VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4

CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL KATY, TEXAS MAY 2014 crhscountyline.com

Special Senior Edition

Party at Gatsby’s/04-05 § College List/12-15 § Top 10/20-24

2Co-Editors-in-Chief: News: Emily BurlesonFeatures: Sofia GuevaraVoice: Snovia MoizEntertainment Editor:Sara Saavedra

Sports Editor:Jake Williams

Business Manager: Caroline Muller

Design Editor: Dominique Bai

Staff Writers:Roba AbousawayJoanne ChavaliHannah HasselBrynne HerzfeldMeherina KhanEryn LyleSam Teas

Staff Photographer: Abdalla Khalil

Adviser:Ed Larsen,CJE

County Line is the official publication of Cinco Ranch High School, 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, TX 77494. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the newspaper editorial staff and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Katy ISD administration.

County Line is a student-written publication created in an adademic lab setting and functions as an open forum for student expression.

County Line is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the Journalism Education Assoc. (JEA).

County Line provides an open forum for student expression and will print letters to the editor, provided they are signed. The editors reserve the right to edit for space, libel, profanity or grammatical errors.

Letters may be delivered to Room 1221 or e-mailed to crhscountyline@gmail.com. Additional advertising/media information can be found at www.crhscountyline.com.

County Line is copyright reserved 2014-2015 by CRHS Publications, all rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced without written consent by CRHS Publications.

TABLE OF CONTENTSNewsPg 3-4. Prom 2015, Party at Gatsbys

CenterspreadPg 12-15. Class of 2015 College Choices

Top 10Pg 20-24. Class ranking profiles

VoicePg 29-31. Graduating Senior Refections

Senior FeaturesPg 4. Jiyeon LeePg 6-7. Isabella Phillips Pg 8. Francisco GarayPg 9. Raynor GohPg 10. Jackie, Michael and Taryn SieglePg 16-17. Isaiah Edwards & Ryan Hirsch Pg 18. Ricky RegasPg 19. Samantha SwansonPg 25. Sebastian ErvikPg 26. Karli HamiltonPg 27. James & Larry Dial

Cover photo by Sofia GuevaraCover design by Dominique Bai

From the Editors’ Desk

Senior Dominique Bai contemplates the school she will leave behind as she prepares to enroll at University of Texas at Austin in the fall. She will graduate alongside over 700 others on June 6 at the Merrell Center.

It’s time.After four years of struggle and

triumph, confusion and clarity, and finding ourselves, we finally get to move on, armed with knowledge and experience that will prove invaluable.

Senior Issue is a County Line tradition meant to capture this spirit and tell the stories of each year’s senior class.

In each story, we attempted to explain the motivation and emotional journey of each featured senior and how that relates to their plans post-graduation. Some are stories of celebration and others of disappointment, but we hope we did the senior class of 2015 justice.

Our center spread features the reported plans of over 250 members of the class of 2015. It does not feature each senior, but we hope it represents as much as possible the whole of the senior class’ plans.

We featured mini profiles of each

member of the Top Ten.Lastly, we include our tradition of

Senior Reflections from graduating seniors on the County Line staff. Each senior, whether they served for just a few months or three years, is allowed a space to reflect and comment on their senior year and what the County Line means to them.

As Co-Editors who have written for the County Line for three years, this is our third time working on a Senior Issue. It is our honor to present the Senior Issue for our own graduating class.

Co-Editors-in-ChiefSofia Guevara, Snovia Moiz and Emily Burleson

3

Crowned Prom King and Queen Seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance alone on the dancefloor they were voted King and Queen by their peers.

Crowned prom king and queen, seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance in front of their peers. The two were picked from a group of five nominees per gender.

Class of 2015 Parties at Gatsby’s

photos by Abdalla KhalilPhoto illustration by Abdalla Khalil

Design by Sofia Guevara, Snovia Moiz, Jake Williams

4

Seniors enjoy prom at Omni Riverway Hotel

Crowned Prom King and Queen Seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance alone on the dancefloor they were voted King and Queen by their peers.Senior Caroline Muller gazes at the gatsby themed decorations. Seniors enjoyed various decorations, one of which was an ice sculpture.

Seniors Rachel Rios and Mary Kirollos wait for the rest of their prom in the Omni Riverway main lobby. Students began arriving at 8 PM for the night’s festivities.

Crowned Prom King and Queen Seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance alone on the dancefloor they were voted King and Queen by their peers.Senior Kalyn Jackson looks upon a group of dancers as they move to the music.

Students enjoyed a live DJ, as well as an ice cream bar and buffet.Crowned Prom King and Queen Seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance alone on the dancefloor they were voted King and Queen by their peers.Seniors Halleanne Dure and Donovan Roberts pose with props in front of the

photo booth. Located at the back of the ballroom, the photobooth was stocked with props for students to use in pictures.

Crowned Prom King and Queen Seniors Jenny Xiao and Kaiden Park slow dance alone on the dancefloor they were voted King and Queen by their peers.Seniors Trent O’Donnell and Kristen Hutar smile as they walk into the

check in desks at Omni Riverway Hotel on May 2. Students were greeted

by a buffet, which included foods such as sushi.

5

Ink, charcoal, watercolor, coffee, pens, pencils, paintbrushes, erasers and one canvas. The background noise mutes, the checklist of things evaporates, and her imagination ignites. As soon as the tip of her pen touches the canvas, her world blurs out. Nothing about her artwork suggests that it is simple, but for senior Jiyeon Lee it really is that simple.

“It just really came to me. I want to do art. I need to do art. I have to do art because I realized that my artwork makes other people happy.”

As a child, doctors found a hole in Lee’s heart. Surgery fixed the whole successfully, but during the first few weeks of this school year, Lee was hospitalized for a week when an monthly check up revealed a concerningly low heart rate. Although the hospitalization and her medical condition disabled her from drawing and working on her art portfolios to submit to colleges, Lee attributes this time as a catalyst to her emotional healing.

“I was really stressed out and I was dealing

with depression at the time,” Lee said. “After I got sick, I learned that I needed to love myself more. I learned that I needed to give myself more free time and that working hard is not always a good thing.”

Reflecting back on her junior year and comparing her artwork from both years, Lee sees a change, a shift in styles.

“I think [after the hospitalization] was when my art started to change,” Lee said. “Now, it is more mature. Last year’s work was really static but this year’s is more free flowing, more natural. Now, I try to focus more on movement rather than facial expressions.”

Regardless of her shortened time to complete and submit her college portfolio to the Art Institute of Chicago and Rhode Island School of Design, Lee was able to finish on time.

“I thought I never was going to get into the college I wanted to,” Lee said. “I thought I was never going to finish my portfolio. I was really surprised that i was able to finish.”

Additionally, in February, Lee received notice of her scores on the AP Studio Art exam. Lee not only received a top score of 5 but also was one of thirteen students in the world to earn a perfect score on all portions of the exam.

“On the day I had to turn [the portfolio] in, I thought I did pretty good but I did not know I was going to get a perfect score,” Lee said. “I was really surprised, because I thought it wasn’t good enough. I didn’t even know that there was a perfect score in AP art. For me, I don’t think there

is a perfect in art. I think there is always room for improvement. I am kind of a perfectionist, so I think that is why I had a bit of regret. I thought ‘some of the pieces didn’t get finished’ and ‘I should have done this more.’ For me, there is no perfect in art. There is always some part that we want to fix.”

Lee states that graduated peer, Samrath Kaur, and her art teacher, Cynthia Reilly, have enriched and inspired her with their passions for art.

“Starting freshman year, I met a girl named Samrath Kaur,” Lee said. “She really influenced me because she really loved to draw. She would draw all the time, even during class. She would always tell me that I am good enough to become an artist. She inspired me, along with Mrs. Riley. They inspired me because they built up my confidence and because of their love for art.”

Lee plans to attend the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall and hopes to become an art director or an artist for children’s books. Her dream is to reach as many people as possible with her art work.

