Volume 3 Issue 4

Happy Valentines Day Rangers!

Index

News
News In Brief...pg.5
Finalists to complete in Clements
Idol...pg.5
ASA defines black history....pg. 6
Bye Bye Birdie hits Clements stage...
pg.6
Lifestyles
Take a trip to loves destinations....
pg. 7
What not to buy...pg.7
On screen love stories spark romance...pg. 8
Treat loved ones to homemade
meals...pg. 9
First date mistakes to be avoided...
pg.9
High school romance can
last,right?....pg. 10
Single on Valentines Day? No problem...pg. 10

Volume 3 Issue 4

Features
2015 major year for gamers...pg. 11
Vu prepares for new chapter after CHS...
pg.12
Hubert balances sport plus school...
pg.12
Right questions spark love flame...pg.13
Celebs lead way with crazy names...
pg.13
Perspectives
Valentines Day brings love...pg.16
Valentines Day just an excuse to make
money...pg.17

Sports
NBA reaches its 64th all star break...pg.
14
Reporter recalls AFL-NFL history....pg.
14
State defender looks to repeat...pg. 15
Princeton golfer swings to #1 ...pg.15
Voices
What is your number one gift choice?...
pg. 18
What is your New Years resolution?...
pg.18
Humans of Clements: Whats your most
memorable memory?...pg. 19

Publication Policy
The Round Up, a feature magazine published by the students in Clements High
Schools Magazine Journalism class, is a
designated forum for student expression.
The Round Up is distibuted to its readers
and the student body at no cost.

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could
go
here!

From the Editors desk

Red velvet recipe sweetens up Valentines Day

just want to add something a little
sweet, here is a red velvet hot chocolate recipe that will put some more
sugar into your relationship. This
hot chocolate recipe is mix free so
itll give you something a bit different. Plus, it is really simple if you
do not want something too difficult.

By LAURYN MERRIETT
Co Editor in Chief
With Valentines Day coming up
there is bound to be some of you
struggling to find the perfect gift for
your significant other. If you decide
to go the more personal route or you

First, you will need:

1 cup of skim milk
cup of chopped semi-sweet
chocolate chips
1-1/2 teaspoon of red food coloring
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Here are the steps:
1. Heat the milk over medium heat
2. Whisk in the chocolate and stir
until melted

3. Now stir in the food coloring

and the vanilla
The last step is simple, serve and enjoy your cup of chocolaty deliciousness. Put some whipped cream on top
along with some chocolate shavings
for a nice look and you are done. If
you want to do something a bit extra
you can make the whipped cream by
whipping cup of heavy cream, 1
tablespoon of powdered sugar, and
a teaspoon of vanilla. Also you
can class it up a little bit by putting
the hot chocolate into mason jars
with a candy cane for a minty kick.
If you dont like mint skip the candy cane and put in a colorful straw.
This recipe is tasty and scrumptious
and will gurantee a wonderful treat
for your signifigant other to enjoy.

Future out of reach, present touching fingertips

By SAMANTHA JREIJ
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Recently, for my birthday, someone
who knows me very well gave me a
birthday gift that fit me, but more interestingly, that made me think. The gift
is called a Buddha Board Mini. It is a
bit hard to explain, but basically it is just
a special type of paper propped up on a
canvas. It comes with a brush that you
dip in water and paint onto the canvas.
All of this seems relatively plain jane,
but theres another detail- a catch, if you
will. The masterpiece that you create
disappears after about thirty seconds
Now this may seem really silly to you,
but the Buddha Board Mini is not just
something hopeless artists and art enthusiasts hoard in their homes among
other such trinkets. It has a message.
Buddha Board Mini is inspired by the
Zen idea of living in the moment. You
simply paint on the surface with water
and your creation will come to life in
bold design. It is meant to teach you to

master the art of letting go, of living in

the moment. For example, one of the
symbols drawn as an example is Enso.
Enso infinite art gently encourages you
to value the here-and-now. Enso comes
from the Japanese word circle and is
a simple, single brushstroke that represents infinity and the flow of life. It
is an artistic expression of the moment.
This thoughtful gift made me think
about living in the moment. I sometimes
think too much, overthink and make myself anxious, usually about the future.
The future scares me, which I know is
clich, and typical, and maybe even a
little cowardly. The unknown scares humans, we like to know things, we like to
know what is going to happen to us; it
makes us feel safe. A lot of things in life
are not just terrifying but difficult; thinking too much can usually be traumatic.
Sometimes when our minds and thoughts
are not in the moment, the emotions of
the moment pass us by, they leave us and
you are left wishing you had been able

to experience all of those moments, but

more importantly, you are left wishing
you had been all there to experience all
of the emotions behind the moments.
I am a strong believer in feeling every
emotion we are meant to feel, and every
emotion that passes through us. To think
about the future and the fearful emotions
that come with it, instead of the emotions
of the present, seems like such a waste to
me. We cannot touch the future; it is and
always will be out of our grasp, but the
present is touching our palms right now.

NEWS

Finalists to compete in Clements Idol

By JAIDA SWANSON
Reporter
The annual Clements Idol talent
contest is set for Friday, Feb. 20 in the
auditorium at 7 p.m. Clements Idol is
an annual tradition started over a decade
ago. is loosely based on American Idol.
The difference between the two however,
is instead of having a set amount of
judges, the audience votes for the winner.
The tickets are five dollars and anyone

guest presenters who are seniors from

various clubs and organizations. The
voting process provides the audience
with a ballot to vote for their favorite
entertainer. The CTV staff counts votes
and announces the winner the same night.
It certainly is going to be an excellent
example of a talent show this year. I
feel it in my heart. Come out and see
some great acts, and my band Oddities
plays while you vote, said Lane

Maggie Zhang and Mary Parco

Jennica Shah, Eliana Ducay, and
Bianca Tan
Ooha Nakka
Natasha and Meghan Muppala
Zahrah Agha
Christopher Winters

News
in
brief
CHS is now offering FREE
student-led tutorials in core
classes on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 2:35 to 3:15
in the Upstairs Library. Look
for flyers around school to sign
up for tutorials or see Mrs.
Howell in room 2511 for more
information.

who attends gets to vote. It is open to the

general public. The auditions are held in
December and the CTV producers pick
ten acts to compete against each other.
Clements Idol is the Sistine Chapel
of high school talent shows. Its a classy,
yet playful experience worth much more
than the five dollar admission fee,
said Reilly Lenechek, CTV producer.
Clements Idol was created by the CTV
producers to raise fund for equipment for
their broadcast station. The talent show
accepts all sorts of acts as long as they
are school appropriate. Performers of
all types participate in Clements Idol,
such as: musicians, singers, dancers,
martial artists, and once there was
even a winning hand flute player. The
5 acts there will be introduced by

Glasscock, senior and CTV producer.

