wildcat alest plano senior high school volume 67 issue 8 march 8, 2013 plano, tx 75075 www.wildcattales.com

After 732 high school mixed choirs from across the nation applied to perform at the prestigious National American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) Convention last year, only four were chosen. Plano’s own A Cappella Mixed Choir is among the groups that won this honor. Directors from all over the United States and some from other countries are invited to the convention, which will be held in Dallas this year. On March 13 and 14, the chosen choirs will perform at the Meyerson Symphony Center and Winspear Opera House for an audience of about 8000 people. Plano’s choir will be the only mixed choral group to represent Texas. In previous years, choir director Derrick Brookins has taken groups to the regional Southwest ACDA Convention and in 2007 the

women’s choir went to the national ACDA convention, but this is the first time the mixed choir, which has both male and female singers, will attend. He submitted the UIL contest music sung by last year’s students, but this year’s students will be the ones performing at the convention. “When I did the submission for this choir, several people told me ‘You’re wasting your time. Do you know how hard it is to get selected?’” Brookins said. “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, it’s really hard. And I said, ‘What the heck, let’s just try it.’ And we got it.” A Capella Mixed Choir president senior Anthony McKee believes the UIL music submitted was selected for ACDA because of its diversity. “The songs we did last year for UIL were all vastly

different styles and difficulty levels,” McKee said. “None of the songs sounded like any of the others. So they really showed how broad and how versatile the choir really is. And it really showed off how good we can be in all different types of styles.” Brookins found out they were accepted over the summer and emailed the students, who had no clue their music had been submitted. Senior Madeleine Ma was part of last year’s choir and she has found this year to be more work since the students have had to learn music for the convention along with the music for their regular fall and winter concerts. “This year we have had to learn at a much faster pace than we did last year because last year we had a lot more time,” Ma said. “We got our ACDA music

at the very beginning of the year and we have just been hitting the ground running since then. But for the most part, once we focus and get into it, we are able to concentrate a lot more and it makes it seem less intimidating knowing that we are all in this together.” While junior Claire Gong agrees there is definitely increased pressure on the students to do their best this year, she does not mind it. “It feels awesome, actually,” Gong said. “I’m okay with working under pressure. It’s huge, it’s great, and when we actually work together – this is a choir with a lot of potential. This is a huge honor. If we are just really motivated by this and put a lot of dedication into this, I think it will be awesome, because we are.”

A Capella Mixed Choir to perform at national convention

The idea was born over the summer, when going to the mall or a picnic meant the girls did not have to cover up their flaws with foundation and lip gloss. Seniors Monica Plenger, Madeline Milby and Binna Kim decided to plan a day to get students thinking less about their outward appearance and more about the person inside. On March 8, Operation Beautiful will give students the chance to step back and think. “We could all agree that we missed the days during summer break when we wouldn’t wear makeup anywhere,” Plenger said. “And with two of the three of us having to get ready at school in the mornings, we knew how much makeup and effort most girls took to get ready. We had all heard about various schools putting on no makeup days, but we wanted to do something more.” Then Student Congress gave them the opportunity to bring their idea to the school.

“We wanted to have a day completely devoted to inner beauty,” Plenger said. “It’s important to remind ourselves how our hearts and personalities last longer than our appearances. So many people, myself included, often can get caught up in how they look or what they’re wearing. As a culture, we are obsessed with appearances, so much so that we start to lose sight of how we’re treating other people and treating ourselves. In the smallest sense we hope that this day reminds both guys and girls to look beyond appearances. I hope this day causes others to reflect on how they have been prioritizing themselves. We need to be investing in the right things.” The group sold shirts to promote the day and to allow students to get involved by passing the message on.

By Rachel Chen

Operation Beautiful promotes change in thinkingBy Alexandria Oguntula

Photo submitted by Derrick BrookinsA Capella Mixed Choir poses for their official American Choral Director’s Association National Convention group photo.

Since this year’s season started, the boys’ lacrosse team has been trying to catch the ball for a win, while girls who play lacrosse have to pursue the sport outside of school. The boys’ lacrosse team secured their first win of the season against Hillcrest on Feb. 17, followed by a loss to Flower Mound on Feb. 23 and to McKinney on Feb. 26. Last year, Lance Jacobs took over as head coach for the boys’ lacrosse team and after winning 10-7 overall their previous season, they are preparing to have another successful year. Senior Spencer Gore’s passion for lacrosse began in fifth grade after a few of his friends invited him to play. Before playing for Plano, Gore played for Coast to Coast, a national organization that selects members

to play in hopes of continuing in the career after high school. “I loved playing from the day I started,” Gore said. “Lacrosse just clicked for me. It’s fast-paced, physical and highly competitive.” The boys’ lacrosse team is not a UIL-sponsored team, but they get to represent the school as a club team. The lack of a girls’ program has led to the establishment of a team outside of school, Plano Premier Girls’ Lacrosse, also not sponsored by the school. The girls’ select lacrosse team consists of members from over 12 different schools, including Plano, Frisco, Richardson and Dallas private schools. So far they have won six games and lost two. Senior Kaitlyn Campbell plays for the team as the only member from Plano Senior.

Athletes pursue lacrosse in, outside of schoolBy Myiah Jones

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 3Continued on page 3

Photo by Indiga Christy

Senior Jacob Long lines up for a pass in game against the McKinney Lions on March 26.

Photo submitted by Monica Plenger T-shirts featuring this design were sold to promote the cause.

One student can’t wait to become an independent adult while another dreads leaving her family. Senior Lindsay Langford has been committed to Texas Tech since she can remember. Both of her parents attended Texas Tech, as well as her grandparents. “We used to go to football games in the Cotton Bowl and I was brought up with the sweatshirts and T-shirts,”

Langford said. “Also, I won’t be too far from family and the drive home won’t be too bad from going out of state.” Senior Tori McClue said that her plan has always been to attend Louisiana State University. Her real home is in Louisiana, where she lived for nine years prior to coming to Texas. She is

committed to LSU and hopes to major in either biology or chemistry.

