STAY WOKE
KELLIE MONZON CRUZ
"It’s Here Today, It’s Gone Tomorrow"
Constantly being surrounded by bright, young minds and aware adults has led me to become more environmentally conscious. As I learn more from my peers, teachers, and professors, I learn that Earth is being increasingly damaged by what we do and how we do it. The urgent need to take action is further backed by posts often seen on various social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram. Not only have posts and people helped me become more aware of this issue, but it has hopefully inspired others to create change.
Instagram’s explore page is filled with posts that correlate to what seems to interest you or what could interest you. Recently my explore page has been packed with pressing issues and news around the world and the environment. Greta Thunberg, a Swedish 16-year-old, is the current face of environmental climate change for students. She is most known for leading a school strike in protest against current climate issues, issues she cannot change. The ability to change laws and regulations is out of the hands of students because we aren’t in positions power, thankfully we can become those people in the future. Greta continues to lead school strikes until adults choose to put our future before capitalism and has inspired others to do the same.
Any high school you enter is filled with the buzzing of voices, electronic devices, and movement. These sounds come from students who care to do something in the future. Us students are filled with hope and anticipation for what life has to offer us. Some of us are concerned with whether or not there will be a future to look forward to at all. A few of my peers take time to face issues locally recycling, planting trees, and cleaning up local sites in our city. Although it’s difficult for students to create change on a large scale, we are rewarded with the hope that we can in the future.
Instagram’s explore page is filled with posts that correlate to what seems to interest you or what could interest you. Recently my explore page has been packed with pressing issues and news around the world and the environment. Greta Thunberg, a Swedish 16-year-old, is the current face of environmental climate change for students. She is most known for leading a school strike in protest against current climate issues, issues she cannot change. The ability to change laws and regulations is out of the hands of students because we aren’t in positions power, thankfully we can become those people in the future. Greta continues to lead school strikes until adults choose to put our future before capitalism and has inspired others to do the same.
Any high school you enter is filled with the buzzing of voices, electronic devices, and movement. These sounds come from students who care to do something in the future. Us students are filled with hope and anticipation for what life has to offer us. Some of us are concerned with whether or not there will be a future to look forward to at all. A few of my peers take time to face issues locally recycling, planting trees, and cleaning up local sites in our city. Although it’s difficult for students to create change on a large scale, we are rewarded with the hope that we can in the future.
My English professor is one to truly care about the environment. Her assignments often pertain to the environment and the Earth. Through her class, I’ve learned about a series of ways that people attempt to tackle the problem, one of them is a Mushroom Burial Suit. The TED Talk may be accessed here.The video covers Jae Rhim Lee’s study on burial practices and her work on creating an environmentally friendly alternative to the common burial practice of embalming which releases harmful chemicals and toxins to Earth. A more recent assignment from the class taught me about Freegans, a group of people who live off what we see as waste. The full article is available here. The basic idea I’ve gotten from reading and watching things for my English class is that most of what we do now is harmful, however, there are other options to what can be done.
Not once did I believe I was contributing to the mistreatment of our planet, so I didn’t have much interest in fixing what I do. I didn’t give it much thought until it became a growing issue, and even then, I believed it was a boring topic. Being exposed to people who want to make a change and encourage others to do the same has made me become more interested in the topic. Through reading works and watching videos I’ve become more knowledgeable on the concern of global climate change and what we can do about it. The topic of global climate change is quite broad but reading into it and seeing how others take action enables others, such as myself, to become aware. I encourage others to read about global climate change and see how they can make a difference in our tomorrow, because who knows if it’ll be there.
Not once did I believe I was contributing to the mistreatment of our planet, so I didn’t have much interest in fixing what I do. I didn’t give it much thought until it became a growing issue, and even then, I believed it was a boring topic. Being exposed to people who want to make a change and encourage others to do the same has made me become more interested in the topic. Through reading works and watching videos I’ve become more knowledgeable on the concern of global climate change and what we can do about it. The topic of global climate change is quite broad but reading into it and seeing how others take action enables others, such as myself, to become aware. I encourage others to read about global climate change and see how they can make a difference in our tomorrow, because who knows if it’ll be there.
