The Express - May Issue

Piloting is a unique career that entails lifestyle changes for those pursuing it and the people around them

FLYING FUTURE TOWARD THE

4 Letter From the Editors EDITORIAL

5 Cribs to Classrooms INTERACTIVE

6 Bodies are not Trends OPINION

7 The Beautiful Present Moment OPINION

FEATURES

8

From Precaution to Paranoia

Diving into the complex world of illness anxiety disorder and its effects.

18

Spiking Interest

Exploring the challenges and triumphs of the growing boys volleyball team.

22 Polarizing Politics

The political divide in America is more apparent than in years past, causing misinformation and friction between political groups.

Flying Toward the Future

Senior Liam Shetterly said traveling with his dad and grandpa to air shows and becoming more involved in the aviation community got him more excited about flying. “I’ve been flying since before I can remember. So it’s something that really gets me excited, so whenever I see a plane flying in the sky, I always look up, and I try and see whatever it is,” Shetterly said.

12 20 26

SPORTS: Sports Design Editor Prajwal Adhikari discusses spring athletes best moments from the season.

180 DAYS OF MEMORIES: An assortment of students’ and teachers’ memorable moments from this year.

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO: A map displaying some of the colleges members the class of 2024 will be attending.

UNKNOWN EMBRACE THE

One of us went to Oxford and one went to Harmony. One of us likes vanilla and the other likes chocolate. One of us is a KU Jayhawk; the other, an MU Tiger.

Embracing and accepting differences is not easy. It is, however, an essential part of growing up. New people, new environments and new challenges that arise are scary, but together we learned it is possible to overcome doubt when you begin to trust and rely on others.

A year ago we were not friends. We knew of each other and we had opinions of one another, but we kept to our own cliques in our newspaper classroom. Back then, we had our own roles on the newspaper staff and our paths did not cross often. However, our paths were permanently intertwined for the better when we were asked to become the editorsin-chief of the newspaper.

The two of us were both nervous and standoffish at first. Our roles brought us

Sincerely,

together to text, talk and eventually meet at a Starbucks to work out a problem we encountered. As time went on, our guards came down. By spending more time together, we became more comfortable. Our friendship began over a mutual love for “The Hunger Games,” “Hamilton” and “Harry Potter.”

Overcoming our initial hesitation allowed us to build a friendship that we are both grateful for and will maintain. Our advice and strong suggestion for you is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. Fight the instinct to stay in your comfort zone.

Underclassmen, take the leap, meet new people. Don’t get to the point where it is your senior year and you have regrets, give everything a chance. The truth is you will not be friends with everyone, but acknowledging and respecting your classmates can lead to so many beautiful friendships. The time to grow is now. Be open to change and embrace it.

Directions: Guess the Northwest faculty member from their baby picture

Designed by Sanaee Joshi

OPINION BODIES ARE NOT TRENDS

Written by Sri Trikona, Designed by Miles Thomas

Scrolling through social media is exhausting. In every post without question, there is a comment about a person’s body, telling them they are too chubby or too skinny, and every month a new body type is trendingit is impossible to keep up. In the 2000s, people were expected to be extremely thin, in the 2010s people were expected to have an hourglass body, and now with Y2K trending, everybody wants to be extremely thin once again. It is unhealthy for teenagers to feel as if we must constantly hit society’s standards, and the internet’s recent obsession with Ozempic makes it even more difficult for teens to leave this cycle.

knew little to nothing about this medication, but I was suddenly OK with putting it in my body. The drug is not even FDA-approved for weight loss, so why are we viewing it as a weight-loss drug?

Why should we live our lives constantly thinking about how to look better?

Growing up, the Ozempic commercial would constantly be on my TV, but I never knew that it would have such a large impact on teens’ body image. With the recent resurgence of the topic of Ozempic, I was curious how this so-called magical medicine that was meant to treat diabetes would make me lose weight quickly. TikTok after TikTok, I would see a girl my age raving about how much she needs Ozempic. The more I scrolled, the more I was sucked in. I wanted it. I wanted to be gifted with the ideal body, but as soon as I thought this, I felt unhappy with myself. I

It is no secret that celebrities change their bodies constantly— from lip fillers to plastic surgery and now with Ozempic. Public figures constantly attempt to portray themselves as perfect which influences all their viewers to do the same. What everyone does not realize is that the use of Ozempic for weight loss is toxic, you would have to rely on it your entire life. Discontinuing the use of Ozempic could lead to many side effects, according to Columbia Surgery. The most common side effects include weight regain, nausea, reflux, abdominal cramping, delayed gastric emptying, and constipation. Not only are the side effects severe, but the cost of Ozempic is about $1,200 a month, which is why it is mostly celebrities using this drug other than people who need it for diabetes.

As of July 2023, Ozempic is on the FDA Drug Shortages list. People who genuinely rely on the medication for type 2 diabetes are struggling, and this tragedy is only showcasing our community’s obsession with being thin. People without diabetes who are on Ozempic are taking the drug

away from those whose lives depend on it. The intention is probably not to be selfish since they are led to believe anyone can use this drug. There are real medications that are made for weight loss, like Wegovy. Not only is it selfish to be taking this drug away from those who actually need it, but it is also selfish to market body types to young people and promote unhealthy lifestyles. With social media, new insecurities are created every day. Many of the insecurities I have are because someone on social media said my features were undesirable. The way we look is not a trend, and our self-worth should not be based on how pretty we are compared to a standard that is not always attained naturally.

