Good Longhorn News

When does a person become a human? Do you answer this question based on your political party, religion, pressure from your peers, or simply from experience? Maybe you don’t have an answer to this question at all.

“Pro-life” and “pro-choice” are opposing viewpoints in the abortion debate. Many HHS students have formed an opinion about this topic, along with reasoning to support what they believe. 

Pro-life advocates believe life begins at conception, viewing abortion as immoral and seeking to legally restrict or ban it, often based on the belief that a fetus has a right to life. Kaitlyn Foreman, senior, stated, “I consider myself pro-life because I consider abortion to be murder. The baby is already developing and breathes and eats just as the mother herself does.”  

Matthew Rosen, senior, had a similar point of view, stating, “I am pro-life because there is no justified reason to murder another human being, whether they are young or old.” Daniela Martinez, senior, who is also pro-life, brought up the option of adopting, “Even if you don’t want the kid, someone wanting to adopt will, and then the baby can still have the opportunity of life.”

On the other hand, pro-choice advocates believe individuals should have the legal right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy, emphasizing bodily autonomy and access to abortion services. Max Baldridge, junior, said, “I am pro-choice because I think that everyone should have the choice to have a kid or not, and if we limit situations where abortions are allowed it’s a slippery slope on limitations and the topic.”

Shaylynn Orosco, senior, had close to the same idea, saying, “ I am pro-choice because I believe in bodily autonomy, with the right to your own body, as well as the 4th amendment when it comes to the privacy of your own life. Abortion should be accessible for anyone who cannot carry a baby to term due to medical issues and/or the pregnancy was forced due to abuse. There’s many cases where babies/fetuses are born in the fallopian tubes and that is unsafe for the mother. Therefore, I see myself as pro-choice to protect females and their reproductive health.”

While many students may know the difference between the two and have an opinion, some choose to stay out of the debate altogether. 

Xitlali Santana, senior, said, “I don’t see myself as either because I don’t know enough about abortion and haven’t educated myself.” She makes a good point when she mentions her choice of staying out of an issue that she doesn’t feel educated enough to speak on!

So, what do you think about the issue of abortion? Is it something that you are deeply passionate about, or has it ever really crossed your mind? Whatever your opinion may be, whether you are pro-life, pro-choice, in between or nothing at all, we all deserve to be respected despite our beliefs!

Question 1: My little brother keeps calling his football his “chocolate egg” and I feel like he is losing aura with the boys in his class. What should I do? I want him to fit in but I also want him to be himself. 

Answer 1: While I do not have any little brothers myself, I do have three younger sisters I try to look out for. Sometimes they will come home and have the most interesting stories to tell about how they sold their erasers at school or traded another kid for something at lunch. But some stories are more concerning.

For instance my sister in second grade came home with a few choice words that were not appropriate for her age. While my mom reminded her that it was not appropriate, I started thinking about how I feel like the younger generation has learned to grow up too fast. Sometimes they have their adolescence stolen from them from vulgar things they can hear from their peers at school or from things that they are exposed to on the television. I think if your brother wants to call his football a “Chocolate Egg” you should hold on to that as long as you can because you never know when the world will influence a change. As for the rest of the boys in his class, maybe they will start saying it too. Next thing you know, it will be a tradition on super bowl Sunday that he will tell his future children about!

Question 2: I want to get a credit card but I am just turning 18 and I’m not sure if I am responsible enough for one. What should I do? 

Answer 2: “Free sandwich, Free T-shirt or Book that trip” are common things credit card companies use to draw in young customers. Imagine you are walking to your class in college and you missed lunch because you slept in way too late. You see a sign that says “Free sandwich” and all your problems are solved. All you have to do is sign a paper that ties you financially to a credit card company. As you are signing this paper the people standing there are thinking, “Great I have another young adult that will be in debt with me, potentially for a very long time.”

The reason they are thinking this is because most young adults just leaving their parents house are vulnerable to wanting to never miss out. You tell yourself, I could sign up for this card and go on that long trip I’ve been wanting too. But in reality you are setting yourself up for failure. Having a credit card can be beneficial but only if you are financially responsible, and let’s admit it, most of us are not. But if you are financially responsible, then a credit card would be a beneficial option for you because you can start building a credit score which is very important.

Credit scores are used to determine if you are a risk for someone to lend you money. If you have a good credit score, then it will be easier to get housing, a loan and lower credit card rates. But if you are irresponsible it tanks your future before it even starts. For instance, you could be denied that loan for a car you really need or you could not be approved for housing that is also vital for everyday life. All you need to ask yourself is can I spend an amount of money that I can pay off every month or will you erratically go on that trip with your friends you know you can’t afford. Either way after reading this, I think we can all agree “free” food is not always worth it! 

