Parkway Central Corral March 2019 Issue by Parkway Central Corral

Corral Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, MO 63017 Vol 63, Issue 5 March 15, 2019

PICTURE

Perfect

Along with the rise of social media comes the rise of insecurities, anxiety, depression, and negative thoughts that affect students on a day-to-day basis

Girls playing Jeff City in Final Four today pg. 14

Staff Editorial

Corral Editor-in-Chief Athena Stamos Managing Editor Wesley Henshaw Copy Editor Madeline Lee Entertainment Editor Brett Smith Features Editor Jenna Lazaroff News Editor Henry T. Eubank Opinions Editor David Amirdjanian Photography Editor Gabby Abowitz Sports Editor Logan Potts Social Media Director Abby Prywitch Online News Editor Claudia Sanders Online Features Editor Sydney Stahlschmidt Online Sports Editor Alex Maisenhelder Staff Writers Jay Bowen Kaylee Canoy Avery Cooper Eva Deniszczuk Alex Edelman Tori Favazza Megan Fisher Lee Foust Lilian Humphrey Patrick McColl Ryan Pham Haydn Schertz Danni Schneiderman Taylor Stern Margaret Vierling Carly Wasserman Shoshana Weinstein Trey Williams Adviser Mrs. Christine Stricker On the cover: Senior Madison Finegan Corrections from Feb. 2019 issue A photo on page 7 was incorrectly attributed and was taken by Peyton Silas. Isabel Roman and Xavier Crisp’s atributions were switched on page 23. We apologize for the mistakes.

Fact Check Friday: Your basic responsibility as a citizen Corral Staff

n this day and age, we are exposed to news and headlines 24/7. Sponsored ads crowd Instagram and Facebook, biased news sources overpopulate Snapchat, and new headlines appear every second of every day. As a social media user, it is your responsibility to share accurate, truthful information. We are not talking about sharing something that everyone is going to like or everyone is going to agree with, people have drastically different opinions over all sorts of things. It is important, however, that what you are sharing is accurate and truthful. When looking at and sharing articles and news, there are a number of things that you should do: One- search the headline or topic of the article. If it is the only headline that pops up, it is probably not reputable. Two- look at the source. If the source is known to have bias, or is not a reputable news source (such as a blogger), it is probably not completely honest and truthful. Look up what is known as a ‘media bias chart’. This chart displays companies and news sites, and how they lean (left/liberal, middle, right/conservative). The further to one side a company is, the more biased they are. This increases the likelihood of misinformation. Companies such as the New York Times and C-Span are almost directly in the middle, while sites like Buzzfeed are more left, and Fox is more right. One tactic that we in the newsroom highly recommend is the use of the website, SNOPES. This is a fact-checking site that allows users to determine if a

Yays Yays!

•• Spring break starts this afternoon!!! Let’s go! •• Seniors have less than two months until graduation! :) •• How are we doing for March Madness??? •• Keep working hard, spring sport athletes! •• Yay for spring and warmer weather!

statement or headline is truthful, or manipulative and fake. Fake news is everywhere, and news companies are constantly being threatened with slander. President Trump has taken to branding any negative information against him as ‘fake news’, even when it’s true. Many people have followed suit with a wide range of topics. Politics aside, it is your responsibility as a free citizen to share accurate information. Do not believe everything that you see online, and do not share without hesitation. Doing so spreads misinformation, creates uninformed citizens, sparks paranoia and fear, and ignites arguments. In a world where distrust and tensions run high, you can do your part to lessen this by doing your basic duty as a citizen: checking your facts.

Fake news: -Obama was not born in the United States -Vaccines have been shown to cause autism -A pixie skeleton was discovered in the Rocky Mountains -Border patrol agents were to blame for the death of a 7-year-old migrant girl

Neighs Neighs •• Have we stressed about prom yet?? •• May 1 is fast approaching, seniors!! Did you decide on a college? •• Juniors, the actual ACT is coming up shortly... •• AP tests are going to be here sooner rather than later :( •• It’s allergy season which is not appreciated.

We want to hear from you! Our goal is to always report the truth.

The Corral is a student-written, edited and produced publication of Parkway Central High School, 369 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017; 314-415-7978. The Corral is given away free of charge to students and faculty. Subscriptions and patronships for one year may be purchased, starting at $20. The goal of this publication is to provide accurate, informative and entertaining information in the true spirit of responsible journalism and to operate as an open forum for students, faculty, administrators and parents. The Corral is created on Hewlett-Packard and Mac computers using Adobe Creative Suite 6 and is published by PJ Printing. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial board. Signed columns and artwork reflect the views of that individual. The staff appreciates comments and suggestions. Letters to the editor, guest editorials and other correspondence are encouraged but must be signed. The Corral reserves the right to publish or refrain from publishing, as well as edit, all submitted material.

What are your yays and neighs? pchcorral.com @pchcorral Pch_publications Parkway Central Publications Pchpublications

Opinions

MYTH OF THE STARVING ARTIST

Lillian Humphrey

Staff Writer

rom drawing to ceramics to photography, Parkway Central has a lot of art classes to offer. But what about chasing a love for drawing and sculpture outside of high school? You may have heard jokes or been discouraged from becoming an artist because of the perception that striving to be one results in becoming a ‘starving artist’. However, that is far from the truth. The joke is just that, a joke, and the myth of the starving artists no longer has a place in real college and career decision making. First off, I’m gonna lay out some background information. I have been wanting to pursue the arts in college since sophomore year. I’ve taken every art class known to PCH kind, and gone out of my way to take AP classes, college courses over the summer, and done a ton of research into schools. So, imagine my chagrin when every time I tell a friend about my passions, they tell me something like: “Isn’t that a waste of time?” or, “You know you’re not going to make any money out of college, right?”. It’s frustrating to say the least. Especially when it’s completely untrue. Everywhere you look there’s art with a designer behind it. Everything you wear, every phone case, book cover, building, poster, video game, all had artists behind them. Those commercials on TV had to be written and storyboarded by artists. Every logo EVER had to be very carefully designed. We have a culture built on art, many people just don’t realize it. This newspaper you’re reading right now had a whole team of creative people

behind it. There is a plethora of creative careers available for people to pursue, and currently the graphic design industry is an endless well of growth. While some websites will claim that statistics for unemployment for artists is extremely high, the truth is those statistics will purposefully leave out artists who are self employed, which accounts for a large portion who go on commission work. So why all of the stereotypes? Why do they exist, and why do they continue to be believed? To answer this, I had a chat with Cara Deffenbaugh, a masters graduate from Maryland Institute College of Art, and traditional arts teacher. “I think attending art college still has a stigma attached to it. That you’re going to be a ‘starving artist.’” Deffenbaugh said. “If you’re willing to be innovative, creative, and have the passion, then there are going to be jobs out there for you.” But there’s another thing many have complaints about. Why is art college so expensive? “College is expensive, period! They’re private schools, if you compare them to other private schools, you would see they match up.” Deffenbaugh said. Some of Deffenbaugh’s students have gone on to work for the Wall Street Journal, the Saint Louis Botanical Gardens, FEAST magazine, and more. Many of her students who went to pursue the arts ended up just fine, like any other student going off to college. It really is all just old and tired stereotypes. But where did these stigmas against the arts come from? This view of artists stems back all the way to Romanticism in the 18th century, where those who pursued the arts were depicted as passion driven individuals, and would continue their craft even if it meant being impoverished and unable to take care of themselves. This is not what artists are today as fields in the arts only continue to grow. Traditional artists still have it rough sometimes, but the value of art has only grown. At the end of the day, the value people hold for their craft is immeasurable with money, as many artists who aren’t incredibly successful still feel it was what they needed to

3 do to be happy. Careers are important to think about as high schoolers. But shockingly, less people are thinking about things that are their passions as future careers and more about what will make them money. But what’s money if you’re miserable? Even if the stereotypes about artists were true, one thing is certain:You don’t go into the arts to become extremely wealthy, and they seem perfectly content with their jobs. And I’m fine with that too.

Junior art student Yeongyu Kang adds more to her art work during the school art show in December 2018. Photo by Athena Stamos

A SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA Trey Williams Staff Writer

ocial media has become a backbone of social interaction. According to the Pew Research Center in 2016, over 70% of teens are on at least two social media services. When people meet each other, people have transitioned from exchanging phone numbers to exchanging social media information. While not everybody is on social media, it is not hard to see its impact. Like all new forms of entertainment, social media has received a fair share of backlash. What are some of the cons of social media usage? Is it worth taking some time away from social media? Studies have shown excessive usage of social media can lead to a variety of side effects. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, a staggering 42% of teenagers say they feel anxious when they do not have access to their cell phone, and over half of teenagers say they have taken steps to reduce their screen time. Feelings like anxiety, lone-liness, or even sadness effect over half of teenagers when cell phone usage is taken away. This suggests that cell phone addiction, as silly as it sounds, is a real thing. If this is true, what can people do about it? While a simple solution to some may be to just never leave your cell phone, there are more effective solutions. A study published to the journal “Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking” suggests that taking a break from social media for a week may lead to benefits like increased life satisfaction and more positive emotions. Taking a break from social media, according to the study, may help boost your mood. However, a week long break was the only duration of time tested. A week for many can be a long time. There are other ways

to help mitigate the negative effects of social media usage than not using social media. According to the same Pew Research Center survey, the negative effects associated with cell phone usage were not as dramatic to those who spent less time online. This suggests that a total detox is not necessary to gain at least some positive effect. If you could never see yourself taking a week long break from social media and other cell phone usage that does not mean you are doomed to the negative effects. Spending less time on social media might have a positive effect on mental and emotional health. The issue of cell phone and social media addiction is not as simple as it seems. An important detail that the hit pieces against social media do not account for is the actual importance social media has in teenagers’ lives. For many, social media and other cell phone usage is the primary way people talk to their friends. While it may be simple for someone who mostly communicates with friends in person or with an occasional phone call to say that social media is detrimental to young people, the issue is more complicated than that. A cell phone is not like a drug, it has actual practical use other than entertainment. Many young people have become reliant on social media for communicating with their friends, making it far more difficult for young people to limit time on social media than older people. Social media has transformed the way people interact with each other forever. Whether or not this is a good thing has become irrelevant. We are so far in the social media direction that it is not something that can just be erased. Instead, awareness needs to be spread surrounding the negative effects so that people can act accordingly. A social media detox might be a good for emotional health every once in a while. However, it is a challenging task, es-

pecially considering that many people have spent years straight with the comfort of social media. Either decision has a fair share of consequences. In the end, it is only up to you to decide if a temporary detox would be worth it.

This student is using Instagram, one of the most popular social media applications. While the main purpose is posting and looking at people’s pictures, you can also communicate with people through the app. Photo by Alex Maisenhelder

Opinions

THE VITALITY OF VACCINATIONS

Recent outbreaks remind us of our scarred past Henry T. Eubank

News Editor

accinations to immunize people from some of world’s deadliest diseases and infections are undoubtedly one of our most important medical innovations to date. There have been several over the past century or more that have saved countless lives and they are still being improved to this day. The small pox, polio, and DTP vaccines, along with others, have not only provided security to those who had them administered, but also to those who cannot take them due to medical reasons. This is very important to understand and appreciate vaccines. Vaccines save those who have them and those who don’t. The more people who have them, the safer everyone around them will be. Something that is imperative to understand about immunizing the population is that even a small amount of people who are not vaccinated can cause deadly events. The more people who are vaccinated, the less likely a disease can gain a foothold in a community and begin to spread. For example, according to the CDC, France had a major outbreak having just 15 reported cases in 2007, which would balloon to 15,000 cases in 2011 and leave six people dead. This outbreak left the government and health professionals with many questions about how this was able to happen. It was found that around 95% of people in France had gotten the measles vac-

cination, but in 2008 this had dipped down to 89%. This shows that the margin for error is very small when it comes to immunization from deadly diseases. It is unknown as to why their numbers dipped, but what counts here is that there were less people got vaccinated. Asa result, France experienced a breakout of a disease that should not have broken out. Unfortunately, there has been a plethora of misinformation and fear mongering that has frankly cost lives. Men such as Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced and discredited British doctor, who pushed false narratives that vaccines could cause autism. This has been debunked by numerous papers, and Wakefield has since been shunned by the medical researching community and has had his license taken away. Yet, people bought into his lies and still many refuse to believe that vaccines have no link to autism. There is also a strong human component to this;parents who have children with autism are often left with many questions, many of which do not have answers. Scapegoating vaccines makes sense because the signs of autism usually show up around one year of age, the same time people receive many of their vaccines. But rest easy knowing that your child having autism has absolutely nothing to do with them receiving a vaccine. There have been a dozen or more papers written by respectable doctors disproving this asinine notion that vaccinations will give a child autism. There are also other reasons people decide to opt out of getting their children vaccinated. Many people plead religious exemption, claiming that their religious practices prohibit them from using certain medicines, including vaccines. There are very few religious sects where vaccines are not allowed due to written texts. Other groups such as Christian Scientists or many Islamic sects around the globe openly oppose vaccinations. Understanding that in the U.S. religious freedom is important and we protect it vehemently for a reason, this is an example of one of the cons to holding it so dearly. The first amendment protects people from the government interfering with their religious acts. This makes sense when the religious act is something that doesn’t affect those who don’t observe that religion, but this is not one of those cases. People who are not vaccinated via religious exemption put those who aren’t vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons at risk. This of course does not include those who are medically exempt due to a poor reaction or some other