We are more than just our bodies and appearance— so why should we live our lives constantly thinking about how to look better? We need to start focusing on the things that truly matter and get our priorities straight. Instead of constantly wishing your body was different: focus on school, your friends, and family and recognize the better things in life. Keeping up with the latest body trends is not something that we should strive for and the overall goal should be our health.

Just breathe, this moment will pass like it always does.” These are the words I have religiously repeated in my head for the last couple of months to calm myself from consistent panic attacks and anxiety. After struggling for years with my anxiety disorder, I decided to finally try medication. This choice was the best and worst one I have made so I hope my story can offer some guidance for those dealing with similar experiences.

Following years of therapy and a deep realization I needed to better manage my anxiety, I talked with my doctor and psychologist and was prescribed Zoloft. This is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) commonly used to treat anxiety. Within the first day of starting the drug, my body was a mess. I felt nauseous and could not eat. After almost a month of taking the drug, I was not myself anymore - physically or mentally. I lost a lot of weight at a frighteningly fast rate. I felt like my throat was constantly closing and was overcome with intense, paranoid thoughts of bad things happening to me.

THE BEAUTIFUL PRESENT MOMENT

Written by Remi Nuss, Designed by Miles Thomas

but repressing how I felt was my breaking point. I completely fell apart to the point where I could not make it to school. I had a panic attack that lasted nearly two hours.

The present is pretty awesome if you let it be.

If you have never had a panic attack before, let me paint a picture. It feels as if you have lost control over your own body and are experiencing what I would imagine heart attack-like symptoms to feel like. From violent shaking to uncontrollable thoughts of “Am I even going to live to see tonight?” cut through my body and mind like knives. At about the hour-and-a-half mark of my episode, I knew I needed more than deep breathing and meditation to save me. Earlier in the month, my doctor had prescribed me Hydroxyzine, a drug used to control anxiety and produce sleep before surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. I cut one in half and took it, hoping it would put me to sleep and out of my misery.

OPINION

phrased trick helped change my perspective.

Circling back to what I mentioned earlier, trying this medicine was the best and worst choice I made because the drug absolutely destroyed me for about a month. But in that destruction, I found an infinite amount of confidence in myself. That being said, I walk with my head a little higher now because I know if I can survive that, then I can survive anything.

My reason for sharing this story is not to rant and tell people medicine sucks. I was incredibly fortunate with the doctors I had supporting me and am grateful I gave medicine a chance. I share my experience in hopes someone feels a sense of faith that life will get better if they are going through a similar situation. To better help one another navigate the complicated world of mental health, we need to have open conversations about the effects of medicine on our bodies. Not only can these conversations help us understand we are not alone, they might also help professionals better understand how medicine affects us.

The day I realized I needed to stop Zoloft was March 19. I woke up in a horrific panic with my body seemingly stuck in fight-orflight mode. I tried to ignore my feelings the next couple of hours,

After waking up, I bawled my eyes out and told my parents I was never going to let myself feel that way again. I called my doctor and within the next day was weaning off the drug. I have not had a panic attack since that day thanks to my aunt’s advice: no matter how hard you try, you cannot force yourself to have a panic attack. To elaborate, if you try to tell yourself to have a panic attack, you cannot do it because your mind is in control. This oddly-

As someone who has been dealing with these unspoken battles for years, I hope anyone else struggling understands that the negative never has the final say—the positive does, which brings me to the beautiful present moment. It can be so easy to live in the unknown of the future when having anxiety, but it is important to understand you cannot control the future. You can only control the present, and the present is pretty awesome if you let it be.

FROM PRECAUTION PARANOIA TO

People with illness anxiety disorder may fear and misinterpret medical conditions

Written by Danielle Croom and Blen Belachew, Photographed by Lane Fetters, Designed by Lindsay Maresh

Feeling as though her appendix might Feeling as though her appendix might burst, senior Payton Porter said she panicked and urgently called her mom, demanding a trip to the emergency room. After a while, Porter said she calmed down and realized her panic stemmed from what turned out to be a casual stomach ache.

Now, Porter said she begins to ask herself if she has cancer when a small health problem arises, like an occasional headache, which makes her spiral into a deep hole filled with anxiety.

We need our protector parts, just not all the time.

Libby Rooney said illness anxiety disorder typically begins with symptoms resembling those of obsessive-compulsive disorder, where recurrent negative thoughts overwhelm an individual, disrupting daily life. Rooney said she takes a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy to help her adolescent clients struggling with an illness anxiety disorder.

-LIBBY ROONEY

“I feel like being a hypochondriac is [when] one little tiny thing is wrong with you, and it’s not that big of a deal, but you kind of just make it a bigger deal and start freaking [out],” Porter said.

