Presley Holland, a sophomore, is JCECA's student of the month for March 2016.
Video & editing by Logan Vann Presley Holland, a sophomore, is JCECA's student of the month for March 2016.
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Kassidee Hanshew, a fourth year senior, is JCECA's student of the month for February 2016.Video & editing by Colin Garcia Article by Logan Vann
It’s that time of year again. Our teachers are recruiting students from all over Johnston County who are interested in being a part of ECA. I’m sure you remember what it was like applying to come here, being selected for the interview process, and reading your acceptance letter that told you Johnston County Early College would be your home for the next five years. In preparation for the next several months, make sure you are understanding of your teachers, your counselor, and your principal. Try to be diligent, work your hardest in order to make them proud, and continue to show them the reasons why they chose YOU out of the countless other applicants that submitted an application the year you applied. The selection of new students is a rigorous process and requires an abundance of time and effort from the employees at our school, so try to be understanding if your teacher doesn’t return your grades to you as quickly as you wish he/she would. Remember that you (the students) are not the only ones working hard this semester! If you know someone who is currently in the eighth grade, and they have questions in regards to attending ECA, don’t feel shy and answer their questions to the best of your ability. I’m sure you remember what it was like being that age, wondering if you should apply to ECA, if it would be a good fit for you, if it would be the place you would obtain your high school diploma from; I know I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s the start of the rest of your life, as cliche as it sounds, so try to be a guiding light for a younger student who is interested in attending your outstanding school. Emphasize topics such as homework/projects, responsibility, pride time, technology, transportation to and from school, etc. Be sure to let them know that they will work hard if they come here and if they are not ready for that then ECA might not be the best place for them. Having been a student here for the past four years, I have been able to partake in the recruiting process several times. I have enjoyed working at each of the parent nights we have because it overwhelms me with an extreme sense of pride for my school. I feel as though it helps me form stronger bonds with other students and I am able to brag about how wonderful ECA really is. At the last parent night, one of the students in my group commented “This is more of a compliment than a question; I just wanted to say I really enjoy the relationship you guys have with each other. You all seem like a big family.” My face lit up at this comment and it made me realize how truly lucky we all are to have each other. With that being said, make sure you are uplifting and encouraging to your peers within the next several months as the 2015-2016 school year draws to an end. Keep your heads up and remember: THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE! Copy and paste the link below into your browser to view the Fall 2015 final exam schedule.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JHE_FyREG5Fql0fdBjOgJe4yCGz9fu4399HOykExKVM/edit Article by Maddie Riggs
**Warning: the content of this article is graphic. Reader's discretion is advised** Interviewee: Haley Riggs (author's sister) I sat down with my sister for the first time in a long time to hear the full, uncensored version of the event that changed her life forever. Haley began, “It was July 13th, 2001 and I was 15 years old when I was almost killed in a car accident. I was at my best friend’s house that morning because I had stayed over the night before. It was between 10 and 11 in the morning when a good friend of mine named Aaron and his friend (who everyone called Squeak) stopped by to see if we wanted to go for a ride. We both wanted to go but my friend's dad said she had to stay home. When I tried to leave with them she begged me not to go. I didn't listen." Haley's friend's dad could not have picked a better time to be strict with his daughter, I thought quietly. Haley continued, "We all got in the car and started down the street. I remember telling the guys to put on their seatbelt because it was Friday the 13th. When we got to the stop sign I started freaking out in my head. Something was telling me that I should get out, and get out now! God, I never forgot that feeling and I never will. I didn't listen to my gut, I just went along with it." Haley took a breath and she tried to figure out where to go from there. I started to write quickly as the story poured out. "We got to Andy's (our uncle's) house. I stayed in the car while the guys were talking to Andy in the yard. I could kind of hear the conversation when it shifted to their cars. Guys being guys were talking about how fast their cars were. Andy drove a white firebird while Aaron drove an Eagle Talon with a turbo. Before I knew it the guys were back in the car and Andy was getting into his. Naturally they wanted to race. It was a small town with not much to do and racing wasn’t new. Andy was in front of us