“After my depression last year and in the summer, I felt like I didn’t want to do anything,” Lee said. “I didn’t see any point to my life. I was tired of working so hard. Art, I guess, my portfolio for college, helped me cope. When I realized that people enjoyed my art, I saw the value of my life again.That’s why I’m set on doing a career in art. I want to heal other people with my work.”

Jiyeon LeeArtist’s passion drives career plansby Sofia Guevara, Co-Editor-in-Chief

photos by Sofia Guevara

Senior Jiyeon Lee created 24 pieces for her art portfolio, the first half, called concentration, is based on a theme, and the second half, called base, is based on skill set. Lee was inspired by her favorite childhood book, Aesop’s Fables.

6

IsabellaPhillips

Passion and perfection. That is what Senior Isabella Phillips hopes to capture as she crafts a masterpiece, splashing the

contents of her mind and subject onto a canvas. Each stroke of the brush tells a different story, and every color reveals emotion. For Phillips, art has always been a fascination and a creative outlet to explore the deepest realms of the human psyche. It gives her the chance to reveal a visual story that will forever remain engraved in the heart. “It began when I was really young,” Phillips said. “I mean, I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. But, I think I realized it when I came to school. In free time, you could either play House, play a sport, or go to the art table and draw there. I would always go to the art table and create something, and even though I was alone, I was always happy.” Now, art has become a significant aspect in her life and an interest she plans to include not only in

her day to day activities, but also in her future. “I recently got accepted into VCU [Virginia Commonwealth University] in Qatar, and I think I will go there to do what I want, like graphic design and art,” Phillips said. “VCU is very beautiful and the people are really nice. I find the place very inspiring.” Though art has become a fundamental part of her life now, she did not always have an artistic career path in mind. However, with encouragement from her family, Phillips realized that art is truly what she wants to pursue. “When I was little, I had no idea what I wanted to be,” Phillips said. “Art isn’t really as appreciated anymore as it used to be, so I never really thought of being an artist before. But I also knew I didn’t want to have one of those mainstream careers like engineering. My dad told me as long as I was happy doing whatever it was, then I should go towards that career. I told him art makes me happy, and he said I should be an artist.” Senior Isabella Phillips’ younger

sister, Kari, is a major inspiration for her vibrant artwork.

photos taken by Abdalla Khalil

“I want to get across that there’s not only one side to something, I want to offer a new light, something they would have never thought of.”

by Meherina Khan, staff writer

photo illustration by Abdalla Khalil and Meherina Khan

Phillips’ most favorite painting is a portrait of her and her younger sister, Kari. To others, it may be just another beautiful picture of two sisters smiling. But for Isabella, it’s a hidden lens to one of her deepest vulnerabilities and source of happiness; the bond between her and her siblings. “People usually inspire my art, like my sister Kari, the one with down syndrome,” Phillips said. “Kari is probably my closest sibling. It wasn’t always like that. I used to be kind of secluded from my siblings. As I got older, I realized it was really important to be close to your siblings because they are the ones that are going to be there once your parents are gone. When you get older, it’s harder to make friends and trust people, but you know your siblings are always there.” Another influence that Isabella integrates into her art is that of her mixed heritage, an aspect that brings a twist in her work. “I’m half Indonesian and half American,” Phillips said. “I try to use that to get a different angle.Since I’m interracial, I have two stories, two different perspectives that I can look at something. It’s sort of like another lens that I can see with to spot things which may be hidden.” Through her pursuit of art, she feels that art has taught her one of the most important things about life: to embrace yourself along with change. “Art has taught me to be more free with everything,” Phillips said. “It has taught me to embrace myself and to not be afraid to try new things. In art, when you want to start working with a new medium, it can be a little scary, but you just have to go for it. And that’s sort of how I look at life. If I want to try something new, I choose to go for it and not be afraid.”

Along with embracing herself, Philips feels that confidence is another characteristic that makes her art stand out. “What’s important in life is to know yourself,” Phillips said. “You need to be able to trust yourself to handle any situation, and you need to realize that it’s

not really about following the ‘cool’ things. I realized you just have to embrace your feelings and transform that awkwardness into something you love. Usually when you do that, people don’t notice you as an awkward person. They’ll think that you’re confident in yourself. I think it’s important to have confidence in yourself because you should be able to make your life choices with satisfaction.” Through practicing art, she not only improved her skills, but learned to have more control in her life. “I think really what art has done for me is help me become more mature,” Phillips said. “Art has taught me how to plan and manage my time, and I feel it has really helped me grow as a person. I feel more responsible.” When showcasing her art, Phillips wants to offer her audience a new spotlight on a familiar subject. “I want to get across that there’s not only one side to something,” Phillips said. “I want to offer a new light, something they would have never thought of.” But perhaps the most unique aspect of her art is how she manages to weave a bit of herself into everything she creates. “I think what my artwork emits makes it different,” Phillips said. “I feel like my artwork is something familiar to the viewer but also heartwarming. I do a lot of portraits, and often, I see myself in my subjects, and I try to show their emotions and how they feel about something along with mine.” Creating art is often a tedious task, but Phillips believes that it is all worth it in the end. “Sometimes you might feel like you messed up and there’s no way you can fix something,” Phillips said, “ but when you mess up, it means you’re going to learn something new.” Although Phillips has explored many realms of interests,she believes she has finally found her calling in the prolific world of art. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” Phillips said.

artwork by Isabella Phillips

7

Francisco GarayClassical cellist embarks on lifetime musical journey

8

Senior Francisco Garay sings his college audition

music to himself in his head. He takes a sip of water. It’s almost his turn.

What he’s about to do will determine the rest of his musical career. But that doesn’t cross his mind.

He takes a deep breath. He reminds himself of the key. And he begins to play his cello.

A judge stares at him intently, as do the many other cellists in the room. But that doesn’t cross his mind either.

It’s taken years for Garay to learn to clear his mind while playing. Now that skill has paid off.

“Weren’t you nervous?” someone later asked him.

“Well, I never thought about that,” Garay said. “My mind was just focused on the music.”

Right now, there is nothing left in his thoughts but what he’s worked so hard to play and memorize.

He plays the piece. And then he leaves.

Now he can think about everything else.

“I started playing the cello in sixth grade, and became more interested in music in seventh grade,” Garay said. “That’s when I felt that my musical career really began.”

By his sophomore year, Garay dropped other

extracurricular activities and began to center in on his true passion.

“By ninth grade, I realized that I wasn’t really improving anymore,” Garay said. “So around the beginning of my sophomore year, I got a new private lesson teacher, and I think that was a really big change. He was helpful, but at one point you can surpass everything they’ve told you.”

As Garay learned more and more about playing the cello, he was able to participate in several different youth groups, including a summer camp in Michigan and the Virtuosi of Houston. But an obstacle still remained.

“Being nervous before a performance is something I’ve had to work a lot with,” Garay said. “I used to get really nervous. But I’m not afraid to be on stage anymore.”

With the help of trainers, Garay got over his pre-performance anxiety by drinking water, breathing deeply, and simply clearing his mind.

“I used to be playing something and start thinking about what I would be doing tomorrow,” Garay laughed. “If you don’t give your mind the option to run free, then you play a lot better.”

Garay is still waiting for the results of his college auditions. But one thing is

certain: He’s always going to look back fondly on his time at CRHS.

“All the concerts are important, but it’s really the

community I’ve built that is going to affect me the most in life,” Garay said. “That’s really what I’ll remember in the future.”

photo by Karolis Vaiciulis

by Samuel Teas, staff writer

R a y n o r G o h9

With his plane ticket tucked inside his Singaporean passport, he arrives at the last checkpoint: security. Ironically, senior Raynor Goh is leaving the place where he feels most secure to a destination filled with commanders and vigorous training half-way around the world.

“My parents have explained this to me since I was young, but we were never prepared for me not be able to go to college,” Goh said.

Having lived in the U.S for 14 years, Goh has adapted to a certain lifestyle, one that even frequent visits to the island cannot change.

