2018-2019
blue valley
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The express
the era of influencers Page 18 Many companies utilize social media influencers as a modern form of advertising to reach younger audiences.
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Volume 26 • issue 7 • Blue Valley Northwest High school
Issue 7 | 04.25.19
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Contents 05 06 07 08 10 12
editorial: De-stressing dead week Opinion: breaking language barriers Opinion: letter from the editor Developing futures with stem more than a sport planting the right way Sophomore Trent Gould poses in a crew neck from Ozark Brothers, the clothing company for which he is an ambassador. (Photo by Maddie Beischel).
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Cover: A composite of BVNW students’ faces represents the multitude of images teenagers can encounter on social media. (Photo illustration by Naomi James). Above: Cacti require a lot of direct sunlight, so keeping them alive can be difficult if they’re placed in a room with north-facing windows. (Photo by Ellen Bruce). Left: Senior Timothy Park teaches elementary students in a program called Husky Helpers. “I wanted to give back to the community and I enjoy working with younger kids,” Park said. (Photo by Emma Johnson). Below: The “Taro Milk Tea” (left) and “Jasmine Milk Tea” (right) from Dragonfly Tea Zone in the River Market in downtown Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Sara Maloney).
14 16 18 24 26 28 31
perspectives oh the places they’ll go the era of influencers mic drop spill the tea life Styled mad lib: my failed final
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Issue 7 | 04.25.19
follow @BVNWnews on twitter
04.25.19 | Issue 7
T
staff Editorial de-stressing dead week
he week before finals, often referred to as dead week, is extremely ironic, as many students feel dead during this time. This is caused by the stress of preparing for and taking last minute tests and quizzes over new material and beginning parts of finals. On top of that, we do this while reviewing for the last parts of these finals leading into finals week itself. Since dead week is supposedly a week free from testing over new material, it has missed its mark so far. Assistant Principal Tyler Alexander said the school’s current standing on dead week is it should allot teachers and students time to finish material in class, while also having partone final exams on certain days for certain departments. However, he said there should be no separate exams over new curriculum introduced
that week. “The ultimate idea is to make sure we allow time for teachers to complete their curriculum, to prepare for their final exams and that we have a solidified time period for when that would occur,” Alexander said. Despite this stance, students report some teachers defy the dead week rules and instead choose to go ahead with late semester tests over newly-learned material.
05
For our final dead week this year, teachers must only give part-one finals on the allotted days which, according to ELA department chair Erin Pearson, are May 8 and 9. If new material is covered, it should be tested in the part-two final. If teachers choose to ignore the school’s policy on dead week by giving a test over newly-learned material, the grade should be exempt, so students won’t have to worry about the fallout from the testing overload. this tradition of This tradition of ignoring dead week ignoring the dead week is unacceptable. ideals is unacceptable. ideals Preparing for finals is already stressful enough Students are then forced on the student body, so a to study new material and less-stressful dead week perform well on these will do wonders to restore tests in conjunction with morale. studying and taking parts By cutting out lastof their finals. minute assessments, it’ll This is detrimental help us focus on what we to students as we must need to review for our multitask too much finals instead of cramming material in order to in new information in a maintain our grade. few short days.
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Opinion Breaking language barriers By Grace Miller
O
ur school might offer a wide variety of physical and biological science courses, but as far as linguistics go, Spanish, French and Latin are our only choices. Not only do these limited options fail to expose BVNW students to other languages throughout the job market, but the Course Description Guide for Blue Valley Schools shows that foreign language credits aren’t even a requirement for graduation. According to information provided by BVNW Spanish teacher Heather Martens, only 76.6 percent of all Blue Valley students are enrolled in foreign language classes. The majority of elementary K-5 students who are required to take Spanish count for 54.5 percent of district students enrolled, and the number of high school students who take any language drops to 25.5 percent of all district students.
the most important step is educating students on the benefits of learning an additional language. The more effort students put into advocating for the foreign language program, the more change we can make in the courses offered and the number of people who enroll.
The most important step is educating students on the benefits of learning an additional language. BVNW counselor Nancy Hadley said most four-year institutions require at least two years of foreign language in high school. Colleges typically view extra language courses as necessary for a well-rounded education, and top-tier schools often require all four years. Hadley also stated that investing time in a foreign language can lead to employment benefits for college graduates. “A number of students consider minoring in a foreign language in college if they’ve taken it in high school, which can help with employability down the road and make a candidate more marketable for a business,” Hadley said. BVNW French teacher Breanne Buchanan expressed a similar sentiment when she said learning and retaining a second language makes job applicants stand out to employers. “If it comes down to two people with the same exact skillset, but you have a language on your résumé, you’ve got a leg-up because that means that you’re likely able to communicate, able to think on your feet. You’re able to step back and analyze patterns and make the connections you have to do in order to learn a language,” Buchanan said. The district has piloted two kindergarten immersion programs at Valley Park Elementary and Wolf Springs Elementary for learning
Mandarin. Learning Mandarin through this immersion program will prepare students for a global community where second languages are an asset in addition to developing their cognitive skills and cultural understanding.