I hope a lot of people come, because
its great fun, and I am always amazed
at the amount of talent our school
has, said Linda Carroll, CTV sponsor.
The winner of Clements Idol along
with second and third place will receive
trophies. The winner however, gets the
bragging rights as the idol of Clements.
The stundent of Clements are
looking forward to the performance
of the Clements Idol finalists
Here are the finalists acts:
Yasin Bennett
David Nie
Sam and Leland Durley
Miles Noser
Emma Millard
AJ Gonzalez

Seven Clements choir

students were selected as
members of the 2015 Texas
Music Educators Association
All-State Choir. Womens
Choir:Shreya Bhadriraju,
Sindhu Sathees, Madeline
Gonynor, Anne Luquette. Mens
Choir: Matthew Cramerus
Mixed Choir: Mason Bynes and
Andrew Burgos
Six students qualified for
Theater Nationals recently.
They are: Elizabeth Kamla
Stage Management (qualified
with a perfect score), Macy
Marchand Monologue ,Patty
Lentz/Reyann Taylor Duet
Scene and Sienna Mendez/
Jordan Tannous Duet Musical.
Over 5,000 students competed.
photo by Jaime Rodriguez

ASA DEFINES BLACK HISTORY

By SANGEETHA PUTHIGAI
Voices Editor
On July 4th, 1776, the United States
of America declared itself independent
from Britain under the argument that
all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness. Though this country
was founded on equality, equality was
nonexistent for African Americans.
Their fight for equality is one of the most
powerful struggles in American history.
The many efforts of civil rights activists
from Sojourner Truth to Martin Luther
King Jr.have made a great impact on
society today, and many honor African
Americans fight for equality in the month
of February with Black History Month.
Clements High Schools African
American Students Association is a school
club that celebrates the African culture not
only in February, but also all year round.

We spread awareness about the

African culture and emphasize the need
for people to connect with their own
roots, said Michelle Egbuna, junior and
African American Students Association
volunteer coordinator. She and many
other members of the club see importance
in taking pride in ones own culture.

Photo Courtesy of Jaime Rodriguez

Black History Month celebrates mostly

civil rights movements that occurred in
America, but the fight for equality by
people of African culture has been a
worldwide movement. Egbuna believes
that Black History Month allows people
of African roots to reflect on their past.
Black History Month is important,
because it is a way for us to remember
the struggles African Americans
went through in our nation and the
struggles Africans have been through
in the world. It helps us reconnect
with our ancestors, said Egbuna.
From fighting for equality in South
Africa to fighting for freedom in
the United States of America, civil
rights activists efforts have proved
to be effective. During the month of
February, people are urged to reminisce
and appreciate the efforts of the strong
individuals who have fought for freedom
and equality and impacted society today.

Bye Bye Birdie hits Clements stage

Photo Courtesy of Jaime Rodriguez

By LISA NINAN
Ads Editor
Francesca Ghizzoni, senior, gives the
details on the upcoming musical from
February 6-9th at 7pm. Bye Bye Birdie is
based from the book by Michael Stewart,
lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by
Charles Strouse. The musical is a comedy

and is directed by Mrs. Louise Gerhards.

The storyline for Bye Bye Birdie
is about a man named Albert Peterson
who runs a music company named after
himself, his mother, and their deceased
dog mostly to please his mother out of
fear for her. The conflict of the play
arises from the fact that his talent,
Conrad Birdie, is joining the Army.
Conrad is insanely famous , but so many
are sad at his departure from the music
industry. However, the female lead,
Rosie is delighted at the fact that Albert
will finally have to come back to the real
world, establish their relationship, and
stop living for his mother. She comes
up with a scheme involving a young girl
from a town in Ohio, Kim, for one last
shebang for Conrad before he leaves..
In the music directed by Mrs.
Gerhards, the main roles are Albert
Peterson played by Justin Bindel and
Rosie Alvarez played by Madeline

Gonynor, Conrad Birdie played by

Luca Falcone, Kim MacAfee played
by Madeline Lebman, Hugo Peabody
played by Michael Hedges, and Harry
MacAfee played by Chris Cinquemani..
Ghizzoni plays the role of Doris MacAfee,
loving wife of Harry MacAfee, adoring
mother of Kim MacAfee, and unfortunate
mother of Randolph. Her favorite part
about the musical is that so many kids
from all over the school participate in it.
Its not just theatre, its a combination
of choir, dance, theatre, band, orchestra,
and many other kids from all around the
school and I love being able to share
the art form that I love so much with
many diverse people, Ghizzoni said.
The musical is a great way to support
the theatre group and watch our very
own Clements students perform.
Tickets will be sold either at lunch
for five dollars or at the door for
$10 for students and $12 for adults.

LIFESTYLES
Take a trip to loves destinations
By JAIDA SWANSON
Reporter
During Valentines Day there is a
chance to spend time with your significant other. It is expected that Valentines Day is memorable and romantic. Here are some ideas on where
to take a date for the special day.
Drive- In Movie: Drive- in movies are
very romantic and fun. It is a chance to
be with a date and watch a great movie
together. It is also a lot more creative and
thoughtful than just going toAMC theatres.
Perrys Steakhouse and Grill:
Although it is very expensive, it is also
a wonderful place to take your date
for Valentines Day. They serve great
American food that pleases many.
Gruene Hall: For couples who like to
dance, Gruene Hall is a wonderful dance
hall that allows both guys and girls to

have a fun time dancing with one another.

Galveston Beach: This is a classic,
fun getaway to do with a significant other. Beaches are very romantic, with the
warm sand, sun, and cooling water. Plus,
since it is February, there is a chance
to take a nice calming walk at night.
Ice skating: Ice skating is incredibly
fun and a sweet date to take a valentine. There is a rink right here in Sugar
Land. The most famous ice skating rinks
are in Memorial Mall and the Galleria.
Bowling Alley: Bowling is also
a classic and entertaining date for
Valentines Day.
A great bowling alley to go to is AMF bowling,
A picnic in one of the local parks can
be very romantic. Fill a basket with
fresh food, a nice tablecloth or blanket, and do not forget the flowers.
San Antonio River Walk: This is an

extraordinarily beautiful place to take a

valentines date. It is a nice and calming
place to walk with restaurants and shops
all by the famous San Antonio River.
Valentines Day is a special day to
cherish loved ones. Hopefully these
ideas will make Valentines Day as
great and as memorable as possible.

By LISA NINAN
Ads Editor
Valentines Day is the perfect time
to get a gift for your special one just
to show how much you appreciate
them in your life, but there are some
items that you dont want to get them.
Here are some gifts that you definitely should not get your significant other.
Gift cards-They are acceptable birthday presents for people you dont know
that well, like a distant cousin, aunt, or
uncle that lives far away and that you
dont know much about. However,
you should know enough about your
significant other to try a little harder.
Cologne/perfume-Unless the other person has specifically mentioned
a brand or perfume that they want or
like, dont do it. They may have an allergy you dont know about, some terrible memory tied to that perfume, strong

smells that might give them a headache, or they just may not like it. Not
only will they be embarrassed, but you
will too so it is definitely not worth it.
A giant stuffed animal-Stuffed toys

dating someone who is way too young

for you emotionally. Also, this gift will
take up valuable storage for which your
significant other and embarrass them
when their friends or parents come over.
Clothes-Clothes are not the best gift
to give your special one on Valentines Day. There are so many things
that can go wrong like if its too small,
the person might feel fat and if its
too big, they will think that you think
theyre fat, which is probably worse.
Valentines Day is a day for that special person to feel loved and cared for,
so getting them something special is the
right way to go. Try to think of something that you like about that person
and make it great so they can remember it when they think of you. Hopefully you know some gifts that you
should try to stay away from now so
you can have a great Valentines Day.

What NOT to buy

Photo Courtesy of Jaime Rodriguez

and animals are gifts for tweens or children, but for significant other, probably
not. A gift like this is a sign that you are

On-screen love stories spark romance

By SAMEEN SIDDIQUI
News Editor
February is symbolized by Valentines Day. What is a better way to kick
it off then by watching heart-clenching
movies that are bound to leave people in tears? These are the top 10 sappy movies that everyone will enjoy:
The Notebook- Allie was a city girl
from money, and Noah was a country
boy. The two spend the whole summer together but Allie is forced to move
and go to college although she was
willing to give it up for Noah. Seven
years pass and Allie meets and falls in
love with a wealthy soldier Lon. When
seeing Noahs picture in the paper, Allie is drawn back to him and has to
choose between her fianc and Noah.
Titanic- This epic movie tells the
events of a tragic night from the perspective of the fictional survivor,
Rose. As an old lady, she recounts her
story of love and disaster to a crew
searching for a lost diamond necklace.
The Fault in Our Stars- Hazel Grace
has lung cancer and her mother, Frannie, encourages her to go to a support group against her will. There she
meets Gus, who lost part of one leg
and they fall in love. While theyre
in Amsterdam, Hazel learns that

things are not like they seem to be.

Pretty Woman- Edward is a businessman
who specializes in taking over companies
and selling them off. He travels to LA for
a business trip and meets a woman. They
begin to like each other and he hopes
that she will stay with him for the week.
Safe Haven- Katie comes to North Carolina to avoid some personal ties. There,
she meets Alex, a widowed store owner
with two children. She realizes that she
has to choose between being reserved
and letting her guard down completely.
The Princess Bride- The story is a
classic tale of love and adventure as the
beautiful Buttercup is kidnapped and
held against her will in order to start
a war. It is up to Westley to save her.
On the way he meets a thief and his
hired helpers, an accomplished swordsman and a huge, super strong giant,
both of whom become Westleys companions in his quest to save Buttercup.
Love Actually- It is Christmas time
in England and many problems are occurring: some people are falling in love,
some are breaking up and some are desperately searching for someone to spend
the beautiful holidays with. This story revolves around eight characters that have
to see that love is actually all around.
The Lucky One- Logan is marine in Iraq
who finds a photo of a girl lying in the

street. When he returns to the US, he tries

to find the girl in the photo and finds out
that her name is Beth. He sees from photos that it was Beths brother who had the
photo and passed away. Eventually they
begin to like each other, but the deputy
sheriff, Beths ex husband, doesnt like it.
A Walk to Remember- Landon Carter, a
popular student with no defined plans for
the future, is held responsible for a prank
gone wrong and is forced to participate
in after-school community service activities as punishment. These include starring as the lead in the school play. Also
participating in these activities is Jamie
Sullivan, the reverends daughter.When
Landon decides he wants to take his activities seriously, he asks Jamie for help
and begins to spend most of his time with
her. But when a heart-breaking secret becomes known that puts their relationship
to the test, it is then that Landon and Jamie
realize the true meaning of love and fate.
When Harry Met Sally- Harry and
Sally first meet as they finish college in
Chicago and spend 18 hours together in
a car headed to New York. They dont
quite hit off, particularly after Harry
says that a man and a woman can never be just friends. Over the next 10 years
they share the intimate details of their
lives and in the process fall in love.