“The last time I visited was in 2012, and even then I knew I was going to have a culture shock. The way people act is very different, especially the youth,” Goh said. “They are really outgoing, into K-pop and guys dye their hair all the time, and I’m not into that.”

But due to Singaporean law, every citizen is required to enlist in the army for two years, forcing those who reside in another country to place future plans on hold to complete their service.

“I wanted to finish my first semester of college at A&M and leave in January 2016, but Singapore didn’t agree with that and my decision was overridden,” Goh said. “The [Singapore government] feel that if you go to university before going to the army, you are not being faithful to the country.”

Although Goh will not be shipped off to fight, he believes his military experience will aid him in expanding his options after he is discharged.

“After some military training, they will separate the platoons, and under that I can work on being an engineer and see if I like the experience,” Goh said.

Military life will allow Goh to acquire career based knowledge, but due to the length of his absence, it might skew his

predetermined plans after his service.

“If you don’t have the determination to study while you are overseas, you miss out on the rigors of being in an educational institution, making it harder to transition when you come back,” Goh said. “I’m scared of that happening to me, but the goal is to continue school here in America. I would rather stay in Texas for college, because to me, it’s home.”

Goh acknowledges that the time spent abroad will bring changes to not only himself but to also the people that have impacted his life the most.

“When I see these new developments in Katy, it just makes me think about how slowly my time in Singapore is going to go by,” Goh said. “I just hope that the friends who are with me now will be there for me when I come back, yet I feel like I can’t be too dependent on them because they have a life of their own. In two years time, they will

be sophomores and juniors in college and I can’t interrupt their lives.”

However, Goh is ready to accept his role in the armed forces as he thinks it is not only a requirement by law, but also his divine destiny.

“I feel like this is God’s plan for me,” Goh said. “That wherever I am or go, a spiritual deity is going to be with me, maybe He saved me from a bunch of pain.”

Refusing to dwell on the negative, Goh’s mind is focused on the silver lining of the situation.

“This is a good thing in a way, it’s just a chance for me to get away from everything and have a fix on what I want to be when I grow up,” Goh said. “These two and half years is an opportunity for me to become independent, take a step back, re-evaluate my life and see what goals I can work on.”

After spending the majority of his life in the states, senior Raynor Goh is headed to the Singaporean army in Jan. 2016.

photo by Sofia Guevara

Senior called to Singapore to serve in armyby Sara Saavedra , Entertainment Editor

10

They have been inseperable for the past eighteen years. But with the end of

the school year approaching, Taryn, Michael and Jackie Siegele’s paths will soon diverge. The triplets have committed to diverse majors at schools located in very different parts of the country.

“It’s going to be really strange at first because we’ve always been together,” Taryn said. “We’ve moved around a lot and the nice thing is that we have been going to the same schools.”

Taryn’s college choice will take her the furthest West at the University of Arizona. She plans to study business, deciding to see where the flexible degree will take her as she explores new interests. A lifelong lover of soccer, she also may join the women’s team as a walk-on team member.

“We’ll see,” Taryn said. “It’s a huge commitment if I do, so I want to make sure I’m committed and

have good time management.”Meanwhile, her brother

Michael moves to the North, where he jokes the colder climate partially inspired his decision after many years of hot Southern weather. At the University of Colorado-Boulder, he will major in molecular biology and may later study Biotechnology.

“One of the first things that got me into Biology was freshman year, I was in really interested in Pre-AP Bio,” Michael said. “I got really good grades in it. I remember when I got the choice to do AP Bio I was like ‘Sign me up.’”

Jackie is the only one who plans to head East, hundreds of miles away from her siblings and back to where the family once lived: Lousinana. At LSU, she will study elementary education and looks forward to the high level of school spirit the college has to offer.

“I had a tough time deciding between all my college options until I visited LSU,” Jackie said. “I used to live in Louisiana and it just felt like home. I love the campus and how school spirited it is.”

Long distances from both each other and home bring an important new change; for the first time, the Siegeles are no longer known to the student body as triplets. Taryn believes attending different schools from her siblings will be an exciting opportunity to discover herself and views their separation optimistically.

“I think it’s going to be fun to discover ourselves, being [recognized] as individuals and not as ‘the triplets,’” Taryn said.

However, separation from two people you’ve known your whole

life can also be rough. Because of frequent moves at an earlier age, the three have always stuck together and been very close. Although Jackie cannot wait to leave for college, she still thinks about how much she’ll miss Taryn and Michael when they live far apart.

“I am very sad about not living with my siblings next year, I cry even now just thinking about it,” Jackie said. “My siblings and I are super close.”

Now they will no longer hear every miniscule detail of each other’s lives at both home and school, so Michael predicts reunions between the three will be entertaining occasions. Their exciting and fresh tales will connect solely to their own lives and schools, allowing the Siegeles to ‘meet’ and learn about one another all over again during holidays.

“One of my things about this is when we all come home for the first time we’re going to have crazy stories,” Michael said. “Like, ‘oh my professor did this! We did this!’

That’s going to be really fun because we already know every single thing about each other. It’ll be weird to come back and not know every detail of what’s happening in each other’s lives.”

“I think it’s going to be fun to discover ourselves, being individuals and not

known as ‘the triplets.”

Taryn, Michael & Jackie Siegele

For the first time since 1996, the three Siegele siblings will live in different places. “I am very sad about not living with my siblings next year, I cry even now just thinking about it,” Jackie said.

Michael Siegele

Taryn Siegele

Jackie Siegele

Triplets attend college in separate parts of country

photos by Amanda Nunmaker

by Eryn Lyle, staff writer

11Located at the intersection of Fry Rd. and Westheimer Pkwy.

20660 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy,TX 77450

marassi pizzeria, a family owned and operated restaurant on Fry and Westheimer pkwy.

Covering Katy’s Melissa Long said “This small pizzeria just opened the beginning of 2015 but is already turning out some of the best pizza in Katy. The menu focuses on light pizzas made with whole-wheat dough. Patrons can also choose from thin-crust pizza, hand-tossed, stuffed crust, or even gluten free options. One of the qualities that most distinguishes Marassi Pizzeria are their inventive pizza toppings. Clever creations such as barbeque or Philly cheesesteak pizza are options for a one-of-a-kind meal. Appetizers such as breadsticks, salads, and desserts are also on the menu”.

marassi pizzeria delivers within a radius of 5 miles of the restaurant.