Our world today revolves around the basic application of business. Every day, we engage in activities that involve business decisions as either the consumer or the producer of goods and services. With this, being a business-oriented person becomes an influential skill in living in today's society. These lifelong abilities will enable us to involve ourselves in trade and improve our lives in the future. This is why many of us are interested to learn the basics of business.
If you want to become a successful businessman or women in the future, I believe you should take business courses in college, it will hone your knowledge, skills, and abilities to enable you to establish your own entrepreneurial career which will provide you a stable status and fulfill your dreams; this is why I want to study business in college
Business courses teach us to explore the strengths and weaknesses of every aspect of the product or service you will offer in the market. With this, you will be able to set clear goals and to make sure that you can find ways to identify markets that are productive versus those who are not.
Engaging in the field of business will take a long time. One must have to master the fundamentals that will equip him or her to become an efficient entrepreneur. After graduating from the course, you must understand that there will be struggles to launch your own business at such a young age. But it is ideal to begin early as to be able to increase potentials and make it grow into a competitive business to hit your target market.
After all, a launched business is not the end all be all. One must always seek to improve his skill and knowledge to adapt to the changing trends. It is essential to regularly conduct feasibility studies to identify the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats of the business organization and its goods or services. Lastly, continuous study of the marketing strategies is important in order to identify the roles of the bargaining power of the consumers and producers.
Through this, the business will become stable and can stand any challenges in order to maintain its consistency and stability that will keep it going in the long run.
If you want to become a successful businessman or women in the future, I believe you should take business courses in college, it will hone your knowledge, skills, and abilities to enable you to establish your own entrepreneurial career which will provide you a stable status and fulfill your dreams; this is why I want to study business in college
Business courses teach us to explore the strengths and weaknesses of every aspect of the product or service you will offer in the market. With this, you will be able to set clear goals and to make sure that you can find ways to identify markets that are productive versus those who are not.
Engaging in the field of business will take a long time. One must have to master the fundamentals that will equip him or her to become an efficient entrepreneur. After graduating from the course, you must understand that there will be struggles to launch your own business at such a young age. But it is ideal to begin early as to be able to increase potentials and make it grow into a competitive business to hit your target market.
After all, a launched business is not the end all be all. One must always seek to improve his skill and knowledge to adapt to the changing trends. It is essential to regularly conduct feasibility studies to identify the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats of the business organization and its goods or services. Lastly, continuous study of the marketing strategies is important in order to identify the roles of the bargaining power of the consumers and producers.
Through this, the business will become stable and can stand any challenges in order to maintain its consistency and stability that will keep it going in the long run.
JUST MY OPINION
JALEN FREEMAN
"The Career Expo at Tucker "
Tucker wants the best for the student body and helps them get involved in more extracurricular activities out of school as well as finding jobs during the school year. However, this year Tucker held a job festival to encourage the vast majority of the student body to pursue a career when they’re not in school. The Career Expo started during the latter half of 1st period on block days, meaning that there was plenty of time for most of the students to have the option to get acquainted with the numerous job and college opportunities that were at the school that day.
In the gym, there was an assortment of companies and college information. There were officials from prominent companies and schools such as Delta, Chick-Fil-A, Georgia Tech, and more. They all offered information to help students discern what career path they would choose to follow after high school. Georgia Futures was also there to offer crucial instructions for FAFSA applications, which is immensely important for kids who desire to go to college within the state. If I were still undecided I would be highly appreciative for what the school did to make this day possible for students still unaware of what opportunities are available.
While that information was being offered in the gym, there was a motivational speaker in the auditorium influencing students about a variety of topics, such as realizing your potential and not necessarily needing college to be successful. His speech was noteworthy for students who didn’t want to go to college because he brought up the fact that you don’t need a college degree for the highest paying job. He gave the example of Steve Harvey’s barber who started to cut for wealthy people, all without a college degree. However, I must say for being a student with a path definitely towards college I didn’t find it all too praising of college which was disheartening to some extent and counterintuitive to the point of why we were there. Overall, they were a very skilled and articulate speaker but it didn’t really affect the majority of students who were passionate to go further with their education.
