My Experience with Asperger’s

By Jae Hagar

Last week I watched the movie Temple Grandin. The movie is about a woman who is autistic and her life. By the age of four, she had not yet begun to talk, and of course her mother was worried. Because this movie was based in a different time, the doctor explained the reason for Temple's autism was “a lack of attention from the mother.” We now know that this is not a reason that autism occurs. Throughout her life, Temple struggled a bit to find out who she is. She went through high school, college, and then she changed the cattle industry. Everyone was surprised that someone with autism had the ability to do that, but because of her autism, she was able to think like the cattle to figure out what would help them and make the slaughterhouse operate more smoothly and more humanely. Temple now is a professor at Colorado State University. My favorite quote from the movie is, “I am different, but not less,” describing how she relates to people.

Just like Temple, I am aware that I am different, but I am also not less. I can’t really say that I don’t have autism, because by definition, I have Asperger's, which is on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.

I know that you’ve heard about autism, but maybe not Asperger's. So let's start with the basics. All of you probably have met someone who is on the autism spectrum or has Asperger's, but you may not know what it means. I bet you probably didn’t know that it was a spectrum. Autism is characterized by a lack of social cues, repetitive behaviors such as swaying or rocking, and special interests in certain things. People lower on the spectrum may have difficulty understanding emotional cues or communicating. Some are barely able to speak. But, being autistic doesn’t make someone stupid. A lot of geniuses are on the autism spectrum, including Bill Gates and Tim Burton. There are even many historic figures like Einstein, Michael Jackson, Abe Lincoln, and Beethoven who probably were on it as well, so don't call people on the autism spectrum "retarded,' just saying.
This is really hard for me to write because it's personal. Having Asperger's is different than being on the low end of the autism spectrum in many ways. First, people with Asperger's want to fit in but don’t know how (Hey, that's me!). Most people with autism don’t really care about fitting in. I want to fit in and interact with others. If I have ever called you my friend, and you called me the same, you might understand this. I used to do whatever I could to fit in, or get peer attention because I feel that I don’t get enough. I have always felt different, but really, doesn’t everyone? 
See? I don’t really know because I’m not everyone. I will reiterate that this is very hard for me to write because making the right kinds of connections with people (which writing comes down to) is my weakness. The movie Temple Grandin, which I mentioned earlier, inspired me to do great things. Just because I am different, doesn’t mean I can’t accomplish the things I set my mind to. (Bill Gates, Lincoln, and Einstein sure accomplished many things!) I have been told, countless times that I am going somewhere with my writing, and maybe, I will. My Asperger’s does not define my life. I define my life.

I shared my story so that you would understand, and hopefully, you do. I try really hard to be “normal” and to fit in. These things don’t come easily to me, and sometimes I try too hard. I am still learning about Asperger’s and autism. Hopefully, I will be able to write more about these topics to educate all of us more. A lot of these disorders (I hate this word) go undetected, and I feel like the world needs to know. This is why I am starting small, by teaching you. Hopefully, someday I can educate more people, maybe even the world.

Sports Star, Fashionista, and Snapchat Champion: Kayla Casillas

by JAE HAGAR

You may have seen her at school or on the basketball courts. During softball, along with soccer in the fall, you can find her on the field. In her free time she likes to dance to anything and everything. She has a basketball “trio,” and they are seen doing the dab whenever a Pioneer makes a shot. The members include McKenna Yensen (MK), Brianna Hernandez, and Kayla herself.

At home, Kayla is called Kaylita, and the name has carried over to her school friends. She likes her chicken alfredo because she says it goes well with breadsticks. Kayla watches Netflix because she says it has good shows, including Vampire Diaries and romantic movies-alone. Sadly, she was one of those singles on Valentine’s day. Come on boys! She was the only Freshie that went out for basketball, and she’s really good!

When asked what she would say, if Justin Bieber asked her to a dance-off, her answer was, “I would probably faint when he tries to talk to me, so I wouldn’t have a response.”  That just proves that Kaylita has… Bieber Fever. Overall, this freshie has a free pass into the cool realm, through basketball, and just being herself.

In case you were wondering, Kaylita is the younger sister of senior, Abel Casillas. She has to grow into his shoes because he is so famous at this school. Kayla’s other siblings are step-siblings, all younger than her except one sister, living in California with their dad. This is something you may not know about her, and there may be others. If you haven’t met her yet, you should give her a “Hey,” and a high five!