Treat loved ones to homemade meals

By EVELYN LAZARIS
Lifestyles Editor
Is there a dinner planned for a special
someone, but not sure what to make? Are
the few ideas ordinary instead of romantic? Here are the top ten things to cook
for a significant other on Valentines Day.
Shrimp Cocktail- For dinner it is essential to have an appetizer. Stay away
from mozzarella sticks and opt for a
more romantic option that sets the mood.
Milkshakes- The way to a girls heart
is chocolate- and lots of it. Do not forget the whipped cream and a cherry on top! To make a sweet gesture,
put two straws in one glass. Classic.
Steak- Light up the grill and get out a

kiss the chef apron! Steaks are a perfect

main entre for any romantic occasion.
Angel Hair Pasta- This dish is perfect for a Valentines dinner! Even
its name sounds magical. Prepare
the angel hair pasta with some garlic and rosemary and then top it off
with plenty of grated parmesan cheese.
Roasted Chicken- Spend time preparing
a roasted chicken with thyme and grounded black pepper. For the sides, green
beans and baked potatoes are perfect.
Spaghetti- One of the most iconic romantic dinner entrees is spaghetti. It is an easy course to prepare
and will leave both people satisfied.
Lasagna- Play it safe and make lasagna. Most people love it and it is a fairly
simple dish to make. Experiment with
different cheeses to get the perfect taste!
Salmon- Grilled salmon seasoned
with paprika and garlic is an entre
that can be both healthy and delicious at the same time. Do not forget
the sides! Asparagus and rice pilaf
go great with almost any type of fish.
Snicker doodles- While wait-

ing on the food, a couple can make

cookies together. How romantic!
Chocolate-covered strawberries- When
it comes time for desert, there is no going wrong with classic chocolate covered strawberries. It is easy and a delicious treat a significant other is sure to
love! Simply melt 16 ounces of chocolate chips in a double broiler and dip
the ends of the strawberries. To ensure
they come out perfect, place a toothpick
into the top of each strawberry and stick
them in some Styrofoam to cool off. If
desired, make designs on the strawberries with melted white chocolate for
a more professional look. Do not be
afraid to try this recipe on various other fruits like bananas and pineapple.
What better way to say I love you
than through food? This Valentines
Day, show a significant other appreciation by cooking them a meal that
comes from the heart. It does not matter
whether the food is cooked like a professional chef or has the quality of burn
cereal. If it comes from the right person, even macaroni can seem romantic.

Text messages and Instagram notifications

can wait. All attention should be focused
on the date. If one person is constantly
glancing at their phone, it shows a lack of
interest in forming a lasting relationship.

wants to feel as if they are applying for

a job on a first date. Instead of asking
a series of questions, a good idea is
to talk about things the couple has in
common. The conversation should be
mutual, not a one sided questionnaire.
Do not talk about controversial topics. It is okay to playfully argue over
trivial things like favorite sports teams,
but try not to bring up any world problems. The first date is not the place to
form a debate especially if there is hope
for the relationship to go anywhere.
Do not expect a date to pay the bill. This
goes for both guys and girls. The best
compromise is to offer to split it. Starting
off equal precipitates an equal relationship. If a date decides the other person is
paying however, he should just go with it.
Following these few tips will not guarantee a perfect first date. Anything could
happen. The most important thing to remember is to remain true to oneself. It
will keep the date from feeling forced.

FIRST DATE MISTAKES CAN BE AVOIDED

By EVELYN LAZARIS
Lifestyles Editor
First dates can be terrifying. Finding
a middle between small talk and deep
conversation about life plans is difficult. Take something too far or hold
back too much and there likely will
not be a second date. Here are a few
tips on what not to do on a first date.
Do not say I love you. The whole
point of a first date is to test the waters
and decide if there is any romantic chemistry between two people. No one is really ready for a serious relationship at this
point, and a declaration of love will scare
away most dates. There should not be
any pressure on either person into feeling something that is not really there.
Do not talk about exes. No one
wants to hear about ex-girlfriends or
boyfriends. It makes the date feel
crowded. There should only be two
people mentioned during a first date.
One should not use the phone too much.

Do not be late. First impressions are

everything. If one person shows up
late, it may seem as if the date is not
important to that person and could be
pushed back to wait on other plans.
Do not conduct an interview. No one

HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE CAN LAST, RIGHT?

By ALY BOBO
Ads Editor
It seems that once studnets enter the
doors of high school their quests for
love begin, but the love that is formed
always seems to fall apart. What are
people doing wrong and why arent these
relationships working? These relationships always seem to start out great,
but somewhere along the road someone becomes bored or unfaithful. Finding someone who makes you laugh and
puts a smile on your face is easy, but
keeping them around is the hard part.
It can be said that most high school
relationships come to an end, but it is
important to know the secret on how to
make them work while they last. Here
are some tips in order to maintain healthy
and happy relationships in high school.
The first and most important tip is to
find someone with the same maturity
level. Compatibility is found in how
one interacts with others and the immature class clown usually will not get

along too well with the more reserved

and shy focused individual. Maturity
also lies in priorities. Dating someone
who cares equally about college rather
than someone who only cares about their
next party is probably the better choice.
The second rule of successful high

school relationships is finding a common

ground and having common interests.
One meets people through their clubs
and activities and the people they share

things with are the people they enjoy being around. People say opposites attract,
but is it wise to spend so much time with
someone whose interests are so different?
The third rule of high school relationships is dont talk about high
school relationships. In other words
do not play out the relationship online. What happens between couples
should stay between couples. Involving others and the internet only leads
to rumors, annoyance, and arguments.
Fourthly, its important to learn how to
compromise, something that can be very
hard for teenagers. Putting someone elses
happiness first is a very hard concept to
grasp, but compromise is the direct way
to avoid arguments, which during the teen
years most always leads to break-ups.
The pressure to date increases tremendously when getting to high school and it
is easy to sacrifice a good relationship for
the sake of dating. So the next time a relationship comes about, consider these tips
and rules to make the relationship last.

