An ode to The Sidekick’s graduates

At the start of the year, Anjali was just the chief, a person who I knew nothing about except for the fact that she was in a position of authority. If I only knew then that she would be the one that I would have soon shadowed at athletic events, taken photos for her columns and be inspired by her emotive and detailed writing, I would have profusely thanked her then and there when I saw her sit a few ...

There are two and only two things you need to know. One, Coppell High school senior  Joanne Kim has the coolest voice you will ever hear. And two, Kim has the coolest style you will ever see.  Bottom line, Joanne is the absolute coolest person one will ever meet. But, I feel compelled to share more about this mythology-podcaster-reader-speaker extraordinaire. So, here it is: an ode to Joanne. There’s not a b...

At the back of D115, there’s a cluster of iMacs lining the far wall. The middle four were home to myself and three other Sidekick staffers, including Tracy, during our sophomore year. I became close friends with her, allowing me the honor of getting to know one of the most persistent and determined people I’ve ever met. From the very beginning, Tracy has been an unstoppable force to be reckoned w...

Meer and I have had our arguments over the years - about just about everything: how to run a section, which sports are more important, whether it's valid to make your bed in the morning. We’re both argumentative people, and we often can’t find that “agree to disagree” common ground. But at the end of the day, I will always respect him as the best sports journalist I’ve known.  I’m writin...

James Madison once said “As long as the connection subsists between one’s reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests.�...

Every day, when I enter D115, I see Nick sitting at the back tables, eating a sugary breakfast. Sitting next to Nick for an entire year has taught me a lot about him. Nick is quick to critique, never first in line for an assignment and will complain loudly about completing any assignment he has. I once jokingly asked him why he rejoined The Sidekick, but the truth is Nick is not only a talented...

A labyrinth of technology covers the heads of stressed out staff members, clicking away furiously at their computers. It’s off the floor (OTF) day, and the tension could only be cut through with a knife. Stepping into this environment was disorienting, considering how calm D115 usually is.  As my chest started to tighten, I looked around the room for any sort of guidance. I tried to catch th...

My first encounter with Yasemin was on my first day in D115.  She had brought up how she brought donuts for everyone during The Sidekick’s summer boot camp, which I hadn’t attended. My first impression of her was that she seemed like a caring, if not a bit eccentric, person. I moved a bit between the couch inside and my assigned computer when it came to where I sat.  I can’t remember why, but Yasemi...

D115 has held the weight of hundreds of staffers throughout the existence of The Sidekick. Along with these staffers come their emotions. Producing and publishing content daily can influence high school students both positively and negatively. And through the highest and lowest points of my time in the program, there has only been a singular aspect that remained constant. Not a what but rather a who...