Those girls, they were only in eighth grade, and that story, it was the start of many to come. I refused to believe such a story and was in denial. It was hard to grasp the fact that someone my own age would want to take shots or down beers. After all, we were only 13.

What were you best ‘known for’ where you are from?
The girl who laughs the most *laugh*.

What is one thing you miss the very most from your home country?
All of my friends, but I really don’t miss them that much already.

What clubs or activities are you getting involved in here at East?
Cross Country, International Club. I want to be more involved with I more, I just haven’t gotten into everything yet.

Did you get to choose to come to Kansas?
No, I couldn’t choose. I did hope for California, Florida and New York. I am getting back money because I didn’t get there, but I mostly paid that money so I wouldn’t end up in the South.

What is a situation that you didn’t know what to do in?
I don’t know actually. There is always sometimes i don’t know what to do, but it’s not like I’m completely lost.

What is the biggest difference between East and your old school?
The schedule and the School system. It is all different. The times mainly, in Sweden we have breaks between classes for 15 minutes to 2 hours sometimes and lunch is at least an hour. We don’t have hours like first, second and third. We just have a lesson and one class with all of the lessons put together.

What new foods were you looking forward to trying?
Peanut Butter, Macaroni and Cheese, American Pancakes, funnel cake and I’m really looking forward to trying Starbucks.

What experiences do you want to have in the US?
I haven’t really thought about it. The experience of an American highschool student, graduation and prom, just being an American teenager.

What is one thing that’s happened to you in your time here that you didn’t expect?
I didn’t expect for my host sister my same age to have a car. I didn’t expect my host families lake house to be enormous with three boats. I didn’t expect to live in a city like this, I expected to be in the country and to not by so many stores. I didn’t expect my family to be so funny. I didn’t expect anything before I came here, so then I don’t get disappointed.

CELIA FAYE JACOBSEN
What were you most looking forward to upon your arrival in the United States?
Meeting my family and starting the new school.

What were you best ‘known for’ where you are from?
I was called the psychologist. Usually if people were sad then I would try and listen to them.

What is one thing you miss the very most from your home country?
The freedom that you have as a teen. You can drink when you are 16 and drive when you are 18.You can get around as a teenager with public transportation and in America it’s harder to be a teen.

What clubs or activities are you getting involved in here at East?
Cross Country and international club because I’m automatically a member and at the meetings there are cookies which is always a plus.

Did you get to choose to come to Kansas?
No, but I picked the United States.

What is a situation that you didn’t know what to do in?
The whole school system. You have to move around to class and you meet so many new people and you don’t always remember their names. I really want to to talk to them and get to know them but it’s so hard.
I come from a big Danish school that was 500 students. We get off at two and have 30 minutes of homework. But the American school takes up so much of your time.

What is the biggest difference between East and your old school?
The size and the homework.

What new foods were you looking forward to trying?
Grilled cheese sandwich, mac and cheese, real American doughnuts and all the fattest greatest food.

What experiences do you want to have in the US?
I want to make some really important friendships and get really close to my host family. I don’t want to spend too much time on school because I am just here to have fun. I want to experience a completely different culture than mine.

What is one thing that’s happened to you in your time here that you didn’t expect?
I’ve seen that pretty much all people are really open, I kind of knew that before I came here but it took me by surprise by how open you are. Also how immature American teens are. There are guys that will makes jokes during class and laugh and them, but everyone is really nice. Americans are really welcoming, just a little immature sometimes.

TATIANA

What were you most looking forward to upon your arrival in the United States?
The team spirit(pep rallies), the friendly American high schools, yellow buses, cheerleading, and things that we see in the movie but are actually real.

What were you best ‘known for’ where you are from?
Athletics, and that I am never tired. I like being active and doing stuff. I’m only tired now because of jet lag but it’ll be better soon.

What is the one thing you miss the very most from your home country?
Nothing yet. Well, I guess my friends and my family.

Did you get to choose to come to Kansas?
No, the chose my host family. But I like it and I’m happy to be here.

What is a situation that you didn’t know what to do in?
My first day. I knew I had to go to class, but getting there and talking to the teachers was really tough.