It is imperative that all students at Tucker High realize the importance of getting a grasp of real life whether that be being an intern, having a job, or going to college. That is why I appreciate the effort that Tucker administrators and staff dedicated to reaching out to the numerous amount of businesses and people. Over the past year, Tucker has made great attempts to provide the entire student body with an opportunity to find a job interest at the school and the career expo is another considerable example.
In the gym, there was an assortment of companies and college information. There were officials from prominent companies and schools such as Delta, Chick-Fil-A, Georgia Tech, and more. They all offered information to help students discern what career path they would choose to follow after high school. Georgia Futures was also there to offer crucial instructions for FAFSA applications, which is immensely important for kids who desire to go to college within the state. If I were still undecided I would be highly appreciative for what the school did to make this day possible for students still unaware of what opportunities are available.
While that information was being offered in the gym, there was a motivational speaker in the auditorium influencing students about a variety of topics, such as realizing your potential and not necessarily needing college to be successful. His speech was noteworthy for students who didn’t want to go to college because he brought up the fact that you don’t need a college degree for the highest paying job. He gave the example of Steve Harvey’s barber who started to cut for wealthy people, all without a college degree. However, I must say for being a student with a path definitely towards college I didn’t find it all too praising of college which was disheartening to some extent and counterintuitive to the point of why we were there. Overall, they were a very skilled and articulate speaker but it didn’t really affect the majority of students who were passionate to go further with their education.
It is imperative that all students at Tucker High realize the importance of getting a grasp of real life whether that be being an intern, having a job, or going to college. That is why I appreciate the effort that Tucker administrators and staff dedicated to reaching out to the numerous amount of businesses and people. Over the past year, Tucker has made great attempts to provide the entire student body with an opportunity to find a job interest at the school and the career expo is another considerable example.
TV TIME WITH AKBAR
AKBAR KHAN
"BLACK MIRROR"
Black Mirror is a British science fiction anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. The show is based around examining a modern society, particularly in regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies. Episodes in this series are standalone, usually set in an alternative present or the near future, often with a dark and satirical tone, though some are more experimental and lighter. Black Mirror was inspired by older anthology series like The Twilight Zone, which was able to deal with controversial, contemporary topics without fear of being accused of confronting said topics too harshly. Brooker developed Black Mirror to highlight topics related to humanity's relationship to technology, creating stories that feature "the way we live now – and the way we might be living in 10 minutes' time if we're clumsy." The series has gathered positive reception from critics, received many awards and nominations, and seen an increase in interest internationally, particularly in the United States after its addition to Netflix.
My Top 3 favorite episodes:
Fun Fact: Two episodes, "San Junipero" (from the third series) and "USS Callister" (fourth series), won a total of six Emmy Awards, with both episodes winning Outstanding Television Movie.
- Fifteen Million Merits
- In my eyes, "Fifteen Million Merits" remains the gold standard for what a Black Mirror episode can and should be. Imagine a world where humans (or at least the ones we meet inside this compound) are all cogs in a system, and workers ride bikes to generate power and receive virtual "merits." They can spend those merits on all manner of content or virtual possessions, or simply use them to skip the mandatory ads and commercial that pervade peoples' every waking moment, even in their tiny, screen-filled bedrooms.
- In my eyes, "Fifteen Million Merits" remains the gold standard for what a Black Mirror episode can and should be. Imagine a world where humans (or at least the ones we meet inside this compound) are all cogs in a system, and workers ride bikes to generate power and receive virtual "merits." They can spend those merits on all manner of content or virtual possessions, or simply use them to skip the mandatory ads and commercial that pervade peoples' every waking moment, even in their tiny, screen-filled bedrooms.
