The Official Student Newspaper of Braswell High School @TheBengalBeat
JANUARY 15, 2021 || Aubrey, Texas || Vol. 5 || No. 2
Student-teacher burnout
Ready for 6A season Austin Kiser, Staff Writer After falling short, 40-36, to Mansfield Timberview in last year’s playoffs, the boys varsity basketball team is on a mission to be state contenders. For this reason, head coach Nicholas Sekeres has high hopes for his boys this upcoming season. SEE SPORTS ON PAGE 6
Students and teachers are starting to feel burnt out at the end of the first semester due to pressures of working under COVID restrictions. Courtesy of Unsplash/Fred Kearney
Nhan Nguyen, Staff Writer As the beginning of a new semester inches closer, students and teachers are already feeling burnout due to the mounting pressures of quarantine, school and
work.
Since March 2020, students and teachers have been trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by self-isolating. This means some students are learning and teachers are teaching remotely.
SEE NEWS ON PAGE 5
The varsity boys basketball team huddles during a timeout to prepare for the next play. Photo by Yearbook/Vicky Figueroa SEE BIOS ON PAGE 2
Queen speaks to the young ladies
Courtesy of Unsplash/Jakayla Toney
Janaye Sweat, Staff Writer Texas surpassed one million cases of COVID-19, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). In addition, the state’s average of COVID cases increased to 13,876 cases per day. With cases continuing to be on the rise, the debate on whether Texas should not shut down SEE OPINION ON PAGE 5
Courtesy of Unsplash/Brett Jordan
Najah Harris, Staff Writer Seniors, the big dogs of the school, are getting ready for college. The first semester is ending, graduation is getting closer,and college is in sight. Three seniors, Laci Scheefer, Whitley Curtis, and Sydney Freeman are ready for the next stage of their school careers. SEE LIFESTYLE ON PAGE 8
BENGAL BIOS Page 2
THE BENGAL BEAT Editor-in-Chiefs Aaliyah Breedlove Reagan Netherland
Staff Members Ericka Anderson Amiah Bell Madison Cardenas Caleb Davis Diego Gonzalez Jasmine Guzman Najah Harris Ramayah Jackson Austin Kiser Lindsey Krause Emmanuella Mbonu Miranda Newton Nhan Nguyen Halle Perry Hailey Redden Myrical Roberts Alexys Rodgers Mia Romani Mahnoor Sadiq Janaye Sweat Tyler Thomas Reece Thompson Da-Kwuon Walters
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
Positivity leads to opportunity BIOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Diego Gonzalez, Staff Writer High school senior, Daisy Nguyen, won the title of Homecoming Queen after a long anticipation for the results. Nguyen was very hesitant about running and actually got the idea from her friends. She decided she should at least give it a chance. “To be frank I was not confident at all,” Nguyen said.“I ran for fun since it was my senior year and thought I would do something out of my ordinary.” Nguyen was surprised to even make it through the first round as a nominee. She became more nervous as announcement day approached. Finally, during her first period class, she heard the announcement; she won. “The whole experience was hard to sink in because it all happened so fast and unexpectedly,” Nguyen said. She had felt overwhelmingly positive and, of course, so did everyone close to her. “My mom was probably the
Faculty Adviser
Phyliciá Anderson panderson@dentonisd.org 972-347-7746 To pitch a story or learn more about school advertising options, please email bengalbeat16@gmail.com. Daisy Nguyen wears her tiara after being elected homecoming queen. Photo by Yearbook/Ariana Davis
most excited,” Nguyen said. “It was all over her Facebook and she called everyone she knew here, as well as family and friends in Vietnam, too.” Nguyen had a lot of people believing in her, one being her close friend for the last seven years, Fariha Ahmed. Ahmed continued to encourage Nguyen throughout her entire campaign. “When homecoming queen comes to mind, I think about someone who is charismatic, has lots of school spirit and has a goal to set a foundation for the school,” Ahmed said. “That’s exactly who Daisy is.” Needless to say, the entire process was an adventure that Nguyen will never forget going forward. After high school, she will go on to study biochemistry and work as a physician’s assistant. However, she will miss the exciting experiences she had while at Braswell. “I’ll definitely miss the memories. My favorite part would have to be being able to establish culture and legacy in such a young school,” Nguyen said. “Being captain of the cheer program has also taught me so much and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.” Leading her cheer team, looking after her siblings, and remaining her authentic self to everyone around her has made her the leader she is today. Nguyen also has very high hopes for the young ladies in high school working to be their best selves today. “The biggest advice that I stand by is to be yourself,” Nguyen said., “You will be there for you until the end of time and no one else. Get out of your comfort zone because that is the only way you will grow into the best version of yourself. Lastly, have fun. High school is not meant to stress you out. Come in with a positive attitude and I promise positive opportunities will come your way. Good luck to all my ladies out there.” #
