Letter encourages junior girls to consider Buckeye Girls State

Dear junior girls and parents:

 

            As many of you may know, my name is Joy Cho and I am a senior this year (and graduating in a few short months!). Last summer, I attended Buckeye Girls State at Mount Union, and I wanted to take a minute and share a little bit of my experience for those who are considering applying, or even for those who are curious about the program.

            Buckeye Girls State (http://buckeyegirlsstate.org/) promises to cultivate and educate young women of Ohio to become better citizens and more knowledgable individuals. To this end, the one week “mock government” camp in June provides endless opportunities to learn about how the government works and to apply this knowledge by serving in different “jobs.” Even before I left for Alliance, Ohio, I was given a list of elected government positions that I would be able to campaign for.

            Sponsored by an American Legion Auxiliary Unit, I went to BGS not knowing exactly what to expect. Over 800 girls from all over Ohio on one college campus seemed crazy to me, but my assigned “city” of about 50 girls and my larger county, as well as my party identification as a “Nationalist,” helped me to get to know many people, and to develop relationships with them. I attended different workshops, and in the end decided to run for Treasurer of State, one of the seven state-elected positions. I knew this would be a long shot, and would test my courage and confidence. Looking back, I am SO GLAD I went for it.

            After giving speeches, campaigning throughout Girls State, networking with fellow delegates, and participating in a culminating debate, I couldn’t believe it when my name was called, announcing me as the 2012 Treasurer of State. I was elated! Now that I had my “job,” I spent the latter part of the week acting as the State Treasurer, which included appointing a staff, coming up with a budget, investing funds, and overseeing taxes, together with the staff. During BGS, everyone is required to have a job--anything from the city mayor to a senator to the county engineer. Everyone’s role is important, and without every girl’s participation, Girls State would not be complete.

            It almost sounds absurd to be learning so much during the summer, but I can say, without a doubt, that BGS has been one of the best experiences I have had during my high school years. I not only learned more about government roles (spurring my interest in political science), but I also experienced the campaigning process firsthand. I learned to tackle my aversion to public speaking, and met some amazing friends that I still keep in touch with. The experience of trying something new was so valuable, and I will always remember and treasure this week at Mount Union.

            Everyone’s experience is different, but I strongly encourage you guys to apply for BGS, as the deadline is nearing. I can’t describe how meaningful this program was, and I want another girl from WC to know what I’m talking about! Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have, and I would be more than happy to share more about my experience as well. Again, please consider applying--this is a wonderful opportunity to not just stand out in the college applicant pool next year, but also to discover more about yourself in the process.

 
            If you are interested in applying, please see Cathy Smith (CSMITH@worthingtonchristian.com) in the HS office for an application, but please hurry, the deadline is April 1, 2013.

Sincerely,

Joy Cho

 

WC's 12 Angry Jurors comes up supreme

 




Natalie Francis and Spencer Smith were among a sterling cast in the performance.

     A full house on the last Sunday afternoon performance; an intimate collection of a familiar community. A seating capacity of hundreds; a simple yet deliberate arrangement that could seat at most, one hundred people. A celebrated, lighthearted classic; a thought-provoking, mysterious case. Dublin Scioto and Worthington Christian’s winter plays couldn’t have been more opposite. I had the honor of attending both performances this month, and both were enjoyable, as different as they were. A quick assessment follows below, and picks an overall winner (all completely subjective, of course).

            Audience turnout: Dublin takes this with a huge sweep. As large as Dublin Scioto is as a school (one of three public high schools in Dublin), I was blown away by the number of people who came out to watch The Little Mermaid--on a Sunday afternoon! Granted, this was the last performance, but I had no expectation of nearly every seat being occupied. In fact, I had to move seats more than once, foolishly assuming that no one would actually sit in their assigned seating; I ended up sitting in my assigned seat of M 118, close to the back. I could see better than I thought I could, but still, the turnout was quite shocking.