Have you ever heard of Arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth? Maybe you have Anatidaephobia, the fear that a duck is watching you. And we can’t forget about Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, which ironically is the fear of long words. Believe it or not, the students and faculty of HHS have some pretty weird phobias, just like these. What are they, you might be asking? Well, let’s find out!​

Senior Bella Galliart says, “I am scared of little holes next to each other; they freak me out. I could gag whenever I see them.” This fear is commonly known as trypophobia, which is the fear of holes or irregular patterns. Most people with this fear are more scared of the tiny holes that are closely spaced and have no apparent ending. This fear, however popular, can be questioned. Is it really a fear? Or is it just plain disgust? 

Masklophobia is the fear of mascots. Some might say this fear is childish, some say it’s real and terrifying. Hailey Medina, senior, thinks it’s real. She says, “ The people under there are creepy, and I don’t like when they have human bodies with animal heads. It’s really scary.” It might be the unknown,. Maybe it’s that they are uncanny with their open, unblinking eyes, exaggerated smile, and silently unpredictable and distorted appearance. Who knows?

We’ve covered the weird phobias, but what about the more common ones? Scared of rodents? Mickey Mouse isn’t calling your name? You have Musophobia. Carlie Obergon, a sophomore, has this fear. She said, “I think rats and mice are dirty and disgusting, and I want nothing to do with them. They are too smart and therefore can predict and smell my fear. They are overall just too smart, nasty, and greedy.” Valid fear if you ask most people (except Mickey).

Speaking of rats, human traffickers are a big scare in today’s life. Abductophobia is the fancy name for being scared of getting taken by human traffickers. Cambria McClure, sophomore, thinks the rich people are to blame. She says, “Getting trafficked is my biggest fear because it happens a lot and we are hearing more about it every day.”  Perhaps this is referring to certain files that have recently been released, it’s anyone’s guess…

Not scared of traffickers? What if they try to chase you! The fear of being chased is referred to as diokophobia. Don’t like running, well, you’re out of luck! Haden Kennedy, senior, states, “Being chased makes me really anxious and jumpy. It only really affects me if there’s not a lot of people around.” Being chased releases your survival fight-or-flight senses. So you might need to either take up boxing in your free time or become a track star overnight.

Everyone has fears, but we’ve got some scaredy cats at HHS. Do you think these fears are valid? What if it were obesophobia, the fear of being obese? Or acrophobia, the intense fear of heights. Even if it were parasitophobia, the fear of having parasites. No one has a fear of nothing; there’s always something scary out there. It’s just a matter of what are YOU afraid of?

The world is a crazy place and we can never truly know what is real and what is fake. Was the Moon Landing fake? Is Kanye West a clone? Was Covid 19 even real? Nowadays, conspiracy theories are all over the internet and in our conversations. We may think that these conspiracy theorists are crazy, but what if they are on to something?

Simply looking up “conspiracy theories” on TikTok will bring up all sorts of crazy theories. One of the most talked about is the moon landing. Many people, including Mr. Miller, believe that is was fake. Mr. Miller, senior English teacher, said, “It’s all kind of weird. The U.S definitely had good reasons to fake it.” He is right, we did have a good reason to make a fake moon landing. At the time, the U.S was in a race with the Soviet Union to land on the moon first. There is also no wind on the moon, so how was the American Flag moving? If you have ever watched the Moon Landing video, there are no stars in the background, but satellite images of space always have stars in the sky.

Mrs. Davis, English Interventionist, said, “JFK’s assassination was totally set up. There’s just so much evidence that proves it.” This conspiracy theory could very possibly be reality. Evidence shows that the bullet that was shot at JFK was a professional hit that no one could do without extensive training. The videos that were shown to the public had been cut and edited together, so there is missing information.

Do you believe in the Illuminati? Many people believe that Hollywood and D.C. is controlled and funded by this mysterious organization. Aubrey Leonard, senior, said “I think the Illuminati is real, and if you are a high up celeb in Hollywood, then you had to sell your soul to the Devil.” This theory could possibly explain how these seemingly normal people of average talent entered extreme wealth and fame.

