The Hawkeye » Feature

Turning loss around

Vince DeMiero — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:58:48 +0000

She is one of the strongest people you may ever know. You have probably seen her face around school. Maybe you’re her friend, and perhaps she’s in one of your classes.
Odds are, many of you have heard her story. And when she told it, you likely felt sad, and wanted to help her. Tears may have come.
In this exclusive interview with Terrace junior Terrah Short, we are reminded of how one person’s story can truly change people’s lives.
Short has been a member of Terrace U-Turn for a year and during that time she has become one of the club’s main presenters, sharing her experience with drugs and alcohol abuse, and how it has affected her.
Students and teachers alike have all been impacted by her story. In a presentation, Short recalls a time when two girls began crying.
“I just sort of wanted to stop talking because I don’t want to bring up those hurting feelings, but at the same time that’s what I’m here to do,” Short said.
However, although it can be difficult for people to hear about Short’s life, it’s just as hard for her to talk about it. But, she said, “It’s also therapeutic because it makes me accept and realize I can do something good with it, that just because I got hurt, I can turn it into something positive and make sure that it’s something that doesn’t keep happening, and try and spread awareness and grow from my experiences rather than let them hinder me.”
Admitting that sometimes the fact that a lot of people know her story bothers her, Short retaliates, saying that it’s very personal, but she can help herself feel good about making a difference by telling her story.
Short’s mother, Sephora Andresen, suffered from an addiction to heroin and narcotics. “She smoked cigarettes starting at a young age because she was following my grandma. My grandma had started heroin in high school, too,” she said.
Short reports her mom as being a decent person who just fell in with the wrong crowd. “We saw the value in her because she was a good person, she just didn’t know how to be good to herself and be good to other people at the same time without causing someone else pain,” she said.
However, her mom was also manipulative. “She wanted to get what she wanted, but she didn’t really have the courtesy when it came to [whether] she was hurting someone or not; she was kind of selfish in that way because when you take drugs that becomes what you need to get. She needed to get the drugs so she could feel good.”
As many addicts do, Short’s mother used the people she was close to in order to get the drugs she needed. “When I was 6, she would ask to borrow money from me. And as I got older it got worse because she put me on guilt trips. In a way, she’s kind of like a parasite, because she would go from each person who was willing to help her and go from one to the next to the next as they stopped wanting to help her because sometimes people got fed up with her and would not deal with her, and that’s what happened with our family,” Short said.
Used to her mom’s later night calls for help, sometimes when the phone rings Short says she still expects it to be her mom calling late at night. “She would always call late at night. Always. Usually strung out or asking for money or asking for help or telling me she’s in the hospital, something bad,” she explained.
A lot of the time people don’t know how to deal with friends or family members who are struggling with an addiction. Although her younger brother and sister didn’t realize that their mom had an addiction, Short recalls one of the times she realized something was ‘not normal’ with her mom.
“I was at my grandma’s house and I found a makeup bag and I looked inside and I asked my dad what this was and he was like ‘Give me that.’ It was a bag full of my mom’s needles,” she said.
In another instance, Short recalls a car ride with her mom and older brother. When her older brother thought there was a needle in between the seats, all her mom could say was “Don’t tell your dad, okay?” Of course, Short told her father. They then they a discussion about what that meant and how it meant that she was doing drugs. “When my dad explained to me what it was, I still didn’t quite understand,” Short said.
It wasn’t long until her mother’s actions began to interfere with Short’s well-being. Describing herself as a really out-going person in elementary school, she loved to talk to people, smile, and dance. Right around the 6th grade things started to change.
“In 7th grade I was completely introverted: I didn’t talk to people, I used to have hair down to my waist and I cut it all off and I had a bob cut. And I dressed like a boy, I dressed all covered up because I was not very comfortable with myself. I was just really not okay with people around me. And I read a lot, like my nose was in a book all the time pretty much and I just wasn’t the same person,” Short recalls.
She says she stopped smiling altogether. This year – her junior year – was the first school photo she actually smiled in. “I look back on that and reflect and it’s just like, ‘What happened to the little girl that was always doing all kinds of things? Talking to people, dancing around and not caring what people thought?’”
Short can only wonder how much of her psychological issues, such as bad social anxiety, are linked to her mother and how much of it was already there. Short also developed trust issues because her mom would let her down so much, she says. Although repeatedly telling Short that she would come to watch her play in a sporting event or in a concert, Short says that “between elementary school and when she passed away, never once did she show up.”
