High School

My Favorite Things: High School Classes

By: Addie Griffin

My classes this year are a mixture between fun and rigor. I have my top 3 hardest classes to start off my day and then my day gets a little easier from there. Today, I will be ranking my top 3 favorite classes.

To start off, my third favorite class is chemistry. Chemistry helps us understand how the world works. It shows us how everything is made up and how things combine to make up everything we see, touch, and use. Another reason I like chemistry is because Coach Mccord teaches you much more than just chemistry. He teaches you all about life and its lessons and makes you really think deeply about all kinds of things. We also do fun lab experiments and it is full of surprises. One time we did a lab and filled a balloon with hydrogen and held a flame to it. This reaction caused the balloon to burst into flames. This is why chemistry is one of my favorite classes.

To continue, my second favorite class is ceramics. I began taking this class my freshman year of high school and have loved it ever since. This class lets me show my creativity through using clay. I have made countless projects and have even made money from selling them. I also love to talk to Mrs. Brown about different things and get her opinions on my pieces. She gives us different projects to work on throughout the year and always is determined to challenge us in a fun way. She always tests my creative abilities and makes all of us work hard on our projects. This is why ceramics is one of my favorite classes.

Finally, my favorite class is Digital Media. In digital media, I get the opportunity to create videos and content with all of my friends. In this class we have a lot of freedom with what we can do and what content we would like to create. In this class my friends and I usually like to interview little kids and ask them funny questions. The freedom and creativity we get to have is what I enjoy the most about this class.

Wilson Hall Dances

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

On this week’s blog, I’ll be talking about Wilson Hall dances. This is such a fun time to be a Baron. When school begins in the fall there is usually a dance to start the year off strong. Most times it is after a football game in the Nash center. This is such a special dance after a game you just won and get to celebrate all together.

Then this year we added a homecoming dance. We’ve always had the week where we dress up, decorate the halls, and have a football game. This year we changed it up a little. We did all those normal traditions, but added a dance on Saturday to end with a bang.

Our next dance is the winter chill. After exam week, we usually have this dance. Except this year because a Friday night basketball game landed on this night….and you can miss one of those. So this year we are having it on January 11th. It is just a fun night to dress up with your friends, and not have to worry about having a date. What is also special about these nights is that we always do something after. I feel like our grade is especially close. So it’s a good time to get all together while not being at school.

Next is prom. This is the big dance of the year. The one everyone looks forward to. Once winter chill is over, it is full of chatter of who’s taking who to prom. Our prom takes place after spring break. The Friday right after we get back. This week at school practically doesn’t even count since nobody can pay an ounce of attention. The day starts off with a full day of school…then the rush of getting ready. Next is our dinner. The juniors go to a kinda chill dinner. Then the seniors get a nice sit down dinner. Pictures are taken. Then off to prom. After that, we have breakfast. This is such a fun tradition.

Dances will always be special in my heart. When I’m off at college and at a dance. I’ll remember dancing in the cafeteria and smile.

By: Alexis Dawkins

Now that I am wrapping up my last first semester in high school I want to reflect on some things. This could be for rising seniors or for rising freshmen next year. I have learned people skills, work ethic, and more.

As a freshman I came into school knowing everyone but being scared to death. I had gone to Wilson Hall since first grade so this was not a new experience for me but I was full of fear. “This is what determines the rest of my life. “If I do bad these next few years I won’t get into a good college.” “I can’t wait to graduate.” As you can see I had mixed emotions causing me to feel many different ways. I soon learned that I was being a little dramatic about some things but I also learned that I needed to work harder in school. I did not do as much as I should have when it came to academics which I realize now that I should have but I’m doing okay now.

Sophomore year was just there for me. Nothing crazy happened and I was not nervous. I did well in school and did things with friends but this year was not significant by any means.

Junior year I started to worry a little more about grades and college but I still did the same as always which was average. After the first semester I started realizing that things were getting real. The seniors I’ve grown up with were about to leave and we were about to take their spot.

