Special Issue: Fear

Prince George H.S. 7801 Laurel Spring Rd

Prince George, VA 23875 www.trnwired.org

October 28, 2011

Illustration by Anthony Sudol.

SPECIALEDITION

Issue One:FEAR

LIVING WITH NIGHTMARES

tRn

p.5

Possibility of rejection heightens fear

Rushing to check the mail every day to see if the letter that will change your future has come in yet is

the most anxious feeling I have ever experienced. Five years ago, I applied to be a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), a five year program that is designed to teach students based on aspects called the “Areas of Interaction”.

My family and I saw this as a great opportunity to enlist myself in more challenging classes that would hopefully benefit me in the long run. After hours of taking the test that would determine whether or not I was accepted, I feared the answer I would soon receive.

My family and close friends had no doubt I would make the program. Their confidence in me only increased my fear of failure. Failure and disappointment are two of my greatest fears in life.

Of course, I have been disappointed with myself in different occasions, whether it was making a bad grade on a test or not performing my best in a sport. Unlike these situations, being accepted into IBO was a big deal to me because it was something that could not be helped or improved in the future. It was either I made it or I didn’t.

This is why I was so excited and proud of myself when my parents told me I had been accepted into IBO. All the tension that had been building up turned into relief. Not only was I relieved that I had made it, I was relieved that I had not let anyone down.

Now, being in my junior year of high school, I realize that there will soon be more situations like this that I will face. Applying to colleges is the next big step for me. Even if I had not made it into IBO, it would not have been the end the world. I’ve learned the important thing is not to give up. Failure is a natural part in life, and the best thing to do is accept your results and find another open door in life.

Faven butler

SPecIAL edItIOn: feAR 2 | tHe ROYAL neWS | fRIdAY 10.28.11

theRoyalNews - SPECIAL EDITION

Our mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student

body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible.

We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A6, or e-mail them to [email protected]

We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spell-ing and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maxi-mum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org.

Malikah Williams-Jessica Marshall-Unique Larry-Amanda Majewski-Kim Carneal-Rachel Waymack-Tasia Faulcon-

Wayne Epps Jr.-Kevin Harris-Ciara Ward-Emily Gray-Kimberly Edmonds-Ridhi Patel-Jake McQuiggan-Olivia Tritschler

The Royal News, PGHS, TRNWIRED.ORG & TRNSPORTS.ORG

7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875

804-733-2720The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia

Professional affiliations & awards - Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2011Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Silver Crown Winner 2011 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2011Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010

SIPA All Southern 2008-2011

Chris Waugaman Kierra Lanier

Special Edition Editor Artist for Cover

Adviser Editorial Cartoonist

Editors

Kim Carneal Anthony Sudol

Writers

Kristen Schwalm-Chloe Alexander-Courtney Taylor-Chandler Shirer-Leah Holliday- Casey Overton- Korrina Smith- Kierra Lanier- Faven Butler- Carolina Bae- William Bonnell-

Whitney Clements- Christina Buckles-Anthony Fennick- Deborah Gardner- Nathan Britt- Danielle Marshall- Conner Stevenson- Adam Blakemore-Aaron Raines - Tiana Kelly

SPecIAL edItIOn: feAR fRIdAY 10.28.11 | tHe ROYAL neWS | 3

irst F Word

Soph. cody Hanshew

Junior Breya Lamb

Soph. Sean MoranSenior Antonio WhiteJunior Brandy Gee

Soph. Brian PayneSoph. chris carroll

Senior courtney Johnson

Senior Kara Williams

Junior douglas davis

Soph. Jenna GunnoeJunior Melody Jenning

Soph. Joshua ShankSoph. Ryan Minar

Senior evan May

Junior Sidney Greenwood

Soph. Michelle Guardado

Soph. Jasmine Lackey

Students express initial thoughts when thinking of fear

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A scary clown, wearing a mask and carrying a chainsaw, chases after his victim into the woods. Then a killer owl swoops down and attacks.

This seems like the death of someone in a horror movie, but it is actually a dream from junior Katelyn Moody. Nightmares are scary dreams full of one’s biggest fears that some people get every once in a while.

“I have had a big fear of clowns since I was little because I went to Busch Gardens and they had a clown that came up beside me with a chainsaw,” Moody said.