“I’m in the middle of a volleyball game looking in the stands. I’m not having fun playing the game – I’m waiting for my mom who isn’t going to show. And so my trust in people really just collapsed. I still have a lot of trouble letting people in; I’m really reserved, I don’t want to get hurt like that again,” she said.
The extent of her mom’s actions doesn’t end there. Because her mom was always sick (she had Crohn’s disease, along with the smoking, drugs, and bad habits) she was always in the hospital. Short describes the hospital experiences as traumatizing and can no longer go near a hospital due to what she describes as “really bad anxiety issues.”
Short said, “I would always hear ‘I’m dying, I’m in the hospital and I’m dying, I’m dying, I’m dying!’ I heard that so much I became numb to it.”
Going through rehab three times and relapsing each time, her mother was on a downward slope. Staph infections overrode her body, destroying her immune system; a case of MRSA led to an eventual toe amputation; surgery was needed in order to drain abscesses and pocket of bacteria so that they wouldn’t burst; and her kidneys began to fail. Before her death, Short’s mom was in the hospital for 99 days, from the beginning of August to the beginning of November, 2008.
“The last time I saw her was late August, early September, either right before or right when school started, and she looked like she was not her age. She looked at least 60 or 70 years old, and she was 35. She didn’t have any teeth and she just looked really sick,” Short said.
Unable to say goodbye to her mom before her mom’s death, Short explains that she didn’t want to see her because, “I was still angry and another part of it was I just couldn’t go to the hospital again.”
Short knew that her mom was going to be released from the hospital soon because she was calling around for a place to stay, but didn’t know when. Not wanting her mom to stay with them, Short said, “I told my dad I could not take care of my mom anymore. This is not my job, I can’t do it. I’m going to be in high school, it’ll be my sophomore year. I can’t do this. I don’t want to live with her, I don’t want to see her.”
A lot of guilt resides in Short over her mom’s death. “A week or two later she kills herself? You can’t help but feel like, ‘What did I do?’ If she had stayed with us, maybe she wouldn’t have done that. Maybe it wouldn’t have happened. And even my dad had said before she died that, ‘I really hope nothing happens because we didn’t take her in.’ And then the unthinkable happens.”
Short’s mother was found dead at a friend’s house on Nov. 3, 2008, 12 hours after she was released from the hospital.
“Her cause of death was overdose, so the family debates whether it was suicide or accidental. And a lot of us do think it was suicide,” Short says.
Anger and sadness occasionally overwhelms Short regarding her mother’s death, because, Short says, “When I looked at my little brother and sister at the memorial, they were so heartbroken. I mean their mom is gone, and I’m like, ‘How could she do this to them? They don’t deserve this. They’ve had enough going on in their life.’”
Of course, Short misses her mother as well, wanting her mom to be a part of her life, like any child would, but unable to have her there.
Short recently found a missing birthday card from her mom that read, “Oh my gosh, you’re 13, I cant believe you’re getting so big, you’re always going to be my little girl. I know I’ve missed a lot of your life and I’m sorry.”
In response to that, Short says that all she could think was, “You’re missing so much more.”
Making the right choices does not come naturally for Short; she struggles just like any other person. But instead of turning out like her grandmother, mother, and uncle, who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, Short is committed to breaking the habit, giving partial credit to her father’s amazing parenting.
“My dad was taking really good care of me. He’s taught me how to be a really good person and he makes mistakes too.”
But, she said, “I’ve learned from my mom’s mistakes that doing drugs and alcohol, that making those kinds of choices, they’re going to get me nowhere. Drugs, especially hard drugs, all of that will take everything I’ve worked for away from me.”
After experimenting with alcohol once in the 9th grade, Short said, “All it did was give me a headache. Knowing that the temptation to have fun and try new things like any other teenager is there.”
Although the road for Short has certainly been bumpy, people have been there to help and support her. Members of Terrace U-Turn are always there for her. “It’s a place where I can repeatedly remind myself why I was born,” she said. “Why I’m important, and why my experiences matter and that they don’t make me worthless, but they make me worth more.”
Short says that the members of U-Turn hope to “spread awareness about what drugs and alcohol actually do to your body and to bring students in, like me and the others involved, to help people realize how this affects you later in life. That what you do when it comes to drugs and alcohol abuse will affect you, your family, and it’s going to continue to affect the people around you.”
“If I can help one person through this next year and my senior year in U-Turn turn away from drugs and alcohol, or anything like that – one person is enough for me to feel good about the effort I’ve put into U-Turn and going through the stress of talking about this painful experience,” Short said.
“It’s all worth it if I can help one person.”

