Outgoing Seniors live it up in summer 2010
Transcription
Outgoing Seniors live it up in summer 2010
Columns THE St. Agnes Academy Volume 59 Issue 7 9000 Bellaire Boulevard Houston, TX 77036 What’s Inside Senior Writers Read the last articles of some of our senior staff members. See page 3. Time Warp Flip to Then and Now to see the Seniors’ journey from Freshwomen to today. See page 8. Seniors’ Suvival Guide Read and test out the advice the Seniors’ have to give other Academy women. See page 10. Most Likely To Check out what the senior class thinks of each other. See page 10. To advertise with The Columns, contact Business Manager Brigid WoodBatarse through our email address [email protected] Index Page 2..................Editorial Page 3..................Columns Page 4-5.........Staff to Staff Page 6-7.........Senior Wills Page 8-9.........Senior Swag Page 10...........Superlatives Page 11............On Campus Page 12...............Tiger Tail May 2010 Outgoing Seniors live it up in summer 2010 Alyssa Mahoney News Editor he summer after senior year is both a time for tearfilled goodbyes and exciting new beginnings. It is a time of transition from the comforts and stresses of St. Agnes to the adventures of college life. Some seniors are traveling with family or friends, others are working or volunteering. Some are doing all of the above. Senior Georgina Inglis is one of these busy seniors. Georgina will take part in an unlikely pastime this summer: skiing. She and her family are traveling to Bariloche, Argentina to hit the slopes. As Georgina said, “Honestly, I’m really looking forward to walking into IAH wearing a ski jacket and dragging my skis while everybody else is in tank tops.” As if that isn’t enough, Georgina will also head to Alaska to visit family and to a resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This time, she will be in a tank top like everyone else! The time that Georgina will be in Houston will be spent working either at H-E-B grocery store as a bagger or at Parker Uniform. Because of her extensive traveling, Georgina hopes that “. . . the extreme lack of appeal of bagging groceries for hours will mean that there is very little competition for a position.” Safe journey, Georgina, and have fun as a bagger before you head to Vanderbilt University in the fall! Senior Rachel Gannon is another who will travel internationally. She will spend three weeks in Europe with her father. Rachel said, “[My trip is] Not the usual visit to France or typical tour around Italy. No, we’re going to Russia.” The trip began as a plan to spend a week in Russia, but it quickly morphed into a three-week adventure across Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Finland. Rachel explained, “We didn’t mean for it to, but why take the same train back from Saint Petersburg to Kiev on the way home when we could just keep heading towards the Arctic Circle and fly out of Helsinki? You understand. It sounds a bit crazy, I know.” Yes, it may sound a bit crazy to some, especially since Rachel doesn’t speak Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, or Finnish, but this senior is all about adventures! Rachel has been working Symbol of a distant land: St. Basil’s Basilica is just one of the many attractions in St. Petersburg, Russia steadily on con-dthat Senior Rachel Gannon will visit on her journey. WIKIPEDIA.ORG versational (and clude viewing the famous music graduation present, in her case, not so conversational) Russian for and ballet of Russia, especially with her aunt to visit England. several months now. She said, “. . Tchaikovsky’s work, borscht, Andrea also went abroad last . [S]o far I’ve mastered the alphaalso known as beet soup, bicy- summer for a study abroad probet, can exchange polite phrases cling through Finland and staying gram for high school students, (and swear rudely), ask for direcin Saint Petersburg for the White and she will head to New York tions, and get around a grocery Nights, in which sunset occurs City for a reunion with the friends store.” It is difficult for Rachel to after ten o’clock in the evening she made in the program. In andecide what most she looks forand twilight lasts nearly all night. ticipation for college life, Andrea ward to on her trip, but a few inR a c h e l ’ s will head over to Stanford in late a d v e n t u r - August for a “summer sessions,” ous spirit which is a program that gives inwill surely coming freshman an opportunity be satisfied to get to know people and take before she fun classes like the History of heads to Chocolate. When asked what she Holy Cross most looks forward to, Andrea College in said, “I am excited to go frolickMassachu- ing through the campus/city and setts in the getting a feel of what school will fall! be like there next year.” Senior AnThese three seniors’ summer drea Acosta, plans are just a small sampling of who plans the many different summer expeto attend riences that the wonderful class S t a n f o r d of 2010 will have. Though it will University be a bittersweet time, it will also in the fall, be a summer filled with precious also expects memories as these outgoing seto have an niors take the next step in their e v e n t f u l lives. As Rachel Gannon put it, s u m m e r . “Things won’t go according to Like many plan, I’m sure, but it’s going to be other se- an unforgettable experience and niors, she undoubtedly, an adventure.” is traveling Summer at Stanford: Senior Andrea Acosta is getting a head start by going to a “summer session” at Stanford as part of a University, where she will attend college in the fall. T STANDFORD.EDU 1 May 2010 Editorial the columns The Columns St. Agnes Academy 9000 Bellaire Boulevard Houston Texas 77036 713.219.5400 [email protected] Advisor...........................................................................Mr. Eric Kerr-Heraly Editor-in-Chief................................................................................Carly Graf Editor-in-Chief.................................................................Christine Suffredini Spread Editor.............................................................................Natalie Harms Features Editor.................................................................................Carol Luk Opinions Editor...........................................................................Sydney Reed News Editor...........................................................................Alyssa Mahoney Sports Editor........................................................................Jenny Stuhldreher Tiger Tail Editor......................................................................Sophie Roppolo Business Manager...........................................................Brigid Wood-Batarse Art Director............................................................................Kelly Strickland Perspective Columnist............................................................Kylee McIntyre Entertainment Columnist.............................................................Kari Counter Food Columnist...................................................................Anastasia Hansen Teenage Girls Survival Guide Columnist.......................Katrina M. Mendiola The Columns is the student newspaper of St. Agnes Academy. Its content, which is the responsibility of The Columns staff, is not subject to administrative approval. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective. Advertisements do not represent the newspaper’s viewpoint. The Columns, an open forum, welcomes signed letters on pertinent issues from the SAA community. The editors reserve the right to edit and decline to print letters. All writing may be submitted to Mr. Kerr-Heraly in room 213 or through [email protected]. Advertising Policy The Columns accepts advertising that does not promote illegal services or immoral products to its readers. The moderator reserves the right to accept or deny advertising with her discretion. Contact Brigid Wood-Batarse for advertising rates and information. Upon approval of the advertisement, The Columns promises to follow through on all contracts. If advertisments are not approved, The Columns promises to refund the fee in full. Vol 59 Issue 7 Notes from the Editors Carly Graf: To the Staff: The past two years have been great. I have so enjoyed working with each and every one of you, and seeing the dedication that gets put into every issue. I can always count on Journalism class being interesting – whether it is day 5 breakfasts, discussions of very girly topics even in front of Mr. Heraly, or listening to Kylee and Katrina’s latest choir drama, Journalism never bores me. I know we’ve had our fair share of stresses this year, cutting deadlines close, lacking ad money, and realizing that certain things haven’t made their way into issues like they should have, but you all have been flexible and willing to readjust when necessary. I am so grateful to have been able to work with a staff that is so easy-going and helpful. Thank you so much for keeping me from getting too terribly stressed out and allowing me to lead you this year. To Sydney and Alyssa: Good luck! Creating The Columns definitely brings its fair share of challenges, but it is worth it. Get ready for some late-night layout sessions and some early-morning editing. Even better, get excited to have to rally the class to brainstorm efficiently and stay at least kind of focused enough in order to get a few things done every once in a while. You’ll do great, and I am so excited for you and all your successes next year! To Mr. Kerr-Heraly: Thank you so much for everything! You have had to deal with Christine and I this entire year, and that means our procrastination tendencies, our frequent disorganization, and our random freak-outs when something isn’t going quite as we want it. Even more impressive, you have had to sit through the absolutely insane conversations that occur almost daily during Journalism class, even enduring the highpitched screams and the continually rising volume that accompany such chats. You have been a tremendous help. Have an amazing time in London next year, and, please, keep the secret santa Edward doll that dazzles in the light close always. Christine Suffredini: Due to my leanings toward procrastination, I am writing this editorial rather late. As of the day I am writing this, there are two days until the Senior Sleepover, three days until the last day of classes, six days until the last day of school and eighteen days until graduation. Despite the impending shenanigans that mark the end of senior year, I have been so caught up in work that half the time I forget that graduation is a few weeks away. Perhaps it is good that I’ve left this to the last minute. Those of you who know me personally know that I generally tend to be more cynical than sentimental, so I beg you to forgive this momentary personality lapse and allow me to be a bit sappy. It is difficult to put into words all that St. Agnes has been to me over the last four years. There’s just something about this environment that is so empowering. Through all the complaining about homework and the number of days we’re in school when Strake is off, I think we sometimes lose sight of how lucky we are. Or maybe it’s just one of those things you can only appreciate in hindsight. For four years, we have had teachers who believe in us and are fully devoted to helping us become who we need to be. We have had a community of girls who support each other with shoulders to cry on and the help of extensive amounts of baked goods. It is my friends at St. Agnes who have gotten me through the past four years. The Table has been an amazing source of love for me. They have taught me more important lessons than those I have learned in class rooms. My friends have given me a safe haven to be myself. They have taught me that differences can bring people together, that you can respect someone without agreeing with her, and that you can love someone even if you don’t always like her. If I could pinpoint one person who has made the biggest impact on my life, it would be one of my friends, Ari Villanueva. Ari is the first friend I ever had who has given me a space to be myself. She never cares how much of a dork I am. She listens when I rant, but is never afraid to point out when I’m being unfair to someone else. Ari has taught me to see the good in people where I would have seen only the bad. And now, to the Journalism staff. Juniors, you have worked hard and come a long way since the beginning of the year, and I know the paper will be in good hands next year. Sophie: Your work on Tiger Tail this year has been phenomenal. Center Spread is in good hands. Katrina: Your comics always make me laugh, and your columns are always insightful and funny. Brigid: As Business Manager, you have made my life infinitely easier. I would also like to apologize for my constantly late ad money. Jenny: You have worked hard on your layouts this year, and I know you will continue to be dependable next year. Alyssa: You have been so devoted to The Columns this year, even though you always have other things going on. You will make a great Editor-in-Chief next year. Sydney: You are taking over my job. When you’re up at two am next year and staring at a layout asking yourself, “Is that line in the center?” remember the amazing joy of seeing the paper printed and knowing how much effort you put into it. To the seniors, I cannot imagine the paper without every one of you. Kari: Although most of our Journalism interaction has involved doing math experiments in the bathroom, you have been an indispensible part of the staff. Stasia: You are always willing to help and you are an amazing writer. Natalie: Your Center Spreads this year have been gorgeous. Thank you for putting up with my constant questions about InDesign. Carol: Your layouts were always spotless and a welcome relief in the early issues of the paper. Kelly: Although you are a new staff member this year, you handled Photoshop like a pro. Our food trips were always a highlight of my day. Kylee: You are the most talented writer I have met, and you have been an amazing friend to me these past few years. Last, and most importantly, Carly: I honestly could never have gotten through the last year without you. Thank you for dealing with my crazy emails. Thank you for reminding me that life will not end if the paper comes out a day late. Thank you for keeping me from keeling over from stress. I cannot imagine a better Co-Editor-in-Chief. 