            Play execution: Worthington Christian’s 12 Angry Jurors comes up supreme. It was obvious that The Little Mermaid required much preparation, and the execution wasn’t at all bad, but 12 Angry Jurors produced a more clean, smooth delivery overall. Dublin Scioto’s play was tempered by slightly awkward transitions and less than euphonious singing (Ariel’s high notes, at times, evoked wincing); in contrast, despite the impressive number of lines and dialogue the “jurors” had to memorize, Worthington Christian’s play went off without a hitch. Claiming that I was impressed would be an understatement--the jurors’ enunciation, facial connotations, and delivery were close to flawless.

            Effects, props, and costumes: The Little Mermaid, considering everything it entails, wins this one. I did enjoy the jurors’ outfits, especially the professional, lawyer-esque suits, but Dublin Scioto’s sparkly, multihued costumes provided the audience with Disney immersion. Chef Louis’ culinary outfit, complete with a mustache, made that scene come alive, and the fish heads worn by chorus members added to the undersea vibe. The effects and props, too, were interesting. Waving of sheets to replicate the ocean’s movements, Ursula’s elaborate scene of demise in which she “disappears” into herself, and brief bolts of light caused by Triton’s scepter all were effective additions to hold the audience’s interest. One costume tidbit that was unexpected was many of the actors’ use of “Heely’s” (or similar shoes with wheels on the bottom), intended to make them appear like they were “gliding” underwater. The actual effectiveness of this is questionable, but I give them props for doing something so different.

            Content and interest: For me, 12 Angry Jurors held my interest far more than did The Little Mermaid. Yes, The Little Mermaid is a classic, but 12 Angry Jurors provided something different and thought-provoking. I passively watched Dublin Scioto’s play, already knowing what would happen in the end (aren’t all Disney movies the same way?). 12 Angry Jurors, though, kept me on the edge of my seat, as I had absolutely no idea what the jury’s outcome would be. In that sense, I was “plugged in” throughout the play, hungrily taking in the jurors’ impressively memorized dialogue and trying to predict the next occurrence in the play. The clarity of the jurors’ speech and the volume level added to my interest as well, something that the actors in The Little Mermaid fell short of.

            Who wins in the end? Subjectively, and quite possibly in a very biased way, I choose 12 Angry Jurors to blow The Little Mermaid out of the water. Yes, Dublin Scioto did a wonderful job presenting a Disney classic to hundreds of audience members, complete with elaborate effects, fitting costumes, interesting props, and many able singers, but Worthington Christian’s simple yet deep winter play about the fate of an accused young man provided a closeness and mind-delving situation that are rarely brought about successfully by high school actors. Again, I must point out how blown away I was by the jurors’ clear and smooth delivery of their copious memorized lines, and by the fact that their gestures and facial expressions perfectly complemented their characters and speech. I enjoyed both winter plays, but all in all, Worthington Christian High School’s 12 Angry Jurors reigned supreme (and no jury is needed to agree on it).

 

By Joy Cho

 

 

Seniors make preparations for the Dominican

            Five weeks and counting: it’s hard to believe that in a little over a month, the senior class of 2013 will be heading to the Dominican Republic. Preparations are underway, with students divided into three groups and different faculty members assigned to each of the groups. Each group will independently select a Bible theme and apply that theme to its skits, crafts, songs, and perhaps, even games. “We made a lot of headway today,” Rachel Parrish says of her “Red” group, remarking that a theme was chosen--Jesus calming the storm--but that there is plenty more to do, including starting up drives for various items at the different WC campuses. Kendra Poston of the “Blue” team, whose theme is Jesus’ parables, sees the need to work on condensing the material, as well as translations--no doubt a crucial component of the program. The “Green” group’s Katie Feusse, who is responsible for the games, looks ahead to figuring out what seem to be trivial matters, like transporting the sports equipment to the Dominican. The “Green” group has decided to incorporate the Fruits of the Spirit into their activities.

