The Etcetera Online is an online version of Mother of Mercy's student-run newspaper. Check the website for miscellaneous article-related material and fun!
Seven hundred fifty dollars a week, $39,000 a year, to help fight global hunger could greatly help out many people of the world, but instead, Donna Simpson of New Jersey, decides to spend it on food for just herself as she tries to reach her goal of weighing 1000 pounds and becoming the fattest woman in the world.
As Simpson grew up, she always had weight issues because her mother always cooked big meals. At one point, she tried to lose weight, but had trouble because her thoughts constantly turned to food. Eventually, she decided she no longer wished to try and fit in with other girls and was happy when she gained her weight back.
Simpson currently weighs in at 604 pounds. She has two children, ages fourteen and three. When her daughter was born three years ago, she became the heaviest woman to ever give birth. It took a team of thirty medics to get Simpson through the birth.
Many people want to point fingers at Simpson, saying she is disgusting and lazy and following an absurd dream, all of which are, in many ways, true. The saddening thing, though, is that some in our society are actually helping and encouraging her to reach her goal of 1000 pounds. Many people pay to watch her stuff her face with food. Some have sent her food, and one man even gave her his credit card number so she was never without "enough" food.
Simpson is constantly saying “I’m not harming anyone” when, in reality, she is greatly harming herself and even possibly American taxpayers. According to FoxNews.com, “Obesity causes a minimum $1,429 increase, or 42 percent in medical costs. Research shows lifestyle choices and behaviors drive 87.5 percent of the cost for health care claims.” Aside from herself, she also has two children she is neglecting to think about. Her young daughter could very well lose her mother soon if Simpson doesn’t change her lifestyle.
Many people around the world already bash Americans for how much the food they eat, waste, and throw away. Simpson is currently consuming six times the amount of food she should each day. This food could be put to much better use rather than contributing to her gluttonous lifestyle. Around the world, one child dies every six seconds from malnutrition. According to The United Nations World Food Program, one dollar could feed five children every day. Even if Simpson still spent $100 dollars a week on groceries, she would still be able to feed 3,250 poverty-stricken children every week with the $650 dollars she would save. It seems Simpson, as well as many in our society, need to get their priorities straight and realize what is truly important in this world.
By Sydney Muray “Mercy is the only school where I've ever considered being Principal.” Ms. Diane Laake, currently an assistant principal at Mercy, was recently announced as the new principal for the 2010-2011 school year.
Ms. Laake has been a member of the Mercy community for thirty-one years, as both science teacher and assistant principal. “I am excited about the opportunity to be a new kind of role model for our students. The charisma of Catherine McAuley has always been a source of inspiration for me and the "Mercy values" are a great way to focus and live your life! “ With the ending of Sister Nancy’s time as principal also comes the ending of a tradition that has been in place at Mercy since its doors first opened, having a Sister of Mercy as principal. “I am particularly honored to be the first lay person to serve in this role,” says Ms. Laake. “I am taking over the reins of an organization that is in great shape-Sr. Nancy has done an excellent job these last 20 years! Although the job as principal can be stressful, Ms. Laake is looking forward to it. “I can't wait to spend more time with the staff and especially the students in new and creative ways. I look forward to promoting increased dialogue with everyone, to hear more specifically and personally what our collective hopes and dreams and goals are for Mercy, and to find ways to make it happen!” Ms. Laake is also involved in many activities outside of Mercy. “While I am deeply committed to serving Mercy and know that this job will take even more time than I currently give, I am committed to not letting it take all my time. I even told the selection committee that my commitments outside of Mercy - especially those related to my role on the Board of Franciscans Network, working with various human rights and social justice projects - are very important to me. I also believe that being involved in programs and places outside of Mercy will help me be a better leader. Broad and divergent exposure brings new ideas, a deeper understanding, and more opportunities for growth and progress.” Ms. Laake hopes to keep the tradition of Mercy alive during her years as principal. “It's the spirit of Mercy, the extraordinary students and staff, our phenomenal opportunities and programs and the overall mission of our school which is to educate and empower young women in a Christian, value-centered environment -- this is where I feel inspired to continue to serve.”
The popular westside restaurant 'Champions' closed Saturday, April tenth. The owners of Champions lost their lease after a successful seven year run because of the owner of the land's desire to put in a new business. Westsiders are not only missing its famous food, but also the tasteful location it offered many families, sports fans, and community fundraisers. A Facebook group entitled "Westsiders for Champions Bar & Grill" was created just days after Champions announced it was closing. The creator of the group intended for it to be an outlet for westsiders to voice their opinions about the restaurant being closed. Many westsiders have voice their concern over what will replace Champions. The landowner has spoken with the owners of Champions about using the space for a Family Dollar store, but it is yet to be confirmed if the landowner will follow through with that. Westsiders are worried the loss of Champions and replacing it with a family dollar will lower the community standards and attract less desirable clientele to the area. Many complain there are already enough Family Dollar stores on the westside. There are ten Family Dollar stores on the westside of Cincinnati, not including the store that is rumored to replace Champions, out of 26 total stores in Cincinnati. One of those Family Dollar stores is only two blocks away. Along with the concern of the new clientele Family Dollar will attract, westsiders are concerned with the number of stores that have been closed over the years. Many empty buildings line the westside including the previous site of World Market in Glenway Crossing, and the still empty Pier 1 Imports in Western Hills Plaza. These businesses were failing, but Champions was thriving, making people more concerned for the interests of the westside. Many people agreed that places like Champions help communities thrive and grow, not Family Dollar stores or anything similar. Among those sad to see Champions close is co-owner Bill O'Conner. "I'm sad to see it go. A lot of jobs will be lost. We did a lot of community events and fundraisers, from grade schools to cancer awareness. It is unfortunate, I would have liked to stay but there's no choice." O'Conner did state that relocation is under a lot of consideration. "There is a strong possibility that it will be close by," he says. However, specific plans have not been established.
