OIDJ Editor - page 30

by Camila Gonzalez Sometimes teens have trouble becoming adults, but not Teagan Halbrooks. She used to watch the High School Musical movies and played with Bratz dolls. Now a senior at Lawton (Okla.) High School, Halbrooks is raising her 12-year-old sister because their mother is battling a disease. While the 17-year-old drives her sister home from school, the two of them play a game yelling out the names of whatever they see on the road. She does this to remind her sister that they can still have fun even though their mother, Randi Halbrooks, has reflexive sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD).…

by Teagan Halbrooks While in elementary school, Camila Gonzalez faced bullying by a group of boys. Though that experience was hard for Gonzalez, she thinks it shaped her into being strong and sympathetic. Being bullied also helped Gonzalez realize bullying is a problem that needs to be noticed. “They have their own problems. They’re just taking it out on me,” Gonzalez said. After that experience, she became a firm believer in feminism. She believes a girl can do anything a guy can do and sometimes do it better. After watching the movie “Whip It,” her mom realized Camila was interested…

by Dyneisha Kornegay Jordan Evans is a dedicated 17-year-old senior from Yukon, Okla., where she attends Yukon High School. With her big family and her passion for journalism and supplying the public with truthful news, Evans goes the distance in everything she does. Evans was born in Berryville, Ark., but has lived in eight towns and five states. She has 11 siblings. “Living with so many siblings can be hectic and hard to keep up with,” Evans said. Evans recently starred in a play for her school’s drama program.  As a freshman, she started out behind the scenes, helping with…

by Caitlyn Minton High school senior Ashley Cooks won’t let dyslexia keep her from dreaming big. Cooks hopes to become a traveling nurse to combine her love of traveling with her dream of helping people. The 17-year-old is a student at MacArthur High School in Lawton, Okla. Yet, she claims Houston, Texas, as her hometown. She is involved in yearbook and participates in her “Pride Line,” which is similar to a school spirit section for sporting events such as basketball and football. “I might not look like it, but I am country,” said Cooks, who enjoys mudding with four-wheelers and…

by Destiny Smith Maria Chaves has been there and back, can explain herself well, and knows what she wants out of life. The 18-year-old native of Bogota, Columbia, has lived in Oklahoma for 10 years. She became a U.S. citizen last year. Chaves will be a senior at Deer Creek High School in the fall. She wants to attend an out-of-state college but would not mind attending The University of Oklahoma. Her hobbies are playing piano, writing bad poetry and volunteering at an elementary school. When Chaves was 8, a friend’s home burned, leaving the girl with nothing. Chaves recalled…