Apex Legacy: March 2014

March 28, 2014

Prom do's and don'ts

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

With prom only a month away and closing in fast, many people are unsure as to how to approach it. Here are a couple of tips on what to do when it comes to prom:

If you know someone who is not able to afford a prom dress/ prom accessories send them to the Apex Prom Shoppe! The Apex Prom Shoppe will be held at the Apex United Methodist Church and Meredith College on Friday, March 28, 2014 from 2:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Ask Apex: Chewing gum

Mariane Ghazaleh
Staff Writer

Lots of people chew gum, and 84% of students polled said they like to chew gum every day. There were various reasons why the 16% of people didn’t chew gum. Some said it was just gross; they never really got into the habit of it; or they don’t like the idea of recycling their own spit. Jim Nelson, one of the administrators at Apex, even said, “If God gave me the power to get rid of something on Earth, it would be to get rid of gum!” Either way, only a minority feel this way. The people who enjoy gum have a large pool of brands to choose from.

Apex student collaborates with N.C. State

Zane Muzzilo
Staff Writer

N. C. State logo

Junior Aneri Shah has been given the opportunity to work with professional scientists on the N.C. State Centennial Campus in the chemical engineering field. The internship has to deal with pre-stress polystyrene, a material used in Shrinky Dink paper. Shrinky Dink paper is a type of plastic that folds when heated and scientists are trying to incorporate its shrinking ability into items like clothing and water bottles. “Being able to incorporate the folding of the Shrinky Dink paper into clothing is one of the main goals of this project,” said Shah. “Plastic that you have drawn on is put under LED light and the heat from the light forms the plastic to what you have drawn,” Shah said. This internship allows for more hands on experience than most of the other internships. “In this internship I can actually contribute and do hands on work instead of busy work,” she says.

Shah has been striving for greatness since she was a child. “My dad is an engineer and when I was young he pushed me to think about [the steps behind how things are made] and how electricity works or how a car moves.” Shah has high hopes for the future. “I want to go into the medical field when I grow up, but I am very interested in engineering.” Shah heard of this internship through the AOIT program and science teacher Jeff Derda. Derda is very excited and happy for Shah. “I’m proud of the work Aneri has done, and I’m glad she has taken advantage of such an amazing opportunity.”

Lip Dub: Wiggly Jam

Zane Muzzillo

"The Breakfast Club" poses
for a quick pic

Staff Writer

For this year’s Lip Dub the art department looked to create a sad 80’s prom scene, such as ones seen in movies like Pretty in Pink. The song they’ve chosen, “Come on Eileen,” was written by English pop group Dexys Midnight Runners. Lip Dub director and senior, Katelynn Whitehead, said she chose the song because, “They played the song at prom last year and it was the song that everyone got up and danced for.” Whitehead wanted to unite the school and have a Lip Dub that everyone could get behind. “We really wanted to relate this to everyone and not just art and theater kids.”

Prom Alternatives

Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor

If you aren’t going to Prom this year, don’t sit around and eat ice cream, go out and do something! Below are some fun ideas you can either do with a group or alone on Prom Night:

· Go out to eat: Remember to wait until after Prom starts, and it shouldn’t be as busy.
· Catch a movie: The long awaited sequel of The Amazing Spider-Man comes out the night before Prom night, on May 2. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will feature Peter Parker battling super villains, sent by Oscorp, while trying to keep his relationships intact. Another movie coming out close to Prom night is Brick Mansions, based in dystopian Detroit, brick mansions are home to dangerous drug lords. The movie is also the final fully completed film starring Paul Walker, who plays Damien Collier, an undercover cop in the film. Brick Mansions comes out April 25.
· Go bowling: Buffalo Lanes in Cary offers a price of $4.50 a game from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Saturday night. But if you get there at 10:30 p.m., you can bowl as much as you want for $10 a person until 1:00 a.m., when Buffalo Lanes closes.
· Go late night golfing: Knight’s Play Golf Center is offering green fees for nine holes at $10 with a golf cart rental of $5 and a green fee for eighteen holes at $15 with a golf cart rental of $10. If you’re not up to going on the course, go to the driving range and practice your line drives until midnight.
· Go to a concert: Philadelphia rockers Daryl Hall and John Oates (Hall & Oates) will be at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre starting at 7:00 p.m. on Prom night. Tickets are on sale now starting at $69. Classic rock not your style? Shame on you.
· Take the SAT: What a great excuse, right? “Guys I can’t go to Prom because I’m going to be exhausted from the SAT”, but in reality you’ll be sitting around, eating junk, and watching American Horror Story, perfect.