In other words, Licensed Clinical professional Counselor

“I really want my clients to understand that when they have those thoughts, it’s a well-meaning beautiful part of them that’s trying to protect them from any possible thing that could go wrong,” Rooney said. “We need our protector parts, just not all the time.”

One of Porter’s fears that she developed in second grade was emetophobia, the fear of throwing up. She said she would purposely

avoid foods that she believed would cause stomach issues.

“It was just this whole anxiety thing and I would always think, ‘Oh, my stomach hurts, I’m going to throw up,’” Porter said. “It would just be kind of one small thought that would spiral into something much bigger.”

Illness anxiety disorder can occur in various forms, such as germaphobia. Senior Krisha Kare said she considers herself one. Kare said her weakened immune system contributed to her being easily susceptible to illness.

“My immune system has been really weak since childhood because I’ve had a lot of allergies and I take a lot of allergy medicines. I’ve also traveled a lot which can cause low immunity because I’m in different weather constantly when I move around,” Kare said.

During a visit to India, Kare said she attended a street foodtasting event filled with crowds of people walking on filthy streets. After this occurrence, Kare said she developed a severe fever and cough, heightening her germaphobe tendencies.

Porter said she missed two school days last year due to the norovirus outbreak. She said her anxiety tends to flare up when an illness is heavily talked about. She added how the norovirus made her worried since the main symptom was throwing up.

“When people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, this horrible sickness is going around’ then I kind of freak out,” Porter said. “And it was throwing up, so that’s why I freaked out even more.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kare said her germaphobia intensified as she feared for her health considering the possible amount of germs from the unfamiliar disease. She said she took many preliminary precautions like washing her hands regularly and

wearing a mask throughout the day, including at lunch.

“I used to eat a good breakfast so I wouldn’t have to take my mask off,” Kare said. “Everybody [was] eating, so there [would] be a possibility that germs might spread.”

Furthermore, Kare said she doesn’t share drinks with her friends and she doesn’t let other people’s feet on her bed.

It would just be kind of one small thought that would spiral into something much bigger.

- PAYTON PORTER

“I let them put their feet on [my bed] but I don’t express it. On the inside, I’m just terrified. It bothers me in a way that I want to change my bed sheets as soon as possible,” Kare said.

Kare’s dad, Ramana Kare, said Kare’s germaphobia developed intensely after the pandemic. Now,

Ramana said Kare washes her hands and sanitizes routinely before and after activities and meals that could come in contact with germs. He also said how he helps ease Kare whenever germs trigger her.

“Some advice I give Krisha is that it is just a part of life and that germs can be everywhere, [but] that doesn’t mean we have to worry about it too much,” Ramana said.

BVNW school nurse Haley Murkin said she notices a trend among students enrolled in health science classes, such as Anatomy & Physiology, Child Development & Human Growth and Zoology, who more commonly fear a symptom over a topic they previously knew.

“It seems to be [that] when you’re more educated on certain conditions, you start to think in the back of your mind like ‘Wow, do I have that?’” Murkin said. “I’ve talked to a few people that have said ‘Well, I’ve seen this in my class’ or ‘I learned about it’ and [they] think they have it.”

Senior Krisha Kare considers herself a germaphobe. “I use sanitizer mostly when I am unable to wash my hands but I sanitize mostly before and after meals,” Kare said.

Recently, Murkin said a student came in with chest pain, thinking it was some type of lung disease. However, after a medical assessment, Murkin said she discovered it was minor acid reflux incorporated with anxiety.

Additionally, Murkin said there’s an increase in office visits toward the end of the academic year as students grapple with heightened stress levels, rendering them more susceptible to exhaustion. She added how fatigue could contribute to individuals excessively scrutinizing their health status.

“When you’re tired, your body can be out of whack and make you feel like you’re getting sick,” Murkin said. “There’s a lot of stuff that people will come in thinking they [have], and when we get down to it, they realize it’s probably not the end of the world.”

Other individuals afflicted with an illness anxiety disorder may resort to scouring the internet for symptoms.

“I’m always [looking up] ‘What happens? What does it mean if this hurts?’” Porter said. “If it hurts,

then I’ll Google it and it’ll tell me ‘you’re going to die’ and then I start freaking out.”

To cope with anxiety regarding one’s health, Porter said when she feels anxious, her mom, Anna Holland, gives her advice to overcome those emotions.

“[My mom] said that once you feel all the anxiety coming, just realize that you are [a] hypochondriac, and it’s not real,” Porter said. “I just catch myself in that moment and reassure myself that it’s not that big of a deal.”

Holland said she wants Porter to know she is not alone, knowing that everybody struggles mentally in some way.

“So I think, just with Payton, knowing her because I’m her mom, I know what her triggers are and things that bring her anxiety. I just try to calm her [down] and let her know that she’s not alone,” Holland said. “Once you recognize what’s happening to you and the crazy thoughts, it’s easier to manage.”

According to Holland, Porter does not get sick often, but when she does, Holland said she reminds

Porter to go with the flow and understand that it is likely not a major problem.

Moreover, Porter said there needs to be a balance between being paranoid and being careless in the chance a serious health problem appears.

