military gives and went through the

experience of putting their thanks into words is invaluable.” Zastoupil is planning to go to graduate school and then either return to West Point to be a part of cyber research and teach, or become a part of the Army Cyber Command and work in cyber defense. He said that being the computer nerd he is, his first thought is to go to graduate school on the West Coast, and is thinking about applying to Stanford, University of California, Berkeley and University of Washington. If Zastoupil could pick one thing to say he has mastered, it would be perseverance. “The enemy took their best shot at me, with their best technology at the time,” Zastoupil said. “They put me down on the ground, and I jumped back up. That’s a good way to go about things. Be positive and have a good attitude that you’re always going to bounce back – no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better. They can give their best shot, but it’s not going to hold me down.”

By Kimberly MeiFinal part of Eric Zastoupil’s journey

Photo submitted by Eric ZastoupilPresident Barack Obama stops by to visit Eric Zastoupil as he recovers at Walter Reed. From back left: Lou Zastoupil, Eric’s father, Sandie Davis, Lou’s girlfriend, President Barack Obama, Harriet Kelley, Eric’s mother. In front: Eric Zastoupil.

Photo submitted by Eric ZastoupilEric Zastoupil pushes himself during a physical therapy session with the help of two nurses.

Photo submitted by Eric ZastoupilEric Zastoupil recieves a visit from the West Point basketball team, clad in summer uniforms called india whites.

The enemy took their best shot at me. They put me down on the ground, and I jumped back up.

“”

january 28, 2013 opinion7

It was his eyes that did it – the way they brightened up when he spoke. The passion seemed to flame up and ignite everything around him, and then every person who sat within five feet of him was caught up in the action, too. It was his eyes that showed his passion. The beginning of Mr. Shields’s story did not intrigue me. He began with his occupation: a teacher – a Spanish teacher, to be precise. He aided his kids in every way possible, including sponsoring two student organizations – but that was not what caught my attention either. It was not his effort to drive to school every morning after he dropped off his own children at their school in McKinney. No, it was not his acts that proved his passion; it was the way he talked about it. When he spoke about his techniques in class, suddenly his entire demeanor

changed. Like magic, his quiet voice began to grow louder with excitement. The speed of his words began to quicken to the point where I had to concentrate to decipher what he was saying. His made big gestures with every sentence he spoke. His energy was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile in response to this change. I watched him talk about how he loves helping kids learn and how when their faces brighten with sudden understanding, he feels happy. He began showing his passion for teaching right before my eyes. He gave a voice to each character, hand movements for each action. And as he told his story, a grin was glued to his face. As I sat absorbing his hand movements, his voice and his stories of helping his kids, I knew that one day I wanted that. When I eventually choose my profession, I want to have

that same passion. When people ask me what I love about my career, I want my eyes to brighten and my hands to move animatedly like his. Mr. Shields helped me realize what I wanted to do when I grow up. Maybe I don’t know specifically what I want to major in or where I want to work, but I know that I want to work in my passion. When I get to the point of deciding what my future will behold, I won’t be so hasty in choosing a path. If it takes having to change my mind a few times, I’m okay with that, because I know that eventually I will find my passion. Taking one or two extra hours of classes is worth having the rest of my life to do what I am happiest doing. I hope that eventually, I will have the opportunity to tell about my passion. And like Mr. Shields’s, my eyes will show it.

By Kaitlin Fischer

Freshly ironed suits and genuine fur coats. A wooden mantelpiece adorned with fragile antiques. Smooth show tunes floating across the room from a polished Steinway. A view overlooking the lights of the city. Candlelit tables. Quiet voices. Members only. Our server pulled out the tall, plush chair for me as we approached the table. Low, yellowish lighting warmed the dining area, but still I felt tension in the air. Everything was exceedingly refined. A single piece of dirt would soil the entire room. Laughing loudly would disrupt the mood. Improper etiquette would be viewed with disgust. After I sat, he placed the delicately folded napkin in my lap. I made a conscious effort to sit up straight, sip my lemonade silently and speak eloquently – they seemed like unwritten rules of the club. Before I could ask for a second roll, one somehow appeared on my plate. My drink was refilled instantaneously. A rolling appetizer cart came to our table, and I was served three fresh shrimp on a lettuce leaf with a lemon slice and crackers on the side. We were told to take our time looking at the menu. I scanned the two-page list of main courses, finding unrecognizable, exotic names and delicious-sounding descriptions, but no numbers. “Order whatever you want, don’t even think about cost,” my dad said as he realized his menu was the only one with prices listed. After two more hours, I had consumed a quarter of my extremely rich lobster bisque, two warm rolls, half of my lemon-butter dover sole entrée, two servings of gourmet macaroni and cheese, half of a chocolate mousse cake slice and a chocolate mousse parfait. It was all very gradual; I think even my heartbeat slowed as the evening went on. The club’s music and attitude lulled us into a state of relaxation, and we soaked in the environment as much as we could. There was no pressure. There was no stress. For us, dinner at the club was a rare treat, but it became apparent that for others in the room, it was commonplace. It seemed like all of the other diners had been there forever, as if this was where they belonged. I was just a guest in their world. “It’s how the other half lives,” my mom commented as she caught me glancing around wide-eyed.

