High School

Ranking My Classes

This week’s blog is part 1 of me ranking my classes from my favorite class to my least favorite class. Since I have a study hall I only have 6 classes. My classes are 1st period is AP Biology, 2nd period is engineering, 3rd period is senior seminar (English), 4th period is digital media, 5th period is weight lifting, 6th period I have study hall so that doesn’t count in my ranking, and 7th period I have AP Pre-calc.

Before I rank my classes I will just say how I feel about them overall. Overall I don’t feel like I have a hard schedule and I actually really enjoy almost all my classes this year.

Coming it at #1 is my 4th period class, digital media. For this class we have to make a video and post it every week and every other week we have to write a 350 word blog about anything we choose to write about. Digital media is my favorite class because it is very laid back. You kind of get to work on your own schedule which is really nice. On days where I don’t have anything to do it is a good time to get some of my homework or studying done.

Coming in at #2 is my 2nd period engineering class. I really enjoy this class because we get to work at our own pace. My teacher gives us our assignments on google classroom at the beginning of the week and then as long as they are done by the end of the week he has no problem, so the class is very chill, which I really enjoy. I also have some of my friends in the class so it is very nice to be able to talk to them.

Coming in at #3 is my 3rd period Senior Seminar class. I have never been someone who really likes English but I really don’t mind this class at all. I have a lot of my friends in this class which is great. The things we do in this English class compared to most are not as boring as the others.

Rating Classes

By: Alexis Dawkins

As a senior in highschool, I take many different classes to improve my GPA. Today I am going to be rating them.

To start, first period which is precalculus with Ms. Muldrow. I have always excelled in math and learning the ways of every concept easily but this class has challenged me recently. It may be the senioritis getting to me but the second semester of senior year has been my most challenging one yet, not just in math but in every class. I have this class with mostly juniors and only a few seniors so we are outnumbered. This class has to be a solid 7.5/10 because I like Ms. Muldrow but it is not my favorite class.

Second period is Human Health and Development. This is with Mrs. Sanders who is also the school nurse. I took this because I needed a lab science to graduate but this class has taught me a lot so far about the human body and different systems throughout. I am in this class with all girls except for one boy and five of the twelve in the class are seniors. We spend a lot of time goofing off but we do learn a lot. I rate this class a 9.5/10.

Third period is Senior Seminar or English 12 and this is with Mrs. Mattews. I had her for English 10 my sophomore year and I enjoy having her as a teacher but I will admit that I do not enjoy reading, writing, or anything else that comes along with an English class. I do enjoy the people in this class and the discussions we have but I will admit that the content of the class is not my favorite. This class is a 6.7/10 for me.

These are my first three classes and my next period is my digital media which is taught by Coach Ripley. This class gives us freedom to be as creative as we want to be. This class is one of my favorite classes because it is such a relief in the middle of the day after three stressful periods before. This class is going to be rated at a 9/10.

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.