the thenestline.comest February 2021 • Vol. 8 Issue 4 Boys Soccer Shoot For the Win Junior Bryce Shockley takes control of the ball and keeps it from the opponent. INSIDE TOMPKINS HIGH SCHOOL News ......................... 3 Features ................... 4 Cultural Sports ...................... 11 Identities Entertainment ........13 Gallery .................... 16 The Importance of Learning and Exploring Cultures Pages 8-9 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd. • Katy TX 77494 2 THE NEST CONTENTS Feburary 2021 Cover Photo By Caleigh Hommel Editor in Chief Sneha Raghavan Co-Managing Editors Everything About the Vaishnavi Bhat 3 Emma Vergara Covid-19 Vaccine Business and Social Manager Brianna Plake Layout Editor Ella Hummeldorf Staff Alkhatab Mizyed Ella Ray Madison Isom Mahee Bhatt Cowgirls in Cowtown Matias Simionato 7 Rachel Bregnard Raegan Ervin Tristan Beach Vanessa Caceres Vanessa Lingenfelter Head Photographers Caleigh Hommel Camvy Tu Asst. Head Photographers Taylor Hobson 10 Masked Falcon Morgan Cordle Photography Amber Gibson Angela Meza Arantza Dominguez Canela Babatise Awobokun Bridgette Foit Brinley Snyder Diego Cortez Ezri Terry Hadley Sanders Kalei Napolean Samantha Staff Appreciation Imouokhome 16 Tracy Thai Advisor Shetye Cypher @thenestline GENERAL INQUIRIES The Nest is an official publication of OTHS. Editorials represent the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily of KISD administration or faculty. The Nest is a member of the Inter- Tompkins High School scholastic League of Press Conference (ILPC), the Texas Association of Journalism Education (TAJE), the Journalism Education Association (JEA), the Columbia Scholastic Press 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd. Katy, Association (CSPA), the Texas High School Press Association (THSPA), and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA). It is the policy of KISD not to discriminate on the Tx 77494 basis of sex, disability, race, religion, color, age, or national origin and its educational programs, activites, and employment practices. 281-234-1072 3 February 2021 THE A Sho at Returning To Normal: NEST Everything About the COVID-19 Vaccine After many long federal governments to issue taxpayer dollars, it will understands the importance Managing Editor Managing months of careful the vaccine to healthcare be provided at no cost to of strict covid regulations. evaluation and workers and the elderly Americans. This is a relief Although she is staying safe development, the first, with other frontline to many, increasing the by keeping her distance COVID-19 vaccine workers right behind number of individuals and wearing a mask, she was just recently them. And although it may considering getting believes that the vaccine approved by the take until spring or even vaccinated since money is could turn over a new leaf, Food and Drug summer, the Health and not much of a worry. So and allow people to interact Administration Human Services believe that far, states do not have the more. and is being enough vaccines will soon right to make the vaccine “I think what’s most Vaishnavi Bhat Vaishnavi distributed. On be manufactured and made mandatory and require their important is that the Dec. 11, 2020, available for all. population to take the shot. vaccine will allow people to The FDA granted Jana Gremillion, the However, private companies be around things and people the use of the main campus nurse, was and workplaces in the U.S. they love much more,” said vaccine on anybody 16 eligible to receive a dose can order their employees to Mbaye. “I hope the vaccine years or older in the US, of the vaccine near the take the vaccine, once it is will bring relief to older bringing forth a collective beginning of January. more available to everyone. populations, families, and sigh of relief. With this, She was a bit concerned As discussed before, everyone affected during however, also came the with the uncertainty of although it may take this time.” rush of questions and the vaccine, since major years to identify any long In regards to students concerns regarding the cost, effects would take years to term side-effects, getting and young adults, this effectiveness, and safety of discover. That didn’t keep vaccinated protects the vaccine could be the final the injection. her from taking the shot, individual and the people step before life returns According to the CDC however, and she plans on around them. Experts to somewhat-normal. website, the vaccine has getting her second dose in also believe that getting a Although young people are not been known to show late January. vaccine may help prevent at much lower risk and any harmful effects. The “I am hoping the vaccine, serious illness, even if are last in line to get the Centers for Disease Control once given on a wide spread a person carries COVID vaccine, everyone will soon and Prevention