All posts by Katie Scott

Feature

Student strives for musical future

By Taylor Alton Staff writer

  Her love for music all started from within her family, a family full of culture and life. One half of her family is from Mexico and the other is from Austria. Varsity orchestra member, and aspiring musician, junior Bianca Cerecero credits her Dad and Grandpa for inspiring her to indulge in the world of music. She also has a passion for singing, performing everything from covers to her own written songs. Before quarantine, Cerecero booked monthly paid gigs and shows, which really helped her build an audience. Her family has been very supportive of her endeavors.     

  “My dad has always put music first and pushed me to learn instruments and go to different events and auditions for things,” Cerecero said.

  In addition to her Dad, she says her friends all promote her music and are also extremely supportive. 

  Although her father encouraged her to pursue music, it was her grandpa who overall inspired her to start making her own music as that is something that he does as well. Her biggest role model is a tie between her Grandpa and one of her favorite artists, Harry Styles.

  “(Styles) lyrics are so beautifully written and the musicality is so well put together as well and his stage presence,” Cerecero said.

  Making music seems like all fun and games, but in reality, there are many struggles. Cerecero describes the most challenging part of making music as “staying positive and confident” the smallest thing, like a thumbs down on a youtube video or a small mean comment makes me feel like I’m in over my head with pursuing music. The judgment and pressure for wanting to pursue music instead of a traditional career as well is challenging since there’s always conflicting opinions on what others think you should be doing”.

  Some other struggles she’s balancing her life and her music. Cerecero spends her family time around the table eating meals, the weekends she spends with her friends, and during the weekdays she is working on school. Around the evening time when her school work is done, is when Cerecero focuses on her music.

So, what is her music exactly? Although she plays the violin for the varsity orchestra, that is not music Cerecero makes. Through promoting her music on social media like Instagram and Twitter, you can find her mainly playing the guitar and sometimes the piano. But one constant in Cerecero’s music is her voice. Although she recognizes the risks and pressure, Cerecero is set on having a career in music.

“I have no idea what I would do if my music wouldn’t be successful,” Cerecero said.

She is very hopeful for the future and is so thankful to have music in her life.

“(Music) made me more accepting of my emotions I think. I use it as a coping mechanism and I think writing my lyrics and looking back on them helps me realize what I’m truly feeling. It’s also allowed me to connect with a lot of different people as well, not only in our own community but around the city and country,” Cerecero said.

Check out Cerecero’s music on Instagram @biancamaymusic and on her Youtube channel, Bianca May.

Images courtesy of Ms. Cerecero

 

 

 

Feature

Tips for new school year

By Emma Szabo and Diego Hernandez

Welcome back Panthers from your 2020-21 Co-Editors-in-Chief of the campus newspaper, juniors Emma Szabo and Diego Hernandez. As juniors we’ve had our fair share of experience around campus, but this year is going to be a new experience for us all. Although the kick off to the 2020 school year will be a challenge, we’d like to give you a few tips on how to experience a less frightening and joyful learning experience both inside the classroom and in your homes if you’re doing virtual. 

  First off, assignments can be daunting and take up a large amount of time if you don’t manage the work. Keep track of deadlines. Most of your classes are going to give you homework, so it’s important to turn it all in on time. Some teachers take off points for late assignments while others won’t accept the work past a certain day. Try to get a planner or use a digital calendar to remind yourself of when different assignments are due. Procrastination is a big issue for many teens in school, so it’s best to try and keep track of all your work to stay organized. 

  Keeping up with your work is a great thing, but if there’s an assignment that looks hard or you’re taking what seems a longer time period to do so, you can find help. Take advantage of school resources including tutoring time. Upon returning to campus the library is a great place to study or to work on homework before and after school and during lunch; they provide computers for you to use and both ink and color printers you can use anytime. The library is also home to the tutoring center room where you can get help for almost any subject during lunch with tutors in the room. It also provides a quiet place to work that you can go to even if you don’t need any help. In a home environment, find an area that’s clear of distractions. Put down your phone to avoid alarms and steer clear of noises around the house. Utilize these resources to get your schoolwork done and get any help you may need to make the school year better.

