Photo Credit: Maddie Norwood[/caption]The first nine weeks are over and, for some people, that means a new start to help build a strong foundation for the rest of the school year. Many students may want to bring up their grades or make new friends. This new nine weeks is a good time for a new start to a new season.
So what should you do if you are having grade problems? Becky Smith, an OHS science teacher, gave her opinion on how this problem should be solved. “They need to see their teacher for help, and they need to make sure they’re doing all the work themselves,” said Smith.
The new lunch gives anyone slipping the perfect chance to bring their grades up. More people can come for tutoring and make up work during this time. Students who aren't using it for work may want to rethink their decisions.
If you feel hesitant to go back for tutoring, just bring a friend that can support you and maybe even help, but not one that can distract you. This will help you get over your fear and learn to build study groups.
Is your focus slipping? Another tip that Smith shared addressed this. “The best thing to do is make sure you aren’t hanging around with people that can distract you from your work, causing you to slip in school.”
If a student finds himself bored or in need of a community to hang out with, Smith recommends that he become more involved in the school, whether it be with clubs or sports. When asked why students should be more involved, she said, “Do things that make you happy and enjoy your life.”
Smith is preparing for her future career by joining volunteer clubs such as Society of Saint Andrews, a club dedicated to the gleaning of crops for hungry families, as well as Future Farmers of America. Their purpose is to create career options for those wishing to live a country lifestyle.
Preparation is key for getting into NC State. “I’m taking many precautions to make sure I’m accepted into veterinary school,” she says, “I’m taking a lot of science classes and animal sciences. Orange is perfect for that.”
Saving animals and adopting pets isn’t something new for Smith. She has two dogs, two fish, over 10 chickens, and a cat. She has always been an animal lover and she wants as many pets as possible when she gets older. She “wants one of everything,” including everything from goldfish to horses.
If she couldn’t be a veterinarian, Smith says she would want to be a sports journalist to interview athletes after games. She would still go to NC State, being a fan of their athletic department. “The journalism class here seemed perfect because it’s really laid back and I want to learn about it.”
Mustian(left) and Smith pose for a picture in downtown Charleston during YALLFest.[/caption]On November 9, Orange High School staff members Brooke Smith and Shea Mustian attended YALLFest, Charleston’s third annual Young Adult Book Festival. At the festival, Smith and Mustian joined over 5,000 other book lovers to enjoy a day completely dedicated to young adult fiction.
Every year, YALLFest hosts writers who are among the Top 50 authors in the Young Adult genre. Throughout the day, the authors participate in book signings, organized panels with other authors, and Q&A sessions with readers and fans. In addition to these scheduled events, authors also wander the floors and speak with fans.
During the author panels that Smith and Mustian attended, writers gave their thoughts and opinions on topics such as finding inspiration for their novels, previous jobs before writing, their writing process, and the progression of the young adult genre as a whole. Speakers at the panels included Veronica Roth (Divergent series), Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle trilogy), Lev Grossman (Codex), and Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky trilogy).
The authors who Smith and Mustian met personally included Ellen Hopkins (Crank), Lisa McMann (Crash), Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures), Ransom Riggs (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children), and Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me series).
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Author Veronica Roth (Divergent series) speaks at an author's panel at YALLFest.[/caption]When asked what her favorite part of the festival was, Mustian replied that the panel with Veronica Roth was the most exciting part of the day. Divergent, the first book in Roth's series, is currently being read by the OHS Book Club and will be taught next semester during Smith’s higher level creative writing classes. At the panel, Smith was even given the opportunity to ask Roth a question regarding the casting of the upcoming Divergent movie.
Although Smith enjoyed speaking with Roth, she replied that her favorite part of YALLFest was the accessibility of so many authors in one place. Smith also enjoyed meeting Marie Lu, author of the Legend series. Smith hopes to teach the Legend novel next year during her creative writing classes.
When asked if they were planning on attending next year, both staff members replied with a very excited “yes!”
These haunting stories were read on Halloween, which was the perfect day for such spooky tales. Smith’s classroom was transformed into a dark, cobwebbed dungeon. As students sat in the dark room, in anticipation of what they were going to hear next, they ate snacks and refreshments provided by the Creative Writing students.
Freshman and Creative Writing student Hunter Hall says she, “enjoyed the Scary Story Showcase a lot. I think the showcase had a variety of different stories, so you weren't exactly sure what kind of story you were going to hear next.”
Anna Snyder, also a freshman and Creative Writing student also enjoyed the event. She said, “The stories weren't too demented or too disturbing, but they did bring frights.”
Scary Story Showcase
“Death’s Messenger” by Anna Snyder
“Kind Candy” by Trevor Rasberry (Read by Mackenzie Higgins)
“Flesh” by Rebecca Woodard
“Oh, Death” by Sarah Oechsle
“Revenge” by Juana Delgadillo Rivera
“He Has Come Again” by Hunter Hall
“Best Friends Forever” by Sarah Pritts