Many students are thinking about getting a job this summer to earn some extra money. There are many jobs to choose from for people getting their first job.

Anna Howell, teacher at Wade Hampton, said, ¨The best place I've found that is teenager friendly is Greenville County Rec. You can work at a water park or the Pavillon. Being a lifeguard for any pool company, such as Upstate Pools, is also a fun, great-paying job.¨

Greenville rec offers very student-friendly first job opportunities. There are lifeguard jobs, or one could work at concessions or admissions within those waterparks.

¨This summer, I am working at otter creek at concessions and admissions. Last year, I was a lifeguard there, and It was my first job,¨said Rebecca Lee, student at WHHS.

It seems like lifeguarding is a popular job between new workers. The minimum age is 15 years old, and it's perfect to get experience working with other people. Students might be scared of how they should act or if people will like them at their new jobs. 

¨Be yourself; don't be scared of the interview. Ask your teachers to be references; they really do want to help you! If you get the job, work hard and always put forth your best effort! Communicate with your boss if you have a conflict in your schedule. They are willing to work with you, but you need to be willing to talk with them and be honest so you can figure out a work around together. Also, save a little bit of money, and put it aside every paycheck!¨ said Howell. 

As long as you be yourself and work hard, you will do fine! Make sure to always be open with bosses, and if there are problems with coworkers or anything else, do not hesitate to talk with them!

ROTC awards night is a night to honor the many achievements of cadets through the semester. Cadets have many chances throughout the semester.

Tabbie Duncan sophomore stated, ”Awards night is May 9th.”

Awards night is a night of festivities and military tradition. During this night cadets many achievements are celebrated. National awards are awarded this night to SC-954 many honorable cadets. Many cadet seniors will announce what they have accomplished in the corp.

Colonel Benjamin Davis stated, ”Our cadets compete all year to earn ribbons and national awards.”

Awards are given for academic achievement, athletics and many other things. During the semester we have many different ways to earn awards. In conclusion we have to work hard to succeed for achievement.

During awards night Rotc cadets take part in fellowship and community.

Summer is coming right around the corner, and students are getting ready and excited for the school year to come to an end. With the long year of school work, students are excited for the freedom of summer and traveling, hanging out with friends, joining the warm weather, and many more activities. Lots of students have great plans for this upcoming summer and are getting excited for those plans to become action once the school year comes to an end.Megan Cameron, a 10th grade student at Wade Hampton High School, says, “As the school year comes to an end, I'm most excited to travel. I'm going to Paris this summer, and I'm excited to explore new places and find out new things about France. I also will be hanging out with friends and enjoying the warm weather and the fact that the school year is finally at the end.”

This excitement is showing that students are finally ready for rest and exploring new places and different cultures around the world. These summer plans will give students the freedom to have fun and time to relax.

Gavin Wallon, an 11th grade student at Wade Hampton High School, says, “I'm excited for summer to start because I have a lot of plans for summer. I'm going to hang out with my friends, and I'm going to California and some other places for summer. I'm excited to finally have a break from school.”

Summer plans are a great way to get students to push though for the rest of the school year. With finals and exams at the end of the year, it's like a prize for students for when summer comes. Knowing summer is starting will make students push through this year hard and strong.

Paige Codwell, a 9th grade student at Wade Hampton High School, says her plans include “Enjoying the outside weather and hiking and swimming in the pool as well as hanging out with friends and trying to get a summer job so I can go shopping in summer.”

Summer plans can also include getting a summer job to get money to travel or just for fun. Lots of students will be getting jobs this summer so they can enjoy their summer with shopping or traveling.

Lillian Pelliter, a 10th grade student at Wade Hampton High school, says, “I get to practice for soccer for longer because the sun is out for longer, and since I don't have school, I can practice more.”

This means that students with sports will be happier because they can focus without having to carry on their back a sport and school. They can have more time to get practice in and get prepared for upcoming games.

Summer plans can have kids excited for the school year coming up and get students happy that they finally have a time to rest and a time to enjoy themselves and their friends. From summer jobs and exciting trips to just staying at home, either way, students are ready and excited for summer to start.

Final exams are coming up by the end of May. This is one of the most important dates for every student. They are important because for some students that have a lower grade than others and that are close to failing; it will determine if they pass the class or not. On the other hand, some students might not be on the edge of failing, but they want to keep a high grade in that class to keep their GPA high. Keep in mind that all final exams are 10% of your final grade. 

But what are some ways to be prepared for these exams? Here is what some of our teachers and students have to say about staying prepared at all times. 

Coach Barstow, who teaches Gov. and Econ. here a Wade Hampton, said, “Being prepared is your best friend during the whole year. The final exam is not something you just prepare yourself for in a night or two. You need to have paid attention all semester in order for you to understand what is actually being taught in whatever class you are in. At the end of the semester when finals come, the only thing you should need to do is review your notes and do any study guide that your teacher gives you.” 

Coach Barstow has a great point of view when it comes to being prepared all semester. The final exam is based on what you learned all semester, and it is so much information that it can't just be studied in one night or two. Students should be prepared at all times and ready to do their best at any time.

One of our Senior students here at Wade Hampton, Vasilious Diakhomahalis, said, “To be honest, I hate the final exam week because it brings so much stress to everyone, but it is always good to study before hand, always be prepared, and know that the final exam can be what defines if you graduate or not for some of us seniors” 

What Vasilious said is completely understandable; not a lot of the students here at our school love to take exams. It is stressful, but every student has to be on their best game and focused on passing all of your classes and doing the best you can. 

Another student here at Wade Hampton, Nathalie Duenas, a Junior, said, “Studying can be fun if you enjoy what you are learning, but it can be really boring if you are not into that subject or even interested in school. Always be open minded and try your best to succeed in everything, mostly in these few weeks coming up, which can determine whether you pass or fail.” 

Every teacher here at Wade Hampton wants the best for all of their students. Always stay focused and try your best on everything you do. Being on task and focused isn't always easy, but if you put yourself to it, nothing is impossible. 