The increasing need to broaden our horizons linguistically parallels to that of a globalizing world. The majority of these children will eventually attend either Blue Valley North or Blue Valley Southwest, so it would be even more impactful to BVNW students if the program was implemented from an early age at one of our feeder schools. Students can show BVNW that they should expand on the courses offered as well as raise the minimum requirement for credits if they choose to enroll in foreign language. The increasing need to broaden our horizons linguistically parallels to that of a globalizing world. With society’s diversity and the increasing need to communicate, learning another language has never been more important.
NEWS
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Opinion Letter from the editor By Anna levine
I
n my bookshelf, I have two editions of a short story I wrote in third grade about a traveling hamster and his adventures. I was so proud of making my own story, but didn’t realize that writing was a big passion of mine until it lead to me join my middle school newspaper and eventually to The Express staff my sophomore year. As the Print Editor of the The Express, I’ve been heavily invested in journalism and the newspaper for almost all of my high school career. However, my next step of going to the University of Kansas doesn’t involve journalism at all.
It’s also taught me so much about how far I can push my limits and the difference between needing to take a break for my own health, and wanting to give up. Although my Environmental Science major has nothing to do with journalism, I’ll still use the lessons and skills I learned through newspaper to carry me into college and adulthood. The biggest piece of knowledge I’ve gained is that I wouldn’t be anywhere without taking a risk and trying something I knew none of my friends would do.
My freshman year I was heavily involved in orchestra, but by the end of the year was extremely torn between continuing with all my friends in orchestra for sophomore year, or joining newspaper that was far from my comfort zone and had no one I knew. I ended up taking the risk of being a part of newspaper to challenge myself, and it turned out to be a perfect choice. I’ve gotten farther as a person than I ever would have just staying comfortable by what I knew and by what my friends were doing. This is something I know will be far more applicable to my future than not challenging myself and always sticking to what I know. Through being on newspaper and being an editor, I’ve learned so much more about how to work with all different types of people and how to communicate with them. All the other extra activities I’ve done in high school have helped me find out my passions and interests, but none have come close to preparing me for being on my own in the future and working in a professional setting like being on newspaper has. Through winning awards as part of this staff and on my own, it’s also the only activity I’ve done where I’ve felt a lot of self-worth and knew my hard work was going to something bigger and more important than myself. It’s also taught me so much about how far I can push my limits and the difference between needing to take a
break for my own health, and wanting to give up. Despite many times where I felt my work was too stressful or I was too overcome with senioritis to keep going, I’ve pushed myself harder than I ever have and it’s helped me understand how to care for things other than myself by putting in long hours and personal sacrifices for things I care about.
I wouldn’t be anywhere without taking a risk and trying something I knew none of my friends would do. While I’m not writing this as a way to convince anyone to join newspaper, I’m writing to encourage those to stop doing things just for the sake of doing them or staying in their comfortzone forever. Even taking a risk for something new and not enjoying it can still be a bigger life lesson than always working in the same wheelhouse out of fear that the risk won’t pay off. We can’t just stick with what we know when there are so many new experiences and learning opportunities ahead of us. Our short time in high school is all about learning about the world around us and about ourselves, but we can’t develop to find our best versions without pushing ourselves to new limits.
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Developing Futures with
STEM
During his second hour on block days, senior Timothy Park works with gifted students in a STEM-focused program called “Husky Helpers.”
By Olivia Dowell
“I
t’s Tim Time!” the fifth grade gifted students of Harmony Elementary shout when senior Timothy Park comes to work with them during his second hour Gifted Education class. Working with the students in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) projects and problem solving, Park said the most rewarding part of teaching is the kids’ excitement they have in seeing him and in their work. “When I go to the elementary school they’re excited to see me,” Park said. “That’s cool they’re excited when I’m there and they’re attentive and participate in anything I throw at them.” Wanting to give back to his community during his junior year, Park said he decided to first reach out to his elementary school gifted teacher Sue Thacker at HES. Thacker paired him with two boys to begin working with during after school hours. Beginning this semester, he brought other gifted students to work with him during block days. “It’s stress-free and you get to make a relationship with different students,” Park said of returning to his former elementary school. “It’s fun being able to [work with them] since you’re working with those who are interested in learning and they’re excited to learn. You get to feed off each other with your excitement for whatever program or project it is.” Thacker said it’s harder for elementary school teachers to fit STEM lessons into their daily routine, so the high schoolers coming to help makes it easier for these
Design by Erin Reece lessons to happen in the classroom. “It’s really hard for them to get those into their schedule and so having those high school kids come and doing that has been really valuable because it takes something off of the teacher’s plate,” Thacker
said. “It allows the teacher to be a helper instead of always being in charge.” One of the students who works with Park on Thursdays is senior Preston Williams. Since working with elementary schoolers, Williams
Park helps students learn about shapes while visiting Harmony Elementary. “What I find really rewarding is when I go to the elementary school is when they’re excited to see me,” Park said. “It’s fun that they’re attentive and wanting to participate in anything that you throw at them.” (Photos by Emma Johnson).