As a senior now with one semester left I’m understanding what everyone was talking about when they talked about “senioritis”. I do have mixed emotions about it though. I can not wait to have my diploma in my hands but also I am going to miss this time and these people. Senior year is flying by and I’ve heard people say that but I never believed it was this fast until I got to where I am today.

My Favorite Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

This week I’ll be talking about Wilson Hall bowling. This has to be one of my favorite things about my school. It is such a unique experience to be a part of. I started doing this activity junior year and it soon became one of my top hobbies.

Every week is different, but most of the time we have one practice and two matches a week. Some weeks we get to leave school a little early when we have a match in Columbia. There is a girls, boys, and coed team. The coach decides the team based on how you perform the week prior and at practices.

It is like getting to bowl for fun and still doing a winter sport. We get to work on techniques like aiming, spinning, and timing. We also learn about strategy, like picking the right ball and adjusting to lane conditions. Matches are so exciting with everyone cheering each other on. It’s a good mixture of individual and team work. The coach sets time apart for each player so he can make sure we are improving the most we can.

When I first joined the team I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I soon realized just because it was different from the usual activities I chose that I still needed to give it a chance. After the first two weeks I knew I loved it. Everyone there is so accepting and supportive. When someone exceeds it truly is exciting.

Bowling has made me a better person. It has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. Although this is only my second year doing it. I can’t wait to reach new goals this season. When I go to college, I’ll be sure to find something that brings me joy like this activity does.

The Best Way to Structure a Workout

By: Ford Wilder

You can structure your workout in many ways, whether you are a bodybuilder or an athlete. You can do one exercise at a time or superset exercises to be more efficient and quicker with your workout. It is important to note that many factors play into what may be the best way to structure a person’s workout. I believe supersetting workouts with at least 2 different exercises per superset is the best way to build a workout plan. I also believe you should have 3 or 4 supersets per workout and here is why.

By having 3 or 4 supersets per workout, you can fit in a heavy workload in quick time.

If you do not superset and focus on one exercise at a time then your workout can last almost double the time than if you were to superset. Bodybuilders typically do not superset, so they can focus on the muscle group(s) they are targeting while athletes will superset their workouts, so they can become the best athletes they can be in the quickest amount of time possible. Focusing on one exercise at a time will allow for better muscle growth ,but not everyone has an hour and thirty minutes to work out each day. Also, supersetting allows people to only have to work out 3 or 4 times a week while those who go the bodybuilder route have to work out six to seven times a week to effectively hit each muscle group. I believe that fitting in the most work possible in the fewest amount of workouts possible is the best possible route.

Another important factor is deciding what muscle groups to pair with each other. I believe pairing muscle groups with one another in a workout is the greatest way to become as fit as possible. An example of pairing muscle groups would be lifting weights for your back and biceps. Instead of doing a separate workout for each, you can combine them into one workout by supersetting, which would allow you to only have to do one workout instead of two.I superset all my workouts and I have seen great results in performance and muscle growth. I can get in and out of the weight room very quickly and get adequate work in.

Additionally, making sure to fit in compound lifts, band work, and core work all in a workout is extremely important. I have noticed having a variety of exercises is the most efficient way to build muscle and grow in performance. Also, having an array of workouts limits fatigue while being able to put in great work. Pairing weighted lifts with banded lifts allows for muscle growth and explosiveness which ensures why you should make sure to use different types of exercises throughout a workout.

Ultimately, I am a firm believer that people should always have a workout structure that benefits them and fits their schedule. Without a proper workout structure, a person can not see the results in an effective way. I believe all people should sit down and create a workout structure and plan ,so they can benefit from it.

My Favorite Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

This week I’ll be talking about how special my friends are to me. Growing up in a small town can be hard at times, but there’s a lot more ups than downs. Having the same friends from elementary school to highschool is one of the ups. Being able to grow up side by side with my best friends is one of the biggest blessings in my life.

