By: C. Barras
Justiss Dudley is a junior and is a member of the power lifting team. Justiss and the team push each other to their very best to lift as much as they can. “I usually lift over 1,000 pounds total,” Justiss said. “It’s a combination of three lifts: dead lift, squat, and bench.” Justiss takes pride in how much he lifts in every meet and practice. No matter what he faces, he’s always prepared for what’s coming his way. “[I prepare by] staying off my feet, and getting plenty of rest is good,” Justiss said. Justiss is full of confidence. “I think I’ll place in pretty much every event we have,” the junior said. Justiss has worked hard during the season and has placed several times this year. He never gives up and continues to push himself at every meet.
0 Comments
By: L. Hudson
As basketball season comes to an end, track season starts. The girl’s track coach, Tyrone Ratliffe, has coaching experience with the returning varsity girls, so he knows the possible strengths and weaknesses of the team. He plans to use this knowledge to make sure they are ready, and he is confident in what they can do. In between February and March, the students that are participating in track are usually preparing themselves for the season. Around that time, the track clothes, spikes, and hurdles are being pulled out. “I’m very eager to be coaching the girls once again for this track season,” Ratliffe said. “The former runners know how I prefer things to be done, so I think they’re going to be a great example for our new freshman runners. Last track season prepared me for this one big time. I got to know who the young athletes were mentally and how hard they worked physically, which made me find out that the whole team was really determined to work to their best ability.” He believes things will be even smoother this year, and the coach has high hopes. “This year should be really easier when it comes down to working with them on certain things,” Ratliffe said. “This year, I want more of the female athletes to go far in this track season.” The girls are also looking forward to a good season. “Last year, I made it to regionals in one field event.” junior Frankazia Boyd said. “Regionals were held in Waco at Baylor University. I got sixth place in shot put. I was fine with where I was at because I worked really hard. Even though it was very hot that day, I had fun, and it was very good day.” Coach Ratliffe knows that with hard work, there is no limit to what these girls can do. “For the most part, I feel that the returners should be way better and that the new runners should be pretty good themselves,” Ratliffe said. “If they push themselves and strive to work harder, there can be more than just one girl going to regionals. We might even have a few girls go to state. I always tell my athletes that dedication and determination can get you far in whatever you do.” By M. Fitzgerald
V.A.S.E. was February 11, 2017, and the students in attendance brought many beautiful pieces. The V.A.S.E. competition judges three different types of art: graphic design, photography, and traditional art. The graphic design competition consists of photo shopping an image on the computer. “I did graphic design, and I messed up a picture of Kaleb Holland,” junior Colby Rohlfing said. “I received a 3, which is the second highest score you can get.” In the general art competition, students can draw, paint, or create a sculpture. “I did art, and I drew and painted a picture of San Francisco,” junior Abbi Jose said. “I received a 4, which is the highest score you can get.” The photography competition consists of taking a photograph and editing it. “I did photography, and I took a picture of Shayla Carson’s eye with a flower inside the center of the pupil,” freshman Morgan Durrett said. “I received a 4, which is the highest you can get” Out of twelve students participating in the art competition, six received 4s. For graphic design, two of the four students competing received 4s. In the photography division, five of ten entries received 4s. By A. Ellis
The Elysian Fields Lady Jackets faced off against the Sabine Lady Cardinals on Tuesday, February 14th, at Letourneau University for the first round of playoffs. The Lady Jackets won 42-29 after a grueling four quarters. “It was rough at first,” sophomore Shayla Matthews said. “We had a rough start, but after halftime, we kicked it into gear and easily took home the win.” The team had set a goal to get past the second round of playoffs and make Lady Jacket history. They faced off against the Winnsborough Lady Raiders on Friday, February 17th, in Hughes Springs. “Honestly, it was a tough game to watch,” junior Hannah Wheeler said. The Lady Jackets fought long and hard through all four quarters, but a win just wasn’t in the cards. “I’m extremely proud of all of us and our accomplishments as a team this season,” senior Jade Barge said through tears. Hearts were broken that night, but the Lady Jacket basketball team will return for revenge with full confidence next season. By:H. Whitehead
You’re walking outside of Wal-Mart to put your $200 worth of groceries up in your $30,000 car. As you’re on your way home, you see a rugged, worn-out guy on the curb with a sign saying, “Need money for food, water; anything will help.” Are you going to keep driving or be the kind-hearted person that you’re meant to be and help the person out? Every day, all over the entire world, there are thousands of people who wander the streets homeless. Even worse than that, even more people just drive by without a care in the world. Some people these days don’t really think about it. That’s mainly because most people think that the homeless are liars or lazy. Regardless, helping someone is still a very nice thing; you never know a person’s story. Doing a good deed at least once in a blue moon can change the whole world. Just think about all the smiles you put on those faces in need. It doesn't matter what you give them; the smallest things can and will change someone's life. It’s not only a good thing for them; it’s a good thing for you as well. Helping someone puts a smile in your own heart. People will also find you to be a caring person, something we need more of. There are plenty of reasons people will give for not giving to charities or to individual people in need. But the reality is there are far more reasons to be that one person who doesn’t walk on or drive on by. Think about it this way: whatever you’re able to give that day, in that moment, may be the only help they get that day. And living day by day, that can make all the difference. Wouldn’t it for you? By H. Horton
