![It was definitely out of my comfort zone to get [the dress] and decide I loved it enough not to wait and risk not having something that memorable.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precious_20180902_JRS_00008_ed1.jpg)
![Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sahasra-6-Large-1200x844.jpeg)
![In their full runway outfits, (from left) Audrey Lee 25, Olivia Lucy Teets, 25, Fashion Design teacher Ms. Judy Chance, and Xueying Lili Yang pose for a photo. All three girls made it to Austin Fashion Week by getting in the top 10 in a previous runway show held by Shop LC.
[I like my students] creativity and how they can look at a fabric and make it their own, Ms. Chance said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_9686-e1714088765730-1129x1200.jpeg)
![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
When sophomore Logan Victory had to pick an animal to raise as a part of Future Farmers of America, Victory didn’t settle for the conventional pets.
Instead he went to the farm to get a young Landrace pig which he named Dirk.
But Dirk isn’t just an ordinary pig.
Feeding him all the nutrients he needs is a great way to get him stronger and male him look better to all the photos I will be posting,
— Sophomore Logan Victory
He’s a micro Instagram star.
“I decided to create this Instagram account for him to show others how fun raising a pig can be,” Victory said. “It’s a hobby that I am very passionate about, and I would like to share my joy with others. It also gives others a day in the life perspective of someone raising an animal.”
The Instagram account serves as an online documentation of Dirk’s life.
“My goal is to post weekly updates on Dirk and how he is doing, if there is anything new he has learned, and the fun experience of raising an animal,” Victory said. “There will constantly be silly photos, and even some videos of Dirk living his everyday life, with the goal of making people smile, along with posts about what it takes to raise him, and him competing at different contests.”
Victory plans to utilize Dirk’s youth to teach him tricks which he will then post on Dirk’s Instagram account.
“[Dirk] is a great learner and I know it won’t take him long to learn some of the skills and tricks I plan on teaching him especially when I give him treats for his great work,” Victory said. “Some of these include recognizing his name, staying still, walking, and even spinning. While it may be difficult I will try my best to teach him every one of those skills.”
Among Dirk’s biggest fans are sophomore Morgan Bentley and sophomore Christine Wu.
“Something that I really enjoy seeing on Dirk the Pig’s Instagram is just seeing how playful, goofy and loud he is,” Bentley said. “I love his posts, especially the third one because he has some snapchat filters on, he is quirky, and it so cute when he runs.”
Meanwhile, Wu loves seeing other people’s photos, but Dirk is probably her most favorite.
“My most favorite part of Dirk’s Instagram page is him himself,” Wu said. “My most favorite post he has done so far is probably the latest post because of the close ups and his face is just adorable.”
“Something that I really enjoy seeing on Dirk the Pig’s Instagram is just seeing how playful, goofy and loud he is,” Bentley said. “I love his posts, especially the third one because he has some snapchat filters on, he is quirky, and it so cute when he runs.”
I love his posts, especially the third one because he has some snapchat filters on, he is quirky, and it so cute when he runs,
— Sophomore Morgan Bentley
Dirk sticks to a strict diet which will in turn make him look better for photos.
“Dirk’s meals consist of oats and pig feed, and he eats roughly a whole pound of food twice a day,” Victory said. “I feed him once in the morning and once at night. Feeding him all the nutrients he needs is a great way to get him stronger and male him look better to all the photos I will be posting.”
Through Dirk’s Instagram account, Victory not only hopes to document Dirk’s growth but to bring joy to the account’s viewers.
“My goal is to post weekly updates on Dirk and how he is doing, if there is anything new he has learned, and the fun experience of raising an animal,” Victory said. “There will constantly be silly photos, and even some videos of Dirk living his everyday life, with the goal of making people smile.”
This story was originally published on Wingspan on November 28, 2023.