IN THE KNOW
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
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First you have-ta FAFSA
Students are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA to help them afford the expenses associated with getting a college education. Courtesy of Unsplash/Alexander Mills
Aaliyah Breedlove, Editor-in-Chief
Various amounts of money have been lost by parents and even students throughout 2020 due to the pandemic restricting along with reducing the availability of gaining a job and being able to work. Because of this, many students question where they are going to get the money to pay for college expenses such as room & board, book fees, tuition, and many other expenses. FAFSA can be used to help with these expenses and is easily accessible online. However, it is important for those completing the form to remember there are two parts to the application where students are asked to complete an
information section and the parents/guardians complete a separate information section. “The FAFSA is the most important step in seeing what type of federal aid you qualify for,” guidance counselor Sarah Morales said. “Money awarded from the FAFSA can be combined with other scholarships, grants, etc. to pay for school.” The U.S.Department of Education looks at the household’s income along with many other contributing factors which can help predetermine what the expected contribution might be. The application then bases whether families and students are awarded with free money in the form of grants, part-time work opportunities where earnings go toward costs
of school, or even lowinterest student loans. “Although loans can be daunting, these loans often have much lower interest rates than the loans you would get from a private borrower like another bank or loan company,” said Ms. Morales. Completing the FAFSA isn’t a challenge as long as students are prepared in advance by having gathered all of the required documents needed to complete the application. For example, it would be beneficial to have a guardian nearby when filling out the parent/ guardian section of the form. “Do not use your student email address as your email address for your FAFSA ID because you will need to complete the FAFSA each year you are in school,” Ms. Morales said, “and once you graduate high school, your school email address is deleted and you lose access.” Students are also encouraged to pay attention to the deadlines. The application for the 2021-2022 incoming college freshmen opened Oct. 1, 2020, with the priority deadline being today, Jan. 15. However, the application will remain open until June 30. Next year’s seniors are encouraged to complete the application prior to the
January deadline to ensure the most money as funds are distributed on a first come first serve basis. “It is important to keep deadlines in mind while filling out the FAFSA,” Ms. Morales said. “Thankfully, for any difficult questions or general confusion, we have amazing resources available to our students to help families complete the FAFSA.” One fact that is not well known, is students have a choice as to whether or not they would like to accept all of the money or loans they are awarded, and can choose to accept just a portion or all of it. “For example, if you only qualify for loans, you do not have to accept any loans or you can even accept just partial amounts of loans,” Ms. Morales said. “There is no harm in completing the FAFSA even if you do not accept the award. It is okay if your financial circumstances change after completion.” Although it is easy to get caught up in the whirlpool that came from 2020, with a new year just beginning, it is time to start thinking about the future. This future beginning with filling out the FAFSA and gaining financial benefits towards achieving the goal of a college education. #
IN THE KNOW Page 4 FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
Dream big when scheduling classes for next year Miranda Newton, Staff Writer Elementary school is when people have their own ideas and dreams set on interests, but the amazing thing about high school is not always having to keep the same dreams. Most schools give students the chance to choose different electives every year in order to find out what they’re truly interested in. There are millions of jobs to choose from after high school, and although sometimes schools don’t have the certain classes to take for it, setting up a class schedule with things that are of interest is half the fight. “It’s important to set up your schedule because you have the choice to try different things,” sophomore Jorja Krumnow said. However, people that are uncertain about what they’re interested in are open to talk to their counselors about their options and to learn more about career pathways.