For all of the seniors, all of our teachers want to see you succeed and see you walk on graduation day. Focus on finishing strong and never giving up. For the rest of the students here at Wade Hampton, don't give up, and keep fighting until the last day. Everyone has gotten this far, and everyone wants to see you succeed. Study hard and stay focused. Finish strong.

The 95th Academy Awards, more widely known as the Oscars, was held on March 12th of this year. Although there were many memorable wins, one film stood out from the rest with a total of seven awards: “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” It won awards for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Michelle Yeoh’s win for Best Actress was cause for celebration as she became the first Asian woman to win that category. 

Michelle Yeoh initially planned to become a professional ballet dancer but turned to acting when a spinal injury prevented her from continuing her dance career. Her acting career began in Hong Kong with roles in martial arts films such as “Police Story 3: Supercop” (1992) where she starred alongside Jackie Chan; however, she later moved onto Hollywood where she played Wai Lin in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997). Yeoh takes advantage of the large platform she has been given to speak on topics that she cares about, such as Asian representation in Hollywood. 

In an interview with NPR, National Public Radio, Yeoh said, “We just have to rock the boat and say, ‘Look at us, give us a chance.’ Because guess what? We exist in your society. We are part of the society and very, very much an intricate part of this whole community. This is the only way we will get more opportunities, if we fight for it and no longer be able to say, OK, I'll turn the other cheek . . . No more turning the other cheek.”

In recent years there has been a greater push for more diverse casts that extend further than the stereotypical roles typically reserved for actors of a specific race or ethnicity. While there are actors of different cultural backgrounds in the media, an issue arises when they are restricted to playing one-dimensional characters whose only personality is perpetuating negative stereotypes. In her interview with NPR, Yeoh brought up the topic of meaningful representation.

Yeoh said, “I think the tide has turned [referring to Asian representation in Hollywood], but we also need to be responsible, good storytellers and seize the opportunities that are presented now for women, for diversity. But don't let it just be lip service, it has to mean something.”

Her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” did exactly that. Along with accurately depicting the complexities of a strained mother-daughter relationship, the film delved into the impact culture and race have on family dynamics. Through her role of Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant mother, Yeoh helped give a voice to those who often struggle to find their own. The film itself was a revolutionary moment in cinema with its sentimental message and silly fight scenes. 

The impact “Everything Everywhere All At Once”  had cannot be minimized; however, it was magnified by its success at the Oscars. Just like representation is important in movies and shows, it is equally important to have that representation in award shows like the Oscars. It isn’t very often that people of color, especially women, win such prestigious awards. 

Amyria Wilson, sophomore at Wade Hampton High School, said, “Past years they kind of kept it to a just white cast and didn’t really focus on all the other cast members that deserved the awards that were of different ethnicities and races, so I’m kinda happy that they did that this year. But from past years they really don’t care about diversity, I think they like to keep an agenda and a certain standard for themselves, the stereotypical American standard, and I think it’s pretty much just white Americans and white Hollywood stars that they like to keep giving Oscars and presenting in that light.”

To see a prestigious award show finally showcase a more diverse group of people is a dream come true for many and it brings great relief—relief that they are able to see people who look like them on screen being recognized for their hard work. It may seem meaningless to some, but there are countless more who share in the joy of what seemed to be impossible before. 

In his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor, Ke Huy Quan said, “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This, this is the American dream. Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive.”

Ke Huy Quan played the husband, Waymond Wang, in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”. Although it was not the first film he played in, it was the first one he won an award for which is why his reaction was as emotional as it was. He had nearly given up on acting, but with support from those around him he kept going and finally won an Oscar. His speech embodies the feelings of so many people who strive to achieve the American dream, regardless of the different identities they take on. 

With as many awards as it won, “Everything Everywhere At All Once” must be an awe-inspiring movie, right? Indeed it was for many reasons. What seemed to be a regular movie about a financially struggling family became a philosophical masterpiece on enjoying life despite all of its downfalls. 

A24, the entertainment company that produced “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, said, “Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film [EEAAO] is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can't seem to finish her taxes.”

The film begins with what seems like an ordinary couple with a struggling laundromat business trying to get their taxes set straight with the IRS. It doesn’t take long before the madness begins and the multiverse is introduced. Evelyn Wang is tasked with stopping a powerful being, Jobu Tupaki, that is wreaking chaos among the different multiverses, while also dealing with an IRS agent, as well as handling her fragile family situation. She truly is confronted with everything all at once. 

When Evelyn Wang discovers who Jobu Tupaki is, (spoiler) her daughter, she goes from trying to stop her to joining her. She takes on the nihilistic view that Jobu Tupaki has created due to the existence of an endless multiverse. When anything is possible in an alternate universe, then nothing really matters; so, why not destroy everything? It is through the kindness of her husband, Waymond Wang, that Evelyn finds a greater strength and power within herself. 

The film perfectly executes many complex emotions and complicated topics from family to the meaning of life. It provides the representation that is heavily needed by the Asian community as well as mothers, daughters, and those who feel like being sucked into the black hole of a bagel. 

How much weight do Oscars carry in modern day society? The award may be seen as a milestone in an actor’s career, but it seems as if less and less people are tuning in to watch the award shows that these actors have worked so hard to get to. 

Giselle Osorio-Beltran, WHHS senior, said, “I think a lot of people find the idea of sitting through and watching an awards show ‘boring’. I’ve never watched awards shows and the ones I have watched have been music shows such as the Grammys, the Billboard Music Awards but even then I wouldn’t watch the entire thing, I would just tune in when my favorite artists were performing.”

In the past years, viewership for the Oscars has gone down drastically, which isn’t entirely shocking when most people have moved from cable to streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. When there is a lack of interest, people are less likely to put in effort to find a way to access the live stream, so they just don’t watch it. 

Apollo Garrett, WHHS freshman, said, “It [the Oscars] doesn’t appeal to me, it’s not very interesting.” 

In order to gain back lost viewership the Academy could consider changing the traditional setup of the Oscars in a way that appeals to a wider audience and that would also keep their current audience. Another reason why viewership has gone down is due to the question of how credible the Oscars are.

