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NORSEMAN
IN-BRIEF
hate how they look. The girls in Student Council aim to change that perception; by implementing a program called Operation Beautiful. Girls here are kind of stuck on their appearance than what really matters, which is whats inside of them, Student Council vice president Hailey Smith said. We just want people to be comfortable. Operation Beautiful, which was held Jan. 19 to correspond with Bullying Prevention week, was all about getting girls to be happy with who they are. Project Beautiful is this organization of girls that want to get across that natural beauty is more important that outer beauty, Smith said. Natural beauty is what matters. During the week the Student Council supplied T-shirts and promotional mate-

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Volume 41, Number 6 January 2012

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The News category of The Norseman is the best way to stay up-to-date with the news & information at Bryan High.

BREakINg NEws

FEaTUREs Locking up the basics for a career in criminal justice

Learning the skills of being in the criminal justice field are just a few of the perks to being involved in the criminal justice class, where students learn about laws, their personal rights, and what it takes to investigate a crime scene.

Stephani Whisenant Managing editor Do you ever have those days when you wake up, look in the mirror and want to cry? Maybe your hair is a little frizzy, youre breaking out, or youve got dark circles under your eyes from staying up late studying. It is common for girls to criticize themselves. Society today has taught girls that being stick-thin and flawless is the definition of beautiful, senior Molly Wise said. A lot of girls are learning that in the real world women who look like women, curves and bad hair days and all, are just as, if not more beautiful, than these super thin perfect-complexioned girls. However, there are a lot of girls who continue to fight their appearance, and

Helping students find inner beauty, confidence

rials to students around campus. What well do is go around with sticky notes and just write really positive messages on them letting people know thats its okay to be yourself, Smith said. Theyll be stuck on bathroom mirrors and on the hallways. To participate girls had to go as natural as they could. This included not fixing their hair, not doing their makeup and just letting their natural beauty show. We just want them to know that they can look a certain way on the outside, but its whats inside that really matters, Smith said. For more information on Operation Beautiful, you can contact anyone from Student Council, including Smith or Tabitha Hernandez.

Texas looks to the sTaaRs for new standardized test

John Fuller Editor Testing reminders and graduation requirement posters will be un-TAKed from walls all over campus over the next three years as the school begins to look to the STAARs for a new standardized testing requirement. Effective for the Class of 2015, students will be tested using the STAAR, a system of end-ofcourse exams for students core classes, instead of the previously administered TAKS exam. Based upon the release questions that weve received, it appears that the difficulty has definitely been ratcheted up from what the TAKS test looked like, Dean of Instruction Donna Willett said. [The state test] used to be just a minimum-skills test, but then students werent college ready. Each time theyve adjusted the test, theyve increased the rigor to ensure that the instruction in the school is where it needs to be. STAAR, or the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, tests high-school students for mastery in each of their English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science classes at the end of each year. With STAAR the big difference for high school is that the test is strictly content related, Willett said. For example, the 10th grade [science] test has included biology, some chemistry and some physics. So, when it became time for the test, the biology teachers had to stop teaching their content and they had to teach other skills that the students needed for the test. While the STAAR biology test that the students will take is strictly about biology. Unlike TAKS, the STAAR exams will be taken at the end of the year and a students exam grade will count for 15% of their grade for the course itself, replacing the students final exam. Just as the STAAR will replace a students spring final exam, credits for the four core classes will be awarded based on the entire year, not individual semesters. Thus, fall finals will also be forgone for students taking the STAAR. We wont know grades on this test until after school lets out, Willett said. So, report card dates would be moved back, the awarding of credit would move back and determining if a student earned enough credits to move from ninth to tenth grade would move back because of having to include that grade from the test in the grade calculation. Because of the new method of grading, the graduation requirements for students have also changed as now students will be required to achieve a given score on all of their exams to graduate from any school in Texas. It used to be that if a student failed in 9th grade, they just failed the test and moved on. It was only the 11th grade test that you had to re-take to graduate, Willett said. Now, the state is setting a floor on every test. So, if you dont meet that base level score, you have to retake the test. Its not just that the exitlevel is important. Every test is important because unless they meet the minimum score, they wouldnt meet the graduation requirements. As the current ninth grade students will be required to take the STAAR exams this year, teachers have already begun preparing for the shift in testing. In this transition to the new STAAR exams, teachers have also adjusted classroom expectations in response to the new testing standards. STAAR is more rigorous and the expectations are much higher, Principal Diana Werner said. Students have said my work is much harder this year because the teachers are trying to get them ready for that rigor that theyre going to face. With the first STAAR/EOC exams beginning a few weeks after the TAKS exams this spring, most ninth-graders will be taking the majority of their STAAR exams in May.