Skipping out on Prom doesn’t mean you’re missing all the fun, so don’t sit around and cry because you couldn’t find a date, go out and make some memories, stay safe, and watch out for couples.

Evolving technology

Adam Mancini
Sports Writer

Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we live. It’s often hard to imagine our lives without gadgets like the smartphone, which was a brand new market just a few years ago. Here are a few upcoming releases with the potential to make an impact on our everyday lives.

The Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift – Finally, the device that gamers around the world have all been waiting for, the first virtual reality wearable headset designed exclusively for immersive gaming. Expected to be commercially available in late 2014 or early 2015, Oculus VR was recently purchased by Facebook for a whopping $2 billion. The very first game that will be supported by the Rift is set to be Doom 3: BFG Edition. The headset will likely cost around $400.

Food "corn"spiracies

Devon McCarroll
Staff Writer

We are all pretty familiar with the term “High Fructose Corn Syrup” (HFCS). The ingredient remains highly controversial, with many nutrition experts warning against its usage. If something so “natural” is good for us, why are so many disputing otherwise? Another red flag is that so much money is spent to confuse Americans into thinking that HFCS is processed in the way as cane sugar. Though false, millions of dollars have been poured into advertisements and propaganda to convince the population that the harmful substance is in fact healthy.

Caffeine statistics

Caroline Gadsby
Staff Writer

Caffeine poster

Did you know that the average cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine? Statistics show that people from the age of 18 to 40 consume too much caffeine, which can have a negative effect on the way a person thinks and acts. For years, doctors have done many studies on caffeine. They have found it causes irritability, anxiety, and nervousness in younger people. Around 57% of students and teachers at Apex High School admitted to consuming large amounts of caffeinated beverages over short periods of time. Out of 100 students, 26 said they consumed caffeine a few times each month. The other seventeen reportedly drink nothing that is caffeinated. Caffeine is one of the most under discussed addictive drugs, and just may be the cause of sleep deprivation and bad study habits. Many may not realize how much caffeine they actually consume, and how it affects their daily lives, but these stats are here to show how badly it actually does.

Things to do in Apex

Caroline Gadsby
Staff Writer

Senior Shauna Hines on the sports fields

Apex, North Carolina. Named the “Peak of Good Living” and is ranked #9 in the top places to live in the U.S. Living in this small town most of my life has made me realize that it has entertainment limits. Most people think that Beaver Creek and downtown Apex are the only places with things to do. They are poorly mistaken. From the small suburban neighborhoods to busy highways, Apex has a wide variety of activities. Whether it’s hanging out with friends at parks or taking a relaxing walk around Lake Pine, you’ll be surprised at what Apex has to offer.

Is homework causing you stress?

Marley Shattuck
Staff Writer

Recent studies have shown that copious amounts of homework are creating an alarming level of stress in students’ lives and are actually affecting their health. In a specific study, three hours was the average amount of time spent on homework assignments. In some cases, the load was up to five hours of work. After examining the relationship between student well-being and homework load, the study showed that 56% of students listed homework as their main source of stress. Denise Pope, senior lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, stated, “We realized that we need intervention around homework. While the present study was conducted with high schoolers, we have the same data from the younger years.” A clear connection was made between student stress and physical impact. Migraines, ulcers, sleep deprivation, and weight loss were observed as a result from stress in students’ lives.

Spring Fashions at a Bargain

Sarah Hirst and Caroline Gadsby
Staff Writers

Bright colors are on full display for Spring at Apricot Lane

Spring is just around the corner and along with the groundhog, winter clothes are hopefully going back into hibernation. Many stores are putting out their spring and summer lines and are displaying all the new clothing. Department Stores like Apricot Lane Boutique, Loft, and New York and Company are in the process of putting out all of the bright and fun new clothes for the upcoming season. Like many shops, they are currently having a huge clearance section to sell all of last season’s clothing items. Even though spring clothing has yet to go on sale, there are stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and H&M with discounted pieces all year long.

V-necks on display at Target

You can find current trends for the lowest prices at discount or multipurpose stores. If you shop at discount stores, you can get designer products for a discounted price. New trends like crop tops and jackets, high-waisted shorts and maxi skirts can be found at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross. Some multipurpose stores, like Target or Walmart, have staple items, such as, v-neck tees and ribbed tank tops for $5.