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Park works with students helping them with early foundations of STEM projects. “It’s learning how to solve problems, learning how to adapt and giving these kids the opportunity to think on their own,” Park said. “It definitely proved to give them a step up.” said he understands what it’s like to be a teacher and to help people who aren’t his age. “I do have a lot more respect for teachers now, especially elementary school teachers,” Williams said. “It’s interesting to see and it’s taught me to work with a wider range of people.” The group of gifted students who work through Husky Helpers coordinate with Thacker, Williams said, about how to create projects within the STEM curriculum they kids should be learning. An example of one of the projects they completed was to help a toy turkey get out of a tree. They used problemsolving skills, Williams said, by making a gondola out of pipe cleaners, paper plates, string and tape to help get the turkey out of the tree. While working on these projects and often having to remake their projects, he said the kids are always eager to work. “You see them so amazed and they respect me in a different way than they respect their teachers,” Williams said.
“I’m more like an automatic role model and it’s rewarding to see them follow my lead and learn from things I’m saying in a genuine way.”
“The main thing that you want to learn how to do is learn how to learn.”
-timothy park While Park and the other high school students feel a sense of pride working with the younger kids, Thacker said Park and the other helpers are always having fun while teaching. “They have a whole lot of fun and they come back here and usually check back in after they’ve gone and taught,” Thacker said. “They always have some kind of funny story or something that made them laugh.” While Park said learning STEM may be important for improving academic skills, Park said the learning and
thinking processes students learn from Husky Helpers is even more beneficial. “A lot of teachers say this, ‘The main thing you want to learn how to do is how to learn,’” Park said. “It’s learning how to solve problems, learning how to adapt and by giving these kids the opportunity to think on their own, it’s definitely given them a step up.” Neither Park nor Williams plan to study education this fall when Park will attend Princeton University and Williams will attend Southern Methodist University. Park said working with the kids just about every week helps prepare them for their futures. “I’ve enjoyed being able to work on projects where you get to actually calculate and analyze things that will and won’t work,” Park said. “That’s fun to be able to teach these younger students as well, just being able to show them we were trying to get the solution.”
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More than
A SPORT
When searching for a new sport to be part of, senior Doloria Alexander found lacrosse.
BY Kathryn CASE
S
houting orders from the goal to lead her team in a defensive play is typically the role senior Doloria Alexander has on the Blue Valley Titans lacrosse
team. Alexander started playing about two years ago, but said finding an all-girls team wasn’t as easy as she thought, which made her realize she wished more girls would play.
Design by Ben Hobbs “I feel like it would be even cooler if more girls from our school would play because right now there are only two girls that play at Northwest,” Alexander said. The game of lacrosse starts by a draw between two players, Alexander said. Once the ball is in the hands of one, they have the option to head straight to the goal or set up a play.
Senior Doloria Alexander stays on the pole side of the goal to guard it, April 11. “My favorite thing about lacrosse is learning life skills, meeting new people and playing with a wide range of girls,” Alexander said. (Photo by Alyssa Peterson).
Alexander’s coach and founder of the Blue Valley Titans, Kallie Muck, said she and a fellow student started the girls lacrosse program in 2012 when they attended BVNW. After graduating high school, Muck played lacrosse at the collegiate level at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
“It would be even cooler if more girls from our school would play.”
-Doloria alexander Once she completed college, Muck said she decided to move home and coach the lacrosse program with her sister. “It’s really neat to have two coaches on the sideline who both played for the same high school program and who were really invested in it, to now be back coaching the exact team,” Muck said.
04.25.19 | Issue 7 Muck said her desire to coach not only stems from her love for the sport, but from her passion to impact young girls’ lives. “I wanted to be able to not only introduce other girls to the sport that I’m so passionate about and I love, but I wanted to be able to influence young women’s lives in a meaningful way,” Muck said. Through lacrosse, Alexander said she has learned about the importance of communication and listening. “When someone is trying to tell me how to fix something, I’m always open to listening to them because obviously it can improve how I play,” Alexander said. “It also teaches me how to teach others.” Along with improving her communication skills, Alexander said Muck’s coaching has been very impactful to how she plays the sport. “She teaches everyone more than
11 just lacrosse and what we should do with our future and having a plan in life,” Alexander said. Alexander’s teammate, freshman Regan Engle, said her coaches take coaching to a personal level. “The coaches are amazing and are willing to do whatever they need to do to help you play better,” Engle said.
“She makes the game better for all the girls playing.”
-Regan engle As a goalie, Engle said Alexander has the hardest and most important job on the field. “In order to be in goal you have to have a lot of personality and she does. She makes the game better for all the girls playing,” Engle said. Seeing the progress the Titans’
program is making is something that impresses her, Muck said. “The first year we played, there were three high school teams,” Muck said. “In the last 10 years, it’s grown to be about 14 school teams in the girls high school division.” However, Muck said she would like for the program to grow even larger and for more girls to play. “I would love for Blue Valley to not just be one team from five schools. I would love to have eventually a team from every Blue Valley school,” Muck said. Muck said she met Alexander two years ago when Alexander decided to try out for the Titans. “From the very beginning I remember seeing her and I was really impressed with her athleticism, her hard work ethic and her determination,” Muck said. “She’s really coachable and has a great attitude, and is always willing to try anything I throw at her.”