“I believe it’s good to keep your career pathway for most of high school. However, it’s okay to change your mind about your career pathway,” guidance counselor Julius Booth said. “Sometimes, we do not know we dislike a particular career pathway until we gain first-hand experience. That’s all a part of finding your career.” Although high school is mostly setting everyone up for the real world, students looking to go to college should be mindful of their grades and performance in difficult classes like honors and AP. “With AP/honors it depends on how you feel you would do in a higher level class,” Krumnow said. “I think it’s a good idea to challenge yourself to them.” Taking classes at the Advanced Technology Complex (ATC) is also a good way to get hands-on learning and has more than 30 career pathways helping students get educated on what careers are like.They also prepare students for the workforce or for future education in college. As well,
the instructors are very attentive and committed to providing students with a hands-on experience. “People should join the ATC because it really helps you learn all the material you need,” junior Jaden Morrison said. Playing a sport also positively affects a student’s chances for college and sometimes keeping on top of grades in order to play in the games motivates students to do well. So, whether students plan on going to college or just want to get a highschool credit, high school should be an enjoyable experience. “Think about what you would like to do after graduation and align your schedule to your career goals,” Mr. Booth said. “If you’re not sure what you would like to do after graduation, select classes that interest you. This allows you to see what careers you’re up for.” #
Family gatherings decrease as COVID increases Alexys Rodgers, Staff Writer When COVID-19 hit in March, a lot of things changed for everyone. People could no longer cheer on their favorite team or gather in their favorite restaurant. Standing six feet away seemed like a mile when missing out on family gatherings and game nights with friends. The government mandated the shut down in hopes of lowering the number of active cases. However, some families felt more distant than others when, in a few cases, mothers had to separate from their children in order to quarantine after being exposed to the virus. “When my mother got [COVID], I realized how bad this was seeing her in so much pain and being so sick for two weeks,” sophomore Aiden Keller said. “All of us in our house had to wear a mask. It was so stressful wondering if she would be okay and if I would be as well.”
Although COVID has affected daily tasks and activities, many saw the greatest effect around the holidays. Where families used to have loads of people over, many recognized the need to cut back in order to be safe. “We have a small collection of people that we have over to our house: both of my parents and two different coaches that we work with regularly and their kids,” English teacher Stefani Moore said. “My kids are in school with their kids, we ride to the games together; they are basically an extension of our family.” Sometimes most wish there was a reverse button or a way they could change everything that has happened with COVID. “I want a normal, happy life like how we thought it would be as kids,” Keller said. As most of us are hoping for a quick end to COVID, there are ways to make family gatherings safe during this
pandemic. “Nothing has really changed for us,” Keller said, “we just have to make sure we all wash our hands more often.” Keller said. Many considered the negatives of the impact COVID has on family gatherings, but by taking the proper safety precautions all was not lost during the holiday season. “I love family gatherings,” Mrs. Moore said. “Family is life for me. It allows us a time to celebrate all the little things in life together.” #
Friends gather for holiday fun. Courtesy of Unsplash/Samantha Grades
IN THE KNOW
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
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COVID requirements cause stress in academia NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“I’ve been feeling burnt out a lot. I think repetition makes it really hard for me to stay interested,” sophomore Sage Parker said. “If I’m doing something over and over again, I get tired really quickly. I’ve had absolutely no energy because of it.” It’s not just the students who are burnt out. Teachers are also feeling the heat. Rates of burnout among teachers are already the highest in the country. During COVID this number continues to increase rapidly. “I would definitely say that I have felt a little burnt out lately. I believe this feeling stems from having to teach both inperson and online students simultaneously,” English teacher Layne Little said. “It is very difficult to engage both learning groups at the same time and it has made instruction very stressful.” The COVID pandemic has also resulted in increased loneliness, stress, anxiety, and depression. Sophomore Jayden Ojeda, like many others, has also felt burnt out and said burnout is specific to the individual while the length of burnout is
never certain. “I found out it can last a long time depending on your situation,” Ojeda said. “Since I’m stuck in quarantine, there’s been nothing new that sparks my interest. I’ve heard a lot of people say the same. However, I’ve also had times when burnout only lasts a day or two.” As human beings, it is important to make meaning of our existence. Meaning gives definition to life and the life path. The current pandemic has not been kind to the need for man’s search for meaning. However, humans are very resilient and many have found ways to break free from burnout and find meaning in others. “Well, I think I like talking to people more now,” Ojeda said. “I can listen to them and find inspiration there. It’s cool to hear what someone else has to say rather than being stuck in my head for so long.” Teachers are also finding motivation and inspiration in others. Ms. Little said that she’s best at dealing with burnout when she’s reaching out.