when we both pulled out onto Belgrade Swansboro Road. The minute we pulled out onto the two lane highway Andy passed us trying to show off." I let Haley pause while my hand cramped up and we both took a breath before she continued. "We were going around the curve and both of us were just picking up speed. Normally you could see around the curve but there was a cornfield and the corn had gotten really high. Aaron had hit the gas to try and get around Andy but by the time we were in the other lane we saw the dump truck. I remember thinking I was going to die. The dump truck swerved and landed in a ditch and Aaron had stomped the brake pedal. We were going about 70 or so mph and when he hit the break the back of the car started to fishtail. We were neck and neck with Andy's car in the right lane and when the back of the car started to fishtail it hit Andy's car. We were airborne and when the car reached the ground it flipped five times before finally landing in a ditch down the road. Andy's car was fine and he pulled onto a road right next to the ditch and got out running over to us." By this time Haley only knows what she was told. Apparently she was conscious but because she was in shock she doesn't remember. Both Aaron and "Squeak" got out with only bumps and bruises. "The only thing I vaguely remember is Aaron screaming 'Haley's dead, she's dead!" Haley recalled. Haley's face was lying in the backseat floorboard of the car. With her sinuses ripped out and her face caved in, in complete shock, she tried to climb out of the mangled car. The guys ran over trying to hold her down until the paramedics got there. The paramedics drove Haley to Onslow Hospital but by the time she got there the doctors realized her injuries were too severe. She was then airlifted to Pitt Memorial on the ECU campus. Haley had to have 7 reconstruction surgeries by plastic surgeons from across the state, then another surgery to remove her right eye. I remember my dad telling me his side of the story a couple of weeks ago. My dad frowned as he said "I remember standing in the hallway with her doctor and Haley's momma when the doctor asked us to sign a release form for them to remove her eye. What do you say or do when someone says they want to take out your daughter's eye?" my dad said getting choked up (though he tried to cover it with a pitiful laugh). "The doctor told us that the eye that ruptured could stay in there but (what my dad calls the 'Jealous Eye Effect') if it did then it would start pulling information and energy from the good eye and her good eye would start to deteriorate. Eventually she would be completely blind in both eyes. I had no choice. I cried as I signed the paper." Hearing my dad tell the story had me a bit choked up, too. When Haley woke up she was doped up on so many painkillers and sedatives (because she was put into a medically induced coma for a while) my family had to tell the story over and over again. They later had put the pieces back together of why Haley was the only one hurt. An amplifier connected to the speakers was in the back of the car and it wasn't bolted down like it was supposed to be. It sat on the hatchback above the trunk right behind Haley and it became airborne during the crash, landing on her. When it hit her in the face it broke every single bone except her forehead. (jaw, nose, cheeks, eye sockets, everything). Haley said, "I wish you could see the Xray, it was wicked, there was just little pieces everywhere, no solid bone." It was actually quite the miracle because as the doctors explained, had the amp hit any lower it would have decapitated her, if it hit any higher it would have caused so much damage that she would have been left brain dead. Her face was made up of 13 metal plates, mesh wiring, and a prosthetic eye. Haley was in the hospital for 2 months (was only released early because her mom had previous nurse training). She had a tracia and a feeding tube, as well as her jaw wired shut for 6 months. She couldn't talk for nearly a year. Haley recalled the moment one month after the crash when she was in the hospital and saw her face for the first time. (This was really hard for me to hear just because I simply could not handle it if I were her. She's really strong). "I remember just then being able to get out of bed and there was a little mirror over a sink across the room." Sandy (our other sister only about 13 at the time) tried to prevent Haley from looking because she was afraid of her reaction. Peeling open her one good eye, Haley looked into the tiny mirror at her face that was bruised, stitched, cut, and partially wrapped up. A face that wasn't hers. The medical bills lasted for years, as did the lawyers. Doctors from all over the state wanted to see and talk to Haley because she was the first full face reconstruction done in the area. Her pictures/story are still in the medical textbooks at ECU today. 