have basis to the public, will already. The vaccine be treated to the injection, been closely monitoring help control the spread and benefits people by creating and the strict restrictions and ensuring that all the lessen the severity of the an antibody response and regulations will slowly vaccines are as safe as illness,” said Gremillion. which helps fight off any be relaxed. It is crucial to possible. Additionally, they The cost of getting the experience of sickness. continue social distancing developed a tool to observe vaccine has also been a Junior Anta Mbaye has and staying safe while any side effects or issues. topic of discussion lately. been actively following the country works with V-safe, a smartphone app, While vaccination providers updates regarding the healthcare organizations to allows vaccine-takers to may charge patients a vaccine, and sees many master how the COVID-19 report and track their small administration fee benefits to it. Being an vaccine works in real-world health after receiving the for receiving the shot, athlete and competitive settings, and slowly but COVID-19 vaccine. Just like the vaccine itself is free. dancer, Mbaye loves being surely rid the country of any other vaccine, taking Since the doses have able to collaborate with this prolonged pandemic. the COVID-19 vaccine may been purchased with U.S. teammates, but she also result in a few side effects and flu-like symptoms. Such effects are normal and expected, however, since that is the body’s way of slowly building defense and immunity. Additionally, it has been recommended to get two doses, 3-4 weeks apart, in order to ensure complete immunity and protection against this serious disease. Although the supply is currently limited, the vaccine will be soon widely available to the public and will be supplied in pharmacies, hospitals, Members of the community wait patiently at the Delmar Stadium in Houston to recieve their first healthcare centers, and doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is currently recommended that the elderly and the frontline workers more. Currently, the CDC recieve the vaccine first. is recommending local and Photo By Sebastian Meza 4 THE NEST Feburary 2021 StandWithSam On Dec. 26, very shocked and blessed viewers to see updates on to see the large outreach of Managing Editor Managing while on his way about it, we were not ex- Mills’s condition while he support.” home from work, pecting it at all.” was recovering from his Support was also given junior Sam Mills In support of Mills, a Go- accident. Almost daily, outside of social media, like was involved in FundMe page was created updates were given of his a candlelight vigil for Mills a car accident, to help raise money for Mills progress, asking for prayers on Dec. 27. This took place resulting in his and his family. Starting on for the family and Mills. at Mills’s work. During the hospitalization. Dec. 28, the GoFundMe had “Courtney Doyal, Jessica vigil, much of the commu- For two weeks a goal of $20,000 to help Hearn, who are very close nity came down and prayed following his ac- the family, who had already family friends, and some for Mills’s recovery. An- cident, Mills was dealt with difficult times football moms were the ones other show of support was Emma Vergara Emma being taken care back in the beginning of the who started the hashtag,” the sales for a “Stand With of in the ICU for a Covid-19 events. Since the said Mills. Sam” shirt, designed by medically induced creation of the GoFundMe On top of the GoFundMe Mills’s sisters. These shirts coma in order for page, they exceeded their page, many were showing were then worn on Jan. 26 him to recover fully from his original goal with almost support by sharing the to show the support of Mills. injuries. In the event of his $23,000 raised to help sup- hashtag, “StandWithSam.” “The GoFundMe and the accident and his recovery, port Mills. This hashtag led people to hashtag has helped us a many in the community “We did not expect this his story and allowed people lot,” said Mills. “We prob- around Mills came together great outcome,” said Mills. to see the support given. ably wouldn’t have done to support his family. “It was very humbling to The hashtag was spread it without the support of “The first time I saw the see.” throughout platforms such people.” support given was Jan. Alongside raising money as Instagram, Facebook and To show support of Mills 17, the day I got out,” said for the Mill’s family, the Go- Twitter, which eventually and his family and see up- Mills. “My family and I were FundMe page also allowed led any viewers to Mills’s dates on Mills, you can see GoFundMe page. his GoFundMe page under “My favorite thing done the name, “StandWith- for my family has been the Sam-Team Texas,” and you prayers, the food meals, can also see his Facebook and the donations,” said page under the hashtag Mills.