spoRTs
Visit the sports section of the web page for current sport scores and information about upcoming games and events.

opINIoN

Editor John Fuller discusses the need to allow students to bring their own technology, such as laptops and iPads, to enhance education by giving students access to their personal equipment while at school.

moRE
Dont forget to purchase your ticket for the fine arts departments production of The Wizard of Oz.

Capturing hearts, minds of students by sculpting relationships

Eva Araujo Staff writer A photograph. A moment frozen in time. A memory captured and preserved in tiny megapixels. Photography is just a a hobby for some, but for art teacher John Burrows photography is a passion. Burrows has been interested in photography since he was a sophomore in high school and is now passing on his knowledge to his own students. Burrows not only teaches kids the ins-andouts of photography, but also hopes to be a light for his students. I want to push kids to do better. Thats my goal, Burrows said. Just seeing their improvement in their work ethic makes me feel accomplished; it makes me feel like theyre doing what they set out to do. Burrows strives to impact his students with not only knowledge of the arts, but also by being a supportive mentor. The most important part of teaching to me is relating to the kids, Burrows said, being more than just their teacher, being more than just the guy who stands up in front of the room, and getting involved with them and understanding where they are coming from everyday. Students like senior Molly Wise believe that Burrows gives the students the freedom they need in an art class. He gives us a lot of freedom to figure out what we like in art, Wise said. Its really cool because I got to develop my own style. He lets you run with your own work, but teaches you how to get better in a way that doesnt change your personal style. Wise can easily relate to Burrows style of teaching. I like how he teaches a lot because he just kind of lets you go, which is nice because then you dont have someone hovering over your artwork, Wise said. Mr. Burrows definitely lets you work until you need help, then hell instruct you. I learned if you work really hard in a class, the teachers will respect your personal work habits. Mr. Borrows was really cool about that. Not only do the students recognize Burrows as an excellent teacher, but other teachers do as well. Hes generous and is very pro-student, Richards says. As a teacher, he is demanding but fair. If students dont get it the first time, he re-teaches. He is persistent and never gives up on a student, so if they are having a funky day, he comes back the next day and encourages them to try harder. Burrows isnt just a great teacher and mentor to his students, but is also Even though it affected his early years of schooling and learning, Burrows looks at his experiences as another way to relate to his students. Its actually interesting because I can relate to kids that have other things that they are maybe made fun of, Burrows said. My speech impediment is caused by the fact that I couldnt hear, especially when I was young, but it doesnt bother me at all. Its who I am. Burrows looked to photography as a way of expressing who he is and to show the beauty of this art. Photography gives me my creative outlet. It just lets me capture images and things that I may not be able to express alone and lets me show that to everybody, Burrows said. Photography is typically real life images. Paintings are awesome; drawings are awesome, but photography lets a person into that moment. It freezes a moment in time. It really allows you to be a part of it and see it.

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an inspiration. Burrows overcame a problem he had when he was young, he was partially deaf. I had to read lips and I had to watch what people said so it effected my reading and it affected my speech, Burrows said. I went to speech therapy and they did the best they could. But I still have a little bit of a speech problem. I got my ears fixed with tubes, and Ive been able to hear pretty well since then.

