CHS Chilli-Chatter #10

by Claire Ripley

This year has had its ups and downs, its twists and turns, and its loopty loops, but CHS did everything they could to make the best of the situation. Here's a flashback of the 2020-2021 school year.

With 599 students this year at CHS, a lot of great things have happened and outstanding students have highlighted their character and perseverance throughout the year. Student Council president, Hannah Dominique along with the other officers and members of the council worked hard to keep school spirit alive starting with something new this year. In September the usual Homecoming parade was canceled, but STUCO took charge and created a new way to have a parade at the school around the track including golf carts for sports, clubs, and attendants. Despite the dance not being able to occur, homecoming attendants were showcased and our 2020 Homecoming king and queen were Mason Baxter and Ella Leamer.

Again, this winter the cold hit hard. The lowest temperature in Chillicothe this winter was -12 degrees. CHS had six snow days and even had the ACT during the beginning of a snow storm.

Outside of CHS (and COVID-19), the town, state, nation, and world had a lot going on. 2020 was an election year. Black Lives Matter protests surrounded the media. The stock market crashed. “Murder” hornets entered the U.S. Chadwick Boseman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Alex Trebek passed away. The Kansas City Chiefs headed to Super Bowl XIII.

It was a hard knock life with the drama production this year-- “Annie” was a huge hit. With three shows plus a student show, Chillicothe students from elementary to high school did an outstanding job.

Prom happened, and it was awesome! Under the Hawaiian Moon was the theme and it was very much executed. From hula dancers to coconut shrimp, it sure was a vacation feel for the night. Prom King and Queen were Tucker Wagers and Lexi Walker.

FFA again had a tremendous year. With teams and individuals competing at local, area, district, and state level, members have done a fantastic job in representing Chillicothe. Junior Claire Ripley received an Area II Association office as Secretary and senior Seth Hansen became one of the new Missouri FFA State Officers.

Here are some other things that happened this year:

• This year, boys basketball coach, Tim Cool earned his 500th career win in January.

• Juniors won Powder Puff football

• Seniors won Power Buff volleyball

• Juniors won the dodgeball tournament

• One AMI day

• Four wrestlers went to state

• Eight seniors Bright-Flighted

• Lucy Reeter broke the school record with 6 goals in one game

This year has been great, and we can't wait for next year at CHS

by Leah Lourenco

As this school year draws to a close, many students at Chillicothe High School are beginning to consider their future college decisions and career plans. After all, if college is the path for you, there is much to consider in preparation. Things to consider include: deciding your interests, schedule planning, summer opportunities, standardized tests (ACT, PSAT, SAT), college visits, scholarships, college applications, and even just the process of moving out. Every student is at a different step in the process, and it can be hard to work through alone.

As a freshman looking towards sophomore year, college may feel like forever away, but in reality it will sneak up quicker than you think. There is nothing wrong with going to college with no idea what you want to do. In fact, by the end of your high school career, you may decide that college is not for you. There are so many careers out there that you may not even know about. However, it would be beneficial to identify what interests you so that you can narrow down your options. That way you can build your high school schedule accordingly. So, if you are interested in business/finance, you can take those courses, or if you are more science-brained, you can take those courses. That goes for all interests. You should also look into becoming active in extracurriculars that interest you. Colleges and employers love to see involvement, and extracurriculars are also an excellent way to surround yourself with like-minded people. Another way to develop your interests is to go to academic/career focused summer programs. Our own CHS counselors, Mrs. Tsikoyak and Mrs. Tipton, have infinite wisdom on program options and are happy to help you develop your career interests. It may be beneficial for you to take the ACT your sophomore year, just to become familiar with the test.

College-bound sophomores going into their junior year are about to be exposed to more college level material and conversations about college readiness. This is the time when you really want improve your ACT scores for college applications. You also may be interested in taking the PSAT. Only your junior year PSAT score can qualify you as a National Merit Scholar, and that title can earn you scholarship opportunities. If you are interested in taking the PSAT, Mrs. Tsikoyak organizes that in the fall. Many juniors also use this time to begin considering colleges, perhaps even going on college visits.

