With this being my final article for The Yellow Jacket, it only seems right if I write a nice, long article full of predictions and thoughts that run through my head about the upcoming football season.  Unfortunately for the reader, that is not the case.  My time is finished here at North Augusta High School, and I’m here to write my final statement.

North Augusta High School has definitely been an experience.  People might tweet or update their Facebook status about how much they dislike the school, the teachers, or the people here.  I’m not going to lie and say I’m not guilty of being fed up once or twice…or many times.  The truth is if I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t of picked any other place to grow up than North Augusta.

Mr. Emerling has been an absolute amazing teacher and mentor through the years, and I thank him so much for asking me to join the staff back when I was a sophomore.  I also thank him for putting up with me and my country music.

There’s one good story I have to post on here before I’m all finished.  Two years ago, I had English 3 with Mr. Emerling during 7th period, and my friend Andrew Smith had the same class during 5th period.  We would always meet in the bathroom before 7th period and he would tell me something that would happen in class.  I would go in class, say something about what we were going to do that day, and Mr. Emerling would think I was a genius.  The best case of this is when Mr. Emerling asked us to write a journal of what we thought we would study next.  We had studied the Puritans and Deism previously, for example.  We were going to study Realism next, and of course I knew this because of Andrew Smith.  Mr. Emerling asked the class, “What’s next?”  I responded, “Realism.”  With the most impressed expression on his face, Mr. Emerling came back with “Well, yes, that’s exactly it.  How did you know that?”  All I had to say was, “It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

I guess that’s it.

Sport
Lady Jackets’ Soccer

Position
Forward

This past football season, Jacket running back Vinny Miller became a hot topic across the state.  Miller rushed for over 2,700 yards and scored over 40 touchdowns, breaking many records (and ankles) along the way.  The superstar back displayed more speed, elusiveness, and creativity on the field than North Augusta had seen in years.  It turns out Vinny Miller isn’t the only speed demon North Augusta has to offer.

Sophomore soccer phenom Taylor Hurst is known for running up and down the football field during December, putting up unbelievable numbers during the Powderpuff championships.  It’s not Powderpuff anymore, and instead of rushing for flag-football touchdowns, our featured athlete is tearing up the net this soccer season.

Hurst earned all-region honors as a freshman last year, something that is rarely accomplished.  She is on track to repeat that honor, due to her 9 assists and 12 goals scored during the regular season.  Many colleges are also taking notice at the talented sophomore.  Before she joins Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and the rest of the U.S. Women’s soccer team, she decided to answer a few questions for The Yellow Jacket.

Q: What age did you begin playing soccer?
A: I started playing at four years old.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to begin taking the sport seriously and competitively?
A: At ten years old, I started taking it seriously. That’s when I joined my first travel team.

Q: How did you handle being a star varsity player as a freshman?
A: I just played my game and didn’t ever consider age to be a factor.

Q: Do you feel that due to your talent and experience you will take a stronger leadership role next year as a junior?
A: Yes, especially with seniors like Arianna Pierner leaving. I will need to step up.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge this season, and what has been the team’s biggest challenge?
A: My biggest challenge this season was adjusting to the new team. I haven’t had much experience playing with all these girls together until this season. The team’s biggest challenge was figuring out how to work together since this was the first time most of us have ever played together.

Q: Who has been the team’s best opponent this season?
A: Lexington was really good, but we could have put up a better fight. I’d like another chance against them.

Q: Which game did the team perform best?
A: We played really well against Greenbrier. Everyone had a great game.

Q: How do you prepare yourself for a game mentally?
A: I just chill out and listen to music.

Q: How do you mentally get yourself past a bad game and bounce back?
A: I just remind myself that losing is a part of the game, you’ve just got to accept the loss and move on. It’s motivation to get better and play your best the next game.

Q: What preparations do you take outside of practice?
A: I go to the gym a good bit, and I like to run through my neighborhood. Staying conditioned is really important since we run so much in soccer.