The vitality of vaccines is not only seen in the benefit for a single person, but in protecting the community as a whole.

reason that a doctor might sign off on. In fact, it is those who are medically exempt who are the most at risk because they do not have a choice in the matter, whereas the religiously exempt do. We are also seeing measles outbreaks in the U.S. today. The Pacific northwest is experiencing an outbreak currently and it is sparking conversations nationwide about vaccinations. Some kids such as Ohio teen Ethan Lindenberger, whose mom is anti-vax, went and got himself vaccinated when he turned A vial containing the MMR vaccine is 18, defying his mother’s convictions. In 2015, there loaded into a syringe before being given to a baby at the Medical Arts Pediatric Med was a measles outbreak in Group in Los Angeles on February 6, 2015. the Somali community in (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times/TNS) Minnesota with the number of vaccinated kids at age two dropping to 42 percent in 2014 according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Guess who spoke there in 2011 about the harms of vaccinations? None other than Andrew Wakefield. After a decade of having his medical license revoked, he is still spreading lies about vaccinations and the Somali community felt the consequences. So where does all of this leave us, the Parkway Central community? Two ago, the Corral printed a story about seniors being sent home for not having their meningococcal vaccine on time. The article had an overall negative sentiment and was critical of the policy. We must understand that there is a reason we require people to have these vaccines and in the Parkway District and neighboring it is intentionally inconvenient to obtain a religious exemption. The process requires parents to schedule an appointment to take their kids to the Department of Health, where they’ll have to wait to be seen, then listen to the numerous risks of not being vaccinated and then finally sign be able to sign off on a religious exemption form. It is understood that there are people who really subscribe to the notion that vaccines are religiously prohibited and that is okay on a small scale. And we know that there is a small number of people who are not able to be immunized due to medical reasons and that is perfectly acceptable. And finally there are those who still believe that vaccines might cause autism or Desmond Sewell, 12, receives his vaccisome other defect in nations from Medical Assistant Jessica their children. This is Reyes at the Lou Colen Children’s Health and Wellness Center in Los Angeles on August not okay or acceptable. 4, 2017. Sewell received vaccinations for Vaccines don’t cause TDAP, against tetanus, diphtheria, and defects, they ensure pertussis, HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and MCV4 against meningitis. Vaccination kids become adults. rates in California have gone up since the state banned personal belief exemptions, but there are still kids who are not getting vaccinated. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

News

COUNTERACTING CARJACKING

As rates rise, do you know how you can protect yourself? safe, well-lit place, preferably as close to the building as possible. Having someone with you can also help. Managing Editor You also want to minimize the amount of time it takes getecently carjacking rates have spiked nationwide. In St. ting to your car. Make sure you have your keys ready and quickly Louis last year there were 350 carjackings, up from 2017, get into your car and drive away as soon as you can. where there were 240. As the rates increase, it leaves one “The longer you’re sitting stationary the more likely someto wonder what precautions one can take to prevent this from thing’s going to happen,” School Resource Officer Travis Layton happening to them. said. Before continuing, it is important to identify the difference However, there is something much more important in prebetween carjacking and general car theft. venting carjacking, and any crime for that matter. The main distinguishing factor “I would just stress the fact that the biggest is that carjacking, according to the thing you can do to prevent yourself from being a Department of Justice, necessitates that victim of [carjacking] is to be aware of your surroundthe perpetrator takes a motor vehicle ings,” Layton said. “from the person or presence of anothSituational awareness dissuades attackers, as er by force and violence or by intimidathey often rely on the element of surprise and rarely tion, or attempts to do so.” target someone who sees them coming. One of the main theories for the “You want to be alert, eyes up, want to be able to aforementioned spike is actually the hear, see what’s going on,” Layton said. better security systems in cars today. In the event that someone does try to carjack For instance, many cars now only you, just give up your keys and let them go. If they’re Travis Layton School Resource Officer operate with the proximity of a key fob. willing to threaten you with force, they’re willing to Meaning, it’s now easier for car thieves use it. Your car is not worth dying over. to steal the car directly from you than break into the car. Instead, try to get some characteristics of the attacker such So how does one combat this issue? Well, there are a few as approximate height, weight and age as well as gender and simple yet important precautions you can take. race. Immediately call 911 and an officer will be sent down. Since carjacking most often happens as you are getting They will have you describe the attacker and your car as into or are already in the car, it is important that you park in a well, its make, model, year, color, and license plate. In St. Louis,

Wesley Henshaw

“You want to be alert, eyes up, want to be able to hear, see what’s going on”

it’s likely you’ll get your car back, though the condition you get it in is questionable. “Very often, in this area, when your car gets stolen, whether it’s just stealing a car or carjacking, the reason they’re taking the car is to get from point A to point B, maybe commit some crimes along the way,” Layton said. The car most often is ditched as soon as it runs out of gas. While the chances of being carjacked are still low, they are increasing. It is important you are prepared for any situation that could come your way, as proper preparation makes all the difference.

Carjacking occurs as you get into or while you are already in your car. It is important that you don’t just hang around. Instead, unlock your car, get in, and drive away quickly to minimize the threat. Photo by Wesley Henshaw.

NEW AQUA ATTRACTION IN THE LOU Aquarium to be built in Union Station late fall 2019

Avery Cooper Staff Writer

o start the year off strong, renderings were released by St. Louis Aquarium showing the new aquarium in Union Station set to open in late 2019. But this is not just a little project. McCarthy Construction has actually been working on the area since Nov. 2017 and takes up 120,000-square-feet at two stories tall. According to St. Louis Aquarium, there will be a

Rendition of one of the future exhibits at the aquarium. Photos courtesy of St. Louis Aquarium

250,000 gallon shark tank, over 13,000 animals and 257 species. There will be 44 different exhibits and a separate ticket can get you into miniature golf, the carousel, ropes course, a ferris wheel and more. Costing $187 million, Lodging Hospitality Management thought Union Station would be the perfect venue. It’s considered a National Historic Landmark and was originally a major train station in the 19th century that has since included restaurants, a mall, and a hotel. The station now will have a new addition that will provide fun for all ages and educate people on marine life and conservation. Not only are there thousands of animals to observe, but there’s a conservation and education center to teach people how to help the marine environment. According to the St. Louis Aquarium website: “The St. Louis Aquarium connects all people with aquatic life through transformative, immersive experiences, building a community that cares and acts to protect water and the life it sustains.” Not only will the attraction be an educational experience, but will also benefit the local economy. According to St. Louis Aquarium, the construction of the area is working with local business and will create 500 jobs, including minority and women representation. The aquarium itself will create 100 permanent jobs as well as bring money to the city through tourism. What many don’t know is that St. Louis already had an aquarium at the City Museum. The World Aquarium was a separate part of the City Museum and had suffered through dirty facility claims and a six month shut down, according to Fox 2

News. There were plans of relocations, however, the aquarium still remains in the same location, but does not receive the buzz it used to. With the upcoming aquarium being built, it may put the smaller, older aquarium out of business completely. The famous Hard Rock Cafe was closed last August in order to make room for an ice cream and candy emporium to be built with the aquarium as well. Due to past issues with unkempt and unfed habitats in the World Aquarium, the new St. Louis Aquarium could face skepticism from marine wildlife supporters. In these past few years, SeaWorld has seen major backlash from their treatment of orca whales kept in small tanks and forced to perform shows. Senior Kennedy Devlin is against SeaWorld because of their mistreatment of orcas, but has hopes for the aquarium. “I think the aquarium is okay because most species of fish kept in aquariums don’t need much space to swim around in, the distance they swim overall can be achieved in a large tank,” Devlin said. “Orcas, however, swim 100 plus miles a day making it clearly not okay for businesses such as SeaWorld to operate. I don’t care if St. Louis gets an aquarium as long as we don’t feed into the desire for money at the expense of animals and decide to build a SeaWorld.” The aquarium offers general admission, combined tickets for access to other attractions, and even annual passes like the St. Louis Zoo. With animals and species from rivers and oceans around the globe, the St. Louis Aquarium is sure to be a hit.

Opinions

DECIDING YOUR FUTURE

The best college majors based on unemployment rates By Shoshana Weinstein Staff Writer

s soon as the pressure of getting into college eases, the stress of choosing a major begins. Most people view higher education as preparation for students’ careers, and seek to choose a major that reflects their intended field of work. As high school seniors transition into college freshmen, many scramble to decide what direction they want their professional lives to take. But what should influence this choice? A student’s passions? Their work habits? What about the amount of money they wants to make? Researchers at RISMedia analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, and the New York Federal Reserve Bank to determine which college majors have the lowest unemployment rates. Unsurprisingly, many STEM majors rank among the most employed. Engineering majors have predictably low unemployment, with industrial engineering, civil engineering, and general engineering all scoring in the top 10 most employable majors; these majors have unemployment rates of 1.7%, 2.3%, and 2.4% respectively. Architecture and computer engineering majors also score within the top 15. Jennifer Meyer, a physics and chemistry teacher at Central, encourages students to pursue a major in STEM. “I think there’s a lot of growth in the STEM field,” Meyer said. “There’s a lot of technological advances being made in our economy... So I think if it interests you, it’s a great place to go because there’s a lot of opportunities and a lot of variety in what you can do.” Many students find a STEM major daunting. Nonetheless, a focus on math and science can be very rewarding. “You take some really hard classes, but that’s good,” Meyer said. “Challenging yourself is always a good thing to do.” It may come as a surprise that several of the 15 most employable majors have nothing to do with math or science at all. Theology and religion majors also have a startlingly low unemployment rate of only 2.7%. Both general education (2.2% unemployment) and special education (1.3% unemployment) score even higher. English teacher Cynthia Krone enthusiastically endorses a focus on education. “I always wanted to teach, even when I was

in kindergarten,” Krone said. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to teach until I got to high school. My high school English teachers were really wonderful, and I just loved reading literature, and studying some of the great books. I liked to write, and so I decided then that I was gonna pursue English as my major in college.” If students are looking for a major that offers a promising job outlook, teaching may be the way to go. “English teachers are needed in every school, so that’s a plus,” Krone said. “It’s not like an elective. They’re rarely cut unless they have a decrease in enrollment. And you have several people who are members of the department, so that’s kind of nice. There’s a lot of options in St. Louis. And you can find an English job if you’re willing to stick it out and keep pursuing it, keep going back. Be an aide if you have to be for a while; that gets your foot in the door. It’s definitely a good field.” Many majors in the field of social studies rank among the highest in unemployment. In the top ten least employable majors, anthropology majors come in sixth place (5.7%), general social sciences majors come in seventh place (5.6%), and history majors come in 10th place (5.5%). Nonetheless, studying the social sciences definitely has its benefits. “I would recommend that students study history, specifically in college, because you can go so much more in detail in the topic that you’re interested in,” history teacher Paige Stewart said. “You can focus in on a class just on the Civil Rights movement, or just on women’s roles in history. And so you see a bit more detailed stories of what’s been going on, instead of just this broad overview.” “My degree in history has definitely helped me understand the world better,” Stewart, who double majored in Global Cul-

“My degree in history has definitely helped me understand the world better. I think it’s important, especially in the current climate that we have, that we try to understand other people’s histories, and that we understand cultural backgrounds...I think that that helps you build more empathy and listen to what others have to say, not just jumping to conclusions.”