Joanna Sanson, WHHS English teacher, said, “I don’t put much stock in it [Oscars] just because I don’t necessarily know who is making that decision and how credible and trustworthy their decisions actually are because sometimes you see something win and you’re kind of like, that was just Oscar bait.”

Oscar nominations are chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that is in charge of the award ceremony. It’s why winners will often thank the Academy, because they are the ones who decided. However, many people don’t know how the Oscars work so they don’t trust whether or not the Academy members are qualified to decide who should win. Some people don’t trust the Oscars simply because of suspected bias.

Wilson said, “A lot of actors who deserve an Oscar don’t have it and the way they critique it is not really on our vote, it’s amongst the people that are in there and their vote so it’s not really like a society vote for the actors. It’s kind of like, ‘Oh we have favoritism, this is what directors like, we like you because you’re our favorite and you did all these things for us and we kind of appreciate you so I guess we’re gonna give you this award.’”

Despite the questionable validity of award shows like the Oscars, there is no doubt that there is still importance held regarding the award itself. The multiple wins of the film “Everything Everywhere At Once” create hope that representation is going to be seen more often now that people have seen the important role it plays in others lives.   

Daylight savings time is the practice of changing clocks during warmer months so that when time changes, nights will fall at that later time. A few weeks ago, on March 12th around 2 A.M, daylight savings began. In some countries, people practice this to be able to keep up with time of daylight, which makes them change their clocks, but in other places, there are some people that don’t change their clocks because it affects their sleep, their schedules, and the way they live. They might not have a reason at all and it’s unnecessary for them to do so.

Wade Hampton High School English Teacher, Kaitlyn Gravely, said “The reason people change their clocks during daylight savings time is to increase the hours of light. I think daylight savings time is unnecessary. It throws everyone’s internal clock off for a week. It serves no real purpose because it’s already staying light longer when the time changes.”

It seems there shouldn’t be a reason for daylight saving time to be necessary because of the daylight being longer when time is changing. And since it throws some people off, they might think of the time differently than what they used to. Gravely also said that she loses an hour of sleep and she won’t end up being tired even though she should be in bed already.

While Daylight saving time isn’t necessary for people, there are others who actually find a purpose for daylight saving time and make good use of it. “I believe that daylight savings was established in the U.S. to allow more daylight for farmers, people who harvest crops. More daylight would be helpful for people who rely on outside work for a living. I have also heard that it was created during a wartime for specific reasons. I am not sure of the actual reason for creation. I don’t think it is necessary, but personally I prefer it. I enjoy having daylight and the sun setting later.” said Madison Clardy, a Student Teacher at Wade Hampton.

Not only does daylight savings time allow more daylight for some, but it also allows farmers to be able to grow more crops and harvest them in time. This can help them be able to finish their work and not have to worry about finishing it the next day.

There are people around the world that do get involved with daylight saving time. But not everyone is the same and follows what others are doing. “I think the fact that not all countries or even all parts of the countries participate in changing the clocks to reflect daylight savings can be confusing, but I do not think there are necessarily major impacts whether a country participates or not.” said Brittany Johnson, a Science Teacher at Wade Hampton.

Many people wouldn’t want to participate in daylight saving because of how the lack of sufficient daylight doesn’t bother them and involve them. And since it’s not a requirement, they don’t think it's necessary for them to be part of daylight saving time. It also doesn’t make that much of a change around the world.

Daylight saving time isn’t for everybody, and it may have some downsides. But it is there for people that want more sunlight to be able to finish whatever they need to do that requires them to be outside.

As some students may already know, there is going to be a new schedule for the 2023-2024 school year. Next year, the semester will end before winter break, so that students will start their 2nd semester classes when they come back from break. 

Carlos Grant, principal at WHHS, said, “I believe there were several factors that inspired the schedule change. The reason for starting and ending the student calendar a week earlier is that this change allows for the academic semester to end prior to winter break. Midterms, finals and state testing will be completed before students leave for winter break, rather than being administered in January when they return to school after an extended break, which is academically beneficial to students.”

In short, this new schedule will allow students to be finished with their final exams and testing before winter break. Now, students won’t have to worry about forgetting things they need to know for exams over the break. School will be starting on August 8th and ending on May 22nd. The only downside is that this year's summer will be cut short since school will still end on June 2nd even though students will go back on August 8th.

“I think it’s a great idea. I’ve always hated for students to have to wait 2 weeks before taking their exams and finishing a class. Many students forget things over the break and end up doing worse on their exams after Christmas, so having everything finished up before we leave is a good thing,” Micheal Stone, an assistant principal at Wade Hampton, said.

If students can get over this year’s shortened summer then it’ll be a huge benefit in the end.

“I think the schedule change is needed and necessary. It has always been awkward and hard to manage school under the current semester format schedule that includes a two week layover after the winter break,” Grant said.

It makes much more sense for the break to separate the semesters instead of going back to classes for just a few weeks after.

Stone said, “I personally think that most school districts will eventually move to a year round school schedule with a lot of short breaks built into the calendar instead of one long summer break.  This new schedule would make that move a little easier.”

A possibility shared by Stone is that some schools could move into a year round schedule. This means that instead of having a long break for the summer, there would be a lot of vacations throughout the whole year. According to “ The  Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools”, an article by Scholastic, on a year round schedule, students would go to school for six-to-nine weeks and then have two-to-four week breaks in-between.  

Despite the shortened summer this year, getting out in May will be a huge positive in the long run. It will benefit students greatly to take exams before winter break and come back with brand new classes!

Military ball is a very exciting night for all ROTC cadets.Military ball is a prestigious night to honor cadets and have a fun night.Ball night is on March 11 at Sterling Community Center 115 Minus Street from 5-11.

There are many traditions that AirForce ROTC like to honor on ball night.

Tayelind Ellis junior said¨we have a Grog Bowl which is a mixture of sweets¨.

