The CrossFit Craze

As the fitness bug slowly consumes more individuals across Columbus, some fitness addicts are looking for ways to change up their daily routine. If by chance you are one of those people looking for a new way to get fit, then CrossFit may be the solution to your problem.

CrossFit is an intense, military training-based program that involves weightlifting, jumping rope, climbing rope, rowing, and sprinting. As grueling as the workout sounds, however, chemistry teacher Mrs. Garner and senior Austin Strellner are self-diagnosed CrossFit addicts.

“I do CrossFit five times a week,” says Austin. “I lift weights, do burpees, pull-ups, box jumps, and run…a lot.”

His hard work has not gone to waste, either – Austin says he has noticed a significant gain in muscle mass. Mrs. Garner has also seen great results.

“A month ago, I couldn’t do a handstand at all, but now I can,” she

Mrs. Garner, (second from the right) a chemistry teacher at Northside, braves the challenges that CrossFit  provides its participants – and still wears a smile.

says. “I couldn’t lift very well when I started, either, but I have gotten so much better at that.”

The workouts are short – some last about twenty minutes – but they do require that you give every ounce of your energy. But once you start, you are hooked.

“My husband showed interest in doing CrossFit, so I decided to go work out with him. I’m addicted! I love it!” Mrs. Garner says. “I would definitely encourage other people to try it if they are interested,” says Austin Strellner. “You will see results!” So…are you up for the challenge?

You’re a Patriot! Embrace it!

As an underclassman, you are still a young pup here at Northside High School. There are still a couple years until you graduate, but while you are here, enjoy it! Throughout the school year, there will always be some Northside event that you can attend. Be a true Patriot, and come out to support some of our sports teams! I am apart of three Varsity sports teams here at Northside, but it is not rare to catch me at a softball, baseball, volleyball, or track event during the span of the year.

My time here is almost done. Your experience is just getting started. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but you have even more opportunities to have fun and be a Northside Patriot! Take advantage of every chance you have to show your school spirit. Your support means more than you think, and every team here could use a little extra school spirit!

Time to Pick Up the Pace

The first official measure of how you are doing in your first year in high school has
come and gone. This progress report is a predecessor to what is likely to be a
very similar-looking report card. You do not have that much time left to make your report card look pretty. After progress reports, you have four and a half more weeks. This can be the difference between your parents giving you $20 for good grades and being grounded until the next report card. Believe me; I have been on both ends of the spectrum! You have had time to get settled in, so now you need to go ahead and get those grades where they need to be for the benefit of
your weekends and your distant future. Every report card counts. Be sure not to
be one of those people who regret not taking their grades seriously their
freshman year! You get 16 report cards in high school. It is going to be a long
road, but just take it one progress report at a time and there will be plenty of report card money in your future.

Staying Ahead of the Game

The pressures of high school may still be lingering when you are a sophomore. However, once you settle in, the pressure starts to ease off and you begin to wonder why people made such a big deal about this whole “high school” thing. That is where many young students are mistaken. The pressure that everyone was telling you about was not necessarily the difficulty of high school, but the responsibility that comes with being here. Senior Elizabeth Evans said, “I don’t know how I survived my sophomore year. I just didn’t care back then.”

Luck for me, I caught onto this trend early. Lucky for you, I am here to help you catch on as well! High school is going to fly by, and, before you know it, you are going to be panicking while trying to take your SAT’s, apply for colleges, and receive scholarships.

You cannot let that pressure get to you, BUT you cannot let it slip your mind either. Let us take a look at how a few of your fellow upperclassmen from the fourth block classes of Mr. Harper, Mrs. Styers, and Mrs. Powell have handled the sneaky pressures of high school as they prepare to head into the real world.

ACT/SAT

8 out of 10 upperclassmen that were asked if they had taken the ACT or SAT said that they had done so. This is a good thing! From what we can see, the majority of our upperclassmen are right where they need to be.

As a sophomore, you should begin taking your SAT and ACT’s or the beginning of junior year at the latest. These two tests are essential to your journey to getting accepted into a good college.

Many students, such as myself, decide to be lazy and blow off studying for the test the first time. I blew it off and I did not do nearly as well as I wanted to. For that reason, you must take the test early, so you can analyze the mistakes you made and improve upon them. There is not really a limit on how many times you can take each test, so if you feel like you can do better, then keep working at it. Most importantly, you need to get started early.

College Applications

Shockingly, only 4 out of 10 upperclassmen asked had applied for college. This may have happened because some juniors were asked. However, this is something that you must begin doing as soon as you can. Preferably, you will do so at the beginning of your senior year. Hopefully, you will have taken the SAT or ACT more than once and be well prepared to apply.

