“New Year, New Issue”

By the TMI Journalism Club

New year, same monthly articles brought to you by the TMI Times!  As the second semester begins, we are excited to highlight some of the most entertaining happenings in the TMI community. From special alumni visits to outstanding student achievements, 2024 is definitely looking bright for our stunning Panthers.

New Year, New You: The Art of Resolutions

By Bernice Gitiche

What’s going in and what’s coming out? How will this year be different? How will I be different? These are questions we often ask ourselves at the beginning of each year. However, the true question is: How beneficial is creating yearly resolutions?

According to Forbes, America’s top business magazine, 44% of Americans create resolutions to live healthier or become happier, but only 8% actually achieve them. So, if less than 1/4th of resolution-makers are actually successful, what’s the point of making resolutions? The answer is simple: creating resolutions allows you to set an intention, making you 10x more likely to achieve a goal. Even if you only accomplish 3 out of 10 of your yearly goals, that’s still better than never setting any to begin with. 

If you haven’t already, consider creating a list of goals to set for yourself this year. It is most helpful to divide your goals into categories in order to keep the specificity. Some examples include creating health-based, spiritual, and academic goals and then adding 3-5 goals within these categories. Check out an example of a quick goal-setting list designed for high-achieving students.

1. Health Goals:
   • Workout 5x a week for at least 30 minutes
   • Limit sugary treats to once a day or once every other day
   • Include vegetables in every meal
2. Spiritual Goals:
   • Pray, read the Bible, and meditate every morning
   • Journal things you are grateful for before going to bed
   • Spend more time getting to know yourself (journal your thoughts, take frequent walks, or explore a hobby)
3. Academic Goals:
   • Maintain an A in every class
   • Dedicate 1 hour a day to studying
   • Take better advantage of office hours and flex times

Design your goals to fit with who you are and what you want to accomplish this year. Remember, nothing changes if nothing changes, so if 2024 is a year you want to elevate your life, consider setting those resolutions.

Mrs. Connie McNabb, one of the first females to graduate from TMI, revisits the campus

By Bernice Gitiche

On January 17th, Mrs. Connie McNab, TMI Class of 1974, visited TMI to meet with a selected group of female student leaders. During her visit, she shared information about her experiences as one of the first female students to graduate from TMI and the lessons she acquired from her teachers and peers. She emphasized her message of women’s empowerment and the significance of perseverance and hard work.

McNab started high school at Alamo Heights High School but soon realized she wanted something different- something challenging and stimulating, an education that would inspire her to push herself. She ended up convincing her parents to enroll her in TMI, which had just begun admitting female students. McNab expressed how mind-altering her experience at TMI was and how she was introduced to a collection of students with wide-ranging perspectives. 

“I was just following this really strong feeling,” McNab explains, “and I wanted to do something more.” Her visit inspired not just female students at TMI but all students to continue to follow their goals and keep working towards their desired outcomes. Thank you, Mrs. Connie McNab, for the impact you have made on TMI and for paving the way for future leaders.

Marcelo Martinez-Sotomayor Creates a Toy Car for a Young Patient

By Bernice Gitiche

Senior Marcelo Martinez-Sotomayor recently created a toy car for a young patient with physical disabilities. As one of the most dedicated Innovation & Design Students at TMI, Marcelo wanted to participate in this project because of his desire to positively shape other people’s lives. He explained how he “gains very much” from this experience, “and this is something very cool to do.”

Last year, Marcelo began working with Go Baby Go, an organization that supports children with disabilities. He hopes to continue working with similar organizations to help young children.

Marcelo started off the car’s design process by simply drawing out the components and 3D-printing the parts, describing it as “a trial and error process.” Finally, the car turned out as he desired, and it was ready for the young patient.

We are proud of Marcelo’s accomplishments and cannot wait to see what he continues to do for others after he graduates from TMI. Go, Panthers!

National Honor Society Induction

By Sofia Kock and Carolina Meneses

About two weeks ago, new inductees and officers were initiated into the National Honor Society. 