The reason that some people get them is because a nightmare is a way for your brain to relieve the pressures of the day such as stress, sports, or even the death of a significant other.

“When I am stressed I have a dream that I am in the Sahara Desert riding on some camels when my mom disappears and some Arabian knights surround me and they do not speak English,” senior Helen Kendall said.

Sleeping in an uncomfortable position, medications, a traumatic event, illness, or anxiety can trigger a nightmare.

“I have dreams about never getting things done and in a constant state of anxiety because I am a parent,” physics teacher Donald Newbold said.

Eating before you sleep triggers an increase in the body’s metabolism and brain activity, which is a potential stimulus for nightmares. Watching a scary movie or reading a scary book before going to bed can increase your chances as well.

“I get nightmares mainly when I eat spaghetti sauce, or when I eat spicy food,” math teacher Cynthia Hall said.

When you are asleep your mind does not turn off, so it continues to go through different sleep stages. These stages include REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, which is one of the longest stages and happens to-wards the early morning. During REM, your most vivid dreams occur which in-clude nightmares.

“The brain can only do certain things when you sleep, and when you sleep your brain picks up sensory input to make up stories which are symbolic in life,” psychology professor Mark Dailey said.

The effects of a nightmare have another element known as a night terror. These occur during the first few hours of sleep and consist on loud screaming and thrashing while the sleeper does not awaken and usually do not remember anymore than an overwhelming feeling if anything.

“A night terror is possibly biological or the subconscious trying to work out some sexual repression while the dreamer can not wake up and is constantly yelling and screaming,” Dailey said.

Night terrors can occur each night if the sufferer does not eat a proper diet, get

the appropriate amount or quality of sleep, or endure great amounts of stress in their daily life.

“I am afraid of the dark. So when my room is completely dark, I feel like I am trapped in a box. I kick, scream, and scratch until someone comes in and wakes me,” Moody said.

Children from age three to twelve are prone to get night terrors and happen

in about fifteen percent of all children. It is extremely rare for adults to receive night terrors unless they have a history of hypoglycemia, which is a lower level of blood glucose.

“Your brain is a computer, so when you are always putting bad stuff into it that is what you get out and movies like Lion King or 101 Dalmatians scare kids,” Dailey said.

Sleep distrubances created by everyday activities

Jake McQuiggantrn writer


Norms Spur Nightmares

Psychology ProfessorMark dailey

Illustration by Anthony Sudol


Roller C

oasters Initi

ate

fear

Out of all the fear inducing experiences in

life, a ride on a roller coaster tops the list. Back and forth, up, down and around at a speed that takes your

breath away. A trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg reveals that people want to ride

roller coasters. The bigger the coaster, the more people are found standing in line to take on the challenge and thrill of the ride. “The size, speed and height intimidate me, but I still love to ride the roller coasters,” said

junior Matthew Schneck. Not everyone is able to handle the fear induced by a ride on a roller coaster, but some are able

to overcome their fears and enjoy the thrill.“They scared me at first, but then I got used to them and I craved the adrenaline rush,” said junior

Dominique Walker. The rush of adrenaline is exactly what attracts people to the most extreme rides.

“My favorite ride at Busch Gardens is the Griffon, because it really gets my adrenaline rushing,” said senior Travis Barglof. “I am not scared of them. These rides are fun to me.”

Another element that attracts people to riding the roller coasters is taking on the unknown and crushing their fright.

“I do not feel safe in the seat of a roller coaster,” Schneck said. “A lot of the time I feel like I am going to fall out, but I still ride my favorite, Apollo’s Chariot, because it helps me conquer my fear”.

Some people are riding the roller coasters because friends have encouraged and persuaded them to give it a try.

“I got on a roller coaster, the first time, because my friends convinced me it was fun,” said Walker. “I was spun upside down and felt like I might fall out and I did not feel safe, but my favorite, Al-pengeist, is so fun and exciting to me that I am glad my friends talked me into taking the ride”.

Busch Gardens advertises the Griffon, Apollo’s Chariot, and Alpengeist as the most exhila-rating rides at their Theme Park in Williamsburg. These three coasters get great reviews

from roller coaster enthusiasts. A quick look at the website site reveals that Alpengeist is consistently voted one of the top ten steel roller coasters in the world. The

problem with roller coasters is that the thrill is short lived, only a few excit-ing minutes long.

Out of all the fear inducing experiences in

life, a ride on a roller coaster tops the list. Back and forth, up, down and around at a speed that takes your

breath away. A trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg reveals that people want to ride

roller coasters. The bigger the coaster, the more people are found standing in line to take on the challenge and thrill of the ride. “The size, speed and height intimidate me, but I still love to ride the roller coasters,” said

junior Matthew Schneck. Not everyone is able to handle the fear induced by a ride on a roller coaster, but some are able

to overcome their fears and enjoy the thrill.“They scared me at first, but then I got used to them and I craved the adrenaline rush,” said junior

Dominique Walker. The rush of adrenaline is exactly what attracts people to the most extreme rides.

“My favorite ride at Busch Gardens is the Griffon, because it really gets my adrenaline rushing,” said senior Travis Barglof. “I am not scared of them. These rides are fun to me.”

Another element that attracts people to riding the roller coasters is taking on the unknown and crushing their fright.

“I do not feel safe in the seat of a roller coaster,” Schneck said. “A lot of the time I feel like I am going to fall out, but I still ride my favorite, Apollo’s Chariot, because it helps me conquer my fear”.

Some people are riding the roller coasters because friends have encouraged and persuaded them to give it a try.

“I got on a roller coaster, the first time, because my friends convinced me it was fun,” said Walker. “I was spun upside down and felt like I might fall out and I did not feel safe, but my favorite, Al-pengeist, is so fun and exciting to me that I am glad my friends talked me into taking the ride”.

Busch Gardens advertises the Griffon, Apollo’s Chariot, and Alpengeist as the most exhila-rating rides at their Theme Park in Williamsburg. These three coasters get great reviews

from roller coaster enthusiasts. A quick look at the website site reveals that Alpengeist is consistently voted one of the top ten steel roller coasters in the world. The

problem with roller coasters is that the thrill is short lived, only a few excit-ing minutes long.


Amanda Majewskitrn editor

Roller coaster riders hang on while they twist and turn through the trees at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.

theme parks continue to see large attendance figures in the fall.

Photo by Amanda Majewski.


ILMING hoRRoR F

Horror film director Jack Bennett works on his film caprice. Bennett gradually moved into the horror film

industry after a career as a writer due to his fascination with horror films.

Photo contributed by Jack Bennett.

fRIdAY 10.28.11 | tHe ROYAL neWS | 9

To some, such as horror film director Jack Ben-nett all of the horrifying aspects of a scary movie that terrify other viewers are enjoyable. For Ben-nett, it was this enchant-ment with the darker as-

pects of life and film that got him involved in the production of horror movies.

“I got into them first by having an innate curiosity,” Bennett said. “I love to watch scary movies and I love construct-ing them on set.”

Though horror films, such as the ones directed by Bennett, are designed to scare the viewer, sometimes by unrealis-tic means, they are also designed to ad-dress some of the viewer’s own fears and anxieties. Such movies remain popular, in spite of the fear they inspire, because they do cater to people’s curiosity about more morbid subjects.

“Horror movies serve as a fantasy playground,” Bennett said. “A way we can explore from the safety of our own home mortality and the more horrifying possi-bilities of life and then we can cut off the movie at the end.”

This aspect of horror movies feeding off of the viewers’ own worries adds to the terrifying effect of the films since the viewers can then imagine the situations of the movie applying to them.

“They make me think about things in real life and if I think of anything remotely close [to the movie’s events] I start think-ing ‘oh my goodness, this could happen to me’,” senior Courtney Brockwell said.

Horror film directors recognize the necessity of the audience relating to the events in the film in order for the movie to be successful and sufficiently frightening.

“Horror movies, more than any genre, need to convince people that it could re-ally happen,” Bennett said. “If something scary jumps out and you do not believe it is real then you are not going to be scared, every horror movie has to be convincing.”

For some like Junior Marisela Zulo-aga, it is exactly this type of tension and believability found in horror films that makes them enjoyable.

“I like the suspense,” Zuloaga said. “I like the mystery at the end [of the movie]

because it is something you would not ex-pect to happen.”

Suspense is an extremely important aspect of horror films and plays a very im-portant role in involving the viewer in the motion picture and holding the viewer’s attention for the entirety of the film.

“[The most important aspect of a hor-ror movie is] the element of surprise, just to keep the audience interested and keep the audience on their toes,” film explora-tion teacher Toni Luckett said.

Despite the fear that horror movies are intended to inspire in the viewers, these types of movies remain popular and hence continue to be made.

“People like to get scared safely,” Ben-nett said. “No one enjoys the sensation of feeling threatened but it does give us some enjoyment to imagine high stakes, crazy situations and see them through to a con-clusion.”

Even some of the people who do not especially enjoy scary movies will still oc-

casionally endure them in order to experi-ence the safe apprehension and exhilara-tion these films offer.

“When I do [watch scary movies] I cover up my eyes for half of the time,” senior Kelly Soloe said. “I watch them for the adrenaline rush and because my friends like them.”

Horror films set out with the general goal of scaring the audience through nu-merous means and as a result, different people find different elements of the mov-ies frightening. For some, the realization of the whole idea of the movie is the most fear-inspiring part.

“[The scariest part is] the middle of the movie when everything ties together and you find out how all of the pieces come together,” Zuloaga said.

Others find the suspense and the ele-ment of surprise found in horror movies to be the most disturbing aspect.

“That scene where you know something bad is going to happen but you

do not know when,” junior Curtis Wil-liams said. “It is scary because you have to jump because you get so into the movie.”

While horror films reside in the realm of fantasy, they still inspire real fear in the viewers and can still have real world ap-plications.

“There is something very unpreten-tious about them,” Bennett said. “Horror movies are great reminders that the real test of a person’s importance is what they can do in a survival situation and what kind of person they are when the chips are down.”

Exploring fear from safety of homeRachel Waymack

trn editor

SPecIAL edItIOn: feAR

Horror film director Jack Bennett (far right) appears here in costume and make up on the set of the movie he

acted in, “Zombies, March!”. Photo contributed by Jack Bennett.

Former alumni explain how day of terror

CHANGED THEM FOREVEROlga Martin Reed ‘06 PG ‘10 Vt

Where on campus were you when the shooting happened? What were you doing?“I was sleeping in my East Campbell‚ dorm room.”

What was your initial reaction to the news of the incident?“I was just shocked. At first we were confused because it came in waves of realization as to how bad it was. We weren’t allowed to go outside of the dorms, so we had to watch the news as the count {of victims] went up. I had fear for my friends because a lot of people you could not get in touch with.”

How did it impact your life immediately after? did you feel safe still being on campus after the shooting?“I had nightmares. I was not diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but I had those sort of feelings. Everything was scary. When I went into the class, I was thinking about which window I would jump out of if I had to. I could not sleep or eat. I did not feel safe that night after the event because they were not sure if there was more than one shooter. My family was in Texas and I had no one near me to go to. Every siren sound brought flashbacks.”

does it still affect you to this day? If yes, how so? “Every time I hear about a shooting it hits close to home because of the fact that it hap-pened to me and people I know. April 16th will never be a normal day. I have a close group of friends, because going through a tragedy with mutual friends provided a bond that would have never existed if that [shoot-ing] never happened.”

Justin Lucy ‘05 PG ‘09 Vt

Where on campus were you when the shooting happened? What were you do-ing?“I lived off campus in Collegiate Suites when the shootings happened. Luckily, my classes for that day started late and by the time I woke up the news had already broke about the shootings.”

What was your initial reaction to the news of the incident?“My initial reaction to the shootings was just to contact all of my friends at school to make sure everyone I knew was ok. I also made sure to get in touch with my parents to let them know that I was fine.”

How did it impact your life immediately after? did you feel safe still being on campus after the shooting?“Immediately after the shootings I was grate-ful that everyone I knew had survived. It also made you realize how quickly tragedy can strike. On a positive note, it was amazing to see how the entire Virginia Tech commu-nity came together and remembered those lost on April 16th. After the shootings I felt completely safe. These shootings could have happened anywhere. No amount of prepara-tion could have prevented this from happen-ing. Virginia Tech handled the situation to the best of their ability.”

does it still affect you to this day? If yes, how so? “I will never forget this day in my life. In the beginning, there were not many days that went by without me at least thinking of the shootings. Now that time has passed it is eas-ier to deal with the reality of what happened but every April 16 it always brings back vivid memories of that day.”


The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Winnie the Pooh and the very Blustery Day

That Bear!” Gretchen, master of the northern Heffalump tribe exclaimed as he entered the ancient meeting place of his tribe, “Argh…, he has once again gotten to the honey supply!”

