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JBy Sally Kalosason Chapman, a senior at O’ConnorHigh School, has been a vitalmember of the tennis team since his freshman year. His journey with tennis began at the age of six in El Paso, where he first picked up a racket and developed his passion for the sport.Throughout his high school career, Jason has drawn significant inspiration from his teammates, who have supported him through challenging matches and celebrated his victories alongside him. One of his proudest moments came earlier this year when he and his team clinched the district championship. Adding to his list of accolades, Jason also secured second place in boys doubles at last year’s district competition alongside his doubles partner, Jaden Tilbury.Beyond the tennis courts, Jason is deeply engaged in his academic pursuits.He participates in several extracurricular activities, including Academic Decathlon, Science National Honor Society (NHS), Mu Alpha Theta, and UIL competitions in Science and Math. These activities have allowed him to explore new interests and connect with peers who share his passion for knowledge.While Jason is still deciding on his collegiate future, Duke University stands out as his top choice. Although he plans to hang up his competitive racket, he intends to pursue a major in physics, driven by a curiosity about the fundamental principles that govern the universe.Jason’s advice to younger students is to immerse themselves in the various clubs and organizations available at school. He believes that engaging in these groups can help students discover new passions and build meaningful relationships.Reflecting on his tennis career, Jason cherishes the memory of his first varsity match during his freshman year—a nail- biting 10-9 victory over Brennan. The intense camaraderie and collective effort in that match left a lasting impression on him, epitomizing the unmatched atmosphere of high school sports.In tennis, Jason identifies mental fortitude as the most crucial trait for success, especially in singles play where players must rely solely on themselves to navigate challenges and maintain their composure under pressure.As he prepares to transition from high school to the next chapter of his life, Jason looks back on his experiences with gratitude, recognizing the growth and friendships forged through his diverse high school endeavors.dessert, but it’s far easier to purchase pies and ice cream from a local farmer’s market in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. This approach ensures hosts have it a little easier once the main course has been served and consumed.Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is no small task. However, hosts can take various steps to simplify Thanksgiving meal planning this year.A Real-Life LessonPhoto Credit To Celia Hermesch.Sticking to Turkey Day standard bearers is not the only way to simplify meal planning on this beloved holiday.Outstanding Athlete : Jason ChapmanTips To Simplify Your Thanksgiving Dinner MenuThanksgiving is a much anticipated and beloved holiday. Celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada and the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, Thanksgiving in each country offers families and friends an opportunity to gather and break bread together.Food is indeed a focus of Thanksgiving in both Canada and the United States, and that can be a little overwhelming if not intimidating for those tasked with hosting the celebration. Guests might come to expect certain Thanksgiving staples, including turkey and mashed potatoes. Such expectations can make it easier to plan a Thanksgiving menu, and sticking to Turkey Day standard bearers is not the only way to simplify meal planning on this beloved holiday.• Accept help, but keep it limited. It’s customary for loved ones invited to Thanksgiving celebrations to offer to bring a dish to dinner, and that can alleviate some of the work hosts are tasked with managing. However, hosts can keep things simple by asking only a small handful of guests to prepare a side dish. Once the quota is filled, politely decline any additional offers to bring food. It can be hard to find space on the table if too many guests bring dishes from home, and that can lead to hurt feelings if certain sides are ignored or left on the kitchen counter due to a lack of real estate.• Explain your desire to reduce food waste. Another way to simplify the meal is to avoid succumbing to the temptation to cook too much food. Guests may expect to go home with full bellies. Indeed, the Calorie Control Council notes that Americansconsume between 3,000 and 4,500 calories during Thanksgiving celebrations. Such consumption is not only unhealthy for humans, but the planet as well. The U.S.- based nonprofit ReFED, which is devoted to stopping food waste, estimated that Americans would waste 312 million pounds of food on Thanksgiving 2023. Hosts who want to avoid cooking excessive amounts of food, much of which may eventually end up in the trash can, can simplify meal prep by cooking less and explaining to guests that they aspire to reduce food waste this Thanksgiving.• Keep table settings simple. Unless you’re planning to post photos of the family meal on Instagram this Thanksgiving, you can skip the more elaborate formal table settings in favor of a simple setup you might use on most nights when dining at home. Polishing the fancy silver and folding cloth napkins in a way that would impress a seasoned maître d’ is a time-consuming task that can complicate meal preparation. Keep it simple with less formal settings, which will allow guests to direct their focus to the task at hand: eating a delicious, homecooked holiday meal.• Purchase a premade dessert. It might be tempting to try your hand at a homemadeI’ve Got the Cell Phone BluesIBy Lou Duggann September I drove up highway 281 from old San Antone, Where much to my sadness I lost my valued cellphone. Laid on the roof of a car in a moment of distraction, It tumbled to the ground due to my forgetful infraction.My cell phone was dead on the side of the road.When it hit that concrete road and shattered to bits, My online data and virtual life were destined for fits. It was found in three pieces of metal and glass junk The life of which had come to meet a speed bump. So my cell phone was dead on the side of the road.Lord above, I feel like I lost a valued and close friend, My captured tech memories gone to an impacted end. Smashed by cars, my contacts became fractured names. I endure long periods of loneliness, only me to blame,Cause my cell phone was dead on the side of the road.Each day I miss that old social friend of bits and bytes, Now time is spent trying to replace those data highlights. No backup, the “Cloud” not trusted, as hackers are there. A friend, never to be replaced, is a personal loss I share. Cause my cell phone was dead on the side of the road.Now, I lament it’s familiar and well-known system loss, A new cell phone is teaching me who is the real boss.As technology advances and grows, cell phone blues I sing, My old operating system was simple when I heard it ring.Cause my cell phone was dead on the side of the road.My email friends think I am a victim of a foreign hack, As I beg them to send me their cell phone contacts.They don’t realize the lonely predicament I’m in, I don’t have any phone numbers for most of them.Cause my cell phone was dead on the side of the road.So, bartender, set up a round in memory of what I lost, To replace that old friend has been an outrageous cost.Contacts, pictures, passwords are gone to twilight zone, All because I mindlessly misplaced my beloved cell phone.Oh, I’ve got the cell phone B....L....U....E....S.10www.heloteshighlights.comNovember 2024