“Sometimes those small things do have a bigger meaning,” Porter said. “People who aren’t as cautious with health things maybe won’t get that checked out, and it can be a bad thing, but there’s definitely a fine line between overthinking and just being cautious.”

Start your day with freshly baked pastries and coffee, swing by for a salad or sandwich during lunch, or treat yourself to a chocolate chip cookie and an iced latte. Our doors are open daily, and we’re ready to help make your life sweeter!

We also provide to-go catering and host after-hours events! Whether you need to-go catering for your endof-year celebrations or a place to host an open-housestyle graduation party, we’d love to help you out.

Visit us in-store or go to our website to learn more about McLain’s!

Sports Design Editor Prajwal Adhikari shares athletes’ best moments from the Spring season

Written and Designed by Prajwal Adhikari, Photographed by Corey Jones

Lauren Larigan | softball | senior

Game-winning catch against Shawnee Mission South

“It was a really high pop fly in foul territory and I tracked it and actually fell into my coach’s arms in the dugout. We had two outs but the last inning was very long and so it was important to shut down any kind of momentum the other team had and get the win. We had a really big comeback that game, scoring 21 runs, so it was important to play good defense to keep that big lead.”

Hitting

the first home run of the new

baseball field

“I got a good pitch to hit. I knew I had put a good swing on it and I thought that it might have a chance to go out, which it did. I stopped at second base because I thought it was a ground rule double, but the umpire assured me that it was a home run. It was a great feeling running around the bases and still knowing that it put our team ahead, helping lead us to a 12-1 win.”

chase bradbury | baseball | junior

NIKHIL AEDMA | boys TENNIS | SENIOR

Getting third place at the Emporia tournament

“I played at EKL for the last time my senior year. There was a lot of pressure on the team to do well at EKL because regionals and state were the following week and we would play the same teams. I’m proud of my performance.”

MIA LABOUNTY | girls soccer | junior

Scoring a goal against St. Thomas Aquinas

“When I scored against Aquinas, it was one of the best feelings, especially because they were undefeated and no one ever beats them. Our whole team worked very hard all game to get that goal, it was a team effort all around.”

TIERNEY LEATHERS | TRACK | SENIOR

The girls’ 4x800 relay team

“The first meet we had was disappointing time wise, but our meet at Blue Valley High resulted in a much better time and allowed us to qualify to race at KU Relays. We are a very close-knit team and that makes it very easy to be proud of our own and each other’s accomplishments.”

FLYING FUTURE TOWARD THE

The process of becoming a pilot is a unique career choice that several members of the Northwest community are choosing to pursue.

Written by Saraphina Wambi and Reagan Wald, Photographed by Lila Vancrum, Designed by Avery Sigg

While most teenagers were learning to drive a car, senior Nick Westerhaus was up in the sky. After getting his private pilot’s license in gliders when he was 16 and single-engine airplanes when he was 17, Westerhaus said he has been working toward a third license in instrument rating, which would allow him to fly without visual cues and instead rely on his instrument panel.

Westerhaus said he is the first in his immediate family to pursue a career in flying, and he has had an interest in planes from a young age. He said the numerous documentaries he watched as a child piqued his interest in flying.

“My dad didn’t like hearing SpongeBob on the TV, [so] he made me watch documentaries. I just liked the airplane ones and got really into it,” Westerhaus said.

Senior Leo Cruz said his interest in aviation was influenced by aviation content gifted to him by various family members.

“I got a documentary from my grandpa as a kid, and I watched that thing so many times I thought the

DVD was going to break because I just watched it over and over again,” Cruz said. “I have a book that my great grandfather Wood gave to me, and it had every single military aircraft… until 2013. I think I read that book cover to cover at least three times.”

Cruz’s two great-grandfathers flew planes in World War II, which he said influenced his interest in flying.

“I grew up hearing stories about both my grandpas’ flying, and I was never able to fly with either of them,” Cruz said. “But the stories those guys shared with my family and me really inspired me, and I just [have] had a love for [flying] ever since then.”

grandpa and dad are pilots and are involved in air shows, which first sparked his interest.

“My father, as well as my grandpa, got together and started an aerobatic performance,” Shetterly said. “My family’s been a part of [it] since before I was born, so you got to keep the passion alive.”

Shetterly said traveling with his dad and grandpa to air shows and becoming more involved in the aviation community got him more excited about flying.

Working toward a certification is a big undertaking, so something you can’t do in a week or a month. It takes some dedication

Even though Cruz and Westerhaus discovered their passions independently, flying is a longstanding tradition in senior Liam Shetterly’s family. He said his

-JOE SHETTERLY

“I’ve been flying since before I can remember. So it’s something that really gets me excited, so whenever I see a plane flying in the sky, I always look up, and I try and see whatever it is,” Shetterly said.

In addition to his father and grandfather, Shetterly said his uncle, Joe Shetterly, is a commercial airline

pilot, an Air Force fighter pilot, an airshow pilot and a certified flight instructor.