2 The Columns May 2010 Count on Food fight Kari Relax a little Kari Counter Entertainment Columnist A s the school year comes to a close, everyone’s ready to get out for the summer. The last thing on our minds, much to our teachers’ pain, is homework. Of course the year’s is not over and we still need to do what is expected of us, but since we have worked long and hard for a year now I would say it’s okay to relax a little bit. So instead of 6 hours of homework tonight, try doing 2 or 3 and catch up on some TV shows, check out some new music, read the latest celebrity gossip, or rent a good a movie. There’s plenty to keep you busy whether it’s reading up on Sandra’s adoption of her new baby boy or Bret Michael’s sudden medical trauma. There’s also many highly anticipated movies slated for release soon including Iron Man 2 and the heart warming documentary Babies both coming out on May 7th, Robin Hood and Letters to Juliet on May 14th, and Shrek 4 on May 21st! Many of our favorite TV shows have recently returned for summer seasons or to finish the current sessions. So put the homework aside for a couple hours and catch up on your latest entertainment needs. It is almost summer and you’ve worked hard all year. You deserve a little break! Not all vegetarians eat salad Food and Dining Columnist Anastasia Hansen I have been a vegetarian since eighth grade and have become quite accustomed to Musings of a Sparkly Fairy My last column Kylee McIntyre Perspective Columnist the columns sheltered meat-eaters fervently defending their carnivorous habits and questioning my sanity. I am constantly besieged with uninformed people telling me how a vegetarian should eat. I am writing here today to clarify a modern myth: not all vegetarians obsessively love salad. I like lettuce and raw vegetables as much as the next person, but I don’t cherish it. Salads are side dishes and nothing more. Meat eaters eat them as accompaniments, so why can’t I? Just because the words “vegetable” and “vegetarian” are similar does not mean that vegetables are the main source of food in our diet. They are not and never will be. If you are on a freak fad diet they might be. But any normal person eats more than lettuce. Offering extra-large portions of salad to vegetarians is just a consequence of uneducated people reacting to this stereotype. I ’ve tried to write this for weeks, but I didn’t know what to say. So, once again, I now sit here typing this as the editor for this page got on my case about ten minutes ago. “Send me your column, Kylee!” She assumed I’d already done it. She’s such a sweetheart. I’ve spent my last four years at this school running—running to class, running to the printer, running late. It’s not that I didn’t think I’d be constantly running from the moment I got here. I knew high school would be a lot of work. I just thought I’d have time to take a breather every now and then. I have dreams at night where I’m running—toward what? I wish I knew. I don’t mind running as long as I know what I’m trying to find. And that changes all the time. Humans are fluid creatures, I’ve learned. We make New Year’s resolutions and throw out our old socks. We redefine concepts like love and intimacy. Centuries ago, women wore large pants called bloomers underneath their clothes. Now we wear leggings as pants. Is that progress? I don’t know. Struggling with Geometry? Vegetarians are not limited to the fruits and vegetable groups in the food pyramid. We eat all five food groups—just like meat eaters do (beans and nuts are placed in the protein category alongside meat, in case you were wondering). Salad, however, is not a food group of its own. It is like any other food in the world—some people like it, some people don’t. I happen to be one of those who would elect to have anything but the salad on the menu. This does not mean I am picky; it is just a personal preference. Some people don’t like chocolate; I don’t like salad. A bowl of raw vegetables rarely satisfies me. Serving me an extra heaping portion of lettuce is not going to soothe my hunger or my temperament. But don’t worry; it is not the end of the world if a vegetarian says that lettuce just does not get her mouth watering. You don’t eat salad for a main course every single day, why should a vegetarian? I thought I would come out of high school defined. I thought I would know exactly what I wanted and how I was going to get it. I thought I was going to be fearless. (Though to be fair, I also figured that I would have all A’s and be a size 2 and have a boyfriend…1 out of 3’s not bad, right?) But, I’ve found, it’s not as much about the definition as it’s standing beside whatever you’ve defined. If you make a mistake, make it boldly. Hopefully, though, you’ve surrounded yourself with people who bring out the best in you and let you return the favor. Trust is a gift that has no limitations. Remember that. And don’t be afraid to let nature make a few decisions for you. It has this funny way of working itself out. It is said that the swan sings one last beautiful song before it dies. I don’t know if that’s true, but I figure if that is the case, the swan doesn’t get a chance to say all it needs to say. Neither do I. But I thank you for reading me for the past two years. I sincerely hope it’s not the last time I get to speak to you. We’ll have to wait and see. Need Tutoring? Private Tutoring Available! Juan Carlos Batarse proImprove your grade in geometry with one-on-one vides tutoring for all levtutoring in your home. See results fast! els of Math, French, and SAA graduate with over 5 years experience. Spanish. He is a current Sophomore at Rice Call today for pricing and University to set up your first session! and graduate from Sophie Olyniec class of ‘99 (713) 294-8422 [email protected] Strake Jesuit. Feel free to contact at: 832-298-4909 3 Vol 59 Issue 7 The great oogly moogly! The end is near Katrina M. Mendiola Miscellaneous Columnist I t’s May, everybody! Finally. It’s the last month of school, and, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably counting down the days until the dismissal bell rings on the last day of school and everyone can burst out into “What Time is It? (Summertime),” like in High School Musical 2. Wait, is that just me? Never mind. The end of the school year is both one of my favorite times of the year—however, it is also one of my least. Sure, we’re about to get two and a half month-long break from stress. But the end of the school year also signifies something else: the seniors leaving. If you’re really unlucky, maybe some of your non-senior friends are moving, too. Whenever something reaches its “end”— a TV show, a friend’s visit or a long day—someone always has to leave. Nothing is permanent; that’s just the way that it is. So how do we cope? By now, you should already know if your friend is leaving. The first thing you should do is accept that he or she is leaving, because denial will only hurt you more in the end. In the meantime, talk to your friend about your futures and where she is moving. This way, you can still be a little part of whatever she’s moving on to. Avoiding the topic will only turn the fact that she’s leaving taboo, which might make communicating long-distance with her a little awkward. Take some pictures when you’re out with your friend if you don’t already. Pictures are one of the easiest and best gifts to give. Make a scrapbook or a small photo album for your friend to remember you by, and stick a couple up on a corkboard in your room for yourself, too. Remember though that things are inevitably going to change, and prepare yourself. Make sure to save some time to keep in touch with your friend, and when you catch up with her, make her feel as if she’s a part of your stories and not an outsider looking in. Cherish the remaining time you have with her. We’ll miss you, Class of 2010! Good luck. Staff to Staff May 2010 Carly Graf Jenny Stuhldreher Sports Editor arly Graff is really excited to move in and get her college experience started, and she has been accepted into Georgetown located in Washington D.C. However, Carly is sad to be leaving the halls of St. Agnes and all her friends, who she says, “put up with every one of my antics, make me laugh every day, and know me far too well.” Carly not only bonded with the students here, but also C with the teachers. One crazy teacher that she especially enjoyed and got to know well was Mr. Miles. Carly was part of the Varsity cross country team and was captain of St. Agnes’ first ever Lacrosse team. Carly was also part of CMT, where she bonded with other members and helped others get the opportunity to create similar bonds. After getting to spend time on retreats and all the games she’s