“I have a lot of friends that are also teachers and coaches and they are all experiencing the same difficulties that I am,” she said. “My more tenured teacher friends have been great with offering advice to help out with the lesson planning and instruction. It also just helps to know that I am not alone in facing my daily struggles.” The world is going to keep turning no matter what happens. This pandemic, for many people, will be a semicolon in their life and not a period. So as people are dealing with this in any way they can, and although things might not be normal for a while, many are successful in their attempts to make the best of the current situation. “I’ve been trying to get more rest and just be kind to myself,” Parker said.“At night I try to be by myself and do things that are fun to me. I’ve been playing Minecraft a lot, I’m even planning on going to bed earlier tonight, so I have more energy to put effort into things tomorrow.” #
OPINION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The great debate: Texas shutting down
again is on-going; it should not. Governor Greg Abbott stated on a news broadcast Texas will not have another shutdown even as countless of other governors across the U.S. take new steps to restrain record-shattering spikes in COVID-19. “It is important for everybody in the state to know that, statewide, we’re not going to have another shutdown,” Abbott said on a news broadcast. “There’s an overestimation of exactly what a shutdown will do.” Although the previous lockdown slowed the spread of the virus, it did not help with the economy. The demand for travel and the lack of factory activity due to the pandemic significantly impacted the demand for oil, causing its price to fall and
resulted in a sink in the stock market. “[The virus] is going to be around for a long time,” sophomore Katelyn Smith said. “Even if we had a lockdown for our state would it really aid our issue?” However, before businesses closed due to the pandemic, 16,176 Texans had filed for unemployment benefits. This number increased to 155,657 a week after the closing order was sent. “Workers would have to stop working [again],” sophomore Hannah Retallack said, “and some jobs would have to cut down the amount of workers because they wouldn’t be able to afford to pay all of them.” With flu season here and the constant increase in cases, it would be ideal to close down. However, if citizens
wear masks, wash their hands, wipe down appliances, and follow other required safety protocols, more citizens can beat both the flu and COVID. “Yes, everyone should wear a mask,” sophomore Mariah Milner said.“It helps slow the spread of corona and our numbers spiking even higher.” Recently, a vaccine for COVID has been developed and researchers are constantly working on its improvement which would allow Texans to lower the numbers across the state. “[The vaccine] would help us more than hurt us,”Retallack said.“It would definitely still have risk that would come with it, but it would reform the world we’re living in right now and the future.” #
SPORTS Page 6 FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
Diving deeper into districts Mia Romani, Staff Writer The swim team got closer to the district and regional competitions after winning second place against Guyer High School. They encountered greatness during several meets and had only one meet left to compete before district which took place Jan. 12. “The games so far are pretty good actually,” junior Sofia Guzman said. “It’s a little
harder since we did go up to 6A but the girl’s team has been doing really good.” Even with the pandemic, the team has still managed to keep working hard since this past summer. The swim team boosts themselves up by chanting and supporting one another, which gives them a stronger sense of confidence. “I think our team has improved. We have a lot of new swimmers who are showing promise and all of our
The swim team competes during a meet at the Natatorium and brings home the victory. Photo by Yearbook/Devin Wallets
experienced swimmers are getting faster every day,” junior Jenna Henson said. “My team is doing great performance wise and pretty well spirit wise. We continue to support each other at meets and have been all practicing hard.” Many swimmers have a great chance in making it to the district and even regional competitions based upon how good they are doing and how much their performance is increasing. However, since the school moved up from 5A to 6A, they will need to work even harder to increase their efforts to win. “I’m excited and nervous,” senior and captain Maya Singleton said. “I’m hoping we break our relay records from last year. It’ll be hard, but we’ve been putting in the work for it.” Before COVID-19, there were many more activities