Finally, the age old debate, are aliens real? People have claimed to see UFOs and odd looking figures, but who knows if they are telling the truth. On January 1, 2024, aliens had reportedly entered the Bayside Market Place in Miami Florida. Witnesses reported seeing 8-10 foot tall, shadowy figures wandering the area at the time. The police showed up at the scene and supposedly took care of it. Since this incident, the public has heard very little about these “aliens.”

When you hear these theories in your everyday life, don’t be so quick to dismiss them as crazy, for they could be true. Be careful out there and don’t forget to thank Beyonce and put on your tin foil hat.

House Bill 2420 is a bill that is currently trying to get approved by the Governor of Kansas. This bill will make it required to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services. This includes interventions affecting a student’s social, emotional, or behavioral functioning. 

Schools violating this law would face a $5,000 civil penalty per violation. However, this bill doesn’t cover tier 1 supports and allows exceptions for immediate suicide risk assessments. The bill is currently in the committee stage, having been referred to the House Education Committee on February 12, 2026. Though, there is one question everyone has, is this bill morally right? 

Junior English teacher, Ms.Kleeman, thought this bill would be horrible. “Sometimes kids need a safe space to talk and process what they are going through. Unfortunately this can include problems at home. Counselors are already mandated reporters, so anything less than that should be between the student and who THEY choose to tell.” 

She makes a good point. Privacy is non-negotiable for most people, especially those who don’t have a perfect relationship with their parents. Carlie Obregon, sophomore, backs this opinion up saying, “I don’t think it should happen because if you ask your parents to sign off, it could lead to an awkward conversation, and your parents knowing things you might not want them to know.” 

Senior Mattea Kennis makes another good point, she says “I went to the grief counseling they held in August and it was really beneficial for me. Having to have written consent from parents would take opportunities like that away, so I don’t think that this is a bill that should be passed.” 

Many other people agree with this. Mass counseling shouldn’t be something taken away from students. Another point, counselor Mrs.Gifford made was “I just worry that if HB2420 were to be approved and passed that a lot of students would lose their only way of getting help that they need. School counselors are a free resource and often they’re easily accessible, which is what students who are struggling need.”

After much consideration, Holcomb High School has come to a conclusion that this bill is in fact morally wrong. With gaps in the bill, student confidentiality, mass counseling, and overbearing parents, this bill is bound to make things worse within school districts, and students personal mental health. With all of this out, what do you think?

HHS staff and students have many mixed opinions about vaccines. While vaccinations teach the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens, some people question the safety, efficacy, mandatory requirements, and personal freedom that come with them.

Beliefs may vary, however, most agree they should be required for young children.

Mr. Schreibvogel, science teacher, thinks that it should be a requirement. “At least, for public schools to protect the little ones.” Sara Beth, senior, agreed, “Some should be a requirement, like the ones for newborn babies.”

While some agree that it should be mandatory, especially in regards to the little ones, others believe that vaccines should always be a choice.

Mrs. Dingus, librarian, stated, “It should be a choice. Over the years, I feel that vaccines have changed in the medical world. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, there are many that I would choose to opt away from.” Bailey Seirer, senior, didn’t have as much to say on the subject, but stated, “I think that everyone should be able to choose.”

Are all vaccines safe to be injected into the body? Due to the unique and diverse minds we have here at HHS, opinions varied.

For instance, Sara Beth is in the middle. “I wouldn’t say all are, some of them yes, but not all.”

Others had a much stronger stance on their beliefs, such as Nurse Stefani, who replied, “As much as I hated seeing my kids get shots when they were babies and much smaller, I personally believe in the science and evidence that vaccines have eradicated many diseases, so yes I do think they are safe.”

Brooklyn Schiffelbien, junior, had more of an opposing view, stating, “No, sometimes you don’t know what’s all in them and what you are putting into your body.”

All had well-thought through opinions and made valid points on what they believed in. Vaccines play a prevalent role in society and are something that everyone should be knowledgeable about.

So next time you pay a visit to the doctor’s office, what will YOU decide?

Question: I don’t like my current job, but I like having money to spend. Is the money worth it, since I’m just in high school and don’t really have bills? If I quit, should I get another job?

Answer: Having a job in high school is something some high schoolers could never imagine and others couldn’t imagine living without. But regardless of which one you are, there are always pros and cons. The most important thing about a job is making your own money, but most of us ask ourselves “is the money worth it?” every time we walk into work. I would say you have to ask yourself a few important questions. For example, do you not like your job because of a genuine issue or do you just want to go home and binge Netflix after school?