been a part of more than just Christine Sufferedini Brigid Wood-Batarse Business Manager C hristine Suffredini has led the Journalism Staff wonderfully as Editor and Chief this year. With her great humor and unique character, Christine has made a gratifying impact on this year’s Journalism staff. In the beginning of the year when I was insecure of my own obliviousness, she not only gave out a helping hand and always offered to stay after school and help me get everything in order, but also led me to relax and enjoy what I was doing. After graduating Christine is going to New York City University in pursuit for a career as a writer. Her senior class even voted her for the student to most likely write a best- selling novel, foreshadowing her greatness! Journalism has also been a great goal in her life and she has definitely been on the right road. Her responsibility is mirrored in the staff’s dedication and im- Natalie Harms Sophie Roppolo Tiger Tail Editor T his past week, after the juniors were given full reign of The Columns and the seniors pretty much went off into their own world, I glanced up to see Natalie on the floor, doing an impression of Ke$ha’s Saturday Night Live performance. Imaginary mic in hand, she gave an outrageous performance of “Your Love is My Drug,” then stood up and announced in a very Ke$ha- like manner: “What if we are the aliens?” Anyone who had walked into the classroom at that precise moment would probably have turned right back around and walked out, wondering what Mr. Kerr-Heraly put into his cakes that made us believe we were aliens. And perhaps to some who don’t get a thrill out of seeing their names in print or being able to wear the cool press badges provided especially for The Columns staff members, we do seem like aliens. If that is the case, then Natalie Harms is one of Carol Luk Katrina M. Medniola Miscellanenous Colmnist I f you ask Carol Luk what the things she would miss the most about St. Agnes are, she wouldn’t know exactly where to start. Her love of the little everyday things the school has to offer, coupled with her wide range of involvement at school, has given her experience and exposure to many things that she has grown to love over the years. Carol, a true representation of a good Academy woman, has participated in everything from sports, to clubs and to Close Up. Foremost in her memory, however, will be the fact that St. Agnes is practically a bakery combined with a t-shirt factory. “I have a section in my closet just for SAA t-shirts,” she said. Next to her participation in the school-wide phenomenon that is baking, Carol was a part of the JV Cross Country and Varsity Track and a participant in last year’s Close Up to watch the inaugura- the columns a team but a part of a strong community and Carly said, “having that immediate sense of community has been such a rock for me over the past three years.” Carly is not only going to miss the st. Agnes community, but also the atmosphere at St. Agnes. “I am going to miss being able to walk into school not caring what I look like,” says Carly, “I’m thinking I’m going to have to at least brush my hair before showing up in a college classroom.” The relaxed and fun atmosphere has made Carly’s four years at St. Agnes some of the best. This also included all of the fun things, such as matball “GO LEGIT,” that really made St. Agnes feel like the right spot for Carly. Carly has chosen Georgetown because it is known for its foreign affairs program. Carly hopes to become the secretary of state, even though she thinks that may not happen, but anyone who knows Carly knows anything is possible. If that does not work out though then Calry said, “I’d love to work in the U.N., State department, as an ambassador, or for some international NGO.” Carly can’t wait for the school year to start, not only for her interesting classes, but also for the widely known Georgetown basketball season. Not only is she looking forward to starting the hard school of Georgetown, but Vol 59 Issue 7 she is also excited to get to live in Washington. Anyone who has meet Carly for even just a few minutes knows that she is a hard worker and dedicated to everything that she does, and she will definitely go far. provement, and she is a successful leader that all the juniors could look up to when desperate for aid. She is always there to make sure everything is the best it can be, and ready but also portrays a strong passion for writing, definitely shown in her humorous and entertaining style. With a new streak of color in her hair every other month, you cannot miss her colorful personality and welcoming laugh. Christine has loved St. Agnes, and it all it has had to give and will leave St. Agnes with some awesome memories, the knowledge of inspiring teachers, and her great leadership skills and talent for writing. the most wonderful aliens I have ever had the chance to meet. This year, Natalie kept our Journalism class entertained with her crazy stories and opinions of certain celebrities. We cannot claim to be the only ones to enjoy Natalie and her wicked-awesome personality, however. At Strake Jesuit Theater, she earned the nickname “Snack-Wrap” after consistently buying a snack-wrap dinner at McDonald’s. “I started using it as my hip-hop nickname because I would write raps about the plays we were doing and the characters in them,” Natalie said. Our center spread queen, whose creativity has never ceased to amaze us, is relinquishing her reign and moving onto the University of Houston, where she will major in Journalism in the Honors College and hopes to eventually work for a magazine or newspaper. While U of H takes her one step closer to her ultimate goal, she will miss the Academy: her teachers, who are easy to talk to, and all her friends, who have made stressful Academy life bearable. She will also miss theatre, JSA, and, of course, making those fabulous center spreads. Natalie said one of her favorite parts of journalism is “having an excuse to watch random, embarrassing TV shows that [she is] ‘forced’ to write about.” Although, of tion of President Obama. Being vivacious, she was fully alive in every moment and never afraid of physical labor. “I loved it!” Carol said of her experience with Close Up. “Running around D.C. with friends, freezing our butts off for six to seven hours in fifteen degree weather, and then having to walk four miles [since] all the highways were closed and filled with people back to our hotel in Virginia was definitely memorable.” In the meantime, Carol will miss the people who have impacted her lives during her time at St. Agnes. “One of the most supportive [people] at SAA would definitely be my counselor, Ms. Skelly, who has helped me tremendously with my college process,” Carol said. “I will also miss Mr. Rodriguez, who never fails to make homeroom boring with his small, intentional jabs at either why we look so messy or why we’re not more enthusiastic in the morning. [. . .] Senior year is definitely bittersweet right now since I’ll miss all my friends.” Even though she is leaving the Academy, Carol has her sights set on many challenging endeavors which she will attack at Trinity University in San Antonio. While she is not sure at the moment what she wants to commit herself to 4 course, Natalie said that she will miss Mr. Kerr-Heraly’s cakes most of all! studying, she does know that she wants to have a double major and a minor. Despite what she ends up doing, Carol aims to travel abroad and continue journalism, and we are all sure to see more of her in the future. May 2010 Staff to Staff the columns Kelly Strickland Brigid Wood-Batarse Business Manager ith a genial smile and sweet personality, Kelly Strickland has made a colorful contribution to The Columns newspaper