What is the biggest difference between East and your old school?
It’s much bigger, it’s huge here. Also, we speak english here, and it’s much more fun. I like all of the classes that you can take.

What new foods were you looking forward to trying?
Hamburger, Mexican food, Peanut butter and Jelly and the typical American things.

What is one thing that’s happened to you in your time here that you didn’t expect?
I tried out for volleyball, but I had never played in my life. But I made it to the last day there there were only 13 people left and only 10 could make the team. I did pretty good. I was sad I didn’t make it, but I’m very happy because I’m on cross country and I get to meet so many people.

CHRISTIAN

What were you best ‘known for’ where you are from?
I am a very good listener and I entertain theater. I also danced in a very fine opera in Copenhagen. I think I am known for among friends as being funny and interesting.

What clubs or activities are you getting involved in here at East?
I am in Coalition, the C-team soccer and I would like to audition for Beauty and the Beast musical.

Did you get to choose to come to Kansas?
No, my program gave me six choices of where I could go. I picked Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Japan and the United States. They decided that I should go to American and Kansas.

What is one thing that’s happened to you in your time here that you didn’t expect?
I really don’t know what I was expecting. I want to see the rodeo and for my host family to take me there. When I came for vacation last year, my family drove three hours to find a rodeo and no luck. So I am very excited about the rodeo and they are very jealous.

What is the biggest difference between East and your old school?
The size. There are many students at East but at my old school there are only 89. When I came to East it was so confusing because I see new faces everyday and I have been there for two weeks. At my old school, after a week everyone knew me. The marching band has more players then my whole old school.

What is one thing you miss the very most from your home country?
I miss my family and my friends buy I know that I’ll see them again. I miss my language the most. There is a girl in my German class who is also from Denmark, so we speak Danish which is very fun.

What new foods were you looking forward to trying?
I have tried Kentucky Fried Chicken and that was new because we don’t have that in Denmark. We basically have the sames kinds of foods, but in Denmark they are just a little healthier.

What were you most looking forward to upon your arrival in the United States?
It is hard to explain. When you are sitting on the plane to America you don’t think. You have only slept a few hours because you are so excited. You don’t know what to expect because you are going to meet all new people soon. The first time I really thought about what I was doing was when I was at my host family’s house laying in bed. But you don’t expect anything really, but it is very hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced it.

Hayden went for it this summer with Troop 1132. But this first trip was just the beginning. This two-week trip was not the extent of Hayden’s travels. He not only traveled to Philmont, but also to Camp Gieger in St. Joseph, MO and The Boy Scout National Jamboree in Bowling Green, VA. Hayden spent virtually his entire summer with his Boy Scout troop; more time than with his own family, a fact that affected them while he was gone.

“He is my best entertainment and he is willing to go places with me that not everyone would want to. I like to have fun a lot and not to have a partner was tough,”  Hayden’s mom, Lea Wylie said.

Hayden hiked 51 miles in 11 days in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains near Cimarron, New Mexico with nine other boys and leaders. The area where they were hiking, a working cattle ranch, was donated to the Boy Scouts of America by a wealthy oilman named Waite Phillips, of the Phillips 66 family. It is 214 square miles of pure hiking and adventure. Thousands of scouts have hiked the trails there and had experiences they will never forget, and Hayden is no exception.

Hayden has gone hiking on other occasions and even backpacking, but never anything to the extreme of Philmont. For him, 51 miles wasn’t what he was thinking of – 70 sounded more his speed – nevertheless he hiked the 51 with a smile on his face. He wanted the extra challenge of 20 more miles, but the others in his troop weren’t thrilled about it.

“I’ve done other stuff, but this is the major topper of the cake,” Hayden said.

One night at Philmont around 4:00 a.m. Hayden and his tent mate woke up to their scout master yelling about a bear. The bear was about 60 yards away in the woods, and was hoping to snap up the food out of their bear bag. The boys made enough noise to deter the bear, but they were on the look out for another one for the rest of the trek. When they reached the next campsite, there was word of a bear that would get into food day and night. That night the boys and leaders were taking turns staying awake all night to keep watch for the bear. Hayden kept the coffee flowing for those on lookout, but luckily none of them ever saw a bear.