Single on Valentines Day? No problem

By PATRICIA ANNE MANZINARES
Voices Editor
It is the month of love all over again
and some people do not have a significant
other to spend Valentines Day with. A
tip to start the month of love; do not ever
feel bad being single, because there are
some ups and downs being a single man/
woman. Here are a few suggestions what
to do if youre single on Valentines Day:
1.) No one has to be in a relationship to
make themselves feel special, before a
person can love another person, one must
start with oneself. For girls, treat yourself
with something good to make yourself
feel better such as: treating yourself with
a Starbucks coffee or maybe even getting a mani-pedi. For guys, buy yourself
a new video game or new kicks, something that will help make you feel better.
2.) Since Valentines Day falls on a
weekend this year, try spending the
day with friends doing something fun
like; going shopping, having a picnic, eating somewhere nice and ending the day watching rom-com movies.
3.) Forget all the heartbreaks in the past

and watch movies that are non-romantic or better yet watch movies that can
help ease the mood like action movies. Who knows maybe one can learn
how to do martial arts just by watching. Instead of watching a romantic
movie on Valentines Day, why not
try watching a new genre of movies.
4.) Stay Fit. Take a fun fitness class, martial arts or just go to the gym. It will make
a great past time and can help boost peoples mood and is considered healthy too!
5.) Last but not least, do not bring
yourself down just because couples
are everywhere. Remember that, Valentines Day is only celebrated for
a day. The best way to celebrate
Valentines is with family but, they
wouldnt want to be exchanging gifts?
Wouldnt they? So, instead of exchanging gifts with the family plan a secret Santa (Valentines Day style) with friends.
6.) Try something new, like reading
a book, learning to play a/an instrument, or maybe even try to play a new
sport. Who knows it might be one of the
things that can be a new favorite hobby.

7.) Spend time helping out, try going to a

childrens home, senior citizen center or
womens shelter. Help out the community by playing with the kids or cooking a
special dinner for those in need. A small
act of kindness is never a small thing.
8.) Bake some Valentines days treats and
sells them door to door or at school and
donate the proceeds to a favorite charity.
9.) Do a favor. Make a friend or someone
who has been down smile by just simply giving them compliments or a gift.
10.) Go to a spa and get a massage.

Features
2015 major year for gamers

photo by http://zelda.com/majoras-mask/
By WILL HERNANDEZ
Reporter
With 2014 behind us, millions of gamers
have been looking to what is ahead. The
PS3/Xbox 360/Wii generation is mostly in the past. Although, a few games
here and there are still being developed
for them. But 2015 is an important year
for many, as the PS4, Xbox One, and Wii
Us capabilities will be fully explored,
both visually and gameplay-wise. Here
are three games that have people in a
frenzy. All are set to come out this year:
It is safe to say that after Nintendos
11/5/14 Nintendo Direct, The Legend of
Zelda: Majoras Mask 3D is everyones
most anticipated game of this year, at
least for Nintendo fans. The reaction it
got all over the games industry and media is evident of that. Majoras Mask
was originally released on the Nintendo
64 during the consoles late stages. Being overshadowed by the PS2s release,
most never got to experience Majoras
Mask as they did with its predecessor,
Ocarina of Time. It also did not help its
case that it was not an Ocarina of Time
clone. Nintendo went for a tone that
was dark, creepy, and just straight-up

different from every prior Zelda release.

Since then, it has gone on to garner a
huge fanbase, some even citing the ever
so eerie game as their favorite Zelda...
ever. Following the release of Ocarina of Time 3D, Zelda fans wanted the
same new-school treatment that fan-favorite Ocarina of Time got. Fans even
went as far as to start a petition asking
Nintendo to make a Majoras Mask 3D,
called Operation Moonfall. After three
long years of begging, and easter eggs by
Nintendo, Majora's Mask 3D was finally announced for a Spring 2015 release.
The fun picks back up this summer.
Batman fans around the world rejoiced
when Rocksteady Studios announced the
sequel to the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham City. Batman: Arkham
Knight -- exclusive to PS4 and Xbox
One -- picks up one year after the events
of Arkham City. Batman is back to
take on his final adventure in the Rocksteadys original universe. The Arkham
franchise, dating back to Arkham Asylum, has been consistently praised for
its free-flowing, responsive, and exciting combat. With the power of PS4 and
Xbox One, Rocksteady has said that

theyll push Arkham Knight to its limits, continuing to define what a Batman
game should be. After getting hit with a
huge delay, Batman: Arkham Knight will
smash its way into stores on June 2nd.
And to cap-off the list, it is only appropriate to mention Naughty Dogs newest
game. The fourth game in the Uncharted
franchise, Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End.
Naughty Dog launched their way into
gamings rear-view mirror with the PlayStation smash-hit trilogy, Crash Bandicoot. Since, they have gone to make the
Jak & Daxter trilogy, the Uncharted trilogy, and latest release, The Last of Us.
Many regard Naughty Dog as the best
developer in the mix. Among them being Colin Moriarty of IGN (the biggest
video-game-dedicated website). Like
Arkham Knight, A Thiefs End is set to
end Uncharteds legacy. Uncharted is a
third-person shooter, action-adventure,
puzzle, platform game. Previous releases, such as Uncharted 2, have amazed
critics and fans for telling an impressive movie-like story, while not kicking gameplay to the curb, but embracing it as well. Uncharted 4: A Thiefs
End currently has a 2015 release date.

11

Vu prepares for new chapter after CHS

Photo cred: Jaime Rodriguez

By PATRICIA ANNE MANZINARES

Voices Editor
A determined and hardworking
student, Alexis Vu has high hopes in
pursuing a career in dentistry and to one
day open her own dental practice.
"I would also like to help run a den-

tal charity that travels to developing

countries and provide dental care for the
people there, she said.
The classes that Vu is currently taking
are: Calculus AB, Scientific Research
and Design, AP Environmental Science,
AP Statistics, AP English 4, and PALS.
She is also a part of Student Council,
Diversity Club, Science NHS, National
Honor Society, Spanish NHS, Generation Youth Humanitarian Organization,
and DECA.
"I think the most impactful clubs
for me were StuCo, Generation, and
DECA, said Vu.
As a senior that is finally graduating
this year and starting a new chapter of
her life, she feels bittersweet about her
departure from high school.
"I loved my time at Clements and I
have made friends that have become
like a second family to me. It will be
hard to say goodbye to everyone, but I
am excited to start a new chapter in my
life," Vu said.

