Student Profile: Airon Dakhulezt

By Claire Scott

$20,000 dollars. That’s enough cash to fund your whole college education (or half a year of college at a really expensive school), or a used Ferris wheel! With $20,000, you could buy about 400,000 pieces of gum! If you chew one piece of gum a day, that is enough gum for 1,095 years.  What could be more fantastic than almost half a million sticks of gum? How about winning the nationwide Poetry Out Loud contest that offers up twenty thousand dollars to its winner!

Poetry Out Loud, a contest for students in grades nine through twelve, invites students to recite and perform poetry; the best performance wins. Contestants are judged on a multitude of merits: accuracy, voice and articulation, physical presence and dramatic appropriateness.  While many teenagers love poetry, they do not think it is cool to share their interest, humor, or connection – out loud. That $20,000 cash prize though, like Harry Potter under his invisibility cloak, usually makes that concern disappear .

Airon Dakhulezt, a Junior at TJ, moved one step closer to this fabulous prize on January 4, 2013, when he beat out students from all of the other Frederick County schools in county competition.

Senioritis

By Jasmine Pelaez

“It’s a miracle I even made it to school today,” Senior Will Holtzinger admitted, “I dread it every morning.”

Around this time of year, a majority of high school seniors develop senioritis: an illness that inevitably results in lack of motivation, tardiness and complete disregard for all school subjects. Senioritis inhibits the day-to-day moods of almost all seniors, who, at this point, could care less about their high school responsibilities.

Musician of the Month: Ryan Kieft

By Ukeme Anwana

This December’s musician of the month is senior, Ryan Kieft. After going through a grueling audition process, Kieft was selected to be a member of the elite, U.S. Army All-American Marching Band of 2013. He performed during halftime of the Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on January 5, 2013. 

When Kieft found out in mid-July that he was selected for this prestigious opportunity, his reaction was typical. “I was very excited!” he said.

This aspiring band teacher admits he has not been alone in his endeavor. “My family has been really supportive,” said Kieft, and, he added they are “very happy [for me].”

Kieft’s love for music all began in 4th grade. He first tried his hand at playing the trumpet, but during 6th grade, he switched to the baritone. That is when he knew the baritone was the perfect instrument for him. 

Music is such a part of him now and he tries to communicate his passion with everyone. It is, Kieft said, the “ultimate form of expression;” and it’s all about “connecting with your audience.” As a member of the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, he will have great opportunitiy to do just that.

The Nostalgia Club

By Claire Scott

There I was, in Ms. Welty’s tenth grade English class, watching It’s a Wonderful Life on the last day of school before Christmas break. Everyone in class was content and completely absorbed in the movie. When the scene at the dance came up, and all of the characters started doing the Charleston, the classroom roared with laughter and cries of excitement.

Student Profile: Tyler Hill

By Kirk Morris

While most of us have musical abilities that only extend to Guitar Hero, that is not the case for Senior Tyler Hill, who is often compared to Davey Fortner, lead guitarist of pop punk band Freshman 15.

Student Profile: Jon Beaudoin

By Anna Wunderlin

Leadership, dedication, talent and a multitude of other words can be used to describe Senior Jon Beaudoin. As section leader of the infamous TJ drum line, he leads his fellow band members to success as both a mentor and an example of how to strive for accomplishment.