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Upcoming seasonal events

Edith Lo — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:11:30 +0000

February, March, and April are exciting months in Washington as many seasonal events take place. In the month of February, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show will be showcasing 30 full-scale and exquisitely landscaped gardens, created by top designers, nurseries, and organizations located throughout the Northwest-area. Tickets are already on sale online, and the show will be available to visitors from February 23 – 27.

In March, there will be 2 seasonal events held in observance of the Irish holiday of St. Patrick’s Day: the Irish Week Festival and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Irish Week Festival, presented by the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle, will include Irish music and dance, including the step dance and the Irish jig. Festival goers will be able to partake in Gaelic games, take Irish language lessons, or, with the help of genealogists, trace their own Irish history. Other fun activities include movies, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, and mingling with Irish celebrities. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on March 17, 2011. Beginning at 12:30pm at 4th Ave, in downtown Seattle, the parade will head north to the reviewing stand at Westlake Park and end with a closing ceremony at 2pm at Seattle Center.

At the peak of spring in April, there will be a Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival at the Seattle Center. This annual event celebrates Japanese culture as well as the United States’ relationship with Japan. Held on April 1 -3, visitors can participate in various activities in arts and crafts booths, see exhibits and performances, and enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine.

The Daffodil Festival is another seasonal event in April, taking place in Tacoma, Washington. Celebrating its 78th year, the Daffodil Festival is an annual event that takes place with the Grand Floral Street Parade, traveling through various cities in Washington.

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Spray Paint Renaissance Man

Cassie Soriano — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:48:12 +0000

From stencil work to “blistering,” junior Ben Rabine is almost exclusively self-taught in the art of spray paint.

After seeing a video of someone spray-painting on YouTube his freshman year, Rabine “thought it looked kinda cool” and began searching for more videos. He was inspired to start this form of art, and decided to try it out, going off on what he saw on YouTube.

The process of his works depends on what he wants the outcome to look like. “Most of my paintings are planned out ahead of time… so if there are stencils I have to do, I have to cut all those out ahead of time.” The types of stencils he uses differ based on what he’s painting, “I use a lot of lids because I have a lot of circles in my paintings.” He also uses stencils with specific shapes, such as a cross or Bob Marley’s head. The most stencils he’s ever used before on a piece were five layers on his work “Bond, James Bond.” Each work also varies on the length of time it takes to complete, due to complexity and amount of color needed to achieve certain effects. “I’ve done paintings as quick as five minutes and as long as maybe two or three hours. If there’s stencils involved these can take maybe up to 15 hours after you edit and cut them.” Another technique he’s worked with is “blistering,” which involves intentionally lighting the spray paint on fire in brief bursts.