Hayden spent merely two weeks at home after Philmont before he headed off to the National Jamboree. This year’s Jamboree was a huge celebration of boys and Boy Scouting because it was the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts in America, so thousands of scouts from around the world met in Virginia to celebrate this momentous year.

Hayden’s troop spent a few days in Washington D.C. before heading to Jamboree, and visited places like the Spy Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. On the bus ride to camp there were boys that got car sick, but unfortunately one boy did so right as they were pulling into camp and the doctor was getting on the bus. Hayden and his troop were put in quarantine for 36 hours. Hayden wasn’t able to enjoy the festivities on the first day, but the second day he rose early at 6:30 a.m. to get the day started.

During the remainder of the event, Hayden found activities to do such as shooting a 50 caliber rifle, scuba diving, BMX, and throwing tomahawks. However, the main event was the stage show each night complete with fireworks and light shows, along with guest appearance from Mike Roe of “Dirty Jobs”,  the rock band Switchfoot, and a slightly humorous appearance by Miss America, Katie Stam.

“She called us girls on accident. She was like sorry I talk to girls all the time,” Hayden said.

Visiting Philmont was a huge part of Hayden’s scouting adventures, but to him scouting is more than just hiking and earning patches. For Hayden, it is a great learning experience, and teaches him skills such as fire building and survival techniques he couldn’t learn anywhere else. Scouting started for Hayden in 3rd grade when his dad, John Hayden, started a Cub Scout troop. Since then scouting has just been a normal part of his life. Hayden realizes that some people think it’s nerdy, but to him it’s their loss.

“I don’t really care if people make fun of me for it. Getting your Eagle Scout looks amazing on a resume and on college applications, it’s a learning curve,” Hayden said.

Giving up more than half of his summer to scouts wasn’t hard for Hayden, but he did skip out on activities that he generally doesn’t miss. He missed out on treasured summer time at the pool and hanging out with his best friend Nathan. Although he didn’t get to spend as much time as he wanted with Nathan, he went on two of the trips with his other good friend Steven Schmidt. The two have been in scouting and attending school together from the beginning; they were even tent mates in Philmont. The biggest thing Hayden missed was visiting his grandparents in Nebraska. They usually shoot off fireworks and go golfing, two of Hayden’s favorite activities, but Hayden missed it all for scouting.

Hayden came home for good that summer Aug. 5, and finally hung out with his best friend and went to the Prairie Village pool for the first time. He spent more nights in his sleeping bag than his bed, and when he put on his tennis shoes after hiking those 11 days in his boots they were no longer comfortable. Hayden was able to have the rest of summer to spend with his friends, family. He especially spent time with his sister, Mackenzie, an East graduate, who was leaving for college.

He had the summer of a lifetime, and says that he would do it all again “in a New York minute.”

Surrounding sophomore Annie Sullivan are walls covered in hundreds of autographs.  In black Sharpie, names of famous comedians are visible — Steve Carell, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and John Candy.  Newspaper clippings clothe each wall.  Some are framed and others are taped. History has been made in this little room, famous people have touched these walls, it is the green room backstage.

“I was overwhelmed walking in, nothing seemed real,” Sullivan said.
Backstage Sullivan is standing.  She is in one of the most prestigious comedy clubs in the country — Second City.  Sullivan had an ambition two years ago that she would be able to travel to Chicago to learn from some of the top instructors.  The dream of becoming a comedian started when she first encountered her love for comedy.
Sullivan started acting at a young age.  In fourth grade, her mother, Missy Sullivan, signed her up for improv classes at The Culture House and Coterie where she learned techniques, participated in acting exercises and performed in front of audiences.  Sullivan found that after taking classes that she enjoyed the spontaneous feeling of improv.
Missy said, “Seeing, Annie up on stage makes me feel very proud because she is up there for who she is and not who she is at home.”
At home Sullivan exerts a different attitude when cleaning her room or doing her chores.  On stage she comes alive, she is a completely different person. She is free to say what comes to  her mind and free to be loud.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I would stay up late to watch Saturday Night Live,” Sullivan said.  “I became interested every time I turned it on.”