2.5

Architecture

2.0

Accounting

1.5

Theology and religion

1.0

General education

0.5

Industrial engineering

0.0

Major

Unemployment Rate (%)

Computer engineering

tures and Languages and Social Studies Education, said. “I think it’s important, especially in the current climate that we have, that we try to understand other people’s histories, and that we understand cultural backgrounds. It’s important that we understand that different types of people have been treated differently in the United States, and how that influences what they want out of their government and society today. I think that that helps you build more empathy and listen to what others have to say, not just jumping to conclusions.”

College Majors With the Highest Unemployment Rates

College Majors With the Lowest Unemployment Rates 3.0

Paige Stewart History Teacher

History

General social sciences

6 5

Anthropology

Liberal Arts

Fine Arts

English Language

1 0

Major

News

“BREAKING” NEWS: OFFICE FLOOD

Pipe burst in the front office has caused chaos for many at PCH Danni Schneiderman Staff Writer

oming back from winter break can leave you in a slump, but it was even worse for us this year here at PCH. Due to a pipe that burst in the nearly zero degree weather, the entire front office was submerged in water, forcing Kim Orf, Chris Dallas, Melvin Griffin and many others at Parkway Central to adapt to the changes that unexpectedly came upon them. Our school has been impacted in ways that many might not even realize, and others are far too familiar with. Kim Orf, the secretary in the front office, remembers getting a call from Principal McCarthy around six a.m. “I was getting ready to come to work and he said there was a pipe that burst in the front office,” Orf said. “Depreist, he does

A large crack in the floor in the front office, part of the carnage that was left behind from the water main break. Photo by Danni Schneiderman

all the building custodials, he went in there to reset the alarm and saw the burst pipe and that everything was flooded. The damage has been pretty significant, especially the paper files. Forms for field trips, detention, and a lot of student files were ruined. “Students who graduate from like five years ago, we have to keep those files for like 10 years, those were ruined. We are the only one who has those, there are no copies in the district,” said Orf. Once arriving at school to the mess in the front office, Melvin Griffin, who sits at the front of the building and monitors who comes in and out, recalls many members of PCH working together in the wake of this unfortunate event. “Many members of the staff joined in to move furniture, computers, and other electronics out of the way which was very challenging,” Griffin said. Even though the front office was a significant center for student passes, deliveries, package drop off, lunch pick up, and more, PCH personnel are still working to make sure things are running smoothly despite the complications to their everyday routines. Chris Dallas, the 12th grade principal, and others were forced to relocate their offices. This has definitely been quite the adjustment. “It’s a little different not knowing where all my stuff is located. Some is in the conference room, some stuff is in a locker room,” Dallas said. “Not having everything I need at my disposal has made it a little challenging.” This relocation of the members in the front office has caused some disturbance in the usual flow of daily events.

Office cabinets, chairs, etc have been placed in the FAQS commons to dry. Photo by Danni Schneiderman

“It’s been hectic. For a while we didn’t have announcements so some of the students were questioning what was going on,” Orf said. “We weren’t doing paging so students weren’t getting their passes.” As Griffin best put it, “the front office is the heart of the operation.” In its absence, everyone has been working tirelessly to make sure things still run smoothly for both the students and staff. The renovations for the office are in the works right now and they hope to be finished by the end of March or early April in order to get everything back up and running as soon as possible.

THE CLOSING OF EIGHT STEAK ‘N SHAKES Kaylee Canoy Staff Writer

teak ’n Shake all over St. Louis have been closing, including the location in Chesterfield Valley and on Olive near PCH, and we haven’t been given a clear reason on why. Many sources say they are temporarily closed for remodeling, but then add that they don’t know when or if these restaurants will reopen. According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, at the end of January, Steak ‘n Shake executives announced that some local Steak ‘n Shakes will be closing for renovation. A couple weeks ago Steak ‘n Shake closed eight local stores in the St. Louis metro. “We are looking for franchise partners to come in and own and operate those locations,” Steak ‘n Shake CFO Tom Murray said. Murray also commented as to why those eight locations were closed. “They were not extremely well run from cleanliness or customer service perspective,” Murray said. Some students have different thoughts and feelings about Steak ‘n Shake closing. Sophomore Steven Solomon remembers all the memories he has had with friends at Steak ‘n Shake. “I have had great experiences at Steak n’ Shake. I remember the most recent time I went was for the milkshake mile for cross country. It was really fun, and I am sad I can’t have any more experiences there,” said Solomon. “If they reopen I would like their service to be a lot happier. I remember waiting 30 minutes to an hour just for a milkshake.” On the other hand, junior Corbett Harris thinks that clos-

ing Steak ‘n Shake is long overdue. “I feel that the closing is very overdue and I am hoping that when they reopen after renovations, it is much better,” Harris said. “When I was little, I went to Steak ‘n Shake with my family as a treat and I loved it, but over time the quality has declined a lot. The last few times I went, the service was extremely slow and it was very dirty.” Not all the Steak ‘n Shakes in the St. Louis area closed. The Steak ‘n Shakes closed for now are just waiting to reopen until they find franchising partners. It is undetermined when they will find new franchising partners and reopen.

Are students upset that Steak ‘n Shake is closing?

Instagram poll @pch_publications

1.Steak ‘n Shake on Chesterfield Airport Rd, is one of the eight restaurant’s waiting for a franchising partner. 2.Sign on the front door of Steak ‘n Shake on Chesterfield Airport Rd. Franchisees can buy in for just $10,000—but in return they turn over to Steak ‘n Shake 15 percent of sales and 50 percent of profit. Traditional Steak n Shake franchisees invest more than $1 million at the outset and pay royalties of about 5 percent of sales. Photos by Kaylee Canoy

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Recipients:

Adam Burnett Anadia Philips Anna Montaldo Anna Oleksa Antonio Harris Athena Stamos Blake Seigel Brett Goodman Carla Minor Chao Yi Ling Charles Kropp Chayse Williams Christopher Stowers Concepcion(C.J.) Robinson Cori Gibson Dominque Carothers Elisa Koberstein Merino Elizabeth Cearly Erasmus Brown Ginger Hall Grace Hansen Grace Wagner Hannah Krivelow Haydn Shertz Heidi Kladiva Hunter King Immanuel Stephens Jack Williams Jadin Taylor Jaheim Thomas James Sherstoff Jaren Williams Julianna Bell Kaitlyn Miller Katie Tien Kevin Thomas Lane Coerver Lauren DuPerrett Louis Thiel Madeline Lee Margaux Eubank Mari Krivelow Mark Vishnevetsky Maxine Murrell Michael Fritz Jr. Michael Sanford Naomi Kessler Nicholas White Remi Taylor Ruchit Dwara Ryan Klein Sam Ladd Samantha Malt Samantha Qian Sasha Yarovinski Sheryar Ahmed Shoshana Weinstein Summiaiya Kabir Sydney Kolker Victoria Favazza YuTing Shi Zhirui He

SPIRIT OF CENTRAL AWARDS one who gives up their time to help others. So that could be an amount of different reasons including just continuing to work hard in class, just people Online Features Editor wo are good human beings,” Power said. t Parkway Central, students are able to be recognized for a variety of When many students wonder about why they got the award they think achievements in the classroom, on the sports field, and in leadership mostly of just helping the people around them and being an overall good positions. One award that showcases students of great moral characperson in the school community. Senior Kevin Thomas received this award ter who represent the core values of Parkway Central is the Spirit of Central from McCarthy for always showing a great school spirit towards everyone award. The recipients of this award are often known to do the right thing, even around him. when no one is watching. “Kevin is the epitamy of a super fan and is always present at everything. “Academic, extra curricular, and other achievements are all important I’ve just watched him grow of the four years and seeing him move from the but all of us can aspire to be a good person and I think that we value that as a freshman section of sports games to the front of the senior section is fantascommunity,” Principal Tim McCarthy said. tic,” McCarthy said. “I just enjoy having the opportunity to watch him grow It is important to have students who commit core values to be shown with his commitment to the school community and I have a lot of respect for from their teachers that what they are doing is making an impact on the him for that which is why I wanted to recognize him for it.” people around them. Sometimes students can be helping someone out even This is Thomas’ first year receiving the Spirit of Central award and he without knowing it. was very surprised when he received it. It it his outgoing personality that lead One example of a student who is willing to make a difference is senior him to receive the award. Sasha Yarovinski. As an office aid many students take the time to do home“I think I represent the values that the school wants to embody and I am work or complete other tasks in their free time but Sasha wanted to be as always nice to people and generally bright and positive,” Thomas said. helpful as possible. Even new teachers to Parkway Central believe for this awards to be “I don’t view office aid as an hour that is solely important. As a first year teacher here at PCH, English a time to do homework, but I make helping Mr. teacher Sarah Burgess thought there were so many deDallas and Mrs. Orf a priority and continue to serving students for this award simply for their positive work hard on my own things while still devoting attitudes and hard work. time on the help they need me to take care of,” “Students who exhibit a growth mindset are noYarovinski said. ticed and appreciated by their teachers. They do not let Yarovinski makes sure to use the time that themselves be limitied by challenges, but use challenges she has to be productive and do something good as opportunities for growth,” Burgess said. for others as well. She wants to be a helpful person These awards are here to show what teachers towards everyone while still being responsible for and students believe to be important characteristics to everything she needs to get done. display at Parkway Central. They not only recognize Tim McCarthy principal “I think I am a hardworking person with good students for the kind actions they are showing others time management because that’s how my parents but they are displaying the idea of perseverance and always raised me to be. I utilize these qualities to benefit myself and the characteristics that everyone is aiming to work towards. people around me, especially when I am an office aid and I have to juggle the “When we talk about character and character education, these students things I need to get done,” Yarovinski said. who received the award manifest the qualities that as a school we are attemptNot only is Yarovinski helpful as an office aid but she strives to help ing to reach,” Burgess said. “Public acknowledgement of these qualities lifts others around her. As a senior and a member of the Parkway Central Dance a school culture because it communicates that these standards are not just Team she always works to help those girls feel comfortable and happy. something we talk about or list on a poster, we live them out and we honor “Being on the dance team makes me feel like a leader because I feel like students who live them out.” the younger girls look up to the upperclassmen,” Yarovinski said. “Earning While it is hard for teachers to only choose a few students every year this award just reassures me how you can make an impact on the people who who receive the award, there are so many students who deserve it. However, you surround yourself with.For many teachers and administrators it can be the main point of these awards are to display even further the kindness and difficult when deciding which students to choose for these awards. With so good qualities everyone wants to spread around the school to better the peomany students here at Parkway Central there are many people who are deple around you. serving of an award such as the spirit of central award. According to Dr. Sarah “I think this award just speaks to what we value and these principle Power there is no specific reason a teacher should give the award but they are values share commitment to our school as a community,” McCarthy said. “I bringing something good to the school environment. think the Spirit of Central Awards just recognize that this is an award for kids “When I think about who should receive the award I just think of somejust being good people.”

Sydney Stahlschmidt

“This is an award for kids just being good people”

Left: Students receiving the Spirit of Central Award held on the Tuesday night of the awards.Photo by Christine Stricker. Right: Principal Tim McCarthy and senior Kevin Thomas at the Spirit of Central Award Ceremony on Wednesday night. Photo by Christine Stricker.

News

SNEAKER CULTURE AND ITS POPULARITY Haydn Schertz

Staff Writer

here is an art to collecting sneakers, whether it be keeping ‘em on ice or showing off. Some might think that wearing a different pair of shoes every day is a waste of money or just insane. But for others, sneakers are more than just something that they wear they are how you tell your story. Taking pride in ones sneakers is a big deal. There are not many true sneakerheads. Despite having a lot of sneakers, a sneakerhead knows a lot about the history of shoes and their values. The sneaker game has changed drastically over the years as being able to buy sneakers has become much easier to do. Online stores and now apps such as StockX have become very popular when buying and even selling sneakers. Selling sneakers has become very popular in recent years. But being a real sneakerhead means keeping them to add to the collection. “I don’t purchase shoes to resale or to make a profit or to trade. I actually wear my shoes or keep ‘em on ice for the right occasion,” said middle school P.E. teacher and high school basketball coach Jon Hardy. When you keep a sneaker on ice it means that you save them by not wearing them. “The Kobe’s I wore our last JV game have been on ice since his last game in 2016,” said Hardy. Getting into liking sneakers is different for everyone. Whether you are born a sneakerhead or your new to the sneaker life, it really just depends on the person. Celebrities and athletes can have a big impact especially when they have their own signature shoe such as LeBron, Durant, Kobe and many more.