Alexander turns her stick to stop the ball from entering the goal, Feb. 21. “I get to do something other than working or school work and I get to be active with friends and girls who are just wanting to have fun and who have the same passion that I do,” Alexander said. (Photo courtesy of Doloria Alexander).
Issue 7 | 04.25.19
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Planting
the Right way By Jenna Weyforth There are many benefits of having plants, whether they are outside or inside said Sean Holland, head of Annuals and Perennials at Suburban Lawn and Garden. For many high schoolers, interest in starting a garden or taking care of plants is growing because of its many advantages, particularly for the environment. “In the past 10-15 years, there’s been a drop in insect population because everyone spraying everything with poison that kill that bees and butterflies,” Holland said.
Design by Ellen Bruce
“There’s been more awareness that people will plant more stuff that’s friendly to the butterflies and the bees.” Additionally, Holland said gardens can have a therapeutic quality, which can reduce stress and anxiety. Certain plants, such as Peace Lilies and Boston Ferns can also help improve the quality of the air. “Plants are important because they improve the environment, reduce stress, provide food for people and wildlife and beautify our homes and businesses,” Holland said.
Use this QR code to read a review of Café Equinox, a plant nursery with a coffee shop, on BVNWnews.com.
the power of flowers Once established, require additional care plant in the ground or in a pot Place Outdoors Plant with topsoil water according to Instructions fertilize 2-3 times a month
Since there is such a large variety of flowers, it’s important to read the care instructions for the best results. (Photos by Ellen Bruce).
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Cactus makes perfect easy to care for Place indoors Water typically once a week plant with Sandy soil with rocks or gravel Full direct sunlight plant in pot that allows for water to drain
Succulents and Cacti are often potted together in displays and are normally placed together in plant nurseries.
Bay Leaf in yourself If using for food, consistent care for harvesting 4-5 hours sunlight each day Can be placed inside or outside PLant with typical Gardening soil water when soil feels dry Fertilize Once every 3-6 weeks, more often if harvesting
Herbs can typically be found both already planted or as seeds in any plant nursery. When spraying herbs with pesticides, it is important to remember to wash them off prior to consumption.
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Perspectives 1.
1. Freshman Tessa Reagan makes a card during a Kay Club meeting for senior citizens in a retirement home, wishing them a happy spring, April 3. “Kay Club is a great way to get involved in my community and help others,” Reagan said. “I love that I get the chance to help and meet a lot of new people!” (Photo by Sara Maloney). 2. Sophomores Amita Ganesh and Avery Feather work on a dirty water lab for the stoichiometry unit in chemistry, April 4. “My favorite thing about the class is the labs we do because hands-on work is a lot of fun and can be really interesting,” Ganesh said. (Photo by Grace Davis).
2.
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3. 3. Art teacher Chris LaValley teaches students a rare form of kiln process called Raku, April 5. “It is an interesting process because everything happens very quickly and also students get to see the things at peak temperature,” LaValley said. (Photo by Maddie Beischel). 4. Junior Lindsey Crowell swims toward the finish at a swim meet, March 30. “My favorite part about swim is the team aspect,” Crowell said. “Everyone is so supportive and energetic, and it really helps me pull through each and every event.” (Photo by Emma Johnson).
4.
o hh the the places places Issue 7 | 04.25.19
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127 members of the Class of 2019 responded to the
Iowa State Nebraska
UC Berkeley Stanford
UC Boulder
California Polytechnic State 9 Arizona State
Oklahoma State
He
North Texas UT Dallas Baylor
2 Texas C
UT Austin Texas A&M Rice Kansas State 16
Benedictine 30 10 JCCC William Jewel Fort Hays State Kansas William Woods Baker 2 4 UMKC MidAmerica McPherson Nazerene Avila Missouri Wichita State 4 Emporia 2 Washington Rockhurst State Pittsburg Drury State
Ark Joh
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they’ll go go they’ll
survey on their plans following high school. Design by Emma Johnson
Favorite year of high school?
Dartmouth
12th
9th 10th 11th
64.6%
Cornell School of Visual Arts
Michigan State Princeton
Loyola
kansas hn Brown
American
Indiana
Fashion Institute of Technology
Duke
Have you pulled an all-nighter to study?
No Yes
54.3% 45.7%
Emory
endrix
Christian
10.2% 15% 10.2%
Mississippi State
Savannah College of Art and Design
USF St. Petersburg South Florida
Other Plans Air Force Professional Athlete
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Issue 7 | 04.25.19
The era of influencers By Ethan Knauth, Maddie Oliver & Katie Rodriguez Since the creation of Facebook in 2004, social media has allowed advertisers to use these platforms to sell products, leaving Northwest students to decipher reality from deception.