It is essential for you to start applying at the beginning of your senior year so that you can submit your application before the early admission deadline. The early admission deadline is there for you to get your information in as soon as possible while doing as little as possible. When you apply early, colleges usually do not ask for essays or recommendations. Take advantage of this opportunity. As the old American idiom states: The early bird gets the worm… and accepted into college first as well.

SCHOLARSHIPS!

Scholarships are one of the great things about working hard in high school. Who would not enjoy a free college education? Unfortunately, not everyone knows the availability of scholarships, or they just do not care to look for them. This is probably why only 4 out of 10 questioned upperclassmen had applied, or made themselves available to colleges, for scholarships. As an underclassman, you get to learn from us upperclassmen’s successes and failures.

Basically, just take of all your opportunities. You will make yours and your parents’ lives much easier of you do. Besides, free money is the best money!

The Essentials

As you finally begin to settle in, there are a few things you need to know to have smooth sailing through high school:

Respect your Teachers
Let’s begin with your student-teacher relationship. Your relationships with your teachers are going to be an essential asset to your success here at Northside. Because of this, you should be serious about your classes. The urge to be a class clown or act disrespectful to your teachers to look cool is something you need to shy away from. When it comes down to it, your fate in school is just as much in your teachers’ hands as it is in yours. You earn your grade, but your teacher decides how easy it will be for you to earn it.

Distractions
Everyone speaks of the drama that will surround you in school, and, well, it is true. It is important that you do not get distracted by these things. There will be people fighting and arguing, trying too hard to be cool, skipping class, and every other thing they probably should not be doing. Find reliable friends, stay focused on schoolwork, and avoid the drama.

Be Yourself
This is something that we all struggle with, and that struggle usually reaches its peak here in high school. I know this is the topic that troubled me the most, and I wish I had someone to talk me through it when I was a freshman. There will come a point when you are exactly where you need to be academically, but you are having problems with your self-image. It is important to, as the title says, be yourself. If not, you are going to be so overcome with the pressure to impress others that you will lose focus on school. Being a student is a full time job, but you are also a teenager. Sometimes things will look like they will never get better, but that is how life is going to be. It is essential to be confident in who you are before you can be successful in any other area of life, including school.

Blake The Great’s Essentials
A fellow member of the staff, Blake Lowry, had a few words of wisdom he wanted to share with you as well:
a) There’s no pool on the roof
b) The pizza isn’t worth running for
c) Stay away from the left side of the football field after school on Fridays… just trust me
d) Don’t hesitate before accepting challenges or trying new extracurricular activities
e) Become best friends with at least one teacher
f) Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
g) Join the French Club
h) Just… relax. It’ll all be okay at the end of the day

Career Technical Student Organization

Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) gives their members opportunities to develop leadership skills, gain experience in various fields, participate in a variety of competitive events, and meet other students across the nation who have similar interests. CTSO’s are student led organizations. Northside High School offers five of the seven organizations.

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through family and consumer science education. FCCLA is a unique CTSO because its main focus is on the family. It gives students the chance to make a difference in the world throughout their national programs and community service projects.

When asked how being on a State Executive Council changed your outlook upon CTSO’s, FCCLA adviser, Mrs. Karla Buckholz, said, “She learned to appreciate more what FCCLA has to offer by not only seeing the work put in by the officers, but the passion the students have for FCCLA.”

DECA is an organization for marketing education students. Members learn to serve as leaders and followers that have the opportunity for state and national recognition that they might not otherwise receive.  Jay Leno, a comedian, was a former member of DECA.

Junior, Jill Smith, two year DECA member, said that by competing in the General Marketing Test for DECA made her more well-rounded and ready for the future.

DECA adviser, Mrs. Libby Clay, said, “Students benefit from being a member of DECA because it helps students develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community service while having fun!”

Future Health Professionals join HOSA. HOSA makes their members the best candidate for a healthcare profession by providing hands on healthcare and leadership experience and establishing and achieving personal and career life goals.

Rachel Spencer, junior, said that HOSA has prepared her for the future by teaching her about the healthcare field and how she can develop a successful, lifelong career in healthcare.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is elite organization for students interested in business. Their mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. FBLA prepares students for professional opportunities and experiences. Members acquire the competitive edge for college and career success.

Skills USA is an organization composed of students, teachers, and industries working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. Their mission is to empower its members to become world-class worker, leaders, and responsible American citizens. It values integrity, responsibilty, citizenship, service, and respect.

Dakota Kelley, senior, is partcipating in the Jordan Metals Program. He said, “The Jordan Metals Program has provided me with the knowledge of a skill that many people my age do not have. This skill, machine operating, is needed in a lot of places, so there are many jobs available. I have already been blessed with one job in a machinining shop. If there ever be a time where I need a job, the skills that I have learned will make it easier to be hired.”