“I don’t really want to go out-of-state for college – it wasn’t really the intention, but all the schools I like are out-of-state,” McClue said. “If I liked the Texas schools I would have gone. Plus, I’ve always had the plan to hopefully go to LSU.” Langford wants to attend Texas Tech not only because of its proximity to her family but also because of its nursing program. “Their nursing program is really good and being in clinicals kind of set me towards the medical field,” Langford said. “A bunch of my friends are going to Texas Tech, especially those in clinicals, so I’ll know some people in my nursing classes.” McClue said driving home won’t be a frequent option for her since it is a six-hour drive to Plano. “If I wanted to go home it would have to be a Friday because I need two days to get there,” McClue said. “I’m from New Orleans, so I have family there. I really won’t be getting away from

anyone. They could all reach me if they really wanted to.” AVID teacher Jacqueline Dillon went out-of-state herself. She went to West Virginia Wesleyan College,

a small private liberal arts college affiliated with a Methodist church. She first majored in Christian

education, but then changed her

major to just education. Her parents didn’t

mind her going out-of-state and encouraged her

to choose the college that was right for her. “My parents took me on different college field trips and they encouraged me to go where I wanted to go,” Dillon said. “Whether it was in-state or out-of-state they really didn’t care. West Virginia Wesleyan College felt like home when I was on campus and they had the major I wanted. It was a beautiful setting – it was in the Appalachian Mountains, which I’d never lived in before.” Dillon believes that parents should support whatever college their student wants to apply to. According to her, researching is key to finding the right college. “I think parents should encourage their kids to research both in-state and out-of-state colleges and to participate with them,” Dillon said. “I think they should be open-minded unless there are financial circumstances that prevent them from going out-of-state. You shouldn’t limit kids unless you absolutely have to.” McClue’s mother is encouraging her to go to LSU because she wants her daughter to go to the school that she wishes to attend, whether it is in-state or out-of-state. “My mom wants me to have the college experience,” McClue said. “She wants me to grow up and do what she didn’t. She didn’t move away for college, she stayed at home.” For out-of-state colleges, Dillon encourages the students to find out the reasons why they want to go there instead of an in-state school. “If students have a logical reason for going out-of-state then I’ll encourage them to apply out-of-state,” Dillon said. “It usually has to do with their major or they have relatives there. I encourage my students to apply out-of-state, but also to apply in-state. They need to have a plan A, plan B and a plan C because if it doesn’t work out and it’s too expensive for out-of-state, they usually won’t know until April and by that time it’s too late to apply to a college. They need to keep all of their options open.” Langford believes going to an in-state college will benefit her. She can save money and see her family more often than if she went to an out-of-state college. “In-state is way cheaper financial-wise,” Langford said. “After school almost every day I go spend time with my family. I can’t be too far from my family.” But Dillon believes that some students may pick out-of-state colleges for the wrong reasons. “Many students think ‘Oh, I can’t wait to away from home and I want to get as far away from home as possible’ but

then when they get

that far away from home they realize they don’t have anyone to go home to or anyone to talk to,” Dillon said. “They see other people doing that who live closer. Students can be short-sighted as far as their reasoning and in the midst of what’s going on they think ‘Oh, maybe I should’ve thought of that.’” McClue knows she will benefit from going out-of-state since she said she is already an independent student. “The best thing for going out-of-state is that it forces you to do what you wouldn’t when you were at home,” McClue

said. “You don’t have parents always telling you ‘do this’ or ‘do that’. They’re not there to wake you up in the morning or remind you to do your homework. You’re on your own. It really puts you on the spot to see if you will make it or not without them. I really

won’t have someone there so it’s just me as my own support system. Hopefully it will teach me how to be an adult and grow up.”

Dillon also thinks that when it comes to choosing a college, whether it is in-state or out-of-state, the

decision should be the student’s own. “I think students need to look at all the reasons w h y they want to go to a particular college,” D i l l o n said. “They should have a must-have list and a should- have list based on their needs, desires and expectations – not anybody else’s. They are the ones that have to live and study there for four years or plus. I think it’s a very bad idea to base your decision on someone else’s ideas or decisions.”

x x

news march 8, 20132

Students decide between in-state, out-of-state collegesBy Brooke Combs

It started with the comic strip Li’l Abner in Dog Patch, a fictional town. A day in November was set aside for unmarried women to chase bachelors, hoping to catch them for marriage. Sadie Hawkins was known as the “homeliest gal in all them hills”, and that day in November was her favorite. High schools drew inspiration from this cartoon, and the Sadie Hawkins dance was born – one where girls ask guys to be their dates. Plano has held a Sadie Hawkins dance before, but with very little success, according to senior Sonia Woiton. Woiton and junior Molly Huser are leaders of the Student Relations commitee of Student Congress and are in charge of planning the Sadie Hawkins dance this year on March 23. They want to make it bigger and better than it has been previously. “We wanted to do a Sadie Hawkins dance because we thought a lot of people at school would enjoy another dance besides homecoming and prom,” Woiton said. “People should go because it’s going to be fun. It’ll be like a less serious homecoming, and we want people to not just come with a date but also with friends just for a good time.” According to Woiton, hard work is going into planning the dance there are already ideas for decorations and publicity. The theme for the dance is “Western”, which was voted on by members of StuCo during one of their general sessions. “We were thinking of having some Western-themed centerpieces, some decorations like hay bales or other Western-esque stuff,”

