Volume 56, Issue 4, January 29, 2008

Volume 56
Issue 4
January 29, 2008
Contrails
A Brief History
of the Dead
New Team on
the Rise
p. 3
Dashboard
Confessional Review
An Insight on the
MHHS Trap Team
p. 6
Ron Walter
copy editor
Valentine’s Day Spread:
Speed Dating
Best and Worst
Valentine’s
Experiences
pp. 8-9
A Day in SAAC
p. 11
Kenya
p. 13
Cross Country
p. 12
As of March 2007, the MHHS
Trap team has been together and
succeeding in every step its members
take. Coached by David Luttrell, a
math teacher at MHJH, the team of
students have come together to form
a well organized team. As their list of
accomplishments grows, so does their
reputation and optimism for the future.
The whole program started
when the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission (AGFC) created the
Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports
Program (AYSSP). The AGFC has
since been interested in getting more
young people involved in the outdoors
and shooting sports. “The AGFC,”
said Luttrell, “came to Mountain Home
and asked the school if they were
interested in starting a team and if I
would coach.” Luttrell accepted and
is now the proud coach of The MHHS
Trap Team.
For those who don’t know, trap
shooting is a sport that developed
around the 1700’s. Originally, the sport
consisted of using shotguns (generally
12 gauges) to shoot carrier pigeons.
MHHS Trap team students take a group picture after a meet.
The sport; however, has evolved
some since it began. As opposed to
shooting actual pigeons, the shooters
now take aim at brightly colored
clay discs, so aptly named clay
pigeons. The ways the trap team’s
competitions are set up have changed
as well. In the competitions MHHS
students partake in, teams shoot in
squads of five members. Each of the
members rotates and shoots at the
targets launched by a machine. Team
members generally can’t predict which
direction the targets will be launched
in. Not knowing where the clay
pigeons will fly is half the difficulty in
shooting them.
One student on the MHHS Trap
team is sophomore Cody Spencer.
“What I like about the team,” said
Spencer, “Is that I get to shoot a
shotgun and get a scholarship.” As
Spencer stated, there are scholarship
opportunities for the trap team. “More
and more colleges are starting to
give away scholarships for trap,”
said Coach Luttrell. “The AGFC gave
twenty scholarships away at the state
championship, and Mountain Home
received five of them.”
The State tournament proved
difficult for many, but Mountain shined
as one of the best teams in the state.
First place in competitions takes home
$7,500; second place receives $5,000,
and third receives $2,500. “Last year,
the team of five MHHS students,
consisting of junior Bo Trammel and
sophomores Cody Spencer, Zack
Cantrell, Cole Ifland, and Garret
Tucker, represented Mountain Home
at the AYYSP Tournament in Lonoke,
Arkansas. The team came in second
place in the tournament; they received
$5,000 dollars as well as several
trophies, one of which stands over
four feet in height.
All in all, the Mountain Home
Trap Team is proving to themselves
and the rest of Arkansas that they
have the potential to succeed. The
team is hoping to keep on improving
as well as bring interest to others.
Coach Luttrell has his own hopes as
well. “My hopes for the Trap team,”
said Luttrell, “Are the following: to be
adopted by the AAA, to be backed
financially, and to be the dominant
team in the state.” Hopefully the team
will continue to do well and represent
Mountain Home.
Contrails
2
Soccer
Expectations
New girl’s soccer
coach brings
promise
Sarah Arnold
staff writer
Change is often looked at with
either a hope of promise for what
the future will bring, or bitterness
at what has been changed or lost.
This year at Mountain Home High
School, the girl’s soccer team has
a definite hope of promise for their
upcoming season with their new
coach, Debbie Atkinson.
Bringing an experience in
coaching is very important
when starting a new team.
Debbie Atkinson certainly has
that requirement fulfilled. When
recounting all of her previous
January 29, 2008
Max, is probably the biggest
coaching positions, Mrs.
Bomber fan ever! You have
Atkinson said, “This is
probably seen us in the
actually my twenty-fourth
press box during football.
year of coaching soccer
He’s the announcer, and I
in one age group or
keep the book of fouls and
another. I began coaching
points. Max and I enjoy
in North Little Rock for the
doing everything together.
YMCA soccer programs
In the seven years we’ve
when my sons were four
been married, he’s learned
and five years old. While
soccer, and I’ve learned to
coaching there, I received
fish! It’s fun to share ideas
the Arkansas State Soccer
Girls
soccer
coach
Debbie
Atkinson
gives
one
of
the
girls
some
tips.
and strategies with him. He
Association’s Boy’s Team
He is now a referee at the college
has played sports on a college
Soccer Coach of the Year.
level in Little Rock. I have coached level, so he knows what it takes to
I was actively involved in starting
every age level from four and five
get a team focused and ready. I’m
the boys’ soccer team at Sylvan
years olds to high school. I have
a good technical coach, and Max
Hills High School in 1995 in the
worked
at
John
Brown
University
as
is the strategist. We compliment
Pulaski county school district. We
a coach for their summer camps for each other really well. He is my
were undefeated for two years
three years. I was just, “called out
biggest supporter and encourager.
and the conference champions of
of retirement,” because of Coach
In all my years of coaching, I have
the Central Arkansas Scholastic
always coached boys’ teams. Max
Soccer Association for three straight Coleman’s maternity leave.” If
any
female
soccer
player
had
any
has three daughters, so I also
years. In 2001, I came to Mountain
doubt as to whether or not Coach
depend on him to help with my first
Home to coach the MHHS boys’
Atkinson was qualified enough
experience in coaching girls. It’s
soccer team. During that time, we
to coach them, they should now
so much fun!” As is obvious, Mrs.
qualified for state all four years. In
reconsider that doubt.
Atkinson and her husband are both
2002, I was named the National
Another
unique
aspect
of
Mrs.
quite enthusiastic about coaching
Coach of the Year for the state of
the MHHS Lady Bomber soccer
Arkansas from Adidas for coaching Atkinson’s coaching is the fact
that she coaches alongside her
team.
the MHHS boys’ team. My oldest
husband. Referring to having her
When starting work in a new
son received a scholarship to play
husband coach with her, Mrs.
place, everyone feels a bit of
soccer at the University of the
Atkinson
stated,
“My
husband,
pressure from the standards that
Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.
their predecessors set. The same
applies to soccer coaches, but
some work so well under pressure
that they feel almost as if it isn’t
there at all. Mrs. Atkinson says,
“There is no greater pressure than
what I put on myself as a coach.
It is my job to make sure that the
girls are prepared, understand
the game, and are competitive.
Soccer is not one of the high profile
sports like football or basketball. In
fact, few people even understand
the rules or strategies of soccer.
Sometimes, that might be a good
thing, because no one is trying to
help or second-guess the strategies
or positions. The pressure for
the girls to do well and represent
MHHS in the best light possible
is my only driving force. I expect
great things from these girls.
They are already working very
hard! I’m having a lot of fun and
hopefully teaching them something
new about soccer every practice
session, every day! For the love of
the game…that’s why I coach.”
With this type of enthusiasm and
experience within a coach, there
can be no doubt that the upcoming
Lady Bomber soccer season is
sure to be a success.