Some of the most memorable times together have been on school trips. In the fifth grade we all went to Washington DC. This was such a fun trip. We got to see a lot of cool things while being with our friends and parents. As close as all the kids are is just about how close our parents are too. My favorite trip has to be Kanuga though. Kanuga can either be someone’s favorite or least favorite trip ever. I think it has to be my favorite because of how close we all seemed to get. After being with each other for such a long time people would think we can’t get much closer, but it somehow happens. We first went to Kanuga in the sixth grade and then again our junior year. It was pretty fun the first go round but the last time definitely takes the cake. We went on hikes, made our own little movie, and spent quality time together. My favorite part of this trip had to be when we all had pieces of paper taped on our backs and we wrote something we liked about someone or our favorite memories together. I think this was so special to me because none of us had trouble thinking about what we would write. It just came so easy.

It’s crazy to think that after this year we won’t all move on to college together. Some of us will go to the same college, but it won’t be the same fifty people that have been together since preschool. It will be a big change for all of us. We all know deep down that these are the friendships that will last forever.

My Favorite Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

This week on my favorite things, I’ll be talking about Wilson hall football. This is super special this week because we are headed to state for the second year in a row. Ever since I was little this has held such a special place in my heart. Friday nights have always been designated to Spencer Field. From being in elementary school and getting to be a part of mini cheer. To it being my last year here and getting the honor to be on homecoming court. Every Friday night lights have such a special meaning.

Last week there was a big group of us supposed to leave for our young life trip on Friday. When we found out we would be missing our last game on Spencer field we were distraught. We thought of every single way to get up there late and nothing was working out. Once it got to Friday we just accepted the fact we would never see another football game at Wilson hall as students. It was until one of the senior boys standed up to speak at the pep rally about how it was their last time all playing together. One of the moms heard this speech and made the decision that we weren’t going to miss this game. We went to the game and all hung out after then woke up three hours later to make the drive up to camp. This is an example of just how special this organization is to all of us.

This Saturday will be the last time us seniors get to bang the drums while being on defense. It will be the last time we watch our friends play a sport they love together. It will be the last time we stand in the student section together. These lasts are becoming very real, but make us so very grateful Wilson Hall makes these things so special.

Drawing in Colored Pencil

By: Lottie Bynum

Drawing in colored pencil is different from drawing on other mediums such as pastels, charcoal, or graphite. Unlike those, colored pencils cannot be blended with blending stumps, instead they are blended with other colored pencils. It’s perfect for vibrant or strong colors in a piece.

To draw in colored pencils you need:

Paper that works with colored pencils(most regular or sketch paper works)
Colored pencils (wax or oil based)
Sharpener or X-Acto knife (to sharpen)
Erasers (regular and electric eraser to get the color lifted from the paper)

To start a colored pencil drawing start in graphite pencil and sketch lightly, then add colored pencils.Have scratch paper on hand to try color combinations if you are unsure because colored pencil doesn’t erase as well as other mediums (it’s similar to 6B charcoal and leaves behind a tinted page). Another tip to consider is start lightly and build up the lightest parts before moving to the darker parts so the values in the piece can be fully recognised. Value can be added not only that way, but also when considering the color wheel and contrasting colors. Red and green, orange and blue, and purple and yellow can darken each other and add contrast instead of shading with black which can flatten instead of adding depth to the drawing.

Depending on which colored pencils you are drawing with can impact the care of the drawing afterwards. Regular or wax based colored pencils can leave a residue on the piece after it is finished that needs to be wiped off, but oil based colored pencils have less of a problem with the residual sheet it leaves on a finished piece.

Style is another factor of how someone can draw with them. Many people prefer to draw lightly without marking the paper fully which has the piece with some of the paper, showing through the colored pencil. That is not the only method though, colored pencils can deepen in color and coverage the harder someone presses when drawing with them like charcoal, pastels, or graphite. When pressing harder with the colored pencil it is helpful to blend with several other pencils, possibly complementary colors to add shades of color instead of the color being flat.

Overall colored pencils are fun to work with and can be drawn with in several styles.

How Many Times a Week Should Athletes Lift Weights?