this year. With an eye for art and photography, she has done a wonderful job as the staff’s art director, organizing pictures and colors into the newspaper. She joined the Journalism staff for the first time as a senior with a welcoming character and much to offer. Even when Photoshop decided to be stubborn and uncooperative ,with the whole staff would going hysterical, Kelly always kept her peaceful aura and was ready to help whenever anyone needed it. The staff couldn’t have done it without her! One of Kelly’s greatest dreams is exploring the world. When she begins her studies at or (college not yet decided) she desires to double major in International Relations and Russian so she can W make her traveling dreams a reality and discover a variety of wild places to discover. She has always adored traveling with her family and her adventurous spirit will never stop until she has enjoyed all of the variety of cultures the world gives. Not only does she want to travel but she also wishes to minor in Literature, a reflection of her love for writing. She knows, however, how greatly she will miss St. Agnes, regard- Vol 59 Issue 7 less of the grand experiences that await in the future. She said, “I’m going to miss all my friends the most. We are such a family here and its going to be so different next year making new friends in a completely new place, but at the same time, I’m super excited about it.” She considers one of her greatest accomplishments from St. Agnes to be merely making it through all her classes alive! Even though St. Agnes is notoriously hard, the countless memories she had are gems that made it all worth it. “It’s really hard to pick one memory of St. Agnes,” she said. “I love so many things about it.” Kylee McIntyre Katrina M. Medniola Miscellanenous Colmnist I f you ever walk the halls of St. Agnes and find yourself falling as a result of slipping on bits of glitter, it’s most likely that you’re walking in Kylee McIntyre’s footsteps. You see, Kylee is all over the school. Whether she’s in the Music Department running through some songs, or the science wing at lunch for AP Biology, or dancing away the stress of school in the Courtyard with “The Table,” Kylee sheds trails of glitter in her path, leav- Kari Counter T Alyssa Mahoney News Editor hough she has a petite stature of 5’ with beach blonde hair, make no mistake: Kari Counter is not a typical high school cheerleader. Although as a member of the Strake Jesuit cheerleading team, Kari knows how to incite the school spirit in others, this Senior does more than shout and do a few flips. As head of Strake Jesuit Spirit Club, she displays an intensity and dedication that is required of a leader to get things done. ing everything in her wake shiny and sparkling. However, St. Agnes will not be as sparkly as it is with Kylee graduating in less than a month. The self-proclaimed “Sparkle Fairy” is currently torn between Loyola New Orleans—where she was given a full scholarship due to her stellar academic skills— and New York University, two schools where, either way, she will surely continue to build herself a bright future. During her experience at St. Agnes, Kylee proved to be a talented and vital member of Choir, Triple Trio, The Columns and the Swimming and Diving Team. She loved to make friends with her teachers, performing at the Renaissance Festival with the Triple Trio, dancing on Fridays in the Courtyard with her friends—a.k.a. the Table—to ward away the stress, meeting new “freshman babies” in Choir and taking them under her maternal wing, being in high school with her beloved sister Kirsten, becoming a part of the theater world and being a part of The Columns with the rest of the Journalism staff. As Kylee always has the inter- ests of other people on her mind, she couldn’t leave the Academy without some parting words of advice to those who remain. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from my time at SAA is that you have to be yourself,” she said. “And if you don’t know who that is, it’s okay – you can figure it out. [. . .] If any of that makes you look ridiculous, you’re probably doing the right thing.” However, this isn’t goodbye—we are all sure to see more of Kylee in the future, perhaps as a famous Some people who know Kari may think of her shining personality, a great sense of humor, and an infectious laughter. Others know of Kari’s enthusiastic announcements for Strake Jesuit cheerleaders on VTV. In whatever capacity people know Kari, they know that she is kind, smart, compassionate, and ambitious. Even with a heavy St. Agnes workload and a busy schedule composed of SJ cheerleading and SJ spirit club, Kari finds time for another one of her many passions. Kari says, “Volunteer work helping kids is one of my favorite things to do.” She frequently volunteers her time tutoring kids and working with special-needs kids. When asked about her time at St. Agnes, Kari shares many won- derful memories. Throughout her high school career, one teacher made a great impact. Kari gives Mr. Filardo’s sophomore honors English class the distinction of her “favorite SAA class.” She really enjoys journalism as well; she was Sports Editor for The Columns last year and Entertainment columnist this year. Kari will never forget the “Hope for Haiti” campaign. “The Power of our SAA community was really present through that,” she says. Don’t let Kari’s fond memories of St. Agnes fool you into thinking that she doesn’t enjoy her time off. Some of Kari’s favorite memories have been getting out school after Mass and fun days like Veritas Vacation Day. “It’s great to try and explain those days to my public school friends who can never understand and just get really jealous.” After graduating from St. Agnes, Kari plans to attend the University of Texas in Austin with a major in broadcast journalism. Kari says, “I’m really excited about [broadcast journalism] since they have such a great program for it . . . my ‘dream job’ would be to be a sports reporter.” Kari won’t just stay in one place for all four years, however. She plans to study abroad and work as an intern throughout college, perhaps in a program at UT to spend one semester in Los Angeles, California. Ten years from now, Kari sees herself immersed in her career in broadcast journalism and starting a family. Whether it’s traveling the world, Anastasia Hansen Sydney Reed Opinions Editor S ubtle does not suit Stasia. Whether it’s a part of her signature smile or her personality, Anastasia Hansen’s confidence defines who she is. Always on the move, Stasia balances extracurriculars like water polo and working backstage at theatre productions with a full load of honors classes. Somewhere in this whirlwind of activity, when she’s not designing and creating her own fabulous prom dress, as well as writing for The Columns, Stasia manages to fit in eight hours of sleep a night, something almost entirely unheard of at St. Agnes. Stasia said, “I have never pulled an allnighter [. . .] [or] stayed up past 12 doing homework or studying for any reason. If i can manage my time between water polo practices and tournaments in Clear Lake, late night theatre rehearsals, Journalism layouts and honors classes, so can you!” St. Agnes has been an amazing experience for Staisa, so much so that it’s not possible for her to pick a favorite memory. She said, “It’s just like high school is a giant block of stories that make of a novel of experience that I’m bringing to college about my life- All the awkward dance experiences, the ap lunch classes, the water polo suits, and class emails.” Stasia’s taking these experiences to Notre Dame next 5 year, where she will be studying to be a chemical engineer. Her personal goal as an engineer is to waterproof her TI-89 calculator. Besides