  One other thing we’d like to mention is your effort is by definition what work you put into something. Don’t cheat on your assignments. Teacher’s look over assignments and projects evaluating and comparing papers to other students. If there is a pattern present they will see it and your paper may either be re-assigned or revoked entirely without a chance to make up the grade. Daily assignments make up forty percent of your grade in the class wall tests make up sixty percent weighing heavier. If you’re caught cheating on a test, the results to your average in the class could greatly suffer. There may be days where you get home late from hanging with your friends or have practice and there’s a pile of homework in your backpack, but cheating is never worth it.

  Lastly, your high school experience is never fun without making some memories or interaction. Join some clubs. There are many clubs offered that take place all throughout the week, and some even provide opportunities for community service, so try finding one that fits your schedule and interests. Clubs are a great way to meet new friends and get involved with the school. Colleges also like to see extracurriculars like clubs on applications, so joining a club now can help out in the future. Some of these clubs can include: Acts of Kindness, Spanish, French or language clubs, and not to toot our own horns but Yearbook and Newspaper clubs. You’ll find a new adventure awaiting you.  

  With the responsibility of a new learning environment, if you’re a freshman or needing a rebriefing as a returning upperclassman, we hope this story will find you well and assist you in the new school year that is to come. Although we may not have included each minor detail or lesson, know that your teachers and families are there to help you as the school year progresses. Together we will learn how the effects of the coronavirus can challenge us in our school, and for some of our homes, but we will get through this. Panthers let’s have ourselves a great school year.  

 

Senior Goodbyes

Senior Farewell: Look to the future, hope

By Salma Valadez Design Editor

My high school expectations stemmed from High School Musical, Glee, and Mean Girls. Needless to say, they were very unrealistic. People don’t walk around with basketballs, no one spontaneously bursts into song, and no one got hit by a big yellow school bus. No, high school isn’t as glamorous as it is on the Disney Channel. Yes, it does go by unbelievably fast. I got to school on the first day of freshman year, blinked, and now I’m writing my senior farewell article realizing that I’m the same age my older sister was when I was a freshman.

A lot of amazing memories were made and great things were discovered during the four-year-long chapter that is now coming to an end. Freshman year I found fellowship in my small group which was the first time I felt at home. Sophomore year I found a passion for design and photography through working on the yearbook. Junior year I was a hot mess with a lot of mental breakdowns (Please tell me I wasn’t the only one). Senior year, through all of its unique obstacles, I found my purpose through God.

Throughout all four years of high school, the classes I looked forward to most were my journalism classes. Mrs. Scott was one of the best teachers I have ever had and I will miss her so much. The friends I made in the classes grew into a family. Yearbook gave me a place to express myself creatively and newspaper helped me find my voice. There are truly too many people to list who I will miss deeply while beginning my transition into adulthood, but I’ll name a few: Sally and Zoe, my absolute best friends; Mrs. Scott, the best teacher I could ever ask for who has such a big heart; All of my yearbook staffers and editors who worked so hard to make this year’s book come together; And all of the newspaper staffers and editors who persevered through the challenges that were thrown at them.

Being a part of the class of 2020 has taught valuable lessons: Ranks are not everything. GPA’s are not everything. Grades are not everything. Yes, they’re all important, but they don’t define whether we are a failure or success. It’s so important to enjoy spending time with friends and making final memories as kids, but also to know that high school is only a small milestone compared to the major ones that come with adulthood. I know now not to take any moments for granted. I’ve learned not to fear what the future holds, but to look forward to what the future has in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11 reads “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” With my final goodbye, I encourage all, especially the class of 2020 who was deprived of the traditions that come with senior year, to lean into the Lord’s promise and know that He has given us futures to look forward to.

 

Senior Goodbyes

Senior Goodbye: Farewell to high school

By Renee Alonzo Staff writer

    With the end of the 2020 school year comes the exciting finale to my high school career and the time for me to say goodbye to the school that has seen me grow up. While my senior year did not end as I’d always imagined it would, I’ll always cherish the time I spent learning, meeting new friends, and enjoying some of the best days of my life as a student at O’Connor high school. 