the team did, such as fun team dinners, but sadly it had to end. However, that doesn’t stop them from bonding together and helping each other out. “What I miss from last year is how much time the team was able to spend together,” Henson said. “Along with our past seniors who were also supportive and fun to be around.” The seniors on the team will continue doing their best at competitions. “I’m looking forward to my senior season and being team captain,” Singleton said. “I’ve watched my teammates grow so much and I’m so grateful to be able to finish out my high school years with them.” #
Varsity boys basketball begins journey to state SPORTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“My boys are more than ready this season,”Coach Sekeres said. “As long as we can execute on the court and in the classroom, we will have a great chance at playoffs or maybe even state. I want to take it one game at a time and I want my boys to remember to have fun but in a focused way.” With the additions of sophomore Keegan Byrd and sophomore Dylan Smith, the team could be a dangerous one for years to come. In addition, the handful of seniors returning this season are looking forward to passing the torch to those who will one day take their place. “My senior year came so fast that I wasn’t even ready for it,” small forward
Jaylon Banks said. “I want to finish this season with a bang and set the example for the upcoming hoopers.” One player to keep an eye on is sophomore Robert Jones. The 6’3 Florida star hopes to leave his mark as one of the top athletes of the school. As a freshman last year, Jones started as the varsity point guard and already has offers from Texas Christian University and a few junior colleges. “God gave me a blessing,” Jones said. “I will put 1000% effort on the court to make sure we can win basketball games. I have high hopes for our team and we are ready to take over high school basketball.” The team statred their season at
home on Nov. 13, and the pre-game rituals began with the gameday playlist featuring trending hip hop artists. “My playlist basically consists of a lot of NBA Youngboy and King Von, “ small forward Cameron Smith said. “They can get me hyped and excited, and maybe a little bit of Lil Durk.” The players were more than excited to get the season started with their longest winning streak of six games and current 14-5 record. They will play their next game tonight at McKinney Boyd with their next home game Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. vs Little Elm. #
SPORTS
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Varsity girls soccer eager for 6A debut Reagan Netherland Editor-in-Chief
The Lady Bengals soccer team is looking strong going into their first week of district play, despite an off-season affected by COVID-19 restrictions and the introduction of an all-new coaching staff. After scrimmaging this past December, the team is eager to make waves during their district play which will begin Jan. 26, against McKinney Boyd. The ladies are more than ready for the challenge, according to head coach Drew McKinnie. “This team is competitive,” Coach McKinnie said. “We have really seen the girls come together and from week one there has been a competitive nature brewing. This family will definitely be bringing some strong competition and hopefully turn some heads this season.” Coach McKinnie is a newcomer to the program and joined the Lady Bengals over the summer after being head coach of the Cleburne High School’s boy’s soccer team. He coaches alongside JV coaches Dylan Burnett and Kathryn Staples. Although there has been a pandemic, the transition to an all-new staff has been smooth. “Coaches have been very welcoming and the team has been looking forward to the upcoming season with the new staff,” junior and midfielder, Hannah Lawson said. Although the team is excited about the upcoming season,
The Lady Bengals varsity soccer team scrimmages against Denton and Ryan high schools Dec. 11, to kick off their season. Courtesy of Varsity Girls Soccer
the Lady Bengals have not forgotten to stay safe and remain vigilant in proper COVID-19 prevention protocols. “As a team, we have to make sure we wear a mask at all times we’re around each other,” sophomore and goalkeeper Josie Marshall said. “We have to take care of each other.” COVID hasn’t affected outside practices too much, but it did make an impact on the team’s strength and conditioning training sessions. “We have had to become a little more creative in that area,” Coach McKinnie said. As newcomers to 6A soccer, the program will see some big match-ups causing the ladies to work continuously in order to get better. “We always have several goals for each season, but the big two are to stay safe and play a full