Locking up the basics for a career in criminal justice

Maurissa Ramirez Staff writer Blood spattered on the wall. Various pieces of evidence scattered across the ground. Police sirens are blaring in the background. It is scenes like these that require specialists to solve brutal crimes using a keen sense of observation and forensic science. There are many people, though, that contribute to a case being solved. For students interested in being a part of something like that, Bryan High offers a class that specializes in that specific area. The criminal justice class offers ideal preparation for a career in law enforcement, forensics, homeland security, investigations, corrections and dispatching. This class also offers dual credit for juniors and seniors that qualify to earn college hours while still in high school. With new certifications and skills being discovered every day, its become easier to prepare students for these jobs and careers in criminal justice, teacher Gary Parks said. The onslaught of crime dramas on television has also increased the popularity of the field, but students must remember that what is depicted on television is not reality. Crime dramas are very interesting but real forensic science doesnt work like that, Trejo said. They make it looks really glamorous, but it usually isnt. The criminal justice class participates in hands-on-learning with things such as handcuffing, fingerprinting, mock crime scene scenarios, mock trials, teen court and a field trip to the Giddings State School for Principle of Law classes. It even helps students understand their basic rights. Weve learned about what a misdemeanor is, what a bond is, and knowledge of criminology, sophomore Jessi Trejo said. I know the Miranda rights by heart so I know the rights I have. The criminal justice career cluster has 5 pathways: legal services, law enforcement services, security and protective services, emergency and fire management services, and corrections services. These pathways provide a way for students to explore multiple areas of the criminal justice system. Similar to academic UIL, the class competes in the Texas Public Service Association (TPSA). The team will compete on Jan. 28 at Vidor High School and March 1-2 at Sam Houston State University. This venue trains students in this area and provides a networking across the state of Texas with students in the same field, Parks said. Parks worked in the criminal justice system for 17 years prior to teaching at BHS. Where he has been for 10 years. One position he held within the justice field was working as an adult probation officer. In working with adults, its hard to make them change, Parks said. They have to want to change. Parks also worked at the Texas Youth Commission for 5 years as a caseworker. While working with troubled youth at TYC I realized that planting the seed of change and watching the youth make the change is a good feeling, Parks said. It was then that I realized that I wanted to teach. Parks hopes that students can take several things away from his class, even if they dont decide to enter the criminal justice field. I hope that after taking my class students will be able to be more responsible and a better citizen for their community, as well as learn about their rights as a productive member of society, Parks said.

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akin iT T e hoop To Th
John Fuller Editor ESPN is a fixture in most households across the nation, but few viewers have the chance to personally know the athletes featured on the television channel. Bryan High students are an exception, as senior J-Mychal Reese has not only been featured on ESPN, but in numerous sporting publications and scouting organizations for his success in basketball. In fact, ESPN.com ranked Reese as their No. 28 prospect nation-wide for high school basketball players overall. The 62 point guard has been out because of an injury for the bulk of this season, but has played for the Varsity basketball team for the past three years, while also playing for the Houston Hoops. [Playing at Bryan] made me a better player, Reese said. Its been real fun, especially my first three years. We had some pretty good teams and made it to the playoffs. Playing for the Hoops and the Vikings, Reese has traveled across the country playing basketball in pursuit of a basketball career. Over the years, Ive played mostly on the same teams with a lot of my best friends from Houston and so weve played together since we were little, Reese said. Ive grown up with them just playing basketball. Thats been fun, just developing a relationship with them. Last summer, Reese qualified to participate in the Lebron James Skills Academy, where he worked with James himself and high school basketball players from across the nation. At the LeBron James Camp, I got to meet him and hes my favorite player, Reese said. It was three days and they set us up on teams. We did a lot of drills and played a lot of games. [I like] getting to meet a lot of other players from around the country that are just as good as you. Theres a lot of competition Reese says hes been playing for his whole life, with his family playing a strong role in supporting and encouraging him to pursue basketball. I started when I was 3, Reese said. My dad was a coach so I used to always come to the gym and shoot with him and my mom pushed me to play. My brother used to play when he was younger, so we used to always play together all the time. Reeses father, John Reese, was the previous head basketball coach at Bryan High, before taking a job with Texas A&M University. It was different [having my dad coach me], Reese said. He just stayed on me and I knew I had to work hard. Now, Reese, who is the seventh-highest ranking point guard in the nation for the ESPNU high school class of 2012, has signed with Texas A&M University to play basketball after graduating this year. [J-Mychal] knows some of the key guys on the staff, John Reese said to ESPN in August. Weve known coach Kennedy for years. I met him several years back when he was at Centenary. I think some of the things that really sold Mike was his style of play at Murray State. They play up-tempo and play in attack mode. As for J-Mychal, he says that hes looking forward to pursuing his basketball career at Texas A&M University. Im really excited, Reese said. Playing on the next level, playing on TV, playing against a lot of talent. Im just looking to make it to that next level. That next level for Reese means playing in the NBA, where he says hell hopefully be after playing college ball.