Q: How much of your schedule does soccer take up?
A: On average, I’m playing soccer every day of the week and just about every other weekend. It’s all I really do.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about soccer?
A: I’m a very competitive person and I love to compete, so I enjoy the competitive atmosphere soccer creates.  I’ve also made some of my best friends while playing.

Q: Now our last and required question from the TYJ staff, Mac or PC?
A: I have an iPhone, but I don’t really care to be honest.

The Lady Jackets finished their regular season with a 10-9-2 record, including a 5-5 record in the region.  TYJ wishes Taylor Hurst and the Lady Jackets the best of luck during their playoff run.

Flowers

Any woman loves a good smelling flower. Roses, tulips, daisies, sunflowers… find out your mom’s favorite and send it her way with a sweet, endearing note. Junior Jennifer Price says, “I’m getting my mom a card and flowers. She loves carnations.” Maybe an edible arrangement would be the thing. Though a bit pricey, they don’t sit on the table to wither and they are delicious.

Candles

Any woman loves a good smelling candle. There’s many to choose from. You can go fruity, sweet, floral, or clean but you can also go wrong. I know some women can’t tolerate certain scents and maybe that wrong scent will develop a headache; you don’t want that.  So, people, don’t make a bad decision in choosing her candle. Look around the house for existing candles to get a good idea of what she’d like or ask her friends.

Homemade Gifts

Any woman loves a good homemade gift from her baby. Frame a picture of both you and her together or encase one in a locket. For those artistic, paint/draw her something delightful, then frame that. Make sure it’s something she’d actually want to hang up. This is an easy one for those of you who are broke. Freshman Amy Kalayjian says, “I made my mom some bracelets because I have no money and I already had the beads and wire.” Make use of what you have and make something pretty with it.

Spa Trip

Any woman loves a good trip to the spa. After a long life of cooking and cleaning for you, she wants a massage and a mani-pedi. They will also supply a pillow for her bruised knees- knees that she’s knelt down on to scrub the floor.  This makes purchasing a spa package a good idea. Try to reimburse her energy so she can cook and clean some more.

Dinner & a Movie

Any woman loves a good date with her child. Spend some quality time with her. Treat her to dinner then afterward, see a dramatic chick flick. Yes, guys, it’s not manly, but do it for the sake of your mother’s happiness. She doesn’t want to see Mission Impossible.

Well there you have it folks. On her day, let her know that you’re appreciative.

Entry 1:
Submitted by: Mrs. Falin (teacher)
Slogan: There is a time for everything
Our time is now

Entry 2:
Submitted by: Larry Chavous
Slogan: Jackets challenge everything

Entry 3:
Submitted by: Da-Rell Jones
Slogan: Drop the hammer

Entry 4:
Submitted by: Jax Pressley
Slogan: United we sting

Entry 5:
Submitted by: Jalen Williams
Slogan: Rise as one (or Together as one)

Entry 6:
Submitted by: Luke Smith
Slogan: No Pressure. No Diamonds

Entry 7:
Submitted by: Keisha Pressley
Slogan: Hustle and heart set us apart

Entry 8:
Submitted by: Alex Picciano
Slogan: Work together; Defend together; Win together; Believe together; Stand together . . . All together

Voting is CLOSED. Come to the Spring Game on Friday, May 18 to see who won

The song was a hit, but the high-end car manufacture hasn’t been. Daimler AG lost at least $439,000 US dollars on each Maybach it built since reintroducing the car brand in 2003. Daimler AG, best known for being the owners of the Mercedes-Benz Corporation, has spent more than a reasonable amount of their earnings trying to hold their weight in the Ultra-Luxury Car market. Their two main competitors are BMW’s Rolls-Royce, and Volkswagen AG’s Bentley.