By Maggie Kissinger Mother of Mercy's Head Track and Field coach, Dan Bird, will take over as Head Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field at St. Ursula Academy next fall. After St. Ursula's Cross Country and Track and Field coach quit this past fall, Coach Bird received a call asking him to take over at St. Ursula. "They had talked to me about coming in as the head coach for this year's track season, but I decided that leaving Mercy mid-year wasn't the right thing to do," Coach Bird says about being contacted by St. Ursula." At the beginning of this school year, Coach Bird knew this was going to be his last year at Mercy as coach. "I figured that my time at Mercy was coming to an end. I just knew that it was time to go," he says. Coach Bird had decided that he would be leaving Mercy in the fall, before St. Ursula contacted him. "It was very coincidental that St. Ursula contacted me when they did. I wasn't even looking. I had a gut feeling I might be asked, I was on the short list of coaches," says Coach Bird, "I'm not leaving for a better school, I love coaching at Mercy, I just wanted to continue coaching after I left Mercy and that's when St. Ursula called me." When asked if this is going to hurt their current season in any way, every athlete and Coach Bird responded that it will not. "I don't think it will affect our season. We already won three meets, two of which were back to back," says four year track runner, Erica Lovell '10. Captains Anna Ahlrichs '10, Emily Maly '10, Dani Thiemann '10, and Samantha Buschle '10 talked to the team after Coach Bird announced his decision to the team, telling them not to dwell on it and to make this year his best. Coach Bird wants to make this season his best, too. "I'm really focused on this track team. We have 50 people on the team this year, and this is the first year that I've been here that we've won back to back meets. I'm not even thinking about St. Ursula." The track team was very upset upon hearing the news. "It is a big tragedy for the team. Mostly, everyone is just more confused," says Lovell. While the team is focusing on this season, upon hearing Bird's decision, the juniors began to worry for next year's season without having the coach they've known and learned from the past three years. "It's kind of nerve-wrecking that he won't be here next year, but we gotta make the best of our senior year and be leaders to the underclassmen," says Sarah Strawser '11. "It's going to be a tough transition. It'll be weird without Bird, it'll be a whole different atmosphere. He makes everything fun - serious, but fun," says Jackie Meyer '11. Though there is still a lot of disappointment, the team supports Bird in his decision. First year track runner, Erin McBreen '12 says that she's very sad Bird is leaving, but is happy he found a job he can enjoy as much as the one he has now. Olivia Meinhardt '10 takes inspiration from Young Money to find the words to describe her feelings, "I'm excited for him. 'I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him leave' to pursue other things." "Ursula is a huge rivalry," says Lovell about Bird's switch, "but he has to do what he has to do. I like Coach Bird and I want him to be happy." Coach Bird said that sprint coach, Renee Hein, will most likely take over as head coach for Track and Field next year. Bird will be taking pole vaulting coach, Dan Bird, Jr., with him to St. Ursula but the decision on whether the other track coaches will stay at Mercy or leave with Bird are yet to be determined.
By Chelsea Rosfeld
Recently the Cincinnati community lost a beloved young man, Matt James, in a tragic accident. The Etcetera staff asked a few of his Mercy friends and former classmates to share some of their special or even silly memories of this all star player and companion. Matt will be forever in our hearts and minds as we continue to encourage the Mercy community to pray for him and his family.
Stacey Kurzhals ‘10
“Well I remember matt for being funny, super tall, super sweet, humble, silly, and just a boy who when you hear his name a smile comes to your face. I don't think there's one person who would say one bad word about matt. My most fond memory is actually learning about his "symbol". Matt created a symbol for his name and he would always sign his school papers with it and he wrote it everywhere. It was an M with a line running horizontally through it. The trick of it was that it spelled out his whole name. Everyone was always like, oh matt that M thing, whatever it's silly. But secretly everyone was super jealous and tried to see if their names could be spelled with only one letter (mine does not work by the way). That's the kind of guy matt was. Special to all, a man among men, truly a one of a kind guy. Who will never be forgotten.”