Despite all of the knowledge learned

in class here at Clements, Vu will also
be leaving with valuable life skills.
"Clements definitely taught me how to
be responsible and how to balance my
time between schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and a social life.," said Vu.
In ten years she sees herself pursuing her dental career, traveling the
world, still watching Netflix, hopefully
getting married, and making memories
with loved ones.
A role model is a person that inspires
fellow travelers on their journey.
"My role model is my mom because
she taught me that hard work and kindness will help me achieve my goals and
be happy, said Vu.
For Vu, her best memory throughout
her four years in high school was setting
up for homecoming this year, getting
involved in the whole process of painting the sets for the Wizrd Oz theme, and
seeing it all come together with the rest
of the student council.

Hubert balances sport plus school

Photo cred: Jaime Rodriguez

By SANGEETHA PUTHIGAI
Voices Editor
Tyler Hubert is a well-rounded member of this years senior class. He plays
outside left mid on our schools noteworthy soccer team. Soccer has been a
center point in his life for a while now.
Ive been playing it since about the
sixth grade, said Hubert.
After his soccer career began, Hubert
has excelled on the field. He owes his
interest in the sport to a well-known
soccer player.
Ever since I was a little boy and started watching Messi, I was inspired to
play, said Hubert.
Messis impact on Huberts life is
everlasting when seeing Huberts success with the sport. Hubert regards the
teams success at state last year as his
most rewarding experience. He has no

doubt that the team will grow together

like a family this year.
I feel that were all new to each
other this year, but after a couple weeks
of practice, were going to be a great
squad, said Hubert.
Making the varsity team is not an easy
task because it is very competitive, for
this reason, he regards making the team
the biggest hurdle he jumped in his
soccer career. Hubert does have some
peculiar traditions when it comes to
preparing for a game.
I eat a bucket of fried chicken from
Popeyes, said Hubert.
He might take this tradition all the
way to college as he hopes to play
Division 1 soccer while studying to be
an engineer. If offered the opportunity
to play soccer as a profession, he would
leap at it, but if not, he would be happy

pursuing a career in the engineering

field. Apart from soccer, Hubert manages his grades and life in a balance.
He is an active member of National
Honor Society, too.
Tyler Hubert has earned many memories these past years in Clements in
soccer, in school and in all aspects of
his life.

right questions spark love flame

Psychologist and researcher Arthur

Aron conducted a study on how people
can fall in love. He had two strangers
enter a room through two separate
doors and sit in chairs facing each other. They then took turns asking and
answering a series of questions which
took about 45 minutes. After this, they
were told to stare into each others
eyes for four minutes without talking.
This couple eventually married. This
magazine does not imply that this will
happen to readers, but for fun, here
are some of the questions in order:
1. Given the choice of anyone in the
world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
2. Would you like to be famous? In
what way?
3. Before making a phone call, do you
ever rehearse what you're going to
say? Why?
4. What would constitute a perfect day

for you?
5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
6. If you were able to live to the age
of 90 and retain either the mind or
body of a 30-year old for the last 60
years of your life, which would you
choose?
7. Do you have a secret hunch about
how you will die?
8. Name three things you and your
partner appear to have in common.
9. For what in your life do you feel
most grateful?
10. If you could change anything
about the way you were raised, what
would it be?
11. Take four minutes and tell you
partner your life story in as much
detail as possible.
12. If you could wake up tomorrow
having gained one quality or ability,
what would it be?

By HAANIYA DAWOODALLY
Copy Editor
In the past, when it comes to baby
names, people used traditional names
from previous centuries, but times have
changed. Today we see people creating
new traditions by naming their children
with unique monikers. They are starting
to create what many people consider
crazy names, and celebrities are leading
the way in this naming fad.
Sixties rocker Frank Zappa named his
sons Dweezil and Ahmet and his daughters Moon Unit and Diva Thin Muffin.
Because he is a big fan of comic
books, actor Nicholas Cage named his
son Kal-El.
U2s leader singer, Bono, named his
child Memphis Eve in tribute to the
Tennessee town.
Daughter of Beyonc and Jay Z, Blue
Ivy was born in 2012 and named after
Jay Zs favorite color and their favorite
number, IV.
Daughter of Kim Kardashian and
Kanye West, North Wests name is
arguably one of the strangest names out

there.
The son of Alicia Keys is named
Egypt. It is common for children to be
named after a location, but it is usually
Ireland, London or India.
Years ago, actors Bruce Willis and
Demi Moore named their girls Rumer, Scout, and Tallelulah, while Ashlee
Simpson and Pete Wentz named their son
after a New York borough and a fictional
character Bronx Mowgli.
The daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow certainly has a special name - Apple. Being
named after this fruit has not been done
before, but the name Cherrie or Cherry is
not so unique.
Michael Jackson named his youngest
son Blanket, while Jacksons brother,
Jermaine Jackson named his son Jermajesty. Lil Kim followed that by naming
her daughter Royal Reign.
In keeping with these unique names,
here are some names that make you go
what? and are suddenly appearing in the
general public.
Slate

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the

truth about yourself, your life, the
future or anything else, what would
you want to know?
14. Is there something that you've
dreamt of doing for a long time?
Why haven't you done it?
15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
16. What do you value most in a
friendship?
17. What is your most treasured
memory?
18. What is your most terrible memory?
19. If you knew that in one year
you would die suddenly, would you
change anything about the way you
are now living? Why?
20. What does friendship mean to
you?
21. What roles do love and affection
play in your life?

Celebs lead way with crazy names

Lava
Dice
Clove
Hawk
Lemon
Snow
The tradition of naming babies
Mary, John, and Susie may be replaced as the baby-naming pendulum
swings to the far-out and unusual.

13

SPORTS
NBA reaches its 64th All-Star break
By SANTIAGO DIAZ-ARAUZO
Sports Editor
The NBA season has reached its AllStar Break. Its February and we are
excited to see what players will rise
and show us their true beauty and skill.
On February 13th, the Celebrity Game
starts which features many favorite,
athletic celebrates, such as last years
Kevin Hart and Maya Moore. At the
Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y, The
Rising Stars Challenge showcases the
NBAs best rookies and sophomores in
a high-scoring game with enough jawdropping highlights to perfectly cap
off the first night of All-Star weekend.
On February 14th, The NBAs best
guards will be in the spotlight during
the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as
players will compete in a two-round
timed obstacle course consisting of

dribbling, passing and shooting stations.