Order online at marassipizzeria.com or call at 281-665-3252

Post-High School Plans span 23 States, 3 Countries

12

Alabama

University of Alabama

Auburn UniversityBrianna Nguyen

Katie Plummer

Katie Comstock

ArizonaArizona State UniversityDaniel Kibbe

ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas

Emily Sontang

Sarah Naumann

Abby Rogers

LeeBeth Liles

California

University of California, BerkeleyRachel Jang

University of Southern CaliforniaDani Endlich

Colorado

University of Colorado, BoulderEmma Hooper

Michael Siegele

Colorado School of MinesErin ChasenJason Tan

GeorgiaGeorgia Institute of TechnologyRaeedah Choudhury

Paulamy Ganguly

KansasBrown Mackie CollegeCelena Shelton

LouisianaLouisiana State University

Jackie Siegele

Roman Glancey

Josh Phillips

University of Louisiana at LafayetteBrittany Nollkamper

Megan VeederOlivia Rector

McNeese State Universtiy Steven Robinson

MarylandJohns Hopkins University

MassachusettsBoston UniversitySam Modaro

MississippiMississippi State UniversityCasie Gordon

MissouriLindenwood University

Erin Sutton

Haochen Peng

FloridaMiami Dade CollegeCourtney Morris

ConnecticutYale UniversityJenny Xiao

Kalyn Jackson

Stanford UniversityJiwoo Lee

Ricky Regas

Class of 2015:Survey of 236 members of the graduating class of 2015

by Jake Williams, Sports Editor

Yaokun Huang

13

Texas

Sam Houston State University

Galen Deleon

Alexia Silva

Trevor Boyd

Lauryn Helm

Saint Edwards UniversityValerie CrespoAllison Dean

South Carolina

University of South CarolinaShaye Mueller

University of PennsylvaniaLindsey Li

Baylor University

Hannah Manley

Parker Diederich

Daniel McCartyElaine Renberg

Allison Juarbe

Blinn College

Katelyn Bihm

Cindy Gimmestad Christian Dessalet

Cameron Reed

Natalie Benavides

Courtney Shook

Abeline Chrisitian UniversityLaura Walling

Tyler JamesSondre Sandve

Armandio Gil

Houston Community College

Sohaib Khan

Alyssa Cushing

Stephen F. Austin State UniversityBrianna Arceneaux

Lone Star Community CollegeCamila Perez LariosAlex Servello

OhioMiami University

Cameron Vahlkamp

Oberlin ConservatoryZoe Heuser

Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma

Megan Vos

Oklahoma State UniversitySteven Nixon

Pennsylvania

Chattam UniversitySarah van Oostendorp

Jordan Catlett

Carnegie Mellon UniversityNicole Ho

St. Louis UniversityVasantha Narasimhalu

New MexicoSt. John’s CollegeYeonsoo Koo

New York

New York University

Rachel RiosShreya JoisJacqueline Huang

Cornell UniversityChristina Xu

North CarolinaDuke University

Lizzie Pharis

High Point UniversityKeith Nutter

Chenxi Zhang

Washington UniversityAndrew Ni

Missouri(cont.)

Kendra BandyCody Alidon

14

Eryn Lyle

Sylvia Xie

Quinn Rayner

Kalina Zahariev

Christin Vogol

Alex Maystrick

Kathryn Perez

Christinia Kainer

Puja Shah

Eleanor Marlow

Spencer KnudsenNikolas Kerbers

Kelsey TaraCassie Stultz

Luis Plata

Texas Christian University

Jessica SaxmanSavannah BotkinElizabeth Block

Texas Tech University

Jake Williams

Eilidh McKay

Emily SmithAmanda Nunmaker

Sarah Dray

Sadie Bowling

Gwen Fuqua

Harrison Dial

Zach Biello

Katy Byers

Matt Hutson

Connor Beique

Emily McDonald

Ryan Stomp

Karli Hamilton

Texas A&M

Nicky Byers

Jessica Bayeh

Morgan Eckert

Kaleigh Connors

Raymond Huang

Shane Donnelly

Alyssa De Guzman

Alex HenryBrendan Hornby

Allison Boni

Alice Cleary

Andrea Brunal

Tarleton State UniversityCasey Sutton

Rice UniversitySumeet Agarwal

Isaiah EdwardsAlexandra Du

Yaw Turkson

Texas A&M (cont.)

States where Cinco Ranch students plan to attend college

Sky Medina

Ashley Walsh

Thomas Guion

Wilson Pappas

Thomas ButterfieldEmma Taylor

Vennela Pothugunta

Stephanie Huisman Benjamin LaPrade

Allison Smith

Gabby Boyd

Texas A&M, Corpus Christi

Texas A&M, Galveston

Samantha Pol

15

Texas(cont.)

University of North TexasSam HendersonAliya Mukhametzhanova

UtahBrigham Young UniversityJack Lopez

VermontMiddlebury CollegeConnor Banky

Washington,D.C.George Washington UniversityTifenn Drouaud

InternationalVirginia Commonwealth University, Qatar

Isabella Phillips

University of British Columbia, CanadaSamantha Matute

Aqsa Ahsan

Kamron Ledet

Millen Makkar

Dylan Bray

Prisha Shah

James Yoder

Spencer Taylor

Snovia Moiz

Gauri Bora

Michelle Urquhart

Andy Castillo

Abhishek Routray

Yaseen Khandwalla

Suruchi Bhan

Lilian AldirawiLaura Baker

Will McKiernan

University of Texas, Dallas

Claire BingAnvesh Kandi

University of Texas, Austin

Dominique Bai

Amy Rueve

Rebecca Saxon

Diana Zhang

Katherine Revels

Sean Donnelly

Amir Rasheed

Stuart Bayliss

Alicia Lore

Sofia Guevara

Emily Liu

Micheal Fernandes

Giaochau Nguyen

Jaclyn Heiser

Maddie Luitwieler

Ariel Alexander

University of Texas, ArlingtonNatasha Tamula

University of Texas, Permian BasinHaylei Scoggins

University of Texas, San AntonioJordan HartmannSadia KhanManny LoezaZain RaoofiKevin SteinbergAlicia Tara

University of Texas, TylerSamin Alam

University of Houston

Emily Burleson

Tina ThaiCrystal Tran

Katya Irwin

Mythri Partha

Michelle Johnson

Victoria Mendoza

Alaa Aly

Sophia Pierce

Mary Kirollos

Angela Co

Brian Lynch

Sara Saavedra

Madeleine Gallagher Hannah BortzTrinity University

University of Texas, Austin (cont.)

Texas State University

Caroline Muller

Amanda Wygal

Alexis Ochoa

Sarah Betros

Zac LaPradeSage Butler

Christian Quintero

Mitchell WilsonKathleen Terry

Rachel Whisman

University of Mary Harden Baylor

The online edition of the Senior Issue has corrections in the University of Houston and Texas A&M University System listings.

photo by Eilidh Gill

16

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war! If havoc was Hike! and the dogs of war described

offensive guards, this Shakespearean phrase would perfectly describe senior football players Isaiah Edwards and Ryan Hirsch.

The two players have been best friends since fourth grade when they met through little league football. They had been on two different teams until Edwards moved onto Hirsch’s team.

“Ryan was the first person I met that I didn’t know already because most of the kids on that team went to my school anyways,” Edwards said. “Ryan, I didn’t know, but when I met him we just kind of clicked. We just hit the ground running, and we’ve been through a lot together.”

The memories they share encompass their whole lives, on and off the field. When they play together, they are more comfortable and tend to play better.

“We knew what each other were thinking,” Edwards said. “We had that twin telepathy type thing, since we’ve played with each other for so long. We know what we can and can’t do. Having that sort of sense made our bond a lot stronger.”

Though football may be the focus of their high school lives, the moments they most treasure tend to occur off the field, in the small things right before stressful games.

“Running out of the tunnel right next to him, there was a handshake and everything that we made up before the season just for every time we ran out of the tunnel,” Hirsch said. “The little stuff in between the actual football plays were the most fun, being in the locker room and stuff.”

Football has changed both their lives in unimaginable ways. Around 10 colleges, including Colorado State, Florida State, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and five other colleges located in Texas, recruited Edwards onto their team.

“It’s definitely a good feeling knowing that so many different places want you,” Edwards said. “It kind of changes your whole outlook on exactly what you’re doing.” Football has been an integral part of Hirsch’s life since he was a little boy. His brother and dad have played college ball before him, so he knew that he needed to play football to impress his family. When he started high

RYAN HIRSCH“D r e a m s s ta r t e d

b e c o m i n g r e a l i t i e s . I g o t t o p l a y w i t h

m y b r o t h e r w h o i s a l i t t l e o l d e r

t h a n m e . C o l l e g e s s ta r t e d c a l l i n g m e , a n d t h a t ’ s w h e r e I

a m t o d a y .”

17

ISAIAH EDWARDS“ I ’ l l i n v i t e h i m t o R i c e . H e ’ l l i n v i t e m e t o

t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f H o u s t o n . N o c o l l e g e r i v a l r y

c a n k e e p u s a p a r t.”

school, he realized that he would need to put in a lot of work to get to where he wanted.

“I was a little pudgeball, and I knew I had a long way to go, so I started working out like crazy,” Hirsch said. “Dreams started becoming realities. I got to play with my brother, who is a little older than me. Colleges started calling me, and that’s where I am today.”

In the fall, Edwards will be playing for Rice University, and Hirsch will be playing for the University of Houston. Joining D-1 football will reunite them with some of the teammates they played with as a little league football team.