“I got into shoes with the early Lebrons and Kobes and just by watching Youtube videos of peoples collections and the history behind the shoes,” said sophomore Jackson Shanker. One of the people who really changed what sneakers were all about was none other than Michael Jordan. Jordan was threatened to be fined $5,000 per game by the NBA when his shoes were not the right colorway of the Chicago Bulls. Jordan has been one the most influential figures in the sneaker culture. He has his own brand and has some of the most popular shoes to this day. “Some of my favorite shoes are Jordans, such as the Jordan retro 11 and the Jordan retro 13,” said junior Deuce Harris. One of the biggest parts of the sneaker game is the sneakers can be pretty expensive. Buying sneakers is more than just spending money. Sneakers are how you can share your personality and how you make your identity.

Top: A pair of Jordan Retro 5’s, a very popular shoe that comes in a variety of styles. The fire reds, the style pictured above, retails for about $400 or $500. Photo courtesy of Pixabay. Left: Vans began as a brand of shoe marketed towards skateboarders. Now, they are one of the more common shoes seen around school. Photo by Ryan Pham.

JUNIOR GOES TO ICE SKATING NATIONALS Ryan Pham Staff Writer

hen junior Amber Wright missed four days of school, it was not to go to a beach and relax. Wright was headed to Michigan to compete in nationals with her skating team Synergy. Wright participated in the National Synchronized Ice Skating Championship on Feb. 26 with her team, Synergy. Going to nationals takes a lot of skill, practice, and dedication. Wright has been skating since she was six. Since then she has a rigorous routine of six practices a week, with each of them lasting two-to-four hours, depending to the day. “I don’t remember what life was like without skating,” Wright said., “My teammates are my second family to me.” Ice skating is quite an expensive sport to play. Wright’s mom pays for three of her kids to skate. For all of them combined, it is around $12,000, which doesn’t include travel expenses and private tutoring. For the Wright family, it is $65 an hour for each kid. Ice skating comes with a big price tag. “It’s so expensive, because we have to travel for almost all of our competitions,” Wright’s mother, Amy Fatzinger, said. “We have to pay for bus and plane tickets, hotel rooms, and to enter a competition there’s a fee. We have to also pay for ice time, which is really expensive, then we have to buy a new dress and makeup for every season.” A lot of money and time is spent in order to be a successful ice skater, including time away from school. In order to go, she had to miss four days of school and even a math test in order to participate in the competition. Luckily Feb. 28 was a snow day, which helped her

not have to make up as much work. “I was so grateful for that snow day,” Wright said. “I was supposed to take my math test three days ahead of everyone but due to the snow day I just took it when I got back.” Wright and her team’s competition was taken place in Michigan. They flew out after school on Feb. 26 and stayed until the end of the week. On the first day in Michigan, the day was filled with practices for the final performance, which happened on Feb. 28. The rest of the days were filled with fun until their departure on March 3. “We got to go play laser tag, and then we went back to the rink and watched one of our teams go again,” Wright said. “On Saturday, we watched our final team and then we got to watch the best teams in the U.S. and that was amazing to watch and see who would win.” Overall, the team got seventh at Nationals.

Top: Junior Amber Wright front and center during her performance in Michigan. Left: Wright performing with her teammates. Photos courtesy of Amber Wright

Sports

BLUES STREAK TOWARDS PLAYOFFS Patrick McColl Staff Writer

s students came back to school from winter break the morning of Jan. 3, the St. Louis Blues were one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League. At a record of 15-18-4, the Blues couldn’t do much right at all. Since then, however, the Blues have had a remarkable turnaround, and as of March 13, stand at 36-26-7, good enough for third place in the Central division. While many factors have played into the Blues turnaround this season, one of the biggest surprises has been goalie Jordan Binnington, who already has a Blues rookie record 5 shoutouts this season. Jake Allen’s starting role was heavily questioned as the season went on, so the Blues decided to switch to a Binnington Allen platoon swap, and it has definitely paid off. Since the Blues have started utilizing Binnington, the team is 16-4-1 when he starts, and has been a big part of the fuel to the Blues hot stretch. Among goaltenders, Binnington has the third best save percentage, and is first in the league in goals against average at 1.81, which is well above the second place Ben Bishop at 2.08. Speaking of defense, the Blues defensive lineups, led by Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko have helped keep goals off the board. During the 11-game win streak that flipped the Blues season, the Blues defense and goaltending delivered four shoutout victories, including three shutouts in a row from February 14-17. The Blues are sixth in goals against per game, and third in shots against per game. Essentially, they are keeping the puck out of the slapshooters sticks, and keeping the puck out of the

net when it is shot on. That kind of defense has got the Blues offense boosting confidence on the other end of the rink. St. Louis averaged almost four goals over their the 11 game win streak, and they haven’t let up. Since Jan. 3, when the Blues win, they have averaged 3.71 goals and held opponents to an average of 1.33 goals, which is a +2.38 differential. They aren’t only winning, but often controlling the game. The Blues have had lots of contribution offensively from right winger Vladimir Tarasenko and center Ryan O’ Reilly. The two have combined for 124 points. O’Reilly has been all over the game, with 26 goals, second on the team only behind Tarasenko’s 28, and 40 assists which leads the team. O’Reilly’s +22 plus/ minus, a stat created to help measure a player’s impact while in the game, is far and away the best on the team. Of the over 700 players in the NHL, O’Reilly’s plus/minus is the 20th best in the league With 13 games left in the season, the Blues have a crucial stretch of hockey still to play. They are definitely not out of position to move up in the divisional standings, sitting four points out of second, and five out of first. A little win streak and luck and they could be right there. However, make the same mistakes or resort back to their play in the earlier season and the Blues could just as easily fall. The Coyotes and the Stars, the two wild card teams in the western conference, have been playing great hockey recently. The Coyotes have won nine of their last eleven, and the Stars five of their last six. During this final stretch, it will be important for the Blues to capitalize on the softer scheduled games. 10 of the 13

games the Blues will be playing are against teams that aren’t in a playoff spot, which is very nice considering the Blues injury luck recently. A nice winning stream to go off of, some confidence, and decent positioning heading into the playoffs could be all this team needs to finally make a deep try for the Stanley Cup. The pressure is lessened from years past, as the Blues were considered a terrible team earlier in the season. They haven’t set the league on fire the entire season, and they didn’t have any expectations until recently. Considering they weren’t supposed to be here in the first place, the Blues have a chip on their shoulders, and that could propel them to something more than the usual disappointment. St. Louis should be excited to see what this team can do coming down the stretch.

St. Louis Blues players celebrate a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)

CELEBRATE CENTRAL: TIME TO REFLECT ON ACTIONS Alex Maisenhelder

Online Sports Editor

elebrate Central is an informative day held once a year, aimed at trying to educate and better inform students, and event staff on social issues or grievances. With some of the sessions related to drug or alcohol use, understanding of gender, LGBTQ, police and the justice system, etc. “I think it is a day for reflecting” Latin teacher Matthew Pikaard said. “I think it is important to give a day for students to reflect on our world, and to teach them to be a better global citizen. I feel it is good that they are getting a chance to hear all these world views.” While many students choose to skip this day, in lieu of sleeping or hanging out with friends, this day can prove to be very profound in its social impact. Educating and helping remove preconceived notions, or misinterpretations.”

Sophomore Brian Rubin talks with Sam Thomas, who is a police officer and recruiter for the St. Louis County PD. Thomas, along with the other officers, discussed how police are trained, the criminal justice system, racial profiling, etc. They helped educate students on these topics, even how law enforcement approaches community building, ending with a conversation on these topics. Photo by Wesley Henshaw.

Jess Jones presented in the Transgender 101. Jones talked about gender identity, and what it means to be transgender or non-binary. The hope was that participants could enlarge their understanding of gender. Photo by Tori Favazza.

Mike Weiland talked about his experiences with drug and alcohol addiction. Mentioning how long-term the high does not last forever. Also, saying that no matter if you are told to not do drugs, or to do drugs, the same thing will happen. Photo by Wesley Henshaw.

Senior AJ Collier talks with Ms. Lindy Drew after the Humans of St. Louis presentation. Humans of St. Louis is a non-profit that shares images and stories of people in the St. Louis region. They share the stories across multiple media platforms to spread awareness. Photo by Wesley Henshaw.

Freshman Patryck Young, sophomore Adrienne Reed, seniors Adam Burnett and Caleb Licata were on the LGBTQ panel. They talked about experiences regarding their sexuality and coming out. Photo by Claudia Sanders.

Sports

OKPARA SISTERS DO TRACK TOGETHER Carly Wasserman Staff writer

gechi and Nnenna Okpara are not just sisters but also best friends. Running is one main hobby that bonds these two sisters together. Nnenna cannot wait to start the track season and run with her sister, but just because they’re close, doesn’t mean they won’t compete with one another and try to break each other’s records. “I just love my sister, so running with her is always fun,” Nnenna said. Ogechi is ready for some competition. Now that Nnenna is at the high school with her, they finally get to be be on the same track team together. “I think it will be a competition because we’re both really fast,” Ogechi said. “It’s going to be really competitive but it will also be fun.” Ogechi is a senior and has been running track for seven years. Her younger sister Nnenna is currently a freshman and started running in elementary school. Nnenna took part in her first meet in sixth grade. These sisters love having fun together while also competing against one another. Although they never practice running outside of school together, Ogechi knows how to train for the season since she has been a part of the track team at Central High for the past four years. Now that the season is just beginning, Ogechi has begun to eat more healthy. “I completely cut out junk food. That includes chips, sweets, and soda,” Ogechi said. “Everything I eat consists of vegetables, protein, and a lot of carbs but not too much. I do this so I can feel lightweight when I’m running.” This past winter, Nnenna played basketball for the school. When it is not basketball or track season, Nnenna still continues to condition, but also makes sure to equally concentrate on her school work.

“I do some conditioning, but I really use my time to focus on school,” Nnenna said. “During both seasons, I have to manage every minute and make sure to prioritize. During the off-season, I have a lot of time to focus on school which helps a lot.” Just like Nnenna, Ogechi also works out a lot in her off season. “I put in a lot of work at the gym, which occurs mostly over the summer,” Ogechi said. “This helps with my conditioning for when track starts back up. I also love to tutor kids that need help in math, whenever I’m free.” Nnenna doesn’t care much about what event she will be running, but if she had a choice, she would want to run the 400 and be in the 4x400 relay. “I’ll just be doing the 400, the 200, as well as the sprint relays,” Ogechi said. Both girls have big goals for the season and plan to stay positive and motivated. “My goal for the season is to beat my previous four hundred time and just to get better as a runner. What I’m going to do is tell myself everyday if I want to get better, I have to keep pushing myself,” Nnenna said. “By looking up to my older teammates who are leaders, I know I can become the best I can.” Ogechi had a good season last year, which helps her set some good goals for this spring season. “I will basically do what I did last year, and that’s remain positive. Even during the hard workouts, I will constantly tell myself I can do it,” Ogechi said. “That helps a lot because that’s what I did last year and I was able to drop ten seconds off my four hundred. So, I think that if I just keep the same mentality and continue to encourage my other teammates around me to do better, then we can all be successful.”

Top: Freshman Nnenna Okpara, and senior Ogechi Okpara posing on the track in their track uniforms on Monday, 3/11. Photo courtesy of Nnenna Okpara. Left: Coach Ryan Banta calls Ogechi: “One of the most improved athletes he has ever had”, and has established herself as one of the team captains this year. Photo courtesty of Nenna Okpara.

TRACK TEAM UPDATES COACHING STAFF Tori Favazza Staff Writer

rack season is an important season for Parkway Central, with 61 students on the girls’ team, and state records to beat. But some changes have been made to the team regarding coaching positions. “We have some coaching turnover because of people taking jobs elsewhere… [Ryan King] wanted to take some time for family in the spring, and track just like any other sport is a big responsibility,” head coach Ryan Banta said. “He’s always wanted to coach basketball; it was one of his first loves as a sport, so when he got the opportunity to coach varsity boys basketball it made a lot of sense. He’s no longer with us in track but he still loves us, he and I still have a good relationship, and we still see each other.” High jump and javelin coach Cameron Poole had to be replaced as well, since he took another job opportunity as a principal at Rockwood Summit high school. Pole vault coach Ryan Parad had to be substituted as well. “Coach Parad, who was our pole vault coach, got a better job doing some work for the Parks and Rec. Department for the city of St. Louis, and he got an opportunity to coach at the high school he went to,” Banta said. “The job was a better paying job and closer to home. He’s also got a new baby on the way, so all of those things played a role. That’s why all those turnovers and positions changed; just life.” Though the replacing of these three incredibly influential coaches has been a sad event, fortunately, skilled and experienced coaches are taking their place. “Coach Goldenberg is taking over the throws, and he

coached boys track for over 10 years, so he’s very well versed in the sport. For the distance events, coach Silvermintz is coming on board, and he has a lot of experience as a runner himself,” Banta said. Silvermintz was also a captain in the United States Army, and would frequently run around the base that he was stationed at. “In the pole vault, we were in a tough situation because pole vault can be very intimidating. I’ve been after coach [Nancy] Hesemann for a while to get her to join our staff because I really like her coaching when I’ve seen her coach softball and basketball,” Banta said. All of the new coaches are eager for the new season, for new opportunities, and for new records to be made. “I can’t wait to help make our team better in any way possible. I love to motivate and be a positive influence for our athletes. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Heseman said. “I hope that I can add to the positive atmosphere that already exists within the program. The boys and girls program has a great winning tradition and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.”