The 3-point shooting contest will also
reappear consisting of players competing
on the clock, in the clutch, to win the
renowned trophy which belongs to
the best three-point shooter. Finally,
the center of it all, the famous SlamDunk contest will concur while players
battle for the most favorable dunk and
hall-of-fame judges choose the winner.
The stars then meet on February 15th
to take place in the 64th all-star game.
These stars will represent their individual
conference and participate in what looks
to be a high-scoring, magnificent game.
A midseason showcase for the NBA, the
2015 All-Star Game will feature 24 of
the leagues brightest stars. Stars such
as Lebron James and Kevin Durant will
battle off to take home the all-star game
trophy. Last year, Kyrie Irving, of the

Cleveland Cavaliers, took home all-star

MVP and looks to take it once again.
In the end, the NBA Season will resume
on February 19th, while Dallas plays
at OKC and San Antonio plays the LA
Clippers. These two games look to be
exciting and will continue the spark in the
NBA season which makes viewers cringe.
Photo Courtesy of the NBA

Reporter recalls AFL-NFL history

By WILL HERNANDEZ
Reporter
Before Doritos commercials, It was
Super Bowl I, at the time dubbed as
the AFL-NFL World Championship
Game, where the winning team of
both the AFL and NFL would battle
it out for glory, and to prove which
league was better, once and for all.
1967 was just the beginning. Once the

Photo Courtesy of NFL

AFL and NFL completed their merger

to make the NFL in 1970, the league
spiraled into the entertainment giant that
it is today. But before the Super Bowl
was made into an unofficial American
holiday, garnering 115.3 million views,
and known as the second-largest day for
food consumption in the US, it was in the
midst of a battle against its rival league.
The National Football League started
in 1920, and made it forty years before
facing any real competition. While many
football leagues tried to compete, none
got as close as the American Football
League, established in 1959.
The
AFL was created by Lamar Hunt and
his son H.L., after getting rejected by
the NFL. It was only a matter of time
until the NFL took notice, and when
Quarterback Joe Namath signed with an
AFL team over the NFL, a real rivalry
between the two leagues started to form.

It only took one year after the fact to

call it a truce. The AFL made it very
clear that they were not going anywhere,
and the NFL had no choice but to set up
a merger between them in 1966. Both
leagues decided join forces in one allencompassing draft, and have a game at
the end of the season, pitting the winners
of their respective leagues against each
other. Thus, the Super Bowl was born.
The Green Bay Packers of the NFL
won the first two Super Bowls, only
confirming what most already knew:
The AFL was the inferior league.
Although the modern NFL is almost
a completely different league, thanks
to the recent safety concerns, and
emphasis on offense, the spirit of the
game remains the same. Hard work,
talent, blood, sweat, payoff when the best
team in the NFL is given their Lombardi
Trophy, and ride into the sunset.

State defender looks to repeat

By MEGHAN BEYTEBIERE
Copy Editor
Between balancing academics and
athletics, a hard job for any high school
student, is to know how to plan time for
other activities outside of school. From
being a member of last years soccer team
that went all the way to state, to doing
well in classes, it seems that Nash Cole,
senior, has figured it out in this school.

Cole participates in soccer as

his sole sport and proves that it is
important to be involved in what
matters to a person. He emphasized
that practicing as much as possible was
important for success in any activity.
As advice to other fellow athletes, Cole
said, Practice as much as you can, because
come game time, you have to be prepared.
For any athlete it is important
to have a good support system of
family, friends, or for Cole, both.
My family and friends are very
important to me. They love coming
to my games and supporting me
in every way possible, said Cole.
Along with having a support system
in place, an athlete needs certain
qualities to make it through the
training that comes with any sport.
Determination, self-confidence,
focus, and aggressiveness, said Cole.
These are the qualities that make

up an athlete that is ready to work at

practice and compete in games to win.
While it may require commitment to
get things done earlier and sacrificing
time from other areas to complete
all assignments, Cole believes it is
worth it to stay focused on studies.
There are times when it can be hard
to balance to school and athletics. I
finish my school work right after
Im done with practice, said Cole.
With a work ethic such as this, Cole
should be able to achieve his goals that
he has set for himself after high school.
I plan on furthering my career
in soccer at the
University of
North
Carolina,
said
Cole.
After last years successful soccer
team, and the win at State, Coles
greatest moment at Clements, this
year he has hopes of being a part of an
equally winning team with members
who work hard both on and off the field.

By SAMEEN SIDDIQUI
News Editor
Amber Wang is not an ordinary student.
She is involved in NHS and participates
in golf both outside and inside of school.
I love the game because it is so
challenging, which is what makes
the reward so sweet, said Wang.
Currently, she is number one in the
state for high school golf, and the team
is third. She has competed nationally
against the best of the best high
school golfers and is in the top 100.
Excelling in sports is not her
only accomplishment. Wang has
also been accepted to Princeton
University where she plans to
continue pursuing her passion of golf.
Senior year is definitely my favorite.
The academics are still hard, but I have
a lot more time on my hands to explore
what I enjoy and spend time with friends
before we all part our ways, said Wang.
Her most challenging experience
would be junior year due to
balancing
her
arduous
studies

On the other hand, her most memorable

experience is this years first Varsity
Girls HS tournament at River Ridge,
where they won the entire tournament.
and she thinks it is fun to be around them.
For freshmen, I would definitely
tell them to enjoy their time in high
school, but make sure to work hard
and succeed in their studies. Time
management is crucial, said Wang.
She wants to be remembered for
being one of the best golfers to
graduate from CHS along with Portland
Rosen. She dreams of winning state.
My inspirations for achieving my
goals would be my mom. She dedicates
her life and time to me, molding me into
the person I am today. She comes to
every one of my tournaments, schedules
everything I need to do, and pushes me to
my potential in both academics and golf.
Everything she does is for me, and I really
want to make her proud, said Wang.
After high school, she plans to
major in economics at Princeton and
be on her way to grad school. She is

not completely sure about what she

would like to do, but playing golf
professionally could be a possibility.
Amber hopes to be a role model for
future Clements female golfers. She
believes with hard work comes success
and her motto in life is to work hard, do
her best, and have a good time. It is very
evident in her many achievements
over the past four years that she
truly strives to be the best and will
succeed in her future upcomings.

