Westlake High School - El Paisano Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Trendsetter After shaving a W on his head, sophomore Will Petly shows off his new style. Al- though most didn ' t take such drastic measures, motivation for a football game prompted Will to go all out. Decathlon Regional Winners Sixth Overall Bryan Taylor-1 st math, 2nd science Mike 0 ' Connor-2nd sdence, 2nd economics Charles Hargrove-3rd fine arts Jason Fischcr-2nd interview Jennifer Bradley-lst all around alternate Final product necessitates teamwork All for one, one for all If one performer forgot the cue, another covered. If one journalist missed a deadline, another reported the event to fill the hole. From performance to print, cast and staff members joined forces to produce one-acts and issues to please their respective audiences. We work as a team, senior Houston Ford said. When it comes down to a deadline, we forget which section we ' ve been assigned to and work on everything until it reaches perfection. Deadlines not only forced the yearbook and newspaper staffs into a frenzy, but sent one-act play and full performance casts into panic just be- fore the opening night curtain. Before a performance , everyone runs around looking for props, getting make-up, helping others with lines; it becomes a bit of an organized chaos, senior Sharon Beynon said. Although exceptional end results remained key motivators for overlays in responsibilities, some complained that things would be more effective if everyone completed their own tasks. In yearbook, people are con- stantly doing assorted jobs in order to complete a section of the book, junior Alex Grossman said. In yearbook Utopia, everyone would pull their own weight. Little did the student audience know the behind-the-scenes pressure experienced by staffers. The staff devotes countless hours and most often they only hear complaints, but they realize that ' s part of the game, journalism student teacher Ms. Maelia Prendes said. The countless hours of prepara- tion resulted in productions and pub- lications made more special because of the dreaded deadline duties. Fine lines As deadlines approach, student life section editor senior Traci Kriss draws lay-out designs for her pages. Yearbook staffers spent hoursafter school and on weekends getting the yearbook finished and sent off to the printing plant on time. Big deal Negative motivators provide incentives in getting job done— but not like rewards To many, the best recognition came in a re- ward or at the least, an honorable mention. But sometimes, when the per- formance appeared less than spectacular, some stumbled over criticism, often much more elabo- rate than any reward. Some received re- wards for their good grades by getting an ex- tended curfew, clothes, tapes, or being unground- ed (if grounded at the time). Some also got punished for their bad grades by having an earli- er curfew, getting ground- ed, or having their car parked. When I make A ' s and B ' s, my parents are happy, but don ' t make a big deal out of it because it ' s expected. But if I make a bad grade, it seems to be a bigger is- sue, freshman Audra Rincon said. Other students de- monstrated less ambition towards their goals if a reward did not prevail. I wouldn ' t try as hard for something if there was not a reward given be- cause it would be a waste of life, time, and energy, junior Janine Bible said. When it came to grades, some students dragged on and had to be motivated. Money rem- ained one of the biggest enticements--even as a ploy for studying. Praise shows self satisfaction and is more beneficial than money. You don ' t go to school for money, Director of Coun- seling Mrs. Toody Byrd said. Stage hands During the drama department ' s performance of Crimes of the Heart , seniors Sharon Beynon and Lauren Cassel play their leading roles. Like their other productions, the show proved a crowd -pleaser. Take a Number ACADEMICS

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How DO YOU GET PSYCHED UP FOR PERFORMANCES?! Students face heavy workloads PRESSURE UNDER UNDER UNDER UNDER Unfinished English papers, unread history and undone algebra assignments. Students faced them everyday, but some found ways to overcome the demanding pressures of school. Frenzied is how I ' d describe how I am when I get nervous about a test or uptight about finals. I usually find myself chewing on my lower lip and becoming very argumentative, junior Andrea Brannan said. While individual quirks varied as one-of-a- kind reactions, three out of five students turned to chewing gum as a response to pressure. Chewing gum is a habit of mine and I ' ll go through piece after piece. On top of that, I ' ll twirl my hair too, senior Shelley McDill said. Though some pressure-relieving habits happened voluntarily, students responded differently and many found themselves hyperactive when they studied. When anything important is coming up, I usually end up running a few miles so I can relax, I just get too much adrenaline flowing senior Sean Lanahan said. Drum roll With the expertise of any band member, sophomore Jeremy Thompson shows Michael Webber the finer points of percussion. Jeremy frequented Tommy ' s Drum Shop, purchasing the latest percussion equipment PULLING POWER Backstage and in control of the curtains, sophomore Bob Holmes and senior David Grey wait for their cues. Technical theatre students faced pressure while making certain that each show went smoothly. All in a day ' s work Part-time jobs, homework, chores incite anxieties in students with 36-hour days Three tests, going to work, doing algebra homework then washing the dog, all in a day ' s work. Students found pressures in all aspects of daily routines. To many, school fell as one of the primary fo- cuses of pressure. This, coupled with the pres- sure of part-time jobs and obligations to mom caused some to recognize their problems. My pressure is from having to go to school, then to work, and then home where it ' s time to do school work or help around the house, senior Karen McLean said. Competition remain- ed an inevitable aspect of school life. To do the best and accomplish the most proved a seemingly un- accomplishable goal. Most of my pressure comes from how well I do in school. I have to do my best because of the