10 The Eagle Flyer Staff
Editor-in-Chief/News Editor Sabrina Harding
Editor-in-Chief/Opinion Editor Shelby Willis Features Editor Sarah Zimmerman Sports Editor Julia Marstell Backpage Editor Connor Horn Copy Editor Hannah Brenzel Business Manager Matthew Kettle Staff Reporters Alex Roth Reed Novak Josh Warner
Ryland Talamo
Senior Staff Reporters Lauren Brooks Kristen Hines Juliet Mullen Advisor
Cindy Warner W
-Opinion- Staff Editorial
hat do the game point of a volley- ball match, the last few seconds in
a basketball game, and the last leg of a marathon have in common? Urgency. Ev- eryone participating in those last few sec- onds of the match put all they have into the game so that they know, win or lose, they did all they could. There is a passion, an intensity, and a drive in those last few seconds of any sporting event that is like the intensity of a senior’s last semester in high school; everyone is full of enthusi- asm and gusto knowing that this is their last chance to make a difference in high school, to be the best students they can be, and to leave a legacy. Doesn’t sound fa- miliar? That’s because around us is a sea of seniors who have dropped their most important classes, are taking three study halls, and have no purpose left in their last few weeks as part of this high school. Everyone has heard that ‘quitters never
The Eagle Flyer is a student-led newspaper published monthly throughout the school year by the Journalism class of Tri-City Christian School. The Eagle Flyer strives to give voice to the students by presenting informa- tion fairly, accurately, impartial- ly, and truthfully. Any person with an interest in the Tri-City community is encouraged to submit letters to the Editor. All letters must be signed and can be submitted to M4 or the office. Some material is courtesy of American Society of Newspa- per Editors/KRT campus High School Newspaper Service.
win and winners never quit.’ Well here is an even more obvious take on that idea: ‘quitters never finish and finishers never quit.’ Society has never valued quitting. Think of the stories that people love— books like Lord of the Rings. What if as he was about to finally finish his journey, Frodo got tired of saving Middle Earth and gave up on trying to destroy the ring? Nobody would value that plotline. People cannot respect the idea of quitting like they can the idea of finishing. Douglas MacArthur said, “Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” Stories where the hero valiantly finishes his journey despite the trying circumstances inspire people, while stories where the hero gives up demoralize people. Nevertheless, se- niors every year quit for their second semester. It’s not because they suddenly value quitting, they have simply renamed it. They call it everything from ‘relaxing’ to ‘having fun’ to ‘taking a much deserved break.’ This takes the sting out of what is really happening. In reality, they are giv- ing up on what they have worked hard to build for the last three and a half years of high school.
“We choose what attitudes we have
right now. And it’s a continuing choice,” said John C. Maxwell. Many of the seniors have earned the
respect of their teachers, leadership of the underclassmen, and a reputation of excel- lence. They have earned these things be- cause of the attitude they chose to have for the last three and half years of high school—an attitude of perseverance, commitment, and drive. But that choice of attitude is still important today, and as seniors choose to give up and let go, they throw away their legacy. They choose to put their names alongside other students who quit for their second semester, be- cause they thought they deserved to. The comment I want to make is this:
for underclassmen, look at the seniors; see how they lose your respect as they stop caring about having it and run from that when you become seniors. As for the seniors, choose your attitude now while there is still time. The seniors have a choice: either to have their names go down with the hundreds of seniors of the past who have given up or to choose an attitude worth emulating, to realize that they were an example and must continue to be one. The teachers do not deserve the disrespect of the ‘school’s out’ attitude, and the underclassmen should not (but one day might) emulate this attitude given to them as an example by seniors. Seniors, these last few months are
yours. They are yours to leave a legacy, to be an example, to change a life, and to influence the school for the last time. The opportunity to make a positive difference in the high school that will soon be in your past is quickly fading. Many people would say that now is the time to savor every moment of fun, to make the most of these last few months for your own ben- efit. Here is a challenge to the senior class instead: make the most of these last few weeks for the people and the place you will leave behind.
I
The Eagle Flyer A monthly column to help you take ten
Take Ten
minutes out of your busy schedule and re- flect on God and His word.
By Lauren Brooks, Senior Staff Reporter
f you’ve been attending this school for five years or more, chances are
you’ve received most of your doctrine and “right ways of living” from chapels and Bible classes. By the time you enter the real world, you will know not to sleep around, not to cheat at work, to display “fruits” of some sort, and be connected to a vine. And then there were the les- sons that chapels didn’t teach you that, well, are really the more important day- to-day struggles rather than “big sins and subjects.” There are elephants in the room. Time to take down just one of the elephants: Gossip. Gossip. It’s that one word used to de-
scribe the many words said, repeated, and branded into the hearts of nearly everyone on campus. It is hard to think of someone who hasn’t been hurt by it or participated in it at some point or an- other. It’s something that is so common, so present, yet rarely ever preached on or broached by a chapel speaker. It is easy to hear about superheroes and stories of childhood lessons. It’s easy to be told not to do something that seems distant or un- realistic. Who really wants to talk about something that convicts every single person in the room? Gossip is a big deal. I don’t think
that I need to persuade anyone of that. It affects student relationships, classes, teachers, families, and even board meet- ings; it needs to stop. Jesus would have never allowed something like gossip to thrive in “His domain.” Just look at how He reacted to the moneylenders and merchants in the temple. He didn’t just instruct them to stop; He violently threw over tables and went into a rage. Nothing about what was going on in the temple was “okay.” In the same way, nothing about gossip- ing in the halls between classes is okay. It needs to be strongly overthrown and should be intolerable to His followers. So, when talking with your friends,
be careful what you say. You can be the start of a solution to this problem. Just as it says in Proverbs 26:20-21, “With- out wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to em- bers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrel- some man for kindling strife.” Do not worry about others who are
doing wrong, just try and do right your- self, because one day, “men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken,” Matthew 12:36. And instead of constantly bringing
others down with the sword called the tongue, encourage someone; make some- one’s day. You never know what a kind word can do for someone. We have been called to love, not to destroy. Let’s make it a mission to build one another up, so that we can reach our highest potentials. All it takes is one kind word. One quick smile. One friendly wave. Cheesey, but true: Be the change you wish to see. Verses for further study: Proverbs 11:13 Proverbs 16:28 Proverbs 18:7-9 Proverbs 20:19 Proverbs 26:20-23 Romans 1:28-30
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