She would stay up each Saturday evening to see which sketch would be acted out and who would be performing.  As she sat in front of the television each Saturday she wondered: How do these people get onto SNL?

Sullivan searched the Internet and found the answer — Second City. Scrolling down the page Second City website, Sullivan looked at the long list of classes she could attend.

“I was excited as Annie about Second City,” Missy Sullivan said.  “So many legendary comedians are from there.”

Many comedians stand on the expansive stage at Second City, the lights beating down on them, and soon they are discovered. A chance to go to Second City means following in the footsteps of past comedians.
After first discovering that classes were offered at Second City, Sullivan’s drive to attend Second City did not halt.  Sullivan began doing odd jobs to earn enough money to pay tuition.
Sullivan did everything from lawn mowing to taking out her neighbors’ garbage. Sullivan also spent many hours babysitting and doing any job that was available.
Once her hard work was completed and she had earned enough money, it was time.  Sullivan’s dream was finally going to come true; she would be able to train at Second City for two weeks.
When Sullivan arrived at Second City nothing seemed real to her — the building, the instructors, the people, nothing.  Sullivan had waited long enough to make her entrance.  She had worked to make it possible.  She was ready to take on her dream and embrace the environment of Second City.
“I was nervous in a way.  I thought that I might not be funny enough or no one would laugh at my jokes,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan soon learned that being at Second City should not change the way she performed.  Everyone was there to learn and to share with others what they all had in common — comedy.

Sullivan attended classes in improv, sketch writing and standup.  Each class was taught by a different instructor.

“My improv teacher, Jason Ball, told us that doing an improv does not mean doing mistakes but making new discoveries,” Sullivan said.  “That really stuck with me and I will remember that.”

At the end of the two weeks of instruction each of the students performed in a “showcase”.  There, Sullivan had an opportunity to have three sketches, which she had written, performed.  She also was a part of five improvs.  Not only did Sullivan get to perform, she had the opportunity to perform on the actual Second City stage.

“It was amazing to be able to stand where the famous comedians get to stand,” Sullivan said.  “A huge revelation was that I shouldn’t care if people think I am funny or not.”

Sullivan is backstage; she walks in a circle frantically. She second-guesses herself. She asks herself: What are my lines? Oh no, I forgot my lines.  She is overwhelmed by nervousness. On stage, Sullivan waits. She is ready to deliver her lines.  Everything fades, her doubts float away and her confidence begins to boost.  She is prepared to do her job — make people laugh.

Sullivan begins her lines: “Hi, hello, Pizza hut? Do you deliver? My wife is having a baby.”

With great thanks to three concussions, and multiple hits to the noggin during various activities, I can’t extract much.

The earliest memory that I can recall is sitting in the nose-bleed section of a Chiefs versus Jaguars game and thinking how phenomenal the entire thing was.

Here were 22 grown men, duking it out on a 100 yard battlefield and laying their bodies on the line, all for an undying passion for sport; or so I thought. Since that experience, the mantra of professional sports in my mind has been all about the winning, all about being the best in the league for bragging rights and giving everything you’ve got for a simple win.

But I’ve witnessed events in the past six months that have contradicted my childhood vision of professional sports.

On shows at pre-season training camps, players demand trades and playing the free agency field to switch onto teams and just join up with their buddies to dominate; these are two of the many things that make me realize how wrong I was about pro sports.

Nowadays it’s all about the money. All about the politics. Its all about how to make the most money, not about who can get the most wins.

I’ve realized that pro sports isn’t what I had always hoped it would be.

Professional sports is all business, and I don’t like it.

I’ve played a variety of sports in my day. I pretended to be Michael Phelps in the pool, Alfonso Soriano with the bat, and LeBron James on the court. I played soccer with orange pulp in my teeth on Saturday mornings, and have watched every NBA game on Christmas Day since I can remember. I have seven editions of Madden, and more baseball cards than you could ever imagine.

As a kid I always wanted to be a pro athlete. Like every other little kid, I started playing sports for the love of the game, and that’s why I still play today. I don’t run 10-in-60’s for this school so that I can get paid more. It never crossed my mind until recently that sports may be something like a business.

But honestly, what would happen if pro athletes got paid as much as say a lawyer? Or a teacher? How many players would stay in the league?