14 years later Haley's face still bares the scars of that day. We can look back now and laugh at the craziness of it. We even make the one eye jokes (she laughs too, I promise), but the reality of it is, this was devastating. Aaron was forever changed by the damage he did to his best friend. After years and years of drug abuse, he eventually overdosed and died last summer. This crash literally affected everyone involved. We hear a lot about crashes but never this detailed. I'm in a club you know as Joco Teen Drivers and though Haley (nor I) was in Johnston County when the crash happened, we were only a few counties over, Haley was our age. To think something that life altering can happen to someone younger than me is crazy. Yes, we hear the stories but much like anything we don't care until it happens to us. Racing is bad, seat belts are good, but I don't want to preach that on deaf ears. This is important and until each of us understand how easy it is to lose our life, these accidents are not going to go down in number by any means. I hope her story, our story, reaches some of you. I hope it makes you think twice before making a decision that could cost your life. Remember that when you're in the car with someone else, their life is now in your hands. Would you be able to handle the guilt if something happened to your friends or family while you were behind the wheel? You don’t have to answer that question as long as you stay responsible both in the driver and passenger seat. Your life can change in the blink of an eye for better or worse. Don’t take anything for granted, especially life. Article by Anna Lee
The holiday season has come around again, and there are many events happening at ECA! On Tuesday, November 17th, the Interact Club hosted an Operation Christmas Child event, where students packed shoeboxes with non-perishable items for children in need. The boxes were filled with toys, toothbrushes, soaps, hygiene products, school supplies, candy, clothes, and anything else that could be stuffed into a box that is the size of a shoebox! Another big event that will be happening on December 4th, at 5:30 is the SGA game night. Game night will include some of the most popular (indoor) field day games, such as, Dance Central, Mario Kart and Smash Bros. There will be music, competitions, and admission is free! The last big event going on is the Hunger Games themed food drive. The interact club has organized this year’s food drive to where each grade-level is counted as a district, and the teachers will serve as the Capital. The goal of this food drive competition is to see which grade-level, or district can bring in the most canned food items. All of the clubs at ECA are working their hardest to make this school year the most successful year yet, and they appreciate everyone who participates in their events! We hope to see each and every one of you participating in the Operation Christmas Child packing party, the SGA game night, and the Hunger Games Food Drive! Article by Logan Vann Sole Hope is a non profit organization that works to prevent and combat harmful diseases, that enter through the feet in impoverished areas of the world, by providing relief in the form of medical treatments, education in the form of long-term solutions, and sustainability in the form of shoemaking and employment. This mission was started by a young couple who had a heart for children in need after they encountered a YouTube video that lead them way out of their comfort zones. Once they actually visited Uganda and saw children the same age as their own who were infected with jiggers, the couple realized how serious the problem was and how important it was for somebody to do something about it -- they decided they were the people for the job. Kassidee Hanshew, a student leader of the JCECA Student Ambassador’s club, heard about this project from staff member, Bill Worley. Upon further research into the organization, she concluded that it would be a great fulfillment for the club members to partake in this mission. It would be next to impossible to fly a group of students from Early College to East Africa, so club members contributed about two hours of their time, five dollars (to ship the materials), a pair of old jeans, and a used milk carton to participate in a shoe cutting party. The party allowed students to cut patterns from their old jeans and used milk cartons to work as fabric for shoes and soles that would be shipped to and made in Uganda. Mrs. Dawn Blankenship provided pizza as a treat for the students as they worked to complete a small task that would become a part of something much larger in the long run. This was the first major project for the Student Ambassador’s club. The possibility of other projects throughout the school, the community, and the world have been discussed in several meetings. This student-led group has given students at the school the opportunity to give back in more ways than one. If you are a student and are interested in joining the JCECA Student Ambassador’s club, contact Mrs. Blankenship ([email protected]) and ask for the group code to join the Edmodo page for information and updates. Article by Anna Lee