“It’s a dream come true, just to be able to see that band of brothers succeeding,” Edwards said. “It’s something that will be good to look back on in the future; we were all successful in elementary, middle school, high school and now college.”

In their respective colleges, the pair will be the same distance away from each other as they are now. They had been approximately 140 miles apart for four years and remained together, so a 15-minute drive and a college

rivalry will not break their bond.“We’re going to meet up all the time,” Edwards said.

“I’ll invite him to Rice. He’ll invite me to the University of Houston. No college rivalry can keep us apart.”

by Joanne Chavali, staff writer

photo by Abdalla Khalil, staff photographer

Best friends, seniors Ryan Hirsch and Isaiah Edwards, embrace each other on the field they grew up on.

18

Claiming one state championship title is a statement that can be made a handful of athletes. Claiming it twice there is no coincidence, winning three times is a feat accomplished by few. Winning state four times in four years that is something that only three people in the state of Texas have ever done. One of those three is Ricky Regas, who has competed in wrestling state playoffs every year of his high school career and taken home a first place victory every time.

“There’s just something in my head that tells me I’m not going to lose,” Regas said. “It’s been there ever since I was a little kid. I don’t mean to sound cocky, but I just have a hard time losing, of course I have lost plenty of times though.”

With four state championships under his belt, Regas has undoubtedly proven that he has skill for his sport, however he prefers to remain humble about his accomplishments. Having earned such accolades, Regas has not gone unnoticed by college recruiters. Regas plans on using his skills in wrestling to help him get through college.

“I am definitely wrestling in college,” Regas said. “In the fall I’ll be going to Lindenwood to wrestle for college.”

Regas’ motivation to wrestle stems from two sources: his passion for the sport and his drive to use wrestling to gain his education.

“I’ve always wanted to use wrestling to get my education and get into a good college,” Regas said. “I just love the sport, it has taught me that I can do much more than what I thought my limit was.”

Regas has wrestled for his school team all four years of his high school career, however during that time span, Regas has attended two different schools. For his first two years, Regas attended St. Thomas high school in Houston where he claimed his first two state championship titles. Prior to his beginning his junior year, Regas transferred to Cinco, where he has claimed two more state championship titles and created unbreakable bonds with other members of the wrestling team.

“My family, sorry I meant to say my team, is just like a family,” Regas said. “We’re all close, we hang out together, and if I ever need anything I know that they’ve got my back.”

Being a senior means that Regas will have to say goodbye to his team at the end of this year as he moves on to further pursue his education and wrestling in college.

“I definitely want to go out and explore my own world and get to things myself, but leaving them behind is going to be hard,” Regas said.“I feel like I have a group of people on the team that looks up to me.”

Being able to say that they have won a state championship title is not a statement that many people are able to make, but being able to say that they have won four consecutive titles is a privilege that only Regas along and two other Texans can say. Regas has dedicated a large majority of his life to being able to make that claim, and now it is a reality for him.

“Wrestling is such a mentally and physically draining sport and has taught me patience, discipline, will power, and so much more.” Regas said, “Wrestling has taught me that I can push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of, and forced me to achieve things that I thought I never could have.”

RickyREGAS

photo by Dani Endlich

by Jake Williams, Sports Editor

Champion wrestler aspires for success

19

Samantha SwansonSenior pursues modeling careerby Roba Abousaway, staff writer

photo by Madison HenningsFor the last few years, Samantha Swanson has been modeling for the Neal Hamil agency. According to Swanson, modeling has helped her gain confidence in herself. She plans on continuing with her passion after high school.

Her heart is pounding. Her mind is focused on walking elegantly and remaining poised.

“Go,” the stage director says. With her five inch heels, she steps out from behind the curtain and prepares to walk down the runway with her head held high. In that moment, time stands still and she walks.

Senior Samantha Swanson has been modeling since sophomore year, and plans to continue after graduation and for many years to come. Her passion for the art emerged when she was just a child playing dress up, and has formed into a possible profession.

“My modeling basically got started just for fun,” Swanson said. “My friend lives out in the country, and there are a bunch of backdrops out there. Her family is really into photography, so they had cameras and everything. We would go out in the country with a bunch of horses and bring our cameras and pretend like we were kids. A couple of years ago, I got scouted at a mall. From there, that’s basically how the professional part of my modeling got started.”

Before walking at her first fashion show, Swanson was both eager and anxious as to what the infamous runway would be like. The experience gave her a feel for the industry, and the thrill led her to become even more fond and appreciative of modeling.

“At my first fashion show, I was freaking out,” Swanson said. “I was excited, but I was nervous to see all of the people who were watching me. My heart was pounding. The lady at the curtain shoves you out there so you don’t miss your cue, and you just go. Your feet just move. My first show was a pretty cool experience. When you get out on the runway, it becomes natural and you stop thinking.”

At either Texas State, Texas Tech, or the University of Houston, Swanson plans on earning a degree in engineering or marine biology while remaining in the modeling business. Uncertain of where the future will take her, she only aims for success and is prepared for anything that comes her way.

“What I hope to accomplish with my life just depends on which route I take,” Swanson said. “If I really do make it far in modeling, then I want to be on a red carpet, up on TV, and have a big name. If I go through modeling and I fall out when I get older, I want to be able to provide for myself.”

Believing that there is a strong connection between acting and modeling, Swanson takes on a new character every time she struts down the runway. She adores the glamorous parts that come with being a model as it casts her mind back to the playfulness of her childhood.

“I love everything about modeling; it’s

hard to pick a specific thing about it, but the whole process of the makeup, the clothes, the pictures, putting yourself in another character is great. I love dressing up, it’s just really fun. It’s like you never grow up,” Swanson said.

Modeling has not only been an enjoyable pastime activity for Swanson, but has also positively influenced the way she carries and presents herself to other people. As a result of being in the spotlight so often, Swanson feels a certain confidence in herself that she has never felt before.

“A couple of years ago, before I started, I was extremely quiet and I did not have that many friends,” Swanson said. “I didn’t go out at all. I had the self confidence of a squirrel. My parents used to try and shove me out of the door, but now my parents are trying shove me back in because I’m always going out. I just have a lot more confidence. You have to have the self confidence for modeling.”

Swanson’s mom is someone that has given her an unconditional amount of love and encouragement from the very beginning of her career. She is very involved with Swanson’s modeling and has seen her evolve into the the more outgoing person that Swanson is today.

“My mom is the most supportive of what I do,” Swanson said. “She had to kind of convince my dad to want to be into it. He’s a financial adviser, so he’s

really into the whole ‘is this worth the investment’ type of thing. My mom took me to all of my first auditions, she helped pay to put me through all of the training, she went to LA and New York with me; she’s just been there for me. My mom has seen me open up more, and she always tells

me that I have ‘come out of my shell’.”Models spend most of their careers

having all eyes on them and being the focus of attention in the room. According to Swanson, in order to be successful as a model, adapting to that pressure is a must.

“In the modeling industry, you have to tell yourself not to feel the pressure,” Swanson said. “If you let the pressure get to you, you’re gonna freak out. If you trip, all eyes are on you. If you mess up the garment, all eyes are on you. If you get

makeup on it, everything is on you. There is a lot of pressure, but you just have to tell yourself not to think about it.”

Ultimately, Swanson’s passion for expressing herself through modeling has helped her mature and become more self-assured. The time and

dedication that she has put into her art form has changed her life into something she is proud of.

“I didn’t see myself being in the position I am now,” Swanson said. “Everything starts small and if you really want it, you have to work for it. I’ve worked pretty hard to be where I am now.”

Rank: 1College: Johns Hopkins UniversityMajor: Biomedical Engineering

Do you have an idea of what you want to do after med school?I guess I’d be working at some sort of hospital. Back where I’m from in China, there’s not really a lot of good hospital equipment, so I’m hoping once I have a decent amount of money, I can go back and help out with the hospitals in China too.