2 3

1. Seniors Remi Taylor, Madeline Lee, and Ogechi Okpara lead the team in streching after running a couple of laps around the track for their warm up. Photo by Tori Favazza 2. With upper classmen in the middle, and lower classmen in the outer circle, the returning athletes lead the streching of the day. Photo by Tori Favazza 3. Lily Pearson and Hanna Travis stretch for the upcoming track workout. Photo by Tori Favazza

Cover Story

Unrealistic ideals of social media perpetuate a negative body image Madeline Lee Copy Editor

ith spring break coming up, people begin to stress about what they are going to do, where they are going to go, having a beach body, and getting in shape for spring break. Social media does not help these thoughts, and can cause a variety of issues having to do with body insecurity and people comparing themselves to others. “People always show the cool stuff that they’re doing, and a lot of times just seeing a lot of that can make you feel like you’re the only one who may be sitting at home,” senior Thomas Gibson said. “What can be a problem too is just comparing yourself to other people who may have edited photos.” People often showcase the highlights of their life on social media- such as parties, achievements, and doing cool things with friends. By seeing not only celebrities, but fellow students, living what appears to be a perfect life, it can be detrimental to a person’s self esteem. “Sometimes you see the celebrities, and they kind of create a fake life,” sophomore Raven Barrett said. “People who are less fortunate see that, and they compare themselves. Then they try to impress others and try to live the lifestyle that celebrities and influencers do.” Along with comparing lives, people often compare their bodies to others’ as well. All of these comparisons can negatively impact a person’s mentality. “I used to be insecure about my body, but now that I’ve been working out and I stopped caring what people think. Now, I have a positive body image about myself,” junior Lana Cristiani said. “I used to use filters when I was younger, because I used to care what other people thought about my pictures and how many likes it will get. But now I just share with my friends and I don’t really care what other people think.” One app that has become popular due to its photoshopping abilities is FaceTune, which allows users to edit everything from their waistline to their complexion, to creating muscles that aren’t there to blurring muscle lines. “I definitely think that editing a photo of them can make a teen have a misperception of what they look like,” Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, Stephanie Robertson said. “Especially with girls, we know our angles, lighting that is needed for the perfect shot and just how to adjust the hue of the photo to make them pop.” The use of filters has also become more common, with many social media platforms and apps having their own unique filters that users can apply. Snapchat has filters that can make people look like animals and enlarge or shrink features, while Instagram and other apps have filters that can alter colors, as well as photoshop images. “When [people] do not see that same face in the mirror or when a picture is taken of them instead of a selfie, it does not look the same,” Robertson said. “The lighting is wrong, our

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Perfect

colors are out of whack, the angle makes us look ‘fat.’ It’s a lack of control that you have when you cannot edit the picture and achieve the look that is your online persona. The perception of self is tampered with because the infinite possibilities one possesses to chisel the picture makes the person feel unsatisfied in real life.” Robertson stresses that teens are not the only age group to experience this, but that the hope is that as teens age, they begin to care about physical things less. “You should be proud of yourself,” Cristiani said. “People need to accept themselves, you are the way that you are.” Robertson has observed an increase in the amount of teens who suffer from anxiety and depression, which she attributes to a need for instant gratification and an inability to separate fantasy from reality. “I think editing pictures can definitely be harmful, because when you do it once and you start getting a bunch of likes you think you have to keep up this facade,” senior Samantha Seigel said. “I think there’s a lot of subconscious pressure people are afraid to address within themselves.” Robertson also attributes an increase in depression to social media, and how it provides constant exposure to the lives of others and the “perfection” that they try to portray. “People work for an image that isn’t all natural,” sophomore Lauren Farr said. “If people see other people working for [something they want], they feel left out or try to focus on that. Then they gain bad habits, like eating disorders and using filters, and they aren’t really being them.” Profiles on social media are not the only things that people can compare themselves to. Advertisements on T.V., or the personal ads that populate Instagram and Facebook, can begin to target insecurities as well. “Our society has taught us for years that a particular look, weight and height is necessary to be considered acceptable,” Robertson said. “If teens are inundated with this ‘acceptable’ look thousands of times a day, it only continues the expectation. It’s more than just the pictures on profiles themselves, but even the ads that are specifically chosen for each teen’s page are most likely geared toward how they are supposed to look.” By seeing ads for products such as FitTea, or other products that claim to be the miracle of fat-loss, gives people the notion that they need to be twig thin in order to be liked. Celebrity endorsements for these products, including Cardi B and the Kardashians, have come under fire for promoting unhealthy and detrimental products such as these teas. “Social media influencers get paid to look a certain way,” Robertson said. “Part of their job is to work out at times or maintain a certain beauty regimen that takes time that most people don’t have. Our bodies will be changing shape, size and weight until the day we die, this is inevitable, and these “mentors” are not always being healthy. Chasing goals of ‘likes’ due to how one looks becomes their measuring stick of worth and their unworthiness is then directly correlated to a lack of attention on a picture etc.” In addition to eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and

mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, there has also been a heightened awareness for body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD. “People with BDD see a flaw in themselves or a flaw in symmetry, and they think that by fixing this it will change their life drastically, such as getting a job or a boyfriend,” plastic surgeon and multi-time Top Surgeon in Baltimore, Jeffrey Schreiber said. “I can spot these people and turn them down and caution them in pursuing surgery. It’s important to recognize the group of patients who have realistic expectations and they do have a part of their body that can be altered to feel better, and then there’s this group that has body dysmorphic disorder.” This mental disorder can develop due to a number of reasons, and can get worse as people compare themselves to others via social media. People that suffer from this disorder often seek plastic surgery or other options that they feel will fix this flaw. “It definitely is becoming more popular for younger women to come in and do things,” Schreiber said. “I am seeing more teenagers come in, but they’re coming in with their parents and the teens that come in with their parents are educated enough to know that what they’re asking for is realistic and there’s something that can be done.” One instance of this is a story Schreiber recanted about a teen girl who had come in to get liposuction. The girl had been afraid to change in the locker room, go to gym class, and felt incredibly insecure. She came in with her parents, and after she had recovered from surgery she was able to happily participate in gym class and even joined a sports team. Plastic surgery can help people gain confidence, but there are other options as well. One option is therapy, which is not only for those who suffer from a diagnosed mental disorder. Another is just spending less time on social media. “Spend less time using social media and more time in person with your friends who love you and see you for who you really are,” Robertson said. “Be cautious to believe what you see online and maybe even take a class in photoshop to understand just how edited a picture can be. Build yourself up through positive self-talk, therapy if necessary and personal relationships with trusted people.” Self care is incredibly important, especially as rates of anxiety and depression have increased. Examples of self care include doing something that makes you happy, finding time to unplug and unwind, and doing anything that helps you relax. “When you are online, remind yourself that it is the best version of everyone you are seeing, and remember the real life conversations you had that day with those same people, they are not perfect,” Robertson said. “If you care about yourself, your lens through which you view social media posts will change the way the information is saved in your memory.”

Sports

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYS FIRST FINAL FOUR Henry T. Eubank News Editor

he varsity girls basketball team secured the district championship title on Friday evening. The girls played Kirkwood, who are the two time defending state champions of the girls title. It was a lively environment lots of fans to support both teams and a loud and supportive student section as well. Head Coach Brian Guilfoyle and his team have been on the doorstep of a district championship for the past couple years but have fallen short. So it came as somewhat of a relief to the fan base and team to get over the hump this season. Guilfoyle knew that this year would also be very difficult, especially in districts. “When you’re in a district as tough as the one that we were in… we knew it was going to be a hard fought battle,” Guilfoyle said. The district championship game on March 1 was fast-paced at times and displayed skillful play from both teams. The crowd was very into the game for all four quarters as well, pumping adrenaline and intensity into the gym. The team defeated Marquette in sectionals 58-55 on March 6. That game qualified them for the Elite 8 where they faced Jackson. The Colts beat the Fighting Indians, dominating them in the 4th quarter. Senior Olivia Stephens led the team in scoring with 17 points. Sophomore Cynaa Coleman contributed 5 points to the win. “It feels good because we’ve been talking about this all season. We gotta take it one game at a time,” Coleman said after the quarterfinal win against Jackson. A pep bus is following the team down to Springfield today as the Colts take on Jefferson City in the Final Four at noon.

Junior center Jayla Kelly attempts a layup against Kirkwood on March 1.

Top: Teamates celebrate a win over Kiirkwood at districts on March 1. Bottom left: Senior Oliva Stephens plays defense on Kirkwood’s Rylee Mulvaney. Stephens obtained three defensive rebounds against Kirkwood on March 1. Bottom right: Sophomore Cynaa Coleman attempts to dribble around Kirkwood’s Rylee Mulvaney on March 1. Photos by Megan Fisher

YOGA, A NEW TAKE ON PE CLASS Gabby Abowitz

Photography Editor

oga originated in India as a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that has spread across the globe. It is really simple to look up poses or a video on youtube to pinpoint a certain type of yoga to help a certain muscle, help sleep, or become more flexible. Coming next school year, yoga will be available to Parkway Central students during the school day. While an existing class, Movement to Music, has a yoga unit, the new yoga class will be an in depth focus on yoga. In the class you learning the movements, background, and even the language yoga is in, which is sanskrit. In order to have this new class, PE teacher Terri O’Leary played a big role in advocating and voicing her opinion for the class, while recently completing the 200-hour yoga teacher certification. “I like the mindfulness in yoga and strength that it provides,” O’Leary said. With this new yoga option comes hope. “I hope that the students will gain the same benefits of learning to stay present in the present moment and gain strength and through the strength they’ll gain stretch and just a better appreciation for themselves,” O’Leary said. Many girls are signed up for the class next year including sophomore Margaux Eubank. “I really like yoga because it’s just time you can dedicate for yourself to relax from a busy day or week,” Eubank said.

From taking this class, she hopes to learn more poses so she can take home the knowledge and try it at home. Before this class, Eubank has taken yoga classes with some of her friends near Longview park. In yoga you have some favorite poses, and some not so favorites. “I really enjoy arm balances so case age 2 is one of my favorites and one of my least favorites is fire logs because my hips aren’t that open and it’s an extremely difficult pose for me,” O’Leary said. According to the website yoga outlet, the fire log pose is also referred to “Knee-to-Ankle pose and Square pose”. The pose is essentially you sitting and sitting in criss cross except you life one leg over the other instead of under each other. Benefits to doing this pose is providing a deep stretch to your hips and stretches and strengthens multiple body parts such as your groins, thighs, calves, and abdominal muscles. A well known and basic pose is child pose, which is Eubank among many others favorites. “I really like the child’s pose because it’s really relaxing but I don’t really like the warrior one because it’s more difficult,” Eubank said. According to the website YOGASIX, yoga was first found in “Stone-carved figures of yoga postures can be found in the Indus Valley depicting the original poses and practices”. Also, there is a broad variety of yoga schools, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The six different types are Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Jnana, Kriya, Karma each are very unique and different.

Sophomores Margaux Eubank and Julia Solomon practice the tree pose. Photo by Gabby Abowitz.