Joe said his brother, mom and dad are all pilots. Joe said he believes coming from a family of pilots is a unique and wonderful experience because they can share something they are passionate about. Despite his family’s close bond over flying, Joe said that becoming a pilot is difficult, so seeing his nephew pursue the career is very fulfilling.

“Flying an airplane is challenging and rewarding,” Joe said. “Working toward a certification is a big undertaking, so something you can’t do in a week or a month. It takes some dedication, so we’re extremely proud of him.”

Senior Gabby Milsap said because her dad has been a FedEx pilot for more than 25 years, she has grown up with him frequently being gone for work.

“In elementary school, I didn’t really go to any daddy-daughter dances because he wasn’t home for those,” Milsap said. “But I’ve learned to just accept it because when he’s home, he’s home, and he doesn’t have to work or anything.”

Milsap advised those interested in aviation to consider the lifestyle before committing to that path because pilots are always on the move.

“You’re going to be in hotels all the time after flying, and that’s definitely different, so if someone doesn’t like to travel a ton and always be away from home, that’s definitely not the job for them,” Milsap said.

Similarly to Milsap, BVNW teacher Michelle Ratigan, who is married to a Southwest Airlines pilot, said a pilot’s schedule can be difficult for the entire family.

“I had to do a lot of parenting myself,” Ratigan said. “You just have to be really independent and be able to handle all the things that happen at home by yourself.”

Ratigan also said the pressures of being a pilot are very different from a typical career.

“They have a huge responsibility,” Ratigan said. “You’ve got 200 people up in the air, and you’re responsible

Pre-Flight Check

some of the steps in a pilots pre-flight checklist

Inspect Tail Feathers

if something happens; they could all die.”

Despite the difficult lifestyle, Shetterly said he plans to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) in the fall to pursue an Aviation Management degree and join the aerobatic club. Shetterly said that because MSU Denver is such a small community, it took some effort to find out about their aerobatic and aviation programs.

“I found out about MSU Denver through [one of] my uncle’s local squadron mates, [who] was in the Air Force,” Shetterly said.

Shetterly said that part of what drew him toward MSU Denver was the aerobatic club and the numerous aviation opportunities at the school.

“MSU Denver is a small school… but it’s got some of the best aerobatic or aviation programs out there,” Shetterly said. “They also have a precision flight team, so they’re just really implemented in the aviation community.”

Like Shetterly, Cruz plans to attend college for aviation and pursue his pilot’s license.

“I’m going to K-State Salina, and I’m going to be part of their professional pilot program, learn how to fly and build a career,” Cruz said.

Cruz said he doesn’t think it is too difficult to find information about flight colleges online, but he said you have to look for more information, or else you could miss it.

“Online, there’s tons of information about flight school [and] flight colleges. I’d say that’s where I got the bulk of my research done, through K-State’s website or other flight colleges’ websites,” Cruz said.

Although Westerhaus wishes there were more educational opportunities in his field of interest, he said he acknowledges the logistical difficulties of doing something like that, especially since it is a difficult industry to get a start in.

“It would be interesting to have

basics of aeronautics and all that, but there are enough resources online,” Westerhaus said. “It’s a niche opportunity because it requires upfront costs.”

In school, Westerhaus said he’s opted to take more physics-based science courses to further his career as a pilot and help him eventually become an astronaut.

“I’m going to the Air Force Academy next year to go out and fly for them,” Westerhaus said. “My goal

Senior Liam Shetterly stands on the runway of Cedar Creek Airport as his dad and flight instructor, Jeff Shetterly, flies over him. FAVORITE PLANE:

“I

is to go be an astronaut.”

Ratigan’s husband was in the Air Force and gained his certifications through their programs. Ratigan said it was a great opportunity for her husband and their family.

“The military is a great option because it is free,” Ratigan said. “You get ten years of training for free and all the hours that you would have to pay for normally.”

When speaking about the aviation community, Joe said it is a rare

LEO CRUZ

group of people that allows pilots to create strong bonds with their colleagues.

“Relatively speaking, we’re extremely friendly, extremely helpful, and [create] really trustworthy bonds because the barrier to entry…takes dedication,”

Joe said. “There’s a significant amount of training and commitment that it takes to be able to [fly] legally and safely. Once you cross that barrier, then you have a bond with

other people in the community instantly.”

When giving advice to aspiring pilots, Westerhaus said not to hesitate to try because the community surrounding the industry is highly supportive.

“Don’t be intimidated to start,” Westerhaus said. “Everybody involved in aviation loves talking about it, and they’re more than happy to help you.”

have my student pilot’s license which allows me to fly with the permission of my flight instructor,” Shetterly said.

PLANE:

SPIKING INTEREST

Boys volleyball is a high-energy sport gaining momentum

Written by Sydney Barnett and Sara Scheibel, Photographed by Remi Nuss, Designed by Prajwal Adhikari

As the boys volleyball team rides the bus to their games, they get hyped and ready to play. Senior Sterling Smith said these bus rides are some of his favorite memories with the team.

Smith started playing volleyball during his junior year at BVNW. He said it is fun combining the players who played last year with the new players this year.

“It’s fun combining new and returning players because of how different a team can look when there are a few changes made,” Smith said. “Returning players might be better used in different roles, and it makes games feel dynamic.”