What’s your weirdest phobia?I’m really afraid of squares for some reason. When I was really young, I used to play Chinese chess kind of competitively, and occasionally, I just have dreams where it’s a big chess board, and it gets larger and larger, and all I can think about is all of the squares on there.

20

Top

Ten

Haochen Peng

Class of 2015

1

Jenny XiaoRank: 2College: Yale UniversityMajor: Undecided

How did you choose your major?I was so sure I was going to do engineering and go to UT, but then I got into Yale and their Engineering kind of sucks. So I was like, okay, maybe I’ll just pick something else, because it’s not like I love engineering, but it’s what UT is known for, that and business. Now I have more choices, and now I have no idea what I am doing with my life.

What have been your favorite classes in high school?BC Calc and Physics because they are applications of everything I’ve spent the past 11 years learning and now all of it is finally useful.

What is the grossest thing you’ve ever stress-eaten?I’ll eat anything within reach.

2

by Emily Burleson, Sofia Guevara and Snovia Moiz, Co-Editors-in-Chief and Sara Saavedra, Entertainment Editorportraits by Emily Burleson and Sofia Guevara

21Rank: 3College: Stanford UniversityMajor: Undecided

What’s your study jam?The thing is, when you listen to music, especially when you’re doing memorization, you can’t listen to something with a melody because you get caught up with the lyrics and you’re just singing along to it, and that’s distracting. So what you have to listen to is ambient or rap music, like Juicy J or Kanye West. They just have a solid beat, like you feel the beat, but you don’t have to listen to the lyrics or anything.

Do you have a certain idea of what you want your future to be like?Right now, I’m not really sure what I want to major in, but i definitely want to study overseas, either in Berlin or Tokyo. I want to pick up an internship at Google doing something, that’s going to be during college.

What’s the grossest thing you’ve eaten when you’re stressed out?I tried crushed ice and sriracha. It was okay. You have to eat it before it melts.

Rank: 4College: Virgina TechMajor: Biomedical Engineering

How did you choose your major?For a while, I had no idea what I was going to do and then, sophomore year, we had so do this chem project where you find a career that related to chemistry and do a brochure on it. That’s when I found out about Biomedical Engineering. Like, woah, this is a mix of everything that I like. It’s a bit of medicine, but it’s also making things with science to help people. I knew at that point I wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t what else there was.

What is something you wish your freshman self knew?I wish I knew how to chill a bit more. I stressed out a lot, and I had crazy expectations for how high school was supposed to be. Freshman year, I was the kind of person who would study a lot and study for Bio tests, like, a week ahead. I thought that was a sustainable model. Growing up, I was told, you always want to get high As and all that stuff. At that time, I didn’t know how to accept lower grades. Now, I get an 83 on a quiz, and I’m like, oh my gosh, yes.

3Jiwoo Lee

4Raeedah Choudury

22

5Rank: 5College: University of Texas at AustinMajor: Chemical Engineering

What’s something that you always wanted to try?I would go hot air ballooning. I want to see the world from up top.

Do you have a certain idea of what you want your future to look like?I want to become and engineer and help the environment. I want to be an environmental engineer. Ms. Peffley really impacted me because she really got me interested in learning about the environment.

Do you have something you wish people knew about you?Yeah, I do dance. I do ballet. I’ve been doing ballet for 13 years. It takes up half of my life. It caused a lot of late nights. I had to keep up my grades in order to keep dancing, so that was my motivation.

Gauri Bora

Jacqueline Huang

6Rank: 6 - TieCollege: New York UniversityMajor: BusinessWhat are you most excited for in New York?I visited New York in the end of middle school for the first time and I was really excited because I had never been to another city quite like New York. I had a romanticized version of what I wanted to be and what New York was. I saw a lot of business men and business women and they were very professional. They all knew what they were doing and where they were going, and I wanted to be like that. I still want to be like that, but now I know it’s not as easy as it looks. I have a hobby of visiting art museums and New York has a lot of great art museums, like the Metropolitan Art Museum.

Is there anything you want people to know about you that they wouldn’t already know?When I walk through the hallway, I have this passive look and I feel like it looks like I’m really mean and unfriendly, but I’m actually not angry or anything, I’m just walking down the hallway. So I guess I’d say that I’m happy to talk to anyone who would want to talk to me. I’d be their friend.

2323

6Rank: 6 - TieCollege: Cornell UniversityMajor: Economics

What’s your weirdest phobia?I’m afraid of Haochen, who’s afraid of squares.For a long time, I’ve been trying to lucid dream, so basically, you realize that you’re dreaming and you can do stupid stuff in it. So I’m scared that in real life, I’ll think it’s a dream, and do something stupid. Like kill myself or kill someone else.

What’s the hardest part about leaving Katy?Moving to some place that is cold. I bought a really thick jacket. I’m going to buy a bunch of North Face jackets. My mom told me she’s glad it’s cold, because when I’m cold, I will stay in my dorm and not go out to bars, to parties, I’ll stay in and study.

What’s the hardest part of leaving Cinco?The friends I’ve made, the people I’ve known. Because most of them might go to Texas schools, and I’ll be far away up north. Except for Christina! Shoutout to Christina, she’s going to the same school I’m going to.

8Rank: 8College: University of Texas at AustinMajor: Petroleum Engineering

What’s something you’ve always wanted to try?I’ve always wanted to act in a movie. I wanted to be an actress when I was younger. I just want to see what it’s like.

If you could live anywhere, where would you live?I think Hawaii would be nice. I’ve always wanted to go somewhere with really clear, blue water. I’ve been to Cozumel, and the water was really nice. I’d just go swimming every day.

What do you listen to when you study?Hip hop and rap. Pretty much any of the mainstream artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar... any of those.

Chenxi Zhang

Emily Liu

9Grace Jung Rank: 9

College: University of Texas at AustinMajor: Chemistry

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I wanted to live in New Zealand, but someone told me that if I’d break my hip when I’m older, there are no hospitals around. It’s so beautiful. That’s the place where they filmed [Chronicles of] Narnia and Lord of the Rings. And also, I can go into the sheep herding industry.

What has been your favorite teacher or class?I liked Ms. Riley’s class. She’s my art teacher. She’s been not just a great teacher, but a great support for me. Kind of like a mentor. One, she doesn’t judge. And two, she allows that kind of relationship to happen, because I know some teachers who are off limits after school. As high school went on, it got harder for me to do certain things like schoolwork, because of personal problems I had. So her class was like a safe haven.

10Diana ZhangRank: 10

College: University of Texas at AustinMajor: Chemical Engineering

What has been your favorite teacher or class this year?Oh, playing favorites. It has to be Physics 2 with Mr. Richard. The way he teaches is very engaging for the students because he often shows us demonstrations, and with those demonstrations we can see what we’re learning on paper in action. What attracts me to science in general is knowing how things work, but also seeing the concepts at work.

What’s your weirdest phobia?Well, any phobia is kind of weird if you think about it. Being afraid of cockroaches is really irrational because cockroaches don’t do anything. They just sit there and look ugly and disgusting and dirty. They can’t bite you and they can’t hurt you, but I still scream when I see them. You know what else I’m scared of? Crunching the cockroaches. They crunch, and I’m so deterred from killing them.

24

Sebastian Ervik25

For most students, moving to a foreign country in the middle of high school would be a nightmare. Learning a

new language, adjusting to a new environment, and learning the ins and outs of a new culture all while keeping up with school seems impossible. But Norwegian Sebastian Ervik makes it look easy.

“We moved in 2013 because my dad’s job had just fired some people over here and they needed to set up a new office,” Ervik said.

Though he had a vague idea of what America was like from a few previous visits, Ervik was not prepared for the reality of living in a new country among new people with new expectations and harder schools.

“Here in the US, you have quizzes, and homework and tests,” Ervik said. “In Norway, you have a test every third week over what you studied. You don’t have quizzes, and we don’t check homework.”

Though he began to learn English in first grade, Ervik struggled to find the courage to speak to his peers. The fast, smooth English spoken by Americans dwarfed the slow pace he learned in grade school.