W
ith the increasing influence of social media, various companies have opted to take advantage of these platforms to promote their products. As a result, Blue Valley Northwest staff and students no longer have to leave their homes and enter a shopping mall to encounter the latest trends, as they can do so with a quick swipe through their social media feeds, which have become virtual shopping centers in their own rights. As a copy editor at VML, an advertising agency based in Kansas City, Jeff Birnbaum, 2004 BVNW graduate said he’s helped produce advertisements for companies such as Gatorade, Ford and QuikTrip. In order to reach younger demographics for companies that require such an audience like Gatorade, Birnbaum said advertising on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have become necessary as they constantly expose teenagers to products. This correlates to a recent survey by The Express with 134 students responding from Feb. 14- 24, saying close to 80 percent of Blue Valley Northwest teens from ages 14 to 18 use both Snapchat and Instagram. Also, the survey indicated close to 45 percent of BVNW students encounter social media ads and influencing multiple times a day. As the shift toward a more social media-based advertising platform
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Design by Izze Lentfer continues, Sanjay Mishra, a Marketing Strategies professor at the University of Kansas, said popular users, bloggers and socialites, like Kim Kardashian and Lebron James, can be essential marketing tools for many companies because of the profound impacts their opinions can have on what consumers buy. “The influencers or the bloggers are people who ‘have a following,’” Mishra said. “We like to appreciate their opinion and give value to what they say. If a bigtime actor says something or a brand ambassador says something, you’re going to listen to that.” That being said, Mishra said there is a risk of this influential online force promoting under false pretenses. An example of falsified advertising occurred in April 2017 with the Fyre Festival, as shown in “Fyre,” a documentary on Netflix. Aiming to promote his talent-booking app “Fyre,” founder Billy McFarland and his team organized a festival open to the public in the Great Exumas, Bahamas. McFarland flew out prestigious models such as Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner to film a promotional video to explain the credentials of the festival, the documentary explained. The commercial was posted on all of their social media pages and promoted tickets ranging from $1,000 to $250,000. However, when guests arrived on the beaches of the Bahamas, they realized the entire festival wasn’t in the condition as advertised. According to the documentary, the promises of gourmet food weren’t met and guests were served cheese sandwiches and small salads. Guests were also promised to stay in “luxury, eco-friendly domes and villas,” however, the majority of the domes and villas were not completed, said festival attendees Justin Liao and Mark Crawford. Despite complaints from the festival
goers, there were no refunds for any of the guests. Later, McFarland was arrested and found guilty of fraud and wire fraud. He was sentenced to six years in prison, along with three years of probation and a restoration fee of $26 million, according to the documentary. A worker for Fyre Media at the time of the Fyre Festival, Samuel Krost, said in the documentary that McFarland’s actions have affected him since he was close to McFarland while working for his company. “I knew Billy, I never knew he was capable of something like that,” Krost said. “For him to do what he did, I lost that judge of character that I thought I had and that was really difficult for me.” After seeing the aftermath of the failed festival on the documentary, Birnbaum said the Fyre Festival is not how a company or brand should utilize their influencers. “The Fyre Festival is a great example of how influencers can backfire on a brand severely,” Birnbaum said. “As an agency we’re always looking and making sure that if we use influencers, we use them in the right way to promote a brand in a positive manner.” Despite some companies like VML taking precautions when utilizing their influencers so they portray the brand in the right way, BVNW administrator Nacole Boan said regardless of the intent by the company and influencer, the increase of heavily-edited and falsified content on social media can potentially have a negative effect on teenagers, leaving them subject to feelings of stress or anxiety. “The brands or influence artists that you’re seeing, the bloggers, the athletes, they’re heavily editing a particular image and that’s not real,” Boan said.
What social media do you use? 6.1% 43.5% 77.9% 80.9% *The Express surveyed students from Feb. 14-Feb. 24 with 134 responding.
Issue 7 | 04.25.19
20 How often do you see social media influencing? Never monthly twice or three times a week daily multiple times a day “But because social media is such an intentionally cultivated perception of reality, it can be hard for developing teens to distinguish what’s real and what isn’t. It can cause anxiety in thinking you have to live up to what other people are posting on social media.” Betsy Fredrickson, a psychologist at Wheatfield Therapy in Overland Park said the falsified content that advertisers and influencers are putting online can confuse teens. It can leave teens with the misconception that their life is not what it should be because it’s not mirrored online. Believing that advertisers are taking advantage of teenagers’ vulnerabilities, she said these actions can have consequences within their mental health, such as anxiety and depression, along with their homelife. “I think [advertisers and influencers] play on an adolescent’s insecurities, making them feel like they aren’t good enough; or too fat or too thin, or not attractive enough,” Fredrickson said. “Maybe if they buy that certain product, it’ll make them fit in with the crowd they’ve idealized, the crowd they think they should be in or want to be in.”
where have you been exposed to social media influencing? Other
BVNW health teacher Molly Haggerty said she shared some of Boan and Fredrickson’s concerns about potential consequences of advertisements geared toward teenagers that saturate social media platforms. The content displayed across the media creates a skewed or false reality according to Haggerty, advising that it’s important for students, parents and educators alike to combat this harmful climate by promoting self-love and self-acceptance.