This year’s varsity team has seven returning players and four new players, while the junior varsity team has one returning player and nine new players. Varsity head coach Anyssa Wells said this mix of experiences creates an enjoyable environment to be in.

“It’s super exciting to have

returners and people that are new,” Wells said. “It creates a unique mix of those that know what they’re doing and then also the new guys just jumping in.”

Wells said she enjoys watching the players improve as they gain more experience with the sport.

“I think what’s exciting about boys volleyball is that a lot of them are learning the game and are new to it,” Wells said. “It’s fun to see them play together and pick up on all the things we’ve been working on at practice.”

the lack of experience on the team can cause frustration when mistakes are made, but it pays off when the team is successful.

“Everyone’s learning rotations [and] what position they want to be in,” McMillen said. “It’s a little frustrating having to rely on a team, but at the same time it makes it that much more rewarding when everything does work.”

T It’s fun to see them play together and pick up on all the things we’ve been working on at practice. - ANYSSA WELLS

Senior Cole McMillen has played on the team for two years. He said

Smith said his mother Stephanie Thompson, who played volleyball at the University of Central Missouri, emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork in the sport. “[Communication] is very, very important. You have six people on a court. If they’re not communicating, it will be complete chaos,” Thompson said. “If they’re calling the balls, then they know who’s going to get the ball and

there’s no confusion.”

Helping with some of the team’s practices this season, senior Lauren Croom, who played four years on varsity for the girls team, said she enjoys watching the boys grow as players and learn to love the game of volleyball.

“This is mostly everybody’s first year playing so it’s just nice to watch them want to learn the sport and grow,” Croom said.

Acknowledging that most of the players are only there to have fun, Croom said she thinks the boys did not realize all of the different components that go into the sport.

“It’s not all athleticism. There’s certain skills you can learn that help develop the mental side of the game,” Croom said.

According to Croom, there is a toolbox of a wide range of skills a player can use to score in volleyball.

“Even though hitting is more fun, tipping scores as well,” Croom said. “You can’t always swing as hard as you can at the ball but rather aim for a spot on the court.”

Croom said she likes helping the boys team because she likes seeing their passion for the sport grow.

Wells said the team operates under the Heart of America Volleyball Club because the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) does not recognize boys volleyball as a sanctioned sport.

Assistant principal and athletic director Debbie Katzfey said boys volleyball is not a state-sanctioned sport because not enough schools in Kansas vote for it to be recognized at the state conference each year.

“You have to have so many member schools vote to adopt [a] sport for it to be passed,” Katzfey said. “There’s a lot more small schools out there than there are big 6A schools.”

Katzfey said many small schools lack the enrollment to support the sanctioning of boys volleyball. She said there are not enough students able to play another sport at these schools.

“A lot of the same kids do multiple sports, even during the same season,” Katzfey said. “To

adopt an additional sport a lot of times hinders the ability for that school to find the kids or fund the equipment.”

Despite this, Katzfey said boys volleyball is a hot sport in Kansas that continues to grow. Additionally, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) sanctioned boys volleyball as a sport this year.

According to Wells, the team would gain a lot if KSHSAA recognized boys volleyball as a sport, including more teams, coaches, practices and games. Additionally, she said boys volleyball is big in college, and sanctioning the sport would create more player recruitment opportunities.

While McMillen said it does not bother him that boys volleyball is considered a club instead of a sport, he said it becoming a sport would make the game more fun. He also said getting sanctioned would increase the competitiveness of the sport due to higher interest.

Similarly, Smith said if boys volleyball was a recognized sport, it would gain popularity. He said he hopes there are eventually enough boys to have three teams at BVNW.

“I really hope that [boys volleyball] continues growing and I hope that eventually, we can have a C team along with varsity and jv,” Smith said.

Wells also said she hopes for boys volleyball to continue to grow momentum. She said the club is fully supported by the Blue Valley School District and hopes the club will be recognized as a sport in the coming years.

Wells said the boys volleyball program aims

to increase participation by word of mouth, Instagram posts and summer camp.

Senior Cole McMillen serves the ball during the boys varsity volleyball game against Spring Hill High School, April 17. “Playing volleyball has been a great way to get to know some guys I might not have otherwise met and has been a lot of fun,” McMillen said. (Photo by Remi Nuss)

D A Y S 180 OF MEMORIES

A collection of students’ and teachers’ experiences from the year

Written

by

Rishi Bonthu,

Photographed by

Designed by Sri

Libby Addison and Lila Vancrum,

Trikona

Kerry Kinkelaar

I went with the band to Italy and helped with that and so getting to see my own kids and then lots of the students from my classes, that was a really fun experience to have with them.

Rachel Kendrick

I think the hardest I’ve laughed this year is when Mr. Burrows had a rotating Halloween costume— every hour he changed something to be another English teacher, including Sharpie tattoos.

Banyas

I liked Friday night football games because of the atmosphere, and I got to hang out with friends. I [also] enjoyed Mr. Petersen’s Physics II class because it was an interesting subject, and I liked Mr. Petersen’s sense of humor.

