The Norseman

“Read with the Vikes”: Baseball players read children’s books on social media

Megan Krenek • May 22, 2020

When the baseball coaches and players realized that students would not be returning to the classroom this school year, they felt it was important to do something to connect with the community. Individuals on the team created videos of themselves wearing their Viking jerseys and reading their favorite children’s book aloud. “Read with the Vikes” became a regular post that many families looked forward to.

Tragedy and triumph: Senior overcomes difficulties through love, support, determination

Megan Krenek • May 21, 2020

“Watching my dad get shot and die in front of me when I was three still traumatized me because I didn’t have him growing up. I never had a dad to throw a ball with, never had a dad to talk about girls with, it’s just always been me and my grandma.” Senior Deion Johnson experienced a difficult life from the start, but he has found a way to succeed by relying on people who love him and pushing himself to try new things. After his dad was killed when he was little, his grandmother took him in and raised him as her own.

Letters from the heart: Newspaper staff forms bonds with 18+ program students

Megan Krenek • May 20, 2020

The art of writing letters has been replaced by grammatically lacking text messages and snapchat videos. Society uses phones and email to send a message in mere seconds. For the students in the 18+ program, which helps students continue to learn life skills after they graduate from high school through the special education department, experiencing the same social interactions that other students do can sometimes be difficult.

Heart to heart: Teacher heals from open heart surgery, lasting effects

Megan Krenek • February 24, 2020

Shooting pain in the arm and jaw. A general feeling of being ill at ease. Tightness in the chest. Having a healthy heart is something a lot of people bypass and take for granted. It is one of the most important organs and should be cared for. Another important thing to watch out for are the signs of a heart attack. Without knowing the signs, a person could be paralyzed or even die. Luckily for fashion design teacher Rhonda Cupit, she recognized the signs and knew to tell someone to go to the hospital when she felt pain in her jaw and arm.

Up in smoke: Marijuanas medicinal value outweighs societal stigma

Megan Krenek • February 21, 2020

There is a social stigma around marijuana, but that stigma is widely inaccurate and has created problems for those who need it to improve their quality of life on a day-to-day basis.

Coffee, coffee, coffee: Gilmore Girls hype returns through Netflix binge watching

Megan Krenek • November 13, 2019

After a TV show’s finale premiers, the show tends to surge in popularity and then soon be forgotten. Occasionally though, a gem among the other crappy Netflix originals is found which puts viewers in an autumnal mood. Gilmore Girls is a show that can be easily lived and admired, and I think that’s one of the reasons I love it. It’s not too serious and most of the lines in the show are said in a sarcastic tone. References about old movies and songs are made and classics are brought up out of nowhere. It’s a comfortable show to watch. It’s the type of show that viewers can watch without thinking too much. I don’t have to seriously analyze what is going on, I can just sit back and chill.

Students recognized as Commended Students for National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Megan Krenek • October 30, 2019

The top 3-4% of students are recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as commended students. Seniors Brandon Garza, Shannon Keyser, Caleb Peterson, Trey Weltens, and Lauryn Woods earned recognition as National Merit Commended students this year. They finished in the top 50,000 out of 1.5 million students taking the PSAT.

Sixth sense: Senior’s leadership helps set team up for success

Megan Krenek • October 4, 2019

After four years of being on the varsity volleyball team, leadership and teamwork are almost like sixth senses for senior Coco Gillett. With each passing year, Coco has gained experience and responsibility, helping her gain recognition at the collegiate level and respect on the team.

Recycling doesn’t suck: People should do more for the environment than trade metal for plastic

Megan Krenek • September 5, 2019

Getting a metal straw instead of a plastic one for an iced coffee from Starbucks isn’t going to help much in the fight for a cleaner Earth or the decrease in global warming. Everything is plastic credit cards, straws, shoes, even phones. Everything factory-made has an aspect of plastic included in the product, whether it’s a grain of plastic or is completely made of plastic. While recycling and using metal straws is a good first step, so much more needs to be done. We only have 18 months left before the damage we have done is irreversible.

Minor injury becomes major comeback for powerlifter

Megan Krenek • February 19, 2019

Setting goals senior year is normal for most athletes, but after suffering an injury last year at the end of the season, senior Cardecia “CeCe” Franklin plans to beat the deadlift record this year and advance to the state competition. Last year CeCe qualified for the regional powerlifting meet after suffering a hamstring injury during track, the week before.

Coalition Day helps students prepare for college

Megan Krenek • January 24, 2019

Coalition Day allows students to meet with different schools and look at options while learning how to make the best choice about which college fits their specific needs. Bryan High hosted its first Coalition Day this year and partnered with Altice to bring in colleges from across America.

Struggling to gain acceptance, approval proves exhausting

Megan Krenek • November 8, 2018

Having to prove myself over and over again is exhausting and takes part of my soul every time I do it. This comes into play with new managers at work, new co-workers, new teachers, and even friends’ parents.