“Making friends was hard because I was afraid to speak English to people,” Ervik said. “When we learned English in Norway, we spoke really slow and weren’t very good. When I got here, I thought this would be easy because I knew English, but when the teachers were talking, I didn’t get anything since they were talking so fast.”

Ervik will return to his high school in Norway at the end of the summer to take another senior year before pursuing a degree in engineering or economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

“I could have left last summer if I wanted to, but you don’t get to graduate a lot of times in your life,” Ervik said. “In Norway, we don’t have a graduation ceremony. We just get the paper, like congratulations, now go away.”

Ervik will return to Norway alone while his parents and younger sisters remain in Katy. On his own, Ervik sets off to navigate high school and college.

“I’m going to stay in my family’s house back home [in Norway], but we live 30 minutes away from my uncle and aunt, and my grandparents live a short way away,” Ervik said.

Ervik’s biggest lesson from living in America is to never judge people

before you know them.“Back in Norway, I was stereotyping a lot. I

thought Americans had so many weird opinions and were rude as well,” Ervik said. “I met a lot of good Americans who have proved me wrong. My Norwegian friends say that America is stupid, and I say no, you haven’t lived here, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Even though he will soon return to his homeland, Ervik will never forget the late nights he spent with his American friends playing soccer and video games.

“It’s going to be tough, but I’m going to try to keep in touch with everyone else here, like how I have with my friends in Norway,” Ervik said. “It’ll be good to see my old friends everyday.”

Even though he does not know what the years hold for him, Ervik is excited for the future and will return to Norway with a fresh perspective on the world.

“It’s awesome to stay here and experience so many different peoples from so many different places,” Ervik said. “I’ve absolutely changed my view on how things work.”

photo by Sofia GuevaraErvik will return to Norway while his family remains in Katy. He will then complete another year of high school and reunite with his former friends.

Norwegian to return home for extra school year by Brynne Herzfeld, staff writer

Senior Karli Hamilton watches with sweaty palms and a whirlpool of anxiety as the coach walks towards her. Although nervous, Karli reassures herself that God put her there for a reason. Realizing that the coach was both welcoming and funny, she could hardly wait to put on a Texas Tech softball jersey.

Signed with Texas Tech, Karli prepares herself for the oncoming adventure with excitement and an awareness of the difficult but rewarding sacrifices ahead.

“I think it will be really different cause there, it’s all business,” Hamilton said. “I mean it is fun, but there is time for work and there is time for fun, so I’m really looking forward to getting up there and working really hard to get my spot. But it’s just going to be different in the way that I’m not going to be around my friends, and it’s not all fun and games.”

Hamilton has always enjoyed the fun side of softball by building friendships with her teammates since childhood.

“I started playing softball when I was

probably four or five, and they didn’t have a girl’s tee-ball team, so I had to play on the boy’s tee-ball team,” Hamilton said. “It took some time for me to start loving it, and once I started loving it, I got better obviously; not instantly, but I did after a while.”

Her passion for softball led her to join the varsity team at Cinco Ranch, creating familiarity and a strong connection with her teammates for the past four years

“We’re always taught that you can’t win the game yourself,” Hamilton said. “It’s a team effort, and I think one of the biggest things high school has taught me is selflessness. You have to rely on the people around you, and that makes you want to practice better as a team and be a better person.”

Hamilton’s most memorable event in her high school softball career was when during one particular game, her team won against the odds to become second in state.

“During sophomore year, we beat Cy-Fair in the third round of playoffs. They were ranked

second in the state, so that was like a huge win for us, that was probably the best feeling,” Hamilton said.

Although there were many successes, Karli remembers the struggles in the games and the way she copes with failure.

“Sometimes when you feel like you let everyone down when you don’t always perform the way you can, it’s frustrating. But if you have that team that’s working for each other, it’s easy for them to pick you up after that,” Hamilton said. “I only give myself a minute or two to get mad, and then I gotta get over it cause I gotta get the next play.”

Taking both the lessons learned from victory and defeat, Karli is ready for college. Though a passionate player of softball, she leaves the future wide open.

“I wouldn’t mind playing professional, but if not, I wouldn’t mind not playing,” Hamilton said. “I’m majoring in Exercise and Sports Sciences, something I won’t sit behind a desk doing. I gotta be moving.”

Karl i HamiltonSoftba l l p layer f ie lds D iv i s ion I scho larsh ip at Texas Tech

26

Senior Karli Hamilton shows off her pride in joining the softball team at Texas Tech by proudly wearing her Tech shirt and softball gloves

photo by Abdalla Khalilby Dominique Bai, Design Editor

27

by Snovia Moiz, Co-Editor-in-Chief and Hannah Hassel, staff writer

photo by Allison Dean

James and Larry Dial

James and Larry Dial make it look easy.

From athletics to academics, the fraternal twins seem to have mastered the whole well-rounded high schooler routine. Under the stress of sports, clubs and academics, the twins use their relationship to build each other up and push each other to succeed.

“Growing up with a twin was a really good experience,” James said. “Anything I wanted to do I could get Larry to do with me, or if he wanted to do something I could do it with him. We always had someone to play with. If you want to get better at something, you need to do it with someone else so that they can push you. As kids, we were both really competitive so we would push each other to be better.”

The pair’s competitive attitude developed into drive. Both maintained high GPAs while holding positions in varsity sports. After participating in multiple sports, the twins each chose one to focus on at the high school level. While Larry chose soccer, James pursued basketball.

“We both used to do swim team and we both used to do gymnastics and track,” Larry said. “I used to play basketball in junior high and he used to play soccer

in junior high. James was better at basketball and I enjoyed soccer more, so we just kind of split on the sports.”

With success at the district, regional and state level, both sports boasted record breaking seasons this year. For James, the basketball game against Seven Lakes remains a memorable moment.

“When we beat Seven Lakes for the third time at home, we were walking back to the locker room and me and Coach King and two other people were out in the hallway, “ James said. “He was just the happiest I’ve ever seen him. It was pretty cool because it was the materialization of everything he had put into it. It was crazy.”

Maintaining the balance between academics and athletics served as a learning experience for the duo, ultimately teaching them what it takes to achieve their goals.

“If you want to improve yourself in a certain way, then you have to take deliberate steps to make that happen,” Larry said. “If I say I just want to change a habit or improve at some skill, but I don’t do anything, then just saying it doesn’t accomplish it all. I found with studying or just practicing different things that I have to plan out exactly when I’m going to do something and set concrete goals

to change things.You just have to keep your focus on what you want to accomplish in the end, and if that means you have to sacrifice a few things here or there, then that’s what you have to do.”

For James, the pressures of extracurriculars, academics and personal struggles brought a fresh mindset, one that focused on the present instead of the future.

“When I was struggling with keeping my academics under control and basketball season was in swing and debate season was in swing and Carson [Broussard] was declining in health, I just felt overwhelmed from everything that was happening,” James said. “I didn’t feel good. If you want to have sustainable success you need to be happy in what you’re doing. You can create that environment by having a positive attitude and investing yourself in the things you’re doing. My problem was that I was so invested in trying to live for college and live for the future, to where I wasn’t happy in the moment. I needed to be more invested my happiness in the present and doing things that I enjoy.”

Both intend to major in engineering, but differ in the branches they hope to pursue. While Larry hopes to major

in chemical engineering at Texas A&M, James finds himself more drawn towards mechanical engineering at University of Texas at Austin. The twins did not strictly plan to attend different colleges, but based their decisions on the scholarship opportunities offered by each one.

“I would want to go to the same college as James, it would definitely be a positive,” Larry said. “It’s not the be all end all. It just so happened that the money worked out really well for me at A&M, and it worked out better for James at UT. It will be strange, because me and James live in the same room. It will be weird not asking James ‘Hey what’s our homework?’ or ‘Hey do you have your textbook?’”

Despite their upcoming separation, the pair regard their childhood together as one full of lessons and experiences that molded them, and ultimately gave them someone to rely on.

