The Wildcat Roar
Volume 7
Number 17
Fall 2013
A Quarterly Publication of Rocky Hill Middle School
The Doctor Is In
By Mae McDermott
Chief Editor
If you could add any course to the
middle school curriculum, what
would you add and why?
Who or what inspired you to become a part of the educational system? Is this always what you
wanted to do?
I would like for Rocky Hill to be
able to offer a class that already exists, but not all middle schools have
access to the class. It’s called
“Lights, Camera, Literacy.” It’s a
class where students focus on literacy through filmmaking. Students in
middle school learn how to use their
technology, create small movies,
powerpoints, and different ways to
express themselves through the technology, but it’s based on literacy.
When I was younger I wanted to
grow up and be a princess, but
there’s not really something that you
can go and study, so that didn’t work
out. I’ve always loved working with
kids; I used to be a swim coach and
was very involved with swimming.
That was why I decided to become a
teacher; because I really enjoyed
working with children.
What do you consider important
to a healthy learning environment?
Dr. Cynthia Eldridge
Principal of Rocky Hill
Wow, Rocky Hill! A d ifferent principal every year since 2011 –
we have certainly become familiar
with the term “variety.” We, the students, have been shifting and resettling with our changing administration for some time. The constant metamorphosis of our school, though
fascinating to say the least, has occasionally been stressful. In this brand
new school year, many of us are hoping to find mooring with a brand new
principal – Dr. Cynthia Eldridge.
The question has been posed by
so many, and, in the following interview, Dr. Eldridge was kind enough
to give us our answer.
Who is Dr. Eldrid ge?
Please give us a little bit of background about you.
My dad was in the Navy, so we lived
in Virginia, D.C. and a few other
places before I was in second grade.
My dad got a job at Bethesda Naval
Hospital and we’ve lived here ever
since. I am the youngest of four children and my brothers and sisters live
in Georgia and Texas. I went to
Rockville High School, the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins
University. My daughter is in eighth
grade and my son is in sixth grade,
and they both go to school at Lakelands Park Middle School; it’s just
middle school all the time in my
house!
How would you describe yourself
to Rocky Hill students?
I’m very interested in getting to know
the students, so I would describe myself as someone who listens when
students are talking to me about their
lives; if they have a problem, it’s
very important to me to be fair and
consistent. I love working with adolescents in middle school. I like this
age very much because students in
middle school are trying to figure out
who they are, so it’s a very important
time in their lives.
From what you have experienced
so far, what do you like about
Rocky Hill?
I think that it’s important that all of
the people in our building feel safe
and taken care of, and that students
are able to take a risk, share new
ideas and experience new things in
their classrooms.
I really like the way Rocky Hill students take care of one another. I saw
7 th and 8 th graders helping new students find their classrooms the first
week of school. It’s very nice to see.
And I also like the way we had
many new staff members this year,
and the staff who had been at Rocky
Hill visited the new staff, asked
them if they needed anything and
offered them resources. I really find
the Rocky Hill community very welcoming.
How would you describe your
work ethic?
I’m very dedicated to my work and
it’s important that anything I do, I
set the example of doing it well; I
not only hold staff and students to
high standards, I hold myself to high
standards. I make sure that when I
tell a parent or a student that I am
going to do something, I follow up
and I make sure that that gets done. I
keep my word.
It is fairly early to ask this, but do
you have a vision for the school or
something you are trying to work
towards in particular?
How do you learn best?
In July, our instructional leadership
team determined our focus for students to be on critical thinking. That
was based on data, so we will continue with that focus, and I will be
including teachers, students and the
community in building a vision for
where we want Rocky Hill to be in
five years. I think it’s important for
the vision to be collaborative and not
created in isolation.
I’m a visual learner. If someone
gives me a big list of something and
they’re just talking at me, that is not
the way for me to learn something,
because I don’t process that in an
auditory way.
How do you like to deal with problems, whether they are your own
or someone else’s?
I think when other people have problems, I like to sit and listen to what
the issues are to help that person
determine what we can do next. If a
student has a problem, it’s really
important that they talk to someone,
a parent who can contact us, a counselor, a teacher or one of the administrators. We’re here to listen to students and parents who sometimes
come in and have problems, want
some advice on something having to
do with their child or want to talk it
through; our doors are open.
How do you plan on driving Rocky
Hill towards that vision?
The instructional leadership team
(we call that the ILT) and I will be
working together on collecting information from the students and from
the actual lessons, and that data will
help us determine where we need to
go next.
Quite a few students are unsure
what to think about the recent shift
in administration. Are you going to
stay here temporarily or longterm?
Well, I would like to stay long-term,
but as an acting principal, that information will be collected from the
community in the spring about what
happens next year. I would be very
happy to be the principal here for the
next ten years.
Do you have anything else you
would like to say to the Rocky Hill
community?
I would like to thank everyone for
being so welcoming. I’m going to be
collecting information from students
through groups at lunchtime and having opportunities for parents to come
in and talk, and I just want to make
sure that we’re able to hear everyone’s voice as we move forward at
Rocky Hill.
This school has been awaiting the return of balance, and after
being fortunate enough to speak with
Dr. Eldridge, I am confident that the
2013-2014 school year will be a year
of positive change and steadiness for
the Rocky Hill community.
Dr. Eldridge pledges to hear
our voices, support us in any way
possible and devote herself to this
school for as long as she can… and I
truly believe that she will follow
through.
Table Of Contents
Front Page
 The Doctor is In
Editorial Page
 The Rebirth of the Dream
 Passion for Education
Rocky Hill Page
 New Teachers at Rocky Hill
 Amazing Counselor
Do you focus more on technology
in education or are you more interested in personal interaction?
Writer’s Corner
 Our Toys
 Letters to and From Garfield
I think it’s important to have a mix
of both. I like to talk to people face
to face if we can, or on the phone if
a parent has the need and we can
talk it out. I’m trying to find out
from our community what types of
technology or social media they
would like for our school to use. We
could use Twitter or Vine or any of
those things, but if we invest our
time in it, I want to be in partnership
with the community.
Writer’s Corner (Cont’d)
 Wonder
 The Cafeteria
 Joy
 The Little Prince
 I Remember Love
S ports Pages
 What’s in a Name
 The State of the Skins
 What a Season!
 Sports and Safety
1
Life On The Hill
 College Day
 Welcome Back, Ms. Tippett
S pecial Feature
 Rock the Pink to Stamp Out Breast
Cancer
 Disabilities and the Lesson We Can
Learn
Current Issues
 The Aftermath of the Government
Shutdown

Malala Yousafzai: T he Girl Who Will
Not Be Silenced
Technology
 The New Xbox

Clash of the Cl ans: Apple vs.
Window s

Technology in Schools
Entertainment
 The Hunted
 The British Perspective
 Sudoku
Editorial Page
The Rebirth of The Dream
By Ms. Katie Odey
Supervising Editor
Manav Mathur
Assistant Chief Editor
On August 28 th this year,
Americans took time to reflect on the
historic “I Have a Dream” speech by
Martin Luther King Jr. Thousands of
Americans descended on the nation’s
capital to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and
to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther’s
King’s call for equality and justice. It
was on that summer day on August
1963 when Dr. King stood in front of
the Lincoln Memorial and delivered
the famous, “I Have a Dream” speech
in front of thousands of Americans.
Generations of have read, analyzed or
at least pondered on the significance
of Dr. King’s speech. He hoped for a
country where racism will be eradicated and people will treat one another with dignity and respect in spite of
our differences. 50 years later we
have seen a change, but most Americans still hope for a time when the
change to be real.
Our society has evolved to a
point where we have a mix of culture,
religion, economic status race etc.
Although racial prejudice is more like
a thing of the past, we it is certain
that we still have a long way to go in
terms of our relationship with people
who look different. Dr. King dreamed
of a nation where his children will not
be judged by the color of their skins,
but by the content of their character.
He hoped for a period when there
racial prejudice would be eradicated, and people would treat one another with dignity and respect.
During h is speech Dr. King
evoked the ideals in the Declaration
of Independence, citing the value of
human rights according the constitution. "We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created
equal." The fact that AfricanAmericans still were segregated and
treated badly long after The Emancipation Proclamation and long after
laws was passed prohibiting servitude and giving all Americans the
right to live freely was hard to imagine. In 1896 The Supreme Court
ruled in the pivotal case of Plessey
v. Ferguson that segregation was
constitutional. An era marked with
bigotry and a systematic disregard
for human dignity inevitably gave
rise to The Civil Right Movement
led by Dr. King. The Civil R ight
Movement was organized to ensure
that African-Americans had access
to all the privileges that were available to all American citizens. The
question is, what has changed? Are
Americans now more tolerant of
people who are different?
On July 2 nd , The Civil Right
Act of 1964 signed by President
Lyndon Johnson was enacted. It
banned all forms of discrimination.
Children once forced to attend segregated schools now attend school
with children from various ethnic
backgrounds. Most Americans have
had opportunities to pursue careers
in various fields and have exceled in
whatever they have chosen to do.
Dr. King dreamed of a time in our
history when “little black boys and
little b lack girls will be able to join
hands with little wh ite boys and little
white girls as brothers and sisters.”
The commemorating of The
March in Washington is a fairly
good reminder of how far we have
come as a nation. During his speech
at the event, President Obama said,
“Because they marched, doors of
opportunity and education swung
open so their daughters and sons
could finally imagine a life for themselves beyond washing somebody
else's laundry or shining somebody
else's shoes." We are all beneficiaries of a movement that gives us the
freedom to pursue our goals and aspirations.