Cara Meder ‘10
“I went to school with Matt from kindergarten-eighth grade and honestly don't remember him talking very much. He was in my homeroom in eighth grade and that's when I remember joking around with him by asking things like "how's the weather up there.” Matt was always such a sweetheart and I remember how surprised I was when I found out he was a St. X football star. He was always so quiet and humble at Visi, I couldn't believe how much he had really opened up in high school. Something about Matt I'll always remember is in seventh grade at Camp Joy, he was in my group and wasn't allowed to go under this house on the underground railroad because he was way too tall. We would always joke about it with him and he would laugh with us because of how shocked the workers there seemed to be when they saw him; you could tell they weren't entirely sure what to do all the while trying to stay in character. Matt was definitely a gentle giant and will never be forgotten, not because of his football talents of giant stature, but he will be remembered for his big heart. R.I.P. Matt♥”
Michelle Meier ‘10
“I sat next to him in English 8th grade year. We would have to correct each other's spelling tests each week and it was always hard for me to correct his because his handwriting was so hard to read. It seems like such an insignificant memory, but looking back on it now I am grateful to have been able to sit by him. He always so funny and knew how to put a smile on everyone's faces.”
Adrienne Bussard ‘10
“Sophomore year, we were all amazed by all the colleges recruiting him and how they were all giving him personal tours and everything, but he was so humble about it all. One time we were at the Ahlrich's and a couple of us were like gathered around him to hear him talk about his college recruits. We were all so impressed!”
Erin Nicole Eberle ‘10
“Gosh what a great kid. He was so kind and a great person to talk to. I knew I could always go to him if I needed someone to talk to. He and his family are such genuine people. The neighborhood won't be the same without him; he is already missed more than words can explain. Forever will he be in our hearts♥”
Sent via Facebook Mobile
Beth Heidemann ‘10
“In first grade we did that E-I-E-I-Oops first grade play, and he stood behind me. We were both sheep and he would scream "LOST SHEEP, LOST SHEEP.. HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE." I couldn't help but laugh every time we practiced it. My dad still brings it up. And one time in second grade, he went up to Mrs. Waltner and asked if he spelled something right and he was for real almost a half foot taller than her. Dang, he was tall.”
Michelle Heidemann ‘10
“I believe it was in 6th grade, before we had recess inside. The girls and boys always played soccer vs. each other on the top lot in the grass. Of course the guys always cheated, and that made the girls mad! And randomly out of spite and anger, I started to chase the guy running with the ball to throw it in the goal; that guy happened to be Matt. Of course not thinking, I jumped on the back of this giant classmate of mine, and I like to say I 'tackled' him, and brought him down! He was in so much shock he just looked at me with a blank stare on his face. I laugh today, thinking back to when I was younger, I tackled this 6'9'' soon to be Notre Dame Football star!! He was a great guy, and will truly be missed.
He was a big guy, with a big heart, and a quiet personality, went to St. X and became a big football star. Now he's a big star in heaven looking down on us and embracing every memory we have remembered of him. **"Only the good die young."
Melissa Funk ‘10
“I always remember Matt as being nice to everyone. Whenever we would line up or take class pictures, we all knew who would be in the back, Matt, because he was so tall. When I found out how many colleges were recruiting him when he was only a sophomore, I was amazed. We were talking about it and he seemed so humble about everything. He will be greatly missed by all and has touch a lot of people in his life.”
Anna Ford ‘10
“Matt was quiet, but when he did talk the things he said were absoultely hilarious! He was a genuinely nice person. I never heard him say anything bad about anyone. We lost touch after gradeschool, but the memories I shared with him from gradeschool will foreer be in my heart.”
Mary Rose Leisring ‘10
“I mostly remember in one of our classes we sat next to each other. He would always lean back in his chair...and although we all did that, it was always particularly scary when he would do it since he was so huge! His chair would go back dangerously far and I was always afraid he would toppled over. I also remember him standing up in class when we sat next to each other. He would tower over everyone else and when I looked up at him when I was sitting, I (and everyone else) had to look up so high to see his face. And when he would write his name with the line through the M. He was such a genuine person! He would always make everyone laugh, at least he would make me laugh in our history class since it was so boring!”
Caroline Sullivan ‘10
“I remember in eighth grade I went to a swim party at his house. I had such a good time and though I never really talked to Matt much before, when I left his house, he said "Thanks for coming Caroline." It was such a simple statement but looking back it really means a lot to me because we never really spoke directly a whole lot. He was such a great guy and I will cherish those eight years we spent together at Visi forever.”
Megan Brandt ‘10
“I never really saw much of Matt after grade school but he was probably the nicest guy ever. The fondest memory I have of Matt is when we went to Camp Joy and we were on the "Underground Railroad" and we under the house and he couldn't go because he was so tall. We always joked about it with him after that. He really was a gentle giant. All through grade school and even after that, I never heard one bad word about him. After I heard of all his football accomplishments, I was so proud that he was doing so good. It's such a tragedy to see such a good kid leave the earth at such a young age. You will be missed by all Matt. Although you are gone you will never be forgotten.”
Catherine Louis ‘10
“I mostly remember the grade school version of Matt. He always sat really far away from his desk because his knees didn't really fit under it. I also remember him always having scissors in his pocket and they were like really tiny, his fingers barely fit in them. In the eighth grade I remember him having this white board with him all the time that he would draw random things on and of course he would draw his famous name symbol. He was usually pretty quiet but he when he did talk I feel like he always had a cute little smile on his face. This past summer he was at my house after the fireworks at kuliga and as he was leaving I said "Matt get rim!" so of course he jumped up to my basketball hoop and got rim. Being the size he is, and my basketball hoop being quite old, the hoop bent downward. I could tell he felt real bad but I just laughed. You know he was a good guy because he jumped back up in the air and tried to push it back into place. Matt was an all-around good guy that had a great presence. He will surely be missed.”