Huser said. “We are going to be doing some advertising, kind of like Heart-to-Heart did to get everyone’s attention. So in the next month things will be popping up around campus.” Compared to homecoming, the Sadie Hawkins dance will not be much different. However, it will be on a smaller scale, with a $3000 budget set. It is expected to bring in less people than homecoming as well. Just like in the cartoon, the girls will have the chance to chase after the guy they like. But instead of marriage, they are looking for a date to the dance. “Girls get a chance to find a date instead of waiting around for a boy to ask them,” Huser said. “It is a chance for juniors to celebrate this semester and seniors to find a good date for prom.” However, not everyone approves of the Sadie Hawkins dance. “I am honestly against it, because this late in the year there is so much stuff going on,” junior Jacob Ehrhardt said. “Prom should be the only dance at the end of the year.” But other students are already starting to get excited for the dance. “I think it is awesome we are adding a Sadie Hawkins dance,” junior Danielle Rutherford said. “Girls asking guys is really cool, even though it is nerve-wracking. I really hope it becomes another one of our traditions.”

By Laura Jones

StuCo brings back

news march 8, 2013 3

By Alexandria Oguntula

Absent from learningTruancy threatens seniors’ graduationBy Kaitlin Fischer They stand in front of Judge John Peyton, awaiting their sentence. 60 community service hours and no off-campus lunch is their punishment for skipping class, and their only way to work off their truancy. Sub-school principal Tracy Ryerson helps her truant students graduate on time. She gives them daily homework sheets to make sure they’re doing their work, meets with parents to talk about their grades, makes the students check in with her at lunch and, if need be, goes with them to court. “With seniors right now, we’re hitting crisis mode,” Ryerson said. “I’ve had to reschedule some kids, I’ve taken a couple seniors out of athletics and put them in core classes that they need. ‘Well, I’ll do it in e-school’. They don’t always do it in e-school. So I move their classes around so they’re in the class they need to attend, because for some reason along the line they absent-failed it.”

However, there have been times where it is too late for seniors to graduate on time. Ryerson recommends students who would not be

able to graduate by June to Program Six and Seven, acceleration programs for seniors. The students can take their necessary credits through Program Six and Seven while also going to Collin College, so they will not fall behind when starting college. Summer school is also an option. “I had a young man several years ago who, even under court order, didn’t go to school,” Ryerson said. “He was defying not only me but the judge. He wasn’t listening to his mom, he wasn’t listening to the school and he failed. He was an AP student. He was a really intelligent kid, and he failed his English class. He actually tried to drop out on me. I re-filed with truancy, so they would court-order him to summer school. He graduated three summers ago. Now he’s in college doing great. He sends me an email about once a month, thanking me. He was just in a difficult place in his life.” Senior Kalia Popp was truant her junior year. Because she was sick with mono during the middle of the year, occasionally skipped school and didn’t turn in notes when she had an excuse, Popp accumulated too many unexcused absences. When Popp found out, she was nervous for her future. “I was terrified because the judge was really adamant about how it would be on my permanent record,” Popp said. “I was afraid of it affecting whether or not I would get into college. I was like, ‘I’m not going to get into college’, because I couldn’t get it expunged until I’m 18, but I was applying when I was younger than that. That definitely freaked me out.” To keep Popp on track, the judge required her to clock into school by 8:45 a.m., clock in three times during lunch and turn in a homework sheet at the end of each day that would be given to the judge. Judge Peyton also assigned her 40 hours of community service instead of making her parents pay a fine. Now Popp feels that she knows better. “I don’t ever skip class,” Popp said. “I even tell other people to not skip class. I’m like, ‘This is not worth it’. I definitely always turn in notes, but I try not to miss school this year as much as I did last year. Last year I was pretty lenient on myself about when I could miss school. This year I’m like, ‘No, I have to go.’ I could be dying and I’ll be like, ‘Nope. I’m going to school.’” Ryerson feels that there are many reasons students skip school, including problems at home, problems with teachers or even something as simple as wanting to sleep in longer. Many students become truant because they simply don’t know the absence rules. “What we’re realizing is the juniors think they have nine days before we file truancy,” Ryerson said. “Truancy allows them to have three absent days or parts of days in a four-week period. If they skip three periods in four weeks, we can file, or if it’s 10 days and parts of days in a six-month period. They really just need to realize what the law is. If we wanted to we could

file after the first three periods.” In order for students to avoid truancy, Ryerson recommends that students turn in notes or call the school when they’re sick. “Let the school know,” Ryerson

said. “Especially when you’re sick, you’re out for five days. Have somebody call the school and say, ‘I’ve got the flu.’ You wouldn’t believe how many kids don’t call and tell us. The teachers start worrying.” Because of truancy, Popp learned that skipping school isn’t always worth it. “It made me see the world through a different set of eyes because that happened to me,” Popp said. “That was probably one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me in terms of my ‘brush with the law.’ It definitely changed my life and I see the world in a different way because I know the importance of doing what you’re supposed to be doing and staying within the lines of the rules. You can’t always get away with being a rule-breaker. I always like to step on the line and you can’t do that.”

Much like last year’s UIL music, the music the choir will perform at ACDA encompasses several languages and various styles, including a gospel song and a baroque song. And like last year, McKee appreciates the variation and feels that his peers do as well. “It’s very fun music,” McKee said. “A lot of the pieces are really exciting and we get to do a lot of different things with them. Because these songs are different styles, we get to be loud at some points, we have to be quiet at some points, we have to sing fast, and we get to do long, drawn-out notes. Whatever you like to do with choral music, it’s somewhere in our program.” Asides from having an extra two rehearsals each month for the ACDA convention, the students also had to fundraise for their transportation and

instrumental accompaniment for the concert, as the district is not helping to pay this year. The choir’s alumni association has also helped through donations and support. Brookins is extremely proud of the students for their hard work. “I personally have always felt that our choir is one of the best, but of course, I am biased,” Brookins said. “But it is nice when other people, especially outside the state or even across the country, recognize that you’re one of the best. These kids have been working tirelessly, pouring their heart and soul in everything since August. I’m tough on them, I demand a lot of them and they always, always come up to the bar. They’ve never disappointed me. I love them. They are my heart. Every day I wake up and I thank God for the ability to work with them.”