season, as well as finish in the top four and gain the program’s first playoff berth,” Coach McKinnie said. The team’s combined talent and grit will make their underdog debut interesting to watch. The Lady Bengals will see the return of forward/midfielder Jazmin Lee, junior, as well as Marshall who made her debut last year as a freshman on the varsity team. The program also has several new players including freshman Sophie Bradley, sophomore Halle Garcia and freshman Kate Olsby who have great potential in building a strong career in the program. “The Lady Bengals have put in a lot of hard work in this offseason in preparation for the new challenges of a strong 6A district,” Coach McKinnie said. “We would love to see our #BengalNation come out and support us.” #
LIFESTYLE Page 8 FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
Graduation creeps closer for seniors LIFESTYLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“I will be attending the University of Texas because of its beautiful campus and its location,” Curtis said. “I wanted to attend this college because of their long list of majors and their class sizes.”
“I want to major in Nursing. I’ve been going to the Advanced Technology Complex (ATC) to be able to get steps closer to becoming one, so it just seems like this is my intended career path,” Scheefer said. “The funny thing is that I’ve wanted to be a teacher up until high school, but I just knew if I became a teacher, I would want to quit the first week. For that reason, I know nursing is my calling.”
These seniors have been thinking about college since before their junior year, but when the pandemic hit, they could not visit their intended colleges in person. Many also had SAT and ACT tests scheduled so they could finalize their These seniors have put in work college applications before summer break, throughout their years in high school and those had to be pushed back as well. so that when college time approached, Freeman said the hardest part they would be ready to study and work about applying to colleges was making sure in their intended major. However, high she had great test scores and grades on school wasn’t always about studying and doing homework assignments late at her transcript. night. Some of the other memories of high “When I heard they were waiving school will be cherished for year to come. the SAT and ACT at Brigham Young “One of my favorite memories University for my graduating class, I was of high school were the volleyball games,” relieved but also worried because that Freeman said. meant I had to get my transcript in to them as soon as possible,” Freeman said, She also enjoyed the bus rides to “which was hard when you weren’t able to the games, the mini games her team played finish out the year and people are out of their office.”
behind the bleachers to past the time and especially the group of amazing girls she got to play with. “The times we would be in the locker room just listening to all our favorite songs on full blast while eating Chick-fil-A were incredibly fun,” she said. The seniors are almost done with high school and are moving on to another chapter of their life, but not without leaving their mark and giving advice to those coming after them. “One thing I would say about applying for colleges is to make sure to get them done early, because you never know what could happen,” Curtis said.” I would also say to just live out your high school days. You are only a senior once, so go to the football games and to prom, because you never know when you will get to redo those moments again.” #
However, these seniors didn’t let the pandemic ruin their hopes and dreams of their long awaited college experience. “I have watched a lot of dorm tours to the point where I already know how my dorm is going to look without buying anything yet,” Scheefer said.’’ I am also excited about meeting new people at the University of Alabama and finding new friend groups to hang out with even though being away from home will be a tough pill to swallow.” Aside from dorm life and being away from parents for months at a time, they also have to think about what they want to major in. Some people know what they want to be when they are in elementary school, but others may find out what they want to be the first day of college.
Seniors are ready to throw up their caps with just a few months left until they graduate from high school. Courtesy of Unsplash/Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz-