By human nature, we adapt. We adapt and move on with new chapters of our lives. High school, college, adulthood, etc. The one sector of our lives that we tend to forget the most about is our childhood. We are fresh to the world and are experiencing many things for the first time, so of course we aren’t going to remember every little detail. But sometimes it’s those small details that truly create the biggest life lessons. Riding a bike for the first time, spending all afternoon playing in the grass, and creating masterpieces with little blocks of chalk. Each moment leads into bigger pictures in the grand scheme of things. I live next door to a family of four with two little girls, Vivian (5) and Chloe (7). They are always outside doing what they do best, being a kid. After a while, I started to notice objects scattered around the neighborhood. Possessions of theirs that they must have forgotten. It made me start to reminisce about my childhood and the memories I made with objects that I had forgotten. With parental consent, I captured images of what will eventually become Vivian and Chloe’s fondest memories.

Everyone knows that one person in their school: the know it all, the advancer, the mathlete, the overachiever. To paint a picture in your mind, you probably already know their inner circle: clean cut, maybe even straight A’s. But do you really? Is it really a fact that you are who you associate with, or is it more of an expectation? Can you be trapped in a bubble you didn’t even know was there to begin with, or were you just blind to the system?

There have been sudden recent talks about education and shortage of teachers, substitutes, and bus drivers. With a recent vote giving Jenks the budget for a 19-million-dollar bond, it had me wondering: Where does the school budget go?

Dr. Ann Money, the driving force behind our local aquarium, has a story as deep and captivating as the oceans she explores. In our recent interview, we explored Dr. Money's illustrious career, world-renowned research published across multiple platforms, and fervent advocacy for environmental awareness. Beyond her role in the aquarium, she serves on the board of the Sustainability Alliance and actively engages with the local Jenks Chamber of Commerce. Her community involvement extends to hosting educational tours, introducing visitors to the captivating world of sharks while subtly intertwining the message of sustainability.

I was disappointed when I heard that Jenks High School would be putting on the production of Spongebob The Musical for my senior production. All I knew was that I wasn’t allowed to watch the Spongebob TV show as a kid. If I were creating a TV show theme song for children, my first idea wouldn’t be a squeaky flute with the scratchy voice of a pirate singing along. It’s just… annoying. Uniting parents from all over, the kids cartoon, Spongebob Squarepants, has been deemed stupid, brain rotting, and overall useless. It’s safe to assume that Spongebob Squarepants is among the most hated children's TV shows. I thought this musical was probably dumb and no one would want to come see it. Still, I signed up, because it’s the senior musical and I didn’t want to miss out. And as I practiced, I began to realize something surprising.

Around Jenks High School, there are vending machines with snacks and drinks, but on some of the vending machines, there are signs stuck above where the price is shown. These signs say “Calories Count, Check Then Choose.” These small, inconspicuous signs are commonly overlooked but take on a bigger significance when you’re considering their effect on students struggling with eating disorders.

Advisory, a designated time in high school for college guidance and academic help, often leaves students, especially those here at Jenks High School, with a variety of challenges and experiences. While the intention behind advisory is definitely pure, there is a lot of room for improvement that could transform the period into a more useful and beneficial use of our time at school.

For as long as I can remember, hunting has had a significant impact on my life, whether I’ve liked it or not. Growing up, my meals were filled with venison and my snacks were composed of deer summer sausage. My house was decorated with antlers, in fact, the first thing you see when you enter my house is a skeletal deer head, and if you dare to walk a little deeper you would find a giant stuffed buck nailed to our living room wall. Growing up my two older sisters were given Hunter Annie’s instead of Barbie dolls, and any visit to Bass Pro Shop was a family outing.

When you are craving a soda, whether it be at a restaurant, convenience store, grocery store or social gathering, what do you get? I get a root beer!

Call me a middle-aged woman, but don’t talk to me until I’ve had my morning cup of coffee. Consuming unthinkable amounts of caffeine within a single day brings me more joy then I would care to admit. Latte, nitro brew, or just a good ole cup of coffee, doesn’t matter to me. Especially in a time that finals are nearing. Listen, I get it. You need a cute indie coffee shop to go sit and study at in order to actually get work done. But there’s one problem; you have no idea where to go.

Tulsa is reputable for its eccentric nightlife. From Club Majestic, Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge, to the rest of “THE 10 BEST Tulsa Clubs & Bars (according to Tripadvisor). There's never a boring evening in the 918, that is if you’re over the age of 21.

Since the beginning of time, the act of killing for survival has been severely normalized. Meat mass-produced in factories, farms created just to raise cows for slaughter, to then be served on a plate for our country to be fed. But not everyone chooses to follow this “meat-eating” path. Many people have decided to eliminate meat from their diet completely.

The smell of freshly inked paper flooding your senses, the brush of the pages against your fingertips as they fly from the back cover to the front. The book feels so right in your hand, the coffee sitting comfortably in your other, and you feel utterly at home. As you peruse the aisles of books at your disposal, all the genres you could think of, you don’t have a worry in the world. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that after reading that, you’re thinking of one of the most commonly known bookstores. Probably Barnes & Noble. Maybe even Books a Million.

Out in the Midwest, gas station food is quite the norm. Here in Oklahoma, we have one of the best gas station chains in the country, Quik Trip. For the past 6 years, we have consistently enjoyed the delicacies inside QT Kitchen and their snack center. We aimed for people's favorites, then went after the irrelevant snacks. This taste test was definitely a trip to Flavour Town. Join us in telling you about our time there. We have ranked 12 items from Worst to Best, so you can know what to and what not to get. All photos credit to Quiktrip.com.

While walking down Jenks Main Street, you can find the River City Trading Post. The trading post looks simple from the outside, but when you step through the door you are transported into a maze full of everything you could possibly imagine. The first thing you see is a hallway of brightly colored ornaments hanging from the ceiling. Christmas music plays from the speakers immediately putting you in the mood for the holidays, which is a great thing because the River City Trading Post is an excellent place to find unique and handmade gifts at a range of prices.

High school is an exhausting, time-consuming, and just plain crazy four years of life that most people go through. Balancing school, homework, a good social life, family, etc. takes a toll on many students, however, Jenks senior, Whitaker McManus, has persevered. In the hustle and bustle of high school life, McManus has been a prominent example in the Jenks community of what it means to excel academically while spearheading numerous clubs here at Jenks.

Those who like Halloween. Those who are interested in the story behind the mask. Have you ever wondered what it is like to work behind the scenes at a haunted house? Just for you, here is the other side to the terrifying, spooky stories we hear this time of year.

As a senior in high school, career fairs aren’t the most exciting thing in the world. But at Jenks, seniors can experience helicopter landings, live paintings and zoo animals at their career fair. The long process of finding speakers, food and transportation is difficult but worth it for the students.

Fluorescent lighting burns your eyes, hundreds, thousands, of new faces, floating around you occasionally bumping your shoulder muttering a quick “sorry” as they rush into small rooms that decorate the beige-brick walls. A dull panic sets in your chest, anticipation pulsing through your blood, millions of questions and concerns crowding your mind all at once.

People either love kids or hate them. While loud, opinionated, sticky, and gross, they can also be sweet, playful, and caring. It takes a special person to be able to take care of kids, especially ones that aren’t even their own. Our Child Development class takes a dive into the development of children and possible job opportunities.