Mandy Ricci
photo editor
Angel Adkins
staff writer
Brooke Klasinski
staff writer
Hanna Turner
staff writer
Dana Maley
co- photo editor
Sarah Arnold
staff writer
Maranda Martin
staff writer
Harley White
staff writer
Darah McDaniel
editor-in-chief
Austin Seaborn
ad editor
Leah Fahlenkamp
staff writer
Anna Pond
staff writer
Mrs. McGraw
sponsor
Brandon Tetrick
layout editor
Jessica Wells
special sections editor
Bobby Howard
staff writer
Raychel Raney
staff writer
Contrails
Mary McNabb
layout editor
Larra Wagner
spread editor
Kelsey Jaeger
staff writer
Jacklyn Rounceville
staff writer
Ron Walter
copy editor
Carlye Welch
opinion editor
Cady Johnson
staff writer
Karissa Sylvia
staff writer
s
l
i
a
ontr
C
STAFF
c/o Mountain Home High School
500 Bomber Blvd.
Mountain Home, AR 72653
Tel: 870-425-1215
Contrails
January 29, 2008
however, can also appeal
to teens. Once a year,
the library takes part in
something called “If All
Arkansas Read the Same
Book.” One night out of
the year, anyone who read
the book can go and take
part in a discussion with
the other people who read
the book. The last time this
event took place two other
people from newspaper,
myself, and Steven Sabella,
a student at Mountain
Home High School, along
with 23 other people from
the community were there.
During the discussion
people asked any and
every question about the
book.
Academy Coordinator,
Susan Bergman, was the
guest speaker/ discussion
leader for the night. Mrs.
Bergman has never done
one of these events before.
“I had an ambivalent
response to the book, and I
feel as though a lot of teens
could like it. It’s a very
post-modern book.”
The people who were
present at the discussion
could ask anyone else
that was there or Mrs.
Bergman any questions
they had. The
only problem
with asking the
others is that
the readers of
the book don’t
have all the
answers. The
positive side is
that the author
is an Arkansas
native, so he’s
easy to contact.
“I really
enjoyed doing
it. I enjoyed
hearing
the multigenerational
responses to the book. It
gave me a great feeling
to know the younger
generation could find a
message of hope when it
was hard for me to find one.
Whether you like the book
or not, getting together with
a group of people to discuss
literature is an awesome
thing to get involved with,”
stated Mrs. Bergman.
book when a person dies
they make their way to the
City. Many citizens in the City
have bizarre stories of how
they traveled there. Some
walked through a desert,
while others fell through a
sea the color of cranberries.
The only way a person leaves
the City is when the last
person who remembers them
dies. The other main setting
is Antarctica, where Laura
Byrd is stranded. There is
no reference to what year or
century this book takes place.
It probably takes place in the
near future because the threat
of a biological attack and
global warming are big issues.
One of the most puzzling
factors in the book is time.
In the City, there seems to
be no time at all. The people
still wake up in the morning
and eat lunch at noon, but
they don’t age. The reader
doesn’t know how much time
has elapsed from one chapter
about the City to the next;
I could always guess but
couldn’t be sure.
The author, Kevin
Brockmeier, has a very
different writing style. Instead
of using a lot of dialogue,
he mainly uses descriptive
paragraphs and flashbacks.
These paragraphs and
flashbacks can sometimes
become very boring to read
because there is no break.
Since he uses more of
these techniques, the
reader can learn more
about characters by
seeing how they reacted
in a certain situation and
how they look at the world
and the City. The author
also ties in many different
peoples’ points of views.
In the last chapter of the
book, the blind man is
explaining what is happening
to the City. His explanation
offers a whole new look at the
situation. I found his way of
changing narrators sometimes
very confusing and strange,
but by doing this I was able to
learn each person’s story.
Kevin Brockmeier also
uses imagery. He describes
things very differently than
most authors. He does it so
well that I could see what the
characters were seeing and
smell what they were smelling.
The book was a good read
but not the best I have ever
read. At some points in the
book, it was very slow and
tedious. While at other points
in the story I was on the edge
of my seat. One of the most
thrilling moments in the book
was when Laura Byrd is
hanging by a rope into a huge
crevasse with no apparent
way to get out. The Brief
History of the Dead is more
for people who like adventure
and postmodern literature.
Kevin Brockmeier has written an amazing novel, The Brief History of the
Dead. Along wiith staff members Harley White and Jessica Wells, I participated in a
discussion held by the Baxter County Library for “If All Arkansas Raed The Same
Book.” The discussion consisted of avid readers of all ages; each person had their
own input and questions to be acknowledged. The discussion gave me assurance
in my own theories as well as many new things to ponder over. The discussion
brought me closer to the book with a newfound sense of interest for the existential.
Overall, the book was a pleasure to read. I lost myself in the complete free-fall that
the story became, as well as the mystique of the Brockmeir’s Necroplis. What
follows are two staff writer’s views of “The Brief History of the Dead.”
Ron Walter- copy editor
If We All Read the Same Book
Bergman
leads literature
discussion
Jessica Wells
special sections editor
The Baxter County
Library offers more than
just teen oriented programs.
The other programs,
The Brief
History of the
Dead
A brief exploration
into the book and
the author behind it
Harley White
staff writer
The City is like every
other regular city, except
the citizens are no longer
living. The Brief History of the
Dead is a story about what
happens after death. In the
3
Contrails
4
A Thank
You to the
Veterans
Diplomas awarded
to local veterans
Cady Johnson
staff writer
On the morning of
November 29, 2007, students
poured into Dunbar Auditorium
for a celebration. Members
of the MHHS band, dressed
in their full uniforms, played
“Pomp and Circumstance,”
the choir stood still, waiting
for their time, and eleven
veterans were escorted to the
stage. These were men from
all branches of the military,
receiving thanks for what they
have done for this country.
Another ode was made as the
choir performed a medley of
each military branch’s songs.
As each man’s song was
sang, he stood up and gave a
salute as he sat back down.
In 2003, a bill was passed
requiring school districts
to grant veterans their
high school diplomas. It is
not for all veterans. To be
eligible, the veteran should
have left school during a
time of war; World War II,
Korea, or Vietnam; and have
been honorably discharged.
These diplomas are received
as a part of Veteran’s Day
celebrations.
These men chose to fight
in a war to defend innocent
people over finishing high
school. Some men were
drafted; others chose to drop
out of school. Whether they
chose to fight or were called
on, they had shown more
bravery in a few years than
many will in their lives.
The men receiving their
diplomas were Gustav
Carlson, Paul Fulfer, Leon
Grady, Danny Hardy,
William Jennings Hooven,
Coy Marriott, Trellis Moore,
George Nowakowski, John
January 29, 2008
Palmonari, Teddy Sadler, and
Edward Wielosinski. As their
names were called, students
applauded, and they walked
across the stage to pick up
their diploma.
Although this celebration
has been going on for years
now, not everyone has been
aware what it was for. Senior
Sam Magee has attended the
ceremony for the past three
years, and was not quite sure
what it was about. “I always
thought that it was just a
celebration for the veterans.
No one ever explained to
me what it was. I figured it
was just another Veteran’s
Day celebration.” She was
informed about what it was for
before attending this year’s
ceremony, and it not only
changed her opinion, but her
emotions, too. “The whole
thing really choked me up.