With all the different types of art someone could do, why did Rabine choose spray paint art? He doesn’t know the answer to that question himself. “It just really interested me. I thought, you know, ‘who does that?’ so I just wanted to pick it up for myself. Since then I’ve gotten into a lot of other types of art.” The beauty of art is that it’s all loosely connected, and for the most part, widely adaptable. Rabine is currently enrolled in Linda Bennitt’s drawing class, Tim Cashman’s photography class, and Angelo Comeaux’s digital photography class. Last year he took Bennitt’s studio art as well. From taking up spray paint, Rabine was introduced to other mediums, such as chalk pastel (which he really enjoys), charcoal, ink and watercolor, and pencil drawings.

Rabine also sells his works every now and then. “It’s pretty sporadically,” Rabine explained. “I think my first painting I sold was about two months after I started; my neighbor came over and wanted to buy one for her daughter and that’s what really kept me going. It inspired me to where I thought, ‘Hmm, maybe I’m good at this.’ That next summer I did a live paint show in Hoquiam… [the audience] could ask questions and buy them.” Along the way Rabine has met a lot of interesting people through spray painting. “People are just really weirded out by [spray paint art] and are pretty intrigued by it.”

Rabine is constantly creating new pieces, but only when the temperatures are moderate. “The paint’s really affected by temperature. In the winter I usually don’t spray paint.” Due to the nature of his art, he has to work in well-ventilated areas such as an open garage; the prime time to work on his art is during the summer, when it’s not too hot, or the spring. Since he’s started painting, Rabine has created about 250 paintings, but not all make it to his collection of masterpieces. “Some I keep and some I throw away because they’re not up to my standards.” Though the number of pieces he’s completed up to this point is extraordinary, “I’m trying to find it [a particular style of art],” he says. “I’m working to get there, I guess.”

So how does this exceptionally talented artist choose what to paint if he doesn’t have a particular style? “Basically whatever’s inspired me right then in the moment, like maybe a musician or famous person. I’ve done a lot of paintings with Jimi Hendrix or other famous musicians; or a lot of cityscapes, or basically wherever I find my inspiration.” That’s what makes the pieces so wonderful; you can feel the passion and love when you look at the art Rabine has created. As with anyone, certain music stirs emotion and envelops the mind with creativity and ideas. For Rabine, two singers stand out among thousands. “I definitely have set playlists for when I paint. I really like the Classic Crime, I listen to them a lot; and I really like Kid Cudi, and so I listen to a lot of his music; he’s probably my favorite.”

Rabine plans to pursue his artistic talents through college (an art school), yet he’s not sure about what medium he wants to focus on. “I know art is definitely something I want to pursue; I’m still deciding if I’ll pursue spray paint art. I mean there are a lot of impracticalities with it.” Aside from the impracticalities, “Everyone has his or her thing and art is the one that I just really like.”

There are high hopes for Ben Rabine, an artist with a unique talent; an artist who is inspired by many things; an artist who is passionate about and dedicated to his work; and an artist who knows that sometimes life can be hard, and obstacles can get in the way.

“I used to not be very artistically talented at all,” Rabine smiled. “I would just sketch and doodle, but if you follow something you really like, then you can get there.”

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Photo story: Pike Place Market

Amanda Adkins — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:31:12 +0000

The "Gum Wall" in an alley just below Pike Place Market in Seattle.

Brightly colored fresh vegetables and fruits line the walkway in the main produce area of Pike Place Market.

A pet parrot plays dead in its trainer's hand as they perform for a crowded corner in Pike Place Market.

Painted from head to toe to look like a metal statue, this street performer at Pike Place Market is a crowd favorite. Street performers of all kinds - from musicians to artists - crowd the sidewalks on busy days at the Market.

A gentleman sits on a public bench with his crutch at Pike Place Market.