Julie Ann Murray ‘10
“One of my favorite memories with Matt was in 8th grade. We were playing flag football and Matt would reach over the shorter kids backs and catch the ball. It was great!
Another favorite was how he used to write his name with the M and the line all the way through it to make a A and the two Ts.
I remember one time he asked me how many steps I thought he could jump down and I said 5, and he turned around and did 9 steps!!!
Ok this is my last one, sorry if I have taken anyone's... We were put into groups in Math class to make a proportional human being out of our groups body measurements. Matt was in my group and due to his large size and everyone else's small size, our group's huge poster ended up looking like an alien and absolutely ridiculously funny... it really didn't look human!”
Emily Meyer ‘10
“Matt was one of my favorite people in our grade because before all of the boys hit their growth spurt i was the tallest one in the grade, but after he grew i had no chance and i loved being shorter than someone. I also love how he used to write his name using only the M and putting two lines across it which made it say matt. Also, in music appreciation he always wrote on his white board, and one day he erased it and it sounded like a bird chirping and he had mark roser believing it was a bird for the rest of class.
He was and always will be a great part of our class of 2006 and we'll all miss him a ton.”
For years earth scientist have been searching the rich fossil site in Africa called the Cradle of Humankind. It took the invention of Google Earth and the help of a nine-year-old boy named Matthew to find partial skeletons of what may be a candidate for the closest ancestor to the human race.
Because the skeletons had some features of both the early human race and some of the earlier ape-like race, scientists have been calling the species Australopithecus sediba. Australopithecus means southern ape, while Sediba means natural spring, or wellspring. Scientist seem to think this name is perfect for the species from which the genus Homo came originated.
The two skeletons found were of a young male and female from almost two million years ago. They were found along with a mixture of many other animal remains, which led scientists to believe it was possible they had fallen into a cave.
The shape of the jaws and hips told the sexes of the fossils. Dental examinations showed that the male was about twelve years old and the woman was to be in her late twenty’s. The long legs and forearms that resembled us now meant to scientist that the A. Sediba was able to walk upright. Although the shape of the brain and skull features was not as advanced as ours now it was more advanced than other links in the learning.
Researcher Lee Berger used Google Earth’s 3-D availability to find over five hundred new caves from the images. After discovering the series of caves, Berger began to explore the fossil site in August of 2008 with his nine-year-old son Matthew and a previous student Job Kibii. With no luck Berger’s son, Matthew, went to adventure off site and came back to tell his father he had found a fossil. The fossil found was a collarbone and over the past two years scientists have worked to release the rest of the bones from the rock.
A variety of dating techniques has determined the rocks surrounding the fossils are at least 1.95 million to 1.78 million years old. The human timeline was thought to be originated between 1.8 million to 2 million years ago, but fossils found so far from previous time periods have been so poor, scientists have left the human family tree open to questions. “This fits in a critical moment in time,” Berger explained to a Live Science reporter. “ These fossils give us an extraordinarily detailed look into a new chapter of human evolution, and provide a window into a critical period when hominids made the committed change from dependency on life in the trees to life on the ground.”
On Tuesday, March 2nd, Lisa McMann, author of the best-selling Wake trilogy, paid an exclusive visit to Mr. Bouman’s Ap World Literature class. McMann revealed several of her own experiences as an author and also gave advice to aspiring writers.
McMann was born in Holland, Michigan, but later moved to Arizona in 2004 with her husband and two kids. While she had always wanted to become an author, McMann took on several jobs to get by, such as dog walking, baby sitting, newspaper delivering, and “putting stickers on a roll” at a printing company.
When she was 17, McMann worked in a book store until she was 27, always keeping an interest in books and writing.
“I met a lot of cool authors,” says McMann “I worked in real estate and one day my broker told me that I needed a hobby, so I thought, maybe I should start writing again. I wrote several short stories and won $10,000 in a writing contest!”
Surprisingly, the author found writing novels to be difficult at first.
“I stared at a blank screen for 18 months. I felt all the pressure, so I took a week off and watched tv…I got totally inspired and started writing books!”
Her first book, Wake, debuted in 2009 has won several literary awards such as the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, Cybil Award Finalist, and the American Library Association Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers, to name a few.
Wake is the story of a teen named Janie who is uncontrollably sucked into other people’s dreams, which McMann was inspired to write based off a personal experience.
“I had a dream that I was in my husband’s dream, and it still sounded cool when I woke up.”
However, McMann added more depth and behind the scenes work into Wake, especially through her development of the cast of characters.
“I need to know a little bit about the story,” she explains “I decide what happens, and then I think about my characters. I write a bio - a one page thing from when they were born til when the book starts. Then I start writing the book. It’s good to have something unusual…if they have something different about them. Little flaws make characters pop!”
Wake proved to be more than just a novel: “I didn’t know it would be trilogy, but I decided that there’s just so much more to this story.” This mindset resulted in the second novel of the Wake series, Fade, released in 2009. The novel debuted on the New York Times best-selling list and remained there for 11 weeks. Fade also made the American Library Association Quick Picks for Young Readers List, was a Gateway Readers Award Nominee, and made the YALSA Teens Top Ten List.