I cried; I really did. It was
beautiful and poetic. I adored
the whole affair.”
Junior Kyle Cooper also
had thought positively on the
ceremony. “They deserved
this. They didn’t have
to leave school, but they
did.” Sophomore Jonathan
Racynski simply stated,
“What the veterans did was
awesome.”
Each year, more
veterans are given this
privilege of earning their
diploma. Receiving their
high school diploma is a
big milestone, and no year
is too late to receive it.
The diploma is more than
just a piece of paper; it is
an accomplishment. It is
something that these men
have been waiting years to
attain, and it just a small thank
you that people can give them.
Contrails
January 29, 2008
Beebe
Honors
Acadamies
Governor visits
MHHS
Bobby Howard
staff writer
November 14, 2007,
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe
left the state capitol and traveled
to Mountain Home in order to
recognize our receiving of the
Ford Grant and to explore what
aspects and achievements of
our school make MHHS a model
for schools nation-wide.
The original plan for
Heads or
Tails…
Making tough
choices
Harley White
staff writer
When most people think of
decisions and choices, they
think about the choices they
make regarding what matches
those shoes and if they should
eat that extra chocolate chip
cookie. But what about those
other decisions people make:
the tough ones?
Governor Beebe’s visit provided
for his attendance at our school
sometime in the month of
August, which would have
been closer to the day we
received the award and grant
from Ford. However, the
Governor couldn’t make his
trip as scheduled. Mrs. Susan
Bergman, our Academies
Coordinator, said, “The
Governor’s agenda was jampacked in August. The day he
did come was very convenient
for him, because he had one
engagement in Harrison and
three already scheduled here.”
According to Mrs. Bergman,
the school found out that the
Governor was coming to MHHS
about two weeks before his
arrival. Mrs. Bergman and
company worked nonstop for
those two weeks to ready the
Governor’s reception.
The Governor, too, had to
ready for his visit. “His staff did
People make hard
choices at every stage in
their lives, whether they
are nine or ninety. It seems
now that more and more
students have to make tough
decisions in their lives. One
of the hardest decisions
Clayton Brinza, senior, had
to make was when he was
ten and moved to Arkansas
from California. He said, “It
was a big cultural shock,
but I wouldn’t change my
decision. I ended up liking
the kids in the school, but I
did miss the big city and all
the other things offered out
there [in California].” Tommy
Underwood, eleventh-grader,
had to make a hard choice
when his parents got divorced.
“[I had to decide] how I would
be able to live with my parents,
who got a divorce.” he said.
extensive research before he
came, about our academies
5
and academics,” said Bergman.
“We were very impressed of
how knowledgeable he was of
our academy program.”
Governor Beebe arrived
in the morning, just in time
for a catered luncheon in
the band hall with various
business leaders, teachers, and
contributors to the school. At
his arrival, he was serenaded
by a small jazz group provided
by the high school band, and a
round of hand-shaking ensued.
Governor Beebe strolled around
the decked-out band room,
impressed by original artwork
by MHHS students and
absorbed in an assortment
of presentations put together
by several MHHS clubs.
After finishing with
his meal, the Governor
addressed the business
leaders in the band hall.
His speech was “brief,”
according to Mrs. Bergman.
“He wasn’t here to speak to
adults and business leaders. He
was here to congratulate and
inspire students.”
With the luncheon
successfully concluded, Dunbar
Auditorium filled with the student
body, and Governor Beebe was
greeted with more pomp and
circumstance. He delivered
his speech and ceremoniously
left. Bergman said, “I was
very moved that his speech
was so personal. He talked
about his background, about
his single mom, about who he
was, and then how, despite
his background, he is now a
successful politician. It was very
good.”
“We are very proud of the
students,” said Mrs. Bergman.
“Their understanding, respect,
and engagement during the
Governor’s visit and speech
were impressive. I think
Governor Beebe was impressed
by our students.”
The remainder of Governor
Beebe’s visit included him toying
around with Bomb Squad’s
robot and, after that, the
Governor’s highly unexpected
trip to Baxter Healthcare.
According to Mrs. Bergman, he
thanked Baxter for its impact on
the school and its coordination
with MHHS’s F.I.R.S.T. Robotics
team. That evening, he was
the keynote speaker at the Mtn.
Home Chamber of Commerce
banquet.
Of course, the hardest part
about making a tough decision
is trying to decide whether
or not to take the risk, and
deciding if it is really the best
choice or if there is something
else that would be better. Also,
sometimes the consequences,
good or bad, of the choice
are not clear. Sophomore
Kayla Anderson wishes
she could change her
decision to move from
Alabama to Arkansas. “I
would change my decision
if I had the chance. It isn’t
bad here, but Alabama is
where everything I ever
knew growing up is.” She
said, “My choice also hurt
my best friend. We were
inseparable.”
Tough decisions usually
have a huge impact on
peoples’ lives. Anderson’s
choice to move to Arkansas
has greatly affected her. She
said, “My grades aren’t as
good. I miss my friends, and I
am missing out on everything
that is going on in Alabama.
I’m here with my family,
though, and that is good.”
Since there are so many
tough decisions teenagers
have to make, there must
be an easier way to decide
other than flipping a coin or
drawing out of a hat. The best
thing to do when faced with a
hard choice is to know all the
possible routes. Explore other
things that can be done. Write
all of these other alternatives
down, and start picking out
the ones that would work and
the ones that wouldn’t work.
After this is done, pick out the
five that would work and write
down the pros and cons of
each route. Writing the pros
and cons on paper can make
things seem clearer and a little
more organized. Once all the
pros and cons are on paper,
try to narrow down the choices
to the best one, and if that
doesn’t work, ask someone’s
opinion.
Contrails
6
Where Have
All the Locals
Gone?
Students moving
from northern
states to Mountain
Home
Brooke Klasinski
Staff writer
In the past people in the
southern states moved to the
northern states in order to
escape poverty and lack of jobs.
Moving north meant that there
would be a better supply of jobs
and modern living. As the times
have changed, so have the
Dashboard
Confessional
Background
and opinion
Hanna Turner
staff writer
Christopher Carrabba is a
growing leader in the acoustic/
indie music scene. His band,
Dashboard Confessional,
has had many singles
including “Hands Down,”
“Stolen,” “Vindicated” (heard
on Spiderman-2), and “Don’t
Wait.” From humble beginnings
trends. More and more people
are moving from the northern
states to the southern states
in order to escape the often
hectic, overpriced, and loud
lifestyle people live in the north.
Mountain Home is no longer a
town of only “the locals”. Year
after year, the number of people
moving from the northern states
to Mountain Home is increasing
dramatically. Many students at
Mountain Home High School
are from families who have
moved from northern states.
Some of the states include
California, Missouri, Ohio,
and Kansas. Sophomores
Laci Chamberlin and Dennis
Roam both moved here from
northern states. Chamberlin
said, “[I moved to Mountain
Home] in September during
seventh grade from Rocklin,
California. I moved here
because my parents’ business
needed a fresh start, and the
property was cheap out here.
