My mom, like all parents, wanted me to be great. Growing up she taught me a variety of skills that I have either found hobbies in or have improved my quality of life, such as having a general understanding of sewing and teaching me to read at a really young age. I now read for fun, collect books, and I sew holes or buttons on my family’s clothes when they need it. However, not all of these endeavors worked out. My family has a long history of talent in the arts, I come from a line of very talented dancers on my moms side (I have danced for about fifteen years), and musical abilities on my dads. My childhood was filled with my dad sitting with his guitar and singing to me and my cousins - which was a favorite piece of my life at the time, and a cherished memory now. My uncle is a musical prodigy, he can play an array of instruments, very well might have perfect pitch, and can play anything by hearing it just once. He was also in the Navy band. Sadly, I didn’t inherit the singing from my dad, or the instrumental talent from my uncle… not even a fraction of it. I learned this in a rather painstaking way when my mom - very kindly - got me a piano instructor, who happened to be a friend of theirs, and purchased me a keyboard. Looking back, I must have expressed some kind of interest in music - I love music - but I certainly wasn’t meant for it. Another detail for context is that since I was a kid, I have always been unnecessarily hard on myself, which can make learning new things difficult - but, as I’ve gotten older it’s gotten much better. Once a week, or so, I would sit down at my shiny new keyboard, and my instructor would come and teach me how to play, with my mothers smiling face watching and helping. I was four when I started these lessons, that was also the age that I got diagnosed with off-the-charts ADHD and was in the process of getting treatment. If you know anything about ADHD, there are different ways it can manifest and affect different people - one way for me, was it was entirely too difficult to sit still for periods of time. The combination of severe ADHD, pressure, age, and unenjoyment quickly turned into four year old me bawling my eyes out the moment my instructor walked in the door. That poor man, he truly didn't deserve that, he was a kind person… I just wasn't having it.

In the heart of Jenks, just on the end of main street stands Reds Mercantile, an antique shop filled to the brim with hidden historical gems. Items ranging from early 1900’s edition books, to old Dr. Pepper bottles, and even a stunning relic of a wedding dress - Red’s mercantile is home to little pieces of American history. Right in our hometown. Red’s is owned by very kind and lovely women who were very helpful in my journey through time in their store. Despite the recent modernization of main street Jenks, with eclectic shops being replaced by pink boutiques and popular bars, pieces of the history and originality of Jenks still stand the tests of time.

The ingredients in our food affect all elements of our life, our brains, our energy, and can even influence your outward appearance in positive or negative ways. Some ingredients can help bring out nutrients that can cause clearer skin, mental clarity or higher energy, but others can cause acne, mental fog, and lower your natural energy. Sadly, in our country it is far more common to have the latter, many forms of chemicals are found in the meals and snacks we consume daily. I am passionate about the food I eat and have had an interest in what is on my plate for years. This has led me to research and keep up with studies and projects done to improve the ingredients/additives in American food.

French fries: the iconic American side-dish, hamburger sidekick, and milkshake’s savory counterpart. There are a number of fast food places around our school that distribute well known fries, which are still commonly debated on which is better. We took it upon ourselves to spend an afternoon after practice to go around Jenks and rate these fries on a very scientific scale that we invented.

Education looks different to everyone; even school itself looks different to everyone. Your experiences are based on what you choose to do, who do it with, and where. While the first day of school to many may look like walking into a stuffy beige building with hallways compressing hundreds or even thousands of students every passing period, or cramming into an obnoxiously loud cafeteria, to others it may look like waking up, getting ready, helping your parents with chores, and sitting at the kitchen table with your mom and siblings while the smell of breakfast and freshly printed papers wafts through the air.

Whether you're a Christmas fanatic like I am, or if you are just trying to make it through various get-togethers, holiday movies are seen as a staple in many events from hosting a full house, to alone cuddled up next to a cozy fire, with flannel blankets and hot cocoa. While Elf, The Grinch (animated or otherwise), and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation are all great options here are some other movies to watch in different situations.

Jenks’ athletic programs have a rather successful history, and one of the contributors to that is our leaders. Keep reading for a breakdown of Four Styles of Leadership from Our Captains.