“It can cause anxiety in thinking you have to live up to what other people are posting on social media.” -Nacole Boan Products that exploit this culture, such as those that alter physical appearances are fitness teas or diet pills according to Haggerty. When considering purchasing something on social media Haggerty said she encourages these people to be cautious consumers and do sufficient research before
Facebook Youtube snapchat twitter instagram purchasing anything. While some products may claim to offer an easy way out, she said no product is going to work, especially in the long-term, unless consumers are already maintaining an all-around healthy lifestyle. “Everybody in our country, in our society today, we’re all looking for a quick fix. Instant gratification,” Haggerty said. “But if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Former and current BVNW students, like Logan Dorr, Dani Torgler and Royal Wang, have had various encounters of their own with social media advertising and influencers. Former BVNW student Logan Dorr said his friends’ experiences with falling for social media advertisements have left him with a negative perception of advertising. He said he believes influencers are “sellouts” because they generally hold themselves to a higher standard by using their platforms for promotion and profit, but eventually take advantage of their followers. Based on his friends’ experiences, Dorr said he believes that if consumers fall to misleading advertising and make a purchase, they’ll have been,
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Instagram Search Style
Art
Lifestyle
DIY
Animals
Kim Kardashian posted an #ad on instagram with @flattummyco for an Appetite Suppressant Lollipop.
Senior Royal Wang bought a pair of hightops a social media influencer promoted. Once they came in he said he noticed the shoes weren’t good quality like he payed for. (Photo courtesy of Royal Wang).
A popular group of youtubers known as “The Vlog Squad” collaborated with @fanjoy to advertise Vlog Squad merch at Coachella.
An advertisement that was posted by the creaters of Fyre Festival to promote their event.
Hailey Bieber posts with @adidasoriginals with #created with adidas.
Issue 7 | 04.25.19
22 misled and will receive a product that doesn’t match the original description. “I’ve got friends who have [purchased from an influencer],” Dorr said. “It’s pretty hysterical when they get whatever it is and it just falls apart. It just doesn’t work at all.” Hearing about the website through her sister, senior Dani Torgler said she purchased a dress from the American multi-seller website Wanelo, based out of San Francisco, and experienced false advertising firsthand. When she finally received the $50 dress she ordered online, Torgler said she was already frustrated because she had to wait longer than expected for it to arrive, only to discover she had received something other than she was promised at the time of purchase. “I saw the dress online and thought it was super cute and different so I thought I’d buy it,” Torgler said. “But when it came in the mail, it was sheer and the material was not good quality. I figured there was a risk of ordering online, but the reviews were good so I thought it would be fine.”
“These days people who are successful influencers have turned themselves into a brand. They’ve made themselves much-watch content.” -Jeff Birnbaum In a generation where social media is prevalent, Torgler said fake advertising is easy to accomplish with just a simple revision or edit of a post. This experience of purchasing clothing online, Torgler said, was a learning lesson to be attentive when shopping on certain websites. However, not every item being sold online is a scam. Last year, senior Royal Wang said he had purchased High-top Air Jordans from the website StockX. Wang discovered the website through Instagram and said he believes the website is very popular and used often. The shoes, he said, are still in “pretty good condition” in terms of their appearance and how they feel.
In addition to the varying opinions on the function of influencers, BVNW is home to its own influencers. Sophomore Trent Gould actively promotes on social media on behalf of clothing company Ozark Brothers. With his job, he said he utilizes his platform to advertise products and distribute discount codes to potential customers. As an ambassador to Ozark Brothers, a clothing company that sells lake-life attire, Gould said he offers the retailer access to a new and younger market base in the Kansas City area. In exchange for his marketing efforts, Gould said he gets discount codes and free gear. As owners of Ozark Brothers, Vinee McCracken said he and his coowner Clint Reed are always trying to find ways to reach a broader, newer audience. McCracken said influencers are vital to getting the word out about his clothing line, which is why they opted to utilize Gould as an influencer to help them expand their reach. With Gould being an Ozark Brothers ambassador, McCracken said his company is able to reach a teenage audience. “Trent has done a great job in the time we’ve spent together. We keep a pretty close eye on a number of metrics that help us evaluate success, from site traffic to social followers to sign-ups. We’ve seen a lot of positives,” McCracken said. Offering advice to Gould, Birnbaum said in order to promote a brand successfully and to become a truly effective influencer, one must embody the brand. “These days people who are successful influencers have turned themselves into a brand. They’ve made themselves much-watch content,” Birnbaum said. As society becomes more reliant on digital sources of entertainment, Sophomore Trent Gould is an ambassador for Ozark Brothers. “It’s amazing to think someone else is willing to support me with their own company, especially considering I’m just a sophomore in high school,” Gould said. (Photo courtesy of Trent Gould).
news and communication, Birnbaum said advertising methods must adapt to these mediums. “It’s no secret that social media and mobile devices are quickly replacing traditional mediums such as radio and television,” Birnbaum said. “Going forward, social media and digital channels are going to become more and more important as we try to reach consumers, because we know that’s where the trends are headed.”