It seemed like the perfect
solution for them, and most of
the rest of our family was ready
back in 2001, Chris had a
natural talent which was clearly
distinguished with the album
“Places You Have Come to
Fear the Most.” However,
April 2003 is when Chris
had his big break. With
April came the release of
the album “Swiss Army
Romance.” For most,
including myself, this is
their favorite album from
Dashboard Confessional.
“Screaming Infidelities,”
“A Plain Morning,” and “The
Sharp Hint of New Tears” are
three of the most common
songs from that album. The
album “A Mark, A Mission, A
Brand, A Scar” topped Billboard
charts. “Hands Down,” the
popular single from that album,
peaked at number eight on the
modern rock charts. Their latest
album, released on October
2, is entitled “The Shade of
Poison Trees.” The song with
for a change as well, so they
followed us out.” Roam moved
to Mountain Home for other
reasons. “I moved from St.
Louis, Missouri in June of 2006
in order to be with my dad and
try to stay out of trouble. Plus
[while my mom still lives in St.
Louis], I’ve got a lot of my family
here.”
Moving from the north to
Mountain Home can sometimes
seem like moving to a whole
new world. The differences
that same title talks about there
being enough time to follow
one desire and follow your
heart. Truly, Chris Carrabba
has meaningful lyrics. People
can easily relate to Carrabba’s
painstakingly honest lyrics.
Dashboard Confessional
is from Boca Raton, Florida.
The other members include
January 29, 2008
are very easily distinguished,
especially with the environment.
Emilee Vossmer, a sophomore
at MHHS who moved
from Kansas City, Kansas,
said, “Kansas was so flat.
You could literally see for
miles. Here, though, we’re
surrounded by mountains and
hills. It’s wonderful. I love it
here.” Sophomore, Brianna
Bunch also saw most of the
differences between Ohio,
where she moved from, and
Mountain Home. “It was a lot
colder in Ohio. We had so much
more snow up there. Here,
when it snows, which rarely
occurs, it snows for maybe a
couple of hours and then melts
right away.”
Schools are certainly no
exception to the numerous
differences between the north
and Mountain Home. Miranda
McKee, a sophomore that
moved to Mountain Home five
years ago from Jefferson City,
Missouri, reflects back on how
her old schools were. “[At my
old school], there were metal
detectors at every entrance,
we had to wear ugly uniforms,
there were no academies or
block scheduling, and the
classrooms were jam-packed
full with way too many kids.”
While moving to Mountain
Home from the north is a major
change, most students don’t
want to move back. Most have
adapted to the weather, the
town, and the people. Some of
the reasons are that they don’t
like the big city, or the schools
were too big, or the scenery
is too breathtaking to go back
to seeing only tall buildings, or
maybe their families are here.
Whatever the reason, no matter
how big of a change, moving
from the northern states to
Mountain Home was a change
that most students aren’t willing
to take back.
Scott Schoenbeck, John Lefler,
and Mike Marsh. Occasionally
playing with Dashboard is
John Ralston. John
Ralston is a solo artist
and has 2 albums of
his own, “Needle Bed”
and “Sorry Vampire.”
On Dashboard
Confessional’s most
recent tour, John
Ralston, and the
band Augustana
accompanied them. On
October 26, I went to see them
in Kansas City at the Uptown
Theater. When Dashboard
Confessional toured with Brand
New, Sophomores Zack Martin
and Jacob Lowery went to
see them. Martin described
Carrabba as “perfect.” For a
band to be exceptional on an
album and also on stage is rare.
Dashboard Confessional has
mastered both. Chris Carrabba
has the amazing talent of
sounding even better in person
than on a CD. Even more
impressive, Chris writes every
one of his songs. It gives a
song much more meaning and
depth, not only to the singer,
but also to the listener. Every
song he writes has a story or a
special meaning. People then
can make the songs ‘their own’
by applying it somehow in their
lives, so that it has a special
meaning to them personally.
Chris Carrabba is a truly
gifted individual who, luckily
for us, shares his gift with
the world. It was an amazing
experience to see him in person
and listen to his music firsthand. I would not have traded it
for anything.
Contrails
January 29, 2008
DCI
Drum Corps
International
Brandon Tetrick
layout editor
Drum Corps International, or
DCI, is a system of 35 drums
and bugle corps participating
in marching shows and
competitions. Only members
between the ages of 13 and 22
are allowed, making this a circuit
for talented junior members.
These corps combine rhythm
and music with crazy formations
and fast paced movement
that impresses the simplest
of crowds. Most people do
not even know this sport even
exists. Around early August
is when DCI championships
are televised on ESPN 2, and
it consists of intense judging
and major competition. The
judging is on a point system out
of 100 points which is based
on general effect, music, and
marching. Drum corps consist
of percussion, a pit percussion,
brass, and electronic musical
instruments if needed. No
woodwinds are allowed.
DCI is divided into three
classes. The world class is
where the most elite corps
compete and holds about
25 corps. Examples of these
would be The
Cavaliers, The
Blue Devils,
Phantom
Regiment, and
The Cadets.
These are
probably the
most talented
of DCI and
require a lot
of musical
talent in order
to get into. “The Blue Devils is
my favorite drum corps,” said
junior Sydney Thomas, “I liked
their show ‘Godfather Part
Blue.’ It was awesome.” Junior
Sloane Zimmerman likes the
Cavaliers, “I like that their style
of marching is very unique and
that they get very creative with
arm movements in their show.”
There are about 150 member
positions available, making
tryouts incredibly stressful and
difficult to get accepted. The
open class is the smaller part
of the DCI circuit. It consists of
the smaller and less prestigious
corps than the world class
circuit, but they still can be quite
competitive. The open class has
corps with members ranging
from 30 to 130. Though the
particular corps may be smaller,
it is easier to retain membership
because the talent requirement
is drastically less than that of the
world class. Though the open
class is below the world class,
the open class corps is by far
better than most high school
and college bands based on the
quality of the players. The newly
installed international class is
the third and final class of DCI.
It makes drum corps outside of
North America able to compete
in the DCI circuit. The corps
can follow their own counties
guidelines and standards, but
they can follow the open class
rules if they want to.
A regular season consists
of an intense tryout, and, if one
gets in, very hard practicing.
Early in the season, potential
members travel to camps and
work on tryout music. Then they
do a tryout, and a few weeks
later they are notified if they
were accepted. Even a few
Mountain Home students have
experienced the world of DCI,
Wes Pendergrass, a senior a
few years ago, was accepted
into Phantom
Regiment, a very
top notch corps.
Martin Williams,
2007 senior, is
trying out for
The Cavaliers
this year. If he
and others are
accepted, they
get to live with
their fellow band
members for a
couple months.
Meanwhile, they
do very intense
10-14 hour
practices on most
days. Ten hour
practices on hot
summer days
make this activity
a very hardcore
sport. “They
practice in the
7
heat and summer
more than football
teams,” commented
Thomas. “I
consider it not so
much a sport as a
competition,” said
junior Dustin Horton.
Not only is musical
talent required, but
one also has to have
the physical ability
to play their instrument while
they basically run. Weight loss
is significant in this sport, and so
is the breathing and lip stamina
required to play the music. A
person has only one year to be
in DCI, then he or she has to try
out again the next year. Towards
the last few weeks of the season
the actual competition begins.