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Local food movement root

John Fuller Editor Food. Fruits. Vegetables. Its grown by hardworking men and women on farms that blanket the American countryside; where the agrarian roots are more than skindeep. Or is it? Over time, the food supply in this country has become centralized in large foodservice companies like Kraft, Dole, and General Mills that specialize in making food production and distribution more efficient and more profitable. Many have seen the commercialization of agriculture, and the rise of multinational food companies, as a hindrance to the health of the American people and vitality of the nations food supply. In response, a movement that focuses on organically-grown food has increased in popularity across the country. This movement also emphasizes the importance of shopping for foods that were grown nearby. The manifestation of this movement can be seen in the farmers markets that give local farmers a venue to interact and sell their products to local customers. Locally, the Brazos Valley Farmers Market has a similar goal, in hosting two farmers markets each week: Saturday mornings from 8-12:00 P.M. at the corner of William Joel Bryan and Texas Avenue and on Wednesday afternoons in the Village Foods parking lot. Farmers markets are a great way to meet local producers, local farmer and farmers market participant Tiffany Evans said. You can choose to support those whose ethics and growing practices you agree with. Small farmers are a dying breed, and by supporting farmers markets, younger farmers are encouraged to continue duced more than we could use ourselves so we would sell the rest to friends and other people, local farmer Harvey Wise said. The items you buy from the Farmers Market will be fresher than those in a grocery store, have traveled less distance, and you can get to know the local farmer personally and get lots of ideas on how to use the food items.

Go Texan
Eating and shopping locally can be a challenge for many consumers, as most foods on sale have been shipped in from other states or countries. In response to such a paradox, the Texas Department of Agriculture has created a certification system known as GO TEXAN. This system allows farmers to register, who are then vetted for authenticity, and then market their products for consumers wishing to shop for products made in Texas. Shoppers can inquire about different farms or companies by visiting gotexan.org. In addition, the Department of Agricultre has provided a GO TEXAN app for the iPhone that allows consumers to locate certified shops, farms or farmers markets in their area. GO TEXAN offers other resources for locally-minded consumers, including gardening tips, gift guides, and a resturaunt finder. Find out more, and see all of the above features, by visiting www.gotexan.org.

Although there is much variation between the products and practices of different farmers, many of the foods sold at farmers markets are organically-grown, which means they are grown without many of the pesticides, chemical additives, and genetic modifications of food that is not grown organically. The Center for Food Safety warns that many of

growing food. You get to meet and be involved with others who share your concern for healthy, clean food and the environment. Environmentally, farmers markets are designed to reduce the amount of travelling that food does in being shipped from large multinational farms. Reducing this travel means using less fossil fuels and reducing the carbon footprint of growing food. We have always lived on a small farm and pro-

Many students, after learning about many of the issues presented by the food industry, have embraced the organic and locally-grown food movement. All of the food that Ive seen at the Farmers Market is really good quality, sophomore Sandy Schwalen said. I think its a good way to get in touch with your community and yourself. You reflect more on what you eat and how that affects you and your life.

these foods that have genetic modifications and chemical additives pose health risks including higher risks of toxicity, allergenicity, antibiotic resistance, immune-suppression and cancer. A few health problems prompted me to start eating a more plant based diet, Evans said. Not willing to rely on big agriculture and government regulations, I decided to start growing a majority of my own food. It wasn't long before I had friends and family asking for my fresh produce,

so naturally I increased my production each season. Eventually I figured out that I could create an income doing what I love, teaching people how to eat right and have a healthy lifestyle. Other food stores, like Village Foods and Brazos Health Foods, have also developed as venues to sell locally-grown and organic foods. We are locals, serving locals. We are here to serve you, is the closing line of Village Foods letter to the customers. Specifically, Village Foods offers locally-grown products, a gluten-free department, locally-roasted coffee, and prides themselves on being the only store in town that unloads your groceries for you, rings them up, bags them, and then takes them to your car and puts them in your trunk. For every dollar that is spent in locally-owned businesses and shops, 45 cents remains in the community. While farmers markets can ensure the ability to know those that grow the food, larger grocery stores have also begun to sell organic and locallygrown foods. HEB, for example, says that they try to provide consumers with greater information about the food that they purchase. Ultimately, the movement for locally-grown and organic foods has grown, but will continue to grow with increased awareness of the issues surrounding the American food supply.