the fact that she will be “living in the cornfields of Indiana for the next four years,” Stasia feels that St. Agnes has prepared her immensely for her college experience and that she will excel in all her classes. It’s safe to say that St. Agnes has played a part in making Anastasia Hansen who she is, and that it’s girls like Stasia that make St. Agnes the incredible school that it is. author, singer or journalist. So instead of saying goodbye—see you later, Kylee! following her dream of being a sports reporter or settling down and starting a family, with her strong leadership abilities, sense of humor and compassion, we know that Kari will go far in years to come, wherever she may go! Senior I, Lindsay Buchanan, will to Elizabeth Lucas patience and humility and the love and affection of the StuCo advisors. To Elizabeth Edel, I will happiness and the promise of becoming family one day. To Lauren Dacy, I will that all of your days may be filled with porpoises. To Andie Price, I will 1000 protein bars and a U of H gym membership. To Kyla Sloan & Natalie Diala, I will you a “baby lotion”-free step routine. To Kayla Sloan & Johanna Lucas, I will a wonderful high school experience filled with leadership opportunities, friends, and happiness. Last but not least, to my little sister Lauren, I will you the ability to avoid mom’s hovering and an amazing last 2 years high school. The Class of 2010, being of sou Chelsea Schnitzler, Jackie Mackey, Sarah Jameson, Kelly Davis, Kathleen Monks, Caroline Evans, Molly Goldberg, and Marielle Mercurio, We seniors, the senior soccer girls, will the Varsity Soccer Team the ability to have the best pep rally performances out of every sport in the whole school. We will you the I, Ma Ch do hereb third b Molly ES ability to pull even crazier pranks on Coach Jim. We will you the ability to go TEXTURISE.COM to State and beat both Ursuline and Nolan because we are better and prettier than them. We will you the ability to be crazy and weird. May the swipe always be with you. WEBDIZEO.COM TIARE AU STIN/ GU RAPHER KRISTA CASTRO / GUEST PHOTOG RAPHER EST PHOTOG H / GU ZENA SABAT I, Christina Pierce, will my addiction to off-campus lunch to my younger sister, Lizzy Lucas, who will be a senior next year. Remember to share the privilege with Johanna on occasion, but not all the time so it’s still exciting when she becomes a senior. Oh, and don’t forget to stay fit... otherwise squeezing into that prom dress at the end of the year won’t be pretty. I, Anne will first Courtney FILTERFORGE.COM WEBDIZEO.COM I, Zena Sabath, do hereby will all of Earth Week to my amazing and extremely capable little sister, Keni Sabath; my title of Garden Fairy to Maggie Gardner and Maddie Ruckman; my sandwich-filled, tapefilled and cake-filled days to Ali Muncey, Elizabeth McEnrue, and Katrina Contreras. MEMORIALCARDS.COM SONGOFTHEWEEK.CH LINDSAY BUCHANAN/ GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER I, Krista Castro, will to Karen Steffensen plenty of Redbulls to last her the rest of her Strake Jesuit cheerleading career. May you always be supplied in case of emergency. You never know when you’ll need wings, ksteff! EST PHO TOGRAP H ER I, Audrey VonBorstel, do hereby will to Freshman Sarah her own name and the ability to call herself whatever she wants. To F. Sarah, Alyssa Mahoney, Hannah McAughan, and all the rest, I will the water polo team—take SAA to another State tourney! I hope you both have tons of fun. I further will to them another current-team loss at the Alumni Game. To Molly Chang, I will control over the carpool and several utterly ridiculous CDs. To Cate Carrejo, I will you 3 more years of fun and many good, albeit ridiculous songs! To Michelle Schmutz and Addy Giraldo, another wonderful 3 years and I will you both fantastic fish for your senior years! To all of the band, orchestra, water polo, and CMT girls, I leave you a spectacular time and lots of memories left at St. Agnes! CATHERINE PIERCE/GUEST PHO TOGRAPHER AUDREY VONBORSTEL/ GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER I, And owner a Forke’s will sai Chahin. to the m after th exam, f also wil eral, si good at Briana mense lege of school s traffic. awesom nes and class sh We sen ert, Ka location iro and Band a two no are) to Blob©. and/or numero alizatio preciati somew pseudo video g and un The M ING— r Wills Spread by: Sophie Roppolo und mind and body, wishes to... r the a e y d Goo oney e m i n n gh e will A d enou up for th , f a ly Grty to spenr to make departure. r a C le li I, nsibi olate Ba wing my s of trip o p s re op aoc llo e Ch t loss fo ltiple sco the occ u h t t a profi ates mu ek and o will yo e g e s it u h cess every w lice. I al and oth e n This nce nd-Day s idin’ Solo aroline e d a dec Night-a out to R e. I will C favorl k s siona ht to roc without m elendez’ ble by g i si the r anthems f being M ade pos udrey A o m er life he duty ner, ast. I will o and n u r t r f ry Bortz ss count cal break ate lax b ill the i w o m ite cr the mag e the ulti Finally, I g sure g E. b in eatin right to IS LIF of mak X A e ty tL Le th sure tha ponsibili kin. c s e mak tos the re rack-a-la i c band e is ever n no o 123RF.COM arian hen, by will base to y Hale SHOPPING.NE.JP Taylor, I, Anastasia Hansen, will to Freshman Sarah the joy of being a senior on water polo, the chance to coach middle schools, and ref a game. I will to Caroline Matlock (my actual fish) and Hannah McAughan the other incredible joys of the sport including inflatable animals, long bus rides to Clear Lake and online swimsuit shopping. t base to y Shepard. PBWIKI.COM drea Acosta, original and caretaker of Dr. DeMilli the Mole do hereby id mole to junior Laura . She has exclusive rights mole before, during, and he dreaded AP Chemistry for comfort purposes. I ll her chemistry in genimply because she’s so t it. To my little sister, Acosta, I will the imand unnecessary priviarriving an hour before starts just to avoid the In addition, I will her an me four years at St. Agd the ability to beast any he ever takes. E DE.S EI STOR ANASTIA HANSEN/THE COLUMNS I, Sarah Montonchaikul, will to my SAA little sisters, Kelli Mijares and Claire Lafferty, another wonderful three years at the grand Academy and the intention to have a Fish Week 2013 as amazing as Fish Week 2009. I will to Laura Wattenbarger and Clare Mundy the trials and tribulations of SAA volleyball, all the glitter, meowing, and glow stick raves that one could possibly enjoy, and a fantastic senior year. I will to my real life, biological, blood sista from the same mista, Rose “R-Pain” Montonchaikul, morning car rides with hard core rap music, SAA volleyball practices for another three fall semesters, all the good times and craziness that will surely come with the next three years, and, most importantly, a sugar daddy. I love you all! YOONMI.NET SPYROTERRA.COM VMALHO.COM niors, Arielle Villanueva, Allison Layman, Kelsey Nibatherine Weems, Kylee McIntyre, et al, will the physical n of The Table (that one) to Jessica Segalla and Cara Shapd Your People, to Our Beloved Mini-Freshman, and to Various and Orchestra Freshmen. We will the Neo-Tables—there are ow, are there not?