By: Ford Wilder

A widespread question among athletes, and teams is how many days a week should one be in the weight room. There are various answers to this question from multiple specialists, trainers, sports scientists, etc. Many say athletes should only lift twice a week. While some say athletes should train up to six times a week! I do not believe there is a particularly wrong answer to this question, but I do believe there is a best possible answer.

I believe that athletes should lift 5 to six times a week in the offseason for maximal growth and gains. This is because I have noticed very little progress or effectiveness with a low workload. LIfting only twice or three times a week in the offseason gains progress but at a much slower rate than lifting upwards of five times a week. The offseason is the time to try and become the very best athlete you can be. And by lifting very frequently your body will see the changes. Your body will be fatigued from this heavy workload, but that is fine because you are not playing games during the off-season. This is where you prepare yourself for the upcoming season of whatever sport(s) you play. I lifted five times a week during this past summer during my offseason and I saw great results by doing so. I even sometimes went six times a week with 4 upper body days, two being a push day and two being a pull day. The other one or two would be a lower body. This was quite strenuous on my body, but I mostly certainly developed quicker than if I had been on a two or three-day-a-week split.

In-season weightlifting is completely different from the off-season though. This is where I believe you should only lift three to four times a week. While in season, the main focus of in-season weightlifting is to maintain strength and explosiveness and to prevent injuries.

Athletes do not want to be fatigued, but instead be at their full capabilities and fully recovered by game time. You can still train for increasing gains in the offseason, but you should do this type of training two to four days before your game(s). I have trained 5 days a week during this football season. You may think I just contradicted myself, but I have taken a certain approach to continue to get stronger but also not be fatigued when it comes to game time. I have 2 upper body days, 1 lower body day, 1 full body day, and 1 recovery lift day. Three of these days are high-intensity, but I do these lifting sessions earlier in the week so I am not fatigued for game day. The other two days aid in injury prevention, explosiveness, and muscle recovery. This is how an athlete can continue to get stronger in the season, but also stay fresh for their games.

Ultimately, I am a firm believer that athletes should lift many times a week in the season and the off-season. The weight room is a vital tool that can lead to great success for athletes if it is used properly. I have noticed the results myself as long as I have taken an intelligent approach to not overworking myself during the season. Also, I have found a way that works best for me while in the offseason which has led to efficient gains. Lifting weights as many times a week as one possibly can without messing their performance up is key to separating yourself from others.

Benefits of Participating in Track

By: Andrew Howle

To begin with, the track is an exceptional sport for any individual to try on their high school sports team. It offers numerous paths that athletes can participate in, whether on the field or in running. Many people claim track is largely a social sport, being moderate during practice. However, I would argue differently about that comment. Although social relationships are built from the sport, it has many long-term benefits for athletes. These benefits are specific to a large number of events track athletes participate in during meets. These events can help students increase their speed on the track and grow their discipline, which correlates to their performance on the field.

The sport offers Many running events from short, medium, and long distances. This variation allows students to excel in a specific category they may be best at. I personally run sprints because my body is not built to run long distances at a constant pace. I would collapse and face the plant into the ground. That is a reason why the track is so different from other sports. There are multiple events that an athlete has a probable chance of excelling in meets. However, these athletes’ records will only be broken if tasked with frivolous practicing and conditioning. These practices may be drawn out sometimes, but lead to a long-term increase in speed for the athlete, which is a significant benefit of the sport.

Another benefit of the track is the heightened characteristic of discipline correlating to performance in field events. These field events offer a different challenge to young athletes who may need to be faster. These challenges can have many obstacles, including the biggest one of form. An athlete must have exceptional form to do well in their event. Deciding who’s the fastest or strongest person on the field is not a challenge. However, it is a battle of technique among athletes. This technique is gained through intense discipline in performing actions exactly correctly to get a PR and prevent injury. Discipline could not be any more of a benefit gained from the sport.

To conclude, track is an amazing sport to try out during your high school career. It offers a long line of benefits to children who participate in it.