A Capella Mixed Choir to perform at national conventionBy Rachel Chen

promotes change in thinking “We are not making any profit from the shirts,” Milby said. “All of that money that people pay is going towards producing the shirts. They are just for people to get involved.” Junior Rosemary Padilla is excited about the idea and plans to participate. “Wearing makeup has always been extra work in the morning and the idea that people want to change the view students have about self-image is really great,” Padilla said. “I hear people commenting on students’ appearance in the halls and I always wonder if we as a student body can come together and think more about how people are on the inside before we judge them.” While Plenger does not feel that the girls at this school are any more or less concerned about appearances than anywhere else, she believes the most important part of Operation Beautiful will be the opportunity to bring about a change in the atmosphere of the school. Though she will be ging to college next year, Plenger hopes that StuCo will continue with Operation Beautiful in years to come. “There are some girls who are really self-conscious, some who have a lot of confidence and some in between,” Plenger said. “Plano is no exception. Maybe this day will make some people realize that they need to focus less on themselves and more on others. But maybe not. We can only hope that Operation Beautiful serves as a catalyst. Everything after that is in the power of the people here. We can’t make people act a certain way, but we can cause them to think.”

Senior Kristen Chen

Sometimes we

just focus too

much on our

appearances

and what people

think of us.

Operation

Beautiful can

help change that.

“

”

Continued from front page

Continued from front page

8-10% of students are truant per year

5.2% of students do not come to school

every day

8 students absent-failed last year

*Statistics from sub-school prinicpal Tracy Ryerson

march 8, 20134

As he stood in the dead of winter looking out into the frosty, brisk air, he decided he wasn’t too fond of cold temperatures. After graduating college with a degree in marine biology, environmental science teacher Mark Yoder found himself training for a job to monitor fishing boats in Alaska. Once he realized the job wasn’t the right fit for him, he took his two bags, bulging with winter clothes, and bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii. Yoder’s goal was to work in Hawaii for a while and then continue to travel the world, but those plans changed when he met his future wife. “I wanted to learn Indonesian and my friends asked her to teach me,” Yoder said. “She understood what it was like to learn a new language and understood how difficult it was. She was a good teacher.” When Yoder met his future wife in Hawaii she was training and learning new skills to bring back to her home, Indonesia. “She had stopped college to come learn things like organic farming, how to compost and aqua culture so she could go back and teach her village what she had learned,” Yoder said. After 12 months, Yoder’s future wife Elly went home to Indonesia. But he couldn’t resist going after her and asking for her hand in marriage. Yoder said Elly’s father was very open and accepting of him and the wedding. The only problem they faced was where to start their new lives together. “Throughout the ’90s we were back and forth a lot between here and Indonesia,” Yoder said. “At first our plan was for me to move to Indonesia, but we ended up just moving over here together. Now she’s used to it and likes it.” Like Yoder, Chinese teacher Xinyan Liu traveled across the globe before ending up in Plano. Liu moved here with her family 13 years ago from Tianjin, the third biggest city in China, when her husband found a job. “At first I did not think coming here was the best idea for my family,” Liu said. “It was hard for me when we first moved because my English was not good at all. At first it was hard to separate the languages in my head.”

Liu’s native language is Chinese, her second language is Japanese and her third language is English. Liu majored in Japanese while in China and was a Japanese professor for eight years while living in Tianjin. When Liu moved to Texas, she decided to go back

to school so she could teach Chinese to high school students.

“I was taking an English class and decided I might as well just get my teaching degree,” Liu said. “I worked very

hard to finish my master’s degree in education. I love to teach language as well as culture. I love teaching anything, but I do prefer teaching Chinese over Japanese because it is my native language.” Yoder and his wife Elly have two sons, Sam and Nick, who were both born in the United States. The boys both grew up around both English and Indonesian, but English is their primary language. “Their Indonesian is not as good as it should be,” Yoder

said. “But they enjoy both cultures and love visiting Indonesia. They have a good

time over there enjoying the adventures and the spicy food.”

As a biologist, Yoder said his favorite part about Indonesia is its wildlife.

“That’s what first attracted me to Indonesia,” Yoder said. “I also like the culture. The people

are very friendly and hospitable. They’re clever and resourceful, very artistic and musically inclined. It’s a

beautiful culture and there’s a big sense of community.” In Indonesia, the land is more open because it

is a tropical environment. According to Yoder, the temperature doesn’t usually get too hot, but it never

gets cold. “You can walk out of your house and pick fresh

fruit right off of a tree,” Yoder said. “It’s really nice in that sense.”

Yoder said an important tradition for families in Indonesia is having large feasts at times of celebration,

such as weddings. The meals are followed by a special dance called the Tor-tor.