The new officers that were inducted this year are Chloe Ogden ’25, Reagan Bishop ’25, Olivia Talley ’25, Sarah Joy Dudley ’25, and senior Brooke Kapoor. Congratulations to all the new officers and inductees who joined this year! 

Interview with Reagan Bishop, Officer of Service, and Olivia Talley, Officer of Scholarship

By Lissy Maycotte and Taylor Whittaker

Reagan Bishop and Olivia Talley were asked, “How does it feel to be one of the NHS officers this year?” Reagan, Officer of Service, responded, “It’s definitely very cool and rewarding that our friends and peers thought we would be suitable for the position.” Olivia Talley, Officer of Scholarship, said, “I’m very excited to be an NHS officer this year, and even though we haven’t done anything yet, I am looking forward to the future.” They were also asked what role their position served in the NHS. Reagan said her position, Officer of Service, “Is about community service, and making sure everyone in NHS completes their community service because [the club] does require more community service” and that she “helps people understand why we do community service.” Olivia said her position, Officer of Scholarship, “makes sure everyone meets the grade requirements and stays on top of people’s grades.”

Interviewing Sage Staff 

By Sofia Kock and Carlolina Meneses

We interviewed some of the Sage Dining staff on our last issue, so we decided to do another interview to see if we have any new updates! If you have any questions you might want us to ask the Sage staff, we encourage you to send them to us for our next interview. 

Interview with Elizabeth, a member of the Sage Dining Staff:

Q: Will we see any new meals or desserts this semester? If so, what is one of the new things we will see soon?
A: “Yes, we will be serving lasagna. I believe this time it will be with chicken. We will have new  varieties of rice and pasta.”

Q: If you had to choose anything from Sage dining to eat, what would you choose, or what is your favorite meal?
A: “The ribs and pork are very good—and you can never go wrong with the lasagna.”

Q: What is your favorite and least favorite meal to prepare?
A: “ I like to prepare the Caesar salad because the students love it. There is nothing that I don’t like to prepare. Truly,  I enjoy preparing everything.”

Q: What is something you are looking forward to this semester?
A: “That you, as students, be satisfied and enjoy the food—it is our mission.”

Q: What is your favorite part about working at TMI?
A: “The kids—I love them. I really enjoy it” 

Club Spotlight

By Nicole Kock and Valeria Ayarzagoitia

Spanish Club

This January, the Spanish club celebrated ‘Dia de los Reyes’ or Three Kings Day. The special holiday takes place on January 6th, and it is meant to commemorate the three wise men who arrived with gifts for baby Jesus. During this holiday, people have many ways to celebrate, some of which include eating the traditional Rosca de Reyes. The Rosca de Reyes is a sweet bread with candied fruit on top, usually including a baby made of plastic randomly placed in the bread. If you receive the slice with the baby Jesus, it is usual to cook tamales for everyone on February 12 or Candelaria Day. Another popular way people participate in Dia de los Reyes is by leaving their shoes out the night before to receive gifts. In remembrance of the three wise kings and Jesus’ birth, families from Spanish-speaking countries gather to celebrate both of these Christian traditions in an exciting and fun way.

Mock Trial Club:

This month, we want to highlight the Mock Trial Club and its student leaders, Kaily Tejada ’25, Emilio Saucedo ’25, and Patrick Miggins ’25. Check out the video linked below!

Mock Trial Video

Sports

Track

Track season has officially begun, and the team has started preparing for the upcoming season. Their first meet is February 24th at Saint Mary’s Hall, which is an all-relays meet. The team practices every school day from 4 to 6, working hard on getting in shape for the season! 

Soccer

By Margo Delmer

TMI’s Girls’ Soccer Team recently achieved a much-wanted win against the SMH (Saint Mary’s Hall) Barons. As for February, the team did not only defeat SMH but also blew away the Rockport Tournament, having won many of their games that weekend. Over the season, the team has practiced almost every afternoon and put in much effort, which has shown to have results, as for their successes in many games. As February and March approach, the season will soon wind down the district playoffs. However, they have several upcoming games, so make sure to come out and support your girls’ soccer team!