After Wake and Fade, McMann concluded the series with Gone, which proved to be a slight challenge.
“Basically, my editor sent me a four page letter telling me it didn’t work. I cried for like four days but realized I had to start over,” she said with a small laugh. “Music seemed to fit the whole mood. I needed to go back to Gone and I only had three weeks to do it”.
While her books compete with the likes of Harry Potter, Twilight, Percy Jackson, and the Magic Tree House series, McMann still feels slightly uncomfortable that other people are reading her work.
“Yes, I’m embarrassed when people read [my books]. My Mother,” she says laughing “We both promised that she wouldn’t read Wake when it came out…She did! When you get published, everyone and their Grandma will read it!”
McMann's success is just beginning with the Wake series, as she already has several novels under contract with Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. Fans will have to eagerly wait until fall of 2011 for her next string of novels, The Unwanteds. This series which reveal the story of a utopian society complete with the suspenseful twists and turns indigenous to a standard Lisa McMann novel.
Regardless of where she goes or what she accomplishes, McMann will always have the support and admiration of the Mercy community.
Check out Lisa's website here to get the latest news on books, contests, and visits!
Mercy Softball’s 2010 team is all about quality, not quantity: 9 Varsity members with a few “swing” players from JV. However, they certainly aren’t to be underestimated: the team has already gained media recognition for the Spring Sports Preview in the Cincinnati Enquirer and won the “wild card team of the week” by Channel 5 news. Will their next big headline be “Division II State Champs”? With so much talent, energy, and chemistry on one team, this feat is far from impossible.
Due to enrollment fluctuations, Mercy was moved to Division II this year instead of Division I. “For me, dropping to Division II is just the opportunity to beat new teams we've never played before. It doesn't affect our season at all so we still get to play at the highest level we can,” says second baseman Hannah Rechel ‘10.
However, this could also affect several senior trip vacations if Mercy does go to state, but Rechel provides some positive light on the conflict: “As for Panama, I would like nothing better than to get off the plane a day late like, sorry we're late, had to go win state real quick."
Among the nine members on the team, they share a slew of awards and recognition from last season’s returning players, such as GGCL Scarlet Player of the Year/Enquirer Division I first-team all-star Erika Leonard ‘11, Scarlet first-team all-star Anna Eggleston ’12, first-team Scarlet all-star and 2010 Captain Katie Bachus, and second-team Scarlet all-star and 2010 Captain Erin O’Brien. With a record of 20-5 last year, the recently added banner in Mercy’s gym proudly proclaims their 2009 GGCL championship.
When asked about the small size of the team, all of the players seem to enjoy the closeness. “We LOVE having a small team! With only having 9 full-time varsity players, we are forced to constantly rely on each other and make the most out of each other's strengths and weaknesses. We all get along so well together, and it is awesome to be able to all hang out and have fun without any separation or cliques among the team!” exclaims first baseman/captain Katie Bachus.
Even those who aren’t always on Varsity feel the obvious positive vibe the team gives off.
“I think I speak for all the swing players when I say it’s amazing to be a part of such a strong team with too many inside jokes to count,” says “swing” player Abby Rechel. “We love to contribute anything we can to the team and we know this is a season to never forget.”
Just how does the team keep this closeness intact? They have organized team scavenger hunts, frequent Skylining after their games, and even pancake breakfasts at team members’ houses. However, it seems that an overall love of the game engenders the compatibility between the players.
“I love every minute of it,” says captain/shortstop Erin O’Brien ’10. “The coolest part is that every single person on the team feels the exact same way I do. That’s what makes the difference- we’re all willing to work hard for positive end results, the best part being we all completely enjoy the people we're with, the circumstances we're in, and the game we're playing.”
Most of the team considers MND and St. Ursula (they beat MND 5-1 and Ursula 2-1 over Spring Break) to be their biggest rivals in regards to the GGCL championship. From a Mercy point of view, however, everyone collectively considers Seton an obvious rival (Mercy run-ruled Seton last year in the Strike Out for Cancer showdown).
However, despite their overwhelming amount of success, the team still has a few obstacles to overcome. “I'd say that one of our biggest challenges this year would be living up everyone's expectations of our team, but more importantly living up to our own expectations” says center fielder Gina Carmosino ’10. “We have a really strong team with tons of talent and it's just a matter of recognizing how much potential we have and then using it to our advantage.”
In the face of a challenge though, pitcher Anna Eggleston ’12 notes that a little luck never hurts. “For some reason every time we go to Ryan Park we find something. And somehow it's considered lucky? I mean we have a lucky ball named bubba, a lucky penguin named Lloyd, and a My-Little-Pony named Valery that Erin’s dog chewed up. We just have a lot of luck on our side so we'll do fabulous this year! WHOOP!”
With high expectations hand in hand with one of the most difficult schedules Mercy Softball has ever encountered, one might think the team would break under the pressure. However, it’s going to take a lot more than just “pressure” to keep the ’10 State Champs title off the gym banner.
As the spring of this school year draws nearer by the second, freshman finally have a grasp on high school life, sophomores are getting over (or just starting) their slump, juniors anticipate becoming seniors, and seniors are ready to go off to college, or so they think.