In 1908, Wilhelm Maybach built his first car. He took a new Mercedes and made it better. His best creations are considered the 1929 Zeppelin DS 8 Cabriolet, the 1936 SW 38 Limousine, and the 1939 SW 38 Roadster. To understand Maybach, you have to understand its heritage; Designed to be a low production, high quality company, Maybach was always going the extra step (and four more after that) to make things better in nearly every aspect than the competition. The cars were faster, quieter, smoother, roomier, and more luxurious than anything else. Of course, they came with a price. Only the extremely wealthy and royal blood had these cars. The cars were treated as family jewels, and were passed through the generations. They were more than just machines, they were artwork and often indicative to a royal family –much like a family crest. A diary traveled with the car, from owner to owner, and documented things such as: who previous owners were, destinations to which the car had traveled, and special occasions in which the car had been involved. These cars have become heavily sought after items; they are a piece of history.

In 2003, under Mercedes-Benz, Maybach was resurrected after over 50 years. They aimed to re-establish the name Maybach had come to represent the many years before. The ultra-high luxury machines were highly customizable, and things such as reclining rear seats, built-in refrigerators, and sky lights came standard. The base price ranged anywhere from $400,000 to $750,000. 600 Maybachs were sold in 2003, and that number has trickled down to only about 200 per year now. Over $1.3 Billion has been lost on “Project Maybach Resurrection”, so plans to cut production by 2013 comes as no surprise. In return for Maybach closing shop, Mercedes is fully expected to come to offer its own line of ultra luxury cars to continually give Bentley and Rolls-Royce competition. A new era for Mercedes is coming.

Can You Play AND Eat Ice Cream?!?

You’re Only Deck if You Pee Your Pants

The Lady Jackets entered the playoffs with an impressive 21-3 record, including a 9-1 record in the region.  Thursday night, Fort Dorchester came down to Riverview Park and took a 1-0 loss to give North Augusta a 1-0 start in the playoffs.  Senior pitcher Sydney Seigler was lights out and the squad played perfect defense as usual.

Saturday, the Lady Jackets traveled to Wando.  Unfortunately, the team took a loss on the road. Seigler quoted after the game, “We played very good defensively but not so good at the plate. We have to do better hitting and making adjustments to win state.” Due to the loss, North Augusta cannot afford to lose again in the playoffs.

Back at home Monday, Fort Dorchester returned to Riverview Park. It was a long ride home for the Patriots because the Lady Jackets looked like they were playing for the Olympic gold medal.  Sydney Seigler pitched a shutout, and led the team to a 10-0 victory.  Seigler also hit a bomb over the fence that assured Fort Dorchester they didn’t have a chance.  Senior Katie Shreve and sophomore Kaleigh Busbee also hit the ball very well for the Jackets.

Wednesday night, Coach Quinn takes the team back down to Charleston to face Wando.  The Lady Jackets must beat Wando twice to keep advancing in the playoffs.  Expect the atmosphere to be intense and the scoreboard to be on fire as North Augusta continues their quest for the state championship.

Looking for some new music? Check out some free mix tapes to experiment with. Totally legal!

Find Local Movie Screenings

Ever wondered how the press sees a movie before everyone else does? Find out what special showings of movies are playing in your area! Also free!

Has Obama gone to far this time!?!?!

Obama got jokes!!

The 100 most influential people in the world

They are the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world. Meet the breakouts, pioneers, moguls, leaders and icons who make up this year’s TIME 100

 The World’s best restaurant
Self explanatory

Sounds contagious and fatal if you ask me, and it just may be.

When some seniors see their friends slacking off due to severe senioritis it may cause them to begin slacking off. It’s called the monkey-see-monkey-do effect. Senior Troy Williams defines senioritis “Its the time to slack off.”

Yes that is right the know annual illness has finally made it’s way to North Augusta. Senior Mitch Redd says ” I KNOW I have senioritis. Sadly it has been with me since freshman year.”

Some symptoms of senioritis may be procrastinating, fighting to get out of bed, lack of motivation, and an extravagant urge to wear sweat pants and old t-shirts. According to Briana Cheathem “Not doing you best, skipping school, and just coming to school for the prize of it” are also symptoms of senioritis.

There has been an increase in the number of students who may be infected by the mind set of almost graduating. Even some juniors can catch senioritis as the year being to come to a close.