“It’s harder to have those traditions here, but we still do little things with other Indonesian friends,” Yoder

said. “In Indonesia there are a lot of geckos running up and down on the walls. It’s a sign of good luck, so my wife

has every room in our house decorated with some sort of gecko statue.” When Liu first arrived in Texas, she missed the food from her native country. But after being in Texas for a while, she said she has become more accustomed to the food. “I especially miss dumplings,” Liu said. “I’m more used to American food now, though. My favorite is probably

barbeque.” Aside from the food in China, Liu misses her family back home, consisting of her mother and her brother, who is a math teacher. “My mom comes to visit sometimes,” Liu said. “My brother is busy with teaching. We love teaching in our family. My husband, son and I go visit China about one time a year and reunite with our family and friends. We all communicate in Chinese, but my son and husband both speak good English, which is good, especially for my son. I think it is important for him to know both Chinese and English.” Liu knew she had to learn English, but she struggled in the classroom setting. “I learned to just study by myself,” Liu said. “In the beginning it was difficult, but I eventually learned. Japanese was much easier for me to learn ─ it is more similar to my native language, but I was motivated to learn English because I needed to complete my master’s degree.” Having taught Chinese for eight years now, Liu has grown to like Plano’s culture and traditions. “I love teaching Chinese here,” Liu said. “I love students and I love watching them learn and grow. I am very proud of my students; they are the best of the best.” The Yoders have adjusted to life in the United States together and believe they made the best choice by choosing to start their lives together here. The family manages to visit Indonesia about once every five years. “Our family on Elly’s side is huge,” Yoder said. “Her culture is very into extended family life. Cousins are as close as brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles are like another set of parents. Indonesia is very green and tropical. It’s a beautiful country with a lot of culture. It’s always interesting to visit, it’s a pretty neat place.”

Teachers make way to Plano from other countriesBy Jessica Allman

They have access to multiple passports. Traveling home involves custom’s officers and sometimes crossing an ocean or two. They were not American- born, but they are now American-raised. Junior Christian Berteau is a citizen of the United States, Great Britain and Canada. He was born in Ontario, Canada, giving him Canadian citizenship. Because his mother is from Great Britain and his father is from America, he is a citizen of both countries as well. Berteau’s mother said she originally wanted to move to America to find more job opportunities, but temporarily moved to Canada so Berteau could be born near his grandparents. “I was my mother’s second child and she didn’t want both of her kids to be disconnected from her parents because they were so far away,” Berteau said. “My older sister was born in Texas and my grandparents were never able to see her until she was about 4. So when I was born my parents kept us close to them until I was 5, when we moved back to the United States.” Despite the many similarities he sees between Canada, United States and Great Britain, Berteau prefers the atmosphere of Canada. “Other than their accents, Canadians and Americans are very similar,” Berteau said. “Everyone seems nicer in Canada. On the roads, nobody owns big SUVs or trucks, it’s mostly cars that can drive well in the snow. In Great Britain everyone seems very polite because of their accent, but they really aren’t any nicer.” Unlike Berteau, some students prefer living in America. Junior Daniel Carvalho has both United States and Brazilian citizenship. Although he was born in Florida, both his parents were born in Brazil. “I love the environment of Brazil, but there is so much poverty everywhere that I wouldn’t want to live there,” Carvalho said. “I would choose Brazil only because it is beautiful. The living conditions can be way harsher, so I don’t think I will ever choose to live in Brazil.” Senior Nataly Keomoungkhoun’s parents have been moving back and forth between Australia and America due to a series of unexpected events. Keomoungkhoun was born in Sydney, Australia. Her family moved to America when she was 3, but was forced to move back to Australia when her father was let go from his job following a crash in the economy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “The Australian government does this thing where you put your name in a raffle for a green card,” Keomoungkhoun said. “My dad put our last name in the raffle and we got that. We came back because of the green card and we’ve

Dual citizens compare nations’ lifestylesBy Alexis Harris

As he listens to the national anthem with his other teammates before the football game, his eyes land on the stands where his mother sits. For a split second he catches himself searching for his father. Then he remembers. Junior Jack Lee’s father runs a salon and stayed in Seattle while Lee, his mother and brother moved to San Diego, then to Plano. It has been two and half years since Lee’s father moved from Seattle to Plano. “When he first left it felt weird,” Lee said. “But then I just got used to it and started to do more things on my own, such as picking my brother up from school and taking care of him. It was never overwhelming for me because I’m very close to my brother and enjoy spending time with him.” Lee has many memories with his father. Lee’s father would visit every month, usually bringing pizza on the way home with the intention of having a guys’ night. “It was a Saturday night every month when my mom would go to sleep early,” Lee said. “My dad, my brother and I would watch action movies together all night and eat junk food. It was pretty awesome because it was a very laid-back night to just enjoy explosions on screen and super loud bass. We wouldn’t worry or talk about any work the next day. We would just be

Students spend time away from parentsBy Tehreem Shahab

Junior Jack Lee (far right) and his younger brother Jin (far left) celebrate their father’s visit and birthday at their home in winter 2010.

Photo submitted by Jack Lee

Chinese teacher Xinyan Liu has two stuffed pandas in her classroom, gifts from a student who visited China over the summer.

Photo by Rachel Chen

Photo submitted by Mark Yoder

Environmental science teacher Mark Yoder, his wife, two sons and extended family explore Kawa Puith volcano on Java, an Indonesian island.

5march 8, 2013

They have access to multiple passports. Traveling home involves custom’s officers and sometimes crossing an ocean or two. They were not American- born, but they are now American-raised. Junior Christian Berteau is a citizen of the United States, Great Britain and Canada. He was born in Ontario, Canada, giving him Canadian citizenship. Because his mother is from Great Britain and his father is from America, he is a citizen of both countries as well. Berteau’s mother said she originally wanted to move to America to find more job opportunities, but temporarily moved to Canada so Berteau could be born near his grandparents. “I was my mother’s second child and she didn’t want both of her kids to be disconnected from her parents because they were so far away,” Berteau said. “My older sister was born in Texas and my grandparents were never able to see her until she was about 4. So when I was born my parents kept us close to them until I was 5, when we moved back to the United States.” Despite the many similarities he sees between Canada, United States and Great Britain, Berteau prefers the atmosphere of Canada. “Other than their accents, Canadians and Americans are very similar,” Berteau said. “Everyone seems nicer in Canada. On the roads, nobody owns big SUVs or trucks, it’s mostly cars that can drive well in the snow. In Great Britain everyone seems very polite because of their accent, but they really aren’t any nicer.” Unlike Berteau, some students prefer living in America. Junior Daniel Carvalho has both United States and Brazilian citizenship. Although he was born in Florida, both his parents were born in Brazil. “I love the environment of Brazil, but there is so much poverty everywhere that I wouldn’t want to live there,” Carvalho said. “I would choose Brazil only because it is beautiful. The living conditions can be way harsher, so I don’t think I will ever choose to live in Brazil.” Senior Nataly Keomoungkhoun’s parents have been moving back and forth between Australia and America due to a series of unexpected events. Keomoungkhoun was born in Sydney, Australia. Her family moved to America when she was 3, but was forced to move back to Australia when her father was let go from his job following a crash in the economy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “The Australian government does this thing where you put your name in a raffle for a green card,” Keomoungkhoun said. “My dad put our last name in the raffle and we got that. We came back because of the green card and we’ve

