All posts by Lauren Penington

Girls Tennis, Sports, Spring Sports

Starting Strong

Leave a comment

With tennis season fast approaching, returning players reflect on the past years and their plan for the new season

By Lauren Penington

With last season welcoming a new coach for Legend’s tennis team, the girls had much to adjust to. As this season quickly approaches, returning players reflect on their past seasons to make plans to increase their success.

“Last year was my first ever season playing tennis, so I’ve made sure to immerse myself in practice a lot more. It’s no longer about showing up and hoping I do good, I’m putting in a lot more effort and working my way up,” sophomore Catie Mortimer said. “This season I really want to make one of the top JV teams and bond with my partner.” 

Although the season is short, many girls have spent the offseason preparing. 

“We have offseason practices and then we have practices from 5:30 to 7:30 am that I have been attending,” sophomore Alina Mali said. “I’ve definitely started practicing more on my own time versus only on official team practice times in order to improve a little bit more.”

The weather doesn’t hold these girls back at all. Many push through the winter season determined to come out on top in the season. 

“When the weather is bad we play at the Parker racquet club,” Mali said. “Otherwise if the weather is nice and we want to practice on our own time then we use the Legend courts here.” 

However, tennis itself isn’t the only thing the girls have been preparing. 

“I’ve been exercising a lot,” junior Emily Schultz said. “I do workouts that aim for speed and agility. When I do practice for tennis, I make sure to give my full effort. I am more prepared for the competition there is this season and I’m hoping to go to Varsity. 

Schultz isn’t the only athlete with competition in mind.

“Personally, I know that there is going to be a lot of competition,” Mali said. “I want to have more wins than losses so I can make it to Varsity. I’ve just been passionate for [tennis] since I was young and it’s really fun to participate in so I want to be able to go far this season.” 

All the girls have been preparing for their season and their efforts are about to come to fruition. During tryouts, Legend coaches Guinn and Siers will assemble their top team in hopes of advancing farther this year. The coaches’ goals are to increase the team’s competitiveness. They hope this will result in an increase in the team’s standing within the league. Let’s see how far these Lady titans go, as their season begins. 

About Us

Legend Breaks the Bank

Leave a comment

The school once again beats own personal record in money raised for wish week

By Lauren Penington

Wish Week is a long-awaited tradition each year at Legend. Each Wish Week, the current classes take it upon themselves to beat the previous classes record. This is competition raises more and more money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 2019 was the first year that Legend broke the amount of $100,000. But 2020 rose even above that, raising a total of $115,628.80. 

This week holds a special place in the hearts of many students and teachers, but freshman will always remember their first. 

“I really enjoyed Wish Week. Even though I was busy with the play and couldn’t attend some of the events it was still really fun and I’m glad I got to participate,” freshman Thomas Mclaren said. “I really want to keep that tradition of raising more money because it’s really cool to see all these kids going on their wish trips.” 

Just as freshman are commemorating their first, seniors are basking in their final Wish Week they will be involved in at Legend. 

“I’ve really enjoyed watching the school come together for a good cause,” senior Ashlyn Smith said. “It’s always lots of fun, but of all the Wish Weeks I’ve been a part of at Legend I’m glad this was the last. It seems like a good high to end on, this Wish Week was definitely my favorite. I went to more events than in past years and participating more made me really enjoy the week.”

The seniors also enjoy raising more money than in previous years, happy to see their hard work paying off in meaningful ways. 

“There’s definitely a competitive aspect to Wish Week, more than the boys versus girls,” senior Madison Travis said. “As seniors, we want to raise more than the previous year. I didn’t think we’d be able to do that this year, but I was happy to see everyone come through.” 

Ultimately, this week is more than the rewards. While students enjoy class stalls for raising money, the real importance is in the meaning behind the donation. It’s about the kids Legend is able to help grant wishes for. It’s about the message behind Make-A-Wish as a whole, and, in the words of Jesse Van Diver, it’s about giving rather than donating.

Opinion

When to Take an AP Class

Leave a comment

The pros and cons of taking an AP course

By Lauren Penington

PROS:

Academic Rigor

When enrolling for classes you need to not only consider what will be beneficial to your learning, but what will look good on a transcript. Colleges are more likely to be impressed by a student willing to push themselves in advanced classes. You will get a more in-depth understanding of the subject matter and be able to boost your GPA.