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Jhalen Brown: ‘My life is one play at a time…”

Dominique Bishop — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:12:15 +0000

Jhalen Brown. Son. Brother. Friend. Leader. 6 feet 1 inch and 180 pounds of MTHS running power. He has caused quite a stir, beginning his 11th season on the football field this year.

“So far, he is one of the league leaders in interceptions with three,” said Hawks’ Coach Tony Umayam. “He has caused and recovered fumbles, made big catches, and took a school record [with a] 99 yard fumble return for a touchdown in the win vs. Mariner.”

Already with a school record and helping to lead the team to a superlative start, this must be asked: What makes Brown such a good football player? For some, the first thought might tell them that it is skill. Some might say genetics. But, after taking a few minutes to listen to him talk about the game of football, one would see that it is his heart. Brown’s whole soul is in this game, and for good reason.

As many star athletes could tell you, they did not have the after-school-special childhood; where your dad is an early morning TV anchor and your silly uncle lives in your basement, and you get into all kinds of damage with your annoying neighbor with the geek glasses and suspenders, but at the end of the day everybody loves Raymond and you live happily ever after. The same can be said of Brown’s childhood.

“Growing up rough, [my] parents weren’t always together and we didn’t always have money to do [anything],” Brown recalls. “I’ve been through a lot of [stuff], you know, and I’d be in the worst mood, hating life, but at the end of the day, I knew I’d get to play football. It’s my first love,” he laughs. Sorry ladies.

Brown started playing at the age of 6, after his older brother, Justin, showed an interest.

“I wanted to play because [my older brother] wanted to and my little brother wanted to play because of me. We all started young,” he said. “It’s a family thing. My dad’s always been there coaching me when I was growing up. Never wanted anything more than for me to succeed.” Brown now dreams to be a professional. “I want to go pro but right now I’m just taking it one step at a time,” he said, “focusing on making it to the next level.”

But the dream did not manifest into as big a part of Brown’s life as it is now.

“Funny story actually,” Brown smiles, remembering the day. “One summer, my mom, my dad, two brothers and I went to this camp thing, can’t remember exactly. But there was this raffle, and my chair was No. 3… No. 4 I think. They called my number. So I went up there and they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was younger and I had no idea. But, I said I’d be a professional football player. And they laughed at me,” he laughs. “And you know, that’s why I do it. I’m not the type to take no for an answer. I’ll go out and do something if someone tells me that I can’t.”

Intense.

Though his focus seems all too fierce on paper, Brown is a big team player and leader for the Hawks, on and off the field. “He has meshed with the team very well, the coaches enjoy coaching him, and he has become one of the emotional leaders on the squad,” Coach Umayam said. This emotion was witnessed by anyone who stayed after the Meadowdale game on Sept. 18.

After a disappointing loss against the Mavericks, Brown went onto the field solo, and kneeled before the scoreboard. “I had all sorts of emotions going around. I was frustrated. I was pissed. I thought about what I could have done better as a player. What I could have done better as a teammate, to bring us into a win.”

John Hernandez, fellow linebacker and friend said, “[Jhalen] brings leadership on and off the field. When we’re feeling down, he’ll give speeches in the locker room. He pretty much does what the coaches should be doing.”

Besides wanting to win, and wanting to show that he can be whatever he chooses, the main motivation for playing the game is his brother, who is out of state.

“My unusual ritual… every time, before every game, I go alone before the scoreboard and take a knee,” Brown says. “I think about my [older] brother, [19], and about how I’m going to play. Every game I play is for him.”

After hearing about the amount of passion Brown has for football, it is hard to imagine there being anything he enjoys as much. When asked about what else he is fond of, Jhalen responded, “Music. I love music.” When he transferred here in April of last school year, Jhalen could be seen walking the halls alone, headphones in, rhymes spitting out. Passers by would say, “He’s so weird.” Some, just smiled and walked on.

To this, Brown says, “I don’t care what other people think of me. They can think I’m weird, but the reality is, I am me and I’m not going to stop doin me. I’m gonna do me wherever I go.”

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