The Grog bowl is a concoction of many different sweets combined.The Grog bowl is used as a funny punishment for cadets through the night of the military ball.At last year's military ball we did not know the mixture of sweet ingredients till after the ball. There is also a saber arch at the military.They have select cadets who are on the saber team.The saber arch is for cadets who want to take pictures with their dates.The saber are is a group of cadets who are trained to

There are many months of preparation and hard work that has to be done.The most important is finding the venue to fit the crowd.This year's planning committee had to work together from different schools via email.The committees had to agree on catering,Venue,and theme.

Msgt Slim Routon said ¨This year there are 250 students going to the military ball this year.¨

Six different schools combined this year are going to the ball this year: Southside,Blue Ridge, Wade Hampton high school, Woodmont,Carolina,Southside High School.With all the different schools meeting together for a night there will be a lot of fun with mixed personalities.

Summer is right around the corner, the days are starting to warm up and the sun is out for longer. Isn't that exciting? Students are excited to be getting out of school, and seniors are ready to graduate. Now, what are the plans for this summer? What vacations do people have planned this year? And if you don't have any plans, is working an option? Here is what some of our students from Wade Hampton have to say. 

Zachary, a sophomore here at Wade Hampton, said “Im planning on just spending time with family, but also working this summer at chick fil a on Wade Hampton rd.” Some people like Zach don’t have any major vacations planned, but working is an option and having some type of money is needed. 

On the other hand, Vasilious Diakomahalis, a senior at Wade Hampton, has a lot planned for the summer. He said, “I plan on graduating first and after I graduate, I'm going to Greece for the whole summer and I will come back in the fall. And when im back im going to play soccer for CIU” 

Nathalie, a freshman here at Wade Hampton, said “I hope to spend time with my family and try to work at Hollister, get a little bit of money so I can save up. I think we have a trip to Florida with my family and some friends and have other plans with those same people, so it will be fun.”

Juan, a Junior at Wade Hampton, also said: “I have a trip to florida with my family, and I'm going to be working with my dad doing flooring, trying to get a new car and save up for some other things that I have in mind, but passing is my main focus right now.”

Some of our students here at Wade Hampton seem to be busy this summer, some will be working and some will be having fun and long-lasting vacations. Summer is about having fun and spending time with family and friends. Everyone should remember to follow the laws and stay out of trouble, and that way, everyone can enjoy themselves even more. Summer is right around the corner and hopefully, everyone enjoys it the best way possible.

TikTok is available in over one hundred and fifty countries and has over one billion users. In the United States, TikTok has been downloaded over two hundred and ten times. TikTok has over two and a half billion active users worldwide every day. 

This particular social media platform, TikTok, causes some people to lose track of what they are supposed to be doing. More people are choosing to miss out on their academic and physical accomplishments for something that someone can watch another time. 

Jenna Lemons, 12th grade student, said, “I think TikTok affects the way people do things because most people are sucked into this app and are glued to their phone because of it. It makes people lose interest in physical activities because all they want to do is sit on their phones and watch these videos. People become lazy and unmotivated to do everyday things because of TikTok and how time consuming it really is.”

Although many people have negative impacts from watching TikTok, some may gather positive feedback and it will not affect them. Many young adults and even adults that use this app can destroy their mental and physical health by wanting to look like what they see through their screen, while some use it to benefit themselves.

Virginia D'Alessandro, Math teacher said, “Technology can be addicting but it can also be a source of inspiration depending on what types of accounts are being followed/viewed. Watching TikTok everyday can just as easily help a depressed person find the inspiration to get outside and seek help as it can encourage them to give up.”

The many people that just use this app when they are bored don't realize how much time they waste in a day. Yes, people may lose time from the day from being on TikTok, but there are many ideas people can try: cooking recipes, how to build something, putting makeup on and even finding a link for clothes that someone may see on a person dancing. 

Riley Gordon, 11th grade student, said, “I learn a lot from TikTok; there’s a lot of very educated people who share their knowledge, whether it’s random or important. It is also very entertaining and time consuming when I’m bored.”

Banning TikTok could potentially have a great amount of impact on the influencers that have millions of followers. Although, the people that don't have many followers won't have a big impact on if it gets banned. Most students will think it is the end of the world until another fun, distracting app comes out. 

Jonah Bishop, 12th grade student, said, “I would honestly just find another app if it got banned. There wouldn’t really be anything else to do.”

Many people are mentioning that TikTok is going to get banned some time soon; that is all the talk as of right now! As many know, TikTok can be used for body shaming and bringing people down, but people also make the app useful to themselves.

On March 7th, Wade Hampton High School had an event called Future Generals Night which was held at 5:30 P.M. and ended at 7:00 P.M. This event was aimed towards any students from any middle school that will become WHHS freshmen next year. 

This event allowed students to not only see what high school looks like, but also allowed them to think about the school. This also got parents to think about if the school is suitable for their child and a great fit for them to be at.

Avery Davis, Freshman Academy Assistant Principal, said “This event is aimed at our 8th grade students in order to give them an opportunity to become acquainted with Wade Hampton, some of the teachers, and get them thinking about their first year in high school.” 

This allows students to become more comfortable with what the school has to offer, as well as create a plan on what comes next for them.

When students come to a high school, their expectations would be seeing many different things that are new to them that they haven’t seen before. 

“They should expect to meet the current Freshman Academy teachers and staff. They’ll get the feel of not only the rules, expectations, and life at WHHS, but also feel for what high school will look like.” said Ashlee Burrell, a Freshman Social Studies teacher.

Students shouldn’t expect to be on their own and try to figure out what’s important to them and what’s not when coming to a brand new school on their first day. 

“The move from middle school to high school can be daunting for some individuals, so we hold this event for current 8th graders in order to make it more appealing and less stressful. Student council does a great job reiterating the fact that everyone is confused and scared on their first day of school, so they’re not alone!” said Dillon Monday, a Freshman Academy Math teacher.

Wade Hampton High School takes the opportunity to show what they are made of and the offers they can give to students. That way any 8th graders will be able to feel more confident when coming to high school for the first time, as they create new relationships with different people and to let them see what they are getting themselves into.