been here ever since fourth grade. It’s just like this lucky streak.” Her father was rehired by his old company, Alcatel-Lucent, as a business product manager. The Keomoungkhouns wanted a more permanent stay in the United States, so they applied for citizenship and received it approximately six months later. “We’re citizens now,” Keomoungkhoun said. “I just got my citizenship last year. Since I was under 18 my parents had to do most of it for me. My older sister had to do it as well since she was 19 ” To become an American citizen, candidates are tested on the government, how the American system works and the purpose of written American documents. “I knew the basis of the government: George Washington was the first president and all the major presidents,” Keomoungkhoun said. “When I came back from Australia I had to relearn most of that. I missed out on division and I had to relearn that when I came back here. The transition between the two is hard.” Keomoungkhoun has a younger sister Olivia and an older sister Melissa. The transition to America served a special purpose for Melissa. “One of the reasons why we moved back from Australia was because my older sister is deaf,” Keomoungkhoun said. “None of the schools in Australia have a deaf education system. She came home struggling to do her homework. When we came here they saw that she did so well. At Davis Elementary they had the best deaf education system for her. We have the chance to succeed here; it’s just a big difference. I love it here.” Berteau gained his Canadian citizenship because of his place of birth, unlike Keomoungkhoun, who applied for her American citizenship. Therefore, when he turns 18, he will be required to choose which citizenship to keep. He is not sure which one to choose, but prefers to attend college in Canada. “It is less expensive for me to attend school there,” Berteau said. “I still have family there, and the atmosphere is just so much better. I can’t explain it, you just have to see what it’s like there and then you understand why you wouldn’t want to leave.” Keomoungkhoun prefers to stay in the United States for college. Her older sister graduated from Plano and is now attending Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Keomoungkhoun believes that attending an American school is better overall. “You get distracted a lot being so close to the beach,” Keomoungkhoun said. “I am still in contact with many of my old friends from Sydney. I don’t

thing they are doing very well in school, to be honest. They are always at the beach and in the city. Since the drinking age is lower they are all getting wasted and going to clubs and parties. I am here still in school trying to go to a good college.” Keomoungkhoun wants to go to Southern Methodist University or the University of Texas at Austin. As water is not her favorite thing, she said the beaches of Sydney are not more important than education. Her parents, however, would like her to attend school in Australia because higher education is free there. “It’s not what you think it would be,” Keomoungkhoun said. “Many people think there are kangaroos hopping in my backyard. But it’s just like Plano. The suburb that I lived in was not too far from the big city but also not too close. You could always go to the city and the beach. Life there was good but school was not. Here everything is good.” Carvalho has been to Brazil five times to visit family. Although he has citizenship there, he said it is still hard to travel to Brazil because it is overseas. “I love the beaches there,” Carvalho said. “Being so close to the water is nice, but it’s a hassle to get there from Texas so we don’t go as often as I would like.” Keomoungkhoun will not have to pick between her citizenships when she turns 18, as she received her citizenships either through her own birth or application and not through her parents’ citizenships. Even though she now has both American and Australian citizenship, she knows that she would like to stay in the United States. “Here I think we’re a lot more developed,” Keomoungkhoun said. “We have higher-level thinking skills. A lot of people don’t think that, but in Australia I felt like I didn’t learn anything. We’re so smart here in the United States.”

Dual citizens compare nations’ lifestyles

As he listens to the national anthem with his other teammates before the football game, his eyes land on the stands where his mother sits. For a split second he catches himself searching for his father. Then he remembers. Junior Jack Lee’s father runs a salon and stayed in Seattle while Lee, his mother and brother moved to San Diego, then to Plano. It has been two and half years since Lee’s father moved from Seattle to Plano. “When he first left it felt weird,” Lee said. “But then I just got used to it and started to do more things on my own, such as picking my brother up from school and taking care of him. It was never overwhelming for me because I’m very close to my brother and enjoy spending time with him.” Lee has many memories with his father. Lee’s father would visit every month, usually bringing pizza on the way home with the intention of having a guys’ night. “It was a Saturday night every month when my mom would go to sleep early,” Lee said. “My dad, my brother and I would watch action movies together all night and eat junk food. It was pretty awesome because it was a very laid-back night to just enjoy explosions on screen and super loud bass. We wouldn’t worry or talk about any work the next day. We would just be

like friends hanging out on a Saturday night, enjoying some guy time without stress.” After some time had passed since his father first left, Lee felt more grown up. “I’ve definitely matured after this experience,” Lee said. “I guess I kind of became the man of the house because when my dad wasn’t there I had to take care of my mom too.” According to Lee, his mother had a hard time dealing with his father’s absence. “She was really sad about it,” Lee said. “But I guess in the end she had to accept the fact that my dad had to do what he needed to in order to provide for the family and do what was best for us.” Similarly, senior Royce Li’s father has been living away from home in Shanghai, China since 2007 because of his job with Microsoft. Halfway through sixth grade, Li moved from Plano to Shanghai to live with his father for a year before moving to Ohio. In the second half of seventh grade, Li returned to Shanghai and lived there until he moved to Plano for tenth grade. Li believes this change has positively affected his relationship with his mother. “My mother and I have become closer, now that