The Corps Does More 

By Chance Walker
Picture credits: Jerry Choi ‘24

The Corps had a night of fun at Altitude Trampoline Park, where there was even a dodgeball competition in which Charlie was the victor. Twenty-two of the students who were inducted into the NHS this month were from the Corps

Charlie Company Cadet Andres Santoscoy ‘28 won Cadet of the Month for the middle school, while Bravo Company Cadet Austin Thompson ‘26 won the upper school competition.

Congratulations to all the cadets who were promoted this week. All of the Seniors reached their final rank this month, symbolizing the effort and work they have put in over their many years in the corps.

Looking Ahead 

By Chance Walker

• Big Tent Chapel Event – Thursday, February 8 – come out to support the Seniors who are giving their Chapel Talk in a new way
• Military Ball – Saturday, February 10 – this night is sure to be heaps of fun starting at 6:30 pm. The two masters of ceremonies or announcers for the event will be Victoria Hughes ‘25 and Thomas Skelly ‘25, who will certainly do amazing. Come to celebrate the Senior Class and all of their accomplishments in the Corps.
• Valentine’s Day – Wednesday, February 14 – be sure to order candy grams for your friends!
• Four-Day Weekend – Friday, February 16 to Monday, February 19 – due to both Head Master’s Day and President’s Day we get a nice opportunity to get some good sleep
• Spring Break – Saturday, March 9 to Sunday, March 17
• Founder’s Day – Wednesday, March 20
• Prom – Saturday, April 20

What’s Poppin’
A Dive into Pop Culture

Music’s Missing Ingredient

By Lily Warr

What makes modern music so different from that of the past? The sounds, the genres, and even album covers greatly differ from decade to decade. But there’s something else– something old music has that newer releases lack; that secret ingredient that ties a song together and makes it complete. After doing some thinking, I came to the conclusion that what recent music is missing is passion.

Take a look at the 1960s, for example. This was a big decade for music– you see the evolution of rock, the rise of blues, and the shift towards pop. Bands like the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and the Grateful Dead found considerable success as their popularity rose, as did individual artists like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. These people were trailblazers for new genres of music, creating their own unique styles that are still used as inspiration today. Recently, there hasn’t been much of this creativity. Rather than experimenting with new sounds, musicians seem more inclined to put out albums as cash grabs, sticking to whatever they know will bring in the most money. This results in all these albums sounding somewhat similar.

Not only was there more originality in the 60s, but there was more meaning to music back then as well. In a time of inequality and war, music became a powerful tool for advocating political change. The song “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke raised awareness and brought hope to the fight for racial equality. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin became an anthem for feminists everywhere. While there are some protest songs being released today, there definitely aren’t as many, and they don’t appear to have the same impact. The more mainstream singers don’t use their popularity to help inspire change, at least not through their music. Instead, like I said before, they continue to do whatever they believe will make them money.

So what’s the solution? Well, for any aspiring musicians reading this: take risks. Don’t rely so much on the artists you use as inspiration; instead, create a sound that is unique to you. Write about things you feel passionately about, not what you think will make you wealthy. The more meaning a song has, the greater punch it will pack. As for those who are just listeners, we need to stop settling for mediocrity. We constantly overhype singers who are simply doing the same thing as everyone else. This encourages them to continue releasing music that is unimaginative and dull. Start taking the time to discover and promote the bands who are trying to do something different- they’re the ones who deserve attention.

Dream bigger!

New Movies Coming out in 2024:

By Katie Hendrick
2024 Films Schedule

January: 

• Mean Girls 
• The Beekeeper

February: 

• Bob Marley: One Love 
• Land of Bad

March:

• Dune: Part 2
• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
• Kung Fu Panda 4 
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

April:

• Abigail
• The First Omen
• Challengers

May:

• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Back to Black 
• The Garfield Movie

June:

• Inside Out 2 
• It Ends With Us 
• A Quiet Place: Day One

July:

• Despicable Me 4
• Project Artemis
• Deadpool 3

August:

• Flint Strong
• Blink Twice

September: 

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Speak No Evil
• Transformers One

October:

• Smile 2
• Joker: Folie à Deux

November: 

• Venom 3
• Gladiator 2 
• Incredibles 3

December: 

• Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3
• Karate Kid (2024) 

THE OSCARS.