Military ball is a very exciting night for all ROTC cadets.Military ball is a prestigious night to honor cadets and have a fun night.Ball night is on March 11 at Sterling Community Center 115 Minus Street from 5-11.

There are many traditions that AirForce ROTC like to honor on ball night.

Tayelind Ellis junior said¨we have a Grog Bowl which is a mixture of sweets¨.

The Grog bowl is a concoction of many different sweets combined.The Grog bowl is used as a funny punishment for cadets through the night of the military ball.At last year's military ball we did not know the mixture of sweet ingredients till after the ball. There is also a saber arch at the military.They have select cadets who are on the saber team.The saber arch is for cadets who want to take pictures with their dates.The saber are is a group of cadets who are trained to

There are many months of preparation and hard work that has to be done.The most important is finding the venue to fit the crowd.This year's planning committee had to work together from different schools via email.The committees had to agree on catering,Venue,and theme.

Msgt Slim Routon said ¨This year there are 250 students going to the military ball this year.¨

Six different schools combined this year are going to the ball this year: Southside,Blue Ridge, Wade Hampton high school, Woodmont,Carolina,Southside High School.With all the different schools meeting together for a night there will be a lot of fun with mixed personalities.

The FAC is having an Anti-prom for fine art students and anyone else who wants to go. This upcoming prom on May 20th from 6-9 pm should be a fun and exciting new prom for students that can't go to the WHHS prom this year because of the grade restriction. The FAC prom allows all grades and students from Wade to come if they fill out a form stating who from the FAC is their date. The theme is “Enchanted Forest.”

Hannah Winslow, a 10th grade student at Wade Hampton high school said, “I think it goes with FAC being so different. In general, we are all here to celebrate each other and the art we make, so anti-prom is really just that, a celebration of each other. I think it's a lot better, since FAC is an art school, there's a lot less judgment so I feel much more comfortable at FAC anti-prom than wade.”

The prom is a celebration of the arts in that school, and having this prom could make people feel closer and less judgment by others. Having a close environment with other friends that share similar experiences can make FAC students feel comfortable to be themselves at this prom. The art brings the FAC students together to build a stronger and healthier environment to be in.

Bee Freeland, an 11th grade student at Wade Hampton High School said, “Anti-prom is very different from Wade Hampton prom. Students are encouraged but not forced to dress up within their personal style. It's also different because all grade levels can come.”

This gives students who might have wanted to go to prom at Wade another chance to see a different side to the FAC prom. Different styles in the prom can make people more comfortable in what they are wearing. By having all grade levels come students are able to connect with students they might've not been able to connect with at prom before. Having this prom allows students to see the FAC from a whole different point of view.

Gavin Wallen, an 11th grade student at Wade Hampton said, “The theme for the prom is ‘Enchanted Forest’ and I'm excited for the theme because there's so many different styles and different things people can come up with to make the prom look like an enchanted forest.”

The theme being enchanted forest gives students an open book to what they could wear and different ways to dress up in different styles and a fun theme to follow to create the prom an enchanted place.

Winslow said, “Usually, there are 2 parts where people can dance with really loud music, and in the lobby there will be food where the people who are uncomfortable dancing can just chat and a photobooth.” 

This gives students who might not want to dance an opportunity to still be there and have a great time. Different activities, like a photobooth, give these students a way to remember the night.. If students don't feel comfortable with dancing they can chill and talk to their friends and still have a good time at prom.

Harper Bright, a 10th grade student at Wade Hampton said, “I'm very excited for the prom. It creates a great atmosphere for FAC students and a fun place to be. anti-prom can create a place where all grades and students from different schools can be together. Having everyone in this anti-prom can also show what a FAC can offer.”

FAC anti-prom can create a safe environment and comfortable environment for students. Having a prom everyone can go to can make everyone feel included. Dancing, photo booth, and music create a night for everyone to remember.

Spirit weeks are something students look forward to the most during the school year. Spring Thing will be taking place on the week of March 13th this year. There will be fun events for each of the days including hat day, moms breakfast, bring anything but a book-bag day,  and different foods at lunch. 

Carlos Grant, principal of Wade Hampton said, “...on one day there will be an opportunity for kids to bring anything other than a book-bag. So we'll do that, I think it's on that Tuesday, I believe.”

The main event of the week is when students will be able to bring anything but a book-bag on Tuesday, March 14th. But, of course, there are some rules regarding what you can and can’t do.

Brittany McCants, 10th grade assistant principal, said, “So we talked about it from an admin perspective, and pretty much we are okay with everyone bringing anything as long as whatever they have they can take it up and down the steps. We just said that we didn't want people using the elevator. So that would mean if somebody was bringing in, like a wheelbarrow, cause I don't think they can carry that up and down the steps. IF they want to get somebody to help them, then that's okay.”

As McCants said, whatever you bring, you have to be able to carry up the stairs and around the school with you. There are some other rules released by administration: the item cannot be motorized, it can’t be a living thing, it has to belong to you, and admin can deny items.

The money raised during this week goes directly to WHHS instead of a charity like the spirit week in the fall. 

WHHS freshman and student council member, Cameron Roof, said, “I think one main thing that they’re wanting to put it towards is technology subscriptions like quizlet and kahoot and also maybe a new projector for the auditorium. “

The money is going to be raised for whatever could benefit the school the most. Whether that be projectors for the auditorium or subscriptions for games to help students learn and study.

Kathryn Johnson,  junior and student council member at Wade Hampton said, “I think we're going to do a teacher student basketball tournament buyout and different grades will compete against the teachers. And it'll be a buyout so it'll be a way to raise money. And then the biggest thing is food at lunch and we'll make profits through that.”

This is a great and easy way for the school to raise money. Students will be able to have fun watching a game while also raising money for the school simultaneously.

For lunch everyday there will be different foods in the cafeteria. There will be food from different places including Nomadik Few, Zaxby's, TCBY, Moe's. Grilled cheese will be available in the school store everyday. There will also be a bake sale and drink sale offered by the student council. 