For  seniors, it is the mind set of either already being accepted to college or acknowledging  the fact that the twelve years of hard work is finally coming to an end. It can also be a bitter sweet thing at the end.

In addition to that if you say yes to any of these questions you may be in danger of having senioritis:

1. Are you a senior?
2. Have you recently started counting down days till graduation
3. Has any of your teachers recently told you to wake up and take notes?
4. Have you already started packing for college?
5. Have you or a family member noticed your attendance record this semester

If you said yes to any of these questions you may be at risk for a severe case of senioritis. The best thing to do is stay calm and follow the next precaution.

Find a way to balance out work and play.

If you have a easy class second semester than that could be a good thing. It wont be as hard to balance out work and play. If you only have one easy class it might get hard to separate work and play between more than one class. It could become a bad thing to start slacking in a major class you may need. Work now and play later, you would not want to have worked hard for twelve years to not get credit for it. Senior Sydney Herrick has already been accepted into University of South Carolina Aiken and says “I’m ready to go off to USCA this fall. I feel like I’ll be taking the right classes.”

Like Sydney, some seniors feel that since they have an easy class they don’t need that they can just blow it off. That would be the worst thing to do because even though you don’t need the class, it will surely help boost your GPA or even hurt it. ” The classes i take this year are no challenge.” says senior Nick Bull. ” I plan on going to the air forces. I’m just ready to graduate.” Even though the weather has us thinking otherwise, summer is still yet a skip, hop and a jump away but it is coming faster than we know.

Senior Christian Walton says when he listen to his favorite band Linkin Park it gets him excited and pumped up ready to go.”I wake up to Linkin Park’”

Music can be used to bring back memories or comfort you in your darkest hours. I’m sure everyone wishes they could find that certain song they look for when they’re trying to get in a mood. Even when people are just trying to find some new music instead of listening to the same Lil Wayne or Adele  song on repeat, they may go to Pandora and pick the special “type” of music they are trying to find depending on what mood they are in.

How does Pandora know that you wanted to listen to that certain type of music? Pandora allows you to pick a station but not a specific song. This is great for people wanting to switch it up sometimes. This way you won’t be listing to the same song you’ve hear a million times already. It may come across that song you haven’t heard in years and bring back memories. When you pick a station it plays songs with the same type of melody or notes. If you don’t like some of the songs on the playlist, Pandora lets you “Thumbs down”  a song you don’t like therefore Pandora will not play the song as much or not at all.

As far as why a song is our favorite song, there is something about music that when we hear a certain song we re-live the emotion that we felt when we first heard that song. So that’s why when we recall a certain moment you connect it to a specific song. For some people that is not the case. They don’t listen to a song because it makes them feel good.  That doesn’t work on everybody. Other people just may like a song or artist because they may not like the words but the beat and rhythm attracts them or vice verse. Garrett Minefield, who’s favorite song is “Turn Up the Music” by Chris Brown  says “Well I’m a dancer and I like the way the music makes me feel and I like the many different styles of dance the song allows me to express myself.” Minefield is a dancer and is also in the marching band. ” I’m a band geek so the marching band playing the beat in Morris Brown excites me.”

The same thing with songs that we don’t like. We don’t like them for a specific reason. Whether or not we know what the reason is or that you don’t want to admit the reason. Such as the time when your in the car and you hear an  love song it makes you turn the channel or get out the car because it brings up old memories or unresolved feelings. Even though you hate the song, it always seems that you now the words to it.

Sophomore Aaliyah Fallen-Davis says ” I love all music. I like “Birthday Cake” by Rihanna ft. Chris Brown but i don’t like Rihanna”.

Some songs may affect us in a bad way. There maybe that one song that makes you shiver every time you hear it but yet in all you know all the lyrics because its stuck in your head. That is typically referred to as an “earworm” which is a tune stuck in your head either bad or good. The best way to cure an earworm to repeatedly play a more favored song over and over again. So the next time you have a  unpleasant song stuck in your mind, blast that song that gets your in the mood.