Basically the players live on a
bus for two weeks. They sleep
during the night and practice
and compete during the day.
If the corps is good enough,
they will compete in the finals
and be judged. Then the world
class championships are
televised, usually during the first
week of August, and the final
performances begin. The past
few years the champions have
been mostly The Cavaliers, The
Blue Devils, and The Cadets.
This sport has fascinated
many young fans and has
become very popular over
the years. Youtube, purchase
videos, and ESPN are the only
ways to view these drum corps
at their finest. “I watch them on
Youtube,” said Zimmerman, “My
favorite show is ‘The Machine’
by the Cavaliers.” Combining
the rhythm of drums and the
boldness of brass has made DCI
very popular and one of the best
sports out there, even though
many don’t know about it, it still
attracts a very large crowd.
Contrails
8
Speed Dating
The game
of love
Larra Wagner
spread editor
Speed dating, where
an organized method
of meeting potential
romantic partners in which
participants evaluate each
other over the course of
a single event through a
series of brief one-on-one
meetings, has often been
unfairly associated with
older, desperate men and
women. MHHS students
breathed new life into the
idea by holding such an
event in the publications
room during lunch.
Five girls and five guys
got to know each other
by conversing and asking
each other questions about
their lives. The participants
included Carly Redifer,
Mariana Arias, Meagan
Powell, Mary Petrino, Alacia
Chamberlin, Paul Foreman,
Trevor Ware, Cole Watson,
Nick Coleman, and Gabe
Traylor. Everyone was
paired up, and every two
minutes the guys rotated
to the right and exchanged
partners. The participants
were given conversation
cards to help things along.
On each of the cards were
suggested questions they
could ask their partner.
The questions were
things like, “What are your
feelings about the price of
freedom?”, “If you could
change one thing about
your life who would it be and
why?”, and “What mistake
ever taught you the biggest
lesson?”
Most of the participants,
though they felt they hadn’t
really connected with a
certain someone, did feel
that they had gotten to know
their fellow participants
better. Junior Nick Coleman
said, “There was only one
person that I knew, so it
was good to make new
friends.” Many of the girls
and guys learned things
about the participants they
What’s the worst Valentine’s
Day experience you ever had?
About two years ago, I was going out with this one kid and we got
in a fight a couple of days before Valentine’s Day, so I told him not to
get me anything. I had already made up my mind that we were going
to break up. So at church on V-day he came up to me w/ a balloon,
a bear, and some chocolate and said he loved me… I felt really bad
because we ended up breaking up that night. It was not one of my
proudest moments.
Sophomore Gabreielle Pani
I had SAAC on Valentine’s Day last year.
Junior Haley Mace
In 7th grade, my friends and I always told each other if we didn’t have
boyfriends we’d be each other’s valentines. Well, I was boyfriendless,
and so were a couple of my other friends, and nobody got me
anything. I didn’t have a valentine that year. The librarian ended up
getting me a box of chocolates, though, for being a library worker.
Sophomore Saige Pickle
My dog ran away.
Senior Bently Ingram
January 29, 2008
Contrails
January 29, 2008
Speed Dating,
continued from p. 8
didn’t already know.
Sophomore Carly Redifer
said, “Most of the people
were a lot different than I
expected.”
Some learned they had
something in common
with others they talked to.
Coleman said, “…A lot of
people had the same points
of view as myself.” Junior
Mary Petrino learned that
she and a fellow contestant
shared an opinion of
favorite soft drinks and
flowers.
About half of the group
said they might consider
dating some of the people
they met. Senior Cole
Watson said, “They are all
good girls, smart, and have
nice personalities.” Redifer
said, “I might if I talked to
them more. I needed more
time.”
Everyone thought
something good had come
of the event. Sophomore
Alacia Chamberlin said
she enjoyed “getting to
know people that I may not
have talked to otherwise”.
Coleman said, “Getting to
say that I dated five girls
in one day to see people’s
reactions should be fun.”
Senior Mariana Arias
agreed, saying, “You get to
talk to people you haven’t
really spoke to before.”
Junior Meagan Powell’s
favorite part was the laughs.
Junior Paul Foreman
insisted, “My life has been
changed dramatically… I
fell in love with everyone I
met.”
9
“I hate Valentine’s
Day because it’s so
overrated. People
are greedy. If they
don’tgetsomething,
they get mad.”
Senior Teresa Saathoff
“I love Valentine’s
Day because you
get free chocolate.”
Junior A.J. Rosson
“I don’t like Valentine’s Day because
some people don’t
have anyone to
share it with.”
- Sophomore
Bethani Cotter
“I like Valentine’s Day
because it is couples
oriented. I also like
getting stuff.”
- Sophomore Danielle Phillips
What’s the best Valentine’s Day experience you ever had?
I always enjoyed Valentine’s Day when I was much younger. In
class everyone would make little heart pouches and give each
other cards. That always made my day.
Junior Alyssa Bedoya
I got a CD made with a bunch of made up songs on it, sung
by my best friend. It wasn’t romantic or anything, but it was
hilarious and really nice.
Sophomore Kelsey Boelkens
It was Valentine’s day my 8th grade year. It had begun to snow.
My door bell ran, and when I answered the door there stood
my boyfriend with a stuffed animal and flowers in hand. The
snow was still falling. He had a big smile on his face. He gave
me a huge hug and told me he loved me. Even though it has
been 3 years, I can still remember how perfect he looked and
how special he made me feel.
Junior Olivia Baugh
Seeing the look on my girlfriend’s face when she got my 5
foot teddy bear.
Sophomore Brandon Rehak
The best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had was when my mom
came back into my life when I was in fourth grade.
Sophomore Patrick Martin
Last year on Valentine’s Day, I spent the whole day with the
girl I was dating. I woke up and went to her house at seven
and I ended up making her breakfast. We lounged around
and watched movies, and towards the end of the day, I took
her out to dinner. It was a fun and relaxing day.
Junior Caleb Norton
In 4th grade when all the other kids were making those
lame shoebox Valentine’s boxes, you know, the ones with
the glitter and paper hearts, I made a 4-foot robot Valentine
box where you put the Valentines in his mouth.
Mr. Young
Contrails
10
Skippers
Beware
The new call
system is fully
functional
Hanna Turner
staff writer
Mountain Home High
School has started a new
program of notifying parents
when students are absent
from class or are tardy. The
automated call system has
been doing plenty of work.
Every night at 4 p.m. the
phones start dialing to reach
students’ parents at home.
For more efficient
usage, there are
multiple outgoing lines
involved in the calling
work. Therefore,
several calls can be
made at one time.
The phones do not
stop dialing until all
the work is done.
The whole system
is automated. There
is not a real person
involved.
The calling system
operates quite simply. It is
programmed so that anytime
it sees a tardy or absence
on an attendance sheet, it
automatically calls home. The
school has many clubs and
activities for which students
must be absent. Yes, the
call system has covered that
aspect. It will automatically
pull names out of the system
of students who are gone for
school related activities, are in
in-school-suspension, or are
on out-of-school-suspension.
Hence, those students’
January 29, 2008
parents are not contacted.