Amidst the end of the year excitement, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind over the next few months, especially for seniors.
First, Mercy prepares its students for college and has a lot to offer other than its values.
“Mercy prepared me not just on the ability to catch grammatical errors and fragmented sentences,” says Erma Merz ’08, “but to fully comprehend concepts ranging from chemistry to drama.” Mercy offers classes ranging from Shakespeare to Statistics, which provides knowledge in countless fields, all vital in producing well-rounded women. The school also instills a strong work ethic in its students.
“I feel like the teachers at Mercy pushed us to our full potential and expected nothing less of us,” Ashley Michael ’07 maintains, “and that helped me push myself in college.”
With positive feedback from current alums, there is no question whether Mercy prepares its students for life after high school. AP classes, diverse courses, and teachers who push us to succeed almost always add up to college success.
Despite skepticism, we will miss Mercy after graduation.
“I miss the atmosphere,” Melissa Chaney ’09 says, “I miss being able to talk to, eat with, and smile at whoever and know they will do the same in return. There is no place like Mercy and the people that go there.”
Sometimes, we may miss things that we don’t expect to: “I miss the uniform!’ offers Jackie Hart ’09, “at first I was excited for sweatpants every day, but then I saw that some girls wear heels to class…I am now giving Forever 21 a lot more business.”
Sometimes, we may miss things we never though of, “I really miss the Harry Potter-reminiscent building,” says Molly Nocheck ’09.
In these next few months, take the time to appreciate what we may not have after June 1st – uniforms, all girls, gooey Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, and a completely dedicated and caring staff.
Mercy isn’t all there is to life, however, and college offers perks such as waking up late, independence, and having weird creatures called “boys” in class. There are more options for classes and more opportunities to get involved.
“It really makes you grow up fast, but we all have it in us to be a responsible adult,” Jackie Hart ’09 admits, “it’s just a matter of being put into a situation that calls for it.”
So don’t fret seniors. June 1st is not going to be the apocalypse. You will wake up June 2nd more or less the same person, plus a pair of tear-stained cheeks and a high school diploma.
As always, the forever-proud alums have advice to offer current seniors:
Becky Otten ’08 – “There are so many great opportunities out there and Mercy is just the doorway. Take the memories and go wherever you want to go! (Besides jail.... that would be bad).”
Melissa Chaney ’09 – “Enjoy it, be carefree but don't slack off -- the teachers do NOT do senioritis, even at the end of May...it's cruel.”
Ali Ruth ’09 – “When you get to college, get involved! Don't wait to study until the week before finals.”
Ashley Michael ’07 – “Enjoy every minute of your senior year because you will never share experiences like it again as a class.”
Ann Marie Maly ’06 - “Don't worry if you don't know what you want to do yet. Most students don't figure out a major until they are juniors. There is time to try new classes and see what you like.”
Janine Bill ’09 – “DO. NOT. CRAM. Cramming worked in high school, but this is college where sometimes you have 3 grades per quarter/semester and they're your exam grades. The exams will most likely cover multiple chapters too. I tried cramming...it only taught me not to cram.”
Rachel Niederhausen ’08 – “Enjoy the time you still have left. It goes by so fast, and you'll never be able to replicate these special days ahead of you.”
Claire Simpson ’07 – “Be very careful when filling out random roommate forms. Don't say you are untidy, unless it means you are okay with your roommate leaving out food for days at a time.”
Molly Nocheck ’09 – “Graduation is like being in a Harry Potter movie because of the robes. Appreciate that!”
Erma Merz ’08 – “Try your best to make Mercy a better place than when you started. Spread love with all the students. Smile at the freshman. Set an example. Slow down and appreciate what you have. Live it up. Cherish the moments. Treat the teachers and administration with all the respect you can muster.”
Katie Pieper ’08 – “Take advantage of what you've got. I still regret waiting so long to really make connections with people outside my little group of friends. Don't hold back. “
Jackie Hart ’09 – “Go to the basketball game - it might be your last time in the cheering section. Go see the spring play - it's the last time you'll see your classmates on that stage. Go to Senior Slam and have that final time together as a family. Go ahead and buy out all the cookies at lunch - they don't taste the same after your gone. Go and be a kid - at the end of this summer you'll already feel the shift from 12:30 curfew to parties on a Thursday (which I don't recommend).”
Alums differ with their advice to seniors, but the general consensus is to live it up, continue to work hard, and appreciate our Mercy education.
On February 12, 2010, a great tragedy went down in Olympic history. Georgian luge member Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horrific luge accident that has been broadcasted all over the world. Nodar was doing a practice run on the fastest luge track in the world. The track defied the rules of the game by making it longer and making steep so lugers could reach speeds up to 95 mph.
Nodar was near the end of the track going 88 mph when he and his sled hit an inside wall causing the rider to fly off the sled and off the track. He hit a concrete pole that had no padding and was pronounced dead on impact. This is a great tragedy, but what makes it more tragic is the fact that the whole thing was caught on tape.
The lead story for every news network for that day was the death of the poor Olympian. On NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams, the main anchor had the decency to warn the audience that the images of Nodar’s death were not for the faint of heart, but they still aired the footage.