- White Christmas
- Of all Black Mirror's anthology episodes, this season two finale is the far superior one. Built around three interwoven stories, "White Christmas" is that rare episode where a number of ambitious elements all work perfectly together. On the tech side, the episode tackles the interest in smart home devices, our internet culture of muting and blocking people, and a weird spin on online dating. Without spoiling too much, it's safe to say this Christmas story does not have a happy ending.
- Of all Black Mirror's anthology episodes, this season two finale is the far superior one. Built around three interwoven stories, "White Christmas" is that rare episode where a number of ambitious elements all work perfectly together. On the tech side, the episode tackles the interest in smart home devices, our internet culture of muting and blocking people, and a weird spin on online dating. Without spoiling too much, it's safe to say this Christmas story does not have a happy ending.
- White Bear
- To a friend’s credit, when she introduced me to the series a couple of months back she didn't start with "The National Anthem." Instead, she threw us right into "White Bear." This frantic, haunting episode contains what is still my favorite twist in the series; it follows a woman with amnesia who wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings and stumbles around a strange world looking for answers. I won't ruin the ending, but "White Bear" is a prime example of how a Black Mirror episode can pull off an ambitious concept and leave you well and truly wrecked by the time the credits roll.
- To a friend’s credit, when she introduced me to the series a couple of months back she didn't start with "The National Anthem." Instead, she threw us right into "White Bear." This frantic, haunting episode contains what is still my favorite twist in the series; it follows a woman with amnesia who wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings and stumbles around a strange world looking for answers. I won't ruin the ending, but "White Bear" is a prime example of how a Black Mirror episode can pull off an ambitious concept and leave you well and truly wrecked by the time the credits roll.
Fun Fact: Two episodes, "San Junipero" (from the third series) and "USS Callister" (fourth series), won a total of six Emmy Awards, with both episodes winning Outstanding Television Movie.
MEET A TIGER
ANNA LIPPY
"SHOOT YA SHOT"
We had a very exciting basketball season this year with a team full of talent and passion. The team worked harder than ever to be the best they could be. The coaches did an outstanding job preparing them for the championship game, but unfortunately we don’t always get the outcome we hope for. Nonetheless, being the second team in the state of Georgia is still a huge accomplishment! I am so proud to be a Tiger, and I think I speak for everyone in the community.
Watching the basketball games this season was definitely one of the most memorable experiences I will carry with me after high school. I will never forget what it was like to sit in the gym with the atmosphere full of anticipation and enthusiasm, but most of all pride.These boys are truly something to be proud of. Running onto the court after winning a game is one of my favorite high school memories, and I’m so happy I was able to share that experience with my peers.
The player I’m highlighting this month is senior Nathaniel Ogbu. He is not only a student-athlete, but he is an International Baccalaureate student-athlete. The IB program is built on extensive writing and oral presentations; balancing school and sports is already hard enough, I can’t imagine being in IB too. When I first met Nate, we were in the sophomore Pre-IB program. During the year he was injured badly and had to use a wheelchair for a few months and couldn’t play basketball for the rest of the season. Despite this setback, I never heard him complain about it. By the time it healed, he was back on the court without skipping a beat. His patience, determination, and persistence paired with his skill and endurance help make the difference between a good player and a great one. He’s a very driven individual, athletically and academically, and I know his skills will take him very far in life.
Watching the basketball games this season was definitely one of the most memorable experiences I will carry with me after high school. I will never forget what it was like to sit in the gym with the atmosphere full of anticipation and enthusiasm, but most of all pride.These boys are truly something to be proud of. Running onto the court after winning a game is one of my favorite high school memories, and I’m so happy I was able to share that experience with my peers.
The player I’m highlighting this month is senior Nathaniel Ogbu. He is not only a student-athlete, but he is an International Baccalaureate student-athlete. The IB program is built on extensive writing and oral presentations; balancing school and sports is already hard enough, I can’t imagine being in IB too. When I first met Nate, we were in the sophomore Pre-IB program. During the year he was injured badly and had to use a wheelchair for a few months and couldn’t play basketball for the rest of the season. Despite this setback, I never heard him complain about it. By the time it healed, he was back on the court without skipping a beat. His patience, determination, and persistence paired with his skill and endurance help make the difference between a good player and a great one. He’s a very driven individual, athletically and academically, and I know his skills will take him very far in life.