“That dastardly bear, how does he continually confound our guards, Rosaline and Jameson were on post today, they are the best warriors in

the tribe” Marrion, Dame of the Heffalumps, contemplated, “if they can be bested by this creature then what chance do the rest of us stand.”

“Yes this is the 12th time this year, at this rate there will not be enough honey left for winter,” a council member intoned.

“At this rate our children will starve,” another said.Gretchen stood and whipped his trunk against the wall the chamber, produc-

ing a defining ring that silenced the others incessant arguing. He stomped up to the ancient stone pulpit, stained with the blood of his ancestors and roared. “Then we will call upon our ancient pact with the and together we will call upon the spir-its of our ancestors to haunt this vile creature that steals from the mouths of our young!!!”

There is a sort of stunned silence reverberating throughout the chamber, the council members stood aghast, and there were murmurs of amazement at Gretch-en’s audacity.

“No one has called upon the ancestors for centuries,” Marrion whispered.”“Well then we will be the first in years for we have little recourse left” Gretchen

intoned. “ We will have a hard time surviving the winter already, if you wish for our people to survive then we must begin”

Gretchen then dashed his great trunk against the sharpened rock of the puppet spraying this multicolored blood across the chamber.

Marrion said with awe, “And so it begins”

dalton Gibbscontributing writer

A Villain's Mind

It’s blistering cold again, the kind of cold were it seeps into your bones. It’s almost paralyzing. I pull my jacked tighter around and look at Chris. “What are you doing tonight?” He blinks slowly

and looks at me, he’s always in his own little world. I guess that’s why we are friends. He has what I want. That ability to escape, to be in your own world and not worry about what’s to come when I go home. “Nothing, maybe some homework, and play some video games. Wanna come over?” I want badly to tell him yes, tell him everything that is going on at home. I want someone to tell me it’s okay to feel this way. Instead I plaster on a grin and say I have plans. Yea right, plans that involve me listening to my father destroy the house while I’m locked in my bedroom.

I make a beeline for my bedroom, I try to maneuver through all the trash left from dad’s last binge. I don’t even bother to clean it anymore, I figure when he sobers up he will do it. He’s sleeping on the couch so it’s easy for me to escape his angry stares. Nothing has been the same since mom died. Dad did a complete turnaround, it was almost like the sun was taking away from him and his face has been clouded over with sorrow ever since. It’s almost heartbreaking, I guess, and maybe I would show him more sympathy if it weren’t for the fact that she left me too. It’s almost like I lost both parents that day.

I close the door and lean up against it. I make sure it’s locked just encase dad decides to move from the couch. I go to the

bed and kick off my shoes. I lay face down for a minute then put my head phones in and listen to Metallica. I go through my day and think about her. The way her blonde curls frame her face, and the way her violet flaked eyes sparkle when she’s deep in thought. I worked up the nerve to talk to her today, if you call that talking. I stammered as I asked her for the notes I missed when I feel asleep. “Yea, sure here you go Jake.” I loved the way she said my name.

I hear a banging on my door, disoriented I take my plugs out and ask who it was. Dad keeps beating on it and yells “Open the door!” I’m terrified to open the door. I don’t know what is waiting for me, the sappy father that is filled with sorrow or the angry one that makes you want to hide under the bed. I pull the door open I crack look out, he pushes it open and storms in my room. “Why didn’t you open the door when I knocked?” “Sorry I didn’t hear it I had the head phones in.”

My response seemed to make him grow angry so I tried to ease it. “Why don’t you go downstairs and I come make you dinner.” His rage grew, I backed up against the wall. He followed me and his hot breath blew in my face. “You don’t think I can take care of myself? You think I need some ungrateful punk to make me some lousy dinner?”

I had nowhere to go, I was cornered and he knew it. His face grew ugly, it scared me more than anything. He pulled something out of his back pocket. His knife, it shined in my dim overhead light. “Jacky, Why so serious? Let me help you put a smile on your face.” He took his knife and carved into my cheeks.

Ashley Moorecontributing writer

How Does Voice Change a Story's Perspective?


heffalumps and Woozles

Use the QR code here to see the Youtube video of Winnie the Pooh and his struggle with the Huffalumps and the Woozles.

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Special Issue: Fear