The footage aired all over until February 16 when the NBC news president pulled the plug and said they were not to air the images until they had permission from the 21 year olds family. Following NBC, YouTube and many other internet video companies pulled the video from their sites.
The video of Nodar’s death was a horrific thing and it was not in the best interest of the journalists to air something of that nature. But, because of that video there has been some good that has come out of it. The luge track where Nodar died was closed because it was too dangerous for even the most experienced lugers. Also, many people have gained respect for people, who train in the sport.
Whether the video is seen as good or bad, we must remember the life that was lost during that video and imagine what his family is going through by reliving his fatal crash over and over again.
“The times are in fact changing, and we need to adapt and keep up with these changes for a strong economy and clean, safe environment to live in,” says Kristy Kim from the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services (HCDOES). Kristy Kim along with many other men and women of Ohio believe in the importance of going green. Kristy Kim is the Public Relations Specialist for the Air Quality Division of HCDOES. Her main job, as the Public Relations Specialist, is to educate local businesses and schools about going green.
She along with Keebler Holley, who is the Education Specialist for the Solid Waste Division, has teamed up to help educate the local youth about the importance of being green. This organization is called the Hamilton County Youth Environmental Council or better known to its members HOPE.
“The HCDOES Youth Council was an initiated by our department director, Cory Chadwick, to provide an avenue for youth from Hamilton, Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties to learn more about green issues, meet other students and have the opportunity to take action and have their voices heard,” says Kristy Kim. The youth council has about twenty members from all over Ohio. The council consists of members from Wyoming, CCM, Elder, Taylor and even Mercy.
The group meets once a month to discuss important environmental problems in our area. The group tries to find simple solutions for these problems. “Something very simple is to watch the amount of energy you consume. Unplug electronics that aren't in use such as TV's, computers and laptops, video gaming systems or any unused appliances around the house. Also, don't leave things like cell phones and iPods on chargers once they are charged,” says Kristy is one of the many solutions the group has come up with.
After the council has had the meeting, it is up to the members to go out to their communities and educate them about the simple solutions through their own personal teaching service project. “I hope that the Youth Council members learn that they can have an impact and make a difference in their schools and communities. Keebler hopes the council learns how to plan, implement and evaluate service learning projects like this one as well as learning to work with others and becoming more knowledgeable about green activities and resources in the area,” Kristy says about what the members will gain from this experience.
Many of the members have chosen their community to be their school. A teen from Wyoming High School plans on putting signs around her school parking lot saying “No Idling in Car.” A duo from Taylor is working on a locker clean-up at the end of the year. Mercy is following this pattern as well, but in a different way.
On the week of the walk, there will be an eco-fair outside of the cafeteria. HOPE and Mercy’s Science Club have teamed up to create a fun and interactive way to be green. The booths have been designed by the Science Club and will be executed by Biology students.
The booths will have themes such as Eco-lunches, Eco-school supplies, Eco-friendly celebrities, Eco-fashion and so much more. The fair is to help Mercy students and faculty understand the importance of being green. This will show that being green isn’t hard, but is really easy and can be fun.
“Being green is important to our future,” Kristy Kim says, “There needs to be an increase in green opportunities and education for students to have the upper hand.” As intelligent Mercy women, it is important for us to take this step. It is important for us to have the upper hand in this and be green so our futures will be brighter.
“When Sr. Nancy said she was going to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian, my heart started pounding. I was hoping so badly that she would say my name, and I was so, so excited when she did! It is such a great honor to receive this,” says Adrienne Bussard, the class of 2010’s Valedictorian. Adrienne, along with Elainie “Lainie” Simpson, the Salutatorian, have the honor of being the top two students of the class of 2010.
“I knew I was in the running because I received the Top Scholar Athlete award last year, but I really didn't know,” says Adrienne. “My parents were very excited and proud of me. My aunts, uncles, and cousins have dropped off Graeter’s for me and sent me congratulations cards and texts. My one aunt actually cried when I told her the news.”
Lots of hard work, and a little help from friends and loved ones, helped Adrienne on her path to success. “I guess a lot of studying got me to be the Valedictorian. My little brother will say that I'm so smart and I always answer that I just study a lot. My parents have helped me as they taught me good study skills and the importance of reading. My teachers have helped me so much, too.”
As far as her plans for after Mercy, Adrienne’s not sure yet. “I have no idea where I'm going to college. The University of South Carolina is up there on my list, but I have not heard back from eight of the twelve schools I applied to. I want to major in biology or chemistry as a premed student, and minor in Spanish.”
Lainie also has the same problem with deciding where to attend college. “Unfortunately, I do not know where I'm going to college yet, because many of the ones that I applied to haven't responded yet. I won't know until April. However, I know that I am majoring in Biomedical Engineering and I am almost positively minoring in Studio Art. My top three choices are Vanderbilt, OSU, and University of South Carolina.”
Lainie was also thrilled to hear her named called by Sister Nancy. “When I first found out I was Salutatorian I was immediately very happy and also relieved. I felt like there was a lot less pressure since it was decided. I was also relieved because Adrienne has to make the big speech because I was really hoping that wouldn't be me. I don't know that I was expecting it, but I was definitely hoping for it. As soon as Sr. Nancy said that she was going to announce who valedictorian and salutatorian were, all of my friends sitting around me looked at me, so I was really hoping I would get it then, because there was a lot more pressure.”