Daryam Duran Chris

My favorite memory this school year would be going to the Hispanic Latino Heritage Club and creating unforgettable memories with the people there because of all the activities we do or in French class when Mrs. Madame had crepe day.

Mairt Nagar

My favorite memory from this school year was being Kanye in a skit. Mr. Lange’s second hour is [also] always a wild experience so I’d probably just say any even day is my favorite.

Nova Rule

My favorite memory would definitely be going to state for DECA which was at K-State and then qualifying to go to ICDC in Anaheim at the end of April.

POLITICS

Students and teachers explain the importance of unbiased views within a politically divided nation

Written by Madison Kraft and Inaya Zaman, Photographed by Lane Fetters, Designed by Alyssa Gagnon

With the presidential election coming up this November, it seems that tensions between opposing parties are higher than usual, English teacher Dan Eigenberg said. According to Eigenberg, in the past five to ten years there has been increasing rhetoric used to vilify the opposing political party.

“The political divide right now seems more polarized than it has [been] at any other point in my life,”

Eigenberg said.

“I think there’s always a pretty strong divide between, you know, left and right, Republican and Democrat. But right now, it seems like there’s irreconcilable differences.”

opportunity from those platforms for meaningful compromise within Congress,” Barton said.

According to a report done in 2014 by Pew Research Center, the division between Republicans and Democrats based on their ideals and the party member’s aversion toward each other has doubled in the last two decades. More people are on the right or left side, and there are fewer people holding a mix of political positions.

I think there’s always a pretty strong divide between, you know, left and right, Republican and Democrat. But right now, it seems like there’s irreconcilable differences.

-DAN EIGENBERG

Social studies teacher Seth Barton also said this divide comes from polarization.

“On one side, you have the Republicans, one side you have the Democrats. A lot of their policy propositions just don’t overlap, so there’s not a whole lot of

Sophomore Devin Petrik is a student who shares more Republican ideals. An example of an ideal he shares is the right to bear firearms, as listed in the Second Amendment. Another way Petrik identifies with the Republican party is his favor of Donald Trump for president, saying that the economy was well-taken care of under his presidency.

“I know a lot of people don’t like [Trump] because they don’t like the

things he says. They think he’s a bad person. But I think when you’re looking for a president, I don’t think either candidate is going to be the best role model,” Petrik said.

Sophomore Lizzie Herron said she aligns herself more with Democratic ideals because of its focus on social equality for groups such as the LGBTQ+ community. She said she feels that the many ideals of the Republican party are motivated by religion.

“The idea of limiting the rights of groups of people is very conservative, like Christian ideas, which I feel like shouldn’t be pushed upon others since everyone has freedom of religion due to the First Amendment.

However, Herron said she does consider that other people’s personal views affect their political opinions, so people should become educated on whoever they choose for.

“In voting, it’s important to choose who you want to represent you. A lot of people don’t understand, especially since [we’re] in high school. I care about my rights and prioritize what will have an effect on my future.”

Senior Guna Thatipelli said he is concerned about the division within American politics and believes the enactment of bipartisan policies will be delayed as a result.

“[Lawmakers] will include different types of language in legislation that will make it harder for the other party because it’s more of an ideological difference compared toward other [less bi-partisan] bills,” Thatipelli said.

The Pew Research Center report said most Americans are not unwavering conservatives or liberals, however, these people are not as politically active as those who are more uniform. Of the people who always vote, 78 percent are consistently conservative, 58 percent are consistently liberal and 39 percent have mixed views. When voting in the upcoming presidential election, Eigenberg said it is essential to gather research from multiple sources. He said that understanding how biases and opinions are expressed online and how that is different from real news is crucial to sift through the misinformation and find the truth.

“There’s so much misinformation and disinformation, that sometimes it becomes really, really hard to know, what’s fact and what’s fiction,” Eigenberg said, “If you can’t distinguish those things, you’re going to become entrenched in echo chambers. And ultimately, you know, as you vote, you’re going to have difficulties making those decisions.”

For Petrik, he said it is important to start looking into politics now, even though he is not able to vote in this presidential election. He said it is important to start researching and following politics now so he can make a deliberate decision. When it comes to seeing the political divide in school, Thatipelli said he thought influencers and charismatic individuals could influence the political opinions of high schoolers.

“I think a lot of people right now are trying to profit off teenagers. There’s a lot of people online

Many voters are mixed or undecided on their political beliefs. According to the Pew Research Center, 39% of active voters make up this group.

who sell courses because they’re very charismatic people,” Thatipelli said. “They speak well, they might look good, and they might be able to convince other people [to follow them].”

In the media literacy unit taught in ELA 12, Eigenberg said one of the main focuses is lateral reading. Usually, scanning a website is reading it from top to bottom, but lateral reading uses multiple websites to check the content.

“When you’re reading laterally, even if you’re reading a single news story or a single article, you ultimately end up with three or four different tabs open so that you can verify the actual facts and the truth of something across multiple valid platforms,” Eigenberg said. Another focus of the class is trying

to understand the different types of biases that inform the consumer. With all the different types of biases, Eigenberg said that it is easier to spot some more than others. The class spends a lot of time learning to identify these biases, manipulate them and examine how they influence people.