If you are thinking to yourself I just can’t handle the drama from my coworkers or I hate what my tasks are during my job, then it is probably worth it to look elsewhere. Let’s be real, there is no shortage of jobs in this area. Now, if you don’t need the money and want to have more time for friends and schoolwork then I wouldn’t have a job either. But a lot of highschoolers don’t have that option. For many teenagers, financial freedom is vital for their social life. Regardless of what you decide, I think there will always be at least one thing at a job that is not your favorite.

Question: My friends can’t find prom dates and it’s so irritating because I have a date but they’re all lowkey lonely and aren’t good at talking to people. How should I help my friends find prom dates and should I feel bad going with my date even though they’re alone?

Answer: Prom, the dance that most people either fear or love. You’re probably asking yourself, “Why would people fear a school dance?” Well, we all know that prom isn’t just simply finding a nice tux or dress and going to a dance that ends the year. Prom is the pressure from your peers to find a date just to fit in or it is the dance that your parents are forcing you to go to. But why is there so much pressure for an activity that is just supposed to be fun? Well, the simple answer is just trying to feel “normal”. If you have already found a date, congratulations because most of us are still searching. I would advise you to tell your friends to just ask someone, because the worst that can happen is someone says no. This in the moment might feel like the end of the world, but in reality it is just one moment in your life that won’t define you forever.

Honestly, no-one cares if you have a date or don’t, go with a group of friends or fly solo. We should all take the pressure off of ourselves to find a date. I bet if we asked our parents, they would say it was a fun experience, but they wouldn’t say, “I’ve been reminiscing all my life on how that night went.” So, just relax and do you!

Question: People don’t listen when I try to talk about my problems. This hurts my feelings, especially when these people are supposed to be my best friends. Do I tell them how I feel or do I need to find better friends?

Answer: As a generation we talk about the bare minimum for relationships a lot. Some people see it as just a TikTok trend, but most girls would say it is “unacceptable” or “drop that man”.  Why should our friendships be any different? If you wouldn’t accept that from a girl or guy you are in love with then you should not accept it from friendships. I think that you should express to your friends your concerns about not feeling heard.

In a society where we have a “blocked” culture sometimes talking things out is the best option even if it is an awkward conversation. If they don’t listen to you or just don’t acknowledge their behavior then find new friends. It is always better to be valued and respected in friendships than just having friends because that is what’s socially acceptable. You should find a level of self-respect as an individual, that should ultimately tell you whether your friend is someone you want to keep or whether that’s someone you could live without in your life. Who knows, you might find a new BFF!

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Imagine you’re an old white man and your name is Larry. Stick with me here… 

You have a wonderful partner, Joan, who you’ve experienced a long sixty-five years of marriage with, having gone through all the troubles of life and come out the end with kids and memories that have stood forever. Now, imagine you die at a gender reveal party because you choke on a small pretzel, and a week later, when your wife passes, you reunite with her in purgatory/limbo to soon go to whatever you think Heaven looks like. Sounds like the beginning of a happy ending, right?  

But then her (admittedly more attractive) first husband, Luke, a soldier that died sixty-seven years ago in a war, comes up to your wife and says that he has waited all those years for her to arrive so he could live in an eternity with her and have the life together that a war took away from them. Suddenly, you’re in a competition with someone that was once a passionate memory, and you have to prove you’re the right choice, when you don’t even know why your wife fell in love with you. 

Eternity, directed by David Freyne, is about one big impossible decision, and the pressure that Joan, played by Elizabeth Olsen, faces when having to choose between two loves that are directly described as “sparky” and “ordinary”. In a situation where you only have one chance to get it right, what would you do? Who would you pick? 

This movie has a broad audience, teens and adults, which is why it’s a great watch for anyone. It’s a romantic-comedy that isn’t afraid to be serious in moments where it needs to be. It contradicts typical ideas of the afterlife, and it questions what love and a relationship should be like outwardly. Should it be fiery where every word leaves you starstruck, or should be it comfortable and built from millions of memories and trials together? 

Any great movie pays good attention to detail. In Eternity, it does this by making all visuals and audio be done with intention and purpose. The music works well to express how the characters are feeling where there is no dialogue, every tone being intentional in the best way. The clothing colors imply internal feelings, the background has things you’ll find come back later, and you’ll find yourself intrigued by the concept of it all and convinced by the actors that it’s really the ultimate impossible dilemma this movie plays itself out to be. 

The entire watch is guaranteed to have you as conflicted as Joan, and you’ll find yourself rooting for each character, despite (undoubtedly) developing biases towards one from the start. 

This movie is available on AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, and is assumed to come to HBO Max in the coming months.