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Podcast: Random Thoughts Episode III

By Jack Howland

Posted December 19, 2011

Staffer Jack Howland discusses white elephant gifts that have come back to haunt him.

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smeharbinger

The award-winning, student-run news publication of Shawnee Mission East High School.

Forty girls in pastel and floral sundresses filled

Forty girls in pastel and floral sundresses filled six rows of black chairs inside Mission Hills Country Club. The girls all faced forward and listened as SM East parent Sara Stein stood at the front of the room explaining what various “sorority slang” words meant.

Stein, the owner of Modern Etiquette Made Easy — a company that offers numerous etiquette classes, ranging from preschool lunchroom etiquette to tips for landing a job — was teaching a Sorority Savvy class to East and St. Teresa’s Academy seniors. After teaching a cotillion class three years ago, her interest in working with kids in a classroom setting grew, inspiring her to launch Modern Etiquette Made Easy last year.

With the pressure of first impressions and perfectly worded conversations during rush season, Stein created her Sorority Savvy class to help seniors feel confident and prepared for the process.

To read more, click the link in bio.

#storybyavnibansal
#designbylucyswope
#photobycarolinehoffman

It’s the end of the school day in April, then-fr

It’s the end of the school day in April, then-freshman Isabel is daydreaming in her World Regional studies class to avoid studying for finals. She looks over and sees her friend and desk partner, Lucy Wolf, editing a social media post for The Harbinger on her computer.

Fast forward to the fall of sophomore year, Isabel is making her first social post, now holding her own spot on staff. Nudging Lucy — together again, but this time in the J-room. Help! She whispers as Lucy looks at her off-centered, ugly post that’s far from the Harbinger Instagram’s standards.

Many late-night deadlines, calls filled with tears and Lucy’s assistance on quite literally every very rough post later, and Isabel is suddenly offered an Assistant Social Media Editor position.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybylucywolf
#storybyisabelbaldassaro
#socialmediabysydneyeck
#photobycarolinemartucci

The boys varsity tennis team will be playing in th

The boys varsity tennis team will be playing in the state championship at 8 a.m. in Junction City.

#socialmediabyclaraburdick
#photobyfrancescalorusso

Congratulations to next year’s amazing staff!

Congratulations to next year’s amazing staff!

#socialmediabyaveryanderson #socialmediabyaddiemoore

Girls gymnastics district-wide will have its final

Girls gymnastics district-wide will have its final season next fall after Sunflower League announced the sport’s retirement in an email sent to coaches on May 1. The decision will affect 12 active teams in the league, including the Lancers.

“This decision reflects several years of challenges, including declining participation numbers, difficulties in finding enough qualified coaching staff and logistic challenges in consolidating practices and competitions,” the letter read.

According to the letter, participation in gymnastics fell from 108 to 70 athletes in the past season. Another factor in the decision was the growth in participation of other girls sports, such as wrestling, cheer and dance.

To read more of this story, click the link in bio.

#storybymichaelyi
#socialmediabyashtyningram
#photobyemmaweidman

“You are just like your mom.” I’ve lost cou

“You are just like your mom.”

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told that in my life.

The thing is, I wanted to be just like her — her work ethic, charisma everyone seems to love and her ability to make anyone laugh. Ever since I was little I strived not just to impress her, but to become a carbon copy of her — she’s just that perfect.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybyemmersonwinfrey
#socialmediabysydneyeck
#photobyclarapeters

I hate talking to people. I actively avoid any so

I hate talking to people.

I actively avoid any social confrontation, always beelining for tablet kiosks in restaurants and choosing to work independently. So naturally fifth-grade-me was set on joining Harbinger — a class where writers talk to dozens of strangers a month.

Makes sense.

But before unconsciously applying to my worst nightmare, freshman-me had to fend for my life in the woods. Also known as attending J-1 class.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybyadalillieworthington
#socialmediabysydneyeck
#photobycarolinemartucci

“What was your childhood like?” The two of th

“What was your childhood like?”

The two of them looked at each other and laughed. I wasn’t expecting the couple to be taken aback by the question, but then again, I was 11 years old.

In sixth grade, we were asked to complete a passion project where we researched a topic of our choice before applying it to our individualized projects. At the time, my only passions were concocting slime and strumming three cords on my ukulele.

So while my classmates began researching their future career aspirations or their favorite sport, I hit a dead end and couldn’t find a way to turn around.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybylarkinbrundige
#socialmediabylylaweeks
#photobycarolinemartucci
#photobyclarapeters

From riding in a Chrystler rental van during 100 d

Tate says I’m not supposed to write a senior col

Tate says I’m not supposed to write a senior column if I don’t have anything important to say.

What is important? Who cares? Are rhetorical questions cliché?

This is the first time I’ve been given a story entirely focused on me. Seemingly ironic, as that’s what Harbinger has taught me: to listen to myself.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybyMaryGagen
#socialmediabysydneyeck
#PhotobyAmelieWong

It’s rare to find one of us without the other.

It’s rare to find one of us without the other.

Simultaneous nail appointments before every school dance, working the same seven-hour shifts at Kansas City Country Club three days a week every summer and a joint grad party — all thanks to four years on Harbinger together.

We became friends through shared carpools to gallery shoots — before we were trusted to drive on the highway — and sitting on the J-room floor freshman year because there weren’t enough chairs for new staffers. We were those “bungee buddies” Tate begged to split up on the field so we didn’t end up with SD cards full of identical pictures.

It wasn’t until our first Dallas summer workshop that our bungee cord snapped.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybycarolinemartucci
#storybyclarapeters
#socialmediabylylaweeks
#photobyameliewong

When someone asks me what my Harbinger position is

When someone asks me what my Harbinger position is I say I’m the Head Online Photo Editor. The question that always follows is, “So what do you do?”

My response: I don’t know.

The position was created by the editors last year just for me. This was the first time the photo editor position had two different categories, print and online.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybyameliewong
#socialmediabylylaweeks
#photobyclarapeters

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