Mrs. Partee comments that
“occasionally the system might
miss a few names but most
of the time does a
pretty good job.” For
all of those who think
they can get away
with missing a class
here and there, think
again. This system
will catch any
sneaky actions that
students think they
can easily get away
with.
Sophomore
Stephen Studnar
thinks the system will be
ineffective in deterring
students from skipping or
being tardy. “No one likes
school, and if they’re skipping
in the first place, they don’t
care,” Studnar comments.
Carly Redifer, also a
sophomore, agrees with
Studnar. “This system isn’t
going to make anyone want
to not skip. They are going to
do just as they always have. It
doesn’t matter to them. Some
parents don’t care either,
which makes the system a lot
less effective.”
Senior Ashley Kasinger
admitted that the call system
made it much harder for
students to skip class,
“The calling system makes
things more convenient for
administration, but not so
much for the students.”
Since it is a new program
still, it is yet to be seen
what results the call system
will have on the students,
teachers, and parents.
January 29, 2008
Paying for
Your Crime
SAAC- Don’t go
there
Anna Pond
staff writer
Usually when a person
commits a bad deed, it does
not go unnoticed. Whenever
students of Mountain Home
High school make a mistake,
they get punished for their
wrong doing. Usually it is a
simple warning, but then it
progresses to a far bigger
punishment.
Contrails
to this punishment. Most
One of the worst
people who go into SAAC
punishments, according to
are behind in at least one
students, is SAAC. It is not
as extreme
as getting
suspended,
but some
would much
rather be.
SAAC is
seven hours
straight
spent in a
room with no
talking, while
constantly
doing
homework.
Students in the SAAC room working on their assignments for the day.
Junior
class, so this seven hour
Jonathan Callahan said,
solitary action gives students
“I would rather have late
the chance to catch up on
school than SAAC. It was
schoolwork. If they use their
the most boring thing I have
ever done in my life. In fact, I time wisely, it can benefit
them. Junior Samuel Burr
would rather have TWO late
stated, “I got in trouble for not
schools!!!”
going to late school, but I like
There are positives sides
11
SAAC. You do not miss any
extra time out of school, and
it is just really easy. The only
problem is
that it does
get kind of
boring after
a while.”
Sophomore
Jared
Cochran
shared Burr’s
positive
outlook on
SAAC, “It
was the
best thing
in the world
because I got to finish all my
homework and make nifty
things. It made me want to
do it again if anything.”
There are students who
see no positive aspect of
SAAC. Sophomore Megan
Findley explained, “SAAC is
seven hours long, Saturday
School is only three, and late
school is only two. Who would
want to serve the longest
punishment available? There
really is not a good part of
having SAAC for me, but I
guess it gives some people
a chance to make up some
work they have missed.”
Sophomore Mariah Rodriguez
who was issued SAAC after
she was caught skipping
with friends in the band hall
agreed, “It was incredibly
boring. It didn’t make me
want to get it again.”
Why do people even get
SAAC? It can be anywhere
from being disrespectful,
having too many tardies,
Skipping, or missing too
many days. So take Findley’s
advice, “Be good, and stay
out of trouble!” If students do
not, they will have to endure
the seven hour, no talking,
lockdown, in room 408.
12
Want a Ring?
Keep running for
cross country
Maranda Martin
staff writer
In order to get a
championship ring one must
be really good at a sport. At
MHHS we have many good
athletes and successful
sports. This year has been
very successful for the boys
Contrails
best they can to earn money It was so weird, because it
and girls cross country
for championship rings. ‘Run had been raining, and all
teams. They have come a
the sudden it
long way in order
seemed like it
to reach their
quit raining for
goals.
two hours just
As students
for our run,”
we join extra
Mrs. Norris
curricular
recalled. “The
activities to
top runners
keep us moving
were Ryder
through the year.
Pierce who
These activities
graduated
make us forget
last year. He
how long the
school year really The boys and girls cross country teams share a photo-op shortly after the girls won the state had a time of
16.12, and the
is. The girls that championship meet.
with the Bulls’ was successful over all girls was Samantha
represent the cross country
Mohour with a time of 22.04.”
team have brought home, for for them. “We raised almost
“We had runners from all
$2,500 after we subtracted
the school and themselves,
over including West Plains,
expenses. We never set a
the 6A state. The girls have
Norfork, and Harrison,”
goal, so it was nice to know
earned their right to call
that we had raised that much Mrs. Norris said. “Instead
themselves champions. All
money on a rainy day,” stated of having water at the end,
they need now is a ring to
we had hot cocoa for the
Mrs. Norris, the sponsor for
show people how far they
the cross country team. “We runners, since it was so
have come this year.
cold.”
had 79 runners show up.
The girls are trying the
January 29, 2008
Junior Chase Cooper
also ran in the 5K walk/run.
Chase stated, “It was a good
cause, because it helps out
the girls cross country, and
it helps others get active.
I ran a 23.58, which isn’t
good for me. I was sick all
that week, so I didn’t get to
run.” Sophomore Kirsten
Peterson said, “I ran, but
it was really cold.” “It is a
very good cause, because
it is helping support the
MHHS cross country girls
team,” continued Peterson.
“I participated in this year’s
cross country, and I was a
part of the team. I really want
to see those state rings,”
Peterson said.
The girls have had a very
successful season, and for
Mountain Home to be able
to help out is wonderful. The
girls deserve thier state rings.
Contrails
January 29, 2008
David and Adrienne Johnson,
another father/daughter team;
Gloria and Ali Croom; Johnny
Adamson; Steve Pyle; Brinda
Linck; Rae Ellen Shuetz; and
me and my dad.
School started
again, and I was
worried about
missing. I was
A look at my trip
glad to have Ali
to Africa
there in the same
boat though.
The day was
almost here. We
Kelsey Jaeger
had everything
staff writer
packed (well
almost), passports
ready, and tickets
“You want to go where!?”
booked. Then
This was the hysterical
disaster struck.
question my mom asked
With one day to
when I told her about going
go Brother David,
to Kenya. After that initial
the leader, had a
moment of shock, she calmly
motorcycle accident. By the
told me, “Well if that is what
time I got the news, I was still
God wants you to do. How
packing. I didn’t know whether
about we pray about it for a
to laugh or cry. The group was
little while?” I knew this was
out a leader, but he was going
her way of saying, “Ain’t gunna
to be fine. He broke his collar
happen!” Days passed, and
bone and big toe. We were
I knew I was still going to go.
stressing, but we knew what to
I felt the “calling,” and Africa
do. We would
wasn’t being
just have to go
silenced.
without him.
Without my
The next
parents’
day we boarded
knowledge I
the plane. It
put my name
took 23 hours
on the list and
and 4 planes to
hoped for the
get there. The
best. The
hotel we stayed
secretary at
at was called
the church
St. Anna’s
told me there
Guest House.
were only
Everyone got
10 spots,
Kenyan students curiously gaze into the camera while having their picture taken.
their own room
and there
and bathroom. The bathroom
was already a waiting list.
many meetings and e-mails
was a sink and toilet with a
My heart went into a state of
corresponding with World
shower head over the toilet.
panic. I was supposed to go
Vision, the organization we
It was pretty different from
on this trip! How could no one would be going through. The
America. I thought it was
see that? More days passed,
team members included
What I
Learned In
Kenya
and the pastor of First Baptist
Church who also happened
to be the leader of the trip told
everyone who signed up to
write a letter explaining why
they wanted to go. I struggled
with what I was going to say,
but I finally managed to put my
feelings into words. Just as I
was finishing my letter, my dad
came in the room and asked
what I was doing. I said it was
homework, and he sat down.