Photo Courtesy of Jaime Rodriguez

Princeton golfer swings to #1

Photo Courtesy of Jaime Rodriguez

Perspectives

Valentines Day brings love

By JAIDA SWANSON
Reporter
Everyone needs a feel good holiday,
especially one that validates feelings
people have for each other. Valentines
Day is a holiday that celebrates love and
happiness. On Valentines Day, people
can show their
true appreciation
for their
significant
others
and to
friends.
Appreciation is
expressed
through
gifts, such as
flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and other tokens. It is
a special day to make grand gestures and
acts of love for people kept close at heart.
Not only does it feel great to give a gift
to the person or multiple people, but it is
a simple way to express love. In short,
the world needs Valentines Day.
Valentines Day is also beneficial to the
economy. In 2014, it is estimated that
Valentines Day contributed around 17.3
billion dollars to the United States economy. This holiday helps local businesses such as candy stores, flower shops,
grocery stores, and restaurant obtain
a surplus of customers, which in turn,
creates a surplus of profit. From Edible
Arrangements to local, high end restaurants, the holiday is an important factor
for businesses financially.
Valentines Day also helps schools. All
across the country, carnations and singing

valentines are paid for by thousands of

students. This is usually a huge fundraiser for the campus and provides money
for improvements in the school such as:
technology, textbooks, and even expand-

For example, when a person likes

someone, they can show their love as
a secret admirer by sending flowers or
gifts, or maybe find the courage to ask
their crush out on a date. It gives people

ing the school.

The
holiday also
builds self-esteem. Having a boyfriend
or girlfriend during Valentines Day is
rewarding, and it is a wonderful experience to receive and give gifts. It does not
matter if they are romantic or not, it is the
thought that counts.
Even without a date, the holiday is a
chance to realize that love is all around,
even if it is not romantic. There are
still family and friends that adore and
appreciate each other. It can even be a
way to teach people to love themselves.
Valentines Day also builds confidence.

the chance to
be brave and
spontaneous.
The world
needs more
love. This holiday is a vital time
that brings out the
compassion and
devotion in everyones
surroundings. What more
wonderful way is there
than to celebrate positive
feelings through Valentines
Day?

Perspectives
Valentines Day just excuse to make money
By HAANIYA DAWOODALLY
Copy Editor
Over the years, Valentines Day has
turned into an excuse to appreciate everything and everyone. Setting aside one day
out of 365 is not enough to appreciate
everything one person has.
Dating back to the 5th century, Valentines Day is named for a Christian
martyr, Valentinus. A popular account
of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he
was imprisoned for performing weddings
for soldiers who were forbidden to marry
and for ministering to Christians, who
were persecuted under the Roman Empire. Then in the 18th century, it evolved
into an occasion where lovers expressed
their love for each other by presenting
flowers and other gifts.
Today, society has turned Valentines
Day into a money making industry and
uses the holiday as an excuse to sell
cheap and useless things.
Buying gifts and planning the perfect
night can sometimes be expensive. Peo-

ple are losing the true meaning of what

Valentines Day is meant to be. Instead
of appreciating other people, most are using each other to receive gifts. Everyone
wants the most expensive gift instead of
appreciating who it came from. Instead
of judging gifts by how big and expen-

sive they are, people should be thankful

for what they get and from whom it
comes.
Not everyone has a valentine, so for
the people who spend it alone, self-esteem and confidence is lowered significantly on this holiday. People feel as if
it is necessary to have a valentine/significant other to truly experience happiness
on Valentines Day. Also, people lower
their standards to get anything just to
prove that they have someone to celebrate this occasion.
In conclusion, Valentines Day is a day
that should be about love and thankfulness. Instead, society has turned it into a
day for gift receiving and boasting about
love. Instead of using Valentines Day
as an excuse to appreciate others, try
doing little things to show how important others are. Go out of the way to try
something new to surprise loved ones.
Try being unexpected. Valentines Day
should actually have meaning or else it
should be uncelebrated.

Voices

Act out a common scene froma movie like The

Notebook, because that scene is a universal
symbol of love,
Rhea Kapadia, senior.

Hot air balloon, parachute into a pool of fluffy

twinkies and have a rose in your mouth and then
spend the rest of the night eating twinkies,
Mitchell Nguyen, sophomore.

Go to a public event and call her out and embarass her like I did at Ranger Camp,
Ronnie Kuriakose, senior.

You take them on a parachute then you push

them off. Then catch them, and you say, will you
be my boyfriend?
Sanjana Vasudevan, junior.

One of my boyfriends put it in a fortune cookie

when they went to P.F. Changs,
Alex Keene, junior.

Whats the most

creative way to ask
someone out?

Get a really big poster with the persons name

on it and give her flowers,
Elijah Lawson, freshman.

With a pizza, spell out date me or leave me

alone,
Joe Van Smirren, sophomore.

Pizza,
Sarah Fung, freshman.

Humans of Clements

No, because I think its ridiculous to fall in love

with someones looks, you have to look in their
heart,
Phillip Dillard, freshman.

Not really, because you cant get to know someone

based in first impressions,
Valerie Lim, junior.

Yes, I believe in love and the power it has. Love is a

force or some sort of presence that can touch you
and bring people together,
Travis Angle, junior.

Do you believe in
love at first sight?

No, I dont because you need to get to know the

person first,
Sakshi Anuja, sophomore.

I believe in love at first sight because of that

feeling you get when you see them,
Janine Khalil, freshman.

Yeah, because theres attraction between two

people,
Hunter Machmer, freshman.

No, because I met this girl and I thought it was

love ,but she wasnt who I thought she was,
Ray Elias, sophomore.

I personally havent experienced love at first

sight, so not really,
Selin Wayne, senior.

The ultimate ornament.

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11/11/14 3:45 PM