USDA Organic
Just like the Texas Department of Agriculture sponsors a program to certify and promote locally-grown and made products, the federal Department of Agriculture sponsors a program to certify organically-grown products in the United States. This certification, the USDA Organic certification, certifies that the food or product being sold has been been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used. Essentially, the USDA vets farms to ensure that they are meeting organic standards, and then allows the farms to place the USDA Organic seal on the labelling of their products. A full listing of the USDAs National Organic program can be found online at www.ams. usda.gov.

what is your favorite

would you shop locally

do you know where

Ms. Lee The Village

Mrs. Cupit Papa Perez

Karen Gonzalez La Riviera

Cameron Davis Christophers

*100 students participated in this survey *100 students participated in this survey

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1970s and 80s. She introduces her two closest friends, Ruth and Tommy, who all grew up together. The students are taken care of by guardians who are very strict about the students health and what they learn about. They tell them that they are very special and lucky to be students at Hailsham. While they all know that they will someday have to make donations when they are older, they dont know exactly what that means, and think its perfectly normal. After all, they know nothing of the outside world. Every student is also required to make art. Every once in a while, a woman who the kids refer to as Madame stops by Hailsham to take some of their artwork to her gallery. It is a mystery as to why Madame takes the students art and why she feels so uncomfortable around them. While the kids do find her a bit strange, they think nothing of it. At one point in the novel, one of the guardians tells the students about what is really going on and tells them that, youve been told, but none of you really understand. She continues on, telling them that they have no future and will never do the things they want to do when they grow up. The kids then realize that something about them really does make them different from the rest of the world. Kathy and Tommy talk about what the guardian told them, and they begin to ask questions about their purpose in life is. Where did they come from? Why does Madame always take their artwork and act so strangely around them? Why do the guardians treat them so special and are secluded from the world? They know they will have to make donations someday, but what happens after that? During this time of confusion, Ruth, Tommy and Kathy are growing up just like normal teenagers. Ruth and Tommy have a little romance, while Kathy and Ruth have friendship drama, but they have the types of problems we would have in the real world. They eventually move away from Hailsham and go to The Cottages, a different place for the older kids who have much more freedom and are allowed to go into the outside world. Ishiguro does a fantastic job helping the reader feel connected to these three characters. They are all very relatable, from when they were young children that liked to play and giggle to having the problems every teenager faces. This is a huge key in the novel - Ishiguro makes Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth seem like normal people that anyone can have an emotional connection with, but to everyone else in the novel, they are basically of no value. Eventually, Ruth and Tommy become donors and Kathy becomes a carer. They all are reunited after a few years, with Kathy taking care of Ruth until she is completed and then watching over Tommy until she decides to leave him to a different carer. The three students realize that there is no hope for any of them when they find out that the artwork Madame took from Hailsham was only to figure out if they had souls at all. Even if they did have souls, they still had to go through all of their donations, which is their only purpose. While reading this novel, it doesnt seem like a devastating story until the reader sees the truth hidden in plain sight. Ishiguro makes the point within the reader that someday, something so immoral and unethical could happen to our society without us even realizing how bad it really is. While there may be a good meaning behind making clones to donate their organs for others, there is no value of human life to these people. With the connection the reader makes with Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, its hard to believe that no one in the novel considered them human.

Never Let Me Go
Emily Nash Assistant editor Youd think these kids were just like anyone else in the world. They learn. They play. They engage in intimate conversations. They grow up and share feelings and emotions with each other. Although these children are secluded from the outside world at a boarding school, they grow up to become young adults and seem to be just like you and me. Life seems to be perfect for the students, until they realize they are not considered to be human beings - instead, they are nothing but consumer products. In Kazuo Ishiguros futuristic novel Never Let Me Go we see just how sad the lives of these teenagers are. The novel begins with twenty-eight year old Kathy H. who is the narrator throughout the novel. She introduces herself as a carer who takes care of donors as they are going through their donations. While Ishiguro doesnt make it clear what Kathy means by these terms at first, Kathy explains the lives of her and her peers from the very beginning. Kathy grew up in a secluded boarding school called Hailsham in the countryside of England during the late