—and their inhabitants (you know who you guide the third Table generation spawned in 2006 from The . We will that thou mayst continue to stand up for offbeat nerdy inane behaviors (including but not limited to Fandom Worship, ous Huzzahs following group achievement and/or self-actuon á la Toby McGuire in Spiderman, artistic talent and/or apion, commendable academic achievement, sound physical and what sound mental health, polygamy, exploration of unseemly o-urbane culture, WHOOAAA, ridiculous clothing, parties with games, parties with unexpected fires, parties with video games nexpected fires, sudden outbreak into song, and Sticking It To Man). We will that thou mayst remember: WE ARE WATCH— and that we love you all. I, Claudia Cardenas, will Cecilia Cardenas all of the fun, awesome, and stressful days of Junior Year, and the nostalgic, entertaining, and quick days of Senior Year; these years will go by fast so make the most of them! Btw, take care of Katrina, it’s up to you to drive her around next year! Love you, sis! TIME2STAND.NET RDENAS/ CLAUDIA CA OGRAPHER GUEST PHOT HE AF/T Y GR CARL MNS COLU STANLEYHOTEL.COM I, Natalie Harms, will Sophie Roppolo the fabulous center spread. I hope you enjoy your freedom and work hard to make it super cute—as I know you will! I will Hannah Bach the Strake Jesuit Theater’s glorified “girl who laughs so hard she cries” title. I also will Laura Rosas the right to lay down some rhymes in circle before the final show. And I will Ashley Daniel, Marlee Burns, Catherine Connolly, Susii Morey, Helen Herrick, and Sarah Lenderman the right to be the most awesome bossy seniors of Strake Theater. Enjoy your year!!! And I love you all! NATALIE HARMS/ THE COLUMNS May 2010 Then and Now Brigid Wood-Batarse Business Manager the columns Vol 59 Issue 7 It’s amazing how fast senior year comes flying by. It seems like yesterday our seniors were just tiny little freshmen, scared out of their minds. Since then they have all bloomed into wonderful women with so much to give to the world. Freshmen Sophomores As freshmen, Katherine Duque, Laurianne Dib, Danielle Ghorayeb, Danielle Bishop, Madison McMenemy, Andrea Acosta, Anne Marie Hollonds are excited to be at their very first Homecoming. When they were sophomores, Laurianne Dib, Anne Marie Hollonds, Megan Carragen pose during CMT Retreat. and after all the years are gone, they are finally: Juniors SENIORS! As Juniors alksjdf, Anne Marie Hollonds and Katherine Duque ;pose happily for the Junior Ring Ceremony, an event marking how far they have come. Seniors Samantha Kherkher, Posie Owens, Sarah Hanel, Julia Fenelon, Morgan Smith, Catherine Ekonomou, and Erica Smith smile during the rodeo. Catherine Hernandez, Amy Aquino, Gina Buckner, Nadeen Mustafa, Kimberly Cuccia, Margaret Welsch, and Katy Leven pose happily dring Choir Tour. Catherine Hernandez, Katy Leven, Gina Buckner, Kimberly Cuccia, Amy Aquino and Margaret Welch pose in a beautiful park while eating up ice cream. To the left: The Seniors pose for a fancy shot during the musical fun of choir tour. 8 May 2010 Survival Guide the columns Vol 59 Issue 7 The Seniors’ d e fi i s s a l c De St.Agnes Survival Guide Sydney Reed Opinions Editor My little brother and I were talking about Nickelodeon the other day, reminiscing about Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, when I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if St. Agnes had one of those?” Now, thanks to the Seniors, we do! Freshman Sophomore Year Year Don’t procrastinate! Establish good study habits. Don’t think you’re the coolest grade just because you still have energy. Don’t stand in the middle of the hallway to talk. Try out whatever appeals to you; discover yourself. Meet everyone in your class. Remember that you were a freshman only three months ago, ease up on the hate. Start on college apps in the summer as Senior year will be here before you know it. Branch out and get involved in clubs you didn’t know about your freshman year. Think about what colleges you might be interested in. Take the time to learn how to express yourself. Senior Year Junior Year Fight Senioritis! Finish your college apps as early as possible. Don’t expect Senior year to be easy. Drink coffeelots of coffee. All Four Years Rely on your friends when times get hard. No matter how hard you might think it is, we will benefit from St. Agnes in the future. Talk to your teachers! Teachers at St. Agnes are so open and eager to help. School MAKE LIFE DELICIOUS! If your laptop breaks, it is not the end of the world. Remember to sleep. It’s sort of kind of really important. (But just in case, learn to live without sleeping.) 9 MANUFACTURER’S COUPON EXPIRES 05/31/10 MANUFACTURER’S COUPON EXPIRES 05/31/10 BUY 1 DOZ. SHIPLEY DO-NUTS® GET 2nd DOZ. for HALF PRICE! 2, GLAZED SHIPLEY DO-NUTS® and 1, SMALL COFFEE ONLY 99¢ with this coupon Coupon valid at participating locations only. No cash value. Sales tax not included. One coupon per person, per visit. Not to be combined with any other offers. © 2008, Shipley Do-Nuts. Coupon valid at participating locations only. No cash value. Sales tax not included. One coupon per person, per visit. Not to be combined with any other offers. © 2008, Shipley Do-Nuts. (at regular price) www.ShipleyDonuts.ws Superlatives May 2010 Volume 59 Issue 7 the columns SeniorSuperlatives 2010 Katrina M. Mendiola Miscellaneous Columnist CAT-PA USE.CO Most likely to become a cat lady... M KARA KOINIS AGFIL M.DE Most likely to be absent from graduation CLARE BARTLETT Most likely to marry her highschool sweetheart... .COM SASCITY AN BLOGS.K TERESA MACEJEWSKI PRINCETONPROFS. BLOGSPOT.COM Most likely to end war with a smile... Caroline Duble NA KATRI Most likely to win American Idol... ND M. ME S OLUMN HE C IOLA/T Gina Buckner Most likely to invent a word that makes it to the dictionary... WINONA.EDU Christina Dunigan Watch out for more Superlatives that didn’t make this page on The Columns Blog at wordpress.st-agnes.org! 10 May 2010 On Campus Academy artists shine at TAPPS Sophie Roppolo Tiger Tail Editor the columns tion. Students must determine their best pieces, place them into categories, give them a title and on how to use the tools provided and how to look at a given object in different ways.” On-site draw- It didn’t matter how difficult it was.” For those students who might be E arlier this school year, several students from St. Agnes’ art program participated in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Competition, a national contest sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Pieces from Grace Rabalais, Bess Garison, and Katherine Dunn won Silver Keys, and the artwork of Gold Key recipients, including Audrey Terrazas-Albright, Bess Garison, Elizabeth Sage, Katie Richard, Katherine Dunn, and Abagail Shargey, will go on to the national competition. More recently, in the TAPPS, or Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, district art competition, St. Agnes won first place overall, with thirtyeight students placing. Academy girls let their artistic side shine again in the TAPPS state-level competition, bringing home a total of fifteen medals and three Honorable Mentions. Mrs. Orseck, who teaches Drawing II, as well as Beginning and Advanced Painting, said, “Everyone in the art department is so proud of these girls. They were able to reach beyond what they had to do to achieve something really remarkable.” A competition like this requires an immense amount of prepara- Painted with success: Students that participated in TAPPS flash their ribbons. be sure to list details such as the date, dimensions and medium used. On-site drawing, in which students are given a certain amount of time to capture a still life, even calls for training sessions. Mrs. Orseck said, “The students who qualify for on-site drawing meet three of four times for practice. [The teachers] make suggestions GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER ELLEN ORSECK ing requires the ability to focus on the most important aspect of a still life—and being quick doesn’t hurt either. Junior Samantha Brenstein, who participated in the on-site drawing category of TAPPS, chose for her subject a flat surface with a geometric face of a man. Brenstein said, “I chose this subject because I like the anatomy of the human body. thinking on-site