sNyder high schOOl 3801 austiN ave. the tiger’s sNyder, tx 79549 tale Volume 102 Dec. 13, 2019 No. 4 Loss two years ago still felt today Editor’s note: This story is not here. I was only in eighth one. You never really know the two hardest holidays. Most of the pages are tear- told in this way to protect the grade when my dad died. I how much someone impacts Holidays such as Christmas stained. I will also talk out identity of the student. was taking Algebra 1, and your life until they are gone, and Thanksgiving are also loud to him like he’s there. I My dad passed away in a every time I needed help, I especially during the holi- hard. This past year has been still miss him. That will nev- car accident during the early would want to ask my dad. days. Ever since he passed, especially hard because I er change. morning hours almost two His easiest subject is school holidays have been different. turned 16 this year. I got my If you’ve lost a loved one years ago. was math. I still to this day Our holiday traditions were driver’s license, and I got my this year, just remember that Before my dad passed will pick up my phone and pretty standard. On Thanks- first truck. All of these things you are not alone. There’s away, he was my literal best start to call him. giving we’d go eat with my should have been done with always someone that will be friend. He was the oldest of His death has affected my mom’s side for lunch and my dad, but he wasn’t here there for you. No one can three kids, just like me. We whole life in many different then my dad’s side for din- to teach me to drive. He ever replace your loved one, understood each other more ways. My mom became a sin- ner. On Christmas Eve we isn’t here to “scare away my but also remember no one than other people could un- gle mother of three after his went with my aunt and boyfriend.” But I do know is trying to replace them. derstand us. When my mom death. This was hard for her grandparents to exchange that he is watching over me. Hang their pictures, talk and I would argue, he would at first. She would work lon- gifts and eat breakfast, to my I don’t think that I’ll ever about them, remember the always be there to make sure ger hours, come home ex- dad’s side for lunch, then to miss him any less. I think good memories, and forget I was okay and wasn’t too hausted, and she was always my mom’s side for dinner the holidays will always be the bad ones. Don’t feel bad upset. If I ever needed some stressed. People always say it and presents. We would al- rough. My mom lost her dad about crying or wishing they time away from my younger takes a village to raise kids. ways wait for my parents to a few months before I was are still here. You can miss brother, age 14, and sister, Well in this case it really did. go out on Christmas morn- born, and I still see how she your loved one forever. age 11, my dad would let me My siblings and I would ei- ing and take pictures of all gets around his birthday and go with him to run errands ther walk home after school of our presents before we death day. Losing a parent If you have a loved one or even to work. I was defi- or my mom would have could go see them. Then we isn’t easy, especially if you that is not doing well right nitely a daddy’s girl growing someone pick us up when it would open all of our pres- are close to them. now, my advice to you is to up. My dad and I did every- was cold. I had to really step ents and eat breakfast. Our When I miss my dad, I hold them tight. Tell them thing together. up to help my mom out. I traditions only changed on write letters to him. I have that you love them, every Right after he died, ev- began to help cook dinner Christmas Day. Now, we just a notebook that has hand- day. When they call, answer erything felt so surreal. It all more often and would help open presents on Christmas written letters to my dad. I’ll the phone. If they ask to see felt like one big nightmare. my siblings with their home- morning and go back to bed write about how my day was you, go see them. Make sure Nothing felt real for months. work before my mom would until closer to lunch. and what important things they know you love them. I would wake up some days get home. Holidays are when I miss have been happening to me. Because you never know and forget he’s gone. I still Holidays just aren’t the him the most. His birthday A lot of times when I’m writ- when the last time you see forget, some days, that he’s same after you lose a loved and death date are probably ing the letters, I begin to cry. them will be. alsO iN this issue... News OpiNiON phOtO gallery Feature pages: spOrts pages: 6-9 pages: 2-5 pages: 10-11 12-15 & 20 pages: 16-19 the tiger’s tale editOrial dec. 13, 2019 2 Staff says live and let live, Roar of the Crowd celebrate or not celebrate How do you celebrate during the holiday season? Why don’t The holiday season has cultures and they were raised in. you observe the ones you don’t? religions celebrating multiple events They do not know how to begin par- “I celebrate them because it has always been my family tradition to celebrate them with their own respective holidays. Prin- taking in other holidays outside the ones every year. My family celebrates Thanksgiving so we can show those around us cipally Christianity and Christmas, but their families celebrated. One survey what and how we are thankful for them. My family celebrates Christmas because it is the day Jesus was born. Usually we wake up on Christmas morning and we also Judaism with Hanukkah and African participant said that he and his family automatically open presents with my mom, dad and brothers and sisters. Then unity with Kwanzaa, holidays can give celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa since after we open presents, we get ready and then family comes over and then we eat hope and a break to those who feel they it has been in their family for as long as and then open more presents with the whole family.” need it most. they could remember. Dayz Lentz, freshman Of the 42 students and faculty who None of the survey takers said they “I celebrate Thanksgiving because it is a tradition in my family and it keeps the answered the newspaper staff’s holiday wanted to convert or force others into history of a few brave men in mind. I celebrate Christmas because it is a part of my survey, 40 celebrate Christmas. Chris- their religion or holiday celebration. religion and who doesn’t want food? I don’t celebrate ‘Hanukkah’ and ‘Kwanzaa’ tians celebrate Christmas to come to- Both staff and student body tolerate oth- or other holidays because honestly, I don’t even know what they are, when they are, and what they’re celebrating. We have never and probably won’t ever get a gether and mark Jesus Christ’s birth, er religions. Christmas tree. Why? For one, because of the heathen origins of the tradition, and while those celebrating the holiday sec- The two students who said that they two, because we have a cat that loves ripping decorations apart.” ularly do it to meet up with family and do not celebrate any holidays at this time Mary Kerr, sophomore find happiness wherever possible. Both of year raised criticism against Thanks- Christian and non-Christian groups en- giving for marking the beginning of Na- “Christmas and Thanksgiving are a time for all of us to be together and cherish the joy gifts, a meal and a family get-together. tive American expulsion and Christmas blessings we have. We are a Christian family so the other holidays aren’t really part of our religion. However, I have friends that celebrate them and I find the other Some travel to meet relatives they haven’t for being a “fake” holiday. They say that holidays very interesting. For Christmas the ‘tradition’ we do depends on the year. seen in years. Students and staff partic- generational traditions are pressure from My parents are divorced, so we switch parents during lunch on Christmas Day and ipate in the Thanksgiving ritual to give their deceased family members who we alternate who has us that morning and who has us that night. This year we will back and be thankful to their friends and force the living to do it as they saw fit be without dad the morning of, so our only tradition will be acting like Santa came family members. when they were living. for our sister and then opening gifts.” Jaqulynn Craig, junior Besides connecting with family, the Independent of what is alleged, holi- students and staff enjoy time to address days during the holiday season promote “I celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa because they’ve been in my family for a very their personal issues and relax.