Kelley added,”I am currently an Apprentice in the Tool and Die shop at the Oneda Corporation. Along with new techniques and skills of machining, this apprenticeship has taught me a new meaning of responsibility that I can apply in every aspect of my life.”

 Joining an organization can result in leadership skills, meeting new friends, and looks good on college applications. If you are interested in joining any of these organizations, see the adviser for more information.

Going Back in Time…A Look into Your Teachers’ Past

Mrs. Kay Turner, a World History Teacher, attended high school at Marianna High School in Marianna, Florida. Mrs. Turner loved high school. She enjoyed the social aspect of high school and making lifelong friends. Mrs. Turner considered herself a social butterfly, and participated in Homecoming Court, National Honor Society, Latin Club, Spanish Club, Outstanding Senior, Interclub Council, Band, Prom Committee, and many more. When asked about her most embarrassing moment in school, Mrs. Turner said, “One time, my teacher asked me to bring a stack of papers to the office. On my way there I cut through the senior hall and I wasn’t supposed to. A teacher yelled ‘Hey!’ and it scared me and I tripped and papers flew everywhere.” In high school, she thought her career would be in public relations. She saw a need in education and began teaching when her children were in middle school. Mrs. Turner’s most inspiring teacher was her eleventh grade U.S. History Teacher, Mr. William Grant. He helped her develop a passion for history. This passion is the reason she teaches history today.

Mrs. Carol Fasick, an English teacher, loved high school which is the reason she is a teacher today. Her favorite part of high school was writing short stories in her senior English class. She considered herself as a part of the nerd clique. When she was younger, she imagined herself as an artist. While in high school, she participated in Honor Society, art club, math club, newspaper, and yearbook staff.  Her most embarrassing moment of high school was getting lost in Columbus High School the first day of her junior year because she was a transfer student.

Coach Sparks, a P.E. teacher, attended school at Brookstone School. When he was an underclassman, he hated school but learned to enjoy it as an upperclassman. He played baseball, basketball, and football, but did not consider himself as a jock. During his senior year, his baseball team won the State Championship on the same night as graduation. Coach Sparks said, “I figured that I would be a coach because it ran in my family, but my mom wanted me to do something different. I went to college to be an orthopedic doctor, but ended up changing my mind.” He considers his most embarrassing moment in high school to be a mistake he made in a football game. He tripped during the game and the next day his dad, his coach, replayed it for the team over and over again. Everyone was laughing at him.

Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Fasick, and Coach Sparks high school experiences inspired their career choices. They were each encouraged by their teachers and coaches to follow their ambitions. Have your teachers influenced you?

The Pressure of Finding the “Perfect College”: A Checklist

With the pressure of studying for the SAT’s and ACT’s, trying to get those perfect grades for the college of your dreams and becoming involved in every extracurricular activity, senior year may seem more stressful than exciting. While senior year is our biggest year to truly prove ourselves and show our growth, many of us have a lot of weight on our shoulders. Searching for colleges and applying for scholarships are definitely on the top of my list as MOST stressful. And while I have my eyes set on that “dream” college that I have imagined ever since I was 6, I realized… why not make a checklist for this “dream” college? Why not make a list of all the components of items I seriously need to consider? So here is my perfectly imperfect list for that dream college I am searching for and the questions I am asking myself.