Instead of turning the TV on
like he normally does, my dad
began to write in a piece of
notebook paper. So I asked,
“What are you doing?” He
smiled and said, “None of your
business.” Well that wasn’t
going to fly. I kept asking until
he confessed that he was
writing a letter for Kenya too!
I couldn’t believe it; this was
great! If my dad went, my
mom couldn’t say no.
When it came time to
assemble the team for the
vision trip, both me and my
dad were on it. Time flew by
as we prepared for the trip.
Summer came and went with
13
funny. The place where our
sponsorship covers is called
Katito. We stayed in Kisumu.
We drove an hour to get to
Katito each morning and
each night. Here that would
not be a big deal. You could
sleep or read on the way,
right? Wrong! In Kenya there
is a pot hole every 5 feet.
We could barely carry on a
conversation.
In Katito we met some
of the nicest people. The
World Vision staff was
so hard working and
funny. The chairmen of
various community based
organizations really took
pride in their responsibilities.
They have done so much
with the funds we have sent
them through the Mountain
Home Marathon and child
sponsorships. They were so
thankful. I can honestly say I
didn’t know the true definition
of that word until I met my
sponsored children.
My family sponsors two
kids from Katito. The girl is
Marcela, and the boy is Luke.
My dad and I got to meet them
and their guardians. We gave
them gifts from my mom and
sister, and I got to play soccer
with them. At first they were
shy, but after we ate lunch
they warmed up to us.
We also visited a school.
They were in the process
of building a new school,
because the old one was
falling in. It was made of mud
and dung. The roof was tin
sheets tied to branches. The
new school was made of brick
with a new roof from World
Vision. The new building didn’t
have doors, windows, or even
a level floor. The chalkboard
was a concrete slab stuck in
the wall. The students wrote
on it with rocks, and when they
got a pencil, the teacher broke
it three times to share between
children. At the presentation
the kids sat so quietly I didn’t
even notice them. Again, this
is so different from America.
These people had nothing.
It was an honor to go to school
because of the cost. A soda
was a treat and a special gift.
Can you imagine? Yet these
people were so joyful. They
were making something from
nothing by cultivating fields
and raising cows. They were
thankful and overflowing with
happiness. Why? We sit here
in America and watch TV and
waste our money on things
we forget about in a month.
We always forget the bigger
picture. It’s hard to come back
after two weeks of Africa being
my home. In those short
two weeks I have learned so
much, and I have become
fed up with the way we view
things here. What will we do
with the great amount of things
we have? Hopefully we won’t
take them for granted.
Contrails
14
Optimism
Why bother?
Larra Wagner
spread editor
Serendipity
The best
discoveries in life
are accidents
Carlye Welch
opinion editor
January 29, 2008
Is your glass half-full or
half empty, or does your
glass just have some water
in it, and you really don’t care
how much? After all, that
glass, along with most other
situations in life, is not going
to change in accordance to
how you feel about it, so what
is the point? Exactly, what is
the point? As long as having
a positive or negative outlook
on life isn’t going to change
anything, why would you opt
for a negative perspective?
Analyzing the evident
flaws in the world and
focusing on its every evil is
not going to change anything.
Simply acknowledging all
of the problems in your life
is not going to fix any of
it. You would have to take
some action and rectify
some of those wrongs. If
you are constantly in sheer
desparados about the great
sadness that is your life, you
won’t ever be able to move
past it. You have to be able
to see the good that could
come from a situation, or the
best possible outcome, so
that you can work towards
that outcome. How can you
complain about your endless
pit of depression if you are
just sitting at the bottom of
it staring at your sorrows?
The only way that people can
move through hard times is to
see where they would rather
be and get there.
Now, all of this is not to
say that common sense and
rational thought go out the
window. If a crazy man starts
driving towards you in a very
big truck with a scary look
in his eyes, it is probably
not the best idea to shout
sweetly to him, “Excuse me
sir, but I really don’t see this
ending well. So, if you would,
please, just turn around.”
Optimism does not give you
a license to ignore all current
situations and hope it all
works out. You are actually
still going to have to deal with
life.
Things are just as real
for optimists as they are
for realists. Optimists just
feel better about it all. As
annoying as the Pollyanna
“maybe-OJ-really-didn’t-killhis-wife” type person is, they
might be on to something.
Optimism doesn’t mean
you can neglect all aspects
of life that could possibly go
badly. It really just applies to
how you react to situations
out of your control, or
situations that you feel are
out of your control. As long
as you can’t do anything to
change it, you might as well
do everything in your power
to make things go well. As
long as you know that the
other team is going to beat
you hands down, you might
as well play as hard as
you can on the off chance
that maybe they aren’t the
untouchable prodigies you
made them out to be.
In conclusion, being a
realist and seeing things for
what they are doesn’t mean
that you can’t be an optimist
as well, and hope that things
will turn out just as real, but a
little better.
“I Look for something, and
find something else, and realize
that what I’ve found is more
suited to my needs than what
I thought I was looking for.”
Some of the best epiphanys I
have discovered in life came by
accident while in search of other
things. Most inventions that we
completely rely on to live today
stem from a “mistake” while an
inventor was scheming plans to
construct something other than
the outcome.
For example Penicillin is a
famous mistake turned good.
In 1928, scientist Alexander
Fleming noticed that mold
spores contaminated one of the
bacteria samples he left by an
open window. He noticed the
mold was dissolving the harmful
bacteria. And that’s how we got
penicillin, which helps people
around the world recover from
infections.
Other inventions such as
the light bulb, Velcro, and
post-it-notes were accidental
discoveries. As a more personal
experience I’ve witnessed
an obvious story displaying
serendipity when my mom
met her best friend due to an
accidental wrong phone number.
She called the house from
South Carolina with intentions
to speak to her grandmother
and ended up speaking with
my mom for 30 minutes. Since
that day, a couple of years ago,
they have exchanged hours of
conversations, multiple times a
week since then.
Today’s world is quite up to
date in the realm of technology
which is a great advantage
for us that could lead to new
discoveries. However, with
this could be our biggest
enemy. After the moment we
are born, we are thrusted into
the world to discover things
independently. It is by trial and
error that a baby discovers
the power and effectiveness
of screaming for attention.
A child must not be afraid of
failure, or nothing would be
advancing. The most exciting
stories of serendipity are often
heard while listening to the
stories of how lovers unite. It’s
fun to hear about an accidental
rendezvous while looking for
trash bags in Wal-mart, but we
are all too impatient to relax and
let it happen. We type in a list
of characteristics into an online
match maker in search of our
soul mate. We no longer allow
time for the chance to encounter
that special stranger. We must
allow ourselves to be surprised.
We must relearn how to be
human, to start again as we did
as children learning through
awkward and inexperienced
discovery, as the best way
to discover new inventions.