INTERVIEW:
How long have you been playing basketball?
What has basketball taught you?
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
What was going through your head before the State game? During the game? After?
What are your plans after high school?
What do you like to do outside of school?
Did you make a March Madness bracket?
How long have you been playing basketball?
- “I have been playing basketball for at least 4 years but started taking it seriously in the 10th grade.”
- “I played soccer when I was little but I lost the passion for it around the same time I started to get taller. I still watch soccer games occasionally.”
- “My favorite part of basketball would have to be the life skills that I’ve learned.”
What has basketball taught you?
- “Basketball has taught me to work well with people and also to be a leader, especially when the team is as young as ours was.”
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
- “Before a game I like to listen to music that gets me hype and eat candy.”
What was going through your head before the State game? During the game? After?
- “Before the State game I had a lot on my mind mainly with school, but I tried to find a way to block everything out. During the game my mentality was to do whatever was necessary to have more points than the other team once the clock hit zero. After the tough loss I tried to look back on the positive things we were able to accomplish and just tried to motivate the younger guys to continue to work hard.”
What are your plans after high school?
- “After high school I plan on attending a university that will allow me to continue my educational and athletic careers.”
What do you like to do outside of school?
- “Outside of school I like to spend time with my family and friends. I also enjoy reading which many people don’t know about me.”
What’s your favorite thing to eat before a game? - “Before a game I like to eat Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, or Moe’s.”
Did you make a March Madness bracket?
- “I really don’t care for a bracket but all I know is that the team I picked to win it all is still in it(Duke).”
I didn’t do it…
I looked at the time. 1:30. Time for art. At least there I could be alone to myself with my paintings. I walked into the empty room and looked around at the now familiar place. After grabbing my materials, I sat in the corner, turned on my music and started to paint. My mind was going in every direction. I could see every detail, every word, ever color of that night. That night that would change our lives forever. That night we cried but also celebrated only for a quick second before reality hit us that everything would change. Then it all went away and all that was left was a blank canvas.
I caught myself painting her face. How angelic she was. It wasn’t fair what happened to her. She didn’t deserve to get sick. She didn’t deserve to be in pain. Mom was nothing but loving, filled with warmth and kindness. Her perfume still sometimes lingers around me. She never deserved to die. He did.
“Sebastian.” I looked up. It was Ms. Gims. She looked at me with a blank face, but her eyes looked worried and curious.
“The police would like to speak with you outside.” I packed up my things and walked out with my head down, my hair getting in the way of my eyes.
I knew what was about to happen. They’d take me, question me then arrest me. My life consisted of lying, cheating, stealing and fighting. But this time was different. I was arrested many times before, manly for fighting or stealing. But this was nothing like that. This was different. This was complicated, deep and dark.
They handcuffed me and took me to the car. I saw her face. I did it to protect her. I promised my mom before she died that I would not let anything, or anyone hurt her. Aurora looked at me as tears streamed down her innocent face. She was all I had now. I caught her eyes as I sighed. She looked tired, stressed, and worried. Her eyes were glossed with a thick layer of tears begging to spill out. I wanted to run to her and hold her and tell her everything would be okay.
As I was being walked to the police car I wasn't scared and my mind began to drift to happier times. My mind wandered to the years we would all go to the beach. Aurora was almost eight the last time we went. She grabbed my arm as she ran down the beach and into the water making me laugh then fall into the water. Mom called us a couple minutes later to put on sunscreen. She looked so happy, so carefree, so healthy. Aurora looked at me and said in her cute childish voice, “Do you think we’ll come here every year until we die?” I looked at her and smiled. “Yes, for sure!”, I said.
I snapped out of the memory as the officer pushed me forward and into the back of the car. I wouldn’t be able to get out of this one. This was the end of the line for me.
