Students deal with everyday struggles such as problems

with parents, being a good student ,and having an after school

job. They need a break from these struggles and some vent their

daily frustrations through art, writing, sports, or maybe even

dance.

For others, they turn to music when life is getting them

down or whenever they have a story that they have to tell. Darius

Wade, junior, is apart of the music group YTPF (Young Twisted

Panda Force). This group of Northwestern students (Shakeem

McCloud, Nolan Alger, Chris Miller, Chaz Strong) came together

because of their similar musical interests and their love of mak-

ing music with each other.

“I just want to make music. It doesn’t matter if I become

famous, I just want to make music,” Wade stated when asked

about his musical ambitions/ goals. Wade, like others, finds that

through his music he can express himself and his ideas, “...music

is an outlet, a way to express and explain your feelings.”

“I grew up listening to music so when I started making mu-

sic and saw I was good at it, I started using it as a release,” sopho-

more Alger stated. Alger’s music is very important to him because it helps him tell his story to the

world. “I write my own music about what I’ve been through in life,” Alger stated. Their music can be

found on both SoundCloud and Youtube @YTPFofficial.

However, YTPF isn’t the only music group at Northwestern. Another group of students that call

themselves KAP (Kids Achieving Prosperity) also write and perform their own original music. Christo-

pher Stockdale (Crucial C), senior, is a member of this group and he uses music to reach other people.

“With music you can tell your story of what you’re going through and entertain people,” Stockdale

said. KAP’s (Kids Achieving Prosperity) goal is to create a new style of music and spread it around the

world. Their music can be found on Youtube at KAPXTC and performances will be coming soon.

NHS students use their music to tell their stories by: A. Harbison & A. Douglas

Student Review: A History of Broadway by: J. Beckham & S. Wright

A History of Broadway is a production that is based off of the musical Rag-

time. Ragtime tells the story of three groups of people in the 20th century: The Afri-

can Americans, Upper-class suburbanites, and Eastern European immigrants. The

historical elements from this original Broadway musical were pulled and created

into something for Northwestern High School. Performed by our students in the mu-

sical theatre class, this reenactment was used to inspire, motivate, and change the

world.

When asked about her reasoning behind this musical, Altman said that she

chose this selection to challenge the students in her class. She wanted them to study

the advanced text, and get in touch with their historical roots. Altman believes that

her students deserve a standing ovation for all the hard work they put in with over-

coming challenges and technical difficulties that came their way.

When asked what she would do differently, Altman stated, “I would not do

anything different.” She also said that the cast was very easy to work with. Altman

thinks that her students have touched our hearts and inspired us by celebrating dif-

ferences.

Although the play was a success, our perspective differs from that of Mrs.

Altman. Due to the historical aspect of the musical, it did not grab our attention as

much as a more modern production might. The second act was the performance that

we enjoyed the most because it contained songs that we know and love. Overall,

we thought the musical was a great success and we enjoyed the different perfor-

mances. Ultimately, it was a learning experience with a side of entertainment.

Trojan Trumpet N o r t h w e s t e r n H i g h S c h o o l | 2 5 0 3 W e s t M a i n S t r e e t | R o c k H i l l S C – R H 3

Volume 3. Issue 2.

Above is a screen capture of Crucial C’s

latest single “Realest Girl.” This song and

his other music can be found on his

YouTube page (KAPXTC).

Ragtime served as the inspiration for

Northwestern’s musical, A History of

Broadway.

Have you ever imagined working with your spouse in the near by future? At Northwestern High

School, Bryan and Christy Smith are married and they also work together. Mr. Smith is a Math teacher, coach,

happy husband, and proud father. While Mrs. Smith is an English teacher, happy wife, and happy mother.

They sat down with Trojan Trumpet reporters and shared their experienc-

es.

Earlier in Mrs. Smith's career, she worked for an insurance busi-

ness and later transitioned to teaching. At the start of her teaching career

she worked for a high school in Charlotte. In 2012, Mrs. Smith began work-

ing at Northwestern and became co-workers with her husband, who has

been teaching at NHS for 15 years.

Although they now work together, Mr. and Mrs. Smith still try to

maintain their own personal lives. They drive separate vehicles to work,

work in different departments, and eat at different times. They often don't

see each other while at work because they have such different schedules.

Independently, Mrs. Smith goes shopping, cooks, travels, and they even

cheer for different college football teams. While Mr. Smith coaches two

sports, football and softball, and also is a proud helper of FCA.