“When I was a kid, he pushed me to be better,” James said. “He gave me someone to play with. Now that we’re more mature it’s not necessarily about always competing with each other. He’s someone I can always talk to and who I know will always be there for me no matter what.”

Twins’ relationship motivates each other to succeed in athletics, academics

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23922 Cinco Village Center Blvd. Suite 250 Katy, Texas 77494

Kim K. Forrest, DDS, MSand Associates

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Senior Reflections

I joined newspaper senior year without a clue of how a magazine is created. I guess it was my unusually high level of optimism that convinced me that the future would take care of itself if I just sent in my application. I did just that. I went to the journalism room and submitted my application to the teacher. I remember he asked me, “Do you know how to use Photoshop?” I said “no”. “Do you know how to use InDesign?” he asked. I said no again. I simply told him that I really wanted to try working for the magazine, and that I was willing to learn. That is exactly how I became the Design Editor for the County Line. Under the guidance of three editors, I began to learn how to use the technology, and spent many hours designing. Although there were many mistakes and failures on my part, I still persevered and did as I was told. The biggest lesson I learned is that trying new things is worth it. Although I am not a perfect design editor or a great writer, I realized the importance of learning from others and working as a team. Through crying and laughing on deadline nights, singingly wildly on journalism trips, and rooming with crazy editors, I realized that being daring will lead to beautiful memories.

I realized last week that I’ve never done any one thing as long as I’ve been writing for the County Line, and room 1221 has been the most constant, consistent part of my life for four years. And now, it is over.

I know I can find advice, comfort, support, friendship and the best wi-fi in the building in this room, no matter what. I’m at a loss of how to explain how much this publication and its staff mean to me - I feel like no words can accurately capture something that changed my life so easily.

I found lifelong friends and a career through the County Line. I came into Journalism I hoping to find a hobby for high school and now I’m coming out my senior year preparing to major in it next fall. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my time than telling stories.

I feel like I have had a taste of a real publication, of being a real journalist, of the real world, and now I cannot wait. But what can I learn with a Journalism degree that the County Line has not already shown me? And will I have as much fun? There’s no way.

For most of high school I have tried to avoid the stereotype of being ‘that newspaper girl’. I saw it as something bad and horribly cliched, reflective of Rita Skeeter from Harry Potter, or the many dorky high school journalists on teen tv shows. But as the saying goes, we do not know what we have until we lose it, or in my case, are about to lose it.

As I look back upon my three years on The County Line, only one word comes to mind: invaluable. In the newspaper room I cried, laughed and experienced every emotion in between. I found people as crazy, if not crazier, than me, who shared my love of writing. I found a second family. I found an outlet for my emotions through writing columns and an outlet for my opinions through writing editorials. I learned how to interact with and interview people who I meet for the first time. I learned that Adobe Photoshop and InDesign are not my friends. I learned the power of the written word. Most of all, I learned to work hard and hold my head up high. So if being that newspaper girl means that I gained all of those things, then yes, I am that newspaper girl. Maybe I will not be that newspaper girl in college, but I will carry a piece of her, and all she gained, with me everywhere I go.

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You expect to find your niche early on in your high school career with either sports, clubs or any other type of extra-curriculars. Everyone’s so eager to sign up for something, knowing exactly what they want to be part of, but 14 year old me had no clue so I wandered from room to room trying to find a home. During those first two I dreaded coming to school, I had no sense of unity with my peers and my interests were zero to none. Towards the end of my sophomore year I was re-cruited to join the newspaper staff and although I didn’t know what to expect, I accepted.

Two years ago the publications room was the one that was oddly located in the language hall, but now it has become my home away from home. My fondest memories were made here with those who have made the biggest impact in my life. Through the tears, the laughs and our little inside jokes, these kids have become my extended family, the ones I can count on to make me smile when i’m feeling down. Thanks for making my senior year a memorable one, I love you guys.

Before I even got here, I couldn’t wait to leave high school. I’m not sure if it had to with being the youngest child and seeing my older siblings strut off to college, and have the time of their lives. Or maybe being an “Old Soul” comes with a lack of enthusiasm for such rites of passage. Whether I liked it or not (which I certainly didn’t) my high school attendance was mandatory. My first three years at Cinco were excruciating to say the least.

Although I had some great friends cycle through my life, I didn’t allow myself to enjoy what I had. That was until senior year came around. In the time leading up to graduation, a wave of euphoria had hit me and I attempted to grasp every fleeting moment. That’s when I let go of the bitterness I had been clenching onto for so many years; I truly experienced high school. I went to the sports games I considered overrated for so many years and found it to be exhilarating; I discovered places that were actually fun in the town I had once detested, and overall, I participated in ways I never had before. I let go. I made the most of Cinco Ranch and it made the most of me. To the people who feel “trapped” here for the next few years: let go and make the effort for your time in high school to be great.

Being a part of the journalism program has truly changed my life in ways that I never could have anticipated. Room 1221 has become my home away from home because it is a place I love to be filled with people I love to be around. I never imagined that within two years I would have become so close with all my fellow staff members, it’s hard to imagine that I’ll be done with high school soon and having to leave behind room 1221. Joining the journalism program was one of the best decisions I made in in high school, the program has not only spawned countless friendships that I’ll never forget, but it has also taught me life skills that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. Newspaper has provided me with more than just unforgettable memories, it has also inspired me to pursue a journalistic career in high school. I never imagined that when I walked through the doors of 1221 for the first time that this room would change my life forever, and I could not be more grateful. As hard as it will be, to say goodbye to Cinco Ranch, I am looking forward to moving away to and starting college at Texas Tech in the fall.

Senior Reflections

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I have always been chasing the light, as a child, literally, and as I grew older, figuratively. I’ve been lucky enough to catch glimpses of its warmth after long, cold swim meets and of its smile following me on long runs and cycling routes. Since my childhood, I have felt this spark of intuition and discernment weaving patterns and connections in my mind. My sensitivity to the emotions, struggles and triumphs of people in the world around me made me conscious and aware of human nature, of what appeals, excites, encourages and makes an impact in an individual’s life. I have felt this light nudging and tugging at my heart through various events in my life, but no where as strongly and consistently as in the stories I have written for this publication. I have had the privilege to string words into sentences and sentences into stories and stories into accounts of people, events, hours, smiles and words that were perhaps overlooked.

As a graduating Co-Editor, I now know that words heal. Words bring us together. They surpass distances and barriers, both physical and emotional. These past couple of years, I have no idea how many words I’ve strung into stories but I can tell you about all the moments of great insight where I have felt rushes of emotion blast through me. The story ideas infiltrate my thought process and design ideas quickly shuffle past my eyes. I can tell you about the gratification I have received from each moment of insight where everything clicked. In those moments, as I captured the light, I knew exactly what to write.

Time to write a senior letter. Here I sit, stuck with a blinking cursor on a blank page, judging me for my procrastination and lack of forethought. What do you write that the whole school might read? Do you impart wisdom? Judgment? My grandmother’s fantastic casserole recipe? I could copy over my college essays or perhaps steal a line from an English assignment, but that all feels like a cheat.

The newspaper room right now is filled with excited chatter, jokes about Proactive vs. Photoshop acne removal. It’s the most wonderful place in the whole school to flourish your creativity, meet truly brilliant people, and become the best writer you can, yet…I can’t think in here! There are so many things to laugh about and help with; it’s been the highlight of my high school career to spend long deadline nights racing to finish stories and becoming someone beyond just ‘the new kid’ at Cinco Ranch. I loved it, but for all that I can’t focus long enough to write this.

And what do you tell a whole school? Things about me? I love Shakespeare. I make killer smoothies. I once went swimming with Zac Efron. Now you all know about me, but what a dull article-nobody will ever read that and stay awake.

Okay, here’s my only solution because time is ticking. Instead of sappy goodbyes or abstract advice about your future as students, leaders, and candlestick makers, I will simply say as my parting words: I have no idea how to write a senior letter.

Senior Reflections