Mistakes are only the stepping
stones to new inventions unless
you treat them like stumbling
blocks.
Contrails
January 29, 2008
Beanies,
ChapStick,
and Random
Acts of
Nonsense
Individuality on
the rise
Mandy Ricci
photo editor
Where Is My
Mind?
A close look at
reform
Ron Walter
copy editor
15
Individuality. A word
that definitely needs to
be heard more often and
it needs to be expressed
by today’s generation. So
much is expected out of our
generation that we tend to
become overwhelmed with
trying to become what the
world, and society for that
matter, wants us to become.
Individuality seems far
out of reach for some
teenagers as they try to
please their parents, peers,
and others involved in their
lives. So they become who
they really don’t want to
be, just to please others.
Well I say who cares what
others think? You should be
allowed to express yourself
and your individuality.
My Myspace name says,
“I’m a Random Act of
Nonsense,” because it’s
true. I’m not afraid to be
myself or tell others what
I believe in. I voice my
opinion when it’s definitely
needed. Teenagers should
not conform to this world.
They should be their own
person, have their own
style, and act crazy and
weird if they want! Now yes,
there definitely is a limit to
this and some restrictions
according to what you
believe, but on a basic level
teenagers should show
their true personality to the
world, whether it is if you
like to dress in all black,
wear pants with chains
hanging from them, or
have a crazy hair-do. If that
style shows the world your
personality and individuality,
then go for it! To me,
individuality is having the
right to express oneself.
For instance, I believe
in God, and everyone
pretty much knows me as
the Christian girl around
school. I love to laugh out
loud, and at times, too
loudly. I am obsessed with
chapstick and beanies. All
these things describe my
personality and individuality.
Teenagers try way too
hard to please everyone,
especially parents. Some
parents require teenagers
to get straight A’s which
puts a lot of pressure
on them. They even find
themselves trying to do
everything right and trying
to be perfect just to receive
love and praise. Parents
should love them for who
they are, not who they want
them to become. They
find themselves becoming
the person their parents
want them to be and not
becoming who they want to
be.
Peers are another cause
for not becoming who one
wants to become. There
is a certain look or style
you must have in order to
fit in. Teenagers are even
persecuted for believing in
God or looking a certain
way. Will someone tell me
how you are supposed to
decide what you look like
when you are born?! I mean
come on! People need to
grow up; parents included,
and let our generation have
the right to be who we
want to be. Random acts of
nonsense and all.
Define insanity: doing
the same thing over and
over again and expecting
a different result. Imagine
living day by a day in a
solid structure that housed
everything people regard
as detrimental to society.
This structure would
have a waning sense
of accomplishment; an
essential safe-house no
more safe than the place
you just came from (no,
it’s not Roman Polanski’s
house). In my mind, it’s
any local, state, or federal
prison.
America currently holds
the most prisoners behind
bars - 2.2 million to be
exact; most convicts being
in and out of institutions
several times. Despite
explanations, the problem
remains opaque. With
access to drugs, gangs,
and weapons, the idea
that prisons are safe is
ludicrous. Furthermore, the
idea that most prisoners
are coming back onto the
streets with a clear mind is
just plain scary.
With that thought, what
is a prison outside of a
place that produces a daily
dose of recidivists? It is
in my opinion that prisons
are no safer than people
simply hope they are. When
you put people in a setting
with others who think like
them, where is the reform?
America is heavily rooted
in the idea that society’s
problems can be solved
by incarceration, but it’s
starting to seem ineffective.
With gangs and violence
running our prisons,
are inmates even more
dangerous when they’re
released? This is what I’ve
wondered. When people
come out of prison they’re
expected to be reformed
and able to assimilate back
into the world, but I can’t
see that happening with the
majority of convicts.
Of course, there are
people who come out of
prison reformed and ready
to seek a better life. But
sometimes the violence
of prison can be too much
for people. Everyone that
goes into prison comes
out of prison, and people
can come out worse than
they were before, angrier
than they were before.
Whether this is because
the prisoner was only
ware-housed or isolated
is always of question. The
result is always the same
though: violence. Half of the
convicts housed in prisons
will be released this year;
a majority of them will be
back in prison not long after
their release. Where is the
solution?
If anything is to be done
about a growing problem
in the prisons, it must be
done swiftly. Many prisons
are now starting to offer job
training, substance abuse
programs, and further
education. If anything has
helped people who leave
incarceration to lead better
lives, it’s further education
and focus.
Perhaps the problem
of prisons will decrease
in time, but to me it’s
only wishful thinking. The
concept of sending people
into a steel cage to talk
to others as criminal as
themselves isn’t my idea of
reform. Where is my mind?
It’s passed the conventional
reality.
16
Haben Sie
eine gute
Riese!
That’s German for
“have a good trip”
Harley White
staff writer
One Friday after school,
many of Frau Reed’s German
students anxiously waited
for the sign to be posted,
the sign that would decide
their 2008 summer plans.
Only twenty-five student
names, ten boys and fifteen
Contrails
girls, were listed on the
Reed has taken twenty-eight
opportunity to go experience
G.A.P.P. trips since then.
G.A.P.P. (German American
the German culture and
The trip this June will be the
Partnership Program) list.
how the Germans live. I also
These students will be
signed up for the chance to
traveling to Germany and
go to Germany.”
Austria in June of 2008
While most people
and in March German
found out about their
students will be traveling
G.A.P.P. fate that afternoon,
to Mountain Home,
some didn’t even know they
Arkansas.
had been chosen. Lianna
The G.A.P.P. students
Zortman, sophomore,
travel to Stuttgart and
said, “I found out that I
These German II students are traveling to Germany this summer.
Munich, Germany and
was picked at church that
to Austria. While they stay in
twenty-ninth trip. G.A.P.P.
weekend. My friend heard my
helps students learn about the name on the radio. When I
Stuttgart, they will stay with
a German family. Frau Reed,
German language, customs,
found out that I was picked, I
the German teacher, said,
and culture. G.A.P.P. also
couldn’t stop smiling.”
“We aren’t in a new town
helps students with team work.
All of the G.A.P.P. students
Some students decided
everyday on a charter bus.
are looking to get different
[Since we stay with German
to join G.A.P.P. in order to
things out of the G.A.P.P.
families], it is an immersion of travel to new places and see
program. Dylan Barger, tenth
customs, culture, and extreme new things. Others wanted
grader, wanted “an awesome
language.”
to meet new people. Brittany
experience”. “I want to be
The G.A.P.P. program was Carpenter, junior, said, “I
better educated in the German
started in 1984, and Frau
applied for G.A.P.P. for
language by hearing native
January 29, 2008
Germans speak it, and apply
what I learned to my German
class here.”
Although the students
have made it to the G.A.P.P.
program, that was only half of
the problem. Many students
now have to face the problems
that come along with wanting
to leave the country. Barger
said, “I am most nervous
about getting the money
to go.” Students also have
to get together important
information and a passport to
go overseas.
Even though prospects
of going to Europe are very
exciting, signing up can be
extremely nerve-racking.
Zortman said, “When I signed
up, I was nervous about
finding out who would be
chosen. I didn’t know if I was
good enough to be picked.”