Scholarships

Because AP classes demonstrate academic rigor and can result in a higher GPA, they can give you an opportunity to qualify for grants and scholarships. If you score above a 3 on the end of year exam, many colleges and universities will accept the test as college credit. This allows you a head start on that area and getting a few credits out of the way. However, if the AP class pertains to your major, beware. Many schools recommend you do not skip classes dealing with your area of study lest you forget material, fall behind, or lack significant knowledge necessary for the higher level classes. 

Preparedness

Taking a more in-depth class, especially one relating to your potential career, will help you in the transition to college. You will be at an advantage by already having a background in the information. It will certainly make the transition easier and allow you time to gain stable footing in your new college life.

CONS:

Challenging Coursework

If you struggle in school, AP classes may not be the best choice. They require a significant amount of commitment — both in and out of school hours. Projects, tests, and lessons found in normal classes are mirrored in AP courses to a more advanced degree. Be prepared to dedicate hours to studying and homework for each course.

Challenging Areas

For example if you do not enjoy chemistry, it is for the best that you do not enroll in AP Chemistry. The subject matter may be more difficult or less interesting, hurting your performance in the class. Just because an AP class looks impressive does not mean that colleges will rank an C in one over an A in a regular course. 

Rubric Grading

The final exam is based on a rubric. This may be appealing to some, but for others, not so much. It can be difficult to showcase your ability while maintaining the guidelines set. Furthermore, the questions on the exam are randomized but can lean heavily toward one area of the subject. Even if you are solid on the rest of them test, if the test is centered around your weakest unit, it can deter your score.

Opinion

Monopolized Movies

Leave a comment

Disney is turning into a monopoly, decreasing the standard of entertainment and discouraging independent artists from entering the industry. 

By Lauren Penington

Disney’s control over the entertainment industry is growing daily. Here are the most important of Disney’s current assets. 

Companies: 

  1. ABC
  2. ESPN (Stake)
  3. Touchstone Pictures
  4. Marvel
  5. Lucasfilm
  6. A&E (Split equity with Hearst Corporation)
  7. The History Channel (Split equity with Hearst Corporation)
  8. Lifetime (Split equity with Hearst Corporation)
  9. Pixar
  10. Hollywood Records
  11. Vice Media (Stake)
  12. Core Publishing
  13. Fox

Brands: 

  1. The Star Wars Franchise
  2. The Muppets Franchise 
  3. The Marvel Cinematic Universe
  4. Disney Princesses/Princes
  5. The Chronicles of Narnia Franchise
  6. The Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise
  7. Pixar Films 
  8. The Winnie the Pooh Franchise
  9. The Indiana Jones Franchise
  10. Grey’s Anatomy (and other popular ABC shows)

In the midst of the popular brands that dominate the market, you’d be hard pressed to find ones not associated with Disney. Although, Disney creates a variety of content, their actions continue to narrow the industry as they acquire more companies. Even if Disney is not a monopoly at the moment, it is quickly approaching. 

What does this mean for the industry? A monopoly gives Disney control over many aspects of the industry as being the main supplier. This monopoly allows Disney to supply a line of inferior products that people will still buy into.

For instance, the latest string of live-action movies. Although they have changed a few things, the live-action movies are essentially the same as the originals. Normally, such obvious rip-offs would not succeed in Hollywood, but Disney’s standing has brought it clout.

Additionally, this ties in with another downside of monopolies: they lose the desire to innovate. Although Disney is still creating some new content at this point, we have already seen evidence of lost innovation in the previous examples of live action recreations. 

Due to the fact that Disney owns such a wide variety of companies and brands, they rake in a large profit. This increases their funds exponentially allowing them to take more companies under their wings, such as their recent takeover of 20th Century Fox. This increases the issue of monopoly, upsetting the balance of the economy by growing Disney’s share of the economy. 

As much as we enjoy Disney, we have to come to terms with the situation at hand. The entertainment industry will lose more variety and creativity. It will become a pit of repeated movies and plots, offering nothing original.

Opinion

The Final Stretch

Leave a comment

Ways to destress during finals week

By Lauren Penington

Finals can be a stressful time of year and many students find themselves in a downward spiral of procrastination, mental breakdowns, and increased stress and anxiety. While it can be easy to feel impossibly behind, sometimes it’s better to step away and take a moment to destress.

1. Exercise 

Even if it’s only for ten minutes, exercise is a great way to take your mind off of finals and give yourself a well needed break from studying. Getting out of the house allows you to clear your head and give yourself a fresh, energized start when you go back in. 

2. Reward yourself

Studying is hard work! Your brain deserves a reward and you can’t live off studying forever. This not only allows you a break from the hard work of studying but incentivizes you to continue your dedication.