it’s just me and her,” Li said. “She’s taking it pretty well too and if she has been affected by this change I haven’t seen it, so I think she’s been pretty strong.” His relationship with his father has also improved. “I have always been close to him,” Li said. “But I remember one time in sixth grade when they told me we had to move I threw a tantrum and got angry because I wanted to stay with my friends. But I’ve gotten used to this change now and I talk to my dad all the time. Now he gives me a lot of advice. Before it would be weird because

we wouldn’t really talk that much

about this stuff, but now since I’m away from him our relationship has gotten better.” Lee has begun to look at things differently ─ from his father’s point of view. “At first when he didn’t move much, I used to get easily annoyed at him,” Lee said. “But now since he’s moved a lot and I’ve grown older I’ve really gained a new perspective on what he does and what a father’s role is. I’ve become more independent.” Like Lee and Li, junior Po Liu moved from Taiwan three and a half years ago and currently lives with his sister, who recently graduated from college. His parents reside in Taiwan because of their work. “I moved here to get a more open-minded education,” Liu said. “Back in Taiwan there was always a lot of stress because they focused only on grades and not on other activities, such as orchestra.” Liu said he has learned to perform many tasks on his own and in this way has been able to prove to his family that he is mature. “My mother and I would argue a lot,” Liu said. “But now when we talk she notices how I have become more responsible and we are able to just talk and argue less. My sister used to talk to me like I didn’t know anything. Now she knows that I can cook, so she’s realizing that I’m more grown-up and we’ve gotten to know each other more.” Liu admitted that living away from parents has its own ups and downs. “Many teenagers think it would be fun and it is,” Liu said. “I don’t have my parents telling me what to do, but I’ve also grown independent. You have to do a lot of things on your own, such as cook, do the laundry and pay the bills. I’ve never felt sad, but it’s good to have your parents around because if you want to talk to someone your parents are the ones who can really help you.” Li believes that anyone going through a similar situation should remain optimistic. “I’ve grown to cherish my time with my dad because of how long I’ve been away from him,” Li said. “I’ve also realized that people shouldn’t be afraid to try new things and shouldn’t regret it in the future.”

Students spend time away from parents

Senior Royce Li spends time with his father on his visit home during winter break of this year.

Photo submitted by Royce Li

Junior Po Liu and his family pause to take a picture while dining in a Taiwanese restaurant in summer 2011.

Photo submitted by Po Liu

Junior Jack Lee (far right) and his younger brother Jin (far left) celebrate their father’s visit and birthday at their home in winter 2010.

Photo submitted by Nataly KeomoungkhounFrom left: Olivia Keomoungkhoun, senior Nataly Keomoungkhoun and Melissa Keomoungkhoun enjoy the North Carolina weather in their backyard.

march 8, 2013sports 6

Lacrosse has been part of Campbell’s life since she was 10 years old. Her interest in lacrosse sparked when she moved to Texas and her neighbor, the head coach of the boys’ lacrosse team, introduced her to the sport. She played lacrosse with his son for fun until she found a team to play on a year later. “I would definitely have more school pride if I played for the school,” Campbell said. “We would have more practice time since it would be just the schools.”

Both Gore and Campbell plan to play on college-level lacrosse teams. Next year, Gore will be playing for the University of Oklahoma while Campbell will be attending Southwestern University. But this year, both Gore and Campbell are trying to perfect their practice as much as they can for a great final season. “I get really jittery, excited and loud just because I know it will be my last season as a high school player,” Campbell said.

By Myiah Jones

Boys Lacrosse3/20 Allen3/23 Coppell 4/01 Southlake Caroll

Plano Premier Girls’ Lacrosse 3/19 Allen3/23 Southlake 3/25 Highland Park

Athletes pursue lacrosse in, outside of school

Continued from front page

Photo by Indiga Christy

Senior Andrew Phillips tries to steal the ball from the opposing team in the McKinney Lions game on March 26.

march 8, 2013 opinion7

My family never had much luck with fish. In the summer between fourth and fifth grade, my mom helped me furnish my own aquarium. It sat on the top of the bookshelf in my room, complete with blue pebbles and a plastic castle. I named my two Betta fish Carrie and Bo after the season four “American Idol” finalists, and they shared the tank with an unnamed spotted bottom-feeding catfish. Then after a couple of weeks, the catfish disappeared. I checked underneath the aquarium and around it on all sides – it was nowhere to be found. I forgot about the mystery eventually, but it came back to me one day when I decided to play with my long-abandoned Barbie dolls. I pulled out the drawer underneath my bed where I kept them, and there was the shriveled catfish carcass. I screamed and never touched those dolls again. There was other fish drama in our large freshwater aquarium downstairs. A small, black-finned Bala shark kept antagonizing its tankmates. It would chase the other fish, nipping at their tailfins if they were too slow. It hogged the daily fish food flakes. If a fish died, the shark would rip its body into pieces. Ultimately, we had to move it into solitary confinement upstairs in my sister’s aquarium. Our other pets were great – we had a medium-sized terrier mutt and a purebred Siamese cat – but fish were not our favorite companions. Not until we visited one of the houses my mom was cleaning up for an estate sale. The owner of the house had been dead for a while before we got there. His abandoned house seemed just as dead as he was; all of the services that keep a house alive were turned off, including heat, electricity and water. There wasn’t much in the way of expensive possessions – just shabby furniture and everyday items sitting eerily in the dark. As we made our way down the narrow path toward the kitchen, something caught our attention. A fish tank. A lone pink fish was the only living thing in that house – and even it was nearly dead. The aquarium was big enough for it, but the water had evaporated so much that it only filled one third of the tank, forcing the fish to hover at the bottom. It could barely breathe, and I watched its gills expand and contract violently. No one had come to check on the aquarium, meaning the fish hadn’t eaten since its owner passed. The filter wasn’t running, causing the tank to be overwhelmed with green algae. The fish was obviously struggling to survive. We rescued the fish that day and introduced it to our 30-gallon living room aquarium. It seemed like it was trying to express gratitude as it puckered its lips at us from inside the tank, happily swimming back and forth and eating pieces of falling food along the way. We identified it as a pink Kissing Gourami, and my dad affectionately named it Ferd – some play on an old television show character that he found amusing. Even though it was impossible to determine Ferd’s true gender, we identified him as male,