Juniors who will be seniors next year are diving head-first into scholarships and applications. Many scholarships open in the fall, but Mrs. Baker is an excellent resource for both scholarships and application help. Over the summer you may want to begin researching into your specific college choices and looking at applications. Most colleges require admissions essays, and depending on the acceptance rate, you may want to sink considerable time into the writing of said essay. It may even benefit you to come up with essay topics or even write the essay over the summer. That way you are not stressed or crunched for time during application season.

The current graduating class has little college preparation left, and soon they will be moved on to their college of choice. Of course, college will bring its own set of challenges. Many students will be depending on themselves for the first time in their lives, and they will be doing so with a set of strangers. Fear not, as long as you make the best of it, college has all of the potential to be a great experience.

No matter where you are in your career path, good luck on your journey!

by Draya Shady

Many years people have brought in new makeup trends and brought back more retro trends. This year’s trends are brown eyeliner, lining your lips with dark liner, neon colors on the eyes, fake freckles, heavy blush, and a favorite of most--adding gems or glitter to the face.

Eyeliner is very important in makeup. Many people wear eyeliner to open their iris such as Emily Ratajkowski. Your eyes are windows to the soul. Recently, people have been softening their liners to make their natural color seem more appealing and less aggressive. The idea of “natural makeup” is becoming quite a hit. Keeping up with the eyes, neon eye looks were very popular in the early 2000’s. You may have seen it on performers like Kesha or Nicki Manaj. The neon looks bring more attention to the eyes themselves, but don't actually do a lot for the color.

Lining your lips with a darker color than the lipstick or gloss is really the same concept--making them appear even bigger and more full. Adding a gloss goes for a more hydrated natural makeup look. This trend started in the 90’s and a lot of early 2000’s babies are bringing it back.

Freckles have been a hot topic in the beauty industry. Many people will spray themselves with spray hair dye, dot themselves with eye brow pencils, use henna to create freckles for a longer period of time, and some even take the extent of tattoos. This is truly a staple piece for the face. It also just became a trend and we don’t expect to see it leave any time soon.

Heavy blush and deep contour are back on the track of a natural look. The heavy blush gives the effect of a sun-kissed face and lifted cheeks. Many people love to put it on the tip of their nose to make it look more cute and small. Contouring under the cheek bones gives the face a higher effect and makes people seem more lifted and slim.

Among these many trends and iconic fashion styles, we can’t forget about the gems and glitter. This started later in the 90’s. People glue fake gems to their eyebrows, cheek bones, and even eyelids. The gems serve no purpose except being “extra” or dramatic. The glitter was trendy in the late 80’s. Packing on the most beautiful blue shimmer shade to the eyelid is a way of saying “I’m cool” without saying “I’m cool.” This has never left the makeup industry and many people will use a solid glitter or do a cut-crease (a lighter eyeshadow and line across the middle crease of the eyelid).

Makeup has and always will be a way of expression. It will continue to change and evolve and fads will die then come back. Everyone finds a way to make their own unique style and that is why it is always advancing with time and so important for one's character.

by Lexie Walker

As summer approaches, the wanderlust becomes stronger. If you’re feeling the need for a trip, but you don’t want to or don’t have the means to travel outside of the state, Missouri offers quite a few destinations with great potential for a fun and relaxing vacation.

Branson is an obvious choice as it is one of the most-visited destinations by tourists in the state. With live entertainment, amusement park rides, and a variety of eating options, there is something for everyone in Branson. A main attraction in Branson is Silver Dollar City. This theme park features rides similar to those at Worlds of Fun but with an old-timey twist. There is also the opportunity to camp at a campground or in a cabin if that is more your vibe. If you are a country music lover, Branson might be the place for you. Wander down to “The Strip” while in Branson and enjoy the live entertainment. Branson claims to be the “live country music capital of the universe.”