This is all of his faults and I hated him for it. I hated him for everything. The man who did nothing to save my sick mother. The man who got drunk, abused her and treated her like a rag doll. He was nothing to me now. We had to live with him after she died. He was nothing but useless, got drunk and would beat me. I never let him lay a finger on Aurora. I promised mom I would protect her. One night I gathered the courage to tell him I was taking Aurora and we were moving. He just laughed in my face and said the words that I will never forget. “You will never escape me Bash. You and your sister are just as pathetic at your mother was.”
Even now that he is dead, I can still hear him, his throaty laugh, wicked eyes, evil words. But I didn’t kill him. I didn’t. I wanted to. But I didn’t.
I did confess though. I told mom I would protect Aurora. I told her I would do whatever it took to keep her out of trouble. To make sure she is always safe and never has to face what I have. I promised her.
I looked at the time. 1:30. Time for art. At least there I could be alone to myself with my paintings. I walked into the empty room and looked around at the now familiar place. After grabbing my materials, I sat in the corner, turned on my music and started to paint. My mind was going in every direction. I could see every detail, every word, ever color of that night. That night that would change our lives forever. That night we cried but also celebrated only for a quick second before reality hit us that everything would change. Then it all went away and all that was left was a blank canvas.
I caught myself painting her face. How angelic she was. It wasn’t fair what happened to her. She didn’t deserve to get sick. She didn’t deserve to be in pain. Mom was nothing but loving, filled with warmth and kindness. Her perfume still sometimes lingers around me. She never deserved to die. He did.
“Sebastian.” I looked up. It was Ms. Gims. She looked at me with a blank face, but her eyes looked worried and curious.
“The police would like to speak with you outside.” I packed up my things and walked out with my head down, my hair getting in the way of my eyes.
I knew what was about to happen. They’d take me, question me then arrest me. My life consisted of lying, cheating, stealing and fighting. But this time was different. I was arrested many times before, manly for fighting or stealing. But this was nothing like that. This was different. This was complicated, deep and dark.
They handcuffed me and took me to the car. I saw her face. I did it to protect her. I promised my mom before she died that I would not let anything, or anyone hurt her. Aurora looked at me as tears streamed down her innocent face. She was all I had now. I caught her eyes as I sighed. She looked tired, stressed, and worried. Her eyes were glossed with a thick layer of tears begging to spill out. I wanted to run to her and hold her and tell her everything would be okay.
As I was being walked to the police car I wasn't scared and my mind began to drift to happier times. My mind wandered to the years we would all go to the beach. Aurora was almost eight the last time we went. She grabbed my arm as she ran down the beach and into the water making me laugh then fall into the water. Mom called us a couple minutes later to put on sunscreen. She looked so happy, so carefree, so healthy. Aurora looked at me and said in her cute childish voice, “Do you think we’ll come here every year until we die?” I looked at her and smiled. “Yes, for sure!”, I said.
I snapped out of the memory as the officer pushed me forward and into the back of the car. I wouldn’t be able to get out of this one. This was the end of the line for me.
This is all of his faults and I hated him for it. I hated him for everything. The man who did nothing to save my sick mother. The man who got drunk, abused her and treated her like a rag doll. He was nothing to me now. We had to live with him after she died. He was nothing but useless, got drunk and would beat me. I never let him lay a finger on Aurora. I promised mom I would protect her. One night I gathered the courage to tell him I was taking Aurora and we were moving. He just laughed in my face and said the words that I will never forget. “You will never escape me Bash. You and your sister are just as pathetic at your mother was.”
Even now that he is dead, I can still hear him, his throaty laugh, wicked eyes, evil words. But I didn’t kill him. I didn’t. I wanted to. But I didn’t.
I did confess though. I told mom I would protect Aurora. I told her I would do whatever it took to keep her out of trouble. To make sure she is always safe and never has to face what I have. I promised her.
🌸THANKS FOR READING THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF COLLAGE. WE HOPED YOU ENJOYED IT🌸 |
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