Five months ago, I bought Jacob Riis’ book of the same title – “How the Other Half Lives” – at Ellis Island. In it, Riis, a turn-of-the-century photographer, uses both text and pictures to bring to light the horrible living conditions of poor foreigners in New York City during the immigration boom. His images, though dated, reflect the same energy as images of contemporary families facing financial struggle. Initially, these two “halves” seem opposite in nearly every way. One has everything and wants nothing. The other wants everything and has nothing. One focuses on thriving, the other on mere survival. One is respected and prosperous, the other shamed and deprived. They are almost considered two separate species – humans that have strayed too far apart to resemble one another any longer. Society has distanced the halves so much that they can no longer come together to make a whole. But after attending the upscale dinner, I realized that the basic character of every person is the same. At the club, I saw a man choose the seat next to his wife rather than the one across from her so he could put his hand affectionately on her knee during dinner. In his eyes was the same love that I saw in one of Riis’ subjects, a mother holding her infant wrapped in an old blanket. I watched the two elderly ladies sitting next to the window laugh with the same smile an immigrant woman wore as she did laundry with her family on their shabby apartment floor. The people in the photographs expressed the same basic emotions as the modern-day well-endowed: companionship, love and joy. The only difference between them was their setting – a torn-up tenement versus an elegant dining room. When stripped down of all material items, financial circumstances and impure motives, both halves pursue the same innate desire. Happiness. If someday both sides are able to recognize this – that across social rankings and annual income, all people share a goal in life – a bridge may finally unite them. Both halves smile the same. They love the same. They feel the same. They live the same.

By Alyssa Matesic

wildcatjanuary 28, 2013 volume 67 issue six

Editors-in-ChiefAlyssa MatesicJp Salazar

Copy EditorKimberly Mei

Layout EditorShezal Padani

Photo/Graphic EditorCristina Seanez

Business ManagerKathleen Shaffer

AdviserTerry Quinn

Mission Statement:Wildcat Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the student body in a professional manner which will provoke thought while upholding the principles of a free press. The publication is a forum for the students of Plano Senior High School. Any opinions expressed in Wildcat Tales is the opinion of the writer and of the writer only.

Policy:Students 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 or emailed to The Wildcat Tales at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. The staff reserves the right to edit a letter for grammatical errors and space issues. Any errors found in the publication will be rescinded in the following issue. Additional and daily updates can be found at our website www.wildcattales.com. Past issues can be viewed at www.issuu.com/wildcattalesonline. Businesses wishing to advertise in Wildcat Tales can email us at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements deemed to be inappropiate.

Jessica AllmanRachel ChenBrooke CombsKaitlin FischerPriyanka HardikarAlexis Harris Kaitlin Humphrey

Myiah JonesAlexandria OguntulaLeslie ParkerMaddie PattonAlexis SendejasTehreem ShahabLaura Jones

Staff Writers

Wildcat Tales is the official student publication of Plano Senior High School 2200 Independence PKWY Plano, TX 75075 469.752.9300

tales

Illustration by Tiffany Weng

With the tragedy occurring at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the present gun control debate, students and teachers across the nation are asking themselves, “Are we safe?” Despite many radical opinions, the facts are clear. According to the Huffington Post, there have been 19 shootings within the past five years, which is the most in American history. Taking place in churches, mosques, malls and schools, these shootings seem to have taken on a life of their own. Not only are they taking the lives of multiple innocent people, they are changing the dynamics of our country, altering what America stands for. As we face this issue at hand with shaking heads and sighs of disappointment, it is time that we be realistic. No longer can we rely on brick school walls built to protect us. No longer can we have faith in complete security of our learning environment. No longer can our parents fully trust that after sending our kids off to school, they will return home safely. No longer can we walk the halls without the slight doubt in the back of our heads that “something is going to happen.” However, we must be prepared for any sudden shootings or emergencies. Our eyes immediately turn to the security present at our school. Looking at the logistics of our school, there is no doubt that we need more security. Our school is filled with longstanding traditions, immense pride, wonderful teachers and an excellent curriculum. However, our school is also unique in that there are four separate buildings. Walking from building to building, we get the feeling of a mini college campus. But as we travel from building A to B, we can look at the sky. We see the grass and the fields. We see the cars rushing down the street. Each and every student is out in open, completely exposed to any drastic event that might be taking place in the next couple of seconds. Will the student have enough time to take cover? Furthermore, with only two officers to cover four different buildings, there is a need for increased safety. It is important to have at least one officer per building. Although this would double the cost of security, the increased expenses would be worth it. Considering that our campus is so open and spread apart, the officers as well as the administration should take the issue of increased security into account. Most people have an assumption that as juniors and seniors in high school, we are nearly ready for college, learning to be independent and self-governing. We no longer look to our parents to make every decision for us. This is what makes us different from the children at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We know when there is danger, and we are old enough to be able to think logically in extreme situations. However, this is not necessarily true. School administrators as well as officers must keep one thing in mind: we are still human. Fear is something that is not unique to children, teenagers, adults or senior citizens. We all feel it, and our bodies react in the same way — through the fight-or-flight response. The adrenaline causes an individual to act on impulse, which can lead an individual into danger and prevent one from thinking logically. Therefore, the need for security is crucial in order to ensure that every student is protected from harm. “It is better to be safe than sorry” directly applies to our current situation. As much as it saddens our community to require extra officers placed in every building, it is for the well being of our students, staff, and school. We hope that each and every student takes note of this current issue, and keeps one another secure. We have faith that soon the number of shootings in 2013 will be less than that of last year, and schools in America will remain a place of academic enrichment and the road to a brighter future. Until then, stay safe Plano.

my passionIgniting

Staff Editorial

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