Another attraction in Missouri is all the lakes. We have the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake, Stockton Lake, and many others. All of these offer swimming, boating, fishing, and sunny days spent on the water. Rent a jet ski or a kayak and cruise the waters, or make friends with a boat owner and learn to water ski.

If lake days aren’t your cup of tea, take a drive over to St. Louis and enjoy the city atmosphere. Stop at the Gateway Arch to sightsee or take a trip to the St. Louis Zoo to observe the habitats. Forest Park, host of the 1904 World's Fair, is home to the zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. Go learn about dinosaurs or the moon landing in a different environment than a typical classroom or observe various exhibits in the art museum.

Missouri offers many opportunities for camping and hiking as well. Some of our most popular parks include Crowder State Park in Trenton, Bennett Spring State Park in Southern Missouri, and Onondaga Cave State Park east of Rolla. Looking for camping within a half hour drive? Pershing State Park is right across 36 Highway from Meadville and has many large ponds for fishing, campground areas, and a nature boardwalk.

While Missouri might not seem like the most scenic state, it does have many get-away opportunities. You aren’t going to find a sandy beach or towering mountains in the state, but you will find a variety of activities ranging from outdoorsy to a thriving cityscape. Missouri really has it all.

by Kadence Shipers

We have all, at one point in time, put off doing something, even when we were capable of doing it earlier. Many students tend to procrastinate or get distracted when it comes to school work. Are you one of the students who hops on a task as soon as you get it, or do you put it off as long as you possibly can?

In a recent survey of 126 students, more than 97% of respondents claimed they have at some point participated in procrastination, while the remaining 3% avoid putting things off. This result did not surprise me, as I am a student who has also engaged in procrastination. Many of the students stated that the cause of their postponing is because of an interplay between lack of motivation (58%) and social media (12%). Many students are not motivated to do their work or engage in any outside activities. They also tend to get distracted by social media, especially platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Of the respondents, 66% percent either procrastinate three times a week or more, making it harder for them to meet deadlines and due dates. When asked about whether or not procrastination affects their grades, surprisingly 50% of students said no; this just goes to show that Chillicothe students procrastinate, but not to the extent that it hurts their grades.

When it comes to procrastination, students do not just do it outside of school, they procrastinate anywhere and at any time. Common outside procrastination examples include packing your suitcase the night before a trip, delaying resolutions and telling yourself you will do it in the future, or simply hitting the snooze button when you told yourself you were going to get up early. Procrastination plays a big part in most people’s lives as it serves as a big obstacle when doing something. However, most people feel guilty about putting such tasks off and are open to the idea of overcoming procrastination.

It is difficult to give up a habit you have been practicing for so long, but it is definitely possible. There are many ways to overcome procrastination such as setting realistic and concrete goals for yourself, rewarding yourself for reaching those goals, and holding yourself accountable. When you fail, you might even withhold a reward from yourself--like that last cookie in the kitchen. Practice doing these every day until it sticks and until you stop putting things off. Procrastination plays a big part in our lives, but it does not have to. Now go do that homework you have been deferring; it is probably due tomorrow.

by Dimitri Dickerson

Many think of competitions like child beauty pageants and Miss America when they think of pageants. But some might not know that CHS used to have its own boys-only pageant called Mr. CHS. The competition started sometime around 1995 and ran for approximately twenty years. It was a pageant held to find the finest member of the male student body.

The competition was started by Mr. Chris Droegemeuller, the vocal music instructor at the time, and was run by the Choraliers. At its inception, it was a parody of other well-known pageants such as the Miss America contest. The contest consisted of multiple portions, including a swimwear, formal wear, and talent section.

A panel of judges was present and consisted of several important members of the community. The judges would choose one winner for each portion of the competition and would also choose the finalists. Those who proceeded as finalists were asked a significant question and were required to answer them in front of the crowd. The competition was held in the old high school’s auditorium and happened once a year.

Near the end of the competition’s lifetime, student participation started to dwindle; the competition was always held in the evening and so it was hard to convince students to attend. It will be interesting to see if this forgotten CHS tradition ever makes a return.