Sports

SPRING SPORTS ATHLETES TO WATCH Logan Potts Sports Editor

he oldest players on his team, and being a third year varsity player, junior golfer Deuce Harris will naturally be looked upon as one of the team’s leaders. “I don’t feel any pressure to be a leader because I will lead by example and make sure as a team we are creating a team first environment,” Harris said. “I am committed to helping this team take the next step and will lead by example through working hard to improve my game.” Harris missed out on going to the state tournament the last two years and doesn’t want to miss it again. “I have really high expectations of going to state this year because I missed going to state 2 years in a row just because of a couple bad shots,” Harris said. Harris has been taking steps and been working on his game over the offseason trying to make sure he can reach his goals and his full potential. “I have been working with my golf coach year round for the first time since moving to Chesterfield,” Harris said. “We have been focused on preventing the big miss to the left and now are focus on creating lag in my downswing to take my hands out of the swing.” Look for Harris to make big strides in his junior season and hopefully qualify for state for the first time in high school career. Being another junior with two years of varsity experience before this season, Brooke Lierman knows that she still has work to do to improve and take the next step. “The goals that I have more myself for this season is to beat my stats from last year and move up in rankings,” Lierman said. Lierman was second on the team with 42 total points and first on the team with 39 goals. There were 7 seniors on the team last year and because of that loss, Lierman knows that she will have to step up and become a leader. “Last year we had a lot of seniors leave so a lot underclassman are on varsity this year so being a returning player and being one of the oldest I feel like I have a leadership role,” Lierman said. Lierman also feels like she needs to work on something that doesn’t have to do with her performance. “In the past I have had a really bad temper so this year I’m trying to take a deep breath and have my patience with my teammates,” Lierman said. Look for Lierman to step up and be a key player and leader for the lacrosse team. Baseball player Eric White looks forward to his senior season. It will be his last year playing for a program he has spent the last four years playing in, but it won’t be his last time playing baseball. “I plan on playing at Drury University because I love the game so much,” White said. White, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, doesn’t want to or need to change anything about his game, he just wants to keep improving. As a junior, White had a batting average of .250, and on base percentage of .391 and 11 runs batted in. He also had a 2-2 win-loss record on the mound over 6 starts, an earned run average of 3.28, and he struck out 22 batters. White also pitched at the annual Busch Stadium game against rival Parkway North, only giving up one earned run across seven innings. The team lost a few potential seniors for this year that were on the team last year. “Seniors leaving won’t really have a huge impact on the team because we have people filling their spots that have a lot of talent, it’s just going to take some time to get use to that they won’t be there,” White said. Look for White to have a good final season in the

baseball program. Like White, Lanese Farr is heading into her final season as senior on the girls track and field team. Farr is a thrower who will compete in javelin, discus and shotput. “My goals this track season are to improve my personal record and maybe get the school record for javelin,” Farr said. Seniors are usually looked up to as leaders by younger and less experienced teammates and things are no different for Farr. “I do consider myself a leader on my team because I’m responsible and I care about my fellow teammates’ success,” Farr said. Even though Farr had success last season, she knows she has things to work on to make this season better. “Last year I wish I would’ve been able to focus on myself more,” Farr said. “In track it’s very easy to get caught up supporting other people’s success. This year I’m trying to take everything I do more seriously.” This will be Farr’s last season throwing because she will not be competing in college next year. “I have decided to not do track in college because I wanted a chance to be completely focused on my academics,” Farr said. Since Farr is in her last season and she will not be playing in college, there are some things that she will miss about track and field. “What I’m going to miss about track the most is my coach because it’s rare to find someone who still is so passionate about a program that they’ve had for so many years,” Farr said. “The strict rules and hard workouts make our girls track team nothing like any other sport at our school.” Look for Farr to accomplish her goals and have a good final season of throwing.

3 4

1. Senior Lanese Farr throws the javelin which is one of her three throwing events. Photo by Catherine Ke. 2. Junior Brooke Liermann runs with the ball in a game against Northwest Highschool. Photo by Sydney Stahlschmidt. 3. Senior Eric Whte pitches against Parkway North at Busch Stadium. White pitched 7 innings that game. Photo by Jeri Saltzman. 4. Junior Deuce Harris prepares to putt in a match against Eureka. Photo by Wagner Photography.

Features

LOCAL BANDS ROCK THE DUCK ROOM Hometown boys play for an all ages crowd David Amirdjanian Staff Writer

our local bands took stage during a freezing St. Louis night on Feb. 24 at The Duck Room located within Blueberry Hill on Delmar. All four bands play an interesting mixed bag of rock subgenres. I went into this almost completely blind, so I didn’t know what to expect from this outing - Up to that point I’ve only heard of The Slow Boys. At the end of descent into The Duck Room you’re greeted with a warmly lit club style venue filled with indie teens/college students along with some late 30 something year olds in typical quirky delmar fashion. Scuzz opened the show up with some heavy, head-throbbing, chest-thumping bass lines that could be heard from upstairs; their bassists 5 string bass was so low and punchy it made a world of a difference for an instrumental only performance. Scuzz is an instrumental progressive rock band but they give off more a fuzz rock vibe á la early Queens Of The Stone Age or Fu Manchu. The lighting effects were really nice since it was all pointed directly onto the performers on the darkened stage, giving the music a visually compelling performance to go along with it. The drummer of Scuzz was the centerpiece of the stage, and he was soaking up that attention by giving one killer show. The crowd was really feeling the deep grooves Scuzz was putting down that night and they let them know that by erupting in cheers after their act ended. As Scuzz concluded their set, Synthetic Sun made their way onto the stage to set up their equipment - Just as the audience scattered wide to refill their drinks at the bar. The bassist from Scuzz is also apart of Synthetic Sun, a self proclaimed indie rock band. Their performance featured heavy emo-esque vocals from the band’s guitarist, which took me some time for me

1: Band Synthetic Sun take the stage as the second act of the night, Feb. 24, 2019 at the Blueberry Hill. Photo by David Amirdjanian 2:The Slow Boys set the mood as the third preformance of the night, Feb. 24, 2019 at the Blueberry Hill. Photo by David Amirdjanian 3: Scuzz drummer energizes the crowd as they open up the shows for the rest of night, Feb. 24, 2019 at the Blueberry Hill. Photo by David Amirdjanian

to warm up to but their awesome instrumentals really was the cherry on top. The vocalist rocked out on stage, walking around and doing dope duets with the bassist. At the end of their set, they premered a unreleased song for the audience as a preview to their new album coming in the summer. The Slow Boys were next, and as Synthetic Sun made their way out, what seemed as half of the adults left and was replaced with even more indie girls forcing their way up to the front. As they got on stage there was a short hold up with what seemed like the managers of the venue, they soon finished setting up and took up their instruments. The lighting for this set was very comfy, giving it a very home-like feel. A unique distinction this band had between the previous three was that they featured an analogue synthesizer, which was used in a chaotic fashion throughout the show. Almost every other song seemed a little different in subgenre, they were all over the place but they made it sounds good. Easiest way for me to describe their style is if Ariel Pink made punk. Half way through the set the bands drummer and guitarist, to that point, swapped instruments for the rest of the setlist. I was running short on time and I overheard from one of the members of The Slow Boys saying that the next band was cancelled for the night. I made my way back home with some sore ears, but it was sure fun. There’s something rewarding about watching local St. Louis bands perform. Check your local venues websites for shows, there’s multi-bands gigs featuring many local artists happening everywhere constantly. Give it a shot sometime, it is definitely a great way to spend a free evening.

Features

WHAT’S AN OSCAR WORTH?

Vanity and progress had a baby, and named it award shows

Alex Edelman Staff Writer

ward shows typify celebrity star power and carry significant news coverage and public attention, but it’s been shown many times over that nominees and winners by no means reflect critical success or public popularity. This year saw winners from larger and smaller award shows result in cries of upset from both the critic and general population alike; perhaps the most controversial of these all being the haul of wins that film Bohemian Rhapsody, which became an ultra viral topic during the award season of 2019. This habitual outcry at award shown appears to be trending toward ad infinitum so it seems rational that it might not be the winners and losers that we as viewers should be questioning, but rather the true significance and implications of award show results. From person to person that answer is subjective, harder to answer, but as a measure of what value it gives or takes from a piece of art the answer may not be so broad. The larger and better-known shows such as the Academy Awards or the Grammys are surely watched more than the Golden Globes or ESPYS, who or what is to say that they really validate a work more than something else. English teacher and longtime Riverfront Times music writer Christian Schaeffer though not a regular award show viewer, has a well-informed view on their importance. “I still think the Oscars is an interesting bellwether of where the movie industry is any given year,” Schaeffer said. “I do think what has been interesting the past couple years has been both in, I would say, the Oscars and Grammys is the representation of people of color, and woman specifically[...] Frankly, it has been interesting to watch the way the culture has lapped the industry”. A different spin on the meaning of these awards: the cultural influence of these gatherings seems heavy and consistent. Just a few years ago, the film industry was thrust into a wave of criticism after the #OSCARSsowhite movement on Twitter and has since appeared to extend more effort to recognize people

Welcome to the Juul Room: Restrooms get a renovation Lillian Humphrey Artist/Writer

of color. This is a trend in the right direction if these awards are ever gonna cement a reputation of true integrity in evaluation of an art, however, it is common to unintentionally offend people when a detail is overlooked, and in award shows–where detail is everything–things can be missed; erasing possible progress made in years prior. For example, this year the Oscar winner for Best Picture was Green Book. This win came along with recognition for Best Supporting Actor–Mahershala Ali, though the movie itself received criticism for being a “feel good” “white-savior” movie. Though a good reflection of culture and atmosphere for the film industry, it is not always so with the quality of work. When it comes to the lasting nature of a piece of art whether that be music, movie, plays, etcetera, an award or lack thereof is a subpar indicator. “A good album is going to stand the test of time regardless, a good movie is going to stand the test of time or not regardless so whether the [award shows] award that or not, I think the idea of venerating these [works] as the standouts of the year is always going to be a faulty enterprise” Schaeffer said. It’s easy to believe with the way these ceremonies are set up and the way nominees are isolated that the whole premise behind these shows is a big pat on the back to themselves by Hollywood whether that be awards for sports, music, movies or plays, it seems like a large helping of self-recognition. The ethicality of these award shows seems questionable when you look at the massive amount of time, money and attention that goes into these shows by people for themselves when they are honoring works that highlight socioeconomic and a plethora of issues that desperately need attention. It has been a valuable and delightful evolution to see the soapbox that is the acceptance speech change from a stage for egotistical rambling to well-spoken appeals to social awareness. “I think at its best art is going to reflect the times and the culture and the world we live in[...]so it’s not surprising that [winners] will take that limelight and turn it into something that they can clarify,” Schaeffer said. On the other hand, there’s another side to getting that

platform. “I do think the amount of money and time that goes into throwing these award shows is insane,” Schaeffer said. “I would ultimately think that they’re self-congratulatory”. Though the grandeur of these events seems far above the permanence of them, there are other places to find value in these shows. Concluding that downsides of award shows diminish the value of their positive impacts in culture and society is unsupported and it’s fairly apparent that though not a perfect reflection of the value of pieces of art, award shows at least stand as a shadow of where art is, and how far it has come.

Entertainment

CAPTAIN MARVEL: EXCITINGLY AVERAGE Why Marvel’s newest film really isn’t so marvelous Brett Smith

Entertainment Editor

he Marvel Cinematic Universe. With 20 successful films under its wings, the MCU has conquered the world with its moving stories and jaw-dropping visuals over the past decade. And before Avengers: Endgame hits cinemas, one more movie is granted to audiences across the globe who are anxious for the conclusion of this almost 11-year-journey. But is Captain Marvel a worthy addition to the extensive movie anthology, or will this be the first real blunder the nearly unstoppable company has faced? Honestly, I’m torn. I went into this film with no real expectations, and I wasn’t really sure who it would perform. Then I actually went to go see the film. I went to the IMAX theatre the Thursday night it released, with a sold out crowd of all things. The positive turn out made me very excited. And as the opening credits rolled, a very sweet tribute to Stan Lee, who recently passed away last November, was brought to the screen. And afterwards, our entire theatre was applauding. Then the film started. Here’s what I felt about Marvel’s latest production. First off, the Skrulls. I’ve been a comic fan for as long as I can remember, and finally getting to see the shapeshifting skrulls on the big screen was a big deal for me. But it had to be done right to be effective, and it absolutely was. The makeup on each of the Skrulls was especially impressive, with each one looking unique and given a character through their face. And Ben Mendelson’s performance as Talos, the main Skrull in the film, is absolutely fantastic in a role that would have been a bland throwaway had he been performed by anyone else.