By Isabella Contreras

As the film industry gears up for one of its most prestigious cinemas, the 96th Oscars, anticipation fills the air during nomination season. Sunday, March 10, 2024, the nominees will all gather as we watch our favorite filmmakers honored.

Actress Zazie Beetz and actor Jack Quaid announced on January 20th the nominations across all 23 categories for the 96th Academy Awards from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. The Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air on ABC on March 10th, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. This year, the 2024 Nominations are:

Panther Voices:
Highlighting TMI Opinions and Spotlights

Panther Spotlight:
Panther of the Month: Mina Swarovski 

This month’s Panther of the Month is Mina Swarovski ’24, and our interviewer, Kaily Tejada ‘25, was able to ask her some questions.

Q (Tejada): How does it feel being the new Panther of the Month?
A (Swarovski): It feels amazing and I feel really appreciated by the staff that selected me. I feel really happy about it.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about TMI?
A: My favorite thing about TMI is the moral. I think it’s the people that we have here; the students here that we have to look out for each other. TMI is a place I can go to and always feel at home.

Q: What’s one thing that you like to do to serve the community?
A: One thing I love doing for TMI is helping with community service in the dorms. I am in charge of community service for the school but also the dorms are something bigger that I contribute to. I organize trips for the dorm students to go outside of campus and to serve others. 

Movie Reviews

By Chance Walker

Snowpiercer (2013)

This movie is set in the near future, where humans have used a last-ditch effort to halt global warming in which they put a chemical into the air that they think will cool down the planet. Of course, this effect goes too far and freezes the whole planet, and the vestiges of humanity escape to a train that is constantly moving around the whole planet. The train is massive and holds many people such that the cars are segregated by class, and the further one moves up in the cars, the fewer people there are and the more wasteful and luxurious the cars get. The plot centers around Curtis (Chris Evans) staging a revolt against this oppressive system. In the end, the whole train is derailed, and the humans exit to try to survive on the thawing ice planet. This movie is very gruesome and has some very heavy topics, but is also fascinating with its social commentary and the scenes it depicts. It has definitely been the hardest movie to watch for this column so far, but still worth watching if you are not squeamish. Very interesting! 8.7/10

Wonka (2023)

I will admit, I had extremely low expectations coming into this movie because of the absolutely cringeworthy trailers that were released leading up to this movie. It almost seemed like they were trying to keep moviegoers away with such trailers. But… I was happily surprised by this amazing, genuine movie that is of a kind you rarely see anymore. It is a retelling of the background of the classic Willy Wonka character, except with no dark elements of the Oompa-Loompa. The plot is not complicated as it is the classic immigrant underdog tale where a new kid on the block has to prove himself better and worthy to compete against the tried and true old ways of the world. Add in an odd giraffe-milking scene, undertones of criticism against the Orthodox Church in Russia, and the kind of corruption only seen in the Gilded Age, and you know all you need to know. It brightened my day and left me feeling two major feelings: an appreciation for wonder and imagination and a hunger for chocolate. 7.8/10

Seedlings of Wisdom: A Visit to the Orchard of Mirth

By Luke Martinez and Chance Walker

Greetings to all at the Orchard of Mirth! Today, we’re showcasing a delightful new variety, the Cosmic Crisp, gleaming with its red shine. Let’s take a bite into its whimsical seeds of wisdom:

1. What does it mean to create something? Is it different from inventing something? If humans genetically engineer an organism, is it a different type or a different species?
2. How much freedom do you owe your pets? Is it ethical to keep them inside? Or conversely, keep them outside?
3. Given that Neanderthals had a cranial capacity of 1500 cubic centimeters and homo sapiens have 1400-1450cc of space, do you think they were more intelligent than us? If so, why were they outcompeted by humans?
4. Should there be more or fewer laws governing America? 
5. What is the main motivator of human beings? This view can be as pessimistic or altruistic as you want. 