Mrs. Smith enjoys working with her spouse because “...when I forget

my lunch money, he is always there with his wallet handy." She also stated that

she could use his copies. Mr. Smith on the other hand thinks that a benefit of

working at the same place of his spouse is that they have the same days off so it is easier to plan vacations.

Even though it can be difficult working with your spouse, there are many ways to make the experi-

ence worthwhile. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been able to find a situation that works well for them and makes

them happy. In any career, there can be complications or issues that arise, but when working with your best

friend/ partner, you will always have someone there who can understand what you're going through both at

work and at home.

P A G E 2 T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 . TROJAN NEWS - Editorial

Married teachers make it work by: B. Floyd & B. Adkins

From blow out to fro out: Hair trends at NHS by: M. Crawford & S. McCloud

There are many types of unique hairstyles at NHS. Hair trends have changed from

afros to braids and from long hair to short hair.

Some males like a type of barbered cut called the temp fade or go with the popular

“natural” look. The natural, messy look for males is really trendy. “I just like letting it grow

out,” says freshman Trey McCullough. The trend for other males at Northwestern is a hair-

style called the ‘flow’,” said sophomore Will Rhodes. This hair style calls for males to grow

long hair and wear hats or head bands to complement their added length.

The females of NHS seem to be interested in dying their hair tropical colors like

greens, pinks, and blues. Ombre is also another popular coloring trend. To achieve the

ombre-look, females dye the ends of their hair where it fades darker or lighter than their

root color. Junior Melanie Camargo says, “It’s different; it seems really popular for girls.”

However, some females like Carmen Rea (11) and Areon Cox (9) prefer a more

conservative look. “I like my hair down because it’s simple, it’s better than my curly hair,”

says Cox. Rea states, “I like putting my hair in a ponytail or maybe a bun cause it’s easier to

do in the morning.”

Northwestern's student population is filled with trendsetters. There are students who

love to use fashion and their appearance in order to make a statement about who they are.

When it comes to hair, there is no difference. Everyone has a different hairstyle to express

who they are and to show off their individuality. Although hair trends change from year to

year, what they are meant to demonstrate about people will continue to stay the same.

In the photo above, junior Alissa

Mingo shows off her Ombre

styled hair. Below is a picture of

junior Logan Welborn sporting

the “flow.”

Family photo courtesy of The

Smiths

P A G E 3

Winter Sports Preview by: J. Rubio & R. Covington

TROJAN SPORTS T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 .

It's that time of the year for winter sports to start here at Northwestern High School! These sports

include wrestling, dance, and basketball. Below is a preview of each team, their coaches, and what North-

western students can expect to see from our winter sports teams.

Larry Davis, ISS supervisor, is the coach for the boy’s varsity

basketball team. Davis is very excited and hopeful for the season. His

expectations for the team this year are to win the championship, beat

county rivals, and make rounds in state playoffs. "We have a good

group of kids who are young and eager that are led by seniors with

game-time experience, so that brings optimism," states Davis. One of

Davis's varsity seniors, Manzi Hill, is very excited for this season be-

cause he says, "I'm going to get points, a lot of points."

John Bramlett, social studies teacher/ assistant athletic direc-

tor, is the girl’s varsity basketball coach. “I'm very excited. We have

a good group of girls who have a lot of experience," states Bramlett.

Alexis Loney is a senior on the girl’s varsity team. Her expectations

for the team are "to work hard and play as a team." She also predict-

ed that her team is going to be number one in the region.

Ray McCloud, ESE teacher, is the wrestling coach and the season

started on December 6th. "We have the most kids ever wrestling this year

with 38 kids, and most are freshmen," McCloud states. There are wrestling

matches on some Tuesdays and every weekend in December.

Lindsay Nance, ESE teacher, is the dance coach and the dance sea-

son starts with basketball. Although there are no dance competitions because there's none in the area, stu-

dents can watch the dancers perform at the halftime show during basketball games.

Make sure to support your Trojans this season and the staff of the Trojan Trumpet wish you all much

success during your respective seasons.

Sophomore Cory McCoy pre-

pares to defend the basket

after the free throw attempt.

The BCS was a system created in 1998 that sponsored five major bowl games (other less prestig-

ious bowl games were included as well). In the past, the BCS dealt with a lot of controversy at times when

picking teams. However, it now appears like the selection committee has finally listened to the fans,

sports commentators, and college coaches.