    I have the Panther Band, and every director who’s ever led it, to thank for some of my most fulfilling memories and experiences in high school. I’ll always think fondly of the warm “welcome” I recieved upon arriving at my first day of band camp and the feeling of fitting right into such a great group of people. Football games, long bus rides, and celebratory trips to IHOP were always the best way to end a week of hard work at school. One of my favorite memories, however, was our trip to Duncanville to perform our “Welcome to the Jungle” show and finding out that we placed in the finals for the competition there. Being in the Jazz program for a year was also a great experience, and I want to thank my director, Mr. Bradford, for introducing me to jazz and being a positive force that pushed me to try new things, as did band in its entirety. 

    Being part of the Prowler and journalism program was also an experience I’m extremely grateful for. Here, I learned new ways to express myself and about one of society’s most important and influential industries. My favorite column I worked on was in issue two of the Prowler, where I made a graphic including anime recommendations. I worked so hard on perfecting the graphic design and was very proud of the final outcome. Thank you, Mrs. Scott, for being such an amazing, kind, and knowledgable educator in journalism.

    My path to graduation was not always easy and fun, however. Although I loved to learn, I often became discouraged and stressed by the pressure of my many rigorous classes. It was always with the support of my teachers that I was able to succeed, so I owe each of them thanks for their inspiration, encouragement, and patience. A teacher of mine who embodied these traits was my APUSH teacher, Mrs. Cain. Thank you for being such a passionate and caring teacher. As a history lover, I also want to thank Ms. Luna, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Taylor for teaching me so much about the workings of our world.

   While it’s sad to say goodbye, I’m excited for these next few years as I decide what exactly I want to make of myself. This fall, I’ll be attending St. Mary’s University to study law, hopefully to become a lawyer or public defender. Thank you, O’Connor, for being the first step in my career. My time as a Panther is over, but will never be forgotten.

 

Entertainment

Students enjoy ‘Animal Crossing’ game

By Madison Menchaca Staff Writer

‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ consistently at the top of gaming charts, released March 20, 2020 and composed by Yasuaki Iwata, Yumi Takahashi, Shinobu Nagata, Sayako Doi,  Masato Ohashi, and written by Makoto Wada. With 11 million sales worldwide it is now one of the best-selling games for the Nintendo Switch. It was also developed by Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development. In the game you get to explore and create your own island, discover mystical creatures, assemble tools that you might need to collect materials. Players are also given tasks to complete, such as collecting certain materials to build a new house or building, and collecting new creatures to help put together a museum. 

With the current issue of COVID-19 people are now feeling bored and have no idea how to spend their time.“It’s really lonely and boring,” freshman Amy Guerra said. 

 Since Animal Crossing is a very popular game many people enjoy playing it. 

“I like the freedom you have to create the island you want and I play it because it reminds me of where I  grew up,” freshman Alexis Fodderie said. 

Some players even say it reminds them of another popular game ‘Minecraft’.

“I play it because you have a lot of freedom and it really reminds me of Minecraft,” freshman Gerri Ramirez said. 

Some students shared they are logging 30 hours of game-play or more per week, creating the island of their dreams in their virtual world as they wait to be able to safely emerge back to the real world.

 

 

Entertainment

Quar-Entertain: Video games to check out

By Emma Szabo Staff writer

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, most students have not been able to physically see their friends since spring break. Being away from people you care about is hard, so many people have turned to online multiplayer video games to still have fun and connect with their friends while staying at home. The online modes that many games have offer a safe way to stay in touch and are being used all over the world by people of all ages and backgrounds. Here are some games that students have been enjoying with their friends:

 

Senior Goodbyes

Senior goodbye: Co-Editor-in-chief bittersweet farewell

By Sally Abdul Khalek

They say high school goes by so fast you won’t even realize until it’s time to say goodbye.  I didn’t know what to expect freshman year and I still remember how nervous I was on the first day of school. Now being a senior and looking back at my high school experience, I don’t regret anything because all those moments in my life helped me grow into the person I am today. 