Society can never be pleased. If you’re skinny, you’re anorexic. If you're thick, you're fat. If you're friendly, you're fake. If you're quiet, you're rude. Society makes people believe that you have to be a certain way in order to be perfect to look like that model in the magazine. “People now judge everyone for the way that they look, and they don’t truly get to know the person before judging them,” sophomore Chesley Swilley said. “They have never been in the shoes that the person has been in, so they don’t have the right to judge someone by only their physical appearance.” Some feel that the harshness of society is exaggerated. “I feel it is an exaggeration that society as a whole thinks this way, but the few cases that the people do think like this [judgmental] speak louder than the many who don’t feel this way,” senior Colton Gooch said. Societal pressures to be perfect are wrong, and it is up to society to stop them. “Society will find something to ridicule,” sophomore Makenna Lewis said. “We, as a society, need to work on not judging people based on their looks. Just because someone looks a certain way doesn’t mean that’s who they are.” One way to change is by building people up instead of tearing them down. “I think that it [the hate] has to do with the fact that people are always trying to make themselves feel better than other people,” senior Klayton Bryan said. “In my personal experience, this isn’t always true, but it seems more times than not, people are more willing to point out your failures instead of praising your success.” By: T. Ford
The tennis team has already attended two tournaments in preparation for the district meet on April 3rd and 5th in Whiteoak. Addison Golladay is one of the freshmen playing tennis for the first time this year. For Addison, being a beginner isn’t so bad. “It’s pretty awesome because Clayton May is a beginner also, and we make a good team,” Addison said. She looks to junior Trey Penn for guidance because she claims he is very nice and gives good advice. “He has many years of experience,” Addison said. The team is really positive and feels that they will do great this year. “I feel like tennis will be amazing this year because we have really good leadership,” the freshman said. With several dedicated freshmen and many returning players, the tennis team seems to have a good season ahead of them. By: M. Durrett
The boy’s varsity basketball team will take on Prairiland in the area round of playoffs tonight, Friday, February 24, at 7:30 at Lindale High School. They defeated the Troup Tigers in bi-district play on Tuesday. “I’m excited to be in the playoffs,” freshman Chris Smith said. “I think we’ve worked really hard to get here.” Coach Chaston Pruitt is thrilled about his successful first season as a Yellow Jacket and is passionate about his team. “I’m pretty excited about the playoffs,” Pruitt said. “These athletes have worked hard for this moment, and I am happy they are getting rewarded for it. I love these boys. They make my job easy coaching them. It’s been a fun year.” Of course, behind every exciting moment of the school year, there has been a constant thought in the back of every player’s mind. “I think of everyone as a brother,” Chris said. “Everyone has gotten closer throughout the season. We all are still grinding for 5.” Remembering Kris Ephraim and working together has brought everyone together. “I feel closer to my teammates than in the past years, and I would do anything for them,” junior Cole Myers said. By K. Marcantel
Gender roles are also gender limits defined by a stereotypical society. Girls will be girls, and boys will be boys, but many believe that girls should have the freedom to be like boys, and boys should have the right to act like girls. People grow up in a world where females should like pink, flowers, and Barbies while males like blue, dirt, and trucks. But why? Since these stereotypes have existed, the little boy who just wants a friend can’t have the Barbie doll he likes, and the small girl that loves to play in the mud has to remain ladylike. Some suggest that it’s simply unfair that because of a gender, people are told what they should and should not like. If we are given the freedom of expression to be ourselves, then why are the world’s clichés holding us back from wanting and enjoying what we truly desire? Boys and girls have been set apart since as long as time, whether education wise, hobby wise, or even career wise. Some say that the world has moved on from different rights between man and woman, but the gender roles are still there. Boys must like what society considers appropriate for boys, and girls must like what they are told girls like. Men can make more money than a woman with the same career. Young women are considered promiscuous for one mistake, but young men are often praised for the same behavior. While society gets away somehow with making the gender limits, many believe that does not make them right. The world today refuses to accept that they are letting this injustice go right under their noses. They believe there is no problem at all, but inequality has been a problem for a long time, especially considering gender roles. So, this is how the world often is: boys may not do ballet, emotional outlet/passion or not, girls may not skateboard because it’s meant for “hardcore” males, boys may not wear makeup unless they want to be considered “gay,” girls may not play video games because “it’s a guy thing.” Many are starting to argue that this isn’t right and that the world may need to take a few steps, even just tiny baby steps, to get to a point where girls can be like boys and boys can be like girls as long as they are themselves and happy. By: A. Simmons
The February students of the month are Cheyenne Earl and Justiss Dudley. Cheyenne Earl is the daughter of Shannon and Keith Earl. Cheyenne is involved in UIL One Act Play, UIL Academics in Science, Forestry, Future Farmers of America, and horse judging. Her favorite class is Environmental Science. Outside of school, Cheyenne likes to watch movies and go to bed early. In the future, Cheyenne plans to attend A&M and get a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Justiss Dudley is the son of Carrie Conklin. Justiss is a member of the varsity football team, power lifting team, and a member of FCA. He is also member of the drum line. He competes in calculator application in the UIL competition. Justiss plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. |
The StaffA heads up on the down low at EFHS. Archives
October 2022
Categories |