For the first time since the end of the Bowl Championship

Series (BCS) era, NCAA developed a new playoff system. Starting

this season the top four teams will compete against each other in two

semifinal games. They will then battle it out in the championship.

Many experts favor this type of system and think that in a couple of

years the number of teams participating will expand from the four

spots that were featured this year.

The two winners of those four semi-final games will advance

to the college football championship game. Currently, Alabama, Or-

egon, Ohio State, and Florida State are in the playoffs.

Coach Page is a college football fan and he thinks that this

year’s new system “…could be pretty good.” Coach Page’s top four teams are

Oregon, Arizona, Alabama, and Florida State. While sports experts are pre-

dicting Alabama to be number one, others predict that Alabama will finish at

the bottom. Since the first rankings, there have been many shakeups and up-

sets. The final rankings reveal that Alabama, Florida State, Baylor, and Oregon

are this year’s top teams.

This year’s playoff games will be held on New Year’s Day. Alabama(1) will face off against Ohio

State (4) and Oregon (2) will play Florida State (3). The final matchup between the remaining teams will

be decided on January 12, 2015 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

College Football Playoff Predictions by: S. Mobley & N. Carey

Fun Fact: FSU is the only

undefeated team in this

year’s playoffs!

P A G E 4 T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 . TROJAN NEWS

Senior Poll: College Choice/ Major by: A. Holland & D. Blake

It won’t be long before the seniors of Northwest-

ern move onto college. The transition won’t be easy, but

it’s one they’ll never forget. Some students will go out of

state and some will major in English. Here are some polls

of plans from the seniors themselves:

College Scholarships: The road to success by: S. Mobley & B. Costner

As the years go on, students are witnessing a rise in the price of colleges and uni-

versities around the nation. Parents and students alike are constantly on the lookout for

ways to decrease the amount of debt that can result from student loans. Scholarships

are a major benefit to students and can help ease the financial burden.

Students can earn scholarships through participating and excelling in ath-

letics, maintaining high grades in class, or playing an instrument in band or orches-

tra. Students can also earn scholarships due to their cultural background, academic

interests (what they want to study in college), and their community service efforts.

One sure way to earn a scholarship is to make good grades, A’s and B’s. Stu-

dents must also work to be the best in their specific activity or area of interest

throughout junior and senior year. “You’re only as good as your last performance,”

said Coach Page, the head of Northwestern High School’s guidance department.

Not only can students earn scholarships for their different activities and in-

terests, students should also know that there are different types of scholarships as

well. A “full ride” refers to a scholarship that will cover the cost of your entire tuition.

There are also “partial” scholarships, which means that the college pays half of the

tuition. There are also book scholarships and room & board scholarships that help

students pay for a specific expense at the college or university of their choice. These

types of scholarships are usually offered by different organizations (for example, sorori-

ties/fraternities) and companies that wish to help students in the community.

It is not impossible to earn a scholarship. However, scholarships are not always

easy to find and require that students work hard while in high school. Also, students have

to work with their guidance counselors and should conduct research online in order to

find a scholarship that fits them. Students can visit websites like http://

www.studentscholarships.org/ in order to get an idea of what type of financial opportuni-

ties are available for them.

Work hard all throughout

high school, and you will

be able to easily earn mon-

ey for college.

Senior Shamia Vanderpool

wants to go to the University

of South Carolina in Colum-

bia. Go cocks!

P A G E 5 T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 . Sports

THINK positive, BE Positive by: J. Davis & C. Shirley

Are you a person who often finds yourself stressed about school, peers, or situations surrounding you?

According to stageoflife.com, "1 out of 4 teens say it's easier for them to remember the negative mo-

ments in their life than the positive ones." This isn't surprising considering the amount of negativity

teens are exposed to. There are ways to effectively handle negative thoughts and situations.

Positive hack #1: Dwelling on the negative moments in life will do nothing for you but bring sadness.

Surround yourself with people you create good memories with and do things that make you happy,

regardless of what anyone else thinks.

With the rise of various social media websites/apps and the peer pressure at school it becomes easy

to be put down. So when teens are enforcing negativity rather than attempting to lift each other up, it

seems exhausting. Have you ever been put down by your peers? Instead of giving in to the negativity,

you can learn to react to these circumstances differently.

Positive hack #2 : If something in your life makes you feel unappreciated or puts you down, remember

the good things in life that you've done and think of where you are because of it.

Positivity does not mean the same thing to everyone and it's not all about rainbows and butterflies.