The best decision I made as a freshman was taking journalism. It turned my life around and I never thought that by my senior year I’d be Co-Editor-In-Chief but here we are. I’ve met many amazing people and made so many memories that I will always remember forever. 

As a new staffer in my sophomore year, I experienced a lot of memorable times. There was never one dull moment in class whether it was spontaneous games of office supply hot potato? to people falling off their chairs or sharing a funny story that had happened that day. I am very proud of the stories I wrote that year and my writing definitely improved. Our celebrations of meeting issue deadlines were always fun because everyone would be together and it brought us all closer. During spring break, we had the New York trip. I was the youngest on the trip and it was the first time traveling without my parents even though they ended up going for half the time we went. The minute we got to New York, we got lost. We got on the wrong train that we thought was a subway and none of us had the right tickets.  We got to the hotel super late and had cold pizza. New York was beautiful and so was Columbia University. From running late to class to exploring Times square in the evening, eating amazing food, seeing a broadway play, and late-night hotel shenanigans, I wouldn’t have asked for a better trip. It made me open up more thanks to everyone for making me comfortable. From the trip, I gained a little bit more confidence and was not as shy anymore. 

In my junior year, I was a feature editor. That year had its ups and downs, but overall it showed me the responsibilities of being an editor for the paper and how it made me realize I wanted to be Editor-in-Chief my senior year. Work nights were definitely the highlight of the junior year because of all the food we’d eat and how much we would laugh. Movie nights were also fun. I remember everyone would make side comments to where we would all laugh and we even put Just Dance on the computer until it was time for everyone to leave. Our Austin Trip in early May was nice. The hotel was beautiful and had an amazing view. Our late-night conversations on the rooftop and our target run was something like a movie. Visiting UT Austin made me realize how huge the campus is but nonetheless the classes that we went to gave us a lot of great advice that we could use in the future. Senior year, I was a Co-Editor-In-Chief. I was excited because we had new people coming in so I wanted to make their experience as memorable as mine so they would rejoin again.  It was sad that it got cut short but our weekly meetings made up for it. There’s not much that I could say about this year but that it was different than the previous because of us having to teach all the new staffers what they needed to know but it was a good experience as a Co-Editor-In-Chief. 

There are a lot of people I have to thank as they were the ones that helped me get through high school. I’m not a very expressive person but I wanted these people to know how much they really mean to me. To all my teachers, thank you for everything and I really did enjoy being in your class. To all the seniors who have graduated and became my friends, thank you as you were the ones who helped me out of my shell and made me comfortable enough to not be shy to speak. To the staff, this year, thank you for helping us out and turning your stuff in. We would not have been able to do it without you. To all the friends I have made through this program, thank you for all of the beautiful memories. To Faith who has been the best co-editor and friend, anyone could ask for. I loved being a co-editor with you this year and despite how a lot of things did not go as planned, thank you for all the conversations we have shared and the many memories we have made these past four years, To my best friends Salma and Zoe, thank you for being by my side through all these years. I definitely could not have gone through high school with both of you by my side. I cherish the memories we have made together and I hope we will continue to make more. Last but not least, I would like to thank Mrs. Scott for all her hard work and for being there when we needed her. You have always been my favorite teacher and I thank you for giving us a safe space that we could call our second home. It means so much for what you have done for me and for others so thank you for everything. 

I knew leaving would be bittersweet. I’m sad I could not experience my senior year to the fullest with prom and graduation being canceled because of COVID-19. With all of the things, I had been through, crossing that stage meant I would be starting a new chapter in my life and I would be able to see my family’s proud faces. We can’t do anything more than to accept the reality that we have. I’ll be attending UTSA in the fall. Although change is good, it is also scary but I can’t wait to see what the future holds. My advice to everyone is to enjoy high school while you can and never miss out on any opportunities that could change your life or become your greatest memories. I wish everyone the best of luck. Goodbye OC. It’s been fun and I am really going to miss it. My high school journey will always be a part of me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

 

Uncategorized

Time for a Star Wars Marathon

By Patrick Dawson Guest writer

  With quarantine making everyone bored as ever, I decided I was going to rewatch all of Star Wars canon, everything officially in the Star Wars storyline. Every movie and every TV show. My favorite of them all is Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith. They made the movies backward, so it was technically the 6th episode, but if you’re looking at it in order of the storyline, it’s episode 3.