04.25.19 | Issue 7
go to bvnwnews.com for more stories
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Issue 7| 04.25.19
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Where do you listen to podcasts?* 91.8% 45.4% 28.9% 12.4% 10.3%
House
car
School Other work Do you listen to podcasts? 50.8% Yes No 49.2%
Mic Drop
By Raabia Qureshi
Design by Emma Gau
The Express conducted a survey to which 197 students responded April 9-12, revealing the popularity of podcasts.
*Percentages can total more than 100 due to the ability to answer with more than one response.
04.25.19 | Issue 7
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Crime Junkie
Views
“Missing: Timmothy Pitzen” By Ashley Flowers, Episode 77: April 15
“Asking David Personal Questions” By David Dobrik, Episode: April 12 Amidst their constant jokes and comical storytelling, YouTubers David Dobrik and Jason Nash’s “Views” podcast is perfect for those seeking entertainment and a good laugh. The duo’s strong friendship is obvious as they never run out of topics to explore and continually switch from cracking jokes to meaningful conversations. Similar to his YouTube vlogs, Dobrik strays from anything ordinary as he incorporates unique aspects like inviting a mime as a podcast guest or simply expressing his emotions in a direct but genuine manner.
In this episode of “Crime Junkie,” Ashley Flowers narrates the true crime story of Timmothy Pitzen, a boy abducted by his own mother. The dark background music yet conversational tone of the story makes it easy for listeners to follow. Although Flowers’ co-host, Brit Prawat’s, questions disrupt the flow of the story, Flowers’ research on the case doesn’t go unnoticed and leaves no rabbit holes in the story. For people intrigued by suspense and mystery, this podcast is the ideal series to listen to.
Why do you listen to podcasts? other Entertainment Well-being Current events
To be efficient Advice Inspiration
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Which apps do you Use to listen to podcasts?* 16.5% 35.1% 46.4% 37.1%
spotify
Apple
Youtube
other
Issue 7 | 04.25.19
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Spilling the tea With Bubble Tea increasing in popularity, some of the best boba Kansas City has to offer were reviewed. Each location is rated out of five drinks.
By Danya Radhi
Design by Erin Reece
KUNG FU TEA 7504 W 119th St., Overland Park, Kan. 66213 Recently opening in Overland Park, Kung Fu Tea has a clean, simple look and is a great place for boba on-thego. The size sets this specific store apart from the others on this list, as it is extremely small and has very limited options for seating. This limited space is a bit stressful and leads to a very fast-paced experience rather than a more calming one where the time to sit and enjoy boba is endless. With the size of the location being so small, it would not be unlikely to have to stand and wait for the order. Unlike the size of the location itself, their menu is never-ending as they have just about everything and the kitchen sink. Grab a classic tea or spice things up with a yogurt drink or their signature “Snow Cream.” They also have alternative milks such as almond milk, coconut milk and Kung Fu Tea’s “LactoseFree Wow Milk.” The abundance of milk options is nice for vegans and people who are lactose intolerant. The flavor and consistency of the drinks is smooth and creamy. Both the taro milk tea and the coconut milk tea are also somewhat light, making it easy to drink and not leaving customers uncomfortably full like some other boba may. The drinks taste natural and the flavoring is subtle and not
too overwhelming. It’s hard to put down the cup because every sip is more and more addicting. On the other hand, the boba is surprisingly different than the other places as the pearls are very big in comparison to the alternative spots, not to mention they are fluffy and almost melt in the
(Photos by Sara Maloney).
mouth. The size-to-texture ratio of the boba pearls is delightful and leaves a good impression. For all-around good quality boba and a short stay, stop by Kung Fu Tea.
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Fat Bee Boba 14553 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kan. 66223 Simply by reading the name of this location, it is evident that the cuteness levels are off the charts. Immediately upon entering, customers are submerged into a welcoming atmosphere created by the pastel hues, fairy lights and the iconic bee cartoon mascot of Fat Bee. The store itself is fairly big with plenty of seating options, which makes it feel like a coffee shop, making it the perfect place to work on homework or have a meeting. Fat Bee also has games like Jenga that can be played while sipping on the tea. The location has an aesthetic and modern look to it with its simple furnishing and use of soft colors. The large menu includes anything from
classic milk teas to the more common options such as slushies and coffee. Aside from the drink options, there are many extra toppings, including various types of jellies and bobas that can be added to any drinks as well as snacks. The off-putting thing is they only offer one size. When it comes to the drinks themselves, both the “Taro Milk Tea” and the “Matcha Milk Tea” are short of milky and lean more toward the watery, less flavorful side. The thin formula of the drink makes it bland and flavorless. However, the boba are all around perfect. They are a little large, but were still satisfying with the chewy consistency that makes boba unique. With a great atmosphere that is extremely
welcoming and boba of a near-perfect consistency, Fat Bee Boba is definitely a place to try.