Positivity for a lot of people is how they create a mindset for themselves that pushes them to succeed.

To freshman Bri Williams positivity is "having a good or pleasant attitude." To us, positivity is to focus

on your happiness and to do everything with purpose. Although the meaning of positivity might vary

from person to person, the basic principles are still similar.

Positivity is an essential key to eliminate the burden of stress during the school year. Although it's im-

portant to try your best in school, it's also important to not insanely stress yourself over grades.

A number does not determine you as a person. Mary Catherine Cobb, freshman, chooses to pray

when she is stressed. While, Abby Spirkowyc, freshman, decides to eat food. Just as individuals' defi-

nition of positivity take on their own personal meanings, the way people deal with negative situations

differs too.

Positivity hack #3 : Find something you enjoy that can be used as an outlet for your stress. Whether it

be your favorite book, artist, or place. It should make you feel like a renewed stress- free person.

As cliche as this all may seem, it is very important to maintain a positive attitude throughout your life.

Positivity greatly impacts the people that surround you. When you're happy, you are capable of so

much more.

Mrs. Burdette's fourth block

class come together to display

positivity.

P A G E 6 T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 . Lifestyles

Rocking Resolutions by: K. Rios & L. Faulkner At the start of every year, people around the world plan out their New Year's resolutions. New

Year's resolutions often vary from people wanting to learn a new language, try a new sport, travel to differ-

ent countries, make better grades, or even lose the last 15 lbs. from their holiday festivities.

While other people around the world are developing their

resolutions, students at NHS are doing the same. Sophomore, DJ Wil-

liams, stated that his New Year's resolution is to "make good grades

and to do good in sports.” The key to accomplishing any new goal or

resolution is to have a plan in order. Williams already has a plan in

mind as to how he will make his new year's resolutions come true.

Williams stated that “…by working hard and studying” he would be

able to achieve his new year’s goals.Sophomore, Jalen Loveless, also

shared his goals for the New Year. He wants to "get a job and gain

more weight for football.”

While some New Year’s resolutions are examples of short

term goals, other students have developed long term New Year’s

resolutions. In order to get a higher paying job, college education is

required; therefore, freshman Aeron Cox's New Year's resolution is

to "get better grades to get into a better college.”

New Year’s resolutions can be short term or long term; how-

ever, they always need to be realistic. Focusing on getting better grades

will be beneficial in the long run. When making resolutions, always make

decisions that will benefit and not cause harm or unnecessary disappoint-

ment (if they are not accomplished).

Whether it’s to see into the private lives of celebrities, or experience intense action scenes,

most people enjoy watching TV and movies. In fact, according to a study done by Interest.com the

average American spent as much as $2,605 on entertainment alone in 2012.

Though American’s undeniably share the love for TV, everyone has their favorites. IMDb

recorded “The Walking Dead”, “American Horror Sto-

ry”, “Arrow”, “Sons of Anarchy” and “Game of

Thrones” as the top 5 most-watched TV shows in 2014.

However, students at Northwestern have more diverse

opinions. Freshman Jason Floyd says his favorite show

is “Duck Dynasty”, and Junior Ashley Timmons says

one of her favorites is “Law and Order: SVU”; neither of

which even appeared on IMDb’s top 50.

Seeing movies in theaters though, can be a little

different. Popcorn prices are rising and lines can seem

endless, but nothing beats seeing a film on the big

screen. Contrary to TV shows, students at Northwestern

take a liking to the movies at the top of the charts. Sophomore Mik-

kel Gimena said he was looking forward to seeing Mocking Jay,

which holds its place at the #1 most popular movie in 2014.

However, with websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime,

that thrill of the big screen may be coming to an end. With thou-

sands of movies and TV shows available instantly online for less than $8 per month, TV viewership

and DVD sales are falling rapidly. Hollywood Reporter says TV network services have seen a de-

cline in viewership due to streaming websites like Netflix.

In fact, many students at Northwestern said they prefer Netflix to TV. Freshman Emily

Tench said she no longer watches TV anymore and prefers to catch her favorite shows and movies

on streaming websites and apps.

As generations pass, regardless of preference or platform, Americans will continue to

share a common love for one thing; entertainment.

Favorite movies and tv shows of 2014 by: N. Hansen & J. Beckham

Websites like Netflix are revolutionizing the

way we watch TV and movies in the 21st

century.

Loveless knows that in order to accom-

plish his New Year’s resolution that he

needs to start early. Here he is seen per-

forming push-ups — an exercise he knows

will help him get stronger!