Spring Thing is a fun way to raise money for our school and kick off Spring Break!

As the school year comes to an end with only three months left, many seniors are already taking the next step towards their future. Many started the college application process months ago as soon as applications opened, whereas some seniors may have only recently submitted their applications. Wherever it is they are in the process they are still facing the same dilemma: where are they going to go after graduation? 

Oleisia Johnson, Wade Hampton High School senior, said, “I’ve heard back from a variety of colleges, the most notable being University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Duke University, Georgia State, Clark Atlanta, North Carolina A&T, and Spelman College (which is where I’ll be attending this fall!).” 

Like many seniors, Johnson has already made her decision regarding where it is she wants to go for the next stage of her life. Wherever students may be in the process of deciding does not mean they are more ahead or behind than their peers. Just like there are students who have made their decisions, there are plenty who haven’t partly because of obstacles commonly presented regarding attending college.  

Ashley Marroquin-Gonzalez, WHHS senior, said, “A big problem I think everyone has is financial aid because when I was in elementary school I looked up how much college was and I did not think I was going to go to college, like it was already out of the question. So I think financially I have been trying to find out how I can go to Presbyterian because even though most of it is covered, there’s still a good amount I have to pay left, so I’m worried about that.” 

Their worry is one that many students can relate to—whether or not they will be able to cover the costs of attending the college of their choice. Even with scholarships the price of a higher education is still a major factor affecting students' decisions. Other students based their decision partly on their career path and what schools offer the majors they’re interested in pursuing. 

Lewis Mims, WHHS senior, said, “I had no idea what I wanted to do for college until a few months ago and I was just like, since I hate school and everything about it I’ll just do the one thing I enjoy which is art.” 

A common worry students have about college is not knowing what they want to major in and that they’ll end up hating what they study. Mims brought up how that fear is not one he has to deal with because he chose a career path that involves doing what he loves; in fact it makes going to college even more exciting. Another fear is the increased risks associated with college. 

Marroquin-Gonzalez said, “I’m really scared I’m going to get college burnout because I feel like there are different stakes when it comes to high school and college. I feel like if I get burnt out in college then I’m screwed. If I stop going to classes and if I stop doing this then that pretty much affects everything I do.” 

The stakes are much higher in college than they are in high school, especially with the risk of becoming indebted with student loans and getting nothing out of it. Despite all these fears, there are many ambitions that seniors will be taking with them as they move forward. 

Johnson said, “One of my biggest aspirations for my college journey is to grow into my womanhood. Since I’m attending an out-of-state HBCU (Historically Black College/University), I’ll enter a new stage in my life where I’m away from home and surrounded by like-minded black creatives and academics who are all dedicated to success.”

College provides many students the opportunity to flourish and find their identity among people different from those they grew up with. It’s going to be a chance to start new and create the life they want for themselves, a thought that can be equally as scary as it is comforting.

Mims said, “I’m mostly leaving behind my social life. I’ve spent almost my whole life in Greenville, SC and I know so many people from elementary school, middle school, high school, and there’s just a lot of mistakes and frustrations. College is going to be a new start. I'm not going to have all that. I have a lot of close friends that I’m going to miss when I leave but I’m going to keep in touch.” 

As seniors transition into adulthood it is important to remember that moving forward doesn’t mean they have to leave their whole life behind. Instead, they can take the best parts of it with them. They can build a new life at college while keeping loved ones close if that is what they want. 

Marroquin-Gonzalez said, “I lived in a college dorm and college campus for a month so I got away from my family and it was really refreshing. I think it’s gonna be a very fun time for me.” 

Moving away from home may be a big adjustment for some, but it could be the change they need to explore unknown aspects of their life. Marroquin-Gonzalez brought up the benefit of going to a college an hour away, and that is the ability to be able to call on their family for support if ever needed and knowing they’d be able to show up. For students moving further away from home building a support system at their new school could seem scary at first, but in the long run prove to be beneficial for their well-being. 

Getting to the decision stage of the college application process is not always a straightforward or simple process. There is plenty of decision making and work to be made before settling on one school; however, students shouldn’t feel lost from what seems like an overwhelming task because there is a notable amount of help available to them.

Laura Gibson, College and Career counselor at WHHS, said, “We have a really great program called School Links. It’s in your education apps and it is a great resource for students to use to start researching careers and colleges that might be a good fit for them, especially if they don’t know what they want to do. They can start there. It helps them get at least in the right direction of figuring out what might be a good fit for them.” 

A problem many students face when beginning the college application process is being completely clueless on where to start. Counselors like Gibson are available to help students on figuring out what they need, and if they are unsure on a certain step they can still provide tools and resources that will help guide the student. 

Johnson said, “The biggest help when applying for college was honestly the internet. There’s an infinite amount of resources ranging from random YouTube videos to Reddit forums all about the college application process. It saves a lot of time and energy when there’s a single place where you can get all your questions answered.” 

It can take some time sorting through all of the information the Internet provides but it is still one of the most valuable resources when it comes to figuring out how to apply to colleges. In addition to the internet, there are programs dedicated to supporting high school students in their college application process.

Marroquin-Gonzalez said, “I would say that Bridges has been the biggest help because they gave me a lot of connections to different colleges and I toured a lot of colleges because of them. It was because of Bridges that I got the scholarship for Presbyterian, so they've been really helpful and they have their own college advisor that they have there and she's been really supportive in helping apply for scholarships because applying for scholarships is really stressful.”

Bridges to a Brighter Future is a college and access program that is partnered with Furman University. Their mission is to help students who may not have the resources to be able to attend college despite their circumstances. Programs like these provide students with opportunities that may have been closed off to them before, which is why it’s important for students to ask their counselors or advisors for help. 

It is essential to keep in mind that not everyone is going to attend college, nor should they feel like they have to. It’s a huge investment that isn’t necessary for everyone to make and it is a factor to take into consideration when deciding one’s future career path. 

Gibson said, “One of the things I try to make sure students understand is that nobody's path is the same. We all have a different path to get to where we want to be and I think that’s the most important thing. Where do you, as the student, want to be? So what does your path need to look like to get there?” 