drawing sounds like something they’d like, junior Samantha Brenstein has some advice: “When you choose what to draw, pick something you’re interested in. If you’re not interested, you’ll tend to procrastinate and waste time.” Art history also plays a part in the competition; senior Abby Mangel, who won fourth in this Vol 59 Issue 7 category, said she starts studying for the exam a few weeks in advance, devoting a lot of time to memorization. Mangel said, “Art history is a very captivating subject, so studying the 40 paintings never felt like a chore to me. I guess that makes me a huge dork!” In an area where an accent mark can make the difference between a medal or not, Mangel managed to come out ahead, somehow memorizing names of artists and their pieces from many different periods of art. Senior Bess Garison, who won one Gold and two Silver Keys, said, “My favorite part about our art program is that it offers many different classes and lets you find which medium you work the most successfully with.” Garison plans on attending the University of Texas in Austin and hopes to major in Art Education and Visual Art Studies, which will enable her to graduate with a teaching certificate. The Academy art program has once again displayed its excellent talent—and teaching ability— and has shown how hard work pays off. From the wonderful art displayed in the art hallway to the results of both the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition and TAPPS, it cannot be denied that St. Agnes is home to some brilliantly talented and persevering young artists. Seniors stride into college sports Jenny Stuhldreher Sports Editor t. Agnes Academy is known for its competitive atmosphere, in and out of the classroom. This year four seniors prove that statement as they get ready to leave for college. Seniors Anastasia Hansen, Emily Kimmet and Angela Peyton are all already on a college sport team. Hard work, dedication, and lots of resumes paved the way to their college goal. Anastasia Hansen is a senior this year and she will be graduating and heading off to the University of Notre Dame to play water polo on their club team. Anastasia played water polo for St. Agnes for the past four years, and she said, “I played all throughout high school so I would be missing a serious part of my life if I did not continue.” She will be playing for the club team at Notre Dame, but is also looking into playing in the NCAA. The main thing that Anastasia is looking forward to is getting to travel around and play people from different states. Emily Kimmet is a senior that has been selected to play volleyball for Trinity University. Emily has been playing volleyball for the past eight years for many different club teams and the St. Agnes Varsity team for the past S three years. Angela is really excited to start her college volleyball season. She says that she can’t wait for all the traveling that she would get to do and all the NCAA tournaments. Angela Peyton said that “I wanted to continue play-THE COLUMNS/ANASTASIA HANSEN ST-AGNES.ORG ST-AGNES.ORG ing past all the clubs and school levels,” Take off: the St. Agnes seniots, Anastasia Hansen and Chelsea Bass prepare for their college teams. so she decided to continAngela Peyton is a senior that parents and her sister decided to ue playing in college. The process has been chosen to play volley- play a sport in college and Anwas hard and long with the many ball for Middle Tennessee State. gela has decided to follow in their visits to colleges and coaches, but She has been playing volleyball example and also continue all Angela has found success and for her whole life, and is excited the fun by playing volleyball for now has a scholarship to play for to get to continue through college. Middle Tennessee State. Though Trinity University. Both of her as Angela has found not all of the college level volleyball is fun and games, some is hard, like the admissions process, but Angela had no trouble impressing Middle Tennessee State and now she has a scholarship and is looking forward to doing something she has always wanted to do. Senior Chelsea Bass has been selected by GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER/ EMILY KIMMET The University of Texas Fighting time: Seniors Emily Kimmet and Angelea to play basketball. She GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER Peyton stay in fighting condition for their college has been playing bas/ANGELEA PEYTON volleyball season. ketball since she was two years old and is glad to be taking her game to the next level. Her father also played a sport for his college but this has been Chelsea’s dream since she was little. Chelsea is happy to be playing for a big program and is looking forward to the higher level of competition as she says, “everyone is really good and will push me to challenge myself to be better.” Chelsea is really anticipating the grueling workouts, “because i will be working out at a different, harder level than i have ever worked at before. also playing division 1 college basketball in general because the competition is as good as it gets,” said Chelsea. College sports are demanding and competitive. They take a lot of dedication and self perseverance. Four seniors, Anastasia Hansen, Emily Kimmet, Angela Peyton and Chelsea Bass all decided to continue their competitive sports in college. Two, Emily Kimmet and Angela Peyton are both playing volleyball in college, Anastasia Hansen is playing water polo and Chelsea is playing basketball. The girls are expected to do great on their college teams and continue to fight like St. Agnes Tigers. May 2010 Tiger Tail the columns Vol 59 Issue 7 Last-minute things to do before college Sophie Roppolo Tiger Tail Editor 1. Get a picture with the fabulous Sister Jane. As a last resort, photo-shopping yourself into her skydiving picture is also acceptable. 2. Experiment with a new look. College is a clean slate. Go for the new look that you’ve been nervous about. Dye your hair or try a new style of clothing— no one in college will even know it’s not how you normally look. 3. Get Skype. Now that high school’s over, some of your friends might be going to opposite ends of the country, and your family might be thousands of miles away. But don’t worry! A fifteen minute face-to-face chat once a week is not impossible thanks to Skype! 4. Road trip! Not sure how to say goodbye to your girlfriends? What better way than to go on a mini road trip to Austin or San Antonio for a day or two! A car, gas money, a small suitcase with the essentials, and your friends are all you need! 5. Pick Up Something New. Okay, I know— that’s what you’ve been doing for the past four years and what you will probably be doing for the next four, but the summer before college is the perfect time to do a little fun learning on your own time. Take guitar or cooking lessons or learn a bit of conversational Italian. Pick up something you’ve thought about for the last couple years but never had the time to do. 6. Up for a bit of scrapbooking? If so, this might be a great way to wrap up the year and pack up some memories to take with you to college. It can be as simple or complex as you want! Just grab a couple pictures of you and your friends at dances, Veritas Vacation Day, or with your favorite teacher. Then, along with some scrapbook paper and stickers (Michael’s is your go-to store in a scrapbooking emergency), go about collecting and organizing some memories. 7. Learn the how-to on a few quick, healthy meals. Who doesn’t want to avoid the infamous “freshman fifteen”? Learn a few, fast, healthy meals you can interchange for cafeteria food every once in a while to make war against the dreaded extra pounds. Collide-oscope Katrina M. Mendiola Miscellaneous Columnist 12