Prevent teen suicide; add light, not darkness to support youth

Monserrat Madrazo Staff writer Seth Walsh, 13, attempted to take his life on September 19, 2010. He was found by his mother hanging from a tree in their backyard, and was on life support for ten days. He had tried to take his own life because of the constant bullying he endured at school for being openly gay. Even before coming out he was called derogatory names and had to be home schooled on two separate accounts. Tyler Clementi, 18, a freshman from Rutgers took his life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge on September 22, 2010. Walsh was bullied at his middle school in California for being openly gay. Clementi had posted on his facebook page before taking his life, telling the world he was jumping off of the George Washington Bridge and that he was sorry. His reason for taking his life - the harassment he endured at school for being gay. There are countless others who have taken their lives because they were harassed, taunted or victims of homophobic slurs. I think this is absolutely wrong. No one should want to take their life because they are being mocked for their sexuality or any other reason. Many organizations are helping by letting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth know that there are people out there listening and that they are not alone in their struggles. One of the organizations sending this message out is the It Gets Better project. This was created by Dan Savage to help LGBT youth, that are being harassed, know that they are not alone and that there is a community of people just like them listening. Savage started with just a youtube video that he and his partner made. In the video Savage let LGBT youth know that everything gets better and that they shouldnt feel like outcast because of their sexuality. I think the work that Savage is doing is amazing. He has brought so much attention to this subject. After doing some research and not finding much on this subject (most was just about bullying in general), I realized that not many people recognize this sector, in particular, as being a problem. This was very upsetting because so many lives are lost everyday because of the cruelty of our peers. Instead of encouraging one another on being ourselves and being satisfied with who we are, we are putting each other down and unknowingly causing teens to spiral down a dark path. Teens and others committing suicide is unacceptable, no one should ever feel that isolated and that unaccepted to end up in such a dark place. We should strive to treat everyone equally and make everyone feel like they can be themselves, no matter sexuality. We are all people.

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honestly live by it. I cant begin to explain how much he means to me or how much I love him. My daddy has to deal with so much , I cant understand how he can handle it sometimes. He does so much from PTSO, being a leader at church, and always working. He has taught me how to manage my time, life, money, and school. Out of all his joy and misery my daddy overcomes it all. He inspires me to never give into societys view of the world and to keep my insanity close. Throughout everything Ive been through in my short 19 years of life my daddy was always there right behind me, and he still is. I cant wait to grow up and become the woman my daddy raised me to be and make him proud. Ill find my place in this world and live up to all my daddys expectations and never disappoint him again. When my time comes I will never forget where I came from or who iam thanks to my daddy. He will let me run, but he is always there to help me when I fall. He is my ultimate hero.

My Daddy

Abel Lara Staff writer Its not uncommon for kids today to live with their struggling, single, mothers who are striving to make ends meet and pulling their hair out with stress. My single parent is not an out-of-control mother but a half-deaf, metal head that I call daddy. Most people who know me say Im random, unique, spontaneous and fun-loving, but they never think about the man that helped make me that way. All around the world are fathers, but no father can compare to mine. My daddy is the daddy that lets me keep dreaming and never holds me back and helps make me a better person. In this hurricane we call life my daddy has helped me prepare for

whatever weather life may throw at me. He teaches me that you can speak your mind if you speak it with wisdom. He tells me all the time to hold my tongue, because its sharp. He has shown me the world through his loving eyes. Life with my dad is full of adventures and memories, many of which have been with our epic powder-blue mini van named The Quest. (Its also lovingly referred to as our Millennium Falcon.) I can remember the many times we drove across Texas to see the Alamo, NASA, Six Flags, or Fiesta Texas. I cant even name all the countless concerts he has taken me to; from

Ozzy to ZZ Top, and Journey to Mayhem Fest. Our lives revolve around music. Music, honestly, is so important to the both of us . We live for the bands that give us so much happiness and help bring us together. We share the same passion for the music and each other. A long time ago I was falling down a dark and empty hole, but there he was, picking me up and calling my name, trying to find his precious daughter. I was still lost and helpless as a newborn baby, but he stayed in my head trying to save me and he kept getting louder and louder, until he saved me from the dark room that had swallowed me whole. Now, Im so far from that dark past because of him. I could never thank my dad enough for never becoming one of the people who gave up on me. There is a quote from Grease where Frenchie says The only man a girl can depend on is her daddy and I