3. Take a bath

As much as your brain needs a break, your body needs one just as badly. Taking a hot bath will allow you to relax, releasing the tension in your muscles. If you are especially stressed, it can help to add bubble bath or salts. There are some specially scented to relieve stress and increase productivity. 

4. Take a nap

Sleep seems to be a rare commodity during finals week. Take an hour or two to recuperate and rest. This will allow you to come back to studying with a clear, focused mind. 

5. Family time

Go spend much-needed time with your family or friends. Take that moment to go downstairs, pet your dog, or watch a movie with your close ones. Not everything in life is about grades, so don’t let them consume every minute of your time.

About Us

Procrastination: The Silent Killer

Leave a comment

How to Avoid Procrastination and Make Your Schedule Work for You 

By Lauren Penington

You start the essay, then realize it will be 11:59 within the hour, or even less, before the assignment locks. However, many times this is not a result of an overly busy workload, but poor planning and time management — or even avoiding the assignment altogether. In order to avoid the stress of late assignments or approaching deadlines, here are some easy ways to stay on top of the workload. 

1. Make Priority Lists

Looking at a long list of everything due from tomorrow to next month can easily become overwhelming. To conquer the list and get what you need done, making certain assignments a priority can help ease the workload. For instance, if one item is due at midnight and another doesn’t need to be done until the following week, it only makes sense to complete the one due first prior to the one due second, even if the other project is bigger or more interesting. Making these lists can help you visualize your due dates and create a schedule that will best suit your needs for your classes, tests, and homework. 

2. Utilize Your Time

It can feel as though we either need to finish the assignment in one sitting, or not do it at all. However, ten minutes every morning or a half hour after school can be just as productive as spending hours finishing the project in one sitting — perhaps even more, because it allows you the opportunity to work on a variety of projects/assignments that need completing, instead of just the one. Little amounts of productivity in random places add up quick, lessening the stress of the workload while allowing it to fit into your schedule, instead of having to change your routine to accommodate the work. 

3. Set Mini-Deadlines for Yourself

Going along with the previous idea of not finishing the assignment in one go, it can be helpful to break up the assignment into parts and complete those on a miniaturized schedule that ends with the real due date. For instance, if you are assigned an essay on Friday, due in two weeks, then you might have a solid topic by Monday, a rough draft by Friday, and then spend time the following week editing the essay, getting feedback, and nicening up the work. 

4. Take a Break

It does no good to overwork yourself. A tired, overworked brain can be just as bad as not doing the assignment altogether. A constant feeling of lethargy does little to inspire motivation. It may be helpful to time yourself and work on an interval schedule (for every half hour of studying, take a five minute break). 

5. Make it Fun

Organize incentives to encourage productivity. Research has shown that the human brain responds well to stimulus and rewards, helpful in creating good habits. It certainly makes studying a lot more fun when you know there’s a reward at the end. The frequency of these incentives depend on the person. Some may enjoy a small treat at the end of every chapter, others may do it by assignment, while some may prefer one big celebration at the end of studying. 

Girls Basketball, Sports, Winter Sports

Swish!

Leave a comment

The Lady Basketball Season Starts off Strong

By Lauren Penington

The Lady Titans basketball team is already up and in action for their winter season. Although their first game ended up with the girls on the losing end, they soon rebounded — winning their second game and restoring their mojo.

With seven seniors leaving the team last year, the team only has two returning members that have played on the varsity level. This has become one of the team’s biggest challenges.

“Our biggest challenge is experience,” senior Ally Lowe said. “We’re working on growing everyone’s skill and making sure we’re all up to varsity level.”

Lowe and her team are under no illusions — the team is not perfect, especially as they work with almost an entirely new line up.

“Obviously we still need to improve — we can work on finishing our shots; making good, smart passes; and not turning over the ball,” Lowe said.

Aware of what they need to work on, the team has continued making conscious strides toward success, hoping to make this season a great one. 

“After tryouts finished, we started practicing and conditioning,” Lowe said. “We’ve been working on plays, strength, and team bonding in order to make sure that we are a close and well connected team.” 

With only two returning varsity players, the seniors have taken on much more of a leadership role. Not only are they leading a group, but they are actively teaching new players the moves and tricks they need to know to succeed. Lowe has not only stepped up as a senior, but has also moved up as team captain. 

“I just love playing basketball because it’s a fun team sport and although it is mentally and physically challenging, the outcome of winning games and working together with my team is very rewarding. It’s a great challenge,” said Lowe.

Even with the loss of their first game, the Lady Titans Basketball team is rearing and ready to go, constantly learning and evolving to better themselves, enhance the team, and prepare for this new season.