However, we must remember that racism is still alive and in
spite of our efforts, we still have a
long way to go in terms of our tolerance of other cultures. According to
author Leo Tolstoy from Anna
Karenina, “I think... if it is true that
there are as many minds as there are
heads, then there are as many kinds
of love as there are hearts.” This
portrays a sense of diversity in
America and it really becomes the
rebirth of a dream.
Passion for Education
By Mae McDermott
Chief Editor
At one point in every student’s education, there will be a
teacher who is not truly inspired by
the material they teach. Some students will grin and bear it, some will
simply work for their A… and there
are a few who will protest.
A viral video on YouTube
has put one of these rare students on
display. Jeff Bliss, a high school student in Duncanville, Texas, was driven to voice his frustration with
“packet learning.”
“If you would just get up and
teach [students] instead of handing
them a . . . packet,” he cried to the
teacher. “There are kids who don’t
learn like that. They need to learn
face to face.” Bliss continued even
when, in a tired voice, the teacher
asked him to leave.
“No,” he continued, “I’m not
wasting your time. I’m telling you
what you need to do. You want kids
to come into your class, you want
them to get excited for this, you’ve
got to come in here and make them
excited. You want a kid to make a
change and start doing better, you got
to touch his . . . heart. This is the future of this nation and when you
come in here . . . and make a statement about, ‘Oh, this is my
paycheck,’ indeed it is. But this is my
country’s future and my education—
so don’t try taking credibility for
teaching me jack.”
words display devotion in its purest
form – simple, true, genuine and
flowing straight from the heart. He
was truly fighting for his education
and future.
I firmly believe that Jeff
Bliss is an incredibly important symbol of 21 st century learning. The issue is not about packet learning—he
represents students who need discussion, relationships with the teacher,
and are hungry to gain insight
through experience. Students are developing critical learning skills and
here at Rocky Hill, we are lucky to
have teachers who are developing
many layers of teaching styles to appeal to every kind of willing learner.
Imagine what is on the horizon for us
—better yet, for future generations?
Consider the Algebra 2.0 Curriculum. This innovative curriculum has
been designed to instill critical thinking skills within our minds, strengthening our abilities to problem-solve.
Education is truly magnificent, and
Jeff Bliss’ excitement may be the
first word in a brilliant new chapter.
I am in awe of Bliss’ devotion to learning. If we can carry that
kind of pure excitement for education, where we can’t stand for less
than is possible and we are driven to
succeed, to take responsibility for
what we have been gifted with, think
of our potential. Underneath the
stress of school lies a golden opportunity to broaden our horizons and
become better people, if we just
embrace it.
Bliss had dropped out of
school prior to the incident, only to
discover the value of education and
return a year later.
Some view Bliss’ outburst
as disrespectful. He could have approached this differently by privately sharing his thoughts with the
teacher instead of with the class as
an audience, which may have resulted in the teacher's flat, apathetic
response. However, most wholeheartedly support what they see not
as an act of disrespect, but as passion for education.
I am one of Jeff Bliss’ supporters, but I am not inspired because he technically disrespected an
authority figure; he was not
scrounging for the attention of his
peers or trying to pick a fight, nor is
he an ignorant child with foundationless complaints. His passion is
powerful and could not be contained, and even though he could
have easily squandered his words
with violence or malice, he was able
to express himself peacefully. Bliss’
2
Supervising Editor
Ms. Katie Odey
Chief Editor
Mae McDermott
Assistant Chief Editor
Manav Mathur
Editors
Sooah Sohn
Anita Tharmarajah
Anusha Chinthalapale
Tech Editor
Kai Hu
Staff Writers
Linette Kingston
Shelby Wilson
Katelyn Folmer
Mahi Gnatra
Vikram Jasti
Nicky Kaider
Aleysha Varghese
Dylan Maeda
Navyada Koshatwar
Ali Tyma
Rocky Hill Page
New Teachers at Rocky Hill Middle School
By Shelby Wilson
Staff Writer
As a new stu dent at Rocky
Hill Middle I thought it would be
interesting to know about the new
teachers since I am new also. The
following teachers are new to Rocky
Hill and graciously shared their stories with The Wildcat Roar. These
interviews open the door into the
exciting lives of our new teachers!
Mr. Kevin Conley
Sail and Language Arts Teacher
Mr . Conley is a SAIL
7 th /8 th , Reading 6, and English 7
teacher. He taught elementary
school and decided after 17 years he
was ready to make a change, and
that’s why he came to Rocky Hill.
As a student he learned, “You must
put in your best effort and there are
no shortcuts.” He wants his students
to learn nothing comes easy, so be
prepared. As a soccer coach, he values building relationships and believes you can achieve greatness on
the field and in the classroom.
Growing up his hobbies were skateboarding, ridin g bikes, soccer, fishing and golf. As you can see, he is
very athletic. Mr. Alan Lescallet was
Mr. Conley’s teacher who inspired
him. He was Mr. Conley’s former
soccer coach. He inspired him to be
a soccer coach. He also taught Mr.
Conley to find balance between
sports, family, and he still is important in Mr. Conley’s life. It is not
surprisin g that he would later become Mr. Conley’s son’s Godfather.
Another teacher who inspired him
was Mr. Colin King. He taught Mr.
Conley English for two years. Since
his teacher was so animated and
pushed him hard, Mr. Conley became an English major for two years
and later switched to Education. Mr.
Conley, you’re a cool cat!!
Mr . Lucas is a Wor ld
Studies teacher. He chose Rocky
Hill because so many of his former
students Ceader Grove students attended Rocky Hill. He is so happy
to see familiar faces. Plus Rocky Hill
has a great reputation. He wants his
students to expect success when they
enter his classroom. He also wants
them to be eager to learn when they
come back to class. Mr. Lucas
played baseball, football, basketball
and horseshoes when he was growing up. He also hunted, fished and
went skiing and camping. One of
Mr. Lucas’s fondest memories was
making chocolate chip cookies in
science. He also remembers his
reading teacher who let him listen to
stories on records with headphones.
This discovery revealed his love for
reading, something he is very passionate about!
Mr . Lewis is a technology
teacher. He wants all his students to
respect their teachers from grades K
through 12. When he was growing
up he loved boat building and sports.
He never had mentor. Yet he does
have a very supportive resource
teacher & staff developer. The Dean
of Instruction at Harrisburg University Center inspired him to become a
teacher. Mr. Lewis wants his students to establish “a foundation of the
technological world.”
Ms. Bar an is an instr umen tal teacher. She came to RHMS because she wanted to be a part of one
of the largest music departments in
MCPS. She learned as a child that
hard work and persistence are important to be successful. Just because
you don’t succeed the first time you
tried something, it doesn’t mean that
you have to give up. She wants all
her students to appreciate all kinds of
music. One of the most important
things she would like her students to
value is the hard work that goes into
writ ing and performing music. She
also wants her students to enjoy playing music. She enjoys reading and
she also loves to bake with her mother. Her music teachers from elementary through college were her mentors. They all showed her how to be a
good teacher and musician. Ms.
Baran became a teacher because of
her band director, Ms. Kang, when
she was a student at Baker Middle
School. She is in touch with her and
she still inspires her. Ms. Baran,
you’re a rocking teacher!
Mr s. Maxey is a Spanish
teacher. She moved to Clarksburg,
Maryland. Mrs. Maxey wanted to
teach middle school after teaching
high school for 7 years. As a child
she learned that you have to work
hard every day to reach your goals.
She wants her students to learn the
Spanish language and value the Hispanic culture. She loves to read, doing crafts and going on trips with her
family. Her 12 th grade English teacher, Mrs. Gutwalt pushed her to become a great student and inspired
Mrs. Maxey to become a great teacher. Gracias, Mrs. Maxey, for being
an inspirational teacher.
Mr s. Par ks is an 8 th grade
History teacher. She has been a
teacher in MCPS for some time. She
was a teacher at Montgomery Village
Middle School, and she needed a
change. She really wanted to meet
new people and experience new culture so she transferred to RHMS. She
became a teacher because she wanted
career that would allow her to continue learning. Mrs. Parks would like
her students to be prepared for the
future and become better citizens of
our country. She feels it is important
that they “fulfill their duties in a democratic society.” Growing up, she
played sports year round and enjoyed
hanging out with her friends. She
does not have a mentor but she has
always admired who Abraham Lin-
coln, Revered Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Most importantly Mrs. Parks is a person who
admires those who are not afraid to
stand up for what they believe in.
Ms. Bailey s a new 7 th grade
math teacher and she came to RHMS
to be a part of a positive school. She
was inspired to become a teacher because her mother was also a teacher.
She does not want students to hate
math and would like them to see that
learning and math can be fun! Growing up, her hobbies were roller skating, theater and playing music. Ms.
Bailey really has been her own mentor. She became a teacher not because one inspired her but because
she wanted to do something that
helps kids.
Mr s. Kr amer is a Reading/
English teacher for 6 th graders. Mrs.
Kramer had been teaching elementary
school for eighteen years, which
made her really want to teach middle
school. For several summer she
taught summer school for middle
school students in Montgomery
County and fell in love with teaching
middle school. As a young student
she learned that working hard, persistence and dedication pay off! In third
grade, she had a hard time with math
but she never gave up and with the
help of her mom and dedication she
studied hard and made it through.
She would like her students to remember she will support them with
assignments or any problem outside
of the classroom. When she was
growing up her hobbies included running, Girl Scouts, and swimming.
Mrs. Kramer had a fun teacher at St.
Catherine Laboure in Wheaton, Maryland that made it awesome, exciting
and engaging! They made paper Mache and an enormous dinosaur when
learning about them. Also her grandparents and parents mentored her
throughout her life. They taught her
to treat everyone in a respectful manner and to appreciate what you have
in your life. Most importantly they
taught her to work hard and strive to
be the best she could be. Her dad
inspired her to become a teacher. He
taught for 32 years as a high school
American History Teacher. He loved
his loved his job so much, she could
see he was so happy. She was also
proud that her dad was affecting other student’s lives. Mrs. Kramer,
you’re an inspiring teacher.
Mrs. Kramer and her family
Amazing Counselor
By Nicky Kaider
Staff Writer
TWR: How do you feel about being nominated?
Mr. Maruskin: Well, it is an hon or. I did not expect to be nominated.
Thank you for interviewing me. It is
such a pleasure.
TWR: What makes you special
from all the other teachers?
Mr. Maruskin: I have thr ee kids. I
was a baseball coach. I love sports,
and I like to read. I love to spend
time with family.
Mr. Kevin Maruskin
6th Grade Counselor
Mr. Maruskin is a sixth
grade counselor, who had wonderful things to say during his interview. First off, he has worked in
the school system for 24 years. He
worked at Sharon Christa
McAuliffe Elementary for four
years, Roberto Clemente Middle
School for five years as a World
Studies teacher, five years at Goshen Elementary and ten years here
as a counselor. Reporter Nicky
Kaider asked Mr. Maruskin a few
questions.
3
TWR: What lesson have you
learned from working as a counselor?
Mr. Maruskin: Small acts of kindness make a big difference.
Also, Mr. Maruskin wants
everybody inside and outside the
school to have wonderful relationships and strong friendships. This is
his wish not only as a counselor, but
as a person.
Writer’s Corner
Our Toys
By SriLahari Tammera
A slight panic set in, as I
could not find my favorite doll,
Harriet. I rolled out of bed and
searched all over my bed. No Harriet! I walked around the bed and
tripped over something. I turned to
look at what it was; squinting
through the harsh glare of the sun, I
recognized Harriet’s brown hair
and green eyes! Delighted--that I
didn’t lose her--I picked her up and
twirled around the room.
Getting ready for school in
less than twenty minutes, I ran to
school. At school, I bumped into
my best friend, Georgia Rose.
“Georgia Rose! Look, we’re
matching! We both have the same
beret on!”
“Diana! Wow, we really do
think alike then… are you ready for
our exams?”
“Oh, yes definitely. I studied
hard all night with Harriet.”
“I cannot believe you still
play with that doll! Did you bring
her to school, again?”
Slightly offended by her
comment, I replied with a short,
“Yes.” Turning away from her I
walked to class.
“Bye, Georgia Rose! Got to
get to class, don’t want to be late.”
“Look, Diana. I am sorry if
I came off too strong; I know how
much the doll means to you.”
“Oh, Georgia Rose, don’t
worry, I wasn’t that offended. See
you later!” Relieved that a small
comment didn’t lead to a fight, I
ran to my class. On the door there
was a sign that read, ‘Seulement
prendre un papier et quelques crayons à l'intérieur. D'autres éléments
doivent être placés dans la chambre
de M. Payne.’ I never understood
why they would write it in French,
when a lot of us spoke in English.
The sentence meant, ‘Only take a
paper and a few pencils inside. Other items must be placed in Mr.
Payne's room.’ I realized that I had
to go drop off my things in his
room. Running down the long corridor, I skidded to a stop in front of
Mr. Payne’s classroom door. Dropping off all my stuff, including Harriet, I sprinted back to Ms. Calder’s
class. Ms. Calder was my math
teacher and our first exam of the day
was math.
Ms. Calder gave me a mock
glare as the bell rang and I slipped
into my seat. As soon as I finished
my math exam, I placed it on Ms.
Calder’s desk.
“Ms. Calder, I completed my
math exam, may I go to Mr. Payne’s
room and get my things?”
“Of course! You may leave
right now if you want.”
“Thank you.” I picked up my
bag from Mr. Payne’s classroom and
walked to my locker. Shrugging my
bag off I dug around for Harriet.
Instead of Harriet, I found… stuffing? Horrified, I dumped out the
contents of my bag. More stuffing!
One of Harriet’s green button eyes
rolled out onto the floor. Stumbling,
I picked it up along with all the cotton stuffing. Shoving my bag into
my locker and slamming it shut, I
scrambled off the floor and ran out
the school doors.
Spotting my younger brother,
Zayn I ran over to him.
“Zayn! Harriet’s been hurt! I
need to fix her now!”
“Whoa! Slow down, Di! The
toy doctor that I was telling you
about is around the alley way. Go
quickly! Bye!” While running off in
the direction he was pointing to,
some of the stuffing dropped. Quickly picking it up, I finally reached the
doctor’s office. Walking in the clinic, I bumped into Dr. Cowell. The
man diagnosed both humans and
dolls, so he was a kind man to talk
to.
“Ahh, Diana! You’re here!
The real one and only! The biggest
toy owner on the planet! I love the
Tomlinson. Come on in!” How he
knew my first and last name, had
always remained a question to me.
The man seemed to be bursting of
happiness and joy. Always smiling,
like he had no care in the world.
Slowly, I walked in, undecided on
what to expect.
While walking in he grabbed a
small stool and slid it out from underneath the table. Gesturing to it,
for me to sit down, he got another
large wooden chair for himself. The
wide chair creaked as the grey
haired, balding, old man with a suit
one size too small, took a seat in it.
Keeping all my focus on the
crooked candle on top of the book
shelf, I held out Harriet to Dr. Cowell. Pullin g out his stethoscope he
mumbled to himself about how the
stethoscope needed to be fixed.
As he pressed the stethoscope
to Harriet’s heart, he looked away in
mild concentration. I bowed my head
and frowned a bit, hoping Harriet was
ok, and wondering who did this to
her.
“OK, her heart is fine and she is
breathing. I have already put her insides back where they should be, and
have stitched her up. Your Harriet is
in great shape and health! You may
leave as soon as you want.”
Thanking him, I walked out of
the clinic and back home. Leaving
Harriet at home, I ran back to school.
I had surely missed my physical exam; I wanted to at least make it back
in time for recess. Hearing my name
being called, I whirled around to look
for the person. It was Sophia Smith, a
girl that never really talked to me
before.
“Hey, Diana! You know your
doll, Harrly? Well I was trying to get
my bag from underneath her, and
both my bag and Harrly got ripped on
the desk corner! I am so, so sorry, I
never mean for that to happen.” I was
furious with her and wanted to tell
her to stop lying to me. I wanted to
push her out of my way and hold a
grudge against her forever, but
watching her face, as she babbled on
about how sad she was that she ruined my doll, I couldn’t believe I
even thought about not forgiving her.
Besides, Harriet was already fixed, so
I didn’t see the reason in being mean
to Sophia.
“I am so sorry though, Dia —“
“Hey! You know what? It’s
fine. Harriet’s fixed now, and I’m not
someone to hold a grudge.” I said
smiling. She looked surprised, but
she quickly composed herself.
“Then, what are we waiting
for? I have a doll, too. His name’s
Harry. Harry and Harriet can play
together, while we play together.
Friends?”
I said, “Friends. Definitely
friends. Our toys, you, and I.” Of
course, forgiving is part of friendship.
Letter To and From Garfield
By Udai Singh
Dear Garfield,
Dear Udai,
How are you doing? How is the diet going lately? Jon has been bugging you
about it, right? Anyways, I wanted to know what you like about lazing
around in bed all day and eating yours and Jon’s food. I think it’s the indoors
you like more. What is it that you don’t like in cat food , and why do you
want to eat in Jon’s food? Also, why do you keep messing around with and
bullying poor Odie? He’s just a normal dog that deserves his freedom and
not to be bullied by his buddy. You should become friends. I am also curious
about why you hate Mondays. It’s not like you have a job like adult people
(not animals). I mean personally I don’t like Mondays either. But you should
look forward to a new week. There is a new adventure every week. I would
really like to meet you some day soon.
I am doing fine these days. Secretly stealing from the refrigerator in the middle of the night, kicking Odie for fun, taking Jon’s food, and hating my Mondays. Usually I can’t really diet now because I am addicted to junk food, and
I hate vegetables or anything healthy just because they taste bad. I extremely
dislike it when Odie is around me because he is always slobbering all over the
place, so I punt him away. It’s also fun to prank Jon because he is easy to fool,
and he has no life. One time I disconnected the water pipes and snuck a jalapeno into his lunch. That was fun. My schedule is pretty much like this: wake
up, have my breakfast, have a snack, do some pranking and punting, eat
lunch, have a snack and steal Jon’s food. Then comes dinner. I have an extra,
extra, extra large lasagna and then steal Jon’s steak and mashed potatoes.
Soon after that I fall asleep. I wake up at 2:00 am and have another meal and
then I repeat the process all over again. I too would like to meet you some day
and see if you are worth stealing food from and punting away.
Sincerely,
Udai Singh
Sincerely,
Garfield
4
Writer’s Corner (Continued)
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Cafeteria
Reviewed by Amalia Colbert
By Mae McDermott
Chief Editor
Even for the most valiant of
explorers, the mere idea of venturing
into a middle school cafeteria sparks
a distinct kind of terror. Herds of
kids roam wild, ready to brawl at the
slightest slip-up, half-cocked and
ready to fire. Students remain the
most delicate and unpredictable species ever to exist, so incalculable
that some pioneers never discover
how to navigate their habitats. Lost
travelers will meet an unsavory demise at the hands of these beasts.
Well, perhaps I am exaggerating, but not much. The cafeteria
parallels a cauldron, full of boiling
students (including myself) who relate in few ways other than the fact
that none of us want to eat lunch in
the cafeteria. Upon entering the
lunchroom, we divide into groups,
each of which has distinct rituals that
remain foreign to outsiders. Some
students not only desperately want to
make the most of their precious half
hour, but could also be viewed as
insane, adrenaline surging through
their bodies.
The rest of us flee to the
farthest reaches of the room,
scrounging for a place to be safe
with the rest of our kind. Boundaries
are quickly established and we defend our six inches of space with the
severity of a Doberman protecting
her puppies. The alarming volume of
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BOY
BY ITS COVER HIS FACE
The book Wonder by R.J.
Palacio involves a boy named August who, like other students, is
faced with adversity. I love when
August had his first day of school
because it is new to him, and he
was not sure if he would hate it or
like it. For August, it all depended
on how much people bullied him
because of how he looks. Instead,
he made new friends, like Summer
and Jack, who always had his back
and made him feel happy. In the
story, the character I like best
would be August because of his
kindness towards other people,
even when people aren’t being
kind to him. When he is bullied or
ignored because of what he looks
like, August is calm and mature,
and shrugs it off. I like the way the
author was able to show and ex-
Joy
By Shelby Wilson
Staff Writer
My heart has joy,
Filled with my happy parts.
I wake up with joy darts
in my soul.
I play in the sun.
That has fields of fun.
I jump, laugh and run.
While others are being boring
on the ground,
I am soaring through the sky.
I have hopes, I have dreams.
Life is like a jellybean.
A jellybean that has
J
O
Y!
press August’s feelings, thoughts,
and emotions throughout the whole
story. August also goes to something much like outdoor education,
where there was a carnival, orienteering and more. This reminds me
of when I will soon be going to
outdoor education.
I think this story teaches
people to always have a positive
side and be determined to always
make it through tough situations
just like August did.
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint- Exupery
Reviewed by Sooah Sohn
The Little Prince by Antoine
de Saint- Exupery is a novella written in 1943. Although this was long
ago, this book clearly illustrates the
mind of a child, without the pains
and poisonings of “adult” life. The
story begins with a reminiscence of a
discouragement the narrator had
when he was six years old: the disappointment of having all adults scorn
his drawing of a boa constrictor.
This leads him into giving up his
dream of an artist at a very early age
and become a pilot. One day, as he
is flying in his jet, he crashes in a
desert with only enough water to last
him eight days. As he is struggling
to fix his plane, a figure approaches
him and asks him to draw him a
sheep. The narrator calls this figure
The Little Prince.
The book tells the story of
The Little Prince, who came from a
very small star (or planet) of his own
- so small that he could walk around
it in a few strides. He had to leave,
and he visited many other planets;
some smaller than his, some bigger
than Jupiter, meeting various adults
(drunkards, kings, etc.). Finally, he
comes to Earth, where he meets a
snake, roses, and a fox. He learns
about “taming,” the process of becoming familiar with someone one
cares about. When he goes back to
the desert, where he landed, he
meets the narrator, who is stranded
and frustrated with his plane.
Whether or not to find out
what happens to these two stranded
characters is up to you, but I would
definitely recommend this book to
young and old alike. This book informs us of the things we will remember from when we were children, and allows us to go back to the
bliss of innocence.
5
the environment grows tolerable
over time, yet the sheer force of the
bellowing can still fuel a rocket (or
at least burst an eardrum). One can
feel the pulse of the room, an undercurrent of vigorous activity and
buzzing energy. As time withers
away, tension continues to form a
tower lurching precariously on the
brink of destruction. More and
more defenseless articles of food
fall victim to students’ wraths; they
can be seen sailing through the air
before they crash to the ground.
Most of us leap at the opportunity
to free ourselves from the lunchroom if given the opportunity even
if it means risking injury.
On such joyous and wonderfully frequent occasions, half
the population vanishes in an instant and it seems to me we have
escaped just before reaching the
point of combustion. Pressure defuses and panic subsides… until we
realize we have barely touched our
food.
I Remember
Love
By Shelby Wilson
Staff Writer
I remember peace
I remember faith
There was no war
No hatred or sorrow
I remember LOVE
I remember the world had hope
I remember the world had joy
There was no war
No hatred or sorrow
Now there is hatred
Sorrow and poverty
People are fighting
Guns are firing
But still
I remember Love
I remember Love
I remember Love . . .
Sports
What’s in a Name?
By Dylan Maeda
Staff Writer
The Redskins have been
playing football since 1932; they’ve
won lots of championships and three
Super Bowls under that name. But
now, 81 years later, the question has
been sparked: should the Redskins’
name be changed? Many loyal fans
have started to argue with Native
American groups who find this word
offensive to their culture while others believes the culture is being
praised. Even President Obama had
something to say about it! Will a
named etched into not only football
history, but all of the fans who have
watched them played through all
these years be changed? Should it be
changed? Let’s start from the beginning.
The word ‘Redskin’ is said to have
been used by Christopher Columbus
when he first set foot in America.
He called Native Americans that
because their bodies were covered in
red liquid used to repel mosquitos.
The use of the word has changed
into an insult to the Native American race. Arguments over the name
have started as early as 1992. After a
Super Bowl win by the Redskins
back in 1992, many people sent in
letters and talked about it in interviews. People grouped together to
file a lawsuit, attempting to change
this name. The trial went on for seven years before the court dropped it.
The story quickly went away after
many people voted in a poll that the
name was acceptable.
Jump to 2013. At the beginning of the season a Native American association made an ad on the
radio telling the Redskins to change
their name, warning that another
lawsuit was in order. The organization that started this is called the
Oneida Indian Nation. This organization planned to meet with the
heads of the NFL. “It’s disturbing to
most Native Americans that the na-
tion’s capital has a football team that
demeans us.” Suzan Harjo, a Native
American spokesperson who led the
fight in 1992, told the Senate in
2011. After this many websites and
newspapers swore not to use that
word when talking about the team
anymore; the mayor of D.C., Vincent Gray, said that the name might
have to be changed to keep all fans
happy. This started to make other
political figures to voice their opinion about the name; they even sent a
letter telling the Redskins to change
their name. President Obama said if
he was in the position of current
owner Daniel Snyder, he would
change the name. Several museums
and groups began to protest saying
that discrimination against the Native American race is not given as
much attention as the discrimination
of African Americans or other races.
The National Museum of the American Indians held a day long community conversation about the topic and
other racial problems in the media.
This didn’t help the argument too
much as people began to see just
how big the movement was. Courtland Millor, a writer for the Washington Post, said that the only ways
die hard football fans will settle this
argument is with internet fights and
real ones in the stands. The problem
isn’t only the name but the logo;
people say it’s just as offensive.
Others say that if the logos on players’ helmet are offensive, what
about the nickel which bears a similar logo, or even the baseball team
called the Cleveland Indians?
Daniel Snyder has
openly stated that the name will stay
as it is because he doesn’t want to
ruin the precious history associated
with the name. “We’ll never change
the name! It’s that simple,” he told
USA Today in an interview. The
media even asked quarterback Robert Griffin III, who replied, “I can’t
really dive into that.” With the troubles of the regular season, no other
player or staff has answered any
questions about the name. During a
game between the Redskins and
Cowboys, commentator Bob Costas
said the name was an ‘insult’ and a
‘slur’. He went on to talk about how
other teams have successfully had a
name praising this culture, like the
Chiefs or Braves. He also mentioned
that many other teams have the
same problem and should be
changed. The response to his opinions were mixed; some people
praised him for speaking out against
this problem while others thought he
was disrupting the game by bringing
the topic up.
The commissioner of the
NFL, Roger Goodell, defended
Snyder. “The name stands for
strength, courage, pride, and respect.” The argument still goes on
about the name and the Oneida
group continues to hold community
discussions, but Daniel Snyder is
confident that the name won’t
change.
What do students at Rocky
Hill think? In a poll taken by students in Ms. Odey’s class 40 students voted against changing the
name. Most students who said no
were for the same reason; the team
has 80 years of history, why should
it be changed now? 7 th grader Stuti
Kamble wrote, “I think the Redskins’ name should not be changed.
It’s their name and they’ve had it
for many years. Changing their
name means changing merchandise
like uniforms. And to all you people saying ‘it’s racist’ - it’s not!
They made the name long ago, so
why is it suddenly racist now? I
think they’re making drama for the
press.”
15 students think the name
should be changed. Preetam Bhutani wrote, “In my opinion, the
Redskins’ name should be changed.
‘Redskins’ is a racist nickname
towards Native Americans. Although the Redskins have had their
name since the early 20th century,
you would never put an African
American slave on your football
helmet and call them Blackskins.
So, how is it any different for Native Americans?” Nine were undecided, most were not football fans.
However, I think everyone will
agree that there is something all
Washingtonians have in common—
we all want a team that can actually
win.
The State of The Skins
By Vikram Jasti
Staff Writer
Contributions from Ms. Katie Odey
Supervising Editor
This season has been struggle for the burgundy and gold. At 3-5
in the Eastern Division, the playoff
seems questionable for the Redskins,
yet there is always a reason to hope.
The Redskins had hoped to bounce
back after a disappointing loss to the
Broncos, 45-21. Speculations about
the state of RG3’s knee continue to
grow.
After a reconstructive knee
surgery to repair his torn ACL, some
fans question the ability the young
rookie quarterback to play with the
kind of agility that we saw last season. RG3 got hit on the knee by
Haloti Ngata last December ending
the season for the Redskins. Some
feel that the Redskin’s defense has to
Unfortunately the sign of
hope for the Redskins got shattered
after a painful loss to the Denver
Broncos on October 27th.
The Redskin are now 3-5 in
the Eastern Division. Will they ever
win a game? Can they make it to the
playoffs? More importantly are fans
losing hope in RG3? Ms. Odey
joined the bandwagon and became a
Redskins fan last year because she
believed in RG3. “I still hope that
the Redskins can bounce back in a
big way,” says Ms. Odey. The sad
reality is that RG3 himself is being
scrutinized in the media. Some critics question how much he is taking
responsibility for his team’s performance. The once revered quarterback, who was perceived as the guy
that would eventually lead the Redskins to a Superbowl win is now
being humanized and criticized in
the media. We have to have admit,
RG3 (Photo from Google images)
start tackling harder. RG3 has told
reporters that the team has to play
harder because every one of them is
responsible for the team. The decisive
win against the Chicago Bears on
October 14 gave the team the much
needed momentum. Fans continue to
believe in RG3 and his ability to lead
the team to more wins.
6
he is human, after all. Would Kirk
Cousins be allowed to play and
bring this team back to its winning
ways? We would have to wait for
the team’s head coach, Mike Shanahan to make that call.
On Sunday, November 3,
the Skins faced the Chargers for
another “must-win” game. Faithful
Redskins fans watched as Darrel
Young scored his third rushing
touchdown of the game, giving the
Redskins a 30-24 win in overtime.
The Redskins will have a different
record by the time you read this
article. On Thursday, while this
paper is being printed, they will
face the Vikings in Minnesota. We
can only hope that they keep this
momentum and win more games.
Sports (Continued)
What a Season!
By Dylan Maeda
Staff Writer
The 2013 season for the
Washington Nationals has been a
rocky one. With several droughts
and some hot streaks, the season is
now over as they failed to make the
playoffs, crushing their hopes of
winning the World Series. The beginning of the season was uneasy
for the Nationals after winning only
13 games and losing 15 in April
and taking third place in their division in May. Bryce Harper ran face
first into a wall while trying to
catch a ball, he needed eleven
stitches in his chin, along with
overall soreness around his body.
This caused him to miss several
games in April. After some tests he
was diagnosed with an impact concussion; he continued to play hurt
over about four months! When he
was completely healthy, he played
great rest of the season and in the
Home Run Derby, finished in second place with a last round score of
8 home runs, also setting the record
with the farthest hit ball.
Part of the reason for the
Nationals woes were because of
another injury to their starting
pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Over the
summer he had surgery on his elbow, he missed a few games for
soreness in the same elbow. His
replacement was Jordan Zimmerman, he had a consistent and dominant season. The Nationals were 22
-10 when Zimmerman played;
many teammates praised him, “He
pitched great for us all year.” Jason
Werth said. Though he suffered a
minor injury to his neck around the
middle of the season, he quickly
came back and was a big factor in
the Nationals’ greatness towards
the end of the season. At the end of
the year, he told a reporter, “I’m
happy how the season went.”
Catcher Wilson Ramos
was cleared to play after hurting his
MCL and ACL (knee injuries) in
the beginning of the season. In
April, he pulled his hamstring and
missed two weeks only to come
back and reinjure the same hamstring. According to James Wagner’s article in the Washington
Post, the Nationals are a better
team with Ramos, which is proven
by their records. The Nationals
were 48-29 when they had Ramos
in their lineup and 38-47 when he
wasn’t playing. He returned in July
ready to prove that he could stay
healthy; he didn’t strain himself as
much and even ran slower than usual when speed wasn’t needed. Even
though he set himself back, his stats
were still great and boosted the
team’s overall performance for the
beginning and middle of July.
The end of July was probably the
worse time to be a Nationals fan, as
they started out the season with 6
straight losses and didn’t get much
better. The Nationals were one of
the worst teams in batting which led
to them firing their batting coach
Rick Eckstein and got Rick Schu,
even though manager Davey Johnson disagreed with this move. Jason
Werth, who spent most of the year
healthy, had a great season with a
batting average of .318, with 82
RBI’s. After the All-Star break, his
stats got even better, with a .404
batting average. Owner Davey
Johnson praised him throughout
the season; Writer Amanda Comak of the Washington Post said
that this is might his best season
of his career.
In August, the batting
average significantly changed for
the better. Especially with Denard
Span, he went on a 29 game hitting streak. As for the record it
was an improvement from the last
month but still nothing special to
raise them up the standings. The
final few weeks were great for the
Nationals as they ended the season 17th in score batting average
and 15th in runs, but it was too late
to spark any type of playoff hopes
[Enter quote] but it does leave a
good sign for next season.
“Health, health, health are the top
priorities for Nationals…” Washington Post writer James Wagner
wrote in an article. With a healthy
team ready to play next year
seems like it could be a great season.
Sports and Safety
By Ms. Katie Odey
Supervising Editor
Today’s emphasis on physical activity and exercise is causing
teachers and parents to encourage
their children to participate in activities keep them healthy and strong.
The growing concern about the rate of
obesity in American youth is the major motivating force for keeping our
children moving. The First Lady,
Michelle Obama, launched the Let's
Move campaign to curb childhood
obesity in the United States. Physical
Education Programs are designed to
instil the habit of exercising and staying healthy. Here at Rocky Hill students participate in vigorous exercises
that would help them maintain healthy
habits and ultimately attain a desired
level of fitness. Research studies have
shown that Physical Education also
helps to develop positive social skills
that include teamwork, cooperation
and good sportsmanship.
Because of the health benefits
of staying active, parents are turning
to organized sports like soccer, foot-
From Google Images
ball, baseball, basketball, hockey and
a host of others, for their children.
According to Robin McClure, author
of six books on parenting,
“Participation in sports provides children with additional exercise and
resulting physical fitness, encourages
teamwork and cooperation, increases
coordination and discipline, and fosters a sense of accomplishment, positive self-esteem, and if nurtured appropriately, a positive sense of competitiveness.” Intermural sports provide opportunities for students to
participate in school-based sports
programs. Some kids go on to participate in such programs in high
school and college.
The competitive nature of
some school sports programs has
raised the question of safety. Keeping kids safe has become a major
concern in youth sports. Reported
cases of injuries in children are
prompting parents, coaches and
teachers to think about keeping kids
safe. According to Randy
Whitehouse, Staff Writer for Sun
Journal, “Nearly 30 million children
and adolescents participate in youth
7
sports in the United States.”
Whitehouse also reports that,
“Approximately 3.5 million children
under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year,
and children age 5-14 account for
40 percent of sports-related injuries
for all age groups.”
The need to create a balance between staying healthy and
staying cannot be overemphasized.
Students needs need to wear the
right gears and follow safety rules.
Most teachers and coaches are taking active steps to provide a safe
environment for students. Parents
need to be made aware of the nature
of the sports program that their children are participating in. “Youth
sports safety advocates point to that
misconception and others to remind
parents that they need to learn as
much as possible about a sport,
team and league before they sign
their child up.” Says Whitehouse.
To avoid injuries we need to remember that the ultimate purpose of
getting kids involved in sports is to
keep them healthy and help them
form positive habits that would help
them further in life.
Life on The Hill
College Day
By Linette Kingston
Staff Writer
On Friday October 11th ,
Rocky Hill eighth graders wore
their college gear to celebrate lifelong learning. Harvard, Duke, and
Maryland Universities were a few
of the colleges that were represented on shirts and even hats.
Eighth grade teachers
shared about the colleges they went
to, what fields they majored in, and
their overall experience. My social
studies teacher asked our class a
bunch of college-related trivia
questions about the presidents. One
question was “Who is the only
president with a PhD?” to which
the answer is Woodrow Wilson.
Some facts that we learned were
these: having a high level of education has been linked to having lower blood pressure, stable jobs, employer-provided health-care coverage, job satisfaction, higher pay,
and a lower chance of smoking.
In English we looked at
some of the top 100 jobs, and noticed an intriguing pattern. The top
jobs on that list involve some form
of education beyond high school.
In math, we listed all the jobs we
could think of that require at least
some basic knowledge of math. A
Graph from the National Center for Education Statistics, updated in 2011
few that we listed were chefs, auto
technicians, life guards, civil engineers, surgeons, taxi drivers and
fashion designers. We noticed that
all of these occupations require a
basic understanding of math, and
that not many occupations exclude
math altogether. Just like my math
teacher would say, “Math is everywhere!”
In science, we watched a
segment of The Cosby Show in
which the dad lectures his son about
going to college when the son replies
to with some pretty interesting ideas.
He wants to be a “normal” personone who doesn’t go to college and
works at gas station. We are not trying to be discriminate against people
with those jobs. The point is that, if
given the opportunity to strive to attain a college degree, why not take it?
$30,000 seems like a lot for a year,
yet when you have to pay for income
tax, phone bills, food, rent for your
apartment, that $30,000 is going to
slip out of your hands so fast you’ll
wonder whether it was even there in
the first place. People with a professional degree on the other hand earn
about three times as much as someone with a high school diploma.
According to E-D-U’s analysis of a
2004 study, “…over the course of
working 40 years, someone with a
high school diploma will make
$1,116,600 while someone with a
bachelor’s degree will make
$2,048,204. That’s nearly a million
dollars more!” Since then, some
more recent studies have shown that
the gap between salaries is widening.
In orchestra, Mrs. Schiller
talked about her college experience.
She asserted that playing an instrument looks good on your resume,
and in college you meet great people.
In the end, all the teachers
basically sent the same message. A
high school diploma is not enough
in today’s world. You are not going
to have as many options, and you
are definitely not going to earn as
much money as someone who graduated college. How are you going to
make a living?
Welcome Back, Ms. Tippett, Teacher of the Month
TWR: How did your back get
hurt?
we are happy Miss Tippett has come
back with us, to be with us and we
are sure she enjoys coming back as
well.
One more thing some of us,
especially those of us who are
“Newbies” do not know about Ms.
Tippett is her commitment to making people’s lives better. She participates a variety of activities, including running marathons to raise money for causes that are near and dear
to her.
On Sunday, October 27,
Ms. Tippett, our very own, participated in the Marine Corps Marathon. You would expect this beloved
teacher who recently had a back surgery to slowdown. Well, Ms. Tippett
is not slowing down anytime soon.
We heard her voice loud and clear
during some recent morning announcements urging us to participate
is the school wide Pink Day. She has
worked tirelessly to raise money for
Breast Cancer awareness and to ultimately find a cure. The Pink Out
Day turned out to be a huge success
as teachers, students and Administrators at Rocky Hill wore their pink
outfits with pride for a good cause.
Thank you, Ms. Tippett, for
showing us how it’s done!
Ms. Tippett: I was r u nning and
my back went…poof!
TWR: What hospital did you go
to? Was it good servicing there?
Ms. Tippett: I wen t to Richar d
Surgery Center, it wasn’t a hospital.
The nurses and doctors were very
nice because they knew I was
scared.
Ms. Tippett
PE Teacher
By Aleysha Varghese
Staff Writer
Contributions from
Anusha Chinthalapale
Editor
Students who are new to
Rocky Hill this year had no clue
who Ms. Tippett is. Gradually we
began to find out that Ms. Tippett
had undergone a surgery on her
back, in spite of some speculations
about the whereabouts of the beloved Gym teacher. She returned to
a rousing welcome by students,
teachers and all well-wishers. There
were signs around the school to welcome Ms. Tippett. We had an opportunity to interview her for this
article.
TWR: What was your emotion
when you heard you could come
back to school?
Ms. Tippett: I was VERY HAPP Y
and VERY EXCITED!!
TWR: How did you feel after the
surgery?
Ms. Tippett: I felt gr oggy; I didn’t
know who anyone was or where I
was. I was in recovery for two
whole hours.
TWR: Is this event a memor y or a
time of hardship?
Ms. Tippett: Hmmm… Right now
at least it was a time of hardship. I
remember the pain I went through.
However, maybe one day it might
be just like any other memory.
As you can see, Ms. Tippett
did go through something that was
more serious than what she referred
to as her head exploding. However,
8
Got PRIDE?
PRIDEAPALOOZA
Wildcats on “The Hill” enjoyed a fun afternoon to celebrate the PRIDE of the Rock
on Thursday, October 31.
To reward students for showing PRIDE at school, students, teachers and administrators took part in fun activities like crafts, games, and
some sweet treats. It pays to
show PRIDE!
Special Features
Rock the Pink to Stamp Out Breast Cancer!
over their lives. Ms. Tippet is an
inspiration to all of Rocky Hill as she
continues to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer. An inspirational quote from Ms. Tippet touched
my heart as she remembered her
three inspirational angels. She said,
“Life to them was precious and we as
humans are meant to live it with
open eyes, arms and hearts. What a
beautiful sentiment we can only hope
to achieve.” Thank you Ms. Tippet
for showing us how to live our lives
and make a difference in this world.
By Shelby Wilson
Staff Writer
Have you ever wondered
about the history of breast cancer,
Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
the percent of women and men who
have it, and the survivors? Well so
do I! National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month was founded in
1985 as a partnership between the
American Cancer Society and a
pharmaceutical company. I contacted Dr. Shelia McLure from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
and with her encouragement and
guidance I learned quite a bit from
www.cancer.gov. According to this
source, “Breast cancer occurs in
both men and women, although
male breast cancer is rare. During
2013 over 200,000 new cases of
breast cancer were reported and
over 2,000 new male cases were
reported. Breast Cancer is the second most common type of cancer in
American women.”
The most inspiring p ieces
of this article came from the interviews I conducted with two breast
cancer survivors. One of them is
my Aunt, Ms. Gail Sh irey, and an-
grateful for…everything, even the
difficult stuff! All is grace!” These
quotes remind us to go forward during bad times and we be grateful for
the journey.
Rocky Hill staff and students supported Breast Cancer
Awareness month by selling socks
to raise money for Breast Cancer
Research. On October 25th, the
RHMS family rocked their pink in
support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Ms. Tippet is a champion of
the PINK OUT every year at Rocky
Hill. Three women have inspired
Ms. Tippet in her fight against
Breast Cancer. These women inspired her in their fight because they
never allowed the disease to take
other is a longtime family friend
from my church, Mrs. Maryann Dolan. My Aunt, “Aunty Gail” has
been a survivor for five years. She
has been participated in 5K walks,
purchasing a lot of “pink” souvenirs
and donating to the American Cancer Society. She says middle schoolers like us can have fundraisers like
bake sales and donate money to the
American Cancer Society, which
will help with Breast Cancer research. Mrs. Dolan has been a survivor for 19 years. Mrs. Dolan says
all middle schoolers should take
care of people who are close to us
who have cancer. Two quotes I got
from these two wise women were
“Keep on keeping on” and “Be
Disabilities and the Lesson We Can Learn
By Aleysha Varghese and
Katelyn Folmer
Staff Writers
What is disability? What
happens when you get it? These
questions are commonly popping
into our heads when we think about
disabilities. People with disabilities
are no different than us; if we all
cut our skin, red blood comes out
of it. This shows that on the outside
we all might be different, but inside we all are the same. Read this
article, and understand how people
with disabilit ies feel and think.
Let’s take a closer view and get
ready to read all about disabilit ies!
Let’s start by talking about
what a disability is. Having a disability is when you are having a
disadvantaged in doing something
and not being able to do everything
they would like to do, which is not
a bad thing! Many people have
disabilities, but it is not always
realized. For example, when we are
running the mile and you are unable to run, that is a kind of disability because you cannot do what
you want to do ;run. Disabilities
are not limited to a disorder.
There are 4 kinds of disabilities, mental disability, developmental disability, physical disability, and other disabilities. However, we are goin g to focus on two
types of disabilities, mental disability and physical disabilities. Having a mental disability is when
your brain functions differently.
When you have a physical disabil-
ity, it means those disabilit ies that
are acquired before birth.
We interviewed a young girl
from Rocky Hill Middle School,
who has a disability. We listened to
her perspectives and her family's
perspective as well. We asked her a
few questions about how she is treated at our school.
TWR: What is the nicest thing
someone said to you?
Student: I like you
TWR: What is the meanest thing
someone said to you?
Answer: You’re dumb.
We are learning to show PRIDE at
Rocky Hill, and our principal Dr.
Eldridge, and most of our teachers
and staff members remind us to
show pride in our relationships with
other students. There are still students who need to learn to be considerate and respectful when dealing
with students with disabilities. We
need to learn that not everybody is
born perfect, therefore we should
treat EVERYONE with the respect
that they deserve. We do not to care
about what anyone looks like or
people’s intelligence.
Obviously some people’s
disabilities are more apparent than
others, and we tend to look at them
or treat them in differently. Stevie
Wonder once said, “Just because a
man lacks the use of his eyes
doesn’t mean he lacks vision.” It is
important to realize that people with
certain disabilities are people like us
who may be lacking on one area or
another.
We also sat down for an interview
with the parents of a disabled child
to see what it is like to live with a
child who has a disability. When we
interviewed her parents, we realized
that living with a disabled child can
be a challenge but rewarding as
well.
9
Katelyn asked them what
they considered most challenging
about living with a child who has a
disability. “Trying to balance
providing challenging opportunities for her, but not so challenging
that it frustrate and overwhelms
her, with the hope of having her
reach her potential in life,” says
the student’s father as he talked
about his daughter. When asked
about the worst memory and experience with her, he replied, “My
worst memory, if you can call it
that, is the fear and sadness I felt
when we heard that there was
something abnormal about Emily
after her birth. However, this soon
faded when we first visited her in
the Neonatal* emergency room at
the hospital and realized what a
beautiful and precious child she
was/is.”
Throughout history, we
have come across people who have
taught the real meaning of courage
through their disabilities. Helen
Keller once said, “The marvelous
richness of human experience
would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations
to overcome. The hilltop hour
would not be half so wonderful if
there were no dark valleys to traverse.” We hope we can learn from
their courage and be the best that
we can be around them. We are the
best that we can be when we care
about others, especially people
who may have some physical or
emotional challenges.
Current Issues
The Aftermath of the Government Shutdown
By Anita Tharmarajah
Editor
Ms. Katie Odey
Supervising Editor
On October 1st 2013 the
Federal Government of the United
States shutdown because members
of the House of Assembly, both
Democrats and Republicans, could
not agree on how to pay our nation’s
debts and keep the government running. It is the duty of Congress to
pass bills to keep our government
running. Their failure to agree to
pass a bill that would extend the
debt limit resulted in the shutdown
that is still affecting so many people. Because of the shutdown, most
federal agencies were closed and
thousands of Federal workers were
furloughed. The impact of the US
Government Shutdown was felt all
over the country and beyond. For
families in the DC Metro area and
visitors to our nation’s capital, it
was disheartening to see many landmarks and federal parks closed.
Even the DC national Zoo was
closed! Most Americans watched in
awe as some World War II Veterans
came to the nation’s capital and
were welcomed by barricades at the
WWII Memorial.
Day after day, we watched
families suffer as the result of the
shutdown. Most of us felt the impact
in various ways. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) was shutdown.
According to Joel Achenbach in the
Washington Post, “Much of the government’s sprawling scientific and
technological machinery has been
turned off, and researchers and engineers fear that a prolonged shutdown
could imperil their projects and create lasting harm to U.S. innovation.”
Sick people, including children, who
were scheduled for clinical trials at
NIH had to be turned away because
of the shutdown. John T. Burklow, a
spokesman for NIH said, “If you
have a child who needs help, even if
you’re told, ‘Well, we can’t help you
today,’ it just creates anxiety and
frustration, I’m sure.”
On the global scale, the
shutdown created a new kind of
anxiety among our friends and allies
who depend on the United States
for leadership. Not only did it harm
our reputation, it also harmed the
global economy. According to the
CBS Money Watch, “The government shutdown may be over, but
many American companies report
they are still feelin g the pain.” The
cost of the shutdown has been estimated at approximately $24 billion.
The Government Shutdown is over
now, but most Americans are still
feeling the effects.
For most American families, the holiday season will not be
the same because they would have
to stretch their dollars to make ends
meet. Although Federal workers got
paid for the two weeks that they
lost, there are thousands of people
like government contractors who
lost two weeks of pay. Most people have a lot less money to spend
on holiday presents. As we all
breath a sign of relief, we have to
remember that Congress has funded the government up to January
2014
According the Y OU Magazine, “The debt ceiling deadline
was pushed to February 7th. Families are getting paid again but the
lasting effect of the shutdown still
lingers. The government is now
funded through mid-January 2014,
and the debt limit has been suspended until February 7. So what
does this mean for the U.S. economy and the housing recovery? It
means that without firm budget
decisions in place, another round of
budget talks will have to take place
again starting now up until the new
deadline next year. Until then, the
government does have some shortterm and impermanent funding
plans in place.”
We definitely need to have
confidence in our elected officials
and hope that they would agree to
make decisions that would help and
not hurt hardworking citizens who
put them there.
Malala Yousafzai: The Girl Who Will Not Be Silenced
By Navyada Koshatwar
Staff Writer
Four years ago at the age of
11, Malala Yousafzai had already
started to fight for her rights as a
young woman in Pakistan. Today,
she has become a household name
famous for her stance on education.
"I speak for education of every child,
in every corner of the world," Malala
said. Recently she got nominated for
a Nobel Peace Prize. Even though
she did not win the Nobel Prize, she
has already won our hearts. How has
she accomplished this? Let’s follow
her through her journey.
Malala was born on July 12,
1997 in Pakistan. She went to an allgirls school, where she was a star
pupil. When she was only 11 years
old, she wrote a blog about her views
on education for girls and her life
under Taliban rule. The young advocate described in her blog how limited and oppressed the she felt by the
Taliban. She gave public speeches as
well, on how girls should receive an
education too. Soon after, a New
York Times documentary was filmed
about her life and how Taliban affected her and her village. The Taliban is known for their sexism towards women. Their laws do not
allow many girls above the age of
eight to receive an education. Malala
showed a great deal of bravery by
standing up against the Taliban at
such a young age. She was nominated for the International Children’s
Peace Prize. On October 9, 2012,
Malala was on the bus. They sudden-
ly stopped and a man came aboard.
“Who is Malala?” he demanded.
No one answered but a
some of the girls looked at Malala.
The man took out a black pistol and
shot her, three times.
From then, Yousafzai was
taken to a hospital in Birmingham,
England. After intense surgical procedures and what seemed to be a
miracle, she recovered. She went
through several surgeries and was
put under a coma, but within a week
of her arrival at the hospital, she was
able to stand. She was flustered with
thousands of letters and messages
from people around the world, wishing her the best. Malala did not
waste this second chance. She says,
“It feels like this life is not my life.
It’s a second life. People have
prayed to God to spare me and I
was spared for a reason—to use my
life for helping people.” She has
continued to make a difference in
the lives of others.
Malala’s
16th birthday on July 12, 2013,
dubbed Malala Day. She gave a
powerful and heartfelt speech by
addressing the United Nations
Youth Assembly in New York.
Nearly 1,000 people ages 12-25
from around the globe gathered to
hear her famous speech. She talked
with passion about how she believes
that every child has the right to education, that a book and pen is
stronger than any weapon, and that
every woman should raise her voice
for her own rights. Undoubtedly,
she received a standing ovation
when she finished. Some people
shed tears.
10
Although Malala has been
threatened time and time again, she
pushes on. She speaks of the Taliban when she says in her UN
speech, “They thought that the bullet would silence us, but they
failed.” The 16 year old refuses to
be shaken. Just a few weeks ago, on
October 8, 2013, Malala published
her autobiography, “I Am Malala.”
She recounts the events of the day
she got shot, and her adventure
which followed.
Yousafzai has accomplished many things and has really
taken her chance at making a difference. Most people marvel at her
courage for addressing such radical
matters at such a young age. We
hope that she will proceed with her
peaceful protests. So we applaud
you, Malala, for being one of the
bravest girls in the world!
The Face of Courage
(From Google Images)
Today’s Technology
The New Xbox
By Kai Hu
Tech Editor
Would you believe that the
Xbox franchise has been out for 12
years? It has been over a decade
since the greatest gaming console
in history was born. It seems like
just yesterday the Xbox was out
and everybody forgot about the
Nintendo sixty-four. The franchise
has brought happiness, relief, and
frustration to all ages for 12 years.
The Xbox one had some major upgrades to the general shape as well
as smoother and easier to control
gameplay. All the Xbox fans out
there, you will really enjoy this
one!
The Kinect is just one of
the many enhancements that has
been made to Xbox in recent years.
However, the benefits of the Xbox
one have piled up since Kinect’s
release. First off it is much easier to
use. The machine turns on at the
sound of your voice. The system is
designed to stay on in a low-power
state whenever it is not being used.
This means you can activate it just
by walking into the room and saying "Xbox, on". Also, you can
watch TV and play games simultaneously if you want to. You can use
the Snap function to pin the TV
view to the side of the screen while
the videogame continues in the cen-
ter; perfect for preventing a conflict
between that extremely important
television and your Dead Rising
play through. Furthermore, Google
smart glass is now fast enough to
work as a game controller. Up to
sixteen devices can be connected at
once, with a fraction of the latency
you'll experience using Smart Glass
on Xbox 360. Just imagine the poker potential.
But the Xbox one is not
just better because it is easier to
use, it is also better because this
system is all about you! This is my
opinion, but there are others out
there in the tech world who feel the
same way. “The good news for Microsoft is that while all of the E3
theatrics were an unwanted distraction, the Xbox One console and its
games provide serious next-
generation innovations that no one
else is doing right now,” says Matt
Swider in Techradar
Your new Xbox one will
but circling you for any of your
gaming needs. The new version of
Kinect that comes with every Xbox
One is a vast improvement on the
old one. It can track six people at
once, with sufficient detail that it
can identify facial expressions
(including whose paying attention
and who's not) and heart rate. Also it
can tell who's holding the controller.
Another bonus of the new Kinect:
because the device is smart enough
to recognize different people; it is
able to identify exactly who's holding the controller at any given time.
So when you pass the control pad to
a new Trials player, for instance, it'll
know whose score it needs to up-
Clash of the Clans
Apple vs. Windows
date. It even creates a personalized,
ad-free home screen. An Amazon
learning system tracks the games
you play, movies you watch and
people you talk to, and updates the
home screen to show what's relevant (including the game you last
played, of course). There aren't any
ads on the home screen, either, although there will st ill be ads elsewhere in the interface. Finally updates will install without bothering
you. If you've got a permanent internet connection, it'll download and
install updates when you aren't using the console. No more waiting at
startup.
The Microsoft Company
has improved the Xbox one a lot
from the Xbox 360 it’s easier to
use. By turning on at the sound of
your voice, you can watch TV and
play games simultaneously, and
Google smart glass is fast enough to
work as a game controller. As well
as its made to fit you every need as
a gamer by being able to read your
heart rate and your expression, updates will install without bothering
you, tell who's holding the controller, and creates a personalized, adfree home screen. This is why the
Xbox One is the newest and the best
in the industries!
Technology in Schools
By Anusha Chinthalapale
Editor
I will bet that about threefourths of you that are reading this
probably have an iPad. I can also
bet that you guys have seen the
commercial where that guy snaps on
a keyboard to his tablet and has a
party in his office with everyone
that had a Windows tablet. The
Windows tablet has an attachable
keyboard with a USB port and a
touchscreen. It’s a great buy! But
why should we get an iPad instead?
The Windows tablet or the
Windows Surface 2 is a great deal.