Traditionally it is expected that students go to college and get a degree but there are many alternatives to going to a four year school. There are many companies that will help pay for training or certifications for their workers, meaning they won’t have to worry about going into debt over trying to get an education. College is not the only path and it is up to the student to decide if it is for them. 

Bekki Benjamin, WHHS English teacher, said, “Take some time for yourselves. For the past 13 years you’ve been in school and have had parents or teachers guiding you and doing a lot of things for you. My suggestion would be to take time for yourself and see who you are, find your own identity outside of school and outside of your home, and travel just to see different parts of the world and how people are different everywhere.”

After years of rules and policies seniors are going to have access to more freedom and autonomy, so it’s important they take the time to truly get to know themselves. Although it may feel like time is swiftly passing by it’s important to stay focused on individual progress rather than the progress of others.

Marroquin-Gonzalez said, “There’s always time, that’s what I want to say. There’s time, don’t be stressed about it, there’s time.”

This simple but powerful reminder could prove vital to helping seniors handle the stress associated with deciding what it is they want to do with their lives. Graduation isn’t just the end of a students’ high school life but the beginning of a much larger part of their story. It’s their time to find their place in the world as well as their voice.  

The month of February is observed in the United States as Black History Month. This month is not only dedicated to recognizing the struggle and systemic oppression that African Americans have had to face throughout the history of this country, but also to celebrating the triumphs, joy, and great contributions to society from the community. The 2023 theme, Black Resistance, highlights the perseverance and strength that African Americans have shown throughout history. 

Wade Hampton’s Black Student Union has prepared a few ways for the school to celebrate the month. 

The question, “What does Black History Month mean to you?” is a great way to reflect on one’s individual experiences and emotions. Precious Olerum, WHHS senior and Social Media Chair of BSU shared what Black History Month means to her.

“It’s a time to kind of recognize what people have done in the past and now, and what we can do to help our future and the people that come after us,” Olerum said.

Sania Williams, WHHS senior and President of BSU, also shared her insight on the question. 

“To me, Black History Month is a time of rejoice and contentment. Black Americans have to endure so many types of discrimination, inequality, and overall oppression just because of the color of our skin. It’s heartbreaking and wreaks havoc on one’s self image and mind,” said Williams. 

Despite these immense hardships for African Americans, Williams shared that Black History Month uplifts the community and highlights all the wonderful things about being a Black American. 

“From our music, to our food, to our sense of community, Black Americans, during Black History Month, get to bask in the overwhelming celebrations of our culture all throughout the country. It helps us to remember that being black is beautiful, and being black is a blessing,” said Williams. 

Students and staff alike have been celebrating Black History month at WHHS.  Projects by BSU displayed in the school include the Black History Timeline and multiple posters featuring Black History facts, which students can observe as they walk through the hallways. Teachers were also encouraged to decorate their classroom doors to artistically represent Black History. 

La’Ronda Harris, teacher of Business Ed and Advisor of BSU, expressed that it is important to recognize Black History Month at school. 

“I think it's a necessary norm that we continue to have the spotlight on Black History and Black History makers within our school community, as well as continuing to have quality work presented that embodies who we are and what we represent as a whole,” said Harris. 

Harris also spoke to the positive impact that the Black Student Union has had since its arrival at WHHS. 

“I think the impact of BSU here at WHHS is another platform for students to be able to come together in like minds and be able to effectively communicate and share thoughts and ideas on a more personal level,” Harris said. 

Olerum feels that being a part of BSU has enriched her experience in high school. It has not only provided her with new friends, but life skills as well. 

“It’s definitely made me reach out to more people, like I see people in the hallway and I’m like ‘I know you from Black Student Union.’ Another way it’s helped is that I feel like I’ve gotten better at public speaking,” said Olerum. 

The club regularly discusses topics that affect the African American community in their weekly meetings. Harris is proud of what the students in BSU accomplish through their discussions and projects.

“My favorite part of being the advisor of BSU is being privy to hearing robust conversations from a collective educated group of students about issues that deeply affect our students, community, and culture. I also love meeting and establishing relationships with the brilliant minds of our students here at Wade, that I may not get to see if it was not for BSU,” said Harris. 

The WHHS community thanks the Black Student Union for all of their hard work in bringing to light the immense value and significance of Black History Month. Although February is dedicated to celebrating Black History Month, recognition of the history and resilience of Black Americans is important all year round. 

Earlier this month, College Board and the state of Florida were butting heads over the new course that College Board introduced: AP African American Studies. This controversy came about when Florida Governor DeSantis made accusatory claims regarding the topics covered in the course’s curriculum.

In an interview with CNN, DeSantis said, “That’s [AP African American Studies] a political agenda. That’s the wrong side of the line for Florida standards. We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them when you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes.” 

Is teaching history from a different lens pushing an agenda or simply teaching the facts? That’s the beauty of history, it isn’t only one perspective but multiple angles on the same story. There is much nuanced thought involved when it comes to studying the past, a concept that many people fail to grasp.

Derenda Ropp, Wade Hampton Social Studies teacher, said, “The study of history is always looking at as many perspectives as you possibly can about the historical event. You and your friend can watch a fight in the lunchroom and depending on which side of the room that you're in, you're going to have a different perspective. . . So when you're taking a history class the question is always, how many perspectives are you listening to? Can it be controversial sometimes? It can be but that doesn’t mean it should be.” 

What exactly does the course cover?  The course covers historical facts from the perspective of African Americans. The subjects that were stirring up controversy, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and mass incarceration, were a part of the optional topics for a final project in the pilot course, not the main framework of the course. 

Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. is one of the three hundred professors who was consulted for the development of the course. He is an Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.

According to Dr. Gates, “The course begins with ancient African kingdoms and traces a path from slavery to freedom. It focuses on key periods such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the rise and fall of Jim Crow segregation, and the civil rights movement. The course provides students with a firm foundation of facts and evidence about this extraordinarily rich saga of American history.”