Really all the acting in this film was superb. And when you have Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelson and Jude Law in your film, how could you not expect to have a movie filled with incredible acting. However, there definitely things that are not the best with this film. For example, there’s a certain point in ths film where a question that had been floating around for the MCU’s entire existence is answered. And it’s not only disappointing, but it’s also just silly and pretty stupid. For expecting something epic, especially with what this character stated about it in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we were definitely not impressed with this reality (I can’t exactly say what, because spoilers). My main issue, among other things I can’t talk about here, was that I really never connected at all with Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel). And this isn’t because Brie Larson’s performance was terrible, she actually did a great job. And I could tell that she’s someone that you need to care about since she will be a big part of the next Avengers film, but I just didn’t click with her. While the writing of her character is probably to blame, for me she just felt bland and not nearly as interesting as Talos or Nick Fury. In my opinion, though it’s her film, Captain Marvel is not at all the best part of this film. But that might also just be because this is an origin movie, and characters are better fleshed out in later films. Though there are some setbacks with disappointing outcomes and a main character that could have been a little more interesting, Captain Marvel is an average Marvel film, and a nice way to introduce a new character into the MCU family. And who knows, Carol might blow us all away in Avengers: Endgame. Only time will tell. For now, I give Captain Marvel, the MCU’s 21th film, a six out of ten.

IS THERE GRAY AREA IN BLACKFACE?

Examining blackface in our community and culture Eva Deniszczuk Staff Writer

verybody knows it - Blackface is bad. Or at least, we hope you do. The seemingly innocent, (and sometimes unintentional) act of painting your skin darker, that harkens back to harmful black stereotypes, which originated in Minstrel shows in the early 19th century. Minstrel shows were short plays, often performed on steamboats, featuring all white actors who painted on exaggerated African features, and played out stereotypical black stories. As a culture, we feel free to call out people who darken their skin as racists, But why don’t we hold some of our favorite celebrities to the same standards we hold ourselves to? I caught up with senior Rayfield Burch, to discuss the implications of blackface and clout chasers, and ask the cardinal question; is blackface ever okay? “I can’t say yes or no. I’m leaning more towards no, because even if it’s unintentional, it’s seen as a racist act,” said Burch. Which, of course, is true. Just recently, a girl at Marquette was accused of doing blackface after a photo of her in black face paint started circulating. She was even recently featured on the local news for these accusations. She claims it was practice for theatrical makeup unassociated with blackface . On artists who use black culture and stereotypically black attributes for clout, Burch had this to say; “Let’s look at Ariana Grande, for example. She’s getting that clout from the white kids who listen to her music, but the black kids who are listening to her music, they aren’t gonna be happy with it. I’m not happy with it,” said Burch.

“Clout chasing is pointless. I think trying to emulate being black... What does that get you? The stereotypes for white people are like, being organized, hard-working, and the stereotype for black people, being in gangs, being lazy. What a thing to want to emulate.” People online have noticed this as well. There are countless posts calling out Ariana Grande for doing blackface. Side-by-side comparisons of her standing next to Nicki Minaj, as people compare their identical skin tone. Now, Ariana is not a stranger to being accused of being, at the least, culturally insensitive. Her recent hit song, “7 Rings” garnered her some controversy due to the “blaccent” [Black accent] she uses on the verses, but it goes deeper than that. On Jan. 29 Grande got a tattoo on her palm, to commemorate her newest hit. However, after failing to verify that the tattoo DID in fact say “7 Rings” in Japanese, she was accidentally given a tattoo that translated to “Shichirin,” otherwise known as Japanese barbecue grill. A lot of people only used this mistake to fuel the fire of the allegations of Grande’s lack of care for other cultures. However, on the opposite, stan culture has dug in its heels into the dirt, to defend Grande to the death. The blind support from fans is not anything new. Fans have been well known to defend questionable (or downright horrendous) actions of their favorite people, for a very long time. However, when does it become time to step back and analyze the meaning and consequences of your favorite celebrities actions? Regardless of if you think anybody who actively performs

blackface, or uses black stereotypes for themselves in order to gain clout, is wrong, it’s interesting to think about the consequences of allowing these people to continue to exploit other cultures for their own gain.

The “2016 American Music Awards,” the world’s biggest fan-voted award show, broadcasted live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 20, at 8:00 p.m. EST, on ABC. (Image Group LA/ABC)

Entertainment

SPRING PLAY CHICAGO WAS A SUCCESS

The cast and instrumentalists were fantastic to watch Margaret Vierling Staff Writer

he Theatre Department performed their spring musical, Chicago, on February 21-24. They collaborated with the band which was fantastic to watch. A musical is performed every other year, which made this year a musical. It was exciting to watch because there were so many people involved in order to make such an impressive performance. Chicago is set in the Jazz Age and is based on the 1920’s play of the same name about actual criminals and crimes that we reported. The storyline is satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the idea of a celebrity criminal. The original was in 1975 on Broadway and successfully had many performances until 1977. Views began to change about women during the Jazz Age because of their extravagant demeanors. Nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (sophomore Olivia Limbaugh), murders her flirtatious husband and Chicago’s smoothest lawyer, Billy Flynn (senior Brett Smith), is ready to defend her. Some time later, Roxie Hart (senior Samantha Seigel) also ends up in prison Billy defends her case as well. Both girls begin to fight for the fame and the chance to become a celebrity. The casting for this musical looked like they had great chemistry. It was action-packed in every scene. They each displayed their roles with passion. Seigel was very exciting to watch. She was fantastic each time it was her turn to speak. Smith was also very exciting to watch because he was very exhilarating

when he was on stage. I specifically liked the songs because they were very catchy. In particular, I enjoyed “All That Jazz” because it was sung wonderfully with the accompaniment of the orchestra. One thing that could have been improved was how the dance movements to a few of the songs could have flowed better together. The band that was in collaboration with the musical did a fantastic job. The music flowed perfectly with what was happening on stage. It was thrilling to have live music going on during the musical. I thought that was a good idea. Overall, I think that each actor and instrumentalist did an exceptional job displaying the musical Chicago. It was definitely well worth it to be there.

The cast of Chicago rehearse for their production in February. Photo by Peyton Silas.

Top: Senior Samantha Seigel and acting coach practice for the production. Bottom: Two cast members rehearse for the play. Photos by Peyton Silas.

CHUCK-A-BURGER: BLAST FROM THE PAST Lee Foust Staff Writer

huck-A-Burger is a local burger joint that first opened in 1957 on St. Charles Rock Road. Known for its drive-up diner vibe that will take you back in time, the menu features both American classics and their own inventive options. Originally opened in ‘57 by Ralph Stille, the restaurant at one point had 7 locations across the St. Louis area. Now owned by Ron Stille, the diner is down to only the original Rock Road establishment. It was almost forced to close in 2008, but Stille managed to secure the ownership of the land the restaurant is on, so it’s hopefully open for good now. Chuck-A-Burger is also well known for their summer car shows, which take place on the last Saturday of the month ranging roughly between May and September. Local patrons of the restaurant (and some outside visitors) can roll up to the restaurant in their classic cars and order classic American eats, while other customers just enjoy looking at the gallery of cars. The menu is mainly classic American diner fare. There are, most obviously, the burgers, which are made with quarter-pound patties. They have a couple different cheese options, like Swiss and mozzarella, but the standard is a classic square of American cheese. There are free toppings - lettuce, pickle, onion, relish, and sauces - and some premium toppings - tomato, cheese, bacon, grilled onions, and jalapeños - that range from $0.15 to $1. They have specialty burgers that come with a set of toppings, but those are also customizable. The burgers themselves aren’t the most amazing patties to ever grace the earth, but for the price they’re good. They’re served as smash patties, with cheese layered between and top-

pings both over and under the meat. The sauce may be served on the bottom bun, which is a little odd but doesn’t take away from anything. While most of the burgers are served on a classic bun, some of them have the option of being served on Texas toast or rye, depending on what you order. All-in-all, there’s a good variety to the menu and the prices are reasonable for what you get. There’s far more to the menu than just burgers, though. They have a sandwich section, which includes hot pork, chicken, fish, and cheese steak sandwiches, as well as hot dogs and grilled cheese. They also serve chili, which is a big hit with many customers. There’s appetizers, which include classics like french fries and onion rings as well as some more unusual options like fried mushrooms and cheese cubes. They have salads and dinner platters as well. There’s also a kids menu with the option to have the food served in a small paper car. The aesthetic of this restaurant is honestly the biggest selling point. The walls are lined with posters and memorabilia of old soda companies and cars, and the dining area is setup as a miniature of the classic diner setting. The drinks are all served in glasses, and the root beer even came in a chilled, oversized sundae dish, which was awesome. There’s a waitress who serves the whole dining room, and orders are processed with goodold-fashioned yelling through a small order window. The whole restaurant just feels like a cozy blast-from-the past, even if you were born in the 21st century and never experienced a real 50s diner. Chuck-A-Burger has been and will hopefully continue to be a staple of the Rock Road, and always gives its customers good food and a great experience. From the reasonably priced, homemade food to the great aesthetic and decor of the whole restaurant, this is a classic burger joint for a reason. I’d recom-

mend it if you’ve got time to kill on a nice summer day, or you’re just in the area, but it’s a little far to be a regular stop for most people at PCH. Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth a try at least once, and maybe more if you like it. Rating: 8/10

Chuck-a-Burger’s classic double bacon-cheeseburger with a side of delicious shoe-string fries. Photo by Lee Foust

Root beer is served in an icy sundae dish that turns it into slush. Photo by Lee Foust

Old-school order window and quaint miniature diner bar. Photo by Lee Foust

Entertainment

STL STAYCATION SUGGESTIONS

How to Have Fun Being a Tourist in your own Town Taylor Stern Staff Writer

pring and winter break gives students a fun, much needed break from school which people traditionally take advantage of by going on vacations with their family. Some students go on an annual trip every break, while for others, going out of town is more of a rarity. If that’s the case, just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you can’t go on vacation… you can take a staycation! ‘Staycation’ is a term that was coined as a vacation spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. They became a popular alternative to trips during the financial crisis of 20072010. They also gained popularity in the UK in 2009 when a weak pound made overseas holidays significantly more expensive. But to most, staycations seem much more enticing if you live somewhere more interesting like Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, or New York City, NY. St. Louis on the other hand has a notorious reputation given to it by its younger residents that it’s a boring city with nothing to do. “There’s not many fun things to do here in the different seasons,” freshman Emily Winograd said. “I feel like as you get older, there’s not a lot to do that’s still fun.” Winograd, like many students, typically goes out of town every spring break and stays home during the winter breaks which could explain the common preference. “I prefer spring break,” Winograd said. On the other hand, some people that have stayed in town more frequently have found hidden gems around the city that helped them learn to love spending time in our midwest home-

town.

Business teacher Julie Weindel has never had the opportunity to go anywhere for spring break since she and her kids have never shared the same spring break dates before. Because of this, Weindel has found lots of great hotspots to hit. “I think you can make your own fun at home by hitting all the highlights like the zoo, the arch, the art museum, the history museum, the transportation museum, or even other things like Sky Zone,” Weindel said. But Weindel isn’t the only one who likes the 314. “Contrary to popular belief, I do think St. Louis is an exciting place. We have great sports, great people, the city museum, the zoo, and good food and music scenes,” junior Kobi Recht said. “There’s so much to do that is overlooked because people often compare St. Louis to other bigger cities.” Even at that, there is still tons of fun to be had even without hitting all the major attractions. “I like to go to places I’ve never been before and explore new places.” Winograd said. “I also like hanging out with my friends and going to different restaurants.” While it make seem like St. Louis’ only claim to fame is the Arch, once you go looking, you’ll find many fun ways to occupy your time. Making an STL bucket list or stealing ideas from a popular tourist website is a great way to get ideas and learn about interesting, cool, and maybe less popular attractions to check out. “You don’t really know all the fun spots until you actually become a tourist,” Weindel said. “St. Louis has a lot of fun little pockets, but until you get out of your own little pocket, you don’t realize all the fun things and great places there are.”