As the 2015-16 school year begins, we come across many new and familiar faces. Students are growing into their next grade, and teachers are improving their classes each and every day. At the beginning of the year, there is much to keep you busy other than just schoolwork. There are many clubs and extracurricular activities that you can sign up for! Student-Government, Feminist Club, JOCO Teen Drivers, Coding Club, Quiz Bowl, Prom Committee, Student Ambassadors, “Lions Roar,” and Latin Dance Club have started having their meetings of the year. With the exception of Student Government (freshman permitted), if you are a sophomore or higher, you can join any club that you wish. During the second semester of the year, Freshman may join any club they desire. If there is a club you have been looking to start, or would like to be in, you can easily start it. All you need to do in order to start a club is to have student interest, a teacher representative, and a plan of how you would like it to run. It seems as if it has been drilled into our brains, but each of us, students, have been taught a specific quote, “The only constant is change.” After intense and “nail-biting” campaigns, filled with memes, food, and goodie-bags, the students of ECA have currently elected a handful of peers to govern their classes, that have many ideas to broaden and deal with the everyday needs, and changes that our school needs. The ECA SGA Class Representatives are: 9th Grade: President- Hannah Ginn VP- Meilyn Norman 10th Grade: President- Allana Almeida VP- Alan Bautista Secretary- Laura Vasquez 11th Grade: President- Makayla Brewington VP- Kara Walden Secretary- Maddie Riggs 12th Grade: President- Charlie Putnam VP- Simone Gillespie Secretary- Monica Tedder and Lynsie Williams 13th Grade: President- Cesar Bautista VP- Kenan Walden Secretary- Carly McLendon Congratulations to all officers! ECA knows that this will be an amazing year with the help of each of you! Article by Simone Gillespie and Logan Vann Videos by Colin Garcia Amanda Bednar Chemistry Teacher Mrs. Bednar is coming to ECA from Riverwood Middle School where she taught eighth grade science. Coming from a rather strict environment, she is adjusting well to the less strenuous task of keeping up with high schoolers who are given an excessive amount of freedom. Mrs. Bednar feels that the teachers and administration of ECA are amazing as well as the students, who she would describe as “cool” because she can be herself around them. Like a majority of students, Bednar felt as though she didn’t quite fit in throughout her high school years. She reminisced on the fact that she was a big Harry Potter geek and believes this is one of the reasons she didn’t have many friends. Although it is hard to tell now, she claims she was into rock music, as well, and even wore JNCO jeans (if you don’t know what those are, I highly recommend looking them up)! She shares a lot of similar interests with the students at Early College and she understands the teenage struggle of highly anticipating college life when you’re stuck in high school, so it isn’t too hard to make a connection with her and get to know her on a more personal level. Mrs. Bednar attended UNC Pembroke after graduating high school. She had planned on going to medical school after majoring in biology and chemistry, but then she fell into the path of research and was immediately hooked to it. After being a lab manager at Duke for two years and a research specialist at UNC Chapel Hill for two years, she became a teacher and has loved it ever since. “I went to a not so great high school. I think that’s why I wanted to switch to education because I wanted to be that teacher that needed to be there for students because I didn’t have that in high school.” April Bernier
Biology Teacher Mrs. Bernier, like her students, is getting used to a brand new environment. The freshmen that Mrs. Bernier teaches are adjusting to the high school environment while Mrs. Bernier is adjusting to a new state/home. She quite recently moved to North Carolina from Rhode Island. Like many students at ECA, Mrs. Bernier described herself as a giant nerd during high school. She attended a prestigious private school where she focused on her studies. During high school, she joined every club that she could. If it was a thing, she was in it. Mrs. Bernier always had her nose stuck in a book during high school and the same can be said for today. She read and still reads anything that she can get her hands on. Her friends describe her taste in books, movies, and music as violent (i.e. horror books and movies). After high school, Mrs. Bernier attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She planned on attending medical school after college, but that all changed when she took the MCAT exam. Her plans did not change because she failed the exam. Instead, they changed because she realized that she wasn’t excited about medical school. Most people jump for joy when they ace the MCAT, but Mrs. Bernier did not. That’s when she knew that she needed to find something that she loved and wanted to do for the rest of her life. She worked in the research field for a few years before deciding that she wanted to become a teacher. She loved school so much that she wanted to be paid to be in school for a career. Since the first day of school, Mrs. Bernier has heard more students having more intelligent conversations about politics and social issues than any of the schools that she’s worked at before. She loves listening to what ECA’s students have to say, to see how engaged they are in their work, and how enthusiastic they are about their hobbies and interests. “If you want to move a mountain, the way to move it is one rock at a time. If you want to journey a thousand miles. begin with one step. When things look overwhelming, look for the one step, the one piece that you can get done.” |
AuthorsSimone Gillespie Archives
March 2016
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