Be the One: get up, get involved

Adults are constantly complaining about their jobs, but do nothing to look for a new one. They complain about the relationships that they are in, but do nothing to make them better. This pattern does not begin out of the blue, but seems to start in high school. Teenagers in the same sense, complain, but when the opportunity arises to make a change, they do nothing about it. Although students complain about relationships and jobs too, the focus of this problem is on high school life. From attendance at sporting events, to dances and other activities, students seem happy to merely complain, but never take action. This generation seems to be more apathetic than any generation before it. While most complain about a lack of activities, no one wants to step up and make things happen. Theyd just assume to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to do the job for them. What use is there in complaining if nobody is willing to be a leader? For instance, the lack of attendance at sporting events only results in a decline in the determination and morale of the team. If nobody shows up to any games to support the players, how are they expected to be motivated to win? School dances are another issue. Weve heard plenty of complaints about there being a lack of school dances, but if attendance keeps falling at these dances, then of course the dances arent going to be as fun as they could be. If more people made the effort to show up and try to have a good time, then dances would be a lot less lame than everyone tries to make them out to be. Beyond merely attending school events, there are some students actively involved in extracurricular activities. Because of the work required, the few students who are involved are spread too thin to do everything. If the majority of the students were willing to do something, no matter how small, it would benefit the entire campus. A change in the climate and morale of the school has to come from the inside. We cant wait for someone else to do it, we have to take control and be involved. There is only so much that teachers and community members can do; it rests on our shoulders to lead our school. If everyone was involved, everything about high school would be more enjoyable. - The Norseman Staff

NORSEMAN
Adviser Rebecca Dominy Editor John Fuller Managing Editor Stephani Whisenant Assistant Editors Emily Nash Emma Raleigh Staff writers http://www. Eva Araujo bryanhighnorseman.com Davis Downey Regina Flores Abel Lara http://www.twitter.com/ Marisa Lindeman bhsnorseman Monserrat Madrazo Andrea Mendes http://www.facebook.com/ Maurissa Ramirez BryanISDBryanHighJustin Sanders Norseman Yvette Ybarra

Highlight editions are published in print on the last Friday each month
The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of Bryan Independent School District. Submissions to the editor are welcomed, but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. Bryan Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services.

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Around Campus
News & events at Bryan High School
Criminal Justice TPSA Competition The Criminal Justice team competed in the Texas Public Safety Association competition at Southside High School in San Antonio on Sat. Jan. 21. Senior Corey Shultz placed 2nd in the first responder event. Senior Michael Mower and Shultz placed 4th in the criminal incident event. And the team of seniors Will Collins, Dimas Diaz, Mower, Shultz and juniors Jackie Montoya and Contantino Perez placed 4th in SWAT Extraction. UIL Academic Competition The Academic UIL team competed in the Midway Invitational on January 14, with the journalism team taking home 1st place honors. Junior Jenna Williams placed 6th in Computer Applications. Senior John Fuller placed 1st in Headline Writing, 1st in Editorial Writing, 2nd in News Writing, and 3rd in Feature Writing. Sophomore Emily Nash placed 1st in Feature Writing and 6th in Headline Writing. Sophomore Eva Araujo placed 6th in Feature Writing. Bowling Competition The Bryan High bowling team will take on Rudder Highs team Jan. 30 at 5:00 at Grand Station. They will then play A&M Consolidated on Feb. 6 at 5:00. Balfour Graduation Orders Balfour representatives will be on campus during all lunches on Feb. 2 and 3 to take orders for cap and gowns as well as other senior items. Progress Reports Progress reports will be handed out next week. Students should talk to their teachers about any missing work now, to make sure they are in good academic standing. District Wrestling Tourney The wrestling team will compete in the district tournament on Feb. 4 at Shoemaker High School. During the district dual meet on Jan. 14, the Vikings defeated Killen 36-33 with every wrestler winning by a pin. The Vikings also defeated Killeen Ellison 53-24, Copperas Cove 51-24, Shoemaker 39-27 and Harker Heights 54-24. 2012 Project Graduation A project graduation meeting will be held on Feb. 8 at 6:00 pm in the Blue Cafeteria. Senior parents interested in helping with project graduation are encouraged to attend. Shy-Anne Contest Season For students interested in trying out for the Shy-Anne Dance/Drill team, there will be a meeting in Gym 3 on Feb. 8 from 5:00-6:00. The Shy-Annes will demonstrate their contest routines so other student can see what the competition season is about.