Hidden Gems to visit in STL

1. Union Station Whispering Arch 2. The Grafitti Wall 3. Moolah Theatre and Bowling Alley 4. Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum 5. Laumeier Sculpture Park 6. Hi-Pointe Drive-In Movie Theatre 7. Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis 8. Cementland 9. Hidden Valley 10. MaryAnne’s Tea Room

STUDENTS LOOKING FORWARD TO BREAK Jay Walton Staff Writer

chools not out yet, but spring break is just one step closer to my favorite time of the year... SUMMER. Breaks can be fast when your having fun but sometimes it can be a drag. “If you can travel, do; state to state, or out of the country - either way this will help reframe your mind for your return,” said counselor Erica Spraggins. “In addition, don’t spend your entire break in your bedroom or in your house. You don’t want your days to float by without having done or explore something new or refreshing. Sometimes we have to step outside of our safe spaces.” People do a lot of different things over the break, traveling, parties , sleep , the list varies. “Over the break I plan on relaxing finally, catching up on work, and a few workouts for track,” junior Mackenzie Rush said. Some students are spending their time wisely, planning for the future. “Over the break I plan on visiting colleges and working on my craft which is track for the upcoming season,” junior Nakira Gage said . Not everyone has plans on traveling or even leaving their homes this break. “Honestly I feel like it is going to be way too cold for me so this break the only thing on catching is Zzzs,” sophomore Sally Hanser said. School is stressful and can sometimes bring you down. Having a break from all the work, people, and environment can

March

be good for you, and that’s what Spraggins is planning. “I don’t have to concern my evening with what’s next on my calendar for the day ahead. ork can be put off for a week (for the staff and students). 9 3 5 6 7 4 8 Sometimes the school year feels like everyone is on overload until the next break comes along. Also, once spring break passes, you know we’re almost 16 12 13 14 11 15 10 to the end of the school year,” Spraggins said. Taking time off can be a good thing and a bad thing. 23 17 19 20 Time off can be good for 18 22 21 recharging, but for some, it is hard to get back into the swing of things. “I mean break is fun I 30 24 27 25 29 26 28 like the time off from school, I get a lot of sleep when I’m not at practice, but when I return to school I don’t really be there visiting a few colleges for gold,” said Deuce Harris. mentally for another day or two,” junior MJ Fritz said. Additionally, spring break is very helpful with all the major Most people are looking forward to Spring Break; it’s like a events coming up like, ACTs, finals, Graduation, Prom, etc. The pre-summer break for some. break mentally calms people. “Over the break my family and I plan on traveling and

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Features

Strive for the

Freshman Girl Scout of nine years aims for Gold Award Athena Stamos Editor-in-Chief

reshman Taylor Boaz has participated in Girl Scouts since she was five years old. Currently, she is working on her Gold Award. The purpose of the Gold Award is to identify an issue, investigate it thoroughly, create a plan, and present the plan. Once the participant presents, they gather feedback, help take action, educate, and inspire others. Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are the only members of Girl Scouts are eligible for the Gold Award according to girlscouts.org. Additionally, each participant must complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or earn the Silver Award and complete only one Senior or Ambassador Journey. Each Journey that is completed relates to the project. Boaz’s Gold Award is specifically about asthma and allergies in communal spaces. Asthma has been a big part in her personal life too. Only six percent of Girl Scouts receive the Gold Award according to girlscouts.org. Boaz has done preparation and research for her Gold Award. She plans to create an informational poster and a video. She will be presenting it to Parkway and maybe other school districts in the near future. “I have learned to be the respectful leader and advocate everyone should be,” Boaz said. “It’s taught me survival and responsibility skill, and how to get out of my comfort zone.” The Gold Award also requires a minimum of 80 hours to get the project done. “With it being the highest award in Girl Scouts, you have to put all of your Taylor Boaz freshman effort into it.” She has been working on her Gold Award since 2016 once she finished her Silver Award. The Gold Award “is the highest achievement.” Besides achieving the highest award, she had the opportunity to learn more leadership skills, and entrepreneurial skills. She has also had the experience of camping, learning new skills with marketing, and career building skills, and working with others. One of Boaz’s favorite memories with Girl Scouts was going to Savannah, Georgia. In Georgia, Boaz participated in a Girl Scout quest with people all over the world. She learned a lot about how much trash is in the ocean and how it affects the animals especially turtles. “To actually see it motivates you to watch how you pollute the Earth,” Boaz said. Boaz got involved in Girl Scouts because of her mother. Her mother encouraged Boaz and her friends to join. Boaz decided to stay because “I like all the new adventures, traveling, awards, badges, and scholarships.” During the holidays, Boaz works in food pantries and bakes for holiday parties for Girl Scouts. “Helping your community and others, meeting new people, and making friends” have been some of Boaz’s favorite experiences from Girl Scouts. On top of participating in Girl Scouts, Boaz has also been dancing since three years old. She is currently on the dance team as well.

“I have learned to be the respectful leader and advocate everyone should be.”

1. Freshman Taylor Boaz poses outside. Photo by Megan Fisher 2. Taylor Boaz gets approved to officially start her Gold Award. Photo courtesy of Taylor Boaz 3. An updated picture of Boaz’s vest over the years. Photo by Taylor Boaz 4. Freshman Taylor Boaz poses with Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Misssouri before she attended the Enterpreneurially Thinking Podcast. Photo by Taylor Boaz

5. Freshman Taylor Boaz and another Girl Scout were guests at the Enterpreneurially Thinking Podcast with Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Misssouri last month. Photo courtesy of Taylor Boaz

Features

From Middle School Claudia Sanders Online News Editor

ny transition can be tough whether you’re moving, coming back from summer break, or settling into a new learning environment. The adjustment from middle school to high school is something many eighth graders are both excited and nervous about. Although the middle school is right down the street, the amount of differences are usually unexpected. There’s a lot to be nervous about when you don’t have any expectations. “Before I came to high school I was really nervous about finding the classes. Even though we had more time to get to classes, I still didn’t want to be late or walk into the wrong class,” freshman Peyton Silas said. In middle school all the classes were in the same hall with a few that are further away, so the stretched layout of high school is confusing

“I would tell myself to be open minded and try to meet and talk to new people and try new things.” Chava Hahn freshman

and takes a while to get used to. The CAB schedule is also a learning curve due to middle schoolers having every class daily. “The hardest thing to get used to is the modified schedules because it always changes what lunch you have and I don’t remember even if I ask that morning,” Silas said. Memorizing the lunch schedules and what classes are what days on top of finding your way around can be quite daunting. Although middle school teachers try to prepare you for high school, the freshman still didn’t fully realize what they were getting into when they walked through those doors. “The hardest thing to get used to is the amount of work

To High School

because in middle school if a teacher found out you had a lot of work to do in one class they would take some of their work off,” freshman Kaye Tate said. Many freshman were surprised by the amount of homework and the importance of completing your work and turning it in on time. “Last year we had almost no homework, but now if I don’t turn in homework I’m actually like ‘oh I really need to turn it in.’ It just didn’t used to matter,” freshman Chava Hahn said. High school teachers are understanding, but they still expect you to get your work in on time or it can impact your grade, while a lot of middle school teachers are more lenient. First days can be scary especially when a new school is involved. “On my first day I felt nervous ‘cause I was actually late to my first class,” Silas said, “But as the day went on I just felt tired and ready to go home. I’d had already received homework which was due the next day, so I just wanted to go to sleep.” First days can also be really exciting especially when you’re starting a new stage of being a teenager. Although school is school and not many people enjoy spending their days in a classroom, being involved can really make your high school experience more exciting and fun. Many students regret not getting involved in sports or clubs because of the opportunities they create. “I wish I would’ve known that in order to enjoy high school you have to put in the effort to make it fun,” Tate said. There’s so many different clubs, sports and activities that you get to try out

during your freshman year to decide what you really want to stick with. “I was on varsity tennis which was good because I knew I was going to meet new people in different grades,” Hahn said. Not only are school activities a great way to make friends outside of your usual group, they make memories that are great to look back on over the years and as an added bonus, they look great on college transcripts. The transition does get easier, but it takes some time to get used to it. “Since I’ve experienced one semester some things that are easy are planning what I’m going to do in ac lab, finding classes, setting up appointments,” Silas said. “I mean nothing was really difficult, just had to be learned in my opinion.”

“I would tell my middle school self that it is okay to lose friends because sometimes it makes room for new and better friends.” Kaye Tate freshman

Art by Lillian Humphrey

senior Abby Prywitch

Social Media Director

Year Challenge

Photo courtesy of Neuman family

Jake Feldman

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Feldman’s favorite high school memory was Dr. King’s class. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “Be more proactive because it will help out more in the long run.” Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? Feldman believes he has become more responsible and learned how to take things more seriously. Q: What would be your senior quote? “Kachow”-Jake Feldman

Photo courtesy of Bernstein family

Bella Neuman

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Neuman’s favorite memory from freshman year was going to homecoming with her friends. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “ I would tell my freshman self to get more involved and do more extracurricular activities,” Neuman said. Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? Neumann believes she has became more responsible and has also gotten better at making good judgments. “I know what I need to get done and I do it in advance so I’m not pressed for time,” Neuman said. Q: What would be your senior quote? “It is absolutely still possible to make a difference.” -Michelle Obama

Photo courtesy of Skroba family

Photo courtesy of Ntimba family

Janice Ntimba

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Ntimba’s favorite high school memory was watching the solar eclipse from the stadium during the school day last year. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “I would tell my freshman self not to get too discouraged when I get a bad grade,” Ntimba said. Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? Ntimba believes she has become more organized in managing her time. Q: What would be your senior quote? “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”- Dr. Seuss

Features

Daniel Bernstein

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Bernstein is looking ahead to his senior year spring break, which he believes will be his favorite memory of high school. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “Four years go by a lot quicker than you would expect, so enjoy it while you can,” Bernstein said. Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? Bernstein believes he has gotten more friendly and is now more outgoing towards people he does not know. Q: What would be your senior quote? “Live in the moment.” -Daniel Bernstein

Photo courtesy of Scannell family

Michelle Skrowba

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Skroba’s favorite highschool memory was playing on the varsity tennis team all 4 years. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “Don’t stress too hard over your classes because eventually you’ll get it right,” Skroba said. Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? Skroba has grown from freshman year by managing her schedule better. Q: What would be your senior quote? “Have fun because it is almost over.” -Michelle Skroba

Kevin Scannell

Q: What was your favorite memory from high school? Scannell’s favorite high school memory is looking for gyms to practice for ultimate frisbee. Q: What is one thing you would tell your freshman self? “Don’t take honors bio,” Scannell said. Q: How have you grown maturity wise from freshman year to senior year? “I’ve only grown in height,” Scannal said. Q: What would be your senior quote? “Don’t give up on the disc and the disc won’t give up on you.” -Kevin Scannell

Spotlight

SHREDDING THE SLOPES with Louie Imbs Jenna Lazaroff Features Editor

enior Louie Imbs got interested in snowboarding after watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. So he started snowboarding when he was only ten years and he even used to do competitions as a kid. With one lone ski resort in St. Louis, it’s no surprise that Imbs likes to travel out of state to ski. “My favorite place to ride is Keystone in Colorado,” Imbs said. When choosing a place to ride, a common theme around snowboarders is going to Colorado, places such as Breckenridge, Aspen, and Vail are all among the most popular. “I do take trips to Colorado,” Imbs said. “But usually I snowboard at Hidden Valley because other places for example in Colorado are way better than the ones here and there’s a lot more room to ride.” For convenience and budget reasons, riders around the are find themselves going to Hidden Valley which is located in Wildwood, Missouri. The difference is that the snow is not very powdery but it’s more on the icy side, which makes it more dangerous and easier for people to get hurt. Since Imbs has snowboarded since he was little, he looks up to some famous snowboarders.

“My favorite snowboarder is Sage Kotsenburg,” Imbs said. Sage Kotsenburg is an Olympic gold medalist. He won the first ever men’s snowboard slope-style at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Other famous snowboarders include Shaun White, Chole Kim, Redmond Gerard, just to name a few. Snowboarding at the highest level, is all about the tricks and catching air, which comes with risks. “My biggest fear is definitely getting paralyzed,” Imbs said. “My parents don’t mind that I snowboard though. They like that it’s my favorite thing to do.” Even professionals are at risk at getting hurt. Olympic medalist Mark McMorris suffered numerous injuries, including a broken jaw, ruptured spleen and a collapsed left lung in 2017. He recovered. “I usually spend three to four months out of the year snowboarding,” Imbs said. “But it depends on the weather.” The season begins as early as October to as far May but for best for best conditions, its ideal to go through the winter. When fresh powder is falling, Imbs will likely be heading to Hidden Valley alone. “I tend to snowboard by myself,” Imbs said. “But it’s fun when friends come. I just like to ride how I want and I like to just have fun with it.”

SNOWBOARDING LINGO

Bonk: To intentionally hit (or bonk) a non-snow object, like a tree stump, with the snowboard.

Flying Squirrel Air: Bending at the knees and grabbing the heel edge of the snowboard with both hands with the front hand near the front foot, and the rear hand near the rear foot.

Mosquito Air: A trick in the half pipe where the front hand reaches behind the front leg and grabs the heel edge between the bindings. The front knee is then bent to touch the board tuck knee style.

Photo Courtesy of Louie Imbs