Mac-Hi’s Girls Varsity Shoots For the Stars

by JAE HAGAR

The Mac-Hi girls varsity have been shooting for greatness this basketball season. For the seniors, Brittney Erb, Abi Biggs,Kitanya Crisman, Shannon Carter, and Sam Tveidt, this has been the last season that they can make their shots as Pioneers.  Coach Brooke Garton, who also teaches science, anatomy, and crime scene science at Mac-Hi, took this job on, despite her many other obligations. 
The team kept a third place spot in the Greater Oregon League. On Tuesday, February 16th they took on Ontario at home. The game was important to the players, so they made sure to play their best.  
Nearly every play was executed with ease, and the Tiger’s defense and offense were no match for the Pioneers. They had numerous turnovers. Of those,  many were caused 5’2 senior, Shannon Carter. She runs the court like a basketball ninja, and can jump higher than most, which is how she causes so many turnovers. The Pioneers’ defensive arsenal is full of great surprises.
The Pioneers beat the Tigers 37-22, making them eligible for the GOL playoffs against Baker on the 17th. The Bulldogs hosted the Pioneers. For Mac-Hi’s seniors, this game potentially determined if they would play any more games as Pioneers. If they had won, they would have played La Grande on Friday, and even though they lost, they qualified for a play-in game for state. 
A groggy team, including coaches, managers, and supporters of the program boarded a charter bus on Friday, February 26th. Heading to Beaverton, the team was pumped up, and ready to take on the Valley Catholic Valiants. The Pioneers stopped at Multnomah Falls on their way to the game to stretch and take selfies.
With the loss of Sam Tveidt, a point guard, the Pioneers struggled to make forward plays. Their defensive tactics were no match for the Valiants. Yet, the fact that they made it this far is amazing considering they hadn’t made a play-in game since 1987. The Pioneers played their best, so the score doesn’t matter. Even though they knew they were going to lose, the Pioneers didn’t give up. These ladies have GRIT, and they played “Valiantly.”

The silver lining is the team accomplished the goals set at the beginning of the year: “Shock the World” and “Make a Play-In Game For State.” The community is on the edge of their seats to see what Brooke Garton will do next year with this team. GO PIONEERS!!

Four Years of Basketball Has Paid Off for Seniors

by JAE HAGAR

This has been the last season for the seniors, when it comes to High School Basketball. This year's lady seniors include: Shannon Carter, Brittney Erb, Abi Biggs, Sam Tveidt, Kitanya Crisman, Kylee Fite, and Jenny Field. This season has been bitter-sweet for all of them. After losing to the Baker Bulldogs on Wednesday, February 17th,  Abi Biggs said, “I probably won’t play basketball again, if we don’t get a state play-in game.” Biggs, along with the majority of the Varsity girls team are softball players. Basketball is just a time passing sport for them, and only Erb plans to play in college.

Mac-Hi Seniors: Top row left to right: Kylee Fite, Kitanya Crisman, Brittney Erb, Sam Tveidt, & Abi Biggs.
Bottom row: Jenny Field & Shannon Carter

Field played the first few games, but had to quit due to family problems. Field has been an active member of the basketball program in the past, and is very passionate about the sport and the team, as well as the players. Crisman told me that Field would have played the whole season if it had not been for the family problems. The team missed Field, and hopes she will be active in the softball season.

Crisman and Fite have also not been able to play the past few games due to injuries. Fite has a bad shoulder that she knew about when the season started, but it wasn’t going to stop her... until it did. She helped with team management though. Crisman went out with a foot injury and also helped out with team jobs. Both help with stats, and still call themselves part of the basketball program. Tveidt was injured during the game against Baker but will hopefully be able to play the spring sport that she likes, tennis.

The team took on the Valley Catholic Valiants, without Tveidt, and fell, valiantly. The seniors played their best, knowing it could be their last game. When they realised there was no hope, they did not give up. The graduating Varsity girls basketball players will miss their coach, Brook Garton, and the younger members of the program. If you see them, congratulate them for making it to a play-in game, because it had been a long time since the Pioneers made it that far, and wish them luck in their future endeavors. GO PIONEERS!

Different (a poem)

The other day I was ricocheting slowly

off the blue walls of the room,

Wondering if I would ever be like them.

I walk differently, talk differently, think differently,

but most of all, I feel differently than they do.

I recall the fact that this style of wondering

started a long time ago.

I knew when I was about five

that  I would never be the same,

I would never fully belong.

As I sit on this bus, pondering the force,

that causes me to be an outcast,

I hear the conversations and the joyful

laughing of the other girls,

the ones that I will never be like.

I start to shiver and feel alone,

for they never seem to notice me

when starting their pointless conversations.

Oh, how I long to be included,

if only for a second.

by Jae Hagar