and his personality began to develop. Ferd grew to be about 8 inches long, by far the largest fish in our tank – also the most charismatic. When we approached the aquarium, Ferd would swim to the far edge and kiss the glass wall closest to us. He watched us when we spent time in the living room, fascinated with what we were doing, while the other fish swam along passively. Every time we came home and walked in the back door, our dog would greet us first, followed by Ferd, who puckered his lips at us from the tank in the corner. He loved us for saving him, and we loved him for loving us. Ferd got along with the other fish just fine, but my dad was definitely his best friend. My dad made it a ritual every morning to go downstairs, make a cup of coffee, then take it into the living room and say good morning to Ferd. He would talk to him every time he went into the room, and Ferd always responded with the same wide eyes and puckered lips. He was another member of the family. We went to Pittsburgh that winter to visit extended family, eight months after we brought Ferd home. When we returned, we entered the back door as always, but when we looked to the aquarium, Ferd didn’t greet us. He was floating upside-down at the top of the tank, unmoving and unnaturally pale. Not knowing that his species was particularly sensitive to temperature change, we turned down the heater before we left, accidentally killing him. We didn’t flush Ferd down the toilet. Rather, we put him in a shoebox and buried him in our backyard – a more respectful, ceremonial goodbye for our beloved fish. He deserved that. What I remember about Ferd, now over eight years later, is his almost-human spark. His ability to express pain, joy and sadness. I think that’s the key to bonding with a pet, and the reason why we had such trouble relating to fish in the past. They were indifferent. But Ferd was emotional. We adopted our terrier mutt from the pound when I was 3, and he showed us his love by licking our hands when we petted him. Years later, we saved a black kitten from the street, and she showed us her love by purring and rubbing against our legs. But I think Ferd was our greatest rescue, and our most unlikely. He expressed his love in the most human way of them all – by kissing.

By Alyssa Matesic

After I read how young she was, I couldn’t believe what had happened to her. She was only 15 years old. It all unraveled within two years – a downfall beginning with just one kiss. Her first kiss. All it took was a kiss with the wrong boy for a snowball effect to occur. A rumor was started about her and all of a sudden her first kiss wasn’t just her first kiss – it was her first everything. The rumor was not why she did it. A rumor she could handle. But the rumor was just the beginning. It was the chain reaction that eventually drove her to take the pills. It was people’s reactions after the rumor was spread that affected her. Boys began thinking she was willing to go further; girls didn’t want to befriend her because of her reputation. She could count on anyone because no one thought they could count on her. A 15-year-old girl decided her life wasn’t worth it because of what people did to her. Before she ended her life, the girl made a list of people who affected her decision. Many knew they would be on

the list, but others were surprised when they heard that they were on it and why. Some did small things, like steal her personal notes, but others did things that were more significant, like stepping aside while someone else took advantage of her. As I read her story, there was one line that stuck with me: “When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything affects everything.” This was an eye-opening moment for me. I don’t set out to hurt people, but with that line, I began to wonder if I have. Am I helping people out when they need it or am I hurting their situation? Or worse, am I standing by, allowing people to harm them? How often have I

ignored a phone call because I was in the middle of my favorite

TV show

or decided not to eat with someone at lunch because I wanted to eat out instead? If everything affects everything then I could be hurting people in more ways than I know. Because of this book, “13 Reasons Why”, I know now that I need to be more careful with people. Someone might be having issues at home that I don’t know about. Instead of watching “Friends” I could take 30 minutes of my time to talk on the phone with them. I could say hello to people in the hallways. I could not automatically react harshly when I think someone wronged me. Because of

this girl, I look at everyone around me differently,

and I question if what I say will send someone

overboard. What if how I treat someone today will

put me on their list in the future?

From now on, I will try to treat everyone with kindness, because I realize that everything affects everything, no matter how small it

may be.

By Kaitlin Fischer

wildcatmarch 8, 2013 volume 67 issue eight

Editors-in-ChiefAlyssa MatesicJp Salazar

Copy EditorKimberly Mei

Layout EditorShezal Padani

Photo/Graphic EditorCristina Seanez

Business ManagerKathleen Shaffer

AdviserTerry Quinn

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

Policy:Students and faculty are encouraged to send in any questions, comments, concerns or criticisms to be published. Letters to the editors can be put in the envelope in room B208 or emailed to The Wildcat Tales at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. The staff reserves the right to edit a letter for grammatical errors and space issues. Any errors found in the publication will be rescinded in the following issue. Additional and daily updates can be found at our website www.wildcattales.com. Past issues can be viewed at www.issuu.com/wildcattalesonline. Businesses wishing to advertise in Wildcat Tales can email us at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements deemed to be inappropiate.

Jessica AllmanRachel ChenBrooke CombsKaitlin FischerPriyanka HardikarAlexis Harris Kaitlin Humphrey

Myiah JonesAlexandria OguntulaLeslie ParkerMaddie PattonAlexis SendejasTehreem ShahabLaura Jones

Staff Writers

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

tales

Illustration by Tiffany Weng

Illustration by Tiffany Weng