“Everyone in my life has been a big support to me as far as school goes, but I think my mom was the biggest help. She always pushes me hard so that I do my best. Grades come naturally to me, definitely, but also I like to challenge myself and I have definitely done that over the past four years. I believe this is a big part of why I earned this rank.”
“When I first told my dad, he was really excited. My mom was too, but the first thing she said to me was ‘Now you're just like me’ because she was Salutatorian in 1980, as well.” Lainie’s aunt was also Valedictorian in 1979.
The brains so to succeed also seem to run in Adrienne’s family. “My cousin was Salutatorian of Seton a few years ago. At St. X they do not have a valedictorian or salutatorian but instead put students into percentiles, and my brother was in the top 2% of his class.”
For those underclassman who dream of becoming valedictorian and salutatorian, Adrienne and Lainie both have some advice. “Study and pay attention in class,” says Adrienne. “Have a positive attitude about school. Sometimes homework is overwhelming and stuff, but concentrating on the good aspects will help you more than complaining.”
“Get involved and manage your time,” says Lainie. “I feel that being involved in sports and clubs at mercy helps me to do well in school. It forces me to manage my time and I have never been tempted to make destructive decisions that could possibly hurt my grades because I never have the time!”
Think high school physics is difficult as a senior? Try passing a college physics entrance exam at age 14. That’s all that stands in the way of British teenager Arran Fernandez’s admission into the prestigious Cambridge University.
Fernandez grew up home schooled by his parents in Surrey. At the age of five in 2001, he became the youngest person to pass the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which is an advanced exam in England normally taken by 14-16 year olds. He received a grade of D, the highest possible grade for the foundation level of the exam. Later in 2003, he became the youngest person both pass, and receive an A* on the math GCSE.
To prepare for these exams, Fernandez began studying three hours a day three months before the test with his father, Dr. Neil Fernandez. As a family, they played math related games at lunch and supper to make studying fun for the five year old. His parents described him as a “normal child”, who loved to fly his kite and play chess instead of constantly solving math problems as most assume.
Now at 14, Arran is on the brink of breaking a 237 year old record: to become the youngest undergraduate at Cambridge University. This record is previously held by William Pitt (the younger). Some Cambridge alums include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Physics theorist Steven Hawking.
Arran has already passed the university’s entrance exam and now needs to pass his physics A-level to gain admittance. This exam is very difficult and often failed by many 17 or 18 year olds trying to get into Cambridge.
Arran has several goals in mind for himself after college. At the young age of five, Fernandez contemplated becoming a mathematician, space explorer, or lorry driver. His main focus now, at 14, is to become a research mathematician, and even someday possibly work at Cambridge.
One feat he especially hopes to accomplish while studying at Cambridge is to solve the Riemann hypothesis: a theory about the patterns of prime numbers that has been unsolved by even the greatest mathematicians for over 150 years. Fernandez will pursue a tripos degree, which is Cambridge’s rigorous math program, and is said to be one of the most difficult curriculum in the world.
The popularity of the team and the entertaining routines produced by them led the students, and the team, clamoring to perform outside of the pep rallies. Half-time performances at Mercy home games began. This dance team has entertained students, parents, faculty, and administrators for 12 years without any controversy or problems with the team members. The songs and routines have been appropriate and spirited, creating unity and pride for the activities happening at Mercy among the Mercy community.
After this year, however, Mercy Markers is going to need a makeover. This year, the home Seton game performance was cancelled and after subsequent efforts to raise support for the Seton game performance, the Markers were shut down by the administration from any more performances outside of pep rallies as of this year. Mrs. Harvey, the team’s biggest advocator, states that there is typically just one public performance and this year it was at the St. Ursula game instead. Along with that, the controversy stemmed from miscommunication between the team and the administration.
Mercy Markers will be allowed to perform at the spring pep rally this year, but if a new team is to perform next year, they will need a new name and a completely different agenda. Mrs. Harvey would like to see a successful team get together, but the future of the team is not in her hands. “The future is whatever that class wants to make it. It is completely driven by the students.” She says.
Many Mercy girls ask if the Markers’ agenda really was to make fun of Seton. It wasn’t. The last three years especially haven’t incorporated any Seton jabs in their routines concerning the students, school, or dance team. The teams have just put together entertaining performances incorporating music that connects to the students that have induced a lot of spirit and excitement for Mercy activities, especially sports. The games that have had the Mercy Markers performing at half time have led more students to come and support their teams.
Mrs. Harvey sees a future for the Markers if they go into a completely new direction. “If it becomes just about spirit, I totally advocate that. But if their motivation is to just perform at the Seton game, I’m telling them now that it’s not going to happen.” The request to perform at the Seton game this year has made the administration less willing to have a Seton performance for any future team.
Next year will bring out a lot of negotiating and compromise between the administration and the students, but a ‘spirit team’ is something Mercy students aren’t ready to give up and are willing to negotiate to keep, even if it means no Seton performance.
What do you think of potentially ending Mercy Markers? Leave your feedback in the COMMENT section!