It seems like the older I get, the more selfish and greedy the players get.

Darrelle Revis is arguably the best corner-back in the NFL. He’s also one of the most selfish and greedy players that I’ve ever seen or heard of. Because of his ego, he is currently in a holdout with the New York Jets. Revis is due for $1 million for this next season, but since he thinks that he is God’s gift to the game, he wants to be paid $162 million more. At the moment, he has no job and isn’t any kind of role model for young athletes. He obviously isn’t playing the game of football for a profession because he loves it—he’s in it for the green.

This is just one instance of how players always want more money, and always want more attention. I feel like half of pro players strive to be on MTV Cribs rather than be on ESPN or gold in their teeth rather than a championship ring on their finger.

Sports is a business. I have to keep reminding myself of this day in and day out. I just don’t want to accept it.

Why is the third string quarterback the #1 selling jersey for the Denver Broncos? Why did LeBron James leave the Cavs?

Because sports is a business.

Players like Tim Tebow, LeBron James and Alex Rodriguez bring in bank just by the name on the back of the jersey. And the name on the back of the jersey brings in money for the name on the front of the jersey. It’s as simple as that.

Though they have shown their talents on-field, they are celebrities in the public eye and because of that, people want to see them because they are “famous.”

It’s almost like the players are the product, and the team is the company.

I play basketball at East and I don’t get paid a cent. In the two years I have been at this school, I haven’t seen one player quit because they don’t get paid enough, they don’t get thrown the ball enough, or they don’t get enough playing time. Why can’t professional players do the same? Why can’t they find their roots?

LeBron James leaving the Cavs for the Heat in July this summer was a business move. He had an opportunity to play with a better organization, and possibly get a NBA ring, so he took it.  He gets more money from the Heat and Cavs, he gets to play with better players and his friends, who wouldn’t take that job?

It’s just like if you are working at one law firm, and you get offered to go to a better law firm, would you do it? You’d be kidding yourself if you said no.

Sports is a business.

The discovery of happiness I acquired when I watched the Chiefs Jaguars game long ago isn’t what I thought it was cracked up to be.

Sports is a business. But I’m not near ready to accept it.

From left: Katy Richardson, Jordan Herring, Helena Buchmann, Brennan Williams, Mitch Daniel, Adam Simmons, Hanna Jane Stradinger, and Emily Kerr.

The Newbies
As coach Tricia Beahm announced the three mile run on the first day of cross country, a jumble of negative thoughts ran through sophomore Brennan William’s head, on top of which perched her neon-yellow “BAM!” bow.

“What am I doing here? I won’t be able to finish this run…I’m not a runner,” thought Williams.

But she did finish it. And all of the runs after that, since the beginning of the season.  Before those runs she never would’ve thought she’d be improving each day, or planning on running for the rest of her high school career. And, against her expectations, she was actually enjoying cross country.

“I always thought cross country wasn’t for me, but you can go your own pace, be your own person.  And I can still wear my bows.”

The Scandal Squad
Seniors Katy Richardson and Betsy Blessen walk side by side along the field as Richardson crams a handful of goldfish into her mouth. Chatting and munching, the two juniors remain oblivious to what is going on around them on the Fall morning. Only when the starter fires his gun signaling the beginning of the girls’ first Cross Country race do they realize they’re supposed to be running.

With a scream of surprise, they run off to join the rest of the girls in the C-Team race.

From talking on race mornings to chatting on runs, Richardson loves socializing at cross country. She runs to be with her friends, as well as to keep in shape. Richardson and her friends were passed down the honorable “Scandal Squad” name by the seniors who established the group the previous year.

“We [the Scandal Squad] aren’t looking to be Varsity runners, just looking to enjoy the sport,” says Richardson.

While Richardson and her friends always keep cross country fun, they know it’s hard work.
Next year, the Scandal Squad will pass down the honor to a group of the coming year’s C-Team senior girls with the same positive attitude, and who, of course, love to socialize. Because after all, that’s what the Scandal Squad is all about.

We apologize but due to circumstances outside of our control, it may not be possible to live broadcast this evening. A recorded broadcast will be posted tomorrow.