dragonfly tea zone 409 Main St., Kansas City, MO. 64105 Looking for something a bit more unique than other offerings around Overland Park? Try taking a trip down to the KC River Market for some boba at Dragonfly Tea Zone. The location of this boba shop is one aspect that sets it apart from the other two with it being right in the heart of the River Market, perfect for a spring or summer afternoon. In addition to its location
being slightly farther away than the other shops, the atmosphere itself is not aesthetic like the other two, but it gives off an “earthy” vibe with a brown and green color scheme and occasional plants distributed around. It is slightly overwhelming because it feels a bit random and discombobulated. Something striking about this location is that they sell their own products
other than the drinks themselves, similar to that of a gift shop. There is a wide assortment of over 150 types of loose leaf teas that can be purchased as well as other tea-related products. In relation to Fat Bee Boba and Kung Fu Tea, the menu is a bit more condensed but still has a good variety of drinks to indulge in. Both the “Taro Milk Tea” and the “Jasmine Milk Tea” themselves have a nice, strong taste but for some odd reason, it is grainy as if not fully dissolved. When it comes to the boba, they are much smaller than the other two places, but in turn, the boba is more plentiful. The texture feels extra slimy and they are hard to chew. If ever in the River Market and in need of a satisfying refreshment, wstop by Dragonfly Tea Zone, but the lengthy distance from Overland Park and sub-par boba don’t make an extra trip worthwhile.
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Life
This issue of Life Styled includes an outfit by some of the guys on our staff. Both outfits in this issue are perfect for graduation parties and fit with the spring season.
By Lola Shipman & grace davis Necklace Urban Outfitters: $12
This charm necklace from Urban Outfitters is a great accessory to add for a fancier look, while also adding definition to a simple outfit.
Dress Princess Polly: $35
This white polka dot dress from Princess Polly has a flattering fit and is very simple and perfect for the spring season. It’s easy to pair with colorful or patterned items because of its casual look. The ties on the straps add a little bit of detail, which makes it stand out more than just a regular white dress.
Shoes Urban Outfitters: $45
These brown platform sandals from Urban Outfitters add the perfect spring vibe to this graduation look. They aren’t too fancy, but are a good way to look more put-together.
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Styled BY Jonny isaacson & Ben Hobbs Shirt Banana Republic: $20
Keep it simple with this trendy brown t-shirt for a classic look. The affordable striped button-down from Banana Republic is the perfect shirt to give off a springtime vibe. The shirt combination is bold, but pairs nicely with the pants.
Pants Savers: $8
These pants from Savers offer an affordable yet comfortable look. They’re simple and easy to pair, but adding a belt will spice up the outfit.
Shoes Von Maur, Tilly’s: $90
These comfortable tennis shoes are great for graduation parties. This is a simple and casual shoe that’ll provide balance and style at all times. While the shoes are the priciest item of the look, they’ll help make a bold fashion statement.
Modeled by seniors Allison Park & Humza Qureshi (Photos by Maddie Beischel).
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Issue 7 | 04.25.19
FREE 10 DAY consecutive, unlimited, all access pass to our facility! Book your first session by visiting:
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04.25.19 | Issue 7
puzzle MAd lib: my FAILED FINAL
By Naomi James
I can’t believe ______ gave me an F on my final. Sure, I didn’t read the book, teacher
but come on! Look at this, it isn’t that bad: “What thematic ideas does William Golding explore in “Lord of the Flies” and how are these represented in the plot?”
Golding’s primary message in “Lord of the Flies” surrounds the ______ adjective
quality of ______ nature. The boys on the island attempt to institute order noun
with the conch ______, but they ______ go back to their ______ ways. This noun
adjective
adverb
relates to the thematic idea of the loss of ______. When the boys kill the noun
______, any lasting sense of ______ is finally lost. This ______ Golding’s animal
noun
verb ending in ‘s’
belief that ______ society is necessary for individuals to ______. The adjective
verb
______ ending to the novel ______ the similarities between the soldiers and adjective
verb ending in ‘s’
the boys. While the boys have been ______ on the island, the British soldiers verb ending in ‘ing’
have been doing the same thing. This ______ the ______ nature of Golding’s verb ending in ‘s’
argument.
adjective
2018-2019
The express staff editor-in-chief
writers
contact information
Anna Cowden
Kathryn Case Emma Gau Ben Hobbs Jonny Isaacson Naomi James Aidan Knauth Izze Lenfter Maggie McCready Grace Miller Maddie Oliver Raabia Qureshi Danya Radhi Erin Reece Katie Rodriguez Jenna Weyforth
Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213 Phone: 913-239-3544 Website: BVNWnews.com
print editor Anna Levine
online editor Jaelen Matthews
Photo Editor Ellen Bruce
features editor Olivia Dowell
Online Copy editor Ethan Knauth
Photographers Maddie Beischel Grace Davis Emma Johnson Sara Maloney Alyssa Peterson Lola Shipman
contributing writer Bella Rinne
assistant adviser Kimberly Hillstock
adviser Jim McCrossen
Blue Valley School District #229 Blue Valley Northwest H.S. 15020 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66223
Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor may be submitted electronically on our website at BVNWnews.com under the “Contact Us� tab. Letters may be published either on BVNWnews.com or in our print edition. Letters may be edited.
about us The Express is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the April Issue of Volume 26. Subscription rates are $10. The Express is printed by The Sedalia Democrat, 700 South Massachusetts, Sedalia Mo. 65301.
disclaimer This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.
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