            Excitement as well as some nervousness seem to characterize students’ feelings about the DR trip at this point. Rachel and Kendra worry that they will forget Spanish, but as Rachel has had experience flying back from the Philippines, she offers, “I’m not afraid of flying.” Kendra says that she looks forward to “meeting the kids and the warm weather,” and experiencing her first missions trip. Nerves can be part of the mix of feelings as well. “Personally, I’m super nervous,” Katie admits. “There are so many what-ifs that could happen.” Though she feels nervous, she says that trust in God and His peace have removed a lot of fears from her heart.

            Despite the preparations, teamwork, and occasional tension involved in the DR trip, class unity is much anticipated. “I’m excited to see our class bond together by sharing God’s Word with people,” Katie shares. “I’m excited for class bonding,” Rachel echoes. “I’m excited to see what the Lord will do through our class.” Indeed, as we open up our hearts to the Lord and to each other, there is no doubt that God will work, and work incredibly. Hopefully, it is with this hope that we, the WCHS Class of 2013, move forward as we look ahead to an unforgettable, blessed senior trip.  

 

By Joy Cho

Five warriors achieve eagle

      
         The Boys Scouts program has long been held as a nationally prestigious affiliation and a worthwhile endeavor. Taught much more than outdoors know-hows, these committed young men learn the lifelong skills of leadership, stewardship, and citizenship as they rise through the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and finally, Eagle. This culminating honor is truly a privilege, as becoming an Eagle Scout means joining an elite group of less than 2% of all Boys Scouts. This year, five seniors at WCHS have achieved this worthy goal, as Albert Miller, George Miller, Thomas Holman, Aaron Buskirk, and Michael Sauder have all become Eagle Scouts through their hard work and dedication.

            Becoming an Eagle Scout takes more than meeting a set list of stringent requirements. Time, dedication, and a distinct perseverance are of the essence, and our WC seniors are a testament to the fact. With the support of his dad, Aaron Buskirk has been involved in the program since first grade, and Albert Miller has been a Boy Scout for eight years, following in the footsteps of his dad and older brother. “It runs in the family,” he adds.

            In order to get to the final stage of the program, one must earn 21 merit badges, fulfilled through different requirements like camping, leadership, personal management, and communications. In addition to these requisites, Scouts must successfully complete a culminating project. Michael Sauder chose to do extensive landscaping and building work at Calvary Bible Baptist Church, and Aaron decided to install playground equipment in the forest behind his church after clearing out trees and removing concrete from the ground. Albert opted to   serve his New Albany community by constructing a handicap-accessible path in the wetlands nature preserve. Not only did these men carry out the work itself, but they also planned, organized, and led the process of the project, which demanded much more than mere physical ability.

            Now these seniors are officially Eagle Scouts, but this doesn’t mean that the skills they have learned are going to waste. “Scouting goes far beyond just earning requirements,” Albert explains. “The skills include everything from starting fires to managing projects,” Michael adds. “These skills can be used all the time at any place.” Aaron acknowledges that the Boy Scout program has prepared him for what lies ahead and has developed his people skills, as he learned to interact with differing personalities. Indeed, the immeasurable payoff that these men are experiencing is well deserved. “I wanted to quit at times,” Albert admits, “but my parents pushed and in the end I am glad they did because the reward is worth the commitment.” The rewards are tangible, too: Eagle Scout status tremendously helps distinguish these men on college resumes, scholarships, and job applications. Though the benefits of such an accolade are perpetual, the payoff is being seen in the “here and now” as well. “It has already opened many doors,” Michael says of this accomplishment. “I expect to continue to see its effects throughout college and the rest of my life by the skills I have learned and the experience I now have through the Scouts.” Congratulations, WC Eagle Scouts, and only the best to you as you look forward to college and beyond!

By Joy Cho