pres- sure of what college I go to, senior Wendie Schlageter said. Self-satisfaction and accomplishments also caused academic pres- sures. Often the pres- sures felt by students were self-inflicted, but a strong personal desire to achieve a top quarter rating usually prevailed. Most of the pressure that is placed on me is by me, junior Laura Brooks said. I want to do exceptionally well, so I can get in A M. Backstage Stagehands share the same applause as actors for unseen work—and shouldl In performances, the audience watched the ac- tors play out roles that were memorized after months of rehearsal. The audience then showered the performers with . applause. What the . audience might not realize is that their applause complimented the stage manager and backstage crew as well . It ' s hard work; ev- erybody in rehearsal ask- ing questions at one time over the headset. It ' s def- initely a challenge to run a show, but afterwards it ' s very satisfying, junior Caroline George, stage manager for Tom ones, said. A lot went on behind the scenes. Lighting and sound were monitored at all times as well as the counter unit fly system used for dropping scenes into place. I found that lighting for Zenith was the most difficult. We had so many lighting cues it took two of us to keep track of things, senior lighting director Eric Moreland said. Doing a show seemed the best way to learn all the duties and responsibilities of back- stage crew work. I was told to be there at six to mop the stage for Zenith. Something hap- pened to the guy doing sound so Mr. Bentley asked me if I wanted to do it. I freaked, but Blake Vackar gave me a crash course in sound engineering and every- thing went off great, se- nior Robbie Hill said. Pressure to make sure everything back- stage flowed correctly came from the students desire to see things done right, and the director ' s attempt to hold the show together. There ' s a real pres- sure to do things right: bringing in the lights, sound, and backdrops in perfect syncronicity with the actors on stage. It ' s critically important to have perfect timing. The real pressure though comes from trying not to make Mr. Bentley angry, sophomore Bob Holmes said. Next time a standing ovation is being given for the actors and directors, just remember the guys doing the dirty work . Edited by Wendy Willlis | © TWO FOR THE SHOW lO

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Applause Performers work hard for minutes of audience praise Drama performers complained about rehear- sals, journalism staffers about paste-ups and aca- demic decathlon mem- bers about endless read- ing. For motivation and morale, organized groups found ways of making meetings, projects and competitions more bear- able and even enjoyable. The best kind of en- couragement is a hug from someone and a good word about the show, se- nior madrigal Amy Drew said. Every choir, drama and journalism member interviewed agreed that parties and an occasional good job said to them kept them motivated to do that good job. Even if I don ' t see a banner for my play, it does help if p eople tell me good luck before the per- formance, senior actress Fleur Fox said. However, less than eight percent of the dra- ma budget went for pub- licity, so few students knew that plays actually had been staged. I don ' t see many people saying ' yeah about the work that band does. They know we are there. HANG urs Showcasing works of art from student artists, senior Brian Land hangs one last sketch on the wall of the office. Art students achieved notoriety after their winnings at the state competition. Type cast While typing in a study sheet for the academic decathlon, junior Scott Defoy imitates the typical typist. Academic decathlon members prepared for weeks in advance for the grueling test. So LONG With costumes on, junior Tres Finley and senior Charles Hampton rehearse for their performance in Bye Bye Birdie. but nobody knows how much work we really put in, junior band member Lisa Wells said. Students involved in more than one activity weren ' t as concerned over the morale issue, but 15% of all performing partici- pants said morale builders made no real difference. Oftentimes, I say that student reaction to the newspaper doesn ' t matter, but it does, Feather duster editor Dane Reese said. It ' s great when we hear that students and teachers liked the issue and specifically react to its content. With each play, choir or band concert, is- sue of the paper or aca- demic contest, morale and motivation took the leading role, the solo and the banner headline. In the running Academic decathlon team gets into top mental shape saiooi 4X% f¥ A rA How MANY HOURS DO YOU DEVOTE TO EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PER WEEK? [fi 3-4 HRS 9% 0-2 HRS 23% 5-6 HRS 11% 7-8 HRS 57% t 7X, From football to golf to swimming to academic decathlon. Students rarely considered the top honor students as subjects for spectator sports. I always thought of Westlake as a bunch of dumb, rich kids who bought their grades; I never thought of any one as a brain, sophomore Dottie Brown said. Unlike athletic teams, academic team members worked all their lives, not just a few days a week. The skills it took to win the decathlon couldn ' t be learned in a few weeks training. I tried to play sports, and be on the decathlon team but it was too much of a strain, so I dropped sports, senior Barrett Webb said. As students excelled in school, some parents placed pressure on their kids, pushing them more into the academic arena. My parents went in- I tried to play sports and be on the decathlon team, but it was too much... senior Barrett Webb sane when I said I ' d rather go out than study for an upcoming meet, senior Lauren Cassel said. Teachers took pride in the select students who participated in the de- cathlon. Seeing these few students accept such a challenge drove teachers on to keep coaching and teaching. Everytime I see one of my students name on the decathlon list,it lifts me up. 1 like to think that they owe some of that knowledge to me, English teacher Mrs. Jean Dahlquist said. Balls and other ath- letic equipment used tra- ditionally by competitive teams, demanded little attention from academic decathlon team mem- bers— they used books. Edited by Elise Rasmussen I TWO FOR THE SHOWl