Similarly, Barton said that looking at different sources is the best way to stay informed during election season instead of just relying on social media.

“You go to a portion of social media and [the algorithm] gives you stuff in your feed that you want to see,” Barton said. “And so, what ends up happening is people become accustomed to only [getting] a certain perspective from what the algorithm produces.”

According to Barton, a way to get away from this risk is by using TV or online news sources.

With the prevalence of politics on social media, teenagers can become involved in different debates that could affect friendships at school. However, senior Alex Cross said he believes political disagreement does not affect close relationships, but a person’s reputation for their opinions will affect what one thinks about them.

“If you’re friends with somebody and you disagree with their political views, that’s very rarely gonna change your relationship with them,” Cross said. “If it’s someone you’re not close with, and they only know you for your differing opinion, then that is probably going to shape how they view you and probably how you view them as well.”

collectively to improve. He said that as someone open to political conversations, he now avoids discussing politics with people in his life, more than he did so in the past.

There’s so much misinformation and disinformation, that sometimes it becomes really, really hard to know, what’s fact and what’s fiction.

-DAN EIGENBERG

“I’ve always been someone who embraces political conversations and trying to understand why people think what it is that they think, [but] I think that’s becoming harder and harder because people who disagree tend to get a little more agitated and upset,”

Eigenberg said.

According to Eigenberg, society has become more focused on being stationary in its ways and ideas instead of trying to move forward

Petrik admits that people reacted negatively to his beliefs in the past. He said Ben Shapiro, who is a politically conservative commentator, used to be an exemplar for Petrik which led him to aggressively voice his opinions instead of hearing the opposing side’s argument.

“I think when I tried to be like

[Shapiro], I would just come off as really aggressive and I think I would be more arguing than debating with someone,” Petrik said.

Although Petrik said that in the past he was quick to argue his side, he has now learned how to debate more respectfully. Now, Petrik said one of his best friends is someone with extremely different views and they are able to discuss their opinions.

“Everybody has different beliefs and opinions because of different experiences they’ve had. So, I shouldn’t hate [my friend] because he has a different opinion than me. He just had different life experiences than me, which has caused him to form different opinions,” Petrik said.

Petrik said he is grateful now for the ability to disagree with other people politically. With many horrors committed in the past by world leaders due to people expressing their beliefs, Petrik said it is amazing that in America we can voice opinions.

“Someone with a completely different opinion than me has the same right to their opinion that I have to mine,” Petrik said. “So even though someone disagrees with me, I think it’s an amazing thing that they’re able to disagree with me.”

Oh, the

PLACES they’ll go!

Members of the class of 2024 share where they are going to college

Designed by Alex Cowdrey

ABOUT THE EXPRESS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd., Overland Park, KS 66213

Phone: 913-239-3544

Email: BVNWnewspaper@bluevalleyk12.org

RESPONDING TO THE PUBLICATION

Letters to the editor may be submitted electronically on our website at BVNWnews.com. 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 May Issue of Volume 31. The Express is printed by Valley Print Logistics, 160 S Sheridan Ave, Valley Center, KS 67147.

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.

EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT

BVNW Publications is committed to amplifying the voices of our student body and community, no matter the color of skin, religious belief, financial status, gender or sexuality. We are an independent platform that by practice, and by law, is not a mouthpiece of the school district. We promise to cover all stories with fact and integrity. We stand in solidarity with all people who are fighting for equality. We promise to educate ourselves and represent our entire community to our audience to the best of our ability. For our students, teachers, readers, viewers and families who are struggling for equality, we deplore the injustices you face. We strive to be a unifying platform that celebrates diversity and shares your stories, and we will continue to work toward increasing minority voices internally, as well as externally. We may not always get it right, but we will try, and we will listen and be open to suggestions on how to better tell your stories.

THE EXPRESS STAFF

Editors in Chief

Lexington Jones

Lila Vancrum

Online Editor

Jenya Jithesh

Copy Editor

Hannah Rakolta

Social Media Editor

Bridget Hamlin

Design Editor

Avery Sigg

Managing Editor

Alex Cowdrey

Blue Valley School District #229

Blue Valley Northwest H.S. 15020 Metcalf Avenue

Overland Park, KS 66223

Sports Design Editor

Prajwal Adhikari

Podcast Host

Saraphina Wambi

Chief Writer

Sydney Barnett

Chief Photographer

Remi Nuss

Writers

Addie Aadland

Blen Belachew

Rishitha Bonthu

Danielle Croom

Maggie Dahl

Alyssa Gagnon

Nafsiya Hafiz

Adria Heinauer

Sanaee Joshi

Madison Kraft

Harper Latta

Lindsay Maresh

Sara Scheibel

Sri Trikona

Reagan Wald

Inaya Zaman

Assistant Adviser

Amanda Ford

Photographers

Allison Leese

Corey Jones

Jordyn Johnson

Lainey Fetters

Libby Addison

Miles Thomas

Rachel King

Paige Mailliard

Adviser

Jim McCrossen

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