Porch Politics

By Chance Walker

With the lackluster Republican Primaries, where we saw Vivek Ramaswamy rise and fall, Ron DeSantis slowly sinking into irrelevance, and Nikki Haley’s momentary spot in the limelight as the only possible alternative to Donald Trump, the primaries are, for all intents and purposes, finished. With Haley polling significantly lower than Trump at a meager 21% compared to his 77%,  it seems almost certain that it will be yet another Trump vs Biden in the 2024 election. Barring any medical emergencies from either candidate, considering they are 77 and 81, respectively, voters will just see a repeat of 2020. This begs the question of how Trump will try to campaign against Biden in the debates, if they are even held, especially considering that Biden’s run as president has seen a shockingly low number of controversies, only 34 to Trump’s 201 as defined by Wikipedia. Indeed, Biden’s number is the lowest seen in 32 years, whereas George H. W. Bush has only a few less, which is likely due to the underreporting of minor events that can be blown into controversies and the fact that Wikipedia was not around back then. Considering all this, how will Trump be able to sell himself on the debate stage against Trump? It will likely be in a similar manner as he attempted to do in the 2020 debates, where yelling and name-calling were prevalent throughout the whole debate. I have yet to meet someone happy that we are seeing the same people for president as four years ago, and yet no one is able or willing to do something about it. Just like many people feel unsatisfied with this current state of affairs, I, too, can only leave you unsatisfied with this editorial as I have no magic solution.

The Rise and Fall of Almost Friday Panthers (Almost Friday Panthers, A Remembrance)

By Chance Walker

I, and as I imagine many others, sincerely enjoyed the Instagram account that quickly spread through the school and became popular with many. This account posted TMI-related memes and content that often brightened my day. During wins and losses, AFP would continue to post, bringing cheer to the community. Of course, when it was almost Friday, the account would post silly pictures that members of the TMI community had sent. This led to many inside jokes like the account’s teasing nature of the women’s basketball team. While it was mysteriously discontinued and removed during the middle of January, it was enjoyed while it lasted. Who knows if another account like it will attempt to fill the Panther Paw-shaped hole, but I do know one thing: it will be greatly missed.

Advice Column:

Q: Is there any way to keep your notes organized, and so what are the ways?
A: Keeping your notes organized is a very simple yet very beneficial task. Taking extra time to add dividers in your binder or simply just writing the date at the top of the page can make a big difference. Personally, I organize my notes differently for every class, but I’ve found that putting dividers in my binders separating the different units in each course, dating each paper, and making a table of contents in my notebooks is very helpful; that way, when I have to prepare for a test, I can easily come back to them. Additionally, try to break the bad habit of putting loose papers in your backpack–it is much easier for them to get lost or crumpled. – Mara

Q: What is your biggest dilemma?
A: How do you choose how much to help those who need help? We’ve all been in a situation where we stop at a stoplight and there is someone standing next to our car with a sign asking for any help. Are you obligated to help them, especially when what they need would not be very hard for you to provide? How much do you help your own friends when they ask for it? You would almost never help a stranger as much as your friend, so where do you draw the line? These questions trouble me and are fundamental to society.

Q: Is water wet?
A: Of course not! Wet is an adjective that can only be used to describe solids just like dry is an adjective to describe solids. Water is definitely not wet, it makes other things wet. What does wetness even mean since, at the molecular level, if something is wet it really just has water molecules on or next to it. Fire is hot, but water is not wet. End of story.

Q: How do y’all operate day-to-day?
A: What a good question! We have about 4 meetings a month to outline, plan, work on, and polish our article. We also have meetings with the leadership to further develop the article and to take care of admin work. Most of the work really occurs at the wee hours of the night when we get inspiration for an editorial.