You can turn it into a computer,
plug in a USB or just make it a tablet. The Apple iPad on the other
hand—it’s just a tablet. But why do
people enjoy the iPad more? Merely
because Steve Jobs gave Apple its
prestigious name. Many people
might have downloaded the software iOS 7. Why get that when you
can get the Surface that downloads
new updates in five minutes? But
iPads are still winning the race.
With a new design every nine
months, iPads can easily beat out
the Surface. Then again, the Surface
consists of Nvidia’s Tegra 4 processer, a 1.7GHz ARM mobile quad
core boasting 72 graphics cores.
That’s paired with 2GB of RAM.
Meanwhile, the iPad has a custom
designed A6X which is also an
ARM processer, but this dual core
processor is supplemented with a
four graphics core. Both tablets
make sure that the hardware and
software work together. Even
though Apple just came out with
iOS 7, Windows RT is a beast in its
own way too.
Apps. Doodle Jump, Instagram, Pandora. You can download
up to 250 apps on an Apple iPad.
Plus the Apple app store offers over
300,000 apps. The Windows Surface only has about 100,000 apps
but though it may be a computer it
can only hold about 100 to 150 apps
tops. Apple offers a lot of weight
options. The iPad mini, being Apple’s newer design of an iPad sets
the record for the lightest tablet.
Apple’s phones have evolved too.
iPhones have been fatter and dumber but Apple’s phones have evolved
from that. The new iPhone 5S is
thinner and updated with the amazing iOS 7.
To sum it up, Apple is
made of cool updates, a lighter
frame and a mega-big app store.
The Surface 2 has a USB port and
has an attachable keyboard. So
which one do you buy? It’s your
choice.
By Mahi Ganatra
Staff Writer
What if you didn’t have to
lug a 700-page math textbook to
school and back every day? Instead,
you could carry a simple lightweight
Kindle, maybe a Nook, or even an
iPad. This way students can go
home with a healthy back and will
be able to do their homework peacefully.
According to the article,
“Frederick County students tap,
swipe into new school year”, from
The Frederick News-Post, students
find electronics more engaging than
a simple pencil and paper. Using an
iPad makes the work more interactive. Many kids find this easier to
work with. According to a research
project done by Tablets for Schools,
a program that promotes the use of
tablets in classrooms, 72% of teachers say they would like to learn
more about using digital technology
to enhance their teaching.
11
Times are changing. It seems
like they come out with a new
piece of technology every day!
With the rate that technology is
progressing, nobody knows what’s
next. But, we can prepare and predict. Many jobs today already require a solid knowledge of technology. Who knows what businesses will require in the future?
And as long as we have access to
these amazing inventions, we
might as well take advantage of
them. This includes exposing children to a piece of technology that
that they are likely to see again in
the future.
Tablets can be used in many
creative ways to create positive
outcomes. Some schools have already started using technology.
Imagine if you could see that in
most schools around the country.
Overall, tablets can create a positive impact on societies at school.
Technology is a very powerful
resource that can and will probably
change our lives.
Entertainment
The Hunted
Inspired by Melissa Miller’s “Zebras and Hyenas”
By Mae McDermott
Chief Editor
Hate is a powerful thing
even though it is often baseless or
can’t be sensibly articulated.
It always finds its way out
of us, and even if one tries hard to
bury it deep within themselves, it’s
sometimes impossible to contain.
True loathing is too strong; the sheer
force of it can rip many hearts and
minds to shreds.
Many lives become plagued
by hatred, the targets of such raw
emotion. I have experienced the
hottest, purest, most stabbing hatred
in the world – and I’m only three.
A piercing howl yanks me
back into reality and my stomach
lurches as I see Kila’s skin pierced
by jagged hyena fangs, dripping
with blood.
I’m not scared—I should
be, but I am not… I have seen this
and been here too many times to
fear what is to come. In these situations we try to live; many die and
we must move on, locking our grief
behind the cold, stone fortresses
surrounding our hearts.
But why?
Why is this a part of my
daily life, something so common it
barely calls for a second thought in
the aftermath? Ever since I can remember, my clan has been the target
of this burning, fiery contempt, and
I can only wonder what is behind the
persecution. Every time I am left
without a clue, unable to comprehend
why.
Another cry rises from the
disarray and Deco collapses to the
ground, falling into the open arms of
death. Those icy arms are waiting for
my whole clan, it seems.
The Plains are a mix of vibrant oranges and yellows, glorious
hues that illuminate the land. As the
hyenas’ fur coats flash by, they blend
in harmony with the endless African
sky. But then there’s us—a sharp
contrast of black and white, painfully
conspicuous, a piercing, blinding fur
coat that immediately sets us apart.
Miko lets out a frustrated
cry, desperately trying to dodge the
snapping jaws of hyenas. “You monsters; are differences really so unacceptable?” My eyes widen in realization as the scene goes by in slow motion, as if I am being suspended in a
moment that will never end.
So that is the issue. Being
different. In our society, it is simply
unacceptable not to fit into the rubric,
into the “norm”. All of these hyenas
blend in with bright, blazing landscape; cold inside and ablaze outside.
They bear such a confidence that
those who are different are the enemies. There is a pack mentality about
them causing them to agree unanimously, their opinions never varying.
Such sureness exists for what reason?
I may never fully understand what
drives their instinct to “fit in,” why
they strive to blend with the rest of
their population. What is so attractive
about being typical?
Another zebra falls, unable
to continue the battle that seems impossible to win...the fight against the
harsh, unfeeling voice of society,
tellin g us to hide in the shadows
where we belong.
So many think we enjoy our
place here, isolated from that warm,
blazing fire; outside, looking in.
My mind often drifts and I
wonder what things are like in a different reality. What if I was part of
the “norm” and they were the hunted,
merely because of their individuality? Yet I know that that would solve
nothing. Persecution would still
reign.
Do they think we are made
of stone? That we don’t feel the pain
o being attacked? That we never long
to be near that fire, accepted and appreciated? Years of hate stabbing at
us have created many protective layers; a kind of shield to block out any
and all emotion. We are not unfeeling; we simply avoid feelings. How
are we to protect ourselves from life?
An emotional barrier is the only option . . . right?
I am jolted out of my fog
once more by a deep, low growl. A
hyena’s razor sharp teeth are bared,
and his hideous eyes, full of wicked
scorn, are piercing me. He is awful
but mesmerizing, and I can’t move,
think or tear my eyes away, frozen
where I stand. Several more hyenas
turn and fix their gazes on me, contempt boiling among them.
I don’t see a way out. The
hyenas close in and my heart races,
the only sound to be heard is the
roaring in my ears. In an instant, a
hyena seizes my hind leg with his
fangs and a yelp escapes from my
lips. I flounder and the hyenas immediately throw themselves on top of
me, wild ly snapping, fighting to get a
taste.
Animal instinct screams at
me, ordering every cell in my body
The British Perspective
By Kai Hu
Tech Editor
Have Fun Playing Sudoku
colonists to help pay off the war
debts alongside Great Britain. We,
the people of Great Britain, have
proven our point . . . our taxes are
fair.
We feel that the colonists
are being represented in Parliament
by us. We are the mother country
and we get to care for them, but that
means we must also set strict rules.
We are meeting the colonists’ needs.
In fact, The king is being too kind to
them, in my opinion. If it were up to
me, there would be patrol troops
watching them twenty-four hours a
day seven days a week. They simply
cannot be trusted!
If the colonists still believe
this is not loving and caring, well,
we have created the Declaratory Act.
It allows the king to set whatever
kind of taxes and laws he wishes
upon the thirteen American Colonies. Also he is allowed to cast any
number of them from one to
999,999. Because of the colonists’
outrageous behavior and the Boston
Tea Party, they will not-no, cannotgo without being punished. They can
take my word for it! (Wink…Wink!)
Created by Anusha Chinthalapale
If you’re a colonist and you
disagree with the British point of
view- the right point of view-then I
suggest you don’t read this article.
We, the people of Great Britain, believe that the Tea Act was indeed
fair. We provide all these items including tea, and the colonists are as
arrogant as they are ungrateful. The
stunt they pulled at Boston Harbor
was unforgivable! We believe the
Boston Tea Party was inhumane; the
colonists wasted all the precious tea.
We defend our laws because they are fair. The king helps
and nurtures the colonists all the
time and how do they repay him? By
dumping tea into the sea. As part of
the British Empire, we expect the
to fight for my life, to continue the
battle until my heart gives out. I
thrash and kick blindly without true
determination to live. There seems
to be nothing here for me anyway,
nothing to get from this life. Perhaps
my time has come to die, just as
many unfortunate members of my
clan have before me.
I accept the inevitable. My
time has come. What a shame,
though, that my journey has been so
short and so painful. Suddenly a
small spark in my heart clears the
fog in my mind, revealing sunlight
over the horizon.
There must be a reason for
my identity. I am not meant to be
inconspicuous. I have a unique identity and a fresh, distinct way of life.
All my life I have viewed this as a
curse—what if it is a gift?
This is why I cannot blend
– it’s against my free, unstructured
nature. No, my nature does not allow me to fade into the background,
into the mirth, with no distinction of
myself from others. I couldn’t be a
follower if I tried; I have my own
path, and I am my own leader.
The hyenas continue to tear
through me, but I know my spirit
cannot be broken.
I take a deep breath as the
gap between two hyena closes above
me, locking me into total darkness
underneath them. I continue to
struggle even though chances of
survival are mere whispers in the
wind. However, I’m not scared—I
should be, but I am not . . . because I
see that my individuality, my right
to be distinct, is worth fighting for.
And I will never stop
fighting.
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