Another way to save money on spring clothes is going to thrift stores. Plato’s Closet, Uptown Cheapskates, and Goodwill are great places to find deals, but still fashionable clothing. Thrift shops mainly have a negative connotation among people. Many turn away from the idea of used clothing, but they never think of the positives. Buying recycled clothing is a great way to save money and get more bang for your buck. It also happens to be great for the economy. Even though you may have to spend a couple of hours searching around these stores, you will be happy with the good quality clothes at extremely low prices.

Whether you want to buy designer or inexpensive clothing, there are places everywhere that can work with any budget. Everyone can buy new trends and seasonal pieces when they know where to look. Spring will be here soon, so it’s time to go shopping.

Interview preparation tips

Sarah Hirst
Staff Writer

Once you turn sixteen, you are eligible to apply for a job. One of the hardest tasks in the process is the initial interview. Many people find going to an interview a stressful experience because they don’t want to give the wrong impression. Here are some tips to help you succeed during the interview.

Pre- interview tips: Before the interview, think about the questions they might ask you. One of the most difficult questions to answer and most often asked is, Tell me about yourself? This question is difficult to answer for most people since it is so broad. The key to this question is giving them enough information about you but not over informing them. You should tell where you are from, something about your education, and the short version of why you are perfect for this job. Many people find it hard to answer questions about themselves, but it is important to know generally what you want to say before going into an interview so practice. Here are common interview questions for which you should prepare answers before your first interview.

1. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

2. What has been one of your biggest achievements?

3. Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative?

4. Tell me about a time you faced an unreasonable deadline and how you handled it?

5. How do you handle stress and pressure?

6. What are your goals for the future?

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Think of three to five for both)

8. Tell me about a time when you had to work in a group.

9. How did it go and what role did you play?

How to deal with allergies for dummies

Grace Fendrick
Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about spring break or prom season. I’m talking about allergy season, the time of year when everyone is enjoying the outdoors; well, everyone except you. However, you are not alone. Approximately 7.8% of adults in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies. Typical hay fever symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and headaches. Do those symptoms apply to you? If so here are some tips to help you cope:

Allergy season

● Check the pollen count- Just like the weather, the amount of pollen in the air changes day to day. So if you’re planning on going outdoors, make sure the pollen count is low. To check your local pollen forecast you can visit http://www.claritin.com/allergy-forecast/index.aspx.

●       Limit your time outdoors- If you must go outside try to go out later in the day, as pollen counts are highest between 5 a.m. - 10 a.m.

●       Change and shower- After spending time outdoors pollen will be stuck to your clothes, hair, and even skin.

●       Keep the windows shut and turn on the A.C.- The cool outdoor air is refreshing, but the pollen is coming in with it. Running your air conditioning system will ensure that new and clean air is circulating.

●       Talk to your doctor about trying some medicine- These include nasal sprays, eye drops, and pills.

●       Wear a gas mask or hazmat suit- If worse comes to worse, you can always just throw one of these on and continue your day normally. Who knows, maybe you’ll start a new trend.

Apex basketball completes run to state championship

Adam Mancini
Sports Editor

The Cougars celebrate their tournament victory over Millbrook

As the final buzzer of the North Carolina Class 4A State Championship sounds, the Apex men’s basketball team’s excitement finally boils over. Senior guard T.J. Evans sprints across the court, leaping up and pounding his fist with exuberance. He eventually finds his way to Head Coach David Neal, and before long the state champs are gathered in triumphant embrace around their coach, right in front of the hundreds of rejoicing Cougar Crazies. The scene is one of overwhelming exhilaration, an outpouring of emotion from a team that never gave up hope, one that always knew they were the team to beat. “It took a moment to register, but once it hit I felt overwhelming joy, excitement, and pride. I was overwhelmed with the love of the Apex community and fans and the outpouring of support from them,” described assistant coach Isaac Bristol.

Death of Westboro Baptist Church leader stirs controversy

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

Shortly before midnight last Thursday, infamous Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps died of natural causes. He founded the church in 1955 with just a few members, but nearly 40 years later began garnering attention for its picketing of public events and places, trying to push their radical and often bigoted views on the public. Their infamy recently spread to sensational levels via social media coverage of their protests during the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and of many public places, even other churches.

WCPSS builds new schools to ease overcrowding

Natalia Ghan

Apex Friendship construction site
as of March 18.