• TUITION COSTS. Does the college offer scholarships and grants? Have your parents put money away specifically for college? Are you willing to take out a loan? Between colleges, the costs will vary because of the location and “reputation” of the school. Bigger, well-known schools will have a more expensive tuition than smaller, community colleges. Determining your budget and what you can work with should be your first step. Out of every 5 students asked, 3 students are worried about tuition.
• YOUR MAJOR. You should pick your college based off of your intended major, especially if that college is known for your specific major. If you are unsure of a major, make sure that your credits can transfer between colleges.  Other important factors you may want to consider, that may or may not matter to you are: your passion, potential salary, expenses, and work load you’re willing to take. Out of every 5 students, 4 students are worried about their potential major.
• ADMISSIONS POLICIES. Is your GPA high enough and is your SAT or ACT score up to their standards? Your chances of getting into a well-ranked school, when your SAT scores are not as excellent as you hoped could cause a declined letter in the mail. Take the SAT’s or ACT’s as many times as possible and count your senior year as your most important year, do not slack off! Out of every 5 students, every student is worried about their chances of getting in to their dream college.
• NON ACADEMIC CRITERIA.
  • Location: Close to home, or nowhere near? Stay at home and drive, or fly off to a different state? Pick where you will be most comfortable, and you will be able to enjoy the environment.
  • Campus Activities: Sports, Clubs, Intramurals, Dances and Greek Life
  • Room and Boarding: This is the part many students dread. Touring the school you intend to go and seeing your choice of boarding and cost can limit your choices. Trust me, tour the school and look at all your options! And just because there is a “freshmen” dorm does not mean you HAVE to stay there unless the college says so.
  • Food: While food is not important to some people, it is to me. Check out the food quality and make sure the food is decent before you decide to stay there for four years of your life with horrible food!
  • FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OTHER PATRIOTS
    • Stephanie Kolwicz: Sheconsiders the size of the campus, available majors, the specialty of the college, and the soccer team. She is not stressed out about anything “college-related” yet.
    • Madeline Jane Irvin:When asked about her “dream college,” MJ wants a big city with lively campus life. She also keeps football and the rigorousness of the curriculum in mind. She is nervous about getting her application in by early admission.
    • Hite Hubbuch:On a different note, Hite would like the opposite of Stephanie and MJ and would prefer a small city and the “farther away from home the better.”
    • Jaime Smith: Jaime also considers football and would prefer a big SEC college. She would prefer to be “not too close and not too far” away from home.  Jaime is worried about her early application for UGA.
    • Samuel James: Samuel prefers colleges with a more diverse campus than most and would love to meet new people. Right now, Sam’s top choices are Georgia State and UGA, two of the most diverse campuses in Georgia.

Try not to stress over everything! Finding your dream college will not come naturally and you will have to search for HOURS. Do not forget to actually tour the campus before you make your decision! I hope my “perfectly imperfect” list will help you in some way!

A Look into the Life of a Fellow Patriot: Pouliot Takes Charge

This weekend, one of our Patriot Football Players received the honor of being chosen as one of the Top Twelve senior football players for this year. Not every school has a nominee. The players are picked solely based on their performance. Northside was represented in this year’s Top Twelve by Mr. Tyler Pouliot, number 37. Tyler has proven his dedication by playing for the team all four years of high school. Being chosen is a huge honor and Tyler was “beyond excited” when he found out he was chosen and he “couldn’t believe it.” As team captain, he is very optimistic for this season.

Tyler has high expectations for Northside’s performance on the grid iron. One of his major goals for the season is to “break their even win-loss record from last year (5-5)”. When asked about his future college career playing football, he says he “does plan on playing football and is already being looked at by different colleges.” He plans on getting into college with a football scholarship. The next game for the Patriots is this Thursday, September 6^th at Memorial Stadium against Jordan at 7. Be sure to show up to one of the games posted below and give our Patriots all the support they will need! (2012 Schedule shown)

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Northside Parkig Lot Etiquete #parkinglotprobs

                As we traversed the parking lot (a very dangerous place on general principles) we couldn’t help but notice that the student population at Northside high school seems to be severely lacking in their parking abilities. You see, Northside students are supposed to park in a way where their cars are surrounded on at least three sides by the designated parking lines. However, for many students this task seems to be quite difficult. Instead of following these basic rules, these meddling kids seem to park in any way which suits their fancy. We’ve seen everything from sideways parking to reckless disregard for life, limb, the security of the constitution of the United States of America, and apple pie. These bad parking jobs make the parking lot look like an unorganized scrap yard.

                Along with the poor parking abilities apparent at Northside the etiquette of the students who park there is below average. After school the parking lot turns into a mosh-pit of cars and crazy high-school drivers the likes of which haven’t been seen since the grand opening of Gallery 13. Included in this are angry-sounding trucks accompanied by other kids crazily driving their parent’s  smart cars around the lot. So as you can see, the parking lot at NHS is not the ideal place to be. Many students such as my associate and I, have resorted to staying in the school and waiting until the traffic has cleared out before we leave. This has proved to be a smart idea and allows us to leave with almost no traffic at all. Not only does this allow us to get home easier, but also lets us get a head-start on the homework that we have that night.

                The atrocities committed in the parking lot are almost uncountable, as every trip out into the lot reveals yet another way that the kids have figured out how to park their cars. The most recent parking fad is the “sideways in handicap zone” parking job which has become very popular (see photo below). Along with this, is the ever more popular trend of playing unattractive radio stations at max volume (Ke$ha is not what I want to hear at 7:30 in the morning). Because of this, earplugs sales have risen considerably since the beginning of the school year.

                So with this in mind I see two solutions available to us. One, revoke the driving privileges of every student at Northside; or, seeing as the former would be most impractical put reminders on the morning announcements and on the walls around school as to proper parking lot behavior. However, we should probably just use good manners and common sense… but we don’t see that happening anytime soon.

courtesy of McKee/Cheal Photography