Unlike many of the history courses taught in America, this course will take an in-depth look at history from an African American’s perspective. This will allow students to deepen their understanding of America’s past, even the unpleasant sides that are often unspoken about in the average classroom. A unique aspect of this course is how it is structured. 

According to College Board, “AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that draws from a variety of fields—history, literature, the arts, geography, science—to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans.”

The mix of different fields will make the course more immersive and captivating than other history classes traditionally offered. Much effort and time went into the creation of this course, as proven by the amount of voices and inputs that were approached when developing the course. With that in mind, the course isn’t randomly offered to schools across the country, instead it’s offered to high schools that must apply to get College Board’s permission to teach their courses. 

Charity Pittillo, the Social Studies Department Chair at Wade Hampton, said, “Wade Hampton High School applied to be one of the pilot schools to have the program, and we were successful in being chosen. As far as whether it's actually added to the course selection depends on whether we have enough school interest.” 

It is expected to have the course taught in the 2023-2024 school year; however, there is a minimum number of students that need to take the class or else it will be dropped. There aren’t any set prerequisites, but because it is an AP course students would need a recommendation from either an ELA teacher or a social studies teacher.

Pittillo said, “We would like to have as many students sign up for it who are interested, so if it's something you're like, ‘I really have a passion for the subject but I'm currently not in the course’, they need to come talk to myself or their guidance counselor to see if that can be something that they can take. We just don't want to put kids in a class if they're gonna be overwhelmed.”

Even if the course is more difficult than other history classes, there are many benefits that students can get from taking the class. Along with the AP credit, students will reap an abundance of knowledge that will benefit them in and out of academic settings. 

Dr. Carlos Grant, Wade Hampton Principal, said, “I hope that students can think about thinking. I hope they can walk into this experience, experience primary sources like scholarly articles, video lectures, and practice questions and engage in rich debate about the history of African Americans in this country. I hope that students will be able to walk away knowing that the beginning of African American history did not begin at slavery and includes more robust experiences that contributed to this country's foundation. I also hope that we can understand the complexities of history which will allow for them to debate based on merit and not unfounded opinions.” 

Contrary to the baseless claims made about the course having no value, the class promises a plethora of valuable information that will not only educate students on a different culture, but hopefully encourage them to have a more open mind. 

Wade Hampton’s musical theater class has begun the exciting rehearsal process of their production of Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast is a heartwarming story about the unlikely love between two unique characters. Belle, a bookish young girl who doesn’t quite fit into her small town, and Beast, an unpredictable prince who spends his days mourning the loss of his human qualities, will embark on a journey of rare love. 

Originally written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and adapted by Disney, the classic fairytale has been a Broadway show, a movie, and a live-action film. 

Now, Beauty and the Beast will be showcased by the WHHS Musical Theater class. 

Michelle Smith, the director of the show and theatre teacher, said, “Ms. Moyer and I chose eight different musicals that we wouldn't mind directing. And we sent it out to the community, students, teachers, faculty, everything. And this is the one that wonl” 

The cast is filled with talented young people. For a handful of the cast, this is their first theater experience. For Davis Levingston, a senior at Wade Hampton, this will be his first play. Levingston said, “I’ve only ever done chorus and singing, so I did musical theater to try it out.” 

Alongside the Beast, Nola Robertson, a junior at Wade, is playing Belle, and this will be her big debut. 

“This is my first musical. I’ve done choir, but I've never sung in a musical theater tone. That’s harder, I’m so used to the strict like choir rule tone,” Robertson said. 

People may think that musical theater wouldn’t be any different from chorus, but as Robertson explained, it’s a completely different tone of singing. There’s more freedom in musical theater. Chorus is very uniform, whereas theater is more laxed. 

The casting process for Beauty and the Beast was an arduous process that ended with a spectacularly chosen cast. 

Smith said, “Casting is my least favorite part. But I really believe in order to give the students the best experience possible, I have to cast based on their audition that day. Not based on what I think they can do, or have done… I base it solely on what they did that particular day.” 

Smith made sure to give everyone a fair chance by having not only a musical audition, but also an acting audition. Although it is a musical, singing might not be able to fully showcase someone’s talent. 

Annika Ager, a freshman, said she hopes the show will help make her, “more confident in singing.” 

She’s been doing theater for four years, but she hasn’t been singing for all that time. When Smith gave her a chance to be able to showcase her acting talent, it helped Ager get the role of Chip. 

Sorin Lopez-Benitez, a junior at WHHS, said, “We are going to be the first people that these kids ever see perform so that could inspire them to become an actor. It's really setting the track of theater for the rest of their lives.”

The musical theater class could definitely be inspiring kids to pursue theater- and perhaps those kids will eventually join the program. 

Beginning on April 20th, Beauty and the Beast will have five school performances. Then they will open to the public and their last performance will be April 30th. 

There has been much controversy over the health at Wade Hampton High School.Many students and teachers have very different opinions of the health of students and staff.There has been a noticeable number of students and staff absent. We are here to give you ways to stay healthy and in school.

Angela Wood, Health science teacher at WHHS, said ¨You need to be aware of the surfaces you touch through the day¨

Many students throughout the day touch handrails, door handles, bathroom counters and many other things and are contracting germs. These germs students are contracting are causing sickness to be spread around the school like a wildfire. During the past week during February we have had a bunch of students out with the stomach virus. We asked different staff members around Wade Hampton to see if they noticed a change and here is what they said.

Wood said¨I am surprised by the number of students that have been out of school sick.¨

Wood is a new teacher at school and has noticed the amount of students out sick at Wade Hampton due to illness. Most teachers are getting sick more because they are constantly around students and interacting with them. During interviews with multiple teachers they all noticed themselves getting sick more this year.

Wood ¨Yes I have been sick more this year since being a teacher¨

Do you have ways you can stay healthy as a student?

Sophomore Faith Berry said  ¨I stay away from people who are sick and wash my hands frequently¨.

As you can see, washing your hands is a very important part of staying healthy and germ free.There are many ways to stay healthy you just have to find your own.