The Hoofprint - At the Heart of Discovery - October 2012

We welcome you to the first issue of The Hoofprint Magazine: “At the Heart of Discovery”. Our purpose as the official news source of Buffalo High School is to provide the most relevant and informative content to the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose community as efficiently as possible. In order to accomplish this, we felt it was our responsibility to present our publication in a modern and accessible way. Therefore, we made the appearance smaller, while increasing the number of pages and the number of those in color, and enhanced the quality of our photography and design. We hope you find this issue to be both entertaining and insightful.

We chose “At the Heart of Discovery” as our first theme because it is an illustrator for the BHM community’s desire to learn. We are continuously learning throughout our lives regardless of age, gender, sexuality, and personality. Students and staff are not separate entities, but rather one community growing and discovering together. It is together that we discover who we really are. The focus of this issue is to show what makes discovery a vital component of life. We invite you to look through this issue and find out how members of the BHM community discovered themselves.

Stepping into Buffalo High School, new teacher Jason Maurer isn’t intimidated. Rather than facing new co-workers and a new building, he’s already familiar with the setting. Maurer is a 1998 graduate of BHS, and has now taken a job teaching Special Education in room A-108. He will also be coaching wrestling.

“I’m amazed at how the school actually looks very similar and how nice it still is,” Maurer said. “Obviously there is a huge addition out there by the gym area, but surprisingly it looks a lot the same.”

Way back when in 1997, the school was the newest facility in the county. A new building had to be built for the growing student population. This time it would hopefully contain the ever growing student body. The building is over ten years old and is still in fairly good condition. Although there have been few changes to the school since its opening, there have been many changes to the staff. Even with the changes, Maurer still has a few of his old teachers here.

Maurer credits Social Studies Teacher Tracy Hulley and English Teacher Vicki Cary to impacting him greatly in high school.

“They were just great teachers who made me stay in line and held me accountable for my actions,” Maurer said.

The feeling of admiration is mutual.

“[Maurer was] very well-liked by his peers and by his teachers,” Hulley said. “He made my days as a teacher worthwhile.”

The transition from former student to co-worker doesn’t always come easily.

“I wrote an email to Vicki Cary and I called her Mrs. Cary and it was a little weird,” Maurer said. “I had a hard time calling her Vicki.”

Maurer wasn’t always sure what he wanted as a career. In fact, he never even thought about coming back to Buffalo High School.

“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do until I did some student teaching with Mr. West. Then I knew I wanted to be a special education teacher,” Maurer said. “I came [back to Buffalo] because an opportunity presented itself to come back home where my family, friends, and a lot of great teachers are--and to work with a lot of great teachers.”

Maurer also offers advice for students looking to become future educators.

“If you have a passion to work with kids and work extremely hard, then this is the right career for you,” Maurer said.

With the election right around the corner, adults across the country are supporting the presidential candidate that they agree with. Some voters make their decisions based solely on the candidate’s political party, while others base it on extensive research they’ve done. Either way, making an informed decision is important if one wishes to accurately represent their beliefs.

For the youth of today, it will soon be up to them to make the decisions of tomorrow. If this is to happen, it will be beneficial for them to know their political stances. Then the question arises, how does one discover their party affiliation?

“My family is a big military family,” said Junior Zack Wellsted, “and that kind of got me into politics.”

Being surrounded by military influences exposed Wellsted to the world of politics, though that isn’t what shaped his political stances.

“I probably got into politics about the time all the gay rights stuff became a big subject.”

His father was another major political influence, though the two did not typically share the same beliefs.

“My dad is very conservative,” said Wellsted, “and I never really agreed with him, so I guess I kind of figured it [political views] out by myself.”

Wellsted also mentioned that, even though he is more liberal, he does side with conservative candidates on some issues, “Sometimes Republicans have good points, but mostly I agree with liberals.”

Unlike his mother and stepfather, he plans to vote. Teenagers are told time and time again how important it is to vote.

No matter how a person discovers their political stances, they need to at least have some idea of what they believe.

This November, elections will be held to see whether the Obama/Biden team (DEM) will remain in office, or if the Romney/Ryan team (GOP) will overtake them and become the new President and Vice President. The main issues in this election are considered to be healthcare and the economy. Being that it is an election year, knowing the facts about the “hot topics” can help voters form supported opinions, and in accordance, vote for they truly agree with; even if it does involve crossing party lines.

President Obama’s stance on healthcare includes the Affordable Care Act, also known as, “Obamacare”. Governor Romney repeatedly declares that he will “dismantle” this act; he has said that this Act is unconstitutional and that it will raise taxes to the American people by 500 billion dollars. However, some Democrats argue that having millions of people gain health insurance a “fair trade”.

Many Democrats have said that they are unsure why Republicans disagree with Obamacare so wholeheartedly. In a recent article on Washingtonpost.com, it is estimated that about 64% of Republicans agree with at least one aspect of Obamacare. The issue of healthcare is a touchy subject that can lead to heated debates, so knowing the basics of “Obamacare” can help voters to express their beliefs correctly. This is true with every other political issue as well.

Because of modern technology and the Internet, learning the truth is simpler than ever before. Using these resources to separate fact from fiction can help one discover, and in some cases, change, a person’s political stances. Taking the time to research important political issues is crucial in knowing the truth and discovering one’s political party.

Throughout most schools, there is a variety of clubs and activities that students can join, but one that is fairly unique to Buffalo High School is the Arts Magnet Program. This program is the reason why some students choose to attend BHS.

“I decided to come to BHS because I heard that Buffalo had a good theatre program and free bussing for Arts Magnet students,” Junior Mickey Capps said. “At my previous school, [Fred Moore] they were shy about calling our program an artsy program. The unique thing about this program is that it is basically a school within a school.”

Unlike Capps, Sophomore Samantha Fabisch wasn’t as certain about participating in the program.

“Arts Magnet is a good style of learning and I love music, so I decided to take a shot at it,” she said. “Arts Magnet is about finding who you are and really discovering yourself.”

In order to discover themselves, Arts Magnet allows students to take their required core classes with a focus called “Arts Infusion”. In these classes students are able to express themselves through many art forms while learning through the eyes of artists.

“As Arts Magnet students, we do a lot of projects, write songs, dance, and basically learn everything through art,” Sophomore Liz Walker said.

The program not only helps students learn through art, but opens them up to discover new friendships as well.

“All of the Arts Magnet students are pretty much a giant family, and we all support each other no matter what,” Walker said. “We all have our quirks but at the end of the day we all got each other’s backs.”

The students are given opportunities to go on field trips to help discover art everywhere. They have visited numerous operas, dance concerts, and museums, as well as the Guthrie theater and Renaissance Festival.

“We basically try to show our students that art is all over,” Arts Magnet Coordinator Sheri Tamte said, “and that the arts are incorporated in all aspects of life.”

The new internet term “fandom” describes a group of people who obsess over the minor details of a given movie, book, musician, etc. more intensely than casual fans. These “fannish” (members of the fandom) know the name of every actor in the movie they obsess over, or they know every lyric to every song of their favorite band. This can seem completely ridiculous to someone outside of the fandom, but to them it’s essential information that just intensifies their love of the TV show, movie, or musician.

Take, for example, One Direction: their song “What Makes You Beautiful” is a well-known radio hit, but how many people can name more than three of their songs? The One Direction fandom is the largest fandom to come out of Britain since the Spice Girls, according to sfweekly.com. Though the question still remains, “It’s long past a passing fad,” says Junior Marah Walker.

Walker hated “What Makes You Beautiful” when it first came on the radio. “I thought I would never like it, and then I looked up the video, which I shouldn’t have done, because then I was like, ‘When are they gonna let the blonde guy sing?’ It kind of went downhill from there.” Over the summer, Marah did what any new fan would do: research. She learned the birth dates, ages, and middle names of each member of the band, listened to all of their songs, and watched the tour DVD (multiple times). So for this “Directioner”, the love will not die easily.

Another new fandom that has teenagers “freaking out” is “The Hunger Games” fandom. Though the pet name for the fannish has been under debate, a recent poll by nextmovie.com concluded that around 40% of the fans want to be called “Tributes.”

“I guess it’s kind of cool, but it’s also bizarre,” said Junior Savannah Fonkert. Both Fonkert and Junior Sarah Patterson preferred the name “Mockingjays” to “Tributes.” “Well, I mean, tributes are sent to die, so that isn’t exactly a good thing,” said Patterson.

Both Patterson and Fonkert also agreed that they enjoyed the book version of “ The Hunger Games” more than the movie version. This is usually the case within a book-based fandom. “[The movie] doesn’t have the same depth,” said Fonkert, “and it didn’t really get Katniss’ point of view.”

Some fandoms include only a few thousand people, while others have millions of fannish. For an estimated 37 million people (that’s 3 million more than the population of Canada!), including Fonkert, Patterson, and even Walker, the world of Harry Potter is an obsession. This is the largest fandom to date and is not rivaled in numbers by any other fandom. With the pet name “Potterheads”, this fandom includes seven books (not including a bonus book, entitled “Tales of the Beedle Bard”), eight movies, and thousands of Tumblr. accounts dedicated to it. Social networks, such as Tumblr, Twitter, and Pinterest, can connect a fan with hundreds of people who share the love of a given fandom. With hundreds of fandoms floating around the internet, all it takes is a couple of clicks for a fan to get launched into a world of obsession.

Two Door Cinema Club’s second full length album, Beacon, pulls off what most albums can only grasp for--it starts out on full blast and never slows down. Moving into a more mature and progressive sound, Beacon is not only a worthy follow-up from 2010’s Tourist History, it also surpasses it in many ways. While Tourist was a collection of some of the most dance-worthy songs to ever come out of Ireland, it was missing that substance that makes an album a work of art. That’s where Beacon excels. It adds in just enough feeling and heart to make the album not feel like “Tourist History: Part 2,” but instead like something fresh, new, and complete. The tracks are still as upbeat as ever; especially the drum-heavy “Someday” and the dreamy “Sleep Alone.” The track “The World is Watching” comes in as a little sentimental, but still jumpy enough to jive with the others. “Pyramid” has one of the greatest intros I’ve heard in a long time, and “Beacon” is a perfect closer. The real highlight, however, is the fourth track, “Sun.” With catchy verses, interesting breakdowns, and astoundingly well written lyrics, it was an instant stand out. The added horn line in “Sun” adds much to the atmosphere, giving it a warm, yet almost jazzy vibe. At a running time of over 40 minutes, the album moves along at a brisk pace. This is both a blessing and a curse. While you’re never bored with the album, you’ll want more after the final chords fade out. Other than that, Beacon is one of the best albums of the year and more than worthy a purchase. Be prepared to dance.

Minus the Bear’s fifth Studio outing, Infinity Overhead, returns to the band’s roots. Gone away is the pop mentality of 2010’s Omni. The guitars are loud, the keyboards are back in full, and the vocals straddle the gap between sentimentality and anger. It showcases what brought the band its fame to begin with. From the heavy riffs in “Toska” to the slow balladic nature of “Heaven is a Ghost Town,” Infinity covers their entire career in what could be called a perfect summation of its parts. Specific standouts would be “Lonely Gun,” with its harsh guitar intro leading into a catchy tune, and “Listing,” which is far and away the best track on the album. However, the movement between the first and second halves is a little rocky, with a jarring transition between the fifth and sixth tracks. While it goes out with one of the best songs, “Cold Company,” it opens with one of the worst, “Steel and Blood.” Starting with a bad track doesn’t draw a listener in--it just turns them away. The track “Empty Party Rooms” is a throwaway with nothing notable whatsoever, and “Diamond Lightning” doesn’t sync with the track before it as well as it should. That being said, it’s still much more a concrete idea than Omni was, and for that it gets props. Where Omni felt like a collection of unrelated singles, Infinity Overhead feels like a single sweeping track, albeit some sketchy moments. While not the best album of 2012, it’s still a very good one and definitely worth a listen.

“I could have died that night,” said Junior Autumn Miller. “It’s amazing how such a close encounter with death can be counted as a blessing.”

Miller is all too familiar with suicide and the effects it can have on a person. She suffers from depression, and has tried to end her life more than once. It took a near death experience to change her mindset. During the summer, Miller and her family were in a car accident. The accident gave her a new perspective, and made her realize how grateful she is for the life she has.

“I felt so thankful to be alive afterward. It gave me a new perspective on life. I now think that we all have a big reason to live,” said Miller. “I always think back to when I wanted to end my life and now I’ve discovered that I’m meant to help others who are contemplating suicide. The car accident saved me. I’m no longer depressed all the time.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, every 14.2 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. Every year, 1,000,000 people attempt suicide. It is the third leading cause of death for teenagers. Factors such as depression, substance abuse, family problems, and bullying can contribute to a person being suicidal.

BHS students are taking steps to prevent suicide. S.A.V.E. (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) is a group at B.H.S whose goal is to help out students who have been affected by suicide.

“I hope S.A.V.E. brings happiness and knowledge. I hope it helps bring people together and helps them find the help that they need. Even just knowing some of the information or resources can make a person feel better,” said Junior Marissa Meyers.

“I am a part of S.A.V.E. because I’ve personally been affected by suicide. A few of my friends have attempted many times and still are suicidal. I was at one point too, and I found safety in my friends and family. It feels great to be a part of something that may save some one’s life, and many others.”

Both Miller and Meyers discovered reasons to live. In Miller’s case, it took a drastic situation. Meyers, on the other hand, only needed to open up to her friends and family. They’re both living proof that depression isn’t a lifelong condition and anyone can overcome it.

“I have discovered that there are many people that need help, even if they don’t outright show it,” said Meyers. “I’m learning to express my feelings, even though it may be difficult at times. In the end... it’s all worth it.”

From the early days of their youth, children are encouraged to play nice in the sandbox and make friends with the kids who live down the street. Entering school, they become acquainted with classmates and teachers. Eventually they find employment and get to know colleagues. Establishing relationships is a constant, unavoidable part of one’s life. Social ties vary in definition from age to age, but no matter how old, friendships and other positive relationships improve everyday experiences.

Younger children have an advantage when it comes to making friends because their thought process is so simplistic. They don’t yet understand the complexity of intimacy, trust, loyalty, respect, and other qualities typically found in a mature relationship. The term “friend” is even somewhat tentative. Because of this, friendships between kids in the early stages of adolescence don’t usually have any sort of deep, emotional foundations. Instead, the primary focus is convenience.

“I sat next to this girl in kindergarten, and that was pretty much how we became friends,” said Sophomore Desiree Atchison. She said that their friendship was based, for the most part, on the fact that they saw each other on a regular basis.

“We were like sisters and did literally everything together until fourth grade [...] when I moved.”

Graduating from elementary to middle school demands a new attitude. Mishaps, misunderstandings, and miscommunications within friendships are not uncommon side effects of this change in attitude--especially for girls.

“My best friend and I stayed friends all through elementary and middle school until eighth grade, but she and I kind of caused a lot of drama,” Sophomore Kedrin Rumsch said. “We’d sometimes talk behind people’s backs. We acted really mean.”

Though it’s only a difference of a few years, a more complex side of a relationship begins to form when kids reach the high school age--a time which is typically when they’re able to add a layer of understanding to the friendship.

“You start to know what bothers the other person,” Sophomore Nakeyia Hasskamp said. “Suddenly it’s less about you,”

Concentrating more on other people can lead to a deeper relationship.

“You dig into their shell and start to discover who they are. They’re not just another person anymore,” Sophomore Beth Lindquist said. “In middle school you aren’t as attached to people because you can more easily jump from group to group. In high school you realize their personalities more. Your friendships are more grown up.”

Even as they come into high school, some kids haven’t completely figured out who they want to be or who they want to consistently associate with.

“Sometimes I feel I don’t really fit in with certain people,” Lindquist said, “but I know people from different groups, so I go back and forth between them.”

For some lucky kids steady, cemented relationships begin to form.

“In middle school [Atchison and I] weren’t best friends, but we did everything together. We didn’t really know each other until ninth grade, when we really started to connect and developed a better friendship,” Hasskamp said. “That was when our personalities started to almost merge.”

Students are able to find others with similar interests and beliefs through BHS’s extensive collection of clubs, activities, and departments.

“I met most of my friends in the summer coming into ninth grade during marching band,” Junior Nick Soden said. “A lot of my friends are in band. I tend to hang out with that kind of crowd.”

Students get to know not only their peers, but their teachers as well. Establishing relationships with teachers is an important part of high school for those who want to improve their classroom experience.

“When you have a family-like atmosphere, you hold each other accountable for everything. The kids are more comfortable calling me and each other out if they have to,” Math Teacher Emily Greeley said. “Kids don’t learn as well if they’re not completely invested in the community.”

The learning environment is just as positively influenced by teachers establishing good relationships with each other.

“The more comfortable you are with your colleagues, the more comfortable you are asking for help and the more support you have,” said Greeley.

The school is filled with many positive relationships that everyone can benefit from, whether it be in terms of academics, support, or mental health (such as happiness and self-esteem).

“Having the feeling of being close to someone, no matter who it is, just makes you feel good,” Lindquist said. “It’s important to have people care about you-- for yourself.”

You are not special. You do not belong. These words echo in the minds of young teens, and can have a significant impact on who they grow up to be. Pay It Forward Academy (PIF) is a group based in Wright County that focuses on improving the lives of young women who have thoughts similar to these, or who may just need someone to talk to. PIF is part of the Meth Education And Drug Awareness (MEADA) coalition of Wright County, and has helped shape the lives of students here at Buffalo High School.

“PIF showed me that it is O.K. to be me,” Rachel Robinson (‘12) said. “Everyone has problems, and you are not alone in this world.” Robinson is the current Hanover Princess and attributes her success to PIF Academy.

“If PIF hadn’t shown me that I can get far in life by being myself, I never would have run [for Hanover Royalty].” Robinson said.

The group is successful because it focuses on being positive. PIF not only stands for Pay It Forward, but also for other phases that its members practice: Passage Into Faith, Power In Friendship, Pouring Into Futures, and Practice It Forever. Through these phases, young women of PIF learn how to better themselves by embracing their individual strengths and talents. PIF teaches these young women to create ideas, live compassionately, express feelings, and stand up for what’s right.

You are special. You do belong. As artist Mary Dunbar wrote, “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”

I would love to marry who ever I wish. If the marriage amendment gets passed this November, and marriage is only allowed between a man and a woman, not two people that love each other, I won’t be able to. When I was younger, I always had an attraction toward women. I would tell people how beautiful a girl was, and they would shun me and tell me it wasn’t right to feel that way. I liked men too, but women were there to look at and love too. I would hide those emotions for the girls that I would see on the street, and only project how cute, or attractive, a boy was.

In middle school it was harder for me to hide those feelings. I was noticing girls more, and still noticing boys. I later came out as bisexual. I was called a slut and a whore, by my family, mostly. I was told it wasn’t right for me to like both genders. As I got older, I noticed people of other genders too. Drag Queens/Kings, transgender folk, and people that combine the two. It felt odd. I was attracted to everybody. Not anyone and everyone; nobody gets attracted to every single boy or girl they see.

Now with the internet, and being able to talk to so many different types of people, and be exposed to new terms for sexuality and gender, I found that I was pansexual, and came out again. This time, not to my family though. Talking to all of these transgender people, and other LGBT folks, I learned what my future might be like.

Many states don’t have medical coverage for transgender people, and they certainly aren’t allowed to be married. Same with gays and lesbians. We can’t marry who we love. We can’t be comfortable in our skin and minds knowing that we might not be able to get a job, or health insurance, because of the types of bodies we love. In some states we can get fired from the job that we’ve had for awhile, just because we come out as someone other than straight. A lot of people are supportive though, and if you know where to look, you’ll find plenty.

It will take time to get everybody on the same page, and for them to know that love is love, no matter who it’s with. Hopefully, the amendment won’t pass. Maybe then people will realize that love is love and a person is a person.

A national survey by Gallop Polling shows that Americans have become more accepting of homosexuality in over the past decade, with over half of Americans finding Homosexuality to be morally acceptable.

Survey results are based on telephone interviews by Gallop Polling with 1,029 American adults, aged 18 and older.

“Americans spend about 15% of their household income on things that they do not need to satisfy their vices or to keep themselves amused.” -www.247wallst.com

In America, we are in a constant state of mind of “out with the old, in with the new”. From the tons of wasted food and the negative environmental impact, to electronic waste and the billions of dollars poured into advertising, it doesn’t look like the United States will be cutting back anytime soon. Our lives are continually being upgraded; we forget/don’t bother to be thankful for what we do have.

Literally, America is a “throw-away” society. In 2010, we threw away over 34 million tons of food. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the average American throws away 33 pounds of food each month. That’s 396 pounds a year! That may or may not seem like a lot to some, but researchers at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit, located in Chicago, estimated that 30-50% of the food produced in the world goes uneaten.

Food isn’t the only thing being thrown away, though. Our nation dumps between 300 and 400 million electronic items each year; less than 20% of that is recycled. Roughly 50 million cell phones are replaced worldwide in a month, and in one year, the United States will replace 130 million cell phones. Our society is constantly pushing new technology at us, and we tend to cave, even though our previous technology was more than adequate. A family of four will spend approximately $1,000-$1,400 a year on cell phone bills with plans from T-Mobile and Verizon. So here is a nation full of citizens in debt, who worry about their finances, yet somehow are still able to afford unlimited plans for the family. Maybe if we stopped chasing the upgrades, we could be grateful for what we already have.

If you still need that upgrade, but feel guilty about adding to the hazardous electronic waste, there is a new and safer solution. Call2Recycle is a new nonprofit organization that offers simple recycling. The organization helps direct you to the closest drop-box site, and all you have to do is drop it off. Your phone is then refurbished and sold back to the manufacturer, who will either resell it or reuse the parts for new products. The phone will never be shipped overseas to be “cooked down” by women and children, and there won’t be toxic waste.

So how do you find out about the newest upgrade? Advertising. Altogether, companies will spend over $400 billion a year to convince you that what they have is what you need. We’ve all seen the drug/medication commercials that tell you that they can help you improve your life, but quickly add in the long list of side effects that could prove to be fatal at the end. Yes, they are super boring and I usually end up changing the channel. Two seconds later, that same commercial pops up on the new channel. Drug companies will spend around $2.4 billion on television ads this

The Harlem Ambassadors came to Buffalo High School to earn money toward a scholarship for qualifying seniors.

“When they pulled up Ross Mjelde’s shorts and made him shoot, I thought that was really funny.” -Activities Director Tom Bauman

High school is filled with choices. Everyday, students battle with not only deciding what to wear, who to hang out with, or who to sit with at lunch, but also trying to decide who they want to be. Discovering oneself can be a hard thing to do, but these BHS students found confidence in pursuing what makes them unique, and best of all, happy.

Senior Bre Lindquist discovered her passion in a very unique way. Lindquist helped in the Special Education department last year, working and helping out with the students, getting to see them progress. Through helping out, Lindquist discovered compassion.

“After a rough time last year I decided that I was going to try and make the best of my senior year and make goals and achieve them.”

Prior to attending BHS Lindquist attended school where there was a lot of bullying. “The teachers just turned away and pretended not to notice it. That’s why I transferred to BHS.”

Lindquist can’t stand it when she sees bullying.

“It’s our job as students to look out for each other. We need to look for bullying and we need to stop it when we see it. That’s what makes BHS an awesome school.”

“There was a boy[at her old school] who got slapped, and there were teachers who saw the incident. The teachers just turned around and pretended it didn’t even happen. And when someone told the principal, they said that they couldn’t do anything because no teachers saw it.”

Lindquist said “If I would’ve been there I would have said something.”

Lindquist sees herself helping others in the future.

“In five years I don’t even see myself in the U.S. My dream is to travel around the world to help people who are less fortunate. The small things you do for someone else really add up. And it’s your choice to make it positive or negative.”

Lindquist also loves brightening people’s days.

“One day there was a special education student sitting all alone at a lunch table. I decided that I was going to go and sit by him, even though my friends decided not to join me. After lunch was over, he told me that I had made his day. That made me feel awesome because I knew that I had made his day a lot better by just sitting by him.”

Lindquist is hoping to build off of compassion and to make a career out of it. Hopefully working in special education.

Senior Julia Bothun continues to explore her interests through clowning. Bothun has been in the theater since she was a young girl.

“It’s a lot of fun but it’s a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it.” said Bothun. “Performing is in my blood. It feels like it was something that I was born to do. I’m actually going to college majoring in theater. The college I’m going to has a circus.”

Julia takes her acting, singing, and clowning very seriously. “I love singing, acting, and clowning so much. Performing is in my blood.” “I have some Bohemian somewhere in me and I look back on myself and think, well that explains a lot!” said Bothun. “When I’m about to go on stage I know what I have to do, and I just go. And I focus all my energy into the character that I’m about to become.” Julia was singing before she could talk. “I’m at BHS because there are many more opportunities here than at other schools.”

Bothun has been participating in BHS’s Theater Department throughout her four years in high school.

“I’ve been in every single play at BHS since I was a freshman. I am planning on being in the last three plays this year, because it’s my senior year.”

The question of “Who are you?’ can be answered with more than just personality traits. Junior Michael Scheuermann took his love for movies to a new height. Film-making. “I’ve always had a lot of movies at my house and I watch them all the time. I have well over 1,000 movies,” said Scheuermann. “All of those movies have had a huge impact on my decision to be a film-maker / director. But the movies that have really influenced my decisions are Inception, and Super 8.”

“I was interested in photography first, but I felt like there needed to be something more.” “[I’ve made] a couple short films, I’ve written three scripts, and one short film out right now, with another project in progress.” You can find Scheuermann’s trailer for “Immortality” on Youtube.

Scheuermann plans to attend college for film-making after graduation.

“I’ve heard that Metro State is a pretty good film college. It’s definitely something I want to do after high school. I’m planning on directing being my life career. I prefer un-scripted acting such as improv, as a director I decided to broaden my views and try both behind and in front of the camera. That way I can connect to my actors. My favorite director is Christopher Nolan, I hope to work with him one day. He had a really big impact on my directing. Nolan’s movies are unique because they make you think. That’s how my movies are going to be.” Michael started photography in seventh or eighth grade, and his photography has developed into his passion for film-making.

Who would think that a teacher could be nervous about teaching a class?

English Teacher Denise Wahlin-Fiskum was nervous when she decided to take on the role of being the new CIS Literature teacher after Andy Wilkes left BHS four years ago She went through an interview process first, and after she was approved, was then able to go through training.

“I had to let go of wanting to be perfect,”Wahlin said, “and if I could go back to when I started, I would re-teach the class.”

Teaching CIS Literature, and becoming accustomed to the change during the second half of her teaching career was challenging enough.

“I had to stay one step ahead of the class,” Wahlin said.

Some controversial topics, like homosexuality and war, are brought up in an non-threatening way.

We do a lot of thinking about race and culture and what those mean,” Wahlin said.

The expectations of the students are higher than a normal English class, but so are the rewards of participating in the class.

“We go to the U of M as a field trip, but outside of class, the students get together as a group a lot,” Wahlin said. “Students get a lot more out of the class if they just trust each other and work as a whole. The difference between a normal English 10th grade class, and a CIS Literature class is that they do more of their work outside of class. This means that they can go more ‘in-depth’ inside of class.”

“CIS reminds me of what high school kids are capable of, and I expect my tenth graders to step up and rise to the challenge,” said Wahlin.

Seniors pose after third block as Principal Mark Mischke takes their picture.

Photo by Mark Mischke

Senior Mariah Brings is crowned Homecoming Queen by Kenzie Ross during Coronation.

Photo by Danielle Odeen

Junior Michael Wegter dresses up for Movie Character Day.

Photo by Emma Rodelius

Sophomore Thomas Peterson dresses as President Obama.

Photo by Emma Rodelius

Seniors gather at The Rock before school on Class Color Day.

Photo by Erika Voeller

Joe Neumann, Michael Swearingen, Mariah Brings, and Hope Mueller.

Photo by Danielle Odeen