New restaurants add flavor to Rock Hill by: G. Richar & W. Rhodes

P A G E 7 T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 . Lifestyles

America's favorite past time is food, and in Rock Hill, SC local residents love food

too. This is evident by the number of new restaurants that have opened in the past two years.

Local residents and Northwestern students have been frequenting the new restaurants and

enjoy what they have to offer.

Local students were asked to share their favorite restaurants in Rock Hill. Sopho-

more Marshall Freeman states that Newks is his new favorite restaurant in Rock Hill. "Newk's

[is my favorite restaurant] because they have the best macaroni in town," said Freeman.

Freeman stated that he preferred to dine in there because he likes to be surrounded by a

nice environment when he eats.

Although the new restaurants have brought about excitement among the citizens of

Rock Hill, students at Northwestern still enjoy the old favorites. The staff of the Trojan Trum-

pet was surveyed in order to find out what restaurant was an “oldie, but goodie” among re-

porters. The staff favorite was Olive Garden, coming in a close second was Chick-Fil-A, and

coming in third was Zaxbys.

Rock Hill has a lot to offer those who consider themselves “foodies.” When

time arises and finances permit, be sure to give the new restaurants a try in the near future!

New restaurants in Rock Hill, SC:

-Popeyes - 2445 North Cherry Rd. -Newk's - 2338 Dave Lyle Blvd

-Texas Roadhouse - 2367 Dave Lyle Blvd -Mellow Mushroom - 1940 Cinema Dr

-Five Guys - 1460 Meeting Blvd -Buffalo Wild Wings - 1460 Meeting Blvd

Interested in knowing what the new year may hold for you? Do you have a birthday coming

up ? Here is what you have to look forward too throughout second semester.

Capricorn

December 22-January 19

You might witness a sudden rise in your expenses that may

become a tough task to handle, if you fail to give proper atten-

tion to it.

Aquarius

January 20-February 18

In your bid to enhance your individuality, you may miss out on

some lucrative opportunities, this year.

Pisces

February 19-March 20

Your efforts at work/school may not be appreciated, leaving

you confused and disappointed. Have patience.

Aries

March 21- April 19

You may get into disputes, due to your aggressive stand.

Taurus

April 20-May 20

Don’t lend money to anyone, but rather invest.

Gemini

May 21 - June 20

Be positive and try to look at the bright side of things.

Trojan Horoscopes by: T. Miracle & A. Odom

Newk’s menu features sal-

ads, sandwiches, pizza, and

lots of other delicious dish-

es! Check them out!

Don’t see your horoscope here? Log onto

www.thetrojantrumpet.weebly.com to find out what

is in store for your astrological sign!

P A G E 8 editorial T R O J A N T R U M P E T V O L U M E 3 . I S S U E 1 .

The Trojan Trumpet: Code of Ethics

At all times The Trojan Trumpet staff will remain:

Impartial: Our stories will always remain unbiased.

Honest: Our stories will always be truthful.

Considerate: Our stories will never attempt to cause harm.

Authentic: Our stories will always be the original work of our

staff members.

School Appropriate: Our stories will always refrain from contain-

ing inappropriate material.

Responsible: Our stories will always be reflect ethical journal-

ism practices.

F 2014 Trojan Trumpet Staff

Bailey Adkins Natalie Hanson

Janaija Beckham Alisa Harbison

Daisha Blake Asha Holland

Serena Boulware Shakeem McCloud

Nick Carey Tyler Miracle

Bryant Costner Sam Mobley

Rose Covington Amber Odom

Malaya Crawford Will Rhodes

Jada Davis Garrett Richar

Alexis Douglas Kiana Rios

LeighAnn Faulkner Jailene Rubio

BreAnna Floyd Camryn Shirley

Savannah Wright

F 2014 Journalism 1 students pose for a class picture in front of our informational bulletin board. Are you interested in

journalism? See your guidance counselor or Mrs. Brown in A 217 TODAY!

Trojan Trumpet Art Show by: S. Boulware & A. Holland

Northwestern has many artistic students; however, sometimes their hard work can go unnoticed. This issue,

the staff of The Trojan Trumpet, wanted to highlight the talent of Northwestern's art students so the staff is

hosted an art contest. Art teachers submitted the best work from each level class. Journalism voted and here

are the winners!

Art 1 Winner: Troyanna Adams Art 2 Winner: Yetsenia Mendoza Art 3/4 Winner: Emily Beckley