  This movie, along with episodes 1 and 2, otherwise known as the prequel trilogy, gets a lot of hate. Some of it is warranted, and some isn’t. In the prequel trilogy, there’s a lot of cringey “love” scenes, poor writing, bad CGI, unnecessary characters, things of that nature. But not Revenge of the Sith, which I will call ROTS from now on. 

  This movie’s storytelling is amazing. You can see, every time the Jedi disrespect Anakin, every time the Chancellor praises Anakin, every time Padme tells him something about her pregnancy and their future, and every time Anakin has a nightmare, how it just destroys him. He’s caught in a tug of war between the Jedi, who believe he is the chosen one but continue to disrespect him, and the Chancellor, a Sith Lord disguised as the Chancellor who is in need of a new apprentice. Every single thing that happens has an effect on Anakin’s mind and directly changes his actions. Eventually, the Chancellor wins. He convinces Anakin that by using the dark side of the force he can save his wife from certain death, as Anakin has been having nightmares about her death. You can tell that this is what made him go over the hump. From the battles, to the emotional conflict, to the storytelling. It’s all great. The effects are beautiful. The volcano planet Mustafar looks amazing. The music in the Order 66 scene just crushes you. It’s truly a work of art. ROTS has some of the best elements of Star Wars as a whole, the moral conflict, war, good vs bad, will to do anything to save the ones you love, and pure manipulation by the dark side. It’s an amazing movie, and I’d for sure recommend you watch it.

News

Students reflect on Distance learning experience

By Kace Schermerhorn

Over the last ten weeks, students have been in virtual classrooms; conducting school via something called “distance learning”. The Prowler contacted students by email and phone to find how they have been spending their time distance learning. Some students prefer it to traditional classroom learning, while others would rather continue to use distance learning.

“I like distance learning much more than classroom learning. I can get my work done more efficiently at home. I can also sleep-in; I don’t have to wake up at six in the morning. I can also eat whenever I want to. There aren’t really any guidelines, like dress code or being in class at a certain time; I can also stay in my pajamas all day long. All in all, I prefer distance learning over classroom learning, seeing all of the advantages it has,” sophomore Jolene Flores said.

Some students prefer the freedoms they are afforded during distance learning. “I enjoy distance learning because it gives me more freedom to choose when and where I can complete my assignments,” sophomore Alex Kerzic said. “I get a lot more time to work at my own pace, and I don’t have to wake up early,” Kerzic also said. 

Some students see the advantages and disadvantages that come with distance learning. “Distance learning has its pros and cons. Although I do like having more free time, and a much more open schedule, it has been very hard to find motivation as well as get into contact with teachers at specific times,” sophomore Jaymeson Hacker said. “I personally prefer classroom learning for the mere reason that I learn and comprehend more when I am being taught by a teacher as opposed to a screen… work has also been incredibly easy, which will not prepare me for my future career.”

Some students want more structure and getting off schedule can lead to a lack of motivation. “In my opinion, I think that distance learning is so much easier than being at school. However, it has made me a lot more lazy, and it can get a little complicated when you don’t understand something, and then you have to wait until your teachers are available to go on zoom and then you can get help,” sophomore Alia Hernandez said.

Students don’t need to worry about specific deadlines for their assignments. “Distance learning is nice because I can finish assignments at my pace instead of spending an excessive amount of time at school. I can finish classes faster but that face-to-face connection with teachers and the ability to collaborate effectively with peers is lost,” junior Brayden Caldwell said.

While distance learning may be simpler, some students miss being able to see their friends. “I’ve been knocking out my school work and trying to get it out of the way. I find different chores to do around the house and have some hobbies I’ve started up, even a new Instagram account. I think this online school is easier and more convenient but I would take regular school over it due to the interactions with people and friends,” junior Jaden Villarreal said.

Of the students interviewed, several seem to like the new distance learning guidelines. Students shared they enjoy things like working at their own pace, sleeping in, and having more freedom make them enjoy distance learning more than classroom learning.